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Stories about food, fashion, travel, and other topics relevant to our readers’ interests.

Best Summer Vacation Destinations in the United States

On July 26, 2019

The summer season is currently on full blast, and the hot sunny days mean it’s time for a vacation! And if you live in the USA, you’re in luck: There are so many summer-perfect destinations that it can be difficult to decide where to go. Whether you’re heading to the beach, going on a cross-country road trip, exploring a new city, or camping in the mountains, you’ll certainly find your preferred activity in the United States, and there definitely will be no shortage of fun!

Not sure about which of the 50 beautiful USA states will be best for your vacation? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best summer destinations in the U.S. that you should add to your travel itinerary.

Manitou Island, Michigan

If you’re looking for an undiscovered beach destination, then Manitou Island is the place to go. This breathtaking island offers an escape for those who are looking for solitude in nature. The place offers a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, paddling, kayaking, and camping. Visitors interested in wildlife will also find diverse flora and fauna on its beaches and wilderness areas.

You can learn more about the history of Manitou Island by exploring the North Manitou Village and the ghost town of Crescent, taking care to respect the privacy of those who are living on the island. Manitou Island is accessible only via a boat, but you’ll surely have a great trip across Lake Michigan to get there as there are wonderful views in any seat on the boat.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

You’ll never run out of things to do in Cape Cod. This part of Massachusetts offers every kind activity you could want—no wonder it is one of the top vacation spots in the country! Enjoy gorgeous beaches, dine on fabulous seafood shacks, explore picture-perfect lighthouses, or simply lounge on the sand while stargazing or watching the seals play in the waves. The shoreline also offers a range of outdoor activities like sunbathing, swimming, beachcombing, kayaking, snorkeling, and sailing.

Visit the Salt Pond Visitor Center, the town’s main visitor facility that features a museum, bookstore, and an indoor theatre. Don’t forget to add the Province Land’s Visitor Center to your itinerary—it features an observation deck with a stunning 360-degree view of the Province Lands dunes, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Outer Beach. Get your camera loaded with lots of storage as there are plenty of scenic surroundings in Cape Cod, and you’ll surely love to shoot photos at its colorful downtown area.

San Francisco, California

San Francisco is without a doubt one of the greatest cities in the world. People are drawn for its lively crowd, eccentricity, beautiful scenery, and rich history. The place has been a famous destination for foodies for its variety of great restaurants, as well as food markets where they do market-to-table demonstration by local chefs. Thousands of visitors also take a cruise on the bay for a tour of the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and the country’s first lighthouse. It’s not all grim history at Alcatraz, though: the island offers the most breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline.

Summer is the most fun time of the year in the Bay Area. San Francisco offers many activities to do and discover during summer, with festivities, races, attractions happening almost every day of the week. The longer days of summer opens up more opportunities to experience everything the City by the Bay has to offer. And surely, nobody will go home without taking a picture with one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Golden Gate Bridge. Take a selfie on San Fran’s famous cable cars and make the Lombard Street, dubbed the most crooked street in the world, your photo background!

Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City is a family-friendly and affordable summer destination in the Mid-Atlantic. This resort town has ten miles of family-friendly beach, a famous Boardwalk, delicious bites, exciting attractions, and free events. The place receives up to 8 million visitors each year, making it one of the east coast’s most popular destinations. Tourists flock here for its warm sands and the fun-filled water adventures it offers, such as swimming, surfing, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. If you love the view of the ocean then this is the place for you!

It’s also worth noting that the Ocean City Boardwalk has long been a favorite American summer destination as it offers several amusement park rides, stores, and arcades. The place is perfect to explore on a bicycle or roller skates. Don’t miss the chance to visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, where both kids and adults can discover and enjoy fun & quirky stuff, and ride the Boardwalk’s Ferris wheel, where you’ll get a picturesque view at the top!

The Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, is a destination that all Americans should see at least once in their lifetime. 6.38 million visitors flock here annually for the breathtaking natural scenery that stretches for 277 miles. You can explore the canyon as you wish, and we recommend taking your time as a day trip could be too short to truly immerse yourself in all the place has to offer.

