Matador Network's Blog, page 696
February 25, 2021
A bright meteor flashed
Early on Monday morning, residents of the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan witnessed a huge fireball flashing across the sky.
A giant meteor lit up the sky at 6:24 AM local time, surprising people in Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and more. Residents of Vulcan County and Stavely in Alberta, and Elstow in Saskatchewan, reported witnessing a strong light followed by a bright streak in the sky.
One Calgary journalist managed to capture the surprising event on camera, tweeting a video that captured from their doorbell camera:
Hey look! Managed to capture video of the #meteor via our Ring doorbell. #Calgary @GlobalCalgary pic.twitter.com/qaIBfazhUd
— Melissa Gilligan (@MeliGilligan) February 22, 2021
“What was that?” another witness tweeted.
“It sure woke me up, I can tell you that. I was kind of lucky to see that. You rarely see that,” Saskatoon resident Joe Speer shared with Global News. Lea Storry, an Edmonton resident compared the sighting to having her “own little astronaut moment but on Earth.”
A view of the meteor from near Lloydminster. Caught by my security cameras. #meteor #AlbertaCanada pic.twitter.com/PdYN1UfNGE
— Sarah Bergquist (@sarah_bergquist) February 22, 2021
The meteor is classified as a “fireball” due to the particularly bright light it exuded, according to Dr. Chris Herd at the University of Alberta. “It means that some kind of a rock has come through the atmosphere and the outside is heated up to give us that bright fireball that people have caught on their doorbell cameras and other places,” Herd shared with 630 CHED Mornings.
Where the fireball debris landed is yet to be determined. 
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The best Travelzoo deals for spring
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.
Spring has yet to hit most of the United States, but the change of seasons is coming, believe it or not. This year, the warming temperatures mean some incredible deals at Travelzoo. Whether you’re the type who prefers relaxing with a glass of bubbly and a good view or the kind who likes to jet ski in the Caribbean, Travelzoo deals are in full swing right now, and each of these is close enough to home that no passport is required. The only thing you have to do is book quickly before they sell out.
1. Central Chicago — Stay in one of the “Best Hotels in the World” for $129 per night
When to travel: Through 2021
Price: $129 per night through April, $159 per night through December 30
Fully refundable: Yes
Photo: Travelzoo
This is your chance to book one of what Conde Nast Traveler called the “best hotels in the world” for a rate more apt for a three-star suburban chain hotel. You’ll stay in a Grand Chamber King Room at the Virgin Hotels Chicago, right in the center of the action with restaurants, nightlife, and the entire downtown scene within a quick walk or train ride away. Because you bought this deal through Travelzoo, a $30 daily breakfast credit is included in this already stellar rate. The rooms are done up for royalty — words like “foyer” and “chambers” used not jokingly — and on site is the Funny Library, a collection of funny things curated by a local comedy group. Within walking distance are Millenium Park, the entire Chicago Riverwalk, and Michigan Avenue, meaning not only are you staying in a renowned hotel in The Loop, but those postcard views of the Lake Michigan coastline are also right there.
2. Escape to Georgia’s wine country for $159, for up to 4 people
When to travel: Through August
Price: $159 weeknights, $199 weekends
Fully refundable: Yes, up to 72 hours before check-in
Photo: Travelzoo
Northeast of Atlanta is one of the country’s most overlooked wine regions. This Travelzoo deal puts you right in its heart — the Chateau Elan Winery & Resort. This winery and resort is an ideal place to sip wine, soak in the views, and toast to your general good taste in travel. The estate features a massive pool, dining and wine tastings, and an on-site gym. Up to four guests can take advantage of this rate, making it the best spring deal for a double-date couple’s weekend (upgrades to larger rooms start at $20 per night). Booking this Travelzoo deal also saves you $32 on the nightly resort fee, you’ll pay just $20 per night for wine tours, on-site entertainment, and Wi-Fi.
3. Wine, dine, and stay in Oregon’s Willamette Valley for just $129
When to travel: Through May 22
Price: $129 weeknights, $169 weekends
Fully refundable: Yes
Photo: Travelzoo
If West Coast wine is more your thing, check-in to the Garden Resort in Willamette Valley via this massive Travelzoo deal that saves you nearly 45 percent. This cottage deal includes dinner and a bottle of house wine per night — more nights means more wine and dine — along with easy access to more than 500 wineries in the surrounding wine region. After dinner, wander among the on-site botanical gardens or simply relax and take in the views of rolling vineyards, and if a friend talks you into letting them tag along, add them for just $15 per night.
