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October 10, 2022

Here’s How Much Gas Money It Takes To Drive America’s Most Famous Road Trips

There are few things like taking a great American road trip across the country. And while the country’s most loved road trips are always worth the experience, getting from point A to point B and doing everything in between can get pricey with gas prices still elevated.

AAA’s gas prices index is helpful to get a sense of the average cost for some of the most famous road trips in the country. By taking the combined average gas price of the states that the route goes through, and taking into account that the average American car gets 25 miles per gallon, it’s possible to break down how much to put away for the fuel costs alone before heading out.

Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica

Average total gallons of gas needed: 98
Average total cost for gas: $400

America’s most famous road trip route is a long one at about 2,450 miles through eight states. A couple of those states are among the highest for gas prices and the total average across all states is $4.11 per gallon, meaning it could add up when you try and budget for gas money.

States on Route 66CaliforniaArizonaNew MexicoTexasOklahomaKansasMissouriIllinoisPacific Coast Highway from Seattle to San Diego

Average total gallons of gas needed: 66
Average total cost for gas: $380

If you’re looking to do the full PCH drive, start down in San Diego and drive about 1,650 miles up to Seattle. This crosses three states that all have relatively high gas prices, including a lot of driving time in California. The average price of gas going through all three states is $5.75.

States on the Pacific Coast HighwayCaliforniaOregonWashingtonBlue Ridge Parkway from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains

Average total gallons of gas needed: 19
Average total cost for gas: $67

Just because the Blue Ridge Parkway is short doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. The length also means that it won’t cost much in gas money to complete, with about 470 total miles and an average gas price along the route of $3.50.

States on the Blue Ridge ParkwayNorth CarolinaVirginiaThe Oregon Trail from Cannon Beach, Oregon, to Provincetown, Massachusetts

Average total gallons of gas needed: 132
Average total cost for gas: $500

The Oregon Trail (thankfully without any common dysentery cases in this day and age) spans 11 states over about 3,300 miles. The average gas price across those states is $3.80.

States on the Oregon TrailOregonIdahoWyomingNebraskaIowaIllinoisIndianaOhioPennsylvaniaNew YorkMassachusettsThe Southern Pacific on I-80 from San Diego to Savannah, Georgia

Average total gallons of gas needed: 116
Average total cost for gas: $450

Going all the way across the country along the southern route is an opportunity to see both the highest and the lowest gas prices in the country. The route spans eight states over 2,900 miles with an average gas price of $3.89 across those states.

States on the Southern PacificCaliforniaArizonaNew MexicoTexasLouisianaMississippiAlabamaGeorgiaGreat River Road National Scenic Byway from Park Rapids, Minnesota, to Venice, Louisiana

Average total gallons of gas needed: 120
Average total cost for gas: $435

Rather than going from sea to shining sea, why not go from the northern border to the Gulf of Mexico? The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the Mississippi River down 10 states. The 3,000 mile journey sees an average gas price of about $3.63 per gallon.

States on the Great River Road National Scenic BywayMinnesotaWisconsinIowaIllinoisMissouriKentuckyTennesseeArkansasMississippiLouisiana

More like this Road Trips New Poll Finds America’s Favorite Road Trip To Take in the United States

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Published on October 10, 2022 12:33

How To Take the Perfect Magic Mushroom Day Trip From New York City

While studies have shown that humans have eaten psilocybin throughout our evolution, magic mushrooms are having a moment as of late. Within the last couple of years, progressive cities like Santa Cruz, Ann Arbor, and Denver, as well as the state of Oregon, have decriminalized “the flesh of the gods,” and mushrooms might soon enjoy the kind of cultural and legal acceptance that cannabis has gained in the last decade. Such legalization could offer relief to thousands: Research from John Hopkins and the National Institute of Health indicates that mushrooms can ameliorate PTSD, OCD, severe depression, and other mental illnesses.

In New York, mushrooms remain a Schedule 1 drug, meaning that, in the eyes of the law, psilocybin is an illegal substance with no accepted medical benefits. However, if you know where to look, they’re about as easy to procure in the city as cannabis (that is to say, they’re as accessible as a bag of chips or a pint of Van Leeuwen’s Ice Cream). CBD stores, smoke shops, and even some bodegas sell mushrooms more or less in plain sight. And if you’re not excited about choking down dried caps like people did in the ‘70s, psilocybin-infused goodies (chocolate bars and truffles, honey, hot cocoa mix, tinctures, you name it) are widely available, too.

magic mushroom chocolate bar purchased in new york city

Photo: Author

After hearing a chorus of praises from trusted friends about mushrooms, I resolved to find out for myself what they are all about. Stopping in at a CBD store in the Alphabet City neighborhood of Manhattan, I picked up a psilocybin-infused chocolate bar for about $60. The bar’s label, emblazoned with a trippy mandala, advertised “200 mg of ginseng, raw cacao, and 5 grams of ‘magic.’” My girlfriend and I had planned a hike in the Hudson Valley for the coming Sunday, and we figured it would be as good an opportunity as any for a dive into the deep end.

Taking a magic mushroom day trip from New York City

On the fateful day, we rose at 8 AM to journey to Beacon, New York, a quaint colonial town about 70 miles north of the city on the Hudson River. Along with the chocolate, we packed the usual supplies for a hike: water bottles, a blanket, an external phone charger. As friends had advised, I made sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before.

The trip from my apartment in Brooklyn took about 3 hours, including a 1.5-hour train ride from Grand Central Station. As the smoke and asphalt of the city dissolved in the rearview, we passed through small hamlets in Westchester County, then long stretches that featured only the Hudson river and forest in sight. After an hour on the train, we spied the remnants of an abandoned castle on Bannerman Island. By noon, when the conductor announced Beacon as the next stop, we felt a world away from the Big Apple’s rush and roar.

