Matador Network's Blog, page 1197

9 deserts you've never heard of

Desert life is harsh and unforgiving, and extended stays are typically only for acclimatized locals or the most adaptable of plant and animal life. But with more and more destinations being overrun by tourists, inhospitable and crowd-free spots like the Atacama desert and Antarctica are on the rise.

There are notable and unusual deserts on each of the world’s seven continents, so travelers in search of some serious peace and quiet won’t have trouble finding what they need. Here are nine lesser-known deserts out there for travelers who like to venture off the overly trodden dunes.

1. Dasht-e Lut, Iran

Photo: Jakob Fischer/Shutterstock

Iran’s Dasht-e Lut, also known as the Lut Desert, is regarded as one of the hottest and driest places on Earth. The surface temperature in the desert can reach as high as 159 degrees Fahrenheit, and although this puts its name in some obscure record books, it also means that it’s one of the least-visited places in the world.

That’s not to say it’s a place for extreme travelers to avoid altogether. In winter, temperatures drop to below zero, ironically making it slightly more manageable. The barren landscape is dotted with fascinating rock formations, salt plains, massive dunes, abandoned caravanserais, and hardy plant and wildlife, which makes it a remarkable place to check out.

2. Rangipo Desert, New Zealand

Photo: travellight/Shutterstock

The Rangipo Desert in New Zealand receives a reasonable amount of rainfall each year, but the area’s poor soil quality owing to violent volcanic eruptions 20,000 years ago and persistent dry winds make it an anomaly in the generally lush country.

Most of Rangipo is uninhabited, given the infertile land and extreme climate, and there’s also only a single sealed road that runs through it known as Desert Road. The scenery was impressive enough to serve as the backdrop for certain scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies, and the heavy snowfalls produce snow-capped peaks that contrast perfectly with the landscape below.

3. White Desert, Egypt

Photo: N Mrtgh/Shutterstock

Though just a few hours away from the Egyptian capital of Cairo, the White Desert feels like it’s located on another planet. That’s because it’s home to bizarre weathered chalk rock formations that look almost curated in their appearance.

Many of the formations have been given names referring to their appearance — often items of food like “ice cream cone” and “mushroom.” The desert is largely devoid of vegetation, adding to its feeling of otherworldliness, but it’s surprisingly accessible to visitors. The nearest town of Farafra is just 28 miles away, and it’s possible to camp overnight to witness the changing colors of the landscape during dusk and dawn.

4.Tankwa Karoo, South Africa

Photo: Kate Higgs/Shutterstock

South Africa’s Tankwa Karoo has been preserved as a national park since 1986, owing to its stark natural beauty and fragile ecosystem. Despite being the home of the annual Afrika Burn Festival every April, unique farmhouse accommodations dotting the desert, and a reasonably good road network, the region remains largely off the tourist radar.

The area receives fewer than four inches of rain each year due to the towering Cederberg mountains that block moisture-bearing clouds. Much of the land bordering the desert was once used for sheep farming, but in recent years, the protected area has expanded from 100 square miles to more than 550.

5. Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan

Photo: Sergey Dzyuba/Shutterstock

The Kyzylkum Desert is located in Central Asia between Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan and has an area of approximately 115,000 square miles.

The region receives just four to eight inches of rainfall each year and is mostly sandy, with ridges that support some desert plant life. These plants serve as pasture for domestic animals — mainly horses, sheep, and camels — belonging to nomadic tribes who move through the desert. There are several small settlements established around oases.

In the north of the country at Ayaz-Kala, overlooking the desert, are the ruins of an ancient Khorezm fortress, and there are petroglyphs at Sarmysh dating back thousands of years. The ruins of Djanpik Qala Fortress, situated in the Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan, are also a fascinating sight.

6. Taklamakan Desert, China

Photo: Stephanus Le Roux/Shutterstock

China’s Taklamakan Desert is one of the world’s largest sandy deserts. It covers more than 123,550 square miles across the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, an autonomous region in the west of the country. The large mountain ranges of Tien Shan, Kunlun Mountains, and the Pamirs surround the desert while smaller peaks with unique arcs dot its western reaches.

As far as deserts go, Taklamakan is somewhat moderate — it has a maximum annual temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. But rainfall is markedly low — the desert sees just one and a half inches per year in the west and 0.4 in the east — which combined with the prevailing winds often leads to hurricane-force dust storms.

Unsurprisingly, there is no permanent population living in the desert, and there is also little plant and animal life to speak of in its center, but thanks to its position along the Silk Road, there is an ancient oasis in the desert in the Turpan Basin. Visitors can reach the oasis by catching a train to Turpan and then hiring a local guide.

Wildlife also increases towards the fringes of Taklamakan, where it’s possible to spot wolves, foxes, gazelles, and the rare Siberian roe deer.

7. Tabernas Desert, Spain

Photo: StevanZZ/Shutterstock

Though Spain’s principal tourist attractions are located in the country’s populated cities and coastal resorts, the semi-arid regions are more interesting than many people realize.

