Matador Network's Blog, page 966

Stasi Museum in Berlin suffers break

Just days after $1 billion worth of jewels were stolen from the Grüne Gewölbe (Green Vault) in Dresden, yet another heist has taken place at a German museum. This time, the Stasi Museum in Berlin — the former headquarters of the East German secret police — was burglarized. Several medals and pieces of jewelry were stolen.

The thieves entered the building on Sunday by climbing onto the roof of the entrance hall and entering through a window. They then proceeded to break several glass display cases to get to Soviet-era medals, such as an Order of Karl Marx, an Order of Lenin, and a Hero of the Soviet Union, before taking jewelry from a different part of the museum. While the value of the stolen items pales in comparison to what was taken from Dresden — some of the items were replicas — the incident still indicates a sense of insecurity for German museums.

Despite the low material value of the items, it’s believed that the thieves intend to sell the goods to collectors of historic East German memorabilia.


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Airbnb sending home cooks to Italy

Airbnb is launching new Airbnb Cooking Experiences — bookable experiences designed to help travelers understand culinary traditions around the world. If you fancy yourself a master chef in your own kitchen, now’s your time to take your talents abroad. As part of the new launch, Airbnb will send 100 home chefs on a trip to Pollenzo, Italy. If you’re lucky enough to be chosen, you will be flown to Italy next summer to participate in one of four courses at Slow Food’s University of Gastronomic Sciences.

Each course is designed to teach students how to refine their own family recipes, with the aid of a retinue of culinary experts. Other specialized classes will also be offered featuring celebrity chefs, professors, and experts, including lessons on Korean home cooking with famed chef David Chang. Other experts will include Nonna Nerina and her granddaughter Chiara, who are among Airbnb’s most popular experience hosts. They regularly welcome guests into their home in the countryside to impart their pasta-making wisdom.

The course lasts for five days and will largely focus on taking your existing family and cultural culinary traditions and taking them to the next level.

A panel of judges, composed of representatives from Airbnb, Slow Food, and the University of Gastronomic Sciences, will decide the 100 winners. Since the group is supposed to represent a broad swath of culinary traditions, guests will come from a wide variety of cultures, communities, and cuisines.

Courses run on June 15, 22, and 29, and July 6, with each of the four courses accommodating 25 people. To be chosen, someone needs to nominate you on Airbnb’s website and write why you’re their favorite cook. You have until 11:59 PM EST on December 23 to be nominated or to nominate someone else.


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The post Airbnb is sending 100 home cooks to Italy to perfect their recipes appeared first on Matador Network.

Coolest US towns in 2019

The 25 coolest towns in America: 2019

Photo: Kenneth Sponsler/Shutterstock

TThe more you travel to big destinations and famous cities, the harder it gets to appreciate them. You can’t really hate on world-class chefs and major league sports, but after you’ve lugged your suitcase up enough subway stairs and drained your bank account on $18 cocktails, you start thinking that small towns might have just as much to offer. And, for short stays, many of them do.

Of course, smaller hotspots rarely stay small for long. Tiny cities like Portland, Maine, and Boulder, Colorado, are just as crowded during peak season as their more populated neighbors, and some small towns that ended up on this list in previous years — like Bend, Oregon, and Greenville, South Carolina — are now household names. So where in this big country can you still have a great time with no crowds, no price-gouging, and a whole lot on offer this coming year?

Each of these 25 towns, all with populations under 100,000, offers something special and has come into its own as a destination of late. Whether you’re looking for untamed wilderness or sandy beaches, deep history or provocative art, craft cocktails or cheap beer, these are the 25 coolest small towns in the US to visit next year.

This year’s list of coolest towns was written by Matthew Meltzer, Noelle Salmi, Nickolaus Hines, Tim Wenger, Elisabeth Sherman, Alex Bresler, and Laura Reilly, with submissions from the entire Matador Network staff.

Marfa, TX

Photo: Sue Stokes/Shutterstock


1. Marfa, Texas
Population: 1,772

Say what you will about Beverly Hills and Bal Harbour. No city in the world has seen more of a tourism boom from a Prada outlet than Marfa, Texas. And the best part is that it’s not even real. The Prada store that’s never open has become the symbol of Marfa’s art scene, and it’s drawn visitors — and vandals — in droves since it opened in 2005. And though it’s certainly Marfa’s most famous art installation, it’s the mere tip of the desert iceberg.

Marfa has become a big-time destination for artists over the past 40 years, beginning when Donald Judd bought an old military base and turned it into an outdoor modern art center in 1979. That’s now the Chinati Foundation, and today, visitors can take private tours that go through massive sculptures and minimalist boxes. In town, you’ll find an odd mix of Old West culture and modern art, best experienced at the Food Shark Museum of Electronic Wonders and Grilled Cheese Emporium. Also in town are plenty of art galleries, bookstores, and coffee shops where you’ll see sometimes-bewildered, long-time locals mixing with art tourists from all over the world.

Ketchum, ID

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2. Ketchum, Idaho
Population: 2,763

Sitting at the foot of Bald Mountain and the Sun Valley ski resort, Ketchum’s appeal is immediately obvious. Ketchum has been both a mining town and a summer shepherding destination, but after the opening of the Sun Valley Ski Resort in 1936, it began attracting authors and artists from coastal cities. In fact, Ernest Hemingway is buried here.

Today, Ketchum is a good mix of earthy mountain town with a touch of refinement. In addition to the requisite art galleries you find near most posh ski resorts, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts is an impressive institution, holding exhibits and lectures from local and international artists that are well worth checking out. By night you can get beers and burgers at the Sawtooth Brewery Public House or wood-fired pizzas and a glass of Idaho wine at Enoteca. Afterward, head to Whiskey Jacques for live music.

The main focus in Ketchum, of course, is still outdoors. In winter, you could be hitting the Sun Valley slopes or cross-country skiing at its Nordic center. You can descend the same steps on a mountain bike in summer, or opt to hike in the Sawtooth Wilderness Area. Fly-fishing is big here; you’ll find trout in town at Warm Springs Creek and steelhead and chinook up north on the Salmon River, among many other waterways.

Redding, CA

Photo: JeniFoto/Shutterstock


3. Redding, California
Population: 91,794

California’s largest city north of Sacramento serves as the gateway to the state’s most expansive swath of spectacular nature, and it might be the West Coast’s best adventure destination that hasn’t yet received mainstream recognition. Within an hour’s drive you can find yourself deep in Lassen Volcanic National Park, which is like a little slice of Iceland in Northern California. Inside the park, you can walk through steaming lava fields in the morning, climb to the top of Mount Lassen in the afternoon, and camp by its serene lake at night.

Redding is also surrounded by a loop of waterfalls, which you can drive for a long day of hitting spots like Burney and McLoud Falls before stopping for one of the state’s best burgers at Yak’s on the 5. In town after a day of exploring, you can slosh down hearty wheat beers at Woody’s Brewing and enjoy a thick steak at the Market Street Steakhouse. Or you can visit the city’s landmark Sundial Bridge and enjoy cocktails and flatbreads on the Sacramento River at Mosaic.

Grinnell, IA

Photo: Peach Tree Brewing Company/Facebook


4. Grinnell, Iowa
Population: 9,027

Garnering yourself the title of “Most Badass Town in the Midwest” is no small achievement, but kick around this college town an hour east of Des Moines for a couple of days, and it won’t seem far-fetched. The home of Grinnell College feels every bit the free-spirited college town, with bicycles darting through traffic and activist stickers plastered on bumpers. There’s an arts center and a nationally recognized art gallery. For food, there’s Prairie Canary, a restaurant that serves burgers the size of your head.

In Grinnell, you’ll find farmers sitting down for a beer next to college professors at Peace Tree Brewing. You’ll see that same cross-section of the prairie at the college’s basketball games — which are free. Grinnell’s also home to possibly the coolest small-town hotel in the country, the Hotel Grinnell, which was crafted out of an old junior high school. It uses the old locker rooms as bunk rooms, has chalkboards in every room, and uses the gym scoreboard as décor in its restaurant.

