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The best places to get a million-dollar view on Oahu

Hawaii is well known for its picturesque views. Just flying into Honolulu during daylight hours offers a stunning vista and, on land, you’ll marvel at everything around you, from swaying palm trees to the endlessly blue horizon. Yet, some places on Oahu, Hawaii’s gathering place, are a little more special than others. A short drive, moderate hike, or catamaran ride will reward you with those million-dollar views Hawaii is famous for. These are the spots where you’ll find the best views in Oahu.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

Photo: Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock

If you stop to consider Hawaii for more than its sandy beaches, you’ll realize its mountains are just as brag-worthy. Verdant vistas and craggy, lush mountains serve as the backdrop of Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. Located on the eastern, rainier side of the island, where trade winds deposit rain clouds that linger and create perfect conditions for lush foliage, windward Oahu is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes Hawaii has to offer.

Ho’omaluhia means “peaceful refuge,” and walking or driving deep into the park’s confines reveals why. You’ll find many tropical plantings and flowers, a pond full of native Hawaiian fish and visiting birds, and even a camping area. The Ko’olau Mountain range flanks the edge of the park, making you swear you just landed on the set of Jurassic Park.

Diamond Head State Monument

Photo: Stephen B. Goodwin/Shutterstock

You can find one of the best sweeping views of Waikiki and urban Honolulu hiking to the top of Diamond Head State Monument. Anyone staying on the island can immediately identify Diamond Head, Oahu’s 300,000-year-old volcanic crater, in the distance, but hiking to the top gives you a different angle to cherish.

While the hike from the trailhead to the summit is just shy of a mile, don’t let the length fool you. The ascent is steep, featuring switchbacks, stairs, and even a journey through a narrow tunnel. Once you get to the top, though, your payoff is cool ocean breezes and a view of Waikiki that spans all the way down Oahu’s south shore. Before heading back to your car, don’t forget to take in East Oahu, noting Koko Head Crater in the distance.

Byodo-In Temple

Photo: Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock

If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, find respite at Byodo-In Temple, a non-practicing Buddhist temple in Kahaluu, Oahu. The temple was built in 1968 and is a smaller-scale replica of the 950-year-old Byodo-In Temple in Uji, Japan. Flanked against the majestic Ko’olau Mountains, a visit to the temple allows you to see Amida, the nine-foot-tall golden Buddha. You can also ring the Sacred Bell to ward off evil spirits and practice your photography skills at the pond, which is home to hundreds of colorful koi fish.

Kaiwa Ridge aka Lanikai Pillbox Hike

Photo: Deborah Kolb/Shutterstock

Kaiwa Ridge, or Lanikai Pillbox Hike, is a popular trail that ascends just above renowned Lanikai Beach in Kailua. Hikers who make it to the top can marvel at the deep blue waters and offshore islands, the “Mokes,” as well as Lanikai Beach, Kaneohe Bay, Chinaman’s Hat, and Waimanalo. The beginning section of the hike is the steepest, but as the trail is primarily unshaded, you’ll be too busy taking in the sights to notice your increased heart rate. About 20 minutes up, you’ll reach the first military pillbox bunker, an excellent place for a photo opp or water break. The second pillbox follows shortly after that, and from there, you’ll enjoy a 360-degree vista of the windward coast and more of the best views in Oahu.

Waimea Valley

Photo: MNStudio/Shutterstock

Imagine a flourishing glen full of tropical foliage, waterfalls, and native wildlife, and you can start to wrap your head around how gorgeous Waimea Valley is. Located on Oahu’s North Shore, Waimea Valley is a historically and culturally significant site to Native Hawaiians, as the area was awarded to Kahuna Nui (High Priests) in 1092 A.D. As such, Waimea Valley is known as “The Valley of The Priests.”

