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Kevin Costner road-trip app

If you heard that Kevin Costner was involved in an iPhone app, you might think it had something to do with baseball. It’s not baseball, but it’s something equally as American — road trips.

The unfortunate reality of a cross-country road trip is that we often fly through points of interest without actually learning much about them. A new iPhone app co-founded by actor Kevin Costner is designed specifically for road-trippers looking to learn more about their various stops.

The HearHere app gives travelers short audio facts about local history, art, culinary tradition, and points of interest while you drive across America, narrated by Costner, former basketball coach Phil Jackson, and others.

According to Costner, “I am in love with history. I am in love with Country. I am in love with all the edges, all the disappointments, all the progress — all worth knowing. […] The most important thing to me, and why I chose to be a part of this idea, is that we agreed as a group that no matter the region, we would always start with the history of the first people and the stories of first contact. It’s not only our responsibility, it’s our obligation to understand and to pass on faithfully the stories of the people who flourished here for thousands of years.”

Although only a few states are included in the app right now (California, Oregon, and Washington), the app will be quickly rolling out more destinations across the country in the coming months.

The app is available for a free trial and a yearly subscription of $49.99.

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China’s Red Beach Wetland seepweed

There are some very unusual beaches out there, featuring pink, orange, and even green sand, and now there’s a red beach to add to the list. But on this particular “red beach” you won’t even find any sand. The Red Beach Wetland in Panjin City, in northern China, isn’t a traditional beach at all — it’s more like a mudflat that turns a dramatic shade of crimson every fall when the native seepweed blooms.

The seepweed begins sprouting in spring and blossoms in early summer, turning the landscape a bright red. As the months progress and autumn draws near, the red hue gets more vibrant, peaking in September and October. Although the area begins turning red as early as July, and millions of visitors flock to the area throughout the summer, autumn is indisputably the best time to see the natural phenomenon.

Photo: T. Kingfisher/Shutterstock

A wooden path has been built on the mudflat allowing visitors to walk across the Red Beach and see the rare blooms up close. In addition to the striking red hue, visitors can also see over 260 species of migratory birds.

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Support LGBTQ protesters in Poland

Thousands of protesters fighting for LGBTQ equality took to Poland’s crowded city streets in Warsaw, Krakow, Lublin, and Wroclaw last weekend, chanting, “You will not lock all of us up!”

The demonstrations erupted one day after police arrested non-binary activist Margot Szutowicz in Warsaw for acts of civil disobedience. Her supposed crimes include hanging rainbow flags from prominent city statues and slashing the tires of a van responsible for spreading anti-LGBTQ rhetoric like “homosexuals are preparing society to accept pedophilia.” At least 48 other people were arrested, and officers reportedly used violent tactics — like holding people down with their boots – to quell the peaceful protests. Police gave many detainees no reason for their arrest.

Advocacy groups quickly dubbed the demonstrations “Polish Stonewall,” drawing parallels to the fight against police brutality led by NYC’s queer community 51 years ago. The events of June 28, 1969, changed the course of history. Here’s hoping the events of August 8, 2020, have the same power.

Anti-LGBTQ attitudes in Poland

Poland, a predominantly Roman Catholic country led by the populist Law and Justice Party, is notoriously anti-LGBTQ. According to Rainbow Europe, which tracks LGBTQ equality laws and policies in European countries, Poland ranks last when it comes to quality of life for queer citizens in the EU. Participants at a 2019 Pride march in the city of Białystok were attacked with stones and bottles. On the eve of last year’s Pride parade in Warsaw, far-right journalist and television personality Rafal Ziemkiewicz posted to Twitter, “One must shoot at LGBT people.” He then added, “not in the literal sense of course — but these are not people of good will or defenders of anybody’s rights, [the movement is] a new mutation of Bolsheviks and Nazis.” Within the past year, nearly one-third of the country declared itself an “LGBT-free zone.”

