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prairiesongserial · 5 years

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7.1

Marc hadn’t said anything about his plan, but all around John, the Waters estate was a flurry of activity. More suits than John had seen in one place before flooded up and down every hallway. A couple of days ago, Marc had dispatched Stillwater (or Stills, as most of the suits around called him), then Nash and Cole, to keep an eye on the Dead-Eyes. They radioed in at set times that seemed to change every day - perhaps to keep Ethan from catching on to the pattern. Since then, the rest of the house had fallen into chaos. John couldn’t begin to imagine what all the suits were doing - or if it was even related to him and Cody at all.

John wandered through the halls, trying to find Cody or Sailor. Sailor wasn’t sleeping at the estate, but he and Cody had decided to stay. With Ethan so close, it didn’t seem wise to travel even the short distance to Celeste’s motel. John and Cody had chosen to share a room the first night they stayed over, not really trusting Marc, and hesitant to be divided. Neither of them had known what to make of the plush, double-wide pink guest bed, and had slept on the floor. The blankets were so many, and so thick, that they had been sleeping on just them. But when John had woken up that morning, Cody wasn’t there. It was now late morning, and no breakfast or brunch had been called. Maybe that meant Marc was taking this seriously.

John heard a stifled sob down the next corridor. He walked faster, peeking into the rooms he passed as he tried to pin down the source of the noise among the clamor. He cleared his throat a few times, repeating “Are you alright?” in his head until he got the chance to use it.

John paused outside a strange room buzzing with noise - the sobs sounded like they came from inside. John entered the room without announcing himself - which was fine, as it turned out. It was crowded inside, but no one even looked up. The room was divided into stations, each one a little clerk’s office with a telephone and writing paper, and everything was swimming in cigarette smoke. There had been an office like this up in Pith, but reading letters to folks and transcribing their replies hadn’t paid well enough to keep it open. It had closed when John was ten. And the clerk in Pith hadn’t had a telephone. These telephones - six of them - were each manned by a suit. Behind each suit three more waited for a chance at the phone, pacing, talking to themselves, or smoking.

The suit closest to the door John recognized as Jordan - they lounged across a chair with wheels on the bottom, spinning it around, tangling themself up in a long telephone cord. They winked at John as he entered the room. Then, they let out a sustained sob, convincing enough that even some of the other suits in the room looked up.

“Sheriff, please,” Jordan sobbed, wiping at imaginary tears and sniffling pitifully. “I travelled all the way to the El Paso Grand Motel, that’s right sir, that’s twelve miles in unfriendly country, just to get to this phone, and - ” Jordan interrupted themself, sobbing and hyperventilating into the receiver. “I will not calm down!”

John frowned, trying to pick up the other conversations in the room. One suit was pinching their own arm to make themselves cry, saying, “They’re monsters, deputy - they shot my son right in front of me. I want to speak to the sheriff. I want to know what’s being done about this menace.”

John turned back to Jordan, who was practically whispering into the telephone.

“They called themselves the Dead-Eyes,” they choked.

This was Marc’s plan? To file false complaints with the sheriff’s office? Perhaps more than one sheriff’s office, judging by the number of calls being placed. John wandered back into the hallway and almost ran right into another suit.

“Christ, watch - Oh, you’re the bait’s friend. You need to be briefed.”

The suit was so familiar with him that John was worried he was supposed to know who they were. They wore glasses that reminded John of Celeste’s - perhaps Celeste sold them on the side. The suit had a long brown braid running straight down the back of their head, so tight it looked like it hurt. Strong jaw, firmly set. Long eyelashes.

“Uh - ” John began.

“Yes, you’re lost, let’s go.” They snapped their fingers and John followed them as they took off in long strides.

Soon they burst through the doors to a room John recognized - the dining room with the water running down one wall, floor to ceiling. Marc stood pacing by the head of the table, waving away breakfast items, one after the other, that the other suits in the room were trying to serve him.

“ - and anyone who mismanages his gang to that extent… Young, there you are! You know I need you to keep me on task.”

Young, the suit with the braid, stood stiffly at Marc’s right hand.

“Marc, I have a concern,” they said sharply.

Marc ceased to pace.

“Name your concern.”

“All the phones are occupied for Project Headhunter, and - ”

“What is Project Headhunter?” Marc asked.

“...Project ‘drive the price up on Ethan Rouse’s head,’” said Young.

“Yes, yes, yes, that’s right, continue.”

“All the phones are occupied, meaning Cole, Nash, and Stills can’t call in.”

“They have their radios. They don’t need the phone lines.”

“Radio signals are less reliable - ”

Marc began to pace again, waving Young off. But Young inserted themself into Marc’s path, cutting him short.

“Cole’s check-in time was ten, and it’s nearly ten-thirty. I haven’t had word. Stills should be checking in next, that’s at eleven, and Nash’s next check-in is two this afternoon, but we will have already left for the rendezvous.”

Marc took a deep breath, tilting his head from side to side as he waffled over this news.

“Thank you, Young.”

“Sir, I will remind you that that’s my wife, my husband, and my husband in the field.”

Marc turned on them with a sharpness John hadn’t seen in him before.

“Thank you, Young,” he said.

Young spun on their heel and dismissed themselves, slamming the door behind them. A suit offered Marc a blueberry muffin, which he waved away. Then, without warning, Marc stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled. The sudden loud noise knocked the thoughts out of John’s head - and the suits bustling around the dining room scrambled to leave.

“John, good morning,” Marc said, smoothing his hair back.

John gave him a stiff nod. Marc beckoned him toward the head of the table. It was just them, alone, now.

“Where’s Cody?” John said.

“Cody is taking a break.”

“Sailor,” said John.

“Late.”

With that, Sailor entered the room, sunglasses over her eyes and shotgun slung across her back. She heavily favored one leg, the gold one practically dragging behind her. Maybe to fill the gap in conversation, she gave Marc her middle finger.

“Well, I only need the two of you for this part, anyway. Cody knows what he has to do,” Marc sing-songed. “Come here, come here, we should have been on the road an hour ago.”

John and Sailor crowded the table, where John saw a map laid out. Marc had piled it with breakfast objects. A muffin, an egg cup, a half-drunk glass of orange juice, a golden spoon, and one of those lattice cakes John liked.

“This is a map of Old Problem, Texas,” Marc began. He shuffled the objects to the side so John and Sailor could get a good look at the map. It was illustrated with symbols John understood - roads, rivers, rocky terrain, and flat land. Marc’s finger traced a road leading from the western edge of the map toward Old Problem in the east. His finger stopped right in the center of a circle. Almost a perfect circle. John bent closer to the map. According to the key, the area within the circle was flat - but it was caged in by dense rocks.

“This area of Old Problem is a ruin, utterly destroyed,” Marc said. “There’s a clearing in the middle here - ” He tapped his finger on the circle again. “ - the terrain around is a mix. Boulders, plant life, buildings that are falling apart, scrap piled ten feet high. But it’s good cover. Understand?”

John stared down at the map. The rough terrain surrounding the clearing didn’t quite close it in, but allowed narrow access by road on either side. It was a good spot for a stand-off. One man would enter from the west, the other from the east. No funny business. He was beginning to understand Marc’s idea.

“I am the egg cup,” Marc continued. He moved the objects back onto the map so the egg cup, muffin, and orange juice were grouped together. “The muffin is Young, the juice is Cody. Here we are, on the western road, entering the clearing.”

The egg cup, juice, and muffin closed the circle of boulders and decaying buildings on the western side.

Marc moved the golden spoon and the lattice cake now, one flanking the clearing to the north, the other to the south.

“These are you and Sailor,” Marc said. “You will travel along the outside of the circle, unseen, and reconvene here, near where the road picks up on the other side.”

The golden spoon and lattice cake ended up near where Ethan would enter the circle, just far enough from the road that they would be out of sight.

Marc tapped the eastern entrance to the circle.

“You and Sailor are waiting by that gap, but not so close that Ethan sees you when he comes with the money. Now,” he said, “You will have to start moving as soon as Ethan enters the circle. I send Cody to the middle, Ethan sends his man with the money. No one’s armed - Hemisphere rules for inter-gang hostage exchanges.”

Marc moved the muffin and orange juice to the center of the circle. He scooted an unfamiliar coin - so ordinary that John hadn’t noticed it at first - from the eastern edge of the map through the gap, and into the center of the circle to join them.

“Ethan and Cody leave together - ” Marc moved the coin and the orange juice together toward the eastern road. “ - and that’s when the two of you stick him up at gunpoint. Right here at the gap. You take Cody.” He points to John. “Sailor, you take Ethan and collect the bounty on him. We have his head up to a hundred thousand, might be better this afternoon. I believe Jordan is using the grandmother decapitation story.”

Sailor nodded appreciatively.

John frowned at the map. Ethan was symbolized by a single coin - probably dug out of Marc’s pocket as an afterthought. Marc didn’t consider Ethan enough of a player to give him anything more substantial than that.

“Where is Cody?” John asked again.

Marc pointed to the glass of orange juice.

“He means Cody Cody,” Sailor said. She plucked the blueberry muffin symbolizing Young from the center of the map and took a bite.

“Oh, sure, sure,” Marc said, and gestured vaguely to the door behind him. John crossed the room to leave.

“The car is being gassed up now,” Marc called after him. “I need all three of you at the garage in ten minutes. Lord, I need to change. Where is Young…”

Whatever else Marc was going to say was cut short by the slam of the door behind John. He found himself in a long, peaceful hallway filled with blue morning light.

Cody was sitting on the floor in front of an open window. The air was already hot and dry, even this early, and moved through Cody’s hair. Brushing it back like a friendly hand. John had never wanted to be the wind before now.

Cody’s jaw clenched when he saw John, but he didn’t turn his head. John squatted next to him.

“Marc’s plan isn’t going to work,” Cody said, picking his words slowly.

John waited, watching the subtle changes in Cody’s face. He looked like he wanted to say more. John wasn’t used to seeing that in Cody. Usually Cody had such an easy time saying whatever he wanted to say.

Firmly, Cody got to his feet. The wind blew his poncho back, spreading it wide as it flapped around his body.

“Don’t rely on him too much,” he said, finally looking John in the eye. His gaze pinned John in place. “Marc, I mean. I’m not putting myself in Ethan’s hands because I trust Marc to get us out of this.” He swallowed, just as the wind died. His poncho wilted from his shoulders. “I’m trusting you.”

epilogue 6 || 7.2

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livinginlandmarketing · 3 years

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After more than a year of large-scale fairs, festivals and events being a no-go because of the coronavirus pandemic, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s actually the sun, in case you’ve forgotten what it looks like.

There are things to go and do this summer all over Southern California, from family favorites like the OC Fair and Pageant of the Masters to music festivals such as Hard Summer and BeachLife. While many of the events happening will be modified, and in many cases with smaller audiences than before the pandemic, there are still ways to get out and celebrate.

There’s one big caveat here: If we learned anything in the last year, it’s that plans can change fast. Be sure to check refund and cancellation policies before plunking down your cryptocurrency. And you will need to stay on top of COVID-19 precautions, which are also a moving target. Your best bet? Checking with the events’ websites and social media pages for the latest updates and pricing. Be advised that tickets for many events are required to be purchased in advance.

And even though events are being scheduled well into the fall, we’re capping our list as events through the end of September for now.

Sign up for our Festival Pass newsletter. Whether you are a Coachella lifer or prefer to watch from afar, get weekly dispatches during the Southern California music festival season. Subscribe here.

