Finders, Keepers
afar.com · 19 minDeep in southwest Arkansas is a state park that charges visitors $10 to search for gems that can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Travel
Curated by our editorsStories to fuel your mind
When the River Took John Squires
Outside · 16 minFor years, three old friends from California had been making an annual pilgrimage to fish Alaska’s wild and pristine waterways. But in 2018, only two came home.
To All the Coffeeshops I've Called Home
catapult.co · 11 min"I drove past the third places that I’d grown up in and, through the eyes of an adult, saw a person shaped by spaces that are in-between."
Life finds a way: in search of England’s lost, forgotten rainforests
The Guardian · 6 minMuch of Britain’s temperate rainforest has been destroyed – but it can sometimes regenerate. The race is on to map what survives and restore what we can.
A How-To Guide for the Camping Curious
afar.com · 13 minIs this your first time car camping? (Hint: It is if you’re asking, “What is car camping?”) Use this camping guide for beginners to prepare for your first trip, from finding campsites to packing the right gear.
Popular with Pocket readersStories from across the web
10 of the coolest holiday rentals in Scotland
The Guardian · 7 minTwo converted horseboxes, Thistle and Juniper, have been added to the collection of self-catering and glamping accommodation at the Alexander House estate in Perthshire.
European travel guide Rick Steves, stuck at home
CBS News · 3 minEvery summer for four decades, Rick Steves would head off on an annual tour through Europe. His journeys have been well-documented in several PBS shows and specials, and replicated in a successful line of guidebooks.
'Lost golden city of Luxor' discovered by archaeologists in Egypt
National Geographic · 5 minThree thousand four hundred years ago, a contentious ancient Egyptian king abandoned his name, his religion, and his capital in Thebes (modern Luxor).
Help! Will All My Travel Vouchers Expire Before I Can Use Them?
The New York Times · 5 minVouchers and trip credits emerged as a major consumer flash point at the start of the pandemic. Here’s a look at what some major travel companies are offering in the way of flexibility.
The dream ticket: sleeper trains could soon run from London to Europe’s cities
The Guardian · 3 minIt is being hailed as the latest evidence of a new dawn for the European sleeper train.
A look at Canadians’ domestic and international travel prospects for this summer
The Globe and Mail · 4 minHaving received his COVID-19 vaccine, Clayton Outwater did what he’d been wanting to do since the start of the pandemic: He booked a Caribbean cruise. The week-long Norwegian Cruise Line voyage isn’t slated to depart New Orleans until Jan.
A Vaccine Passport Is the New Golden Ticket as the World Reopens
Bloomberg · 8 minIn a harbor on the Greek island of Paxos, Panagiotis Mastoras checks over his fleet of pleasure craft and counts down the days to the return of the tourists who fuel the economy of the 8-mile speck in the Ionian Sea.
Air Travel Is Already Back to Normal in Some Places. Here’s Where.
The New York Times · 4 minWhile airports in major cities are still struggling, some smaller airports that are vacation destinations are busier than before the pandemic. In Florida, Key West International Airport is busier than normal, while Miami International has half as many passengers as it did before the pandemic.
10 British forests getaways – with great places to stay
The Guardian · 6 minMysterious and atmospheric, the Forest of Dean combines dense pine woods, rolling hills and the glistening ribbon of the Wye river, with plenty of family attractions dotted throughout.
France is banning any short flight that can be replaced by a train trip
Fast Company · 2 minIf you can get there within 180 minutes on the train, you won’t be able to fly. 1 minute ReadIt takes around two hours to take a train from Paris to the city of Lyon.
A few frequent flyers 'dominate air travel'
BBC · 3 minimage copyrightReutersA small minority of frequent flyers dominate air travel in almost all countries with high aviation emissions, analysis suggests. In the UK, 70% of flights are made by a wealthy 15% of the population, with 57% not flying abroad at all.
Gauging the Prospects for International Travel
The New York Times · 8 minRoadblocks abound, but airlines, hotels and tour companies are trying to balance optimism with caution. If 2020 was the summer of the pandemic-enforced road trip, many people seem to be hoping that 2021 will be the summer they can travel overseas. But that’s a big “if.
All to yourself: 10 of the best remote hotels in the UK
The Guardian · 4 minIf you manage to scale Scafell Pike, you might just be able to make out the giant letters spelling out INN on the side of this building.
Asia’s air bridges and travel bubbles will expand only slowly
The Economist · 4 minMORE THAN a year after they shut their borders, Australia and New Zealand will soon have a go at quarantine-free travel.
Venice’s ban on cruise ships is a vital step towards saving the city from disaster
The Guardian · 4 minIf anywhere offers an example of how the battle to save heritage and the environment has shifted during the pandemic, it’s Venice. A world heritage site in a lagoon, a city that Charles Dickens once described as “beyond the fancy of the wildest dreamer.
How to Travel More Sustainably
The New York Times · 7 minSo you’re vaccinated and eager to — finally — plan a real summer vacation after a rough year, but you don’t want to add to the problems you might have read about: overcrowding, climate change, unfair working conditions in the tourism industry. What’s a thoughtful traveler to do?
Make Way for the Travel Agents. Again.
The New York Times · 8 minAfter a devastating year, the travel industry is hoping for a rager of a rebirth this summer. Travel agents are planning the festivities. With more people getting vaccinated and the C.D.C.
Newer Planes Are Providing Airlines a Trove of Useful Data
The New York Times · 6 minDuring the pandemic, older aircraft have been retired, resulting in a fleet that can collect more information about emissions and safety. This article is part of our new series, Currents, which examines how rapid advances in technology are transforming our lives.