Latest news with #AFAR
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Columbus Ranks as One of the Best U.S. Destinations for Summer Travel & Invites Visitors to See Why
Columbus Book Festival Unofficial Galaxies at COSI Columbus, Ohio, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbus is road trip-ready and rising to the top of travelers' lists in 2025. As Americans plan shorter getaways and embrace the return of the road trip, The Wall Street Journal notes a clear trend: drivable, experience-rich cities are in. With national nods from AFAR and Travel + Leisure as one of the best places to visit this summer, it's clear Columbus should be on your summer travel list. 'Summer is our busiest season for a reason,' said Sarah Townes, ECI, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. 'There's always something happening with festivals nearly every weekend celebrating the arts, music, culture, books and more. Columbus provides that perfect mix of a city escape that blends energy and ease. And with 81 percent of overnight visitors returning, it's clear that once people experience Columbus, they come back again and again.' Travelers will find Columbus exciting and accessible. Getting to Columbus is easy as Ohio's capital city is within a day's drive or one-hour flight for more than half the U.S. population. Once here, visitors can take advantage of the city's free experiential trails, from ones celebrating live music to Columbus-style pizza, and the 3-Day Columbus Attractions Pass to save more than 20% at top attractions. A Destination for Book Lovers Literary travel is a major trend in 2025, and Columbus is the perfect place for bibliophiles. Celebrated authors such as Hanif Abdurraqib, Maggie Smith and R.L. Stine all hail from Columbus. The late humorist and cartoonist James Thurber also called Columbus home. Visitors can tour his house, now the city's literary arts hub with ongoing programming ranging from writing workshops to author talks and more. The Columbus Book Festival presented by the Columbus Metropolitan Library returns July 12–13 Downtown at the Main Library and Topiary Park. Headliners include renowned authors such as Amal El-Mohtar (The River Has Roots), Gregg Hurwitz (Nemesis), Anna Todd (The Last Sunrise) and Victoria Christopher Murray (Harlem Rhapsody). With more than 120 authors, panel discussions, indie creators and local food, this free festival is a must for book lovers this summer. Summer Festival Season Summer festival season kicks off June 6-8, with the Columbus Arts Festival, recognized as one of the best in the country by USA Today 10Best. More than 400,000 people are expected to attend the annual celebration of the arts. Also in June, Stonewall Columbus Pride ranks among the top celebrations in the country, recognized by Condé Nast Traveler and U.S. News & World Report. The Pride March returns June 14, drawing more than 700,000 visitors to the region and making it one of the largest in the Midwest. Just a few weeks later, the celebration continues with Red, White & BOOM!—named one of the country's most festive Fourth of July events by AFAR—bringing more than 400,000 people Downtown for the Midwest's largest fireworks show. Throughout the summer enjoy other annual festivals and events, including Jazz & Rib Fest, Festival Latino and CBUS Soul® Fest, which is expanding to two days Aug. 15-16, 2025, in Bicentennial Park and celebrates Columbus' vibrant Black culture, music, history and soul. This year's headliners include Eric Benét, Mojoflo, Raheem DeVaughn and more. New Restaurants from Top Chefs Recognized as one of the best food cities in the country by Condé Nast Traveler, Columbus' culinary scene is heating up this summer with two highly anticipated new restaurant openings. Chef Andrew Smith and Devoney Mills, the duo behind the acclaimed Roy's Avenue Supper Club, are opening their first brick-and-mortar restaurant. ISLA, a 14-seat, reservation-only spot in Merion Village will offer a seasonal tasting menu. The intimate space will operate three nights a week with staggered seatings and a 'Chef's Counter' experience on Thursdays. Guests can expect local, seasonal ingredients, and a communal approach to fine dining. James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes BJ Lieberman and Bronwyn Haines, the team behind Chapman's Eat Market and Ginger Rabbit, are introducing Metsi's, a modern Italian concept opening in the Short North Arts District. Metsi's promises a fresh, playful take on Italian fare with a warm, welcoming vibe. To learn more about all there is to see and do in Columbus this summer, visit About Columbus Did you know Columbus is a top 10 best big city in the U.S. and one of the best food cities in the country according to Condé Nast Traveler, one of the top places to go in 2025 according to AFAR and one of the best solo trips for women in the U.S. and around the world by Glamour? yes, Columbus. Columbus is bold, welcoming and forward-thinking. Home to world-class museums and attractions, historic and unique neighborhoods like the Short North Arts District, historic German Village and the Arena District — where four professional sports teams live on one street — Columbus has so much to offer. Visitors can learn what awaits in the 15th largest city in the country and Ohio's capital by visiting and following Experience Columbus on Instagram: @ExperienceColumbus, Facebook: @ExperienceColumbus, Threads: @ExperienceColumbus and TikTok: @ExperienceColumbus. Attachments Columbus Book Festival Unofficial Galaxies at COSI CONTACT: Leah Berger, APR Experience Columbus 614-222-6145 lberger@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City once called 'most polluted in America' earns new title after decades of transformation: 'Legacy of change'
AFAR reported that after being voted America's dirtiest city decades prior, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has received the honor of being the country's first National Park City. In 1969, Chattanooga was labeled the most polluted city due to unregulated emissions from its industrial sector. The pollution got so bad that even daytime driving required headlights. However, the community didn't take that label lightly and got to work. Eventually, Tennessee's fourth-largest city created more spaces like trails and parks and expanded the waterfront. The National Park City Foundation, a U.K.-based organization (not the U.S.-based National Park system) agreed that the city met the 23 criteria to receive the honorable distinction as a healthier and sustainable urban area worthy of being a model for the future. "We've used the National Park City movement to encourage folks to think about Chattanooga as a city in a park rather than a city with some parks in it," Mayor Tim Kelly proudly boasted in a video, according to AFAR, adding that he was proud of the city's "legacy of change." Chattanooga showed how any area can turn itself around and become a cleaner and greener space that supports all life. Within 50 years, it went from having one of the worst labels an area could have to gaining international recognition. Green and blue spaces aid in better health as people walk, run, hike, bike, swim, and paddleboard with ease. Accessing those designated trails or the 13-mile Tennessee Riverwalk can reduce reliance on cars, a major contributor to carbon gases that overheat the environment. More vegetation giving off oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide promotes easy breathing and reduces the likelihood of respiratory illnesses like childhood asthma. Conservation efforts also help secure food supply for all. Pollinators thrive among native vegetation, where they forage for pollen, nectar, and seeds. These plants also provide habitats to rest and raise young. For example, milkweed is native to Tennessee and is the sole food source of the Monarch butterfly, and adding such plants enables populations to thrive again. Other local native plants and trees like the Eastern red columbine and purple coneflower add to the area's biodiversity. Other cities are on their way to improvement, too. Kinloch, Missouri, is removing illegally dumped waste that plagued the area for years, while Arlington, Texas, has gone as far as bringing in 400 goats to eat up invasive species in a local park. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johns Island resort one of the best new hotels in the world, travel magazine says
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – A 72 room resort that sits on the bank of the Kiawah River is one of the best new hotels in the world, according to AFAR. The Dunlin, an Auberge Resorts Collection retreat made the list of 25 published Thursday by the travel magazine. AFAR loved the colorful interiors of the space and the fresh seafood direct from the Lowcountry. Rooms start around $749 a night on average. 'Hugging a gentle curve in the Kiawah River, this Auberge Resorts Collection retreat sits 35 minutes by car southwest of Charleston yet feels worlds away in its serene marshland setting. The hotel, which opened in August 2024, captures the breezy nostalgia of a vintage coastal summerhouse thanks to designer Amanda Lindroth, who filled the 52 guest rooms and 20 suites with soaking tubs, four-poster beds, and antique birding books. By day, guests can explore the Lowcountry on naturalist-led kayak and boat trips, cycle beneath the moss-draped live oaks, or unwind with an organic facial or glass of wine by the waterfront pool. At sundown, they're invited out to the porch for Southern-inspired cocktail classes highlighting local spirits, before a dinner of warm blue crab dip and buttermilk-fried oysters at the seafood-focused restaurant Linnette's.' Lauren Mowery, Southern Living Rooms at the luxury hotel were inspired by sea cottages with honey oak floors and mint green accents across white-washed rooms. Planning for the property began 20 years ago, according to John Darby, president of the Beach Company, which developed the space. When it came time to implement the plans everything went right, he said. Johns Island's first luxury hotel offers guest a stay where they can experience southern coastal living 'Everything we had planned and hoped for is falling into place, and we'll be able to look back in 2025, 2026 and say, gee, this really worked, and I'm confident it will.' Darby said when the resort was originally opened. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
