Connect with us

West

Summer vacation ideas while there's still time: Here are 6 smart spots to consider

Published

on

Summer vacation ideas while there's still time: Here are 6 smart spots to consider

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

Please enter a valid email address.

Having trouble? Click here.

There’s still plenty of time this summer to make topnotch travel getaway plans. 

Sure, a road trip to the mountains or a week at the beach is ideal for a well-deserved summer vacation — but if you’re looking for some suggestions that are an airplane away, read on. 

Advertisement

Fox News Digital spoke to several travel experts to find out how to pursue your wanderlust, whether it’s a solo trip, a couple’s escape, a friends’ getaway or a special family vacation.

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS YOU CAN TRAVEL TO THIS SUMMER FOR THE ULTIMATE VACATION

Check out these six intriguing options, each with plenty to offer.

1. Ireland

Whether you want to explore your (or a friend’s or family member’s) Irish heritage, play golf or immerse yourself in the food and drink scene, the Emerald Isle is a place to consider.

The Emerald Isle offers a unique blend of bustling cities such as Dublin and Belfast, charming coastal cities like Cork and Galway, and rolling countryside towns throughout the spectacular island.  (iStock)

Advertisement

It offers a unique blend of bustling cities such as Dublin and Belfast, charming coastal cities like Cork and Galway, and rolling countryside towns throughout the spectacular island. 

Getting there is a cinch, as there are direct flights from Midwest and East Coast airports — making it easy for the young and the young at heart. 

TRAVELING TO PARIS? 6 THINGS TO DO ASIDE FROM WATCHING THE OLYMPICS 

While in Ireland, be sure to visit the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, which offers a “brewery experience” while sharing tales of “Ireland’s famous beer” with tastings and a rooftop bar, according to its website; and consider a visit to the whiskey distilleries of Jameson, Teeling and Pearse Lyons. 

Afterward, consider the centrally located Grafton Hotel for a peaceful night’s rest. 

Advertisement

The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is a “must” visit to add to your itinerary if you’re in the area, according to travel experts. The brewery experience offers tales of “Ireland’s famous beer” plus tastings and a rooftop bar.  (iStock)

The summer months are considered the best time to travel to Ireland, according to Intrepid Travel, an agency based in Canada. 

While you might enjoy nice weather, summer is also peak season — so you can expect crowds at popular destinations. 

WORLD TRAVELERS GAVE UP EVERYTHING TO SEE 92 COUNTRIES AND COUNTING: ‘WHY NOT?’

If you want to avoid the crowds, look into traveling during the “shoulder” season in autumn, according to Tourism Ireland.

Advertisement

2. Catalina Island, California

Another destination to consider as a summer escape is Catalina Island, which is about 50 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. It’s roughly an hour’s ferry ride. 

Catalina Island is only an hour’s ferry ride from the coast of Los Angeles. (iStock)

Offering something for almost every type of traveler, the versatile destination has fine dining and luxury hotels. Visitors can also camp within the island’s wild terrain.

Other highlights are water activities like swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or paddleboarding.

ARE YOU PLANNING A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA? HERE’S A GUIDE TO ATTRACTIONS TO ADD TO YOUR VISIT

Advertisement

While on land, consider touring the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Gardens, plus savor the natural beauty of more than 100 hiking trails on the island. 

Catalina Island provides a Mediterranean-style escape closer to the West Coast and is a good alternative to Capri, Italy,” said Christie Hudson, travel expert at Expedia in Seattle. 

Catalina Island will feel like a Mediterranean-style getaway, but without the price tag, according to travel experts. (iStock)

“Both destinations offer breathtaking coastal views, clear waters ideal for snorkeling and a relaxed island atmosphere.”

Yet the price difference is huge. 

Advertisement

FROM FLORIDA TO CALIFORNIA: THE MOST POPULAR VACATIONS IN AMERICA TO BOOK RIGHT NOW

A flight from Austin, Texas, to Los Angeles is $310 compared to a flight from Austin to Naples, Italy — which averages $1,870, said Hudson.   

