Fiona has spent her career exploring the world and working in the travel industry, turning her lifelong passion into a profession. From planning custom trips to sharing stories as a travel writer for publications such as The Discoverer, she’s all about helping others experience the world in a deeper, more meaningful way.
The first official speed limit in the United States was set in Connecticut in 1901, at just 12 mph for motor vehicles in towns and 15 mph on country roads. Fast-forward to more than a century later, and you’ll find highways across the U.S. with speed limits in excess of 75 mph. From Texas to Montana, these routes not only get you where you’re going faster, but also showcase stunning landscapes and interesting historic attractions. Here are four of the fastest highways in the U.S. and what makes them worth the drive.
Interstate 29 – South Dakota
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Rural interstates in South Dakota clock speed limits of 80 mph along many stretches, and this applies to all vehicles, whether it’s day or night. Interstate 29 is one of the state’s most traveled roads, running north-south along the Iowa border. This major route takes travelers through Sioux Falls, the state’s most populous city, named after the stunning Falls Park, where the city’s namesake waterfall is fed by the Big Sioux River.
Though the speed limit is lower in urban areas like Sioux Falls, slowing down here offers a chance to enjoy scenic trails, inviting parks, and fascinating museums, making it an ideal stop to immerse yourself in the culture and beauty of the Midwest. And with I-29 running right through it, you can easily experience all the city has to offer before hitting the road again.
Interstate 80 – Nevada
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Nevada’s fastest highway is a 130-mile stretch of I-80 across the northern part of the state between the towns of Winnemucca and Fernley, east of Reno. With a speed limit of 80 mph, it’s a quick route through the Silver State, but be prepared to ease up once you reach Reno and cross into California, where the speed limit drops to between 65 mph and 70 mph.
While many travelers use this route as a direct path from point A to point B, others opt to follow in the footsteps of early pioneers, exploring the rich history along the way. The broader 400-mile stretch of I-80 across northern Nevada is dubbed the “Cowboy Corridor,” and passes through a series of historic frontier towns that honor the state’s Western heritage.
To the east of Winnemucca, Elko is famous for its cowboy culture and gold mining heritage, and Wells is known for its 19th-century architecture and picturesque Angel Lake. History enthusiasts can also venture off I-80 to visit Fort Churchill State Historic Park, Nevada’s first military outpost, offering a glimpse into the state’s early military history.
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In 2015, Montana raised the speed limit on its interstate highways from 75 mph to 80 mph for cars and light trucks. This limit applies to highways outside urban areas with populations of 50,000 or more, but it dips to 65 mph when the interstate passes through those urban areas.
Many of Montana’s interstate highways, including I-15, I-90, and I-94, offer scenic open roads, taking motorists past glacier-fed lakes, lush valleys, and trickling waterfalls, and wildlife sightings. While the speed limit in some sections of these highways may tempt you to drive fast, it’s worth slowing down to fully take in the stunning natural beauty surrounding you.
State Highway 130, the fastest highway in the U.S., was completed in 2006 with the purpose of alleviating traffic on the heavily congested I-35, the busiest interstate connecting major Texas cities. Stretching between San Antonio and Austin, State Highway 130 has a posted speed limit of 85 mph, which is the highest speed limit in the country.
Designed to accommodate large vehicles such as semitrucks and buses, SH 130 provides a quicker alternative to I-35, while maintaining a better safety record with fewer accidents (though with far less traffic than I-35). A section of the highway known as “Pickle Parkway” is named in honor of U.S. Representative J.J. Pickle, who served the Austin area from 1963 to 1995 and was an advocate for securing funding to research and develop the project.
Outdoors •March 20, 2025•Updated: January 15, 2026
By Daily Passport Team
Author
Daily Passport Team
Daily Passport writers have been seen in publications such as National Geographic, Food & Wine, CBC, Condé Nast Traveler, and Business Insider. They're passionate about uncovering unique destinations and sharing expert tips with curious travelers.
Amtrak operates more than 30 different train routes that traverse through 46 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and three Canadian provinces. Some Amtrak trains are primarily used by commuters, who rely on them for quick day trips into major cities. But other routes are best appreciated by sightseers. These long-haul train journeys are among the surest ways to gaze upon the many natural wonders that the United States has to offer, from the lush forests of New England to the towering peaks of the Rockies and the glistening waters of the Pacific coast. Here are seven of the most scenic Amtrak routes you should consider for your next rail adventure.
California Zephyr
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The California Zephyr connects Chicago, Illinois, to Emeryville, a city in California’s Bay Area, in a little over 51 hours. Along the way, passengers will experience some of the country’s most epic scenery. It’s particularly stunning heading west out of Denver and into the Rocky Mountains, where you’ll travel along the gushing waters of the Colorado River for more than 200 miles. The route also runs through Colorado’s Glenwood Canyon for some 18 miles, with the canyon’s towering walls looming over the train’s panoramic observation car as you pass them by.
The California Zephyr continues through the Sierra Nevadas in Northern California, where you’ll chug through the Donner Pass, a famous historic site renowned for its snow-capped peaks and namesake lake, before culminating in the beautiful Bay Area.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder line originates in Chicago, Illinois, and heads up to the Twin Cities, where you’ll come across the flowing waters of the mighty Mississippi River. The train continues on through the sweeping plains of the Dakotas, before the terrain transitions into towering mountains as you enter Montana.
While you may be tempted to disembark and take a scenic hike in the many stunning places along the way, such as Glacier National Park, it’s well worth continuing on to the Pacific Northwest — where you’ll end up in either Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington, depending on which fork of the track you take. Either way, expect to pass by many lush forests due to the region’s plentiful rainfall.
Connecting New York City to Montreal, Canada, the Adirondack route is a 10-hour journey that takes riders through the beautiful landscapes of upstate New York. Fall is a particularly attractive time of year to ride this route, as the region is home to some of the most vibrant fall foliage in the country.
The ride between New York City and Albany ushers passengers along tracks built adjacent to the serene Hudson River, which passengers can admire through the window. The Adirondack continues north along Lake Champlain, one of the largest lakes in the country, to Canada, where you may have a quick border stop before the short final leg of the journey to Montreal.
