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North America to hold 2026 World Cup

Maybe you were elated by the unbelievable free kick German midfielder Toni Kroos blasted into the net with seconds left in the game — meaning the reigning World Cup champs might make it past the first round of the 2018 World Cup after all. Maybe you were infuriated.

Or maybe you weren’t paying attention at all, because this year the United States failed to even qualify for the most-watched sporting event in the world. That will change in the 2026 World Cup, which was just awarded to the entire continent of North America: US, Canada, and Mexico. If you’re already pumped about the prospect of visiting as many matches as possible, here’s everything you need to know before you start planning a continental road trip…even if it’s eight years away. A little advanced planning never hurt anyone.

A first: three World Cup hosts

1. On June 19, FIFA (the initials for the French translation of “International Federation of Football Association”) voted to give the countries of the US, Canada, and Mexico the rights to jointly host the 2026 World Cup.

2. 2026 will be the first time the World Cup is hosted by three countries, and only the second time it’s been hosted by more than just one. The only other time the World Cup was shared was when it was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea in 2002.

3. Canada came up with the idea to jointly host a World Cup after successfully hosting the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

Which teams will play

4. It’s extremely likely the US will play in the 2026 event, since in all previous World Cups the host country automatically qualifies.

5. Although FIFA has yet to decide whether the three 2026 hosts will be automatically entered, they probably will — since the 2026 World Cup will have additional slots for countries from this region (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean).

6. In fact, the 2026 event will be the biggest World Cup ever. The current number of qualifying teams will expand from 32 to 48. That’s 1,100 of the world’s best soccer players converging for one month in North America.

Where will the games be held

7. Most of the 2026 World Cup will be held in the US, which will host 60 games, compared to Canada and Mexico’s 10 games each. The US will also host all games from the quarterfinals to the finals — in other words, the matches that you really care about.

8. Perhaps as a consolation for the scrappy distribution of games, the 2026 games may include three opening matches in each host country, instead of the usual one.

9. It could be two years before we know which cities will hold matches. The list now has 16 US cities, but will probably be whittled down to 11. Although contenders include Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, and Philadelphia, the money’s on New York, Boston, Dallas, and Los Angeles to host some of the games for sure.

10. Mexico’s matches are expected to take place in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey; Toronto and Montreal are the likely Canadian locations.

11. Chicago and Vancouver withdrew consideration as host cities, but there are hopes they’ll be reconsidered before the games actually arrive in eight years. Nashville and Edmonton are long shots for a chance to hold some matches.

The voting process

12. The US-Canada-Mexico bid won in a 134-65 landslide over a bid from Morocco. It was the first time the entire FIFA membership has voted on who gets to host the World Cup. In previous years, a small committee voted by secret ballot.

13. Qatar beat the US in a bid to host the 2022 World Cup through a murky process that was widely criticized. After a FIFA corruption scandal that led to criminal indictments in US courts a few years later, FIFA changed the voting process. Now all eligible national associations vote, and their vote is made public.

The money

14. Money was one reason the North American trifecta won the 2026 World Cup. Its projected revenue of $14.3 billion for the tournament was double Morocco’s forecast of $7.2 billion.

15. The revenue is expected to result in an $11 billion profit for FIFA, which could translate to as much as $50 million going to each FIFA member federation.

16. The US Federation spent $6 million on its bid, traveling all over the world to convince member countries to vote for the North American trio.

The concerns

17. US President Trump’s travel ban was a major concern in the three-way bid. Trump sent three letters to FIFA in support of the bid, stating in his most recent one that, “all eligible athletes, officials, and fans from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination.”

18. The win for the three North American countries is being praised by many as a symbol of unity at a time when Trump is criticizing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and demanding a border wall between the US and Mexico.

19. Then again, unless Trump revokes the 22nd Amendment on presidential term limits, even if he wins the 2020 election, he won’t be president during the 2026 World Cup.

More like this: No Americans? No problem. Here’s seven teams to root for in the World Cup.

The post Everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup in North America appeared first on Matador Network.

Favorite dishes across ex-Yugoslavia

Possibly the most delicious foods you can’t pronounce.

As if relations in the Balkans weren’t complicated enough, TasteAtlas has released this map of the best regional foods in each ex-Yugoslavian country for people to fight over. While it might remind you of staring at a restaurant menu in a language you don’t understand — and being too embarrassed to ask for the English version — even a quick glance will give you a general idea of the culinary trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Macedonia.

It comes as no surprise that areas bordering the sea, especially the coasts of Croatia and Montenegro, have an appetite for seafood and wine. Most regions also share France’s obsession with cheese. This map indicates that several countries have a distinct affinity for soups and stews, which is probably a point of contention between passionate foodies from rival states.

