Street

Nature, History, and Storybook Villages Fill New York’s Hudson River Valley

America, History, North America, Travel

Ever since the pilgrims’ arrival in 1620 America has dreamed of expanding westward. A Promised Land existed beyond the Appalachians, across the fertile Ohio Valley and on the other side of the Great Plains. America’s Manifest Destiny was to turn a continent into a country. But America’s first frontier was the Hudson Valley. The Hudson River may run north to south, but in concert with the 19th-century Erie Canal, it became the highway to the West, providing a detour past the natural obstacles that hampered expansion. During its turbulent history, the Hudson River Valley has experienced war, inspired great works of art, witnessed treachery and powered the growth of one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Some say the Mississippi River is more famous, but you’ll find no more history-rich river (and few more worth visiting) than the Hudson. Read More

Wolf Fish

Up the Essequibo River Deep In Guyana’s Iwokrama Rainforest, a Wolf Fish is Waiting for You

Central & South America, Travel

The bifurcating channels of the Essequibo River that wind through Guyana’s Iwokrama rainforest are nature’s highways into the deepest, densest and most remote part of the jungle. Macushi Amerindian Mark Andries navigates this complex matrix of waterways searching for Hoplias aimara, more commonly referred to as the wolf fish. For Guyana’s indigenous people, the wolf fish is akin to caviar. For visiting anglers seeking Andries’ guidance, catching the ferocious freshwater predator is a bucket-list experience. Read More

Europe’s Overtourism Is Out of Control – Destinations are Fighting Back

Business, Europe, Travel

Europe leads the world in overtouristed destinations. Old Town Dubrovnik consistently ranks among the worst, with a 27:1 tourist-to-local-resident ratio during peak times. Others high on the list include Amsterdam, Venice, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Mallorca, Malta and some of the Greek islands, all struggling with a deluge of sightseers and day-trippers. Reasons include lower-cost airlines and cruise vacations, a surge in affordable rental properties on Airbnb and Vrbo, and the rise of “revenge travel” after the pandemic. Successful marketing measures have quickly outpaced existing tourism infrastructure, leaving planners far behind in managing crowds.
Destinations are fighting back with measures such as cruise ship taxes, entry fees for day-trippers, limiting hotel growth, and caps on property rentals.