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5 Real Places You Can Go That Inspired the World’s Most Famous Fairy Tales

The greatest tales are so universal that you can relish the dramatic plot-twists, fiery characters, and profound themes from anywhere in the world. But that doesn’t mean they were hatched out of nothing. It’s instructive, not to mention fascinating, to delve into the places that spawned them.

I’ve made doing so a life-long habit by camping in Ithaka beside the palace ruins of Odysseus, walking in the footsteps of the Icelandic Sagas, and crossing Afghanistan in the wake of a medieval poet. Recently, I traveled around the locations that fairy tales originated and found that many of the places where the tellers lived, loved, and suffered can light up those stories, allowing us to see them anew.

These five places are where you can do the same.

A trip to a witches festival in Germany’s Black Forest

Photo: Tom Tom/Shutterstock

Nowhere screams fairy tales like Germany, the home of the Brothers Grimm, and the German landscape that’s most closely associated with fairy tales is the forest. Tramp between the pine and maple trees of the Schwarzwald, the Black Forest, and those childhood fantasies of witches and wolves and gingerbread houses will press against your vision all over again.

One of the best times to visit is in February, when people compensate for the frosty weather with the traditional pre-Lent festivities of Fassnacht. A “witches’ Sabbath” takes place every year in the village of Waldkirch. Here, a guild of local “witches” in intricately carved wooden masks, black bonnets, and polka-dot skirts brandish their broomsticks around a roaring fire, howling at the crowd under an eerie explosion of demon-red fireworks. Most of the crowd are dressed in their own fancy-dress costumes, with horror and fantasy the dominant themes. Waldkirch during Fassnacht is one of the few places where you can see a fairy tale witch zip-wiring over a Jedi, while a fairy tale king and queen clink beer steins with Stasi officers and the monster out of Predator.

A trip to Naples, where Europe’s fairy tales began

Photo: STEFANO FEI/Shutterstock

Germany and Northern Europe might be the heartland of many Western fairy tales, but the story really began farther south in Naples. Europe’s first fairy tale collection was published in the 1630s and written by a poet from Naples called Giambattista Basile. You only have to spend a few hours in this mercurial city to realize it’s haunted by magic, from the talismanic red horns (or cornicelli) mounted on doorways to images of the strega (Italian witches) on liquor bottles.

Outside Saint Martin’s Charterhouse, on the Vomero hill, there’s a perfect view of Mount Vesuvius. From there, you can plunge between the laundry lines and mopeds of the Spanish Quarter, down among the medieval churches and shrines of Via dei Tribunali, past Caravaggio’s painting “Seven Acts of Mercy” (which shows the grisly vivacity of the Neapolitan seicento), all the way to the Cerriglio Tavern, where diners dip their heads over octopus meatballs and mussel soup at the end of Naples’s narrowest alley.

Basile and Caravaggio both drank there, although Basile was treated a little better: he called it “the funhouse… where laughter abounds.” Caravaggio, on the other hand, had to flee after being ambushed by his enemies and wounded in the face. That’s Naples for you. The combination of violence and high spirits is inscribed into Basile’s most famous tales, such as The Old Woman who was Skinned, which does exactly what its title promises, or Europe’s oldest full-length version of Cinderella, in which the heroine murders her step-mother by breaking her neck under the lid of a clothes chest.

A trip to Paris, where fairy tales turn out to be true

Photo: Jesus Noguera photography/Shutterstock

A suburb of Paris: parapets do a jigsaw dance around blockhouses, a Gothic chapel speared by grimacing gargoyles and Europe’s tallest fortified tower. Welcome to the Chateau of Vincennes, the childhood home of the Sun King, Louis XIV, and later a place of incarceration for disgraced VIPs, including the scandalous Marquis de Sade. Among its many inmates was the novelist Claude Prosper de Crébillon, whose satirical and erotic works landed him in trouble with the authorities. While confined in Vincennes, he managed to make friends with his cellmate: a giant rat that had been swollen by the discarded meals of the previous incumbents.

When it comes to friendship between humans and grisly creatures, Crébillon knew the person who spun the most beloved and imitated version: His father lived with the author of Beauty and the Beast. Her name was Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, and she published her story in 1740. Gabrielle-Suzanne drew on her own topsy-turvy life living with Crébillon Senior, who was famously reclusive, labeled a “vandal” by Voltaire, and was known for keeping dozens of stray cats and dogs. She also drew from the archetype of monster groom stories that had been circulating for millennia. She gave Beauty and the Beast the eighteenth century French spin that’s been attached to it ever since.

But her Beast’s palace doesn’t only draw on gothic Vincennes. It’s also influenced by the most glamorous palace of the day, with its statues and orange trees, immaculately trimmed hedges and shiny mirrors: the world-famous palace of Versailles.

A trip to Finland to see the home of The Snow Queen

Photo: Janice pama/Shutterstock

In Lapland, Finland, where the snow is so thick it looks as if the trees are floating in the sky, reindeer pummel the ground with their hooves and fishermen tiptoe in search of ice-holes. This is the landscape of Hans Christian Andersen’s masterpiece The Snow Queen.

Born into dire poverty by a cobbler and a washerwoman in the Danish city of Odense in the early nineteenth century, Andersen left home at 14. He courted the high and mighty, and made it as a writer thanks to his extraordinary tenacity, a little luck, and a super-charged imagination.

His childhood home in Odense can still be visited, and he wrote in his diaries that he based the opening of The Snow Queen on it. But for the bulk of the adventure in the tale, Lapland is the inspiration. Head there today, and you can glimpse the inspiration behind Andersen’s tale. You can meet up with reindeer herders around Lake Inari; ride a snowmobile to the glades where they feed their herds and scatter food pellets onto the snow; and visit a snow castle in Kemi, on the Gulf of Bothnia, where every year a palace is molded out of snow and ice harvested from the frozen sea.

Stand in the corridors of the Snow Castle, under the parapeted walls, the domed roofs, the walls carved with fantasy characters by the chisels of snow artists, and it’s easy to imagine yourself as Gerda, looking for her dear friend Kai, hoping to melt the shard of ice the Snow Queen has embedded in his heart.

A trip to India for the birthplace of many modern tales

Photo: khlongwangchao/Shutterstock

Fairy tales have been imagined all around the world, and if we’re looking for some of the oldest versions, the region to visit is the Indian subcontinent. In the eleventh century, a Kashmiri court poet called Somadeva compiled a collection of magical tales for his queen to soothe her during a time of conflict. Among his tales, there’s a gambler who rode a talking bird to a city of gold, a shipwrecked sailor who dove to an underwater city, a king who discovered a city of wooden automatons, and a princess transformed into a swan decorated in jewels. Somadeva’s tales have traveled all over the world: later versions can be found in the 1001 Nights, in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Boccaccio’s Decameron, and even in the tales of Hans Christian Andersen.

