Matador Network's Blog, page 138

This National Park Has Finally Been Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

On July 26, 2024, UNESCO announced the addition of 24 new properties to its long list of World Heritage sites, making for a total of 1223 properties world wide. The UNESCO World Heritage list covers three types of sites: cultural, natural, and mixed, and include Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, France’s Mont-Saint-Michel, Italy’s Appian Way, and Yellowstone National Park in the US, which are some of the most famous. One site that was only listed this year is Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, a 380,000-acre natural site located in northeastern Brazil.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is predominantly a white-sand dune field that gets flooded every year during the rainy season (from February to May). After the rainy season, the spaces between the sand dunes are filled with rainwater to form beautiful turquoise lagoons of varying size and depths. While some the lagoons are ephemeral, others are permanent. Although the park is open year-round, to see Lençóis Maranhenses National Park at its most scenic, when the lagoons are full, visit between May and August.

A perfect day in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is one that includes walks among the dunes and swim sessions in the freshwater lagoons. Some watersports like wakeboarding and kitesurfing are allowed in the park’s lagoon when conditions allow, and off-road rides in accredited 4×4 vehicles is also possible.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is the 24th Brazilian site to be recognized by UNESCO. Others include the historic town of Oura Preto, Iguaçu National Park, and the Pantanal Conservation Area.

While the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park was already protected in Brazil since 1981, its addition to the UNESCO World Heritage list will ensure and reinforced the conservation of the natural site for the future.

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Pair Wine With Horseback Rides at These Central California Wineries

Santa Barbara County just may be California’s most authentic wine region, and it’s not just the grapes that help the area stand out from the state’s larger and more well-known regions. Wineries here are known for their personable approach to hosting guesets, and that often lends itself to unique experiences – like pairing wine tasting with horseback riding.

On a trip here, you can trot through rolling hills, surrounded by lush greenery and breathtaking views of vineyards, orchards, and mesas, paired with a thorough wine tasting experience.

“I think Santa Barbara County is truly stunning, geographically, “ says Greer Shull, Marketing Director for Fess Parker Winery in Los Olivos. “One thing that’s neat about here is that it’s really approachable still. You can do really neat experiences in Santa Barbara County and it’s not going to be priced through the roof, and wines are absolutely beautiful.”

She should know – Shull’s grandfather started the winery and ranch, and she’s spent much of her life around it. As the Santa Ynez Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), Santa Maria Valley AVA, and the region’s five other AVAs gain increased recognition as a more affordable and laid back place to taste wine than the bigger wine regions further north, the varietals and grapes on offer continue to expand. The region now has some 200 wineries. But some of the long-time staples continue to offer unique experiences to complement their wines, one of which is the ability to pair a tasting with a horseback ride about 45 minutes from Santa Barbara.

Photo courtesy Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard

The experience was pioneered by Fess Parker Winery, which in addition to its 110 acres of vineyard that specializes in Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as an estate-grown Rhône varietal, offers guests the chance to dive further into the vineyard and ranch experience on horseback via Fess Parker Ranch Horseback Adventures.

“Most winery visitors are only down at the winery on the lower level of the property,” says Shull. “On the horseback ride you actually get to go up to the upper mesa of our ranch so you’ll see the top of Rodney’s Vineyard and 360-degree views of the Santa Ynez Valley.”

Guests arrive at the winery and check in before being shuttled over to the barn on the backside of the ranch. Here, they’re saddled up for a 75-minute ride through the 714-acre ranch. Of that, 110 acres are planted to vineyard, meaning guests not only get to experience the vines but view the rest of the working ranch. If they’re lucky, Katie Parker, the mastermind behind the horseback tours, will be running the ride.

After getting unsaddled from the ride, guests are shuttled back to the winery for a seated wine tasting on the terrace. The experience is, obviously, geared towards adults, though kids old enough to ride a horse can partake in the horseback ride.

Pairing local food with wine and a horseback ride in the Santa Maria Valley

Photo courtesy Presqu’ile Winery

30 minutes north on the 101, Presqu’ile Winery (pronoucned press-KEEL) in the Santa Maria Valley also offers horseback rides paired with wine, and this tour adds a gourmet meal to its Estate Horseback Riding & Tasting Experience.

