Erika Mailman

Few water features strike the perfect balance between thrill and chill like a lazy river. What's more, cruising down one is among the most satisfying ways to unwind—no agenda, no hurry, just a slow drift through calm waters, often paired with spectacular scenery like waterfalls or lush landscaping.  From rooftop rivers in bustling cities to winding streams tucked into mountain resorts, lazy rivers have become beloved centerpieces at hotels, resorts and water parks across the U.S. Some are designed for pure chill; others throw in fun twists like wave sections or swim-up bars. Ahead, our favorite lazy rivers in the USA that are worth the ride. RECOMMENDED: The best indoor water parks in the U.S. to slide all year long

This vibrant neighborhood is full of busy shopkeepers, produce markets, bustling restaurants and plenty of visitors aiming cameras at beautifully Instagrammable architectural features—the most iconic being the green-roofed Dragon’s Gate. You’ll also find red lanterns and flags draped across streets, and dramatic paint colors used for signs and structures. San Franciso’s Chinatown is the nation’s oldest and largest Chinatown, settled by immigrants lured by the Gold Rush’s siren call. Although much of it burned during the 1906 earthquake and fire, the neighborhood was rebuilt. Today its 30 blocks draw locals and visitors alike to enjoy this spirited Chinese culture. RECOMMENDED:🥟 The best dim sum in San Francisco🍽️ The best restaurants in San Francisco👗 The best thrift stores in San Francisco📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🍳 The best brunch in San Francisco

Rainy day or not, a visit to one of San Francisco’s museums yields happy results because the places where you find art and artifacts can be zany or serious, depending on your mood. San Francisco has several world-class art museums as well as some smaller collections that do a deep dive on fascinating and specific topics. For instance, we have one of only two museums devoted to Walt Disney the man (the other is in his hometown of Marceline, Missouri). Our Cable Car Museum lets you actually see the huge circulating mechanisms that drive the cable cars. Right by the waterfront, the Musée Mécanique has a warehouse full of turn of the century dioramas, which you can animate by feeding them a quarter, while the Beat Museum provides an insider’s look at a literary movement. Want to get hands-on and feel your way through some science? There are several places to do that, including the Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park and the Exploratorium along the Embarcadero. Now that most kids are out of school, some of these museums offer summer camps for kids—we especially have our eye on the Cartoon Art Museum’s selections. Here’s our list of the finest museums in San Francisco. Prices given below are for general admission; special exhibitions usually involve a separate charge. Many are free or discounted for San Francisco residents, and many have monthly free days or pay-what-you-can days. We totally recommend looking into NARM membership; some of these sites belong. RECOMMENDED:📍 The

A city unlike any other and immediately recognizable in photographs, San Francisco reigns supreme as a fun metropolis with offbeat choices of how to spend your time. If you’re an outdoor person, you have scads of hiking trails and water activities to pick from—and just walking our famously steep streets is an adventure in itself. If you trend towards quieter times indoors, you’ll love a contemplative afternoon exploring the many museums we offer. If a tipsy ramble through the city appeals, we have tons of great bars, including ones perched on rooftops for those exquisite city views. When you get hungry, there are a ridiculous amount of incredible restaurants (we picked out our 11 favorites last month, and there are 28 Michelin starred ones as well). There’s a fantastic zoo, some wild architecture, a park far larger than New York’s Central Park packed with tons of great things to do, iconic hotels and neighborhoods like Nob Hill, Chinatown and the Haight that each convey their own personality. Wherever your explorations take you, you're bound to have a memorable time with these things to do in San Francisco. June 2025: This month we’ve added a symphonic production of David Bowie’s album Blackstar, two hilarious dating shows and an immersive yoga experience. Plus: We hardly have to say it, but this month is Pride in our beautiful city with all the epic celebrations you expect and a magnificent, gigantic parade! And don’t miss the free drag shows every Friday this month with the

Zoos provide an amazing chance to connect with wildlife and develop empathy. Who can’t be moved to protect wildlife after watching newborn lemurs energetically play with each other? Or after seeing the placid stare of a tiger or pop-up nature of the prairie dogs? Zoos let us see animals that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to see without traveling across the world, and most zoos do their best to provide habitats that give animals humane treatment and a safe place to roam with as much space as possible. Often, the funds raised by zoos can pay for captive breeding programs that protect endangered species. There are even some species that are extinct in the wild but still living within zoos, such as the Przewalski's horse (can be found in the San Francisco Zoo, among others), Père David's deer (can be found in the Bronx Zoo and others) and the Guam kingfisher (can be found in the St. Louis Zoo and others). Here are the best zoos in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: ⛰️ The best outdoor adventures in the U.S.🌍 The best camping in the U.S.

