8 of the World's Most Lavish Hotel Bathtubs

While some may overlook the hotel bathroom and head straight to the bed to get a glimpse into how well they will sleep at night, the bathroom is becoming a statement of style and serenity in itself. The thought of coming back to your room after a day of exploration and sinking into an oversize tub overflowing with scented bubbles? It likely doesn't get much better than that while on vacation. The ultraluxurious bathtub lends to incomparable views while bathing, and tubs are even planted in a peaceful, outdoor oasis. Take the outdoor soaking tub at the Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, which allows you to breathe in the lightly salted air, a mere stone’s throw away from the beach. Or how about the ancient oversize tub at the Il Salviatino hotel in Italy, made from stones that dates back thousands of years? Spanning the Baja desert in Mexico to the bustling city of Toronto, here are eight outstanding tubs that were designed to melt away your stresses.

Solaz (Los Cabos, Mexico)

The Mexican architectural firm Sordo Madaleno conceptualized and designed a bathroom in the resort (which opened in September 2018) to reflect the desert vegetation of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, the region where it's located. Materials used included quarry stone, granite, marble, and wood—a combination that results in a lavish tub overlooking the Sea of Cortez and offering glimpses of the white-sand beach. solazloscabos.com

Soneva Fushi (Maldives)

Soneva Fushi was designed by sustainable Soneva brand cofounder Eva Malmström Shivdasani, with every villa featuring an open-air bathroom with outdoor bathing areas surrounded by nature. At Soneva Fushi, you can bathe in a soaking tub next to a private outdoor waterfall with the sounds of fruit bats flying overhead and the skittering of tropical birds and colorful geckos. soneva.com

Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa (Cayman Islands)

The 4,700-square-foot Presidential Suite at the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa offers sweeping views of the award-winning Seven Mile Beach (the stretch of sand was recently named "The Caribbean's Best Beach" in Caribbean Travel and Life magazine). The designers Dayna Lee and Ted Berner made certain that guests could see the Caribbean Sea from every room, including the master bathroom, which featues a white onyx floating tub to relax in while watching the sunset. seafireresortandspa.com

The Ivy Hotel (Baltimore)

What was once a 19th-century mansion has since turned into an 18-room hotel. The Ivy Hotel is outfitted in Victoria & Albert freestanding slipper tubs made from what it terms "Englishcast." The finely ground volcanic limestone tub design is inspired by traditional freestanding slipper bathtubs, with a modern spin void of claw-feet on the bottom. You can relax with the tub’s extended backrest designed to fit a perfect angle of recline to support the head and shoulders, and then step out onto the heated French limestone floors. theivybaltimore.com

Four Seasons Hotel (Toronto)

Each room and suite at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto features a spacious bathroom with custom marble bathtubs designed by Canadian design firm Yabu Pushelberg. Crafted in a cotton color with soft rounded edges, the deep soaking tubs offer a place to relax while taking in views of the downtown landscape. fourseasons.com/toronto/

Il Salviatino (Florence, Italy)

From its origins as a humble farmhouse to a luxury Renaissance villa, Il Salviatino is set within the sloping hills of Fiesole. The property’s Affresco Suite, named after an 1886 ceiling fresco by Domenico Bruschi, houses a freestanding sarcophagus tub made of ancient Roman stone dating back to 200 A.D. You can open the doors connecting the bathroom and the suite to take in two oil canvases by Gabriel van der Leeuw known as Il Fiammingo as you bathe. salviatino.com

Andaz Mayakoba (Tulum, Mexico)

Architect and Costa Rica native Ronald Zürcher designed this beautiful property, drawing inspiration from the local trees, bedrock, and water. A few of Andaz Mayakoba’s suites feature soaking tubs, with the most notable one in the 4,575-square-foot bi-level Presidential Suite villa. The round soaking tub affords views of the beach and landscaped pathways through its sliding glass doors. hyatt.com/andaz-mayakoba

Copal Tree Lodge (Punta Gorda, Belize)

A luxury eco-accommodation, Copal Tree Lodge is located on a 3,000-acre sustainable farm in Punta Gorda, the southernmost part of Belize. If you’re staying in one of the resort's four Signature Canopy Suites perched above the jungle canopy, you can take in the landscape of the Maya Mountains from the soaking tub situated on the suite’s wraparound balcony. copaltreelodge.com

A Billionaire's Retreat: Inside This $45,000-A-Night Private Island

Yes, James Bond would be right at home here, stretched out on this uber-luxe private island  in the Maldives’ North Malé Atoll. The $45,000 per night Coco Privé resort offers local and international cuisine prepared by your own private chef;  outdoor movies on a theatre-sized screen against a starry night; and for the adventurous sort- all-inclusive jet-skiing, sailing, diving, and snorkeling alongside diverse marine life like manta rays, turtles, and sea urchins just steps away from the Coco Privé shore.

Yacht Transfer

A plush, private yacht transfers guests thirty-five minutes from Velana International Airport to the 1.4-hectar Kuda Hithi private island. The high end island resort is designed for exclusive guests- from A-list celebrities to dignitaries seeking privacy and solitude. Manicured greenery on island features beautiful Magoo, coconut palm, banana trees, and bougainvillea, which coupled with colorful wildlife like Cuckoo and kambili birds, makes the setting all the more surreal.

Main Residence

Palm, as the main residence is called, is primarily made of teak wood, which the team found to be durable against natural elements such as wind, water, and sand. The second floor of the main residence houses a spacious master bedroom, where an organic curved roof hovers above, arcing towards the sky and directing the viewers gaze toward the ocean and beyond.

Heron Villa

Villas for Guests

Since only twelve guests can stay on the island at any given time, there are five other villas (Starfish, Gecko, Manta, Heron, and Turtle) in which staff, friends, or family can reside. “Large glazed frontages bring the island scenery directly into living spaces and bedrooms of the villas,” says Singapore-based architect Guz Wilkinson. The Turtle villa can be converted into a spa setup where you can book a unique massage (there's one that even incorporates crushed seashells into the massage).

Two of the larger villas–Manta and Gecko-sit apart from the main cluster of buildings shrouded by thickets of greenery and offers private relaxation space. “The color scheme of the villas were kept as natural as possible with light fresh colors on the floor and natural wood cladding to most of the walls,” says Wilkinson.

Amenities

Spanning one-hundred and thirty feet, the Coco Privé pool is the longest in the Maldives. The island’s open air bar is surrounded by couches and stools planted in soft, manicured sand, and the transparent wine cellar has complimentary bottles on display like Moet, Louis Roederer champagne, and Niel Joubert Pinotage.

Outdoor Dining

Adjacent to the bar is a spacious business center, movie and game room stocked with a computer and a 55-inch Samsung television. Visitors can play chess inside the game room or choose partake in a game on a life-sized chess board in the sand, where the pawns are replaced by traditional Maldivian dhoni boats. For stretching muscles against a morning breeze, guests can book an Astanga yoga session with a yoga instructor, who arrives via speedboat from the sister property, Coco Bodu Hithi.

The 7 Most Spectacular Bridges in the World

Bridges can just seem like a means to an end—something you’ve got to schlep over to get to your destinationOpens a New Window.. And sure, some are engineered with nothing but utility in mind, providing safe passage for pedestrians and drivers over a long period of time. But some deserve the attention and respect as architectural marvels, demonstrating a flair for the dramatic.

Whether soaring a thousand feet above a river, curving around waterfalls,Opens a New Window. or comprising a base made of literal hundred-year-old tree roots, we’ve scoured the planet for some of the most eclectic bridges.

For these, aesthetics are just as important as safety and longevity.

Peace Bridge (Calgary, Alberta)

The Peace Bridge, designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrav, was unveiled to the public in March 2012. The 428-foot long pedestrian bridge stretches over the Bow River in Alberta, Canada. It’s illuminated at night, showcasing the intertwining steel-frame helixes. Some of the overhead spaces are fitted with glazed panels to keep rain and snow off the 6,000+ Calgarians who traverse it each day. 

Liberty Bridge (Greenville, South Carolina)

Liberty Bridge is located in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina, in the 32-acre Falls Park on the Reedy. The 345-foot-long pedestrian bridge snakes around a waterfall on the Reedy River, evoking Leaning-Tower-of-Pisa vibes. It was designed by Boston architect Miquel Rosales. The best part? One side is strictly supported by cables, giving an unobstructed view of the waterfalls.

Rakotzbrücke (Saxony, Germany)

Commissioned by a local knight in 1860, the Rakotzbrücke bridge in Germany’s Kromlauer Park carries a peculiar urban myth: It was built by the Devil. The bridge got its sinister name from the shape of its stones, which makes it precarious to cross. The curvature of the bridge was specifically built to create a circle when it is reflected in the waters beneath it. Although you can’t walk across this bridge any more, you take in the view from Kromlauer Park.

Living Roots Bridges (Meghalaya, India)

Thought to be the wettest place on earth, North India is home to the state of Meghalaya, which is ripe with tropical forests and heavy rainfall. In the Khasi Hills region, tree trunks are planted on opposing sides of overflowing gorges. Over the span of 15 to 30 years, locals will “slowly thread the Ficus elastica roots across a temporary bamboo scaffolding to connect the gap,” National Geographic

The bridges grow sturdier over time, connecting villages which would otherwise be isolated. One of the most famous is the Umshiang double-decker bridge, which is over 180 years old.

The Rolling Bridge (London, UK)

Much like an armadillo curls up in a ball to escape predators, the Heatherwick Studio’s Rolling Bridge rolls up to allow the passage of boats. Unveiled in 2004, the steel-and-timber footbridge spans a small inlet of the Grand Union Canal in West London. When a vessel needs to pass through, the hydraulic pistons activate so one end coils up to join the other, forming a circle.  

Golden Bridge (Da Nang, Vietnam)

The 490-foot-long, Golden Bridge is held up by two giant concrete hands that seemingly emerge from the greenery below. The bridge opened in July 2018 and was built by the Sun Group with the intention of making pedestrians feels as though they were taking a stroll on a shimmering thread stretching across the hands of gods. You can look out at Vietnam’s Ba Na Hills, as well as Danang City in the distance.

Royal Gorge Bridge (Canon City, Colorado)

Built in 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City, Colorado, is North America’s highest suspension bridge. Today, travelers can cross the 1,292 wooden planks that hang 956 feet above the Arkansas River below. The bridge originally cost $350,000 and was completed in just six months. Today, travelers can cross the bridge, ride the onsite poma gondolas, or enjoy onsite thrill rides.

