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a rendering shows the glass top of a hotel tower peaking through pink clouds over Dubai

Dubai’s Next Luxury Hotel Is Set to Be the Tallest in the World—and Reservations Are Now Open

The 1,004-room, 82-floor Ciel Dubai Marina will become the latest over-the-top hotel in a city known for its glamour and superlatives.

October 13, 2025 04:15 PM

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Nicola Chilton

Outdoor Adventure

The Tallest Mountain in the World May Not Be What You Think

It’s all depends on whether you measure from sea level, sea floor, or even the planet’s center.

July 1, 2024 06:27 PM

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Susan Portnoy

The project isn't confirmed, but if it were to go forward, it would dramatically alter Dubai's skyline.

Called the Downtown Circle project, the elevated ring-shaped building in Dubai would house a greenbelt as well as residential and commercial spaces.

September 16, 2022 12:53 PM

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Bailey Berg

Aerial view of island panorama with a blue lagoon and sand dropping into the deep ocean.

Outdoor Adventure

Do Underwater Waterfalls Actually Exist?

The truth about this unlikely natural phenomenon.

August 28, 2024 01:48 PM

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Chloe Arrojado

National Parks

Tallest Volcano in the Galápagos Erupts for the First Time Since 2015

National park guards and scientists doing field work on pink iguanas living on the volcano’s slopes were evacuated.

January 7, 2022 03:14 PM

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Associated Press (AP)

Snow on the Catalina Mountains in Catalina State Park, Tucson Arizona

Outdoor Adventure

9 State Parks to Visit in Winter, Where You Can Snowshoe in a Ghost Town or Hike Above the Trees

Find peaceful escape in these underrated state parks, some of which are bigger than many national parks.

November 12, 2025 02:36 PM

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Matt Kirouac

The glass skyscraper where the St. Regis Chicago resides was designed by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang.

Stay Here Next

The Tallest Building Ever Designed by a Woman Is Also One of Chicago’s Best Hotels

The St. Regis Chicago is big on indulgence—but tucked in a corner most tourists never reach.

May 28, 2025 10:10 AM

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Heidi Mitchell

Sequoia National Park / Formations inside Crystal Cave Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park

You’ll want to reserve tickets now to explore Crystal Cave, which will once again welcome visitors from May 23 to September 7.

April 9, 2025 01:59 PM

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Bailey Berg

A child walking between sequoia trees in a national Park

National Parks

Sequoias Versus Redwoods: What’s the Difference and How to Compare the California National Parks

Should you visit the tallest or the biggest trees in the world?

October 28, 2025 03:35 PM

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Suzie Dundas

The now-famed Rain Vortex in Singapore’s Changi Airport

Soon you’ll only need your face to travel through Singapore’s Changi Airport.

September 27, 2023 03:28 PM

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Bailey Berg

Outdoor Adventure

The Crowd-Free California Redwoods Trip That Everyone Should Take Once

After a recent trip to the redwoods, Afar cofounder Greg Sullivan shares why this slice of Northern California is unlike anywhere else he’s traveled.

September 15, 2025 10:16 AM

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Greg Sullivan

Mt. Etna smoking with snow dusting the upper half of the mountain and the city of Catania down below

The volcano is one of the most active in the world, but this was the most severe event since February 2021.

June 4, 2025 01:23 PM

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Erica Firpo

8 Beautiful Waterfalls Around the World You Can Visit

Natural Wonders

9 Waterfalls So Beautiful They’re Worth Traveling For

“Fall” in love with these nine superlative-packed falls, spanning the globe.

September 29, 2023 07:59 AM

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Deb Hopewell

Taking in the views of the city by boat is one of the best ways to get a sense of the scale of Chicago's architecture.

Art + Culture

Chicago Is Known for Its Incredible Architecture—Here’s How to See It

In a city teeming with staggering architecture, it’s worthwhile to take more than a cursory look around.

October 24, 2022 01:59 PM

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Nina Kokotas Hahn

Outdoor Adventure

Discover California’s Venerable Giant Trees—Without the Crowds

When crowds are small, these titans of Mother Nature loom larger.

May 26, 2022 04:15 PM

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Jacqueline Kehoe

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