By Sally Kilbridge, Condé Nast Traveler
Three ingredients of the perfect marriage proposal: The girl (or guy) of your dreams; a ring she (or he) will love; and a place to pop the question. These are six of the country's most romantic restaurant tables, each crying for a marriage proposal. Get your name on the waiting list today.
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The Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History By Debbie Dubrow, Conde Nast Traveler
With the school year beginning, we're all looking for fun ways to inspire our kids and get them revved up for the learning they'll do in the year ahead. In my book, there's no better way to demonstrate how fun science is than a visit to a planetarium or natural history museum. Here are a few of my favorites.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, Oregon:
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland is one of my favorites. Its open, light-filled spaces are packed with hands-on activities that engage everyone from my three-year-old to me and my husband. Smaller hands-on science labs let older kids run the types of experiments that require goggles, good reading skills, and closer supervision from the museum's staff. A sunlit cafe serves healthy, kid-friendly food choices, many of which are made to order.
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American Museum of Natural History in New York City:
It's the largest museum of
By Conde Nast Traveler
Courtesy iStock Photo SPAGHETTIEIS
Germany
Spaghettieis, or spaghetti ice cream, is an essential staple of a German summer. Vanilla ice cream, drawn through a grinder or pasta maker to resemble spaghetti, gets doused in a red compote of strawberry or raspberry. In lieu of Parmesan cheese, white chocolate or coconut flakes are sprinkled on top to complete the likeness. Lucky for German children everywhere, Dario Fontenella, the Italian ice cream maker who invented it in 1969 in Mannheim, never patented his creation, so it's readily available all over the German-speaking world today. -Chaney Kwak
Photograph by Susan Hack FRANKINCENSE ICE CREAM
Salalah, Oman
In a 21st-century example of East meets West, American entrepreneur Trygve Harris has become a Dhofar celebrity by inventing the world's first frankincense ice cream. Harris, 48, moved to Salalah, Dhofar's port city, five years ago to source natural aromatics for her Manhattan-based essential oils company, Enfleurage, and she
The vast majority of checked luggage arrives on time and intact, but things can still go wrong. These tips will help assure that you and your bags vacation together.
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Before You Go *Photograph the contents of luggage you intend to check, and keep an itemized list of valuable items in a safe place, with sales receipts if possible.
*Place an itinerary with your contact information and e-mail address in a visible place inside the bag.
*Make sure you've got a "clean" bag-remove tags from previous trips, especially those small white bag-check stickers airlines affix to the sides. Avoid travel stickers or decals: They may make your bag stand out, but they could be misread by a scanner.
*Take off any straps and lock wheels that can cause a bag to shift or get stuck on a conveyor belt.
*Avoid checking very expensive-looking bags; cloth bags are less appealing to thieves than leather luggage.
*Never pack
By Molly Fergus, Condé Nast Traveler
We're not usually jealous of flight attendants' uniforms, but Virgin America's new gear might change our opinion. For its five-year anniversary, the airline had Banana Republic designers compete against each other in a Project Runway-style competition to create its crew's outfits. The winning team incorporated normal items that we wouldn't mind wearing at all, including a punchy red trench coat, an easy black shirt dress, and a chic little scarf. Spin through for a first look at the ensembles…
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by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Condé Nast Traveler
If you still think cruise ships are all about lining up at the trough of a round-the-clock buffet, you're right-they can be. But these days, cruise food often mirrors more healthy culinary trends, and ships offer plenty of ways to maintain your fitness regimen while away. Read on for seven cruises that let you enjoy your vacation without taking home extra pounds as a souvenir.
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by Marisa Lascala, Condé Nast Traveler
America's national parks offer some of the most gorgeous scenery in the country, from Yellowstone to Florida. Here are some of our favorite views.
See the complete list of National Park Views Not to Be Missed at CNTraveler.com
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Clothes that are chic yet comfy enough to wear on a long-haul flight? That combination has at last been mastered: the pieces in Piamita's debut collection feel like pajamas-but look trendy enough for a night out.
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by Jennifer M. Wood, Condé Nast Traveler
Cats, dogs, and birds are permanent residents at these (mostly) pet-friendly hotels across North America.
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Condé Nast Traveler Articles Editor Kate Maxwell and other travel experts offer some terrific tips if you are thinking of traveling to London to witness royal wedding history.
1. Don't forget your umbrella. London's weather is extremely changeable, particularly in April. Average temperatures are low-60s, with a good chance of rain...
2. Set your alarm clock. If you want to watch the wedding from one of the three best vantage points: outside Westminster Abbey, the Mall, and Buckingham Palace gates, get there super early (consider camping overnight!) and be prepared for a scrum.
3. Take the tube. London is not a walking city: it's huge. Beat the traffic by taking the underground, and buy an Oyster card, a plastic smartcard you charge up with cash, to save money and time.
4. Crash a street party. There are going to be around 200 street parties (the English equivalent of a block party) around the city on April 29. Residents bring food, and they're a great way to get close and personal
