Matador Network's Blog, page 1330

Rwandan gorillas dismantle traps

We already know that humans and gorillas are very alike, but we’ve always believed we could outsmart our distant simian cousins. Poachers, in particular, have tried taking advantage of our cognitive supremacy to trick gorillas, luring them into noose-like traps. But it seems like the gorillas can still outsmart them, thanks to the power of teamwork.

Young gorillas living in the Rwanda National Park have reportedly learned how to foil hunters and poachers, working together to dismantle the traps set for them. While older gorillas are usually powerful enough to free themselves, younger ones aren’t so fortunate. Traps usually work by tying a noose to a branch of bamboo stalk, and bending it to the ground, with another stick or rock holding it in place. When triggered, the noose tightens around the animal, even hoisting it into the air if the animal is light enough.

Gorillas, however, are taking a proactive approach to these traps. A research team in Rwanda recently found groups of young gorillas actively seeking out and dismantling traps, to prevent their brethren from falling victim. The research team observed one gorilla bending and breaking the tree, while another disabled the noose, repeating the process for multiple traps. The team believes that gorillas have witnessed a correlation between these devices and the deaths of their peers, prompting their desire to neutralize them.

Chris Tyler-Smith, a geneticist at the Sanger Institute in the UK, said that “most of our genes are very similar, or even identical to, the gorilla version of the same gene.” This might help explain how gorillas are able to understand the mechanics of hunter traps, identify them in the wild, and coordinate their efforts to dismantle them.

H/T: Second Nexus

How to see mountain gorillas in the wild in Uganda

The post Young gorillas are working together to destroy poachers’ traps in Rwanda appeared first on Matador Network.

woman attacked by elk in yellowstone

Everyone loves spotting wild animals, but most animals don’t want to be approached. This is especially true of those protecting their young, who can easily interpret a human’s presence as a threat to their newborn’s safety. Just ask Charlene Triplett, who was attacked by a cow elk on Sunday, near a hotel in Yellowstone National Park.

An employee at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins, Triplett was off duty when she encountered the elk. Approximately 20 feet away from the hotel, the elk and its calf were hidden behind cars when Triplett approached, likely unaware of their presence. Triplett suffered multiple kicks to the head, torso, and back, and was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Calving season, when calves are born, runs from late May to June, and since the incident, park rangers have been warning visitors about this specific elk. On their Facebook page, park representatives warned visitors to use extra caution during calving season, and to keep at least 75 feet away.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins has been in operation since 1936, giving guests incredible views of grazing elk. Hopefully these up-close views don’t start becoming personal.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

More like this: Yellowstone National Park: Beyond Old Faithful

The post Beware of calving season: A woman was attacked by an elk in Yellowstone appeared first on Matador Network.

Skip the line at the busiest spots

A four-hour wait is a surefire way to ruin a visit to one of the world’s most amazing attractions. While the wait might leave you with glazed eyes and hangry, the worst part is that you often don’t get much out of the visit. Have you ever tried to enjoy Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia Cathedral crammed shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other people, each trying to photograph its strangely stunning interior? How about waiting 40 minutes in line for a toilet in Venice at the height of summer?

If you just can’t miss out on visiting some of the most popular attractions, there are plenty of ways to skip — or at the least minimize — the time you spend waiting in line or stuck inside hot, stuffy rooms teeming with people. With a little planning and a few online-ticket purchases, you can skip the lines at many famous sites, plus find the best possible times to visit — decreasing your chances of becoming a human sardine.

1. The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

Tip: Buy your ticket online and plan your visit wisely.

Catherine the Great spent vast amounts of the Russian state coffers collecting paintings for the Hermitage, the monumental Russian museum in St Petersburg. The attraction is so popular that the line can snake up to a kilometre away from the main building. While visiting during the Russian winter might be pushing it, you can still visit in summer and skip the line. Buy your ticket online, arrive first thing in the morning, and make your way straight to the most popular rooms on the first floor via the Grand Staircase, including the Malachite Room and Pavilion Hall. These will be at their busiest between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Alternatively, go in the afternoon on a Wednesday; it’s open until 9:00 PM and numbers die down after 4:00 PM.