The stories told by Somadeva are agile and porous, splitting apart for new stories, as interconnecting and fluid as the riverways that ripple around Kashmir. There’s nothing like floating over the lotus leaves of Srinagar’s Dal Lake in a doonga, listening to the chatter over the spinach and purple-topped turnips of the floating vegetable market, to feel the atmosphere of these tales. Like the traders chinwagging over their produce, Somadeva believed that anybody could tell a tale. In his collection, they’re narrated by gods and kings, but also generals and ministers, merchants, thieves, a seller of bedsteads, and even a corpse-animating zombie and demons in a fiery pit. It’s a democracy of storytelling with an exciting message: that stories are for everybody.

Nicholas Jubber’s latest book is The Fairy Tellers: A Journey Into the Secret History of Fairy Tales, available now on Amazon.

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5 Reasons To Take Your Crew To Kissimmee NOW

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Kissimmee, FL, United States


5 Reasons to Take Your Crew to Kissimmee NOW

By: Nick Dauk

Life Like a LocalA Screaming Good TimeFlorida’s Wild SideDrinking, Dancing & Delicious DelightsYour Ticket to RidePhoto: Experience Kissimmee#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...') } }

Magic lives in Kissimmee — and we’re talking way more than Walt Disney World. Orlando’s southern neighbor is a special slice of Central Florida, a city that puts visitors in the epicenter of the ultimate vacation destination, at a pace that feels like home. It’s where everyone can gather, regardless of age or ability or interest, and find their thrill and their chill.

From your coworkers and college buddies to your cousins, your children, and those you’re trying to get closer to, Kissimmee caters to whoever is in your crew. Here are five reasons to round up your circle and cruise to the Kissimmee corner of sunshine-y, action-packed Florida.

This post is proudly produced in partnership with Experience Kissimmee.


Life Like a LocalPhoto: Experience Kisiimmee

Renting a vacation home in Kissimmee is the ultimate way to experience the best of Central Florida’s theme parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and exciting entertainment venues — like the locals do. And the options you’ll find here are unmatched: Kissimmee sports the largest collection of vacation home rentals in the world.

Easy access to everything

With a vacation home in Kissimmee, you can plan an unforgettable vacation on the fly...

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Easy access to everything

Roll out of bed, hop in the car, and you’ll be in the heart of Kissimmee’s Main Street before the engine gets warm.

Only a few minutes farther are the area’s legendary theme parks, outlet malls for retail therapy, and gut-busting eateries—shout out to Orlando Premium Outlets for both retail and foodie therapy—allowing your crew to plan an unforgettable vacation on the fly.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

An effortless escape to nature

Kissimmee offers a ready-made escape plan...

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An effortless escape to nature

Kissimmee offers a ready-made escape plan to avoid the crowds and congestion inherent in larger cities. Head a few miles in any direction and you’ll find quiet hiking trails, picnic-perfect lakes, and critter-filled swamps that’ll make you feel miles from the metropolis.

Lake Kissimmee State Park is a local fave, where you can practically do anything, from hiking, horseback riding, and boat tours to primitive camping and scouting for sandhill cranes. 

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Room to spread out

Give everyone the safe space and privacy they need...

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Room to spread out

It’s hard to social distance in a hotel room—especially when you’re rolling into Kissimmee with the whole crew.

Give everyone the safe space and privacy they need in a vacation rental—Kissimmee’s got loads. Plus, nothing beats the Central Florida heat like a dip in a private pool...in the courtyard of a Spanish-style villa or 12-bedroom mansion, perhaps.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Vacation like a (luxury) staycation

Home-sweet-home vibes and creature comforts...

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Vacation like a (luxury) staycation

A vacation rental offers your crew the home-sweet-home vibes and creature comforts y’all need while allowing you to visit Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Resorts on a whim—just like the locals do. All with a bit more luxury, if that’s how you like to roll.

Want views of a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course? Expansive lagoon-side pools? Game rooms with sit-and-drive racing machines? It’s all possible.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

A Screaming Good TimePhoto: Experience Kissimmee

Look beyond the roller coasters, and you’ll find excitement in every nook and cranny of Kissimmee. From hang-gliding to ATVing, here’s how get your adrenaline pumping on the ground, in the treetops, and through that Sunshine State sky.

Soar through the skies at Wallaby Ranch

No experience—or wings—necessary...

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Soar through the skies at Wallaby Ranch

No experience—or wings—are necessary to learn how to hang-glide at Wallaby Ranch. Technically a hang-gliding school, the ranch was founded by Malcolm Jones, arguably the most experienced tandem hang-gliding pilot in the world. Expect to scream with joy from 2,000 feet in the air during your 15-minute flight.

 

Photo: Wallaby Ranch

Zipline at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park

Feel like monkeying around? They’ll show you the ropes...

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Zipline at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park

Feel like monkeying around at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park? They’ll show you the ropes—literally. Zipline across six different ropes courses and see who in your crew can complete 100 unique challenges in record time. Expect to tackle Tarzan swings, nets, ropes, hanging bridges, trapezes, and more. 

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Get muddy at Revolution Adventures

Ripping through 230 acres of muddy, off-road trails...

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Get muddy at Revolution Adventures

Tag with bow and arrows? Shooting clays and fishing for bass (at a private lake)? Ripping through 230 acres of muddy, off-road trails on an eight-wheeled amphibious vehicle? Crews of all ages and abilities can get down and dirty at Revolution Adventures—just don’t forget to bring a towel.

Sail over Central Florida with Bob’s Balloon Rides

We’re not sure what’s cooler at Bob’s Balloon Rides...

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Sail over Central Florida with Bob’s Balloon Rides

We’re not sure what’s cooler at Bob’s Balloon Rides: floating high over Animal Kingdom with champagne in hand, or flying around Kissimmee’s treetops with alligators watching enviously from below. Customize your own hot-air balloon cruise and you can find out for yourself.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Skydive at iFLY Orlando

HeFly, SheFly, you’ll all fly...

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Skydive at iFLY Orlando

HeFly, SheFly, you’ll all fly at iFLY Orlando. Swap the bumpy plane ride (and the strapping yourself to a stranger) for this exhilarating indoor skydiving experience. Lifting off in their vertical wind tunnel is totally wild yet safe and simple, meaning almost any kid or adult in your crew can take the leap. (Ages three to 103 welcome.)

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Getting to Know Florida’s Wild SidePhoto: Experience Kissimmee

Central Florida was known for its diverse wildlife long before the Mouse moved in. Get to know the original locals — from gators to furry faces from around the globe — at these wild attractions in and around Kissimmee.

Take a Sunshine State safari at Wild Florida

Choose-your-own-adventure-style animal encounters are on the itinerary...

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Take a Sunshine State safari at Wild Florida

Choose-your-own-adventure-style animal encounters are on the itinerary at Wild Florida. A relaxed pace sets the tone for airboat rides through gator-filled swamps, self-driving tours through their safari park, and VIP Sloth Encounters that will teach your crew a thing or two about taking it slow.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Meet the marine life at Discovery Cove

Strap on a snorkel and splash with otters, marmosets, and more...

