Travel – Syndication Server

Stirring footage shows whale trying to free itself from fishing gear

A series of breaches off Newport Beach shows rope winding through whale’s mouth and tightly around its pectoral fin.

On December 12 we featured images showing an entangled humpback whale revealing the extent of its troubles with a spectacular series of breaches off Newport Beach, Ca.

On Wednesday the photographer, Mark Girardeau, published the accompanying footage. It shows the whale trying desperately to free itself from rope that wound through its mouth and tightly around its right pectoral fin, threatening to amputate the appendage.

Girardeau began his description: “The impact of humans on this planet is all too apparent, most of it goes unnoticed or we simply turn our backs to it. We eat from the ocean while destroying the animals in it, this is just one of so many instances just here in Southern California.”

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Rescue teams were hoping for a chance to free the whale, but a safe opportunity did not present itself and the whale is now presumably still entangled while migrating to Mexico for the winter.

However, as Girardeau pointed out, there are no crab or lobster traps attached to the rope, so the whale is not dragging dead weight and there’s a chance the rope can be worked free.

The whale is known to science, cataloged by Happy Whale as HW-MN0503323. It has been documented five times since 2023 between Morro Bay and San Diego.

Yellowstone landscape is pretty, but can you spot the bear?

During the summer bears roamed the Yellowstone landscape, but weren’t always easy to see. Image will test your spotting skills.

*Editor’s note: A version of this post was published by ForTheWin earlier this year.

Bears in Yellowstone National Park are hibernating, but during the summer they were spread across the landscape and often visible from roads and trails.

But they weren’t always easy to see, and one Montana-based hiking guide used an image he captured from above the Lamar River to test his social-media followers’ spotting skills.

“I’ve been told my more recent ‘Find the Animal Friday’ posts have been way too easy,” Douglas Scott stated via X. “This one is a little more challenging.”

Can you spot the black bear? Photo: Douglas Scott

Scott allowed the use of his image for this post, so we’re also challenging readers: Can you spot the black bear in the images posted above? (Answer below.)

Hint: It’s a difficult quiz and there are several shadows that might be mistaken for the bear.

Scott, who runs The Outdoor Society, told me that he captured the image June 21 “on a perfectly clear day” in the park’s northern range.

“It was definitely a fun spot as my client was amazed I saw it so easily from so far away,” Scott recalled.

His X followers offered several guesses but in the hours after his post only one had pinpointed the bear’s location.

When I guessed, Scott informed me that I had found “the shadow of a tree.”

Another guess was met with the reply: “Unfortunately, you are incorrect. You most definitely found a non-animal shadow though!”

Yellowstone is remarkable in that visitors often see bears up close or in the distance, especially if they’re patient and use binoculars or spotting scopes.

They might also capture a landscape image and later realize that a critter is visible in the image.

In 2023, for example, I was watching bears on one side of a highway and turned to snap an image of a coyote in transit on the other side of the highway.

When I got back to my hotel room and began to inspect my images, I discovered that a smaller animal was visible, paying close attention to the coyote.

As for the black bear photographed by Scott, it’s much easier to spot in a zoomed-in version posted immediately below.

Zoomed-in version shows black bear’s location. Photo: Douglas Scott

Immediately below is an image with the bear pinpointed with an arrow.

Black bear location. Photo: Douglas Scott

As for Yellowstone bears, they’ll begin to emerge from hibernation as early as late March.

Destination: Chicago’s Christkindlmarket

Chicago knows how to do Christmas. There’s a parade and light festival. There’s a Gourmet Dinner Cruise on Christmas Eve. You can see the holiday windows at Macy’s. And there’s the Christkindlmarket. We managed to get there on the very first day …

We managed to get there on the very first day this year, when crowds were relatively small and vendors were excited to be set up and open. The food is the star—although the ornaments and nutcrackers are fun competition. Here are our recommendations:

The Strudel. Any flavor works, but apple is traditional. Cherry. Almond apricot. Cheese. You can’t go wrong, or get a variety box.

The Hot Cider. It doesn’t matter what stand, really, but we liked the one from the German Brothers stand. (They were also selling the best German pancakes.) The cider was less sweet and hotter than others we sampled, but, really, they are all good. You can get yours in a paper cup or one of the three collectible mugs they sell to commemorate the market.

