Matador Network's Blog, page 190

The Hottest Cannabis-Friendly Airbnbs in Phoenix

Phoenix, the Valley of the Sun, delights with its year-round sunshine, cultural scene, and access to Sonoran Desert beauty spots. Since Arizona legalized recreational marijuana use in 2020, travelers can now look forward to rounding off a day on the trails near Phoenix with a blunt or a CBD-infused edible. Any recreational consumption is restricted to private property and a handful of licensed cannabis clubs. Despite the laws, you always need to check that the accommodation permits smoking before digging in with your dispensary haul. These are the best cannabis-friendly Airbnbs in Phoenix, Arizona.

We hope you love these cannabis-friendly Airbnbs in Phoenix! 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.

Bohemian 420-friendly wellness retreatPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

 

See more photosWash away your worries at this luxury Airbnb in Phoenix has a heated pool and a dedicated room for yoga and meditation. This is stocked with crystals, singing bowls, and smoking accessories. Not only is recreational cannabis permitted but it’s actively encouraged. Vaping is allowed indoors although flower must be smoked outside. The entire home is styled for relaxation. Mother Earth inspires the color scheme and most furnishings are organic.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $455 per night

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Spacious Arizona getaway with private pool and gamesPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

 

See more photosWash off the heat of the desert at this Play Airbnb in the Phoenix suburbs. It’s prepared with utmost attention to detail including a substantial kitchen with four types of coffee maker and a starter cabinet of spices. An in-ground pool claims most of the fenced backyard where an orange tree provides additional shade. The host allows tobacco to be smoked in the yard only. Cannabis may only be consumed through vaping, edibles, and gummies – flower is not permitted.

Ten guests, four bedrooms
Price: $200 per night

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Rustic cabin on an Arizona cannabis farmPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

 

See more photosThis is one of the best 420-friendly Airbnbs near Phoenix for budding growers. The tiny house is located on a cannabis ranch where hands-on classes are available. Embrace the simple life: the amenities are comfortable yet rudimentary with limited Wi-Fi, basic cookware, and a bathhouse shared with one other cabin. Smoking ganja is fine in all outdoor spaces but not indoors. Spend romantic evenings stargazing with the telescope.

Two guests, one bedroom (studio)
Price: $99 per night

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Historic carriage house Airbnb in PhoenixPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

 

See more photosFeel your way through the verdant garden to access this one-a-kind vacation pad for couples a few blocks from downtown Phoenix. The guest suite has a full kitchen and a loft bedroom. An aesthetic of soothing neutral hues is enhanced by potted plants while 95 glass panes flood both levels with sunlight. The host permits all kinds of smoking in the shared yard and patio spaces: indoors is strictly off-limits.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $143 per night

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Private garden oasis for smokers in CoronadoPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

 

See more photosThis dreamy bungalow shares the yard with the previous listing. As such, you can enjoy a bud in the designated outdoor smoking areas. The tiny home is kitted out with bamboo sheets, Arizona artwork, and a chic tiled bathroom plus a mini kitchenette for basics. Step outside and you’ll enjoy the sound of silence while watching the colorful birds and hanging out with the resident cats and dogs.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $114 per night

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Cannabis-friendly Airbnb in downtown PhoenixPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

 

See more photosLocated in the super-central yet peaceful Coronado neighborhood, this guest suite is poised for sightseeing and nightlife. The unit is attached to the main house and has a private entrance and shares the backyard and swimming pool with the host couple and one other cottage. Luxury touches include the vintage clawfoot tub. Smoking of any kind is outside only and with consideration to the other tenant.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $135 per night

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Pet and pot-friendly home in UptownPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: AirbnbPhoto: Airbnb

 

See more photosCentrally located and immaculately appointed, this is one of the best cannabis-friendly Airbnbs in Phoenix for short or long-term stays. The entire property has undergone a recent renovation. All three bedrooms have a double bed and the open-concept living quarters make it ideal for friends or a trio of couples. Any marijuana consumption is to occur only in the enclosed yard with care taken not to leave butts on the ground.

Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $289 per night

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Ikon Pass World Tour: Here’s Where Skiers Head for the Best Views, Liveliest Après, and Deepest Powder

Destination: Good Times

Winter resorts are not all the same. Whether we’re talking culture, food and drink scene, or unique natural attractions, every mountain puts its own stamp on the “great ski vacation.” But whatever tops your priorities list when hunting for the ideal ski destination, Ikon Pass, the ultimate multi-mountain pass, gives you access to 50+ world-class destinations all over the globe — resorts with the best scenery, après, and snow anywhere.

Here are our top spots for taking the perfect on-piste selfie, unwinding (or winding it up!) at an après-ski party, and discovering the purest powder. Get ready to find your good times with the Ikon Pass.

Destination: Best Views

Photo: Matador Network

There’s something particularly eye-catching in these destinations, where mirror-like lakes and sparkling glaciers elevate the already alluring mountainscapes. Whether you’re looking for that GoPro action shot or your new Instagram bio pic, it’s impossible to find a bad angle of these picture-perfect peaks when you’re on the slopes.

Palisades Tahoe, California

Winter mountain scenes are mesmerizing, but when those fluffy white peaks and emerald forests are reflected in the sheer blue surface of Lake Tahoe, everything is kicked up a notch. For the money shot, take the Lakeview Chair at Palisades Tahoe and have your selfie stick at the ready. Face west to capture the lakeshore behind you or east for far-reaching views across the Sierra Crest.

Dolomiti Superski, Italy

Eighteen breathtaking peaks make up the Dolomites mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Italian Alps. See them all with the Ikon Pass, your key to a kingdom of 12 resorts in the region. Head to Martino di Castrozza to capture the majestic Pale di San Martino, or live la dolce vita in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where scenes of For Your Eyes Only were famously filmed. And don’t miss an audience with the “Queen of the Dolomites,” Marmolada, with her glacier ice crown in Arabba.

SkiBig3, Banff, Canada

The big-name mountain resorts of SkiBig3 in the Canadian Rockies offer three big photo opportunities, too. Get an aerial view of the snow-fringed Lake Louise in all its turquoise glory from the viewing platform, take some fun selfies using the Selfie Cam at Banff Sunshine, or recreate Marilyn Monroe’s iconic 1953 pose on the North American Chair lift at Mt. Norquay, the best lookout in Banff National Park.

Zermatt Matterhorn, Switzerland

The mighty Matterhorn is the planet’s most photographed mountain — and you’ll soon see why. This witch’s-hat-shaped peak soars to 14,691 feet above sea level on the Alpine border between Switzerland and Italy. Position yourself in front of Schwarzsee Lake to capture a shot of the Matterhorn reflecting back at itself, or snag a selfie from the top of Rothorn, at 10,180 feet, part of the storied Zermatt Matterhorn resort.

Destination: Liveliest Après

Photo: The Wobbly Barn

A great ski trip is as much about what’s happening off the slopes as on them. From bougie champagne bars to DJ sets in ’70s saloons, these Ikon Pass resorts are renowned for their après-ski options.

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

Party among the A-listers at one of the opulent mountain bars at Aspen Snowmass, where champagne showers are forecast daily. Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro may look like a quaint cozy cabin overlooking the Maroon Bells, but it’s considered one of the continent’s liveliest après spots. There’s also the sun-soaked patio at Ajax Tavern, where plain old French fries just won’t do. Order a portion of their drool-worthy truffle fries with your drink while you soak up some of Aspen’s finest views.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming

Unstrap and unwind in the heart of Teton Village at Jackson Hole’s quintessential après establishment: the Mangy Moose, established in 1967. With its heaping portions, famed spicy margaritas, and legendary live music, it’s no wonder Forbes Traveler named this two-story saloon one of the 10 Hottest Après-Ski Bars in the World. RPK3 is another happy-hour favorite, with specials like the cheese fondue and the “Happy Meal”: a 16-ounce Pabst Blue Ribbon and shot of Ten High whiskey.

