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Fans of the company’s Chromebooks, Nest devices, Pixel phones, and other gadgets will have a new must-visit starting later this week, when Google officially opens its first and only dedicated retail store in New York City. The search giant’s new Google Store will officially open at 10 a.m. Thursday, in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, not far from attractions including the High Line, the newly opened Little Island, and the Whitney Museum of American Art....

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered all New Yorkers to wear a mask when they are in a public, crowded space amid concerns over COVID-19. The executive order, which goes into effect Friday, comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued nationwide guidance recommending the use of face masks to stop people from unintentionally spreading the virus. The agency suggested people use cloth masks or a scarf as a face covering when performing essential errands like going to the grocery store....

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on Mar. 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come—whenever they may be. With its sublime weather, postcard-perfect beaches, and world-class dining and nightlife, Miami is perennially hot, no matter the season. And for hotel lovers, there’s something to suit every taste, from charming beachside inns to sleek high-rises and Art Deco icons....

Happy National Forest Week! From July 13 through July 19, America is celebrating National Forest Week, from the Chugach National Forest in Alaska to De Soto National Forest in Mississippi. Although the forest is a perfect place to practice social distancing, this year celebrations will also be held in the virtual world. Every day this week, the National Forest Foundation is hosting a talk or event on their Instagram or Facebook pages....

The Sapporo Snow Festival, an annual event in Hokkaido, Japan, is known its towering sculptures and snowball fights — but this year, the festival was forced to import its snow after a year of abnormally low snowfall and warm temperatures. CNN reported that, despite the lower-than-usual snowfall and number of visitors, more than 200 snow sculptures were on display during the 11-day festival. These sculptures usually require about 30,000 tons of snow....

“Aggressive” honey bees have shut down a campground in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. According to the park website, “Jumbo Rocks Campground is closed July 9–23 due to aggressive honey bee activity.” “There were a couple of vehicles with a lot of bees in them. And campsites. Visitors were very uncomfortable,” Joshua Tree Superintendent David Smith told the Los Angeles Times. No stings or injuries were reported due to the honey bees....

This month marked a major milestone in aviation: the 100th anniversary of the world’s oldest airline, KLM. Well, the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name, if you want to get technical. British Airways celebrated its 100th anniversary in August, though that occasion actually marked the launch of a tiny outfit called Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited that later merged to become British Airways over the last century....

The gardens that gave French painter Claude Monet more than two decades of inspiration to create magnificent works of art now on display around the world have finally reopened to the public. Monet’s gardens in Giverny — which inspired iconic paintings such as the “Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies” found in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art — have been closed for more than six months due to the pandemic....

Love food? Love space? NASA may have a job for you. In February, NASA announced the “Deep Space Food Challenge” to help find a solution for one day bringing fresh produce to astronauts traveling thousands of miles away. And if you’ve got the answer, NASA will pay you a share of its $500,000 prize purse for it. “The Deep Space Food Challenge is an international competition where NASA offers prize purse awards to U....

The friendly skies are full of surprises. According to USA Today, multiple pilots at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) spotted a person flying around the vicinity of incoming planes with a jetpack on Sunday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told USA Today that local law enforcement is investigating the incident, citing that two flight crews spotted the person around 3,000 feet in the air. Not only are police in Los Angeles investigating what happened, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also looking into the situation, according to FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller to USA Today....

Who doesn’t want an amazing job and the chance to travel around the world? We think no one. This “opportunity platform” is a social media-meets-reality television mashup, developed by industry veterans Alex Boylan, (a winner on The Amazing Race)Lisa Hennessy, (television producer) and Burton Roberts, who founded, with Boylan, Around the World Productions. After exploring the globe, the three entrepreneurs wanted to “pay that forward,” explained Hennessy. “[We wanted] to give people around the world amazing opportunities and a chance to change their story....

Unique baby names have been in vogue for decades, but there are always a few “unique” names that are practically everywhere. If you feel like every new kid you meet is named Olivia, Chloe, Aiden, or Atticus, there’s good reason: These are some of the most popular baby names from the last several years. But what baby names will win in 2019? Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images Nameberry, a website for finding baby names, has published a new report on the most popular names for the first quarter of 2019....

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. Ahead of welcoming back visitors on Nov. 1, The Bahamas updated their testing guidelines for travelers. Initially, The Bahamas required that all travelers would be able to skip the island’s mandatory quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 7 days before arrival....

Mother Nature’s light show at twilight — both at dawn and dusk — is no doubt one of the most striking sights to behold every day. But some locations highlight the experience more than others. So the sleep company Mornings.co.uk took a look at the best places in the world to watch the sunrise and sunset in its new study. To determine the list, the company analyzed data from Tripadvisor in November 2021 by searching “Things to Do” using the keywords “sunrise” and “sunset” in every country and state....

With all the ice cream shops scattered around the United States, it can often be rather painful to narrow down where exactly to go. Thanks to Yelp, that decision can now be a little less laborious. The crowd-sourced review platform took a look at all businesses in the ice cream, frozen yogurt and gelato categories and using an algorithm, determined the best in each state based on the highest number of reviews and star rating....

When I was on the hunt recently for a pair of comfortable traveling shoes that are also easy to clean, I discovered Allbirds, and I haven’t turned back since. These $95 sneakers are easy to take on and off through security (if you don’t have TSA pre-check), machine-washable, and even a favorite of Barack Obama’s — yes, you read that correctly. What makes Allbirds so comfortable to wear en route to your next adventure or during hours of walking and exploring is the fact that the company developed its own super soft wool that’s temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, and never scratchy on your skin....

As exciting as travel can be, arriving in a new city can be disorienting. Figuring out where you’re going to find breakfast can feel hard enough — and from there you’ll want to learn about the city’s history and modern day way of life. That’s why a short walking tour can be the perfect way to kick off a vacation. Not only will you learn a bit about the history of the city, but for a short time you’ll have access to a guide who knows the area inside and out — and likely speaks English....

Empty waterfront space can be difficult to come by in Southwest Florida, but The Ritz-Carlton brand is carving out an unoccupied stretch of sand and sea for its latest luxury residences. Located on 500 acres of land next to Florida’s first aquatic preserve, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay will be nestled between two already popular destinations: Sanibel Island and Naples. The property will consist of two main towers that bring together the natural beauty of the area with the upscale offerings that The Ritz-Carlton is known for....

New Year’s Eve is back in New York City, and The Times Square Edition is here to celebrate. In November, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the ball drop will return to Times Square to ring in the new year. Courtesy of The Times Square EDITION “We want to have a great New Year’s Eve celebration in this city,” de Blasio said at a press conference last month....

Finally, you no longer have to be embarrassed by the fact that your luxury sportscar doesn’t match your private plane. In November, Porsche and Embraer announced “Duet,” a partnership between the two iconic luxury brands that will bring people the chance to buy one of 10 matching sets that include one 911 Turbo S and one Phenom 300E plane. “Porsche and Embraer share a host of common values,” Alexander Fabig, head of personalization and classic at Porsche, shared in a statement....