Matador Network's Blog, page 1068

Bali hotel offers puppy therapy

There aren’t too many reasons to feel down if you’re vacationing in Bali, but just in case you are, this hotel is offering puppy therapy sessions for guests to chill.

The Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel in Ubud, in partnership with local dog rescue organization Bali Dog Association, is bringing in several puppies to cuddle with guests twice a week. The rescue organization works to rescue street dogs, and introduce them to more comfortable environments — so the dogs are probably just as grateful for these therapy sessions as the humans are.

Photo: Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel/Facebook

In preparation for the sessions, the hotel sets up an enclosed area by the pool, so no dogs can wander astray (and you can’t steal any cute pups). Guests can play with the dogs within this penned-in area, where dog toys are also provided.

Photo: Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel/Facebook

Sessions are offered at the hotel on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. If you’re already staying at the hotel, the puppy play dates are an added bonus — but for some, they might be the reason to book a room there in the first place. Prices for rooms at Puri Garden start at around $21 for a bed in a hostel-like dorm and up to $69 for a private twin or double room.


More like this: Everything you need to know about taking your dog into the great outdoors

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Reindeer yoga at Alaska ranch

If someone asked you what kind of yoga people do in Alaska, reindeer-themed yoga might not be your first guess — but it probably wouldn’t be your last, either. After all, there’s lemur and alpaca yoga, so it should not come as a surprise that some people are exercising beside Rudolph’s cousins.

This new summer yoga class in Fairbanks is offering weekly hatha or vinyasa sessions alongside cervides. Classes begin with a safety talk by yoga instructor and ranch employee Elsa Janney, and is followed by a one-hour session that pretty much resembles a normal yoga class — except you’ll be surrounded by baby and adult reindeer grazing.

Photo: Running Reindeer Ranch/Facebook

Yoga is the main focus, but Janney has been known to incorporate the reindeer where appropriate. She may ask participants to focus on the sounds around them, including noises made by the animals, and even socialize with them at times.

Photo: Running Reindeer Ranch/Facebook

Classes take place most Mondays and Fridays at 6:00 PM at the Running Reindeer Ranch for the duration of the summer.


More like this: 10 must-haves for the traveling yogi

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Thousands of smuggled turtles seized

Custom officials at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur airport have seized 5,255 baby turtles from baskets inside the suitcases of two Indian nationals, the Associated Press reports. The red-eared slider turtles were worth about $12,700 total, and were en route to be sold as pets in India. This particular turtle species is one of the most commonly traded turtles for the pet and meat markets.

The two smugglers, aged 30 and 42, were traveling through Malaysia from the Chinese city of Guangzhou. They did not have permits for the turtles, have been arrested, and could face up to five years in prison and a fine.

Zulkurnain Mohamed Yusof, a senior Malaysian customs official, said at a press conference, “This is the first such case of the year, and we are unable to state whether it involves a similar quantity or more [if compared with previous cases]. But it appears to be quite a large quantity in two suitcases found at the same time.”

The turtles will be cared for by wildlife officials until a permanent home can be found for them.


More like this: Can we stop visiting animal attractions? Here’s why, and here are better alternatives

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What to do on a nudist beach

Whether you want to reconnect with nature, avoid tan lines, or just fancy baring your butt in the sun, there’s more than one reason to check out nudist beaches. But they can be pretty intimidating if it’s your first time, and you’ll likely have loads of questions before you strip down to your birthday suit. Here is everything you need to know about enjoying the seaside au naturel with this list of 10 golden rules to abide by when visiting a nudist beach.

1. Check the law.

Some places allow full nudity, others are topless only. In the US, every state has its own rules, and in Europe, certain beaches are nudism-permitted. Check before you go, and keep your clothes on until you’re sure you’re in the right place.

Sometimes, a beach will have a nudist end and a clothed end. The different sections are generally well marked, but if you’re not sure, just look around and see what everyone else is doing. And remember to stick to your side: The British Naturist Beach Code advises nudists to refrain from approaching “textiles” (nudist slang for people wearing clothes) at all times. It’s a good rule to follow, whether or not you’re in Britain.

