You may soon drive to an airport, then fly home. Alef Aeronautics announced formal agreements with Half Moon Bay and Hollister airports to begin test operations of a road-legal, vertical-takeoff flying car. This vehicle will drive and then take off vertically, operating alongside other aircraft. Those airports now join the company’s three existing test locations, making five in total.
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Alef will start with its “Model Zero Ultralight” and eventually move to its commercial Model A. The Model A will drive, take off vertically, fly forward, land vertically and maneuver on both roads and runways. Alef will alert other aircraft before its carplanes move on the ground or in the air. The agreements also require conventional aircraft to retain priority and right of way over Alef’s operations.
The Alef has produced images of its forthcoming flying car.(Alef Aeronautics)
Flying car range, battery power and FAA rules
Alef designed the Model A to be fully electric. It will travel up to 200 miles on roads and 110 miles while flying. The vehicle would be required to follow certain rules: only daylight flights are permitted, and no flying is allowed over crowded areas or cities. Alef has already received the Federal Aviation Administration’s Special Airworthiness Certification for limited testing.
The car is light enough to bypass certain FAA certifications.(Alef Aeronautics)
Flying car pre-orders, cost and release date
Alef opened pre-orders for the Model A in 2022. Interested buyers have placed over 3,300 pre-orders. Buyers must place a $150 refundable deposit to join the regular queue or $1,500 for priority. The expected price per vehicle stands at roughly $300,000. Alef plans to begin production around the end of 2025.
What this means for you
You could someday bypass traffic by driving just a few miles, then lifting off to fly the rest. These tests could spark a shift toward mixed road-air travel in suburbs or rural areas. Still, current rules limit ultralight flying to daylight and sparsely populated routes. Regulations will need updates to allow broader use. Nevertheless, these tests show that future commutes might blend highways and air corridors.
Alef will begin production on the car in late 2025.(Alef Aeronautics)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Alef is moving flying cars from imagination to reality. With new airport agreements and early FAA approval, the company has a clear path to test what’s possible. The rules still limit when and where these cars can fly, but progress is steady. If production stays on schedule, you may soon see the world’s first flying cars taking off alongside everyday traffic.
Would you trust flying cars to be part of your daily commute? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
Zipping across valleys and creeks with incredible mountain views is the name of the game at Hawksnest Adventures near Boone, NC. With over four miles of ziplines, there is no shortage of fun to be had at this amazing spot and we have all the details on what to expect and booking your own trip!
Thanks to Explore Boone for hosting us on this adventure.
I had heard of Hawksnest Adventures near Boone, NC long before I set foot up there due to their snow tubing runs. But going there in person to see the absolute stunning views and to experience their zipline course was a whole other thing and one I highly recommend if you love the feeling of flying and stunning mountain views.
Getting ready to fly at Hawksnest
About Hawksnest Adventures
Hawksnest is located in Seven Devils, NC, just outside of Boone, and about three hours from the Upstate. You can do this as a day trip but I recommend staying overnight not only because it would a long drive but because there are tons of things to enjoy in the area.
Hawksnest offers two zipline tours spring through the fall and four snow tubing runs during wintertime. They also have whitewater rafting over the summer. You could literally spend an entire day enjoying their adventures here.
The view from one of the decks at Hawksnest
Ziplining Tours
This was one of our favorite adventures in Boone since you get to fly amongst the trees and mountains, over creeks, and walk on swinging bridges. We did the Hawk Tour, which included 11 ziplines and took about 1.5 hours. Our guides, Carson and Sky, were fantastic and made us feel safe and excited to fly on those lines!
I couldn’t even pick what my favorite line was. The first several were over the valleys with insane views of the mountains, which were just beginning to show some fall color. I was thinking if I could possibly come back up there in a couple weeks when the colors would be at their peak.
Incredible views at Hawksnest!
The last half of the course was through the woods and over creeks. We got to go across two suspension bridges as well, which were a lot of fun and certainly tested balance. But you’re clipped in so it’s all good.
The other tour is the more thrilling Eagle Tour, which traverses about three miles of cables, including two which are 2,000 feet long.
Tips on Enjoying Hawksnest Ziplining
From my own experiences at Hawksnest and other ziplining places, these are my best tips on making the most of your adventure here:
Be sure to check the height and weight requirements of the zipline tour. For the Hawk tour that we did, participants must be at least 5-years-old and those under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Riders cannot be more than 250 lbs or have a waist larger than a 40 inches. There is no minimum weight for our Hawk Tour. The Eagle tour requires participants to be at least 8-years-old and weigh 80 pounds.
Wear closed-toed shoes. This is a requirement at most ziplining places.
Wear comfy clothes. Shorts or jeans are best. I was wearing an athletic skirt with built-in shorts, and I kind of wish I wore shorts just so I wouldn’t have to worry about the straps and my skirt!
Get there 30 minutes early. You have to check in and get all your gear on. If you didn’t sign your waivers online, you’ll have to do it before you get all geared up.
Tip your guide. Tips are a great way to show your appreciation for your guides who didn’t let you die.
Leave behind things that could fall. This includes phones (I went with mine but I had it in a zipped-up pocket), keys, necklaces, or anything you really don’t want to lose.
Honest Mom Review: Hawksnest Zipline
I’ve done ziplining at a lot of fantastic spots, but this was easily my favorite because of the incredible views and fun ziplines over water and through the trees. I was standing there with my mouth hanging open most of the time, admiring the beauty. It was really cool to be that high up and enjoy the experience of flying.
And our guides were a highlight of the adventure. Carson and Sky worked seamlessly to get us all in our gear, do the safety instructions, and engage with us the whole trip while making sure everything was in place to keep us safe on the cables. They took the time to learn our names and where we were from. They were both just genuinely cool people, and it was a pleasure to hang out with them for the short time we were there.
Suspension bridge at Hawksnest
The other cool thing is that Hawksnest has a great photographer. He’ll get fantastic shots of you on the course that you can purchase afterwards. I don’t usually buy the photos, but this time, I was like – oh yes, I want these! He did such a great job.
Booking Your Ziplining Trip
You can easily book your trip online. Choose which course you want, either the Hawk or the Eagle, and just book your trip. The Hawk course is $70/person and the Eagle is $80/person. You could also go all out and choose to do both courses for $120/person.
For information on snow tubing and whitewater rafting, be sure to check out their website.