4. Hit the Florida Keys for $99 per night
When to travel: Through August
Price: $129 weeknights, $189 weekends through March; $99 weeknights, $159 weekends April-August
Fully refundable: yes
Photo: Travelzoo
It’s time to catch the Keys Disease. This Travelzoo deal ensures you’ll have some spending cash left to tour the islands, if you end up wanting to leave the resort. With the Fairfield Inn & Suites Marathon Florida Keys’ on-site tiki bar, pool, lounge areas, and on-site activities like paddleboarding and jet skiing, we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. Though you’re halfway between Islamorada and the famed Duval Street of Key West, so no matter which way you head, you’re bound for a great time. This deal is for two people, with an option to add adults for $10 per night.
5. Getaway to an Oceanview room on Virginia Beach for $99
When to travel: Through May 27
Price: $99 Sunday-Thursday through April; $149 through May 27; $229 for two-night weekend stay through April; $399 through May 21
Fully refundable: Yes
Photo: Travelzoo
Heads up East Coasters — Virginia Beach is calling with a deal that only lasts through this spring. Starting at $99 per night, you can gaze at the Atlantic from your balcony at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel. Seafood is the specialty here, where the house restaurant — Catch 31 — serves the best raw oysters and Dungeness crab legs this side of Maine. The beach is right outside the door, and of course, you’ll need to take the requisite selfie in the beachside infinity pool, just to maximize the FOMO of your friends.
The post 5 luxurious Travelzoo deals that let you travel the US for less this spring appeared first on Matador Network.
Israel hosts concert for vaccinated
As the vaccine rollout continues to ramp up throughout the world, we must start to grapple with how to safely go back to normal. Some countries are working on “vaccine passports” while others already require proof of vaccination to enter. Israel is doing something similar with cultural events. On Wednesday, an open-air concert was held in Tel Aviv, and it was only open to those who have been vaccinated, or could prove they’d recovered from COVID-19.
To enter the concert, attendees were required to have a “Green Pass,” a government-validated certificate proving that they had received both doses of the vaccine, and that at least one week had passed prior to the event. In lieu of a vaccine, they could also provide an antibody test to certify that they have previously been infected with COVID-19.
Doron Zicher, a retired businessman who attended the concert, told Reuters, “It provides protection, but also a feeling of comfort to sit among people who are vaccinated. “After a year staying at home in a sort of isolated environment it feels great to go out and experience public shows and activities.”
Green Passes are valid for six months from the time of full vaccination, and can also be used at theaters, gyms, swimming pools, and hotels.
Israel has the highest vaccination rate in the world, with around half of Israelis already receiving the first of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
The post Israel held a concert only open to those who have been vaccinated appeared first on Matador Network.
Win a seat on SpaceX’s flight
SpaceX is launching its very first civilian flight as a part of its mission called “Inspiration4,” and there are two seats up for grabs. The expedition will depart in the fourth quarter of 2021, between September and December, and will launch a capsule that will orbit the earth for three to four days, circumnavigating the planet every 90 minutes.
Two of the four spaces have already been secured by billionaire Jared Isaacman, the founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, and Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and bone cancer survivor. Isaacman, who is also a jet pilot and holds several world records — one of which was for circumnavigating the globe in a light jet — initially purchased all four seats and donated the others. Each seat has its own name that reflects the pillars of the expedition — leadership, hope, generosity, and prosperity, with the latter two still available.
The final seats can be won via a competition, with the lucky winners being announced sometime in March.
For a chance to win the “generosity” seat, entrants must make a donation to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee, a research facility that focuses on children’s diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. Donations start at as little as $10. Each dollar donated gives people 10 chances to win, with the maximum being capped at $10,000. That said, if a donation is not financially possible people can still enter by agreeing to communication from the hospital via this form. For a chance to win the “prosperity” seat, participants are being asked to launch an online business using the Isaacman-founded Shift4Shop ecommerce platform. More information on this process can be found here.
The deadline for the “generosity” seat is coming up fast, on February 28. The fourth seat’s deadline is yet to be announced.
In order to be eligible, all participants must be at least 18 years old and living in the United States. The lucky winners will undergo commercial astronaut training ahead of the mission.
If you’ve always wanted to visit outer space, this may be your golden ticket.
The post You can win a trip to space on SpaceX’s first-ever civilian flight appeared first on Matador Network.
February 24, 2021
Travel shaming is a toxic trend
Editor’s note: This is an op-ed piece. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own.
