Matador Network's Blog, page 817

Bahamas closes borders to US

Three weeks ago, the Bahamas filled prospective US travelers with hope by announcing that it would be reopening its borders to tourism. On Sunday it dashed that hope, closing all airports and seaports to those from the US due to spiking COVID-19 cases in the Bahamas and a continuously dire situation in the US. Tourists from all other countries, however, will still be welcome.

Starting on July 22, Bahamasair, the country’s national airline, will stop all outgoing flights to the US, except in cases where US citizens need to go home. Private international flights and charters will also be banned. If you’re from Canada, the UK, and the EU, this news does not affect you. As long as you can show proof of a negative COVID-19 RT PCR test, taken within 10 days of arrival, you’ll still be allowed to enter.

The announcement comes as the Bahamas registered 49 new infections since the islands opened on July 1. Thirty-one of those infections occurred on the island of Grand Bahama, which had been COVID-19 free for two months. The new travel restrictions are an effort to level off those numbers and prevent them from getting worse.

“Regrettably, the situation here at home has already deteriorated since we began the reopening of our domestic economy. It has deteriorated at an exponential rate since we reopened our international borders. Our current situation demands decisive action, if we are to avoid being overrun and defeated by this virus,” Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said in a statement. “We cannot allow our hospitals to be overrun. Many priorities must be balanced, be they health, social and economic.”

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Best Colorado family ski resorts

Colorado’s ski resorts are the darling of winter in the Centennial State, bringing in more than seven million visitors annually. But many of these ski resorts are equally fun in summer, especially when traveling with the family. Recent years have seen them outdo themselves, with crazy attractions even beyond the usual alpine slide, hiking trails, and zip lining courses. If Colorado is on your family’s road trip itinerary this summer, a visit to one (or more) of these mountain resorts will make for a memorable trip.

The bike park and Lost Forest — Snowmass

Photo: Daniel Bayer/Courtesy of Aspen Snowmass

What sets the Snowmass Bike Park apart is the sheer variety of trails: 11 downhill plus an entire system of cross-country trails. On the lower part of the mountain, easier trails like Verde flow past slightly more difficult options like Viking and Valkyrie, allowing riders to hop between trails as they choose rather than having to commit to one trail for the entire top-to-bottom journey. The lower portion is served by the Elk Camp Gondola, which allows riders to bring their bikes inside the car with them, while the upper portion is accessed via the Elk Camp Chair. Work yourself up to French Press, which runs top to bottom from the Elk Camp Chair. To get crazy, channel your inner Hunter S. Thompson and let loose on the Gonzo trail — just be ready for terrain features not found anywhere else.

Also at Snowmass, check out the Lost Forest. Here you’ll find ropes courses and a climbing wall, along with an alpine coaster and kid-friendly bike trails. Many ski resorts have similar offerings in the summer, but Snowmass brings them all together into one on-mountain adventure park that’s big and diverse enough to keep the family occupied for an entire afternoon or longer.

The Hammerhead off-road race track — Purgatory (Durango)

Photo: Purgatory Resort

Some summer vacations involve bumper cars, go-karts, or 4x4s. Purgatory, known to locals simply as “Purg,” hosts an off-road track that combines the best of each. Hammerhead, as the track is called, is a high-altitude, high-speed dirt moto racecourse distinct enough that the resort repurposes one of its main winter parking lots for its action each summer. Hammerhead is designed for kids and is a unique way to ensure they have stories to tell from the on-mountain day. Meanwhile, older teenagers and other family members can tackle the bike park, disc golf course, or alpine slide.

The legendary Alpine Slide — Winter Park

Photo: Winter Park Resort/Facebook

For nearly 50 years, the alpine slide tracks of Heritage Square amusement park in Golden towered over western Denver like a sort of adventure beacon. They were long, steep, and famously grueling, at least as far as family-centric rides go. When the alpine slide closed for good in 2015, Winter Park took the reins as the only destination-worthy alpine slide in Colorado. It’s 3,000 feet long and has both quick drops and tight turns, and the dueling tracks mean you have to do at least two laps to get the full experience. Best of all, though, is that Winter Park still embraces the two factors that have always made alpine slides awesome. The first is being able to race your sibling, partner, or that relative who never quite grew up. The second is the fact that the rider actually has to maneuver their craft safely to the bottom. Hit a turn going too fast and what was a casual cruise becomes a real-life Mario Kart experience.

Woodward Copper — Copper Mountain

Photo: Woodward Copper/Facebook

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you can’t ski or snowboard. Woodward at Copper is an indoor ski and snowboard training facility that operates year-round at the resort. Both indoor and outdoor facilities are available for use. Also on offer are BMX and skate parks, and lessons so you can hone those on-mountain skills for the coming winter. Woodward at Copper is among the most unique stops along I-70 because it gives your family the chance to participate in these activities at their ability level, or sit back and watch the mountain’s top athletes hone their skills for competitions. Practice at the facilities either on the mountain or in the “barn” located in the base village. Either way, book in advance for an engaging and fun way to spend an afternoon.

