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West Virginia town feels Colorado

West Virginia has a little bit of a… connotation. To people who haven’t been there, that connotation generally starts with poor dental care and ends up with jokes about marrying cousins or couch burning. And some of that’s not inaccurate. The University of West Virginia does enjoy the occasional furniture fire to celebrate a Mountaineers victory. The towering Appalachian Mountains might house some people who enjoy living off the grid. And like anywhere, it has its share of people with unfortunate teeth.

But there’s a reason they put “Almost Heaven” on the license plates. West of the Rockies you won’t find better mountain scenery in America, where those country roads John Denver sang about wind through majestic green mountains, over sweeping valleys, and past serene rivers. If you live in the northeast or the midwest, it’s the best weekend escape into mountainous nature that you’ll find without needing to get on a plane. And for a little taste of the rugged American West in the East, head to the tiny town of Fayetteville — one of the most underrated destinations in America.

Photo: Adventures On The Gorge

It’s the gateway to the best whitewater in the east.

Fayetteville is about four hours from Pittsburgh, Washington, Charlotte, and Columbus and is best known as home to the thundering New River, the most treacherous stretch of whitewater east of the Rockies. While the slower sections make it one of the best tubing rivers in the country — where daylong parties with floating coolers of beer are a summer tradition — it’s the rapids that make it a destination.

A half-day trip along the 6.5-mile stretch from Cunard to Fayetteville is nothing short of intense; it’s a 90-minute thrill ride where calm water lasts only a brief moment before your raft is flung back down into water holes with epic waves drenching the entire raft. Each rapid brings the new danger of a possible ejection into the furious New River, so a healthy combination of fear and laughter keeps the adrenaline pumping through your brain without letting up. The Class IV-V rapids with names like Dudley’s Dip, Harmon’s Hole, and Pinball hit you in rapid succession, leaving just enough time in between for guides to yell instructions over the powerful river. Adventures on the Gorge offers this trip for a pretty reasonable $100 or so.

The trip ends right under the landmark New River Gorge Bridge, a 3,030-foot-long, 867-foot-tall bridge that was for a time the longest single-span arch bridge in the world. (It’s fourth now.) Every October, it hosts Bridge Day when bungee jumpers, base jumpers, and other people who enjoy plummeting to their almost-death hurl themselves off the bridge as tens of thousands of onlookers convene a daylong party on the banks of the New River.

Photo: Bridge Day West Virginia

The river is without a doubt the main draw, but it’s by no means the extent of the nature there to be experienced. Hikes through the mountains surrounding the gorge provide cool walks through thick forests, leading out to spectacular views over the river. The most popular is the Bridge Trail, a 0.86-mile rocky road to the best overlook of the bridge. But longer trails like the 8.6-mile Kaymoor trail take you past old mines and through the mountains. After spending a morning on the river, a hike here reminds you that nature is still alive and well, that beautiful places still exist in the congested American East, and vacationing means getting out into it all.

Photo: Secret Sandwich Society

And it has food and drink scenes worthy of the nature around it.

While the outdoors fill the days, Fayetteville’s diverse and creative food and drinks make the nights just as entertaining. The town could have easily become another casualty of the coal industry, but the former coal capital has shifted its focus to adventure and tourism. With that has come bars and restaurants that aren’t just good for a town of 3,000 people; they could hold their own in a big city.

The newly opened Southside Junction Tap House is a beer bar with a local selection worthy of places you’d find in Colorado or California, and it’s often shoulder-to-shoulder packed with river guides sampling beers from the nearby Bridge Brew Works. The brewery is only a few miles from downtown and specializes in appropriately western beers like the Hellender Black and Goliath Double IPAs. Though the Black Diamond lager is the one you’ll find at bars throughout town.

Past the historic early-20th-century buildings along Court Street in the downtown area, you’ll find the most acclaimed restaurant in town is the Secret Sandwich Society, where playful sandwiches named after presidents have garnered the national attention. Try the Ulysses with roasted pork loin, peach jam, swiss, and greens. Or, if you’re not a meat eater, the Fillmore with fried eggplant, cherry peppers, onions, and roasted-garlic mayo is a must-get.