Have a look for yourself, especially if you want to impress your friends (and waiters) the next time you travel to Central Europe.

tasteatlas/Reddit

More like this: This map shows Europe’s most popular cheeses by region

The post This food map shows each ex-Yugoslavian country’s favorite dish appeared first on Matador Network.

10 unique date spots in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is packed with endless unique date ideas. One of the advantages of living here is that you don’t have to settle for dinner and a movie; you can easily ditch stale, tedious date ideas and let summer inspire you to get out of your comfort zone.

Forget meeting up at any old bar. These suggestions encourage you to test your compatibility with someone over an escape room experience, discover your mutual love of animals on a wine safari, or learn some new skills together to keep things exciting and fresh. Since you probably already pay sky-high rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Valley, you might as well benefit from the city’s endless activities. Here are 10 unique date ideas that you can experience in Los Angeles.

1. Cuddle under the stars while watching a movie at the Rooftop Cinema Club.

A post shared by Renata Sarmento (@sarmentorenata) on Jun 1, 2017 at 9:51am PDT

Okay, we said the whole dinner-and-a-movie idea is overdone, but a trip to the Rooftop Cinema is a much more romantic setting than your crowded neighborhood cinema. It involves absorbing the LA skyline, snacking on bottomless popcorn, and cuddling on a rooftop under the stars. Rooftop Cinema Club has two locations, Hollywood and Downtown LA, and the cinema provides guests with deck chairs and wireless headphones. They play new movies as well as classics, so there’s plenty for you and your date to choose from. If you two want to get even closer, spend a few extra dollars and lounge on a double deck-chair love seat, which still includes the bottomless popcorn.

2. Tour the secret tunnels beneath the streets of DTLA.

Photo: Cartwheel Art Tours/Facebook

Many people in LA aren’t even aware that these tunnels exist, giving you a great opportunity to employ the element of surprise. Cartwheel Art’s Underground LA tour, in partnership with Hotel Indigo, will give you and your date insight into the secret passageways, which were once used to transport booze during Prohibition. You will venture below street level to visit hidden tunnels and former speakeasies. Afterwards, you may want to stop for a classy cocktail at a modern-day LA speakeasy, such as The Varnish or The Slipper Clutch.

3. Meet wildlife whilst wine tasting at Malibu Wine Safari.

A post shared by Malibu Wine Safaris (@malibusafaris) on Oct 16, 2017 at 8:37pm PDT

Don’t jet off on an African safari with your date just yet; you can have a similar experience in LA. This day trip involves a combination of wine and adventure. After driving along a scenic road through Malibu, you’ll arrive at Malibu Wine Safaris, where you’ll jump in a jeep and venture on your safari tour. You’ll get to feed zebras and camels, and you can even snap a selfie with Stanley, the giraffe that is all over Instagram. You’ll sip a variety of wines between meeting the animals, making for an action-packed day, which certainly beats your typical sit-down wine tasting. If you want to extend the length of your date, you can pack a picnic to enjoy on the grass area at Malibu Wines. Come during the week for a less-crowded experience.

4. Learn some new acrobatic tricks.

A post shared by Cirque School (@cirqueschool) on Mar 14, 2018 at 9:06am PDT

If you’ve ever been to a Cirque du Soleil show, chances are you’ve gasped at the remarkable skill level of the acrobatic performers. Now there’s a way to learn some of those circus skills and get a fun workout while you’re at it. The Cirque School in Hollywood teaches Cirque 101 classes for $25 each and offers the chance to attempt static trapeze with the help of an instructor. The school also offers contortion classes and aerial fitness, which look easy but are actually incredibly difficult workouts.

5. Bike ride at night.

Photo: Vandathai/Shutterstock

The Passage Bike Ride is a weekly bike ride that starts and ends at a donut shop. The guides try to lead riders to lesser-known parts of LA, and the route varies each week to keep things interesting. You may hit up pool halls, bowling alleys, or karaoke venues along the way, and you’ll need to be prepared to ride up hills, through tight alleyways, and possibly hike some parts on foot. It’s definitely an unusual date that will require you to be up for anything. For this tour, you’ll need to bring your own bike and arrive early, as the riders leave right at 9:00 PM.
6. Solve problems in an escape room.

A post shared by Evil Genius Escape Rooms (@evilgeniusescaperooms) on Sep 10, 2016 at 5:23pm PDT

There’s an old expression that says in order to really get to know someone, you should travel with them. However, placing someone in a high-pressure situation and forcing them to problem solve can also do the trick. Over the past few years, several escape room companies have surfaced in Los Angeles. You’ll find that some rooms have fantastical themes such as outer space, or a 1920s detective office, while others are just regular escape rooms. The thrill of an escape room is that you only have one hour to link together a series of puzzles in order to solve a mystery or escape a situation. Usually, an escape room involves groups of six to 10 people, so it won’t really be an intimate date, but it’s a perfect choice for double dates. Some escape room companies you may want to check out are 60 Out, Escape Room L.A., and Evil Genius Escape.

