Matador Network's Blog, page 671
April 12, 2021
This Kansas City Taco Trail has more than 50 taquerias. Here’s where to stop.
If you’re not from there, you likely don’t associate Kansas City, Kansas, with tacos like Texas and breakfast tacos. The reality is that this city is home to a multitude of legendary taco vendors, many of which are family-owned businesses located in market and restaurant settings that represent many different regions of Mexico.
There are so many taco shops that the Kansas City Kansas Convention and Visitors Bureau launched an official KCK Taco Trail website in October 2020 to celebrate this diverse city’s status as a taco destination. The website offers details, including mapped locations, of more than 50 must-try taco shops, from traditional taquerias inside Mexican supermarkets to Tex-Mex style restaurants and street taco vendors.
Kansas City became a taco hub thanks to two periods of immigration from Mexico in the 20th-century. During the first in the early 1900s, many Mexican immigrants came to Kansas City to work on the Santa Fe Railway expansion. The second started in the 1970s and 1980s. With direct highway access to Mexico via I-35 and a rail connection, immigrants from nearly all parts of Mexico arrived in Kansas City. This generation established a range of businesses from supermarkets to taquerias that represent a variety of regions.
“The new first-generation Mexican community started opening businesses within their community,” said Edgar Galicia of the Central Avenue Betterment Association — the area where many of the city’s Latino businesses are located. “I-35 was paramount to the direct availability of products and produce from all over Mexico. Soon there were plenty of Mexican restaurants with more faithful flavors from back home (as opposed to having to rely on American ingredient substitutions). Today, the appreciation of the Mexican food in Kansas City, Kansas, has evolved so much that restaurants are now specializing into specific dishes or styles.”
Today, visitors to Kansas City might be distracted by barbecue (especially on the Missouri side of Kansas City). Still, you’d be missing out if you didn’t also explore the culinary gem that is Kansas City’s many taquerias. These are five must-try stops on the KCK Taco Trail to get you started.
El Camino Real
Photo: El Camino Real/Facebook
Located in an intimate space with an open kitchen in the front, El Camino Real is a sit-down restaurant with craveable tacos. Try the tacos al pastor here. The popular style is a Lebanese-fusion style of cooking pork on a spit like shawarma that became popular in Mexico in the 1930s. The flame-charred al pastor tacos at El Camino Real are the real deal and are served in handmade corn and flour tortillas that create the perfect texture combo. If you want to expand your options, the menu also features beef, chicken, sausage, and fish tacos. For vegetarians, there’s the rajas taco with roasted poblano peppers, cheese, and onions.
For such a small restaurant, El Camino Real offers a pretty substantial menu. Beyond tacos, there are traditional Mexican sandwiches with your choice of meat, beans, mayo, peppers, cheese, onions, avocado, and lettuce. You’ll also find a range of other staples, including fajitas and burritos.
Where: 903 N 7th St Trfy, Kansas City, KS 66101
Carniceria y Tortilleria San AntonioCarnicería y Tortilleria San Antonio is set inside a market where you can shop for imported ingredients from Mexico as well as fresh produce, meat, and fish. The location, founded in 1995 by a group of siblings from Chihuahua, also has a bakery selling freshly made tortillas.
When it comes to the tacos, you’ll want to head to a table in the center of the shop. It serves northern Mexican street tacos where the meat is the star attraction, accompanied on the tortilla by fresh onions and cilantro. If you want something other than tacos, there is also a wide variety of tortas (Mexican sandwiches), burritos, and quesadillas. On weekends the chefs also prepare barbacoa, menudo (red chili pepper soup), and tamales.
Where: 830 Kansas Ave, Kansas City, KS 66105
Supermart El Torito
Photo: Torito Supermart/Facebook
Part restaurant, part grocery store, Supermart El Torito is fun to wander around. In the store portion, brightly hued piñatas hang from the ceiling, and there is a large selection of colorful candy, pottery, and spices along with meat and fish counters and plenty of fresh produce.
The restaurant is in a separate room and offers table service. The menu is entirely in Spanish, so brush up before visiting. Although El Torito has the usual range of meat-based tacos, they also offer vegetarian options, including nopal tacos. Spanish for the Opuntia cacti (often referred to as prickly pear in English), nopal has been a staple of traditional Mexican diets for centuries.
