Matador Network's Blog, page 1168

Best romantic couples trip ideas

It’s hard for couples to spend quality time together within the routine of work and home duties, and the standard dinner-and-a-movie combo gets old before long. The best way to have fun together and leave all the boring, everyday humdrum behind is to go on a trip, away from it all, and plan some cool activities. For couples who want to make their time together count, here are nine of the most romantic and unique couples experiences around the world.

1. Consult the cards at a Santa Fe spa.

Photo: Sunrise Springs Spa Resort

Build your own couples retreat and head to a destination spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to seek spiritual renewal together. At Sunrise Springs Spa Resort, couples can explore their relationship with spiritual guide Jessica Ibarra, who will help the pair set mindful intentions and relationship goals through tarot card readings and spiritual guidance sessions.

For a full-on couples retreat experience, lovers can book the Couples R+R Package (all-inclusive rates start at $543) and enjoy a spacious casita, farm-fresh daily meals, homemade chocolate truffles, $100 in spa credit per person per two-night stay, a romantic 50-minute soak for two in the private outdoor Ojitos tub, access to the co-ed steam room, and unlimited access to onsite activities, including yoga, meditation, expressive arts classes, horticulture, gardening, and even petting puppies and Silkie chickens.

2. Immerse yourselves in nature and see the northern lights in Sweden.

Photo: Tsuguliev/Shutterstock

Few things could be more romantic than watching the sky light up in crazy colors as if you’re the only two people in the world, and Sweden is the perfect destination for such an experience. At accommodations like the Ice Hotel and Tree Hotel, you can cozy up with your significant other in a room sculpted completely of ice or gaze at the stars from high up in the treetops. Or, in Abisko National Park, head to the Aurora Sky Station, built to provide the perfect spot to watch the northern lights. Couples can also stop here for a four-course dinner featuring Nordic cuisine plus a guided tour to learn more about the aurora borealis, or opt for wintry activities like dog sledding, snowmobile tours, and hiking.

3. Take love lessons by the beach in Florida.

Photo: Brazilian Court Hotel

Demonstrate the depths of your commitment by learning to love your partner better through curated experiences that are aimed to spice things up, provide you with new experiences together, and strengthen your connection — all set in a palm-studded paradise. Through March 31 (and starting at a cool $3,200 for a 3-night stay), lovers can book a stay at The Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, to enjoy aphrodisiacal cuisine with wine pairings, a private sailing lesson, an in-room couples massage (with couples massage lessons), and a ballroom dancing lesson to make their romantic and relaxing stay full of interesting and new activities. Other optional lesson add-ons include surfing, pottery, private golf, and scuba diving.

4. Spend a night at the world’s most private island resort.

Photo: Gladden

For ultimate romance, book a night at Gladden, the private island resort designed for just two people. Located off the coast of Belize, the elegant villa that makes up the entirety of Gladden resort sits on its own private sanctuary and features all-inclusive service.

The staff of the two-person resort reside on an unseen island behind Gladden but remain ready to respond at a moment’s notice to any and every request. For guests to maintain the island’s air of utmost exclusivity, there’s even a “privacy meter” that indicates when a staff member is present on the island. Save for those times, you and your beloved are left to yourselves on the lush island to take in the views or do whatever else you feel like doing.

5. Go onsen-hopping in Kinosaki, Japan.

Photo: fokke baarssen/Shutterstock

For an adventure in cultural immersion, couples can head to Kinosaki, Japan, for a few days of steamy onsen-hopping if they want to heat their relationship up in a unique way. Couples can stay in a ryokan, don yukatas (a light kimono), and hop between the seven public onsens of Kinosaki to ward off the snowy chill of the surrounding winter — and grow closer than ever.

Every onsen in Kinosaki has a different story, with its own unique charm and architecture. For example, Ichino-Yu (bath of fortune) offers an outdoor cave bath experience, while Kouno-Yu, the first onsen built in Kinosaki, is said to bring happiness in marriage as well as longevity. Couples should also make sure not to miss Goshen-Yu during their visit, as this bath purports to bring luck in love and protection against fire.

6. Climb sea stacks in Ireland.

Photo: Unique Ascent

Thrill-seeking couples should book a trip to Donegal, Ireland, to go sea stacking with Unique Ascent, an adventure company that promises to, “take you to places that have been visited fewer times than the moon.” Sea stacks are the towering rocky outcroppings found along the coast of Ireland and the UK, and they are seldom explored. With guiding and instructional packages provided, couples can cross open ocean and then safely summit these topographical wonders, even if they have no previous climbing experience, and arrive up to 800 feet in the air with expansive and one-of-a-kind views.

7. Go stargazing at 7,500 feet.

Photo: Banff Gondola

Head to Sulphur Mountain in Banff, Canada, to learn about the night sky with an uninterrupted and close-up view. Couples will ride the Banff Gondola to the summit, where they’ll enjoy an evening exploration of the galaxies. Ultra-modern telescopes, exhibits, and knowledgeable interpreters will be available so that couples can deepen their understanding of the skies. Best of all, professional photographers will be on hand to help newbies navigate their camera settings and figure out how to capture the perfect starry shot to document the night forever.

When the night grows too chilly, snuggle up by the rooftop fire pit with complimentary tea and hot apple cider and then head to the Above Banff Theatre for a special showing of short film Rockies After Dark. Stargazing events are available on weekends from November through March and are free with gondola admission.

8. Live out The Notebook-inspired fantasies in the American South.

Photo: American Theater

For couples who have cried through Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook more times than they can count, a trip to a quaint luxury boutique hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, is the ultimate romantic getaway.

Allie & Noah’s Timeless Romance Package at HarbourView Inn, the only waterfront property in the Historic District, includes a dozen roses in-room upon arrival followed by a private carriage ride down King Street to visit the American Theater, the site of Noah and Allie’s first date, where couples can request through the hotel’s concierge to have a romantic saying displayed on the marquee. Couples will also enjoy tickets to Boone Hall Plantation (Allie’s parents’ summer home), a private boat to canoe through Cypress Gardens (just like Noah and Allie did), and dinner at High Cotton before rounding the night out with a gift card to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, where lovers can reenact the famous ice cream scene for themselves.


More like this: Here’s why British Columbia is the most romantic place to elope (and how to pull it off)

The post The most unique, romantic couples experiences around the world appeared first on Matador Network.

