The Made in Tahoe Festival is Held each spring and fall at The Village at Palisades Tahoe. The festival allows  local artisans, entrepreneurs, musicians and organizations from throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee area an opportunity to be center stage.

The beautiful backdrop of snowcapped mountains is part of what makes Made in Tahoe so unique. It is a festival that showcases products that are made in Tahoe or inspired by life in the region. Visitors can browse handcrafted jewelry, pottery, photography, woodworking, clothing, candles and artwork while meeting the makers behind the products.

More than 100 vendors participate in the festival twice a year. Local businesses and nonprofits also use the event as an opportunity to connect with residents and visitors.

For Sean Picard of Dripfield Designs, that local connection is what makes the festival stand out.

"It's my favorite festival," Picard said. "There's more collaboration among vendors because you need to live here or be inspired by the area."

According to Sean Picard, collaboration is one of the things that makes Made in Tahoe unique. Not only are small businesses selling their wares, but their children are dancers in the entertainment, and their neighbors are selling two tents over.

Live entertainment is a large part of the festival. Throughout the weekend, three different stages are filled with musicians, dancers, acrobats,  and performers from across the region. During the most recent Spring festival, country and bluegrass bands drew huge crowds of people. The aerialist performance by Moonlight Movement was another huge hit.

The event also highlights Tahoe's family-oriented community. Local children regularly perform on stage as part of dance groups and music programs, and many vendors bring their own children to help at booths throughout the weekend. The result is a community gathering that feels as much like a hometown celebration as a festival.

Food and drink are another major draw. Food trucks line the village, serving everything from tacos and rotisserie specialties to donuts, ice cream and local favorites. Regional breweries including Alibi Ale Works, Truckee Brewing Company, FiftyFifty Brewing Company and Tahoe National Brewing Company pour local craft beer, while Tahoe Blue Vodka and Truckee River Winery showcase beverages produced close to home.

Beyond supporting local businesses, the festival also benefits the broader community. Proceeds from the event's bars support Tahoe Food Hub, a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen the local food system and increase access to locally grown food.

The timing of the festival has helped make it a favorite among both residents and visitors. The spring event coincides with the final weekend of skiing at Palisades Tahoe, creating a unique atmosphere where visitors can spend the morning on the slopes before heading to the village for music, food and shopping.

"People love to ski and then come spend money," Picard said.

The fall festival offers a different but equally appealing experience. As the Sierra Nevada begins to show hints of autumn color and cooler temperatures arrive, visitors have the opportunity to explore the village while supporting local businesses before the winter season begins.

Organizers say the event's mission remains the same regardless of the season: celebrating the people and businesses that make Tahoe more than a vacation destination.

That mission resonates with visitors who are increasingly interested in supporting small businesses and experiencing authentic local culture. Rather than purchasing mass-produced souvenirs, attendees can meet artists face-to-face, learn about their work and take home something that reflects the character of the region.

As visitors wander through vendor booths, listen to live music and enjoy local food, the festival offers a reminder that Tahoe's identity extends beyond its famous outdoor recreation.

The mountains and lake may draw people to the region, but events like Made in Tahoe highlight the artists, makers, musicians and entrepreneurs who help create the community's distinctive character.

When the festival returns this fall, thousands of visitors are expected to once again fill the Village at Palisades Tahoe. They will come to shop, eat and enjoy the entertainment, but they will also experience something deeper: a celebration of the creativity, collaboration and community spirit that define life in Tahoe.

This article originally appeared on Wander Worthy: Made in Tahoe Festival Celebrates the Artists, Makers and Community Behind the Destination 1 https://wanderworthy.com/unpaid-vacation-debts-are-straining-friendships-as-trip-costs-climb/ Fri, 31 Jul 26 12:34:06 -0400 Fri, 31 Jul 26 13:47:00 -0400 https://wanderworthy.com/unpaid-vacation-debts-are-straining-friendships-as-trip-costs-climb/ Cassie Bennett and her best friend had been planning the Antarctica trip for over a year. They booked a balcony cabin, and Bennett put down the deposit with the understanding that each of them would pay her own balance when it came due.

Then the deadline arrived, and her friend's card wouldn't go through.

Facing the loss of the cabin, Bennett put the roughly $8,000 balance on her own credit card. "I got paid back, but slowly," she said. The last of it cleared earlier this year — months after they'd come home.

For a growing number of American travelers, the hardest part of a group trip is not the planning or taking the time off work; it's what happens after everyone gets home and someone has to bring up the money.

New national research from Zelle finds that among Gen Z consumers who have fronted money for a shared expense, 76% say they were not fully repaid. Nearly half of Gen Z respondents say they have gone into debt covering group costs for other people. Fifty-five percent say a repayment issue created tension in a friendship or hurt a relationship.

Zelle has a name for it: the avoidance economy. One in five Gen Z respondents said they had canceled plans, or muted or ignored a group chat, specifically to avoid a conversation about paying someone back.

When the money outlasts the friendship

Dr. Traci Williams, a board-certified clinical psychologist and certified financial therapist who serves as a spokesperson for Zelle, has a term for what Bennett spent those months feeling: "Repayment anxiety is the stress, discomfort or emotional hesitation people experience when it's time to settle shared expenses," Williams said. The trigger is rarely the spending itself, but rather when people are waiting to be repaid or trying to figure out how to ask for their money back.

Williams doesn't think the phenomenon is new, but rather newly visible, as more people split the cost of vacations, high-end meals, concerts and sporting events, and talk about it openly.

"Money is rarely just about money," Williams said. "It's tied to relationships, trust, expectations, and emotions. That's why even relatively small amounts can feel surprisingly uncomfortable to discuss."

Left alone, the balance rarely stays neutral. "When repayment is delayed, it can lead to feelings like resentment or frustration that ultimately affect the relationship," she said.

The survey data bears that out. In the Zelle research, 27% of Americans said repayment issues have caused arguments, and a quarter of Gen Z respondents said such a dispute had done long-term damage to a relationship. Some have even said it ended one: 19% of millennials and 14% of Gen Z consumers reported ending a friendship or relationship over a repayment dispute.

Syon Bhanot, an associate professor of economics at Swarthmore College who studies behavioral economics, said the friction is structural, as money and friendship run on incompatible logic. Consider when a friend asks for help moving; most people would give up a Saturday without a second thought and volunteer hours without thinking about being paid. Now imagine the same friend offers $10 an hour.

"You'd probably be weirded out, and more likely to say no," Bhanot said. "In theory, the financial incentive should increase your eagerness to help, but it actually eats into your motivation." The same crowding-out effect, he said, is why asking a friend to settle up feels like it costs something.

What the debt actually looks like

The amounts at stake have grown. Gen Z is now the biggest average spender on group travel and events, according to the Zelle research. While nearly half of Americans surveyed spent less than $2,500 per person on major events like the World Cup, Coachella and the Super Bowl, 37% of Gen Z consumers spent at least that amount.

Those trips almost always require someone to go first. Blocks of tickets, house rentals, advance dinner reservations and group bookings are bought by one person on one card, weeks or months before anyone settles up.

