Matador Network's Blog, page 600
August 12, 2021
The perfect walking tour of Mexico’s most beautiful city: San Miguel de Allende
Matador Network will be taking travelers on adventures to Mexico in 2022. For more details, check out Matador Trips.
Mexico does not lack beautiful towns, but few can rival the colorful display of distinctive architecture, texture, and colors to be found in San Miguel de Allende. Named a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site in 2008, the colonial city, located in the central highlands of Mexico, was founded in the 16th century and is filled with buildings from the Baroque to Neo-Gothic styles. But you don’t need to be an art history buff to appreciate San Miguel de Allende’s good looks. This one-day walking tour, punctuated with good food and drinks, will take you to the best of this stunning city’s historic center.
Starting point: La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
Photo: Rubi Rodriguez Martinez/Shutterstock
Begin the day at La Colmena Panaderia, a grab-and-go Mexican bakery near the center of San Miguel de Allende near the corner of Relox and Mesones streets. Head down Relox Street in the direction of La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel to enjoy the view of this very unusual church. The traditional colonial-style appearance of La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel was transformed into the pink neo-Gothic one we celebrate today by Zeferino Gutiérrez, an enthusiastic bricklayer and self-taught architect influenced by pictures of European cathedrals, in 1880. Admission is free, and you can visit the crypt below the altar if you ask nicely and are ready to pay a small fee.
Once out of La Parroquia, don’t blow by La Santa Escuela de Cristo, a smaller pink and ochre church located next door. Take in the bell tower from outside and walk in to admire the decor. Both churches are located on San Miguel de Allende’s main square, El Jardín. Full of beautiful topiary trees, El Jardín is a great spot for people watching in the shade.
Mid-morning stroll and visit to a colonial mansion
Photo: Hotel Carmina/Facebook and Hotel Carmina/Facebook
From El Jardín, walk down Cuna de Allende and past the Museo Histórico Casa de Allende (the former house of Mexican Independence leader Ignacio Allende), where you can get a solid history lesson on the town for the low admission fee of $3. Whether you visit the museum or not, make sure to stop at Maria Xoconostle for a mid-morning coffee break and an eyeful of architectural beauty. The restaurant is part of an original 18th-century colonial home, the Posada Carmina. The rest of the structure is a family-run boutique lodging called Hotel Carmina. Take in the original architectural details of the warm, orange-colored home from the inner sanctuary of a courtyard to the high arches while enjoying your beverage.
Photo: Bill Perry/Shutterstock
Coming out of Maria Xoconostle, take a right out and head farther down Cuna de Allende to the corner of Aldama Street. This colorful thoroughfare filled with colonial homes is a great spot for an Insta session as it offers views of the steeple of La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and the dome of the church of the Immaculate Conception (known as Las Monjas, or “the nuns”). Wandering the cobblestone streets from here is a great way to get an intimate look at San Miguel de Allende’s pretty nooks and crannies.
Photo: Rubi Rodriguez Martinez/Shutterstock
Most of the houses on the streets of the historic center of San Miguel de Allende are painted in warm tones like sunny yellow, burnt orange, deep reds, and violets, and many are covered in thick layers of bright pink bougainvillea and other vines. Enjoy the town’s vibrancy during your stroll and pay attention to the small details, like the black iron gates that guard windows and doors and the lintels. Some reflect the simple lines of modern times while others embrace a more ornate design. Look up and admire the traditional folk art of Papel picado, which are the colorful and patterned tissue paper flags. They zigzag from one side of the street to the next in a joyful display.
Late lunch with an iconic view
Photo: Quince Rooftop/Facebook
Walking back toward the main square, head to Quince, a stunning rooftop spot for modern eats and refreshing cocktails with breathtaking views of La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel’s spires.
End the day with a view from higher ground
Photo: Omaly Darcia/Shutterstock
Leaving Quince, head right down Cuna de Allende, take a left onto Cuadrante Street, and finally a right onto Aldama Street. A 10-minute walk will bring you to the beautiful and peaceful Benito Juarez Park in the southern part of the city. There, check out the 18th-century red public basins known as Lavaderos del Chorro, a historical landmark, where residents have been hand-washing their laundry for decades.
Photo: MARI TERE/Shutterstock
From Lavaderos del Chorro, head east through the adjacent El Chorro park and follow Callejón Chorro before turning left on Salida Real a Querétaro. The nine-minute walk is a little steep and is worth it for one main reason: You’re going to a view point. From El Mirador, you’ll have a picture-perfect view of the town unfolding below.
La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel can be seen from almost any angle, as can most of the historic center. This hilltop view is the perfect ending to a day spent walking the charming town of San Miguel de Allende. 
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Where to find your favorite celebrity cannabis brands
Cannabis has long been a source of inspiration for musicians, actors, and other performers. So it only makes sense that, as recreational cannabis is legalized in an increasing number of states, celebrities would start their own marijuana brands.
This is great for fans who want to experience the same high that their favorite celebrity approves. What’s less great is how complicated it can be to find specific brands, even if you’re in a legal state. Due to weed still being a Schedule I drug on the federal level, cannabis companies can’t cross state lines. That means any cannabis for sale must be produced in the state it’s sold, and many brands stick to just one or a few states.
Many celebrity brands are worth seeking out when you’re in a state where it is, though. Some align with what you’d guess the celebrity’s cannabis preference is, like Lil Wayne’s GKUA, which focuses on high-THC products. Others have a tight focus on custom strains, like itsPurpl from Jaleel White (who played Steve Urkle in Family Matters), which sells variations on the strain Purple Urkle.
Increasingly, celebrity brands are also focusing on equity. White, for example, wrote on the itsPurpl website that it was challenging to make his “way into an industry not known for diversity or inclusion,” and that the brand is “committed to debunking all stereotypes associated with modern cannabis.” Method Man, who recently expanded distribution of his TICAL cannabis brand to Colorado, puts inclusivity front and center in everything from production to sales.
“I’m particularly excited about TICAL’s focus and leadership in the cannabis space in working with Black, women and minority-owned partners from cultivation to dispensaries,” Method Man told Denver’s Westword. “We are going to lead by example and ensure that this newly created market is as inclusive as possible. We can’t right all the wrongs that disparate criminalization of cannabis has done to our communities, but we most certainly can make a down payment on the way forward with social equity, inclusion and full economic participation.”
Method Man, Lil Wayne, and White are far from the only celebrities with brands to seek out the next time you’re at your favorite dispensary. You can find specific sellers through location searches on WeedMaps, but it all starts with knowing which state these stars sell in.
