How My Weekend Theme Park Trip Filled Me With Halloween Nostalgia

There is an old photo of my dad from the 1980s wearing a "Caddyshack"-esque outfit, literally donning a white golf cap and a pastel striped polo shirt, holding a branded soda cup, all while standing in front of a live peacock. "Where was this taken?" I asked my mom while nodding to the photo, almost mystified by the bizarre circumstances of it. "That was . . .," she takes a moment to recall, "Williamsburg, Virginia at Busch Gardens. We drove down there once back in 1987." I quietly nodded my head and pursed my lips. While I flipped to the next page of the photo album, the kitschy photo of my dad remained in the back of my mind for the foreseeable future.

It wasn't until fall approached this year that the photo of my dad came to the forefront of my mind again, alongside the nostalgic desire to take a weekend trip down to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I often forget the adrenaline rush of a roller coaster and the satisfactory first bite of a carnival corndog until I'm in the thick of it again amidst a literal dizzying rush of joy. That's the thing about theme parks: they really inspire you to enjoy the present moment - something seemingly more and more difficult for me to do as I get older.

So, making an autumnal weekend out of it, I made the eight-hour drive from New York down to Williamsburg in a Volvo electric XC90 T8 AWD Ultra, in silver no less, just in time for "hoa hoa hoa" season (i.e. "Twilight" season, for the uninitiated). In true Cullen fashion, we traveled in style to our final spooky destination that laid ahead, all thanks to Volvo for letting us take a test drive.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg invited myself and two guests to Howl-O-Scream, an annual nightly Halloween event transforming the park into a late-night party with five haunted houses, five scare zones, and live shows running from Sept. 11 to Nov. 1.

On opening night, we attended a private event within the park that boasted Halloween-themed catering, such as anaconda shaped pretzels and cakes (to promote the new Anaconda: Dead on Arrival haunted house attraction) as well as margaritas served in IV bags.

After the event ended, we were able to explore the park with VIP passes that allowed us to utilize the Quick Que line to beat the crowds. As the sun set, we meandered along the various pathways in what felt like a medieval forest covered by an eerie canopy of trees lit up with red lights. The park transported us with its assortment of European-style villages filled with scare actors dressed in old time-y garb who routinely jumped out to spook park attendees (myself included) with exaggerated Cockney accents, shrill screams, and sudden movements.

Waiting in line for the several haunted house attractions reminded me of being a teenager waiting for hours in lines that wrapped around a literal cornfield during a chilly fall night in October, all just to scream our brains out as we ran through the town's local "spooky walk." What a time.

A Howl-O-Scream highlight was the live show, Fiends, located in the Abbey Stone Theatre. The premise of the show is that the "naughty nurses" and Igor help "Doctor Freakenstein" unleash his newest invention: an AI assistant that will help him become immortal. The show includes musical numbers with contemporary music (Britney Spears! Tame Impala!) and culturally relevant jokes around the takeover of AI, the state of politics, and pop culture, at large. The show was so refreshing, entertaining, and really funny – we thoroughly enjoyed it.

The first and only thrill ride that I actually went on alongside my sister-in-law was the DarKoaster, North America's first all-indoor straddle-style roller coaster, which travels across 2,454 feet of track and evidently travels at a speed of 36 miles per hour that, to me, felt more like 105 as we accelerated into total darkness. By the time the ride ended, I was disheveled but laughing as tears streamed down my cheeks from hypothetical whiplash.

After exiting the ride, we walked to the inescapable digital display of mid-ride flash photography to search for our glamour shot. We laughed when we spotted it – both of our eyes pinched closed with our fists clenched onto the handlebars in front of us, as the look of what appeared to be pain was evident across both of our faces. I smiled at the photo and decided to purchase it, happy to have my own kitschy photo from Busch Gardens to add to my photo collection, alongside the one of my dad from the 80s.

This night, and this trip as a whole, reminded me of what it feels like to be young again, to feel present and to let out a scream (literally). As a lover of Halloween, horror films, and the like, this was the perfect weekend getaway to ground myself in fun, all alongside people that I care about. Until next year, happy Halloween!

Related:

19 Iconic Halloween Costumes to Inspire Your Plans - Starting at $5

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Emily Zirimis is the associate creative director at Popsugar. Before joining the PS team, she worked as Creative Design Director at Teen Vogue for nearly six years. She holds a BFA in Communications Design with a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute and has been working in the digital media space since 2014.