Jacob Bayer, a certified financial planner and founder of the firm JBayerWealth, estimates the organizer is now extending $6,000 to $10,000 in credit to the group and paying the financing cost on it. Run $4,000 of someone else's vacation through a card at 22% to 24% and pay the minimum, Bayer said, and "you may pay for the vacation twice."

Credit card holders ages 18 to 29 have had the highest rate of accounts moving into delinquency of any age group, according to New York Fed data, with more than 10% transitioning into delinquency in a recent quarter.

Buy now, pay later has become a parallel track: 49% of Gen Z consumers planned to use BNPL for large purchases and 36% for daily essentials, like groceries and gas. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has found that 63% of BNPL users hold multiple loans at once. Because those loans are not always reported to credit bureaus, borrowers routinely underestimate their total exposure.

Across all Zelle respondents who sometimes borrow for shared expenses, only 28% said they pay someone back immediately or the same day. Among Gen Z respondents, 18% said it can take up to a month, 10% said two to six months, and 11% said longer than six months.

Why nobody sends the text

The obvious solution– just ask for your money back–  is the thing almost nobody does.

Part of the reason is a strange inversion of who feels bad. "Many people worry that asking to be repaid will make them seem petty or will create unnecessary conflict, even when they're simply asking for money they're already owed," Williams said.

"Context often matters more than the dollar amount," she said. "The relationship between the people involved, whether repayment expectations were discussed upfront, and each person's financial situation can all influence how comfortable someone feels asking for their money back."

Repayment anxiety often doesn't end with the transaction; people stop replying to messages, put off asking, put off paying, and eventually stop making plans. "In the short term, avoidance can feel easier than having an uncomfortable conversation, but over time it can create additional stress, resentment, and strain on relationships," Williams said.

Payment apps absorb some of the discomfort. Bhanot thinks removing the face-to-face element is much of why they caught on: "That way you don't have to talk about money in person with a friend."

For the conversation people are already dreading, lead with the relationship, then the request. Williams recommends something like, "I had such a great time on our trip," before transitioning into, "I noticed I haven't received your portion yet." Explaining the stakes can help too, like that your own card payment is coming due.

She also suggests a step most people skip: thinking honestly about what a friend can afford before agreeing to front anything. "Sometimes people genuinely intend to repay but may have overcommitted financially to participate in the experience."

Bennett is trying a version of that. She and her friend are going to Australia next, and this time she told her friend to book her own flights.

It didn't hold. Her friend asked her to book the ticket and send a Venmo request instead. The round-trip fare was about $3,800, and only roughly $2,000 of it has come back so far. Bennett has also put down the deposit on a three-day liveaboard on the Great Barrier Reef, and there are still three domestic flights to book.

"I just keep thinking about all those points," she said, "to mentally get around how much I do not want to be fronting all this."

As I stood in Rajaportti Sauna, a public sauna in Tampere that has welcomed bathers for more than 120 years, I read the Declaration of Sauna Peace in English as part of Finland's National Sauna Day. Around me, people settled quietly onto wooden benches.

It was one of the first moments during my week in Finland that I realized I had misunderstood what a sauna really was.

Like many Americans, I arrived thinking a sauna was about heat.

The Finns gently showed me it was about something much larger.

"Sauna is simple," my guide in Finland told me. "It's good for your body, for your mental health, and it is about community."

Finland, a country of about 5.6 million people, has an estimated three million saunas. They can be found in apartment buildings, cabins, offices, hotels, and city neighborhoods.

In Tampere—officially recognized as the Sauna Capital of the World since 2018—there are more public saunas than anywhere else on Earth. There was even one in my hotel bathroom.

More Than Heat

The first surprise for many visitors is that Finns don't treat the sauna as a wellness trend or a luxury reserved for special occasions.

It is simply part of life.

Families gather after work. Friends meet to catch up. Neighbors share benches in public saunas. Some people visit several times each week, not because they're chasing the latest health trend, but because that's what they've always done. “Saturday Sauna” is a big part of the week. It seems everyone makes time for that.

The ritual itself is refreshingly uncomplicated.

Water is poured over hot stones to create löyly, the burst of steam that transforms the room. People step outside to cool off, plunge into a lake, sit quietly in the fresh air, then return to the warmth when they feel ready.

There are no timers or expectations for people to sauna the same way.

When I asked how long it was typical to stay in the sauna, I got some giggles from my guides. One said, “That is a very American question. We just listen to our bodies here.”

This ritual is done year round, and in the winter there are holes chipped into the icy Baltic sea to allow for a quick cold plunge.

Every Sauna Has Its Own Personality

While Americans often think of "the Finnish sauna" as if there were only one experience, every sauna I visited had its own personality.

At Rajaportti, Finland's oldest continuously operating public sauna, tradition takes center stage. The wood-fired sauna has been heated by hand for generations, and tending the fire is considered a craft passed down through experience.

The sauna heater, Alexander Lembke, laughed as he shared an old Finnish saying.

"If you haven't heated a sauna one hundred times, you haven't heated a sauna."

It's a reminder that something appearing simple often isn't.

At Sampasauna, a volunteer-run waterfront sauna in Helsinki, visitors gather on Blueberry Island in a more free-spirited atmosphere where clothing is optional, and strangers quickly become companions.

In other parts of Helsinki, modern waterfront saunas like Löyly combine modern settings, multiple saunas and cafes with centuries-old traditions.

Or the high end hotel Usva spa, where Sauna takes center stage even in an upscale spa. Birch whisking is performed here. An old tradition using bundles of birch leaves and branches, they are gently brushed or tapped against the skin during or after a sauna. The practice is believed to stimulate circulation, release the fresh scent of birch into the steam, and deepen the connection between the sauna and the surrounding forest.

The settings change but the experience is remarkably consistent.

A Tradition Rooted in History

Long before modern hospitals and indoor plumbing, the sauna was one of the cleanest places in a Finnish home.

• Babies were born there.
• The sick recovered there.
• Families prepared loved ones for burial there.

It became a place associated with life's most important moments, giving it a significance that extended far beyond bathing.

Today, most Finns aren't thinking about that history every time they step into a sauna. But they are still participating in it. Children still learn sauna traditions from their parents. Public saunas still bring neighbors together. Ancient rituals like birch whisking and pouring water over hot stones continue not because they're reenacted for visitors, but because they're still part of everyday life.

A Different Way of Measuring Wellness

Perhaps the greatest difference between Finnish and American sauna culture isn't the temperature. It's the purpose.

Americans often approach wellness as something to optimize. We count steps, monitor heart rates, and search for the newest routines promising better health. We want to know exactly how long we need to stay in for the maximum benefits.

And sauna does have benefits. It is known to lower blood pressure, help prevent dementia, and reduce stress.

But, the Finnish sauna offers a quieter philosophy. Health isn't found only in the heat.

• It's found in making time for friends.
• In sitting without distraction.
• In stepping away from work for an hour because community matters just as much as productivity.