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Enjoy the West Coast in all its splendor by taking a ride along Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner. This route takes passengers on a 351-mile journey between San Diego and San Luis Obispo via Los Angeles. Large portions of the track run directly adjacent to the Pacific coastline, making window seats a rather hot commodity. The train departs multiple times throughout the day, but perhaps the best time to ride the rails is at sunset, when views over the horizon are particularly spectacular.
If you’re looking to travel further up the California coast, past San Luis Obispo, consider the Coast Starlight route. Traveling from Los Angeles to Seattle, this 35-hour-long Amtrak trip takes you along the Pacific Ocean, passes through lush forests, and cuts through the shadows of some of the tallest peaks in the region.
A highlight of the journey is passing by Mount Shasta, one of the highest summits in California, with snow-capped peaks ascending over 14,000 feet into the sky. In Oregon, you’ll travel right along the glistening waters of Upper Klamath Lake, and then continue on to vibrant downtown Portland. As the trip wraps up near Seattle, you may also catch a glimpse of Mount Rainier, the highest summit of the Cascade Mountains.
Floridian
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The Floridian is one of Amtrak’s newest routes, joining the Capitol Limited and Silver Star lines into one epic 47-hour long-haul journey. At one end, you have Chicago, while at the other, you have Miami — two vastly different climates offering equally stunning scenery.
The train departs Chicago every evening, so you won’t experience too much daylight until passing into Pennsylvania. If heading southward, you’ll pass through the beautiful and historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in the late morning. This was the site of a seminal 1859 raid conducted by abolitionist John Brown, and is also renowned for its lush, rolling hills at the confluence of several rivers.
The route continues on through the lower part of Appalachia before crossing to Florida, where the landscape shifts to plentiful palm trees, with the ocean coming into view as you get closer to the terminus in Miami.
Southwest Chief
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One of the best ways to experience the American Southwest is by booking a trip on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief. The line passes through Chicago, Kansas City, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, and lastly Los Angeles. Traveling westward, you’ll journey over the Mississippi River around Fort Madison, Iowa, and continue on toward the rolling plains of Kansas.
Snag yourself a seat in the train’s Sightseer Lounge before entering New Mexico, as that’s when the terrain really starts to wow. Between Albuquerque and Flagstaff, Arizona, the Southwest Chief passes towering orange mesa formations while it rumbles through endless desert. During this portion of the journey, you’ll also see Petrified Forest National Park — a site that’s famous for its 200 million-year-old ecosystem, Triassic-era fossils, and painted rock formations.
Let us know about your favorite Amtrak routes in the comments below!
Peter is a Toronto-based journalist, editor, content strategist, and self-professed avgeek with 15 years of experience covering all things travel. Prior to joining Daily Passport, he oversaw newsletter publication for Travelzoo. His favorite destinations to explore include Japan, France, Chile, New Zealand, and his adopted home country of Canada.
These days, no matter which airline you fly, traveling around the U.S. can seem remarkably similar — and not all that glamorous. Yet, there are a few key differences among each of the major U.S. airlines, and understanding them can turn a mediocre experience into a positive one. United Air Lines, the world’s largest airline by fleet size, is based in Chicago, Illinois, with other key hubs in Denver, Houston, Newark, and San Francisco. If you’re planning an upcoming trip on United, be sure to check out these five helpful tips before you book.
Understand United’s Basic Economy Restrictions
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Basic economy is United’s lowest-priced fare category. While this can be an appealing option for budget-conscious travelers who are certain of their travel plans and will be traveling light, United’s basic economy comes with a few important restrictions to be aware of.
The most important restriction is that, on most flights within North America, basic economy travelers may not travel with a full-size carry-on bag. Basic economy passengers can only bring aboard a small personal item that can fit underneath the seat in front of them. Those flying to Canada, South America, Asia, and Europe in basic economy, on the other hand, can bring a free carry-on.
Notably, most of United’s competitors — like American and Delta — do include a carry-on bag with their basic economy fares to all destinations. But on United, you’ll have to pony up for the checked bag fee if you want to bring anything larger than a purse, backpack, or laptop bag. (Just be sure to pay for your bag online before check-in opens, as you’ll pay less versus checking at the airport.)
With basic economy on United, changes and cancellations are not allowed (outside of the 24-hour flexible cancellation window) and seats will be assigned automatically at check-in. If you’re traveling with friends or family, be prepared to sit separately, unless you choose to pay extra for seat assignments ahead of time. Basic economy also boards last and is not eligible for any upgrades on United.
If price is less of a factor, you have a few ways to upgrade your flight on United. Within the economy cabin, United features an extra-legroom section called Economy Plus. This can be purchased a la carte or as part of a bundle option during booking. (It’s also available for free if you hold Premier status, depending on availability and your elite status tier.)
United also offers an Economy Plus subscription. You can choose an extra-legroom seat on any flight you take during the year for a flat fee, starting at $599 (as of early 2025). If you plan to travel frequently and value extra legroom, you can potentially rack up significant savings by opting for an Economy Plus subscription instead.
As for premium cabins, United First and United Business are offered domestically and on short-haul international flights to destinations such as Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. You’ll get a wider seat with more legroom at the front of the cabin, along with complimentary meals and alcoholic drinks (depending on flight length) and personalized service.
Meanwhile, Polaris is United’s business-class cabin on long-haul widebody planes. Included with your ticket are spacious lie-flat seating with custom Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, access to the Polaris lounges with a la carte dining, priority airport services, and multicourse meals on board. If Polaris isn’t in your budget, United also offers a premium economy cabin called United Premium Plus — these seats are wider than those in economy and include extra legroom and upgraded meals and amenities.
Before your trip, keep a close eye on your itinerary to see if there are any last-minute upgrade offers, either in cash or United MileagePlus miles. These can often be much cheaper than booking a premium cabin outright. Those with Premier status can also use PlusPoints for upgrades.
When flying on United, the airline’s mobile app is an essential companion. It features an intuitive, easy-to-use interface and a number of incredibly useful features — such as real-time trip updates on your home screen that include information about when your flight is boarding and even when your inbound plane has landed and is taxiing to the gate.
