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…
Author: Keith Langston
In a previous post, we talked about the best ways to travel for cheap, free, or even get paid. But maybe you’re looking for more than just a funded trip. Maybe you want travel to be your life, you’re in it for the long haul, and you’re ready to take that step into the unknown and leave the mundane behind. Well, this is the list for you! Here are a few jobs that will allow you to travel the world. By Keith David Langston CRUISE SHIP JOBS The most dynamic array of careers that allow you to travel is…
Are you jonesing for your next travel fix, but can’t decide to where go? If you’re a film lover, we have some great suggestions to encourage you to book that perfect vacation you’ve been dreaming about. Below are five of the best travel movies to inspire you to pack your bags and explore the world. They’re filled with the important things that makes travel wonderful: great food, larger-than-life locales, and most importantly, adventure. If you’re in need of some travel inspiration, make sure to watch these films before planning your next getaway. —By Keith Langston Eat, Pray, Love Yes,…
With the ongoing pandemic, everyone is looking to travel. They’re looking to escape the cities, get out into nature, and take road trips, RV getaways, and camping adventures. And a new study from Kampgrounds of America (better known as KOA) has released their findings from a survey that proves America is choosing tents and campers over hotels and resorts. In KOA’s North American Camping Report for Fall 2020, they surveyed campers and RVers about their travel trends over the last few months, and here are some of their findings: ~ 21% of leisure travelers took camping trips after the COVID lockdown…
The US Travel Association has released a report stating that the coronavirus is going to have an $809 billion dollar impact on the travel industry. With the lowered demand for travel that could stretch on for months, millions of jobs could be lost. The report stated that a whopping 15.8 million Americans work in travel-related industries and that about 83% of travel employers are small businesses. The current situation is dire for the employers and employees of these companies. The President of the US Travel Association, Roger Dow, went to the White House on Tuesday to speak with officials of possible…
Though many people might not know this, for years now, Expedia has owned many of its competitors, including Orbitz, Vrbo, Travelocity, Hotwire, CheapTickets, Trivago, Hotels.com, and more. Now, Expedia has released a statement saying that all of its brands will be merging their loyalty programs, similar to the way that airline alliances have formed. When speaking to CNBC, Jon Gieselman, president of Expedia Brands, stated, “Our loyalty program will offer members the opportunity to earn and redeem points across all Expedia Group brands, even those brands, like Vrbo, that didn’t have loyalty programs before. A customer will be able to earn points for their Vrbo vacation rental and redeem it on an…
Yesterday, a Federal Judge deemed that America’s federal transportation mask mandate was unlawful. The motion is still under review, but the CDC said that while the claim is being investigated, the mandate would not be enforced…meaning that, essentially, the travel mask mandate has ended. Quickly after the news from the CDC, airlines across America began making masks optional, for both passengers and crew. Now, United, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Frontier, Allegiant, Sun Country, Southwest, Alaska, and Spirit are all no longer requiring masks. According to CNBC, United Airlines released a statement after the ruling, saying, “While this means that our…
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has teamed up with the biggest names in travel to create the think-tank, Travalyst. The organization is determined to make travel more ethical for both the environment and local communities around the world. Along with Prince Harry, the other founding members are Booking.com, Skyscanner, TripAdvisor, VISA, and the Chinese travel site Ctrip. Together, they have started examining the fact that travel is a growing industry, and will only continue to grow. And with that continued growth, comes continued strain on the environment and local communities. Examples of this include the story from earlier this…
2020 has been the year of “doomscrolling”, where social media feeds and news sites show almost nothing but horribly depressing news. But what if there was an alternative to that? What if you couldn’t just doomscroll, but could also go joyscrolling? That’s exactly what a team in Iceland decided to make happen with Joyscroll.com. Joyscrolling is a new experience where you can explore the sights, sounds, and flavors of Iceland, all without leaving the comfort of your snuggly blankets. The website is both web and mobile compatible and allows you to scroll your way through thermal pools, whale songs, seafood…
Governor Andrew Cuomo says that New York City will be setting up COVID-19 testing stations inside the airport terminals for visitors entering the city. At a press conference on Monday, August 24th he stated that the stations will be created at JFK International and LaGuardia. However, even though Newark is one of NYC’s largest airports, because it sits in New Jersey, Cuomo has no jurisdiction over it. New Jersey has yet to announce any testing plans for the state’s largest international hub. According to the New York Daily News, the testing won’t be mandatory, but it will be free to…
