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Best Atlanta barbecue restaurants

Atlanta might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of Southern barbecue, but the capital of the new South has plenty of amazing meaty joints. There are no-frills, classic barbecue joints right alongside modern takes on smoked meat that fuse elements from another cuisine or include some vegetarian dishes into the mix. If you’re looking for great barbecue in and around Atlanta, these eight places are best bets to get your fix.

1. Sweet Auburn Barbecue

Photo: Sweet Auburn BBQ/Facebook

If you’re looking for traditional Southern barbecue with a twist, Sweet Auburn is a must-visit. Brother-sister team Howard and Anita Hsu grew up working in their family’s restaurants, where they gained a passion for food and hospitality at a young age. They currently operate two locations in the city: their original stand at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market and a full-service restaurant in Poncey-Highland. On the menu, you’ll find a mix of barbecue classics like pulled pork and Memphis-style baby back ribs along with Asian-inspired dishes like pimento cheese wontons and Korean bulgogi beef tacos.

Where: 656 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30306 and 209 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30303

2. D.B.A. Barbecue

Photo: D.B.A. Barbecue/Facebook

This is the place to come for beautifully smoked meats, local craft beer, and a rambunctious patio that will get you ready for a night out in the city. D.B.A. Barbecue is located in Atlanta’s Virginia-Highland neighborhood and serves barbecued meat that’s been slowly smoked with sweet hickory. The excellent smoked wings come with a choice of six different tangy sauces, ranging from Sweet BBQ to spicy Hotlanta. Burgers are served alongside the usual suspects like brisket and turkey, but the 14-day, house-cured, and smoked pastrami is the move. Sides like fried jalapeños and pimento cheese with get you in the Southern spirit.

Where: 1190 North Highland Avenue Northeast Ste B, Atlanta, GA 30306

3. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

Photo: Fox Bros Bar-B-Q/Facebook

After twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox moved from Fort Worth, Texas, to Atlanta, they were homesick for the comforting flavors of Texas-style barbecue. So they began cooking for family and friends, and eventually a barbecue catering operation was born. They opened Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in 2007, and have been serving their signature smoked meats ever since. Fatty beef brisket is the move here, but you really can’t go wrong with anything else on the menu like pulled pork and smoked chicken. Chicken fried ribs and brisket chili-smothered tots are perfect for sharing, and vegetarians can enjoy the smoked portobello mushroom sandwich.

Where: 1238 DeKalb Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

4. Bone Lick

Photo: Bone Lick Southern Kitchen/Facebook

Bone Lick is a downright fun place to hang. The Southern fare is complemented by an excellent cocktail program, house-infused moonshine, and a speakeasy bar, Edgewood, next door. Start your meal with an order of pork rind nachos and the El Zorro, a pineapple Margarita with grilled lemon liqueur, coconut ice, and black pepper. The Chicken and Waffle Board (which is served with things like honey butter, bourbon maple, and pimento cheese) is excellent, as are the dry-rubbed ribs and smoked chicken tacos. Bone Lick’s homemade black bean sliders with jalapeño is a solid lighter option.

Where: 327 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

5. Thompson Brothers BBQ

Owned by the five Thompson brothers (hence the name), Thompson Brothers BBQ is one you don’t want to miss. Though the brothers are spread out across the country and may not be present at the restaurant when you go, the meats always deliver. There’s brisket, ribs, short end ribs, pork, sausage, hot links, and more. You can also go “The Whole Nine” with ribs, beef, Bologna, beef sausage, and sides (or go double or family if you’re looking to share). For dessert, there are options like banana pudding and homemade pineapple upside down cake.

Where: 2445 Cobb Pkwy SE, Smyrna, GA 30080

6. Smoke Ring

Photo: Smoke Ring/Facebook

Smoke Ring opened its doors in Downtown Atlanta in 2001, and today it serves its own version of Georgia-style barbecue. The menu offers a twist on typical barbecue with a focus on seasonality, so there’s always something new to enjoy. Weekly specials include dishes like barbecue salmon and fried quail sliders, and the signature crispy rock shrimp with smoked tomato remoulade is a great way to start any meal. From there, move on to bigger plates like pork belly and smoked sausage, along with handheld delights like a smoked brisket burrito and sliders with fried green tomato and pimento cheese.

Where: 309 Nelson St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313

7. King Barbecue

Photo: King Barbecue/Facebook

What is now King Barbecue has gone through a number of iterations over the past couple of years. It started in Avalon as a chicken restaurant called Bantam + Biddy before the space closed to become King Barbecue under the watch of pitmaster Carey Wise from Fox Bros. Wise is gone, and King Barbecue is now in Buckhead. Which means it’s time to get to Buckhead for some barbecue. Chefs Shaun Doty, Lance Gummere, and Anthony Rivers are cooking up a menu of ribs, brisket, chicken, pork, and sausage. You can go with a sandwich or plate, and sides include red pozole and spicy collard greens. All the barbecue is gluten free, as are nearly all of the sides.