2. Remember to accessorize.

Just because you’re in your birthday suit, doesn’t mean you can’t wear anything at all. In fact, nudists like to dial up their accessories, like a giant sun hat and sparkly sunglasses, to stand out a little.

It’s also a good idea to bring sandals for walking across rocks and hot sand, sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, and everything else you’d usually pack. Note that you’re allowed to put on a jumper if it gets chilly or cover up with a sarong if the wind starts whipping sand across the beach.

3. Strip off gradually.

It’s normal to feel a little stage fright. Rather than diving in at the deep end, try removing your clothes gradually. Obviously, you don’t want to be that fully clothed person walking around gawping at everyone, but if it’s clear you’re just working up the courage to disrobe then you won’t stand out at all. Remember that there will be all kinds of ages and body shapes on the beach, so don’t worry about what you look like. Nudist beaches aren’t about perfection.

4. Don’t stress about grooming.

Whether you’re sporting fuzz or a Brazilian wax job, just go with what you’re comfortable with. You’re only obligation is to be clean, just like at a regular beach.

5. Look, but don’t stare.

There’s a difference between looking at people and ogling them. Nudist beaches are about relaxing around naked bodies, not sexualizing the situation, so long stares or repeated glances are not cool.

Taking photos is also not cool. Some locations don’t allow photography or filming of any kind — so no matter how great the sunset or how much you want to add #nudistselfie to your Instagram, leave your phone, drone, and selfie stick safely locked away in your car.

6. Cover up erections.

Nudist beaches aren’t meant to be sexual environments, and erections are not welcome. When you’re surrounded by folks in the buff, proudly waggling your thing around is a major faux pas. That said, erections occasionally happen and it’s not a big deal. If it happens to you, don’t bring attention to yourself; just lie on your front, cover it with a towel, or take a dip in the sea until it subsides.

7. Be firm about unwanted attention.

Nudists are proud of their community and enjoy getting to know each other. So don’t be surprised if someone wanders on over and strikes up a conversation. But if you find yourself on the receiving end of some unwanted attention, be firm and tell them you’d prefer some time to yourself.

If, on the rare occasion they turn out to be creeps who won’t leave you alone, then slip on a cover-up, move to a crowded area, and report them to the coastguard. If the beach isn’t staffed and your admirer won’t get the hint, call the police and let them fix the problem. You shouldn’t have to deal with sexual harassment just because you’re naked.

8. Flirt with caution.

The same rules apply here as they would in real life: If you can tell someone’s not into you, then don’t force it. You’ll need to be even better at reading body language on a nudist beach because people tend to feel extra-vulnerable without clothes on. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t flirt, just don’t comment on their physique (it’s creepy) and put extra time and effort into getting to know them on a friendly level before turning up the charm.

9. Don’t engage in sexual activities.

Sexual acts of any kind are not only frowned upon; they’re illegal. If you break the law, authorities will take a zero-tolerance stance: You’ll be kicked out, and may receive a lifetime ban, a fine, or imprisonment. Criminal activity also puts naturist use of the beach at risk — many have been shut down over the years.

Exhibitionism is also not okay. Naked is one thing, but twisting your body into yoga stretches is a bit much. Just make sure you respect those around you.

10. Respect people’s space.

Nude or not, it’s nice to have your own space on the beach. When you’re at a naturist spot, the need is higher because everyone is more vulnerable. If possible, position yourself at least 15-20 feet away from anyone else.

You should also respect shared places. Some nudist beaches have bars, cafes, or car parks on the shore. There’ll be a sign to let you know if you’re allowed to be nude there or not. It’s also polite to sit on a towel or sarong when relaxing on a public surface, so carry one with you at all times.


More like this: The 11 strangest-looking beaches around the world

The post 10 golden rules to abide by when visiting a nudist beach appeared first on Matador Network.

