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U.N. Condemns Israeli-Backed Aid Distribution Program in Gaza
United Nations officials said that the new system, known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, violated humanitarian principles by requiring many Palestinians to travel miles to obtain aid.
We have seen yesterday the shocking images of hungry people pushing against fences, desperate for food. It was chaotic, undignified and unsafe. We used to have, before, 400 distribution places in Gaza. So it’s also a way to incite people to be forcibly displaced to get humanitarian assistance.
The California Gold Rush changed the country forever. 300,000 people came from across the US and every corner of the world to strike it rich. Dozens of towns sprang up overnight in what was once the backwaters of Mexico, sparsely populated with Native Americans. While the 1849 Gold Rush had terrible consequences for the indigenous people, a fact that can’t be overstated, The Rush is what gave California its foundation as the most diverse state in the country, its entrepreneurial spirit, and its love of adventure.
To get back to California’s Wild West roots and many of my favorite places as a Cali kid, we took a three-week Gold Country road trip! CA Highway 49 winds through the Sierra Nevadas, connecting dozens of 19th-century Gold Rush towns from Yosemite National Park to north of Lake Tahoe. So in addition to historic sites, this route serves up gorgeous mountains, raging rivers, alpine lakes, and wine country for a trip that’s got it all!
See our guide for the best things to do in Gold Country and get ready for one of California’s greatest road trips.
Gold Country California Map & Road
Gold Country is a huge region of Central and Northern California, running through ten counties (Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador, Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, and Sierra). While these are all incredible regions worth exploring (we fell hard for Mariposa on a previous vacation), for this trip, we honed in on Tuolumne, Calaveras, El Dorado, and Placer. We moved from south to north along Highway 49…a bucolic two-lane highway that winds under oak trees, over rivers, and rarely sees a chain business. We added some adventurous side trips into the High Sierras along the National Scenic Byway of Ebbetts Pass and Highway 108 into the Emigrant Wilderness. While we didn’t go to Lake Tahoe on this itinerary, it’s an easy and fabulous addition. If you’re flying into Gold Country, Sacramento International Airport is the best place to start your road trip, but if San Francisco is more in your flow, that’s just two hours from the heart of Highway 49.
TUOLUMNE COUNTY
First stop…Tuolumne County! While it’s most famous for Yosemite, we were blown away by the surrounding nature that few see, like the Emigrant Wilderness and Stanislaus National Forest…which have that same national park beauty without the crowds! We loved that this county takes its role in Gold Rush history seriously, preserving its most iconic places as living museums and state parks over tourist traps. During our four days here, we totally got into the Western spirit, from riding shotgun on a 19th-century stagecoach in Columbia to horseback riding with Kennedy Meadows Pack Station…and hope you do too!
Best Things to Do in Tuolumne
Explore Main Street Sonora
As the Queen of the Southern Mines, Sonora has been the Tuolumne county seat since 1851. A delightful mix of grand old mansions and dusty saloons, this town is worth a good wander. Along Main Street (aka Highway 49), pop into cute indie shops like American Buffalo Trading and Legends Books, Antiques, & Soda Fountain. Walk up the hill to the charming wooden “Red Church” for great views over town, then explore the backstreets to see the grand homes and County Superior Court, and kick up your boots with a drink at the historic Serventes Saloon.
Go Back in Time at Columbia State Historic Park
With the help of its state park status, Columbia is arguably the best-preserved California Gold Rush town. They kept the dirt streets, wooden plank sidewalks, false-front buildings, and businesses true to the era (without the commercialized crap!) Start your morning with a ranger tour to learn what life was like in the 1850s and get special access to historic buildings like an original Wells Fargo Bank and a miner’s mercantile. Don’t miss 19th-century inspired shops like the generations-old Nelson’s Candy Kitchen, Towle & Leavitt “fancy goods,” the candlepin bowling alley, and Kamice’s Photographic Studio. We made a special stop at Kamice’s to recreate a photo that I took in Columbia with my buddy when we were 8-years old. Between my game-for-anything husband and Kamice’s talented team of costume designers and graphic artists, we created a portrait that’s as creepy as it is comical.
Tip: Try to come to Columbia State Historic Park on a weekend, when most of the special events take place…like ranger tours and 19th-century stagecoach rides! Check Sierra Repertory Theater’s schedule for the latest plays at the historic Fallon House….we were super impressed with their performance of Route 66!
Ride the Rails at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
When the railroads connected Gold Country, the area was running on all cylinders, seamlessly moving ore and people between the cities and the diggings. Though, as the Gold Rush was coming to a close, it was Hollywood’s nostalgia for the era that kept Jamestown station in continuous operation. Dubbed the “Movie Railroad,” Railtown 1897 Historic Park has set the stage for upwards of 300 films (East of Eden, Back to the Future III, Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, and more!). During our visit, a crew was even filming the new Sherlock Holmes! Today, you can still ride the rails and visit the roundhouse full of century-old trains, the original machine shop, and their impressive museum. Check Railtown’s calendar for special events and themed rides like the Polar Express.
Horseback Riding Kennedy Meadows
We’re not big on horseback riding, but we could tell Kennedy Meadows Pack Station was a special place and the best way to experience the Emigrant Wilderness in a day. Outfitting trips into the Sierras since 1917 and carrying on that tradition for generations, Kennedy Meadows is the real deal. We joined their seasoned guide and hearty horses for a ride on the Huckleberry Trail into the raw Emigrant Wilderness, only accessible to horseback riders and hikers. Riding between the granite peaks, along sheer cliffs, and the raging Summit Creek, this was one of the wildest and most scenic rides we’ve ever done! Don’t miss the video above.
Drive Scenic Highway 108
We had no idea how gorgeous the drive to Kennedy Meadows would be and wound up making so many unexpected and fantastic stops along the way. Stop at Donnell Vista for a short hike and incredible views across the river valley, the Columns of the Giants for unique volcanic formations, and swim or kayak at the popular Pinecrest Lake. If your car can handle the 20% grade to reach Sonora Pass, the second-highest road in California at 9,624 feet, it is supposed to be stunning!
Where to Eat & Drink in Tuolumne County
Eproson House
Set in Twain Harte’s old post office and former home of the town fire chief, Eproson House has been renovated into a fantastic restaurant and bar. They serve upscale dining until 8pm and keep the bar rollicking until midnight. We came for dinner on the patio, then stayed for a fun karaoke night with a dozen new friends.
Emberz
This is a locals’ favorite right on the Sonora main street. With wood-fired ovens roaring and cocktails shaking, Emberz has a lively atmosphere and quality, casual fare (think organic and locally sourced ingredients).
Nature’s Whole Food Depot
What was once the town of Standard’s 1897 train depot is now an excellent health food store with a delish smoothie- and acai bowl bar. Their thoughtfully curated selection makes it the best place to provision for picnics and road trip snacks, particularly for anyone with dietary restrictions!
St. Charles Saloon
One of oldest saloons in Columbia (est. 1858), St. Charles has kept its Wild West ambiance and updated the menu with the best pizzas in town. The people-watching is amazing here!
Sitting high above Sonora town, this 1920s mansion of the influential Segerstrom family has been meticulously restored over a seven-year renovation. Think mahogany banisters, crystal chandeliers, and hand-painted wallpaper. Each room is named after their famous guests, from President Hoover to Helen Keller, and lavishly decorated. Innkeeper Rhonda’s incredible multi-course breakfast, set with fine china around the grand dining table, is reason enough to book!