Where to find celebrity cannabis brandsDr. Greenthumb from B-Real (of Cypress Hill): California
Mirayo from Carlos Santana: California
Trees by Game from The Game: California
GKUA from Lil Wayne: California, Colorado, Michigan, Oklahoma
itsPurpl from Jaleel White: California
Monogram from Jay Z: California
Marley Natural from the Marley family: California
TICAL from Method Man: California, Colorado
Mind Your Head from Mickey Hart (of Grateful Dead): California
Houseplant from Seth Rogan: California
22Red from Shavo Odadjian (of System of a Down): Arizona, California, Nevada
Tommy Chong’s Cannabis: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Washington
Willie’s Reserve from Willie Nelson: California, Colorado, Washington, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada
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The 10 best US airports for cheap international flights
Scoring deals on flights is every traveler’s goal, especially when traveling internationally. To help save your hard-earned dollars, Scott’s Cheap Flights — a website that finds the best flight deals and shares them with its members — created an in-depth report on which airports are the best and worst when it comes to cheap international flights.
Scott’s Cheap Flights looked at commercial international airports in metropolitan areas with at least 1 million inhabitants to determine which ones are scoring the best deals the most frequently. It gathered data on how many deals were sent out to Scott’s Cheap Flights members for flights departing from each airport in the past year.
The report explains why these particular airports provide cheaper international flights: “Some airports simply see more frequent flight deals than others, thanks to a number of factors including the amount of airlines serving the airport and the amount of competition on various routes from that airport.”
The best US airports for cheap international flights
Data: Scott’s Cheap Flights
Airports in smaller metropolitan areas with fewer flights present fewer deals. Most of the following airports require connection flights — they don’t offer direct international flights — which leads to “a lack of competition and the lack of deals,” the report explains.
The worst US airports for cheap international flights
Data: Scott’s Cheap Flights
More like thisNewsThe 10 most expensive airport parking lots in the USThe post The 10 best US airports for cheap international flights appeared first on Matador Network.
The Million Dollar Highway is Colorado’s ultimate road trip through the Old West
The stretch of US Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton in Southwest Colorado is dubbed the Million Dollar Highway. There’s no definitive answer as to why. One legend says there’s a million dollars worth of gold ore in the road fill. According to another, early travelers refused to go back over the treacherous mountain road, “not even for a million dollars.” Though the name could simply reflect the highway’s million-dollar views in the San Juan Mountains.
One thing is clear, however — with less than 25 miles of pavement, the highway packs a lot of bang for its buck. Otto Mears, known as the “Pathfinder of the San Juans,” originally built it as a toll road in 1883 and though it’s now paved and passable, its winding path over Red Mountain Pass remains one of Colorado’s most stunning — if, at times, intimidating — drives. Here’s what to do and where to stop along the way.
Spend a day or two in the “Switzerland of America”
Photo: Susan Hoffman/Shutterstock
Ouray marks the north end of the Million Dollar Highway. Incorporated in 1976, it was named after Ute Chief Ouray. Since the late 1800s, it’s had the nickname “Switzerland of America” because of its resemblance to mountain towns in the Alps. Start here with an early morning hike on Perimeter Trail, an ultra-popular six-mile loop filled views and waterfalls. With multiple trailheads like Baby Bathtubs or Lower Cascade Falls, you can easily shorten the hike to make it more accessible and faster. Afterward, stop at Mojo’s. Housed in a cute Victorian-style home, the coffeehouse has great lattes and breakfast burritos and is the perfect place to relax and scroll your photos of the hike.
Box Cañon Falls is a primary draw to Ouray, located just outside of town. Head here in the morning to beat the crowds. You’ll hear the thunderous roar of the falls well before descending the caged metal staircase to the base of the 285-foot waterfall plummeting down the narrow quartzite canyon. The Black Swift is notoriously a difficult bird to spot, but you’re almost guaranteed to see one in the narrow canyon in summer since the canyon here is home to one of Colorado’s largest Black Swift colonies. Snap some shots of the falls, enjoy the cool mountain air, and then take the Native Plant Loop trail back to the parking lot for a panoramic view out across the valley.
I spent the afternoon downtown at the Ouray County Museum, housed in the St. Joseph’s Miners’ Hospital. Completed in 1887, the Catholic organization Sisters of Mercy from Denver, Durango and Omaha operated the hospital until 1964. The three-story museum houses more than 40 exhibits in 30 rooms, including several original pioneer cabins, comprising what the Smithsonian Institute calls the “best little museum in the West.” The experience takes up to two hours and includes the history of mining, ranching, railroading, and hospital artifacts from life in Ouray in the late 1800s through the early 1900s.
From the museum, go on a leisurely stroll on Ouray County Historical Society’s self-guided walking tour. It’s a great way to see some of the Victorian era homes and Ouray’s historic buildings. Signs on Main Street’s historic blocks show what each looked like circa 1883 and 1903, when the town was rich with miners, gold diggers, and others trying to, well, make it rich. Cool off with a huckleberry ice cream cone at Mouse’s Chocolates and Coffee.
You can’t spend time in Ouray without soaking in the Ouray Hot Springs. A draw for weary travelers for centuries, the 150-degree mineral water comes from the box canyon you visited earlier and flows into soaking pools ranging in temperature from 75 to 104 degrees.
There are several historic hotels for an overnight in Ouray, but my favorite is the budget-friendly and family-owned Ouray Chalet Inn for its 1960s roadside motel feel. Before retreating to your room for the night, nosh on a burger or pizza on the expansive patio at Gold Belt Bar and Grill.
Take the Iron Path to the best views of Uncompaghre GorgeView this post on InstagramA post shared by Ouray Via Ferrata (@ourayviaferrata)
If heights don’t intimate you, then tackle the Ouray Via Ferrata, a fixed-line climbing route built by local climbing and guiding professionals. The term “Via Ferrata” is Italian for “iron path” or “iron road.” These routes originated in the Dolomites during World War I to get men and equipment into strategic positions in high-alpine, rugged mountain terrain. Here in Ouray, you can go on a guided tour or experienced climbers can tackle the route self-guided. Ascending the “Sky Ladder” at a 35-degree angle for 75 feet above the Uncompaghre Gorge is an experience you won’t soon forget. The Ouray Via Ferrata is approximately 1.25 kilometers (.77 miles) long and takes between two and three hours. Since I’m a meteorologist, my pro tip is to do this adventure early to beat the heat and summertime storms which can start as early as 10 a.m. in the high country.
