For once in my life, I looked around, surrounded by unfamiliar territory, and though I had the greatest urge to spout that age-old movie reference — “we’re not in Kansas anymore” — the fact of the matter was that, yes, we very much were in Kansas. I mean, in the very heart of America, in that region known as the Great Plains, you have some idea of what you’ll come across, but reading about it or seeing a photo or video is truly not the same as being surrounded by rolling green hills as far as the eye can see.
Read MoreAs you might remember, it began with an airplane — more specifically, the kind that flies right over your head as you stand on a tiny beach. That phenomenon, if you will, was what brought us to Saint Martin, an island in the northeastern Caribbean Sea comprised of territory belonging to the Netherlands and France.
Read MoreWhile experiencing the “Maho Blast,” if you will, provided the initial motivation to fly down to the Caribbean, we also knew Saint Martin had much more to offer than that. Some things we planned in advance; some things we left to chance, just going with the flow and seeing what the travel gods had in store for us. The end result was a trip for the books.
Read MoreMountain vacations offer plenty of fantastic things, like scenic drives and crisp, clean air, but for some people, a mile-high getaway can also bring altitude sickness. Also known as acute mountain sickness or hypoxia, it can affect anyone who isn’t acclimated to their elevation (especially if their home altitude is closer to sea level), and usually occurs at elevations above 8,000 feet.
Read MoreYou’ve no doubt heard of the Four Corners — the monument that marks the spot where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona come together, allowing you to stand in all four states at once — but there’s another convergence of state lines over in the Midwest that’s likely never crossed your mind. It’s so obscure, in fact, that it might as well just be marked by a rock on the side of a dirt road.
Read More“Stairway to Heaven” may be the name of an absolute jam by Led Zeppelin, but it’s also the nickname for a series of steps found on the Hawaiian island of Oahu that may soon be removed for good. The Haiku Stairs, a 3,000-plus step, steel staircase leading up into the Ko’olau mountain range, are a travel bucket list item for many — but if you’re planning to check it off yours, you’ll need to do so in a hurry.
Read MoreIf you asked 100 random people on the street what the southernmost point of the continental U.S. is, perhaps 50 to 60 of them could correctly tell you that Key West, Florida, is the destination you’re after. What would happen, though, if you asked the same group to name the northernmost point? Would the number of correct responses be similar? Higher? Lower? If I were betting on it, I’d certainly take the under.
Read More“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Isn’t that what they say? Well, what if we’re not talking about Sin City, but another town that just happens to share the same name? Does the rule still apply then? You may have thought there was only enough room for one Las Vegas in this world, but the truth, my friend, is this: there are actually six.
Read MoreTraveling to a new city can certainly feel overwhelming. Whether you’re planning on spending a long weekend partying in Miami or a week sightseeing in and around Paris, you likely want to use your time as efficiently as possible, knocking as many things as you can off your list while still being able to enjoy everything. But sometimes it’s difficult to know where to begin.
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