Up Maple Avenue from the city’s main intersection at Court Street you’ll find Pies and Pints, a classic pizza and beer joint slinging pies worthy of cities 1,000 times Fayetteville’s size. Much like at the Secret Sandwich Society, the menu here is innovative, featuring pizzas like sriracha shrimp, chipotle chicken, spicy Thai, and grape and gorgonzola, which highlight the specialty menu. They all pair with local draft beers, of which you’ll find half a dozen on tap and an expansive selection of bottles.

For an after-dinner drink, stroll the calm streets to The Station, where off-duty guides sometimes man the bar, pouring craft cocktails you wouldn’t expect to find in the mountains of West Virginia. It’s also the city’s best upscale dining option with a seasonal menu featuring offerings like apple-smoked wings and arancini, as well as main plates like local trout and shrimp and sweet-corn grits. It’s a service station that has been converted into an elegant, well-lit restaurant that feels like a neighborhood spot you’d find in a larger city.

Photo: The Historic Morris Harvey House Bed and Breakfast

Where to Stay:

Lodging options aren’t numerous, with much of the accommodation being chain motels like Quality Inn. But a real hidden gem is the Historic Morris Harvey House, located within walking distance of downtown restaurants and bars. This old Gilded Age mansion is now a full-service bed and breakfast where rooms are adorned in antique furniture and breakfast is served on the front porch, with views of downtown and the mountains.

If you’d prefer to stay in the woods, Adventures on the Gorge also rents no-frills lodging along with its whitewater expeditions. This ranges from rustic bunk-bed cabins to nicer, deluxe log cabins with legit mattresses. The facilities also include a ropes course, zip lines, and a swimming pool. And of course, there’s always the option to camp near the gorge at sites like Rifrafters Campground.

Fayetteville doesn’t feel like the West Virginia you’ve come to imagine, but it’s actually the perfect embodiment of the underappreciated state: hospitable, adventure-filled, and relaxing. It’s perfectly suited for a weekend nature escape, where you can spend your days enjoying the mountains and whitewater and your nights exploring new flavors and sampling local beers. The friendly, open-minded locals will eschew your perception of rural Appalachia; the awe-inspiring scenery will leave you speechless; and by the end of your trip, the nickname “Almost Heaven” won’t seem far off from the truth.


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9 cool music festivals this summer

While crashing the beach will never go out of style, there is a more exciting way to spend your holiday: festival hopping. Once upon a time, festivals meant melting in the sun for hours or standing in the pouring rain, craning to get a glimpse of your favorite band. However, the world of large-scale gatherings has faced a bit of an evolution in recent years, and many festivals host some pretty slick lineups while putting on well-organized and fun events.

Quickly becoming the quintessential summer must-do, festivals exist for all types of music fans. And with theater, comedy, classes, fitness, and health offerings available at many of them, you certainly won’t be bored. If you want to explore some of the best festivals that summer 2018 has to offer, read on.

1. Lollapalooza, August 2-5, Chicago

Over the years, Lollapalooza has evolved from a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction to a massive, multi-day event featuring a wide variety of alternative and rock artists. Held in Grant’s Park, Chicago, the 2018 lineup includes crowd-pleasers Vampire Weekend, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, and BØRNS, plus a varied range of other acts. Where else are you going to see Post Malone, Franz Ferdinand, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise at the same event?

2. Outside Lands, August 10-12, San Francisco

Speaking of intriguing lineups, I’m not sure which promoter created the concept of a Janet Jackson/Florence + the Machine/The Weeknd triple threat, but hey, we’re not complaining. Outside Lands, now in its tenth year, has a truly eclectic mix of artists performing at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Bounce along to Huey Lewis and the News before mellowing out to Bon Iver or Father John Misty, and you’ve got yourself a pretty satisfying festival experience. In between music acts, you can fuel up at Bacon Land, Beer Land, and Wine Land, or watch comedy and improv at the Barbary Coast stage.

3. Sziget; August 8-15; Budapest, Hungary

More interested in quantity? How does 1,000 different acts sound? Sziget, held in Budapest, offers an absolutely massive lineup, covering all musical genres and complemented by some unusual activities, including interpretive dance performances and a stage where you can learn to juggle. If you’d rather chill out, you can take in some Tibetan relaxation and yoga sessions before heading to Lana del Ray, or simply marvel at the fact that this festival even attracted the Goo Goo Dolls. Who knew they were still performing?