Heat wave in Europe

No one is exactly surprised when temperatures run high in the summer, but this heat wave in Europe is shattering records. In Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, meteorologists anticipate previous June highs to be approached or broken this week, reports The Guardian. With predictions reaching 113 degrees in southern France, Guillaume Woznica, a French forecaster, said, “The latest forecasts leave little room for doubt: we are heading for a new national record.”

Previously, the highest June temperature ever recorded in France was 106 degrees back in 2003, with the highest temperature ever recorded being 111 — also during the summer of 2003.

By Thursday, weather models are predicting a rise in temperature to over 100 degrees not just in France, but also Spain and much of continental Europe.

Given the dangerous nature of heat waves, authorities are encouraging people to stay indoors and drink plenty of water. “At times like these,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, “sick people, pregnant women, infants and elderly people are the most vulnerable. So we must be vigilant with them and have prevention measures in place in order to intervene as quickly as possible.”

Among these preventative measures are school cancellations. France’s education minister postponed the junior high final exams until early next week, citing safety concerns for students. Around 50 schools in the Essonne region south of Paris are being closed this week. Many, however, believe that these closures are counterproductive, as temperatures aren’t any cooler at home.


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Antarctica 2021 solar eclipse cruise

Knocking two things off your bucket list at once is tough. Like meeting the president at the Super Bowl. Or joining the Mile High Club with a celebrity. The confluence of events that are tough to come by alone, nearly impossible together.

Well in 2021, Poseidon Expeditions is giving you the chance to have two once-in-a-lifetime experiences in one fantastic voyage. No, you won’t be learning Mandarin while running with the bulls. But you will be setting foot on Antarctica and witnessing a full solar eclipse in 23 life-changing days. The November 20 Antarctic sailing of the M/v Sea Spirit out of Ushuaia will not only take you to the world’s most remote continent, but it’ll also sail right through the line of totality during the December 4 eclipse.

“Our goal is to meet the center of the moon’s shadow as it moves swiftly across the Scotia Sea,” said Nikolay Saveliev, president of Poseidon Expeditions via a press release. “This may well bring the ship within sight of the Weddell Sea pack ice, adding a great polar ambiance to this amazing celestial event.”

The ship won’t actually be in Antarctica during the eclipse but rather in the islands of South Georgia, home to 100 million seabirds including albatross, penguins, and prions. After gathering on the top deck to take in full totality, the ship’s guests continue on to Antarctica, where they’ll sail along the Antarctic peninsula and make stops in the South Shetland Islands. Though the awe-inspiring sight of daytime darkness and 360-degree sunsets might be tough to top, the remote glaciers and ice fields of Antarctica will give it a run for its money.

For this exceptional celestial event, Poseidon will add astrophysicist and author Paul M. Sutter to its roster of onboard experts, contributing his expertise in all things eclipse to the knowledge dropped by the ship’s biologists, geologists, and ornithologists. So you’ll basically leave this three-week adventure smarter than at least two characters on Big Bang Theory.

Sound like your idea of a vacation? Cool, just grab 16 grand and book your spot today. What, you thought having two lifetime-of-envy experiences at the same time was gonna come cheap? Triple-occupancy rates start at $16,556 if you’re willing to cram three in a room like it’s Spring Beak 2005. If you want to join the Seven Continent Club with your significant other, double occupancy starts at $21,886.

If you’ve got the cash, this is going to be one of the most epic cruises in history — and the 114 spots onboard will probably sell out fast. It’s not exactly a cheap trip. But still, it’ll probably cost you less than going on safari with a member of the royal family.


More like this: The next 10 total solar eclipses around the world

The post This epic cruise will take you to Antarctica during a full solar eclipse appeared first on Matador Network.

How to drink Negronis like Italians

The Negroni — a straight-forward mix of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth — is one of those drinks that any self respecting bartender knows how to make whether it’s on the menu or not. It’s a go-to cocktail for those precious hours between work and dinner, an Italian import that’s as popular as pizza and, in some circles, as prevalent as pepperoni.

