Category: North America

This has been an insane, record-breaking summer. We’ve seen multiple heat waves across the US, Canada, and Scandinavia. It’s August, summer is winding down, but it’s not over yet.

As we count down the days to cooler weather, let’s look at some of the hottest places on earth, and remember: We’re grateful for air conditioning.

Death Valley, California, USA

Holding the world record for hottest temperature of ambient air, Death Valley in California has a well-earned reputation as the hottest place on earth. A now-disputed record was set in 1913. But just last month, a more accurate record was likely set, at 130°F. Either way, Death Valley sees some of the hottest temperatures each year.

Death Valley, in spite of its name, is a popular tourist destination. People can hike, camp, and even star gaze, in the park. It is designated as a “dark sky” site, meaning that night light pollution is intentionally restricted to promote the study of astronomy.

Kebili, Tunisia

Kebili, one of the oldest towns in Tunisia, was settled because it is an oasis in the Sahara Desert. Signs of human habitation there date back around 200,000 years. It claims a recorded temperature of 131°F, but the record is disputed. Nonetheless, it does have a reputation for being an insanely hot place.

The city is within the Sahara Desert, which has a global reputation as being a hot, dry, unforgiving place. The area around Kebili is particularly hot and dry due to a weather phenomenon where wind coming off the leeward side of a mountain is particularly dry and hot. This, combined with the geographic features of sand and rock, makes Kebili so toasty.

Turbat, Pakistan

Located in southwest Pakistan, the city of Turbat is considered one of the hottest cities in Asia, and holds a record of the fourth hottest recorded temperature ever.

The record was set on May 27, 2017, when the temperature reached 128.7°F. What’s even crazier is that the record was during a heat wave, where the city’s temperatures reached 122°F for four days in a row!

Dallol, Ethiopia

Dallol, Ethiopia has earned the award for hottest inhabited place on earth. The average high is between 86°F and 101.7°F, which seems just brutal! In spite of the intense heat, the area has been inhabited by pastoral tribes for millennia. A small community was established in the 20th century as part of international efforts to mine salt from the area, but as the market has changed, most people have left the area.

Dallol is an otherworldly place, close to the Red Sea but more than 400 feet below sea level. It is also one of the world’s most volcanic regions. The desirable salts are pushed up from the soil by the volcanic activity. It makes the landscape fascinating, beautiful, peculiar, and dangerous to people unaccustomed to navigating the area.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok has a reputation as a sweltering, crowded, busy city, and it it well-deserved in all regards. Because of its location on the Gulf of Thailand, its proximity to the equator, and other factors, Thailand is hot year-round, and there is never any relief from the weather.

The average temperature is 90° F, and combined with the high humidity, the city feels like it never cools off. And that’s before the rains of the summer monsoons! Bangkok has turned the heat to its advantage, with a reputation as a dynamic, vibrant, hot, and unique mega-metropolis.

Fortunately, the city has built water parks and other outdoor amenities to help ward off, or embrace, the constant heat that one must learn to love in Thailand.

Timbuktu, Mali

Sitting on the edge of the Sahara, Timbuktu is a famous, but dwindling, city. Once one of the most important cities in Africa, Timbuktu is now suffering from the effects of desertification, where sands blown in from the Sahara and cover more and more of the arable and usable land in the region.

Timbuktu is dry, getting less than ten inches of rain per year. It’s also hot; even in the cooler months, the daily high is still above 80°F. During the hotter months, average daily highs are between 95-105°F!

These are just a few of the crazy hot places around the world. As we endure the last, hottest days of summer, let’s hope that the closest we get to setting any heat records is reading this article today. Stay cool!

 

Travel these days is so common that we hardly think about where we are when we’re in the middle of our trip, but airports are fascinating ecosystems, with restaurants, retail shops, entertainment and even hotels within or attached to the buildings.

Here are some of the biggest and most important airports in the United States.