The Mineshaft Maze — Breckenridge

Photo: Breckenridge Ski Resort/Facebook

Breckenridge has long been home to an epic human maze. But what was formerly a concoction of basic wooden walls and an elevated vantage point for advanced route scouting is now the state’s best and likely most challenging maze, known as the Mineshaft. Users can take a leisurely excursion through its corridors or race the clock to try and set a new maze record. Either way, it’s important to keep hydrated and keep track of where you’ve been — it does get frustrating the fifth time you find yourself rounding a corner to the same dead end. The ultimate takeaway here is that collecting the letters M-A-Z-E is just as fun in 2020 as it was in 1990.

The Outlaw Coaster — Steamboat

Photo: Steamboat Resort/Facebook

The thing about alpine coasters is that, unlike the alpine slides, most just aren’t that exciting. The cars move slowly down a fixed track, fastened on tightly to remove any hint of risk or spur-of-the-moment decisions, and worst of all, there’s only one track, meaning you can’t race your siblings to the bottom. Steamboat’s Outlaw Coaster is the exception. Not only is this the longest coaster in North America — at 6,280 feet — it’s actually fun. At points, the ride hits 40 feet above the ground, then swooshes down into tight curves and spins.

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Puerto Rico postpones reopening

Although Puerto Rico opened for tourism on July 15, a surge in COVID-19 cases has caused the island to begin reintroducing tourism industry restrictions. Puerto Rico’s governor Wanda Vázquez Garced announced on Thursday that bars, movie theaters, and casinos would be re-closed; restaurant capacity limits would be reduced to 50 percent; and sunbathing would be prohibited on Puerto Rico’s beaches. The 10:00 PM curfew will also be extended.

These new measures aren’t ones the island wanted to take, especially since Puerto Rico officially reopened to tourism on Wednesday and was looking forward to a robust end to the summer tourist season. A spike in hospitalizations and cases, however, has made the rollback unavoidable.

According to Vazquez, “These measures are very difficult for us to take because we know there is a part of the economy that has been hurt and will be hurt by these new measures. But as I’ve said before, the most important thing is everyone’s life and the safety of our people.”

It’s unclear how long the rollback will last and when bans will be lifted. The good news is, if you’ve already booked a flight to Puerto Rico for the coming weeks, you will still be able to enter the island. Just expect a slightly more limited experience.

The official travel advisory states, “A continuous assessment of the situation in Puerto Rico and in the United States will influence Island-wide orders that prioritize health and safety.”

More like thisNewsUS extends travel restrictions with Canada and Mexico until August 21

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European hamster population critical

Although typically known as cuddly pets, there are many wild hamsters species all throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and some are far from friendly. The European hamster, for example, will bite anyone who tries to touch it. Unfortunately for the feisty European hamster, however, a serious population decline has put it on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list as critically endangered.

The possible causes for the population decline (itself due to falling reproduction rate and shorter lifespans) range from monoculture plantations that harm the species’ well-being by not providing proper nutrition, industrial development, global warming and light pollution.

The hamster’s population is down by 94 percent in France, and over 75 percent in Eastern Europe. If action isn’t taken, the IUCN believes the hamster will likely be extinct within 30 years.

While the European hamster may seem insignificant, they’re actually extremely important parts of the food chain. European hamsters are critical prey for the European red fox, large birds like the Eurasian eagle owl, and more. Losing the European hamster could result in declining populations of other species as well.

Mikhail Rusin, a researcher at Ukraine’s Kyiv Zoo, told , “If we lose this species, the ecosystem could collapse [and affect human communities, too]. Some people think they’re disconnected with nature, but they’re not.”

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The ultimate American wine road trip

There are more than 8,700 wineries in the United States and around 250 recognized wine regions, or American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Some are known around the world (hello, Napa) while others remain obscure to all but a small group of locals and wine experts.

While it would take half a lifetime to properly see all of the country’s wine regions, a select number stand out as exemplary of American wine’s past, present, and future. These regions span from coast to coast and reach just as close to the country’s northern border as they do to the southern border. Today, with international travel close to non-existent, Americans who travel with wine on the mind are looking inward. The most enlightening (and, in the current era, safest) way to experience the diversity of wine is the great American road trip.

The 15-region route below takes you from the wineries of Oregon, down the California coast, over to Texas and Virginia, up to New York and Michigan, and then back to the Pacific Northwest. The plot points are in cities central to each region, and it’s a loop, so you can start from anywhere and move forward or back how you like.

Before getting started, a quick note on safety: Each state is impacted by COVID-19 differently. Be sure to look up restrictions, quarantine guidelines, and winery opening regulations at your destination, and don’t travel if you feel sick, have come into contact with someone who is sick, or live in a region with cases that are peaking. Instead, take this time to plot out exactly which wineries you’ll visit in each of the below regions as soon as the open road is ready.

