Brandon Withrow
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Covers:
Global outdoor adventures, sustainable and regenerative tourism, as well as underrated destinations.
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I do not cover amusement parks, family, or parenting.
Articles by Brandon Withrow
The Canadian City You’re Probably Overlooking
Travel by Brandon Withrow October 15, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A Little Wild. A Little Luxurious. Entirely Underrated. Travel The Canadian City You’re Probably Overlooking A Little Wild. A Little Luxurious. Entirely Underrated. by Brandon Withrow October 15, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Hero Image of Malahat SkyWalk Courtesy of Tyler Cave and Destination Greater Victoria It’s been a minute since I was last in Victoria, British Columbia.
A Haunted Road Trip: Ghosts, Cocktails, and a Very Creepy Hospital
Travel by Brandon Withrow October 7, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter From dilapidated hospitals to disapproving librarians in a bar, I took a haunted Eastern Washington road trip. Travel A Haunted Road Trip: Ghosts, Cocktails, and a Very Creepy Hospital From dilapidated hospitals to disapproving librarians in a bar, I took a haunted Eastern Washington road trip.
This 114-Mile Bike Route Is One of the Best Ways to See Washington
Travel by Brandon Withrow August 20, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A three-day ride along former railways takes you through the Cascades and all the way into Seattle. Travel This 114-Mile Bike Route Is One of the Best Ways to See Washington A three-day ride along former railways takes you through the Cascades and all the way into Seattle.
How This Cryptic Vinegar Estate in Germany Sparked My Cocktail Shrub Era
Travel A candlelit vinegar cellar in rural Germany, a bizarre tasting tour, and the unexpected trip that turned me into a homemade cocktail shrub evangelist. By Brandon Withrow July 20, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X Venningen is a quaint village in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. It’s what you expect of a picturesque European countryside.
A Pilgrimage to Italy’s Iconic Superbikes and Supercars in Emilia-Romagna
Travel The museums, factory tours, racetracks, restaurants, and hotels that turn Emilia-Romagna into heaven for anyone who grew up obsessed with fast machines. By Brandon Withrow July 13, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X It’s not every day that you get a last-minute dinner invite from Italy’s famous Chef Massimo Bottura. Our small group of journos joined some Motor Valley leaders at Al Gatto Verde on his Casa Maria Luigia estate.
This Alaskan River Valley Has a Stunning Turquoise Glacier—and It’s on the Way to Denali National Park Original
The Knik River Valley has everything from glacial hikes to horseback rides and dog sledding. The nearest airport is less than an hour away in Anchorage. Food and lodging are available in the nearby town of Palmer. Our helicopter gently landed on the Knik Glacier, a stunning expanse of turquoise ice in the Knik River Valley that popped against the backdrop of the wintery Chugach Mountains. We slipped our crampons over our boots and set out across its frozen surface.
This Luxury Surf Resort Is Putting Costa Rica's Southern Pacific Coast on the Map Original
A dedicated experience designer works with guests to create a customized itinerary around their interests. Six spacious rooms and generous common spaces offer the perfect balance of privacy and socializing. The location provides easy access to some of the most biodiverse locations in Costa Rica around the Osa Peninsula for those who want to get up close and personal with birds, monkeys, or sloths. Surfboards adorn guest room walls, and a balance board trainer greets you at the entrance.
What It’s Like to Mush Your Own Dog Team Through Alaska
Travel Experiencing Alaska by dog was truly magical. By Brandon Withrow April 17, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X My tent glowed orange against a starry Alaskan sky, while our dog teams slept soundly. We finished the first 25 miles of our 55-mile run into the backcountry. I helped lay out straw beds for them to rest and spooned warm food into their bowls. We slept soundly before we continued the next morning.
The Iceland Most People Don’t See
Travel From glacier caves to fermented shark, a deeper dive into the island’s raw, ritual-filled world. By Brandon Withrow March 19, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X The dark skies along the southern coast of Iceland are peaceful, punctuated only by lights of stars and planets. But without warning, the Northern Light’s energetic tentacles of green and red can burst through, like they’re trying to pull you up into their celestial world. It’s unrelentingly captivating.
