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Ikea wants you to have a little taste of vacation life. No assembly required. The Swedish home furnishings company launched its latest product, Vacations in a Box, to bring some of the world’s best destinations right into people’s living rooms. The boxes, the company explained on its website, come filled with items to evoke memories of four distinct destinations including Cappadocia, Tokyo, the Maldives, and Paris. In the Cappadocia box, people will find everything they need to make their space feel like sunrise in the famed Turkish destination....

In Europe, soccer stars are like royalty. So for an Italian resort, being the go-to vacation destination for soccer stars celebrating a career high note — a championship win — is the ultimate compliment. But for Hotel Pitrizza, a Luxury Collection Hotel on Sardinia’s elegant Costa Smeralda, hosting top athletes is just another day on the job. Last week, Manuel Locatelli, midfielder for the Euro Cup-winning Italy national team, posted celebrations at the hotel on his Instagram account, along with girlfriend Thessa Lacovich and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma....

London’s famed Tower Bridge got stuck open over the weekend due to a technical issue, snagging traffic in the busy city. The bridge became stuck open on Saturday when it raised its more than 1,200-ton bascules to let boat traffic pass underneath and experienced a “mechanical fault,” according to the city’s police. Mechanics were rushed to the scene and while the bridge first reopened to pedestrian traffic and bicycles, it was a while longer before it reopened to vehicle traffic....

Hope is still alive in the Land Down Under. There is a bit of good news to celebrate in Australia after months of devastating events, ranging from the destructive bushfires and the worldwide coronavirus outbreak. According to BuzzFeed News, the first koala joey since the bushfires began has been born in the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, New South Wales. Courtesy of Australian Reptile Park The bushfires, which began back in September 2019, according to Insider, have destroyed much of the landscape and wildlife in New South Wales and Victoria....

An American astronaut hasn’t launched into space aboard an American rocket and spacecraft from U.S. soil since 2011 — and that’s about to change. Looking toward a mid-to-late May launch date, NASA said in a statement it plans to launch the astronauts aboard the SpaceX Demo-2 test flight, the first in what will become a series of manned flights. These are all part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. While the launch is scheduled for next month, there is a chance it will be delayed due to COVID-19, CNN reported, adding NASA was monitoring CDC guidance....

There’s isn’t enough time in a life to see all the thousands of gorgeous islands across Europe. But those looking for the best of the best should head to the Greek island of Páros, according to the readers of Travel + Leisure, who voted it the best in Europe in their annual World’s Best Awards. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more....

A ship that went missing in the Bermuda Triangle almost 100 years ago turned up off the coast of Florida. Underwater explorers and archaeologists discovered the wreck of the SS Cotopaxi, which went missing in 1925, about 35 nautical miles away from the coast of St. Augustine, according to a new documentary series from the Science Channel. Michael C Barnette on the wreck of the SS Cotopaxi searching for clues. Courtesy of Science Channel...

It’s almost springtime, which means we’re about to see some beautiful blooms all over the U.S. Typically, between March and mid-April, the iconic bluebonnets that grow wild in Texas (also the state flower) begin to blossom, making the state one of the best places to see springtime in all its glory. Last year, Big Bend National Park experienced its largest bluebonnet bloom in a decade. And this year may be just as colorful....

The Tommy Hilfiger Julia Crossbody Bag is available in a variety of materials, including durable, ultra-light nylon and stylish faux leather. It comes with an adjustable faux leather strap that will allow you to find a comfortable, secure fit while carrying the bag either on your shoulder or across the body. Inside the bag, you’ll find one zippered pocket and one slip pocket, so you’ll be able to keep valuable items safe and other essentials within close reach....

The Ororo Men’s Lightweight Heated Vest has four expertly-placed heating zones: one in the collar, one on the mid-back, and two at the core. It has three heat settings that start working in seconds and can be adjusted with the press of a button. Depending on what setting you use, the heated elements can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. So how exactly does a heated vest work?...

The last time I was in Alaska — many years ago — I stood on the deck of a cruise ship and watched giant pieces of ice, some seemingly as large as a car, fall off the Hubbard Glacier and into the sea. I stood there for what felt like forever, unable to take my eyes off the crumbling ice and the splash of the water below. I was visiting in August, and while much has changed since then, this month remains one of the most popular times to go to Alaska, Colleen McDaniel, the editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, told Travel + Leisure....

If you didn’t post about your vacation on social media, did you even go on vacation? Ok, we know that’s a highly controversial statement to many, but the idea of documenting a vacation and sharing the photos with friends and family goes back further than the advent of Instagram. Come on, who wasn’t invited over to a friend’s house, in the ’80s or ’90s, for a projector slideshow party after that friend returned from the Grand Canyon?...

At a time when we’re inundated with constant information and technology seems inescapable, there is something sacred about heading into the forest to unplug. Admittedly, there are fewer and fewer places where it’s possible to step off the grid. Luckily, Pisgah National Forest remains a perfect destination for peace, quiet, and abundant nature. The national landmark in Asheville, North Carolina, is so beloved that it was recently named “America’s Most Popular National Forest” by Musement....

As far as dream jobs go, getting to travel and make TikToks for a living sits pretty high on most people’s lists. For one lucky person, that dream job could soon become a reality. Ultimate Budapest — a project created by a team of tourism professionals working together to create a one-stop shop for the most memorable activities and experiences — is seeking a talented social media content creator to join its team....

As editors at Travel + Leisure, we’ve been teaching ourselves how to lean into leisure while spending time at home lately — but it’s always been travel that fuels us. The excitement that comes with researching a destination, planning a trip, experiencing a place, and meeting new people — and helping you, our readers, do the same — is the force that drives us to come to work each day....

The Catalina Island Company wants engaged couples to take their wedding experience to a whole new level — and we mean that literally. In April, the company announced a new, limited-edition Zip Line Wedding Package that provides couples the opportunity to get married while zipping over the island. “For more than 10 years, Catalina Island Company’s popular Zip Line Eco Tour has been thrilling guests with a 3,600-foot-long course that zig and zags across Descanso Canyon and through a grove of towering eucalyptus trees,” the company explained in a statement....

Artists looking for a new backdrop this summer need to look no further with this month-long program to create new work — and stay for free — on New York City’s Governors Island. The opportunity comes from a new partnership between Collective Retreats and NYC Culture Club. Opened in 2019, Collective Retreats’s Governors Island location will welcome six artists throughout the summer and fall — one per month from May through October — for a 30-day residency....

Editor’s Note: 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. Some images may depict pre-pandemic conditions. Jaw-dropping thrill rides and dizzying roller coasters can be found all over the U.S., but which ones are truly the best? Ask TripAdvisor. With thousands of users and reviews for different attractions around the world, TripAdvisor is a treasure trove of incredible and highly recommended places to visit on your next vacation....

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but crystals are the way to catch a traveler’s eye. At the Baccarat Hotel in NYC, a jewel of a property from the 256-year-old namesake French brand, everything glitters: A prismatic glass façade gives way to a dazzling light installation, dangling crystal chandeliers, iridescent vases filled with roses, and pleasantly surprising scarlet flourishes. You might be thinking, could this be a taste of Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors in the heart of Midtown Manhattan?...

With the new season of The Crown airing in just a few days, fans of all things royal have a lot to look forward to this week. But if you’re looking to splurge on a little royal treatment of your own, the Drake Hotel in Chicago is offering a Princess Diana-inspired package, including a stay in the suite where the princess herself once slept. Courtesy of The Drake Hotel With the new Crowning a Lady package, guests will get to experience the hotel exactly as Princess Diana did during her first and only visit to Chicago in 1996....