3. The Dolomites in northern Italy

If you dream of a splurge-worthy dream trip to Italy but don’t want to face the crowds this summer — consider an alternate Italian trip. 

If you envision an Italian summer trip but without the massive crowds, take a look at this northern Italian getaway in the Dolomites. (iStock)

Zicasso CEO Brian Tan, based in Mountain View, California, said that while Italy remains a high-demand destination for Zicasso travelers, the travel company is seeing a rise in slightly lesser-known regions, such as the Dolomites in northern Italy. 

Advertisement

DOG MOM SPENDS $900 TAKING HER PUP ON MONTH-LONG EUROPEAN VACATION ACROSS ITALY: ‘GREAT COMPANION’

“It’s off-the-beaten path from the usual Rome/Florence/Venice crowds, has cooler temperatures, amazing mountain vistas, lush valleys, memorable drives, and charming towns, including Cortina D’Ampezzo, host of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games,” said Tan. 

Furthermore, a region like the Dolomites can be paired easily with traditionally popular major gateway cities like Rome, he said. 

4. Denmark

Copenhagen is likely the most visited city in Denmark. 

This Scandinavian country offers endless opportunities for culture, history and foodie experiences, plus coastal benefits. 

Advertisement

While Denmark may not be top of mind when thinking of a beach holiday, it has over 4,500 miles of coastline, with uncrowded, white, sandy beaches. (iStock)

“Denmark is a surprisingly good place for a beach holiday in peak summer, with over 4,500 miles of coastline and uncrowded, white, sandy beaches,” said Daniel Burnham, senior flight expert with Going.com. 

“Within the past 10 days we’ve seen nonstop fares to Copenhagen from $375 nonstop out of Boston, New York, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles for travel from July-November 2024,” he also said.  

TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY? IT COULD BE ILLEGAL TO BRING ALONG THESE MEDICATIONS, ACCORDING TO A PHARMACIST

In addition, a Denmark trip can be a launching point for seeing other European countries,c such as Finland, Norway, Sweden or the United Kingdom.

Advertisement

5. Saint Vincent

If you’re a Caribbean enthusiast but don’t want the same “been there, done that” island experience, it might be time to consider Saint Vincent — where the “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed. 

Check out Saint Vincent if you’re in the mood for a Caribbean escape but want to avoid the crowds.  (iStock)

“There’s a new Sandals there now, and it’s a sweet property,” said Kelley Connor, a travel adviser with AAA Club Alliance in Marlton, New Jersey. 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

“It’s the first all-inclusive [offering] on the island, located on 50 lush acres with a beautiful beach and surrounded by mountains and rainforest.”

Advertisement

Saint Vincent is south of St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. 

Visit Saint Vincent while it’s still “pure and undisturbed, providing a relaxing vacation that offers the best of all beach vacations without the hordes of tourists,” said one travel expert.  (iStock)

“Right now, it’s pure and undisturbed, providing a relaxing vacation that offers the best of all beach vacations without the hordes of tourists,” Connor said. 

“The rainforest is filled with tropical birds and cascading waterfalls, and the snorkeling and scuba diving is sublime, due to the exotic beauty beneath the quiet turquoise waters.”

6. Gulf Shores, Alabama

Gulf Shores, Alabama is gaining popularity among travelers who are seeking a blend of pristine beaches, outdoor activities and southern hospitality, according to Booking.com information shared with Fox News Digital. 

Advertisement

It’s a quintessential beach escape — with 32 miles of white, sandy beaches perfect for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. 

Take a look at six vacation destinations described in this article that are true gems with lots to offer, as recommended by travel experts. (iStock)

Be sure to make time for Gulf State Park, a must-visit for nature enthusiasts — plus it offers kayaking, fishing and hiking. 

Advertisement

Also, a dolphin cruise showcases the region’s scenic beauty of the Gulf while offering the chance to spot these adorable mammals. 