That may be the sauna's greatest lesson. And something we could all use.

What Visitors Take Home

By the end of my week in Finland, I had visited historic public saunas, modern waterfront saunas, lakeside saunas, and community saunas.

The temperatures varied.

The settings varied.

The people certainly varied.

What remained constant was the feeling that the sauna wasn't simply somewhere Finns went.

It was one of the places where Finnish culture is still practiced every day.

Visitors arrive expecting to learn how Finns take a sauna, and many leave realizing the sauna is one of the best places to understand Finland itself.

Because in Finland, the sauna isn't just about getting warm.

It's about making time—for your body, your mind, your community, and traditions that have endured for centuries.

In the spirit of adventure, my two grown sons and I hopped on a plane with a loose itinerary and shiny optimism that everything would work out. And it did. We snagged last-minute Machu Picchu tickets and toured the 15th-century Inca citadel right alongside the more organized tourists. Here’s how we did it.

Cusco

First stop: Cusco. We flew straight through Lima to Cusco to spend a few days acclimating to the high elevation before heading to Machu Picchu.

Through dumb luck, we were in town for the Paucartambo Festival, held every year from July 15 to 19. I highly recommend visiting during this time. Whenever we stepped outside, there was a new parade filling the streets. The city was alive with costumes, music, dancing, and festivities.

While staying in Cusco, we joined several tours, all booked at the last minute:

• Andean horseback ride
• Cusco food tour
• Historical and cultural group hike
• Sacred Valley tour from Cusco to Ollantaytambo

We also dined like kings. It was a treat to order Pisco Sour cocktails, appetizers, steak Lomo Saltado, and dessert for three adults and have the bill be around $100. My eldest son said the cuy was delicious, but I skipped ordering guinea pig. It was served with the head.

Tip: A nurse at Passport Health recommended we take 600 mg of ibuprofen every eight hours to reduce the chance of getting altitude sickness. This worked well for us, but you should consult your doctor. We encountered others in Cusco who were struggling with the altitude. A woman on the horseback riding tour fainted.

Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu

After five days in Cusco, we took the PeruRail Vistadome through the Andean highlands to Aguas Calientes. I loved riding the iconic blue and gold train, and this experience came with snacks, drinks, and live music.

I didn’t book our return train to Cusco since I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to score in-person tickets to Machu Picchu on our first try. We planned to arrive on Friday and get tickets for Saturday, with Sunday as a backup. I reserved two nights at the Casa Andina hotel and hoped for the best.

How to buy last-minute tickets for Machu Picchu in person

Everyone needs a ticket to visit Machu Picchu, and tickets are tied to your name and ID. If you’re unable to get them online for the day you want, the Ministry of Culture office in Aguas Calientes sells up to 1,000 tickets for each day in person. The catch is, you can only buy these tickets one to two days in advance. 

E.g., if you arrive on Friday, you can buy tickets for Saturday. Once the Saturday tickets are gone, the office starts selling 1,000 tickets for Sunday.

How to buy last-minute Machu Picchu tickets:

• Decide which circuit you want to take. Your tickets will be for a specific route, and you can’t deviate from that route after entry. I chose Circuit 2, which is a moderate climb with panoramic views from above, followed by a descent into the ruins.
• Pick the timeframe you’d like to visit Machu Picchu, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Visit the online dashboard to track how many tickets are left for each route.
• Go straight to the Ministry of Culture when you arrive in Aguas Calientes. 
  • If you arrive between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., you’ll be given a number (one per passport) and a time to return after 3 p.m. to buy tickets. 
  • If you arrive between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m., ask which line to join. Some people might be waiting to buy tickets for a different day. 
• Bring everyone in your group when you come to buy tickets, along with their passports. Tickets are tied to IDs, and you can’t buy a ticket for someone who isn’t there. 
• Bring cash. They accept cards, but it’s smart to have a backup.

How it worked for us: I arrived before 3 p.m., showed three passports, and was given three pre-tickets to bring back at 5:45 p.m. At the appointed time, my two sons and I were ushered upstairs to five rows of chairs. One by one, pre-ticket numbers were called. When it was our turn, I was able to buy three tickets for the next day, for the circuit and time I wanted.

Tip: Consider how early you want to arrive in Aguas Calientes when arranging your transportation from Cusco. Some people line up at 5 a.m., before the Ministry of Culture opens at 6 a.m., to get pre-tickets and secure their spots in line for later in the day. Tickets are sold from 3 to 10 p.m. We talked to someone who walked up at 9 p.m. in July and was still able to buy a ticket for the next day, so it’s worth trying even if you arrive late in the evening.

How to buy shuttle bus tickets for Machu Picchu

Once you have tickets for Machu Picchu, you can determine whether you’d rather hike 45 minutes to the entrance or take the shuttle bus. We chose the comfy bus over a trek up the mountain.

How to take the Machu Picchu shuttle: 

• Make a reservation online for the day you want, or pay in person at the Consettur ticket office (use this address as there are some incorrect ones online). You’ll be asked to present your passport when buying tickets in person.
• Locate the bus sign with your entry time. You can get in line behind the sign two hours in advance (e.g., the 10 a.m. line starts at 8 a.m.).
• Board the bus up to one hour before your entry time (e.g., the 10 a.m. line moves to the buses at 9 a.m.).

Tip: Shuttle bus timing is important because if you don’t enter Machu Picchu within 45 minutes of your entry time, you forfeit your ticket.

Do you need a guide for Machu Picchu?

I can see the value of having a guide if you want help coordinating transportation and reservations. But once Machu Picchu tickets are sold out online, even local guides can’t help with advance tickets. You’ll have to show up in Aguas Calientes in person and hope for the best.

When you arrive at the entrance to Machu Picchu, plenty of people will approach you and offer their guide services. It’s up to you if you want to accept. We preferred to walk alone and explore at our own pace.

Back to Cusco by Rail (and Bus)

One thing I wish I’d done differently was to book my return travel to Cusco in advance. By not initially booking a round-trip rail ticket, I ended up with limited options for our return trip. There were no direct trains to Cusco with tickets available at the last minute, so I booked a PuruRail trip that included a transfer in Ollantaytambo to a “PeruRail bus.”

In actuality, the bus to Cusco was a small van (with no bathroom). If you find yourself in this situation, pack Dramamine. You might also consider spending a night in Ollantaytambo, rather than rushing through. It’s a lovely town.

Lima

After spending a week in the charming Cusco and Aguas Calientes, I found five days in Lima to be a bit more time than we needed. Nevertheless, we embarked on several more impromptu adventures and explored the city and beyond.

Lima highlights: 

• Visiting the cats in Kennedy Park — free
• Bike tour through Miraflores and Barranco — our knowledgeable local guide made it fun
• Day trip to sand boarding and dune buggy ride — long day, but worth it
• Magic water circuit and fountain show — we took a tour, but you could do this on your own

My verdict on winging it

Peru is absolutely doable with very little planning. It does add some stress not having all the details set before you fly, but I wouldn’t let the lack of a solid itinerary keep you from going.

