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<p><span>Do you really need tech to relax and have a good time? I thought I did — until a flip was literally switched for me.</span></p><p><span>This past summer I booked a trip to a cabin in Cape Cod, MA, for myself and my 3-year-old daughter. We had visited the previous year, and, as a freelance writer, I'd been able to file stories during the day from the porch overlooking a lake as my daughter stayed entertained watching shows on her device. At night, she would snuggle up next to me as I binge-watched a new season of a favorite television series<em>. </em></span><span>To me, it had been the perfect vacation, prime for repeating.</span></p><p><span>This summer, however, there was a twist: The property had switched to a new Internet service and currently didn't have any Wi-Fi — and my cell phone only showed one tiny bar. </span><span>We were unplugged. </span><span>I panicked. In fact, I packed us up and drove 250 miles back to New York City so I could attend a few meetings I had presumed I could have called in for.</span></p><p><span>As we drove back up to the cabin two days later, it suddenly hit me: I was too dependent on tech. </span><span>After all, this was supposed to be <em>vacation. </em>Why had so many of my key memories from the last summer involved my laptop?</span></p><p><span>So, for the next few days, my daughter and I enjoyed our tech-free life. Yes, I took photos on my phone. But we also splashed in the lake, caught crabs at the beach, and played a silly, giggly game of mini golf. I also returned to my life back in New York feeling stress-free — and determined to learn how to turn off tech once I got back home, too.</span></p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-545868125_web.jpg" alt="family running on the beach" class="right_image" /><h2>DIY getaways from tech</h2><p>Of course, you can always create a DIY vacation during which screen time is not an option. "This summer, my family booked a trip to a dude ranch in Colorado," says Cari Dineen, a mom of two in Boston, MA. "We were four hours from Denver, but there were so many activities, like horseback riding, fly fishing, dancing and hiking, that my 8-year-old and 5-year-old were never bored. Booking a vacation where there's limited access to tech doesn't make it any less enticing."</p><p>The key to a successful tech-free trip? Plan ahead, advises Springfield, NJ, freelance editor and mom Melanie Mannarino. "Before we go on our annual Jersey Shore vacation, we have a family tradition where we all head to the bookstore, and I let my 9-year-old son choose three books for the trip," she says. "It's fun, it gets him excited, and prepped for this week when he won't have his shows and games, but he won't be deprived." The family also brings puzzles, board games and coloring books along on the trip.</p><p>As you work to set new boundaries and broaden the non-tech horizons for your kids, remember to model the sorts of behavior you're hoping to encourage. </p><p>"I think it's important to take a mindful approach to using technology while traveling — taking advantage of the benefits it brings, while limiting the amount of time you spend using it so you can explore, enjoy and remember the places you're visiting," says Dave Dean, founder and editor of the tech travel website Too Many Adapters. "This applies to all members of the family: It's easy to focus on kids being engrossed in the latest video games or teenagers endlessly texting friends back home, but it's equally important for parents who can't stop checking work emails.</p><h2>Take your tech-free habits home</h2><p>Unfortunately, all vacations do come to an end, but it doesn't mean that your digital-free habits have to become a distant memory. You can't totally disconnect once back in 'the real world,' but try these strategies to help keep that tech-free feeling from fading (if only you could say the same about that sun tan).</p><h3>Have a tech-free weekend day</h3><p>Round up electronics, put them in a central place, and commit to an entire day without tech — except for navigation apps, if needed. If it makes you more comfortable, put an out-of-office message on your email and let friends and family know you won't be texting them back. If you must, check your texts a few times a day, but only to ensure there aren't any emergencies.</p><h3>Go tech-free in the a.m. </h3><p>The morning rush can be even more hectic if you're always checking your email or messages. Limiting devices in the morning may give you more time to savor your coffee, enjoy family time and ease into the day — just like you would have on vacation.</p><h3>Keep up the tech-free habits</h3><p>Let's say you discovered a love of puzzles in a vacation house. Or realized your family connected on long hikes through the woods. There's no reason why you can't introduce these things to your non-vacation life to some degree or another.</p><h3>Let your kids discover tech-free ways to play</h3><p>While it may be sneaky, a ruse wherein you unplug the router or television for a bit and simply pretend it's broken can minimize the temptation to turn on for the kids — and you.</p>

Tune out Tech and Tune into Vacation

