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Japan’s Nara deer are dying

Japan’s famous deer in the city of Nara are victims of their unsought popularity. Fourteen deer have died in Japan’s ancient capital since March and nine of them had large amounts of plastic in their stomach, said the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation.

Visitors to Nara Park are encouraged to feed the free-roaming deer package-free crackers sold on site, but some people have been disregarding the signs that say not to feed the deer anything but the crackers, putting the animals in danger. Discarded wrappers and plastic bags that contained prohibited food attract the deer due to the lingering smell of food, and are later eaten by them.

According to Kyodo News, the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation found a staggering 9.4 pounds of plastic in one of the deceased deer’s stomach.

There are almost 1,200 deer roaming freely in Nara Park and visitors are allowed to approach, but they have been known to attack those who get too familiar.


More like this: 6 steps you can take today to become a zero waste traveler

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Things Philadelphians care about

Philadelphians, despite being open-minded, cosmopolitan folks, live in their cultural and culinary bubbles that outsiders have a hard time understanding. From an obsession with Wawa to Wednesday summer nights, here are the things that Philadelphians believe to be of the utmost importance that the rest of the world couldn’t care less about.

1. The Mummers Parade

The rest of the world probably doesn’t care what a Mummer is or have any interest in why they dress up in costumes and flounce down Broad Street every January 1. But, in Philly, we know that the secret to New Year’s Day has nothing to do with a ball dropping. Here, it’s all about the greatest tradition that no one’s ever heard of.

2. Wawa

“But it’s just a gas station convenience store,” they say. To which, we would reply, “Have some respect.” Wawa is a beacon of hope in an otherwise dreary life. Anyone who has ever had a $3 Hoagiefest meal or cruised in for a breakfast burrito at 3:00 AM only to find the exhausted staff alert and ready to serve can attest to why Wawa is not just a convenience store.

3. Wednesday nights in summer

Most of us now have a love-hate relationship with the debauchery of this annual summer tradition, but we’ll still go out on a Wednesday every week simply because we can. And no, we won’t pay full price for drinks. But also yes, we will demand to be over-served.

4. A little friendly competition amongst neighborhoods

It may not be relevant to you what those from the Northeast have to say about folks over in Point Breeze, unless of course, you’re from Philly. Or more specifically, from one of those neighborhoods. In this case, this is the most important thing. Especially according to your mom, who just can’t understand why you’d want to leave whichever neighborhood you grew up in, anyway.

5. Tastykakes

We don’t care that no one knows what these are, and we certainly aren’t interested in how they compare to those fake Hostess desserts you all keep trying to sell to us. For us Philadelphians, there is no sadness or pain in life that cannot be soothed by biting into a Tastykake. If you grew up here, these were at your 50th birthday party, and you’ll be damned if they aren’t on the table at your 50th wedding anniversary.

6. Free coffee day at Wawa

Free coffee should matter to everyone.

7. Free Rita’s day

While everyone else is talking about the beauty of spring after a long winter, we’re out here talking about our water ice. For whatever reason, we’re happy to wait in that hour-long line for our free cup regardless of the fact that it’s only saving us $3.

8. Parks on tap

We’re not sure how Philly ended up with yet another pop-up beer garden, but it has happened. Maybe it’s because we find every and any excuse to break out into a party. Or maybe they’re trying to drag us from our bar seats and into the world outside. Whatever it is, we’re not mad about sipping $6 beers while getting to pet everyone else’s dog.

9. Gritty

You don’t have to know what Gritty is. Nor do you need to try to play the “Is it an animal? Which animal is it? Is it a boy?” game that outsiders are so fond of. Here’s the thing, the love we have for Gritty is pure and selfless. It transcends boundaries, bringing us Philadelphians together for reasons we don’t need to understand.


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The post 9 things Philadelphians find important that outsiders don’t care about appeared first on Matador Network.

Russian pond dump for chemicals

Appearances can be deceiving. In this case, they are deceiving and dangerous.

A pond in the Russian city of Novosibirsk has been the backdrop of many an Instagrammer lately. The pond’s blue waters are an appealing shade of blue reminiscent of a tropical destination — so much so that it’s been nicknamed “Russia’s Maldives” and “Novosibirsk Maldives.”

But what appears to be a perfectly natural lake with clear blue water is actually a man-made deep ash dump from a nearby coal plant. The lovely turquoise color is reportedly the result of dissolved calcium and metal oxides.

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Swedish floating hotel

This hotel in Sweden is planning on making all the other hotels and spas around the world look like shabby holes.

The beautiful circular Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa will be located on the Lule River in Luleå, a coastal city on the Gulf of Bothnia, north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland. Designed by architects Bertil Harström, Johan Kauppi, and Annkathrin Lundqvist, the hotel, meant to resemble floating timber, will rest on the river during the summer and freeze in the ice during the winter.

Photo: Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa

Slated to open in February 2020, the hotel will consist of six cabins on land and six floating cabins. The spa will be in the main floating hotel and feature several saunas, a hot bath, and an outdoor cold bath around which visitors can sunbathe or winter bathe. The floating hotel will also have a lounge, shop, bar, and a restaurant.