The Grand Canyon Village is the most popular entryway into the park. Visit Yavapai Point, one of the best spots to view the canyon. The Horseshoe Bend is another top attraction for tourists coming from the eastern end, offering visitors and photographers with stunning views. Havasu Falls may be difficult to reach, but you’ll be rewarded with its famous jaw-dropping sceneries resplendent with turquoise-hued waters. Visitors must hike 10 miles into the canyon and 10 miles back up to the rim to get here, but the trip is well worth the effort.

Ready your travel bags and your cameras, because you don’t want to miss out on the precious moments of this summer! Of course, we would love to remember every moment of our summer trips, and there is no better way to keep them with Nixplay frames. These smart frames not only display a great assortment of your photos, but also play video clips of the summer you’ll never forget.

Edward Cruz

Edward Cruz is a staff writer for VIPpromocodes.com, a website that provides the latest promotional codes, exclusive sales, and offers for all of the top stores in the U.S.A.

http://VIPpromocodes.com

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10 Things That Should Be On Your Best Friend Bucket List

By Mars Salazar

On July 25, 2019

In Lifestyle

One of the perks of having a best friend is that you have someone with whom you can do all the fun things you’ve always wanted to do. The best part is that it’s never too late to make new memories with them! Whether you’ve been joined at the hip since kindergarten or are colleagues-turned-BFFS, there will never be a shortage of new adventures to embark on and fun times to be had. Start with these ten activities you can tick off before summer ends!

Go on an impromptu road trip.

Gas up your car, stock up snacks, and make a playlist with all your favorite songs and podcasts. You’ll have all you need for a fun road trip across a few state lines.

Stay up all night and watch the sunrise.

After binge-watching your favorite shows and movies all night long, prepare some tea or hot chocolate and head out to catch the last twinkling of the stars before the sunrise. It’s the perfect time for a heart-to-heart talk with your bestie–you’ll be closer than ever!

Hit the beach.

Make it a summer to remember by going to the beach with your closest friends! Pack some refreshing treats and put on your most flattering swimsuit for a fun day of sun, sand, and sea. If you can go snorkeling or better yet, scuba diving, that’ll be even better.

Try a restaurant you’ve always wanted to dine at.

Maybe it’s a fancy restaurant with a few Michelin Stars or a talked-about place with a cheap buffet. Whatever’s on your shared foodie bucket list, pick one out and tick it off with your best pals!

Go camping.

Camping is a great way to learn more about yourself and your friends. Aside from polishing your survival skills, you’ll learn a lot about each other when you’re out in the wilderness. Build a fire, toast some smores, and get comfortable for a great chat with your buddies.

Visit another country together.

Exploring a different country will take your friendship to new heights. When you’re out of your comfort zone, navigating around a foreign land, you’ll learn to tolerate each other’s quirks and habits, both good and bad.

Attend your favorite artist’s concert.

Going to a concert or a music festival with your buddies can definitely be counted as a highlight of your friendship. It can be a little expensive, especially if it’s a major celebrity or an out-of-town concert, but the memories you’ll make will be priceless.

Find a favorite hiking spot.

If you and your friends are an outdoorsy bunch, you probably already have a favorite hiking spot by now. It’ll be nice if you and your friends can go there at least once a year to have a great time outdoors.

Join a race together.

Athletic buddies should ignite their competitive tendencies and join a race together! Don’t feel pressured to finish first, but train hard and make an effort to beat your respective personal best records.

Visit an amusement park together.

Amusement parks are always fun to visit, but it’s just better when you’re with your best friends. You’ll have a blast lining up for the rides and trying all the snacks you’ll only get to eat there.

Don’t forget to take lots of pictures with your BFF when you go on your adventures! This way, you’ll always have fond memories of your friendship that you can look back on as the years pass by. Display your favorite photos on a Nixplay Frame so you’ll always be reminded of the good times you’ve had. Better yet, surprise your best friend with a Nixplay Frame of their own so they’ll have an everlasting reminder of your friendship! Get our bestselling smart frames at up to 25% off, only until August 4!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

Parenting 101: How to Work Together as a Team

By Nixplay Team

On July 15, 2019

In Lifestyle

Raising children should be a team effort. After all, parenting can be demanding and it certainly doesn’t come easy. The key is team parenting, which is defined as being united in you and your partner’s expectations, rules, guidelines, and methods of discipline. But it’s a lot harder than it sounds, especially when you and your partner have different parenting styles.