Passengers with checked luggage can also take advantage of United’s bag drop shortcut — skip the line for bags at the airport by paying on the app ahead of time. Once your bags are checked, United’s app offers live baggage tracking, so you’ll travel with peace of mind knowing your bag has made it on your flight with you.
Other useful United app features include interactive terminal maps, the option to preorder meals and drinks on your flight, and the ability to set seat preferences — if a better seat opens up, you’ll automatically be reassigned. You can also easily purchase upgrades to a premium cabin within the app.
And if you need to change to an earlier or later flight — or if your flight is delayed or canceled — it’s easy to find new flight options and rebook yourself with a few simple taps in the app.
Speaking of delayed flights, United tends to be far more transparent than other carriers about the reasons for flight disruptions. You’ll typically see a detailed message on the app (and website) about the cause of the delay, whether it’s air traffic control congestion due to weather, a mechanical issue, or the airline holding the flight so other passengers can make a tight connection. (United employs a helpful technology tool called ConnectionSaver that alerts the airline of possible misconnects for a flight, so it can hold the aircraft for those passengers.)
Know That Not All United Aircraft Are Equal
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In 2021, United announced its new initiative called United NEXT, with the goal of upgrading its passenger experience fleetwide. That includes the introduction of hundreds of new, fuel-efficient planes, plus upgrading older planes with state-of-the-art cabins with personal entertainment, attractive mood lighting, and larger overhead bins for carry-on bags.
But while those upgrades are in progress, your in-flight experience on United will vary. On some aircraft, you can stream free entertainment on your personal device. On others — including all long-haul widebody flights — you’ll have a seat-back entertainment screen with hundreds of movies and TV shows, along with thoughtful features such as Bluetooth connectivity.
To find out what in-flight experience awaits, head to United’s app or the flight status page on its website. Both provide detailed information about the amenities available on your individual aircraft. And when booking, pay close attention to the aircraft type and consult the fleet section of United’s website, which has in-depth descriptions of each plane’s features.
In 2024, United also announced it would be upgrading its entire fleet with high-speed Starlink in-flight Wi-Fi, which will be available free to MileagePlus members. In the meantime, MileagePlus members get a discounted rate for Wi-Fi on select flights.
Take Advantage of the Excursionist Perk
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If you fly United frequently, signing up for MileagePlus, the airline’s free loyalty program, is a no-brainer. You’ll earn miles for every flight based on the cost of your ticket, and you can redeem those miles for award flights, seat upgrades, checked bag fees, Wi-Fi, in-flight dining, and more.
United claims to have the most award destinations of any U.S. frequent flyer program, the most award seats available in economy class, and the most ways to earn and use those miles — all of which can make United miles a particularly valuable points currency to collect and redeem. MileagePlus members can also use their miles toward any seat on a flight — if one is available for sale, you can book it with miles.
One of the lesser-known benefits of United’s program is called the Excursionist Perk. While it may be a bit complicated to understand as a beginner, it can potentially unlock significant value when redeeming miles for award flights.
Essentially, the Excursionist Perk allows you to tag on additional segments to your trip for no additional cost in miles, provided you meet certain criteria. First, your trip must start and end in the same region (as defined by the MileagePlus program). To use the Excursionist Perk, you must add a flight segment in a different region than the one you start and end your trip in.
Say, for example, you plan to visit multiple countries in Europe. You’d be able to book a flight from Chicago to London using your miles and add a free leg to Paris for no additional cost. You’d just need to pay for your flight back home to the U.S. from Paris. This way, you’ll be able to save thousands of miles on the cost of your ticket.
7 Shopping Centers Housed in Architectural Marvels
By
Julia Hammond
Read time: 6 minutes
March 20, 2025
Updated: March 26, 2025
7 Shopping Centers Housed in Architectural Marvels
Architecture •March 20, 2025•Updated: March 26, 2025
By Julia Hammond
Author
Julia Hammond
Julia is a U.K.-based travel writer whose work has been featured in The Independent, The Telegraph, The New Zealand Herald, and Culture Trip, among others. She’s an enthusiastic advocate for independent travel and a passionate geographer who has had the privilege of traveling to more than 130 countries in search of a story.
Across the world, cloud-piercing skyscrapers push construction techniques to new heights, while sustainable and unique homes provide a blueprint for the future. In commercial districts, a desire to create something remarkable has resulted in a slew of innovative and beautiful stores. In some cases, these buildings are bespoke designs, created with retail in mind. Other times, repurposing a building into a place to shop is a means of saving a treasured existing structure from an ignominious fate. Let’s take a look at some of the world’s retail stores that are housed in repurposed architectural landmarks.
Galeries Lafayette – Paris, France
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The Paris of the 19th century did not feature the grand avenues and much of the splendid architecture of the Paris we know today. The modern fabric of the city owes much to the vision and power of Georges-Eugène Haussmann, hired by Napoleon III to redevelop Paris’ medieval slums and instigate a far-reaching urban renewal program. The ornate and elegant building that houses Galeries Lafayette, Paris’ most famous department store, was one of those that sprang up along the city’s new boulevards in 1912.
The building matched the vision of owners Alphonse Kahn and Théophile Bader, who wanted to create a luxurious and innovative approach to the business of retail. The design of the store’s iconic dome reflected the dominant Art Nouveau style of the period. Installed by talented glassmaker Jacques Gruber, the dome served as a way of flooding the retail space below with light.
Located on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena was strategically important during the colonial era from the 16th to 18th centuries. As a consequence, the Spanish fortified it heavily, enclosing the city with thick stone walls that connected a succession of forts. In 1792, 23 bóvedas, or vaults, were added to the fortifications and initially used for storing food and munitions.
The final flourish came six years later with the addition of 47 porticos. Cartagena gained its independence in 1811, becoming the first province in Colombia to free itself from the Spanish crown. In the 19th century, Las Bóvedas were briefly used as a prison, but today the complex houses a variety of charming souvenir shops selling colorful paintings and local handicrafts.
The Danube is Europe’s second-longest river. Midway along its 1,775-mile course, it passes through the Hungarian capital, where the river divides hilly Buda and flatter Pest. A former riverside warehouse complex called Közraktárak formed the basis of a contemporary landmark along the Danube, which opened in 2013.