7. Play with adoptable animals at an animal café.

A post shared by The Dog Cafe (@thedogcafe_la) on May 26, 2018 at 11:47am PDT

Coffee and puppies are another great LA combination. Across the city, you’ll find animal cafés that offer customers the chance to cuddle adoptable cats and dogs whilst sipping on caramel lattes. The Dog Cafe in Rampart Village costs $15/hour plus the cost of drinks. Crumbs & Whiskers on Melrose costs $22–25 for a 70-minute reservation. If you wish to purchase drinks and snacks, you can have them delivered through Open Space LA. And if you really love the experience, you may just walk out as new pet parents.

8. Take a flight with the Pan Am Experience.

A post shared by The Pan Am Experience (@panamexperience) on Dec 16, 2017 at 8:39am PST

These days, air travel is not the glamorous experience it once was. With , however, you can sit inside an exact replica of a 1970s Boeing 747 and get a sense of what it was like to fly first class with Pan Am back in the day. During your “flight,” you’ll have the freedom to order drinks from the open bar, devour chateaubriand carved seat-side by flight attendants wearing the iconic Pan Am uniforms, and even shop for old-school items from the duty-free cart. While there, you can also tour Air Hollywood studios, which features airplane sets that have been used in countless films and TV shows. You might even get to sit in the same seat that Leonardo DiCaprio was duct-taped to in Wolf of Wall Street.

9. Take a horseback ride at Sunset Ranch.

A post shared by Sunset Ranch Hollywood (@sunsetranchhollywood) on Jun 17, 2018 at 6:42pm PDT

Several companies offer guided horseback rides through Los Angeles. However, Sunset Ranch does things a little differently. Sunset Ranch has day tours as well as evening tours, which is perfect if you want to ride into the sunset with your date. The horseback rides take guests through peaceful Griffith Park, where they can snap photos with a great view of the city behind them. The rides tend to go at a slow pace, so if you’re not an experienced rider, there’s no need to worry. On Saturdays, rides also end with a big BBQ and live music back at the ranch.

10. Share some laughs at a Groundlings show.

A post shared by The Groundlings Theatre (@thegroundlings) on Jun 23, 2018 at 3:17pm PDT

Throughout Los Angeles you’ll find countless actors and comedians trying to make it big in Hollywood. What this means for you and your date is that you can catch many of these highly skilled actors live on stage as they perform hilarious sketch and improv shows. There are several places to see solid improv or sketch shows throughout LA, but Groundlings is a staple with a reputation for hosting actors who later go to perform on Saturday Night Live. It’s located in a small theater on Melrose Avenue. There’s a live band that accompanies the show, and tickets are under $20. Groundlings alumni include Will Ferrell and Melissa McCarthy. De-stress with your date and share some laughs while watching Flo from the Progressive Insurance commercials kill on stage. (Yes, she performs there too.)


More like this: What to do with a day in Los Angeles

The post 10 unique date spots in Los Angeles appeared first on Matador Network.

Coolest airplane liveries

Flying is probably the worst part of traveling. Nobody wants to cram themselves in a metal bullet with hundreds of strangers for hours, but it’s the price travelers have to pay to reach the beaches of Tahiti, eat the most decadent French pastries, and hike in Patagonia. As rare as it may seem, some airlines are aware and concerned of passengers’ distaste for air travel and try to make flying as comfortable and fun as possible. Here are seven airlines that are trying to distract you from the lack of legroom and the horrid movie selection by turning their aircrafts into pieces of art.

1. Brussels Airlines

Photo: Markus Eigenheer/Wikimedia Commons

Brussel Airlines has five special liveries in its fleet, but our favorite is, hands down, Rackham, their Tintin-themed Airbus A320. Hergé, the cartoonist who created the series The Adventures of Tintin, was Belgian and is widely celebrated throughout the country, hence this cool tribute by Brussels Airlines. The aircraft’s livery was inspired by the Tintin album titled Red Rackham’s treasure, in which Tintin, his dog Snowy, and his friend Captain Haddock search for pirate Red Rackam’s treasure in a shark-shaped submarine. Inside the aircraft, the cool theme continues with panels from the album decorating the cabin and Tintin comic books available in several languages for passengers to read during the flight. If you want to try to catch a flight in Rackham, check out its itinerary here.

2. Qantas Airlines

Photo: Qantas

Through it Flying Art Series, the Australian carrier has been honoring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture since 1994 with five different liveries created by Indigenous-owned design agency, Balarinji, and aboriginal artists. The latest aircraft in the Flying Art Series is the Dreamliner Emily Kame Kngwarreye. This livery was inspired by artwork ‘Yam Dreaming’, painted by the late artist, Emily Kame Kngwarreye. According to Qantas, “The painting captures the essence of the yam plant, an important symbol in Emily’s Dreamtime story, and an important food source in her home region of Utopia, 230 kilometres north east of Alice Springs.” Check out the cool video of the painting process here. Emily Kame Kngwarreye is the second Flying Art aircraft currently in service alongside a Boeing 737-800, named Mendoowoorrji.