All across San Francisco, amazing restaurants beckon. In every neighborhood, small eateries abound, while larger places dotted over the city expertly handle crowds. Because of California’s orchards, farms and seacoast, a variety of ultrafresh ingredients find their way to menus and to your plate. Besides the 28 restaurants that have earned Michelin stars, a larger number do their magic of making diners appreciate the three times a day that we pause to fuel our bodies and delight our senses. Dishes can be plated so beautifully that “the camera eats first,” or they can be served no-nonsense–style to diners who ply their forks immediately. This list includes restaurants we’ve tried all across the city and of varied cuisines: American, Mediterranean, vegetarian, Italian, Indian, seafood, French, Argentinian and Chinese, among others. As for your culinary journey across San Francisco: Try new places, continue to patronize your favorites and incorporate restaurant visits into your weekly routine, if you can. By supporting our hardworking chefs and servers, we’ll ensure that they continue to thrive and keep making San Francisco a foodie’s paradise. April 2025: Time Out has reformatted its food and beverage features, so we’re starting our once-lengthy San Francisco list over afresh with 11 spots. We’re now also assigning star ratings to every venue: three stars corresponds to “good,” four to “great” and five to “amazing.” For more on our new policies, feel free to check out How we re

Often, a train takes you where the freeway doesn’t, giving you spectacular views you can’t see otherwise. You roll through the countryside where herds of elk graze or go through back regions of national parks with a vantage point all your own. While the train lets you doze off, read a book or scroll your phone (so long as Wi-Fi works) because someone else is at the wheel, odds are you’ll instead be glued to the window, unwilling to miss a single picturesque thing that floats by. But not all trains are created equal. While some traverse uninteresting corridors, others earn the title of a “scenic” railway. We’re most interested in those, and the chance to make the journey just as enjoyable as the destination...or maybe the train ride really is the destination. That’s especially the case with trains that focus on luxury. Here’s our list of the most scenic train rides across the United States. (Unless otherwise stated, prices below are for one-way travel).

San Francisco’s got a lot to offer families. Besides the usual fun things you’d expect in a city of a certain size (a wonderful municipal zoo, great science museums), San Francisco has some things you can only do here: ride the bright red cable cars, visit a pirate supply store, walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge and watch 1800s animated dioramas spring to life. There are plenty of vantage points to show your kids the incredible beauty of the bay, including the Presidio Tunnel Tops with 14 acres of playspace with the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge for every cartwheel and Frisbee toss. And while at the end of the day mom or dad might want to slide into a chair for a Michelin-starred restaurant experience, here is our list of best cheap eats to make this family vacation more affordable. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in San Francisco  

There’s a reason people travel here from all over the world. We have incredible views, world-class dining, diverse neighborhoods, a park in walking distance from every home, hiking trails overlooking bay and ocean waters, spectacular museums and stunning architecture. A bridge or underground BART train leads you to the fabulous towns of Oakland and Berkeley, or you can take a ferry or the Golden Gate Bridge north to beautiful Sausalito and the wine country cities of Napa and Sonoma. Heading south, you’ll find San Jose and other tech cities. The entire Bay Area welcomes you with memorable experiences like kayaking, visiting brewpubs, tasting your way through Michelin-starred restaurants and perching on a rooftop bar to fondly regard the picture postcard vista below you. Here are a few of our don’t-miss activities to make sure you really get the best of the Bay Area. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in San Francisco

Here in the City by the Bay, there’s always something cooking, whether it’s a jaunt across the elevated playspace of the 14-acre Presidio Tunnel Tops, taking an urban hike across the Golden Gate Bridge, celebrating gay culture in the Castro neighborhood, dancing yourself into a frenzy or chilling to incredible music. There’s always a festival of some sort unfolding, and one of the best things is that many of these events are free. We’ve put together our picks for the best things to do in San Francisco this weekend (you can check the website for each event for further details). Now: Grab that weekend by the horns! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in San Francisco

A train is already a luxurious thing as we sit back and let someone else whisk us past beautiful landscapes and drift into a lulled sleep. But some trains make the experience even more extraordinary by offering little touches to upscale the ride. That may be special food delivered to your seat, a glass of champagne to sip, velvet upholstery, huge windows that open up the view or service that adds that extra level of indulgence. Here is our list of the best luxury train rides in the U.S., plus some extra information about what to expect for travel time and pricing. RECOMMENDED: 13 weird and funky train rides to experience across America

A romantic restaurant isn’t a tall order. We just need some flattering lighting, a space quiet enough to hear each other and food that feels special in some way, either because it’s beautifully plated or because it tastes so good it’s a great precursor. A restaurant doesn’t have to be expensive to be romantic—it just has to have a certain warm, intimate vibe that mirror how the diners are feeling. Here are our 16 picks for the most romantic restaurants in San Francisco. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🏛️ The best museums in San Francisco🍽️ The best restaurants in San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco  