If a visit to Machu Picchu is your top priority, you can be hardcore and get in line at the Ministry of Culture at 5 a.m. But if you’re open to spending a few days in Aguas Calientes, that takes some pressure off. There are cheap massages everywhere if you’re looking for a way to pass the time.

This article originally appeared on Wander Worthy: How To Visit Peru With Very Little Planning and Score Last-Minute Machu Picchu Tickets 1 https://wanderworthy.com/i-stopped-planning-my-own-vacation/ Wed, 15 Jul 26 06:43:48 -0400 Wed, 15 Jul 26 09:00:38 -0400 https://wanderworthy.com/i-stopped-planning-my-own-vacation/ A new survey of 2,000 U.S. women, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Discover Puerto Rico, found that 76% of group trips never actually happen. Just 24% make it out of the group chat and into real life. It takes an average of 83 messages and nearly 19 hours spread across 11 days just to get a trip to the finish line, if it gets there at all.

I know this cycle personally. I lead women's group trips for a living, and I've watched excitement turn into exhaustion more times than I can count. Somebody suggests a trip, everyone loves the idea, and then the logistics start. Dates get floated and shot down. Someone finds a flight deal that's gone by the time anyone responds. The fun drains out of it fast, and most of the time, the trip just quietly dies.

So when I booked a trip to Costa Rica with my daughter earlier this year, I did something I never do. I didn't research a single hotel myself. I called Delta Vacations, and I let someone else carry it.

Letting Go of the Reins

I am, by nature, a planner. I comb through every review, every itinerary option, every possible version of a trip before I book anything. It's part of why I do this for work. But this time, I was busy, and I wanted the trip to actually feel like a vacation before it even started.

The destination expert I worked with took the time to walk me through every piece of it: flights, transfers, hotels, excursions, and she didn't rush any of it. We talked through what my daughter and I actually wanted out of the trip, not just where we wanted to go. When my schedule got tight, she didn't push for more calls. She moved everything to email and kept it moving without ever making me feel like I was falling behind. I never once felt handled. I felt heard.

When the Expert Knows Better

I had looked at a specific hotel near Arenal Volcano. I'd seen the photos, liked the idea, and was ready to book it. Instead, she suggested Nayara Springs.

I hadn't asked for an alternative. She offered it anyway, because somewhere in our conversation she'd picked up on what I actually wanted: wildlife, a slower pace, somewhere that felt more like healing than sightseeing. I went with her suggestion, and Nayara Springs ended up being one of my favorite resorts I've ever stayed at, anywhere. That's the difference between someone booking a trip for you and someone actually paying attention.

Two Locations, One Trip

We started at the Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique in Guanacaste, where the private beach had monkeys moving through the trees, and the property had eleven pools scattered throughout. We were delighted with our suite, which had two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and a living area and kitchen. Off our private balcony was an infinity pool overlooking the resort, which was incredible, especially at sunset. The dining options were some of the best I've had on any trip.

From there, we took a private day trip into Palo Verde National Park, floating down the river to see crocodiles sunning themselves, monkeys in the canopy, and birds our guide pointed out one by one. We stopped at an indigenous community along the way and sat down for a pottery lesson, hands in the clay, learning a craft that's been passed down for generations in that part of the country.

Then we moved into the rainforest, to the Arenal volcano area and Nayara Springs, where thermal pools steamed up out of the jungle floor, and our villa had its own infinity pool looking straight into the trees. We saw sloths and monkeys on the property nearly every single day. My daughter, on her first trip outside the country, kept saying the same thing over and over. I could get used to this life. I understood exactly what she meant, and this time, I could actually enjoy myself because none of the stressful details were on my shoulders.

Why I'd Book This Way Again

None of this happened because I found the right combination of flight deals and hotel reviews at 11 p.m. after a long day of work. It happened because someone else did the research, asked the right questions, and knew Costa Rica well enough to steer me somewhere better than where I was originally headed.

That's the piece I think gets lost in all those group chats that never turn into trips. Women aren't bad at planning. We're just usually the only ones doing it, every single time, on top of everything else we're already carrying. Delta Vacations took that job off my plate entirely, from the flights down to the transfers, and what I got back was a trip I didn't have to survive planning first.

The support doesn't stop once you hang up the phone, either. A few weeks before departure, a know-before-you-go email arrives with the details you actually need on travel day, including transfers. Mid-trip, there's a check-in with an easy way to reach someone if anything comes up while you're gone. And once you're home, a post-trip thank-you email follows with a little inspiration for wherever you might want to go next.

There's also a quieter benefit that mattered to me as a SkyMiles Member: earning MQD status toward Medallion on the full package price, flights, hotel, transfers, and activities included, without doing anything extra to earn it. It's not why I'd book this way again. But it's a nice reason to.

This article originally appeared on Wander Worthy: I Stopped Planning My Own Vacation, and It Changed the Way I Travel 1 https://wanderworthy.com/travelers-are-trading-sightseeing-for-skillcations/ Mon, 29 Jun 26 07:10:44 -0400 Mon, 29 Jun 26 09:10:50 -0400 https://wanderworthy.com/travelers-are-trading-sightseeing-for-skillcations/ For generations, vacations have been about seeing famous landmarks, lounging on beaches, and collecting souvenirs.

But today’s travelers are looking for something more.

Across the country, hotels and resorts are embracing the growing trend of "skillcations" — trips built around learning a new skill rather than simply visiting a destination. Travelers can learn how to fly fish, arrange flowers, garden, surf, and much more. More people are seeking experiences that allow them to participate in a destination rather than simply observe it.

You can see why it’s popular. Photos capture a moment, but a skill can last a lifetime, and the experience you can have during a “skillcation” is one to remember.

In Burlington, Vermont, the locally owned Hotel Vermont created experiences around connecting visitors to the community. The hotel is known for its locally sourced furnishings, local artwork, and bath products made in Burlington, which allow guests a meaningful look at life in Vermont.

One of its most unique partnerships is with AO Glass, a working glassblowing studio in Burlington's South End Arts District.

Once in the studio, guests enter a world of roaring furnaces and burning hot molten glass. Rich and Hannah were the tutors for my son and me, and they helped us select colors and shape the glass into vases.

The process is as difficult as you might suppose. Glass must be reheated, rotated, and shaped before it cools. You watch the experienced glass blowers first, and it looks fairly easy, but you quickly learn that it is almost impossible for an amateur. But with lots of guidance and lots of patience, you will learn how to blow glass.

I love my crooked vase that is unlike a souvenir purchased in a gift shop; it carries the memory of the experience itself and a new appreciation for the skill of the glassblowers at AO glass.

About 90 minutes south, another Vermont property is building an entire vacation concept around learning.

In Woodstock, Vermont, the Woodstock Inn & Resort recently launched Passion Pursuits, a program designed to help guests discover new hobbies and interests through hands-on instruction. These Passion Pursuits include everything from gardening and birding, skiing and fly fishing, and even antiquing. The program was inspired by research suggesting hobbies can improve wellbeing, personal growth, and social connection.

