Matador Network's Blog, page 923

United States’ favorite VDay candy

If you thought chocolates were the treat of choice for Valentine’s Day — think again. As it turns out, the holiday actually seems to be rivaling Halloween not only in its candy-centric focus, but also in the countrywide debate over which candy is best. Candystore.com, an online bulk candy store, compiled data from the past 12 years to determine the most popular Valentine’s Day candy in every US state. If you don’t know your Valentine’s taste just yet, and want to take an educated guess, this map could be your best friend.

Source: CandyStore.com.

With the absence of SweetHearts in the candy hearts sphere last year, conversation hearts took a pretty big blow. Although other brands did try to fill the gap left by the candy hearts power player, it wasn’t quite enough to tip the scales in their favor, especially while up against heavy-hitters like heart-shaped chocolate boxes and M&Ms.

Heart-shaped chocolate boxes won out this year, being the favorite candy in 19 states. Conversation hearts still have a big presence on the map, with 14 states choosing them as their favorite. Valentine’s in Oregon and Wyoming might be in for the most unique treat, however, as they’re the only two states whose favorite Valentine’s Day candy is chocolate roses.


More like this: This map reveals the most popular Valentine’s Day candy in every US state

The post This map reveals the most popular Valentine’s Day candy in every US state appeared first on Matador Network.

Napa Valley Train murder mystery

The Napa Valley Wine Train is pulling out all the stops this year with its new schedule of murder mystery rides. Throughout the year, three-hour costumed and themed trips in a vintage train through the Napa Valley will have travelers sip delicious wine and enjoy multiple-course meals, all while trying to catch a murderer, Agatha Christie-style.

Photo: ‎Napa Valley Wine Train

The themed train rides include Crime and Punishment, Totally 80’s, Till Death Do Us Part, Midnight at the Masquerade, Wizard and Witches, among others.

The Napa Valley Wine Train’s website entices potential travelers with a description of the event that promises some serious fun: “Our vintage train sets the stage for a devious game of cat and mouse as you search for a killer — or hide your insidious identity from your fellow dinner guests.”

Tickets for each trip will cost you anywhere from $230 to $290 per person, and some are already sold out. The full list of rides, along with the scheduled dates, is available on the train’s website.


More like this: The classic wineries that put Napa on the map are still must-visits

The post Sip some wine and solve a murder mystery on the Napa Valley Wine Train appeared first on Matador Network.

Tiny hedgehog pubs

Pet hedgehogs are all the rage these days, but the wild ones who live in the United Kingdom don’t have an easy life. According to Fay Vass, chief executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, “Hedgehog populations have declined by half in rural areas and by a third in urban ones in the last 20 years.” In an attempt to help the cute, spikey creatures, London’s Camden Town Brewery collaborated with the society to build mini pubs for hedgehogs.

Photo: ‎Camden Town Brewery

According to the brewery, each pub is “a safe place for hedgehogs to hibernate in winter, and birth baby hogs in summer, available to buy for your very own garden.” If owning a tiny hedgehog pub wasn’t incentive enough, 100 percent of the proceeds go toward the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, and each purchase ($65) comes with a four-pack of beer (for human consumption) called Camden Hells in Hibernation Lager. A portion of all the sales of Camden Hells in Hibernation Lager will also be donated to the society.

Photo: ‎Camden Town Brewery

Vass said, “We are very grateful that Camden Town Brewery is showing support for hedgehogs with its fantastic Hells in Hibernation Lager. […] The funds and awareness that this collaboration raises will help us, help hedgehogs.”

Only 60 Hibernation Arms hedgehog pubs were available, and they all sold out yesterday, but you can still donate to the cause and have a beer to celebrate.


More like this: The best non-touristy pubs in Dublin to drink at instead of Temple Bar

The post This London brewery built tiny pubs designed for hedgehogs to hibernate safely appeared first on Matador Network.

Burial grounds destroyed for wall

President Trump’s border wall between the US and Mexico is becoming a reality, and as expected, the building process is not a smooth one. Sacred Native American burial sites in Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument are being threatened with destruction. According to Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democratic congressman, the government did not consult the Tohono O’odham Nation who consider this area sacred.

There have been reports that the control blasting in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, started last week, destroying cacti and sacred sites.

One site particularly at risk by the construction work is Monument Hill, where, according to Grijalva, Apache warriors were buried after battling with the O’odham. The area was being dynamited last week.

Grijalva made his disapproval known on Twitter, likening the move to Trump’s threats of blowing up Iranian cultural sites.

Remember when Trump threatened to blow up Iranian cultural sites?

Looks like he set his sights on something closer to home.