The taqueria will also make dishes to order, including options like a shrimp quesadilla, which is delicious, but you won’t find it on the menu. The fresh guacamole and salsas here are also worth ordering.
Where: 1409 Central Ave, Kansas City, KS
El MenudazoThis spot on the outskirts of downtown specializes in birria tacos, which originate from the state of Jalisco. Unlike traditional street tacos, birria tacos are served in soft, griddled corn tortillas with a layer of cheese between the tortillas and the meat (though they can also be made without cheese). At El Menudazo, choose the lamb or beef tacos. The tacos are served along with a consume, a broth made from the meat to dip the tacos in.
Besides birria tacos, the family-run El Menudazo has a few other choices on its short but sweet menu, including menudo, quesadillas, and, on Fridays, a ramen soup special with birria meat and broth.
Where: 904 N 18 St, Kansas City, KS 66102
El Toro Loco
El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill Legends/Facebook
If you’re looking for more than just tacos, pay a visit to El Toro Loco. The full-service traditional Mexican restaurant serves a full range of classic Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes in a spacious, colorful environment. It’s popular with families and larger groups with varied tastes. There are excellent tacos, of course, with carne asada being the meat specialty here. These are made with marinated and seared skirt or flank steak and are known for their charred flavor.
Other solid menu options including sizzling beef, chicken, or shrimp fajitas served alongside made-from-scratch flour tortillas. El Toro Loco also has a full bar with a lengthy margarita menu and a daily happy hour.
Where: 1706 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City, KS 66111 
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11 best Airbnbs in Madrid, from a luxury penthouse to artsy apartments
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, and listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
No matter what time of year, Madrid always seems to be teeming with people, energy, and fun. Whether you have come to the city for a long weekend with your friends to wander the streets and sip sangria in plazas, or you’re just passing through as part of a grand tour of Europe, remote working or on an ultimate foodie quest, these flats are perfectly equipped to meet your needs.
Luxury apartment moments away from El Retiro park
Photo: Airbnb
Just a stone’s throw away from Madrid’s most beautiful green open space, this one-bedroom apartment makes the ideal base for a solo traveler or couple. Equipped with all a guest could need, this property is located on Madrid’s “Museum Mile,” just a short walk from the Reina Sofia Museum and El Prado National Museum. It is also close to Atocha, Madrid’s main train station, from which you can travel to other parts of the country, including Barcelona, Málaga, and Valencia.
Price: $80 per night
Stylish large apartment for a group with a pool
Photo: Airbnb
This impressive penthouse has four double bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living spaces, and a terrace and swimming pool, making it the ultimate location for a group of friends (the host allows a maximum of eight guests). Located in the prestigious Castellana neighborhood, the apartment is close to a variety of bars and restaurants, and only a few metro stops from the city center, with the closest metro station being Rubén Darío.
Price: $577 per night for eight guests
Sunny apartment in the heart of the city
Photo: Airbnb
Here, guests can enjoy a fully equipped apartment in the center of the city, very close to major attractions such as the Plaza Mayor and Palacio Real, while also just a walk away from Madrid’s major museums and art galleries. For any travelers worried about cleaning protocols, the host has gone above and beyond to ensure the highest possible standards of cleanliness throughout the apartment. Located in the Sol area, guests can sleep well, knowing that they’ll never be too far from a tapas bar.
Price: $71 per night
Modern and comfortable apartment near Atocha Station
Photo: Airbnb
For those of you looking for a cozy apartment with great access to public transport, look no further. This apartment would be ideal for a solo traveler or remote worker, the host offers a weekly cleaning service for stays longer than seven days and even a nearby parking space at the cost of 10 euros per day. Finished to a beautiful standard with modern furnishings and a boho vibe, guests will sleep soundly after a day of exploring the Spanish capital.
Price: $71 per night
A foodie’s dream locationPhoto: Airbnb
This Airbnb Plus is ideal for foodies, a couple on a Spanish adventure, or even a solo traveler. With its wooden floors and modern décor, this home also has the luxury of a small balcony, where you can sit in the evening and watch the world go by. And best of all? The home is a short walk from the Mercado de la Cebada, a bustling indoor food market, where visitors can experience a wide variety of culinary delights.