"We've always encouraged our guests to engage with the people and places around our storied resort through activities and experiences. It's a big part of what makes time spent here so memorable," says Bruce Grosbety, president of Woodstock Inn & Resort.

“The Passion Pursuits program encompasses all of that in one place. What I love most is that it gives our team a chance to share what they're passionate about, too. We have people here who care deeply about what they do, and sharing that with a guest is the best part of our work. Those are the moments we hope people carry home with them. The joy of discovering something new about a place, or even about yourself."

One of the program's most popular activities is fly fishing.

Participants are outfitted with waders, rods, and flies before heading to local rivers with experienced guides. As a beginner, my learning curve was steep but still rewarding.

Although I left empty-handed, I gained an appreciation for the skill involved in reading a river, selecting a fly, and making a precise cast. As one instructor joked to me after a particularly challenging afternoon, I was far from the worst student" he had ever seen.

At Spectrum Resort Orlando, skill-building is all about food.

The resort's residential-style accommodations come with fully equipped kitchens that become the classroom during private chef experiences. Guests work alongside professional chefs or Mixologists to prepare delicious meals or drinks in their own kitchen.

Executive Chef Sean Marzan, who leads many of the experiences, says,” The goal is to create an environment where guests feel comfortable participating. Rather than sitting down to a prepared meal, visitors become part of the process, asking questions, experimenting with ingredients, and learning techniques they can recreate at home.”

During my recent experience, I learned how to make some delicious mocktails while discussing flavor combinations, homemade syrups, and creative garnishes. Marzan later shared recipes for drinks, including a Strawberry & Raspberry Kombucha Smash and a Strawberry-Vanilla Berry Fizz, along with tips for creating professional-quality alcohol-free beverages at home.

The atmosphere is intentionally relaxed and feels less like a class and more like spending an evening cooking with friends who happen to be professional chefs.

Along Maine's coast, travelers are finding another way to learn by doing.

At Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, an eco-luxury resort overlooking Crescent Beach, guests are encouraged to connect with the ocean nearby and to learn all about the birds of the region.

One of the most memorable excursions takes place aboard the Lucky Catch, a lobster boat operating from nearby Portland Harbor.

Instead of simply ordering lobster at a restaurant, guests head out onto Casco Bay to learn firsthand how Maine's lobster fishing works. I learned how to help haul traps, measure lobster sizes, prepare bait bags, and place rubber bands around their claws.

It was fun and educational for adults and kids.

For kids who want to learn a skill, they should head to San Diego.

Families staying at Loews Coronado Bay Resort outside of San Diego can tap into the skillcation trend through the new Loews Little Legends STEAM Explorers program.

Little Legends makes vacation an opportunity for learning about the coast and sea life with hands-on activities. Young travelers receive Discovery Kits filled with tools like binoculars, a compass, a magnifying glass, and an interactive activity book that help them on their way.

Kids can learn how to fly a kite on the shores of Coronado Bay and learn the science behind it, or they can go on a guided nature walk at one of California's state parks. Plus, they can complete a scavenger hunt at the resort.

For hotels and resorts, skillcations are a great way to create experiences that are both memorable and authentic. By partnering with local artists, chefs, guides, and experts, properties can showcase what makes their destinations unique while giving guests something tangible to take home.

For travelers, the appeal is equally clear.

A visitor might return from Burlington with a handmade glass vase, leave Vermont with a newfound appreciation for fly fishing, head home from Orlando with a collection of new recipes, or return from Maine understanding exactly what goes into bringing lobster from ocean to plate.

The souvenir is no longer the point.

The experience is.

And increasingly, travelers are discovering that learning something new may be the most valuable thing they bring home from vacation.

This article originally appeared on Wander Worthy: Travelers Are Trading Sightseeing for ‘Skillcations’ 1 aa045c18-0e2d-46f8-a286-02781bd8a71a Mon, 16 Feb 26 11:18:31 -0500 https://wanderworthy.com/gen-z-is-redefining-niche-travel-in-2026/ The face of tourism is about to change again in 2026, based on a wealth of new marketing and niche concepts relying on Internet characters for reach. Immersive, soul-satisfying experiences are now more than just a cottage industry. Travel influencers are promoting a whole new world of niche yet appealing tourism norms to their followers.

This year, while many travelers seek a tried-and-tested vacation in the comfort zone of familiarity, others want something more. This fast-moving wave of “intentional travel” comes from a Gen Z mindset, championed by TikTokers and Instagrammers for whom a paint-by-numbers itinerary won’t suffice.

The Vanguard of New Travel Ideas

At the forefront of this journeyers’ revolution is what Tripadvisor subsidiary and travel firm Bokun exposes as the latest trends. Bokun’s Senior Growth Marketing Manager, Samuel Jefferies, predicts four major travel market moves for 2026, namely:

• Thrift-tripping
• BookTok travel
• Astro-tourism
• Event-led travel

The art of “thrift-tripping” revolves around finding the latest deals in different countries’ flea markets, thrift stores, and neighborhood shopping zones. Travel operators can use local knowledge and research to promote thrift-driven tours in different cities and towns.

Feeling Thrifty

“Souvenirs are evolving, and for 2026, thrift tripping is emerging as a defining travel trend,” says Jefferies. This Gen Z-inspired movement comes from a desire for more sustainable fashion. What's more, UN Tourism puts “shopping tourism” central to much of the world’s economic development, which only makes this positive.

Younger generations are taking what has been a long-term favorite for retail lovers and serving a side dose of ethos. Weekends maxing out credit cards on 5th Avenue are now secondary to a generation looking for a more authentic dose of retail therapy.

A New Chapter in Travel

Literary fanatics are now queuing up for what Jefferies calls “BookTok Travel,” essentially, a book-inspired travel format. Moreover, travel writer Sarah Allard wrote about this in Conde Nast Traveler’s 2025 Travel Trends collection, so it is still going strong.

“BookTok—a category of TikTokers focused on literature content—is putting fresh momentum behind the ancient concept of book tourism,” she wrote. Put simply, if you love reading books, why not travel to where one of these takes place and relive it?

What’s more, it isn’t only TikTokers like Abby Parker of abbysbooks who are integral to this new trend. The Every Girl site writer Lauren Blue has a list of fiction-inspired travel destinations, many of which are in the United States. For example, her top choice is Asheville, North Carolina.

Bookworms Unite Across the Globe

It’s in Asheville where Nora and Charlie fall in love in Book Lovers, a tale beloved for author Emily Henry's captivating mountain town imagery. “Stroll through downtown, popping into local coffee shops and boutiques that channel that Book Lovers charm,” Blue writes.

Then again, you may prefer to join a group or have someone else plan your literary adventure for you. In this corner of the travel market is where companies like Explore! shine, offering tailored vacations for bookworms in many guises.

Explore!’s Four Corner Book Club gives customers the chance to peruse novel-inspired itineraries and tours to any part of the globe, even Antarctica. While it may be more for the more discerning tourist, the experiences on offer range from “Polar” to “Family Adventures.” Here, introverts and extroverts alike can share literary common ground on foreign soil.

