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Travel companies have a new tool to set and actually achieve climate goals

This is The Climate Win, the most positive sustainability news around the world every week.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a partnership of several non-profit organizations, is on a mission to end corporate “greenwashing” — the making of dubious or unverifiable sustainability claims by companies to brandish their image. SBTi provides a way to verify and measure businesses’ true eco-progress, and the travel industry is signing on.

SBTi brings together the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and CDP Global, a nonprofit that helps companies disclose their environmental impact. SBTi aims to persuade businesses to reach the targets set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, confirm that their claims are legit, and actually measure whether or not they follow through. If successful, the brand will receive SBTi-certification. If it isn’t willing to commit to science-based targets to curb climate change, it won’t.

In the travel world, Intrepid Travel became the first tour operator with SBTi-verified sustainability targets last year, showing how travel companies can have a measurable impact and also avoid greenwashing. Intrepid received extensive press coverage when the news was announced (including in this column) and had the science to back up their claims. Many large hospitality and restaurant businesses have made similar pledges, including the Las Vegas Sands and InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and other hotel brands.

Companies and governments regularly release statements on sustainability targets and initiatives. While many are credible, others may just be angling for good publicity when they tout environmental initiatives that are misleading, tough to verify, or that don’t actually require real change in their operations. A clothing brand publicizing that it only ships products to customers in recyclable packaging — while in fact the clothing items are produced from plastics and are individually wrapped in plastic bags within the box — is greenwashing.

SBTi verification works like this: a company sets a sustainability target, say to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent below 2018 levels by 2030. SBTi verifies that this is doable, and that the environmental impact is in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement — to keep warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and/or to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The SBTi allows companies to measure their efforts based on real data, eliminating boldface greenwashing and, hopefully, holding the companies they verify accountable for their claims. The efforts appear to be working. Follow-up studies on 338 companies with SBTi-approved targets found that they reduced their environmental impact 25 percent since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. The SBTi verification process is good for companies, and the customers who use their products.

More climate wins

First, it was GM. Then Volvo. Now, Volkswagen has come forth with a major plan for its transition to electric vehicles. The company will construct six battery factories around Europe, it announced this week, in an effort to halve the cost of batteries for EVs and establish itself as a major player in battery production, alongside Tesla. Additionally, the company will install 18,000 charging units on the continent by 2025. No full commitment to stop producing gas-powered vehicles just yet, but if the company captures anywhere near the market share it hopes to in the battery sector, it would only make financial sense for them to cease the grease.

Human waste could be used to power airplanes in the future. Matador reported this week on a study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences which found that what comes out of us could potentially be converted into paraffin, a combustible hydrocarbon that can be used in jet fuel.

The Guardian reported this week on a new development in wind power: bladeless turbines. According to the report, Spain-based Vortex Bladeless has developed pole-shaped wind turbines that oscillate with the wind, generating electricity through the vibration of the movement. Its goal is to make wind turbines something that can go anywhere, not just on large-scale wind farms, and prevent the inherent dangers to birds and wildlife posed by rotating blades. The only downside is the nickname given to the turbine by Redditors amused by its phallic design. How would you feel about putting a “skybrator” in your yard?

More like thisNewsA California city becomes the nation’s first to ban new gas stations

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4 itineraries for great German food

For thousands of years, Germany was made up of separate states, each proud of its respective cultures, traditions, and cuisines. The food you know as “German” might actually be Bavarian or Lower Saxon or from anywhere in between — though the food you don’t know probably makes up a longer, more surprising list.

Come here, and you’ll see that each region — heck, sometimes each neighborhood — claims its own specialties. The itineraries below show you the best of the best, and they can be navigated separately or joined together, sampled distinctly or paired, just like Germany’s top dishes. What will you find? Well, that depends on the route you choose. Many more exist, but the four below will linger on your palate for a very, very long time.

Lower Saxony Asparagus Route

Photo: Jens Wegener/GNTB

It’s said that every fifth spear of asparagus eaten in the country hails from Lower Saxony, a region in northwestern Germany. And the Lower Saxony Asparagus Route, which starts and ends in Burgdorf — the “home of asparagus” — travels an impressive 466 miles through the region, taking in the asparagus-touting lands of Brunswick, Lüneburg Heath, Mittelweser, and Oldenburg Münsterland, all of which feature attractive countryside after attractive countryside (along with some great towns).

Both the green and white varieties of asparagus are grown here — white being known as “edible gold” or “white ivory,” which should tell you a thing or two about how locals feel about it — and can be sampled in many different ways (served with ham and hollandaise sauce is a classic). Against a backdrop of scenic landscapes, the route promises asparagus markets, festivals, and related events throughout the season, which usually runs from the end of April to the end of June. A short and sweet one, for sure.

Thuringian cuisine on the Ilm Valley Cycle Route

Photo: Mike Hofstetter/GNTB

This 76-mile route through Thuringia’s scenic Ilm Valley provides visitors with some excellent insights into the region’s culture, history, and nature, as well as its cuisine. And, yes, Thuringia is just as magical as its name makes it sound, known for soaring mountains, dense forests, stunning castles, and ancient towns.

The route begins in the Thuringian Forest and passes by Kleinhettstedt, where the famous local mustard can be sampled at the Art & Mustard Mill. Pair it with a traditional cool beer at the brewery museum in Singen or some cutting-edge bio-wines at the Zahn Winery, whose restaurant serves regional cuisine like trout and local grilled meats.