Drive the beautiful (but scary) Red Mountain Pass
Photo: Jay Krishnan/Shutterstock
The highlight of the Million Dollar Highway is the highway itself. Allow at least one or two hours to drive the 25-mile stretch as its filled with steep grades, hairpin curves, and a precariously obvious lack of guard rails. There are also many sightseeing stops to make along the way, with pull-outs. Your first stop should be Lookout Point just above Ouray to take in a stellar view of the town. From there, the first six miles are dramatic as you drive deeper into the Uncompaghre Gorge.
Pull off for roadside views of Bear Creek Falls, the first waterfall you’ll see en route. As the road mellows (relatively speaking, at least), be on the lookout for mining relics including Ironton and Red Mountain Town, two former mining camps just off the highway. Continue heading south to my favorite spot of the mining overlook, Treasure Tunnel trestle, with outstanding views of mining relics dotting Red Mountain. Plus, there are a few historic homes in Red Mountain Town, once the largest mining camp in the area with close to 10,000 residents.
Keep an eye out for more waterfalls on both sides of the Million Dollar Highway as you drive up Red Mountain Pass to a summit elevation of 11,018 feet. Gold ore wagons first crossed over the pass in 1878. From the summit, continue the scenic drive into Silverton. You’ll see mining relics sprinkled on the mountains and roadside.
Explore Silverton’s rich past
Photo: Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock
Dubbed the “mining town that never quit,” Silverton’s mining history spans from the mid-1800s to 1991. The Victorian mining town has a rich and rough history. Over two million troy ounces of gold, 51 million ounces of silver, 112 million pounds of copper, 760 million pounds of lead, and 600 pounds of zinc were mined primarily from mines at 12,000 feet in elevation or higher, a dangerous occupation that has made Silverton’s residents even today among the hardiest in the state.
Grab a latte and square burrito at Coffee Bear and enjoy the view from Silverton’s only rooftop deck. Sitting at 9,318 feet in elevation, you’ll need a jacket most mornings even in summer. Take a short drive south to the picturesque Little Molas Lake. From the campground, you can access part of the Colorado Trail and do an out-and-back hike in one of the most scenic stretches of the iconic long-distance hiking trail stretching from Denver to Durango. Storms often brew in the afternoon here so a good plan of action is to head up mid-morning and keep your hike to around three miles round trip, then grab a quick lunch at Coal Bank Café. Spend an hour or so in the afternoon at San Juan County Historical Mining Heritage Center beginning with a self-guided tour of the 1902 Silverton County Jail Museum. From there, head into the basement to wander through exhibits on Silverton’s mining history, including three levels of a former mine that make up the four-story museum.
You can also take the Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour to gather more on the town’s history. In 1872, the first of three Neigold brothers arrived from Germany to stake their claim on the “Number Seven” vein here and the three brothers would spend the next 30 years prospecting and developing mining veins in the area. One of those claims in 1898 was named “Old Hundred,” likely after the popular German hymn “Old Hundreth.” Here you ride a vintage electric train 1500 feet deep into Galena Mountain where you walk through the quartz vein tunnels, called drifts by the miners.
On my way back into Silverton, stop at the 1929 Mayflower Gold Mill. You don’t need reservations to visit the national historic landmark. As underground lode mining became the most profitable way to mine in the area, the Mayflower Gold Mill starting processing ore in 1930 and ran until 1991. Visit the Aerial Tram House and check out the remains of the 10,000-foot-long tram that carried miners on a 22.5-minute ride to the mines on the other side.
Keeping with the Old West theme, saunter into Handlebars Food and Saloon for Silverton’s classic chuckwagon supper. Spend the night at the Wyman Hotel, seamlessly blending historic and modern with a touch of funky in a building built in 1902.
Rent a four-wheeler and visit the historic settlement of Animas Forks
Photo: Kris Wiktor/Shutterstock
Your second day in Silverton should be spent getting above the town. Rock Pirates rents a quirky but contraption called a side-by-side, which is a hybrid four-wheeler and Jeepish contraption that can barrel up nearly anything in the high country. Rent one and follow an OHV (off-highway vehicle) route up an unimproved dirt road to Animas Forks at an elevation of 11,200 feet. Animas Forks was a small mining village that at its peak in 1883 had 450 people with 30 cabins and a hotel, general store, and saloon. It was also home to the Animas Forks Pioneer, the only newspaper ever published and printed at such a high elevation. A 23-day blizzard inundated the town with 25 feet of snow in 1884, a hit to the mining profits that eventually led to the decline of Animas Forks. By the 1920s, the town was a ghost town. You can tour some of the cabins and the jail here before heading back to town.
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Most beautiful US college campuses
You don’t choose a college based on its looks, but if the place where you’re planning on spending most of your time for the next four (or more) years is stunning, it can only be a good thing. After all, your campus is your home away from home, so choosing one that’s gorgeous, as well as well-rated, is a surefire way for you to have the time of your life. From amazing natural surroundings to breathtaking architectural pieces, here are 13 beautiful college campuses in the United States that are sure to be a source of pride for the students and the staff.
University of Virginia — Charlottesville, VA
Photo: BrianPIrwin/Shutterstock
The only university in the US designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the University of Virginia is one of the oldest in the country, founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. The author of the Declaration of Independence and the third US president was a talented architect, and the Academical Village he designed is still at the heart of the campus.
Dominated by the Rotunda inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, the Academical Village follows a U-shaped plan, where the buildings surround the Lawn, a terraced green space. The Rotunda, the school’s iconic, most recognizable building, stands on the northern side of the Lawn. Ten pavilions interspersed with student rooms extend on its sides, each built in a different style, with their own gardens, separated by serpentine walls.
St. Olaf College — Northfield, MN
Photo: Ken Wolter/Shutterstock
St. Olaf’s picturesque campus, known as “the Hill,” is set amid restored wetlands, woods, and native tall-grass prairies. Opened by Norwegian-Americans in the late 19th century, the College prides itself in environmental sustainability, being the first in the nation to use a wind turbine to supply about one-third of the school’s energy.
The college’s most recognizable landmark is the beautiful Gothic-style Old Main, built in 1877, the first structure on the grounds. One of the more modern buildings, the Christiansen Hall of Music, was recognized by the American Institute of Architects in its Architecture MN magazine.
University of Washington — Seattle, WA
Photo: Mike Peters/Shutterstock
The University of Washington’s main campus has gorgeous views in all directions, including some of Mount Rainier, the Cascades Range, and the Olympic Mountains. Red Square is at the heart of this campus, surrounded by landmark buildings, like the Suzzallo library with its 35-foot-high stained-glass windows and gilded vaulted ceiling.
