On a Road Trip Through the American West, Hilary Swank Found Sublime Stillness

Rainbow-like stripes of vibrant tulips as far as the eye can see. White, lavender, deep purple, and even rare yellow and blue lilacs perfuming the air. Acres of fluffy cotton candy-colored peonies as big as salad plates. And 500 varieties of irises in just one charming display garden.

Even as we travel around the globe, it’s easy to forget that our planet is part of a much larger celestial dance. Sure, we mark the orbit of the Earth around the Sun each year, but nothing reminds us that we are part of something much bigger than the experience of watching the Moon slide in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse. 

The Olivier Award winning new production of Cabaret, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, a transfer from London's West End, is projected to be one of the hottest shows on Broadway when it opens in April. What that means: getting tickets is not going to be easy but one of the best ways to achieve that could be through the Broadway VIP Experience also launching that month at the Mandarin Oriental, New York. With a two night stay, this promotion includes two prime orchestra seats, a meet and greet with a starring cast member at the MO Lounge and a special gift from the show to take home.

In the autumn of 1897, after gold was discovered in the Klondike, my English great-grandfather rode out from a cattle ranch near Edmonton, Alberta, to make his fortune. It was late in the season. He traveled with three Americans, eight pack ponies, a Winchester rifle, a tin billycan for tea, a Dutch oven for making bread, a goatskin coat, and a few light mining implements. But the snowfall was heavier than expected, which made the ground treacherous for the horses. When his companions decided to sit out the winter with some fur trapping, my great-grandfather sold his share of the ponies for sled dogs and hired an Indigenous tracker instead. His pace picked up, but the weather deteriorated. When supplies got dangerously low, he suggested to his tracker that they eat the dogs. Eventually, he was forced to return to England empty-handed. His diary, however, survived.

When you first look through the airplane window and down at the Azores, you’ll be left speechless. From this very first glimpse, you’ll understand why many call this Portuguese archipelago the “Hawaii of Europe” and the “Islands of Colors.”

Southwest Airlines and Omni Hotels & Resorts are teaming up to offer a special "Solarbration" sweepstakes ahead of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.The sweepstakes—which can be entered now through March 11—will reward two lucky winners with a prize package that includes air travel on a flight predicted to be in the direct path of the eclipse.The flight options include Southwest Flight 1252, which departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:40 p.m. CT for Pittsburgh, and Southwest Flight 1721, which departs Austin at 12:55 p.m. CT for Indianapolis.Omni will do its part by putting the winners up in custom-designed guest rooms inspired by the celestial event. The special accommodations will be located at Omni Hotels in the departure cities of Dallas and Austin and the arrival cities of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.In addition to roundtrip flights and accommodations for two nights, winners will receive exclusive solar eclipse viewing glasses and fun inflight experiences aboard their eclipse flights.

In my late 20s, I left my beloved Philadelphia apartment near friends and favorite restaurants and moved to the suburbs closer to my boyfriend and work. Then my boyfriend moved to Texas for a job. After five months of long distance, the pandemic hit, and I started working remotely from his home in Houston.

There are two ways to view road trips. Planning and packing for a car trip can feel like a chore or an adventure. Spending hours, even days, sequestered in a vehicle stuffed with road-trip essentials can feel claustrophobic, or it can create a private space where you have the rare opportunity to share dedicated quality time and mood-boosting playlists with a travel companion. Even the occasional hiccup can be viewed as an exercise in problem-solving rather than a logistical nightmare when you’re road-tripping with a loved one.

Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines has doubled its flights from Sonoma County by adding four new routes.

This year more folks are prioritizing travel and newfangled experiences. We’re inspired by beloved television shows à la Emily in Paris to reexamine cities we’ve previously visited. Scoring tickets to see our favorite musical artists, like Taylor Swift, fortuitously opens up the prospect of flying to a different country. A rising wellness and longevity movement encourages travelers to seek alcohol-free vacations. Slower and more intentional travel—quality over quantity—is important and sustainability and eco-minded experiences are at the forefront.

Looking for a cool way to vacation in Canada this summer? How about a road trip hitting all the highlights of Alberta, the big Western province where the prairie meets the Rocky Mountains.

There's nothing like graduating to make you want a celebratory vacation.