Where to Run, Bike, and Get Active in Indianapolis

You may hear Indianapolis and think of the world’s most largest single day sporting event, the Indy 500, where over 300,000 people watch “Indy cars” zoom across the tracks at over 200 miles an hour. However, the country’s 16th largest city also offers a wide range of active adventures. Bike the city trails or strap up your laces to run the serene, man made canal, which is dotted with artwork and romantic benches. Or for those that like to "zen", unwind with yoga classes sprinkled around downtown Indy. Here’s why if the next time you find yourself in the Midwest, you must put Indianapolis at the top of your list.

Stay smack dab in the middle of downtown Indy at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. For gym buffs, this property is a treat: as you burn calories on one of the many ellipticals and treadmills in the 24 hour fitness center, take in the 360 degree views of the downtown cityscape from the floor to ceiling windows. If you were to take a left from the hotel and walk towards the Eiteljorg Museum of Native Americans and Western Indian Art, you could enter a three mile loop for a run along the peaceful canal. Artwork commissions; luxurious condos; and intimate benches flanked by fragrant florals encircle the entire pedestrian-only path. Afterwards, swim laps in the hotel pool, and massage soreness away in the spacious Jacuzzi.

Good Food

Garden Table’s brunch menu is all about pleasing the healthy and hearty diner: you can go as far as satisfying a carb fix with their blueberry pancakes and stuffed French toast packed with fruit of the day. Lighter options are also plentiful, like acai bowls, mixed green salads, and cold pressed juices with ingredients like beets, carrots, cilantro, and turmeric- combined into flavorful and energetic drinks.

The new restaurant in the Windsor Park neighborhood, Beholderopened this year to offer savory dishes like the Slow Roasted Ora King Salmon with sweet corn and sea beans; BBQ Octopus with baby scallions; and Two Whole Grilled Quail with habanero lapsang tea salsa-all meant to be shared.

Ex-WNBA player and Olympian, Tamika Catchings her and her sister grew up drinking tea. A year ago, she fulfilled her dream of opening a tea shop. At Tea(s) Me Café, you can order all types of tea, from black, green, to red teas. Timers delivered with your clear pots holding the loose tea will buzz when ready. Be sure to try some of their healthy lunch fare like the hummus and fruit or smart salad with soy bacon.

Get Active

Stretch your muscles and joints at the Tinker House Events, which has a biweekly Sunday yoga class held in a beautifully repurposed building created by husband and wife team, Nabeela Virjee and Brian Willsey. The previous use of the building- a mid-1900’s laundry facility for auto manufacturers- begs you to stroll the space before class and take in the relics like an old conveyor belt; love seat converted from a dryer tumbler; and light flooded windows and industrial fixtures.

For bike enthusiasts, book the Indianapolis Cultural Trail & Historic Neighborhoods Active Indy Tours, which covers 10 miles over the course of 3 hours with several stops, like the Kennedy King Memorial, which marks the location of Kennedy’s 1968 speech after MLK was assassinated. After snapping a photo under the outstretched hands of Robert F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr, bike with your guide to places like O'banan Park and the Indianapolis Public School 22, where they grow their own garden to supplement school lunches. The ride is quite relaxing (barely any hills or strenuous parts), and the route covers a portion of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail; a couple miles of the 35 mile long Monan Trail; as well as city streets lined with quaint, historic homes from the late 1800’s.

Wind Down

After a day of getting more steps in than anticipated, treat yourself to a massage at the Evan Todd Spa & Salon at the Conrad Indianapolis, like the calming, 70 minute Hot Stone Massage. Your therapist will ask you to choose from a range of oils (like “Intention” a mixture of lavender and lemon), and pick a scent that satisfies your mood that the moment. Before the treatment begins, while face down and inhaling the fragrance under your nose, the therapist will read its meaning, urging you to succumb to your senses.

Why You Should Visit Soneva Fushi for Luxury and Adventure in the Maldives

Located in the Maldives’ pristine Baa Atoll, Soneva Fushi, is a lush island a one hour seaplane flight away from Velana International Airport in the Maldivian capital of Malé. Soneva Fushi is one and a half miles long and extremely verdant – there are fruit bats dangling from the trees and flying over the canopy, seemingly to their own lazy circadian clock.

The resort is outfitted with fifty-seven private villas, each tucked away with their own stretch of beach hidden among dense foliage. You can swing lazily from your private hammock of the villa, and since the coral reef is shallow and only a few steps away from shore, you can jump right in with your battle gear of fins and snorkel. Take in a diverse marine life of schools of black and yellow striped sweetlips; butterfly fish; and bright blue Fusilier fish.

The outdoor shower is one of the coolest aspects of the accommodations: there is a private waterfall where water pours down from a carved stone wall. In order to get to the shower which is propped up securely to a pine tree, you walk over a series of smooth stones that massage your feet on the journey. Fruit bats, lazy geckos, and butterflies are some of the visitors to your shower experience, and it of course feels like you have stepped into your own private jungle.

Outside your door, there will be a complimentary bike with a basket attached that you can use for the duration of your stay. You can also always contact your Mr. Friday, who can escort you around the island in a golf cart or on foot if you choose.

On the western side of the island, the Bar(a) Bara restaurant is a casual dining spot set at the end of a jetty overlooking the reef. You can choose to sit in lounge chairs with umbrellas, or you can sit inside the cushioned net that hangs off the side over the water. From both vantage points, spot small sharks and trumpetfish hovering next to the stairs that lead into the water, where guests can walk down for after dining snorkeling.

You can book a private freediving course with the on-site freediving instructor, Ken Kirimaya, who happens to be the 16th best freediver in the world. He remains at Soneva Fushi for 6 months out of the year and trains people on how to enter a yogic state of mind: calmness and peace when performing a breath hold free dive (some of the world’s best freedivers can achieve depths of hundreds of feet). You will start off with meditation on yoga mats for the first 30 minutes on the beach, and then enter the water for the freediving tutorial, which will be a mix of the different freediving disciplines: constant weight; variable weight; free immersion; and static apnea.

One of the most awe-inspiring sights in the Maldives is the night sky; the minimal light pollution creates impressive sparkling landscapes. This year, Soneva Fushi became the first in the world to create a 3-D astronomy experience with the introduction of its new Meade LX600 telescope. After dinner at the Fresh in the Garden restaurant, you can walk over the adjacent swinging bridge to the planetarium. Some of the intriguing sites you may witness include a starfish cluster 6,000 light years away; Orion’s nebula where alpha stars continuously eat larger particles; and Betelgeuse, the alpha star in Orion’s belt.

On the western side of Soneva Fushi island, you can book scuba diving excursions at the Soleni Dive Centre. If you are PADI certified, the dive team can take you out on a small, but luxurious yacht with plush green seats, white painted walls, and wooden flooring. For example, the Miriyandhoo Tila dive site is known for its eagle rays, tuna, boxfish, and reef sharks, while another dive site, Muthafushi Tila opens up to marine life like mackerel, hawksbill turtles, butterfly fish, parrotfish, and bloated pufferfish.

7 Black-Owned Restaurants In Baltimore That Are Definitely Worth A Visit

For some, the thought of Baltimore reminds you of cracking open blue crabs over newspapers with grandma, visiting an Orioles game, or maybe flashbacks to classic scenes from The Wire. What you may not be aware of is that Baltimore is a Black-owned restaurant mecca. That’s right, there are over a dozen “us”- owned establishments with chef-forward menus and long-standing establishments that defeat the “here for a day, closed tomorrow” turnover of the restaurant world. However, there are also new hotspots like the seafood joint, The Urban Oyster and Ida B’s Table named after the Civil Rights champion. Terra Café, Land of Kush, and Next Phaze Café are mainstays that have been jumping off the restaurant scene in Baltimore for over seven years.

Here are some recommendations of Black-owned eateries for your next visit to Charm City:

Ida B’s Table
In August 2017, Chef David Thomas opened this soul food restaurant (shown above) less than 10 minutes away from the Inner Harbor in the name of legendary journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells. Located in a landmark building once used for candy making, there are still sweets to be had on the menu, such as Brown Sugar Pie, Mississippi Mud Pot Crème, and the Lemon Chess Hand Pie desserts. Of course there are also food staples like gumbo, fried catfish, and fried chicken.

Land of Kush
A reference to the Nile Valley civilization, this restaurant was opened 7 years ago by married duo, Greg Brown and Naijha White-Brown. The delicious culinary destination has local artist work on display inside the quaint eatery. “I wanted to bring a modern awareness to ancient African culture,” says Brown. His inspiration for opening the restaurant was his veganism. “I’m a vegan, and it was hard to find places to eat in Baltimore,” he says. Also, the Brown couple believes in educating the Black community on healthy eating practices. “It’s easier to talk to Black people about healthy eating than having someone outside of the community talk about it, says Brown. “The menu is very diverse and the descriptions would make a meat-eater do a double take. Take the crab cake made from seitan wheat (recently won best “seafood” dishes in America by PETA). The BBQ ribs -made from soy protein, winter squash, pepper, homemade BBQ sauce, and carrots-put us on the map, says White-Brown. However, other favorites include the chicken salad and the live kale.” The Land of Kush also serves fresh juices: the ginger juice is combination of boiled ginger, cinnamon, and spices, and is a strong liquid to the taste.

The Urban Oyster
If you’re a native Marylander, than chances are you grew up eating delicious seafood pulled from the Chesapeake Bay. You’re in luck, because the Urban Oyster is the first female, Black owned oyster bar in Baltimore. “Our inspiration to create the business was based on wanting to establish a relaxed environment for the ripped jean and t-shirt wearers while serving quality seafood,” says Jasmine Norton, Founder of The Urban Oyster. The “urban” aspect can be seen in the oysters chargrilled and flavored like “BBC” (bacon, bbq, cheddar, “cheese Louise” (mozzarella, parmesan, lemon-garlic butter and parsley garnish), and Teriyaki (Teriyaki sauce, crushed pineapple, scallions, and wonton crisps). “We wanted to make oysters more enticing to people who have never consumed or liked them, and use ingredients that most people like on burgers and fries however, dressing them on grilled oysters,” says Norton. The menu also includes lump crab cakes, smoked salmon burgers and oyster tacos.

Dovecote Café
In Baltimore’s Reservoir Hill neighborhood, this trendy cafe is decked in artfully decorated murals and modern décor. Owned by Aisha Pew and her wife, Cole, the cafe menu items include salmon hash; buttermilk pancakes; and chicken shrimp alfredo for brunch. “We believe in Black self-sufficiency, says Cole. “It’s our responsibility to promote businesses that whites aren’t masquerading as Black social capital. It’s a political statement.” The duo chose to open their business in Baltimore after living in California for several years. “We looked at 17 cities across the country from Detroit, Mobile, to Compton,” says Cole. “We were looking for cities that were currently in a fight against gentrification, and we believed Baltimore to be the last city on the eastern seaboard that is majority Black”.

