Between 1932 and 2021, Air India went from being the gold standard of aviation under the Tata Group to a nationalized airline in complete disarray.
09.02.2024 - 16:30 / nationalgeographic.com
In Santa Barbara, California, the celebrities who live here—Harry and Meghan, Oprah, Gwyneth—aren’t the ones followed and fawned over. Whales, monarch butterflies, and a diversity of other wildlife draw fans who go on whale-watching cruises and e-bike tours, participate in beach cleanups, and volunteer for annual butterfly counts.
With its 300-plus sunny days a year, and with coastal breezes scented with eucalyptus and sage, this “American Riviera” is firmly oriented to the outdoors and nature. Patio dining is a year-round affair. Offices accommodate surfboards, bikes, and dogs, and offer flexible hours and four-day weeks.
Offshore, the planet’s largest mammals come to feed in the Santa Barbara Channel, which was recently named a Whale Heritage Site. The designation honors the region’s commitment to conservation, research, education, and responsible tourism.
(Whale watching is booming. Here’s how to do it responsibly.)
Within the region’s coastal groves, migrating butterflies are once again stopping to rest and feed, signaling a hopeful return from the brink of extinction. Santa Barbara County holds the record for the highest count of western monarch butterflies along the California coast.
In this tourist destination, unlike in so many others, nature appears to be gaining the upper hand.
Marine biologist Holly Lohuis likes to talk poop to get children and adults to understand the key role whales play in sustaining the planet. She’s standing in front of the new “Whales are Superheroes!” exhibit at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. “Their feces fertilize microscopic algae, which form part of the cycle that enhances the air we breathe, and cools the planet.”
Lohuis, along with Hiroku Benko, owner of the Condor Express, a whale-watching boat designed without metal propellers, are co-directors of the recently named Santa Barbara Whale Heritage Site. The roughly 100-by-25-mile swath includes the Santa Barbara Channel, Channel Islands National Park, and their watersheds. Here, where currents whirl and nutrients swirl, a smorgasbord is whipped up for more than 25 resident and visiting species of cetaceans, including some 20,000 Pacific gray whales.
(Explore 13,000 years of human history on this remote California island.)
It is also one of the most reliable places to see the world’s largest animal. “There are about 10,000 blue whales left in the world,” says local wildlife photographer Adam Ernster. “We see a fifth of that critically endangered population come through here.”
While the new designation doesn’t confer additional protection, it recognizes a model in which conservation proponents, community residents, and commercial interests are allies rather than antagonists. Responsible whale-watching tour
Between 1932 and 2021, Air India went from being the gold standard of aviation under the Tata Group to a nationalized airline in complete disarray.
WHEN I WAS growing up in Stockton, Calif., in the 1970s and ’80s, there were only two special-occasion restaurants acceptable to my family. They were both on the south side of the city, in the barrio. My Mexican-born liked Mi Ranchito, and for my dad it was Arroyo’s Cafe. No matter which one we went to, my order was always the same: rib steak ranchero with rice, refried beans and leaves of undressed iceberg lettuce wilted by soupy salsa. I’d pinch torn pieces of machine-pressed flour tortillas around the slices of steak and mix in all the sides. It was a celebratory meal if there ever was one.
When thinking of national parks, many people imagine vast tracts of land and scenic drives through awe-inspiring mountain, forest, or desert scenery.
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Sunsets, sandy beaches, and sunshine collide in glamorous Santa Barbara. With the Santa Ynez Mountains looming in the background and pretty Spanish downtown streets to explore, this central California resort suits outdoor enthusiasts as well as city slickers and foodies. All you need is a place to get your beauty sleep. Here’s our selection of the coolest Airbnb Santa Barbara homes and beach house rentals.
Nick Buro and Bryan Hendry were baffled by the sudden silence from their parents, Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry, who had lived on a yacht for over a decade, People reports.
Alaska Airlines is making it easier to see April’s epic solar eclipse with a series of flights heading to destinations along the path of totality — and they're selling out. The specific routes, which fly to places like Mazatlán, Mexico, Texas, and Ohio, have seen a threefold increase in demand compared to previous years, Alaska Airlines shared with Travel + Leisure. And that increased demand has led to increasingly sold-out flights.
Low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines has doubled its flights from Sonoma County by adding four new routes.
When the Ranch at Malibu opened in 2010 as a luxury health resort on 200 acres in California’s Santa Monica Mountains, its approach was somewhat radical: Guests signed up for a full week of group hikes, fitness classes, spa treatments, nutrition consults and communal, organic meals without caffeine, gluten, soy or dairy. The goal, says its founder Alex Glasscock, was “for people to mentally and physically reset and recharge.” On April 15, a second location, the Ranch at Hudson Valley, is scheduled to open near Tuxedo Park, N.Y., in a slate-and-stone lakefront mansion surrounded by state parks. Glasscock hopes the 25-room property, which he describes as “like a big, luxury dorm,” will facilitate connections between those who stay. Guests will do yoga under the ornate plaster ceiling of the former ballroom and, in Glasscock’s ideal world, come to dinner in their pajamas and robes. This new outpost offers a few additional treatments including colonics and energy healings — which incorporate techniques such as hypnosis and sound therapy. In winter, guests can sled or snowshoe, and in summer there’s paddleboarding on the lake. The Ranch has also relaxed a few of the restrictions: You can book three nights at the Hudson Valley property instead of the seven required in Malibu, and, in concession to the most common request of all, caffeine is no longer taboo — organic Nicaraguan coffee is served at breakfast in both locations.
Startup carrier Avelo Airlines said Thursday that it was profitable in the fourth quarter of 2023, a significant milestone as the new airline continues to grow and begins to look towards its next phase.
I first fell in love with the idea of moving abroad five years ago after spending a semester in England.
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” which means to unify. A growing number of yogis have taken this pursuit to a new level by joining immersive yoga retreats that offer a deeper connection with nature, the self, and the collective consciousness. Whether you practice daily or it’s your first time on the mat, embarking on a yoga retreat can allow you to focus on your well-being in a remote or natural setting. Studies have linked yoga to reduced stress, and committing to a structured program with daily classes can help you reap those benefits—while also enjoying the stunning surroundings of your chosen destination.