Photo: Author

We spent the first hour in Beacon exploring the town, relishing the colonial charm, taking in views of the fjord-like Hudson, and stopping by the Sunday Farmer’s Market, where we picked up some local hot sauce. Beacon Mountain, a green cone visible from Main Street, is the town’s most well-known hike, but the way up, locals informed us, was steep and challenging. Opting for a chill nature walk in lieu of a rigorous climb, we found a series of lazy trails along the Hudson.

On a bench by the water, we divvied up the chocolate bar, comprised of four squares each that were in turn subdivided into four triangular pieces to create 16 pieces total. On the inner packaging, a quote from hippie-philosopher Terrance McKenna offered a reassuring pre-trip reminder: “You are a divine being. You matter, you count. You come from the realms of unimaginable power and light, and you will return to those realms.” On another flap of the packaging were dosing instructions: one-to-four triangles for a mild trip, four-to-eight for a mesodose, and eight-to-16 for a heroic trip. My girlfriend and I initially ate four small pieces each, then two more once we were on the trails.

After about 20 minutes, I began to feel the first gentle and subtle effects of the psilocybin. While I stood admiring the river from Beacon’s promenade, the sunlight on the water congealed into shimmering sheets of liquid platinum. I remained lucid and clear, but my train of thought began to take strange detours. Engrossed in the beauty of my surroundings, I felt any residual worry and anxiety fade away.

An hour in, the trip started in earnest. Overcome with heaviness, I had to sit down, then lie down, on a tree trunk by the water. Mild nausea set in, and I chided myself for having a beer and cheeseburger for lunch. As I stared up at the sky from the tree trunk, the clouds came alive and started opening, closing, and shifting with a will of their own. Suddenly, I noticed a face — wizened and sporting a long beard of white tendrils — watching the world from within the clouds. I wondered if such visions were the origin of the Sky Father myth that’s popular across history and cultures (Zeus in Greece, Odin in Scandinavia, and Indra in India). Around the same time, the gentle lapping of the Hudson became the heartbeat of the world. I reflected how after I died, and after even the buildings of Beacon crumbled away, that gentle rhythm would continue.

When heaviness and nausea passed, we got up to walk the trails. As I strolled through the woods, the boughs and leaves of the trees danced in the wind with all the grace and choreography of a ballet. My girlfriend and I traded notes on what we were experiencing, but we were both too mesmerized by the visuals for prolonged conversation.

My thoughts turned to religion. I contemplated the Vedic assertion that we, at our most fundamental level, are nothing less than god. This declaration somehow made sense. Our bodies, minds, and senses are the portals through which god (the self) enjoys the majesty of his handiwork, the physical plane. I had the epiphany that the universe is moving toward a goal, that creation is evolving with purpose, and that the entire cosmos is a story unfolding. I wish I had written down these thoughts. Such realizations are difficult to retain after tripping, and even trickier to articulate.

The come-down began after three-to-four hours. Reality started to look normal again, but I was still feeling the psilocybin. I laughed at everything — a goofy memory, an inside joke with my girlfriend, a meme I saw when I finally checked my phone — and everything was the quintessence of hilarity. Laughter felt glorious, like releasing pent-up tension in my stomach and solar plexus. We contemplated grabbing dinner in Beacon but decided to head back home and unwind. It was close to sunset, and we were ready to rest.

Photo: Author

After the trip, I understood why so many people I respect, particularly those with deep souls and keen aesthetic sensitivities, are fans of psilocybin. Mushrooms can be therapeutic and help us see problems from new angles. Psilocybin jostles the mind out of its well-worn pathways, opening up new perspectives. Taken with the right intention, mushrooms are balm for the soul, granting us a deeper capacity for empathy —n both with fellow humans and with nature. Paul Stamets, a prominent mycologist and psilocybin advocate, asserts that “Psilocybin makes nicer people. Psilocybin will make us more intelligent, and better citizens.” I couldn’t agree more.

Tips for taking a New York City magic mushroom day trip The guy walks through the autumn forest, a narrow path, yellow and red leaves.

Photo: plutmaverick/Shutterstock

Get out of the city

Take mushrooms somewhere removed from the noise and chaos of the city and in where you can reconnect with nature. Turn your phone off, too. My girlfriend and I chose Beacon, a town on the Poughkeepsie Line about an hour and a half from Grand Central Station. Trains leave from Grand Central to Beacon every hour on weekends, with the last trains returning to the city well into the evening. Beacon is a gorgeous town, but it attracts large crowds on the weekends. From New York City, there are plenty of hikes accessible by public transportation, especially along the Hudson Valley and the quieter sections of Long Island. There are also many gorgeous state parks across New York.

Fuel up beforehand, but not too much

Mushroom trips typically last four-to-six hours, so it’s wise to eat beforehand. Eat a clean and simple meal centered on something like oatmeal, yogurt, or rice. Don’t stuff yourself and avoid alcohol. Like other psychedelics, the come-up phase of a mushroom trip can induce nausea, and when the psilocybin kicked in on this last trip, I regretted the large, heavy lunch (a bacon cheeseburger with an IPA) I had eaten earlier.

Write down your thoughts

Similar to the way insights and innovative solutions can pop up in dreams or on the threshold of sleep, mushrooms loosen the boundary between the conscious and subconscious parts of the mind. Moreover, mushrooms reinvigorate our sense of wonder and appreciation of beauty. Unfortunately, epiphanies while tripping are as hard to retain as the memory of a dream. Bring a journal and pen to write down the thoughts you want to bring back.

Take the right dosage

For first-timers, I recommend taking one-to-two grams, which is typically enough to trip but won’t cause anything too disorienting or intense. Anything over five grams is considered a “heroic trip,” meaning it’s enough psilocybin to blast you over the moon. Chocolate bars, easily divided into pieces, are an easy way to dose. While mushrooms are non-toxic and overdoses are almost impossible, bad trips do happen. In extremely rare cases, mushrooms can trigger psychosis. Familiarizing yourself with how psilocybin affects your nervous system is not a bad idea before your first trip.

