Valencia, Castellon de la Plana and Huelva: Are these Spain’s best springtime destinations?

New Jersey might be one of the most underrated destinations in the US. Sandwiched between New York City and Philadelphia, the Garden State is often delegated to the shadows (or as a punchline to its urban neighbors). But this state has plenty of charm—from its 130 miles of Jersey Shore beaches and sprawling natural sites (like the Pinelands biosphere reserve and the country’s largest collection of cherry blossom trees) to its historic riverside towns and sky-high mountains.

Passing over the Atlas Mountains in 1925, the French military photographer Marcelin Flandrin spotted a Barbary lion walking through the sand. Flandrin had flown the route often enough to realize that the sighting was uncommon. He took a picture, which he published as a postcard sold to travelers visiting Casablanca.

With additional reporting by Sarah Allard

Holland America Line is celebrating a pair of sustainable seafood certifications—one from the Marine Stewardship Council, and the other from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

With more than 300 sunny days per year, daytime temps that rarely dip below 65, and an armada of resorts, Phoenix, Arizona is a great getaway for any group gathering that prioritizes pool time, day drinking, and a few rounds of golf. But the city's appeal goes deeper: The area's natural beauty inspired designers and artists like Frank Lloyd Wright, Maxfield Parrish, and Paolo Soleri. And despite its enormous growth (the metro area topped 5 million last year), the increasingly diverse city still retains a frontier spirit: Newcomers are reinventing everything from its food scene to its art circuit, making Phoenix one of America's best under-the-radar destinations.

As millions of Americans get ready to watch the total solar eclipse on Monday — an event NASA has described as rare and "spectacular" — the phenomenon also stands to lift local economies.

As 2024 unfolds, Paradores, Spain’s state-run luxury hotel network of 97 historic and cultural hotels, unveils a host of developments, from new openings and significant renovations to engaging new experiences and tours. With hotels spanning converted monasteries, Moorish fortresses, and medieval castles, as well as some exceptional modern properties, Paradores continues to help British holidaymakers explore Spain’s rich culture, celebrated gastronomy and natural beauty.

A passenger aboard a New Zealand Air flight from Auckland to Sydney has been fined for urinating into a cup during a delay in deplaning.

It’s hard to pick favorites when it comes to Washington, DC’s neighborhoods, simply because there are so many wonderful ones. 

The magic of hospitality is staying in a place that isn’t anything like home. A castle, a treehouse, a farm, a yurt: all such places promise an escape from the every day, especially when combined with luxury flourishes that boggle the mind. I am still wondering how ice showed up in the Gobi desert at the Three Camels Lodge in Mongolia or how blueberries came to be served at breakfast at the Explora Lodge on Easter Island. Or, in the case of the Four Seasons in Madrid, how a hotel combined seven historic properties into one sensational art destination.

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Even celestial events need a backing track—and the April 8 total solar eclipse is no different. Whether you’re road-tripping down to Hot Springs, Arkansas for Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival or flying over to Cleveland, Ohio, you’ll undoubtedly need some tunes to get you in the mood.