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This Former Salt Mine Is Now a Spectacular Underground Theme Park

The most magical place on Earth might not actually be an amusement park in Orlando, Florida, but rather an underground theme park in Romania. Salina Turda, a former salt mine located in Transylvania, has everything a theme park should have. There’s a Ferris wheel, a bowling alley, a mini-golf, and even a multi-sport court — all of which are found 137 feet below ground.

@visit Salina Turda in Romania is definitely one of the most unique theme parks around @Stephen Morin #salinaturda #saltmine #uniqueplaces #romaniatravel ♬ original sound – Visit

Salina Turda operated as salt mine from the 11th century to 1932, when it became unprofitable and closed down. The mine served as a bomb shelter during World War II and as a cheese storage facility before it reopened as a tourist attraction in 1992. After some major renovations between 2008 and 2010, Salina Turda became one of the most unusual theme parks in the world.

Visitors to Salina Turda walk down 172 steps, or 13 floors, to get to the bottom of Rudolph Mine, a dome-shaped cavern. Each floor on the way down is marked with the year when this particular area was exploited for salt.

The bottom of the mine is where all the attractions are located, including the giant elevator shaft and the 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel from where visitors can take in the surreal environment. This is also where you’ll find the mini-golf, the two bowling lanes, the sports court, the three billiard tables, the six table tennis tables, the children’s playground, and the 180-seat amphitheater. From there, a wooden bridge leads to Terezia Mine, another section of Salina Turda that works as a sort of island from where people can hop in a boat and paddle around an underground lake.

Being a mine, Salina Turda is very dark, but an eerie and striking lighting system allows visitors to see the carvernous inside while keeping the atmosphere mysterious.

Visitors to Salina Turda can pick and choose what they wish to do during their stint underground, whether that’s taking a guided tour, walking around the mines on their own, playing table tennis, or boating on Terezia Mine Lake, but know that all the activities have a separate fee and are limited to a certain amount of time per person. Admission is 30 RON (6.50 USD), a guided tour is 100 RON (21.50 USD), playing table tennis for 30 minutes is 20 RON (4.30 USD), etc. Check out the prices of all the activities you wish to do on the website.

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The Matador Travel Awards: 2022

The way people travel is changing, and fast. As with any trend, some industry leaders are ahead of the curve. We looked at six categories this year to find the outstanding destination focused on wellness and sustainability, and the emerging travel destination, in addition to shout outs for an airline, an influencer, and an important cause to rally behind.

For our second annual survey, Matador 2022 Travel Awards turned to a panel of tourism experts to identify both the trends and the trailblazers. Thanks to the panelists for indicating their top picks from among the nominations put forward by Matador Network’s own international team of writers and editors.

Meet the Panel

Sustainable Destination

Emerging Destination

Wellness Destination

Cause To Get Behind

Best Airline

Influencer To Watch

How to road trip Dalton Highway

“Don’t take the car past Lake Galbraith, or it’ll be too far for us to rescue you.”

The woman at the rental car agency wasn’t laughing. In a briefing that felt more like a CPR training course than the fine print of renting a Ford Explorer, she listed all the hazards that awaited us on the Dalton Highway. There were treacherous potholes, hundreds of miles of unpaved road, almost zero service stations, no cell reception, and bears.

“Have fun, guys,” she said without a hint of irony. “It’s gonna be a blast.”

Turns out, she was right on all counts.

I had enlisted a friend to share the journey with me, as I was told traveling the most remote highway in the country alone wasn’t the smartest idea. Credit to him for accepting an invite that pretty much read like this: “Hey, you wanna drive into the Arctic Circle on a highway that I’m pretty sure was in Ice Road Truckers?”

When you tell people you’re going to Alaska to “drive on a highway,” they react like you just told them you’re having SPAM for dinner. But anyone who knows the Dalton Highway understands that it’s perhaps the only road in the United States that can claim to be a destination in itself. Starting in Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city, the highway stretches 414 miles north to the Arctic Ocean through lush forests, winding rivers, dramatic mountain passes, and Arctic wilderness. It’s the most remote major highway in the US, ending about 600 miles north of where Into the Wild’s Chris McCandless starved to death in a disused bus.

With that comforting thought in mind, we drove our car off the lot and to our first — and most important — stop of the entire trip: the supermarket.

Planning a Dalton Highway road trip

Built in 1974 to supply the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the Dalton Highway initially served solely as a commercial haul road. Although the infrastructure has improved since then, it still remains a trucker’s road at heart. Paved sections alternate with long stretches of dirt and gravel, only two fuel (and food) stops exist between Fairbanks and Deadhorse — the highway’s northern terminus — and you won’t find a single McDonalds, Walgreens, or grocery store. Basically, if you didn’t pack it in Fairbanks, plan to live without it.

Photo: Ovidiu Hrubaru

People always tell you not to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach because you’ll buy everything in sight. Well, go on an empty stomach. This is the last chance you’ll have to stock up on food; you don’t want to be 250 miles above the Arctic Circle and realize you’re three meals short.

Our most important purchase was a cheap styrofoam cooler that allowed us to bring perishables on the journey. This really came in handy for cold cuts, cheese, pre-cooked chicken, yogurts, Lunchables — hey, there won’t be anyone around to judge you — and one of those crappy $3 birthday cakes they sell in the dessert section. We’ll come back to that later.

