Matador Network's Blog, page 778

Name this new South African airline

Even though travel has seen a sharp decline in recent months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa is launching a brand new airline that will begin running domestic flights in December 2020. And instead of hiring a team of professionals to name the airline, they’re looking for public input. If your name is selected, you could win free travel for a year.

The competition’s website asks the public to “Help to find a name that is unique, aspirational, and cool – [and] if selected, you could be the lucky winner of a year’s free travel on the airline valued at R480 000 [$28,200].”

A partnership between Kulula founder Gidon Novick and Global Aviation, the airline is seizing an opportunity created by the pandemic to create a more efficient, innovative airline designed by the people it serves. Novick told , “The pandemic has created a unique opportunity to start an airline that is not only dramatically more efficient but also inventive and creative by tapping into the unique talent that our country offers.”

More details about the competition, including how to enter, can be found on the official website. To submit an idea, along with the name suggestion, you just have to provide your name, email, and ID or passport number.

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Finland will use COVID-sniffing dogs

Dogs are always a welcome sight, but these days, canines able to sniff out COVID-19 are bound to be even more gladly received. In Finland, dogs are being deployed in Helsinki’s airport to sniff out COVID-19 in incoming travelers.

Since Tuesday, four dogs are currently working during a shift (while two are working, the other two are resting), and 10 dogs are being trained for the job.

Passengers are asked to swipe their skin with a wipe, which is then given to a dog in a separate booth with several other samples. The dogs have been trained to detect the presence of COVID-19 within 10 seconds. It indicates a COVID-19 detection by barking, laying down, or scratching its paw in front of the positive sample. Travelers with positive results from the dog detection will undergo a PCR nasal swab test.

Photo: Finavia

According to a press release, dogs can detect the virus much more easily than PCR tests as they need a smaller sample from the person being tested. The COVID-19 detecting dogs are also almost 100 percent accurate, they can detect the virus before symptoms even start, and are much cheaper than medical tests.

Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a professor at the University of Helsinki, said, “It’s a very promising method. Dogs are very good at sniffing. If it works, it will be a good [coronavirus] screening method at many other places.” She suggested sports venues, cultural events, and nursing homes as other potential venues where COVID-sniffing dogs may prove useful.

Finland isn’t the only country to employ such a strategy. The United Arab Emirates is also experimenting with the program, and countries like Australia, France, Germany, and the United States are currently considering the use of dogs as COVID-19 detectors.

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Svalbard bar looking for owner

If you’ve always dreamed of running a bar north of the Arctic Circle, in a place where polar bears are known to roam, Svalbard might be the business for you. Svalbard is a bar located on Svalbard, an archipelago located in between Norway and the North Pole, in the town of Longyearbyen. It serves burgers, pizza, and hearty northern beers, and is a local favorite.

“Svalbard is a popular and cozy pub in the heart of Longyearbyen, the largest town in Svalbard,” the owners said. “The pub is in immediate vicinity of several hotels and is a natural hotspot for both locals and tourists, with an attractive corner location on main street. Burgers from the grill, Italian pizzas from the brick ovens and great drinks from the bar are just the tip of the iceberg of what [it] has to offer.”

The bar has a full kitchen and room for 18 tables and 90 seated customers, and it’s been profitable over the last four years.

Polar bear visitors aren’t exactly encouraged, as they can be hostile to humans, but the bar is no stranger to curious bears poking around the establishment. “How many bars do you know where a polar bear actually visits and you can get your own polar ice right outside?” a bar representative told Lonely Planet.

And the best piece of news is that you won’t even drown in paperwork in the process. Thanks to the Svalbard treaty there are no limitations on travel or work and there are no visa requirements for foreigners to work or live.

If you’re interested in being the new owner, reach out via the online form and the owners will email you with more information.

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How to build the best cheese plate

We’ve all seen them pop up on our social media feeds: those glorious, complex cheeseboards, covered in not just wedges and wheels of creamy, sharp, and salty cheeses of all varieties, but also dried fruits, thinly sliced meats, ramekins filled with olives, piles of salted nuts, dabs of honey, and bunches of cherries or grapes. These aspirational culinary works of art seem more in the domain of expert cheese connoisseurs, not accessible to the average person. But if you have even an inkling that you might like cheese, you can put together an enviable cheese board.