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Meet the marine life at Discovery Cove

The dolphin encounters may be the hallmark attraction at Discovery Cove, but you’ll find even more incredible animal encounters in the resort’s Freshwater Oasis and Grand Reef. Strap on a snorkel and splash with otters, marmosets, fish, rays—and the occasional snowbird from Atlantic City.

 

Photo: Discovery Cove

Get some alone time with Amazing Animals

Hands-on meet-and-greets with capybara, reptiles, kinkajous...

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Get some alone time with Amazing Animals

Wild animals from afar find their way to Central Florida, and Amazing Animals Inc. is here to give them a safe, loving home. Book a private tour of the preserve to enjoy hands-on meet-and-greets with capybara, reptiles, kinkajous, bobcats, macaws, and more. The no-parents-allowed Kids Night Out treats the children to a pizza party, animal encounters, and a movie night, so you and your older crew members can get wild elsewhere without worry.

 

Photo: Purino/Shutterstock

Get to know the scaly locals at Gatorland

Get a new view of one of the state’s oldest inhabitants...

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Get to know the scaly locals at Gatorland

Get close to some of Florida’s most iconic creatures at Gatorland—and come away with a new view on one of the state’s oldest inhabitants. Real close, that is. A harness is all that separates you and 130 giant alligators on the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line. If that doesn’t get the kids’ eyes wide, a moonlit trek through the Alligator Breeding Marsh during a Gator Night Shine tour certainly might. (Did we mention the panthers, bobcats, and birds, too?)

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Take a red-eye ride at Boggy Creek

When the sun sets, red eyes light up the swamp...

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Take a red-eye ride at Boggy Creek

If you fancy being within arm’s reach of the gators without guardrails or safety nets, you’ll need to hop on an airboat for an adventure in the swamp. When the sun sets, red eyes light up the marsh at Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures. Glide through tall grass with dozens of nocturnal creatures watching your progress. Gator sightings are just about guaranteed.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Drinking, Dancing & Delicious DelightsPhoto: Courtesy of ICON Park

Looking for fun without breaking the bank? Kissimmee’s shopping, dining, and entertainment districts offer hours of enjoyment for all budgets and all appetites. Double down with a quick trip to Disney Springs or Universal CityWalk, only a short drive away.

Dine at Disney Springs

Indoor entertainment centers, live music, and dozens of waterfront shops...

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Dine at Disney Springs

Indoor entertainment centers, live music, and dozens of waterfront shops will certainly draw you to Disney Springs, but you can’t leave without getting a true taste of Central Florida. Come hungry for smoked meats at The Polite Pig, Wondermade’s marshmallow treats, and Gideon’s irresistible cookies, the size of your fist.

 

Photo: Disney Springs

Stroll the Promenade at Sunset Walk

Sunset Walk is the best place to beat the heat...

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Stroll the Promenade at Sunset Walk

Sunset Walk is the best place to beat the heat. Island H2O Water Park will splash your cares away, while the Fat Tuesday cocktails on The Promenade will certainly cool your crew down. Rain can’t wash away your plans, either—catch a flick at Studio Movie Grill or show off your skills on GameTime’s skeeball ramps. Whenever you arrive, expect a full calendar of artisan markets, live music, street performers, and more.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Find the Epicenter of Awesome at Universal CityWalk

CityWalk’s motto is Epicenter of Awesome, so feel free to raise your expectations...

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Find the Epicenter of Awesome at Universal CityWalk

Keep it low-key with Hollywood Drive-In Golf or Voodoo Donuts at Universal CityWalk. Prefer the jazzy nightlife? Hard Rock’s live shows, CityWalk’s Rising Star karaoke, and Blue Man Group’s shenanigans will have the party going all night long. CityWalk’s motto is “Epicenter of Awesome,” so feel free to raise your expectations.

 

Photo: Universal CityWalk

Scout out thrills at ICON Park

Imagine 20 acres of foodie bliss, thrill rides, unique indoor attractions...

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Scout out thrills at ICON Park

Imagine 20 acres of foodie bliss, unique indoor attractions, and boutique shops that’ll make your credit card sweat. It’s easy to see why ICON Park is the icon of I-Drive (i.e., Orlando’s International Drive), especially from its 40-story observation wheel.

 

Photo courtesy of ICON Park 

Make time for Celebration

Brick-lined streets, buzzy restaurants, biking trails, and boutique shopping...

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Make time for Celebration

Brick-lined streets, buzzy restaurants, biking trails, and boutique shopping—Celebration is a walkable town so near-perfect you won’t be surprised to learn it was designed by Disney’s finest. An easy-breezy Sunday schedule is as simple as a stop at the farmers market, a post-lunch stroll around Lake Evalyn and Lake Rianhard, and a dreamy horse-drawn carriage ride.

 

Photo: Celebration Town Center

Your Ticket to RidePhoto: Old Town

World-renowned theme parks are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Florida’s wild rides. These amusement and entertainment centers in and around Kissimmee deliver all-ages excitement for even the tightest budget. (Yes, you can expect dinosaurs and outer space.)

Throw it back in Old Town

It’s Throwback Thursday every day in Old Town...

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Throw it back in Old Town

It’s Throwback Thursday every day in Old Town Kissimmee. Step into this recreated classic Florida town—a walking district, really—to get your kicks with classic car shows, carousel rides, and midway games. Sleight of hand at The Great Magic Hall and the bicep-busting Xtreme Ninja Challenge will do the unthinkable: keep your teen’s hands phone-free.

 

Photo: Old Town

Go old-school at Fun Spot

Go Karts, Bumper Kars, arcade games, and more...

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Go old-school at Fun Spot

Go-karts, bumper cars, arcade games, and more—the name says it all. Fun Spot America-Kissimmee is the spot for low-cost, family-friendly fun that delivers maximum ride-ability and minimal wait times. Plus, their Vortex Track saves you a trip to the coast: This four-story racetrack has the world’s steepest banking curves that make even the Daytona Speedway shudder in delight.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Launch into orbit at Kennedy Space Center

As close to an out-of-this-world experience as you can get...

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Launch into orbit at Kennedy Space Center

As close to an out-of-this-world experience as you can get without jumping in a rocket ship, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has a Shuttle Launch Experience that’ll send you wide-eyed into the (virtual) stratosphere. You’ll get a prelaunch briefing by veteran Space Shuttle commander Charles Bolden before launching into orbit for nearly 10 minutes. Afterward, scope out the brand-new Deep Space Launch Complex to look at the future of interstellar travel.

 

Photo: Irina Wilhauk/Shutterstock

Meet-and-greet with Peppa Pig

Peppa Pig is the newest resident of LEGOLAND® Florida Resort...