Killington Resort, Vermont

Come for the steakhouse with its renowned soup, salad, and bread bar, stay for the ski boot dance party that rocks into the night. Constructed with salvaged wood from 10 New England barns, The Wobbly Barn has been a Killington après beacon for more than 50 years. The Lookout, with its award-winning jumbo wings, is another Vermont staple. Fun fact: Before emerging as an après icon, it served as Killington’s first ski lodge when it opened in 1958.

RED Mountain, British Columbia, Canada

According to Powder Magazine, Rafters at RED Mountain is one of the best après-ski destinations in the world, and it was voted top après-ski bar in Canada by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice. Their nachos are infamous and the Canadian craft beers on tap only sweeten the deal — join in the bar-wide sing-a-longs while you’re sipping a pint. Rafters also offers weekend Shred Specials, as well as the popular “No Shower Happy Hour” for skiers and snowboarders who want to relax after a long day on the slopes.

Destination: Deepest Powder

Photo: Ikon Pass

Nothing beats those bluebird days when your skis or board carve fresh, fluffy first tracks. The resorts below are blessed with some of the finest powder year in and year out. In fact, one went as far as trademarking their white stuff.

Mammoth Mountain, California

This Golden State gem is California’s highest resort and hosts one of the country’s longest seasons, often lasting into July and August. Hike to the Hemlocks on the backside of Mammoth Mountain for in-bounds powder pillows when it snows. And don’t miss the steep-and-deep laps you’ll get on the Chair 22, Wipe Out, and Drop Out chutes.

Steamboat, Colorado

The snow at northern Colorado’s Steamboat is so uniquely fluffy, they trademarked it in the 1950s after a local rancher said it “tickled his nose like champagne.” The secret behind Champagne Powder®? It contains just 6% water compared to the average 15% in most other destinations. The entire 2,965 acres at Steamboat is covered in the flocculent stuff — among its snowiest runs are Ted’s Ridge, Buddy’s Run, and the hike-to terrain at the top of Mount Werner.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Canada

Positioned on the legendary Powder Highway in BC’s Kootenay Rockies, Revelstoke isn’t for the faint-hearted. Home to North America’s longest vertical drop, incredible cat and backcountry skiing, and an annual 540 inches of snowfall, Revelstoke is brimming with fantasy-level powder. If the conditions look promising, sign up for Revelstoke’s First Tracks program to hit the slopes before the masses. You’ll want to strap on your fat skis for this one.

Arai Snow Resort, Japan

With an average 69 feet of annual snowfall, Arai Snow Resort on Honshu island holds the title of “Japan’s Best Ski Resort for Powder” from the Ski Asia Awards. In fact, nearly 80% of Arai’s terrain is made up of off-piste powder pillows like the fabled Funaishi area. If you’re at Arai after a fresh dumping during peak season, head to the Zendana Bowl for some of the best drops. Boarders will also want to check out Mamushi, home to some of the country’s top ridge, cliff, and treed terrain.

Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah

Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon gets some of the planet’s coldest, driest, and deepest powder — and the best of the best can be found at Solitude Mountain Resort, which receives 42 feet of snowfall annually and offers thrilling rides on uncrowded terrain. Take the short, steep hike to Fantasy Ridge (10,400 feet) to fly down Black Bess or the equally steep Honeycomb, the resort’s longest run at 3.5 miles.

Destination: Good Times

From your backyard to your bucket list, get ready for good times ahead. The 24/25 Ikon Pass is now on sale. Drop into ikonpass.com and lock in your pass at the lowest price and best savings. Then start dreaming about that perfect selfie, bumping après, and powder faceshots. Where will you go first?

Spanning 2.5 Million Acres, Oregon Outback Certified as World’s Largest Dark Sky Sanctuary

On March 11, an area of southeastern Oregon was certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International. Commonly known as the Oregon Outback, the region of Lake County (which is roughly one-half the size of New Jersey) is now officially the world’s largest Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Photo: Travel Oregon/Joey Hamilton

It took several years of collaborative efforts by the Oregon Outback Dark Sky Network (OODSN) to achieve this certification. For a place to qualify, it takes a huge amount of hard work and planning. Strict criteria must be met to reach minimal levels of light pollution for remarkable sky quality and an optimum nocturnal environment. Through responsible lighting practices and extensive work with the community and the visiting public, the Oregon Outback’s night skies offer some of the best stargazing, astrophotography, and other nighttime activities in the US.

What is a Dark Sky Sanctuary?

A Dark Sky Sanctuary, Park, and Reserve are awarded by DarkSky International to places with exceptional night skies. The key difference lies in their accessibility, development, and level of light pollution.

Dark Sky Sanctuary: These places are the most remote with the darkest skies. They are often fragile ecosystems with minimal human development.

Dark Sky Reserve: Reserves have a specific area with exceptionally dark skies, surrounded by a periphery zone with strict lighting regulations. They often have established parks, communities, or observatories within them, and public access to stargazing is encouraged.

Dark Sky Park: Are publicly or privately owned conservation areas with very good nighttime darkness. Dark Sky Parks typically have amenities for visitors like camp grounds and astronomy programs.

What is special about the Oregon Outback?

Photo: Travel Southern Oregon/Jak Wonderly

“As the population of Oregon and the trend of light pollution continue to rise, the unparalleled scale and quality of the Outback’s dark skies will long serve as a starry refuge to people and wildlife alike,” says DarkSky delegate Dawn Nilson, the environmental consultant who managed and authored the application.

For over four years OODSN has been laboring over the application, but the work has not finished. The organization hopes to extend the current 2.5 million acres to create an 11.4-million-acre sanctuary spanning three counties. Ambitious as this might sound, protecting the largest, contiguous, pristine dark sky zone in the US is vital for a healthy environment.

Photo: Travel Southern Oregon/Jak Wonderly

This part of Oregon is sparsely populated. It’s primarily comprised of public lands (90 percent) and is as remote as you can get. The varied topography of mountain chains and flat, arid valleys and basins are home to wildlife such as the American pronghorn (photographed above), bighorn sheep, and migratory birds navigating the Pacific Flyway, among other unique species.

How to go stargazing in the Oregon Outback?

Photo: Travel Oregon/BucktheSystem

Experiencing a night sky as dark as this region is an incredible experience. According to the OODSN, sky observers call the conditions “inky or velvety black.” For both amateur and professional astronomers, the quality of the environment is exceptional. The best time to visit is the 10-day window bookending the New Moon. If conditions are favorable, you don’t need much for a simple astronomy exploration. You can see many stars with your naked eyes. However, it can be a lot more comfortable and rewarding with a little planning and some key items of stargazing equipment such as red light torches, binoculars, and star gazing apps. As Oregon’s Outback is so remote, you’ll need a physical map. Cell service here can be unreliable, so you shouldn’t rely on digital navigation. Visit Lake County Chamber of Commerce for accurate and up-to-date maps.