The cocktail turns 100 in 2019 (at least according to the most widely accepted origin story), and the centenarian is peaking in its old age in the US. Once something solely made by bartenders, for bartenders, the Negroni is now part of the common drinker’s lexicon. There’s even an entire week in June dedicated to the Negroni called Negroni Week. More than 12,000 bars are participating in 2019, and the event has raised nearly $2 million for charitable causes since starting in 2013.

With this popularity in the US has come change to the cocktail that started it all. It’s no longer surprising to see on cocktail menus barrel-aged Negronis, Negronis made with coffee, and Negronis that swap in mezcal, Scotch, sloe gin, or any other spirit the bartender feels like.

But the original Negroni has a level of Italian chic that’s on par with Italian exports like Prada, Versace, and Armani. “For Italy, Negronis are a part of their history and culture,” says Anne Louise Marquis, national portfolio brand ambassador for Campari America. “The Negroni cocktail is imbedded within the Italian lifestyle, and it’s iconic status is celebrated and loved.”

Italians like simple classics that let the ingredients shine, Marquis adds, like a Negroni made solely with Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin. An orange garnish is the final touch. “In Italy, the sign of a great bartender is how well they can execute a classic.”

How the Negroni took over America

Photo: Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock

Most cocktail origin stories — take the Margarita, for example — are murky at best. The Negroni is not most cocktails. Bartender and drink historian Luca Picchi writes of the famous formulation in his book Negroni Cocktail: An Italian Legend. The story goes that a Florentine Count named Camillo Negroni walked into a bar in Florence called Casoni and asked for an Americano, a cocktail made with vermouth, bitters, and soda. He asked the bartender, Fosco Scarselli, to fortify his drink with some gin. This fortification sealed the deal and led to the modern Negroni.

(A less common theory is that it was created in Senegal in 1870 by General Pascal Olivier Comte de Negroni, as noted by the New York Times.)

Widespread written documentation of the Negroni doesn’t pop up until 1947, cocktail writer and historian David Wondrich writes in The Daily Beast. The ruling Fascist party banned the word cocktail, so the slow spread of the Negroni was more a problem of drinking styles and disastrous politics than of taste. Negronis and variations on the drink found a brief home in Paris during the 1920s thanks to Campari marketing events, but Negronis really took off in the years following World War II.

This postwar period was known as dopoguerra, then later took on the moniker la dolce vita. Campari was right there moving that sweet life forward from Rome to New York, and even had Orson Welles singing its praises. Welles wrote of the drink, “The bitters are excellent for your liver, the gin is bad for you. They balance each other.” While the health balance isn’t true, the taste balance is.

“Its perfect balance of bitter and sweet has made it the ambassador of ‘la dolce vita’ around the world,” Marquis says. “In its three simple ingredients it communicates so much about the Italian point of view: bitter yet sweet, simple yet complex, traditional yet adaptable. Of course, the heart of the Negroni is Campari, which is one of the most important and iconic brands in all of Italy. Ask any bartender how they make their Negroni. The gin and vermouth might change, but the heart is always Campari.”

Having the backing of Campari surely helped the drink become a phenomenon. Few things reach stardom without marketing, and the Negroni is no exception. The brand printed the cocktail recipe on the back of the bottle, something it does to this day. Negronis became a symbol of the sweet Italian life and a way to channel the Italian ethos no matter where you are.

The Negroni hit mainstream consciousness in the last 15 years in craft cocktail bars. Bartenders would order it, and then Americans, eager to look cool and order the cool drinks that bartenders order, followed suit. Cocktail bars across the country added it to menus along with Old Fashioneds, Martinis, and Manhattans.

Yet the flavor profile of the Negroni wasn’t natural to modern Americans. That bitterness of the Campari took some getting used to.

“We like to say it takes three tries to fall in love with a Negroni,” Marquis says, “but once you do, you are hooked for life.”