“The Estate Horseback Riding & Tasting Experience begins with a horseback trail ride through our world-class 500-acre estate featuring breathtaking views of our vineyards, San Rafael Mountains, Solomon Hills, Santa Maria Valley, and on a clear day, all the way out to the Pacific Ocean,” says Shannon Gotsick, Presqu’ile’s Hospitality and Tasting Room Manager.

Following the ride through the estate, guests partake in a food and wine experience atop the winery’s terrace. The meal is prepared by Estate Chef Julie Simon, primarily using ingredients grown in the establishment’s garden and from other local purveyors.The experience costs $250 per person, with kids 12 and up able to join in all but the wine tasting, with groups between two and six people accommodated.

Photo courtesy Presqu’ile Winery

“F​​lanked by the San Rafael Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, the Santa Maria Valley is famous for savory and bright Pinot Noir, strawberries and its eponymous style of oak-smoked barbecue,” Gotsick says.

The Murphy family, who owns the winery, chose the Santa Maria Valley over the larger wine regions in northern California as well as Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Gotsick says, because of the “welcoming, unfailingly gracious and supportive,” community. This community spirit, along with unique experiences like pairing horseback rides with wine tastings, is what drives central California’s wine regions.

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New Tech Will Allow You to Check a Bag in 30 Seconds at NYC’s JFK Airport

Part of huge and ongoing $19 billion renovation, expansion, and modernization of New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is to include state-of-the-art technology to make air travelers’ life easier. With that in mind, JFK’s Terminal 7 will have a luggage-disinfecting system that uses UV-C light, and Terminal 6 will feature self-service bag drop machines so you can check in your bag on your own in just seconds.

The self-service bag drop system is the brainchild of Materna IPS (Intelligent Passenger Solutions), a company that provides solutions for passenger handlings for airports and airlines, including check-in machines, automated passport scanning machines, biometric verification machines, and more.

The self-service bag drop machine, also known as SSBD machine, will replace the traditional check-in counter and will allow air travelers to get their ID verified and drop their luggage on the belt in less than one minute. Once the machine has scanned the luggage tag, it takes the bag away.

The SSBD machine requires that baggage bears the luggage tag provided by the airline. That means that passengers will still need to use their airline’s self-service check-in machines to obtain a tag before dropping off their bag.

While some of the SSBD machine will operate on their own, others will be staffed to help those who wish assistance or want a more traditional check-in experience.

The self-service bag drop machines should allow for a less congested terminal, shorter lines, and time saved for travelers. Whether than means passengers will be able to come later to the airport remains to be seen.

SSBD systems are already in place in multiple airports around the world, including in Munich, Stockholm, Toronto, as well as in five airports in the US, including Orlando and Chicago.

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The SSDB system will be implemented in 2026 when the new Terminal 6 finally opens to passengers.

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The 10 Most Popular States For a Fishing Trip of a Lifetime

For some, fishing is a way to pass the time. For others, it’s a lifestyle that inspires dedicated trips — fly fishing in Montana, catching massive trout at the foot of Glacier National Park, casting in the legendary rivers in Idaho. Florida is in a category of its own, from lakes and rivers, to bays and shorelines in Southwest Florida, to deep water fishing charters on both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic sides.

It’s hard to put a number on just how many people are making dedicated fishing trips farther than their home state’s borders. Captain Experiences, a fishing and hunting guide booking company, looked at the number of non-resident fishing licenses issued by the US Fish & Wildlife Service in the latest year data is available (2022). The team at Captain Experiences then narrowed that down the most popular states to take a fishing trip.

It doesn’t capture the full picture (free licenses aren’t listed, and the data leaves out the people who travel in their state for fishing trips, for example), but it is one reliable way to get an idea of the scale. And it’s only getting bigger.

Non-resident annual fishing licenses hovered at about 15 percent or less of the total share of state licenses from the late 1960s to the ‘80s. The number started to tick up in the following decades. The non-resident license proportion set a new record in 2022 with 9.4 million, or 22.3 percent of the overall fishing licenses issued.

The revenue from the (often more expensive) non-resident fishing licenses helps conservation efforts, and federal funding to state wildlife agencies is determined by the number of licenses sold. Then there’s the economic impact of fishing tourism from the people who book guides and purchase from local businesses while traveling. That amounted to $138 billion in local business sales and more than 690,000 jobs in 2022, according to estimates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cited by Captain Experiences.

The most popular states for cross-border fishing trips are those that are well-known for their chance at a catch. The Mountain West is a favorite, as is Alaska, which is a dream trip for many. In the Southeast, Florida leads the way but other states rank high as well. The Great Lakes region holds its own, too.