Want to learn more about stargazing? Matador’s guides to stargazing in the United States: Mapped: 60-Plus Dark Sky Parks Across the US for Ultimate Stargazing Every Stargazing Event to Add to Your Calendar Through 2024
How and Where to Watch the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse The Coolest Star Observatories You Can Visit in the United States The Best Places to See the Northern Lights in the Continental United States

You can also join fellow astronomy enthusiasts for a stargazing party. These events run throughout the year. Check the calendar for annual dates. Or you can join an expert on a moonlit tour and camp overnight. Camping in Lake County allows for more freedom and solitude for stargazing but also comes with a responsibility to adhere to Leave No Trace principles and light pollution regulations.

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Stop Throwing ‘good Luck Coins’ Everywhere You Travel

There’s no such thing as good luck. There’s nobody sitting up in the sky, looking down at you and changing the course of history so that you can win two dollars on a scratch and win ticket. You can cross your fingers or hang horseshoes in your home all you want, the forces of the universe, whatever those may be, won’t conspire to bring you good fortune. And while you uncross your digits and remove the equestrian decor from your walls, remember to stop throwing ‘good luck coins’, too.

‘Good luck coins’ are not just obviously ineffective when it comes to bringing any sorts of blessing, they have become a plague that’s akin to litter in just about every tourist attraction in the world.

Case in point, less than four weeks ago, while x-raying their American alligators as part of the routine care provided to the animals, veterinarians at the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium found a total of 70 US coins in the stomach of Thibodaux, a 36-year-old specimen. The large reptile had to get anesthetized and undergo surgery to get the foreign objects removed. All of that just because visitors to the Nebraska zoo could not help but throw coins in the body of water located in the animal’s enclosure. Why would a pond of murky water meant for American alligators be a source of good fortune to anyone? Your guess is as good as mine.

Throwing coins can come from a good intention, such as making a donation to an attraction, but most often they’re tossed for dubious and selfish purposes, not as thoughtful offerings.

The only place where it is acceptable to throw ‘good luck coins’ is Rome’s Trevi Fountain. Legend has it that if you turn your back to the Trevi fountain and throw a coin above your shoulder into its basin, you will come back to Rome. If you throw two coins, you’ll come back and fall in love. If you throw three coins, you’ll come back, fall in love, and get married. Millions of people throw their change in the fountain every year, and no matter what happens to them afterwards, the cash is picked up and given to Caritas, a Catholic charitable organization that works to end poverty. In 2022, $1.52 million was collected from the fountain, Reuters reports.

And if there is one place where you should never even consider throwing a ‘good luck coin’ in, it’s the engine of an airplane. Earlier this month, CNN reported that a passenger threw some coins in the engine of China Southern Airlines aircraft to guarantee a safe flight. The practice, which is extremely dangerous and can damage aircraft engines, is more likely to bring the opposite effect, i.e. a very hazardous situation. In this case, crisis was averted thanks to the keen eye of a flight attendant and the coins were retrieved from the engine, the passenger was taken away by the police, and the flight was delayed by a couple of hours. It’s not the first time travelers have thrown coins in plane engines in the hopes of bringing good luck. In 2019, a passengers boarding a Lucky Air flight (a Chinese low-cost airline) tossed some coins in the engine of the plane and caused $20,000 of damage and a 24-hour delay on the flight. Good luck did not prevail, unsurprisingly.

2024 Is Already Shaping Up to Be the Year of Cruise Ship Norovirus Cases

Another month, another norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship. On March 12, reports started to surface that 98 passengers and 12 crew members tested positive for the virus on a Holland America Line cruise that left San Diego on February 17, with planned stops in Hawai’i and French Polynesia. It marks the third instance in the first three months of 2024 to be listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracker.

The cruise industry’s norovirus year started early. The Celebrity Cruises Constellation ship left from Tampa, Florida, on January 3 with planned stops in New Orleans, Belize, and Mexico. Shortly after, 92 of 2,056 guests and eight crew members were reported ill with vomiting and diarrhea during a norovirus outbreak, according to USA Today. Then, in February, more than 150 people were confirmed with norovirus on Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria that departed from England with stops in Florida and San Francisco.

That’s not counting the Norwegian Dawn incident in late February, which was originally reported as cholera but was changed to a “stomach-related illness.” Or, in the words of a Matador editor on the ship, “plenty of cases of stomach-related illnesses. Of the frequent stomach-related illnesses on cruise ships, norovirus is the most common.”

2024 is surely starting strong after what was a breakout year for norovirus in 2023. The CDC, which is the only agency tracking norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships and only follows up on outbreaks on ships that dock in United States ports, recorded the highest disease outbreak incidence rate in 10 years in 2023. That year saw 14 outbreaks that met the public notification threshold, and 13 of those were from norovirus (the other was due to Salmonella and E. Coli).

Norovirus is neither novel nor exceptional. Tens of millions of people get it every year, and the CDC lists it as the “leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States.” It spreads easily, is hard to build immunity against because there are different types of noroviruses, and it’s unknown how long protection lasts even if someone does get antibodies for one particular strain.

It’s easy to pass — especially with raw foods, though norovirus can withstand heat up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit — and hand sanitizer is not super effective. Norovirus can quickly travel from one cook’s unwashed hands to dozens of plates in front of diners.

Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain are the most common norovirus symptoms, followed by fever, headache, and body aches. It’s often accompanied by stomach or intestine inflammation, or acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms start 12-to-48 hours after exposure, and last for up to three days (though people can stay contagious for longer).

In the grand scheme of things, norovirus is not solely a cruise ship problem. Industry officials are all too eager to point out to the press that an estimated 1 percent of norovirus cases tracked by the CDC are on or from cruise ships. Schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and restaurants make up the vast majority of root sources. But it’s important to put those numbers in perspective.

The total number of cruise passengers in 2023 isn’t available as of writing, but the industry source Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) forecasted 31.5 million people around the world went on a cruise last year. Numbers from Statista point to just under 12 million American passengers in 2022, the latest year that numbers are available. That amounts to about 3 percent of the US population. So yes, comparatively few norovirus cases are tied to cruises, but that 1 percent of norovirus cases stemming from cruise ships has new meaning when considering the comparatively miniscule number of people who are cruising compared to the number of people going to restaurants, healthcare facilities, and schools.

There’s simply no getting around the fact that the likelihood of getting norovirus is statistically higher on a cruise ship than it is when you go to any random restaurant, classroom, or hospital in the country.

It’s hard to blame cruise ships. People get sick when traveling, and that’s a tale as old as time. Whose responsibility, of course, is harder to pin down, and CLIA makes it pretty clear where the industry stands: “All of the efforts made by cruise ship crews cannot replace the responsibility that rests with each and every individual. Passengers and crew alike must also be committed to keeping themselves, their family and their fellow travelers healthy.”

There’s only so much that one can do. A 2005 study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases studies norovirus transmission on a cruise ship that had back-to-back-to-back itineraries. It found that after passengers on the first cruise came down with the illness, the new passengers on the second and third cruises were infected with the same strain of the virus as well as new strains (as determined by genetic sequencing). This is despite the fact that the ship was sanitized before the second boarding. Three more cruises on the ship had higher positive cases than background levels, but stayed below the 3 percent threshold of calling it a big outbreak.

All that’s left to see is whether cruise lines can figure out a way to get ahead of the issue in a year when cruises are undeniably booming with at least 35 around-the-world cruises to choose from.

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This New Zealand Lake Is Getting An Electric Hydrofoil Ferry

A new electric ferry at New Zealand’s Lake Manapōuri showcases how cool overlapping sustainability efforts can be. The lake, located in the southern part of the South Island in Fjordland National Park, is home to the Manapōuri Power Station, which generates 800 megawatts of hydroelectric power that is then distributed across the region. Beginning shortly, staff and others heading to the hydro plant will reach the station via a “flying” electric ferry.

