Matador Network's Blog, page 635
June 14, 2021
Argentina’s wine country is an outdoor adventure paradise at the foot of the Andes
Thoughts of Argentina’s wine country typically evoke images of Mendoza and a landscape dotted with vineyards watched over by the towering Andes. While Mendoza is indeed its heartland, Argentina’s wine region extends all along the Andean foothills, from the country’s northern province of Salta to Patagonia down south.
In just a short flight from Buenos Aires, you can discover an enticing patchwork of snow-capped peaks, meandering rivers, desert terrain, and lunar-like scenery. If you enjoy crashing through rapids and spotting curious Andean wildlife, or trotting around one of the world’s great mountain ranges, then this could be the place for you. Go beyond the wine and bodegas with these exciting experiences in Argentina’s wine country.
Balloon flights above valleys and vineyards
Photo: Mendoza Balloons/Facebook
Argentina’s wine country has an incredibly diverse landscape — so much so that it can be hard to appreciate it all from ground level. Taking to the skies on a hot-air balloon presents a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful region. At $120 per person, flights aren’t cheap, but they’re a fascinating way to get a sense of the region before you dive in to explore it on the ground.
As you fly to the beat of the wind, the full panorama of orderly grapevines and olive groves, snowy mountainsides, high plains, lakes, and rivers is laid out below. Views are guaranteed. All you have to do is decide when you want to witness them. Takeoff at dawn for the first light of day or launch at sunset in time to see the sun drift behind the Andes. Mendoza Balloons can help you choose, or take you on both if you so desire.
Hunt for dinosaur fossils at national parks
Photo: PablitoStock/Shutterstock
On the provincial border of La Rioja and San Juan, Talampaya National Park and Ischigualasto Provincial Park are geological and archaeological wonders. Together, the UNESCO-listed parks shelter the most complete continental fossil record from the Triassic Period. We’re talking about extensive dinosaur, plant, and mammal fossils.
Talampaya, the larger of the two, has huge red rock walls and canyons formed over centuries by wind and rain erosion. Formations with intriguing names, such as The Monk and Wise Man Riding a Camel, are certainly worth perusing. Make sure to look for the ancient petroglyphs that hark back to the region’s earliest inhabitants.
If it’s dinosaur fossils you’re after, then Ischigualasto has the more interesting collection. Nicknamed the Valley of the Moon, you’ll get that otherworldly feeling when touring the park or camping overnight. These areas are best visited in the winter months to avoid the heavy rainfall and searing heat of summer.
Stargazing at El Leoncito National Park
Photo: DFLC Prints/Shutterstock
San Juan Province has the honor of another mystical place in El Leoncito National Park. The compact park shelters the grasslands and scrublands of the Central Andean puna and Southern Andean steppe, which together form a biodiverse ecoregion for various wildlife. You won’t encounter any little lions (leoncitos) here, as the name might suggest, but you can find chinchillas, guanaco, eagles, and the odd cougar.
Low levels of atmospheric pollution and an arid climate in this remote area lend themselves to extraordinarily clear skies for approximately 300 days per year. Make a reservation at one of the two observatories, Felix Aguilar Astronomy or Leoncito Astronomical Complex, for educational viewings of constellations and planets. The latter has an overnight tour for budding astrologists. Failing this, pitch a tent at the park’s campground and watch the stars with the naked eye.
Wildlife spotting at the saline Laguna Brava
Photo: Oliclimb/Shutterstock
High up in the mountains of La Rioja Province is a series of saline lagoons called the Laguna Brava Provincial Reserve. The 1,500-square-mile reserve was created for the preservation of the endangered guanaco and vicuna, the wild cousins of llamas and alpacas. These high alpine creatures roam puna grasslands and the shorelines of salty water such as Laguna Brava. In the summer months, the area bursts with color when they are joined by migrating Andean flamingos.
Over five centuries ago, Incas crossed the region on their way to Chile and it was a settlement for trans-Andean communities. Remnants of Inca villages and ceremonial platforms serve as reminders of an age-old civilization. The company Runacay has a tour departing from Villa Union that takes in all of this as well as some of the planet’s tallest volcanoes.
