Travel blog

If you look on a map, you can trace the winding route of US Highway 34 from Estes Park to Grand Lake, Colorado. What you won’t be able to tell in two dimensions is the towering steepness of this “Highway to the Sky.” Also, known as the Trail Ridge, the 48-mile route has been called the All-American Road because the sheer beauty of this journey makes it a tourist destination in its own right.

The traditional Alpine dress of Oktoberfest was first worn by female servants and housekeepers in the late 1800s. Later on, ladies of the upper class donned the peasant frocks to fit in with the locals while vacationing in the countryside. The traditional dirndl dresses followed regional color combinations and specific cuts which, no doubt, were designed to “boost” a woman's “assets.” However, the look wasn’t made for just anyone -- the original word for the dress means “young girl.” Always a bit sexy and known for creating ample cleavage, the way a dirndl is worn also reveals a secret.

The recent controversial decision to drastically reduce the boundaries of the Bears Ears National Monument has many people wondering just why Americans should care about our National Parks system.

To answer the question of why this once-radical idea deserves preserving, we have to go back 150 years to the beginning.

It’s that time of year when red lanterns fill the sky and mandarin oranges spill from produce stands. Of all the traditional Chinese celebrations, Chinese New Year is the most anticipated of them all. Throughout the world people gather -- not only to welcome another year but to congratulate each other on having passed through the old one.

Have you ever noticed how couples who travel together have healthier, happier relationships? According to a survey by the U.S. Travel Association, when we travel with our significant other, we are “significantly more likely to be satisfied with the relationship, communicate better with our partner, enjoy more romance, spend quality time together and share common goals and desires.”

Television hits like The Crown have sparked a renewed interest in British royalty and its long-reigning monarch. While fictionalized, the series portrays the very private lives of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Phillip, with enough truth to pique our curiosity about what life is really like inside the walls of Buckingham Palace. The series begins with the death of Elizabeth’s father and her ascension to the throne in 1952. From her relationship with Phillip to the influence of Winston Churchill, the troubled romance of her sister, Princess Margaret, to the abdication of King Edward, it has everyone questioning just what are the costs of being the British sovereign.

While many travelers head to Iceland, Norway, and Northern Scandinavia in search of the phenomenon known as the aurora borealis, you can spot the northern lights much closer to home. The Alaskan Arctic offers clear skies and a superior viewing location to witness this spectacular light show. Here’s your insider’s guide to experiencing our nations own northern lights:

When Travel & Leisure turned its sights to the 2017 Destination of the Year, all signs pointed to the Land of the Maple Leaf. This being the year of Canada’s sesquicentennial, the destination was chock-full of things to celebrate, but that isn’t the only reason to consider Canada for your upcoming travels.

The port city of Shibaozhai is not unlike other villages in today’s China. Small and remote, it was once a town of farmers and fishers; now the people rely on selling miniature glass dragons and stuffed panda bears to propel their economy toward the future.

Cruising down the “The Old King’s Highway” is a must for New England travelers. Connecting the mainland to the tip of Cape Cod, Highway 6A is one of the most scenic coastal routes in the United States, and your entrance to the quintessential shore holiday.

From the Buzzard’s Bay Railroad Bridge to historic Provincetown, this stretch of winding road weaves its way along quaint main streets, past historic homes, and alongside the stunning Cape Cod shoreline. Here are some of the things to do and see on your Cape Cod vacation: