During the pandemic, doing jigsaw puzzles became a form of meditation for me (and thousands of others) and I’m still doing them four years later. Puzzles have come a long way from the dusty old landscapes and cat illustrations you may still have on your basement shelf; dozens of new brands (many of them women-owned) have popped up and they’re creating beautiful, unique, statement-making works of art that are fun to do and worthy of framing.
Doing puzzles has so many surprising benefits, both mental and physical. It reduces stress and helps improve your memory and your mood. According to some studies, it may even increase your life expectancy and reduce your chances of dementia.
When I’m not traveling, I can often be found piecing together a puzzle to relax. Travel-themed puzzles get me excited about my next trip or give me an opportunity to reminisce about one I’ve done. Here are some of my favorites to help you celebrate National Puzzle Month and beyond. You’ll want to pick up a couple in January while they’re on sale so you can put your savings toward booking an actual trip.
One of my favorite brands – the one that started my puzzle obsession – eeBoo has a wide variety of destination-themed options. Magical Amsterdam transports you to the Netherlands with a beautiful illustration by Anisa Makhoul. The 1000 piece puzzle is filled with details including Amsterdam’s signature bikes, the canal and a bakery selling oliebollen. You can’t smell the fresh donuts but you can listen to the artist’s playlist while you work.
Don’t do this puzzle while you’re hungry! Piecework has collaborated with New York magazine on a 1000 piece tribute to the iconic New York diner and the results are mouthwatering. Grab a seat at the counter and put together plates of burgers and fries, overstuffed sandwiches and so much more. You won’t want to stop until you finish every last bite — I mean, piece.
Travel is full of unexpected moments, as depicted by this whimsical Janet Hill scene in which the bucolic atmosphere of a botanical garden is disturbed by a woman lying on the ground. Was she overwhelmed by the natural beauty or is there something darker going on here? Piece together a story while you piece together the 1000 piece puzzle.
Head across the pond to the Chelsea Flower Show, which James Ogilvy has captured in more than a dozen stunning photos. The 1000 piece puzzle is challenging even if you have a green thumb but you’ll have such a feeling of accomplishment when you finish it, you’ll definitely want to frame it.
Pay homage to your favorite New York food trucks with this eye-popping puzzle by Katy Hirschfeld. Jiggy is a great Shark Tank success story and the company gives a percentage of sales directly back to their
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If you’ve ever dreamed of getting lost in a whimsical work of art or sleeping in a fairyland, your dream can come true at the The Kelsey Montague Art Experience, also known as the Gulch Wings Home. It’s an Airbnb unlike any other, and it’s the brainchild of Kelsey and Courtney Montague who are sisters and business partners in the venture.
“I never thought I'd be an executive chef of a hotel in my wildest dreams—let alone a luxury hotel, let alone in the countryside of Connecticut,” reveals José Ramírez-Ruiz. But here we are, plonked down in club leather chairs at Mayflower Inn & Spa’s mahogany-paneled library, warmed by a crackling fire on a frosty December night.
TikTok may have helped make destinations like Lake Bled in Slovenia and overcrowded nightmare, but the video sharing site has also given us an off-beat alternative: destination dupes. These are places with a similar aesthetic and attractions to the honeypot spot but with fewer crowds.
Frontier Airlines announced the expansion of new routes to 38 different airports across the country, on Tuesday, including destinations like New York, Chicago, Tampa, Dallas, Los Angeles, and more. In celebration of the new routes, Frontier is offering a “Mega Sale” with one-way tickets starting at just $19 until Jan. 25. Frontier specifies the discount only applies to nonstop travel on Monday through Thursday, and Saturday through June 5, 2024. The airline has full terms and blackout dateson their website. In addition to the $19 promotional fares, Frontier also says they are also offering a bonus on Frontier Miles, where travelers can earn 5 times the miles through Jan. 30, 2024.
The United Nations’ tourism agency is simplifying its image and will go by “UN Tourism.” It is ditching “United Nations World Tourism Organization” and its clunky acronym, “UNWTO.”
It just got a little more expensive to stay at many popular casino hotels. MGM Resorts, the parent company of some of the largest casinos and hotels in Las Vegas, recently increased resort fees at many of their properties, with some topping out at $50. The fees, which are added after a reservation is made, drive up the total cost of a reservation. The increase will vary between $2 and $6 per night, depending on the property, MGM Resorts shared with Travel + Leisure. Specifically, at the MGM Grand Las Vegas the resort fee, now $45, provides services such as unlimited local and domestic phone calls, airline boarding pass printing, digital newspaper, fitness center access and in-room Wi-Fi. The fee also provides complimentary access to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME On Demand, with the in-room television. Here are the current resort fees at MGM Resorts: ARIA Resort & Casino — $50.00 Bellagio Hotel & Casino — $50.00 Delano Las Vegas — $45.00 Excalibur Hotel & Casino — $37.00 Luxor Hotel & Casino — $37.00 Mandalay Bay — $45.00 MGM Grand Las Vegas — $45.00 New York-New York Hotel & Casino — $42.00 NoMad Las Vegas — $42.00 Park MGM — $42.00 Vdara Hotel & Spa at ARIA Las Vegas — $50.00
International tourism will rise by 15% in 2024 from last year, according to data shared by United Nations World Tourism Organization Friday. In fact, it will also exceed 2019 levels by 2%.
The number of seniors on the slopes has reached epic proportions. In 2020-21 seniors accounted for 16.1% of skier visits, totaling 59 million, while a record 10.5 million seniors participated in the sport according to the National Ski Areas Association. Contrary to popular belief, not all seniors are snowbirds who fly south at the first sign of winter.
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As artificial intelligence conquers more and more areas of our lives, the Austrian National Tourist Office is launching the world’s first “Authentic Intelligence”. At “Chat SkiPT”, real-life ski instructors answer live questions about winter holidays and beyond.