Hartsfied-Jackson International Airport

The world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is located in Atlanta, GA. It handles nearly a million flights a year, with 100 million passengers. However, because the airport is well-designed and constantly updated to handle the growth in travel, passengers passing through don’t often realize just how big and busy the airport is.

The airport caters to its guests by providing streamlined transportation including “plane trains” to help travelers get from one flight to the next quickly, a variety of fast food and sit-down restaurants, including a very-popular Chick-fil-A, a hometown Atlanta fast food favorite and treat for visitors.

Los Angeles International Airport

The Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, is the second largest airport in the United States, and one of the busiest in the world. It is also one of the most famous, due to its proximity to Los Angeles and all of the Hollywood celebrities that travel around the world from LAX.

Even if you’re not a celebrity, LAX is a cool airport. There are many upscale restaurants in every terminal, as well as high end shopping and entertainment. There are also several full-service spas and lounges for those who really want to relax between flights. And of course, because you’re in LA, if your layover is long enough, you can hit the beach!

Ronald Reagan National Airport

While not the largest airport, Ronald Reagan National Airport, located just outside Washington, D.C., is one of the most important airports because it shuttles lawmakers, government officials and international leaders to and from Washington, D.C.

Because of its proximity to D.C., the airport has significant regulations relating to the size and type of aircraft that can service the airport, as well as restrictions on noise and times planes and land at the airport. Visitors with a few hours between flights can hop on the Metro and start touring Washington, D.C. within just a few minutes!

John F. Kennedy International Airport

While not the busiest airport overall, John F. Kennedy, or JFK, is the busiest international airport in the United States. From JFK, you can travel to anywhere in the inhabited world.

Like LAX on the west coast, JFK is a hotbed of celebrity travel, but even more, musicians have recently performed at a series of concerts hosted by JetBlue. The Tom Hanks movie Terminal was filmed at JFK in 2002.

O’Hare International Airport

Often competing with Atlanta for title of world’s busiest airport, O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, is currently the second busiest airport in the world. While many people love O’Hare because of the amenities and options available at the airport, it is constantly ranked among the worst in the United States for delays and cancellations. This is partly because of its location in Illinois, where it is subjected to harsh weather conditions both in summer, with wind, rain and lightning storms, as well as in winter, with potential for intense snowstorms that can delay even the most prepared airports like O’Hare.

If you get stuck at O’Hare, don’t worry; there are many amenities and restaurants to keep you entertained and fed until your flight is ready, and with an announced $8 billion renovation, things will only get better for travelers.

The next time you’re flying, take a minute to check out the airport. Whether it’s one of these, or one of the hundreds of airports across the county, you will be surprised at just how much the airport has to offer you on your short stay.

 

It’s Memorial Day weekend in the United States. The holiday is set aside to remember fallen service members, and families across the country take time to visit grave sites and honor the deceased men and women of the US armed forces.

It’s also the kickoff to summer, and people begin months of family vacations across the US. As the world is beginning to open up after so many months of lockdown, let’s take a look at some cool places we could visit this summer, in person or online.

Santa Monica Pier, California

Nothing says summer quite like a boardwalk, and the Santa Monica pier is one of the best. With a boardwalk, amusement park, and places to fish and hang out, it has something for everyone.

The amusement park has a Ferris wheel that is actually solar powered! It also has a wooden roller coaster, a 100-year old carousel, and a fun house.

Nearby is Muscle Beach, a landmark beach where men and women worked out, and crowds gathered to watch. It fueled the craze of outdoor and beach workouts that are popular across southern California.

Venice Beach, California

Just down the road is Venice Beach, a 2.5 mile promenade that is known for its alternative culture. Body builders, street performers, vendors, and other dynamic individuals draw tourists and visitors to the fun stretch of beach.

Millions of people gather here each year to people watch, work out. and play sports such as handball and volleyball, and fish for fun. It’s a perfect place to spend a summer day, with clear skies and perfect temperatures all summer long!

