Southport, North CarolinaThe Brunswick Islands, where Southport is located, feature more than 30 championship golf courses. There’s plenty more to keep retirees busy, from farmers markets to fishing tournaments. Southport’s charming downtown features five blocks of art galleries, seafood-forward restaurants, and locally owned boutiques, and also hosts many free activities. Check out the 10 best beaches in the United States. Gulf Shores, AlabamaRetirees in search of mild temperatures

You’re paying for hidden fees at the airportDid you read the fine print when booking that super cheap economy flight on Spirit? Frontier? Allegiant? If not, by the time you got to the airport, your wallet could take a heavy hit before even getting to your destination. Some of these airlines make you pay up to $80 to check a bag or even stash a carry-on in the overhead bin. Usually, you can pay less if you opt to purchase baggage services at the same time you book your ticket online; wait u

Flag down the ice cream truckThe catchy jingle, the delight of choosing one of the novelty treats, and, of course, the cool satisfaction of eating said treat on a hot afternoon—nothing says summer quite like an ice cream truck. Could you buy an entire box of ice cream bars at the grocery store for the same price as one from the truck? Sure, but where’s the fun in that? Make it even more magical and buy a frozen treat for a nearby child. Not sure where to go? Try the best ice cream shop in

Best: BlacklaneThere’s just not enough time to fully rave about Blacklane. The service takes the user-friendly attributes of rideshare giants like Uber and combines them with a black car service. The end result is a reliable car shuttle at your service. Download the app, enter your pickup and dropoff locations or the number of hours you want to book the vehicle for, select the vehicle you prefer, and relay your desired pickup time. You’ll get an exact, all-inclusive quote, not an app

Best: TAP PortugalPortugal’s national airline flies to numerous European and other international destinations, and meals are included on all flights for all classes, with the size depending on the length of the flight. What makes TAP’s food so yummy is a menu that focuses on Portuguese products and traditional desserts, including delectable meats and cheeses and endless wine from the Douro Valley. The cuisine is well-rounded and authentic, and there are options for vegetarians and ve

Heart Reef—Queensland, AustraliaLocated in the Great Barrier Reef of the Whitsundays, Heart Reef is 55 feet in diameter and one of nature’s best mysteries. The coral formed into the shape of a heart by itself over time and was discovered in 1975 by a pilot. Unfortunately, swimming, snorkeling, and diving is prohibited on the island. The only way to see this lovely view is by plane or helicopter. It isn’t a surprise that a lot of those flights turn into in-air proposals! Check out mor

Waldorf Astoria SpaIn the heart of Boca Raton, the Waldorf Astoria Spa transports you far away from Florida. You’ll savor every amenity of this 50,000-square foot oasis that was designed after the Alhambra palace in Spain, featuring gardens and a unique ritual bath experience. Here, you’ll find Swiss showers, whirlpools, steams, sauna and inhalation rooms, among other luxuries.Signature treatment: The Ultimate Waldorf Retreat, which features a signature ritual bath, an Artisan massag

Solvang, CaliforniaThis Californian town fully embraces its Danish history. After visiting the vineyards (Solvang is in Santa Barbara County Wine Country, after all), learn Scandinavian history at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art. Don’t miss these other enchanting places that look like fairy tales. Helen, GeorgiaThis charming 430-person town is nestled right by the Chattahoochee River. Strolling through the cobblestone sidewalks and red-roofed homes in Helen, you’d swear you were i

Hatch Chile FestivalEvery Labor Day weekend, this festival celebrates New Mexico’s native chile peppers. Served all over the state in red, green, or “Christmas style” incarnations, they’re placed atop burgers and fried stuffed with cheese as rellenos. The Hatch Chile Festival involves a chile-eating contest, ristra-stringing workshops, the crowning of the Hatch Chile Queen, and plenty of mariachi bands (naturally). Tip: We thought the chile-peanut brittle was the take-hom

Honningsvåg, NorwayViking Ocean Cruises makes the signature Into the Midnight Sun cruise along the Norwegian coastline from Bergen in the south to the tip-top of the country in Honningsvåg. An excursion to Nordkapp (or North Cape), where visitors stand atop a plateau and stare down into the frigid Barents Sea below, will take your breath away. It’s one of the northernmost points in continental Europe, earning it the nickname “the top of the world.” Views on a clear day are spec