Beyond groceries, you’ll need a vehicle hefty enough to store your food purchase — and more importantly, to get you safely up the Dalton. A car with four-wheel drive, spare tires, and traction control is a must. You should also have a CB radio so you can communicate with other cars on the road, alert trucks if you’re turning around a hairpin curve, and call for help if needed. The Northern Alaska Tour Company in Fairbanks rents cars specifically for traveling up the Dalton Highway, so it’ll make sure your vehicle is properly equipped.

It’s also a good idea to bring bear spray. Much of northern Alaska’s land is owned by the Bureau of Land Management. That means it’s essentially public land with very little state intervention, and almost no designated trails. If you want to hike, you’ll have to forge your own path through the wilderness. It’s unlikely that you’ll be fending off bears, but better to have spray and not need it than not have spray and wish you’d bought better running shoes.

Dalton Highway map

The Dalton Highway begins just north of Fairbanks at Elliot Highway, and ends 414 miles later at Deadhorse, an isolated town of about 50 permanent residents near the Arctic Ocean. The terrain surrounding the arctic highway varies, but much of it consists of rugged arctic tundra; depending on the time of year it might be blanketed in snow or covered in verdant green grass. Drivers will also pass through the Brooks Mountain Range and Arctic Foothills. Don’t expect a smoothly paved drive. While some stretches are well maintained, other parts of Dalton Highway consist of gravel, or a mixture of gravel and pavement. The road is often caked in mud or snow.

The best places to stop along the Dalton Highway to enjoy the scenery, rest, and replenish your supplies is the Yukon River Camp, Coldfoot Camp, the village of Wiseman, Lake Gilbraith, finally ending at Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay. Coldfoot Camp and Wiseman are both about three hours from Yukon River Camp. At Wiseman, you can stop and stay over night in a cabin in the dense, isolated woods.

An hour and half outside Wiseman, you’ll pass through the Atigun Pass. From there, there are no more places to stop for rest or supplies for 230 miles, until you hit Deadhorse. Deadhorse is an oil refinery site, with a small permanent population. There are simple hotels and a general store in Deadhorse. Before you turn around there are camps sites at Lake Galbraith, about three hours from Deadhorse. Once you’ve rested and refueled, you’ll need to turn around and head back to Fairbanks, and back to civilization.

Yukon River Camp

Once you leave Fairbanks you won’t encounter your first outpost of civilization for about three hours. The Yukon River Camp isn’t just a simple truck stop. It’s a camp right on the banks of the mighty Yukon River that offers you a rare glimpse into a different pace of life. The camp is staffed by people from all over the country who came to Alaska seeking adventure, and each has a unique story to tell about how they wound up living on the Yukon River. You might even get to join the staff by the campfire as they watch for the Northern Lights.

Photo: Eben Diskin

A two-minute walk will bring you to the river, in the shadow of the Yukon River Bridge. If you notice two tents on a raft floating in the river, it’s not a couple of campers trying to one-up you. It’s Neil Ecklund and his son, Lauro. Meeting Neil and Lauro will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time to an age when tents were houses, you caught your own dinner, built your own fire for warmth, and the river was the primary means of transportation.

Neil Eklund competed in the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in the early 1980s, and has lived on the river since before the Dalton Highway existed. Now he and his son Lauro build log rafts, fish, transport firewood on the river, and mush dog teams. They also run a variety of tours including dogsledding, camping, log rafting, and Northern Lights expeditions. If you’re lucky, Lauro will even show you his kennel of rambunctious sled dogs.

Wiseman and Coldfoot Camp

Not long after you leave the Yukon River Camp you’ll cross into the Arctic Circle. There are no visitor centers, road markers, or dramatic changes of scenery to mark the occasion — just a sign slightly off the main road that says “Arctic Circle.” There’s also a dispersed campsite in the vicinity of the sign, for those who want to say “I camped on the edge of the Arctic Circle,” but otherwise your passage is unceremonious. Just before the Arctic Circle sign, you can stop briefly at Finger Mountain. This deceptively named attraction is more like a large pile of stones than a mountain, but climbing to the top — which will take you 10 minutes — does give you a sweeping view of the lonely road, and a sense of the vast Arctic wilderness.

Photo: Eben Diskin

About three hours from the Yukon River Camp, you’ll have your choice of two lodgings — Coldfoot and Wiseman. If you have time it’s worth spending a night at both. Coldfoot, which you’ll reach first, is the oldest stop on the Dalton Highway. It has less of a summer camp vibe than the Yukon River Camp, but there are a wide range of excursions led by knowledgeable guides to keep you busy, and you’ll be staying in the trailers used by the workers who built the Alaska Pipeline, which is a pretty cool perk.

Photo: Eben Diskin

Coldfoot Camp pretty much has an excursion for every season and interest. There are packraft adventures, snowshoe trips, Arctic mountain safaris, Northern Lights viewings, dog sled excursions, and fat bike tours. Our fat bike tour took us to the peaceful Slate Creek on the Chandalar Trail, an old Gold Rush road. On the way back, our guide Dan showed us an abandoned school bus where a resident of Coldfoot used to live with his entire family. Now it’s a treasured part of Coldfoot Camp’s folklore.

When I made an obligatory Chris McCandless joke, Dan replied that the Into the Wild protagonist is a sore subject for many Alaskans, who believe McCandless is portrayed as a hero when he should be a cautionary tale. “There’s only one difference between that guy and the people who actually live up here,” Dan said. “Competence.”