What is it: A hotel brand so iconic it even has a song in its honor—"Puttin’ on the Ritz," if you remember the 1980s hit. Why we love it: The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, provides a stay that feels like you’ve checked something off your bucket list. From the moment you enter, you’re aware of the history and elegance of this Forbes five star and AAA five diamond hotel, starting with its brick facade stretching 22 stories high and the entry with a formal vintage canopy. Inside, the hallways are a bright gloss white with coffered ceilings holding glass chandeliers and marble tables with bright orchids. It even looks a bit like the interior of the first class passageways on the Titanic...and in fact, I had been so excited to stay here thinking that this is where Margaret “Molly” Brown stayed upon landing in New York after the ship sank. However, that turned out to be another Ritz-Carlton located on Madison and 46th, opened in 1911 as the first Ritz-Carlton in the U.S. It was demolished in 1951 to build an office building, so I’ll never have the chance! This hotel dates to 1929 and became a Ritz-Carlton in 1999. One of its best aspects is the fact that Central Park is across the street. With my sister, I stayed in a Park View Room that overlooked the park, and we had fun sitting on the generously sized windowsills for people-watching out the window. There’s also a telescope in each room. With such a fantastic home base, we took several rambles through the park, entering by

What is it? A Chinese dim sum house in Ghirardelli Square, halfway between Fisherman’s Wharf and Fort Mason. Why we love it: Aesthetics rule the day here. The “palette” of the name refers to the plate you receive, shaped like an artist’s palette with five wells to hold differently colored sauces. One of the standout dishes, a xiaolongbao sampler, also evokes admiration with five soup dumplings arranged beautifully with their dough colored red (beets), green (spinach), yellow (turmeric), black (squid ink) and white, with various fillings. The taro puff black swan with a delicate cracker neck “floats” on an edible flower strewn plate, while the hot and sour soup is classically delicious. I indulged in an espresso martini and the Portuguese egg tart, while also stealing bites of my daughter’s mango pudding supreme with popping boba, coconut and fresh mango. Above you, large red lanterns glow with Chinese characters for the names of the food, including BBQ pork bao and pork soup dumpling. General manager and part owner Dennis Leung has created a beautiful space, where large red lanterns above you glow with Chinese characters that correspond to the names of the dishes. Make sure to make a pit stop at the bathroom, too, so you don’t miss the beautiful mosaic tiles in the hallway. Time Out tip: It’s housed in the same square as the iconic Gold Rush chocolatier Ghirardelli, and we’d also recommend a pre- or post-meal walk down the hill to the free, ship-shaped Maritime National Histo

What is it? An Argentinian steakhouse in the heart of the Mission. Why we love it: The ojo de bife Argentino rib eye (100 percent grass-fed) was supremely buttery in texture, and the wild mushroom sherry sauce had us trying to soak up more with each forkful like a sponge. The pollo skewer with perfectly blackened corn and aji amarillo almost surpassed the steak for me, but we also loved the yuca fries with rocoto aioli—and we had fun moderating our evening with the “sin licor” mocktails, an agridulce citrus beverage and a tutti frutti sweet one. Though I didn’t have room for the empanada options, I’d certainly try them next time. The décor is atmospherically dim and dominated by some fearsome underlit bull head statues, while beautiful chandeliers and metal fixtures that mimic wagon wheels adorn the ceilings. Time Out tip: Arrive before your reservation and head to El Techo, the bar perched on Lolinda’s rooftop, for excellent city views. Also, as much as we love the colorful vibe of the Mission, the homelessness crisis may make visitors feel uncomfortable after dark, so consider that when planning your reservation and parking or transit plans. Address: 2518 Mission St, San Francisco, 94110 Opening hours: Tue–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri, Sat 5:30–11pm; Sun 5:30–10pm Expect to pay: For a few pequeños (littles), a 12oz rib eye, a beverage and a dessert, you’ll pay around $85.

What is it? A French bistro with bright vibes at the Embarcadero. Why we love it: Everything’s at bar level here, so you feel elevated and light while you indulge in French favorites “from Paris with love,” as the menu says—a nod to charming owner Kais Bouzidi’s Parisian roots. Plants are embedded in the mesh liquor cabinet that hovers above the bar, which itself is a beautiful wooden statement piece with carved out embeds for your knees. The croque monsieur was a fantastic confection of layers of thin ham, pickle and béchamel sauce: It was a “fondue with bread” in one gooey unit. We also loved the madeleines plate with anglaise and chocolate sauce. For a refreshing drink that’s adorably photogenic, try the citron pressé: fresh lemon juice and a separate cute vessel of housemade lemon cordial. Time Out tip: Absolutely make reservations in advance; the walk-in party ahead of us was turned away. Address: Pier 3, the Embarcadero, San Francisco, 94105 Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am–2pm, 3–10pm; Sat 11:30am–3:30pm, 5–10pm; Sun 11:30am–3pm Expect to pay: If your brunch includes an hors d’oeuvre, a main, a beverage and dessert, it will run about $60.

