6 Trending Outdoor Adventures in Britain, From Sea Safaris to Off-Grid Sailing

Jenny Phenix was ready to spend the rest of her life on a cruise ship.

In early August, British Airways announced that it would soon stop flying to Beijing – Shanghai is now the only city it flies to in China.

My first visual encounter with Dominica was through the paintings of the Italian-born artist Agostino Brunias, who made a career portraying the island in tame, stylized vignettes that glossed over the grim realities of colonial rule. But within minutes of my arrival there, from the first twist of its serpentine roads, it becomes clear there is nothing tame about this land that sits in the middle of the curve of the Lesser Antilles. It bristles with volcanic energy and glitters with the two-toned leaves of its bois canot trees, flipping from green to white as they waver in the wind. It lulls with the uneven music of its many waterfalls; it throws random rainbows across its astonishing horizons; it bewitches from the depths with its technicolor coral reefs. And when hurricane season comes, it roars.

Right now, American Airlines is offering some serious bargains on round-trip flights to some of Europe’s most iconic destinations, with prices starting at under $500. The sale, which runs through September 17, covers flights departing on select dates between now and May 2024. Travelers can take advantage of discounted flights to such timeless cities as Athens, Dublin, London, Lisbon, Paris, Venice and many more. 

As summer ends, it's time to plan your holiday getaway. Whether you're looking for a family Thanksgiving in the sun, a unique Christmas experience for the kids, or a cultural New Year's celebration with your partner, we've got you covered. 

Cruises can take you to amazing places, including bucket-list destinations like the Galápagos or Greenland and tried-and-true favorites like the Caribbean and the Med. But so much of the fun comes from being on the ship itself. Here, we’ve expanded on our long-running column Onboard Obsessions, spotlighting all the little things we’ve loved while cruising lately. From an unexpected plein-air performance and chic libraries to possibly the most unique New Year’s party of all time, these are the kinds of moments, big and small, that turn mere passengers into cruisers for life.

Greg Cormier. (Photo Credit: Aurora Expeditions)

It's the scourge of travellers who fly long haul for business and pleasure alike, but jet lag is an inevitability for many.

Who is it? Dwayne Fields. He’s a British explorer who is the first Black Briton to reach the Magnetic North Pole, and the second Black person in the world, after Matthew Henson, who did it in 1909.

In a bid to clamp down on overtourism and protect places of interest, popular holiday destinations across Europe and beyond have introduced various forms of a “tourist tax”. In recent years, this has come into play in destinations such as Venice, Lake Como, Brussels, and parts of Japan—and now, UK hotspots are following suit.

I can’t imagine a more versatile boot for traveling than the Chelsea boot. First made in the UK during the Victorian era (possibly by Queen Victoria's very own shoemaker), Chelsea boots were then worn for both riding and walking. In the more modern context, these easy-to-slip-on boots experienced a comeback in the 1950s and ’60s when they were worn all over London’s Chelsea neighborhood by the likes of the Rolling Stones.

Swiss International Air Lines has an unusual problem: Its new first-class seats are too heavy for some of its widebody planes.