Today’s Note

This special edition of RALtoday was curated by Senior Editors Emily + Sarah. Emily’s dream vacay is a trip to the Maldives, while Sarah wants to cross Hawaii off her bucket list. Happy traveling.

Travel

5 vacation spots we’re drooling over

Photos via VRBO

Did you know? Simply planning a vacation can boost your happiness for up to eight weeks. We’ve narrowed in on five incredible destinations for East Coasters, recommended by our very own editors. Read on for eye-catching places to stay, top activities to do, and the one essential item you’ll need to bring. Your happiness boost starts in three… two… one…

🐚 Topsail Island, NC

Top Sail.png — Based on US travel searches, Topsail is the No.1 trending summer travel destination for 2023. Photos via VRBO

Make your Outer Banks dreams a reality with a trip to this sleepy coastal town that boasts lush maritime forests, white sandy beaches, opportunities for water sports and family-friendly activities, a sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center, and oysters aplenty.

Best places to stay:

For couples: Oceanfront condo
Unique find: Beachside dome
For the family: Dog-friendly beach house
For a big family reunion: Luxe oceanside stay

Your Topsail must-have: A sand-resistant beach towel. Because there’s nothing worse than sand finding its way into your beach bag.

Your Topsail must-do: A sunset sail tour. Take a day trip to the historic Wrightsville Beach (less than one hour by car) and enjoy spotting marine life while sailing on a yacht.

🌊 Nova Scotia

One of the four Atlantic provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia is known for its rugged coastline, high tides, historic lighthouses, scenic hiking trails, and Tidal Bay wines.

Best places to stay:

For couples: Picturesque cottage
Unique find: Oceanfront retreat
Splurge-worthy: Romantic chateau
Halifax hotel: Prince George Hotel

Your Nova Scotia must-have: Binoculars. Whale watching is a top experience here, with 12 species of whale visiting the area yearly.

Your Nova Scotia must-do: A sunset sailing experience. Enjoy four local wine and cheese pairings while cruising around the Halifax Harbor on this small group tour.

🏖️ Bermuda

This British territory is the tropical escape you didn’t know you needed. It boasts high-end golf courses, picturesque pink sand beaches, unique outdoor activities like cave exploration and cliff-jumping, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and ample cultural activities.

Best places to stay:

For the family: Coral beach cottage
Best views: Villa with panoramic ocean views
Splurge-worthy: Luxe oceanfront suite
For resort amenities: Hamilton Princess & Beach Club

Your Bermuda must-have: A wide brim sun hat. UV rays are no joke on these sun-kissed beaches. Psst — this one is stylish and keeps its shape even after being squished in your suitcase.

Your Bermuda must-do: The Bermuda Hidden Gems Tour. You’ll snorkel, explore cave pools at the Walsingham Nature Reserve, and enjoy ice cream from a family-owned shop on this comprehensive tour.

2 more summer spots

Asked

What other destinations would you like us to cover?

A. More East Coast locations like Amelia Island, FL
B. A West Coast adventure like Cannon Beach, OR
C. A European getaway like Sicily
D. Other

Let us know

✈️

RALtoday’s favorite flight hack

Explore Barcelona and more destinations with flight deals from Going. | Photo via Unsplash

$241. That’s the real price of a roundtrip ticket from Boston to Barcelona sold this year via Going — a travel membership (formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights) that alerts you when flight prices drop. The best part — you can get Going for free and watch the deals roll into your inbox.

If you want even better deals, Going offers Premium and Elite memberships. Here’s what you’ll get with each one:

Premium:

First-to-know deal notifications on domestic and international flights
Last-minute weekend getaway deals
Mistake fare deals from your favorite airports

Elite:

Everything included with the Premium plan, plus:
Mistake fare deals from all US airports
Deals on first class, business, and premium economy flights

Get going with Going

✈️ Our travel must-haves

This nifty travel pillow comes in eight different colors. | Photos via Amazon

The pillow:

This twistable memory foam travel pillow may just save your back.

The luggage:

This smart luggage carry-on set has a USB port and a cup holder. We repeat: This suitcase has a cup holder.

The headphones:

These Bose noise canceling headphones are a tried and true favorite with 23,000+ five-star reviews.

The item you didn’t know you needed:

Make sure you can watch that in-flight movie with an AirFly wireless headphones transmitter. It’ll connect in-flight entertainment right to your personal headphones — so you can skip the cheap ones the airlines pass out.

6AM City may receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

You received this email because you are signed up for emails from 6AM City.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.