The Dongguan Clubhouse at Mission Hills' golf resort near Shenzen, China.
Any avid golfers out there? If you’re bored of the green at your local club, how would you feel about trying out the world’s largest golf resort, located conveniently in…China? Continue reading
In case you hadn’t heard, online travel giant Expedia just bought Travelocity for a supposed $280 million. (Or, for those of us who glaze over at numbers larger than their monthly rent: that’s 2,800,000 Benjamin Franklins. Or, like, 280 healthy Orca whales, since they apparently average about about a million a pop. But I digress.)
This seemed relevant.
Given that January is in full swing, now seems like the perfect opportunity to drool over objectify lust after tastefully appreciate some pretty bangin’ beaches, aka the hottest bodies of water current-ly around. OH BUOY, WATER WE WAITING FOR? Continue reading
Downtown Portland at dusk. Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor.
Monocle, an esteemed London-based magazine covering culture, global affairs, business, and design, has given Portland, Oregon a significant nod to its “livability” (which is awkward considering the fact that former Nike CIO and London native Anthony Watson left the company because Portland was “too boring.” Oops). According to High Snobiety, Monocle’s annual Quality of Life Survey ranked 25 cities based on data from crime rates, healthcare, state-funded education, and business climate, along with a liveability assessment that considers green space, culture, sunshine, and local businesses. Portland placed 23rd (out of 25), right behind Lisbon, Portugal. Which doesn’t seem so impressive, except that it’s the only city in the US to make the list. Continue reading
Lonely Planet released a list of their 10 “Best in Travel” cities for 2015, and with the new year right around the corner, we want to ring it in with a few of our favorites. These are at the top of our bucket list for 2015! Continue reading
Last-minute shopping procrastinators, fear not! We’ve got you covered for anyone who’s caught the travel bug and loves adventuring in their own way. Consider us your holiday savior. (Who needs Santa when you have Visual Itineraries?) You’ll be the coolest, savviest person on the block with our top 10 favorites.
Tim Adams waterproof Zipper Roll Top Backpack, $149
Tim Adams is a Portland-based company that makes a hell of a backpack.
We’re loving their waterproof Zipper Roll Top Backpack in the ever-versatile olive + khaki color combo.
Whether your giftee is planning on trekking through the Himalayas or just likes to push airlines’ definition of “small personal item” to the very limit, we’re thinking this bag fits the ticket of both hip and functional.
La tour Eiffel is undeniably the most iconic symbol of Paris, as well as one of the best views of the city–if you’re willing to shell out the extra $$ €€ to get there. Victor, a rare white-tailed eagle, takes it upon himself to show you the true bird’s-eye view of Paris as he flies from the summit of the Eiffel Tower, reaching 180 km/hr!
The video is just one in a series on the Freedom YouTube Page, which has partnered the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with the French falconer Jacques-Olivier Travers, who has created a plan to help this species thrive once more after nearing extinction by the 60’s. The result? A hell of a project, and a hell of a view.
the portable PODhouse in action. Photo © PODhouse
Winter is upon us, which means… GRAB A BLANKET AND HOT CHOCOLATE AND LIVE IN A TOASTY CABIN FOREVER. Or at least vacation in one of 17 super cool destination cabins, like Super Compressor’s fab article recommends. Check it out–their suggestions range from gorgeous cabins in the US (staycations, anyone?) to exotic destinations like New Zealand or Norway. Our favorite? The PODhouse, which, as the name implies, is actually a pod house. Literally a tiny, beautifully-designed, minimalist pod that could be yours starting at the low price of 7,417€! Glamping at its finest. If you need us, we’ll be willingly subjecting ourselves to dwelling in cramped-but-visually-appealing living spaces. Winter got nothin’ on us.
Osprey Reef screenshot from Google Street View
Raise your hand if you’ve used Google’s Street View feature to creep on your own house. (In case, you know, you forgot what it looked like.) We’ve all been there. But besides scoping out your own neighborhood street for no productive reason whatsoever, you can use Street View for various purposes, ranging from wincing at embarrassing moments caught on the Street View camera to virtually revisiting famous movie scenes. Google has gone a step further in its impressive Street View project, bringing its cameras Down Under to launch the Great Barrier Reef’s first 3D mapping. Now, instead of just looking at boring 2D pictures of underwater sea life, you can see it in eye-shattering 3D! Technology, yo.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is just the most recent addition to Google’s 3D mapping project, which you can use to virtually explore other reefs around the world. They accomplish this using cameras specifically designed for the project, which take 360-degree images every 3 seconds and are later stitched together to make the viewing experience seamless. Give it a try! Not included in the experience: the sting of saltwater in your eyes or the pain of stepping on sharp shells (been there, done that).
the PDX airport at sunset, Mt. Hood in distance. Photo courtesy of the Port of Portland.
