

Emily H. Bratcher
Emily H. Bratcher is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Iowa City, Iowa. When she’s not chasing after her posse of young children, you can find her clicking away at her Mac, jogging alongside the Iowa River or perfecting her Larabar recipe.
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Stand-up paddle boarding is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. And because SUP doesn't discriminate when it comes to water鈥攊t can be still or rushing鈥攜ou can find classes and meet-ups just about everywhere. But if you've never done it before, here's Kristin Artz from the…
Everyone has heard of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite鈥攁nd for good reason. These national parks are American treasures. But their red ravines, spewing geysers, and endless valleys attract countless visitors, especially come summer. If you want a dose of natural beauty sans crazy crowds, plan a trip to one…
Well, where?
Coasteering is a combination of rock climbing, swimming, and optional cliff jumping. As you鈥檝e probably guessed from the term, this sport, which got its start in Wales, takes place on a coastline. It has allure for those looking for an adrenaline rush鈥攁nd some exercise鈥攊n a beautiful environment.聽 One…
The answer is yes, you can use your other half鈥攜our iPhone鈥攁broad. But here are a few tips for making sure you have money for something other than international roaming. First, call your carrier and inquire about their particular packages for out-of-country travel. For instance, AT&T will charge…
When you visit Italy, you want to see Italy鈥攏ot other tourists. But the country is a pretty popular destination for pizza-loving jet-setters. In fact, tens of millions of visitors descend on the boot-shaped Mediterranean country every year. Here are a few places you should go to avoid most of them.
If you want to run in the footsteps of Sir Roger Bannister, who famously ran the world鈥檚 first sub-four-minute mile, Oxford University is the place to go. Sixty years ago, on May 6, 1954, the then-25鈥搚ear-old medical student broke through the tape at 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds on the campus鈥檚…
Car travel is completely possible鈥攁nd even fun鈥攚ith young kids. However, a successful trip requires planning, flexibility, and a sense of humor. Follow these tips and you’re sure to enjoy the ride. Plan Ahead Throw spontaneity to the wind, and plan ahead. Sorry, but you’re no longer that happy-go-lucky couple that…
You might be one of those who people who doesn鈥檛 鈥済et鈥 Vegas. The charms of Sin City are completely lost on you, but there鈥檚 a conference at Caesar’s, and your company has sent you. Or maybe it鈥檚 the location for your buddy鈥檚 bachelor party. So you reluctantly…
What kinds of cities make families happy? That was our starting point. The answer, of course, is complicated. Our first assumption: kids like being around other kids. So we looked for cities where a high percentage of the population is under age 18. Next we looked at affordability...
Istanbul is the world’s top travel destination according to TripAdvisor’s 2014 Traveler’s Choice awards. It’s also a very large city of more than 2,000 square miles and somewhere in the realm of 14.1 million people.聽 Never has continent-hopping been so easy. The Bosporus Strait separates Istanbul’s western…
Getting around the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is no easy task. Not only is the airport humongous, it’s also crowded鈥攙ery crowded. Last year, the airport saw 94 million passengers depart and arrive, making it the busiest airport in the world. That’s a whole lot of harried…
You鈥檙e in luck. Believe it or not, the Sooner State boasts plenty of state and national parks, wildlife refuges, and more. And these places provide opportunities for everything from hiking to rock climbing and biking to boating. Plus, all of these open-air areas are located within a few hours of…
If you’re looking to get zen in the USA with some sun salutations and downward dogs, here are a few places you should try. White Lotus Foundation Retreat Center Santa Barbara, CaliforniaFor the yogi looking to hone his or her practice Every year, the…
Hiking even a short section of the Appalachian Trail can seem a daunting prospect. After all, the AT is a 2,184-mile footpath is comprised of flat sections, scrambles, steep inclines, challenging descents and more. You might wonder whether you have the strength or stamina to even venture a hike. “Having…
What about the beach? Although you might not associate the seaside with England, maybe you should. After all, England is an island, with ocean waters slapping against its coasts on all sides. Plus, there are some really lovely shore towns, where outdoor pursuits, cultural activities, and good old beach bumming…
Keeping up with your fitness on a family vacation can be difficult. When your hometown gym is out of sight, it鈥檚 easy for it to be out of mind too. And even though vacation means a holiday away from grocery shopping and preparing meals, you’ll probably be consuming more…
The United States has 12,383 miles of coastline. For you runners out there, that translates to roughly 472 domestic marathons. And while charting your own route can be fun, there鈥檚 something to be said for an organized event: the aid stations, the swag, the camaraderie聽that develops when…
If you鈥檙e going to go to the trouble of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles, you may as well pick a gorgeous milieu. These courses are in locales that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but loaded with ways to relax post-race. Ironman Cairns in Queensland, Australia.
Except for two interruptions during World War II, the Winter Olympics have been held continuously since 1924. Over a period of nine decades, these snowy competitions have played out in 21 mountainous enclaves on three continents. Most of the venues are still worth a wintertime visit; here are a few…
George Washington鈥檚 nose is 21 feet long鈥攑lus 13 other facts about the presidential monument
Take a break from winter in a mineral bath that will soothe your soul.
One of the most popular places to catch waves in Costa Rica is the Guanacaste province located on the country鈥檚 northwestern 鈥済old coast.鈥 Not only does this province yield some pretty awesome wave breaks, it鈥檚 also one of the most heavily visited areas with a booming tourist apparatus.
Although it might seem that backpackers are free spirits who fly by the seat of their pants, most experienced hikers will tell you that good planning is what determines a good trip. Here’s what you need to know before tackling a long-distance hike, such as the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, or…
If the thought of seeing a real life march of the penguins gives you happy feet, then you鈥檙e in luck. There are actually a number of places you can witness the exultant event, and they鈥檙e not all in Antarctica. Although the earth鈥檚 icy, southernmost continent does contain a number of…