MADE Hotel—New York, New YorkSituated at the intersection of 29th Street and Broadway, in the often frenetic NoMad neighborhood, MADE Hotel is a design-driven sanctuary with a chill vibe. Everything from the artisan-crafted furniture to the thoughtful conveniences, like Stutterheim raincoats and FOAK sunglasses (for loan or purchase), is carefully curated. The result is laid-back luxury, an experience that’s refined yet refreshing. Planning a trip to the Big Apple? Take a peek at the best-

Gustave Eiffel did not design the Eiffel TowerBut one of his employees—engineer Maurice Koechlin—did. In fact, Eiffel rejected Koechlin’s original sketches, calling them too minimalist and requesting a little more oomph. After approving Koechlin’s final design in 1884, Eiffel started shopping his company’s masterpiece around. Spain didn’t want itEiffel originally pitched his tower to the city of Barcelona, Spain. They rejected it, worried it would be an unwieldy eyesore. Beyond Eiffel Tower fact

Hawaii is made up of six islandsThe six main islands that welcome visitors are: Oahu—with its snazzy cosmopolitan capital Honolulu, Hawaii—known as the Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, and Molokai. Each has its own particular charm and all will roll out a hospitable, flower-covered red carpet for you. To begin planning your Hawaii vacation, visit the official website for the Hawaiian Islands—and let the aloha spirit begin! These are the best island vacations in the U.S. How to get to HawaiiJust a

AlabamaOne of the summer’s simplest pleasures is biting into a juicy slice of watermelon. So on a hot July 4th in Alabama, cool off at the Grand Bay Watermelon Festival where you can eat all the delicious watermelon you want—for free! Find out who is crowned Watermelon Queen, then make sure to leave with a giant melon of your own so you can try one of these savory and sweet recipes the next day. AlaskaThe flag isn’t the only thing flying in Alaska on the 4th—you might see some cars s

Hardcover booksWhile you’ll definitely need a beach read, the latest hardcover bestseller will take up valuable space and weight in your luggage. Download the Kindle version of the book or opt for a lightweight paperback. Here are the packing tips you need to memorize before your next trip. Your own hairdryerCheck with the hotel to see if they have one in every room. If they do, consider leaving yours behind. The hotel’s version might not be the one you’re most comfortable with

Fair Saint Louis: St. Louis, MissouriIf you’re looking for “America’s biggest birthday party,” then this is the place to be. The festivities start with the Freedom Four Miler run and culminate with a concert and magnificent fireworks show over the Mississippi River. This is the real reason we set off fireworks on the Fourth of July. 4th of July Concert & Fireworks: Austin, TexasThey say everything is bigger in Texas—and that includes this sparkly celebration accompani

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Los Cabos, MexicoThis gorgeous luxury resort—in a town known for eye-popping properties—may just be the most beautiful of all. Designed with striking Moorish-inspired white stucco buildings around a breathtaking oceanfront infinity pool—gives couples the opportunity to sleep under the stars on their private oceanfront or rooftop terrace. Butlers set up a bed for the evening, complete with snacks, tequila, and even fresh flowers, so you can gaze up at the famously clear B

Panama City, PanamaFor cheap beach vacations that get you out of town and invite you and your family to dive into culture, consider a trip to Panama City. Here, you will enjoy equal parts beach and city exploring, with many hotels offering views of the famous Panama Canal, and also within a short taxi ride to downtown where you can explore the scene. Book your stay at The Westin Playa Bonita, where you can either book a room starting at $222 a night, or upgrade to the “Family Package”

It had to pee you“In the middle of my first night in a hostel in Amsterdam, I heard a loud, gushing sound,” Jamie Zipfel tells Reader’s Digest. “I chalked it up to faulty pipes until I smelled it: one of the drunken guests had peed all over the floor. All my belongings except my phone and notebook were soaked.” To make matters worse, she had nothing to wear the next day to take her peed-on belongings to the laundromat, so she ended up going al fresco, but for a wind

1 / 24Understaffed, behind schedule, and so short on flowering plants that landscapers had to adorn weeds with plaques bearing fake Latin names, Disneyland opened its gates for the first time on July 17, 1955.Despite the frantic lead-up, Disneyland’s inauguration drew nearly 30,000 guests on the first day—about three times as many people than had actually been invited for the special press preview, many holding counterfeit tickets—and Walt Disney’s life’s work began to blossom. Here are 23 mind-