The valley is home to a botanical garden with over 5,000 types of plants, including endangered species. Cultural sites like Hale O Lono (a heiau, or religious place of worship) are worth a stop, as well as several Hawaiian hales (houses) that were re-constructed using traditional techniques. Your goal is a 40-foot waterfall at the end of the walking path, where swimming is allowed. Freshwater is considered sacred to Hawaiian people, so don’t be surprised if you come out feeling completely refreshed and recharged.

Pali Lookout

Photo: Lynn Yeh/Shutterstock

You’ll hardly believe your eyes when you pull off at Pali Lookout, a viewpoint in Nu’uanu Valley overlooking the windward coast of Oahu. At 1,200 feet elevation on the pali (cliff) of the Ko’olau Mountain range is where you can drink in the panorama, complete with mountains, valleys, farms, streams, and the ocean. This was once the site of the Battle of Nu’uanu, where King Kamehameha conquered the island of Oahu in one of the bloodiest battles in history. Now it’s home to not just some of the best views in Oahu, but an easy and breezy lookout from which to savor them — emphasis on breezy. Trade winds are felt so strongly here that you can “lean into” the wind without falling over.

Waikiki at sunset

Photo: emperorcosar/Shutterstock

It’s easy to get lost in a trance looking out into the Pacific from Waikiki’s white-sand beaches, especially because it’s blue as far as the eye can see. Yet spend an afternoon on a boat, and you’ll experience Oahu’s south shore in a whole new light. Book a catamaran ride late-in-the afternoon around sunset for the best views. When you’re out at sea, nothing beats looking back at urban Honolulu flanked against striking emerald mountains with the pacific glistening in the foreground. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to score a sea turtle sighting.

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8 seafood dishes to try in Mumbai, from Bombay duck to fiery curries

Rows of thin, lizard-looking fish tied to bamboo poles and fluttering in the wind can be seen on walks along Carter Road in Mumbai. In a city famous for all sorts of seafood, these strong-smelling fish in particular are especially beloved, and they go by the name Bombay duck.

Mumbai (once Bombay) was a favored port for colonists because of its position on India’s western coast. Over the years, the city transformed into a financial hub attracting people from across the country, who migrated in search of better fortunes. Today, the city is India’s financial capital and home to a diverse range of communities and cultures.

For generations, Mumbai’s native residents enjoyed fishing as one of their primary occupations, and seafood has long been an integral aspect of the city’s food culture. This love for fish is clear in the crowd that throngs the docks and fishing jetties each morning, in the many seafood-specific restaurants that dot the city, and on the plates of the many communities that call the city its home. Fresh and dried fish finds its way into curries; is coated in batter and shallow fried; and gets roasted, pickled, or steamed in leaves.

Photo: Chris Schalkx/Shutterstock

While the Bombay duck (known colloquially as bombil) is popular, other seafood like clams, mussels, pomfret, prawns, salmon, kingfish, ladyfish, red snapper, mackerel, and crabs are also relished.

Each community in Mumbai has special dishes that center food from the sea. These dishes are both featured on restaurant menus and are prepared by home cooks. Wherever you have a chance to try them, these are the seafood dishes that you shouldn’t miss in Mumbai.

1. Bombil fry

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Photo: Vijendra Adsule/Shutterstock

Bombil is prepared in a variety of ways and savored across communities in Mumbai, and it’s most popular form is the bombil fry. The fish, separated from its central bone and drained of excess water (usually by keeping it under weights), gets mixed with salt, haldi (turmeric powder), chili powder, and other herbs, roots, and spices. Once the marinade sets in, the fish gets a coating of rava (semolina) or rice flour and is shallow-fried. The final fish has a crispy coating with a soft interior. Top with a squeeze of lime, and it’s ready to eat.

2. Patra ni machhi

The Parsis are an ethno-religious group that trace their origins to the Zoroastrians who fled Persia (now Iran) after the fall of the Sasanian Empire. A central part of the city’s history, this community’s food is a blend of many influences, including British, Persian, and Portuguese.

