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Colombia has more than 3,600 butterfly species (the most in the world), so the average viewer may not realize that the yellow butterflies that swarm through Disney’s enchanting animated movie Encanto were inspired by author Gabriel García Márquez’s frequent use of yellow butterflies as a symbol of love, hope, and peace in his “magic realist” novels. Disney’s tale of the magically-gifted Madrigal family who live in a magical house in the enchanting highland town of Encanto — set in the beguiling real-life Valle de Cocora — begins with the tragedy of Colombia’s violent past before morphing into a panegyric to Colombia’s warm and welcoming beauty....

Who knew flowers could cause so much trouble? City officials in Lake Elsinore, California have been forced to shut down Walker Canyon after last weekend, according to USA Today. The reason isn’t because of fires, floods, falling rocks or any other dangerous natural disasters in the area. It’s because of poppies. Mario Tama/Getty Images Or rather, it’s because of the insatiable popularity of the poppies. Last weekend, thousands of visitors flocked to see the “super bloom” in Lake Elsinore, a special time of year when all the flowers off of Interstate 15 bloom at the same time in a stunning display of color....

France declared a public health state of emergency on Wednesday due to a second outbreak of COVID-19 spanning across multiple areas of the country. Effective Friday at midnight, the Paris region and eight other metropolitan areas — totaling a third of the country’s population— will face nightly curfews for at least four weeks. “The COVID-19 epidemic constitutes a public health disaster which, by its character and its severity, puts at risk the health of the population,” the government said in a statement, Reuters reported....

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that many of our jobs can be done from the comfort of our homes or anywhere else with a solid Wi-Fi connection. And while some offices are now reopening and welcoming back employees, other businesses have decided to make the WFH lifestyle a permanent change. This leaves a new legion of remote workers with a world of possibilities as to where they can set up shop....

With more than 2.1 million tags, Machu Picchu is the 13th most-Instagrammed place in the world, and with good reason. The mysterious architectural site situated in the Andean Mountains in Peru is breathtaking beyond belief. The enormous structure, believed to be built in the 15th century, has stood the test of time thanks to the superior construction skills of the people of the Inca Empire. Each and every stone making up the gorgeous structure is so tightly fit together that you couldn’t even fit a blade of grass through the cracks....

With coronavirus cases back on the rise in Europe, Ireland has become the first European country to reinstitute a nationwide lockdown. The government’s stay-at-home order went into effect Wednesday at midnight and requires all nonessential businesses in Ireland to close. Bars and restaurants are limited to takeout and delivery. Residents are being asked to stay within three miles of home, unless they’re essential workers commuting to their jobs. Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar described the move as a “preemptive strike against the virus” during a Monday news conference covered by NPR....

The Hawaiian island of Kauai will look to reopen to tourists more than a month after it opted out of the state’s travel testing program. The popular island, nicknamed the “Garden Isle” and known for its extensive vegetation, gorgeous beaches, and challenging hikes, will now allow travelers to avoid quarantine if they test negative with a pre-travel test within 72 hours of traveling to Kauai, stay at an approved “resort bubble” property, and test negative for a second time more than 72 hours after arriving, Hawaii’s Gov....

The editors of Travel + Leisure have teamed up with Black Tomato—a company known for securing insider experiences—on a series of one-of-a-kind journeys around the globe. Plus: the must-see experiences and sites in each destination that are so unique we’ve designated them our new wonders of the world. Matera is a 2019 European Capital of Culture. On this trip, you’ll see the vast collection of caves and houses carved into the hillsides of our New World Wonder, Sassi di Matera....

Mackinac Island, Michigan, is not your average island. It’s a small, remote piece of land on Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas that looks more like a Victorian village than it does a small town in the 21st century. Instead of cars you’ll often see horse-drawn carriages, bikes, and in the wintertime, snowmobiles making their way through the streets. And while it’s a popular vacation destination for summer and fall travelers (the island’s Grand Hotel was named one of the best resort hotels in the Midwest in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards in 2020), I’ve often wondered what it looks like when the tourists are gone and the charming coastal town is covered in snow....