After getting engaged, Kelsey Row and Ali Reed felt reluctant about hosting a big wedding, so when they stumbled across a photographer who specialized in Alpine elopements, they jumped at the chance. The couple packed wedding outfits and hiking boots, invited their sisters, and set off for a weekend in the mountains…
DAY BEFORE WEDDING
Ali (left) and Kelsey
Kelsey: The day before our wedding ceremony, we took a long hike to three different alpine lakes. Our photographer Cat helped coordinate our elopement — she asked us what we envisioned, recommended hikes, and found a great bakery. It was nice to be working with someone who knew the terrain so well.
Kelsey: We thought, Why not get married with our sisters by our sides? The four of us are around the same age, quite similar in many ways, and very close. It felt really special.
Kelsey: I felt a lot of hesitancy to get in the glacial lake. It was freezing but super fun.
Ali: Then we had lunch at a restaurant on the mountain and kept hiking.
Ali: Before we came to Austria, we figured there was no way it could be as beautiful as it is in pictures. But it was even more beautiful in person.
WEDDING DAY
Kelsey: We stayed in an apartment in the city of Innsbruck, Austria. One of my favorite parts of the day was getting ready together. We are not morning people, so we slept until nine, did each other’s hair and makeup, and had mimosas with our sisters. It was nice not to have a tight schedule and worry about a lot of guests.
Ali: We finished getting ready separately, so we could do a proper first look.
Ali: I found a jumpsuit with a cape for $98 and joked that I was yielding the rest of our dress budget to Kelsey. She had me guess beforehand what I thought her dress would look like, and I was totally wrong. I was thinking lacy and boho, and she had silk goddess vibes. It felt awesome to turn around and see her.
Kelsey: After our first look, we met up with our sisters and hiked to a lake for the wedding ceremony and a picnic.
Ali: Since our parents weren’t physically there with us, we asked both sets to write something, and then our sisters read their letters aloud. We laughed, then cried, and then laughed at the fact that we were crying.
Kelsey: Then Ali and I said our vows. Ali: We took a few long pauses to just soak in the moment. It felt like the whole world stood still.
Kelsey: Hilariously, I forgot to bring water when packing for the picnic, so we only had Champagne to drink.
Kelsey: Ali and I covered our sister’s expenses, and then, after the wedding, we all took trains together around Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Two weeks with four people in Europe — a once-in-a-lifetime trip — was still much cheaper than the quotes we were getting for larger weddings in the U.S.
Ali: Getting legally married in Austria was complicated, so we signed our marriage certificate with Kelsey’s sister at a random airport bar before we flew abroad. Now, whenever we’re at the airport, we’ll pass the bar and be like, ‘That’s where we officially got married!’
Inside: Check out our trip to Boone, NC, and plan your own. Find things to do, where to stay, and even where to eat in Boone.
Whether you like great food, high adventure, incredible views, or just weird roadside attractions, Boone, North Carolina in the state’s High Country, should absolutely be on your list to visit.
We spent a weekend there and tell you all about where to eat, where to stay, and how to have fun in this charming mountain town.
Thank you to Explore Boone, who hosted us for this amazing trip.
Boone, NC is under three hours from the Upstate but feels a world away. With soaring mountains, old school attractions, and cooler temperatures, Boone is a beautiful spot to enjoy a fun-filled weekend or longer vacation. There are just so many things to do in the High Country and we spent a packed few days here in order to tell you all about it. For reference, the ages of my kids on the trip were 11 and 14.
The view from one of the decks at Hawksnest
Where to Play
There is no shortage of fun things to do in Boone, NC! Here’s what we did and how to plan your own adventures.
Mystery Hill
You haven’t seen weird until you’ve been to Mystery Hill. It’s weird but also crazy fun and was one the more unique things we’ve ever done. So the place is a museum and entertainment venue that literally has everything from mechanical bull riding to a bubble room to a museum of Native American arrowheads to a bizarre vortex room.
If you ask my kids their favorite part about Mystery Hill, it was for sure the vortex room, where you could literally lean forward and not fall over, and the axe-throwing. Plan to spend at least a couple hours here. You can purchase tickets for individual attractions or just get one pass that covers everything, which we recommend.
129 Mystery Hill Lane, Blowing Rock, NC
Fun at Mystery Hill
Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train
We were able to experience Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train and it exceeded all our expectations! The train is totally decked out to look like a skeleton that breathes smoke and guests get to ride through darkness in the mountains as they search for missing college students. The ride is a little over 20 minutes and includes somewhat scary zombies on the train and lots of action-packed stops to see fireballs and a staged gun fight.
The rest of the park has trick-or-treating, carnival rides, haunted houses, and awesome spooky dance parties. When we went, there were a lot of families and everything is not completely terrifying so most kids will enjoy it. Read our entire review here.
300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln, Blowing Rock, NC
Ghost Train at Tweetsie Railroad
Hawksnest Ziplining
This was one of our favorite adventures in Boone since you get to fly amongst the trees and mountains, over creeks, and walk on swinging bridges. We did the Hawk Tour, which included 11 ziplines and took about 1.5 hours. Our guides, Carson and Sky, were fantastic and made us feel safe and excited to fly on those lines!
The scenery here is unreal and we could not have loved the views and experience any more. In the winter, they have snow tubing runs – four of them in fact. We haven’t done snow tubing there but after this experience, it’s something we are going to try to get up there to cover over the winter because it looks super fun!
2058 Skyland Dr, Seven Devils, NC
Incredible views at Hawksnest!
Get Outside
Boone is the perfect basecamp for all your outdoor adventures! Here are a few of our favorite trails nearby:
Crab Orchard Falls
This beautiful waterfall has a small swimming hole and lots of rocks to hang out on and enjoy a picnic. Plus, the drive there is incredibly beautiful. You can hike the new trail (1.3 mile lollipop loop) or the old trail (1 mile out and back). Both are of moderate difficulty as they involve some inclines.
146 Skiles Way, Banner Elk, NC
Crab Orchard Falls
Rough Ridge
This short hike, under a mile roundtrip, is probably in our top three hikes in Western NC and the Upstate of South Carolina. It is that beautiful. But you need to go early during leaf season (like before 8 am) because it gets very crowded.
3218 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Linville, NC
Grandfather Mountain
The Grandfather Mountain Trail is my favorite hike of all time yet I question my life’s decisions every time I go. It’s not for beginners or the faint of heart since you’ll be scaling the side of a mountain on a ladder. My kids love it but they are experienced hikers. Grandfather Mountain is also home to an incredible nature center and the Mile High Bridge so certainly worth it to visit even if you don’t hike the tough trails.
