Aug 12, 2024 • 7 min read
03.08.2024 - 10:18 / lonelyplanet.com
Aug 2, 2024 • 11 min read
Just a short hop over the Potomac River from Washington, DC, Arlington is famous for being the home of Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon. But there's a lighter side to this charming county and plenty of wonderful things to see and do away from austere settings.
Come here to dine, admire art, play ice hockey, see a play in an award-winning venue and even walk in nature with some of the most iconic views around. There's much more to Arlington than you might think – here are 15 amazing ways to experience it.
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment six Marines installed the US flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during one of the most hard-fought battles in World War II. His soul-stirring photo became the inspiration for the Iwo Jima Memorial – the nickname for the US Marine Corps Memorial – rising atop a knoll overlooking the National Mall.
It's powerful and poignant, with the flag proudly flying 24/7 by executive decree. On Tuesday evenings during summer, the Marine Corps sunset parade, a musical extravaganza of marching, drums and bugles, takes place. Nearby, the Netherlands Carillon, a gift of the Dutch, offers live summer concerts and automated concerts at other times. The grassy grounds offer an awe-inspiring perspective over the National Mall, a popular fireworks-watching spot on the Fourth of July.
Planning tip: There is no guaranteed seating at the parade, so feel free to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.
At Gravelly Point Park, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, airplanes come in for a landing just over your head, so close you can feel the roar of the engines reverberate throughout your body as you study their underbellies. You're right on the flight path of landing and departing planes.
Locals swarm to this small, wide-open park for the informal aviation show, bringing picnics, kids and dogs. It's a circus of activity, with runners and bikers zipping past on the 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail, while the sweeping views to the east take in DC's monuments rising across the Potomac River.
Planning tip: You can only reach the park from the northbound side of George Washington Memorial Parkway.
You don't have to go to the Kennedy Center to see star-filled shows in the DC area. The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Arlington is an under-the-radar regional theater that seats only 300 people. But it's a theatrical powerhouse that not only produces Broadway-caliber shows but has also hosted 59 world premiere works since its founding in 1989.
You'll find classics and new productions, established stars and emerging talents. It's the cultural anchor of the urban village of Shirlington, a lively neighborhood of mostly
Aug 12, 2024 • 7 min read
You don’t hear about Central Florida very often, and when you do, chances are it has something to do with Walt Disney World. But just over an hour north of the famed resort complex is the mid-sized city of Ocala, a destination bursting with superlatives, including “America’s largest spring” and “horse capital of the world.”
At the age of 63, I was bankrupt and in foreclosure. I had less than nothing because I owed money to a friend. All I had were my pensions. I knew I could never afford to retire in the US.
A London getaway is always exciting—take it from someone who has lived here for a decade—but first, you must decide the best area to stay in London for you. Do you want to be in the center of the capital, close to the action and the best things to do in London, or a little further out in a more peaceful location? Is it important to be close to public transport options, major train stations such as King's Cross, or iconic cultural landmarks like the Natural History Museum? Or perhaps you'd rather stay in one of the best neighborhoods in London to get under the skin of life like a local? Thankfully, whatever version of London you're interested in experiencing—foodie London, arty London, cultural London, or iconic London—there'll be world-class hotels to book as your base. But we get it—as one of Europe's biggest and busiest cities, it can be overwhelming when you need to decide where exactly to stay. Below we've listed our favourite areas of London for every type of traveler.
While most American cities aren’t considered easy to navigate by foot, a recent study by travel insurance experts AllClear ranked one popular Southern city as the most walkable in the country. AllClear examined topographical information for more than 240 cities around the world, taking into account average elevation and range, and assigned each city a score — and ultimately, it was New Orleans that was named the most walkable city in the U.S. and the fourth most walkable city globally.
Europe dominates in a new ranking of the world’s most beautiful cities, filling nine of the top 10 spots.
As someone who's traveled to over 40 countries, there was one thing I never checked off my travel bucket list: flying business class. I always walked past the lie-flat seats and dreamed one day I would be able to.
I love exploring places that fulfill my desire to get away without depleting my bank account. Eager to enjoy the outdoors after a chilly spring, I decided to book a trip to Chincoteague Island.
Landal GreenParks UK, the UK’s fastest growing company offering holiday breaks in nature, has seen a 24% YoY increase in summer bookings driven by longer staycations in the Southwest region.
The Netherlands is famous for its capital city, Amsterdam, but the country has much more to offer visitors.
Pantone is just like us, in the sense that they, too, are setting their intentions for the year — one filled with strength and energy. The Color of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta, which the company describes as powerful and empowering. “Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration… [It] revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint.” A year surrounded by joy and self-expression sounds like a year well spent to us.
Aug 2, 2024 • 11 min read