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How to drink more water

Confession time: I do not like the taste of water. It’s tricky to explain what I mean by that. Water is generally considered bland, tasteless, and the absence of flavor. To me, it has an almost metallic, iron taste that feels uncomfortable on my tongue. The unfortunate side effect of my palate’s rejection of water is that I am perpetually dehydrated. Some days I’ll look up from my computer at 5:00 PM and realize I haven’t had a single sip of water. Other times, I actively avoid it, downing cup after cup of black tea and avoiding eye contact with the full water jugs in the refrigerator.

I’m reminded fairly often by the people who love me that this behavior is unhealthy. I don’t need to be convinced; the headaches, chapped lips, and punishing fatigue are proof enough. So what’s the solution? You, well-meaning but misinformed, might be thinking, “Just drink more water.” As a person who has tried on many occasions to “drink more water,” I regret to report that it’s not that simple.

Drinking water is supposedly one of the most basic human actions and yet for some of us (I swear we’re out there!) it can be surprisingly challenging to stop what we’re doing just to drink totally bland, uninteresting liquid, only to have to stop what we’re doing again minutes later to use the bathroom. It can be a frustrating, distracting cycle. People like me, who don’t like the taste of water or find themselves so overwhelmed with work and other responsibilities that they simply forget, need a strategy, a plan of attack to get hydrated in the new year.

This goes double for people who frequently travel. Whether you’re away for work or vacation, you need energy and focus. You can’t waste time being felled by a dehydration-induced headache or find yourself feeling faint minutes before you’re set to embark on your scuba diving excursion. Though it’s easy to overlook it, drinking water is part of a healthy daily routine. I might not like water but I understand its value.

So I’m calling on my perpetually dehydrated brethren, victims of seemingly incurable thirst: In 2020, let’s resolve to turn our bodies into oases. Water won’t pay your bills or fix your relationship, but it is inarguably a simple way to start treating your body well. Here are five methods that have helped me get over my distaste for water, and might help you stay hydrated in 2020, too.

Write it down.

Photo: Flamingo Images/Shutterstock

It might feel a little silly, but write yourself reminders to drink water in your daily planner, on the Notes app on your phone, or on your mirror in lipstick. Writing it down removes it from the realm of thought and makes it concrete, a real-world task you can cross off your to-do list and feel accomplished.

When you’re traveling, this practice becomes especially important. You’ll likely be moving a lot, either being shuttled from location to location or roaming around a new city checking out the sights. Add “drink water” to your itinerary or your travel diary so that it becomes part of your travel experience and another activity you have to complete before you head home.

There’s no guarantee that these little reminders will actually get you to drink water. But if you’re scanning your planner, water far from your mind, and you see that note to yourself, then a light bulb might go off and give you the push you need to take that much needed, refreshing sip. For that to work, however, water needs to be within reach. Which leads me to my next point.

Make it a presence in your daily life.

Photo: New Africa/Shutterstock

Having working taps isn’t enough. Neither is buying yourself a reusable water bottle to carry around with you. You’ll leave it at home or neglect to fill it up. Water needs to take up space in your life.

One way that I make water as much a presence in my day as my cats are (I have three and they are my constant companions) is by leaving filled water bottles on various surfaces around my apartment. I have three glass water jugs and two reusable water bottles, one of which is always near my desk or sitting on the coffee table in the living room (the rest stay cold in the refrigerator). I also keep stacks of quart containers (the type you get at takeout restaurants) under the sink, and leave one or two filled with ice water within arm’s reach. I work from home, but you can do this at an office too by leaving one or two water bottles at your desk that you can fill throughout your day, and even a spare in a locker or file cabinet nearby if you have one available.

This set-up creates a little more clutter than I would prefer, but it’s generally effective. As I’m going about my day — grabbing a pen or a book, washing the dishes, playing with the cats, taking my lunch break — I run across one of these water containers and absent-mindedly take a drink. I almost have to trick my brain into drinking water by “accidentally” running into water like an old friend at the park.

When you’re traveling this is a little tricky, since there won’t always be space to leave out spare water bottles at your hotel or campground. You can always grab every plastic water bottle you’re offered by tour guides, cab drivers, and hotel concierges, though. I know plastic turns some folks off, but even so, a steady supply of water by your side will make you all the more likely to drink it.

Give it flavor.

Photo: Syda Productions/Shutterstock

One well-meaning piece of advice I get a lot when I gripe about feeling dehydrated is that I should buy one of the appliances that turns regular water into fizzy water, in order to make the drinking experience more bearable. Well, I don’t have an extra $100 or even the space in my apartment for that, but the principle is sound: Modify your water so you actually enjoy drinking it.

In a desperate stretch of several months, I ordered cases of lemon sparkling water, hoping that would make up for the lack of regular water in my parched body. When that got too expensive, I began drinking a minimum of three cups of tea a day. That counts as water right? My electric kettle heats water in two minutes, making it simple to supplement regular water with tea, and I recommend investing in one if you have the resources. If you’re not a hot tea drinker or you want a way to amp up an entire jug of water, a cheap alternative is to flavor your water with fruit infusions.

Cut up cucumber and squeeze lemon for a tangy, citrus twist. If you prefer something sweet, add halved strawberries to your water bottle. Since fruits and vegetables go bad quickly, you’ll have to drink your flavored water the same day you make it, but that’s probably a good thing. If you think water tastes bad or it’s too boring to motivate you to drink it regularly, there’s no shame in spicing things up a bit.

Take breaks.

Photo: michaelheim/Shutterstock

Take timed breaks specifically to drink water. Make it a point to stand up from your desk and walk to the kitchen or the water fountain, fill up your glass or water bottle and stand there for a couple of minutes staring at the wall if you have to, and drink until your vessel of choice is empty.

I know it sounds odd, but periodically, I walk into my kitchen, grab my water bottle, and stand near the window in my kitchen. I focus on some point in the backyard and just drink without thinking about what I’m doing. It feels akin to a brief moment of meditation.

Not only does this method distract from the water drinking itself, it’s an opportunity to clear your mind, move your body, and give your eyes a break from staring at your computer. You need to take occasional breaks from work to stay sane, anyway. Incorporating water into those breaks kills two birds with one stone.

When you’re traveling, there will likely be so much excitement that you’ll have to force yourself to take water breaks, but to avoid burnout and exhaustion, it’s worth it.

Don’t force yourself to enjoy it.

Photo: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

You don’t have to pretend that drinking more water has transformed you into a happy-go-lucky water spirit with clear skin and a peppy attitude. Just because drinking more water will likely clear your head, make you more alert and less tired, doesn’t mean you have to like doing it.

Make drinking water a chore, a necessary but unenviable task, like vacuuming or cleaning the litter box. Think of it as one of your daily duties that you have to complete to keep your body running smoothly. It’s not fun, and there’s not always an immediate reward which might make it hard to justify, but there are many thankless tasks in life that we must trudge through to keep our lives from falling apart. Drinking water is one of those tasks that, if you don’t enjoy it, requires gritting your teeth and getting it over with. But no matter what it takes to keep those water bottles filled and that thirst quenched, 2020 is the year that we’ll make the seemingly simple directive to “drink more water” a reality.