Facebook and Instagram have always been a battlefield of aesthetics, where we line up our most heavily filtered photos like soldiers and pit them against each other for likes and engagement. The rules of “engagement” used to be simple: Post the most enviable vacation photo or diabolical thirst trap on a beach, and you win the battle. Now, the rules have changed.
In a pandemic fraught with universal illness, poverty, grief, and loneliness, the public expression of joy is considered taboo. Rather than tamping down the mundane aspects of our lives and elevating the few lustrous moments, as usual, now we do the opposite. Social media is still a battlefield of appearances, but it’s all about appearing the most empathetic and responsible. That might sound like a welcome change if it wasn’t accompanied by a new, toxic trend: shaming.
Staying sensitive to the plight of others amid a global health crisis is important. To do otherwise would be tone-deaf. But personal sensitivity and responsibility have spilled over into outright judgement of those still choosing to share their fun experiences online. We’ve all seen it. The beach photo of a friend who took a cheap flight to Mexico, or the vague airplane window Instagram story with the caption, “Sunshine, here I come!” You know, the people whose social isolation looks more social than isolating. In perhaps the biggest sign of our times, the comments under that post no longer read, “Jealous!” or “Yaaaas queen!” but “Did you quarantine?,” “You’re traveling in the middle of a pandemic?,” or even worse, just a passive aggressive “thinking face” emoji.
The only thing that makes our homebound state somewhat bearable is that we’re in it together. Nearly everyone else in the world is in the same situation, and in a schadenfreudian kind of way, that makes us feel better. So when we see someone breaking out of their stasis and actually enjoying themselves, we think, “what the hell? I thought we were a team.” Traveling in the era of COVID-19 restrictions is like crossing a picket line, and understandably, the union of workers still holding the line are pissed. Before we start policing each other online, though, it’s important to take a few things into consideration.
Travel is safe… if you follow the rules.Judgment is a dangerous game because you never know the full story. Most foreign destinations have a high degree of safety measures in place, whether that be testing requirements, mandatory quarantines, or masking and social distancing rules. Some are so stringent — like Cambodia, which requires three PCR tests for incoming travelers — that it would probably dissuade the vast majority of leisure travelers from visiting. You might envy your friend’s beach pics, but you definitely wouldn’t envy their nasal swabs. Masks, PCR tests, and hand sanitizer aren’t likely to make Instagram cameos, after all.
As much as we may hate to admit it, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) plays a huge part in our judgement of others. We used to handle travel envy by scrolling through #travelporn on Instagram and frantically searching Skyscanner. Now, travel envy manifests as a Facebook comment that says, “Should you REALLY be traveling right now?” What it really says, in the subtext, is “I’m following the rules, why can’t you?” Truth is, they might be. So unless your friend’s photo shows them in a mosh pit at a massive indoor concert, or doing body shots off strangers, it’s best to reserve judgment.
It’s also important to remember that many countries — particularly Caribbean islands popular with American tourists — rely on tourism for economic survival. We tend to view tourism as a selfish activity we inflict on other countries, but in reality it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Destinations have had to strike a tough balance between financial stability and travel restrictions to manage COVID-19 case numbers. In Aruba 80 percent of the economy is tourism-based, which spelled catastrophe for the island in 2020. Instead of viewing travel as inherently selfish, it might be time to consider who might be benefiting from it.
Local fun isn’t canceled, either.The shame-fest isn’t just reserved for international travelers — domestic fun-havers are also invited to the party. “Lockdown” has become a colloquialism to describe our collective lives this past year, but that doesn’t mean everyone has literally been sitting inside staring out the window since March. Seeing friends is not only acceptable but also vital for our mental health. Even Dr. Fauci would agree that having picnics, going for group hikes, dining at outdoor restaurants, and going for short road trips are safe as long as public health measures are followed. If you’re itching to travel but not comfortable going abroad, visiting a state or national park, or going camping, can be the perfect getaway to take your mind off the tedious vaccine rollout.
So if someone tells you they had a picnic yesterday, or went for a weekend road trip, don’t roll your eyes. There are all kinds of creative ways to safely stay mentally and physically healthy during “lockdown,” and that almost always involves leaving the house.
It’s ultimately a personal decision.Caring about your personal freedoms more than public health can be a selfish, slippery slope; there’s certainly enough viral videos of people refusing to wear masks in public space for no good reason to fuel our outrage for the remainder of the pandemic. There’s even more egregious examples of people blatantly flouting health protocols in the name of travel that deserves outright condemnation. Tourists were recently arrested in Hawaii for trying to bribe a TSA agent to avoid providing negative COVID-19 tests and mandatory quarantine.