President Andrzej Duda, who narrowly won re-election on July 21st, uses equally vicious epithets targeting the LGBTQ community. He stated that “LGBT are not people; they are an ideology” and calls queer rights “destructive to man.” A 2017 report by the Centre for Research on Prejudice of the University of Warsaw found that Poland’s exposure to hate speech in popular media increased 25 percent since Duda took office in 2015.

In response to the resulting violence faced by LGBTQ individuals, queer people are fleeing the country for places like the UK, Germany, and Spain. Others continue to fight for rights in their homeland despite the devastating consequences.

According to Balkan Insight, Margot is currently in pre-trial detention for two months. If convicted, she may face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Other protesters arrested this past weekend may face up to three years.

On Saturday, Dunja Mijatovic, the human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, denounced the actions taken against Margot, tweeting, “Order to detain her for 2 months sends very chilling signal for freedom of speech & LGBT rights in Poland.”

How to support Poland’s LGBTQ community

Photo: Lena Ivanova/Shutterstock

Although Stonewall was pivotal in the fight for LGBTQ rights, it wasn’t a panacea for inequality. The United States didn’t federally legalize same-sex marriage until 2015. It took until this past June for the government to protect LGBTQ Americans under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Poland’s protests are also only a small step forward on what will be an arduous journey toward acceptance, and in order to gain forward momentum, the country’s queer community desperately needs outside support.

That’s where you come in.

The Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH), which is currently busy recruiting pro-bono legal help for Margot and the 48 other protesters arrested last weekend, offers opportunities for people to become virtual activists. Visit the website and add your email under “Get Involved Virtual” to receive updates with petitions and other ways to be of assistance.

Stop Bzdurom (Stop Bullshit), the queer collective to which Margot belongs, is raising funds to cover a variety of expenses, including Margot’s lawyers. You can donate to the group or share their website through Facebook, Twitter, or email by following the links on their homepage.

The Polish LGBTQ community’s most urgent need isn’t money; it’s solidarity.

Political leaders from other countries must rally together and condemn the actions of Duda, and the European Commission must denounce police brutality just as it called out federally sanctioned violence in Belarus following the country’s tumultuous election on August 9.

For international activists without political power, contributing to such lofty goals may seem futile. Luckily, the best way to be an ally is both cheaper and easier than you think: share their story.

Although “Silence = Death” was a political campaign used to create awareness around the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s, it continues to provide valuable lessons for modern times. If we do not amplify the voices of marginalized communities overpowered by political machines, we cannot save them. Social media is a powerful tool for creating visibility. Posting stories that call out human rights violations and condemn injustices can be instrumental in enacting change. The best part? You don’t have to leave home to join the fight. All you have to do is click a button. For the sacrifices made by heroes like Margot Szutowicz, it’s the least we can do.

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Bison attacks woman in South Dakota

When park rules state that guests shouldn’t approach wildlife, you should probably listen. It can be tempting to flout those rules when a herd of bison appears by the roadside and you see a great photo opportunity, but what happened to this 54-year-old woman from Iowa proves that safety is more important than the perfect photo.

At Custer State Park in South Dakota, a woman was attacked by a bison when she defied park rules to get close enough for a photo.

The woman got off her motorcycle and walked over to the grass where a large herd was passing and sat close to the animals to take a picture of a mother bison and her calf. As she sat there, another bison charged the woman, hooked its horn on her jeans and tossed her around in the air. The woman was thrown out of her jeans and landed on the ground, and bystanders rushed to her side.

The incident was captured on camera by park visitor Jo Reed, who said in a Facebook post, “PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FEEL FREE TO share this, so people understand they’re about to die when they confront an animal this powerful. Thankfully the ranger did not need to tranquilize the bison.”

According to Matt Snyder, the park’s superintendent, the woman sustained multiple wounds and was flown to a nearby hospital, where she was later released.

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Babirusa pigs have arrived at London

It’s always difficult being the new kid on the block, but for these little piggies, it’s extra tough. Not only do they have to deal with the struggles of being new at the London Zoo, but they’re also being called “the ugliest pigs on Earth” and “demon pigs.”

Photo: London Zoo

Budi and Beth are babirusas — a species of pig that is hairless, and has wrinkly gray skin and long, wet snouts — and they joined the zoo as part of an international breeding program for the vulnerable species.