More like this: Why you get dehydrated on a flight and how to prevent it

The post How to stay hydrated in 2020, according to someone who hates water appeared first on Matador Network.

Quadrantids Meteor Shower 2020

Unless you’ve been staring at the sky a lot lately, you may not have noticed the full-on meteor shower that’s currently taking place. The annual Quadrantids Meteor Shower has, in fact, been lighting up the night skies since December 27 and will continue to do so until January 10. But the shower peaks this week, with the brightest showing of the hurtling space debris happening January 3 and 4.

The Quadrantids Meteor Shower peaks each year in early January, though it’s not nearly as well known as other showers. This is in part because of its short-lasting peak showing, along with the fact that the northern latitudes at which it’s most visible tend to be quite cold this time of year. If you aren’t in a place to see the shower, follow #quadrantids on social media for updated pics from viewers around the world.

Europe is the best spot to see the celestial event, with the peak happening at 2:00 AM GMT. The meteor shower’s peak can be seen in North America, as well; however, you’ll only be able to see it during the early evening sans clouds. The further north you are, the better chance you’ll have of seeing the show. Working in your favor is the fact that the moon cycle is in a low phase this week, keeping skies darker — perfectly suited for unfolding a lawn chair in the backyard, grabbing a cuppa, and settling in for an evening of stargazing.


More like this: 5 places where you can ski under the northern lights this winter

The post Start the new year with an amazing meteor shower appeared first on Matador Network.

What to do on New Year’s Day

Throughout November and December, life is a bleary dash through hefty meals, gingerbread-induced sugar highs, presents, family traditions, and irresponsible alcohol consumption that culminates on December 31. But if New Year’s Eve is the decadent peak of the holiday season, New Year’s Day is the beginning of the doldrums. On January 1, you’re suddenly expected to embark upon a self-improvement regimen that would make basic training look easy. Drop all the weight you gained over the holidays. Learn piano. Reconnect with your estranged half-brother. When you wake up on New Year’s Day, everything is closed, all your friends are hungover, and it’s tough not to feel crushed under the weight of a list of resolutions — January 1 sucks. But it doesn’t have to. On the most boring day of the year, here’s what you can do to stay positive.

Break your resolutions.

There’s nothing wrong with self-improvement, but change doesn’t happen overnight, and New Year’s resolutions have a way of creating more anxiety than necessary. The number of “New Year, New Me” Facebook posts is probably enough to make you feel like you need to immediately go out and hire a dietician. The solution to the new year anxiety is simple: Take your list of resolutions and break them. There are 365 days in a year — plenty of time to start a new cardio regimen or learn an instrument. Today, take some of the pressure off by eating a pint of ice cream and marathoning The Lord of the Rings for the 16th time. Don’t go to the gym, and don’t balance your checkbook. If an ill-advised “dry January” is in your future, have a mimosa. It’s “New Year, New Me,” not “New Year’s Day, New Me.” So just chill out and remember that January 1 isn’t the first day of the rest of your life. It’s just the first day of a calendar year.

Plan a trip.

There’s one exception to the “break your resolutions” advice above, and that’s if one of your resolutions is to take a vacation. Planning an epic trip will not only pass the lazy hours of New Year’s Day, but also get you excited for the months ahead. In a season with few holidays to look forward to, a vacation will give you a reason to cross the days off your calendar. Whether you’re brainstorming destination ideas, checking out Airbnbs, perusing excursions, or actually booking flights, diving into vacation planning is the perfect way to both keep you busy on New Year’s Day and remind yourself that the holidays might be over, but there are still exciting things on the horizon.

Go for a solo hike.

No, this doesn’t mean go hike Denali. If you’re trying to push yourself to be more active this year, great, but don’t burst out of the gate with a 20,000-foot hike while still nursing a New Year’s Eve hangover. Whether there’s a nearby state or national park, a trail through the woods, or even just a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, get out of the house for an hour and clear your head. People’s lofty expectations for the start of a new year might be unreasonable, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good time for self-reflection. Use the day off to get some fresh air, decompress from the hecticness of the holiday season, reflect on the past year, and remind yourself what you’re looking forward to in the year ahead. It’s better than dragging yourself to a 6:00 AM Soul Cycle class, and will hopefully leave you feeling less stressed about returning to normalcy the next day.

Find the only bar that’s open.

If New Year’s Eve is the climax of a movie, New Year’s Day is the black screen with scrolling credits, when everyone stretches, yawns, and shields their eyes as they open the door to get out. Indeed, the party’s over and it’s time to go home. But for many, the movie scenes are still racing through their head, and turning off the projector entirely just feels anticlimactic. No one’s telling you to wake up on January 1, paint your face, and go to a warehouse rave, but for some, the best way to ease into the new year is by keeping the good times rolling. Most bars in your area are probably closed, but with some research you can probably find at least one that’s open. And the best part is — everyone else at the bar is doing the exact same thing, desperately looking for a way to pass the most boring day of the year. So pull up a barstool and commiserate (or celebrate) with the stranger next to you about how it’s not even three in the afternoon, and you’ve both already managed to break at least one resolution.


More like this: 12 underrated destinations with epic New Year’s Eve parties

The post 4 things to do on New Year’s Day that don’t suck appeared first on Matador Network.

Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve

No calendar day unites the world in revelry like New Year’s Eve. Whether you hunt down a fireworks-filled extravaganza you’ll remember forever or a booze-fueled bash you’re destined to forget, partiers across the globe tend to keep the festivities going way past midnight. A select few have even figured out how to ring in the new year twice. All it takes is a little (time) travel.

In recent years, private jet companies have hacked the International Date Line to offer New Year’s Eve packages that let celebrants wind down the clock on opposite ends of the earth — if they have a few hundred grand lying around. Luckily, there are easier, and cheaper, ways for partiers to use the time change to their hedonistic advantage. Here’s where to go to pull off a dual New Year’s Eve without blowing the next few decades’ worth of rent in one night.

1. Finland and Sweden

Photo: Claudine Van Massenhove/Shutterstock and Popova Valeriya/Shutterstock

Neighboring towns Tornio, Finland, and Haparanda, Sweden, sit on either end of the Torne River, which not only draws a line between the Scandanavian nations but also their respective time zones: Sweden observes Central European Standard Time while Finland follows Eastern European Standard Time. Locals are used to border-hopping, and there’s even a golf course near Haparanda that entices visitors with the prospect of golfing in two time zones, but the best use of the divide rolls around every December 31. Start your festivities with fireworks in Tornio, then stroll across the river and double down on the Swedish side. Way up north in Lapland, where the sister cities are located, you might even catch glimpses of the northern lights that’ll put the still-spectacular, man-made light shows to shame.

2. New Zealand and the Cook Islands

Photo: Klanarong Chitmung/Shutterstock and Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock

New Zealand is among the first places on Earth to welcome the new year. The Cook Islands, just a few hours away by plane, is one of the last. Depending on the time of year, the South Pacific nation is either 22 or 23 hours behind New Zealand, giving party hounds plenty of time to cross the International Date Line and celebrate in both Auckland and Rarotonga.

Auckland’s a wild place to party on New Year’s Eve regardless, with parties thrown throughout the Central Business District and one of the best fireworks displays anywhere in New Zealand. Catch the show from the Sky Tower overlooking the harbor, but don’t party too hard: You’ve got a flight to catch. An early morning trip from Auckland on January 1 will land you in Rarotonga, the largest and liveliest of the Cook Islands, around midday on December 31. There, expect beachside parties at the main resorts and some of the bigger bars on the island. Muri Beach is your best bet for a big blowout. Bars may close by midnight or 1:00 AM due to the local liquor laws, but we doubt you’ll be complaining about bedtime the second time around.

3. Portugal and Spain

Photo: Fotoeventis/Shutterstock and Christophe Cappelli/Shutterstock

Spain and Portugal share the Iberian Peninsula, lending to similarities in everything from topography to cuisine near the border. What the two countries don’t share are the same hours, with mainland Portugal observing Western European Time and mainland Spain observing Central European Time. To do New Year’s Eve Iberian style, count down the clock in Badajoz, Spain, then head west to Portugal’s Alentejo region, a traveler favorite for food, wine, and outdoor adventures. Estremoz is roughly 45 minutes across the border by car, so you have just enough time to hop over and see how the party compares in the Portuguese city. Along with countryside scenery and white-marble architecture dating back to the Middle Ages, you’ll find a whole new crew of partiers to toast with when the clock strikes midnight. Again.

4. California and Arizona

Photo: Sarnia/Shutterstock and BlueBarronPhoto/Shutterstock

Needles, California, probably isn’t the West Coast destination you’ve been dying to see, but come December 31, it’s one of the coolest places to be in the Golden State. If you’re coming from Arizona, that is. Kick off the evening in Lake Havasu City on the Colorado River, a small but scenic city whose claim to fame is the London Bridge, the same structure that once spanned the Thames. A handful of local establishments and hotels, notably the London Bridge Resort, throw annual New Year’s Eve bashes, ending with fireworks over the water. Roughly 45 minutes across the river, Route 66 stop Needles will also have a fireworks display, but is best-known for opening into Mojave National Preserve, which may not lend itself to the wildest parties on the planet but makes up for it with views.

5. New South Wales and Queensland, Australia

Photo: Visual Collective/Shutterstock and Fotoaray/Shutterstock

Australia’s big. Big enough to be classified as both a country and a continent, and big enough to be represented by three to five time zones depending on the time of year. Because New South Wales, the state that plays host to Sydney, observes Daylight Savings Time and Queensland, the state directly north, does not, the border between them sees twice the NYE action.

About an hour south of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, sister towns Coolangatta and Tweed Heads across the NSW border celebrate together, making Australia’s party-famous Gold Coast an excellent choice for New Year’s Eve. To attend both parties, hit Tweed Heads first, then hop across Boundary Street to Coolangatta. Both towns are laid-back, surfy, and relatively suburban, but like everywhere on the coast, they know how to have a good time. For the bigger fireworks show of the double-dipped affair, make sure to find your way to Jack Evans Boat Harbour when you’re celebrating in Tweed Heads.

6. The Forgotten Coast, Florida

Photo: West Coast Scapes/Shutterstock and Stephanie A Sellers/Shutterstock

Florida’s Panhandle is split between Central and Eastern Standard Time, with the seafront towns of Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach located just five minutes from one another on either side. In the past, the two towns have staged a joint New Year’s Eve party called Celebrate Twice, complete with a daytime scavenger hunt, a double dose of fireworks, and a free trolley to shuttle revelers between the two time zones until 2:00 or 3:00 AM, depending on which side you’re on. Though this year’s festivities have been canceled in the wake of Hurricane Michael, it’s an event worth marking on your calendar for a later date, not only to see the Forgotten Coast in good spirits and enjoy twice the NYE festivities, but also to put your tourism dollars to good use.


More like this: How to say ‘cheers’ and ‘Happy New Year’ in 30 countries

The post How to ring in the new year twice in 24 hours appeared first on Matador Network.

City Wonders skip the line review

As a native New Yorker, I have a genetic predisposition to reject all shiny brochures offering packaged deals of top tourist attractions for a flat fee. Skip the lines to see the Empire State Building AND the World Trade Center AND the Statue of Liberty — all for $199! A “real” traveler would know to visit these places at off-peak times, out of season, to avoid the lines and save money. A “real” traveler wouldn’t spend their precious time in New York City visiting the top of the Empire State Building at all.

This pretentious attitude has carried with me in my travels. I’ve forgone the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, passed on Edinburgh Castle, and spent two years living in San Francisco without ever visiting Alcatraz. It took me 21 years to go to the top of the Empire State Building, where I finally started to understand that, sometimes, tourist attractions are worth the hype and the money, and that people don’t always have the freedom or desire to plan a trip in the dead of February just to avoid lines.

So when planning a trip to Italy’s top tourist cities, Venice and Rome, with my sister this past September, I fought the urge to look over St. Mark’s Basilica, a gondola ride, the Vatican, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum in favor of something more “local” or affordable. Going against my usual instincts, I booked three skip-the-line tours to all of those attractions through the most popular outfitter, City Wonders.

Here’s everything you need to know about booking a skip-the-line tour in Europe, from what to expect to whether these tours actually save you time — and why these uber-touristy experiences are worth it, even if you’re a travel pro.

Why book with City Wonders

Photo: V_E/Shutterstock

City Wonders started in 2004 with one tour, the Dark Heart of Rome, which is still in operation today and one of the company’s most frequently sold-out circuits. It takes tourists through Rome’s lesser-known historical sites at night, regaling tales of murders, executions, and ghosts. The fact that this quirky tour was the first one developed by City Wonders speaks to the ethos of the company — that its guides are first and foremost storytellers. Every tour covers the historical background of the attractions, but it also includes lesser-known, colorful stories about the people who roamed these sites back in their early days.

City Wonders has gone on to create experiences throughout Italy’s most popular cities, including Florence, Venice, Milan, Pompeii, and the Amalfi coast, with a few less-expected excursions to places like Burano, Siena, and Lake Como. It has also started expanding to other major cities in Western Europe: London, Barcelona, and Paris, with additional day trips in the same vein as Italy’s to places like Bath, Montserrat, and the Loire Valley

The majority of these tours are straightforward in structure, and they’re by no means “under-the-radar,” but they do come with a powerful seal of approval. In 2019, the classic Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica tour was voted the number one experience worldwide in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards. So while you’re sure to find other skip-the-line tour companies, perhaps at a cheaper rate or with a smaller group, an excursion with City Wonders is guaranteed to be of the highest quality possible.

What to expect

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Tours range from around $25 to $300, depending on group size and level of exclusivity of the experience — with some all-inclusive private day trips costing over $1,000. The most basic skip-the-line tours of top attractions should only run you between $50 to $100, and should be booked well in advance online, especially during peak seasons. Tours leave promptly at the designated meeting time, and due to the nature of the special entry times and skipping the line, there are no exceptions for being late.