1. Willamette Valley: Corvallis, Oregon

Photo: Leslie Brienza/Shutterstock

The Willamette Valley AVA was established in 1983, and it spans from the Columbia River at the northern border down past Eugene. Corvallis, in between Portland and Eugene, is a good home base to familiarize yourself with the Pacific Northwest’s home of pinot noir. Other notable grape varieties include chardonnay and riesling. There are more than 600 wineries in the Willamette Valley and six smaller AVAs inside its boundaries, so there’s plenty to explore.

Check the Willamette Valley website for openings and restrictions.

Wineries to try: Lumos Wine Company, Abby Creek Vineyard, LaVelle Vineyards

2. Napa, California

Photo: cheng cheng/Shutterstock

You probably know Napa. Northern California wine country put American wine on the global map, and today, it remains a major destination for both wine enthusiasts and the wine curious. Wines made with cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay are the varieties to try. Long-running Napa wineries that first gained recognition are well worth the visit, as are classic and sustainability-minded wineries like Cakebread Cellars.

If you find Napa too glitzy and the prices too high, nearby Sonoma is a nice escape with equally delicious wine, plus it’s one of the most all-around sustainable regions in the country.

Wineries to try: Cakebread Cellars, Chateau Montelena, J. Moss Winery

3. Paso Robles, California

Photo: Laura Reilly

There’s a little something for everyone in the vast, sprawling Paso Robles AVA. There are 11 subregions, each with different weather, soil, and styles. Some 200 wineries work with around 40,000 acres of vineyards growing 46 varieties. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, grenache, and mourvedre are popular red varieties. When you want a break from wine, Paso Robles also has a number of distilleries making whiskey, brandy, gin, and grappa with local grapes, wheat, and botanicals.

While you should save plenty of time to walk around Paso Robles’ adorable downtown, you’ll have a more memorable experience glamping at Alta Colina’s Trailer Pond — a small collection of vintage, candy-colored trailers set at the foot of the rolling vineyards.

Wineries to try: Alta Colina, DAOU, ONX, and Halter Ranch

4. Santa Barbara, California

Photo: David M. Schrader/Shutterstock

Continue just a little farther down the Central Coast of California to hit Santa Barbara. There’s one immediate thing you’ll notice as soon as you arrive: The weather seems almost too perfect. That’s true whether you’re on the coast or a little farther inland in the Santa Ynez Valley. You might just think the same thing about the wines. There are six AVAs within the larger Santa Barbara County AVA, and the region largely focuses on chardonnay, pinot noir, and syrah — though don’t be surprised to find Italian varieties and styles as well. For some of the best pinot noir in the country, head about an hour north to Lompoc to try wines from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in the collection of small winery tasting rooms known as the Wine Ghetto.

Wineries to try: Sandhi, Palmina, Rideau Vineyard

5. Sedona, Arizona

Photo: FiledIMAGE/Shutterstock

Arizona is more famous for its cacti than its vines, but a small number of vineyards that make up the Verde Valley AVA make Sedona a more-than-worthy stop on a wine road trip. The first vineyards were planted by missionaries in the late 1600s, and today many of the notable wineries are clustered close to Sedona, which is itself a gorgeous, artist-friendly destination to spend a few days in.

Wineries to try: Burning Tree Cellars, Flying Leap Vineyards, Javelina Leap

6. Fredericksburg, Texas

Photo: Becker Vineyards/Facebook

While the wine scene in Texas doesn’t quite match up to the “everything is bigger in Texas” quip, it does come close. Texas Hill Country has more than 50 wineries, and the AVA is one of the largest at nine million acres growing varieties like cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, tempranillo, syrah, and muscat canelli. Fredericksburg, not far from Austin, is where you’ll find some of the oldest wineries. Head down Highway 290, popularly known as Wine Road 290, for a string of wineries producing quality bottles.

Wineries to try: Becker Vineyards, Hilmy Cellars, Woodrose Winery

7. Augusta, Missouri

Photo: Noboleis Vineyards/Facebook

Fun fact: Augusta, Missouri, became the site of the first AVA in the United States when it was designated in 1980. The state has a long history with wine that dates back to before Prohibition, but that history hasn’t quite carried on to the present day. Make Augusta a stop for the history, though, and you’ll more than likely find some wine you love as well. It’s a manageable size for a quick stop — just 15 miles centered around the town of Augusta.

Wineries to visit: Montelle Winery, Augusta Winery, Noboleis Vineyards

8. Cincinnati, Ohio

Photo: Revel OTR Urban Winery/Facebook

The Ohio River Valley Wine Trail stretches across multiple bordering states, and Cincinnati is the best place to focus on for your wine road trip. The region’s wine history starts in the early 1800s, but it went quiet during and after the Civil War until the 1970s, when hybrid grape varieties were planted with research help from Ohio State University. It sparked a Midwest wine surge that’s fun to explore today. Be sure to taste the region’s ice wines.

