A lazy guide to late-summer fun in NWA
👙 Have a pool day: Public pools and water parks are open through Labor Day. It's an easy way to make the kids' day with slides and splash pads, a book by the pool, or some exercise lap swimming.
Wilson Park in Fayetteville still has one more " dive-in" movie night.
🌽 Peruse farmers markets: NWA cities large and small have robust farmers markets on weekend mornings. Check out the one nearest to you and find some unique, locally made goods in addition to produce.
🍹 Get together with friends or have a nice summer date night with cocktails or bites at one of NWA's best patios.
🛶 Make the most of Beaver Lake and Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. Arkansas state parks host lots of nature-center events throughout the summer, like kayaking tours, hikes and fishing. And you can always rent a boat, kayak or paddleboard at Beaver Lake.
🧒 Entertain the kids: NWA is full of free or inexpensive ways to keep children engaged when they're out of school.
🥾 Spend a day hiking at Devil's Den State Park, or even camp overnight.
🎸 Don't sleep on all the free live music and offerings, like First Friday in Bentonville, Railyard Live in downtown Rogers, the Gulley Park series in Fayetteville, or Live! at Turnbow in downtown Springdale. It's a great way to get out and hear local artists and stumble on vendors or a new food truck.
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8 hours ago
Expert Labor Day travel-booking tips, how to score last-minute deals
As Americans prepare to soak up the final holiday weekend of summer before shoulder season, there are plenty of strategies to help make planning and travel during this peak time more manageable. Plus, there's still time to score last-minute deals from flights to stays in a variety of popular destinations. Whether you have an itinerary ready or are looking to enjoy a spontaneous getaway from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, experts across the industry from flight tracking sites to hotel booking platforms are sharing insights to assist travelers ready to make the most of the holiday weekend. Labor Day travel numbers: Gas prices, cheapest flights, best times to travel and more AAA released new insights on Friday showing the top domestic and international cities for Labor Day travel. Whether it's an Alaskan cruise, European adventure, or -- for many -- staying close to home and hitting the road for a beach weekend, the travel association found prices have dropped compared to the same time last year for both flights and hotel stays. Domestic roundtrip flights are down 6% from last year, AAA said, averaging $720 per ticket. While European cities make up most of AAA's top international destinations, Vancouver takes the No. 1 spot this season, falling in line with AAA's projection earlier this year for a strong Alaska cruise season. The agency said hotel rates are 11% lower compared to last Labor Day, with car rental costs down 3%. For those driving to their destination or trying to plan when to head to the airport to beat traffic, the best times to drive are before lunchtime, according to transportation data from analytics company INRIX. Check out the full breakdown below with the worst times to travel by car over the holiday weekend with Saturday predicted to be the busiest. Thursday, Aug. 28: Before 1 p.m. and after 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29: Before 12 p.m. and after 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30: Hit the road before 6 a.m., with the busiest hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31: Head out before 11 a.m. and avoid the peak times of 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1: Leave before 12 p.m., and wait out the roads from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. With gas prices holding relatively low this summer, matching the 2021 average, AAA reported that steady crude oil prices means you can fill your tank for less this Labor Day. Labor Day travel tips and deals Last year over Labor Day weekend, the Transportation Security Administration screened upward of 17 million people, so for anyone taking to the skies -- or eyeing a last-minute flight -- check out these helpful expert tips for all things airport travel and tickets. First and foremost, Laura Lindsay, global travel trends expert at Skyscanner, told ABC News that people should avoid travel on Friday because "it's expected to be the busiest and most expensive day to travel. For fewer crowds and better prices, consider flying on Tuesday, Sept. 2." "Holidays like Labor Day often create hectic airport experiences, and that increased demand typically means higher prices. Travelers who shop around and compare will still find good deals, even when demand is high," she continued. Experts from Expedia Group, which includes the online travel agency platform Expedia, as well as and Vrbo, said all three sites have offers available for travelers in search of a good last-minute deal. Travelers can use the Expedia Flight Deal feature to see last-minute flights -- departing from their home airport to anywhere -- that are at least 20% lower than the typical price. For short term rental stays, Vrbo recently launched "last minute booking" feature to filter and find rentals