travel

Transylvania is home to over six million Romanians and one incredibly mythicized monster: Dracula. However, Dracula isn’t the only thing that makes Transylvania alluring. But it is a big factor in the region’s tourism. Interestingly enough, all of this hype started with a British novel.Vampire HistoryBram Stoker’s namesake character in his 1897 novel Dracula was likely based on the historical Romanian figure of Vlad Dracul, more commonly known as Vlad the Impaler, a 1400s vigilante who basically singlehandedly took back his principality, Wallachia, from the Turks.Vlad was famous for torturing his enemies and impaling thousands of their heads on spikes, namely his Turkish enemies. Dracula has since become immortalized in pop culture, and Transylvania definitely takes advantage of these myths and all the hype around the story to promote tourism. Now, when you hear “Transylvania,” vampires are what come to mind.Bran CastleIf you’re seeking to take part in the vampire craze, you’ll want to stop by Bran Castle, the designated tourist site for all things vampire in Braşov, Romania. Though not the main castle of Vlad the Impaler, the building still gives an impressive image for what Bram Stoker might have had in mind for his villain. One of the features of the castle is a creepy secret passageway. There is also a gift shop and several other shops along the streets outside the castle where you can buy Dracula-themed paraphernalia and scare yourself in a little haunted house.But there’s so much more to this Romanian region than the vampire stories. Along with Bran Castle, consider visiting some of the following sites on your trip to Transylvania that aren’t about vampires.BearsBelieve it or not, Transylvania’s Carpathian mountain range is filled with a not-so-mythical creature: the brown bear. In fact, at Braşov’s Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zărneşti (just over thirty minutes from Bran Castle), you can observe these incredible creatures.The bears come from zoos or other caged environments. At the sanctuary, they are free to roam a much larger, more natural space. The sanctuary is comprised of 160 acres of forest, plenty for the bears to roam freely (though there are safety fences and security cameras throughout).It’s safe and comfortable for both bears and visitors and makes an amazing stop when touring the Transylvanian landscape. While the sanctuary is a great way to ensure you’ll actually see bears, you could also book a tour with a guide to take you to look for bears in their natural habitat—the forest.While the sanctuary is a great way to ensure you’ll actually see bears, you could also book a tour with a guide to take you to look for bears in their natural habitat—the forest.ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization Photo by Andrei Dan SuciuTo the west of Zărneşti stands a pretty unique museum. Located in Sibiu, the ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization is completely outside! With over 400 traditional folk buildings from times past, including the museum’s famous windmills, it may feel like you’re in an old Romanian village. There are even restaurants and activities you can try inside to help you latch onto that feeling even more.Salina Turda Photo by Robert AndersAt Salina Turda, you can find yourself exploring the depths of an ancient mine. Excavated with various wells, this salt mine has been remodeled as a museum depicting the history of salt mining (you can see the thick, natural salt on the walls), and as an amusement park-style attraction. There are several different spaces within the mine, but the craziest one of them all is what was once the Terezia Mine: now, it houses a UFO-shaped structure on top of a lake where guests can ride a ferris wheel, take boat rides on the lake, and play mini golf.Lake UrsuDespite Vlad Dracul’s notoriously destructive nature, Transylvania’s nature is remarkably reconstructive. Transylvania is known for its many health benefits—including its salt water. The most famous healing water is found at Lake Ursu, or Bear Lake, which gets its name from its bearskin shape. Part of the Sovata resort, the lake has a ginormous salt content and is able to absorb heat from the sun. In fact, it’s the largest heliotherm lake in the world. The lake has a layer of fresh water that acts as a barrier and keeps the warm sunlight in the salt-water layer below. (Supposedly, the salt water can help heal fertility issues.) While you relax in these sun-heated waters, you can also observe the luscious greenery surrounding the lake, courtesy of the rich volcanic soil. Patrons can swim between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and enjoy the other various spas the resort has to offer.High HighwaysIf you’re hankering for a road trip, Transylvania is home to some of the highest roads in the world. The Transfăgărăşan Road reaches the lofty altitude of 6,699 feet (2,042 meters) and spans a windy 60 miles (90 kilometers). The road includes dark tunnels and curves like a long snake along the mountainside.The best way to truly enjoy the Transfăgărăşan is to stop along it for adventure. You can take a hike in the Făgărăş mountains, view the Vidraru Dam, and go fishing at the gorgeous Bâlea Lake. During the winter, the lake can be accessed only by cable car, and because of the high elevation (6,673 feet or 2,034 meters), it is cold enough that every year an incredible hotel is built out of the area’s ice.The Transalpina Road is the highest road in Romania, reaching 7,037 feet (2,145 meters), and is about 92 miles (148 kilometers) long. Like the Transfăgărăşan, there are plenty of beautiful stops on this highway. You can explore Lake Galcescu, the biggest lake in the Parâng Mountains, wander around the historic Oasa Monastery, and enjoy the Ski Resort Transalpina. Both of these roads are so high that they are closed off during the winter months because of all the snow and ice, so be sure to take that into consideration when you plan your trip.Whichever road you choose to take, don’t forget to pack a lunch—you’re bound to enjoy the view.While you may still go see Bran Castle, hopefully when you make your visit to Transylvania, you’ll consider the other awesome places you can go as well. Be sure to check out as many as you can!—Laura Combrink