But it’s the North Campus that has UWA’s most recognizable landmark, the Liberal Arts Quad. Filled with cherry blossoms, courtesy of the 31 Yoshino cherry trees, the grounds of the Quad put up quite a show each spring.
Florida Southern College — Lakeland, FL
Photo: Florida Southern College
Sitting on a hillside overlooking Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern College is home to the world’s largest number of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. A National Historic Landmark since 2012, the campus was dubbed the “first uniquely American campus” and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
One particularity of the Florida Southern College campus is the many cats you’ll encounter while gawking at the gorgeous architecture and natural surroundings. Around 30 cats live around the campus. They’re all neutered/spayed and vaccinated. A small team of caretakers feed and care for them every day.
University of Chicago — Chicago, IL
Photo: STLJB/Shutterstock
The campus of the University of Chicago combines traditional English Gothic-style architecture with modern design in a setting that seems like a small pocket of nature in the middle of Chicago. The 217-acre campus includes a few parks and an official botanical garden. The surroundings include a pond — home to ducks, turtles, and dragonflies.
The gorgeous Cobb Lecture Hall, built in 1892, was the first of the university’s original 16 buildings. The nearby ivy-filled Hitchcock Hall, built in 1900, has been on the list of the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.
The campus is also home to the Robie House, a Frank Lloyd Wright building and a National Historic Landmark.
Berry College — Rome, GA
Photo: Rob Hainer/Shutterstock
Berry College’s campus is the largest in the contiguous US and its 27,000 acres include forests, fields, and Lavender Mountain. With over 80 miles of trails, surrounded by wooded areas, streams, and ponds, it is a great place to spend time outside the classrooms.
The area around the academic English-Gothic style buildings, surrounded by fountains and pools, is a wildlife refuge. Mary Hall and the Ford Dining Hall are the most recognizable buildings on campus. The oldest buildings, rustic and representative of the College’s history, are the Roosevelt Cabin, House o’Dreams, and Old Mill.
Princeton University — Princeton, NJ
Photo: ssguy/Shutterstock
Princeton is filled with beautiful buildings surrounded by perfectly manicured green expanses, courtyards, and hundreds of crisscrossing paths. It’s like an American version of Hogwarts, but without the Quidditch pitch.
Completed in 1756, the stunning Nassau Hall is the oldest building on campus. Before becoming the center of the campus, it was the original home of the New Jersey Legislature and the Seat of the Congress of the Confederation. Involved in the battle of 1777, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Pepperdine University — Malibu, CA
Photo: Pepperdine University/Facebook
Sitting among several ridges overlooking the Pacific, in the foothills of Santa Monica mountains, the campus of Pepperdine University is one of the most scenic in the country. Palm trees dot the landscape and give the campus a tropical feel, accented by the Mediterranean-style buildings with white stucco and red roofs.
Alumni Park offers trails among hills, ponds, coral trees, and lawns with views of the ocean.
Lewis and Clark College — Portland, OR
Photo: Lewis & Clark College
Set on top of Palatine Hill, the forested 137-acre campus of Lewis and Clark College bathes in nature. Surrounded by woods, its centerpiece is the historic Frank Manor House, a rustic, Tudor-style mansion, designed by local architect Herman Brookman and built in 1924.
A large pool bordered by flower beds sits at the back entrance of the mansion and the Tree Walk that consists of native tree species encountered by Lewis and Clark on their journey surrounds it.
The views of the perpetually snow-capped Mount Hood, about 50 miles away, add a touch of magic to the already incredible natural beauty of the campus.
Bryn Mawr College — Bryn Mawr, PA
Photo: Bryn Mawr College
The campus of Bryn Mawr College has the perfect balance of lush green surroundings and gorgeous buildings. The whole 135-acre campus is designed as an arboretum, with more than 75 varieties of trees and scenic trails, as well as a duck pond.
The stone buildings themselves are the highlight of this college, however. When walking into one of them, you’ll feel like you’re stepping into an ancient castle. As the oldest examples of this style of architecture in the US, known as Collegiate Gothic, they’ve been a model for other colleges since 1885.
University of Colorado — Boulder, CO
Photo: University of Colorado Boulder
You can’t beat the setting of the University of Colorado, with gorgeous views of the Rocky Mountains and Flatirons, including a lake and two creeks. The buildings match the setting, featuring a distinctive architectural style, with local sandstone walls, limestone trim, and red-tiled roofs.
Built in 1876, the Old Main was the first building on campus, and it’s now home to a museum of the college’s history and the Heritage Center.
Vassar College — Poughkeepsie, NY
Photo: Vassar College/Facebook
Founded originally as a women’s college in 1861, Vassar College’s campus is an official arboretum that’s comprised of over 230 species of trees. Trees are an integral part of Vassar’s green space, as founder Matthew Vassar personally oversaw the initial tree plantings, and class tree planting has been a tradition ever since the class of 1868 decided to plant a swamp white oak along Main Drive.
The buildings across the 1,000-acre campus aren’t limited to a single architectural style, ranging from Collegiate-Gothic to Norman. One of its most notable buildings is the Thompson Memorial Library, reminiscent of a mythical castle.
Furman University — Greenville, SC
Photo: Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock
Furman University’s 750-acre campus is lakeside, which gives it a very serene vibe. Most of the buildings are in the Georgian architecture style, but it’s the Florentine bell tower by the lake that’s one of the real draws.
Another eye-catching feature is Furman’s Asia Garden. It originally contained just native Japanese flora like bamboo and maples but was refurbished in 2007 and expanded to include other plants. The garden sits by a pond and has a small waterfall. Near the garden is the Place of Peace, which has the first Japanese temple to ever to be disassembled, shipped, and reconstructed in the US. The multigenerational temple was built in 1984 in Nagoya and was donated in 2004 by the Tsuzuki family.
Stanford University — Palo Alto, CA
Photo: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock
Schools located in California seem to have a leg up in the “most beautiful campus” competition. After all, palm trees can give any campus a welcome dose of character. In addition to being one of the best schools in the country, Stanford is also known for its stunning campus aesthetic. The aptly-named Palm Drive leading up to the Main Quad is a pretty good hint of what’s to come on a visit to Stanford. The quad is surrounded by Romanesque buildings featuring distinctive red-tile roofs and a buff sandstone aesthetic. The Memorial Church is probably Stanford’s most recognizable structure, largely thanks to its colorful mosaic facade and equally striking interior. A casual stroll is a great way to take in the campus’ beauty, but for a more panoramic, all-encompassing view, head to the top of the Hoover Tower. If the weather cooperates, you can even see all the way to San Francisco.