Banging while boardingIt’s very common to hear banging when boarding a plane or waiting in your seat at the gate. This is just the cargo being loaded onto the plane below the cabin. Check out these hidden airplane features you had no idea existed.ⓘ Flickering lightsMost airlines plug into the airport’s electricity source when planes are on the ground. When an airplane pushes away from the gate, the pilot will switch from the ground power source to the one on board, which will cause t

Color allergies“We had a lady come to stay that was allergic to the color purple,” explains Nathan Brown of the Rees Hotel Queenstown in New Zealand. “Yes, a color. She emailed prior to her arrival asking that any room amenities, furniture, or fixtures in her room and around the hotel were removed from her sight so she would not feel ill upon seeing them. All of our amenities at the time were lavender scented, we had purple colored books in our library, shades of purple on wine

Use backlightBacklighting—where the light comes from behind your subject toward your camera—can make semi-translucent subjects such as autumn leaves really ‘pop’ from the frame. Try these genius tricks to take great photos on your smartphone. Rule of thirdsRemember the rule of thirds when setting up your shot. Divide the composition into three parts to make sure the focal point is positioned off-center for more visual interest. Wait until the sun is goneGet a warm glow like the one in Rachel’s p

Airbnb for a unique way to stayThe basics: Airbnb is a commerce site where homeowners personally list a place to stay and travelers can book it directly. What makes Airbnb unique is that you can choose to spend the night in anything from a bedroom in someone’s home to a tree house to a castle in France (no, really—the company reports that they have nearly 3,000 castles and 1,400 tree houses in their current listings.)Who it’s for: For anyone who loves to meet the locals, being able t

Do: Stash all your pool items in your carry-on bag“You may not see your checked bag until late on your first day on board,” says Gene Sloan, cruise editor of USA Today. “It can take hours from the time you drop your bag off with the ship-side porters for it to arrive up in your room.” As a result, when we asked him what to pack for a cruise, he recommended stashing your swimsuit, sunglasses, and suntan lotion in your day bag so you have them available immediately upon arr

Cockpit toursIf you’re flying with a young passenger who’s intersted in planes (or you’re interested yourself), most pilots will gladly allow you to peak inside the cockpit. Ask him or her after the flight, when time is less of the essence.ⓘ An entire can of sodaIf a few splashes of soda over a full cup of ice isn’t enough to quench your thirst, ask your flight attendant for the entire can, or to have your drink with no ice. Seconds on snacksMost airplanes are well

Valletta, MaltaIf you’re looking for a little island life mixed with Mediterranean cuisine, this slice of heaven just below Sicily is a great choice. Valletta is the capital city of this itsy-bitsy Mediterranean island nation. Rest your bones along the shorelines of Malta, enjoying activities like snorkeling. Wander the underground catacombs, forts, megalithic temples, and UNESCO World Heritage streets of Valletta. Public transport is about $2. Grab hearty Italian dishes at La Siciliana, a

1 / 65The Sound of MusicAustria’s hills are certainly alive with the sound of music… and tourists. Mozart may have been born in Salzburg, but The Sound of Music really put it on the map and now an estimated 70 percent of people visit because of the movie. Cross Residenzplatz Square with confidence as Maria did and run through the hedge tunnel in the Mirabell Gardens while singing “Do-Re-Mi.” The Palace of Leopoldskron is one of the mansions used as the Von Trapp Home and

Embassy SuitesEmbassy Suites Hotels claims it’s the only hotel brand that features the cook-to-order omelet. Here are 21 secrets hotels won’t tell you. Hampton by HiltonBefore getting back on the road, grab a fresh-baked waffle or hearty oatmeal (with toppings!) at Hampton Hotels. On the Run breakfast bags are available for travelers who need to take their breakfast on the road. These secrets that only hotel managers know will help you on your next vacation. Holiday Inn ExpressThese hotels offer

Assess before you packTaking the time to plan what to pack before you fly can save you time, money, and hassle. “How many times do you pack a lot of stuff, but never wear half of it?” asks Michele Radon, a Buffalo, New York-based flight attendant. “Lay it out before you pack it. You may find that you’ll able to wear a pair of pants with two different tops.” And it’s OK to wear the same thing twice, says flight attendant Abagail Valencia. “If you are trav