Matador Network's Blog, page 397

October 5, 2022

The Ultimate Guide To Airbnbs in the Coolest Towns Along Oregon’s Coast

Sand dunes, temperate rainforest, and surf spots give the 363-mile Oregon Coast all the trappings of a seaside getaway. While it’s easy enough to roll up at any given town and set up camp for the entirety of your vacation, it’s impossible to beat the thrill of an Oregon Coast road trip. And, going by the shape of the OR Airbnb scene, you’ll want to snap up a night at as many of these properties as your itinerary permits. Get inspired with these Airbnbs on the Oregon Coast.

Traveling through the Pacific Northwest? Check out Matador’s accommodations guides to the region:The best Airbnb Portland rentals in the city’s coolest neighborhoods8 Seattle Airbnbs close to fresh seafood, Pike Place, and the Space Needle7 family-friendly Airbnbs in the Pacific NorthwestThe cutest tiny houses to rent in the Pacific NorthwestThis road trip will take you to the coolest Airbnbs in the Pacific Northwest

We hope you love the Oregon Coast Airbnbs 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.

Cannon Beach AirbnbsAirbnbs in Seaside, Rockaway Beach, and AstoriaAirbnbs in Oceanside, Lincoln City, Newport, Yachats, and FlorenceCannon Beach AirbnbsDog-friendly home with private hot tub, easy beach access, and amazing ocean views

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This pet-friendly Airbnb on the Oregon Coast looks over Haystack Rock. Fusing outdoor and indoor living, the beach house is furnished with several terraces for different perspectives over the water. Fire up the grill then plunge into the spa tub while the meat sizzles and spend mellow evenings in the comfy lounge while the Pacific Ocean thunders in the background.

Ten guests, four bedrooms
Price: $894 per night

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Sand Castle – beach views, on the water, walk to town

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This oceanfront Airbnb in Cannon Beach is within walking distance of the town’s restaurants, breweries, and boutiques. Both child-friendly and dog-friendly, the host provides essential baby gear as well as bowls for your pooch. And, groups of all styles will appreciate the body boards, beach chairs, and cooler. With interiors resembling a yurt, the open-concept lounge feels light and area. But it’s the wraparound deck that delivers the best views.

Five guests, two bedrooms
Price: $499 per night

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Cute two-bedroom house near downtown with river views

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Bursting with personality from every crevice, this Airbnb in Astoria, Oregon, is for old-school users of the platform who are drawn to eclectic rentals. Instruments belonging to the hosts – a duo of traveling musicians – are strewn around the property as well as an epic sound system. Between the vintage clawfoot bathtub and the wood stove, you’ll get your share of creature comforts. There’s a spacious yard as well as an attic room suitable for yoga, meditation, and games nights.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $200 per night

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Airbnbs in Seaside, Rockaway Beach, and AstoriaA+ views – on the water with a fire pit, hot tub, and kayaks

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Nestled in the Gearhart neighborhood, this pet-friendly Airbnb in Seaside, Oregon, is five minutes from downtown. Overlooking the Necanuim River, the property also has views of the Pacific Ocean and Seaside. Interiors are meticulously appointed with all the mod-cons you could think of with a gigantic gas fireplace there for the winter months. Drink up the scenery from the hot tub on the elevated deck.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $584 per night

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New 6,400-square foot beach mansion with ocean views

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Prepare to have your mind blown by this Airbnb on the Oregon Coast in which a certain A-list celebrity resided for a year while shooting a movie in the area. Spread over three floors, the villa offers unparalleled ocean views and top-end amenities. The spacious deck is rigged with a hot tub and fire pit while the upper stories have balconies. There’s a movie theater and billiards table indoors once you get your fill of star gazing.

Sixteen guests, six bedrooms
Price: $1,431 per night

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Airbnbs in Oceanside, Lincoln City, Newport, Yachats, and Florence, OregonOceanside A-frame (Unit A)

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Struggling to choose between a mountain getaway or a beach vacation? This Oregon Coast Airbnb gives you the best of both: an A-frame chalet plonked right on the sand. Scandi-chic living and sleeping spaces are warmed by the wood-burner with the master suite tucked away in the attic. Step out onto the patio in the morning with a mug of coffee and breathe in that salty air.

Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $263 per night

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Unique oceanfront home – private beach access, two hot tubs, and three living spaces

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

What could be better than an Oregon Coast Airbnb with a hot tub? Well, this Airbnb in Lincoln City comes with two. The 1940s anchor house is divided into three individual units so you can balance socializing with privacy – it’s perfect for multiple families or a cluster of couples. Interiors are rustically designed with woody elements and a scattering of fireplaces in the communal spaces as well as the bedrooms. To top it all off, the yard has a staircase directly to the sand.

Ten guests, four bedrooms
Price: $489 per night

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Luxurious Newport estate with spa and lighthouse views

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This dreamy Airbnb on the Oregon Coast supplies 180-degree vistas of Yaquina Lighthouse and Beverly Beach. The main living room stays toasty year-round thanks to the open fireplace – which comes in handy if you want to shoot a game of pool or muster up a sing-a-long around the grand piano. Whoever makes the booking gets first dibs on the “Crow’s Nest” in the tower. There’s an ocean-facing Jacuzzi out on the deck while a circular soaking tub with secondary views is the perfect place to wind down in privacy.

Sixteen guests, seven bedrooms
Price: $537 per night

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Oceanfront luxury – best views and beach access

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Sleek, stylish, and kitted out with deluxe fixtures and upholstery, this Newport Airbnb is the epitome of a modern beach house. Rooms benefit from oversized windows where you can tune into the crash of waves while there’s no better place in the state than the deck to catch the sunset. The workspace directly watches over the sand dunes and will inspire you to wrap up any loose ends pronto so you can hit the surf.

Ten guests, four bedrooms
Price: $1,959 per night

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Dog-friendly, waterfront townhouse duo w/ a private hot tub & amazing views!

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Ideal for larger groups, this Yachats Airbnb with a hot tub and games room will appease sociable travelers. The townhouse is decorated as per a nautical theme with each bedroom affixed to an en suite bathroom. Remember to pack your hiking gear; the beach house backs right onto the 804 Trail.

Sixteen guests, six bedrooms
Price: $783 per night

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Siltcoos Heights – 3-bedroom home with a hot tub and dock

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Sprouting out from the greenery around Siltcoos Lake, this pet-friendly Airbnb in Florence, Oregon, is a haven for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts. River otters are frequently spotted while the garden is awash with botanicals and firs. Exploring the canoe trail with the provided kayaks will work up an appetite for a barbecue supper on the deck paired with a session in the open-air hot tub.

Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $399 per night

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More like thisRoad TripsFor the Ultimate Pacific Coast Road Trip, Go North To Oregon and Washington
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Published on October 05, 2022 10:00

A New Company Lets You Stay in the Estate Where Shakespeare Married and Other Historic Castles

Sure, historic hotels are great, but what if you could sleep in an honest-to-goodness castle, complete with turrets, stone hallways, and heck, even a dungeon?

That idea was the motivation for Justin Hauge, who co-founded the “Storied Collection” — a company that connects travelers with stays in “historic and ancestral properties.” There are 28 properties across England, Ireland, and Scotland that represent a combined 11,291 years of history. The Storied Collection team looked at the ages of the properties, the number of families who had owned them, and the average number offspring per generation, and estimated that more than 80 million people could be descendants of once-owners of the various luxury lodgings.

Those properties range from 13th-century castles to country manors to full-on hotels and fortresses. These aren’t your standard properties, unless you’re used to sleeping in stone towers and rooms with floor-to-ceiling tapestries and fireplaces. But if you find out you’re one of that huge number of people who may have royal blood, you may want to consider booking a trip to the castle where your ancestors once ruled the roost.

billesley manor castle hotel in england

Photo: Storied Collection

For example, if you’re a Hathaway, you may want to book a stay at Billesley Manor, where William Shakespeare famously tied the knot with Anne Hathaway. From the Storied Collection website, travelers can see the familial (last names or surnames) of who owned the properties, going as far back as the 1200s. If you’re not sure if any of those surnames are in your family history, tools like Ancestry.com or Archives.com can help you figure out if you’re blue-blooded. And while you may not be next in line to inherit any of these castles, it’s still cool to sleep in a suite that bears your family name.

However, even if your family name is more Wilson than Windsor, the collection still features some amazing stays. Here are some of the top picks for spending your vacation days like a royal or nobel — and yes, many properties offer cricket, polo, and high tea, naturally. B.Y.O. crown jewels, however.

Billesley Manor: writing and wedding site for William Shakespeare and Anne Hathawaycastle hotels - billesly manor lobby

Photo: Billesly Manor

Families: If you’re a Lee, Trussell, Whalley, Tate, Sherlock, Blow, Hanbury, Hathaway, or, heck, Shakespeare, you may have a strong connection to the property

Near Stratford-Upon-Avon (birthplace of the Bard himself), the luxury manor house holds two literary claims to fame: it’s where Shakespeare penned the theater classic As You Like It and where he wed Anne Hathaway. Guests can walk through the church where the nuptials happened and even sleep in the room used by the Lord Mayor of London (and knight) Sir Henry Lee.

Even if you’re not trying to make an ownership claim, you can still take advantage of activities like visiting the Royal Shakespeare Theater and Shakespeare’s family homes (or the Shakespeare Distillery), cruising on the Avon River, walking around the spacious grounds and historical billings, or visiting the high-end resort spa.

