Matador Network's Blog, page 969

The best national parks for fitness

Exercising is great, but exercising outdoors? Now that’s phenomenal. Not only do you reap the many benefits of exercise, but you also get to enjoy the exhilaration that comes with some sunshine and fresh air. Talk about a mood booster.

America’s 61 national parks may not have the dumbbells and machines you’re used to, but they still offer ample opportunity for everyday fitness. So mix up your usual workout routine and enjoy a change of scenery by exercising outdoors.

To help you get started, we rounded up the best national parks for different types of exercise: Check out how you can run, bike, climb, hike, walk, and much more at US national parks.

1. Best national parks for rock climbing

Photo: Greg Epperson/Shutterstock

Zion National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Yosemite National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park

Yosemite’s biggest claim to fame is its concentration of granite rock faces, but you can get some incredibly rich and unique rock climbing opportunities at Zion, Joshua Tree, and Lassen Volcanic national parks. From smooth granite monoliths to rugged crags to overhanging cliffs, you can find your rock climbing terrain of choice at one of these parks.

2. Best national parks for running

Photo: Maciej Bledowski/Shutterstock

Grand Teton National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Shenandoah National Park
Yellowstone National Park

For trail runners, few things are more refreshing than lacing up your trail shoes and hitting the terrain in a national park. The beauty and fresh air are simply unparalleled. Whether you’re an experienced trail runner or about to embark on your first rocky run, these four national parks offer hundreds of miles of trails suitable for runners of all fitness levels.

3. Best national parks for skiing and snowboarding

Photo: Matthew Connolly/Shutterstock

Crater Lake National Park
Olympic National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park

Much of the appeal of these three national parks lies in their ability to host winter sports. Every year, millions of snowbirds fly down the mountains of Crater Lake, Olympic, and Rocky Mountain national parks, zipping past trees, boulders, and critters at lightning speed.

4. Best national parks for sandboarding

Photo: Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock

Great Sand Dunes National Park
White Sands National Monument
Death Valley National Park

Yep, you read that right. If you haven’t heard of sandboarding, you’re in for a fun surprise. It’s like snowboarding, but on sand. And it’s usually hot, so don’t forget to wear sunscreen. One big difference between this sport and its snowy counterpart? These parks don’t offer lifts to the tops of the sand dunes, so you’ll have to hike your way up there — a double workout!

5. Best national parks for ice climbing

Photo: Stas Tolstnev/Shutterstock

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Kenai Fjords National Park
Glacier National Park

Rock climbing’s more treacherous counterpart, ice climbing is reserved for the bravest and most adventurous of exercisers. However, depending on weather conditions and the availability of tour guides and educational programs, even complete novices can kick ice and throw axes around some rugged (and very cold) terrain.

6. Best national parks for hiking and backpacking

Photo: Tobin Akehurst/Shutterstock

Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks
Mount Rainier National Park
North Cascades National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Honestly, every national park offers exquisite opportunities for hiking and backpacking, but these four easily take the top spots. Combined, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and the Great Smoky Mountains boast thousands of miles of trails — some suitable for day hikes and some that venture far out into the backcountry wilderness.

7. Best national parks for walking

Photo: Jim David/Shutterstock

Mammoth Cave National Park
Arches National Park
Big Bend National Park
Petrified Forest National Park

If you’re looking for some milder trails that offer a more leisurely walk (which has a very, very long list of health benefits, by the way), check out what these national parks have to offer. And don’t think that walking won’t provide the same expansive views that harder hikes do. These parks offer hundreds of miles of breathtaking scenery without strenuous topography.

8. Best national parks for biking

Photo: Kyle T Perry/Shutterstock

Saguaro National Park
Acadia National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Redwood National and State Parks

Whether you prefer road cycling or mountain biking, you can find both at these national parks. While Saguaro features mostly flat ground, the terrain is rough. And the rest of them…well, stay on the pavement if you’re not interested in intense ascents and descents.

9. Best national parks for water sports

Photo: Maridav/Shutterstock

Everglades National Park
Isle Royale National Park
Channel Islands National Park
Voyageurs National Park

These water-based national parks might just give you the hardest (and most scenic) workout you’ve ever experienced. Chock-full of opportunities to swim, kayak, canoe, paddle, and even scuba dive, a trip to one of these four parks will torch calories and leave you with an appreciation for the US coastlines.


More like this: US national parks

The post The best types of exercise to enjoy at US national parks appeared first on Matador Network.

Mountain biking UK's Peak District

The mixed landscape of Peak District National Park is one of the UK’s most popular playgrounds for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities. The miles of single-track paths that traverse this rolling green space in the middle of the English countryside cover everything from precipitous drops to endurance rides overexposed moorlands.

In the north, there’s the Dark Peak, with its rugged gritstone edges, which are popular with walkers and climbers. Further south, around Dovedale, the White Peak is made up of gentler grasslands, limestone valleys, and rivers. Across the entire 555 square miles of the park, though, you’ll find a variety of trails to suit all biking skill levels and temperaments. Whether you want a gentle ride through the countryside or hair-raising technical descents, here are three great rides in the peak district.

Gearing up and winding down

You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to stop afterward for some post-ride relaxation, and we list our favorite stop at the end of each ride. Peak towns like Bakewell, Baslow, and Buxton all offer more in the way of entertainment and accommodation, but places such as Castleton in the north or Ashbourne in the south are closer to the trails.

If you want to rent bikes and gear, or get repairs, one of the best options is Bike Garage Peak District, which has a permanent workshop in Hope Valley near Castleton. If you want to be based elsewhere and you’re able to rent for several days, then MTB&B also offers a delivery service where they can come to your accommodation. If you’ve tried the trails below and are ready for more, both companies also offer guided rides, and their websites have a wealth of information on their own favorite routes.

1. Ladybower Loop

16.4 miles, medium for experienced riders

Photo: ironbell/Shutterstock

In the heart of the Dark Peak, the area around Ladybower Reservoir offers a range of long and shorter trails with a challenging variety of conditions. This clockwise 16.4-mile route covers some of the fastest descents and technical climbs the area has to offer.

One of the beauties of this route is its proximity to Edale and the Hope Valley, which are extremely popular with hikers for the steep, dramatic drops around Mam Tor and the Great Ridge.