The Ilm Valley Cycle Route also passes through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Weimar, home to the Goethe and Schiller museums as well as the Bauhaus Museum — but it’s also where you’ll find Thuringian specialties like Weimarer Zweibelkuchen (onion tart), Thüringer Rostbratwurst (pork sausage), and Thüringer Klösse (potato dumplings).

Baden-Württemberg cuisine on the Neckar Valley Cycle Route

Photo: Carolina Hubelnig/GNTB

The Neckar Valley Cycle Route loops for 228 miles through Baden-Württemberg down to the Rhine River, taking in forested hillsides, dramatic foggy landscapes, and rugged sandstone cliffs along the way. It’s a fine way to explore Baden-Württemburg’s renowned culinary delights via numerous vineyards and traditional towns and cities — some of which might already be on your list (looking at you, Heidelberg).

Not long after leaving Mannheim, you’ll arrive at the beautiful university city of Tübingen, home to plenty of restaurants serving local specialties like Maultaschen (filled pasta) and Käsespätzle (cheese pasta noodles). The route also passes through Esslingen, the state capital of Stuttgart, and Marbach (birthplace of Renaissance man Friedrich Schiller) before ending in Heidelberg, with its stately homes, old bridge, castle ruins, and Baroque city center, where further foodie delights — from local asparagus to Black Forest cake — await.

North German cuisine on the North Sea Cycle Route

Photo: Christin Klose/Shutterstock

This fabulously extensive cycle route (a whopping 3,700+ miles in total) runs along the coastlines of the Netherlands and Norway, Scotland and Denmark — and, of course, Germany, where it extends for some 575 miles. Tackle as little or as much as you like, but know that the stretch through northern Germany is about as good as it gets.

Cycling this route — characterized by the sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, and pretty lighthouses that pepper the coast — provides plenty of highlights in between sampling the cuisine of northern Germany. In Hamburg, you can chow down at the harbor’s historic fish market or dine in Michelin-star restaurants, while in smaller towns like Bremerhaven and Brunsbüttel you’ll find ultra-local dishes to enjoy. Look out for sprats (especially around Kiel) and herring, North Sea crabs and shrimp, as well as local lamb and beef served with Grünkohl (cabbage), plus sweet treats like marzipan. Which, after all this hard work, you’ll deserve at least once a day.

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Where to travel in the US May 2021

Spring is summer’s temperamental little brother, unreliable and impossible to pin down. In an unpredictable season, May is a welcome dose of reliability. In many places around the country, May means peak springtime weather, flower blooms, comfortably drinking on patios, and sunny vacations without the summer crowds. Since the pandemic has forced us to view travel through a domestic lens this past year, Americans are realizing you don’t have to go to Cancún for an enjoyable spring break or the French Riviera for a romantic getaway. From the beaches of Hyannis on Cape Cod to the Bavarian aesthetic of Leavenworth, Washington, these are the best places to visit this May around the US.

1. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Photo: Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock

It sounds like a ritzy resort town on the Côte d’Azur, but it’s actually a far more accessible mountain town in Idaho. Between the hyped mountain scene of Utah and Colorado, and the stunning natural beauty of Washington and Oregon, Idaho often gets lost in the mix. For in-the-know travelers looking to avoid crowds, however, that’s perfectly fine. On the edge of massive Lake Coeur d’Alene, the city is actually the best of all worlds, with a scenic waterfront resort, sprawling national forest, and a lively downtown.

Mineral Ridge, home to a three-mile recreation trail east of the city center, might be the best place to overlook the lake and Beauty Bay. You can also get a view of the lake from Tubbs Hill, a natural space with miles of hiking trails looping around the hill, or experience the lake yourself by heading out for the day on a rented kayak or paddleboard. Back in town, Coeur d’Alene is full of art galleries, antique shops, farmers markets, and live music venues like Studio 107 and the NYC Piano Bar. One of the city’s most unique eateries is Cedars Floating Restaurant, which, true to its name, literally floats on the lake.

2. Leavenworth, Washington

Photo: J.D.S/Shutterstock

A trip to Munich might not be on the agenda this year, but if you squint your eyes really hard at Leavenworth, it’s almost the same thing. This Bavarian-style town in the Cascade Mountains combines a European aesthetic with the great American outdoors, including bike trails, hiking, and vineyards. Between its Alpine-style buildings and restaurants serving classic Bavarian fare, like the Stein Beer Hall, this town will give you a dose of Euro culture without even leaving the country.

Like many European cities, Leavenworth is best explored by bike. The “Fruit Loop” begins in Leavenworth and connects with the cities of Dryden, Peshastin, and Cashmere, bringing you through blossoming orchards and, if you’re lucky, offering encounters with elk. To immerse yourself in the area’s natural beauty, hike up Icicle Ridge — a four-mile trek with incredible views — or take a more leisurely stroll through the Waterfront Park on a three-mile trail along the Wenatchee River.

It wouldn’t truly be a German-inspired town without a brewery. Yes, this town of just over 2,000 people has its own brewery, called Blewett Brewing Co. Winos, however, might prefer a wine hike through the surrounding vineyards, like Icicle Ridge Winery. If you throw back enough glasses of red, you might even forget you’re not actually in Germany’s Rheingau region.

3. Hyannis, Massachusetts

Photo: John Santoro/Shutterstock

Spending summer on Cape Cod is a New England cliche, but spending spring on Cape Cod is just good common sense. Sitting in traffic on the Sagamore Bridge for three hours is a blast and all, but visiting the Cape in May gives you the beach vacation you’ve been craving since January without the June crowds. While the entirety of Cape Cod is brimming with walkable beachside towns, seafood restaurants, and nightlife, Hyannis is the best place to go for all three.

