5 Value-Packed, Under-the-Radar Vacations to Take This Summer
Bloomberg News
It may be an American holiday, but Memorial Day weekend seems to kick off summer travel everywhere, unleashing the highest-spending tourists on their annual sprees to the Greek Isles, Italy, and beyond.
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New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
Chris Russo reveals police were called on him during international travel meltdown: ‘What a disgrace!'
Everyone's got some nightmare travel stories, and for Chris Russo, he aired out his most recent disaster for more than 10 minutes straight during his 'What Are You Mad About?' segment of ESPN's 'First Take' on Wednesday. The man known as 'Mad Dog' took a recent vacation to Europe, which included a few fiascos, including one in which he had police called on him while he threw a rage fit in London. Russo's trip began with a JetBlue flight out of JFK en route to Edinburgh. 'You want to fly to Scranton, P.a.? Jet Blue is for you!' Russo yelled. 'You want to fly to something a little more elaborate like to freakin' Edinburgh? What a disgrace! They kept people on that plane 'til 1:44 in the morning and threw them the hell out of there!' Russo was headed to Dornach, Scotland, for some father-son golfing. Russo's son, Tim, had to go from Phoenix to Dallas to London to Inverness — and then drive to Dornach, Switzerland. Tim's golf clubs got a bit lost in the shuffle. 'It took me two and a half hours to locate the clubs at Heathrow. They didn't know where they were!' Russo ranted. 'My son needs the golf clubs for crying out loud! Couldn't find them. We finally found the golf clubs. I had the ticket stub, I put Timmy on FaceTime. 'Timmy, will you tell the people here that the golf clubs are yours and your father, who paid for them, wants to take them out of the airport so I can get you your clubs the next day?' They wouldn't let me take the clubs out of Heathrow! 3 Chris Russo's trip began with a canceled flight. First Take/ESPN 'So Timmy's clubs had to stay at Heathrow overnight and he didn't have his golf clubs on Saturday because British Airways…wouldn't give it to his father!' Russo continued. 'Here's their answer, 'It's protocol, sir.' I'm not interested in protocol! I'm interested in the 5 iron! I am not interested in that! And they called the police on me! I'm a loud American! 'We're gonna get the authorities.' I don't give a crap about authorities, get the golf clubs where they're supposed to be!' 3 Chris Russo's travels continued to get worse. First Take/ESPN 3 Chris Russo ranted for more than 10 minutes about his international travel troubles. First Take/ESPN Russo managed to avoid any sort of arrest or detainment, playing his cards right when they arrived. 'Almost,' he said when asked if he got arrested. 'The cops came, I said, 'I'll be okay, calm down.''
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
American hiker missing in rugged Spanish mountains for a week: 'A kind and curious soul'
Twenty-seven-year-old Cole Henderson is a world traveler and adventurer who is working as an engineer in Amsterdam after graduating from Rhodes College in Tennessee. He was last heard from on July 9. A young American man has been missing in Spain's rugged Pyrenees mountains for more than a week, setting off a frantic search by Spanish authorities and desperate social media posts from his loved ones. Cole Henderson, 27, was last heard from on Wednesday, July 9, when he texted a friend that he was about to go on a solo hike in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park and would put his phone on airplane mode to conserve power, according to a website dedicated to finding him and updating the search efforts. Although it's unclear where Henderson grew up, he has strong ties in Delaware, where he went to high school, and Tennessee, where he graduated from the Rhodes College, according to his social media profiles. His former employers include software companies in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and San Francisco. "Cole is an experienced traveler, a kind and curious soul, and someone who means the world to me," friend Eric Simon said in a Facebook post asking for help finding Henderson. Here's what to know about Henderson, the area where he was hiking and what's being done to find him. Where was Cole Henderson hiking? Henderson parked his car in Torla, Spain, before he was to embark on a long hike from there, through the Ordesa Valley, to a mountain hut known as Refugio de Pineta, where friends believe he was going to catch a ride back to his car. It's unclear how long Henderson expected the hike to take or whether he was planning on attempting any peaks in the area along the way. But friends said he had planned to do some camping while in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, located in the Pyrenees Mountains on the border between northern Spain and France. Hikers reported dangerous weather in the area on Thursday, July 10, the day after Henderson began his hike. Hikers said there was rain and severe thunder, and reported that they re-routed from the possible route Henderson was on, where there is limited to no cell service. Loved ones realized Henderson was missing after he missed a flight on July 13 to Amsterdam, where he has been living, according to Simon. What do the search efforts entail? The Guardia Civil of Huesca launched a search for Henderson. The Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (known as GREIM for its initials in Spanish) and an air unit have joined, according to the local newspaper El Diario de Huesca. Henderson's loved ones are also asking people to share his photo and the details of his disappearance on social media, in hopes that someone in the area recognizes him and may have a better idea of what his last location was. "We're coordinating with the mountain rescue patrol, American embassy, Spanish authorities and local search and rescue teams," Simon wrote. "But we're also asking for help online — from travelers, hikers, locals, or anyone who might have been in the area or seen Cole in the last week." What do we know about Cole Henderson? Henderson's social media posts show he was a world traveler and adventurer, from trekking along the famed Tour du Mont Blanc through Switzerland, Italy, and France, and skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado, to hiking in South Dakota's Badlands National Park and volunteering in Costa Rica. His LinkedIn profile says he's an engineer "building today's AI for tomorrow's power" at Dexter Energy and that he graduated from Rhodes College with honors with a degree in computer science. He describes himself as an avid backpacker.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