Just a half-hour north of Coldfoot you’ll find the tiny village of Wiseman. Unlike Coldfoot and the Yukon River Camp, Wiseman is an actual village, and has been long before the highway was built. Located ten minutes off the Dalton, at the end of a dirt and gravel road, the old Gold Rush town is home to 14 permanent residents, all of whom live in log cabins among the trees.

Photo: FloridaStock/Shutterstock

Much like Neil and Lauro on the Yukon River, the people of Wiseman live a subsistence lifestyle, surviving largely on hunted meat. Stroll around the village and visit Nikki Reakoff’s craft shop, where she makes jewelry from animal fur, bones, and antlers; check out the vintage abandoned cars that have been sitting in the woods for decades; and spend some time down by the river. On Sundays you can even attend a church service led by local trapper Jack Reakoff.

I ran into Jack when he was sifting through some cranberries in his yard. Behind him, a pile of moose and caribou skulls. When I told him I was writing about the Dalton Highway he seemed amused.

“Everyone says Dalton’s dangerous,” he said. “But they shoulda seen it twenty years ago. I was here before the highway, and that was a tough haul. As long as you’ve got common sense, I guess it’s as safe as any other road.”

He was right.

Photo: Arctic Getaway Log Cabins

Wiseman, Alaska lodging

Contrary to what you might think, lodging in Wiseman doesn’t consist of a chilly night in a canvas tent while Jack Reakoff patrols the perimeter for bears. The Arctic Getaway Log Cabins are both cozy and well-appointed. But the best part of your stay won’t be the warm bed — it’ll be your hosts. Berni and Uta hail from Friesing, Germany, and lucky for us, somehow found their way to Arctic Alaska.

The first thing you notice won’t be the rustic cabins or the moose skulls mounted above the doors. It’ll be the hand-built ping pong table sitting in the yard. Berni built the table himself, and it doesn’t take much convincing for him to drop everything he’s doing and play a game, or twelve, with you.

There are two other options available for lodging: The Boreal Lodging consists of three log cabins with full kitchens and bathrooms. The Slate Creek in, rustic, no frills rooms with twin beds, which is closer to Coldfoot. The Arctic Hive in Wiseman offers yoga retreats, but not public, year around lodging for people just passing through the region.

Over the Atigun Pass

Once you depart Wiseman and Coldfoot, your journey gets interesting. There are no more stops, fuel stations, or lodgings for 230 miles until Deadhorse, which represents the end of the highway just before the Arctic Ocean.

About an hour north of Wiseman, you’ll see the landscape change dramatically. The green, wooded wilderness you’ve grown accustomed to will suddenly give way to flat terrain. Previously, there was a sign marking the spot of the “last tree” and the beginning of the arctic tundra, but that tree has since been cut down. As you approach the Brooks Range, you’ll find yourself wanting to stop every five minutes to take pictures of the dramatic snow capped mountains.

Photo: Bruce Wilson Photographer/Shutterstock

The epic views really hit their stride on the Atigun Pass, at an elevation of nearly 5,000 feet. This is the point at which the highway crosses the Continental Divide, and the steep grades and hairpin curves make it one of the road’s most treacherous stretches. Use your CB radio to alert other drivers when you’re rounding curves, take it slow, and you’ll be fine. Honestly, you’ll want to drive as slow as possible anyway to really take in the views.

On the other side of the pass, the landscape looks dramatically different. The mountainous geography flattens and it suddenly feels like you’re driving through the Midwest, minus the cornfields. You can choose to go all the way to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay, which are essentially oil refinery sites, or turn around and head back. If you do decide to turn around, don’t do so without first visiting Lake Galbraith, about 27 miles north of Atigun Pass. The lake has a parking area and a few campsites, and it’s a great picnic lunch stop before embarking on the journey home. We took this opportunity to enjoy some cheap birthday cake, in celebration of reaching our northernmost point.

Staying in Fairbanks

When you finally return to Fairbanks, your car will be caked in mud and you probably won’t look (or smell) much better. The only way to cap off an intrepid adventure on the most remote highway in the country is with a well-earned spa day. (No, that’s not just wishful thinking.)

Photo: Eben Diskin

Chena Hot Springs Resort, just under an hour from Fairbanks, is a geothermal spa ideally suited to travelers who have just returned from a rough week on the Dalton. You can treat yourself to a massage, take a dip in the outdoor or indoor hot tub, or enjoy the healing waters of the geothermal Rock Lake. There’s also an excellent restaurant on site serving locally caught salmon, a famous tomato bisque, and vegetables grown in the on-site greenhouse.

The most eye-catching part of Chena isn’t even the Rock Lake or the private massage cabins — it’s the giant ice museum sitting just outside the main entrance. The Aurora Ice Museum is the world’s largest year-round ice environment, created using over 1,000 tons of ice and snow. It houses dozens of meticulously carved and illuminated ice sculptures, including an ice bar where you can purchase appletinis served in glasses made of ice. There’s also a few bedrooms carved into the ice. Rumor has it, no one has successfully lasted the night without retreating to the main hotel, but if you were bold enough to brave the Dalton, you should also be bold enough to spend the night in a block of ice.

Dalton Highway tours

If you’re not comfortable or equipped to drive the Dalton Highway (if for instance, you don’t own a vehicle that can safely traverse the distance) but you still want to experience the wonder and majesty of the Arctic wilderness, there are several tour companies which offer Dalton Highway tours. Alaska Tours offers a fully guided van tour from Deadhorse back to Fairbacks. The tour stops in Coldfoot, and passes by the Gates of the Arctic National Park, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Brooks Range and Alaska’s North Slope. Go Alaska Tours offers a Arctic Circle Van Tour down the Dalton Highway, where passengers should be on the look out for black bears and caribou.