May

San Bernardino County Fair

The SBC Fair is back for three weekends, but you will need to purchase tickets online in advance. This year, the admission price gets you access to the entertainment and includes the carnival rides. You can also nosh on fair food and see livestock exhibits.

When: May 29-31; June 4-6; June 11-13

Where: San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, 14800 7th St., Victorville

Information: sbcfair.com

June

Home Grown Fun

The San Diego County Fair is scaling back for 2021 with a smaller event that has the spirit of the fair. Expect a Ferris wheel, carousel, food, agricultural-themed exhibits and more.

When: June 11-July 4 (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

Where: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar

Information: sdfair.com

Palm Springs ShortFest

The annual festival of short films had more than 5,500 submissions. The schedule will be released in early June.

When: June 22-28

Where: Camelot Theatres, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs

Information: psfilmfest.org

The Redlands Bowl Music Festival will start its season online before moving to in-person events this summer. (File photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival

The Redlands Bowl will start its season online before moving to in-person programming. The lineup has not yet been announced.

When: Select nights June 25-Aug. 13

Where: Redlands Bowl, 25 Grant St., Redlands

Information: redlandsbowl.org

Summer Roots Craft Beer and Music Festival

Brew Ha Ha Productions will debut a new festival featuring reggae and rock bands and craft beer. Performers include Fortunate Youth, The Expendables, Pacific Dub, Arise Roots, Eli-Mac, Bikini Trill and Roots of Mine.

When: June 26

Where: Oak Canyon Park, 5305 E. Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado

Information: summerrootsfest.com/

July

Festival season in Laguna Beach

This seaside enclave will again draw hordes of visitors as Laguna Beach’s three summer art festivals are back. The Festival of Arts will boast work by more than 100 artists, hands-on art demonstrations and live music. The Sawdust Art Festival spotlights the creations of Laguna Beach artists, with more than 200 locals represented. Laguna Art-A-Fair is a juried competition of more than 100 artists from around the world.

When: Festival of Arts, July 5-Sept. 3; Sawdust and Art-A-Fair, July 2-Sept. 5

Where: Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach; Sawdust, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach; Art-A-Fair, 777 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

Information: foapom.com; sawdustartfestival.org; art-a-fair.com

Pageant of the Masters

One of Southern California’s signature events returns with nightly displays of tableaux vivants, or living pictures, featuring volunteers in elaborate costumes and makeup posing to recreate classic works of art. This year’s theme is “Made in America: Trailblazing Artists and Their Stories” and works depicted will include John Trumbull’s portrait of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks,” as well other iconic paintings by Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt and Norman Rockwell. Pageant tickets include admission to the neighboring Laguna Beach Festival of Arts.

When: July 7-Sept. 3

Where: Irvine Bowl, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

Information: 800-487-3378; foapom.com

Midland, shown here at the 2018 Stagecoach Country Music Festival, will headline Mission Fest in San Juan Capistrano in July. (File photo by Matt Masin, Contributing Photographer)

Mission Fest

Headlined by country band Midland, this fest will also include performances from Devin Dawson, the White Buffalo, Daring Greatly and The James Kelly Band. Expect wine, local food, vendors and activities.

When: July 10

Where: The OutPost at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, 27174 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano

Information: missionfest.com

OC Fair

Cute baby animals, carnival rides and vats full of deep-fried wonderment — there’s nothing like a county fair. While the dates, hours and prices will be familiar to veteran fair-goers, organizers plan to have capacity limits, fewer rides and booths and a new layout of the fairgrounds to avoid crowding. Admission tickets must be purchased in advance online. The 2021 Toyota Concert Series will present shows at Pacific Amphitheatre most nights of the fair. Concert tickets are sold separately but include fair admission.

When: July 16-Aug. 15 (Wednesdays-Sundays)

Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Information: ocfair.com; pacamp.com

In this Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019 file photo, a festival goer is silhouetted before a Ferris wheel against the sky at dusk next during Hard Summer Music Festival at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. The festival plans to return in July, but with a new home at the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino. (File photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Hard Summer Music Festival

Insomniac’s big EDM/hip-hop crossover festival moves from Fontana to San Bernardino this year with artists including Future, 2 Chainz and Dillon Francis. Note that it’s open to guests 18 and older only.

When: July 31-Aug. 1

Where: NOS Event Center, 689 S. E St., San Bernardino

Information: hardsummer.com

August

Uptown Jazz Festival

The 10th annual event went virtual in 2020, but in 2019 attracted nearly 10,000 jazz fans. The city announced in May that the event would return in August, but lineup information has not yet been revealed.

When: Aug. 21

Where: Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach

Beyond Wonderland

Insomniac’s massive EDM fest announced in April that it was moving from June to August. The lineup includes Tiesto, Kayzo, Dillon Francis and more. Attendees must be at least 18.

When: Aug. 27-28

Where: NOS Event Center, 689 S. E St., San Bernardino

Information: socal.beyondwonderland.com

The Orange International Street Fair draws hundreds of thousands to downtown Orange for the three-day event.

September

Orange International Street Fair

It’s simply not Labor Day weekend in SoCal without this massive food and beverage festival, which began as a celebration of Orange’s centennial in 1973 and grew into a sprawling event attracting half a million visitors. Booths run by nonprofits will offer a vast array of food items, from egg rolls and gyros to cheesesteaks and brats, plus craft beer and wine. The 3-day event will also have arts and crafts booths, kids’ activities and continuous live entertainment.

When: Sept. 3-5

Where: Area surrounding Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street, Orange

Information: orangestreetfair.org

Same Same But Different

This year’s festival will feature Big Gigantic, STS9 and J. Worra and is going bigger with its production, with larger stages and LED screens and lasers. There will be limited attendance and guests will have to either be vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test before entering.

When: Sept. 9-12

Where: Lake Perris State Recreation Area, 17801 Lake Perris Drive, Perris.

Information: ssbdfest.com

BeachLife Festival

The event’s second edition has moved from May to September and will include sets from Jane’s Addiction, Counting Crows, Ziggy Marley & Stephen Marley performing the music of their father Bob Marley, Fitz and the Tantrums, Cage the Elephant and more. This year will mark the debut of the Speakeasy stage, curated by Pennywise’s Jim Lindberg and celebrated South Bay chef David LeFevre will curate the chef lineup for the stage-side pop-up restauramt.

When: Sept. 10-12

Where: Seaside Lagoon, 137 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach

Information: beachlifefestival.com

God’s House of Hip Hop 20/20 Summer Fest

This Christian hip-hop, Latin Christian hip-hop and gospel hip-hop festival will finally make its debut after having to cancel its inaugural plans in 2020. Performers include Alex Zurdo, Derek Minor, Flame, WHATUPRG, Angie Rose, Canton Jones, Manny Montes and more.

When: Sept. 17-18

Where: Banc of California Stadium, 3939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles

Information: 2020summerfest.com

A classic street rod drives up Euclid Avenue in downtown Ontario on Friday evening, Sept. 20, 2019 during the opening night of the 7th annual Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion. The event is expected to return in September. (File photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion

Celebrate Route 66 with classic cars, tribute acts and family fun in Ontario. The event usually draws more than 1,000 vintage rides and lots of car lovers.

When: Sept 17-18

Where: More than 22 square blocks along Euclid Avenue in Ontario

Information: Route66CruisinReunion.com

So Cal Hoedown

In April, the festival announced a move from June to September. The fourth edition of this punk-leaning fest will include the Horrorpops, Face to Face, Fishbone and more.

When: Sept. 18

Where: Port of Los Angeles, 3011 Miner St., San Pedro

Information: socalhoedown.com

Idyllwild Renaissance Faire

Travel back in time to “The Shire of Idyllwild” for this mountain community Renaissance festival with vendors, entertainment food and more.

When: Sept. 24-26

Where: Camp Emerson, 53115 Idyllbrook Drive, Idyllwild

Information: idyllwildrenfaire.com

Ohana Festival

The fifth edition of the festival will be headlined by Kings of Leon on Friday, fest curator Eddie Vedder on Saturday and Pearl Jam on Sunday. Other performers include Brandi Carlile, Spoon, Cold War Kids, My Morning Jacket and more.

When: Sept. 24-26

Where: Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

Information: ohanafest.com

Other events to be determined

LA County Fair

The Los Angeles County Fair, which usually opens Labor Day weekend and runs for weeks at Fairplex in Pomona, plans to hold a smaller celebration in 2021 but hasn’t announced dates. Information: lacountyfair.com

Long Beach Greek Fest

The Long Beach Greek Fest has announced that it will bring back the food, dancing and more on Labor Day weekend at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church but hasn’t released specifics. Information: lbgreekfest.org

Vans U.S. Open of Surfing

Organizers say this popular annual event will return this year, but have yet to announce dates. Besides featuring the world’s best surfers, the U.S. Open also offers skateboarding and BMX competitions in a temporary arena south of the Huntington Beach Pier. Information: vansusopenofsurfing.com

Pacific Symphony to stream free concert Tuesday to mark anniversary of George Floyd’s death

Gwen Stefani adds dates to her ‘Just A Girl’ Las Vegas residency

Punk rock band X is coming to Pacific Amphitheatre with Los Lobos and the Blasters

Billie Eilish announces three concert dates at The Forum in 2022

Festival Pass: BeachLife announces 2021 lineup

-on May 25, 2021 at 12:21AM by Staff report

#riversidenews

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pearsonclaire1995 · 4 years

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Cat Urine Unfinished Wood Marvelous Useful Ideas

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#Cat Urine Unfinished Wood Marvelous Useful Ideas #Cat Urine Out Of Clothes

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longislandweekly-blog · 4 years

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Highlights of the lower Sunshine State in a Chevy Bolt EV

The 2020 Chevy Bolt EV is the perfect vehicle to explore the great state of Florida while keeping sustainability at the forefront of your travels. (Photos by Mark Elias for Chevrolet)

At a time when the world is trending towards renewable energy and sustainability, individuals are making positive changes in their daily lives—from what car they drive to where they source their food and even where they go on vacation. Southern Florida has a great deal to offer by way of sustainability and even more in the way of fun.

Electric vehicles, simply put, are the future. The industry has experienced immense growth over the past few years, which will only continue in this new decade. The Chevrolet Bolt EV is the brand’s first all-electric vehicle and the 2020 offers fresh features that rival others on the market. With an impressive EPA-estimated 259-mile range on one battery charge, the Bolt EV is an excellent choice for road-tripping.

View of Gordon River from Hyatt House Naples (Photo source: hyatt.com)

Naples

Start your journey in Naples, which is known for its high-end shopping, sophisticated dining options and white sand beaches. The Hyatt House Naples overlooks the Gordon River and is just a short jaunt away from the shops and restaurants of downtown Naples. Its spacious rooms and resort-like amenities provide an optimal getaway for travelers.

Range anxiety, or the fear of your car’s battery running out of juice before you reach your destination or a charging point, is a concern, especially for drivers new to electric vehicles. Luckily, Chevy has an app for that. The myChevrolet mobile app, which seamlessly connects your phone to the car’s infotainment screen, has all of the features you’d expect—ability to start and turn off the car remotely, lock and unlock doors, see diagnostic info on the car and access roadside assistance—plus Energy Assist, which helps plan your route most efficiently according to where charging stations are located. Naples has several around town for your convenience.

Get a great look at the beautiful Naples scenery on a drive in a Chevy Bolt. (Photo by Mark Elias for Chevrolet)

While in Naples, don’t miss out on the Naples Botanical Garden, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary or the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. When you head to the beach, the large cargo storage in the back of the Bolt can hold all of your gear and then some. Catch some rays at Naples Beach, Lowdermilk Park or Clam Pass Park and feel free to wade, fish and kayak in the crystal clear waters.