4. Outlook Festival; September 5-9; Pula, Croatia

Europe’s largest bass culture and dubstep festival, Outlook, has been running for just over ten years. Mainly held inside the fort of Punta Christo in Pula, the opening night features a pretty spectacular venue: a 2,000-year-old amphitheater where you can sweat it out among thousands of other drum-and-bass fans. The festival also features several smaller stages, as well as countless boat parties and beach parties to keep the energy going. The lineup also features dub and hip-hop artists. If you need a break from the music, you can easily explore the idyllic beaches surrounding the festival. Bliss!

5. Oya; August 7-11; Oslo, Norway

Held in Tøyenparken, Oslo, this festival draws up to 60,000 annual visitors who are attracted to its electric lineup, green location, and friendly atmosphere. If you need some time away from seeing the big international acts — this year features Lykke Li, Arcade Fire, Kendrick Lamar, and Patti Smith — you can shop for clothes or cartoons in the various stalls on site, or chill out at a designated quiet zone. In true Scandi style, this festival is also keen on being environmentally friendly and is proud to provide organic food for you to munch on.

6. Soundwave Croatia; July 26-30; Tisno, Croatia

Want to combine a resort holiday with a major electronica, hip-hop, and house festival? Book your ticket to Soundwave Croatia, held at the beautiful Garden Resort in Tisno. With guaranteed sun, blue seas, and skies, you can catch acts such as Romare and Mr. Scruff. You can also buy extra tickets to boat parties and after parties through the Soundwave site, so you’ll have even more ways to take advantage of the sunshine, fun, and stunning Adriatic Sea setting. If this sounds like your idea of a good time, get in quick — 2018 is the last year the festival will run.

7. Insomnia; August 31-September 2; São Gião, Portugal

Held in a camping ground in São Gião, about three hours from Lisbon, Insomnia is one of Europe’s biggest electronica festivals. Featuring over 25 artists, this smaller, niche festival presents some big names in electronic music and tends to support up and comers, too. The 2018 lineup includes Boom Shanker and Space Tribe, and it’s taking on a distinctly Eastern feel. When you feel like taking a break from the music, you can visit the famed mystic garden or indulge in some healing kundalini yoga.

8. Festival du Bout du Monde; August 3-5; Crozon, France

Bout du Monde means “end of the world.” This festival runs from France’s “land’s end” in the northwest corner of the country in Parc Naturel Régional d’Armorique, where you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous views of the wild Breton coastline. The festival itself is a mixed bag of (mainly) smaller world music acts, some of them French, but with international performers, too. Bout du Monde attracts a cosmopolitan crowd whose members are a little bit classier than your standard festival patrons — and you can expect to enjoy a finer class of food and drink than your typical water bottle and burger fare. It’s also a family-friendly event for those with little ones to take along.

9. Festival No. 6; September 6-9; Wales, UK

Festival No. 6 is described as a magical, whimsical, and small-sized festival held in Portmeirion, Wales. Due to the size of its venue, it will never host the massive crowds that seem to haunt many other events. Instead, it remains an eclectic, niche festival, which includes poetry readings, theater, comedy, and cultural talks. You can spend some time exploring the surrounding woodlands before rocking out to the likes of GoGo Penguin, Hollie Cook, The Lovely Eggs, and Willow.


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Tokyo's Kawaii Monster Cafe is open

Japan’s newest restaurant is a testament to the country’s obsession with Kawaii, or “cute,” culture. It can refer to objects, actions, fashion, facial expressions, or just an overall spirit of charm or cuteness. Japan’s most famous Kawaii creature is probably Hello Kitty though Pokemon and other popular Japanese-style characters and stuffed animals are also good examples.

Kawaii Monster Cafe is the embodiment of Kawaii culture, designed to evoke a colorful, loud, flashy spirit. The cafe in Tokyo is a truly unique dining experience and designer Sebastian Masuda’s newest project. Visitors enter through the mouth of a monster, entering into a space filled with life-sized gummy bears, peppermints, cupcakes, and other sweets.

There are four different dining sections, each with its own aesthetic. The Mushroom Disco features psychedelic booths underneath giant fungi. The Milk Stand has bunny and unicorn heads drinking from baby-bottle chandeliers. The Bar Experiment room allows guests to drink inside the dim glow of a jellyfish, and the Mel-Tea Room surrounds guests with pillars of pastel macarons and frosted wainscoting.