Can anyone drive the Dalton Highway?

Anyone can drive the Dalton Highway. However, people planning a trip along the Dalton Highway should have a vehicle that can handle rough terrain, and that you don’t mind getting muddy. The Dalton Highway is also an isolated road, so anyone driving it should know the best practices for interacting with wildlife and should be accustomed to camping out or sleeping in cabins. Additionally, because there is often hundreds of miles between services like gas and food, drivers should be prepared with emergency gas and should pack extra provisions — not just food, but warm clothes and a spare tires as flats are common.

What is the bset vehicle for driving the Dalton Highway

The best vehicle to drive the Dalton Highway is one that has four wheel drive and is easy to maneuver (so that means you probably don’t want to take a huge SVU on this road). The car should also have sturdy, all-terrain tires. It might also be smart to invest in windshield protection film, as cracked windshields from rocks have been to known to happen on the drive. Make sure your car is also outfitted with a CB radio because there is no cellphone service on the highway.

How long does it take to drive the Dalton Highway?

The drive from Fairbanks to Deadhorse technically takes around 11 hours, it can be down one day. The two cities are 414 miles apart. However, you’ll want to stop at the many scenic spots and hot springs along the way to immerse yourself in the natural landscape. For more experienced outdoor adventurers taking the drive, there are also opportunities to stay in a log cabin and camp out. With stops, that amounts to 4-5 days of driving, if you plan to stop along the way to rest (which you should) and enjoy the mostly untouched Alaskan wilderness. Depending on where you want decide to stop, you could drive for as a little as 1 hour on some days, however the drive from Wiseman and Coldfoot Camp, which are necessary stops, to Deadhorse is around 6 hours.

Are rental cars allowed on the Dalton Highway

Rental cars are allowed on the Dalton Highway. However, if you’re not planning to take your own vehicle, you need to check with the rental office where you want to rent your car because not every company allows rentals cars on gravel roads.

Can you camp along the Dalton Highway?

You can camp along the Dalton Highway. There are four main campgrounds at different spots along the highway: Five Mile Campground, near the Yukon River, Arctic Circle Wayside Campground, Marion Creek Campground, and Galbraith Lake Campground at the end of the highway. Remember, these are rugged, isolated campgrounds with no amenities, so only experienced backpackers should venture attempt.

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In Parts of Spain, Kids Get Their Christmas Candies From a Pooping Log

My first December in Barcelona, when I lived there a few years back, I noticed something odd amidst the winter holiday displays: small logs with smiley faces, tiny wooden legs, and little red capes. I also heard whisperings of a “Caga Tió,” which sounded like an insult about a family member — given that “tío” in Spanish means uncle and “caga” translates to “poop”.

I soon learned that these two things are related and have nothing to do with disagreeable relatives. In fact, Caga Tió means “Pooping Log” in Catalan, the official language of Barcelona and the entire state of Catalonia. In early December, families in Catalonia and neighboring Aragon place one of these grinning chunks of wood by the fireplace — or another prominent spot at home — and (pretend) feed it nightly so it can defecate little gifts on Christmas Eve.

Photo: OSORIOartist/Shutterstock

“You give it something to eat every night, and it is gone in the morning,” Barcelona mother Monica Vallejo explains. Vallejo says she and her kids would give the log leftovers from dinner or whatever was around.

She says some families go further, to ensure their little wooden trunk will actually be able to do the doo doo. Vallejo says these nutrition-oriented types might give their ligneous log fiber-rich foods like “garbanzos and lentils, so it can poop more presents.”

Vallejo is the owner and general manager of Hostel Grau, an eco-friendly boutique hotel in Barcelona, where she keeps a Caga Tió — also called the Tió de Nadal, or Christmas Log — in December as well. She says holiday guests at the hotel find the tradition “cute and strange. They don’t understand it.” Given that, as Vallejo herself concedes, “There’s no ‘why,’ there’s no reason” for the pooping log, her foreign guests’ confusion is understandable.

The origins of Caga Tió

Photo: nito/Shutterstock

As Vallejo explains, the practice originated in the countryside. There, families burned a special log over the holidays, representing light and togetherness. Once it was gone, they spread its ashes in the fields, in a symbol of fertility and regrowth. Somehow that growth translated into a log that gets fattened up for two weeks in December, until it finally has to have a movement, in a tradition that seeped into Catalonian cities in the 1960s.

Although you could purchase one of these smiling chunks of timber in a store or market, Vallejo says the best place for parents with young kids to get one is where logs come from: the woods.

The annual search for the hidden logs is known in Catalan simply as the Caçations, the Hunts. Parents can take their kids to a special Caga Tió forest run by a small business where they’ve been hidden for the children to find, as with a treasure hunt. Small towns in Catalonia offer options to find Caga Tiós in their woods — to those who have prepaid about $35 — and encourage families to stay afterwards to enjoy a long family lunch at a designated restaurant.

At the forest Vallejo took her boys to, the logs are already decorated with eyes, legs, and capes. For her, the forest search is the best part of the Caga Tió tradition, as that tooting tree trunk will belong to your family for many holiday seasons to come.

Once they have the Caga Tió at home and being “fed” each evening, “… kids actually think it’s getting bigger,” Vallejo says. By the 24th of December, the Caga Tió is “gordito,” or chubby, and ready to go number two. But the little piece of wood needs some privacy to do its thing.

