EarthX, the worlds largest environmental convention, is gearing up for its 10th anniversary in 2020 with Earthx2020. The event will be held in Fair Park, Dallas and will include a film festival, gala, speakers, charity dinners, and more. Their 2019 event attracted almost 200,000 attendees, including country star LeAnn Rimes. During the 2019 EarthX film festival, many high-profile environmental documentaries were screened, including the SXSW prize-winner The River and the Wall, and Sharkwater: Extinction, the posthumously released sequel to Sharkwater by conservationist Rob Stewart, who tragically passed away during a dive in 2017. EarthX also created the Go NoCo Loco…
Author: Keith Langston
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is one of the largest cruise operators in the entire world. Together, the conglomerate owns Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas. Now, the company is threatening to move all of its Florida-based ships in response to the state’s new anti-vaccination laws. De Santis, Florida’s governor, recently made it illegal for any company to require proof of vaccination from customers. This is catastrophic to the cruise industry for two reasons. First, the CDC announced that cruise lines can skip a series of hurdles if they can ensure that over 95% of passengers and crew are vaccinated. However,…
Modern technology may have destroyed newspapers, cable, CD’s, and DVD’s, but one industry that seems to be indestructible is the book industry. Readers love their books. And we love them to be physical, tangible things that we can touch, things we can read on airplanes (even during take-off and landing), and things we can put on the shelf afterwards to keep as mementos of the journeys we’ve taken. This is a list of some of America’s coolest independent bookstores. This list by no means complete, as there are wonderful bookstores all over the USA. If you love a bookstore that…
Vanilla, chocolate, cookie dough, Neapolitan – Ah yes, the classics. For the adventurous among us, there’s always new and exciting Ben and Jerry’s flavors to be savored and enjoyed, but what happens when Cherry Garcia is no longer thrilling enough? What happens when you want to live on the wild side…when you start craving something bizarre, unknown, and potentially even a little morbid? Well my friends, then you’ve stumbled upon the right list. I proudly present, the craziest ice cream flavors from around the world. By Keith David Langston CICADA Gather ’round everyone, and I shall tell you a little…
We previously reported on the various resorts and activities that have reopened in Las Vegas. Now, we have a more complete list of where to stay and play in Sin City. Some of the Strip’s biggest properties, like Cesar’s Palace, Treasure Island, Paris, Stratopshpere, and Wynn-Encore have also reopened. Paris, Las Vegas One of the staples of the Las Vegas strip is the giant Eiffel Tower and that glittering hot air balloon. And with international travel on hold, there’s no better way to get your Parisian fix than by visiting the famous Paris Las Vegas. Currently, the casino, bars, and…
The Key West International Airport has a new visitor roaming the terminal and gate areas called R2Key2. It’s a robot that releases a high-intensity ultraviolet UV-C wavelength that helps remove 99.9% of harmful pathogens (including the novel coronavirus) from the air and surfaces. In fact, according to officials, the robot can disinfect the entire airport’s surfaces in just two and a half hours. Last month, Key West launched a contest asking people from around the country to help give this new robot a name. After all, a COVID-fighting robot deserves a good name, right? Each applicant who suggested a name was…
On Monday, New Zealand finally welcomed inbound flights from other countries. Starting in April, Australians were able to enter the country, and now, more than 60 countries are finally able to re-enter New Zealand after more than 2 years. However, as the South China Morning Post cites, New Zealand still isn’t allowing visitors from China, India, and other countries that aren’t part of the “visa-on-demand” program. According to the BBC, New Zealand will still require that visitors be fully vaccinated and test negative before entering, as the country hopes to keep its COVID-19 rates relatively low with the arrival of…
‘Tis the season for holiday travel. Thanksgiving and Christmas and rapidly approaching and that means Americans will be taking to the roads, rails, and skies. Travel Channel recently released a survey stating that a whopping 67% of Americans are planning to travel during the holidays. That means crowded airports, longer lines, increased security, and delays. But did you know that the airport you fly from can makes a huge difference? That’s right, CompareCards released a study on the best and worst airports to fly from during the holidays. The study used USDOT travel data from 2009 to 2018 to paint…
The summer of 2021 is seeing an unexpected trend, the rise of “Summer Christmas.” Christmas in July has long been a tongue-in-cheek celebration, and the town of Bethlehem is known for going all-out during the holidays (and with its name, how could it not?). Visitors can expect a full-blown holiday extravaganza running from July 1-25. During that period, all the shops in the historic downtown area will be decked out with exciting window displays. Some will decorate in a traditional style, and others are expected to incorporate the event’s unique timing, creating some wonderfully creative scenes! Visitors are encouraged to…
Delysia is a prominent chocolatier based in Austin, Texas. They’re known for their exquisite chocolates, as well as their funky personality, often creating unique truffles for the holidays, such as candy corn chocolate truffles for Halloween. Now, Delysia is bringing that adventurous spirit to the Christmas season with their advent calendar. Inside you’ll find 25 chocolate truffles, each one decorated with a number, symbolizing the 24 days of December leading up to Christmas (plus one secret surprise for the holiday itself). What makes the collection so unique is that each truffle is flavored based on holiday culinary traditions from around…