Trip with a friend

For safety and comfort, trip with at least one other person. If it’s your first experience with psychedelics, you might want to consider asking a friend to be your “trip-sitter,” meaning a sober person who accompanies you during your trip. As with all psychedelics, set and setting are crucial, so make sure whoever you trip with is someone you trust and feel comfortable around. It’s also fun to compare notes on the experience during and after the trip.

To protect the privacy of the author, names have been changed.

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Published on October 10, 2022 09:00

How To Plan the Perfect Family Vacation To Orlando and Kissimmee

Even if you know nothing else about the Orlando area, or about Florida as a whole, chances are you know Disney World. While the Happiest Place on Earth is undeniably a memorable experience, a Disney-only vacation misses the best the area has to offer. There’s a ton to do in Orlando and nearby Kissimmee that doesn’t involve waiting in line for rides or getting the “Small World” song stuck in your head on repeat. From checking out the gators at Gatorland to kayaking Shingle Creek and going back to the Middle Ages at Medieval Times, here’s how to plan an epic family vacation to Orlando and Kissimmee.

Paddling at Shingle Creek

What better way to dive into the area’s natural beauty than kayaking through a stunning cypress forest? The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek offers kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddle board rentals and tours. At the headwaters of the Everglades, Shingle Creek is considered one of the best paddling trails in Florida. Tours range from eco tours and after-hours adventures to wildlife-centric expeditions. There are also hiking and biking trails through the forest, for those who’d prefer to explore the area by land.

Boggy Creek Airboat Ride

Nothing screams Florida like an airboat ride through the Everglades. This mode of transportation propels you through the labyrinthine wetlands on a quest to spot alligators and other wildlife — and oftentimes you’ll get closer than you could have ever imagined. Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures offers airboat rides through the Central Florida Everglades, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of turtles, birds, and alligators. In addition to airboat tours, you can also tour the gemstone and fossil mine, a Native American village, and covered pavilions, or go a different route and check out the tiki bar.

Gatorland

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Maybe you didn’t see any alligators on your airboat tour. Or maybe you did and just can’t get enough. Gatorland cuts right to the chase and gets you up close and personal with your favorite Floridian reptiles. From baby alligators and crocodiles to 14-foot-long behemoths, Gatorland’s Breeding Marsh is home to one of the largest collections of gators in the state. The park also features a free-flight aviary, petting zoo, animal shows, zip line, and off-road adventure experience. Besides gators, you can expect to see tortoises, snakes, a variety of wild cats, and birds like parrots and flamingos. There’s also a zipline experience for the true adrenaline junkies.

Stroll the Promenade at Sunset Walk

Kissimmee’s Promenade at Sunset Walk is, quite literally, where it all happens. At this outdoor entertainment district, you’ll be able to find restaurants both casual and upscale, entertainment venues, retail shops, and a hopping bar scene. You could spend your entire trip here and not feel like you’re missing out. The Promenade has everything from a dine-in movie theater to an arcade, ice cream parlors, local boutique shopping, and Topgolf. Be sure to check out the weekly events, which include live music, street markets, craft fairs, and car shows.

Medieval Times

Disney doesn’t have a monopoly on Florida’s castles and princesses. At Medieval Times, you’ll be transported back to the Middle Ages – and a much grittier version than you’ll find in the Magic Kingdom. Once you enter the castle (a museum-esque experience that takes you back to the 11th century) you’ll witness a series of contests between brave knights as they vie for the hand of the queen. In addition to jousting and sword fighting, you’ll also enjoy performances by majestic horses and falcons. Perhaps most enticing, however, is the royal feast prepared for guests, consisting of hearty food like roasted chicken, potatoes, corn, and garlic bread.

Hit the coasters at Fun Spot

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Fun Spot America has all the thrills of Orlando’s famous theme park rides without the crowds and exorbitant cost. Fun Spot has pretty much everything you could want in an amusement park experience, from white-knuckle roller coasters to arcade games. There are also bumper cars, ferris wheels, carousels, and a midway full of carnival games, making Fun Spot the perfect day trip with the kids. The park has locations in both Orlando and Kissimmee, making it a convenient option wherever you happen to be staying.

Wallaby Ranch

This isn’t a wallaby petting zoo. It’s actually much, much more exciting. Wallaby Ranch is the first full time aerotow hang gliding flight park in the world, offering year-round tandem flights and hang gliding instruction. Aerotowing is basically the process of towing a hang glider using a towplane, making the hang glider safer and more accessible for beginners. While in the air, you’ll enjoy a bird’s eye view of the ranch from 2,000 feet in the air. Once you’re back on the ground, you can take advantage of the ranch’s camping and RV facilities, and the close proximity to Florida’s natural woodlands, home to a variety of wildlife.

Celebration Bike Rental

The best way to truly get a sense of any destination is by exploring it on two wheels. Renting a bike gives you the freedom to explore all the Orlando and Kissimmee area has to offer, from natural wildlife trails to waterfront pathways, and quiet neighborhoods with eye-catching architecture. Celebration Bike Rentals offers self-guided bike tours (seven-mile rides that bring you through the area’s most picturesque sites) as well as regular bike rentals in two-hour increments. Bikes can be either picked up or delivered directly to your hotel or resort, whichever is most convenient for your family.

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Published on October 10, 2022 06:00

October 9, 2022

This Website Lets You Compare Data From 20 Years of Global Shark Attacks

Shark or bear attack? A new survey shows which people think is worse — and has the data to prove they’re wrong.

A new survey run via YouGov Direct, a research agency that runs randomized polls of Americans, found that most Americans have a really bad idea of what getting attacked by a shark is like.