This destination is very family-friendly and ideal for a multi-generational trip.

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

West

Knife-wielding nut allegedly asked Christian his religion – then stabbed him and dog before police shot him

Published

on

Knife-wielding nut allegedly asked Christian his religion – then stabbed him and dog before police shot him

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

An armed Washington man was shot and killed by police after authorities say he stabbed a man and the victim’s dog, attacking them moments after asking the victim what religion he practiced.

The incident unfolded just before 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, when a man called 911 to report he had been stabbed by an unknown man near a local S S Quickstop Grocer in Parkland, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post

When officers arrived, the victim and his dog were both in serious condition. 

OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING REPORTED INSIDE NYC HOSPITAL FOLLOWING KNIFE INCIDENT

Advertisement

A man and his dog are in serious condition after an unknown attacker asked the victim about his religion, stabbing them moments later near an SS Quick Stop Grocer in Parkland, Washington on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.  (Pierce County Sheriff’s Office)

According to authorities, the victim reported that the unknown man approached him and asked what religion he was.

“The victim answered the man and said something about being a Christian, and the man then attacked and stabbed the victim and his dog,” police said. 

Before being transported to a hospital, the victim was able to give a description of the male suspect, resulting in police searching the area for several hours. 

WASHINGTON MAN ALLEGEDLY LURES POLICE WITH BOGUS 911 CALL, SLASHES OFFICER IN FACE

Advertisement

Police say the unidentified attacker approached them while armed, leading to a deputy-involved shooting on the 800th block of 112th Street in Parkland, Washington on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Pierce County Sheriff’s Office)

The victim’s dog was subsequently transported to a local animal hospital and was immediately taken into surgery.

Approximately two hours later, a deputy noticed the suspect on the 800th block of 112th Street and pursued him as he fled behind a nearby house. 

The armed suspect then advanced toward deputies, who fired on him, FOX 13 reported

KNIFE-WIELDING MAN IN ST. LOUIS AIRPORT SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE

Advertisement

The unidentified attacker was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries after being shot by police in Parkland, Washington on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, according to FOX 13. (Pierce County Sheriff’s Office)

The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to the outlet.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The conditions of both the victim and the dog have not been released. 

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Advertisement

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading

San Francisco, CA

Exclusive: San Francisco Police Department investigating Zoox collision with a parked car | TechCrunch

Published

on

Exclusive: San Francisco Police Department investigating Zoox collision with a parked car | TechCrunch


The San Francisco Police Department is investigating an accident involving a Zoox autonomous vehicle that crashed into the driver’s side door of a parked car, TechCrunch has learned.

Officers responded to the crash, which occurred at around 2 p.m. local time on January 17 near the intersection of 15th and Mission Streets, according to the department. The Zoox robotaxi was traveling along 15th street when a street ambassador named Jamel Durden opened the driver’s-side door of his 1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, according to MissionLocal, which first reported the crash.

Durden’s hand was reportedly smashed during the crash, and the Zoox vehicle suffered damage to its glass doors. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) told TechCrunch the Zoox vehicle was carrying a passenger at the time, which has not been previously reported. That passenger was an employee of Zoox, according to the company, and was not injured, which the SFPD confirmed.

The police department declined to provide TechCrunch with an incident report “[d]ue to the fact it is still an open investigation.” Zoox filed its own police report about the incident, the company told TechCrunch, but said no additional details have been requested. In a statement on January 20, Zoox said it was “cooperating with local authorities to provide an accurate account of the incident.”

Advertisement

The California Department of Motor Vehicles, which regulates autonomous vehicles in the state, has also met with Zoox about the January 17 crash. The DMV told TechCrunch that Zoox filed a crash report “in compliance with California regulations.” That report is not yet publicly available.

