Has watching the 2026 Winter Olympics games occupied half of your waking time of late? It’s easy to see why—ratings for viewership were impressive, and much of the excitement revolved around the men’s and women’s U.S.A. hockey teams versus the Canadians. This North American rivalry goes back decades, but recent playoffs got more media and fan attention than usual. U.S.A. goalie Connor Hellebuyck wore what…
Even historians can get it wrong when they do research on the origins of Mother’s Day, pointing to Ann Reeves Jarvis, a 19th Century West Virginia woman who launched clubs that taught local women how to care for their children as the founder. But in fact, holidays honoring moms have been around since the days of ancient Greeks and Romans. These festivals paid homage to…
Have you ever said, “My idea of paradise is taking my kids overseas on a summer vacation”? Responses to this utterance could result in strange looks, but for some families, taking their kids to fascinating destinations is exactly the way they define paradise. You can emulate this yourself if you plan carefully, pick the right destination, and make your children part of your travel plans….
Must you be a certified thrill-seeker to expect a lot of action during your summer 2026 vacation? The answer is yes, but! Plenty of folks find thrills doing nothing more than occupying a poolside lounge chair while drinking a well-stirred cocktail and contemplating tropical serenity—until they realize that they’ve selected a resort with a bountiful All Inclusive Package that includes a tour as well. Where…
North Americans have been fans of competition throughout history. Dempsey v. Louis never made headlines after boxer Jack Dempsey admitted that he was too frightened to get into a ring with the champ. The Depp v. Heard divorce hogged every headline as the bickering reached a boiling point, and you would be hard pressed to name a political contest not billed as one between Democrats…
“If I only have four days off, I’m not spending two of those in the air,” said one travel study participant when asked the question: Exactly how long should a trip be for that stress to be “worth it”? Scientists at the Academy of Finland discovered that between three and six days away is ideal. Choose a destination that doesn’t come with an exhausting flight…
What’s to blame for the extreme weather North America experienced at the beginning of 2026? A stratospheric polar vortex lingering 20 miles above the Earth’s surface, compounded by a southward jet stream dip, warmer-than-usual Gulf of Mexico, and rapid Arctic warming. “The most intense winter storms we’re experiencing are likely to become more intense,” say Mathew Barlow and Judah Cohen of the Weather Channel. One…
Named for the so-called laughing gulls which formerly used the island as a nesting site, Laughing Bird Caye is a small (1.8-acre/0.73 ha) island located approximately 11 miles (17 km) off the coast of the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. Today, the island is the epicenter of Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a protected nature reserve that includes the island as well as the surrounding…
South African writer Mpho K. Makibelo admits to having a lifelong love affair with words and phrases. So when the idea of a “jumping-off point” caught his attention, he wrote an essay about why they matter, and how they can help launch new projects or pursuits. But few associations are as compelling as jumping-off points linked to vacations. Does it matter where you begin your…
How does it feel to sink beneath the surface of the water protected by the latest in scuba diving equipment and eager to see what everyone talks about when they describe this life-affirming experience? In a word: amazing. And once divers learn about the history that “buoys” this sport, they’re even more impressed. In 500 BC, the world’s first breath-holding techniques were demonstrated for the…