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Ongoing lockdown restrictions have led to this year’s annual NYC Pride parade to be canceled, but there is still a celebration and rally being held online. In addition to many other Pride events moving to virtual gatherings in the wake of coronavirus, NYC Pride is also hosting an online rally on Friday, June 26 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET on Facebook and Youtube. The event is hosted by trans journalist Ashlee Marie Preston and trans actor Brian Michael Smith and will “take a stand against police brutality and discrimination....

Baking, it seems, has become the new global pastime since we all stayed home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and baked more banana bread than we’d ever care to consume. But, at least we can now put those newly formed baking skills into making something epic — something like, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s exact wedding cake. Mentioned in The Royal Collection Trust’s book, Royal Tea, the recipe shared for one of the two wedding cakes served at their historic nuptials is a delicious-sounding chocolate biscuit cake....

Qantas is offering vaccinated Australians the chance to win free air travel for one year. In an interview with Australia’s Today, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the airline was “going to offer ten mega prizes, at least one for each state and territory, where a family of four get unlimited travel on the Qantas and Jetstar network, anywhere in the network for a year.” Courtesy of Qantas The winning families will also receive loyalty points and free accommodation from Accor hotels while they are traveling....

Love a nice glass of bourbon? Now’s your chance to stay in the home where the best bourbon was born. For the first time ever, the Maker’s Mark family is opening the home owned and operated by the founders and sharing their personal family history in an unforgettable way. Known as Samuels House, the three-bedroom home in Bardstown, Kentucky can now be yours — at least for a night. Courtesy of Samuels House...

On Monday, Royal Caribbean announced its latest plan to build a sustainable private island in the South Pacific, and its name needs no further explanation. According to the cruise line’s press release, the island, aptly called “Perfect Day at Lelepa” in Vanuatu, will be built with sustainability in mind complete with features designed to “safeguard the island’s ecosystems.” The company also explained the island will be the first carbon-neutral private cruise destination in the world....

When TV host and travel expert Samantha Brown flies these days she brings a few things: a fully-charged computer, multiple masks, and a hair tie so she doesn’t have to touch her face while in the air. These may be new times we’re living in, but we can still get out and enjoy new experiences, Brown told Travel + Leisure on this week, talking holiday travel, the excitement of simply planning a trip, and why you don’t need to go far to escape....

The European country of Slovenia is ready to welcome tourists who arrive with proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. The country, known for its stunning lakes and expansive walking trails, is welcoming visitors without quarantine from dark red and red-listed EU countries who show a vaccine certificate, proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival, proof of a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival, or proof they contracted the coronavirus within a certain time period, according to the Slovenian Tourist Board....

To visit the Blantyre, a Tudor-style estate tucked away in the Berkshires, is to step back in time. Built circa 1902, the palatial western Massachusetts property is one of 12 remaining Gilded Age mansions in the area — a memento of a moment in history characterized by well-heeled families decamping to their second homes for glamorous parties and extravagant dinners. But this refined experience begins before you arrive at the hotel....

Neat. On the rocks. Old fashioned. However you like to drink your whisky, try it with a side of exercise on the new Whisky and Burns cycling route. This 84-mile guided tour takes guests on a journey exploring the picturesque landscapes and castles of Scotland while sampling some of its finest whisky along the way. Courtesy of Galloway Cycling Holidays Led by local tour company Galloway Cycling, this three-day experience starts with a visit to the Annandale Distillery, which was founded in 1830 and later on bought by the famous Johnnie Walker brand....

As far as dream jobs go, few compare to getting paid to eat your favorite foods. So, if you’re a real ramen lover, this one is for you. Nissin Foods Top Ramen, the inventor of instant ramen, announced this week that they are on the hunt for a CNO, or Chief Noodle Officer, to help the brand develop new recipe ideas in honor of the company’s 50th anniversary, “From noodle connoisseurs to self-proclaimed chefs, Nissin knows that Top Ramen wouldn’t be what it is today without the tasty creations born in kitchens coast-to-coast,” the company explained in a statement....

