Attention Foodies: Here’s Where To Enjoy Alexandria Restaurant Week

On September 8, 2023, a devastating earthquake took place in Morocco, killing thousands of people and injuring thousands more. Many in the country’s mountainous communities are still unable to access communication, medical help, or supplies from the outside at the time of writing (September 11) and relief is urgently needed for those affected in remote communities of the High Atlas Mountains.

The key to seeing any celestial phenomenon is pretty obvious: You must be in the right place at the right time. While the exact location and time changes with every astronomical event, the right place is undeniably somewhere far away from any light pollution. These days, unless you make your way to a dark sky park, finding a spot on land that’s far away enough from civilization isn’t easy, so why not take to the seas? In the middle of the ocean, chances of street lights ruining your stargazing experience are very thin, that’s why cruise lines are ramping up their astronomy at sea offerings, including northern lights cruises, solar eclipse cruises, and more.

Surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Plateau, Chattanooga is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of hikes and bouldering spots within an hour’s drive. Not to mention the gorgeous Tennessee River that runs through downtown, offering a variety of watersports activities. Over the past decade, the word has gotten out about Chattanooga for more than just outdoor enthusiasts, too, with a mix of restaurants, attractions, and accommodations that have made the city and surrounding area one of the coolest weekend getaways in the country.

With around 17,000 places to eat in Hong Kong, you're never far from a steaming bowl of something delicious. The city's culinary landscape features world-class Michelin-starred tasting menus and fine dining, but the majority of restaurants are humble, local spots where the prices are low and the proudly Cantonese dishes are comforting.

Gleaming gypsum crystal dunes roll as far as the eye can see at White Sands National Park. With waves towering up to 60 feet tall, the composition of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert landscape is constantly changing due to wind and weather patterns. Hardy plants like yuccas, grasses, and shrubs have evolved to survive in the shifting sands, adding texture to the spectacle of shapes and shadows that define the scenery.

The summer-opened La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin takes over a historic Cognac distillery and mansion in the area of France famed for its namesake spirit.

With fall on the horizon, the window for travelers to visit seasonal hotels and resorts is narrowing, and often shoulder season is the best time to visit seasonal properties as it brings less crowds, cooler temperatures and more affordable prices.

Tell people you are going to Emilia-Romagna, the food-rich region in northern Italy, and unsolicited recommendations follow: places to linger over pistachio ravioli and mortadella sandwiches, lasagna berberè and “really good” gelato.

From pop-up feasting to taster menus and the start of the oyster season, Hotel Meudon near Falmouth in Cornwall is offering a bounty of ways to savour the best of the county this autumn. Time your visit to coincide with one of the following:

Like many people, Adeena Sussman has had a nonlinear relationship with religion. The American-born Israeli transplant, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, left behind the traditions of her Orthodox Jewish childhood for a spell—in particular, the observance of Shabbat, or the Jewish day of rest. But she found that without this ritual, she had trouble recharging. “I was exhausted without taking a break from the week—going straight into the weekend without marking it with some form of self-care, relaxation, or withdrawal from all the things I was doing,” she says. Slowly, she started to reincorporate things like lighting candles and cooking meals back into her Fridays, “not because I needed to, but because I wanted to," she says. “Because it puts a barrier between me and the regular week. It was a way for me to accompany myself into a different headspace, a different relaxation space, and even a different style of cooking.” 

Norwegian Cruise Line has docked two ships in Baltimore, calling the Maryland city a long term home for the first time ever.

Robocops, robo-cleaners, robo-waiters, and robo-dogs — Singapore seems to want it all.