The German Pancakes. We like them with applesauce, simple and flavorful, but you can also get sour cream or other combos. Slightly crispy, completely tasty. Don’t forget the cider.

The Raclette Sandwich. Oh, you have to see it to believe it. The baguette. The hot, melty cheese. The delight in people’s faces as they dig in.

The Donor Kebab. You’ll get it with plenty of seasoned rotisserie meat, onions, cucumbers and tzatziki sauce, all piled into a large wrap. We first tasted this in Germany, and the market stand, Donermen, does it justice.

Moral of the story? Get to Chicago to find your Christmas spirit. It’s an easy train trip on the Blue Line; get off at Washington and you are there!

Photos by Paul K. Logsdon

Top Ten Food Trends for 2025…as predicted by The Food Channel

The lemonade flight from The Original Lemonade House Grille in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. We’ve been keeping our eye on the food industry for decades, so why stop now? There’s a lot of attention turning to food manufacturers and the behind-the-scenes …

The lemonade flight from The Original Lemonade House Grille in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

We’ve been keeping our eye on the food industry for decades, so why stop now?

There’s a lot of attention turning to food manufacturers and the behind-the-scenes of food. There’s also interest in food as a travel incentive, particularly as the number of retiree’s grows, and—according to a Forrester report, travel is reportedly back to pre-pandemic levels.

In addition, while we’ve called out recalls before, the instances appear to be growing.

So, let’s explore what we see ahead. Here are the first five; the remainder will follow shortly.

Recalls Upon Recalls. Is it just us, or are the recalls coming faster these days? You can check it out at the United States Food & Drug Administration’s site. Hamburger meat, carrots, and eggs have been a few of the products singled out recently. Some of this is a matter of statistics, and there is a thoughtful article on the subject found at Food Safety News. Given the increased reporting (for whatever reason), it’s worth digging into this for 2025 so we understand what’s happening in food safety.
Transparent Ingredients. As the call goes out for healthier ingredients, even those manufacturers who haven’t gotten on the band wagon before will now be ready to innovate. This means several things, including increased openness with the public about ingredients, and possibly a new discourse about how to achieve health goals as a nation. Some of this is a response to the industry awareness of government health policy, of course, but some of this has been evolving over recent years and is coming to a head. To read more, we recommend this impact article from Bakery and Snacks.
Kitchen Warehousing. A few years ago, there was a trend where people offered their garages and extra space as “warehouses” – sort of the Airbnb of storage, you might say. That has transitioned into people filling their own space and calling it “kitchen warehousing.” This new warehousing is in your own home, and it’s not for really for food but for decorating. Picture yourself pulling from your shelves like a tablescape designer. After all, the idea of storage now goes beyond your Rubbermaid or old Tupperware containers, and into shelving and moveable racks. Have a closet that used to be crammed full of unused coats? Donate them and use the space for appliances that aren’t in daily use. Your stand mixer, air fryer, blender, dehydrator, seasonal decorations, all qualify for self-warehousing. After all, simplifying your life comes down to living with the things you love, and clearing out the rest, right?
Beverage Playground. You know mocktails have hit mainstream when a hotel happy hour offers them, like our recent experience at an Embassy Suites in Chicago. But even more interesting is the types of flavor combinations. Wine Enthusiast is calling out tropical flavors, while we’re watching soda companies experiment with seasonal and limited time offerings featuring unique taste combos, like Coke Spiced (we liked it, but they’ve already pulled it in favor of a new idea). The KerryDigest sees sensory pairing with flavor, as do we. And, Mintel says it well when it writes, “…the industry will need to encourage consumers to welcome and trust the new origins, ingredients and flavours that will emerge locally and globally.” So, watch for the unusual and try it before they change it again!

Culinary Travel. You are going to think The Food Channel has a thing about this, because we’ve talked often about the influence of food on travel planning. Sur la Table must agree because they’ve come out with Culinary Journeys and they sound amazing. Right now, they are focusing on France, so if Bordeaux or Normandy are on your list, you might want to check them out. We already knew people booked travel around certain restaurants—look at the demand for Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau, Alaska, or The Pancake Bakery in Amsterdam—but it’s now rising to a new level of commitment to the food and restaurants, not just this historic sites and museums. Hint: if you go on your own, make advance reservations!