The case for the classic Negroni

Photo: Olexander Kozak/Shutterstock

“Even though this cocktail has been around for a century, in the US, we are still discovering and rediscovering the Negroni,” Marquis says. “American bartenders like to innovate, to swap out ingredients and push the edges of what a Negroni can be. In fact, in the past few years we’ve seen the meaning of ‘Negroni’ shift from just one drink to a whole family of drinks that we now call ‘The Negroni Family Tree.’ Negroni is more than a drink now; it’s become a category.”

The Negroni has always inspired variations, evidenced by the cocktail competitions Campari held in Paris in the 1920s. But if you want to evoke those same Italian vibes that the Negroni drinkers of the past were searching for, all you have to do is stick with the original.

“The Italian cocktail cannon is much smaller than that of other countries, but what it does do, it does very well,” Marquis says. “In general, Italians like classics — simple dishes and drinks that let their ingredients shine. The Negroni cocktail is an exercise in simplicity, sophistication, and restraint.”

One hundred years after its invention, the original Negroni is all you need for a mini vacation to the heyday of modern Italian culture.


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The post The Negroni is 100 years old. Start drinking it like the Italians do. appeared first on Matador Network.

December destinations to book now

It seems a little odd when you’re nursing your latest sunburn to start thinking about traveling in December. Thinking about cold weather in June is a little like looking at your work email on a Sunday. But barring any unforeseen cosmic changes, winter will eventually be coming. And some popular December destinations get painfully tough to book the longer you wait.

To find out exactly which places you should look to book now, Audley Travel — which has been booking custom itineraries to Asia, Africa, and South America for over 20 years — tapped its country specialists around the world for insider into. Combining that with data on consumer demand, popularity, and economic growth in countries around the world, they offered up these six spots you need to book now, before the masses catch on.

1. Russia

Photo: Reidl/Shutterstock

It seems a little counterintuitive that the largest country in the world would ever be crowded, especially during months that don’t inspire much other than staying inside and drinking vodka. But Russia during the holidays is one of the most colorful places in the world, with Christmas markets and all the chestnut-smelling goodness in Moscow and St. Petersburg drawing visitors by the thousands.

Similarly, Siberia might not sound like a prime December destination either, but the Trans-Sibeiran Railway is one of the most scenic trips you can take during the season. You’ll speed through magical winter tundra and snow-capped mountains on a three-day journey from Moscow to Lake Baikal, ending on the frozen waters of a place known as the “pearl of Siberia.”

2. Serengeti and Ruaha National Parks, Tanzania

Photo: EastVillage Images/Shutterstock

Safaris are always a popular winter trip, and with the world’s greatest migration going on in Tanzania, getting a spot on a game drive will be tough. The sight of two million wildebeest making their way across the Serengeti isn’t just one of the most impressive scenes in all of nature. It also draws big cats and other predators in droves, giving you your best chance all year to see the big five.

Audley, in its infinite wisdom, says the best way to ensure sightings is to visit a couple of parts of the country, so you’re not putting all your safari eggs in one proverbial basket. The central Serengeti has spots like Dunia Camp and Namiri Plains, where you can view wildlife from private decks and camp pools, while Ruaha National Park offers the same experience at Kwihala.

3. Myanmar and Vietnam

Photo: Jindowin/Shutterstock

Anyone who’s tried to do New Years in Phuket will be happy to warn you Thailand can be a bad idea that time of year. But other southeast Asian gems are getting popular too, especially during their most temperate months. Vietnam has beaches every bit as breathtaking as Thailand’s, and as people seek alternatives Audley suggests booking here before the masses catch on.

Myanmar, however, has far less likelihood of being mobbed, with all that stunning southeast Asian scenery and heavy dose of adventure. Head out to Ngapali Beach on the shores of the Bay of Bengal and enjoy the white sands that line this tiny fishing village. You can also bike to the majestic temples at Bagan, hike to remote villages in Loikow, and enjoy the calming waters of Inle Lake on a kayak or paddleboard.