Wineries to visit: Revel OTR, Valley Vineyards, Harmony Hill Vineyard

9. Charlottesville, Virginia

Photo: Early Mountain Vineyards/Facebook

While Missouri might hold the title for the first AVA, some of the very first wine grapes were grown in Virginia by Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson. The wineries around Charlottesville can be tricky for growers to navigate thanks to humidity and other weather factors, but producers have found plenty of solutions over the centuries. Today, thanks to the general affordability of bottles and the openness that producers have for experimentation, Virginia wine country is one to seek out. Stay in Charlottesville for a somewhat central location with easy access to Virginia’s seven AVAs

Wineries to visit: Blenheim Vineyards, Slater Run Vineyards, Early Mountain Vineyards

10. The Hamptons, New York

Photo: Joao Paulo V Tinoco/Shutterstock

The Hamptons carry a lot of associations, and not all of them might feel welcoming for the casual wine lover. This is, after all, a place where rosé is called Hampton water (and there’s even a brand with the same name). But wineries in the Hamptons and nearby on the North Fork of Long Island are producing wine that will make you forget all about the Hamptons reputation for exclusivity. Thanks in part to its small footprint and proximity to New York City, expect Long Island wines to generally be on the pricier side.

Wineries to visit: Paumanok Vineyards, Wolffer Estate, Channing Daughters

11. Hammondsport, New York

Photo: Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery/Facebook

New York’s other famous wine region is upstate in the Finger Lakes. Here, winemakers have long been experimenting with cold-weather varieties, as well as ways to combat the effects of climate change. You’ll find every style of riesling in the Finger Lakes and try enough gewurztraminers to finally nail how to correctly say the German variety. Cabernet franc and merlot are common red varieties. The Finger Lakes have grown wine since the 1970s, but it’s only been the past decade or so that the region has racked up the awards and designations as the top US wine region to visit.

Wineries to try: Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fox Run Vineyards, Hermann J. Wiemer

12. Traverse City, Michigan

Photo: Chateau Grand Traverse/Facebook

The area of northern Michigan that borders Lake Michigan gets cold, but not too cold for grapes. There are around 40 wineries near Traverse City, primarily on the Leelanau peninsula. In terms of location, it’s on the same 45th Parallel as European regions like Bordeaux and Piedmont are on the other side of the world. Grape varieties like cabernet franc and merlot are common. Wine tasting here is a casual affair, and it’s easy to lose track of time tasting, talking, and learning from the people who call the wine region home.

Wineries to try: Mari Vineyards, Chateau Grand Traverse, Bonobo Winery

13. Palisade, Colorado

Photo: Phillip Rubino/Shutterstock

The Palisade region north of Denver is famous for its peaches and other fruit, and wine grapes take to the land just as well. The region is small but gorgeous, with a focus on grapes like chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and sauvignon blanc. For the full experience, bike the Fruit and Wine Byway for a mix of the outdoors, mountain views, and more than two dozen wineries to visit.

Wineries to try: Maison La Belle Vie, Colterris, Restoration Vineyards

14. Boise, Idaho

Photo: Knmata/Shutterstock

The Pacific Northwest gets most of the attention when it comes to northern wine regions, but just east you’ll find a small, but thriving, wine scene around Boise. Idaho’s farms are more known for potatoes than grapes, but producers here are slowly building the next great American wine region to keep on your radar. Drive to the wineries in the Snake River Valley if you’re looking for on-site tastings at the vineyard, then head to the neighboring Garden City for one of the best urban winery districts in the US. You’re going to fall in love with the wine here, so make sure to pick up a couple extra bottles to take home because most Idaho wineries don’t distribute far from their local market.

Wineries to try: Telaya Wine Co., Fujishin, Cinder, Split Rail

15. Walla Walla, Washington

Photo: Danita Delmont/Shutterstock

Few towns are as wine-friendly as Walla Walla, and at around four and a half hours away from both Seattle and Portland, a road trip is the best way to see it. There are some 40 tasting rooms downtown representing a wide range of local wineries — some of which are known the world over for quality syrah and cabernet sauvignon. The Walla Walla Valley has 120 total wineries and 2,800 acres of vineyards, and there’s a wide style ranging from rustic to industrial. For something different, head toward the airport to drink in converted World War II-era buildings and taste upcoming producers in the wine incubator program.

Wineries to try: Woodward Canyon, Foundry Vineyards, Seven Hills Winery

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Street Food: Latin America review

As a general rule, I tend to appreciate media that elevates those people who feed our world without ever getting proper credit for their contributions: the dishwasher or server or sous chef who toils in the background yet keeps every restaurant celebrated in magazines and documentaries running smoothly, while the owner or executive chef rakes in the accolades. In the case of Street Food: Latin America, a new series of short documentaries from the makers of Chef’s Table, David Gelb and Brian McGinn, that underappreciated maven of the food world is the street food chef — the person (often a woman) sweating over an open fire to feed the masses.

