What happens when you spontaneously sign up for whitewater rafting on high-risk rapids without knowing their danger level? Fathom intern Jordan Siskind-Weiss learns the hard way. VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe – Spring break is notorious for thrilling exploits, worthwhile exhaustion, and unforgettable memories. Spring break in the great African outdoors is no exception.I studied abroad at the University of Cape Town during the Fall 2013 seme

The last time we checked in with the Lehmann crew (mom Michelle, dad Daniel, older brother Jake, and little sister Sophia), they had just come back from Tulum. This time, they went to José Ignacio, the boho hotspot in Uruguay thats typically associated with frolicking gypsetters. This is our kind of family travel.So, what brought you to José Ignacio? Ive wanted to go to José Ignacio for a long time. Im obsessed with travel, but since having

Were giving away an awesome trip to Montauk with our pals at Eater and PureWow. And if youre not already in the mood for a free airfare, complimentary car service, and a super chic retreat in the Hamptons, we got a list of East End must-dos from Curbed Hamptons editor Laura Euler.CARBO-LOVINGCrullers at Montauk Bake Shoppe The Plaza, Montauk; +1-631-668-2439 The owners insist theyre jelly croissants, and while they are crescent-shaped,

Fire Island is laid-back, safe, and easy to reach from New York City, making it a perfect weekend getaway for the family. Fathom intern Tess Falotico asked two cute kids to narrow down their absolute favorite, cant-miss stops.FIRE ISLAND, New York – On my last trip out to Long Islands coast, I enlisted the help of Bella and Paul, my two little cousins and personal Fire Island experts. Theyve spent every summer of their young lives (ten and

Do you want a quintessential East Coast beach weekend? Do you want family fun? Do you want to know what a 6-ish is? Then youve come to the right place. Fathom contributor (and star intern) Tess Falotico shows us the ropes on Fire Island.FIRE ISLAND, New York – An I Travel for the Chill spot if there ever was one. Schedules dont exist, and time is measured only by the ferries as they come and go from the harbor. Pack a bathing

When everyone else is beating the path from Delhi to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, you’ll be heading north to Ladakh, near the border of Tibet, for an altogether different side of India. High up here in the Himalayas, life really slows down, and your days are reduced to gorgeous walks, mountain greenery, impossibly fresh air, and a cup of tea with a monk. Shahrookh Cambata, of Greaves Tours, is a big fan. Theres not a ton to do in La

A Caribbean island offering the quintessential mellow beach experience. A girl on the lookout for everything else. Fathom editorial director Jeralyn Gerba explores beyond the beach towel.VIEQUES, Puerto Rico – I love to relax. I really do. But if relaxation was butter, then, in the words of celebrity cook Paula Deen, my dollop might look a little different than your dollop. Send me to an unspoiled island with beaches and blue water and noth

Last summer, writer Jessica Ritz hauled her kids, aged 3 and 5, across the country for some old-fashioned fun in Cape Cod. Fried clam eating and boogie boarding ensued.CAPE COD – Say hi to the Kennedys! my friend jokingly called out to me when I ran into her en route to LAX. I was on my way to Cape Cod, and, well, I was wearing white linen and navy stripes. Not the most practical attire when traveling cross-country with two young kids,

SYDNEY – Beach culture is a huge part of Sydney life, so it wouldn’t be a proper visit without a stop-off — and dip-in — at the city’s best.BONDI BEACHAustralia’s iconic beach is a perfect introduction to the laid-back Sydneysider lifestyle. Spend a lazy day sunning yourself or wandering the shops before hitting the waves with a lesson from Let’s Go Surfing. Grab an early dinner at The Corner House or North Bondi Itali

In this weeks Travel Loot, our new column featuring the travel stuff were currently crazy about, we pack up camping essentials.Ive just written a story for Fathom about how I learned to love camping around New York City. I blame my friends, avid campgoers all, who make it easy and fun. Still, for as much camping experience as they collectively have, we somehow always manage to forget these essentials that often go overlooked.1. Folding Chai

Weve gone around the world and back again with our Instagram feed, from Fathom HQ in New York to the forbidden streets of North Korea. On the site, weve followed Céline Cousteau to Antarctica. This week were combining the two and exploring a new frontier, doing an Instagram takeover from the depths of the ocean floor with her brother, Fabien Cousteau.The oceanographic explorer is building on the legacy of his grandfather Jacques Cousteau wi

An overnight hike through the swampy Osa Peninsula is surprisingly peaceful. Just watch out for the razor grass. A reader story.OSA PENINSULA, Costa Rica – We flutter down hidden steps, crawl under fallen trees, and side-step razor grass. We reach a swamp with thick, gray water that settles at our thighs and fills our boots; its a maze of hanging vines and reeds, spotted with red eye tree frogs, boa constrictors, and wanderers. Other creatu

Some trips leave memories that never fade — no matter how long its been since you went and how many places youve seen since. Joan Larsen remembers the unforgettable Bora Bora.BORA BORA – It began with a personal letter from the long-ago best-selling author James Michener a letter I still hold dear — that said I must go to Bora Bora. The most beautiful island in the world, he wrote, and one that he wished he could

Dear Fathom: Just because Im traveling doesnt mean I want to give up exercising. Unfortunately, hotels dont always have gyms. How can I stay fit when Ive left my regular routine at home?Being on the road doesnt have to mean gaining five pounds. We asked Lomax PT trainer and Fathom contributing editor Hilary Bass Rifkin for an efficient, 20-minute workout that you can do in a hotel room with no special gym equipment. This is the first of man

So the cliché goes: Soccer is the universal language. Roaring fans, painted faces, and trumpet ceremonies round the globe show us how true that really is.

Fathom likes to get around, and that means virtually, too. We recently started syndicating our stories on Yahoo Travel, and are happy in turn to republish a piece by our pal Paula Froelich, the sites new editor-in-chief.When my mother first found out I was traveling to Iraq, she flipped out.What? Iraq? Are you nuts? she said. What the (expletive) do you want to go there for? Cant you just go to a nice beach somewhere?!This reaction became a

MONTAUK, New York – Seeking the shores forever more? Yeah, you, us, and Walt Whitman.Head to the easternmost tip of Long Island for, as Whitman put it, nothing but sea and sky. But while youre there, you might as well soak up the sun on secret beaches, tuck in a basket of clams or two, and pretend to be really bad at foosball so you dont get run out of town by the locals. Where to StartA Field Guide to the Hamptons: Mind your Ps a

He has a house on a Turkish island nearby, but the New York City restaurateur had never been to Lesbos. His first impression is enough to send him back for more.Just back from: Molyvos, Lesbos, Greece.Was it your first time? It was the first time I went to Lesbos, but I plan to return again next summer.Why did you go? I have a house in Turkey on the island of Cunda which overlooks Lesbos. Its so close, yet Ive never been. Who were you

Our filmmaker pal Marko Roth shared with us another gorgeous video from Rio de Janeiro. Watch him climb the citys highest mountains unharnessed, party in the favelas, and lose money on the horses.So, what brought you to Rio? I wanted to visit a good friend from Germany, Malik, who is spending six months in Rio learning Portuguese. I was always fascinated by Rio for its diversity of people and its urban image. Malik showed me many interestin

Heli around the Alps, brülée with the chef, dance until sunrise. When not enjoying some of the best off-piste skiing in the world, Paula de la Cruz finds plenty to do in the Valais ski village.VERBIER, Switzerland – Verbier, a ski village in the Valais canton of Switzerland, is the preferred spot for European rich and social to pursue the winter sport. But this centuries-old village does not bend to the entitled; it welcomes them as lo