Led by FloridaPanhandle.com, a real estate booking agency based in Panama City, Florida (where sharks are common), the survey asked 1,000 Americans a series of questions to gauge their knowledge of shark attacks. It also looked at statistics for every fatal and non-fatal shark attack reported worldwide between January 2000 and October 2022, totaling about 500. Of those, 89.4 percent of people survived the attacks. The data is available in an interactive format so viewers can look at detailed statistics by year, type of shark, country, and more.

But ask an American what they think their odds of surviving a shark attack are, and they’re very, very wrong.

Photo: FloridaPanhandle.com/

The poll found that only 13 percent of Americans could correctly ballpark their odds of surviving a shark attack. A quarter of respondents put their odds at a dismal 40 to 60 percent, with roughly an even amount putting their odds of survival between 60 and 80 percent or 20 and 40 percent. Another 14 percent of respondents were as pessimistic about their odds as can be, giving themselves less than a 20 percent chance of surviving a shark attack.

According to the survey data, humans are quite afraid of sharks, responding that they’d rather be in a car accident at 70 miles per hour (42 percent), fall out of a third-story window (34 percent), or get attacked by a bear (14 percent) before they’d choose to get attacked by a shark (10 percent). By the way, bear attacks have a survival rate of 86 percent, making it safer to go toe-to-toe with a shark.

would you rather - shark attack vs bear vs fall vs car

Photo: FloridaPanhandle.com

Of course, the odds of dying in a shark attack vary greatly based on where you are and what type of shark you encounter. In nearly half of the shark attack cases studied (223), the species was unknown, which certainly skews the data. But of known species in shark attacks, the deadliest were great white sharks (112 attacks, 42 percent fatality rate) and bull sharks (62 attacks, 27 percent fatality rate). The friendliest sharks include the ones most often seen by divers and snorkelers, like lemon sharks, reef sharks, seven gills, nurse sharks, and sand sharks, all of whom had a zero percent fatality rate.

nurse shark nose - unlikely shark attack

Nurse sharks: not out to kill you. Photo: Maui Topical Images/Shutterstock

Of course, the fatality rate of attacks may not have anything to do with shark behavior. Attacks from certain species could be more likely to be fatal because that species tends to live in places with poorer emergency response facilities, because that species lives in areas where attacks get reported more, or because they’re more recognizable to witnesses — not necessarily because they’re more aggressive than any other shark. To put it in perspective, humans kill about 100 million sharks per year, while sharks kill only about 10 humans per year. Your odds are greater of being killed by a champagne cork (24 deaths per year) or a falling television set (29 fatalities per year).

Watch out. Viktor Gladkov/Shutterstock

It’s not surprising that a business in Florida would commission a study on shark attack safety as Florida leads the US every year in the number of shark attacks reported. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s ongoing International Shark Attack File, “Florida’s 28 cases represent 60 percent of the U.S. total and 38 percent of unprovoked bites worldwide in 2021.”

Of those, roughly 60 percent were people participating in board sports (surfing, bodyboarding, etc.) as the outline of a human on a board can look like the outline of a plump seal when viewed from below — as a shark would see it. Though it may seem counterintuitive, the safest activity is likely scuba diving, as sharks can see divers in their entirety, which means they’re rarely mistaken for a food source.

And the strangest question asked un the survey? FloridaPanhandle asked all 1,000 respondents if they’d be willing to be attacked by a shark if they knew they’d survive with no long-term medical consequences. Shockingly, 15 percent said yes — as long as they got a cool story out of it. That better be a heck of a good story.

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Published on October 09, 2022 11:50

October 7, 2022

Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive Is a Road Trip Filled With Waterfalls, Beaches, and Great Beer

If you live outside the Midwest, you probably only think about northern Minnesota when you see the winter weather reports that cite it as one of the coldest places in America, registering temperatures somewhere between Siberia and the surface of Neptune. But visit in warmer months — and especially during the fall — and Minnesota’s shore along Lake Superior offers some of the most stunning scenery in the country, most of which you’ll catch along the North Shore Scenic Drive.

Also known as Minnesota State Route 61, the highway begins in Duluth and runs 150 miles along the coast of Lake Superior to the Canadian border. Along the way, you’ll see waterfalls, lakeside cliffs, historic lighthouses, and blankets of fall colors. You can also stop into small northern port towns with colorful characters and learn a little history of the Great Lakes.

Start in Duluth

Duluth is an historic shipping hub that’s transformed into a vibrant small city. To get some perspective on the North Shore Scenic Drive, stop into the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center. It gives a fascinating overview of how important the north shore of Superior was to settlers in the American West. More important to your drive, the center explains why so many cities popped up in a place so cold.

Get to Duluth a night or two before your trip so you can enjoy some of the city’s outdoor activities, historic rail, Gilded Age mansions, and breweries and distilleries.

Duluth is a Seaport City in the U.S. State of Minnesota and is the County Seat of Saint Louis County. Duluth Cityscape Photo in Summer.

Photo: Virrage Images/Shutterstock

For a little preview of your drive take a ride on the Northshore Scenic Railroad, which leaves from Duluth’s historic downtown train depot. The stunning ride follows tracks along the lake shore, traveling 45 minutes each way with views of Superior and bluffs behind it. You can kick back with a beer in the bar car, or relax in a seat on one of its vintage cars ranging from old-time luxury to modern commuter trains.

A tour of the Glensheen Mansion will make you realize how much money iron mining can make. The 32,000-square-foot waterfront estate features intricate woodwork throughout, as well as renaissance art and brilliant landscaping. Plan about an hour and a half to tour the property, which includes a boathouse, a tranquil bridge, and a private cemetery.