Patra ni macchi (literally fish wrapped in leaf) is a Parsi fish delicacy prepared on special occasions, like weddings. It features a whole flat fish (usually pomfret), coated in a spicy and tangy green chutney made from coconut, green chilis, coriander, and vinegar. The marinated fish is wrapped in banana leaves, tied with a string, and steamed. The final dish is a flaky soft fish with just a hint of spice.

3. Fish chinchoni

The East Indian community is thought to be one of the oldest in Mumbai, Salsette Island, and Thanei. Once nicknamed Portuguese Christians, the culture dates back to the 16th century when the Portuguese converted locals to Roman Catholicism. One of the classic dishes in East Indian cuisine is a curry called fish chinchoni, which is commonly made with bombil. In this dish, chinch refers to tamarind, which gives a distinct tartness. Red chilis play an important role in the curry — they are soaked and then ground into a paste with pepper, garlic, and coconut; some cooks add raw rice for thickness. This curry is eaten with rice or apas (hand breads).

4. Tisrya sukka

This beloved clam dish is common to many coastal communities in Mumbai. Goans, Malvani, Mangalorean, and Konkanis are among the many groups who prepare this dish at home. Tisrya (sometimes spelled tisreo) are clams, and sukha (or sukke) means dry, a reference to the absence of a gravy. People believe that cooking the clam in its shell enhances its flavor. The masala here is heavy on coconut, ground spices, and dried kokum (fruit from a tree related to mangosteens).

Restaurants across Mumbai serve various versions of the dish. Some are fiery, others are lower in heat and rich in other spices. It’s a dish that necessitates eating with your hands to suck the soft flesh out of the shell and enjoy the heat from the coconut masala.

5. Bangda uddamethi

Photo: Food Via Lenses/Shutterstock

Bangda uddamethi, also known as bangda udid, is a typical dish cooked by Goan Hindus. Goa is a tiny state to the south of Maharashtra — many of whose citizens call Mumbai their home. Being a coastal state, the love for seafood permeates Goan cuisine.

This dish is made with bangda (mackerel) that is cooked with udid dal (split black lentils) and methi (fenugreek seeds). The main elements of other Goan curries are included as well: fresh grated coconut, red chilis, and black peppercorns, along with tamarind for a dose of acidity. This fish curry tastes best with steamed Goan rice.

6. Ghol bhujne

One of the oldest settlers of Mumbai, Pathare Prabhus are a small community that migrated to India around 1300. Seafood is essential to Pathare Prabhu meals, and they use every part of the fish in their cooking.

Ghol bhujne is a popular fish stew that focuses on the kaata (central spine) of the ghol (black spotted croaker) fish. It’s a simple stew made using pieces of fish, cut without removing the spine. The spine has marrow in it, which adds a gelatinous texture to the curry. A stand out aspect of this dish is the masala mixture of onions, garlic, green chilis, and haldi (turmeric). These are crushed and mixed by hand until it forms a paste.

7. Kedgeree

Photo: AS Food studio/Shutterstock

A popular Anglo-Indian dish is kedgeree, which is a rice dish made with smoked fish and boiled eggs. A popular British breakfast dish, kedgeree is a version of the vegetarian Indian dish khichdi (meaning mishmash). The Anglo-Indians added their own spin to khichdi with a focus on fish. Kedgeree keeps the essential flavors of khichdi, but isn’t vegetarian as it’s made with smoked flaked fish, onions, spices, butter, and a topping of sultanas (raisins).

8. Bambuke bombil

The Koli community also count themselves among Mumbai’s original inhabitants. This fishing community loves their seafood, and bombil is a popular and widely eaten catch that’s used in a variety of dishes.

One specialty using this fish is bambuke bombil. Here, fresh bombil is tied to bamboo poles and allowed to dry in the soft afternoon sun. This ensures the fish remains soft inside but gets a crisp covering. The fish becomes so delicate that it isn’t stirred when cooking — instead, the handi (vessel in which the dish is cooked) is gently tilted to allow the ingredients to coat it. The fish is typically cooked into a dry gravy with onion, coconut, green chilis, garlic, and Koli masala (a spice mix made with pepper, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, chilis, and other ingredients).