On its surface, Street Food: Latin America looks like an unabashed opportunity to look beyond the white tablecloth world of Michelin-star restaurants for chefs to revere, but red flags pop up everywhere the longer you watch. The first is that each episode opens with a playful, cutesy illustration of the chef and his or her outpost (sometimes a small restaurant space or stall). Then you realize the 30-minute episodes are not focused on one chef but feature short three to five minute interview segments with other street food chefs from the same neighborhood. The chefs who are supposedly the main focus don’t even get their own full episode.

Photo: Netflix

When you remember that this series was conceived by the creators of Chef’s Table, you might be inclined to compare the two formats: The opening of Chef’s Table features elegant table dressings and rarefied classical music. Each episode is an hour long and features extensive interviews and backstory on just one central figure, almost always a man, almost always white (Mashama Bailey is the only black chef to ever be featured on the show).

That last point stands out even more when you consider that the two iterations of the series, Street Food: Asia and now Street Food: Latin America, take place in countries dominated by brown people. Seven of the nine episodes of Street Food: Asia take place in the south or southeast of the continent. Nineteen of the 30 episodes of Chef’s Table focus on white American or European chefs (that’s counting episodes featuring Will Goldfarb who is white but runs a restaurant in Indonesia, and white South Americans Alex Atala and Francis Mallman). Chef’s Table has featured chefs from India, Mexico, and Thailand, but they are the exception.

There are two separate but equally important issues at work here: First of all, obviously street food is extremely popular in places like Peru and Vietnam, but halal carts and hot dog vendors are on almost every street corner in New York City, so setting up an entirely different category that casts street food as the sole culinary strength of non-Western countries feels dishonest.

But even if you are going to carve out a space exclusively to highlight street food chefs, why treat them any differently than you would a Michelin-star classically trained chef? In doing so, Street Food: Latin America creates a false hierarchy of chefs with serious restaurants and awards, and the ultimately lesser chefs who run their quaint street food stalls.

And that distinction often comes down to the type of food street food chefs cook: It’s usually traditional dishes rooted in history and centuries of culture. It’s the same food their neighbors and families eat at home, beloved for generations — without expensive, artisan ingredients.

Photo: Netflix

Much of the praise surrounding so-called celebrity chefs is that they are “experimental” with their cuisine, modernizing traditional dishes like tortellini in a minimalist, refined style. Elevating these chefs hinges on the idea that experimentation in food is an inherently valuable skill, but I have my doubts. The chefs in the Street Food series have cooked the same dishes incredibly well for their entire professional careers. They don’t innovate, but so what? Is there anything really all that awe-inspiring about remaking a dish that is already perfect? Sure, street food is no tomato disguised as a strawberry at Alinea, but that doesn’t make it any less worthy of an hour-long, in-depth investigation.

Street food chefs typically (though this is not always the case) do not come from privileged backgrounds. Often, they are women with families to support. They have no “professional” training. And, perhaps most crucially of all, they serve everyone, regardless of income or status. The tourist, the local, the laborer, the lawyer, the mother, the high school student — all are welcome at street food stalls. Their food is accessible and affordable, and not just to the elite few who manage to snag a reservation.

Photo: Netflix

Yes, the dishes in Street Food: Latin America are shot with the same sort of epic, sweeping camera angles and vivid colors that you’ll find in Chef’s Table, but it’s a clumsy attempt at homage. The producers clearly don’t think the chefs they are supposedly celebrating are worthy of their own Chef’s Table episode, or else why create a whole new show for them?

I’m not saying that every chef does or even should aspire to that level of elite celebrity, but their food is still being othered (as the Western gaze tends to do with the cuisine of brown people), placed almost in opposition to the men who populate the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list. Is there any meaningful difference in dedication, passion, and yes, talent, between Massimo Bottura and one of Street Food: Latin America’s most compelling characters, Doña Vale, whose memelas, the show even admits, are “peerless”? I don’t think so. She is no less deserving of the title of chef. So I’ll leave you with this question: Why is a separate show called Street Food to highlight her achievements even necessary?

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Buckingham Palace gin

The primary resident of Buckingham Palace loves her gin. Now, Queen Elizabeth can opt for her very own house brand made with juniper and other botanicals, many of which are grown and sourced from the Buckingham Palace Gardens.

The gin uses 12 botanicals in all, including lemon, verbena, hawthorn berries, and mulberry leaves, according to the Royal Collection, which sells the brand. The distillers had plenty to choose from when surveying the grounds for possible hand-picked plants to include from the 16-hectare garden. For summer sipping, the Royal Collection suggests a straightforward gin and tonic over ice with a slice of lemon — though the Queen presumably takes hers in her classic lunchtime Dubonnet cocktail and evening dry martini.