Zoox is in the early stages of building out its robotaxi service in San Francisco. In November, the company started offering free rides to members of the public who are part of the “Zoox Explorer” early-rider program. The company is operating a similar program in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This rollout has come with challenges. The Amazon-owned company issued a recall in December to fix an issue where some of its vehicles were crossing center lanes and blocking crosswalks. (Zoox also issued two different software updates during recalls earlier in 2025 before it started offering public rides.)

Techcrunch event

San Francisco
|
October 13-15, 2026

Advertisement

The January crash in San Francisco happened when Durden “suddenly opened” the door of his car into the path of the robotaxi, according to Zoox. The company said the robotaxi “identified the opening door and tried to avoid it but contact was unavoidable.” (Durden’s employer could not be reached for comment.)

Zoox also said it offered medical attention to Durden, who allegedly declined. According to MissionLocal, Durden refused medical treatment until his car was towed.

“Safety and transparency are foundational to Zoox, and we are cooperating with local authorities to provide an accurate account of the incident,” the company said in a statement.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Huge new $27 million Denver bathhouse would include sauna, cold plunges

Published

on

Huge new  million Denver bathhouse would include sauna, cold plunges


Memphis Orion’s steamy vision of Denver includes state-of-the-art saunas and cold plunges, salt scrubs, solariums, and towel-whipping “aufgussing” rituals.

Adam Lerner and Memphis Orion speak within a mobile sauna at Coba Bathhouse in Denver on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

For now, however, the amenities for his new business are limited to a steel-frame trailer behind a gutted industrial building. His custom-built, solar-powered mobile sauna, or Cobacita, fits a little over a dozen people on its wooden benches. That’s a far cry from from the hundreds Orion envisions inside his $27 million Coba Bathhouse project just a few feet away.

“I’m a connoisseur of the world of bathhouses, and I love the different technologies emerging around the world for it,” said Orion, the CEO of Coba. “The modern bathhouse is taking these traditional (forms) and updating them and bringing them to together for people who are moving away from bars and alcohol being the center of social life.”

Consisting of three buildings connected by gardens and outdoor seating areas, Coba — a combination of Colorado and bathhouse — is a concept of extreme, immersive proportions backed by veterans of the art and entertainment worlds. When it’s finished in 2027, it will sit across from the Auraria Campus on West Colfax Avenue in Denver, just south of Domo Japanese restaurant in the La Alma neighborhood.

Advertisement

Orion sees it employing 90 to 100 people and fitting about 400 guests at any one time. If all goes well, its founders believe it will draw roughly 300,000 people per year.

Day passes will cost $50 to $75, with $220 monthly memberships, although prices are preliminary. It’s about the cost of a casual dinner out, chief strategy officer Adam Lerner said, and arguably a value for a theme park’s-worth of wellness attractions. Lush urban gardens, tea ceremonies, wood-burning firepits, steam rituals like aufgussing (a towel-whipping, dancing group experience) and group-soaking pools are on the menu.

A solarium, thermal pool and multi-level garden will offer visitors year-round exterior access at Denver's Coba Bathhouse, said architect Paul Andersen. (Rendering provided by Independent Architecture)
A solarium, thermal pool and multi-level garden will offer visitors year-round exterior access at Denver’s Coba Bathhouse, said architect Paul Andersen.

Coba’s buildings, including a former asphalt factory that lacks electricity or running water, are, for now, a staging area and proving ground still in need of permits, excavators and carpenters before they can match the elaborate renderings Orion and his partners have been floating to investors.

The project is slated to cost about $27 million, Orion said, with $3.5 million of that going toward the land purchase. He received a $526,200 state tax credit, since the project will include a thermal energy network, with an 800-foot-deep geothermal well planned for underneath the parking lot. The technology will use the consistent temperature deep underground to draw and disperse heat and cold as part of Coba’s electricity-hungry infrastructure.

Orion’s confident the “landmark” bathhouse will draw Denverites who are hungry for new experiences. In this case, that’s an upscale version of downregulation, a.k.a. chilling and steaming one’s way to relaxation, happiness and social well-being.