<p>I'll do pretty much anything to promote my new book on travel.</p><p>Like, for example, <a href="http://sethkugel.com/book/">link to it in this very sentence</a>. But I draw the line when a TV or podcast interviewer asks me on to discuss, say, "the hottest new destinations for 2019." Even considering such a list is travel writer malpractice. Why would you recommend a place bound to be overpriced and packed with tourists?</p><p>Instead, I'd rather be invited to recommend places that are not hot this year, or next year…and may never be. Like the six places below, cities and regions that you've likely never heard of. I certainly hadn't, anyway, when they were recommended to me.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-867337086_web.jpg" alt="Hill and water landscape in Bensançon, France" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Besançon, France</h2><p>I first heard of the medieval city of Besançon, its (very) historic center located on a horseshoe bend of the Doubs River in eastern France, from a woman in line at a Paris theater in 2011. She was from the Franche-Comté region, of which Besançon was the capital. (I'd never heard of Franche-Comté, either, but it no longer exists, having since been absorbed into a larger region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.)</p><p>It took me a while, but in 2015 I finally got there. The city of 116,000 is about an hour's drive from the Swiss border, and a 2.5 hour trip on the TGV (the high-speed train) from Paris. It's easily walkable and quietly charming, with an infusion of energy from its university students and a jolt of creaminess from world-famous and locally produced Comté cheese, often found in the form of fondue.</p><p>There's plenty to do, including the Citadelle, a 17th-century fortress that houses several museums, including the Museum of French Resistance and Deportation; the Natural History Museum (that oddly has a zoo among other collections); and the Comtois Museum. What there are not: crowds of international tourists.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-942242778_web_0.jpg" alt="Cathedral on top of a hill in Minas Gerais state, Brazil" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Minas Gerais state, Brazil</h2><p>My original plan for my first ever trip to Brazil, in 2004, was to take a boat down the Amazon and then hit Rio de Janeiro, perhaps the country's two most iconic destinations. But then someone — it's too long ago to remember who — suggested a side trip to Minas Gerais state, which borders Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to the north and is thus an easy side trip for anyone flying into those two cities (which is nearly everyone who goes to Brazil).</p><p>It's a quick flight to Belo Horizonte, the state capital, and then a 90-or-so-minute drive to the winding, hilly streets of Ouro Preto, the best preserved of the well-preserved colonial mining towns that played a vital role in both the economic and political history of Brazil. (Minas Gerais, which means "General Mines," is still a big producer of iron ore.)</p><p>Ouro Preto is the obvious pick of where to base yourself, but Tiradentes is a close second, quieter and a good choice for a more romantic time, which I found out the hard way. (I went there with two buddies and we found ourselves surrounded by canoodling couples.) Also within quick driving distance of Belo Horizonte is the must-visit a fantasy world of Inhotim Institute, contemporary art and rare palm trees set on 5,000 acres, funded by an oddball billionaire.</p><p>The state is perhaps most beloved for its food, known as comida mineira. The no-fats-barred, pig-heavy, stews-and-sweets-happy cuisine is often associated with pots bubbling on an all-you-can-eat buffet, and is also responsible for the gluten-free cheese puffs called pão de queijo that every traveler I've ever known leaves Brazil addicted to.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/8c9d1044c912508aecd92f91b76175ae_web.jpg" alt="Traditional architecture in Jeonju, South Korea" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Jeonju, South Korea</h2><p>I've been hooked on the barbecued beef called bulgogi and the sour-spicy fermented cabbage known as kimchi ever since my college friend's Korean mom cooked a feast for his friends during senior year. So, when I was planning a week in Korea and the friend of a friend in Seoul mentioned a city named Jeonju that was known as the guardian of Korean culinary traditions, I made sure to leave a few days for a detour.</p><p>There are things to do in Jeonju besides eat. You could easily spend a day at the Jeonju Hanok Village — a hanok is a traditional Korean house — generally considered one of the best preserved of such clusters in the country. But look up the other attractions somewhere else — I'm here to talk about the food. You'll want to seek out the restaurants famous nationwide for their version of bibimbop, a sizzling mix of vegetables, rice, runny egg, red pepper paste and, if you like, meat. You'll also want to try the traditional home-style meal called baek ban, and galbi (short rib) in many incarnations. For the most famous bean sprout soup (with garlic and jalapeños) in town, head to the Nambu and seek out Hyundai-ok, the cramped original location of a now-nationwide chain.</p><p>You'll also want to go to one of the bars specializing in the milky, slightly sweet alcoholic rice drink known as makgeolli. It's about as strong as wine and is served cold by the kettle in restaurants that feed drinkers for free. You might think it unwise to waste a meal. But as someone there told me when I expressed the same concern: "Bad food or restaurants do not exist in Jeonju."