According to zookeeper Hannah Joy, “ No one could call babirusa pigs beautiful. In fact, their traditional nicknames aren’t kind at all; people who live alongside them in Indonesia call them rat pigs or demon pigs, because of their long, misshapen tusks — which are actually teeth growing through their noses that curl backwards.”

Babirusas are listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because of the destruction of their rainforest habitat and their poaching for bushmeat. Babirusas are native to Indonesia and are found in the wild only on two of the Sula Islands, Mangole and Taliabu, as well as on Bura.

Joy also affectionately compares the pigs to monsters in the Harry Potter series, saying, “Just like those famous characters they’ve absolutely won us all over — the way they wag their long stringy tails when they’re happy is a joy to see. We are determined to rally the public in sharing our love for the unique-looking swines, reputed to be the ugliest on earth. They may not be Indonesia’s most photogenic residents, but babirusas do fulfil an important role in the forest’s ecology — turning the soil and spreading seeds as they forage.”

In time, Budi, the male of the pair who is only a year old, will grow his sets of teeth — one of which will grow through his nose.

Photo: Makoto_Honda/Shutterstock

The pigs have spent the first few weeks settling into their dens but are now enjoying the good weather outside in their paddocks for the pleasure of curious visitors.

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Win a coffee-fueled trip in this RV

RV rentals in the United States are skyrocketing amid international travel restrictions and social distancing measures, and Dunkin’ Donuts is keenly aware of it. That’s why this August, the coffee and doughnut company announced the Refreshers RV giveaway to help adventurers get the buzz they’re craving — both from exciting travel experiences and coffee. Winners of the contest will be able to travel wherever they want in the US in a Dunkin’-themed RV for one week and bring along companions for the ride.

The RV will be decked out in Dunkin’ decor, with plenty of coffee accessories inside, including a Keurig K-Mini Plus, Dunkin’ K-Cup pods, and a Dunkin’ gift card.

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Refresh your Summer with Dunkin’. ⛱

It’s okay to only visit tourist site

This is the Travel Take, where Matador’s writers and editors make the case for their favorite travel hacks, tips, and personal tics.

They’re the most conspicuous people on the street from New York City to Rome to Tokyo: A tightly knit group of tourists in khaki shorts, their passports and camera hanging from their necks, hustling to keep up with a tour guide holding a flag above their head to make sure no one gets lost. They are clutching maps or asking for directions, their necks craned up at the historical sites in the middle of rush hour. And they are among the most derided, teased, and reviled type of traveler: The tourist who only visits the locations officially sanctioned by a guidebook.

It’s true that self-guided vacations offer the most freedom, and they certainly have been trendier in the past decade. Travel shows and media outlets boast stories about how to eat and drink like a local, track down that bar that isn’t overrun by out of towners, or escape to the hidden getaway/villa/spa/restaurant that doesn’t appear on any top ten lists. Often the goal is for some travelers to appear in the know while everyone who doesn’t have this insider information is an amateur.

Aside from the inherent contradiction in this mode of travel (won’t these unknown or supposed local favorites soon become overrun with outsiders once they start popping up on blog posts?), not everyone is comfortable traveling this way. These bucket-list experiences — like seeing the Eiffel Tower up close at least once — are actually very much worth your time even though “everyone” does it. Just because something is popular doesn’t make it inherently low-brow.

In fact, the prevailing attitude toward vacationers who prefer to stick to the well-trodden destinations can be nasty. This line of thinking posits not just that these tourists are inexperienced or sometimes get in the way of foot traffic, it’s that they are tacky or have cheap taste. It’s not a stretch to suggest that these criticisms are twinged with classism.

The supposedly secluded, exclusive vacation spots touted as more worthwhile than tourist attractions — whether it’s seventh generation family-owned restaurant where the specialty is handmade pasta in the heart of Italian wine country or a tiny house in Cornwall with an outdoor wooden tub attached — are often more expensive and harder to find. If you spent a year saving up enough money to take your family to Rome, it might make the most financial sense to book guided tours of the city’s greatest hits, from the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain to the Vatican, in order to get the most of your time abroad.