As all travelers have likely heard by now, there’s a new COVID variant causing concern for government officials and healthcare workers: the Omicron variant. Since its discovery in mid-November, facts about the new virus have been a mixed bag. On one hand, preliminary, observational testimony from doctors in South Africa claims that the variant is causing less-severe illness in patients. This is great news, however, it’s important to note that most of the patients observed in these claims are young, and none of this information has been peer-reviewed or documented in medical journals yet. But still, it’s a glimmer of…
Trees. They provide oxygen, shade, and a home for animals. They also filter carbon, purifying our planet’s air. They’re (for the most part) aesthetically pleasing and have actually been scientifically proven to be beneficial to our mental health.But before you run outside to soak up some flora-power, read on to discover the seven coolest tree species from around the world! By Keith David Langston JOSHUA TREE California, USA Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) are the largest species of yucca on the planet and are sometimes referred to as “Yucca Palms.” The name Joshua Tree is said to come from Mormon…
Austrian Airlines is the latest airline (joining others, like Lufthansa) demanding that a comprehensive COVID-19 testing strategy replace travel bans and entry quarantines. In a statement, Austrian Airlines CEO von Hoensbroech stated, “The freedom to travel is an important cornerstone of our modern-day society which should not be curtailed in the long term. Whoever is healthy and not infected should also be allowed to travel…” Various airlines sent a letter to US Vice President Mike Pence and Ylva Johansson, the EU Home Affairs Commissioner, demanding that a cost-effective, efficient testing plan be established so that travel between the European continent and…
Travel doesn’t have to send you to the poorhouse. In fact, there are lots of ways to travel for really cheap! Or…who cares about cheap, you can literally travel for free. Don’t believe me? Well, then this next one is really gonna throw you… Why travel for free when you can get paid to travel? That’s right, I’m talkin’ about going overseas and walking home with a paycheck. Before you click that little x and decide to read something else, let me prove it to you. Below are the best ways to travel cheaply, for free, or even get paid.…
As vaccination efforts ramp up around the world, more and more Americans are feeling eager to travel. Fortunately, many nations have started opening up their borders to travelers who are fully vaccinated or who are willing to take tests and quarantine. Here are some of the countries welcoming travelers from the USA now. For the full list, click on the links at the end of this post. BELIZE According to CNN, Belize is now allowing travel from America. Non-vaccinated people will need to be tested, but there is no quarantine in place. Vaccinated visitors are exempt from the testing…
If you have a trip planned to Walt Disney World Resort and/or Universal Parks and Resorts in Orlando anytime soon, chances are that you are debating whether it is safe or even worth it to make the trip during the pandemic. Fortunately, both parks have worked diligently to help make that decision a little easier. Disney and Universal have gone above and beyond to do everything possible to improve and maintain safety and hygiene procedures so you can still relax and enjoy your vacation. “We are inviting our guests back to our theme parks in a cautious and thoughtful way,”…
With over 24 million people, Shanghai is currently the largest city in the world. It’s a sprawling metropolis where ultra-modern skyscrapers mingle side-by-side with China’s history. Shanghai, written as上海 is Chinese, has always been a big deal. It was once a sleepy village, but as far back as the year 960, Shanghai grew into an important trading port. Shanghai has also been a hotbed for pirates and lawlessness, with it’s infamous connection to the opium wars and men being “shanghaied”. Yes, it was certainly the wild west of the east. Shanghai seems to be unstoppable. Despite it’s illustrious history, the…
There are few industries that the coronavirus pandemic has hit as hard as travel and tourism. Not only did the outbreak bring the global tourism industry to a complete standstill, but the impacts from the COVID-19 crisis is likely to be felt for a long time. For instance, the TSA has adopted numerous changes that will help keep travelers safe, and not just from the coronavirus. These changes will also help lessen the spread of colds and the flu in the fall and winter. Below is a list of the new changes you can expect the next time you enter…
In an extremely rare move, both conservatives and liberals in the United States have come together with bi-partisan support for conservation. The Great American Outdoors Act passed 73-25 in the Senate, with many vulnerable Republican senators voting in favor of the measure. The bill will take $900 million in oil and gas revenue and put it towards the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is used for America’s public land. The bill will also allocate 6.5 billion dollars to much-needed improvement projects in America’s National Parks. The bill even managed to get the approval of Donald Trump, who previously fought…
The world is filled with beautiful, delicious, and even crazy plants. Some of these plants, however, are also deadly. One of the plants on our list could be located right in your backyard, and another could be on your dinner plate. From America, to Australia, to Argentina, deadly plants are everywhere. By: Keith David Langston DEADLY NIGHTSHADE Native to Europe, Northern Africa, Western Asia Those little juicy berries sure do look delicious, don’t they? Unfortunately, many children playing in the woods think so. The nightshade, which is actually a relative to the potato, tomato, and eggplant, contains deadly tropane alkaloids. When…