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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Awkward moment influencer 'blasting loud music' to make TikTok videos outside a restaurant in Monaco is 'asked to leave' by security
This is the awkward moment a 'rude' influencer who was 'blasting loud music' to make TikTok videos is allegedly asked to leave by security. Aubrey Bella, a travel blogger, was enjoying a meal in Monte Carlo, Monaco, when a woman set up a tripod right in front of her view of the legendary casino. Known for being the second-smallest sovereign state in the world after Vatican City with a radius of just 0.8 square miles, Monaco's exclusivity attracts the ultra-wealthy. The influencer plugged her phone onto a stand with a built-in ring light and allegedly started blasting 'loud music' to make TikTok videos, according to Aubrey. She filmed the woman setting up her camera and she appears to tell other tourists to move out of her shot at one point. Aubrey said: 'When you just want to relax on vacation but "influencers" are out in the wild too.' The content creator was allegedly told by the manager of the restaurant to leave three times before they called security to ask her to leave the premises. 'She gets told to delete all photos and escorted off the property,' Aubrey added. The unnamed woman - who was sporting a white satin dress - was also reportedly standing there for more than an hour filming clips for her social media account. Aubrey wrote: 'True story: Hanging out in Monte Carlo in this picture perfect spot to watch all the cars drive-by and the casino… This influencer comes up towards our table and starts making TikTok videos. 'But the thing is… The sound was on so loud! She was there for over an hour IN FRONT OF OUR TABLE! Blasting music. 'The manager told her to leave three times. They finally had to call and escort her off the property and have her delete all the photos and videos because they were high profile people in the back of her videos.' Those who viewed Aubrey's clip commented their thoughts, with one writing: 'She deserves it.' Another said: 'Not the bombastic side eye when she is the one in the wrong!!' Aubrey responded: 'Rightttt, she was soooo rude.' This comes as a woman was baffled when she was handed a menu with no prices on it in a Michelin star restaurant in Monaco. Lili Claire, an Australian living in Paris, travelled to Monaco for a trip with her boyfriend and they decided to dine out at Le Grill, which is located inside the prestigious Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. The content creator was allegedly told by the manager of the restaurant to leave three times before they called security to ask her to leave the premises But the 25-year-old was shocked when she opened her menu and there were no prices on any of the dishes. However, her boyfriend opened his menu and saw how much each dish cost printed along the side, with Lili alleging that Le Grill, which holds one Michelin star, gave out different menus based on gender. Some dishes were priced at eye-watering amounts, such as 320 euros (£271) for caviar and 80 euros (£67) for ricotta pasta. She filmed the bizarre experience and wrote: 'Just found out that fancy restaurants in France give out different menus to men and women. Menus with no prices for women and menus with prices for men.' The original clip, which was uploaded last year to Instagram, got more than 22million views and 1.4million likes. The cheapest starter on the menu at Le Grill is the smoked Scottish salmon with cream cheese and pickles for a whopping 65 euros (£55). Le Grill's grilled sea bass with fondant fennel, golden artichokes, small capers and basil costs 110 euros each (£93). And if you opt to have a side dish of mashed potatoes, fries or grilled vegetables, they will each cost you 18 euros (£15) A bowl of farmer's vegetables, pesto and small spelt will also set you back 60 euros (£50). F&B Director at Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo told Femail: 'The menu with prices is always given to the customer who made the reservation. It's true that at Le Grill, the majority of reservations are made by men, but the opposite may also be true.'