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New Belgium brewed an intentionally disgusting beer to promote climate change awareness

Intentionally creating a bad-tasting beer might sound counterintuitive for a brewery, but that’s exactly what New Belgium Brewing did as part of its Earth Day marketing campaign. Torched Earth Ale is brewed using smoke-tainted water, dandelion weeds, and drought-resistant grains, all of which are ingredients New Belgium believes would be among the few ingredients available in a world ravaged by climate change.

In New Belgium’s own words: “while it’s technically beer, it’s not great.”

If you’re thinking there’s no way anyone would buy an intentionally gross beer just to make a point about climate change, well, welcome to Colorado.

The beer is part of the brewery’s “Last Call for Climate” campaign. Part of the campaign includes an online tool listing which Fortune 500 companies have climate plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030, and the campaign also encourages people to lobby their favorite brands to adopt such plans if the companies haven’t done so already.

According to The Coloradoan, New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer said in a statement: “If you don’t have a climate plan, you don’t have a business plan. Aggressive action to help solve the climate crisis is not only an urgent environmental and social imperative — it’s also a no-brainer for companies seeking to create long-term shareholder value…As a medium-sized company, New Belgium can only have a medium-sized impact. We need more of the big guys to step up, too.”

For truly sadistic drinkers, the limited-edition beer is currently available for curbside and to-go sales at New Belgium’s Fort Collins location.

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The US will soon have 80% of the world’s countries on the “Do Not Travel” list

The US State Department is updating its “Do Not Travel” advisories to be more in line with the Centers of Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notices and that’s not encouraging news. Now, around 80 percent of countries worldwide are listed at “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” due to the COVID-19 situation around the world. This update encompasses around 164 countries, compared to the 34 countries that previously made the “Do Not Travel” list, Reuters reports.

In a media note, the State Department said, “This does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department’s Travel Advisory system to rely more on CDC’s existing epidemiological assessments.”

Although vaccines are becoming more readily available around the US, with over half of US adults receiving at least one dose, most countries are experiencing slower rollouts and remain high-risk.

“In light of those risks,” the State Department said, “the Department of State strongly recommends U.S. citizens reconsider all travel abroad […] Our Advisories also take into account logistical factors, including in-country testing availability and current travel restrictions for U.S. citizens.”

The US State Department will update this guidance on a rolling basis as the global situation evolves. It’s important to note that this is not a travel ban. If a Level 4 country is open to US travelers, you can still go there — the State Department is simply advising against it.

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Vaccinated US travelers may soon be able to travel to France

On Sunday, French Prime Minister Emanuel Macron announced that France is hoping to welcome vaccinated travelers from the US this summer. “We will progressively lift the restrictions of the beginning of May, which means that we will organize in the summertime with our professionals in France for French and European citizens, but as well for American citizens. So we are working hard to propose a very concrete solution, especially for U.S. citizens who are vaccinated, so with a special pass, I would say,” Macron told CBS’ Face the Nation.

The “special pass” in question refers to a digital certificate — a Europe-wide project that Brussels is actively working on to restart the tourism industry and business travel. This week, France has become the first member state in the EU to test a digital travel certificate. The country’s application, TousAntiCovid, provides storage for negative test results and vaccination certificates and is currently being trialed to include information on travelers’ phones on flights from the mainland to Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean.

Macron made it clear that in order to proceed with the reopening of France, the virus needs to be effectively contained within the country first. Due to recent spikes of COVID-19 and new variants, the government imposed a set of nationwide lockdown rules earlier this month, including a 7:00 PM curfew, a ban on non-essential trips, and confinement within a six-mile radius of residents’ homes.