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Inside the NYC Hotel Where We Shot the Sex Awards

Image Source: PS Photography / Jessica Andrews

I've stayed at so many hotels in New York City in every neighborhood you can imagine from Dumbo, Brooklyn to the Financial District. And one of my favorite areas for lodging is - surprisingly - Times Square. The tourist destination is as frenzied and bustling as Manhattan gets, which means a restful hotel stay is essential. Picture peace, intimacy, and seclusion in the middle of the busiest city in the world. One such hotel is Paramount Times Square - A Generator Hotel ($79 per night for a standard room) which is nestled in New York City's storied Theater District.

As a Broadway show and Museum of Modern Arts frequenter, I appreciate that it's steps away from some of the best entertainment and art the city has to offer, but the rooms are delightfully serene, charming, and tucked away. Outside the window of the Entertainment Suite, where we shot our Sex Awards photo shoot, you can take in an aerial glimpse of the city's world-famous skyscrapers and tree-lined streets. Inside, the red-tiled walls, contemporary decor, and cozy bedding feels vibrant, alluring, and modern. And if you're the type that enjoys socializing at the hotel, you'll love the romantic two-story lobby that comes replete with a fireplace, a fully-stacked bar, and even live entertainment some nights.

Keep reading for a full review of Paramount Times Square - A Generator Hotel:

About Paramount Times Square - A Generator Hotel

• Located on 46th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, the hotel is situated in the heart of Times Square.
• It offers luxury suites, rooms with queen, king, and double twin beds, as well as private bedrooms that fit four or six guests.
• The hotel features a fitness center, a business center with wifi, a bar/lounge, a game room, and valet parking.
• The hotel offers 24-hour reception.
• Pets are allowed for a nightly fee.

Image Source: PS Photography / Jessica Andrews

What I Like About Paramount Times Square - A Generator Hotel

I have a busy NYC social calendar and I love that Paramount Times Square - A Generator Hotel is in the center of the action. It's a walkable distance from the aforementioned Broadway shows and the MoMA, as well as Rockefeller Center, shopping on Fifth Avenue, and some of my favorite restaurants in the city. After your outing, it provides a peaceful oasis away from it all - with a gorgeous city view that brings just a touch of NYC magic inside the room as you rest for the night and prepare for the day.

As the setting for our Sex Awards, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how romantic the hotel is for couples. The modern decor, red-tiled bathrooms, and impossibly comfortable bedding set the stage for a dreamy getaway for two. But if you're traveling for work or with your family or friend group, the hotel has amenities to cater to that experience, too: a business center, game room, and four- to six-bed dorm, respectively.

What's Worth Noting About Paramount Times Square - A Generator Hotel

This hotel is earmarked for guests who want a storied NYC experience: iconic landmarks, memorable cultural attractions, neon-lit billboards, and a bustling social scene. Those who want less-dense crowds should consider other neighborhoods within New York City.

Also, as I mentioned, the lively culture spills into the hotel through its bar and lounge, which feels very Old New York with a fireplace, luxurious decor, and unique cocktail menu. I found it lovely, but it's something to consider if you want a more relaxing and quiet experience when you enter your hotel. Do take note of a few service fees: they charge a fee for luggage storage, early check-in / late check-out, and pets - as well as a customary resort fee for amenities.

Image Source: PS Photography / Jessica Andrews

Who Is Paramount Times Square - A Generator Hotel Best For?

The hotel is well-suited for anyone who wants to experience the best of Times Square, from couples looking for a romantic stay to guests traveling for business. With its striking views, modern furniture, and hip bar scene, it captures the allure of NYC culture while providing a peaceful reprieve in the midst of it all.

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Jessica C. Andrews (she/her) is an award-winning editor and writer who currently works as the senior style director of PS, overseeing beauty, fashion, shopping, and identity content. With more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include fashion, shopping, and travel. Prior to joining PS, Jessica held senior roles at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and Bustle and contributed to The New York Times, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Essence. She's appeared on "Good Morning America," NBC, and Fox 5 New York and spoken on various panels about fashion, hair, and Black culture.

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This Punta Cana Resort Taught Me You're Never Too Old to Play Mermaids

I've always been a water baby: quite literally an Aquarius sun and rising, so consider it cosmically kismet. It is for this same reason that the dreamy cenote-style pool at Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort Spa & Casino in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic has remained in my mind since I first experienced the property this past August.

Much like the temperatures I experienced in Los Cabos, Mexico this past July, the real-feel temperatures in Punta Cana during the month of August are hot and humid, making it the perfect environment for spending (literally) every day at the pool, which is exactly what I did on this trip.

About Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort Spa & Casino

• The resort features 554 accommodations.
• The property has a buffet, in addition to seven à-la-carte restaurants, offering flavors from Brazil to Asia, Italy, and Mexico.
• Anchoring the complex is The Boulevard, a walkable open-air promenade lined with dining, entertainment, and leisure options, connecting guests staying at Lopesan Caoba Lagoon, Lopesan Serenity Bay, Lopesan Splash Cove, and Lopesan Costa Bávaro.
• The Boulevard also boasts a 820-seat theater, nightclub, casino, 16,000-square-foot spa, and fitness facility.
• Most memorably, the resort has their own signature Lagoon Pool and cenote-style pools, ten waterfalls, and complimentary access to the Aquatica Waterpark.

What I Liked About Lopesan Caoba Lagoon Resort Spa & Casino

Upon entry at the Lopesan Caoba Lagoon location, I felt immediately transported via the moody color palette and large artificial trees hand carved by artisans meant to evoke the feeling of a tropical forest canopy. "This space feels like an elevated Rainforest Cafe," is specifically what I said to our host on our first day, which I meant in earnest, in the best way.

Down the main staircase adjacent to the entry was the Aura bar, where we had our first group drinks, and took in the space that continued the rainforest feel with various faux botanical installations that extended to the very top of the tall ceilings.

Overall, I really enjoyed the elevated, thoughtful interiors that felt magically transportative throughout the property.

The Pools

As mentioned, the property contained several pools – most notably, their lagoon pool, as well as three connecting cenote-style pools that featured waterfalls, the Om Spa pool, a wave pool and Aquatica water park, just to name a few.

The most magical of the bunch were the cenotes, with a surface area of 2,850 meters and a maximum depth of 4.4-5 feet, making it a pool unlike any other I have ever experienced before, and taking "playing mermaids" to a whole new level for both children and adults alike.

As I swam through the gigantic pool, reminiscent of a water park ride in its own right, I was also reminded of swimming in my best friend's backyard pool for hours when we were younger, our fingertips wrinkled to oblivion from prolonged water exposure, our cheeks sun-kissed while blissfully living through the fictional mermaid storyline and underwater dramas we had created for ourselves many summers ago.

I spent most of the trip swimming through these cenotes, under the waterfalls, and through the various artificial (but incredibly life-like) cave structures, imagining how much fun I would have had as a kid, and arguably was still having as an adult. The sheer size of the pool also allowed you to feel like you were in your own oasis, never feeling overcrowded or overwhelmed amongst other resort guests.

Dining

This all-inclusive resort offers The Pavillion buffet for daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, closing between each meal time to prepare for the following service. On two occasions, we ordered room service via the Lopesan app directly to our room, which I really enjoyed, and do recommend ordering early if you can. The fresh fruit was unreal!

The dining experiences for dinner on the property were incredibly unique, as there are several a la carte restaurants to choose from that bring flavors, inspiration and even chefs from all around the world to provide culinary experiences for guests. The restaurants are a part of the all-inclusive, but reservations must be made in advance, just to note.

Our first dinner was at Sotto Terra (Italian) followed by Lima (Peruvian), Brassa Nova (Brazilian), and ended at Indra (Indian) on the last night of our stay, and it was arguably my favorite meal of the trip, including chicken tikka masala and cheesy garlic naan. My favorite beverage of the trip was a frozen banana mama: rum, coconut rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine and banana.

In addition to the food, the interior design of each restaurant had decor pieces sourced from each country of origin that the restaurant was meant to depict, which continued the theme of transporting guests to other worlds in a memorable way.

The Spa

We were treated to a hydrotherapy session at the Om Spa which felt very private, and relaxing, and made for a great recovery day from the lively white party at Bavaro beach the evening before. The Om Spa, located at the very end of the Boulevard, also includes: 31 treatment rooms, a full-service gym, pickleball courts, and various signature wellness programs.

Final Thoughts

The lovely Lopesan Caoba property is ideal for both solo trips and families, as there are endless amounts of activities and experiences for all ages, and what better way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month than with a trip to the Dominican Republic? But truthfully, any time of year would be a great time to escape to this multifaceted property.

I personally left the trip feeling revived from all of the swimming that I had done, and hope to someday have a pool of my very own at home, perhaps not as extravagant as a cenote, but a girl can dream!

Related:

I Took My Dream Babymoon . . . With My Baby

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Emily Zirimis is the associate creative director at Popsugar. Before joining the PS team, she worked as Creative Design Director at Teen Vogue for nearly six years. She holds a BFA in Communications Design with a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute and has been working in the digital media space since 2014.