Where: 308 Pharr Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

8. Heirloom Market BBQ

Photo: Heirloom Market BBQ/Facebook

Owned by husband-wife team Cody Taylor and Jiyeon Lee, Heirloom Market BBQ mixes Texan and Korean influences. Brisket sandwiches and platters are on the menu with spicy Korean pork and tacos. The constantly rotating sides include options like crispy tofu and Korean sweet potato right next to black eyed peas and cabbage. One thing to keep in mind: The space is tight. Like go out to the patio because there’s pretty much just room for takeout type of tight. It’s worth it, though.

Where: 2243 Akers Mill Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30339


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How to enjoy a post-breakup trip

Breaking up is tough. But instead of drifting around the house in days-old sweatpants or burning photos of your ex, it’s much more productive (and fun) to channel all that raw emotion into something positive ⁠– like traveling. The change of scenery will take you away from all those reminders of your time together, and the new experiences will help you stay positive and motivated on the rocky road back to happiness.

Heading off somewhere also means that when people ask you how you’re doing, you can tell them about your time away instead of shrugging your shoulders and telling them you’re “keeping busy.” So whether you’re planning an Eat, Pray, Love-style quest of self-discovery or you just want to do vodka shots in Magaluf with your support squad, here’s how to get the most out of your post-breakup vacation.

1. Pick somewhere blue or green.

Nature makes us happy. Research shows that being in or near green spaces reduces stress — so plan your vacation around trees, a beach, or a lake to get the maximum mood-elevating benefits from your trip. This doesn’t mean you need to book a remote mountain hut. An apartment by a park should do the trick. Just make sure you visit it as much as possible — 20 minutes a day is the recommended minimum.

2. Distract yourself.

Distracting yourself is the best way to deal with that initial breakup sadness. It not only stops you dwelling on the past, but it also reminds you of all the good things in your life. In fact, far from you burying your head in the sand, distraction is actually a form of emotional regulation that is proven to help feel grounded and present, rather than getting tied up in your grief. Doing something you enjoy lifts your mood, which, in turn, motivates you to seek out more pleasant thoughts and activities ⁠– something that’s known as the cue-routine-reward pattern. By interrupting your normal schedule with a vacation, you’re kick-starting the cycle of positivity.

3. Clear your phone.

When it comes to breakups, the less knowledge you have, the better. You don’t need to know who they’ve slept with since you parted ways ⁠– and you really don’t want an image of your ex in the loving embrace of Mark from her work haunting your every thought. Hopefully, by now you’ve angrily unfollowed them on Instagram and deleted all their photos, messages and videos. If not, now’s the time. There’s no “when I’m ready” stage: everything must go. Oh, and if you’re going out for drinks, uninstall your social media apps just to make it extra difficult to send them a drunken DM.

4. Choose your team carefully.

Solo travel is great for healing your emotions at your own pace. It makes for a more introspective experience, so if your breakup is fresh and you need a distraction, pick a close friend or two to keep you company. You’ll want to choose people who are easygoing and flexible ⁠– this is your vacation, and you don’t want to feel like you’re being dragged around. You should also keep your group small: head away with a huge crowd and you risk feeling overwhelmed, while the constant attention could leave you feeling emptier when you get back home.

5. Consider a solo trip.

If you’re over the initial breakup sting but you’re still not feeling right, then now’s the time to get some alone time. Solitude can lead to self-discovery because it gives you space to think, free from distractions. Working through your emotions isn’t always easy, but it will help you better understand yourself and the lessons you’ve learned over the course of the relationship. Doing something like meditation, writing, or talking to friends or a therapist (over Skype if you’re on vacation) can all help you address, analyze, and process those thoughts.

6. Take care of yourself.

Breaking up ⁠– even if it was on good terms ⁠– takes its toll on our minds and bodies. And the two are interlinked: If you stop looking after yourself physically, your emotions ⁠– including self-esteem, focus, and motivation — also take a hit. Research shows that when we spend a significant amount of time with someone, we start to build a routine around them and become biologically linked. Sleep times and meals and can suddenly fly off-course when we break up, which is why it’s important to stick to your regular habits as much as possible.

7. Pack for a post-breakup cold.

Breaking up is emotionally painful, but researchers have discovered your immune system also suffers. This is because it’s linked to our hormones. When we produce excessive amounts of cortisol (the stress hormone) over a prolonged period of time, it can lead to inflammation and microbiome changes in your gut that lowers your body’s ability to fight illness-causing pathogens. If you do head off on vacation straight away, pack meds that will help you feel better ⁠– including painkillers, nasal spray, and a good book (in case you’re bed-ridden for a day or two). It might not happen, but if you do start feeling sick, it’s better to have everything you need to hand without the added stress of having to find a pharmacy.

8. Don’t sleep with the first person you meet.

When we break up ⁠– especially if we’re dumped ⁠– our self-esteem suffers. One way to get an instant boost is to bask in the attention of someone else: It reminds us that we’re still lovable and makes us feel vaguely flattered. But there’s a catch: Rebound sex often ends up magnifying our sense of loss because, well, it pretty much always sucks. Especially if the sex was alcohol-induced and you get with someone you wouldn’t go near had you been sober. Now there’s nothing wrong with a rebound fling per se — just remember it won’t fill in the emotional gap, and avoid doing it while drunk to keep regret to a minimum. And if you do feel bad after, don’t beat yourself up about it, but do take it as a sign you’re not ready and focus on looking after yourself instead.