Rehoboth Beach, DE

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5. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Population: 1,496

Summers on the beach in Rehoboth are a mid-Atlantic tradition. And while this may not be an unknown-to-tourists beach town on the eastern seaboard, it does strike the perfect balance between relaxing nature and boardwalk camp. Strolling the main drag and stopping into Kohr Brothers for custard or Dolle’s Candyland for candy feels as natural a part of summer as jumping in the ocean. As does playing skee ball and riding the merry go round at Funland.

But what makes Rehoboth Beach stand out compared to other shore towns is that it’s one of the most LGBTQ-friendly small towns in the entire country. This queer capital has a renowned LGBTQ community center, CAMP Rehoboth, that’s helped shepherd the opening of gay-owned and -operated businesses on the boardwalk and beyond.

Not far away from town, you can enjoy the coastline at Cape Henlopen State Park, where miles of trails and uninterrupted sand feel a world apart from the boardwalk. There’s also Dogfish Head Brewery, which has become a destination in its own right, and the Rehoboth Beach Museum, a free historical museum with some entertaining artifacts from the early days of this seaside retreat.

Bardstown, KY

Photo: Bardstown Bourbon Company/Facebook


6. Bardstown, Kentucky
Population: 13,165

Pound for pound, no city in America has cooler places to stay than Bardstown, Kentucky. Though bourbon is probably why most people come here, it’s the only city in America where you can stay in a 200-year-old jail (in an actual cell), a bourbon-themed bed and breakfast, and a tavern both Abraham Lincoln and Jesse James once visited. And you should be glad the city has such fantastic accommodations because, at the end of a long day in Bardstown, you’re going to sleep like a champ.

The distilleries are the obvious draw here. There are six in town, including the ultra-modern Bardstown Bourbon Company, which helps produce dozens of whiskeys for smaller labels in addition to its own bourbon, and Heaven Hill. which has sweeping bluegrass vistas. The cuisine in town is another draw, especially the newly opened The Bar at Willet, which is Willett Distillery’s on-site bar and restaurant that serves elevated Southern small plates and a hell of a good Old Fashioned. You’ll also want to make sure you visit the oldest bourbon bar in America at the Old Talbott Tavern, which dates back 230 years.

Beyond drinking, you can learn more than you ever wanted to about whiskey at the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, or stroll under 12-foot forest giant sculptures at the Bernheim Research Forest and Arboretum. This Napa Valley of Bourbon offers its own train rides, too, with the Old Kentucky Dinner Train taking people through the countryside with elegant meals and, of course, plenty of whiskey.







Cooperstown, NY

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7. Cooperstown, New York
Population: 1,769

Baseball has a certain magic to it. This mystic realism that’s not found in any other American sport is captured in movies like Field of Dreams and The Natural. That magic emanates from baseball’s home in Cooperstown.

Anecdotally, this town in the Catskills was the birthplace of baseball. And while that may or may not be true, strolling the Rockwell-esque main street is both surreal and soothing at the same time. Storefronts that would normally be drugstores, bars, and offices in Small Town USA are all baseball memorabilia shops and baseball art galleries. If nothing else, this world of nothing but baseball offers an escape from the real world.

Not to say the city doesn’t have other things. Ommegang Brewing is here, and you can just as easily spend a day enjoying its Hennepin and Abbey Ales on the grassy patio as you can at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Cooperstown also sits on Otsego Lake, where you can marvel in the emerald hills reflecting off the water while enjoying drinks on the deck at the Otesaga Resort. The dreamy, natural beauty is why even non-baseball fans will love it here. But for fans of the game, there is simply no place that will transport you to childhood quite like Cooperstown.

Deadwood, SD

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8. Deadwood, South Dakota
Population: 1,304

In much the way Cooperstown provides a mountain escape into baseball, this city deep in South Dakota’s Black Hills takes you from reality into the Wild West. Your first hint is when, upon driving into town, your car is diverted off Main Street because of a gunfight. Not a real one, mind you, but one of the many daily gunfight reenactments Deadwood puts on as part of its time-travel back to the 1870s.

This one-time mining town and outlaw’s paradise leans hard into its dirty past, preserving the brothels, saloons, and haunted hotels that inspired HBO to create its namesake TV series. You can visit Saloon #10 and not only see where Wild Bill Hickok got shot but also see it happen through reenactment three times a day. Or drink in one of the many other bars from the city’s gun-slinging heyday, as well as gamble in one of the city’s many casinos.

There’s a graveyard overlooking the city where you can pay your respects to Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock. If you’d rather be carted around, there are carriage-led tours that tell the city’s whole sordid history. Deadwood is a cleaned-up look at what was historically one of the most dangerous cities in American history, and it’s a fantastic place to go and play bad guy for a handful of days.

Spartanburg, SC

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9. Spartanburg, South Carolina
Population: 37,498

During most of the 20th century, Spartanburg was a major center for textile mills. While that industry has waned, it left a legacy of all-night diners (opened so factory workers would always have a place to eat) that makes Spartanburg a little slice of New Jersey in the Carolinas. You won’t find a stronger diner culture in the South, and the city’s two best — Peach Blossom and The Beacon Drive-In — have gotten some TV fame.

Beyond the diners, you can eat in one of the city’s old mills at Heirloom, a restaurant where the name is both a tribute to the blue-collar food it serves and how ingredients come from the area. UnderPin Lanes n’ Lounge keeps the textile puns rolling with a boutique bowling alley set in an old department store. It’s also got arcade games and a barbecue restaurant.

Though the mills are mostly gone, Spartanburg still clings to its industrial identity, which is now defined by the town’s role as the home of BMW in the USA. If you buy a Bimmer — or pay to use the track — you can visit the sprawling facility here and take a performance car for a few high-speed loops.

Ruidoso, NM

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10. Ruidoso, New Mexico
Population: 7,756

Ruidoso embodies the warm community spirit that makes for a great small town, and its location in the Sierra Blanca mountains is an added bonus. This seclusion in the hills of southern New Mexico is what makes it so cool. Just when you think the high country had given way to open prairie and ranch land, a sharp left off Interstate 25 lands you smack in the middle of an outdoorsman’s paradise.

Wide-open trail systems, welcoming locals, and North America’s southernmost ski area await. Just down the road, the expansive dunes of White Sands National Monument are ideal for hiking or chilling on the sand as the sun sets over the mountains to the west. Lost Hiker Brewing, operated by a couple that, like most, was drawn to Ruidoso by its expansive outdoors, welcomes you with a cold pint after you’ve found your way back to town.

Historically, Ruidoso’s biggest draw has been horse racing at Ruidoso Downs, but what keeps people around this town of about 8,000 is the easy mix of innovative, homegrown food from spots like Hunt and Harvest, the petit verdot from Noisy Water Winery, and native crafts from the midtown storefronts. That, and the feeling that this place is on the verge of its 21st-century boom as soon as the crowds from up north move past Taos and Santa Fe.

Whitefish, MT

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11. Whitefish, Montana
Population: 7,608

Thanks to its proximity to Glacier National Park, you might spot a grizzly bear and her cub emerge from the forest at the end of the train tracks when you travel to Whitefish, Montana, on Amtrak. A newcomer might be mystified and startled by such a sight, but this is Montana, and such incidents are commonplace. Bear sighting or not, you’re greeted by clear blue skies punctuated by white-capped mountains as you arrive, and the smokey, cleansing smell of fresh pine is in the air from the moment you pull into Whitefish Depot.

Whitefish is the gateway to Glacier National Park, which is just a little more than 30 minutes away. In Glacier, you’ll find mountains, dense forests, and wildlife ranging from bears and cougars to bighorn sheep. There are ski slopes in the winter and mountain-biking trails that shine in the snowless months. In the summer, Whitefish Lake State Park becomes a temporary home for families camping, swimming, boating, kayaking, and fishing.