Hyannis might be famous for the Kennedy Compound, but you don’t need Kennedy money to have a memorable weekend here. This place is all about food, drinks, and sun. Since you’ve probably been dreaming of the beach the whole ride in, make Craigville Beach one of your first stops. Not only is the water warmer than the beaches farther north, but there are also several clam shacks and fried seafood eateries, like the Barnacle Snack Bar, right across the street.

For a slightly more comfortable dining experience, head to Trader Ed’s at the Hyannis Marina. This casual restaurant is just steps away from the marina, with tables set up around a swimming pool. Yeah, you’re technically supposed to wait 30 minutes after you eat to go swimming, but no one abides by that rule here. Chances are you came to the Cape for the beach, but nighttime is when Hyannis really gets going. Walk down Main Street and you’ll find plenty of bars with expansive patios, and it’s easy to hop between them. Torino is one of the most popular, with a huge outdoor bar and seating area.

4. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Photo: MarkVanDykePhotography/Shutterstock

Gatlinburg is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, and spring is the perfect time to visit. In early May the wildflowers are in full bloom. Walk the Little River Trail or the Kanata Fork Trail for prime viewing of over 1,500 different kinds of flowering plants, more than any other US national park. Spring is also the best time for wildlife viewing, particularly black bears coming out of hibernation (just like us). Perhaps most unique to the Smokies, however, are the synchronous fireflies, which put on a dazzling mating display in late spring full of entrancing light patterns. There’s even a special event each year to watch the firefly mating ritual, which requires tickets purchased in advance.

Gatlinburg itself is the ideal small-town base for your mountainous excursions. Whether it’s rafting the Cliff Branch river, ziplining, or checking out the Rowdy Bear Mountain Adventure Park, the adrenaline doesn’t stop when you’ve left the park itself. Gatlinburg is also home to several spring festivals, like the Hands-On Gatlinburg craft festival and the Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend. Since COVID-19 may impact these events, be sure to check the most updated information before attending.

Perhaps the area’s most widely known attraction, however, is Dollywood — the Disney World of Tennessee — located just 20 minutes south of Gatlinburg. Erected in honor of the hero of the coronavirus vaccine herself, Dolly Parton, Dollywood offers classic theme park rides as well as traditional crafts and music that represent the Smoky Mountain area. It closes for the winter season and reopens in spring, making May the perfect time to go before the summer crowds start pouring in.

5. Missoula, Montana

Photo: Jon Bilous/Shutterstock

Like a bell going off in your head, warm weather heralds the start of “drinking outside” season. It might take Montana a while to warm up, but by May spring is in full swing, and there’s no better place than Missoula to kick back with a patio beer and stunning mountain views.

On the cusp of Glacier National Park, Missoula is in the middle of five mountain ranges: the Sapphire Range, Garnet Range, Rattlesnake Mountains, Reservation Divide, and Bitterroot Mountains. All of these ranges are great for biking, hiking, horseback riding, or just a casual drive. But if you’d rather passively admire nature than bust your ass on an all-day hike, Missoula is teeming with local breweries where you can grab a pint and simply enjoy the views.

Big Sky Brewing has its own outdoor amphitheater, which hosts nationally known acts, while KettleHouse Brewery sits on the banks of the Blackfoot River. Missoula isn’t just a beer town, either. The Lolo Creek Distillery serves locally made whiskey, vodka, and gin drinks by a firepit. The Montana Whiskey Company, Montgomery Distillery, and Rattlesnake Creek Distillery should also be essential stops on your distillery tour, and you might as well throw the Western Cider cidery in there too, while you’re at it.

To combine two of the best spring pastimes — rafting and drinking — you can even take a beer-themed rafting tour with Brews River Floats. Drinks and snacks will be provided by the tour company.

6. Holland, Michigan

Photo: Craig Sterken/Shutterstock

If Leavenworth is masquerading as Munich, Holland is doing its best, well, Holland impression. This town of just over 30,000 is known for its Dutch-inspired architecture, brick sidewalks, outdoor sculptures, flower gardens, and authentic Dutch windmill.

If you only have one day to spend in Holland, make Windmill Island Gardens your priority. The DeZwaan windmill, the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the US, dominates the gardens, grinding locally grown wheat into flour. You can take a guided tour of the windmill courtesy of costumed guides, and from the windmill’s fourth-floor deck you’ll have a view of 36 acres of meticulously tended gardens, canals, and dikes. Spring is truly the best time to visit, with over 100,000 tulips in bloom throughout the gardens.

The Netherlands might have the North Sea, but Holland has Lake Michigan. The lake is great for sunbathing, fishing, taking a boat out on the water, and viewing the iconic Big Red Lighthouse that sits across the channel.

In case you had any lingering doubts that Holland is really, really into tulips, the town hosts the Tulip Time Festival every May. In addition to blooming in local parks, tulips will line the streets and fill public venues. The usual parades, performances, and carnival have been canceled due to COVID-19, but you can still enjoy the floral aesthetic on May 1-9. Make sure to stay up-to-date on the changing regulations, which may impact the festival and its events.

7. Carlsbad, California

Photo: Peter Kunasz/Shutterstock

From European-inspired flower fields, it’s time to head west for a California super bloom. The flower fields of Southern California are some of the most striking in the country, and Carlsbad Ranch is one of the best places to see them. Set on a hillside overlooking the California coastline, the ranch is 50 acres of beautiful ranunculus flowers. In addition to strolling the flower fields and taking totally original and unfiltered photos for Instagram, you can check out the 1,500-square-foot greenhouse, themed gardens, or even take a tractor-driven wagon ride.