Rice University — Houston, TX
Photo: Rice University/Facebook
Houston isn’t exactly known for its architecture, which is what makes Rice University even more interesting. Though located in the heart of a dense urban area, Rice’s campus manages to impart a sense of tranquility. Located on a heavily wooded plot of land, the campus is enclosed by a double row of oak trees, and throughout the campus you’ll also find thousands of maples, hickories, and elms. The buildings were built in the Mediterranean Revivalist style, with light brick facades, archways, and decorative columns, creating the fleeting illusion that you’re in Spain rather than Houston, Texas.
College of William & Mary — Williamsburg, VA
Photo: William Silver/Shutterstock
If you’ve ever been to Colonial Williamsburg, you probably passed right by the College of William & Mary. Unlike much of Colonial Williamsburg, the college is a fully functioning, modern education institution. The word “modern,” however, only applies to the school’s education. The school is the second-oldest in the country, just behind Harvard, founded in 1693. Many of its colonial-era buildings still remain, including the stately Wren Building — the oldest college building still standing in the US. The colonial-style Brafferton (built in 1723) and the President’s House (built in 1732) combine with the Wren to form “Ancient Campus.” Apart from the beautiful architecture, there’s also the Sunken Garden, the sprawling green lawn from the Wren Building to Crim Dell Pond where students often congregate.
Cornell University — Ithaca, NY
Photo: PQK/Shutterstock
Cornell’s campus stands apart from other Ivy League universities for its location overlooking the city of Ithaca and Cayuga Lake. It sits right on Fall Creek Gorge and Cascadilla Gorge, which has eight waterfalls cascading over 400 feet from the campus to downtown Ithaca. The campus also offers views of the surrounding valleys of the Finger Lakes region, one of the most beautiful areas in upstate New York. Also on campus are the Cornell Botanic Gardens, a 2,800-acre garden with flowers, trees, ponds, and trails for students and visitors.
A version of this article was previously published on August 3, 2018, and was updated on August 12, 2021.
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August 11, 2021
This adorable California winery’s vintage trailer park is the ultimate girl getaway
After two years of living in San Francisco, I became cynical about the California wine country experience. It was gorgeous, but always crowded. The wine was delicious, but always expensive. The food was fantastic, but I always ended up waiting an hour in the heat for a table. It took a trip down south to the Central Coast to understand that Napa and Sonoma represent just a small slice of the state’s viticultural experiences. The small city of Paso Robles offers an entirely different vibe, free of crowds or pretention. It also has one of the most dreamy vineyard accommodations: The Trailer Pond at Alta Colina.
The Trailer Pond is a set of five beautifully restored vintage trailers clustered around a small pond in the Alta Colina vineyards. It’s a glamping experience, but with the canvas tents swapped out for candy-colored trailers that date from between 1957 and 1962.
While I was having a low-key stay with my mother in late November, the immediate impression upon setting foot in The Trailer Pond is that it’s meant for a trip with your girlfriends. Swinging on a hanging chair overlooking the pond and the rolling vineyard hills, I daydreamed about coming here for my bachelorette party, posing with my bridesmaids on the dock, and clinking wine glasses.
Rather than spend a ton of money on the usual spots for a big group getaway, consider making a Paso Robles vacation your newest squad goal. From snapping endless pictures of your darling digs to soaking in natural hot springs, here’s why a trip to The Trailer Pond at Alta Colina is the perfect base for your next epic girl getaway.
Move into your new home at The Trailer Pond
Photo: Craft and Cluster courtesy of Alta Colina
The Trailer Pond is tucked in a private area of the 130-acre vineyard, well up the road from the main tasting room. Smaller parties are welcome to book individual trailers (each trailer sleeps two), but if you book out the whole pond, you’ll get some perks. Group bookings include a bottle of Alta Colina wine in each trailer and a complimentary group wine tasting during your trip. The Trailer Pond is Instagram gold, with pastel trailer exteriors, twinkle lights lining the walkway, cutesy lawn decor, and lounge chairs on the dock overlooking the pond.
Photo: Craft and Cluster courtesy of Alta Colina
On the far side of the pond are a basic communal kitchen, a large gas fire pit, cozy chairs, and a picnic table. Rustic bathrooms are located nearby, but more fancy bathrooms are accessible elsewhere on the property. If you request it in advance, the Trailer Pond is happy to coordinate a wide variety of experiences your group will love, such as a lesson in crafting the perfect cheese plate, art classes, and full farm-to-table meals at the Pond.
Enjoy as many tastings as possiblePhoto: Laura Reilly
Alta Colina, owned and operated by the Tillman family, has been growing Rhône-style wines, most notably syrah and grenache, since 2003. The winery is almost 1,800 feet above sea level and is influenced by intense sun exposure and air from the nearby Pacific ocean. While most of the wine is affordable, one standout splurge is the Sun Worshiper, an intense mourvèdre-based blend with deep, dark notes of black fruits.
You’d be remiss not to take advantage of the many other nearby wineries in the Paso Robles viticultural area. Some of Matador Network’s food and drink editors’ favorites include DAOU Vineyards, ONX Wines, and Halter Ranch. Should you get wine-d out, Paso Robles is not lacking in breweries and distilleries. Tin City is an industrial market in the warehouse district that houses BarrelHouse Brewing Co., Tin City Cider Co,. Wine Shine distillery, and in case you’re not yet sated, more wineries. Across the region, you’ll also find a number of distilleries that focus on brandy and grappa made from Paso grapes, like Pendray’s, Calwise, and Azeo.
Take in all the views the Central Coast has to offer
Photo: Central Coast Trailrides/Facebook
Alta Colina is Spanish for “high hill,” which you can experience on the trailer park’s Sundowner Deck. The deck is perched on the top of, well, a very high hill, and is a must-see view, whether you take your coffee at sunrise or sip wine at sunset. Large groups at the Trailer Pond also have the opportunity to book a private tasting at the Sundowner Deck and perhaps, even a yoga class.
Paso Robles is rife with opportunities to explore those hills further. Traverse more wineries and private farms on horseback with Central Coast Trailrides. Go on an Off-the-Grid jeep tour through small production wineries you won’t find in any liquor store back home. Or just get out and hike the gentle rolling hills of the region for free. If you’re down for an epic excursion, drive over to the iconic coastal Highway 1 and head all the way up to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour drive one-way with nonstop jaw-dropping ocean views the whole way.