Vaccination efforts worldwide could help ease many of those rules and make a powerful stride toward normalcy as early as summer 2021. France is not alone in trying to welcome vaccinated travelers; Greece is making efforts toward a summer reopening, and Malta is even offering to give travelers a monetary subsidy toward their hotel bills.

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United adds flights to Croatia, Greece, Iceland, all open to US tourists this summer

As vaccination efforts in the United States continue in full swing, United Airlines is adding flights to Croatia, Greece, and Iceland, all of which will be open to US tourists this summer. The added routes include:

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey to Dubrovnik, Croatia, starting on July 8. This will be a non-stop route operating three flights per week and will run through to October 3Washington Dulles International Airport to Athens, Greece, is starting on July 1. This is another daily direct flight that will operate through to October 3. United’s daily summer flights from Newark to Athens will resume on June 3Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Reykjavík, Iceland, will resume on July 1 and will run through October 3. United’s daily service to Reykjavík from Newark will restart on June 3 and continue until October 29

Flights are available for booking right now on United’s website. The three European nations recently announced the ease of restrictions and a desire to welcome back vaccinated US travelers.

Croatia opened up on April 1. Travelers need to present proof of vaccine or a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival. Greece has already reopened for European Union travelers and is expected to begin admitting vaccinated US passengers in late April. Iceland is welcoming vaccinated visitors and those who have recovered from the virus. Travelers to the Nordic country are still required to present a negative COVID-19 result upon arrival.

Other carriers are following suit and adding routes, with Delta recently announcing new flights to Iceland from a number of major US cities.

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Solo travel guide to Idaho

If any state in the Lower 48 is still wild, it’s Idaho. With five million acres of designated wilderness plus nine million acres of roadless terrain — landscapes that cover 100+ named mountain ranges — its outdoor adventure opportunities are unmatched. Fewer than two million people call the Gem State home — an area the size of Michigan or Minnesota, remember — and seven national forests make up a whopping 40% of the state.

To be a solo traveler here requires a certain spirit of self-reliance, a penchant for wandering your own steep path. Should you find yourself planning an Idaho trip for one, here’s where to start.

Choose your adventure: north or south?

Photo: Blaze Nowara

To find the essence of wild Idaho, anywhere off the interstate is a good start, but you’ll get distinctly different vibes from north to south. Here’s how it tends to break down.

Northern Idaho — aka The Panhandle, which is in the Pacific Time Zone — is almost completely made up of national forests, glacial lakes, Rocky Mountain subranges, and verdant river valleys. There’s far more snow and rain up here, and thus more shades of green come spring and summer. There are more mountain peaks, fewer people, fewer amenities, and a handful of cities and small towns. A good northern hub is Coeur d’Alene, with its lake-town culture, farmers markets, quaint shops and boutiques, and plenty of restaurants to choose from downtown.

Southern Idaho, meanwhile, is in the Mountain Time Zone. It’s noticeably drier, home to more desert-like terrain and distinctly volcanic landscapes. Which is to say, it’s still very much wild (and mountainous!), just a different type of wild than its northern counterpart. The state’s capital, Boise, has the most big-city vibes (population: 220,000), and as you head east, you’ll also find Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Island Park. Any of these towns make great basecamps for solo adventures.

Stanley, toward the state’s center, also warrants mentioning as a hub. It sits on the banks of the Salmon River in the Salmon-Challis National Forest and is brimming with outstanding trails and scenery in every direction. If you don’t have time to get all the way up to Coeur d’Alene, this could be a good spot for your home base with the dazzling Sawtooth Mountains as your backdrop.