In religious families, kids are told to head into the bedroom to pray for gifts. Vallejo’s family is not religious, so she used to tell her two boys that the Caga Tió was shy and they needed to wait in another room for a while. When the kids leave the room, parents stash goodies under the log’s “cape,” which can look more like a blanket.

When the kids return, the weirdness continues: The children have to encourage the Caga Tió to expel the presents by hitting it with a stick. “It sounds aggressive, but it’s gentle. The kids don’t hit hard. You stimulate it to go poop,” says Vallejo.

“You can be four kids at once hitting it,” recalls Hugo Vallès Wang, now a college student, of having a Caga Tió in his preschool classes. “Little kids can’t hit it that hard. It’s more about the tradition and singing the song.”

The Caga Tió song

The song has kids asking the Caga Tió to poop out nuts and turrón, a sticky-sweet nougat that’s popular throughout Spain over the holidays, and specifically not to poop out salty fish. In fact, that’s pretty much all they get for their efforts: candies.

Caga Tió Canción

Caga tió
avellanes i torrons
no caguis arengades
que són massa salades
caga torrons que són més bons

Caga tió
avellanes i torrons
si no vols cagar et donaré un cop de bastó

The Pooping Log song

Pooping log
almonds and nougats
don’t poop herrings
as they are too salty
Poop nougats as they are better

Pooping log
almonds and nougats
If you won’t poop, I’ll hit you with the stick

Caga Tió poops out presents

“The presents are small things, like sweets. It’s not a Sony Playstation,” says Vallejo. The bigger presents are given on January 6, which is celebrated in Catalonia and throughout Spain as the day of Los Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day.

It’s just as well there aren’t any Play Stations, since the Caga Tió is strictly for small kids. Vallejo says that while most kids can believe in Santa Claus or the Three Kings until they are eight years old, that’s not the case with the Caga Tió. By age four, they have a hard time accepting that a sawed tree trunk can expel presents from its backside.

“When they are two or three years old, it’s like magic. When they are four years old, it’s complicated,” says Vallejo. By the time he was five, Vallejo’s older son, Jon Pol, who’s now 15, didn’t get why they had to keep leaving the room to get more gifts. Or why a log would poop at all.

“It’s ridiculous,” laughed Hugo Vallès, as he tried to recall if he ever believed in the Caga Tió. It’s possible he didn’t, since only his grandfather was Catalan, with his other grandparents hailing from southern Spain, Japan, and China. So even though he was born in Barcelona, Vallès didn’t have a defecating piece of wood at home — only at school.

In those early school years, he recalls they fed the Caga Tió mandarins — not leftovers or lentils. For Monica Vallejo, mandarins are actually the end of the Caga Tió process. Kids keep leaving the room to pray or just give the log some alone time to do its biz, and every time they come back, more small gifts and caramels await. When the Caga Tió starts dropping mandarins, though, the present party has petered out.

After that kids in Catalonia and Aragon will have to wait two more weeks until Three Kings Day to get presents. That’s when the three magi who visited baby Jesus come bearing gift-wrapped boxes, and those magi can carry a Sony PlayStation.

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The Best Airbnbs in Boston, From Beacon Hill To a Ship in the Harbor

Boston is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the United States. Rivals might tease and say it’s New York City’s cute little sibling, but its compactness is part of what makes it great. No matter where you are, you can easily get to any other neighborhood on foot or on the T, Boston’s public transportation system. And despite its relatively small size, there’s plenty to do. Whether you’re visiting for its rich history, its prestigious schools, or its diverse food scene, there’s something for everyone in Boston. Here are 15 Airbnbs in Boston you’ll be happy to return to after a day of exploring.

We hope you love the Airbnb Boston vacation rentals 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.

 

1. Modern Airbnb near Downtown Crossing

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This beautiful loft couldn’t be any closer to the heart of the city. As you might guess from the name, Downtown Crossing is where everything comes together. All subway lines pass through here, so you can travel anywhere with ease when staying at this Airbnb. It’s an active zone packed with restaurants, bars, shops, etc. The loft has a modern open floor plan with high-end European features and tons of natural light. Its strong WiFi and multiple places to work make it great for remote workers, and you can get a discount for long stays.

Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $230 per night

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2. Private studio Airbnb in Beacon Hill

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This private studio apartment was built in 1789 in historic Beacon Hill. Beacon Hill is among the most desirable and expensive neighborhoods in the city, but as a guest, you can experience it for a reasonable price. A few blocks from the apartment is Acorn Street, a cobblestone street lined with colonial brick houses that some consider to be the most photographed street in America (Instagrammers, get your cameras out). It’s also five minutes away from the Massachusetts State House and the Boston Common, the oldest park in America. This cozy apartment is right next to the oldest house in Beacon Hill, allowing you to jump into the past while enjoying modern amenities like a Tempurpedic bed and Roku TV.