Downtown Whitefish is small, but you don’t have to be a mountain climber or a thrill-seeker to find something to love here. Whether you prefer to sit among the snowbanks with a hot toddy or you’d rather wear skies than regular shoes, Whitefish offers visitors an undisturbed natural beauty that’s a quickly disappearing vision in America.

Bentonville, AR

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12. Bentonville, Arkansas
Population: 49,298

Visiting the home of the original Walmart is a far more enriching experience than, say, a pilgrimage to the first Cracker Barrel. Bentonville has literally grown up around Walmart, birthing the world’s largest retailer right in the middle of its town square. The quaint sign above it still simply says “Walton’s,” and, if nothing else, it’s a testament to how business savvy and smarts can make even the smallest business a giant.

The Walton family’s money also brought Bentonville the Crystal Bridges Art Museum, which made itself into a top-tier art destination with exhibits like Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room and a Frank Lloyd Wright house relocated from New Jersey. In addition to its permanent collections, Crystal Bridges has seasonal exhibits that showcase everything from a look at how artists use text in their works to illumination installations that turn the museum grounds into a colorful lit-up wonderland.

Leading out of the museum, there’s a bike trail winding its way through the idyllic Arkansas wilderness before arriving in downtown. Once there, you’ll find rows of brightly colored buildings that look almost Caribbean, with restaurants like Tusk and Trotter and Oven & Tap. Those spots put a distinctly Arkansas twist on Southern food with options like ground wild boar sandwiches with tusk bacon and jowl jam, and Cubanos made with pork jowl, pork loin, and Arkansas barbecue sauce. It’s the odd small town where you’ll legitimately find food you won’t ever see on menus back home, and that alone makes the home of Walmart a lot more than a retail headquarters.

Sitka, AK

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13. Sitka, Alaska
Population: 8,869

“Small” is a relative term in Sitka, which holds the distinction of being the largest city by land mass in America while also having a population smaller than a lot of Manhattan city blocks. Spread over Sitka’s 4,815 square miles, Sitka has countless mountain trails that are more or less ignored by cruise passengers who rarely venture far from the port. The Gavan Hill to Harbor Mountain trail is particularly scenic, as is the view from the top of Mt. Edgecumbe, a volcano 10 miles offshore with a seven-mile hike to the top.

Scattered around Sitka is a bunch of tiny islands with old military bunkers for exploring. You can easily spend a day on a boat hopping from island to island learning about Alaska’s military history. Or hit the Fortress of the Bear, a bear rescue center where you’ll learn these big boys are nothing to be all that scared of so long as you respect them. There’s also the Alaska Raptor Center, which houses many of the state’s native birds of prey if you want to learn what exactly you’re looking at in the sky on all those scenic hikes.

Abita Springs, LA

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14. Abita Springs, Louisiana
Population: 2,540

Back in the heyday of yellow fever in the 1900s, Abita Springs was a country getaway for wealthy New Orleanians looking to escape festering disease. The grand homes and stately hotels they built were a testament to Gilded Age wealth — until everyone lost their money and the place fell into disrepair. Flash forward to the 1970s when hippies and artists took over the old homes. Though they didn’t exactly restore them, they gave them new purposes as artist’s spaces and music venues.

That creative spirit might be part of why Abita Springs is home to Louisiana’s most famous brewery, Abita Beer, and its not-for-the-faint-of-heart Andygator brew. It also has the Abita Springs Opry, a venue dedicated to preserving bluegrass and country music that throws six concerts a year in the town hall. Crafters and collectors flock here in the spring for the annual Abita Springs Whole Town Garage Sale, where many residents clean out their houses and sell oddities you won’t find elsewhere. Except maybe the Abita Mystery House, a roadside attraction full of everything from stuffed gators to glass shards to a full-scale vintage gas station.

Woodinville, WA

Photo: Woodinville Wine Country/Facebook


15. Woodinville, Washington
Population: 11,997

Spending time in Washington wine country is certainly appealing. Rolling hills. River gorges. Apple picking — if you go the right time of year. It’s also a bit of a schlep from Seattle, and if you’re only in town for a few days, sampling the state’s best stuff isn’t always logistically possible. Unless you make a trip to Woodinville, where Washington’s best wineries have set up tasting rooms so you can taste the fruits of local wine country without leaving around six square blocks.

Woodinville has the highest concentration of tasting rooms anywhere in America — hard to believe for a city that was not much more than a lakeside suburb of Seattle 15 years ago. This means you can wine taste as you might in Walla Walla or the Willamette Valley, only have to pay for a ride to and from Seattle or Bellevue. And much like in other wine regions, a fledgling spirit industry has popped up here, too. So if you want to give your mouth a wine break, check out the big guys at Woodinville Whiskey. Also be sure to check out some small-batch stuff at J.P. Trodden, where the entire operation fits in a space the size of a storage locker.

Branson, MO

Photo: Silver Dollar City Attractions/Facebook


16. Branson, Missouri
Population: 11,467

There is something to be said for visiting a place for the sole purpose of pure, unadulterated fun. And few places do fun better than Branson. Nobody’s calling it a cultural hotbed. It’s not touting its farm-to-table restaurants and burgeoning art scene. Branson is a place to go to ride roller coasters, eat good food, play on a lake, and concern yourself with nothing more than putting a smile on your face.

The city has more thrill rides per capita than anywhere in America. There are the mega-coasters like the upside-down wooden thrills on Outlaw Run and the record-setting spins on Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City. Then there’s the Bigfoot slingshot and drop along the city’s main drag. Branson also has multiple mountain coasters (single-car rides that feel a little like a dryer, warmer ice luge), the best of which is Runaway at Branson Mountain.

But Branson does real mountains, too, as this Ozark town is a gateway to hiking and camping in Missouri’s best wilderness. Just a few miles away there’s Table Rock Lake, one of the top recreational lakes in the Midwest for fishing, kayaking, and water skiing. If vacations mean getting out of your normal routine and enjoying yourself without reservations, Branson is one of the best places in America. You just have to ignore what anyone else has told you.

Ogden, UT

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17. Ogden, Utah
Population: 87,031

Many forget that Ogden was once one of the wildest places in the Wild West. The transfer point for cross-country trains brought with it an army of robbers and opportunists, as well as the saloons and brothels that supported them. It’s a far cleaner place now, but the historic downtown still looks like a vision of 1880 set against the backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains. Present-day Ogden is fueled by a different kind of adventure, primarily the alpine variety at nearby Snowbasin and Powder Mountain ski resorts.

The town itself, though, is a grittier, artsier alternative to the Aspens of the world. The bars in the Old West downtown are the kinds of places locals still go, and at the underground Funk ‘n Dive, you’ll still find people dancing on top of the tables after too many $5 drinks. Or you can visit an entire bar devoted to the Beatles at The City Club. You’ll taste the best game-based meal you’ll ever have at Hearth on 25th. Art lovers can discover artists who have been priced out of trendier mountain towns now working at the new-ish Nine Rails Creative District.

Surfside, FL

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18. Surfside, Florida
Population: 5,841

It’s hard to imagine a place with rooftop bars looking out at the Miami skyline as “small.” But ask anyone who lives in this village just north of Miami Beach why they love it, and most will say some version of, “It feels like a small town.” Sure, there’s a new Thomas Keller restaurant at the revamped Surf Club — now a towering glass Four Seasons. And the Grand Beach Hotel has a swanky rooftop pool bar with views of the ocean and the skyline. But Surfside still maintains a mid-century beach town charm.

Perhaps it’s the large Hasidic Jewish population that keeps it real and brings Surfside restaurants like the Glatt Kosher Harbour Grill. Or perhaps it’s the prideful locals who have opened spots like Serendipity ice cream, which packs vegetables into its sweet creations and encourages people to take them onto the beach.

Speaking of the beach, Surfside’s beach has a smooth walking and jogging path where you can enjoy Miami’s turquoise waters without the South Beach crowds. Though if you do want something scene-y, the Le Sirenuse Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons has live music at night that draws beautiful people as well as any club in Miami.