CNET
02-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
I've Traveled Everywhere, and These Things Always Make the Cut
June's here, and that means vacation season is officially in full swing. Whether you're jetting off for a beach getaway, taking a road trip to visit family or heading out on a quick weekend escape, what you pack can make or break your trip. The right gear can keep you comfortable, organized and stress-free -- while forgetting key items can turn a relaxing getaway into a string of overpriced convenience store stops. As someone who travels often, I've had my fair share of packing wins and total disasters. Even though I try to plan meticulously, I've still shown up without socks, chargers or even pajamas more times than I'd like to admit. I've learned the hard way which items I should never skip when getting ready for a trip. If you want to avoid last-minute stress and enjoy your vacation from the moment you leave the house, these essentials are worth adding to your checklist. You might not be likely to forget things like clothes or shoes, but what about less obvious items that'll make your trip smoother and more comfortable? Whether you already have your trip booked for this summer or you're still planning, these are the 13 things you should never forget to pack. For more travel tips, learn about the best way to pack a carry-on and the best time to book flights for the cheapest tickets. 1. Hygiene items and prescriptions On your travels, the last thing you want to forget is any essential hygiene or medical item. While you can easily get more deodorant to stay fresh on your trip, it's much more important to remember medications that will be difficult to replace once you arrive at your destination. This includes contact lenses, birth control, prescription glasses and any medications. For women, most times we can plan a trip around our cycle, but sometimes life happens. It can be very costly and uncomfortable to be on a trip without sanitary items, especially when you need them. So, just make it a habit to pack a few. It's better to have them and not need them than to not have them and need them. Also, don't forget to pack sunscreen when you're traveling in the summer or if you're visiting a particularly sunny or tropical destination. 2. A reusable water bottle Bringing a reusable bottle saves money and keeps you you're spending hours walking through city streets or going on a full-day hike in a national park, you're going to need to hydrate frequently. It's not always easy to access water in certain destinations -- not to mention how brutally hot or humid it can be in certain climates -- so taking a refillable bottle with you is always helpful. Sure, you could purchase water bottles at your destination, but water is often expensive in popular tourist hubs or hotels, and grocery or convenience stores aren't always nearby, especially in rural or woodland areas. Here's a list of some great water bottles. If your destination's tap water isn't drinkable, think about a water bottle with a built-in filter. 3. Portable power banks When traveling, you're likely going to be using your phone more -- pulling up boarding passes, looking up places to go and directions to those places, keeping in touch with friends and family back home and taking hundreds of pictures. All of this drains your battery, and it can be frustrating to interrupt your busy itinerary of sightseeing to charge your phone. Plus, access to power outlets is never guaranteed. That's why it's always good to bring a portable power bank with you. Power banks put the power in your pocket for easy access and usually aren't too expensive. I recommend investing in one that's not only reliable, but can also charge your phone multiple times before needing to be charged itself. 4. Towelettes Wipes let you sanitize your hands and certain "high-touch" bus tours or subway rides can be super fun, they're not always the tidiest of places. During your travels, you're likely going to have to grab "high-touch" objects like remote controls, light switches, telephones, doorknobs, faucet handles, etc. so it's important to keep hygiene in mind to prevent illness. Washing your hands might not always be an immediate option so pack a few towelettes with you. Plus, small wipes should make it through security checkpoints without issue. 5. A quick-dry towel Towels come in handy and you never know when one might save the day. Maybe you spilled on your outfit or got caught in a rainstorm and need to dry off quickly. Or maybe you arrived at your hotel or Airbnb only to find they didn't provide towels. Quick-drying towels are not the most luxurious option, but they're lightweight and easy to stow away while traveling. Most importantly, they dry super fast so you can clean up and pack it in your bag without too much of a wait. 6. Plastic bags If there's one travel necessity I swear by, it's a plastic bag. Need to pack up your muddy shoes? Plastic bag. Want to separate worn dirty clothing from your clean items? Plastic bag. While plastic or trash bags are not the most glamorous travel item, they have a multitude of uses