Three guests, studio
Price: $142 per night

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3. Townhouse Airbnb near Boston’s Back Bay

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This centrally located apartment is one of the highest-rated Airbnbs in Boston. It’s right on the border of the Back Bay and South End, two of the most happening areas of the city. The updated Victorian-era townhouse sits on a quiet street that’s close to any public transportation you might need. On foot, it’s 15 minutes or less to the most popular attractions in the city. Walk through Copley Square, grab something to eat at the Prudential Center, get some work done at the Boston Public Library, or shop on Newbury Street. This apartment is perfect for solo travelers and couples visiting for business or leisure. You can also get weekly or monthly discounts for extended stays.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $175 per night

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4. Apartment Airbnb in Boston’s South End

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have an arcade right next to your bedroom, here’s your chance. This private apartment accommodates up to eight guests and is complete with a full kitchen, exercise bike, arcade machine, and vintage pinball machine. The games make an excellent way to reward yourself after a sprint of remote work at the apartment or a day of exploration. The apartment is close to the award-winning SoWa open market. It’s also an easy walk to Copley Square, the Swan Boats in the Public Garden, Newbury Street, and other must-see downtown sites.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $247 per night

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5. Minimalist Airbnb apartment in Boston’s North End

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This newly renovated apartment is the perfect getaway for a solo or couples trip to Boston. The simplistic apartment is in the heart of Boston’s Historic North End and features a spacious living room, a new kitchen, and access to the roof deck. The apartment is on the quiet Charter Street, steps away from Downtown, the Waterfront, and Hanover Street.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $165per night

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6. Quirky one-bedroom apartment in Allston

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This one-bedroom apartment is right in the heart of the activities in the area. It’s close to public transportation and just a short drive to Harvard Business School, Boston University, and Boston College. The apartment is within walking distance of restaurants, bars, grocery stores, Vegan Gastronomic Square, and popular hotspots.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $105 per night

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7. Cozy apartment Airbnb near Fenway

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Sit back and relax at this Boston Airbnb near Fenway. This bright apartment is tucked away in the heart of Fenway and steps away from the park. It’s located on the second floor and features a comfortable living area, a fully equipped kitchen, and one bedroom.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $176 per night

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8. Stylish condo in Charlestown

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Make this stylish condo your home base for your Boston getaway. This newly restored condo has a spacious living room with a marble fireplace, a fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a work desk area, and a cozy bedroom area. You can also enjoy a private deck when the weather is nice.

Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $180per night

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9. Luxury Cambridge, Boston Airbnb

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Stay at this pet-friendly apartment in Boston. This contemporary apartment is in Central Square and features a cozy living area, a fully stocked kitchen, tall ceilings, and large windows, bringing in a lot of natural lighting. It’s near Harvard, Charles River, Flour Bakery, and more.

Two guests, two bedrooms
Price: $115 per night

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10. South Boston Airbnb near popular attractions

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This newly constructed apartment in South Boston is in the heart of South Boston. This three-bedroom apartment has a living area and a fully equipped kitchen. The apartment is near many South Boston attractions like the Convention Center, downtown, and Financial District, and it’s conveniently located near public transportation.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $159 per night

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11. Chic Airbnb in East Boston

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Here is the perfect apartment in East Boston is ideal for any vacation and near plenty of attractions. This chic apartment is a ten-minute walk from the Airport T Station., 2.3 miles to Downtown Boston and 4.1 miles to Fenway Park. The apartment has a spacious living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and two cozy bedrooms.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $200 per night

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12. Bright and airy two-bedroom Airbnb in the Financial District

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This spacious two-bedroom apartment is located in the heart of the Financial District. The condo features tall ceilings and large windows, bringing in natural lighting. An open floor plan makes up the spacious living room, dining, and kitchen area. This apartment is just a few blocks from the State House, North End, Fanueil Hall, and The Seaport.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $192 per night

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13. Renovated Condo with Private Outdoor Oasis

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Check out this newly renovated condo with a spacious living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a private outside oasis. Sit back and relax in the cozy bedrooms with king beds, an ensuite bathroom, and a gas fireplace. This condo is near many attractions like bars and restaurants and is just a short walk to the beach and a five to ten-minute drive to South End and Back Bay.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $315 per night

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14. Luxury Boston Airbnb near Logan Airport

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Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Stay at this luxury apartment near Airport Station. This apartment is in a prime location three blocks from the public library, Bremen’s Park, shopping centers, bars and restaurants. It’s also one block from the airport and just one stop away from Aquarium Station.

Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $120 per night

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15. Modern Condo Airbnb near Downtown

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Enjoy this one-bedroom condo right in the middle of everything. This modern apartment has everything from high-end finishes to a cozy living room and a fully equipped kitchen. The apartment is only a five-minute train to downtown, Freedom Trail Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and more popular Boston attractions.

Three guests, one bedroom
Price: $117 per night

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A Trip To Iceland’s Vestrahorn Is an Otherwordly Experience

Iceland is filled with places that look unreal. Seljalandsfoss is one, with its path that leads visitors to walk behind the waterfall; Reykjadalur Valley is another, with its natural hot river that lets people bathe in the middle of a scenery that looks like the Shire. But few beat the beauty of Vestrahorn, a mountain with jagged peaks that sits on a black-sand beach where the tides of the Atlantic ebb and flow.

@visit Do you know where this is? Check the comments to find out @itchban #traveltiktok #summerbucketlist #nature #mir ♬ som original – AstrooSpace

Vestrahorn has become a popular spot for photographers, especially when the black sand is covered by the tide, creating the perfect mirror to reflect the dramatic mountain, as seen on the video above. But as is often the case in Iceland, if the weather is not in your favor, the mountain might be shrouded in fog and your views might be spoiled. Patience is required to get the perfect shot of Vestrahorn.

While at Vestrahorn, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, especially seals and seabirds. In late June and early, the area around the mountain is covered in tens of thousands of beautiful blue, purple, and pink lupins in blooms.

Despite being a popular spot, Vestrahorn is on private property and access to the black-sand beach, the best views of the mountain, and the walking trails require a payment of 900 ISK (6.30 USD) per person. Those who pay the fee have access to a parking lot where they can camp for the night, clean bathrooms with showers, as well as a now-dilapidated film set meant to be the replica of a Viking village. There’s also a lovely café.