In the fall, as the weather gets colder and we start gravitating toward cozy sweaters and our favorite comfort foods, the temptation to learn how to build an elaborate cheese board to snack on yourself or to offer to any guests you might be hosting this season becomes increasingly urgent. But where to start? Anna Saxelby, owner and head cheesemonger at Saxelby Cheesemongers in New York City, thinks the answer is actually quite simple.

“The first step is literally just going up to a cheese counter, whether that’s at a local cheesemonger if you’re lucky enough to have in your neighborhood, a farmers market, or even some of the larger grocery chains like Whole Foods and Kroger and Wegmans,” she tells me over the phone, “and asking the cheesemonger, ‘I really like cheese. What should I try? Help me figure this out.’”

When people come into her shop, Saxelby says she likes to play “cheese detective,” asking her customers what occasion the cheese board will be served for, if they like hard or soft cheese, strong or mild flavors, goat or blue cheese, and then based on that basic information help them pick a few different types of cheese to start with.

“People know more about cheese than they even think that they know or that they realize that they know,” she adds.

Diving into the world of artisan cheese — with its many and varied styles, textures, rinds, and flavors — might seem complicated or stressful, but think of it this way: After you learn the basics, you get to eat all the cheese your heart desires.

“There’s so many facets to enjoying cheese. There’s obviously eating it, the sensory aspect of it, but then the science and the chemistry behind it, and supporting local businesses and small farms,” says Saxelby.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to construct the perfect cheese board this fall.

Where to buy your cheese

Photo: Reprinted from The New Rules of Cheese. Copyright © 2020 by Anne Saxelby.

Of course, Saxelby is a big proponent of purchasing all your cheese at your local cheesemonger because you can be assured that the products are likely to be “fresher, more flavorful, more alive,” and farmed sustainably.

“You’re supporting a small business that is creating employment opportunities in their neighborhood, and in turn you’re supporting these small artisan cheese makers that are bringing economic opportunity to rural places and improving the land. These people are farming with respect for the land and the animals,” she explains.

Saxelby’s “tiny soapbox” is letting people know that sustainable dairy farms aren’t part of the scourge of factory farms that exacerbate climate change. Instead, these farms engage in environmentally friendly practices like “pastoring your cows in season and working to build topsoil on a farm, and sequestering carbon,” so that when you buy their cheese, “you’re helping the planet and supporting small businesses.”

Don’t despair if an artisan cheesemonger hasn’t opened in your neck of the woods, though. The supermarket should be stocked with basic, but essential, standbys that will make a good cheese board every time. Saxelby says to look out for a “tangy, fresh, spreadable” goat cheese, like the Humboldt Fog from Cypress Grove cheeses. Add an aged gouda, manchego, and Parmigiano Reggiano — all which are widely available at most stores these days — and you’ve got all your bases covered.

The best cheese for fall

Photo: Reprinted from The New Rules of Cheese. Illustrations copyright © 2020 by Alex Citrin.

“When the weather gets a little bit cooler,” says Saxelby, “it can be a nice time to dive into some more rich, flavorful aged cheeses.”

She recommends trying cheeses in the guyere family, or alpine style cheeses that have a nuttier, toasty, or even meatier flavors. She’s also drawn to creamy, gooey cheeses like Harbison from Jasper Hill Farms in Vermont, which she says you can “leave on your countertop and eat with a spoon.”

Like strawberries or watermelon, cheese is in fact seasonal, so you might seek out styles that become available to eat as the leaves change color. One of Saxelby’s favorite seasonal cheeses is a sheep’s milk cheese called Varano, made by Vermont Shepard. She says that sheep usually only produce milk from May to September, so the cheesemakers age wheels of Varano all summer long, until they’re ready to eat in the fall.

“That’s something that has been lost in the cheese industry,” she says. “Through the rise of larger scale, commodity cheese making, the nuances of cheese have been lost. If you go to the grocery store, you can find cheddar any day, or fresh goat cheese for that matter. But if you get back to basics, and as many of these small farms have done, the milk changes throughout the seasons.”

