Glacier Park’s Going-To-The-Sun Road: What To Know Before You Go

Everything about Going-to-the-Sun Road seems improbable to the point of absurdity. This spectacular 50-mile road through the Rocky Mountains of Glacier National Park in western Montana seemingly defies the laws of physics, all while offering visitors a spellbinding travel experience.

In 1921, just 11 years after Glacier National Park was inaugurated, construction began on Going-to-the-Sun Road, designed to be the sole road traversing the park’s east and west sides. It was an ambitious undertaking, and construction wasn’t completed until 1932. But the slow and steady approach produced spectacular results. When the work was completed, the road was hailed as an engineering marvel — and a progressive one at that. Going-to-the-Sun Road was the first-ever National Park Service project for the motoring public, who were slowly embracing the newfangled automobile. Remarkably, despite the perilous working conditions, only three workers died during construction (the deaths occurred during an unexpected avalanche).

While I can’t attest to what it was like to drive Going-to-the-Sun Road in the 1930s, I suspect it was every bit as thrilling then as it was for me this year. Climbing more than 6,000 feet, rounding hairpin turns, enjoying the soaring views — there’s nothing like it! You’ll want to set aside several hours to complete the drive and stop at every pull-out to soak in the scenery.

The National Park Service has declared it to be one of the most beautiful drives of all the National Park routes, and I can’t personally think of a more stunning road and exhilarating drive.

Anyone who pays for admission to Glacier National Park can drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, provided that it’s open. Heavy winter snowfall and regular maintenance mean that the road is generally closed between mid-October and mid-June.

Here are some things to know about the road before you go.

Glacier Park's Going-To-The-Sun Road. — Anh Luu / Shutterstock

You Can Design Your Own Experience

While the most popular option is to drive from one side of the road to the other, you could also drive from one side to the highest point (the 6,646-foot-high Logan Pass) before turning around and driving back down again.

Going-to-the-Sun Road is short on amenities (there are no places to stop for food or fuel once you begin the drive uphill, and bottled water is only available at Logan Pass), but it’s got plenty of great features to explore. Independent travelers will love hiking the Highline Trail, which begins at Logan Pass and includes a section of wildflowers known as the Garden Wall. Families can picnic at Big Bend (an amazing scenic spot and a rare area where the side of the road is a gentle, gradual slope and not a heart-pounding drop-off). Another great option is the appropriately named Lunch Creek, where the original highway construction workers paused for their lunches in the 1920s.

A red Jammer bus tour. — Glacier National Park Lodges

Don’t Miss The Red Bus Tour

While there are hundreds of different cars touring Going-to-the-Sun Road at any given time, no vehicle stands out like the brilliant red vintage buses driven by the “Jammers.” In Glacier National Park’s early days, the Jammers were responsible for jamming the manual gearbox into low to safely negotiate the steepest parts of the road. Today, the term refers to both the buses themselves — lovingly restored so that they run even more smoothly than they did when they were first delivered in the 1930s — and their drivers, who wear the name as a badge of honor.

Taking a red bus tour was every bit as exciting as I had hoped it would be. Our guide, Jammer Cass, was passionate about the history of Glacier National Park and the Jammer fleet and community. We stopped frequently so that we could “prairie-dog” — or look out the top of the open-air bus to get unobstructed pictures. We also had plenty of opportunities to get out of the bus and explore on foot. Best of all, the driving was in someone else’s capable hands, leaving everyone on board free to soak in the beautiful views (or, in my case, shrink back on occasion from the drop down the side of the mountain!).

Just how popular are the Jammer buses and their drivers? During my tour, I was stopped by another motorist, who told me that I never had to buy a lottery ticket — I had been given a lifetime’s worth of gloriously good luck just by being on a Jammer tour and getting beautiful weather for our September drive! Suffice it to say that this is one beloved activity.

You Can Appreciate The Area’s Rich Heritage With Glacier Sun Tours

Aside from the Jammers, there’s only one other tour provider that is permitted to operate on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Glacier Sun Tours also uses small buses, albeit much more modern ones. The company is owned and operated by Ed and Toni DesRosier, members of the Blackfeet and Assiniboine Sioux Tribes. Their program covers most of the same points of interest as the Jammer tour, and also incorporates the culture and history of the area’s indigenous people. I haven’t participated in this tour personally, but it’s also extremely popular.