All of the proceeds from gin sales go to the Royal Collection Trust, which takes care of all of the art and historical collections that have accumulated over the past 500 years of British royalty.

Guests to Buckingham Palace will get to sip the gin, and people in the United Kingdom can purchase it online or on site at Royal Collection shops — though the initial run sold out on the first day it was announced in mid-June.

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NASA didn’t change the zodiac signs

If there’s one thing you should not bother NASA with, it’s astrology. The space agency is rooted in science, not fanciful interpretations of the stars, so before you accuse NASA of “changing” the zodiac, you better get your facts straight.

A few days ago, it was announced that NASA was “creating” a new star sign called Ophiuchus, the snake bearer, for people born between November 29 and December 17. This new sign throws off the rhythm of the other 12 signs, and now people are freaking out that their astrological chart is out of whack.

The real story is that some 3,000 years ago, the Babylonians noticed that as Earth orbits the sun, the sun passes through 13 constellations. But because this number didn’t conveniently fit into their 12-month calendar, they left out one: Ophiuchus.

Photo: NASA

According to a NASA spokesperson, “The line from Earth through the sun points to Virgo for 45 days, but it points to Scorpius for only seven days. To make a tidy match with their 12-month calendar, the Babylonians ignored the fact the sun actually moves through 13 constellations, not 12. Besides the 12 familiar constellations of the zodiac, the sun is also aligned with Ophiuchus for about 18 days each year.”

Although news of Ophiuchus’ reintroduction is sending astrologists into a tizzy, it’s not an underhanded plot to subvert astrological tradition — because NASA doesn’t care about your star sign. On NASA’s website, it states, “We study astronomy, not astrology. We didn’t change any zodiac signs, we just did the math […] Astronomers and other scientists know that stars many light-years away have no effect on the ordinary activities of humans on Earth.”

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Long-distance canoe and kayak trips

There’s hardly a better way to get away from it all than to get out on the water. A long-distance canoe or kayak trip provides stunning, changing scenery and a sense of serenity. The only question is where to go. You could opt for a leisurely float across multiple lakes or take on a more challenging combination of calm water and rapids. You could paddle in between steep canyon walls, along forested riverbanks, or while viewing abundant wildlife on historic rivers. Here are the best options for a long-distance canoe or kayak trip.

Before you go

The length of a long-distance trip depends on you and how much time you have. As you map out your trip, plan to paddle about 15 miles a day. If this is your first time headed out, be sure you do it with someone who has gone before. Depending on where you are going, you may be best off going on a guided tour. At a minimum, talk to locals who can give you specific tips.

If you are not a highly skilled kayaker, you’re going to want more calm conditions — which will influence where and when you go. Most places that are suitable for canoes will have glassy, easy water to dip your oar into. If you’re headed out to rivers fed by glacier run-oft, opt for late summer, after the peak water flow. Check American Whitewater for reports on conditions and understand how to read river conditions.

Wherever and whenever you go, make a detailed plan of the distances you’ll travel per day and where you intend to camp at night. Be sure to leave a copy of that plan with a friend or loved one back home.

1. Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness — Minnesota

Photo: George Burba/Shutterstock

This may well be the most special place for a serene, long-distance trip across the water in North America. Butting up against the border with Canada, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness spans one million acres of the Superior National Forest. This massive area has more than 1,000 lakes offering 12,000 miles of canoe and kayak routes.

Since the majority of its 2,000 rustic campsites are accessed from the water — making this the best place to camp in the state — you’ll have plenty of route options. Note that the lakes and waterways are connected via “portages,” meaning you’ll have to carry your craft over to the next waterway. But the effort will be beyond worth it. You’ll camp amid pine, fir, and spruce trees, and as you paddle you’ll catch sight of beavers busily working on their dams or, through the trees, deer, moose, and black bears. The area also has the largest population of grey wolves in the lower 48.

Plan your route ahead of time as there are more than 70 entry points into the area — and you need to pick up a self-issued permit from the kiosks at the BWCAW entrances and go in through the entry point for which you have a permit. Reserve ahead of time in summer.

2. Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Photo: Danita Delmont/Shutterstock

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) is the longest inland water trail in the country, running 700 miles from the Adirondacks in Old Forge, New York, to northern Maine — and encompassing 23 rivers and streams. Established in 2006, it follows waterways used for travel centuries ago by Native Americans and settlers. You won’t find treacherous Class IV whitewater here, but you’ll find everything from fast-flowing rivers to gentle ponds.

The NFCT includes two nationally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, Vermont’s Trout River and Upper Missisquoi River. Just note that the northern Vermont stretches cross over into Quebec, so make sure that travel is freely open. Another option is to explore the later sections of the NFCT in Maine, where you’ll cross Chesunkook and Chamberlain Lakes, and maybe spot some moose on the banks of the water as well. To help you decide on a routing, check out the trip planner of the non-profit Northern Forest Canoe Trail organization.

