James Wong

Dallas is big, diverse and ever-changing, and that dynamic character is reflected across all the fun attractions and activities available in the city. Yes, there’s some cowboy culture here, but the old tropes are outnumbered by world-class art, vibrant neighborhoods, a compelling culinary scene and a surprising amount of green space. Make the most of your summer and experience it all with this guide to the best things to do in Dallas right now. May 2025: This month, we’ve added a new pool bar and a tiki pop-up, plus some of our favorite summer concerts. RECOMMENDED: 🥩 The best restaurants in Dallas🍹 The best bars in Dallas🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Dallas🏨 The best hotels in Dallas This guide was updated by Dallas-based writers Alex Temblador and Kevin Gray. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Only two cities in the United States are designated as UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy, and San Antonio is one of them. Boasting some of the most diverse foods and cultures in Texas, the Alamo City's culinary scene has it all, from reliable neighborhood haunts and swanky bistros to the Riverwalk’s endless selection of restaurants. While Houston, Austin and Dallas have fantastic food scenes, San Antonio has a culinary flair that reflects the diversity of the people and cultures that make it such a fun place for your taste buds.  Whether you're after authentic Texas barbecue, meaty street tacos, Naples-style pizza, juicy Chinese char siu or elevated Asian fusion, you will find it all at the best restaurants in San Antonio. After eating your way through different neighborhoods, you'll want to explore all the exciting things the city has to offer, and make time to hit up some of the best bars in town. Now that your taste buds are standing at attention, here are the best places to eat in San Antonio right now. Recommended: The best bars in San Antonio This guide was updated by San Antonio experts Jill Robbins and Anni Irish. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

With the recognition by Michelin, Austin is officially on the world’s main culinary stage, despite locals knowing its value long before the French came in to taste it. The scene might be a long way from its barbecue and Tex-Mex origins, but even as chefs rise to fame through their omakase skills or take on duck confit, the flavor of our foundation still shines through. Austin continues to cook up a food scene worth venturing for, and below are some of the best inside our city limits. Don’t be surprised if this list looks different down the road. This is only the beginning.  May 2025: We’re constantly keeping our eye on spots that deliver on quality, service and flavors. This month, we visited several restaurants and included four new restaurants in this guide’s iteration: Mexta, Bar Toti, Maie Day and OTOKO.  RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Austin

San Antonio may be the seventh largest city in America, but it radiates the warmth of a small community. In a city accustomed to tourism, a friendly “hello” from a passerby is common, and locals are always happy to help. Texas hospitality is layered over a world of wonders, from museums and iconic architecture to outdoor adventures and citywide celebrations. The city also boasts a thriving culinary scene where innovation and experimentation take center stage. (Ahem, San Antonio was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy—one of only two U.S. cities to receive this honor).  Downtown San Antonio is walkable; however, if you get tired of traveling on two feet, you can always rent a bike or a scooter to see the rest of town. If you plan to explore outside of downtown, you’ll need a car. San Antonio’s Via Metropolitan Transit System also provides bus service.   Explore San Antonio's food scene at the Historic Pearl, check out local shops and cultural attractions or one of the city’s many museums and interactive installations, such as the Witte Museum, San Antonio Fire Museum or Hopscotch San Antonio. Wherever you wander, San Antonio is brimming with fun and exciting activities. From museums to historical parks and wildlife adventures, here’s a complete guide on everything to see and do on your next visit. This guide was updated by San Antonio expert Jill Robbins. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about

Nothing quite captures the vibrant character of the capital city quite like our bar scene. Anyone not from the state typically comes in expecting dusty saloons and cattle tied up on posts before pushing past swing doors, yet when they're here, they're met with swanky cocktail bars under skyscrapers instead. Honkytonks cohabitate with champagne bars while the art of a dive is revered and reinvented here.  The menus range from cheap cold beers to table-side craft cocktails with sparkling cinnamon to dazzle drinkers. There’s a legacy of raising the bar as the proud home of Ranch Water. Only in Austin will you find a Texas Sotol distillery, locally made vodkas distributed worldwide, wine bars with rare imports and IPAs for sale in gas stations. Like a wild bull, you can’t pin down what is or isn't possible for Austin to do in the bar scene, and these select few are proof there is something in the water here, and it’s worth sipping. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Austin 🏘️ The best hotels in Austin  