To build his racist wall, he's blowing up sacred Native American burial grounds without notifying local tribes.

This is wrong. https://t.co/rmrVlaCAZu

— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) February 10, 2020

Unfortunately, the actions of the administration are, in fact, legal. The 2005 REAL ID Act gives the federal government the right to waive laws that conflict with US national security policy, and that means ignoring culturally or environmentally significant lands for the construction of a border wall.


More like this: 11 important Native American heritage sites in the US that you need to visit

The post Native American burial grounds are being destroyed to make room for the US border wall appeared first on Matador Network.

Jack the Ripper mural

Jack the Ripper’s murders may have taken place over 130 years ago, but it’s only now that the victims are getting a suitable memorial — and it’s all thanks to social historian Hallie Rubenhold.

Rubenhold is the author of The Five, a nonfiction story that delves into the lives of the five victims of Jack the Ripper — Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. As an advertisement for her book, a temporary mural was painted on Ebor Street in Whitechapel, the London neighborhood where the murders took place in 1888.

This has gone up on Ebor Street in Whitechapel. It's amazing to see the womens' faces here. It feels right. This is a temporary mural and an advert for the book, but I'd like to start a campaign for a permanent mural commemorating the victims. How do I do this, Twitter? pic.twitter.com/jVs3kK3DYs

— Hallie Rubenhold (@HallieRubenhold) February 6, 2020

But Rubenhold wants the lives of the victims of Jack the Ripper to be remembered by a permanent mural in the area. At the moment, the only historical recognition given to those women in Whitechapel are Jack the Ripper tours and “museums” deemed morbid, insentive, and an example of the commercialization of violence against women.

“People have been talking about having a memorial to these women for some time,” she said to The Guardian, “Whitechapel isn’t really a place you put a statue. But a mural — that’s it. It’s exactly what’s needed. It’s so befitting — it’s perfect. There’s so much urban art in Spitalfields, Whitechapel and Shoreditch so it’s so germane.”

After putting out a call for help on Twitter about the project, Rubenhold is getting the support of Londoners, councilors, and local parishes. “It’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of finding the right place,” she said.


More like this: 7 most fascinating dark tourism destinations around the world

The post London mural will commemorate Jack the Ripper’s victims appeared first on Matador Network.

Storm Ciara sea foam fall in France

Storm Ciara battered most of Europe from west to east this weekend, leaving a trail of damage in its wake and some seriously shaken air travelers. But while some were staying in trying to keep away from the elements on Sunday, in Northwestern France, raincoat-clad onlookers braved the weather to see what the storm was bringing to the coast — and there was not a disappointed face in sight.

The combination of 55- to 62-miles-per-hour winds and a tidal coefficient of 100 sent high and violent waves crashing on the coast of Brittany and Loire Atlantique.

Photo: ‎Lise-anne Duic‎ /Facebook

While everyone knew they were in for a big bowl of fresh air, no one was expecting the abundance of sea foam that came with the storm. It formed a thick blanket on the beaches, roads, footpaths, and parking lots of Batz-sur-Mer, Le Pouliguen, and Le Croisic in the Loire Atlantique region to the joy of those who had decided that staying cozy and warm inside that day was not an option.

Photo: ‎Lise-anne Duic‎ /Facebook

Photo: ‎Lise-anne Duic‎ /Facebook

Northwestern France rarely ever gets any snow, but yesterday’s sea foam spectacle made up for it. Although some may not have anticipated the intensity of the phenomenon.

Of course, there was no way one could build a sea foam man, but that did not prevent some Atlantic coast dwellers outside that day from having the time of their life.

Photo: ‎Lise-anne Duic‎ /Facebook

Photo: ‎Lise-anne Duic‎ /Facebook

More like this: 14 unbelievable photos that capture the chaos of storm chasing

The post Storm Ciara sends insane amount of sea foam flying like snow in Western France appeared first on Matador Network.

Best coastal road trip from Perth

Western Australia is the largest state in Australia, a vast area of over 976,000 square miles facing the Indian Ocean to the west and north and the Southern Ocean along its southern border. The state’s population is about 2.6 million, with 92 percent living in the southwestern corner where the capital of Perth sits. North of Perth, the state is sparsely populated, isolated, and perfect for those with an adventurous spirit who are looking for an epic road trip. Here, you can swim with whale sharks and visit Australia’s Coral Coast. Here’s how to make it happen, beginning in Perth.

Editor’s note: A question on many minds is whether or not visiting Australia right now is a responsible, or even viable, option given the fires. The wildfires that have torn through the southeastern part of Australia since September 2019 have killed more than 30 people and destroyed over 3,000 homes, having an outsize impact on the whole of Australia. While this trip brings you to the opposite side of the country, supporting local businesses and the country’s tourism sector as a whole can aid in economic recovery.

