Iconic South African Steam Train Returns After 16 Years
Classic Rail secured a 25‑year concession to revive the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe, South Africa’s last regular passenger steam service, which ceased in 2010. The project is split into two phases, with the "Waterfront Express" restoring Sedgefield‑to‑Knysna trips first, followed by the full George‑to‑Sedgefield museum route. Restoration work includes clearing 12 km of track, refurbishing two Class 19D locomotives (one to run on oil), and upgrading stations with a new turntable and heritage facilities. Pilot funding has enabled vegetation clearance and bridge surveys, positioning the line for a gradual reopening over the coming years.
Palma De Mallorca Takes Centre Stage in Mallorca’s New Way of St James
Palma de Mallorca has become the focal point of a newly formalized 67‑kilometre Way of St James route, dubbed El Camino de Lana, that starts at the Lluc Sanctuary and ends at the 13th‑century Church of Sant Jaume in the city centre....
Oregon's Fast-Growing Museum Full Of Wildlife Is One Of The Best Things To Do In Bend
The High Desert Museum near Bend, Oregon, has become a premier outdoor attraction, earning a 4.8 Google rating from nearly 4,500 reviews and a National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Attendance has risen 40% over the past 15 years,...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-roatan-honduras-JUNETRAVEL0425-20b17478c476422eb00b6b9d3223d916.jpg)
Top 20 Travel Destinations for June
Travel + Leisure’s June guide lists 20 top destinations, mixing U.S. hotspots like Lexington, North Carolina, and Newport Beach with global gems such as Fiji, Munich and the Big Island. The roundup highlights seasonal festivals—from the Railbird Festival in Kentucky to Mackinac...
Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0 Trail Camera Review: A Do-It-All Trail Cam for Reliable Remote Scouting
The Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0 is a mid‑tier cellular trail camera that combines automatic carrier selection, 8 GB of built‑in storage, GPS tracking and a robust mobile app. It delivers 4K‑scaled photos, 1080p video, fast trigger speeds and up to five months of...
Chicago's Family-Friendly Suburb Is A Nostalgic Gem Filled With A Picturesque Nature Preserve And Parks
Westchester, Illinois, is a 16,000‑resident commuter village just a half‑hour from downtown Chicago. Founded in the 1920s as a model English‑style suburb, it has retained a nostalgic, family‑friendly vibe. The village boasts the 82‑acre Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve, the largest...
Florida's Gulf Coast State Park Is A Barrier Island Gem With White Sand Beaches, Camping, And Clear Water
St. George Island State Park, a 9‑mile barrier‑island preserve on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, offers pristine white‑sand beaches, clear Gulf waters, and a range of outdoor activities. Visitors can hike three pine‑scrub trails, kayak the bay, fish from a 600‑foot pier,...
“The Kind of Day That Makes You Want to Quit Everything And Move Here”
Blak Bear Surf Club’s new film "Ride The Line" showcases a historic surf session on a massive, previously un‑ridden left barrel off Indonesia’s coast. The expedition, led by Tai “Buddha” Graham, captured surfer Balaram Stack riding the wave in vivid,...
The Oregon Coast's Forested State Park Has Camping, Miles Of Trails, And A Beach With Whale Watching
Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park on Oregon’s coast offers year‑round camping, including RV sites, tent spots and two rentable yurts. The park features two popular hikes—Heceta Head Trail to the lighthouse and the 1.3‑mile Hobbit Trail—both delivering sweeping ocean...
Win Ultralight Rain Gear From Beringia
Beringia is giving away its ultralight Dragonfly rain kit—a waterproof jacket and pants—through Blister’s weekly gear giveaway. The Dragonfly pieces use a proprietary three‑layer fabric, delivering a 20k/30k waterproof‑breathability rating while each item weighs under 200 grams and packs to a...
Between Sacramento And Redding Is A California City With A Charming Downtown, Museum, And Wildlife Refuge
Willows, California, a 6,000‑resident town nestled between Sacramento and Redding, blends historic charm with outdoor recreation. Its downtown features the 1894 Glenn County Courthouse, locally owned shops and the top‑rated CB Kitchen restaurant. The Willows Museum, housed in a restored...
Chicago's Once-Thriving Quarry Turned Landfill Is Now A Vibrant Haven For Trails, Fishing, And Birdwatching
Palmisano Park, a 26‑acre former limestone quarry and landfill in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, has been reborn as an urban oasis. The Chicago Parks Department acquired the site in 1999, remediated the brownfield, and added 1.7 miles of mixed‑surface trails, a 33‑foot...