What is it? An Italian eatery in the Russian Hill neighborhood with a parklet out front Why we love it: The menu is so full of great options I had pasta twice (and I’m glad I did, because the agnolotti was a true standout, and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the fettuccine blackened by squid ink and accompanied by generous lumps of Dungeness crab). Even though we were stuffed, the delightful server—chef Anthony Florian has assembled an amazing team with great wine guidance—wouldn’t let us go without trying the chocolate budino served in a mason jar: We’re glad we relented to the peer pressure. Time Out tip: Request a seat in the back dining area if you would like a quieter space for conversation. Address: 1896 Hyde St, San Francisco, 94109 Opening hours: Sun–Thu 5–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–9:30pm Expect to pay: About $140 per person if you indulge in antipasti, salad, pasta and secondi with a few glasses of wine.

What is it? An American restaurant inside the Beacon Grand hotel in Union Square Why we love it: Want bountiful proof of why the food scene in San Francisco is so great? Look no further than the California market salad, with mixed greens in a citrus vinaigrette we adored, along with Point Reyes blue cheese, candied pecans and tender slivers of tangerine. Other dishes we loved were the wild king salmon with thinly shaved fennel, radish and cucumber in a dill vinaigrette, as well as the hand-rolled spinach and mushroom canelloni dotted with morels. Make your lunch truly inspiring by pairing it with the Spring Sour mocktail—bright and fresh enough to power through the day. Here for business? The prix-fixe “executive lunch” is only $28 Monday through Friday. Time Out tip: Venture into the side chamber and look up: The painted ceiling and ornate grillwork on either side of the pedimented door are impressive. Want to fully appreciate the opulent architecture and décor of this 1928 beauty? Elect to spend the night (you should). Address: 450 Powell St, San Francisco, 94102 Opening hours: Daily breakfast 7–11am, lunch 11:30am–1:30pm, dinner 4–10pm Expect to pay: For brunch with a salad, salmon and mocktail, close to $70.

What is it? A vegan eatery in Cow Hollow with a parklet on Union Street. Why we love it: In a world trying to adopt more sustainable practices, a vegan restaurant so great that omnivores won’t miss meat deserves notice. The interior at Wildseed has bright white walls adorned with modern art. When you open the completely plant-based menu, the first thing you’ll see is a list of what fruits and vegetables are in season that month. That’s not just something worth appreciating on paper: The chilaquiles with vegan “just egg” and coconut queso were gobble-quality, and the Wildseed burger made with a mushroom and spinach patty, vegan chipotle aioli and tomato chutney (and added-on tempeh bacon) was a fortifying delight. Time Out tip: The grapefruit mimosa comes in a pretty vessel and makes brunch happier. Address: 2000 Union St, San Francisco, 94123 Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–9:30pm, Fri 11:30am–10:30pm, Sat 11am–10:30pm, Sun 11am–9:30pm Expect to pay: About $70 per person if you have a small salad, brunch item, dessert and a few mimosas.

What is it? A seafood restaurant on the second story of Pier 39. Why we love it: You can count on 100 percent sustainable seafood at this busy waterfront spot with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the bay. The clam chowder literally has “award-winning” in its name, and you can order it (as one does here) in a fresh house-baked sourdough bowl. We tried the dual lobster tails (oven roasted with seasonal vegetables), the Petrale sole (pan seared with a pesto cream sauce) and fried scallops, served with roasted jalapeno aioli. The cocktail game is wonderful here with drinks named for local landmarks, like the Alcatraz Escape and the Spicy Mission Margarita. For land-favoring folks just “along for the ride,” there are also sandwiches, steaks and pasta. Time Out tip: Try to sit at the farthest end of the restaurant, where you’ll be able to catch the best view of the sea lions pushing each other off the docks. And if you love flowers, TulipMania is at Pier 39 throughout April with 20,000 tulips in bloom. Address: Pier 39, San Francisco, 94133 Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm Expect to pay: Seafood mains run $29 to $56, while the clam chowder in sourdough is $16. House specialties include cioppino at $42 and a whole Dungeness crab for $64. Cocktails are $14 to $17.

What is it? A seafood restaurant on the second story of Pier 39. Why we love it: You can count on 100 percent sustainable seafood at this busy waterfront spot with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the bay. The clam chowder literally has “award-winning” in its name, and you can order it (as one does here) in a fresh house-baked sourdough bowl. We tried the dual lobster tails (oven roasted with seasonal vegetables), the Petrale sole (pan seared with a pesto cream sauce) and fried scallops, served with roasted jalapeno aioli. The cocktail game is wonderful here with drinks named for local landmarks, like the Alcatraz Escape and the Spicy Mission Margarita. For land-favoring folks just “along for the ride,” there are also sandwiches, steaks and pasta. Time Out tip: Try to sit at the farthest end of the restaurant, where you’ll be able to catch the best view of the sea lions pushing each other off the docks. And if you love flowers, TulipMania is at Pier 39 throughout April with 20,000 tulips in bloom. Address: Pier 39, San Francisco, 94133 Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm Expect to pay: Seafood mains run $29 to $56, while the clam chowder in sourdough is $16. House specialties include cioppino at $42 and a whole Dungeness crab for $64. Cocktails are $14 to $17.