This AAA Four Diamond B&B in the town of Twain Harte is a charmer. The McCaffreys make you feel like family in their three-story mountain home, with pots of help-yourself coffee in the mornings and wine hour in the evenings. Book a room on the top floor for balconies and views that make you feel like you’re in a treehouse.
More than a packstation, Kennedy Meadows has rustic cabins, an old-fashioned saloon, a beloved restaurant, and an extensive activity program for a full-service stay in the woods. Camping is also available.
CALAVERAS COUNTY
Ever heard of Mark Twain’s “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”? This short story brought this great American author and county to fame. Why I know it so well is because every summer from age 8-14 I came here with my best friend and her grandparents for unforgettable Sierra Nevada adventures. Flash forward two decades, and it’s been so much fun revisiting my special spots and discovering how much more there is to do as a big kid! The county is home to over 35 wineries, a leading NorCal concert venue, and so much talent from the artists to the chefs.
Driving into Angel’s Camp (where Twain’s famed story took place), frog statues, paintings, and insignia let you know you’ve arrived. The town even hosts an annual Frog Jumping Jubilee every May and celebrates the biggest jumpers on their walk of fame. Its origins are, of course, as a Gold Rush town, with 1860s mercantiles still standing strong on Main Street and 200 miles of mining tunnels below the streets. Be sure to visit the Angel’s Camp Museum for a deep dive into the county’s history with fantastic exhibits on everything from the Young Samuel Clemens to the most impressive collection of stagecoaches and covered wagons we’ve ever seen.
As a kid, we always went to Calaveras’ Mercer Caverns and never realized that just seven miles down the road is California’s largest single cave chamber! Getting down to see Moaning Caverns is half the fun, starting with a ladder and ending in a 100-foot-tall spiral staircase made from a WWI ship! Miners abandoned the cave when gold didn’t pan out, but tourism entrepreneurs saw its potential and reopened it in 1920 as a show cave to appreciate its striking formations. Take the classic hour-long tour or embark on a half-day hardhat expedition, complete with rope descents and belly crawls.
Tip: Book a tour in the heat of the day for the coolest thing to do in Calaveras and make reservations ahead, tours fill up.
Winery Hop on Murphys Main Street
The town of Murphys is named after two of the Gold Rush’s smartest miners. When the pair of Irish brothers struck it big, they didn’t double down; they left town with their millions and legacy intact. Eventually, Murphys town gave up mining, but it found new gold in its grapes. They have capitalized on the area’s bounty of vineyards, and Main Street is now home to two dozen tasting rooms! Newsome Harlow is one of the oldest and best in town, serving bold zins and laid-back vibes. Jazz Cellars is not just great for wine but also an impressive Saturday concert series, while Allegorie’s location in a 167-year-old apothecary makes it one of the most charming.
Enjoy Ironstone Vineyards & Amphitheater
The biggest vineyard in Calaveras, Ironstone Vineyards, is a world unto itself. Take the Estate Tour to explore its 1,100-acre grounds with its network of wine caves, manicured gardens, major amphitheater, Alhambra ballroom and its 1,000-pipe organ, and the Heritage Museum, which houses the largest gold leaf specimen in the world! (FYI, the Kautz family outbid the Louvre to keep it in Gold Country where it belongs!). To round out your Ironstone and Calaveras wine country experience, you have to see a concert at Ironstone Amphitheater. Huge acts grace the stage, from Steve Miller, Cake, and Robert Plant to Brad Paisley (whom we got to see!) Listening to a country legend, drinking great wine, dancing with the grass between our toes, and singing along with 7,000 fans was a blast!
Watch the video compilation of the show and our favorite Brad Paisley song, “Same Here” (above).
Mountain Bike the Arnold Rim Trail
Attention mountain bikers, you’ve gotta ride the Arnold Rim Trail! Winding through the gorgeous Sierra Nevada Mountains and Stanislaus National Forest, it moves from perfect single track to sculpted berms and big vistas. We rode 16 miles with 2,333 feet of elevation gain (yay for Bear Valley Bicycles turbo e-bikes!) and had a freaking blast. The Arnold Rim Trail is a community-built labor of love that’s been in the works since 2007, with plans to make it a 35-mile biker and hiker heaven. Watch this ride (above) and saddle up!
Play Around at White Pines Lake
This is the gorgeous lake where I would spend every single summer! My best friend’s great-grandpa built a cabin here when White Pines started as a mill town in 1938…and five generations later, their family and friends are still enjoying it! That once hard-working lake is now fantastic for recreation, with non-motorized boats, rope swings, a forested disc golf course, and the impressive Sierra Nevada Logging Museum with history and artifacts from around Gold Country.
Tip: The Logging Museum has limited hours, but the outdoor exhibit is always open to the public and a great way to enhance your day at the lake. If you are coming to Calaveras around Labor Day, don’t miss the classic Sierra Nevada Logging Jamboree!
Hike Calaveras Big Trees State Park
There is nothing like standing before the largest trees in the world, particularly Calaveras’ groves of Giant Sequoias, where these living fossils were brought to international attention. In 1852, a miner chasing an injured bear deep into the forest found a 300-feet-tall tree with a base 83-feet around. He started telling everyone about it, and people from around the world clamored to see the giants. As a result, the state park’s North Grove is considered to be California’s longest-running tourist attraction. For even more sequoias (over 1,000!), take the 5-mile trail into the serene and dense South Grove.
Drive Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway to the Alpine Lakes
Starting in Arnold, this national scenic byway is engulfed in glacially carved valleys, granite outcroppings, basalt columns, ancient volcanic peaks, deep river canyons, thick forests, Giant Sequoias, hot mineral pools, and pristine lakes. Alpine Lake is the easiest to access and has a great lodge and restaurant to kick back and enjoy the views. We went the more adventurous route and camped on Lake Union with our kayak in tow. Waking up at sunrise and paddling the glassy waters among the rock islands was one of our favorite parts of the trip!
In addition to the wine-tasting rooms mentioned above, we’ve got another libation station you need to try…Hinterhaus. This distillery in Arnold is racking up awards with their South Grove Gin, earning a double gold in Sunset Magazine International Spirit Competition, their Warming Hut holiday blend scoring the American Craft Spirits Innovation Award, and dozens more. Plus, it’s run by the adorable Randall family, with its father-son brewing team and mom who’s hostess-with-the-mostess. For those who don’t love sipping straight liquor, we can highly recommend their cocktail flight, with cute paper umbrellas and fruit to boot!
Pickled Porch
An Angel’s Camp favorite for breakfast and lunch. In a vine-covered house, you order inside and dine on the wooden porch. Great for soups, sandwiches, salads, and down-home character.
V Restaurant
This female- and locally-owned business is arguably the nicest restaurant in Calaveras County without being too stuffy! European-inspired American fare is served in casual bistro-style midweek and as an upscale dining experience on weekends.
While the 1970s isn’t particularly old for a Gold Country saloon, the Lube Room’s vintage Western decor, good grub, draft beers, and cowboy attitude make it a real deal watering hole. Plus, this Dorrington outpost is hip to the times with a great backyard of lawn games and a weekly music lineup. Check out their website for upcoming bands, plus the ski report and fishing report!