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Meet-and-greet with Peppa Pig

Peppa Pig is the newest resident of LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, and she wants to introduce your crew to all of her friends. This tot-friendly theme park is ideal for little legs and leisurely days. Running around Madame Gazelle’s Nature Trail and the Muddy Puddles Splash Pad will fill the time between a treasure hunt and dancing show with Peppa herself.

 

Photo: Experience Kissimmee

Tap into your inner Cretaceous at Dinosaur World

Dig into a different experience...

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Tap into your inner Cretaceous at Dinosaur World

Dig into a different experience at Dinosaur World. This inclusive, autism-friendly theme park has life-size dinosaur statues and interactive exhibits perfect for making lasting memories—and it just so happens to be the largest dinosaur park in the world. We recommend rolling your Cretaceous crew in with a cooler, a wagon for your paleontologists-in-training, and even your pooch.

 

Photo: Konstantin Tolokonnikov/Shutterstock

This post is proudly produced in partnership with Experience Kissimmee.

The 9 Best Swimming Holes in Sedona, Arizona

Sedona, Arizona, is world-renowned for its “mystical” red rocks and spectacular natural beauty, drawing visitors year-round from around the world. While some come to enjoy the town’s new-age draws, like crystal shops and natural “energy” healing, others come for the hiking, nature experiences, and stunning landscapes.

However, there are some secrets (beyond just the mystical secrets of the vortices) that draw travelers to the high-end oasis. And specifically, that means natural swimming holes.

When things heat up in the Arizona desert come summer, there’s no need to stay inside in the air conditioning. Locals and smart travelers know to head for one of the best swimming holes in Sedona. At about two hours north of Phoenix in the center of Arizona, Sedona is an easy day trip from almost anywhere in the state.

Things to know before starting any Sedona swimming hole hike

Photo: Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: It’s hard to overemphasize the importance of drinking enough water when it comes to the unrelenting Arizona desert. In extreme heat, a general rule of thumb is to drink one liter of water for every hour of activity. Calculate that, then pack an extra liter (or two).

Protect yourself from the sun: As with water, you really can’t do too much as far as sun protection goes in the desert. Apply sunscreen (and don’t forget to re-apply after swimming!), wear a hat to protect your face, and pack light layers. SPF shirts can make a big difference.

Respect the desert: Many hikes to Sedona swimming holes are in unforgiving desert environments with little or no shade. Watch where you step and keep both your eyes and ears open for cactus, rattlesnakes, and other desert critters.

Leave No Trace: It’s always important to follow the seven Leave No Trace principles, but even more so in Sedona, where many popular hiking trails and recreation areas are in residential neighborhoods. Always be respectful and leave areas better than you found them, which means packing out all trash, treading lightly, and practicing responsible recreation.

Know local laws: You need a Red Rock Pass to park on many Sedona streets legally. Many local retail stores sell the passes, and you’ll find self-pay kiosks at larger parking areas. There’s a very high chance that you’ll get towed if you park illegally, especially if you’re on private property or blocking a driveway.

Editor’s note: Because swimming holes are prone to overtourism and environmental damage, we haven’t linked to information about trails or provided specific coordinates and, in some places, we’ve used photos taken of the general area of the swimming hole, rather than the actual location. However, all of the Sedona swimming holes below are marked on maps for the various recreation areas like Slide Rock State Park and Coconino National Forest. At Matador, we want to help travelers access new adventures while still practicing responsible recreation.

“The Crack” at Wet Beaver Creek

Photo: Taryn Shorr

Drive time from Sedona: 35 minutesHike distance: +/- 7 miles

Don’t let the questionable name deter you — this is one of the most pristine and secluded Sedona swimming holes. The crystal-clear, cool mountain water is framed by towering red rocks that just so happen to be the perfect height for jumping. And the water is deep enough for a proper swim.

You might expect to be one of the most popular swimming holes in Sedona, but The Crack is typically less crowded than others, likely due to the longer hiking distance. Start on the Bell Trail or, if you have to park in the larger overflow lot, the Bruce Brockett Trail (it intersects with Bell a half-mile in). The trail itself is relatively flat, but the length and lack of shade make it difficult. Look for the large exposed rocks (they’re very noticeable) about 3.5 miles in as they’re your entry point to the pools.

Red Rock Crossing / Crescent Moon Ranch

Photo: Nelson Sirlin/Shutterstock

Drive time from Sedona: 15 minutesHike distance: +/- .5 miles

Also commonly referred to as Crescent Moon Ranch, Red Rock Crossing is home to several of the best Sedona swimming holes, all of which afford fantastic views of iconic Cathedral Rock.

The numerous swimming holes here have distinct vibes. There are broad red rock beaches with no shade, hidden little coves with lots of shady trees, deep pools, and one sizable red rock slab that serves as a truly ideal spot for laying out in the sunshine or using as a place to stash your swim gear. They’re all in the same general area, so you can move on if one gets too crowded.

The parking areas have bathrooms and picnic areas with BBQ grills. These are also some of the only dog-friendly Sedona swimming holes, so feel free to bring Fido along.

Some of the Red Rock Crossing swimming holes are inside Crescent Moon Ranch, but not all. Technically, they’re accessible from the official picnic area. But the trails from Crescent Moon Ranch are shorter and offer more direct access, though there’s a day-use fee of $11 per vehicle (cash or check only).

If you don’t mind a slightly longer hike, buy a $5 Red Rock day pass and park near the Baldwin Trailhead. The Baldwin Trail connects to the Red Rock Crossing Trail and there are several swimming holes along the 1.4-mile route. Consider this a real life “choose your own adventure.”

Bootlegger

Photo: Coconino National Forest/Public Domain

Drive time from Sedona: 15 minutesHike distance: Minimal

A smaller and seemingly lesser-known Sedona swimming hole, Bootlegger is just two miles north of Slide Rock (below), which is perhaps the reason it flies under the radar. Park in the day-use area on the west side of Route 89A, then descend a few steps to the almost perfectly circular swimming hole.

Both ends are shallow, making Bootlegger perfect for families or anyone looking for a low-key adventure well away from the crowds. Rainbow and brown trout also frequent this particular swimming hole, so bring your poles along if you’re into fishing.

Grasshopper Point

Photo: Jim_Brown_Photography/Shutterstock

Drive time from Sedona: 6 minutesHike distance: .5 miles

A popular warm-weather destination in Oak Creek Canyon, Grasshopper Point is a large natural swimming hole tucked into Coconino National Forest. It’s well-shaded and has the perfect combination of deep, clear pools and tall cliffs with several built-in ledges for relaxing or jumping.

Grasshopper Point also comes with the added bonus of having a large developed picnic site and vault toilets, thanks to the fact that it’s managed by the Forest Service. That also means there’s no overnight camping at Grasshopper Point, and pets are not allowed. Day-use fees are $9 per vehicle or $2 for walk-ins (park along Route 89A and walk the rest of the way).