and won't take up much space in your luggage. It's available in four colors: grey, dark grey, blue and black. Pamela Vachon/CNET 7. A packable backpack I consistently pack too much in my carry-on luggage. I want to bring my cameras, hat, sunglasses, a change of clothes and some toiletries just in case my checked back is lost. But all of these items quickly add up to leave very little room in my backpack. And usually, I don't want to take them all with me as I tool around the destination I'm visiting. I suggest taking another smaller, preferably foldable backpack that you can use as you tour. This will keep you from having to pack and repack your carry-on bag. Plus, you can use it to carry the souvenirs you pick up. 8. Bottle protectors I come back from almost every trip I take with a bottle of wine or specialty beer as a souvenir. I love bringing a special bottle of beer, liquor or wine home to share with friends and family as I tell them about my adventures. But before that can happen, the bottle has to actually make it through the trip home. And that means you'll need to bring a form of protection. Many people swear by the wine-bottle-in-the-sock method or will swaddle the glass bottles with their clothes, but I prefer to pack an actual protective bottle bag. I recommend a protective bottle bag with padding and a zipper top that will help protect your clothing. 9. Dryer sheets Stinky shoes? Just use a dryer sheet. Alina Bradford/CNET For me, this is a no-brainer. When you're walking miles and miles through various train or bus stations, airports and cities, you're going to work up quite the sweat. And your shoes will likely pay the price. Bring several dryer sheets with you to help mask the smell of your shoes. Upon returning to the hotel or Airbnb at the end of your day, simply place a dryer sheet in each shoe to help aerate them. 10. A universal plug adapter A travel adapter is a must-have. Ceptics/Amazon You probably already know this. I'm going to remind you anyway: If you're traveling abroad, you need a plug adapter. Outlets in the US are a different size from outlets overseas, which means if you intend to use electronic devices in a different country, you'll need an adapter. You could try to buy one at your destination, but they can be expensive and hard to find. It's best to pack one with you before you go to save time and money. 11. A travel router OK, this might seem like overkill, but a travel router has saved me on more than one occasion. Internet connection is not always reliable when traveling or in certain rural areas, and establishing a wired connection is almost always going to be more dependable than wireless (especially in hotels). I feel much safer traveling knowing I have a stable connection to call in case of an emergency, keep up with the group I'm traveling with or connect with loved ones back home. Here's some more good news: Travel routers are usually small, affordable and easy to pack. You can buy one for anywhere between $20 and $100, and they're usually not much larger than a wall adapter. 12. A packable down or rain jacket No matter if you're heading to a tropical destination or hitting the streets of a European city, it's always wise to bring an extra down or rain jacket (or umbrella if you have the space). Even if you check the forecast religiously, you could still get caught in a freak rainstorm or have a chillier night than expected. One of the best options that won't weigh down your suitcase is bringing a packable down or rain jacket that can easily fold up. Trust me, it's better to be safe than sorry. 13. A method to document memories I'm quite the shutterbug. I love documenting my trips with photos and videos, and sharing those with my friends and family. I also like to be able to look back and reminisce on my many adventures, the people I met along the way and the core memories made. To do so, I need a way to document them. Most people probably just use their iPhone, but if you're like me, you quickly run out of storage with the thousands of photos taken every year and need another option. I prefer shooting on a film camera, but since one scan from the airport security CT scanner could destroy your unprocessed film, I've found another camera that has quickly become a travel essential. My go-to camera is the Camp Snap digital camera. It's lightweight, rechargeable and screen-free yet still provides the vintage film look I like so much. It's also compact enough to fit in any checked or carry-on bag, making it the ideal vacation camera to capture all of your important moments. No matter what method or camera you select, always make sure you have something that can help you remember your meaningful journeys. Final thoughts Traveling can be a life-altering experience that creates memories that last a lifetime. But before you can experience all the magic of the cities around the world, you have to pack. And packing the right way can make all the difference by reducing stress and saving you money in the long run. While everyone might have a different idea of what items are essential for traveling, the 13 recommendations above are what I have found to be the most useful during my own trips. If you're planning a vacation and are stressed about preparing, we have plenty of resources to help. Get ready for your next trip with these hacks and tips.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Best places to travel in 2025: Where to go in the US for an enriching family trip