If you think San Antonio is a great place to get a margarita, you’re right. Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex culture are abundant, and nothing goes quite as well with an enchilada plate, sizzling fajitas or puffy tacos piled high like a margarita. While margs on the River Walk are a quintessential San Antonio experience, there’s more to drinking in the Alamo City than just that. San Antonio enjoys warm weather year-round, which translates into hot, humid summers, and a cold drink goes down mighty good at the end of a long day of exploring the city. Whether you seek a posh cocktail spot perfect for a date night or something more offbeat, there’s a bar that will tick the boxes off your checklist. Here are the best bars in San Antonio to check out right now.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in San Antonio🌮 The best restaurants in San Antonio🏛️ The best museums in San Antonio🏨 The best hotels in San Antonio

Sure, Houston might be known for NASA, oil production and Beyonce, but it’s a city driving innovation on all fronts. It’s home to several world-class museums, over 200 green spaces and is one of the few American cities with permanent ballet, symphony and opera companies. Not to mention, its culinary scene, made richer by its cultural diversity, is shining bright with six one-Michelin-star restaurants and 14 Bib Gourmands.  Expect to find everything, from BBQ and Tex-Mex to cajun-Vietnamese and New American.  With 25 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality, you could spend a year exploring and still not see everything Houston has to offer. So take our advice and check out the best things to do in Houston on your journey through Space City (more on that below!). This guide was updated by Houston-based writers Patrick Magee and Rebecca Deurlein. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  RECOMMENDED:  🍴The best restaurants in Houston🏠The best Houston Airbnbs🇺🇸The best hotels in Houston

Houston is a foodie city, something residents have known for years. But the arrival of the Michelin Guide in Texas last year—and the Michelin ceremony honoring the first recipients right here in Houston—has made it official. The prestigious guide recognizes chefs who elevate the dining experience, and with the ever-expanding and creative food scene in Space City, the possibilities are endless. Of course, you don’t need an international guide to tell you that Houston is a top-tier dining destination.  Houston’s diverse population is reflected in its cuisine—you’ll find everything here, from Viet-Cajun, Chinese and Indian to Japanese, Italian and Mexican, with offerings running the gamut from ultra casual to multi-course tasting menus served alongside fine wines and craft cocktails. Thankfully, you can judge the restaurant scene for yourself. Whether you’re searching for a steak so tender you can cut it with a butter knife, comforting pastas or perfect pastries, these are the 12 best restaurants in Houston right now.  April 2025: For this most recent update, we polished each entry to ensure everything is accurate and current, removed a few restaurants that don’t reflect the current dining scene, and added three restaurants to the list: Belly of the Beast, Ema and Milton’s. We’ll continue to update this list each month. For more on our process, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Houston🏘️ The best Houston Airbnbs🏛 The best

Perhaps it’s not surprising that in this casual, young capital city, family-friendly activities abound in Austin. From plentiful outdoor spaces that are perfect for letting little ones run free, swim and climb, to family-friendly restaurants and museums, raising kids in Austin is an enriching experience for the entire family. The city is peppered with parks full of amenities, hiking trails with scenic wonders, and swimming holes for a day of splash. And when the weather gets too unbearable (i.e. summer and cedar fever in spring), well, the indoor offerings aren’t too shabby either.  Choose to cool off at the Museum of Ice Cream, where the samples keep on coming, or connect with your inner bookworm at ATX’s best bookstores and libraries, which carry periodicals for all ages. Whether you’re a local looking to keep your children entertained over the holidays or you’re visiting from afar with the whole squad, these awesome family-friendly things to do in Austin won’t disappoint.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Austin🌮 The best restaurants in Austin 

Dallas is rightfully famous for its steakhouses, barbecue and Tex-Mex, but there’s a lot more to eat across this big and diverse city. Some of its best restaurants are serving excellent Japanese, Italian, French and more world cuisines, with a mix of a la carte and tasting menus to keep things interesting. Many lauded staples still stand the test of time, but the dining scene is ever changing, as young chefs bring their own talent and perspectives to new kitchens and concepts.  And while the city is often recognized by national media for its fine-dining institutions, locals know that some of the most compelling cooking is happening in more casual kitchens, where chefs highlight seasonal ingredients and create produce-driven menus that don’t fit into tidy boxes. For some inspiration on where to enjoy your next meal, these are 17 of the best restaurants in Dallas right now. Collect them all. April 2025: In this most recent update, we ensured that entries are current and accurate. We added Sanjh, Purépecha and Quarter Acre to the list and removed Knife Italian. We’ll continue to update this guide each month. For more on our process, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out.  RECOMMENDED: 📍 The best things to do in Dallas🍹 The best bars in Dallas🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Dallas🏨 The best hotels in Dallas

