Let the deal be the inspirationThe trick is to be flexible with your travel plans to get the most mileage for your dollar. You can get a similar experience in so many different ways. Let’s say you’re looking for a beach getaway; instead of Hawaii, you could trade off for a similar, discounted experience in the Caribbean. Paris can get expensive fast, so you could trade off for Buenos Aires or Quebec. Instead of the Hamptons, take an affordable trip to San Diego. While you may have a specific des

Spice Spoons, Phuket, ThailandBefore you ever step into the open-air kitchen with views of the Andaman Sea at Anantara’s Spice Spoons vacation cooking school to make addictive Massaman Beef Curry or sweet Sticky Rice with Mango, you’ll visit a local market to explore some of the region’s more unusual ingredients. Expect to see hand-shaped galangal, long beans almost a yard in length, tiny egglplants the size of a thumb, and a rainbow’s worth of spicy peppers. It’s t

Franklin, TennesseeSearching for a weekend getaway with small town charm, culture, and fun of Nashville? Look no further than the small town, Franklin, Tennessee. About 30 minutes away from the Music City, you may even run into a celebrity or two while you’re in line for your coffee or enjoying brunch. Filled with antique shops, boutiques, fine dining, and world-class music. “With nearby hotels and plenty of cute bed and breakfasts within walking distance of the fun, it’s my to

Ponce City Market, AtlantaLocated in the historic Sears Roebuck and Company building (circa 1926), Atlanta’s Ponce City Market was named one of Vogue’s top new food markets in 2016, as much for its cool brick interior as for its expansive offerings of unique food vendors. With nearly 30 eateries in a sprawling industrial chic space with plenty of seating, both indoors and out, it’s easy to see why locals and visitors alike come here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some top ta

Conestoga Ranch in Garden City, UtahPicture laying down on a blanket in a stunningly rural park and staring at the stars with your loved one—and then heading inside to sleep in a premium luxury “tent” with Western-style furnishings, as well as shower, electricity, and all those other vacation necessities. (Though, don’t leave home without these first aid essentials.) That’s what you can expect to find at Conestoga Ranch, located just two and a half hours outside Salt Lake

Canyon Ranch, The Berkshires, MassachusettsKnown for immersing guests in a health-focused holiday, Canyon Ranch resort offers classes, spa treatments, weight lifting, and calorie-counted meals. Sure, they don’t serve alcohol, but you can bring a bottle to toast to your successes at the end of the day. Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos, CaribbeanThis stunning private island resort is surrounded by pale white sand and cool blue water, but it’s the health focused aesthetic of Como resorts th

Pictures aren’t always worth a thousand wordsHome-sharing sites are a lot like dating apps. You see homes at their best with great lighting, angles, filters, and everything looks pristine. A few swipes and you’re ready to book your vacation rental. That’s what Todd Brabender, of Lawrence, Kansas and his wife did when they recently booked an Airbnb, only to find the bathroom was horrible. “It had black mold on the tub, weird lighting, and the floor of the tub felt like it

Be a traveler, not a touristAccording to Brown, it all starts with finding the destinations, experiences, and people that make you feel like you’re a part of the place you’re in, and not just a person visiting there. Often, that means letting the wind take you where it will rather than planning out every detail of your trip. “That’s part of my travel ideology—I do plan a lot, especially for the television shows that I host, but I’m a little different when I’m

“I just did what any dad would do”While on vacation with his family in South Haven South Beach on Lake Michigan, Ryan Galyen was watching his own children play in the water when a woman alerted him that two children in the deeper water appeared to be in danger. “I swam in high school and was a lifeguard, but it had been 18-plus years since I’d had any formal training,” Galyen notes. He immediately sent his own children over to their mom and swam to the struggling ki

Two hats with velcro tiesElizabeth, a mom of one, says that when you’re packing up your straw bag, toss in not one, but two, hats made of sun-protective fabric with Velcro ties to help protect your little one’s head, face, and neck from the sun. She notes this will keep it from flying away and if does because baby picks at it, you’ll have a second one to replace it. “It’s so important to keep baby’s head covered, and the Velcro ties help keep it on even with t