This Is Alberta Before It Was a Postcard
Travel My four-day Indigenous-led road trip through Jasper and Métis Nation territory, mapped. By Brandon Withrow February 26, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X A herd of bison rolled through the prairie, kicking up dust. Adorable bison calves scrambled to stay in step with their mothers. To my right, an elk bull leads his harem cautiously past tourists pointing their cameras. What must it have been like to see these incredible animals roam the land centuries ago by the tens of thousands?
The ancient US discovery predating the pyramids Original
Just now Brandon Withrow Wisconsin Historical Society (Credit: Wisconsin Historical Society) A series of millennia-old canoes are being unearthed from the bottom of a lake in Wisconsin, spurring a renewed interest in Indigenous culture. Dr Amy L Rosebrough will never forget where she was when she got the phone call.
College Life Can Really Change a Bird
On any given spring day, there are upwards of 20 bird species around my backyard feeder. Underneath it, bunnies, squirrels, and chipmunks huddle for a shared meal of dropped seeds and fresh sunflower shoots. In the winter, there’s a shift. Snowbirds arrive, including dark-eyed juncos. These gray-and-white “birbs” (little, adorably round birds) forage for seeds, cautiously flitting up to the shrub nearby every few seconds before returning for more.
The Bucket List of Remote Places to Kayak
Travel Here's your guide to the coolest places to kayak. By Brandon Withrow January 21, 2026 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X There’s nothing like exploring water by kayak. This small, versatile boat gets you up close with the wild. You can pack them for an overnight adventure or simply paddle into the quiet and forget that the world (or even your life) is a mess.
The Indigenous tribes reclaiming travel
Native and First Nation tourism is booming across North America, and part of what's propelling this trend is the conversion of ancient trails into modern biking, hiking and rafting routes. In May of 1877, Indigenous leader Chief Standing Bear and the Ponca Tribe, who resisted relocation to "Indian territory" in Oklahoma, were marched there at gunpoint by the US Calvary 500 miles from their home in Nebraska.
The Galapagos Expedition That Might Challenge Your Views Original
The land before time: That’s how the archipelago of Galapagos feels when you hop off a Zodiac onto one of its islands. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, pelicans and the only penguins north of the equator — all of them call this landscape of lava beds, layered ash that looks like a cake from Bake Off and bizarre poisonous flora home. A T. rex wouldn’t feel out of place here. A true bucket-lister, the Galapagos holds a special place for me.
From Pub Crawls to Dead Thespians: Finding Ghosts That Aren’t in Salem
Travel The coolest underrated ghost experiences in America. By Brandon Withrow October 29, 2025 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X Have you ever wanted to find a ghost? But not one of those uppity, mainstream famous ghosts that you find in places like Salem, Massachusetts? (No offense.) These are those. Ghosts of local fame. They haunt like the best of them, but, like Captain Isaac Higgintoot of CBS’s Ghosts, they rarely get the kind of national press they aspire to achieve.
Kelp Forests Are Vanishing Along California’s Coast
California has lush kelp forests up and down the coast. They are not only home to incredible biodiversity, but they also act as an important carbon sink and are among the largest producers of oxygen on the planet. These essential marine ecosystems now face a triple threat from warming global temperatures, heat waves, and their main predators, urchins.
Underrated: Madison’s Cocktail Scene
Travel 7 spots to have a cocktail in Madison, WI By Brandon Withrow October 3, 2025 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X Wisconsin is famous for cheese. No qualms there. But did you know it’s also one of the booziest states? In fact, seven of the booziest cities in the U.S. are in Wisconsin. Madison ranks fourth. I recently did some investigating. And by investigating, I mean drinking while traveling. Madison’s cocktail scene is an underrated experience that’s worth a trip to the city all by itself.
The Case for an Airport Uniform
Travel I wear the same outfit on travel days. By Lanny Fuller September 22, 2025 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X A couple weeks ago, I landed on a Caribbean island. This week, in a Rocky Mountain town. I wore the same thing for both journeys. Sunny heat. Chilly elevation. Doesn’t matter. Every year, I find an airport outfit and stick with it. Travel days melt my desire for control. From Uber pickup to plane touchdown, someone else is in charge. The apps tell me where to be and when.