To really get a feel for the area, enjoy a beer and adventure tour with Scavengers. They’ll pick up you and your group, supply you with craft beer to drink on the road, and stop at several breweries.

After several hours of day drinking, you might as well take advantage of being by the ocean and rent a watercraft. California Watersports rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and jet skis for exploring the Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

8. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The nation’s oldest capital city is an eclectic mix of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo culture, and nowhere is this cultural amalgamation more evident than at Santa Fe’s farmers markets. Every Tuesday and Saturday the various markets offer artisan, multicultural crafts like fine art, jewelry, and traditional Native American handicrafts. There’s also fresh, locally grown produce for sale if you’re looking to add new flavors to your cooking.

New Mexico has some of the most unique geography in the country, and Santa Fe is your gateway. The Santa Fe National Forest is home to a dormant volcano and the McCauley Hot Springs, which you’ll reach after a three-and-a-half mile uphill hike. So, yeah, you’ll deserve that dip in the hot springs. The hike up to the springs is nearly as rewarding as the springs themselves, with views of Battleship Rock, and small waterfalls and pools. Just over a half-hour from the city, the hoodoos of nearby Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument — tent-shaped cones of rock — are also worth a visit. Hike the short Canyon Trail into a stunning canyon, and from the mesa you can look out over three mountain ranges and the Rio Grande Valley.

Even if social distancing measures prevent you from having a raucous night out in Santa Fe, there’s still plenty to do once the sun sets. With the lowest population density in the US, New Mexico is an ideal dark-sky destination, and there are plenty of stargazing opportunities around Santa Fe. Astronomy Adventures runs star tours on Cerrillos Hills State Park’s Turquoise Trail, and you can also get pristine night sky views in the Jemez Mountains to the northwest.

9. Portland, Maine

Photo: sean pavone/Shutterstock

The best time for a trip to Portland is right before everyone flocks to their lake houses in the summer, and the towns are overwhelmed with tourists. Maine might be synonymous with fall leaf-peeping, but spring in Portland means enjoying the warm weather while strolling the Old Port, sipping local craft beer, and hitting up a minor league ballgame.

There’s a reason the Old Port is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is Portland’s beating historic heart, with cobblestone streets, fishing piers over the Fore River, and buildings that will make you feel like you’re in the 1800s. Just across the river you’ll find Portland Head Light, the quintessential Maine lighthouse you’ve probably seen on a thousand postcards. The lighthouse is right next to the 90-acre Fort Williams Park, with hiking and walking paths for visitors to enjoy.

If Portland, Maine, has one thing in common with its namesake in Oregon, it’s a thriving craft beer culture. When you tell someone from New England you went to Portland, the first thing they say is, “Sooo which breweries did you hit up?” Whether it’s Shipyard and Allagash — two of Maine’s most prominent craft brewing companies — or upstarts like Bunker, Foulmouthed, and Rising Tide, there’s really no bad answer.

May is also the best time to catch a minor league baseball game, and lucky for you, Hadlock field is just a short walk from the Old Port. For around $20 a ticket, you can watch the Portland Sea Dogs clobber or get clobbered by another team you’ve never heard of, all while consuming cheap beers and snacks. It’s not major league play, but neither are the prices or the hassle, and nothing makes the downtime fly by like cheesy gimmicks, mascot races, and t-shirt cannons.

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Best outdoors in Ketchum, Idaho

Lying at the foot of Bald Mountain and the Sun Valley ski resort — the first destination ski resort in the country — Ketchum, Idaho, is well known as a ski town. But before skiing, Ketchum was a mining town, and it still retains an earthy mountain vibe. At the same time, its ski fame attracted celebrities and artists, adding a touch of refinement to the place. In fact, Ernest Hemingway is buried here, and the Sun Valley Museum of Art is a worthy place to visit. But Ketchum’s real magic remains its place in the Sawtooth range, near rivers teeming with fish, beautiful alpine lakes, and plenty of peaks and valleys to explore on skis, by bike, or with hiking boots.

What to do in winter

Photo: CSNafzger/Shutterstock

Skiing — Sun Valley Resort, which opened in 1936 with the world’s first chairlift, gets inch upon inch of fluffy dry snow that begs for wide GS turns. The resort’s Baldy Mountain, known as Baldy to locals, is one of the best places to ski in North America. Nearby, Sun Valley’s Dollar Mountain is one of our top picks for beginners learning to ski.

Snowmobiling — An amazing way to explore Sawtooth National Forest is to take a guided snowmobile tour, which departs from the Smiley Creek Lodge. You can take a half-day tour that brings you to Redfish Lake or one that takes you up Elk Mountain and gives you an overview of Stanley Lake. (A full-day tour is also an option.)

Snowshoeing — It’s easier to snowshoe than you think, and a good place to start is at Sun Valley’s Galena Lodge, a cozy wooden structure in the Boulder Mountains owned by the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD). You can rent snowshoes at the lodge for $20 for adults for the whole day. Alternatively, if there are three of you, you could set out with a guide for $45/person. On Tuesdays, you can rent snowshoes, get a trail pass, and end with a hot cup of soup all for $20. A BCRD Snowshoe Trail pass is $5/day for each person and, should they want company, for each dog. (While the Galena Lodge is a day lodge, they do offer yurts for overnight stays.)