Tours aren’t intimate, but they aren’t at the level of cruise ship excursions either. Group size for the average tour shouldn’t surpass 20. The average age of the tour group skews a little older, but younger travelers won’t feel out of place. Thankfully, you won’t have to listen to the tour through a megaphone, as each tourist is equipped with a small headset set to a radio frequency so you can hear your guide speak (at a normal volume) even if you stray a little to grab a photo or rest your legs. Somewhat embarrassingly, you will shuffle behind a flag, but in locations as crowded as the Colosseum, it’s a necessity.

Like any group tour, you run the risk of having “that guy” ruin your experience by asking a hundred questions or lagging to take a dozen photos of each and every ancient rock. But the City Wonders tour guides must be trained in dealing with these more difficult tourists, because they’re usually able to smoothly encourage them to keep moving without too much resistance. And if the incessant questions become too much to bear, you can always take your headphones out for a few minutes.

Tours last exactly as long as they say they’re going to, with no significant breaks. Note that certain circumstances aren’t up to the tour guide’s control, so don’t be a jerk or demand a refund if not everything goes to plan. On our tour of the Vatican, we couldn’t enter St. Peter’s Basilica because the Pope was in town and holding a service. But that meant we got to spend more time in the museums than groups typically would.

Gratuities aren’t mandatory, but the guides work hard and deserve a little something for their efforts. Come prepared with small bills, because there won’t be time to scramble to an ATM before the group disperses.

Yes, you actually save a ton of time

Photo: Laura Reilly

It’d be fair to assume that if everyone is booking a skip-the-line tour, then there’s no real line to skip. I did feel slightly bamboozled, waiting in a short line for 10 minutes behind a few other skip-the-line tour groups to enter St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. But from the vantage point of the balcony overlooking the Palazzo Ducale, hundreds of tourists in a queue came into view, waiting at a separate entry point. They wrapped around the church, through the plaza, all the way to the waterline of the canal. They would be waiting at least two hours to enter the church — and it wasn’t even the high season.

If it had been July, and there had been a dozen cruise ships docked in the port, they could easily be waiting over four hours, unprotected from the summer sun. How much could an old church live up to your expectations after enduring those grueling conditions? How easy would it be to dismiss Venice entirely as being too crowded, too overrated, after your trip?

Without the fatigue and frustration of a long line, the lengthy pauses to explain the meaning behind the colors of the tilework or the history of the frescos wasn’t an endurance test, but an added layer to the experience.

If you’re not the type to ever agree to wait in a long line, being able to skip the line also guarantees you’ll actually be able to see the city’s most iconic attractions. The previous year, I’d passed on the Duomo in Florence because the line was too long. And despite promising ourselves that we’d return to the Vatican a few days later, we never saw the inside of St. Peter’s Basilica, deterred by the long lines.

Is it worth the money?

Photo: CathyRL/Shutterstock

Simply put, time is money. While many of these attractions have far cheaper entry fees if you were to go in solo, you’re paying to avoid spending your entire time in Rome in a line instead of digging into a pizza and relaxing with a bottle of wine. And perhaps if you aren’t so exhausted from standing in line for hours, you’ll opt to venture across the Tiber River to the bohemian neighborhood of Trastevere, instead of whatever mediocre, overpriced osteria is right outside your hotel. For visitors only in town for a few days, that time is invaluable.

You’re also paying for context. Few of us would take the time to actually listen to the entirety of a droning audio tour, or read every caption underneath a painting. The tour guides sum up the history, throw in a few fun facts, add a little character, and keep the tour moving at a clip. Unless you’re a seasoned historian, you probably won’t walk away from these iconic sites with much understanding of what makes them so important without a guide.

That said, know your limits. If you’ve never been interested in art in your life, a three-hour walk through the Uffizi Gallery isn’t going to change that just because the statue of David is famous. Don’t sign up for a tour just because you think you have to. After two hours spent learning about the Colosseum, I could have done without an additional hour explaining every ruin in the Roman Forum. But that’s because I’ve never been that interested in archaeology, whereas my degree in religious studies kept me entertained throughout the Vatican museums. You don’t have to see every famous site in one trip. If you jam-pack your short stay with a dozen back-to-back tours, you simply won’t be able to enjoy all of it — and might be left feeling like you’ve wasted both your money and your time.

You can also book unique experiences

Photo: City Wonders

No one says you have to spend your few precious days in Italy traversing ancient ruins at all. The rise of Airbnb Experiences proves that travelers these days are increasingly interested in creating unique memories of a place, instead of grabbing that same selfie in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. City Wonders offers more immersive cultural experiences, oftentimes cheaper than you’ll find on Airbnb (though you should expect a significantly larger group than you would on an Airbnb Experience). Take a wine and cicchetti tasting tour of Venice’s Jewish ghetto. Tour the creepy crypts and catacombs of Rome. And if you absolutely must see the top tourist attractions of the city, consider splurging on a more exclusive activity. We booked a sunrise breakfast in the Vatican gardens, before continuing on to the same old tour of the museums and Sistine Chapel. Endless rooms of marble busts are considerably more tolerable with a short stack of Vatican pancakes in your belly.

Sometimes, it’s okay to just be a tourist

Photo: S-F/Shutterstock

We’re constantly told the right way to travel these days is to connect with locals, to seek out authentic experiences, to go on an adventure. We espouse it every day on this very website. So part of me felt ashamed of going to Venice at all, much less hopping into a gondola at the end of my walking tour. It’s cliché. It’s touristy. It’s everything I typically stand against as the editor of Matador Network.

But it’s also just plain fun. These sites and experiences became so popular they necessitate skipping a line for a reason. My sister and I spent a decent chunk of our gondola ride getting the perfect selfie, but now that photo comes up every time she calls me on the phone, and I’m reminded of a special afternoon spent giggling together on the Grand Canal, chatting with our handsome gondolier.

Skipping the line at these tourist attractions also gave us the time and energy to enjoy those quieter, more “local” moments, like introducing her to amaro at a tiny bar with only a few stools, and sharing a plate of cicchetti on the steps of a bridge in Cannaregio.

You’re not any less of a “real” traveler if you spend the day shuffling behind a flag with a lanyard around your neck and headphones in your ears. Travel should be whatever you want it to be. Sometimes that means mingling with the locals, sometimes that means posing like a gladiator in front of the Colosseum like everyone else — and that’s perfectly okay.


More like this: The best places near Vatican City to eat, drink, and recharge

The post Skip-the-line tours in Europe are completely worth it, even if you’re a travel pro appeared first on Matador Network.

Sydney fireworks petition

The New Year’s Eve fireworks show in Sydney, Australia, is creating controversy. A petition circulating online argues that the famous fireworks display would be insensitive, add to the air quality situation, and could even prove traumatic.