Ski or snowboard the powdery slopes of Argentina’s wine country
Photo: Las Leñas Resort/Facebook
One of the more modern ski resorts in Argentina, Las Leñas is a paradise for extreme skiers and snowboarders. There’s a whopping 43,240 skiable acres with challenging off-piste terrain, cliff drops, vertical slopes, and narrow chutes. All of that comes with a backdrop of the Andes, so the views are as impressive as the action.
Don’t worry if you aren’t a pro-level skier or boarder. Las Leñas caters for all, wobbly first-timers included. Arrange lessons on the mild beginner slopes before moving on to a 7,050-meter-long trail that’s one of the longest in South America. Of course, if you’d rather, you can also hang out at the local bars or restaurants while your friends and family do the energetic work.
June through September is ski season in Mendoza. Visit the resort in the southern hemisphere’s warmer months from November to March for horseback tours, mountain biking, and trekking.
Water sports on the Mendoza River
Photo: Argentina Rafting Expediciones
The Mendoza River is one of the better places for whitewater rafting in Argentina. Sitting in the belly of a raft is an especially fun way to spend a day relishing the natural beauty of canyons and valleys. Don’t think it’ll be a lazy and scenic float though. Snowmelt from the Andes flows into the river and creates exciting and challenging rapids throughout the year — although the rapids are at their most powerful in the spring and summer, after the high melt of winter snowfall.
Creating a huge reservoir in the river is the Potrerillos Dam, located an hour’s drive from Mendoza. The reservoir’s calm glassy waters are ideal for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding excursions. Check out Argentina Rafting Expediciones for its extensive range of water sport adventures.
Horseback rides in the AndesPhoto: Argentina Extrema
Even if you’ve never saddled up in your life, there’s nothing to stop you from exploring the Andes mountains on horseback like a gaucho. Gauchos are Argentine cowboys famous for their horsemanship, and there are many happy to take you under their wing or whip and guide you over the rolling hills and mountain passes of Argentina’s wine country. This is not only a lesson in horse-riding accompanied by endless views, but an introduction to the storied traditions of the gaucho.
How far you ride is entirely up to you. Keep it short and sweet on a day trip around the outskirts of Mendoza city. Or venture with Argentina Extrema deep into the Valle de las Lagrimas (Valley of the Tears), the site of the horrific plane crash of 1972 and the stunning fight to survive that inspired the movie Alive. We recommend booking a tour that includes a classic Argentine asado (barbecue), where you can feast on delicious grilled meats and vegetables at the end of the ride. 
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Build your epic Colorado and Utah road trip with this flight, hotel, and car rental bundle
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
To help you plan the perfect Utah and Colorado summer road trip, we’re making the itinerary easy with a unique tour-booking option that combines the logistical perks of a guided tour with the financial perks and spontaneity of planning your own route. This Travelzoo deal combines flights, hotels, and car rentals but doesn’t dictate how long you spend in one location or what you do while there.
That’s the coolest part about this package: Instead of being a pre-built tour, it lets you build your own custom itinerary and allows you to explore on your own, stopping when and where you wish to sightsee or take a hike. You select the flights, hotel stays, and car rental based on where you want to go along the I-70 corridor in Colorado and Utah, bundle it together to maximize savings, and then, the world is your (Rocky Mountain) oyster.
Your itinerary is built around five stops, beginning in Salt Lake City, Utah, and ending in Denver, Colorado. Along the way, you can see the Colorado National Monument and wine country near Grand Junction. (We suggest a detour to Arches or Canyonlands National Park in Utah en route.) After leaving Grand Junction, we recommend you visit the famous Glenwood Springs hot springs and hike to Doc Holliday’s grave.
Then, you’ll experience Vail and its Bavarian dining and mountain culture, before concluding the road trip in Denver, craft beer in hand. Choose as many nights in each location as you wish and pick the hotel you want to stay at. Available flight deals include options from most major US airports.
Rent a car for as low as $40 per day or a van for as low as $100 per day
Photo: Red Herring/Shutterstock
The ultimate Colorado road trip starts with the right vehicle. This Travelzoo deal secures the best possible price for a rental car with pick-up and drop-off in Denver — ideal if you’re flying into Denver International Airport. Car rentals and compact SUVs start at $40 per day ($396 per week including taxes and fees) and larger SUVs and vans start at about $100 per day ($920 per week including taxes and fees).