Photo: CSNafzger/Shutterstock

Cross-country skiing — Whether you prefer classic Nordic skiing or the great glute workout of Nordic skate skis, you’ll head through snow-dusted evergreen forests and alongside waterways like the Big Wood River. If, say, you haven’t skate-skied before and want to give it a try, lessons are also available for $65 per person and $35 for each additional person. Rent your gear online 12 hours in advance for $23 for traditional adult skis, boots, poles, and $35 for skate ski gear, or head to shop at Galena Lodge for same-day rentals. Get your BCRD Nordic Trail pass for $18/day.

Have a soak — There are a few natural hot springs in this neck of the woods. The Russian John Hot Springs are about 20 minutes north of Ketchum and reach a balmy 89 degrees while the Elkhorn Hot Springs are about an hour away near Stanley. The best, and best-known, option is Frenchman’s Bend Hot Springs (alternatively called Warfield Hot Springs), a lovely spot that’s fed by three different springs. Just note that most of the 11-mile drive is an unpaved road that can be icy in winter, and there is only room for about five cars to park.

Summer daytime activities

Photo: CSNafzger/Shutterstock

Mountain biking — Galena Lodge is also a great base for outdoor activities after the snow melts, accessing 47 miles of single-track trails. But that is just one option — as there’s an astonishing 430 miles of single-track paths near Ketchum. An easy loop to try is the seven-mile Adams Gulch Loop that’s accessible from town. (Just note that some locals call it the Griffin Butte Loop.) For a more hardcore experience, provided you’re properly suited up in protective gear, you can take the gondola to the top of Bald Mountain and speed your way back down its 3,200 feet. You’ll find plenty of places in Ketchum to rent mountain bikes, among them Sturtevants of Sun Valley.

Hiking — Adams Gulch is not just a great area close to town for mountain biking but for hiking, too. One mellow hike is the 2.5-mile Sunnyside Trail, but there are literally countless options in the gulch. If you prefer something a little longer, but not strenuous, the Baker Lake trailhead is close to town and takes you to a trout-filled lake with less than a 1,000-foot elevation gain; it’s 3.5 miles there and back. One of our favorite hikes is the tough, five-mile hike up to the top of Bald Mountain for a picnic lunch with breathtaking views. You can then save your knees from the 3,200-foot descent and ride the gondola back down for free.

Photo: CSNafzger/Shutterstock

Go jump in a lake (or kayak, SUP, etc.) — While Ketchum is near to lots of rivers, a short northward drive brings you to several of the alpine lakes that grace the Sawtooth range. Less than an hour from Ketchum, Alturas Lake is quiet and, because it’s smaller, a little warmer than Redfish Lake for a swim. But if it’s more on-water activities you’re after, Redfish Lake is a must. You can rent boats, kayaks, canoes, or SUPs at the Redfish Lake Lodge marina. Or, check out more options in the town of Stanley, just north of Redfish.

Ride a river — Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline-filled whitewater thrill or a more gentle float, the Sawtooth National Forest is the nation’s unofficial HQ for river rafting. An all-day option with Class 4 rapids is a day-trip on the South Fork of the Payette River. To take it easy, amble down the Salmon River, where you’ll find just a few Class 3 rapids. You can talk to the folks at White Otter about their various options.

Catch a fish — With so many rivers, Ketchum is also a prime fly-fishing destination with two nearby blue ribbon (i.e., high-quality) rivers. Beyond the famed Silver Creek, you can fish for steelhead salmon and trout in the Big Wood, Little Wood, and Big Lost rivers. In the Copper Basin just over an hour from Ketchum, you can angle for rainbow trout and brook trout, among other fish.

Where to eat and drink

Photo: Sawtooth Brewery/Facebook

The Kneadery — For the best breakfast in Ketchum, one which includes outside seating in the summer, The Kneadery serves up everything from a sausage and egg burrito spiced up with sriracha to brioche French toast. Breakfast is served until 2 PM, but, should you so choose, you could also have a hearty lunch (think bacon grilled cheese with tomato basil soup) or dinner.

Ketchum Public House — The Public House is part of the Sawtooth Brewery, serving up not just a dizzying selection of on-tap brews, cider, and even kombucha, but also bratwurst; beef, elk, or veggie burgers; fish tacos; Korean pulled pork tacos; and the like.

Town Square Tavern — The Tavern, the perfect reflection of Ketchum’s more refined edges, offers more inventive mountain fare with menu items like a lamb burger or vegan cauliflower-chickpea curry. While you wait for a table, head to the bar, order a River Bend pale ale, and wash it down with the grilled shishito peppers or parmesan fries.

Enoteca — This eatery/wine bar is the best place for wood-fired pizza, daily Mediterranean specials, or small plates to share of a glass of minerally Sicilian white, a mellow Oregon pinot noir, or a wallet-busting but always memorable Brunello di Montalcino.

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A Super Mario theme park just opened in Japan

Theme parks aren’t exactly bustling with crowds these days, but that’s not stopping new theme parks from opening their doors. The long-awaited Super Nintendo World theme park opened at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan, on March 18, with attractions straight out of Super Mario. The park features a Mario Kart ride inside a life-sized Bowser’s Castle, Peach’s Castle, a Yoshi ride, and Mario-themed restaurants.

Ayumu Yamamoto, USJ’s marketing and communication manager, said, “We perfectly recreated the world of the game… You’ll find life-sized piranha plants and Bowser, and you’ll see what it is like to be Mario. It took almost a year longer than we had expected to open this place, and we are really glad.”

Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Super Mario Bros, toured the theme park in a promotional video released in December. “I’m very excited for all of you to experience the park on your own. There are smaller activities like the coin block,” he said, “as well as bigger ones… If you manage to get three keys from various activities, you can take on the final activity — a battle with Bowser Jr.”

Super Nintendo World was originally scheduled to open last year ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but was pushed back to February due to the pandemic, and then delayed again to March.

Similar parks are planned at Universal Studios parks in Orlando and Los Angeles.

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Why every cider lover should plan a visit to Oregon’s Hood River Valley

John Metta, cider maker at Slopeswell Cider in Hood River, Oregon, insists he is just a hobbyist. When the cidery initially opened in 2015, he waited until his kids were asleep and then snuck out to make cider in plastic wine barrels, because he didn’t have any professional equipment. Slopeswell has a distributor now, but Metta says he didn’t even want one — because as he repeatedly reminds me, all this is just a hobby.

Metta calls his cider “easy going,” and not perfect. His cider making goals are simple: to bring the complexity of an old world cider apple from France and Britain to an accessible cider that anyone, no matter their level of familiarity with cider, can enjoy. This seemingly casual practitioner of the cider-making arts is at the heart of one of the most promising cider scenes in the United States.

Photo: Slopeswell Cider

Situated at the lush, verdant river basin of the Hood River, the Hood River Valley is replete with productive farmland. The valley, guarded by the towering and ever present Mount Hood to the south, gets extra nourishment from the nearby Columbia River. Perhaps one of the most popular day trips in the area is the Fruit Loop, a 35-mile drive that takes visitors past apple, nectarine, and peach orchards; wineries; breweries; and farm stands selling jams, cherries, and pies. And in recent years, the region has added exceptional cider to that list.

Hood River Valley cider is a relatively new enterprise. According to Metta, cideries started opening in the area around 2013. Two years later, Metta decided to start knocking on doors, asking other cider makers if they wanted to share equipment, or get together at a local bar called Volcanic Bottleshop, and talk cider. Eventually, a group of 20 cider makers got together and formed the Cider Society.

“That was sort of an organization of all the cider makers in town, and we even had a map because all of us were there, and all of us were making cider and every one of us was making a different kind of cider,” says Metta. “And it was really stunning to see that much variation just in Hood River and up in the valley. I put this on our bottle, because I believe in so much: It’s on ciders on a landscape. It’s not a destination.”

Four years later, the Cider Society disbanded when funding from the Columbia Economic Development District ran out, and the Hood River cider community has changed considerably since then. The number of stand out ciders in the region has shrunk to about eight (there many more in nearby Mosier), but that doesn’t mean the cider is disappearing. It’s simply evolving and reinventing itself.

“In the beginning, it was growing rapidly,” Metta says of the network of cideries in the Hood River Valley. “There were some that really wanted to be big and those are gone. All the ones that were like, I’m doing this because I love it, all of us are still here. The cideries here are not trying to grow and get bigger.”

Metta says growth is still steady, but most cider makers in the region actually prefer the smaller, tight-knit community they’ve created around cider because it allows them to support and promote each other.

Photo: Crush Cider Cafe/Facebook

“The local producers are really close, and often share equipment, fruit, ideas,” says Jordan Struck, cider maker at Rivercider. Riverside Farms, where the cider is produced, has been in his family for five generations. “You can really count on each other. I’ve got everyone’s number in my phone.”

That welcoming, warm attitude translates into how visitors to the region are received when they stop by the Hood River Valley. Metta likens the atmosphere to Napa before the region exploded in popularity: You can walk into a cidery and the cidermaker will be milling around, ready to answer any of your questions or “talk your ear off” about cider. And you can be assured that although the region isn’t home to as many cideries as a place like Ithaca in upstate New York, this isn’t all bluster.

“We have the fruit right here, so you know it’s quality juice that’s at the heart of the ciders,” Stuck says. “We also are all super passionate about what we’re making, and I think everyone is doing it out of a love for it, first and foremost.”

For folks seeking cider in the Hood River Valley once it’s safe to travel again, Metta says that though the community is close knit, it’s not exclusive. Visitors won’t find cider snobs who turn their nose up at newcomers or people who are unfamiliar with cider. Whether you’re already well immersed in cider and want to keep exploring America’s diverse cider offerings or you’re new to the scene and looking for a safe space to learn more about cider, the Hood River Valley is well worth a visit.

“We want somebody walking down the street or coming off the mountain from a hike, wearing fleece and Keens, that has never really had cider before, to be able to experience something that is different than is what on the grocery store shelves,” Metta says.

Where to drink cider in the Hood River Valley

Photo: Slopeswell Cider

Slopeswell: At Slopeswell, Metta makes what he calls “Tuesday night champagne” — complex, bubbly, and dry. The taproom features a rotating set of Slopeswell ciders, including one infused with blackcurrant. Before the pandemic hit, the space also accommodated a music venue. The cider is called Heights, a nod to the neighborhood where the taproom is located.

Where: 1021 12th St #102, Hood River, OR 97031

Crush Cider Cafe: This restaurant and taproom serves Pacific Northwest cider, produced in places like Yakima, Washington and Gervais, Oregon as well as its own Crush cider — fermented locally in Hood River. The cafe’s Cider Garden encourages visitors to BYOB — bring your own blanket — for a casual picnic.