The U.S. Embassy is warning travelers in El Salvador to beware of dangerous conditions along the country’s Pacific coast beaches. Several U.S. citizens are among those who have died while swimming off El Salvador’s Pacific coast this year alone, the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador said in issuing a travel alert on Monday. “Strong undertows and currents make swimming at El Salvador’s Pacific coast beaches extremely dangerous even for experienced swimmers,” the alert read....

If you’re still on the hunt for your go-to pair of boots this season, Nordstrom has you covered. We found a pair of shopper-loved slip-on booties from Ugg that are just as luxuriously soft and cozy as they are stylish. And right now, they’re on sale for $100 during Nordstrom’s Black Friday sale. The Best Deals for Travelers From Nordstrom’s Early Black Friday Sale The Ugg McKay Water Resistant Booties are made from the same ultra-soft sheepskin that the brand’s classic boots are known for....

Universal Studios Hollywood is ready to get back to business. The California theme park, which has been closed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said it plans to welcome guests again on April 16, as well as provide an early preview for season pass holders on April 15. Tickets are set to go on sale on April 8, but there’s a catch: You’ll have to be a California resident to visit....

Thoughts of Orlando, Florida, probably evoke images of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and the whole gang at Walt Disney World. But they aren’t the only cute creatures in the area. In an effort to highlight the real-life animals that roam Central Florida, as well as the conservation efforts to protect them, Frontier Airlines and Visit Orlando have teamed up to offer a free flight giveaway. Created in partnership with four wildlife parks and preserves in Orlando, the “Who Is Orlando’s Most-loved Animal” campaign invites consumers to vote on which animal will adorn the tail of a new Frontier aircraft....

Travelers entering the United States from abroad may notice big black X or O printed on their receipt from the automated passport control kiosk (or APC). No, it is not someone’s first Tic-Tac-Toe move. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there are a number of reasons travelers may receive either of these markings on their receipt. The letters might be flagging for fingerprint recognition issues, duties that need to be paid, additional document checks, random inspections, or questions about their customs declarations forms....

There’s a lot to know about travel, from finding the best-priced plane tickets to packing like a pro to optimizing every vacation day. But with busy schedules, it can be hard to find the time to stay up to date on the ins and outs of everything. That’s where podcasts come in. With the help of a good travel podcast, you can nail down those travel hacks, discover your next bucket-list destination, or daydream about future trips, whether you tune in while doing household chores, driving in the car, or even during an evening jog....

An all-female pilot team with Air India made history this week when they completed the longest nonstop commercial flight ever operated by an Indian national airline. “We are India’s daughters who were given the opportunity to make this historic flight,” Capt. Agarwal, who led the crew, told CNN on Monday. “We were able to create a new chapter in the Indian aviation history. I’m extremely proud to be a part of this and I have been personally preparing for more than a year for this flight....

Well, Alice in Wonderland may have not had the best luck when she tried to mix her cocktails, attendees of the “The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience,” may fare better. For lifelong fans of the beloved Lewis Carroll classic, or for those who are just “curiouser and curiouser,” the experience, filled with fantastical decor and on-theme drinks, has already been a hit in cities including Denver, San Francisco, and Sydney, Australia — and is making its way to New York....

Bruno Mars is a vibe. His entire aesthetic, from the way he dresses to the way he walks, oozes a sense of effortless cool that people around the world only wish they could replicate. But while nailing the dance from “Uptown Funk” might not be as easy it looks — trust me, I’ve tried — the Hawaii-native’s SelvaRey Rum can at least have you drinking like the 11-time Grammy Award winner....

While the Disneyland parks have remained closed since mid-March, the Southern California attraction has found new purpose as a COVID-19 vaccination site. The Anaheim resort will serve as Orange County’s first large Point-of-Dispensing (POD) site, and it’s being dubbed a “Super POD” because of its scale. Thousands of residents will be able to receive vaccines each day at the site. Four other Super POD locations in the county will also be announced soon....