Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Smart News / Smart News Travel

The dogs receive training that helps enhance their natural swimming abilities and rescue instincts.

Meet the Lifeguard Dogs Watching Over Beachgoers in Maine

Buoy and Beacon are trained to help human lifeguards rescue swimmers at Scarborough Beach State Park

Alessandro Biancardi says he caught the biggest catfish he'd ever seen in his 23 years as a professional fisherman.

Fisherman Reels in ‘Monster’ Nine-Foot Catfish in Italy

The behemoth, found in the Po River, may have set a world record for the longest catch-and-release catfish

The convertible seat folds down to make room for a wheelchair to be secured in place.

Could This Convertible Seat Improve Air Travel for Wheelchair Users?

If adopted, a new prototype would allow passengers to remain in their own wheelchairs on flights

Bryce Canyon is one of several national parks hosting stargazing and astronomy festivals this year.

These National Parks Are Hosting Stargazing Festivals in 2023

As more areas grow brighter with light pollution, national parks across the country have become dark-sky havens

The ship has three retractable sails covered in solar panels.

Could This Futuristic Vessel Be the World’s First Zero-Emissions Cruise Ship?

Hurtigruten Norway’s new design includes batteries and retractable sails equipped with solar panels

Kīlauea erupts early on June 7, after months of signaling it was getting ready to burst.

Hawaii’s Kīlauea Volcano Is Erupting Again—Here’s How to See It

The youngest and most active volcano on the Big Island, it’s expected to draw thousands of tourists

A shark swims near two paddle boarders off California's coast.

Great White Sharks Come Much Closer to Swimmers Than Thought in Southern California

Juvenile white sharks and humans overlap 97 percent of the time in some warm Pacific waters, a new study finds

Three of the 24 parrots that were rescued after being smuggled out of Central America

Found Hatching in a Suitcase, Rescued Parrots Begin New Life

The 24 chicks are growing up at a conservation facility after being seized from a smuggler’s carry-on

The Razorback Greenway in northwest Arkansas is one of nine new national recreation trails.

Explore the Nine Newest National Recreation Trails

Announced on Friday, the newly designated routes span a total of 340 miles across nine states

Travelers flying out of Denver's airport can now make a reservation for the A-Bridge security checkpoint.

You Can Now Make a Reservation to Go Through Security at These Airports

Denver and Minneapolis are the latest airports to roll out the service—just in time for the busy summer travel season

The wolverine sighting in Yosemite National Park

Rare Wolverine Spotted in California—the Second in 101 Years

The elusive creatures disappeared from the Golden State in 1922

By 2030, demand for fuel made from animal byproducts is expected to triple, per a new report.

Using Pig Fat as Airplane Fuel Could Hurt the Environment, Study Says

Though it’s generally seen as sustainable, using animal fat to power planes could force other industries to rely on more harmful palm oil

Expedition tents at Everest Base Camp in the Mount Everest region of Solukhumbu District

Nepal Won’t Move the Mount Everest Base Camp for Now, Despite Risks

The camp is growing more dangerous with climate change and human activity, but it’s an ideal location for keeping hikers safe from falling ice

The exterior of Club Ebony, taken before the renovation

Club Ebony, Historic Stop Along the Chitlin Circuit, Reopens

The legendary Black-owned nightclub hosted the likes of Tina Turner, Ray Charles and more

The water turned green in Venice's Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge.

Why Did the Water in Venice’s Grand Canal Turn Bright Green?

Authorities have determined what substance caused the abnormal hue, but they still don’t know who is responsible

The French government is pushing travelers on certain routes to use high-speed rail.

France Just Banned Short-Haul Flights. Why Are So Few Routes Affected?

To reduce carbon emissions, lawmakers want travelers to opt for trains on shorter journeys

A two-year-old adult female bison named Wyoming Hope gave birth to the 30-pound calf on May 16.

Rare White Bison Born in Wyoming State Park

The 30-pound calf is not albino but gets its pale fur from cattle genes

The Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light is one of ten lighthouses the U.S. government is giving away this year.

The U.S. Is Giving Away Lighthouses for Free

While they are no longer a navigational necessity, the guiding lights have histories worth preserving

Matisse's former apartment overlooks the French Riviera.

Henri Matisse’s Stunning Apartment Overlooking the French Riviera Is for Sale

The French artist spent his final years making art from his home in the city of Nice

Pickleball courts are starting to appear in vacant storefronts in shopping malls across the country.

Pickleball Courts Are Replacing Shuttered Mall Stores

Across the country, developers are trying to capitalize on the approachable sport’s growing popularity

Page 18 of 117