The Best Countries for Nature-filled Road Trips
Travel Buckle up. By Kaitlyn Rosati September 19, 2025 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X Whether it’s to have more control and flexibility over your schedule, or simply to see destinations that are harder to reach by plane or train, road tripping is a growing trend. With nature tourism on the rise, it’s no secret that more and more travelers are less interested in big bucket-list cities and are looking for more niche experiences, many of which are surrounded by the great outdoors.
McLaren’s First Plug-in Hybrid Convertible Is on a Mission to Thrill
Features Don't Call the Artura Spider an Entry-Level McLaren Hypercar By Amos Kwon September 18, 2025 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X When McLaren unveiled the coupe version of the Artura, it marked a watershed moment: the British exotic brand’s first plug-in hybrid, built on an all-new platform. Now, the Spider takes that same foundation and adds the freedom of open-air driving, without diluting McLaren’s obsessive performance ethos. The result is something rare.
Amsterdam’s Best Cocktail Bars, According to Local Bartenders
Travel Proost! By Brandon Withrow September 17, 2025 Share: Share on Facebook Share on X Amsterdam is known for many things, like having a bazillion bikes, romantic canals, and the infamous Red Light District. But it also has outstanding cocktail bars that can be a tour all by themselves. On a recent visit, I asked bartenders a question. “Where do you like to go when you’re off work and want someone else to make you a cocktail?” Here’s what they told me.
Win a VIP Kindred Motorworks Experience in Napa Valley
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6 Perfect Canadian Destinations for Outdoor Adventures
Travel 6 Perfect Canadian Destinations for Outdoor Adventures Get up there. Get out there. Breathtaking mountain ranges with turquoise lakes. Lush rainforests. Arctic snow hiding plush polar bears and foxes. I’m not talking about the Swiss alps, Costa Rica, or Greenland. This is Canada. The landscape is picture perfect and the wildlife is abundant. Canada may have a population the size of California, but from one coast to the other, there’s enough for a lifetime of outdoor adventures.
6 Perfect Canadian Destinations for Outdoor Adventures
I visited Europe for the first time and saw 11 countries in one month. I wish I'd done these 5 things differently. I always wanted to travel the world. As a child, I fantasized about adventuring to places I'd see in movies, meeting new people, and expanding my horizons beyond the city I was born and raised in. Growing up, though, travel was only viewed as a necessity reserved for family emergencies. It wasn't …
Worth the Splurge: Outdoor Styles That Outlast Seasons
Outdoors Worth the Splurge: Outdoor Styles That Outlast Seasons If you’re paying more, it better last. These do. Call me crazy, but I believe if you’re paying more, you should be getting better, longer-lasting quality. Not hype. Not a logo. Not some influencer’s weekend fling with gear. Too often, a higher price just means trendier, not tougher. And that’s a problem when you’re buying gear you actually want to live in for years. So I went digging.
NYC Best Burgers: 11 Spots for Beefy Bliss
Travel 11 Bucket-List Burgers in New York City On my last visit to the Russian Tea Room, I fell into a vodka-fueled row with my tablemate, a certain Travyis Dorinovsky—a notorious rogue whose wealth is only exceeded by his licentiousness. He insisted, with the black vitriol of Raskolnikov mid-interrogation, that caviar, herring, or stroganoff was the only proper choice in a dining room as sumptuous as the Czar’s palace. But a burger?
TK Products Our Editors Loved in August 2025
MoMa Exclusive Poppin Stow 3-Drawer File Cabinet I'm redoing my home office and wanted, nay, needed some filing cabinets. These have the proper amount of weirdness for a filing cabinet. —LF Buy: $399 Conway Electric Smart USBC/DUAL USBC 36W PD Surge Protected Lamp Re: Home office. This lamp dims, charges your other goods, and looks handsome while doing it all. There's something utilitarian, yet clever about it. —LF Buy: $300 J. D.
Locals Reveal Their Can't-Miss Picks
Travel How to Experience Nassau Through the Eyes of Locals Locals weigh in on where to stay, eat, and savor all the best of the Bahamian capital. The moment I had my first conversation with a Bahamian, I knew there was something special about the island. Though the capital welcomes an influx of cruise passengers year-round, the people and businesses remain humble and true to their roots. You won’t find sky-high buildings, a slew of American brands, or extortionate prices.
