Photo: Nichole Pareti
Santa Barbara Has 7 Official Wine Regions. Here’s How to Tour Them in a Long Weekend.
Freed from the rulebooks that govern Napa or Bordeaux, Santa Barbara's vintners experiment with a freedom rarely found in more codified wine country, which helped earn the region its nickname: "The Wild West" of American viticulture. Helped along by a cooling current off the Gulf of Alaska, the region's grapes get an unusually long ripening season, allowing for more unconventional winemaking.
The region packs seven American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) into a stretch compact enough to cover in one trip, including California's second-oldest AVA. Pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah lead the pack, but keep an eye out for standout albariño and grenache too.
G U I D E
10 Easy Ways to Find Authentic Gelato in Italy
Photo: Igor Link/Shutterstock
It’s an Italian staple, but a bad gelato can sour an entire Roman Holiday-esque afternoon. Here's how to make sure yours isn't a tourist rip-off.
D E A L S
Travel Worth Booking
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Photo: Le Barthélemy Hotel
Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa: Science-backed Longevity Stays, available in three- to 14-day programs, combine biological age testing, regenerative therapies, and up to six months of post-visit support.
JetBlue: Starting July 31, Mint passengers get dishes from NYC favorites Crown Shy and Birdee, with Red Hook Tavern and Hometown Bar-B-Que joining in early 2027.
Club Med: Save up to 50 percent on last-minute summer stays. And bonus, kids under 4 stay free.
TAP Air Portugal: Through 7/27, get discounted economy fares, including Miami to Lisbon starting at $589.
Rocky Mountaineer: Book by July 21 for a $750 travel credit per couple on eligible 2027 rail packages.
R A N K E D
10 European UNESCO Archeological Sites You Can Visit for a Look Into the Past
Photo: spatuletail/Shutterstock
From 450,000-year-old cave paintings to 13th-century stone circles, these 10 sites are protected for all time and worth seeing in yours.
G U I D E
Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Photos: Visit Tuscaloosa
Three to four hours from Nashville, New Orleans, and Atlanta, this college town packs a two- or three-day trip's worth of riverwalks, lake trails, and game-day energy.
S T A Y S
Naples, Florida, Has Two Sides. Noble House Has a Hotel for Both.
Photos: Jamie Sanders; Jeff McCollough/Shutterstock
One downtown and glossy, one Gulf-side and dolphin-watching: Matador Creator Jamie Sanders checked into both Noble House properties to find out which suits you.
Travel Well
The Matador Editorial Team
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