The Tabernas desert is often called mainland Europe’s only desert as it is dryer and arider than anywhere else on the continent’s mainland. Just 20 miles north of the Andalusian coast, the nearby low sierras block most of the approaching rain, and in summer, the temperatures soar, reaching highs of 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry season rainfall seldom registers higher than three inches, but when the rains do arrive, they are often torrential, a phenomenon that has lead to the desert’s dramatic natural mesas and ravines.

Tabernas has served as the location for several spaghetti westerns since the 1950s, thanks to its remarkable similarity to the American West. Some of the towns used in the movies have been repurposed as western theme parks where tourists can relive some of their favorite movies.

8. Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil

Photo: LMspencer/Shutterstock

Lençois Maranhenses National Park is a vast, sandy desert home to undulating dunes home to aquamarine rainwater lakes.

The national park runs along a remote stretch of Brazil’s Atlantic coastline and is often overlooked by tourists seeking out the country’s better-marketed attractions. In spite of this, it’s possible to reach the city of São Luís by plane, and then travel by tour bus or 4×4 to the desert.

In spite of the park’s natural beauty, and an average annual rainfall of 50 inches, it still produces some of Brazil’s harshest weather conditions. As a result, most visitors travel to Lençóis Maranhenses between the months of June and September when the weather is milder, and the famous rainwater lakes are full.

9. Carcross Desert, Canada

Photo: Jef Wodniack/Shutterstock

At just one square mile, Yukon’s Carcross Desert is pretty small. Although South Africa’s Red Desert Nature Reserve holds the title of the smallest desert in the world with a diameter of just 650 feet, the Carcross Desert is perhaps one of the world’s most unusual desert destinations to visit.

Just outside the town of Carcross, this desert owes its characteristics to a Pleistocene glacial lake of which it was once the bed. The area has remained an arid desert for thousands of years due to the harsh conditions and the nearby mountains that block incoming rains, but it’s home to a surprising amount of plant life.

To experience the Carcross desert in the best way possible, head there in the summer with your sandboard to slide down the desert dunes.


More like this: 7 destinations to visit NOW before they’re overrun with tourists

The post 9 beautiful deserts you’ve never heard of appeared first on Matador Network.

Nellie Bly VR experience

If you admire Nellie Bly, the first woman to circumnavigate the globe (she did it in just 72 days in 1889), you’re in luck. Even if you can’t afford a single plane ticket, it’s easier than ever to relive Bly’s globetrotting experience. The Newseum, in collaboration with Vive Studios, is offering a virtual reality experience that takes you on an immersive journey inspired by Bly’s record-breaking trip around the world.

“Nellie Bly: The Virtual Reality Experience” lets you follow in Bly’s footsteps through Egypt, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, San Francisco, and dozens of other locations. You’ll see first-hand the hardships she faced along the way, as well as her most memorable moments, including a crazy snowstorm, a stop in Singapore to buy a monkey, and the discovery of a challenger — another female journalist attempting the same feat.

The experience is meant primarily as an educational tool, situating Bly’s journey in a historical context, and providing extensive background on her previous reporting and accomplishments. Indeed, beyond the VR experience, Bly features prominently in Newseum’s 4D introductory film, which highlights important journalistic figures throughout history. Bly actually achieved fame in the world of journalism by faking insanity to gain admittance to Blackwell’s Island, a New York insane asylum, where she catalogued the poor conditions and abuses suffered by inmates.

Her biggest accomplishment, however, was no doubt the 72-day trip around the world. On the way, she even stopped in London to meet Jules Verne, the man who had inspired the journey in the first place. “If you do it in 79 days,” he reportedly told her, “I shall applaud with both hands.”

The VR experience is available for online purchase at only $4.49.

H/T: Smithsonian.com

More like this: This UK traveler is following in the footsteps of a legendary explorer to raise awareness for female travel

The post New VR experience follows Nellie Bly on her 72-day journey around the world appeared first on Matador Network.

7 mouth-watering confectionaries

Local food is one of the main reasons we travel, whether we’re searching for the best Cuban sandwich in Tampa or tucking into a steaming bowl of Japanese ramen. Along with savory hankerings, our sweet tooth aches to be satisfied while on vacation, so we always need to find some sweet, tasty ways to satisfy our cravings. Thankfully, there are sugary hidden gems just waiting to be found all around the world. These seven sweets shops are famous for their cakes, pastries, and chocolates, and you should absolutely pay them a visit.

1. Miette in San Francisco, California

Photo: Miette

Meg Ray, the owner and creator of Miette, starting slinging her confections at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market in fall of 2001, and now her beloved shop serves her beautiful cakes and candies to California’s Bay Area. Miette is known for its simple preparations and minimal decoration, which lets the high-quality ingredients in every baked good shine. Think sugary treats like banana cream tarts and gingerbread cakes, shortbread cookies infused with lavender and walnut, and candies like English toffee and homemade sour patch kids. Miette ships its cookies and confections across the country, so you can taste them even if you’re not on the West Coast.

