TRAVEL NEWS

Be inspired by bold and eccentric “fashion tribes” in 10 very different countries.

Fashion subcultures around the globe express themselves in astonishingly creative ways, from Burmese punk rockers to Mexican pointy boots. These counterculture “tribes” are united by their passion for experimental styling, which visually demonstrates their rejection of social norms. Members of style tribes wear outlandish outfits to express empowerment, rather than—as “normcore” dressers may assume—for the shock factor. Some, like Bolivia’s indigenous cholita or China’s rural shamate, dress flamboyantly to stand up to social oppression. Others, like Japan’s Victorian dollies and Congo’s dandies, draw upon past aesthetics to build a novel style that reflects their values. Take a look beyond the sartorial surfaces, and unravel the meaning behind 10 of the world’s most imaginative fashion subcultures.

“There's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses.”

Cars can tell you a lot about the characters in a film. What do they value? Where are they coming from? What do they want from life?  But sometimes you see a vehicle sail across the screen thanks to the expertise of a stunt driver and all you can think is: What would it be like to hit the road in that? If you’ve ever wondered which cars are best and worst suited for a real-life road trip, read on! (Spoiler: A time-traveling automobile is not as optimal a choice as you may think!) Here are 10 classic onscreen cars ranked from worst to best for your road trip.

The states are starting to reopen. But is it wise to venture out?

[Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article that originally ran on May 19.] Disclaimer: This is meant to be a general overview of how each state is reopening. It is not intended to provide every last detail regarding guidelines and restrictions; please refer to the government website of each state for specifics. In addition, please remember that even if a state has been given the green light for a category of businesses to reopen, individual businesses may choose to remain closed. As such, please be sure to contact each business or site before visiting to ensure that it is open. As the United States begins to relax its shelter-in-place orders and some emerge from their homes, many are counting the days when we can get back out there and travel, even if it’s by car to a neighboring community or state. But as we know, a very different landscape awaits out there than the one we left earlier this winter at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. There are things travelers must consider that we never did before, including social distancing and personal sanitization. The big question is: Is it safe to travel in the United States? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is pretty clear in its stance. It’s recommended that you stay home as much as possible, especially if your trip is not essential. Social distancing still needs to be practiced, especially if you are in a higher risk category or an older adult. You shouldn’t travel if you feel sick, or travel with someone who is sick. And you need to protect yourself and others by knowing how to prevent the virus from spreading.  Perhaps the most hopeful advice comes from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. According to him, summer travel “can be in the cards.” He urges caution, since we risk COVID-19 spreading rapidly if proper precautions are not taken. “When infections start to rear their heads again,” he says, “we have to put in place a very aggressive and effective way to identify, isolate, contact trace, and make sure we don’t have those spikes we have now.” As long as we’re aware that “getting back to normal is not like a light switch that you turn on and off,” he says, we should be able to get back to some sort of normalcy. So the answer is: We’re not quite there yet. The best thing to do is pay attention to the several-phase reopening plans that each state has developed, outlining when hotels, restaurants, retail businesses, outdoor areas, etc., should be open for business and what precautions they must take. Some states are freer than others—and that’s something to consider. Do you really want to be on a beach where social distancing guidelines aren’t being maintained? It’s a whole new world that we’ll be navigating, literally. The guidelines are fast-changing and it’s hard to keep up, but here’s where they stand today, state by state.