Lewis Hamilton on Sitting (Very) Still With Mountain Gorillas

Daily flights to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) began on New Year’s Day

The start of a new year is often the time people resolve to tackle bucketlist travel goals: rafting the Colorado River, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the poles. But how does an entry- to intermediate-level adventurer start preparing to make those big dreams a reality?

If you have a particular outdoor or travel passion, be it hiking, biking, golf or skiing, there’s a Bucket List trip for you to experience this year. These are all topics I have specialized in for three decades, and I continuously try new outfitters and new destinations to find the best trips on earth, so I figured I’d kick off the New Year by sharing some of that expertise.

On January 1, 2024, more than 1,000 hikes will be available in state parks throughout the county. The distance and rigor of the hikes vary from park to park, but they all aim to create a fun experience for the whole family. Savor the beauty of our state parks’ natural, cultural, and historical resources, and be inspired to take advantage of these local treasures all year long.

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When you walk into Baldwin & Co., a bookstore and coffee shop in New Orleans's lively Marigny neighborhood, you feel not only at ease but also inspired. Owner DJ Johnson was intentional in his curation of the hybrid space, which has hosted community gatherings since it opened in early 2021. “I wanted to provide nourishment for the soul of New Orleans,” says Johnson, who spent several years in Atlanta pursuing a career in information technology before returning to the city where he grew up. He's done just that by turning the lovingly renovated storefront, once a po'boy shop, into a hub for the city's Black and Brown writers, artists, and creatives. Johnson finds his own sustenance in the city's eclectic and ever-expanding art and music scenes, from dancing along to big, brassy jazz bands to visiting galleries that celebrate the city's enduring African American heritage. Here's how he spends 48 hours in the Big Easy.

America’s State Parks are once again making it easy and enjoyable to get a head start on those New Year’s Resolutions and wellness goals by facilitating “First Day Hikes” all across the country come January 1.

You don't need me to remind you that points and miles can be used for fancy flights and posh hotel stays.

From a Texas-shaped lazy river that glows with holiday lights to bare trees swaddled in colorful lights at botanic gardens, unexpected destinations around the country turn into illuminated winter wonderlands this time of year. If you’re looking to see some of the most magnificent holiday lights displays between now and the New Year, a new study from SmokyMountains.com shows the top-rated lights in the country as well as the highest-rated lights attractions broken down by state.

Safety is top of mind for many travelers as they plan out their trips for 2024 and beyond. But for those in the LGBTQ community, and their allies, knowing which countries are welcoming towards gay travelers is an important consideration. Part of measuring that sentiment is knowing where residents stand on rights, including same-sex marriage. The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about issues and attitudes shaping the world, released a new study showing which country’s residents support same-sex marriage the most, and which countries have the lowest level of support.

Every state has its own iconic dish that it's famous for.

In the chilly predawn hour of late July, the peak time for a winter safari in Botswana, I sink deeper into the seat of our electric Land Cruiser, bundled in layers of scarves, blankets, and jackets. We’re on the move. A predator, the elusive African leopard, was spotted near our lodge the night before. While tracking this large nocturnal cat will ultimately prove difficult, I have already witnessed a different rare sight on this trip: a crew of all-woman guides known as the Chobe Angels, the first in Africa and the only such team in Botswana, where women still represent less than 5% of all safari guides.