Everyone wants to come away from their trip feeling like they saw it all and hope they never stumble across a TikTok post-trip highlighting a destination and making them ask, “Did I even go to [blank]?”  Austin’s bejeweled with treasured locals and hidden gems that can spur a first-timer to consider moving here to save on having to make frequent trips back. Natural wonders adjective to our lively downtown, Texan landmarks that’ll make any wannabe cowboy hoot n' holler and lively experiences like The Morning Spin's daytime jam sessions at local coffee shops are listed below so your trip to Austin gets it right the first time.  April 2025: It's starting to warm up in Texas, which means festivals galore. In May, the Capital City will host Hot Luck Fest, artisan markets and monthly morning DJ sessions at local coffee shops. Pick an event—we promise you won't be bored.  RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from AustinThe best hotels in AustinThe best Airbnbs in AustinThe best spa hotels in Austin This guide was updated by Austin-based writer Deven Wilson. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

In Dallas, ice-cold beers and Margaritas are mandatory staples in the nightlife scene, but the city has bars—and drinks—for every situation and every type of drinker. Looking for a casual spot to post up with colleagues during happy hour? That’s easy. How about a wine bar that goes beyond the usual-suspect labels and offers varietals you won’t find at every steakhouse in town? That can be arranged. The same goes for upscale cocktail lounges enlisting centrifuges and sous vide machines, and stuck-in-time dive bars where the beers are cheap and the furniture was presumably acquired secondhand in the 1960s. The point is: We’ve got a lot of good bars here. The best of the bunch nail the drinks and the ambiance, so you can be sure that your time and money are well-spent, no matter what kind of night you’re after. Now, go forth and start a tab at some of the best bars in Dallas. April 2025: In this most recent update, we've polished each entry to ensure they’re accurate and current, and we added two bars to the list: Bar Colette and Saint Valentine. We’ll continue to make updates each month to best reflect the Dallas bar scene. For more on our process, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out.  RECOMMENDED: 🪩 The best Dallas nightlife spots🥩 The best restaurants in Dallas📍 The best things to do in Dallas🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Dallas

Executive chef Hugo Ortega is a Houston culinary powerhouse, and his swanky downtown Oaxacan restaurant on the first floor of the Marriott Marquis Houston represents his greatest hit. The menu focuses on the culinary traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico, and includes a variety of house-made masa and corn dishes, moles, grasshoppers, and other ingredients not often seen on fine dining menus in Houston or the rest of the country. The mole tasting and churros with chocolate are must-orders, though it would be a shame to miss out on the suckling pig, sopa de piedra, and Tamal de Huitlacoche.

Nothing says Houston like spicy Viet Cajun-style crawfish, and this Asiatown staple introduced the dish to hungry residents before Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods and David Chang’s Ugly Delicious brought the larger world’s attention to chef Trong Nguyen, who earned a James Beard semifinalist nod. During crawfish season, it’s criminal not to order the namesake dish, a stir-fried buttery garlic delicacy with just the right amount of spice. Other worthy dishes include stir-fried blue crab, chicken wings, and bo luc lac, stir-fried beef with rice. No need to dress up for this casual West Houston spot; just take a group for maximum ordering capacity. Oh, and ask for a bib.

Chef Billy Kin, best known for Blackbird Izakaya and Hidden Omakase, has opened this brilliant concept in the historic Heights neighborhood. Guests enjoy an intimate (there are just 14 seats) omakase using ingredients flown in weekly from Toysou Market, Japan. Billy and co turn up the theatrics over the immersive journey, ranging from the finest O-toro to the marvelously marbled wagyu (you know it is a special cow when served with its birth certificate!). Dishes are fresh and seasonal, so you won't have the exact same experience each time. Oh, and the restaurant is BYOB for added festivity.