Coolest 5Ks around the US

If your New Year’s resolution was to get in shape, or to lose weight, nothing is a better motivator than signing up to run a 5K. And it’s a lot more fun than going to the gym, especially if the gym has never been part of your daily routine. Running a 5K, or 3.1 miles, might seem daunting at first, but not all 5Ks are mundane, straight-line jogs down city streets lined with hordes of strangers. There are dozens of 5Ks around the US that make running fun. Whether they give you a hearty dose of local culture like New Orleans’ Jazz 5K, or are set against a surreal backdrop of hundreds of hot air balloons, there are plenty of races for you to choose from in 2019. Here are a few of the coolest 5Ks you should definitely add to your list this year.

Beat Beethoven 5K — Fairbanks, Alaska

Photo: Beat Beethoven 5K Run/Walk/Facebook

Some people listen to heavy metal while they run, and others might prefer energetic pump-up jams. On this 5K, you’ll be listening to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Maybe running solely for the sense of accomplishment is enough for you, but if it’s not, you’ll be competing against fellow runners for concert tickets as well. At the beginning of the race, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony will start playing, and those who cross the finish line before it ends will be given free tickets to a Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra concert of your choice. Beethoven’s Fifth lasts about 31 minutes, so train accordingly. The race takes place on April 13, 2019, at 9:00 AM, with early registration costing $25.

Running with the Balloons — Readington, New Jersey

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Catherine Duckworth (@justduck20) on Jul 26, 2015 at 9:33am PDT

This run lets you check two items off your bucket list: finishing a 5K, and taking an epic ride in a hot-air balloon. The race features a mix of pavement, gravel, dirt, road, and grass, giving it a true cross-country feel. But the real reason to sign up is because you’ll be running through the largest summer hot-air balloon and music festival in North America, the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning. With hundreds of hot-air balloons taking flight throughout the day, you’ll never be lacking a spectacle while you’re running and looking up at the sky. And if you’re the top male or female finisher, you’ll get a hot-air balloon ride after the race. Ticket prices have not yet been released, but will include a full-day festival pass, free parking, and lawn seating for the concert. The race takes place on July 28, 2019.

Hot Chocolate 5K — Atlanta, Georgia

Photo: Hot Chocolate 15k & 5k/Facebook

The whole point of running might be to burn off calories, but the Hot Chocolate 5K is the perfect cheat day. The course takes runners along a route that highlights Atlanta’s biggest attractions, but more importantly, sweet stations stocked with chocolate line the route. Treats will include marshmallows, chocolate chips, and M&Ms. When you finish the race, there’s nothing better to supplement that runner’s high (and stave off the cold) than indulging in some hot chocolate and a myriad of other sweets that will be made available. The race takes place on February 17, so you’ll have to sign up soon. Registration for the 5K costs $54 per person, and the 10K costs $74 per person.

Jazz Half Marathon & 5K — New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo: Jazz Half Marathon New Orleans/Facebook

As with any New Orleans experience, it’s no surprise that the Jazz Half Marathon & 5K is one big party. Once you finish the race, you’ll be treated to a variety of Louisiana food staples like jambalaya, red beans, and rice, and the musical stylings of New Orleans musicians. This year’s lineup includes Irma Thomas, Trombone Shorty, Kermit Ruffins, and Rockin Dopsie Jr. The famous Mardi Gras Indians will also be there to take photos with runners. The 5K takes place on October 26, 2019, starting in Lafayette Square, and all proceeds go toward the Children’s Hospital. Registration fees depend upon how early you sign up. It’s $30 per person if you register by August 31, $40 by October 21, and $45 on race day.

Warrior Dash — Twin Cities, Minnesota

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Warrior Dash (@warriordash) on Aug 22, 2018 at 1:10pm PDT

Maybe a casual 5K isn’t for you. Maybe you’re already a veteran of the marathon game, and you’re looking for a new challenge. In that case, try the Warrior Dash. This course is littered with 12 obstacles that really make you earn that trip to the finish line. They include a massive climbing wall, mounds of mud, monkey bars, and even flaming piles of wood to leap over. At least when you finish, you’ll be greeted by a cold beer, a fuzzy warrior helmet, and some food fit for a hero. The race takes place on June 29, 2019, and costs $59 to enter. You can also opt to pay $39 for the one-mile option, which only has between five and eight obstacles.

Battle of the Rattle 5K — Reno, Nevada

Photo: Battle of the Rattle 5K foot race/Facebook

Distance-wise, it might look like an ordinary 5K, but there’s a twist. You’ll actually be running to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain outside Reno, Nevada, which is a trek of over 600 vertical feet. According to the race’s website, the concept began in an effort to recreate one of the world’s oldest challenge statements: “I bet you can’t beat me up that hill.” What makes this race unique is that, at first, there is no defined course route. Runners simply try to make it up the hill as fast as they can. From the top, they’ll take in the sweeping views of Reno, before descending a fire access road down the mountain’s backside, and then doing a mile loop inside the park. The race will take place in September 2019 (a specific date has yet to be announced), and though tickets are not yet on sale, expect them to run about $40 per person.

The Fast and the Furriest — Somerville, Massachusetts

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fast And The Furriest (@fastandthefurriest5k) on Jan 25, 2019 at 6:14pm PST

It would be pretty easy to argue that we saved the best for last. The only thing more gratifying than crossing a finish line is crossing it with your canine companion. Somerville’s Fast and the Furriest 5K encourages runners to bring their dogs for an afternoon of communal canine fun. Organizers anticipate over 2,000 humans and dogs to show up for the event, meaning you don’t even have to be a runner to have a fun, dog-filled day. The run takes place on May 19 at DCR Baxter Park in Assembly Row. Registration costs $45 per person, with all the proceeds going toward helping animals in need through the MSPCA. The goal is to raise at least $250,000 this year.


More like this: Epic outdoor marathons that will motivate you to run

The post 7 coolest 5Ks you should sign up for around the US appeared first on Matador Network.

How to stay healthy while traveling

We all start the new year with good intentions. We say things like this is the year I’ll get fit, save money, travel the world, and so on. However, studies show by mid-February, close to 80 percent of people have given up on their New Year’s resolutions. Here’s the good news — you don’t have to wait until next January to start again. You can start over today.

Since health is a popular New Year’s resolution, let’s focus on that. Many of us spend a good amount of time traveling for work or fun and it’s easy to fall back into unhealthy habits. We let jet lag, breakfast buffets, and busy schedules get in the way of what matters most — our health. You set a goal, so let’s find a way to stick with it and have some fun doing it. You can modify your routine to match your environment and add a little variety to your adventure. Whatever your health and wellness goals are, here are seven ways to stay committed to them while traveling.

