If winter has you craving blue skies and warmth, you’re not imagining it — sunshine really does change everything. From Dubai’s endless golden days to other sun-soaked cities around the world, this guide explores why chasing the sun might be the best travel decision you make this year.

Sports travel means early mornings, long days, and a lot of time spent in places you didn’t exactly plan to visit. After years on the road, we’ve learned that where you stay matters. Home2 Suites by Hilton gives our family the space, comfort, and flexibility we need to make sports weekends feel easier—and honestly, happier.

Skyscrapers. City streets. Busy people. Lights, steam, food, and wind in your face. Chicago at Christmas is cold and alive in the best way. Every year I squeeze in a few days just to walk, window shop, warm up over pizza, and remember why this city always delivers when I need a real city fix.

Fishing the Dream Stream in Colorado with kids is peaceful and easygoing. Cold water, wide-open space, simple planning, and time outside together along the South Platte River — this is the kind of family trip that stays with you.

Before our big bike tour from Seattle to Yellowstone, my husband and I detoured to Orcas Island—and it ended up being one of the best parts of the entire adventure. Doe Bay Resort, the soaking tubs, the winding island roads, and the people we met there made it a place I still think about. A little quirky, a little magical… and absolutely worth the trip.

Sangihe is one of Indonesia’s most overlooked islands — quiet, raw, and full of natural beauty. Volcano hikes, hidden waterfalls, world-class diving, and empty beaches make it perfect for travelers who love off-the-beaten-path adventures.