2. The Great Wall of China

Tip: Skip Badaling and don’t go on Chinese public holidays.

Badaling is visited by 75 percent of people who make a trip to the Great Wall of China. However, Mutianyu is nearly as close to Beijing — and far less busy. Best yet, visit in the winter season to see the Great Wall in a whole new light, covered with snow. While public transport to Mutianyu is a little trickier, you can negotiate with a taxi driver to take you there, and you’ll have an infinitely better time than visiting Badaling. Wherever you go, don’t travel there on a Chinese public holiday. You have been warned.

3. Burj Khalifa, Dubai

Tip: Treat yourself to high tea and avoid the crowds.

If you want to experience the world’s tallest building in comfort, go at lunchtime and opt for the At.Mosphere Lounge Le Gourmandizes High Tea package. The At.Mosphere lounge is located just a few levels below the public viewing platform, and it’s much quieter. Instead of being crammed in with hundreds of others, you can dine in style. You don’t even have to enter the Burj Khalifa via the public entrance in the mall: you get to use the swanky one at the Armani Hotel. Just note that there are no outside viewing areas included in the High Tea package and, at 515 AED ($140) per person for a window table, it isn’t cheap. A non-window table, which defeats the point, is 440 AED ($119). If you can stand the heat, visiting Dubai in the summer months means you’ll likely find most other attractions in the city nearly abandoned, including the Burj Khalifa during off-peak hours.

4. Venice

Tip: Pack your rain jacket and visit in the off-peak season.

Okay, so you’ve decided you just can’t miss out on seeing the famous floating city. Your best bet is to travel during the off-peak season, where you’re much less likely to experience the throngs of Venice’s cruise ship and summer swell. Hotel room prices are between 25 to 50 percent lower from November to March, provided you avoid Carnevale. Remember, attractions will generally open for shorter hours, and you might find some closed altogether. There could also be a little rain on your parade, but it’s something else to see the wait staff wearing goloshes and dinner suits in the main square.

5. The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Tip: Get there really early, or late, or stay overnight on site.

A visit to the Blue Lagoon, much like the rest of Iceland, is an expensive endeavour. If you haven’t been able to book online, which lets you skip the line, your best bet is to get up really early and wait in the parking lot to make sure you are the first in. You can alternatively visit towards the end of the day when crowds also thin out. If you’ve got a little more cash to splash, book at the Silica Hotel at the Blue Lagoon. You’ll be staying just a 5-minute walk from the famed attraction, so you can monitor when the crowds are heavier. Plus, it includes free entry to both the Blue Lagoon and the private, hotel-guest-only Silica Lagoon. Bliss!

6. The Grand Canyon

Tip: Wrap up warm for a winter adventure.

Off-season travel is your key to enjoying the Grand Canyon without thousands of other people enjoying it alongside you. The South Rim can be visited year-round, though make sure you dress warmly. It can get very chilly from September onwards. While the North Rim can’t be visited in winter, it is generally much less crowded if you have to go during peak season, and can even be bearable during July and August. The SkyWalk is always much quieter in winter, too. Just make sure to get there early, as the last ticket is sold at 4:30 PM.

7. Sagrada Familia, Spain

Tip: Book online and arrive on time.

Like many European attractions, there are two entrances to Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral: one for pre-purchased online tickets and one for ticket purchasers. The online ticket entrance on Carrer de la Marina is nearly always empty. Because tickets are allowed for a 15-minute window only, lines don’t have the time to build up to the online-ticket entrance. Just make sure you are on time, and if you have a really tight time slot you need to make, book about a week or so online in advance. Visiting in the winter season means you can go along to the Basilica and suss out the ticket-buying line. If you see it’s too big, book online using your smartphone and then hop around to the other entrance.

8. The Vatican

Tip: It’s always busy, but buying a ticket online should speed things up.

Rome is, surprisingly, one of the best European winter destinations. The city is near deserted and, if you can manage a visit close to Christmas, it’s magical. Despite this, the Vatican always seems to be heaving with people. Your best bet is to book your tickets online at the official Vatican website, ignoring the many ‘skip the line’ touts harassing you outside. You should still be prepared for a wait of around thirty minutes for security, but it’s much less than the three hours to stand in the ticket line. You can also avoid some of the crowds by visiting in the evening. The Vatican is open until 11 PM on Fridays from April to October.