1. Book accommodations with fitness amenities.

Photo: Westin Hotels & Resorts/Facebook

Start with staying somewhere that has a gym. For many of us, the hardest part about working out is actually getting out the door. If you have a gym right onsite, you’re more likely to use it. When you’re searching for a hotel or Airbnb, add “fitness center” to your filters. Not all gyms will be state-of-the-art but look for options that at least have free weights and a cardio machine. Some hotels are even targeting people who want to stay fit while traveling. For example, the Westin Hotel chain offers a Wellness at Westin program. The program includes fitness gear lending, Peloton bike rentals, fitness studios, and a SuperFoodsRx menu.

2. Find discounted, short-term gym memberships.

If staying somewhere with a gym isn’t an option, there are a lot of affordable ways to get access to gyms or fitness classes. A great way to get your heart rate up and try something new is by searching local discount sites like Groupon or LivingSocial. These sites offer discounted gym memberships or class packages for just about any physical activity. Try a local spin studio, go hiking with a guide, or find your zen with a morning yoga class. It’s also worth calling franchise and independently owned gyms to see what their membership deals are for travelers. Many locations will offer day or week passes for reasonable prices. Try to avoid corporate locations, they don’t usually have as much flexibility on short-term memberships. Another option is to check in with local hotels. Even if you aren’t staying there, many hotels will provide access to their gym for a small price. Some will even give you a day pass if you book a session at the spa. Imagine how you’d feel after a massage and cardio session. Call around and find a deal that works for you.

3. Learn to workout anywhere.

Photo: Lucky Business/Shutterstock

If both hotels with gyms and local fitness centers aren’t in your travel plans, there are still a lot of ways to work out just about anywhere. One of my favorites is at a local park. If you’re visiting somewhere with decent weather, head to the playground and have some fun. Here is some park workout inspiration from Shape.com. Can’t find a park? Try out this workout from Fitness Magazine that only requires a bench and a tree.

Your hotel room can also be turned into a gym. These easy-to-pack bands can come with you anywhere for a full-body workout. The Daily Workouts app offers five to 30-minute workouts that can be done right in your hotel room. There’s also the Simply Yoga app with 20 to 60-minute sessions. The Nike Training Club app has over 185 workouts that include cardio, strength, and yoga. You can customize your workout based on experience level, intensity, and time commitment. The Daily Burn app is another great option that has thousands of at-home (or hotel) workouts. The Daily Burn has the widest selection of workout choices, including virtual group sessions, cardio kickboxing, barre, yoga, toning and strength, Pilates, pregnancy and post-natal, yoga, HIIT, and more. If apps aren’t your thing, open up YouTube and you’ll find just about any workout you want. Use the search option to look for cardio, strength, and yoga routines. Here are a few to get you started: 32-minute home cardio workout, no equipment butt and thigh workout, and yoga for beginners.

4. Walk instead of ride.

One of the best ways to see a city is to walk it. Take in the sights, sounds, and smells by putting on a comfortable pair of shoes and exploring on foot. Many major cities around the world are set up for walking commutes. Everything looks better at street level so take time to enjoy the view. Aim for 10,000 steps a day and track your progress using a fitness tracker like Apple Watch or Fitbit. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can exceed your step goal just by walking to dinner instead of taking transport. Plus, you won’t miss out on that local coffee shop or unique street art we’ve all sped by when we chose to take a ride.

5. Sign up for a local 5K run or walk.

Photo: World’s Marathons/Facebook

If you’ll be visiting a city over the weekend, chances are they have a local 5K run or walk. Google what runs the city is offering and get signed up. Again, it’s a great way to see the city. Also, if you know you have a race coming up, you’re more likely to eat, sleep, and drink better in the days leading up to it. World’s Marathons is a good site to start your search. Don’t worry, they include races of all distances, not just marathons. Bonus if you can find a race for charity.

6. Eat well at least 80 percent of the time.

We’ve all heard the saying that abs are built in the kitchen. Not only that, but the foods we eat impact our sleep cycles, energy levels, skin, brain power, and overall health. It can be easy to go down a quick spiral of unhealthy eating habits while traveling. Try to avoid the all-you-can-eat buffets, pastry shops lined with delicious-looking carbs in the window, and late nights of excessive drinking. If you’re on vacation, the occasional indulgence is fine. You don’t want to fly 20 hours and not try the local dessert everyone raves about. However, try to eat well 80 percent of the time. Think more veggies, protein, and fruit. Fight off cravings with tea or a glass of water. You’ll reach your health and fitness goals faster, and you’ll feel better overall.

7. Sleep well.

Photo: adriaticfoto/Shutterstock

Getting enough sleep can also impact weight loss. When you’re short on sleep you’re more likely to make poor decisions like skipping your workout or ordering a high-calorie coffee to get through the day. We’ve all been there. Studies also show a lack of sleep can rev up comfort food cravings, increase late-night snacking, and slow your metabolism. Get a good night’s rest by trying to go to sleep at the same time every night, using lavender oil to calm your mind, wear a sleep mask to block out light, and try an app like White Noise Lite to drown out the sound.

When it comes to living a healthier life, every day doesn’t have to be perfect. Health and wellness is a lifelong journey where some days are good, and others not so much. The goal is to be conscious of your decisions and focus on the bigger picture. If you’re on a bucket list trip to Italy and want to stuff yourself with homemade pasta one day, by all means, go for it. Maybe just walk a few extra steps the next day. Find your balance between enjoying life and taking care of your health.


More like this: 10 must-have healthy essentials pro travelers pack in their carry-on

The post How to stay committed to your health and wellness goals while traveling appeared first on Matador Network.

Best places to visit in Sweden

Everyone knows Stockholm is full of cool things to do: the archipelago, the scenic Old Town, the Baroque-style Royal Palace — even the subway stations could keep you entertained for a very long visit. But the rest of Sweden has a lot to offer, as well, even if it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as the capital. From hip second cities to interesting lodges to gorgeous hiking trails, here are the best places to visit outside Stockholm.

1. Gothenburg (Göteborg)

Photo: anderm/Shutterstock

All of the friendly talkative Swedes eventually find themselves migrating to the bustling metropolis of Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city and home to the headquarters of Volvo — located on a tiny island within the city. Gothenburg was originally settled by the Dutch, and it shows. Miles of beautiful canals wind their way through the city streets, and the once-gritty and rundown industrial areas are giving way to sleek and modern Scandinavian design, funky art galleries, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants with top-notch cuisine.