Canyon RanchThis spectacular spa has all of the natural beauty of the Berkshires going for it, plus a reputation as one of the original brand names in destination spas. By all accounts, the food at the Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts is unforgettable—healthy chicken enchiladas and asparagus guacamole, anyone?—and both the athletic instructors and speakers are top-notch. If you sign up with a group of eight buddies, you each get 30 percent off. Best of all, while the rates are high, they inc

Welcome to San Miguel de Allende, MexicoEvery year, Travel + Leisure puts out a survey asking readers about their favorite places to travel. Respondents rank each city’s culture, cuisine, sights, friendliness, overall value, and shopping. This year, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, earned a whopping 92.12 out of 100, earning its spot as the best city in the world. (Looking for a domestic trip? Don’t miss these 21 nicest towns in America.) A slice of historySan Miguel de Allende was built in

OregonAccording to scientists at NASA, the total solar eclipse 2017 will begin in Oregon around 9:05 am PDT, and “totality,” when the moon completely covers the sun, will start at 10:16 am. The total solar eclipse will then chart its course across the United States for approximately 93 minutes. Oregon Solar Fest in Madras is an official NASA viewing site in Oregon, although there will be excellent sight lines throughout the Willamette Valley and Central and Eastern Oregon.Bend is one

We’re calling it: The future of vacation homes has arrived.Think the tiny houses trend is a little… perfect? Just wait till you get a look at the world’s first subterranean beach hut, built by British inventor Colin Furze. You’d have to travel to Lincolnshire on the east coast of England to take a peek inside, but trust us—the trip would be totally worth it. (Or take one of the best beach vacations in the U.S., instead!) Don’t let the size deceive youFrom the outside, the hut looks m

Garden Caravan, Sandpoint, IdahoThis 200-square-foot light-filled abode was built by a boat builder using recycled materials. Situated on a quiet, natural setting that’s two miles to the lake and town, the home’s private and remote setting on the edge of a pond on five acres of land makes for a peaceful escape. The home’s many windows and skylights offer a light-filled space that brings the outdoors in. Inside the Garden Caravan, you’ll find a fully-stocked kitchen with R

1 / 18Let them eat cake!Cake for road trip snacks for kids? Everything in moderation, right? Erin McGann of Erin at Large lets her kids pick local snacks while traveling. “I really let them pick anything,” says McGann. We’ve discovered some truly amazing things at bakeries and vending machines this way!” No worries, fellow moms, it’s a once-a-day occurrence. McGann’s other suggestion is to let the kiddos choose whatever fruit they want when they stop at a loca

Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum—Key West, FLFor 10 years the pipe-smoking, bull-running writer who penned such classics as For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea lived in a quaint, colonial house on Key West. Hemingway purchased the house in 1931 while on a trip to Key West, and moved there later that year with his wife and two sons. Today, you can visit the breezy, sun-filled home and its adjacent garden while taking a guided tour on your literary road trip; the staff is happy t

Treehouse Point, Issaquah, WashingtonJust outside of Seattle, you’ll find your tree house hotel alternative to city life with TreeHouse Point. Comprised of six cabins, this adults-only retreat offers simple comforts that will give you that back-to-the-basics feel. Heat, electricity, and a cozy bed all come in each cabin, though all but one are void of a bathroom. To access such luxury, you’ll have to walk the grounds to use the one bathhouse with toilets and showers. Stay in the Burl

Check the forecast constantlyWhile this may seem like a no brainer, it’s easy to leave your house without checking the weather, especially when you’re in a rush. The weather is very unpredictable—and that goes double for summer thunderstorms—but you can minimize your chances of every being caught without the proper gear by taking two minutes to check your local forecast before heading out the door. Everyone has their favorite weather app and website, but you can’t go wrong goin

Traveling with kids can be tough no matter what. Between the physical stress of traveling, new sights and sounds, tempting treats, and reasons to stay up way past bedtime, meltdowns seem almost inevitable, especially if your child has sensory processing issues. But there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of a travel meltdown.“A meltdown is very different from a tantrum,” says Amanda Morin, a parent advocate, former teacher, author of The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Ed