9. Keep your ex at arm’s length.

Not speaking to your ex is a given. But what if they contact you? In an ideal world, you won’t communicate with your ex at all while you’re away, but if for some reason they call or message you, remember to take the high ground — even if they were a total jerk. Screaming, crying and sexting are Not Cool and unravel all the good work you’ve done so far in helping yourself move on. Yes, it’s incredibly cathartic to give in to your feelings, but try to exercise your self-restraint. You’ll feel proud of yourself later on.

10. Do something that scares you.

New experiences are proven to release dopamine, a happy hormone that makes us feel positive. But there’s a way to get even more out this: Do something that scares you. Doing a small-but-intimidating activity, like talking to a stranger, taking a dance class, or going rock climbing can lead to increased feelings of self-confidence. Once you realize you had nothing to be afraid of, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and a buzz that will make those nights on the sofa eating pasta and watching Netflix way less appealing. You’ll also feel like you can achieve anything you put your mind to — including getting over your ex.


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China is developing a national park

In an attempt to preserve its natural heritage from its fast-paced urbanization, China is developing a national park system inspired by the US. The scheme is planned to be officially revealed as early as 2020.

Right now, China’s protected park areas (around 15 percent of the whole country, according to the Associated Press) are run by disparate agencies, and rules and guidelines are difficult to enforce. The project will have China’s parks joined under a single unified system, with similar guidelines regarding development and conservation backed up by science.

The first of the Chinese national parks will be Sanjiangyuan in western China’s Qinghai Province, home to species listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, such as the Chinese mountain cat and the snow leopard, as well as the headwater of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Mekong rivers. To preserve the area, officials have stopped issuing permits for mining and hydropower.

The development of national parks in China is, however, raising questions about the future of those who currently inhabit and live off the land projected to be part of the system. Currently some locals have been given conservation-related jobs, such as picking up trash and monitoring poaching activities as part of the “One Family, One Ranger,” program but the exact details of a possible relocation for many are still unclear.


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Christmas Wine Train in Grapevine

Wine and Christmas go together like, well, ugly sweaters and Christmas. Or inflatable snowmen and Christmas. You get the idea. Even if you’re feeling a bit Grinchy this holiday season, nothing will warm your small heart like a glass of wine on a vintage train. Once again, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad is offering a Christmas Wine Train experience this December on its authentic 1920s-era Victorian coaches. The train leaves from both Grapevine — the “Christmas Capital of Texas” — and Fort Worth, and runs for about two hours through wine country.

Photo: Visit Grapevine/Facebook

Train tickets include an abundance of hors d’oeuvres and two free glasses of local Texas wine in a souvenir glass, with more wine available for purchase. Trains will run during rain, snow, or shine. In Grapevine, the train will depart from the Cotton Belt Railroad District at 7:30 PM, and in Fort Worth, it’ll depart from the Fort Worth Stockyards at 7:00 PM. Coaches are assigned upon check-in, and to ensure you’re seated together, your entire group must check-in at the same time.

Photo: Visit Grapevine/Facebook

The Grapevine train runs on December 3 and 11, while the Fort Worth train runs only on December 5. Tickets cost $45 per person, although Hilton Honors members will receive a free upgrade to first class (if you’re one of the first 50 riders to register online). And of course, you must be 21 or older to ride.


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The post Drink your way across Texas wine country on this Christmas wine train appeared first on Matador Network.

When and where to watch the Leonids

If you’ve stared up at the sky recently and noticed a few shooting stars, it’s because the annual Leonid meteor shower has been putting on a beautiful celestial show since November 6. If you want to see the spectacle at its peak, however, you need to go outside between the night of Sunday, November 17 and the morning of Monday, November 18, between midnight and dawn.

The shower happens when Earth, on its way around the sun, crosses the path of a comet. The debris left behind from the passage of that comet enters our planet’s atmosphere, causing it to heat up, burn, and create dazzling streaks of light.

On a moonless night, about 10 to 15 meteors an hour are visible, but this year, the bright waning gibbous moon may make viewing more difficult. EarthSky suggests that you try to keep the moon out of sight by observing in the shadow of a mountain or large building. And, as usual, you’ll have to wait between 15 and 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness before you can see anything.

If you can’t see much on the peak night, try again on a different night when the moon is smaller. The phenomenon will last until November 30, so you have some time to find a dark spot to sit back and enjoy the shooting stars.


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The post Leonid meteor shower to streak through the skies on Monday appeared first on Matador Network.

BBC shows filming locations

Nobody does TV like the Brits. From Doctor Who to The Office, The Fall, and Sherlock, British shows have been hitting the mark for decades, acquiring hordes of series-hungry fans from all over the world. The most famous purveyor of good British television is, obviously, the BBC, and if you’ve been following the British Broadcasting Corporation’s recent creations, you know there’s an awful lot of good stuff to binge watch and become obsessed with out there. The good news if you’re entirely engrossed with those shows is that a lot of them are filmed on location, so you can easily visit the sets. From Fleabag to Killing Eve, here are six BBC shows and the spots where they were filmed for fans to visit and geek out over without restrain.