Interested in Road Cycling, But Don’t Know Where to Start? Here’s What To Know
Outdoors Interested in Road Cycling, But Don’t Know Where to Start? Here’s What To Know The right gear should keep you comfy and safe. Several years ago, I needed to lose weight, so I returned to riding a bike. Something I hadn’t done since I was a kid. That decision changed my world. As the pounds started shedding, my love for cycling started shaping. It helped me center myself. (The first thing my therapist asks is, Did you ride your bike today?) It’s hard to be unhappy when you’re on a bike.
Holbox Island Is Mexico's Best-Kept Secret
Travel Isla Holbox Is Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret Growing up on the East Coast, it’s almost a rite of passage to graduate from going to Florida for vacations in high school to Cancún for spring break. But, with limited resources and a laser-focused agenda on maintaining a buzz for an entire week, anything outside of the all-inclusive resort is usually only seen from the airport shuttle window.
Everything You Need to Avoid Checked Bags
Travel Ditch Baggage Claim With These Carry-On-Only Packing Essentials I’m a full-time traveler. Here are the products I swear by for smoother trips. There’s nothing more annoying than arriving at a destination only to realize you left something essential at home, whether out of necessity or out of convenience. While obvious things like phone, camera, wallet, passport, likely won’t slip your mind when packing, what about those other products we always seem to remember too late?
Costa Rica's Hotel Three Sixty Is an Ideal Adults-Only Vacay
Travel Experience Pura Vida at This Luxe Costa Rican Getaway Hotel Three Sixty in Ojochal is the ideal place to disconnect from your everyday grind, reconnect with nature, and experience pura vida. Want a hotel with sweeping panoramic views of the ocean and a lush green rainforest? How about a white-faced Capuchin monkey hanging from a tree near your balcony? Fewer crowds? No children?
Our Favorite Getaways in the USA
Travel Soak Up the Sun in the USA’s Best Lake Towns There's no better way to wile away the sunny summer hours. As warmer months approach, the desire to spend time outdoors only grows stronger. And what better way to spend a warm, summer day than by hanging out on a lake?
Hidden Gem Adventures Near Major Cities
Travel The Modern Man’s Guide to the Perfect Fall Weekend Away Instead of hiking the same familiar trails, make this fall a chance to try something different. It’s peak summer heat where I’m at, or as one person told me, “it’s the devil’s armpit out there.” But cooler fall weather is coming, and which can be in that perfect Goldilocks Zone for comfortable outdoor activity.
All the Sweet Spots for a Perfect Golf Weekend
Travel Palm Desert Hits the Sweet Spot for a Golf Weekend Don’t fear the heat, embrace it and swing away. I’m riding in a golf cart checking my weather app, which says it’s 100° out here in Palm Desert. I tell my buddy Neil, who’s driving, that it doesn’t feel that bad. He agrees. There’s something about being on a fairway that just makes the heat more bearable. We’re playing our first round of the weekend at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Golf Club.
The Underrated Spots to Savor
Travel Savor These Hidden Gems on the Amalfi Coast and Sicily It's time to lose yourself to the charm and beauty of this place. Organizing a trip to the Amalfi Coast can be intimidating. Organizing a trip to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily? Downright overwhelming. These regions, renowned for their rugged beauty, mythical history, and perennial elegance, can be tricky to plan for.
5 Luxe Outdoor Adventures
Travel These Outdoor Adventures Don’t Sacrifice Luxury Get away from it all doesn't have to mean cold showers and sleeping bags. Ever wish you were an outdoorsy person, but prefer the comforts of a soft bed and hot water? Glamping is the gateway drug for those who aren’t entirely comfortable sleeping outdoors, but want to safely get into the wild. These are luxe stays—king beds, ensuite bathrooms, kitchens, and skylights.
Miami Travel Guide: How to Ball on a Budget
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Where to Stay, Sip, & Savor Culture
Travel How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Barcelona Don't fear the gap-year vibes: Barcelona is bursting with dazzling restaurants, superb nightlife, and architectural marvels. I once dismissed Barcelona as a wine-soaked playground for frat bros “studying” abroad. But the more I traveled through Europe, the more glowing reports I heard about the Catalonian capital—the dazzling restaurants, the superb nightlife, the feast of architectural and artistic marvels.