Differences in parenting styles can strain your marriage. Squabbles about how to raise kids can pile up, possibly causing irreparable damage. That’s why constant communication and teamwork are crucial. If you haven’t figured out how to do it yet, here are a few tips that can help you:

Ask each other for help.

Sharing the load is easier if both you and your partner are willing to ask each other for help. Breastfeeding, for example, can be challenging for mothers, but moms don’t always ask for help from their partner—and they should.

Fathers can help their spouses by holding their child after feeding. Baby Centre explains that this little moment is a great opportunity for a dad to bond with his child, and it’s an intimate way to show the mom that he is by her side. Showing each other genuine support is a great way to make each other’s lives easier. Delegate tasks and don’t wait to be told.

Find helpful tools that will make your life easier.

Technology has made parenting a little easier through apps and state-of-the-art baby monitors. The Raybaby Baby Monitor, for instance, allows parents to keep an eye on their baby through a video feed, and even monitors the child’s breathing patterns.

A sturdy pushchair or stroller should also be on your list. This will help keep your baby comfortable while you are traveling and moving around. iCandy has a great selection of pushchairs and prams in modern designs that can handle a multitude of terrains, Perfect for taking your baby to town or on a long walk through the park. Parents should take turns heading outside with their baby so both can rest. Taking your baby outside together is also a great way for parents to bond, and it will also get you out of the house, which can be hard with a newborn.

Be open to combining your parenting styles.

Since moms and dads often have different parenting styles, the key is to pick out the best points of both and combine them into one efficient style. Communicate with each other so you can find a comfortable compromise where both styles are given time to shine. Always coordinate with your partner before deciding on anything, from punishments to rewards. Take it from actor Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who agreed to treat their kids like they would other people—with respect and admiration.

Don’t argue in front of your children.

You never want to paint the other parent as the villain, so make sure you don’t contradict your partner in front of your children. Research conducted by Very Well Family reveals that a child as young as six months can be negatively affected by parental arguments. Seeing their parents fight can cause children to withdraw and develop emotional insecurities, anxiety, and behavioral issues. Studies have also found significantly decreased cognitive performance in children born and raised in homes where parents constantly fight and yell at each other.

Misunderstandings are normal among families, but it becomes problematic when the arguments get out of hand. Whenever you feel annoyed or angry with your partner, step outside or go in a room where you can be alone to catch your breath. Sometimes, all we really need is a minute to breathe.

7 Interesting Facts about the Founding Fathers

By Mars Salazar

On July 5, 2019

In Lifestyle

The Founding Fathers were an illustrious, accomplished lot, but behind their gilded titles and numerous accomplishments, they’re still human—albeit with more fascinating lives than most of us. Here are some interesting bits of trivia about them!

George Washington holds the highest rank in the U.S. Military.

While George Washington retired, he was a lieutenant general (three stars). However, his military contributions were incomparable: Aside from being the commander-in-chief that defeated the British in battle, he also set the standard on the organization and protocol of American soldiers. He was the father of the United States and its military, and he set a lot of precedents during his term. That’s why in 1976, congress signed a resolution that posthumously promoted Washington to the highest military rank: General of the Armies of the United States. The resolution also recommended that no officer of the U.S. Armed forces and should ever outrank him.

Thomas Jefferson helped popularize ice cream in the U.S.A.

Thomas Jefferson spent several years in France as a diplomat, and that was where he most likely tasted ice cream. When he returned to the U.S.A., he brought four ice molds with him and had his staff serve the frozen dessert in Monticello, his plantation in Virginia. There were also references of Jefferson serving ice cream during his term as president, usually served inside a pastry.

Benjamin Franklin is in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Benjamin Franklin, one of the most brilliant Americans of all time, was known for a lot of things: He was a great writer, a prolific inventor, and a founder and the first president of the University of Pennsylvania. But did you know that he was also a swimming ingenue? Franklin can do several swimming strokes, and he even invented wooden hand paddles to propel himself through the water. He was such a great swimmer, that a friend offered to help him launch a swimming school—an offer that he, quite surprisingly, did not take on.

John Jay retired from politics to become a farmer.