But even if you’re a well-traveled, globetrotting, multilingual certified couch surfer, there’s no shame in grabbing a map at the nearest visitor center and hitting up all the tourist attractions within walking distance. Whenever I overhear someone say, “Skip the lines and go find somewhere less crowded,” I always want to shake my head.

Moving experiences can be found at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC and the Taj Mahal in Agra and Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. These are places where you can experience the last vestiges of ancient history, witness political and architectural movements and the last remnants of empires, honor your ancestors, and touch the founding of a nation. Even though most people will be taking selfies at the entrance (which is also totally fine but that’s a rant for another day), these are places of learning and unmatched beauty. Dismiss them at your own peril.

Starting with the most well-known sites gives travelers a basic sense of the history of the place they are visiting that can and should be supplemented by taking a deeper look at the neighborhoods and institutions like museums and restaurants that define what is likely a diverse cultural landscape. No, you won’t understand New York City by taking a tour of the Statue of Liberty, but there is nonetheless a valuable history lesson embedded in the monument that is worth acknowledging.

To be fair, the Statue of Liberty is undoubtedly a New York City cliche. But just because you are sharing a profound experience with hundreds of other people at the same time — and that millions of people experienced before you — doesn’t lessen its impact. You might think you know what it feels like to see the Statue of Liberty up close for the first time because you’ve seen it on thousands of fridge magnets and postcards, but trust me, you don’t.

It’s important to keep in mind that overtourism can have severe consequences on the environment so no matter where you are traveling, actively minimizing those harms is crucial. If you are going to visit tourist attractions on vacation, you should ideally stick with guided tour companies that in some way benefit the local community that you are visiting, and you should tip your tour guide if permissible. Respect the local people who work to maintain these sites by researching local customs, basic greetings, and questions in their language. And pay them generously because they are helping you understand and enjoy their home. Don’t get in the way of local people who are going about their lives while you enjoy your vacation, and don’t litter or act entitled to their space — you are enjoying it as their guest.

With those guidelines in mind, go ahead and book that bike tour or that guided gondola excursion. You might just learn something — not just about the place you’re visiting, but what it actually means to be a responsible, respectful tourist and citizen of the world.

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Mediterranean cruises this August

The US has banned cruising until at least September 2020, with many cruise lines even canceling cruises through the new year, but in the Mediterranean, cruising is making a return on August 16. When Mediterranean cruises return, however, it won’t be for everybody. The cruises will only be available to residents of Europe’s 26-nation Schengen Area, and passenger movement between ship and shore will be restricted.

The first ship to sail again in the Mediterranean will be the MSC Grandiosa on August 16, with a seven-night voyage to Genoa, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Palermo, and Malta. In a statement, MSC’s executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago outlined new testing for passengers and staff before embarkation, temperature checks, and severe limits on shore excursions.

“During the pause in our operations,” he said, “we focused on developing a comprehensive operating protocol that builds upon already stringent health and safety measures that have long been in place on board our ships.”

MSC’s country manager Leonardo Massa told CNN, “These procedures will continue as long as this pandemic exists,” he said. “They might change, depending on the opportunities that technology allows or the evolution of the pandemic … until we return, hopefully as soon as possible, to a normal situation.”

Costa cruise line will resume as well shortly after. The Costa Deliziosa will depart from Trieste on September 6 and the Costa Diadema on September 19.

Given enhanced safety protocols and safety-based movement restrictions, passengers shouldn’t expect a return to cruising that exactly resembles their pre-pandemic experience. For vacation-starved passengers, however, the return of Mediterranean cruising is good news despite the additional inconveniences.

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New England covered bridge road trip

New England is fall central. Every year when the temperature drops, visitors come in droves to see the region’s trees put on their most colorful show, changing their leaves from vibrant greens to soothing yellows, oranges, and reds. The spectacle is a great way to reconnect with nature and celebrate the new season, but as it turns out, looking at nothing but dying leaves for days on end can be a tad monotonous — you might want to add a treasure hunt to your foliage-peeping road trip.