Photo: Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa

Different wellness treatments will be available to guests and those who wish to take a break from all the pampering can take part in the many nature activities around the hotel.

Photo: Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa

You can now book stays between February 2020 through February 2021 by visiting the hotel’s booking page, with rates starting around $845 per night.


More like this: Everything you need to know before your first floatation therapy

The post This floating hotel and spa will soon open on a Swedish river appeared first on Matador Network.

Northern Ireland abortion laws

In a major victory for the LGBTQ community and women, British MPs have voted to extend same-sex marriage and abortion rights to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland had been the only part of the UK where abortion rights remained illegal, and the vote was long delayed because many MPs believed any progressive changes had to be made by the Northern Irish government itself. Since that government has been in political deadlock for three years, however, Labour MPs have succeeded in pushing the vote forward in the British Parliament to the excitement of equality groups everywhere.

The new marriage amendment, put forth by Conon McGinn, will go into effect within three months if the Northern Irish government remains stalled. McGinn, who comes from Northern Ireland himself, reassured UK citizens that if the Northern Irish parliament isn’t functioning, “the LGBT community in Northern Ireland will know that Westminster will act to ensure equality and respect for all citizens, and finally give them the right to marry the person they love.”

The abortion amendment was introduced by MP Stella Creasy, who expressed her enthusiasm after the vote’s passage. “Thank you to everyone who today stood up for equality in Northern Ireland,” she said, “whether for same-sex marriage or abortion, today we have said everyone in the UK deserves to be treated as an equal. There’s a road to go yet but today is a big step forward.”

There is the condition, however, that the laws could be overturned by a future assembly. And to reiterate, this also only goes into effect if the Northern Irish parliament is still stalled come October 21.

The vote was welcomed in Northern Ireland by the centrist Alliance Party and moderate nationalist SDLP, though more conservative politicians were unsurprisingly skeptical.

H/T: The Guardian

More like this: The top 10 LGBTQ travel bloggers you need to follow

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Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, travel

Bukit Bintang means “Star Hill” in Malay. In Malaysia’s capital city, the term is synonymous with lively nightlife, blinding city lights, bustling crowds, and an excellent mix of street food and high-end dining, often right next to each other. The bright lights may be reminiscent of New York’s Times Square, but Bukit Bintang is more upscale and eclectic. Today, this is Kuala Lumpur’s most vibrant and happening neighborhood and an unmissable stop on any trip here. Here’s how to get the most out of Bukit Bintang.

First, understand a bit of the neighborhood’s history.

Photo: TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock

Bukit Bintang was a focal point in the deadly race riots that took place a half-century ago on May 13, 1969. Malaysians clashed heavily, and violently, with Chinese and Indian immigrants following an attempt by the Malay government to create a more diverse, multiracial society. This followed the country’s general election three days prior, in which opposition parties, which were heavily Chinese, performed strongly against the Malaysian incumbent party — leading to a resulting sense of empowerment and resentment by different ethnic groups. Nearly 600 people were killed, according to some estimates, and the country’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, was forced to step down.

In the 1980s, an attempt to rejuvenate the area lead to a flurry of retail developments, which have gradually transformed Bukit Bintang into a lively entertainment district and hip food hub. The last 10 years have seen a number of high-end malls and nightlife districts sprouting up, cementing its reputation as a base for the city’s increasing number of international tourists.

Come on an empty stomach.

Photo: Helissa Grundemann/Shutterstock

Underneath those bright city lights is enough food to keep even the most diehard foodie busy for months. You can explore Jalan Alor, a street lined with hawker stalls selling an array of local delicacies, until the early hours of the morning. Keep your eyes peeled for the Wong Ah Wah BBQ chicken wing stall. Its juicy chicken wings will leave a sweet-sour, slightly fragrant taste in your mouth. Alternatively, go underground at the LOT 10 Hutong Heritage Food Village, just off the train station and Jalan Sultan Ismail. The entrance is small and, like the space itself, unassuming, but after taking the escalator down, a full-on food court experience opens up. Try hokkien mee, friedkway tiao, wantan mee, soong kee beef noodles, or the aptly named roast duck. For something a bit more upmarket, try the restaurants in Starhill Gallery.

About a half-hour walk from the heart of Bukit Bintang is the Central Market, also known as Pasar Seni. Translating to “Art Market,” it offers an array of traditional handicrafts. If you walk upstairs, there is also a food court filled with delicious local food as well as a famous Peranakan-style restaurant that shouldn’t be missed. Finally, a 22-minute walk will take you to the Pudu Glutton Street night market. You can do exactly what the name says and be a true glutton for the night. Not many tourists know about this, but locals travel far and wide for the crispy fried chicken, delicate steamed pork buns, tender soy noodles, and local desserts at this locally renowned hawker stall alley.

Shop, but beware of counterfeits.

Photo: nvelichko/Shutterstock

For high-end fashion, the Pavilion KL and Starhill Gallery both have Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Gucci. Nevertheless, the 12-story Berjaya Times Square and Isetan have mid-range options to suit savvy shoppers. The former also has an indoor theme park with 14 different rides, including a roller coaster. If you are looking for something budget-friendly, opt for Sungei Wang and Lot 10, which has an array of equally fashionable local boutiques. If you want to purchase or fix any electrical devices, visit Low Yat Plaza. Be sure to haggle at all three retail outlets as the initial prices quoted will be marked up, and the vendors will expect you to bargain for a final price. Another thing to bear in mind is that there is a strong chance the electrical products offered will be counterfeit; as such, warranties may not be valid in your respective home countries.