Midgley Bridge

Photo: Jon Manjeot/Shutterstock

Drive time from Sedona: 5 minutesHike distance: .6 miles

Just down the road from Grasshopper Point, Midgley Bridge is also home to one of the best swimming holes in Sedona. This one is unique in that it has wide, picturesque red rock “beaches” perfect for sunbathing and hanging out. There are partially submerged large rocks, making it easy to sit in the shallow water while soaking up the sun. This, coupled with its proximity to Sedona proper, makes Midgley Bridge one of the most popular swimming holes in the area. It has a lively party vibe.

Midgley Bridge has an inexplicably small parking lot, so arrive early or plan to park along the west side of Route 89A. You’ll need a Red Rock Pass to park anywhere in this area. If you don’t have one already, there’s a self-pay kiosk at one end of the parking lot.

Encinoso

Photo: accidental photographer/Shutterstock

Drive time from Sedona: 10 minutesHike distance: .25 miles

One of the smallest and least-known swimming holes in Sedona is Encinoso, on Oak Creek. It’s surprising that Encinoso isn’t more popular since access is easy. It’s a well-maintained, two-mile trail starting at the Coconino National Forest day-use picnic site about two miles from Grasshopper Point.

It requires a bit of scrambling on boulders to reach the swimming hole, but it’s nothing too technical and most people in average shape (or even a bit less than average) should be able to manage. Follow any of the faint trails down to the water from the picnic area, then pick your spot in the lush, almost tropical-looking greenery.

Bull Pen

Photo: Tim Roberts Photography/Shutterstock

Drive time from Sedona: 1 hourHike distance: .75 miles

Technically near Campe Verde (about an hour from Sedona), Bull Pen is the very definition of an oasis in the desert. It’s easily the most remote of all Sedona swimming holes, so it’s also typically the least crowded. While the dirt road to Bull Pen is manageable for most vehicles, it is a bit bumpy and rough, and its reputation deters many visitors. But adventurous souls will be rewarded. Just drive carefully if you have a vehicle with low clearance.

Along pristine West Clear Creek deep in the Coconino National Forest, Bull Pen features calm waters with shallow, approachable entries, plenty of shady trees, a pebble beach, and perfectly-placed cliffs for diving. Look around closely while there and you may find one of the many rope swings that locals hang throughout the year.

Slide Rock

Photo: Arizona Office of Tourism.

Drive time from Sedona: 15 minutesHike distance: .3 miles

No list of Sedona swimming holes is complete without mentioning what many consider the area’s crown jewel of Sedona swimming holes: Slide Rock. Inside Slide Rock State Park, the swimming hole certainly isn’t hidden or unknown, but it’s well worth a visit nonetheless.

At this swimming hole, Sedona’s famous red sandstone rocks form a natural 80-foot-long waterslide. The width of the slide varies from about two to four feet across and drops swimmers directly into the refreshing creek. The park’s half-mile stretch of Oak Creek actually has several natural pools of varying sizes and depths, making it the perfect family or group outing.

Note that state park entrance fees vary from $10-30 per vehicle, depending on the time of year.

Bonus Sedona swimming hole: Secret Slickrock

Photo: Taryn Shorr

Drive time from Sedona: 15 minutesHike distance: .4 miles

Consider this a “bonus” Sedona swimming hole, because Secret Slickrock is more of a pond, not so much an actual swimming hole. Nevertheless, it’s still incredible and, as its name implies, is also one of the few remaining spots in Sedona actually considered a local secret — despite being well-signed.

Hidden on the back of Cathedral Rock and almost literally tucked in its shadows, Secret Slickrock is easy to find and rarely crowded. Visitors will have unobstructed, head-on views of Cathedral Rock. And if you’re lucky, you may have small, mirror-still pools of rainwater to reflect the blue sky. Because Secret Slickrock is rain-dependent, try to time your visit during monsoon season or after a good rain. But even if there’s no water, it’s still one of the best sunrise spots in Sedona.

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Travelers Are Sharing the Worst Tourist Traps They’ve Experienced Around the World

Whether you’re a solo traveler or traveling as a couple, planning your next girl trip or your next family vacation, it’s always exciting when you’ve nailed down your next destination. Once you’ve done that, oftentimes the devil is in the details. And not all of the “must-see, must-do” spots that people always talk about are actually worth seeing or doing. Some are horrid tourist traps that are often overcrowded, overpriced, filled with people trying to scam you, and, frankly, are far from what you imagined.

A Reddit user hoping to find the answer of what’s not worth the hype asked the question “What famous place is not worth visiting?” and plenty of users had a lot to say.

Domestic tourist traps to avoid

1. Plymouth Rock: “I don’t know how famous it really is outside of New England but it’s a rock that marks where the Pilgrims supposedly first landed in Massachusetts. It is quite literally just a medium sized rock with “1620” carved in it but every elementary school teacher around Massachusetts at least hypes it up for the class field trip to see a literal rock that is not big, impressive, or really historically relevant. Driving an hour on a bus to see this was the most anticlimactic thing and I would not particularly recommend.” — u/alisoninwonderbread

2. Times Square: “I remember a radio host I heard as a kid said the following: The amazing thing about Times Square on New Years Eve isn’t that you get tens of thousands of people there every year, it’s that you get a whole different set of tens of thousands of people there each year. Nobody wants to do it twice, because it’s cold and boring and crowded and filthy.” — u/Sawses

3. Hollywood Walk of Fame: “It’s a sidewalk and outside of maybe big events where they may clean the ones around where photos may be taken, it otherwise is just covered in dirt from people’s shoes and some are barely legible because they haven’t been cleaned in ages.” — u/CaninseBassus

4. Niagara Falls: “I live 15 minutes from Niagara Falls, and our family was talking about this just yesterday. There’s a major international tourist attraction right on [tourists’] doorstep, but the city of Niagara Falls, NY, is a crime-ridden dump.” — u/BSB8728

5. Mall of America: “Mall of America. It’s literally just a giant mall with the same stores as a small mall. Sometimes even the same store twice!” — u/travisneids

6. The Empire State Building: “It’s $44 to $77 and you wait for like 90 minutes to get into the first elevator, then wait at LEAST another 90 minutes to go further up. (I gave up after 2 hours total and went and had fun in the city instead of spending 3-4 hours of my life standing in line). I was fortunate to go on top of the WTC in 2000 and I’m sure the views were much better from there. And my understanding is “Top of the Rock” is much better organized, shorter waits and better views of Midtown today.” — u/bwave1

7. The Alamo: “The Alamo is surprisingly small, right smack dab in a busy downtown area, and can be fully experienced in 5 minutes. Also, it doesn’t have a basement.” — u/Legionx37

8. The Liberty Bell: “Independence hall area is totally cool but standing there in line to see the bell is a huge waste. You can see it from outside through the window.” — u/bengalstomp

International tourist traps to avoid

9. The Mayflower Steps: “I’m in Plymouth UK…so Plymouth 1 if you will. The mayflower steps are even more disappointing. The actual mayflower steps are in the admiral Mcbride pub on the other side of the road. I love seeing American tourists looking at the fake steps and being amazed lol” — u/SamWearsABucketHat

