Over two million years ago women roamed the earth, not men. New findings published in the journal, Nature, suggest that "pre-human" females had the travel bug, uprooting from their birth homes in order to hunt for mates.

The findings are based on several teeth that date back to our pre-historic ancestors. The differences in mineral variation between the male and female teeth have paleontologists believing that women were charged with leaving the nest, while the men stayed behind holding down the fort.

The evolutionary explanation is fairly unromantic: women were trying to avoid incestuous inbreeding by hunting for non-relatives to mate with. Eat, Pray, Love, it wasn't. But the idea that women left home in search of their future isn't so far from what we do today. Whether it's a vacation, a road trip, or a more permanent move, traveling is a romantic notion for women. At least, it is in movies.

Ever notice how many rom-coms involve traveling across country or abroad? The fantasy of

Read More »from Cavewomen were the first explorers, says study. Origin of wanderlust explained.

America's favorite doctor turns vinegar, toothpaste and tea into brilliant first-aid fixes.

Photo: Dan SaelingerBlistering Heat, stinging jellyfish, kamikaze mosquitoes, and sharp branches lurking along every hiking path-summer days are booby-trapped with minor health miseries. But there are more ways to fight back than you might think, and many can be found right in your kitchen cupboards. Here are five summer woes and their unexpected antidotes.

Tame Bug Bites With Toothpaste
A biting mosquito injects saliva into your skin, prompting your body to release histamine as part of an inflammatory response that causes itching and swelling. Fight this reaction by rubbing toothpaste into the bite: Mint varieties generally contain menthol (which calms temperature-sensitive nerves, producing a cooling sensation that helps relieve itching). You might also look for a brand that has the antibacterial ingredient triclosan (an anti-inflammatory that may reduce the size of welts).

Related: What's in Dr. Oz's medicine

Read More »from Dr. Oz's Surprising First-Aid Fixes for Summer Woes

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Shine Staff

If you're trying to save money while traveling this summer, renting a place with a kitchen and cooking your own meals can save you some serious dough. If you want to save even more, though, tuck some aluminum foil, salt, pepper, and paper towels into your bag, add a tiny bottle of dish soap for easy clean up, and you can create a make-shift kitchen right in your hotel room.

Your iron can become an instant panini-press (or you can turn it downside up and use it as a hot plate). That coffee maker can be a tiny electric pot for making instant oatmeal, ramen noodles, or even poaching some fresh salmon.

This video from Lonely Planet is a little tongue-in-cheek, but the tips are solid.

Seriously… flight attendants cook this way all the time.

Crazy, cool, cheaper than take-out (and better than eating yet another peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich on the road).






Also on Shine:

• Summer travel on Shine
• 10 savvy ways to save on travel

Read More »from Extreme frugality: Cooking in your hotel room (video)

While we're firm believers that there's something to love about nearly every beach (sun, sand, and ocean breezes for starters), a few sandy strips of coastline stand out from the rest.

Plus: 12 ways to have fun this summer.


BEST ALL-AROUND
Poipu Beach Park At Poipu Beach Park on the south shore of Kauai in Hawaii, ocean lovers can sunbathe under the palms, take a dip in the Pacific, view endangered monk seals, and snorkel nose-to-nose with green sea turtles. There's also a protected cove that's perfect for toddlers.

FOR SHELL SEEKERS
Sanibel Island This lush 12-mile-long barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast represents the holy grail for shell collectors. In fact, the term Sanibel Stoop is used to describe all the visitors bent over the sand in search of the perfect specimen. If you go, you'll also see dolphins and manatees.

FOR BIRDING
Cape May Take Exit 0 on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway to reach this historic Victorian municipality, which is America's oldest beach resort. Not

Read More »from America's Best Beaches

Travel BuddyBy Kourtney Jason, Life2PointOh.com

Summer is just weeks away, and if you're like us, you and your boyfriend or best friend have at least one getaway countdown clock tickin' away. While you're stressing out about what to pack on your road trip or European escape, you may notice one more worry creeping around your head: is your friend or boyfriend someone you will enjoy traveling with? It's not as easy as it sounds! Before you fill up your gas tank or book those plane tickets, run through the following questions:

1. On a road trip, is your fellow car cohort going to need to pull over at every rest stop for a pee and food break? If so, it could double the length of travel time to your destination and you may not want this pal to be your co-captain.

2. Vacation is about unplugging from the rest of the world and feeling revitalized. So no matter where you go, will you and your getaway pal share the same views on technology usage (cell phones, iPads, laptops, etc.)? Read between

Read More »from User Post: The Travel Buddy Checklist: Will You Survive Each Other?

Related:

5 dream vacations in your own backyard

5 ways your backyard BBQ can kill you

47 ways to transform your backyard

The backyard zipline: it's real!

Read More »from 10 craziest backyards in the world

Eating in a bikini doesn't have to give you nightmares any more. Here, summer snacks that will leave you satisfied without packing on pounds.

Eat: Carrots

Instead of: Pretzels

"Carrot sticks are the best snacks to munch on during the summer because the orange pigment beta-carotene gives skin an extra glow while protecting cells from free radical damage," says Dr. Aaron Tabor, M.D. and creator of Dr. Tabor's Slim & Beautiful Diet. "Carrots protect your skin from sun damage (though you still need to wear SPF) while giving you a boost of energy."





Eat: Watermelon

Instead of: Ice cream

If you have a hankering for something sweet, pick a juicy fruit like watermelon, over a heavy dairy product. "The lycopene in watermelon will boost your skin with a subtle pink glow and protect its moisture level," says Tabor.





Eat: Frozen Grapes

Instead of: Cookies

Not only will this icy treat boost your skin with antioxidants, Tabor says they are also perfect for staying cool in the summer heat. Plus,

Read More »from 8 Smart Summer Snacks for the Beach

No matter what the weather, New York City is the "hottest" place on earth. Here are some of our favorite things to do and summer date ideas in NYC for when it's hot (or if your air conditioner's still in storage):

Ice Cream Tasting Marathon

Tour all the best ice cream shops in Manhattan in one night, from the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck to more refined favorites like Il Laboratorio del Gelato, Emack and Bolio's, and Mario Batali's new GelOtto cart. Ice cream flavor says a lot about someone, you know.

Baseball Game at Citi Field

Baseball games are slow enough that you can get to know someone even if you're an avid fan. Plus, Citi Field has surprisingly delicious dinner options. With upscale choices like Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Daruma Sushi, El Verano Taqueria, and World's Fare Market, there's something for everyone.

Picnic in Central Park

A classic that never goes out of style. Pack up some easy finger foods and relax in the park all afternoon as you get to know

Read More »from Dating in NYC: 8 Fun Summer Date Ideas for Hot Weather