Price: $65 per night
Two-bedroom apartment near the Plaza Mayor
Photo: Airbnb
Whether you’re with a group of friends looking for a getaway, or family who are exploring the city for the first time, this apartment near the Plaza Mayor will not disappoint. With two double bedrooms and a sofa bed in the living room, six people would fit comfortably in this light and airy home, which has all the comforts you’d need when away from home. Although near some of the city’s hot spots, the apartment itself is one a quiet and residential street, guaranteeing you a sound night’s sleep.
Price: $163 per night for six guests
Great value entire apartment in the city center
Photo: Airbnb
This compact studio apartment would make the perfect base for a solo traveler discovering the city. If traveling on a budget, this home could be ideal as you also won’t need to spend too much on public transport, as all the major sights are within walking distance. You could watch the world go by from your bedroom balcony, or nip downstairs to the city’s bustling streets to experience true Spanish living.
Price: $60 per night
Entire apartment near the Palacio Real
Photo: Airbnb
This historic apartment takes advantage of original features and integrates them into this modern take on Airbnb. With two bedrooms, both concealed behind curtain dividers, it’s probably best to visit with friends, as privacy isn’t a priority in this designer apartment. Near the city’s Palacio Real, or Royal Palace, an incredible piece of 18th-century architecture and grandeur, the apartment is truly at the heart of the Spanish capital. Bars, restaurants, and central squares are all available a short walk away or wander through the city to explore its luscious green parks and open spaces.
Price: $88 per night
Elegant and modern apartment with balcony in Chueca
Photo: Airbnb
The area of Chueca is best known as the epicenter of the city’s Pride celebration in June every year and would make the ideal apartment for tourists coming to participate in the party. But this apartment would equally suit a couple who are willing to spend a little more in exchange for a bit of luxury. With a large balcony and just moments from the city’s main shopping street, the Gran Vía, this home would be fitting for almost any visitors to the metropolis.
Price: $105 per night
Remote Workers: Look no further
Photo: Airbnb
This flat is available to rent for months at a time, and has a desk also, making it the perfect place to stay for a remote worker or individual who is looking to fully immerse themselves in Spanish culture and way of life. With all the facilities you would need for a longer stay in Madrid, this apartment, beautifully finished and designed, is also available for shorter stays, with a minimum of a four-night stay required.
Price: $75 per night or $1,207 per month
Beautiful apartment near El Retiro park in the Salamanca area
Photo: Airbnb
Within a building of other apartments, this secure home is situated in a prime location, next to the Puerta de Alcalá and El Retiro Park. Rest assured though that you won’t be too far from the hustle and bustle of the city’s center. There is also a sofa bed, and the host allows a maximum of four guests, who could come together to make this apartment even more wallet-friendly.
Price: $94 per night
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Hotels.com will pay your room service bill for your 4/20 munchies
Your favorite holiday is fast approaching, and Hotels.com wants to make it easier to celebrate. The accommodation booking platform is offering to clear your munchies tab this 4/20 with “munchie money.”
Travelers who book a stay for April 20, 2021, have a chance to get their room service for free. All you have to do is submit your hotel reservation confirmation to munchiehotels@hotels.com between today and April 20 at 4:20 AM ET. Bookings apply from any property or online travel service.
Twenty travelers will receive a $200 Visa gift card to put toward their munchies-fueled room service bill, so they can go to town and order $200 worth of fries, cake, pizza, and whatever else they crave. To top it off, they will also receive a late checkout at the end of their stay, a reward night in their Hotels.com account, and VIP gold status for a year. Bookings apply from any property or online travel service.
Hotels.com even offers a slew of suggestions for 4/20-friendly stays, if you haven’t booked your trip yet.
The post Hotels.com will pay your room service bill for your 4/20 munchies appeared first on Matador Network.
California’s iconic Highway 1 to reopen this spring
Northern California’s Highway 1, known for its stunning views, is set to reopen for spring after a portion collapsed in a landslide on January 28, 2021.
Highway 1 is one of the most popular road trip routes in the US as well as the one with the most spectacular views of the coastline. The damaged portion of road is located in Monterey County, a stretch that winds along rugged cliffs with unobstructed ocean views. The reconstruction of the road was expected to be finished later on, but according to California’s State Transportation Agency (Caltrans), due to good weather conditions, the new estimated date of completion is April 30.