Imagine paddling off the coast of Maui and pointing out a spiky but harmless red pencil urchin to your awestruck child. Or waking them up at 05:00 so they can gaze at a mother and baby bison grazing right outside the cabin window in Yellowstone National Park. In a year when some travellers may be hitting pause on US trips, there's still a world of awe, play and unexpected joy to be found across the country's mountains, prairies, coasts, islands and cities. This list for 2025, informed by my own adventures across the United States with kids in tow, includes magical destinations that are also offering something new right now. Across the US, cities, states and national parks are unveiling exciting updates, from newly launched initiatives to unexpectedly fun (and often surprisingly affordable) experiences that you won't find anywhere else. Add in kid-friendly accommodations – whether you're after a national park lodge or a luxury resort with activities built in – and all these destinations offer much more than just a holiday. That's why I've made it a priority to bring my own children, age two and nine, to every one of these places, and why you should consider booking them for your next family holiday too. Getty Images 1. Outer Banks, North Carolina There are many things that make this string of barrier islands, stretching 200 miles off the North Carolina coast up to Virginia, so special. For one, the opportunity to go kayaking among great blue herons and wild horses – something my family does off the coast of Beaufort, NC, every summer. Another idea? Give back to the OBX (that's Outer Banks to locals). The islands are the first US destination to create a tourism-specific volunteering programme that directly connects the traveller with 90-plus non-profit organisations for ways to live up to the Outer Banks Promise, a pledge by both visitors and residents to protect and preserve the ecosystem. Consider joining a beach cleanup between playing in the waves. There are many interesting places to base yourself, from Hatteras Island up to the upscale town of Duck and all the way to Carova Beach, which hits the Virginia border. But I'm partial to Ocracoke, the southernmost town in the chain, where the local dialect is akin to Elizabethan English. The island has no beachfront development or chain hotels – just 16 miles of beaches protected by the National Park Service. Children will love exploring by bike, attending the fun Fig Festival in August and getting a taste of island life shaped by generations of fishermen and artists. Bonus for the " noctourists" among us: Ocracoke is actively becoming a Dark Sky destination, and from here you can see the Milky Way, meteor showers and sometimes even bioluminescent waters on nighttime beach strolls. And don't miss the Ocracoke British Cemetery; this small plot of land on the island is British territory in perpetuity. There's an annual ceremony in May here, hosted by the heartwarming partnership of Royal Navy representatives and local school children, to symbolise the enduring friendship between the US and the UK. Best time to go: June-August is peak beach season, but September-October hits that sweet spot of great weather and sparser crowds. Summer and autumn offer the best chances to spot bioluminescence. Alamy 2. Grand Junction, Colorado One of 2025's biggest travel trends is the "destination dupe" – travellers seeking to avoid over-visited (and often pricey) places in favour of unsung settings with a similar vibe. So, skip the Grand Canyon and head to Grand Junction. The small city is on Colorado's western edge, between the 200,000-acre Dominguez–Escalante National Conservation Area and Grand Mesa, the world's largest flat-top mountain. Here, you and your family can hike the Colorado National Monument, a semi-desert that sits high on the Colorado Plateau, with spectacular canyons cut deep into sandstone and granite that earn it the nickname "mini Grand Canyon". Children can learn about local geology, ecology and cultural history – and even earn a Junior Ranger badge in the process. You can also hike Rattlesnake Canyon, which has the w orld's second largest concentration of arches, instead of dodging the crowds who are trying to get the same postcard photo in Utah's Arches National Park. Just outside Grand Junction, the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Reserve is home to around 100 wild mustangs and is one of just three wild horse preserves in the country. Families can get there by hiking, taking an ATV or, fittingly, via horseback. Back in town, don't miss the Dinosaur Journey Museum, where children will love uncovering bones during a real-life dino dig. At the EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum, young ones (and the young at heart) can check out