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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Amanda Seyfried on the New 'Mamma Mia'—and Why She's Going to Target for Her 40th Birthday
When it comes to family travel, Amanda Seyfried is not about sugarcoating reality. 'I literally try not to travel with my kids because it's stressful,' the actress told Travel + Leisure about her daughter Nina, 8, and son Thomas, 4. Case in point: While flying back home to New York after visiting her sister in Los Angeles, her son threw up for the first time in his life—in the middle of a flight. 'We were still two hours from landing and he had just eaten lasagna, so just imagine,' she said. He also vomited again on the car ride home, and to make matters worse, Seyfried caught the stomach bug herself once she was home. Seyfried said there's "literally no secret' to surviving a long flight with kids, and admits it's often all about keeping her youngest one occupied on a device. She opted for the Amazon Kindle Fire, which "you can throw around and [it] won't break.' Her first-hand experiences are exactly what inspired the Mamma Mia star to create the Make it Cute Playhouse Experience at Philadelphia's The Bellevue hotel. Designed for families with young ones, the suite stay includes a welcome kit, Levain cookies, valet parking, and most importantly, an assembled plastic-free playhouse from Make It Cute, the company Seyfried founded with her childhood friends in 2021. The best part? Families can take the playhouse home with them when they check out. 'Any good hotel makes you feel like there's a familiarity and coziness,' Seyfried said. 'Having these really cute playhouses is incredibly distracting for the kids, so the parents can unpack and have some semblance of peace—not to say that you don't have peace when you have kids, but it's harder to find.' She says the play houses don't just give kids something to do, but that it also gives little ones their own space since, "hotel rooms just aren't geared for kids to have fun.' Seyfried grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a small city about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, and was excited to collaborate on a project with such an iconic property in her home state. Located in Philly's tony City Center neighborhood, The Bellevue was founded in 1904, and was once considered one of the most glamorous and luxurious hotels in the country. 'I love collaborating with something that's so Philly, born and bred," she said of The Bellvue. "It's such a beloved landmark." She hopes the hotel package will help ease the burdens of traveling with children—something she's been doing ever since becoming a mother. In fact, she filmed "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" on location right after her daughter was born. 'She doesn't remember any of it, but she turned six months when we were on the island of Vis in Croatia,' Seyfried said. 'It was just crazy to have a baby in a tiny village on an island—we had to bring all of our diapers beforehand!'Aisle or window? in your hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania?You can't visit Allentown without going to Mary Ann Donut Kitchen and Yocco's hot dogs. You just can' spot where you live in Upstate New York?Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, because you can hike to the top, and then go up the water tower, where you can see all of the Catskills—sometimes even further. You're just on top of the world up there. It's magic. There's also an abandoned hotel that's [made of only] stone halfway through the place you've filmed?It's a hard one, but I think I have to say Skopelos, Greece, for "Mamma Mia." Verona for "Letters to Juliet" was also a really beautiful place to live, and I found it to be so welcoming and warm, and the food was epic. It's a very livable city, and every perfect little town in Italy has a do you hope the third 'Mamma Mia' will film?It's going to go back to Greece. I know that, not for a fact, but it will. We need to bring it home. But it would be so fun if "Mamma Mia 3" filmed on a new island in Greece or Croatia where I haven't been has been a big part of Seyfried's daughter's life from an early age. They've mostly centered around Seyfried's work, plus occasional family trips. 'It's just so easy to travel with her now,' Seyfried admits. 'She's 8, but she's like a little adult.' Their first true family vacation was to Budapest, and they even brought their dog, who had to travel with 80 pounds of special JustFoodForDogs meals. They also considered taking their bearded dragon along, but ultimately decided against it. 'My second kid is a pandemic baby, and it was wild bringing him overseas last year,' she said. 'It was a pain to get there, but everything falls away once you land and you're like, 'We live in a crazy, beautiful world with a lot of amazing people.'' Once the family was there and settled in, Seyfried realized that the Hungarian capital was pretty kid-friendly, and she loved taking her children to its beautiful parks. Seeing her kids interact with other children was especially moving to her. "You realize that kids have the capacity to relate and can communicate with anybody," Seyfried said. "It was just the most beautiful thing in the world ... Kids need to see things, meet people, and swim in oceans and engage in things that aren't home.' When she was a child herself, Seyfried developed a deep love for travel, especially for trains. One time, after driving to Florida from Allentown, the Seyfried family took the Auto Train back. 'I just remember thinking, this is heaven on Earth, because we're just going so fast from south to north, with our big minivan on the train somewhere,' she said. She still loves trains and takes the Amtrak weekly from her upstate home to New York City. She enjoys watching the views along the Hudson River. 