Fall cheese pairings

Photo: Reprinted from The New Rules of Cheese. Illustrations copyright © 2020 by Alex Citrin.

Bold, rich cheeses like gruyere pair well with warm, spiced flavors like spiced pecans or other nuts. And you shouldn’t shy away from the stereotypical (but delicious) flavors of the fall season: Saxelby thinks a pumpkin compote would pair well with a triple crème cheese like Kunik from Nettle Meadow Farms in New York. Fresh, bright slices of fruit are always welcome on a plate of fatty, salty cheese; in the fall, apples and pears are your best bet.

Drinks are another important consideration, if you don’t already have enough to think about. The easy choice is to serve red wine with cheese, but if you really want to show off your cheese expertise and elevated palate, skip the wine and try a carbonated beverage. In the fall, cider is the perfect option.

“Anything that is carbonated and alcoholic goes really well with cheese. And that is because there’s something about the bubbles that will break up the butterfat that’s present in the cheese and provide a pleasing mouthfeel,” Saxelby says. “Cider has really beautiful natural acidity, that will also help cut through some of the richness of the cheese. And cheese is a fermented product cider [is] obviously fermented product, too. So there’s something about the wonderful microbes that are present in all of those things that just create these wonderful nuanced flavors.”

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7 of Virginia's best outdoor spots

This year, we’ve all been forced to think about travel a bit differently, to ponder “new” styles of vacationing. And that includes our list of potential destinations — where can we go for a dose of fresh air, away from the crowds? Where can we road trip sustainably? Where can we explore but leave no trace?

Answer: Virginia. At 63% forest and with 3.7 million acres of public land, Virginia has the lock on East Coast great outdoors. So load up the family, put a call out to the quarantine pod, and get the Airstream ready — here’s where you didn’t know you could get away.

1. George Washington and Jefferson National Forests

Photo: Shutterstock/Jon Bilous

When people think of America’s public lands, they tend to picture the red rocks and mountains out West. Let them — that leaves more of Virginia’s 1.6+ million acres of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests for the rest of us. Here, running up the spine of the Appalachians along Virginia’s western border, mountain maple, yellow birch, white pine, and ash trees blanket the color-changing hillsides, framing fields of wildflowers, waterfalls, and birdsong for those lucky enough to wander the trails. All 2,200 miles of them.

The rest of the forests’ numbers are equally impressive: There are 2,300 miles of streams, 1,700 miles of open road (including three scenic byways), 23 different designated wildernesses, and elevations from 5,729 feet at Mount Rogers — Virginia’s highest peak — to 515 feet along the Shenandoah River. There are one million classified-remote acres, epic views at every turn, and not a single cramped shuttle or overcrowded viewpoint where you have to watch your elbows.

Note: No matter which zones of these national forests you visit, always pack out what you pack in and leave the land like you found it: spectacular.

2. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

Photo: Shutterstock/Stephen Bonk

Miles of soft sand, ghost crabs peeking from their hiding spots, scores of wading birds, and wild ponies dancing along the shore — Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is honestly pretty magical. The 14,000-acre preserve, primarily on the Virginia side of Assateague Island, packs in beaches, dunes, marshes, and maritime forest, forming a naturally biodiverse ecosystem suitable for creatures of all kinds (and responsible travelers).

This is one of the National Audubon Society’s favorite birding spots, with more than 320 species of our flying friends calling the area home. As for the wild “Chincoteague” ponies, no one’s quite sure how they got there — perhaps from a stranded Spanish ship, maybe a failed agricultural venture — but either way, check out Island Queen Charters to get an up-close look at the regal creatures.

3. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Photo: Shutterstock/Anthony Heflin

At 1,304 feet, Cumberland Gap was — is — the best pass through the Appalachian Mountains for 100 miles in either direction. Herds of bison realized this first; then the Cherokee and Shawnee; and then Daniel Boone, who carved the Athiamiowee (a Shawnee game trail) into the “Wilderness Trail,” America’s first gateway to the West. It was no simple feat: In the words of author James Allen, “The utter silence and repose of primeval nature was around us; by and by we lost sight of the heavens altogether so dense and interlaced the forest.”

