Most bridges have a simple mission: to transport people and vehicles from point A to point B efficiently. But where is the fun in that? Some civil engineers and architects have let their imaginations run free when it comes to designing these spans, producing wonderfully strange bridges that confound, amuse, and sometimes solve complex planning challenges. Check out more of the world’s unusual bridges: we guarantee you won’t regret making the crossing. [Read more...]
5 Strangest Bridges Around The Globe
5 Best Frozen Getaways
Some people think the only cure for the doldrums of winter is sunshine. Far from it. Why not up the ante? From snow villages to pyrotechnic-laced skiing theater to ice hotels built from blocks of the cold stuff, we’ve created a roundup of the best frozen getaways around the world. [Read more...]
5 Lofty Vacations In Our Pipe Dreams
To find some of the most out-of-this-world destinations for jet-setters in 2013, CNN.com asked Robb Report editorial director Bruce Wallin for ideas. So keep this list handy in case of a fat financial windfall:
Singita Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania
Located on a private 350,000-acre game reserve, the Singita Grumeti Reserves has only four small lodges on the property. The four-bedroom Serengeti House, which is listed on its blog, quietly opened to guests in December and includes its own chef, guides, tennis court and pool. Serengeti House rates start at $8,500 a night for up to four guests during high season with additional charges for five to eight guests. [Read more...]
5 Countries With The Best Food
We love to write about food. We love to celebrate the good stuff and lambaste the bad. But there’s a debate we’ve avoided, if only to save computer screens the world over from the liters of spittle that will fly from the mouths of irate readers as they vent incredulously about our “ignorant, biased, un-researched and unreasoned” choices. But it’s time to find out once and for all, which cuisine is king. [Read more...]
4 Places You Should Never Visit Alone – Part 2
Some of the world’s most appealing destinations are also some of the most complicated places to visit. Here, four places where even the most streetwise traveler would be smart to enlist guidance. Yes, it is possible to go all of these places on your own, but it’s a lot smarter to go with a group.
India
India is still a developing nation and sanitation and cleanliness are not always up to our standards. So it’s no surprise that around 10 million travelers to India experience gastrointestinal distress every year. A good tour leader will know the cleanest restaurants and, if the need arises, be able direct you to the closest reputable pharmacy, where medication is labeled correctly and not out-of-date. Plus, India’s traffic is notorious, and many travelers encounter unscrupulous cab drivers who take advantage of foreigners’ confusion about street names and monument locations–a fact that will make that air-conditioned tour bus all the more pleasant. [Read more...]
4 Places You Should Never Visit Alone – Part 1
Some of the world’s most appealing destinations are also some of the most complicated places to visit. Here, four places where even the most streetwise traveler would be smart to enlist guidance. Yes, it is possible to go all of these places on your own, but it’s a lot smarter to go with a group.
Russia
Back before the fall of the USSR, Americans traveling to Russia had to book through Intourist and stay at state-run hotels. Restrictions have become less and less limiting over the past two decades, but bureaucracy and red tape are still huge obstacles for a trip to Russia. Corruption continues to be an issue, with guidebooks still warning travelers about being stopped to show “papers,” a legitimate question that could be veiled as an intimidating request for a bribe. It is advised that all travelers have a local contact to navigate the confusion, and tour operators have trusted contacts with local knowledge. [Read more...]
5 ‘Out-Of-This-World’ Destinations – Part 2
Rivers that run red. Blinding white landscapes. Cliffs that wave in swirls of orange. No, those aren’t works of science fiction. They are wonders of nature that will leave you shaking your head and wondering just how that is possible. The best part? You won’t need a spaceship to get there. We’ve outlined exactly how you can get there—which in most cases is surprisingly easy.
Socotra Island, Indian Ocean
The largest of the four-island Socotra Archipelago, the island has about 250 species of plants that are not found anywhere else in the world. This includes the canopy-topped dragon’s blood tree, which has blood-red resin that runs down if the trunk is pierced, and the desert rose, which can grow to 10 feet with a bulbous trunk that swells with water absorbed in anticipation of dry weather. [Read more...]
Top 7 Bike-Friendly Cities
Grab a helmet and check out these 15 cities where drivers use all five fingers when they wave at you.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The ” bicycling capital of Europe” tops many lists — including this one, it seems — as the most bike-friendly city anywhere. Safe and extensive route networks, serious governmental promotion, and a bike culture that transcends class boundaries are all reasons why 40 percent of the city’s traffic moves on two wheels. [Read more...]
‘NoodleBots’ Invading China’s Kitchens
Latest food fashion in China’s noodle restaurants: replace the sweaty, grumpy chef with a harder-working, never-complaining “NoodleBot.” That is, a robot programmed to slice noodles. These iron noodle chefs have made headlines on China’s Internet recently for their quirky looks and awesome productivity — a “NoodleBot” can slice 150 pieces of noodles per minute, which makes them about three times more efficient than a human chef.
‘NoodleBots’ Invading China’s Kitchens
Latest food fashion in China’s noodle restaurants: replace the sweaty, grumpy chef with a harder-working, never-complaining “NoodleBot.” That is, a robot programmed to slice noodles. These iron noodle chefs have made headlines on China’s Internet recently for their quirky looks and awesome productivity — a “NoodleBot” can slice 150 pieces of noodles per minute, which makes them about three times more efficient than a human chef.
Top 5 Casino Hotels In The World
Let’s admit it. At some point in life we all want to know if Lady Luck is on our side. And what better place to roll the dice and find out than a luxury casino resort or hotel? The odds are sure to be in your favor when you stay at any one of these Top 5 Casino Hotels. [Read more...]
‘Facekini’ Becomes China’s Latest And Weirdest Beach Sensation
Wanna fit in on China’s beaches? Try going for the luchadora wrestler look. Especially if you’re a woman. Qingdaonese swimmers have recently made waves on Chinese Internet sites for their bizarre swimming gear: colorful, full-face masks. Dubbed “facekini,” the fabric masks cover a swimmer’s entire head and neck down to the collar bones. Holes are cut for eyes, nostrils and mouth. [Read more...]
China’s ‘Oktoberfest’ In Qingdao
Probably the most-frequently mispronounced Chinese city in English, Qingdao was China’s default beach resort before Hainan started making waves two decades ago. But Qingdao — which was briefly a German colony at the turn of the 20th century — has one thing Hainan can’t offer: beer, good beer, barrel upon barrel of it. With the opening of Qingdao International Beer Festival (August 11-26), this is the season to enjoy both Qingdao and Tsingtao. [Read more...]