So sure, sometimes travel shaming is justified. But is it productive to go after average people doing their best to take a socially distant vacay? Probably not. If people are following health protocols — they’re wearing a mask, they’re getting tested before and after their trip, they’re avoiding crowded spaces and sticking to socializing with their group, and they’re patronizing businesses in need — they don’t deserve the same level of ire as those tourists trying to leverage their privilege to get around the mandates meant to keep everyone safe.
Deciding to travel during a pandemic ultimately comes down to one’s personal comfort level. Everyone assesses risk differently. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for how to handle travel right now. Personal health, living situation, and the destination itself all play a role in our comfort level and decision-making process. Ideally, the responsible traveler will weigh these factors against any potential risk and make the decision that’s right for them. There’s enough vitriol and divide in the world as is — let’s keep it out of travel.
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The 11 national scenic trails
We’ve all heard of the Pacific Crest Trail, the grueling 2,650-mile path running over mountainous stretches of California, Oregon, and Washington that was immortalized in the film Wild. On the country’s opposite flank, the Appalachian Trail runs nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. What these two trails have in common, beyond being long and challenging, is that they are US national scenic trails, pathways across some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes.
While the PCT and AT may be the best known of the national scenic trails — so much so that they’re often just referred to by their initials — there are in fact nine more of these paths worthy of your attention. With one notable, 65-mile exception, the national scenic trails span many hundreds or even a few thousand miles, showcasing everything from neotropical wetlands and prairies to deserts and rocky alpine environments. Their pathways are inspired both by geologic events and human history, and all are worth a gander.
Note: COVID-19 regulations may discourage thru-hiking in some areas, but each of these trails contains stretches where day hikes are possible.
What is a national scenic trail?
Photo: Nico Schueler/Shutterstock
Congress established national scenic trails in 1968 to preserve, protect, promote, and sometimes even extend paths of particular aesthetic beauty and cultural or historical significance. Some trails, like the Appalachian Trail, were already well-established by then while others have been conceived since the Trails Act was passed.
The trails are variously managed by the National Park Service together with other federal entities like the National Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management, depending on the land they cross, and more local entities like state and county park services. Local trail associations affiliated with each of these national scenic trails help maintain them and are great resources for trail information, including maps, suggested itineraries, and where to stay. If you only plan to explore sections of the trail — perhaps with a dog or via mountain bike or even on horseback — their resources will help you determine on which sections of the trail a canine or equine companion, or cycling, may be permitted.
1. Appalachian Trail
Photo: MarkVanDykePhotography/Shutterstock
Distance: 2,190 miles
Time: 6-7 months
The oldest trail on this list also passes the most states. Fourteen of them, in fact, from Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia in the south to Maryland and Pennsylvania to the northeastern states of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The idea for a thru-trail was proposed 100 years ago, although it was finally completed in 1937. Even today, since the trail passes through private lands, some sections of it may change over time.
While millions hike sections of the trail each year, the number of annual thru-hikers is much smaller, with only 20,000 hikers having completed the whole trail since its inception. Those who do can apply to have their name added to the 2000-Milers list maintained by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The conservancy is also the best place to find interactive maps, state-by-state trail info, and other resources you’ll need to get the most out of this famed passageway.
2. The Arizona Trail
Photo: Maridav/Shutterstock
Distance: 800 miles
Time: 6-8 weeks
The Arizona National Scenic Trail winds on a north-south axis through some of the most beautiful landscapes in that desert state, from red rock canyons to high elevation forests of ponderosa pine. This trail is not for the faint of heart, traversing arid landscapes with multiple elevation changes, as it crosses several mountain peaks and many canyons, including the Grand Canyon itself.
While some sections are suitable for mountain biking, areas of the trail like those through the Superstition Wilderness are closed to cyclists. In the sections of trail that pass national forest land, you can easily find places to camp. You’ll need permits for areas like the Saguaro Wilderness and Grand Canyon. The only urban area the trail nears is Flagstaff, located at a pleasant elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, making this a fine place to rest and take a shower. The Arizona Trail Association is a must-visit resource before hiking the trail. It offers excellent section-by-section maps of the trail with information on distances, difficulty, where to camp, best water sources, and so on.