The waitstaff fits the restaurant’s aesthetic, as well. Each waitress fits into one of five Monster Girl categories: “Baby” (sweet and kitten-like), “Candy” (neon and excitable), “Dolly” (in red bows and frills), “Crazy” (a gender-bending alien), and “Nasty” (a sexy cyber-goth).

The food, too, is dreamlike with a nightmarish edge. You can order the Painter’s Pasta, a plate of multicolored noodles on an artist’s palette, or the Colorful Poison Parfait Extreme, which is a mishmash of ice cream, cookies, frosting, and fruit.


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What is midnight running?

It’s 11:58 PM on a Friday in London, and I’m standing a stone’s throw from the bright lights of Tower Bridge. But I’m not heading home after Friday-night drinks. My night’s just getting started. Along with 50 or so other runners, I’m in my running gear, warming up for the start of Midnight2Midnight, a 24-hour charity relay run around the streets of London accompanied by the urban running crew Midnight Runners.

We’re waiting for the clock to hit midnight. As soon as it does, we cross the start line, and the Midnight Runners guides start that lap’s playlist, an upbeat mix of club and techno music that blares out over their handheld speakers so every runner can hear it. We have the streets to ourselves at this hour, and the atmosphere among us has more in common with a busy nightclub than a serious fitness class.

It’s the ultimate midnight running experience — although with similar night-running events becoming popular, it’s got stiff competition. As more runners look for ways to expand beyond just logging “personal bests,” clubs and organizers are catering to runners’ desires to do more than just pound the pavement.

Midnight marathons

Photo: Daniel Varga

While lots of night-running clubs have a strong party ethos, midnight running doesn’t always require runners to check their competitive streaks. Night running’s growing popularity means race organizers are heeding runners’ demands for different race options and also putting on midnight marathons around the world.

Bangkok will host a midnight marathon at the end of August. Around the same time, Calico Racing will host an ET Full Moon Run around Nevada’s mysterious Area 51 where, according to legend, UFOs are hidden. Runners can register for different distances, among them a full marathon.

The unique experience of midnight marathons attracts many runners, and it’s why more and more are popping up around the world. To find an event that’s right for you, from a 5k to a full ultra-marathon, have a look at excellent range of events for runners of all levels.

Preparing for midnight marathons

A post shared by Daniel Varga (@daniel.varga12) on Mar 20, 2018 at 3:29am PDT

However, running at midnight can present a completely new challenge, even for experienced runners. After an hour and a half — 10 miles into my goal of 26 miles — at Midnight2Midnight, the adrenalin had totally worn off. Moments away from puking, I was forced to drop out. To avoid getting into a similar situation again, I asked Gethin Hine, a runner from the UK, for some advice.

Gethin has a wealth of experience. This year alone, he completed both the Tromsø Midnight Sun Marathon in the Norwegian part of the Arctic Circle — where the sun doesn’t set for nine weeks in summer — and “nohtaraM ehT,” an unofficial run backward around the London Marathon course in the early hours of the morning.

“You may find your body responds in a different way if you’re used to running at other times,” he says, recommending that runners practice at night or in the early morning. The challenges aren’t only physical. “Familiarize yourself with a course before a race and prepare to be self-sufficient, with a good running bag with supplies like water, gels, and bananas,” says Gethin. “Things look very different in the dark, and there’ll be fewer spectators and/or support to get you round the course”.

Gethin also describes how night runs present runners with different things to enjoy, compared to running during the day. “In London, I liked the tranquility of quiet streets,” he says. “Being able to experience familiar places in a whole new context, and finishing before the other runners had started, was great. But I also enjoy knowing that I’m doing something very unique, like running in broad daylight in the middle of the night in Norway.”

Urban running crews

Photo: Daniel Varga

Running a full 26 miles in the middle of the night may not be for everyone, but you can still enjoy midnight running no matter the mileage count. Instead of signing up for marathons, consider joining a nighttime urban running crew. Running crews allow you to socialize with people who have similar interests and fitness goals, and act as a great source of group motivation. Together, you’ll get outside, keep fit, and explore a city at night; you’ll likely meet completely different people than you would have if you’d joined a group for early birds.

Midnight Runners began as two friends running around the streets of London at night to music and soon grew into a community of hundreds of runners. Beyond organizing Midnight2Midnight, Midnight Runners also hosts weekly “10K boot camp” runs. These are 10k runs to music with six Tabata, or high-intensity interval training, stops along the route that will leave your legs feeling like jello at the finish line. In the past year, that community has become global, and Midnight Runners have started up in Berlin, Boston, Barcelona, and New York with more cities to follow.