The Candela P-12 hydrofoil ferry floats above the water thanks to the “foil” located beneath the boat that generates lift as water flows above and below it. The electric-powered ferry will save the equivalent of 240 tons of carbon emissions per year, or enough to offset 52 internal combustion vehicles, according to MyNewsDesk. Meridian Energy, which operates the hydro plant, is bringing in the Swedish-made ferry from Candela as part of its efforts to halve its emissions by 2030.

“The Candela P-12 is an exciting replacement for the diesel ferry we currently use to transport people across the lake to the power station,” Meridian Energy GM Tania Palmer told MyNewsDesk. “It’ll drastically reduce emissions and, at the same time, give our team what’s arguably the best and most spectacular commute in the world.”

The Manapōuri Power Station is located with Fjordland National Park, among the most scenic spots in New Zealand and a popular spot for visitors. Tours of the station itself are no longer available, however, visitors can recreate on and swim in Lake Manapōuri and view the station from afar.

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10 Tourist Attractions Around the World Created by Groundbreaking Women

Google any major city’s top attractions, and you’ll find list after list of the most popular places to visit, the best vantage points for taking Instagram photos, and deals on admission. But what you’re less likely to find are lists of attractions built, designed, or established by women — which is a shame, as women have been the driving forces behind many of the world’s most-visited sights.

From a bridge that helped turn NYC into a global powerhouse to Italy’s newest modern art museum to Alaska’s tourism industry, female architects, advocates, engineers, and adventurers have contributed far more to the world of tourism than history books would have you know.

These 10 tourist attractions around the world only exist thanks to the efforts of groundbreaking women.

Everglades National Park, Floridathanks to Marjory Stoneman Douglas

The Anhinga Trail Boardwalk through the Everglades National Park, Florida. Photo: Andy Lidstone/Shutterstock

Marjory Stoneman Douglas wasn’t just a conservationist; she was a force of nature herself. Born in 1890, her life spanned a period of immense change in the United States. She started her career as a journalist in the early 20th century, a time when women were rarely seen in newsrooms. But Douglas was a trailblazer. She tackled social issues like women’s suffrage while writing about the vibrant life unfolding around her in Florida. However, it was the Everglades, a vast and unique ecosystem, that truly captured her heart and ignited her lifelong passion for conservation, especially as the Everglades under threat from unchecked development and drainage projects in the early 1900s.

Douglas wasn’t one to stay silent. She wrote extensively about the Everglades, not just as a beautiful landscape, but as a complex and vital ecological system. Her most influential work, The Everglades: River of Grass, became a rallying cry for conservation. She co-founded the Everglades Tropical National Park Committee, a group dedicated to securing federal protection for the Everglades, despite facing ongoing opposition from powerful agricultural and development interests.

But her unwavering determination and ability to connect with the public through her writing kept the issue alive. Though the idea for the park was established back in 1934 thanks to Stoneman’s lobbying, the designation of Everglades National Park didn’t come until 1947, the year her book was published. While the fight to preserve the Everglades continues, Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ legacy as the “Grand Dame of the Everglades” is undeniable.

The Brooklyn Bridge: New Yorkthanks to Emily Warren Roebling

Photo: IM_photo/Shutterstock

The Brooklyn Bridge is a marvel of engineering that connected Manhattan and Brooklyn in 1883. It allowed people to quickly move between boroughs, leading to an expansion of the city, a real estate boom, integration between people of different socio-economic segments, and a huge rise in industry as transporting goods became far easier. And there’s one person to thank for this marvel of engineering that came to represent the ingenuity and creativity of man: Emily Warren Roebling.

Though the project began under her husband’s leadership, illness soon forced him to take a backseat. Society expected women to stay home, but Emily refused to let the project flounder. She had studied mathematics, so she took control of the project, developing plans, consulting with experts, and project managing the construction site. She relayed instructions, oversaw operations, and made critical decisions to keep the bridge rising from the East River. She mastered complex calculations to ensure the bridge’s stability, faced . skepticism from male engineers, and battled challenges like worker deaths, material shortages, and public doubt.

There wasn’t necessarily a conscious effort to keep Emily Warren Roebling’s role a complete secret, but it wasn’t widely acknowledged due to societal expectations of women at the time. Engineering was a male-dominated field, and Emily’s significant contributions were often downplayed or overlooked. However, Emily did take the first carriage ride across the bridge on opening day, symbolically carrying a rooster to represent victory.

The Brooklyn Bridge may have been built by many hands, but Emily Warren Roebling’s unseen hand was a driving force behind this iconic symbol of American ingenuity.

Volcanoes National Park, Rwandathanks to Dr. Dian Fossey

A juvenile mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Photo: Suzie Dundas

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a haven for endangered mountain gorillas, who live in Eastern Africa’s Virguna Range. And its creation is deeply linked to Dr. Dian Fossey, a primatologist who arrived in Rwanda in the 1960s and was an undeniable badass.

Fossey set up the Karisoke Research Center, a base for studying gorilla behavior. It was located deep in the jungle, away from development, and she interacted far more with gorillas than people. Though spending months in their presence, mimicking gorilla behaviors, and giving gifts like food, she earned their trust and became physically and emotionally closer to the gorillas than any researcher before. She was also an avid anti-poacher, defending herself and the gorillas as needed, and actively destroying poaching traps and camps in the rainforest.

Fossey’s dedication wasn’t just scientific. She championed gorilla conservation, raising awareness of the threats they faced from poaching and habitat loss. She was a well-known public figure who spoke tirelessly about the importance of protecting the gorilla habitats, and her tireless advocacy directly influenced the establishment of Volcanoes National Park in 1969. Since then, the mountain gorillas numbers have increased, and estimates put their current numbers around 600.

Fossey was murdered in Rwanda, likely by poachers, but her legacy lives on. She wrote Gorillas in the Mist in 1983, which became an Academy Award-winning movie staring actress Sigourney Weaver in 1988. Today, gorilla tourism in the park is strictly regulated, generating revenue that supports gorilla conservation and local communities. And the park’s Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund continued Fossey’s legacy, raising funds to protect the gorillas and expand the size of the park.

Alaska’s tourism lodges, Alaskathanks to Mary Joyce

Photo: Alexandre.ROSA/Shutterstock

Mary Joyce wasn’t just your average Alaskan pioneer; she was a whirlwind of adventure. In the 1930s, long before Alaska became a state, Joyce carved a unique path for herself in the southeast part of the territory. She lived at a remote home in Juneau, Alaska, called Taku Lodge, built in 1923. When the millionaire owner died young, she inherited the building. But that was the beginning of the story, not the end.

Joyce had a keen sense for business and opportunity and transformed the lodge into a thriving tourist destination. She saw Alaska’s potential as an adventure hub and catered to those seeking extreme experience. She developed the home into Taku Glacier Lodge, and under her leadership, it became the first official tourist lodge in Alaska, attracting visitors eager to explore the Alaskan wilderness. The lodge allowed Americans (albeit wealthy ones) to visit Alaska and discover the beauty of the 49th state, leading to both the development of the state as an adventure destination and the protection of many of its wilderness areas for outdoor recreation.

But Joyce wasn’t just an entrepreneur; she was a jack-of-all-trades. She became the first female radio operator in the territory, ensuring communication with the outside world. She even obtained her pilot’s license and flew her own bush plane, and took a 1,000-mile dogsled ride from Juneau to Fairbanks. Today, Taku Glacier Lodge is open for fly-in lunches and tours, though it no longer serves as a hotel-style lodge.

The New York Museum of Modern Art, New Yorkthanks to Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Photo: Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller wasn’t just the wife of a wealthy businessman — she was a passionate art collector with a vision. While her husband, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., favored established art forms, Abby gravitated towards modern art movements. That passion sparked the idea for the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as a space to champion modern art forms otherwise overlooked by established institutions.

Rockefeller actively donated pieces from her own collection, including works by Matisse, Picasso, and Seurat, forming the foundation of the museum’s holdings. Along with co-founders Lillie P. Bliss and Mary Quinn Sullivan, she worked to secure funding and garner support for their unconventional project. The Museum of Modern Art opened its doors in a rented space in 1929 and Rockefeller remained actively involved, serving on the board and using her personal funds to acquire new works.

But Abby Aldrich Rockefeller was much more than just a wealthy socialite. She was a shrewd collector and a philanthropist who used her money and influence to champion modern art. She highlighted underdog and controversial artists, creating a space for avant-garde work in the world of art. She used her social influence to garner support and funding for the arts, and created a public space that made art accessible to everyone. By opening the museum to the public, she democratized access to art and helped develop a generation of artists that shaped the world’s aesthetic landscape.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorials, Washington, DCthanks to Maya Lin and Diane Carlson Evans

Photo: /Shutterstock

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, is a powerful and moving tribute to those who served in the Vietnam War. While most associate the memorial with its designer, Chinese-American architect Maya Lin, it’s important to acknowledge the role of another groundbreaking woman as well: Diane Carlson Evans.

Maya Lin was a young architecture student at Yale at the time she won the design contest for DC’s new Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Her design was a radical departure from traditional war memorials, with two black granite walls, etched with the names of over 58,000 fallen soldiers to create a space for personal reflection. The design was controversial, and critics claimed it should have gone to a more established architect (Lin was 21 at the time), that it was too minimalist and didn’t feature uplifting messages, and even that Lin’s Asian heritage made her a poor fit for the project. However, the memorial was created, and since it opened in November of 1982, it’s been one of the most-visited memorials in all of DC.

But there’s two groundbreaking women involved in DC’s Vietnam memorials, and the second is Diane Carlson Evans. While Lin’s design honored those who died, it didn’t specifically address the contributions of women who served in the war. Vietnam veteran Evans spearheaded the creation of the nearby Vietnam Women’s Memorial, with bronze statues of nurses caring for wounded soldiers.

Together, the monuments exemplify America’s involvement in Vietnam. Lin’s stark design compels visitors to confront the war’s human cost, while Evans’ addition honors the service and sacrifice of women who were often overlooked. Both memorials are open-air and free to visit.

The Colorado Trail, Coloradothanks to Gudy Gaskill 

Photo: Matthew Andersen/Shutterstock

Gudy Gaskill, often referred to as the “Mother of the Colorado Trail,” wasn’t the trail’s sole founder, but she was the driving force behind its creation. In the 1970s, while serving on the Huts and Trails Committee of the Colorado Mountain Club, Gaskill saw the potential for a long-distance trail traversing Colorado’s stunning landscapes. She spearheaded the effort, planning the route, soliciting donations, and recruiting passionate volunteers.

Gaskill’s vision wasn’t simply about a path; it was about connecting people with the natural beauty of the state. She rallied teams of volunteers who worked in week-long shifts, building sections of the trail each summer. Her leadership and tireless work were instrumental in overcoming obstacles and securing support for the project. The Colorado Trail was completed in 1987, though Gaskill had been directing efforts to build the trail since 1974.

Today, the Colorado Trail is a 486-mile trail between Denver and Durango, winding through six national forests and wilderness areas. It traverses breathtaking passes, with high mountain lakes, towering peaks, and diverse ecosystems. Most hikers take about four to six weeks to complete the trail, though many segments of it are accessible for bikers, equestrians, and day hikers.

Hotel Figueroa, Californiathanks to Maude N. Bouldin

Photo: Hotel Figueroa

In Los Angeles, in 1925, a group of determined women from the YWCA secured a significant loan to build a hotel just for women. At the time, it was the “the largest individual financial transaction ever undertaken by a body of women in the United States,” per the LA Times. Their vision was to create a safe and luxurious space for solo female travelers, who were often restricted from staying in hotels without a male chaperone. The hotel was built in a hacienda-style, featuring ample public spaces to foster conversation and encourage conversations among guests.

During the construction process, the women hired Bouldin to manage the property. She became the first female hotel manager in America, and the hotel itself became a meeting ground for some of the most influential movements of the 20th century. The California League of Women Voters and the Women’s International League held meetings at the hotel, and Bouldin regularly spoke out against the male domination of tourism. It’s partially because of Bouldin that the tourism industry in the US opened to women, and today, more than half of the people employed in tourism identify as female.

Today, the Hotel Figueroa is a luxurious Los Angeles hotel open to everyone and managed by Hyatt Hotels. While it’s received significant renovations, it still has an interior inspired by its Spanish roots, with a touch of Moroccan charm tossed in for good measure. There are plenty of historic photos around the hotel, dating back to its founding 100 years ago.

Butchart Gardens, Canadathanks to Jennie Butchart

Photo: 2009fotofriends/Shutterstock

British Columbia’s Butchart Gardens, in Victoria, began in 1904 as a limestone quarry. But after it was mined, the owner’s wife, Jennie, saw potential in the leftover pit. She started by planting sweet peas, and gradually, the garden evolved to include a wider variety of plants and crops. Eventually, her work became the “Sunken Garden,” now the centerpiece of the sprawling, 55-acre tourist site.

Jennie Butchart didn’t use just her own creativity, but hired other leading landscape designers of the time. The early 20th century saw a growing focus on garden beautification, and Jennie commissioned a renowned Japanese designer, Isaburo Kishida, to design a Japanese-inspired section for the garden.

In 1921, the gardens opened to the public, and it continued to expand over time. A former tennis court was transformed into the Italian garden, and the family’s vegetable patch gave way to the award-winning rose garden. Today, it’s a National Historic Site of Canada, and the most popular tourist attraction in Victoria.

The MAXXI Art Museum, Italythanks to Zaha Hadid 

Photo: DFLC Prints/Shutterstock

Built in 2010, the MAXXI Museum was the first major public museum in Rome dedicated to 21st-century art to be built in decades. And it was designed by Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-British architect who revolutionized the world of design. She had an architectural style unlike what was usually seen in the 1990s, embracing bold, futuristic forms with sweeping curves and dynamic shapes. These deconstructivist designs challenged traditional architecture and were often described as “unbuildable.”

Hadid was the first woman to win the illustrious Pritzker Architecture Prize, often called the Nobel Prize of architecture, in 2004.  She succeed as a woman in a field dominated by white men, and paved the way for countless women to pursue careers in architecture and design. The firm she started, Zaha Hadid Architects, is one of the most prestigious architectural firms in the world.

With the MAXXI, Hadid’s design rejected boxy museums, creating a dynamic space with curving walls and flowing spaces. It breaks away from the idea of separate, static exhibits, instead creating a continuous experience that reflects the ever-evolving nature of contemporary art. But if you can’t make it to Rome, you can also find her groundbreaking buildings in East Lansing, Michigan; Glasgow, Scotland; London, England; Guangdong, China; Cincinnati, Ohio; and many more cities around the world — she was extremely prolific during her long career.

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This Hotel Will Give You a Rain Refund in a City That Rains Half the Year

No matter where you’re going on vacation, the thought has probably entered your mind: “but what if it rains, and the whole trip is ruined?” The possibility of poor weather shouldn’t prevent you from traveling, though it’s understandable to be a little wary of spending money traveling somewhere known for its frequent rain. No destination can engineer the weather – not even the high-tech metropolis of Singapore – but this hotel is doing its best to alleviate travelers’ rain concerns.

The Intercontinental Singapore is offering guests a “Rain Resist Bliss” package, which reimburses one night of the stay if any of their planned activities are canceled due to rain. The city-state is known for its heavy rainfall, with an average of 171 days of rain per year, so the offer is a pretty solid insurance policy against the fairly likely prospect of rain, and a great way to save money in Singapore – a notoriously expensive city. There are some fairly strict stipulations, though.

The package only applies to anyone staying in Junior Suites, One-Bedroom Suites, a Royal Suite, Ambassador Suites, and Presidential Suites – the cheapest of which start at $633 per night. If it rains for more than 120 cumulative minutes within any four-hour block of time during daylight hours (8 AM to 7 PM), the package kicks in, and guests will receive a refund in the form of a voucher in the amount of one night’s stay. Vouchers must be spent at the InterContinental Singapore within six months.

If you’re wondering how the amount of rainfall is calculated, data is captured by the National Environmental Agency Weather Station, and used to automatically trigger the eligibility of the vouchers. No action is required on the part of the guests. So, yes, you might still have a rainy day in Singapore, but a rain check worth over $600 makes the bad weather sting a little less.

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Cruise Shore Excursions: Are They Worth It?

It’s very easy to cruise for cheap. Cruise lines always have good deals available, especially when it comes to transatlantic crossings or repositioning cruises. But if you want to keep your cruise affordable, you have to watch for all the extras that are on offer, and often pushed on you during a sailing: drinks package, spa access, preventive sea sickness treatments, specialty dining, and shore excursions.

While cruise shore excursions can be booked on board the ship, I, a keen cruiser, recommend that you book them at home prior to your trip. No matter the destinations, there is usually a very long list of possible excursions to choose from, all of varying length and prices (although rarely under $100 each), and you don’t want to book anything without taking a good, long look at all the options first (and their reviews, if available).

When looking into cruise excursions, you should consider the following five questions:

Won’t I miss out if I don’t book shore excursions?

The short answer, which comes from experience, is no. I have gone on cruises during which I had excursions booked for every port call and it was utterly exhausting and gave me no time to explore on my own. I have circumnavigated Iceland on a cruise ship, a trip during which we stopped at very small towns, far away from the big attractions, and booked no excursions at all and it was the right decision. It allowed me the freedom to go at my own pace without anyone else around, find hiking trails and lovely areas where no group excursions would have taken me, and come back on board the ship whenever I felt like it. It is very important to find a good balance between shore excursions and free time, not only for your wallet, but also for your enjoyment.

Is this shore excursion a good use of my time at this destination?

Crowds on Mount Etna in Sicily. Photo: Dirk M. de Boer/Shutterstock

While one of the biggest trends in the cruising industry is to make longer port calls, sometimes even staying overnight, it’s still pretty common for ships to stay at one destination for only eight or nine hours, arriving early morning and leaving before dinner. With such a short amount of time, you’ll want to be careful about booking an excursion that will take up most of your day on land. Booking a lengthy shore excursion often means that you won’t be able to spend much, or even any, time exploring the destination on your own, going into local shops, visiting attractions, wandering the streets to look at the architecture, stopping in a small cafe, etc.

Before we boarded on a Mediterranean cruise with Oceania, my partner and I booked an excursion for the day we were going to spend docked in Messina, Sicily. We chose to book a 4×4 expedition of Mount Etna which would take 7.5 hours and cost nearly $500 each. We imagined it would be the chance of a lifetime to go see volcano craters up close accompanied by a professional guide who would share their knowledge with us. While we could not anticipate that the guide would be a disappointment, if we had done a little more research, we would have known that the place would be commercialized ad-nauseam and extremely crowded, making the experience unenjoyable. Also, we should have foreseen that the excursion was going to leave us with no time to visit Messina at all. All in all, we saw nearly nothing of Sicily and life on the island, which we regretted immensely.

Unless you have done prior research and are confident you’ll have a good experience, or you want to fulfill a lifelong dream, book an excursion that will take less than half your time at the destination, or one that will allow you to wander around at your leisure a little. A professionally guided tour of a city, stopping to visit or look at major attractions, but leaving you time to grab a snack from a street food vendor, is a good option if you’re able to walk for a couple of hours.

Is this shore excursion weather-dependent and what will I do if it gets canceled?

If you’re booking a weather-dependent shore excursion, you need to think of a back-up in case it gets canceled. This is especially true if you are cruising around Alaska, where a lot of the shore excursions on offer involve outdoors activities like whale watching, fishing, hiking around Mendenhall Glacier, kayaking, helicopter rides, etc. and the rain and fog can easily wreck the best laid plans.

Research the destination prior to your cruise, ask an AI travel assistant like GuideGeek, or have a guidebook handy so you can quickly adapt and find the best things to do at your destination and don’t waste your entire day. If the place is tiny and has very few things to do (like in Skagway, Alaska, for example), you can book a different excursion by visiting the appropriate desk on board.

During my 2022 cruise in Alaska with Holland America, the Tlingit-style canoe paddle across Mendenhall Lake that I had booked got canceled because of heavy rain and fog, and so did my partner’s salmon fishing expedition. The ship was docked very close to the center of Juneau, so we grabbed the paper map of the city provided by the cruise staff, donned our waterproof clothing and footwear, and went to explore the city for a few hours. We discovered great little shops and art galleries where we got to chat with locals, visited a tiny Russian Orthodox church, and generally wandered around to get a feel of the place. We had a blast and, while we were drenched, made the best out of a day that could have been disastrous. Of course, our shore excursions were refunded and that left us with unexpected money to spend elsewhere.

That said, don’t be discouraged to book an outdoorsy excursion when in Alaska or anywhere else where the weather can change very quickly. When the climate cooperates, those activities are fantastic.

Does this shore excursion require a lot of travel time?

The archeological site of Ephesus. Photo: Boat Rungchamrussopa/Shutterstock

A lot of shore excursions require spending many hours on buses with dozens of other passengers. That is true for cruise ships that dock in Civitavecchia, Italy, the port associated with Rome but which is about one hour by bus from the city. The same goes for ships that dock in Cadiz, Spain, from where many excursions go to Seville (1.5 hours one way), or Malaga, Spain, from where excursion take you to visit Granada and the Alhambra (two hours one way), among many other docking ports around the world. Hours spent on a bus getting to the location of your shore excursion usually mean three things:

An early departure from the shipLimited amount of time on site, and sometimes a rushed visit.Very little time in the city where you docked, some of which like Cadiz and Malaga, are very much worth visiting.

Look carefully at the description of the shore excursion and make good use of Google maps to determine how long you’ll have to travel by bus from the ship to the location of your shore excursion, and how long you’ll have on site. It should help you make an informed decision.

My experience booking a shore excursion to Mount Etna from Messina, Sicily, is a good example of time poorly spent. While the excursion was 7.5-hour long, it included four hours spent zig zagging around in a bus without bathroom or snack breaks, and over one hour in a pre-arranged restaurant, leaving us with less than 2.5 hours on site. However, my experience visiting the stunning archeological site of Ephesus in Türkiye, which required a total of two hours on board a bus from and to the town of Izmir was worth the traveling time and money. A knowledgeable guide and plenty of time spent on site, including leisure time, made for money and time well spent.

Can I do it on my own for cheaper and the same amount of effort?

Once again, once you have selected a few cruise excursions you’d like to book, take the time to research how much it would cost, and how easy it would be if you organize them yourself.

