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A boat of tourists floats through the water of New Zealand's Waitomo Glowworm Caves. A guide is standing in the boat pointing to the ceiling where many many small blue lights shine like a starry night, but it's inside the cave

Bioluminescent Bays, Caves, and Parks: What Causes the Glow and Where to See It

Nature has given us some pretty incredible things—and creatures that glow in the night are at the top of the list. Here’s why bioluminescence happens and where you can travel to see it.

September 7, 2023 04:45 PM

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Nathalie Alonso

Photo of an arched bridge surrounded by fall foliage, beneath a blue sky

National Parks

The Newest U.S. National Park Is Home to Bridge Jumping, Scenic Drives, and the World’s Second-Oldest River

Here’s how to make the most of your visit to New River Gorge National Park.

July 1, 2025 12:26 PM

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Jessie Beck

Illinois has a designated International Dark Sky Park, along with several other prime stargazing spots.

Outdoor Adventure

This State Is a Surprising Stargazing Destination

State parks and expansive forests serve as the perfect backdrop for stargazing in the Prairie State.

Sponsored by Arizona Biltmore

Outdoor Adventure

This Midwestern City Is an Underrated Destination for Active Travelers

From lakeside bike paths to golden prairies, there are several ways to get active in Milwaukee.

April 16, 2025 03:28 PM

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Tim Chester

Visitors posing for photos inside of the Yu Yin Classical Garden in Guangzhou.

Spring 2025

I’ve Been to Guangzhou a Dozen Times, but This Last Trip With My Son Changed Me

On a family visit to Guangzhou, China, writer Bonnie Tsui discovers that she, like the city, is ever evolving.

May 6, 2025 12:12 PM

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Bonnie Tsui

Los_Alamos_New_Mexico_Unsplash_Tim Mossholder

An old midcentury gas pump in Los Alamos, New Mexico

History + Culture

Uncovering Secrets and Spies in “Atomic City,” New Mexico

Outsiders weren’t supposed to know about Los Alamos during World War II. Now the remote town offers guided tours of this unique battlefront.

June 23, 2023 04:14 PM

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Pat Tompkins

This Premier Room King at The Peninsula London features a neutral palette and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Stay Here Next

What It’s Like to Spend the Night at the New Peninsula Hotel in London

London waited 30 years for this nearly $1.4 billion new hotel. You shouldn’t wait at all.

January 18, 2024 01:26 PM

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Anya von Bremzen

History + Culture

Why the Unofficial Cowboy Capital of Nevada Should Be Your Next Trip

Everything you need to know to have a rootin’-tootin’ time in Elko, Nevada.

March 9, 2023 06:38 PM

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Mae Hamilton

May / June 2021

8 Photos That Showcase How Travel and Style Go Hand-in-Hand

Photographer Jessica Antola reveals how a lifetime of travel sharpened her mother’s sense of style.

May 4, 2021 06:12 PM

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Sara Button

AFAR Advisor

Western Wonders: Discovering Lesser-Known West Denmark

From architectural “wows” and natural highs to ancient ruins and modern culinary marvels, this part of the land of the Danes is full of delights and surprises.

Sponsored by VisitDenmark

The pink 15th-century facade and a Gothic arch detail of the Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli hotel, which opens in Venice in April 2026.

Hotels

Venice’s Most Anticipated New Hotel Is Now Accepting Reservations

Hot on the heels of La Minerva in Rome, Orient Express is now taking bookings for its second hotel, Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, in a 15th-century palace.

July 24, 2025 01:18 PM

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Laura Itzkowitz

Art + Architecture

South America Gets Its First Freestanding James Turrell Skyspace

Constructed using local materials, “Ta Khut” is set beachside at the luxury Uruguayan hotel Posada Ayana.

November 15, 2021 05:32 PM

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Mae Hamilton

History + Culture

Monument to Activist Ida B. Wells Unveiled in Chicago

Wells, born enslaved in 1862 in Mississippi, became a newspaper editor and was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer in 2020 for her reporting on the lynching of African Americans.

July 2, 2021 04:45 PM

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Associated Press (AP)

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