Enjoy some local culture at Studio HPKSM, a restaurant/underground performance space where you can eat ox tongue ragu or braised rabbit with root vegetables, book a brick-lined recording studio for your band, or listen to a poetry reading with a delicious mixed drink. Wander the streets in search of the colorful wall murals of ArtMadeThis or see an indie movie at Hagabion, an activist-run cinema with a bustling restaurant upstairs and the funkadelic disco-inspired Bar Kino downstairs.

If you’d like to join the Swedes in their penchant for coffee, visit Da Matteo, a Gothenburg institution that roasts beans on-site and ships them worldwide. Enjoy your morning fika, or coffee snack, of a kardamomrullar pastry over a strong espresso and you’ll be ready to explore the coastal archipelago, tiny islands strung like pearls along Sweden’s Western coast. Rent a bike and go from ferry to ferry.

2. Jokkmokk

Photo: paolo airenti/Shutterstock

The Sami (or Sapmi) are Sweden’s indigenous people and live predominantly in what used to be called Lappland. In Sweden’s far north, closer to Finland than to Stockholm, is Jokkmokk, frequently called one of the most interesting cultural destinations in Sweden. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can drive there; the trip is only 12 hours from Stockholm and along a well-kept highway. The scenery is stunning, but reindeer may dart in front of your car.

If you don’t have the time to spend, you can fly into Luleå Airport and catch a bus or taxi to Jokkmokk. Stay in the tiny yet funky Hotell Vuollerim Gästgiveriet where no two rooms are alike, and each one is named poetically after local landmarks. If you prefer not to talk to anyone, visit peaceful Stákkonjorga Mountain Lodge, which is only accessible by car or snowmobile, depending on the time of year. You will absolutely see the northern lights in winter. Learn about the history of the Sami at the Ajtte Museum, or visit a 6,000-year-old reconstructed Arctic village if you’re more hands-on. In the summer, enjoy the gorges, mountains, and numerous hiking trails; you can go at any time of day since it never really gets dark close to Midsummer. In the winter, you can go on a dog sledding trip, learn to build your own igloo (with supplies pulled by reindeer), or participate in a traditional Sami ceremony.

3. Malmö

Photo: Swedishnomad.com – Alex W/Shutterstock

My home town for a while, Malmö, is pretty cool. Sweden’s third-largest city is its biggest immigrant hub, and the official food of the city is falafel rolls. Only 45 minutes by fast train from Copenhagen, Malmö was recently made famous by the gritty noir drama Broen (The Bridge). The titular Öresund Bridge is nearly 10 miles long and a spectacular ride across the open ocean, with graceful wind farms in the distance. You can see it from most of the beaches, particularly Ribersborg, where the Kallbadhus allows visitors to leap from a dock into the ocean for about $7 (60 Swedish krona).

Enjoy wandering through the centuries-old Gamla Stan (Old Town) or enjoy the cozy feel of Lilla Torg, which has the best shops; my favorite is Gudrun Sjödén. Another neighborhood, Stortorget, has the sweeping majesty of the 16th-century town hall, and you can rock a singalong Sound of Music at the Spegeln afterwards. Visit the sprawling complex of museums at Malmö Slott — multiple rambling floors cover everything from fine art and antique wooden furniture to a robust aquarium and regular visiting exhibits. Afterwards, walk across the street to the Teknikens och Sjöfartens hus, which is included in your museum entrance fee, and explore the rooms of trains, airplanes, and astronomical history, plus a walk through a genuine decommissioned submarine.

If you’re more of a walker, hit up Pildammsparken and circle the lake until you find the ice cream place. Head to Boulebar for brunch and indoor boule, an addictive bocce-type game. Don’t leave town without a visit to Cafe Jesusbaren in the happening neighborhood of Möllevången.

4. Ven

Photo: Lavrentev Vladimir/Shutterstock

A short boat ride from Malmö, Ven is a tiny island that you can bike around in about an hour — assuming you can get your bike up the steep hill from the dock. You’ll have to since cars are not allowed on the island! But the ubiquitous yellow bikes are rentable the moment you step off your boat, and you can use them to visit the Tycho Brahe Museum, with a recreation of the famous astronomer’s underground workshop and observatory. After the sweaty uphill ride, reward yourself with some freshly made local ice cream at Hvens Glassfabrik or cut right to the hard stuff at Backafallsbyn, the local whiskey manufacturer. Enjoy a leisurely ride along the coastal road; depending on the time of year, Ven’s fields of canola and wheat blossom into miles of yellow flowers. That plus the cliffside views are quite stunning. Make sure you book your boat tickets round-trip in advance on the website. It’s quite easy to do and then you can avoid having to wait several hours for the next sailing.

5. Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge

Photo: Kolarbyn Eco-lodge/Facebook

Proudly calling itself “Sweden’s most primitive hotel,” Kolarbyn boasts small wood and sod huts with no showers in the Skinnskatteberg Forest about two hours from Stockholm. Previously used as sleeping spots for forest rangers, the tiny houses are covered with vegetation — you can go mushroom picking right on the roof. Inside, sheepskin blankets and a stone fireplace provide the warmth. You can canoe to the floating sauna and enjoy some steam or cook your dinner over an open fire. Although there’s no kitchen, basic pots and cutlery are provided as are some staple foodstuffs like pasta and rice. Dress in layers, learn to swing an axe, and enjoy your trip to the absolute wilderness.

6. Uppsala

Photo: Conny Sjostrom/Shutterstock

Uppsala is mostly known as a university town, and occasionally something circulates on the internet about the “Flogsta Scream,” the nightly ritual of students in the academic neighborhood opening their windows and screaming their heart out into the night. If you need to blow off a little steam, Uppsala might be the exact destination you need.

Aside from screaming, you can also enjoy any one of its countless cozy cafes and culinary hotspots. At Jay Fu’s, the fusion menu boasts mac and cheese with sesame bok choy and lobster foam; alternatively, there’s a faux hot dog made of scallops, served with ginger ketchup. If that’s too wacky, hang around Kaffeerummet Storken where reassuring comfort foods like västerbottenpaj (cheese torte) will warm you over a mug of Champagne tea. Check out the nightlife at Flustret, a rambling mansion that is Uppsala’s oldest nightclub and home to a number of events, including live bands and DJs.

If you’re more of an early bird than a night owl, gather your binoculars and head to the Linnaeus Museum and gardens for an in-depth look at the father of modern taxonomy. Learn about the history of naming birds and plants, wander the paths of the first botanical garden in Sweden, and then have a nice fika at one of the many cafes close by. Enjoy ancient history by visiting the Kvarnbofalltet, a 2,000-year-old burial site with standing stones covered with runes. Get in touch with your Viking ancestry or walk through the nearby ravine and hunt for bats.

