9 Incredible Wild Animal Encounters From Our Readers

Rory Conan Williams set out from Alaska more than 25 days ago, intending to sail down the coast to his mother in San Diego. But the experienced 45-year-old sailor headed out on a boat with an engine that didn't work — and hasn't been seen since.

Flying to the United Arab Emirates from the United States just got easier.  Etihad Airways, one of the national airlines of the UAE, just announced new service between Boston and Abu Dhabi, beginning on March 31, 2024.

Compared to the typical Latin American tamale — a corn-based mixture steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf — the Mississippi Delta’s iteration is smaller, spicier, meatier and often simmered rather than steamed. Some say the dish came from Mexican migrants or soldiers in the Mexican American war; its origins may lie in Native American cuisine, or hail from the African dish, kush — cornbread hash. The flavours are as varied as the backstory — here are some of the best places to try them.

I've had the luxury of sitting underneath glass-dome windows as my Rocky Mountaineer train barreled between Colorado's mountains.

Conde Nast Traveler gets a lot of mileage out of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, slicing and dicing feedback from 300,000 travelers into a dizzying array of categories, sub-categories, and sub-sub-categories. Not only is there a ranking of the best cities in the world, there’s also the best small cities in the U.S. The world’s best hotels, sure. But also the top 10 hotels in Europe, and in Northern Asia, and in Eastern Mexico, and in Florence.

Oktoberfest competes with fall foliage as one of the top activities for fall travel. The advantage with Oktoberfest? There’s no guessing about travel dates—festivities are fixed, typically beginning in late-September. And the best places for Oktoberfest have celebrations that run for an entire week or more.

The first surprise for visitors at the brand new non-alcoholic Wilderton Botanical Spirits tasting room is a still. That’s right— there’s a shiny thousand-gallon stainless-steel vacuum pot still looming over the fully zero-proof production facility in Hood River, Ore.

Grupo Xcaret is excited to introduce the inaugural Xcaret Culinary Festival, a first-of-its-kind event in Riviera Maya. In a groundbreaking culinary festival, distinguished chefs from around the world, including internationally renowned and Michelin-starred chefs, will join forces with the finest Mexican culinary experts to celebrate the art of Mexican cuisine. The event will showcase a captivating array of dinners, tastings, pairings, and presentations, blending innovation with the rich traditions of Mexican gastronomy.

Train travel in the United States may not be as common or practical as in other parts of the world, but that does not mean it’s nonexistent — far from it. There are high-speed trains operating on the coast of Florida; there are Amtrak trains that will take you through some of the nation’s most beautiful national parks; there is a train in Colorado that runs at the bottom of a 1,200-foot-deep gorge and one that goes through California’s most celebrated wine region; and there are trains in Alaska that will take you for the ride of a lifetime through the most spectacular scenery — in glass-ceiling cars, no less!

Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming. In the least populated state in the country, that translates to just under 60,000 people. But don’t let the population size fool you. This centrally located city is a paradise for outdoor lovers that also has a thriving urban center, a diverse economy, and a rich historical and cultural heritage.

It wasn’t even meant to be: the city of Banff was initially founded to support the development efforts of the transcontinental railway. Today, Banff is one of the top resort towns in Canada, a popular destination in Alberta that offers the perfect blend of serenity in nature with jaw-dropping adventures. Whilst most travelers tend to explore Banff in the colder months to see its winter beauty (along with Jasper and Lake Louise), Banff is just as charming and welcoming during the warmer months. Located within the Rocky Mountain peaks, you can feel nature’s warmth in the cold months and inhale mountainous fresh air in the spring and summer months.

It has to be Berlin. During a month-long summer trip in the late noughties, I fell in love with Kreuzberg’s €2 kebabs, cheap pilsner and vibrant street art. I strolled through leafy Prenzlauer Berg, home to endless coffee, cake and culture. This city has whatever food you could possibly want (currywurst is a must – meat, veggie or otherwise, big and budget-friendly). But the highlight was taking a train out to the stunning lake Wannsee. We packed a picnic, stripped off, sank our toes in the sand and swam, swam, swam until the canalside clubs began calling our name.Jessica Cole