Bent Paddle is a social hub for paddlers and hikers who stop in for a pint of Kanu Session Pale Ale after a long trip. It sits in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, a former industrial area teeming with independent restaurants. OMC Smokehouse has great barbecue, and the pizza at Ursa Minor is fantastic. If you’re looking for gourmet pizza like tandoori tikka and and duck banh-mi, check out Lulu’s Pizza downtown.

The multi-level Fitger’s Brewhouse, with original stone from the 1857 building still there, is unmissable thanks to its giant tower and sign right on the lake shore. Plan your visit right and you can catch live music and stand up comedy.

Stop in Two Harbors for beer, pie, and a far-north shipping town

After leaving Duluth, hit the junction of I-35 and Minnesota Route 61 and head north toward Two Harbors. The drive runs along Lake Superior, and you’ll find a few spots to pull off and take the more-scenic CSAH-61. It offers front row views of the lake, but takes about twice as long.

Stopping in the town of Twin Harbors is worth it if for no other reason than to get a glimpse of life in a far-north shipping town. Grab a beer at Castle Danger Brewery and chat up some locals, then walk around the corner and check out the lake views from Agate Bay.

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Classic, Midwestern pie is a must when visiting this part of the country, and Betty’s Pies is as close as you get to a landmark. Even if you’re not hungry, stop in and grab a slice of raspberry rhubarb or caramel apple for the road, and you’ll understand why there’s almost always a line. Parking can be tough to find, too, so budget some time to wait for a space, especially if you’re going on the weekend.

Continue north for waterfalls and a historic lighthouse Gooseberry Falls waterfall Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Photo: dvande/Shutterstock

For a quick jaunt into nature that won’t monopolize too much of your day, make a stop at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The falls themselves are only about a 10-minute walk from the visitors center, and the path winds through thick woods full of vibrant colors in autumn. Take a few extra minutes and stroll to the pedestrian bridge over the falls for a different vantage point. The whole trail is paved and easy to walk, and completely wheelchair accessible.

A little farther north about 20 miles from Two Harbors is the most enduring image of the Northshore Scenic Drive: Split Rock Lighthouse. The historic structure from 1910 offers what some say is the best view in all of Minnesota from its base, looking out over Lake Superior and cities beyond. In addition to touring the lighthouse you can also walk through the old lightkeeper’s houses, which are surprisingly luxurious digs set on bluffs above the lake. The whole experience won’t take much more than half an hour.

Stop for a black sand beach and sheer granite cliffs Black Beach on the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota

Photo: Alisha Bube/Shutterstock

Black sand beaches are typically the province of tropical locales like Maui and Costa Rica. But in northern Minnesota, a stretch of soft, taconite sand sits between bluffs on the lake. Black Beach is a surreal scene in a forested environment, and if you happen to hit it on a warm day this makes for a perfect lunchtime picnic spot (maybe to enjoy your Betty’s pie). Again, parking is sparse, so you may want to park a little farther up the road and walk.

The other most-photographed spot along the Northshore Scenic Drive is Palisade Head State Park, a sheer granite cliff dropping straight down into the lake. The road to the viewpoint is narrow and windy, so be sure to take it slow. Once you arrive, park in the lot and walk carefully down to the viewpoint, where you’ll likely find a line for the signature picture over the cliff. Don’t stress, though, as the longer you have to wait the more time you have to soak in the view.

If the wait for a photo op at Palisade Head is just too interminable, head a few miles up the road for a solid second place. Because Tettegouche State Park isn’t as well known, you won’t find near the number of visitors, and the clifftop views are equally as mesmerizing. You’ll have to walk about 15-20 minutes to reach the vista point, though, and it’s not exactly handicapped accessible.

Stop by a Midwestern ski town

If for some reason you’re making this drive in the winter and have a hankering for midwestern skiing, Lutsen is home to the state’s best ski resort with four mountains and over 1,000 acres of terrain. Even during non-winter months, its Summit Express gondola offers sprawling views of the lake and wilderness beyond, and it’s especially spectacular during fall when the land transforms into a sea of colors.

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Afterward, hit Fika Coffee in town for a little afternoon pick-me-up before continuing on the drive. Or, if you’re up for something more leisurely, savor a tasting at North Shore Winery. Yes, Minnesota can do wine, and while it’s not exactly Napa, the cozy fire and frequent live music make it a pleasant break.

Take in a town defined by outdoor recreation and good beer LUTSEN, MINNESOTA, USA - JUNE 7, 2019: Senior campers head out in a canoe on a northern Minnesota lake with their guides for a Boundary Waters camping trip

LUTSEN, MINNESOTA, USA - JUNE 7, 2019: Senior campers head out in a canoe on a northern Minnesota lake with their guides for a Boundary Waters camping trip

Photo: Dan Thornberg/Shutterstock

Grand Marais is the final “major” city before hitting the Canadian border, and it’s best known as the jumping off point to Isle Royale National Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. In town, you’ll find what some say is the region’s best brewery at Voyageur. The Trailbreaker Belgian Wheat is a welcome shift from the slew of IPAs most breweries in the area offer. If you want some food to go with it, Sven and Ole’s is a destination pizza joint and can hold its own with anyplace from a big city.

Embrace the end of the road with a waterfall Grand Portage State Park waterfall in Minnesota

Photo: Jadie G/Shutterstock

The end of the road comes in Grand Portage, marked by a monument and eight-mile hiking trail. If you’re up for a longer hike, take the historic Grand Portage Footpath, which is an old fur trappers’ canoe portage route that winds past waterfalls and tranquil streams. If you’re burning daylight before you get to the border, you’ll find a few mile-or-less trails that offer views of the area’s historic train depot. Or you can stop into the museum for a lesson in the important role Grand Portage played in the colonial history of the Great Lakes.