In between collecting fallen maple leaves, look for some New England’s most romantic covered bridges. No one really knows the origins of covered bridges — some say the roof was meant to protect the wood from rotting or the frost in winter, or even to ease the passage of fearful animals over a river — but we know for sure that they were all the rage in 19th-century America. There are almost 200 of these wooden structures spread among Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and they make for fun visits and great photo opps — especially when the background is a lovely shade of gold.

The best covered bridges in Maine

Lovejoy Bridge – Photo: mark stephens photography/Shutterstock

While there used to be 120 covered bridges in Maine, only nine remain today. To see a sample of these, start with Lovejoy Bridge in South Andover in the eastern part of the state, close to the border with New Hampshire. Although it is the shortest covered bridge in Maine (70 feet), it does not lack charm. The 1868 creation has a trapezoid shape, and its entrances are topped with white and red gables that add a touch of color. You can drive across Lovejoy Bridge on your way to Maine’s most famous covered bridge — Sunday River Bridge — only 20 miles south.

Sunday River Bridge – Photo: mark stephens photography/Shutterstock

Sunday River Bridge, also known as Artist’s Covered Bridge, was built in 1872 and located in Newry. The bridge crosses the Sunday River and is nicknamed the Artist’s Covered Bridge because it is believed to be the most photographed and painted covered bridge in Maine. You can walk the 87 feet across the bridge and admire the view from up there, as well as the special architecture known as the Paddleford truss, but there’s no driving on the structure.

Hemlock Bridge – Photo: mark stephens photography/Shutterstock

Make your way south for about 40 miles to check out Hemlock bridge. The 109-foot long bridge was built in 1857, and you can drive over it before making your way into New Hampshire just a few miles east.

The best covered bridges in New Hampshire

Swift River Bridge – Photo: mark stephens RaulCano/Shutterstock

There are a total of 54 covered bridges in New Hampshire, and you could spend a couple of weeks driving around the state trying to see them all. To get the highlights, start with Swift River Bridge, located just 35 minutes away from Hemlock bridge across the state border in Maine. This beautiful bridge, painted a vibrant red, is 133 feet long and has a unique past. Nineteen years after its construction, in 1869, it was swept into the Swift River and went downstream to crash into the Saco River bridge. Swift River Bridge was later rebuilt using the debris from both structures.

Sentinel Pine Bridge – Photo: mark stephens Xavier Ascanio/Shutterstock

Forty miles east from Swift River bridge is another eye-catching covered bridge, but this one is not a 19th-century creation. Built in 1939, the Sentinel Pine Bridge is located within the Franconia Notch State Park and is only used by those hiking the Flume Gorge Trail. It was named after a 90-foot pine tree that used to stand there and was built for the purpose of protecting the remains of that tree that was blown in a storm in 1938.

Flume Bridge – Photo: James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

Alternatively, if you’re not into hiking but are in the area around Franconia Notch State Park, check out Flume Bridge just a few minutes away from Sentinel Pine Bridge. Built in 1871, this 50-foot long bridge above the Pemigewasset River is as romantic as covered bridges get and is easily accessed by car.

Bath-Haverhill Bridge – Photo: jejim/Shutterstock

Forty-five minutes further east, on the border between New Hampshire and Vermont, is 1829 Bath-Haverhill Bridge above the Ammonoosuc River. It’s the oldest covered bridge in use in the state, and you can drive across it to follow Route 135.

The best covered bridges in Vermont

Bath-Haverhill Bridge – Photo: Wallace Weeks/Shutterstock

Vermont has 104 covered bridges — way too many to see during a short getaway. To see some of the most scenic and historically significant bridges in the state, start with the town of Woodstock, one hour southwest from Bath-Haverhill Bridge.

Middle Bridge – Photo: Felix Lipov/Shutterstock

Several stunning covered bridges can be found in the area, so you can check three off your list by driving around a little. The famous red Taftsville and Middle Bridges are right in town, and you can walk, cycle, or drive across them.

