Why More Newlyweds Are Honeymooning Closer to Home
'We wanted to keep it simple and low-key and not change time zones,' Ms. Repetto said. 'The trip was about being with each other without spending a fortune.'
Their getaway began at Cliff House Maine in Cape Neddick on the southern coast, where they celebrated New Year's Eve. Ms. Repetto, 44, a middle-school math teacher, and Mr. La Bella, 51, an owner of a sheet-metal fabrication business, then drove a rental car 45 minutes north to the Cape Arundel Inn & Resort in Kennebunkport.
'We had great seafood, cozy dinners, soaks in hot tubs and took walks along the water,' Ms. Repetto said. 'We came back refreshed, not exhausted, which is exactly what we wanted our honeymoon to be about.'
Married couples have traditionally used their honeymoons as an opportunity to take once-in-a-lifetime trips that have long been on their wish lists or to book stays at romantic resorts in the Caribbean or farther afield. More recently, however, many newlyweds have been opting for domestic honeymoons instead.
The shift can be attributed to several factors, including constrained budgets, limited time off, or a desire to avoid the complications of international travel. Many couples are also increasingly drawn to the idea of a more laid-back, relaxed honeymoon without the pressure of a packed itinerary.
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Travel + Leisure
12 minutes ago
- Travel + Leisure
America's Best Small Food and Drinks Town Is the Bourbon Capital of the World—and It Has a Seriously Impressive Restaurant and Wine Scene, Too
Book a room at The Trail Hotel, which features a rejuvenation lounge with IV treatments, an oxygen bar, a sauna, and more to help you bounce back from travel (and perhaps a little too much fun on the Bourbon Trail). Start your day with Hadorn Bakery's signature 'Yum Yums,' twisted, chocolate-topped yeast donuts that frequently sell out well before closing time. Stock up on sippable souvenirs at Evergreen Liquors in the heart of downtown Bardstown. Take a detour to Bernheim Forest and Arboretum to explore some of its 40 miles of hiking trails and peek at more than 3,500 species of plants. Pair a bourbon flight with a taco dog or smash burger at Scout & Scholar Brewery. If you're new to the whiskey world and are just dipping your toe into distillery tours, Bardstown, Kentucky, might be one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it towns you pass on your way to Lexington or Louisville. But in May 2025, Bardstown made a big splash when the area's first luxury boutique hotel debuted. I was one of the first guests to stay at The Trail Hotel, and my trip proved that Bardstown (population: around 14,000) is well worth a stop. Known as the 'Bourbon Capitol of the World' since the 1950s, Bardstown has been named 'The Most Beautiful Small Town in America' by several organizations. It's quickly becoming one of the most delicious small towns, too, thanks to restaurants with world-class chefs, creative mixologists, and top-tier sommeliers. Situated near the center of Kentucky, Bardstown is easy to get to from many corners of the country. And once you're here, distillery tours and tastings, unique shops, bakeries, restaurants, bars, museums, and more await. 'The fact that Bardstown is not a big metro area is part of its charm,' says Kentucky native Norma Smith, a bourbon butler at The Trail Hotel. 'Folks can come here, learn about bourbon's history, explore local businesses, and not have to feel the hustle-bustle of a large city. Bardstown is a small town with plenty of awesome things to do—and taste!' The Bourbon Capital of the World comes by its title honestly. There are 11 distilleries within a 16-mile radius of downtown Bardstown, and even if you're not big into brown spirits, there's plenty to tempt your taste buds here. During spring, summer, and fall, Bardstown hosts a robust farmers market and farm-to-table dinners. Throughout the year, buzzy events like Bardstown Burger Week and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival draw crowds. Any time you swing by, you can fuel up at a variety of seasonally-focused restaurants with bountiful bourbon selections (naturally), Kentucky-made beers, and seriously impressive wine lists (Oak & Ember, for instance, has a level-three sommelier on staff). The Trail hotel's Single Barrel Suite. Jessie Kriech-Higdon/Visit Bardstown Something old meets something new at Bardstown's freshest and most fashionable hotel. Co-owners Brook Smith, Will Hardy, and Nathan 'Ejo' Edmonds have fond memories of visiting this building in its former life as a Holiday Inn. When the then-closed hotel went up for auction in 2021, they cast the winning bid—and got to work on a complete renovation and redesign. Today, The Trail Hotel's 87 rooms and eight bourbon-themed suites form a U-shape around the pool, pool bar, and what is now the biggest hot tub in Kentucky. Inside the lobby area, guests can swing (at the high-definition golf simulator), sip (in the intimate speakeasy), and eat (at Oak & Ember, a restaurant specializing in healthy-ish Southern fare). Guests by the pool at the Bardstown Motor Lodge. Victor Sizemore/Visit Bardstown If you prefer to be within walking distance of downtown, 11-year Bardstown resident Newman Miller, chef and owner of Mr. Tubs and partner at Scout & Scholar Brewery, recommends Bardstown Motor Lodge. This mid-century-inspired, pet-friendly hotel is what I imagine the Schitt's Creek motel might look like with an HGTV glow-up. The rooms are small but mighty, with smart TVs, a mini fridge, blackout curtains, and premium bath amenities, and the shared space is equipped with fire pits, a pool, and a retro rec room. Traveling with a crowd? Try The Full Proof Penthouse. Owners Will and Alicia Hardy (yes, the same Will as The Trail Hotel) were featured on an episode of the Discovery+ show In With the Old, which chronicled their renovation of the Old Deatsville Inn in nearby Coxs Creek. The Hardys put their design superpowers to work to transform this downtown Bardstown three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment into a five-star vacation rental located in the downtown core. Laundry appliances, a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, and private rooftop space make this a fantastic choice for families and groups of friends. A Bardstown Bourbon Company tasting. No visit to Bardstown is complete without at least one distillery tour, according to Smith. 'Each distillery has something distinct to offer,' adds Vince Metcalfe, the single barrel coordinator at Bardstown Bourbon Company, who was born and raised in Bardstown and has called it home for nearly 30 years. 'You can do tours, tastings, or just hang out at their bar and have a cocktail. It's very cool to see the unique history behind each brand.' Options abound in and around Bardstown, with notable names like Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience (home of Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Old Fitzgerald, and more), as well as at under-the-radar hits and up-and-comers such as Chicken Cock Whiskey and Bardstown Bourbon Company. Smith particularly adores the 90-minute Bottled-in-Bond Warehouse Tour and Tasting at Heaven Hill and the one-hour Rickhouse Barrel Thieving at Bardstown Bourbon Company. Brown spirit buffs will delight in the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. With free admission and tours, this museum is home to more than 1,500 highly allocated bottles of whisky and bourbon that the curators have been collecting for 40+ years. If you're new to the world of whiskey, this is a helpful place to start, as it offers an overview of the people, places, and techniques that make this spirit special. When you're ready for a break from the Bourbon Trail, navigate to 3rd Street. 'It's such a beautiful and quaint area with tons of local shops, bars, restaurants, and art studios,' Smith says. If you're in the mood for a savory snack, stop by Liam Ash Cocktail Emporium for a charcuterie board or 'Jake's Baked Balls' (sausage and Cheddar balls with a maple-bourbon glaze). If sweet is more your style, get the scoop at Big Wally's Ice Cream & More. While you're in the area, Smith suggests popping into Cactus Annie's to see the iconic Dolly Parton mural. Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. You can hop on a handful of hiking trails mere steps from downtown. But if you're up for taking a 15-mile detour outside of Bardstown, you'll find one of Metcalfe's 'favorite places to enjoy the natural beauty of the state of Kentucky,' Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. Pack a picnic for a 'great way to spend time when not drinking bourbon,' Miller tells us. While you're stationed in this lush landscape, trek through some of the preserve's 40 miles of hiking trails. If kids are in tow, turn them loose at the 17-acre natural playground. They'll also enjoy the massive Forest Giants scattered throughout Bernheim, which are crafted from repurposed and natural materials. Evergreen Liquors, and upscale liquor shop with a tasting bar inside. Steven Gray/Visit Bardstown To refresh your wardrobe with effortlessly chic apparel, Kaden Lake Boutique is a must, Smith says. 'The owner, Alicia Hardy, has curated such a great women's boutique. She's definitely got style.' When I walked by, I couldn't take my eyes off the beautiful clothes in the window. If your ideal souvenir is a drinkable one, you can't do much better than Evergreen Liquors. Keep an eye out for rare releases like Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked and Angel's Envy Barrel Select Sherry Cask. Smith likes to sample unique pours at the tasting bar 'while I decide how much of my income is reasonable to budget on more bottles of bourbon!' Stock up on uniquely Kentucky goodies like Monk's Road Coffee Caramel Chocolates, Kentucky Hot Mix trail mix, Bramble Ridge sorghum syrup, and Elixir Kombucha at 3rd Street's Taste of Bardstown Market. If you're staying at a vacation rental or are in need of picnic provisions, check out their Airbnb grocery packages for quick-fix breakfast, snack, and dinner spreads. Freshly baked treats from Hadorn's Bakery. Early birds don't get the worm here, but they do get the warm baked goods that have a cult following. No wonder the door of Hadorn's Bakery is plastered with a sign that reads 'Open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until sold out.' Arrive ASAP for the best chances of scoring 'one of their famous Yum Yums,' Miller advises. The $2.15 treat is a showy donut drizzled with swirls of milk and white chocolate. Take it to go or enjoy your Yum Yum in a rocking chair on the bakery's charming front porch. Mammy's Kitchen serves southern comfort food in Bardstown. If your day's agenda involves exploring the Bourbon Trail or hiking trails, 'Mammy's Kitchen & Bar should be your first stop to fuel up with a big country breakfast,' Smith says. They serve up Southern fare in a casual, country store environment, and I could eat bowls of their fried apples. Bring your appetite and some pals to share the Sunday special: 'Deep-fried Ginormous Cinnabon Roll' in a skillet. Or pull up a stool any day of the week for what Metcalfe calls 'the best Kentucky Hot Brown in the world.' For the uninitiated, this is an open-faced sandwich featuring sliced oven-roasted turkey, bacon, sliced tomatoes, and mornay sauce. Mammy's riff also piles on ham and eggs. For what Metcalfe declares 'the best beer in bourbon country, brewed right there on-site,' alongside locally sourced comfort food like bacon jalapeño cheeseburger hand pies, fried chicken tenders with tots, and chocolate chip bread pudding, Scout & Scholar Brewing Co. is a local favorite. Come for the food and drinks, and stay for the atmosphere. 'Their patio is one of my favorite places to hang out on a beautiful day,' Metcalfe adds. Some of Bardstown's best restaurants are tucked away inside distilleries, including The Bar at Willett inside Willett Distillery. 'The menu changes weekly to daily, so order whatever catches your eye. In my opinion, this is one of the best—if not the best—restaurants in Kentucky, and I've never been disappointed,' Miller says. If you happen to be there on a lucky day when the 'iconic' egg salad sandwich is on the menu, Smith says this is a must. A spread from Oak & Ember, a restaurant at The Trail Hotel. Jessie Kriech-Higdon/Visit Bardstown Cookbook author and Emmy-nominated chef Marvin Woods has also acted as personal chef for Oprah, Mary J. Blige, Barack Obama, and more. Now in his position as the executive chef at The Trail Hotel's signature 110-seat restaurant Oak & Ember and its lobby bar Embers, he can cook for you, too. Smith says that 'the salmon entrée has become a staple in my diet. The tuna sashimi is super flavorful, too.' I'm still dreaming about the Kentucky burgoo stew and beet salad I enjoyed during my May stay. Fall foliage in the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. The locals we spoke to boast that Bardstown is beautiful to visit any time of year, but according to Metcalfe, 'fall is when the community really comes to life.' Visit in September to take part in National Bourbon Heritage Month festivities, such as Bardstown's Kentucky Bourbon Festival (one of Smith's favorite weekends of the year). Or vacation in October for peak leaf-peeping and the Bardstown Arts and Crafts Fair. Spring is the runner-up season, Miller adds, since the weather is beautiful and 'there aren't as many people visiting as there are in the fall.' Translation: Lodging prices tend to be more affordable, and distillery and restaurant reservations are easier to come by. The Bardstown, Kentucky welcome center. Bardstown is approximately 45 minutes from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and about 55 minutes from Lexington's Blue Grass Airport (LEX). Although quaint downtown Bardstown is extremely walkable, you'll likely want a rental car to get to this small town—and to navigate to nearby attractions, such as hiking trails and restaurants. If you don't have a designated driver, plan ahead for car service. The Trail Hotel and certain distilleries can help arrange this. While Uber lists Bardstown as a partner city, available drivers are sparse, so plan ahead for alternative transportation.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
I use my vacations to visit friends and family. My trips are easier, less expensive, and more meaningful.
Most of my travel over the past decade has been to visit friends and family. To me, this approach to travel is easier, cheaper, and more fulfilling. I enjoy seeing my loved ones' favorite places and helping them explore their cities in new ways. A few years ago, my partner and I took a trip to Southeast Asia and didn't know anyone. Although we undoubtedly had some great adventures together, it was exhausting trying to figure out everything on our own, from the best things to do to how to get around. That trip made me realize just how much more I enjoy the kind of travel I've been doing for the past decade — using most of my vacations to visit loved ones in places like Los Angeles, London, Seattle, Melbourne, Chicago, Monterey, Washington, DC, and more. In addition to saving money on hotels, traveling this way gives me everything I crave from a vacation: exploration of a new place, quality time with people I love, and a certain amount of ease. Love Business Insider? Log into Google and make us a preferred source. I love getting to see a city through my loved ones' eyes One of my favorite things about traveling this way is that it gives me insight into my loved ones' favorite things about their cities, like coffee shops, restaurants, and parks. We get to build memories together, and later, when we're catching up from afar, I'll know some of the places and people they're talking about. I think it's special to be able to picture my friends and family members in their homes and haunts. I often get to enjoy incredible experiences I never would have found on my own, too — like when my former coworker who lives in Melbourne invited me to her friends' annual bike bar crawl. And sometimes, I even get to help them discover new parts of their cities. For instance, during a trip to Colorado, my friend and I took my aunt and uncle to a local magic show they'd never heard of. They both loved it and said they'd have to bring future visitors. I typically plan some of my own activities and have frank conversations about scheduling and boundaries I always try to make it very clear to my host that they don't have to entertain me the whole time I'm in town. Before I arrive, I usually ask about their work schedule, existing plans, and if they need me to leave the house at any point during the day. I also do some research and try to pick one or two things I want to do while visiting. Then, I'll either invite my loved one to join me or let them know I'm happy to venture off on my own if they need some alone time. Doing so has led to some incredible solo adventures. During my trip to Melbourne, for example, I joined a multi-day tour group along the coast of Victoria since my friend had to work during the week. It was great to have the opportunity to explore freely without relying too heavily on my friend during my visit. I still go on other trips, but this will always be my preferred way of traveling There are places I'd like to visit one day where I don't have anyone to stay with, so I'll definitely continue to plan travel that doesn't involve visiting friends and family. However, I don't mind spreading those out further so that my annual trips can be focused on my loved ones. I find more meaning in seeing the wonderful people in my life than the wonders of the world — but this way, I get to do both at the same time. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Why have they let it get to this point?': Air Canada customers deal with uncertainty of possible disruptions
Air Canada customers are trying to remain hopeful that a possible strike involving flight attendants won't disrupt their upcoming travel plans, but they're also steeling themselves for the possibility that could happen. That's the case for Toronto's James Catt, who's supposed to be flying to Los Angeles on Saturday, with his wife and son, as part of a special trip to celebrate his 15th wedding anniversary. The family's planned itinerary includes seeing a baseball game at Dodger Stadium and sitting in top-notch seats near first base. "The ball tickets were pretty expensive, they were about $1,000 US," Catt told CBC News Network midday Thursday. At this point, Catt has not been told the family's Saturday flight is a no-go. But with so much uncertainty, Catt says they have cancelled their hotel booking and are now weighing whether to drop their tickets, too. "We could try to cut our losses by selling the tickets on StubHub ... but the longer we wait, the less likely that is to work out," said Catt. "At the same time, we don't want to sell the tickets now and then find out that they make a deal at the last minute." Air Canada has already begun cancelling some flights ahead of a potential strike involving thousands of flight attendants that could begin on Saturday. Mark Nasr, the company's chief operations officer, said Thursday that cancellations would go from "several dozens" occurring on Thursday, growing to some 500 by the end of Friday, to a state of being "completely grounded" as of the start of a potential strike on Saturday — affecting roughly 130,000 customers daily — should a resolution not be reached. WATCH | Air Canada's plan if a deal is not reached: Air Canada proposed entering binding interest arbitration, but the union representing the flight attendants rejected that. The company has since asked the federal government to send the two parties to arbitration if an agreement can't be reached. 'Hoping for some kind of miracle' Anne Vivian-Scott of Kingston, Ont., is frustrated that the prospect of a labour disruption got so close before the airline alerted customers about potential issues. "Why have they let it get to this point?" asked Vivian-Scott, who identified her family as longtime loyal Air Canada customers. Her two adult children, who live on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, are supposed to fly to eastern Ontario to attend their cousin's wedding in Ottawa over the Labour Day weekend. It may be easier for her daughter, who lives on the West Coast, to seek an alternate flight home, via another carrier, if a labour disruption occurs. But her son, who lives in Japan, will have fewer options to choose from. "This was going to be his once-a-year trip home," said Vivian-Scott. She also noted that Kingston is a place some students will be flying back to in the days ahead, with the fall term at Queen's University lying just around the corner. Queen's student Summer Mehdi planned to travel to Europe with family members on Saturday, via a Toronto-to-Lisbon flight. That trip appeared to be in limbo. Though Mehdi says she supports the flight attendants' push "to get what they deserve," she also says she wishes "there was more communication" about what was happening. WATCH | University student trying to get back for a final exam: University of Toronto student Laeticia Halbedel is trying to get back to Toronto from Taipei, Taiwan — and not because the new school year is coming up. She's supposed to be writing a exam for a neuroscience-related course next week. "It's 35 per cent of my final mark, so it's quite important," Halbedel told CBC News Network on Thursday. For now, she's not sure what she's going to do — other than hope that her Taipei-to-Toronto flight will go ahead as scheduled. Back in Toronto, Catt is likewise "hoping for some kind of miracle" to be able to board his Air Canada flight on Saturday. "But," he said, "I don't know."