9. The Louvre, Paris

Tip: Visit at night, and use the alternative entrance.

If a trip to the Louvre is one of your bucket list must-dos, you really are best to buy your ticket online. In addition to this, you should always use the underground entrance to the Louvre. It normally has a much shorter queue for entry than the famous Pyramid entrance. Head to 99 Rue de Rivoli, the underground/metro entrance, and go down the escalators, wandering past the shops until you find the Carrousel du Louvre entrance. To further your chances of minimal crowds, visit on a Wednesday or Friday evening. On these nights, the Louvre is open until 9:45 PM, meaning even if you arrive mid-afternoon you’ll have plenty of time to peruse its treasures.


More like this: 4 alternatives to see the Taj Mahal away from the crowds

The post How to skip the line at 9 of the world’s busiest tourist attractions appeared first on Matador Network.

Things important to Wisconsin

It’s not that we think that Wisconsin is a superior state, but with a world-renowned sausage race, the happiest cows around, our own royalty and a castle to boot, we understand that it is hard to compete with us. Most might not share our enthusiasm for the power of cheese or the deep love we have for the Packers, but let’s be honest that’s not the end of the world. If everyone knew how incredible Wisconsin was, then it wouldn’t be so special. Here are some of the things Wisconsinites find important that the rest of the world couldn’t care less about.

1. Which state has the happiest cows?

A Golden State resident probably has no idea that we are still caught up on that one advertising campaign that happened that one time, but believe me it’s on our minds, constantly.

2. Everything green and gold = Packers.

When we see something green and gold, we automatically think it must be related to the Packers. We know deep down the universe is sending us a sign when we see a green and gold sign in a store window, a car, a garden…

3. Who wins the sausage race at Miller Park.

It’s a really big deal and not an easy decision — the classic brat or the newcomer Chorizo? And let’s not forget the other edible racers.

4. If you own a cheese head or not.

Calling it a ‘cheese hat’ will make us twitch a little. And no, we don’t look ridiculous, it’s a badge of honor.

5. If you can make it to the Dells this year.

There is definitely a hierarchy of water parks, but the Dells is the Dells.

6. Any reference made to Wisconsin in a movie or show.

We will never forget that the character Jack in Titanic is from Wisconsin, that the British dude goes to Milwaukee in Love Actually, and any other little mention of the dairy state. Even if we weren’t paying attention, our ears will perk right up and we will immediately start beaming with pride.

7. Creating controversy by mentioning “Brett Favre.”

Years may have gone by, but the wounds are still deep. Choosing what side you are on has literally made families stop speaking to each other and just a mere mention of the name is still bound to start an argument. Don’t even think about doing it at a Wisconsin Thanksgiving…

8. The epicness of Badger football games.

The SEC may have its pregame parties, but we know that no fans celebrate like Badger fans. From jumping in unison with 80,000 other fans to “Jump Around” in between the 3rd and 4th quarters to singing “Varsity” and “On Wisconsin” during the Fifth Quarter after the game. We don’t know why everyone is not jumping with us.

9. The size of the Allen-Bradley clock.

Milwaukee may not have the Tower of London or Buckingham Palace, but who cares? Our beloved “Polish Moon” is the second largest 4 faced clock in the world, according to most sources, bigger than Big Ben and has way fewer competing attractions to distract from its beauty!

10. We have our own royalty.

For over 70 years our state has been graced by the royal presence of Alice in Dairyland. She may not have as many followers on Instagram as the British Royal family, but they don’t get to make an annual appearance at the Wisconsin State Fair like she does and pose for cheese pictures.

11. And a castle, too.

Mars Cheese Castle is just a cheese store on the side of the highway, but for us, it’s still magical. With cheese so delicious, it’s worthy of any royal.

More like this: 9 reasons why we should all move to Wisconsin

The post 13 things Wisconsinites find important that the rest of the world doesn’t care about appeared first on Matador Network.