Hit downtown for food, shopping, and more booze
Photo: Rosângela Perry/Shutterstock
Alta Colina doesn’t typically offer on-site food, but that’s fine because you want to experience the downtown Paso Robles dining scene anyway. One solid option is The Hatch Rotisserie and Bar, which serves up decadent wood-fired food, like brown-butter skillet cornbread and pork shoulder with white cheddar grits, and craft cocktails utilizing seasonal ingredients. For those classic California wine country, farm-to-table vibes, Thomas Hill Organics has upscale plates like duck confit, chicken liver pâté, and local burrata with stone fruit. For a rowdier late-night scene, Pine Street Saloon is the local dive bar with super cheap drinks and, apparently, a few resident ghosts.
If you love a little retail therapy, there will still be a few shops open for the evening crowd, but you’ll mostly find yourself peeking into closed windows wishing you could browse inside. So try to dedicate some time during the day to explore the eclectic shops, art galleries, antique stores, and fashion boutiques. If you only have time to hit one store before you leave, make it the General Store, which stocks local crafts from artisans, snacks and sweets, and quirky gifts for every age.
Relax in natural mineral hot springs
Photo: River Oaks Hot Springs Spa/Facebook
If you’re staying at a winery with your best friends, surrounded by even more wineries, breweries, distilleries and great bars, there’s a more than likely chance you’re going to wake up one morning with a slight hangover. Rather than call the whole day a wash, treat yourself to doing nothing at one of Paso Robles spas. Many of the wineries will mention Paso Robles’s mineral spring water as an attribute to the overall soil quality at the vineyards, and visitors can soak in some of the mineral hot springs. For a luxury experience, visit the River Oaks Hot Springs Spa, which offers various treatments in plush surroundings, like hot stone massages, hydrating facials, and a private session in the mineral hot tub. For an ultra-rustic dip, head to Franklin Hot Springs. Entrance is only $7 a person on the honor system — just deposit it in a can out front. We can’t think of a better way to end a trip than a quiet, steamy 100-degree soak in nature.
The post This adorable California winery’s vintage trailer park is the ultimate girl getaway appeared first on Matador Network.
A sex worker explains why moving Amsterdam’s Red Light District is bad for everyone
“They say sex work is not normal,” Mary told me on Matador Network’s No Blackout Dates podcast, sounding both perplexed and disheartened. “But who decides what is normal?”
This tug-of-war between what’s normal and what isn’t characterizes some of the most important debates of our time. The “normal” is tolerated and encouraged, while the “abnormal” is outlawed and its practitioners shamed. In Amsterdam, famous for its positivity and liberalism, prostitution is slipping into the “abnormal.”
Mary has worked as an escort in Amsterdam for eight years. To her, sex work is a profession like any other, and the Red Light District is the most infamous of offices. Now that office is being uprooted from its historic home to be moved outside of the city center, all under the pretext of shielding the women from the ill-effects of over-tourism.
Femke Halsema, Amsterdam’s mayor, put forward a proposal earlier this year to shut down a significant number of Red Light District windows around the docks — a proposal backed by several political parties. Sex workers would be forced to relocate to a purpose-built center elsewhere in the city. Halsema told The Guardian that the brothel windows should be closed to protect the women from “gawking tourists” who verbally abuse sex workers and treat them like tourist attractions. Sex trafficking and over-tourism were also cited as concerns.
Moving the Red Light District outside of the city center, as well as banning cannabis for foreigners, might sound like it addresses safety concerns and the city’s over-tourism problem, but the reality is much more complicated.
Sex work is part of the neighborhood
Photo: hurricanehank/Shutterstock
Sex work has always been a victim of image and perception. A neighborhood widely known as a city’s epicenter of prostitution might sound disreputable, but in Amsterdam, the Red Light District is a neighborhood like any other.
Prostitution in Amsterdam dates back to at least the 15th century, and the modern Red Light District is in the oldest section of the city. It’s something that residents have grown up knowing.
“I was born and raised in Amsterdam,” Mary says. “You always knew about the Red Light District and saw the ladies in the windows. Even as a small child, you got used to it. We asked our mom, ‘What are they doing?’ And she said, ‘Well for gentlemen who don’t have girlfriends, sometimes they want to kiss and cuddle with a girl, so they can give one of the girls some money, and they can kiss and cuddle with them.’ And we thought, ‘Oh, what a funny profession.’”
The reason a child can walk through the Red Light District unfazed isn’t because children are ignorant, Mary says. It’s because they haven’t yet been trained in the adult art of judging others.
“As a child, you’re not subject to moral judgment,” Mary says. “It was only when I started instructing tourists about the Red Light District that I realized that to some people it’s not as normal as it was to me.”
Despite the current relocation attempt, Amsterdam is still far more tolerant and open-minded toward sex workers than much of the world. Several sex worker windows are located opposite a church, and others are next to children’s daycare centers in a residential area — and few seem to care.
“That’s what makes it kind of special,” Mary says.
Legal sex work is safer
Photo: Raisa Kanareva/Shutterstock
Constantly warring against its own stigma, sex work often calls to mind desperation rather than entrepreneurship, and the women tend to be viewed as helpless and fragile. In Amsterdam, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Compared to US underground services or prostitutes for hire, Mary says, “Window work is the safest and most independent way to work, because you can select your clients. And if you have trouble, you can call the police, and the police will help you instead of arresting you and raping you, which is very common in countries where it’s illegal.”
A 2018 study that looked at sex work from 130 studies in 33 countries found that sex workers in places where it’s illegal were three times more likely to experience sexual or physical violence. Those in places where sex work is legal or tolerated were half as likely to have sexually transmitted diseases.
Not only can sex workers feel confident that law enforcement will actually protect them in Amsterdam, neighborhoods like the Red Light District also afford sex workers a sense of safety through community.
“The women don’t want to leave,” Mary says. “They love that area because it’s very compact and busy, and that means you’re safe even if you leave your shift at 4:00 or 5:00 AM. There’s always people around, we all know each other, there’s a lot of police cameras. It’s very safe.”
Yet another pillar of the safety conversation is, of course, safe sex. There tends to be a misconception is that sex in the Red Light District is unprotected and that the sex workers must be riddled with STDs. Again, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Sex workers always use condoms, and Mary says they put them on themselves “so we know it’s done right.”
Sex workers even have their own dedicated health care locations to prevent the spread of STDs, Mary explains, and the checkups are free of charge and anonymous. Treatment is also free. The result? Visiting a sex worker is safer than going home with someone from the nightclub because, as Mary notes, STDs among female sex workers are lower than the national average.
Sex workers provide a valuable service
Photo: charnsitr/Shutterstock
Movies, media, and public perception often suggest that prostitution exists to satisfy the salacious desires of a sleazy clientele, and they make it easier for men to cheat on their wives. In reality, many clients are simply men who lack intimacy in their lives.