In New York City, NYC Bridge Runners hosts weekly runs, many of which are at night. The group started in 2004 when New Yorker Mike Saes began to arrange nighttime runs around Brooklyn that focused as much on building a community as on running. Fourteen years later, several hundred runners can be spotted running across the bridges of New York at any given time, including the dead of night, when commuters and heavy traffic are nowhere to be found.

The trend of running crews is not just limited to NYC and London; from Running Junkies in Amsterdam to AM.PM.RC in Melbourne, you’ll find urban running crews in most major cities, and many host nighttime runs. Adidas Runners is a busy community, operating on every continent in over 50 cities around the world and offering plenty of after-work, nighttime running opportunities.

Making connections and memories

Photo: Daniel Varga

The act of running doesn’t get any easier just because it’s dark out; it’s still legitimate exercise and hard work, especially if you’re a novice runner. But if you find running boring, hate getting up early, or simply need the extra motivation of an infectiously positive crowd, midnight running may be the perfect way to get you on your feet. Midnight Runners hosts monthly “party runs,” which operate the same way as the Tabata boot camps but with costume themes (a recent theme was ancient civilizations) and finish lines at popular late-night party spots.

Those who would describe themselves as socially awkward or anxious about going to events will be put at ease upon showing up to a run; at the start of each Midnight Runners run, runners are encouraged to introduce themselves to two people at the club they’ve not met before and welcome them into the community. It’s a great way to make friends while also keeping up with your fitness goals.

No matter whether you opt for a marathon at midnight or a casual jaunt with a running crew, the experience of night running is one you won’t forget any time soon. And best of all, at the end of the run you get the ultimate reward not offered to those mainstream daytime runners: you get to go sleep.


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Americans fail geography quiz

While Jimmy Kimmel’s “Lie Witness News” and “Celebrity Mean Tweets” segments never fail to make us laugh, his newest segment gives us serious reason to be concerned for our nation’s future. Inspired by President Trump’s recent trip to Europe, Kimmel sent his film crew to the streets of Los Angeles to find out how much Americans really know about geography. America’s responsibility to understand people in other lands doesn’t just apply to the president, Kimmel said as he introduced the segment, but to all of us.

As it turns out, many Americans might be shirking that responsibility. Each interviewee was given a pointer and a map of the world and asked to name a country. Any country at all. Even the United States. And yet, almost everybody failed to do so.

From confusing Africa with South America to thinking either of them is a country instead of a continent, the segment is truly cringeworthy. Obviously, speaking to a few people on the street isn’t representative of the entire American population, and editing will always make interviewees appear dumber than they actually are, but it’s still pretty disheartening to think that even 1% of Americans could be so deficient in their geography knowledge.

While the performance of adults certainly wasn’t encouraging, the video ends with a young child being able to identify plenty of countries, including hard-to-guess ones like Papua New Guinea. So at least there’s hope that children are, in fact, our future.

H/T:

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The post Americans fail to identify the US on a map (or name a single country) in “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” clip appeared first on Matador Network.

Tram proposal for the Hollywood sign

The days of being forced to admire Los Angeles’ Hollywood sign from afar, or trekking up the hill to see it, may soon be over. Warner Bros. is planning to build a tramway to bring tourists up to the iconic sign, thereby easing traffic issues in nearby residential neighborhoods. Locals have complained that their streets have become seriously congested due to visitors parking there before walking up to see the sign. The easiest hiking trail to the Hollywood sign was closed last year following complaints from a stable offering horseback rides in the area.

The proposed tramway would bring tourists to the sign in six minutes from the studio’s nearby parking lot. Since Warner Bros. Studio is at the base of the hill, the tramway will likely increase tourism at the studio lot, as well.

Right now, however, the project is only a proposal and hasn’t yet been approved. While it might alleviate many locals’ traffic complaints, such a massive construction project could also pose environmental concerns to nearby Griffith Park, which is home to a variety of fauna and flora.

This isn’t the first attempt to solve the overcrowding problem at the Hollywood sign. Another recent proposal from the Los Angeles City Council called for creating a second Hollywood sign on the opposite slope, to help spread out visitors.