Vestrahorn is located in southeast Iceland. Driving east from Reykjavík on Route 1 (the famous Ring Road that circles around the country), it is about 4.5 miles beyond the turn-off to the fishing town of Höfn, and a little over three miles down a gravel road off the main road.

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Matador Travel Awards 2022: Cause To Get Behind

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has its roots in anti-discrimation legislation enacted during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in the United States and has now grown to involve broader identities: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, and more. In recent years, DEI awareness and initiatives, plus policies and practices are being embraced in the workplace as well as in education, entertainment, and professional sports.

In travel and tourism, the importance of a diverse hospitality workforce made up in large numbers by women and people of color cannot be overemphasized. From 2020, the impact of Covid-19 hammered this message home for many employers and certainly for the traveling public as well.

Bringing more diverse voices to the table can pay off. According to McKinsey & Company, “companies in the top quartile for workforce diversity are 33 percent more likely to financially outperform their less diverse counterparts.” Tourism organizations, businesses, governments, nonprofits, and others must make an investment in DEI principles.

Matador Travel Awards 2022: Influencer To Watch

The first thing you’re likely to notice about Cory Lee is his wide smile; the second thing you may notice is his wheelchair. Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at age two, Cory took his first trip in a powered wheelchair at age four to Walt Disney World. From that day forward, the wanderlust and thirst for adventure has never let up.

Upon reaching Antarctica at age 30 in 2020, Cory accomplished a lifetime goal; he has navigated 40 countries on all seven continents on wheels. He has visited the Taj Mahal, ridden a camel in the Sahara, been on an African safari, gone swimming in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, peered into the Grand Canyon, and ticked off 35 of the 50 states from his ever-evolving travel-related bucket list.

In addition to Cory’s wheelchair-friendly destination coverage, he provides information on how to see the world despite mobility challenges. These include flying as a wheelchair user, finding beaches with powered beach wheelchairs, charging an electric wheelchair abroad, identifying the most accessible hotels, plus more advice and practical tips.

Cory’s website is liberally sprinkled with awards. He is called upon to speak about wheelchair accessibility at travel conferences around the world. His followers are in the tens of thousands: there are 37,000 on Facebook and 31,000 on Instagram plus 14,000 on Twitter.

“I help wheelchair users travel the world,” his profile modestly indicates. Through his intrepid adventures and reporting, Curb Free With Cory Lee is all about “inspiring other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zone and see all of the beauty the world has to offer.”

Matador Travel Awards 2022: Best Airline

In 2022, Delta hired its first chief sustainability officer. It experimented with new technologies like parallel reality. It launched a skills-first career development program to bring on new talent and reduce the barrier to entry for high-paying airline jobs. It was among the most on-time airlines in the country and had the second lowest percentage of cancellations, just behind Hawaiian Airlines. And amidst these initiatives it was named the top United States-based airline in the highly anticipated Skytrax awards.

Reliability metrics are important in the airline industry — especially when air travel hassle is at a high. But equally important is an airline’s commitment to sustainability. There’s no getting around the fact that long distance air travel is not environmentally positive, and likely won’t be for decades (if ever). But responsibility on the part of airlines is the first step, and Delta is leading the way while providing top-of-class customer service from the lounge to the in-flight experience.

Why Austin Is One of the Best Cities for Food in Texas

A waiter placed a platter of bone marrow and plate piled with lettuce, tomato, and tortillas. I assembled my bone marrow taco, squeezing lime juice on top and garnishing with cilantro, and gave it a taste. As I chewed the bone marrow, I began to understand why locals so effusively praised the food here in Austin. The buttery bone marrow as creamy and rich, an exciting twist on the typical taco that helped explain the ever-evolving food scene in Austin. This city isn’t turning its back on its Texas roots but it is adding its own distinct flavor to already legendary state cuisine. Here, chefs and restaurant owner explain how the best restaurants in Austin are making a name for themselves in Texas.

Austin’s evolving food scene

Austin wasn’t always known for its food trucks, spiced and smokey Asian cuisines, seafood, or even its now-famous breakfast burritos. About a decade ago, the city started to play host to restaurants with Mexican, modern American, Indian, Thai, Asian, and Caribbean, influences, which have solidified its status as one of the most interesting and exciting places to eat in Texas.

“I think there is a little more of a willingness to try new things here than in other parts of Texas,” says Nick Erven, executive chef at Wax Myrtle’s. “There is not a long history of food here, so I think the scene adapts and evolves as it goes along. Its identity is still being decided.”

The rest of Texas is known for its barbecue, tacos, Tex-Mex, and tequila, but this city hasn’t yet landed on speciality. Instead, this vibrant city embraces every new style of cuisine that pops up.

“I think the restaurant scene has gotten better and more diversified,” says CJ Jacobson, the chef at Aba, which specializes in kebabs, hummus and falafel. “Where else can you get awesome Bahn mi, smoked brisket, spicy ramen, great Mexican, and groundbreaking Caribbean food in one place.”

This welcoming atmopshere (at least when it comes to good food) provides the perfect opportunity for chefs and other culinary artists to advance in their craft — and the environment in Austin is especially supportive.

“On one hand, the maturing culinary scene provides many opportunities for people in the industry to continue learning and expanding their skills. The local restaurant community continues to grow in a tight-knit, supportive way. It promotes fostering beneficial relationships with a growing number of regional farmers and ranchers,” Krystal Craig and Ian Thurwachter of Italian restaurant Intero, wrote to Matador in an email.