Dark Skies and Bright Ideas

Another new trending category, named “astro-tourism,” is about as experiential as one can get. Put simply, this cohort of tourists lives by witnessing wild skyscapes and even flying up into them. There is a clear spectrum for this side of the travel world. At its more expensive end, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space tours hit the Earth’s mesosphere; at the other end, tourists enjoy dark-sky stargazing road trips in their own state.

Remarkably, there are now tours involving sensory extraterrestrial “cheating,” whereby tourists attempt to mimic other planetary environments. A study shared by Bokun’s Charlotte Gannon addresses this concept.

Back Down to Earth

Its researchers sought to find the world’s best places that can double as extraterrestrial doppelgangers. For instance, Gannon cites the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia as being Earth’s closest Venus-like landscape; the Atacama Desert in Chile can double as Martian terrain. These places are just a couple of the many “planetary dupes” on her list.

“Think hiking through sandy deserts, stargazing under crystal clear skies, or deep-sea diving to get a taste of low-gravity,” she writes. “These immersive experiences bring the feel of space travel within reach, and allow tour operators located in these celestial settings to tap into an exciting new market.” Such vacations can also be planned to coincide with astronomical calendar events, such as eclipses or meteor showers.

Whatever the Event

Of course, one of the most notable Gen-Z traits right now is the “you only live once” (YOLO) mindset. This ideal may be most present in the final category: event-based travel. While vacations remain for most people a chance to unwind and rest, many of us are incorporating our favorite sporting or musical heroes into the adventure.

Naturally, these escapes cost more than just a flight and hotel: sporting events, festivals, or concerts are renowned for their wallet-busting nature.

Yet, a recent Future Partners blog post reveals that 43.2% of Americans “actively seek travel experiences that support their physical, mental, or spiritual health.” Powered mostly by millennial and female travelers, event-based travel is a massive part of this new dawn of personalized journeying.

The Bold and the Beautiful

There is a very good reason why so many new trends are emerging: the age of the influencer as a marketing format is clearly here. Shivam Rawat of marketing watchdog Taggbox looked at which travel influencers to follow in 2026, forming a top-15 ranking. In his list of powerful travel influencers, the most striking thing is how good-looking they are. Incidentally, the top-two entities are fit, young, tanned couples.

One Instagram couple, named moments_of_yugen, could just as easily find themselves on the cover of health or glamor magazines as travel commercials. These perfectly marketable young people sell more than a location: they sell association, lifestyle, and a modern call to authority. Furthermore, they market a new way of reaching the YOLO generation, desperate not to relive the formulaic travel habits of their parents.

The year ahead will surely see new trends emerge, subsets of the current ones, splintered off into even more niche subcategories. Therefore, it is only a matter of time until the next influencer strikes gold, bringing yet another intentional travel trend with them. It remains to be seen what trends they will be perpetuating, but you can be assured that they will be new and dynamic.

The cold goes straight through your bones, your breath freezes in the air, and every step outside requires layers upon layers of clothing. But alongside the cold, there is something completely different: landscapes you won’t see anywhere else, absolute silence, and nature so powerful it simply stops you in your tracks.

We created our own itinerary and traveled independently without an organised group or guide. We built the entire route ourselves and booked everything in advance, knowing this wouldn’t be a cheap trip. Finland is expensive, especially in winter, but you can adjust your budget, combining luxury stays with simpler ones, choosing which experiences to splurge on and where to save.

We started the trip in Helsinki. A very orderly, clean and quiet European city. Everything runs like clockwork. The streets are wide, the buildings are beautiful, and the snow gives the city a very special atmosphere. We walked a lot despite the cold, ducked into local cafés to warm up, and joined a free walking tour that tells the story of Finland’s history and its relationship with Russia and Sweden.

One of our favorite places was the Old Market Hall, a small, cozy indoor food market full of local stalls. A hot salmon soup on a snowy day is exactly what you need to keep going for a few more hours outside. Even just sitting by the frozen Baltic Sea and watching the boats stuck in the ice felt like something you don’t see every day.

After a few days in the city, we flew north to Lapland. The moment you leave Helsinki, everything changes. Fewer cities, fewer people, and so much more nature. Endless forests, frozen lakes, and long roads that feel like they go on forever.

We arrived in the Saariselkä area, one of the best places in Finland to see the Northern Lights. There we stayed in special glass cabins with transparent roofs. The cabin itself is warm and comfortable, but the real magic is the ceiling, lying in bed and simply watching the sky.

No need to go outside, no cold. On our first night, we lay there for a long time just trying to absorb the fact that we were in the middle of a snowy forest, with no noise, no lights, just trees and sky.

During the day, we went out for winter activities. We did a reindeer sleigh ride, a slow and peaceful experience through snowy forests. Then we tried husky sledding, a completely different story.

Fast, full of adrenaline, and the dogs are absolutely bursting with energy as they race across the snow. We also went to a real Finnish sauna and then stepped outside into the cold, a strange combination, but strangely addictive.

In the evenings, we waited for the Northern Lights. They don’t appear every night, and it depends on the weather and cloud cover. Some nights are clear and promising, others show nothing at all. Then, one evening during dinner, we stepped outside and suddenly saw the sky glowing green.

At first, it looked like a faint haze, then it started moving, twisting, spreading across the sky. We stood there for a long time in the freezing cold, just looking up. It’s a feeling that’s hard to explain unless you’ve seen it yourself.

From the north, we continued to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. A small, charming town that feels very touristy, yet still keeps its local character. This is also where Santa Claus Village is located, with shops, decorations, and Christmas vibes all year round.

One of the most unforgettable experiences we had there was the icebreaker cruise. We traveled to the town of Kemi and boarded a massive icebreaker ship that literally plows through thick sea ice.

From the moment the engines roared and the ship started crushing the frozen layers beneath us, the thrill was immediate. You can feel the vibrations through your feet, hear the ice cracking and groaning, and see the endless white expanse stretching in every direction.

The ship stops in the middle of the icy sea, and passengers don special thermal survival suits to float in the freezing water, an experience that is as surreal as it is exhilarating.

You feel completely suspended between two extremes: the harshness of the arctic environment and the safety of the ship, all while being surrounded by a unique frozen landscape that is almost otherworldly.

Finland in winter isn’t for everyone. It’s cold, it’s expensive, and it requires a lot of planning. But for those looking for a truly different kind of trip , one that doesn’t resemble anything else , it’s an incredible destination. Unreal landscapes, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and a level of silence that’s hard to find in the modern world.

The age of the digital nomad is a Millennial and Gen Z phenomenon: an army of solo remote workers has already been dispersing across the world for some time.

Yet, it is now becoming common for entire families to uproot their lives for a new international dialing code. The world is adapting, with countries competing for talent, offering enticing conditions for doing so. 

Global shipping and logistics company Seven Seas Worldwide has released a report exploring this trend. It explains how a cohort of professional parents is taking the reins of what was hitherto a solo-inspired career choice. 