“Reopening Highway 1 at Rat Creek just three months after a washout of this magnitude is great news for residents, recreationalists, business owners, and those who move goods through this region. Caltrans has been focused on the emergency work needed to increase the resiliency of this highway section to extreme weather, and the fixes made will allow for safe travel,” said Toks Omishakin, Caltrans director, in a press release.
The news is welcome as more California residents receive their COVID-19 vaccines and are able to plan future travel. Highway 1 will once again allow travelers to take in that iconic sweeping ocean view — perfect timing for those who want to make the trip this summer.
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April 9, 2021
Architecture competition gives us a glimpse of airports of the future
US-based studio Fentress Architects has launched a competition inviting students and recent graduates to design a futuristic airport, and the submissions they have received so far are seriously mind-blowing. The company has invested $15,000 into the Fentress Global Challenge 2021 (FGC), enticing creatives from all over the world to participate in conceptualizing an airport terminal of the year 2100.
“The Fentress Global Challenge is a great opportunity for young designers to bring broad ideas and creative perspectives to the table while spearheading innovation in airport terminal architecture,” FGC Founder Curtis Fentress shared on the website. “We are excited to see how students push the limits of architectural design this year.”
Photo: Fentress Global Challenge
Participants can either work on an existing airport, reimagining what it might look like 80 years from now, or develop their own concept at a location where a terminal doesn’t yet exist. The competition is open to students and recent graduates from architecture and engineering courses. Those interested in submitting a design are encouraged to consider a few key factors, including local context, sustainability, well-being, security, globalization, and passenger experience.
The winner will take home $15,000, which is the largest prize FGC has offered to date. There are also additional cash prizes for select participants. Second place will walk away with $3,000, third place with $2,000, and the two People’s Choice Awards will receive $1,000 each. FGC announced the competition on Feb. 15, and the deadline to submit an entry runs through October 1, 2021. Fentress will announce the shortlist of 15 competitors by Nov. 1, and the winners will be revealed on December 1.
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We’ve never needed spring skiing more, and Squaw Valley does it best
Shuffling through the Squaw Valley parking lot wearing slightly too-big rental boots, already starting to sweat through my base layer in the late March sun, I heard a voice call out from my left. “Hurry up and hit the mountain,” the voice said, disembodied behind the skis I had slung over my left shoulder. “It’s gonna get slushy this afternoon.”
It was 9:00 AM on a Friday. The parking lot was only half as full as it had been on my last Friday morning ski day in early February, but I hustled to the ticket booth nonetheless. I had my sights set on KT-22, wary of the crowd that might have formed in the hour that the resort had been open, as crowds often do at what’s been called the greatest chairlift in North America. There was no need to rush. What little line there was had already dissipated by the time I reached the gate. I rode the lift twice before even sharing a chair with another skier.
This, I discovered, is among the many joys of spring skiing at Squaw Valley.
Tahoe’s “Spring Skiing Capital”
Photo: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows/Facebook
Squaw is an obvious choice for any High Sierra ski trip. Terrain like KT-22 has tested the grit of Olympians, as competitors in the 1960s Winter Games and in the decades since, while more than 65 percent of the resort’s 3,600 skiable acres are a playground for beginners and intermediates. The culture is equally inclusive, welcoming both Olympic hopefuls who après as hard as they ride and families who treat The Village like a home away from home.
Come spring, the choice is even easier. While many of its neighboring resorts shutter in April, Squaw has been known to stay open as late as the Fourth of July. This year, it plans to close on Monday, May 31, alongside sister resort Alpine Meadows, making their combined 6,000 acres a prime candidate for a last-ditch Memorial Day weekend ski trip.
Spring skiing is no last resort, however. March and April have some of the deepest snowpack of the season following late-winter storms. As the weather settles, so do the masses, and lift-ticket and lodging costs drop as the daytime temperatures rise. Then there’s the corn. Arguably second only to fresh powder, corn refers to beads of snow resembling kernels that are formed by the melting-freezing cycle of consistently warm days and cold nights. This creates a sweet spot between snow that’s too hard and too slushy. And you’ll only get it during spring.