3. Emirates Airline

Photo: Emirates

In May 2015, Emirates airlines banned hunting trophies of elephants, rhinos, lions, or tigers on its aircrafts; In November 2015, the airline started flying four Airbus A380s with a United for Wildlife livery to further raise awareness of the dangers the illegal trade of wildlife poses to the natural world. The livery features the planet’s species that are the most at risk due to poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, i.e. a tiger, a lion, a gorilla, a rhino, a bear, and elephants. Check out one of these airplanes being fitted with its new livery here.

4. Icelandair

Photo: Icelandair

Icelandair decorated one of its airplane with a representation of the natural phenomenon all visitors to Iceland hope to see: the northern lights. The Hekla Aurora is a Boeing 757 wrapped in a dark blue and green livery that looks like the Icelandic skies when it is lit up by the aurora borealis. The northern-lights theme carries on inside the aircraft where special green lights have been fitted to the ceiling to give passengers the illusion that they are experiencing this celestial show. You can see the painting process and follow the Hekla Aurora around the world here. Icelandair also has a glacier-themed airplane, Vatnajökull, and, a few days ago, the airline announced a new special livery — a representation of the country’s flag on a 757’s fuselage to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iceland’s independence and sovereignty.

5. Rossiya Airlines

Photo: IRONHIDE/Wikimedia Commons

Like Emirates, the Russian carrier Rossiya Airlines devoted some of its airplanes to the cause of wildlife conservation. The nose of one of its Being 747s features the face of a beautiful Siberian tiger (also called Amur tiger), a species of big cat that is gravely endangered due to excessive hunting and poaching. According to WWF, “The subspecies was saved when Russia became the first country in the world to grant the tiger full protection”, so it is fitting that it is a Russian carrier that displays this beautiful animal on one of its aircrafts. After the great attention the tiger livery received, Rossiya Airlines decided to paint the nose of one of its Boeing 777s with another stunning big cat: a far-eastern leopard (also called Amur leopard). Far-eastern leopards are also indigenous of Russia and are critically endangered. Check out this video to see the painting process of the tiger’s face.

6. WestJet

Photo: JTOcchialini/Wikimedia Commons

The Canadian carrier loves Disney so much that it has two Disney-themed Boeing 737s. In 2013, WestJet and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts (Canada) presented The Magic Plane, a stunning, Fantasia-themed aircraft that performed a very fitting inaugural flight from Calgary, AB to Orlando, FL, home of Disney World. In 2015, Westjet came out with The Disney Frozen-themed plane, a sparkly aircraft featuring Ana and Elsa, two of the most beloved Disney characters. The Disney Frozen-themed plane has a cold-to-warm design, from its tail displaying snowflakes to it nose showing a beach scene. According to WestJet, inside, “the aircraft has decals and headrest covers that mimic the cold-to-warm (back-to-front) theme on the outside of the aircraft.”

7. ANA

Photo: ANA

ANA (All Nippon Airways) has four Star Wars-themed aircrafts in its fleet: the STAR WARS JETS. From R2-D2 to BB-8 to C-3P0 and the STARWARS ANAJET, the Japanese airline is dedicated to please fans of the Star Wars franchise with some cool liveries. For the schedules/itineraries of each of these aircrafts, check out the ANA webpage here.

ANA also recently unveiled its new Airbus A380 liveries. Three airplanes flying the Tokyo-Honolulu service will be fitted with the FLYING HONU livery, a paint scheme featuring a turtle (“Honu” is the Hawaiian word for the green sea turtle) that comes in three different colors: blue, green, and orange.


More like this: The 9 coolest things airlines are doing this year to improve flying

The post The 7 coolest airplane liveries in the world and the stories behind them appeared first on Matador Network.

How to pack for a family beach trip

You’re at the beach. The sun is shining, and the water is refreshing. You’re watching the waves gently lap the shore.

You can’t hear the waves, though, because your kid is wailing at the top of her lungs after failing to yank a plastic pail away from another toddler. (You forgot the beach toys.) Your other kid is wet and shivering, but the dog is sprawled across his sandy towel. (You didn’t bring a beach blanket.)

Don’t ruin a perfect beach vacation by being unprepared. Instead, follow this genius plan, and you’ll actually enjoy your trip.

1. Make a list.

You might not be a list maker, but if you wing it at the last second, you’ll be too concerned about beating the traffic and finding a parking spot by the shore to pack your car thoughtfully. Odds are you’ll leave the cooler behind in the kitchen, right where you were packing it up.