What is it? A contemporary American restaurant carrying one Michelin star in the Fillmore. Why we love it: On a quiet street near the edge of Japantown, 7 Adams bustles with attentive waitstaff, crazy-skilled chefs and blissed out diners. Behind the chef’s counter, there’s gorgeous backlit mod-shaped embedded wall compartments holding plants, stemware, candles and a miniature statue of the Michelin man petting a dog. Chef owners Serena Chow Fisher and David Fisher have created a space where the vibe is relaxed and down to earth, even though the exquisite food could easily deserve a snooty air. We especially loved the starter of hokkaido scallop crudo with koji kosho, pepita and pixie mandarin and all the mains, and lost our minds over the winter citrus dessert (pistachio cake, lemon curd and blood orange ice cream—intensely succulent and vibrant) and the salted malted s’more with chicory pastry cream. Time Out tip: A 20 percent service charge is automatically added to the bill, so you can relax about tipping. Address: 1963 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115 Opening hours: Mon–Thur 5:30–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–10pm; Sun 5–9pm Expect to pay: The five-course tasting menu is $87 per person, while the chef’s counter (six people only) is 8 to 10 courses for $157 per person.

What is it? A contemporary Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in the SoMa neighborhood, housed in the Intercontinental Hotel. Why we love it: Everything on chef Dennis Efthymiou’s spring tasting menu was geared to surprise visually and tastewise. Each course arrives in a unique vessel: a duck foot stand for the quail Scotch egg amuse bouche, or a “meteorite” (as the server termed it) that held beautifully plated dessert components. Our favorite dish was startlingly realistic-looking strawberry sculpted out of white chocolate and stuffed with truffle mousse, served with elderflower and basil ice cream and a Kalamata olive shortcake. I started with a passionfruit margarita and switched to a suggested Riesling to pair with the Spring Awakening course, which was a literal miniature garden with tiny spears of white and green asparagus “planted” alongside tendrils of pea appearing like plants meeting the sun. Time Out tip: The tasting menu consists of 11 courses, many of which have multiple components. Come with an appetite—like “I haven’t eaten in months” levels of hunger. If you book a room at the Intercontinental, you’ll have an easy elevator ride up to a spectacular panoramic city view as your digestive system works on the issue at hand. Address: 888 Howard St, San Francisco, 94103 Opening hours: Thu–Sat 5:30–9pm Expect to pay: The spring tasting menu is $175 per person with a $115 wine pairing.

What is it? A Mediterranean restaurant housed in a former army barracks in the Presidio. Why we love it: Billed as “modern Eastern” rather than “Middle Eastern,” Dalida comes from husband-and-wife chef team Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz. The flavors here stretched our palates and made our eyebrows rise—even the hummus had some extra zing sitting under the Cypriot lamb chops wrapped in ground lamb and caul fat. Our family’s favorite was the Breaking Bread dish with round tins of spreads accompanied by chubby pita (baked in-house every five minutes). The cocktails were a highlight, served in fun vessels like a miniature silver tankard or with tall, glass-height ice cubes ordered by mail. Stay for dessert and you may catch some Top Chef magic with pistachio three-ways baklava and the sour cherry Maraş ice cream that chef Laura made for one of the show’s challenges. The interior’s muted lighting comes from rice paper chandeliers, and there’s a beautiful mural of trees in bloom. The historic building’s high ceilings really open up the interior, but that does mean the acoustics are rough for conversation.  Time Out tip: If you want to make a night of it, book a room at the Lodge at the Presidio, just a four-minute walk away. Address: 101 Montgomery St, San Francisco, 94129 Opening hours: Tue–Fri 11:30am–2pm, 5–9pm; Sat, Sun 11am–2:30pm, 5–9pm Expect to pay: The chef’s menu is $85. Otherwise, you can expect to pay about $100 per person for appetizers, entrée, a vegetable dish and a few c