Where to Stay in Calaveras County
Three Bridges on Love Creek
You know we’re obsessed with glamping, right? So, when it comes to the cabin category, this one is out of the storybooks! In a secluded forest, a series of wooden bridges bring you over the creek to your cabin, yoga deck, and chill spaces in the trees. Over the course of six years, the owner Desiree (a fascinating woman of German and Mexican descent) has renovated the 1930s cabin and decorated it with chic antiques from her global travels. Plus, there are four glamping tent sites, and a vintage teardrop camper spread about the forest. Can’t recommend this place highly enough for a romantic getaway in Calaveras County!
Murphys Hotel
Built in 1856, this stone building, adorned with bougainvillea, iron shutters, wagon wheel fountains, a glorious patio, and a raucous saloon, is a registered National Historic Landmark and the place to be in Murphys. Rooms have kept their old-time charm with four-poster beds and period wallpaper. More modern rooms surround the old hotel, but we vote for the original…if it was good enough for guests like J.P. Morgan, President Grant, and William Randolf Hearst, it’s good enough for us!
EL DORADO COUNTY
Where did the Gold Rush actually start? The town of Coloma in El Dorado County. Home to Sutter’s Mill and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, this is where our gold fever really set in. Thinking about the thousands of people from around the world who flocked to these river banks, we too felt inspired to gold pan here! Though, like us and most 49ers, few got rich on gold. Even James Marshall, the nugget-finder himself, found farming to be more lucrative, and today, El Dorado County is equally known for its agriculture. Apple Hill is a fantastic community of 50+ local farms offering idyllic countryside experiences. Adding to the whimsy of this place, we stayed at a historic cabin on a Christmas tree farm to launch our El Dorado adventures. These are our favorites…
Across from Sutter’s Mill in Coloma is one of the most comprehensive history museums in California’s Gold Country, plus the historical context of the place can’t be beaten. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park is also working hard to address the marginalized history of the Nisenan, Maidu, and Miwok native people who had a thriving culture here for 6,000 years, were the true discoverers of California gold, and the innocent victims of the Gold Rush. To honor their memory, be sure to visit the Nisenan Village site and support native businesses whenever possible.
Go Gold Panning
Take a panning lesson at Marshall Gold Discovery SHP (their rangers are champion panners!), then take to the river banks. They say at least 80% of the gold is still left in the hills, so it is entirely possible to find gold! Even though we could have chosen a more remote spot (i.e. not the one where thousands of 49ers panned), we loved being on Sutter’s gorgeous section of the South Fork and feeling the history of this place. No matter what you find, spending a day in the American River looking for treasure offers a quintessential Gold Country experience.
Shop Old Town Placerville
The first big town and transit hub to spring up from the gold strike of Sutter’s Mill, Placerville is still the county seat. Historically called Hangtown for its swift and severe sentences for those who broke the law, it’s come to be a friendly and artsy town! Nineteenth-century buildings now have nicely curated boutiques and galleries like Brass and Oak Home, Empire Antiques, Panic & Swoon, and Creekside Studio. The Placerville Hardware Store will thankfully never change…it’s the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi, with library ladders to reach the wooden drawers filled with every nut and bolt imaginable.
Tip: At the Placerville Hardware store, ask to see the “Raccoon Tomb” below the floorboards for a good laugh, and keep your eye out for more Easter eggs…the owners are such jokesters!
Explore Gold Bug Mine
Right outside of downtown Placerville is a great example of California Gold Country’s “neighborhood mines” that dotted the Sierra foothills. These were claims shared by a handful of independent miners making the most of basic tools and hard labor. Get an audio guide for a cheeky narrated tour and a rare chance to walk through a mine alone. With your ticket, you can also see the working stamp mill and blacksmith, who may just make you a nail ring for a souvenir.
As much a state of mind as a region, Apple Hill is made of 50 family-owned farms committed to preserving and sharing their agricultural traditions. When a blight in the 1960s devastated the area’s pear orchards, they came up with a way to think beyond their main crop and individual businesses to create a stronger community and an idyllic destination. Today, Apple Hill has grown to include a wide variety of fruit & vegetable farms, bakeshops, wineries, flower fields, and Christmas tree farms. We adored 24 Carrot Farms for their u-pick (thornless!) berries, certified organic farm stand, and community garden that feeds over 70 families! Hidden Star Orchards totally surprised us with their 20+ ciders on draft, which were doppelgängers for a wide range of cocktails and wines. Oenophiles need to visit Delfino Farms’ Edio Vineyards (more on that below). If you’re short on time but want to try a bit of it all, Boa Vista Orchards offers tons of samples, homemade goods, and picnic tables with beautiful mountain views.
See a Concert at Folk on the Farm
Founded by the genius who started Apple Hill Growers, Delfino Farms is a wonderful example of how generational farms can innovate. The Delfino grandkids grew up working on the farm and went off to college to pursue various careers, but in 2017 decided to band together to run the farm in the most fun way possible…starting a winery, building a modern tasting room, updating grandma’s bakery, and starting an epic concert series…Folk on the Farm! Using their vineyard hillside with sweeping views, they’ve created an outdoor music venue with cafe lights, food trucks, wine bars, and emerging talent. We saw Clay Street Unit and literally danced all night long, and I can’t stop playing their music.
Volunteer at Wakamatsu Farm
El Dorado was full of surprises, including Wakamatsu Farm…the site of the first Japanese Colony in the USA and the birthplace of the first Japanese-American. The former tea and silk farm from 1869 is now run by the American River Conservancy as a dynamic cultural center with a Japanese Tea house, native garden, a museum to the early settlers, and an events space hosting everything from concerts to fishing nights on the pond. At HoneyTrek, we always like to give back to the communities we visit, so when we heard about Wakamatsu Workdays, we were thrilled to join their latest project. The courtyard that hosts many of their concerts needed a more polished Japanese aesthetic, so we built a rock garden alongside their awesome volunteer crew! See their events calendar for how you can get involved at Wakamatsu and with the American River Conservancy’s many dynamic projects to protect the American River and upper Cosumnes River watersheds for future generations.
Where to Eat in El Dorado County
Argonaut Farm to Fork Cafe
On the main street of Coloma, this historic building and cafe is great for a healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack to fuel your day at the Marshall Gold Discovery SHP and gold panning.
Smith Flat House
Stagecoach stop, hotel, mine entrance, and voting precinct, the Smith Flat House has been many things since 1853. Today, it’s one of El Dorado’s most beloved upscale eateries, regularly hosting live entertainment.
Bricks
Great neighborhood joint with American fare and a proper bar. Love that they have a Buddy Board, where patrons can pay it forward and buy drinks for an unsung hero or friend who deserves a shout-out. We bought a cocktail for the next Placerville preservationist who walks through the door.
We love a good co-op and Placerville’s happens to be excellent, with their community-owned and locally-grown offerings. We loved Placerville Food Co-op’s made-to-order wraps and homemade soups.
One of the most unique and atmospheric restaurants in Gold Country, this fairy-inspired restaurant is set under the boughs of a twinkling tree on Placerville’s main street. Adding to the whimsy, they give every guest a light-up floral crown and often have live traditional Irish music. It’s not for everyone but adored by many…especially Game of Thrones fans, children of any age, and plant-based diners like us!