The petition, titled “Say NO to FIREWORKS NYE 2019 give the money to farmers and firefighters,” advocates for the millions spent on fireworks to be reallocated to farmers, firefighters, and animal carers impacted by the devastating bushfires. It states, “5.8 MILLION $$ was spent in Sydney alone for fireworks last year. All states should say NO to FIREWORKS. This may traumatize some people as there is enough smoke in the air.”

The terrible ongoing bushfires and the current weather conditions in New South Wales has led to total fire bans across 11 areas in the region, according to ABC News. Areas that wish to put on a fireworks display to ring in the new year in these areas must apply for an exemption. The organizers of the fireworks show in Sydney have been granted such permission.

Clover Moore, Sydney’s mayor, has acknowledged the petition’s concerns, but is showing no sign of conceding to its demands. In response to the petition, she said, “Our fireworks are planned 15 months in advance and most of the budget — which is largely allocated to crowd safety and cleaning measures — has already been spent. And with just weeks to go, many have already booked hotels and restaurants and planned their trip to watch the fireworks.”

While Moore has decided not to cancel the fireworks, comments under the petition, which has been signed by almost 280,000 people, reveal anger and frustration:

“It is obscene to put more smoke in the air & risk more fires when communities just outside Sydney are BURNING. And, firefighters & burnt communities need that money!”

“Simple. Australians all across the country need the money to rebuild their schools, their homes. It’s a matter of priority and this is where we show we care.”

As of right now, the $4 million harbor fireworks display will proceed as planned.


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Underrated attractions in Egypt

Determined calèche drivers, peering out of carriages that have clearly seen better days, call out offering rides for less than a dollar. Cracked sidewalks require attention. Trash, bobbing up to the shores of the river, lines the streets and alleys and often attracts stray cats in search of a meal. The scenery is a somber reminder that Egypt — long a destination for visitors to see historical sites including the Great Pyramid, the Great Sphinx, and the Giza Necropolis — has had a rough decade.

The decline in tourism that stemmed from the Egyptian revolution of 2011 was a major hit for a country where tourism contributes billions of dollars in annual revenue and employs roughly 12 percent of the country’s workforce. Social uprisings and international travel advisories prompted tourists to look elsewhere, and the country saw tourist stays decline by more than five million — over 35 percent — between 2010 and 2014, according to a report in The Guardian. From there, they continued to fall.

Egypt’s political situation began to stabilize in 2014 after current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi won the vote in a landslide election. Tourism numbers slowly began to climb, led by visitors seeking out sun and sea in destinations along the Red Sea. However, threats of terrorism caused tourism to cities like Cairo and Luxor to remain at a trickle. These threats prompted travel advisories from multiple major countries, including the United States, which had a warning in effect as late as July of 2019.

Photo: Gabriela Beres/Shutterstock

A hefty dose of infrastructure investment was needed. The government’s tourism sector, seeking to boost an economy that provides roughly 10 percent of Africa’s total tourism employment, pumped resources into both security and development, betting that as media reports of social chaos subsided, the traveling public would again be keen to visit a cradle of modern civilization.

Their bets worked. The country saw tourism increase 16.5 percent in 2018 over 2017 numbers, with the same report from the World Travel and Tourism Council predicting the growth to stick. The result is increased new options for tourists such as the soon-to-open Grand Egyptian Museum. This half-a-billion-dollar project promises to be the world’s largest archeological museum once it opens in 2020. It’s been nearly two decades in the making with hopes it will encourage more visitors to spend time in Cairo. This, in addition to other restored archeological sites and infrastructure projects aimed at modernizing the visitor experience, makes the next decade very promising for Egyptian tourism, particularly to its underrated sites. And while the Pyramids of Giza will forever be a must-see, check out these spots for a more unique experience.

In Saqqara, a newly unveiled tomb and the first pyramid

Photo: travelview/Shutterstock

An hour south of Cairo is Saqqara, a necropolis where you can find funerary monuments dating to the Old Kingdom. Here you can visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the first pyramid ever built and the catalyst for the trend of ever-more elaborate burials. The vast necropolis of Saqqara contains tombs from almost every period, and you can learn more about some of the archeological finds in this area at the Imhotep Museum.

The Ministry of Antiquities announced in April of 2019 the discovery of a 4,300-year-old tomb of Khuwy, believed to be related to the pharaoh Djedkare Isesi. Another recent opening is the Serapeum of Saqqara. A massive underground gallery at Serapeum supposedly served as a resting place for the Apis bull, which was believed to embody the gods Sorok, Osiris or Ptah. The Serapeum remains shrouded in mystery, however, as none of its giant granite sarcophagi have been found with an Apis bull mummy still inside.

Exploring Cairo’s Islamic architecture and Christian sites

Photo: AlexAnton/Shutterstock

Once you’ve had your fill of ancient history, get ready to explore Islamic Cairo. The Islamic conquests brought the religion to Egypt and have since dotted the city skyline with impressive mosques, earning Cairo the moniker “city of a thousand minarets.” The Mosque of Mohammed Ali is worth a visit both for the breathtaking panoramic views of the city it offers and for its picturesque courtyard covered in alabaster. One outstanding feature of the courtyard is the brass clocktower given to Mohammed Ali by King Louis Philippe of France in return for the obelisk from Luxor that now stands in the Place de la Concorde.

Just a few minutes away, you’ll find the Sultan Hassan Mosque, an architectural marvel, especially when you learn it was built in the 1300s. If you’re a fan of Islamic architecture and interested in visiting more mosques, the Al Azhar mosque is worth a stop, and you may even recognize its beautiful white-marble courtyard from the Instagram feeds of other tourists.

Another part of the city worth touring is Coptic Cairo. The history of the Copts itself is unique as many of them can actually trace their ancestry to Ancient Egyptians. Copts practice Christianity, and this part of the city’s southern expanse is where they believe the Holy family rested during their journey to Egypt. The site is home to the Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, which date back to the fourth century. The historic Hanging Church is located on this same site, and although the date of its construction is disputed, what is known is that a church has existed on this site since the third century.

Near the Hanging Church you will find the Babylon Fortress, which dates back to Roman times. Historic records attribute the building of the fortress to different persons — in one version it was built by rebellious prisoners from Babylon who refused to be enslaved by the pharaoh, and another version attributes it to Nebuchadrezzar, the Babylonian king who occupied Egypt in the sixth century.

Then head to Luxor, but skip the charge for King Tut

Photo: Holger Kirk/Shutterstock

Despite Cairo’s offerings, if you’re coming to Egypt with limited time, Luxor should be first on your list. The Valley of the Kings in Luxor’s West Bank remains one of the top attractions as tourists flock to visit the tomb of King Tut. Although infamous, its appearance pales in comparison to some of the other tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Construction of the pharaoh’s funeral chambers began at the time he assumed rule and continued through the duration of his reign. So, the longer one ruled, the more impressive the tomb.

Skip the extra fee for the boy king’s burial site and instead visit the more impressive tombs of Tausert & Setnakt, Ramses III and Ramses IV. Do spend the extra few dollars to gain access to the tomb of Ramses V and VI, which is arguably one of the best-preserved and striking ones you can currently visit. A ticket to The Valley of the Kings costs 240 Egyptian pounds, about $15, and includes a visit to the three tombs. The tombs of Tutankhamun, Seti I, or Ramses V/VI can be visited for an additional charge.

While tour buses carrying daytrippers and Nile cruisers arrive in throngs to the Valley of the Kings, the tombs at neighboring Deir el-Medina sit practically undisturbed. Reviews say all you’ll find there is a “pile of rocks” of what was once a worker’s village. But what these reviews fail to note is that this village was home to the workers tasked with designing the tombs of the pharaohs and that these talented artists actually decorated their own tombs. Venture down the steep stairs and into small chambers where you’ll be welcomed by a dazzling artistic depiction of what everyday life was like for these Egyptian artisans and workers. It’s truly a sight to behold, gazing upon artwork created thousands of years ago.

Take in the Karnak Temple Complex

Photo: Zbigniew Guzowski/Shutterstock

Temples may appear to be a dime a dozen in Luxor, but some are truly worth visiting. The Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor’s East Bank is a hotbed of historical material. Karnak is a collection of temples recognized as one of Egypt’s top attractions with structures dating from the Middle Kingdom to Ptolemaic times, which ended in 30 BC. Exploring this vast open-air museum can easily take hours. Most visitors beeline to the Hypostyle Hall, a massive structure constructed during the 19th dynasty and supported by 134 immense columns. Take a moment to stare up at the massive columns and see if you aren’t left astounded at the innovation and tenacity of the ancient Egyptian architects.

Most visitors don’t venture farther out into the complex, but one further temple is especially worth visiting: the Temple of Khonsu. Its gateway is located at the end of the avenue of sphinxes, a one-and-a-half-mile path connecting Karnak to the Luxor Temple. Currently, the avenue is closed in hopes that the city can restore it to its former grandeur, when it served as the main thoroughfare for religious and celebratory processions. The Temple of Khonsu provides an example of what a complete structure would have looked like in the New Kingdom at the height of Egypt’s power.

End your tour at Medinet Habu

Photo: Aline Fortuna/Shutterstock

You’ll find even fewer visitors at Medinet Habu, the location of the mortuary temple of Ramses III, who is recognized as the last great pharaoh of Egypt. The temples at Medinet Habu appear well-preserved with a great deal of color still to be seen on its walls and ceilings, making them a favorite of many Egyptologists studying the area and working for its preservation. Pylons of the temple are adorned with reliefs depicting Ramses III’s victories over Egypt’s enemies. Being here makes you wonder how beautiful it all must have looked in the days of the pharaohs. Other temples at Medinet Habu were constructed by Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III, two other renowned pharaohs of the New Kingdom: Hatshepsut, the powerful female pharaoh whose legacy was nearly wiped from history, and Tuthmosis III, the creator of the largest empire Egypt had ever seen.

To learn more about the aforementioned female pharaoh visit Al-Deir Al-Bahari. As ancient Egypt’s most powerful queen, the stories of how she assumed and maintained power are truly captivating. To understand the influence she had over people, stroll through the mortuary temple constructed for Hatshepsut by the architect who was believed to be in love with her. Despite an attempt by Tuthmosis III to wipe out the legacy of Hatshepsut, her reign continues to captivate historians and increasingly proves just as alluring to visitors.

If your budget allows it, we recommend hiring an Egyptologist through a reputable tour agency. Their expertise and knowledge of hieroglyphics will allow you to better understand the significance of each of the sites you visit. Djed is both professional and affordable, with most day trips running between $30 and $100 per person depending on length and destinations, though the company also offers custom excursions.


More like this: 7 of the coolest ancient temples in Egypt and what to see in each

The post As tourism in Egypt rebounds, it’s time to plan a trip to the lesser-known sites of Cairo and Luxor appeared first on Matador Network.

New aurora borealis spotted by NASA

There’s a new aurora borealis in town, and it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before. Jennifer Briggs, a physics student at Pepperdine University and NASA intern, discovered a new type of aurora borealis in video footage of the sky above Arctic Norway from three years ago. With the assistance of NASA scientists and a satellite, she connected the new aurora to a retreat in Earth’s magnetic field, which is the first time scientists have ever seen an aurora caused solely by a change in the Earth’s magnetic field.

The exact cause of the magnetic crunch is still a mystery, but researchers believe it may have been due to a storm in the region where the Earth’s magnetic field deflects particles from the sun. They don’t, however, know what this storm looked like, or where it may have come from. When this aurora occurred, a NASA satellite detected a massive compression in the Earth’s magnetosphere at the exact moment the lights started twisting and spiraling.

Photo: NASA

In a press conference, Briggs said, “You can imagine someone punching Earth’s magnetic field. There was a massive but localized compression. This motion is something that we’ve never seen before. This eastward and then westward and then spiraling motion is not something that we’ve ever seen, not something we currently understand.”


More like this: The 5 most epic, unique ways to see the northern lights

The post A never-before-seen aurora borealis was discovered by a NASA intern appeared first on Matador Network.

Best museums to visit in 2020

Far from the clichés of boring and dusty venues displaying nothing but classical paintings that induce lethargy within 20 minutes, today’s museums are fun, interactive, and inclusive. This coming year especially, museums from all over the world are making sure they attract visitors with renovated space, female-focused art, amazing architecture, and modern topics like the history of make-up. So, in 2020, spend less time on the couch watching series and more time walking the galleries of these nine museums — you won’t regret it.

1. National Portrait Gallery — London, England

Photo: National Portrait Gallery/Facebook

The National Portrait Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square will be closing for three years — from June 29, 2020, until spring 2023 — to allow for extensive renovations. The redevelopment will cost 35.5 million British pounds and involve an overhaul of the entire building. While there are plans to send 300 portraits around the UK on loan to other museums during the closure, there’s only six months left to view hundreds of thousands of treasures, including the primary collection that’s comprised of some 11,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, photos, and prints. Notable works include “Venus and Mars” by Sandro Boticelli, “The Madonna of the Pinks” by Raphael, and “The Entombment” by Michelangelo.

Where: St. Martin’s Place, Charing Cross, London WC2H 0HE, United Kingdom

2. Les Bassins de Lumières — Bordeaux, France

Photo: Bassins de Lumières/Facebook

Digital art has been taking the world by storm, from New York City to Japan, and France is not letting itself be beat. In fact, it’s even one-upping its competitors by not only being home to the world’s largest digital art center but also by being the first to use an unusual space to house such a facility. Located in a former World War II submarine base in Bordeaux, Les Bassins de Lumières (The Ponds of Light) will open on April 17, 2020, and contain an immersive display of Gustav Klimt and Paul Klee’s artwork that’ll be projected onto various interiors in the base. Six areas make up the center, totaling about 156,000 square feet: Le Cube, La Citerne, Les Grands Nénuphars, a museum space, educational area, and a mezzanine floor with a stage and seating area.