The mixed-use retail and entertainment building, Bálna — with a name meaning “the whale” — reimagines those historic brick structures. The addition of a stylish glass and steel atrium elevates and modernizes the space. It’s the work of Dutch architect Kas Oosterhuis, who intended the fluid shape of the resultant mall to mimic the flow of the river itself.
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The history of Samarkand can be traced back more than 2,500 years, but the most significant period in its development was during the Timurid Empire. As early as the 14th century, this Silk Road city was a thriving center of commerce. During this period, the grandson of Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur oversaw the construction of three madrasas (schools) — Ulugh Beg between 1417 and 1420, Sher Dor from 1619 to 1636, and Tilla Kari by 1660 — that line an impressive square known as the Registan.
By the time the Soviets arrived in the 20th century, the square had fallen into disrepair, but extensive renovation returned the buildings to their former splendor. These days, the Registan is one of Uzbekistan’s top tourist attractions, dazzling visitors with its intricate, colorful tile work, gilded ceilings, and magnificent cupolas. Inside, you’ll find an array of souvenir stalls and even a post office lining its shady courtyards.
Battersea Power Station – London, England
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Battersea Power Station is one of London’s most recognizable buildings. Construction began in 1929, and by 1955, this coal-fired power station was producing around a fifth of the U.K. capital’s electricity. The art deco architecture of this riverfront behemoth dominated the cityscape. It famously graced the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1977 album Animals alongside an inflatable pink pig that had been tethered to one of its chimneys. In 1980, it was officially named a historic landmark.
However, just three years later, Battersea Power Station, costly to maintain and outdated, was decommissioned. Redeveloping the site was no easy task, not least because what casual observers might have thought was a single building was actually two. Eventually, it was transformed into a luxury mall that welcomed its first shoppers in 2022 and has since become a popular London attraction.
The story of Savage Mill began in the early 19th century, when it was constructed close to the confluence of the Little and Middle Patuxent rivers, about 20 miles southwest of Baltimore. Inside, looms wove cotton into heavy-duty canvas that was ideal for army tents, sails for the clippers that sailed out of Baltimore Harbor, and even the cinema screens of silent movie theaters.
The use of steam power led to the mill’s expansion in the 1880s, but changing demand led the mill to close in 1947. A few decades later, Savage Mill was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and painstakingly restored. Since then, it has provided a home for numerous small stores and local businesses that have given the mill a new lease on life.
LX Factory – Lisbon, Portugal
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LX Factory is a former industrial complex dating back to 1846 that has been reimagined as a trendy hub for retail and leisure in Portugal’s capital. Located in the Alcântara neighborhood of Lisbon, the complex first housed a textile business called Companhia de Fiação e Tecidos Lisbonense. Later, the food processing company Companhia Industrial de Portugal e Colónias and printers Anuário Comercial de Portugal and Gráfica Mirandela moved in.
Yet, times change and today’s congested inner city sites, tight on space, were no longer a good fit for industry. Here, the vacant factories and warehouses have a new guise, forming a creative hub that marries trendy start-ups with hip cafés and fashionable boutiques. LX Factory also hosts a popular Sunday flea market known for its retro vinyl and vintage clothing stalls.
Michael is a staff writer for Daily Passport and film critic who writes the weekly newsletter Movie Brief. His writing and criticism have also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Variety, and the Washington Post, among others. A native Angeleno, his favorite countries to visit are Norway and Japan.
Spanish is the de facto official language of Argentina, with nearly all 45 million inhabitants of South America’s third-most-populous country speaking it. Other languages spoken in Argentina include English, Italian, over a dozen Indigenous languages, and, in one particular region, Welsh. If you find that last one surprising, there’s a good reason: Wales is a small country that’s nearly 8,000 miles and an ocean apart from Argentina. Discover the surprising history of Argentina’s Welsh-speaking communities.
Welsh, sometimes called the “language of heaven,” came to be spoken in southern Argentina well over a century and a half ago. During the Industrial Revolution in the mid-19th century, many in Wales felt political pressure to assimilate with the dominant English culture of the United Kingdom. Some were inspired to move abroad and establish Welsh-speaking colonies — including ones in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Utica, New York.
The idea for Argentina’s Welsh colony — known as Y Wladfa (“The Colony”) or Y Wladychfa Gymreig (“The Welsh Colony”) — was born at an 1861 meeting at the home of one Michael D. Jones.
The group that met there wanted to establish a settlement outside of the United States, with Vancouver being discussed as one possibility before they ultimately decided on the Patagonia region of Argentina. This wasn’t a random choice: Jones had been in contact with Argentina’s government, which was happy to allow him and his cohort to retain their language and customs in an area of the lower Chubut Valley known as Bahia Blanca, because they believed it would help them settle a land dispute with Chile.
After publishing Llawlyfr y Wladfa (Colony Handbook) to inform their countrymen of the idea, some 150 people joined Jones. They paid £12 per adult (equivalent to over $1,500 USD today) and £6 per child to secure a spot aboard the Mimosa, which set sail from Liverpool in May 1865.
Life in the New World
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After an eight-week journey that met little inclement weather, they reached port in what’s now Puerto Madryn on July 27. Once there, the settlers came to the same realization that many people moving to the New World in search of a better life did: It was nothing like they imagined it to be. They arrived to a mostly barren, windswept land with little food or water, rather than a paradisiacal utopia of milk and honey.
Harsh years followed, but so did assistance from the native Tehuelche peoples. Thanks to clever irrigation techniques and water management, the Chubut Valley became a fertile agricultural area.
By 1875, the first settlement (called Rawson) had a population of 270 — as well as the official title to the land granted by Argentina’s government, inspiring more than 500 others to arrive from Wales. The colony soon became home to Welsh-speaking churches, schools, and even a Welsh local government.
The colonists were victims of their own success, however. By so successfully transforming the Chubut Valley, the Welsh settlers inspired groups from other areas to migrate there as well. The population had ballooned to over 20,000 by 1915, and the government took away most of the autonomy it had initially granted them — including the official use of Welsh in schools and in government. It remained in use at home and the church, however, which is still the case to this day.
Considering that Welsh is spoken by only around 850,000 people in Wales itself, or 28% of the population, the fact that approximately 5,000 still speak it in Chubut isn’t insignificant.