Grizzly bears in Glacier National Park. — Glacier Sun Tours

There Are Plenty Of Animal Residents

Glacier National Park is famous for bears and, indeed, a grizzly bear was spotted while I made my way around Going-to-the-Sun Road. There was just one problem — I couldn’t see him! Other travelers spotted him at a distance, but my eyes weren’t sharp enough. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are also frequently seen, especially around Logan Pass. With a little luck, you might also see beavers, wolverines, elk, lynx, and pikas. There are even mountain lions in the park, though perhaps it’s best that you don’t see them too often! As always, remember to never, ever approach or feed any wild animal.

View from inside a Sun Tour bus. — Glacier Sun Tours

Tours Can Sell Out Well In Advance

Both tours sell out well in advance, especially tours on popular weekends during peak season. If taking a Jammer guided bus tour along Going-to-the-Sun Road is on your Glacier National Park bucket list, make your booking as soon as possible.

It’s not just your bus tour you need to book in advance. Glacier National Park’s historic lodges, as well as the hotels, lodges, and chalets in the park’s border towns, also book up well in advance. In particular, the gorgeous Many Glacier Hotel, considered by many to be the most beautiful in the park, sells out early.

Glacier National Park's Going-To-The-Sun Road. — tusharkoley / Shutterstock

It’s Important To Pack The Right Gear

Whether you’re hanging with the Jammers or traveling on your own, you’ll notice that Glacier National Park starts out cool and warms up over the course of the day. I started the day shivering under the thick warm blanket that Jammer Cass provided and ended it with a sunburned nose! Layers are the key to enjoying all parts of Glacier National Park, and especially Going-to-the-Sun Road. I’m very glad that I brought my wool stocking cap with me — and sad that I didn’t have extra sunscreen on hand.

Be sure to bring along a refillable water bottle, your own snacks, and bear spray — yes, bear spray! — if you’ll be hiking or exploring beyond the main road. There are several spots within Glacier National Park where you can buy bear spray or — even better — rent it. Renting is a practical, sustainable solution since, thankfully, the overwhelming majority of visitors never have cause to use it. And if you don’t want to miss seeing a grizzly bear as I did, consider a portable pair of binoculars if your eyesight isn’t perfect.

12 Totally Free Things To Do In New Orleans

When you’re headed down to the Big Easy, you might not be sure what you want to do during your visit. But with its plethora of restaurants, great shopping spots, local attractions, and natural wonders, you’ll never run out of things to do.

Even better, there are literally dozens of free New Orleans activities, attractions, and even food samples out there to make your vacation not only lots of fun, but incredibly frugal, too.

Here are some things to do in NOLA without spending a dime.

The Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. — lazyllama / Shutterstock

1. Tour The Saint Louis Cathedral

One of the most iconic and beautiful structures you’ll find in New Orleans is the Saint Louis Cathedral in the heart of the French Quarter. The church is the country’s oldest continuously used Catholic cathedral, so it’s loaded with history and interesting details.

You can slip in anytime between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to tour the interior for free. If you’ve got $1 to spend, you can pick up a self-guided tour brochure. Visitors can also attend Mass, which is offered daily at the cathedral.

2. Enjoy Some Amazing Live Music

New Orleans is home to some of the greatest live jazz and blues in the country. You’ll find musicians playing in the parks, on the streets, in the squares, and in restaurants and pubs around the city.

You can hear some of the best music free of charge by walking around the French Quarter at dusk or by heading to Jazz in the Park in the fall (September through November) and Wednesday at the Square in the spring (March through May). A free drum circle meets most Sundays on Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park, and Bon Operatit! offers a free opera concert each month.

Check out the Livewire Music Calendar to find other free music events in the Big Easy.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. — Peek Creative Collective / Shutterstock

3. Pay Your Respects At One Of The City’s Historic Cemeteries

New Orleans is known for its historic cemeteries, all of which are free to visit, though only a few are frequented by tourists. Some cemeteries do not allow you to wander alone, so be sure to book a walking tour for the Saint Louis Cemetery #1. At most others, you can take a casual stroll through, reading the gravestones and learning about the history of the city by searching for charred markers, epidemics (large numbers of graves with similar dates), and other events that helped to shape the city.