creature-filled saltwater tanks and meet friendly Charlie the chinchilla. This year marks a particular celebration for downtown Grand Junction: 2025 is the 40th anniversary of Art on the Corner, a public art programme that is lauded as one of the first free outdoor sculpture exhibitions in the country. Best time to go: Grand Junction doesn't have major seasonal extremes so it's a great year-round option. Spring and autumn are favourites for enjoying the local flora, from wildflowers to leaf-peeping. Alamy 3. Los Angeles, California Los Angeles has long been a holiday favourite for families – Disneyland is, after all, just 30 minutes away if the LA traffic gods oblige. But this sprawling beach-to-mountains city on California's southern coast needs visitors more than ever following the recent wildfires. Visit California assures travellers that it's now safe to visit – in fact, more than 98% of Los Angeles emerged from the fires undamaged – and, as my family experienced when travelling here mere weeks after the fires, most of the compelling local spots remain open. These include the world-renowned art collection at the Getty Center, the entertaining and educational California Science Center (the West Coast's largest hands-on science exhibit) and the child-favourite Natural History Museum (more dinosaurs!). My children's personal pick is open, too: the small but mighty Cayton Children's Museum in the beachside neighbourhood of Santa Monica. "The local community has been working tirelessly to continue to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for tourists," says Laura Dominguez, director of operations for LA's Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, which provided reduced rates and donated meals to their displaced neighbours in Altadena following the fires. The best part of visiting LA right now? According to Dominguez, "with fewer crowds than usual at this time of year, visitors can enjoy a more relaxed pace while exploring the area". So take advantage and bring your family to local non-profit Heal The Bay's aquarium right on the Santa Monica pier to teach your children about the 100 local species on-site. Treating the little ones to funnel cake on the pier afterwards is optional, but highly recommended. Best time to go: There's no such thing as a bad time to visit LA, thanks to mild weather and all that California sunshine. That said, March through May can feel ideal, since it's warm but with fewer crowds. 4. Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids, also known as Furniture City due to its fascinating couch-factory history, is an underappreciated gem for families. The city, situated just 30 minutes from the sandy, ocean-like coast of Lake Michigan, is home to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, where my children love to run around among 200 captivating sculptures and a dedicated Children's Garden. Named Best Sculpture Park in the US two years in a row, Meijer Gardens also earns points for its commitment to green building practices and renewable energy use. Another earth-minded local attraction is the 134-year-old John Ball Zoo, which emphasises animal conservation with some wild new friends my sons cannot wait to meet: two lions and a warthog. For more outdoor fun, Millennium Park – one of the largest city parks in the nation – has playgrounds, scenic trails and the sandy beach along peaceful Millennium Park Lake is perfect for picnics or pickleball. Don't worry if rain is in the forecast: Grand Rapids has lots of indoor exhibits to choose from. There's the colourful Grand Rapids Children's Museum, the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), the Gerald R Ford Presidential Museum, and my dark-horse favourite, the gorgeous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Meyer May house, which you can tour for free. A particular 2025 highlight is the Grand Rapids Public Museum, which has undertaken a significant renovation and expansion with an eye towards accessibility, sustainability and educational experiences set to wrap up this year. The museum remains open in the meantime, with ongoing planetarium shows like "Anishinaabe Star Knowledge", which teaches kids about how the area's Indigenous tribes approach astronomy. Best time to go: There are few things better than summer in Michigan. As someone who lives in an overheated Southern state, I visit Grand Rapids every July to marvel at the breezy 22 degree (73F) average temps. Getty Images 5. Yellowstone National Park and Big Sky, Montana There's nothing quite like immersing yourself in the natural wonder that is Yellowstone, with its multicoloured, sulphur-steaming geothermal features and wild bison and bears roaming the hills. Most of this 3,500-square-mile wilderness is in Wyoming – but it's the Montana side of the park that should spark your interest for 2025 as it gets you stealth-easy access to Yellowstone. If you fly into the former railroad town of Billings, MT, you're just a 2.5-hour drive from the national park entrance – my son and I did this recently and were delighted to avoid the nearly 50% of Yellowstone visitors who enter at