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Atlantic City Boardwalk, New Jersey

Atlantic City’s boardwalk is nothing less than an American icon. It was the first oceanfront boardwalk in the US when it was built in 1870. The boardwalk in Atlantic City is full of casino hotels, entertainment like movie theaters and museums, and other fun attractions.

The boardwalk has been reinvented several times over the years, including after Hurricane Sandy hit the area in 2012. Part of the boardwalk was destroyed, but most of the commercial area was spared the worst of the damage.

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio has a well-deserved reputation for being a fun place to take a summer vacation. The city has so many great places to visit!

The River Walk

The River Walk is a special pedestrian city park in the center of the city. It’s a great place to stroll, eat, and shop. Hotels, restaurants, and other downtown buildings have direct access to the River Walk, as well as many access points along the promenade itself.

The Alamo

Just down the street is the Alamo, the famous fort where the Battle of the Alamo took place. In 1836, Mexican General Santa Ana led a drawn out siege from February 23 to March 5. On March 6, the Mexican forces attacked the Alamo, killing nearly everyone inside.

The Alamo became famous as the survivors returned to their towns and villages, reporting the terrible events that occurred. The residents responded by coming together to defeat Mexico under the rallying cry of “Remember the Alamo!”

The fort is a great tourist destination, and one of the most popular places in all of Texas.

Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park is a park that features great canyons, mesas, buttes, and breathtaking arches. The landforms are ancient, dating back about 150 million years. The  park has amazing hiking, where people can climb through slot canyons, onto great plateaus, and up mountains. Zion is a breathtaking, unique place that feels like it could be another planet.

The park is a great place to visit in the summer, but always be sure to bring a jacket because, even though the temperature during the day can reach 100 degrees, it often falls to the low 60s at night.

These are just a few places that you can visit to kick off summer, celebrating warm water, vacations, and a chance to see fun places all across the United States. So, whether you’re traveling big, or checking things out online, best wishes for a fun-filled summer. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

 

 

Every state in the Union has something that makes it unique and attracts visitors; Virginia’s central role in American development make it a perfect place to visit for anyone who loves history, battles, politics and intrigue.

Check out five great places to visit next time you’re in the area.

Arlington National Cemetery

Just outside Washington, D.C. is some of the most hallowed ground in the United States. Arlington National Cemetery is currently the final resting place for nearly 400,000 veterans of American wars and their immediate children. Soldiers from the Civil War to current engagements are buried here, as are President John F. Kennedy and his wife, and Senator Ted Kennedy.

One of the most important features of the cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where unidentified remains from several world conflicts are interred in honor of all those soldiers who served but never returned home to their families.

Monticello

Thomas Jefferson was one of our Founding Fathers, who wrote the American Declaration of Independence, worked for independence from Great Britain, and was the third President of the United States. He was also an influential politician and civic leader in Virginia. His home and plantation, Monticello, is in southern Virginia, and is a wonderful place to learn about the man, and the times in which he lived.

Monticello has a large main house which he designed. Many of Jefferson’s personal possessions and inventions are still housed and on view to tours, including his extensive library collection, which at one point rivaled the collection of the Library of Congress.

Jefferson was buried on the site of Monticello, with an obelisk gravestone recognizing his achievements at the writer of the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, and the founder of the University of Virginia.

Colonial Williamsburg

Williamsburg was the colonial capitol of Virginia, and a portion of the city has since been preserved as a living museum of life during the early settlement and colonial eras of Virginia. Several city blocks are restored to historical periods, complete with government buildings, taverns, and homes set in the colonial era.

Staff in character dress and act as workers and townspeople, performing trades and reenacting historical events for visitors. The goal of the community is “That the future may learn from the past” and it is accomplished by providing an entertaining, accurate and interactive way to learn about American history and life in colonial times.

Appomattox Court House

Appomattox Court House is not a court house, but a small city and county seat in central Virginia. It was also the site of the last major battle of the Civil War, and the surrender of General Lee to General Grant, effectively ending the war.