Wales’ government has said it is “absolutely committed” to raising the number of native speakers to 1 million and “doubling the daily use of Welsh” in the coming years. The language is considered vulnerable by UNESCO’s Endangered Languages Project, largely because English is the dominant language in Wales and young people are emigrating from Welsh-speaking communities.
To combat this, the British Council established the Welsh Language Project in 1997 to promote and develop its use in Chubut. Two teachers are sent from Wales every year and divide their efforts among three bilingual primary schools, one secondary school, and Welsh for Adults Centres.
Today, it’s estimated there are 50,000 to 70,000 people in Argentina who descended from the original Welsh settlers, with the Welsh Argentine community mainly residing in the towns of Gaiman, Dolavon, Trelew, and Trevelin.
These towns are located near the Valdés Peninsula — named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its importance as a breeding area for the endangered southern right whale, southern elephant seals, and southern sea lions. If you visit, be sure to embark on a whale-watching or wildlife tour after taking in the unique Welsh culture of the area.
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Mike is a media executive with more than 20 years of professional experience. He’s worked as a reporter, editor, and senior leader in digital media, radio, and print. His work has appeared on ESPN, the Huffington Post, and Buzzfeed, among others.
Apple released the iPhone 7 in 2016. If you decided to upgrade to the latest iPhone model nine years ago or anytime since, you’d find your new device was now water-resistant, packed a more powerful chip, and boasted a fancy new home button. What you wouldn’t find, however, was a 3.5 mm audio jack. The decision to remove the 3.5 mm outlet from the bottom of the iPhone and replace it with Apple’s Lightning connector nearly a decade ago has proved a source of frustration for many people. You were now forced to use the new-generation headphones or purchase wireless headphones to pair with your Apple device. Though I’ve since acclimated to a world primarily dominated by Bluetooth headphones, one situation still vexes me: flying.
The Problem With Seatback Screens
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As a United devotee, I’ve become accustomed to browsing an often impressive collection of films on the seatback screen after boarding a plane. I’ll swipe around, tap the tiny heart on the ones I want to watch to add them to my favorites, and then ponder my selections until I decide where to start.
Then, as you might have guessed from that whole preamble, a problem arises. My Bluetooth headphones — with their glorious noise cancellation and impressive audio — don’t have a cord to plug into the monitor.
Sure, I could ask for a pair of the disposable earbuds the flight attendants pass around, but even on max volume, those are no match for the roaring engines or a screaming baby. And while United and a handful of other airlines have introduced Bluetooth connectivity to select seatback screens in recent years, we still have a long way to go until the technology is available on every flight. So, what’s a frequent flyer to do?
Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a similar situation. Perhaps you, too, have lamented the demise of the iPhone audio jack that led to this modern inconvenience. Well, you’re in luck. I recently found a $30 solution to this issue, and I’m never traveling without it again.
The AirFly from Twelve South is a clever device that plugs into your seatback screen and lets you use your wireless headphones to listen to the on-demand entertainment on your flight. You simply attach the dongle to the screen’s 3.5 mm audio input and pair the AirFly to your Bluetooth headphones like you would any other Bluetooth accessory. Voilá — you now have the onboard entertainment’s audio piping into your wireless headphones. You can proceed to turn on noise cancellation to drown out the ambient noise. I’ve used the AirFly on a half-dozen flights and can attest that it works like a charm.
The large volume buttons on the AirFly allow you to easily adjust the sound right from the device. This may seem inconsequential, but think back to the last time you hit a patch of turbulence while trying to change the volume and balance a cup of sloshing ginger ale.
Another situation that becomes easier to navigate is getting out of your seat to use the restroom. What was once a game of close-quarters gymnastics is a tad more manageable. You’re already dealing with a tray table, a seat belt, and an array of snacks and magazines, so not having to remove your headphones cuts down, at least a little, on the ordeal.
With 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, the AirFly can handle any flight, even if you’re flying nonstop from JFK to Singapore. You can even use it while it charges via the USB-C port to ensure you’re never without the ability to connect your wireless headphones to a non-Bluetooth device. (And when you’re not traveling, you can use the AirFly with gym equipment and portable gaming devices as well.)
My only gripe with the device, and it’s a minor one, is that I wish it had a battery level indicator of some sort. It’s impossible to tell how much juice the AirFly has left. It could die on you mid-movie, mid-flight, without so much as a warning. Still, this is the only qualm I have with the indispensable gadget. The AirFly has worked perfectly, resolving one of the last lingering issues in this wireless headphone world.
Marissa is a cheap airfare aficionado who loves exploring offbeat destinations with her husband. Based in Los Angeles and Joshua Tree, Marissa has been featured in publications such as San Diego Magazine, Palm Springs Life Magazine, 303 Magazine, and Mountain Living.
Looking to embark on a cruise soon but don’t have a current passport? You’re in luck: There’s a type of cruise called a closed-loop cruise, which leaves from and returns to a single U.S. port, briefly docking at popular international destinations along the way. If you choose this type of itinerary, you’ll be able to relax and set sail to the Caribbean, Mexico, or Canada with only your driver’s license. Here’s everything you need to know about booking a closed-loop cruise.
Booking a Closed-Loop Cruise and What To Bring
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First, the good news: Finding a closed-loop cruise without a passport requirement isn’t a difficult feat, as many cruise itineraries embark and disembark from the same U.S. port. You’ll find a variety of closed-loop ports in the U.S., from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Although you’ll visit international destinations during your itinerary, closed-loop cruise passengers traveling in the Western Hemisphere do not need a passport to set sail, thanks to rules set by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. However, you will need to have another form of identification. The following items are accepted forms of ID:
• Official certificate of naturalization • Government-issued driver’s license • Government-issued birth certificate • Enhanced driver’s license — a state-issued driver’s license that provides proof of American citizenship (currently available only to residents of Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington)
Of course, having your passport ready in case of an emergency is never a bad idea. If you need to cut your vacation short and fly home, you’ll be required to have one at an international airport when you fly back to the United States. Most cruise lines will strongly encourage you to pack your passport in order to have some peace of mind.