Magdalena
Located in the Black-owned The Ivy Hotel, the menu here features main courses like Rockfish, duck breast, and lamb. “This is my first time working in fine dining; so I am fine tuning my skills, using exotic ingredients like scallops, sea urchins, fruits from different places, Wagu beef that I wasn’t previously exposed to,” says Chef Catina “Cat” Smith, a gregarious Black female line cook. The line cooks are also able to have autonomy on some of the courses. “On brunch day, we get to bring out shareable items that we can create ourselves like amuse bouche,” says Smith. Her dream is to have a teaching kitchen. “I would like to rent out my space for private events.”

Next Phaze Café
This five year old restaurant is a clever combination of three different buildings from the early 1900s. Three layers of paint were stripped away by owner, William Hudson to reveal the exposed brick underneath. Photographs of musicians like Duke Ellington and John Coltrane line the walls, and southern cuisine lovers will appreciate dishes like shrimp and grits, Next Phaze Café, and fried catfish. However, the cornbread is what they are best known for in the city. “We’re becoming part of the fabric. There are a few places in Baltimore known for their live jazz, and we’re trying to etch out a place for live jazz”, says Hudson. If you’re looking for a music venue, there is live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday, with every Wednesday being open mic jam sessions, and Thursday’s, karaoke.

Terra Cafe-
Opened in 2009, Chef Dickson’s Terra Cafe’ uses made from scratch ingredients cooked up on the premises. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Black-owned restaurant offers a diverse list of options for every type of palate. From the roasted veggie palate to the turkey burger, to the chicken and waffle and battered fish dish, you can chop it up over casual but artful dining at Terra Café. Chef Dickson’s venue is comprised of wooden floors and beautiful artwork on exposed brick walls located in the Charles Village neighborhood of north-central Baltimore.

Leg-Day Workout Habits You Should Never Skip

Your legs power you through your most active habits: walking, running, swimming, lifting and so many others. So it should come as little surprise that the legs have the biggest muscles in the body: gluteus maximus (the buttock muscles), quadriceps (thigh muscles) and hamstrings (back thigh muscles).

With all the activity, you may be tempted to think your legs are getting enough of a workout through everyday life. But it’s important to dedicate a day or two in your weekly workout regimen to focus on your lower body. So here’s your ultimate guide to leg day.

First, What Is Leg Day?

You may have seen your gym-addict friend posting about #legday on Instagram, but what does that actually entail? At the most basic level, it’s exactly what it sounds like — the day of the week you devote to working your leg muscles.

Though many beginners (and athletes of all fitness levels) benefit most from full-body workouts, many intermediate and advanced lifters opt to separate their workouts by muscle group so they can work those muscles to fatigue more easily and see results more quickly.

Now that you’re up to speed, here are the leg-day habits you should never skip:

1. Schedule Leg-Day Workouts Strategically

If you’re taking this body-part-split approach, you should try to devote equal time every week to each of your major muscle groups. You should also allow them sufficient time to recover after each workout. To accomplish this, it’s a good idea to develop a schedule that you stick to each week.

“When targeting muscles, I like to begin my week with a leg day and finish it with a leg day,” says personal trainer De Bolton. “I like to split my leg days up with upper-body days in between.” So a typical week may look like this:

• Monday: leg day

• Tuesday: upper-body workout

• Wednesday: conditioning or rest day

• Thursday: upper-body workout

• Friday: leg day

• Saturday: conditioning and cardio

• Sunday: rest day
  

If you plan on doing two leg-day workouts per week, it would be effective to split up your training even further: one day for glutes and hamstrings and another day for quads. That way you can have intense and heavy training for each day and get a full recovery before the next leg workout.

Another (more beginner-friendly) way to split up your training with just one leg day may look like this:

• Monday: leg day

• Tuesday: cardio

• Wednesday: upper-body workout

• Thursday: cardio

• Friday: full-body workout

• Saturday: rest day

• Sunday: rest day

“But make sure if you are lifting heavy that you don’t hit the same muscle group day after day,” Bolton says. “You can cause muscle fatigue or overtrain, which will cause other setbacks that will not help you reach your goal.”

2. Push Yourself on Leg Day

When it comes to leg day, lots of people take the “go big or go home” approach (hence all those post-leg-day memes). And while you need to be smart about how much you challenge yourself, doing an easy leg-day workout isn’t doing yourself any favors.

“As your work out week after week, it’s important to up the intensity on your strength-training sessions as your body adapts to the resistance so that you’ll continue to build muscle in your legs,” says Bolton.

If you don’t challenge your body, you won’t change, regardless how often you hit each muscle. You can do this either by increasing reps or sets, the speed of reps or the weight that you use to do the exercise.

3. Include the Best Leg Exercises

“With my personal-training clients as well as my athletes, I usually have them train the legs to some degree every day,” says personal trainer Travis Barrett. “I have them do variations of Olympic lifts, squats (bilateral and unilateral) and deadlifts (bilateral and unilateral) every training day.”

Some of the best exercises to include in these types of workouts include:

1. Vertical Jump

These jumps address speed and your ability to produce force with no external load and to do so quickly. These are typically used as our initial power exercise following a dynamic warmup.

HOW TO DO IT: Squat down halfway with your feet flat, and then jump as high as possible, landing on flat feet with the knees slightly bent to absorb some of the impact from each jump.

2. Hang Clean High Pull

This movement is a power exercise (in particular, speed and strength) that addresses your ability to produce large amounts of force in a very short amount of time.

HOW TO DO IT: Start with a loaded (unloaded if you’ve never done this move before) barbell in front of you, and then lift it up to hip height with back flat and knees slightly bent. Bend your knees and reach your hips back in order to load the hamstrings. Straighten up explosively as you use the force of the movement to raise the bar up the body to chest level. Elbows will be higher than wrists. Bend knees slightly to absorb the impact of the barbell on the way down.

3. Front Squat

This is a basic strength exercise that focuses on general leg strength. It also works your core, as it forces you to stay more upright as compared to a back squat.

HOW TO DO IT: Grab a barbell or set of dumbbells and hold across the cest. The bar should rest across the front deltoids with the triceps parallel to the floor. Keep your hands and wrists relaxed. Hinge your hips back into a squat, pause for one count, and then stand back up.

4. Glute Bridge

Addressing weak glutes helps alleviate pressure on your lower back. Typically, people with lower-back pain have a weak posterior chain (a group of muscles on the back of the body from the glutes to the calves), which ultimately results in an anterior tilted pelvis (your hip bones tilt forward) which leads to poor posture.

HOW TO DO IT: Lie on your back with your knees bent and pointing up to the ceiling. (Optional: Load the barbell across the front of the hips.) Lift your hips slowly until your body is in a straight line from shoulders to knees. Squeeze your glutes at the top, and then lower back down slowly and with control.

5. Body-Weight Lunge

This exercises stretches the hip flexors and addresses single-leg strength, which helps ensure that one side isn’t stronger than the other.

HOW TO DO IT: Start standing, and then step out a few feet with the lead foot flat. Bend both knees to 90-degree angles. Maintain even pressure between the ball of the rear foot and the the middle of the front foot. Step back to the starting position.

“To get the most out of your leg day, you should make a point of including squats and deadlifts in your workout. You don’t necessarily need to include both of them in the same workout, as long as you’re doing each of them regularly,” says Lindsey Mathews, head trainer for IdealFit.com. “These lifts work so many important muscles that you really sell yourself short when you don’t do them.”

Read more: How to Get Lean, Sexy Legs With 12 Moves

4. Switch Up the Style of Leg-Day Workouts

There are various ways to cause hypertrophy (increasing muscle size) — such as supersets (grouping two exercises together sequentially with little to no rest in between) and triple sets (three exercises executed sequentially with little no rest in between sets) because you can get a lot done in little time.

Circuits are also a great way to challenge yourself. You can either do a continual circuit where you’re moving from one exercise to the next without rest until the end or use supersets or triple sets, in which you group two or three exercises together with little rest in between exercise and a break between sets.

Not sure what to do for your next leg-day workout? Try this workout by Travis Barrett:

• Vertical jumps: five sets of three reps
  

• Hang clean high pull: three sets of three reps at 60-percent of your 1-rep max*
  

• Front squat: three sets of five reps at 75-percent of your 1-rep max
  

• Glute bridge: three sets of 20
  

• Body-weight lunge: three sets of 10 reps on each side
  

*One-rep max refers to the maximum amount of weight you can lift once.

Benefits of Leg-Day Workouts

So why should you go through all of this? Besides the general benefits of weightlifting — more lean muscle mass, decreased body fat and stronger bones — some of the largest muscle groups in your body are in your legs, which is why it’s important to never skip leg day, says Mathews.

“When you train these large muscles, it promotes the release of hormones that help build lean muscle mass,” she says. “This helps maximize your results for all the other muscle groups.”

But the muscles involved are not only legs — glutes, quads and hamstrings as mentioned above, plus the muscles in your calves — but other muscles groups as well. For example, during back squats, your glutes and hamstrings are worked, but also your upper-back muscles because you need to support a barbell.

“Having a strong lower body also helps with most other physical activities, such as running, biking and sports, and it can also help you to be less prone to injury,” says Matthews

The World’s Most Spectacular Underground Lodgings

Do you ever feel the need to turn off the devices and virtually hibernate inside a cave? Well, what if that cave is actually equipped with plush accommodations boasting modern amenities; exclusive interior designs; and natural, architectural bones that blend both the ancient and the new? Take the Desert Cave Hotel situated in Australia’s outback, for example, where you can dine and sleep luxuriously some several hundred feet below the hot earth. Or how about the Hotel Marhala in Tunisia, a structure that was dug up from a town once populated by the Berbers? Whether you're looking to cozy up in your very own cave near the Buffalo River Valley or soak up staggering views of crystal-clear waters in Greece, these seven impressive cave dwellings offer a place to be one with and surrounded by nature.

Kokopelli's Cave (Farmington, New Mexico)

Inside a man-made cave-dwelling 70 feet below in the vertical cliffs of Tertiary Ojo Alamo sandstone lies Kokopelli’s Cave Bed and Breakfast. Watch your step as you hike down a pathway cut into the sandstone to the underground dwelling. Emerging from a cliff face, the property overlooks the La Plata River, approximately 300 feet below, and offers relaxing views of New Mexico sunsets. You can also decompress inside the property’s Native American kiva, Jacuzzi tub, and waterfall shower. kokoscave.com

Santorini Boutique Cave Hotel (Santorini, Greece)

Perched a thousand feet above the Mediterranean on the rim of a volcanic caldera, the Santorini Boutique Cave Hotel is re-created from functioning homes and shops in one of Santorini’s typical white-cube villages, Imerovigli. The task of converting the village into a hotel was that of the architectural firm A&T Kontodimas, which restores classic public buildings throughout the Greek Isles. All 22 rooms and suites reflect the island’s unique style of white vaulted caves. Headboards are fashioned from the branches of native trees; cisterns the homeowners used to collect rainwater have become indoor grottolike pools; and the village baker’s stone oven takes on a new life as the fireplace in the Iconic Suite.