2. Shane Confectionery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Photo: Shane Confectionery

Shane Confectionery has been satisfying Philly’s sweets lovers since 1863, which makes it the oldest continuously run confectionery in the United States. Brothers Ryan and Eric Berley purchased the shop in 2010. They stay true to the candy that made the original shop famous — think chocolates filled with buttercream and almond toffee crunch — but have expanded the line to include things like clear candy toys, bean-to-bar chocolate, and holiday pies. They’ve even collaborated with New Liberty Distillery on a Cacao Whiskey. Stop in to sample the mouthwatering confections and stay for a mugful of rich, warm drinking chocolate.

3. Fugetsu-Do in Los Angeles, California

Photo: Fugetsu-Do/Facebook

Seiichi Kito opened this iconic LA confectionery in 1903 after he immigrated to the US from Gifu, Japan, and it’s been operating in the city’s Little Tokyo neighborhood ever since. Seiichi’s grandson Brian runs Fugetsu-Do today, and it still serves the sweets of the family’s native Japan. Stop in to try the wonderful mochi, which are filled with things like white bean paste, chocolate, and peanut butter. The ornate treats are beautiful and colorful, which makes them the perfect gift for any occasion.

4. Pastelería Ideal in Mexico City, Mexico

Photo: Pasteleria Ideal/Facebook

Located in Mexico City’s bustling El Centro neighborhood, Pastelería Ideal is the perfect place to stop for a refuel after walking the crowded streets and seeing the sights of the historic city center. The shop was founded in 1927, and it serves traditional Mexican cookies, pastries, and bread. It’s famous for its special occasion cakes, which are displayed on the second floor for all to see. After perusing the opulent birthday and wedding cakes, tuck into a concha (a sweet bread roll) or pan dane (a Danish) filled with juicy native fruit.

5. Phillips Chocolates in Boston, Massachusetts

Photo: Phillips Chocolates/Facebook

If a confection is dubbed one of Oprah’s “Favorite Things” then you know it’s gotta be delicious. That’s exactly what she said about Phillips Chocolates turtles, a mouthwatering, classic combination of sticky caramel, hand-roasted nuts, and creamy chocolate. Phillips Chocolates is not only one of the best sweets shops in Boston but also the oldest, which means you absolutely need to pay your respects when visiting Beantown. In addition to its famous turtles, you can expect to find chocolate fudge and bark, cookies, brownies, freshly roasted nuts, jelly beans, and ginger sesame brittle.

6. Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio in Yarra, Australia

Photo: Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio/Facebook

Located in the suburbs of Melbourne, Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio has been serving sugary delights to locals and visitors alike since 2011. Husband and wife team Darren Purchese and Claire Claringbold are behind the shop with Darren as the master cake baker. The cake selection changes monthly to highlight seasonal ingredients, but you can expect to find plenty of cakes, jams and spreads (try the Salted Caramel Spread), lollipops, and cannelés on any given day. Each creation is so colorful and delicious, you’ll likely have trouble leaving once you step foot inside.

7. Vestri in Florence, Italy

Photo: Vestri Cioccolato/Facebook

There’s no shortage of quaint mom and pop shops in Florence, but Vestri is by far one of our favorites. This is the place for chocoholics to get their fix. The family-run business has been selling chocolate for more than 30 years, and it even has its own cocoa plantation in the Dominican Republic to ensure high-quality and ethical sourcing. Inside, you’ll find both bars that are pure chocolate and bars that are filled with custom toothsome creations, like white chocolate with sesame and pink Himalayan salt. Vestri also sells cocoa powder, hot chocolate mix, decadent truffles, and chocolate hazelnut spread that is 10 times better than Nutella.


More like this: The sugar-coated, crispy-fried, deeply comforting guide to Dutch winter food

The post 7 confectionaries every person with a sweet tooth should visit appeared first on Matador Network.

Rare whiskies proved fake

Next time you’re at a cocktail party, swirling that vintage Scotch whisky in your glass and feeling fancy, you might want to think twice about what you’re actually drinking. During tests conducted at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, it was discovered that 21 out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch whisky were actually fakes, or not distilled in the year stated. The study was inspired by whisky broker Rare Whisky 101, who was concerned about the growing prevalence of fake Scotch whisky. Using advanced radiocarbon dating techniques, the study managed to establish the true age of each bottle.

Among whiskies identified as fake included an Ardbeg 1885, acquired from a private owner, and a Thorne’s Heritage early 20th Century blended whisky, obtained from an auction. According to Rare Whisky 101, 10 single malts claiming to be from 1900 or earlier were discovered to be fake. It also estimated that about $52 million worth of rare whisky currently in circulation and in collections is fake — that’s more than the entire UK whisky auction market.

Despite the abundance of fake whiskies, it doesn’t appear that this falsification is the fault of vendors. David Robertson, co-founder of Rare Whisky 101, told BBC News that the vast majority of vendors have no idea they’re selling fake whisky. To be safe, he said, every rare bottle “should be assumed fake until proven genuine…the exploding demand for rare whisky is inevitably attracting rogue elements to the sector.”

H/T: BBC News

More like this:

The post Several rare Scotch whiskies proven fake appeared first on Matador Network.

