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I’m not sure if it’s just an American thing, but we all have intense state and regional pride here. Sure, state symbols like flags and anthems make sense, but flowers and animals? I remember being confused as a kid when I learned that places had state birds. But many animals native to the U.S. have…

Do you ever just look at vacation home rentals in exotic locales just to daydream about an epic vacation? I’ll admit, I do it all the time. We’ve all been stuck in that work-home-repeat cycle, so planning an upcoming getaway to fantasize about might be just the thing to break the monotony.  But finding the…

When we think of living in a new city, the first question that pops into our mind is, “Is it safe?” It’s perfectly normal—we all want to protect ourselves and our loved ones. As the saying goes, safety first! In the United States, many cities get a bad reputation for being dangerous when, in reality,…

With 76 million Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964, most of this generation is now facing fundamental cultural and economic shifts as they enter their twilight years.  As baby boomers enter retirement age, life as they once knew it is drastically changing. As a millennial, I’ve grown up with unprecedented global changes throughout my…

Is it just me, or do you feel like the hotel stay is almost as exciting as the rest of the vacation? Just being somewhere where everything is taken care of–room service, cleaning, fresh towels– feels utterly luxurious.  You might already know about Michelin Star restaurants, but have you heard about the Michelin Key? Like…

As a true night owl, I’d rather sleep in until 11 am and work until late than set my alarm and struggle through a grumpy morning. Most people who know me well know not to try to talk to me about anything serious in the morning while my brain isn’t fully powered up yet. Night…

There are tons of movies that are “so bad they’re good.” You know, those guilty pleasures that are so ridiculous that they’re hilarious. A couple of my favorites are Troll 2 and The Room–filled with cheesy lines and bad acting. Despite being far from blockbusters, these films are perfect for a laugh-filled movie night. But…

As a born-and-raised Californian, I’d naturally argue that my state is the most fun with its great weather, beaches, mountains, great food, nightlife, and more. Plus, we have the original Disneyland (my personal favorite)! But I bet a lot of states think they have California beat.  No matter where you are in the U.S., Americans…

I’ve come across some wild historical events that make me question whether people centuries ago were just making stuff up. Like, did you know Thomas Edison once electrocuted a circus elephant named Topsy? I also read that a soccer game in 1969 literally sparked a war between El Salvador and Honduras!  History is a crazy…

I remember the first time I visited Europe when I was 18 years old. People would ask me if I was American before I even opened my mouth to talk, and I wondered how they knew! American culture is often widely represented in movies, TV shows, and music. It’s no wonder people who’ve never set…

I’ve been on hikes alone before and thought to myself, “What if I break my leg out here, and no one else comes along the trail, and there’s no cell reception?” I have a real talent for dreaming up worse-case scenarios (thanks, anxiety!). Thankfully, there’s a lot you can do to safeguard yourself when hiking…