Digital nomad families are now an official demographic: citizens no longer tethered to the same exhausting lives they saw generations live before them.

Yet, they are not jumping in vans or boarding yachts to create YouTube channels with infants in tow. These are modern families looking to recreate some form of the American Dream, albeit on foreign soil. 

Why Nomadic Families Need More Than a Backpack

"Families quickly realise that nomadic living doesn't mean travelling light forever," writes travel expert Wayne Mills in a Seven Seas Worldwide press release. "School books, toys, sports gear, and personal comforts matter, especially for children."

The report identifies several key areas influencing what is causing this huge reverse digital brain drain: 

• Competitive digital nomad visa programs
• Flexible work schedules and lifestyle
• International or online education for children
• Immersion in new cultural experiences
• Easy access shipping and expatriate moving services

"Ultimately, the rise of nomad families shows that global mobility has matured," concludes Mills. "This isn't about escape; it's about designing a life that blends work, learning, and family anywhere in the world." 

Spanish Living for the Win

Of course, many other factors drive families to take children away from their base, potentially separating them from friends and family. Spanish periodical AS looked at this scenario from the perspective of an American family that has spent years traveling and working abroad. 

The couple in question tried a whole host of different regions, running an online business from wherever they resided. They and their 12-year-old daughter now embrace Spain as their homeland. 

"One of the biggest motivators for their move was the cost of essential services — especially healthcare," writes Jaime Esteban. "In Spain, they've found medical care to be dramatically more affordable."

Subsidized Healthcare and Work-Life Balance

The Spanish healthcare system is nationalised, meaning services and procedures cost a fraction of the inflated American prices. For illustration, the William Russell price comparison platform puts the average cost of a hip replacement in the United States at $40,000, compared to $6,800 in Spain.

What's more, their daughter can now look forward to a state-subsidized higher education without the terminal financial implications. 

"Combined with Spain's healthcare system, this allows the parents to save for retirement and offer their child a more secure future," adds Esteban.

Put simply, possibilities now out of sight for many families back home are now within their reach. Yet, many other countries are now on the map, ready for the new influx of digital workers.

Where Families Can Relocate in 2026

In mid-2025, Kihumi Group's Mila Devenport published a summary of the best countries parents can choose to wield their digital skillset. A blend of safety, affordability, and family-centered resources is found in the following places:

• Portugal
• Costa Rica
• Estonia
• New Zealand
• Thailand

What is clear is that the Iberian Peninsula is an attractive prospect in the modern '20s, with Portugal's list of benefits similar to Spain's. For instance, childcare costs are some of the lowest in Western Europe, while international and Montessori schools are plentiful.

Eastern Promises

Europe might prove irresistible for parents who wish to escape the fast-moving American grind. This lifestyle swap is also possible at the other end of the list in Thailand, which may be less alluring for some nomads due to its distance from North America.

Nevertheless, it makes for an affordable, safe, and culturally rich living destination for the right digital nomad family. 

Financial literacy website Global Wealth Protection's Bobby Casey shared some key information for Americans considering a move. His review of places currently offering the best digital nomad experience for families puts Thailand firmly in the mix. 

Perhaps the biggest draw in the Land of Smiles is the economic requirements to obtain the visa. According to Casey, Thailand's minimum monthly income needed is only $2,500 per month. It's only half of the United Arab Emirates' $5,000 monthly income stipulation, which is in itself reasonable for many. 

Avoiding Nomad Visa Gray Areas

Casey's picks for Asia include the UAE and the Philippines, both of which offer excellent international education for dependents. Benjamin Collins of Asia Lifestyle Magazine includes Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia in his guide. 

Each of these countries now offers legal residency for digital nomads with kids — or at least some kind of "workaround." Thailand finds itself on the checklist of these workaround-type visas. 

"Thailand's Long-Term Resident visa, Indonesia's B211A single-entry visit visa, and Vietnam's 90-day e-visa all fall here," he writes. "These require more creativity, carry some legal gray zones regarding remote work, or demand higher income thresholds."

Regardless, he insists they are still "battle-tested" for 2025 and will remain viable throughout 2026, at least. The tenuous nature of some visa situations means not all options are suited to some families.

The Digital Nomad Family Gold Standard

Nonetheless, his article rates Malaysia's "De Rantau Nomad Pass"as the gold standard for relocating digital nomads. What's more, the service includes spouses and dependents, and recipients only need to earn $24,000 per annum. 

Naturally, the digital nomad lifestyle comes with life's usual complications, and it isn't all plain sailing. For instance, not all digital nomad families can afford international school fees, and not all children can adapt to international education regardless.

Therefore, it may mean digital nomad couples must share homeschooling duties on top of working responsibilities. 

The Flip Side of the New Working Force

Moreover, not all locals are as welcoming of large foreign cohorts taking over their cities, pushing up property costs, and overextending the local infrastructure.

A recent Guardian opinion editorial from a "local" British Lisbon nomad, Alex Holder, asks just that question. He spoke to actual Portuguese locals about their experiences, with some Lisboans suffering digital nomad fatigue. 

"Foreigners will reach over my head in the supermarket, they'll have their head down on their phone, making no space for me as I walk down the street," says Lisbon resident Ines. "There is an arrogance to the way they move around the city."

An insightful piece on this subject comes from Emily Richardson-Dupuis of travel website Rough Maps. She exposes many digital nomad pet peeves, such as culture clashes, rent increases, and taxation envy. 

Adapting to One's Surroundings

For those remote workers giving serious thought to moving away from home, it might be worth consulting the Digital Nomad Nation's (DNN) online guide. There are several values underpinning the DNN mission, among which are being "warm and kind, diverse and open-minded, and giving and socially conscious." 

Being a digital nomad doesn't mean importing all your home nation's practices or expecting the host culture to include yours. Meanwhile, researching one's intended country should be a priority if you wish your stay to be successful.

In any event, it is a certainty that having children no longer means being excluded from the world's laptop-wielding labor force, which can only be a positive.

That version of wellness still exists and has its place. But a new kind of wellness trip is taking shape. One that doesn’t require travelers to leave the world behind in order to feel better in it. Some of the most restorative travel now is happening inside cities.

Cities like Vancouver are redefining what wellness looks like by weaving it into everyday life. Forested parks sit beside downtown towers. Thermal pools exist within walking distance of coffee shops and galleries. Indigenous-led experiences offer cultural grounding alongside spa treatments and scenic waterfront transit.

Vancouver fits naturally into this model because it never asks visitors to choose between nature and the city. Forest, water, and mountains are not day trips here. They are part of daily life.

A walk can take you from glass towers into shaded trails. A short ride can take you from a hotel lobby to a quiet stretch of shoreline. The city holds both without effort, and that changes how rest feels. It becomes something you move through, not something you have to reach.

That sense of ease carries indoors

At the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, the atmosphere is calm yet informal. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with wide windows that frame the city and the water, constantly bringing the outside in. Light moves across the space throughout the day. It feels like a place designed for people who intend to stay for a while.

The spa is where the pace softens further.