7 natural swimming spots in NY worth the summer road trip: See the list
Nothing says summer quite like splashing near a waterfall or natural swimming hole. There are many natural swimming spots around New York state - in lakes, streams and ponds and others at the base of waterfalls or tucked along a favorite hiking path. Sure, traditional pools are fun, but there's something special about taking a dip in a spot carved out over the years, created by Mother Nature. Many popular natural swimming spots don't allow swimming legally - whether deemed unsafe by police or located on private property - but that doesn't stop folks from taking a dip. Some spots are enforced more aggressively than others. Beating the summer heat in a natural swimming spot may at times feel nostalgic, but its usually a hit - a must-do on your summer bucket list given its unique draw. Here are seven such spots scattered around the state. Robert H. Treman State Park Located just outside Ithaca, Tompkins County, the natural swimming hole in Robert H. Treman State Park is in a wide-open area at the base of Enfield Falls. Swimmers can cool off in the stream-fed pool beneath the park's 70-foot-tall Lower Falls when a lifeguard is on duty. The pool's diving board is often busy - and a great backdrop for unique photos - while other swimmers prefer to splash near the base of the falls. The pool is 1 to 12 feet deep and can feel a bit chilly. Changing rooms and restrooms are located near the swimming hole. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 105 Enfield Falls Road, Ithaca, Tompkins County Kershaw Park Kershaw Beach, the focal point of Canandaigua's Kershaw Park, opened for the season over Memorial Day weekend and will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day, weather pending. The nine-acre park at the north end of Canandaigua Lake in Ontario County is a popular swimming and gathering spot. In addition to the swimming beach, the park has a bathhouse, a playground, a small craft launch area and public dock with a boat pump-out station. More serious swimmers can also "swim the buoys" just outside the designated beach area, but be sure to check in with lifeguards before swimming in the open water. This year, city officials said there will not be an entry fee for beach-goers. Address: 155 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua, Ontario County Taughannock Falls State Park One of several parks that offers swimming in Cayuga Lake, Taughannock Falls State Park also has the tallest free-standing waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains at 215 feet. That spot alone is a huge draw for tourists and locals. But the swimming beach - located roughly 20 minutes north of Ithaca - is open daily in the summer. There's a wooden flotilla about 100 feet offshore that offers a fun splash zone for more experienced swimmers. Lifeguards are on duty. Outside the designated swimming area, visitors may only wade ankle-deep into the lake. There's a bath house with changing stalls and showers, a large playground and picnic spots nearby. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 1740 Taughannock Blvd., Trumansburg, Tompkins County Eagle's Cliff Falls A 41-foot-tall waterfall at the center of a wide amphitheater-shaped rock wall showers people in the knee-high water at Havana Glen Park in Montour Falls, Schuyler County. The spot has a natural eagle-shaped formation at the top, the large rock cathedral makes the 15-foot-wide waterfall look small from a distance. The hike from the lot to the falls is short - roughly 20 minutes - but you will pass several smaller cascades along the trail. Posted signs prohibit swimming but many hikers still wade into the water or stand under the spray of the cascade. The park has a campground and daily parking rates are $3 per car. Address: 135 Havana Glen Road, Montour Falls, Schuyler County Fillmore Glen State Park A roped-off section of Dry Creek is the main attraction when open. Water levels change depending on the rainfall and time of season. Swimming is allowed in the stream-fed swimming space, but only when a lifeguard is on duty. The park offers changing rooms and restrooms. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 1686 State Route 38, Moravia, Cayuga County Green Lakes State Park Located in Fayetteville, Onondaga County, Green Lakes State Park is best know for its two glacial lakes that are surrounded by upland forests. The turquoise waters cover a freshwater reef, which is exceedingly rare. Parts of the reef are visible from the shore, and it is fascinating to observe. The Green Lakes are meromictic lakes, meaning there is no seasonal lake mixing, and have a high potential for evidence of ancient plant and animal life. A large swimming beach is located at the north end of Green Lake. A bathhouse and nature center are located nearby. Visitors may not enter the water near near Dead Man's Reef. Entry fee to the park is $10 per car. Address: 7900 Green lakes Road, Fayetteville, Onondaga County Minnewaska State Park Preserve Minnewaska State Park in Ulster County has two swimming beaches - one of Lake Minnewaska with a pebble surface beach and one on Lake Awosting where there is a rock surface beach. You need to hike or bike 3 to 5 miles (distance depends on your route) to reach the Lake Awosting beach, making it a swimming spot you need to earn. The park is on the dramatic Shawangunk Mountain ridge, more than 2,000 feet above sea level, and is surrounded by rugged, rocky terrain. State Park entry is $10 per vehicle. Address: 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson, Ulster County Swimming tips Swimming tips Please remember: There are risks associated with any water source, natural or otherwise. Some of these watering holes do not have certified lifeguards on duty. Anyone entering the water, at any time, does so at his or her own risk. The New York State Department of Health recommends the following: Always swim with others. Never swim alone, no matter your experience. Do not consume drugs or alcohol while swimming, Both slow reaction time and can impair judgment. Be aware of any medical conditions that may impact someone's ability to navigate the water. Do not dive into water less than 8 feet deep, or into water where you aren't sure of the depth, conditions Recognize that currents cannot be seen and may prove risky for even the most experienced swimmer. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 7 swimming spots in NY worth the summer road trip: See the list Solve the daily Crossword