The 10 most popular states for a fishing tripFlorida: 917,665 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $25,753,980Montana: 739,575 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $16,647,712Colorado: 511,912 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $12,335,290Alaska: 492,860 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $15,817,365Wisconsin: 448,237 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $12,146,592Tennessee: 388,475 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $13,353,929Minnesota: 377,439 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $13,376,465North Carolina: 275,808 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $6,324,127Michigan: 252,180 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $9,275,692Idaho: 247,744 non-resident annual fishing licenses, bringing in $10,241,245

For the full data set to see where each of the 50 states ranks, check out the analysis on Captain Experiences.

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Meet the Ocean Pioneer Building an Unprecedented Underwater Research Station Near Curaçao

Fabien Cousteau has ocean exploration in his genes. The aquanaut’s grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, invented scuba in the early 1940s, built the first underwater habitats, submersibles for scientific research, and the first underwater cameras for filmmaking, among other things. Fabien Cousteau first went scuba diving on his fourth birthday and has gone on expeditions regularly since he was seven.

These days, the younger Cousteau is focused on Proteus, a project off the coast of Curaçao that’s designed to be for underwater exploration what the International Space Station is for space: a structure where scientists and engineers can live and work in an extreme underwater environment for extended periods of time.

The first platform is on track to be completed in 2027. Yet the latest is just one step in what Cousteau has been able to accomplish and experience. On the Matador Network podcast No Fixed Address: The World’s Most Extraordinary People, Michael Motamedi and Vanessa Salas spoke with Cousteau about his upbringing, world-renown research projects, and why Curaçao — an island famous for its protected, and growing, coral reefs and ocean life — is the perfect place to start arguably the most ambitious underwater research project humans have taken on.

Proteus isn’t the first time Cousteau has made headlines. He’s undergone a number of experiments that at first glance can seem more than a little out there. To better understand great white shark behavior in the wild, versus when scientists create an artificial environment by chumming the water, Cousteau designed a submersible shaped like a great white in 2006. The idea came from an Adventures of Tintin comic he read when he was a child where the titular character builds a shark-shaped submarine. It worked in real life, too.

Photo: Fabien Cousteu and Proteus Ocean Group

“It was really fascinating when the submarine actually worked,” Cousteau says on the podcast, adding that a failure in the prototype was more dangerous than the sharks. “I got to see some strange behavior that we’ve never seen before.”

For example, the social hierarchy when the typically solitary animals are in close proximity. The older the shark, the higher up in great white shark society, up to the largest apex matriarch.

Cousteau also spent 31 days living underwater off the coast of Florida in a 400-square-foot living space with five other people. The experiment allowed the researchers to do extended dives. The pressure in the underwater lab matched the pressure outside, negating the need for the long decompression time traditional scuba divers need at 60 feet down (the distance that research laboratory, Aquarius, reaches) and more.

Photo: Fabien Cousteu and Proteus Ocean Group

“That’s really the magic, right?” Cousteau says. “Being able to put a human being in that extreme environment for, I say, infinite periods of time. Obviously we get tired, we get hungry, we need to go to the bathroom, all that stuff. But essentially for mission 31 … we spent 31 days in that 400 square feet and did over three years worth of science. And we’re able to reach over a hundred thousand students live all over the world in different parts of the world during that time because we had better WiFi at the bottom of the sea than my own apartment in New York City.”

The ocean, Cousteau says, “plays the role of barometer for the greater climate crisis issue.” Still, humans have only scratched the surface of understanding the ocean’s depths. Innovative research tactics are helping to change that — even if it means being slapped by spotted eagle rays while doing said research.

Photo: Fabien Cousteu and Proteus Ocean Group

Curaçao is the perfect place for Proteus, though Cousteau’s ultimate goal is to have a network of similar habitats to better understand ocean health. The island is the pinnacle, allowing for research of everything from the more shallow coral reefs to the depths. Added bonus: on land there is a vibrant culture and incredible restaurants, including ones that serve dishes centered around invasive species like lionfish. It’s also an analogue for astronauts to train in an extreme environment.

“The ocean is our life support system, and we’ve explored less than 7 percent of it to date,” Cousteau says. “So [Proteus] gives us a real unique opportunity that no other tool in the toolbox of ocean exploration gives us.”