Salisbury, CT

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19. Salisbury, Connecticut
Population: 3,623

The tiny town of Salisbury sits at the northwest end of Connecticut near the borders with New York and Massachusetts. It’s surrounded by forested hillsides and picturesque bodies of water like Wononskopomuc Lake, also called Lakeville Lake. Its village center in Lakeville has a handful of galleries, but life is pretty low-key in these parts.

That said, if it’s summer, you’re just 15 minutes away from jazz and classical performances in Falls Village, and the same distance from summer theater shows in Sharon. Boating and swimming are also big in the summer, and the hiking and mountain biking options are excellent. A major draw of Salisbury is its proximity to most of the tallest peaks in Connecticut, including Bear Mountain. There’s a healthy winter sports scene in Salisbury too, with cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

The White Hart Inn is the place to stay overnight or grab a drink at a bar that’s also a local hangout. Salisbury is popular with New Yorkers who want a second home away from the bustle of the big city as it’s not too far from the Metro-North train. Those newcomers have helped spur the arrival of a few more interesting shops and restaurants, but the vibe in Salisbury is still outdoorsy and unpretentious.

Opelika, AL

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20. Opelika, Alabama
Population: 30,240

Opelika is often overlooked. So much so that it’s usually lumped in with neighboring college town Auburn as “Auburn-Opelika.” But thanks to a push to grow Opelika’s small businesses over the past decade, this 30,000-person Southern town is a destination in and of itself.

The big draw is Opelika Main Street, which wraps around the railroad tracks that shuttled people, and then goods, through the region. Once empty brick buildings are now filled with restaurants, bars, event centers, and artist studios you can browse. There are two breweries, Red Clay Brewing Company and Resting Pulse Brewery, as well as a distillery, John Emerald Distillery, that makes whiskey, rum, vodka, and more. Zazu, a gastropub, cooks up seafood and local specialties, while Ma Fia’s is a draw for upscale pasta, pizza, and other Italian food. East Alabama Arts anchors one side of Main Street with the South Side Center for the Arts, and draws international musicians and performances to the nearby Opelika Center for the Performing Arts.

It’d be painfully oblivious to ignore nearby Auburn University on college football gamedays. But if you’re not going for the game, stay in Opelika rather than venture over. There’s plenty to do with a summer farmers market filled with local vendors, and outdoorsy types can find refuge with draws like the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail, which has the Wood Duck Heritage Preserve, Lake Harding, and a public fishing lake.

Manasquan, NJ

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21. Manasquan, New Jersey
Population: 5,903

Point Pleasant has the shiny boardwalk, Belmar has the most amenities for tourists, Seaside Heights has the Jersey Shore infamy. Manasquan just has the beach, the swell, and the trusty Surf Taco. While real Jersey Shore locals know not to go anywhere near the shore during the summer, Squan (as it’s called) is somehow the exception to that rule. Here, you can always find an empty stretch of sand to sunbathe or toss a frisbee, and surfers don’t have to compete for waves in the morning. You just have to be willing to schlep your fold-up chair and snack bag a few miles if you’re coming from the train station. And if you visit Manasquan in the off-season, you won’t have to go far to find serenity.

Elsewhere in town, a tight-knit community gets around on beach cruiser bikes, including kids who are given the trust and freedom of yesteryear to hop between friends’ houses and downtown for an ice cream cone at Main Scoop. While Surf Taco is definitely the move if you’re only in town for a day, you can also get a healthy casual meal at Main Street Kitchen, or Jersey Italian-American fare at its best at Antonio’s Trattoria. In the summer, pack into Leggett’s Sand Bar any night of the week for cheap pitchers of domestic beer and a plate of buffalo wings, then nurse your hangover in the morning with a pork roll, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel at Corner Bagelry. Eat it on the sand overlooking the ocean, and you’ll understand what it really means to be from the Jersey Shore.

Natchez, MS

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22. Natchez, Mississippi
Population: 14,886

In order to fully appreciate a place like Natchez, you have to be in the right frame of mind. Yes, the stately old mansions are beautiful and a run along the bluffs that stand above the bright blue Mississippi River can yield some envy-inducing pictures. But the real draw of Natchez is how it immerses you in the culture of the deep South, whether that’s scarfing Frito pie and “Knock-You-Naked” Margaritas at Fat Mama’s Tamales, skeet shooting over a canal — frozen Daiquiri in hand — with Redneck Adventures, or hitting a Southern rock festival in the city’s riverfront park. In the Under-the-Hill neighborhood at the base of the bluffs, you’re transported to a time of saloons, brothels, and colorful characters with bars that stay open until they darned well feel like closing.

Natchez also carries part of the weight of the country’s horrific history, as it was once the center of the domestic slave trade. Unlike many other towns in the deep South, however, it doesn’t hide from its past. Trips through the historic downtown and Museum of African American History are a necessary education in just how brutal that chapter was. A couple of miles from downtown, you can visit the site of the old slave market at the Forks in the Road, a somber memorial to the families torn apart there.

Hanalei, HI

Photo: James Kirkikis/Shutterstock


23. Hanalei, Hawaii
Population: 450

This bohemian nook on the wet, northern side of Kauai has a few guesthouses and plenty of big, airy houses to rent, but it doesn’t have hotels. That means that most out-of-towners who come to peruse the beachy surf shops of Hanalei town return to the other side of the island after their lunch of fish tacos or poke bowls. The sunlit mornings and late afternoons are left for the locals and longer-term visitors, who can start the day with quiet walks along palm- and pine-tree-lined Hanalei Bay. Depending on the time of year, the bay may be dotted with a handful of surfers who’ve entered well before the sun peeked over the lush mountains behind Hanalei.

Hanalei holds onto its crunchy local vibe and sense of community. You could sense this after the April 2018 rains closed the road into and beyond town, and when locals really came together to help each other out. You can experience that supportive vibe speaking with the regulars at the Kalypso Bar, or just chatting with the folks at the Hanalei Harvest Market, where you have to try its almond butter smoothie. Beyond the tug of Hanalei Bay, you can kayak on the Hanalei River or hike in the Na Pali cliffs beyond town. Then you can pick up some fresh mahi-mahi from The Dolphin Restaurant fish market and grill at your rented house, possibly with veggies from Hanalei’s weekly farmers market.

Laramie, WY

Photo: Rolf_52/Shutterstock


24. Laramie, Wyoming
Population: 32,306

Along the windy Interstate 80 corridor in eastern Wyoming isn’t where you’d expect to find a conglomeration of cultures ready to stretch your view of the Old West. But like a cowboy, here’s Laramie to knock you off your horse. On first glance, it’s quintessentially Wyoming: forever casual and never rushed. But Laramie gets much deeper. There’s a bumping music scene that has produced the likes of country star Chancey Williams all the way to punk rockers Teenage Bottlerocket. Catch shows at the Gryphon Theatre and the Cowboy Saloon & Dance Hall.

Dig into a great steak at Altitude Chop House & Brewery, or a burrito at Corona Village before heading out into the Snowy Range. If it’s time for a drink, head to Bud’s Bar on University Avenue, which (allegedly) inspired the legendary Moe’s from The Simpsons. Then walk over the tracks to Crowbar & Grill and eventually make your way to The Library for a pint. In the morning, you’ll see many people from the night before at Coal Creek Coffee.

Laramie gets its college town energy from the University of Wyoming. The university, and the city itself, have not forgotten the tragic murder in 1998 of one of its students, Matthew Shephard, which prompted hate legislation around the country (in 2015, Laramie became the first city in Wyoming to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance for LGBTQ people). Today, the university offers multiple resources and support, as well as scholarships in Matthew Shephard’s name, and it continues to help Laramie evolve into one of the most LGBTQ-friendly towns in the entire region.