Today, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park sits at the very southwestern tip of Virginia and encompasses 70 miles of trails, celebrating both this millennia-spanning history and the area’s intense beauty. Drive up the four-mile Skyland Road to Pinnacle Overlook to take it all in, and then dip quite literally below the surface into Gap Cave, an 18.5-mile cavern riddled with glistening stalagmites and flowstone cascades.

4. New River Water Trail

Photo: Shutterstock/Realest Nature

If your sixth-grade teacher told you rivers don’t flow north, they were wrong. The New River does, meandering from Virginia’s southern border near Independence, and finally cutting through the Appalachians around Christiansburg. It takes on many forms during this journey, from just a few inches in depth to over 100 feet at the base of Palisade Cliffs, from a calm flow to class III rapids, from wide-open expanses to the Narrows, a water-carved, 1,500-foot-tall gap between the mountains. Oddly enough, the New River is also one of the oldest rivers, geologically speaking, in the world!

You can paddle the 37-mile New River Water Trail with Tangent Outfitters, going on half-day, full-day, or overnight trips. Kayak, canoe, raft, or float along with a stand-up paddleboard — you can toss in some mountain biking, too, in the nearby hills.

Tip: Pitch your tent right on the water’s banks at the New River Campground outside of Independence.

5. False Cape State Park & Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Photo: Shutterstock/Mike O’Shell Photography

False Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, south of Virginia Beach, are a serious two-fer — the only thing that separates these wonders is the freshwater Sand Bay.

Back Bay is the more accessible of the two — it’s nearly 10,000 acres right off the popular Sandbridge Beach — and here you’ll find miles of sand, rolling dunes, scenic boardwalks and trails, woodlands and forests, marshes and swamps, even snow geese and tundra swans.

The Blue Goose Tram runs through Back Bay, and it’s also the only motorized public access to False Cape State Park (not including boats). Tram, boat, bike, or foot, make sure you leave some time and energy to get to False Cape — it’s the only spot in Virginia where you can actually camp on the beach, sharing sandy space with otters, white-tailed deer, red fox, and loggerhead turtles.

Note: Just like when you’re camping in the woods, respect the beach and leave no trace of your campsite.

6. Tank Hollow and Little Stony Falls

Photo: Kina Pickett

The Cleveland Barrens Natural Area Preserve doesn’t sound like its name, so don’t be fooled: It’s actually one of the country’s more biodiverse spots, named for the dolomite barrens that pop out of its verdant slopes. Also plentiful here? Waterfalls. The walk to Tank Hollow Falls is just 0.5 mile and super family-friendly. If you’re up for more challenging exploration after checking out the 60-foot falls, continue onto the 2.5-mile Big Barren Loop Trail.

A bit farther west, another easy-access waterfall is Little Stony Falls. The 2.8-mile trail follows a rocky 400-foot gorge — and passes a couple of smaller waterfalls — until you emerge on top of Little Stony’s 24-foot drop. Get misted on the bridge, or go for a swim at the watering hole collecting at the base.

Note: These are just two — Virginia has so many waterfalls, you’ll lose track trying to count.

7. Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Photo: Virginia Tourism / John Henley

Once an important refuge for escaped slaves — islands hid resistance communities in the million-acre labyrinth of dark water, snakes, and bobcats — the Great Dismal Swamp and its legends are as fierce and intriguing as its name. You could trudge through thigh-high waters, fighting back cypress roots and branches swallowing your ankles, but you’d be better off sticking to the trails or kayaking the waterways. At 170 square miles of forested wetlands, you have an absolute maze of nature and history to hike, bike, explore, and fathom.

Lake Drummond, one of two natural lakes in Virginia and the central recreational hub of the swamp, adds to the mystery: It has no known water source, and a ghostly maiden is occasionally seen paddling the lake. Even if you don’t spot her, you may glimpse black bears, bobcats, minks, rare butterflies, and even flying squirrels. Welcome to Virginia’s wild side.