Whether you venture north or south or have four days or three weeks to sail, there are various closed-loop cruises to suit your interests and vacation needs. Below are some popular itineraries.
Gulf States to Mexico and Central America
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If you’re looking for a short tropical getaway, you can embark on a closed-loop cruise from Galveston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; or Tampa, Florida. These sailings include visits to the Mexican ports of Cozumel, Progreso Merida, or Puerto Costa Maya, and they typically require only four to five vacation days. You can extend the cruise to seven to nine days with additional stops in Roatan, Honduras, and Harvest Caye and Belize City, Belize.
Cruise lines Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival have a variety of itineraries that dock back in Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile, or Tampa, making it easy to have a quick retreat south of the border.
Seattle to Alaska and British Columbia, Canada
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The Emerald City is less than a two-hour drive from the Canadian border, but if you’d like to see the stunning gardens in the British Columbia capital of Victoria on Vancouver Island en route to Alaska, a closed-loop cruise itinerary is the ticket.
Round-trip weeklong voyages from Seattle to Alaska via British Columbia are available via Norwegian, Carnival, and Princess cruise lines. You can also embark from San Francisco on an 11-day journey or spend nearly three weeks at sea with additional stops in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and several other coastal communities, glaciers, and national parks in Alaska.
U.S. East Coast to Eastern Canada
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You might have to brave a chilly breeze aboard a ship from Boston, Baltimore, New York, or Bayonne, New Jersey, to the icy waters surrounding eastern Canada, but the unbeatable scenery from your cruise ship balcony will be well worth the trade-off.
Voyages with Royal Caribbean, Oceania, Carnival, and Norwegian include stops in ports such as Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; Newport, Rhode Island; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; St. Anthony, Newfoundland; Saint John, New Brunswick; Saguenay and Québec City, Québec; and sometimes even Greenland.
Some Caribbean islands — such as Guadeloupe, Barbados, St. Barts, Martinique, and Trinidad and Tobago — do require a passport, so be sure to bring one if you’re docking in one of those countries on your cruise itinerary. But the good news is that there are several other appealing islands that can be visited on closed-loop cruises.
Sailings with Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian head to Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Jamaica, and other island paradises. These trips leave from and return to the same U.S. port — options include Baltimore; New York; Boston; Bayonne, New Jersey; Port Canaveral, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and Tampa, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; New Orleans; Galveston, Texas; and Norfolk, Virginia.
Sunny Mexico is a popular closed-loop cruise destination for many Californians. Departing from Long Beach and San Pedro near Los Angeles, these itineraries include stopovers south of the border in Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, La Paz, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán via Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Norwegian cruise lines. The trip can be as short as three days, which means the Mexican Riviera is within reach over a long weekend.
Rachel is a Washington, D.C.–based travel and lifestyle writer with roots in the Great Lakes region. When she’s not writing for publications such as The Discoverer and Interesting Facts, you’ll find her wandering through museums or exploring destinations off the beaten path.
If you’ve ever been struck by jet lag on vacation, you know how quickly it can derail your plans. This pesky consequence of long-distance travel can sneak up on even the most seasoned adventurers as your body battles against its natural rhythm. But there’s a way to mitigate the effects of jet lag — and it starts before you touch down. Catching some shut-eye on the plane is the first step to arriving at your destination feeling refreshed, and one psychologist has a foolproof method for falling asleep in the blink of an eye. Discover all the details below.
Note: All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. Daily Passport may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
What Is Jet Lag, Anyway?
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I know from firsthand experience what it means to not be able to sleep well during travel. The worst jet lag I have ever experienced came after a red-eye flight from the East Coast to Paphos, Cyprus. After three flights, a bus ride, and 18 hours of travel, I imagined I’d land, drop my bags at the hotel, and be ready to stretch my legs. What was next? A dip in the Mediterranean? A tour of ancient ruins?
Nope — instead, I fell straight into my bed. My travel companions and I were all utterly exhausted and many time zones away from home. The disappointment of missing out on our first day abroad was hard to shake, but it’s a problem that is all too common.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), jet lag happens when your body’s internal clock is out of sync with the time zone you’re traveling in, and this disruption is exacerbated by long or stressful travel days. Crossing more than three time zones can leave you feeling disoriented, tired, and unable to concentrate. It impacts mood, mental health, and physical performance, which is no way to begin a vacation. But fortunately, I’ve discovered an easy trick to beat jet lag after your next long-haul flight.
The Alpha Bridge Method
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While there’s no shortage of advice out there on conquering jet lag, one psychologist claims to have a tried-and-true method that’s as effective as it is simple. Dr. Erica Terblanche, a well-being educator, endurance athlete, and avid adventurer, thinks she’s cracked the code without any pricey sleep aids or complicated techniques.
Dr. Terblanche’s method, which she dubs “going over the Alpha Bridge,” is all about focusing on breathing and counting. She claims it will help you fall asleep “pretty much anywhere,” allowing you to get rest during your flight and arrive at your destination feeling refreshed. Here’s how it works:
• First, sit back in your seat, close your eyes, and count to 30. • Then, slightly open your eyes (just a little) and count to five. • Repeat the first two steps. • After completing two cycles, keep your eyes closed and shift your focus to your breathing. Follow your breath as it moves in and out of your nostrils.
The beauty of this technique lies in its simplicity. Dr. Terblanche says most people fall asleep during the first cycle, and if you don’t, you can simply repeat the process until you do. This method blends a deep-breathing exercise (which promotes the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone) and mindfulness, a science-backed method of relaxation.
Enhancing the Alpha Bridge Method
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Like any sleep technique, this isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are other ways to tailor it to your specific needs. Dr. Terblanche’s approach taps into an age-old sleep aid: counting. For centuries, humans have followed the advice of counting sheep to fall asleep, and there’s some science to this. Imagery has been proven to reduce anxiety and ease the transition into sleep.
Psychology professor Allison Harvey, director of the Golden Bear Sleep and Mood Research Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, agrees that counting really can induce sleep. In her research, participants who engaged in imagery before bed fell asleep more quickly and experienced fewer restless thoughts than those who didn’t.
More Tips To Sleep Soundly on a Plane
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Other strategies can work in tandem with Dr. Terblanche’s method to improve in-flight sleep quality. According to the CDC, paying attention to what you eat and drink before your flight can ensure a more comfortable travel experience.