Bolinas, CA

Photo: Pascale Gueret/Shutterstock


25. Bolinas, California
Population: 1,620

For years, road signs for Bolinas had a funny habit of disappearing from Highway 1, the Pacific-hugging state route that put California’s coast on the map. This was no accident: The resident artists, surfers, and hippie holdovers from the days when Jerry Garcia called neighboring Stinson Beach home have always been protective of their sleepy, bohemian hamlet. They did their best to ward off Bay Area weekenders and road-trippers, though many have still found their way to Bolinas. Beyond a spike in vacation rentals, this has had remarkably little effect on the town’s tourist amenities, just the way locals and return visitors like it.

On hot summer days, everyone heads to the main beach off Brighton Avenue, which you may hear referred to as either Bolinas or Brighton Beach. Surfers stalk the waters year-round, especially those intimidated by San Francisco’s notoriously gnarly breaks. There’s only one spot in town to have a proper sit-down lunch, the Coast Cafe, and much of the town’s activity revolves around the Bolinas People’s Store, a food co-op that stockpiles organic produce, non-GMO ingredients, and all manner of eco- and health-conscious goodies.

There isn’t much to do indoors in Bolinas, save slurp down locally harvested oysters and locally brewed craft beer before doing some light shopping or perusing the Bolinas Museum (unless you come for Fourth of July, as it has the most lively parade in the Bay Area). When you’re here, you’re usually outside, be it mining Agate Beach for curious shells, birdwatching at Palomarin Field Station, or venturing further into Point Reyes National Seashore. Though hard to find, by design or otherwise, Bolinas is worth searching for if you’re craving salty sea air and a Northern Californian community with absolutely no attitude.

The post The 25 coolest towns in America: 2019 appeared first on Matador Network.

Dog-sitter travel job in London

Dog-sitting is something that many would do for free, but if someone’s throwing in a six-story townhouse in a posh area of London, and a salary of over $41,000 a year to look after two pooches, it’s an offer that can’t be refused.

A staffing company is actively looking for someone to live in a six-story townhouse, located in London’s upscale Knightsbridge neighborhood, and watch over their two dogs. This includes taking the dogs for short walks in the morning and evening but also involves food shopping, housekeeping, greeting visitors, taking calls, managing dog appointments, working with the regular dog walker and cleaner, and other property management duties.

The owners are looking for the perfect candidate to take care of Milo and Oscar. This means anyone with experience looking after pets, is healthy and active, and, of course, has a passion for doggies.

The role pays between $38,700 and $41,300 per year and includes room and board. Hours are Monday through Friday with occasional weekends. Apply via the official job posting site.


More like this: The 7 best places in the world for dog lovers

The post Earn over $41,000 by living in a six-story London townhouse and taking care of two dogs appeared first on Matador Network.

Sukiyabashi Jiro and Michelin Guide

If earning a spot in the Michelin Guide is one of the greatest honors for a restauranteur, being removed from it is the greatest fall from grace. That’s exactly what happened to the Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi restaurant in Tokyo, made famous by the 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. And no, it’s not because the quality of the food or service declined; it’s because it’s simply too hoity-toity for the general public.

Indeed, the restaurant can only seat 10 guests at a time and famously caters to high-profile celebrities and politicians. Most notably, President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014.

In a statement, a Michelin representative said, “We recognize [that] Sukiyabashi Jiro does not accept reservations from the general public, which makes it out of our scope. Michelin’s policy is to introduce restaurants where everybody can go to eat.”

The restaurant’s website even warns visitors that obtaining a reservation will probably prove difficult. “We are currently experiencing difficulties in accepting reservations,” it says, “and apologize for any inconvenience to our valued customers. However, as our restaurant can only seat up to 10 guests at a time, this situation is likely continued. Please note that we will not be able to accept telephone reservations until further notice.”

Sukiyabashi Jiro has earned three stars in the Tokyo Michelin guide every year since 2007.


More like this: Common sushi mistakes Americans make, according to David Chang

The post Obama’s favorite sushi restaurant removed from Michelin Guide appeared first on Matador Network.

Air New Zealand best airline in 2020

The best airlines list for 2020, released by , has Air New Zealand beating out Singapore Airlines — last year’s winner — for the top spot. Rankings are based on safety, fleet age, and product offerings, among other criteria, and were were determined by passengers reviews and government audits.

According to Geoffrey Thomas, Airline Ratings’ editor-in-chief, “In our analysis, Air New Zealand came out number one in most of our audit criteria, which is an outstanding performance when it’s up against carriers with more resources and scale on this same list of best airlines for 2020. Air New Zealand’s commitment to excellence in all facets of its business starts at the top with outstanding governance and one of the best executive teams in aviation through to a workforce that is delivering consistently to the airline’s strategy and customer promise.”

Although it may be viewed as a consolation prize, Singapore Airlines won the First Class award — each suite is equipped with a twin-sized bed and a swivel armchair. Qatar Airways was awarded the Best Catering and Best Business Class titles. Qantas won the top prize for offering the best lounge experience. Virgin Australia won Best Economy and Air New Zealand added a little star to its report by also winning Best Premium Economy.

The complete list of the 20 best airlines is as follows:

Air New Zealand
Singapore Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Qantas
Cathay Pacific
Emirates
Virgin Atlantic
EVA Air
Qatar Airways
Virgin Australia
Lufthansa
Finnair
Japan Airlines
KLM
Korean Air
Hawaiian Airlines
British Airways
Alaska Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Etihad Airways



More like this: The 10 best airlines to travel in economy

The post appeared first on Matador Network.

Best Black Friday travel deals

We hope your credit cards have had a nice, relaxing week. Because they’re about to get a serious workout as soon as the turkey is cleaned up, when Black Friday and Cyber Monday drain our collective bank accounts in the spirit of spending to save. And sure, while there are no shortage of 476-inch televisions and stuffed animals that giggle when you touch them, the best value you’re gonna find this weekend is in travel.

From airlines to cruise ships, hotels, tours, and dinners in strangers’ homes, you’ll find some insane deals going down this weekend. There are free bus tickets. And half-off a private island. And week-long European vacations for under $500. We culled through hundreds of deals to save you the time, and found the best travel bargains this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Airlines

Photo: Rebius/Shutterstock

If you’re looking to use Black Friday as an excuse to explore the world, or splurge on business class, Emirates will be offering some insanely cheap fares from midnight Wednesday, November 27 through November 30. Flights from its 12 US gateway cities to Milan will start at $449, Dubai at $729, and Johannesburg at $799, among others. Business class flights start at $2,969 to various cities in India.

The cheapest Paris flights on Cyber Monday will be on low-cost carrier French Bee, who hasn’t opened up any specials on its Tahiti route yet but will be selling tickets from SFO to Paris-Orly for $349.

Scandinavian Airlines, those purveyors of low-cost flights to very cold places, will be offering round-trip flights on its “Go Light” fares — essentially SAS Basic Economy — from the US to Europe starting at $349. The sale runs from until December 3, for flights between January 8 and May 14.

Delta has some pretty solid Black Friday deals this year, highlighted by New York City to Amsterdam for $309, LAX to Sydney for $693, and Atlanta to Costa Rica for $393. Domestic highlights include New York City to Austin for $184 and Miami to New York City for $187.

Cruises

Photo: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line/Facebook

Tempted by a Greek Islands or Mediterranean cruise this summer? Check out Celestyal Cruises, which will be running buy-one-get-one deals on bookings made between November 28 and December 8 for 2020 and 2021 sailings. The all-inclusive cruises start at $979 per person, which means you could be all-in for your European vacation for $500 once you get your flights.

If you heard about those crazy, luxury swingers cruises setting sail this year and had your interest piqued, Black Friday might be your time to jump in. Temptation’s Caribbean Cruise will have interior staterooms with the unlimited beverage package — possibly a necessity if this is your first time — starting at $1,299 per room. That deal runs through Monday, December 2.

Not only will Norwegian Cruise Line be offering 30 percent off its cruise fares from now through November 29, it will also throw in a free open bar, free specialty dining, or free Wi-Fi on select cruises.