1. Fleabag

Photo: Fleabag/Facebook

With all the talk of hot priests, one might think that’s all Fleabag is about, but the award-winning dramedy actually centers around its titular female protagonist as she navigates through life. The majority of filming took place in a single neighborhood — Dartmouth Park in the London borough of Camden.

An important place in the show is the guinea-pig-themed cafe that Fleabag owns and runs, and it was filmed at the Bold Café and Restaurant, a Turkish restaurant. Both interior and exterior shots were filmed here, though the production crew temporarily remodeled the interior to match the image they had in mind. Additionally, while scenes in Fleabag and her sister Claire’s respective apartments were filmed in studio, fans can see the exterior of Claire’s apartment on Laurier Road.

Besides Camden, Fleabag’s filming moved around other parts of London. In the first season finale, Fleabag’s godmother holds a “sex-hibition” where she shows off her sex-related art, which was filmed at the Tate Modern. The second season’s premiere saw all of the main characters attending a dinner party, which was filmed inside Smith & Wollensky, a steakhouse in Covent Garden. Season two also introduced the Hot Priest, nicknamed as such by fans (he’s actually just “the Priest” in the show), and the church scenes were filmed at St. Andrew’s in Kingsbury in Greater London.

For those wanting to get out of London, the silent retreat that Fleabag and Claire go on is in Buckinghamshire at Hedsor House. The mansion doesn’t allow for walk-in visits as it’s mainly a venue for special events — visitors will have to either wait for one of its Open Houses, take a virtual tour, or settle for just seeing it from the outside.

2. Bodyguard

Photo: pcruciatti/Shutterstock

Bodyguard is a political thriller that sees Richard Madden go from King in the North to a war veteran turned bodyguard for Britain’s Home Secretary, Julia Montague. His character, David Budd, despises the politics of the person he’s been assigned to protect which, coupled with his PTSD, makes for a harrowing tale.

Filming occurred all over London and rarely ventured outside the British capital. The main scene not in London was part of the show’s premiere, in which Budd stops a terrorist attack, and was filmed on the Mid Norfolk Railway and at Dereham Station.

While existing places were mentioned, many of them had substitute filming locations: a vacant office building in Uxbridge and studio sets for the Home Office; RSA House for Downing Street; Ham House for Kensington Palace; and the Tate Modern for Metropolitan Police headquarters.

One of Bodyguard’s most tense scenes, in which a sniper attempts to assassinate Montague in the show’s second episode, was all filmed in the streets by St. Paul’s Cathedral. Another tense scene ensues in the following episode with another attempt on Montague’s life, this time while she’s giving a speech at St. Matthews’ College. The University of London Senate House was used for the fictional college.

As far as the characters’ houses are concerned, Budd’s house was filmed at the Stoneleigh Terrace estate, Montague’s was at Overstrand Mansions in Battersea, and the South Place Hotel in Camden was used as the hotel safe house.

3. Shetland

Photo: Marcin Kadziolka/Shutterstock

Shetland is a classic detective story adapted from the novel series by Ann Cleves, following Shetland detective inspector Jimmy Perez as he solves different mysteries. The show itself can get rather bleak, which matches the beautiful, but desolate, scenery that serves as its backdrop.

While the show is set on the Shetland Islands, a Scottish archipelago between the Faroe Islands and the northernmost point of mainland Scotland, not much filming was actually shot there and was done more on the mainland.

Of the scenes that were actually filmed on the Shetland islands, there’s Perez’s home, which viewers see in nearly every episode. Used for this purpose is the Lerwick Lodberrie, right in Shetland’s capital of Lerwick. The location for Perez meeting archaeologist Val Turner is the Shetland Museum and Hay’s Dock Café (located inside the museum). Various other locations in town, such as the harbor, were used as background shots. The second series featured Fair Isle, which stood in for the location where Perez grew up, as well as where one of the series’ murders takes place. Also used in the second series is the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, as its visitor center was transformed into the Willow Reeves’ hotel lounge.

Parts of Northmavine, in northern Shetland, were used as locations for different scenes in season two, three, and four: Burnside Beach for Magnus Bain’s cottage; the Holes of Scraada and Eshaness Cliffs for the place where Michael McGuire dies; and the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, a real-life location significant to season four’s main plot. The show’s fifth series premiere took place on Banna Min Beach, in which severed body parts wash up on a beach and lead into the mystery of Zezi’s disappearance, which serves as an overarching plot.

For many of the interiors and some landscape shots, the crew took to Glasgow and its surrounding towns.

4. The Young Offenders

Photo: The Young Offenders/Facebook

The television incarnation of The Young Offenders is a spin-off of a movie by the same name and provides some serious belly-aching comic relief as it follows rebel teenagers Conor MacSweeney and Jock O’Keefe. The sitcom is set in Cork, Ireland, and all of the filming takes place there. Locations shown throughout its episodes can be found in real life, retain their real names, and are mostly unchanged.

Just walking through the town will put you right in the heart of it all, and fans will instantly recognize locations used for its production. One of these is in the second season’s fourth episode, when Conor and Jock decide on a new business venture — a fish and chip van — which is filmed at Turners Cross, a football stadium. Former Manchester United and Celtic football player Roy Keane even cameos in one of the scenes by Turners Cross.