3. The Continental Divide Trail
Photo: Ryan DeBerardinis/Shutterstock
Distance: 3,100 miles
Time: 6 months
It makes sense that there should be a national scenic trail that traverses the spine of the continent. On either side of the Continental Divide, water flows down toward the western states or east towards the Great Plains, and the mountain states that the trail traverses comprise some of the most iconic and beautiful landscapes in the country — including those of Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.
That said, this trail across the Rocky Mountains makes the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail — arduous mountain paths of their own — look like kids’ stuff. It slices 3,100 miles from national border to national border across the deserts of New Mexico before winding into Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and, finally, Montana. Look to the Continental Divide Trail Coalition for resources on thru-hiking or shorter sojourns on one of its many beautiful sections.
4. The Florida Trail
Distance: 1,500 miles
Time: 2-3 months
The Florida Trail runs from the south end of the state in the Big Cypress Preserve northward, and then due west towards the edge of the Florida panhandle, stopping short of the Louisiana border. It’s not as well delineated as other trails, with options in the middle of the state to pass by Orlando or to steer well clear of it. The trail is also incomplete in some sections that pass through private land, so roadways may be a part of it at times. But it’s the only trail in the country that takes you through neotropical wetlands, offering views of unique animal and plant life. The Florida Trail Association has maps and resources.
5. The Ice Age Trail
Photo: Maarten Daams/Shutterstock
Distance: 1,000 miles
Time: 2-3 months
The Ice Age Trail carves a meandering path across Wisconsin, heading south on the Door Peninsula along Lake Michigan before u-turning near the Illinois border and heading north again through the middle of the state, and then making a zigzaggy eastward path towards Minnesota. The trail is so named because its unique landscape was carved by receding glaciers from the last ice age — leaving behind odd hills called kames or drumlins, stratified areas called eskers, outwash plains where glaciers ended, and many, many lakes.
The trail is supported by the Ice Age Trail Alliance, which is working to see it completed all the way through. Given that Wisconsin gets average low temperatures in the single digits (Fahrenheit) in the winter months, you’d think no one would thru-hike this trail then. But at the time of writing, Minnesotan Emily Ford was on the final stretch of her journey, becoming the first woman to do so in winter.
6. The Natchez Trace
Photo: Fredlyfish4/Shutterstock
Distance: 60 miles, not contiguous
Time: Variable
The Natchez Trace is actually five separate trails in Tennessee and Mississippi, each section running anywhere from three to 26 miles for a total length of sixty miles. It’s inspired by the original Natchez Trace, a 440-mile long path that was created in the late 1700s through the Mississippi River Valley in an attempt to stop the French from extending their influence in this area. Today, much of this centuries-old throughway has become a paved, scenic roadway.
However, you can get off the pavement in certain areas and hike through these historic lands, alongside prairie land, forests, ravines, farmland, and old towns. The shortest branch, the three-mile Potkopinu Section, is where the wear and tear of so many footsteps over 10 generations have sunk the soft soil up to 20 feet below the normal groundline — so you’ll find yourself walking in what feels like a very wide trench with forest on either side. As the scenic trail is contained within the parkway, the Natchez Trace Parkway Association is where to look for more information.
7. The New England Trail
Photo: flashbacknyc/Shutterstock
Distance: 215 miles
Time: 2-4 weeks
This pleasant path starts in southern Connecticut on the Long Island Sound and cuts its way upward to the north end of Massachusetts — taking you through classic Northeast forests of maple, birch, beech, hemlock, and other deciduous trees that light up the autumn months with their blaze of colors. Evergreen white pines are also in the mix, as you pass unexpectedly beautiful landscapes of ancient mountains whose once-jagged peaks have been worn down to gentle slopes over the passage of time.
Glaciers worked their way through this area millennia ago, exposing rocks and river valleys. You’ll pass waterfalls and farmland here, so stay on the trail in the areas it crosses private land. Check out the New England Trail Association to find out where to get the best views on the trail.
8. The North Country Trail
Photo: BHamms/Shutterstock
Distance: 4,600 miles
Time: 7+ months
The North Country Trail is the longest of the national scenic trails, measuring a whopping 4,600 miles and running across eight states on the northern US border: North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. Despite its length, it’s not necessarily the most taxing trail, as it doesn’t feature the elevation gains of treks like the Arizona Trail or Great Divide Trail, and you’ll find several campgrounds along the way — although you’ll still need to backcountry camp in places.
What you’ll see on this trail are wide-open landscapes of glacier-etched land, brimming with both deciduous and evergreen forests. You’ll hike along the rim of Lake Superior and pass between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, all bodies of water so large they look like seas. In other places, like New York’s Finger Lakes region, you’ll take in the vista or more manageably sized natural pools. On a visit to the Midwest or Northeast, a day-hike on a section of the North Country Trail is the perfect outing. Check with the North Country Trail Association for information on how to do just that.