4. Muscat, Oman

Photo: PlusONE/Shutterstock

The Gulf States’ next big destination is gaining in popularity as people seek something more cultural than Abu Dhabi and Dubai. And December will be the coolest month to get out and experience it. This peaceful country is an ideal place to dip your toes into Arabian culture, visiting sites like the Sultan Qaboos Mosque and the Muttrah Fish Souq, where you can enjoy the day’s catch cooked just hours after it’s pulled from the Arabian Sea.

The Muttrah area is also home to buildings from the period of Portuguese occupation, where you’ll see architecture unlike anywhere else in the region. Or travel inside the walled old city of Muscat, which actually locked its gates at curfew until the middle of the last century. Then take a trip out of the city and visit Wahiba Sands, a mesmerizing sand dune desert full of Bedouin camps and golden sunsets.

5. Douro Valley, Portugal

Photo: Kite_rin/Shutterstock

Trying to hit the Douro Valley during the summer is just an exercise in crowd control. But the holidays are still a hot time to go, as those looking to visit during slower months often opt for December. The vineyards won’t be flush with grapes like they are during the summer, but the tasting rooms will still be flush with wines. And the hotels and spas around wine country will still be in high demand.

In addition to the requisite wine tasting and self-pampering, the region also has quite a fascinating history, especially for those interested in Jewish history. During the 1980s, the little town of Belmonte was found to have a covert Jewish community that had been hiding out there since the Spanish Inquisition. The town’s Museu Judacio tells their story and the story of Jewish people in Portugal across centuries, an especially interesting place to visit during the festival of Hanukkah.

6. Costa Rica

Photo: Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock

Costa Rica’s secret has been out for decades now, so it should come as no surprise that it’s a winter destination that’s best booked during summer. The luxury hotels along famous beaches might already be jammed up, but if you’re looking for something different, try the Pacuare ecolodge, which is only accessible via whitewater raft. From there you can hike through the jungle, enjoy an afternoon of hard-core canyoneering, or visit local indigenous communities.

Sound a little too… rustic? Costa Rica still has plenty of other ways to take in its incredible wildlife, whether it’s walking through the mist at Central America’s largest cloud forest in the Monteverde Reserve or enjoying the peaceful riverfront in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Puerto Viejo town is also one of the best bird-watching destinations in the country, home to dozens of colorful bird species like the bare-necked umbrellabird.


More like this: The best places to travel this August

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Most beautiful tree tunnels

Trees provide the oxygen we need to breathe, absorb dangerous substances that seep into the soil, reduce noise, store carbon, and are the home of many wonderful creatures. Besides keeping us all alive, trees are also a treat for the eyes. Tree tunnels are especially beautiful, as they seem conjured out of fairy tales or romantic poetry. Whether they are naturally formed, planted, or built to look like a magical passageway, the natural pergolas are sights to see. Here are the seven coolest tree tunnels from around the world to check out.

1. Jozenji Avenue — Sendai, Japan

Photo: rujin/Shutterstock

About an hour and a half to two hours from Tokyo by bullet train, Sendai is the capital of Japan’s Miyagi prefecture and is known as the “City of Trees.” The name is apt as the northern city has an abundance of parks and tree-lined streets. But nothing is more emblematic of the City of Trees than Jozenji Avenue, a street running east to west through the middle of the city that’s filled with zelkova trees. On the eastern end are the Kotodai and Nishikicho parks, and on the west side is West Park, which is also a great spot to see cherry blossoms come springtime. It’s a great spot for a walk among nature without having to leave the urban core, and there are benches along the way in case you need to sit to fully appreciate the beauty of the place.

2. The Dark Hedges — Northern Ireland

Photo: Michael Rocktaeschel/Shutterstock

Perhaps one of the most well-known sights in Northern Ireland — thanks in part to HBO’s Game of Thrones — the Dark Hedges are a series of beech trees about an hour away from Belfast. The intertwining trees lead up to Gracehill House, a Georgian estate built in 1775. The original purpose of the trees was to impress visitors as they made their way up to Gracehill House, though now the trees are a must-see spot in themselves. In GoT, they stand in as the Kingsroad, a road with Castle Black in the North at one end and King’s Landing in the South at the other. The estate is now privately owned, and some of it is part of a golf course and hotel. To get to the Dark Hedges, you can take a bus, drive, or head out with one of the many tour operators from Belfast.