“I was a nurse for many years and realized during my work that people may have handicaps or disabilities, but need intimacy and sex just like anyone else,” Mary says. “As a nurse, you really can’t do anything for them. I felt sorry for them, and when I read about agencies that mediate between clients and sex assistants, I thought, ‘Wow that’s the job for me.’”
Just as sex workers themselves are judged for their profession, clients are also shamed. But people rarely consider the other side of sex work. Mary’s clients, for example, are mostly those with mental or physical disabilities. Her oldest is 95 years old.
Destigmatizing clients is just as important as destigmatizing sex workers themselves, especially in places where the profession is under attack. For many men, seeking out a sex worker isn’t a shady escape from wholesome family life. Whether due to age or a disability, Mary’s clients rely on sex work for the human connection they can’t find elsewhere.
Sex trafficking and over-tourism are just excuses for moving the Red Light District
Photo: Osaze Cuomo/Shutterstock
The story of sex work has always been intertwined with a narrative of persecution and marginalization. Even Amsterdam sex workers aren’t exempt from this. The downside of working in a misunderstood profession is that people, well, don’t understand it, and that lack of understanding can, unfortunately, translate into official policy. Governments, activist groups, and religious organizations in Amsterdam are presuming to know what’s best for sex workers and how to keep them safe without actually asking them.
According to Mary, the biggest threat to the sex industry in Amsterdam is politicians and religious organizations, who have made it their mission to stamp out sex work in the guise of fighting human trafficking.
“Human trafficking does exist,” Mary acknowledges, “but it exists in many other industries as well which you never hear about. Between 80 and 90 percent of sex workers in Amsterdam are doing it of their own free will, because they like it and because they can make good money. Though many might not believe it, the vast majority of sex workers in Amsterdam choose the profession willingly. That hasn’t stopped agenda-driven organizations from presuming to understand their motivations, and trying to make it harder for them to work.”
Religious groups have long been at the forefront of the opposition to sex work
“One of the Christian political parties passed a law saying all sex workers must be registered in a national database,” Mary says, “and that’s against the law of privacy. They say it’s to fight human trafficking, but it’s really to make it as hard as possible for sex workers to do their job. Funny enough, one of my colleagues always says that the Christians are her best customers.”
One activist group even proposed that sex work clients should be criminalized. That proposal was rejected, but it points to the deep lack of understanding and compassion that courses through the anti-sex work movement.
“What about people with special needs?” Mary says. “They must often rely on professionals to meet their intimacy needs. But the politicians and religious groups never think about that side of the industry.”
Photo: hurricanehank/Shutterstock
Overtourism is another pretext being cited for moving Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The city is famous for legal prostitution and also suffers from over-tourism. Therefore, one line of thinking goes, the two must be linked. It’s a convenient “correlation equals causation” argument made by conservative politicians and religious groups looking for an excuse to whisk prostitution out of the public eye.
“They think the sex workers bring too much tourism, and we get the blame for it,” Mary says. “However, the city did an inquiry a few years ago and asked if people would still visit the Red Light District neighborhood if there were no prostitutes. Only 5 percent said no they would not, meaning 95 percent would still visit even without sex workers. It’s an entertainment area — there are lots of cafes and restaurants — and that’s what attracts the people.”
The relocation of the Red Light District is just one tactical maneuver in the battle of “normal” vs. “abnormal.” Yet prostitution is not only an inextricable part of Amsterdam’s fabric; it’s also a valuable service essential for those struggling to satisfy their intimacy needs, as well as a safe alternative to the underground sex industries that pervade other countries. That sounds pretty normal to me.
The post A sex worker explains why moving Amsterdam’s Red Light District is bad for everyone appeared first on Matador Network.
How to take your family on an African safari
Three hours in line, waiting with two teenagers in the pre-dawn chill for the National Park rangers to open the gate? Never again, I told myself, heading back to the lake and our cabin.
But it got me thinking. Maybe it was time to plan that African safari we’d been telling the kids about for so long. Aged 11 and 12, they were finally old enough to enjoy it. And an hour on the phone with my favorite travel agent, a person I’d worked with before, proved to be the solution.
By the time I’d hung up the phone, we’d worked out an itinerary starting with dates and in-country flights, an arrival hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, and four nights each at three game lodges in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, countries where wildlife conservation projects are a part of public policy, and the reason that the animals — elephants, lions, giraffe, antelope, rhinos — continue to thrive.
But for first-timers, hoping to explore Africa’s wild country, finding the right safari lodge can be a challenge. Thirty years ago, there weren’t more than a dozen private lodges and ranches interested in taking guests. Now there are plenty of game lodges, most of them located on public and private land inside parks and wildlife preserves. The choices run from tiny rustic bungalows and former hunting lodges to family-style cabins and luxury hideaways. The largest of them, bustling resorts encouraging family travel, provide not just daily game drives and lavish meals, but spas, gyms, guided village tours, teen activities and child care play centers.
Where to start your search for an African safari with family
Photo: BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock
Since every lodge has its own website — or is part of a group website — it’s easy to see what’s available. Start your education with a leisurely tour through two of them, Uyaphi.com and Go2Africa.com, travel and touring companies that book family, individual, group, and customized safaris. Their websites are a treasure trove of photographs, descriptions of locations, site types, indoor and outdoor areas, porches, gardens, prices per night, per person, and extra activities, from canoe rides to walking safaris, spa visits and swimming pools.
Safari lodges have always welcomed children. But now they’re encouraging it, adding additional two-bedroom suites and building larger cabins. Small lodges, those built for six to ten guests, actively court group travel, offering discounts when you book the entire lodge.
When you’ve found something that works, search for its name and group affiliation or an individual contact, a person who can answer your questions. A partial list of top-rated companies include Sanctuary Retreats; Ker & Downey; Wilderness Safaris; Bushcamp Company in Zambia; and SabiSabi Company.
Why you should consider using a tour company to book an African safari with familyIt is certainly possible to book a flight to an African country and your own game lodge reservations. But most North American travelers would rather spend more for a trip planned by an experienced full-service tour company with supporting staff on the ground. It’s a relief to be met upon arrival, helped with luggage, driven to your hotel or lodge, and to have help with visas, customs and local currency — especially if you are traveling with children.
Why some of my favorite family safaris could be yours
Photo: Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
If it’s a big, lively lodge you enjoy, one with 25 luxury suites and an ideal place to meet other travelers and their children, try Little Bush Camp in the Sabi Sands Preserve, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. As diverse as any resort, its activities include traditional game drives, cultural community visits, swimming pools, a spa, gym, a child-care play center, gift shop, and a waterhole near the dining room, where you can enjoy lunch and watch the elephants congregate.