9. The Pacific Crest Trail
Photo: Elena Stepanova/Shutterstock
Distance: 2,650 miles
Time: 5 months
The Pacific Crest Trail is the most popular trail in the west, with nearly 1,200 thru-hikers completing the trail in 2018. The number has since dropped, due to both wildfires and the pandemic, but it is still a top bucket-list endeavor. The trail’s popularity may owe something to do with Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild: A Journey from Lost to Found and its cinematic representation with Reese Witherspoon. But the reality is, it already attracted hundreds of thru-hikers in the preceding years, and with good reason.
The trail takes you by the tallest mountains in the Lower 48 and incorporates a stretch of the John Muir Trail, named for the naturalist who encouraged the creation of Yosemite National Park and who co-founded the Sierra Club. The Pacific Crest Trail is so beautiful that even for those of us who can’t find the time to hike the whole thing, there are plenty of stunning sections that you could take on in a weekend or a week — whether alongside Washington Mount Rainier, Oregon’s Crater Lake, or California’s Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks.
10. The Pacific Northwest Trail
Photo: Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock
Distance: 1,200 miles
Time: 60-75 days
The Pacific Northwest Trail picks up where other trails, namely the Continental Divide and the North Country trails, end. It traces a passage across the northern states due west of the Continental Divide on the side of the country that is still young, geologically speaking, with jagged mountain ranges that are hard to traverse. In fact, the trail crosses over seven mountain ranges and seven national forests, with one-quarter of it passing through federally designated wilderness areas.
Add to that the fact that the trail is still being developed in places, and that may explain why the Pacific Northwest Trail Association is hesitant to put an easily viewable map on its website. Perhaps the intention is to deter newbies who may suddenly find themselves at an apparent dead-end, needing to cut their way through overgrowth to find the trail again. In fact, the PNT Association stresses the need to have proper mountaineering skills.
You should also be prepared for scrambles up almost-vertical rocky paths, wilderness camping, and potential bear encounters. Hike outside the recommended July to September window and trudging over snow may also be a factor. Yet you’ll also pass some of the most dramatic and rugged scenery of the Lower 48 here, including portions of Olympic National Park and Glacier National Park.
11. The Potomac Heritage Trail
Photo: MarkVanDykePhotography/Shutterstock
Distance: 710, not contiguous
Time: Variable
Although it was established nearly 40 years ago, the Potomac Heritage Trail is still a work in progress. Eventually, it will run 710 miles through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC — working its way from the Chesapeake Bay alongside the Potomac and into Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Plateau, carving a trail through the mid-Atlantic terrain that is steeped in history. Currently, the longest contiguous section is the 185-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, which runs through a historic park of the same name. Unlike other trails on this list, a few sections are even paved, like the 19-mile-long Mt. Vernon Trail, which runs within the George Washington Memorial Parkway, making this one of the few trails you could tackle sections of while on a road bike. The Potomac Heritage Trail Association is working to preserve and expand the trail.
The post The Appalachian Trail and PCT are just two of the 11 stunning national scenic trails appeared first on Matador Network.
Remote worker hotel subscriptions
To say that it’s been a bad year for the hospitality industry would be an understatement. According to research by the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the pandemic set the industry back by a whopping 10 years. In the hope to recover some of their losses, hotels are offering new “subscription” programs to remote workers.
With the rise of remote work, the digital nomad community has seen an unprecedented boom. Hotels are actively trying to capitalize on the trend by offering “subscription” programs where members can hop between different properties owned by the same group.
These programs aim to offer a flat monthly fee that would grant members an unlimited stay at select properties in multiple locations. Here are some of the participating hotels and their rates:
The Freehand Hotel
Photo: Freehand Miami/Facebook
Freehand Hotels currently has various properties operating in Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago. Their program runs at $2,499 plus tax monthly and allows remote workers an unlimited stay at these properties plus two of the brand’s sister properties — The Generator DC and The Generator Miami. Participants in the program also get discounts on food and drinks, free WiFi, and access to the on-demand workout app Jetsweat.
Selina Colive
Photo: Selina/Facebook
Selina started off as a fun and chill accommodation for digital nomads in locations like Mexico, Costa Rica, and within the US. The setup was always designed with digital nomads in mind, offering coworking spaces coupled with wellness activities and social gatherings. Since late 2020, Selina stepped up the game and created a monthly subscription where people can hop around properties as often as weekly for a fixed fee where the price is based on the type of room and location, starting at $325 a month for a shared room in Latin America.
