North Americans have been fans of competition throughout history. Dempsey v. Louis never made headlines after boxer Jack Dempsey admitted that he was too frightened to get into a ring with the champ. The Depp v. Heard divorce hogged every headline as the bickering reached a boiling point, and you would be hard pressed to name a political contest not billed as one between Democrats…
“If I only have four days off, I’m not spending two of those in the air,” said one travel study participant when asked the question: Exactly how long should a trip be for that stress to be “worth it”? Scientists at the Academy of Finland discovered that between three and six days away is ideal. Choose a destination that doesn’t come with an exhausting flight…
What’s to blame for the extreme weather North America experienced at the beginning of 2026? A stratospheric polar vortex lingering 20 miles above the Earth’s surface, compounded by a southward jet stream dip, warmer-than-usual Gulf of Mexico, and rapid Arctic warming. “The most intense winter storms we’re experiencing are likely to become more intense,” say Mathew Barlow and Judah Cohen of the Weather Channel. One…
South African writer Mpho K. Makibelo admits to having a lifelong love affair with words and phrases. So when the idea of a “jumping-off point” caught his attention, he wrote an essay about why they matter, and how they can help launch new projects or pursuits. But few associations are as compelling as jumping-off points linked to vacations. Does it matter where you begin your…
How does it feel to sink beneath the surface of the water protected by the latest in scuba diving equipment and eager to see what everyone talks about when they describe this life-affirming experience? In a word: amazing. And once divers learn about the history that “buoys” this sport, they’re even more impressed. In 500 BC, the world’s first breath-holding techniques were demonstrated for the…
How important are Belize’s beaches, reefs, and cultural artifacts and reserves? So important, Belizean leaders took part in a landmark tri-national forum with Guatemala and Mexico this fall to discuss protecting the expansive Maya jungle that stretches 14 million acres through all three nations. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, called this summit “historic…a living space for thousands of species with an invaluable cultural legacy that we…
If you recall the Noah’s Ark story you know that two of every animal boarded the ark for safekeeping during rains meant to cleanse the earth of evil doers. Since then, human couples have dominated the leisure travel scene, but not so these days. Singles have become world travelers, writes Forbes magazine contributor Irene S. Levine. Solo travel has grown so popular, she calls it…
Western Hemisphere folks who can’t get enough diving, snorkeling, and fishing, don’t want to travel to Australia to experience that nation’s barrier reef due to steep expenditures in money and time. Happily, there’s a remarkable reef off Central America’s coast, and if you’ve kept tabs on travel trends, you know that the Belize Barrier Reef offers visitors a vast marine ecosystem, making Belize the go-to…
If you’ve ever traveled around Florida, you realized that no two cities are alike. Miami Beach’s glitz is nothing like Orlando where the Disney complex sets the area’s tone. Towns situated in the panhandle offer southern charm usually found in Alabama. This phenomenon is not unique to the U.S. Find astonishing diversity on peninsulas in Malaysia, Iceland, and Italy, but who wants to spend endless…
You’re in good company if you celebrate on December 21st each year. Winter solstice arrives on that date, which means you enjoy a minute or so of extended daylight each day—whether or not the sun is out! The solstice is an especially difficult time for folks who have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression caused by a lack of daylight. If you suffer…