Zoe Baillargeon

From the Blarney Stone in Ireland to Seattle's Gum Wall, these famously "germy" tourist destinations rely on touch. Will they survive the pandemic?

Driving along 33rd Avenue in the Portland neighborhood of Concordia, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the lengthy Italian Renaissance-style building for a school. The warm, tan exterior walls and long wings extending outward from the arching colonnaded entrance give off a familiar, scholastic air. But instead of students and teachers wandering the long halls, now it’s guests in pajamas.

The ultimate guide on where to eat, play, and stay around Washington state's stunning San Juan Islands.

Our Here, Now column looks at trends taking hold in cities around the world. Given how different the world looks these days, we're focusing on the feel-good moments emerging in between. In Portland, Oregon, a distillery and restaurant weathers the pandemic by having a drag-through, with fabulous queens serving a show while you wait to be served your to-go order from the comfort of your car.

As soon as the pandemic will allow us to travel safely again, many people are hoping to kick things off with truly epic, once-in-a-lifetime trips. And what experience could top watching a solar eclipse from a ship stationed in the bottom of the world in Antarctica?
On December 4th, 2021, a total solar eclipse will be passing over the Southern Ocean, hitting the point of greatest eclipse for just under two minutes, over the Weddell Sea east of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Since setting the perfect, moody stage for films like The Goonies, Oregon’s northern coast—home to Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, and charming small towns like Astoria—has been the tourism darling of the state’s 363 mile-long seaboard. But venture further south and you’ll find an undiscovered treasure trove of rocky coastline, home to stormy beaches, and culinary and craft brew bounties, perfect for your next Oregon road trip. Meet the Wild Rivers Coast.

Whether from airplane windows, tropical beaches, or wilderness trails, travelers will go a long way for a good view. For some, that promise of the perfect vista is even enough to combat vertigo or a fear of heights. And there are few places where the view is as good as the one from a suspension footbridge.

Glaciers are seemingly as large and immovable as mountains, yet they crawl under their own weight and are capable of transforming landscapes. Visiting one is a primal experience, transporting you back to the beginnings of human history.

Where to eat, stay, and play amid the majesty of the Canadian Rockies.

The continent has entered its long, dark night, but just over the horizon is the question of how to make sure it stays free of COVID-19 once it reopens in August.

From Bavarian-inspired mountain towns to charming coastal escapes, Washington is rife with small towns worth exploring.

Food and drink aside, nothing elevates a dining experience quite like a fantastic view. Whether surrounded by sleek high rises in the middle of a city or looking out across a peaceful river or forest, a lovely vista adds to the atmosphere and takes the meal to the next level. And thanks to its blend of urban and natural environments, Portland has plenty of restaurants that include a good view as part of the meal.

An hour’s drive east from Portland, in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, Hood River is primarily seen as a destination for outdoor adventure sports with a side of stellar river and mountain views. From hiking or skiing on nearby Mount Hood to world-class windsurfing and kiteboarding on the mighty Columbia, the wealth of adventurous things to do often overshadows Hood River’s other strength: its culinary scene.

If you’re a proud member of Team Eggnog, there’s another beverage that should be on your radar: Chile’s quintessential Christmas cocktail, the Cola de Mono. A White Russian-esque concoction made with aguardiente, milk, sugar, coffee, and winter spices like clove and cinnamon, the Cola de Mono (which means “monkey’s tail” in Spanish) is the holidays in a cup for Chileans.