New Haven’s apizza is the best style

From coast to coast, one question plagues pizza lovers across the US: Where can you find the best pizza? Well, I can tell you it’s not in New York or Chicago. The best pizza isn’t even called pizza. It’s called apizza, and you can find it in New Haven, Connecticut.

Apizza is the name for the classic Neapolitan-style pizza that started in New Haven back in 1925. The apizza style refers to a thin, chewy, crispy, charred crust that comes from the coal-fired ovens used to make it. Pronounced “abeets,” apizza gets its name from the Italian dialect of the Neapolitan immigrants who came to the area in the early 1900s. Looking to recreate Naples’ pizza on the streets of New Haven, a man named Frank Pepe began selling slices of apizza from a small shop front on Wooster Street. His original tomato pie was made with Italian tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and oregano on a signature crust with a sprinkling of grated pecorino Romano cheese on top. Frank Pepe’s nephew, Salvatore Consiglio, opened up his own apizza place, Sally’s, in 1938. Those two businesses launched what is now an iconic New Haven pizza scene.

It’s a charming origin story, but it’s not what makes apizza better than every other style of pizza across the country. Many people say it’s the best because of New Haven’s hard water, which makes the dough more elastic. The dough goes through a longer fermentation process at most New Haven-style pizzerias. It’s refrigerated overnight before bringing it to room temperature for baking, which results in a denser and crispier crust. Speaking of crust, the coal-fired ovens are part of the apizza magic. The intensely hot brick oven is responsible for charring the apizza and giving it that distinct taste.

You can talk, read, write, and argue over apizza for days, but you don’t know the magic that is apizza until you try it for yourself. These are the best places to get apizza.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

Photo: Pepe’s Pizza/Facebook

Apizza started with Frank Pepe Pizzeria, and it’s only natural that you start here, too. It’s easy to find a Pepe’s location, as it’s the only one of the big time apizza players that has multiple locations around Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Everything about the style originated with Pepe — even the standard shape of apizza. A whole apizza pie is oblong, and not the circle shape of traditional pizza. This shape leads to some asymmetrical slices, but no matter the shape or size, the taste is classic.

Order the signature white clam apizza (bonus points if you add the house-made bacon). If you’re more of a purist, then you can’t go wrong with Pepe’s original tomato pie with mozzarella. There’s also a simple selection of fresh toppings that are a wonderful complement to an already delicious base. Lastly, be sure to wash down your apizza with a classic Foxon Park soda, a family-owned soda company that has long been paired with New Haven apizza.

Sally’s Apizza

Photo: Sally’s Apizza/Facebook

Sally’s is just down the street from the original Pepe’s. This cash-only establishment retains its old school vibe, complete with a decades-old local argument about whether Sally’s or Pepe’s is better. Die-hard apizza lovers flock to this original location and claim it’s the best pizza in the country. Rumor has it that even Frank Sinatra preferred Sally’s over Pepe’s.

Lines stretch out the door on any given day, so be prepared for a wait. The most popular menu item is the tomato pie, but the garden pie with tomato, mozzarella, zucchini, and basil is worth veering from the traditional.

Modern Apizza

Photo: Modern Apizza/Facebook

Another oldie, despite what the name would have you believe, Modern Apizza opened in 1934 about a mile away from Pepe’s. Modern apizza uses a wood-fired oven instead of coal, and offers more artisanal toppings and classic Italian menu items in a large, open space.

Locals love Modern because they get great, thin crust apizza with shorter lines and less of a wait. The classic tomato pie is the winner here, as is the Italian bomb, a seven-topping apizza with peppers, sausage, pepperoni, bacon, onions, garlic, and mushrooms.

Bar

Photo: BAR/Facebook

Bar is the new kid on the block and has more of a hipster vibe. Opened in 1996, Bar is known for its innovative take on the New Haven apizza. It’s not a surprise that the college crowd flocks to Bar, as its large industrial space is quite welcoming. The brick oven is gas powered, and the spot brews its own beer as well. At night, the location turns into a nightclub.

The apizza here has a few twists. Visitors can order red or white pies, with or without mozzarella, or “mootz” as the locals call it. Then comes the 30 add-ons to choose from; the most popular toppings are mashed potato and bacon.


More like this: Every American pizza style, ranked

The post Forget New York or Chicago, this is the best style of pizza in America appeared first on Matador Network.

How to annoy your bartender

Bartenders work during the holidays and therefore become a part of their customers’ holiday experiences be they amazing or terrible. Although customers can be annoying at any time of the year, there’s a special vibe during the holidays that makes their behaviors much harder to cope with in a friendly manner. Here are some surefire ways to piss off a bartender during the holidays.

1. Complain about your hangover.

You’d think New Year’s Eve would be the least desirable bar shift, but it’s actually New Year’s Day. Working on New Year’s Eve is usually fun, great money, and gives you an excuse to avoid overpriced New Year’s Eve parties. Working on New Year’s Day, however, is the worst. Nearly every guest is cranky and hungover, and they feel the need to announce their hangover as if it were a secret shared among friends. Guess what? We’re hungover too, but we’re working on New Year’s because we’re professionals. Drink your Bloody Mary and leave us be.

