Travel
Discover facts about travel. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Travel
Bedouins mastered harsh desert traversal
Knowledge of the stars, wind patterns and hidden water sources helped Bedouin communities navigate harsh desert regions.
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Sperm cells swim massive relative distances
Scaled up to human size, the sperm cell’s journey to an egg would be like swimming across several large bodies of water without stopping.
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Australia holds races where jockeys ride camels
At Alice Springs, camel races put jockeys atop animals that may sit down or run sideways, making for a chaotic alternative to horse racing.
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The hidden price of choosing an aisle seat
The trade-off for easy aisle access is getting bumped by passing carts, commuters and backpacks—and having to lean aside to avoid them.
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The mold hiding inside hotel ice machines
Hotel ice machines can harbor mold in their damp, dark interiors, especially when they aren't regularly taken apart for deep cleaning.
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Why crossing your legs can seem rude in South Korea
In formal or professional settings in South Korea, crossing your legs—especially around a superior—can be read as disrespectful or arrogant.
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French was the dominant international language before English
Elite aristocrats used French as a shared language abroad, helping them communicate across places with different local tongues.
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Why cruise-ship pools can be filled with seawater
Onboard pumps draw seawater, run it through sand filters, and send it to the pools, conserving freshwater supplies.
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New Zealand keeps pet snakes out—but sea snakes can visit
There are no native land snakes, and strict biosecurity rules keep people from establishing pet populations. Sea snakes and kraits occasionally arrive…
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Missing cross country trains ruins entire travel schedules
Unlike a subway that may arrive every few minutes, the next train on that route could be six hours away—and connecting reservations can fall apart with it.
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The EU rule that ended roaming fees
The EU's “Roam Like at Home” policy lets customers use their mobile plans in other EU member countries without extra roaming charges.
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One Swiss canton voted to ban naked hiking
Appenzell Innerrhoden approved the ban in 2009 after complaints about unclothed walkers. The rule was a local response, not a blanket ban passed for all of…
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Mount Elbert ranks as the highest peak in Colorado
At high altitude, thinner air makes the hike to the summit a gasping climb.
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Earthworms travel by eating through dirt
As they burrow, earthworms take in soil and digest its organic matter, then pass the remaining material out as castings.
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Colombia's Las Lajas sanctuary rises across a river gorge
Its stone church sits above the Guáitara River near Ipiales, joined to the canyon side by an arched bridge. Visitors approach a building that seems to grow…
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Versailles once flaunted its mirrors as luxury
When Versailles was built, making large, flawless glass was a closely guarded skill. The mirrors in its grand hall made a striking display of royal wealth.
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A duty-free bag can be the wrong souvenir to bring into Kenya
Kenya's plastic-carrier-bag restrictions extend to travelers entering the country. Its environment authority says incoming passengers must leave covered…
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A honeymoon request needs an empty room before it needs a good story
An upgrade depends first on available inventory and the hotel's policies. Even a sympathetic receptionist cannot hand out a better room that is already…
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He changed his name to avoid an airline fee
Ryanair wanted £220 to correct a typo on his boarding pass, so a student legally changed his name by deed poll for £10 and got a new passport instead.
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Why bringing Kinder Surprise eggs into the US is risky
A 1938 US law bars nonfood objects embedded in candy, so customs can seize Kinder Surprise eggs, whose toys are sealed inside the chocolate.
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Oaxaca dirt roads weave through intense mountain ranges
Rural journeys follow thousands of tight switchbacks carved into high elevations, making the ride feel like a slow-motion roller coaster.
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True spicy food in Thailand makes unaccustomed visitors cry
Heat levels locals find mild can make unaccustomed visitors cough; a dish ordered at the local level may overwhelm diners unused to it.
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Tulum ruins sit precariously on a cliff edge
It served as a Maya fortress overlooking the Caribbean, with sweeping views from its cliffside perch.
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Why airplanes carry an axe in the cockpit
It can be used to cut through cabin panels to reach an electrical fire behind them.
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