This Harbor Is a Refuge for Burning Man Artwork—Without Burning Man Crowds
Posted on 06/06/2019, 6:00 PM
The nine-day Burning Man festival, held in the depths of summer in a remote area of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, earns mixed reviews. Founders describe it as “a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.” But others, such as former attendee and writer Soren Bowie, remember it differently. “I went seeking a Utopian enclave … Instead I found misguid...
Arthur Frommer: Seaweed is Invading the Mexican Caribbean, But There's a Bright Side
Posted on 05/30/2019, 7:00 AM
Among the current important news of travel is a sudden and mysterious drop in tourist traffic to the so-called “Mexican Caribbean” (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Tulum, the Mayan Riviera), an area which usually accounts for half of all tourism to Mexico. After several speculative guesses as to what is happening, scientists and Mexican officials have agreed that the cause is “sa...
Stroll Above the Smokies on the USA’s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
Posted on 05/03/2019, 1:00 PM
Eastern Tennessee is now home to the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the United States. Opening May 17, Gatlinburg SkyBridge, located in the resort town that serves as a gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, stretches 680 feet across a deep valley, offering views of downtown Gatlinburg and the surrounding mountains for those who venture across. At its highest point, the bridge...
Thanks a Lot, Instagram. Horseshoe Bend Now Has an Entry Fee
Posted on 04/22/2019, 7:00 PM
Many of the world's most beautiful places have become victims of their own Instagrammability, with hordes of selfie snappers causing congestion, safety concerns, and strains on infrastructure. As a result, officials at photogenic locales across the globe have introduced measures aimed at thinning crowds—or at least shifting some of the financial burden for upkeep onto tourists. The latest examp...
Tipping in Costa Rica: A Gratuities Guide for Hotels, Restaurants, and Tours
Some tips on tipping to follow while checking out Costa Rica's cities, beaches, and jungles
South African President de Klerk's Retreat Becomes All-Inclusive Beach Lodge
Posted on 04/02/2019, 4:00 PM
The coastal retreat of former South African president F.W. de Klerk has been reborn as an all-inclusive, eco-conscious lodge overlooking an untouched, nearly 4-mile (6km)-long stretch of Indian Ocean beachfront. Set to open April 15, Lekkerwater Beach Lodge is located about a 3-hour drive east of Cape Town in a secluded area of De Hoop Nature Reserve, a landscape of sand and scrub between the oc...
Spot Orcas and Dolphins Along Western Scotland's New Whale Trail
Posted on 03/12/2019, 9:30 PM
About a quarter of the world's whale and dolphin species have been spotted at one time or another in the waters around western Scotland's Hebrides islands, according to the nonprofit Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust (HWDT). Starting in May, visitors should have an even better chance of glimpsing those cetaceans with the launch of the Hebridean Whale Trail. Developed by the HWDT, the trail is...
'Iron Road' in the Balkans Is Restored to Its Heart-Pounding Glory
Posted on 03/04/2019, 1:00 PM
Dropping through cliff caves, tip-toeing along hanging bridges, clambering up iron ladders drilled into mountain faces—if any of these sound like part of an ideal adventure to you, then open your guide books to a new page: Kosovo. The newly opened Via Ferrata Berim has joined the ranks of Europe’s most thrilling climbs. On Europe’s unsung Eastern side (in a territory that's east of Dubrovn...
Meet the USA's Newest National Park
Posted on 02/22/2019, 3:45 PM
The United States has a new national park. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has been re-designated Indiana Dunes National Park thanks to a provision in the same spending bill that averted another government shutdown on February 15. The Northwest Indiana site, which has been a federally protected national lakeshore since 1966, stretches for 15 miles along Lake Michigan, encompassing 15,000 acres...
Superbloom! In California, Flowergeddon Approaches
Posted on 02/14/2019, 5:00 AM
Superbloom may sound like the name of a '90s rock band to you, but in Borrego Springs, California, it means millions of rare wildflowers carpeting thousands of acres of desert. And Superbloom is coming soon. In California's ecosystem, seeds might hide dormant for years until conditions are perfect, and this year, there are signs they have been awakened by recent wildfires and intense rains. Co...
You Can Go Standup Paddleboarding at San Antonio's River Walk Now
Posted on 02/12/2019, 9:30 PM
If you feel your city sightseeing hasn't done enough to test your balance and core strength lately, here's a good remedy: a new way to see San Antonio. Local company SUP SATX now offers lessons and tours in standup paddleboarding—which involves standing or kneeling on a surfboard while using an oar to propel yourself forward—along the city's namesake waterway. After a 30-minute lesson, paddl...
Arthur Frommer: River Cruises Are Rushing to Attract Younger Passengers
Posted on 02/07/2019, 12:00 AM
When I went on my first river cruise (a sailing of Europe’s Rhine), I was almost the youngest person aboard. And if you’ve seen a recent photograph of me, you will know what the average age of those passengers was. In the past, river cruises were almost entirely booked by elderly people, many in their seventies and eighties. That’s now changing. Led by AmaWaterways, the pioneer in...
You Can Throw Your Own Parade in New Orleans! Here's How
Posted on 02/06/2019, 12:00 PM
You don’t have to be the king of a Mardi Gras club to throw your own parade and march through the streets of New Orleans. But if you do, you’ll certainly feel like one. While it's a little-known fact, it’s actually quite simple to throw your very own second line parade in New Orleans, legally and complete with police escort and marching band. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps ahead...