Hotel Marhala (Matmatat-Al-Qadimal, Tunisia)

Matmatat-Al-Qadimal, Tunisia, has remnants of a fourth-century underground town built by the Berbers, and visitors can channel the ancient energy with a stay at the underground Hotel Marhala, located in the center of Matmata. One can stay in circular, dome-shaped rooms, painted white. The troglodytic hotel features rooms that were all dug into the ground, providing naturally cool temperatures. Not only is the property a unique place to retreat after a night on the Tunisian town, it draws a plethora of Star Wars fans, being the setting for scenes from several of the films. hotelmarhala.tn

The Desert Cave Hotel (Coober Pedy, Australia)

Located deep in the red-dirt outback, Coober Pedy is often referred to as the “opal capital of the world.” Quiet, cool, dark, and airy, Coober Pedy is situated 260 feet below land. Due to the extremely high temperatures experienced in this otherworldly region, the majority of the residents live underground. Almost all the building materials had to be transported from Adelaide, some 528 miles south, while the local rock was gathered from the Moon Plain, 15 miles north, used for the feature stonework on the front of the buildings. desertcave.com.au/

Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita (Matera, Italy)

Located in an UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique cavelike homes, Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita was designed by architect David Chipperfield. The restoration works involved the most ancient part of the Sassi, the Civita, almost exclusively characterized by caves restored through a careful and conservative process. See the area’s nearby Churches of St. Nicholas of the Greeks and Madonna of the Virtues, and to unwind after a day of exploration, book a masseuse for an in-room treatment. legrottedellacivita.sextantio

Beckham Creek Cave Lodge (Parthenon, Arkansas)

Imagine sleeping within a bluff overlooking the picturesque Buffalo River Valley nested in a natural cavern in Arkansas’ Ozarks. The Beckham Creek Cave combines the architecture of natural formations with modern accommodations. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom cave-style home is set within a private 260-acre resort. If the nature-based settings weren’t enough, the lodge has a natural waterfall in the center of the main room. Wake up your adventurous side with local hiking, canoeing, fishing, helicopter rides, and horseback riding. beckhamcave.com/

Museum Hotel (Cappadocia, Turkey)

Equipped with the boutique flair of 30 rooms and suites, the Museum Hotel is a perfect retreat to take in those famous hot air balloons floating over the Cappadocian desert landscape. Not so much into heights? The Relais & Châteaux property offers panoramic views that you can see from your window of the major districts of the region: Avanos, Göreme, Love Valley, Pigeon Valley, Red Valley, and Mt. Erciyes. Walk the grounds and take in history—the houses in the area were populated for thousands of years by the Hittites, Persians, and early Christian Romans. museumhotel.com.tr

Why Old Saybrook, Connecticut Should be Your Next Weekend Road Trip from New York City

Located only an hour and a half from New York City, Old Saybrook, Connecticut is one of the New England state's oldest towns. It also happens to be the only town in Connecticut with a downtown along a waterfront. Being one of those New Yorkers with no car, my weekend trip started with renting a luxury Audi A4 from the Silvercar rental app. I picked up my silver sedan from the lot in Columbus Circle and jetted on my way on the Westside Highway. Upon my arrival at Old Saybrook an hour and a half later, I saw that the destination is a classic old town with old town charm. Unlike many old towns that are run down, almost abandoned, or dilapidated, Old Saybrook is a luxury small town shopping and wellness experience against a backdrop of pretty fields and manicured landscaping.

At the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa, it was a treat to reside along Connecticut’s waterfront and wake up to peaceful marina views with small boats swaying in the gentle breeze. The 82 spacious guest rooms range from standard rooms to luxury suites, with access to the substantial-sized pool; fitness center; Fresh Salt restaurant; and on-site spa. I also woke up to take early 8am yoga in the designated yoga studio. The icing on the cake was ordering charcuterie while having wine on my room’s outdoor balcony from one of the hotel’s cottages.

As I drove down the main shopping strip along Main Street, there were picturesque, old vintage signs that are intermittent like Saybrook Hardware Co., Old Colony Package Store, and Pittsburgh Paint. Stop in boutique shops and purchase candles and nick knacks at the Little Gift Shoppe or handcrafted Georgian mirrors and vintage Navajo paintings at Maximus Antiques Home Décor. At Esty's, vintage lampshades dominate the store run by second generation, Susan Esty, who has been refurbishing old lighting for 48 years. If you're wondering what kind of footwear is suitable for trekking the New England fall weather? I wore my leather Mohinders, which kept my feet both cushioned and stylish while walking around the several blocks of Main Street.

For those looking to get active or just happen to be training for a 10k or half marathon (like I was), from the Saybrook Inn, you can turn right from the hotel and run down the causeway where white, painted “Fishing” signs are demarcated in white letters on the concrete. Fishermen are out early with seagulls swooping overhead with morning catches in their talons. Run past “Important Ecological Area” signs protecting tall ferns and flowering plants over marshland. Run more miles past exclusive, quiet communities with private beaches like Fenwich and then through the neighborhoods of Old Saybrook where dog walkers and retirees get their steps in.

You can also learn to kayak or standup paddle board with Black Hall Outfitters. Along the Connecticut River, there is one of the most undeveloped inlets as far as industrialization on a major river. The waterway was beautifully preserved as a wildlife refuge because it is so shallow. When you are kayaking or standup paddle boarding, take in birds like osprey, falcon, sharp shinned hawks, as well as people fishing and crabbing on small boats.

Caffe Marche is one of the premier new, dining establishments in Old Saybrook. The décor features exposed brick ceilings in an original 1740 building that started as a tavern and became a pharmacy thereafter. The most famous owner was Anna James, whose father escaped slavery at 16. She went on to become the first African American female pharmacist in Connecticut, while her niece Anne Petry was the first African American woman to sell more than a million copies of a book. As you take in the history, sample the Marchigiani cuisine from the owner Paul's hometown, Marche, Italy like burrata and gnoccci using local ingredients from Connecticut.

5 Ways to Get Active on Providenciales, Turks & Caicos

A mesmerizing tropical landscape awaits you in Turks & Caicos: a mixture of emeralds, aquamarine, and deep blue waters that protect the reefs surrounding the island. The archipelago is made up of 40 islands, separated over 20 miles. Although the gateway island of Providenciales is flat, it does not take away from the beauty of the trees that shade the multitude of bays and beaches. Turks and Caicos bounced back very quickly following two consecutive category 5 hurricanes that hit the island in the fall of 2017, and here's why you should pay a visit this fall.

Accommodations

Planted right on Grace Bay Beach on the Western side of the island, Ocean Club Resorts West instantly makes you feel like you are in a cozy seaside cottage: elegant wicker chairs; white painted wooden beds; tropical paintings; and crisp white linens and drapes seduce you into an afternoon nap. Ocean Club Resorts West is comprised of all-suite units, from one to three bedrooms’ with full kitchens, and washer-dryers– a very ideal setting for families. Stepping out onto the inviting balcony, there are wooden racks for drying clothes under the light island breeze, as well as cleverly placed screens to protect from bugs.

Fitness fanatics can take advantage of the property’s range of sporting equipment and facilities, including complimentary bikes, paddleboards and kayaks, a fitness center, and tennis court where you can practice your swing.

A magical dinner under the stars is possible at Ocean Club Resorts West’s new al fresco restaurant, Solana, which has been appropriated some of the $6.5 million in upgrades the property has made over the past few years. Favorite menu items include the Duck and Truffle appetizer, which comes with an onion soubise and mango salsa; and the Seafood Bolognaise, a mixture of linguini pasta, scallops, shrimp, lobster, and fish in a tomato sauce.

Underwater Adventure

Embrace the diverse underwater world by achieving a scuba diving certification through the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI). Located conveniently next door to Ocean Club Resorts, the Club Med Turkoise resort offers a private diving course through the Seafari dive shop that requires a couple hours of instruction in the morning for three days.

New divers are able to get comfortable with their new equipment in the 12-foot deep Club Med pool, and then take a day to complete the ocean dive requirements of the PADI certification. If the conditions are right, the dive team may take you West Caicos’ “Piranha Cove” dive site. At 40 feet, some of the usual marine suspects at this dive site are Hawksbill turtles, black durgon, conch, and honeycomb cowfish. At another dive site, “Crocodile”, there are chances to encounter shy reef sharks; longjaw squirrelfish; stoplight parrotfish; and an imposing grouper.

Mammals

Jammin, Levi, and Squeek are some of the horses waiting for eager riders at the Provo Ponies ranch. You take a relaxing hour-long ride on the horses in the shallow waters off Caicos Banks in Long Bay Beach. Your guide will capture pictures of you straddling the horse as you manage to steer the gentle animal into the water.  More experienced riders can branch out and fast trot with their horse on the beach. The lapping waves will cool you and your horse down from the strong rays of the sun.

Cruising

Sun Charters offers a Bioluminescent Tour, which leaves from the Leeward Canal on the island. Chances are you will head out with the captain, Matthew at the helm, to find the nesting area of the glowworms, responsible for the brilliant, bioluminescent colors in the sea at sundown. Glowworms are one inch long and the females leave a green phosphorescent egg trail to attract the males to fertilize. The males swim through trails and grab females, and then they retreat under the sea and go dark. The luxe and comfy bean bags on the deck of the ship were made for watching the constellations as the boat rocks gently back and forth while you sip complimentary champagne.

The World’s Most Luxurious Castles You Can Sleep in

If the thought of rolling hills, regal interiors, and stately architecture excites you (honestly, who doesn't it excite?), consider your next vacation to include a stay in a luxurious castle hotel. Each beautifully manicured property has a story to tell—from the Castle of Ristonchi (which was once used as a fortress to defend Florence, Italy) to the British Cliveden House (a not-so-modest gift from a duke to his mistress in the 17th century). Yet not all of the castles on our list are from a distant epoch. Take the Kentucky Castle, for example, which was built in 1969 by a couple inspired from their recent trip to Europe. Whether surrounded by bucolic countryside in Ireland, the U.K., or Italy, sprawling vineyards in Portugal, or the dense forests of Colorado, one thing is for certain: The views will be sublime. Below are seven luxurious castle hotels AD recommends for your next trip. If nothing else, go for the opportunity to peer out of the windows into romantic, storybook settings.