3. Canal du Midi — Toulouse, France

Photo: Yuryev Pavel/Shutterstock

The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built between 1667 and 1694 to connect the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea and provide a shorter alternative to passage through the Gibraltar Strait for the delivery of goods. Covering a distance of 223.6 miles, it begins around Toulouse and ends in Sète, passing through small towns and villages along the way.

You can’t go wrong no matter which part of it you decide to visit, as the entire length of it seems taken right out of an idyllic painting. It’s lined with thousands of lush trees, many of which are a variety known as plane trees, but a persistent fungus required that a number of them be cut down and burned; France’s waterways authority has promised to replant the trees to replace the diseased ones. In addition to walking along the canal, cycling is another popular option for travelers. From Toulouse, you can also cruise down the canal for a short amount of time or spend days going from town to town by boat; boats can either be self-driven or used with a guide.

4. Cypress tree tunnel — California, United States

Photo: Radoslaw Lecyk/Shutterstock

Monterey cypress trees that were planted around 1930 lead the way up to the historic KPH radio receiving station in Point Reyes, California. The trees were planted as a grandiose demonstration of the honor that RCA, an electronics company, bestowed on the radio project. In its prime, the station provided ship-to-shore communication via telegrams with Morse code and radioteletype. It was one of the first radio stations in the world and was the only commercial Morse code station still in use in the US until the early 2000s; every year on July 12, volunteers commemorate the last commercial Morse code transmission by putting KPH on the air. While it is no longer operational for commercial purposes, guided tours of the station are offered from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

5. Jacaranda-tree-lined suburban streets — Pretoria, South Africa

Photo: Vanessa Bentley/Shutterstock

Jacarandas are native to South America, but since their initial importation from Brazil, they’ve come to be synonymous with South African flora. Pretoria, one of South Africa’s three capitals, is nicknamed “Jacaranda City” due to the sheer number of jacarandas that bloom every year, draping the city in a purple hue. The first two jacaranda trees were planted in 1888 by J.D. Celliers on his home’s land, and a plaque honoring that is on the same property, now Sunnyside Primary School. While you can see jacarandas lining almost every suburban street in Pretoria, one great spot is Celliers Street, named after the man behind it all. Blooming takes place between late September and November in South Africa.

6. Tunnel of Love — Klevan, Ukraine

Photo: GoodMan_Ekim/Shutterstock

The Tunnel of Love in Ukraine surrounds railways tracks that are still in use, but it’s also a popular destination among newlyweds and couples. Legend has it that if two lovers walk through the tunnel while holding hands and their love is sincere, their wishes will come true. Visiting here will take a bit of patience if you want to go by public transportation as it’s located in the small town of Klevan. The closest town to Klevan with a variety of transportation options is Rivne, which you can get to by bus or train from Kiev; from Rivne to Klevan, you can again choose between a bus or train — be aware, however, that trains are less frequent than buses, but the train from Rivne to Klevan will get you closer to the tunnel.

7. Viale Ceccarini — Riccione, Italy

Photo: GoneWithTheWind/Shutterstock

Viale Ceccarini is one of the main streets in Riccione, a seaside Italian town on the Adriatic Coast. It was built toward the end of the 1800s and was renamed in 1912 after its benefactor, Maria Boorman Ceccarini. Bound by tall pine trees, the lively street is known as a social hub for locals and tourists, with many shops, cafes, bars, cafes, and restaurants.


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Best beach books 2019

No more work-assigned reading or book reports — summer is all about diving into some new releases and classics that will transport you to another world, especially if you upcoming vacation plans. The narrators in each of the books listed here bring the reader along on a first-time experience, whether it’s traveling to a new country or falling in love in a foreign city. Here are seven of our favorite summer reads to bring with you on your travels or to kick back with at the beach — or both.