Thornbury Castle: sleep in the room of Henry VIII and the doomed Anne Boleynthornury castle hotel tower suite

Photo: Thornbury Castle

Families: If you’re a Thornbury, Tutor, deClare, Stafford, Howard, Boleyn, or Aragon, you’ve got some ancestral history here.

It’s hard to downplay the significance of this castle, especially as its history dates to 1019. It was a home for Henry VIII and wife Anne Boleyn (in happier days, one assumes) and was owned by several key players in the game-changing War of the Roses in the mid-1400s. And at least one plot to murder a traitor to King Richard III took place within the castle’s walls.

Today, however, it’s a downright gorgeous castle with 15 acres of gardens and opportunities to sleep in the room shared by King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn or sleep in the tower used by Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England from 1509 to 1533. As with many of Henry VII’s wives, she was beheaded — but not in the tower, one assumes. Oh, and if you grew up in the 1980s or 1990s, you may have memories of a rumor: say “Bloody Mary” three times in a bathroom mirror and she’ll appear behind you. While that has yet to work at any sleepover, the actual “Bloody Mary” (Queen Mary I) did own this castle in the early 1530s.

Ashford Castle Hotel: the former home of brewing legend Benjamin Guinnessashford castle hotel

Photo: Storied Collection

Families: Listen up, de Burgo, Bingham, Brown, Guinness, Huggard, and Ford families — this may be your family’s old stomping grounds.

The massive Ashford Castle Hotel in Ireland was first built in the mid-1200s, but is perhaps best known for who owned it in the 1800s: Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, founder of Guinness Brewing. By the late 1800s, he was the richest man in Ireland, which probably explains why he was able to expand and maintain the 26,000-acre estate.

In the 1950s, the castle hotel was the filming location for The Quiet Man, which won two Academy Awards. It also hosted famous guests like Nancy and Ronald Reagan and King George V. Most recently, it won a very prestigious award from a luxury hotel booking agency, Virtuoso, which dubbed it the best hotel in the world. Activities for guests range from falconry to clay shooting to gardening and day trips to national parks, distilleries, and charming Irish small towns.

Meldrum House: A 13th-century mansion with an 800-year-old whiskey cavemeldrum house castle hotel

Photo: Storied Collection

Families: You may see your ancestors portraits on the walls if you’re a de Phendarg, Meldrum, Preston, Urquhart, Seaton, Gordon, Huntly, Stewart, or Duff

Meldrum House — a stunning castle hotel in Scotland — may have updated the grounds with modern amenities like dining bubbles, but the actual castle is as historic as can be. It dates to the 1200s, so it’s not surprising that it has its own ghost story: that of the White Lady, who was supposedly abducted from the castle sometime in 1617. Apparently, she appears mostly to children left alone in the castle, though that also seems like a suspiciously good rumor for parents whose kids won’t stop running through the halls.

Interestingly, many famous figures can trace their lineage to this sprawling estate, including Sir Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, and England’s Princess Diana. Even if your family doesn’t have a direct link, you can still enjoy the 800-year-old wine cave, which also hosts an afternoon tea.

More like thisArt + Architecture9 French Castles Where You Can Spend the Night in the Lap of Luxury
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Published on October 05, 2022 09:59

12 Awe-Inspiring Waterfalls in Utah That You Need To See

It’s easy to picture vast deserts, red canyons, and snowy peaks when thinking about Utah. However, Utah has a surprising number of waterfalls. There are 600-foot cataracts, waterfalls in caves, slot canyon cascades you can raft, and falls with hot springs beside them. With all these choices, you might need some help narrowing down where to go first. These are the 12 best waterfalls in Utah for you to visit. 

Faux Falls in Spanish ValleyFaux Falls one of the best waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Roadwardbound/Shutterstock

Faux Falls gets its name because it was man-made when water was diverted from Mill Creek in 1981 as part of a water-storage plan that created Ken’s Lake, a reservoir used for irrigation in Spanish Valley. Despite its non-natural origins, the waterfall is no less beautiful and well worth the short, half-mile hike. The fall tumbles through sandstone into a swimming hole that is shockingly green against the red cliffs. Enjoy a shallow swim and explore the area up above the falls. Camping is also available on a first-come, first-served basis at Ken’s Lake near the trailhead.

Bullion Falls in Fishlake National ForestBullion falls one of the biggest waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Patrick McNary/Shutterstock

Bullion Falls is a 74-foot waterfall fed by snowmelt in Fishlake National Forest. While it’s only a two miles hike, the terrain is very rocky and includes some scrambling, so make sure to wear proper footwear. Along the trail, you’ll see old miners’ cabins and a viewpoint of the nearby Cascade Falls. The route is also open to horses and ATVs and can make for a beautiful winter hike when the falls are frozen over.

Fifth Water Hot Springs Waterfall in Provo, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestFifth Water Hot Springs one of the best waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Double Bind Photography/Shutterstock

If you love hot springs, Fifth Water Hot Springs Waterfall is the perfect waterfall for you. Just one hour outside Salt Lake City, a hilly, four-mile trail leads to a series of waterfalls and milky blue hot springs. A main soaking pool is beside the lower falls, while other pools are dispersed along the stream leading up to a multi-tiered waterfall. The pools are of various temperatures, so find one that suits you and enjoy an afternoon of soaking between the canyon walls. The springs are very popular with locals and visitors, so pick a weekday to avoid the crowds. If you plan to go in the winter, be prepared for a longer hike as the road often closes due to snow.

Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch National ForestDonut falls one of the best waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Shoshana Weissmann/Shutterstock

Donut Falls gets its name from the unusual donut-shaped hole in the mountain that the 100-foot waterfall pours through. The falls are accessed by a shaded, rocky one-and-a-half-mile round-trip hike outside Salt Lake City. Prepare for a slippery, wet climb over the rocks to get out there, but the scrambling is well worth it to see sunlight and water pouring through the hole in the cave roof.

Battle Creek Falls in Pleasant Grove, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestBattle Creek Falls one of the best waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Roopesh Pookandy/Shutterstock

Battle Creek Falls is a 50-foot waterfall fed by a natural spring and snowmelt from Mount Timpanogos. The one-mile round-trip trail to the falls is wide, graveled, and follows the stream into the canyon, with beautiful views of Utah Lake in the distance. The waterfall earned its name from a battle between Mormon settlers and Timpanogos Native Americans. The Kiwanis Park near the trailhead has a historical marker in memory of the skirmish, the first armed engagement between Mormons and Native Americans in the Utah valley.

Stewart Falls in Provo Canyon, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestStewart Falls one of the largest waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Inbound Horizons/Shutterstock

Stewart Falls, falling 200 feet to the ground in two tiers, is the most beautiful and photogenic waterfall in northern Utah. A three-mile shaded trail meanders to a ridge above the falls with incredible viewpoints along the way. Another steep trail picks its way down to the base of the falls, where you can stand in the spray. Stewart Falls is one of Utah’s most popular hiking destinations. To avoid the crowds, plan a winter snowshoe trip to see the frozen falls. If you’re looking for a much longer hike, veer off the Stewart Falls trail onto the Mount Timpanogos Trail, which heads to the 11,749-foot summit of Mount Timpanogos.

Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Bridal Veil Falls, at 607 feet, is by far the tallest waterfall on this list. A gorgeous double cataract waterfall, Bridal Veil tumbles down to a shallow pool that streams into the Provo River. A short, paved, flat trail leads to the falls, making this an accessible adventure for families and people in wheelchairs. There’s also a man-made pool near the trailhead stocked with rainbow trout. Although fishing isn’t allowed, you can feed the fish pellets from the vending machines nearby.

Kanarra Falls in KanarravilleHiker sits at Kanarra Falls one of the many waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Cole Smith/Shutterstock

Kanarra Falls, located just north of Zion National Park, combines all the best that southern Utah offers: red sandstone, slot canyons, and waterfalls. The six-mile round-trip trail starts in Kanarraville, through the Hurricane Cliffs, before entering the narrow slot canyon. Be prepared to get your feet wet as you work through the darkest part of the canyon to where Kanarra Falls tumbles 15 feet down from a rock jam. Visitors can climb above the falls with the help of the ladder and continue onwards, wading through waist-deep water and scrambling over boulders. A second, smaller waterfall can also be climbed with the help of a ladder. 

A permitting system is in place to limit daily visitors and help protect the fragile canyon. Permits are $12 and can be purchased online or at the trailhead. Check the weather before heading out, as rainstorms can quickly cause dangerous flash-flooding in slot canyons.

Lower and Upper Calf Creek Falls in Boulder, Grand Staircase-Escalante National MonumentFalls at Calf Creek one of the many waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Jeremy Christensen/Shutterstock

Lower and Upper Calf Creek Falls are two waterfalls south of Boulder in the remote Grand Staircase-Escalate National Monument. Though the waterfalls can’t be accessed by the same trail, the trailheads are only a few miles from each other, and both are worth the hike. Lower Calf Creek is the more popular, featuring a massive 126-foot waterfall and a pool you can swim in. The hike meanders along Calf Creek for six miles, where you can spot trout, deer, and turkeys.

Upper Calf Creek Falls, though smaller, sees far fewer visitors, making it the perfect pick for a quiet hike and swim. A steep two-mile round-trip trail ends at a beautiful 88-foot waterfall, with the option to climb up above the falls to a small pool.