Getting to Perth

Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock

Perth is quite isolated from the major capital cities on the east coast of Australia and is actually closer to Asia than it is to Sydney. Australia’s major domestic airlines — Qantas, Virgin, and Jetstar — all regularly fly from the opposite side of the country. It’s about a four-hour flight east to west and about 3.5 hours west to east due to the pilots taking advantage of the jet stream that flows over Australia. Western Australia is in the same timezone as Tokyo and Hong Kong, so you gain three hours when flying from Melbourne or Sydney.

International airlines fly daily into Perth from all over the globe. The average flight time from the west coast of the USA is about 20 hours, and from Hong Kong, it’s about seven hours. There is a wide variety of hire car and RV options in Perth, so depending on your needs or budget, something is available. Bear in mind though that distances are vast in outback Australia, and some of the most spectacular locations require a 4WD vehicle to reach. Britz offers many options for 4WD rentals right in Perth.

Outer-space views, sandboarding on dunes, and a kaleidoscope of wildflowers

Photo: David Steele/Shutterstock

Your journey starts with the stretch from Perth to the seaside town of Lancelin. It’s only a 75-mile trip, and the temptation is to push on further up the coast on your first day. However, if you choose to do that, you will miss a lot of what this area has to offer, including a stop at Yanchep National Park. It’s just over 30 miles from Perth. Take guided tours of the Crystal Caves, the Koala displays, and the LochMcNess Lake, each available daily for about $11. There are also many walking tracks you can meander along on your own, and from July to September, Western Australia’s stunning wildflowers will be in bloom.

Lancelin, located in a beautiful bay protected by a reef, is an excellent base for a night or two if you plan to spend some time viewing the Pinnacles, a series of natural limestone formations. The effect of viewing them at sunset is like a sci-fi movie, so stop by to cap your day after touring Yanchep. Also worth a stop are Lancelin’s fantastic sand dunes where you can go sandboarding, 4WD touring, or just sit and enjoy the startling white beaches. Windsurfing, kitesurfing, and fishing are all available right from town. Accommodation in Lancelin ranges from youth hostels at about $47 per night up to the Lancelin Beach Hotel, from about $113 for expensive private rentals. Lancelin Caravan Park offers powered sites from $30 per night or tent sites from $24.

Visit the Galapagos Islands of the Indian Ocean

Photo: imagevixen/Shutterstock

This section of the trip follows the Indian Ocean Drive, which is relatively new and much more scenic than the old Brand Highway. Along the way, you will pass through the beachside town of Cervantes — make sure you stop at the Lobster Shack to taste some of the region’s abundant seafood. From here, it’s on to Jurien Bay where snorkeling is the order of the day. Head to Sandy Cape just north of the township to view coral and multi-colored fish.

Next stop is Dongarra, about an hour and a half north of Sandy Cape. Here, have a coffee at The Green Beanie Coffee Van or something to eat at the Starfish Cafe before you head off on the last 30-minute section to Geraldton. Overnight options range from tent sites at Dongara Holiday Park for $20 per night to various units around town up to $100. Geraldton is a small regional city of about 40,000, so all facilities are available, and there are plenty of accommodation options here as well, starting around $60.

A highlight in Geraldton — if you have the budget — is a scenic flight over the Abrolhos Islands, available from Kalbarri Scenic Flights, or an extended fishing/diving charter to the Islands. Sometimes described as the Galapagos Islands of the Indian Ocean, they lay about 40 miles off the coast of Geraldton. Fishing, bird watching, snorkeling, and diving around the coral reefs are all possible. Flights from Geraldton start from about $200.

Hang out with dolphins and visit one of Australia’s best beaches

Photo: Jessika Knaupe/Shutterstock

Once you leave Geraldton, it’s on to Kalbarri, a small coastal town with towering sea cliffs that plunge more than 300 feet to the ocean. Viewing platforms from the cliffs offer spectacular photo opportunities. Afterward, drive into town for a break and to watch the pelicans being fed on the beach. Kalbarri National Park is also worth a visit should you have time to overnight in Kalbarri. The centerpiece of the park is the magnificent five-mile gorge that the Murchison River has cut through the red rock. Other sites to see in the park are the extraordinary rock formations like “Window” and “The Loop.”