Known as the Jewel of Placerville, the Cary House is as historic as it gets in Gold Country, with antiques dating back to 1857 and countless stories to tell (the 4th-floor addition was paid for with gold flecks found between the floorboards!) Everyone from Buffalo Bill to Elvis has stayed here, with a hand-written guestbook in the lobby to prove it. While it might not be as shiny new as it once was, its main street location and legacy make it worth a stay.
Set on a family-owned Christmas Tree farm in a miner’s cabin from 1937, this is a perfect place to stay in Apple Hill. The owners did a fabulous renovation on the interior, and its massive deck and backyard make it feel wide open and blissfully private.
PLACER COUNTY
Our jaws dropped as we crossed the Placer County line. The confluence of the American River sends rapids through the canyon and under the tallest bridge in California for a dramatic entrance. A few miles later, we reached Auburn…the county seat and one of the most unique towns in Gold Country. You can see it from a mile away with the courthouse’s golden Renaissance Revival dome high in the sky; from there, you have the choice of visiting their two charming 19th-century downtowns. Not just resting on its laurels as a California Historical Landmark, Auburn has embraced its location in the Sierra Nevadas and love of a good challenge to become the “Endurance Capital of the World,” regularly hosting some of the most historic and hardcore races (like the Western States 100-Mile Run!). No matter if you’re an extreme athlete or not, there are plenty of adventures to tap into, from rafting the Middle Fork of the American River to sipping your way down the Placer Wine & Ale Trail.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Placer County was its wine country. When the 1849 Gold Rush brought people from around the world, many Europeans brought along their craft of winemaking. By the 1860s, there were more vineyards in Placer County than Sonoma and Napa combined! And while those famous wine regions may dominate the spotlight today, Placer’s vineyards are some of the most awarded in North America, and their craft beer scene is making headlines with their farm-to-glass breweries growing their own ingredients for the freshest beers on tap.
Best Things to Do in Placer County
History Crash Course at Placer County Museum
On the first floor of Auburn’s beautiful courthouse, this museum offers a great overview of the county, with Native American artifacts, a clear bank vault with an impressive gold collection, a 19th-century Sheriff’s office with original “Wanted” signs for bandits, and more. Don’t be shy and talk to the volunteer guides; they are so friendly and knowledgeable!
Wander Old Town Auburn
With its hilly topography to its eclectic architecture, this might be the most charming town in Gold Country. Wander under the covered wooden walkways and stairwells, admire the cute red-striped firehouse, take a statue selfie with miner Claude Chana, who put Auburn on the map, get outfitted like a true cowboy at the Used Saddle Connection, and see the artists at work at the Metal Arts Academy or even sign up for a class!
With 23 boutique wineries, 21 craft breweries, a cidery, and a distillery, Placer County decided to connect the dots with the Wine & Ale Trail. Get the Sips & Suds Passport for $40, which comes with $150 worth of specials and tastings. Love that the passport is good for three months, but if you only have a day, head to Paza’s Wine Shed, Fowler Ranch (an 1880s homestead turned farm brewery), Casque Wines on The Flower Farm pond, and Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery for bands and a lively scene.
Vintner and Doctor Lee Grover started by saying, “Ever been on a wine tour?” We all nodded, and he responded, “This won’t be like that.” As we moved from the barrel room to the vines, he proceeded to pull back the curtain on the wine award system, the differences between European and American wines (the US’s have a lot more alcohol), wine chemistry 101, and what it takes to be a Certified California Sustainable Winery. The tour ends with a tasting and gourmet lunch from their on-site restaurant. The vineyard was so pretty we decided to take our meal outside at a trellised table overlooking the vines.
Derelict storage sheds, from Loomis’ days as California’s epicenter of fruit growing, are no longer housing produce but a multi-faceted space of makers. Wander their beautiful nursery, dine in their glass conservatory cafe, browse the art gallery and artisan shops, sip a pint at their depot-inspired brewery, and catch a show at their music venue.
One of California’s greatest river rafting adventures is undoubtedly The Middle Fork of the American. Set 2,000 feet deep in a canyon of the Tahoe National Forest, this river is stunning and bursting with Class IV rapids. There’s even a Class VI rapid, so gnarly the boat gets hurled over the 30-foot waterfall, and the guides have to catch it at the bottom! We set out with All-Outdoors Rafting, the OG and family-owned company running this river for over 60 years. They took the fun up a notch with their masterful navigation, stops for slot canyon hikes, cliff jumps, and a yummy picnic lunch. Watch the video above and feel the rush.
This unsuspecting taqueria in a Roseville strip mall earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand! Started by a cool young couple from Monterey, Mexico, they specialize in an ancient style of tortilla-making where the corn is treated with lime, cooked, and then ground. They had six vegan tacos on the menu…so we ordered them all!
So glad we found this plant-based restaurant in the new town of Auburn. Eating in their cheery dining room, we thoroughly enjoyed the Jerk Sweet Potato Bowl and Buffalo Cauliflower Wings and want to come back to try their Stuffed Avocado and Tempeh Ruben.
A craft coffee and beer bar with 28 taps, pulling everything from nitro cold brew to IPAs, this place has your pick-me-up of choice. Love the community vibe with weekly events, chill spaces, and artsy decor. Drinking a cold brew here left a frothy mustache smile on my face.
Stay in the farmhouse from 1905 or their charming cottages among the orchards, ponds, and grape vines. The Flower Farm has a fantastic cafe (get the veggie breakfast burrito!), an adorable boutique, and a winery for a stay that puts you in the center of the Placer Wine Trail. Plus, the owners, Annie & John, are so sweet and adventurers after our own hearts.
High up in Foresthill and perfectly situated next to AO Rafting, these updated 1920s logging cabins used to move from camp to camp on skids and have found new life as chic tiny houses. Ours came with a kitchenette, but their outdoor kitchen set-up was so cool we opted to grill out and play cornhole as we cooked each night.
Gold Country: The Missing Piece of a Great California Road Trip
After road-tripping Gold Country for three weeks, we were amazed at how much there was to see and do. So many people look to the Pacific Coast Highway for their epic road trip, but adding Highway 49 to the route, experiencing the beauty of the Sierras, history of the Gold Rush towns, lesser-known wine regions, and all the creative communities…a true California road trip would not be complete without it!
Many thanks to Visit Gold County for inviting us to explore this incredible region and for supporting our content creation.
Elite field hockey summer league for current, graduated, and incoming college athletes. A U19 rostered club player (in any area Club) is welcome to play in this league even if they are a junior or sophomore in HS.
***NCAA Compliance: No more than 5 teammates from any one college team can be rostered on the same team***
Teams consist of at LEAST 18 players. Each team is guaranteed 6 FULL regulation games
Start Date: June 3, 2025 End Date: July 31, 2025
Games will be played on Tuesdays or Thursdays evenings Game Times: 6:30pm & 8:30pm
Field Player Registration Fee: $180 GK Registration Fee: $100
Teams can be formed prior to registration or individuals can register and be placed on a team.
Most people aren’t born savvy travelers. It’s something that only comes with on-the-road experience. Travel savviness is a process born of missed buses, foolish behavior, cultural unawareness, and countless tiny errors. Then, one day, you begin to seamlessly move through airports and integrate yourself into new cultures like a fish to water.