Sometimes, the simple life is the best. Take it from John Jay, the reserved, dignified oft-forgotten Founding Father whose accomplishments were just as notable as those of his peers. After a notable political career, in which he served as the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the second governor of New York state, Jay retired to his farm in Westchester County, New York in 1801 and lived a quiet life mostly away from politics, advocating for education for African Americans and becoming the president of the American Bible Society.

John Adams was in a long-distance relationship with his wife.

John Adams’ role in the American Revolution and its aftermath caused him to spend long months with the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, far away from Abigail, who oversaw their farm in Braintree, Massachusetts. To keep the love alive, the Adamses wrote to one another constantly, sometimes penning multiple letters a day to each other. The accumulated 1,160 archived pieces of their correspondence provide valuable insights into America’s turbulent first years.

“Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors,” Abigail wrote to John. “If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.”

James Madison was Princeton’s first graduate student.

James Madison attended Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey) from 1769 to 1771, finishing a four-year course in merely two years. Still undecided about what to do with his life after graduation, he stayed at Princeton for one more year to study Hebrew and other subjects under the tutelage of Princeton President John Witherspoon. Though he wasn’t formally awarded with an advanced degree, Princeton still recognizes him as its first graduate student.

Alexander Hamilton founded the oldest continuously published newspaper in the U.S.A.

Alexander Hamilton’s popularity has surged in recent years thanks to his namesake musical, but there are some things that weren’t tackled in the play. On November 16, 1801, “the ten-dollar founding father without a father” established a daily newspaper, the New-York Evening Post, along with other New York members of the Federalist Party. The paper eventually became the New York Post, one of the leading national papers up until this day.

Speaking of Hamilton, did you know that A. Ham himself, Lin-Manuel Miranda, got his mother-in-law a Nixplay frame for Christmas? Be like Lin and celebrate Independence Day with a Nixplay Frame of your own! Get 15% off selected frames, only until July 14!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

6 Pets You Should Follow On Instagram Right Now

By Mars Salazar

On June 28, 2019

In Lifestyle

One of the best things about Instagram is the fact that there are so many adorable animals to be found there. Whether you’re a dog person, a cat person, or even a chinchilla person, you’re bound to find several cuddly, huggable creatures for you to coo over. Here are a few of our favorites.

Chance The Rescue

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuoYaZvHaEX/

Chance may be small enough to fit in your bag, but this small pooch has sure got a lot of attitude! His Instagram page, @thebklyndog, is filled with photo after photo of him in the coolest pup-sized clothes and accessories, from fur-lined vests and gold chain collars to dapper bowties.

Menswear Dog

Bodhi, the Shiba Inu of @mensweardog, can give the top male models a run for their money. What he lacks in abs (not that we mind, really), he makes up with his cheeky attitude and style smarts. His ability to effortlessly shift from street to dapper has earned his collaborations with Nike, Brooks Brothers, and other top brands.

Blue The Adventure Cat

https://www.instagram.com/p/By7vk8QIqw8/

You don’t have to be a cat lover to fully appreciate how adorable Blue is. This curious, smiley kitty with mesmerizing blue eyes loves the outdoors, and his adventures with his brother Skye are all captured in vivid color on his Instagram, @bluetheadventurecat.

Ruckus & Mooncake

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzJ9rFMgj2w/?igshid=1e3owzkhrx01e

Ruckus, a real-life cloud descended from the heavens, is an American Eskimo Dog living with his humans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Don’t you just want to sprawl out on a carpet and cuddle him all day? Follow him now at @ruckustheeskie if you can’t get enough of his fluff!

Nala Cat

A list of Instagram-famous pets would be incomplete without @nala_cat, the shelter kitten-turned-su-paw-star. With over 4.1 million followers and counting, she currently holds the Guinness World Record as the cat with the most number of Instagram followers. This fluffy gray kitty has us all wrapped around its paws, and we’re not complaining one bit.

Harrison Ford The Bulldog

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bur6Edwlq_7/

Bulldogs are, understandably, not everyone’s cup of tea: They snore, they drool, and they’ve got an astounding amount of wrinkles. But there’s something about Harrison that will draw you in. It might be its expressive eyes, or its chunky build, or his calm demeanor. Either way, @harrisonfordbulldog one of our favorite dogs online!

Got a photogenic fluffball of your own? Display his photos on a Nixplay Frame! Get 15% off selected Nixplay Frames, only until June 30!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.