Making the most of the mountainAs a rule, spring skiers want to follow the sun, moving east to west. I opted to warm up on the East Face of KT-22 before riding the Saddle to the Headwall lift, where I was treated to soft corn on the south-facing Sun Bowl, while my ski buddy lapped the long, gentle Lake View run above the Resort at Squaw Creek. By late morning there was a modest wait for the Headwall lift that was made longer by the blaring sun. Around 10:00 AM is the magic hour for spring skiers when the ice has thawed but the snow has not yet melted into slush.
Photo: Court Leve/Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
Desperate to shed a layer, I met my companion at the KT-22 Base Bar after a final run down the Headwall face. The patio was lively but not full. Skiers and snowboarders who, like me, had dressed for the morning chill were now sipping beer in their base layers while afternoon riders arrived wearing considerably less. I saw Hawaiian shirts and denim shorts, bikini tops and sports bras. In line for the Gold Coast Funitel en route to the neighboring Shirley Lake and Granite Chief lifts, we even encountered a couple of guys bare-legged under banana costumes, which they explained were part of a mountain-wide game of tag a few friends had organized.
The tallest peak in Squaw Valley at just over 9,000 feet, Granite Chief was the perfect place to ease into the afternoon and evade the stickier snow at lower elevations. Freshly waxed skis and snowboards also benefit spring riders by repelling moisture in warmer weather. Atop the peak, I devised a game of my own, challenging myself to navigate the trees off High Voltage. I’d been too intimidated to stray from the groomed runs during my February visit but felt encouraged by the casual spring atmosphere and lesser competition for terrain. Over at Shirley Lake, there were even fewer skiers to contend with, my ski buddy later told me over lunch at the Gold Coast sundeck, dubbing the moderate 700-foot verticals there the best cruisers she’d skied in years.
Photo: Ben Arnst/Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
For intermediate skiers, spring is particularly liberating. Whether they’re verging on advanced and emboldened to attempt steeps that have finally accumulated enough snow to be skiable or they’re back in bindings after a long hiatus, as was the case with my skiing companion, the relative absence of other skiers and softer, slower snow make for excellent conditions to improve. Just remember to choose your lines carefully to avoid patches of dirt and rocks, drink lots of water, slather on sunscreen, and gear up with a good attitude.
The case for Alpine Meadows
Photo: David A Litman/Shutterstock
Alpine Meadows was not yet a ski resort when Squaw Valley rose to international fame as the host of the 1960 Olympics. It opened a year later, and in 2012, the resorts merged to offer lift-ticket holders access to both. All these years later, Alpine still lacks Squaw’s name recognition, which is among its greatest strengths during peak season.
While spring skiers need not worry about peak-season crowds, Alpine is a boon on busier days like Easter weekend and spring break. Of course, the mountain itself has draws that make it a local favorite. Several of the Squaw staff I spoke with cited its hike-to back bowls and expert terrain as their preferred day-off stomping grounds. For advanced skiers, the trek to Sun Bowl and steep, cliffy Scott Chute came highly recommended.
On both of my recent Tahoe trips, in February and March, I chose to wind down with a half-day at Alpine before driving back to San Francisco. The meandering runs off the Treeline Cirque and Sherwood Express lifts were particularly suited to the Saturday morning I spent cruising the spring snow. It felt like a walk in the woods, complete with screensaver-quality views of Lake Tahoe at every turn. My skiing companion, who’d called it quits early that day but had enjoyed having the mountain almost entirely to herself on a mid-week visit, soaked up the rays in an Adirondack chair on the sundeck like it was a day at the beach.
Photo: Emily Tidwell/Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
As we walked back to our car around noon, the parking lot had transformed into a tailgate, with riders cracking beers straight out of their trunks. It was not the legendary après scene I’d heard about at Squaw’s Le Chamois, but it matched my experience of the mountain: unfussy, tame, and full of good cheer. I may be a Squaw skier at heart, but as spring trips go, it’s hard to say which resort I enjoyed more. The great news: With access to both, there’s no need to choose.
Staying active off the slopes
Photo: aaronj9/Shutterstock
Ski trips are rarely just about skiing. There’s the après ritual, of course, but also a world of recreation off the slopes. For visitors to Squaw Alpine, that world is the Tahoe basin.