In the beginning, you’ll make a lot of travel mistakes.But I want to help speed up the process and help you avoid my mistakes (and I often make a lot of them), so I put together this giant list of my best travel tips that cover everything under the sun to help you reach your full travel ninja potential.
I’ve learned these tips over almost twenty years of being a nomad.
These tips for traveling will have you saving money, sleeping better, getting off the beaten path more, meeting locals, and just being a better traveler.
So, without further ado, here are the best 61 travel tips in the world:
1. Always pack a towel. It’s the key to successful galactic hitchhiking — and plain common sense. You never know when you will need it, whether it’s at the beach, on a picnic, or just to dry off after a shower. While many hostels offer towels, you never know if they will or not, and carrying a small towel won’t add that much weight to your bag.
Make sure it’s a lightweight, quick-drying towel since regular towels are too bulky and heavy (and they take a long time to dry). Dry Fox travel towels are my favorite (use the code “nomadicmatt” for 15% off your purchase)!
2. Use a small backpack/suitcase. By purchasing a small backpack (I like something around 35–45 liters), you will be forced to pack light and avoid carrying too much stuff. Humans have a natural tendency to want to fill space. Even if you pack light initially but have lots of extra room in your bag, you’ll end up going, “Well, I guess I can take more” and fill that space.”
The same rule applies to suitcases. Don’t take a huge suitcase because they are a pain in the butt to lug around, especially if you’re traveling long term (short term, not so much). I like Level 8 suitcases. They are durable, quite spacious, nicely designed, and well-priced (luggage can be pretty damn expensive). Plus, they have a TSA lock built into the zipper. You can click here to learn more and buy one.
I also recommend packing cubes, which are essential if you’re going to be living out of a backpack for a few weeks (or months), or you just want to keep your suitcase better organized. They come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store items big and small. They’re great for making it easy to find everything in your backpack or suitcase.
3. Pack light. Write down a list of essentials, cut it in half, and then only pack that! Plus, since you bought a small backpack like I said above, you won’t have much room for extra stuff anyways! Take half the clothes you think you will need…you won’t need as much as you think. It’s OK to wear the same t-shirt a few days in a row.
I love Unbound Merino, as their travel clothing can be worn daily for weeks without getting smelly. They are super light and they look stylish too. I really love the material, they’re comfortable, they hardly ever need a wash, and they last forever! (I wrote a review of the company here.)
But bring extra socks! You’ll lose a bunch to laundry gremlins, wear and tear, and hiking so packing extra will come in handy. Take a few more than you need. Trust me on this.
4. Stay in hostels. They are cheap, organize events, you’ll meet a lot of people, and they are just tons of fun! Plus, hostel bars sell cheap beer. Hostelworld is the best hostel-accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and highest availability. I use it for all my hostel bookings.
If you’re planning on backpacking Europe, it’s worth getting HostelPass, a card that gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money, and they’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and so I’m glad it finally exists. Use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off.
5. Take an extra bank card and credit card with you Disasters happen and things get stolen or compromised. I once had a card duplicated and a freeze put on it. I couldn’t use it for the rest of my trip. I was very happy I had a backup. You don’t want to be stuck somewhere new without access to your funds. This happened to a friend once and they had to borrow money from me for weeks while they waited for their new card to arrive. Here are some helpful articles on banking:
6. Make sure to use no-fee bank and credit cards. Don’t give banks your hard-earned money. Keep that for yourself and spend it on your travels. Get a credit card and debit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee or an ATM fee. Over the course of a long trip, the few dollars they take every time will really add up! This article will tell you how to do that.
7. Don’t always fly direct. When booking flights, sometimes it is cheaper to fly to airports close to your final destination, and then take a train, bus, or budget airline to your final destination. To use this method, find out how much it is to go directly to your destination. Then, look at prices to nearby airports. If the difference is more than $150 USD, I look to see how much it is to get from the second airport to my primary destination.
My favorite flight search engine is Skyscanner. This is my go-to website for finding cheap flights. It searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss.
8. Travel by yourself at least once. Solo travel teaches independence and confidence. It’s a cliché, but it’s true. Traveling solo taught me how to fend for myself, talk to people, and handle unfamiliar situations with ease. It can take some getting used to if you’ve never done it before but do it at least once. Make yourself uncomfortable and surprise yourself. You’ll learn valuable life skills when you push yourself! Here are some helpful articles on solo travel:
9. Always visit the local tourism information center. This is probably one of the most underused travel tips in the world. Tourism information centers know about everything going on in town. They can point you to free activities, special events happening during your stay, and everything in between. They even offer discounts on attractions and transportation. It is their job to help you experience the destination better. They are staffed by locals who can tell you all the ins and outs of their city and where to eat or drink that aren’t filled with tourists.
Plus, they often offer city tourism cards that can get you into multiple attractions for one set price, saving you a lot of money if you are going to do a lot of sightseeing.
10. Take free walking tours. Besides being free, these tours will give you a good orientation and background of the city you are visiting. I love, love, love taking walking tours when I travel. You pass the time, you get to pepper the guide with questions, and you get to learn so much about where you are. And, in the last few years, they have exploded in popularity and now most cities around the world have one!
If you’re looking for paid tours, Walks is one of my favorite paid walking tour companies, offering in-depth history and cultural tours in cities around the world (especially Europe). Its small-group tours also tend to offer exclusive behind-the-scenes access you can’t get elsewhere. For fellow foodies, Devour Food Tours has all kinds of amazing food tours around Europe.
You can also use Get Your Guide to find plenty of unique day tours.
11. Don’t be afraid to use a map. Looking like a tourist isn’t as bad as getting really lost and ending up in the wrong neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to use a map or ask for directions and look like a tourist. After all, you are one!
12. But don’t be afraid to get purposefully lost. Wandering aimlessly through a new city is a good way to get to know it, get off the beaten path, and away from the tourists. You might be surprised by the hidden gems you find. I like to wander around and try to find my way without using Google Maps. Travel is the art of discovery and you never know what cool little spot you’ll come across.
13. Ask hostel staff for information — even when you aren’t staying there. Hostel staff deal with budget travelers all day, every day. They know exactly where to go for cheap meals and attractions. They also tend to be locals so they know the city very well. Ask them for all sorts of information. Even if you aren’t staying in one, just pop in and ask for help. They’ll usually give it.
14. Sign up for flight deals. When it comes to travel, your flight(s) will likely be your biggest expense. Save money by signing up for flight deal websites. You’ll get epic flight deals straight to your inbox, saving you time and money. Also be sure to sign up for airline newsletters, since that is where they will announce their sales first.
The best websites for finding travel deals are:
15. When you go out, take only what you need. Limit the amount of cash and bank cards you carry with you when you go out, so if something does happen, you can easily recover. Never take more than one credit card or ATM card with you. My rule for cash is to limit what I carry to $50 USD.
16. Always carry a lock. Carry a small combination lock with you when you travel. They come in handy, especially when you stay in dorms. Most hostels use lockers, so budget travelers need to provide their own travel lock to keep stuff secured. While you can usually rent or buy them at hostels, it’s much cheaper just to buy one before you go. (Just don’t use one with keys because if you lose the keys, you’re screwed!)
