Every nation has its legendary creature. Some walk on earth, others swim through our oceans, and some even soar into the night sky. But what connects them all is that they captivate the imagination and curiosity of people from around the globe…and sometimes, they can even be based on fact, rather than fiction. The Bili ape, for example, was thought to be a legend for decades. Locals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo claimed there were massive, human-sized apes in the Bili forest that could even hunt and kill lions. These apes weren’t caught on camera for the first…
Author: Keith Langston
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…
Because of the ongoing pandemic, some people won’t be traveling home this holiday season. Luckily, there are wonderful holiday activities in cities all across America, so no matter where you are, you too can celebrate the holidays in style. Here are some of the best activities from around the country. New York City New York City is famous for its holiday spectaculars, and despite COVID, this year will be no different. Residents can still be amazed by the dazzling tree at Rockafeller Center and the magnificently decorated storefronts at Macy’s, Saks Fifth Ave, and more. On top of that,…
If you’re looking for a truly unique and unexpected travel experience, look no further than The Gentle Barn. Headquartered in California, The Gentle Barn is a nonprofit that offers refuge and sanctuary for a variety of rescued animals who need a home. The Gentle Barn, which is actually a sprawling farm that offers an ample amount of space for the animals to enjoy themselves, is home to horses, chickens, peacocks, emus, dogs, and more. But the real stars are the cows. People visit from all over for cow hugging and even cow therapy. Cows are extremely gentle and caring animals.…
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,”…
This holiday season, the Galleria Dallas is celebrating with the nation’s tallest indoor Christmas tree. The Galleria’s tree stands 95 feet tall and is topped with a 10-foot, 100-pound LED star. Adorning the tree is 450,000 LED lights and 10,000 ornaments. The Galleria Dallas is a massive four-story, 1,700,000 square foot mall located on the northern side of the city. The centerpiece of the giant mall is an expansive open space, topped off by an enormous glass dome. For the holiday season, the space’s ice skating rink (yes, the mall has an indoor skating rink) is adorned with a towering Christmas…
It’s true that America may love coffee. With numerous cities, like Seattle, being famous for their brews, it’s easy to assume that coffee is king in the beverage world. But did you know that coffee isn’t the world’s top beverage? Nope. It’s not coffee, and it’s not even beer. By leaps and bounds, the world’s top beverage, aside from water is…. TEA. That’s right. Whether green or black, tea has captured the hearts and souls of people around the globe. And if you have yet to embrace the famed brew, it’s time you start! There are five main “types” of…
The US State Department announced on December 20th that passport prices will increase by $20 for all passports, both new and renewals. According to Afar, the new passport prices will be as follows: ~ Adult (16 and older) and applying for the first time: $165 ~ Adult (16 and older) and renewing their passport: $130 ~ Under 16 and applying for a new passport: $135 In a Twitter post from the State Department, it says that prices are increasing in order to “ensure we continue to produce one of the most secure travel and identity documents in the world..” However,…
We all know that cruising has been one of the hardest-hit industries during the COVID pandemic. With close quarters, no room to social distance, and tons of shared spaces, cruise ships have repeatedly become outbreak hotspots during the pandemic (there have been at least 42 instances on cruise ships). Because of this, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents about 95% of all oceanic cruising vessels around the world, has announced that all their members will suspend cruising until at least 2021. ABC News reports that the cruise industry will instead “use the remainder of the year to prepare…
In an official announcement, the CDC has come out and said that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks or socially distance while indoors or outdoors. In the official statement, the Director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, stated, “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy.” However, there are a few caveats to this. First, if you’re not yet fully vaccinated the CDC still says you are required to wear…
Trains used to be the main means of travel between cities in the USA. They were also exciting experiences filled with ornate interiors, fine dining options, and even entertainment. To greet visitors, cities used to build opulent train stations. In more recent years, with the rise of cars and airplanes, train travel took a nosedive. Both the amount of passenger trains, and the hospitality they provided dwindled until trains became nothing more than slow-moving buses. With that, the train station went from being a city’s shining jewel, to a dusty, unused relic of the past. But that’s all starting to…