Grant and Lee met at the McLean House to complete the official terms of the surrender on April 9, 1865. Wilmer McLean had been a wealthy grocer on whose property the early Battle of Bull Run had been fought. After the battle, he moved away from the area in order to avoid further skirmishes. Ironically, in his efforts to avoid conflict, he ended up being a part of the start and end of the war.

Mt. Vernon

Mt. Vernon is George Washington’s plantation and house located just outside Washington, D.C. The land was owned by the Washington family for a few generations before George and Martha built the mansion currently on the property. The grounds include fruit and vegetable gardens from the period George Washington ran the plantation, as well as a distillery for whiskey authentic to the colonial time period.

These are just a few interesting and educational places to visit in Virginia, and Virginia is just one of 50 awesome states to visit, but if you’re considering a visit to the East Coast, these places should really be on your itinerary!

The world of horse racing leaps into action every spring with the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, which kicks off the US Triple Crown. The three biggest events in US racing wrap up in early June with the Preakness in New York.

In honor of a month of exciting races, roses, and big bets, let’s take a look at some of the coolest race tracks around the US and UK, where horse racing as we know it became a sport.

Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky

The Race for the Roses has been held the first Saturday in May since 1875, with few exceptions. Nicknamed the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”, the 1.25 mile race around the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, kicks off the Triple Crown.

From the moment attendees lay eyes on the twin spires at the top of the grandstand, the pomp is undeniable. The men wear suits, the women wear festive hats, and everyone drinks traditional mint juleps as they watch to see who will win the race and be adorned with a blanket of more than 500 roses. Even more exciting for the winner is the $1.86 million payout!

Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland

Next up in the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The first Preakness ran in 1873, and is now always held on the third Saturday in May.

Unlike the formal Kentucky Derby, the Preakness has a more casual atmosphere. Tickets are sold for the infield, where a sometimes-rowdy crowd gathers to watch the race, drink, party, and have a good time.

This race is the shortest of the three races, and the total payout is $1.5 million. As soon as the race is finalized, the jockey atop the horse on the weather vane is repainted in the colors of the winning horse.

Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, Elmont, New York

The final leg of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes. It is run the first or second weekend in June. The Belmont first ran in 1867, and has run with few interruptions since then. The race is 1.5 miles, the longest of the three major races.

The Belmont is nicknamed the “Test of the Champion” because it is here that a Triple Crown winner is anointed, if one horse wins all three legs of the season. Winners at Belmont are given a blanket of carnations, and are awarded a portion of the $1.5 million purse.

Royal Ascot at the Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, England

Ascot Racecourse is located less than ten miles from Windsor, a major residence of the British royal family. The course was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, and is very popular with Queen Elizabeth. She attends races there several times a year, including the premier event, the Royal Ascot.

The Royal Ascot is a five-day race event that may not be the most famous, but is certainly the most regal. It will be held from June 15-19 this year. Over the five days, more than $10 million are awarded in prizes. The Gold Cup is the week’s premier event, held on Ladies’ Day.

The Queen and members of the royal family attend the event. The arrival of the queen and her entourage down the straight mile on the Royal Landaus at 2 pm signal the start of the day’s events. Guests dress in formal attire, with coat, tail, and hats for men, and equally posh dresses for women.

Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs, Surrey, England

The Epsom Derby is the United Kingdom’s premiere horse race. More than 120,000 people attend and watch the Derby Festival, which will be held on June 4-5 this year. The derby dates back to 1780, and has the biggest purse of all British race events.

Horse racing had long been part of the family tradition for the Earls of Derby, and the race the family sponsored was named after them. Derbys around the world are named after this race.

Epsom Downs is named after the downs of the area, chalk hills that are famous landscapes throughout England. Races have been held here since at least the 1600s, and Queen Elizabeth still attends races here when she can.

These are a few of the most famous race tracks in horse racing, but there are many more. As the horse racing season progresses this summer, knowing more about these tracks and events can make the races you watch even more exciting, even if your horse doesn’t win!