Meteorites, Micronations, and ‘Dead Songs’: Is This Europe’s Most Mysterious Archipelago?
The West Estonian Archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of roughly 900 islands, blends stark natural beauty with a patchwork of hidden histories. In Saaremaa, locals have resurrected centuries‑old “dead songs,” releasing the first album in the regional dialect after fifteen...
Canada's Lovely Beach Near Downtown Toronto Is A Popular Escape For Outdoor Fun And Lake Views
Woodbine Beach Park, a 37‑acre waterfront oasis just five miles east of downtown Toronto, offers sand, volleyball courts, fitness equipment and a free Olympic‑sized pool to offset the lake's cool temperatures. The park’s boardwalk, change rooms, drinking fountains and bottle‑filling...
Spring Adventures Start Here: Tread May/June Issue
Tread Magazine’s May/June issue spotlights spring off‑road adventures, featuring a lineup of custom builds such as the RJ Fab‑built Willys, a 1953 M37 Monster, Icon’s SEMA Tundra, Ryno’s 4Runner, an XJ rock crawler, and RedArc’s trailer brake controller. The issue...
‘Now Days’ Ignites a New Era of Women’s Surfing with the Super Six (Video)
Red Bull’s new women’s surf film “Now Days” premiered globally on May 1 via YouTube, delivering a 45‑minute showcase of six elite surfers—Caroline Marks, Molly Picklum, Caity Simmers, Erin Brooks, Sierra Kerr and Sky Brown. The riders tackle heavy reefs and...
Inside the ‘Most Isolated Islands on the Planet’: The Untouched Marquesas (Video)
The Marquesas Islands, a French Polynesian archipelago about 5,500 miles (8,850 km) from California, are the world’s most isolated island chain. Their rugged terrain hosts wild horses, goats, and largely untouched ecosystems, while a turbulent history of tribal warfare and...
Revelate Designs FKT Series, Updated Pitchfork, and New Ultra Shrew
Revelate Designs launched its FKT Series, a line of ultra‑light bikepacking gear aimed at racers and record‑seekers. The series debuts an updated Pitchfork Aerobar System, now weighing 170 g and priced at $199, and a new Ultra Shrew seat bag that tips...
John Balsdon on World Records and Crossing Africa
British photographer and explorer John Balsdon shattered a 42‑year‑old Cape‑to‑Cape record by driving 20,000 km from Nordkapp, Norway, to Cape Agulhas, South Africa, in 28 days. The unsupported journey spanned 25 borders, endured extreme temperatures, and included a grueling 3,500‑km stretch through...
New Alpine Route on Grandes Jorasses Goes at M7 A3
In April, a French team of Kilian Moni, Pierre Girot, Hugo Peruzzo and Arthur Poindefert completed the first ascent of Jorassique Pâques on the Grandes Jorasses, a 1,100‑metre line graded ED+ M7 A3. The climbers spent four nights on a portaledge, battling gear failures,...
Chicago River Tours Round-Up: 10 Ways to Get Out on the Water in the Windy City
Chicago’s waterways are booming with a diverse slate of tours that let visitors experience the city’s famed skyline from a new angle. Options range from upscale brunch cruises with bottomless mimosas to tiki‑themed booze parties, ghost‑filled night sails, and high‑octane...
Saint Kitts Creates New Dive Attraction for Visitors
Saint Kitts has turned a decommissioned aircraft into a new wreck‑diving attraction by sinking it off Potato Bay. The project, funded by local entrepreneur Sylvester Williams and executed with government, regulatory and private partners, involved thorough environmental safeguards before submersion. The...
Who's Coming in Hot to Mexi Log Fest 2026: Your Complete Guide to the Field in Mazatlan
The 2026 Mexi Log Fest will take place in Mazatlán, with the semifinals and finals streamed live on Surfer’s YouTube channel on May 8‑9. The event gathers an international roster of longboarders—from Mexico, the United States, Japan, Italy, Brazil, Hawaii, the...
These 7 Historic Resorts Are Now Epic Adventure Hubs
Historic U.S. resorts such as the Greenbrier, French Lick, and Glenwood Hot Springs are revamping their classic spa‑and‑relaxation formulas with adrenaline‑pumping activities like rafting, mountain biking, and ski packages. The shift reflects a broader traveler appetite for adventure that’s blended...