The final stop at Minnesota’s tallest waterfall inside Grand Portage State Park is one of the grandest of all. Like Niagara, High Falls is also partly in Canada, but unlike Niagara the view from the US side is much better. The hike is only about a mile and completely paved, though if you’re looking for something a little more challenging you can take the 4.5-mile round trip journey to Middle Falls.

From there, you can either cross the border into Thunder Bay, Ontario, or opt to spend the night in one of a handful of hotels in Grand Marias. The drive back to Duluth, without the stops, is a little under three hours. No matter how you end the trip, a tour up Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive is one of the great American road trips. And will give you an entirely new appreciation for a place you once only knew from weather reports.

More like this National Parks On Lake Superior’s North Shore, Duluth Is an Outdoor Lover’s Dream

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Published on October 07, 2022 13:24

The Best Old School Italian Restaurants in Baltimore’s Little Italy

Baltimore’s Little Italy is a hexagon-shaped Italian-American enclave east of Inner Harbor. It is the southernmost Little Italy in the eastern United States, and comparable to both Boston and New York City’s Little Italy in terms of culture and restaurants. The streets are lined with a mix of old-school Italian restaurants, which easily stand out among the two-to-three story red brick row homes. Most fire hydrants are painted the colors of the Italian flag. You can really get a taste of the culture at Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants, favorite hang outs athletes and home to seafood-heavy classic Italian dishes.

Throughout the neighborhood, you’ll find a mix of locals and curious tourists. From the Shot Tower subway station, of the most scenic Baltimore metro stops, it’s less than a 10-minute walk to the intersection of Pratt and Stiles, where you’ll see Casa di Pasta and Vaccaro’s, which is the main pastry shop in the area.

The majority of the restaurants and bakeries in the neighborhood are located along Albemarle and High Streets between Fleet and Pratt. In terms of sit-down Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants, there are roughly a dozen different options, each with a different twist. Most are well-established and multi-generational.

While Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants are worth trying all year round, it’s best to visit the neighborhood during one of the local festivals held between June and early October. And thanks to the presence of Hyatt and Tru by Hilton properties in the southeast corner of the neighborhood, it’s also an ideal place to stay during your visit.

Here are the seven best old-school Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants to try on your next visit.

1. Amiccis of Little Italy Charm City mural inside dining room at Amicci's, one of the Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants

Photo: Brian Cicioni

Nothing is small at Amiccis. Named after the Italian word for ‘friends,’ this 286-seat capacity Little Italy landmark feels like a sports bar in the front and a private home everywhere else. The 100-plus posters and paintings of all sizes throughout the nine indoor dining rooms at Amicci’s are enough to open a small art museum. And then there’s the wooden Orioles scoreboard behind the bar, as well as the mural listing every Charm City neighborhood to the side.

The pane’ rotundo is Amicci’s signature appetizer. It’s a round Italian loaf brushed with garlic butter and topped with shrimp scampi. While the rotundo is meant for sharing, panino is best for solo diners. Also an appetizer, the baseball-sized all-beef meatballs are available with traditional marinara or with a sweet marsala sauce.

For an entree, Penny’s gnocchi is a spicy take on a traditional Italian dish. You can see and taste the red pepper flakes that permeate the potato dumplings and vodka sauce. At Amicci’s, you can also create your own pasta.

2. Cafe Gia Ristorante Exterior of Cafe Gia at night, one of the best Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants

Photo: Brian Cicioni

From the outside, Cafe Gia is by far the most inviting spot in Little Italy. And it only gets better once you enter. This casual yet sophisticated two-level restaurant wraps around the intersection of Eastern and High. It is one of only two restaurants with upper-level outdoor balcony seating in the neighborhood. The urrent owners were able to convert this former diner into an artsy cafe.

Three generations are currently running this 115-seating capacity restaurant on the southwest edge of Little Italy. Chef Gianfranco Fracassetti grew up outside Milan, while his mother-in-law Giovanna is of Sicilian descent. So, you’ll see a mix of Southern and Northern Italian dishes on the menu. Osso Buco Milanese is the chef’s selection, while casoncelli is from Chef Gian’s home city of Bergamo.

If you park in the Little Italy garage, be sure to ask your server to validate your ticket.

3. Chiapparelli’s Restaurant plate of fried-calamari with a side of marinara at Chiapparellis, one of the Baltimore Little Italy restaurants

Photo: Brian Cicioni

Open since 1940, Chiapparelli’s is the oldest restaurant currently operating in Baltimore’s Little Italy. Within the interior red brick walls, you’ll find a mix of tourists and regulars who have been dining here since the Orioles won their first world series in 1966.

Now in its third generation, the dishes here tend to have stories. The Salmon Caroline is named after Aunt Caroline, while Chicken Louie is named in honor Uncle Louie. Some entrees, like Judge Alberto’s Linguine Clam Sauce, are named after regulars who always had their go-to dishes.

Portions tend to be quite sizable. For a dish with a Maryland twist, try the fried calamari sprinkled with Old Bay, which comes stacked nearly 3 inches high on a 10×7 plate. It’s tender and can easily be an entree by itself.

But perhaps the star here is the four-ingredient Chip’s Salad. The salad comes with every entree and is large enough to be treated as an appetizer, especially if you’re dining solo. Each Chip’s Salad will be prepared by your server, who is used to being asked why the house dressing is not sold commercially – and for good reason. You’ll want to take it home.

4. La Scala Ristorante Italiano lobster pasta in a white bowl at La Scala, one of the Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants

Photo: Brian Cicioni

Opened in 1995, La Scala may not be the oldest or most famous Italian restaurant in Little Italy, but this is the neighborhood spot where other chefs eat. The Urban Oyster owner and head chef Jasmine Norton is a fan and recommends the Lobster Regina.

The overall atmosphere here is festive and welcoming. From the friendly bartenders to the bocce court and overall ambiance, even the most jaded diners have to appreciate this place. La Scala even has a communal table, which nowadays is a rarity among Italian restaurants.