Lake Tahoe is as much a summer destination as a snowy dreamscape. In spring it can feel like both: You can wake up to winter and be barbecuing in short sleeves by the afternoon. This makes spring the ultimate season for multi-sport athletes. During our March trip, the members of my group who opted not to downhill ski spent their days hiking and mountain biking around Olympic Valley and donning a different type of skis at the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center. As the season advances, visitors can make the most of Lake Tahoe by boating and paddleboarding, even sunbathing on the shore at Kings Beach.
And as much as I enjoyed huddling around the fire pit at the Auld Dubliner pub in The Village during my February visit, nothing beats outdoor dining when it’s warm enough to hold a fork glove-free. Whether you’re staying at Squaw Valley or renting a house in nearby Tahoe City or Truckee, by March the patio scene is in full swing to keep you energized for the day’s activities — which when spring rolls around means just about anything you could hope to do in Tahoe.
Editor’s note: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is in the process of due to the derogatory nature of the term “squaw.” The resort is consulting with Native American groups and the local community and plans to announce its new name later this year.
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These dreamy Lake Atitlan Airbnbs have epic views of the volcanoes
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, and listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan is high in the running for the most beautiful lake in the world. Surrounded by perfectly conical volcanoes and lush, tropical greenery that gives way to crystal waters, the lake’s edge is the best place to take in the views and keep yourself close to on-water activities, as well as hiking, mountain bike tours, and land-based sightseeing. These breathtaking Airbnbs bring their own “wow” factor to the already breathtaking atmosphere of Lake Atitlan.
Four-bedroom, two-bath loft with amazing views and two hot tubs
Photo: Airbnb
This open-air loft is complete with not one but two hot tub terraces. You’ll be near to, but not in, the city of Panajachel, so you can head into town for dinner or drinks and then retreat to your lakeside enclave for a nightcap or a romantic evening looking out over the water. The teak patio setup is calling.
Eight guests, four bedrooms
Price: $280 per night
Photo: Airbnb
Sunsets never looked as good as they do from the deck of this large chalet. Looking out over the lake itself, you’ll be awed by the views as well as the amenities, including a large deck on which to lounge and easy access to San Antonio Palopo as well as the nearby town of Panajachel. The home features a large living room, two dining areas, and five bedrooms.
10 guests, five bedrooms
Price: $500 per night
Photo: Airbnb
You’ve likely never woke to a volcano view, let alone had one be the first thing you see as you open your eyes. This lodge is life-changing in that regard — the home is bright and open, letting the volcano steal the glory whether from the main bedroom or while dining on the deck. This property is between San Marcos and Tzuzuna, surrounded by lush greenery, and nearly every color of the rainbow appears at some point throughout the day.
Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $86 per night
Photo: Airbnb
Casa Colibri is Atitlan luxury at its finest — a large, five-bedroom house set amongst the lakeside forest with a private pool, covered terrace deck, and bright interior that matches the vibe of your vacation. Every room offers a lake view with the bonus of multiple volcanoes, highlighted by large glass windows. Each bedroom has its own bathroom.
12 guests, five bedrooms
Price: $395 per night
Photo: Airbnb
If a turquoise-water pool overlooking Lake Atitlan and its volcanic skyline are on your wishlist, this gorgeous home is your fix. It’s nicknamed Casa Tzampoc and is located atop a hill between two historic Mayan towns, Santa Catarina Palopo and San Antonio Palopo. The private swimming pool is heated by solar panels, and with the full kitchen, you can prepare a meal onsite or visit the nearby city of Panajachel to dine.
Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $283 per night
Photo: Airbnb
Houses surrounding Lake Atitlan are open concept by default, and this well-appointed spot opens to an incredible view of the lake. Dip in the plunge pool and hot tub, chill lakeside on the deck, and enjoy a private but fully serviced retreat that highlights the best the area has to offer. This home is accessible via a ramp from the street — no need to go up or down stairs to come in or out.
Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $215 per night
Photo: Airbnb
Up to five can stay, but this villa is ideal for couples or solo travelers seeking refuge away from the rest of the world (without sacrificing those epic lake views, of course). The outdoor hot tub overlooking the surrounding natural landscape is as inspiring as it is relaxing, but the real highlight here is the bed. Facing large bay windows, you’ll wake up to the sun scurrying across the mountains and lake in the morning and have a front-row seat to dramatic daybreak.