Denver wine tasting and charcuterie experience on sale for 33 percent off
Photo: Travelzoo
Colorado is the most underrated wine destination in the United States, but this Travelzoo deal will set the record straight. Stop into the tasting room at Blanchard Family Wines and enjoy two tasting flights and a small charcuterie plate for $35, or a full bottle and large charcuterie plate for $45. Located in downtown Denver, the Blanchard Family Wines tasting room offers a deep dive into high-altitude winemaking. If you can’t make it to Colorado this summer, bring its acclaimed wine to your home for just $99. Partake in an on-demand virtual tasting experience that includes four bottles of wine sent to your home and a guided experience with James and Mark Blanchard.
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Will California’s new high-speed train finally help make US train travel decent?
If you’re taking a train vacation in the US, you’re either a European who hasn’t yet realized how inefficient the rail network is in the states, or you have a Sheldon Cooper-esque obsession with trains. Fittingly, the only thing less cool than publicly dropping The Big Bang Theory references is traveling by train in the US.
The US rail network is notoriously inefficient, and lacks the affordability and connectivity of most of Europe’s train system. While the US is undeniably advanced in plenty of other fields of transportation technology, the size and quality of its rail network feels like it’s stuck in the 1980s. A new Biden administration initiative is offering a glimmer of hope for US train travel — at least in California.
There are many causes of the US rail network’s woes, but lack of funding is one of the most crippling. President Joe Biden is seeking to remedy this by committing to a $929 million investment in a high-speed rail project in California that connects the northern part of the state to San Diego. The project’s budget had been slashed by the Trump administration, which appeared to sound the death knell for efficient, high-speed train travel in the state. Now, the funding will be restored to the state of California, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, and the US Transportation Department.
In a statement, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “The Biden Administration’s restoration of nearly $1 billion for California’s high-speed rail is great news for our state and our nation. This vote of confidence and restored close working relationship between the Department and the Authority will keep this transformative project moving down the track — ensuring California can continue to lead the way forward in creating jobs, promoting commerce, connecting communities, and protecting our planet.”
California’s path to a high-speed rail network has been beleaguered at best. An 800-mile high-speed train between Los Angeles and San Francisco has been in the works for more than a decade, though Governor Gavin Newsom essentially pulled the plug shortly after his election, citing steep costs.
The current expanded project, reinvigorated by federal funding, has an expected completion date in the 2030s.
Europeans will still justifiably snicker at our trains for some time. This news certainly doesn’t spell the end for the lackluster rail system in the US, but it signals public motivation — and more importantly, federal commitment — to change it. High-speed rails are on the horizon elsewhere, too, like Brightline’s new track between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. That 170-mile project is slated to break ground later this year. Nevertheless, the US as a whole is far from the cross-country high speed rail map dreamed up by some train enthusiasts who champion the sustainability aspect of train travel.
The US might be slow to catch up to its overseas friends, but optimists should take great solace in Biden’s personal enthusiasm. Famous for taking the train between Washington, DC and Delaware as a senator — landing him the affectionate nickname “Amtrak Joe” — Biden seems to view improving US infrastructure (including the rail networks) as a cornerstone of his presidency. Last year, his campaign promised to “spark the second great rail revolution.”
It might be late in coming, but frustrated US train travelers are doubtless familiar with a popular sentiment with a slight twist: Late is better than never.
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June 11, 2021
9 experiences you never knew you could have in Nebraska
Many people think Nebraska is a flat stretch of empty land with more cows than people. While the latter is undoubtedly true, according to the Nebraska Beef Council, Nebraska is far more than the cliché of vast expanses of plains.
For one, Nebraska isn’t flat at all. While the state is composed of prairies and grassland, it’s also full of sand dunes, buttes, bluffs, and mesas, which translates to cool landscapes to explore on foot.
And the state isn’t empty. The capital city — Lincoln, and the largest city — Omaha, have a combined population of nearly 800,000. Like just about everywhere else in the US, they are equipped with all the good stuff that makes modern life accessible and entertaining: Airports, large arenas, museums, restaurants and bars, and hotels — many of which are beautiful, fun, and filled with personality. In short, they are well worth checking out for an atypical vacation. Here are nine experiences you never knew you could have in Nebraska.