Citizen M Global Passport
Photo: CitizenM/Facebook
The Dutch boutique hotel chain known for its affordable luxury is now looking to attract remote workers by offering a flat fee of $50 a night to be used for a minimum of seven nights and a maximum of 29 per month. The hotel chain is known for its modern design and cozy rooms. Citizen M has properties primarily in Europe but also the US and a few destinations in Asia. Remote workers who purchase the Global Passport subscription also get 25 percent off meals.
Banyan Tree Habitat
Photo: Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts/Facebook
The “habitat” program by Banyan Tree wants to create a global home atmosphere for digital nomads. Travelers can book their stay in “units” where each unit is worth seven days. Up to four units can be purchased at one time and used to hop between properties. The more units a guest buys, the greater the savings. Unit prices start at $1,750. While the majority of the properties are in Southeast Asia, there are a few in Greece, Morocco, Mexico, and more.
H/T: Inside Hook
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Huge ice sheet on Lake Michigan
Few natural phenomena are more impressive than watching a calving glacier, or a massive ice sheet breaking in half. The sheer enormity of ice masses can be tough to grapple with sometimes, especially from ground-level where you might not have an accurate perspective of size or scale. Luckily, when this ice sheet covering Lake Michigan broke apart from the Chicago shoreline this week, there was an aerial video camera to capture just how epic the event actually was.
The footage was caught on tape by WGN-TV’s weather live cam located on top of the John Hancock Center, and was shared as a timelapse on Twitter by meteorologist John Kassell.
In a caption to the video, Kassell wrote, “Incredible timelapse of a giant section of ice covering Lake Michigan around the Chicago shoreline breaking off and drifting away. This video timelapse was captured by the WGN Hancock camera.”
Incredible timelapse of a giant section of ice covering Lake Michigan around the Chicago shoreline breaking off and drifting away. This video timelapse was captured by the WGN Hancock camera. H/T Tom @Skilling pic.twitter.com/9evTRpiLtn
— John Kassell (@wxkassell) February 23, 2021
Earlier this month, parts of Lake Michigan froze over during an extended cold front that saw nine consecutive days of snowfall, breaking a 78-year-old record, Newsweek reported. Being able to stand on frozen Lake Michigan is rare, and people have been taking advantage of it. Just make sure you stay off the ice when the temperature increases, or you may just be caught on the wrong side of a breaking ice sheet.
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Drones recreated Van Gogh paintings
Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” is one of the most recognizable paintings in the world. Even if you haven’t seen the original (at the MoMa in New York City), chances are you’ve seen several replications of the famous work throughout your life — but nothing like the ones that recently took place in China.
Photo: Guinness World Records
EFYI Group, a drone production company, partnered with Tianjin University in China to light up the sky with some of Van Gogh’s most famous works, as well as images representing his life story in a light show called “A tribute to Van Gogh.” Using 600 drones to map the painting onto the night sky in northern China’s Tianjin municipality, they set a world record for the longest animation performed by unmanned aerial vehicles, with the show lasting 26 minutes and 19 seconds.
The drones told the story of Van Gogh’s life, showing vignettes of his most famous work, including “Wheat Field with Cypresses,” “The Mulberry Tree in Autumn,” the “Sunflowers” series, and of course, “The Starry Night.” To accomplish this, high-precision positioning technology was used to achieve coordination and synchronization between the drones.
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5 wine routes in Germany
The bright zing in a cool, crisp glass of Riesling — Germany’s flagship wine — is pretty hard to beat. And though one out of every five German grapes may wind up in a bottle of this classic white, the country’s also globally known for its Pinot Noir and dozens of other varieties, some of which may be complete strangers to your table.
To celebrate Germany’s long, long love affair with the wine grape — German viticulture goes back some 2,000 years, and there are now 14 distinct wine regions — five wine routes have been designated across the country. They offer visitors a concise way to explore the birthplaces of their favorite bottles…and to find their next obsession. Which route best matches your palate?
1. Baden Wine Route
Photo: Francesco Carovillano/GNTB
The Baden wine region is the third-largest in Germany, and this exploratory route winds through it for an impressive 310 miles. Established in 1954, the route introduces visitors to the region’s principal wine-growing villages and producers, as well as scenic areas like the Black Forest, the Upper Rhine Valley, and the Markgräflerland, known as the “Tuscany of Germany” for its natural beauty.
