Displaying items by tag: lifestyle

There’s something uniquely magical about playing golf in the fall, when the crisp air and vibrant foliage transform each round into a sensory celebration. 

• At The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Vermont, brilliant reds, golds, and ambers create a postcard-perfect setting against the backdrop of the Green Mountains. 

• In Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Jack Frost National Golf Club combines dramatic elevation changes with fiery autumn leaves for unforgettable panoramic views. 

• Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan pairs Lake Michigan’s sweeping shores with a kaleidoscope of colors that makes every fairway feel like an artist’s canvas. 

• Farther south, Linville Golf Club in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains offers golfers a spectacular blend of mountain terrain and rich fall hues, turning each hole into a living painting.

•  Finally, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near Portland, Oregon, wraps players in misty mornings and a colorful tapestry of evergreens and deciduous trees, creating an almost mystical experience. 

Finsum: Together, these destinations prove that fall golf is more than a game—it’s a journey into nature’s most beautiful season.

For parents seeking toddler-friendly destinations closer to home, several standout U.S. getaways offer fun for both kids and adults. 

1. San Antonio, Texas, features an accessible zoo with interactive nature spaces, a one-of-a-kind ultra-inclusive theme park, immersive art installations, and standout local cuisine. 
2. In Wisconsin, Manitowoc and Sheboygan provide scenic beaches, children’s literature-inspired gardens, and the rare opportunity to sleep aboard a WWII submarine at the SubBNB. 
3. St. Louis, Missouri, delivers big-city variety with small-town ease, offering attractions like the Gateway Arch, creative spray parks, the toddler-friendly City Museum, and a lively food scene. 

Each destination blends hands-on activities for little ones with cultural and culinary experiences that appeal to grown-ups. From feeding giraffes to climbing through submarines, these locations offer memorable adventures tailored to families. 

Finsum: The key takeaway for parents: traveling with toddlers is possible—and incredibly rewarding—with the right destination.

Summer 2025 travel trends show strong demand for beach and urban destinations, with top searches on Hilton.com including Los Cabos, San Juan, New York, and Paris. Tripadvisor reports Cancun and Las Vegas as leading international and domestic picks, while experiences like cultural tours and outdoor activities remain a high priority, especially for younger travelers. 

Allianz Partners notes that 71% of Americans are staying stateside, with Seattle, Orlando, and Honolulu topping U.S. itineraries, though international beach locales like Cancun and the Caribbean remain popular. European travel is also rising, with Allianz projecting a 10% increase in U.S. trips to the region, continuing a multi-year surge. 

Meanwhile, Kindred highlights rising travel costs as a growing concern, prompting 90% of U.S. travelers to seek ways to cut expenses. Travelers are shifting toward more affordable lodging options, with many citing frustration over hotel surcharges, rental fees, and limited amenities.

Finsum: Take advantage of the travel this summer with some of these great destinations.

Pickleball has continued its meteoric rise, maintaining its title as America’s fastest-growing sport for the fourth year in a row. In 2024 alone, participation surged nearly 46%, with the number of U.S. players estimated at 19.8 million by SFIA, and some alternative estimates from the APP suggesting that number could be as high as 48 million. 

The sport is becoming increasingly popular among younger demographics, with the 25–34 age group now leading participation and the average player age dropping to just under 35. Infrastructure is racing to keep up, with over 68,000 courts now in the U.S. and a projected $855 million investment needed to meet future demand. 

While challenges like court shortages persist, the sport’s rapid growth has attracted significant attention from manufacturers, with over 1,200 new paddles and 476 brands registered in 2024 alone. 

Finsum: With cross-generational appeal and increasing institutional support, pickleball has evolved from a niche pastime to a defining part of the American athletic landscape.

The rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in college basketball has significantly tilted the playing field in favor of blue blood programs, further eroding the chances for mid-majors to make deep tournament runs. 

Top talent from smaller schools is increasingly being poached by power conference programs offering far more lucrative NIL deals, making it harder for underdogs to retain breakout stars. As a result, teams like George Mason or Loyola Chicago may soon become relics of a bygone era, replaced by a tournament field dominated by historically elite programs. 

Jay Williams and other analysts have pointed out that the transfer portal and NIL have created a new recruiting pipeline where even mid-level Power Five schools can outbid and outshine mid-majors. The evidence is showing on the court—while some smaller programs still challenge the big names, they rarely break through to the Sweet 16. 

Finsum: Ultimately, the NIL era may not have killed Cinderella, but it’s certainly made her invitation to the dance much harder to come by.