This trail at Moses Cone Manor takes you through the woods and up a beautiful open field to a firetower with 360-degree views of the mountains. It’s about 4 miles roundtrip and easy to moderate.
Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 294, Blowing Rock, NC
Bass Lake
For an easy one mile loop, take the walk around Bass Lake. It’s very pretty and an easy walk.
1 Bass Lake Dr, Blowing Rock, NC
Explore Boone has a great list of other trails in the area so be sure to check that out if you want to enjoy local hikes.
Where to Shop & Stroll
Downtown Boone
There are so many fun shops and restaurants in downtown Boone that it’s hard to just go once (we went a few times during our visit!). We found some super cute clothes at Anna Banana’s thrift store and loved a festival that we happened to stumble upon while there that featured tons of local artists. The art scene is strong in Boone. There are paid public parking lots in downtown Boone plus street parking with meters.
Downtown Boone
Original Mast General Store
Did you know you can visit the original Mast General store in Valle Crucis, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Boone? It’s a super cute shop with its trademark creaking floors and candy barrels. The annex down the street has clothing and an ice cream shop.
565 Hwy 194 S, 3565 Broadstone Road, Sugar Grove, NC
Where to Eat in Boone, NC
I wish we could have tried more places to eat because literally everywhere we went was fantastic. The variety of food and the creativity of the menus are suited to match any taste and preference. Here’s where we went:
Fizz Ed
We loved Fizz Ed with its eclectic decor and amazing food. They try to make your dining experience fun – think a little sparkle magic with your kid’s fizzy drink – welcoming, and delicious. Amy, the owner who has lived in the area since she was a teenager, is so kind and thoughtful. It was easy to see how much she loves running the restaurant and creating a meal that people will not only truly enjoy but also come back for.
We had hand-breaded chicken tenders, beet hummus, a falafel and cucumber naan wrap, mac and cheese, and my favorite – homemade potato chips. I could have eaten the potato chips alone for the entire meal because they were that good.
260 Howard Street, Boone, NC
Lunch at Fizz Ed in Boone
Troy’s 105 Diner
When my daughters and I talked about our favorite meals in Boone, Troy’s took the top pick. I’m still thinking about my Patty Melt days later, and my daughter’s French Toast was huge and delicious. The 1950s-style diner has literally something for everyone, so be sure to make this a stop on your trip.
1286 NC-105, Boone, NC
Troy’s 105 Diner
Stick Boy Kitchen
With coffee, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and bagels, Stick Boy Kitchen is a great stop for breakfast, especially if you need items on the go so you can get started on your adventures for the day. My girls loved their bagel sandwiches!
211 Boone Heights Dr, Boone
Wild Craft Eatery
Located right in downtown Boone, Wild Craft Eatery focuses on local, organic ingredients. We had their Havana Plate with chicken, rice, plantains and a delicious sauce that I still don’t know what it was and their Cuban Beans & Rice dish. Both were so flavorful. I also got one of their speciality mocktails with pineapple juice, ginger, and green tea. It was refreshing and a delightful combination of flavors that I had never had before but that worked out perfectly!
506 W King St, Boone, NC
Dan’l Boone Inn
An old school tavern complete with servers dressed in Daniel Boone-era outfits, the restaurant is a family-style spot that serves up fried chicken, hamburger steak, stewed apples, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, biscuits, salad, and dessert. You pay one price per person ($24.95/adults and less for kids depending on their ages). We loved the family style service since you don’t need to order anything and the food is great!
130 Hardin Street, Boone, NC
Appalachian Cookie Company
They make their cookies to order and have a big selection of both classic and creative cookies. Think Chocolate Chip cookies plus Cookie Butter or Nutella. The cookies are huge and you’ll walk out of there thinking about when you can go back. If you don’t have an extra 20 minutes to wait for them to bake it, they may have some cookies already in the warmer you can get immediately so just ask.
1087 W King St, Boone, NC
Melanie’s Food Fantasy
We went here for brunch and everything was delicious and filling. Their cappuccino earned the spot on my list for the best coffee I had in Boone. One of my daughters got their Bacon Avocado Eggs Benedict, which looked like art on a plate and was amazingly good.
173 Howard St, Boone, NC
Where to Stay in Boone
We stayed at Rhodes Motor Lodge just a couple miles from downtown Boone. It is so adorable and comfortable and we could park right outside our room, which made the trek with our stuff super easy. The decor is like a 1970s adventure lodge, minimal furniture with concrete, shiny flooring, extra blankets, and earth tones with soft lighting. I loved it.
View from our deck at Rhodes Motor Lodge
We had a balcony that overlooked the courtyard and had mountain views. It was beautiful! And the location is ideal – it’s close to shopping, restaurants, and grocery stores. Rhodes Motor Lodge also has free coffee and cider, which I made use of in the morning and sat outside with my daughter by the fire. It was relaxing and oh-so-enjoyable.
1377 Blowing Rock Road, Boone, NC
For even more things to do and see in Boone, NC, visit Explore Boone’s website. They have a great blog and wonderful ideas of even more fun to be had there!
Welcome to Jet Set, a recurring feature in which we highlight our favorite accessories and travel must-haves that are perfect for any kind of trip. Whether you’re already packing for your next adventure or still in the early planning stages, we’re here to help with all your jet-setting needs. Fall is in the air, and with it, the start of the autumnal weekend trip. Whether you’re planning a leaf-peeping adventure in New England, an off-season seaside getaway or a fall foliage jaunt, you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed accordingly. After the relative ease of packing for summer trips, where you can simply throw a swimsuit, cover-up and a pair of sandals into your straw tote and call it a day, an autumn trip can feel like more of a slog. But it all comes down to cultivating the right fall capsule wardrobe for travelers, with versatile staples that seamlessly take you from a day of apple picking to an evening of sipping vino under a heat lamp. From polished black boots and a cuddly cashmere cardigan to a minimalist ribbed turtleneck and the dark-wash jeans of your dreams, here’s what to pack for a fall weekend trip.
Earlier this year, Australian police arrested a passenger for running a malicious Wi-Fi network both at an airport and during a flight. The setup looked just like the airline’s own Wi-Fi service, but it wasn’t. Instead, it was what cybersecurity researchers call an “evil twin,” a fake hotspot designed to trick people into handing over their credentials.
The idea isn’t new, but the setting is. For years, fake Wi-Fi networks have been a common trick in cafes, hotels, and airports. What makes this case stand out is that the attacker took it to the skies, exploiting the growing reliance on in-flight Wi-Fi for entertainment and internet access.