Social media platforms may be working hard to combat explicit nudity online, however, it appears some museums are getting caught up in the mix in a rather unwelcome way. For example, a few of Austria’s museums found themselves banned from platforms like Instagram for “violating” nudity rules after they shared images of ancient statues and carvings, as well as important paintings and photography pieces. So, they migrated to the only platform that would welcome them — OnlyFans....

Princess Cruises is putting its trips on sale, offering travelers deals on everything from complimentary drinks and Wi-Fi, to specialty dining, and more. The company’s “Best. Sale. Ever.” is offering travelers who book a cruise by March 2, 2022, access to five Princess perks: a premier beverage package, unlimited Wi-Fi for all guests in a stateroom for up to four devices, tips included, a stateroom location upgrade within the same stateroom category, and vouchers for specialty dining....

After a year in lockdown, travel expert Samantha Brown had one date on her mind: April 21, 2021. That was when she and her crew would board their first flight since the pandemic and begin filming her PBS show “Places to Love.” Vaccines were rolling out, borders reopening, and the world was full of hope, but Brown was still nervous. After filming travel shows for more than 20 years, Brown has become a bona fide explorer, with hard-won experience in how to navigate in a foreign language, finagle itineraries and locate hotels well off the beaten path....

The stress of work, life, and travel can do a number on skin, especially when just thinking about walking through an airport terminal can make your heartbeat skyrocket. If you don’t love the idea of this stress showing up on your face, there are anti-aging products that can help undo the damage. Enter: the Vichy Mineral 89 Eye Cream — which reduces wrinkles and dark circles around your eyes (a prime target for signs of stress and lack of sleep)....

Southwest Airlines is introducing several new routes this summer, including a new service between two popular Hawaiian islands. Starting June 5, the carrier will fly once each day between Maui and Kauai, according to the airline. This new flight is in addition to Southwest’s already existing interisland flights between Oahu and Maui, Oahu and both Hilo and Kona on the Island of Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai, and Kona and Maui....

Southwest and American Airlines intend to resume an increased schedule of international flights next month. On Thursday, Southwest announced that several of its international routes will resume service on June 7. Flights to Los Cabos and Cancun, Mexico; Havana, Cuba; Montego Bay, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas are planned to return in just a few weeks. Ralph Freso/Stringer Southwest plans to resume service from Phoenix International to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on October 8....

As the travel industry confronts unprecedented challenges, resorts, hotels, and safari lodges around the world are rising to meet the moment, acting as beacons of resilience and hospitality for both guests and their local communities. For this reason, we’ve decided to bring back the iconic T+L 500 — an illustrious list that recognizes the 500 best properties in the world, as chosen by you, our discerning readers. Results of this year’s T+L 500 are derived from the results of the 2020 World’s Best Awards survey....

Editor’s Note: Travel might be complicated right now, but use our inspirational trip ideas to plan ahead for your next bucket list adventure. Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. With colorful topiaries shaped like favorite Disney characters, delicious seasonal eats and drinks, and live entertainment including musical performances from local bands, the Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is the ultimate springtime event at Walt Disney World Resort....

Observing it from afar, you might assume the Homewood, a hotel inside a quintessential English country estate on a grand, tree-lined drive, would be a bit, well, uptight. But as soon as you enter its grounds, you’ll realize that’s far from the case. The hotel’s whimsical take on the refined English countryside holiday is evident in the random details that exist just to make you smile: a yellow submarine on the lawn, a bush shaped like a bear, a poodle statue named Sue....

With its labyrinthine passageways crowded with pedestrians and the occasional donkey, the Fez medina, known as Fes-el-Bali, feels like a relic from another time. The UNESCO World Heritage site is famously difficult to navigate on your own, so it’s worth hiring a guide to lead the way, at least while you’re getting your bearings on the first day or two. (Michael Diamond is T+L’s A-List Morocco specialist.) Sbastien Rabany/Getty Images...

It happens to the best of us: you’re rushing through airport security, you hastily pull your laptop out of your carry-on bag, and random contents spill out along with it. The entire organization of your bag is thrown off, you feel the eyes of disapproving travelers on your back, and you’re still flustered by the time you reach your gate. Airport security can be stressful enough without a messy bag to slow you down, so a functional carry-on is key....