From there, continue north on the Coastal Highway towards Shark Bay World Heritage Area. There are a couple of significant sights along the way at the Hamelin Pool stromatolites, which are the oldest living fossils in the world, and at nearby Shell Beach, an almost 70-mile stretch of beach that is made up entirely of tiny shells. From here, drive into Denham, the gateway to Shark Bay and a pristine coastal environment where the stark white sands of the beaches contrast with the red rocks and deep blue water. Accommodation is diverse, with choices ranging from private holiday houses down to tent sites. Denham Seaside Caravan Park is a great option. Rise early and drive to Monkey Mia to meet the famous dolphins. The pod comes to shore — often three times a day — to be fed, and you can view this remarkable event at close quarters supervised by park rangers. Afterward, enjoy breakfast and your morning coffee at one of the eating places nearby that look out over the waters of Shark Bay.

Francois Peron National Park is at the end of the peninsula in the Shark Bay Heritage Area. Access is off the Monkey Mia road about 2.5 miles east of Denham. The drive into the Peron Heritage area is dirt but accessible by 2WD, but any further north, you will need high clearance 4WD. If your budget permits, take the 4WD tour and sit back and enjoy the rugged scenery and fantastic wildlife. Head from Denham up National Route 1 to the turnoff at the Minilya Roadhouse and then on to Coral Bay.

Visit the longest fringing reef in the world

Photo: Leah Pirone/Shutterstock

About 30 miles before you get to Coral Bay, you will cross the Tropic of Capricorn. However, this part of Australia does not suffer the humidity that is typically associated with tropical climates, mild in winter though hot in summer. Coral Bay is a small town that is protected by Ningaloo Reef and named for the beautiful coral gardens just off the magnificent white-sand beach. It is a very relaxed lifestyle here with snorkeling inside the reef where the coral is very accessible for everyone, even children. Scuba and kayak tours are also available. The fishing is good but is limited to outside the marine park area near the beach. Accommodation is in high demand, with only a resort hotel and two caravan parks. Note, however, that Coral Bay is very busy during school holidays as it is a holiday destination for Western Australians.

Nearby Exmouth is a small town but has all the services you need and is surrounded by the most magnificent beaches and the longest fringing coral reef in the southern hemisphere. A trip to the lighthouse gives a perspective of Exmouth Gulf and a view of the town. Cape Range National Park near Exmouth is an excellent place to camp provided you book ahead. The sites are maintained by the Parks and Wildlife Service, and the locations are outstanding. Situated behind the sand dunes and protected by rows of trees, they have access to the fantastic beaches inside the reef. These waters are protected by the reef and provide excellent fishing, safe swimming, and snorkeling. There are many of these campgrounds throughout the park.

Swim with sharks — the gentle kind

Photo: Lewis Burnett/Shutterstock

This part of Australia, Ningaloo Reef in particular, is renowned for the whale sharks that arrive around August and continue to pass through during September. Snorkeling with these spectacular gentle giants is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Still, you can also swim with humpback whales, often with calves, that visit the world-heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast, giant rays and turtles. The World Heritage Area covers nearly 1.5 million acres and includes Ningaloo Reef, which is the longest fringing reef in the world. The marine park has over 200 species of coral and over 250 species of fish.

Join a charter tour like Ningaloo Blue Dive and you will also snorkel inside the reef and see up close not only vivid fish and coral but also turtles, rays, and reef sharks. A celebratory glass of Champagne on the cruise back to Exmouth tops off a great day. Exmouth is well catered for in terms of accommodation. The influx of visitors who arrive to swim with whale sharks means accommodation to suit all budgets is available. Backpacker lodging ranges from $20 to $100. If you have an RV, the RAC Exmouth Holiday Park is well located and has excellent facilities with powered and unpowered sites from $44. It also has tent sites from $16 and self-contained cabins running up to $130.


More like this: This under-visited region of Tasmania is Australia’s most stunning secret

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Luxury solar eclipse cruises

The next couple of Decembers offer some pretty fantastic travel-bucket-list two-for-ones.

Though you won’t find any BOGOs here, what you will find is the rare opportunity to see both a total solar eclipse and visit Antarctica in the same stellar vacation. As December 14, 2020, and December 4, 2021, both bring the lines of totality to the oceans near the white continent, a number of cruise lines are scheduling cruises to sail right into daytime darkness, then on into Antarctica. Though those cruises can be costly, shorter cruises will sail into totality as well, skipping Antarctica and saving you a ton of money. Below, find the ships sailing voyages for the next two solar eclipses, and where you’ll be going along the way.

1. Holland America MS Westerdam — November 27-December 19, 2020

Photo: Tetyana Dotsenko/Shutterstock

Cost: Interior cabins starting at $4,099

Sky and Telescope magazine is hosting this 22-day tour de force around Cape Horn and onto the Antarctic peninsula, catching full totality in the Atlantic Ocean on December 14. The fun gets underway in Santiago, Chile, with stops along the coast at Puerto Montt and Castro before delving into the Chilean fjords. You’ll hit Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, Argentina, before spending a few rocky days in Drake’s Passage on your way to Antarctica.

