At this charming California restaurant, the Wild West never ended. Western-themed eatery Descanso Junction Restaurant has been named the best hole-in-the-wall for comfort food in California by The Takeout. The roadside restaurant is located along Southern California’s State Route 79, just a 40-minute drive east of beachy San Diego. Sign up for the California Morning … Read more
Money can’t buy happiness, but it could save you from loneliness — depending on where you live. An eye-opening study by Manhattan Mental Health Counseling crunched data across 48 U.S. states to pinpoint where maintaining a social life burns the biggest hole in your pocket — and to no one’s surprise, New York reigned supreme … Read more
A new ranking reveals the world’s 50 best bars for 2026 — and four Big Apple watering holes made the cut. Unveiled in Milan earlier this week, the 18th edition of the annual list saw roughly 800 expert judges cast votes from around the globe. Topping the list once again is Bar Leone, an acclaimed … Read more
Downtown Los Angeles’ dining scene just suffered another crushing blow. Sora Craft Kitchen, the intimate Turkish restaurant recognized as one of the best new restaurants in America by Esquire and spotlighted by the Michelin Guide, is closing its doors after a nightmare ordeal behind the scenes. Chef and owner Okay Inak announced on Sunday that … Read more
California’s burger king still reigns supreme. A new foodie ranking naming the most iconic burger joint in every state has crowned In-N-Out Burger Golden State’s patty purveyor. But the specific location chosen is steeped in fast-food royalty: Baldwin Park, the beloved chain’s birthplace. Back in 1948, founders Harry and Esther Snyder opened California’s very first … Read more
A lakeside village in central New York has been named the nicest place in America. Each year, Reader’s Digest invites readers to nominate towns and cities where people really lean into their neighborliness, coming together to affect positive change — and Liverpool, NY, anchored on the shores of Onondaga Lake, took the gold for goodwill. … Read more
For Pete Davidson, the 25th anniversary of 9/11 is wrapped in layers of grief and emotion — and even optimism. The “Saturday Night Live” alum was just 7 years old when he lost his father, Scott, a New York City firefighter with Ladder Company 118 in Brooklyn Heights. “I thought, ‘Oh, he was an old … Read more
A small town wedged against one of the busiest Army posts in the country has earned an unwanted distinction as one of the least livable places in the United States. LeRay, New York, zip code 13637, sits just outside of far-upstate Watertown and contains Fort Drum — the sprawling military base fueling the area’s economy. The … Read more
Snakes auditioned for a role in the Metropolitan Opera’s “Così fan tutte” in New York, where performer Zoe Ziegfeld tested their comfort on stage. A boa constrictor named Princess won the part, with Nala as her understudy. Animal talent expert Nancy Novograd poses for a portrait during auditions to select a snake for a part … Read more
Two Golden State destinations have been named among the most beautiful college towns in America, with Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz both making a new list of 11 picturesque places where students get higher education with a side of scenery. House Beautiful unveiled its picks this week, looking for college towns that combine natural beauty … Read more
A popular humpback whale known as “Chompers” has been spotted in the waters off the Southern California coast as she delights fans once again, this time bringing along a new baby calf. The giant whale was seen in the waters of Newport Beach with the majestic mammal enjoying her time alongside the new calf, according … Read more
A coastal NorCal county has cracked the list of “Best Places to Retire in the West” — along with several other California counties. The report, released by investing research platform The Motley Fool, ranked locations across the American West based on seven factors of retired life: healthcare, housing affordability, crime and safety, climate, state and … Read more
A tiny Central Coast seafood shack is making some seriously big waves. Mersea’s, the laid-back eatery perched on Harford Pier in Avila Beach, has landed the No. 4 spot on Time Out’s newly released list of America’s best waterfront restaurants — proving you don’t need a fancy tasting menu to reel in national acclaim. The … Read more
The Keystone State is twice as nice after a rare two-headed gecko was hatched this summer. The tiny, twin-headed crested gecko made its debut on June 29th at Rockstar Geckos, a breeding business based in northeastern Pennsylvania. “This little one was a surprise!” Rockstar Geckos posted on Instagram, alongside a video of the dual-domed gecko. A rare … Read more
The travel lords have spoken, and this US beach has been crowned the best in the world. A team from Beach.com reviewed hundreds of submissions and analyzed nearly 100,000 reviews to determine the top ten beaches on Earth. Trunk Bay, a supreme crescent of clear water and perfect sand on the north shore of St. … Read more
Two California hotels –– Appellation Healdsburg and Rosewood Miramar Beach –– have claimed the top spots as the best resorts in America. Appellation Healdsburg, launched less than a year ago in Sonoma County, was ranked No. 1 resort in the US in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, followed by the 5-star oceanfront resort, Rosewood Miramar … Read more
For less than $500 a night, visitors can check into a luxury hotel readers just crowned the best resort in America. Appellation Healdsburg, a retreat tucked among Sonoma County’s vineyards, has been named the No. 1 resort in the continental U.S. and the best resort in California in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards. … Read more
Los Angeles has a bed bug problem — and only Chicago appears to have it worse. LA ranked No. 2 on Orkin’s 2026 Bed Bug Cities List, trailing only the Windy City in the pest-control company’s annual rankings. The City of Angels jumped two spots from last year, beating out Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis, which rounded … Read more
It’s a crammed, jammed vacation destination. While the official motto of Malta isn’t “the more the merrier,” it seems the itty-bitty, buzzy hotspot, smack-dab in the central Mediterranean Sea, is steadily welcoming visitors from all corners of the Earth, making it Europe’s most overcrowded island for 2026, per a trending new study. But its eye-popping … Read more
New Yorkers can expect flight cancellations and delays on America’s 250th birthday. As food, fireworks and festivities kick off in celebration of Independence Day 2026, frequent flyers in and around the Big Apple are likely to face nixed or postponed takeoffs as Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) have … Read more