The first question should be: Is the activity or attraction far from where the ship will dock? If you can walk there or take reliable public transportation, that’s a win. If you need to rent a vehicle for the day, the price may be higher than booking a shore excursion with the cruise line. And if the only way to get there is public transport in which you have little faith, abandon the idea immediately. Missing the ship’s departure will cost you big.

Once you’ve looked into the transportation options, examine the cost of the activity and attraction if you were to do it individually rather than in a group setting. It might be cheaper, but make sure that it’s cheap enough to be worth the hassle of organizing it yourself.

One thing for sure is that if your ship docks close to a city center, do not book a Hop On Hop Off bus tour via the cruise line. You’ll pay much less purchasing it yourself, and chances are there’s a stop nearby from where you can board the bus. I booked a Hop On Hop Off bus tour via a cruise line both in Naples and Rome and would not recommend it for those who are able-bodied enough to get to a stop, internet-savvy enough to book a ticket online, and have some sort of sense of direction.

The same can be said for tourist train rides like the White Pass & Yukon Route train in Skagway, Alaska. If it’s cheaper to book it on your own, go for it. Skagway is tiny and ships dock right by the city center so you’ll have no trouble getting there.

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Japan’s New Bullet Train Line Takes You to the Country’s Buddhist Heartland

Neon Japanese characters pulsed on centuries-old pillars. As the techno beat dropped, the golden statue of Amida Buddha seemed to dance in the strobe lights.

It was with a vaguely defined ambition of finding “zen” that I had set off on a rail journey through Japan’s Buddhist heartland. I had figured that my travels — timed to coincide with a new bullet train line to the little-visited Hokuriku region — would involve more meditating than raving.

But here I was, swept up in a hypnotic spectacle. Asakura Gyosen, the abbot of Shoonji Temple on the outskirts of Fukui City, orchestrated the soundtrack, masterfully blending his past as a Kyoto DJ with centuries-old tradition.

Standing behind a MacBook in his mixing booth following his gig, the 56-year-old chief priest talked me through the deeper meaning behind the spectacular techno service that I have just had the rare privilege to experience.

“The illuminations decorate the hall in an image of the Buddhist world, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss,” he told me.

Gesturing toward the temple’s intricate gold leaf carvings, Asakura explained how for a thousand years, Japanese artisans sought to represent Pure Land, the Buddhist afterlife, painstakingly crafting devotional art. Geometric patterns blasting from high powered projectors and a techno beat are simply a modern take on this impulse – a way to communicate the “place of limitless light and space” described in Buddhist scriptures.

“As a DJ, I discovered the power of music to convey profound ideas and the essence of Buddhism,” Asakura explained, his smile radiating a serene joy. “Now, in my role as a monk, I find joy in sharing this way of thinking with everyone.”

The results are profound. Asakura clearly has an extraordinary talent for composing otherworldly soundscapes, which he pairs with his mind-bending visuals. The entire set is performed just twice a year in a ceremony to honor Shinran, the sect’s founder. However, a light show and the temple’s cafe, Show-on G (which serves transcendent chocolate brownies) are open to visitors on weekends.

I was in Hokuriku, a region with unique connections to the Buddhist faith, to trace the route of Japan’s newest bullet train line ahead of its arrival on March 16, 2024.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen, previously terminating at Kanazawa, will soon extend another 77 miles into rural Ishikawa and neighboring Fukui prefecture, terminating at Tsuruga with five new stops along the way. Passengers will rocket at nearly 200 miles per hour from Tokyo’s bright lights to sleepy onsen towns, arts and craft villages, and hidden temples.

The new Hokuriku Shinkansen extension is set to slash almost an hour off journeys from the capital to this little-known slice of Japan between the Japan Sea and the Ryōhaku mountain range. Until then, I would explore the region the old-fashioned way — by local train.

New beginnings at the end of the line

Photo: Jacob Lewis

My journey began where the Shinkansen currently terminates, in Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa prefecture. A stone’s throw from the station, I checked into Chaya Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn and a lesson in less-is-more luxury.

Dinner was an eight-course kaiseki affair in a private dining room featuring Kanazawa specialties such as duck simmered in soy broth and grilled black trout. Meanwhile, a wood-paneled public bath and serene garden completed the feel of an urban sanctuary.

Compact and walkable, Kanazawa is well-preserved and has an intriguing geisha district, Higashi Chaya (think Kyoto’s famous Gion without the overtourism), and the exquisite Kenroku-en landscape gardens, rated among Japan’s finest.

I started by hitting up Omicho Market, the city’s bustling fresh food market since the Edo Period (1603-1868). A vibrant maze of covered streets and alleyways, it’s home to 200 shops and stalls offering everything from specialty coffee and fresh seafood to soy ice cream wrapped in edible gold leaf — a nod to the city’s status as Japan’s gold leaf capital and center of traditional crafts.

Next, I had planned to visit the D.T. Suzuki Museum where I hoped to learn how this Kanazawa-born philosopher helped popularize Zen in the West — influencing everything from iPhone design to the billion dollar mindfulness industry. Sadly, the museum, with its serene Contemplative Space that extends into a Water Mirror Garden, was closed for winter renovations.

Photo: Manuel Ascanio/Shutterstock

Instead, I made time for Myoryuji Temple. While the Zen sect of Buddhism may be known for its minimalist design ethic, the creators of Myoryuji, the so-called “Ninja Temple,” went all out. A relic of the rival Nichiren sect, it’s a far cry from tranquil minimalism.

From the outside, Myoryuji Temple looks about as threatening as a garden shed. But step inside and this place gives a whole new meaning to “temple of doom.” More a fortress than a sanctuary, it was built in the 1600s when military structures were banned, prompting its creators to find ingenious loopholes — two secret stories, 23 rooms, and a mind-boggling 29 staircases form a defensive maze. Secret passages, concealed peepholes, and rumored tunnels connecting to nearby Kanazawa Castle speak of a time when faith and warfare were closely intertwined.

Anyone foolish enough to attack would have encountered a gauntlet of trapdoors, hidden chambers, and trick staircases. The guided tour was pure tension. I made every effort to avoid touching any walls, lest I trigger long-forgotten poison darts or some hidden floor of spikes. Even the collection box for offerings had a trapdoor — a sinister touch that even the Squid Games would struggle to top.

The first new stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line

Photo: TimeDepot.Twn/Shutterstock

Leaving Kanazawa by local train, I disembarked at Komatsu Station, the first new stop on the line following the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension. A short 20-minute bus ride from there delivered me to the snow-covered village of Bekkumachi. In the foothills of the sacred Hakusan Mountains, it sits at the heart of a land once known as the Peasant’s Kingdom.

It’s here that I stopped into the small Ikko Ikki Historical Museum near the ruins of Torigoe Castle, where a 100-year-long Buddhist theocracy met its end in a bloody last stand.

A federation of mostly peasant warriors bound by a faith in True Pure Land Buddhism, the Ikko Ikki were a unique force that ruled much of Hokuriku during the tumultuous 15th- and 16th-century Warring States period.

Their egalitarian spirit stood in contrast to other powerful feudal fiefdoms of the time, including that of famed Oda Nobunaga, a unifier of Japan who brutally crushed their rebellion. While Nobunaga is celebrated to this day, I couldn’t help feeling it a shame that the warrior monks of the Ikko Ikki and their legacy had been largely forgotten.

After perusing the empty attraction’s detailed battlefield models and historical artifacts, I quizzed the woman at the till, asking if the rebellious spirit of the Ikko Ikki lives on in the community.