The budget travel deal of Black Friday/Cyber Monday in the cruise category has to be Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which will offer two-night Nassau getaways for as little as $69 per person. You’ll also have the option to pre-pay five drinks on your cruise and get five free, a deal that runs from Friday to Monday for sailings through February 13.

Hotels

Photo: Danielle Logan Rienas/BEI San Francisco

Given San Francisco rent, some Bay Area residents might be well-advised to take up an extended day at the BEI Hotel, which will be offering rooms for $80 a night from December 2 through September 30. The deal begins on Monday and runs through December 8, and while blackout dates do apply, there’s no word on if there’s a consecutive night maximum.

The early bird gets the cheap room in Santa Monica, where the Hotel Shangri-La will be giving 80 percent off eight rooms every day leading up to Black Friday. The rooms start going on sale at 11:00 AM EST each day, for stays between December 1 and February 29, 2020.

Any time you can show up to Vegas already up a few hundred dollars, it’s going to be a good trip. So take advantage of the Cosmopolitan’s sale running from now through December 4, where you’ll get a free night for each night you pay for from December 10 to February 29.

Ever dreamed of lounging by the pool at the legendary Hollywood Roosevelt like a modern-day Rock Hudson? Next year may be your chance as Hollywood’s most famous hotel is offering half off Tower Suites and Cabana Rooms for stays between now and June 20. Use the promo code CYBERDEAL on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday to redeem.

Though staying in Grand Canyon National Park won’t help alleviate the crowds, it’ll at least give you a nice place to decompress. Book a stay at the South Rim’s Maswik Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Kachina Lodge, Bright Angel Lodge, or El Tovar between December 2019 to March 2020 and you’ll get 40 percent off your room. Or for a more complete experience, snag 50 percent off round-trip train tickets and a room at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams.

Photo: Muy’Ono

If the Caribbean breeze and turquoise waters of Belize have been on your radar for 2020, Cyber Monday is your time to pull the trigger when the entire Muy’Ono resort collection goes on sale. You’ll even get half off the Royal Belize private island, which you can have for an almost-attainable $5,000 a night from now until November 15, 2020.

Though we’re not quite sure what a “super inclusive” resort means, we’re guessing that once you pay for your reservation you won’t be on the hook for much else. Find out for yourself when the super-inclusive Breezes Resort & Spa in Nassau takes 55-62 percent off its normal rates from Friday to Tuesday, putting them at a solidly affordable $129 to $189, with no blackout dates.

Solidify your New England ski vacation plans on Monday when the Kimpton Taconic in Manchester, Vermont, offers a buy-one-get-one deal on rooms from Monday through April 30. You’ll only be able to book from from 12:02 PM to 2:02 PM on Monday, with one-night rates starting at $201.90.

Perhaps the most obnoxious Cyber Monday special of 2019 comes to us from the Hotel Commonwealth in Boston, which reminds the traveling public of Boston’s 38 professional sports championships with a 38 percent discount on all its rooms.The sale begins at 12:01 AM on Monday and runs for — you guessed it — 38 hours, for stays until, sigh, March 8.

Go ahead and Instagram the living hell out of your fruity cocktail by the swanky waterfront pool at the Mondrian South Beach, as in addition to getting 50 percent off your Black Friday booking, you’ll also get 25 percent off all food, beverage, and spa items. Which means said fruity cocktail will only cost you $16 as opposed to the usual $20.

Photo: Fort Young Hotel/Facebook

You won’t find rougher, more beautiful nature in the Caribbean than you will in Dominica, where long muddy walks through the jungle bring you to massive waterfalls over pristine rivers, with nobody else there to bother you. Base yourself at the Fort Young Hotel and Dive Resort, which will be offering 40 percent off its best rates with a free daily breakfast from now until Tuesday, but please, learn how to pronounce the island correctly before you go.

Not that staying in a castle is ever a budget travel option per se, but this year it might be a little more realistic when Le Torri di Bagnara Castles offers 15 percent off week-long stays at its main castle, and 20 percent off week-long stays at the entire property. And it’ll even throw in a truffle hunting experience. The sale runs from now until December 3, for stays between April and October 31, 2020.

Sleeping in an all-inclusive treehouse just got easier this Black Friday, when Sunset at the Palms in Negril slashes 60 percent from its normal room rates. The sale starts Wednesday and runs through Monday night, for stays between December 15 and October 31, 2020.

Pretty much the entire island of St. Lucia is throwing a Black Friday sale, where you’ll find insane deals like 50 percent off at Viceroy Sugar Beach (with a $50 resort credit); sixty percent off the Marigot Beach Club and Dive Resort; sixty percent off an all-inclusive butler suite at Serenity at Coconut Bay; and half off suites at Ladera Resort, with free a airport transfer.

Perhaps the holidays aren’t quite putting the pep back into your relationship as you’d hoped. A trip to Temptation Cancun might be in order, where the adult-only, all-inclusive resort is offering rooms starting at $120 per night from Friday to Monday, for travel between January 5 and December 23.

Photo: Desire Riviera Maya Pearl

Not to be outdone, Desire Riviera Maya Resort and Desire Riviera Maya Pearl Resort will offer rooms at $210 a night, and a chance to indulge in their Fantasy Menu “brimmed with added experiences specially designed to spice up guests’ stays.”

Go ahead and start planning how you’d spend $1,500 at Palace Resorts, which will not only take half off its rack rates for stays over three nights, but also throw in fifteen $100 bills to use however you see fit, plus free transfers from the airport. You’ll have to book between now and December 4.

One of the cooler room keys you’ll ever get is at the Graduate Hotel, whose key cards are all student IDs of famous people from each city. You can get one for 50 percent off during its week-long sale from Friday to December 8, good for stays through March 31.

Activities

Photo: Aventuras Mayas/Facebook

There’s never a shortage of guys with photo boards hocking things to do in Mexico, but should your travels take you to Riviera Maya you’re probably better off booking with Aventuras Mayas. It’s offering half off cenote trips, zip lining, ATV jungle tours, and other adventures when you use the code CM2019 from November 29 to December 6. And it also won’t try and sell you weed when you book.

Every little bit helps when you’re planning a Disney vacation, so head over to Visit Orlando, which will get you an extra 10 percent off its already-discounted tickets when you use the promo code GIFT through December 8.

Photo: Traveling Spoon/Facebook

What an age we live in when we can travel the world and have no qualms about going to dinner at a stranger’s house. Such is the allure of Traveling Spoon, where you’ll be set up unique culinary lessons and meals in local homes, and you’ll get 20 percent off said experiences if you book between Friday and Monday using the code BLKFRIDAY20.

Other transportation

Photo: Eurail/Facebook

Though the discounted beauty of a European rail adventure has lost a bit of its luster in the era of Ryanair and EasyJet, you can still train your way through the continent this summer when you get 10 to 15 percent off global Eurail passes if you buy before December 2.

Amtrak will unveil its annual Track Friday deal at the stroke of 12:01 AM Friday morning. Or, if we know Amtrak, more like 12:38. But better late than never to receive what has historically been at least a 30 percent discount or more on train travel, if you book between Friday and Monday.

Photo: JUCY/Facebook

This may be your year to try a big RV trip, as JUCY RV Rentals is cutting 50 percent from its rental rates for reservations made between Black Friday and Travel Tuesday. It’ll also throw in kitchen and bedding kits, plus 100 free miles a day.

Though we don’t have any facts to confirm this, what we assume is the biggest bus ticket giveaway in history goes down starting at 9:00 AM on Monday, when Megabus hands out 200,000 free tickets from travel between January 8 and February 9.

Booking sites

Photo: Glamping Hub/Facebook

Give the gift of glamping this holiday season when Glamping Hub adds an additional 20 percent to any Glamping Hub gift card purchased between November 28 and December 4.

Go ahead and head over to Booking.com now, because its Black Friday banner ad will show you a preview of the thousands of booking deals it’ll have starting at 40 percent off. The dates and restrictions will vary, but you can click to confirm any time between Black Friday and Cyber Monday to lock your prices down.