For the next four days, you’ll cruise, hike, and scour the Antarctic peninsula, interacting with penguins and other marine mammals in an untouched icescape. On December 11, the ship sails through the Scotia Sea on its way to the line of totality, where you’ll view the eclipse from the ocean on December 14. After a stop in Uruguay, you’ll return to Buenos Aires on the 18th and disembark on the 19th. Along for the ride, you’ll also have S&T editors, an astronomy professor, a geosciences professor, and even astronaut John Grunsfeld there to explain everything on land and in the sky.

2. TravelQuest M/S Paul Gaugin — December 5-19, 2020

Cost: Starting at $18,990

This year’s line of totality isn’t exclusive to South America and Antarctica, so if you’d like to view the eclipse in, say, a pair of shorts and flip flops, look into this South Pacific cruise. TravelQuest has privately chartered the 332-passenger Paul Gaugin, which will leave from Papeete, Tahiti, on December 5. Your first stop is a private island in Bora Bora before spending a second day in French Polynesia, then making stops on the islands of Hiva Oa-Atuna and Nuku Hiva.

Day 10 brings a total eclipse around sunrise, which you’ll experience from the gleaming waters of the South Pacific. Then it’s on to Fakarava and Moorea before returning to Papeete. The 15-day journey will stop in some of the most spectacular scenery in remote Polynesian islands, past turquoise lagoons and green, rocky mountains. The eclipse will be a sight to behold, for sure, but the sights for the other 14 days will be worth the trip regardless.

3. MSC Fantasia — December 13-20, 2020

Photo: cifotart/Shutterstock

Cost: Interior cabins starting at $629

This cruise begins in Santos, Brazil, on the coast near São Paulo. Your first day will find you sailing into the line of totality as the day-at-sea coincides with the eclipse. From there, you’ll stop in Punta del Este, Uruguay, have an overnight port call in Buenos Aires, and spend a day in Montevideo before returning to Santos.

4. MSC Sinfonia — December 13-20, 2020

Cost: Interior cabins starting at $559

If you were trying to view the eclipse somewhere other than the deck of a cruise ship, Sinfora’s December sailing is for you. The ship starts out in Buenos Aires, staying in port during the eclipse so you can venture out into the city and celebrate with the portenos. Once you’ve experienced totality, you’ll spend two days at sea before arriving in Ilhabela, Brazil, stopping the next day in Itajai then ending in Montevideo, Uruguay. It’s a chance to visit three of South America’s most beautiful countries, and to get a view of the eclipse to boot.

5. Silversea Silver Wind — November 20-December 12, 2021

Photo: Silversea Cruises

Cost: Starting at $33,930

Silversea’s 22-day eclipse adventure gives you something to look forward to nearly the entire voyage, beginning in Buenos Aires on November 20. You’ll have to miss Thanksgiving, but you won’t mind as you explore the Argentine coastline in Puerto Madryn and Puerto Deseado. The next few days will be spent in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island, before sailing out to full totality on the fourth of December.

That’s just the beginning of the experience, as after your time in daylight darkness you’ll head south to Antarctica, spending five days there before crossing back through Drake’s Passage to Ushuaia. The pricetag here may look high, but remember this is an all-inclusive, high-luxury experience. So you’ll have fine wines, personal butlers, epic meals, and a team of experts at your disposal from start to finish.

6. Silversea Silver Explorer — November 26-December 9, 2021

Photo: Silversea Cruises

Cost: Starting at $22,410

If 22 days at sea seems a little excessive, perhaps this shorter journey will be more your style. You won’t get the bright lights of Buenos Aires, but you will still traverse three countries, beginning in Ushuaia on November 26. You’ll delve straight into the unpredictable seas of Drake’s Passage before spending a day in the South Shetland Islands, then two days on the Antarctic peninsula. From there, it’s another day across the Drake and smack into position for full totality.

You’ll spend the rest of the cruise hitting Stanley, West Point, and New Islands in the Malvinas, as Argentina calls the Falklands, before getting right back where you started from in Ushuaia. Then it’s one night in the world’s southernmost city before boarding a charter flight the next morning.

7. Silversea Silver Cloud — November 30-December 1, 2021

Cost: Starting at 25,470

Want to see the eclipse but don’t want to miss the holidays? Silversea’s Silver Cloud is the ship for you, leaving the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and getting you home two weeks before Christmas. The adventure begins in Ushuaia, and unlike the Silver Explorer, you’ll sail clockwise, hitting the line of totality on December 4 as your first “stop.”