A new survey conducted by the Travel Leaders Network, North America’s largest network of travel agencies, reveals that Americans are ready to get back to exploring the world. The TLN surveyed past and present clients to gauge on how the public feels about vaccines and travel in 2021, here’s what they discovered: · 85% said they plan to get vaccinated (or already have been). · One in three have already booked their next vacation. · 62% are planning to take their next vacation in 2021. · 44% said “exploring new places” is what they miss most about traveling. · 62%…
Last week, JetBlue announced some shocking statistics, putting itself in the position to be America’s most eco-friendly airline. The company is set to ramp up its environmental policies through three areas: Carbon offsetting, sustainable fuel, and corporate commitments to sustainability. By Keith David Langston 1. CARBON OFFSETTING JetBlue has been using carbon-offset programs since 2008. In carbon-offsetting, you donate money to environmental nonprofits to make up for the carbon being emitted by your travels. Some donate “per mile traveled” or “per gallon of fuel used” or even “per ticket price.” It works like this: Someone would donate a certain…
Since the pandemic began, the global map has looked like a messy hodgepodge of various travel rules and restrictions. Some countries are fully welcoming to Americans. Some are welcoming to vaccinated Americans. Some require two-week quarantines (which would completely ruin a vacation), and some are still completely closed to visitors from the US and many others. Here’s a quick snapshot of where some of the most popular tourist destinations currently stand (citations at bottom of the article). ***All statistics listed are based on visiting for the purpose of tourism. Some countries have different guidelines for visitors who arrive for different…
To truly get away from it all, you may want to visit the some most isolated islands in the world. These destinations are fascinating and mysterious, as well as being located far from most of civilization. If you are interested in geography, history, and travel, these islands are a must to discover. By Keith David Langston THE KERGUELEN ISLANDS The Kerguelen islands are made up of the main island, with a few smaller outlying islands nearby. Their climate is quite inhospitable. Located in a murky region geographically, these islands straddle the border where the Indian Ocean ends and the…
The world-renowned LGBT resort chain, Axel Hotels, is headed to the floating city, and we couldn’t be more excited to get a chance to check it out! For those who don’t know, Axel Hotels is famous for their exquisite service, upscale facilities, and most importantly, their unique take on what an LGBT hotel is. Axel Hotels is all about embracing travel and experience. View from Axel’s Hotel Venezia Axel’s Hotel Venezia has spent two years in the renovation process, meticulously perfecting every moment of your stay. The goal of the Axel Hotel…
JetBlue is joining other airlines like Hawaiian and United by offering pre-flight COVID testing. According to the airline, this will help customers know they’re flying safely and will help anyone visiting destinations that require a negative test result to avoid quarantining. The test can be administered at home and the results will come in 72 hours or less. The airline is partnering with medtech company Vault Health to supply the test. ABC Boston reports that the Vault Health website references its price as $150, however, we reached out to JetBlue directly and confirmed that JetBlue passengers will be getting the test…
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…
Last week, the CDC announced new guidelines that won’t require cruise lines to ask for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination from passengers. Many say this move has to do with the CDC not wanting to get into a legal battle with Florida, the largest cruise hub in America. Florida recently passed a law that banned businesses from demanding proof of vaccination from patrons. Some cruise lines, like Carnival (the world’s largest cruise corporation), have said that they will not intervene with the CDC ruling, and will keep vaccinations optional. According to Reuters, Carnival said that requiring vaccinations would be, “largely unworkable…
Landing can be one of the coolest parts of flying. I always loved flying into LAX back when I lived in LA. You pass downtown LA and the Hollywood sign upon your descent. This week, private jet website PrivateFly released 2019’s list of the most scenic airports in the world. These airports are so beautiful that they make my LAX memories seem more like a mundane trip through the car wash. In the survey, over 7,000 people were interviewed and 129 airports were named in total. The 10 airports with the most votes are… By Keith David Langston 10.)…