3. Green River — Utah

Photo: Chess Ocampo/Shutterstock

The paddle here is not demanding, but keeping your attention on the water may be. The 120 miles of the Green River traverse through deep, red gorges — Labyrinth Canyon and Stillwater Canyon — and offer vistas of stunning rock formations. If you opt for Labyrinth Canyon, put in at Green River State Park and take out about 50 miles later at Mineral Bottom. As you float over the next few days, the canyon walls get steeper as you go, and in the evening bighorn sheep will come into view. You’ll need a permit from the Bureau of Land Management to traverse the canyon.

While neither canyon gets too crowded, Stillwater is even less visited. If you opt for this canyon, one option is putting in at Mineral Bottom and taking out at Spanish Bottom. You’ll be rewarded with views of red mesas standing guard over the river. As the name suggests, the waters here are always calm, making this a good choice for families.

4. Missouri River — Montana

Photo: Gordon Swanson/Shutterstock

Lewis and Clark explored the Missouri River at the start of the 1800s. While the whole navigable section of this nationally designated Wild and Scenic River runs almost 150 miles, a good area to kayak is in the western half of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Putting in at Coal Banks Landing, you’ll paddle by white limestone cliffs and pass prairie lands where you can explore petroglyphs and Native American teepee rings. Animals you may find among the sagebrush include bighorn sheep, elk, and prairie dogs. You can take out at Judith Landing or continue deeper towards the shale bluffs of the Missouri badlands.

In the evening, you can rest at campsites that were used by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, like Eagle Creek and Slaughter River. Just note that summer storms can form seemingly in no time, causing lighting and dropping temperatures by as much as 50 degrees.

5. Klamath River — California

Photo: Ahturner/Shutterstock

While the Klamath River stretches all the way from eastern Oregon through northern California to the Pacific Ocean, the best place for your kayak trip is in the 370-mile section of river that runs through the 1.7-million-acre Klamath National Forest in California’s far northeast. The stretch from Happy Camp to Green Riffle is for experienced kayakers only. Although you’ll eventually enjoy a gentle float, you’ll also tackle Class II and Class III rapids — making for a good combination of excitement and relaxation.

You’ll paddle in alongside evergreens through the Klamath Mountains, catching sight of turtles or river otters by the water, with deer and perhaps a black bear in the forest behind them, and osprey and bald eagles overhead. Note that if you’re camping there over the summer, you’ll need a campfire permit for dispersed camping. Know how to start a fire and how to put out a fire safely. Also be prepared for regulations banning fires altogether in peak fire-danger season, since you can still enjoy camping without fire.

6. Main Salmon River — Idaho

Photo: Sarah Jessup/Shutterstock

A good choice for kayakers is Idaho’s Main Salmon River where the rapids provide just enough oomph but are still manageable by less-seasoned kayakers — provided you come with someone who has more experience. You pass through some Class III rapids here. The Main Salmon River flows through the Sawtooth Mountains and the over two-million-square-mile Sawtooth National Forest, the largest protected areas in the Lower 48. You’ll pass through deep canyons with evergreen fir trees, spotting moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, and otters.

A classic route involves putting in at Corn Creek and taking out due west at Vinegar Creek or even further at Spring Bar. If the idea of packing all of your camping gear in kayaks that can weather Class III rapids seems daunting, consider going with an outfitter that can take your belongings along in a raft.

7. Everglades National Park — Florida

Photo: Maridav/Shutterstock

If you’re in Florida and need a break from the craziness right now, you could do worse than grabbing a kayak and heading out to Everglades National Park, on 2,400 square miles of Florida wetlands. Kayaking alongside mangroves, you may spot manatees, dolphins, alligators, and turtles. Hundreds of bird species have been found here as well, among them storks and egrets. A kayaking trip on Florida Bay, with its 10,000 islands, can be spread out for any number of days, and you can camp on the sand at dozens of backcountry campsites. For river and bay locations where you can’t access land, platforms called chickees serve at the campsite area.

You can get permits to backcountry camp at the Gulf Coast and Flamingo Visitors Centers, where you can also check conditions. Note that paddling the Everglades is more popular outside of the hot, humid summer months. If you do go in summer, come prepared with insect repellent.

More like thisPaddlingThe 10 most unique places to go kayaking in the US

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COVID-19 travel insurance plans

For the first time in a long while, an American passport is nearly as good as kindling. To travel abroad, your options are few and far between (check out this list to see where you can go). Restrictions are always changing, however, and some countries are moving to allow Americans entry with proof of travel insurance that covers COVID-19.

