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There was an unexpected competitor going for the Olympic gold in Japan last week. Hours before the first event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium last Wednesday, a bear was spotted by guards, the Associated Press reported. The furry creature was seen both the night before and the morning of the Japan-versus-Australia softball match. “We couldn’t find or capture the bear, and while there won’t be any spectators at the stadium, we are on alert and searching for the bear around the site,” a police spokesperson for Fukushima told Agence France-Presse....

The 20-inch suitcase (or 22 inches when measured from the wheels) meets current TSA size standards for carry-on bags and is made from a durable and scratch-resistant ABS material that absorbs shock. Yet despite its tough interior, the Rockland carry-on is extremely lightweight — only 7.5 pounds — meaning that you can pack more of your belongings without having to worry about going over weight limits. The wheels have 360-degree rotation, so moving through the airport is a breeze, while the chrome handle has a soft grip covering for added comfort....

Santa Cruz, California is getting a new national monument, and it’s all thanks to former President Obama’s love for an old dairy farm, and the hard work and dedication of thousands of volunteers. Cotoni-Coast Dairies, a federally owned property named after the Indigenous Cotoni nation, located eight miles north of Santa Cruz, will soon be open to visitors as part of an expansion of the existing California Coastal National Monument, which Obama helped preserve just eight days before he left office....

If you live in a cold climate or will be traveling to a chilly destination soon, the right gear will make all the difference. A heated jacket is a great option for people who are perpetually cold or for those who work or exercise outdoors for long periods of time. We found a jacket that’s on sale for 45 percent off right now, which is a savings of $90. And if you’re interested in this piece of particularly warm outerwear, you’ll want to shop soon, since this deal ends tonight....

Major French monuments like the Eiffel Tower now require proof of vaccination on the country’s health pass app, TousAntiCovid, in order to enter. This week, Eiffel Tower employees began scanning QR codes for digital health passes before visitors could enter. Those who weren’t vaccinated lined up for a rapid COVID-19 test, the Associated Press reported. In order to get France’s pandemic pass, visitors and residents must show that they are either fully vaccinated, recently tested negative, or recovered from COVID-19....

There’s never been a better time to go drinking in Mexico City. With a craft beer scene in the midst of an explosion, two of its bars on the World’s 50 Best List, and mezcal surging in popularity across the globe, the country’s beer, wine, and spirits scene is finally gaining the international attention it deserves. Even pulque, a thick drink made from the sap of the agave that predates mezcal, has popped up in the country’s hippest bars and restaurants....

Travelocity and Thrifty Car Rental are taking family reunions to the next level by giving away a pair of all-expenses-paid road trips this month, the companies shared with Travel + Leisure on Friday. Take in the best of the Southwest with family-friendly activities (think old-fashioned soda fountains in Scottsdale, Arizona, and an animal sanctuary in Kanab, Utah) or get your heart pumping with the glass Skywalk over the Grand Canyon. Looking for a bit of rest?...

Your next Walt Disney World vacation is going to be high-stakes — guaranteed. FastPass+ is now available for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, the high-flying simulator ride that sees guests thrust into hyperspace on a daring mission. The “Star Wars” ride, which debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in August, will begin utilizing Disney’s skip-the-line program on February 19th, according to Disney Food Blog. It’s major news, as it assures you’ll get on board the Millennium Falcon (quickly!...

Utah’s Zion National Park has achieved official International Dark Sky status and the park is celebrating all this week. Dark Sky Parks have “an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment,” according to the International Dark Sky Association. To celebrate its new designation, Zion has announced a week of night-themed programs and posts that will take place in the park and online....

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world. It’s near-impossible to visit Charleston and not be charmed — the pastel-colored houses, the oaks draped with Spanish moss, the palm trees by the waterfront....