7 coolest local shops in Ventura, CA

If you’re sick of the bustle and metropolitan chaos of Los Angeles, and you’re in the mood for some quality, local food and shopping, you need to check out Ventura, CA. Set on the coast just over an hour north of LA, and known for its quirky, local shops, Ventura is the perfect city for people who love to shop for local goods at places like clothing boutiques, antique stores, farmers markets, art galleries and surf shops. So, when you’re not at the beach or enjoying one of the town’s many seafront restaurants, you can easily spend the whole day shopping. Here are a few local spots in Ventura you should be sure to check out.

1. Calico Cat Bookshop

Une publication partagée par Amanda Martin (@thevictorianpanda) le 4 Janv. 2016 à 2 :01 PST

Located on East Main St., in the heart of Ventura, the Calico Cat Bookshop is a small, independent bookshop that has been a staple of downtown Ventura since 1975. Its owners pride themselves on their collection of quality, used and rare books, and have a wide range of signed first editions and collectable books for the true literary enthusiasts.

2. Ahoi! Surfcrafts

Une publication partagée par Ahoi Surfcrafts ⚓ (@ahoisurfcrafts) le 28 Mars 2018 à 8 :29 PDT

The second you set foot in Ventura, you’re immediately struck by the city’s beachy vibe. Surf shops like Ahoi! Surfcrafts really help set the tone, and beach lovers and surfers alike will feel right at home here. Ahoi! Surfcrafts specializes in handcrafted surfing merch; whether it’s a handplane, paipo board, or surf board, they can customize any product to suit the specific needs of the customer.

3. Antique & Vintage Stove Shop

Une publication partagée par Lisa McKinnon (@805foodie) le 4 Juil. 2015 à 10 :56 PDT

You might not have come to Ventura looking for a stove, but you may find yourself leaving with one. Located in the heart of Ventura, the Antique and Vintage Stove Shop specializes in the sale, service, and restoration of classic American stoves. Their restored, vintage stoves range from the 1920s to the 1960s. Even if you’re not in the market to buy, why not spend an hour admiring some antique craftsmanship?

4. Seniors Craft Shoppe

Une publication partagée par Irene (@imsweet2) le 8 Mars 2018 à 9 :46 PST

If you’re looking for some truly locally-made wares, you have to check out the Seniors Craft Shoppe; they stock one-of-a-kind items handcrafted by local senior citizens. The shop first opened thirty years ago in the same downtown location and is owned by a non-profit organization.

5. Ventura County Potters’ Guild Gallery

Une publication partagée par Ventura County Potters' Guild (@vcpggallery) le 7 Avril 2018 à 11 :22 PDT

For unique ceramics, look no further than the Potters’ Guild Gallery, where you’ll find sculptural and functional ceramics made by local artists. The guild is a non-profit formed to advocate art in the community, and give local potters a forum for sharing their experiences.

6. Farmers Markets

Une publication partagée par Ventura Farmers Market (@venturafarmersmarket) le 23 Mars 2018 à 4 :00 PDT

There is no shortage of farmers markets in Ventura. One of our favorite ones is the East Ventura Certified Farmers Market, located on Telephone Rd. You’ll have your pick of local produce, flowers, organic meats, artisan breads and even coffee and tea. Their focus is on providing eco-friendly, local, organic foods to the community.

7. Concrete Jungle & Surf Brewery

Une publication partagée par SoulfulofNoise (@soulfulofnoise) le 23 Août 2017 à 12 :12 PDT

It’s not just the surf shops keeping Ventura’s surfing tradition alive. Less than five miles from Surfer’s Point, the Surf Brewery is the first packaging craft brewery in Ventura. It was founded with the goal of combining two of its owners greatest passions: surfing and beer. The brewery is open six days a week, has seating for seventy-five people, features gourmet, local food trucks every night, and live music every Saturday night.


More like this: 10 memorable adventures in and around Ventura, California

The post The 7 coolest local shops in Ventura, CA you won’t find in LA appeared first on Matador Network.

Asia's cities of the future

Your next backpacking trip to Southeast Asia could be a lesson in sustainable development, at least if Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has anything to say about it. In the near future, he hopes, the region’s important major cities will all have one thing in common: they will be classified as “smart cities.” Other countries throughout Asia are following suit, with India and China standing as additional leaders in the movement.

