Articles

Zac Thompson

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The World’s Longest Suspension Bridge Has a See-Through Walkway

The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge will soon be getting visitors' spines tingling, hearts pounding, and regrets overflowing above a gorge in Portugal. Held up by steel…

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Tourist Returns "Cursed" Artifacts She Stole from Pompeii

The Brady Bunch tried to warn you. As the wholesome blended family learned in the sitcom's Hawaii episodes, you can't just grab any ancient artifact you find on vacation. The thing…

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U.S. Army Museum Finally Has an Opening Date—Take a Preview Video Tour

The opening of the newly constructed National Museum of the United States Army was originally scheduled for summer 2020. The coronavirus pandemic put a delay in those plans, but now…

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Amazing New Observatory Floats Two Miles Up in the Italian Alps

Here's a strong candidate for any traveler's post-pandemic wish list. The brand-new, glass-and-steel Ötzi Peak 3251m observation deck overlooks the Italian Alps at an altitude of…

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WATCH: Cruise Ship Captain Kate McCue Schools a Rude Commenter

Captain Kate McCue of Celebrity Cruises was already worthy of admiration—in 2015, she became the first American woman ever to captain a mega-ship. As if that wasn't impressive enough,…

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Alaska's Fat Bear Week Crowns Heavyweight Champ

Weighing in at an estimated 1,400 pounds and appropriately sharing an identification number with the original jumbo jet, bear 747 has been declared the winner of Fat Bear Week at…

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After 3,000 Years, Wild Tasmanian Devils Return to Mainland Australia

Tasmanian devils are back in the wild on mainland Australia after an absence of 3,000 years. A small breeding population of the stocky marsupials has been released in a wildlife…

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Accidentally Wes Anderson: A Worldwide Hunt for the Director's Just-So Aesthetic

You could never characterize the painstakingly arch visual style of film director Wes Anderson as art imitating life. It’s more like art redecorating life. Nevertheless, there are…

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Berlin's Long-Delayed Airport Is Finally About to Open—for Real This Time

Germany may still hold its reputation for punctuality and efficiency, but it's no thanks to Berlin Brandenburg Airport. That seemingly endless construction project began in 2006, when…

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The Most Endangered Historic Sites in the United States

The church where Emmett Till's funeral was held, a Depression-era wellness spa, and an earthquake-rattled historic district in Puerto Rico are among the most endangered places of…

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Fat Bear Week: The Election You Don't Have to Dread This Autumn

The NCAA's March Madness college basketball tournament didn't happen this year, and the Summer Olympics have been postponed to 2021. But at least one physical competition will proceed…

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Next Exit! America's Most Epic Roadside Attractions

With all due respect to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine , one-off stunts like that have been left off this roundup of the most epic roadside attractions in the United States.…

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A Fall Getaway for Two: Amtrak’s BOGO Sale for the Northeast U.S.

Just in time for leaf-peeping season, Amtrak is making it easier to plan a New England getaway for two with a buy-one-get-one-free sale. Book a seat on one of the rail carrier's Acela…

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Thailand Is Mailing Trash Back to Tourists Who Litter

Government officials in Thailand have had it with people leaving garbage in nature reserves. In a Facebook post last week, Varawut Silpa-archa, the country's minister of natural…

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You Can Now Stay at "The Conjuring" House—If You Dare

UPDATE, September 28, 2021: The owners of the house that inspired The Conjuring have now put the property up for sale. The malevolent spirits in The Conjuring films don't seem…

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Nominate Your Favorite Teacher to Receive a Free Vacation Next Year

If you doubted that teaching was a difficult profession before 2020, spend a few hours supervising a squirmy 8-year-old during our nationwide experiment with virtual learning. That…

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Rare Pink Dolphins Return to the Waters Around Hong Kong

Style mavens have declared "sorbet pink" one of the fashionable colors for fall 2020. We're happy to report that the waters around Hong Kong are very much on-trend. Rare pink…

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The World's Most Scenic Airports: A Ranking to Send Your Wanderlust Soaring

At this point, we'd probably feel awe gazing upon strip malls and empty parking lots as long as we got to see them from an airplane window again. So we might just burst looking at the…

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Got a Great Shot of the Empire State Building? You Could Win This Contest

Post your perfect shot of the Empire State Building on Instagram and you'll gain some likes. But enter that same pic in the iconic New York City skyscraper's annual photo contest and…

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This Las Vegas Casino Is Going Entirely Smoke-Free

The Las Vegas Strip is getting its first entirely smoke-free casino resort. MGM Resorts announced this week that the complex housing the Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas hotels will…

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Most Ikon Pass Skiers Won't Need Advance Reservations This Winter

Most skiers who buy the Ikon Pass for the 2020–21 season won't need advance reservations to hit the slopes, according to Alterra Mountain Company, which operates the pass. It's a…

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New Website Helps You Plan Wildlife Spotting on African Safaris

Safari-goers who have their hearts set on glimpsing certain animals in Africa have a helpful new online resource. Tour operator Expert Africa has launched a data-rich website showing…

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Now You Can Dine on a Sandbar in the Florida Keys During Sunset

For anybody in search of a dining venue with guaranteed social distancing, a sandbar in the Gulf of Mexico seems like a safe bet. A luxury resort in the Florida Keys has set up a…

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Game of Thrones Studio Tour Gets the Go-Ahead in Northern Ireland

Magical realms are good for tourism here in the real world, from the scenic New Zealand spots that stood in for Middle-earth in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies to the…

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Same Time, Next Year—for 20 Years: Win a Free Annual Mexican Vacation

How do you like the idea of a free luxury vacation on Mexico's Caribbean coast for your first post-pandemic getaway? How about repeating the experience every year for the next two…