We've come a long way since the days when food trucks only doled out greasy fries or soggy tacos out of its side door. Today, mobile eateries serve fare just as delicious as you'd find in a restaurant, and the lack of overhead means they can take creative risks while keeping prices low. Talented chefs can be "at the wheel" and food truck villages have found a sort of permanent impermanence in cities like Portland, Oregon. With all that in mind, a new Yelp round-up lists the 100 best food trucks in the country and, surprisingly, 25-percent of these on-the-go restos can be found in Hawaii. RECOMMENDED: The definitive ranking of America’s best fast-food restaurants Yes, the Aloha State dominated the Yelp ranking, even claiming the No. 1 spot with Tony’s Catch of Kapa’a, Hawaii—the easygoing vendor is a local favorite for its seared ahi tostadas, carne asada fries, mahi sandwiches, poke bowls and more. It's conveniently located near both the beach and a bike path, making it the perfect quick, no-frills meal that lets you keep surfing, swimming or biking. Outside of Hawaii, Austin, TX, Portland, OR and Los Angeles, CA revealed themselves to be fellow food-truck strongholds—it obviously helps to have a warm climate, with diners lining up al fresco for their food. The roundup also shows that Yelpers appreciated fusion foods that creatively merge cuisines to form a new mashup, like JoJo's Hot Chicken (No. 4 on the list), which serves finger-licking Nashville hot chicken but with a ze

Sounding an alarm, the U.S. state department issued a travel warning earlier this week for those planning to fly abroad. The gist? Americans may be not so welcome as we have been in the past in certain places. In light of our nation’s bombing of nuclear facilities in Iran, U.S. visitors to other countries may face protests and demonstrations, which makes the latest alert different from typical warnings the state department has previously shared about destinations that may be unsafe to visit due to their own turmoil. That makes the current Worldwide Caution Security Alert rare and unusual—even countries we don't think twice about might now require extra consideration given the current political climate. RECOMMENDED: The best places to visit in the USA for every month of 2025 The state department's warning text is brief: "The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East. There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution." The alert then goes to share a link of specific countries, asking readers to follow the link for more information. At the linked-to page, you can either type in your destination or click on “view all travel advisories.” There, an alphabetized list of all nations ranks them from Level 1 ("exercise normal precautions") to Level 4 ("do not travel"). Here are the

Bostonians: we love your history, your red bricks, your ubiquitous Dunkin’ locations...but what on Earth are you thinking when you get behind the wheel? The 2025 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report lets us know that you Beantown residents are the riskiest drivers out of all U.S. citizens—and apparently have been for the last ten years of this report. (But we love you regardless!) And maybe it’s a geographical thing and not really your fault, because the same study—which looks at 200 different metropolitan areas in the country—also finds that seven of the 10 cities with the highest collision rates are located in the northeast. As far as states go, Massachusetts has three cities on the bad list (as does California). Moreover, Washington, D.C. and Maryland are both high on the list at No. 2 and No. 3 of the worst road warriors so, we’ll let you draw your own conclusions. On the other side of the safety freeway is Brownsville, Texas. That's full of the safest drivers around, per Allstate—we're talking buckling up every time, checking those blind spots, signaling before changing lanes, the works. And just as the northeast trends towards reckless drivers, Texas as a state hosts three other safe cities in the top 20. A few interesting takeaways from the Allstate report: In the Midwest, drivers have gotten less safe since 2015. For instance, St. Louis fell 90 spots to land at No. 175 this year. In general, though, most cities have seen a slight reduction in collision rates in the

Our fascination with the Northern Lights is never-ending, perhaps because we all crave a deeper connection to nature. Seeing the sky do something so unusual and breathtaking reminds us that we are part of a universe whose mysteries we don’t completely understand. So it’s great news that tonight, folks in 14 U.S. states may be able to see the stunning Aurora Borealis IRL, according to Space.com. Get yourself to a remote location without light interference, pour a glass of wine and lie back—the show will hopefully be spectacular. The Northern Lights will, of, course be visible from our most northern state Alaska, as is typically the case. But folks as far south as South Dakota may also be able to see them. A hole has opened up in the sun’s atmosphere, which is causing heavy geomagnetic activity. What does that mean, exactly? Science moment brought to you by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center and summarized as best as possible by an English major: The sun gives off electrically charged particles that collide with nitrogen and oxygen in the earth’s upper atmosphere. When enough of these collisions occur, nitrogen discharges a blue light, and oxygen emits a greenish-yellow or even red one. The other colors you see are from these lights blending. And that’s the Aurora Borealis! Earlier this year, there were 17 states in America that had the chance of seeing the Northern Lights during a similar geomagnetic storm (sorry, Pennsyl