Archangel Falls in Zion National ParkArchangel Falls in Zion National Park one of the best waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Pung/Shutterstock

Archangel Falls, in the heart of Zion National Park, is a series of tiny waterfalls cascading down dark red sandstone and is a part of the longer Subway hike. Along the nine-mile round-trip trail, you’ll see sandstone cliffs, numerous waterfalls, including Archangel, and dinosaur tracks. The trail culminates in the impressive Subway, a tunnel-like formation in the slot canyon, which ends in another small waterfall.

Permits are required to hike the Subway and see Archangel Falls. These can be reserved online in advance through a lottery system. Some walk-in permits are available the day of. 

Emerald Pools in Zion National ParkEmerald Pools one of the many waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Filip Fuxa/Shutterstock

Emerald Pools is a series of three waterfalls along a three-mile round-trip trail that follows a small stream in Zion National Park. The trail crosses over the Virgin River and heads back into a sandstone amphitheater to a series of three pools and waterfalls that form their own green oasis in the red sandstone. 

The trail to the first pool is accessible to strollers and people in wheelchairs if they have assistance. Make sure you plan your visit in the spring after recent rain storms, as in drier months, the Emerald Pools often dry up to a trickle. No permits are needed, though visitors will have to pay for entrance to the national park.

Toquerville Falls in La VerkinToquerville falls one of the many waterfalls in Utah

Photo: Base Camp Vegas/Shutterstock

Toquerville Falls is a desert oasis outside of St. George that is best accessed by a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. However, it is possible to hike the 11-mile road. After a rocky ride in, the route ends in a beautiful waterfall that cascades in two pour-offs into a swimming hole. With views of the nearby mountains and free dispersed camping, Toquerville Falls is the perfect place to spend a quiet night.

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Published on October 05, 2022 09:27

Driving Türkiye’s Coast Is a Dream Road Trip Filled With Historic Cities, Food, and Beautiful Beaches

On July 4, my wife, Kathleen, and I left Antalya, Türkiye, where we had been living since December 2021. As permanent nomads, this was an unusual stay since we are usually limited to 90 days, but we were able to obtain residency, which gave us 24 months to call Türkiye home.

We rented a BMW 310 GS from Romania and wanted to avoid Antalya’s hot, crowded, and expensive summer months; our destination: Greece. But first, how do we load up a bike for a four month road trip on two wheels. Not an easy task by any measure.

We acquired more stuff than usual while living there, so only took what we needed to wear, our electronics, and whatever we thought necessary. With two backpacks, a duffel bag strapped to the back, and our winter wear (since we knew it would get colder), we made it fit.

All that was left to do was hit the road.

preparing motorcycle ride turkish coast

Photo: Norm Bour

Day one was tough, and though we only put on 115 miles over a four hour ride. It was hot, it was windy, and it was tiring.

First stop was the gorgeous coastal town of Kas that we had visited, and fell in love with, a few months earlier. We stayed at a pansiyon (a typical type of accommodation in the country) run by a lovely Turkish couple in their seventies who took a liking to us. We have found over our travels that if you stop in all the places that look “good,” and ask what they can do, they are usually flexible and will lower their asking price. They gave us a room at a super cheap price, since they don’t make much of an effort to rent out rooms anymore.

Between the heat, the stress of packing, and exhaustion from returning from the United States a few days earlier, Kat got sick. She had symptoms of COVID though we didn’t test for it, so we isolated for most of our six days there until she finally felt well enough to leave. I wish the story had a happy ending, but on the seventh day we left Kas for Fethiye, only a 90 minute ride, and as we got there it was my turn to get sick.

Was it COVID? We don’t know. No one wore masks where we were traveling, and I think people have grudgingly accepted that it may be part of life moving forward.

Photo: Norm Bour

Fethiye lacked the charm and character we were looking for, so we stayed in Hisaronu, the town next door, for six days as I recuperated from my illness and secluded myself as much as I could. This town was eminently more walkable, had character, and since we were 1000 feet higher, the temperature was much more cool. There was little respite from the hot weather anywhere in the country it seemed, but this was a huge improvement. Not only that, but Hisaronu is the entry to the city next door, Ölüdeniz, which offered a great beach and is considered to be the paragliding capital of Türkiye.

We did two touristy things there; the Badabag teleferic cable car, which was magnificent, especially at sunset, and what they call their “12 island boat tour,” which really only visited four islands. Even so, for about $24 USD it was a great way to spend the day. The Badabag lift was but a 10 minute walk down the hill to the beach, and there were scores of tour operators throughout the main streets.

Our next stop was the city of Marmaris, and though we had no rooms reserved, we walked along the streets and found one. Typically Kat and I find rooms in advance on Airbnb, Hotels.com, Bookings.com, or we just wing it and find one when we get there. Marmaris stayed hot, but we found a great restaurant with a covered patio deck on the water, and we were able to work and hang there all day for just the cost of eating and drinking. The entire west coast of Türkiye offers great (and inexpensive) fish selections, with sea bass and sea bream the most common. After five days we took the ferry to Bodrum, but it was too hot, crowded, and pricey, so we moved on.

Photo: Norm Bour

One thing that we were proving to ourselves is that we were getting the whole “loading up the bike” thing down quite well. What initially took about 45 minutes was cut in half and we got it down to about 20 minutes after a few stops and starts.

The historical and iconic city of Ephesus was next on our itinerary, and even though I had visited in March when I picked up our bike from Romania, I promised Kat we would return so she could enjoy it as well. Two days there was enough time to visit the main ruins and the Basilica of Saint John, which is what we did to avoid the heat and the summer crowds, so we pushed north to the city of Cesme, about 55 miles west of the large city of Izmir, which we intentionally decided to bypass. Cesme is conveniently at the end of a peninsula and just a 30 minute ferry ride to the Greek island of Chios, so that was a quick one day visit there, then another ferry to the isle of Lesbos, then returned to a city we both fell in love with, Ayavalik.

Photo: Norm Bour

Some towns just have an energy that you can feel, and when you combine that with narrow alleyways, numerous eateries, and a historic Old Town, you have the ingredients for a place worth staying in. While cities like Istanbul can overwhelm you with sheer volume, some towns offer a comfortable charm that’s hard to describe. When a smallish town like Ayavalik offers good coffee shops, along with shops and places to eat, they stay in our minds and beg us to return again. Which we will.

Our final long stop was Canakkale, another ferry port along the Dardanelles Strait, and this town was very much like Ayavalik, but larger and with more options of places to visit. On the way we did stop at the Ancient City of Troy, another iconic historic town that has been built upon, layer by layer, for thousands of years. Canakkale, with its larger size, offered great seafood restaurants along the water, which is something that always appeals to us.

As we approached the Greek border after 47 days on two wheels and 13 different rooms, we are only halfway there. Our Greece junket will be 30 days and then we head north to Macedonia, Bulgaria, and finally Bucharest, Romania, where we will hibernate our bike for the winter.

The Turkish coastline is amazing and comparable to the West Coast of the United States, where I lived for 40 years. For anyone who loves a coastal road trip and all of the rich life experiences that come with it, Türkiye makes for an incredible ride.

More like thisCultureBeyond Cappadocia, Eastern Turkey Has Few Tourists and a Lot of Culture
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Published on October 05, 2022 09:15

Seattle for Everyone: Discover the Many Sides of the Emerald City


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Seattle, WA, United States


Seattle for Everyone: Discover the Many Sides of the Emerald City

By:
Samantha O’Brochta

Arts & CultureFood & DrinkNature & OutdoorsMusicSportsPhoto: kwest/Shutterstock#wedge-0 { background-image: url('https://cdn1.matadornetwork.com/blogs...') }@media(min-width:560px){ #wedge-0 { background-image: url('https://cdn1.matadornetwork.com/blogs...') } }@media(min-width:1200px){ #wedge-0 { background-image: url('https://cdn1.matadornetwork.com/blogs...') } }

Grooving to a beat all its own, Seattle bursts with an avant-garde energy you won’t find in any other major US city. It’s an eclectic, DIY vibe that has attracted artists and other creative spirits to its streets for years — streets that wind through the stunning beauty of the Pacific Northwest, mountains to waves.

From whale watching in the Salish Sea to gravity-defying aerial performances at the city’s longest-running drag show, you’ll find countless unexpected experiences throughout the Emerald City. While you’re here, make it your mission to strike your own Seattle beat, whatever it may be, by uncovering something out of the ordinary. We hope this guide gives you a good place to start.






This post is proudly produced in partnership with Visit Seattle.


Arts & CulturePhoto: Chihuly Garden and Glass

Seattle has more than its fair share of creative energy, whether you’re talking about the past, present, or future. After all, it’s home to artists from Jimi Hendrix to Dale Chihuly. There are a multitude of ways to experience art and creativity in Seattle — which ones speak to you?



Flip your way through Twice Sold Tales

Where rare and collectible titles line the shelves...


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Flip your way through Twice Sold Tales

Twice Sold Tales will excite any bibliophile with the rare and collectible tomes that line its shelves. The used bookstore in Capitol Hill is home to more than literature—you may just happen upon one of the four live-in cats that hang out amidst the stacks.


Photo: Benjamin I. Koch/Twice Sold Tales









Celebrate contemporary art at Martyr Sauce

A gallery space to celebrate all things weird and renegade...