Where: 1020 Wasco St. Hood River, OR 97031

Fox Tail Cider and Distillery: Located along the Hood River’s Fruit Loop, the tasting room at this distillery also offers flights of spirits like vodka made from apples. It’s the only cidery and distillery in the same building in the Hood River Valley.

Where: 2965 Ehrck Hill Rd, Hood River, OR 97031

The Gorge White House: Cider is just the beginning of the offerings at Kennedy Family Farms and Cellars. Visit the historic Gorge White House, built in 1910, then enjoy a wine and cider tasting at the property’s farm shop, and finish your visit with a stop at the farm’s fresh fruit and flower stands.

Where: 2265 OR-35, Hood River, OR 97031

Volcanic Bottle Shoppe: The original site of the first cider association meetings, Volcanic Bottle Shoppe has a long history of supporting Hood River Valley cider. Along with the taproom, the space is also home to a shop where you can take your own beer and cider to go — including bottles of Jordan Struck’s Rivercider.

Where: 1410 12th St, Hood River, OR 97031

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California amusement parks can reopen on April 1, but there’s a catch

The state of California will allow amusement parks to reopen starting on April 1 but there’s a catch — visitors aren’t allowed to make noise on rides.

The trade group California Attractions and Parks Association (CAPA) is recommending that people refrain from anything that may spread bacteria such as screaming, singing, and heavy breathing. Detailed guidelines can be found in its Responsible Reopening Plan.

CAPA is trying to restart large amusement parks such as Disneyland and Six Flags in the safest way possible. Six Flags and Universal Studios can open their doors again on April 1 at a 15 percent capacity if they choose to. Disneyland is planning to reopen later, on April 30.

Guidelines such as these were first introduced in Japan in May 2020. A silent policy was enforced on roller coasters with some parks offering special face masks designed to look like the wearer was screaming in order to emulate the ambiance as closely as possible. While the future of entertainment and amusement parks looks uncertain, steps are being taken to save the industry and strike a balance between fun and safety. According to CAPA, California’s parks currently employ 135,000 who are in dire need of income.

“Economic recovery will be slow-going. It will take time for consumer confidence to return and for struggling families to plan a trip to an amusement park. According to data collected from Visit California, the tourism industry is suffering immense losses, with travel-related spending not expected to recover until 2024,” CAPA said in a statement.

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A smell-based Dutch art exhibition

Paintings are meant to be admired, but admiration isn’t always visual. A new exhibition opening at the Dutch art museum Mauritshuis in The Hague will pair art with scents to help visitors better understand the works and immerse themselves within them. The “Smell the Art: Fleeting-Scents in Colour” show includes “scent dispensers” that release a puff of scented air with the push of a pedal beside 50 17th-century Dutch paintings on display. Smells include a linen cupboard, bleaching fields, ambergris, myrrh, and the then-stench of the country’s canals.

Photo: Mauritshuis

The sense of smell is one of the most evocative senses and can trigger memories and emotions even more successfully than eyesight or hearing, so you’re unlikely to forget your trip to the museum. Yale University neuroscientist Justus Verhagen told Artnet News, “The sense of smell is tightly interwoven with the evolutionarily old limbic system of the brain by having direct access to structures like the amygdala, hippocampal complex, and cortex. These are strongly involved in emotions and memories.”

Other parts of the exhibition deal with the role of scent in 17th-century Dutch life, when foul smells were thought to be harmful for your health. The exhibition also addresses how trade with people in other parts of the world led to the introduction of new aromas.

The exhibition is scheduled to open as soon as the Mauritshuis museum reopens to visitors and will run through August 29.

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Giant stingray photobombs surfer in Florida

A Florida local captured a stunning photo of a giant manta ray leaping out of the water and photobombing a surfer just off the coast of Satellite Beach.

Rusty Escandell was spending last Sunday at the beach taking photos, but he didn’t realize just what he had captured until he went home and checked the footage.

Photo: Rusty Escandell

“I kind of saw a splash behind the surfer, but didn’t think much of it,” Escandell told CNN. “It could have been a fish, could have been anything, it was pretty amazing.” The series of photos he took with his camera’s burst mode shows the manta ray leaping out of the water until it ascended above the surfer.

Both Escandell’s daughter and her boyfriend work as marine biologists and recall seeing manta rays in the water that same day. As for the surfer, he was quite fascinated. “He got excited too,” Escandell remarked.

Giant manta rays are the world’s largest rays. Their fins can stretch out to 29 feet. The species is listed as “threatened” by the US Endangered Species Act. Jessica Pate, a senior scientist at the Marine Megafauna Foundation told CNN that over 50 people have sent Escandell’s photo. On Sunday, Pate spotted 64 adult giant manta rays while conducting a study of the area around Daytona Beach.

“I’m not sure exactly what’s driving this large aggregation. It could be for mating, it could be for feeding, it could be for both. But that’s what we’re going to conduct a study to figure out,” Pate said.

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How to follow the ultimate Blues Trail through the Mississippi Delta

The blues is one of those musical styles you might not realize you enjoy until you’re actually exposed to it. When I heard live blues music for the first time, I was firmly set in my early-2000s punk rock ways, and thought everything else was a far-distant second place. A blues band was playing Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightnin” in an Irish bar in Boston. It takes something special to get a bunch of drunks in Bruins jerseys to shut up and listen, but this blues ensemble did just that. Lacking a degree in musicology, I can only say that it had a certain timeless quality, and a soulful resonance absent from typical Boston pub performances. Unfortunately, if you’re really looking for an education in blues music, Boston isn’t the place to get it. For that you’ll have to go to the Mississippi Delta, home of the blues itself. Luckily, there’s a trail designed specifically to guide you. The Blues Trail takes visitors to sites all throughout Mississippi, from classic juke joints to museums and bookstores, telling the story of the blues’ history and evolution. Here’s how to follow the Blues Trail through the Mississippi Delta.

