With its Mission-style facades and showy tropical foliage, Santa Barbara could be a commercial for the California good life. It can be easy to underestimate the struggles of a place so seemingly flawless. But Santa Barbara has had a tough few years. From the devastating wildfires in 2017 and 2018 to the flooding and mudslides…
My teenage son groaned from the back seat as we pulled over in Wabeno, about the 10th Wisconsin town with a population of 1,000 or so that we had stopped at that day. My attempt to get him to leave the car to look at the 22-foot statue of a lumberjack across the street was…
The 52 Places Traveler The Golfo Paradiso, a tiny stretch of coastline not far from the Cinque Terre, is ‘for us Italians.’ The 52 Places Traveler settles in. Aug 13, 2019 Video CreditCreditSebastian Modak/The New York Times Our columnist, Sebastian Modak, is visiting each destination on our 52 Places to Go in 2019 list. Before…
Hong Kong International Airport on Monday abruptly grounded all departing flights and kept 70 flights from arriving after thousands of protesters filled the airport, stranding air passengers at one of the world’s most important transportation hubs. A statement on the airport’s website said that operations “have been seriously disrupted, all flights have been canceled,” and…
BERLIN — They go to the rescue when others would flee. They are the Schwarmfänger, Berlin’s 30 or so swarm-catchers, on call to collect honeybees by the thousands when they gather where people do not want them. This year, the Schwarmfänger have been very busy. While much of the Western world is worried about bees…
Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean — and that includes the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and destinations in the Bahamas and Florida — runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Hurricanes can strike at any time, but peak season runs August through October, when the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration says 96 percent of…
Sebastian Modak is near the midpoint of his yearlong trek to visit all the locations on our list of 52 Places to Go in 2019, and the time feels ripe for a crowdsourced debriefing. Curious about the high points and low points of his time on the road? Wondering if he has any advice for…
For more than a century, since agriculture and whaling gave way to tourism, Cape Cod in Massachusetts has attracted vacationers to its many miles of pristine beaches. For those wary of the water after last year’s great white shark attacks, experiences on terra firma abound. There are nature walks and wine tastings, leisurely bike rides…
Ken Price was hired 36 years ago as director of public relations at the Palmer House Hilton. But it’s his other gig at the renowned Chicago property that speaks more to him: That of hotel historian, an official title he has held for 11 years. Mr. Price is the go-to guy for anything relating to…
The 52 Places Traveler Image During the high tourist season, dense crowds gather at Zadar’s Sea Organ every evening to watch the sunset.CreditSebastian Modak/The New York Times In Zadar, on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, the 52 Places Traveler was overwhelmed by the crowds. Then he thought outside the guidebook. Aug 6, 2019 Our columnist, Sebastian Modak,…