“I think that as people become more affluent, their reliance on gods or Buddhas diminishes,” she replied. “Faith seems to be fading because most people don’t experience much hardship anymore.”

But once a year the village remembers. Every August, she tells me, the museum car park transforms into a festival of folk dancing, food, and fireworks. It’s a time to honor their ancestors’ virtue. As night falls, 10,000 candles flicker in a nearby park, a poignant tribute to the peasants’ last stand.

A roadside attraction takes you through hell and back

Photo: Jacob Lewis

While in the area, I decided to swing by another curious roadside attraction I had heard about, called Hanibe Caves, where an enormous bronze Buddha head sits among the sculpture gardens of a former quarry. Promised a touch of the strange, I took a 15-minute bus ride through a narrow mountain pass followed by a 20-minute walk past woods and fallow winter rice fields to a place with the feel of a faded theme park.

Opened in 1951 by a sculptor, the site features numerous Buddha statues dotting the landscape, but the true heart of the Hanibe Caves lies below ground. Before the towering bronze head Buddha statue, less a figure of serenity and more a silent sentinel to some otherworldly realm, I paid my 500 Japanese yen ($3.40) fee to the elderly woman in the ticket booth.

A path wound up past abandoned mining shacks and scattered shrines housing statues of wild animals and deities, leading toward the looming cave mouth. This is where the whimsical facade melts away, and where someone has painstakingly crafted statues that depict the Buddhist hell.

Photo: Jacob Lewis

In the first section of these claustrophobic caverns, I passed art from India, including stone statues of the Kama Sutra. The mood soon turned from erotic to gruesome. Grotesque demons loom over victims in scenes that, while intended as parody, were unsettling in my claustrophobic isolation. One man lay trapped, his grotesquely enlarged penis pinning him to the ground. Another was impaled by a demon on a wheel of spikes. At the exit, a series of saints stood – a promise of redemption, perhaps. Instead, I found the way out blocked by winter snow, forcing me to run the horrifying gauntlet a second time. I could only offer an apologetic nod to those poor, tormented souls as I jogged back toward the light.

The Hanibe Caves’ unsettling spectacle is not the whole story. Missed by many visitors is a worn wooden shack where locals find profound meaning. Halfway up the hill it holds hundreds of small Jizo statues — figures representing miscarried or stillborn children, many of them with fading small toys and trinkets laid at their feet. These Jizo are protectors, meant to guide unborn spirits to a better place. The juxtaposition is jarring — cartoonish visions of hell followed by a place of tender mourning. Both a spectacle for tourists and a holy site of quiet contemplation for others, it left me feeling confused and deeply moved.

Buddhism’s complexities seemed impossible to grasp on a whistle stop train tour, and I left the Hakusan Mountains with far more questions than answers.

Onward to Hokuriku’s hot springs towns

Photo: mTaira/Shutterstock

The next stop along the extended Hokuriku Shinkansen train line was Kaga Onsen, a collection of three historic hot springs towns. At one of these towns, Yamashiro Onsen, I checked into Kai Kaga, a ryokan where time seems to take a gentle pause. Its 400-year-old wooden facade, painted in a traditional “bengara” deep red, hints at the artistry inside.

Ushered inside with bows and warm greetings, my eyes were immediately drawn to a chandelier. Hand crafted from delicate koyori paper threads, it cascaded to the floor in an image of falling snow.

Exchanging my shoes for plush slippers, a subtle invitation to relax, I followed the staff across a small garden bridge. Below flowed a vibrant porcelain tile in the yuzen-nagashi (traditional silk dyeing) motif.

“Dye running from kimonos washed in a mountain stream,” they explained.

My room was full of regional artistry — delicate papercraft, dyed fabrics, and an exquisite Kutani-yaki tea set. A private balcony bath, naturally heated by the hot springs, offered a luxurious touch. Equally inviting, the main hotel onsen, overlooking a tranquil zen garden, was adorned with traditional gold and silver leaf, and ceramic panels depicting seasonal motifs.

Tucked away in the hotel’s oldest building, constructed in the waku-no-uchi style without the use of nails or other fastenings, is the Kintsugi workshop. Here, guests can learn the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer, transforming flaws into works of art.

Photo: Jacob Lewis

The craft gained a new layer of meaning for me as my visit fell shortly after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that struck Ishikawa on New Year’s Day 2024. The tradition had just become a powerful symbol of resilience, with heartwarming stories of craftspeople offering free repairs to those affected by the quake.

However, the broken pottery in Kai Kaga, which was far from the epicenter, has a more mundane source: their apparently clumsy guests. General manager Shinio Matsuzaki assured me that they have more than they can repair with 500 broken pieces of the handmade Kutani arriving at the workshop every year.

Instead of some straightforward adhesive job, as I had imagined, I was given the painstaking process of adding a delicate layer of lacquer to a single chipped plate – one small stage in what would be a month-long repair process.

Knowing that my little repair job would one day be worthy of serving food to a guest again felt great, a reminder of the impermanence of things and the beauty found in their restoration.

Bathing in stillness on a bullet train journey

Photo: Enjoy Fukui

The hot springs of Yamashiro Onsen, from which Kai Kaga draws its waters, were supposedly discovered over 1,300 years ago. Legend holds that Gyoki, a famed Buddhist priest of the Nara Period, noticed a wounded crow easing its pain in a pool of water. Intrigued, the monk soon realized the spring’s healing properties.

I had always found the ritual of Japanese onsen bathing to be almost spiritual. Stripping fully nude, meticulously cleaning the body then full immersion in geothermal waters seemed to carry a deeper meaning. In Shinto, Japan’s Indigenous religion, purification through water has profound significance. Buddhism also emphasizes the importance of bathing, and many onsen besides Yamashito are said to have been discovered by monks, their waters often believed to possess magical healing properties.

To gain an insight into the relationship between Buddhism and onsen, I spoke with Chief Priest Takahashi Genpou at Daianzenji Temple, a 17th-century Rinzai Zen temple known for its tranquil atmosphere, meticulous flower gardens, and traditional architecture.

On a mountainside just outside Fukui City, the Zen temple offers guests a chance to experience Zen meditation, calligraphy, and even enjoy a vegetarian shojin ryori (Japanese Buddhist cuisine) meal.

Photo: Hoshino Resorts

In a room overlooking the gardens, the 41-year-old monk shared how his training instilled a lifelong appreciation for water. During his time as a novice, he was only allowed to bathe on days that ended in a four or a nine, using a single bucket of water, and only after giving thanks to Buddha.

“Bathing is not to be taken for granted,” he advises. “The act reminds us that everyday life isn’t guaranteed. It’s about recognizing the value of the mundane and facing oneself, both mentally and emotionally — a place for self-reflection and gratitude.”

This philosophy resonated as I visited Ko-Soyu, located opposite Kai Kaga ryokan in Yamashiro Onsen’s main square. This authentic replica of a Meiji-era wooden bathhouse was recently rebuilt using materials and techniques from 150 years ago. Since it has no showers, I followed instructions and scrubbed myself clean in my room before donning my hotel yukata (casual summer kimono) and walking to the bathhouse.

A soothing aroma of wet cypress wood greeted me while hand-crafted tiles from nearby Kutaniyaki felt cool underfoot.

As I eased into the 45-degree water, stained glass painted the steam in blues, yellows, and reds — a vibrant echo of the technicolor temple rave in Fukui.

Acclimating to the heat, my mind raced with thoughts — work, responsibilities, everyday anxieties. It was far from the perfect stillness of Zen, but perhaps that was the point. In the awareness of my breath, of the warmth of the water, was a “place for self-reflection and gratitude.”

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