Life is for Living
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Riley Stefano

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The Best Websites for Last-Minute Travel Deals

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The Best Websites for Last-Minute Travel Deals

Is there really anything better than going on vacation and staying in a beautiful hotel where your room is cleaned for you, your bed made, and everything you could possibly want or need gets delivered right to your bedroom door? How about finding that perfect hotel room at a deal that’s just too good to be true? You know, the kind of hotel you can brag to all your friends about while showing them your vacay pics on Insta. Finding sweet hotel deals is the icing on the cake of any vacation, and with plenty of websites out there featuring budget-savvy stays, they’re becoming easier and cheaper to find than ever. We’ve narrowed the list down to five of the best last-minute websites for jaw-dropping hotel deals — just try to keep them to yourself. Bedfinder With hotel discounts in over 150 countries, you might find yourself planning more…

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8 of the UK’s Most Quirky Speakeasies

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8 of the UK's Most Quirky Speakeasies

The roaring ‘20’s — a time of flappers, prohibition, and the iconic vibes of the speakeasy. These hush-hush bars became popular in the US during prohibition when liquor became illegal to sell, but Americans didn’t want to give up the fun-loving liquor. The term speak-easy came from the idea that these places had to be discussed quietly and kept on the down-low during these times so as not to alert the police of their presence. Many times these speakeasies were located in basements of other businesses, creating a dark, intimate atmosphere that is still represented in the modern day speakeasies found in many countries around the world today. While today’s speakeasies are certainly not illegal, many of them have kept that cool-cat atmosphere and swanky style. Don’t miss these eight speakeasy-inspired bars that found their way across the pond in the UK. The Washhouse, Manchester A launderette is not the type…

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6 Must-Sees Around Nashville

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6 Must-Sees in Nashville

With a population growing at 100 people a day, Nashville is one of the hottest cities in the U.S. right now. Millennials have rediscovered a love for country music, wanting to live and breathe the hum of the honky tonk, while talented artists show up with guitar in hand, hoping to make it big in Music City. Nashville has also become the go-to destination for bachelorette parties, and the tourism industry in this small city is booming. Of course, there’s much more to this “Crazy Town” than meets the eye, but to find where the locals go, you’ll have to step away from the bustling, neon-lit street of Broadway. Read on for six of Nashville’s best-kept secrets. Street Art of 12 South Neighborhood Nashville’s iconic street art is no secret when it comes to photos on Instagram, but their location throughout the city is a bit harder to pinpoint without…

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A Day in Provincetown, Cape Cod by Ferry

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A Day Trip to Provincetown, Cape Cod by Ferry | Life is for Living

Lovingly called Ptown by locals, Provincetown on Cape Cod is a picturesque coastal town with a very colorful community. Along with the historic houses and eye-catching art galleries, Ptown is known for its vivacious and fun-loving gay pride, where rainbow flags fly high over bustling Commercial Street, and eccentric shops and equal rights events can be found on every corner. Ptown’s historic charm thrives in this new-age locale, making the very tip of Cape Cod one of the most vibrant and fun-filled coastal escapes!

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The 8 Best Safaris for Every Budget

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The 8 Best Safaris for Every Budget

Experiencing Africa’s wildlife while driving across the Savannah is one of those moments right out of your wildest dreams. (Right, T Swift?). If you’re a traveler exploring the world on a budget and a quintessential African safari ride seems a little out of reach, do a little digging and you may just be surprised what you find.

At an average $1,000 per person per night, the everyday traveler may think they’ll never get to experience the natural beauty of a herd of elephants splashing through a watering hole, or the grace of a cheetah as it runs across a plain. But there are a few companies making the experience of the African safari accessible to everyone by flexing their prices based on the seasonality of your visit, and these eight companies below are among the best.

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Why Are All Amsterdam Houses Crooked?

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Why are all Amsterdam houses crooked? Find out the story.

Amsterdam is iconic. It is one of those places that is best experienced in your 20’s, but can be appreciated for its diversity and vivacity at any age (yes, I’m talking about you, cannabis). In just three days, the beautiful city of Amsterdam became one of my favorite places in the world. The city is shaped like a half moon or the smile of the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland. Canals run through the entirety of the city, and beautiful old Dutch houses line these canals side by side in seamless rows. The houses were what made me fall for the city, not just for their beautiful architecture, but also the story behind them. Take advantage of the FREE morning walking tours through the city. If you’re staying at a hostel, ask the front desk if the tour guide picks you up, because 90% of the time they do!…

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Iceland’s South Coast

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Exploring Iceland's South Coast and all its waterfalls and more.

This was my favorite day of the entire trip. Although I wish that the weather had been a bit more friendly for sightseeing, we made the most of the incredibly fierce wind and the drizzle after having had an on and off sun-filled day around the Golden Circle. Because we drove from Keflavik, we were able to drive down the coast along route 427, passing through the eerily beautiful volcanic landscape of Reykjanesfolkvangur Nature Reserve. The drive was a little over two hours to our first stop because of the wind, but the ocean waves and snow-capped mountains amongst the black lava fields were a breathtaking sight as we explored. Check out the route we drove here. Seljalandsfoss Seljalandsfoss: This waterfall may just be the most iconic of Iceland (this one or the amazing Kirkjufellsfoss on the Snaefellsness Peninsula in the north of the island which I hope to get to one…

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72 Hours in Iceland

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72 Hours in Iceland

Before Iceland became the newest hot spot to travel, it was my dream destination. Six years ago I saw an advertisement on the Boston T (the subway) for the Blue Lagoon, with the message that romance was alive in Iceland and you could watch the famous Northern Lights from the comfort of a heated geothermal pool. I used to tell people that it would be the location of my someday honeymoon and my future hubby would just have to ditch the idea of the standard tropical destination and embrace the cold. But, when I won Viva Lifestyle and Travel’s three night stay in Iceland’s only Five-Star hotel contest, I realized that Iceland just couldn’t wait; especially not with the $100 flight deal from Boston to Iceland which WOW Airlines sponsors regularly! So, I enlisted my boyfriend to take on the adventure with me, (the same one who I once told when…

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Iceland’s Golden Circle

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Traveling Iceland's Golden Circle

The Golden Circle just might be Iceland’s most famous tourist route. Breathtaking landscapes make you feel as if you have traveled to another world rather than just across the ocean. Without stopping, the route is about a 3.5 hour drive from Reykjavik and all the way around the loop, but we were able to stop and see all the major spots in a comfortable 5 hours. We went in winter, when the Northern Lights are vibrant and the snow turns the lava rock landscape into a whimsical wonderland. I had enlisted my boyfriend to venture on this excursion through Iceland with me (his first time ever on a plane!) and we had just 72 hours to see what we could of this amazing country. The Golden Circle was our first adventure on our first day in Iceland, and I couldn’t wait to see all the beauty that this little island of…

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Which Aran Island to Visit

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Which Aran Island to visit | A day trip from Galway, Ireland

Off the coast of Western Ireland, in the heart of Galway Bay, is a place virtually untouched by tourism. This place consists of three islands known for their wool sweaters and ancient landmarks. The people living on these islands live simple lives, farming, fishing and writing, and all those quintessential “Irish” things. They are some of the friendliest people I have ever met, and I have never had a better meal of fish n’ chips in my life. These three islands are called the Aran Islands and are known as Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, and Inis Oírr – the great, the middle, and the back. In English, they are spelled Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer, but the Gaelic is just so much prettier. Most people visit Inishmore, the big island, because naturally they believe that this island offers the most to do. While this is the best island to explore for…

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