Alaska Adventures: 5 Sustainable Summer Stays
Travel Summer Is the Perfect Time for an Alaskan Adventure These otherworldly destinations are friendly to the environment, too. Alaska is where otherworldly glacial hikes, backcountry dog sledding, and award-winning culinary experiences come together. You can also have these epic adventures and protect the land at the same time. Many lodges have joined the state’s Adventure Green Alaska sustainable certification program to protect the land that provides those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Antarctica’s Emperor Penguins and Seals Are at the “Pointy End” of Climate Change
Emperor penguins might be the most famous of penguins. At just over four feet tall, with black-and-white plumage, yellow patches over the ears, and an orange throat, they are the only penguins that breed in the harshest of winter weather. They incubate their eggs by balancing them on their feet for 65 days, keeping the eggs around 100°F on days when the outside temperature can fall to 75 below 0. They are also the least common penguin in Antarctica, with only 250,000 breeding pairs.
3 Perfect Days in LA
Travel Three Perfect Days in Los Angeles For that quintessential SoCal experience, soak up the swaying palm trees and do some people watching in the natural habitat of the glitterati. Los Angeles has always been one of those places that shifts in one’s mind. With deep roots in an industry built around fiction, LA can be anything you want it to be. That’s the beauty of it—and also the part that can be overwhelming. I first went to Los Angeles when I was fifteen for a school trip.
Where to Stay, Eat, and Soak Up Culture
Travel How to Savor Art, Food, and Culture in Venice A glittering metropolis rising out of the water, Venice’s very existence is miraculous. Venice is a fine city for melancholy, my mood when I drifted in at the end of a two-week stint in Italy. I spent the first week chasing an ill-starred romance; the second, licking my wounds. But as the poets remind us, broken hearts feel beauty more keenly—and Venice is a feast for the senses.
Chicago Travel Guide: How to Ball on a Budget
Travel How to Ball on a Budget in Chicago See all the sights in the Windy City, without emptying your wallet. Chicago ain’t cheap. As the “Capital of the Midwest,” it’s noticeably less expensive than New York and Los Angeles. But as the third largest city in America, Chi-Town is still noticeably more expensive than the national average. But you won’t find a cleaner, nicer, and taller big city than Chicago, which makes it totally worth seeing at least once in your life.
7 Iconic Rides Across America
Travel Bikes and Brews: Scenic Rail Trails With Great Bars These memorable rides will lead you to some delicious ales and cocktails. The prospect of living a longer, healthier life may get some of us out on a bike, but others might need a different kind of motivation—like a memorable beer or two at the end of the journey. Maybe you’ve cycled a 30-mile mountain trail, or just five miles along a beach (hey, not all of us are olympians).
Cuyahoga Valley National Park Is Both a Cautionary Tale and an Icon of Hope
The Ledges Trail is one of my favorite spots to hike at Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A view from the cliff top in the fall opens up to a sea of orange and red hues. Below it is a winding path following old rock formations. As an Ohioan, it’s hard to imagine the once-pollution-plagued land in the park as anything but the beautiful place it is now. At 33,000 acres, Cuyahoga Valley isn’t the largest national park, but it makes up for that in its triumphant origin story.
The Most Scenic Way to See Denali National Park Is Through This River Valley With Turquoise Ice Floe Original
Fog fills a grassy field below Twin Peaks and the Chugach Mountains in the Knik River Valley. Credit: Kevin G. Smith/Getty Images The Knik River Valley has everything from glacial hikes to horseback rides and dog sledding. The nearest airport is less than an hour away in Anchorage. Food and lodging are available in the nearby town of Palmer.
The Most Scenic Way to See Denali National Park Is Through This River Valley With Turquoise Ice Floe—How to Visit | Flipboard
Trump officials are visiting Alaska to discuss a gas pipeline and oil drilling JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Trump administration is sending three Cabinet members to Alaska this week as it pursues oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and reinvigorating a natural gas project that’s languished for years. The visit by Department of Interior Secretary Doug …
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