French stereotypes are quite ubiquitous in America, and the things we expect to find on a first visit to the popular tourist destination are often valid to a certain extent: berets, baguettes, and pastries galore. While there are an array of quirky and wonderful things that can be accredited to the bustling country, there are some things that the English language prefixes with being “French,” but are not actually of French origin at all. Even some of you francophiles are guaranteed to be surpris

Clearwater Beach, FloridaThe sugar-white sand beaches and calm Gulf waters make this one of the most popular family beaches in all of Florida. Leave the car parked and hop on a free trolley to find affordable eats and visit the Clearwater Aquarium, home of Winter the dolphin, the inspirational prosthetic tail-wearing star of The Dolphin’s Tale films. There’s also a fun pirate ship cruise where you and the kids can hit the seas in full pirate attire. Cape May, New JerseyAmerica’

New Zealand: Hokey Pokey Ice CreamWhile you reveal a lot about yourself when you order ice cream, you mostly say that you love fun when ordering New Zealand favorite, Hokey Pokey. Krista Canfield McNish, founder of FoodWaterShoes, an international food site, says that the blend can vary, depending on which shop you visit, but mostly it means plain vanilla ice cream mixed with generous heaps of honeycomb toffee. The outcome is a super rich, creamy ice cream—and it’s delicious, says McNish.

Cape MayTake Exit 1 from New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway and you’ll discover this charming Victorian beach town whose tree-lined streets are lined with gingerbread-trimmed guesthouses. This is one of those Jersey Shore beaches that has a pedestrian cobble-stone mall with toy stores and ice cream shops, a small boardwalk with an arcade, and the country’s oldest beachfront resort: Congress Hall Hotel. Not in the Mideast? Here are some of our favorite family-friendly beaches aro

For making memories: Travel the world togetherFor RD.com editor Marlisse Cepeda and her sister Massiel, travel is part of the way they bond together. They’ve been all over—from Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and Puerto Rico to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Prague, and Berlin. When they pick a place to get out of town together, they try to embark on new adventures where they’re both experiencing a destination for the first time. They also tend to lean toward touristy spots for a few reasons. &

Head to Europe for beauty and valueA European vacation isn’t the first thing that springs to mind for most people on a budget. But with flights to Europe at the lowest in a decade, you can look beyond Myrtle Beach and Cancun when planning your next trip. Go a bit beyond the popular stops of London and Paris and you’ll find the Adriatic—a region rich in culture, scenery, and local cuisine that won’t break the bank. For even more ways to save your extra euros for another glass of

Book an early flightPick the first flight of the day if your schedule allows. It’s most likely to be on time, meaning you won’t end up with the stress of long delays. Plus, it is the most likely to have been freshly cleaned. Don’t make these annoying airport mistakes next time you fly.ⓘ Pick the right seatYou can only book the exit row seat once you’re at the airport, so arrive two hours early to request the seat change. In case the exit row is already taken, pick an aisle seat when

Farm camp: Because farm-to-table is the futureIt might be tough to get your child to help out around the house, but at Farm Camp in Plantation, CA, that’s the main activity. Here, campers choose their own chores, ranging from helping to raise the farm animals to cooking the camp meals. There are plenty of other, more typical, camp activities as well, like canoeing, arts and crafts, and campfires. They’ll come home ready to take charge around the house (and they’ll probably want

Local Market Tour, Cooking Class, and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse (Florence, Italy)We’re getting hungry just thinking about this deep-dive into Tuscan cuisine. It begins with a trip to a local market in Florence to scope stalls of fresh produce, cured meats, olives, and balsamic vinegar as well as select ingredients for the cooking class. Next up, is a scenic drive to a farmhouse, where travelers are taught how to prepare traditional dishes—while sipping a glass of Chianti—before sitting d

Joliet & WilmingtonMy husband, daughter, and I started our Route 66 road trip along State Route 53 in Joliet. This Chicago suburb is well known to fans of The Blues Brothers, a 1980 movie that was filmed in the area. Look up as you drive by Rich & Creamy, a retro ice cream stand within Route 66 Park, to see Jake and Elwood performing for customers. The nearby Joliet Area Historical Museum features a Route 66 Welcome Center with interactive exhibits. And the ornate Rialto Square Theatre a