From the Ladybower Inn head towards the reservoir and left onto the A6013.
After you pass the Ladybower Dam on your right, turn right on Lydgate Lane and head south on a gentle climb to the village of Thornhill, where you’ll turn right and head for Aston.
At Aston there’s a sharp turn right onto your first off-road section, a stream path with greenery to negotiate. Heading northwest, there’s a long climb through the scenery before you crest for a fast and technical descent down to Woodlands Valley.
Catch your breath and head sharp right on the track, crossing Snake Road (A57) before heading back into the woods for another climb through Lockerbrook Farm. Once past Lockerbrook there’s another fun drop down to the reservoir through the narrow paths in the woods.
When you reach the reservoir, head right along the tarmac path towards Fairholmes Visitor Centre where there’s a sharp pull to the left and then a resumption on the path south with the reservoir on your right.
Beyond Mill Brook, take a sharp turn left for another steep climb up to the peak views from Derwent Edge.
The trail then heads southwest before a sharp jag to the right towards Cutthroat Bridge and one last heady descent through fields of heather.

As you’re starting and finishing at the Ladybower Inn, it would be rude not to stop at this traditional, stone-built pub for stick-to-your-ribs food and a pint of Batemans ale.

2. Jacob’s Ladder: Hayfield to Castleton

10 miles one way, difficult

Photo: ironbell/Shutterstock

Down in the shadows of the Peak District’s highest point, Kinder Scout, sit the lovely villages of Edale and Castleton. They both have a wealth of attractions for hikers, nature enthusiasts, and sightseers, but the area is also well known among mountain bikers for the classic route that takes in the trails around Jacob’s Ladder, a steep and technically difficult set of steps on Kinder Scout.

This short but demanding route begins at Hayfield and is filled with some of the area’s trickiest descents and most lung-busting climbs through rocky terrain. For double difficulty, head back the same way when you’ve reached your goal at Castleton.

Start at St. Matthew’s Church in the center of Hayfield and head left over the bridge on Church Street.
Follow the road to the right, taking the first turn on Bank Street up to another right on Kinder Road. Follow this for around a mile and then just before you reach the Bowden Bridge Quarry car park, take the lane over a bridge on the right. Follow the lane up the first of several climbs. At the top, take the gate on the right and climb up to a tarmac path at the top. Veer left and enjoy a quick descent down.
Take the gate at the bottom and embark on your first taste of what it takes to reach the top of Jacob’s Ladder. It’s a wide path, mainly gravel, so there’s plenty of room for cyclists, but it can be scrabbly under your wheels. Farther up, the track becomes rockier, but the harshness of the ascent tapers off. This, however, is where your skills will be tested to the max, when the trail becomes beset by very technical obstacles that most find challenging.
After the summit at Edale Cross, there’s a short but fun descent before you reach the start of the journey down Jacob’s Ladder, a steep singletrack of cobbles, rocks, and boulders. Turn right through the gate at the bottom and follow another path as it varies through tight bends, big ruts, and some gravelly sections.
Use the bridge at the bottom to cross the stream and then follow the track on another easy descent towards farm buildings, where the track descends into a tarmac section and a lane beyond that. The lane is a medium climb to Upper Booth Farm. When you reach it, turn left down the lane and descend past a car park on the right, heading for a junction at the bottom.
Turn left onto the road towards Edale. Head along this road for about one mile, where there’s a junction with a lane heading off to the right. Take this descending lane right before climbing again through a tree-lined section.
Just after the house at the top of the track, branch left through the gate and follow the trail up a gated path and then into a trickier climb up the hillside towards Hollins Cross.
Heading right, there’s a paved track towards one of the area’s notable peaks, Mam Tor. Work your way from the paved track onto the natural track adjacent to the path, then climb towards the summit before making a gentle descent to Mam Nick. Turn left on the road and head down to Castleton.

Castleton is filled with welcoming pubs and cafés like The George, which has a splendid outdoor beer garden where you can tuck in to a well-earned meal and look back across the landscape you’ve just traversed.

3. Carsington Loop

17 miles, easy

Photo: David Hughes/Shutterstock

It would be a shame to venture into the Peak District only to miss some of the gentler landscapes and ride routes that populate the southern end of the region. On a sunny day, the placid Carsington Water near Ashbourne is a fine place to drink in the high greens of summer as they spread out over the undulating pastures of the English countryside.

More a simple off-road ride than a challenging trail, this loop around the reservoir and surrounding area offers the opportunity to enjoy a few moderate climbs and some easy freewheeling down through handsome villages and leafy lanes.

Beginning from the visitor center, head left on the signposted Carsington Water Circular Track, keeping the water on your left as you follow the blue arrows to the car park.
Continue with the water on your left until you hit the bay and building, which signal a track that’ll take you to the right, up to Riddings Farm and the junction beyond it. Take a right here, and follow the road to another junction with Blackwall Lane. Taking a left up the lane here will lead you on to another left turn to Kirk Ireton.
As you ride through this pretty Derbyshire village, head left at the church and take the road up to the junction with Topshill Lane, where it’s another left and a climb towards a further junction where a left turn will lead you back towards the water and back onto the Carsington Water Circular Track at Upperfield Farm. Follow the track north to the head of the reservoir.
Once you’ve passed the two small islands in the bay, the track heads left into Hopton, where you rejoin the road. At the first turn, head right for a sharp climb to a main road that’ll indicate the start of the High Peak Trail. Take the trail left and climb again past the interesting formations of Harboro Rocks.
At Longcliffe, there’s another trail to the left. Take this quick descent into Brassington. Once there, take the road right towards Bradbourne. When you reach the tiny hamlet of a few typical limestone buildings, take the road left on Brackendale Lane to Carsington.
After the Knockerdown Inn, you can rejoin the cycle path around the water and arrive back at the visitor center you started from.

As you’re in the area, you might try a visit to the Pudding Room, a local bakery and tea room that offers light snacks and a range of sugary treats including Derbyshire’s famous Bakewell Tart, an almond and jam pastry that’s one of the county’s best-known inventions.


More like this: The ultimate King Arthur tour of the UK

The post The 3 most unforgettable mountain bike rides in England’s Peak District appeared first on Matador Network.

Types of pie from around the world

Americans love pie — so much so that each state has its own signature style. Yet pie is not unique to the United States. Pie is beloved around the world, and each country and region has its own twist. Some are meant to be eaten on the go; others are a sit-down affair. A few are sweet; many are savory. The only consistent thing about pie is that no matter where you are in the world, you’ll always be able to find it.

These are nine famous pies you’ll likely encounter in your travels.

1. The Philippines: buko pie

Photo: K Abejuela/Shutterstock

Buko pie is a traditional Filipino pie made with young coconut and sweetened condensed milk. It was first created by Nanette Pahud at her bakery, Orient Bakery, in Laguna province on the island of Luzon in 1965. It quickly became a favorite, and today, you can find buko pie across the islands. The defining characteristic is the young coconut, or buko, which makes a custard-like filling.