A lot can happen in 10 years. For Stowaway, 10 years consisted of 30 issues and thousands of adventures. We’ve been all across the globe and far into space. Throughout all our travels, there have been many trends between our travels and the world’s travels.The following is a recap of where we’ve traveled as Stowaway by year in a side-by-side comparison with the locations that were popular tourist spots around the world that year.2010 In 2010, Stowaway explored Beijing and Southern Asia, including Vietnam and India. We got lost in the London Underground, at the top of a mountain in Estes Park, and in other national parks around the US. We also road tripped through Arizona and visited Ireland.The top eight places to travel worldwide in 2010, according to The New York Times, were Sri Lanka; Patagonia; Seoul; Mysore, India; Copenhagen; Koh Kood, Thailand; Damascus; and Çeşme, Turkey.2011 In 2011, Stowaway explored New Zealand, learned safety hacks for whether we travel to somewhere cold and snowy or hot and sunny, and went to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio—the roller coaster capital of the world.We got to our ideal weight when we biked across the US and learned the Brazilian martial art of capoeira. We also celebrated Bon Om Tuk, went to Paris, learned about leprosy in India, explored the Norwegian Coast, spent some time away in Ecuador, and discovered Havasupai.The top eight places to travel worldwide in 2011, according to CNN, were New York, New Zealand, the Peruvian Amazon, Barcelona, Norway, Albania, Japan, and Guatemala.2012 In 2012, Stowaway stowed away to Prague, got a taste of Istanbul, got lost in Iceland, kayaked to the Bahamas, visited George Lucas on the set of Star Wars, explored the history of Boston, and became stranded on New Caledonia.We also discovered the many wonders of Tokyo, learned the mythical sport of globe-riding (more commonly known as zorbing), learned how to fall like an expert, trekked through a safari, and reconnected with our roots.The top trending eight places to travel worldwide, according to CNN, were England, Mayan ruins, Myanmar, Chicago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Netherlands, Atlantic Canada, and Uruguay.2013 In 2013, Stowaway blessed the lives of orphans through service, made a pilgrimage to Camino, explored the beauties of Kazakhstan, found some hobbits in New Zealand, stayed the night in the Caribbean at Xcaret, explored many castles in ruin in Wales, and discovered local culture from people in their hometowns.We also made a trip to Paraguay, saw the Golden Temple in Harmandir Sahib, went to High Line Park in New York City, explored Sedona, partied with Sweden during their Midsommar festival, found our way to Cape Town, relaxed in Bali, and fought AIDS in Uganda.The top 8 travel sites worldwide in 2013, according to CNN, were Scotland, Morocco, Slovakia, sub-Saharan Africa, Gettysburg, Amsterdam, Columbia, and Montenegro.2014 In 2014, Stowaway learned about how the Korean culture is taking the world by storm, celebrated the Hindu festival of colors, visited Sochi for the Winter Olympics, rebuilt New Orleans, found bones in Malagasy, discovered reasons to remain in Romania, and used races as an excuse to travel.We also made a pilgrimage to Camino, went to FIFA in Brazil, ate pasta in Italy, visited Fiji, explored Mayazaki’s Japan, saw Alaska from above, took a road trip to discover how the New Deal affected the US, pieced together Mayan murals in San Bartolo, discovered the Anasazi, went to Armenia, and explored the history of faith in America.The top eight worldwide travel spots in 2014 were, according to CNN, Brazil, Panama, Myanmar, Iceland, Ecuador, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Japan.2015In 2015, Stowaway escaped to Berlin and hid out in Mar del Plata, Argentina. We learned cool facts at museums of science around the world, survived a disaster in Cairo, and discovered treasure in the Rocky Mountains.We also spent Christmas in Germany, went stargazing in Parowan Canyon, trekked back to New Zealand to visit George Lucas when Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out, and traveled to some historical sites to visit open-air museums.The top eight worldwide travel sites of 2015 were, according to CNN, London, Bangkok, Paris, Dubai, Istanbul, New York, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.2016 In 2016, Stowaway ventured into the Antarctic, explored the sites of inspiration for the most popular Disney movies, visited mosques around the world, tracked wolves in Yellowstone, and sojourned in the Baltic. We found hope at the House of Terror, the killing fields of Cambodia, Pearl Harbor, and Auschwitz.We also explored the mystical wonders of Turkey, slept in some unique spots around the world, floated down the Nile and other rivers in Africa, visited national parks, explored space, witnessed the effect of tourism in Nicaragua, Kenya, and Vietnam, found new places to pet animals, visited some neat pop culture locations, and ate at some unique restaurants.Top eight travel spots worldwide in 2016, according to CNN: Bangkok, London, Paris, Dubai, New York, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Istanbul.2017 In 2017, Stowaway got lost in Glacier National Park, traveled with Blackbeard, tarried awhile in Perth, skied at Verbier, crashed in Qatar, spent a night in Boston, became an immersive traveler, visited sinking villages in New Zealand, trekked to the monuments of war heroes, and considered colonizing Mars.The top eight travel locations that were trending worldwide in 2017, according to CNN, were Prince Edward Island; Penang, Malaysia; Colombia; Bermuda; Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine; Isaan, Thailand; Bhutan; and Chengdu, China.2018 In 2018, Stowaway found some abandoned sites with abounding beauty, traveled the world with toddlers, saved a Bolivian mining town, considered the effects of voluntourism, and witnessed Japan’s declining population in the wake of rising tourism.We also returned to Yellowstone, visited places that may be swallowed by the ocean in a few years, traveled while taking a break before starting a master’s program, stood on both hemispheres in Ecuador, visited the Royal sites in the United Kingdom, and found a job that can travel with us.Top eight travel locations around the world in 2018, according to CNN: Cape Verde; Botum Sakor National Park, Cambodia; Malta; Serbia; Nevis; Banff, Canada; Nagana, Japan; and Puebla, Mexico.2019 In 2019, Stowaway listened to music in Africa, found thrills in Transylvania, discovered stolen art, became immersed in South Korea, toured sites with a dark past, became lost in Jerusalem, worried about bee colonies, and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.We also saw how a movie has changed tourism in Iceland and other forgotten tourism spots, fell asleep to bedtime stories from around the world, learned to cook without gluten, found some interesting vending machines in Japan, and explored how travel affects climate change.The top eight travel sites that were trending worldwide in 2019 were, according to CNN, Christchurch, New Zealand; Egypt; Fukuoka, Japan; Ghana; Grand Canyon, US; Hawaii, US; the Hebrides, Scotland; and Jaffa, Israel.Future of Travel Travel will continue to change, and while there is no way to really predict the hottest cities in future years, I’m sure that some of the same locations will be popular with tourists and that there will be a mix of many exciting new locations as well.Travel will continue to evolve as we evolve; all we have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Safe travels!—Beverly Unrau