Randoms Part 1: FSA Bike Festival Riva 2026
The FSA Bike Festival Riva 2026 in Italy showcased a wave of new protective gear and footwear aimed at lightweight performance. Brands such as Seryt, Bluegrass, Northwave, Sidi and Abus unveiled products ranging from antimicrobial knee pads to convertible helmets....
We Test Dozens of Gravel Bikes Each Year—These 12 Are the Ones Our Editors Keep Recommending
Interest in gravel riding has surged, prompting manufacturers to launch hundreds of new gravel bike models. Bicycling’s editors tested dozens and identified twelve standouts, with Canyon’s Grizl CF 6 crowned Best Overall and Trek’s Checkpoint ALR highlighted for value and upgrade flexibility....
Why Is Bear-Human Conflict Rising on the Appalachian Trail? A Bear Researcher Explains
Bear‑human encounters on the Appalachian Trail rose sharply in 2025, with a 75 percent increase to 42 reported sightings. The surge reflects a booming black‑bear population—over 800,000 individuals—and a growing number of hikers, especially as climate‑driven food shortages push bears toward...
The Strategist’s Travel Hall of Fame
The Strategist’s Travel Hall of Fame curates a comprehensive list of affordable, compact travel essentials ranging from luggage and packing cubes to tech accessories, health products, and kid‑friendly gear. The selection highlights items such as Bluetooth‑enabled suitcases, noise‑cancelling headphones, power...
Seven Death-Defying Books for the Adventurous Reader
The article curates seven high‑octane adventure books that transport readers to extreme environments, from Shackleton’s Antarctic ordeal in *Endurance* to the perilous 4,000‑mile trek of *The Sun Is a Compass*. Each entry highlights the author’s storytelling craft, historical depth, and...
The Fastest Gravel Tire in the World Just Got Bigger (and Probably Faster)
Hutchinson unveiled an expanded gravel tire lineup, adding the 50 mm Caracal Race and two Touareg Race models (standard and GS). Independent tests have already shown the 40 mm and 45 mm Caracal versions as the fastest gravel tires, with the 45 mm topping...
Daily Driver vs Trail Rig: How to Build the Perfect Jeep
The article explains how to build a Jeep that serves as both a comfortable daily driver and a capable trail rig. It outlines the key upgrades—moderate lifts, all‑terrain tires, adjustable shocks, and selective off‑road gear—that balance highway comfort with off‑road...
Man Builds 12-Foot-Long Sailboat with Materials From Hardware Store
Kentucky YouTuber Nick Kroehnke, known as Cumberland Rover, documented the construction of a 12‑foot wooden sailboat using only common hardware‑store lumber and basic carpentry tools. He started with a simple rowboat made from two 1×12 boards, added a plywood bottom,...
Spotted: Scott-SRAM Is on a New Spark RC
Scott‑SRAM’s mountain‑bike team rode a newly spotted Spark RC at the opening round of the Whoop UCI World Cup in South Korea. The bike appears to be a subtle evolution of the current Spark, most notably featuring a lower‑positioned rear...
Mystery Canyon Gravel Bike Spotted at The Traka - Is the Grail About to Join the Big Tyre Club?
Canyon’s next‑generation Grail CFR was photographed in the Traka pits, revealing a more aggressive frame, dropped seatstays and a new aero‑friendly seat‑tube. The bike is already fitted with 29×2.2 in (≈73 mm) Schwalbe gravel tyres, far exceeding the current 42 mm clearance. It...
Southern Grit Endurance Challenge: Something for Everyone
The Southern Grit Endurance Challenge launched its inaugural event in Kentucky’s rugged Knobs Region, offering a 5.4‑mile loop with over 1,100 feet of elevation gain. Participants could choose 3, 6, 12, or 24‑hour formats for both running and rucking, attracting a...
Check Out the New Ways to Explore Route 66 on Google Maps.
Google Maps has introduced two new features to celebrate Route 66’s 100th anniversary. Users can now view the entire 2,448‑mile highway overlay on Android or iOS and explore iconic stops like Cadillac Ranch and Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch via Street View....
Manaslu: To Turn Back the Clock on an 8,000m Peak, Go in the Off-Season
Ukrainian climber Alexandr Moroz and Russian partner Mark Ablovacky tackled Nepal’s 8,000‑meter Manaslu in April, opting for an off‑season, self‑sufficient ascent. With only two spring permits issued, they climbed without supplemental oxygen, Sherpa support, or fixed ropes, and set up...