To hear more about Cousteau’s adventures and his outlook on ocean life and the future of underwater exploration, listen to the full episode of No Fixed Address: The World’s Most Extraordinary People on your favorite listening platform.

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Tickets For a Stunning Fall Amtrak Trip Are 30% Off Right Now

Those who dream of experiencing a long-distance train ride, a journey on board a sleeper train, or even a trip on a high-speed train don’t need to travel abroad. Amtrak, the national passenger railroad company of the United States, can provide. And if you’re looking to do it as cheaply as possible, now is the time to take a leap and make a booking.

From August 1 to August 7, 2024, Amtrak’s Fall Travel Flash Sale allows train travelers to save 30 percent or more on routes throughout the country. The sale applies to train journeys between August 14 and October 31, 2024, with no blackout dates.

Photo: Amtrak

While some like to say that traveling by train in the US is much too limiting, Amtrak is here to prove them wrong. Amtrak operates in 46 of the 48 contiguous United States (with Wyoming and South Dakota being the two states left out of Amtrak’s routes), and offers a multitude of options for all kinds of travelers, including cross-country adventures, multi-night journeys, rides through national parks, and even entire loops around the US.

Riding Amtrak trains is also a great way to reach some of the best mountain bike trails in the country, and there’s even an Amtrak train that allows you to bring your car with you: the Auto Train. The travel opportunities are nearly endless with Amtrak.

Unlike the preconceived and outdated notions of train travel that some might have, Amtrak is a company that moves with the times. WiFi is available on board the trains, you can take your pet with you, and the food offerings are much nicer than anything you’d get in an airplane (if you get anything at all when flying.)

Amtrak’s Fall Travel Flash Sale applies to Flex Fare prices on a multitude of destinations, including, but not limited to, Seattle to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight for $76 one way, Chicago to New York on the Lake Shore Limited for $70 one way, or even Boston to New York on board the Acela Business Class for $92 one way.

This sale is perfect if you’re planning a train trip to see the fall foliage. The Coast Starlight between San Francisco to Seattle is one of the best train routes to see the autumn leaves in all their glory.

Amtrak’s Fall Travel Flash Sale is indicated by a green dollar sign on the online fare finder system.

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This WWII German Bunker Is Now a Contemporary Four-Star Hotel With a Rooftop Garden

We hope you love the hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

 

World War II bunkers were never meant to be architectural masterpieces. But they were designed to be sturdy, and many still stand today. There were 1,051 bunkers in Hamburg, Germany, in 1945. The city was nearly reduced to rubble due by Allied bombs, and today, 650 of them remain. Only one has been transformed into a four-star hotel: The St. Pauli Bunker.

The St. Pauli Bunker / Green Bunker from street level (left). The room key for the the REVERB by Hard Rock (right). Photos: Morgane Croissant

After five years of renovations, the St. Pauli Bunker, also known as the Hamburg Bunker and recently the Green Bunker, opened on July 5, 2024 as . The contemporary establishment now has 134 rooms, four food and drink options, and a rooftop garden.

The bunker before REVERB by Hard Rock

The St. Pauli Bunker was built by 1,000 forced laborers under the Nazi regime in 300 days between August 1942 and April 1943. Meant to defend the city against Allied bombings and serve as an air raid shelter for the people of Hamburg (sometimes taking in up to 25,000 people at a time), the St. Pauli Bunker is technically more of a flak tower than a bunker. While bunkers are underground constructions, flak towers are a type of above-ground blockhouse equipped with anti-aircraft guns. The St. Pauli Bunker had anti-missile guns at the top of the structure on all four protruding corners, the set-up of which is still visible today. Guests of the hotel can learn about the bunker’s past thanks to an exhibition located by the hotel reception. A memorial for the forced laborers, as well as the victims of the Nazi regime and the Second World War is also in the works.

Photo: Guido Neumann

The structure, which is a protected monument, was used in varied ways between the end of WWII and the immense renovations done to turn it into the REVERB by Hard Rock. After the war, the St. Pauli Bunker provided accommodations to local residents whose homes were destroyed by Allied bombings, and in 1950, the first television images in Germany were broadcast from the bunker. Today, the St. Pauli Bunker is still home to a night club and a pop music school, among others, along with the hotel.