Adare Manor (County Limerick, Ireland)

Located in the countryside village of Adare, Adare Manor is a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle hotel. Situated on 840 acres of land, each of the 104 guest rooms is decorated with 19th-century artwork and mahogany furniture. Take in the view from your room which overlooks the front manicured gardens, the River Maigue, or the championship Tom Fazio–designed golf course. For relaxation, head to the castle’s state-of-the-art La Mer spa, practice dance moves in the grand ballroom, or eat your fill at one of the castle’s four culinary destinations: the Oak Room, Drawing Room, Tack Room, or Carriage House. adaremanor.com

Landoll’s Mohican Castle (Loudonville, Ohio)

Located in Ashland County (roughly an hour northeast of Columbus), Landoll’s Mohican Castle is a site to be seen. Built in 2002, all of the castle’s hardwood floors, trim, cabinetry, and doors were milled from trees on the property, and the stone used on the castle was retrieved from piles cleared by some of the first settlers of the area. Stay in one of the castle’s 11 suites, and while there, exercise in the property’s indoor pool. landollsmohicancastle.com

Castle of Ristonchi (Tuscany, Italy)

Located next to rural farmhouses built in the 12th century, the Castle of Ristonchi was commissioned by Italy’s famous Medici family. Throughout the 14th century, the castle was a strategic point of defense within the Florentine territory. Today, however, guests let down their guards as they are treated to the marvelous accommodations within the castle. The royal banquet hall has high arched ceilings made of red brick and walls of stone, where you can still see the engravings of the stonemason’s symbols from when it was originally built. ristonchi.com

Cliveden House (Berkshire, U.K.)

Built in 1666 by the second Duke of Buckingham as a gift to his mistress, the Cliveden House is where Meghan Markle stayed the night before the royal wedding. The castle is sprawled across 376 acres of National Trust gardens on the banks of the River Thames. The Relais & Châteaux Italianate mansion allows guests to partake in soothing treatments at the Cliveden Spa, request a luxurious champagne teatime experience, and charter a vintage houseboat for a cruise down the Thames. Located some 30 miles from central London, the castle is a good option for those who want to get away from the bustle of the city, while not feeling too far from the action. clivedenhouse.co.uk

Pousada Castelo de Óbidos (Óbidos, Portugal)

The medieval castle of Óbidos was erected by D. João de Noronha in the early 16th century. Designed in the Manueline style (Portuguese late-Gothic aesthetics), this 16th-century palace was carefully recovered from the effects of the area’s 1755 earthquake. Today, each of the 17 rooms are each named after a king or queen, feature whitewashed walls, four-poster canopied beds, and Manueline touches like azulejo-tiled bathrooms and arrow-slit windows with views onto the surrounding windmills and vineyards. pousadas.pt/en

The Kentucky Castle (Versailles, Kentucky)

Set among farms and sprawling bourbon distilleries, the Kentucky Castle is a luxurious bed-and-breakfast. Built in 1969, this medieval-style structure is completely enclosed by a stone wall with 12-foot wooden doors and turrets on a 50-acre estate. The castle boasts 12 luxury rooms and four chalets with suites at the outermost corners. Each chalet is furnished with a kitchenette, whirlpool soaking tub, and a terrace overlooking acres of farmland. Get outside and engage in a game of tennis or basketball on the respective courts. Also visit the on-site billiard room, library, ballroom, and Castle Farms restaurant. thekentuckycastle.com

Glen Eyrie Castle (Colorado Springs, Colorado)

Nestled next to Garden of the Gods park, Glen Eyrie is home to over 800 acres of stately pines and whispering aspen, waterfalls, and majestic sandstone rock faces. Glen Eyrie’s rooms range from hotel-style standards to Premier Castle suites. Adventure seekers can book electric bike tours through the Garden of the Gods and Glen Eyrie or hike one of the 16 available trails on the property. The area is rife with wildlife too, and nature lovers have a chance to catch glimpses of wild bighorn sheep roaming the grounds. gleneyrie.org

The Most Epic Rail Trips Around the World

Skip the cramped quarters and crappy food that plague plane travel, and see the world by train. You can tour the likes of India, Vancouver, and  all while fine-dining in panoramic cars, enjoying a cocktail in plush seating, and rubbing elbows with colorful, excitable travelers without actually rubbing elbows.

Because half the beauty of a trip is getting there, believe it or not. All those looming mountains, bucolic fields, and translucent lakes you’d normally miss on a plane reveal themselves as you look on from a thundering locomotive. Here are nine of the best rail trips and tours you can take around the globe.

1.       Artic Explorer by Private Train (St. Petersburg to Moscow)

Some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes unfold during a train journey aboard the Golden Eagle (which has a dining car and sleeping cars) from St. Petersburg to Moscow on the Artic Explorer by Private Train itinerary. The Golden Eagle travels to the northern tip of the country, and if you’re lucky, you will spot the Northern Lights in Russia’s port city of Murmansk. There are also stops in Russia’s UNESCO sites of Vladimir and Suzdal, which have some of the oldest and most ornate churches in Russia.

2.       Best of New Zealand (Aukland to Christchurch)

While traveling from Aukland to Christchurch with the Best of New Zealand tour, you pause at several cities including Rotorua, Wellington, and Dundedin. Adventurous activities include a guided tour of the Waitomo Glow Worm Grotto and a 4WD minibus excursion through Skippers Canyon in Queenstown. Don’t miss the geological wonder, Punakaiki Pancake Rocks-where the sea bursts through several vertical blowholes at hide tide.

3.       First Passage to the West (Vancouver to Banff)

The Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Calgary passes through the Rocky Mountains, stops in the Kamloops, and ends at Banff. The panoramic bi-level domed coach whisks through semi-arid deserts, as well as mystical formations (like the witchcraft legendary Hoodo rocks); turquoise waters (like Kinbasket Lake) and the Black Canyon. Keep a watch out for black bears, moose, and deer as the landscapes saunters past from the Rocky Mountaineer’s open air cars.

4.       Grand Tour of Switzerland  

With the 4-day Swiss Travel Pass, you can choose from three Grand Tour of Switzerland itineraries. For example, the popular “Lucerne to Lucerne” hits Montreux, which has the country’s most famous 12th century medieval structure, the Chillon Castle. You can hike a nearby trail and look down on the castle from above. There is also a stop in Zermatt, which has a 10,000 foot viewing platform at Gornergrat (where you can see the snow-capped Matterhorn Mountain). The pass also highlights suggestions for places to visit in St Moritz and Lugano.

5.       Caspian Odyssey (Yerevan, Armenia to Almaty, Kazakhstan)

The Caspian Odyssey tour travels through central Asia-six countries on the shores of the Caspian Sea—Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan-aboard the Golden Eagle train. The trip will stop in the 2,500 year old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan; Tashkent, which houses the world’s oldest Koran, and Baku, with its imposing golden domes.

6.       UK by Rail (Edinburgh to London)

An itinerary that includes three major British cities does not disappoint: Edinburgh, York, and London are the three stops on the UK by Rail tour. Aboard Rail Europe, you explore a labyrinth of hidden streets from the Middle Ages, buried deep beneath the Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Also if you’re keen on the sport of golf, you’ll be able to get a firsthand look at where golf was created at St. Andrews in Scotland. Other intriguing stops include Castle Howard, one of England's most grandiose estates, and the impressive York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe.

7.       Former Yugoslavia Rail Adventure (Ljubljana to Pristina)

History and war buffs can tour seven countries by train on the Yugoslavia Rail Adventure, which include Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia- while riding through the Balkans. The trip includes the Bay of Kotor, a walking tour of Zagreb, sightseeing in the mountainous areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and sharing a meal with locals in Kosovo.

8.       India by Rail Photography Expedition (Delhi to Delhi)

On National Geographic’s India by Rail Photography Expedition, stops include cities like Jaipur, Chittaurgarh, Jodhpur, and Agra. Guests aboard the Palace on Wheels train have the opportunity to visit rural villages, the iconic Taj Mahal, snap exotic birds at a wildlife sanctuary, and try your hand at identifying astronomical tools at the 18th-century royal observatory- the Jantar Mantar. The 5th stop on the rail tour includes a morning game drive inside the Ranthambhore National Park. Some of the animals to spot there include tigers, hyenas, wild boar, spotted deer, and sambar.

9.       America Coast to Coast

A train tour from New York City to Los Angeles includes travel aboard Amtrak’s different branded trains, like the Acela, Southwest Chief, and Grand Canyon Railway. America Coast to Coast stops include Washington DC; Chicago; the Grand Canyon, and Los Angeles. Be sure to do the touristy things at each stop, like a visit to the Museum of Congress in D.C., take a double decker bus tour in Chicago, a trip to Universal Studios in Los Angeles.

How To Combat Heart Disease According to A Black Female Cardiologist

“That whole BMI thing is a lie; it doesn’t include us!” Sound familiar?

Dr. Khadijah Breathett, MD, MS, FACC a Black female advanced heart failure/transplant cardiologist can’t remember how many times her Black friends have lamented to her about the body mass index (BMI), which they attribute mainly to White standards of weight and body types. “At a community health event, a Black woman inquired, “Why are doctors always asking me about my weight and BMI the minute I walk into their office?” However, Dr. Breathett, who is Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, believes that Black women’s sizes have grown over the years, largely due to our lifestyles and eating habits. “I show my patients and community members maps of obesity over the decades, and we have been getting wider. Just look at photos of your great and great-great grandparents and their more slender physiques: we have been getting wider overtime.”

 

When it comes to heart disease, family history plays a big role: many of us know an aunt, grandparent, or close family friend that has succumbed to heart disease. From family cookouts to funerals— we like our fried chicken, mac n cheese, yams, and all that delicious southern food. “But by eating in an unhealthy manner, you add more fuel to the fire if heart disease runs in the family,” says Dr. Breathett. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in African-Americans, particularly African-American women and it is a preventable disease!”

Dr. Breathett refers to the American Heart Association for much of her research in her practice and looks to the “Simple 7,” which are known ways to reduce risk of developing cardiovascular disease. They include developing healthy nutrition, exercising regularly, stopping smoking, achieving target blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and healthy weight.

 

In Dr. Breathett’s world, healthy nutrition means: 6-8 daily servings of whole grain products (yes, give us strength to pass by that white Wonder Bread in the bread aisle). She recommends choosing grains that are brown, like wheat bread, brown rice, and multigrain pastas or bean pasta.

Also, be sure to stack your plate with 3-5 daily servings of vegetables of different colors. “I tell patients to prepare half of their plate with vegetables that are still recognizable after cooking,” smiles Breathett. That means choosing greens that are sautéed on a skillet, steamed, or raw to know that you are not cooking away all of your nutrients. She also recommends 4-5 daily servings of fruit, 3-6 daily ounces of lean meats (oily fish 2x per week), and 3-5 servings per week of unsalted nuts/legumes. “Stick to the outer perimeter of the grocery store, where the fresh produce is stored.”

As for dairy, Dr. Breathett advises her patients follow the American Heart Association’s recommended 2-3 daily servings of fat-free or low fat dairy products. “Since many African-American are lactose intolerant, it may be difficult to obtain calcium/vitamin D from dairy.” “You can get your calcium from cereals, some leafy greens vegetables like collard greens, spinach, and kale and vitamin D from oily fish, in addition to over-the-counter supplements. Yogurt is also sometimes tolerated a little better than other dairy” says Dr. Breathett.

“As a pescatarian, my favorite foods include mixed greens (kale/arugula/spinach) and legumes like black-eyed peas/chickpeas cooked in a skillet or slow cooker with carrots, onions, and bell peppers .” Also, Dr. Breathett enjoys quinoa in moderation since high fiber content can sometimes be hard on digestive tract for some. Salmon; bananas (inexpensive, great source of vitamins/fiber); oatmeal (her staple breakfast), oranges and apricots are also high on her list.

Instead of jumping on the Instagram bandwagon of the latest diet fad and ending up on a yo-yo diet where you discipline yourself for a period of time and then revert back to bad habits, slowly make changes to your lifestyle. “For example, use herbs to help season food rather than seasonings with salt or sodium,” says Dr. Breathett. “Make little tweaks overtime, like adding turkey meat to your ground beef, and then supplementing it overtime entirely. In the long run, your taste buds won’t miss or crave some of those unhealthy foods.”

The 7 Most Stunning, Gravity-Defying Cliffside Hotels

Sure, you could journey up a cliff, mountain, or hilltop for a blustery reward of sweeping, cinematic views. Or you could travel to cliffside hotels and stay in a boutique hotel, resort, or lodge perched several hundred (or thousand) feet above sea level for those same pinch-me vantage points 24/7—and then some.

 Enjoy fine-dining on a private balcony in France as the Mediterranean laps against the shore below. Swim in an infinity pool overlooking the glassy surface of a Swiss lake at sunset. Or venture outside the confines of your lodge to go zip-lining, or heli-hiking in Colorado’s Royal Gorge.

We’ve put together a list of the seven best hotels in the U.S. and abroad for luxurious amenities, serious adventure, and, of course, gorgeous scenery.

Cliff House, Maine

Cliff House Maine—Opens a New Window.part of Destination Hotels—is nestled atop Bald Head Cliff on the southern coast of Maine, stretching over 70 oceanfront acres. The rooms boast private balconies with sprawling views of the Atlantic Ocean from 200 feet above sea level. Take advantage of year-round activities, like golfing (the 18-hole course at Cape Neddick Country Club has a newly renovated outdoor driving range and putting greens), hiking, sea kayaking, paddle boarding, cross-country skiing, and helicopter tours of the neighboring lighthouses and coastlines. You can kick back and roast s’mores at one of the outdoor fire pits or relax inside the property’s unique Cliffside hot tub.

Casa Palopo, Guatemala

Casa PalopóOpens a New Window. overlooks three volcanoes that jut out across the Guatemalan Highlands— San Pedro, Atitlan, and Toliman. Naturally, the sunsets are next-level at this boutique hotel. Take boat tours to the indigenous villages that line the shore of Lake Atitlan, like San Juan La Laguna in San Marcos. Kayaks and standup paddleboards are provided free of charge and can be acquired from the hotel’s dock. It’s also possible to kayak to nearby towns like Santa Catarina Palopo and San Antonio Palopo. Or, you can go horseback riding along the quiet, quaint streets of San Pedro, passing local shops and homes, stopping at the base of San Pedro volcano to explore its surrounding coffee plantations and farms.

Bighorn Mountaintop Lodge, Colorado

For an epic guys’ getaway, rent out Bighorn Mountain Top LodgeOpens a New Window.. It’s a 3,000-square-foot hangout perched roughly 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River. Your group can spread out in the lodge’s three bedrooms, fireplace lounge, panoramic dining area, and secluded outdoor patio. The site comes with a completely stocked kitchen and an outdoor grill—but we do suggest venturing out for some adventure. Head over to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park to mosey across North America’s highest suspension bridge (956 feet above the Arkansas River). Or you can really ramp up your adrenaline and try your hand at whitewater raftingOpens a New Window., go on a helicopter tourOpens a New Window., go skydiving, take a half- or full-day Jeep tourOpens a New Window., go rock climbing, and/or pedal along single-track bicycling trailsOpens a New Window.. One thing that shouldn’t be missed: ziplining on the tandem CloudscraperOpens a New Window.. It’s America’s highest zipline.

Bürgenstock Hotel, Switzerland

Bürgenstock HotelOpens a New Window. (one of three luxury hotels that make up the resort) is nestled on a high ridge some 1,640 feet above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. The luxury accomodation has an on-site golf resort, three championship tennis courts, and four swimming pools. There are also two spas on the grounds: a 107,000-square-foot Alpine Spa and a medical spa in the sister space WaldhotelOpens a New Window.. The Spices Kitchen & TerraceOpens a New Window. restaurant is dramatically cantilevered over the lake with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. Head outdoors to explore the 43 miles of hiking and biking trails outside of the resort; you can arrange activities and excursions—like heli-skiing and heli-hiking—with B-OutdoorsOpens a New Window., the onsite sports activity and tour department.

Casa Angelina, Italy

Located in Praiano, Italy, Casa AngelinaOpens a New Window. is a quiet retreat from the busy nearby towns along the Amalfi Coast. The minimalist, stark white design of the hotel complements the azure water of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The owner, Antonino Cappiello, displays his private contemporary art collection in Casa Angelina’s lobby, transforming the space into a living art gallery. Perhaps best of all, guests have access to the hotel’s private boat for excursions to surrounding towns, like a romantic dinner on the water.

Chevre D'or, France

The area surrounding the village of Eze in southern France was first populated around 2,000 BC, and as you climb the narrow cobblestone roads and steep slopes of the French Riviera, you feel the richness of its history. Stay in the 5-star Chevre D’orOpens a New Window. (or Golden Goat); it’s located over 1,400 feet above the Mediterranean. Dine in the Michelin star restaurant La Chevre D’OrOpens a New Window., then stroll around the property’s exotic gardens filled with desert and Mediterranean plants, or visit the cliff-side Monaco Oceanographic Museum. It’s just a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

6 Stunning Outdoor Yoga Retreats Around the World

With the wellness craze that has taken off all around the world, it’s no wonder that yoga has become a new mainstay in fitness programs within luxury hotels and resorts. From the San Camp in Botswana to the Vista Celestial resort located near the whale-loving shores of Costa Rica, visitors can flow into downward dogs and do meditation on serene yoga pavilions at some of the most beautiful locations on the planet. And just think, these same destinations that boast sunny weather, exotic animal life, and tranquil waters beg to be explored by way of hiking, biking, kayaking, and diving. With that in mind, what better way to wind down from a day of adventure than with some yoga against a cool breeze? Below, explore AD’s top destinations for outdoor yoga pavilions—locals that promise to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul.

Fusion Resort Cam Ranh (Nha Trang, Vietnam)

An all spa-inclusive resort on Vietnam's south central coast, the Fusion Resort Cam Ranh has a serene outdoor yoga pavilion that overlooks a lotus pond. Complimentary yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation are offered inside the 170-square-foot pavilion. Remco de Hoog, Fusion's chief design officer, created the space with a galvanized steel box frame concealed within bamboo cladding, a traditional bamboo and palm-leaf roof. The floor has been crafted from Cho Chi, a strong and versatile timber cut from the Parashorea chinensis tree, an evergreen giant native to northern Vietnam and southern China. Which is all to say, this pavilion is as traditional to its surroundings as it is relaxing. fusionresorts.com

Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Krabi, Thailand)

Perched on the white sands of the Andaman Sea in Krabi, Thailand, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, has a pavilion called Sala Srichan. The architect, Mathar Bunnag, created the pavilion using wood by combining modern design with accents of traditional Thai style (including a peaked roof and gold flower inlays on the eaves). As if this space couldn't be more beautiful, Phulay Bay offers candlelight yoga activities at dusk. ritzcarlton.com

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa (San Diego, CA)

Surrounded by lush gardens, the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa has a new 1,000-square-foot partially open-air Serenity Yoga Pavilion, which features a floating dock for the instructor and evokes a Zenlike atmosphere. Todd-Avery Lenahan of TAL Studio designed the Yoga Pavilion to look directly to the resort’s creek preserve area surrounded by eucalyptus, Mexican palms, triangle palms, fruit trees, Senegal date palms, and oak trees. The tranquil space is equipped to host a range of fitness programs, such as Yoga Barre and Ballet Sculpt. ranchovalencia.com

San Camp (Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana)

Perched within Botswana's Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, San Camp offers game drives focused on desert-adapted species such as aardvark, gemsbok, springbok, the rare brown hyena, and gangs of habituated wild meerkats. For winding down, the camp has a yoga tent with a small pool attached. Spacious and airy, the white tent was made using sustainable teak from Zimbabwe. naturalselection.travel

Sansara Surf & Yoga Resort (Cambutal, Panama)

Planted in a small village inside a verdant jungle next to the Los Buzos Sea in Panama, Sansara Surf & Yoga Resort specializes in world-class yoga exercises. Co-owner Mike Phillips is a former stonemason and building contractor, and built the open-air yoga shala with a thatched roof rancho facing the Pacific Ocean. The entire wooden structure is all sourced locally, including the handcrafted wooden yoga blocks sourced from local artisans. sansararesort.com

Vista Celestial (Uvita, Costa Rica)

Located 2,000 feet up in the mountains of southern Costa Rica, Vista Celestial is in a largely untouched forested area. Guests are able to enjoy sunrise or sunset yoga sessions on the property’s Jungle Yoga Platform, which was built around a large tree (the space comfortably fits 20 yogis). The platform allows for regular monkey sightings and the occasional sloth visit. vistacelestial.com

In these islands off South Carolina, you’ll find Gullah food cooked the way it was 150 years ago

Thick bounties of Spanish moss hang from stately white oak trees blanketing the swampy St. Helena Island off the coast of South Carolina. St. Helena is one of the many islands that make up the Sea Islands in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida — an area from which Gullah people can trace their descendants back hundreds of years to West Africa.

40% of slaves coming into the mainland were shipped through the port of Charleston, and many of those slaves became known as the Gullah in South Carolina. Following the Civil War, black communities were established on the Sea Islands by freed slaves and the isolation of the islands helped preserve the West African culture of slaves’ descendants, keeping the arts, culture and cuisine strong for generations.

One of the ways that the Gullah culture is preserved is through Lowcountry cuisine. Lowcountry refers to a geographic area encompassing the South Carolina counties of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper, and West African, English, French, and Caribbean cuisines came together to create Lowcountry cuisine, based on rice and seafood found in this region. The isolation of the Sea Islands meant that the Gullah never depended on the U.S. government for provisions — everyone helped one another in an African traditional communal way. In fact, a bridge from Beaufort to St. Helena wasn’t built until 1927, so the Gullah people were dependent on living off of the fruits of the island: fish, crabs, shrimp, garden-grown vegetables and chicken.

St. Helena has one of the largest Gullah communities in the Lowcountry. One of the most lasting historic legacies of the Gullah is the 50-acre campus housing the Penn Center, which was one of the first schools for freed black slaves following Emancipation of slaves in 1862. The school offered both educational coursework and industrial subjects: there was instruction on how to milk cows, tend chickens and a canning class to teach students how to preserve home grown fruits and vegetables.

“I didn’t know what the word ‘Gullah’ was growing up,” Sallie Ann Robinson, a Gullah descendent, said. “In the ‘70s I started hearing it when boat tours started arriving on the island, and realized that we lived differently than many other people in the country,” she said. Robinson’s family lived off the land on another Sea Island, Daufuskie, which had no restaurants or stores. “We grew our own gardens for fresh vegetables, hunted in the woods, and fished for seafood,” she said. “Despite the residents not having much wealth, no one went hungry. We came together in times of need and made do with the little that we did have and shared food. “When I was an adult, people would come to the island and ask me, “Well what happens if you’re out of something and you needed supplies from the store?” Robinson said, “We are survivors and we only need what we can get from the earth.”

At Gullah Grub on St. Helena, located in a beautiful late 19th century general store-turned-restaurant, chef Bill Green can trace his Gullah ancestry to the 1700s to Edward Green, a free farmer. He is still cooking in the classic way that his ancestors did: dishes like okra (which came from Africa), Southern LoCountry Crab Soup and Gumbo shrimp are highlighted on his menu.

“Gullah cooking is about cooking by the seasons,” Green said. “We go with nature, which is easier for your body to handle. In the summer, the seasonal okra, beans, and tomatoes help to build up your strength and body for the fall, and we didn't eat pork and fat,” he said. “We’re coming into fall, so string beans, yams, and greens begin to come into season.”

Another restaurant, Momma Lou's, is on Lady’s Island (5 minutes from St. Helena island), is also focused on Gullah cooking traditions.“Gullah cooking is who I am, being raised in the Lowcountry it comes naturally,” chef and owner Stephanie Finn said. “I saw my grandmother cook food from my grandfather's field: fresh okra, collards, sweet potatoes, snap beans, and field peas. I never think of Lowcountry cooking as creating anything new, just passing down what I was taught.” She frequently has seafood like fried catfish, steamed crabs and shrimp ‘n’ grits on her menu.

Sherri Whitmire, who runs the Rent-a-Chef catering company out of St. Helena, said Lowcountry cuisine is comparable to farm-to-table food. “This concept is not new for the Gullah people of St. Helena Island or any of the other coastal Sea Islands: we ate what we grew and farm-raised,” she said. Some of the dishes that her catering company prepares today are stuffed collard greens, warm roasted sweet potato salad, speckled-butterbean succotash, chicken and sausage gumbo, shrimp gumbo, and smoked chicken and other meats on the grill.

Food traditions hold a place of importance even after death. As you make your way across St. Helena, you will see many names like Middleton and Green marked on headstones in small, unpretentious graveyards. According to Seretha Tuttle-Wynn, who runs Gullah-N-Geechie Mahn Tours, there is a centuries-old burial practices of leaving items like pottery and shells on loved ones’ graves. But there is also a tradition of breaking the last plate the deceased ate off of and placing it on the grave site, as a symbol of that person still living on.

7 Eco-Luxe Treehouses You Will Want to Stay In

If you grew up with the luxury of a backyard, then you were likely a kid who dreamed of having a treehouse that you could climb into and camp out in overnight. Yet, the reality is that even those with backyards were never afforded their childhood dream of building a treehouse. Nevertheless, no matter how old you are now, it’s not too late to satisfy your adventurous spirit. And that's because treehouses have been built around the world for visitors to enjoy staying in for an extended period of time. From the craggy shores of Jamaica at Tensing Pen to the treehouses only accessible via zip-line at the Gibbon Experience in Laos, eco-luxe tree-dwelling accommodations span many different continents. For some, staying in a treehouse is about the tranquility that comes from hearing the beautiful cacophony of the rainforest (such as the distinct calls of the howler monkeys in at the Nature Observatorio in Costa Rica); or maybe you prefer to pair upscale amenities with your high-flying stay, like a massage at Connecticut’s Winvian Farm’s sprawling spa. Below, AD surveys treehouses from around the globe—ones in which you can literally go out on a limb on during your next vacation.

Treehouse Suites (Chewton Glen, U.K.)

Within the New Forest National Park in Chewton Glen, the Treehouse Suites are suspended 35 feet above ground and offer room service with a curated dining experience, served in a picnic basket–style hamper—take the foraged jams and honey from the hotel grounds. While you eat, feel free to soak up the sunlight and canopy views by way of the suite’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The property is also well-stocked in amenities, which include a nine-hole par three golf course, croquet lawn, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a spa on the grounds. chewtonglen.com

Tensing Pen (Negril, Jamaica)

In a private cove in Jamaica, Tensing Pen offers four treehouses, called “The Pillars.” Each suite is made from hand-carved wood, thatch, bamboo, and stone, mounted high off the ground with views of Negril’s cliffs and turquoise waters. In addition to the treetop bungalows, there is open-air dining, a pool, ocean swimming, and cliff diving. Continental breakfast is served daily in the main dining house and includes local menus: tropical fruit, Blue Mountain coffee, cereals, toast, and local jams. tensingpen.com

Nature Observatorio (Manzanillo, Costa Rica)

Built for the adventurous traveler, you reach the Nature Observatorio treehouse following a guided hike through the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. Located 82 feet above the ground, the two-story treehouse accessible only by rope is equipped with hammocks, beanbags, an eco-toilet, and a glass shower. The eco-luxe property operates with rainwater and solar power, and the terrace views of the canopy give way to spotting wildlife like toucans, monkeys, and sloths. natureobservatorio.com

The Gibbon Experience (Bokeo, Laos)

The Bokeo Forest in Laos is home to some of the world’s highest treehouses, of which The Gibbon Experience has seven—all of which are accessed via zip-line. Guests trek through the forest and then climb and brave a zip-line in order to stay in a new treehouse each night. The architectural diversity of the treehouses can been seen in the type of tree they are made on: take the giant strangler fig that is suspended on rope wires and set on wooden consoles with Geodesic polyhedron laid in the fork. Hungry? Food is brought in via zip-line as you move to a new treehouse each night. gibbonexperience.org

Skamania Lodge (Stevenson, Washington)

Located 45 miles east of Portland, Oregon, and nestled in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Skamania Lodge is an all-season, 175-acre mountain resort. The property's 20-foot-high treehouses were designed by Seattle-based architecture firm MG2. They fashioned the treehouses with a rustic energy: take the fireplace for cozy nights, king bed, and a nook double bed with a curtain that can separate the two. Portland-based Ankrom Moisan included custom-made hand-tufted wool rugs, and beds and nooks with custom-made Pendleton blankets. The tile in the bathrooms is a dark stone reminiscent of lava, while oak wood floors extend behind the headboard of the beds. Take advantage of the on-site Waterleaf Spa, hiking trails, and the 18-hole Skamania Lodge Golf Course. destinationhotels.com

Inkaterra Canopy Treehouse (near Puerto Maldonado, Peru)

Located deep in the Peruvian Amazon, the Canopy Treehouse at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica is an eco-luxury lodge located in front of the Madre de Dios River adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve in Peru. Built on a private platform 85 feet high, you trek over the canopy walkway (a suspended bridge) and enter luxe accommodations equipped with two beds, windows with removable mosquito netting, and a drop-leaf table with wooden folding chairs. See Amazonian wildlife through the binoculars provided in-room and order food by way of a 24-hour canopy butler. inkaterra.com

Winvian Farm (Litchfield Hills, Connecticut) 

Set on 113 acres of forest just two hours north of New York City, Winivan Farm features the Treehouse Cottage, a two-story structure suspended 35 feet in the air, boasting two fireplaces, a bedroom, sitting area, and wet bar on the second floor. The Connecticut-based property has menu items that change almost daily and feature ingredients fresh from the three-acre farm on-site. Take advantage of the 5,000-square-foot spa; hike the adjacent 5,000-acre White Memorial Conservation; and canoe and kayak on nearby Bantam Lake. An onsite pool overlooking the gardens is open from spring through autumn. winvian.com

The Mom’s Guide to Washington, DC

Disastrous 2018 politics aside, when you drive along the sprawling, manicured lawns of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., you can’t help but feel a sense of awe. And D.C.'s history is just the beginning, since new developments — like The Wharf, which offers sweeping views of the Potomac — seem constant there. And for parents, the city’s 60-plus square miles have innumerable options for letting kids run around and burn off energy. From “spraygrounds” for cooling off on hot days to interactive plays and performances, parents and kids alike will discover new thrills throughout the nation’s capital.

Where to stay

InterContinental Washington, D.C. opened in the fall of 2017 on The Wharf, Washington, D.C.’s new $2.5 billion mixed-use waterfront community stretching over a mile along the Potomac River and home to shops, restaurants and events as well as the oldest continuously operating fish market in the U.S. It has 278 rooms with views of the Potomac River, spa-inspired bathrooms and sprawling public spaces designed after the flowing water of the Potomac. Give the kids an opportunity for pillow fights with conjoining rooms suitable for large families, like the Knot suite, which joins to a king deluxe room, offers plenty of common space and sleeps a family of about six. Making its debut this summer, the hotel will also offer a rooftop pool and rose garden.

Waterfront time

The Wharf waterfront development took 22 different architects to create its scenic skyline along the Potomac River. Take part in the many activities available in this 1-mile stretch, including the Recreation Pier, where you can rent kayaks, swing on the relaxing wooden swings that line the pier and enjoy an ice cream cone while watching your kids rock to and fro on the colorful plastic rocking horses. On hot days, you can suit up with the little ones and watch them run around in the “sprayground” water fountain. Conveniently located on the boardwalk is a free five-minute jitney (a boat taxi) to East Potomac Park. Take a break at the Watering Hole, where you can sip beer and wine on the edge of the marina while your kids enjoy the open-air setup.