4. Take A Walking Tour Of The City

New Orleans is an incredibly interesting and very walkable city. A few groups take advantage of that and offer free walking tours to visitors in a variety of locations.

The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park offers a free hour-long ranger walk on New Orleans history. Entry to the park is also free. Spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, however, so aim to get to the visitor center in the French Quarter by 9 a.m. to get one of the 25 free tickets for the walk. The tour takes visitors along the levee across from Jackson Square.

Free Tours by Foot offers a wide range of free walking tours. Each tour is led by a local, licensed freelance tour guide. While the tours are free, it’s polite to give your guide a tip, if possible. The daily and weekly tours include classic French Quarter tours, cemetery and ghost tours, tours of the gorgeous Garden District, food and beverage tours, music tours, and tours of America’s first black neighborhood, Tremé.

A Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. — GTS Productions / Shutterstock

5. Watch A Parade

New Orleans is a great spot to catch a parade at any time of year. Of course, the biggest and most famous is Mardi Gras, but all of the city’s parades are free and loads of fun.

During Carnival season in Uptown, there are parades nearly every night. You could spend hours watching the floats and colorful costumes as they make their way through the streets. The parades have different themes each year — they’re chosen by the krewes, or parade hosts — and the participants toss various items to the revelers lining the streets. The members of the Krewe of Muses, an all-female krewe, throw shoes to the crowd, and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club tosses hand-painted coconuts.

6. Peruse The Offerings At The French Market

The French Market has been a New Orleans institution for more than two centuries now. It’s just as worth a visit now as it was when it started, and it’s still free to visit. Technically, of course, you could spend a fortune on trinkets and souvenirs, food, antiques, and other goodies and gifts, but browsing won’t cost you a dime.

The French Market once served as a trading post for the Native Americans of the area. The site is the oldest market in the country and probably the oldest man-made feature of NOLA. You can still see some of the old art, layouts, and divisions — retail in one section, flea market and restaurants in others — that reflect this rich history.

Pralines from New Orleans. — jamsedel / Shutterstock

7. Try Some Pralines

You’ve heard of beignets and gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish pie, but have you experienced the wonder of pralines in New Orleans? If not, grabbing some freebies should definitely be on your NOLA bucket list. Pralines are one of the traditional desserts of New Orleans. They’re sugary, they’re creamy, and they’re packed with pecans.

As you walk through the French Quarter and the other neighborhoods that feature boutique eateries, you’ll find loads of shops selling these delights. Most of these shops offer free samples of the delectable, gooey dessert. And while you can buy some as you make your way through the streets, we recommend just nibbling on samples — you’ll get plenty to satisfy even the strongest sweet tooth — and grabbing a package at the end of the day to bring home as a souvenir.

8. Visit The Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum

The Lower Ninth Ward Living Museum is probably one of the most unique museums you’ll ever visit. More than 60 of the residents have contributed generations of stories and experiences that are now presented in the museum’s exhibits.

You’ll learn about the residential area’s early days, when it served as a colony for escaped slaves in the 1700s. The museum also features fascinating exhibits on the Katrina and post-Katrina eras.

The entrance to Louis Armstrong Park. — Ruben Martinez Barricarte / Shutterstock

9. Stroll Through Louis Armstrong Park

New Orleans is a delightful melting pot of a town, and one of the best places to experience the rich and diverse culture of the city is Louis Armstrong Park.

The park is located in Tremé, an old neighborhood that Creoles, free people of color, and Caucasians alike called home. Long ago, the enslaved people of the area would gather in Congo Square on Sundays. They sold handmade goods, danced, played the drums, and sang. Many of those traditions carry on in the park today.

10. Wander The French Quarter

Wandering the French Quarter with no specific plan in mind is one of the absolute best things to do for free in New Orleans. You’ll find live music, interesting characters roaming around, beautiful architecture, and a certain thrilling electricity in the air.

Just keep two things in mind as you wander. First, while the French Quarter is absolutely amazing and deserves your time, the city has much more to offer, so be sure to explore other neighborhoods. And second, be careful not to stray too far from the Quarter without knowing where you’re going. There are a few neighborhoods nearby that aren’t the safest spots in town.