The rooms in REVERB by Hard Rock

It’s not an easy feat to make a massive concrete war structure look cozy and welcoming, especially considering the building specs. The bunker is 246 feet wide, the walls are 11 feet thick, and the building is 190 feet tall (it was 114 foot tall before the renovations). Yet, the architects and designers of the REVERB by Hard Rock managed to create something that feels (almost) nothing like a bunker once inside.

Photo: Morgane CroissantPhoto: Morgane CroissantPhoto: Morgane CroissantPhoto: Morgane Croissant

While you can’t get away from the bunker feel in the maze-like corridors of the hotel, the rooms don’t give out a claustrophobic, Second World War vibe. While there is a touch of raw industrial design throughout the place, the rooms are contemporary but not edgy. They are decorated with a mix of bright and neutral colors and modern furnishings, and focus on the theme of the REVERB by Hard Rock brand: music.

A hotel for music lovers

Will Call, AKA, reception, at the REVERB by Hard Rock. Photo: RIMC

The music theme can be felt throughout. The wallpaper in the restroom depicts a large shelf filled with CDs, the walls display concert posters, and the light fixtures and tables recall the shape of vinyl records. The plush beddings and the lovely window seat add some softness and comfort to create some balance within an unusual space. The window, which fully opens onto a small balcony with fantastic views of the city, is almost entirely surrounded by plants.

The hotel is called the “Will Call,” and there’s a music studio for musicians to use. Four guests rooms are dedicated to touring musicians who need a place to stay. There are regular live music sessions at the Karo & Paul restaurant located by reception. The hotel is also home to the Georg-Elser-Hall, which, when complete, will host concerts and cultural events with a capacity for more than 2,000 people. That said, being a music fan isn’t a requirement to stay here. The fact that the hotel is located within a bunker is attraction enough.

More than a bunker and more than a hotel

Photo: Guido Neumann

The REVERB by Hard Rock occupies the five pyramid-shaped floors added to the top of the existing structure during the renovations. During renovations, a staircase was added that starts from the ground floor and goes around the exterior of the bunker to the top. The Mountain Path, as it’s nicknamed, is opened to the public daily from 9 AM to 9 PM for free. Anyone walking in the neighborhood can go through the turnstiles at the bottom of the bunker and climb the stairs that lead to the roof garden and its thousands of plants (hence the new nickname of Green Bunker).

The climb takes about 10-15 minutes and provides amazing views of the city, including of the TV tower, the city’s many church spires, and the impressive Elbphilharmonie. Members of the public can stop at any of the dining options along the way, namely the Constant Grind Café or the fancy Karo & Paul restaurant by reception; the lovely La Sala restaurant on the fifth floor; or Green Beanie, the food and drinks container on the sixth floor.

How to get to the Reverb by Hard Rock in Hamburg, Germany

Located in the trendy St. Pauli neighborhood, the REVERB by Hard Rock is easily reached from Hamburg’s central station (Hamburg Hauptbahnhof or Hamburg Hbf). The metro line U-ban (U-3/yellow line) takes you between the two in just 10 minutes.

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I Had No Idea Vermont Was This Diverse. Here’s Where to Play, Eat, Stay, and Shop for a Multicultural Visit.

It’s a fact: There are more reasons to love Vermont than there are Ben & Jerry’s flavors. And one of them, which may surprise some travelers, is its diversity. Yes, the state’s population is roughly 90 percent white, but travel here and you’ll find a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) cultural scene that’s as rich as the beloved ice cream that famously got its start in Burlington. From its Indigenous roots to its Black history, here’s how you can venture into Vermont’s postcard-perfect scenery to have an enriching and multicultural experience in the Green Mountain State.

Delve into Vermont’s progressive history

Photo: Vermont Tourism

Vermont has a storied past that’s steeped in humanitarian ideals. Not only did the state play a crucial role in the Underground Railroad and the Abolitionist movement, but it was also the first colony to ban adult slavery, in 1777. The momentous decision occurred at the Old Constitution House in Windsor.

The African American Heritage Trail commemorates Vermont’s Black history and spirit of inclusivity. Sites along the trail, such as the Vermont Folklife Center in Middlebury, preserve the multifaceted narrative of Black culture in the state through exhibits like the Daisy Turner archives, which tells the story of a woman born to enslaved parents. In Brandon, known as the “Art and Soul of Vermont” and home to a thriving arts scene anchored in venues like the Barn Opera, a historic district served as a hub for the local anti-slavery movement in the 1800s.