1.Connect to your creative side
Photo: Hot Shops Art Center/Facebook
Hot Shops Art Center, located just north of downtown Omaha, is an artist collective with studios open to the public. You can see over 40 artists, from glass blowers to painters, quilters, violin makers, and more at work — or take part in a class, attend a lecture, and check out one of two galleries that have monthly curated shows.
Where: 1301 Nicholas St, Omaha, NE 68102
2. Lean into the cliché, but do it in style
Photo: Johnny’s Cafe
Omaha is known for steak, and Johnny’s Cafe, established in 1922, is the ideal place to find your perfect cut. Located in the heart of the former stockyards district of Omaha, a retro neon sign welcomes you in. Inside, the impeccable early-60s décor delivers on the classic atmosphere with a heavily patterned carpet, very dim lights, and large leather chairs and bench seats — the kind of which the youngest among us have only seen on Mad Men. Naturally, you’ll want to linger long after you’ve finished your dinner of in-house aged steak.
Where: 4702 S 27th St, Omaha, NE 68107
3. Craft beer isn’t reserved for the coastal states
Photo: Zipline Brewing Co./Facebook
Breweries have popped up all over Nebraska in recent years, but Zipline Brewing is where any beer-loving visitor to the state should stop first. Their main brewery is in Lincoln, and there are taprooms throughout both Lincoln and Omaha. The flagship beer is the Zipline Copper Alt, a hybrid of an ale and a lager that has become a Nebraska classic. Zipline also brews various India pale ales (IPAs), stouts, and sours, depending on the time of year and location. In the summer, try their Kolsch, and in the winter, the Oatmeal Porter.
For a more outdoorsy Nebraska craft beer experience, head to the town of North Platte and stop at Pals Brewing Company. They have a beer menu to satisfy every taste, including The Big Nob for IPA lovers, and Football Saturday, a cream ale. Relax on the patio with your brew, play cornhole in the yard, or stay overnight in the brewery’s adjacent house listed on Airbnb. The sunsets are unbelievable over the fields.
Where: Zipline Brewing is located at 721 N 14th St, Omaha, NE 68102, and Pals Brewing is located at 4520 S Buffalo Bill Ave, North Platte, NE 69101
4. Explore Nebraska’s diverse terrain
Photo: Charles G. Haacker/Shutterstock
Nebraska has eight state parks and over 60 state recreation areas. Indian Cave State Park is located in the southeast corner of the state along the Missouri River. The land adjacent to the river is made up of bluffs and hills, forming the cave-like areas that give the state park its name. While the caves may not be fully underground, they are a unique formation that is worth visiting. The park has over 22 miles of hiking and biking trails to explore, along with campgrounds and picnic areas.
5. Local fare is the name of the game in Nebraska
Photo: Black Cow Fat Pig Pub & Steak/Facebook
Downtown Norfolk is home to the Black Cow Fat Pig, a local favorite that focuses on regional products and fare. We recommend the steak bruschetta for a Nebraska twist on a classic appetizer, and you can’t go wrong with any of the steaks on offer. Meat is cut in-house and the barbecue is all smoked on-site. They also have an extensive bar with a well-stocked cocktail menu and a rotating selection of Nebraska craft beers. Unfortunately, Black Cow Fat Pig is closed between lunch and dinner, so make sure to check the hours before going.
Where: 702 W Norfolk Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701
6. The Nebraskan art scene extends beyond Carhenge
Photo: Everett Collection/Shutterstock
Carhenge is a famous Nebraska roadside attraction, but there’s much more to the art and culture scene here. In the middle of the town square in Broken Bow is the Custer County Museum. County museums dot the Nebraska landscape, displaying an eclectic collection of everyday trinkets from days that local citizens have donated. But the Custer County Museum has a little something extra. Back when photography was novel, Solomon D. Butcher traveled the midwest taking photos of pioneer life. Families would gather outside their houses, sometimes with all of their belongings in an offbeat display of prosperity, to be photographed. Butcher amassed more than 4,000 prints during his active years. An entire gallery at the Custer County Museum is dedicated to the 19th-century photographer who captured the settlement of the Great Plains.