This retro-cool bistro in the burgeoning EaDo neighborhood delivers on-point shared plates, innovative cocktails, and a nice natural wine list. The relaxed atmosphere feels modern and smart with great service and a reel-to-reel tape player producing background music at just the right level. This cozy spot is just as good for a weeknight dinner as a late Saturday night drink at the bar. In addition to neighborhood residents and the city’s foodie set, it’s a place where industry professionals eat and drink when they’re not on the clock. Must orders include the pan-fried rabbit “wings,” lamb tartare, and the Nancy Cakes with house-made whipped butter and roe.

Housed between industrial buildings and artists’ lofts, the tiny 31-seat restaurant offers a unique dining experience focused on well-executed plates made with local, seasonal ingredients alongside one of the city’s most interesting wine lists. The menu changes often based on seasonality and availability of local farm offerings, so the food is always fresh and innovative. Because of the limited space, it’s best for those dining in pairs, as the restaurant’s single large table seats 5-6 people, and reservations go quickly. No reservation? Call the restaurant for estimated wait times, as they keep tables open for walk-ins.

No website, no reservations, no marketing. This is a hole-in-the-wall Chinese snack shack that only the locals know about, and it’s slowly garnering word-of-mouth acclaim. Expect deliciously sauced and spiced skewers, puffy fried dough sticks, buns, dumplings, and other street food favorites at bargain prices (skewers start at just $1.99). Tian Tian makes their own soy milk, perfect for dipping their dough sticks in. If you’re in the mood for adventure, go for the crispy intestine sticks or the stinky tofu. You’ll totally forget this is Texas.

What’s the vibe? It’s all about the streetside patio. Pedestrian-friendly Second Street’s the place to people watch, and Condesa’s got sauces to keep you going all afternoon long. What are the prices like at La Condesa? Slightly above mid-range but comparable to restaurants in the area. Guac and esquites are $16, and you’re looking at around $40-$50 for a meaty main. A generous happy hour operates every weekday, though, with half-off drinks and $3 taco specials. What should I order at La Condesa? Brunch is hot here. Try the queso flameado, flaming hot cheese served with black beans, rajas, dos lunas clasico, diced avocado and tortillas. If you have a sweet tooth then center the meal around the puffy churro waffles instead, sided with grapefruit-hibiscus jam and oaxacan crema. The bar stocks one of Austin’s largest collections of pure blue agave tequila and mezcal—order flights to sample the greats. What's worth visiting nearby? Grab a bag of tacos to go from Veracruz All Natural at The Line Hotel if you’re still hungry. Sit with them on the banks by Congress Avenue Bridge to catch swarms of bats that emerge each sunset in the summer, or outside of bat season, work off the queso with a stroll along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.

Let's be real: The last few years have left Americans feeling particularly stressed out. Covid cases are rising, human rights are compromised, and salaries just aren’t keeping up with inflation.  And the struggle is extra real for a handful of states deemed the worst places to live in the US according to a study conducted by CNBC which takes into account factors such as environmental quality, crime rates, health care and inclusiveness of state laws in areas like protections against discrimination and voting rights. Top of the list of worst states to live in is Arizona. Yes, Scottsdale is gorgeous, but when considering the rest of The Grand Canyon State, things are a bit of an... um... tumbleweed. Arizona has the worst air quality in America (according to the American Lung Association), and Phoenix experiences a dangerous 39 high ozone days per year. This is heightened by the fact that the state has the lowest budget for public health, meaning a dire health care system short on hospital beds and staff. Runner up on the list is Texas. The state that proudly boasts that "everything is bigger" is correct in some dire instances—Texas ranks high for discrimination and big on lack of voting rights. Texas' health care system, a high rate of uninsured people and limited childcare also makes it a terrible place to live. Oklahoma rounds off the top three. It’s among the unhealthiest states in the nation, with little regard for exercise, fruit or vegetables (according to the United Healt