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Celebrate contemporary art at Martyr Sauce

You won’t want to miss a visit to Martyr Sauce, now celebrating 10 years of cultivating artistic space and community. The Black-owned, artist-led pop art museum and gallery in the historic arts district of Pioneer Square is led by founding owner and curator Tariqa Waters, a multifaceted contemporary artist known for her whimsical, larger-than life fabrications, paintings, self-portraitures, and installations. 


Photo: Martyr Sauce









See how molten glass is shaped at Chihuly Garden and Glass

Celebrating the world-renowned glass sculpture artist...


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See how molten glass is shaped at Chihuly Garden and Glass

Celebrating the world-renowned glass sculpture artist Dale Chihuly, this gallery-museum in Seattle Center amazes visitors of all ages with its vibrant glass sculptures that mimic the vibrancy of life and nature. Don’t miss the Glasshouse, within which a stunning 100-foot-long sculpture resides. At the live flameworking demonstration, meanwhile, you’ll get up close and personal to witness all the intricate work that goes into creating these whimsical pieces.


 


Photo: Chihuly Garden and Glass









Shop Native art at Eighth Generation

This Snoqualmie Tribe-owned shop showcases inspiring Natives...


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Shop Native art at Eighth Generation

This Snoqualmie Tribe-owned shop, located in Pike Place Market, prides itself on showcasing inspiring Natives rather than Native-inspired works, featuring artists from around the Pacific Northwest. Shop for handmade home goods like blankets and art prints that celebrate local Indigenous heritage.


 


Photo: Ken Yu/Eighth Generation









Be captivated at Can Can Culinary Cabaret

Celebrating 17 years and almost 7,000 shows...


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Be captivated at Can Can Culinary Cabaret

Tucked into Post Alley in the heart of Seattle’s Historic Pike Place Market, Can Can Culinary Cabaret will captivate you with dance (classic, modern, cabaret, and burlesque), acrobatics, vocal performances, and comedy five nights a week. Dine on delicious French Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine and craft cocktails before being enchanted by the art, music, scenic design, costuming, and choreography in the 120-seat dinner theater—the vibe is reminiscent of early 20th-century Paris.


Photo: Nate Watters/Can Can Culinary Cabaret







Food & DrinkPhoto: Visit Seattle

Though the delicious seafood and coffee the city is known for are easy to track down, Seattle has many quirky and unique flavors worth a bit more of a hunt. Here’s a selection of eateries and drinkeries to fulfill every curious appetite.



Grub on breakfast biscuits at Morsel

Head here for a morning pick-me-up...


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Grub on breakfast biscuits at Morsel

Located in Seattle’s University District, Morsel is beloved by students who need a morning pick-me-up on their way to class. The buttermilk and cheddar chive biscuits are mouthwatering as is, but you can level up by adding homemade honey butter, jams, or gravy. To really fuel the start of your day, order one of Morsel’s sandwich options, which turns breakfast into a filling feast.


 


Photo: Marie C Fields/Shutterstock









Lick a cone of Molly Moon’s

Flavors you won’t be able to stop thinking about...


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Lick a cone of Molly Moon’s

With multiple locations to choose from around Seattle, this famous-yet-local ice cream spot has flavors you won’t be able to stop thinking about. Of course, the usual classics like cookies & cream and cookie dough are churned year-round, but consider trying locally sourced favorites like honey lavender or seasonal raspberry chip and vegan melted chocolate.


 


Photo: Visit Seattle









Indulge at the quirky Unicorn bar

You’ll think you’ve arrived at a carnival...


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Indulge at the quirky Unicorn bar

Walking into this whimsical Capitol Hill bar is like walking into a carnival. Feast on a menu including homemade corn dogs with a variety of wild toppings (sriracha cream cheese, anyone?); satiate your thirst with a Snozzberry Frost or Sassy Belladonna cocktail; and delight in an events calendar filled with trivia nights, karaoke, and drag bingo. That right there is a full night’s entertainment.


 


Photo: Rachael Jones/Visit Seattle









Try Native American dishes at Off the Rez Cafe

This Native-owned food truck and cafe are the first of their kind...


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Try Native American dishes at Off the Rez Cafe

This Native-owned food truck and cafe are the first of their kind in Seattle, and the couple who own the businesses are dedicated to sharing their Blackfeet heritage with others. The truck makes stops around the Seattle area, but there’s a permanent cafe located in Burke Museum on the University of Washington campus. The menu is based around fry bread, the Native American staple carb of fried flatbread. Try a sweet version after indulging in a savory chili Indian taco, which uses the fry bread as a shell.


 


Photo: Off the Rez









Sip some brews at Black Coffee Northwest

This Black-owned coffee shop has two locations in the Seattle area...


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Sip some brews at Black Coffee Northwest

Yes, Seattle may be the birthplace of Starbucks, but there are many small coffee shops worth supporting here as well. This Black-owned coffee shop has two locations in the Seattle area and uses its proceeds to give back to the community in the form of youth programs. The coffee and pastries are pretty bangin’, too.


 


Photo: Black Coffee Northwest







Nature & OutdoorsPhoto: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Seattle is set against a gorgeous backdrop of evergreen trees, mountains, and expansive bodies of water, making it a haven for all things outdoorsy. Even the Pacific Northwest rain — which doesn’t come as often as you’d think — can’t stop the nature-loving fun.



Take a day trip to Ebey’s Landing

Kids, dogs, and other curious creatures will enjoy exploring Ebey’s Landing...


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Take a day trip to Ebey’s Landing

Located on Whidbey Island about 35 miles north of Seattle, Ebey’s Landing makes for a wonderful day trip, accessible by ferry, car, and public bus. Kids, dogs, and other curious creatures will enjoy exploring the historic nature reserve. Trails take you along bluffs, historic farmland, old batteries at Fort Casey, and more. Keep a lookout for bald eagles in the sky and sea lions down in the water.


 


Photo: DmHall/Shutterstock









Explore Discovery Park

Get your nature fix without actually leaving the city...


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Explore Discovery Park

To get your nature fix without actually leaving the city, Discovery Park is the place to go. With 534 acres of natural areas to explore (making it the city’s biggest urban park), you can hike amongst the evergreen trees, run down the beach and look for seashells, or check out the West Point Lighthouse that’s been operating since 1881.


 


Photo: Dene Miles/Shutterstock









Snap that Twin Peaks selfie

If you’ve ever watched Twin Peaks, you know Snoqualmie Falls...


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Snap that Twin Peaks selfie

If you’ve ever watched Twin Peaks, you know Snoqualmie Falls very well. But even if you haven’t, this natural attraction less than 45 minutes outside of Seattle is certainly worth the trip. A beautiful, 268-foot-tall waterfall that rushes over granite cliffs, it’s quite the sight. Reaching the lower falls viewpoint is easy, and the gentle trail takes visitors through local flora and educates all who walk the land about the Snoqualmie Tribe.


 


Photo: Alyssa Tidwell/Shutterstock









Get introspective at Kubota Garden

This quiet Japanese garden became a public park in 1987...


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Get introspective at Kubota Garden

Originally created by Fujitaro Kubota in the 1920s, this quiet Japanese garden became a public park in 1987. The garden is open year round and free to enter. (Dogs are welcome on leash.) On these 20 acres of land, Japanese and Pacific Northwest nature and design collide into misty hillsides, colorful maple trees, and koi ponds with stones to help guests stay above the goldfish.


 


Photo: Adrian Baras/Shutterstock









Try your eye at whale watching

You’ll never forget the first whale you see in the wild...


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Try your eye at whale watching

You’ll never forget the first whale you see in the wild, and Seattle is the perfect place to check the experience off your list. To get the best view possible of these majestic creatures, take a whale-watching cruise from Seattle or visit Alki Beach Park. While you can spot whales any time of year, they typically travel through the San Juan Islands starting in May and eventually head south around October.


 


Photo: Monika Wieland Shields/Shutterstock







MusicPhoto: LDprod/Shutterstock

Music runs deep in Seattle’s blood. From being the launchpad for Ray Charles and Quincy Jones to the birthplace of ’90s grunge, the city has serious music roots. Today, visitors and residents alike have many ways to experience the symphony of sounds pulsing through the Emerald City.



Dine and groove at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

This jazz club has hosted Grammy-winning artists...


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Dine and groove at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley

Since 1979, this jazz club has hosted Grammy-winning artists from around the world in an intimate venue in downtown Seattle. No seats are farther than 50 feet off the stage. It’s perfect for a date night that takes you back to the golden age of jazz in the 1930s, cocktails and class included.


 


Photo: Dimitriou's Jazz Alley









Browse music at Easy Street Records

Considered one of the best record stores in the US...


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Browse music at Easy Street Records

Considered by Rolling Stone to be one of the best record stores in the US, this shop in West Seattle is the place to go to pick up some physical music. The vinyl spot is so iconic, Pearl Jam and other major names have performed in the store. The onsite cafe is ready to fuel your browsing.


 


Photo: Wahooville Studios/Easy Street Records









Pay your respects at the Jimi Hendrix Memorial

The legendary Jimi Hendrix was born and raised in Seattle...


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Pay your respects at the Jimi Hendrix Memorial

The legendary Jimi Hendrix was born and raised in Seattle, and the city is proud of his legacy. In nearby Renton, you can visit his burial site at Greenwood Memorial Park and pay your respects to the influential electric guitarist. A permanent Hendrix collection is on display at MoPOP, which originally started as a Hendrix-only museum but has since expanded in exciting ways. 