2. England: Stargazy pie

Photo: Davis Dorss/Shutterstock

Every year around Christmastime, the small Cornish village of Mousehole celebrates with a pie that has fish heads and tails poking out of the crust. It’s called stargazy pie, and though variations are made across England, Mousehole has a special connection to the fish pie thanks to an origin story that allegedly dates back to the 1500s. According to legend, storms were so bad one December that the fishermen couldn’t do their job, leading to fears that the town would starve. An enterprising man named Tom Bawcock braved the seas and brought back a catch with seven types of fish, thereby saving the town. The catch was baked into a pie with the heads and tails poking out to prove that the pie contained fish. Today, Mousehole celebrates the legend on December 23 with stargazy pie, made from white fish like ling, hake, haddock, and coley that’s mixed with herbs, lemon zest, potato, and egg.

3. Finland: kainuun rönttönen

Kainuun rönttönen are so tied to Kainuun, in Oulu Province, Finland, that the pie is registered as a distinct by the European Union. It’s an open-top pie with a rye crust and a filling of mashed potatoes, rye flour, and lingonberries (a type of Scandinavian cranberry), which gives the filling a deep red-brown color. There are around 100 different types of bread and pastries in the 86,000-person town of Kainuu, but the rönttönen has a special place in the culture. According to legend, women would use the last of the lingonberries and potatoes toward the end of winter to make this rich pie.

4. Australia: meat pie

Photo: Billion Photos/Shutterstock

Meat pies have been popular in Australia since the first Europeans arrived on the continent. The portable, hand-sized pie is a simple, hearty food made with meat (beef is popular but not the only filling), gravy, and a crust that holds it all together, all drenched in a rich tomato sauce. As for the filling, it can be anything your heart desires. EOI Bakery has recipe examples like American hot dog, beef and caramelized onion, chicken banana curry, and chocolate chili beef and chorizo. Some estimates put annual meat pie consumption in Australia between 270 million and 300 million — and get this: Australia is home to just under 25 million people.

5. Canada: Saskatoon berry pie

Photo: Joan Airey/Shutterstock

This pie so beloved in Canada that it has its own dedicated postage stamp. Saskatoon berry pie is made with saskatoon berries, lemon, and almond. Saskatoons (also called serviceberries and juneberries in the United States) look a bit like blueberries and have a sweet and nutty flavor. The plant is indigenous to western Canada, and the name comes from the First Nations Cree language. The berries grow on a plant hardy enough for the cold Canadian winters and have long played an important (and, in the case of pie, sweet) part in Canadian life.

6. Samoa: paifala

Paifala are half-moon-shaped pies that use a coconut milk crust and a pineapple custard filling. The dessert is similar to empanadas, calzones, and hand pies, but it uses the fresh fruit of the Samoan Islands for a local twist.

7. Lebanon, Brazil, and Argentina: sfiha

Photo: Stanislav71/Shutterstock

Sfiha are meat pies that come from the Levant countries in the eastern Mediterranean. Today, Sfiha are particularly linked to Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East. Sfiha is made with ground lamb, beef, or mutton, onion, parsley, pomegranate molasses, tahini, tomatoes, and a soft cheese called labneh. Immigrants brought the dish to South America in the 1900s, and the small, open-face meat pies have since become popular in Brazil and Argentina, where they’re known as Esfiha.

8. Italy: crostata

Photo: AS Food studio/Shutterstock

Crostatas are simple fresh fruit pies made with a flat piece of dough that has seasonal fruit piled in the middle, and then the edges of the crust are folded inward. Each comes out a little different since there’s no dedicated pie tin deciding the shape. Other than fruit, custard, nuts, and ricotta are common fillings.

9. Libya: bureek tajin

Bureek tajin is a meat pie that’s commonly served alongside soup. It’s made with a filo dough bottom and a filling of minced meat, onion, parsley, and spices. Another layer made of more filo dough covers the top of the pie.


More like this: The globe-spanning, coffin-inspired history of pie crust

The post 9 sweet, savory, and downright delicious pies from around the world appeared first on Matador Network.

Tasting flights that aren’t beer

Though the word “flight” might conjure up images of planes, some flights are actually all about eating and drinking your way to bliss (not vacation). This kind of flight is for curious eaters with big appetites, the type of person who can’t just choose one item on the menu but wants to try one bite of everything. Most tasting flights are beer- or wine-focused, but there are more enticing options out there for people with more adventurous tastes.

Tasting flights typically group together three or more samples of a designated dish or beverage. You’ve likely sampled a variety of beer flights, but creative restaurants have dreamed up flights that let guests sample spam, mead, and even gourmet chips. Sometimes these flights are carefully selected to allow the diner to discern similarities and differences between the samples, but most of the time, tasting flights are simply a fun way of trying a few varieties of the snack in question to find out which one you like best.

Here’s a sampling of out-of-the-ordinary tasting flights for you to gnaw on. Whether you’re a fan of grilled cheese or a coffee connoisseur, everyone will find something here to love.

1. Grilled cheese

Photo: La Femme du Fromage

Fridays at La Femme du Fromage feature Grilled Cheese Happy Hour. That means three different grilled cheese sandwiches paired with three different beers. The selection changes weekly, but the three-cheese and prosciutto Le Grande Fromage is the most popular. Look for unusual offerings, too, like the Dirty Elvis: Norwegian Gjetost cheese spread like peanut butter on cinnamon brioche with bacon and banana.

Where: 3201 Corrine Drive, Suite 106, Orlando, Florida

2. Doughnuts

Orlandough’s premium doughnuts are only available by special order and at pop-up events. One of those is the monthly Doughnut & Beer Pairing by Orlando Brewing where you get four of Orlandough’s doughy rings of goodness paired with four handcrafted, organic beers. A popular flight is Game of Thrones-themed: Mother of Dragons, Lord Commander, and Fire and Ice doughnuts paired with beers like Magic Pils and Right On Red.

Where: 1301 Atlanta Avenue, Orlando, Florida

3. Coffee

Photo: Johanna Read TravelEater

Though in the self-professed “middle of nowhere” (actually on Highway 15 minutes outside of Lexington, Virginia, and the now infamous The Red Hen restaurant), Lexington Coffee Roasters brews exquisite coffees. It uses coffee flights to introduce its curated beans and specialty roasts to people who are perhaps more used to typical gas station coffee. The goal of each flight is to help each individual find their personal coffee preferences.