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Most beautiful villages in Ireland

The Ireland of our dreams, the one that’s often pictured in rom-coms, is rural. And even though adorable thatched cottages dotting green, rolling hills, or brightly painted houses by the wild Atlantic shore are overly used in televised fictional tales, there’s some truth to them. Dublin, Belfast, Galway, and Cork are all modern, cosmopolitan cities where you’ll never be stuck in a cliché sheep traffic jam, but outside of the urban areas, you’ll encounter some of the rustic aesthetic and dramatic, craggy landscapes you’ve grown to expect. The seven villages listed below will satisfy your needs if what you’re looking for is a pretty, scenic, and sometimes isolated place to explore in the Republic of Ireland, as well as in Northern Ireland.

1. Allihies, County Cork

Photo: Johannes Rigg/Shutterstock

County Cork has no shortage of beautiful towns — Cobh and Kinsale alone attract a lot of visitors for their vibrantly painted houses and seaside views — but if you want to go somewhere smaller, quieter, and more remote, head to the Beara Peninsula in West Cork. Although part of the route of the extremely popular Wild Atlantic Way, Beara remains less visited than other coastal areas, so you can walk or cycle the Beara Way — a long-distance walking and cycling route — and check out the many archaeological sites of the region in peace and tranquility.

Allihies, the last village at the end of the peninsula, is a great (and isolated) base to explore the area, and it’s very easy on the eyes with colorful houses, rolling green hills, and views of the Atlantic Ocean that will leave you weak in the knees. After a long walk on Garnish Beach or a hike around the former copper mining sites around the village, make your way to the bright red O’Neill’s Bar and Restaurant for a much-deserved plate of home-cooked food. Come in June to hear traditional Irish music at the annual Michael O’Dwyer Festival.

2. Adare Village, County Limerick

Photo: Patryk Kosmider/Shutterstock

Having been dubbed “Ireland’s prettiest village” for several decades, and having been listed as a Heritage Town of Ireland, 13th-century Adare is a well-known tourist attraction, so if you’re looking for isolation, look elsewhere. That said, if you don’t mind running into other visitors, walking around the flower-filled village, checking out the beautiful thatched cottages, and chowing down on delicious pastries in one the postcard-perfect tearooms are great ways to spend the day.

The many castles surrounding the village (Adare Castle, King John’s Castle, and Bunratty Castles) and the three historic churches in Adare (The Holy Trinity Catholic Church, St. Nicholas Church of Ireland, and the Adare Methodist Church) are worth a visit, too. There are several B&Bs and hotels for those who wish to stay in this storybook location, but if you want something a little more upscale, splurge and stay at the magnificent Adare Manor, just outside of the village.

3. Dooagh, Achill Island, County Mayo

Photo: Milosz Maslanka/Shutterstock

The biggest of all the Irish islands, Achill island is all mountains, cliffs, beaches, and bog. Its location off the coast of County Mayo in the Atlantic makes it an extremely scenic and windy spot, attracting outdoor enthusiasts, especially water sports lovers who congregate at Trawmore Strand beach to surf, windsurf, kitesurf, and kayak. The striking beauty of the island’s wilderness — and the fact that it’s easily accessible from the mainland thanks to a bridge — makes it a popular destination, especially in the summer when visitors take full advantage of the many safe sandy beaches. Before and after the summer rush, Achill is far less crowded, and it’s the perfect time to check out the fishing village of Dooagh on the western side of the island.

Located along a bay with unobstructed views of the ocean, the village may not be filled with quaint, historical houses, but its natural surroundings more than make up for it. There are a couple of B&Bs and some self-catering accommodations available for those who want to take the time to enjoy the incomparable landscape. Note that the bay has a mysterious here-and-away sandy beach that appears and disappears with storms — it was washed away in 1984, came back in 2017, and left again in 2019. For a spectacular permanent beach nearby (fewer than 3.5 miles away), visit wonderfully wild and green Keem Bay.

4. Cushendun, County Antrim

Photo: KatyKing27/Shutterstock

Located on the north coast of Ireland, the coastal village of Cushendun looks straight towards Scotland. In fact, it is only 15 miles from the Scottish shores. The village is a conservation area and has been protected by the National Trust since 1954 for its beauty and architecture of whitewashed cottages, so it’s a safe bet for those who want to be wowed.