Where: 445 S 9th Ave, Broken Bow, NE 68822
7. Get tempted by a traditional German treat
Photo: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock
Sehnert’s Bakery has been an institution in the town of McCook since the 1950s. An old-fashioned bakery, Sehnert’s Bakery comes from a long line of bakers that goes all the way back to Germany in the 1500s. Although their doughnuts are delicious, you have to try the bierock; a meat-filled bread pocket that many confuse with a runza. The bierock is made by hand with seasoned ground beef, cabbage, and the option to add cheese or bacon that’s served warm.
Where: 312 Norris Ave, McCook, NE 69001
8. Take a detour to the Moon
Photo: Will Guthrie/Shutterstock
Near the far northwest corner of the state, the landscape changes to Nebraska’s version of the Moon. Toadstool Geological Park near Harrison is part of the Forest Service department of the USDA. It costs $3 per car for day use and $5 for camping.
Hike around the area and take in the otherworldly landscape and fossil deposits that helped archeologists learn about the area’s past. There are three hiking trails throughout the park, one of which overlaps with The Great Plains Trail, which goes from Mexico to the Canadian Border and is often considered the Midwest’s version of the Pacific Crest Trail or the Appalachian Trail.
9. Check out some Hollywood memorabilia while learning about the frontier
Photo: Museum of the Fur Trade/Facebook
Just outside of the town of Chadron is the Museum of the Fur Trade. Here, you can learn about fur trading and the relationship between European settlers and Native Americans during the 19th century. The museum is open regularly from May 1 through October 31 and then by appointment from November 1 to April 30. The collection of artifacts is so extensive, and the staff is so knowledgeable that when producers began working on the 2015 movie The Revenant, they came here for advice and information about frontier living. Later, as a thank you, they donated costumes from the film to the museum.
Where: 6321 US-20, Chadron, NE 69337
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Some US Airlines are asking their employees to do ‘volunteer’ work
American Airlines probably thought it had its staffing problem figured out when it sent out an internal memo requesting that paid employees sign up for additional unpaid shifts. Unfortunately for the airline, the memo leaked online and the response was not favorable.
On June 7, a Twitter user leaked the memo to the public. It encouraged American Airlines employees at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to sign up for three six-hour shifts in addition to their full-time work schedule. The additional shifts would not come with extra payment on top of their normal wage.
The duties of the volunteer shifts would include helping people find their way to the correct check-in counters at the airport’s entrance, guide travelers through TSA checklists, and fetch wheelchairs — duties that fall squarely into the category of paid work.
While the memo states that the volunteer work is entirely optional, the airline also states that the so-called opportunity requires “commitment” and that the company will be enforcing a dress code — expectations one would expect at a paid job.
According to a report from InsideHook, this type of behavior from airlines is not unprecedented. Back in May, Delta pulled a similar stunt, claiming that the airline was “severely understaffed,” and needed help restocking food items and cleaning eating areas at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Instead of hiring paid staff members to take on these tasks, the company decided to enlist volunteers.
DL: pic.twitter.com/Uh3XdDpDZY
— ˜”*° JonNYC °*”˜ (@xJonNYC) May 11, 2021
Some Twitter users called out the airline after the memo leaked, writing comments such as “the optics of this stuff from a multi-billion dollar corporation is just bonkers.” The Dallas Morning News interpreted the memo by reporting that employees “won’t be paid for additional shifts, and must volunteer outside of their normal job duties.”
Part of the reason people have criticized the move is that it’s three, six-hour shifts without extra pay to do a different job than what the person was hired for. “There’s no additional pay given the majority of shifts are during your normal work schedule,” the memo states. “That said, if your shift is outside of your normal work hours, talk to your leader about ways to ensure you’re able to balance.” Elsewhere, the memo states that “all volunteer time will be in place of, and not in addition to, your typical weekly hour total.”
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New research says Māori people discovered Antarctica 1,400 years ago
A new research paper published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand may have just redefined history as we know it.