2. Ask us overly personal questions.

Holidays bring out the chatty Cathies. We know people just want to connect, especially this time of year, but remember we are at work. If a bartender offers up personal information during a conversation, cool, but we’re not on a first date. Just because it’s the holidays, we don’t necessarily want to discuss our hometowns or our relationships with our parents.

3. Get too lit.

We’re all for letting loose from time to time, but something about the holiday season makes people go too hard too fast. If you aren’t much of a drinker, remember to pace yourself. We see too many bar guests get caught up in the holiday spirit and be wasted by their second cocktail. We’re looking out for you. No one wants to be the talk of the office holiday party.

4. Linger.

Even though most bars and restaurants are open for the holidays, we often change our hours of service to accommodate the staff celebrating with their families. If it’s Christmas Eve and we close at 10:00 PM, please respect that by leaving at last call. We don’t want to be rude on the holidays, but we will kick you out into the snow if we have to.

6. Request holiday music.

How many times does a person need to hear “Jingle Bells” to feel life is complete? Perhaps try enjoying a few hours without holiday songs cycling through your brain. However, there is one exception that you can always request: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” We’re not monsters.

7. Order round after round of seasonally-themed drinks.

If we have to make one more hot toddy, we may explode.

8. Be a bad tipper.

Come on, even your mail carrier gets a fruitcake.


More like this: 9 perfect gifts for bartenders this holiday season

The post How to piss off a bartender during the holidays appeared first on Matador Network.

See Japan, Portugal, Iceland as CEO

Becoming a CEO might sound like a pretty daunting and stressful job, unless CEO stands for “Cultural Exploration Officer.” Noken, a travel company that builds customized trips to select countries, is looking for a new Cultural Exploration Officer to travel to Japan, Portugal, and Iceland. The job description is pretty straightforward, too. Noken wants someone who can generate content about the destination, including writing blog posts about their experience and the other cultures they encounter. The CEO will take one trip per year, and use Noken’s app guide to create content that’s shareable across all of the company’s social media channels.

To be considered for the position, you must be at least 21 years old, have a valid US passport, the flexibility to travel, some basic photography skills, and a yearning for new cultural experiences. Most importantly, however, applicants must post five photos of their hometown’s landmarks and local gems on Instagram, tag @noken, use the #NokenCEO hashtag, and describe why they’d be a good fit for the position.

The app aims to be a one-stop-shop for users trying to book a trip, including activities, hostels, luxury hotels, and restaurant reservations. The app then generates an organized itinerary for your reference, including GPS-based routes to get you where you need to go.

Currently, Noken only offers trips to Japan, Portugal, and Iceland, though it plans to launch new destinations soon.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

More like this: 9 apps that take the frustration out of travel

The post This dream job as a ‘Cultural Exploration Officer’ will send you to Japan, Portugal, and Iceland for free appeared first on Matador Network.

Why you should visit Ft. Lauderdale

Usually when you see the name Broward County, it’s followed by something embarrassingly Florida. An election recount, maybe. Or a TV show where police officers arrest people who’ve been using alligators in very inappropriate ways.

In reality, Broward County is a seaside, tropical locale with 23 miles of coastline and a population of two million, smack between Miami and Palm Beach County. It’s a vacation oasis to millions from all over the world — but somewhere along the line, Broward got an image that it didn’t deserve.

Maybe it was when America decided it was spring break central and made its beaches a bacchanal of bad decisions for the better part of the last 30 years. Or maybe it was when famously attention-seeking sheriff Nick Navarro (of Cops fame) had 2 Live Crew arrested for performing “lewd” songs, giving the county a decidedly backwater reputation.

Despite all this, Broward County, and its biggest city Ft. Lauderdale, has grown up from its years of beer bongs and redneck cops. Yes, 2018 saw the county in the middle of yet another highly publicized election recount. But Broward County can do more than pop bottles and botch elections. It’s a diverse, cosmopolitan place that balances all the best things about Florida without the insanity of larger cities.

The Venice of America finally becomes a big city.

Photo: Zhukova Valentyna/Shutterstock

Ft. Lauderdale was envisioned as the Venice of America, a city built on canals destined to be the grandest boating destination in the western hemisphere. In that light, it succeeded: Ft. Lauderdale is home to the hemisphere’s biggest boat show each November and is the de facto hub of the western yachting world. But outside marine circles, that doesn’t get talked about much.

Even 25 miles south in Miami, many locals see Broward County as its sleepy bedroom community neighbor. Not a cool, hipster second city like Oakland or Brooklyn but more like a humid, slightly trashier Orange County. Those opinions, though, are mostly from people afraid to go north of the county line. In the past half-decade, Ft. Lauderdale has improved itself to the point that residents not only don’t need to go south to find world-class restaurants and nightlife — but also people from Miami are slowly coming north to see what’s there.

First, developers have torn down much of the stretch of dated discount hotels along Ft. Lauderdale Beach and replaced them with a W, a Conrad, and a Ritz-Carlton. The result hasn’t exactly been St. Barth’s on the Swamp, but it has driven out the throngs of budget-constricted spring breakers who once flocked here.