Where: 2345 Lee Highway, Lexington, Virginia

4. Spam

Photo: Shameless Buns Filipino Food Truck/Facebook

Shameless Buns, a Filipino food truck in Vancouver, British Columbia, offers a surprising tasting flight — Spam. You get four types of your choice: original, garlic, jalapeno, Sichuan, bacon, or teriyaki, plus seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice. The chef fries the Spam into the shape of French fries and serves each portion with two dipping sauces of your choice, including housemade banana ketchup and Filipino spicy vinegar.

Where: At festivals and on the streets of Vancouver, British Columbia

5. Mead

Photo: Johanna Read TravelEater

Mead — fermented honey, yeast, and water — is the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage. Nine hundred years ago, it was a popular drink in China. Like wine, it can be sweet or dry, still or sparkling. Bos Meadery, in Madison near the beautiful state capitol building, offers flights of its award-winning craft meads, made with local aromatics and always unpasteurized honey. How about a flight featuring a spicy mead called Magic Carpet Ride?

Where: 849 East Washington Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin

6. Chips and Popcorn

Photo: Johanna Read TravelEater

In the Dirty Dancing-esque resort town of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, there’s a cute little wine shop that encourages you to eat too. Sure, you can enjoy a flight of wine that Jaclyn Stuart, Vintage Elkhart Lake’s owner and sommelier, has hand-selected. But you can also order flights of gourmet potato chips and Wisconsin’s super flavorful and cheesy Palo Popcorn, plus buy some to take home.

Where: 100 East Rhine Street, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

7. Bacon

At The Edison in Disney Springs, AKA Downtown Disney, you can order a flight of bacon. It’s called Clothesline Candied Bacon, and each piece comes clipped to an actual miniature clothesline. You get four pieces of bacon with each flight: maple, sweet and spicy pickle, black pepper, and fruit mostarda (and on Valentine’s Day the bacon is dipped in chocolate).

Where: Disney Springs, 1570 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida


More like this: The most interesting dishes in Atlanta right now

The post 7 exciting tasting flights if you’re over beer and wine appeared first on Matador Network.

Is it safe to get medical treatments

Saving thousands (if not tens of thousands) while having both a safe medical procedure and a beach vacation sounds too good to be true. But every year millions of medical tourists across the globe are sharing ecstatic stories of wild savings and positive results. Medical tourism has arrived and business is booming.

Skeptics say cheaper, international procedures are dangerous. They point to horror stories of inexperienced doctors and unsanitary conditions. In reality, most of the savings come from drastically lower costs in labor and malpractice insurance. And if you do your research right, this doesn’t have to mean worse care. Here’s your complete guide on what you need to ask, how to find your answers, where to go, and who can help you.

Editor’s Note: Matador Network does not endorse any specific medical treatments and encourages everyone to thoroughly research all risks associated with medical treatments, domestically and abroad.

How much will this cost

You’re going to save money, even with travel costs (up to 90 percent savings, in some cases) but you’ll still want a sense of how much this will cost and how to avoid those hidden costs that add up quickly.

To get your budget situated, first check these things:

If you have medical insurance, does it cover anything internationally?
If you have medical insurance, will it help you find providers abroad?
If something goes wrong will either your medical or travel insurance cover costs?

Surprisingly, some medical insurance companies in the US give incentives for traveling abroad. Some offer discounts equal to a copay. Others offer a percentage of reimbursement. A few even provide case managers to help you with both travel and procedure plans.

Your best bet is to contact your insurer directly about your specific plan. Advocate for some coverage if they don’t already offer it. Money that patients save internationally is also money saved for insurers.

Most people don’t have international medical coverage (or insurance coverage at all). Several sites will give you an estimate. Patients Beyond Borders is one of the most respected resources for medical tourism and regularly provides cost comparisons by procedure and country as well as accredited recommendations. Treatment Abroad also narrows down specific procedures and average treatment quotes.

It’s best to plan for the worst-case scenario. Check with both your medical and travel insurance to see if they cover things like emergency transport to another facility, evacuation, or unplanned procedures as a result of a complication. Many do not so read the fine print and budget accordingly.

What you need in a doctor

No matter where you are, you want a good doctor. Put these on your list as must-haves before you book a procedure:

A physician or surgeon that specializes in your procedure
A doctor that has comprehensive and up-to-standards training
A doctor that speaks your (primary) language
A physician or surgeon that doesn’t have disciplinary actions

Many physicians and surgeons around the world did their training/residency at internationally respected programs. Identify the specific doctor that is doing your procedure and find out where they did their training. You’re looking for doctors who studied and practiced at a Joint Commission International facility, the current international gold standard.

Reviews of doctors get a bit more complicated. Internet reviews can be easily manufactured on general searches and shouldn’t be your only source. Some countries don’t have databases that keep track of malpractice suits, board sanctions, and disciplinary action, but if there is one available where your doctor practices, look them up. Or check out medical tourism agencies that will research for you.

What to ask about your medical staff

Properly trained medical staff are an often overlooked necessity. Nurses everywhere catch complications before and after procedures. Having well-trained nurses and techs are the difference between quality international clinics and a risky experience.

Get these answers before booking any procedure:

What is the minimum level of training required for the staff working with you?
Where are most of the staff trained/who trains them?
Will the staff that work with you speak your preferred language?

You want a facility with a minimum standard of education for all its nurses and techs through an accredited program. Inconsistency is risky. No need to gamble with the day of your procedure being the day the untrained staff is on duty.

A common language is most important here. You see your nurses more than anyone else and you want to be able to communicate clearly with them if something comes up. You may be multilingual, but remember that when under duress we communicate best in our first language.

What to look for in a facility

You have your doctor and you have your staff and the odds are good they will be at a reputable facility. Double-check. Hospitals have banded together to create international standards as good as, if not better, than the minimum requirements in developed countries. The Joint Commission International (JCI) designation is the best guarantee you can get.

There are a few other things to consider:

Does the facility have an intensive care unit (ICU) if there’s a serious problem?
If they don’t have ICU is there a hospital nearby? Will your facility send patients quickly to a higher level of care if complications come up?
When was their last equipment update?
What kind of food do they provide?

This is the reality: Hope for everything to go well, but plan for major complications. You really want to be at a facility that can respond to an emergency or one that partners with a (very) nearby hospital that can. Even minor procedures can go awry. You don’t want to be far from urgent care (which is also why it’s also a good idea to stay near this care when recovering instead of heading to more remote locations).

Food might seem like a weird ask on this list, but consider the everyday issues our guts have when we travel. When we have major procedures our bodies also struggle with processing anything too strenuous or unfamiliar. Post-surgery is not the time to explore foreign, and potentially unsettling, foods.

Where to go for medical treatments

Now, the fun part: picking the destination. There are traditional favorites in enticing locations, but safe options are rapidly expanding every year. The world is wide open.