Nearby, you’ll find Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. What better way to see this expansive wetland than in an electric vehicle that produces zero direct emissions? Preserving the Everglades and protecting it from air pollution pays this national treasure the respect it deserves. You’ll also be grateful the Bolt EV has a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot when you’re out exploring wilds of Southern Florida.

Babcock Ranch is the first greenfield master planned smart town in the U.S. and offers community to residents and visitors alike. (Photo by Mark Elias for Chevrolet)

Babcock Ranch

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to run a whole city on solar power alone, the answer is yes. Located 40 minutes northeast of Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch is the first solar-powered town in the country. It has been built from the ground up with sustainability in mind every step of the way. At approximately 17,000 acres, the property is larger than Manhattan Island. About 80 percent of the land will remain undeveloped, preserved as open space, nature reserves or for agricultural use. Babcock Ranch has partnered with Florida Power & Light to implement 440 acres of solar panels just north of the main town.

The developed portion features a series of unique neighborhoods full of beautiful homes that meet or exceed Florida Green Building standards. Every home comes equipped with a charger suitable for an electric vehicle and residents are flocking there finding a community that shares their lifestyle.

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Members of the media visit Babcock Ranch and learn about the one-of-a-kind city from its inception to today, and the vision for the future. (Photo by Mark Elias for Chevrolet)

Walk alongside Lake Babcock on the boardwalk. (Photos by Kimberly Dijkstra)

The entirety of Babcock Ranch is powered by a photovoltaic solar energy field with 343,000 panels laid out over an area equaling 200 football fields.

Table & Tap has a vast menu of delicious dishes, including farm fresh deviled eggs as a shareable starter.

For a visitor to Babcock Ranch, besides popping into the model homes on display, recreation opportunities abound. First stop at Curry Creek Outfitters and rent yourself a canoe or kayak to take out onto the lake or a bicycle to explore the town or bike-friendly trails. The extensive network of walking, biking and hiking trails expand every day and will ultimately extend more than 50 miles once completed. Another way to see Lake Babcock is to take an electric boat tour offered twice every afternoon or to get out there with a fishing rod and some bait.

Founder’s Square, the downtown area of Babcock Ranch hosts musical acts in the band shell and frequent festivals, such as the upcoming Fitness Festival, pet-friendly Bark in the Park and the Babcock Ranch Art Show. Also, get your juice on at Recharge Juice Co. and sample the ice cream and sorbet flavors at Square Scoops Coffee & Creamery.

Farm-to-table dining at Table & Tap is essential for visitors to experience. A variety of microgreens, herbs, spices and vegetables are grown at the ranch and incorporated into dishes, as well as flavored honeys harvested on site. The menu has dishes to please herbivores, carnivores and everyone in between with fresh, unique takes on classics made with fine, local ingredients.

Electric vehicle charges can be found throughout Babcock Ranch. (Photo by Kimberly Dijkstra)

The parking lots downtown have multiple EV chargers for use by patrons. Like other Chevy vehicles, the Bolt EV has safety at the forefront with high-definition surround view cameras, plus it’s so quiet they implemented the new AVAS pedestrian alert system which chirps at pedestrians who may not have heard it coming.

Nearby Fort Myers has an artsy historic downtown full of galleries, quirky shops and eateries. Catch a show at the Arcade Theater, an old Vaudeville venue that now showcases productions by the Florida Repertory Theater, then treat yourself to a dainty delight at Le Macarons French Pastries. Just down the road is the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, a historic home purchased by Thomas Edison in 1885, later adjacent to Henry Ford’s winter retreat and now open to the public as a museum and botanic garden.

Malibu Farm’s Chef Alex Kuzin (Photo by Mark Elias for Chevrolet)

Miami

The vibrant city of Miami is a two-hour drive away, through the vast expanse of the Everglades down a highway called Alligator Alley (Interstate 75). Don’t count on seeing alligators cross this wide toll road—for that try the Tamiami Trail (U.S. Highway 41) and dip down one of the side roads and take a wildlife tour. Airboat tours are an option, but for an environmentally friendly excursion, take the Shark Valley Tram Tour and observe one of the most incredible ecosystems in the world up close.

Speaking from experience, the Chevy Bolt EV is an ideal car to cross the state of Florida in, due in part to its smart energy-saving features. Regen-on-Demand is triggered by a paddle on the steering wheel, which enables you to slow down without using the brake pedal, thereby converting energy into electricity that is transferred back to the battery. Similarly, using the one-pedal driving mode, slowing down and coming to a complete stop is as simple as lifting your foot off the accelerator. It sounds peculiar at best and scary at worst, but it’s actually completely intuitive and you naturally get used to it after a few minutes. This method also transfers energy back into the battery that is ordinarily lost when you brake.

At Malibu Farm’s pizza-making classes, students make dough from scratch, select toppings, and watch their creations go into the wood-fired oven. (Photo by Kimberly Dijkstra)

As you near Miami, you’ll see the hard-to-miss guitar-shaped silhouette of the Hard Rock Café grow on the horizon and soon the turquoise Atlantic Ocean will come into view. The open-air restaurant Malibu Farm Miami Beach sits right on the water offering stunning views to accompany your meal. Offering the fresh, farm-to-table flavors of Southern California, the restaurant has an international reputation for sourcing local, organic ingredients and being as sustainable as possible. Located inside Nobu Hotel, founder chef Helene Henderson has perfected a vibe of laid-back luxury.

Malibu Farm offers pizza-making classes for adults on Thursday and children on Saturdays, and private classes can be booked on weekdays. Chef de Cuisine Alex Kuzin hosted a recent class for members of the media and gave students a hand-on pizza-making experience. He explained the surprisingly long history of pizza, which dates back to ancient Mesopotamia before being perfected in Napoli, or Naples, Italy, then shared the ingredients of Malibu Farm pizza dough—kosher salt, extra virgin olive oil, yeast, agave syrup, water, high-gluten 00 and the secret ingredient: multi-grain flour made from sesame, sunflower and flax seeds which add texture and a depth of flavor.

Pizza tastes even better when you’ve made it with your own hands. (Photo by Kimberly Dijkstra)

Aspiring home pizza-makers will get a lot out of the class, besides getting their hands dirty and a tasty meal. Each step of the way, Kuzin explains the whys and hows behind each choice, such as why the wet ingredients are added to the dry ingredients and how to eliminate air pockets from your dough, so students understand how to replicate the process at home. The final result is a beautiful wood-fired pizza topped with flavorful sauce, shredded mozzarella and sliced veggies cooked to perfection.

Chasing sustainability on your next vacation is easier than ever. Travel with Long Island Weekly on a road trip through southern Florida—Naples, Babcock Ranch and Miami—in a 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV. Highlights of the lower Sunshine State in a Chevy Bolt EV At a time when the world is trending towards renewable energy and sustainability, individuals are making positive changes in their daily lives—from what car they drive to where they source their food and even where they go on vacation.

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topfygad · 5 years

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How to Spend One Year on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia

Almost nine million people visit Australia each year to scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, trek to waterfalls in Kakadu National Park, visit the Sydney Opera House, surf in Byron Bay, find Chris Hemsworth and eat Vegemite (you’ll quickly learn that last one). There’s a demand to see these places, which means there is always a demand for work.

That’s where you come in.

Australia is one of the easiest countries to get a Working Holiday Visa, and it’s actually the most popular country out of the 62 in the world that offers these kinds of visas.

That’s largely why it attracts 333,000 prospective workers each year who travel to experience the country, make friends and save money along the way.

Prior to 2016, travelers on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) or Work and Holiday Visa (W&HV) were only able to stay in Australia for a year. However, due to changes in legislation, travelers on a W&HV are now able to work and travel for two years—that’s a whole lot of time to experience Australia!

There are is a whole heap of things on your Australian bucket list to tick off so, this one-year itinerary for traveling in Australia on your Working Holiday Visa should serve you well.

4 Months Before Your Trip: Get Your Visa

Don’t put the cart before the horse and buy your flight first. What if your visa gets rejected? That is one expensive lesson!

Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.

Identify the visa that you would like using the Australian Department of Home Affairs website. Depending on which country you are from you will be directed to either a 417 (Working Holiday Visa) or a 462 (Work and Holiday Visa). For example, the UK, Germany, Netherlands and many others get directed to the WHV, whereas the USA, Spain and Argentina can apply for the W&H Visa.

While there are tons of websites out there charging anywhere between $70 to $200 on top of visa fees to give you a visa, your best option is to apply directly through the Australian Government website (the website URL should always end in .gov.au).

The process is pretty simple, should only take around 30 minutes to an hour to complete and, whether you’re applying for a Working Holiday Visa or a Work and Holiday Visa, it will cost you $440 AUD.

These visas give you full working rights in Australia, with the only condition being that you cannot work for the same company for more than six months. It’s structured this way, so you work and travel. Not just both.

Note: You can only get these visas if you’re at least 18 and not yet 31 years old.

It can take anywhere between 24 hours and four weeks for your visa to be granted, so be organized and apply as early as you can. But once you have it, the clock starts ticking—you have 12 months to make your way to Australia. From your date of entry, you are then given one year to work and travel.

3 Months Before Your Trip: Decide Where You Want to Go and Book Your Flight

Once you have your visa (which can take anywhere between 24 hours and four weeks), you’ll want to buy your flights. But Australia is massive, which can induce some serious decision anxiety.

You’re coming over to Australia to work and travel, so you’re going to want a perfect combination of the two.

Well, Melbourne is the world’s most livable city with, beautiful beaches, unique laneway bars and cafes and really, really good nightlife. It’s a cultural melting pot and a foodies’ paradise, and the breathtaking street art makes it, in my humble opinion, the best place to start your travels.

Plus, there are great value-for-your-money flights to Melbourne from most major international airports, with a one-way ticket generally costing $450 USD.

Melbourne is literally the most livable city in the world!

I know many of you likely have Sydney on your mind as a place to start. Just keep in mind it’s going to be the most expensive choice with some serious competition. Because, really—did you think you’re the only backpacker to make Sydney your first choice?

News flash—you’re not, which means “backpacker jobs” will be slightly more difficult to get, especially if you don’t have experience. This isn’t to deter; it’s just some food for thought. Bring your A-game if you plan to find work in Sydney (and maybe a few extra thousand in the bank to tide you over).

Pro Tip: As with any flights, try to avoid the holidays as you will have to pay a premium to fly, and keep in mind that June through September is Australia’s winter (yes, we do have winters here in Australia), so flights are generally a bit cheaper then.

1 Month Before Your Trip: Save That Money and Plan an Epic Party

If it costs $200 just to walk across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and a whopping $5 for a dozen eggs at the grocery store, just imagine how expensive Australia will be.

The good news is that Australia is known for paying well. But you’re going to want to have a few dollars stashed away before you go since you probably won’t be working as soon as you land.

Hanging Rock in the Blue Mountains, Australia.

Your biggest expense is going to be your accommodation. A week in a hostel in Australia is generally around $150 USD. In any standard week, you should anticipate spending anywhere between $300 to $800 USD, depending on activities, your dining and, most importantly, your drinking habits.

(Take my advice: If you drink in pubs the whole time, you will somehow spend a lot of money.)

Just take a look at this breakdown of the average costs of expenses in three major Australian cities. For more, check out Numbeo for a cost of living breakdown in other cities around Australia.