The French Quarter tops most visitors’ bucket lists, and for good reason. The best part about it, though? It’s 100 percent free to walk around and explore this beautiful neighborhood.

City Park in New Orleans. — AAlex81 / Shutterstock

11. Check Out City Park

You might think that Central Park is the biggest inner-city park in the country, but you’ll soon discover that City Park of New Orleans is actually significantly larger. It’s home to lakes, rivers, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, miles of walking trails, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and so much more.

The park itself is amazingly rich and green most of the year and makes for great walking and wandering. But throughout the year there are also loads of free events to participate in, so be sure to check the park’s event calendar before heading out for the day.

12. Sample Hot Sauces At The Pepper Palace

If you like a little spice with your adventure, pop into the Pepper Palace for some free hot sauce samples. Some of the sauces are mild enough that even kids can enjoy them, but the LD50, or the Lethal Dose — which is made from habanero, ghost, reaper, jolokia, and scorpion peppers — will set your taste buds on fire.

The shop offers literally hundreds of sauces to choose from, as well as some of the tangiest horseradish sauce you’ll ever try. Dribble a little on some tortilla samples, and you’ll have yourself a hearty, fiery little snack for free.

Headed to New Orleans? Check out these eight little-known attractions in the city. And if you want to hear some great jazz music while you’re there, be sure to stop by some of these venues.

Meet Australia’s Adorable Fairy Penguins

Just off the coast of Melbourne — the second-largest city in Australia — is Phillip Island. Here, the world’s smallest, and debatably cutest, penguins make their homes inside beach dunes.

Named for their small stature, fairy penguins (also known as little penguins) stand at just over one foot tall. On Phillip Island, conservation efforts allow travelers to view these tiny, incredible animals in the wild. And not just one or two, but hundreds of waddling, 12-inch-tall, furry-looking penguins all at one time!

Scenic Phillip Island in Australia. — Marcella Miriello / Shutterstock

The Fairy Penguins Of Phillip Island

Over 4,000 fairy penguins make the journey back to their burrows every evening at Phillip Island. However, it’s estimated that far more fairy penguins live in the waters around the island. At 32,000 penguins, this makes the colony at Phillip Island one of the largest in the world.

These flightless birds spend 80 percent of their lives swimming in cool waters searching for small fish like anchovies and squid. The other 20 percent of their time is used to come ashore to breed, molt, feed their young, and rest in their burrows after days — or even months — at sea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyVRl1owBXw

Having to run across an open beach where they are vulnerable to predators such as seahawks and gulls, they gather in groups called rafts just after sunset. Waddling ashore to their burrows, these groups have affectionately been dubbed the Penguin Parade.

Fortunately, visitors to Phillip Island are allowed to witness the Penguin Parade! Phillip Island Nature Parks is a conservation organization that was established in 1996 to protect the rich biodiversity of the island, including the fairy penguin population. The organization is dedicated to little penguin conservation, research, and educating visitors.

Penguin Information Calendar from penguins.org.au. — Penguins.org.au

When Is The Best Time To Visit?

The Penguin Parade can be seen year-round, however, the number of penguins that come ashore varies. More penguins can be seen during the summer, while in the winter, many stay out in the ocean to stockpile fish. This bodes well for visitors since temperatures in Victoria can get quite low in the winter.

For the most comfortable temperatures and best viewing of the Penguin Parade, visit during Australia’s summer months — December through February. Make sure to arrive at least an hour before penguin arrival time to walk through the educational center and get the best seats.

A group of penguins on Phillip Island. — Libor Fousek / Shutterstock

How To See The Penguin Parade

Phillip Island Nature Parks provides different options for viewing the Penguin Parade. The most common and budget-friendly option is the self-guided tour ($26.60 AUD) from the 180-degree General Viewing platform above Summerland Beach. The next step up affords you a spot on the Penguin Plus viewing platform, which provides ranger commentary and is limited to 300 people ($55 AUD).

If you want a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, book Phillip Island Nature Parks’ Ultimate Adventure Tour ($95 AUD). This experience removes all barriers — including platforms and glass windows. Instead, with a ranger and night vision goggles, you’ll sit on a quiet beach away from the crowds in a group that’s limited to 10 participants. This adult-only tour provides an intimate experience as wild fairy penguins march right past your feet to their burrows.