Lincoln Bridge – Photo: Lori Ellis/Shutterstock

The 136-foot long Lincoln Bridge over the Ottauquechee River in West Woodstock is fewer than 10 minutes away.

Cornish-Windsor Bridge – Photo: Albert Pego/Shutterstock

Next, make your way south to Cornish-Windsor Bridge (about 20 miles from West Woodstock). Shared between New Hampshire and Vermont, this wooden covered bridge is the longest in the United States at 450 feet long and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was rebuilt entirely in 1989.

Kidder Hill Bridge – Photo: Stephen Furlong/Shutterstock

Make your way south towards Massachusetts and stop in the town of Grafton along the way (approximately 45 minutes from the Cornish-Windsor Bridge). There, seek out the 1867 Kidder Hill Bridge that crosses the Saxton River for 67 feet.

The best covered bridges in Massachusetts

Kidder Hill Bridge – Photo: Colin D. Young/Shutterstock

Massachusetts used to have more than 100 wooden covered bridges in the heyday of the structure. Today, there are much fewer and many of them are 20th-century replicas meant to preserve the heritage of this particular architecture.

Start with the Arthur A. Smith Bridge in Colrain (about 55 miles south of Kidder Hill Bridge), close to the border between Vermont and Massachusetts. The 100-foot-long red bridge dates back from 1870 (although it was moved from a spot further down in 1886) and crosses the North River, but you can’t drive over it as it’s pedestrian-only.

Bissell Bridge – Photo: Bob Pool/Shutterstock

Only 20 minutes southwest is Bissell Bridge. A much more recent creation, it was completed in 1951 and crosses Mill Brook. Bissell Bridge is only for pedestrians, but there is parking nearby so you can explore it on foot easily.

Upper Sheffield Bridge – Photo: Dan Hanscom/Shutterstock

From there, drive 60 miles south towards Connecticut to check out Upper Sheffield Bridge. Built in 1999 to replace the original 1832 bridge that was destroyed in a fire, Upper Sheffield Bridge crosses the Housatonic River. The bridge is for foot-traffic only.

The best covered bridges in Connecticut

Cornwall Bridge – Photo: Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock

Not many wooden covered bridges remain in the state of Connecticut, but the ones that are there exude historical charm. Start with West Cornwall Bridge, 20 miles south of Upper Sheffield Bridge in Massachusetts. This bright red 242-foot-long covered bridge was built in 1841 above the Housatonic River and is open to vehicle traffic as it is part of Route 128.

Kent Falls Bridge – Photo: Jennifer Yakey-Ault/Shutterstock

Fewer than 10 miles south in Kent Falls State park, look for the Kent Falls Bridge, a 20th-century creation that is a pop of color in the natural landscape. Kent Falls Bridge is a small, 37-foot pedestrian bridge above Kent Falls Brook that makes for a great photo opp.

Bulls Bridge – Photo: Nancy Kennedy/Shutterstock

Drive 15 minutes farther south to check out Bulls Bridge in Gaylordsville. The 1842 wooden structure is not as colorful as its two predecessors, but it’s very quaint nonetheless. It is 109 feet long and crosses the Housatonic River. Bulls Bridge is open to vehicle traffic.

The best covered bridges in Rhode Island

Swamp Meadow – Photo: Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

There are few covered bridges remaining in Rhode Island. The most famous of them is Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge. Drive two-and-a-half hours and 140 miles across the state of Connecticut from Bulls Bridge, and you’ll reach this replica of a 19th-century structure that looks very much the part. The wooden structure was built in 1994 by an all-volunteer crew and it is the only covered bridge on a public road in the state of Rhode Island.

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American cities famous for chocolate

The United States loves its sweets. Historic candy stores and tasteful confectionaries can be found in cities and towns across the country. Purveyors of mass market chocolate abound, and Americans are so fond of their favorite chocolate brands that animated, anthropomorphized M&Ms make frequent commercial appearances. There’s even a chocolate-themed amusement park in Pennsylvania called Hersheypark.

While candy can taste either magnificent or mediocre regardless of what city you find yourself in, there are some parts of the country that stand out as home to the most iconic candy in the US. These five cities have a heavy stake in candy, and some are even the birthplace of now-beloved treats. Grab your dental floss and prepare your sweet tooth: These are the American cities best known for sugary, sweet candy.

1. Hershey, Pennsylvania

Photo: Joseph Skompski/Shutterstock

It’s just about impossible to talk about candy in the US without talking about Hershey — especially when talking about chocolate. Whatever your feelings are about the quality of the chocolate itself, it’s undeniable that the closest thing you’ll get to a real world Willy Wonka factory is Hersheypark in Hershey, PA. The park comes complete with rollercoasters, a cafe, a museum, tasting rooms with flights of chocolate instead of wine, and a make-your-own chocolate experience. There’s even a public garden dedicated to chocolate-themed plants like chocolate mint and hot cocoa rose. For adults, there’s the MeltSpa and Chocolate Spa that specialize in chocolate-based treatments. And yes, there’s plenty of candy to just buy and eat, too.

2. Ocean City, New Jersey

Photo: EQRoy/Shutterstock

Chewy salt water taffy is at home in Ocean City, NJ. According to legend, salt water taffy itself was invented in the late 1800s just 10 miles away in Atlantic City when a candy shop was flooded with ocean water. The shop owner sarcastically told a customer that the only taffy he had left was salt water taffy, and to his surprise the salty taffy sold, so the story goes. Salt water taffy, however, doesn’t use actual ocean water (some confectioners don’t even use salt). And though the legend centers on Atlantic City, it’s Ocean City that steals the show these days. Stroll the boardwalk for taffy and be sure to visit Shriver’s, which opened in 1898 and today has around 50 different flavors. Also of note in Ocean City for those with a sweet tooth: fudge. Lots and lots of fudge, with flavors like pistachio, chocolate marshmallow, and coconut.

3. Salt Lake City, Utah

Photo: M Outdoors/Shutterstock

In 2015, a study found that people in Utah eat nearly twice as much candy per person than the rest of the US. There are a number of reasons why, including one Brigham Young University professor’s opinion that the high Mormon population, which stays away from coffee, alcohol, and tobacco, indulges in sweets instead. The same year, Hershey named Salt Lake City the “Sweet Tooth Capital of America” thanks to the massive amounts of chocolate and Twizzlers residents eat. And where there are lots of candy lovers, there are candy makers. Salt Lake City has a thriving artisan chocolate community and candy stores like Caputo’s that focus on Utah-made chocolate. The producers and shops centered in and near Salt Lake City led to Saveur naming the area the “epicenter of chocolate innovation” in the US.

4. Buffalo, New York

Photo: Fowler’s Chocolates/Facebook

Buffalo wings, not candy, are the first food that most people think of when they think of Buffalo, NY. Deservedly so, as the story of how Buffalo got its wings is endearing, and the dish defines proper bar food in the US to this day. Yet it has a sweet claim to fame as well: sponge candy. Sponge candy is made with sugar, baking soda, and corn syrup or molasses. The result is a crunchy-but-airy toffee, and in Buffalo, that toffee is covered in chocolate to make the city’s famous sponge candy. Similar variations (sometimes without the chocolate) can be found in New Zealand, where it’s called hokey pokey, as well as Britain and Australia. One of the oldest and most classic places for Buffalo sponge candy is Fowler’s, which opened in 1910.

5. San Francisco, California

Photo: Asif Islam/Shutterstock

Many large cities in Europe and the US have reputable chocolate businesses. Places like New York City, Paris, and London attract the type of people who open bean-to-bar chocolate shops, as well as the type of people who frequent those shops. San Francisco stands out among these cities for its long history with quality chocolate. The city by the bay is where Ghirardelli, the oldest continuously run chocolate factory in the US, got its start in 1852. It’s also home to the oldest family owned chocolate factory in the US, Guittard, and Scharffen Berger, the first US chocolate company to put the cacao percentage on the label. Something about San Francisco inspires a special type of American chocolate maker — and there’s no shortage of fine purveyors of other types of candy around the city as well.

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