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The best last-minute Fourth of July weekend getaways near major cities
While major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Boston and Miami all offer plenty of Fourth of July fun, they can get quite crowded. Instead, escape the throngs of travelers by embarking on a last-minute getaway somewhere nearby. Below, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite Independence Day weekend getaways within easy driving distance of the aforementioned U.S. cities. From an oceanfront SoCal retreat to a quaint Rhode Island town steeped in history, these last-minute July 4th vacation destinations truly offer something for everyone.
These are the best states for LGBTQ+ equality
The annual LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index released by Out Leadership is a revealing report that highlights LGBTQ+ inclusivity and progress made in states around the country. Using a variety of factors—including legal protections, political and religious attitudes, access to health care and equality in the workplace—it ranks each state’s level of inclusivity to determine where LGBTQ+ community members can live and work in supportive environments. The report also highlights the degree of hardship and discrimination faced by queer communities in different regions.
This is the most physically challenging tourist attraction in the U.S.
Many popular tourist attractions are easily accessible, but some require effort to get to the big payoff. Whether that’s a hike or a stair climb, reaching the top of an attraction that offers incredible views is worth all the effort. Plus, you’ll get a serious workout on your way up. If you like a bit of fitness with your sightseeing, a study by Puregym has ranked the world’s most physically demanding tourist attractions, and number two is right here in the U.S.
The best lake in the U.S. is a diving hotspot
Did you know that the continental U.S. has 479,950 lakes? While beaches along the country’s three coasts may be the biggest draw when it comes to water activities, lakes can be just as much fun (and sometimes more). From fishing and camping to boating and diving, U.S. lakes are excellent destinations for outdoor enthusiasts. Some even freeze in the winter, perfect for ice skating and ice fishing. Of all these thousands of lakes, the best lake in the U.S. has been revealed.
This charming Midwestern city was just named the best suburb to live in the U.S.
Shopping around for a place to live that’s calm and quiet but close enough to a big city that you can get your kicks when you need them? That’s a suburb for you, and Niche.com has ranked the best suburbs in the U.S. to live in for 2024. These are places where you can stretch out and enjoy a slower pace of life, but you’re not too far away to miss out on the perks of urban living.
Booking.com and Travel Proud Partner with Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center
Travel platform Booking.com has paved the way for making travel more accessible and pleasurable to those in the LGBTQ+ community through its Travel Proud program. Travel Proud provides free hospitality and inclusivity training to accommodations and properties around the world to ensure the community feels welcome and joyful during their travels. As part of Booking.com’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, the website has partnered with the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, a new space in New York City dedicated to both preserving and promoting LGBTQ+ history and culture.
These pizzerias were just named the best in the U.S.
Pizza is important. Nobody can debate this. From being a food that some underaged people will selectively eat as their sole source of nutrition, to the craveable late-night party food for adults, to the slice that you grab in Manhattan and keep going...it’s all beautiful and we thank various deities daily for its existence.
This airline is becoming the first to serve cold brew on board
Just in time for the dog days of summer, United Airlines is introducing a new cold beverage to its onboard lineup. Beginning July 1, illy’s canned, ready-to-drink cold brew coffee will be available to passengers flying the friendly skies. No longer will you have to suffer through a hot coffee when you need the jolt of caffeine without the added heat. The coffee, which is cold-brewed for 12 hours, will be served complimentary in United’s premium cabins on flights over 300 miles and available for purchase to economy passengers.
This is the best low-cost airline in America
When we think of low-cost airlines, we might think of those bright yellow aircraft, the planes that always have an animal illustrated on the tail, or the airline that has “first come, first served” seating. But the low-cost airline which just won a "best in the U.S." award may surprise you.
Disney is changing its skip-the-line programs this summer
In case your summer plans include a late summer stopover at Disney World, first of all, lucky you! (and smart you, since the park will raise prices in 2025). And second of all, you’ll want to know about a few changes happening to the Lightning Lane and Genie+ services. The park announces that it’s taking into account guests’ desire to do planning ahead of the actual visit, so that the day is mapped out and there isn’t time lost to pulling up the phone and deciding what to do.
