Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
The islands that vanish twice a day
The low-lying sandbars are covered by the tide and reappear as the water recedes, so they can vanish and return twice a day.
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Washington Monument elevator operated at a brutal crawl
The steam-powered lift crawled so slowly that men sat in chairs during the ride, while women were offered wine.
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Why travelers once distrusted zippers
Bag makers initially ignored the unfamiliar interlocking teeth, sticking with heavy leather straps and brass buckles.
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In the Netherlands, fries come buried in mayonnaise
Street vendors pile thick mayonnaise over the fries, which often serve mainly as a vehicle for the sauce.
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Cloudy skies can still give you a severe sunburn
Clouds can block visible light while still letting substantial ultraviolet radiation through, so an overcast sky doesn’t necessarily protect exposed skin from…
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Indian festivals feature decorated massive elephants
At Thrissur Pooram, dozens of elephants wear heavy, glittering gold adornments as drum lines play nearby.
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Australia has a mountain called Mount Disappointment
Hume and Hovell named it in 1824 after climbing the peak and finding that trees blocked their view of Port Phillip Bay.
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The ancient excuse behind “When in Rome”
The saying grew from early religious leaders’ advice to follow local fasting customs rather than risk offending people. Even this familiar excuse has roots in…
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France's carry-a-breathalyzer rule outlived its penalty
The government removed the sanction for failing to carry one in 2013, then abolished the carrying requirement itself in 2020. Officials had questioned whether…
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Canal boats relied on heavy ropes dragged from the shoreline
Before steam engines were practical, workers or animals hauled wooden barges along calm-water canals with ropes from the shore. Passengers rode as the boat…
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Vegemite starts as a brewing leftover
Its thick, dark yeast paste is intensely salty and bitter—a taste many Australians acquire growing up with it.
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Breakfast bowls heavily feature dense rice and noodle soups
In many countries, breakfast can be a hearty bowl of rice or noodles in savory meat broth—a very different start from toast and eggs.
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Mezze consists of small dishes served before meals
The dips, salads, and savory bites can be so plentiful that you’re full before the main course arrives.
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Britain's night-parking rule cares which way your car faces
The Highway Code says not to park against the direction of traffic at night unless in a recognized parking space. A correctly oriented car presents its rear…
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Serving food to elders first is mandatory in Korea
At a traditional Korean meal, younger diners wait for the eldest person to begin before eating—a sign of respect that puts hunger second.
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The London Eye usually boards passengers while it keeps turning
Its slow rotation takes about half an hour, allowing passengers to step into a capsule as it moves through the boarding area. The wheel can stop when…
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How Norway introduced raw salmon to Japan
Japan considered Pacific salmon too parasite-prone to eat raw, so Norway promoted its Atlantic salmon surplus there in the 1980s.
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How motels changed the hotel industry
Guests could park right beside their rooms and skip tipping bellhops, giving inexpensive roadside motels an edge over traditional hotels.
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In Switzerland, guinea pigs can't legally live alone
Because guinea pigs are social animals, Swiss rules require them to live in pairs or groups. If one dies, the owner can rent a companion for the survivor.
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The Spam Museum has guides called Spambassadors
At the Minnesota museum, enthusiastic guides called Spambassadors share the canned meat’s history and offer visitors small cubes to try.
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Couscous consists of tiny steamed balls of semolina
Steaming it over savory broth makes the tiny beads fluffy.
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Local accommodations regularly register guests with police
In some jurisdictions, lodging businesses must send nightly guest rosters to local law enforcement, not just keep copies of guests’ IDs on file.
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Why an Italian breakfast may leave you hungry
A typical Italian breakfast may be just an espresso and a sweet pastry at a crowded bar—a light start that can leave you hungry again by midmorning.
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Why mapmakers invent fake towns
A made-up place can act as a copying trap: if another publisher reproduces it, the coincidence is hard to explain. Agloe, New York, began as such a fictional…
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