Have a drink at Southeast Asia’s most unique bar.

Photo: Dzerkach Viktar/Shutterstock

A mere 10-minute walk from Bukit Bintang but still on Jalan Sultan Ismail is a bar with a 360-degree view of the city, the Heli Lounge Bar. During daylight hours, this skyscraper rooftop serves as a functioning helipad. At night, it’s one of the most unique spots to get a drink in all of Southeast Asia. You can catch the sunset on this rooftop bar, jam to the tunes of a DJ, and do your best not to succumb to vertigo — but book in advance as it’s a popular place to take pictures. The drinks are also expensive, so it’s worth ordering one drink to catch the sunset and heading to Changkat to party the night away.

Changkat Bukit Bintang is the city’s hotspot for partying, with KL’s most popular bars and clubs located along the street — perfect for a pub crawl. The Havana Bar & Grill and Pisco combine Latin American themed restaurants with nightclubs. Expect to eat good steak at the former and impressive cocktails at the latter. Beyond those two, head to these spots for late-night drinks and dancing:

The Rabbit Hole has a variety of different themed rooms to cater to any music taste. It offers ‘80s hits, techno, and R&B music for all types of partygoers.
If you are a whiskey connoisseur, then head to The Whiskey Bar. It has a chilled, sophisticated ambiance and a selection of more than 650 labels stocked. If craft beer tickles your fancy, then Taps Beer Bar offers the largest range of craft beer in Malaysia.
No Black Tie offers live music and has a laid-back and casual ambiance. Apart from jazz music, it also offers poetry acts and readings by locals. Opium is a glamorous oriental-themed bar with exotic cocktails.
If you are looking for a large party venue to have a dance-off on a neon-lit dance floor, head to the Zion Club Kuala Lumpur. It normally features EDM music but also has a reggae bar in one section of the club.

Be a tourist and take in some sights.

Photo: ArtRomanov/Shutterstock

After you’ve eaten to your heart’s content, partied until sunrise, and shopped until your bank starts getting alarmed, you could take a break the urban excess and head to the KL Forest Eco Park. Formerly known as the Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill) Forest Reserve, this is one of the oldest forest reserves in the country. The three-acre area houses a range of tropical flora and fauna. The canopy in the trees is particularly exciting as it gives the sensation you are walking on air through dense forest trees. Entry is free, and there is also a children’s playground and a wooden gazebo offering sweeping views of KL.

Photo: Selfie Museum KL/Facebook

Or go on all in and hit up the most guilty-pleasure-worthy attraction in the neighborhood: the Selfie Museum. Yes, you can now visit a colorful, candy-sprinkled museum dedicated to the art of selfies. Before you dismiss this idea as millennial self-indulgence, the idea behind the concept came from how families bond when they eat and take pictures together. It is also important to bear in mind that apart from posing with the desserts, you get to eat them too. There are nine delectable dessert-themed rooms and five Malaysian inspired desserts. The museum was supposed to be closed by now, but its run keeps getting extended due to popularity. Even if it does close for a bit, the chances of it coming back are strong.

While here you should also take in the spectacular views from the Menara KL Tower. Standing at 1,380 feet tall, the Menara KL Tower has a viewing deck that is 330 feet higher than the Twin Towers Skybridge. Expect to see miles and miles of the city from a unique angle. If hunger hits, the tower also has a revolving restaurant, Atmosphere 360.

If you’re prepared to walk 30 minutes, visit the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. It has a main prayer hall, as well as intricate carvings of Hindu deities with precious stone and gold embellishments. The Chan See Shu Yuen Temple is the oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Malaysia. You can say a silent prayer or admire the gold-plated shrines and colorful pillars that pay respect to ancient Chinese history. In both places, you will be required to take your shoes off, and unfortunately, there are occasions when shoes have been stolen. Bring a plastic bag to place your shoes in, and bring them along with you to safeguard your footwear.

Where to stay

Photo: Farizun Amrod Saad/Shutterstock

A range of accommodations will suit many budgets, all within close proximity to food and shops. If you’re looking for glitz and glam, opt for the JW Marriott KL or the Ritz Carlton. Both are walking distance to the Bukit Bintang malls and no more than a 20-minute walk to the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC, a massive shopping mall nearby. Try the sumptuous buffets to sample award-winning Chinese-Malaysian cuisine. You’ve never had mall food that wowed you like this.

Alternatively, you can check out the boutique hotels WOLO and the Kuala Lumpur Journal Hotel. The latter has an infinity rooftop pool while the former has its own in-house bakery. If you visit WOLO, be sure to order the eggs benedict breakfast. It’s their specialty, and experienced travelers to Asia who also happen to be fans of a Western breakfast know that a good one can be a rare find.