'If you get the right seat, getting into the city that way is just so romantic,' Seyfried said. She's also a fan of the 'beautiful' new Moynihan Train Hall, where she likes to pick up mini-cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery for her kids. But despite being a certified world traveler, when it comes to her 40th birthday, she's planning on keeping it local. 'I'm gonna travel 25 minutes to my local Target,' she said. 'My friends are coming in from the city, all girls—no offense, boys—and we're going to get brunch and get a little tipsy. I'm gonna have cash on hand for everybody, and they have to spend it all. That's my plan. Everybody who's invited knows about it!' Even though she's staying in town for her birthday, Seyfried knows the transformative power that travel can have—and she wants her kids to experience it as much as they can. 'I'm entering a period of my life where I am responsible for making sure my family travels, but I just feel like there's never a right time because of work,' she said. 'But I know once we land in the Serengeti, Tokyo, Oslo, or Buenos Aires, it'll be just epic. With kids, it doesn't ever feel like the right time. Just book the tickets and travel.' Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
3 days ago
- Health
- Travel + Leisure
Southwest Has a Strict New Safety Rule About Chargers
After dozens of recalls and safety incidents involving exploding portable charging devices, one airline is making a major change. Southwest Airlines now require passengers to keep portable battery chargers in their sight and out of any bags or storage areas while being used. Popular among travelers for keeping a phone battery or other electronics fully charged, battery packs have grown in popularity, however some of the devices have been recalled or led to hazardous outcomes. The updated policy took effect on May 28, a Southwest Airlines spokesperson confirmed to Travel + Leisure. 'When a portable charger/power bank is used during a flight, it must be out of any baggage and remain in plain sight,' Southwest Airlines shares about the policy. The airline said that keeping power banks visible and away from contact with items in a bag can help keep the entire aircraft safe. 'Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees,' a Southwest Airlines spokesperson shared with T+L. The good news for Southwest passengers is that the airline introduced USB ports on its aircraft in 2023, and the ports include both USB-A and USB-C, which means a battery charging device isn't always necessary. The policy change comes as other airlines have also placed restrictions on portable chargers and lithium batteries. For example, Malaysia-based AirAsia announced a ban on the portable chargers which took effect on April 1, and Thailand-based Thai Airways also started a similar policy on March 15. Wireless portable power chargers have also been subject to recall. For example, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recently published a "replace" advisory for 429,000 Casely Wireless Portable Power Banks due to overheating, igniting, and burn hazards. In 2019, the agency published another alert for other power bank chargers that were small enough to fit on a key ring. In addition to portable battery chargers, airlines also have restrictions for batteries themselves. For example, American Airlines restricts passengers to only have four spare batteries in a carry-on bag when they are less than 100Wh. The airline currently prohibits any damaged batteries or automobile batteries from being checked or carried on aircraft due to potential danger.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Washington has one of the 'most beautiful' college campuses in the US, ranking shows
A school in Washington state was named among the "25 Most Beautiful College Campuses" in the U.S., according to a new report. The destination brand Travel + Leisure ranked the University of Washington as having the 10th most attractive campus in the country, beating out schools such as Princeton University, Yale University, and Vanderbilt University. The travel website awarded the top spot to Stanford University in the Bay Area of California. The sprawling 8,180-acre campus was given high marks for its "architectural crown jewel," Memorial Church, and its panoramic views from the Hoover Tower. The Travel + Leisure report makes a point to acknowledge the University of Washington's Suzzallo Library, which the school explains is an example of the Collegiate Gothic style and was designed by Seattle architects Carl F. Gould Sr. and Charles H. Bebb. Construction on the library began in 1923. Then there's the views. "But come spring, the quad's 29 Yoshino cherry trees steal the spotlight with blooms of delicate pink petals set against red-brick buildings," the report states. "The Drumheller Fountain is a great spot for views of snowcapped Mount Rainier." Undergraduate enrollment was 39,125 in the fall of 2023, according to U.S. News and World Report. Graduate enrollment was 16,105 in the fall of 2023. In-state tuition and fees are $12,973, according to U.S. News and World Report. Out-of-state tuition and fees were listed at $43,209. The University of Washington is one of the top schools in the country and a "cutting-edge" research institution, according to U.S. News and World Report. The university ranked 46th in U.S. News' 2025 Best National University Rankings. Stanford University, California Berry College, Georgia University of Notre Dame, Indiana Florida Southern College, Florida Bard College, New York University of San Diego, California Rice University, Texas Cornell University, New York The University of the South, Tennessee University of Washington This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: College campus in Washington named 'most beautiful' in United States
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
These Countries Were Just Named Safer for Retirees Than the U.S.