Besides the fame brought to the Irish city by the show, Cork is famous in its own right for its historical sights. Some of these are showcased in The Young Offenders, such as the English Market; a Franciscan abbey on the North Mall; a former distillery on Wise’s Hill, named after the distiller Francis Wise; St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, the patron saint who founded the first known settlement in Cork; St. Finbarr’s Cemetery; Daly’s Bridge; Pope’s Quay; Corn Market Street; Bishop Lucey Park; and the Cork College of Commerce.

5. Poldark

Photo: Poldark/Facebook

A period drama, Poldark follows Ross Vennor Poldark as he returns to Cornwall after the American Revolutionary War. Filming largely took place in Cornwall, and with five series under its belt, Poldark fans can turn their trip into a multi-day pilgrimage.

The outdoors plays a major part in the show, which means that most of the locations can be visited without much hassle and free of charge. The open, grassy area of Bodmin Moor was used as the scenery around Poldark’s cottage, named Nampara, while the exterior of the cottage itself was filmed in the town of St. Breward (interiors were done in studio). The natural landscape of the area lends itself to easy scenery shots and, as such, a myriad spots on the Cornish coast make appearances, such as the Botallack mines, which served as the location for Wheal Leisure, the mine Poldark owns; the Levant mine, used for the Tressiders Rolling Mill; Padstow for background scenery; and St. Agnes Head for part of the Poldark estate, among many more.

6. Killing Eve

Photo: Killing Eve/Facebook

Anything that involves spies is guaranteed to have a wide variety of locations, and Killing Eve, a spy thriller that tells the tale of a spy and assassin that become obsessed with each other, is no exception. Fans should be ready to traverse all across Europe if they want to follow in the show’s footsteps.

While some interior shots were filmed in a studio in the UK, a lot was filmed on location and is easily accessible to the public.

As Eve is an MI5 agent based in London, many of her scenes can be found there: the exterior of her first office is of a building on Warwick House Street; scenes of her leaving work were filmed around Guy’s Hospital and the Counting House Lodge; her second office is filmed at The College, Holborn; and the exterior of the pub where she meets her co-workers was filmed at The Albert pub while the interior was filmed at another, The Old Nick. Villanelle makes several appearances in London too, such as the park she follows Eve through, which was filmed in Russell Square, and her meetup with Konstantin, her handler, right in front of the Tate Modern.

Different parts of the UK were used as stand-ins for other areas. The club that Villanelle lures Bill, another MI5 agent, into to kill him is shown as being in Berlin but is actually of Fabric Nightclub near London’s Barbican Centre. Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End was used as Hotel Atlasov in Moscow, where Eve and her boss Carolyn stay as they track Villanelle.

As Villanelle was based out of Paris, the French capital was another important filming location. While the interior of her apartment was filmed in studio, Rue Guénégaud and Rue Mazarine (both in the sixth arrondissement) were used for exterior shots of her neighborhood; her meeting with Konstantin in the first season’s fifth episode was filmed in the middle of Place Vendôme; and the scene where she tries to get a taxi to the hospital was filmed on Rue César Franck (in the 15th arrondissement). Also notable is when Eve is on her way back to London and goes to Gare du Nord to do so, which was all filmed at Gare de l’Est.

Amsterdam, Rome, Berlin, and Bucharest are other on-location filming sites but do not appear nearly in the same capacity as London and Paris.


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The post The real-life places behind 6 of the BBC’s best recent TV shows appeared first on Matador Network.

City Palace of Jaipur on Airbnb

If living at the Taj Mahal has always been your dream, this might be the closest you’ll ever get. The City Palace of Jaipur, home of Jaipur’s royal family, will soon be available to book on Airbnb. Starting on November 23, the palace’s Gudliya Suite will be available for guests to rent, making Sawai Padmanabh Singh the first-ever monarch to host an Airbnb.

Photo: Airbnb

Built in 1727, the palace is indeed fit for royals with ornate chambers, spacious reception halls, crystal chandeliers, intricate carvings, and gilded decorations. The suite itself, which is located in one of the palace’s private sections, includes a lounge, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and private indoor swimming pool.

Photo: Airbnb

Guests will be pampered by a private butler and guide, who will also arrange city experiences in UNESCO World Heritage Jaipur, such as shopping tours, walks through local museums, and other activities. Expect to enjoy your meals on the palace terrace with views of the Aravalli hills and tea alongside the resident palace peacocks in the garden.

Photo: Airbnb

The Gudliya Suite will be available at a special rate of $1,000 per night through the end of 2019. On January 1, 2020, the price will return to the original $8,000 per night. Proceeds from all bookings will be donated to the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation, a nonprofit that supports rural women and artisans in the state of Rajasthan.


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The best tiger-spotting in India

While you’ve probably seen captive tigers at zoos around the world, seeing one roaming wild is perhaps the most amazing wildlife experience you could ever have. The best place to view tigers in the wild is India, which is home to two-thirds of the world’s tiger population. India is home to the Royal Bengal tiger, the most numerous of the world’s six surviving subspecies. Bengal tigers are also found in the neighboring countries of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.