Dublin, the Blarney Stone, and the Cliffs of Moher are all spots in Ireland that everyone knows they need to go to. However, one place you should add to your itinerary is the Burren Perfumery.

A deeply traditional musical sensation has been sweeping through West Africa’s Senegal for the past few decades, and it continues to be an ever-evolving art form that only grows in popularity in this day and age.

They always say the bigger you are the harder you fall—but it should be the bigger you are, the prettier your city transit should be. We all have to get around—whether it be by foot, bike, car, train, or plane—and for the majority of people, that means taking public transit.

This summer, my husband and I lived in Wasco, CA, on a nut farm (of the almond and pistachio variety, not a psych ward), while he worked an accounting internship.

Most people travel to Greece to see the Parthenon in Athens or to take pictures in Santorini, one of the most Instagram-worthy places in the world. While these places are all well and good, the spot you really need to visit is in the mountains overlooking Kalambaka: the Greek Orthodox monasteries of Meteora.

Because Iceland Air offers such a great deal on international travel, Iceland has become a major tourist destination. No matter how long you stay in Iceland, you can find plenty to do and see. One of the best ways to take in the sights on a time budget is to go on some of the many day tours available.

For many people, traveling is an opportunity to try authentic and unique local cuisines. Even though trying new foods can be fun, getting sick from eating strange dishes can cause unpleasant times while abroad. However, the following food tips for traveling will help you enjoy all the exotic foods you want while also being prepared and ready to run when you get sick.

Vietnam is famous not only for its healthy cuisines, but also for its natural wonders and landscapes. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam has become one of the top traveling destinations because of its beauty, cuisines, and the locals’ hospitality. Furthermore, besides housing Vietnamese (or Kinh) people, Vietnam is also the homeland of many other ethnic minority groups, such as the Hmong, Tay, Thai, and Dao people, enriching the country with diversity of culture, tradition, and history. Most of these ethnic minority groups live in the highlands of Vietnam where you can experience many fun, unique and meaningful outdoor cultural experiences.

Photo by Michael R. Morris

Michaela Scarrott was excited to spend a month with her friends in what was described on Airbnb as a “luxury apartment” located in Whangarei, New Zealand. There was only one problem—Michaela wasn’t looking at the apartment on Airbnb, but was on a fake website posing as the housing marketplace instead. As a result, Michaela’s hopes of spending a fun-filled month with her friends in New Zealand were taken from her, as was her deposit of $4,800.

Volcanic VacationsMust see volcano tours around the worldMaybe it’s the lava they spew, the earthquakes they create, or even the noise they make when they explode with more energy than a nuclear bomb—whatever the case may be, volcanos are naturally intriguing. That’s why you should go on a volcano tour for your next vacation. Here are the volcanos you should visit:

Collapsing Colonies

During a stressful day at work or school, you close your eyes for a second and let your mind wander, spending sweet leisure time in a happier place before being drawn back to reality. The vacation of your dreams shouldn’t be confined to a momentary haven for your overworked brain when instead it could be a thrilling reality. All it takes is a little willpower and planning.