Posts

This Lesser-known 26-mile Train Ride Goes Through Some of Colorado's Most Stunning Sites

The Royal Gorge Route Railroad also offers the opportunity to ride with the engineer. Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images The Colorado Springs region is a haven for train enthusiasts. Those up for a bit of on-board capers may enjoy theMurder Mystery Dinner Trainon select Saturday nights this summer. Credit:Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images Seasonal events are also offered, from Mothers Day to Oktoberfest. To learn more, visitroyalgorgeroute....

This Lesser-known Beach Destination Is One of the Best Places to Retire in the U.S. for Its Cost of Living, Tax Perks, and 32 Miles of Coastline

Located near the Alabama-Florida border, Orange Beach offers a low cost of living and a laidback lifestyle. Cavan Images/Getty Images Ahh, the sweet sound of the word “retirement.” It’s lovely, isn’t it? Aerial view of Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama.Credit:Cavan Images/Getty Images But deciding where exactly to enjoy your golden years can be tough. Thankfully, our friends atInvestopediaandSouthern Livinghave you covered. The estimated median monthly housing cost of Orange Beach is just $1,279....

This Lesser-known Beach Was Just Named the Best in Europe — and It Has Red Sand, Clear Water, and Stunning Cliffs Surrounding It

A low-key beach on the island of Malta claimed the No. EBD recently released their 2024 report on theMost Beautiful Beaches in Europeand their top choice might surprise you. But claiming the No. Credit:TG23/Getty Images All that and the knowledge that you made it to the most beautiful beach in all of Europe. We think that sounds like a journey thats more than worth the climb.

This Lesser-known Coastal Destination Has a Rainforest, 6 State Parks, and the Longest Drivable Beach in the U.S.

Craig Tuttle/Getty Images When it comes toU.S. One such overlooked coastal destination, theLong Beach Peninsula, stretches out from mainland Washington. On this moody stretch of Pacific Northwest coastline, the weather is dramatic and the scenery is stunning. Credit:Craig Tuttle/Getty Images Packed in the coastlines 28 miles is a little of everything. In fact,25 percentof the nation’s oysters come from the peninsulas Willapa Bay. The gem of the region is theCape Disappointment State Parkon the southern tip of the peninsula....

This Lesser-known Colorado National Park Is Home to the Tallest Sand Dunes in North America

Here’s what you should probably know before visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. Climb the sandy peaks and then strap on your rented sandboard (or sled) and slide back down. The vibrant on-fire dunes set against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo mountains are a photographers dream. Credit:Guenther Reissner/500px/Getty Images Campsites can be reserved up to six months in advance on recreation.gov at a nightly rate of $20....

This Lesser-known Colorado Ski Area Is Perched Along the Continental Divide and Gets 350 Inches of All-natural Snow a Year

And it’s a throwback, ski bum paradise. Stonehouse Pictures I pulled into the parking lot atMonarch Mountainon a cold, windy morning. Snow had arrived the night before, and another storm was on its way. A group of skiers on Monarch Mountain.Credit:Stonehouse Pictures There’s zero snowmaking a rarity in Colorado.Despite the cold and wind, the parking lot energy was high. This is what I was really here for a reminder ofwhat skiing is all about....

This Lesser-known Colorado Ski Resort Has Après Hot Spring Pools — and $9 Lift Tickets

It has 1,600 acres of skiable terrain to boot. And if you’re thinking the skiing has got to be subpar, keep reading. Plus, there’s a natural hot springs right down the road. Credit:Scott D.W. Smith The best time to ski at Purgatory Resort is between January and March. Like any ski area, its busiest on holidays and weekends. Purgatory Lodge For my January 2024 trip, I stayed atPurgatory Lodgeat the base of Purgatory....

This Lesser-known Destination in Japan Has Beautiful Natural Landscapes, Serene Temples, and the Country's Oldest Resort Hotel

Ancient temples.Natural hot springs. And the country’s oldest resort hotel. And perhaps best of all? Credit: Natapong Supalertsophon/Getty Images Underpinning Nikko’s cultural charms is one key protagonist: nature. Nikko is also home to the oldest resort hotel in Japan: theNikko Kanaya Hotel. But the icing on the Nikko cake is undoubtedly its food. Daniela Duncan/Getty Images VWPICS/Nano Calvo/Getty Images Courtesy of JNTO Courtesy of JNTO Courtesy of Kanaya Hotel Courtesy of Kanaya Hotel

This Lesser-known European Country Has Stunning Beaches Like Greece and Alpine Towns Like Switzerland — but It's Much More Affordable

Ready to visit Albania? Here’s where to stay, what to see, and more. Mlenny/Getty Images It felt like I was getting to see and feel something I shouldn’t. Albania Emblem Statue in Tirana, Albania.Credit:Mlenny/Getty Images I closed my eyes and dove under, realizing then that paradise has another name: Albania. In early June, I visited Albania for a summer vacation alongside my husband. And we loved every inch of it almost as much as those who live there....

This Lesser-known Fall Foliage Destination Is the 'Cherry Capital of the World' — How to Plan Your Visit

Traverse City, Michigan, is a popular summer destination, but the fun continues into fall. Bushels of apples replace cherries at local farm stands and the areas U-Pick orchards prepare for apple pickers. Townline Ciderworksbetween Elk Rapids and Traverse City is a longtime favorite. Aerial view of Autumn sweeping through Traverse City, Michigan.Credit:garyrennis/Getty Images Theyve been growing apples for 60 years and making hard ciders for a solid 20. Where to Stay There are plenty of quaint, boutique properties scattered throughout the Traverse City area....

This Lesser-known Island in Spain Has Become a Go-to for Stylish European Travelers — Here's How to Plan Your Trip

They are called Les Inseparables, the waiter said as he poured our iced lemonade. Lovebirds, originally from North Africa. The fincas facade is painted Menorcas classic English red, a shade designed to look like brickwork. Cala Binidalí, one of many white-sand beaches on the southeastern coast of Menorca, Spain.Credit:TRANS-WORLD PHOTOS/PREMIUM STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY GMBH/ALAMY And yet, with its white trim and signage, the building is more reminiscent of an Argentinean estancia....

This Lesser-known Island Near Bali Is Quietly Opening Beautiful New Hotels — With Beachside Villas and Farm-to-table Restaurants

Tradition reigns on this idyllic Indonesian island. But as high-end hoteliers start to make inroads, protecting local customs feels more important than ever. The place was still in the grip of its long dry season. A traditional boat at Mandorak Beach, on Sumba’s western shore.Credit:FREDERIC LAGRANGE All around us, a landscape of parched, golden grassland was dotted with villages. Buffalo grazed in the fields. Along the road we passed young men riding bareback on lean, sinewy horses....

This Lesser-known National Park Feels 'Extraterrestrial' With Bone-white Sand Dunes and Sky-blue Lagoons — Here’s What It Was Like to Visit

In the northern reaches of Brazil, the unique and fragile landscapes of the Lencois reward the adventurous. Her name, he told me, was borderline biblical: Maria dos Milagres, or Maria of Miracles. By the time I met Souza, Id been plotting a visit for several years. The ever-shifting dunes.Credit:Marta Tucci Others traced the origins of the nearly 400-square-mile ecosystem as far back as the last Ice Age. The Lencois and the surrounding region seemed as extraterrestrial and uninhabitable as Saturn....