</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/web_GettyImages-134160708-edit.jpg" alt="Dutch windmill in Pella, Iowa" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Pella, Iowa</h2><p>Before setting out on a Louisiana to North Dakota road trip in 2013, I put out the call to readers throughout the heartland: HELP! Tell me what to do! Hundreds of ideas came in, but one that panned out especially well was to go to this small town of 10,000 in Iowa, an easy day trip from Des Moines. Pella was founded by Dutch settlers in 1847, and you don't need to come during the spring to take advantage of that. There's also a historical village to roam, a real live Dutch windmill built in the Netherlands and best explored via the incredibly informative tour, and Dutch bakeries with treats like apple bread slathered with maple frosting.</p><p>You can also sample local wine (yes, Iowa wine!) at the Wijn House and have microbrews from the Midwest and beyond at the Cellar Peanut Pub, which also serves an award-winning Bloody Mary. Wait, did I say it was an easy day trip? Unless you've got a designated driver, you may want to spend the night after all.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/unsplash_zbYwNn4xln4_web.jpg" alt="Overhead view of a spiral road in Trás-os-Montes, Portugal" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Trás-os-Montes, Portugal</h2><p>When a region is separated from its neighbors by hard-to-access mountain terrain, it often develops a unique and deeply rooted culture. The Ozarks and Appalachia are two fine examples in the U.S. So when the name of a region translates to "Beyond-the-Mountains," it's a pretty good bet something special is going on there.</p><p>My journey to far northeast Portugal began in a bar in Madrid, when I asked a Portuguese woman what I ask pretty much everyone I meet who's from a place I'd like to visit. "Where should I go in your country that most travelers don't know about?" She had family in Trás-os-Montes, where ancient villages still stand (barely) and families host traditional pig slaughters come Christmas season. Culinary specialties also include the meat-and-bread sausages known as alheiras, and posta milanesa, a tender cut of veal from the local Mirandese breed of cattle. Mirandese is also the name of the local language, the country's only official language aside from Portuguese. How did it survive when so many other languages and dialects disappeared elsewhere in Portugal? Because it was spoken, of course, beyond the mountains.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/GettyImages-840280196_web.jpg" alt="colorful houses amongst trees in Tübingen, Germany" class="hero_listicle" /><h2>Tübingen, Germany</h2><p>When I became a German citizen in 2015, I decided to head to Germany to commune with the country my father's family had fled in the 1930s. But I'd already been to modern Germany several times, and so decided to seek out the more storybook, Hansel & Gretel version (preferably sans witches). A friend of a friend in Berlin suggested the university town of Tübingen, and it took little more than an image search to see he was right.</p><p>So I went and walked through the fairy-tale, cobblestoned city center, admiring half-timbered buildings, buying sausages and cheese at the old-fashioned market, eating schnitzel and spätzle at restaurants and visiting the surprisingly excellent university museum. At night I checked out the energetic nightlife (think plenty of beer and live music).</p><p>The owner of the apartment I rented there called the town "a bubble of happiness and perfection," which seemed about right — except the perfection went beyond the bubble. One day I rented a bike and rode the seven miles down the Neckar River to the no-less-charming (but much quieter) town of Rottenburg, home to a Roman museum, which includes, most notably, the largest excavated Roman latrine north of the Alps. Something I didn't know existed, in a place I had never heard of. To me, a destination doesn't get any hotter than that.</p>

6 Great Destinations You've Never Heard Of

<p>I'm writing this in the back of a cab on my way to the airport to catch a flight to Namibia. This is not unusual for me.</p><p>As a travel photographer, I'm away from home about six months out of the year, and hardly in the same place for long. Living day-to-day out of a suitcase can be challenging, but the exhilaration of connecting with new places makes every mile trekked worth it.</p><p>Here's my guide on how I reach each destination feeling refreshed and make the most of every adventure.<w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/web_HC1067979_DSC_4177_R01.jpg" alt="Karl Shakur photographing a waterfall" class="right_image" /><h2>How I prep                <w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></h2><p>Research is such a big part of my trip preparation. I study the landscape, temperature and climate of wherever I am going. That way I know what to expect and what to pack. I like to keep my clothing as simple as possible.</p><p>If I'm not in front of the camera, I'm usually in all black. However, I pack bright, solid colors for photos I appear in — I think about what will pop against the landscapes and features of the destinations I visit. Pro-tip: I look at the social media feeds of other travelers to get a sense of the color palette of a place and to find the most breathtaking spots to photograph.