Blessings from an altar boy amid the sound of chanting monks is not how I expected to begin my first-ever three-star Michelin restaurant experience.
16.01.2025 - 14:59 / thepointsguy.com / Dolly Parton
It is shaping up to be an exciting year for theme parks from coast to coast. We found 10 new theme park rides, lands and entertainment offerings you won't want to miss this year.
This list includes the prerequisite roller coasters and kiddie rides, along with some surprising additions — such as Orlando's first new theme park in 25 years. It doesn't even mention any of the new attractions coming to Disney World in 2025.
Related: TPG's 5 top family vacation destinations for 2025
Here is everything new you can ride, sing along to or "ooh and ahh" at this year.
Dollywood has changed a great deal since its 1986 grand opening. The Pigeon Forge, Tennesee, theme park has always offered live shows and attractions inspired by Dolly Parton's mission to provide a place where families could have fun together.
Related: An inside look at Dollywood's newest resort, Heartsong Lodge & Resort
To mark the park's 40th season, Dollywood is introducing even more opportunities for families to have fun and make memories:
Dollywood will open for its 40th season March 15.
Silver Dollar City is also celebrating a milestone anniversary this year. For the Branson, Missouri, park's 65th season, Silver Dollar City is debuting a new spring festival and an all-new drone and fireworks show, among other experiences.
The Spring Exposition festival will run from April 10 through May 12. It will feature demonstrations by master gardeners, dance-along performances by Kinfolk Bluegrass Band, a colorful "parasol sky" display, seasonal eats and performances by the new Ragtime Piano Showman, the All That percussion dancers from "America's Got Talent" and rotating bands playing traditional Cajun, Dixieland and polka music.
During the festival, Silver Dollar City will also debut the expansion of the Plaza area of the park, transforming it into a hub for fun and entertainment throughout the year.
From June 7 through Aug. 3, Silver Dollar City will hold its annual Summer Celebration. This year's event will include a new "Wild West Comedy Stunt Show," Silver Dollar Circus and a drone and fireworks spectacular.
Universal is opening much more than just a new ride or land this year — it's opening an entire theme park.
Universal Epic Universe will have five themed "worlds" with attractions, characters and experiences based on popular movie and game franchises. Guests will enter Epic Universe through Celestial Park, an astronomy-themed area with peaceful gardens and thrilling attractions (like Stardust Racers, a dual-launch coaster that can reach speeds of up to 62 mph).
Celestial Park will serve as a hub to the other four lands, with portals that lead guests to each. The other lands include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic,
Blessings from an altar boy amid the sound of chanting monks is not how I expected to begin my first-ever three-star Michelin restaurant experience.
Silicon Slopes is a region of Utah known for business and tech that includes Salt Lake City, Park City, and surrounding suburbs like Draper and Provo, among others.
New Zealand is making it easier to plan an extended stay by relaxing visa requirements to allow digital nomads to work from the country remotely.
United Airlines is rebuilding its domestic network after dropping 41 cities from its route map since the pandemic started.
If you haven't reached your desired American Airlines AAdvantage elite status yet, the qualification deadline of Feb. 28 is rapidly approaching. Although you still have the rest of January and February to earn Loyalty Points toward your desired status, American Airlines AAdvantage is already sending out opportunities to use miles or cash to buy elite status valid through March 31, 2026.
Love a good scoop of ice cream? Then, it's time to book a flight to Las Vegas. On Tuesday, the Museum of Ice Cream announced it's adding to its collection of five pop-ups and five permanent locations with its largest flagship destination, set to open in Las Vegas in 2026. Specifically, it's opening as the new flagship family-friendly food and beverage destination at the AREA15 immersive entertainment district, and, according to the brand, it will also be its «most ambitious location» to date.
Porter Airlines is bringing its jets to the other side of the Hudson River.
Low-cost airline Norse Atlantic Airways will make it easier to fly to Greece from the West Coast thanks to a brand-new flight launching next summer.
Last year was an exciting one for Delta Air Lines lounge lovers. The Atlanta-based carrier launched its swanky business-class-only Delta One lounge concept, which it unveiled at three airports—New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS). A first and only Sky Club lounge also opened in Charlotte, North Carolina, plus two existing Sky Clubs in Miami and New York’s LaGuardia were expanded. And Delta has no plans to slow down in 2025.
Jan 24, 2025 • 9 min read
Chase is back with another targeted promotion: Eligible Chase cardholders can earn 5 or 7 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on groceries, gas and dining purchases made with select credit cards.
Last year, MGM Resorts International and Marriott finalized a deal that saw an impressive collection of Las Vegas megaresorts join the Marriott Bonvoy family. Now, the gaming giant's namesake property, MGM Grand, is unveiling an extensive renovation set to uplift the resort by $300 million.