Priceline is doling out 20 million special email codes as part of its largest sale ever, with a flash sale every two hours throughout the weekend and deals extending well into January.

Hotwire is using Black Friday as a chance to get a nice spike in downloads for its mobile app, asking people to go on the app between Wednesday and Friday to get up to $70 off their booking. You’ll get $10 off $100 bookings with promo code HWBF10, $40 off $300 bookings using HWBF40, and $70 off $500 bookings with HWBF70.

Travel and tours

Photo: Nido Huebl/Shutterstock

The deal of the week goes to Azores Getaways, with round-trip flights from Boston to Terceira island, plus seven nights in a hotel with daily breakfast for $499. Even adding in your own flight to Beantown, this might be the cheapest European island vacation you’ll ever find.

If you’re home killing time on Thanksgiving break, head over to STA Travel, the student travel company that’ll be celebrating its 40th anniversary by giving 40 percent off G Adventures and Contiki tours from Friday to Monday. AND it’s offering $100 off flights to Australia and New Zealand with Fiji Airways.

Photo: Barceló Hotels & Resorts/Facebook

Keeping true to its name, CheapCaribbean is taking 70 percent off all-inclusive bookings made from now until December 2. Sample rates include four nights at the Occidental Tucancún in Cancun for $499, three nights at Tamarijn Aruba for $849, and $629 at Warwick Paradise Island in the Bahamas. All those prices include airfare too.


More like this: The best places to travel this January

The post The best Black Friday and Cyber Monday travel deals of 2019 appeared first on Matador Network.

Little Island floating park in NYC

New York City’s waterfront is about to get a pretty exciting makeover. A new public park is scheduled to open on the Hudson River in early 2021, along Manhattan’s West Side. At 2.4 acres, it won’t exactly be rivaling Central Park, but it will give New Yorkers some green space and much-needed respite from the concrete jungle. Designed by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects and Heatherwick Studio, the park — called Little Island — will replace the remnants of Hudson River Park’s Pier 54, where Titanic survivors arrived after finally returning to shore.

Little Island will stand on 132 tulip-shaped pillars rising from the river, with the concrete foundations ranging from 15 to 62 feet high, designed to resemble a leaf floating on the water. The park will feature walking paths, rolling hills, open lawns with views of the Manhattan skyline, and a 700-seat amphitheater that will host live performances and educational workshops.

Photo: Little Island

The park will be located just off West 13th Street in the Meatpacking District, with the amphitheater and other facilities remaining open year-round.

The $250 million park is being funded by media mogul Barry Diller, who said in a statement, “It’s a joyous feeling to see Little Island rise up in the Hudson River, and now I can’t wait for New Yorkers and its visitors to cross the bridge, leave the boisterous city behind, and play, lay back, and be stimulated every which way by the Island.”


More like this: 5 NYC parks you should visit that aren’t Central Park

The post A floating 2.4-acre park is coming to New York City appeared first on Matador Network.

Thoughtful walking tour of Athens

Athens is among the world’s most historic major cities, a destination for lovers of history, architecture, and Greek mythology. More than five million tourists visited the capital of Greece in 2018. But there’s more to Athens than meets the eye — many Athenians have never fully recovered from the 2008 financial crisis and austerity measures.

I visited Athens in 2019, 11 years after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) that saw the collapse of many parts of Greece’s economy. In 2008 the GFC, coupled with the worst refugee crisis in its history, put an immense social and economic strain on Greece and sent the country into an economic breakdown. It was the everyday people who suffered the most. In the years that followed, Greece’s unemployment rate increased to 27 percent. It’s lowered slightly but is still a major concern; in 2018, one in five Greeks were unemployed.

Shedia, founded in 2013, is a social enterprise whose main aim is to highlight the most important homelessness and poverty-related issues, and provide employment and support to the most vulnerable members of society. They put together a “street paper,” a periodical print magazine that Shedia’s partners sell to earn money, and in 2014, Shedia commenced the “Invisible People Walking Tours” to further its mission. These tours provide employment opportunities to those affected by homelessness or poverty, with the aim to educate visitors on the hardships faced by marginalized members of the community­­­, so they might give back.

Walking through Athens beyond its ancient history

Photo: trabantos/Shutterstock

I had the privilege of joining Shedia’s “Invisible People Walking Tour” while visiting Athens. Our guide, a stout gentleman in his late 50s who went only by Michael, greeted me with a smile in Athens’ Omonia district. After a short introduction about Shedia, we commenced the two-hour tour. We walked the backstreets of the Omonia district, made colorful by graffiti art masking the walls of the run-down buildings. Our first stop was a local soup kitchen, where Michael stopped to explain more about the homeless population of Athens and opened up about his own personal experience with homelessness.

“Shedia saved my life,” Michael says, explaining how the financial and employment support have helped him get back on his feet. The tour costs eight euros (just under $9) for adults and five euros ($5.50) for students. Fifty percent of this fee goes to the tour guide, and the other 50 percent goes toward running Sheida’s other social programs, including community housing and employment programs. Participants can also leave an additional tip for their guide if they wish. The walks happen each Saturday at 10:30 AM, and while they are generally led in Greek, tours can be arranged in English, French, Spanish, German, or Italian with advance notice.

Making a difference and raising awareness

Photo: Shedia/Facebook

Shedia supports over 150 marginalized people in the community. Two of those members are running the Shedia tours, with one more in training, while the others sell copies of the Shedia street magazine to make a small profit. According to Shedia journalist Spyros Zonakis, there are 45 vendors who have used the money earned from the sales of magazines to rent an apartment in the city. “We want to empower people to help themselves,” he says. “They may have lost their trust in the system, but the opportunities we provide help them to believe in their capabilities once again.”

As we walked through the neighborhood, Michael and I spoke about the role soup kitchens and organizations like Shedia play to help people like himself and the many other people who have experienced homelessness as a result of the financial crisis.

Michael had taken sole responsibility for his family business right around the time the financial crisis was at its peak. Leaving for work one morning, he found his work truck missing, and after liaising with the police, he was told it had been stolen. This truck was imperative to keep his business open, and after the police came back with no findings, Michael had no choice but to close the business down. With bills piling up and no income to pay the rent, Michael’s landlord eventually kicked him out. He packed his suitcase, left some items with a friend, and headed to the street homeless.

Michael was homeless for six years. His honesty and openness struck me as a testament to the work that Shedia does to help people in need.

Leaving a lasting impact

Photo: Stanislavskyi/Shutterstock

On the tour, we visited some important safe havens for at-risk members of the community, including a local shelter. Michael continued to reveal the hidden face of Athens, but the tour wasn’t all somber. He shared some insider tips like where to get the best souvlaki and moussaka. We strolled through local markets, including the Athens Central Market, a rousing marketplace full of Greek specialties such as olives, feta, spices, and fresh produce. And we made our way past the National Theatre of Greece and the Paxinou-Minotis Museum, which honors the tragedian Katina Paxinou.

But beyond being a walk-through of the city, the lasting memories of the tour are of the people. Looking beneath Athens’ beautiful facade revealed the city’s deep humanity, and it’s well worth stepping beyond the Acropolis and Parthenon if but for two hours of your trip. “The most important vision of these tours is to make the invisible part of our city visible,” Michael says. “A lot of Athenians have never even walked through these streets. My goal is to provide information about the services provided by the most important social structures in the city of Athens”.

Find more information or book the tour for your upcoming visit to Athens via Shedia’s website.


More like this: How former gang members are rebuilding Bogota’s most violent neighborhood

The post Support Athens’ marginalized communities on this remarkable walking tour appeared first on Matador Network.

Spas at North American ski resorts

The time has come to get stoked on winter! Ski season is just around the corner, meaning that all over North America, powder hounds are dusting off their skis and snowboards in anticipation of blankets of snow coating their favorite mountain slopes, wintry getaways at lavish resorts, and the requisite après scene.