Phillip Island is connected to Mornington Peninsula via a bridge, so there’s no need to book ferry tickets to get there. However, there is no public transportation to the island, so a car is necessary for the 90-minute drive from Melbourne. If you don’t want to make the night drive back, consider booking a tour that will deliver you door to door!

Fairy penguins on Phillip Island. — Libor Fousek / Shutterstock

Are There Other Places To See Fairy Penguins?

Since fairy penguins like colder weather, they are found in various places south of Sydney on Australia’s East Coast, south of Perth on the West Coast, and along South Australia’s coastline. However, the largest populations of Fairy Penguins are found on Phillip Island.

Fairy penguins can also be found all along New Zealand’s coastline, where they are more commonly known as blue penguins because of the blueish tint of their feathers. The best places to visit fairy penguins in New Zealand are Oamaru, the Chatham Islands, and Banks Peninsula.

Headed down under or to New Zealand? Learn about the best beaches in New Zealand and how to visit the Great Barrier Reef.

Weekend Getaway To New Haven, Connecticut: The Best Things To Do

Only 75 miles from New York City and 125 miles from Boston, New Haven, Connecticut, is part old New England and part modern college town. Located on Long Island Sound, New Haven is a historic harbor town at heart, but it’s so much more than that.

If it’s history you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of it — the city was founded in 1638. If it’s culture, the city’s got lots of that, too, since it’s home to one of the world’s top universities. Whatever you’re interested in, Connecticut’s second-largest city is sure to deliver.

Here are the best ways to spend a weekend getaway in New Haven.

The historic Yale college campus. — f11photo / Shutterstock

Explore The Yale Campus

Consistently ranked one of the top five universities in the United States and one of the top 10 universities in the world, Yale University has an incredible history. Five of our country’s presidents attended Yale, either as undergraduates or as law students. Its alumni — from Meryl Streep and Paul Newman to Anderson Cooper and Chris Cuomo — have excelled in a variety of fields. The school’s graduates include 20 Nobel Laureates, 35 Pulitzer Prize-winners, and more.

If you enjoy exploring historic college campuses, it’s really hard to beat a walk around Yale’s campus. History oozes from every corner. The best place to start is the Old Campus, which is closest to downtown New Haven. This nearly enclosed campus dates to the founding of the university in 1701. From there, you can walk north to the other parts of campus, starting with the Cross Campus area, then moving on to Hillhouse, and finally reaching Science Hill.

If you have 90 minutes and want an in-depth campus tour, you can download the self-guided audio walking tour. This tour begins at the visitor center (149 Elm Street) and takes you through the entire campus.

Across the street from the visitor center is New Haven Green, the historic park at the center of New Haven. New Haven claims to be America’s first planned city, and this park was at the center of the original nine-block plan. From there you can explore the downtown area (all centered on the park) with its shops, theaters, and restaurants.

Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven. — Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

Enjoy Some Time At Lighthouse Point Park

At the entrance to New Haven Harbor sits Lighthouse Point Park, the site of the first lighthouse to guide ships into New Haven Harbor. That lighthouse, which was constructed in 1804 and which originally burned whale oil, was not visible to all ships coming from the east. A new lighthouse was constructed in 1847, and that lighthouse can be seen in the park today. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Next to the lighthouse is another piece of New England history: the Lighthouse Park Carousel, which dates to the 1920s and which visitors can still ride (for 50 cents). Located right next to the beach and to Long Island Sound, the carousel makes it is easy to picture the area as it looked on a summer evening in the 1920s.

During the summer, the beach at Lighthouse Point Park is a popular attraction. On a clear day, you can see Long Island across the sound, approximately 20 miles away. Because the beach is so popular, there is a park entrance fee for Lighthouse Point Park. Check the website before you go to see the current parking rates — they change from season to season.

Eating In New Haven

A college town like New Haven is certain to have a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. But the food scene in New Haven is dominated by one thing: pizza. New Haven is known as the pizza capital of the United States due to its long history of pizza parlors. There is even a New Haven-style pizza, sometimes called the apizza. It is a Neapolitan-style pizza with a thin crust and a chewy interior. So while there are many restaurants offering many types of meals, the one thing you absolutely must try when visiting New Haven is New Haven-style pizza.