17. Make extra copies of your passport and important documents. Don’t forget to email a copy to yourself too. You never know when you might need to have some sort of documentation with you and might not want to carry your original. Additionally, if your passport gets stolen, having a copy will come in handy for your police report.
18. Learn basic phrases in the native language of your destination. The locals will appreciate it and it will make your interactions easier. You don’t need to master the language but learning a few things like “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you!”, “Where’s the bathroom?” will go a long way to endearing yourself with the locals. They’ll like that you tried. Here are some tips on how to learn a language.
19. Don’t be ashamed to walk into a Starbucks or McDonald’s. Sometimes familiarity is comforting and both places have free wifi and public restrooms you can use. (Just don’t eat the food at McDonald’s! That shit is gross and unhealthy for you! You can get it back home!). Libraries and most modern coffee shops also have free Wi-Fi too.
20. Always get behind business travelers when in security lines. They move fast since they are usually in a rush and travel light. They know the drill. Line up behind them as much as possible. You’ll speed through the line!
21. Never get behind families in airport security. They take forever. It’s not their fault. They just have a lot of stuff because of the kids. Try to avoid getting in lines with lots of kids. It’s going to take a while.
22. When you check in to the hotel, don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade. They have a lot of flexibility when it comes to assigning upgrades at check-in. It never hurts to ask. Oftentimes they can accommodate you if the hotel isn’t full. Just be super nice!
Note: If you stay in hotels frequently (or want to), it might be worth it to get a hotel credit card. You can earn points on your everyday spending at home and convert those points into free stays. The best cards come with status, making upgrades more likely too!
23. Lunchtime is the best time to visit historical sites. Lunch time is one of the best times to visit historical sites. You’ll have fewer crowds getting in your way as big tour buses, groups, and most travelers head to lunch. It’s always best to visit an attraction super early, late, or when people eat. You’ll have even the most popular places to yourself!
24. Never eat in a touristy area or near a tourist attraction. I don’t eat within five blocks of a major tourist attraction or area. I simply walk in any direction and search for a place to eat when I hit five blocks. There’s an invisible line at this area: tourists don’t go past it. All of a sudden you notice that the crowds are gone, and that’s when you want to start looking.
Sure, you might find a good meal in a tourist area, but you’ll find a better, cheaper meal outside it. Go where the menus aren’t in multiple languages. Go to those little tiny hole in the wall places that you are unsure about. The meal might not knock your socks off each time but it will be a memorable and more local experience.
Use websites like Yelp or Google Maps to find some delicious and popular restaurants around you.
25. Locals don’t eat out every night and neither should you. Go grocery shopping. You can learn a lot about locals’ diets by seeing the type of food they buy. Plus, it will save you a lot of money. You won’t regret it. Cook your food, save money, and surprise yourself!
26. Eat at expensive restaurants during lunch. Most expensive restaurants offer lunch specials featuring the same food they would serve for dinner but for a fraction of the cost! That’s the best time to eat out when you travel. I share more tips on how to eat cheaply around the world here.
27. Pack a headlamp. This is a handy tool for both backpackers and anyone looking to do any hiking or camping. If you’re going to be staying in a hostel, having a headlamp is helpful when you need to check in or out but don’t want to disturb your fellow travelers by turning on the lights. They’re also helpful in emergencies.
28. Carry a basic first-aid kit. Accidents happen, so be prepared. I always take band-aids, antibacterial cream, and ointments for minor cuts and scrapes. You never know when you’re going to need it and you can’t always get it when you travel.
29. Don’t believe the cheap flight myths. Don’t drive yourself too crazy trying to get the absolute cheapest fare. There are a lot of myths online about how to find cheap flights, but there is no magic bullet or one secret ninja trick. It’s not cheaper to book on a particular day of the week or if you search in an incognito window. To learn how to actually find a cheap flight, check out these two posts I wrote:
My favorite company for finding cheap flights is Skyscanner. I start all my searches there.
30. Use technology to meet locals. These websites will help you get an insider’s perspective on your destination by connecting you with locals in the places you visit. The sharing economy has changed the way people travel allowing you to meet locals, get off the tourist travel, and save mega money! It’s a triple win — and I use these resources all the time when I travel.
31. Be open to strangers. Not everyone bites. Say hi to people on the road. Turn strangers into friends. Remember they are just like you! They want to live a happy, full life and have hopes and dreams too! You never know. You just might make some lifelong friends.
32. But keep your guard up. Some people do bite, so keep a healthy level of suspicion. You don’t want to fall for any travel scams or get yourself into uncomfortable situations. Be open but cautious. Here is a list of travel scams to avoid.
33. Avoid taxis. They are always a budget buster. Never, ever take a taxi unless you absolutely have too!
34. Take a reusable water bottle through airport security and fill it up at your gate. Single-use plastics are common in a lot of countries around the world. They’re also polluting our oceans and destroying the environment. Drink from the tap when you can — you’ll save money and help the environment. If you’re going somewhere where you can’t drink the water, be sure to get a water bottle with a filter. I love Lifestraw.
35. Take pictures of your luggage and clothes. If your bag gets lost, this will help identify it more easily and speed up the process of having your travel insurance reimburse you.
36. Carry emergency cash. Because emergencies happen, like that time in Romania when I couldn’t find an ATM and needed money for the bus to the hostel. I usually try to keep around $200 USD in emergency cash in case something happens!
37. Get vaccinated. Because falling prey to an illness in a foreign country is not fun — and many countries require you to get vaccinated in order to visit them. So regardless of your opinion on the subject, you just might have to.
38. Learn to haggle. Haggling is a fun, playful way of not getting charged the foreigner price. It’s the art of negotiating and one that will help you throughout all of life, not just at the market. Just don’t argue over pennies — it’s not worth it!
39. Use points and miles for free travel. You can go a lot further in the world when you don’t have to pay for it. Learn how to collect points and miles through your everyday spending so you can get free flights, accommodation, train tickets, and other forms of travel. It’s what all expert travelers do to lower their travel costs and something you should do too!
Here are some articles to help you get started with using points and miles:
40. Eat street food! If you skip the street food, you miss out on culture. Don’t be scared. If you’re nervous, look for places where kids are eating. If it’s safe for them, it’s safe for you.
41. Get travel insurance. Travel insurance is the most important thing to get that you never want to use. If something goes wrong, you don’t want to be out thousands of dollars in bills. Travel insurance will be there if you get robbed, flights get canceled, you get sick or injured, or have to be sent home. It’s comprehensive and, for just a few dollars a day, one of the best investments you can get for a trip.
You may think you’re superman/woman but so did my friend who broke her arm, didn’t have insurance, and had to pay thousands out of pocket. Insurance was there when I had to replace my camera and when I popped an eardrum scuba diving! Get it! Here are some tips on how to find the best travel insurance.
My favorite companies are:
SafetyWing – A budget-friendly choice for travelers who need basic coverage. They are affordable, have great customer service, and make it easy to make a claim. If you’re on a tight budget, go with SafetyWing!
Insure My Trip – The best insurance for those over 70 years old.
Medjet – This is a membership program that provides emergency evacuation coverage should you get into a dire situation while traveling and be hospitalized. Medjet is meant to supplement your regular travel insurance.