Although you could spend days looking at the views of the North Channel and the verdant hills, go check out the Red Caves (used as the background for The Stormlands in Games of Thrones) fewer than a 10-minute walk south from the village’s center. The ruins of 14th-century Castle Carra, only 15 minutes on foot north of the village, is also worth visiting, along with the Bronze Age standing stones nearby. There are plenty of accommodation options in and around the village, but make sure to pick one with a view. For drinks, good food, and fun quiz nights, the village pub, Mary McBride’s is the place to be.

5. Doolin, County Clare

Photo: Gimas/Shutterstock

Doolin is far from being an off-the-beaten-track, underrated village, but if you don’t mind sharing the sight of adorable houses and views of the dramatic landscapes, don’t pass it. Because it’s the getaway for the Aran Islands, and it’s located fewer than 4.5 miles north of the Cliffs of Moher on the main coastal road, there’s a lot of tourist traffic in Doolin, but instead of just passing through, book a bed for the night and explore a little further — if only just for the spectacular sunset you’ll get from Doolin Pier or Killilagh Church. There’s traditional Irish music to be heard in the pubs at night, but if you want more, come in June during the Doolin Folk Festival. Don’t forget to visit 16th-century Doonagore Castle, just a 25-minute walk south from the village, and Doolin cave and its impressive 23-foot long stalactite.

6. Mullaghmore, County Sligo

Photo: Lukassek/Shutterstock

The village of Mullaghmore and its 19th-century harbor are located on the Mullaghmore peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic, making the area as picturesque as could be. The village is known as one of the best surfing spots in the world, and beautiful Mullaghmore Beach attracts many visitors, especially in the summer months. If you’re not into water sports, go check out the spectacular 19th-century Classiebawn Castle, just 1.3 miles out of the village. The walk to the castle takes less than 30 minutes and delivers a fair share of striking views.

If you want to put your hiking skills to the test, hire a guide and hit the looped trail on Benbulben, the dramatic limestone formation that dominates the landscape. If time is not an issue, take a boat to mystical and uninhabited Inishmurray Island (now a wildlife sanctuary), only one hour away from the mainland, to see seabirds and the ruins of a sixth-century monastery settlement. There are plenty of accommodations, restaurants, and cafés in town for visitors to stay and visit the area thoroughly.

7. Sneem, County Kerry

Photo: Mulhall Photos/Shutterstock

The village of Sneem is located on the Ring of Kerry, a 105-mile route that encapsulates the best of the county, and is part of Wild Atlantic Way tourist trail, so it is not an under-the-radar spot — but it’s not gathering huge crowds either. The Sneem River that runs through the town and the Kerry mountains in the background set the tone for this cute village filled with brightly painted houses. Follow the sculpture trail around town to see art pieces from all over the globe, or step up your game and lace up your hiking boots to walk parts (or the entirety) of the Kerry Way, a long-distance walking trail that takes you around some of most beautiful natural spots in the area for over 120 miles. For the less-ambitious visitors, there are other shorter and less difficult walks from Sneem, like the Fermoyle Loop Walk and the Lomanagh Loop Walk.

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Best road trips in the UK

There’s a lot of talk about the Great American Road Trip, but in fact, some of the best road trips in the world are in the United Kingdom. Although 40 times smaller than the US, the UK has dozens of epic and diverse road trip routes that will leave a lasting impression — whether you’re simply trying to get from point A to point B or embarking on an adventure with the intention of stopping at all the sights.

JET, one of the UK’s leading fuel brands, conducted a survey of 2,000 drivers asking them to rank their favorite road trips. From the beautiful Lake District in England to the bucolic Cotswold roads and the rugged North Coast, these 10 road trips were voted the best in the UK in 2020.

10. Cotswolds roads

Photo: Reimar/Shutterstock

When you think of England in the time of Shakespeare — where quiet country roads wind through meadows and over green hills, unspoiled by highway signs, billboards, or gas stations — you’re pretty much thinking of the present-day Cotswolds. These country roads run through quaint villages like Burford, Stow-on-Wold, and Bourton-on-the-Water.

9. Norfolk Coast

Photo: Helen Hotson/Shutterstock

One of the most scenic coastal landscapes in the UK, the Norfolk Coast is protected under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, meaning the region’s beauty is well-preserved. Stretching across nearly 280 miles of coastline, this road will take you through picturesque beaches and some of the UK’s best nature reserves, filled with native wildlife.