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What is an evil twin Wi-Fi attack?
An evil twin hotspot is a wireless network that impersonates a legitimate one by copying its name, also known as the SSID. When multiple networks with the same name exist, your phone or laptop often connects to the one with the stronger signal, which is usually the attacker’s.
Travelers check their phones while navigating delays and flight cancellations at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on July 19, 2024, in Austin, Texas.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Once connected, victims are often redirected to a fake login or landing page. In this case, the malicious portal requested passengers’ email addresses, passwords, or even social media credentials under the pretense of granting access to the airline’s entertainment system. The stolen information could then be used for account takeovers, identity theft, or further attacks.
Why travel Wi-Fi is a prime target
Travel creates a perfect storm for these kinds of attacks. Whether you’re in a hotel, airport, cruise ship or airplane, you often have limited choices for getting online. Mobile data may be patchy or expensive, which pushes people toward the available Wi-Fi networks. Because these services feel official and are tied to trusted brands, travelers tend to assume they’re safe and let their guard down when login requests pop up.
Another trend adds to the risk. Travel providers are increasingly moving entertainment and services onto personal devices instead of offering built-in options. Airlines replace seatback screens with streaming portals, cruise lines promote app-based services and hotels direct guests to digital check-in platforms. All of these require a Wi-Fi connection, which means more people are logging on than ever before.
Here’s how it worked in the Australian case. The attacker carried a portable hotspot onboard and named it to match the airline’s official Wi-Fi network. Passengers, seeing the fake network with stronger signal strength, connected automatically. They were then taken to a counterfeit login page asking for personal details.
A traveler awaits their delayed luggage after United Airlines grounded flights due to a tech outage at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, Aug. 6, 2025. (REUTERS/Ryan Murphy)
On a flight, the consequences are amplified. Passengers either give in and share data or lose access to entertainment for hours. The success rate of this attack is, quite literally, sky-high.
One of the best defenses against rogue Wi-Fi is a Virtual Private Network, or VPN. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet, making it far harder for attackers to intercept your data even if you connect to the wrong hotspot.
There is a catch, though. In-flight Wi-Fi systems often require you to disable your VPN temporarily to access the onboard portal. Even then, a VPN remains an important safeguard. Once you have cleared the login page and, if you have paid, connected to the internet, enabling your VPN ensures that any browsing, messaging, or app traffic stays private.
For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
9 tips for using in-flight Wi-Fi safely
A VPN is important, but it isn’t the only defense you should rely on. Here are some other ways to stay safe when connecting midair:
1) Install strong antivirus software
Before you even think about connecting to in-flight Wi-Fi, make sure your device has a strong antivirus installed. It’s your first line of defense against malicious sites and apps that attackers may try to push through fake portals. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
James Garofalo of Colorado Springs is checking cellphone after his flight cancelation at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022.(Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
2) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Even if an attacker manages to steal your login credentials, 2FA can stop them from getting into your accounts. Use app-based authenticators rather than SMS codes whenever possible, since they work offline and are harder to intercept.
3) Turn off automatic Wi-Fi connections
Most phones and laptops are set to reconnect automatically to familiar networks. This makes it easier for a fake hotspot with the same name to trick your device. Before you board, switch off auto-connect and manually choose the correct airline Wi-Fi.
4) Use HTTPS everywhere
When browsing in-flight, check for the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar. HTTPS encrypts the connection between your device and the website, making it harder for attackers on public Wi-Fi to intercept your data.
5) Limit what you access
Even with precautions, in-flight Wi-Fi should be treated as untrusted. Avoid logging in to sensitive accounts like online banking or work systems. Stick to light browsing, streaming or messaging until you’re back on a secure connection.
6) Keep your device updated
Outdated operating systems and apps often have security holes attackers exploit. Before your trip, install the latest updates on your phone, tablet or laptop. Many updates include security patches that protect you against known vulnerabilities.
7) Use airplane mode with Wi-Fi only
When possible, switch your device to airplane mode and then enable only Wi-Fi. This reduces exposure from other radios (like Bluetooth or cellular roaming) that attackers sometimes target on flights.
8) Watch for phishing pop-ups and avoid suspicious clicks
Some fake in-flight portals use pop-ups or redirects designed to trick you into entering login details or clicking on malicious links. If a page asks for unnecessary information, like your full Social Security number, banking details or unrelated logins, treat it as a red flag. Close the page immediately and don’t click.
9) Log out after use
When the flight is over, sign out of the airline’s Wi-Fi portal and any accounts you accessed. This prevents session hijacking if the system keeps tokens cached.
The rise of evil twin attacks in the air is a reminder that convenience often comes with hidden risks. As airlines push more passengers toward in-flight Wi-Fi, attackers are finding ways to exploit that dependency. Next time you fly, think twice before blindly connecting to the first Wi-Fi network that pops up. Sometimes, the safest choice is to stay offline until you land.
Would you rather go a few hours offline than risk using an untrusted hotspot midair? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CyberGuy.com newsletter.
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
A Los Angeles man received a pleasant surprise after complaining about his Norse Atlantic Airways flight. In the clip, which has amassed 426,300 views, a disgruntled Jonas Kilker (@jonaskilker) sat in his plane seat as he vocalised his complaints.
“Not usually one to complain, but I’m gonna complain,” he said. “If I book a 13-hour international flight, I’m kind of assuming you’re gonna bring me some complimentary water, maybe some coffee as well.”
“No coffee is actually $4.50. I was like, ‘I’ll suck it up. I’ll pay the $4.50, whatever,” he said. “I was like, ‘Huh, there’s grounds in my coffee and there’s a little filter on the mouth so that the grounds don’t go in my mouth.’ Do you think it works? No.”
He then demonstrated how ineffective the filter was in his own coffee cup.
“Maybe I’ll spend $20 and get some food, then [it will] be $1 for ketchup,” he added. “Do you think it comes in a ramekin or one packet? I’ll just leave that up to the imagination.”
However, he drastically changed his tune when he went to the bathroom and discovered a sliding door connecting two bathrooms. As the woman in the other bathroom suggestively smiled at him, he couldn’t contain his glee.
In the video description, he added: “It’s not so bad I guess…”
Kilker didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment and email.
Viewers were either amused or had their own beef with Norse Atlantic Airways
On the one hand, many commenters were curious about the ending. “Wait, what happened at the end there?” one asked. “That perk at the end just nullified all complaints,” another wrote. A third then shared a picture of Kilker smiling with the caption: “I think he forgot about the ketchup.”
On the other hand, users took the opportunity to share their own beef with Norse Atlantic Airways.
“I’m generally a good sport about the budget airline experience, but Norse is beyond the pale,” one wrote. “Be warned that even if you pay for a pre-arranged meal, you may well not get it. I will never fly with them again.”
Another added, “I flew from Florida to London. They provided zero [refreshments], and then told me I couldn’t eat my PB&J, because another passenger may have a peanut allergy. LONG flight.”
While a third shared, “I just flew with them too. I was expecting at least water or coffee. And my first flight was delayed [by] 6 hours, we got a $20 credit but were told it had to be used at the airport, not on the plane.”
Norse Atlantic Airways didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via email.
American Airlines attendants refuse to help a disabled customer
It isn’t just budget airline blunders that are going viral. Other airlines like American Airlines are getting heat, too.
One customer, for instance, went viral after sharing how attendants refused to help her put her baggage in the overhead carrier, despite the customer, Tara Rule (@tara_rule), having Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Consequently, when she tried to put up the bag herself, she got injured.
“I feel a pop, an immediate loud pop, and I’m like, damn,” she said. “Dislocated or subluxed. I immediately drop this heavy thing. I’m [expletive] humiliated.”
While American Airlines offered her a full refund, Tara wasn’t sure if it was enough.
Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.
You’ve been there before. At the airport, minutes before boarding when you’re suddenly struck with the urge to use the bathroom. Traveling alone, with a bag and a carry-on, it just feels like too much hassle to lug it into the bathroom stall with you. What do you do?
An average person might ask their seatmate at the gate to watch their belongings while they rushed to relieve themselves. They might simply reply “sure,” and keep an eye on your bag for you. What many don’t know, however, is that the simple request bears more weight than you think.
Woman asks people to watch her bag at airport
A woman drew the ire of the internet after she posted a TikTok about her experience at the airport. Cara, who goes by @theovonswife_ on the platform, shared a video explaining how she asked a woman to watch her purse and carry-on while she ran to the bathroom that was “10 steps away.” Cara was flabbergasted when the woman told her no.
“I legitimately thought she was joking at first, so I laughed,” Cara wrote in the text overlay. “She indeed was not joking so I just took my purse [because] I felt uncomfortable.”
The comments on Cara’s video have been turned off, but that hasn’t stopped other creators from making responses to her clip. One of them, @knotkiddingny, explained exactly why the woman who rejected Cara was in the right.
The Mary Sue reached out to Cara via email for comment.
Why can’t someone watch your bag at the airport?
The creator promises to break down the “airport rule,” and explains, “If someone gives you a bag to watch and you agree to it, then an officer comes by and says, ‘I need to check what’s in
that bag.’ There could be chemicals in it, drugs, stolen property, weapons, maybe a bomb.”
She says that you wouldn’t know whether that bag actually went through TSA or if it came from another plane or private jet.
“It could’ve been smuggled in by airport employees,” she continues. “You have no idea. But guess what, you are now 100% responsible for everything in that bag.”
The TikToker says that because of this, they can immediately arrest you. She argues that this isn’t just about “terrorism” and that the rule predates 9/11.
“This is about crime prevention,” she says. “And I don’t know why you guys think that all criminals look like the hamburglar.”
She called Cara “stupid” and her Southern Hospitality “phony” before urging viewers to watch the movie “Brokedown Palace.” (The 1999 film is about people who get arrested while smuggling drugs during their vacation in Thailand.)
What’s the airport rule about unattended luggage?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) considers any unattended luggage a security risk. At the airport, there are frequent announcements over the intercom to report any unattended luggage. While there is no official literature from TSA about strangers watching your bags specifically, folks are strongly encouraged to report unattended luggage. Plus, as the TikToker said, you never know what someone is carrying.
Viewers take the ‘airport rule’ seriously
Several viewers under @knotkiddingny’s clip were on her side, saying no one should take the “airport rule” lightly.
“I even side eye my husband when he asks me to watch his bag when he goes to the bathroom,” one person said. “Like, after 24 years, do I REALLY know you?”
Another wrote, “Leaving my bag with a human I don’t know has never crossed my mind. I don’t trust people.”
One top comment read, “The bathroom stalls in airports are literally longer so that you can bring your bag in with you. it’s unpleasant, but just do it.”
Gisselle Hernandez-Gomez is a contributing reporter to the Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Daily Dot, Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and more. You can follow her on X at @GisselleHern. You can email her at [email protected].
Call it foliage season, shoulder season, Q3 or plain old fall: It’s the best time of year for big cities and big adventures, and it’s coming up fast. In any constantly evolving metropolis, this is when restaurant rows and museum miles flash with glitzy new openings and exhibits, all of them ready to capture a local population that’s spent the last few months decamped somewhere else.
And autumn is your best chance to get better-than-summer weather in many beachy getaway spots — without peak summer pricing. That may be truer than ever this year, as global tourism contracts on the heels of tariffs and broader economic uncertainty.
If you want to be in the right place at the right time, look no further: Here are five perfect-for-fall escapes pulled from our master list of where to travel in 2025. As a bonus, they’re all doable as long weekends from a wide variety of U.S. and European cities.
Upper East Side, Manhattan
In New York City, uptown has been downtown-ified. Madison Avenue, once the exclusive domain of rarified labels and shoppers in red-soled shoes, has seen Covid-era store closures get filled in with youthful brands such as LA-import Violet Gray and flagships of of-the-moment brands like L’Agence. Unlike other prime shopping neighborhoods, which feel aggressively packed with an outpost of every brand you’ve ever heard of, the UES feels curated. You’ll actually enjoy yourself as you stock up on Khaite trench coats, Still Here denim and Gorjana charm bracelets.
The restaurant scene here has never been more exciting (just try to nab a reservation at Chez Fifi, Le Veau d’Or or Le Café Louis Vuitton). And on the hotel front, what’s old is new again. The excellent Surrey is now a Corinthia hotel, with an outpost of Miami’s beloved Casa Tua restaurant bringing social buzz (and so many Chanel handbags) to the first floor. Stretch the neighborhood’s boundaries a smidge to include the just-redone Waldorf Astoria on 50th Street — it’s a worthy reboot of the city’s most iconic stay, complete with a new restaurant by Gramercy Tavern’s Michael Anthony.
Don’t forget the area’s art institutions, which are worth a revisit even if you’ve been many times. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has just reopened its renovated Rockefeller Wing, for instance, featuring new collections that highlight work from Africa, the ancient Americas and Oceania. And the Frick has reopened this year after a five-year, $330 million renovation that (among other draws) reinstated a pair of grand gardens and added a spectacular new auditorium for intimate concerts.
