Search results for

Have a calmer trip to the airport with these relaxation techniques vetted by psychologists and designed to help when you’re feeling anxious.

We believe that travel has power: to connect us across borders and boundaries; to challenge and change us; and to offer us a new perspective, even in the places we call home. We believe stories have that power, too. To celebrate AFAR’s tenth anniversary this summer, we’ve brought together our favorite longreads from the last decade. We hope these pieces remind you of how transformative it can be to step outside of the familiar—and inspire you to hit the road. —AFAR Editors

Museums across the United States are hosting powerful exhibitions that examine the country’s queer past, present, and future. Here are a few to visit in tandem with June’s Pride Month and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

The secret to becoming a smarter—and more open-minded—traveler? Self-defense training.

The former fishing village of Taghazout, on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, has long been loved by surfers for its great waves and relaxing pace of life. But although it’s mostly remained under the radar, word is getting out on this idyllic spot.

If you’re in Bermuda for the big event, here’s how to make the most of your time in—and out of—the America’s Cup Village.

Threads of beauty, history, and memory make a Turkish carpet much more than a souvenir.

A subversive band of Portland chefs has a new grocery store: the ocean. You’re going to want to taste what they’re cooking up.

Writer Tom Downey tracks the sources of surprising culinary innovations in Australia’s second city.

After a string of personal losses, a writer heads to Tamil Nadu seeking solace from her sorrows. It takes two temples, a palm leaf astrologer, and the driver of a velour-lined taxi to make her feel whole again.

Named for Persian poet Jelaluddin Rumi, Rumi’s Kitchen is the place to sample Persian cuisine in Atlanta. Uniquely Middle Eastern flavors cover the menu with ingredients like saffron, turmeric, and mint. Open for lunch and dinner, Rumi’s is best shared, so order the large portions of lamb kabobs and sides of yogurt and hummus to share between friends.

Rumi was born in Afghanistan, spent time in Persia (Iran), then settled in Konya, Turkey when his father was invited there to be a scholar. Rumi became an Islamic scholar himself teaching peace, love, and tolerance. He built quite a following of the educated – who saw him as a wise philosopher – and uneducated – who saw him as a prophet. Rumi’s life changed when he created an intense friendship with an older, wandering mystic -- Shams of Tabriz. Shams was a brilliant outcast and Rumi was deeply drawn to a learning relationship with this man who was ultimately supposedly killed by some of Rumi’s fans due to the influence he was having on the younger Rumi. From this tragedy, Rumi found a deep well inside himself filled with an ability to channel poetry. It was about this time that he also introduced the experience of divine harmony that comes from whirling. Thus, a new form of religious ecstasy was created and the Whirling Dervishes (also known as the Mevlevi order) have been doing this annual ceremony marking Rumi’s death for almost 750 years. This is the start of the Sema (ceremony) with each Semazen (dancer) bowing upon arriving on stage and the Basi (the leader) at the “head of the class.” The mesmerizing ceremony represents man’s journey to the oneness of perfect truth – amidst separation and longing - through the power of divine love. In 2005, UNESCO proclaimed the “Mevlevi Sema Ceremony” as amongst the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

At its distillery, Cayman Spirits Co. will happily show you where and how the magic—that is, the small-batch Seven Fathoms Rum, Gun Bay Vodka and Governor’s Reserve Rum—is made. Even more impressive than the 4,500-liter (1,200-gallon) Vendome copper pot still and nine-meter (30-foot) vodka tower you’ll encounter during your visit here? The liquid lineup you’ll sample at the end.

A Starwood Luxury Collection hotel in the heart of historic Cuzco, Palacio del Inka occupies a former palace, built by the Incans as part of the Coricancha (the centerpiece of their empire). Since ancient times, it’s had many lives—it was seized by the Spaniards in the 16th century, served as a museum in the 1800s, and finally became a hotel in the 1970s. Today, the property features artwork and artifacts from both the Incan and colonial eras, which guests can tour each day at 5 p.m.

Situated around a large central courtyard, the 203 rooms are decorated in a colonial motif, with carved-wood furnishings, jewel tones, and gold accents. Also on-site is a small but very nice spa with a hydrotherapy pool, dry sauna, Turkish bath, whirlpool tub, and showers with lighting effects, as well as a small gym with cardio machines and weights. While Palacio del Inka is just a few minutes to Plaza de Armas and its many eateries, guests would be remiss to not dine at least once at the hotel’s Inti Raymi Restaurant, which serves Andean and international dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Before dinner, grab a drink at the Rumi Bar, which offers excellent cocktails and a free pisco tasting each night at 6 p.m.

Petra flourished more than 2,000 years ago, trading with Rome as an equal before being abandoned after a series of earthquakes in the 4th and 6th centuries C.E. It wasn’t until the 19th century, when European explorers “rediscovered” it, that the ancient city returned to the public consciousness. Now, visitors can walk down the narrow canyon of the siq to the city entrance—as dramatic an approach as any to a tourist attraction on the planet. The canyon opens up onto the carved facade of the Treasury, Petra’s most iconic site. From there, you can explore the cliffside tombs with their colorful bands of sandstone, the Street of Facades, and the amphitheater hewn from living rock. The ancient center lies some distance off, along with the splendid old Monastery, which sits at the top of a steep but rewarding climb. Consider buying a three-day ticket and visiting at different times of day to enjoy the changing light—early in the morning is best for the Treasury, while late afternoon is better for the Royal Tombs.