A new ranking from International Living is highlighting the safest places for retirees to live abroad. To create the report, experts at International Living combined scores from its Global Retirement Index and its Global Peace Index. Destinations such as Portugal, Malaysia, and Costa Rica all made the 2025 deserves to feel relaxed, happy, and, most importantly, safe in their retirement years. After all, you've spent a lifetime working and saving, so now is your time to kick back and relax. And the experts at International Living made a new list to help you do just that. In May, the pros at International Living, which helps expats live their best lives all over the world, released their list of the safest places to retire in 2025. As the team shared in a statement with Travel + Leisure, the list is not ranked in any particular order, it simply presents the destinations that all performed well based on their analysis. As for how they came up with the list, International Living noted it created a combined score from its annual Global Retirement Index and the Global Peace Index to find the most peaceful places to retire. "When readers ask about safety abroad, the answer is almost always 'yes, it's safe'—if you choose the right place," Jennifer Stevens, the executive editor of International Living, shared. And it's certainly a list you can trust, as it also includes plenty of hands-on, lived-in experience. "Our international correspondents and regular contributors live in and regularly visit the places we recommend,' says Stevens. "If we don't feel a place is safe for a 'regular person' to go about their 'regular life' day-to-day, then we don't recommend that place.' Perhaps most interestingly of all, every single one of these destinations ranks (much) higher than the U.S. in the Global Peace Index, which ranked all the way down at No. 132 in the 2024 rankings. As for a few key spots that made International Living's list, unsurprisingly to me, Portugal made the list thanks to its place at No. 7 on the Global Peace Index list and No. 2 on International Living's Global Retirement Index. 'Violent crime is virtually unheard of,' Terry Coles, who has lived in Portugal for seven years, shared in International Living's report, a claim I can attest to as well as an immigrant here myself. 'There's a sense of security here that wraps around you like a warm blanket—steady, comforting, and always present.' Portugal's calm atmosphere and inclusive culture make it a reassuring haven for retirees. Also making its way to the list is Malaysia, which clocks in at No. 10 on the Global Peace Index list and No. 7 on International Living's Global Retirement Index. 'After 16 years in Malaysia, I can say this with confidence: I've never felt safer,' Keith Hockton, an expat living in Malaysia, noted. With a peaceful, multicultural society and low petty crime, 'safety here isn't about high fences or patrols. It's about cultural norms.' Most expats live worry-free lives in places like Penang and Langkawi. Costa Rica, another hot spot for retirement, also appears on this list. It holds a bit of a lower position on the Global Peace Index list at No. 38, but also holds the No. 3 spot on the Global Retirement Index, giving it an edge. 'I've never questioned my choice to raise my two children in Costa Rica,' Bekah Bottone, a resident since 2013, added. "I'm thankful my children have grown up on the beach, immersed in nature's playground. Life here is lived outdoors—relaxed, joyful, and connected to the environment.' Other key destinations include Ireland, No. 2 on the Global Peace Index and No. 15 on the Global Retirement Index; Vietnam, No. 41 on the Global Peace Index and No. 16 on the Global Retirement Index; and Uruguay, No. 52 on the Global Peace Index and No. 14 on the Global Retirement Index. See the full list and all the local insights at Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
Fresh Family Experiences for 2025 at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa
Exciting new facilities and immersive experiences enhance this award-winning beachfront retreat for every generation. DA NANG, Vietnam, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With a reputation for meaningful family getaways, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa continues to raise the bar with new, thoughtfully designed offerings in 2025. Spanning 49 acres of tropical gardens and 700 meters of pristine beach, the resort was recently named to Travel + Leisure's 2025 T+L 500 list of the best hotels in the world, reinforcing its status as a premier destination for multigenerational travelers seeking both relaxation and enrichment. In 2025, the resort introduces two signature experiences crafted especially for families. Launched this year, The Little Farm offers children a chance to slow down and connect with nature in a safe, engaging environment. Featuring friendly animals such as rabbits and goats, this gentle outdoor experience encourages empathy, wonder, and hands-on learning, creating cherished memories for young explorers and their families. Also new is the latest chapter of Le Petit Chef. Titled In the Footsteps of Marco Polo, this immersive 3D dining journey blend storytelling, flavors, and captivating animation, offering an unforgettable multi-sensory adventure for guests of all ages. Adding to the lineup of family-friendly facilities, the newly introduced Two Twin Beds with Garden room offers exclusive outdoor space just steps from the pool and beach, a perfect combination of relaxation and easy resort access. These additions enhance a vibrant array of activities, joy, and discovery. Camp Hyatt remains a standout feature, boasting one of Southeast Asia's largest kids' zones with indoor and outdoor play areas, a dedicated children's pool, and a full-day program of creative and active learning to keep little ones engaged throughout their stay. Families can also enjoy lively moments together at Vive Océane - Beach Club & Restaurant, where French Mediterranean-inspired beachfront dining and monthly themed parties create festive, memorable occasions. For active bonding, The Sports Lounge offers squash courts, a golf 3D simulator, and coaching sessions in golf and tennis, blending fun with skill-building. The resort's extensive recreational program caters to all ages and interests, encouraging guests to explore, play, and unwind. With five outdoor pools and direct access to the beach, guests can paddleboard, bodyboard, kayak, or simply relax while soaking in the stunning coastline of Da Nang. Meanwhile, parents can retreat to VIE Spa, which offers family-friendly treatments and serene spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation. Beyond the resort, families can deepen their connection with Vietnam's rich cultural heritage through day trips to nearby UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary. From 31 May to 12 July, the Danang International Fireworks Festival 2025, lights up the sky with dazzling displays just a short drive from the resort, offering magical moments for the entire family to treasure.