Equally profound is Vermont’s Indigenous heritage, with the Abenaki and Mahican tribes calling the region home for more than 10,000 years. Dig into this history by exploring Indigenous art and artifacts at the Shelburne Museum, which will soon unveil a new Center for Native American Art. You can also visit the SUSU CommUNITY Farm in Windham County, a seasonal Afro-Indigenous farm offering workshops and programs geared toward BIPOC Vermonters and visitors. Opportunities to get involved range from volunteer planting sessions in the garden, to full and new moon yoga classes, to events centered on powerful themes like grief and fostering connection.

Get historical in the great outdoors

Photo: Vermont Tourism

Between stops to explore the fascinating heritage of Vermont’s towns, make time to appreciate the state’s abundant hiking trails. Stretching across the state is a network of ancient trails winding from the Lake Champlain Valley to the Connecticut River Valley. These pathways were first forged by herds of animals, later tread upon by Indigenous groups as they hunted and traded with neighboring tribes, and expanded by European settlers. Get the lay of the land at the oldest of Vermont’s 55 state parks, Mt. Philo in Charlotte, where a three-quarter-mile hike to the summit reveals unbeatable views of the Lake Champlain Valley all the way to the Adirondacks. You can also drive to the top via a summit access road, meaning everyone (not just hikers) can appreciate the panoramas.

In Manchester, wander the grounds of Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, which was once home to Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of President Lincoln. One fun feature of the property is the mock railroad station where a 1903 Pullman sleeper car called Sunbeam is on permanent display. The excellently restored coach dates back to the days when Robert Lincoln served as a president in his own right — that of the Pullman Company, where many Black men found work as porters after abolition. The historic estate is also a year-round destination for hiking and cross-country skiing.

Near the southeastern town of Grafton you’ll find the Turner Hill Wildlife Management Area, a 1,052-acre park once owned by Alexander Turner, a formerly enslaved man who settled in Grafton in 1872. Recognized for its historical significance at the local, state, and national levels, this land is now entrusted to the Windham Foundation. Although there are no established trails, the area remains a popular hiking spot.

Embrace BIPOC events and entertainment

Photo: Vermont Tourism

During summer, live music fills the air across Vermont. One event to seek out is the weeklong Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, which draws a large crowd and many performers of color. But the music scene in Vermont isn’t limited to festivals and concerts. In Burlington’s South End district, the lively South End Get Down draws foodies and music lovers with a delectable combination of food trucks and live music performances. Pair this with the South End Art Hop in September, celebrating the local talents of Burlington’s creative community.

Burlington also comes alive in February with The Black Experience, a dynamic celebration of Black culture, community, and education. This event showcases the modern Black experience in Vermont through captivating performances, engaging presentations, and insightful fireside conversations.

In White River Junction, Northern Stage theater has a curated selection of indie-folk musicals, plays, and educational programs. With a commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity, the theater aims to create impactful art that resonates with all audiences. Moving north to Waterbury, Zenbarn is a unique multicultural music venue located in an old dairy barn. Farm-to-table food packages, craft beer, and cocktails are served alongside an eclectic mix of music.

Let diversity guide your dining

Photo: Vermont Tourism

Vermont is famous for its maple syrup, cheese, and creemees, but the state’s food scene offers so much more variety through its BIPOC-owned restaurants. In Burlington, the comforting, aromatic dishes at Sherpa Kitchen provide a taste of Nepal, while the sophisticated plates at Black-owned Sotto Enoteca blend classic and Italian fare. Dining at these establishments is about more than savoring exceptional meals — it’s a chance to experience the cultures, traditions, and passions of the people behind them.

Also in Burlington, sample delicious crab and cream cheese dumplings at Hong’s Chinese Dumplings or authentic Vietnamese street food at Pho Son. Traditional-style Thai dishes dominate the menu at Saap in Randolph, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Nisachon Morgan. Sip maple lattes at Espresso Bueno in Barre or natural wines at Wilder Wines back in Burlington. If you’re in Winooski, head to Morning Light Bakery for Hong Kong-style pastries and tea, or enjoy another taste of Vietnamese cuisine at family-owned Sarom’s Cafe.

Lay your head in the heart of historic towns

Photo: Main + Mountain

Staying at the Latchis Hotel in Brattleboro feels like visiting a bygone era. Built in 1938, the hotel’s 30 guest rooms exude old-world charm with their original sinks and tiles, all while providing fabulous views of Main Street and the distant mountains. Beyond its striking Art Deco facade and interiors, the hotel pays tribute to the community’s vibrant arts scene by hosting a variety of screenings, live shows, and exclusive events at its cinema.