That’s the top five, so go here for the remaining five of our Top Ten Food Trends for 2025!

Food trends by The Food Channel are not sponsored and any mention of restaurants, products or companies is meant to provide appropriate credit to them for part of our research. They do not pay for the mention.

Yellowstone coyote clearly visible, but can you spot the other critter?

Coyote in Yellowstone National Park is being closely watched by another mammal. Can you spot the critter in the image?

Editor’s note: This is a version of a post first published by For The Win Outdoors in 2023.

A bit of advice for anyone visiting Yellowstone National Park: While searching for wildlife, always take a moment to glance behind you.

It could be rewarding even if you’re already observing large animals.

The accompanying images show a coyote that I photographed in May 2023 while standing near a road with other tourists watching a cinnamon black bear and two cubs.

The bears were down a forested slope, perhaps 80 yards from the road. The coyote was behind us, on the opposite side of the road, passing virtually unnoticed about 40 yards away.

Yellowstone coyote being watched by mystery critter. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

I didn’t realize until that evening that a smaller critter was also in the image, watching the coyote. Can you spot and ID the critter? (Answer below.)

While coyotes aren’t high on many tourists’ spotting lists, I found it interesting that this coyote was on the move so close to people who were looking in the opposite direction.

ALSO: Tiger, cobra square off in rarely witnessed encounter; video

On the same trip, also in Yellowstone’s northern range, I was with perhaps 30 tourists watching another black bear descending a slope toward the road.

Cinnamon-colored black bear in Yellowstone National Park. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

People jockeyed for spots from which to observe or photograph the bruin.

Directly behind us, high atop a rocky peak, mountain goats maneuvered in and out of sight.

Yellowstone black bear and cubs during close roadside encounter. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

On a different day, I was surprised at close range, while outside my vehicle, by a momma bear and two cubs. Momma bear gave me the stink eye until I slowly backed away, when she and her cubs resumed grazing.

Yellowstone coyote being watched closely by a ground squirrel. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

My sightings log for three days: 14 individual bears, the coyote and ground squirrel (see photo above), the mountain goats, and dozens of pronghorn and bison.

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Traveling in or Out of the U.S? Here’s How to Always Stay Connected

With the world today becoming increasingly connected than before, staying in touch with your loved ones, or simply getting work done requires you to have internet access at all times. Especially when you are travelling, you need to check flights, …

Traditionally, getting internet on your phone out of the country can be expensive, which is why we have compiled this list of methods you can use to get an internet connection for cheap during your travel. You can also use these for travelling inside the country. So, without further ado, here are ways to stay connected while traveling in or out of the U.S.:

Get a Temporary Local SIM

Instantly Get a Global Roaming eSIM

Utilize Internet Cafes

Share Hotspot Internet With Others

Use a Public WiFi

Book Accommodation That Has WiFi

Sign up for WiFi Hotspots

A lot of internet providers offer WiFi hotspots you can use alongside your internet connection whenever you’re traveling. ISPs like Spectrum offer Out-of-Home WiFi with large coverage all over the U.S. They also offer support for their Spanish-speaking customers at Spectrum en español.

If you’re going to be staying in the U.S. for a longer period, getting internet that comes with WiFi hotspots can be a great two-in-one deal. These networks are also very reliable and fast, allowing you to work remotely, something which some other providers can’t offer.

Get a Temporary Local SIM

If you’re traveling to another country for a shorter period, you might be thinking that your country’s internet provider’s international plan might be a good idea. However, these can get extremely expensive because of roaming charges, which is why it might be a better idea to get a local sim when you arrive at your destination country.

Before your travel, make sure that your phone isn’t locked to a carrier, which might prevent you from using a local sim. Try going for a prepaid local provider. This means that you can buy a plan or credits in advance, which you can use throughout the trip.

Instantly Get a Global Roaming eSIM

While you can always get a local physical SIM from your destination country, a small, physical card can easily be misplaced or corrupted when changing SIMs.

Most modern smartphones have the functionality of using eSIM technology. Using an eSIM can have a lot of benefits. You can activate the eSIM instantly, and store multiple of them in the same smartphone. You also get increased security, since the SIMs can’t be intercepted.