What is the blues?

The blues originated in the Deep South during the Antebellum period. Enslaved people, endeavoring to express their emotions through song, tapped into the musical traditions of West Africa and blended them with European musical styles learned in the US. What resulted were known as “field hollers,” working songs of enslaved African Americans, which often resembled improvised musical dialogues. This new genre was rooted in the soulful expression of pain amid oppression, and took hold in African American communities throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Though the blues originated in the fields of the Deep South, it didn’t find its true home until it made its way to the Mississippi Delta. The blues was first recorded in the 1920s thanks to Delta blues musicians like Robert Johnson, Freddie Suruell, Son House, and Charley Patton. Memphis, TN, became the blues’ true home in the early 20th century, before the genre radiated to the Midwest in the ’30s and ’40s. There it evolved into electrified Chicago blues, and soon morphed into other regional styles and blues-jazz hybrids. The blues even laid the foundation for the advent of rock ‘n roll in the 1950s.

The genre may have found its way to every corner of the country, but it never abandoned its roots. The Mississippi Delta is still the best place in the US to see live blues music and learn about its history.

Setting out from Memphis

Photo: James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the genre or just looking for a unique way to experience the Delta region, follow the Mississippi Blues Trail. There are countless ways to explore the Delta, and dozens of blues-related venues and markers to visit. Given all the options, it’s easy to craft an itinerary that fits your time constraints and specific interests. For the most straightforward, basic blues route through the Delta, you’ll want to start in Memphis and travel south down Highway 61 and 49 and end in Vicksburg.

The Gateway to the Blues Museum, just outside Memphis, is the perfect place to start your trip.The museum is located in a former train depot from 1895, and houses objects from blues musicians like B.B. King and Robert Johnson. You’ll learn about the history of blues music from its plantation origins, and even get the chance to record your own song with background music. Before getting to Clarksdale, you can pay homage to one of the greats at Muddy Waters’ cabin in Clarksdale. This cabin was where the legendary musician used to live, and you can visit its remains on display at the Delta Blues Museum. One of his guitars is also pnd art of the exhibit.

From Clarksdale to Leland

Photo: TLF Images/Shutterstock

Continuing south, it’s time to hit up a real Delta juke joint. Red’s Lounge, in Clarksdale, is at the center of the town’s Arts & Culture District, and you can hear blues here almost every night of the week. The small, standing room-only venue is known for its funky vibe and top local talent. Another Clarksdale staple is Ground Zero Blues Club, whose mission is to showcase local performers from the Delta. Ground Zero has live music Wednesdays through Saturdays, and was once voted the best blues club in the nation.

Just south of Clarksdale you’ll find Dockery Farms, which is known as the birthplace of the blues thanks to its association with Charley Patton, one of the most important early Delta blues musicians. The farm was founded in 1895, and was essentially a town in itself, with its own elementary school, churches, post office, blacksmith shop, railroad depot, ferry, and cemeteries for the workers. In the early 20th century, Dockery housed 400 tenant families, mostly African American migrants. Charley Patton was born to one of these families, and the farm was his home for 30 years. He often played from the porch of the general store in Dockery and at all-night picnics, most of his songs addressing the daily goings on of life in the Delta. Now the farm is open year-round to visitors, with guided tours available for exploring the grounds and learning about its role in blues history.

From there, head south and west to Leland, where you can check out another blues museum and old fashioned juke joint. The Highway 61 Blues Museum is a small, easily accessible museum honoring the Mississippi Delta blues musicians. A quick walk through town will show you the degree to which the blues is interwoven into the fabric of Leland’s history, and even its contemporary culture. There are colorful murals throughout the town depicting local and legendary blues musicians. Once you’re in the mood, head to 61 Blues Lounge and cap off the night with a drink.

Make your way to Vicksburg

Photo: Blue Front Cafe/Facebook

Take a short detour east to visit the town of Greenwood. As you enter town, make sure to tune your radio to AM WABG 960 (dubbed “the most unique radio station in the world”) for some Mississippi Delta blues and classic rock. In Greenwood, make a quick stop at Turnrow Books, where you can pick up some blues vinyls.

From Greenwood, head south on Highway 49 to Bentonia, home to its own style of blues. Bentonia blues refers to a school of blues that originated here in the early 20th century, defined by its distinct guitar tunings and playing, chord-voicings, and minor tonality not found in other types of blues music. The best place to hear Bentonia blues is at the Blue Front Cafe in Bentonia itself, which opened in 1948. It used to be famous for its blues, moonshine whiskey, and buffalo fish, attracting crowds. Today, the juke joint is an internationally known destination for blues fans. For a brief break from the blues, you may choose to visit the Sam Olden Historical Museum to get a taste of the Delta’s non-musical history, including Native American relics, Civil War exhibits, and fossils dating back 45,000 years.

Fittingly, your journey will end just beside the Mississippi River in Vicksburg. Vicksburg is one of the best cities in Mississippi for a show. It’s home to some of the Delta’s most iconic venues. LD’s Kitchen offers up live blues music every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, while The Biscuit Company of Vicksburg and Cottonwood Public House also have live blues throughout the week, and the liveliest nightlife scene you’ve encountered on your trip thus far.

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