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Longreads

For decades, some people have held fast to the belief that the hometown of the holiday icon is in northern Finland—not the North Pole.

December 14, 2021 10:26 AM

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Katherine LaGrave

Trains

Amtrak Quietly Ends Its Beloved Dining Car Service

In a bid to appeal to a new set of riders, the train company has switched up its meal selection and done away with white tablecloths on long-haul rides.

October 9, 2019 07:54 PM

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Katherine LaGrave

Beer, Wine, + Spirits

Which Airline Has the Best Wine in the Sky?

Not all airline wine offerings are created equal. We ranked six domestic carriers’ lists, from worst to best.

March 7, 2018 05:28 PM

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Bryce Wiatrak

Packing Tips + Gear

6 Best, Editor-Tested Travel Neck Pillows for Your Next Long Flight

Finding the right travel pillow is a must for getting better sleep at 40,000 feet.

October 28, 2022 04:45 PM

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Jane Sung

In the Magazine

A Traditional Sake Revival Is Quietly Brewing in Japan

Meet the influential Japanese sake brewers who are resurrecting junmai-shu—pure sake.

October 1, 2021 06:26 PM

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Alice Feiring

Four people laugh together at a Saudi Arabian fashion show.

Longreads

Saudi Arabia Is Investing Big in Tourism. What Does Life Look Like for Locals?

Writer Sarah Khan and photographer Tasneem Alsultan chat about the Saudi Arabia they once knew—and the country that’s quickly assuming a new identity on the world stage.

January 18, 2023 11:20 AM

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Sarah Khan

Festivals + Events

Australia’s Most Surreal Midwinter Festival Celebrates Art, Darkness, and Naked Swimming

Dark Mofo is not for the faint of heart.

September 20, 2018 02:13 PM

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Serena Renner

WTG-26-West-Cork-Michel-Colaci-Photography-horizontal.jpg

Where to Go in Spring

10 Best Places to Travel in May

Consider this your permission slip to take a trip before peak season hits.

February 27, 2026 05:20 AM

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Mark Ellwood

Beer, Wine, + Spirits

The Famed Judgment of Paris Wine Showdown Is Being Recreated in Napa Valley

Tickets are available now to take part in a blind tasting inspired by the 1976 event that put California wine on the map.

February 4, 2020 07:19 PM

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Sara Button

Off The Tourist Trail

The Ultimate Guide to New Orleans’s Hidden Gems, From Mausoleums to a Monster Shop

Roam the French Quarter at daybreak, discover mini cities or a lighthouse, and find locally loved Indian-spiced catfish.

January 7, 2026 02:49 PM

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Jenny Adams

Clockwise from top left: Kenya, Newfoundland, Santa Ynez, La Paz, Barcelona, South Korea, La Paz, Transylvania

Where to Travel Next

We Took Hundreds of Trips in 2025, and These Are the Places We Would Go Back to in a Heartbeat

Afar’s team roamed wide in 2025. These were our favorite spots from a year of exploring.

December 19, 2025 01:11 PM

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Nicholas DeRenzo

Saint James Paris is housed in a 19th-century private mansion in the 16th arrondissement.

Hotels We Love

Where to Stay in Paris: 21 Hotels for Every Kind of Traveler

These are the top places to stay in the City of Light.

September 25, 2025 09:02 AM

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Lindsey Tramuta

Coffee advent calendar in front of a Christmas tree with someone making a cup of coffee in the foreground

Holiday Travel

15 Advent Calendars Travelers Will Love

Count down the days to Christmas with these Advent calendars filled with chocolate, coffee, and travel-size beauty products from around the world.

October 27, 2023 01:38 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

Fall 2025

Track Wolves, Dive Shipwrecks, Hunt for Truffles: 52 Epic Adventures in Every State

Your guide to adrenaline-pumping, wildlife-filled, off-the-beaten-path experiences across all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

September 16, 2025 12:35 PM

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Nicholas DeRenzo

Festivals + Events

7 Epic Mediterranean Festivals and the Best Places to Stay

From Costa del Sol’s Málaga Feria to Tuscany’s Mercantia, these palatial estates, romantic hideaways, and other fabulous onefinestay villas make the most of warm-weather celebrations.

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