Orion, an industrial engineering and renovation expert, is surrounded by a pool of expertise. His co-founder in Coba, and the company’s chief commercial officer, is Jon Medina, a designer and producer who has worked with Meow Wolf, AEG Presents and Outside Magazine. Also from Meow Wolf: Coba’s chief financial officer Carl Christensen, the former co-CEO and chief financial officer of Meow Wolf. That immersive-entertainment company just happens to have an outpost about a mile away from Coba.

Advertisement
An entrance to one of the Coba Bathhouse buildings, as designed by architect Paul Andersen. (Rendering provided by Independent Architecture)
An entrance to one of the Coba Bathhouse buildings, as designed by architect Paul Andersen. (Rendering provided by Independent Architecture)

Chief strategy officer Lerner formerly led the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Meow Wolf co-founder Vince Kadlubek, architect Paul Andersen and others continue to advise on the project. The balance of art and culture veterans should ensure that Coba has a strong cultural appeal, its founders believe, with an emphasis on memorable experiences.

“We wanted to take the mundane and make it more adventurous,” Medina said, citing the “rain room,” where water follows people as they walk through it (a nicer version, perhaps, of the cartoon raincloud that follows around someone in a bad mood).

Coba’s layout is designed to circulate guests through the environments until they find their comfort zone(s). There’s a giant cold plunge pool that fits about 30 people — and one with even colder temps that fits 6 to 10. There’s the 60-seater room called the Ritual Sauna, water massages, a dark and silent sauna meant for solo introversion, floating pools, a rooftop garden and rentable “thermal suites.”

Renderings of the finished Coba look like a psychedelic hall of justice, albeit with Art Deco arches replaced by wavy roof lines. They conceal not just internal wellness features but also a café, space for musical performances and workshops, and lockers and common areas.

Part of the mobile sauna at Coba Bathhouse in Denver on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Part of the mobile sauna at Coba Bathhouse in Denver on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

“Here the idea is to create something that maybe draws from history, but is not a direct reference to it,” architect Andersen said. “This is something very different, even otherworldly.”

Coba’s success may turn on how transported its guests feel, since it’s being pitched as a respite from stress and an excuse to put down your phone and bond with neighbors.

“We wanted to create a place that has this combination of feeling connected to nature but also modern life,” Lerner said. “Because this is not a retreat. This is actually a place that is integrated into your weekly routine. The kind of place you go to four times a month. Which is why a bathhouse differentiates itself from, say, a spa, which is a luxury indulgence.”

Advertisement
Paul Andersen, Adam Lerner and Jon Medina tour the space being converted into Coba Bathhouse in Denver on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Paul Andersen, Adam Lerner and Jon Medina tour the space being converted into Coba Bathhouse in Denver on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Lerner first met Orion at the ritualistic, art-driven Burning Man Festival in Nevada, and has maintained a friendship that dovetailed into the one-acre Coba project. Their connections are coming in handy as they hold small sessions and continue to raise funds for construction. They even recruited Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Zach Neumeyer, the chairman of Sage Hospitality, to make remarks on their Jan. 22 “civic preview.”

Coba has the potential to outlast fads in biohacking and contrast therapy meant to tame and train the body, said Denver journalist and author Scott Carney. He’s written extensively on how the body can be conditioned to extreme environments, and his Jan. 22 visit to Coba convinced him of its pure intentions.

“There are a few other contrast therapy spots that have popped up around Denver, from mobile saunas and river jumps at the Golden library, to the sauna/plunge combos at Nurture and Archipelago, as well as SWTHZ on Tennyson,” he wrote via email. “But they are all smaller and … more specifically health-oriented. People go there for their quick hot and cold fix and then move on.”

Coba may endure because it’s social, he said, instead of just service-oriented.

Or as Coba’s founders write in their 27-page investor pitch: “Bring a swimsuit if you’d like to participate. Dress is casual. The person next to you may be in swimwear.”

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending