Kelsy Chauvin

This month, the Crescent City welcomed a brand-new, retro-styled “museum hotel.”
The Higgins Hotel New Orleans, Curio Collection by Hilton introduces 230 rooms, four restaurants/bars, and 18,000 feet of meeting and event space to the Arts and Warehouse District. But it’s the hotel’s ties to The National WWII Museum that set the property apart from others.
The WWII Museum — New Orleans’s top attraction — is a for-profit institution, with its survival partly dependent on private donations. The new Higgins Hotel, however, will serve as an extension of the museum, with all proceeds used to...

Across Manhattan, bars prevail. The Mayor’s Office counts at least 13,000 nightlife establishments in the borough, with still more new liquor licenses issued every week. But among the island’s posh lounges and trendy speakeasies charging $25 per cocktail, there remain a cherished handful of classic New York City dive bars. These are the haunts that have survived the decades with their own kind of style: mismatched furniture, extended happy hours, charmingly surly bartenders, and...

Eating locally is a delicious way to enjoy your travels. But some corners of the United States and Canada offer more direct routes to falling for regional fare: food trails. Sure, there are food trails that are familiar for their states. (We’re looking at you, Wisconsin Cheese Tour and New York’s Buffalo Wing Trail!) This list, on the other hand, will direct you to 10 food-loving paths where eccentric and scrumptious tastes converge.
1. Cajun Boudin Trail, Louisiana...

Maybe you're traveling for the holidays, or perhaps you want to inspire your favorite people to get up and go. For this year's season of prezzies, there's a colorful crop of smart, portable, eco-friendly products to consider for your shopping list. Or maybe just for you — 'tis the season to treat yourself!

Before most US cities could even build a steakhouse, the island of Manhattan was serving up some of the country’s most prime cuts. Their steaks were so good and service so sublime, several of those classic eateries remain in full swing today, serving up dry-aged perfection to discerning diners.

Then with the 20th century came a wave of steakhouses that mastered their own strips and styles, too. And while new beefy restaurants are always cropping up, there’s still a special, refined handful that have thrived over the decades, serving steaks that are simply a cut above the rest.

It may sound far-fetched, but there are plenty of choices for zipping from the friendly skies to the powdery peaks within an hour.
(by Kelsy Chauvin)
That first moment standing atop a mountain, goggles clear and skis waxed, can be the ultimate winter bliss. But there’s a whole lot of transportation leading up to that snowy perch. Not to mention travel pitfalls like long drives in rough weather, missed air connections, and baggage claim snafus.
Luckily, several of the country’s best summits aren’t far from major runways, where you can find yourself schussing from plane to slope in no time.

(by Kelsy Chauvin)
Gearing up for an African safari requires more planning than most trips. Strategies around everything from clothing and photography, to safety and basic comforts are key -- not to mention savvy luggage-packing to suit small airplanes and bumpy jeeps.

For some, simple travel considerations can be doubly daunting when it’s a first-time visit to Africa. But with the right basic planning, a safari will not only feel comfortable, it can be the ultimate adventure. Check out these seven essentials for planning your dream safari in Africa.

(by Kelsy Chauvin)
Dreamy tropical vibes prevail across the Caribbean, where the people are as warm as the waves. But when it comes to LGBT-friendly Caribbean destinations, some islands are keener to roll out the rainbow welcome mats.
As a region, the West Indies encompasses 13 independent nations; plus about a dozen more territories that are part of the United States, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It's those latter islands where gay and lesbian travelers usually feel more at ease since local laws around homosexuality and same-sex marriage match those of their...

Jamaica was one of the early Caribbean hotspots for beach-loving vacationers. They traveled to this lush, mountainous island for warm breezes, chill vibes, and crystal-blue waters. Today, Jamaica is consistently among the region’s most popular destinations, drawing nearly three million tourists in 2018.
In Ocho Rios, the Jamaica Inn was among the first resorts to serve travelers seeking a bit of island luxury. The family-run property has beautifully maintained its waterfront domain since the 1950s, drawing luminaries like Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, and more recently, Meghan Markle...

It seems like every day more credit-card offers pile up in our mailboxes and inboxes. All these benefits and bonus points may feel too good to be true, but as airlines keep adjusting their loyalty programs and finding new ways to skimp on travelers’ miles, the right travel-rewards card can help pick up the slack -- and even deliver perks you’d never earn through miles flown alone. Check out these travel credit-card basics...

(by Kelsy Chauvin)
Art, herstory, drag queens, gay ice cream—in New York City you get it all. Better still, it’s all available every day, all year long. The city is a dynamic hub of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and overall queer culture, where locals and visitors alike revel in its array of delights. So whether you’re here for Pride or any other time of the year, here are some of the city’s colorful best stops not to miss.

Winter is coming, and it’s bringing with it the magnificent Aurora Borealis.

More commonly known as the Northern Lights, the cosmic phenomenon is among nature’s most mesmerizing light shows. The visuals are mysterious and bewildering, and sometimes planning a trip to see them can feel the same way.

But trekking to the far north in winter doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive if you know what to expect and plan accordingly. Here are a few of the key elements to remember when building an Arctic adventure of your own.

Driving alone on a dark highway at night is the start of many a creepy ghost story. But what if some of those eerie tales are based on true stories? Hitchhiking specters, mutant wild animals, phantom vehicles, and vengeful ghosts are all part of the lore entrenched along some US motorways.

Some roads are spooky enough just passing by haunted sites, like New York’s “haunted history trail” that leads to dozens of hair-raising spots around the state. And then there are other thoroughfares...

Public memorials honoring figures from the LGBTQ community say a lot about a city’s culture and serve as a reminder that coming out can be its own heroic milestone.

Here are a few permanent LGBTQ monuments around the world that are worth coming out to visit.

The queens are coming to Manhattan, so spark up your outfit and get your best fangirl flying.

Welcome to RuPaul’s DragCon NYC 2019, the fifth-annual convention celebrating all things drag in and around the world. The glitz and glamor behind RuPaul’s Drag Race will be in full swagger 6-8 September at Midtown’s Javits Center, hosting a sassy slate of daily activities -- from panel discussions and readings, to makeovers and autograph signings, to loads of live entertainment. Here are our top tips to shantay your way to a weekend that werks.