I Tested the Coolest Gear Item of the Year on a Hiking Trip to the Redwoods

Oct 17, 2024 • 5 min read

Oct 17, 2024 • 5 min read

What makes each of us happy is certainly subjective. However, there is one easy way you can increase your chances of feeling that emotion: Choosing to live in a happier state. In September, WalletHub released its study ranking the happiest states in the U.S. It came to its conclusion after evaluating all 50 states across three key dimensions: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. Those three dimensions were evaluated using 30 metrics, including the physical health of the population, sleep rates, food insecurity, commute times, income growth rate, average leisure time per person, safety, and more. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing maximum happiness. It then averaged each state's numbers to calculate its overall score.

Pint-sized Carmel-by-the-Sea is packed with fairy-tale-like cottages, gorgeous Pacific Ocean scenery, delightfully dog-friendly dining, and oversized charm. Trees and flowers abound in this one-square-mile town in Central California whose quirks include no street addresses.

Psst. We’re going to let you in on a secret. Lake Tahoe doesn’t disappear after Labor Day… but the summer crowds do. That means less traffic, fewer hikers on the trails, and beaches you barely have to share. Campsites get easier to book, too, so you can marvel at the autumn hues reflecting on Big Blue on a spur-of-the-moment getaway.

Death Valley; the name alone conjures up images of lonely viewpoints that’ll send a quiver down your spine. Home to the powerful landscapes of Badwater Basin and Artist’s Palette, even the rocks have a mind of their own in this national park while the sand dunes are known to sing. While Death Valley may be ​​unforgiving, lodging around the park is anything but. Properties skirt the park limits with accommodation in Nevada and California giving you the option to sleep near amenities or out in the wilderness. These surreal Airbnbs near Death Valley National Park let you experience the unique scenery of the desert without forfeiting comfort.

Good news: Disney just introduced another way to "skip the line." Bad news: It's going to cost you ... a lot.

My family of six recently visited both Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood.

A United Airlines plane diverted and made an unplanned landing after cockpit screens went blank while it was flying over Canada's far north.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Christopher Willson, a 52-year-old retired engineer who spent more than 15 years renovating a cruise ship he named Aurora . The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Cruise ships don't always have a squeaky-clean reputation for being ultra-clean. After all, there's a reason they've been infamously dubbed "floating Petri dishes."

Daniela Jacobs, the founder and designer of Arc, a line of minimalist jewelry and home goods, is perhaps best known for her porcelain creations in shades of ecru and eggshell. But in 2018, a translucent organza garment that Jacobs created for a photo shoot led to such an unexpected swell of purchase inquiries that she decided to create a handful of one-of-a-kind garments to sell, titling it her Invisibles collection. Now, after 10 years in business, Jacobs is releasing a new batch of designs that explore the concept of invisibility with Arc Glass, a limited-edition capsule of rings, bangles, candle holders and plates made of borosilicate glass. In addition to pieces that are completely see-through, a handful of the designs are rendered in black, as well as a smoky hue that changes in different lights. “It almost has a turquoise tint to it, which feels right to me because of the Mediterranean vibe,” says Jacobs, who splits her time between New York and Majorca. As with her porcelain pieces, Jacobs’s glass creations require a bit of mindfulness when worn, but she insists that they’re made for everyday use. “I wear them on the subway. I wear them biking. I wear them when I’m in Spain. When I go to the sea, I take them off and put them on a rock; I come back, they’re fine,” she says.