8. Stonehenge

Photo: Pajor Pawel/Shutterstock

It doesn’t take much convincing to explain why a road trip to Stonehenge is a good idea. Not only do you get to cruise through those scenic Cotswolds roads, but you’ll end up at one of the world’s most mysterious destinations. After you’ve marveled at Stonehenge, explore nearby Salisbury, a charming, tiny medieval city with an impressive cathedral.

7. Scottish Borders

Photo: sw_photo/Shutterstock

The Borders Historic Route starts near Carlisle before passing into Scotland, running 89 miles through little villages, medieval towers, old mills, and museums. England’s manicured countryside quickly gives way to the rugged Scottish landscape, and you’ll end up in the capital of Edinburgh, with its majestic castle perched atop a hill.

6. Snowdonia to Anglesey

Photo: stocker1970/Shutterstock

It’s no surprise that the country’s most popular national park is also the site of one of the UK’s best road trips. There will be no shortage of places to stop on the first half of this trip, as you make your way through the park and take advantage of the hikes, lakes, and views. The route takes you through the forest, alongside stunning lakes, and over mountain passes before ending in Anglesey on the west coast of Wales with its beaches and iconic Twr Mawr Lighthouse.

5. North Yorkshire Moors

Photo: Richard Pinder/Shutterstock

If you read Wuthering Heights in high school and always wondered what “wild moors” looked like, this is it. The North York Moors span over 550 miles — including the towns of Whitby, Kirkbymoorside, and Scarborough — and are particularly beautiful in spring when the heather blooms. In addition to the flora, the region’s ancient towns, castles, abbeys, and landscape make it one of the most scenic in the UK.

4. North Coast 500

Photo: Valery Egorov/Shutterstock

This road trip might be the best way to see everything the Scottish Highlands have to offer. Starting in the city of Inverness, the road winds along the west coast to Applecross and north to the Torridon and Ullapool. Then it extends to the northernmost coastal points in Scotland, passing Caithness and John o’Groats before returning to Inverness. To fully experience the 516-mile road along Scotland’s wild coastline, you should probably give yourself at least five days.

3. Peak District

Photo: Piranhi/Shutterstock

The Peak District — near the cities of Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, and Sheffield — is one of the UK’s most popular tourist destinations, and it’s easy to see why. The winding Snake Pass in Derbyshire across the Pennines mountains is a beautiful road, and Winnats Pass, with views of the limestone valley, is also not to be missed.

2. Devon to Cornwall

Photo: jennyt/Shutterstock

The drive from Devon to Cornwall is known as the Atlantic Highway, a 70-mile stretch of the A39 that runs alongside a dramatic coastline. The route offers some stunning sea views and gives you access to coastal walking trails. It was voted the best road trip in the UK by drivers from the southwest, though they’re understandably biased.

1. Lake District

Photo: Tomasz Wozniak/Shutterstock

England’s Lake District was voted the best road trip in the UK, and that’s no surprise to anyone familiar with the area. The Lake District served as inspiration for poets and writers like William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter and is home to some of the most scenic driving routes in the country, scaling mountain passes, winding through valleys, and skirting lakes. Stop in market towns like Kendall and Ambleside, hike the lake trails, and check out Wrynose Pass toward Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain.

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Denver’s CRUSH street art festival

Montreal, Canada, has its MURAL Festival and colorful, street-art filled Boulevard Saint Laurent, while Amsterdam has its many gorgeously painted walls. In Denver, there’s CRUSH, one of the city’s largest week-long public art events where hundreds of artists join together to put a fresh coat of street art on the walls of the RiNo Art District. This year, despite everything 2020 has thrown at the city, CRUSH went on to keep the neighborhood the most colorful in Denver.

CRUSH has run every September since its founding in 2010 by Denver artist Robin Munro. It typically includes a festival where artists are invited to work simultaneously on the streets and alleys in Denver’s trendy RiNo neighborhood. Art classes and lectures usually fill the space in between for the many spectators who come to see the artists work in real time. It’s one of the most public-facing ways that the RiNo Art District lives up to its community mantra of “Where Art is Made.”