A history of tigers in India: from the pride of the nation to the brink of extinction

Photo: Rudra Narayan Mitra/Shutterstock

Tigers have a special place in India’s history and heritage. Some of the earliest representations of today’s endangered national animal can be found in the rock art of Central India dating as far back as 10,000 years, followed by on the seals of the Indus Valley Civilization. The tiger has also served as the royal emblem of the Chola Empire (one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the world), been sculpted in Emperor of Mysore Tipu Sultan’s throne, and appeared on the currency notes of India.

There are references to the power and magnificence of tigers in Vedic literature and Hindu mythology. They’re believed to be the divine vehicle (vahana) of the Hindu goddess Durga. Tribal inhabitants of the nation have also venerated this incredible beast for their religious and cultural purposes. Warli, the indigenous tribe of Maharashtra, worship the tiger as god Vaghadeva. According to them, the tiger symbolizes life and regeneration.

In the Sanguem and Sattari districts of Goa, forest-dwelling communities revere tigers as powerful protectors while the Naga tribe of Northeast India believes that tiger and man are brothers, one striped, the other human. Meanwhile, in Central India, the Baigas ethnic group considers itself a descendant of the tiger, and the Soligas, an indigenous tribe of Karnataka, live in a forest alongside tigers and worship them as Huliverappa, or the Tiger god.

Sadly, despite their status and heritage, many factors have led to a huge decline in the numbers of tigers in India, and poaching is a significant one. Since the 16th century, tigers have been hunted across India. For Mughals, hunting a tiger was a sign of power and royalty, while for the British it was a favored pastime that quickly became a prestigious sport. Tigers were prized as trophies and hunted for body parts that were used in traditional medicinal products, clothing, and elsewhere.

After India’s independence in 1947, tiger poaching escalated. Meanwhile, an inadequate protection infrastructure, lack of genetic diversity, animal-on-human conflict, and loss of natural habitat due to agricultural and developmental activities further diminished the population of these endangered animals.

Conservation projects are making a difference

Photo: Anuradha Marwah/Shutterstock

In response to hunters decimating the country’s tigers, the Indian government imposed a national ban on tiger hunting in 1970, and in 1972, the Wildlife Protection Act came into force. Hunting or poaching and trade of skin and body parts of wild animals, including Indian tigers, became a punishable offence under the act.

Over the years, tiger-friendly amendments have been added to the act. In 1973, a tiger conservation program called “Project Tiger” was launched by India’s government. Aimed at saving the Royal Bengal tigers from extinction, this was perhaps one of the largest tiger conservation initiatives in the world. Today, around 50 national parks and tiger reserves in India are involved in this project, which has had mixed results.

While poaching remains a continual threat, the protection and conservation efforts by the Government of India and organizations such as WWF (World Wildlife Fund) have shown an improvement in the tiger population. According to a census taken in 2018, there are 2,967 tigers in India. The number represents a 33 percent increase in the tiger population since 2014.

India’s hotspots for tiger-spotting

The best place for tiger-spotting in India is the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It has six tiger reserves — the most of any state in India — and the highest number of tigers. It had 526 tigers at the last count and has earned its reputation as the “Tiger State” of India.

1. Bandhavgarh National Park — Madhya Pradesh

Photo: Travel Stock/Shutterstock

Of all the national parks in India, Bandhavgarh National Park is where you are most likely to spot a tiger up close. There are currently around 60 Royal Bengal tigers, plus a healthy population of sloth bear, leopard, sambar, and a wide array of exotic birds. The park also has ancient ruins of forts, hand-carved hermit caves, and statues.

The park has three core sections: Tala, Khitauli, and Magadhi. These are flanked by three buffer zones — Dhamokhar, Johila, and Panpatha — thus providing more space for the park’s ever-expanding number of tigers. Guests can do a guided tour in a four-wheel drive vehicle, a Maruti Gypsy jeep, which is available in all the zones. You could also opt for a larger canter safari on an open-air minibus that is conducted only in the Magadhi and Khitauli zones.

The park is not easy to get to, and you’ll need to buy a safari permit to visit, but you’ll be glad you made the effort. Safari excursions run twice daily — morning and afternoon — and you can book the permit online through the MP Forest Department website. The vehicle and guide fees are to be paid separately at the park before taking the safari. For the best chance of tiger sightings, visit between March and May when the temperature increases, and the big cats come out to cool themselves near the watering holes.

Where to stay: There are several lodges and resorts within the park, mainly in the Tala zone. Many of them provide private safaris along with a guide and vehicle. The Tree House Hideaway and the MP Tourism’s White Tiger Forest Lodge are some great options.

2. Kanha Tiger Reserve — Madhya Pradesh

Photo: Anuradha Marwah/Shutterstock

Covering over 360 square miles, Kanha Tiger Reserve — also called Kanha National Park — is perhaps most recognizable as the setting for Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel The Jungle Book. Its landscape is a mixture of deciduous forests and grasslands that harbor most of The Jungle Book’s wildlife, including Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian wolves, and jackal.

The endangered hard-ground swamp deer (barasingha) can also be found here, as can a variety of other animals, 300 species of birds, and more than 1,000 species of flowering plants. To see the wildlife, especially big cats, try visiting in March or April when the animals gather around the watering holes of Babathenga Tank and Sondar Tank. Safari by jeep is available and can be booked online.

