Once upon a time, couples wouldn’t dream of setting wedding dates outside the month of June, but like all trends, things have taken a turn, say Bride’s magazine trend trackers. And given news surrounding odd weather patterns and increases in temperatures, many brides are taking a pass on the months of July and August as well. May remains an extremely popular choice for couples. According…
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…
Does the process of planning an overseas trip make you feel so edgy, that just getting started feels intimidating? Perhaps you haven’t found the right guide for the job, because once you settle on a trustworthy one, you’ll find that there’s no need to calm your nerves. Every step you take will not only give you confidence but boost your mental health, writes National Geographic…
The word gateway is fraught with symbolism and applies to so many aspects of our lives, it’s a wonder we don’t use it often. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that gateways allow us to achieve desired goals, while techies are more likely to refer to a gateway when trying to explain a network node that connects two communications protocols. Those who consider themselves religious point to…
Whether you can still recall your mom or dad reading to you aloud from the classic Maurice Sendak-illustrated and written book, Where the Wild Things Are – or you’ve just read it to your grandkids, you already know that this book remains a generational favorite. Why do kids love it so much? Because they identify with shy, misunderstood Max who escapes to an island where…
World Travel and Tourism Council researchers know a thing or two about the bonuses and difficulties of taking youngsters abroad when school is out. “The thought of travelling with children in tow may seem daunting at first, but it can be an incredibly rewarding adventure that has real-life benefits for children,” say WTTC researchers. Spring break—and especially Easter—is the ideal time to plan a family-focused,…
Dr. Elizabeth Scott knows a thing or two about FOMO, because she’s worked with folks who “suffer” from it every day. No clue what FOMO means? Consider yourself lucky. Fear of Missing Out may not be found in traditional tomes discussing psychological disorders, but it has become one hot topic, influenced by social media, notes Scott. “The fear of missing out, or FOMO, refers to…
How would you fare if you were asked to lay a round of lobster trivia? Browse these facts and victory could be yours: Lobsters have eight walking legs used to crawl forward, but they swim backwards. Each one has a “dominant claw,” just like left- or right-handed people. Lobsters can re-grow body parts in around five years. Lobsters smell with their legs but have poor…
Western Hemisphere folks who can’t get enough diving, snorkeling, and fishing, don’t want to travel to Australia to experience that nation’s barrier reef due to steep expenditures in money and time. Happily, there’s a remarkable reef off Central America’s coast, and if you’ve kept tabs on travel trends, you know that the Belize Barrier Reef offers visitors a vast marine ecosystem, making Belize the go-to…
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…