California Governor Announces Plans to Open 3 New State Parks
On Earth Day, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled plans to open three new state parks in California’s Central Valley, boosting the state’s park system to 283 sites. The additions include Feather River Park (≈2,000 acres), San Joaquin River Parkway (≈875 acres),...
Unreleased Ridley Gravel Monster at The Traka Pushes Aero Gravel to the Limit
Ridley unveiled an unreleased gravel race bike at The Traka, slated for rider Pieter Potters in the 360 event. The prototype, possibly an updated ASTR RS, features an ultra‑aggressive deep‑tube frame that promises a single‑digit aerodynamic gain over the current...
Mata Atlantica Bike Route (N1): Chapada
The Mata Atlântica Bike Route’s first segment (N1) opens a 1,200‑km stretch through Brazil’s Chapada Diamantina National Park and the semi‑arid Caatinga, linking historic mining towns to coastal Atlantic Forest. The trail mixes steep singletrack sections rated up to 9/10 with...
Goal Zero Yeti 1500 Power Station Review (2026): More Power, Better Chemistry
Goal Zero unveiled the sixth‑generation Yeti 1500 portable power station, now built with lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LiFePO₄) cells that promise 4,000 charge cycles to 80 % capacity. The unit delivers a 2,000 W continuous inverter, a 1,800 W AC fast‑charge input that fills the battery in...
Explore Fraser Valley Bouldering with Squatch On The Rocks
The Fraser Valley Climbing Society is debuting its Squatch On The Rocks event on June 13, offering a free bouldering social that showcases the under‑appreciated Stacks area. Participants of all skill levels can try the diverse granite, greenstone and granodiorite...
Universal Design Is Quietly Becoming the Future of Outdoor Gear
Outdoor gear is shifting from user‑centric adaptation to products that adapt to users, a trend known as universal design. The North Face unveiled its Spring‑2026 Universal Collection, featuring magnetic closures, adaptive carry systems, and low‑threshold tents, with an accessibility‑focused launch...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/tal-carry-on-only-tout-fcdeeb8c5aa54b49af35aff08d6b4ceb.jpg)
I Used to Always Check a Bag, but Rising Airline Fees Made Me Switch to Carry-On Only—Here’s How I Pack...
Airlines across the United States lifted checked‑bag fees by roughly $10 in April, pushing the average cost to about $50 per bag. Faced with higher expenses, travel writer Rosie Marder switched to a carry‑on‑only approach, redesigning her packing routine around...
Kelly Slater Wave Pool Quietly Debuts ‘Split Wave’ Setting in Mesmerizing Drone Clip (Video)
Kelly Slater Wave Co. unveiled a new "split wave" setting at its Surf Abu Dhabi pool, using hydrofoil technology to divide a single wave into two identical barrel paths. The innovation lets two surfers ride simultaneously, offering private groups a...
Puerto Escondido Swell Looks ‘Straight-Up Historic’ in New Clip (Video)
Puerto Escondido is experiencing its biggest early‑season swell in a decade, prompting local surfer Quetzal Estrada to complete a week‑long “5 A.M. Challenge” and capture historic barrels on video. The wave conditions, described as “straight‑up historic,” feature massive A‑frame walls that have...
Matt's Mega Mullet, The New Epic, and World Cup Kickoff
On April 30, 2026 Pinkbike released a new episode of its weekly podcast titled “Matt's Mega Mullet, The New Epic, and World Cup Kickoff.” The show features the editorial team and guests discussing the latest mountain‑bike headlines, including a performance...
Melamed & ALN Host the 2026 OneUp Squamish Enduro Pre-Race Show
The 2026 OneUp Squamish Enduro launches with a pre‑race show hosted by former Enduro World Cup champions Jesse Melamed and Andréane Lanthier Nadeau. The program delivers insider course analysis, rider spotlights, and announces the event’s relocation to Capilano University Squamish....
Spotted: The New Scott Spark Does Not Have 32" Wheels - 2026 South Korea XC World Cup
Professional riders at the opening round of the 2026 XCO World Cup in Mona Yongpyong were seen testing a new version of Scott’s Spark cross‑country bike. Unlike the current model, the prototype uses 29‑inch wheels and features an integrated linkage...
Video: Hannah Bergemann Puts a Freeride Twist on Queenstown in 'Inversion'
Hannah Bergemann’s new short film *Inversion* captures her freeride prowess on Queenstown’s iconic jump trails and the steep, untamed descents that surround the valley. Produced by Sidehit Films and promoted by Transition Bikes, the video blends massive air‑time with technical...