Chances are, if you’re a beauty addict, you’ve already discovered your ride-or-die Chanel product, whether it’s the iconic No. 5 perfume, the Pirate lipstick (widely held to be the perfect red), or the Rouge Noir nail polish (a blood-red shade so popular it even has its own Wikipedia page). At Atelier Beauté Chanel, a first-of-its-kind space in the heart of SoHo in Manhattan, beauty lovers are invited to discover their Chanel beauty obsession, while getting expert advice and product recommendations, and exploring the immersive concept....

There’s no button like home. There’s no button like home. If you have any iPhone, version X or later, you may be missing the home button. Even if you know on some gut level that you don’t really need the button, it’s okay to want it back. But you don’t have to go on without it. There’s a simple hack that will let you bring back the home button from the land of obsolete features....

What makes a great Starbucks order? What instructions yield the best drinks? And on the other hand, what really pushes baristas’ buttons and has them rolling their eyes as you leave the store? The thing about getting creative with your morning beverage is you need to know what you’re doing — or at least have some knowledge of how the Starbucks brand, menu, and drink-making process works. To tell you everything you need to know about perfecting your Starbucks order, we consulted three of their star baristas working in stores across the country....

The Wyman Hotel wants you to know that Silverton, Colorado, the perfectly preserved Wild West town, is the ideal place for your entire family to come together for one epic post-pandemic trip. Courtesy of The Wyman Hotel Silverton is a town with just 600 permanent residents. It’s a place surrounded by stunning natural beauty, with mountains all around. It’s a spot filled with adventurous possibilities, including heli-skiing and hiking, horseback riding and rafting, and has plenty of history to learn about too, which is exactly what the boutique hotel celebrates....

At a time of year when the city usually becomes most alive, this year for Mardi Gras, New Orleans will shut down its bar scene — including takeout — to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Last week, Mayor Latoya Cantrell issued a new Mardi Gras lockdown for the city, which will run from 6 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12 until 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17. In addition to the complete closure of bars during this period, no establishment (including restaurants) will be permitted to sell to-go alcoholic drinks....

If shopping for unique treasures and sipping hot cocoa and mulled wine while strolling through some of Europe’s most iconic cities piques your interest, then we’ve got a job for you. British hotel chain Premier Inn is on the hunt for Christmas Market Testers to try out a few markets and share their findings with others. “Here at Premier Inn, we love all things Christmas — and visiting a Christmas market is the perfect way to visit a new city, which is why we want to send five Christmas fans to some of the UK and Europe’s best festive spots to report back, safe in the knowledge they can rest easy with us after a busy day exploring the stalls,” Simon Ewins, managing director at Premier Inn, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure....

Puerto Vallarta in Mexico is aiming to welcome tourists back slowly but surely in entering its first stage of reopening this week, allowing for some businesses to open at half-capacity. Courtesy of Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board The initial phase — called Phase 0 — started on May 18 and will last at least 15 days, according to the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. Restaurants are currently limited to 50 percent capacity and businesses that don’t draw crowds can start to reopen....

In a burst of light that only lasted a few seconds, an unusually large meteor made an appearance over large swaths of southern Scandinavia on Sunday, July 25. Experts say the meteor illuminated the sky over Norway, while other witnesses reported hearing a loud roaring sound just moments after the flash. According to the Associated Press, the Norwegian Meteor Network analyzed several videos of the incident and determined that the meteor first became visible about 55 miles north of the capital, Oslo....

Due to the various precautionary measures around the world in light of the coronavirus pandemic, eateries ranging from cafes to theme park-sized restaurants have closed — and in turn, many are helping out their communities by donating perishable food. A report from the New York Times chronicled the travails of bistro owners in Paris who scrambled to find something to do with the thousands of euros’ worth of perishable goods in their fridges....

Last month, George and Amal Clooney took their six-month-old twins on a flight to London. When they showed up, they came prepared with noise-canceling headphones for everybody in first class, along with a note apologizing in advance for any noise their children would make during the flight. However not all experiences flying with children in first class go so smoothly. Earlier last year, fashion blogger Arielle Noa wrote on Instagram that a Delta flight attendant asked Noa to move to the “back of the plane” after receiving complaints about her baby’s crying from other first class passengers....