Where to go: incredible parks, preserves, and waterfalls

Photo: Brian Lewis

With 100+ mountain ranges, seven national forests, and a million spots worthy of your Instagram, Idaho is a five-star all-you-can-eat buffet that never closes. Where do you begin? (And why would you ever leave?) The spots below are eminently worth a hike, a paddle, an overnight, or a longer stint away from it all:

Priest Lake State Park – Idaho’s state parks are by and large all stunners, but this one has all the feelings of summer camp when you were a kid. Rent a canoe, paddleboard, or kayak, or spend a day of solitude in nature. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve – Climb a cinder cone, explore lava caves and tubes, or camp “on the moon” in this living geology textbook of a national monument. City of Rocks National Reserve – It’s all in the name. At City of Rocks, granite steeples and spires, joints and arches, proliferate across the high shrublands. Rock climbers tend to know all about it, but hikers, campers, birders, and photographers should, too. Hells Canyon National Recreation Area – Comprising the deepest river gorge in North America (nearly 8,000 feet!), the massive 125-mile Hells Canyon can be explored by boat, trail, or limited roads. It’s the Snake River that’s done all that carving, and whitewater and jet boat trips here are hard to beat. Bruneau Dunes State Park – This state park claims the prize of the tallest freestanding dune in North America, at 400+ feet. Climb it, sandboard it, and stick around for the night sky show. Shoshone Falls – Google it, put it on your list, and SUP to it if you can. There’s nothing like it in the country. (Literally — it’s 200 feet taller than Niagara.)Where to go: untamed rivers, lakes, and wildernesses

Photo: Blaze Nowara

Idaho is idolized by outdoor explorers and adventurers for its waterways — quiet and pristine and almost always off the beaten path. Fishing, swimming, SUPing, and kayaking are all standard solo adventures here. Of course, there are also lots of guided rafting, boating, and fishing trips for the solo traveler if safety or lack of experience is a concern (or maybe you just want to learn from the pros!). Here’s where to get proverbially lost in the wild, on the water and beyond:

The St. Joe River is great for a day of fishing. It’s clear, it’s cold, and the parade of trout never ends. Book a guided fly-fishing trip if you’re new to the sport — you’ll never forget it.The Salmon River sets the country’s rafting bar high, and the Middle Fork is arguably one of the most coveted rafting trips in the country. It drops 3,000 feet over 100 miles, so expect plenty of whitewater. (You can hike along it, too.) The Lower Salmon (near Riggins), aka the “Riviera of the West,” is a bit calmer, with sandy beaches and warmer waters for swimming.The Sawtooth National Recreation Area holds 700+ miles of hiking and backpacking trails, if you’re equipped to handle something a little more rugged and, in some cases, remote. It’s also part of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which means you’ll be under some of the most brilliant night skies found anywhere on Earth.At nearly 4,000 square miles, the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area is the largest designated wilderness in the Lower 48. The Salmon River cuts through its steep canyons, but you can also hit its uninhabited wilderness on foot via the Idaho Centennial Trail, a 900-mile beaut stretching from Nevada to Canada.

There are plenty of camping and backpacking opportunities in any and all of these areas, but if you’d like to rough it a little less — and feel a little safer — know that you have a variety of traditional and not-so-traditional lodgings to choose from. Check out unique stays like Crystal Peak Lookout, near Fernwood in the St. Joe National Forest. The woodstove and wood-fired sauna will keep you comfy and toasty up here in the trees.

Safety notes for the solo traveler

Photo: Kris Evered

Idaho provides ample opportunity to explore a multitude of wild places, which is wonderful, but it also means on some occasions you will very much be in the wilderness. Solo travel here isn’t something you can wing — you’ll need to prep and plan and maybe even brush up on a few backcountry skills. Here’s what that means in practice:

When it comes to hikes or backcountry camping, be sure to check in with the local ranger station to notify them when you plan to leave and return and ask about any wildlife or weather concerns. (Share your plans with a friend or family member, too.)Conduct extra research for overnight trips. Know exactly where you are, what wildlife is around you, what the weather will be, and where to find the nearest ranger station or well-trafficked area.Many hikes are accessible year-round, but if you’re visiting in winter, the trail will likely be covered in snow, requiring more gear and skill. Do you have said gear? Do you have said skill? Go in knowing what you’re capable of. Some portions of Idaho’s backcountry have snow that lingers into June as well, so doing your homework is important.Know that cell service likely won’t be reliable — be sure to have hard copies of maps and download the necessary trail info before heading out. 511 Idaho is a great app to download, too, for traffic and weather reports.