Photo: W Fort Lauderdale/Facebook

Despite the addition of luxury hotels, the beach hasn’t lost its character, mind you. You can still find people who look like they came here on Spring Break 1984 and forgot to leave at bars like Elbo Room and Blondie’s. But you’ll find those watering holes intertwined with oceanfront craft cocktail lounges like the Living Room at the W and Burlock Coast in the Ritz-Carlton.

Broward County’s maturity extends far past the beach to Himamrhsee, an area with bars and restaurants in historic buildings next to the New River. There, the towering ‘90s eyesore that was the Riverwalk shopping center has been demolished to make way for two residential towers — 38 and 42 stories — with 40,00 square feet of commercial space.

The towers are part of the 10,000 new residential units planned over the next five years in downtown Ft. Lauderdale as young professionals are flocking to the urban core. This phenomenon is happening in every city — but, in a place largely dismissed as a sprawling suburban vacationland, this kind of urban development forges a new identity.

Photo: The Wilder/Facebook

In response, the city has seen an influx of the types of amenities a legitimate downtown needs, with the row of restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard leading the charge. What was once a collection of nondescript Italian tourist traps and sticky bars now hosts some of the best restaurants in South Florida, from robata grill at Etaru to Mexican at Rocco’s Tacos to Broward’s best pizza at Louie Bossi’s.

The Wilder, a creative cocktail bar just east of downtown along Broward Boulevard, could be the best new cocktail bar in Florida this year. It’s a wood-lined space that mixes classic and trendy drinks with a huge patio and a dance club in the back. Downtown also got its first legitimate rooftop bar, creatively called Rooftop. That is in addition to the two-year-old Apothecary 330, which has the most impressive collection of bourbons and whiskeys in South Florida.

Smaller cities thrive outside Ft. Lauderdale.

Photo: Delray Beach Photog/Shutterstock

The 30 other municipalities that make up the Broward County are growing up, too. Just south of Ft. Lauderdale is Hollywood Beach, a one-time gritty boardwalk town that is building itself into the third-best dining city in South Florida — behind Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. And it’s got ocean views to boot.

The Margaritaville Resort opened a few years ago and brought with it the JWB Prime Steak & Seafood, the best steakhouse north of Miami. Just down the boardwalk, Hyde Beach opened Etaru, a robata grill restaurant with food as good as the legendary Zuma, with a front row seat to the ocean. There’s also the iconic Diplomat Resort, which recently underwent a massive renovation and opened Geoffrey Zakarian’s new Point Royal and the chic Monkitail, Broward’s best sushi spot. And of course there’s still Le Tub, the funky waterside dive that some say has the best hamburger in America.

Pompano Beach, about 15 minutes north of Ft. Lauderdale, has undergone huge transformations, too, becoming a top destination for the classic Floridian combination of scuba diving and beer.

South Florida was late to the craft beer party, but Pompano Beach eventually embraced it the most. Foremost is the 26 Degrees brewery, a converted Winn Dixie Grocery store that’s become a weekend social hub for the city. Pompano also has Holy Mackerel, Bangin’ Banjos, and Odd Breed Wild Ales, giving the city the most breweries per capita of any city in the region.

In addition to beer, Pompano Beach is the best wreck dive destination in America that won’t involve a freezing Great Lake. Shipwreck Park boasts over 15 wrecks just offshore, including the recently sunk 324-foot Lady Luck decked out in cartoonish sculptures of sharks playing poker. If you’re not Scuba certified, you can even see the SS Copenhagen from the surface while snorkeling.

The beach in Pompano is the widest in South Florida and has just opened the swanky new Pompano Beach House, which brings a little taste of the Hamptons to North Broward. It also offers free surf lessons from time to time as the waves off the Hillsboro Inlet are usually surfable, which is unusual in this part of the state.

Pompano sits just north of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, one of the coolest small towns in the country. High-rises aren’t allowed here, giving you the feeling of a little beach town right in the middle of a major metro.

West of Lauderdale By the Sea you can post up at the Funky Buddha brewery, a 20,000-square-foot hoppy playground that’s gained national recognition with unusual flavors like its Maple Bacon Porter and Peanut Butter and Jelly Brown Ale. Gimmicky? Sure, but this is Florida, a state that’s never been about subtlety.

A new train makes Broward County the perfect place to explore South Florida.

Photo: GoBrightline/Facebook

This past year, the first privately funded express train in America began service in South Florida, immediately changing how people visit the region. Brightline — which next year will change its name to Virgin Trains — has put downtown Miami within 25 minutes of Ft. Lauderdale’s station and West Palm Beach only 40 minutes.

The trains are clean and fast with WiFi and bar cars. And they easily allow you to stay in Broward and duck down to Miami for a Heat game or up to the grandeur of Palm Beach. As Brightline turns South Florida into a true regional destination, Broward County’s location in the middle of Miami and West Palm Beach makes it the ideal base to explore the entire area.

So while the name Broward County might carry with it reminiscences of overzealous cops and inept elections, it is, in fact, the most dynamic destination in Florida. It’s not as overwhelming and chaotic as Miami but still maintains big-city diversity and fantastic beaches. It’s a small city striving to get bigger while living in the shadow of its famous neighbor.

And though it’s not a hipster hotbed, it’s forging its own identity away from its spring break past. Only time will tell if it becomes the city it aims to be — but for now, it’s an intriguing place to spend your Florida vacation.


More like this: Why right now is the best time in history to visit the Florida Keys

The post How Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County are moving past spring break and botched elections appeared first on Matador Network.

Odessa is Ukraine's culinary capital

Odessa is a city that absorbs. It’s defined by diverse influences, by triumph and tragedy, and, because of its location on the Black Sea, by fantastic seafood. Odessans proudly wave the independent Ukrainian flag nowadays, but the Soviets, Germans, and Ottoman Empire have all occupied the city in its less than 250-year history. As such, Ukraine’s third largest city is an amalgamation of cultures and home to one of the most vibrant culinary scenes in Europe.

Odessa is the type of place you want to see for yourself. Be sure to watch Everything is Illuminated on the plane over, though the film — and the larger-than-life Jonathan Safron Foer book it’s based on — hardly does Odessa justice. Most importantly, though, show up to Odessa hungry. Here’s why the city is the culinary capital of Ukraine.

Excellent seafood comes in from the nearby Black Sea.

Photo: jaras72/Shutterstock

The Centre District is a veritable haven for modern Ukrainian dining. Trendy restaurants and cafes are set mere blocks from the sea, where chefs prepare bouillabaisse, a seafood soup with French roots, from mussels and other seafood hauled in that same morning. Stop into Kumanets for a plate of Bichki Bullfish and you’ll never settle for frozen fried fish again. Large prawns and small shellfish known as rapani are common on menus across the city, as are mussels served in a cream sauce or as the anchor to more extravagant dishes, such as plov, a rice dish brought from Mongolia.

You can’t go wrong with a seafood soup in Odessa. Soup can also provide a good excuse to venture beyond fish if something lighter is in order. If you see fresh pea soup on a menu, do yourself a favor and give it the ole’ college try.

Each meal tells a bit about Odessa’s history.

Photo: Drop of Light/Shutterstock

If you’re into walking down avenues packed with as much history as people, Odessa is the place for you. Odessa dates back to an ancient Greek settlement, then from 1529 to 1792 it was part of the Ottoman Empire. The city’s port has been a key stopping point for historical trade routes through the Black Sea, which led to a mix of culinary influences from across Eurasia. Its role in regional trade even withstood the tight Soviet controls prior to Ukraine’s independence after the collapse of the block in 1991.

Georgian influence can be found in many restaurants across the city, as well as Mediterranean dishes inspired by Turkish and Greek food. Much of the city’s architecture was built during the 1800s, so as you work through the best plate of mussels you’ve ever eaten, you’re surrounded by buildings from the pre-USSR era, including the towering Vorontsov Lighthouse.

Beyond the seafood and grilled meats, Ukrainian dishes are frequently built from a consistent lineup of grains, potatoes, mushrooms, and cabbage, all of which were reliable crops for the country’s peasant farmers during times of economic hardship and uncertainty. Borscht, a cabbage stew heavy on potato and onion and popular throughout the country, is widely considered to be a national dish. Get more of the country’s foods in with an order of deruny, or potato pancakes normally dipped in onion stew.

Odessa has a thriving market scene.

Photo: jaras72/Shutterstock

Odessa is home to popular food markets housing multiple vendors under one roof. There are two that you need to visit. The first is the world-famous Pryvoz Market on Pryvozna Street in the city center. Running since 1827, Pryvoz is the oldest such place in Odessa and the easiest way to see just about every major culture in the city represented in one place. At its core, this bazaar is a farmer’s market, but in a sort of hawker-center-meets-suburban-strip-mall type of way. You can buy everything from regional fruits to fresh-caught shellfish to clothing, and you can stock up on produce while eyeing a new set of speakers at the vendor across the way.

The other hotspot is the Odessa City Food Market. This expansive food hall is the type of place that inspired the trendy food halls now populating hipster boulevards in many US cities. Thirteen food vendors call the City Food Market home and sling everything from fish to grilled meats to hummus and accoutrements. Most vendors are meat-heavy, but for veggie-friendly options, stop by Vegan Hooligano. The market opened in 2017 and quickly became the central hub for Odessa’s local foodie culture. As rumors of its Black Sea bounty swirled, tourists began making their way in, and the result is a vibrant and diverse scene of diners and drinkers. There are also six bars onsite — yes, six — fueling a scene that tends to get a bit raucous when a highly anticipated new dish is unleashed to the masses.

Fine dining is just as important as the markets.

Photo: eFesenko/Shutterstock

With all of the food halls and casual vendors, it can be easy to overlook Odessa’s chic restaurant scene. Not to derail the importance of street food, but there are a handful of restaurants you need to make an appearance at while in town. The first is Bernadazzi, an establishment that, if judging by press and accolades alone, might be the best restaurant in town. Dining here is about the full experience — fine wine complemented by live musical overtures and phenomenal service, all bowing to the reason for the restaurant: the menu itself. Seabass and Black Sea crustaceans steal the show, but you can get down on poultry and lamb, as well, with drink options from wine to kombucha. It’s classy, so make a reservation in advance, and don’t wear that nice button-down to the beach before dinner.

For a more casual affair, head to Kumanets. Here you’ll find European influence on Ukrainian staples, such as regional seabass and cabbage rolls, corn porridge, and roasted lamb. They also serve the best veal in town. You can walk your way through The Centre and find just about any cuisine that suits your fancy, but one thing you’re sure to notice is the diversity of influence — the running theme of eating in Odessa.

How to get to Odessa

Photo: Illia_Ungvari/Shutterstock

Located on the far eastern reaches of Europe, Odessa is certainly not as easy to access as major Eastern European destinations like Warsaw or Budapest. But, if you happen to already be coming to Ukraine, you can fall asleep in Kiev and wake up in Odessa thanks to the night train connecting the two cities. It’s a straight shot from the country’s capital up north down to the coast, and any part of it you catch during daylight hours is stunningly beautiful.

If you prefer to fly in, the majority of the flights into Odessa International Airport pass through an international hub on the way, often Istanbul. You can book direct flights from Kiev though they aren’t as common as you might expect given the proximity of the two cities. Plan to do some research and route a few possible angles of approach, but don’t let the process discourage you — the culinary reward is more than worth the effort.


More like this: Why Lviv, Ukraine, should be your next European city trip

The post Why you need to visit Odessa, the culinary capital of Ukraine appeared first on Matador Network.

Photos of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula

Last August, adventure travel photographer Kylie Fly traveled by train from Anchorage to Seward, Alaska, and continued by boat to Fox Island in Kenai Fjords National Park. On hikes, kayaks, and boat excursions, Kylie photographed glaciers, waterfalls, forests, and wildlife. Below is a gallery of Kylie’s stunning images, with her story as told to Matador Network editor Noelle Salmi.




1

The Classic Coastal Train connects Anchorage to the port town of Seward on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. The GoldStar service includes glass-domed ceilings and an outdoor, upper-level viewing platform to take in the incredible views.

2

The first destination is the Seward Windsome Lodge a few miles from Seward. The lodge is located in the Chugach National Forest, a temperate rainforest covering over 10,000 square miles. Kylie and her group take a short hike through the forest.

3

The hike leads to Exit Glacier, a massive wall of centuries-old ice working its way down the mountainside towards the Resurrection River. They marvel at the shimmering blue ice as a naturalist tells us about the area’s topography and the natural habitat.

Intermission











Culture

7 things bartenders do that piss off their non-bartender friends


Melissa Allen
Nov 6, 2018













News

Vote for your favorite fat Alaskan bear


Eben Diskin
Oct 9, 2018













Sponsored

17 images that will make you plan a trip to Samoa NOW


Jacqueline Kehoe
Nov 26, 2018













4

Early morning at the lodge starts with fresh air and hot coffee out on the deck. It’s the perfect start to a busy day of exploring.

5

The group departs Seward Lodge in the morning and takes the Kenai Fjords Tour boat south down the fjord towards Fox Island. There, they stay at the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge

6

Kylie and her fellow kayakers suit up in protective gear, receive an extensive safety briefing, and head out. Kayaking is the only way to explore the remote islands of the Kenai Fjords National Park. It’s plenty cold out -- so, in addition to multiple warm layers and waterproof waders, they wear wetsuit gloves while paddling.

7

The entire kayaking excursion lasts six hours. The surroundings include tiny round islands dotted with trees, bald eagles circling overhead, and puffins everywhere you look. One of the destinations is a beautiful waterfall.

8

The dining room in the lodge looks out onto the deck and across the water to the mountain peaks of the Kenai Peninsula. After a full day of kayaking, dinner is a welcome time to relax.

9

The Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge is known for its incredible food. Chef Landon Schoenefeld prepares an incredible meal of freshly caught fish and local greens.

Intermission











News

A rare white reindeer was spotted in Norway, and it’s the cutest thing ever


Eben Diskin
Dec 6, 2018













Culture

8 signs you were raised by an Alaskan mom


Jennifer Gracey
Apr 23, 2018













Travel

Hiking Hanging Lake, one of Colorado’s most stunning trails


Katie Botwin
Sep 6, 2018













10

The next day the group heads out again on Kenai Fjords Tour boat for a two-hour excursion. Jagged, rocky islets and forested islands dot the sea. Behind them are forested hills and, deeper in the background, glacier-covered peaks.

11

The boat sails towards the Aialik Glacier, the largest one in Aialik Bay. At least 38 glaciers are located in Kenai Fjords National Park.

12

The Kenai Fjords park was established in 1980 partly to protect the area’s extensive marine life there, including seals and sea lions. From the boat, Kylie spots the tail of a humpback whale.

13

On the last evening on Fox Island, Kylie walks out onto the pebble strewn beach. A golden light illuminates the stunning scenery in this pristine corner of the world.

More like this: How to have the perfect winter trip in Tofino, Canada

The post How to explore the breathtaking fjords of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula appeared first on Matador Network.