Photo: Londolozi Game Reserve/Facebook
My first-ever and all-time favorite game lodge is Londolozi, also in Kruger National Park, a sentimental favorite. Now enlarged and divided into four different lodges, it remains true to its origins as the country’s first leopard conservation project.
Photo: The Bushcamp Company/Facebook
In Zambia, the Bushcamp Company Group, in the South Luangwa River National Park, is special. The main lodge, with an open-air lounge, casual restaurant and 12 separate cabins is a 30-minute drive from Mfuwe town, an easy-to-reach getaway for families traveling with kids, and area residents who come for an overnight. It’s also headquarters for the company’s eight other distant lodges, intimate, isolated and rustic hideaways. These lodges all have distinct names and are a perfect size for a family of four or less. Lodge Bilimugwe is cozy and close to elephants and at lodge Chamilandu you can spend a morning in a hide, watching the animals come to drink in the nearby creek.
Photo: Ker & Downey Botswana/Facebook
My Botswana favorites are all in the Okavango Delta and are traditional lodges with tent cabins for guests which are bolted onto wood decks, per conservation regulations. If you are interested in the Okavango Delta have a look at Shinde which is close to water and open plains, and Kanana, which arranges mokoro (canoe rides) to birding islands. Chief’s Camp and Stanley’s Camp are also great options for families and are located on wooded islands and near surrounding lagoons.
How much does an African safari with family cost?
Photo: Londolozi Game Reserve/Facebook
Do game lodge prices really reflect luxury, service and all meals? Yes, those that charge over a thousand dollars per person per night guarantee first-rate mattresses, matching linen, leather armchairs, chef-prepared cuisines and notable wines.
But are the guides and trackers, employees who lead you through into the same bush country, more effective than those working at lodges charging $180 per night? That’s where you have to do a little research. Guides, the drivers, are often hired from outside, whereas the trackers, who sit on the fender searching for tracks in the dust, are local residents who’ve grown up with wildlife. If your goal is to see lions, rhinos, hippos, giraffe, wild dogs, hyenas and elephants in their natural surroundings, then ask in advance about the trackers when booking. Keep in mind a hefty price tag does not guarantee the best animal spotting.
How to keep your family healthyThe mosquitoes that carry malaria are rarely a threat during Southern Africa’s dry months, from July to mid-October. If mosquitoes are present, protect yourself and your family by covering up in light-colored long-sleeve shirts and long pants and applying insect repellent. A course of prophylactic drugs, started before you go and for a period of time after your return, is recommended.
Travel and medical insurance are also essential, especially when traveling with youngsters on safari.
When to book an African safari
Photo: BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock
June through August (winter) are dry, high months, with cool to cold nights and mild, sunny days. September and October are warm and dry; it’s not as green, but animals are much easier to see, in the bush or at the waterholes. December, January and February bring rain which leads to muddy roads that can cause delays in travel.
The post How to take your family on an African safari appeared first on Matador Network.
This company wants to fly you to Barcelona for free for a concert at the Sagrada Família
If you’ve been craving travel and live music for the past 16 months, this contest is meant for you. Booking site Tiqets is launching a contest in which five lucky people will get a chance to win an all-expense trip to Barcelona and tickets to an exceptional concert.
The Symphonies at Sagrada contest includes flights from the US and ground transportation; accommodation in Barcelona; free access to three Barcelona museums and attractions of your choice; and, the cherry on the top, an intimate classical concert at the Sagrada Família.
The winners will be able to hear the fantastic Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra concert in the Sagrada Família on Saturday, September 18, 2021 and have access to the preview show of the performance in the basilica on Friday, September 17, 2021.
The free trip will take place from September 17 to September 19, 2021, and the five winners will be able to bring a friend along for the ride.
“We are excited to partner with Sagrada Familia to create a truly once-in-a-lifetime trip to Barcelona to experience the basilica like never before,” says Laurens Leurink, CEO of Tiqets, in a press release. “The highlight of the experience is an intimate concert inside Gaudí’s masterpiece brought to life by the sounds of the symphony.”
Be quick to enter, the contest closes at l1:59 PM CT on August 25.
The post This company wants to fly you to Barcelona for free for a concert at the Sagrada Família appeared first on Matador Network.
The cheapest, and most expensive, states to buy a pizza in
When you don’t know what to eat, pizza is often the simplest and quickest way to go. America’s love for pizza can’t be denied, and from time to time, munching on a pizza is fulfilling. What isn’t fulfilling is paying for overpriced pizza. Expensivity mapped out the average price of pizza in every US city and state to find the average price by city and the density of pizzerias per person in the US.
All prices, pizzerias, and menus were gathered from MenuWithPrice, and Yelp. The company also estimated the number of pizzerias in every city and state. Due to the imprecise menu data, the average prices reflect pizzas of all sizes.
City and state populations were gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau, and cities that had at least 10 pizzerias and a population of 100,000 or more people were included in the final data set. You can visit the Expensivity website for more information on this year’s pizza index for more pizza data.
Cheapest cheese pizza
Photo: Expensivity
North Dakota$6.64
Rhode Island $6.68
Massachusetts $6.67
Oregon $6.96
Utah $7.00
Delaware $7.01
Ohio $7.02
South Carolina $7.10
New Hampshire $7.14
Indiana $7.15
Alaska $9.21
Oklahoma $9.00
Montana $9.07
Vermont $8.83
Connecticut $8.76
Pennsylvania $8.72
Kentucky $8.60
Mississippi $8.56
Kansas $8.51
Wyoming $8.39
Photo: Expensivity
Utah $6.49
West Virginia $7.70
Pennsylvania $8.08
Tennesse $8.70
Virginia $8.93
New York $9.20
South Carolina $9.40
Vermont $9.41
Massachusetts $9.48
Connecticut $9.62
Oklahoma $15.56
Iowa $15.38
Kansas $14.96
Alabama $14.77
Hawaii $14.25
Kentucky $14.16
Alaska $13.89
Minnesota $13.74
Nebraska $13.39
Oregon $13.00
Photo: Expensivity
Rhode Island: 37.3
Connecticut: 36.8
Pennsylvania: 36.2
New Jersey: 35.7
Iowa: 34.6
Delaware: 34.0
New Hampshire: 33.5
Ohio: 32.0
West Virginia: 31.2
New York: 29.4
The post The cheapest, and most expensive, states to buy a pizza in appeared first on Matador Network.
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