Journeys on Spirit Airlines are about to get an upgrade: the budget carrier is rolling out high-speed Wi-Fi service next month, and it’ll be so fast you’ll be able to stream movies, Zoom your boss or follow a Blogilates workout on YouTube. But don’t get your pretzels in a twist just yet. In line with Spirit’s upsell ethos, the quality of your "Stranger Things" binge will depend greatly on how much you’re willing to fork out. The official word is that browsing starts as little as $2.99 and streaming at $5.99. However, the costs can more than double depending on the flight you take.  We hopped online and checked out a popular route to see for ourselves. From LAX to EWR (Newark), the price tag for streaming is $14.99 each device, each way. If you’re the kind of person who travels with both phone and laptop, you’ll rack up $60 in round-trip Wi-Fi privileges. Holy guacamole!  Spirit says this will be the fastest Wi-Fi service of any US-based airline once they’re configured with this state-of-the-art system, in partnership with Thales and FlytLIVE.  Executive VP Matt Klein added, "This is a real groundbreaking moment in the industry as Spirit adds in-flight amenities and product options that have previously not been available on ultra-low fare carriers. We're continuing to deliver the best value in the sky by providing options that are important to our Guests, like our high-speed Wi-Fi service, while keeping our focus on affordable fares to provide our Guests with More Go." Wi-Fi c

Heading out on a romantic European adventure this summer? Then you might want to consider an upgrade: Virgin Atlantic just unveiled their new Airbus A330-900 neo aircraft, and the Upper Class cabin has two extra special seats on board. The new Retreat Suites will be the most luxurious seats Sir Branson has ever offered; situated at the front of the cabin, the suites come equipped with an almost seven-feet long seat, which converts into a lie-flat bed, a 27-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity and wireless charging, a privacy door that fully closes, and electronic dividers, mood lighting, a do not disturb light, and all the fixings that come with Upper Class, including gourmet meals, bar, pajamas, amenity kits, and access to Clubhouse lounges. Photograph: Courtesy Virgin Atlantic And for lovebirds in company of friends and family, there's an opportunity to share the experience too. The suites can be reconfigured to allow for four people to sit together, whether that be for dining, games or chit-chat with complimentary bubbles. Anticipating popular demand, Virgin will be offering the special seats at an additional surcharge to existing Upper Class passengers just 14 days before departure, so frequent flyers won't be able to pre-book all those coveted spots up in advance. Virgin will roll the A330neo from fall to 2026. Each will have 30 brand new Upper-Class suites, as well Premium and Economy. The first flight will depart this October 2022 from Boston. Photograph: Co

Our neighbors across the border want us to come check out their National Parks, and they're willing to give us free entry to them all to do so.  Destination Canada in partnership with Parks Canada are offering up 4,000 annual Parks Canada Discovery passes, worth $113 each. These cover admission to over 80 natural destinations in Canada and are good for 12 months. Popular Canadian parks include the east coast's Gros Morne National Park, famous for soaring fjords and moody mountains, and Hudson Bay's Wapusk National Park, home to polar bears and timber wolves. Of course, no trip to Canadian National Parks is complete without a visit to their bucket list wonder, Banff National Park, also included on the pass.   Photograph: Courtesy EITWBANFF To claim your shiny card, Americans must enter the sweepstakes online before July 31st. You must be a legal resident of one of the 50 US states or the District of Columbia and be over 21 years old. Winners will be announced the following week. In addition to passes, all entrants will be added to a grand prize draw, and one lucky American (with understanding employers) will win the 'dream nature sabbatical' worth $20,000. This includes all transportation, accommodation, excursions, gear and stipend for food and incidentals. Oh, and of course a discovery pass, too. The SVP of Marketing at Destination Canada, Gloria Loree said, "We're next-door neighbors—and we want to welcome back our American friends with access to places we know will lift

Tonight, Wednesday July 13th, is a big night for earthlings: It's the arrival of a supermoon, a celestial spectacle that will be bigger and brighter than any other this year. This is due to the fact that the Moon will be closer to us than at any other point in 2022.   Supermoons are always a treat for space enthusiasts, astrologers and photographers, but that's not to say we can't all enjoy the wonders of moonlight. Sky watchers should be able to observe a full moon up-close (ish) after dawn... and while things may be big then, they'll be at their biggest at 5am EDT, 4am CDT, and 2am PDT, in case you're mesmerized enough to stay up the entire night (and if not, then you might want to sport an eye mask before nodding off). At that specific time, in fact, the Moon should precisely be 221,994 miles (357,264 kilometres) away, according to the whiz kids at Space.com. Sounds far, but it'll feel quite the opposite; so close you'll think you can touch it. Photograph: Shutterstock The term supermoon, adopted by NASA, originally came from astrologer Richard Nolle back in 1979. His definition states that the phenomenon is a full moon that takes place within 90 percent of its closest approach to Earth. This is when it looks the most 'full', with shaded sides too narrow for the naked eye to see. Fall asleep before the big moment? You'll probably wake up and see it all over social media tomorrow, but at least you heard it here first.