Twin Farms in Barnard takes a luxurious all-inclusive approach, pampering guests with personalized service, delectable dining, and tailored activities spread across a 300-acre estate. The property’s latest addition — eight whimsical treehouses — conjures childhood nostalgia. Created by renowned interior design firm Michaelis Boyd, the treehouses draw inspiration from the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfections.

In downtown Manchester, Barnstead Inn is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a unique blend of farmhouse charm and upscale luxury. With 23 spacious rooms and suites, it’s the perfect retreat for those seeking an intimate setting that’s still close to the action. For a mountain getaway with a modern twist, look no further than Main + Mountain. This chic boutique motel has 13 stylish rooms and a lively bar with indoor and outdoor seating. Guests here have easy access to local attractions like Okemo Mountain Resort and downtown Ludlow.

Shop where it matters

Photo: Tina Picz Photography/Firefolk Arts

BIPOC-owned businesses are an essential part of Vermont’s commercial landscape. Shop for one-of-a-kind handcrafted artworks — including pottery, textiles, jewelry, and woodcrafts — at Firefolk Arts in Waitsfield. Burlington’s Always Full Asian Market is the place to go for an assortment of Asian products and prepared foods, while Zinnia sells an eclectic selection of jewelry, including locally crafted and international pieces.

If you have a penchant for literature and a love of cozy and contemplative spaces, head to Antidote Books in Putney. This independent bookstore features a wide range of genres, focusing on poetry, fine literature, and social issues. Antidote also hosts frequent readings, book clubs, and community events, making it more than just a place to buy books — it’s a hub for engagement and cultural exchange.

Engagement and exchange are exactly what you’ll uncover throughout Vermont when you get to know its multicultural side. Start planning your visit now, and be amazed by how much you’ll learn when you arrive.

This Hotel in Iceland Has a Genius Way to Ensure You See the Northern Lights

Iceland is known as one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, as it sits just south of the Arctic Circle and is known for clear winter skies. But with numerous outdoor activities ranging from coastal hiking to horseback riding and trekking through ice caves, it’s a bit hard to stay awake every night to watch the skies.

But one hotel has a clever solution for that, effectively offering the northern lights on demand: Hotel Rangá. It’s a welcoming, warm, and gorgeous hotel in southern Iceland, sitting roughly equidistant between Reykjavik and the town of Vik (known as the starting point for volcanic adventures near Mount Katla). Here’s what to expect if you book a stay — including how to take advantage of the hotel’s genius northern lights wake up call.

Rooms at Hotel Rangá

Photo: Hotel Ranga/Paige Deas

Hotel Rangá has just over 50 rooms, ranging from Standard rooms to Master Suites. Of note are the Junior Suites, which have some of the most impressive theming of any hotel I’ve seen, with one suite themed after each continent. Hotel Rangá’s owner worked with buyers and travelers from around the world to source materials and furnishings for each room from that specific continent. The South America Suite has lamps sourced from Uruguay and a ceiling designed to look like Andean peaks; the Australian Suite has a bathroom designed to look like a beach hut and inlays of stained-glass kangaroos. You may have seen the Africa Suite on Instagram before, as Kim Kardashian stayed there while filming an episode of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” in 2016.

I stayed in a Deluxe Room (one of the simpler rooms), which was as pretty as could be. Every room in the hotel has a custom painting on the wall above the bed, done by local artists to depict cultural and beloved aspects of the country. My room also had a big bathtub and small sitting area with a couch.

A Deluxe room. Photo: Suzie Dundas

But the very best part of the room was the door opening to a patio area and stunning views of Iceland’s mountains. Also right outside the patios were three wooden, oversized hot tubs, meaning I could go from my warm, cozy room to an outdoor hot tub overlooking some of the most stunning landscapes in the world in about three seconds.

I found nothing at all bad to say about the rooms — other than the fact that the blackout curtains did a great job. So getting up early in the morning was a little tough, especially when it was still dark outside. But that’s more of a credit to how cozy the beds were than it is a ding on the rooms.