7. Treehotel

Photo: treehotel/Facebook

If you’ve never been swayed to sleep by the gently rocking branches of a treehouse room, you haven’t lived… so prepare to live at Treehotel. The individually designed and architecturally stunning treehouses range from a bird’s-nest-type structure made of branches to a metallic orb called the UFO. Each one is unique and has a fantastic view of the woods — and the northern lights in the winter. Guests can also stay in the main house where communal meals are served. There is, of course, a forest sauna, as well as some more bizarre activities like skijoring, or horse-pulled skiing, and “tree dining,” during which you’re served a three-course meal on a 10-foot platform. Rooms for this unique adventure start around about $485 for a double stay, depending on the season.

8. Kungsleden Hiking Trail

Photo: Jens Ottoson/Shutterstock

If your ideal vacation involves backcountry camping and a ton of walking, the Kungsleden is for you. One of the world’s most famous distance hiking trails, it’s 250 miles long and winds from northern Sweden through birch tree forests, past snow-capped mountains, and through tiny villages. The trail boasts 16 cottages that are about 12 miles apart. You can stay there and buy food from them, so you could theoretically do the whole trip carrying only a daypack. Sami reindeer husbandry happens all along the trail, and visitors must be considerate of this traditional activity. Check out the STF hiking guide for more information or to best plan your trip. The trail is open year-round, so don’t let snowy days be a deterrent! Northern Sweden is also gorgeous when it’s chilly.


More like this: The ultimate Nordic road trip to take advantage of the midnight sun

The post The 8 coolest places in Sweden worth visiting outside of Stockholm appeared first on Matador Network.

Comic book art tour of Brussels

In Brussels, comic strips are not limited to newspaper pages. The city is home to many comic strip illustrators — among them Peyo, creator of The Smurfs, and Hergé, creator of The Adventures of Tintin. Here in Belgium’s bilingual capital, their characters have all but jumped off the page. Throughout the city, you’ll find massive comic murals on the sides of buildings, as well as in galleries and museums, and you can take much of it in over the course of a long weekend. Brussels’ comic obsession even goes a bit further with the annual Comic Strip Festival each September that celebrates this Ninth Art, with this year’s event happening September 13-15. But no matter the time of year you visit, here’s where to take in the comic strip art in and around Brussels.

The Belgian Comic Strip Center

Photo: Pics Factory/Shutterstock

Within an Art Nouveau warehouse building designed by Belgian architect Victor Horta, the Belgian Comic Strip Center gives a good understanding of not just the history behind comic strips but also their place within culture and society over time. On its second level, a permanent exhibit on the invention of comics follows a chronological timeline, tracing back to cave drawings and hieroglyphs through the style’s massive growth in popularity following its first appearances in newspapers. Belgium’s noted illustrators have their place here as well, including The Smurfs, which have a section dedicated entirely to them containing informative displays about Peyo and his blue characters. This exhibit is a highlight of the facility where you can trace The Smurfs’ evolution from print to TV to movie screens, as well as see related props such as a mushroom house.

Address: Rue des Sables 20

The House of the Comic Strip

Translated as “La Maison de La Bande Dessinée” and founded by a die-hard collector, The House of the Comic Strip is a well-stocked bookstore with a vast array of comics in various titles and languages. Browsers and buyers may find comics in French, Dutch, English, German, and Spanish, making this the place to be for multilingual comic fanatics. It’s also the spot for hard-to-find publications and editions. If you’re looking specifically for a Tintin comic, you’ll find plenty of options here. Along with books, this shop holds posters, figurines, statues, and serigraphies, and it even offers works extending to Magna and graphic novels.

Address: Boulevard de l’Impératrice 1

MOOF — Museum of Original Figurines

Photo: Walter Minus/Moof Museum/Facebook

The Museum of Original Figurines presents a more three-dimensional aspect of comic strip art through figurines, collectables, and visual art of popular drawn characters. Its collection stretches beyond typical comic stars to include figures of well-known and interesting personalities from Belgian, French, and American storylines. Along with standing figures, 3D art of these colorful personalities appear at the facility, seemingly ready to jump out of their canvases.

Address: Inside Galerie Horta, 116 Marché aux herbes

Huberty & Breyne Gallery

With two locations in Brussels, the fine art focused Huberty & Breyne Gallery has expertise in comic book originals and illustrations while housing a signature collection of signed works by comic stars including the famed Belgian cartoonist Hergè. It also recognizes works by artists that go outside of this medium, such as François Avril, Dominique Corbasson, Jacques de Loustal, and the French comic master Christophe Chabouté. The gallery holds various exhibits relating to Franco-Belgian comics, including both past and living illustrators, and also participates in BRAFA, a leading art and antiques fair in Europe hosted in Brussels.

Address: 33 Place du Châtelain and 8 Rue Bodenbroek

Musèe Hergè

Photo: Hergè Museum

In the town of Louvain-la-Neuve, which is south of Brussels, the creator of Tintin has a museum that’s all about him though its format goes beyond the beloved cartoon and his many adventures. Here, you’ll learn more about this Belgian’s multi-faceted career as a graphic designer, cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator, and storyteller. Hergè’s personal stories are told through various rooms in the museum, which also holds more than 80 original plates and 800 photographs, documents, and objects relating to his work. Even the building itself is a wonder as it’s located within a flower field. Along with exhibition galleries, the museum contains a café, gift shop, and cinema.

Address: Rue du Labrador, 26 – B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Comic Strip Murals

Photo: josefkubes/Shutterstock

Belgium’s Comic Book Route started in the early ‘90s and promotes well- and lesser-known characters and cartoonists by enlarging their designs as murals on the walls of buildings. The murals can be found throughout the city center, and you can take them in with a stroll about, covering many of the most popular sites in an afternoon. A complete list and map of the murals are available at tourist information centers in the city for one euro, but here are the must-see highlights to discover along the route:

Smurfs at Brussels-Central Station

Photo: Visit Brussels

In honor of their 60th birthday in June 2018, the famous blue characters got their own little village via a big ceiling mural at the passage of the former quarter of Putterie, located opposite the Brussels-Central Station.

Zidrou at Tour à Plomb

Photo: Visit Brussels

Created in September 2018, Belgian author Zidrou is pictured surrounded by 10 different characters from the Belgian comic book world. This fresco is part of the Tour à Plomb, a sports and cultural center.

Tintin at Rue de l’Etuve

Photo: antonnot/Shutterstock

Based on The Calculus Affair, the eighth volume within the comic series on this beloved Belgian, Tintin is depicted as descending down a fire escape within this junction.

Lucky Luke at Rue de la Buanderie

Photo: Olivier an de Kerchove/Visit Brussels

This Western-themed fresco is based on a comic series created by Belgian cartoonist Morris and is one of the largest murals on the route. It shows the cowboy of the same name, who shoots faster than his shadow, lays down the law, and tackles his arch-enemies, the Daltons.

Thorgal at Place Anneessens

Photo: Visit Brussels

Shown with his wife, Aaricia, this mural of a Viking hero is the joint collaboration between Jean Van Hamme, a Belgian novelist and comic book writer, and Grzegorz Rosinski, a Polish comic book artist who later resided in Belgium. The couple overlooks Place Anneessens, a public square within the city center, appearing at the square’s corner and rue de la Caserne. Thorgal is widely considered to be the first comic book, resulting from the collaboration between a graphic artist from the “Eastern Bloc” and a writer from the “Free World,” within the context of the Cold War.


More like this: The art of eating waffles like a local in Belgium

The post How to take in Brussels’ famous comic strip art appeared first on Matador Network.

Australian avocado sustainability

Avocados are a staple of the Australian diet. Few countries can compete with Australia when it comes to avo love — this is the country that invented modern avocado toast, after all. The average Australian eats around 7.7 pounds of avocados. For comparison, per capita consumption in the US, which is the largest avocado importer in the world, peaked at seven pounds per year in 2015. There’s just one key difference between the two countries: Australia’s avocados largely come without the guilt of a high carbon footprint, deforestation, and social ills.

More than 75 percent of avocados consumed in Australia is grown domestically, and most of the remainder is imported from neighboring New Zealand. The country’s commitment to domestic avocado consumption is matched only by the Dominican Republic. Avo orchards can be found across Australia, but production is most concentrated in the Queensland regions (responsible for 62 percent of Australian avocados) in the northeast and in Western Australia (25 percent) in the southwest. Thanks to regional climate diversity, harvest times are spaced throughout the year depending on where you are. Essentially, Australians have a year-round supply of fresh avocados.

This all means that Australia sidesteps the ethical concerns that have plagued the rise of avocado mania in the US and Europe. In Mexico, where the US gets most of its avocados, demand is fueling deforestation, and drug cartels are getting involved. In California and Chile, thirsty avocado trees put a strain on drought-prone areas. It takes more than double the amount of water to grow a pound of avocados in California than the global average. All of that makes avocados one of the least sustainable health foods in the US.

Photo: Wang An Qi/Shutterstock

Australia is far from Central and South America, the original home of the avocado, but its rise in popularity happened relatively quickly. The first avocado trees arrived sometime in the mid-1800s, and modern commercial production began in 1928. Green fruit really hit the fan, though, with the Australian revival of avocado toast.

Avocado toast is probably a dish that just happened rather than being invented. It’s a simple concept: toasted bread with avocado on it. A New Yorker story from 1937 called “Avocado, Or The Future of Eating” describes the “avocado sandwich on whole wheat and a lime rickey.” The popularity of modern — and by modern we mean Instagrammable — avocado toast can be traced back Australian chef Bill Granger, who put avocado toast on the menu at his cafe, Bills, in 1993.

Australia hasn’t looked back from there. The rise of avocados in Australia tracked with the popularity of avocado toast. Today, you can find avocados everywhere and in all types of different dishes. There’s smashed avo on toast, of course, but don’t forget about versions that include vegemite and egg. Avocado has also made its way into smoothies, replaced potatoes in french fries, and even mashed into cake batter.

Australia’s national avocado obsession doesn’t look like it’ll be going away anytime soon. Which, aside from jokes about millennials not being able to afford houses because of avocado toast, isn’t a bad thing — even for the environment.


More like this: This underrated region in Australia is the next big foodie destination

The post Why avocado toast obsessions are better in Australia than the US appeared first on Matador Network.

Introducing Phil Good Travel

African-Americans spent $63 billion on travel in 2018 alone, and yet they’re still one of the most underrepresented and under-marketed-to communities in travel. Phil Calvert (aka Phil the Culture, aka Philwaukee) is on a mission to change that on his new YouTube show, Phil Good Travel, where he wants to show solidarity with fellow black travelers — and sprinkle positivity throughout Europe along the way.

Positivity — a recipe for life and travel

Produced by Matador Network, Phil Good Travel lets viewers follow Phil on his globetrotting adventures around Europe, spreading enthusiasm to every stranger he meets. When Phil travels, he doesn’t just roll up to new cities, eat some food and point a camera at a bunch of old buildings. Phil’s mission is to tackle each new location with a sense of optimism and open-mindedness, and spread his infectious enthusiasm throughout the world. “Pack your patience and pack your positivity,” he says. “If you go on a trip without those two things, prepare to have the worst trip in the world.”

In his videos, it’s clear that Phil is a strong proponent of the idea that a cheerful outlook shapes the entire vacation. “It can change someone’s whole thought process,” he says. “I’ve been on trips where I’ve preached positivity, encouraged people to come on hikes or other fun activities, and it just changed the whole vibe of the trip.”

Creating a sense of community

Photo: Fraser James

Since black travelers are often in the minority in European countries, Phil’s other main goal is to show solidarity by acknowledging black travelers whenever he sees them, whether through a fist-bump, high-five, or a shout out.

“When I’m walking down the street and I see a person of color in a predominantly white area… I feel a connection. Being in a country where you’re one of the only black people, you notice. So when I see another black person, I make it my duty to say hello, because I guarantee they feel what I feel.”

While everyone might feel somewhat alone in a foreign country, Phil understands that this feeling is particularly strong for people of color, who might be traveling in countries that lack diversity. “Unfortunately, discrimination and racism are real,” he says. “It’s just a breath of fresh air sometimes to see people who are just like you.”

It’s also not uncommon to find Phil standing in an Italian piazza, or on a street in Prague, in the black power stance. He was inspired by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, iconic African American athletes who, in the 1968 Olympics, raised their fists to the sky. As alumni of San Jose State University, where Phil attended school, they often spoke at school events and instilled in Phil a sense of racial pride. “When I first went abroad,” he says, “I was so proud to be abroad that the stance just came naturally because I felt like I conquered something that a lot of people from my area never did.”

New episodes of Phil Good Travel air each week on YouTube. For your weekly dose of positivity, laughs, and inspiration, make sure to subscribe.

More like this: African-Americans spent $63 billion on travel in 2018

The post Why it’s so important to acknowledge black travelers appeared first on Matador Network.