These are the best states for a summer road trip
Three out of four of us are taking a road trip this summer, according to the personal finance website WalletHub. That’s a pretty high number. But it makes sense: with a road trip, you can blast your own music, bring your dog without trouble, stop whenever you want, and dash away even for just one night… or several weeks. You get to see a part of our country that you can’t see from the air or water, and although gas isn’t cheap (the national average is more than $3.45 a gallon), you can get away with an inexpensive road trip if you plan carefully. If you haven’t already embarked, you might want to hear some of these statistics to help guide your choices. WalletHub’s list of the 10 best-rated trips includes highlights of states that offer more to the driving traveler. The list takes into account the safety and condition of roads, congestion, the number of uninsured drivers, amusement spots per capita like zoos and nightlife, weather, miles of shoreline, and other factors that make a road trip more or less attractive.
This is the busiest day to travel over Fourth of July weekend
On the roads and in the air, travelers will head out for the upcoming holiday weekend at rates higher than ever before. Following an all-time record set at TSA checkpoints on Sunday, June 23, the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend is gearing up to be a busy one. Here are the days that are expected to be the busiest.
Rapidan Dam about to collapse after being hit by severe flooding
The Rapidan Dam, built in 1910 to provide hydroelectric power to the Blue Earth County region in Minnesota, suffered a partial collapse on Monday following heavy rains and major flooding in the Midwest. Blue Earth officials announced the failure in a Facebook post on Monday, but had no immediate plans for a mass evacuation.
Revealed: The top 10 cities in America for 2024
The job of ranking the best cities in the U.S. and around the world is a massive undertaking. Resonance—advisors in tourism, urban and economic development for countries, cities and communities—produces one of the most thorough and respected rankings each year due to its unique methodology that incorporates everything from stats to social media. This year, the rankings feature perception-based data for the first time, through a new partnership with market research and polling firm Ipsos. The results are in, and while the number one city may not surprise anyone, the remaining top ten—and top 100—cities reveal just which spots around the country where Americans aspire to live and the ones that live up to those expectations.
This U.S. attraction was just voted the best in the world
If you’ve been waiting for some inspiration to plan a summer trip or update your bucket list, the wait is over. Tripadvisor has released its 2024 Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Things to Do. This annual report highlights the highest-rated attractions and experiences in the U.S. and around the world based on thousands of Tripadvisor reviews. For the first time ever, New York City’s most iconic building has been named the number one attraction to visit in the entire world. The “World’s Most Famous Building” earned 60,000 five-star reviews, with reviewers gushing over the 360-degree views of the city and raving about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No other U.S. attractions made the top 10 global list.
Here are five ways to avoid travel scams, according to experts
When we travel, sometimes we worry about those stories we hear (or Youtube videos we watch) about pickpockets. We’re buying cross-chest purses so no one can slip the strap off our shoulders, or wearing a fanny pack stomach-side to protect our wallets and our passports. But information is golden when it comes to avoiding the kind of situation that can ruin or at least seriously dampen a vacation. The computer security company McAfee has shared a list of common travel scams so you can keep your eyes open while you’re away from home and vulnerable.
Is everyone quiet vacationing this summer?
Sometimes, you’re at your workspace, and you just want to get up and go. You’re aware that your coworkers are traveling, and you feel stuck, sweaty, and snarly. So, you could do a sneaky little thing that’s called “quiet vacationing.” That’s just when you quietly withdraw to hit the beach for a few hours or run a fun errand. No one knows, and you return to your desk renewed and ready to work hard. That’s this summer’s trend, according to Dollar Flight Club, and odds are you’ve already taken a silent holiday like this before!
It’s official: the McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal is coming soon
Rumors have been flying around for a while now, and McDonald’s has officially confirmed that the chain will launch a $5 Meal Deal at restaurants around the country starting on June 25. The rumors, and the demand for a meal deal, kicked off earlier this year when a TikTok...
Revealed: bad travel behavior and the states with the worst offenders
Flying—especially during peak summer travel season—can be a huge hassle. With long lines at security, frequent flight delays, tiny seats and a slew of other inconveniences, the journey is not something that most travelers enjoy—by a long shot. Unfortunately, fellow passengers can make air travel even more annoying than it already is. A new study by SolitaireBliss has identified the most offensive travel habits and the states whose travelers are among the worst offenders.
Southwest’s birthday sale features $53 flights
Can you believe Southwest is turning 53? In honor of the big day, the airline is celebrating with a big sale with fares for as low as $53 one-way. But you’ll have to act fast—the sale ends tonight, June 20, at 11:59pm PST. The Southwest birthday sale covers...
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