When you get an eSIM, it’s usually emailed to you so you don’t have to worry about waiting for the SIM card or going out to buy one. You can also deactivate your eSIM, but keep it stored in your phone for future use.

Utilize Internet Cafes

Internet cafes are something you might not expect to see due to the wide coverage of modern Internet infrastructure. However, these are still very common, especially in countries where the internet is expensive or in remote areas.

Here, you can get access to high-speed internet for an hourly or daily rate. Internet cafes are also usually very quiet and provide a safe space where you can get online. If you’re looking for a few hours of fast and stable internet connection, then opting for an internet café instead of public WiFi can be a better option for you.

Share Hotspot Internet With Others

If you’re traveling with other people, getting a shared hotspot WiFi device can be a more budget-friendly option for you, especially if you’re going to be using less bandwidth and there are a lot of users. Even if you’re traveling alone, using a hotspot can still be a better option if you’re using multiple devices such as your laptop and phone.

A hotspot is a small phone-sized device that connects to an internet service provider through a wireless local area network that can be connected to your devices using a wired or wireless connection.

Use a Public WiFi

We don’t generally recommend using public WiFi, since there are a lot of security risks associated with public networks. However, when push comes to shove, public WiFi can also be a good option, especially if you practice smart security practices.

We recommend turning off auto-connect in your WiFi settings and turning off file-sharing. Make sure you always use a VPN to access public networks and ensure that the websites you visit are encrypted with HTTPS.

Lastly, try not to access any apps or services with your sensitive information such as bank accounts or social media platforms.

Book Accommodation That Has WiFi

One of the best ways you can get WiFi access is to book accommodation that gives you access to WiFi. While hotel WiFi can also have security risks, it’s still a lot better than using a public WiFi network.

Typically, when you check in, you can get access to the hotel’s WiFi during your stay. If the WiFi in the hotel is password protected, it should be relatively secure to use. We still recommend using a VPN to get a secure connection.

Before you choose a hotel for your stay, make sure to check if the hotel offers WiFi for free or at an added cost.

Having internet when traveling can be a lifesaver, especially when you wish to contact your family back home or get work done while traveling. Make sure to use these methods in conjunction with each other to alwa

ys stay connected while traveling.

Broncos could stay on East Coast between Weeks 3-4 this fall

The Broncos will travel to Tampa Bay in Week 3 and New York in Week 4. Could they stay on the East Coast between those games?

The Denver Broncos are set to travel 19,670 miles this fall as they play eight games at home and nine games on the road in the 2024 NFL season.

Earlier this year, Broncos coach Sean Payton hinted that the team might stay on the East Coast after facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 leading up to a Week 4 showdown with the New York Jets.

Denver has not yet announced its travel plans for Weeks 3-4, but Payton has been speaking with coaches who have faced similar schedules.

“We play a number of East Coast games this year,” Payton said this spring after the team’s schedule was released. “[I’ve] talked to a few coaches relative to who’s had success going east for the early game. In the last eight years, really Seattle has been one of those teams. I had a chance to visit with Pete [Carroll], had a chance to visit with [Kyle] Shanahan and Sean [McVay]. Who are the notable teams that have done well? It’s kind of funny, they’re good teams. So you’re always looking for like, ‘What’s that edge?’”

NFL teams will do everything they can to gain an edge, but at the end of the day, the better team often wins regardless of factors like travel and weather.

“I can recall there were a lot of demons [the Saints] had to overcome in New Orleans because we had never won on the road in cold weather when it was below 40 degrees,” Payton said. “There were a lot of these ‘nevers.’ Once the teams got good enough, then you began to exercise and get rid of some of those things.”

After going 8-9 in his first season with the Broncos and adjusting to a new time zone in 2023, Payton will hope his club is good enough to overcome any travel scenario in Year 2.

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Rare orca encounter off San Diego includes ‘rainblow’ surprise

Footage shows one of the killer whales swimming to within feet of the boat and greeting passengers with a “rainblow.”

A rare orca encounter Wednesday off San Diego was made extra special when one of the mammals swam to the boat and provided an enchanting moment.

“As if seeing this beautiful animal in the wild wasn’t enough, it also gifted us with a beautiful rainbow!” Domenic Biagini, owner of Gone Whale Watching San Diego, exclaimed via Instagram.