42. Be patient. Things will work out in the end. No need to rush. You’ll get to where you are going in due time. Travel is about the journey, not the destination.
43. Be respectful. Locals are willing to help you out, but there’s probably a language barrier, so keep your cool when something doesn’t go your way. If you don’t, you’ll end up just looking like an asshole tourist.
44. Don’t over plan your trip. Let your days unfold naturally. Schedule two or three things and let the day fill in the rest on its own. It’s less stressful, and letting the day just take you is one of the best ways to travel. Here’s my advice on how not to over plan your travels!
45. Be frugal — but not cheap. Don’t be penny wise but pound-foolish. Look for deals and don’t waste money, but don’t miss out on great experiences or walk 10 miles to save a couple of dollars. Time is money. Spend them both wisely.
46. Take earplugs. Anyone who has ever stayed in a hostel knows that earplugs are a necessity. Snorers are everywhere and you need your sleep. Even if you’re not going to be in a hostel, they’re still helpful for sleeping well if your accommodation is located on a busy street, or for sleeping in buses, overnight trains, and other types of transportation. A good night’s sleep is priceless — be prepared!
These earplugs are reusable and work much better than the cheap foam ones, blocking out any distracting noises.
47. Remember that you’re not alone even if you’re traveling solo. Traveling alone never means you’re really alone. Wherever you go, there is a network of travelers who will be your friends, give you advice or tips, and help you out. They will guide you, point you in the right direction, and be your mentors. You aren’t out there on your own. You’ll make lots of friends and tons of memories.
If you’re not sure about traveling on your own for the first time, you can always join a group tour, such as those we offer at The Nomadic Network. I’ve designed all the itineraries myself to ensure they cover the highlights, get you off the tourist trail, and connect you with friends and locals.
48. Take photos of and with people. When you do make those new friends on the road, take photos. Lots of photos. Years from now, you’ll want to look back on those nights you can’t remember and the people who made them memorable.
49. Pre-book your tickets to attractions, activities, and excursions online. If you’re planning to do any activities or excursions on your trip, book them online. Companies usually offer a discounted price when compared to buying in person. Not only that but you’ll be able to pay with a credit card, giving you some extra protection as well as more travel points!
Many major attractions also allow you to reserve your spot and skip the line. Always look online to see if this is an option. This will help you avoid wasting time in multi-hour lines and go right in. I’ve seen people wait hours for the Paris Catacombs, Louvre, London Churchill War Rooms, churches, temples, historic fortresses, and more. Pre-book the day before, skip the line, get to see more during your day!
Get Your Guide is my favorite place to book activities in advance. It’s a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions, with tons of options in cities all around the world, including skip-the-line attraction tickets, cooking classes, walking tours, and more!
50. Avoid TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor is fine when you need opening hours or an address, but when it comes to reviews I ignore it completely. People always leave a negative review when something bad happens but rarely leave a positive review when something good happens so the reviews tend to be skewed.
On top of that, it’s very easy to create fake reviews and make a place seem better than it is. Many hotels and restaurants hire firms to artificially inflate their reviews on the platform. Additionally, TripAdvisor has been known to take down reviews that are overly negative as well as reviews on sexual assault. Use TripAdvisor with caution. Or better yet, don’t use it at all.
51. Finally, wear sunscreen. For as the Baz Luhrmann song “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” goes:
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable Than my own meandering experience.
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There you have it! My top travel tips! Follow them and you’ll be the best traveler you can be in no time flat!
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day
My New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Now 21 years old, the alleged victim has spoken out about her experience for the first time. (BuzzFeed News is referring to her as “G.” to protect her identity.) Then just 11 years old, G. was on the cruise with her grandmother and little sister and was excited about the vacation. “Automatically, as a child, you think it’s going to be amazing,” she said.
Before the ship had even cast off for the Caribbean, G. went downstairs to get the Wi-Fi password, she told BuzzFeed News. “I asked the person that was outside of the restaurant for directions to the lobby,” she recalled. “And when he guided me, he immediately grabbed on my boobs.”
G. ran to the lobby in search of someone who could tell her the Wi-Fi password. She said she “was scared to go through the same direction” on the way back because she might cross paths with the man who had touched her. But she needed to return to her room and feared getting lost on the giant ship.
As G. walked past the restaurant, she got into an elevator. She said the same employee followed her in, blocking the doors. “He said, ‘Can I have a kiss?’” she recalled. “I gave him a kiss on the cheek, and he said, ‘No, not there.’” She then alleged that the employee leaned down, kissed her on the mouth.
After he let her go, G. ran to her room in tears. “I didn’t know what to do,” she said.
She said she told her grandmother why she was so distraught, and they went to the lobby to report what happened to guest services. G. said they asked her about the incident and what the employee looked like and promised it would be investigated.
Taplin, who was on board at the time, said she watched the elevator surveillance footage, which confirmed the child’s version of events. Later, G. said she was asked to identify the assailant by looking at photographs of four employees. According to both Taplin and G., the girl identified the assailant as a waiter at one of the ship’s restaurants.
Taplin said she did her best to investigate the case but claimed she was obstructed throughout the process. She claimed she told one of the ship’s senior officers to call the FBI while the boat was still docked in Port Canaveral, Florida. But the officer decided to cast off at around 5 p.m. and did not inform the FBI until the ship was in international waters.
Afterward, Taplin said, the senior officer interviewed the accused crew member while she was present. The official report of the meeting, obtained by BuzzFeed News, states that the crew member “hesitated, but eventually denied kissing the girl” and only gave her a “high five and hug.”
Taplin said that what wasn’t included in the report was that during the meeting, the officer had threatened the crew member, saying, “I’m going to cut off your dick right now” and that he would remove the crew member’s testicles and “put his balls in his mouth.”
When the ship docked in the Bahamas the next day, local police officers arrived. According to Taplin, the police berated and threatened the alleged attacker, pressuring him to confess. “It was just so wrong,” Taplin said. “I mean, you got him red-handed with what he’d done, right?”
In the end, he signed a statement that Taplin alleged was written by the Bahamian police. “I touched her right breast with my left hand,” the signed confession reads. However, Taplin noted that the alleged suspect was not arrested. Instead, he was repatriated to the state of Goa, in India.
G. said she was so scared for the rest of the vacation that she didn’t want to leave her grandmother’s side and never felt safe on board again. She said she could only relax during a stop at Castaway Cay, a private Caribbean island that Disney owns, because she knew her assailant wouldn’t be there.
After G. reported the attack, she said that Disney instructed the employee who was cleaning her room to demonstrate how they create little animals out of the towels and they put a princess bedspread on her bed. “But that was basically it,” she said. After she got home from her cruise, G. said that her family only heard from Disney once to tell them that the accused crew member had been deported.
MBW’s Stat Of The Week is a series in which we highlight a data point that deserves the attention of the global music industry. Stat Of the Week is supported by music data analytics firm Chartmetric.
Spotify has been publishing Loud & Clear stats in recent weeks that show the value of royalties generated on its platform by artists from various individual markets last year.
Today (Wednesday, May 28), Spotify revealed that artists frommacross the EU region generated over €1.7 billion (USD $1.83bn) on Spotify in 2024, a 15% year-on-year increase. According to Spotify, that €1.7 billion figure for 2024 was nearly double the total of 2020 and more than triple that of 2017.