The Average Cost of Living in Sydney (in USD):

Hostel per night: $32

One-bedroom apartment per week: $329

Pint of beer: $5.50

Cheap restaurant meal: $11

A day trip to the Blue Mountains: $75

The Average Cost of Living in Melbourne:

Hostel per night: $25

One-bedroom apartment per week: $298

Pint of beer: $5.50

Cheap restaurant meal: $11

A day trip to the Great Ocean Road: $80

The Average Cost of Living in Cairns:

Hostel per night: $18

One-bedroom apartment for a week: $181

Pint of beer: $5.20

Cheap restaurant meal: $11

Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef: $145

I would recommend getting to a savings point of $5,200 USD before you go, and I’ll tell you why later.

In the meantime, you may want to check out this handy guide on saving money for travel and creating a financial plan that will help you save over the long term.

Day 1-10: Get Set up, Meet People & Tick off That Bucket List

The plane touches down and you wake up from what was likely a very long flight, no matter where you came from. You rub your eyes and, suddenly, you’re in the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria!

Rugged rocks forms hug the bay beaches. The national parks are rife with wildlife. The center city is bustling with coffee fiends and shopping addicts and bar crawlers—vice or virtue, you decide. You’re finally here to pick your poison.

But before you dive right in, I would strongly advise giving yourself at least a week to get yourself set up. You’ll need to open a bank account, get a Tax File Number (this is essential if you want to work), and get your hands on a SIM card.

Traveling for the first time is daunting, and the reason why you started this adventure is to meet new people and to have life-changing experiences.

Noosa coastline

In Melbourne, you actually have the option to check off all the quintessential bucket list items for Australia, like petting a kangaroo or koala bear or learning to surf on some of the best surf beaches on earth.

You can also experience worldwide sporting events such as the Australia Grand Prix or the Australian Open, or go snowboarding or skiing just three hours away by car.

Plus, two popular day trips from Melbourne, include watching the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, when hundreds of penguins emerge from the surf to waddle back to their burrows for the night, and wine tasting in the Yarra Valley wine region.

Day 11-60: Venture Out to the Surrounding Areas

If you’ve taken my advice (and I hope you have) and landed in Melbourne, then I’ve spelled out your plan perfect for you.

Head west out of Melbourne and you have the Great Ocean Road, the most scenic drive in all of Australia and the number one road trip in Oz. It is the fourth most popular destination in Australia, and it’s an absolute must, especially if you’re in Melbourne. It’s about 150 miles of coastline-hugging, beach-kissing, rainforest-penetrating road with the most iconic part being the 12 Apostles.

A five-day road is perfect for this destination. This is especially true if you couple it up with a little-known destination called The Grampians. Then you can either loop back to Melbourne or keep heading west to Adelaide and the outback.

I would then recommend touching base back in Melbourne for a few days before heading in the next destination: east toward Sydney and Cairns. Every east coast trip is different, but you should travel for at least a month and preferably two to three if you want to experience it properly.

Overlooking the Sydney Harbour

The best way to travel the east coast of Australia is to take a hop-on-hop-off Greyhound bus the whole way there.

You could also find a group of other travelers to buy a used car together. You’ll find tons of cars for sale on sites like Gumtree (the Australian Craigslist) or Facebook groups like Backpacker Cars Australia.

If buying isn’t your thing, you can also rent campervans. You can get them from Jucy, Spaceships, Travel Wheels, Travellers AutoBarn, Hippie, Mighty and Wicked. There are plenty of different options depending on the level of luxury you want.

Likewise, if you visit hostels, check the bulletin boards for flyers advertising used cars for sale.

Months 2-8: Start the Job Hunt and Get to Work!

Just because you’re onto the job hunting stage doesn’t mean that the fun has to stop. After living on the road for weeks on end, you’ll probably crave some stability and structure. At least a little bit. And you’ll meet even more people while finally earning yourself some money!

Finding Work in Australia

When you’re done traveling, make sure you have enough money to last a month. You probably won’t find a job on day one of your hunt. That means you need to have enough savings to last you until you find work. Look at job websites like Job Search, Seek and Gumtree to find work in these specific fields.

Making friends and networking is a great way to find a job too!

But don’t spend all day on websites job hunting. Talk to people around your hostel, and ask the workers at the hostel for the best place to find work. In most major cities, there is a specific area where there are always people recruiting in hospitality. So print out that resume and enjoy the day going into as many places as possible asking if they’re looking for any workers.

These areas are your hospitality hotspots, which are full of bars, restaurants and cafes.

Sydney: Kings Cross, Bondi and Oxford Street

Melbourne: St Kilda, Chapel Street and Lygon Street

Brisbane: Fortitude Valley

Cairns: Everywhere

Darwin: Mitchell Street

Adelaide: Glenelg and the CBD

Perth: Northbridge

It is sometimes harder to find employment if you have a specific field you want to work in because most employers believe that working holiday visa makers can only be part of their company for six months, which is generally true.

What to Expect While Working in Australia

The minimum wage is $18.93 AUD in Australia, and most casual positions in hospitality and tourism pay around $20 AUD.

The type of work ranges from being a waiter up to being a skydive instructor—you can view the jobs available to travelers on Working Holiday Visas on the Home Affairs website here, but do bear in mind the work has to be above the Tropic of Capricorn and in certain postcodes.

Your new bffs?

Some aspects of the Australian work culture may also surprise foreigners. Understand these cultural differences:

There’s a lot of casual conversation.

Swearing in the workplace is to be expected.

There will be a lot of happy hours.

Australians are super laidback and uphold a “no-fuss” attitude, which can be jarring in stressful situations.

Office romances are a thing, and they’re not quite as taboo.

Most offices have flat organizational structures, without much hierarchy if any at all.

National workplace safety laws, “Occupational Health and Safety” or “OH&S” are taken very seriously.

Australians use a lot of blunt humor, even in the workplace.

Australians embrace a work-hard-play-hard culture.

The standard working week in Australia is 38 hours per week (7.6 hours per day). They value their time outside of work.

Month 9-12: Keep Traveling

You’ve been working for a few months—that’s a serious high five moment! Take a break. Go on a trip. Let loose a little. You deserve it!

Generally, people’s second journey within Australia is the outback. That may mean the wetland of Kakadu near Darwin. There, you’ll see some of the most jaw-dropping waterfalls and the highest concentration of salt-water crocodiles. I recommend a tour there for at least three days.

Entering Kata Tjuta in the outback of Australia

You can couple this up with the third most popular destination in Australia, the Red Centre. With the cultural history surrounding this area, the iconic sunset at Uluru and nights underneath millions of stars, this is another bucket-list item to tick. To get to this destination you can fly into Alice Springs or Yulara airport.

Alternatively, you can go overland from Darwin or Adelaide for a true outback adventure.

From here you can fly to the place you fell in love with.

Maybe you felt like Byron Bay had a spiritual calling for you. Or you realized that the busyness of Sydney was actually your “cup of tea.” Maybe you’ve been dying to get back to Cairns. Or maybe the world’s best coffee is pulling you back to Melbourne.

Want to Spend a Second Year in Australia?

So many people fall in love with the Australian way of life, so it’s not a surprise that thousands of WHV and W&H Visa workers choose to extend their visas for another year.

View from above—Australia, Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

The Australian Government created an initiative for understaffed industries. This is for people who want to travel and work in Australia for extended periods of time. And the second year working holiday extension allows WHV and W&H Visa holders to extend their initial one-year visa to two if they work 88 days in one of those specific sectors:

Plant and Animal Cultivation

Fishing and Pearling

Tree Farming and Felling

Mining

Construction

At the end of your initial employment, your manager will have to sign off on Form 1263. This includes their ABN (Australian Business Number) to ensure that you have completed the work. Then you will apply for your second-year visa through the same website that you got your first one.

Tip: If you’re on a W&HV (USA I’m talking to you) you can extend your stay by working in hospitality and tourism, as long as these jobs are in Northern Australia. This work ranges from waiting tables to being a skydiving instructor—you can view the jobs for travelers on Working Holiday Visas on the Home Affairs website here.

This all said, you might want to head home or travel in between your first and second year. It’s up to you when you decide to use your second-year visa. Just make sure you use it before you’re 31 or you’ll lose eligibility.

Whatever you do, just remember that you’re going to Australia to work and travel. You left that all-work-and-no-play lifestyle behind at home.

Well, unless you’re this dude, that is.

So now the only question is, what’s the first adventure before you start working in Australia? Let us know in the comments!

READ MORE: Work and Travel in Australia: How to Get a Working/Holiday Visa

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charllieeldridge · 5 years

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15 Best Things To Do in Da Nang, Vietnam

If you enjoy hiking, beach hopping, and eating delicious local cuisine when you travel, Da Nang just might be the place for you. There are plenty of fun things to do in Da Nang to keep you busy.

With a population of over a million, Da Nang is the 3rd largest city in Vietnam. Despite its recent growth and the wealth of Da Nang attractions, it still very much lives in the shadows of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Actually, Da Nang is often overlooked entirely by travelers who simply use it as a travel hub for visiting nearby Hoi An. While it’s true that Hoi An is one of best places to visit in Vietnam, Da Nang is pretty awesome as well! It’s definitely worth adding at least a few days here to your Vietnam itinerary.

First of all, Da Nang is surrounded by mountains and beaches. You can spend your mornings up in the hills enjoying some incredible views before heading to the beach to chill out.

If you need even more excitement than that, there are plenty of excellent day trips on tap from Da Nang. The city is the perfect base for visiting ancient ruins, taking a scenic motorbike ride, and snorkeling around tropical islands. If you’re wondering where to go in Vietnam, add Da Nang to your itinerary.

For more on what to do in Da Nang, read on for my detailed look at the best this bustling Vietnamese city has to offer.

1. Hit the Beach

Topping my list of things to do in Da Nang is visiting the city’s many beaches. Whether you’re looking to take part in some water sports or just kick back and relax, you’re sure to have a good time on the beaches of Da Nang.

The most popular beaches to visit here are just east of downtown. This long stretch of pristine beaches goes for about 30 km from the hilly Son Tra peninsula all the way down to Hoi An. In order from north to south, the beaches in Da Nang are: Pham Van Dong, My Khe, and Non Nuoc.

If you head to the beach during the day, you may be surprised to find it totally deserted. You see, Da Nang is a popular destination primarily for travelers from other parts of Asia. Most tourists who visit the city prefer to stay out of the sun during the day. That means the beaches are usually totally empty until around 3-4 in the afternoon!

Unless you want to cook in the hot afternoon sun, you’ll need some shade. There are parasols and beach chairs up and down the beach that you can rent for about $2. Those who need some more adventure can go jet skiing, parasailing, surfing, and much more.

2. Explore Monkey Mountain

Back in 1965, Da Nang beach was the first landing point for American soldiers at the start of the war. Over the next decade, the city was a popular place for soldiers to retreat to for some R&R. They called the Son Tra peninsula Monkey Mountain for the red-shanked duoc langurs that call the area home, and the name stuck.

These days, exploring Monkey Mountain is one of the best things to do in Danang for visitors. The best way to take in the sights is with your own two wheels. There are plenty of places that rent motorbikes in Da Nang, but if you’re not comfortable riding you can always sign up for a tour of Son Tra instead.

There’s enough to see and do on Monkey Mountain to spend the entire day here. You can stop at scenic overlooks to enjoy panoramic views, head out on hiking trails, or just kick back on some secluded beaches. Just be aware that some of the beaches are private for the fancy resorts over here. The best public beach to visit on Son Tra is Tien Sa (click here for directions).

While cruising around Monkey Mountain, you’re sure to notice a large smiling figure poking up above the treeline. This is the 67-meter tall statue of the Lady Buddha, which is a part of the Linh Ung Pagoda.