Smart cities are kind of like expanded versions of modern tools you might have in your home – the fridge that monitors your grocery use, the electronic virtual assistant that tells you the weather and plays your morning playlist, the app on your phone that directs you away from an upcoming traffic jam – but across an entire city. Buildings, roads, and people are connected through the Internet of Things, helping to optimize movement across the city and execution of business and daily tasks.

This doesn’t mean that other cities are stupid, per say. Most soon-to-be smart cities are merely everyday cities that are making a concerted effort to improve the lives of citizens. This includes the implementation of systems such as hyper-efficient public transit, rapid response to emergencies and natural disasters, and a seemingly omnipresent ability to access information and utilize services instantaneously. Southeast Asia is taking major steps, and more than 100 other cities across the continent look to do the same. Here are five urban areas across Asia leading the charge.

Singapore

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stands as the de facto leader of the smart cities movement in Southeast Asia, having proposed the ASEAN Smart Cities network and enlisted 26 cities across Southeast Asia to join its ranks. Singapore itself has top-notch public transit, is among the most web-connected cities on the continent, and has taken drastic steps to curb its carbon footprint. In one of its biggest projects in recent years, the city installed 18 solar-powered “supertrees” at their revolutionary Gardens by the Bay area; these trees absorb and disperse heat, assist in rainwater collection and filtering, and provide shade to pedestrians making their way down the walkways beneath. They also look super cool — a perfect compliment to Singapore’s already unique and modern skyline.

Danang, Vietnam

Danang is Vietnam’s fourth largest city and has experienced rapid growth in recent years. By 2020, the city will implement traffic monitoring tools to ease congestion by tracking traffic signals throughout the city in real time, as reported by Nikkei Asian Review. Additionally, the city plans to overhaul technology for crop management in the East Sea coastal area in Central Vietnam within the same time frame. Danang has become a regional tech hub, attracting young talent to work for new startups and established IT companies alike, and is eager to stand out as a leader in sustainable development in the future.

Hangzhou, China

Hangzhou is home to more than nine million people, a colossal city by most standards, even if not unusual in China. In 2016, government officials partnered with tech companies Alibaba and Foxconn to pioneer the “City Brain” project. The idea is to turn Hangzhou into a city that monitors and responds to its own problems immediately and in the most efficient manner possible. This could be a traffic backlog, a safety hazard, a medical emergency, or any number of other issues. Additionally, data collected from the real-time observations will be used to generate models for future development and implementations in hopes of preventing the same mistake, hazard, or emergency from happening again. TechCrunch reported earlier this year that City Brain is also coming to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pune, India

The Indian government is on a mission to create 100 smart cities across the country. This project is a long way from reality, but the city of Pune has perhaps the most attainable plan. Pune is in the process of “future-proofing” their city: greening it, making it more liveable, and harvesting the community and its already growing tech sector to optimize city services and transportation. The city hopes to become India’s “most livable” by connecting existing buildings, making transportation greener and more efficient, and improving access to sustainability and green spaces.

Songdo, South Korea

Smart cities aren’t always built from the ground up. The South Korean city of Songdo is one example. This new development 25 miles east of Seoul was designed to eliminate many of the urban woes of Seoul and other overcrowded Asian cities. The city surveys traffic in real-time via sensors in both streets and buildings. Nearly 40% of the city is open space, and the city has a system in place to suck trash from homes and buildings and ‘recycle’ it into energy. A massive wind tower keeps the city cooler than the surrounding area. Bicycles serve as the main form of transit, and the city, which hopes to one day accommodate 300,000 residents, is actually closer to Seoul’s international airport than central Seoul. Songdo is an experiment that was supposed to be fully operational and populated this year — though developers and planners have run into issues attracting residents and businesses to the city. Time will tell how Songdo fairs, but one thing is clear — the ability to build a city around efficiency, sustainability, and remote technology is certainly possible. Like development in general, there’s an element of trial and error. Songdo shows us that there is a way forward.

More like this: Move to these cities for the shortest commute to work


 

The post Smart cities: These urban areas in Asia are the cities of the future appeared first on Matador Network.