 


Photo: Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock









See where legends recorded at London Bridge Studio

Grunge music occupies a special place in Seattle’s heart...


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See where legends recorded at London Bridge Studio

Grunge music occupies a special place in Seattle’s heart. For fans of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and other Seattle superstars, you can take a one-hour guided tour at the London Bridge Studio to learn the stories of some seriously iconic recording sessions.


 


Photo: London Bridge Studio









Watch professional productions at Seattle Opera

You don’t have to be an opera fan to enjoy this one...


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Watch professional productions at Seattle Opera

You don’t have to be an opera fan to enjoy shows at Seattle Opera, which has been in operation since 1963. With a mix of traditional favorites and newer works, you’ll hear—and see—some of the best vocalists in the world take the stage.


 


Photo: Philip Newton/Seattle Opera







Sports by the SoundPhoto: Ben VanHouten/Seattle Mariners/Visit Seattle

If you only think of the Seahawks when it comes to Seattle sports, you have an education coming. From the Kraken to the Storm, the Seattle sports scene fills arenas, fills the stands, and fills the calendar.



Crouch, bind, set with the Seattle Seawolves

These two-time champions aim to thrill...


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Crouch, bind, set with the Seattle Seawolves

The Seattle Seawolves, founding member of Major League Rugby in the US, aim to thrill their fans, win with excellence, and inspire the community. The team claimed back-to-back championships (2018 and 2019), are the 2022 Western Conference Champions and finished second overall for the 2022 MLR Championship. See them back on the pitch at the Starfire Sports stadium in Tukwila for the 2023 season.


 


Photo: Rick May/Visit Seattle









Cheer on the Seattle Kraken

Seattle welcomed the newest NHL team to town in 2021...


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Cheer on the Seattle Kraken

Seattle welcomed the newest National Hockey League team to town in 2021 with an appropriately seaworthy mascot. Named after a legendary Norwegian sea monster, the Seattle Kraken hits the ice in the Climate Pledge Arena at the Seattle Center from October through April.


 


Photo: Visit Seattle









Watch the Seattle Storm

This four-time WNBA championship team...


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Watch the Seattle Storm

Four-time WNBA champions, the Seattle Storm, are one of 12 WNBA teams that still compete in the US. The Climate Pledge Arena at the Seattle Center turns Kraken ice into a b-ball court for the Storm’s home games from May to September. 


 


Photo: Visit Seattle









Catch the MLB All-Star Game

In 2023, baseball’s All-Star Week will be hosted in Seattle...


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Catch the MLB All-Star Game

In 2023, the MLB’s All-Star Week will be hosted in Seattle for the third time (the last was in 2001). The American League takes on the National League in the Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park in July. Exciting events are planned for the week, including the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, where the sport’s best prospective big-leaguers are showcased; All-Star Celebrity Softball; and the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.


Photo: Visit Seattle









Mark your calendar for FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026 chose Seattle’s Lumen Field...


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Mark your calendar for FIFA World Cup 2026

While it’s a few years from now, the FIFA World Cup 2026 chose Lumen Field in Seattle as a host venue for its international men's soccer championship. Soccer aficionados from around the world will converge in the Emerald City for this epic event, and the atmosphere around town is sure to be electrifying.


 


Photo: pixfly/Shutterstock













This post is proudly produced in partnership with Visit Seattle.
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Published on October 05, 2022 05:00

October 4, 2022

Holiday Flight Prices Could Be the Highest in 5 Years. Here’s When To Book for the Cheapest Tickets.

While the summer surge is over and prices are falling, travelers will find that holiday flight prices will inevitably skyrocket during this holiday season. If you’re planning to get a flight this Thanksgiving or Christmas, you’ll need to prepare early and be flexible if you’re looking to snag a good deal. Hopper, the travel app, recently released its 2022 Holiday Travel Outlook report, which details what travelers can expect when booking.

Hopper attributes a few factors to why travelers should expect to see flight prices that are the highest they’ve been in the last five years. For one, trends show that travel has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, meaning families and friends are ready to return to holiday traditions. Combine that with inflation which is increasing the cost of jet fuel, and the limited number of flights scheduled due to the worker shortage. This means that supply and demand will be driving up prices this year.

This Thanksgiving, Hopper expects travelers who get a good deal will be pay about $350 per ticket. Airfares will be 22 percent higher than in 2019 and 43 percent higher than last year. International airfare is currently at $795 per ticket this Thanksgiving — 25 percent higher than in 2019 and 41 percent higher than last year. For Christmas, expect a good deal to be about $463 per ticket for a domestic flight, which is 31 percent higher than in 2019 and 39 percent higher than last year. International airfare will be about $1,300 per ticket, which is 26 percent higher than in 2019, and 20 higher than in 2018, with the expectation it will rise from now through the holidays, so monitoring prices for deals will be vital to getting a reasonable price this year.

If you’re looking to get a good deal, start planning now — planning early could earn you $60 to $80 off domestic flights and $120 to $195 off international flights. If you can be flexible when flying, travelers will be awarded up to $300 off by flying on less popular dates. For Thanksgiving, consider flying the Monday of Thanksgiving week and returning any weekday after the holidays are over. For Christmas, if you can fly the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas weekend and return Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of the following week, you should save some cash. Finally, be sure to book by October 10; airfare will still be high but fluctuate daily through early October, meaning the best time to book is as soon as possible. Before you know it, you’ll be back with your loved ones soon.

More like thisAirports + FlyingThe Extra Airline Fees That Are Absolutely Worth the Money This Holiday Season
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Published on October 04, 2022 14:33

These Airbnbs in Atlantic City Showcase the Best of the Jersey Coast

Head out to New Jersey’s Atlantic coast to experience Atlantic City, the go-to spot for events, vacations, and quick two-day trips. No matter what you’re going for, whether it be to explore, a girl’s trip away, or to take some time with family, Atlantic City has something for everyone. Set up in your new home away from home with these Airbnbs in Atlantic City that place you right in the heart of the action.


Matador’s guides to the best of Airbnb Categories:10 Remote, Off-The-Grid Airbnbs Where You Can Get Away From It AllThe 11 Most Beautiful Converted Churches You Can Stay in Around the World on AirbnbAirbnb Just Made Windmills a Category, and These 9 Have Us Planning a TripAirbnb Now Has a Towers Category. These 9 Will Climb Your Bucket ListAirbnb Launched a Tiny Homes Category, and We’re Already Planning Trips Around These 1111 Properties in Airbnb’s New OMG! Category You Won’t Believe Are Real

We hope you love the Airbnb Atlantic City, 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.

Pet-friendly Atlantic City AirbnbsAtlantic City Airbnbs near the beachPet-friendly Atlantic City AirbnbsRockwell Playce

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

If you’re looking for a cool Airbnb Atlantic City rental for a birthday party, bachelorette, or a friend’s getaway, this groovy decorative property is just the place for you. This renovated property features several murals and other works of art by local and international artists. This home has an open floor concept on the first floor, perfect for those birthday or dinner parties. Step into an artistic world while staying at this unique home.

Ten guests, three bedrooms
Price: $335 per night

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Pet-friendly Atlantic City Airbnb in a Victorian Home

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Experience a dream vacation at this Airbnb Atlantic City property. This spacious family home has everything you need for your vacation. The renovated space is a three-story home and on the first floor is the spacious living room, a new fully equipped kitchen, full bathroom, and laundry, and on the second and third floors are spacious bedrooms. Also, if you want to bring your furry friend along, you are welcome, as this is a pet-friendly home. The home is centrally located in the heart of Atlantic City and is not only the house near the beach but also near casinos, outlets, and the Atlantic City Convention Center.

Twelve guests, five bedrooms
Price: $202 per night

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Atlantic City retreat near casinos

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Stay at this modern home for your next Atlantic City getaway. Whether with family or friends, this home is the perfect space for you, your guests, and your four-legged friends. Located in a quiet, family-oriented neighborhood, this renovated two-story home has a spacious living area, kitchen, and dining area on the first floor and bedrooms and full bathrooms on the second floor. If you’re looking to explore, the home is in the heart of Atlantic City, near the boardwalk and the border of Ventnor.

Ten guests, four bedrooms
Price: $138 per night

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Spacious townhouse with a one-of-a-kind rooftop deck

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Enjoy this spacious one-of-a-kind townhouse on your Atlantic Getaway. The spacious townhouse is one of three identical townhouse units and features a spacious living area, kitchen area, and rooftop deck. The deck has views of the ocean, multiple seating areas, and a grill perfect for nights outside for entertaining. The home is minutes away from the casinos, shopping and restaurants.

Twelve guests, three bedrooms
Price: $303 per night

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Atlantic City Airbnbs near the beachIdyllic Atlantic City Home

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Bring the whole family together by staying at this spacious Atlantic City Airbnb. This cozy home is one block to the beach and features a wrap-around deck with a dining area gas grill. The house is in a prime location near the beach, casinos, Steel Pier, and the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Ten guests, three bedrooms
Price: $146 per night

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Sunset Beach House

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Nestled in a quiet neighborhood in Atlantic City is this cozy beach home. The home is the perfect vacation base in Atlantic City as it is one mile from the beach, the Ocean Casino, and a short walk from restaurants like Tony Baloney’s and Kelsey and Kim’s. The home features a spacious living and kitchen area and the perfect outdoor space. The outdoor space features multiple seating areas, a gas grill, and space for the kids to play and run around.

