We’ve all been there, waiting impatiently at the baggage carousel, anxiously hoping for that first glimpse of our checked luggage. Then we breathe a sigh of relief, collect it and get on with our travels. Or we don’t. Last year in the United States, airlines lost or damaged one out …
Read More »By Ferry or Floatplane, 4 Enchanting Coastal Getaways From Vancouver
Canada’s westernmost province, British Columbia, is studded with 17,000 miles of coastline and 40,000 islands dispersed across its waters, many of them enchanting destinations on their own. Vancouver, the largest city of the province, serves as a gateway to the region, which is home to a host of marine life …
Read More »4 Can’t-Miss Towns in an Often Overlooked Corner of Japan
If I stared too long, the glossy, petrified tree trunk seemed to pulsate energy through the roof, down into the walls and past the fragile washi paper screens. “The house breathes,” Akihiro Tokunaga, the building’s owner, explained, snapping me out of the hypnosis. “You can feel that this tree is …
Read More »American Airlines Fined $50 Million for Treatment of Passengers Using Wheelchairs
Saying that American Airlines mistreated disabled air travelers who use wheelchairs, the U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday announced a $50 million fine against the carrier. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the agency’s penalty the highest ever levied against an airline for violating protections for fliers with disabilities. The Transportation Department …
Read More »Riding the Rails, Literally, on a Pedal-Powered Bike
It’s always a thrill to pull out of a train station and feel yourself picking up speed, wheels click-clacking over the rails. It’s even more thrilling when your train has no roof or sides, is as low-slung as a Mazda Miata and comes with a warning to watch out for …
Read More »A Cheapskate in Manhattan
People go to New York for the street life, restaurants, cultural treasures and more. I go to New York because it makes me think, which is how I found myself on a beautiful September morning walking the High Line on the West Side of Manhattan, marveling at the resilience of …
Read More »Big Sur Weighs Tourism Against Its Environmental Impact
The 70 miles of California coastline that makes up the unincorporated area of Big Sur has a storied, almost mystical allure, largely thanks to its staggering beauty. With redwood forests, stunning Pacific views, winding rivers and natural hot springs, the area has for decades attracted celebrities, artists and millions of …
Read More »In Sedona, a Psychic and a Skeptic Walk Into a Vortex
On a clear spring day, my mother and I hiked an unmarked spur trail to Subway Cave, in Boynton Canyon, near Sedona, Ariz. As we scrambled up a cliff to the cave’s opening, we heard a little boy ask his father, “Do you think moons could be spaceships? We’re always …
Read More »6 Vacations That Could Help You Live Longer and Healthier
People used to strive simply to live as long as possible, but in recent years, that goal has taken on a new dimension: How long can you live in good health? “The focus now is on health span, not life span,” said Dr. Frank Lipman, a co-author of the 2020 …
Read More »Ship-Free Saturdays? Juneau Votes Against Limiting Large Cruise Ships.
From Venice and Amsterdam to Maine and Key West, popular tourist destinations are taking a hard look at cruise ship traffic and the crowds and environmental pressures they generate. Among the most recent destinations to consider limiting that traffic is Juneau, Alaska, which has a population of 32,000 and received …
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