Avoid large, greasy, or spicy meals that can disrupt your digestive system. Alcohol, while tempting on vacation, can unfortunately wreak havoc on your sleep cycle, so save it for the beach. And if you must have caffeine, do so in the morning — if you avoid it during the afternoon and evening, you’ll be tired enough to sleep through your flight. Above all, stay hydrated, as it promotes restful sleep and prevents sluggishness.
It’s also easier to fall asleep during flight with the right accessories. For many travelers like myself, a neck pillow is a game changer for red-eye and long-haul flights. Just be sure to buy one before you head to the airport — they’re much cheaper in-store or online than at the gate. Some travel pillows even come with convenient travel cases and other accessories, like eye masks and earplugs.
Speaking of eye masks, if you’re sensitive to light, a quality eye mask will do wonders to help you stay asleep longer. You can still use the Alpha Bridge method with your mask on — just focus on counting and breathing with your eyes closed.
And if you’re a light sleeper, don’t underestimate the power of noise-cancelling earplugs. Loop earplugs, for instance, come in various colors and styles, with one model made specifically for travel. For travelers who prefer falling asleep to sound, a wireless transmitter like the AirFly Pro easily connects your Bluetooth headphones to the in-flight entertainment system. At the end of the day, with these tips and tricks, I hope you’ll be sleeping soundly on your way to your next adventure.
Architecture •March 17, 2025•Updated: March 17, 2025
By Nicole Villeneuve
Author
Nicole Villeneuve
Nicole is a writer and researcher with over 15 years of experience seeking out arts, culture, and lifestyle stories in places like remote northern Quebec and the unforgettable streets of Amsterdam. Her work has also appeared in PureWow, Brit + Co, AUX TV, and CBC.
When you picture the home of an A-lister, it’s likely that expensive interiors, sprawling square footage, and splashy amenities come to mind. But some stars take home design a step further, embracing bold, unconventional architecture. Whether designed for sustainability, elegance, or sheer spectacle, these places offer a glimpse into the artistic and architectural tastes of their famous owners. Here are six historic — and stunning — celebrity homes and the stories behind them.
Bob Hope House – Palm Springs, California
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Completed in 1979, John Lautner’s surreal Bob Hope House looks like something from another world. The architectural marvel resembles a flying saucer or, on its rugged hillside perch above Palm Springs, a desert volcano of sorts. Lautner, a celebrated L.A. architect who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, designed the 24,000-square-foot home specifically for the late comedian and actor.
The home features a sweeping concrete roof and a massive circular opening that punctuates it, flooding its central courtyard with Southern California sunlight. Throughout, the home also offers stunning views of the San Jacinto Mountains. A 2019 restoration project introduced Quartzite flooring, African mahogany, and Brazilian granite, cementing its status as not only a storied Hollywood home but also a modernist masterpiece.
Twin Palms – Palm Springs, California
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Few celebrity homes embody Palm Springs midcentury modernism like Twin Palms — also known as the Frank Sinatra House. The sleek, single-story structure was designed in 1947 by E. Stewart Williams. It was the architect’s first residential design, commissioned when Ol’ Blue Eyes himself walked into the designer’s office and said he wanted a house. According to the architect, Sinatra originally wanted a Georgian mansion, but after Williams explained that a more modern style would suit the area’s topography and climate, Sinatra agreed to his vision.
The house — with its clean lines, flat roof, and floor-to-ceiling windows that seamlessly merge indoor and outdoor spaces — became a defining structure in desert modernism. It exemplified a mix of minimalism and Hollywood glamour, perhaps best demonstrated by the home’s piano-shaped swimming pool (a playful nod to Sinatra’s legacy). Today, the house is available for private tours and even overnight rentals.
The Bunshaft Residence — also known as the Travertine House — was a rare example of minimalist modernism in the Hamptons. Originally designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft in 1962, the glass-and-concrete structure stood in stark contrast to the traditional shingled mansions of the upscale coastal hamlet.
A rare residential project for Bunshaft — best known for designing New York City’s Lever House skyscraper — the home was a study in restraint. Its low, flat roof and vast floor-to-ceiling windows made it feel like an extension of its bucolic surroundings.
When Bunshaft’s widow died in 1994, the property was willed to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. However, they were unable to afford the upkeep, and in 1995, Martha Stewart bought the house for around $3 million. Stewart began renovations on the house, but property line disputes got in the way, and after a number of years the property was all but abandoned.
The house sat empty for years until 2005, when it was sold to the late textile magnate Donald Maharam. Eventually, it was controversially demolished (Maharam claimed it was “decrepit”). While the new home built in its place retained some nods to Bunshaft’s sleek design, architecture enthusiasts still lament the loss of the original landmark.
The Manor – Los Angeles, California
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The excess and ambition of 1980s Beverly Hills is on full display at the Manor. Built in 1988 for television mogul Aaron Spelling and his wife, Candy, the Manor — nicknamed “Candyland” — is unapologetically lavish.
The home sits on the Holmby Hills site of Bing Crosby’s former mansion. Designed in the French chateau style, the Manor features a dramatic double staircase and a staggering 123 rooms, including a two-lane bowling alley and rooms once used solely for flower cutting and gift wrapping.
Following Aaron Spelling’s death in 2006, Candy lived in the Manor until 2011, when she sold the property to British F1 heiress Petra Ecclestone for $85 million. Ecclestone renovated and updated the modern castle before selling it for almost $120 million in 2019 — the highest-ever recorded L.A. home sale at the time.
Friar Park is a Victorian Gothic wonderland that’s more akin to a castle than a mansion. Completed in 1895 for Victorian lawyer Sir Frank Crisp, the whimsical estate was purchased by Beatles guitarist George Harrison in 1970. Harrison lived there for 30 years until his death in 2001; today, it is still owned by his widow, Olivia Harrison.
The sprawling estate features turrets, gargoyles,intricate carvings and inscriptions, and hidden grottos and detailed landscaping that were a sanctuary for the former Beatle. The storybook grounds also include a massive rock garden, an elaborate topiary, and even a model of the great Matterhorn mountain.