Twelve guests, three bedrooms
Price: $105 per night

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Cozy beach home near boardwalk and beach

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Set yourself on vacation mode when you enter this home in Atlantic City. This relaxing home is in the inlet area of Atlantic City, with a short walk to the boardwalk and a block away from the beach. This home is in a quiet neighborhood and features decor that instantly puts the guest at ease and in vacation mode. Enjoy the spacious living area, kitchen, and backyard area with a deck where you can sit out and enjoy a nice cup of coffee and a cool beverage at night.

Nine guests, four bedrooms
Price: $113 per night

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Oceanfront condo

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

See the ocean from the comfort of your room while staying at the oceanfront rental. This condo has an open floor plan with a bed, seating, and kitchen. Stare out the window at the beautiful ocean views or get close and personal with the ocean right outside your door. Step out your front door and be at the beach and boardwalk.

Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $78 per night

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Modern luxury getaway near the beach

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Experience this luxury Airbnb Atlantic City family home in a quiet neighborhood. This home features two master bedrooms, both with private bedrooms, and three other bedrooms with queen-sized beds. There is a spacious modern living area perfect for entertaining and a newly renovated kitchen space. Hang out with family and friends on the back deck while grilling out.

Fourteen guests, five bedrooms
Price: $205 per night

Book Now

More like thisFood + DrinkThe 7 Best Old-School Italian Restaurants in Atlantic City
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Published on October 04, 2022 13:06

How To Make the Most of a Trip To New York City

There’s a reason no one calls it Old York City. New York City delivers exactly what its name suggests by incessantly reinventing itself with new restaurants, new bars, new shops, and a new army of locals to try them. There’s always a show to be seen, a park getting planted, a highrise going up, and a neighborhood to explore. When you think you’ve seen it all, there are always new things to do in NYC. 

For visitors, this can inspire non-stop buzzing from the morning’s first boiled bagel to the night’s final Martini. But squeezing the city’s sights into one round-the-clock trip is more difficult than racing back-to-back New York City Marathons. Instead of trying to do it all, follow this list for a small taste of the Big Apple’s best. Be warned: one bite is never enough.

We hope you love the spaces and stays 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.

How to get around New York CityBest views in New York CityBest museums in New York CityBest shows in New York CityBest parks in New York CityBest restaurants in New York CityBest bars in New York CityWhere to stay in New York City

How to get around New York City


Couple walking one of the best thing to do in nyc

Photo: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

New York is a pedestrian town, and the most rewarding way to see city treasures is on foot. Locals are unapologetic bi-pedal commuters, so follow sidewalk etiquette or risk collision. Traffic keeps to the right, and it’s an unspoken rule that no more than two people should walk side-by-side. 

More daring travelers should try cycling around town via Citi Bike, the city’s bike-share program. Remember to stay in the bike lane and obey traffic lights. 

If you’re traveling long distances, use the city’s transportation system. Trains and buses criss-cross New York, and they’re generally reliable, but preparing for crowds, delays, and the occasionally-smelly train car is essential. Download the OMNY app to pay via digital wallet by tapping your smart device at the turnstile. 

Yellow cabs and rideshares can be convenient but pricey. If you want to save money, reserve car rides for late-night commuting and inclement weather, when taking the train can be a time-consuming chore. To hail a cab, look for a lit-up rooftop and raise your hand roadside. 

Best views in New York City

people on The Edge one of the best things to do in NYC

Photo: Edge

It’s difficult to grasp New York’s enormity by stomping the streets — skyscrapers in Midtown and the Financial District turn entire blocks into man-made canyons. But if you see the skyline from above, it becomes an expansive collage of art déco icons and modern “supertalls” (buildings over 1,000 feet high), framed by rivers and stretching for miles. Visit one of the city’s rooftops or observation decks to ogle the architecture from dizzying heights. 

The Edge

    
There’s no shortage of buildings that hock city views — One World Observatory, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock all have eye-popping lookouts. But to see the city from these vantage points means you don’t get to awe at the buildings themselves. From the 1,110-foot-high Edge observatory (the Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor observation deck), you can spot most of the city’s esteemed real estate, like Central Park, the Chrysler Building, Liberty Island, and more. For a hair-raising experience, step over the deck’s glass floor — it peers 100 floors down to street level. 

Where: 30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

Overstory

   
If the thought of amusement parks makes you cringe, skip the Edge and its competitors. Long lines and camera-clicking tourists are par for the course, and it’s still possible to see skyline overlooks without getting caught in the hubbub. At Overstory, a cocktail lounge on the 64th floor of a Financial District skyscraper built in 1932, guests sit on a wraparound balcony to enjoy adults-only refreshments while savoring city sights. Reserve a seat in advance or prepare to be turned away. 

Where: 70 Pine St, 64th Floor, New York, NY 10005

Best museums in New York City


New York is a culture vulture’s smorgasbord with 145 museums covering everything from 19th-century tenement living to avant-garde art. Visit these three renowned institutions for a comprehensive look at the city’s most prized collections. The Metropolitan Museum of ArtInside the MET one of the best things to do in nyc

Photo: Alexander Prokopenko/Shutterstock

This Beaux Arts behemoth stretching along Fifth Avenue is the most immense of New York’s museum scene, with 2.2 million square feet dedicated to over 5,000 years of art-world history. Wander the halls to admire everything from the ancient Egyptian Temple of Dendur to Rodin’s bronze sculptures, Picasso’s cubic paintings, and Emanuel Leutze’s “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” The Met’s sheer volume can be exhausting, so plan your visit around a few must-see pieces to make the most of your time. Visit the audio guide for background on each work. 

Where: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

Whitney Museum of American Art

 
Rising from the High Line’s southern entrance and overlooking the Hudson River, architect Renzo Piano’s gleaming glass-and-steel building from 2015 almost overshadows the art inside — though doing so would be an impossible task. Edward Hopper, Cindy Sherman, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol (all New York City locals) are just a few of the modern-art big-wigs represented in the collection. If time is tight, beeline for Whitney’s 7th floor, which explores American life through a series of works from 1900 to 1965, then step onto the outdoor balcony to peep Manhattan’s skyline. 

Where: 99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014

American Museum of Natural History

  

American Museum of Natural History in summer one of the best things to do in nyc

Photo: nyker/Shutterstock

Strolling the grounds around this museum is a treat — the Gothic, Romanesque, and contemporary architecture is a stunning site to behold. But it’s the collection inside that draws millions of visitors annually. Covering four city blocks and carrying 34 million artifacts, this is the world’s largest natural history museum. Sidle up next to a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, tour the solar system at the Hayden Planetarium, and flit among tropical butterflies in an annual exhibit that runs from November to May. 

Where: ​​200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

Best shows in New York City


Broadway at night one of the best things to do in nyc

Photo: Lauren Orr/Shutterstock

Walk around the city, and it becomes obvious — all New York’s a stage, and all the locals are merely players. You can find the city’s razz-ma-tazz cast of experimental theater makers, sultry jazz musicians, and bawdy burlesque dancers on nearly every block, and they’re usually quite good. After all, this town birthed the careers of Ethel Merman, Biggie Smalls, and every SNL cast member (to name a few). Soak in the world-class talent pool by spending a night in the audience. 

Get tickets to a Broadway or Off-Broadway show

 
Settling into the orchestra of one of New York’s 41 Broadway theaters is an New York City must-do. Some of the world’s most talented stage stars spend six nights a week baring their souls in musicals like the hip-hop sensation Hamilton and Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop, while provocative playwrights share ground-breaking stories in a revolving door of exciting new works. But being on Broadway doesn’t always make a show better. Some of the city’s most acclaimed performances happen in Off-Broadway houses like Playwrights Horizons and New York Theatre Workshop, both of which serve as incubators for the Great White Way. For inexpensive tickets, check out the TodayTix app or try your luck at a show’s same-day rush or lottery system

Attend a cabaret or concert

 
If kicking chorus lines doesn’t suit your style, consider tickets to a cozy club or sprawling music hall. At Joe’s Pub, it’s possible to see Tony Award-winning theater legends and stand-up comedy royalty while drinking in an intimate 184-seat lounge. Hop on the L train to Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg for a night of dancing to EDM, rock, or rap music at Elsewhere — a three-floor venue for cutting-edge musicians. Don’t sleep on the city’s jazz scene, either. Descending into Smalls, a brick-walled jazz den tucked into a West Village basement, is like traveling to the mid-20th-century, when Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald ruled the city’s stages. 

Best parks in New York City


The Big Apple might seem all steel and cement, but almost 15 percent of the city is covered in parks. When packed sidewalks start to wear, a pastoral green space is only a skip away. Saunter around their sculpted gardens and wild woods for a gentle reprieve from concrete-jungle clamor.Central ParkCentral Park in spring, one of the best things to do in nyc

Photo: S.Borisov/Shutterstock

When landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux began designing this 842-acre park in the 1850s, their intention was clear — create a public refuge far removed from city life. Roam the grounds, and you’ll likely say they nailed it. Catch rays in the 15-acre expanse of Sheep Meadow, then race joggers around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir for skyline views. Bring the kids to the zoo, join birdwatchers in the wooded 38-acre Ramble, or amble the elm-lined Mall to Bethesda Fountain’s eight-foot bronze angel. The countryside — who needs it? 