Best things to do in Anzio, Italy

As seagulls glide over the beach and their squawking echoes in the air, the sun disappears behind the horizon, and the street lights turn on automatically. You can hear the crackling sound of the stores’ rolling shutters and the Mediterranean breeze caressing your cheeks. Nearly every day ends this way in the coastal town of Anzio, just over an hour south of Rome. Anzio sees different scenes each season, but its soul has remained the same since the Romans decided to come here to rest their political minds and enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Anzio has been of historical importance since the days of the Romans, when politician Cicero kept his books here, a safe distance from Rome. The former Roman emperor Nero was actually born here, and on your trip, you can view the ruins of his aging — but still beautiful — beachside villa. In the 1800s, the wealthiest Roman families, just like their ancestors, came here on vacation, drawn by the bourgeois houses and the casino. During the Second World War, the American forces disembarked on the coast to liberate the population from the Germans in what is now called The Battle of Anzio. Today, the casino is nothing more than a sumptuous palace facing the sea, but Romans maintain the habit of spending a few weeks on the beaches of Anzio in the summer, or a day of dolce far niente and seafood during weekends. As a foreign visitor, you’re advised to once again do as the Romans do and escape the big-city grind for a day of seaside relaxation.

How to get to Anzio from Rome

Photo: Freebulclicstar/Shutterstock

From Rome, board the train to Nettuno from the Termini station. There’s one every 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the season. Get off at Anzio station, which is the second to last stop. From there, walk downhill until you reach the square less than five minutes away. Tickets are 3.40 euros, and the travel time is usually one hour and 10 minutes. You can check times and buy your ticket on trenitalia.com.

Taste the fresh seafood.

Photo: Elena.Katkova/Shutterstock

There are more than 60 restaurants downtown, the vast majority of which specialize in seafood. It’s no surprise considering both the towns of Anzio and Nettuno, an adjacent town with a charming Medieval village, have harbors dotted with fishing boats of every size that distribute their catches across the region. Walk beside the harbor, and just a few yards from the main square you’ll start to notice restaurants offering both table d’hôte and à la carte. You can’t go wrong, but be sure to check the prices outside if you’re on a budget: Some can be expensive and attract celebrities and soccer players (€50+), while others are more mid-range (€20-40). No matter your budget, just follow the sound of silverware clinking and don’t forget to order antipasti and a bottle of white wine.

Get gelato and go for a walk.

Photo: Kraft74/Shutterstock

Anzio’s main square has a fountain in the middle surrounded by trees, shops, and plenty of marble benches to sit on. To get in the Italian vacation mood, get yourself a gelato from one of the many gelaterias scattered around the square. You’ll have no problem finding one — there are so many that it seems as though the rules of supply and demand don’t really apply here. While you dive into your gelato, you can walk to the beach (follow the sun and you’ll find it) or just sit somewhere in the square. This is the best place for people watching as kids play soccer and blow soap bubbles while parents and grandmas chit chat about the wedding of the fruit seller’s son — or another such forthcoming event. Watch the day go by in the square without the souvenir shops and crowds of the major city to the north.

Summer or winter, get down to the beach.

Photo: K – Photo/Shutterstock

Summer months in Anzio draw many people from nearby cities, especially from Rome. You, too, can rent an apartment or stay in one of the bed and breakfasts near the beach. On summer nights, the cafes and bars fill up quickly and the city comes alive with socializing over evening dinners and bottles of wine. In winter, the city tends to sleep all week long, though most businesses remain open. You can use this to your advantage as the shops are empty, and the beaches are free of towels and folding chairs.

Watch the sunset.

Photo: Luca Corsetti/Shutterstock

The sunset in Anzio has SoCal vibes, minus the skaters and Instagram influencers. Check the sunset time beforehand and head to the beach in advance. Walk on the promenade until you reach the small park, then take the stairs and walk to the Nero statue — this is one of the best spots to watch the sun go down, and man, is Nero one lucky guy getting to see it every day. You can also go further down and walk along the concrete boardwalk that stretches out about 20 yards from the foreshore. Alternatively, follow the beach and explore the Roman ruins on which you can freely walk and catch the sunset from there; it’s a gorgeous site no matter where you settle in.


More like this: The must-see Carnival festivals in Italy

The post Anzio is the most relaxing day trip from the chaos of Rome appeared first on Matador Network.

Tamworth Country Music Festival

It’s not that music festivals aren’t fun anymore. It’s just that they’re not really about music.

Sure, you’ll get to watch your favorite band over 150,000 screaming iPhones. But if you’re there to see music, get up-close and personal with it and appreciate it, festivals are deeply disappointing. They might be great for super fans of a specific band, but for music lovers, they’re lacking.

But in rural Australia, one large festival still provides the intimate, immersive experience that other festivals once did. Though it’s not exactly close, and won’t always draw big names, it’s authentic, genuine, and infinitely entertaining.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival in New South Wales is the kind of experience that reminds you why people love live music. Yes, it’s got a huge sponsorship with Toyota, but beyond those logos, nothing about the festival feels corporate. It’s a place you may well see next year’s big summer festival draw playing a tiny stage in a dingy bar with people aged 18 to 85 dancing right in front of the stage.

The biggest festival in Australia on what looks like Main Street, USA

Photo: Tamworth Country Music Festival/Facebook

Tamworth is a quaint country town about an hour by plane from Sydney. It’s a place of big fields and big sky where a chorus of panicking cattle mooing at the ominous sky precedes an evening thunderstorm. It’s country in the way you find country in Texas or California’s central valley, where eucalyptus-and-palmetto-filled farmland stretches for miles, and the open road has more semi-trucks than cars.

Each January, it hosts the largest country music festival outside the United States and the largest music festival in Australia. It draws 300,000 attendees over 10 days, with 700 artists playing 2,800 events in over 200 venues. But unlike other large festivals, its chief aim is to bring people closer to music.

Approaching Peel Street — the city’s main drag — the festival greeted me almost immediately when I found a tall man in a cowboy hat playing his rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” in front of a coffee shop. Another 50 feet down the street, a brother and sister played dueling guitars in front of a bank. These weren’t party-crashing amateurs, they were buskers who had to apply to play during the festival. It was a little like walking through a New York City subway station, except it smelled like eucalyptus and people actually smiled.

The buskers played an ever-changing soundtrack as I walked the charming few blocks that make up the downtown. It’s filled with a handful of banks, a Target, and some small restaurants and hotels, looking every bit the part of small-town middle America nearly 7,500 miles across the Pacific.