These are perennial contenders for the most popular medical and dental destinations:

Costa Rica
Thailand
Malaysia
India
Mexico
Singapore

As global medical tourism grows by at least 20 percent every year, two things are happening. One, popular destinations are improving their service to stay competitive. They are not only cutting edge with medical practices but are offering spa-like experiences still at a fraction of the price.

Two, new destinations are gaining ground. In the last few years, medical tourism has made its mark in Eastern European countries such as Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, and Estonia. These countries are benefiting from low labor costs, grants from the EU to boost facilities, and an overflow of medical experts from other European countries.

Some places are known for specialties. High-quality dental care abounds in Central and South America. Brazil and Thailand are known for their experts in cosmetic surgeries. Singapore has a prestigious standing in internal medicine and general surgery.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, no worries. Medical tourism brokers bring all the planning together for you. They highlight the most popular destinations for your procedure and handle all the research to ensure your safety. Case managers will help you organize every part of the experience, including the travel itself. Both Patients Beyond Borders and Medigo back up their recommendations with copious amounts of screening. But these services are also growing to meet demand and there are a lot of options out there.

What to remember for returning home

Unpleasant but predictable surprises may be waiting for you on the way back. Nothing a little planning can’t solve. Here is what to know before you leave:

Will your regular physician provide aftercare for an international procedure?
Will your medical insurance will cover any aftercare complications that might come up when you are back home?
How long does a doctor who knows you recommend you wait before flying home?
What are your country’s rules for “personal importation”?

Don’t assume that your doctor and insurance will be business as usual when your return. Many doctors are leery of medical tourism and don’t want to take on the potential risks for both you and their practice. If your doctor won’t do the aftercare, have one ready that will.

Many insurance companies won’t cover complications if you didn’t meet their standards first. In recent years US insurers Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and UnitedHealth have allowed “tens of thousands” of people to receive care at approved international hospitals and then return home for covered aftercare. The key is checking with your insurance company first for authorization.

While you don’t want to have a procedure and then rush off to vacation in a remote area, you also don’t want to have a procedure and board a plane. Complications like blood clots can be lethal. Your providers overseas will give you guidelines for flying, but getting an opinion from a doctor who knows your medical background is best.

Last but not least, time to get familiar with the term “personal importation.” This tells you what you can bring into your country and how you can bring it. The US, EU, Canada, and Australia have a few rules in common when bringing medication and devices in:

Get a letter and a prescription from your doctor in your country’s language
Bring no more than 90 days worth of medication into the country (30 is safest)

The US, in particular, is known for high-cost prescriptions and more stringent limitations. If your medication doesn’t have FDA approval, you may have a hassle flying it in. After all, it is technically illegal despite the many ongoing FDA versus pharmacy battles.

The highest risk procedure that doctors want you to avoid

Unfortunately, the riskiest medical procedure is often a matter of life and death. International organ transplants are extremely controversial in the medical field. Experts across the world report a high and still rising number of black market organs (particularly kidneys) in international transplant operations. These have both serious medical and ethical issues. Black market transplant organs are poorly handled and have a significantly higher risk of rejection, disease, and infection. Several countries are also on watch due to illegal practices in obtaining donor organs (scamming living donors, using organs from political prisoners, and suspicion of murder). For all of these reasons, many physicians do not provide aftercare for those who had overseas organ transplants and are adamant that patients refuse solicitation from organ sellers.


More like this: Health + Wellness

The post What you need to know before traveling abroad for medical treatments appeared first on Matador Network.

High-speed railway in Tallinn

Estonia is soon to be super connected to its neighbors (Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland) thanks to a new high-speed rail system: Rail Baltica. Getting from Tallinn to Vilnius will be as swift as can be (three hours and 38 minutes) and cost just 38 euros (about 42 USD).

And to make sure the many passengers that will arrive in Tallinn via train understand how cool a city the Estonian capital is, it’s getting a cutting-edge train station designed by none other than Zaha Hadid Architects.

Photo: Zaha Hadid Architects

Zaha Hadid Architects won the international design competition with its modern design of the Ülemiste terminal that features a large pedestrian bridge and smooth navigation between different areas of the transportation hub that will conveniently link Tallinn’s rail, tram, and bus routes, as well as the nearby airport.

Photo: Zaha Hadid Architects

It hasn’t yet been announced when the Ülemiste terminal will be finished, but it is planned to be built in phases to minimize disruption to existing train service. The broader Rail Baltica project, however, is expected to be complete by 2026.


More like this: The 11 most beautiful train stations around the world

The post Tallinn is getting a futuristic train station to welcome the new high-speed Rail Baltica appeared first on Matador Network.

First human composting site to open

In April 2019, Washington became the first US state to legalize the composing of human bodies. As a result of this new legislation, the world’s first-ever composting site, Recompose, will open its doors in spring 2021 in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood.

Plans for the facility drawn by Olson Kundig Architects in collaboration with Katrina Spade, founder and CEO of Recompose, were released yesterday and it looks nothing like a traditional funeral home.

Photo: Olson Kundig

The 18,500-square-foot facility is a light-filled open space decorated with an abundance of greenery that can be moved around. The space is comprised of 75 hexagonal-shaped vessels where bodies are stored for decomposition. All the vessels are stacked, looking a little like a beehive, around a gathering space meant for ceremonies.

Photo: Olson Kundig

Human composting is believed to be significantly more environmentally friendly than traditional methods of burial or cremation. Recompose’s patent-pending method involves placing bodies in one of the moisture- and temperature-controlled vessels filled with wood chips, alfalfa, and straw. In just 30 days of microbial activity, the body breaks down into soil. Recompose’s human composting consumes just one eighth of the energy required for cremation.

The human composting process generates around a cubic yard of soil from the human body. Mourners can choose to keep the resulting soil or Recompose can use it to help reforest land in southern Washington.


More like this: From modern mummies to fantasy coffins, 9 death rituals from around the world

The post The first-ever human composting site will open in 2021 in Seattle appeared first on Matador Network.

best ski resorts in North America

The absolute best places to ski in North America this winter

Photo: Visit Park City

Ski resorts from Vermont to California to British Columbia are slated to open for the season at the end of November, which means it’s time to start making those winter skiing and snowboarding travel plans. While there are plenty of trendy ski destinations that get a temporary buzz, they don’t always last to the next season, and even some of the mainstays aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. To guarantee the most epic ski vacation this year, travel to the ski areas in the United States and Canada that actually live up to the hype — from tried-and-true favorites like Colorado’s Aspen to emerging spots that are the talk of the ski world, like Kicking Horse in Eastern BC.