The accompanying footage shows the orca’s close approach – and features Biagini’s exuberant narration – and its “rainblow” greeting.

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Biagini and crew, acting on tips from nature and local sportfishing captains, located more than 10 Eastern Tropical Pacific killer whales, or orcas, near the U.S.-Mexico border.

ETP orcas are commonly encountered in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez but occasionally venture into U.S. waters to hunt dolphins and other marine mammals.

Biagini explained the tip he received from seabirds:

“Our initial exploration found a lot of interesting wildlife, but what stood out to us the most was the number of Black-Footed Albatross we were seeing much closer to shore than usual.

“Those Albatross are often a harbinger of larger predators being around like False Killer Whales, sharks, and especially Orcas!”

Biagini promised “more to come from this incredible day” as the ETP watch is in full swing after the encounter.

The orcas were headed south as Biagini returned to port, but that does not mean that they will not resurface off San Diego or elsewhere in Southern California in the coming days.

River crossing turns perilous for Yellowstone bison calves

The scene revealed to observers that a time of critter births is also a period when many newborn animals succumb to the elements.

Yellowstone National Park abounds with wildlife and visitors typically leave with wonderful memories involving critters they had encountered.

But visitors who spend enough time in the park also witness heart-wrenching scenes that leave them wondering why nature can seem so cruel.

In late May, I pulled over west of Lamar Valley and watched from a distance as a bison herd began to cross the Lamar River.

Momma bison searches for calf downstream.

The river was shallow but with deep, swift-running channels. The opposite bank was steep with loose dirt and the crossing seemed like a perilous proposition for newborn calves.

Within seconds, one calf was swept downstream and around a bend, leaving mom in a panic. She ran down the middle of the river, staying on a shallow. bar, and ultimately accessed the bank to continue her search.

Bison calf pleads for help as momma closes in.

As this occurred, another calf was swept about 40 yards downstream, but regained its footing and ultimately crossed the river with mom’s guidance.

As the herd continued up and over the bank, the bison that lost her calf paced the area for several minutes before abandoning her search to rejoin the herd.

Momma bison helps calf exit a deep portion of river.

I was with other tourists about 500 yards away. We could not see all of the action but concluded that only the one calf had been lost, likely to be preyed upon or scavenged by wolves, coyotes, or bears.

I was so far away, with a 400-millimeter lens, that I didn’t even look at my images until recently. So I cropped the accompanying shots to help illustrate this story.

Baby bison is back on its feet after most of the herd had crossed over the bank.

The scene revealed to us that a season of critter births is also a period when many newborn animals succumb to the elements or predation.

Remarkably, a day later I witnessed a pronghorn birth from almost the same spot, while also watching a momma badger excavate a den for her kits.

Can you spot the Yellowstone moose in this offbeat critter quiz?

Moose sightings are somewhat rare in Yellowstone National Park, but there’s one location where you can always spot one… sort of.

–Editor’s note: A similar version of this post was published in early June.

In May I was watching a momma badger delivering food to her babies in Yellowstone National Park when a local photographer asked if I could spot the moose on the ridge across the highway.

I was thrilled for the opportunity because I had never seen a moose in the park and, after a few seconds, I realized that the photographer had posed a quiz with an amusing twist.

So I’ll do the same: Can you spot the moose on the ridge in the accompanying images? (Answer at the bottom.)

Can you spot the … moose? Photo: ©Pete Thomas

It’s worth noting that moose sightings are somewhat rare in Yellowstone, with fewer than 200 animals inhabiting the sprawling wilderness park.

According to the park, moose numbers have declined over the years “due to the loss of old growth forests surrounding the park, hunting outside the park, burning of habitat, and predators.”

They’re also solitary creatures, for the most part, except during mating season from September into early October.

So moose sightings are cherished, in part, because they occur so infrequently.

The regal critters are most commonly spotted near marshy areas or waterways, which is why I was surprised when the photographer asked me to gaze atop a ridge more suitable for bighorn sheep.

As many have already figured out, this is not a quiz that should demand too much time so I’ve presented the answer above and apologize for not showing an actual moose.

For those interested, this feature is visible from Highway 212, which passes through the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley.