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I've Lived in North Carolina My Whole Life, and These Are the Most Underrated Destinations in the State

A North Carolina local shares some hidden gems in the Tar Heel State. (The distance between the two is about 8.5 hours by car.) One of the top benefits of living in such a broad state is its proximity to diverse geographic features. Credit:Visit NC Remember, sometimes its OK to get a little lost. ATV riding, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, and hunting are popular outdoor activities here. After a day on the lake, visitors can pull right up toRiver Wildto dine....

I've Lived In Tokyo for 20 Years and This Is the 1 Dish I Recommend Every Traveler Try

Don’t miss out on aji fry teishoku. The must-eat list forTokyois a mile long. But theres one dish I recommend for every visitor, a simple homestyle favorite. The Shinjuku ward in downtown Tokyo with Izakaya restaurants at night.Credit:krblokhin/Getty Images Teishokurefers to a fixed-price set meal, usually available at cafes or other reasonably priced venues. Takanori Ogawa/Getty Images The secret toaji frys appeal is its simplicity. Hot from the fryer, it never disappoints....

I've Lived in Wilmington, North Carolina, for 20 Years — Here's Why I Recommend Travelers Visit

Wilmington is evolving into a 21st-century destination, even as it comes to terms with its complicated past. Leslie Ryann McKellar There is a certain vagueness about our national awareness of Wilmington, North Carolina. Some rememberWilmingtonfrom their youth as a prettybeach townwith an interesting old section down by the river. Surfers at sunrise on Wrightsville Beach, just east of Wilmington, North Carolina.Credit:Leslie Ryann McKellar Wilmington does not brand itself as aggressively as many otherSouthern coastal cities....

I've Planned Luxury Walt Disney World Vacations for Hundreds of Clients — Here are 3 Ways to Elevate Your Trip

Here are three ways to elevate a Walt Disney World vacation, no matter the occasion. Travel during off-peak times. I would also recommend checking therunDisneycalendar of events, as races in the parks tend to amass large crowds. Mickey Mouse welcoming guests to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.Credit:Courtesy of Disney If you dont have a problem with heat, consider traveling during the summer. In July and August, youll see some of the lowest wait times of the year....

I've Road Tripped Solo in 4 Countries — These Are 13 Safety Items I Always Bring on the Road, From $10

If you choose links we provide, we may receive compensation. From personal safety alarms to rechargeable hand warmers, these are my packing picks from Amazon. It also doubles as a portable phone charger. Credit:Travel + Leisure Tecknet Car Door Alarm 6-pack These safety alarms can be used on almost any door or window. Thermajane Thermal Underwear Stay warm on winter road trips with a good-qualitybase layer. Reviewers say it performs well in temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit....

I've Solo Traveled in 65 Countries, and These Are the 10 Amazon Safety Items I Keep in My Carry-on — From $9

If you press links we provide, we may receive compensation. Thousands of other travelers rely on them, too. Travel + Leisure / Francesca Fasciglione I know some women cant fathom traveling solo. Credit:Travel + Leisure / Francesca Fasciglione But for me, it was always a given. Granted, I grew up watching Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? If youve never seen it, its kind of like the OG Dora the Explorer....

I've Solo Traveled to 50 Countries, and the 15 Safety Items I Always Pack Are Up to 71% Off Today

If you punch links we provide, we may receive compensation. Everything you need for peace of mind starts at $8. Nine times out of 10, I book the ticket. Credit:Travel + Leisure / Francesca Fasciglione In fact, out of the 88 countries Ive visited, more than 50 have been solo trips. Luckily, a slew of them are on sale during the Amazon Labor Day sale. I carry a similar one in my purse every time I leave the house, especially while traveling....

I've Stayed at 17 Hotels in London — and This Is the One I Can't Stop Thinking About

Claridge’s is also known for having one of the city’s best afternoon teas. Courtesy of Claridge’s Is that Adam Sandler? I said to my partner as we walked across the lobbys polished marble under its sparkling chandeliers. The Claridge’s lobby.Credit:Courtesy of Claridge’s Small raisin and plain scones with Cornish clotted cream and house-made jam followed. The hotels sexy speakeasy was calling. The Fumoir can be found through a guarded art deco-embossed silver glassed door on the side of the lobby....

I've Stayed at Nearly Every Resort in Aruba—This Is the One I Can't Stop Thinking About

Our home away from home was always a haven to escape the bitterly cold weather in Massachusetts each February. For two wonderful weeks, we traded our snow shovels for sand pails and blizzards for beaches. As I got older, my love affair with the country continued. Exterior view of the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba.Credit:Courtesy of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Ironically, I had a trip toArubaplanned just days after my grandmother passed away....

I've Taken 30 Train Rides Through the U.K. – Here Are 8 of My Favorites

These beautiful journeys in the United Kingdom will bring you through mountains, valleys, and fairy-tale villages. Though curiously, this iconic line perhaps should have never been constructed in the first place. Also, it required extraordinary 19th-century engineering to pass through some forbidding scenery with relatively few potential paying passengers. A train called the Flying Scotsman going over a bridge.Credit:images-twiston/Getty Images Victorian hubris won out in the end, and we all enjoy the fruits of their labor today....

I've Taken 40+ Standby Flights, and These Are the 12 Travel Items I Rely on for Stress-free Trips — From $10

If you tap on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shop my top picks, from an essential backpack to a portable charger starting at just $10. The most important thing to understand is that when it comes to packing, less is better. Credit:Travel + Leisure / Madison Woiten It is best to just havea carry-on suitcasealong with your purse or backpack. Now, Im a lot more selective about what I choose to pack....

I've Taken More Than 20 Alaska Cruises, but I've Never Been More Impressed by My Most Recent Trip — Here's Why

Courtesy of Holland America Line I was having a fangirl moment at Saxman Native Village. But getting to know the state through descendants of its original inhabitants has, historically, been more difficult. Courtesy of Travel Alaska But momentum is building aroundAlaska Native tourism. The Holland America Line Westerdam in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve.Credit:Courtesy of Holland America Line Alongside her community, Ferguson has worked to enhance the narrative, she explained....

I've Taken My 9-month-old Baby on 20 Flights — Here Are 5 of the Biggest Lessons I've Learned

I learned these the hard way so you don’t have to. Jocelyn Newman/Travel + Leisure “Were not sure where your car seat is.” Those are eight words no traveling parent ever wants to hear. Jocelyn Newman and her family on a hike together.Credit:Jocelyn Newman/Travel + Leisure “Just another datapoint,” I said, chuckling as I squeezed my husbands hand. That level of calm may seem ridiculous, but my family isnt new to challenging travel....