First, a note on season passes

Your choice of mountain might be dictated by whether or not you’ve already purchased an Epic Pass or IKON Pass, both of which grant access to several of the mountains on this list. Last season we wrote about planning ski trips around your ski pass. If you don’t want to go all in on a season pass, the Mountain Collective Pass doesn’t give you unlimited access to its mountains but does offer steep discounts.

If you don’t have any pass, be sure to buy your lift tickets online in advance. While lift prices can change by day of the week and week of the month, it’s always cheaper to buy online than heading to the ticket window on the morning you plan to ski.

Aspen, Colorado

Photo: Ersler Dmitry/Shutterstock


1. Aspen Snowmass — Aspen, Colorado
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

Aspen conjures images of ritzy snow bunnies, significantly overpriced cocktails, and pretension so strong you could smell it from Glenwood Springs. Full disclosure, all of those things are present in Aspen. But it’s what happens between the lines, underneath the façade of trophy homes and Gucci purses, that makes a visit to this mountain town memorable. First, there’s the terrain itself. The first chair at Aspen Mountain after an overnight snowfall is the stuff powder dreams are made of: wide-open fields of steep, rolling terrain accessed by high-speed lifts within walking distance of downtown.

If you’re there for a while, few ski destinations offer the diversity in terrain of Aspen. Beyond Aspen Mountain, Snowmass alone is enough to keep freeride enthusiasts busy for a week or more. Buttermilk has Colorado’s top family-friendly terrain and the X-Games terrain park that brings in top pros each January. Aspen Highlands is steep and offers access to Highlands Bowl, often ranked among the bucket-list ski hikes of North America. No matter which mountain you’re on, those million-dollar views of the surrounding 14,000-foot peaks are enough to stop you in your tracks.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Photo: Pierre Leclerc/Shutterstock


2. Whistler Blackcomb — Whistler, British Columbia
Ski pass: Epic

The largest ski resort in North America, with over 8,000 skiable acres, Whistler Blackcomb keeps adding superlatives to the list. It built the world’s highest gondola off the ground in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics, making it really easy to hop between the resort’s the two mountains: Whistler and Blackcomb. Yet with so much to ski on each mountain alone, you could spend days on just one of them and not ski it all.

Whistler Mountain has plenty of wide-open bowls that are great for beginners and intermediates. Then again, many have called its Saudan Couloir chute one of the scariest runs in the world. They clearly haven’t climbed up Spanky’s Ladder on Blackcomb Mountain to access off-piste runs on Ruby and Sapphire Bowls. While those gemstone-named zones usually have great snow, signage is limited, and cliffs are aplenty — so go there with someone who knows the area. Whatever level skier you are, you can fuel up on some of the best on-mountain lunch options we’ve tried in North America.

Off the mountain, Whistler Village is so packed with great restaurants and bars that Vancouverites will come up for a weekend of partying alone. You’ve also got miles of cross-country and snowshoe trails, spas, yoga studios, and dozens of other activities — from sleigh riding to zip lining.

Teton Village, Wyoming

Photo: Kevin Cass/Shutterstock


3. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort — Teton Village, Wyoming
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

Officially, Jackson Hole is named as such because the town of Jackson is surrounded by towering peaks on all four sides and resembles a hole in between them. Unofficially, its name refers to the fact that once you get here, it’s nearly impossible to convince yourself to go back home. Beyond some family-friendly runs at the base, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a playground for big mountain enthusiasts who typically have to ski up a backcountry peak to find terrain this good. Seeing packs of pro skiers and film crews crammed onto the chair, avalanche pack on their backs, en route to the resort’s renowned backcountry access gates is just another Tuesday in Jackson.

Its most famous run, Corbet’s Couloir, is a bucket-list drop for many dedicated skiers and boarders. Riding the tram past it up to Corbet’s Cabin is also a must-do experience. The addition of the Teton Quad Chair in 2015 made even steeper, powder-filled terrain easily accessible, and because of the resort’s sheer size and the fact that you’re skiing in the least-populated state in the union, there’s no stress over having to share it.

Sun Valley, Idaho

Photo: CSNafzger/Shutterstock


4. Sun Valley Resort — Sun Valley, Idaho
Ski pass: Epic

Sun Valley Resort opened in December 1936 with the world’s first chairlift: the same single-rider style that Stowe adopted shortly thereafter. The hotel itself was a glamorous affair that attracted Hollywood types like Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant. Warren Miller, the father of the ski film, was a ski bum in Sun Valley — which may explain why he always included an element of the itinerant ski-bum life in his films.

But you don’t go to Sun Valley for the history. You go for some of the dryest, powderiest snow on the continent. The home of corduroy (skiing, that is, not pants) doesn’t have as many of the steep runs that you’ll find, say, in neighboring Wyoming — but Sun Valley’s Bald Mountain does have big long cruisers and consistent pitch the whole way down. If you like doing big GS turns, this is the place. And after a day of big, sweeping turns, you can head back to that still-glittery lodge for a cocktail — Sun Valley is still a posh place, after all — or have a beer with the locals in the town of Ketchum.

Big Sky, Montana

Photo: alexfe/Shutterstock


5. Big Sky — Big Sky, Montana
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

Montana is the last stand for the true Wild West ski bum, a place where half-toasted locals ride horseback down the middle of the street when the après action winds down. Big Sky is living proof that the 2001 movie Out Cold, arguably the greatest cinematic masterpiece of all time, took place in the wrong state. If Hangman’s Peak were a real place, surely it would be here. As far as destination ski resorts go, none are quite as raw and unfiltered, nodding to the days when wearing a cowboy hat up the lift didn’t automatically label you as a novice.

There’s terrain for everyone, and unlike Colorado’s Summit County, there’s no worry of bumping elbows should your heelside turn go a little too wide. Like Jackson Hole to the south, carrying a beacon, shovel, and probe on your back is commonplace at Big Sky — just another die-hard en route to Big Couloir. It’s a freeskier’s paradise, and because it’s Montana, that isn’t going to change anytime soon.

Golden, British Columbia, Canada

Photo: Jochen Conrad/Shutterstock


6. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort — Golden, British Columbia
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

The entire Eastern BC region seems to be the talk of the ski world these days, with eight ski resorts available along the Powder Highway. While they all offer runs for beginners and intermediates, this region is best known for really long runs; fluffy, untracked powder; and very steep lines. Of all of the resorts, Kicking Horse seems to be the buzziest of all.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Kicking Horse has but one gondola and three lifts. It has plenty of skiable acres and that gondola goes far: The mountain offers an astounding 4,133 feet of vertical. Trek on over to Super Bowl and you’ll have a dizzying collection of double blacks to choose from. If you’re worried about whether the Horse is too much for you, just know that you can stay closer in by Bowl Over or Crystal Bowl and take a blue or black run down (although even these blues don’t skimp on incline). You can have lunch, or dinner, at Eagles Eye atop the mountain or head down to the crunchy mountain town of Golden for après beers at the Whitetooth Brewing Company.