10. Cairo: “My guide in Jordan at Petra found out we were going to Cairo next and laughed and suggested we change plans. He, who can fair far better with the language said he went for what should’ve been a week and only stayed 2 days. We went, saw some sights, had amazing gyros and falafel, and then spent the next 2 days basically in the room. My wife almost got kidnapped by a taxi driver, we were extorted left and right, and had real fears of even being able to leave the country. One of the very few I had the embassy on speed dial while I was visiting. Never again.” — u/a_taco_named_desire

11. The Louvre: “While the Louvre is amazing and can consume entire days of walking, don’t bother fighting the crowds to see the Mona Lisa. It’s tiny and has a crowd of tourists dozens deep all taking pictures. ‘No flash photography’ be damned, so all you see is flash reflecting off the protective glass.” u/InVulgarVeritas

12. Leaning tower of Pisa: “Just a small town without much going on, then a ton of tourists pretending to hold it up. Go to Florence instead.” — u/DragonRaccoon

13. Checkpoint Charlie: “It used to be the border between the US and Soviet sectors, but all that’s left of it is a shack and a sign, and the only thing you can do is pay to get your photo taken with someone in uniform. There’s a frickin’ McDonald’s next to it.” — u/Nihiliste

14. The Crown Jewels: “Literally anywhere in the Tower of London is better than seeing the Crown Jewels. You’re stuck in a huge queue with a zillion sweaty tourists for hours, and you get to see the jewels for about 30 seconds before you are pushed along. My older brother had seen it on a trip years ago and he said it wasn’t worth it. The rest of the tower was not crowded at all and I got to see a ton of neat stuff with very few other people around.” u/captcha_trampstamp

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This New Book on Queer Bar History Will Make You Appreciate Your Local LGBTQ Bar

The term “queer bar” is a misnomer. These sacred institutions contain multitudes. They’ve been the sites of rallies, meet-cutes, political campaigns, and chosen-family gatherings. They provide both refuge and risk. They’re places for parties and protests. When LGBTQ Pride erupts worldwide every June, it commemorates the Stonewall Uprising — an event that began at a queer bar.

But America’s historic LGBTQ havens are closing at an alarming rate. Between 2007 and 2019, the US lost 37 percent of its queer bars, according to research published in the journal Socius. Today, there are only about 21 lesbian-centric bars left in the country.

Few understand the complex realities of this queer-bar conundrum better than Dr. Eric Cervini, a Pulitzer Prize nominee and historian of LGBTQ culture and politics. In his latest book published with Miller Lite, Beers and Queer History, Cervini dives into the underreported stories of 10 iconic queer spaces, proving how integral they are to the country’s past, present, and future.

We spent time with Cervini to discuss the state of the queer bar and learn about into his favorite LGBTQ destinations around the US.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Matador Network: Why do you think it’s important to share a written history of queer bars in 2022?

Dr. Eric Cervini: When you look at queer history, you notice so much of the most important moments in our collective past happened at queer bars — whether it’s Stonewall, Compton’s, the Black Cat — because, for so many of us, these were the only spaces that were safe. And sadly, when you look at the numbers, they’re diminishing. They’re becoming an endangered species.

I think it’s so important to recognize not just the spaces that are in themselves historical, but also the people who existed there who not just survived but thrived in these spaces and literally created history. Whether it’s José Sarria or Marsha P. Johnson — so many different folks shaped who we are as a community in these spaces. I like reminding people of how queer bars, queer institutions, and queer politics are inextricably linked.

Photo: Miller Lite

Of the bars you write about in the book, only half are still open as queer spots today. Which remaining bar is your favorite?

Obviously, the Stonewall Inn. It’ll always have such a special, sacred place in my heart as the birthplace of queer liberation.

You recently visited The Stonewall Inn for your book’s NYC launch party. What’s your impression of the bar today?

I think they’ve done a great job preserving this historical space. You look at the numbers, and queer bars are really suffering as a result of gentrification and the COVID-19 pandemic. So many queer institutions went out of business, yet Stonewall is still alive. I think in the hands of other folks, there’s a very good chance it would’ve turned into a highrise condo, or turned into a straight bar.

That’s what happened on the west side of Los Angeles. We don’t have any queer bars now because they’ve either shut down or have been bought out by straight owners. [Stonewall] is still a shrine to our past. There’s a memorial outside for Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. I’m very grateful that it still exists as somewhere we can celebrate our past.

Speaking of the past, when people tell the story of the Stonewall Uprising, it’s usually filled with folklore. But in your debut book, The Deviant’s War , you give a beautiful, accurate account of what happened. Can you correct some of the common misconceptions people have about those events?

I want to start by saying I don’t think the mythology around Stonewall is a bad thing. I think we have been excluded from so much of American Judeo-Christian ideology and mythology. We’re often told we don’t have a place in our own country, let alone in a more spiritual realm. Stonewall is our mythology. That is what we hold onto to explain our existence. And so, I think this is where history doesn’t necessarily need to be at odds with the storytelling that has emerged because that in itself is historically significant.

That said, one of the things I always like to correct is when people talk about who threw the first brick at Stonewall. People talk about Marsha P. Johnson and the first brick. The best story I like to remind people is that it wasn’t just one brick.

Photo: PeskyMonkey/Shutterstock

There’s an eyewitness account of Marsha P. Johnson climbing up a lamppost in a tight dress and high heels with an entire bag of bricks or something equally heavy. We know it was a bag, and we know it was very, very heavy — likely filled with whatever would have caused damage — and she dropped it on the windshield of a police car below her, shattering it. And I think that’s one of the most iconic moments, not just of Stonewall, but of all queer history.

It’s that moment that I think we should keep in mind rather than debating, “Okay. Who was the first?” Who cares about who threw the first brick? Talk about just pure cinematic quality and courage to be doing that. That’s the story I like to hold onto and imagine when I think of Stonewall.

What do queer folks lose when we abandon these queer spaces?

It’s a great question. I think if COVID taught us anything, it’s that there is something lost when we lose physical interaction with other people, with our community. I think you have to have a physical space in order to expand our community, expand our horizons, and meet a diverse group of people and have this completely organic conversation and meet folks who are different from you and have different lives than you. You can’t do that in a Zoom room. You can’t do that very easily online on various dating apps.

I think that’s what queer bars offer, not to mention the political aspects. Queer bars have always been the epicenters of political organizing by queer folks. I think we shouldn’t just commemorate their legacies of activism, but continue to use these spaces as organizing grounds — especially with 300 anti-LGBTQ bills targeting us this year alone.

You live in Los Angeles. What’s the best queer spot for a night with friends?

The west side of Los Angeles doesn’t have a queer bar anymore. And it’s so heartbreaking for a very large part of the city not to have our own neighborhood space to meet our community. But a group of folks have created a pop-up queer bar that throws happy hours every other Thursday, called West of Lincoln. It’s one of those places where you can stop in, just talk, and meet new people. Folks travel in from all over the city to see what the West Side queers are doing. It’s so much fun; I highly recommend it.