2. Remove items from the list.

We’ve all seen that family: the one with the wheelbarrow stacked high with boogie boards, making multiple trips back to the car before assembling a waterside metropolis of ultra-large beach blankets, pup tents, and umbrellas. Don’t be that family. Do you really need a pink flamingo floater for each kid?

3. Get multi-purpose gear.

A good way to carry less stuff is to bring items that serve more than one purpose. Coleman makes a three-in-one folding chair and cooler that you can tote as a backpack. Tommy Bahama makes a comfortable backpack beach chair with extra storage pockets.

For true minimalism, have the kids’ clothing and towel all in one. Lands End makes terrycloth cover-ups that can also serve as towels; you can find cheaper versions of these at Walmart and online, too.

If you’ve got boys, their swim trunks and UV-shunning swim shirts (O’Neill makes some stylish ones that double as boogie-board rash guards) can be their “clothes” on the way to the beach. Save the clean t-shirt for the drive home.

4. Go lightweight.

Everyone loves a big, plush beach towel, except when it fills your entire bag and weighs in at three pounds (more like six, when you add sand and water). Opt for lightweight and space-saving alternatives, like the thin but still good-looking Turkish cotton towels at Target.

For kids, REI sells colorful, quick-dry camping towels that take up about the same amount of space as a water bottle. You may never go back to terrycloth again.

If you don’t want your cooler attached to your beach chair, you should still banish the hard coolers from your beach bundle. Igloo makes a soft cooler with a shoulder strap.

For some items, a little extra weight might be required. Get a beach umbrella that screws into the sand; otherwise, a mere gust of wind may send it halfway to Mazatlan, or straight into an unsuspecting sunbather’s head.

5. Keep the toys simple.

As for toys, try to go somewhat basic on your beach pail and shovel gear. If you bring intricate 20-piece sets, you’ll inevitably lose small plastic parts to the big blue and contribute to our marine plastics problem. Encourage creativity by decorating castles with shells, rocks, and twigs instead.

Frisbees and frisbee rings take up a lot less space than, say, soccer balls and footballs. If your kids are flexible about which sports they play on the beach, that is. Frisbees can double as “pie pans” for the sand-playing set.

6. Embrace mesh.

Experienced beach-going parents would be unanimous in their endorsement of mesh bags. With mesh bags, you can see what’s inside, so when your kid comes of out the water looking for a towel, she won’t have to empty the bag’s contents onto the sand to find it. More importantly, with a mesh bag, you won’t carry ten pounds of newly acquired sand back to the car at the end of the day.

7. Learn from surfers.

After a session, surfers avoid getting sand all over their wetsuits by stripping them off while standing on pads. Our favorite is the FCS surf dome changing mat. You can stand on the round mat, remove your wetsuit, then step off and pull on the cord that encircles the bag. The round mat becomes a waterproof bag, which keeps the car dry and sand-free.

You may not be a surfer, but this handy and compact item can stay in your car while you’re at the beach. Use the mat for wet towels, or have your kids change out of their sandy beach clothes on it, then just pull the cord shut and toss it in the trunk.

8. Be sun- and heat-ready.

You just can’t have enough sun protection. Even if you aren’t headed to the tropics, make a habit of choosing sunblock that doesn’t harm coral reefs. A good option is the mineral sunblock Raw Elements.

Coolibar makes kids’ sun hats with UV protection. This is one item that’s worth having an extra of, just in case you lose one to the waves.

Bring more water than you think you need. Pack up your eco-friendly reusable water bottles like the ones from Hydroflask, which—beyond the handy carrying handles—have the added benefit of thermal insulation. Add ice cubes before you leave home, and the water will stay cool all day.

9. Pack for the specific beach you’re headed to.

If your beach actually has great lunch food nearby, like at the Siren Canteen in Stinson Beach, California, you just need to pack enough small snacks to last until lunchtime.

If the beach you’re going to gets really windy, avoid eating a sand sandwich and getting grains of sand in your eyes. Swap the umbrella out for a tent, like the Easthills Outdoors one.

If your beach is dog-friendly, bring your pooch along, plus a collapsible dog bowl that you can fill with water.

If the beach you’re headed to happens to be on a lake, don’t bring boogie boards.

10. Pack for your kid(s).

If your child is content to make sand castles all day, you don’t really need to bring sports gear or floaties.

If your kids have unending energy, a pail and a frisbee may not be enough. You may need to add paddle rackets, and possibly that soccer ball, as well.

If your kids are water babies, consider goggles, boogie boards, and the like. If you live anywhere north of Santa Barbara on the west coast, you probably already own wetsuits for your kids.

11. Pack for you.

A beach is a place where every family member can have fun. If you can trade off with a partner to keep eyes on the little one, bring a magazine or a book. This is your time to chillax too.