Though it’s not open to the public for tours, Friar Park stands not only as a piece of architectural history, but as a rare, fantastical retreat — one that captures and still conveys both Victorian imagination and Harrison’s creative spirit.
Originally built in 1951 as a simple contemporary-style home, Piazza di Liberace was one of several homes owned by famous pianist Władziu Valentino Liberace. After Liberace purchased it in 1966, he not only reoriented the facade to face North Kaweah Road, but also added a grand circular drive, Corinthian columns, and Roman statues — all in gleaming bright white stone that reflected the pianist’s appreciation of the classic aesthetic.
Today, it’s not just a plaque by the driveway or the piano-shaped mailbox that retains Liberace’s style — Piazza De Liberace is the only one of the performer’s properties that still resembles how it looked at the time he owned it. A 2012 interior remodel sought to modernize the home while retaining Liberace’s vision. It is currently open for private tours by appointment only.
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8 U.S. Cities That Portray Other Places on the Big Screen
By
Jersey Griggs
Read time: 5 minutes
March 17, 2025
Updated: March 24, 2025
8 U.S. Cities That Portray Other Places on the Big Screen
Culture •March 17, 2025•Updated: March 24, 2025
By Jersey Griggs
Author
Jersey Griggs
Jersey is a travel and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in publications such as Condé Nast Traveler, Business Insider, and Bust. When she’s not exploring her adopted home state of Maine, she’s likely planning her next big trip.
Hollywood stand-ins aren’t just for actors — they can also be for cities. Filming in smaller towns and midsize cities not only can be cost-effective, but also eases the logistics of producing big-budget films. Upon a closer rewatch, you might be surprised to discover that what appears to be New York City is actually Cincinnati, or that the apparent streets of Boston belong to Hoboken, New Jersey. For curious movie buffs, here are eight places that have a big-city doppelganger.
Dallas, Texas – Posing as Detroit, Michigan
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The 1987 film RoboCop takes place in a dystopian Detroit, but many of its key scenes were filmed in Dallas. One of the reasons for this is that filmmakers believed that Dallas’ modern skyline was a better fit for the movie’s futuristic scenery. Dallas City Hall was used as headquarters for Omni Consumer Products, the film’s fictitious company, while the city’s streets were featured throughout the film. More than three decades later, Dallas continues to celebrate its connection to the iconic ’80s movie, with local theaters rereleasing the film for its 35th birthday.
Hoboken, New Jersey – Posing as Boston, Massachusetts
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In the highly publicized 2024 film It Ends With Us, Boston serves as the setting for the film adaptation of author Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. But instead of basing production in New England, filmmakers decided to stay closer to New York. Featuring Victorian brownstones and Beaux Arts architecture, the streets of Hoboken were able to pass for the historic city of Boston. The film’s Maine scenes were also filmed in New Jersey, with Fair Mount Cemetery in Chatham chosen for a poignant scene and Plainfield, New Jersey, serving as the scenic backdrop for the fictional Plethora, Maine.
Los Angeles, California – Posing as Miami, Florida
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The 1983 movie Scarface tells the story of a Cuban immigrant, played by Al Pacino, who smuggles drugs into Miami to become one of the city’s biggest crime lords. Although producers believed that Miami was the ideal locale for the movie, there was major pushback from the Cuban community and city officials, who believed that the violent depiction of Miami and its Cuban population would be damaging. While some scenes were filmed in Miami Beach, including at the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel, ultimately, much of the 1983 film was filmed in Los Angeles, with Little Tokyo in downtown L.A. subbed for Little Havana.
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Starring Robert Redford, 1984’s The Natural is an iconic baseball movie that was filmed in Buffalo, New York. In the film, Redford plays on the New York Knights, a fictional 1930s baseball team based in New York City. Buffalo’s downtown architecture, which includes a mix of Greek Revival, Federal, and art deco styles, matched the time period of the film, making it an ideal stand-in for prewar Manhattan. Built in 1937, Buffalo’s original ballpark, War Memorial Stadium, was also a perfect match for the baseball scenes, allowing the film to replicate the golden era of America’s favorite pastime.
Despite Dallas being a pivotal plot point of the movie — it’s in the title, after all — Dallas Buyers Club (2013) was primarily filmed in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. Producers on the film — inspired by the story of Ron Woodroof, a Dallas resident diagnosed with AIDS in the 1980s — chose Louisiana as the filming location largely due to tax breaks offered by the state. Downtown Shreveport doubled as Dallas 40 years ago, while the Oasis Motel — located outside of New Orleans in Gretna — was also used for key scenes in the movie.
St. Louis, Missouri, and Atlanta, Georgia – Posing as New York City
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Both St. Louis and Atlanta served as the backdrop for a postapocalyptic New York in the 1981 film Escape From New York. Starring Kurt Russell, the low-budget film saved money by filming in smaller cities scouted by the filmmakers. St. Louis’ Union Station doubled as Grand Central Station, and Chain of Rocks Bridge was a stand-in for the 69th Street Bridge. The crew also filmed in parts of Atlanta’s airport and MARTA transit system, although these scenes did not make the final cut.
Wilmington, North Carolina – Posing as Bridgton, Maine
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Although many of Stephen King’s books take place in his home state of Maine, the screen adaptations are often filmed elsewhere. For the sci-fi series Under the Dome (2013-2015), filmmakers chose Wilmington, North Carolina, as the fictional town of Chester Mill. (Chester Mill is reportedly based on Bridgton, Maine, a small town near King’s summer home.) Producers took advantage of North Carolina’s tax breaks and deemed Wilmington’s natural scenery to be similar to that of Maine. Indoor sets were also filmed in Wilmington, while nearby Burgaw was used for Chester Mill’s downtown area.
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Cincinnati is another midsize city that can pass for New York. In the 2015 period piece Carol, director Todd Haynes believed Cincinnati was the perfect stand-in for midcentury New York. The film’s famous Christmas tree shopping scene was filmed in Eden Park, while a Hyde Park mansion was used for Carol’s 1950s home in New Jersey. Exterior scenes for the movie’s department store were also filmed at Shillito’s in downtown Cincinnati, while the Over-the-Rhine district was an ideal choice for outdoor scenes.
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