Author: Lauren Mulvey

The Northern Lights viewing season has arrived and this year might be one of the best times to marvel at the splendor of the aurora borealis. According to Travel and Leisure, the northern lights have seen “more buzz” this year, as they’ve been more active than usual. Earlier this year, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun made this sensational display viewable as far south as Alabama and Northern California in the U.S., according to CNN. Here are five destinations that are perfect for viewing the Northern Lights. Tromsø, Norway  If you must choose just…

If you live in the Northeast, the arrival of cooler weather is either great news or a reason to pack your bags and head to warmer places. If you’re already missing the summer sun of July and August, check out these LGBTQ+ friendly destinations around the country where you can enjoy the warmth into the fall season.  Key West One of our go-to sunny destinations for a fall or winter visit is Key West, Florida. Year-round, Key West hosts LGBTQ+ events and festivals including drag brunches, bar hopping and more. Here you can truly chase the heat as temperatures stay…

When it comes to accommodations, travelers today are looking to get the biggest bang for their buck. They want more space—a lot more space. They crave “authentic” experiences over cookie-cutter chain hotels, and they’re booking longer stays in places where they can cook, work with fast WiFi, enjoy privacy, and avoid high hotel rates.  Independent accommodations are not only more affordable and spacious than traditional large-chain hotels, but in recent years private stays are in demand like never before. According to Expedia’s recent Travelers Insights report, year over year demand for “unique and differentiated” vacation rentals, such as cabins, chalets, farm-…

Driving in a foreign country can be nerve-wracking. Before you sign the contract on renting a car abroad it is best to know how the traffic laws are different, and whether you need to drive on the opposite side of the road. These elements can be intimidating, so let’s break down everything you need to do and know before you get behind the wheel. Documents You Will Need According to Skyscanner, all those who drive in the E.U. who are not citizens in the country they are visiting must be 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Some…

We know you have a ton of destinations you would like to visit, but finding the money to jet all over the world can slow down the process. Luckily, there is a great way to travel more and spend less money. Those who want to get the biggest bang for their buck when traveling utilize airline stopover programs. This is not a new concept, travelers have been taking stopover trips for a quite some time, some airlines even offer incentive programs that allow you to stay in a destination for multiple days without any additional cost to your flight. Here…

Strap on your hiking shoes and get moving on one of these challenging yet beautiful hiking trails around the world. Whether you’re hoping for snowy terrain, a tropical route, or a path through the mountains, there are some amazing long distance hiking trails that take varying lengths of time to complete. However, most of these treks aren’t for the casual walker and take a lot of preparation and endurance to complete. Get ready for an adventure! Grand Italian Trail (Sentiero Italia) While tourists swelter under the Italian sun in cramped and overcrowded cities, you could be heaving a backpack through…

Savvy travelers like to explore unique and inspiring destinations around the world, and on the top of their lists are the fjords of Norway. These majestic natural wonders are narrow, deep bodies of water that are typically surrounded by tall mountains. They are formed by the movement of glaciers, and in Norway’s case by the movement of glaciers during the Ice Age, over 2.5 million years ago. Norway’s unique geological features aren’t found in every part of the world, but you will also discover them in Canada, New Zealand, Greenland, Alaska and a few more lucky spots. However, a drive…

It’s almost time for the leaves to turn from green to bright orange, red, and yellow in the Northern Hemisphere. While not every location north of the equator sees a vast change in season, there are places in the world where you can experience the best of fall foliage between September and November. Here are some of the most beautiful destinations for leaf peepers to visit during the fall.  Quebec City, Canada Canada almost always ranks at the top of the lists of best foliage destinations, and Quebec City is no exception. A visit to this city in each season…

In recent years, destination weddings have seen a surge in popularity. And it makes sense…it’s romantic to escape to a beautiful and scenic city or countryside villa and tie the knot with only your closest friends and family. According to Forbes, the 2023 Destination Wedding Global Market Report found that the destination wedding industry brought in $7 billion more in 2023 than it did in 2022, making it a $28 billion industry. Furthermore, the same reports project that in 2027 the industry will be worth upwards of $78 billion.  We asked our writers and editors to find destinations around the…

North Korea has announced it plans to reopen to international tourism by the end of 2024 after closing the country’s borders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Tourism companies including the Beijing-based Koryo and Shenyang’s KTG Tours have announced tour groups would be allowed to visit Samjiyon and other destinations in the country as of December of this year, according to CNN. Since closing its borders, North Korea was even hesitant to allow its own citizens living abroad to return home, which they only authorized in August of 2023, which even still required those citizens to quarantine for…

With such close proximity to NYC, the Sullivan Catskills have been upping their game for years in tourism and hospitality. Today, there are many offerings across the region for those hoping to enjoy a weekend away, or a change of pace. Here are some of the best towns to visit for a weekend in the Sullivan Catskills. Narrowsburg Along the Delaware River on the New York-Pennsylvania border, Narrowsburg has morphed into a swanky yet bucolic getaway just a two hour drive from New York City. Here, a beautiful yet compact main street sits overlooking the river and surrounding lush forests.…

With health and wellness becoming an increasingly dominant culture in the U.S. and around the world, you may find that your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and relatives are challenging themselves to run marathons. And maybe you’ve been strapping on your running shoes and clocking in mile after mile as you train. Qualifying for any marathon is a rush, but deciding where you want to complete this feat can make all the difference. Here are some of the most scenic places in the world to run a marathon. Schneider Electric Marathon – Paris, France If you’re feeling inspired after watching all the…

September has always been a popular month to escape high season travel, but as more and more tourists ditch the dog days of July and August vacations to save money on September bookings, the month has also become victim to hoards of tourists in airports, resorts, and destination cities.  September has long offered a reprieve from other travel months for many reasons: less holiday and vacation travel, cooler temps, and it’s convenient timing with the start of back-to-school season. In the past, it has been the perfect month to take a trip to a popular destination that sees tens of…

Over-Tourism has many famous destinations around the world in a chokehold, and it comes as no surprise that Greece’s famous Santorini is subject to some of the worst crowds of the summer season. Tourists know and love the idea of Santorini’s white-washed and blue-domed structures, sunny days and striking seas, so much so that the island attracts around 3.4 million visitors a year. Santorini’s population stands at around 20,000, and according to CNN around 17,000 cruise ship passengers peruse the island each day during seasonal peaks.  Santorini is a visual paradise with stunning views, incredible sunsets, and quaint cobblestoned streets,…

Year-round, Key West hosts many LGBTQ-friendly events, including a sensational and renowned Pride celebration each June. However, there is still more more fun to be found at special events this summer and fall.  BrewFest is taking place August 29 – September 2. Hosted by Southernmost Beach Resort, this multi-day festival includes beer pairing dinners, pool parties, tap takeovers and a signature tasting event with over 150 beers to try. Events during the festival will take place at restaurants, hotels and bars around town giving visitors a great opportunity to explore the area.  Key West Favorite Son Celebration. This year from…

Though there are many volcanoes around the world, did you know can visit some of the most beautiful peaks that remain active today? Whether you’re cruising through Italy, hiking through Bali, or visiting Iceland (The Land of Fire and Ice), you’ll find an active volcano that can provide beautiful, inspiring views. Mount Etna – Catania, Sicily One of the world’s most remarkable active stratovolcanoes looms over Sicily’s eastern coast, creating a gorgeous backdrop in cities like Catania, Taormina, and Messina. When we say Etna is active, we mean it erupted just last year (August 2023), forcing closures at the nearby…

Protests against over-tourism continue in destinations around the world, but in Spain the conflict is coming to a head. Earlier this month, Barcelona residents protested over-tourism on the city streets by spraying water at tourists with water pistols and marching through the streets chanting “tourists go home.” Reports from CNN indicate that thousands of locals gathered for a march through the streets of Palma de Mallorca, calling on lawmakers to provide an “alternative tourism model” and to increase access to housing, improve public services and increase conservation and regeneration of natural areas.  Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported that around 110 groups…

The 46th annual Provincetown Carnival Week is rolling into the famous LGBTQ+ friendly Cape Cod town this August. One of P-town’s largest queer celebrations is back with a record number of carnival events and an amazing theme: Renaissance x Revolution.  Running August 17-24, attendees can expect a jam-packed week of festivities including, a Carnival Parade down Commercial Street on Aug. 22 and a performance from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 runner-up and classically trained opera singer Sapphira Cristál, at Renaissance Ball. The 46th annual Provincetown Carnival Week, August 17-24, is presented by the Provincetown Business Guild (PBG) and is one of…

One of the most attractive aspects of moving abroad is the potential to save money on daily living costs. All around the world, expats are enjoying affordable rent, groceries, goods and services, but there are a few places where you’ll have to pay more if you want to live there. According to Mercer’s 2024 cost-of-living data, the most expensive places for expats to live are Hong Kong, Singapore, and Zurich, with Hong Kong topping the list. To render these results, Mercer evaluated key factors affecting the world’s economy in recent years, including inflation and exchange-rate fluctuations, heightened economic and geopolitical…

A new app called “Everywhere is Queer” is connecting travelers with LGBTQ-owned and Queer-friendly businesses around the world. Them interviewed founder and creator Charlie Sprinkman on how they hatched the idea and how the app works.  The idea hit Charlie Sprinkman, when they were working for an organic beverage company, which required traveling across the country. But as they hopped from state to state, Charlie found it difficult to find LGBTQ+ friendly spots to hangout. The solution? A digital map or queer-owned businesses, and an official database for queer folks to use while they travel. Sprinkman launched their website in…