If your kids are younger and need you with them when playing in the water, don’t spend the entire time shivering. Get a neoprene top for yourself.

It may sound corny, but beach trips are a good time to discuss your values, or at least live by them. If you’re a person who likes to have everything at your fingertips, that tent city by the shore could become yours. But if you believe that less is more, then prioritize what matters (sun protection, hydration, a couple of toys, and some towels) and leave the rest at home.

More like this: Never make these mistakes on a family road trip

The post How to pack for a family beach trip without going crazy appeared first on Matador Network.

Tourists leave unhappy reviews

If you’re planning a trip to London and were looking forward to seeing Big Ben, you might want to adjust your plans. You can still see the famous clock tower, but you’ll have to use your imagination since it’s mostly hidden behind layers of scaffolding — and will be, until 2021. Even the hand on the clock have been removed, and the bell is not chiming right now. As one of London’s most recognizable and photo-worthy landmarks, the obscuring of Big Ben has disappointed many tourists who weren’t aware of the construction, prompting several visitors to take their frustration to TripAdvisor. Unsurprisingly, people aren’t too happy that their photos are being spoiled by the necessary restoration and maintenance of a historic landmark.

Photo: TripAdvisor

Photo: TripAdvisor

Photo: TripAdvisor

Photo: TripAdvisor

Photo: TripAdvisor

But don’t worry, while you’re looking forward to Big Ben’s reopening, there’s still plenty of other ways to keep yourself busy in London. Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and Trafalgar Square are just a few, and none of them are covered in scaffolding (yet).

H/T: Londontopia

More like this: This is the perfect one-day walking tour of London

The post Big Ben is under construction until 2021, and tourists aren’t happy appeared first on Matador Network.

The best rivers to tube in the US

The livin’ is easy in summertime. At least so says George Gershwin/Bradley Nowell. And at no time does said livin’ feel easier than when you’re posted up on a big, inflatable piece of plastic, beer in hand, floating down one of our nation’s glorious recreational waterways. Tubing trips are as much a part of American summer as baseball and unsupervised children, a relaxing way to spend a sunny weekend afternoon enjoying a fine, light-bodied macro brew. While many rivers boast daylong float trips, some just excel. And here are our picks for the 11 best rivers for tubing and drinking in America.

1. Salt River — Mesa, Arizona

Photo: Anton Foltin/Shutterstock

You can say “it’s a dry heat” all you want, but when it’s hot enough to shut down the friggin’ airport, only one thing is gonna cool you off: a prolonged float down Arizona’s Salt River. A surprise to those who didn’t know Phoenix had water, this river just outside Mesa meanders around Red Mountain at a leisurely pace, allowing students from ASU and others to spend the afternoon sipping beers in the sun. The scenery is a pure desert paradise, with plenty of boulders in the middle of the lake to dive off when you tie up for lunch. Wear enough sunscreen and remember to drink plenty of water, but definitely make sure you get a tube for your beer too.

2. New River — Fayetteville, West Virginia

Photo: ESB professional/Shutterstock

Though it’s best known for its ferocious whitewater, the section of the New River before the rapids is surprisingly calm. Load up outside Fayetteville and head an hour or so up the river from the bridge at New River Gorge. Here you’ll be joined by younger folks from all over the Mid-Atlantic, taking a slow float down the most beautiful mountain scenery east of the Rockies. And if you’re feeling like some whitewater after your float, Adventures on the Gorge offers full day trips that start off calm then move into nerve-bending excitement.

3. Guadalupe River — New Braunfels, Texas

Photo: JaDipity/Shutterstock

The Guadalupe River may well be the tubing capital of America, the quintessential Texas spot that’s become as much of an Austin attraction as the bars on Sixth Street. The crowds on weekends can be brutal, but with fully-legal drinking on the water and residents along the shoreline who’ll happily spray you with water cannons, it’s always a good time. Think of it like a big, floating festival — one of the best things you can do in Texas during hotter months.

4. San Marcos River — San Marcos, Texas

Photo: FerrizFrames/Shutterstock

Just south of Austin you’ll find the little hippie college town of San Marcos, a place many say reminds them of Austin before it sold out. It’s home to the headwaters of the San Marcos River, a crystal-clear, pleasantly cold river that winds through pecans, oaks, and magnolias. Fleeing the Texas heat in the shade of the San Marcos is a South Texas tradition, where weekends find college kids from Texas State floating down with coolers, next to families, seniors, and pretty much everyone else looking to get out of the sun. The Lions Club near the headwaters at Texas State is the best place to get started, then run down a couple of hours to a set of rapids that are totally safe to tube down. Just hold onto your beer.