From there you’ll stop at Elephant Island, spend three days on the Antarctic peninsula, then make a stop on South Shetland Island before venturing back through Drake’s Passage to Ushuaia.

8. Poseidon Expeditions M/v Sea Spirit — November 21-December 12, 2021

Photo: UlyssePixel/Shutterstock

Cost: Triple suites starting at $18,395

Seeing the eclipse from the middle of the ocean is one thing. Seeing day suddenly turn into night surrounded by glaciers and icebergs is quite another, and it’s what you’ll experience aboard Poseidon’s 23-day voyage. You’ll be smack in the middle of the Scotia Sea between the South Georgia and South Orkney Islands for totality on December 4, after spending nearly two weeks at sea.

Prior to the eclipse, you’ll spend a night in Ushuaia (hotel included) before hitting the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Post-eclipse, you’ll get three full days along the Antarctic peninsula and South Shetland Islands before crossing Drake’s Passage back to Ushuaia.

9. Abercrombie & Kent Le Lyrial — November 28-December 12, 2021

Photo: Abercrombie & Kent

Cost: Starting at $18,995

The ultimate education in both space and sea will be aboard legendary expeditioners Abercrombie & Kent’s chartered mega-yacht, where former astronaut Kathy Sullivan, astronomer Massimo Tarenghi, and rocket scientist David Crain will all be along to provide fascinating commentary. The journey begins at Santiago’s Observatorio Astronómico Andino, where the team of scientists will talk about life in space and why the eclipse is so special. The next day you’ll set sail for Ushuaia.

After a day there, you’ll return to sea and A&K’s finely tuned positioning in the Southern Ocean, where you’ll experience one minute and 40 seconds of totality, one of the longer stretches for this particular eclipse. You’ll spend four days in Antarctica before returning via the Drake Passage to Ushuaia. Onboard you’ll enjoy an all-inclusive experience, where every room has a private balcony, and laundry is done for you. You’ll also get a parka, backpack, and water bottle, in case you didn’t feel like checking a bag.


More like this: This epic cruise will take you to Antarctica during a full solar eclipse

The post These cruises will take you into the next total solar eclipses appeared first on Matador Network.

Best things to do in Muskoka

The Muskoka lake region north of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, is well-known for its summertime beauty. It turns out to be an incredible place for an outdoor adventure in the winter as well. With average temperatures that never go above freezing, though, spending time outside here requires the right equipment, expert knowledge, and basic precautions. It’s also worth rewarding yourself with a big city stay after your rugged outdoor time. These images give a glimpse into our winter expedition to Huntsville, Ontario, along with what you need to know to make this epic trip happen yourself.




1

We arrive in Canada to explore the Muskoka lake region of Ontario in the heart of winter. Before heading to Huntsville, where we’ll be based, we stay in the city of Burlington on Lake Ontario. We spend the night at the Waterfront Hotel in downtown Burlington, which gifts us with a front-row view of a glowing sunrise over the lake.

2

Our second day takes us to Huntsville, the largest town in the Muskoka lake region north of Toronto, where we arrive at our home for the next few nights. We pull into the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve, a publicly accessible year-round wilderness reserve with 10,000 acres of mixed forest. Even better, there’s a plethora of cozy cabins you can choose to rent out.

3

Hole of death or cold plunge? Cold plunges are cut out of lakes and overlaid with docks, which make the scramble out of the water easier. And, trust us, you’ll want scrambling out to be easy. We have to break up a thin layer of ice that has formed over the top of the water before we take the plunge.

Intermission












News

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Eben Diskin
Jan 15, 2020















Culture

Montreal’s Boulevard Saint Laurent is Canada’s most colorful street


Nickolaus Hines
Jan 31, 2020















Outdoor

What to do in the world’s coldest cities


Matthew Meltzer
Jan 21, 2020













4

That evening, we lace up our boots and head out for a moonlit snowshoe. One of the major issues with winter camping and adventuring is staying dry. We make sure to wear boots that have liners so we can take them out to dry, and we wear snowshoes that will keep us from sinking into deep snow.

5

When you think of winter, you automatically assume you’ll be cold. However, when recreating, it’s important to keep yourself from sweating — since that sweat can freeze once you stop. After all, average January temperatures in Huntsville range from 5 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit. Wearing layers with zippers means you can monitor your temperature, and ensure you don’t start sweating.

6

Winter camping can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Having the correct gear and knowing how to keep yourself comfortable can ensure you have an enjoyable time when sleeping in the snow. We pack down the snow around our tent before using piled snow to stake it. It’s essential to have a four-season tent, warm sleeping bags, and layers that will keep you toasty through the winter night.

7

Winter camping means cooking all of your food outside. When winter adventuring, it’s incredibly important to stay fueled, so we make sure to eat hot food and stay hydrated. We are lucky enough to have a great cooking setup, with an outdoor fireplace laid out and a raised stove ready to use. Stomping out an area where you want to place your stove can help ensure you have a windproof outdoor kitchen. Please be wary of cooking inside your tent, as it can be very dangerous; snow and a closed tent can cut off air circulation and lead to a lack of oxygen.

Intermission












News

A museum dedicated entirely to words and language is opening in Washington, DC


Eben Diskin
Feb 5, 2020















Outdoor

Why a stand-up paddleboard is the best way to see Canada’s Yukon territory


Clay Abney
Nov 7, 2019















Outdoor

All the natural wonders of Wales you’ll miss if you only see Cardiff


Laura Olcelli
Dec 2, 2019













8

No winter camping trip would be complete without sleeping in a quinzee, or snow-cave. Quinzees are a fun way to sleep outside in the winter, and are often quieter, warmer, and darker than tents. It’s extremely important to make sure you learn how to build one from someone with experience before trying this on your own, as snow needs to settle, and you need to learn how to build it in a way that keeps it from collapsing.

9

Quinzees are much warmer than you might think, as they block out cold wind that can leave tents flapping in the breeze. However, warm sleeping pads and sleeping bags don’t hurt, and they can make your quinzee sleeping experience really comfortable. Pictured here are people bundled in their Therm-a-Rest sleeping bags who are more than ready to sleep through the night.

10

Biking and winter may not seem like they go hand-in-hand, but thanks to a brand we found called Otso, we’re able to head out for a bike ride. All of these fat bikes have wide tires, and some are even studded which enable them to grip the snow and stop you from sliding out. We glide over frozen trails like it’s summertime. Similar to any other form of winter adventure, it's important to wear layers that will keep you from sweating.

11

After a few days of adventuring in the wild, we highly recommend treating yourself to some R&R. We head to Hotel X Toronto, a hotel with resort-style amenities that leave us feeling refreshed. All of the rooms have epic views of the city, and we are excited to have a great place to rest after exploring the great outdoors of Huntsville and the Muskoka region.

Intermission












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12

After checking in, we find ourselves at Maxx’s Kitchen, where we indulge in cocktails and a delicious meal made with local ingredients. After dinner, we decide to experience more of the hotel and head to the hotel's Falcon SkyBar, a three-level rooftop bar with views of the entire Toronto skyline.

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After dinner and cocktails, we explore the city a little. We head toward the Distillery District to check out the Toronto Light Festival, where we marvel at sculptures crafted to be aesthetically interesting both in the daytime and at night, when their true colors really show.

14

No trip to Toronto is complete without a visit to the iconic CN Tower, which soars more than 1,800 feet over the city. Before heading home, we take a trip to the top of the tower, where visitors can look out over the city and Lake Ontario.

More like this: Why you need to visit the incredible lakes near Toronto

The post An epic, hardcore winter adventure to Muskoka, Ontario appeared first on Matador Network.

Courtship customs around the world

Though easier than ever, dating today can feel formulaic: Meet on a dating app, maybe in a bar. Exchange numbers. Exchange texts. Meet for drinks, maybe coffee. Then fade into each other’s contact lists, rinse, and repeat with the next match from said dating app. Even in the Tinder era, however, there’s more to courtship than swiping right. It just depends on where in the world you are. If you’re looking for some flirty inspiration this Valentine’s Day, keep these seven traditional courtship customs in mind for a new way to say “be mine.”

1. A different kind of bachelor party in rural Australia

Photo: Bns Ball Dates And Ute Shows 2019/Facebook

Daters in big Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne may not always be lucky in love, but not for lack of potential partners. Safe to say the Tinder pool dwindles dramatically the farther you get from the coast, making it that much harder to find “the one.” Enter Bachelor and Spinster, or B&S, Balls. A tradition since the late 1800s, B&S Balls bring together young singles in rural Australia looking to couple up. Don’t be fooled by the suits and gowns attendees customarily wear, at least for part of the evening, however: Today’s B&S Balls would more accurately be called parties, and wild ones at that.

Drinks flow freely, country musicians sometimes perform, and pickup truck, or ute, shows might even ensue. People reliably end up covered in bright food dye, which, though banned, attendees insist on smuggling in to squirt at one another. It has become tradition though no one remembers how the custom started, exactly. Raucous as they get, at the end of the day, B&S Balls really are just venues for Aussies looking to find love — for $80-100 a ticket.