Governors Island

 
After two centuries as an American military base, this car-free escape is now a 172-acre people’s park. To make the most of a trip, explore the island by bike. A 2.5-mile perimeter loop passes outdoor sculptures, hilly playgrounds, and a locavore food court, all with picture-perfect panoramas, including a frame of the State of Liberty. If you’re looking to beat New York’s bustle, relax in the heated infinity pools at QC NY’s Roman-style spa, or spend a night glamping in the seasonal tents run by Collective Retreats. It’s a wonder Lower Manhattan is only a five-minute ferry ride away. 

The High LinePeople walking the High Line, one of the best things to do in nyc

Photo: Michael Urmann/Shutterstock

From slaughterhouse rail line to disused urban eyesore and now a celebrated green strip, The High Line is a poster child for urban reinvention. Elevated 30 feet above ground and stretching for 1.5 miles between the Meatpacking District to 34th Street, a stroll along the esplanade leads to public art installations, views of mesmerizing modern architecture, and lookouts framing action-packed streets. Start at the Whitney, end at Hudson Yards, and grab a bite from food carts along the way — benches scattered throughout the park are prime for people-watching. 

Best restaurants in New York City


It would take more than 22 years to eat at every restaurant in New York City — and it’d be two decades well spent. Diverse and daring, New York is constantly pushing the bar when it comes to the kitchen, be it an Italian mainstay or a modern food market. If the number of options seems overwhelming, tickle your tastebuds at these top-tier eateries to sample what city chefs do best. Thai Diner

 
The ubiquitous New York diner — swivel stools, comfy booths, and kitschy ephemera cluttering the walls — gets a Bangkok-style makeover at this delicious Nolita restaurant. Grab a seat in the bamboo-walled interior, 1960s Thai pop music blasting from the speakers, and tuck into the prawn-and-noodle phat see eiw, roti-roll egg sandwich, spicy baan salad, or Thai tea babka French toast with condensed milk as syrup. 

Where: 186 Mott St, New York, NY 1001

Don Angie

For stylish ambiance paired with a clever take on Italian food, head to Don Angie. A seat at this West Village restaurant is coveted, and not just because of the sleek interiors — accented by palm fronds and elegant mahogany accents: It’s Don Angie’s legendary lasagna that draws in eager diners. The noodles are spun into tight spirals, rather than layered, and packed with cheese and red sauce — the result is one of the best restaurant dishes in New York City. Getting a table at Don Angie is a bit tricky; reservations open just one week in advance, so decide when you want to go, and have your hand poised over the mouse ready to book your table before anyone else can.

Where: 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

Russ and Daughters Cafe

 

Outside of Russ and Daughters Cafe one of the best things to do in nyc

Photo: Russ and Daughters Cafe

The Jewish delicatessen is a time-honored institution dating back to the 19th century when waves of Eastern European immigrants settled in the Lower East Side. There might not be as many delis today as there were back then, but those left are worth their weight in pastrami. For a sit-down experience, head to Russ and Daughters Cafe — an off-shoot of the original shop, which opened in 1914 and still stands around the corner. Potato knishes, whitefish croquettes, bagels and lox, and chocolate rugelach: that’s how you nosh like an old-school New Yorker.  

Where: 127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

Dominique Ansel Bakery

When patisserie prince Dominique Ansel released the cronut in 2013, lines wrapped around the block for a chance to bite into the buttery croissant-donut mash-up. The lines might not be as long today, but the sweets are still as good. Arrive early before the cronuts run out and save room for things like milk-filled cookie shot glasses and frozen s’mores, brûléed to a crisp when ordered. 

Where: 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Via Carota

In 2018, The New Yorker called Via Carota New York’s “most perfect restaurant,” and four years later, this sentiment remains true. Simple, well-made food shines against the exposed brick interior. The pasta dishes are sublime — the cacio e pepe in particular – but it’s the energy in the dining room that should encourage New York City newcomers to try it out. Lively, bolstered by wine, the crowd is talkative and excited. You’ll want to order a negroni here, too. Via Carota is crowded all year and the restaurant doesn’t take reservations. There is always a line outside the door, so expect around an hour wait for your table. You’ll be very glad you did.

Where: 51 Grove Ct, New York, NY 10014

Eleven Madison ParkPumpkin dish at Eleven Madison Park one of the best experiences in nyc

Photo: Eleven Madison Park

Forget the caviar — when this famed fine dining establishment reopened post-pandemic shutdown in 2021, it was with an entirely plant-based menu — and the results are exquisite. The eight to 10-course tasting menu delivers seasonal vegan fare, all created by visionary chef Daniel Humm. While the $365 price tag might seem outrageous, the experience is so exceptional that Michelin awarded it three stars. 

Where: 11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010

Mama’s TOO!

Fun fact: if you look inside a New Yorker’s veins, you’ll see tomato sauce pumping through their body. If that New Yorker has good taste, the sauce is probably traceable to Mama’s TOO!, an Upper West Side slice shop that serves thick square cuts of some of the city’s yummiest pizza. Get extra happy by ordering the Angry Nonna. The crispy soppressata cups, drizzled with hot honey, are little slices of heaven. 

Where: 2750 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

Best bars in New York City


New York’s indulgence of maverick mixologists, craft beer chemists, and discerning sommeliers makes it easy to imbibe in style. This is the city that invented the Martini and the Manhattan; where German immigrants began a Brooklyn beer boom in the 19th century, and where self-taught beer makers carry on the tradition today. Go Carrie Bradshaw by drowning in Cosmos, or ask an employee at one of these drink dens for a suggestion. The bartender likely knows best. Attaboy

 

Bartender makes drink at Attaboy one of the best things to do in nyc

Photo: Attaboy

Prohibition-style juice joints are all the rage in Manhattan, with speakeasies hiding behind hot dog restaurants and coffee counters. Attaboy, a no-sign haunt for Lower East Side cool kids, is one of the city’s smartest, serving bespoke cocktails in a 500-square-foot industrial space. Go classic by asking for the Penicillin — a lemon-ginger-honey-scotch sipper invented by one of the bar’s co-owners. 

Where: 134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

Grimm Artisanal Ales

 
Over a dozen craft breweries serve suds to hop-head hipsters in Brooklyn, making Kings County the city’s beer kingdom. The most magical elixirs come from Grimm Artisanal Ales, an airy East Williamsburg brewery-and-taproom run by a husband-and-wife team. The best beer is juicy and fruit-forward. For proof, taste the sour Key Lime Pie Pop or On Fairy Stories — a saison with jasmine flowers and grapefruit zest. 

Where: 990 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Dante

I can’t think of a more sophisticated space in New York City than Dante. The exterior is decorated with trellises dripping with white and pink roses. Inside, the white walls are accented by the most elegant touches — white vases filled with lilies, mint green couches, white exposed brick. Even the coasters, decorated with delicate oranges, are chic. But you’re just going to Dante for the design. Routinely named one of the best bars in New York, Dante is known for refined takes on classic cocktails — negronis and martinis that taste both sharp and smooth. Dante is peak New York City cool.

Where: 79-81 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

St. Jardim

 

St. Jardim wine bar one of the best thing to do in nyc

Photo: St. Jardim

Swirling natural wine street-side at this bright, white West Village wine bar is an oenophile’s delight. You don’t need to like fermented grapes to enjoy the ambiance, either — by day, the space doubles as a coffee shop, and by night, foodies take advantage of the Lebanese-influenced, tapas-style menu. 

Where: 183 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014

Devoción

 
Consider yourself lucky: this local coffee chain has four outlets around the city. The Colombian-grown beans, all freshly roasted in Brooklyn, make excellent espressos and delectable drips. Each space is equally enjoyable, too, with leather couches, wood tables, and a rainforest of greenery. If you have to choose one, head to Williamsburg, where a large skylight makes the indoor cafe feel like an outdoor garden. 

Where: 69 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Where to stay in New York City


When it comes to space, New Yorkers pay a premium; this is the most expensive rental market in the US. As a result, hotels are often pricey and pocket-sized. Still, it’s possible to find worthy spots for sleeping. From ultra-lux to budget-friendly, these hotels are all trusted resting pads near the city’s greatest sites. Wythe HotelBedroom in Wythe Hotel a great place to stay when enjoying things to do in nyc

Photo: Booking.com

New York’s hottest nightlife and dining destinations are increasingly sprinkled from Manhattan’s Lower East Side to Brooklyn’s Bushwick. Williamsburg sits at the center, and staying at the Wythe Hotel means sleeping in the heart of the action. Each room comes with hip industrial decor and floor-to-ceiling windows, but it’s the on-site restaurants that make this hotel shine. Head to the 6th-floor cocktail bar for unobstructed views of Manhattan, or dine at Le Crocodile — a French bistro that makes the East River feel like the Left Bank. 

Where: 80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Book Now

High Line Hotel

 
Built in 1895 as a dormitory for the General Theological Assembly, the High Line Hotel’s gothic brick facade invites visitors to step away from the Hudson’s modern skyscrapers and into the divine history of West Chelsea. Aside from the vintage-inspired rooms, you’ll find ample modern extras designed for well-heeled travelers, including complimentary Shinola bicycles, an Intelligentsia coffee bar, and a double-decker London bus serving cocktails and bites. 

