Travel blog

Portuguese cuisine was born from trade routes and the country’s perch overlooking the sea. Hearty peasant bread and stick-to-your-ribs rice dishes, sweet pastries and fresh sausages, round out a diet that is based largely on what can be pulled from the water. From neighborhood tascas serving up affordable homey dishes to fine dining establishments and bakeries, Portugal is full of good food. So grab a bottle of Madeira wine and pull up a seat at the table for the best things to eat in Lisbon:

In the Verde Valley of Central Arizona there is a 20-room “high rise” apartment carved into the soft limestone of a cliff. Created nearly a millennia ago, this ancient cave dwelling gives us a peak into the lives of the Sinagua people. Five stories and 20 rooms in total, the structure was built in the alcoves of a cliff high above Beaver Creek Canyon. Created over the course of three centuries, the apartment-style dwellings were fashioned out of weathered limestone caves and featured floors of logs, grass and branches that were covered in clay to create a surface so solid it is still in existence 1,000 years later.

Made in the Volunteer State from generation’s old mash bills, or recipes, Tennessee whiskey is the result of corn filtered through sugar-maple charcoal aged in new, charred oak barrels. Located in the heart of a “dry country,” Jack Daniel’s is the oldest-working distillery in the nation and the legacy of the small town of Lynchburg. Carefully crafted from water pulled from an ancient iron-free spring, Jack’s whiskey is pure honey-colored magic. Whether you’re sipping at home or on a distillery tour of your own, here are the how-to tips you’ll need to know for a whiskey tasting:

Lush and green, Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands; created from a single volcano rising from the ocean floor. A tropical paradise, the island has been the backdrop for many cinematic blockbusters from Jurassic Park to King Kong. So whether you hope to hike the North Shore peaks or soar over the towering seacliffs, kayak the jungle waterways or hang-ten at Hanalei, Hawaii’s ground zero for surfing, and there’s no better escape. Here is a list of our favorite things to do in Kauai:

You may have to catch your breath a time or two as you climb the 509 steps to the dizzying heights of the Cologne Cathedral gallery. Housed in the 318-foot south tower, it is the highest church tower in the entire world, and once the tallest man made construction of any kind on the planet. 

One of the best things about YMT Vacations’ Ultimate Hawaii Tour with the Pearl Harbor Experience is that it offers that perfect mix of organized group tours and relaxing leisure time. During your down time, there’s nothing better than hitting the beaches and diving into the crystal-clear waters. Snorkeling is an easy and enjoyable escape that lets you explore the beauty that lies beneath the surface of Hawaii’s waters. Whether it’s your first time or if you just need a refresher, there are a few things you’ll need to know before you dive in. With some basic skills, good equipment and ocean knowledge, you can avoid the common mistakes and ensure a great time exploring the sea.

We live in a world of noise, always surrounded by people. That’s why it’s often a good idea to spend some time alone, getting to know ourselves. Traveling by ourselves gets us out of our comfort zone where we can meet new people, try new things and open ourselves to new and different experiences. Here are some benefits of going solo:

What began as a local parade to celebrate the year-round foliage and fair weather of Pasadena, California has turned into a national past-time. On the first day of every year, people across the country tune-in to watch as the shadow of a B-1 Stealth bomber flies overhead signaling the 8:01 start of the Tournament of Roses Parade. Once a small affair, the parade now features floats with amazing animation, special effects and more than 20 million flowers, 400,000 of them roses. And just like it has for the past 129 years, the air smells like roses, the volunteers wear white and, yes, it’s still true, it doesn’t rain on this parade.

The ancient city of Arles, France is known for two things: Roman Ruins and Vincent Van Gogh. As the former capital of Provence, this spectacularly well-preserved city boasts dramatic bullfights and crumbling historical sites, an artistic heritage and a story that is written in the stars.

Discover why Arles and the Provence region of France was designated a European Capital of Culture by the European Union by learning about the best things to do in Arles.