Paros and Antiparos, Greece
The Kolymbithres beach on Paros Island, Cyclades, Greece. (Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS)
Let it serve as a sign of the times that one of the hottest amenities for Mykonos resorts this summer — besides a Missoni-branded beach club, natch — was a fleet of speedboats to take guests to neighboring Paros. That’s how much buzz has built around this rising star of an island, and its little sister, Antiparos, in the last year alone. (Don’t just take our word for it; American Express Travel put Paros on its list of hot destinations for 2025 this summer, based on how many of its cardholders were racing to book trips to the island.) Drawing people there are the holy trinity of Greek vacation attractions: Perfectly clear-watered beaches, cross-island breezes ideal for kitesurfing, and traditional whitewashed architecture.
And if Paros and Antiparos used to be a lower-priced alternatives to their iconically nightlife-packed neighbor, those values are evaporating as the island’s cultural clout soars. Take the Rooster, Antiparos’ most sought-after hotel: Rooms are going for $2,500 per night in the middle of September. That particular property closes for the season by the time October rolls around, but many others now stay open. Included in that set is Parilo, a Design Hotel with 33 minimalist-boho suites that can be booked beginning at just $370 per night through October 25. (Its restaurant is a destination unto itself, having earned two Michelin stars and a Michelin Green star for its zero-waste, ethically sourced approach to local Greek cuisine.) Book it with Marriott Bonvoy points for an even better deal.
London
The energy in London this year has coalesced in a surprising area: All along the Elizabeth tube line. But nothing is poised to be as game-changing as the hulking, Eero Saarinen-designed U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square, reborn in late August as the 144-room Chancery Rosewood. Around its massive perimeter, looking out onto leafy Mayfair, is a quiver of ultracool restaurants like the Avro-Ko-designed brasserie Serra and outposts of New York institutions Carbone and Masa. (Local culinary legend Ruth Rogers is also said to be opening a venue, and there’s a cafe serving floral-inspired creations by pastry chef Marius Dufay.) The rooftop is home to the Eagle Bar, so named for the way its oversized windows look out past the giant gilded bird that crowns the hotel’s port cochere and towards Hyde Park. It’s fast becoming the most coveted spot for after-work drinks, complete with a sprawling outdoor terrace and a menu by talented NoMad vet Liana Oster.
Rome
You’d think Italy’s fashionistas would have a hard time shifting their center of gravity anywhere south, north, west or east of Milan. And yet in 2025, fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana and Dior are using this year’s Vatican Jubilee as one of many excuses to move their runway shows to the Eternal City. Some 30 million visitors were originally expected to visit Rome during the papal celebration — not including the couture chasers. And that number has likely grown considering that some 250,000 people turned up just to see white smoke rise from the Vatican chimneys in early May.
Consider the fall months a reprieve from all of that hubbub: This is when you can get a prime restaurant reservation without waking up at the crack of dawn exactly three months in advance to book it, and it’s when hotel rates fall in step with the crowds. Plus, the year’s biggest hotel openings — like the Romeo Roma and Orient Express La Minerva — have now had a few months to iron out their kinks. And all of the infrastructure investments meant to support the big events, from a new metro line to renovations at Piazza Navona, have duly removed their scaffolding.
Sometimes it’s easy to identify why a destination is buzzing (see above). Other times there’s just something in the air. That’s the case with the sun-smacked, palm-studded Canary Islands, a mountains-and-beach destination where more and more jetsetters in our orbit seem to be going, even though the hotels we were excited about in 2025 have all been mysteriously delayed. Regardless, some 44 new hotels — or 6,000 new rooms — are in the pipeline across this seven-island Spanish archipelago of the western coast of Africa, all scheduled to pop by 2028, so there’s clear reason to believe the trendline is ascendant.
But that growth includes megaprojects that will change the face of their surroundings. Take the latest project in Gran Canaria by the Spain-based Lopesan Group: It consists of a whopping 1,800 rooms across nearly 70 acres. The project is estimated to cost around $787 million. It all points towards a tourism development boom that locals fear is going unchecked. That may make it wise to go now, before it’s spoiled. Bonus: The fall weather here is effectively an extension of everyone else’s summer.
Car seats are there for a lot: every traffic-induced meltdown, every spilled juice box, every road trip nap. Most importantly, they save lives. But while it’s tempting to treat them like any other piece of kid gear when messes strike, they’re not just another item you can toss in the wash. They’re precision-built safety devices, and one misstep can compromise the parts designed to protect your child.
This guide walks you through how to properly clean a car seat, what not to do, and when to call a professional so your child stays protected, no matter how messy the ride gets.
A quick toss in the washing machine may seem harmless, but it can ruin a car seat: “It could degrade the harness webbing itself, so it could weaken it,” says Kyndra Webb, a child passenger safety technician instructor and member of the National Child Passenger Safety Board. A harness is the only thing between your child and physics in a car crash.
Aggressive cleaning or machine washing can also shrink or distort covers, or strip away protective coatings. “A lot of them have fire retardants,” Webb says. “The more you wash it, the more you degrade some of that safety quality.”
Even perfect cleaning techniques can be undermined by one deceptively difficult step—putting everything back together. “The biggest thing that I have seen when families come for a car seat check after they’ve washed it, especially if they bought their car seat used, is they’re not assembling it correctly again,” Webb says. A car seat may look pristine and even be properly installed, but if the harness is routed wrong or the clips aren’t in place, it’s not doing its job.
That said, the stakes are too high to wing it. By sticking to the script of proper cleaning guidelines and manufacturer instructions, your seat can be both sanitary and road-trip ready.
How to Find a Car Seat Manual
Before you even think about reaching for those cleaning supplies, break out your car seat’s manual. If you can’t find the booklet that came with the seat, you can likely find it online: Visit your car seat manufacturer’s website, search for your specific model, and look out for links labeled “Manual,” “Instructions,” or “Support.”
The cleaning guidelines are then usually found in a dedicated section of the manual. “Some car seats even have QR codes now, so you can scan the code to bring you right to their website’s FAQs and their help,” Webb says. “Sometimes it’ll even bring you to their YouTube channel.”
If all else fails, contact customer service. “A lot of the manufacturers have child passenger safety technicians on staff,” Webb says. “They know their car seats, they know their products.” They’re the experts who can provide specific guidance for your model.