Japan cracking down on Airbnb

Finding accommodation in Japan just got a lot tougher. Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reports that this weekend, over 62,000 homes, apartments, and rooms were removed from Airbnb’s website. The removals are a response to Japan’s new law regarding home-share spaces, which goes into effect on June 15.

Over the past year, Japan has made a series of moves designed to crack down on Airbnb, especially as the country becomes more and more popular with tourists. Now, Airbnb hosts will have to register for government permission to rent out their homes, and will not be able to rent for more than 180 days per year.

These strict rules are designed to add some regulation to a largely unregulated industry. The Japanese government wants to ensure that Airbnbs are safe, that hosts are held accountable, and that the accomodations giant is adhering to local laws. In the future, all Japanese Airbnb hosts will have to provide a registration number to guarantee the rental’s validity.

The situation in Japan, however, might just be the tip of the iceberg. Later this month, courts in Paris are preparing to rule on the legality of over 40,000 Airbnb listings. Before we know it, we may find ourselves turning back to hostels and hotels, just like the old days.

H/T: Conde Nast Traveler

AirBnB is really great for travelers — but it might be causing huge problems for locals

The post Airbnb just deleted 80 percent of its Japan listings appeared first on Matador Network.

Take this tequila train through Napa

When you think of Napa Valley, you’re probably not thinking about doing tequila shots. The vintage 1915 Wine Train, which brings wine-lovers on a 36-mile journey through the towns and vineyards of wine country, is now looking to appeal to liquor fans as well. The new Tequila Train is setting out to redefine the Napa Valley experience.

Guests can enjoy a four-course Mexican feast, including chips, guacamole and salsas, tortilla soup, flat-iron steak, and orange mojo chicken served with Mayan rice. Of course, each dish is paired with different tequilas from Casa Dragones, an independent Mexican small batch producer. In case any further convincing was needed, Casa Dragones is actually Oprah’s tequila of choice. “I’ve sampled tequilas all over the world,” she said on the 2017 list of her favorite things, “but Casa Dragones is still my go-to.”

The inaugural Tequila Train voyage was on Cinco de Mayo, but it has two more outings this year — one for National Tequila Day in July, and Day of the Dead in October. If feedback is positive, it may become a regular offering.

If tequila’s not your thing, but you still want a unique, boozy Napa experience, try one of the other fun tour options. For lovers of history and the arts, try the Murder Mystery Tour, where you can dress up in 20th-century garb. If music is your passion, the Blue Note Express Music & Dinner Train is probably right up your alley. Or you could always just sit on the train like normal, drinking tons of wine and watching the vineyards roll by.

H/T: Culture Trip

The top 5 wine destinations to visit in the US besides Napa

The post You can take this new tequila train through Napa Valley appeared first on Matador Network.

What to do in Jackson Hole

When we think of the typical haunts of the rich and famous, Wyoming isn’t exactly first on our list. Nevertheless, that’s where Kanye West decided to hold the major release of his latest album, YE, which was recorded in the state. In preparation for the album drop, Kanye flew journalists, music industry executives, and various celebrities to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to listen to the album. It might sound like a group better-suited to the VIP lounges of LA’s hottest nightclubs, or high-rise Las Vegas penthouse suites, but even celebrities enjoy the great outdoors, right? While Jackson Hole has always been a popular vacation destination, it’s tourism board might owe Kanye a debt of gratitude (the cover of the album, shot by Yeezy himself on his iPhone, also depicts a mountain range in Jackson Hole). Thanks to his album release, Jackson Hole, and Wyoming in general, is getting a ton of attention on social media, and we’ve gotta say — it’s well-deserved.

Ideally located near Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, Jackson Hole is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether it’s hiking, skiing, wildlife spotting, rafting, or relaxing in hot springs, there’s never a dull moment here. And while it might not be Hollywood, the stars are certainly taking notice. Here are seven things to do in Jackson Hole even if you’re not Kanye West.