Spotify noted on Wednesday that 2024 was the second year in a row that the streamer “captured artist royalty payments from across Europe at large”.
Spotify released other stats as part of its EU-specific Loud & Clear data set, including that over 17,000 European artists generated over €10,000 ($10,800) on its platform last year, with more than 27,000 European artists generating over €5,000 ($5,400).
Spotify claims that it “continues to enable artists across Europe to make a living from their art”.
“In 2024, EU artists generated a record-breaking €1.7 billion on platform alone – a figure that has almost doubled since 2020.”
Federica Tremolada
Meanwhile, Spotify’s EU report also highlighted a significant level of localized listening in Europe itself. Spotify says that 44% of all royalties generated in the EU were from EU artists in 2024 – the highest level since the platform’s data records began (2017-2024).
Furthermore, over half (57%) of all royalties generated by EU artists in 2024 were by artists who perform in a non-English language. Spotify reported that this was also the highest the platform has seen since its records began (2017-2024).
Spotify reports that seven of the top 10 performing languages on its platform are European languages: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Italian, Dutch and Swedish.
As reported last week, for the first time, Italian-language music joined the “$100 million-plus” club last year, that is, those languages whose music generates at least $100 million in royalties per year.
Spotify also highlighted a bunch of stats from key European markets, including:
France
Spotify reports that the number of French artists who generated over €100,000 ($108,000) in royalties from Spotify alone in 2024 has more than quadrupled since 2017, and more than tripled since 2018.
French artists were also responsible for 70% of the tracks that were featured on Spotify France’s Daily top 50 in 2024, highlighting the ongoing trend of localized listening preferences in the market.
Germany
In 2024, German artists were discovered nearly 6.9 billion times on Spotify, according to the platform, “with over half of all royalties generated in 2024 being independent artists or labels”.
Spotify reported earlier this month that royalties generated by German artists on Spotify reached $520 million in 2024, up 17% YoY.
Belgium
Spotify has also released market-specific stats for Belgium, reporting that over 80% of all royalties generated by Belgian artists on Spotify in 2024 were from listeners outside of Belgium.
The platform also reported that Belgian artists were discovered by first-time listeners over 600 million times on Spotify last year.
Denmark
According to Spotify, 192 artists across Denmark generated more than 500k DKK (USD $72,505) in royalties from Spotify alone in 2024.
Danish artists also generated over 334M DKK (USD $48.4m) in royalties from Spotify alone in 2024 – a number that Spotify reports has nearly doubled since 2017 and increased by 8% YoY from 2023 to 2024.
“Europe and European creators are a crucial part of Spotify’s DNA. That is why we’re delighted to celebrate Spotify’s European Loud and Clear data for the second year running – providing artists and creators across the EU and the world transparency around the economics of music streaming.”
Federica Tremolada
Commenting on the latest stats, Spotify’s General Manager of Europe, Federica Tremolada, said: “Europe and European creators are a crucial part of Spotify’s DNA. That is why we’re delighted to celebrate Spotify’s European Loud and Clear data for the second year running – providing artists and creators across the EU and the world transparency around the economics of music streaming.
“In 2024, EU artists generated a record-breaking €1.7 billion on platform alone – a figure that has almost doubled since 2020. We’re also excited EU creators are continuing to transcend global borders, with over half of all royalties generated by EU artists that perform in a non-English language.
“As General Manager for Europe, I am especially proud of the progress we’ve made for female creators. Streams of female European artists have soared—up 83% globally over the past four years—and through our EQUAL program, more than 200 European female artists have gained vital visibility, mentorship, and support. These aren’t just numbers; they represent real women, real dreams, and a real shift in what it means to have a voice in this industry.”
“Being the first and only streaming service to share data on artist remuneration, our European Loud and Clear data is a core example of how streaming continues to empower European artists and creators to surpass geographical confines – to grow global fanbases, awareness and success.”
Elsewhere, according to Spotify, European artists were discovered almost 28 billion times on Spotify in 2024, globally.
Meanwhile, more than 52,000 EU artists were added to editorial playlists in 2024, up 4% YoY.
In total, Europeans listened to European artists 351.66 billion times in 2024, according to Spotify.
Also, close to 830 million user-generated playlists in the United States in 2024 integrated European artists, followed by Mexico (more than 183 million playlists), and Brazil (close to 148 million playlists).
Chartmetric is the all-in-one platform for artists and music industry professionals, providing comprehensive streaming, social, and audience data for everyone to create successful careers in music.Music Business Worldwide
Building a repeatable, scalable innovation capability often involves turning to well-established frameworks or standards—yet a standard alone doesn’t magically elevate performance. The real game-changer lies in how leaders shape, introduce, and sustain these systems.
While seawater is already harnessed for drinking water via desalination and power generation through tides and wave motion, few people are aware that it could also serve as a key ingredient in next-generation energy storage. Researchers are now focusing on saltwater-based aqueous batteries—a solution that could bring large-scale, sustainable energy storage within reach.
This article explores:
What are aqueous batteries?
Aqueous batteries are energy storage systems that use water-based electrolytes instead of the flammable organic solvents found in conventional lithium-ion batteries. This makes them inherently safer, eliminating the risk of fire or explosion. Their water-based chemistry also improves sustainability and recyclability by reducing reliance on critical raw materials like lithium and cobalt.
These batteries store and release energy by moving ions between the anode and cathode through the aqueous electrolyte. Early results show they can deliver far greater energy densities—up to 10 times more in some cases—depending on the specific electrolyte formulation. However, technical challenges remain before this technology can be scaled for widespread deployment.
An anode to unlock scalability
Aqueous batteries offer a safer, more affordable, and more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion technology. Yet their development has long been held back by the lack of a suitable anode material—the component where electrons exit the battery during discharge.
That may be changing, thanks to a team led by Professor Xiaolei Wang at the University of Alberta. The researchers have developed a robust universal anode for use in both aqueous and seawater-based batteries. This new anode, made from polymer nanolayers and carbon nanotubes, is capable of storing a wide range of ions—including those naturally occurring in seawater.
The design opens up new possibilities for applications ranging from battery storage to supercapacitors. It is also built to withstand harsh conditions, such as fast charge–discharge cycles and sub-zero temperatures. Perhaps most notably, the anode enables a cycle life of up to 380,000 charges—far surpassing the sub-10,000 cycle lifespan of most commercial batteries.
Mega-batteries for grid-scale renewable storage
Among the various technologies being explored for large-scale renewable energy storage—such as gravity-based systems, compressed air, or sand batteries—mega-batteries have emerged as one of the most commercially mature options.
These massive stationary energy storage systems, known as Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), are capable of storing surplus electricity generated during low-demand periods and releasing it back into the grid when demand spikes. This ensures grid reliability and helps balance intermittent supply from renewables. A notable example is the Cunningham battery storage facility in the US, currently operated by Acciona Energía.
Mega-batteries are critical to maintaining grid stability. They provide services such as backup power, frequency and voltage regulation, and reserve capacity, making it easier to integrate variable renewables like wind and solar.
With advanced concepts like aqueous batteries on the horizon, and proven technologies like BESS already in operation, the shift toward a fully renewable energy system—capable of serving both industry and households around the clock—looks increasingly within reach.