Squaw Valley, California

Photo: David A. Litman/Shutterstock


7. Squaw Alpine — Squaw Valley, California
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

Folks are sometimes surprised that California has produced so many Winter Olympians. In fact, Squaw Valley was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics and was the home mountain of at least two gold medalists: alpine racer Julia Mancuso and freestyler Johnny Moseley, who can still be found on the mountain on great snow days. If you’re lucky, Squaw will reward you with a classic NorCal ski day: a night of snowfall followed by a bluebird morning. When the Headwall lift opens up, it’s a race to get to the untracked stuff first.

Buck the crowds and head over to Granite Chief, where you’ll find excellent tree runs through the ponderosa pines. Or head to the K2 chair, Tahoe’s most famous lift; it accesses a ridge, off of which are plenty of steep, mogul-dotted options. Since K2 starts at the base, it’s kind of a thing to see how quickly you can lap its experts-only pistes.

The après scene is typical chill Californian, with big outdoor fireplaces and pitchers of beer. Go ahead and fill up on nachos because, despite the growing number of restaurants in Squaw, the food is just so-so. For lunch, Wildflour makes tasty sandwiches and the best chocolate chip cookies anywhere. If you want a great dinner, though, drive to Truckee.

Mammoth Lakes, California

Photo: BrittanyNY/Shutterstock


8. Mammoth Mountain — Mammoth Lakes, California
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

There was a time — the 1990s, in fact — when Mammoth Mountain was the hub of the snowboard social scene, home to a legendary and constantly evolving terrain park luring pros and providing endless fodder for the legions of youth flocking to a fast-growing sport. Even today, the massive resort south of Yosemite National Park is a beacon for boarders from across the country, with stickers of the famous Mammoth crown lining the backs of cars on nearly every freeway in Southern California, depicting drivers’ burning desire to ditch the asphalt block for the high country steeps of the Sierra.

All the hype around Mammoth tends to paint an image of a haven for big-city teenage jibbers with pants drooping and headphones blasting, a place where worth is measured solely by how many spins one completes off the mega-booters in the park. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, Mammoth deserves every bit of recognition it gets. The mountain is huge and diverse, steep shoots dropping into wide-open bowls that lead into fast cruisers to the base. The views of the Minarets from “The Summit” are as unforgettable as dropping into Paranoid Flats on a pow day. Mammoth is a skier’s universe all it’s own, and it’s no wonder a coworking space was opened in the base lodge — people just don’t want to leave.

Telluride, Colorado

Photo: DBSOCAL/Shutterstock


9. Telluride — Telluride, Colorado
Ski pass: Epic

Both Oprah Winfrey and Tom Cruise have homes in Telluride if that tells you anything about its star power. One could almost say it’s the new Aspen in that sense, though it’s far tougher to get to. This means that, big names with private jet access aside, the people here are here for one reason: The mountain is damn epic. Revelation Bowl is the best lift-accessed terrain in the San Juan Mountains, and if you dare to push it further, a hike up towards Palmyra Peak will make you feel as though you’ve walked into a Warren Miller film.

Thanks to the Prospect Express and Apex lifts, casual skiers and riders enjoy access to nearly the entire mountain here, something that often eludes those not keen on bumps, rollers, and steep drops at big-time resorts. The town also does après action right, with two distinct villages to choose from. And be sure to give Tom or Oprah a high five if you see them.

Mount Bachelor, Oregon

Photo: Mike Albright Photography/Shutterstock


10. Mount Bachelor — Oregon
Ski pass: Mount Bachelor is independent

Oregon often gets overlooked for skiing, perhaps because British Columbia to the north and California’s Sierra Nevada to the south grab all the attention. But Mount Bachelor gets nearly 500 inches of annual snowfall, and its ski season typically runs half the year, from mid-November to mid-May. While most of the resort is concentrated on the north side of Mount Bachelor, an “active” volcano, you can actually ski your way around the whole mountaintop. So when the clouds part, you can chase the sunshine on the southern slopes.

Bachelor is one of the bigger resorts in the US and, of its 11 lifts, seven are high-speed quads. It also has a massive half-pipe and has held Olympic qualifying events, making it a serious draw to snowboarders and freestyle skiers. The only downside to skiing in Bachelor is that, since it’s within a national forest, you’ll have to stay in Bend, Oregon, a 20-minute drive or shuttle away. The good news is that Bend is one of our favorite outdoor towns, with great food and drink scenes.

Stowe, Vermont

Photo: Don Landwehrle/Shutterstock


11. Stowe Mountain Resort — Stowe, Vermont
Ski pass: Epic

The oldest ski town in North America is still its most iconic. Back in the day, Stowe’s single-chair ski lifts left you feeling so lonely and cold that they gave you horse blankets to cover yourself with. That early lift accessed the Front Four runs, which were cut to follow the terrain of the mountain — winding and really narrow in some spots. They were known as the hardest runs on the east coast.

Eventually, Stowe replaced the single-person lift and added two cable cars, as well, so you can get up the hill in much cozier conditions, even in the bitterest of Vermont winters. You’ve also got plenty of other chairlifts to access a host of intermediate blues, and even a t-bar and people-mover near the beginner greens — making Stowe a very family-friendly ski place today. In fact, the Trapp Family Lodge, as in the Von Trapps from The Sound of Music, is just down the road from the mountain, and you’ll find other lodging and dining options around, as well.

Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

Photo: Denis Pepin/Shutterstock


12. Tremblant — Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
Ski pass: IKON

Tremblant charms with its very French Quebecois vibe, something unique in North America. It’s enough to make you forget that the name literally means “trembling mountain.” (In fact, Kicking Horse and Banff’s Sunshine Village tend to have colder winter temps.) Quebec also has an 18-year-old drinking age. That Francophone vibe and lower drinking age combine to create an atmosphere that’s cheerier and warmer than the weather. It also means you can always run into the Au Grain de Cafe at the base and grab an Irish coffee or even a hot, spiced wine between runs.

Don’t have too much, though, because Tremblant has some excellent gladed skiing. The cold temps are great for snow, but average snowfall is less than it is farther west in Canada; however, you can catch big pockets of the stuff in between Tremblant’s fluffy, evergreen spruce trees. Too much mulled wine, and you might find yourself in a tree well. As you’d expect, Tremblant has a formidable après ski scene, and things continue late into the evening at bars like Le P’tit Caribou.