Executive Chef and owner Nino Germano is a native of Bafia, Sicily, which is located 50 kilometers inland from Messina. The menu is seafood-centric, and there are always daily specials. If you order the branzino, your server will fillet it at your table. You won’t want to skip dessert here, either. The cannoli cream is lighter than you’ll find at most Italian restaurants.

5. La Tavola Mural on the wall outside La Travola, one of the Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants

Photo: Brian Cicioni

While most of the Italian-born restaurant owners you’ll meet in America’s Little Italy neighborhoods come from southern cities like Naples or Sorrento, La Tavola owner and head chef Carlo Vignotto was born in the tourist mecca of Venice. Throughout his two-level 180-capacity restaurant, you’ll see paintings of the city of canals. The energetic and self-described perfectionist got his start in the restaurant business working at his grandparents’ beachfront restaurant.

La Tavola, or ‘the table’ in Italian, is known for its Maryland crab-centric pasta dishes. In 2020, the spaghetti neri al granchio received the Daily Meal award for Best Pasta Dish in Maryland.

This is one of those places where you should try to avoid looking at the menu before visiting. Carlo always has a handful of specials. The $65 four-course tasting menu is a good option if you want to try dishes that are not on the regular menu. Much of the produce at La Tavola comes from Carlo’s nearby farms. He even has a fig tree in his backyard.

6. Sabatino’s Italian Restaurant view of Sabatino's from the street with a mural painted in the street that says welcome to little italy

Photo: Brian Cicioni

Little Italy’s most famous old-school Italian restaurant has been a fixture at the corner of Fawn and High since 1955, making it the second-oldest spot currently operating in the neighborhood. Sabatino’s has been a gathering place for local athletes since at least the 1980s.

Back when it was open until 4 AM, professional wrestlers like Bruno Sammartino and Andre the Giant used to head directly to Sabatino’s after their shows at the then Baltimore Arena. From there, the word got out. Even today, this three-floor family-owned restaurant is a favorite of Baltimore Ravens, Orioles, and especially wrestling legends like Jim Cornette and Ric Flair.

Sabatino’s famous garlic bread is as thick as Texas toast with a bit of kick from the crushed red pepper sprinkled on top. For something not available at most Italian restaurants, try the short rib ravioli, which comes deep-fried with a side of au jus for dipping. Inside, it’s all meat.

The veal parmesan with eggplant is a mix of Italy and America with delicious results. For dessert, try the homemade cannoli, which goes down easy thanks to the vanilla ricotta filling.

7. Tagliata the veal chop on a white plate at Tagliata, one of the best Baltimore Little Italy Italian restaurants

Photo: Brian Cicioni

Italian for ‘cut,’ Tagliata in an upscale steakhouse on the southern edge of Little Italy. All pasta is made in-house, and you’ll also find an impressive wine selection: Tagliata has claimed the Wine Spectator Best of Award for Excellence for the past five years. At any given time, around 9,000 bottles are stored in the wine cellar, which is located below the main indoor dining room.

While Tagliata is more formal than other restaurants in Little Italy, the menu does not forego local ingredients. The squid ink campanelle, for instance, is elevated with chunks of Maryland crab. The chili adds a bit of spice, while the bread crumbs give the dish some crunch.

The 12-ounce Pennsylvania veal chop is the only cut under $60 and goes well with porcini bone marrow sauce. There are four other sauces you can add to any chop for under $5. The strip, ribeye, and porterhouse are each dry aged for 45 days.Every night at Tagliata, guests are treated to live music performed on a 1926 Steinway piano.

For something less formal but still part of the Atlas Restaurant Group, try the neighboring Italian Disco. It has a retro diner feel, but the menu is straight pizza joint with a cool ice cream parlor-style bar.

More like this Food + Drink The 7 Best Old-School Italian Restaurants in Atlantic City

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Published on October 07, 2022 10:55

Why New Planes Still Have Bathroom Ashtrays, Despite a 30-Plus Year Smoking Ban

In 1990, smoking was officially banned on every domestic plane in the United States. It’s been long enough that it’s hard to consider a time when there wasn’t a no smoking light permanently illuminated, not to mention the advisement before takeoff that smoking of any kind is prohibited. And yet ashtrays are still installed in new and retrofitted airplane bathrooms.

Airplane smoking bans started in 1988 when Congress banned smoking on domestic flights less than two hours long. In 1990, it was extended to six hours, which covered every domestic flight at the time. In 2000, smoking was officially banned on all flights within the US as well as flights to and from the country.

By Federal Aviation Administration requirements, bathrooms are still required to have an ashtray, however. Often that ashtray is underneath a no smoking sign. That’s because if someone did decide to break the law, intentionally or not, they need a safe place to put it out. Plane fires are dire, and it wouldn’t take much for someone to toss a cigarette in a trash can filled with paper if they were caught and tried to hide their dirty deed.

The exact regulations, according to Cornell Law, read: “Regardless of whether smoking is allowed in any other part of the airplane, lavatories must have self-contained, removable ashtrays located conspicuously on or near the entry side of each lavatory door, except that one ashtray may serve more than one lavatory door if the ashtray can be seen readily from the cabin side of each lavatory served.”

So the next time you see that ashtray, don’t take it as an invitation. A passenger in 2021 was fined $10,300 for vaping on a plane.

More like this Airports + Flying Airlines Can Easily Fix the Grossest Part of Flying, so Why Haven’t They?

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Published on October 07, 2022 10:20

How Many of These World-Famous Museums Can You Recognize?

You may be a world traveler, but are you a world museum expert? If you’ve taken the time to visit some of the world’s greatest museums during your trips, then you’ve likely come across many of the must-visit stops. From the Penis Museum to the Museum of Death and the British Museum to the Mob Museum, these are the museums that travelers should have on their list.