Pizza from Frank Pepe's in New Haven. — Frank Pepe Pizzeria

Frank Pepe Pizzeria

And where better to try it than at the original?

Frank Pepe Pizzeria is the home of New Haven-style pizza. Its coal-fired ovens burn at a very high temperature, which gives its pizzas a special char on the crust. The restaurant is located in the Wooster Square area of New Haven, which is adjacent to downtown. If you’re there at the normal lunch or dinner hours, the wait can be long, so it’s best to try to visit during the off-hours. But if you have to wait, believe me: It’s worth it.

The most famous pizza at Frank Pepe’s is the white clam pizza. There’s no tomato sauce — it’s just fresh clams, garlic, olive oil, oregano, and grated pecorino Romano, and it’s a pie that pizza lovers across the Northeast will travel to Frank Pepe’s to try.

If you prefer a more traditional pizza, there’s always the original tomato pie with mozzarella. Add any topping you’d like, from sausage, bacon, and pepperoni to shrimp. The crust is the key. It is the defining characteristic of New Haven-style pizza and is the reason that people travel such long distances for another bite!

New Haven certainly isn’t all pizza. If you’re looking for a good brunch option on Saturday or Sunday, try Elm City Social in downtown New Haven. Located a block from the Yale campus, this small bistro provides many fine dishes.

If you prefer a traditional breakfast, try the biscuits and gravy with the unique Cheddar and scallion biscuits — or perhaps the shrimp and grits Benedict are more your style. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try the lobster doughnuts. Yes — lobster doughnuts.

There are also healthy lunch options available, including a salmon burger and a sesame quinoa bowl. And if you like a Bloody Mary with your brunch, try the Rosemary’s Bloody, a Bloody Mary that you stir with a piece of bacon.

Seaside dining at Shell And Bones. — Shell & Bones

Shell & Bones Oyster Bar And Grill

If you’re looking for waterfront dining, look no further than Shell & Bones Oyster Bay and Grill. Located on the end of a pier that extends out into New Haven Harbor, the steak and seafood restaurant offers fantastic views of the harbor and beyond. On a clear evening, you can see all the way out to the historic lighthouse on Lighthouse Point.

Shell & Bones is known for its raw bar. Oysters, scallops, shrimp ceviche, and littleneck clams on the half shell are all available. Or, since you’re eating directly over the water, you can just stick with the local seafood: Atlantic cod, crisp loin of tuna, and steamed lobster. If your group is feeling particularly bold, you can share the Tower of Shells — North Atlantic lobster, lump crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, ceviche, crudo, cocktail sauce, and mignonette.

But Shell & Bones is not just a seafood restaurant. The menu also includes prime rib eye, pan-roasted chicken, and a very unique cauliflower steak.

Shopping In New Haven

There are several shopping areas in New Haven. When you’re at Yale, start your shopping adventure at The Shops at Yale on Broadway. Just west of the campus at the intersection of Broadway and York, you’ll find a few clothing stores. Between these are two campus shops, including the university’s official bookstore. If you’re looking to buy a Yale sweatshirt, this is the place.

There are several chain stores in The Shops At Yale area as well, including Patagonia, Urban Outfitters, and FatFace. There is ample parking in this shopping district. Parking is usually pretty hard to come by on the Yale campus, but to the west of the campus is a boulevard with a large parking area in the middle.

Within walking distance of this area you’ll find several stores along Chapel Street, including a variety of clothing stores and gift shops. Bookstores, vintage shops, and craft stores also dot this walkable shopping district.

But the shopping in New Haven isn’t restricted to the campus area. If you’re looking for the mall experience, the Connecticut Post Mall is located just 10 miles south of downtown New Haven. If you’re looking for funky local shops, the Upper State Street shopping district, just a few minutes northeast of downtown, provides plenty of those. Be sure to stop by Decor Vintage Market, a quaint local shop offering upcycled furniture, decor, and gifts.

Whatever you’re looking for in a weekend getaway, New Haven provides it. The harbor, the college campus, the historic lighthouse — New Haven has it all. And the pizza. Don’t forget the pizza.