Where to stay: There are many places to reside within the park, from basic rest houses to luxury lodges. Kanha Village Eco Resort is an award-winning local sustainable tourism initiative.

3. Pench Tiger Reserve — Madhya Pradesh

Photo: Chaithanya Krishnan/Shutterstock

Straddling the border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Pench Tiger Reserve — or Pench National Park — is also said to have inspired Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Here is where you can see hundreds of species of birds, Indian leopards, gaur, Indian wolf, four-horned antelope, and several other animals, but the main attraction is the Bengal tigers, of which there are over 40.

Safari by jeep and elephant-back — although we don’t encourage riding elephants — will take you deeper into the tropical deciduous forest, where tiger sightings are most common at the height of the dry season in April and May. Outside of wildlife, visitors can also take advantage of other activities, including boating, camping, and visiting the potter’s village situated near the Turia gate of the park.

Where to stay: Stay right in the heart of the reserve at Pench Jungle Camp.

4. Sundarbans National Park — West Bengal

Photo: Santhosh Varghese/Shutterstock

A complex ecosystem combining massive mangrove forests and deltaic floodplains, the Sundarbans National Park — stretching from India to Bangladesh — can only be accessed by boat. While there are multiple points of entry to this UNESCO World Heritage site, most boat tours begin from Godkhali Port, situated by Gosaba, which is the last inhabited island before the forest deepens. The park contains many endangered animal species, especially Royal Bengal tigers, along with a large number of reptiles, avifauna, and marine mammals including Irrawaddy dolphins.

As per the last count, the number of tigers in the park is about 88 on the Indian side; efforts are currently underway to get a more up-to-date count. Tiger sightings aren’t guaranteed here due to the swampy nature of the park. However, your best chance to spot them is in winter (November-February) from the Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower situated deep within the forest. Alternatively, you can take a river safari to see the swimming tigers.

Where to stay: Book a room at eco-friendly Sunderban Jungle Camp to support the locals, or at Sunderban Tiger Camp, which reflects the local culture and flavor of the region.

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Godzilla ride in Japanese theme park

Jurassic Park-themed attractions might have a monopoly on amusement park big-lizard experiences around the world, but Godzilla is throwing its hat in the ring in a big way. At the Nijigen no Mori theme park on Japan’s Awaji Island, a Godzilla-themed area called “Godzilla Interception Operation” is set to debut in 2020 featuring a 65-foot-tall, 82-feet-wide monster. This will make the park the first place in the world to have a permanent, full-sized replica of Godzilla.

Photo: ニジゲンノモリ　nijigen　no　mori/Facebook

The area will have several activities available to guests, including a shooting game where you can battle Godzilla yourself, and a zip line that brings you right into the lizard’s mouth. Each activity is called a “mission” wherein visitors are enlisted to help defeat Godzilla.

“Godzilla Interception Operation” will coincide with next year’s release of Godzilla vs. Kong, the newest Godzilla movie.


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Best small bleisure cities in the US

When the company is picking up your airfare, sometimes it’s worth stretching out your trip.

Such is the logic behind the recent rise of “bleisure,” a hybrid of business and leisure, used to describe business travelers who extend their corporate jaunts into mini-vacations. Easily done in places like New York, Chicago, and any number of cities around the world. Harder to do in Tampa — or so you’d think. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a lot of smaller cities offer fantastic opportunities for extended work trips. Here are our picks for America’s best.

1. Charlotte, North Carolina

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Big banking may have put Charlotte on the map, but it’s got character and outdoors worth exploring for a few days once the spreadsheets are put away. The best way to unwind? Spend a full day at the US National Whitewater Center. It’s all of your favorite outdoor adventures in one 1,300-acre park, where you can raft Class III-IV rapids, mountain bike through 40 miles of trails, then relax with a beer in the sun before hitting the zip line.

Once you’ve gotten your adventure fill, this city has some fascinating neighborhoods to uncover. Take a stroll down Central Avenue and the Plaza Midwood area, where funky boutiques and vintage clothing stores alternate with breweries and restaurants like Soul Gastrolounge. And be sure to stop for a drink or six at the landmark dive Thirsty Beaver Pub, where beer in a can and shots in plastic cups are de rigueur.

Also make sure to peruse NoDa, where craft cocktail bars like Idlewild sit tucked in modern apartment buildings. And no trip to the Queen City is complete without some bone-sticking Southern Food. You’ll find the best grits you’ve ever tasted at The Yolk Café at the 7th Street Market and fantastic modern takes at Haymaker.

2. Houston, Texas

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Hot, sweltering H-town was for years a place people flew into, met with whomever they had to meet with, and got out as soon as possible. But as this city has grown into the nation’s fourth-largest, it’s also become a world-class leisure destination in its own right. In a stroke of brilliant urban planning, Houston is teeming with green space, and you can enjoy the warm weather hiking or biking through Buffalo Bayou Park, where trees are interspersed with spectacular views of the skyline.

Houston also boasts the most efficient museum-visiting opportunities in the country, with 19 museums all sitting within walking distance of each other. The Houston Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History Museum are the heavy-hitters and worth a look once the school groups have cleared out. But the Contemporary Art Museum and Houston Photography Center have just as impressive of collections, minus the screaming third-graders.

