Everyone wants to be a little greener. And the small decisions we make can have big impacts on the world around us. One of the biggest contributors to air pollution is transportation. In fact, the EPA states that about 29% of greenhouse gasses come from transport alone. If you’re looking to lower your carbon footprint, here are the most common forms of transportation, ranked by how eco-friendly they are. By Keith Langston 8.) Automobile (driving alone) Driving a car by yourself is extremely pollutive. Sadly, in many parts of the world, cities were designed around the automobile (Los Angeles…
Author: Keith Langston
Black Forest Gateau, Turkish Delight, Neapolitan ice Cream, Belgian Waffle – Nothing makes a sweet treat even sweeter than having a name that evokes a destination. As your tastebuds delight over the delicious flavors, your mind is filled with memories of past trips, or the excitement of ones to come. In America we have loads of our own desserts named after some delicious destinations, and here are some of the best. By Keith Langston BOSTON CREAM PIE A true Americana staple, Boston Cream Pie is probably known to most Americans. The recipe is fairly straightforward: A heaping dollop of…
Baymont, part of the Wyndham brand, is launching a new ad campaign showcasing the fact that the hotel chain is pet-friendly. After the wave of pet adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baymont says it recognizes the need for more pet-friendly hotels to meet the growing demand of families who travel with their pets. To herald in this new campaign, Baymont says it’s looking for a canine ambassador, who will be known as “Buddy of the Year”. This new spokespup will star in the hotel’s new digital ad campaign focusing on the brand’s pet-friendly nature. The winning dog’s owners will also…
Everyone wants to experience the spooky, creepy, wonders of Halloween, but many wonder which outdoor destinations they can visit during the ongoing pandemic, and if there are places they can visit to get some scares, without endangering their health. The answer is there are tons! America is loaded with haunted forests, caves, cemeteries, and more. While visiting a haunted town like Salem is always fun, there’s no need to be near civilization to get your haunt on…simply visit one of these truly terrifying outdoor destinations! The Bell Witch Cave Tennessee The Bell Witch was a supposed supernatural entity that began…
Sonoma County, America’s premier wine region, just launched a new social campaign to help inspire and motivate people around the world. The county, which is constantly ranked as one of the best places to visit in North America, brought together many of their local businesses to celebrate in a virtual toast with travelers from all over the world who have visited Sonoma. Cheers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLvryElsfWs&feature=youtu.be Todd O’Leary, vice president of marketing and communications at Sonoma County Tourism stated, “We may come from different places, and have different cultures, customs, and languages, but the act of toasting is universal. The act of raising…
The hope of creating a reliable “vaccine passport” started in April of 2020. In theory, it would be a document that showed whether you’ve been vaccinated, and are therefore (most likely) immune to the current strains of the novel coronavirus. The questions everyone is asking are: Who will be in charge of making the vaccine passports? Who will accept them? How will people get one? And how do we prevent people from making counterfeits? Sadly, the answers are not clear. Like all things during the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of creating a universal, efficient vaccine passport is going to challenging.…
A new app is currently being trialed by United Airlines on flights between Newark and London, and Cathay Pacific on flights between Hong Kong and Singapore. The app, called Common Pass, seeks to standardize the way that airport officials can verify someone’s COVID-19 test results. According to the Independent, officials currently struggle to verify COVID-19 test results. With results being just printed pieces of paper, verifying authenticity is difficult not only because making fake copies is easy, but because there’s often a difference in languages and different countries even have different ways of testing. But the new app seeks to…
The hotel collection, Preferred Hotels and Resorts, is known for operating some of the most luxurious and awarded lodging properties on the planet. Their portfolio includes the gorgeous Ashford Castle in Ireland, the rustic and charming Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, and the opulent Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore, among many others. Preferred Hotels and Resorts also recently launched a new collection, Beyond Green, a portfolio of lodgings that are both sustainable and active members of their local communities. The rewards program for both Preferred and Beyond Green is the I Prefer membership program. To further their commitment to…
For many travelers, the pandemic has instilled a lifelong change inside them. More travelers than ever report that exploring the outdoors, enjoying nature, and seeing wildlife is a top priority for their trips. This is excellent news because studies show that a connectedness with nature not only improves your mental health but also instills a deeper desire to help the planet. For many though, they love the idea of exploring the great outdoors during the day, but still want the luxuries of a great meal and a nice hotel at night. Luckily, America is filled with major cities that are…
Recently, The New York Times, CNN, and others revealed the latest findings by America’s healthcare professionals, which is that, sadly, America and the rest of the world may never achieve herd immunity to combat the novel coronavirus. Statistics cite the fact that just slightly over 30% of America is fully vaccinated, yet the number of people seeking out vaccines is dwindling at a rapid pace. Furthermore, experts originally suggested a number of around 70% to achieve herd immunity, but with the rise of the new, highly contagious variants, they now say that the percentages will need to be somewhere between 80%…
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…
So, you travel the world. You get upgraded thanks to your airline miles, and you’re pretty sure you know the world like the back of your hand. Well, let’s put that to the test. How many of these 10 travel questions can you get right? Are you a travel genius? Let’s find out! (answers at the bottom of page) 1.) Budget airline Jetstar operates throughout nations like Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Taiwan, and more, but it’s actually a subsidiary of which airline? A.) Singapore Airlines B.) Qantas C.) Malaysia Airlines D.) Cathay Pacific 2.) Before becoming…
Of all the sweet treats on this planet, none compare to the elegance and sophistication of the French macaron. To make them properly, there needs to be a precise balance of fluffy softness living in harmony with a sturdy, but not crunchy, base to keep the pastry held together. They’re easy to ruin, and after a just few days, their quality noticeably deteriorates. Because of this, they have become coveted gems for dessert lovers worldwide with discerning pallets. If you want to find the best places for phenomenal macarons made the right way every time, look no further than the…
These days, it’s normal to meet someone with special dietary needs: gluten-free for health reasons, Kosher for religious reasons, or vegetarian for environmental reasons. Everyone with a special diet, however, still loves to dine out, and they especially love dining out at restaurants that cater to their culinary requirements while still creating stunning, delicious meals. Luxury travel operator, Scenic, has put together a list of the best cities for those dining out with special dietary needs. Can you guess which city took the #1 spot? 9.) Amsterdam Vegetarian options: 1823 ~ Gluten-free options: 667 ~ Kosher options: 4 While…
The term “Big 5” was originally coined by hunters, referring to the five hardest animals to hunt in Africa. Sometimes called “big-game hunters,” these groups of people were determined to track and kill the world’s largest, fiercest animals. Tragically, this history of hunting and poaching has led to a significant population decline of all five animal species. Thankfully, in recent years, many African countries have come to embrace their big game species as symbols of pride and beauty, and laws have been placed to keep the animals protected. South Africa even features the Big 5 on its currency. Can you…
The online travel agency Priceline released a statement this week saying they are about to launch their largest sale in the company’s 20+ year history. The deals will begin early, starting on November 27th, when special promotions for destinations like Walt Disney World and Las Vegas will be unlocked. The super deals, however, will begin at 5 A.M. on Black Friday, November, 29th. Priceline stated that starting at 5 A.M. new flash sales will be available every 2 hours. The sales will cover every corner of travel, from discounts on flights and rental cars, all the way to promos for up to 50%…
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…
Actor and comedian, Kevin Nealon, best known for his long career on SNL and the popular Showtime hit Weeds, takes to America’s trails in the new season of Hiking with Kevin on YouTube. In the web series, Kevin, joined by some of his closest celebrity friends, hike through various trails around the country. They chat, they laugh, and sometimes, they actually have some pretty meaningful moments. In past seasons, he and indie darling Jeff Goldblum got into a deep conversations about being older fathers and wondering how it will impact their young children; and Caitlyn Jenner reveals her anger in…
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…
‘The Kiss (Lovers)’ is one of the most famous paintings by legendary artist Gustav Klimt. Now, it’s on sale digitally as an NFT (Non-Fungible Token). The art piece will be broken up into a 100 x 100 grid, resulting in 10,000 unique digital images, all of which depict a small section of the painting. Buyers can register as owners of their piece on the platform thekiss.art, where the picture can be viewed in its entirety. The digital files went on sale January 26th for collectors and are available to the general public on February 14th. Pieces are being sold for…