Five guests, one bedroom
Price: $115 per night
Photo: Airbnb
Views of gardens, waterfalls, and Lake Atitlan dominate the 180-degree windows at this five-bed villa. The home is done up for a family or group of friends to stay and spread out in style, with two fireplaces, an outdoor shower, a sauna, and an organic vegetable garden on site. Prepare your own home-cooked pizza in the wood-fired pizza oven, and enjoy it out on the deck as you gaze upon the lake.
Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $250 per night
Photo: Airbnb
If you’re traveling solo or with a partner and want a secluded retreat on the corner of Lake Atitlan from which to base your stay, this dream cabin is your spot. Soak on the patio while taking in the sunset, and explore the dense vegetation surrounding the property and leading down to the lake. Panajachel is seven minutes up the road, and the queen-sized bed offers views of the volcanoes the area is known for.
Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $100 per night
The post These dreamy Lake Atitlan Airbnbs have epic views of the volcanoes appeared first on Matador Network.
New Google Maps feature shows route with lowest carbon footprint
For travelers worldwide, Google Maps is a crucial tool that’s become so integral to the travel experience that it’s hard to imagine venturing anywhere without it. Saved locations make it easy to find the places you promised yourself you’d return to, and downloadable directions make it a breeze to navigate terrain you’ve never seen before. Soon, a new update will help you find a more sustainable route, too.
A new Google Maps feature will roll out this year in the US that allows users to pick the most eco-friendly route for their trips. The company uses information from the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab to find a path to your destination that will use the least amount of fuel possible. Factors of the equation include road incline and traffic.
Users will be able to toggle the eco-friendly option on or off depending on their needs, or set it so the default route provided by Google is the most eco-friendly way to get to your destination. Eco-friendly will be the default if the ETA is about the same as the fastest route. If it’s longer, you’ll be presented with both the quickest ETA and the most eco-friendly option so that you can compare the two and make your own decision.
It doesn’t stop at driving, either. All of the ways to get to your destination will be easy to find on Google Maps — from more traditional public transport to the increasing availability of electric bikes and scooters in major cities. The software will prioritize each person’s preferred way to travel. However, methods of getting around that are popular in that specific location — the subway in New York City, for example — will be front and center.
The eco-friendly update comes along with other international sustainability initiatives that are in the works. Google Maps will show low emission zones that limit cars with certain emissions levels, such as showing you how to get around without breaking the zoning rules. Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and the UK already have these features, and more countries are on the horizon.
The update is part of Google’s sustainability push. The company has been carbon neutral since 2007 and plans to be carbon-free by 2030. Big businesses, not individuals, are the biggest polluters in the world. Still, reducing our own impact in small ways is a step in the right direction, and limiting the emissions from day-to-day travel is a big part of that effort. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a typical passenger car emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. By some measurements, the annual emissions from one American’s car are more than the world average for a person’s total emissions — from transport to purchases, to food and everything in between — all year.
Photo: TY Lim/Shutterstock
Transportation pollution dropped dramatically during the pandemic. One study found that car and flight emissions dropped by half in April 2020. However, the change isn’t permanent — as an increasing number of people are vaccinated and able to travel, that number is likely to go up if people decide to return to life before the pandemic.
Thankfully, sustainability in travel has been front of mind for many as places plan to reopen. Countries like Spain, Costa Rica, Botswana, and others are prioritizing sustainable travel on the other side of lockdowns. The wellness industry is going eco-friendly, and airlines and other businesses are taking steps to improve sustainability initiatives. Both small steps and major changes in how we power our lives are essential for the world to hit sustainability goals.
Google is bringing other additions to Maps that will help make travel more accessible as well. An improvement called Detailed Street Maps shows the size of the street and where sidewalks, crosswalks, and accessibility points are located in London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo, with more cities coming soon. Maps will also show relevant COVID-19 travel alerts from local governments to help you plan safely, and the app will show COVID-19 checkpoints and restrictions on your route.