Dining at Hotel Rangá

Photo: Suzie Dundas

Hotel Rangá is pretty remote, so you’ll probably do most of your meals at the hotel. It has one big dining room with glass walls, plus a bar with drink service on the main or top floor lounge. Breakfast is included in all stays and includes a large buffet or a la carte ordering. For the rest of the meals, you can order a la carte, or opt for a half-board package during booking, which includes breakfast and dinner. Since most people are away from the hotel during the day, you probably won’t eat lunch there, but you can get boxed lunches to go.

Beyond the fact that the Rangá Restaurant is downright delicious — the current owner has put a huge focus on culinary offerings and technique — it’s also unique. The main menu focuses on traditional and modern versions of Icelandic cuisine, but it also has a “Wild Game Menu” that’s about as classically Icelandic as it gets. Adventurous eaters can try dishes that aren’t considered adventurous at all to old-school Icelanders, including puffin cooked in lava beer and reindeer steaks. Everything on the menu is locally sourced when possible.

Photo: Suzie Dundas

But the most fun part about Hotel Rangá (other than being one of the best northern lights hotels in Iceland) is the hotel’s fascinating Viking cave dinner. The small group dinner includes a Viking-themed dining experience inside the nearby Caves of Hella, an underground cave complex about which very little is known. Dinners include a tour of the caves, traditional Icelandic accordion music (played by the hotel’s own very talented guest relations manager), beer and wine, and a multi-course meal served inside the cave. Expect to drink out of wooden goblets and taste traditional dished like skyr while sitting at a beautiful candle-lit table. And don’t worry if you get cold — Hotel Rangá loans out traditional wool sweaters. so guests stay toasty in the cave.

Why Rangá is the best northern lights hotel in Iceland

Photo: Hotel Ranga/Laurent Lacroix

If you’re in southern Iceland, you’re probably there because of the region’s beauty. From the dramatic, stark landscapes near the Sólheimajökull Glacier to the many enormous waterfalls along the coastline, there’s no shortage of sights to photograph. But at night, it’s just as pretty when you look up.

Hotel Rangá sits far from most other businesses, giving it extremely dark skies. But an average person can’t stay awake all night, every night, which is where the hotel’s beloved “Northern Lights Wake-Up Call” comes in.

The process is as simple: Just push a button on your room phone, and you’ll get an automated phone in the middle of the night when the northern lights are active. The hotel has insulated snow suits for guests to stay warm, as well as hot chocolate in the lobby you can take with you while watching the colorful show. There’s no guarantee that you’ll see the lights while you’re there, but the wake-up call means you can catch up on sleep while someone else keeps an eye on the skies. It even has tripods you can borrow if you want to try out your photography skills. Despite being there during a cloudy week with a less-than-promising aurora forecast, I was lucky enough to see them on four out of the five nights I stayed.

Hotel Rangá has a foolproof method to make sure it retains its reputation as one of the best northern lights hotels in Iceland. One evening, I asked the front desk attendant how they know when to activate the wake-up call, and he gave me a simple answer. “It’s very high-tech,” he said. “I go outside once in a while and look up.”

 

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Hotel Rangá is also home to the only public observatory in Iceland, so you don’t need to be a guest to use it. But one reason it’s so beloved as one of the best northern lights hotels in Iceland is that guests have access to it every evening. The observatory has super high-end telescopes, and a local astronomer is on site during clear nights between September and April to assist in staring at the stars. Because it’s an open-air observatory, it’s only open on clear nights. Hotel staff usually decide by around 5 PM if it’ll be a good night for stargazing.

(If you’re not a guest, you’ll need to call in advance to let them know you’re coming).

Room costs at Hotel Rangá

Photo: Hotel Ranga/Asa Steinarsdottir

Iceland is generally an expensive country to visit, and if you’re hoping to stay at a northern lights hotel in Iceland, you’re going to pay more for the privilege of being removed from a city. Rates at Hotel Rangá are roughly in line with other comparable hotels, though there aren’t that many in the area. Standard rooms start at 394 euros a night, or around $425. The themed Junior Suites at 906 euros, or about $977. Breakfast is included, but additional meals, activities, or any other add-ons are extra.

If you really want to go wild and embrace the idea of a northern lights hotel in Iceland, there’s a new “Ultimate Star Bath” package available starting in October 2024. The the four-night package is all about stargazing, with included amenities like a private riverside stargazing session, a personalized star map, and a bottle of champagne to stay cozy while stargazing outdoors, among other inclusions. But it’s a bit pricier than a standard room, starting at 2,351 euros, or about $2,537, per room.

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