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The story behind one of the United States’ biggest man-made tourist attractions

A tiny, man-made island in Clifton Harbour built with discarded conch shells, Happy Island is really just a small bar where you can tie up for a while and have a drink, a meal, and a conversation with Janti Ramage, the island’s joyful builder, owner, and operator. Just be sure to call ahead, as Ramage keeps flexible hours.

The start of the path is quite easy to find in Friar’s Bay. Just walk North past Kali’s Beach Bar and past Friar’s Bay Beach Bar until you see a path marked by orange arrows. It should lead up a hill. (There appears to be another path that goes around the rocks lower down, but I wouldn’t recommend taking that one.) Once you crest the hill, the still somewhat clearly marked path opens wide in all directions. You get a clear view of the ocean on your left and grassy hills on your right. Cross through a fence. Walk past some old ruined condos. Meet up with a road. Wait, a road? I could have driven here? Yeah, well… the walk is pleasant and you’re at Happy Bay before you know it. And talk about “happy”! This secluded bay is often almost devoid of the throngs which plague some St. Martin beaches like Orient Bay. Here, there are practically no facilities (though they have been talking for a long time about adding some) so it just doesn’t attract crowds! It’s not as expansive as my favorite beach on St. Maarten (Long Bay) though… Anyway, once you take your pick of the many excellent spots to spend the day on this beach, it’s just a matter of deciding how much you’re going to take off. ;-)

Minimalist and simple yet functional and attractive, Swedish design is often heralded worldwide as always trendy under the “less is more” mantra. Established in 2007, HAPPYsthlm (sthlm = Stockholm) located in Gamla stan is a Swedish design company founded by designers Katarina Andersson, Kajsa Aronsson and Caroline Lindholm, and the store sells handmade fabrics, textiles, ceramics, and jewelry.

The World Happiness Report is out with its latest country rankings. Here’s a look at the countries that topped the list—and what the world’s happiest country can teach us about how to find joy.

The recently released 2026 Happy City Index scores cities based on the happiness of their citizens. See which U.S. city ranked highest.

The recently released 2026 Happy City Index ranks cities based on the happiness of their citizens. The highest-ranking city also happens to be one of Europe’s most buzzworthy destinations.

An inviting bed within the terminal sure beats an uncomfortable snooze atop a row of gate chairs.

The world’s happiest country wants to spread the joy to a group of lucky applicants who will travel to Helsinki this summer.

Although it’s in Amsterdam‘s Oud-West, you’ll feel like you’ve landed somewhere in the Far East when you dive into the Asian-inspired street fare at HappyHappyJoyJoy. The latest brainchild of Chef Julius Jaspers of TV’s Top Chef fame, as well as the inspiration behind such popular Amsterdam hotspots as Julius Bar & Grill, Supperclub and Nomads, features a fusion of Asian flavors in starter-size dishes with Thai, Malay, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Chinese and Korean influences. Bring a few friends and order two to four dishes each for an evening of tapas-style sharing. Choose from typical dim sum specialties like steamed dumplings and spring rolls. Or opt for bao buns, curry and noodle dishes, salads, soups and sweets, all spiced according to your taste. A selection of Asian sodas, teas and beers rounds out HappyHappyJoyJoy’s drink menu. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, for dining in as well as take-out. But why would you want to eat at home when you can dine in buzzing surroundings in an upcoming Amsterdam neighborhood, with a view of sizzling woks and hissing steamers, under a ceiling of bright red umbrellas?

One of the secrets to Finnish happiness? Getting used to the discomfort—and subsequent joy—of cold plunging.

The Scandinavian term encompasses a feeling of coziness, contentment, and well-being found through cherishing the little things.

‘Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss’ premieres on May 18 on Peacock. AFAR interviewed the actor and host about the surprising secrets to joy he found on his global quest.

How different is the aloha spirit from joie de vivre? This global primer will help you find joy in any language.

After the year we’ve had, who couldn’t do with a bit more joy? Many countries have their own secrets to contentment, so if you’re tired of videos of dogs on skateboards and feel there’s an element of kalsarikannit missing from your life, read on for the global pursuit of happiness.