timed to the holiday weekend. The average airline ticket price is around $260 for Labor Day weekend, according to Expedia historical data. Popular travel destinations for Labor Day 2025 Booking data from AAA shows that Seattle, Orlando, and New York are the three most popular cities over Labor Day weekend. According to Expedia data, the most popular domestic destinations include Las Vegas, New York City, Chicago, Orlando, and Miami. Additionally, college football season is ramping up, with many schools opening their season over Labor Day weekend, sending fans flocking to those cities for game-day getaways. Expedia found increased booking interest in State College, Pennsylvania (+360%); Tallahassee, Florida (+230%); Columbus, Ohio (+90%); and Atlanta, Georgia (+70%). When it comes to mid-sized cities, both Oklahoma City and Greenville, South Carolina, are seeing a spike on Expedia platforms for their affordability and walkable downtown areas. Looking for a family-friendly escape? Midwest and countryside retreats including in Sandusky, Ohio; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; and Allegan County, Michigan, have all seen an uptick in interest among groups with children. Some international hotspots are also trending. According to Expedia, travelers are increasingly heading abroad to sunny destinations like Nadi, Fiji (+150%), and Taormina, Sicily (+65%). Closer-to-home destinations like San José del Cabo, Mexico City (+55%) and St. Lucia (+45%) are also trending up. Expert tips for easier Labor Day travel For the best booking experience, keep the tips below in mind. Activate price alerts Activating price alerts -- whether with Skyscanner, Google Flights or another platform -- can be a game-changer for getting a great deal. In some cases, if you've already booked a ticket, the notification could help you rebook or get a refund for the fare difference from the airline, depending on the ticket type and policy. Travel opposite of the crowd, compare domestic and international flights With most Americans inclined to stay in the states for these holiday weekends, Lindsay said "you may also find cheaper flights to Europe compared to popular domestic destinations." "When domestic travel demand is high, like it is during Labor Day weekend in the U.S., international destinations may be a better deal," Lindsay said. "When you search for flights on Skyscanner, you can filter flights by price, duration, number of layovers and more. Plus, get detailed information on baggage policies, amenities and user reviews for informed choices." Be flexible with location or opt for alternative destinations Flexibility with your travel destination is key, as it lets you capitalize on discounts and explore unique, crowd-free experiences. You can use Skyscanner's "Search Everywhere" feature, Lindsay said, to find lesser-known gems and savings. For example, instead of Paris, try Lyon or Marseille for an affordable taste of French culture. Opt for Eindhoven or Rotterdam in the Netherlands instead of Amsterdam, or explore Fukuoka or Sapporo in Japan instead of Tokyo. Mix and match flights "Round-trip flights aren't always the cheapest. Sometimes you save more by booking two one-way tickets, allowing you to mix and match airlines," Lindsay said. "Search for both round-trip and one-way itineraries to see which flights price out the best." Consider nearby airports Much like being flexible with a destination, check out options for flying into or out of nearby airports to find a better deal and potentially save on airfare. "It offers travelers more flexibility and the opportunity to explore different airport options, especially if you live in an area with multiple airports nearby or are flying to a destination with more than one option," Lindsay said. "For example, if you want to fly to Miami, you can choose that airport or fly into Ft. Lauderdale, which is just 26 miles north. And if you're heading to Manhattan, there are three New York City area airports." New Avis option to save time, skip the counter Just in time for the holiday weekend, Avis announced a new premium service that allows customers to skip the shuttle and rental counter and get concierge service to a luxury vehicle instead. For those using the new option, travelers will receive a welcome message through the Avis app and be greeted by a personal concierge who will take them to their rental vehicle. The return is equally frictionless, allowing Avis First customers to pull up to departures, hand off the keys, and head straight to their gate. The new class of rental is rolling out at select airports -- Denver, Honolulu, and Palm Beach -- as well as major cities including Manhattan, Hoboken, Jersey City, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Labor Day marks start of shoulder season, savings in paradise The period between peak summer and winter holiday travel seasons is typically slower for tourism both domestic and abroad. According to Vrbo, Hawaii is the top shoulder season destination of 2025. September and October bring lower airfare, fewer tourists and crowds, and a significant drop in the price of rentals, according to Vrbo, with the average daily rates for vacation rentals 30% lower compared to December. This story was originally published on August 13, 2025.