Photo: Tamworth Country Music Festival/Facebook

To escape the sweltering summer 45-degree heat (the metric system says that’s hot) I dipped into the Pig and Tinder Box, a street-facing restaurant with an elevated front patio. In the street, which was closed to traffic for the festival, the restaurant had constructed a stage to face the patio, and as I ordered my lunch a stunning young brunette with a guitar stepped up to its microphone.

Without introducing herself she began singing her own rendition of “Jolene,” a song I always find ironic when sung by someone exceptionally attractive. Her voice was as passionate and desperate as Dolly Parton’s, so full of emotion and piercing pitch it seemed almost out of place serenading the lunch crowd on a shady restaurant patio.

“Thank you,” she said after finishing her opening song. “I’m Chelsea Berman, thank you, everyone, for coming out.”

Her thick Aussie accent was the last thing I expected after a dead-on cover of Dolly Parton. The restaurant manager explained to me she was one of a handful of Star Maker finalists, a sort of up-and-comers competition among the best in Aussie country music. Keith Urban won in 1990, Tanya Self in 1995.

She then launched into a pretty, bouncy song about a breakup. I felt like I was watching the kind of performer I’d see on the CMAs four years later and tell everyone, “Man, I saw her on this little stage on a street in Australia, and I KNEW she’d be huge.”

The ability to watch top talent before it goes big time was one of the draws of music festivals once upon a time. I’ve never felt that at any of the dozens of festivals I’ve been to in the US, but the feeling was inescapable in Tamworth.

After Chelsea Berman finished her set I wandered a couple of blocks down to the Tudor Hotel where a hard-driving country sound emanated from the stage inside the window. I entered past people dancing in cowboy hats to see a young bearded man singing energetically to the small room. Though the hotel bar was packed, the day’s heat made hotter by the people inside, the man played the room like it was a large theater.

Photo: Tamworth Country Music Festival/Facebook

“We’re Linc Phelps,” he said after finishing, already visibly sweaty after his second song. He then launched into a story about how his bass player was literally a guy he’d met in the hotel’s men’s room the night before and asked if he could fill in during this afternoon’s set. They laughed about it while taking swigs of beer between songs. Apparently, this kind of thing is commonplace at Tamworth.

Phelps was another Star Maker finalist, all of whom played their hearts out in the brutal heat multiple times a day, in venues all over the city. But it’s that passion and determination that makes this festival feel more real than anything I’ve ever seen.

Nearly every bar and restaurant in Tamworth was alive with country music during the festival, the kind of scene people described in Nashville and Austin before they were taken over by bachelorette parties and tech startups.

Even A-listers feel authentic in Tamworth.

Photo: Matthew Meltzer

It’s not just the small venues dotting downtown that make music so accessible. The city’s Memorial Park hosts a massive mainstage where larger, international acts perform free concerts. They are the antithesis of what music festivals have become, a chance to relax and enjoy music without fighting crowds and paying $12 a beer.

Though the festival is gigantic, it doesn’t often draw big names. But this year Keith Urban — the only Australian country singer most Americans can name — played the tiny, 900-person Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall.

The show was a benefit for Rural Aid Drought Relief, held in a space roughly the size of a high-school auditorium dating back to the 1930s. Urban got his start in this building, winning the CCMA Talent Quest when he was eight years old. So when the festival asked him where he wanted to play his big benefit show, rather than the massive main stage, he opted for the Town Hall.

Even the lone A-lister playing Tamworth gave a performance that felt truly authentic. Where big-name concerts can often feel like the performer has no idea what city they’re in, yelling “What’s up FORT LAUDERDALE??” just like they yelled “What’s up ORLANDO??” the night before, Urban seemed like he was once again an eight-year-old excited and grateful to be playing on this stage.

“We’re just gonna play some songs tonight,” he said after singing his first tune. “We’re gonna be here a while, let’s see how long we can go.”

Over the next two and a half hours Urban told stories about his experiences at Tamworth. He walked out onto the floor and played a handful of songs. He shook hands. He pulled a girl out of the audience and gave her his signed guitar. He seemed as in love with the small audience as they were with him.

After leaving the concert close to 11:00 PM, I grabbed a barbecue steak sandwich from a small stand outside the Tudor Hotel then walked through the warm night air to the Imperial Hotel. Through the lobby and past the bar, I followed the sounds of the guitar to an outdoor beer garden that had been transformed into a makeshift festival venue.

Photo: Tamworth Country Music Festival/Facebook

A warm breeze blew through the garden as a band of people in their 60s started up a version of “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Young people — college or high school age — danced in front of the stage. Behind me, the dance club in the Imperial Hotel with its flashing colorful lights and pounding electronic music sat empty, even though the late-night crowd looked barely of legal drinking age. Obviously, the draw of live music, even if it was a Jimmy Buffett cover, was still stronger.

This, I realized, is why people fall in love with live music. The opportunity to see people doing something they’re passionate about, up-close and personal, is a uniquely gratifying experience. Sadly, as that experience has gotten more commercialized, much of the intimacy has diminished, and festivals don’t always satisfy those who truly love music. But for 10 days in the Australian summer, Tamworth embodies all that’s great about live music. For lovers of country, or any genre really, it might be the best vacation in the world.


More like this: Every summer music festival lineup that’s been announced so far, and who you need to see

The post This Australian festival is the best music vacation in the world appeared first on Matador Network.

Case of beer cost in each state

Yesterday might have been Super Bowl Sunday, but beer manufacturers had more to be excited about than just watching the game. People all around the country were chugging beers like Monday was a holiday (which it probably should be) and racking up quite a tab at their local liquor store. In some states, buying a few cases of beer is dangerously close to breaking the bank while in others it hardly makes a dent in your wallet. Simple Thrifty Living compiled data on the average price of a 24-pack of beer in each state across the US and compared them to each other. The study used major domestic beer brands sold at national retailers across the US, so craft double IPAs that cost $17 a can are not factored in.

Photo: Simple Thrifty Living

A quick look at the map gives you a pretty good idea of the disparity in cost. If you live in Alaska, you’ll be paying the most for a 24-pack at an average of $31.21. Illinois residents, however, pay nearly half that much at $15.20. California and New York, which both have reputations for being expensive, surprisingly came in at $17.86 and $15.48 for a case, respectively, with Wyoming ($26.68) and Hawaii ($22.39) following Alaska for most expensive.

The findings represent a sizeable shift from last year’s study, which found that Michigan ($14.62) was the country’s least expensive state for beer while Pennsylvania ($21.98) was the most expensive.

H/T: CNBC

More like this: Beer hiking is a thing, and it’s awesome. Here’s where to do it.

The post Here’s how much a 24-pack of beer costs in every state appeared first on Matador Network.