Where: 180 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Book Now

Jane Hotel

 

Lounge in Jane Hotel a great place to stay when enjoying things to do in nyc

Photo: Booking.com

Located near the Hudson River on a quiet West Village side street, this retro hotel built in 1908 offers reasonably-priced rooms in one of Manhattan’s ritziest neighborhoods. If the walls of this building could talk, they’d tell tales from its former life as a sailor’s hotel, a refuge for Titanic survivors in 1912, and a stint hosting the original production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Book a Standard Cabin — a no-frills, 50-square-foot, ship-style accommodation with a shared bathroom — to rock yourself to sleep surrounded by the ghosts of old New York.

Where: 113 Jane St, New York, NY 10014

Book Now

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Published on October 04, 2022 11:16

Atlanta’s New Margaritaville Vacation Club Brings Beach Vibes To the Center of the City

Nothing feels like vacation quite like sipping a strawberry margarita in a warm breeze. The tropical vibes crank up a notch when steel drums start playing and a whiff of saltwater hits your nose. Then life becomes one big Jimmy Buffet song when you kick back in a deck chair, take one more sweet boozy sip, and gaze out at…the Atlanta skyline?

Such is the experience at one of Margaritaville’s newest resorts, set not on the shores of a tropical island but on the edge of Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. The Margaritaville Vacation Club Atlanta one of a handful of the franchised operation’s newest branch of offerings, set in the middle of urban centers rather than the usual beachside locales. The idea is to give people the essence of a beach vacation through colorful drinks, tropical music, and saltwater swimming pools without having to travel to the actual beach.

Creating a beach house inside an urban centerthe living room in a suite at margaritaville vacation club atlanta

Photo: Margaritaville Vacation Club Atlanta

Formally known as the Club Wyndham Atlanta Resort, this urban island paradise is the third in-city Margaritaville to open. The others are the much-ballyhooed Times Square location in New York and another property in Nashville. But this is the only one co-branded with Wyndham’s timeshare arm, where people can “own” a given number of nights at any of its properties. You don’t need to be an owner to stay here though, as the suites are also rentable by the night.

The suites feel a little like a beach house in the sky, where pastel walls and whitewashed wood can legitimately trick you into believing there’s an ocean only feet away (for context, the nearest beach to Atlanta is about 250 miles away). TVs play a loop of Jimmy Buffet concerts, providing an instant island soundtrack. Margarita blenders sit on the countertop under a full rack of appropriate glassware. And little signs with Buffet-isms like “If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure there’s a beach attached” are plastered in conspicuous places.

If you didn’t look out the window, you’d swear you were somewhere along the Redneck Riviera. So it’s a little surreal when you pull back the sheer white curtains and see passengers on the SkyView Atlanta Ferris wheel staring back at you.

Restaurants and tiki bars that keep the beach vibe goingtiki bar at margaritaville vacation club atlanta

Photo: Margaritaville Vacation Club Atlanta

The tropical transportation continues inside the signature Margaritaville restaurant on the ground floor, a 400-seat behemoth with a wood motif and a menu that’s long on seafood favorites. You can enjoy your conch fritters and Landshark beer along the resort’s open patio. And though on sunny days your brain might convince you the outdoor tables sit waterside, the only shoreline you’ll find is the one bordering the Olympic Park fountains.

The restaurant patio and open air restaurant immerses you in the surrounding city, and during big downtown events like music festivals and football games it acts as a perfect transition into the urban environment. If you’re not feeling that, Margaritaville puts on an hourly animatronic parrot show around a two-story margarita glass every hour on the :15s, effectively pulling you back into paradise.

The second floor is home to the Tiki bar, which has all the classic thatched roof huts and rum-based concoctions one would expect. The big difference between it and traditional tiki bars is that this one’s completely indoors, and the floor-to-ceiling windows look out on downtown. Keep your eyes on the bar, and you’ll never know the difference.

A tropical island in the skypool at margaritaville vacation club atlanta

Photo: Margaritaville Vacation Club Atlanta

Though the restaurants do a respectable job of replicating the beach resort experience on ground level, the rooftop is where your mind starts really getting confused. This top floor pool deck is only accessible to hotel guests, and features a large saltwater pool surrounded by cabanas and day beds. The views, though not of the ocean, are spectacular, offering a 270-degree panorama with views out to Stone Mountain and the city skyline.

The bar – which opens at 4 PM on weekdays and 1 PM on weekends — has a menu focused on classic tropical drinks and light beers that are perfect companions to an afternoon of suntanning. Live music, typical of the soft guitar or steel drum renditions of Top 40 songs that you’d hear on a cruise ship deck, frequently accompanies the scene.
When you emerge from the pool with a slick of saltwater on your skin, and dry yourself off as you take a sip from a frozen pina colada, it’s hard to imagine you’re anywhere but the beach.

Despite the beach vibes, the urban locale is idealaerial view of margaritaville vacation club atlanta

Photo: Margaritaville Vacation Club Atlanta

Leaving this little corner of Jimmy Buffet’s heaven seems to defeat the purpose of staying at an urban beach resort. But if you do insist on doing stuff like “exploring the city” and “learning the local culture” you couldn’t ask for a better location. From the rooftop, you can see the Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and a corner of Mercedes Benz Stadium. So walking to some of the city’s top attractions is pretty easy.

You’re also feet from the CityView Atlanta Ferris wheel if the rooftop view at the bar isn’t quite panoramic enough. Most importantly, the hotel is two blocks from that great Southern institution known as Waffle House — especially handy since Margaritaville doesn’t serve breakfast.

The resort is also close to both the Peachtree Center and GWCC/CNN Center MARTA stops, if you’re down to explore the city by train.

So while a beach vacation to Atlanta sounds a little like taking a ski trip to Dubai, well, in 2022 both are legitimate possibilities. If Margaritaville has any say, beachy trips to city centers will be a fairly common vacation idea, especially among those in major metros looking for a true staycation. If all you need to get in the tropical mindset is a fruity drink and giant parrots, this resort will do the job. Just make sure you don’t spend too much time looking out the window.

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Published on October 04, 2022 11:10

This Lululemon Duffle Is the Only Weekend Bag You’ll Ever Need

Ever since my now one year old daughter was born, I have found myself taking many more short trips. I haven’t lost the desire to travel, I just don’t want to be away from home for as long as I used to. As a result, the trusty large suitcase which has seen the baggage terminal in Rome, New Orleans, and London has been retired to the attic closet. So when I decided I needed a smaller bag, I looked for something stylish but compact, that can still fit at least a few pairs of shoes and a change of clothes. The Lululemon City Adventurer large duffle bag meets all these requirements, and it hasn’t let me down yet.

The sleek black material is water resistant, so the bag is durable and appropriate for any season or weather. Its versatility is at the heart of its appeal. I’ve thrown bathing suits, light dresses, and sandals in it for a beach trip on the Jersey Shore and packed it with sweatshirts and thick socks for a two-night stay in a cabin in the Adirondacks. Beach vacation, camping, bachelorette party — you name it, this Lululemon duffle bag can accommodate enough.

Woman in blue sweatshirt holding Lululemon duffle bag in airport bathroom

In the Newark airport bathroom on the way home from Mexico. Photo: Elisabeth Sherman

Even though the bag looks compact, it’s surprisingly spacious. On a recent trip to Seattle, I used it not as my luggage, but for my daughter. I fit three , pajamas and day time outfits for four nights, a handful of small toys, two books, and a pair of her shoes inside. Sometimes it feels like Mary Poppins’ bottomless purse.

It comes with a detachable strap so you can sling it across your body or carry it by the handles. One benefit of the bag is that no matter how you choose to carry it, it’s not bulky, so it’s easy to trek through the airport without feeling weighed down. It’s also easy to stow in an overhead compartment alongside traditional suitcases.

In general, it doesn’t take up a ton of space, which is what I love about it: Because we have to fit a stroller and suitcase in the trunk (as well as whatever my partner packs), I can easily toss this duffel bag in the back seat, with room to spare.

There’s an expandable compartment on the bottom of the bag which Lululemon specifies is for storing sweat-drenched clothes post-gym, but that’s usually where I pack dirty clothes at the end of a trip, a still-damp bathing suit, or an extra pair of shoes if I plan to dress up one night. So far, I’ve managed to fit one pair of sneakers, a pair of Tevas, and strappy sandals for going at night into this bag with little effort.

In terms of toiletries, I can usually fit a gallon-size Ziplock bag with a facial cleanser, moisturizer, and a few other items from my skincare routine inside — but usually not a full-size lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. If you’re taking a short trip but if you still prefer to pack all your own hygiene products, you might consider a slightly bigger bag.

Cold weather clothing usually isn’t a problem either. For weekend trips, I need just one jacket, and that’s usually my lime green Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket because it’s easy to fold and flatten. Add a comfy, soft sweatshirt on top of that,. If you’d rather bring a longer, heavier, raincoat or insulated winter coat, you might need to wear it on the plane, or else you’ll have to toss it in your trunk.

The Lululemon City Adventurer is well named. So far, it’s accompanied me to Seattle, Lake George in upstate New York, Asbury Park and Wildwood on the Jersey Shore, Cancun, Oklahoma City, and later this month, I’m taking it with me to Austin. I love that it’s compact, space-saving whether I’m traveling by car or plane, easy to carry through an airport or on the long trek to an isolated cabin, and that I can use it for any vacation, for either me or my daughter. This Lululemon duffle bag works any time, anywhere — and for a person who travels frequently, that’s the kind of flexible luggage I need.

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Published on October 04, 2022 10:14

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