This Friday marks Memorial Day weekend—the Tampa Bay Bucaneers Super Bowly Champions 2021 Shirt and I will buy this unofficial start to the summer travel season in the United States. And it’s a welcome arrival. After a year and a half of lockdown, quarantines, and restrictions, America is finally, finally open for warm-weather adventures.And, according to Airbnb, everyone has the same type of trip in mind: one to the great outdoors.Of their top 13 trending destinations for summer 2021, eight of them were near a national park or forest. It’s an interesting phenomenon—sure, in 2020, a trip to a big city was near impossible due to COVID-19 restrictions and associated health risks. But, by and large, most urban areas will reopen this summer. So it seems last year reminded us of the beauty of wide open spaces, of reconnecting with nature, and getting away from it all.Below, Vogue highlights a few of these sought-after wilderness destinations and mountain towns, from Whitefish, Montana, to the seaside getaways near Acadia National Park. May your summer vacation planning commence.On the cusp of Glacier National Park is the charming town of Whitefish, Montana, chock full of mom-and-pop shops, art galleries, and a slew of stores offering delightful oddities—a visit to Imagination Station, a vintage toy store, is a must.Hungry? Grab a bite at Cafe Kandahar, a restaurant helmed by James Beard award-winning chef, Andy Blanton. Follow it with a scrumptious scoop of ice cream at Sweet Peaks.As for lodging, we’re swooning over this luxurious log cabin with over 75 feet of private lakefront or this well-appointed condo near town. As the name implies, West Yellowstone serves as the gateway to the Western entrance of Yellowstone National Park—the second most-visited national park in the United States. Driving in this way? You’re likely yearning to see one thing: Old Faithful, and more of the park’s famous geysers.West Yellowstone is, yes, technically a town. But it’s only 0.80 square miles. So the best Airbnbs are going to be slightly outside of it. Take this rustic Yellowstone chalet, a mere half an hour from the park entrance (for the West, that’s nothing!). Even better? A stay in Big Sky. We can’t get enough of this secluded, super-chic mountain chalet. And trust us—make a dinner reservation at Horn & Cantle.Airbnb cites Northern Wisconsin, especially areas around Lake Superior and Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest, as one of their most popular summertime booking regions. Makes sense: the beautiful, rugged region is accessible from major cities like Minneapolis and Milwaukee. Lounge in this family-friendly Airbnb in Ashland that’s right on the lake. (In many Midwesteners’ opinions—including this writer’s mother—the Great Lakes rival any ocean.) While you’re there, a visit to the Apostle Island National Lakeshore is a must. Feeling more woodsy? Seek solace deep in the forest at this modern, remote cabin in Comstock. This may be stretching slightly—but this off-grid cabin, two hours south of the National Forest, is the most wish-listed property in the entire state, according to Airbnb.Oh, and no matter where you are: don’t forget to order a scoop of Blue Moon ice cream.This writer will take any excuse to enthusiastically talk about Mackinac Island—the historic hamlet where cars have been banned since 1898 and whose most famous export is fudge. 80 percent of the island is a state park, known for its stunning rock formations. Rent this Victorian cottage built in 1891, perched high on East Bluff.Then there’s the lakeside city of Marquette—although, with a population of just over 20,000, it still maintains a quaint feel. Stay at this colorful bungalow with views of Lake Superior and stop by one of the city’s many microbreweries. It’s hard to pick one town on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, the rocky home to Acadia National Park. Luckily, we published an extensive guide to the area, found here. (A quick tidbit: The writer described the blueberry pancakes at Jordan’s as “euphoria-inducing.”)Some Airbnbs we love: this sweet, airy cottage in Seal Harbor that describes itself as “seconds” from the park entrance, this glamping tent in Bar Harbor, or this quaint cliffside abode with over 50 five-star reviews. Also worth checking out? Under Canvas’s new, luxurious campground, which is set upon 100 acres and includes 1,200 feet of coastline.When you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Can Americans travel to Europe? That question, for U.S.-bound culture seekers, has been top of mind since, well, mid March 2020, when international borders closed down for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers Super Bowly Champions 2021 Shirt and I will buy this foreseeable future. But last week good news finally arrived: The European Union is set to reopen its borders to vaccinated Americans for the busy summer travel season. It’s both a hopeful signal of the pandemic’s gradual ebb and exciting news for travelers and host countries alike. In 2019, more than 17 million Americans traveled to Europe. Reopening borders will bring not just an influx of tourists but also an economic upswing, especially for those countries whose economies rely heavily on hospitality.But before you start packing your bags for a Euro trip, there are a few things you need to know. Below, we break down what, exactly, you can expect if you want to travel to Europe this summer.There’s no set or universal date. Right now, the E.U. has just recommended that member states “ease some of the current restrictions” for those who have been vaccinated ahead of the summer tourist season. According to Reuters, the European Union will clarify opening dates and entry requirements in the next week or so.But restrictions will likely differ from country to country: President Emmanuel Macron of France, for example, has said tourists can once again enter France on June 9.And some countries have been open for a few weeks or months now. Greece began letting in vaccinated travelers—or those who presented a recent negative PCR test within three days—on May 14. Italy announced all U.S. travelers on a “COVID-tested flight” could visit the country beginning May 17. Iceland, Cyprus, and Montenegro have enacted similar requirements.Two words: vaccine passport. Not sure what that is? Read our explainer here. But a brief summary: It’s a Q.R. code that shows your vaccination record, either via your smartphone (akin to a mobile boarding pass in your Apple Wallet) or a printout. Already airlines like JetBlue and Lufthansa are using the technology to check proof of immunization—most of them through a service called CommonPass.The E.U. is also expected to launch on July 1 a digital COVID-19 certificate, which is a vaccine passport that allows international travel within its continental bloc.As much as we’d all like things to return to normal, you’ll still see some signs of pandemic times. Expect to wear masks in indoor settings and to practice social distancing. “Masks may or may not need to be worn. Physical distancing may remain in place, so it might take longer to get an elevator to access your hotel room. The reality is that we’ve given up a number of liberties during the pandemic, and they’re not going to all come flooding back at once just because borders are reopening,” Misty Belles, managing director of luxury travel company Virtuoso, tells Vogue. “Flexibility and an open mindset are going to be key to enjoying the overall experience.” In France, for example, an 11 p.m. curfew will exist until June 30, and indoor dining remains at 50%.Hotels too may look and feel different than pre-pandemic times.“Lobbies will likely look different, with furnishing spaced farther apart or even nonexistent. Aspects of check-in and checkout that can be automated or touchless without losing the feel of hospitality may be implemented. However, most hotels are sprucing up or innovating their outdoor spaces to ensure guests have plenty of places to enjoy that are inviting while also making them feel comfortable,” says Belles.A silver lining? Many hotels took advantage of their guestless year by undertaking renovations or reexamining their service methods. “The guests’ upcoming Europe experiences will be even more enhanced, ultrapersonalized, and especially joyful,” Nathaniel Most, director of sales and marketing at La Réserve hotels, tells Vogue.Again, it depends on where you’re going. But some eager tourists have already started.“I haven’t experienced such a high volume of requests and bookings since late 2019,” Most says. “We have several requests and reservations from Americans for June 9 already.”Most, if not all, tourist attractions will be open again by mid July: The Eiffel Tower restarts tours on July 16, whereas some museums, like Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, reopened in May.
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