Where to eat 

Kith/Kin, led by all-the-rave D.C. chef Kwame Onwuachi, offers kid-friendly selections like chicken fingers, fries and spaghetti upon request. A few steps away at the end of the block, you can order fresh steamed crabs at the oldest continually operating fish market (200 years old) at the District Wharf. Kids will have fun cracking the freshly steamed shells in the new outdoor public seating. 

After spending a bit of time in the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, have lunch at the Sweet Home Café — the family menu includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs and french fries. Parents can dine on the café’s delicious Southern food with sophisticated offerings from Gullah-style Hoppin' John (a traditional New Year’s Day lunch dish in the American South) and gulf shrimp and stone-ground grits. 

Also, Zaytinya, José Andrés’ light-filled Mediterranean restaurant, turns out puffs of hot pita and has loads of kid-friendly dips. Jaleo, another José Andrés restaurant, has two tables that are also foosball tables for people who want to play with their food. 

Another way to combine eating and games is to visit Comet Ping Pong, which has amazing pizza and unlimited ping-pong, or Pinstripes in Georgetown, which offers a side of boccie and bowling with Italian food favorites. 

Cool down with grown-up handmade ice cream, like Thai ice tea and kid favorites like cookies and cookie dough at Ice Cream Jubilee.

Visit the museums

To combine history and playtime, take the kids to the National Museum of Natural History, where Q?rius gives tweens and teens the opportunity to not only meet a scientist but use microscopes, handle some of the 6,000 objects in their collection, solve science puzzles and enjoy touch screen activities while parents tour some of the more sophisticated exhibits. While you're there, take advantage of the only indoor playground on the National Mall called Wegman’s Wonderplace, created for kids six and younger at the National Museum of American History. There, they can run around and touch wheels and boats, climb (and practice balance) on small stairs and peer through colorful windows. 

Then, there's the National Gallery of Art, which has a free kids activity guide with tips and interesting information, like how to travel the French countryside with en plein air ("in the open air") painters, and more interactive options, like a playful competition between you and your kids in drawing a renaissance self-portrait.

Explore music & culture

Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center has a free performance daily at 6 p.m., and it's always family-friendly with the rare exception of stand-up comedy once or twice a year. 

There are also kid-friendly performances at Atlas Arts Performing Arts Center, like the recent guest Mons Dansa from Barcelona, Spain, who's playful movement-based performance was perfect for ages 1 to 5 — a fun, interactive production that tells the story of two creatures who live inside a wastepaper basket. 

After you view the performance, hop on the free streetcar to take you to nearby H Street Northeast, where you can window browse for clothing or grab an ice cream from a food truck. 

At D.C.’s food markets, you can pick up fresh fish and produce and then pop in for one of Union Market or Eastern Market’s regularly storytelling sessions. 

8 Luxurious Hotels on the World’s Most Tranquil Lakes

In many ancient cultures around the world, water is considered to have both healing and transformational power. In places such as Switzerland and Ireland, hot springs have been used to treat diseases for centuries, while Chinese medicine practitioners believe water to be a balancing factor for creating harmony in the body. With all of these positive benefits of water, it makes perfect sense to surround oneself with a large body of water when trying to relax and recharge our batteries. So why not maximize the time spent near water by booking a hotel room planted on soothing lakes? Not only can you walk down from the hotel lobby and meditate on the shores of the water, but you can explore the marine environments through a variety of excursions. From paddleboarding around Outer Alster Lake in Germany’s the Fontenay, to joining a boat ride with a local from the Inle Heritage House in Myanmar, AD provides eight hotels where you can draw the healing powers of water on your next vacation.

Mirror Lake Inn (Lake Placid, New York)

Along the peaceful Lake Placid in New York’s dome-shaped Adirondacks Mountains, the Mirror Lake Inn is owned by the family of two-time Olympic skier and medalist Andrew Weibrecht. The accommodation’s furnishings are reminiscent of an elegant country home in the woods, with architecture incorporating handmade mahogany walls, authentic replicas of hand-carved Bavarian chandeliers, and genuine Adirondack artifacts. Take advantage of outdoor activities like fly-fishing and getting laps in at the outdoor pool. mirrorlakeinn.com

Bürgenstock Resort (Bürgenstock, Switzerland)

Set on a forested ridge 2,800 feet above Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, with views of the Rigi and Pilatus Mountains, the car-free Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne is spread over 148 acres. The new wellness alpine resort has an on-site golf resort, and you can also work on your back swing on one of the three championship tennis courts. Choose to burn some calories in one of four swimming pools or book a treatment in the 107,000-square-foot Alpine Spa. The area offers a plethora of excursions, from hiking and biking, to heli-skiing and heli-hiking. buergenstock.ch/en

The Fontenay (Hamburg, Germany)

On the shores of Hamburg’s Outer Alster Lake, you can watch activities like paddleboarding, sailing, and rowing from the windows of the Fontenay. The lake-facing side of the Fontenay plot is made up of an expansive green area with impressive 130-year-old plane trees. The architectural marvel houses 130 rooms and suites, and in the center of the structure, there is an 88-foot-high atrium with a glassed-in garden courtyard. On the Fontenay’s rooftop, you can take in the scenery from the sprawling spa, equipped with an indoor and outdoor pool. thefontenay.de/en

Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe (Stateline, Nevada)

Opened June 2017, the Lodge at Edgewood Tahoe is planted only 300 feet from the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. The project cost over $100 million and implemented an eco-friendly designation (LEED-designed). From the hot tub, which seats up to 40 people, you can witness sweeping views of the lake. Or choose to relax by the outdoor fireplace adjacent to the heated pool. Want to practice your putting? You can do so on the property’s 18-hole golf course. edgewoodtahoe.com

Glidden Lodge Beach Resort (Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin)

Open year-round and overlooking one of Door County’s largest privately owned sand beaches on Lake Michigan, Glidden Lodge Beach Resort features one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites that include a private patio or balcony overlooking the beach and water, fully equipped kitchen, gas fireplace, and double whirlpool tub. Splash around on the property’s indoor pool or relax in a beach lounge chair while taking in sunrises over Lake Michigan. gliddenlodge.com

Inle Heritage (Nyaungshwe, Myanmar)

Picture fishermen slowly rowing in their long tail boats and wading for crustaceans in the shallow parts of Inle Lake in Myanmar. On the western edge of the Shan plateau in eastern Myanmar sits the Inle Lake Heritage House. Built on stilts right on the lake and connected by wooden bridges, the rooms are outfitted in local fabrics, traditional Shan paper, and constructed using teak, hardwood, and bamboo. You can pick your own greens in the organic vegetable gardens during a cooking class, tour the lake with a local, or visit the on-site Burmese cat sanctuary. inleheritage.org

Ashford Castle Estate (County Mayo, Ireland)

Originally built in 1228 and set on 350 acres in Ireland’s County Mayo, Ashford Castle was at one time owned by the Guinness family, and today is owned by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. The stately property is outfitted in lots of amenities: Take the billiards room, cigar terrace, cinema, spa, and wine cellar, as well as the cocktail bar. On the grounds, you can also sign up for country-based sports, like the equestrian center, fly-fishing, the ozone-filtrated swimming pool, the nine-hole golf course, and Ireland's first school of falconry. ashfordcastle.com

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CastaDiva (Blevio, Italy)

Nestled on six acres on Lake Como, CastaDiva features 72 rooms and suites designed by Italian architects and interior designers, Erasmo Figini and Alice Fratti Lucini. The pair previously designed a number of luxury Italian hotels and private villas, such as Grand Hotel Majestic and Hotel Astor on Lake Maggiore, before CastaDiva. For the property, they used the finest Como silk and preserved the Lombard cotto historic wooden floors. For relaxation, visitors can book a treatment at the on-site spa (designed by Italian architect Paola Bodega), which features the Swiss skin care line LaVallée and Aromatherapy Associates. Guests can also visit CastaDiva’s "floating" pool, built right on Lake Como. castadivaresort.com

TRENDING VIDEO

Are You Fit Enough To Be A Sailor?

Sailing seems like a peaceful pursuit, but it demands a lot from the body. Adjusting the sails and steering the boat require dynamic movements from a wide range of muscle groups. “You’re constantly moving in response to the wind and waves,” says Jonathan Beery, 31, a competitive sailor and owner of Next Level Watersports, a kiteboarding business based in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Beery races two different types of sailboats: keelboats and dinghies. With keelboats, a several-thousand-pound flat blade prevents it from tipping over. “These boats are usually larger, so the loads are greater,” he says. “This requires brute force and teamwork to hoist and lower the sails.” 

With dinghies, the sailor’s bodyweight keeps the boat flat: You hook your feet beneath a nylon strap and then “hike out,” or lean back so that your entire body from knees up is about six inches above the water. “Hiking out is grueling,” says Beery. “You’re engaging your chest, abdomen, biceps, and triceps to maneuver and steer the boat over each wave, sometimes for hours at a time.”

During his workouts, Beery focuses on building strength, especially in his core and back, while challenging his balance. Ahead of Nantucket Race Week (August 11 to 19) Beery shared three moves from his routine with Furthermore. Try them and you’ll reap the fitness benefits both on the water and on dry land.    

BOSU Squat with Medicine Ball Twist
“Squats on an unstable surface using weights strengthen my muscles, while I simultaneously make dynamic micro-adjustments required for balancing on a boat,” says Beery.

How to do it: Standing on the flat side of a BOSU ball, hold a medicine ball in front of your chest with straight arms. Slowly lower into a squat, rotating to the left to bring the medicine ball to the outside of your left knee. As you press up, bring the medicine ball diagonally across your body over your right shoulder. Bring the ball back to center and repeat on the other side. 

Seated Medicine Ball Twist
Beery incorporates this core-strengthening move into a routine that also includes crunches, planks, side planks, leg lifts, and sit-ups on a balance ball.

How to do it: Holding the medicine ball, sit on the ground with knees bent. Brace your core as you lower your back to a 45-degree angle and lift your feet off the ground. Rotate your torso to the left and tap the ball to the outside of your left hip. Rotate and tap the ball on the right side. Let go of the ball and return to center. Extend your legs and stretch your arms overhead. Slowly lower your hands and feet until they’re a few inches above the floor. Pick up the medicine ball and return to the starting position. Repeat.

Push-up with Opposite Arm and Leg Raise
You use your core and back to trim the sail, or pull it in so that it’s aligned with the wind, one of the main components of sailing. This move targets those muscles. 

How to do it: Start in a push-up position, with your core engaged and hands beneath shoulders. As you extend your left arm forward and parallel to the ground, lift your right foot off the ground. Hold for one to two seconds. Return to the starting position, and do a push-up. Repeat the sequence on the other side.