Auckland, New Zealand is one of the most beautiful and dynamic cities I have ever had the privilege to live in. It’s like if you mixed San Francisco with Hawaii. Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city (though not its capital). In fact, Auckland has about 1/4 of the entire population of the county, causing Kiwis to nickname Aucklanders as JAFAs (Just Another F****** Aucklander). Much like America’s New York/Los Angeles debate, or Australia’s Sydney/Melbourne debate, Auckland is always in contention with Wellington as to which city is truly the cultural hub of New Zealand coolness. Personally, I vote for Auckland. And…
On November 1st, Peru will reopen its doors to travelers from around the world. The nation is set to begin allowing flights of up to eight hours long, meaning passengers can now arrive from cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Toronto, Mexico City, San Jose, and more. Passengers will also be also to skip quarantining if they can provide a negative COVID-19 test result upon landing. This also means that Machu Picchu, one of the greatest wonders on the entire planet, will be reopening to visitors. The famous historic site will be operating at 30% capacity, meaning that only 675 people…
The new coronavirus has altered reality as we know it. The good news for everyone out there is that the mortality rate of the coronavirus is less than 1%, much lower than original estimates which were based solely on confirmed cases in China alone. The unfortunate news is that the virus has altered everyday life and strained the economy. Restaurants, schools, theaters, and concert venues are closing, travel restrictions are in place, and the economy stands on shaky ground. It’s no surprise that the most vulnerable industry in all of this is the travel industry. As a basic economic rule…
Royal Caribbean had recently announced that all passengers on their vessels must be fully vaccinated. However, the state of Florida challenged this. The state saw lots of potential revenue dollars being lost and has increasingly been touting its ultra-conservative agenda. Political leaders in the state didn’t want to lose potential tax dollars and also wanted to show how little they care about COVID protections. So, they fought the move, claiming that requiring vaccination verification was an invasion of personal liberties. A Florida judge ruled in Florida’s favor, saying cruise lines were not allowed to request such things while operating in…
Hot air balloons…they’re not just for the Wizard of Oz anymore. In fact, many destinations around the world have launched hot air balloon journeys that are truly unique, adventurous, and will give you marvelous views that allow “ballooners” to see a destination in a whole new way. Confused about where to take your first balloon adventure? Read below for the 6 most epic balloon journeys around the world! By Keith David Langston MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA In recent decades, Melbourne has emerged as a power player on the global stage and has climbed into the top 100 largest cities on the…
Did you know that many cities in America have some excellent, and quite large, natural wonders close by, or even within the city? That’s right. In some cities, a great hike in a beautiful natural setting may only be a short bus ride away. Join us as we experience some of the best urban hikes in the USA! By Keith David Langston CALABASAS PEAK TRAIL, LOS ANGELES Despite being America’s second-largest city and the poster child for urban sprawl, Los Angeles is loaded with outdoor opportunities. What separates “the city” from “the valley” is the Santa Monica mountains. This…
Many travelers are wondering how to safely get back out into the world, so they can explore new destinations and revisit old favorites. One tour company, Tours By Locals, may have the answer. Tours By Locals enlists the help of reliable and knowledgeable locals to lead private tours. The company has guides in over 183 countries and thousands throughout North America alone. Better yet, with private, personalized tours, you can ensure your trip will be socially distanced. On top of this, the company also has their guides follow many safety procedures, such as wiping down all touchpoints of vehicles after…
New York City is loaded with observation decks, from the World Trade Center to the Empire State Building, but none quite compare to the experience at SUMMIT, which is opening on October 21 at the newly-completed One Vanderbilt tower next to Grand Central Station. SUMMIT blends the views of New York City with thrilling experiences, art, and even a cafe and bar. Here’s your first glimpse into the stunning new space. When arriving at SUMMIT, you’re greeted with an immersive artistic experience, Air. Air is all about the juxtaposition between the ground and air, inside and outside, and up and…
Iceland, the island nation known for hot springs, stunning landscapes, and being the place where much of Game of Thrones was filmed, has just opened its borders to international visitors. According to the government, anyone who has been fully vaccinated, or who has previously been infected with COVID-19, can now enter, as long as they’re able to provide proof of vaccination and/or prior infection. This is positive news that shows governments feel tourism will return quickly. It’s also a great indication of what’s to come. As more and more of the world gets vaccinated, more borders will continue to open,…
United Airlines has announced that it will require all staff and crew to be vaccinated. According to NPR, the airline’s new policy states, “The requirement is that all U.S. domestic employees of the airline be fully vaccinated by Oct. 25, or five weeks from the date that any one vaccine gets full approval from the Food and Drug Administration, whichever comes first.” Vaccinating passengers and crew in the air industry is crucial now that the airlines have stopped blocking middle seats, which allows for close-contact spread of the newer, more contagious variants of the coronavirus. The WHO states that COVID…