1. The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein

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Rebecca Dinerstein takes us on a summer journey to a small grouping of isolated islands off the northern coast of Norway. Just above the Arctic Circle, an ever-present summer sun beats down on a love story unfolding between two New York strangers who have traveled to this remote land for very different reasons. Frances, a native of Manhattan, escapes her parent’s divorce and the pressures of post-college life for a summer artist residency, while Yasha, an émigré to the Russian neighborhood of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn brings his father’s body to Norway to fulfill his final wish to be buried in the land of the Vikings. While their summers take unexpected paths, Frances and Yasha find refuge in one another and the solitude of the remote landscape of the Lofoten Islands.

2. Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead

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Colson Whitehead is well known for the recent success of Underground Railroad, but this established author’s 2009 novel is a more personal account of growing up as an African-American in a predominantly white school in New York City, and the summers he’d spend vacationing in a wealthy enclave of Long Island. Sag Harbor is a generational novel, harkening to the unsupervised summers of youth where Whitehead’s characters find love, heartbreak, and an ever-persistent need to reinvent themselves. It’s a coming-of-age story that may make you squirm from the nostalgia of awkward teenage years we’ve all survived but would rather forget.

3. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Slum by Katherine Boo

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A National Book Award winner, Behind the Beautiful Forevers is an empathetic accumulation of stories that follow the lives of several families in Annawadi — a migrant tent city set up outside the Mumbai airport that has become a home to thousands. Katherine Boo, who spent three years living among the residents of Annawadi, weaves together these stories to paint a broad picture of the heartbreaking struggles the lower classes of India face. Not a light summer read, the novel is a page-turner that, if nothing, will remind you of the many lives lived across the globe. Boo doesn’t ask readers to wallow in sorrow, but to respect the individual lives and narratives she aptly describes.

4. Volcanoes, Palm Trees, and Privilege: Essays on Hawai’i by Liz Prato

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An April 2019 new release brought to us by Liz Prato, an author of short stories and essays. Her latest collection takes us on a contemplative journey to consider the US’s obsession with the islands of Hawaii. From the perspective of a non-native who has a deep love and long relationship with these islands, Prato shares stories that intertwine facts and personal memories. They will leave you feeling both enchanted and more aware of our place in the world as unconcerned tourists to a place that many call home.

5. Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

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For those who dream of visiting Cinque Terre, Italy, Beautiful Ruins is not just a suggestion, but a must-read. After holding the number-one spot on The New York Times Bestseller List for more than a year back in 2012-13, you may feel out of the loop if you haven’t checked this novel out. It tells the story of the owner of a Cinque Terre hotel who travels to the US in search of the movie star he’d fallen in love with in 1960, 50 years earlier, in a small Italian fishing village on the coast of the Mediterranean. With a layered cast of characters and personalities, Walter takes an old love story we’ve known for half a century, flips it on its head, and brings it back to life.

6. All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir by Nicole Chung

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A finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography, Nicole Chung’s debut novel is not like anything we’ve ever read before. All You Can Ever Know is the story of a young woman’s challenge to understand her transracial adoption as a Korean-born premature baby adopted by white parents. Chung gives us the extremely intimate gift of allowing us to travel with her as she searches for her birth parents during a time in which she’s preparing for the birth of her own child.

7. The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation by Jodie Patterson

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Jodie Patterson’s debut novel sheds light on the complexities that come with the identities we hold onto and the roles we play in our families and relationships in 2019. It’s not a travel book in the typical sense — no jetting off to tropical islands and no self-discovery backpacking trip. Rather, The Bold World takes us to the uncharted waters of accepting yourself and the people you love exactly for who they are, regardless of societal norms.

Patterson sets the scene for us as a young, confident Black girl growing up in 1970s Manhattan. Hailing from a long line of strong Black women, she found strength and momentum in the ultra-feminine stereotype she herself praised as she became a successful beauty business owner. This memoir takes us on Patterson’s journey of discovering true growth through her ended marriages, her varied career, and her children’s gender transformations, all while letting go of cultural norms to be the truest form of herself.


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