It was previously accepted knowledge that a Russian expedition in 1820 was responsible for the first sighting of Antarctica. But researchers have now concluded that Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa, New Zealand, most likely discovered the continent 1,320 years earlier.
“We find Polynesian narratives of voyaging between the islands include voyaging into Antarctic waters by Hui Te Rangiora and his crew on the vessel Te Ivi O Atea, likely in the early 7th century,” lead researcher and conservation biologist Dr. Priscilla Wehi told CNN.
The new findings have been based on oral traditions and narratives, carvings, as well as “‘gray literature’ — research done outside of traditional academic and commercial channels — that hadn’t been properly examined,” according to CNN.
Records of Polynesian oral histories from 1899 describe the journey to Antarctica: “The monstrous seas … a foggy, misty, and dark place not seen by the sun … Other things are like rocks, whose summits pierce the skies, they are completely bare and without vegetation on them,” according to The Guardian.
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You can now book yourself on a ‘Friends’-themed cruise in the Caribbean
“I’ll be there for you” is true at sea, too, as the “Cruise with Friends Fans At Sea” sets sail from Fort Lauderdale on May 15, 2022.
The Friends-themed cruise will travel with 500 fans on board for a six-night, seven-day round-trip departing from Fort Lauderdale, FL, and stopping in Key West, George Town in Grand Cayman, and Cozumel in Mexico.
The cruise was created by fans and therefore is not endorsed by NBC or Warner Brothers/Warner Media Studios, so guests shouldn’t expect any cast members to be on board. However, the cruise will include a trivia night, a dress-up party where you’ll be expected to put on your favorite character costume, and “custom entertainment,” according to the website.
Included in the room and board charges are $150 worth of excursions, and guests will have several options, including a visit to a nature conservatory to see hundreds of free-flying butterflies and tropical birds in Key West; a helicopter ride in Grand Cayman; and a submarine ride in Cozumel.
Fares range between $1,648 and $3,048. This includes complimentary Wi-Fi, a premium beverage package, and $150 worth of excursions. Bookings are currently open.
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Florida’s fastest and tallest roller coaster just opened at Universal Studios Florida
If you’re looking for something to get your blood pumping, what better way than to be chased by a group of velociraptors on Universal Orlando Resort’s new ride Jurassic World VelociCoaster?
Opened on June 10, 2021, the roller coaster is Florida’s fastest and tallest; guests will experience 4,700 feet of track full of twists and turns, high speeds reaching 70 mph, and what is known as the “Top Hat,” a section of the track that climbs 155 feet in the air and then immediately drops at an 80-degree angle — Universal’s steepest drop to date, according to the press release.
“What makes this ride special is its design. Your chair is slightly tilted back, and your feet don’t quite reach the floor because of it. There’s a certain vulnerability in this. That feeling extends into the layout of the ride. Throughout the experience, you never really see what’s coming next, try as you might,” Thrillist explained.
Photo: Universal Studios Orlando
Throughout the ride, guests can expect to hear the screams of velociraptors waiting to be released from their cages and be chased by famous Jurassic World dinosaurs Blue, Delta, Charlie, and Echo.
Universal Orlando no longer requires fully vaccinated people to wear face masks. Guests who aren’t fully vaccinated are required to wear face coverings while indoors. Proof of vaccination is not required to enter the park.
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The most popular ice cream truck treat in every state
Ice cream is the treat that everyone craves as soon as summer hits. Nothing will make your mouth water like the sound of the ice cream truck pulling up the street, loaded with Klondike bars, SpongeBob ice cream, and push-up pops.
The refreshing cold treats are beloved nationwide, but what exactly is each state’s most popular ice cream truck treat? Well, Seaside Vacation, a property management and vacation home provider located on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, just answered that question for you.
Using a list of 24 popular ice cream truck treats, Seaside Vacations researched the most popular ice cream truck treats in each US state by digging into Google Search trends for the last 12 months and in every US state.
Photo: Seaside Vacations
Out of the 24 ice cream treats in this study, 17 were picked as an ice cream truck favorite. Here are the top five:
The five most popular ice cream truck treats overall in the US are:
Klondike Bar Firecracker Choco Taco Ice cream sandwich Lemonade IceThe lowest ranking ice cream truck treats overall are:
Push-up Pop Malt Cup King Cone Crunch Bar ChipwichMore like thisFood + DrinkThe Midwest is obsessed with frozen custard. Here’s where to try it.The post The most popular ice cream truck treat in every state appeared first on Matador Network.