5. Ginnie Springs — High Springs, Florida

Photo: Zoe Sopena/Shutterstock

Fans of the University of Florida have been known to overstate a great many things about their school, but the wonder of Ginnie Springs is not one of them. This clear, cold natural spring less than an hour from Gainesville is the picture of Floridian nature, with Spanish oaks dripping with moss that forms a canopy over the river, flowing slowly past palmettos and the occasional sunning alligator. During the school year, the river is packed with a different kind of gator — students from the University of Florida who’ve made float trips here a tradition for decades. It’s the odd college party you can join in on after graduation and not look even remotely creepy. As long as you’ve got beer better than what you drank in school.

6. James River — Scottsville, Virginia

Photo: Xavier Ascanio/Shutterstock

This river flowing through Central Virginia isn’t just a great place to drink on the water, the collection of beaches along its banks make it an equally phenomenal place to drink by the water as well. But while the beaches are inviting, the best way to experience the James is by renting a tube, grabbing a 12 pack, and spending the day floating through the green hills and under the blue sky of Virginia. The highlight of the float is the big rock in the middle, that your guide will tell you is private property, and should absolutely not be climbed-and-dove-off. But we all know how that ends, don’t we?

7. American River — Sacramento, California

Photo: Andrew Zarivny/Shutterstock

California’s capital is underrated in a lot of ways, but perhaps its most underrated attribute is outdoor recreation. The city on two rivers has one of the most scenic floats in the country along the American, where the waters are usually too shallow for big boats, leaving all the green trees and blue water for folks on tubes and kayaks. It rarely rains here, meaning this trip can be done all year round if you so desire. But it’ll be most refreshing on one of those triple-digit Sacramento summer days, where it seems all of the city is somewhere near the water.

8. Nueces River — Uvalde County, Texas

Photo: Billy Hathorn

Though it doesn’t get the hype of rivers closer to Austin, the Nueces out west of San Antonio is every bit the big floating party you’ll get on the Guadalupe, with a much more local feel. Here you’ll find families and young people from Houston and San Antonio making weekend expeditions into hill country, where this river flows through scenic bluffs and under shady trees near the tiny town of Uvalde. The city itself is worth a visit, whether you’re hiking through Garner State Park or hitting a weekend country concert at Lone Star Saloon. It’s Texan nature without the throngs of tourists, one of the better-unknown gems to those outside the state.

9. Apple River — Somerset, Wisconsin

Photo: Ken Wolter/Shutterstock

Leave it to Wisconsin to find a way to tailgate during a float trip. The bead-tossing excitement of a weekend float down the Apple River is one of the best summer parties in America. But what sets this place apart from others on this list is the sandbar halfway down the river, where revelers set up full-on parties with food, drinks, games, drinking games, and pretty much everything else you’d expect to find in the parking lot outside Lambeau. Feel free to stuff yourself here too; the river moves briskly so there’ll be no need to paddle yourself home.

10. Truckee River — Reno, Nevada

Photo: Welcomia/Shutterstock

The Truckee is a natural paradise for Northern Californians looking to get out of San Francisco or Sacramento for the weekend, where summers boast some of the best whitewater in America. But this river has slower-moving sections too, where you can take tubes and float between pleasure boats who’ll do everything from toss you a drink to invite you onboard to join in the daylong party. The river’s not far from Lake Tahoe, and on summer afternoons when the beaches there get too crowded, this is always a less-congested getaway. And often a much better party.

11. Meramec River — Meramec State Park, Missouri

Photo: Jeffrey T. Kreulen/Shutterstock

Nobody does summer water parties like Missouri. Anyone who’s spent ten minutes at Lake of the Ozarks knows that. So think of this river as a floating version of that bacchanal, where public nudity, loads of alcohol, and general bedlam are the norm for a summer Saturday. A law was actually passed to ban beer bongs on the river a few years ago, in an effort to keep the party at least a little bit under control. But in the Midwest where the summers are short and your other options are limited, it’s no wonder people are making the most of their precious sunny days.

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The post The best rivers in America for tubing and drinking appeared first on Matador Network.

Climbing in Moab, Utah

With a few days off from the real world and some new gear to test, my friends and I pack up our cars and caravan all the way from Colorado to Moab, Utah. Just outside of both Arches and Canyonlands National Park, Moab is great for outdoor sports, with everything from world-renowned mountain biking to base jumping to stand up paddling boarding. For this trip, we’re focusing on sport climbing. You won’t find total solitude here (one look at the incredible scenery and you’ll understand why it’s so popular) and midday temps can hit the nineties. Nonetheless, we bury our hands in chalk bags and get to work on some of the most incredible climbing spots in America.




1

After getting our daily dose of caffeine, we drive a winding river to the spot recommended by our barista. It’s late morning, but, thankfully, this wall hasn’t been heated by the desert sun.

2

As the hours pass, the heat of the day begins to envelop us all and light fills the river canyon.