There is, of course, the Space Center, which is worth half a day to check out. But you might also want to head to the EaDo district, where artists’ studios sit beside breweries like 8th Wonder. You must also make a stop at the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, the alleged birthplace of the fajita. Whether or not that’s accurate is a question of Texan lore, but you’ll love your lunch either way.

3. Tampa, Florida

Photo: ESB Professional/Shutterstock

Dwarfed in the shadow of Cinderella’s Castle is the unexpectedly thriving metropolis of Tampa, a pleasant seaside city with all the sunshine and beaches one looks for in Florida — at a fraction of the price. This may not matter when you’re on your expense account, but once you’re on your own dime, Tampa makes for an ideal low-cost Florida getaway.

After the workweek’s over, head down to the Tampa Riverwalk and stroll from pop-up bar to pop-up bar enjoying cold margaritas. If you’d rather stay put, Remedy sits right above the Riverwalk with plenty of craft cocktails and beautiful sunsets. For dinner, head a little further down the Hillsborough to the Armature Works food hall, where James Beard winner Anne Kearney set up shop on the water at Oak and Ola.

Since you’re in Florida, you’ll want some beach time, and a short drive through St. Petersburg brings you to the best stretch of sand in America. Whether you opt for the beach bars along St. Pete Beach, the isolation of Indian Rocks, or the family-friendly shores of Clearwater, you’ll find powdery sand and soft, turquoise water awaiting. Or if you’d like a beach all to yourself, wander to the end of the Westshore neighborhood and Cypress Point Park. It’s a beach right on Tampa Bay that even longtime locals don’t know about.

4. Bellevue, Washington

Photo: Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock

Seattle as a top bleisure destination really isn’t much of a revelation. But Bellevue, its businessey little brother to the east, is just as beautiful a place to enjoy once your meetings with Microsoft are over.

Though newer and decidedly less-historic than Seattle, Bellevue offers access to the same wealth of outdoor adventure as the big city, minus the traffic getting out. A short walk from downtown will have you at Meydenbauer Bay. Here you can rent a kayak from the REI Boathouse and explore Lake Washington, paddling past tech billionaires’ mansions with Mt. Rainier in the distance.

Off the water, Bellevue is a short drive from some of the most scenic hikes in America, whether it’s trekking to the side of a mountain ledge at Rattlesnake Ridge or hiking to one of the area’s best hang-gliding spots at Poo Poo Point. Most of those hikes begin and end near the neighboring towns of North Bend and Issaquah, both charming northwest villages that feel worlds away from Seattle.

Bellevue also sits only a few minutes down I-405 from the wine-tasting wonderland of Woodinville. Here, you’ll find 120 tasting rooms from nearly all of Washington’s top wineries, conveniently packed into a couple square miles. It has the densest concentration of tasting rooms in America, meaning you can explore the best of Washington wine without any concern as to how to get from tasting to tasting.

5. Dallas-Ft.Worth, Texas

Photo: Ceri Breeze/Shutterstock

Dallas, perhaps more than any other popular business destination, requires a bit of exploration to enjoy outside the corporate environment. Sure, in town you can hit up cool neighborhoods like Trinity Groves and Bishop Arts, a venerable small town main street dotted with boutiques and galleries. But Texas is big, and so is the Metroplex. So if you’re ever in Dallas for work, rent a car and see all it has to offer.

Ft. Worth is the obvious first stop, with its historic stockyards and Wild West theme. The city combines big-city sophistication with a hard cattle-town vibe and is worth visiting for the Stockyard photo-op alone. You’ll also want to stop into Joe T. Garcia’s, the landmark Tex-Mex joint that’ll serve you a plate of fajitas no single human could ever finish.

Once finished there, venture out to Grapevine and the North Texas wine country. Napa it is not, but it does offer an urban wine trail where you’ll taste wines you won’t find at home. There’s even a cozy wine train that runs through it all if you want to avoid driving.

Back in town, take some time to relax at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, a 66-acre park with 19 specialized gardens. Or commune with nature at the Trinity River Audubon Center, a preserved wetland in the Great Trinity River Forest with over 200 species of migratory birds.

6. San Jose, California

Photo: Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock

When doing business in Silicon Valley, few people ever consider exploring its largest city instead of San Francisco. But don’t sleep on San Jose, a one-time farm town that’s grown up into the urban center of America’s tech capital.

With its proximity to Facebook, Google, and Apple, San Jose is the de facto leader in tech tourism. And while visiting their sprawling campuses isn’t much more interesting than any other office park, it will yield some great photo-ops and unique souvenirs. You can even take a guided tour of it all if you don’t feel like creeping around parking lots.

San Jose is also home to two museums unlike any in the country. First, the Computer History Museum, which shows how the computer went from a three-room behemoth to pocket-sized life fixture in just over 70 years. And the Japanese American Museum in Japantown, where you’ll get a brutal education in World War II internment camps in hopes we never repeat that regrettable history.

Like much of California, San Jose is also a short drive from fantastic wine country, whether it’s the Judgment of Paris-famous Ridge Vineyards in Cupertino or the monastic majesty at Testarossa. If you’d rather engage in healthier pursuits, hike among the redwoods at Portola Redwoods State Park. Or take a short drive to the beach and boardwalk in Santa Cruz.


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