Food trucks were likely the catalyst for better, more creative food blossoming in Austin, according to CJ Jacobson. Today, however, visitors cna find Texas classics like barbecue and tacos, alongside quirky restaurants that might surprise the Texas food purist. And new restaurants continue to open all the time.

“I think [Austin’s food scene] has just grown. Ten years ago, there were fewer restaurants. I think we have got quite a bit more notoriety, not because the restaurants have necessarily been better, but because Austin has become more famous,” says Erevn. “Over time, though, I think that the scene will evolve into having a greater variety of really quality places all over the city, not just a few scattered in select neighborhoods.”

Austin continues to attract droves of tourists – at one point for the well-established scene and hipster vibes, and now for the restaurants, too. It’s no where near done evolving.

“Austin is still a growing city. We do have established, iconic spots to eat, but in general, Austin’s restaurant expansion has primarily been in the last 15 years, making it an interesting time to see more diverse types of cuisine become available than we’ve ever had before,” wrote Craig and Thurwachter.

Here are the best restaurants in Austin to try on your next visit.

The best restaurants to eat at in AustinComedor

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This restaurant, home to the bone marrow taco, bills its menu as a modern take on traditional Mexican cuisine. Expect grilled octopus paired with salsa and a smoked fish tostado on the menu at Comedor.

Where: 501 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

Terry Blacks

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Terry Black’s is probably the best known barbecue restaurant in Austin. This smoker does everything: You’ll find turkey, pork ribs, and sausage on the menu. Make sure to get there early, though, as the lines are always out the door.

Where: 1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Saps Ver Fine Thai

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Located in a humble strip mall, the location only masks its stellar reputation. Saps Ver Fine is legendary. The expansive menu offers noodle soups, curries, crab rangoon, fish cakes, and cat fish.

Where: 4514 West Gate Blvd, Austin, TX 78745

Suerte

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The menu at this Mexican restaurant celebrates all things masa, prepared using traditional methods. Diners at Suerte will be treated with mole made with butternut squash, roast chicken, and slow cooked carnitas. Agave is the centerpiece of the cocktail menu.

Where: 1800 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Juan in a Million

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Breakfast tacos, like nopalitos with egg, are the thing to try at restaurant. Chalupas, enchiladas, and a Texas style steak dinner stand out on the lunch menu.

Where: 2300 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Bento Picnic

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Japanese bento boxes are the specialty here. Bento Picnic lets diners assemble their own meal: Start with protein salmon or tofu, and pair it with rice or noodles. Snacks to enjoy on the side include ume plum potato chips and chicken karaage. Pair the whole meal with a beer bucket at happy hour.

Where: 2600 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Food Heads

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At this simple cafe, where the menu focuses on local ingredients, breakfast tacos are also on the menu. But the star of the show at FoodHeads are the sandwiches which feature slices of ham and bacon, pulled pork, smoked gouda, jalapeno relish, capers, and many other mouth watering ingredients. Sandwiches can be paired with a warming cup of coup, the style of which changes daily – anything from Tuscan bean to green chile pozole.

Where: 616 W 34th St, Austin, TX 78705

Fukumoto

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This Japanese izakaya restaurant specializes in skewers and sushi. You’ll find all sorts of comfort food on the menu at Fukumoto from crispy crab and fried shrimp to mushroom tempura Japanese style corn dogs.

Where: 514 Medina St, Austin, TX 78702

Where to stay in Austin

During my time in the big state of Texas, I stayed at two Omni properties, the locations combined the best of city life and Texas hill country life. Here is what you need to know about these hotels before booking your stay.

Omni Downtown Austin

Photo: Omni Downtown Austin

The Omni Downtown Austin has 393 rooms and suites, which the hotel recently renovated. Many of the rooms over sweeping views of the downtown area.

Omni Downtown Austin incorporates modern architecture with homages to its Texas heritage: There are pictures of the city and 3D models of different animals on the walls, but the one thing that I couldn’t take my eyes off of was the views of Downtown Austin. Along with stunning views and Texas decor, the Omni Downtown Austin is a hotel that seems to serve as a meeting place for people all over the city. It has a welcoming atmosphere.

Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa

Photo: Omni Barton Creek

Located on 4,000 acres of land is the Omni Barton Creek Resort. If you’re looking for a quick getaway from the city, this hotel is just a 20-minute drive from downtown Austin. Omni Barton Creek features 493 rooms, an on-site spa with a pool and rooftop deck, four championship golf courses, eight dining options, four pools, and a 33,00 square foot fitness center.

This hotel is perfect for golf lovers, but it can also be a relaxing getaway for. The resort offers yoga, facials, a jacuzzi, a sauna, and a rooftop pool. The brisket sandwich is one of the best meals at the hotel. It was just the right amount of juiciness, and came with a sweet and savory barbecue sauce on the side. At night, guests can roasting marshmallows under the stars.

Downtown Omni and Barton Creek not only highlight the beautiful scenery and roots of Austin, Texas, but the two properties also highlight the delicious culinary scene within Austin. At the Omni Downtown Austin, guests can enjoy dishes like street tacos, Texas bistro steak, Pressed Prairie Farm Chicken, or Austin’s local Amy’s ice creams.

Meanwhile, check out Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Blind Salamander Kitchen & Bar, or Jim Bob’s Lobby Lounge at the Barton Creek resort.

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