Thank the rainbow gods it’s Pride Month, a chance to celebrate love in all forms and connect with like-minded community. Some people travel for Pride if their city doesn’t host large-scale festivities, and renting an Airbnb to share makes the journey even more special. To that end, Airbnb has released a list of the top trending Pride Month destinations this year, based on searches by Gen Z and millennial users. Younger travelers like those born between 1981 and 1996 (a.k.a. Millennials) and between 1997 and 2012 (Gen Z) have been looking online for the best cities to celebrate Pride Month, with search interest surging from 20-percent last year to 90-percent in June 2025. In the U.S., the cities seeing the most trending interest are Chicago, Illinois and Boston, Massachusetts, beating LGBT-friendly hubs like New York and San Francisco. And internationally, the cities of Cologne, Germany; Bogotá, Colombia; and Mexico City, Mexico are also seeing a huge uptick in interest. RECOMMENDED: Eventbrite’s Pride Month It-Lists curate the best Pride events in 7 U.S. cities Why these two American cities? Chicago was where the country's first gay rights organization (the Society for Human Rights) was founded in the 1920s; half a century later, the city's annual Pride Parade began as a protest march in 1970 after the significant Stonewall Riots in New York City, where people protested the police raid on a gay club called the Stonewall Inn. Today, Chicago's Pride Parade brings out more than

As if you needed another reason to visit Shake Shack (seriously, we already have their crinkle fries way too often), it’s bringing back its smash-hit Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake to all locations nationwide. We first encountered the viral milkshake back in April 2025, when it was given a limited-time test run at select Shack locations in Los Angeles, New York and Miami. Visitors in those lucky cities formed lines to make sure they could get the drink—and by 10 a.m. each day, the shakes had run out. So now, Shake Shack is making sure you can get one, too. RECOMMENDED: The definitive ranking of America’s best fast food restaurants Starting Tuesday, June 24, the brand will be serving the Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake at all Shake Shack locations nationwide. It's a drinkable take on the titular chocolate bar (which has been transformed into everything from boozy cocktails to cheesecake bombs), which was first created by Emirati Fix Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai and became popular on TikTok for its delicious mix of smooth milk chocolate filled with crispy, finely shredded filo dough kadayif and creamy pistachio and tahini filling. Photograph: Courtesy Shake ShackShake Shack Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake   According to Shake Shack’s press release, its international team visited the Middle East in December 2024 and first got the idea to make a milkshake based on the dessert—the culinary team was already working on developing the crackable chocolate shell and this seemed like

Two of your top munchie-satisfying brands coming together to turn up the heat this summer: Fast-food favorite Wendy's is partnering with spicy tortilla-chip brand Takis for a flavor-packed, fuego-focused foodie collab. Debuting on Friday, June 20, the limited-time Takis Fuego Meal will be available at Wendy's locations nationwide and will spice up your lunchtime with a Takis Fuego Chicken Sandwich and Takis-inspired Fuego Fries. RECOMMENDED: Chipotle is giving away free burritos this summer—here’s how to get yours The collaboration chicken sandwich slathers Wendy's usual Spicy Chicken filet with chili lime sauce and a creamy corn spread before the bird is covered in crushed Takis Fuego chips for a one-of-a-kind sammie "that is equal parts spicy, crunchy and savory," per the fast-food restaurant. And the accompanying French fries continue the zesty theme: Wendy’s classic Hot & Crispy Fries are tossed in a tangy chili lime seasoning and served in a custom-made tear away bag to ensure that none of that lip-tingling Taki flavor escapes before it gets into your mouth.  Both the limited-edition sandwich and the French fries will be available as a set meal or a la carte. You can also add a bag of Takis Fuego chips to your meal while supplies last. The fiery fun doesn’t stop there: Along with those fiercely seasoned culinary gems, you can also play Spice Invasion, a new in-app game from Wendy's, available June 20 to July 20. Players will navigate treacherous terrain and blast Takis

Aside from the actual vacation itself, a trip to the airport alone will cost you a pretty penny before your travels can even officially begin. But not all airports were created equally, or economically, for that matter: A new study by Casino.ca reveals the most and least affordable airports in North America, tallying the average cost for everything from a one-night hotel stay to overnight parking to that pre-plane pint of beer. RECOMMENDED: The best airports in the U.S., ideal for layovers and the inevitable flight delays The most expensive airport in the U.S.? It’s unsurprisingly set in New York City: that would be LaGuardia Airport in Queens. Parking there is $37 a day, while a beer inside will cost an average of $12. If you stay overnight at one of the nearby hotels, the average nightly rate is $332. At that price, you’d want to stay at a fabulous new award-winning hotel instead of an hour-burner. The second most expensive travel hub is Denver International Airport, where parking is $32, a beer is seven bucks, and the close-by hotels run $312 per night. In third place is Boston’s Logan International, with $27 parking, a $7 pint and $303 hotel rooms. Let’s make ourselves feel better and look at the other end of the scale. The cheapest U.S. airport on the list is Houston’s William P. Hobby airport—there, you can spend a more reasonable $14 for parking and $8 for a pre-boarding beer and drop just $101 on that hotel stay. The second least expensive is Louis Armstrong New Orlea