Where: Impasse Brown de Colstoun, 33000 Bordeaux, France

3. Museum of Graffiti — Miami, Florida, USA

Photo: Museum of Graffiti + Museum of Graffiti/Facebook

Miami’s known for a great many things, from food to architecture to nightlife. It’s also famous for its street art found in its Wynwood neighborhood, which, up until recently, served mostly as an unorganized outdoor museum of sorts for the art form, with the exception of a few galleries. This month in Wynwood saw the opening of the first official museum dedicated to it. The Museum of Graffiti, with an indoor exhibit space, 11 exterior murals, fine-art gallery, and gift shop, follows the history of graffiti and tracks style changes along the way. The first exhibition is “Style Masters: The Birth of The Graffiti Art Movement” and centers on what is many people’s, both artists and art appreciators alike, first exposure to the art form — graffiti letters.

Where: 299 NW 25th Street, Miami, FL 33127

4. Museum of Modern Art — New York City, New York, USA

Photo: MoMA The Museum of Modern Art/Facebook

New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has been undergoing renovations for three years and closed down this past summer for five months to complete the $450-million project. It reopened its doors in October with an extra 47,000 square feet of space that’s worth exploring in the new year. The museum’s collection holds almost 200,000 pieces, and with the new space and plans to rotate gallery themes on a regular basis, visitors will see much more than ever before. The new exhibitions will include “Sur moderno: Journeys of Abstraction — The Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Gift,” with South-American abstract and concrete art; “member: Pope.L, 1978–2001,” with work from Pope.L; “The Legends of Black Girl’s Window,” with printmaking by Betye Saar; and “Handles,” with multimedia installations by Haegue Yang. The MoMA also debuted its new People’s Studio, which will hold workshops and discussions to allow visitors to engage with art in new ways.

Where: 11 W 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

5. Grand Egyptian Museum — Cairo, Egypt

Photo: heneghan peng architects

The brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo is worthy of its name — at 5.2 million square feet, it’ll be the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization and contain around 100,000 artifacts. The $100-billion project has long been delayed, continually pushed back due to political and economical strife, but everything seems ready for the new set date of 2020, though there are no other specifics as the government works to confirm all the details for the inauguration ceremony.

Upon arrival, visitors will be greeted by a grand statue of Ramses II, 39 feet tall and weighing 83 tons, at the museum’s entrance, and then see a grand staircase flanked by over 80 artifacts. Additionally, the GEM will have the complete collection of all known items related to King Tutankhamun; the Egyptian Museum in Cairo currently holds just a fraction of those artifacts but will release them to the GEM before its opening. The approximately 5,000 artifacts will be displayed in a similar manner as when they were discovered in the pharaoh’s tomb at Luxor Temple back in 1922.

Where: Alexandria Desert Road, Kafr Nassar, Al Haram, Giza Governorate, Egypt

6. Baltimore Museum of Art — Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Photo: The Baltimore Museum of Art/Facebook

The coming year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women in the United States the right to vote. To celebrate the anniversary, as well as address the race and gender inequality in the museum sphere, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has unveiled its “2020 Vision” plan, which states that the museum will dedicate all of its 2020 programming to female-identifying artists. Of the 95,000 pieces in its collection, only 3,800 are from women, but soon there will be 15 solo exhibitions and seven thematic shows dedicated to women in art.

The initiative was put into place in the fall of 2019, but the BMA will ramp things up as the new year begins, with exhibitions dedicated to artists like Candice Beritz, whose videos focus on socio-political and economic issues, and Joan Mitchell, who focuses on abstract art and printmaking. Next summer the museum plans to pay homage to Native Americans by showcasing beadwork by 19th-century Lakota women, who incorporated the American flag into their designs in an attempt to subvert the system.

Also notable is the “Women Behaving Badly: 400 Years of Power & Protest” exhibit, which, as the working title suggests, will show about 80 depictions of women in power and protest, rebelling against the traditional roles expected of them.

Where: 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218

7. National Museum of Qatar — Doha, Qatar

Photo: Little Adventures/Shutterstock

While the National Museum of Qatar opened back in March 2019, it definitely deserves attention in 2020. An architectural masterpiece, it was designed by Jean Nouvel, who was inspired by the desert rose, a crystal group commonly found in desert regions. The museum contains a 220-seat auditorium, a research center, laboratories, a rooftop restaurant, and even a landscaped park filled with Qatar’s indigenous plants. Dedicated to Qatari history, the 570,000-square-foot museum is divided into three “chapters” that are spread out among 11 galleries: “Beginnings,” “Life in Qatar,” and “The Modern History of Qatar.”

Where: Museum Park Street, Doha, Qatar

8. Makeup Museum — New York City, New York, USA

Photo: Makeup Museum

The world’s first museum dedicated to makeup will be opening in New York City in May 2020 and will focus on the history of makeup and its impact on society. Its first exhibit will be “Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup America,” which will examine the ‘50s makeup trends and icons, like Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo, as the decade is seen as the birth of the modern makeup industry. In addition to exhibits, there will also be events and immersive programming where visitors will get to play with makeup, as well as never-before-seen beauty artifacts.

Where: 94 Gansevoort Streer, New York, NY 10014, USA

9. Pompidou Center — Shanghai, China

France’s museums have started to take their business outside the country, with new branches of renowned museums expanding to places like the Louvre Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The Pompidou Center already has a branch in Malaga, Spain, and recently unveiled a new one in Shanghai, China, this past November. The museum, called “Centre Pompidou x West Bund Museum Project,” is located in the Xuhui Waterfront district and is part of efforts to turn the neighborhood into a cultural hub. The 27,000-square-foot space is comprised of three galleries that will host various exhibitions from the main Pompidou Center in Paris, a contractual partnership that will last five years and can either be extended or terminated.

One of the exhibitions, titled “The Shape of Time,” showcases 100 works from 20th-century artists like Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Zhang Huan, Zao Wou-Ki, and Cristina Iglesias. But it isn’t all about the more well-known folks, as the museum’s Gallery O displays original work from up-and-coming artists, and The Box area is dedicated to multimedia installations. There are also spaces for educational workshops, conferences, screenings, and performances.

Where: 3398 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui, Shanghai, China


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Why you should visit Oahu

To say Hawaii is an anomaly among American states is an understatement. While it’s beautiful, wild, and magically calming, it’s also completely different than anywhere else in the country, feeling more like a far-flung island kingdom than our 50th state. This difference is a huge part of why Hawaii is such a special place to visit. But there’s a huge variety between islands, and you may not always find the infrastructure and amenities you’re accustomed to.

That’s not to say anywhere filled with warm Pacific breezes is ever stressful. That’s just to say if you’ve never been before, Oahu is the best place to start. You’ll find all the deep green nature, wild animals, and sandy beaches of your Hawaiian fantasies. But find it all close enough to a shopping mall if you’re in desperate need of air conditioning. (Hawaii is all about the “trade winds” and not so big on AC.) Here’s why Oahu offers the most complete package of all the islands in Hawaii, and why it should absolutely be your first Hawaiian destination.

The island is full of urban charms and low-key beach towns.