For those of us looking to avoid the crowds stemming from public transit without avoiding public transit itself, Maps will show how busy certain transit stations are and how busy a final destination is. An AR-enhanced Live View option will help travelers figure out how to get around select airports and shopping centers, so you know exactly what it looks like where you’re trying to go — and maybe even avoid a traffic jam along the way. Yes, some of us will still be frantically running around trying to find our gate at the airport, but hopefully a little less in the future.
People who prefer outdoor transportation methods will soon be able to take advantage of a weather and air quality layer that will help you prepare for the outdoors wherever Air Quality Index (AQI) data is available.
From a way to choose sustainable routes to real-time information, new additions on Google Maps will help travelers get around a little easier as soon as they’re ready to venture out again.
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Yosemite National Park will require reservations this summer to limit crowds
To limit crowds at Yosemite National Park, the National Park Service will implement a day-use reservation system this summer.
Starting May 21, park visitors — including annual and lifetime pass holders — will be required to make day-use reservations, valid for one vehicle for three days. Depending on the evolving COVID-19 situation, visitor capacity will range from 50 to 90 percent of the park’s usual visitor numbers.
Cicely Muldoon, the park’s superintendent, said at a meeting of local government and community leaders, “The basic plan is to protect human health and safety and provide as much access as we can. We think these numbers will allow people to enjoy the park safely.”
The system will be familiar to anyone who visited the park last summer, when reservations were put in place from June to October. This summer, however, over 580 campground sites will be open, compared to only 247 last year. In 2021, the day-use reservation system will be in place from May 21 to September 30.
The NPS wrote in a statement, “The temporary day-use reservation system will allow the park to manage visitation levels to reduce risks associated with exposure to COVID-19.”
Reservations will go live on recreation.gov at 8:00 AM PT on April 21. Overnight guests staying in a hotel or NPS-managed campground will not need a separate day-use reservation.
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Several major US airlines pledge net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
This is The Climate Win, the most positive sustainability news around the world every week.
Big news for travelers this week as Airlines for America, the trade group representing 10 US-based carriers, has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, Reuters reported. Included in the commitment are major players United, American Airlines, and Delta, along with seven other commercial airlines large and small. The group’s goal, according to the report, is to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement, and it intends to work alongside the Biden administration to begin working towards this ambitious goal.
How exactly can an airline whose business model requires spewing jet fuel into the atmosphere reach net-zero emissions, you ask? That’s a good question — one that requires heavy leaning on the term “net” rather than “gross” (total) emissions. Of course, it would be impossible for an airline to completely eliminate all emissions save for rapid advancements in full-electric commercial aviation, which is likely decades away. But by striving for net-zero, the airlines can take consistent steps to reduce and offset their emissions slowly over the next three decades.
This can be done by offsetting carbon emissions, which will undoubtedly be part of the Airlines for America plan. The group also said it intends to pursue rapid development and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a source of jet fuel made from sustainable feedstocks rather than fossil fuels. The burning of SAF emits far fewer emissions than burning traditional jet fuel.
Alongside Airlines for America, multiple other industry groups have made similar pledges in an effort to reduce the emissions resulting from air travel. The European air industry plans to reach net-zero by 2050 as well. Air travel currently accounts for about two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Air Transport Action Group.
Zero-emissions aviation took a separate step forward this week as Bill Gates announced his support for hybrid planes via a venture called ZeroAvia. These hybrid planes would run on a hybrid hydrogen-electric powertrain, eliminating the need for jet fuel at all, according to GeekWire.
More climate winsWashington, DC, formally passed a zero-waste bill into law this past month, Waste Dive reported, aiming to drastically reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. Part of the law includes cutting down on plastic utensils and other food-service waste. How the bill will be funded remains uncertain.
Volkswagen announced it would switch all of its MEB (modular electric drive matrix) electric vehicles to be compatible with bidirectional charging beginning next year, Electrek reported. Bidirectional charging means that power can be taken out of the vehicle and moved to the grid during times when the car is not in use and the grid needs power, and owners of the vehicle could receive payment for the use of their battery power. The power could be used to power homes, other cars, and additional needs.
We close this week with good news for java hounds. Coffee pulp can be used to boost reforestation on degraded lands, studies have shown, working to improve soil quality, plant diversity, and rapidly growing canopy cover on land that lacked it before. As the world needs rapid reforestation to offset the damage done to the Amazon and elsewhere, we’ll raise a mug to that.
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