Aruba, Bermuda, and Dubai are already on the list, and several other countries — like Turks and Caicos — will join the ranks when their doors open. These countries, by and large, are looking for policies that cover the visitor should they contract COVID-19 directly before or during their visit and cover medical evacuation. Other requirements, like quarantining, may also be required.

If you go, here’s the nitty-gritty on travel insurance plans.

Which plans cover COVID-19?

Here are a few companies that explicitly cover travelers if they get COVID-19 abroad or directly before their trip (as of mid-July):

1. April International

April International’s Pandemic Plus Plan has the basics written into its name. It covers trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical expenses up to $50,000, emergency evacuation up to $500,000, missed connections, baggage protection, and more. You can purchase an optional Cancel For Any Reason benefit separately (which could reimburse you up to 75 percent of your trip costs).

What it doesn’t cover are expenses lost due to government bans or other restrictions, so check beforehand and keep apprised of current trends. If you do purchase a plan with April International and find out within 14 days that it doesn’t meet your needs, you can cancel for a full refund.

2. Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway has three main plans, and all of them cover COVID-19 issues up to their respective limits — the most budget-friendly option covers up to $15,000 worth of medical expenses; the most expensive plan offers up to $50,000 of coverage. Each plan also covers trip cancellation (not including personal cancellations except in the case of illness), trip interruption, and travel delays. Like most other companies on this list, you can purchase CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) coverage separately.

3. Seven Corners

Seven Corners’ Liaison Travel Plus plan is cut and dry: It covers COVID-19 medical expenses up to $100,000.

Seven Corners also offers various RoundTrip Protection Plans that may meet your criteria — these have components of coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, medical expenses, and protection for personal belongings. All of these plans cover COVID-19 to the limit they cover any other illness; the RoundTrip Elite Plan has the highest coverage, with a $250,000 emergency accident and sickness benefit as part of the plan.

4. World Nomads

World Nomads does not currently have a pandemic exclusion in its plans, meaning COVID-19 claims are allowed. According to its website, benefits include trip interruption coverage, travel delay coverage, doctors’ visits, and hospital stays up to your plan’s limit. Medical evacuation and certain pre-paid travel arrangements may also be covered. World Nomads also covers COVID-19 testing with some conditions: If a registered physician requires a COVID-19 test after departure, it’s likely to be covered.

World Nomads does not cover canceled trips, regardless of whether cancellation was your call or any third party’s.

5. Generali

Per Generali’s website, “If you, a family member or a traveling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your trip, and meet the requirements for coverage due to sickness, you can be covered for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Medical & Dental, and Emergency Assistance & Transportation, in addition to 24/7 Emergency Assistance services” (a team that will coordinate local treatment on your behalf). This vague language — “if you meet the requirements” — is a good example of what to look out for. Always verify what plans deem as “sickness,” “requirements,” etc.

Generali offers three tiers of plans: standard, preferred, and premium.

Alternative routes to getting insured

Of course, you could always go the travel agency route, and they’ll compare whatever sellers they work with for you. An example of this is Wanderwell, which offers travelers medical-only coverage and short-term trip protection coverage (in addition to long-term coverage, which is not an option discussed in this article). They’ll be able to discuss with you specifically which plans cover testing, if any, and which cover COVID-19 treatment, trip interruption due to COVID-19, etc. Note that they only have access to companies they are partnered with.

Then there’s through your hotel. Palladium Hotel Group — with hotels all across the Americas — is offering free medical insurance to their customers for the next year, and other hotels are starting to follow suit. Coverage includes expenses due to illness (including COVID-19 up to $100,000), medical transfer, emergency transfer, necessary stay extensions, repatriation, and more, should these issues arise during your stay. But just like with anything else, call ahead to make sure you understand the details.

What’s the fine print?

The keywords here are often “unforeseen events.” If your provider uses that language, know that they may argue that COVID-19 is entirely predictable — and definitely not “unforeseen.” If you have any doubts, call your provider in advance of your trip.

For the record, even if it looks like your plan covers COVID-19, it may not — make sure you have it in writing that your plan does. What’s more, as outlined above, most companies require you purchase a separate Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy if your plans get derailed (including if you change your mind). Though do note that CFAR policies often tack on a significant markup, around 40 percent.

Then there’s pre-existing conditions. Even if treatment of COVID-19 is “covered” under your plan, make sure any pre-existing conditions clause does not exempt you from said treatment. You may be in for a battle, if so.

And then there’s the phrase “reasonable and customary charges.” Often, insurers will not pay benefits in excess of this arbitrarily defined amount. If you get care at a clinic or institution that charges more than the insurance company expects, you could be left footing the bill.

Certain insurance companies may have policies that vary depending on which state you live in and what country you’re departing to as well. Before you make the leap, definitely check this off your research list.

In short, contact any company before purchasing any travel insurance plan. As with any insurance plan, there are a lot of loopholes. To protect yourself, ask around, do your research, and be like a Boy Scout — always prepared.

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