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Even from a distance, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is impossible to mistake for an ordinary tower. It was built to guide ships past one of the Atlantic coast's most dangerous stretches, and its bold pattern still gives the landscape a sense of drama.

Travel

Amazing Outer Banks lighthouses along a coastal drive, and which ones you can still climb

The black-and-white spiral rises above the trees like an enormous warning sign. Even from a distance, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is impossible to mistake for...

Tammy Vargas12 hours ago

You drive beneath a sign that says "Willkommen," and suddenly a Michigan town begins to feel like it has borrowed a little of its scenery from Bavaria. There are steep-roofed buildings, decorated storefronts, and a main street where Christmas lights seem entirely at home.

Travel

Top 6 reasons this Michigan town of about 5,000 people is a Christmas favorite

Frankenmuth, Michigan – You drive beneath a sign that says “Willkommen,” and suddenly a Michigan town begins to feel like it has borrowed a...

Tonny Kiddow14 hours ago

A paper bag lands on the counter, warm enough that you can feel the heat through the folded top. Inside are links of boudin, Louisiana's famously comforting mixture of pork, rice, and seasoning tucked into a sausage casing.

Travel

Popular boudin stops in and around Louisiana’s Boudin Capital where the links come hot from the steamer

Lafayette, Louisiana – A paper bag lands on the counter, warm enough that you can feel the heat through the folded top. Inside are...

Tammy Vargas15 hours ago

What is certain is that Nashville's hot chicken tradition grew from the city's Black food culture into a specialty recognized far beyond Tennessee.

Travel

Some of the best Nashville hot chicken joints where the heat comes on white bread with pickles

Nashville, Tennessee – The story begins with a plate of chicken that was supposed to teach somebody a lesson. According to Nashville legend, a...

Tammy Vargas16 hours ago

Santa Fe's Canyon Road Farolito Walk has become one of New Mexico's most recognizable Christmas Eve traditions. Thousands of people arrive to see the little lights, stroll past art galleries, and enjoy a holiday celebration that feels quite different from the elaborate displays found in many larger cities.

Travel

Thousands of candlelit paper bags line this Santa Fe street every Christmas Eve, and 4 more New Mexico towns glow too

Santa Fe, New Mexico – The first thing you notice is how gently the street is lit. There are no enormous flashing displays competing...

Tonny Kiddow17 hours ago

The first sign that you've arrived in Julian might not be a sign at all. It might be cinnamon. On a cool mountain morning, the little California town east of San Diego seems to offer two competing invitations: wander among the old storefronts, or follow the smell of baking apples until you find yourself standing in front of a pie counter.

Travel

Must-see Julian-area bakeries where the apple pie comes out warm, flaky and piled high

California – The first sign that you’ve arrived in Julian might not be a sign at all. It might be cinnamon. On a cool...

Tammy Vargas3 days ago

A date shake doesn't look especially complicated. It's a pale, creamy drink in a cup, often finished with whipped cream. But the first taste explains why the Coachella Valley made it famous.

Travel

Amazing Coachella Valley-area stops where the date shake has been a desert tradition for nearly 100 years

California – There are moments when the desert makes a cold drink feel less like a treat and more like an excellent idea. The...

Tonny Kiddow3 days ago

This is not the snow-covered Christmas scenery found on greeting cards. Hill Country evenings can be cool without being wintry, and a decorated limestone courthouse looks very different from a ski lodge in the mountains. Somehow, that makes the celebration feel even more like Texas.

Travel

8 Texas Hill Country towns that glow with Christmas lights every holiday season

The first display may be a courthouse wrapped in white lights. A few miles later, it might be a town square glowing beneath oak...

Tonny Kiddow3 days ago

Round Top is famous for antiques, but pie has become another powerful reason to visit. The storefronts are modest, the roads pass through open countryside, and the pace outside the big seasonal shows can feel wonderfully unhurried.

Travel

This tiny Texas town has two famous pie shops, and travelers drive hours for a slice

Texas – The porch is a good place to begin. In Round Top, Texas, a slice of pie isn’t always something you rush through...

Tammy Vargas3 days ago

That's Florida's winter wildlife season at its most appealing. While visitors farther north are searching for sunshine, manatees are searching for something more specific: water warm enough to help them survive. The animals may gather in remarkable numbers at natural springs or near power stations that release warmer water.

Travel

7 Places in Florida to see manatees this winter, from free viewing decks to spring-fed boardwalks

A cold Florida morning can produce a wonderful surprise. Somewhere beneath water so clear you can see the bottom, broad gray backs begin appearing....

Tonny Kiddow3 days ago

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