H/T: Lonely Planet

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Berliners trying to break dog record

Dachshund dog enthusiasts are coming together this month in Berlin to achieve the world record for the most sausage dogs in one place. After the Sausage Fest in Cornwall, which set the current record at 600 dachshunds, Berliners have their eyes on breaking the record with 666 dogs on July 21st. The dachshund owners will gather on a 5000-square-meter dog play area in attempt to bring the record back home to Germany, where the breed originates.

The event was organized by the owners of Posh Teckel, a dachshund-themed bar in Berlin. They have been organizing meetups for dachshund owners since 2016, and they’re confident in their ability to break the record this year. “Germany is out of the World Cup,” they told Lonely Planet, “but at least we can take the dachshund record from England…people are coming from all over Germany and a few from other countries.”

Attendees are asked to keep their dogs leashed at all times, clean up any messes, and ensure vaccinations are up-to-date. The world record attempt will take place at Dackel Ranch Lichtenrade from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM on July 21st. Entrance to the event is 2 EUR, and attendees are asked to sign up via Eventbrite.

H/T: Lonely Planet

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9 underrated honeymoon spots in US

There is no event that is more exhausting to plan than a wedding. Whether you’re an obsessive Pinterest board user or someone who says they just want to have a backyard party with a few friends, everyone ends up drained by the event. So why make planning a honeymoon a similarly grueling experience? It’s never easy (or cheap) to book a decent room in Cape Cod, Hawaii, or Aspen, and even if you do manage to snag accomodation at these popular honeymoon spots, the throngs of tourists and other couples will make it impossible to spend quality time with your new spouse. Instead, pick one of these nine underrated US honeymoon destinations that offer sunny beaches, fresh powder, wineries, and distilleries for more relaxation and less spending.

1. San Juan Islands, WA

Photo: cpaulfell/Shutterstock

An island getaway doesn’t necessarily equate with palm trees, cocktails, and suntanning. Rather than squeezing themselves into a row of lounge chairs on a overrated beach, honeymooners in the San Juans can seek out almost-private coves like those found at Reuben Tarte Memorial Park on San Juan Island. There, they can tan in the summer months or hunt for sculptural pieces of driftwood in the tidal pools year-round. The San Juan Islands Museum of Art, also on San Juan Island, is perhaps the best representation of the prominent local art scene. The museum features indigenous motifs and styles that date back thousands of years, while small shops and studios like Orcas Island Pottery (on Orcas Island) offer an insight to the quirkiness and creativity that defines the community today. Of course, no visit to the San Juans is complete until you witness migrating Orca pods splashing about in the Salish Sea.

2. Telluride, CO

Photo: Danica Chang/Shutterstock

While Aspen still holds a special place in the hearts of those who remember the neon pantsuits of the ‘80s, Telluride appeals to those searching for a more small-town, no-frills vibe. Telluride has world-class skiing and snowboarding areas that are repeatedly praised for their accessibility and quality — which is partly thanks to a free gondola that connects the town to its resort area, located smack-dab in the middle of the slopes. Beyond its main attractions, Telluride also has camping, climbing, river sports, and an increasingly popular film festival. Due to its slightly more removed location and underdog status, Telluride has also developed a less pretentious and more “folksy rebel” reputation than resort towns like Whistler or Jackson Hole, as is evidenced by the town’s “Free Box,” where locals regularly drop off and pick up random items left by their neighbors.

3. Bisbee, AZ

Photo: Chris Curtis/Shutterstock

Ditch Arizona’s high-end golf courses and resorts — they’re too mainstream and busy. Instead, newly-married couples who seek solitude and originality should head to Bisbee, a little mining town near the Mexican border that is filled with artists and other “eccentrics.” The canyon town of weaving streets and Victorian architecture is home to a mix of old saloons, art galleries, antique shops, and haunted hotels along Brewery Ave and Main Street, while the town’s leg-straining public staircases guide visitors to the picturesque hillside neighborhoods. Of course, there are several mine-related adventures for those who love mixing US history with geology, including a man-made mini-Grand Canyon known as the Lavender Pit and a 1,500 foot railroad ride into the Copper Queen Mine.