But while shredding the slopes is a fantastic way to beat the winter chill, it takes a lot out of you. The intensified sun coming off the snow gives a wicked sunburn, and all that shoop, shoop, shooping down the slopes can be hard on your legs, knees, and feet. Which is why, after a long day heading up and down the mountain, hitting the spa for restorative treatments like massages for sore muscles or skincare for sunburns is an absolute must. And at many ski resorts, deluxe spas create specialty treatments tailored specifically for the ski crowd. Combining fun and leisure, these are the best ski and spa resort combos in North America.

1. The Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe, California

Photo: The Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe

The mountains surrounding northern California’s Lake Tahoe are home to dozens of top-notch ski resorts with thousands of acres of skiable terrain, multi-level groomed and off-piste runs, and ample après fun. Even among such an esteemed crowd, Northstar reigns as one of the best, with 100 trails, over 3,000 acres that gets an average of over 300 inches of snow, and one of the region’s finest ski hotels, the Ritz-Carlton at Lake Tahoe.

Guests here are treated like ski royalty, with ski-in ski-out privileges, mountain concierge services, and wonderful après moments like a fire pit Champagne bar. The resort is located mid-mountain, meaning it’s just a quick hop from the slopes to the resort’s deluxe spa, a 17,000 square-foot refuge of warm wood, roaring fires, and peaceful treatment rooms with forest views where guest can bask in ski-oriented treatments like tailored foot massages and an “Après Recovery” full-body massage. Other amenities include a heated outdoor pool, steam room, and fitness center.

Where: 13031 Ritz Carlton Highlands Ct, Truckee, CA

2. The Arrabelle at Vail Square, Vail, Colorado

Photo: The Arrabelle at Vail Square/Facebook

Combining classic European elegance with slope-side access and modern infrastructure, the Arrabelle at Vail Square is the best of both ski worlds. Built to resemble a compact alpine ski town, the hotel’s upscale rooms and suites are just steps away from a whole village of high-end restaurants, shopping, and even an outdoor skating rink, as well as being right next door to the slopes, with a covered escalator to ferry guests directly to the mountains’ base. The resort also boasts of a world-class spa, with opulent rooms where guests can luxuriate in treatments like the Alpine Retreat, where scrubs, wraps, and massages are utilized to help the body adjust to the high altitude, and the Athlete Massage for the skiers who really come out to play.

Where: 675 Lionshead Pl, Vail, CO

3. The St. Regis Aspen Resort, Aspen, Colorado

Photo: The St. Regis Aspen Resort

Housed in an elegant red-brick building directly at the base of Aspen Mountain, the St. Regis Aspen Resort is one of the classiest stays for those flocking to Aspen Snowmass, a four-mountain resort rated among the world’s best for its more than 5,000 acres of multi-level terrain and 362 trails. Looking to pamper its guests with the best things money can buy, the resort has spared no expense. This includes its award-winning spa and wellness center, which has received recognition for its innovative treatments and experiences, and which is located in a stylish, contemporary facility of wood, stone, and soft lighting. Guests truly get to experience the spa, with an extensive menu of massages, facials, wraps, and scrubs. The spa also has a lovely oxygen lounge to help guests adjust to the altitude.

Where: 315 E Dean St, Aspen, CO

4. Four Seasons Resort Whistler, Canada

Photo: robcocquyt/Shutterstock

Everyone knows legendary Whistler Blackcomb. With over 8,000 skiable acres, more than 200 trails, and an average annual snowfall of 465 inches, the two mountains collectively encompass North America’s largest ski resort and offer some of the best powder in Canada. And just as the resort takes skiing to the next level, the Four Seasons Resort Whistler takes ski-hospitality to the next level, with elegant rooms, fine dining, top-notch amenities like a heated outdoor pool and wooden sauna, and a truly out-of-this-world spa. For an authentic Canadian experience, try the Signature Treatment, which includes a maple-syrup-and-brown-sugar body scrub. Skiers will also love the Après-Ski Massage, which targets problem areas like legs and feet for full recovery — so there are no sore muscles for another full day on the slopes tomorrow.

Where: 4591 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC

5. Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah

Photo: Sundance Mountain Resort/Facebook

The ski season can be a hectic time, what with the busy slopes, long lift lines, and endless back and forth. The Sundance Mountain Resort, which offers access to the 5,000-acre Sundance Mountain Ski Resort near Provo, Utah, seeks to be a place of tranquility and mindfulness with its rustic, Western-style cabins and lodgings decorated with Native American handicrafts hidden away inside aspen forests that give guests a respite from the craziness of the slopes.

Peaceful and secluded, the resort prides itself on its curated wellness offerings, which counteract the extreme physicality of skiing, including yoga, meditation, and, of course, upscale spa treatments. There are multiple treatments to choose from — like the Four Winds massage to connect you with nature, body treatments, and facials — and many of those treatments use native ingredients and ancient practices that are meant to ground and recenter you.

Where: 8841 N. Alpine Loop Road, Sundance, UT

6. Amangani, Jackson Hole

Photo: Kevin Cass/Shutterstock

Few places in the western United States inspire more awe among mountain-lovers than Jackson Hole. Nestled at the base of the Grand Tetons, the area is renowned for its wildlife viewing, epic mountain scenery, outdoorsy fun, and, in winter, superb skiing at resorts like the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. While skiers have their pick of high-end stays in the area, Amangani rises above the rest in terms of grandeur and high-end amenities.

Just a 20-minute drive to slopes, Amangani is housed in a stately lodge of stone and wood with commanding landscape views. The spa and wellness center is the ultimate cure-all after long days out in the cold, using all-natural materials and ingredients sourced from the surrounding woods and rivers to help rejuvenate the body. Several treatments are perfect for snow-lovers, like the Alpine Glow skin-care routine, an après-Adventure Facial, and deep tissue and performance massages. And a stay here isn’t complete without multiple soaks in the rooftop heated infinity pool with its gorgeous views.

Where: 1535 NE Butte Rd, Jackson, WY

7. The Lodge at Spruce Peak, Stowe, Vermont

Photo: Spruce Life/Facebook

Known as the ski capital of the East Coast, Stowe’s powdery runs cover 485 acres of terrain, with 116 trails and a 2,360-foot vertical drop. At the foot of the slopes — with Stowe’s only ski-in, ski-out access — is the Lodge at Spruce Peak. A true luxury outfit full of rustic charm, the Lodge is its own little ski universe, with multiple dining options, ski-centric services and amenities, and chic spots for après tidbits and drinks.

The spa and wellness center, which includes private treatment rooms, relaxation pools, and a fitness room, prides itself on its rotating list of options to suit seasonal activities, whether hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter. During ski season, massages, facials, and other relaxing treatments like wraps and soaks are sure to restore the body and re-energize in time for more slope-side fun the next day. For families, there’s even a spa for kids, with age-appropriate treatments.

Where: 7412 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT

8. The Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise, Canada

Photo: Post Hotel & Spa

With its 4,200 acres of skiable terrain for all levels and captivating views of the Canadian Rockies in all their snowy splendor, Lake Louise Ski Resort is a must-ski for powderhounds from all over the world. With plenty of groomed runs, the resort is also famous for its backcountry and extreme high-alpine off-pistes. For near-instant access to these legendary slopes, the best place to stay is the Relais & Chateaux-certified Post Hotel & Spa.

Styled after traditional log cabins of tawny wood with gleaming red roofs for a cozy, backwoods feel, the Post is just five minutes down the road from the ski area. It offers a complimentary shuttle to the slopes and can arrange activities like heli-skiing or cross-country. Looking to help its powder-loving guests optimize their time outdoors, the Post’s Temple Mountain Spa offers a wide variety of health, relaxation, and beauty treatments to heal and restore the body and soul, including massages, facials, scrubs, and wraps. The spa also uses locally sourced ingredients for their treatments, like glacial clay mud for the ultimate exfoliation.

Where: 200 Pipestone Rd, Lake Louise, AB


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