We’re only a few minutes from the heart of town, just a short car ride south, down the flowing arteries of one of the world’s largest cities. But here? Everything feels like a village. The sidewalks are shaded by palm trees, the fronds swaying almost silently in the breeze. The stone houses lining the streets,…
Finding Identity, Beauty, and Quirk in the Former Yugoslavia
It’s beautiful—and maybe a little bizarre. Everything in the heart of this national capital is grand. A statue of Alexander the Great dominates the main square, the global conqueror astride a bucking horse, his sword drawn, fountains gushing all around. Entering the square, I pass through a soaring gate, itself reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe…
The Return of Summer Travel
Everyone knows that COVID forced a screeching halt in the way of the world as we knew it—and that beyond our day-to-day routines, the cancellations and adjustments included our celebrations, extracurricular activities, and vacation plans, too. “We have traveled to Maui every August for the last eight years, except last year,” shares Keri Baugh, who…
Finding Old Florida
Florida is a magnet for tourists and vacationers, known for the speed of its development and the bustle of its urban centers. But beyond hotspots like Miami and Orlando remains a state very much in touch with its long history (St. Augustine was America’s first city, after all!). The allure of “old Florida” remains, hidden…
Before Traveling to Europe, Read the Fine Print on COVID-19 Testing
By Lauren Zumbach Chicago Tribune There’s good news for travelers eager to dust off their passports after spending 2020 stuck at home: The list of countries lowering COVID-19 travel restrictions is growing. After being largely closed to American tourists for more than a year, the European Union recently recommended expanding the list of EU countries…
Tips for Packing and Preparing for a Road Trip
While American road trips had a golden age of sorts from the 1950s to the 1970s, thanks to a quickly developing interstate highway system and the automobile becoming a commonplace fixture, there’s perhaps never been a better time to hit the road. As travel restrictions begin to loosen, many Americans are turning to road trips…
Big Pleasures in a Tiny Country: Belize From Rainforest to Coast
While I knew it was safe—or should be, anyway—the whole situation was still a bit intimidating. Moments before, when this stretch of almost-neon aquamarine was quiet, the tropical sun reflected off the surface of the blue Caribbean—those warm waves inviting me in for a swim. But now? It was a feeding frenzy. With guides chumming…
Drive-Ins Offer More Than Movies
From time to time, residents of the little town of Farmington, Maine, gather to attend events that range from a craft fair and flea market to a band concert and a Catholic Mass. At a site in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the attractions include an arcade, car museum, and swap shop. Rather than being seated in…
South Carolina’s Grand Strand: A Popular Family Destination
Stretched out on the warm sand of Myrtle Beach, it’s easy to unwind. During a recent trip to there, I watched a little boy launching a kite nearby, his little legs running as fast as they can. On the shore, my family shrieked with laughter as they tossed a Frisbee in the waves. Overhead, the…
Roadside Kitsch Helps Tell America’s Story
A 65-foot-tall elephant named Lucy stands near the sea in New Jersey, as she has for 140 years. Giant blueberries are scattered about a field in Maine. Visitors to Long Beach, Washington, come face to face with a two-headed calf, cycloptic lamb, and mummified half man-half alligator. If the thought of catching a bit of…
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