Swimming With Manta Rays In Hawaii: 8 Things To Know

The Big Island of Hawaii is a mystical, magical place. One of the excursions that took our visit absolutely over the top was an evening snorkel with giant manta rays. It was an incredible outing that we would do again in an instant. Here’s what you need to know to prepare for an underwater adventure with these amazing creatures. It’s an experience you’ll never forget!

Kona coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. — CrackerClips Stock Media / Shutterstock.com

1. Get A Great Tour Provider

As with most tours, choosing a well-reviewed and recommended provider is of the utmost importance. An evening open-ocean snorkel can be intimidating, and you’ll want to make sure you’re with an experienced, knowledgeable crew who knows where the mantas come to feed and can easily talk you through every step of the experience. We chose SeaQuest out of Kona, and they did not disappoint. They met us at Keauhou Bay and explained every step of the process that would unfold that evening.

They were patient, helped us get to the viewing raft, and took great care to answer all the questions we had. They also know these animals well and were just as excited as we were to see them emerge from the deep and circle below us. Our crew had hot chocolate and cookies waiting for us after the snorkel, which was a much-appreciated perk!

2. Choose Your Gear Carefully

On the dock, our SeaQuest crew gave us wetsuits as the evening ocean water can get a bit chilly. You’ll want to make sure they’re snug and not saggy so you don’t get weighed down out in the water. Once on board our boat, we were offered standard snorkel gear. However, we opted to bring our own full-face Tribord masks. I’m not a big fan of breathing through my mouth, and these masks make all the difference! They fit over your entire face, giving you a better underwater view and allowing you to breathe normally. We were able to really relax with these masks, which made our experience that much better.

Tourist enjoying the underwater view of a wild manta ray. — Melissa Burovac / Shutterstock.com

3. You Will Swim Quite A Bit

As the sun was going down, our boat took us out past the mouth of the bay to a spot where the mantas are known to feed at night. Once there, the crew deployed a raft outfitted with a spotlight that shone down into the water. The light attracts plankton, which the manta love to eat. We then had to swim out to the raft through some light ocean chop — about 20 yards. We used pool noodles as floatation devices for the swim and to keep us afloat during the snorkel. Once at the raft, we were instructed to grab its sides, keep our faces down in the water, and keep our bodies stretched out behind us. Then we watched and waited as the plankton swarmed below.

Stingray feeding off the coast of Kona Hawaii. — Jeff Stamer / Shuttertock.com

4. You Won’t Believe Your Eyes

After about 10 minutes, we saw an enormous shadowy figure approach. Its wingspan was easily 12 feet across. Suddenly, it was right under us, somersaulting through the water just below as it fed on the plankton. As this gentle giant swooped and flipped just inches from us, we watched in amazement as two more rays joined in the feed. These gorgeous creatures were so incredible — and so close. It was all we could do not to shriek with excitement as we saw the mantas approach. We were absolutely awestruck by their beauty and grace and couldn’t believe our great luck that we got to see three of them during our snorkel.

5. You’ll Need To Go With the Flow

Our guides were quick to point out that seeing three mantas right under the raft was a rare occurrence. Some evenings the mantas will be very social; other evenings, they might keep their distance. They might also keep you waiting a bit. We went in with the mindset that we’d be happy just to see a single manta ray.

Our crew was quite up to date with the manta sighting patterns in Keauhou Bay that week and knew the exact spot to stop for our excursion. These experts made the experience fun and easy, but it also helped that we had low expectations that were greatly exceeded by our fantastic encounter!

6. Do Not Touch

This is essential to keep in mind. These animals are a protected species, and for all their great size and strength, they are actually quite fragile. Our guides explained that a touch from us could expose the animals to bacteria or other pathogens that could make them sick. While they did come so close we were nudged twice, there is a strict hands-off policy. If at any time we were seen trying to touch the animals, we would have been immediately escorted back to the boat. So, keep your hands to yourself and let the mantas eat in peace!