Grand Teton National Park

Photo: Chanya Thirawarapan/Shutterstock

You can’t miss this 310,000 acre park, known for its lakes, snowy peaks, and forests. There are endless opportunities for exploration here, including hiking, mountain-climbing, cross-country skiing, fishing, and more. An abundance of wildlife call the park home, and it’s common to spot moose, elk, and bison — though do keep an eye out for bears and coyotes, too. You can even experience the park by car, driving along the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, along the Jackson Lake.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Photo: Serge Skiba/Shutterstock

A popular destination for skiers, this resort has it all. There are several hotels on the property, as well as an adventure park, and a variety of dining options. But with over 2,500 acres of ski runs and over 400 inches of annual snowfall, it’s no surprise this resort is considered one of the country’s best ski destinations. In the summer, you can enjoy great hiking, mountain biking, and even paragliding.

National Elk Refuge

Photo: Images by Dr. Alan Lipkin/Shutterstock

If you really want to be sure of spotting some elk, visit the National Elk Refuge. In the wintertime the elk herds have trouble finding food in the wild, so they make their way to this massive sanctuary. You can observe the elk from your car, or go on a guided sleigh ride in winter. To have the best chance of seeing the most elk, a sleigh ride during the peak of winter is highly recommended.
Granite Hot Springs

Photo: melissamn/Shutterstock

If you’re burned out from a long hike, or just simply want an afternoon of relaxation, check out the Granite Hot Springs. Located on the side of a mountain, 7,000 feet above sea level, the thermal pool is open during both winter and summer. And as you can imagine, it offers some pretty great views of the surrounding Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Jackson Hole Playhouse

Photo: Courtesy Jackson Hole Playhouse/Facebook

For a break from your rigorous outdoors itinerary, catch a show at the .Jackson Hole Playhouse. Located in the heart of downtown Jackson Hole, this small dinner theater is the oldest building in town. The shows are so high-quality, that many visitors have compared them to those on Broadway. Come for dinner, and watch cast members both serve the food and serenade diners.
Museums

Photo: Courtesy Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum/Facebook

On a rainy day, a visit to one of Jackson Hole’s museums can be the perfect way to stay busy. The Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum will teach you all about the area’s wild west History, through photographs, artifacts, and historical narratives. They also offer a guided walking tour around town. You can also check out the < a href="https://www.wildlifeart.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">National Museum of Wildlife Art, which is home to over 5,000 works of wildlife art — some pieces dating all the way back to 2,500 BC.

Whitewater Rafting

Photo: Robynrg/Shutterstock

No vacation to the wild west would be complete without whitewater rafting. Most trips will take you down Snake River, a popular rafting river with several thrilling rapids. There are several tour options to choose from, so make sure you select one that’s right for you and your family.


15 Jackson Hole adventures to add to your bucket list

The post 7 things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming even if you’re not Kanye West appeared first on Matador Network.

Polar bears invades hotel

On a remote archipelago above the Arctic Circle, with a total population of under 3,000, you might think break-ins would be relatively uncommon. While crime is nearly nonexistent on Svalbard, as far as humans are concerned, residents are always on the lookout for the archipelago’s most notorious troublemaker: polar bears. On Sunday, a polar bear broke into a food storage room at Isfjord Radio, an old radio and weather station a few hours north of Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost settlement with over 1,000 permanent residents. The radio station now operates chiefly as a hotel, and the break-in gave its management and residents quite a scare.

Photo: icepeople.net

The large male polar bear made itself right at home in the storeroom, eating chocolates, smashing wine bottles, and shattering windows before a rescue helicopter scared it away. “The bear was clearly stressed,” said station manager Malin Stark to the local media. “He had broken all the small windows along the wall.”

At the time of the incident, there were five employees and ten guests at the station, who had a rare opportunity to photograph a polar bear up close. Marit Devik, a visitor at Isfjord Radio, wrote on Facebook that it was an “exciting start to the day…I had basically given up getting to see any special animals this weekend.” She added that “we felt jubilation when we saw it run freely…as it should.”

But the bear wasn’t finished yet. The bear returned to the station that evening, prompting officials to consider sedating it and flying it away by helicopter. The decision doesn’t appear to have been made yet, but the authorities said they will be making it in collaboration with a polar bear expert.

I can’t say I blame the bear. Once you find a stash of chocolate, it’s tough to keep your paws off it.

H/T: Icepeople.net

More like this: 8 reasons Svalbard is the most unique place on earth

The post A polar bear invaded this hotel in Svalbard and gorged on chocolate appeared first on Matador Network.