Another restaurant throws a party every other month called Gaywatch at James’ Beach. So you’re seeing folks trying to build the momentum to create some of these new permanent spaces. I think one way to make that happen is to support these periodic or temporary events that can hopefully turn into something permanent.

Photo: lazyllama/Shutterstock

Let’s zoom out and look at the entire US. What’s your favorite gay bar in the country?

I’m not sure if it’s open again, but the very first queer bar that I went was called Town in Washington DC. It was off Q Street, and it was the most magical experience for a little queer 18-year-old (on Friday nights, it was 18 and up), and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, it was sold and turned into highrise, luxury condos.

However, I think it’s going to reopen in a former church, which is just so amazing.

Editor’s Note: Town, which closed in 2018, is slated to open in the former Saint Phillips Baptist Church on North Capitol Street NE in Washington, DC. The building is currently under construction.

That sounds fantastic—the perfect place for a gay bar.

Exactly.

If you could write about any historic queer destination in the US, where would you choose?

Oh there’s so many, and there’s one that someone’s already working on. There’s about to be a book out about the history of Fire Island called Fire Island: A Century in the Life of American Paradise by Jack Parlett. I’d love to do more digging about the history of Fire Island, the glamorous folks who showed up and traveled there, and some of the people who shaped it and created it. Some very prominent literary folks would travel there. It’s something that I don’t know enough about, and I really want to research more and at least read or maybe write about it. We’ll see.

Your new queer history variety show, The Book of Queer , premiers in June, and you’re currently doing press for the release of Beers and Queer History. Despite all that, do you have any exciting queer-centric summer travel plans?

On Memorial Day, I’m going to P-town for the first time in probably 10 years. And my boyfriend has never been, so I’m very excited to introduce him to another queer mecca.

Copies of Eric’s guidebook are now available for purchase at shop.millerlite.com. The guide costs $19.33, honoring the year America’s first-known gay bar, Café Lafitte, opened in New Orleans. All proceeds benefit Equality Federation, an organization working to advance workplace fairness and equality for the LGBTQ community.

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This Luxury Montana Getaway Lets You Fly Fish With Top Chefs Before a World-Class Meal

The 37,000-acre Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana seamlessly blends into the wilderness. The luxury property, which offers guests horseback riding, backcountry tours, and snowmobiling excursions among other activities, was designed with the intent of living with nature instead of in opposition to it. Fish and Feast, a weekend long culinary event held at the resort for five years running, aligns with the resort’s values of sustainability and appreciation for everything the natural world has to offer.

Photo: Resort at Paws Up

Held over Labor Day weekend at Paws Up resort, guests are promised an unforgettable experience communing with nature. Guests will spend their days fly-fishing and exploring the banks of the beautiful Blackfoot River; their nights will involve stellar meals cooked by visiting chefs. William Dissen is one of the guest chefs this year, who also happens to be a foraging expert and might even integrate a foraging lesson into the Fish and Feast weekend.

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chef Dissen is a multi-talented restaurateur who incorporates traditional Appalachian plant knowledge and sustainable food practices into his work. He spends his free time outdoors, hiking, fly-fishing, and foraging. While growing up in rural West Virginia, his grandfather would take him foraging for wild foods like ramps, mushrooms, and ginseng.

“I just thought he was kind of a crazy old guy and I was just humoring him going on a hike with him in the woods… fast forward and that’s one of the big things we showcase in our menus,” says Dissen.

His goal at the Fish & Feast weekend is to integrate these hobbies and what he does in his North Carolina restaurants (including The Market Place in Asheville) into a fun learning experience. Dissen will accompany guests on fishing excursions, and along the way he says there’s a possibility the group might “forage anything we saw in the forest at the resort while we were in transit to go fishing.” Any ingredients they gather will be used to make their meals.

While there is some element of planning when it comes to the menus (to adhere to guests’ dietary requirements) the bounties of nature will also help dictate the final look and flavor of each meal. But no matter how the final plate looks, the meal will be worthy of 5-stars: New York City-based chef PJ Calapa will work with Dissen to create every meal for participants (from breakfast to dinner) while Staglin Family Vineyards will provide wine pairings.

Dissen notes that there is room for getting creative based on availability if foraging does happen over the weekend: Finding nettles might result in the inclusion of nettle broth; if they spot young wild pine, it might be used to roast the fish guests catch in the river (although he emphasizes that most fish in Montana are catch-and-release and there’s no guarantee the forest surrounding the resort will offer any wild ingredients that will end up in the evening’s meal). Dissen’s knowledge of preservation will also play a part in any foraging that will take place over the weekend.

“[Say we find] spruce pine tips. We’ll pack those in sugar and make mugolio [a type of pine syrup made in Italy, typically with white mugo pine],” he says.

While Dissen has foraged and explored these areas of Montana in the past, he acknowledges that sharing traditional foraging knowledge is always a bit of a mutual learning experience. Some edible plants exist across the contiguous U.S. and are easy to recognize — others are a little more particular, and Dissen will often include local guides in the North Carolina foraging excursions he hosts to better understand each plant he encounters.

Whether guests have the opportunity to forage or not, Dissen expects the weekend to be a wonderful experience for both the chefs and the participants.

“It’s going to be a really fun opportunity to take a lot of what I’m doing here in the Western North Carolina region and be able to bring it out to the west and to the Rockies. I’m excited to learn about different flora and fauna out there, to go fishing and cook and meet some really wonderful people,” Dissen adds. 

To sign up for the Fish and Feast weekend at Paws Up resort, make a reservation for the experience at the same time you book your weekend visit. The Fish and Feast weekend costs $2,440 per night for two adults in a Meadow Home. $2,105 per night is the starting rate for tents for two adults. The experience is open to people interested in fly-fishing at any and all experience levels. Spots for the Fish & Feast weekend will fill up fast, as it’s one of the resort’s more popular weekend experiences of the year.

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Watch: What a $6,000-Plus Trip To Maldives During Rainy Season Looks Like

When you imagine a Maldives vacation, a few things likely come to mind: visions of travel influencers enjoying clear turquoise water, lounging on the decks of overwater bungalows, and taking in the sun’s rays, for example. However, go at the wrong time of year, and you may not be so lucky. Travel influencer Yulia Yrva documented an unfortunate circumstance where she was rained out during her Maldives trip.

@yulia.vyrva #storm #rainywearher #maldives #unlucky #badweather #expectationvreality ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

Plenty of people in the comments blamed Yrva for mother nature’s decisions, saying she should’ve checked to see when the rainy season began before booking her $6,000-plus vacation (before factoring in the flights, as she noted in the comments). She spent six days on the island and only got two days with quality weather.

So when is the rainy season in Maldives?

