No More Beach Blues in Brazil

By Manfredi Conti Published June 1, 2013

As a general rule of thumb, the harder a destination is to arrive at, the more pristine and therefore more spectacular it must be.

Jericoacoara, Brazil, isn’t the easiest of places to reach; the nearest airport is a five hour 4×4 car ride away in Fortaleza, and budget airlines don’t fly there yet. In Jeri, as locals call it, there are sand paths instead of paved roads and although both electricity and the internet have recently become available, the tiny fishing village still feels totally disconnected from the 21^st century. Colossal sand dunes, legendary sunsets and chilled beach parties attract bohemian voyagers from all over – this could be the Goa of the Carribbean – minus the hard drugs and techno.

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Slightly off to the west of Jericoacoara is the Rancho do Peixe, comprised of 20 hand-thatched bungalows on stilts set amongst a truly Robinson Crusoe-esque backdrop of swaying palm trees, supreme tranquility and nothing else. There is an unobtrusive, lagoon-like pool and a mini spa hut for massages, but when not enjoying the waves guests will mostly find themselves unwinding with a caipirina on the hammocks.

Brazilian cuisine is eclectic, colorful and pretty heavy on the gut. The national dish, feijoada, comes in many regional variations including galinhada, peixada, panelada – essentially hearty rice and bean based stews with chicken, seafood or beef. Sweet offerings are just as intense but more palatable; chunky banana, coconut and tapioca cakes. However the Ceará coastline is renowned for superb fresh seafood and somewhat strangely, excellent pizzeria’s, as many expat Italians have set up shop here. If the calorie count concerns you, just hoist your bum onto a board, literally; because of mighty winds that blow year round this is the ultimate surfer’s paradise. The breeze also helps keep the shocking heat at bay; Jeri is after all (almost) slap bang on the equator. Rainy season and peak tourist season both fall around the holiday period from November to February so it’s generally muito, muito melhor to visit any other time of the year.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Manfredi is an aspiring globetrotting gypsetter. This is not to be confused with a vagabond beach bum. Apart from…

Outdoors

Biscuit Basin is closed — here’s what to do in Yellowstone instead

Summer fun at Yellowstone is going to look different this year

Overhead photo of a geyser at Yellowstone National Park

Visiting Yellowstone National Park may look a bit different this year with the continued closure of Biscuit Basin, but it's still going to be worth it. There are so many other geysers, canyons, and wildlife to see that it would be a huge mistake to miss out on it this summer just because the path to Old Faithful is still under construction. Here's everything you need to know when entering Yellowstone this summer, and how to make the most of it according to the National Park Service.
Making the most of Yellowstone this Summer

While Biscuit Basin faces reconstruction efforts after the hydraulic explosion that happened last year, you'll still be able to enjoy wildlife hotspots like the Lamar Valley, which is nicknamed "America's Serengeti" for all of the animals you can see. Yellowstone Lake will also be open for boating or fishing excursions. The Yellowstone Lake hotel and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is open this summer if you don't want to camp, and a lot of the trails around Mammoth Hot Springs will be open too. You can also see Norris Geyser Basin, which is park's hottest and oldest.
No need to worry about timed entry
One of the best parts about Yellowstone National Park is that they don't require timed entry reservations like Yosemite National Park or Glacier National Park. Summer is still pretty busy, so be prepared for crowds, but the park is 2.2 million acres in total, so there's a fair amount of space to spread out. Still, you will need a park entrance pass to get through the gate.
Make your reservations in advance
Campgrounds do require reservations in advance, so make sure that you book dates before you go. If you plan to do any fishing or boating in the area, make sure that you also snag yourself a fishing or boating permit. You will also need to submit your boat for an inspection.
Expect terrible cell service
Personally, I don't know why you'd want to be on your phone with Yellowstone out your window, but keep in mind that cell service is limited here. I recommend downloading maps and the NPS app beforehand, as well as any road closure information. These closures can be sudden due to the unpredictability of Yellowstone's weather, so prepare in advance by packing a warm jacket, rain gear, and layers when you go.
Be responsible, especially around wildlife
While driving, be sure to observe posted speed limits and use the pullouts to watch wildlife, making sure that all four of your tires are fully to the right of the white line. This will allow other cars to pass easily. Seeing wildlife up close is amazing, but remember to stay a minimum of 25 yards away from all wildlife, and 100 yards away from bears, wolves, and cougars. Elks are also dangerous, so don't even think about holding your baby near one.

Travel

Inside the new era of aircraft interiors, according to a design expert

STARLUX aviation cabin

Air travel can often seem like a means to an end. You must journey hundreds or thousands of miles, and comfort takes a back seat to reaching your destination. But cramped, crowded cabins can feel like riding a school bus, making a flight something to endure rather than enjoy.

But what if an airplane cabin were a tailored space akin to a luxury hotel? What if designers considered every aspect, from the lighting to the dimensions to the materials, to ensure the in-flight experience was something to look forward to?

Outdoors

Utah ski resort set for largest expansion ever

Deer Valley Resort will have 7 new chairlifts and over 80 new runs and more this season

View from the top of a trail at Deer Valley

Deer Valley Resort in Utah, one of our favorite ski resorts, is gearing up to deliver the largest ski resort expansion in history, just in time for the 2025/26 season. As a part of the resort's "Expanded Excellence" initiative, this project aims to expand the skiable terrain to 5,726 acres, upgrade infrastructure, and eventually redo the Snow Park base area. Here's what you need to know about the upgrades.

“With multiple large-scale projects underway, we’re strategically focusing our efforts to ensure success at every step,” said Todd Bennett, President and COO of Deer Valley Resort. “This winter’s terrain expansion — more than doubling our skiable acreage — is a once-in-a-generation transformation, and it deserves our full attention."