2. Welsh spoons aren’t just for eating

Photo: Nacho Mena/Shutterstock

In 17th-century Wales, male suitors presented the women they were courting with hand-carved lovespoons, which, if accepted, signified engagement. Though the spoon itself, a utilitarian tool designed to blend, is symbolic of relationships, over time, these lovespoons became more works of craft art than household items, gifted for reasons other than just marriage. Intricate designs were incorporated into the carvings, some of which had particular meanings: bells for marriage, a wheel for hard work and support, a horseshoe for luck, a lock for home and security, an anchor for devotion. Nowadays, lovespoons are sometimes given as gifts on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas.

3. In Niger, men compete in beauty pageants

Photo: Homo Cosmicos/Shutterstock

Beauty contests are annual events for the nomadic Wodaabe people who populate the Sahel desert, migrating primarily around Niger and Chad. They’re no Miss Universe pageants, however, with women taking on judging roles while men flaunt their physical attributes. These festivals, most famously held in Niger, are called Gerewol, and smaller Wodaabe groups may travel significant distances to attend each year, barring years it’s canceled due to drought.

Men paint their faces with red ochre, black eyeliner and lipstick, and white or yellow clay; dress in bright, beautiful costumes; and accessorize with beadwork and ostrich plumes. Then they dance, despite the heat, while Wodaabe women look on. The objective is to make love connections. At the end of the days-long festival, each judge may select a winner, who may choose to reciprocate, whether for marriage or just one night. And it isn’t only for singles. During Gerewol, even married Wodaabe may have flings or leave their arranged marriages in favor of a love match, which female onlookers and runners-up may also find during the festival.

4. Whale teeth over wedding rings in Fiji

Photo: cam3957/Shutterstock

Diamond rings may be the engagement bling of choice in the United States, but in Fiji, sperm whale teeth are traditionally gifted on special occasions, notably engagements and weddings. Often made wearable by woven straps, they’re called tabua, and prospective grooms present them to the family of their bride-to-be when asking for her hand in marriage. New tabua are hard to come by as sperm whales are protected as an endangered species. Existing tabua are still exchanged and presented ceremonially, though the demand, and prices, can be high. Unlike relics of courtship customs like Welsh lovespoons, giving tabua remains an important facet of Fijian cultural life. They may also be given at birthdays, funerals, or as a token of apology.

5. Dyngus Day crosses the pond

Photo: Dyngus Day Cleveland/Facebook

Though Dyngus Day originated in Poland, it’s Buffalo, New York, that now claims to do the holiday best (with Cleveland not far behind). Celebrated on the Monday after Easter, the holiday dates back to 966 AD and has ties to Prince Mieszko I’s baptism. It has evolved into a day of revelry, parading, and flirtation, but its baptismal origins may explain the tradition of young boys soaking girls with water. Boys also tap girls on the legs with pussy willow branches to demonstrate their interest. Outside of Poland, Dyngus Day is celebrated in Slovakia, Hungary, and other nearby countries. In the US, Polish communities from Ohio to California also stage events. Buffalo truly does go all out, though, with polka music and dancing; Polish food and drink like pierogies, kielbasa, and krupnik, a spiced honey liqueur; and a rowdy yet fun atmosphere.

6. The Mexican Kickapoo whistle to woo

Photo: Milwaukee Public Museum

Whistling at women doesn’t always go over well these days, but it’s a traditional sign of romantic interest for the Kickapoo people of Mexico and Texas that’s far more intricate, and welcome, than catcalling. In the early 20th century, young Kickapoo men developed a whistling-based form of language to share private messages with one another from a distance. In northeast Mexico, the whistling practice is primarily used during courtship as a way for young men and women to transmit sweet nothings in the evenings. To whistle the Kickapoo way, one must clasp their hands in front of their mouths, lifting and lowering their back fingers to change pitch. To learn more about the Mexican Kickapoo lifestyle, visit the Milwaukee Public Museum.

7. Japan’s other Valentine’s Day

Photo: show999/Shutterstock

In Japan, and elsewhere in Asia, a second love-related holiday falls exactly one month after Valentine’s Day, when women customarily give, but don’t receive, chocolates. It’s called White Day, and it was invented in the late 1970s by a confectionary shop that saw marketing potential in giving women their own day to be celebrated and showered with sweets. On Valentine’s Day, women typically give special chocolates called honmei-choco to the men they know, and on White Day, men are expected to return the favor. Men may also give gifts like jewelry, flowers, or lingerie. On either day, celebrants may give tokens of their affection to friends, family, or co-workers, much as kids pass Valentine’s cards around their classrooms.


More like this: Is it ethical to hook up with locals abroad?

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