This impressive Buddhist temple is one of the top Da Nang attractions and should definitely be on your list of places to visit. It’s free to enter and is well worth a stop on your trip around the peninsula. Click here to get directions.

3. See the Many Bridges

In addition to its beaches and mountains, Da Nang is also famous for its many bridges. Some even refer to it as the City of Bridges for these impressive and rather unique structures.

The Han River Bridge is an important part of the skyline of Da Nang. It’s a swing bridge, meaning that in the middle of the night it swings around on its axis to allow ships to pass through. Be sure to check it out at night when it’s all lit up, making for great photos.

Moving south along the river, you find one of the most popular Da Nang attractions – the Dragon Bridge. This 666-meter long bridge not only looks like a dragon, but it actually breathes fire! Head down to the bridge before 9PM on Saturday and Sunday to see the show.

There are several other important bridges in the city, such as the sail-shaped Tran Thi Ly and Thuan Phuoc, which is the longest suspension bridge in Vietnam. You’ll definitely want to add checking out out the many bridges to your list of things to do in Danang.

4. Visit the Marble Mountains (one of the best things to do in Da Nang!)

Not far from the city center, you’ll find the Marble Mountains. This cluster of limestone hills is a beautiful area to visit on a half-day trip out of the city. Here you can hike to stunning viewpoints, explore tunnels and caves, and check out Buddhist shrines.

In Vietnamese, the names of the mountains actually come from the five elements — water, wood, fire, metal, and earth. It was French geologists who began calling them the Marble Mountains when they discovered what they’re comprised of.

Sadly, these beautiful mountains almost met their demise due to quarrying of the valuable marble. There are still plenty of marble carvings and statues for sale in the nearby villages, but they now import it from China instead of chipping away at the mountains themselves.

Of the five mountains, only Mt. Thuy is open to visitors. You can hike up to the summit or catch the glass elevator to the top if you’re feeling lazy. Tickets cost about $1.75 and it’s open daily from 7 AM-5:30 PM.

You can get to the Marble Mountains on your own with a scooter in just 10-15 minutes from downtown Da Nang. There are plenty of options for tours of the mountains as well if you’d prefer to go with a guide. However, you get there, be sure to include the Marble Mountains on your list of what to do in Da Nang.

5. Hang Out at Sun World Ba Na Hills

By far one of the coolest things to do in Da Nang is heading out to the nearby Sun World Ba Na Hills for an epic adventure. Located on a mountaintop west of the city, this is a massive resort complex with tons to see and do.

Here you’ll find a replica French village, a variety of thrill rides, and a wax museum, among other things. This just might be the strangest theme park in the world, and that’s part of the allure!

For many, the highlight of visiting Sun World Ba Na Hills is the Golden Bridge. It features two giant stone hands that appear to be holding it up and makes for a very popular photo opp.

Entrance tickets cost about $32 for adults and $25 for children and include the cable car plus all rides and games. You’ll have to pay extra to visit attractions like the wine cellar and the wax museum. Click here to get directions to Sun World Ba Na Hills, and click here to look at tours from Hoi An.

6. Go Museum Hopping

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the history of the region, there are a few museums you can visit in town. Start off at the Da Nang Museum, which covers the history, culture, and people of the area.

The Da Nang Museum is spread out across three floors. The first floor provides a good overview of Da Nang, the second has exhibits on the French and American invasions, and the third is all about the indigenous people of the region. It’s not the nicest museum in the world, but for a few bucks it’s worth a quick visit.

Another interesting place to check out is the Zone 5 Military Museum. Here you’ll find an impressive collection of military equipment along with a replica of Ho Chi Minh’s home in Hanoi. There’s another section of the museum dedicated to Uncle Ho himself, which is full of random artifacts like a used toothbrush. Entrance to the museum costs about $3.

Finally, there’s the Museum of Cham Sculpture. This museum has been around for 100 years and has an impressive collection of terracotta and stonework. If you’re only going to hit one museum in Da Nang, make it this one. Tickets cost just $2 and it’s a great warm-up for the next item on our list of things to do in Danang.

7. Day Trip to My Son (one of the most popular things to do in Danang)

Just an hour drive from downtown Da Nang, you’ll find the ruins of My Son. This cluster of ancient Hindu temples dates back to the kingdom of Champa, which you already learned a bit about if you visited the museum.

Following the decline of the Champa, My Son fell into disuse and was mostly reclaimed by the jungle. The French rediscovered it in 1885 and began excavation and restoration efforts. Unfortunately, much of the site was destroyed by bombing during the Vietnam/American War. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fascinating place to visit.

To get out to the ruins, you can rent a motorbike and get yourself there, hire a cab, or jump on a tour. We visited My Son as part of our Easy Riders tour from Hoi An headed south and really enjoyed it since there was no one else out there.

My Son is open daily from 6 AM-5 PM. Tickets to the ruins cost about $7 and you can hire a guide to walk you around for $5. You can get directions and check the location on the map here.

8. Dig Into Vietnamese Cuisine

Eating is one of the best things to do in Vietnam, and Da Nang is no exception. While you’ll find all the Vietnamese standards like pho and bahn mi, you’ll want to make sure you try some Da Nang specialties as well.

The most popular local dish is definitely mi quang. This tasty dish is made with rice noodles, and it usually contains shrimp, roast pork, and quail eggs. Of course, there’s a wide variety of seasonings and garnishes mixed in as well. A bowl of this only costs about $1.50 and it will fill you up!

It being on the coast, Da Nang has plenty of delicious seafood options as well. One interesting local dish you can try is chao tom, which consists of shrimp and garlic paste wrapped around sugarcane. You take it off the sugarcane, dip it in some yummy sauce, and wrap it up in lettuce leaves for an awesome snack.

People in Da Nang also love eating bun cha ca, a fishcake noodle soup that’s rich and hearty. There are plenty of great BBQ restaurants here as well where you can order up all kinds of meat and fish and cook it up right at your table. You definitely won’t go hungry in Da Nang!

9. Go On a River Cruise

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience in Da Nang, why not go on a dinner cruise along the Han River? This is the perfect way to take in the views of the city’s many bridges as they light up at night.

Along the way you’ll get to enjoy a delicious meal and some live entertainment as well, making for a fun start to your night. There are a few different options for cruises on the river. You can hop on the Dragon Boat from 6-7:30 or 8-9:30, which has a restaurant, cafe, and bar. Tickets only cost about $5 if you just want to enjoy the views, or you can sit down if you’d like to have drinks and/or dinner.

Another option is to join a day tour and finish with a cruise along the river. Click here for details.

10. Ride the Hai Van Pass

One of the most fun things to do in Da Nang is taking a drive along the Hai Van Pass. The name means “Sea of Clouds” thanks to the mist that rises up here from the sea.

This 20-km strip of road sits at 500 meters above sea level, making for some absolutely epic views. It rose to fame thanks to its appearance on the popular British TV show Top Gear, which declared it “one of the best coastal roads in the world.”

Traveling along the Hai Van Pass became much safer and more enjoyable thanks to the completion of a tunnel. A vast majority of the larger vehicles now use the tunnel, making the Hai Van Pass more of a scenic alternative route.

You have several options for cruising along this scenic road in Central Vietnam. In my humble opinion the best way to do it is riding your own motorbike, but only for more experienced riders. If you’re not comfortable on a bike, you can sign up to ride pillion with a guide or go on a jeep tour. These range from $60-90 depending on which option you choose.

Click here to learn about motorbike tours of the Hai Van Pass, or click here to learn more about tours in a van.

11. Hit the Links

This may surprise you, but Da Nang is home to several excellent golf courses. Golfers will definitely want to add a round or two to their list of things to do in Danang. No worries if you didn’t pack your clubs, as you can just rent a set.

You don’t have to travel far from downtown Da Nang to hit the links. There are two courses just a short drive away, starting with the BRG Da Nang Golf Resort. The course was designed by golf legend Greg Norman and it has won several awards since it opened in 2010

For visitors, the green fee for 18 holes is about $140 during the week or $190 on the weekend. Head to their website to see all the rates as well as a hole-by-hole description of the course.

Just south of BRG, you’ll find Montgomerie Links. Forbes called this “one of Asia’s top ten elite courses,” and you’ll see why as soon as you step up to the first tee box.

To play this world-class course, it costs $125 for 18 holes during the week and $175 on the weekend. If you don’t feel like walking and carrying your bag, you can hire either a golf cart or a caddy for an additional fee. Read all about the course and all your options on their website.

12. Enjoy Cafe Culture

We can’t talk about what to do in Da Nang (or any Vietnamese city, for that matter) without mentioning the coffee. In between all the adventures in and around the city, it’s nice to just sit down and enjoy a coffee once in a while.

A classic Vietnamese ca phe da is made with coarse ground dark coffee using a small metal drip filter. Watch the strong coffee slowly drip into your cup and then add a bit of condensed milk to sweeten it up. They’re small, but they pack a serious punch! Best of all, Vietnamese coffee rarely costs more than $1.

There are plenty of awesome cafes in Da Nang where you can try some creative coffee drinks. Head to H Coffee to try a delicious coconut coffee or drop by Coffee Trinh to try a funky avocado variety.

13. Visit Cham Islands

One of the most fun things to do in Da Nang is taking a boat trip over to the Cham Islands. This cluster of eight islands makes for the perfect day trip out of the city.

These islands are home to the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, which is a great place for some snorkeling or scuba diving. That’s not all there is to do, though. You can also visit fishing villages, traditional pagodas, and pristine beaches.

The best time to visit the islands is between March and September. Dive shops actually stop running trips in mid-October and don’t start again until February due to poor weather conditions.

To get out to the Cham Islands, most people just sign up for a tour in Da Nang. These range from $50-100 a day depending on whether you’re snorkeling or diving. One company that comes recommended is Cham Island Diving, and they even have an overnight trip.

One thing to note is that many tour operators feed the fish and aren’t eco-conscious. Goats On The Road doesn’t condone any tour operator who provides those types of services. Always ask what is on the tour itinerary before booking.

14. Sun World Da Nang Wonders

If you’re traveling with kids – or are just a big kid yourself – one of the best things to do in Da Nang is visiting Sun World Da Nang Wonders. This amusement and cultural park is fun for the whole family, with plenty of rides, games, performances, and more.

The highlight of the park is definitely the Sun Wheel – a 115-meter tall Ferris wheel that provides some spectacular views of the city. The best time to go for a spin is at night when the wheel and the city are both illuminated in a sea of colorful lights.

Sun World is open from 3-9 from Monday-Thursday and it stays open an hour later on the weekend. Tickets only cost $6.50 for adults and around $4 for kids. It’s located just west of the Han River and is very easy to get to.

15. Drinks With a View

Winding down our list of things to do in Danang is enjoying drinks with a view. From beers down by the river or fancy cocktails on a rooftop, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from!

Beer lovers will want to head to 7 Bridges Brewing. It’s located on the east bank of the Han River just north of the Dragon Bridge, so they’ve got the perfect spot to watch the fire show. Order up a flight of their tasty craft beers and head to their terrace to take in the views.

For a more elevated experience, head to Sky36 Bar. This is the highest rooftop bar in Vietnam, providing some incredible panoramic views of the city. It’s located on the top of the Novotel and is open from 6 PM-2 AM every night. In addition to a fantastic terrace, they also have a trendy nightclub with DJs spinning tunes every night.

Ready for Da Nang?

After reading this guide, you should have no trouble figuring out what to do in Da Nang. As you can clearly see, Vietnam’s third-largest city is much more than a transit hub!