The truth is when you travel to islands, you always run the risk of a tropical storm. Yrva mentioned this wasn’t her first trip, and she had stayed in Maldives with rain before but typically only getting rain for a day or two. The rainy season is typically between May and October, but Yrva mistakingly thought it started in June. And although it was probably still nice and warm outside, hopping in the ocean during those strong winds can be dangerous.

Booking outside of peak season is a great way to get your Maldives vacation on a budget, but it can be risky. You might end up like me, who traveled in mid-June and only had one day of imperfect weather — or you might end up like Yrva.

Still, you’ve got to admit, being rained out in paradise is still better than being stuck at work.

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End of an Era: The Last Public Payphone in NYC Was Just Taken Out

May has been challenging for those of us who yearn for the past. Just a few weeks ago, 2022 marked the end of the iPod. And now, people are hurting over the death of the New York City payphone.

On May 23, New York City decided to hang up on payphones as the last one, which was located in Times Square, was hauled away by construction workers. In true “we’ve moved on” fashion, the official Times Square TikTok account documented the moment.

@timessquare.nyc The last payphone in NYC was removed today in Times Square #payphone #TimesSquare #NYC #newyorkcity ♬ original sound – ly'

If you scroll through the comments, there isn’t a dry eye in the house, yet Manhattan borough president Mark Levine was not feeling very nostalgic as the defunct piece of technology left Seventh Avenue. He said the city is leaving behind the 6,000 payphones you could once find and entering into a new era where phones with no dial tone that require fishing for quarters are obsolete, according to ABC7 New York. However, there are still a few privately-owned payphones, and not all is lost. Clark Kent can be at ease knowing there are still four “walk-in” old-school phone booths located on West End Avenue, at 66th, 90th, 100th and 101st streets.

The city has been working on a modern way to fill the need. NYC residents and visitors can find 2,000 LinkNYC kiosks, with thousands more on the way to all five boroughs. The kiosks offer high-speed Wi-Fi, phone calls, a tablet for maps and city services, and device charging completely free of charge.

So although NYC has lost the payphone, city-goers are far from disconnected.

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Mark Your Calendar: In 2025 You Can Visit 25 Countries on One Epic Cruise

Cruise travel suffered significantly during the pandemic, but it’s back with more and better options than ever. Just in time to celebrate its 30th anniversary, the luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering the trip of a lifetime: 150 days at sea with stops in 25 countries.

Guests can embark from Miami or San Francisco. Either way, the ship sails across three oceans and hits South America, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Alaska. The 2025 World Cruise goes to 25 countries and 97 ports over 36,295 nautical miles. And if you’re not ready to be perpetually back on land after 150 nights on the water, guests can add on 18 nights for stops in the Mexican Riviera, Costa Rica, Colombia, and more with full transit across the Panama Canal. Never before visited ports for the cruise line include the remote Robinson Crusoe Island off the coast of Chile and Muroran on the Japanese island of Hokkaido — plus a 3-day scenic cruise of the Antarctic.

Photo: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Three hundred ninety-five excursions are included in the price of this cruise of a lifetime, and guests will gain access to 48 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The fee also includes first-class airfare, door-to-door luggage service, a comprehensive visa package, unlimited valet laundry including dry-cleaning and pressing, phone time per suite, onboard medical assistance, a commemorative gift, and more — all with the luxury Regent Seven Seas Cruises is known for.

“We know that our guests are looking for extended travel in exotic destinations, which is why we are incredibly excited to unveil the longest World Cruise in our 30-year history,” said Jason Montague, president and chief executive officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in a statement. “Over 150 nights, travelers will not only experience the highest standards of service, cuisine and enrichment, plus enjoy a delightful array of luxury amenities, but they will also sail as far south as Antarctica, as far east as Asia and as far north as Alaska – all in one single, epic voyage as they sail Away in Wonder.”

Photo: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Of course, a trip this extravagant comes at a pretty penny. The price for this 150-night sail of a lifetime goes from $86,999 to $249,999 per guest. Pre-registration for the 2025 World Cruise begins on June 1, 2022, and the sale officially begins June 15.

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7 Ethical Airbnb Animal Experiences To Brighten Your Travels

Unique Airbnb animal experiences are located all over the world. Of course, you want to support a tour operator operating ethically and treating the animals well. Each of these Airbnb animal experiences are safe and follow all guidelines of the World Animal Protection.

We hope you love the ethical Airbnb animal experiences 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.

Parrots in Paradise Sanctuary

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Learn about Kona’s parrots, and the individual story of each resident here, at Kona’s only parrot sanctuary. Hawaii has many unique Airbnb animal experiences, but this is the only one that talks back at you. This parrot sanctuary gives these displaced parrots a space to fly and a safe place to interact with other parrots and people. Throughout the tour, you’ll get to know the range of personalities of the birds.

Location: Kealakekua, Hawaii, United States
Price: From $60 per person

Book Now

Frog Watching Night Safari

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Experience this one and only opportunity to commune with wild frogs at a wild frog sanctuary at night. Watch and observe these curious creatures at the time of day when the rainforest wildlife are the most active. You’ll see at least 28 frog species that have made their home in the ponds of the Arenal Oasis. Along with observing the frogs, the guides will also take you along the trails in the noisy night rainforest.

Location: Fortuna, Costa Rica
Price: $51 per person

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Bird watching in Serra da Estrela with experts

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Want an ethical Airbnb animal experience on the calming side? Then check out this bird-watching animal experience in Portugal. With specialists from the CERVAS – Center for Ecology, Recovery, and Surveillance of Wild Animals in this tour, you will be observing more than 150 species of birds.

Location:Manteigas, Portugal
Price: From $64 per person

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Sanctuary Tour and Pamper a Pig

 

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Who doesn’t want to pamper and love on a pig every once in a while? Come out and spend time with an adorable potbelly pig at the Wayward Ranch Animal Sanctuary. All of the potbelly pigs at this sanctuary were rescued and are waiting for all your love.

Location: Kerhonkson, New York, United States
Price: From $40 per person

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Afternoon tea with the Alpacas

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Here’s a fun and enjoyable animal experience perfect for the whole family. In this animal experience, you will have a nice afternoon tea with the alpacas. You’ll learn about the alpacas and then have a lovely afternoon tea with your friend.

Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Price: From $44 per person

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Share the love with strays of Split

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Who can say no to those cute little faces? Come out and support a local shelter and hear about the activities, goals, and the dog’s journey in the shelter. Cuddle with these cute dogs, take photos, make a cute friend, and maybe even take them home.

Location:·Kaštel Sućurac, Croatia
Price: From $11 per person

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Save gibbons and save forests

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Want to take your love for animals to another level? Try out Airbnb animal experiences that teach about the environment and wildlife, and this experience does just that. At the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, they introduce gibbons back into the wild. This is not a zoo but a place where they rescue, rehabilitate and release gibbons. Learn about species and their movements and more.

Location:Tambon Pa Klok, Thailand
Price: From $117 per person

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