What’s more, you’ve brought — and know how to use — a first-aid kit, right? You’ve got plenty of provisions, plenty of layers, and your family and friends know about your trip? Great. Now all you have to do is plan one of the most memorable experiences of your life and get yourself to Idaho.

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Spend three days camping and win a premium trailer, thanks to Breckenridge Brewery

The folks at Colorado’s Breckenridge Brewery are big fans of the outdoors. To show its appreciation, the brewery, founded at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, has pledged to donate one percent of its beer sales across the US this summer to the National Parks Conservation Association, hoping to give $100,000 toward protecting our parks. But that’s not all. The brewery is also motivating others to appreciate the great outdoors by giving anyone who spends at least one percent of the year in a tent the chance to win an Escapod camper, a premium camping trailer that’s valued at $30,000 and currently has a waitlist.

Breckenridge Brewery

The rules are simple. All you have to do is follow the brewery’s social media and post a picture of yourself camping to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with the #InGoodCoSweepstakes hashtag between April 19 and September 30, 2021. You can also enter the giveaway online. Then one lucky winner will walk away with an Escapod Topo Teardrop Trailer, which comes fully equipped with off-road suspension for whatever terrain you’re jonesing to explore next.

Escapod Trailers/Facebook

The sweepstakes is open to legal US residents of legal drinking age, exempting residents of Alaska, Hawaii, and Mississippi. For more information on the giveaway, browse the official rules.

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Germany and France to reduce domestic flights to push people to take trains instead

Germany is attempting to reduce the environmental impact of domestic travel by replacing some domestic flights with trains. The German Aviation Association and Deutsche Bahn just signed an agreement to offer more high-speed rail connections on routes currently only served by short-haul flights. The goal is for more than 20 percent of plane passengers to instead choose to travel by train, cutting a sixth of CO2 emissions generated by the country’s domestic air travel, The Associated Press reports.

In Germany, domestic flights are used mainly by business travelers and tourists catching connecting flights from a major airport. The country’s already efficient high-speed rail would now become even more integral to Germany’s transportation network.

Germany’s hope to encourage train travel follows a similar move by France, which earlier this month passed a bill banning short-haul domestic flights where train alternatives exist. The rule applies to all flight routes paralleled by a train journey that takes under two-and-a-half hours.

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Google Earth’s new Timelapse feature shows the devastating effects of climate change

Google Earth just debuted a new feature called Timelapse that allows users to see the effects of climate change on the planet over the last four decades. The new tool combines static images with 4D effects allowing you to click through time-lapses of various climate events such as ice caps melting, wildfire devastation, urban expansion, deforestation, and glaciers decreasing in size and density.

It took two million processing hours to create the interactive 4D experience and combined 24 million satellite photos between 1984 and 2020. The tech giant teamed up with NASA, the US Geological Survey (USGS), the European Union, and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Navigating the new feature is easy — users type in a location or a landmark, from the Grand Canyon to their hometown, to see how the area has changed since 1984. “Visual evidence can cut to the core of the debate in a way that words cannot and communicate complex issues to everyone,” writes Rebecca Moore, director of Earth Engine and Outreach at Google Earth. Moore continued, “We invite anyone to take Timelapse into their own hands and share it with others — whether you’re marveling at changing coastlines, following the growth of megacities, or tracking deforestation. Timelapse in Google Earth is about zooming out to assess the health and well-being of our only home and is a tool that can educate and inspire action.”

Google has highlighted a few areas of geological interest and has produced a series of videos demonstrating the changes in the specific environments. These include the shifting coastline around Chatham, Massachusetts, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, and the shrinking of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan.

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