San Francisco’s New Answer to NYC’s High Line Promises Prime Views of Golden Gate Bridge
Posted on 04/01/2022, 8:00 AM
A hotly anticipated new outdoor attraction in San Francisco finally has an opening date. Presidio Tunnel Tops, a 14-acre addition to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, will begin welcoming visitors on Sunday, July 17. The innovative green space makes use of the land above the car tunnels of the Presidio Parkway near the Golden Gate Bridge. (Renderings of Presidio Tunnel Tops in San Fran...
The CDC Drops Its Safety Warning: Go Ahead and Cruise!
Posted on 03/31/2022, 3:00 PM
Lifting two years of warnings about the dangers of cruising in the age of Covid-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dropped its risk advisory for cruise ships.As long as you're up-to-date with your shots, the CDC no longer sees a reason to warn you not to take a cruise vacation. The federal agency does, however, suggest that immunocompromised passengers clear their plans wit...
An 800-Year-Old English Landmark Finally Gets a Visitor-Friendly Makeover
Posted on 03/31/2022, 9:00 AM
One of the most historically significant buildings in England hasn't had much to offer visitors for about, oh, three centuries or so. The 800-year-old Clifford's Tower in the northeastern city of York is almost all that remains of York Castle, the center of government and the key royal fortress for the North of England from the Middle Ages through the 17th century. The structure stands on an ea...
Which U.S. Airline Takes the Best Care of Luggage?
Posted on 03/22/2022, 7:45 AM
U.S. airlines carried about 224 million checked bags in the second half of 2021—a significant increase from the 159 million bags checked from January through June. Inevitably, the number of bags mishandled by airlines went way up, too, from just under 700,000 in the first half of 2021 to 1.25 million in the year's latter half, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Transportation...
Canada Dumps Pre-Arrival Covid Testing for Most Travelers
Posted on 03/18/2022, 3:00 PM
So many countries are dropping Covid-19 hurdles for inbound tourists that we could fill our pages with dozens of happy announcements every day. (And in our consistently up-to-date post on entry requirements in the Caribbean and Mexico, we do.) But one announcement this week is particularly gratifying for our North American readers: As of Friday, April 1, Canada will no longer require visitors to p...
New Zealand Finally Reopening to Vaccinated Travelers
Posted on 03/16/2022, 12:00 PM
Destinations around the world are lifting mask mandates and even vaccine requirements. And now a major milestone on the way to a full reopening of travel has been reached Down Under. The government of New Zealand, which has maintained some of the world's tightest border restrictions since the start of the pandemic two years ago, announced today that vaccinated visitors from most countries, includ...
Cruise Virginia’s Longest River the 18th-Century Way
Posted on 03/15/2022, 2:30 PM
A historical means of transporting crops along the James River in Virginia will soon be used to cart tourists along the same waterway. Starting Friday, April 1, the James River Batteau Company, based in the town of Scottsville, will launch river cruises in the Morning Dew, a long, flat-bottomed wooden boat that's propelled by navigators wielding poles. From the late 18th century to about the mid...
France's "Health Pass" System for Tourism Is Officially Over
Posted on 03/14/2022, 4:00 PM
France's so-called "Health Pass" system that was introduced last August has been eliminated as of today, March 14. The system's QR code—which was required to enter the country's bars, restaurants, cultural institutions, public transport, and sports facilities—represented one of the strictest travel rules for tourists on the European continent. Because the pass could only be granted by accredited p...
U.S. Mask Mandate Extended Again on Airplanes, Transit
Posted on 03/10/2022, 11:45 AM
The Transportation Security Agency is extending the mask mandate that was set to expire on March 18. This is the third time it has been extended. The change was confirmed by multiple sources, including NBC News and ABC News. The airlines' flight attendants union had advocated for the preservation of the mask rule. "We have every expectation that the mask mandate will be extended for the near ter...
New in New York State: Tiny Houses in the Catskills & Cottages on Oneida Lake
Posted on 03/08/2022, 7:45 PM
There are two enticing new ways for vacationers to immerse themselves in the varied natural beauty of New York State. First, the recently opened A Tiny House Resort (pictured above) in the Catskill Mountains features 15 micro dwellings sprinkled across a 50-acre wooded property with hiking trails, a waterfall, a stretch of Catskill Creek, and a farm inhabited by goats, sheep, ducks, chickens, and ...