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

The event has helped a proliferation of art. It’s not uncommon to be walking the streets and alleys of Denver and see huge murals. Then there are the pieces from past years spotted from parking lots that are partially covered with trash. It’s a little spark of beauty in a place that can otherwise be filled with the normal grime and rough edges of the city.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

This year, of course, was different. There were still talks and events — including a talk of legal complications and a panel on street art versus graffiti — but some of the most popular alleys were closed to the public to allow for the artists to keep socially distanced. All of the indoor ticketed events were scuttled, and the pop-up outdoor bar served only single-use canned drinks.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

The inherent nature of street art requiring the outdoors allowed the art community to do its work, however. Denver closed certain streets in the designated area early in the pandemic to allow restaurants and bars to expand their outdoor seating, which made this year’s CRUSH even more walkable than usual. More than 100 local, national, and international artists were allocated sanctioned off walls, paid for their work, and given supplies this year. On side streets, others painted unofficial murals and tags — including a portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by New York City artists Menace and Resa.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

CRUSH gives artists a platform and a chance to involve the community, like the “None are free until all are free” piece done by artist Lindee Zimmer with the help of local kids. It also gives public space to important social messages. Last year, an artist who goes by Jolt used his space to call out how money, developers, and corporate-backed events like CRUSH are exacerbating the issue of gentrification in RiNo. In the open nature of the event, he was invited back again this year. His artist page for the event noted that Bud Light Seltzer sponsored him.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

Powerful and current messages again resonated this year from both the designated artists and those working on their own. Nazario Sandoval and Raquel created a piece on and around a fenced-in power box of a child locked behind the bars of the United States flag with the message, “Free the children locked in cages.” Another piece read “RIP George Floyd” over a past piece done for the Denver clothing store Be A Good Person.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

This year, the Black Love Mural Festival helped provide more space and money to BIPOC artists during CRUSH. Increased diversity and inclusion was a focus in the artist selection as well, according to Denverite.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

Though each year of the festival is like a rebirth that changes the face of the neighborhood, not every surface is repainted. Murals from past years, like one advocating for the reintroduction of wolves to Colorado by Valerie Rose, joined the ranks of newer works like the “Talk Denver to Me” piece by Ashley Joon.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

While many works used vibrant colors, others set a different tone, like a series of cats done by Casey Kawaguchi.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

Marquee pieces spanned multiple buildings, like the work of Douglas Hoekzema. Other art turned walls into massive celebrations of beauty, like a flower wall from artists Jason Graves and Remington Robinson.

Photo: Nickolaus Hines

Though CRUSH only lasts a week, the art stays up until it’s painted over. You can find the full map of the walls on the CRUSH website to create your own tour. Be sure to tag the artists, and you can learn more about each on CRUSH’s artists page.

Art by Bimmer Torres, Photo by Nickolaus Hines

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Video of iceberg flipping on climber

Climbing an iceberg is a pretty solid travel story to take home with you, so we really can’t blame these experienced climbers for making the attempt. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite go as planned. A group of explorers, including world-famous Mike Horn, were sailing the seas of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic, when two decided to scale an iceberg.

They begin to climb using ice picks and boots with crampons, but soon the iceberg slowly tilts before completely flipping over into the water. Luckily, the explorers were able to escape before being crushed by ice, and the boat returned to rescue them from the freezing water.

Horn posted the video to his Instagram page with the caption, “Should not have eaten breakfast before climbing. We both survived.”

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Oops, should not have eaten breakfast

Elephant deaths in Botswana solved

Between May and June, hundreds of elephant carcasses turned up in the Okavango Delta, and until now, the cause has remained a mystery. Scientists have now learned that toxins made by microscopic algae in the water, called cyanobacteria, have been responsible for the deaths. To date, 330 elephants have been killed by ingesting cyanobacteria, which is a naturally occurring bacteria in standing water and in blooms of blue-green algae.

According to scientists, climate change may be exacerbating these incidents and causing a phenomenon known as “toxic bloom” as the algae develops in warm water.

According to Mmad Reuben, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks’ Principal Veterinary Officer, “Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are bacteria found in water … We have many questions still to be answered such as why the elephants only and why that area only. We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating.”

A total of 330 elephants died between May and June 2020 in the country.

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