travelxp

Before American Idol, there was the Eurovision Song Contest. The European singing competition has been a phenomenon since the 1950s, and now it’s finally coming to the US. “The American Song Contest” is scheduled to take place during the 2021 holiday season, but rather than pitting nations against each other, it will be representatives from … Read more

Given the tight quarters, it might seem like airplanes would be prime locations for COVID-19 to rapidly spread. But when you look into the factors involved, and the probability of actually coming into contact with the virus given airlines’ safety measures, the odds of becoming infected are much lower than you may have thought. Arnold … Read more

Over a year ago, as I was traveling back to my hometown on the Atlantic coast of France, I unexpectedly found myself on one of the rare, old-fashioned regional trains that still run in the area. It was not one of the slick, bullet-shaped trains that speed down the tracks. It was a hulking and … Read more

The guiding principle of the Climate Win column is this: Increased awareness of sustainability developments shows that progress on the climate crisis is possible. My hope in writing this column each week is that by purveying the good news, instead of the usual destruction and devastation that generally catches headlines, readers will be encouraged to … Read more

Everyone is always looking for the ideal stargazing location to catch a glimpse of a meteor shower event or take a good look at the Milky Way, and according to scientists, this spot in Antarctica might be the best in the world. Dome Argus (or Dome A) is located on a high plateau 746 miles … Read more

Usually, when you’re on a hike and a massive spider drops down in front of you, the first impulse is to draw back and wave your arms frantically in fear. More hardened explorers, however, may stay perfectly relaxed, while calmly taking out their phone and researching the spider. If you have the presence of mind … Read more

Reviving old traditions from the days of the Black Death probably isn’t the mood-booster we need right now, but here’s one tradition that’s not all bad. When the bubonic plague reached Italy during the 1600s, “wine windows” rose in popularity in Tuscany. These small hatches carved into concrete walls of wineries and shops allowed merchants … Read more

A new long-distance hiking trail spanning British Columbia’s Vancouver Island is nearly complete. The Vancouver Island Trail will run from Victoria in the southeast to Cape Scott on the island’s northwestern tip. The route has been under development since 2009 and will bring together nearly forgotten logging and mining access roads with sections of freshly … Read more

When it’s time to get out in the wild in the United States, you’ve got an astounding 62 national parks to choose from. But that’s just the problem: You have to choose. To make it easier on you, we looked across the country and selected the absolutely best national park for your circumstances — whether … Read more

On March 19, the US State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory to American citizens, warning them not to travel abroad. Now the government is lifting this advisory amid international improvements in public health and progress fighting COVID-19. According to a note from the State Department, “with health and safety conditions improving … Read more