The experience begins not with a form, but with an invitation. Guests are asked to set an intention for their time there. It is a small ritual, but it immediately shifts the tone. This is not about checking boxes. It is about pausing.

After changing into a robe, guests wait in a quiet relaxation space with soft light and floor-to-ceiling windows. Clinicians arrive personally to escort each guest to their treatment. There is no sense of being processed or rushed along.

Treatments include a honey detox, which uses honey from the hotel’s own beehives to exfoliate and hydrate the skin, and customized massage work tailored to how your body actually feels. Recovery tools like Therabody jet boots and LED face masks are available for guests who want to rest quietly on their own.

One of the most memorable spaces is a zero-gravity chair used for vibro-acoustic sound therapy. Guests are tucked in under a blanket and an eye mask while sound waves and music create a deeply calming experience. It feels immersive and quiet in a way that is hard to find in daily life.

After treatments, guests return to the relaxation area to sip tea and look out over the city. Some sit in silence. Some read. Some simply watch the light change. No one is moved along.

Outside, the Aqua Lounge offers open-air space for yoga, hydrotherapy soaking, or quiet time on a chaise while the city stretches out below and the mountains sit in the distance. On the rooftop, herbs grow in raised beds and honeybees move between flowers. The ingredients used in the kitchens below are growing just a few steps away.

Food fits naturally into this rhythm

Meals at Victor and Honeysalt focus on seasonality and freshness without turning eating into a set of rules. You notice what you are eating because it tastes like something grown, not assembled.

Across the city, that same attention shows up in different ways. At Burdock and Co., the menu changes with the seasons and even the lunar cycle. The food reflects the time passing. It reflects where you are in the world.  You can taste the Pacific Northwest in every bite.

Wellness here is not limited to the physical

A guided walk with Talaysay Tours along Stanley Park's shoreline offers a deeper understanding of the waters that surround the city and the Indigenous communities that have lived in relationship with them for generations. The walk blends history, ecology, and storytelling. It slows the group down. It shifts perspective.

It is not restful in the traditional sense, but it is grounding. It creates a sense of belonging to a place rather than simply passing through it.

For deeper stillness, places like Circle Wellness on Granville Island offer ninety minutes of quiet inside the city. A cedar soaking tub. A salt room. A cold plunge. Warm stone therapy. A private pod with light filtering in from above.

You arrive carrying the noise of the day. You leave lighter. This is what wellness looks like in cities like Vancouver.

It is not about transformation or self-improvement. It is about creating spaces where people can settle into themselves again.

You do not have to leave your life to feel better here. You simply move through it a little differently. And sometimes, that is enough.

Providence’s education scene, Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, and Johnson and Wales College, makes it one of the most culturally rich small cities in the United States.

For travelers interested in art and food, Providence is an affordable city with as much to do as cities many times its size.

A Strong Foundation in the Arts

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) has helped to turn Providence into a city that embraces art. RISD consistently ranks among the top art and design schools in the world. 

The RISD Museum has more than 100,000 works of art, including collections of textiles, ancient artifacts, modern American painting, costumes, and contemporary installations. If you love art, you will love this museum.

Providence is also home to Brown University, whose arts programs, theater productions, and film festivals have helped create an excellent merging of the arts, allowing visitors to enjoy art in one form on either of the two campuses.

Public Art and Performances

Art in Providence is not limited to museums and schools. The city invests in  some amazing public-art projects, theater, and music.

• Annual events such as the PVDFest bring artists from around the state to display their art, street performances, and outdoor galleries.
• The award-winning Providence Riverwalk and pedestrian bridges have rotating art, including student displays.
• The Providence Performing Arts Center brings Broadway touring companies to downtown Providence.
• Nearby Trinity Rep Theater is a Tony award-winning theater offering plays and musicals throughout the year.

One of the city’s most recognizable art events is WaterFire, held multiple times a year between May and November. During WaterFire, more than 80 braziers are lit along the rivers downtown, accompanied by music and live performances. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and is considered a core part of Providence’s cultural identity.

You would be hard-pressed to visit Providence and not experience some type of art.

A Culinary Scene Large Cities Covet

Providence’s food reputation packs a punch much bigger than the size of the city. It is well known in the Northeast as the little city with excellent food.

Providence experienced a food renaissance in the late 1990s when large parts of the downtown were revitalized. The Italian food that was predominant in the city gave way to farm-to-table restaurants that celebrated the coastal bounty of Rhode Island. Since then, tourists have flocked to Providence to eat amazing food.

Part of the secret of Providence’s success in the food world is its connection to the Johnson & Wales University College of Culinary Arts, a local culinary school that is one of the best  in the country. Many chefs trained at Johnson & Wales stay in the area, making Providence a great city full of independently owned restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops.

Fine Dining and Award-Winning Restaurants

Providence consistently appears on national “best food cities” lists. Several of its restaurants have received James Beard Award recognition. Two of the best examples are:

• Oberlin was named one of the best new restaurants in America by Bon Appétit.
• Persimmon is a New American restaurant known for modern, technique-driven dishes.

The city’s fine-dining scene is all about seafood, and because of Rhode Island’s coastal location, you don’t have to go far to get the freshest of ingredients. Raw bars, oyster tastings, and seasonal seafood menus are widely available. Or you can go for more traditional fare in Federal Hill.

Federal Hill All Italian All The Time

Federal Hill is one of the oldest and most well-known Italian-American food neighborhoods in the Northeast. You will find Italian markets, bakeries, delis, and restaurants that date back to the late 19th century, when the area was packed with Italian immigrant families.

It's a major draw for visitors seeking a reliable, authentic food district. If you love Italian food, you will love the taste of Federal Hill.

Global Cuisine in Providence

Providence has more than just Seafood and Italian Restaurants.

As immigration has continued, the food scene has expanded, and for the better. You can go way beyond traditional Federal Hill Italian fare and Rhode Island Seafood without venturing out of the city at all.

The Broad Street Neighborhood is a great place to find restaurants serving Dominican, Cambodian, Guatemalan, and Middle Eastern Food.

There are also small restaurants near Brown and RISD that are fusion restaurants that bring the flavors from around the world to students. It is a great place to try something new.

A Walkable, Accessible Cultural Destination

Providence’s compact layout is one of its greatest advantages. Both the cultural experiences on offer and the amazing restaurants.

RISD Museum, WaterFire, Providence Performing Arts Center, and other theaters, galleries, and top restaurants sit within a one-mile radius.

It is a great weekend trip city, you can stay in an awesome downtown hotel like the Aloft (which is right across from the Providence River), visit the museum, see a musical, and eat well the entire time. All on foot, and without rushing all over a large city. Plus, you have time to enjoy the journey, stop at a local independent coffee shop and grab a drink, or go to one of a number of microbreweries and enjoy some local color.

A City That Creates Its Own Magic

Providence isn’t trying to be Brooklyn or Boston or Portland. It doesn’t need to. It has its own unhurried rhythm — thoughtful, slightly quirky, and decidedly artsy.

Here, culture isn’t an occasional treat, it's part of every day life, and waiting for you to come and visit.