We're all feeling the pinch of inflation right now, so the word 'free' is enough to drive even the most composed Americans hysterical. Add to the equation deep-fried treats that are yellow in color and come with a high risk of health complications, and well, certain states (ahem, Texas) are going to need military assistance. Which is why we're letting you know at your own risk: McDonald's is giving away FREE fries all today.  But don't expect to walk up to the nearest drive-through window and demand a gratis treat. To prevent a stampede, there is one teeny, tiny barrier to enjoying free fries today: you have to order via the McDonald's app. Photograph: Shutterstock In order to claim $1.89 in potato sticks, you'll need to download the fast food chain's official app, sign up with all your personal data (and thus, join their loyalty program), claim a large portion of French fries (no purchase necessary), head down to your closest participating McDonald's, wait in line, and hope they haven't run out.   Of course, Ronald McDonald won't be restricting such a generous offering to one day in the year: virtually the same offer (but with medium fries and a requirement to spend at least $1) is available every Friday till December 31st. Wowzers. National French Fry Day is celebrated on July 13 every year. For those who don't fancy becoming members of the chain's digital loyalty program, why not commemorate the day by making your own fries. You'll save a lot more than two bucks.

Years of being pent up stateside (as exciting as the national parks and Hawaii are) have got Americans gagging for international adventures. Maybe it’s all that Emily in Paris, maybe it’s those royal goals in The Crown. However, according to a recent survey, neither France nor England are on the American wishlist in 2022. Now, this could be for a couple of reasons: either travelers have already checked them off their bucket list (judging by our social media feeds, this could indeed be true), or none of the respondents had a Netflix subscription. OK, it's neither. Skyscanner, the company behind the survey, determined America’s most sought-after destinations by an increase in bookings since 2019 and the country who grabbed the number one spot is Qatar. The Middle East nation saw a 522 percent jump in bookings over the last three years, fueled no doubt by the pending 2022 World Cup (and sadly not a TV series starring a pretty actress with a fabulous wardrobe). This monster event will be the first time a World Cup has been held in the entire Middle East region. Photograph: Shutterstock The majority of the list, though, is made up of Caribbean islands. Anguilla, St Barths, Turks and Caicos, the US Virgin Islands, and Antigua and Barbuda all rank high for bucket-list travel this year, not doubt satisfying a truly American need for sun, sand and all-you-can-eat buffet resorts.  Rounding off the list are destinations we've seen trending before: the Maldives, the UAE, Portugal a

Just when we thought life was back to normal again, a subvariant comes and coughs right back on our faces. Back in 2020, National Parks were a surefire way to escape the city, and since then they’ve remained a reliable space for vacationers keen to explore America’s gracious natural wonders as well as beat airline mask drama. But not anymore. Due to the recent spike in Covid cases, a slew of National Parks have reinstated mask mandates and other restrictions. Four of the top ten most-visited will now require you to mask up indoors, regardless of vaccination status. They are the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Yosemite.  Photograph: Shutterstock While the rules vary by park, masks are required on all forms of public transportation within all of them. For example you’ll need to strap on at Alaska’s Denali wilderness and history tours, which last for up to six hours round trip. Denali also requires masks in their lodges, gift shops and restaurants (well, at least you don’t need to worry about getting too hot.) Other parks where some form of masking is required include Arches, Death Valley, Olympic, Sequoia and Petrified Forest. Photograph: Shutterstock The NPS website states that “In areas CDC identifies as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings regardless of vaccination status. In most low and medium COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional, but visitors should follow signs and instructions from park staff an