The Justice Department appealed a lower-court order allowing people to use the gender or “X” identification marker that lines up with their gender identity.
It’s the latest in a series of emergency appeals from the Trump administration, many of which have resulted in victories amid litigation, including one banning transgender people from the military.
The government argues it can’t be required to use sex designations it considers inaccurate on official documents. The plaintiffs, meanwhile, say the policy violates the rights of transgender and nonbinary Americans.
The State Department changed its passport rules after Trump, a Republican, handed down an executive order in January declaring the United States would “recognize two sexes, male and female,” based on what it called “an individual’s immutable biological classification.”
Transgender actor Hunter Schafer, for example, said in February that her new passport had been issued with a male gender marker, even though she submitted the application with the female gender marker she’s used for years on her driver’s license and passport.
A judge blocked the Trump administration policy in June after a lawsuit from nonbinary and transgender people, some of whom said they were afraid to submit applications. An appeals court left the judge’s order in place.
The Trump administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to put the order on hold while the lawsuit plays out.
“The Constitution does not prohibit the government from defining sex in terms of an individual’s biological classification,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote.
He pointed to the high court’s recent ruling upholding a ban on transition-related health care for transgender minors. The court’s conservative majority found that law doesn’t discriminate on the basis of sex, and Sauer argued that finding also supports the Trump administration’s decision to change passport rules issued in 2021.
An attorney for the plaintiffs, on the other hand, said the passport rules are discriminatory.
“This administration has taken escalating steps to limit transgender people’s health care, speech, and other rights under the Constitution, and we are committed to defending those rights,” said Jon Davidson, senior counsel for the LGBTQ & HIV Project at the American Civil Liberties Union.
A House Foreign Affairs committee hearing ended abruptly Tuesday after the committee chair, Republican Rep. Keith Self of Texas, misgendered Democrat Rep. Sarah McBride of Delaware, who is transgender.
Spirit Airlines announced some dispiriting news for travelers and company employees: it will cut 25% of its flight capacity in November 2025 and brace for further job cuts.
After declaring its second bankruptcy in less than a year earlier this month, CEO Dave Davis revealed the news in a memo to employees on Wednesday, emphasizing that the reductions are necessary for the company to focus on its more profitable markets.
“These evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline. Unfortunately, these are the tough calls we must make to emerge stronger,” Davis wrote.
The airline’s restructuring arrives amid heavy financial losses this year. CNBC reports that Spirit lost nearly $257 million between March and June 2025. And after emerging from bankruptcy earlier this year, the company has faced weak travel demand, increased competition, and rising costs (especially following its failed merger with JetBlue).
Spirit has already dropped routes in 11 cities, including Albuquerque, San Diego, and Oakland.
So far, specifics on future layoffs remain unclear, but recent changes have included furloughs and demotions for hundreds of pilots and voluntary unpaid leave for some flight attendants. The carrier’s unionized workforce is preparing for negotiations, with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA telling its members that “this bankruptcy will be much more difficult than the last one.”
Rival airlines—most notably United, Frontier, and JetBlue—have already moved to expand into routes Spirit is abandoning. Experts say that fewer Spirit flights could signal higher prices and reduced choices for holiday travelers.
Spirit Airlines announced some dispiriting news for travelers and company employees: it will cut 25% of its flight capacity in November 2025 and brace for further job cuts.
After declaring its second bankruptcy in less than a year earlier this month, CEO Dave Davis revealed the news in a memo to employees on Wednesday, emphasizing that the reductions are necessary for the company to focus on its more profitable markets.
“These evaluations will inevitably affect the size of our teams as we become a more efficient airline. Unfortunately, these are the tough calls we must make to emerge stronger,” Davis wrote.
J.D. Power has released its annual rankings for the best airports in North America.
The findings are based on more than 30,000 flyer surveys from U.S. or Canadian residents.
Key metrics included in the survey were:
How easy it is to travel through an airport
Level of trust or confidence in an airport
Facilities
Airport staff
Departure and arrival experiences
Food and retail
Airports that incorporate food and local brands to create a “genuine sense of location” see a big boost in their scores and how much people spend while they are there, according to J.D. Power’s rankings report.
Best airport winners
The survey divided the airport rankings based on number of travelers.
The biggest airports – ones called “mega” airports – are defined as those with at least 33 million passengers per year. Large airports have between 10 and 32.9 million passengers per year and medium airports have 4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was the top scoring mega airport for the second consecutive year, followed by Detroit and Phoenix.
In the large airport category, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, beat out Tampa International Airport and Dallas Love Field.
Among medium airports, for the fourth year in a row, Indianapolis International Airport ranks highest. Indianapolis is routinely ranked as one of the best airports in the U.S.
It is followed by Southern California’s Ontario International and Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Overall, mega airports tend to lag behind smaller ones because passengers are more likely to hit longer wait times and experience bigger crowds.
Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.
SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (WLS) — They paid several thousands of dollars, only to see their vacations disappear and their money vanish, too.
Six people say they were cheated out of their dream vacations after trusting a South Holland travel agent who stopped responding. So, the ABC7 I-Team went searching for answers and for that travel agent.
Many said they met the travel agent, Vikki McNuckle of ACL Travel Group LLC, through church or through other south suburban residents. Some had even been on trips with her before. They say the cost of their trips covered airfare and hotels.
“So no, I’m not postponing it any longer. I say if the trip’s not a go, then send me my refund,” said Christopher Suber.
Suber and his wife, Harriet, say they lost $35,000 after paying for two trips in 2024 to Dubai and Greece. They say those trips were rescheduled multiple times and then abruptly canceled by McNuckle. She acknowledged the money owed in a letter.
“And that’s a financial burden on us, you know, hurting us from doing other things that we may want to have tried to do, you know, when we still sitting here waiting to get $35,000 back out of our retirement fund that we took out,” Suber said.
Others in this group have similar stories.
“Postponed twice. And the second time, twice now, is totally canceled,” said Arnold Watkins.
Watkins says he paid $14,000 for a canceled Dubai trip and has been waiting for a refund since January. But he says he recently won a credit card dispute for $4,000.
“Makes me feel disheartened and very disheartened because the simple fact of it is this was supposed to be my honeymoon trip,” Watkins said.
Eunice Lockett and her sister, Dorothy Eichelbergar, booked separately for a trip to Greece in October 2024 that never happened.
“Just tell me, you spent the money, OK? I rather for you to be honest with me, then just, you know, ignore me. It makes me angry, very angry,” Eichelbergar said.