</p><h2>What I pack in my carry-on<w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></h2><p>I like to arrive ready for adventure, which is why a pair of swim shorts and my camera are always packed in my carry-on when I fly.</p><p>Essentials, like moisturizer, go in my checked bag — air travel tends to dehydrate, so I drink lots of water in transit, and replenish my skin with moisturizer once I claim my bag. I also swear by packing cubes to keep my luggage organized. The soft zippered pouches help you reduce clutter and consolidate similar items for easy access.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/web_HC1067979_DSC_6997_R02.jpg" alt="Karl Shakur purchasing food form a street vendor" class="right_image" /><h2><w:sdt id="898558528" sdttag="goog_rdk_200">How I stick to my travel budget</w:sdt><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></h2><p>The more you travel, the more important it becomes to outline and follow a spending plan. Keep track of expenses digitally — there are several apps that can help you stay within your limits for certain expenses, like food and lodging.</p><p>One trick I've learned on road trips is to plan out all the refueling stops. I use apps that track gas prices to locate the most affordable gas stations — over the course of a long journey, the savings can add up.</p><p>For some, the feeling of freedom that comes with travel may lead to impulse purchases. I have found that a good safeguard against this pitfall is to sleep on a decision to buy any big-ticket items, that way you know you're not spending because you were caught up in the moment.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/web_HC1067979_DSC_2079_R02.jpg" alt="Karl Shakur taking a group selfie with friends" class="right_image" /><h2><w:sdt id="-1273785754" sdttag="goog_rdk_208">What I splurge on</w:sdt><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></h2><p>For me, travel is more about gathering positive experiences than things, and my spending reflects that. I recently took a group of friends out to dinner at a place where none of us had dined yet. It was an opportunity to spend time together and enjoy a unique experience. I picked up the tab, and it was well worth it — we had the best time, made even better by the wonderful company of my friends.<br /><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></p><p>I'll also spend a bit more for a good night's sleep. I'm a big believer in taking care of yourself while traveling. The more rested you are, the more you are going to enjoy your trip — especially on a long journey. Booking nicer accommodations is one way to savor a small splurge that can be extremely rewarding — the extra comforts allow you to deeply recharge.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/web_HC1067979_DSC_3039_R02.jpg" alt="Karl Shakur photographing a city from a tree lined vantage point" class="right_image" /><h2><w:sdt id="555977525" sdttag="goog_rdk_214">How I photograph with feeling</w:sdt><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></h2><p>I snap a lot of photos as part of my work. But when it comes to personal photos, the ones that memorialize my travels for myself, I actually do the opposite. It's advice I recently picked up from a fellow traveler who wisely said to find that scene that's meaningful and take one or two photos. Then set your camera aside and take the time to soak in your surroundings for a full sensory experience of the sights, the sounds and the smells.</p><p>After your trip, those one or two photos will trigger stronger, richer memories and allow you to revisit that deep moment in your mind.</p><p>I look at life as one non-stop adventure, and as I hit my next destination (ready for take-off), I invite you to follow along: @karl_shakur.</p>

Adventure Photographer Karl Shakur's Road-Tested Travel Tips

<p>Whether they're drawn to the jaw-dropping scenery, the spontaneity of a last-minute escape or the nostalgic vibe, travelers are finding unique benefits to train trips — and there's a stateside excursion for every personality.</p><p>From afternoon jaunts to overnight journeys, these options are not only picturesque but also planet-friendly: Rail travel emits up to 73% fewer emissions than flying, according to a 2022 report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It can be a lower-stress way to travel too. You don't have to deal with traffic, and you're not restricted to your seat – you can get up to stretch your legs whenever you want. Read on to find the train trip that's right for you.</p><h2>For food lovers: Amtrak Cascades</h2><p>Picture yourself sampling candied salmon in Vancouver, sipping a blueberry pie-inspired ale in Eugene, OR, and washing a root beer float donut down with a small-batch coconut coffee in Seattle, all in the span of a few days. That's just a fraction of the food-centric itinerary you can experience via Amtrak Cascades, a multi-city journey on a European-style train known for its smooth ride.</p><p>You can book this trip as one 11-hour jaunt, which takes you through 18 train stations and within eyesight of the Columbia River Gorge, Puget Sound and the snow-peaked Cascade and Olympic Mountains. (Along the way, you can sample a bacon-laced, Northwest-style clam chowder and a few other local vittles served onboard.) But hopping off the train is the best way to treat your tastebuds, so you may want to book separate, shorter segments along the route instead.</p><p>Consider folding in a side trip or two as well. Willamette Valley's 700-plus wineries are just over an hour's drive from Portland's Union Station, for example. Or you can stop off at Pike Place Market, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country, which is only a mile or so from Seattle's King Street Station.</p><h2>For urbanites: Amtrak Lake Shore Limited</h2><p>See Chicago and New York in one fell swoop aboard Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited. The five-state trip on a single-level Viewliner train gives you a ground-level perspective on these cities' standout skyscrapers and natural landmarks, including Great Lakes, rivers and mountains. The train follows what was originally a Native American pathway; after gliding past the Windy City's Lake Michigan shoreline, you'll swoop along the southern banks of Lake Erie and then through Cleveland, following that up with the Finger Lakes and Mohawk River in Upstate New York.</p><p>The trip takes a total of 20 hours, so you'll spend one night onboard (ideal for anyone looking to dip their toe in the sleeper train experience). Choose from a roomette, a bedroom or a bedroom suite, all of which include spacious seats that fold into beds, fresh towels and sheets, and complimentary meals.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/riding-the-rails_body-2_157488255.jpg" alt="A train passes through a snow covered forest" class="right_image" /><h2>For outdoor adventurers: Amtrak Sunset Limited</h2><p>Make like an old-school American adventurer and head out west. Want to zip down white sand dunes in a sledding saucer or hike through a forest full of the country's largest cacti? How about rowing the Rio Grande or riding horseback through desert canyons? You can do all of this and more via the Amtrak Sunset Limited, which runs from New Orleans to Los Angeles, passing through five states and putting you in striking distance of four national parks: Big Bend near Alpine, TX; White Sands near Demin, NM; Saguaro near Tucson, AZ; and Joshua Tree near Palm Springs, CA.</p><p>What's more, National Park Guides are often onboard to teach passengers about the plains, dunes and deserts whizzing past the observation car's floor-to-ceiling windows. And while your days might feel rustic, evenings don't have to be; you can book a bedroom suite with sofa beds, showers and even a dedicated attendant who can deliver your rigatoni Bolognese or plant-based burger right to your room when you've kicked off your hiking boots for the night.</p><h2>For history buffs: Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel</h2><p>Anyone who appreciates the romance of the rails will enjoy a day trip on the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel. Leaving from Williams, AZ, these refurbished locomotives with historical passenger cars hightail it to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, following the same route sightseers have traveled since 1901.</p><p>After hopping off at the Grand Canyon depot, built in 1910, you'll get more than three hours to explore the Grand Canyon and Historic Village. There, structures such as the Hopi House — a National Historic Landmark that's part Native American museum, part store — date back to the early 20th century. Check out Hermit's Rest, a gift shop and snack bar built in 1914 as a rest stop for horse-drawn carriages. And don't miss El Tovar Hotel, the oldest lodge in Grand Canyon National Park; it's hosted scores of movie stars and even a U.S. president.</p><p>This isn't your only chance to explore lodgings from yesteryear either. The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel — right next to Williams Depot, where you'll end your ride — is built to resemble the railway's original hotel, which opened in 1908 to accommodate railroaders, ranchers and lumbermen. For a dose of railway baron-like grandeur, drop by the hotel's pub to sit at a wooden bar crafted in the 1880s.</p><img src="https://www.lifeandmoney.citi.com/rcs/lifeandmoney/storage/public/riding-the-rails_body-1_1416623516.jpg" alt="A small child sits on her mother's lap and looks out the window of a train" class="right_image" /><h2>For kids, or kids at heart: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad</h2><p>With the historic train depot in Bryson City, NC, as its departure point, a journey on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is a must-do for train enthusiasts. You can choose either a steam- or diesel-powered ride that lasts about four or five hours roundtrip, depending on the route, across 53 miles of track, through two tunnels and 25 bridges. That's just the right amount of time to be able to chug past rivers, through forests and alongside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park without having your little ones get antsy.</p><p>Because conductors-in-training need their fuel too, kid-friendly boxed lunches (PB&J, turkey sandwich or veggie wrap with chips and a cookie) are part of the experience. Care to combine your ride with river rafting, ziplining or a waterfall off-road tour? You can select adventure add-ons in your railroad package or even rent a private caboose for a celebration of up to 15 guests.</p><p><em>— With additional reporting by Amelia Mularz. </em></p>

5 Top Train Trips for Every Type of Traveler

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