Banff, Alberta, Canada

Photo: Bradley L. Grant/Shutterstock


13. Sunshine Village — Banff, Alberta, Canada
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

The signature of Sunshine Village is the 17-minute gondola ride from the base area to Sunshine Village, which passes over one of the longest runs in Canada — one that you’ll have the pleasure of skiing on your way back to the parking lot at the end of the day. The mountain is lined with wide-open powder fields but also has plenty of mellower terrain for a few laps that are easier on the legs. It actually sits in two Canadian Provinces — the Continental Divide Quad lift actually crosses over the provincial boundary from Alberta into British Columbia on its way up, though you’ll be back in Alberta quickly after you drop in.

Sunshine Village earned its spot here because of the care the resort has taken in providing access to, and properly regulating, some of the best backcountry access gates in North America. Case in point is the Delirium Zone, a gated backcountry access point that leads skiers towards a pair of peaks dubbed The Eagles. The resort refers to this area as a “designated freeride zone” and you must pass a beacon check to access. It’s recommended that you stand at the viewpoint and watch others drop in and make their way down before attempting the hike yourself.

Park City, Utah

Photo: Johnny Adolphson/Shutterstock


14. Park City Mountain Resort — Park City, Utah
Ski pass: Epic

One thing that makes the Utah resorts so attractive is that they’re less than a 40-minute drive from Salt Lake City, a major international airport. There’s also the fact that the Wasatch Mountains get up to 500 inches of annual snowfall, depending on where you are. (Snowbird gets the most.) Add to that the high-altitude and dry conditions, and you have great skiing. Choosing among the resorts is the hard part. If it’s steep, long runs you’re after, head to Snowbird or Alta — although Alta still doesn’t allow snowboarders.

But if you want a mix of pistes for every ability level, and more than two restaurant options for dinner, then you can’t beat the Park City Resort. It merged with the Canyons five years ago, creating the state’s largest ski area. You’ll find a good selection of black diamond runs off Park City’s Juniper Peak, including excellent gladed skiing. And at the end of the ski day, you’ve got all that Park City has to offer, from shopping and bars to live music and restaurants. Just make sure you’ve made reservations in advance.

Frisco, Colorado

Photo: Steve Boice/Shutterstock


15. Copper Mountain — Frisco, Colorado
Ski pass: IKON

Copper Mountain is the last great destination resort on Colorado’s I-70 corridor. It’s steeper than nearby Breckenridge and sees far less overcrowding, but what makes it truly special is that the mountain is the most easily navigable large-scale ski area in the state. The flow of the runs and placement of the lifts keeps lines to a minimum and ensures that you actually can ski most of the mountain in one day if you hustle. The problem is that hardly ever happens because it’s so easy to get sidetracked on the Resolution and Blackjack chairs and end up lapping the day away before you ever make it over to West Village.

New for the 2019-2020 season, Copper has installed a lift up to the top of Tucker Mountain, which was previously accessible only via snowcat or a very long hike. Tucker Mountain is home to the resort’s most challenging terrain, now with the bonus of being able to do more than one run in a day.

Taos, New Mexico

Photo: Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock


16. Taos Ski Valley — Taos, New Mexico
Ski passes: IKON, Mountain Collective

The term “played out” has never been accurately used to describe New Mexico. Taos Ski Valley also keeps the term “skied out” from the visitor’s vocabulary as the terrain is big, and there never seems to be more than a few others around to share it with. From the top of the Kachina Peak lift, Taos is a ridge-walker’s paradise. You can drop into more than a dozen access points along Highline Ridge or just stick to Kachina Peak itself and show off for those on the lift.

Taos’s vibe mixes outdoorsy with Southwestern, adding a unique take on the typical mountain town scene as the art galleries, t-shirt shops, and cafes are reminiscent of nearby Sante Fe. Here, you’ll learn really quickly that anyone who tells you they don’t appreciate the color teal isn’t worth hanging out with in the first place.

The post The absolute best places to ski in North America this winter appeared first on Matador Network.

Water vapor found on Europa

Scientists have just made major progress in their search for alien life. Europa, one of Jupiter’s 79 moons, has long been the frontrunner for celestial bodies potentially housing water — and, therefore, life — and now we’re closer than ever to proving that true. For the first time ever, NASA scientists have measured the presence of water vapor on the surface of Europa, detecting small bursts of water beneath the moon’s icy surface.

According to team leader and planetary scientist Lucas Paganini, “Essential chemical elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur) and sources of energy, two of three requirements for life, are found all over the solar system. But the third — liquid water — is somewhat hard to find beyond Earth.”

However, the team spotted traces of water molecules spotting from Europa’s surface. They were able to detect this movement because when water vapor interacts with solar radiation, it emits wavelengths of infrared light that can be detected by telescopes. As it turns out, Europa is actually emitting lots of water vapor — around 5,202 pounds per second.

NASA’s Europe Clipper mission will visit the moon sometime in the next 10 years, though a specific date hasn’t yet been determined. It will play a huge role in finding more emission plumes and potentially getting closer to finding evidence of life.


More like this: These images from NASA will rock your world

The post Water vapor detected on Jupiter’s moon, which could lead to alien life appeared first on Matador Network.

Jetblue savage security question

Asking a parent which child is their favorite is like asking someone their favorite kind of chocolate. They’ll probably say they like them all equally, but secretly, everyone has a favorite. The problem is, revealing your favorite — or admitting you have one — can lead to some pretty contentious conversations. Now, JetBlue is trying to drag the answer out of you by adding a mischievous security question to their website. The question asks: “What is the name of your favorite child?”

Parents of only children get off the hook easy here, but what about everyone else?

The internet was first alerted to the question when it was posted by Twitter user @_lanaloo. “JetBlue savage for this,” she said. And JetBlue knows it. Yes, they know exactly what they’re doing. In response to her tweet, the official JetBlue Twitter account replied. “Say it. You know you have one.”

Say it. You know you have one. https://t.co/iWbJfQEgrE

— JetBlue Airways (@JetBlue) November 19, 2019

The question could prove validating or incredibly depressing, depending on your situation. If you’re one of the lucky favorites, the question will only confirm your suspicion that you are, in fact, your parent’s favorite child. If you were passed over for your sibling, however, it could spark a downward spiral of insecurity and self-doubt that ultimately results in years of therapy.

Thanks, JetBlue.


More like this: All of the food you can’t take through airport security

The post JetBlue’s new security question is just plain vicious appeared first on Matador Network.