Lockett says she did get the airfare refunded, but she filed a small claims court lawsuit, asking for the rest of her money.
Inez Thomas says she paid $10,000 for that same Greece trip but recently received a $3,000 refund, only for the airfare.
“Don’t steal from me. And that’s what I feel like. She has stolen our money,” Thomas said.
Consumers say McNuckle blamed the 2024 wildfires for the Greece cancellations but did not follow through on rescheduling, and refunds have not been issued. ABC7 also found another frustrated customer.
“And this is going on a year. No vacation,” said Tracy Thomas.
Thomas says she and her roommate are owed $10,000 for the same Greece trip for her 16th birthday.
“I’m living paycheck to paycheck, so I should be able to use that to pay off whatever I need to pay off one if I choose to select another trip, that would be fine,” Thomas said.
Thomas says she was told a refund was on the way.
“She said that the refund would take 90 business days. That was the first time. Then when we started inquiring, she said, ‘It takes 120 days.’ Next thing I know, we haven’t heard anything and we’re calling,” Thomas said.
The I-Team found seven Illinois attorney general reports filed against the company. Many are from the consumers in our story, and some of these customers filed police reports. The South Holland Police Department told ABC7’s Jason Knowles that it is “actively investigating this case.”
Knowles sent several emails to McNuckle, called her and stopped by her home. We never heard back from that travel agent who these consumers say cashed in and broke promises.
“She cannot be trusted. Do not book any trips with her,” Watkins said.
You should always use a credit card when booking with a travel agent.
However, some of the consumers say they could not dispute charges on their credit cards because by the time the trips were officially canceled, it was beyond the window to dispute.
You can also research travel insurance. However, some consumers who had it say it did not cover losses since the vendor made the cancellation.
Hailing from the Western side of Pennsylvania, folks like me are born and raised to hate the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s sort of a rite of passage. However, my love for the game of football trounces my hatred for Philly, so here we are.
After winning his first Super Bowl earlier this year, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has his team in the driver’s seat atop the NFC East. Sure we’re only a few weeks into the season, but 2-0 is a pretty good way to stop the ‘Super Bowl Hangover’ narrative in its tracks.
But how did the birds get here? I was fortunate enough to catch up with Sirianni before Super Bowl LIX, and I asked about his experience in big games.
If the cooler weather last week seemed too good to be true, that’s because it kind of was. To no surprise, the unpredictable weather of Dallas-Fort Worth lived up to its reputation — seemingly as quickly as the temperatures dropped, they rose to the 90s again…
A 26-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Craggy Gardens has reopened, the National Park Service announced Monday.
The reopening marks the completion of two more landslide repair projects following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
After the completion of the projects at mileposts 375 and 380, officials said they were able to reopen the section of the parkway between Asheville and the Ridge Junction Overlook near NC 80 and the Mount Mitchell State Park entrance.
The newly reopened section includes popular stops in the Craggy Gardens area, near milepost 364. Those stops include the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Craggy Pinnacle Trail and short sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail.
Officials said the Craggy Gardens Picnic Area and sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail from the Craggy Trail Shelter to the Snowball Mountain Trail remain closed, however.
“Today’s opening also provides access to other popular, adjacent recreation areas, including Mount Mitchell State Park and lands managed by the USDA Forest Service,” the park service said.
For more information on Mount Mitchell State Park’s reopening, click here.
Officials said additional projects are beginning at 45 remaining locations along the parkway as part of a phased system to restore road access to areas damaged by Helene.
Anyone traveling to the Blue Ridge Parkway should plan their trip carefully, officials said, to ensure safe travel and avoid delays. To find more information on road closures along the parkway, click here.
The vibe: I loathe to write this review because as much as I want to wax lyrical about my incredible stay at Hotel Valldemossa, I’m equally desperate to preserve it as my secret haven.
Tucked high above the sleepy, pine-scented village of picture-perfect Valldemossa and with just twelve adult-only rooms (a God-send for frazzled parents seeking silence), Hotel Valldemossa is an embodiment of Mallorca’s rural charm. Formerly part of the ancient Carthusian monastery, the serene hideaway is the brainchild of IT Mallorca group that’s been reimagined as a slick yet serene adults-only retreat nestled in the lush Tramuntana mountains.
As a London dweller, the first thing that strikes you is the tranquility: birdsong, rustling olive trees, the occasional toll of the monastery bell below. With a nod to the intimate feel of a White Lotus hotel, the staff not only know you by name but quickly pick up on exactly what you need from the hotel and offer it with aplomb.
At the core of the hotel’s philosophy is healing. Enter: the Sanctuary spa, a cave-like haven carved into the hillside, complete with a private pool, sauna, and a treatment menu curated by wellness expert Amor Garzón. Amor’s treatments (from lymphatic drainage and sound therapy to acupuncture) pay homage to the Piroche method. It’s not just the treatments that are restorative, it’s the entire experience. Morning yoga takes place on the open-air deck, surrounded by citrus trees and rosemary hedges, whilst hikes begin right from the hotel’s gate, winding through ancient terraces and wildflower paths. There’s an outdoor gym with vistas of the quiet mountains and hammocks nestled into the orange groves. This is the kind of place where doing less becomes the point.
The hotel’s foodie offering matches the bucolic vistas the restaurant is set against. De Tokio a Lima takes its name—and culinary spirit—from three corners of the globe: the minimalist elegance of Japan, the bold vibrancy of Peru, and the soulful ingredients of the Mediterranean. The result? Fresh sashimi with citrusy fire, grilled local vegetables elevated with miso and spice, and a delectable red shrimp with cuttlefish and creamy rice.
Breakfast is a ritual in itself: still-warm breads baked on site and flaky, just-baked pastries are set next to overnight oats and generous platters of local cheeses and artisanal cold cuts. There’s even a DIY pan con tomate station best washed down with a glass of fizz and views of the monastery, mist still clinging to its steeples.
As you breathe in the crisp, pine-scented mountain air and glance meditatively over the olive tree-adorned hills of the Serra de Tramuntana, it’s not hard to see why Frédéric Chopin was sent to the town of Valldemossa to recover from tuberculosis. This is not just a hotel stay. It’s a full-body exhale.
Why we love it: The best spa in Mallorca, hands down Price per night: From £950 per week Address: Vieja de Valldemossa, 07170 Valldemossa, Mallorca Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dallas’s Rosegarden Funeral Party, a post-punk band fronted by Leah Lane, announced in July that they would end the summer of 2025 with the second leg of their European/UK tour. The first part began in May and wrapped in June…