the west, the busiest of five ways in. During winter, sport-loving families should head to Big Sky, about an hour north-west of the park, for incredible skiing and snowboarding. Here, an ambitious 10-year project called Big Sky 2025 is slated to be complete and the area's iconic Lone Mountain "will be further transformed with new scenic lookouts, family-friendly food and beverage hubs, and a learning centre on the new gondola's mid-station for beginner skiers and riders", says Carolyn Addison of tour operator Black Tomato, who frequents Big Sky and says she has seen a significant increase in client requests to book ski holidays. Addison is looking forward to One & Only Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, a new hotel opening this summer with an eco-conscious design, an indoor spa pool with sweeping views of alpine forests and a kid's club for the little ones. Best time to go: Autumn and spring are the name of the game if you're hoping to avoid summer crowds, with spring taking a slight lead because of the potential to see baby animals (my son was thrilled by our baby bison spotting). Much of Yellowstone closes during winter when certain terrain becomes impassable, but that just means it's primetime for snow sports over in Big Sky. Alamy 6. Maui, Hawaii There's perhaps never been a better time to travel to Maui, Hawaii's second-largest island, and my family and I kicked off 2025 with a trip here that became, without trying too hard, a fascinating wildlife lesson – we got a close look at octopi and sea urchins, and watched humpback whale mothers and babies frolicking in the waves. Maui is the second-most visited of the Hawaiian Islands, yet with tourist numbers that are less than half those of Oahu. In the wake of the devastating 2023 wildfires, the island is now actively inviting travellers who support both the local economy and the environment. You and your family can take part in the Mālama Hawaii (mālama meaning "to give back") voluntourism programme and lend a hand in forest restoration, food distribution and more. The initiative also offers discounted or even free stays at some of Maui's finest resorts, from the Ritz-Carlton Maui to the White Lotus -famous Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. But it's Maui's nature that truly makes this long-haul destination (a nearly six-hour flight from Los Angeles and a full day of travel from London) worth the schlep for families. Hike the magical ʻĪao Valley to spot the 1,200ft moss-covered Kūkaemoku rock; watch pro surfers face down 40ft breakers at Peʻahi take the kids out into the bay for whale-watching and tortoise-spotting with Maui Undersea Adventures. Best time to go: Maui is paradise year-round, full stop. While winter sees the most rainfall and slightly rougher seas, it's also when you'll catch the awe-inspiring humpback whale migration. Getty Images 7. Asheville, North Carolina If you approach this artsy town by car, you'll see it emerge from among the southern Blue Ridge mountains like an oasis. There are plenty of traveller testaments to Asheville's strong "good vibes" energy, and Jan Luescher, CEO of travel community ASMALLWORLD agrees. "Asheville is experiencing a revival," he says, "with new businesses and attractions opening, making it an exciting time for family travellers to explore its vibrant arts scene." That's something of a rising-from-the-ashes renaissance he's referring to, as Asheville is now welcoming visitors back after 2024's locally devastating Hurricane Helene. Now, "attractions, restaurants and music venues are all open and welcoming," says Luescher, who facilitates off-the-beaten-path trips around the world, including Asheville and its surrounds. A must-visit in Asheville is the Biltmore Estate, a countryside mansion of the Vanderbilt family, some of the original American aristocrats, that was built in the late 1800s. Children will love exploring the vast gardens and the new King Tut exhibit; grown-ups will enjoy these too, plus the on-site Biltmore Winery. Pro tip: kids can hire an adorable audio tour of the Biltmore Estate that's "narrated by" Cedric, the Vanderbilt family's Saint Bernard. Other family favourites include the Asheville Museum of Science, the Hands On! Children's Museum and the North Carolina Arboretum, as well as a wide assortment of local breweries made kid-friendly with lawn games, toy corners, and even a taproom inside a train car. Best time to go: Summers are relatively mild in the mountains compared to the rest of the South, with chilly nights and mornings, but it's still quite humid. Experience verdant views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in spring and summer, snow-topped peaks in winter and comfortable temperatures plus leaf-peeping under sunset-hued treetops in autumn. Alamy This central Florida city may be known primarily as the home of Disney World and Universal Studios, but if you're spending an entire Orlando holiday in the theme parks, you're missing out. Orlando's educational attractions alone are worth the visit. The Kennedy Space Center gets astro-inclined children like my nine-year-old inspired; while