The wines here range from Pinot Noir and Müller-Thurgau (a woefully underrated light white great for pairing with appetizers and, well, anything really) to Pinot Gris and Riesling, and they can be sampled at the vineyards themselves as well as various restaurants and taverns en route.
There’s plentiful history and culture along the way, too — think grand castles and atmospheric monasteries, museums, and striking architecture in places like Freiburg and the picturesque spa town of Baden-Baden. Active travelers with nothing but time can also hike or cycle the route.
2. German Wine Route
Photo: nnattalli/Shutterstock
Snaking its way through Germany’s pretty Palatinate (Pfalz) region, from Schweigen-Rechtenbach to Bockenheim, this 52-mile route is one of the country’s oldest and most popular. The Palatinate region is world-famous for its Riesling, and you certainly won’t struggle to find a perfectly chilled glass — or bottle — at one of the many Strausswirtschaft (pop-up wine bars) along the way.
Of course, there are other varietals to sample too, as well as a wealth of natural and cultural attractions to break up the itinerary. In Deidesheim, visit the Museum of Wine Culture and dine at Michelin-star restaurants; take in Hambach Castle for its serious historic significance for German democracy (which you’ll learn about in the associated museum); and don’t miss the Dürkheim Barrel, the largest of its kind in the world with space for around 650 people to enjoy fine dining and wine tastings. Yes, it’s literally a barrel.
If you’re traveling in September, visit Bad Dürkheim for the biggest wine festival in the world, Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt, which attracts around 600,000 oenophiles each year.
3. Saxon Wine Route
Photo: Werner Karol/GNTB
It might only be 34 miles long, but this wine route packs in a lot. Meandering through the Elbe Valley in the East German state of Saxony, it showcases over 30 varieties — mostly whites, from Riesling and Weissburgunder to Grauburgunder, Traminer, and Scheurebe — at the many local vineyards. Most offer incredible culinary delights, too, as you can’t tackle any of these routes on wine alone.
The Saxon Wine Route is just as appealing in terms of its cultural offerings. In Pillnitz, explore the splendid castle complex and the Museum of Decorative Arts; in Pirna, take in the impressive castle — Schloss Sonnenstein — and the DDR Museum, allowing you to explore life in former East Germany; and in Meissen, visit the world-renowned porcelain factory dating back to 1710, along with the imposing Gothic cathedral (it’ll make the 18th century look like yesterday).
The main cultural destination along this route, though, is Dresden — one of Germany’s most attractive cities — with its slew of impressive sights like the baroque Frauenkirche and the galleries and gardens of the Zwinger palace complex.
4. Tauber Valley Wine Route
Photo: Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock
At just under 125 miles, this route provides visitors with a deep dive into the myriad charms of the Tauber Valley, managing to pass through no fewer than three different wine-growing regions: Baden, Württemberg, and Franconia.
Starting in the charming town of Wertheim-Dertingen and ending in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, you’ll traverse beautiful landscapes as well as major landmarks like Wertheim Castle, the Cistercian abbey of Bronnbach, the residential palace of Mergentheim, and Weikersheim Palace — all vistas and structures worthy of the finest glass of Tauberschwarz.
While much of the region is dedicated to the cultivation of white wines like Müller-Thurgau, Sylvaner, and Weissburgunder, you’ll also find delicious reds like Schwarzriesling, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), and Tauberschwarz, plus lots of regional cuisine to boot.
5. Bergstrasse Holiday Route
Photo: Sina Ettmer Photography/Shutterstock
Running between the Upper Rhine Plain, the Main and Neckar rivers, and the Odenwald hills, this 50-mile route officially begins in the vibrant university city of Darmstadt and ends in the wine-growing town of Wiesloch. As well as vineyards cultivating fine Rieslings, Pinot Blancs, Pinot Gris, Müller-Thurgaus, and Pinot Noirs, the route is characterized by its abundance of picturesque countryside, charming medieval towns with winding cobbled streets, plus more castles, palaces, stately homes and abbeys, and even Roman-era sites than you could ever hope to visit on a single trip.
Specific highlights include the stunning eighth-century Abbey of Lorsch, the Odenwald UNESCO Global Geopark, and the historic towns of Heppenheim, Zwingenberg, and Michelstadt. Between spring and autumn, you can also find a full calendar of wine-related events, from festivals like the “Bergstrasse Spring” and markets to wine-focused hikes and tours. Safe to say, your palate won’t be the same upon your return home.
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