4. Beaufort, SC

Photo: Deborah McCague/Shutterstock

With Charleston constantly being cited as one of the best honeymoon towns in the country, most people don’t think to look a few more miles down the Atlantic seaboard to the significantly less crowded Beaufort, South Carolina. The small town spread across the Sea Islands of South Carolina’s Lowcountry is known for its art festivals and architectural preservation efforts. These efforts have maintained a distinctive collection of antebellum buildings in Beaufort’s central neighborhoods. Beyond the historic sites, visitors to Beaufort can enjoy traditionally romantic carriage rides along Bay Street or more modern adventures such as kayaking and biking on nearby Hunting Island, where they can also find some of the state’s most celebrated beaches if they just want to lounge and swim. As a coastal town, Beaufort is full of southern-style seafood eateries, but there is probably no better time to visit than during the Taste of Beaufort festival for a mix of local seafood, wines, and art.

5. Fairbanks, AK

Photo: NotYourAverageBear/Shutterstock

You have to be a pretty bold couple to pick the northernmost US state for a romantic getaway, especially if you’re not itching to summit Mt. Denali. Apart from being the perfect spot for athletic outdoor activities, Fairbanks also has activities that can only be found this close to the arctic circle, such as dog-mushing tours or a stroll through the countryside with a reindeer herd. But honeymooners who want to take it easy might prefer watching the northern lights while soaking in the Chena Hot Springs. While every other place on this list offers stunning scenery, none are quite as remote or as wild as Fairbanks and its surroundings — a perfect choice for couples who want peace and quiet.

6. Portland, ME

Photo: luisa2506/Shutterstock

Compared with the elite-favored coastal New England destinations of Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod, Portland has a blue-collar vibe without losing the region’s sailing culture or devotion to crustacean dinners. This small and industrious city is filled with breweries and distilleries, including celebrated Belgian-style beer specialist Allagash Brewing Company and up-and-comer Maine Craft Distillery, which produces craft booze of every style from single malt whiskey to barley and botanical spirits. As a 400-year-old New England town, Portland is also home to many traditional lighthouses overlooking rocky coves and white-sand beaches, such as Cape Elizabeth and Portland Head Lighthouse. Imagine taking in the sunset in front of one of those grand beauties, daydreaming about your future together, while watching the lobster boats bobbing about in Casco Bay as they haul in your dinner.

7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Photo: outdoorimages/Shutterstock

If your idea of a perfect honeymoon includes a hike across rough terrain to get to a rustic log cabin that feels eons removed from city life, then load up your rucksack and head for the Appalachian Mountains. This national park is less than an hour from Asheville, another popular honeymoon spot, yet its dramatic location means that you could spend hours hiking to the waterfalls surrounding Clingman’s Dome without bumping into a single soul. If the one-room log cabins Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge are still too close to civilization, you can hop on the Smoky section of the Appalachian Trail in the middle of the park and get down to some backcountry camping. For those interested in a more cultural excursion, there are numerous attractions just a short drive away, including the prohibition-era themed Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine Distillery and the Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales Festival. If you really want to celebrate Appalachian culture, the Dolly Parton amusement park, Dollywood, is less than an hour’s drive away.

8. Door County, WI

Photo: max voran/Shutterstock

This sliver of a peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan from Green Bay is home to five state parks, including the kayaker-friendly Cave Point County Park, which has underwater caves and hidden coves along its coastline, and the more rugged and removed , which requires two ferry rides to access. Rock Island is well-known for its collection of isolated beaches separated by winding paths, making it ideal for a romantic camping trip with spectacular stargazing and sunrises over Lake Michigan. Back on the mainland, visitors can tour over half-a-dozen different wineries, breweries, and distilleries scattered across the peninsula, many of which are featured on the Door County Trolley tours. After getting a slight buzz at Harbor Winery and taking in the sunset over Green Bay at Schoolhouse Beach, you can cap off the evening with a bit of high culture at the 83-year-old Peninsula Player’s Theater.

9. Islamorada, FL

Photo: Romrodphoto/Shutterstock

Like the neighboring Keys, Islamorada has the same mile-long, white-sand beaches dotted with palm trees and beach bars, but without the engulfing day-tripper crowds. Many of the beach bars also serve the very best local seafood. Head to Pierre’s Restaurant at Morada Bay for a heaping of local yellowtail snapper and Florida lobster, or stop by Lorelai’s Cabana Bar for more down-to-earth, Carribean American dishes like coconut shrimp and lightly-fried conch fritters. Aside from spa treatments at Ciao Bella Salon or Blu Bamboo, honeymooners can also relax with some flat-water snorkeling or paddleboarding in the crisp blue waters of Anne’s Beach. But if you really want to get away from the crowds and enjoy some light canoodling under a beach umbrella, Library Beach is the place to be.