With just a few days here, you can do some scuba diving, hiking, and beach bumming, all while enjoying tasty Vietnamese food and coffee. Hop on a motorbike and cruise for an hour, and you’ll find yourself at ancient ruins or on one of the most scenic roads in the world. Da Nang really has tons to offer travelers, and chances are you’ll want to stay a while!

Have you been to Da Nang and have some tips on what to do there? Leave a comment and let us hear about it!

Note: The images in this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.

The post 15 Best Things To Do in Da Nang, Vietnam appeared first on Goats On The Road.

15 Best Things To Do in Da Nang, Vietnam published first on https://travelaspire.weebly.com/

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pubcapscott · 5 years

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Bike World News headquarters suffered one of our rainiest springs that we’ve ever seen this year and the rain left our local trails a mess well into summer. Still, I was lucky to start my mountain biking season in late March with a trip to Baja’s Rancho Cacachilas. With fall rolling back around in the states, now is the time to plan YOUR trip to Baja California Sur

Located in the rugged Sierra Cacachilas mountains of Baja California Sur, Rancho Cacachilas has a growing network of mountain biking trails that are well suited to day trips or extended stays. If you looked at Baja California Sur on a map, the first thing that would stick out to you would be the party town of Cabo San Lucas (that’s where I flew into), but the region has so much more to offer if you venture away from the beach scene. Indeed, once I started heading out of Cabo towards my jumping off point of La Paz, the landscape and the views were far different with sleepy surf towns like Todos Santos and La Ventana more common than an all day and night party scene.

I was met in La Paz by Rafa, who manages the ranch’s Bike Hub, and set out on another leg of our trip to the ranch. After about an hour drive, we arrived at the entrance to the ranch and then proceeded on dirt roads to the Rancho Chivato camp.

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Rancho Cacachilas was founded to be a responsible steward of their land holdings and to practice social and environmental responsibility. As a part of their mission, they are completely “off the grid”, using solar panels for both electrical need and heating water and relying as much as possible on what they grow to feed their guests (more on the food later). In addition to mountain biking, Rancho Cacachilas is intended to be a destination for trail runners, eco-tourists, foodies and wellness.

Stay and Ride

When I was visiting the ranch, it was late in the season for them. Not only was I the first mountain bike journalist to visit, I was the only person staying at the ranch. While I stayed at a part of the ranch called Rancho Chivato, there were (at the time) four other locations offering rustic camping options (three additional camps are currently under construction). Each offers a specific focus, like farming, wine tasting, a creamery, mining heritage and the like.

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My accommodations were in a relatively comfortable resort room with a queen bed, a futon, dresser and nightstand, there was no TV or radio. Bucket sinks, urinals, bucket showers and composting toilets were just a short walk from the room.

Other sleeping options include cabin tents as well as primitive camping.

While the ranch and the Bike Hub are definitely set up to handle day trippers, you’ll definitely get more out of your visit if you stay for several days as you are closer to the trailheads the further inland you are. More about that below.

The Trails! What About The Trails?

Yes, it’s what I was there for and why you’re reading this article.

Rancho Cacachilas is home to 11 marked trails totaling over 40km in length and the plan is to add to the network every year (there are a total of 71km in the master plan). In line with the ranch’s environmental focus, all of the trails are built to IMBA standards to control erosion, maximize soil retention and lessen their impact. They’re organized in a way that they can be used for day trips as well as multi-day excursions with camping and food options.

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For my first day of riding, I was met at Rancho Chivato by Fernanda, the manager of the Bike Hub. She brought a Giant Stance for me, just one of the options available from the rental shop. After a short warmup on a loop near Chivato, we put the bikes into a truck for a drive to a trailhead near the Las Canoas camp.

If, like me, you’re coming from the Midwest, the dirt here takes a little getting used to. As opposed to our hard-packed, clay-dense soil, the dirt at Rancho Cacachilas is sandy and I definitely had to adjust my balance on the bike. I learned my lesson the hard way after going down in an otherwise tame switchback on the first day.

The day’s trail was not technical when compared to the rocky and rooty trails of home, but there was a lot of climbing and some tight, exposed switchbacks that definitely made me check my speed and sight a little further down the trail. Besides the switchbacks, I was also checking that I was staying centered on the trail to avoid running up against one of the many cacti along the trail.

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Cacti are just one of the sites that you’ll see on these trails. The geology of the immediate area around the ranch is quite different than the surrounding Baja Sur region. Where most of the area consists of sandy washes and a lot of sandstone, the ranch is situated amongst granite mountains peppered with huge boulders (yes, this would be a great place for rock climbers, too) and the aforementioned cacti. Yet one moment you’ll be weaving up or down well designed switchbacks with rocks on either side of you, and the next, you’ll be twisting through a green arroyo with large palm trees and other greenery. In other words, be prepared for a wide variety of terrain.

The signature trail of the ranch is the 5.7 mile Santa Rosa trail. The ranch recommends the trip for those with solid technical skills to handle the terrain, rock gardens, exposed switchbacks and tight turns. The trail can be ridden point-to-point if you’re doing a supported ride, or as a loop by adding in an additional 1.6 mile gravel road section. As you climb and descend, your efforts will reward you with amazing desert and mountain views and the glimmering water of the sea as you look to the east.

While Rancho Cacachilas does not serve up super-high elevations, be prepared for a lot of climbing. The highest peaks top out well over 1000m and it’s possible to ride nearly to that height from sea level.

While the Santa Rosa trail is the highlight, the ranch boasts 11 MTB trails with over 40km of riding. My last day of riding started with the 1.7 mile La Trinidad trail before we hooked up with the 1.7 mile Middle Mountain Trail, parts of the Santa Rosa trail followed by a fast and long downhill into Sargento for an awesome 16 miles of riding.

The Bike Hub

While I was staying at Rancho Chivato, my riding days usually ended up at the Bike Hub. After the first day’s riding, we went to the Hub for a light lunch and to check out the shop.

The Bike Hub not only acts as the jumping off point for riders interested in day trips, it is also a full service bike shop with parts, accessories, clothing and complete bikes from Santa Cruz, Juliana, Giant and Specialized.

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You can also bring your own bike, but the mainstay of their rental fleet are very capable Giant Stances with 27.5+ wheels and 130/120mm travel (F/R). The plus size tires were really helpful in the loose, sandy soil, helping to keep the bike under me. Bikes can be rented from anywhere from 4 hours to all day (approx. $46 to $93)

You can also ship your bike to the Bike Hub and they’ll unbox it and have it ready for you for just $20.

There’s also a pump track just up the street to warm up your skills before hitting the trails.

Guided day trips are run out of the shop seven days a week from October 1 to May 31. The $45 cost includes a guide, shuttles and food & drink when you’re all done.

Let’s Talk About the Food

All of the meals at Rancho Chivato are cooked in a traditional Mexican kitchen from locally grown foods. The first meal I experienced was responsibly-farmed baked fish (Tortola) with purple onions and peppers, served over rice with salad. Hisbiscus tea was always on hand. Breakfasts usually included scrambled eggs, tortillas, granola, yogurt, toast served with salsa and refritos.

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We also enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Las Canoas camp on a break on our longest day on the trail. Beer can chicken, salad and tortillas, all with tea and beer to wash it down.

Sargento and La Ventana

Since we ended up at the Bike Hub at the end of our rides, I got to see a little of Sargento (home to the Bike Hub) and the neighboring town of La Ventana, just to the south.

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The Sea of Cortez, and La Ventana in particular, are well known for their winds and are very popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. While the season had mostly wound down when I was there, Rancho Cacachilas manager Rafael told me that there would be hundreds of kites in the air during the winter when the winds are high and that the area attracts surfers from all over the world during the high season. As such, the area has more to do than you’d expect at first glance with plenty of dining and drinking options if you’re looking to get away from the ranch for a few hours.

Biologically Diverse

While the area is dry desert, Rancho Cacachilas’ team has documented 496 species of plants in the area, of which only 36 are non-native.

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Similarly, the area is rich with insect life, with 50 species of butterflies, 71 species of spiders, eight species of scorpions, and one species of tailless whip scorpion. The team has discovered multiple species new to science, including a species of treehopper previously only found in the Caribbean and a mantid never seen outside of mainland Mexico. Another discovery that captured worldwide media attention was of a new species of a cave-dwelling spider. This species has since been named Califorctenus cacachilensis after the Sierra Cacachilas. Honeybees are very active, especially around Rancho Civato.

The area is also home to 30 native mammals, 37 species of reptiles and amphibians and 102 birds.

Peace & Quiet

The number of visitors at the ranch will vary over the course of the season, but be prepared for an “off the grid” experience.

I brought a book along for the trip, which I quickly finished the first evening I arrived. I was grateful for what little wi-fi there was to download some additional books to my Kindle.

While the quiet took some getting used to, I quickly learned to appreciate switching off from all of my normal distractions and being able to just take in the cooing doves, buzzing bees and other wildlife sneaking in from the periphery.

If you like stargazing, I would propose that there are few places in the world better than Rancho Cacachilas for a dark night sky. I found myself sitting on the top deck of the ranch house for at least an hour each night taking it all in, seeing the universe from a different angle and watching satellites zoom past.

Getting There

Rancho Cacachilas is made up of several large parcels of mountainous terrain, bordering the Gulf of California (a.k.a., the Sea of Cortez), between La Paz and El Sargento in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Flight into Cabo San Lucas will be the least expensive, but there is also an airport in La Paz.

I took a bus from Cabo San Lucas to La Paz for about $50 USD and from there, you can take a 20 minute taxi ride (approx. $26 USD) or Uber ride to the Rancho Cacachilas Administrative Office. From there, staff will transport you directly to Rancho Cacachilas for your stay. La Paz is 30 minutes drive from EL Chivato Adventure Resort & Camp at Rancho Cacachilas.

Confirmed overnight guests are provided with a private shuttle van to Rancho Cacachilas from La Paz. Our staff will meet you at the Rancho Cacachilas Administrative Office or the La Paz bus station to then drive you to Rancho Cacachilas.

Biking Tours

Day trips on the trails of Rancho Cacachilas are $45 plus another $45 for bike rental if needed.

For the real experience of all of the trails, the food, the hospitality, the education and off-the-grid experience, however, I recommend their 4 day/3 night Secret Sierras Singletrack experience ($525 – $750). While that may seem like a lot, that includes lodging, meals, complimentary wine & beer at meals, cheese tasting, route guides and transportation around the ranch and La Ventana. Of course, you’ll still need to rent a bike if you don’t bring your own.

Other options for stays include Eco-Adventure Tours, Hiking Tours, Mule Tours and add-on 3 days stays on the Sea of Cortez at RC’s partner facility on the Sea of Cortez, Rancho Las Cruces.

To say that they treat you like family is not enough. It’s more like spending a few days with old friends as they take you on adventures and feed you great food!

Wrapping It Up

If you’re looking to extend your mountain biking season well into the winter, or get an early start on spring training, a trip to Rancho Cacachilas will be an awesome experience that you’ll never forget.

Ride through the winter at Baja’s Rancho Cacachilas Bike World News headquarters suffered one of our rainiest springs that we've ever seen this year and the rain left our local trails a mess well into summer.

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jonathanbelloblog · 5 years

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The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Delivers on Its Promises

Here’s the scoop in a nutshell: The five-passenger Hyundai Santa Fe crossover is thoroughly redesigned for 2019. It’s no longer called Santa Fe Sport, either, a nomenclature change made just as the larger three-row Santa Fe XL based on the previous model prepares to give way to the all-new Palisade for 2020. Oh, and there’s this: The new Santa Fe is bigger and roomier than its predecessor in every meaningful dimension.