How to get to Bukit Bintang

Photo: TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock

Generally, most people take Grab, a ride-hailing app similar to Uber, from the KLCC train station as the prices are quite reasonable. The company actually merged with Uber’s Malaysia operation, so you’re going to have to download Grab if you want to hail rides in the city. It shouldn’t cost more than RM5, or about $1.25.

You can also get to Bukit Bintang by train via the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line or the KL Monorail. Both will take you directly to the Bukit Bintang station. If you’re traveling from KL Sentral, (one of the main train connections ), you can alight the SBK Line via Muzium Negara, which is a five-minute walk from KL Sentral. If you’re coming in from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, a Grab ride should run about RM80, or $20. The neighborhood itself is highly walkable, so you won’t need a car and generally shouldn’t need to hail rides unless you plan to head to other parts of town.

If you do decide to rent a car and park in the area of Changkat, note that parking is difficult to find. Often you will encounter parking attendants manning free parking lots. If you park, they expect a fee, and if you refuse to pay, your car may be damaged when you return. Sometimes it’s worth paying the small fee to avoid any hassles.


More like this: Here’s why Da Nang needs to be on your travel bucket list

The post Glamour and gluttony in Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang neighborhood appeared first on Matador Network.

Canadian national parks near US

The weather is still plenty warm, and the outdoors are calling. If you’re ready for a new wilderness destination, consider heading north. Rugged Canada is packed with stunning national parks, many of them easily accessible from the US by car or ferry. Depending on your destination, you could watch moose walk as if on stilts, see otters splash in rivers, or admire seals sunning on an island shore.

Canada’s 39 national parks and eight national reserves cover over 125,000 square miles, so there’s no lack of options to experience incredible nature, wildlife, and sites of historical and cultural significance. Here we list several parks that are just north of the US border — some of them not too far from US cities like Seattle and others, like those north of Montana, best viewed as an addition to a US park visit.

1. Gulf Islands National Park — British Columbia

Photo: 2009fotofriends/Shutterstock

Floating between Vancouver and Victoria Island, the Gulf Islands National Park is made up of 16 different islands and numerous islets, reefs, and nearby underwater wonders. Eagles and sea birds circle below the clouds and above the island-dotted Salish Sea, itself full of seals, otters, and other marine creatures. If you’re afraid of the Canadian cold, this is the place for you, as Gulf Islands has the mildest climate of any park in Canada.

Unlike the rest of Canada’s parks, there is no gate or educational center at the entrance. Simply hop on a ferry from Vancouver, which is just a two-hour drive from Seattle. You can then kayak or take a water taxi to the island of your choice and explore mountains, observe underwater life, and learn about the First Nations groups in the area. Stay for a day or reserve a campground and sleep near the sea.

2. Waterton Lakes National Park — Alberta

Photo: BGSmith/Shutterstock

Covering both Rocky Mountains and prairie landscape, Waterton straddles the Montana border with the US’s Glacier National Park. You can tack on Waterton as a day trip from Glacier National Park or book a campsite to wake up to the sound of a trickling glacial river and, if you’re lucky, grazing moose. If you opt not to camp, you could also glam it up at the Prince of Wales Hotel.

Waterton offers up ample space to explore mountainous hikes, flat prairie vistas, and some of the deepest lakes in Canada. This stunning park with crystal lakes and endless hiking trails will not disappoint. A highlight is walking or driving the Red Rock Parkway, a nine-mile paved road that follows the Buffalo Trail used by First Nations hunters. The road winds around gentle slopes where you’ll have mountainous views and ample opportunity to see wildlife. There are several side trails you can hike on, including Red Rock Canyon where you can stroll around the canyon admiring the brightly colored rocks and take a dip in Red Rock Creek.

3. Banff National Park — Alberta

Photo: Thomas Barrat/Shutterstock

Located in the Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park, established in 1885. Covering 2,464 square miles, the park is packed with mountains, glaciers, ice fields, and glacial lakes and rivers. Located a six-and-a-half-hour drive from Spokane, Washington, Banff is not exactly an easy drive from the US — but, given Banff’s splendor, we couldn’t make a list of Canadian national parks you can reach by car without putting it on the list.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Banff. Dozens of trails in varying degrees of difficulty criss-cross the park. You can hike them, tackle some via mountain bike, and explore them on cross-country skis or snowshoes in the colder months. You’ll see glacial lakes, ice fields, and forests, and you may find bears, moose, mountain goats, and elk as you explore.

Banff has 13 campgrounds, including some equipped with oTENTiks, which are a permanent tents with beds. In Banff, you could also sleep in luxury at the famed Fairmont Lake Louise.

4. Parc Nacional De La Mauricie — Quebec

Photo: Maurizio De Mattei/Shutterstock

La Mauricie lies between Montreal and Quebec City, accessible to residents of Vermont and northern Maine in a six- or seven-hour drive. Based in the southern Canadian Shield area and home to over 150 lakes, La Mauricie is a perfect spot for canoeing, kayaking, and swimming enthusiasts. You can meander along river banks and jump in waterfall pools before starting a campfire and listening to the sounds of owls and other birds as you wind down for the evening. You can stay in tents or oTENTiks here.