For gamblers—both high-stakes players and people who can barely push a dollar into a slot machine—there’s one destination that comes to mind when you think of casinos. It’s a city famous for its neon, its enormous themed hotels, its successful ad campaign that promises secrecy and blanket forgiveness for whatever happens there, and a reputation for constantly coming up with new things to entertain visitors. That city is Las Vegas. But shockingly, a new study says that, despite all of that, Vegas isn't the number-one casino city in America—so what the heck is? RECOMMENDED: The most fun city in America? Las Vegas, of course In fact, in the list of best casino cities in the U.S. by gaming aggregator SlotMatrix, Las Vegas isn't even in the second or third spot. Somehow, Sin City came in fourth, while a city that few people associate with casinos—Chicago, Illinois—managed to wind up in first place. Let’s look at how that’s even possible: The study looked at a variety of data, including how many casinos there are per 100,000 residents of the city; how many casinos have connected hotels or restaurants; the number of slot machines, table games and poker tables in each casino; the number of late-night bars open in the city; average hotel price; and  the percentage increase of online searches since 2022 for casino-related travel to that city. After crunching all those variables, Chicago shows up as the clear winner. Okayyy. To be fair, Chicago does have the highest number of table game

Springtime in San Francisco’s Union Square means you’ll see flowers everywhere as part of the plaza’s annual “in bloom” celebration. It’s an upbeat, joyful time—and while the neighboring Westin St. Francis decorates its lobby with flowers to the degree that it’s worth stepping into for an Instagrammable moment, this year the venerated hotel rolled out something even more intense. It’s an over-the-top, extravagant beyond belief, frothy confection of a springtime suite. Photograph: Erika MailmanThe lobby decorated for spring. The “Suite in Bloom” is billed as a “luxurious floral escape,” and that captures it exactly. It’s a dream come true for anyone who ever wanted to retreat to the woods and live with nature’s bountiful color—but without, you know, the actual nature part. The two-bedroom suite is utterly bedecked in “cherry blossoms” and holds three life-sized “trees” (all faux foliage in this case). Ivy twines everywhere, and even the bathroom shower is festooned. I visited with my daughter and her friend, and we all fangirled over the idea that we had always wanted a tree in our childhood bedrooms. We also loved the discreet machine that periodically emitted a floral fragrance into the suite. We walked back and forth between the rooms in a daze. We had never seen a hotel space that was so devoted to fantasy, to surprising and pleasing the guests. Photograph: Erika MailmanEven the shower has flowers!   Photograph: Erika MailmanThe friends investigate the fragrance dispe

This summer, there’s something very French and very Martha to look forward to: a menu that represents a collaboration between Maman café and bakery and celebrity lifestyle authority Martha Stewart. It’s Maman’s 10th anniversary and Stewart’s 100th cookbook, so it’s a great time for the two forces to join. Maman, French for “mom,” serves coffee in toile-patterned to-go cups and their pastries on chic blue and white vintage plates if you stay in house to eat. With locations in New York City and along the East Coast all the way down to Florida (and internationally in Montréal and Toronto), the powerhouse will be serving five menu items developed by Martha Stewart’s test kitchen staff and Maman co-founder Elisa Marshall—who says she grew up watching Martha Stewart’s show and idolizing her. When the season changes, a new collection of five limited-time menu items will drop—and this will happen three more times during the yearlong collaboration. Photograph: Isabelle NamnoumMaman x Martha Stewart For summer, the five new items are: a tomato tart from Martha’s new cookbook, her signature Red Iced Tea, a crème brûlée sugar bun which is described as a brûléed riff on Maman’s famed pastry, a kitchen sink cookie and a turkey cobb sandwich. Photograph: Isabelle NamnoumMaman x Martha Stewart An in-depth description of each menu item: The tomato tart has cherry tomatoes, fontina cheese, roasted garlic & fresh thyme captured in a flaky, all butter crust. The iced tea is made with cold

If you’re looking for luxury when you’re traveling, then you're likely booking yourself a five-star hotel. There, you’ll surely find a spacious guest room, a gorgeous lobby, attentive staff and excellent amenities like spa-soft robes for after your shower. Such venues often have fantastic restaurants and spa services on site and curate optional experiences for guests. Overall, these hotels are more than just a place to plunk down your luggage; they can actually be the destination itself.  RECOMMENDED: The World’s Best Hotels 2025 ranking just dropped—and only one U.S. property made the list However, according to Hotels.com’s 2025 Hotel Price Index, five-star hotels here in the U.S. are, on average, 27-percent more expensive than they are abroad. And, shhhh, the index shares the information that four-star hotels actually provide a better value. They’re significantly nicer than three-star hotels, and you only pay, on average, 38-percent more to move up that level. However, moving from four-star to five-star involves a 118-percent cost increase. But if you are still intent on staying at a five-star property, Portland, Oregon is the cheapest city in the U.S. to book one, according to the index. There, you can find a five-star property for an average of $287 a night. That’s a pretty great price for an exceptional experience. For example, with a quick Google search, we came up with The Nines, a five-star Portland property for $246 a night. It’s lodged in a historic building but rem