Tom's Guide
11 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
This super-luxurious hybrid mattress with a 5-star rating is one of the best beds of the decade, let alone the year — and it's just gone on sale
I've been writing about mattresses for nearly five years, and in that time I've learned a lot about the ins and outs of the mattress business, as well as pros and cons of most of the best mattresses on the market. It's not as tricky as you might think, because for the entire time that I've been covering the mattress business there's been one stand-out bed that I'd recommend to pretty much anyone, and that's the Saatva Classic which is now $400 off at Saatva when you use our link. With most of the top mattresses there's usually going to be a degree of compromise to your choice — you might have to put up with some heat retention if you want a memory foam feel, for example — but this mattress gets everything right, to the extent that in our review it scores straight five-star marks across the board. There's no doubt that it's a premium mattress, but you take advantage of mattress sales you'll find the price is actually very reasonable for what you'll get. And with our deal that beat Saatva's early access Labor Day mattress sale, it's excellent value. So, are you interested yet? Let me tell you more... Saatva Classic mattress: twin was $1,399 now $999 at SaatvaThe Saatva Classic isn't merely our top mattress choice all round; we also rate it as the best luxury mattress and the best mattress for couples, and you'll find it riding high in many more of our buying guides. It's a premium innerspring hybrid with a firmness option for every sleeper, it excels in every metric by which we rate mattresses, and it's built to last using quality materials. Saatva's early Labor Day sale takes $325 off a queen size, but by following our link you'll get $400, bringing the price down to $1,739: that's a brilliant price for best mattress we've ever slept on. The Saatva Classic is a luxury mattress inspired by the beds you'll find in five-star hotels. In technical terms, it's a luxury innerspring hybrid; that means it's made with layers of springs that contour to your body shape to give you just the right amount of cradling support you need, with a thick, quilted pillow top to ensure that you feel fully cushioned as you sleep. If you wake up with backache, you'll be pleased to know that the Saatva Classic is designed to keep your spine healthily aligned. As well as featuring a memory foam lumbar crown to provide additional support for your lower back, it's approved by both the Congress of Chiropractic State Association and the American Chiropractic Association. Even better, you can buy the Saatva Classic with just the right level of comfort for your sleep preferences. If you mostly sleep on your side, the Plush Soft version will cushion your hips and shoulders, which take most of the strain in the night. Back and stomach sleepers (and also heavier sleepers) should opt for the Firm version, which delivers balanced resistance that's easy on your back and joints. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. And if you change position a lot in the night, or share with a partner who sleeps in a different position to you, the Luxury Firm model offers a just-right level of of cushioning and support, inspired by the feel of luxury hotel beds. As well as three firmness options, the Saatva Classic comes in two heights: 11.5" and 14". And if you're wondering why you should choose one over the other, it's so that you can make sure your bed as a whole is best height for your comfort. Saatva even provides a bed height calculator on its site so that you can visualize how tall your bed will be with each mattress height. Unlike most popular mattresses on the market, the Saatva Classic is delivered flat, not vacuum-packed and rolled up in a box, as part of Saatva's free white glove delivery. This service also means it'll be delivered directly to your bed, not left on your doorstep, with your old mattress removed for free. You'll get a 365-night home trial and a lifetime warranty, too. And the price? Okay, the Saatva Classic isn't cheap. A queen size, 11.5" model has an MSRP of $2,139, but the good news is that regular Saatva mattress sales mean you'll never have to pay that much. Right now in Saatva's early bird Labor Day sale, there's $325 off a queen-size Classic, but you can get $400 off by following our links, bringing price down to $1,739. Considering the amount of time you'll spend sleeping on it, that's a very fair price, and one I'd happily pay for years of quality sleep. If you're still not entirely convinced, don't just take my word for it. Our Tom's Guide Saatva Classic review was recently updated after seven months of re-testing. TL;DR: it's the best mattress we've ever tested. Our managing editor, who was lead reviewer for the lengthy trial period, had never given a mattress a five-star review before, but the Classic (in a Luxury Firm feel) absolutely nailed it in every category. The Saatva Classic is excellent, not just in terms of the quality of its build, but also in the performance features that everyone needs to think about when buying a new mattress. Whether you're in search of outstanding pressure relief for comfort, low motion transfer so you're not disturbed by a restless partner, a bed that won't overheat at night or sturdy edges so that you can sit comfortably on the side of your bed, the Classic has you covered. We can even vouch for its durability: one member of our testing team has been sleeping on a Classic for four years and has yet to spot any wear and tear, sagging or indentations. Above, I've detailed the many reasons that myself and the Tom's Guide team think the Saatva Classic is mattress perfection, but this perhaps sums up best why I believe you should buy it if you're in search of a new bed: Shopping for a mattress can be confusing because there are so many options on the market, making all sort of promises. But amongst all the noise, the Saatva Classic is a rare thing in this business: a safe bet. Buy it and you'll be happy (at least in sleep terms) for a very long time. And right now you can get it for the best price. What more could you want?
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