While a slew of trims is available, plus a choice of front-drive or all-wheel drive ($1,700 extra), the test car that showed up on my doorstep for a weeklong stint was a mid-level SEL Plus with FWD. This is a clean and handsome rig, with narrow LED daytime running lights atop LED headlights, both outboard of a chunky egg-crate grille with fog lamps positioned to each side. Lithe A-pillars improve forward visibility, while the front overhangs have been minimized. Handsome 18-inch wheels are standard with the SEL Plus.

A quick look at the window sticker’s $30,780 base price shows the word “INCLUDED” next to every item on board, save for a piddling $125 for carpeted floor mats. There’s a ton of standard stuff. Safety gear includes blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, active cruise control with stop and go capability, and forward collision avoidance. The Santa Fe is also Hyundai’s first vehicle to include across-the-range standard Safe Exit, which warns occupants about opening side doors if a car is approaching from behind (the system can also automatically override the electronic child safety locks to prevent the driver from unlocking them if a car is approaching). Convenience goodies include an eight-way power driver’s seat (both front seats are heated), keyless entry and start, heated side mirrors, a 7.0-inch color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a premium Infinity audio system with surround sound and Clari-Fi, the latter a function which seeks to wring the best audio quality from compressed digital files.

Climb aboard and the new Santa Fe immediately feels airier than its predecessor, particularly in the seats; front hip room has increased nearly an inch. The dash is an approachable mix of digital screens and analog controls, making it a no-brainer to dial-in your preferred radio station (SiriusXM is included) or configure the dual automatic climate control to your liking. The forward center console includes ports for 12-volt gear, USB, and an AUX input. The materials are tasteful and everything is nicely finished, but the overall look is more functional than luxurious. That said, the simplicity of the interface and the resulting lack of annoyances proved more welcome in day-to-day driving than a hedonistic Nappa-leather cockpit full of overly wrought tech.

The rear seats gain more than an inch of legroom and there’s enough space for three adults (on short trips at least). The rear seat slides fore and aft, reclines, and also folds flat. Nearly three inches of added overall length have increased cargo room behind the second row, too. At the rear, a hands-free smart power liftgate is standard.

While a 235-horse 2.0-liter turbo four is optional, my example was powered by the standard 185-hp 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four. It’s a generally agreeable powerplant, moving the Santa Fe through urban traffic easily and reasonably quiet on the highway—though it can get strident when pulling up a steep grade. Making the most of all 178 lb-ft of torque is a new eight-speed automatic that greatly improves power delivery compared with the outgoing six-speed. It goes about its work seamlessly and quietly. The powertrain earns an EPA combined rating of 25 mpg.

No one would mistake this tall crossover for an enthusiast’s machine, but in almost all but spirited driving maneuvers the Santa Fe excels. The ride is improved thanks to a revised suspension, and steering is quicker and quite good. I drove the rig on errands, school-bus pickups, trips to the garden center and the grocery store, and an enjoyable Saturday jaunt to Santa Barbara for lunch and a museum visit—that trip being just under 200 miles up and back for the afternoon. In every situation, the new Santa Fe felt polished and composed, with an abiding feeling of structural solidity and the versatility to switch mission profiles in a blink.

No, the Hyundai cannot match the premium labels in richness of feel or finish. But at just under $31K with every feature above included, the new Santa Fe delivers a boatload of highly desirable amenities and safety tech, plenty of room for passengers and cargo, and a driving experienced that’s impressively refined and thoroughly competent. Besides, if you need more luxe, there are two even more impressively outfitted trims available—Limited and Ultimate—each with all-wheel drive and the turbo four optional.

Hyundai was right to drop the “Sport” moniker from its 2019 crossover. It’s everything else that the new Santa Fe does well.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Plus 2.4 FWD Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE $30,780/$30,905 (base/as-tested) ENGINE 2.4L DOHC 16-valve inline 4, 185 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, FWD hatchback EPA MILEAGE 22/29 mpg (city/highway) L x W x H 187.8 x 74.4 x 66.1 in WHEELBASE 108.9 in WEIGHT 3,800 lb (est) 0–60 MPH 8.5 sec (est) TOP SPEED 125 mph (est)

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eddiejpoplar · 5 years

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The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Delivers on Its Promises

Hyundai was right to drop the “Sport” moniker from its 2019 crossover. It’s everything else that the new Santa Fe does well.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Plus 2.4 FWD Specifications

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#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

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jesusvasser · 5 years

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The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Delivers on Its Promises

Hyundai was right to drop the “Sport” moniker from its 2019 crossover. It’s everything else that the new Santa Fe does well.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL Plus 2.4 FWD Specifications

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webbygraphic001 · 6 years

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The Role of Place-Onas in the Future of UX

Most people are familiar with the concept of a persona—a fictional character that embodies the traits of your target audience. Marketers gather details from user research and generate a representation of their ideal client. When developing a website or smartphone app, designing for a persona helps identify how users will interact.

Recently Bill Buxton took it one step further when he introduced the concept of a place-ona, a representation that uses smart device feedback to gather data on how and where users interface with their device. Find out how place-onas might give designers and business owners additional insight into consumer behavior and work as a tool in designing for specific locations…

Always Tracking

Most users rely on their smartphones or other mobile devices to provide useful information, but they seldom stop to think about how it’s gathered. In the past, individuals worried about technology interfering with privacy, but now users invest in wearable and portable technology that makes tracking easy. That same technology can help with UX design. Most smartphones currently track the following:

Location: If you own an Android or have a Google account, access information on where you’ve been for as long as you’ve had your account. Google says your location history is only available to you, and it’s possible to delete portions, but many other apps provide designers with general location information after users provide consent at download. Snapchat’s Snap Map lets users share their locations and track friends using Bitmoji. Facebook Messenger and travel maps such as CityMapper display user location and helps them locate others nearby.

Contacts: Phones gather contact lists and store calls, text messages and conversations through social media. An analysis of your most recent contacts and social media interactions provides a clear picture of those with whom you network the most. Apple’s Find My Friends helps users locate people in busy shopping centers and WhatsApp combines your phone contact list with current location data.

Mood: Users post mood statements on social media for everyone to see, but that’s not the only way mobile devices track emotions. An Italian study on smartphones and mental health tracked patients for four months and found researchers could use location and activity data to predict mood with 94 percent accuracy. Adding information on call duration and recurrence enabled 97 percent accuracy.

Researchers use Apple’s Health App to unlock user information for research. Law enforcement uses smartphone data to solve crimes and assist in prosecution. Stored GPS information in a handset is more accurate than cell tower data because it includes a time stamp.

SafeGraph collects data on human interaction to create detailed maps of more than 50 million U.S. locations. They send data pings to smartphones to create high resolution GPS data and gather explicit and implicit information from large populations. They then use machine learning to check that information against third-party data such as mobile app developers and APIs to confirm its validity. Their goal is to understand how people intermingle with their physical surroundings.

Smartphones aren’t the only devices collecting data. FitBit measures how many calories users consume and their daily physical activity. Other wearable devices analyze sleep and heart rate.

Using Data To Create a Place-Ona

Bill Buxton is a computer scientist and designer from Canada currently working as one of the top researchers at Microsoft. His specialization is human-computer interactions. He believes innovation results from long-term perseverance and consistent thoughtfulness about human social interactions. He starts each new innovation by first being a keen observer. He created the term “place-ona” to explain how location and activity influences what type of technology people use.

Humans interact with technology using their eyes, ears, hands and voices. The type of input users choose depends on where they are and what they’re doing:

In the library, users might be studying quietly while wearing ear buds. Their place-ona would be “voice restricted, hands free, eyes free, ears free.”

In the car, users must keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Their place-ona might be “eyes busy, hands busy, ears free, voice free.”

While people are at home preparing supper, they may not want to touch their device because of what else might be on their hands. They could be described as “hands restricted, eyes, ears and voice free.”

In a movie theater, users avoid using devices because screen brightness interferes with viewing. They can’t hear because of the movie volume and wouldn’t use voice input. Their place-ona restricts all forms of input.

In the library, the preferred input method would be touch. In the car, or while cooking, users would prefer to use voice. Users often silence their devices and put them away during a movie and are unlikely to respond to any type of communication.

Potential Uses

Location-based advertising allows marketers to target specific consumers with responsive billboards or text coupons triggered by proximity. A place-ona might eventually enable brands to make advertising even more hyper-targeted.

When someone is on a bicycle, his or her eyes and hands are restricted, but ears and voice are available. When the cyclist passes an advertisement or vendor for athletic apparel, they might be interested in receiving more information. If they had to wait until they got home to look it up, they are likely to forget, but they could verbally indicate interest and provide an email address to receive a coupon.

Designers are constantly looking for ways to make technology less intrusive and more intuitive to allow the user to remain immersed in the experience rather than having to disengage to interact with a machine. Body tracking applications and place-onas provide insight for designers and might be used in some of the following ways:

In healthcare, designers are seeking to create touchless image manipulation for use during surgery and clinical evaluation. Solutions might use voice or gestures.

Advances may result in interactive cooking apps where devices sense from user gestures and responses when it is time to move on to the next set of instructions.

Video games might integrate environmental factors like lighting, furniture arrangement and background noise into play.

Place-Onas and Bots

Bots are only beginning to integrate into everyday life, and brands are still trying to decide whether text or chat bots offer the best interaction. A user’s place-ona indicates what type of bot is most appropriate. When users are at home or in their vehicles, they feel comfortable conversing aloud with a voice user interface. When they are in public, they are less likely to want verbal interactions.

When developing a bot, consider how the user might feel about asking questions aloud. A teenager interested in acne medication isn’t likely to want to talk about it aloud no matter what their environment. A health care product may be something people purchase every day, but some users might feel uncomfortable talking about it at the gym or while using public transportation.

In other situations, a place-ona would indicate the need for a voice user interface. Someone bringing in groceries and starting lunch has their hands and eyes occupied. When they realize they forgot eggs, they may not want to stop, wash their hands and touch their phone or computer to add items to their online list. They might prefer to interact with the AI in their refrigerator verbally because of where they are and what they’re doing.

As user data becomes more accurate and comprehensive, it will provide usable data that changes the way people interact with machines. A place-ona is just another tool designers can use to make experiences more accessible to the user.

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unixcommerce · 6 years

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The Role of Place-Onas in the Future of UX

Always Tracking

Smartphones aren’t the only devices collecting data. FitBit measures how many calories users consume and their daily physical activity. Other wearable devices analyze sleep and heart rate.

Using Data To Create a Place-Ona

Humans interact with technology using their eyes, ears, hands and voices. The type of input users choose depends on where they are and what they’re doing:

In the library, users might be studying quietly while wearing ear buds. Their place-ona would be “voice restricted, hands free, eyes free, ears free.”

In the car, users must keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. Their place-ona might be “eyes busy, hands busy, ears free, voice free.”

Potential Uses

In healthcare, designers are seeking to create touchless image manipulation for use during surgery and clinical evaluation. Solutions might use voice or gestures.

Advances may result in interactive cooking apps where devices sense from user gestures and responses when it is time to move on to the next set of instructions.

Video games might integrate environmental factors like lighting, furniture arrangement and background noise into play.

Place-Onas and Bots

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longislandweekly-blog · 5 years

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Ride the Cloudsplitter Gondala up to the top of Little Whiteface for this beautiful view. (Photos by Christina Claus)

For those not ready to give up the chill and graceful beauty of winter, why not take a weekend trip up to the winter wonderland that is Lake Placid? The village with the same name as the nearby lake is a five-hour drive away from Nassau County, but a vast—and much needed—change in surroundings, with the tips of mountain peaks covered in white at all times and a frozen lake perfect for snow-filled activities.