Time to go cuckoo for capturing wildlife (on camera): the National Audubon Society has revealed this year's winners of their annual bird photography contest, and the images are wings above anything ever seen before.  The grand winner of the $5,000 prize was Jack Zhi of Costa Mesa, California, responsible for an incredible shot of a pair of White-tailed Kite, one clutching a vole in its yellow talons. “I studied White-tailed Kite behavior for three years before I got this close-up. It was a challenge to get the action, distance, lighting, and angles of the individuals all right at the same time.” says Zhi, “The father, who teaches his fledglings to hunt, held a vole in his talons. The fledgling flew in and, in a blink, grabbed the rodent as the father let go.” Jack Zhi - Audubon Photography Awards, 2022 Grand Prize Winner Peter Shen of San Jose, California took home the Amateur Award for his photo of a Western Gebe feeding two chicks. “I was hiking on a narrow, rocky trail when I saw a Western Grebe with two chicks on her back. A male arrived with a fish and passed it to the mom. I quickly laid flat on the gravel, bird droppings all around, but I didn’t care.” Dedication.   Peter Shen - Audubon Photography Awards, 2022 Amateur Winner Ankur Khurana from Canada snagged a photo of a pair of Common Raven grooming each other on the snow, while Liron Gertsman, also from Canada, was crowned the professional winner for his image of a rare White-tailed Ptarmigan. “I’ve spent countl

The US Department of Transportation has issued a stern warning to airlines: stop charging families to sit together. That means that the likes of JetBlue, United, and Spirit will need to adopt policies that minimize the chances of families with young children being separated, or face new regulations. Children who are under the age of 13 should be seated next to an accompanying adult with no additional charge says the DOT, who offers solutions to the airlines such as free seat reservations at the time of booking for qualifying passengers; allowing families to board early if they use an open seating policy; or blocking rows for family use. The request does not apply to adult-only parties (sorry honeymooners!). The notice comes as US airlines ramp up their profit-making initiatives; most now charge extra for seats closer to the front of the aircraft (but otherwise, come with no added benefit) as well as for carry-on bags. Although the DOT has received a relatively low number of consumer complaints regarding family seating, there has been a noticeable increase in seat separation over the years: in many instances, complaints have arisen where children as young as 11 months old (yes, you heard right) were allocated seats away from their accompanying adult. Between now and November, airlines will have the opportunity to make a shift in their seating practices before the government agency decides if new regulations need to be put in place. Till then, customers flying with children sho

It’s never really taken much to get a Minnesotan out in nature during the summertime (10,000 gorgeous lakes and non-threatening weather are just part of the incentive), but a new hiking program means even stragglers have absolutely no excuse lace up their boots this summer.  The Minnesota tourism board is back with a program encouraging both locals and visitors alike to get out and hike the state's gorgeous parks and recreation centers. Participants need only to download the free Hike MN Passport and check in at one of 60 featured locations each month in order to be added to a multiple prize draw. And what are the fabulous prizes, we hear you ask? Well, aside from good health, great views, and oodles of fun, rewards available come in the shape of gift cards. We’re talking $100 gift cards from the Mall of America, $50 gift cards from SCHEELS, and $35 gift cards from Minnesota State Parks & Trails (best enjoyed in the summer for obvious reasons) so you can add a little retail therapy to your North Star State agenda. Of course, it’s not all about the plastic, it’s about the exploration. The passport of 60 trails offers guidance as to the best places to slip on your boots in the state. These include the historic Lake Shetek State Park, home to the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota; the rolling hills of Maplewood State Park, best for viewing the fall colors, and the Superior Hiking Trail, superior in name and superior in scenery. After zipping by magnificent waterfalls, trekk

It’s been all over the news lately; passengers stranded at airports with screaming kids, families missing weddings because of ‘severe weather’ and long lines at security full of smucks who haven’t yet discovered the wonders of TSA pre-check. It’s enough to turn anyone off the idea of faraway destinations. However, one way to avoid the drama could be to look at the stats. According to The Family Vacation Guide, who analyzed data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, your chances of delay are heavily impacted by both your choice of airline and your arriving airport; in other words, you should avoid flying Allegiant Airlines to Newark or LaGuardia. Between 2019 and 2021, they discovered that 27.31 percent of the low-cost carrier’s flights were late or canceled. Meanwhile, all three of NYC’s major airports made the top ten when it came to late arrivals (in Newark, one-fourth of all flights arrived later than their scheduled time). To be fair, NYC-servicing airports are some of the biggest and busiest in the world, so the chances of you arriving late there as opposed to say, Des Moines, may not exactly correlate. We wouldn’t waste our time driving from Washington DC to hit up Broadway just yet. Photograph: Shutterstock Since the survey’s top three most delayed or canceled airlines were all budget carriers (comprising of Allegiant, JetBlue and Frontier) avoiding mishap can come at a price—breaking out of budget. Flying on United or American drops your probability of setba