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You can glamp near a NYC monument

You might not think of New York City as a premier glamping spot, but now even city dwellers can easily get a taste of the great outdoors — and no, we’re not talking about Central Park. On a 172-acre island across from the Statue of Liberty, the Collective Governors Island Retreats offers luxury tents with modern amenities only a quick ferry ride from Manhattan. It’s the first time camping has been allowed on the island, which was recently converted from an old military base into a summer escape destination.

Photo: Collective Retreats/Facebook

Photo: Collective Retreats/Facebook

Glampers on Governors Island will have an all-inclusive vacation experience, complete with high-end dining options, amenities, and activities. The 100-person campsite includes two types of luxury tents, outfitted with comfortable beds and linens, as well as electricity.

Photo: Collective Retreats/Facebook

Photo: Collective Retreats/Facebook

Photo: Collective Retreats/Facebook

Although Governors Island is less than a 10-minute ferry ride from Manhattan, it feels very remote and wild. It’s mainly owned by the city and state, though 22 acres are controlled by the National Park Service. Following a recent push to open the car-free island to the public, there have been movie nights, community gardens, and public art installations. A stay at the Governors Island glamping retreat starts at $150 per night.

H/T: Inhabitat

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Amazon Prime Day best deals

Amazon Prime Day 2018 is the one day of the year when Amazon slashes prices for Prime members, with sales surpassing Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So, it’s the perfect time to hunt for great bargains on travel gear. Starting today at 3 PM (EST), the 36-hour event will feature over one million items for sale. You must be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of Prime Day, but we promise you, it’s worth it. Here’s a look at some of our favorite travel-related Prime Day steals.

1. Kindle Unlimited — three months for $0.99

When you’re waiting for your delayed flight, or trying to pass the time on an intercontinental journey, a Kindle can prove invaluable. With access to over one million books and magazines, you’ll be saving space in your luggage and keeping yourself entertained for hours. And $0.99 for three months? That’s a pretty small price to pay.

2. Audible — three months for $4.95/month

If you’d rather rest your eyes while waiting in the airport, Prime’s Audible subscription sale might be a life-saver. Usually $14.95 per month, now you can get it for just $4.95 each month for three months, saving you $30. With millions of audiobooks on tap, Audible is perfect for your travel downtime, or whenever you just feel like tuning out the rest of the world.

3. Zero Grid Neck Wallet — $15.95

The Zero Grid Neck Wallet has three zippered compartments that can safely store your cash, passports, boarding passes, credit cards, ID, cell phone, keys, etc. The wallet offers not only convenience, but also peace of mind.

4. Hynes Eagle Travel Packing Cubes — $16.99

Everyone’s knows what it feels like to cram your clothes into a suitcase that never feels quite big enough. Travel packing cubes allow you to compress your luggage, organize it in a space-efficient manner, and prevent your clothes from wrinkling. The compression cubes fit perfectly into most carry-on suitcases and are designed to relieve you of that packing headache.

5. TESSAN Portable 2 Outlet Travel Power Strip — $14.99

There’s nothing worse than showing up to your accommodation, and realizing there aren’t enough outlets for all your devices. After a long day of traveling you’ll likely want to charge your phone, tablet, camera, laptop, etc., but that can turn into an all-night affair if there are only one or two outlets. This portable power strip comes with two sockets and three USB ports, so no matter where your are, or what you need to charge, you’ll always be at 100%.

6. Native 4K Ultra HD Action Camera — $149.99

Whether you’re just a casual photographer or an action/adventure YouTube star, the Native 4K is Prime’s best deal for a multipurpose camera. With a 170 degree super wide-angle 7G lens, which also records at 4K 30 frames per second, this camera is perfect for capturing smooth footage. Image stabilization and anti-shake technology minimizes blur, and remote control allows for access via smartphone. The camera also comes with a waterproof buckle, and is designed to withstand harsh environments.

7. BCOZZY Extra Large Chin Supporting Travel Pillow — $39.97

This one’s a no-brainer. Pass your long-haul flight in comfort with the only neck pillow that stops the head from falling forward. The pillow is adjustable for maximum comfort on all forms of travel, and designed to provide you with quality napping wherever you go.


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