See the future of sustainable architecture in these award-winning buildings
This is The Climate Win, the most positive sustainability news around the world every week.
The American Institute of Architects has announced its 2020 COTE® Top Ten awards, which recognizes excellence in sustainable architecture and energy-efficient design. Winners include two libraries, a US Land Port of Entry in New Mexico, a social justice center and a houseless persons project, and multiple university campus buildings. All are striking in both design and function, and this week’s Climate Win looks at three that stand out the most.
One inspiring thing about all these buildings is a basic fact: they exist. Positive sustainability news often consists of pledges that won’t come to fruition for years or changes in government policies whose effects will be felt over time — leaving little for us to actually see or experience, here and now. In contrast, these winners from the 2020 COTE® Top Ten program are places you can actually visit to appreciate the future of eco-friendly design.
John W. Oliver Design Building, University of Massachusetts — Amherst, Massachusetts Architect: Leerz Weinzapfel Associates
Photo: Leerz Weinzapfel Associates
The John W. Oliver Design Building on the UMass campus was completed in 2017 with LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council. The 87,500-square-foot building has won a slew of awards and is notable for its use of wood construction and its energy efficiency focus, which includes radiant flooring and water-powered chilled beams for temperature control.
Photo: Leerz Weinzapfel Associates
A 54 percent reduction in energy use compared to other buildings on the UMass campus was realized with this sustainable architecture project. The building was designed to harness heat and trap it during cold northeastern winters.
Austin Central Library — Austin, TexasArchitect: Lake Flato
Photo: Austin Central Library via Flickr
In downtown Austin, adjacent to the Shoal Creek and Lady Bird lakes, the Austin Central Library is LEED Platinum Certified — the highest level of certification available from the USGBC. Its rooftop pollinator garden features the city’s largest solar power array, which helps the building operate 30 percent more efficiently than dictated by local energy requirements.
Photo: ShengYing Lin/Shutterstock
The building is the most daylit library in the country, a key sustainability factor, and is designed to serve as a model for responsible water conservation and use. Multiple outside reading terraces overlook the surrounding park and inside, guests can read and relax in a six-story atrium. There are over 200,000 books on site.
Etsy Headquarters — New York, New YorkArchitect: Gensler
Photo: Etsy
Etsy’s New York City headquarters, which opened in 2017, is a strong example of how “living walls” and vibrant greenery can be used to bring a space to life, tying the inside and outside together. Gensler, the design firm behind Etsy’s headquarters, incorporated extensive green walls populated by low-light and low-maintenance plants inside and, on the outside, a seamless integration to public spaces and the surrounding neighborhood.
Photo: Etsy
It is part of the Living Building Challenge Petal Certified buildings collection. The fifth floor north terrace features ferns, moss, and other low-maintenance plants to create a living outdoor space. The building is powered by 100 percent renewable energy and, because it was designed to harvest natural light throughout the day, Etsy was able to reduce its energy intensity by over 30 percent since moving in.
View the rest of the top 10 via the American Institute of Architects.
More climate winsThe Environmental Protection Agency will restore clean water protections for millions of bodies of water across the American West, The New York Times reported Wednesday. The Trump administration had weakened protections for rivers and other bodies of water in 2017 in an effort to please developers, leading to vast environmental damage in and around rivers, streams, and marshes in New Mexico, Arizona, and elsewhere.
The Keystone XL pipeline is officially no more, the Times reported. After more than a decade of attempting to secure permits and build a pipeline from the Canadian tar sands to Nebraska, TC Energy announced this week it has officially canceled the project that had drawn high-profile protests by Native and environmental groups.
Board members of a Native corporation in Alaska called the Pedro Bay Corporation voted to allow the nonprofit group Conservation Fund to buy easements on 44,000 acres of land in southwest Alaska, effectively shutting off the proposed access road route for the controversial Pebble Mine, The Washington Post reported.
The post See the future of sustainable architecture in these award-winning buildings appeared first on Matador Network.
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