Travel & Tourism

Madison – September 07, 2026 -- Family grief counselor Matt Wallace of Nevaeh's Rae of Hope says structured getaways can give grieving families rare, uninterrupted time to reconnect after the loss of a child.

Losing a child upends every part of family life

Parents and siblings often keep managing work, school, and household duties while carrying overwhelming grief, Wallace notes. Stepping away from that routine, even briefly, can create space that ongoing counseling and family support alone don't provide.

Getaways are not a substitute for counseling

Wallace is clear that these trips don't erase grief or replace professional therapy. Instead, they offer a peaceful setting where families can remember their child, support each other, and move at their own pace, since every family's grief looks different.

Norfolk, Neb. – September 07, 2026 -- Couples planning a wedding weekend can reduce guest headaches by keeping lodging, dining, and gathering spaces at a single property, according to hospitality expert Donna Herrick, owner and property manager of Norfolk Lodge & Suites at Divots in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Herrick's insights appear in a HelloNation article examining how couples can plan beyond the ceremony and reception for the full stretch of a wedding weekend, when guests arrive early, share meals, and linger through the next morning.

A single hotel venue cuts down on guest travel time

The article notes that a hotel wedding venue can simplify logistics by keeping accommodations and key activities in one location. This reduces the need for guests to drive between sites and gives them more chances to visit with friends and family.

Austin, Texas – September 03, 2026 -- Texas is rolling out a fresh lineup of hotels, outdoor attractions and dining honors aimed at giving travelers new reasons to visit the state.

Three new hotels target different types of travelers

1 Hotel Austin, a sustainability-focused property, opens in September. Morgan's Hotel in San Antonio is designed to serve travelers of all abilities through accessible technology and trained staff. Canyon Ranch Texas, an all-inclusive wellness resort on 600 acres overlooking Lake Travis in Spicewood, opens Oct. 15.

Two parks expand access to Texas' outdoors

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located 75 miles west of Fort Worth, opened in March as the state's newest park, spanning nearly 4,900 acres with hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing and stargazing. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg more than doubled in size with a new rugged backcountry section.

Austin, Texas – September 03, 2026 -- Texas is rolling out a string of new hotels, parks and dining honors this year, giving travelers fresh reasons to plan a trip to the state.

New hotels target wellness and accessibility

1 Hotel Austin, a sustainability-focused property, opens in September. In San Antonio, Morgan's Hotel is designed with technology and trained staff to serve travelers of all abilities. Canyon Ranch Texas opens Oct. 15 in Spicewood, spreading a wellness retreat across 600 acres overlooking Lake Travis.

State parks expand hiking and stargazing options

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, 75 miles west of Fort Worth, opened in March as Texas' newest state park, offering nearly 4,900 acres for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing and stargazing. Near Fredericksburg, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area added a rugged backcountry section, more than doubling the park's size.

Bamberg, Germany -- September 01, 2026 -- HomeLink, the home-swap travel network marking its 75th year, is letting new members try the platform free for three months while more than doubling its cancellation guarantee fund from 2,000 to 5,000 euros. The organization connects 60,000 members across 70 countries who trade homes instead of booking hotels, and families can save up to 4,000 euros on accommodation depending on destination and length of stay. The changes apply to HomeLink Deutschland, the German nonprofit branch of the network founded in 1953.

During the free trial, prospective members can list their own home, browse listings from other members and start conversations with potential swap partners. A paid membership only kicks in once two households actually agree to a swap, according to HomeLink.

MIAMI -- August 30, 2026 -- House of Horror Haunted Carnival opens its 25th season on Thursday, Sept. 24, at a new home inside Tropical Park in Miami, running through Sunday, Nov. 1. The anniversary lineup replaces every haunted house from prior years and adds Howie's Blind Terror, billed as the only haunted dark roller coaster of its kind in the United States. A single ticket, priced from $39.99 online, now covers all five haunted attractions, unlimited carnival rides, outdoor scare zones and a new family zone, with free parking included.

"Celebrating 25 years of House of Horror is an incredible milestone, but this season is really about what comes next," said Tony Albelo, president of Loud And Live Events, the company that produces the event.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 19, 2026 – Aman New York has expanded its Homes collection with four new residential offerings in the upper floors of the landmark Crown Building at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, catering to families, groups, and guests who want the space and privacy of a private residence combined with full hotel service. The new additions range from a 107-square-meter one-bedroom to a full-floor three-bedroom spanning 585 square meters — currently the largest residence available at the property and among the most spacious of its kind anywhere in Manhattan. Nightly rates start at $9,000 for the One Bedroom Home and reach $40,000 for the full-floor Three Bedroom, with no minimum stay required.

Four New Residences, Four Different Propositions

Each of the four new Homes approaches the idea of urban residential living from a slightly different angle.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 19, 2026 – A tourism region in the Austrian Alps has found an unusually clever way to let travelers preview a holiday before booking: a live webcam mounted on a passenger boat sailing across one of Tyrol's most scenic lake landscapes. The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena has installed what it describes as the first live webcam on a moving passenger vessel in Tyrol, streaming real-time footage from the Heiterwanger See as the boat glides between sheer rock faces, forested shorelines, and crystalline alpine water. Unlike a fixed mountaintop camera, the view shifts almost every minute as the ship moves — giving prospective visitors something far closer to actually being there.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING – June 17, 2026 – Ruby has opened the doors to Ruby Frida, the brand's first hotel in Sweden and a fresh addition to its expanding European footprint. The 187-room property sits in Kungsholmen, near Fridhemsplan, in one of Stockholm's most connected and quickly changing neighborhoods. Built inside a converted 1960s landmark that now mixes hotel rooms with offices, restaurants, and retail, Ruby Frida is aimed at travelers who want a stay shaped by a city's actual personality rather than a forgettable chain experience. For anyone planning a Stockholm trip, or just curious where the city's creative energy is heading next, this opening is worth a closer look.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 15, 2026 -- While most summer travelers chase beaches and open-air markets, Hungary is quietly offering something far more refreshing — a world of underground caves that stay cool, ancient, and utterly unlike anything you'd find above ground. With more than 4,000 registered caves, Hungary holds one of the most diverse cave landscapes in all of Europe, ranging from underground boat rides and glittering stalactite formations to thermal cave systems tucked beneath a capital city. For anyone looking to escape the summer heat without booking a flight to a distant coast, Hungary's subterranean world is a seriously underrated option.