As in many of Canada’s parks, you’ll find black bears, moose, otters, and plenty of other wildlife here. Most interestingly, La Mauricie is home to wood turtles, a North American species of turtle that isn’t often spotted in the Canadian wilderness. Be sure to take a half day at the park to walk the Les Cascades trail to visit several of the parks’ waterfalls. Bring swimming gear and snacks.

5. Pukaskwa National Park — Ontario

Photo: Russ Heinl/Shutterstock

With 725 square miles of land along the shores of lake superior, Pukaskwa is home to the longest protected shoreline among the Great Lakes. On the shores of Lake Superior, Pukaskwa is accessible via a long drive from northern Wisconsin or Michigan. You’ll experience the beauty of the Great Lakes while you watch waves crash against the granite shore, and you’ll take in boreal forests, sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs as you trek or canoe your way around this park.

You’ll hear Canadian loons in the evening or possibly observe black bears feasting on berries — or taking a peek through your garbage. Also, join weekly talks to learn about the Anishinaabe First Nation that calls this park home. Hattie Cove is full of campsites; you can also head to the backcountry campsites or stay in an oTENTik.

6. Fundy National Park — New Brunswick

Photo: Jay Yuan/Shutterstock

Fundy National Park is in the Maritimes, a part of Eastern Canada — including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island — with a unique coastal culture and the best seafood in Canada. You could spend hours on the red shores of Fundy National Park watching boats become shored and the beach expand during one of the highest tide changes in the world.

You could rent a sea kayak to get a different view of the shoreline or hike to one of the park’s 25 waterfalls for a freshwater dip while exploring Canada’s only officially bilingual province. Finish your day with a fresh lobster or seafood dinner at one of the many seafood shacks and eateries in the area. After dinner, you could stay in a tent, oTENTik, rustic cabin, or, for a family of four, get cozy in a yurt.

7. Grasslands National Park — Saskatchewan

Photo: Krista Marie T/Shutterstock

One of only two national parks in Saskatchewan, this park is part of the Prairie Grasslands protected region. The unique climate and landscape make it home to several animals and plants found in few other places — such as bison, black-tailed prairie dogs, rattlesnakes, and needle grass. It’s just north of the border with Montana, but the nearest sizable city is still more than a five-hour drive away.

What you’ll see, once you finally arrive in the “land of the living skies,” are some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world as you glimpse the buffalo roaming on wide open vistas. You could paddle a kayak down the Frenchman River, discover a backcountry trail, or drive around the Badlands Parkway before retiring to your oTENTik or teepee and waking up with the sunrise. If you do want to stay in a teepee, be sure to reserve it ahead of time.

8. Point Pelee National Park — Ontario

Photo: Cosmin Nahaiciuc/Shutterstock

The southernmost point of mainland Canada, Point Pelee is less than an hour’s drive from Detroit. This small park makes a great day trip or a lovely spot for a weekend camping getaway. Walk along glacial sand, canoe down the marsh, and, in the summer months, swim at one of the warmest beaches in Canada. Around 70 percent of the park is covered in marshland, and the rest is composed of forest and coast.

For birdwatchers, Pelee is one of the best spots in North America to take your binoculars for a spin. Over 370 bird species have been spotted in the park, and you can even visit for the Festival of Birds held each spring in the park. In summer, you can also take the shuttle to the tip. This short ride to the southernmost point in Canada gives you can unobstructed lake views and makes for a great spot to watch the sunset. Then if you want to stay the night, you can opt for an oTENTik in the park.

9. Kejimkujik National Park — Nova Scotia

Photo: Vadim.Petrov/Shutterstock

Kejimkujik is the only park in Canada that is both a national park and a National Historic Site. Spread over two land areas, the inland part explores the history of the Mi’kmaq cultures in the region and the coastal area a short drive from Maine. Nova Scotia is one of the best places to experience the politeness of Canadians. Nod hello to fellow hikers as you explore the endless trails looking over coastal bogs, beaches, lagoons, and fauna in Kejimkujik.

You can walk to the highest point in the park, Mount Tom, enjoy the stunning coastal views. Amidst the beauty of nature here, join a tour to discover ancient Mi’kmaq stone carvings and learn about Mi’kmaq traditions in the area. Lodging options here include cabins, tents, oTENTiks, and yurts. Less than a 10-minute drive from the park, you could also stay in a teepee at Mersey Rivers Nature Retreats.


More like this: Why Banff should be the base for your next backcountry adventure

The post 9 stunning Canadian national parks you can drive to appeared first on Matador Network.

Best big-city magic shows in the US

Sitting at the fulcrum of a half-circle table and surrounded by eight onlookers, a magician pushed three cups around on the table. We had watched him place a ball under one cup, but when he lifted the cup with the ball under it, a lemon came out. He reset, and when he lifted the cups this time, lemons larger than the cups themselves fell out and rolled around the table.

I’ve always been a sucker for sleight of hand, but this brief moment during the Speakeasy Magick show at The Club Car in New York City’s McKittrick Hotel felt like straight magic.

Magic shows are in the class of experiences that sound far more impressive in the moment. Like a joke, you really have to be there. Also like a joke, you think about a good magic show long after it’s over.

At Speakeasy Magick, magic is for adults — even jaded New Yorkers who think they’re above tricks and idle entertainment. It’s a throwback to when magic shows were wildly popular, joining other adult-focused magic venues across the country like Magic and Wine and the famed Magic Castle in California, and Chicago Magic Lounge and the Magic Penthouse in Chicago.

“Magic is an ancient form of entertainment,” says Cesar Hawas, the McKittrick Hotel’s special envoy. “To that end, I really do think it transcends ‘trendiness’ and is really all about the timeless and universal experience of watching something that completely subverts logic and blows your mind happen right in front of your eyes.”

Magic is, once again, prime entertainment in the big city.

Entertainment that’s waxed and waned in popularity but never disappeared

Photo: Mckittrick Hotel Speakeasy Magick

Modern magic shows date back to 1845. That was the year that Jean Eugene Robert Houdin, a natural showman with a naturally sing-songy name, started a run of shows in a Paris theater. He levitated his assistants and did other big-stage acts you’d see during a modern Las Vegas show. He also got close to his audience with coins and cards, daring people to confront the illusions face to face.

Houdin represented a hard switch from how magic and sleight of hand were perceived earlier in human history (witch trials, anyone?). He’s perhaps most familiar among even the magic-averse as the inspiration behind Erik Weiss’ stage name, Harry Houdini.

Magic was king in the early 1900s and through the 1920s in large part thanks to Houdini. He regularly performed death-defying acts like getting out of a water tank while shackled, and did special challenges like the time he escaped the carcass of an embalmed whale in Boston that had been sewn back together. Other magicians flourished, as well, like Houdini’s more popular rival at the time, Howard Thurston. Then there was P.T. Selbit, who was the first magician to saw a woman in half instead of a man, forever changing the magician-assistant dynamic.

The end of the act for magic as entertainment came in the late 1920s. Houdini died on Halloween in 1926, and the talking picture show came about in 1927. Then the Great Depression started, and magic acts disappeared along with the glitz and glam of the Jazz Age.

Magic waxed and waned in popularity in post-Great Depression America. After World War II, a new style of magic done close to the audience was pioneered in Chicago. It dropped in popularity again in the 1970s, then David Copperfield rose to fame in the late ‘70s and ‘80s to become the most famous (and most commercially successful) magician ever.

Perhaps the most infamous fall in the popularity of magic was in 1997, yet it was also in part responsible for the close-up acts performed in venues today. From 1997 to 1999, a TV show called Breaking the Magician’s Code aired nationally on Fox and exposed how many of the famous classic stage illusions are done. A masked magician, later revealed as Val Valentino, exposed tricks like how to catch a bullet, saw a woman in half, levitate a woman, and pull a bunny out of a hat. The four episodes can, as of this writing, be binged on Netflix.

After that fall came the rise once again of close-up magic from the likes of (Mindfreak) Criss Angel, David Blaine, and others who are willing to learn how to eat razors then pull them out of their belly buttons.

Close-up magic is big entertainment in the Big Apple

Photo: Mckittrick Hotel Speakeasy Magick

At The Club Car in The McKittrick, a hazy smoke fills the air. A roving bar cart does laps around the room, dishing out bespoke cocktails to guests as they keep their eyes on the magicians. A lone piano player sets the mood with jaunty background tunes. Host Todd Robbins primes the audience with corny but lovable jokes as he performs tricks like ripping a newspaper to bits only to have it all come back together again with the help of some fire.

“We are all really big fans of magic here, and it just really made sense,” Hawas says. “Speakeasy Magick actually came together pretty quickly. We’ve known Todd Robbins for a while and had been trying to figure out what kind of experience we could collaborate on. This just fell into place with Todd curating a roster of the best magicians that the NYC scene has to offer.”

The magic show is a smart follow-up to the McKittrick’s wildly popular immersive theater show Sleep No More, where audience members walk around the hotel in masks watching a disturbing play loosely based on Macbeth. Opened in 2011 and still going strong, it was exactly the kind of quirky experience bored locals are always looking for to keep date night interesting. Speakeasy Magick offers this same crowd another more affordable and slightly less avante-garde option.

When it comes to the magical acts, those at Speakeasy Magick and others eschew the types of big-box tricks exposed in Breaking the Magician’s Code. A group of NYC magicians instead rotate from table to table in The Club Car. Each performs tricks feet away from a small group for a set amount of time, and then moves to the next table. Some read the minds of people who want to travel, pulling up destination planning on their phone several long minutes before the person coughs up where they want to go. Others make an audience-signed playing card disappear and then reappear in pockets or wallets. Think of it like speed dating, but for magicians and audiences.

“We’ve been really excited by audiences’ reaction to Speakeasy Magick,” Hawas says. “It is the perfect marriage of space, vibe, and art. New York audiences are especially primed for this sort of thing; they’re adventurous, and that disposition lends itself really well to all of the curious experiences here at The McKittrick.”

An adult-oriented magic show likely isn’t the first thing on your mind when you plan a trip to New York City, or any large city for that matter. But it should be. Sleight of hand is more fun with a drink in hand. These are the shows that’ll convert you into a magic fan.

The best adult magic shows in the US
Speakeasy Magick — New York, New York

Photo: Mckittrick Hotel Speakeasy Magick

Intimate performances are done tableside by magicians who have worked with performers like Criss Angel, Penn and Teller, and more. Each experience is different, as you’ll end up with a different cast each time you go.

When and where: The Club Car at The McKittrick Hotel in Manhattan. Shows are on Thursdays at 8:00 PM, Fridays at 7:00 PM, and Saturdays at 8:00 PM and 10:30 PM.

Cost: $110 per guest to $1,500 for a whole table

Magic & Wine — Anaheim, California

Photo: David Minkin/Facebook

If you find yourself going to Disneyland with the fam and are looking for a more adult variety of magic, head to Magic & Wine in Anaheim, where wine tasting and magic join for what Johnny Depp has apparently called “the greatest thing” he’s ever seen. The 100-person audience spends an hour eating small plates and sipping wine, which is followed by a 90-minute show by David Minkin in an adjacent room.

When and where: Shows take place at the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel on select Fridays at 7:30 PM.

Cost: $69-250

Chicago Magic Lounge — Chicago, Illinois

Photo: Chicago Magic Lounge/Facebook

Modeled after Chicago’s close-up magic bars of yore, the Chicago Magic Lounge offers guests three chances to catch some magic: a performance bar where you can order drinks, a 120-seat cabaret theater, and a close-up showroom called The 654 Club. You’ll be entertained with drinks and magic no matter where you choose.

When and where: Enter through a laundromat at 5050 N. Clark Street. Check the website for specific showtimes. The bar is open Monday through Wednesday from 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM, Thursday from 5:30 PM to 12:00 AM, Friday and Saturday from 5:30 PM to 2:00 AM, and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM to 11 :00 PM.

Cost: $42 and up


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Cities by beaches and mountains

Sometimes, doing just one outdoor activity in a day isn’t enough. You want a morning surf followed by an afternoon hike, topped off by a skyline view worthy of cracking open a summit beer. There are cities all over the world where you can access both beaches and mountains, but we want places where you can wake up, catch that surf or a seaside cup of coffee, and then be in the thick of the mountain pines in time for a late brunch.

Some of these cities will even let you hit the sand and snow — for a surf then a ski — in the same day, without having to call in sick to a dinner shift. These six cities not only make this easy to do but are also the kinds of places where you likely won’t be the only person doing it.

1. San Francisco, California

Photo: canadastock/Shutterstock

Here’s the thing about San Francisco: Its people are diverse, they’re worldly, and most of all, they’re innovative. And not just when it comes to technology. They’ve managed to turn their cold-water, northern California city into a prime surf destination in a state with no shortage of them. Just check out SF’s Ocean Beach, which a few years ago hosted an international surf championship won by the world’s winningest surfer, Kelly Slater.

But beyond the beach, SFers have managed to turn nearly everywhere around the city into a place worthy of outdoor exploration. Keep it close at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods, or drive west on I-80 for three-four hours to Lake Tahoe and its dozen ski resorts, including Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics games. The same few hours also puts you in Yosemite National Park, where you can hike, climb, and camp to your heart’s content.

2. Auckland, New Zealand

Photo: gracethang2/Shutterstock

Auckland surfers can reach waves just 30 minutes from downtown at Maori Bay, but the best surfing is at Piha, just a 45-minute drive away. Just behind Piha, the Waitakere Ranges or Hunua Ranges are great for post-surf hiking or mountain biking. Skiing is available though it’s about four hours away at Turoa and Tukino.

Auckland is also the hub of New Zealand’s cafe scene. Another cool thing about Auckland is that its southern-hemisphere location means you can prioritize your favorite activity and do it when its off-peak back home. Skiers, for example, should head down in July or August when the snow is long gone in most of the US, but the pow and surf are in full-on swell mode down here.

3. Hong Kong

Photo: KY CHO/Shutterstock

Hong Kong is a hectic place, the type of city that can send beach and ski bums accustomed to the laid-back vibes of small-town life into a panic just walking down the street to dinner. But what distinguishes this city-state — a Special Administrative Region connected to China by land and road but a world away ideologically — is that it’s surprisingly close to stunning natural mountains you can explore and even backpack in.

The city of seven million is effectively split in two, with the southern part on Hong Kong Island and the northern part on a peninsula that leads to the Chinese border city of Shenzhen. Beyond the immediate sightline of towering skyscrapers, much of the land Hong Kong occupies is divided into a series of country parks lined with trails, many of which conclude at sandy beaches. To top it off, many of these trails and beaches can often be accessed by public transit from anywhere in the city. Hike the Dragon’s Back down to the Shek-O or Big Wave Beaches for the ultimate win: a strenuous hike, epic waves, and views of both city and rugged coastline. Surf rentals are available at Big Wave Beach in case you don’t feel like lugging your board on a long, sweaty hike or stuffing it into the back of a taxi.

4. Santiago, Chile

Photo: Marianna Ianovska/Shutterstock

If you’re even the slightest bit outdoorsy, Patagonia likely has a spot on your must-visit list. But before you head to the deep south of South America, stop in Santiago. The Chilean capital is just over an hour from the sea and fewer than 60 minutes from wintertime skiing. Beaches north of Valparaiso, like Maitencillo and Cachagua, are fewer than two hours via highway 68 and offer excellent surfing all year. (And you’ll need a thick wetsuit all year.) In fact, Chile is packed with stunning beaches that beckon surfers, partiers, families, and sun seekers.

Santiago’s biggest draw for the outdoorsy, however, is its ease of access to high-intensity hiking and skiing. Inside the city itself, Cerro Pochoco and Cerro Provincia are medium intensity hikes. After you’ve done these two, head out to Yerba Loca Park. Then, get out into the backcountry on a long-distance trek. In winter, the Valle Nevado resort is just 45 minutes from the north side of the city. A longer drive gets you to the famed Portillo resort, which opened 70 years ago and is the oldest ski resort in South America.

5. Barcelona, Spain

Photo: Katsiuba Volha/Shutterstock

Many visitors come to Barcelona for the historic architecture, the cafe culture, the party scene, or to indulge in the markets and atmosphere of Spain’s most vibrant city. Most will visit a beach and lounge in the sun. Barcelona isn’t just a 90-minute drive from the stunning beach coves of the Costa Brava; it’s right next to beaches that are hopping all summer long. It may be the Mediterrean, but you can still surf small and fun waves at Barceloneta Beach or, just south of the city, Castelldefels and Sitges.

While plenty of visitors head to the sand in Barcelona, and maybe even have a long lunch at a seaside restaurant, far fewer visitors head west into Serra de Collserola Natural Park. They should, though. The stunning park covers the mountain that overlooks the city; its hiking and mountain biking trails are popular with locals. A bit further west takes you to the Montserrat Monastery or, due north, to the Consorci del Parc de la Serralada de Marina.

You could catch a beach session in the morning and then head up the cable car to Montjuïc, the city’s urban peak, in the afternoon. Or you could climb in the Collserola. To go all out, though, you could drive the two hours to the Masella ski resort in the La Cerdanya Valley.

6. Melbourne, Australia

Photo: Kamala Sakornmaneesup/Shutterstock

Of Australian cities, Melbourne isn’t the first that comes to mind for outdoors access. This is likely due to the fact that the coffee and conversation in Fitzroy can be so good it’s tough to peel yourself from the cafe table, let alone escape the city for a jaunt in the wilderness.

But you must muster the discipline because the Yarra Ranges await. Yarra is a national park with hiking, biking, and camping to rival the lower Appalachians and even a dose of skiing tossed in for good measure fewer than two hours from most parts of the city. As for beaches, the city has it all. Surf at Mornington Peninsula, Torquay, or along Great Ocean Road on the way to Victoria. Relax over a sunset at Elwood Beach. People watch at St Kilda. None of these beaches are far from a craft beer or locally roasted cappuccino.


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Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul's mezcal

Breaking Bad co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have a mezcal brand now, and they made the announcement via a post on both of their Instagrams on July 9. The brand is called Dos Hombres, and it’s described as “real, artisanal Mezcal made by hand in Mexico.”

Fans have been speculating on what the duo have been up to since Cranston posted a ‘gram in June of two burros, then one of him and Paul walking through a tropical-looking river, then one of him drinking from a bowl. While many people thought a Breaking Bad movie announcement was impeding (and it still may be, for all we know), it looks like for now the only thing the two are collaborating on is their own line of booze. The Cranston-Paul collab is a joven (unaged) mezcal made from espadin, the most common type of agave used for mezcal. The flavor profile is described as having notes of apple, mango, local fruits, wood, and smoke.

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A post shared by Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul) on Jul 9, 2019 at 9:59am PDT

Other than the celebrities behind the brand, mezcal doesn’t have much of a tie in with Breaking Bad. Whiskey was the typical drink for characters, with brands like Dimple Pinch, WhistlePig, and Knob Creek all making appearances. And the name doesn’t cheekily nod to the series either. The inspiration, according to the joint Instagram post, came when they were eating sushi in New York City and talking about life and what they could next do together. Paul suggested “a really special mezcal,” and Cranston responded, “You mean the liquor with a worm at the bottom?”

The talk led to them going to Oaxaca “to see if we could find” artisanal mezcal that is “so damn good even people who don’t think they like mezcal will love it.” Long story short, they had a “beautiful yet grueling search” through Oaxaca before finding “Our Mezcal” in a small village. The name Dos Hombres came from them being “two guys on a quest.”

Cranston and Paul aren’t the first two white male celebrities to go from learning what mezcal is to owning a brand and calling it their own in a space of a few years. They’re also far from the only celebrities to own a liquor brand. Their entry into the market of Mexico’s rapidly growing native spirit is anything but unique.

By all means, people should make what they love. When what they love is a culturally significant product made in small local communities, however, respect has to be given where it’s due. Other than noting that it’s made from agave that’s “hand-selected from the hillsides of a small village in Oaxaca” by “the legendary craftsmanship of the best Mezcal Masters in Oaxaca,” there’s no credit to the people who actually made Dos Hombres.

On Reserve Bar, where you can buy a bottle for $58, it’s described as “the product of multiple generations of proud Mezcal producers” who remain unnamed despite “embodying the very best of Mexico.”

Hopefully, credit is at some point given where credit is due. Until then, if you want to try sustainable mezcal sold by mezcaleros and people who have taken the time to learn from mezcaleros, give these five brands a try.


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