future veterinarians and biologists will enjoy wildlife tours of the area's nature preserves and parks – showing a completely different side to the busy, trendy city. The city's recent sustainability initiatives are another reason to take a look at Orlando, which is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2035. The new Universal Studios Epic Universe park, opening in May, is a hallmark of this plan. It will span five kid-favourite "worlds", including How to Train Your Dragon, Super Nintendo World and Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, that will delight fans of those franchises – and it's keeping sustainability at the forefront of its design, including electric transport options to get around the parks. Best time to go: March and April are peak season for almost all Florida due to spring break, so steer clear of the "breakers" and aim for early summer or autumn for lovely weather minus the crowds. Alamy 9. West Virginia The only entire state on this list, West Virginia is an underrated destination that you likely haven't yet experienced – because it is officially the least-visited US state, according to data from the International Trade Administration. But what it lacks in notoriety, West Virginia makes up for with some of North America's most remarkable wilderness, which it really wants you to see for yourself. "This year, West Virginia State Parks is upgrading every state-operated lodge and cabin which is part of over $250m in improvements – much of which will be completed for guests visiting in 2025," says Chelsea Ruby, West Virginia Department of Tourism cabinet secretary. Try Cacapon Resort State Park Lodge for a luxury stay at the foot of Cacapon Mountain. Or go for one of the charming state-operated cabins or history company houses at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park for more unique accommodations. The state is also creating interactive experiences to introduce family travellers to hidden treasures throughout the state, like the West Virginia Waterfall Trail (these WV beauties can be visited in all seasons, including via snowshoe in winter) and the West Virginia Paranormal Trail. The latter capitalises on the nationwide trend of spooky tourism and takes you through the state's most haunted spots, from an abandoned amusement park to the town of Harper's Ferry (home to the first ghost tour in the US) to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Best time to go: You don't need to worry about crowds, so aim for April-May and September-October for the very best temperatures for hiking, swimming and ghost-hunting alike. -- If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week. For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. Features
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Sponsored: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Jet, set, Hong Kong!
Winnipeg Watch Krissy Vann dishes on luxe hotels, rooftop cocktails, hidden gems—and how to win your own dream getaway.
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
India arrests 11 accused of spying for Pakistan
NEW DELHI: Indian authorities have arrested nearly a dozen nationals for allegedly spying for Pakistan following their most serious conflict in decades, local media reported citing police. At least 60 people died in fighting earlier this month triggered by an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing, a charge Pakistan denies. Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both countries, which have fought multiple wars over the Himalayan territory since their 1947 independence from Britain. Broadcaster NDTV reported Monday that authorities had arrested nine alleged 'spies' in the northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Punjab's director general of police Gaurav Yadav said Monday that his team had arrested two people 'involved in leaking sensitive military information.' Police had received 'credible intelligence inputs' the two men were involved 'in sharing classified details' related to New Delhi's strikes deep into Pakistan's territory on the night of May 6-7. A preliminary investigation showed they were in 'direct contact' with handlers from Pakistan's intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and 'had transmitted critical information concerning the Indian Armed Forces,' Yadav added. In Haryana, police arrested a travel blogger last week on similar charges. Police say the accused woman traveled to Pakistan at least twice and had been in contact with an official from the country's embassy, local media reported. Others arrested include a student, a security guard and a businessman. The India Today news outlet reported 11 such arrests. It said the accused were 'lured into the spy network through social media, monetary incentives, false promises, messaging apps and personal visits to Pakistan.' The arrests come after the worst flare-up in violence between the nuclear-armed rivals since their last open conflict in 1999. A ceasefire was agreed after four days of missile, drone and artillery attacks that sparked fears of a descent into full-blown war.