Manta Ray swimming toward surface. — Melissa Burovac / Shutterstock.com

7. Don’t Panic!

Let’s be honest: It is kind of freaky to be in the open ocean after dark, peering down into the depths while you are waiting for enormous 1,000-pound creatures to come swimming at you — and under you. Don’t lose your cool. Keep your breathing in check while you’re waiting, be confident that you have a knowledgeable crew around you, and once the rays do show up, keep in mind that they are toothless. They use tiny plates in their mouths to strain plankton from the water. You are much more dangerous to them than they are to you.

8. To Document, Or Not To Document?

Many of us have a tendency to want to document our trip’s big moments with selfies, quick snaps, or videos. We decided that we wanted to be fully present for this experience and not worry about a tech disaster if we dropped a phone or underwater camera. Some tour operators will take their own photos of your experience and offer them at an extra cost. Consider this option to free yourself up fully for your snorkel.

Trust us, you won’t want to take your eyes off the mantas once they appear, and the last thing you’ll want to do is fumble for a camera!

Learn how to do Hawaii’s Big Island in one day or, if you’re captivated by manta rays, read about one traveler’s volunteer trip to Africa, where she helped further manta research off the coast of Mozambique.

How To See Ireland’s Eerie Dark Hedges Tunnel

You might recognize the Dark Hedges from Game of Thrones since the tunnel was used in season two of the show as the King’s Road.

Since then, the half-mile tunnel has established itself as a must-see detour during people’s travels through Northern Ireland.

Follow along below for everything you should know before you step foot in the tangle of winding beech trees that makes up the real-life Dark Hedges.

The Story Behind The Hedges

This road was once owned by James Stuart, who lived in the mansion beyond the hedges. In the late 18th century, he planted 150 beech trees on the road leading up to the mansion. His goal was to impress visitors as they arrived at the estate.

The tunnel is an interesting part of the Stuart family history, but as nature took its course, the tunnel became less about the mansion and more about the extraordinary beech trees.

Over time, the trees did something remarkable — as they grew upward, they also grew together. The trees we can see today aged to form an incredible archway almost insulated from the outside world.

The Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland. — Marco Calandra / Shutterstock

The Spirit Of The Hedges

The Grey Lady is said to be the resident ghost of the Dark Hedges. According to lore, she weaves through the trees before disappearing at the last beech tree on the lane. She prefers to glide from tree to tree at dusk.

It’s speculated she was a maid who perished under strange circumstances in a nearby mansion. Another theory proposes that she is a lost soul from a nearby graveyard. No matter her past, you might catch a glimpse of the Grey Lady during your time wandering down the lane. If you’re lucky, you might even capture a photo of her.

Tourists at the Dark Hedges. — Kevin George / Shutterstock

The Dark Hedges Today

The mansion at the end of the lane, Gracehill House, now operates as a golf course, a wedding venue, and a restaurant and bar. If you’re visiting the tunnel to experience a real-life Game of Thrones set, you’ll appreciate that Gracehill House also has a Game of Thrones-themed door carved from a fallen beech tree.

Visitors were once able to drive down the road, but after the trees began to deteriorate from graffiti and heavy traffic, cars were banned.

The road is only open for pedestrian traffic now, so plan on enjoying a leisurely stroll through the winding trees.

Approaching the Dark Hedges tunnel. — Johannes Rigg / Shutterstock

How To See The Tunnel For Yourself

The Dark Hedges is about 50 miles northwest of Belfast. The tunnel is between Armoy and Strancum, two small villages situated in Northern Ireland.

You can find the winding maze of beech trees near the Hedges Hotel, which is directly next to Gracehill House. To reach the road, park at the hotel; hedge-lined road is a short walk from there. You can also roam the hedges during a day or night tour with Dark Hedges Experience, located right by the hotel.

If you don’t plan to rent a car of your own, there are also day tours that will take you to the hedges from Belfast.

What To Know Ahead Of Time

The Dark Hedges is now a huge tourist attraction, so if you plan to visit on your own time, try to beat the crowds by going as early in the day as possible — or later in the evening. The hedges — while beautiful at any time of day — are most spectacular when the light is slipping away and the tunnel is eerily quiet.

Plus, the less crowded, the more photo opportunities!

Giant’s Causeway is another great stop on your journey through Ireland, and it’s less than 15 miles away from the Dark Hedges. You can also take a break from the crowds by visiting these off-the-beaten-path destinations in Ireland that are just waiting to be explored.