Question 1 of 10 This museum is: The Louvre Museum in Paris The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg The British Museum in London Question 2 of 10 This uniquely shaped museum is: The Soumaya Museum in Mexico City The ArtScience Museum in Singapore The National Museum of Qatar in Doha The National Museum of Australia in Canberra Question 3 of 10 The London museum featured on this photograph is: The National Gallery The Tate Modern The Victoria & Albert Museum The Natural History Museum Question 4 of 10 In what museum can you find this famous work of art by Salvador Dalí? The MoMA in New York City The Prado Museum in Madrid The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao The Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida Question 5 of 10 This is the most visited museum in the world. What is it and where is it located? The Uffizi Gallery in Florence The Vatican Museums in Vatican City The Louvre Museum in Paris The Art Institute of Chicago Question 6 of 10 What is the African museum featured on this photograph? The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, Egypt Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa The Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda The Museum of Contemporary African Art Al Maaden in Marrakech, Morocco Question 7 of 10 This photograph was taken in: The Sex Museum in New York City The Sex Machines Museum in Prague The Love Museum in Seoul The Icelandic Phallological Museum in Reykjavik Question 8 of 10 What is the American museum featured in this photograph? The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles Frost Museum of Science in Miami The California Science Center in Los Angeles Question 9 of 10 The National Quilt Museum is a real place located in what city in the United States? Lancaster, Pennsylvania Portland, Oregon Paducah, Kentucky Washington, DC Question 10 of 10 What famous Parisian museum is featured in this photograph? The Orsay Museum The Pompidou Center The Quai Branly Museum The Orangerie Museum Submit for your score More Trivia Quizzes Can You Guess What These Funny Australian Slang Phrases Mean? Sep 23, 2022 Morgane Croissant Quizzes This Flags of the World Quiz Is the Hardest on the Internet. Can You Ace It? Sep 20, 2022 Morgane Croissant Quizzes Can You Guess What These Funny British Slang Phrases Mean? Sep 14, 2022 Morgane Croissant Outdoor Only Park Rangers Can Ace This US National Park Trivia Quiz Sep 13, 2022 Suzie Dundas Quizzes Can You Guess What These Funny Scottish Slang Phrases Mean? Sep 7, 2022 Morgane Croissant Quizzes 21 Geography Questions That Only Expert Travelers Can Ace Sep 5, 2022 Matador News Staff Quizzes How Many of These UNESCO Heritage Sites Can You Identify? Sep 2, 2022 Morgane Croissant Quizzes Can You Guess What These Hilarious Irish Slang Phrases Mean? Aug 31, 2022 Morgane Croissant (function () { window.onload = function () { var totalProgress, progress; const circles = document.querySelectorAll('.progress'); for (var i = 0; i < circles.length; i++) { var percentageComplete = circles[i].parentElement.getAttribute('data-percent'); var strokeDashOffsetValue = 100 - (percentageComplete * 100); var progressBar = $(".js-progress-bar"); progressBar.css("stroke-dashoffset", strokeDashOffsetValue); circles[i].querySelector('.bar').style['stroke-dashoffset'] = strokeDashOffsetValue; } } })(); var quizChoices = []; const questions = document.getElementsByClassName("mn-quiz__question"); for (let i = 0; i < questions.length; i++) { quizChoices[i] = '-'; } function clickChoice(event) { const button = event.currentTarget; var mnQuizQuestion = button.dataset.mnQuizQuestion; quizChoices[mnQuizQuestion] = button.dataset.mnQuizChoice; for (const button of buttons) { if (button.dataset.mnQuizQuestion === mnQuizQuestion) { button.classList.remove('active'); } } button.classList.add('active'); } function submitQuiz() { var formatUrl = 'choices=' + quizChoices.join('_'); var url = window.location.href; if (url.indexOf('?') > -1) { url += '&' + formatUrl } else { url += '?' + formatUrl } window.location.href = url; } const buttons = document.getElementsByClassName("mn-quiz__question__choice"); for (const button of buttons) { button.addEventListener("click", clickChoice); } const submitButton = document.getElementById("mn-quiz__submit"); if (submitButton) { submitButton.addEventListener("click", submitQuiz); } More like this Museums The 11 Sexiest Museums in the World

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Published on October 07, 2022 08:07

9 of the Most Stylish Hotels on the Amalfi Coast for a Chic Italian Getaway

Fall is the perfect time to trek to the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997 for its preservation of incredible architecture and art dating back to the Middle Ages. This far southern region in Italy hugs the Mediterranean Sea and is marked by steep coastal cliffs. Hikes or village strolls are right out your door, the beaches are stunning, and the Aperitivo bar scene is one of the best in Italy.

Although there are many beautiful Amalfi Airbnbs to choose from hoteliers here have really stepped it up a notch. Hotels capitalize on the waterfront setting when building out their interior design, so you can wake up to beautiful vistas or maybe even see it all from bed. Here are nine design-oriented Amalfi Coast hotels in villages and the towns of Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and Praiano. All are adorned with luxe amenities such as pools, spas, darling cafes, beautiful gardens, and romantic restaurants.

We hope you love the Amalfi Coast hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.

Casa Angelina

Photo: Booking.com

Casa Angelina‘s design by architect Gennaro Fusco is so chic you can buy much of the lifestyle vibe and interior décor in the hotel’s shop, including hand-crafted furnishings, and cozy sweaters. Ten room categories prove how individualized your stay can be. An outdoor plunge pool is artfully shaded by lemon trees. Farm-to-fork, wine-paired dinners at the glass-walled Un Piano Nel Cielo on the top floor showcase Campania produce, meats and fish, and its vegetarian tasting menu is a rare find. The morning starts with a huge breakfast spread (included in rates) loaded with delicacies.

Where: Via Gennaro Capriglione, 147, 84010 Praiano SA