Photo: okimo/Shutterstock

As the most populous island in Hawaii, Oahu is the cosmopolitan center of the state. And if you’re into big city amenities like shopping, cocktail bars, breweries, and international restaurants, Honolulu is where you’ll find it. Make sure to spend some time in Chinatown and visit Pig and the Lady, a Vietnamese spot on King Street with one of the best restaurant cocktail menus in America. Or wander around the arts district and hit Honolulu Beerworks, which feels about as close to hipster-industrial as you’re getting on the islands.

But an hour away you can hide in small, ramshackle beach towns that feel nothing close to Honolulu. The best way to see them is to just drive; take a car or a motorcycle and roll along the coastal highways, past farms, shacks, and beach bars that feel like a true, off-the-grid escape. If you’re looking for an endpoint, Haleiwa is probably the best known Oahu beach town, a small strip of surf shops and shaved ice stands that’s become a global destination for surfers. Kahuku on the northeastern shore sits between Laie and Turtle Bay and is famous for its abundance of fresh shrimp trucks. Or there’s Waianae on the west coast, a popular jumping-off point for water tours.

But comfortable accommodations are easy to find.

Photo: Turtle Bay Resort/Facebook

Touring through far-flung islands can often mean staying in accommodations that skew a little…rustic. Especially in Hawaii’s other islands, where often your options are $700-a-night luxury resorts or tiny, local hotels. But in Oahu you don’t have to stay at the Grand Hawaiian or another mega-property on Waikiki. You can also find little boutique hotels like the Renew and the Surfjack Hotel and Swim Club, rehabbed ‘60s spots that have found new life with modern touches.

Ditto on the North Shore, which might feel completely removed but is also home to the epic Turtle Bay Resort, which you may recognize as Jason Segel’s ill-fated vacation spot in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The multi-wing property sits on its own peninsula with large rooms and sweeping views, boasting gourmet restaurants and even a little nightlife at Surfer: The Bar. It’s not exactly a local scene, but does offer a comfortable respite along the rural North Shore.

You’ll find postcard beaches beyond Waikiki.

Photo: Kosuke Kobayashi/Shutterstock

The golden sands of Waikiki, set under the watchful shadow of Diamond Head, are just about the most iconic vision of Hawaii you can find. That’s probably why Waikiki is also the most crowded beach, and while it’s a beautiful stretch of shoreline it’s not exactly secluded. The North Shore probably has the best variety of beaches without throngs of people, but if you aren’t up for that long of a drive you can find some great ones not horribly far from Honolulu.

Lanikai Beach might not feel completely remote, but it does offer calm waters and a couple of islands just offshore that double as bird sanctuaries. For swimming, it’s the best beach on the island, since the offshore reefs keep the waves at bay. If you’re looking for something a little more isolated, take the drive to Kahana Bay Beach Park. You won’t find any facilities or restaurants here, but you will find green and gold mountains tumbling right into the surf, and on many days not a lot of people.

Oahu is still a tropical jungle paradise perfect for hiking.

Photo: Felix Nendzig/Shutterstock

Hawaii’s lone interstate highways don’t look much like the interstates you know. Rather than billboards and franchises along your drive, you’ll find vast canyons surrounded by rugged palms, massive ferns, and dripping banyan trees. And in less than half an hour after leaving the towers of Honolulu you’re transported back into the wild islands of centuries past.

Hidden in those mountains are trails that take you deep into the tropical rainforest. The easiest among them are along the Honolulu Mauka Trail System, a series of wide trails that are well maintained and popular with families. The Manoa Falls Trail is a nice, 1.6-mile round-trip to a 100-foot waterfall that isn’t terribly challenging. If you want to get deeper into the thick of it though, hit the Puu Manamana Trail, which takes you along a jagged mountain ridge. Or the Lanipo and Waianae Kaala trails, which bring you through the jungle to panoramic mountaintops.

You can dive by healthy reefs just minutes from downtown.

Photo: Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock

Visiting a major city and scuba diving generally don’t go together; even in Miami you’ll typically need to drive an hour and a half to the Florida Keys. Not the case in Honolulu, where you’ll find wrecks and reefs less than 10 minutes by boat from Kewalo Basin Harbor downtown. Outfits like Banzai Divers can take you to the YO-257, an old navy ship that sits down 120 feet, or its shallower sister ship San Pedro, a swim-through-filled hospital vessel that’s become popular among sea turtles. There’s even an old Corsair plane that crashed into the ocean you can dive, too.

More impressive than the wrecks, Honolulu also sits right next to a massive coral reef. Its impressive preservation means you can get spectacular reef diving in as well, without having to endure a long, choppy boat ride — and get back from a morning dive with most of your day left to explore.

You’ll recognize Oahu from movies too.

Photo: BYUNGSUK KO/Shutterstock

One of the great things about Oahu is that it combines true Hawaiian nature with straight tourism kitsch. At no place is this on greater display than the Kualoa Nature Private Reserve. It’s a stunning piece of property where you can take UTVs through lush valleys with straight shot views to the ocean. And drive to the tops of mountains to look down on the forest reserves and state parks around you.

You can also drive by a seven-foot-tall primate rib cage used in Kong: Skull Island, then pose next to a life-sized statue of Mighty Joe Young and a sign welcoming people to Jurassic Park. This is because in addition to being a perfect showcase for Oahu foliage, Kualoa’s also been used as a filming locale for dozens of movies. In case you don’t recognize the sites right away, the reserve is dotted with signs telling you which films were shot where, so you can recreate those scenes during your tour. It’s a fun, Insta-friendly way to immerse yourself in the island’s wilder side, but still unabashedly touristy.

Swimming with all your favorite animals is easy.

Photo: RugliG/Shutterstock

Another big Hawaiian draw is the opportunity to jump in the bathwater-warm ocean with animals you don’t typically get to see. Tours like Wild Side Specialty Tours operate off the west side of the island and can take you right into pods of dolphins swimming by green mountains. While in the water, you’ll likely also see sea turtles and possibly even false killer whales, a rare species of dolphin that’s often mistaken for orcas.

But far-and-away the coolest experience you can have here is swimming with sharks, which live in abundance off the shore of Haleiwa. People mistakenly think the reef and Galapagos sharks who live here are dangerous, but in fact they have about as much interest in biting you as you do in biting them. You’ll learn all about these sleek ocean dwellers on your boat ride with One Ocean Diving, who’ll give you an education in sharks and a new appreciation for their conservation before literally dropping you right on top of schools of them. It’s not even a little bit scary, but one of those things you can talk about when you get home and sound a lot more badass.

You’ll get the best of the islands, without having to get too far outside your comfort zone.

Photo: Shane Myers Photography/Shutterstock

Not that Hawaii is even a little bit intimidating, but it is the most foreign-feeling place one can go inside the United States, so figuring out how to navigate the islands can be a little overwhelming. On Oahu, everything you come to Hawaii for is within an hour’s drive of a major airport, and you can get the aloha spirit while still feeling close to home. With tropical nature, big-city amenities, and beaches literally surrounding you, it hits all the Hawaiian high notes. And if the Pacific breezes aren’t enough for you, you’re never too far from AC.


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