3

We’ve each got a few climbs in, but none of us are used to the heat. The rock is now fire below our hands, and we decide that these are our last climbs for now. David leads and cleans one of the routes we set up as Lindsay belays him.

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4

It’s crowded when we arrive in Moab, and designated campsites are sparse. We cruise over a dusty road far from town and pick a spot located in between towering red formations. Evening shenanigans ensue -- dinner and games around the campfire and handstand contests in the red dirt.

5

We learned our lesson from the day before, so we head out early to beat the heat. Nearby, around one of the bends flanked by enormous canyon walls, sits Ice Cream Parlor, a slabby mixed-climbing area that is draped in shade that morning. We climb here while the sun beats the back of the wall, leaving us cool and shaded for the morning.

6

Afternoon heat quickly ensues and we break for burgers and shakes in town, followed by a quick dip in the local watering hole. After some much-deserved rest and relaxation, we head over to one of the more populated climbing areas, Wall Street. Now, in the early evening, it’s less crowded and we jump on a few slabby climbs to warm up our fingers.

7

The Colorado River flows next to us as sunset paints our surrounding in shades of blue and purple. With every crimp, pinch, and jug we climb up, we are rewarded with a vaster view of this glowing landscape.

8

Drew makes his way up Potstash (5.9), a fun climb overlooking the river. Most climbs in the Wall Street climbing area are situated along Potash Road, just outside of the town of Moab.

9

After finishing his last climb, Jason makes his way down Potash Road, taking in the juxtaposing height of the aggressive canyon walls running the length of the glassy river. With few people around and a gorgeous sunset, we are beyond excited to bask in the warm evening air following an action-packed day of climbing.

10

Not wanting our day to end, Joseph clambers up the wall as darkness begins to blanket us. After he finishes we head to town and pick up food to grill over our campfire, share a few swigs of whiskey over stories of triumphs and failures from the day, and burrow into sleeping bags to rest our worn bodies.

More like this: Climbing Ancient Art at Fisher Towers near Moab, Utah

The post The ultimate rock climbing trip through Moab, Utah appeared first on Matador Network.

Florida city named most excellent

Iceland is at the tip of every traveler’s tongue and is frequently thought to be the number-one destination worth flying to. But, it turns out that the ultimate vacation spot may be a lot closer to home than you’d think. TripAdvisor’s 2018 “‘Most Excellent’ Cities in the World” list revealed Key West, Florida to be the world’s best city, beating out Reykjavik, which came in at number two. Edinburgh, Scotland placed third.

In addition to winning in the “Most Excellent” overall category, Key West also came in first place for “’Most Excellent’ Cities for Restaurants”, and number eight in “’Most Excellent’ Cities for Experiences”. To determine the rankings, TripAdvisor uses a comprehensive algorithm that looks at quality, quantity, and recency of reviews on the site.

In a company press release, TripAdvisor’s vice president Neela Pal said, “When travelers see a Certificate of Excellence sticker or certificate on display, they immediately know that the business has a track record of offering highly rated guest or dinner experiences.” On TripAdvisor’s “Most Excellent” lists, she says the company is “excited to reveal the destinations where travelers are most likely to encounter these excellent businesses.”

Also making the list were Marrakech, Amsterdam, Dublin, Bali, Krakow, Glasgow, and New Orleans. You really can’t go wrong with any of these cities, but Key West’s stunning beaches definitely sounds like an ideal way to spend your holiday.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

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Pit bulls banned on Delta flights

First peacocks, now pit bulls. Passengers are finding it increasingly difficult to fly with service animals, as Delta Airlines announced Wednesday that “pit bull-type dogs” will not be allowed on flights as service or emotional support animals. The new policy goes into effect on July 10th and was instituted because several airline employees have been bitten by dogs. Since 2016, there has been an 84 percent increase in reported incidents, including a particularly gruesome episode in June 2017, when a passenger was attacked by a 70-pound dog mid flight.

The term “pit bull”, however, is rather vague, as it could encompass a wide range of dog breeds that share similar characteristics. Among breeds that will likely be affected by the ban are the American pit bull terrier, Staffordshire terrier, and bull terrier.

While the Americans with Disabilities Act entitles those with disabilities to a service dog (which can be any breed), and emotional support animals can be registered to anyone with documented mental health issues, airlines are not required to comply with the ADA. Their own rules, outlined in the Air Carrier Access Act, allow for trained service and emotional support animals aboard planes, with the caveat that the animal may not pose a health or safety threat to other passengers.

Pit bull owners and advocates are enraged by the ban, arguing that it perpetuates already unfair stereotypes about the dogs.

A statement from @ASPCA CEO Matt Bershadker about @Delta’s policy to ban pit bulls. pic.twitter.com/R42IA2wHKX

— ASPCA (@ASPCA) June 21, 2018

H/T: HuffPost

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