My boyfriend and I packed the Durabed of the 2019 Chevy Silverado—perfectly roomy for a ton of ski gear—with our bags, a few bottles of wine, boots and room for more, and hit the road at 6:30 a.m. on a Friday morning. Now, a five-hour drive might seem pretty long, but we had curated a Spotify playlist to get us through. I don’t know how great our song choices were because we kept hitting next on the infotainment touch display or on the steering wheel. Although there were two of us in the front seat enjoying the personalized heating system and seat warmers, the Silverado would have comfortably fit a family of five, with plenty of leg room.

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Lodges and chalets surround the lake.

Kids can always be found skating on Mirror Lake.

Visitors can hop on a dog sled ride on Mirror Lake.

The dogs will take you around the lake.

Look at those huskies go!

The Chevy Silverado is the perfect car to bring on a ski weekend.

As we drove further upstate, we could see a change in the weather and a light snow on the ground. After getting off I-87, it was as if we had been transported into a winter wonderland, with frozen ice formations and ice climbers with their picks and ropes, a partially frozen river and a picturesque bridge covered in a recently fallen snow. At first, I was a bit weary because I hate driving in snow, but the truck handled extremely well. Going upstate, back down and each day of the trip around the village and to Whiteface Mountain called for many of twists and turns that the Silverado navigated with ease.

Before checking into our lodging, so we decided to use our Olympic Passports, a ticket I highly recommend when visiting the area because it allows you to visit several of Olympic sites, such as the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, a quaint museum with interesting Olympics memorabilia. The passport also includes ice skating on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval, a tour of the combined bobsled/luge/skeleton track, a tour of the Olympic Jumping Complex and elevator to the skydeck, which sits on top of the 120-meter jump tower, and a scenic ride on the Cloudsplitter Gondola to the top of Little Whiteface.

After checking out the museum, we ventured onto Main Street, full of shops offering ski and skate rentals, a bookstore, a plethora of restaurants for all tastes, homemade décor stores, a popcorn shop with unusual flavors like mint chocolate, breweries, clothing stores and a four-screen movie theater. While walking down Main Street, you can nab a glimpse of the frozen lake between stores.

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Sausage biscuit bene from The Breakfast Club, Etc.

Waffles for breakfast at The Breakfast Club, Etc.

Shrimp scampi from Jimmy’s 21

Hot cocoa from Emma’s

Cozy up to the fireplace at Club Boat House.

The dining room at the Crowne Plaza has a nice view of Mirror Lake.

Most of the restaurants in Lake Placid sit right on Mirror Lake, so each night and morning we were able to view couples walking hand in hand on the snowy lake or ice skaters practicing through the wall-length windows. While the views were phenomenal, each restaurant had fantastic cuisine from Jimmy’s 21, a cozy Italian restaurant, to The Boat House, which sits across the lake allowing for views of the bustle of Main Street inside a cabin-like restaurant with a roaring fireplace, to The Breakfast Club, Etc., which has a lengthy menu of mimosas and bloody Marys and a must-have menu item: the sausage biscuit bene which featured a scratch-made cheddar biscuit topped with homemade rosemary whole grain Dijon sausage, poached eggs and hollandaise.

For all dessert needs, Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery has a ton of tasty treats like edible cookie dough and hot cocoa with a scoop of ice cream topped with whipped cream and toppings. Each restaurant we visited was family-friendly and, while at Emma’s, we witnessed staff go out of their way to learn about a family’s weekend plans and help them create the best sundae.

Our hotel, Crowne Plaza Lake Placid (101 Olympic Dr.), sat atop a hill, allowing for mountain and lake views, and was within walking distance of all of the shops, restaurants and lake activities. Pulling up to the hotel, it was like walking into a Hallmark Christmas movie—you know the one, with the log cabin resort that the main character always ends up stranded in and the fireplace with a seating area perfect for a relaxing night after a day of skiing and romance and all. Our deluxe room was at the other end of the hotel, and just oozed a cozy feeling with its own in-room fireplace that captured my attention immediately as a spot for reading and a balcony with a view of the mountains and the snow that fell almost every day.

Enjoy the mountain views on the way to and from Lake Placid.

While the Olympic sights are a must-visit, there are still so many activities happening on Mirror Lake every day. I would say a day could be dedicated to lake activities: ice skating, friendly games of hockey, a walk on the frozen lake, or a ride on the Toboggan Chute that launches riders straight onto Mirror Lake. Although we waited about an hour for dog sledding (I’d suggest getting there when it opens at 10 a.m.), it was worth the wait to experience the beauty of Mirror Lake and its surroundings while watching little dog butts run along a path in front of you.

On our last day, we headed to Whiteface Mountain, traveling just a few minutes outside of the Main Street area along a winding road filled with snow. We barely felt any bumps along the way, including the twisty ride up the mountain and into a lot where we had to parallel park in one of the last spaces with ease because of the surround vision and back-up camera. The resort was filled with skiers in colorful jackets each way you looked, families, couples and individual skiers getting ready to hit the slopes, speeding down the mountain or waiting for the Cloudsplitter Gondola. If you only use the Olympic Passport for one thing, make sure it’s the gondola ride. Whether a skier or not, the ride takes you to the top of Little Whiteface, during which I learned you can view Vermont from someone else on the ride. The ride is a winter lover’s dream with overall breathtaking views as the ride climbs the mountain, and once you reach the top, step out and look at the mountain tops above and lakes below.

With a ton of activities, restaurants and gorgeous views, Lake Placid is a great spot for a family weekend getaway, a romantic couples retreat or a friends vacation that will have you returning time and again.

Long Island Weekly's Christina Claus enjoys a weekend getaway at Lake Placid, the perfect place to spend the last licks of winter. For those not ready to give up the chill and graceful beauty of winter, why not take a weekend trip up to the winter wonderland that is Lake Placid? 1,159 more words

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topfygad · 5 years

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How to Spend One Year on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia

That’s where you come in.

Australia is one of the easiest countries to get a Working Holiday Visa, and it’s actually the most popular country out of the 62 in the world that offers these kinds of visas.

That’s largely why it attracts 333,000 prospective workers each year who travel to experience the country, make friends and save money along the way.

There are is a whole heap of things on your Australian bucket list to tick off so, this one-year itinerary for traveling in Australia on your Working Holiday Visa should serve you well.

4 Months Before Your Trip: Get Your Visa

Don’t put the cart before the horse and buy your flight first. What if your visa gets rejected? That is one expensive lesson!

Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.

Note: You can only get these visas if you’re at least 18 and not yet 31 years old.

3 Months Before Your Trip: Decide Where You Want to Go and Book Your Flight

Once you have your visa (which can take anywhere between 24 hours and four weeks), you’ll want to buy your flights. But Australia is massive, which can induce some serious decision anxiety.

You’re coming over to Australia to work and travel, so you’re going to want a perfect combination of the two.

Plus, there are great value-for-your-money flights to Melbourne from most major international airports, with a one-way ticket generally costing $450 USD.

Melbourne is literally the most livable city in the world!

1 Month Before Your Trip: Save That Money and Plan an Epic Party

If it costs $200 just to walk across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and a whopping $5 for a dozen eggs at the grocery store, just imagine how expensive Australia will be.

The good news is that Australia is known for paying well. But you’re going to want to have a few dollars stashed away before you go since you probably won’t be working as soon as you land.

Hanging Rock in the Blue Mountains, Australia.

(Take my advice: If you drink in pubs the whole time, you will somehow spend a lot of money.)

Just take a look at this breakdown of the average costs of expenses in three major Australian cities. For more, check out Numbeo for a cost of living breakdown in other cities around Australia.

The Average Cost of Living in Sydney (in USD):

Hostel per night: $32

One-bedroom apartment per week: $329

Pint of beer: $5.50

Cheap restaurant meal: $11

A day trip to the Blue Mountains: $75

The Average Cost of Living in Melbourne:

Hostel per night: $25

One-bedroom apartment per week: $298

Pint of beer: $5.50

Cheap restaurant meal: $11

A day trip to the Great Ocean Road: $80

The Average Cost of Living in Cairns:

Hostel per night: $18

One-bedroom apartment for a week: $181

Pint of beer: $5.20

Cheap restaurant meal: $11

Day trip to the Great Barrier Reef: $145

I would recommend getting to a savings point of $5,200 USD before you go, and I’ll tell you why later.

In the meantime, you may want to check out this handy guide on saving money for travel and creating a financial plan that will help you save over the long term.

Day 1-10: Get Set up, Meet People & Tick off That Bucket List

Traveling for the first time is daunting, and the reason why you started this adventure is to meet new people and to have life-changing experiences.

Noosa coastline

You can also experience worldwide sporting events such as the Australia Grand Prix or the Australian Open, or go snowboarding or skiing just three hours away by car.

Day 11-60: Venture Out to the Surrounding Areas

If you’ve taken my advice (and I hope you have) and landed in Melbourne, then I’ve spelled out your plan perfect for you.

Overlooking the Sydney Harbour

The best way to travel the east coast of Australia is to take a hop-on-hop-off Greyhound bus the whole way there.

Likewise, if you visit hostels, check the bulletin boards for flyers advertising used cars for sale.

Months 2-8: Start the Job Hunt and Get to Work!

Finding Work in Australia

Making friends and networking is a great way to find a job too!

These areas are your hospitality hotspots, which are full of bars, restaurants and cafes.

Sydney: Kings Cross, Bondi and Oxford Street

Melbourne: St Kilda, Chapel Street and Lygon Street

Brisbane: Fortitude Valley

Cairns: Everywhere

Darwin: Mitchell Street

Adelaide: Glenelg and the CBD

Perth: Northbridge

What to Expect While Working in Australia

The minimum wage is $18.93 AUD in Australia, and most casual positions in hospitality and tourism pay around $20 AUD.

Your new bffs?

Some aspects of the Australian work culture may also surprise foreigners. Understand these cultural differences:

There’s a lot of casual conversation.

Swearing in the workplace is to be expected.

There will be a lot of happy hours.

Australians are super laidback and uphold a “no-fuss” attitude, which can be jarring in stressful situations.

Office romances are a thing, and they’re not quite as taboo.

Most offices have flat organizational structures, without much hierarchy if any at all.

National workplace safety laws, “Occupational Health and Safety” or “OH&S” are taken very seriously.

Australians use a lot of blunt humor, even in the workplace.

Australians embrace a work-hard-play-hard culture.

The standard working week in Australia is 38 hours per week (7.6 hours per day). They value their time outside of work.

Month 9-12: Keep Traveling

You’ve been working for a few months—that’s a serious high five moment! Take a break. Go on a trip. Let loose a little. You deserve it!

Entering Kata Tjuta in the outback of Australia

Alternatively, you can go overland from Darwin or Adelaide for a true outback adventure.

From here you can fly to the place you fell in love with.

Want to Spend a Second Year in Australia?

So many people fall in love with the Australian way of life, so it’s not a surprise that thousands of WHV and W&H Visa workers choose to extend their visas for another year.

View from above—Australia, Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

Plant and Animal Cultivation

Fishing and Pearling

Tree Farming and Felling

Mining

Construction

Whatever you do, just remember that you’re going to Australia to work and travel. You left that all-work-and-no-play lifestyle behind at home.

Well, unless you’re this dude, that is.

So now the only question is, what’s the first adventure before you start working in Australia? Let us know in the comments!

READ MORE: Work and Travel in Australia: How to Get a Working/Holiday Visa

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