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We Partied With Florence Pugh at the Jaguar Type 01 World Premiere

New York City is nothing if not the center of culture, so it made sense that Jaguar debuted their brand-new Type 01 luxury electric four-door GT in the heart of Manhattan on Oct. 6. The fete was fit for the stars; Florence Pugh, Sienna Spiro, and Jordyn Woods-Towns made appearances throughout the reveal party.

I had a front seat to all the action - Jaguar hosted a group of media and influencers in the city to be part of the milestone moment. We certainly received the A list treatment: we stayed at the iconic The New York Edition, right on Madison Square Park; were shuttled around the city in sporty, cushy Range Rovers; and ate a very indulgent dinner at the celeb-loved Budakkan the night before the big reveal.

And, of course, we got an up close look at Jaguar Type 01, which is a gorgeous car - and the most aerodynamic model the luxury brand has ever made, with 1,000 horsepower to boot. It puts design front and center, and I anticipate that many celebrities will be chomping at the bit to purchase one of their own when they're available to order (likely in January).

While I enjoyed getting a first look at the instantly iconic car, I also, of course, enjoyed stealing glimpses of the stars in attendance. Pugh wore a gorgeous plunging tuxedo gown, and her micro bangs were the star of the show alongside an elegant updo and dark lip. Woods-Towns spent the night side-by-side with husband Karl-Anthony Towns, and you could tell the couple is New York royalty; they took photos with fans the whole night. Renowned chef Roze Traore was serving up fare as guests mingled and danced.

The crowd hushed when Sienna Spiro, who just won best new artist at the VMAs, took to the stage. In her signature retro look, she played some of her most popular songs. I especially loved her live rendition of "Great Expectation."

Stepping back into the night, the stars were twinkling above us and the crowd sparkled, too. Another quintessentially New York City night in the books.

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Lena Felton (she/her) is a senior director of special projects at PS, where she oversees sponsored packages, tentpole projects, and editorial partnerships. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity. She has been working in journalism since 2017, during which time her focus has been feature writing and editing and elevating historically underrepresented voices. Lena has worked for The Atlantic, InStyle, So It Goes, and more.

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I Took a "Coastal Grandma" Trip as a Coastal Granddaughter

Everyone wants to be a coastal grandmother, but for all the wrong reasons. On social media, the coastal grandmother shops at local farmer's markets, vacations in Cape Cod, and eats lobster at every meal. She's Emily Gilmore hosting Friday night dinners in her Connecticut mansion - a purely aspirational aesthetic. But this viral ideal is one that would have my actual coastal grandmother calling BS.

As a young girl, my family of five stayed with my coastal grandmother in the same three-bed one-bath home my father grew up in. "If there's floor room, there's sleeping room!" Grammy liked to proclaim. We spent summers together on a blow-up mattress in a converted garage, shopped at Walmart, chased after fireflies, and explored the rocky beaches of Kittery, Maine. (Grammy called the 60°F water "refreshing.") It was simple, and it was perfect.

The coastal grandmother I grew up with didn't care about Instagrammable routines or luxury living. She'd sooner splurge on fresh scallops than a designer bag, and the only thing she wanted for Christmas was a restock of her favorite Dunkin' K-Cups. So when I got the opportunity to return to Maine for a coastal wellness retreat, I wanted to experience it from the perspective of an actual coastal grandmother. No complicated routines or viral trends, just back to basics. Here's everything I learned (and everything the internet gets wrong) about coastal wellness - coming from a coastal granddaughter.

My Coastal Wellness Experience

My coastal wellness trip started as all great things do: with coffee and lobster. I could practically see Grammy rolling her eyes at my oat milk and maple sea salt latte, but my younger sister and I needed the energy for our three-hour drive from Portland to Acadia. After finishing our food, the GMC team handed us the keys to a brand new Yukon Denali SUV - ours for the weekend. With chair warmers on, a carefully curated autumn playlist on full blast, and massaging car seats activated, we were ready to embark on our mini road trip. "I don't know how we're going to top this," my sister said as we drove through the impossibly vibrant autumn leaves.

We stayed in a tent at Under Canvas Acadia, which felt pretty on par with the no-frills ethos of a true coastal grandmother. Of course, most tents don't have a working shower, scenic oceanside view, or plush king-size bed. But to our credit, my sister and I still went the entire retreat without any WiFi or electricity, using lanterns and flashlights to see at night. We even built a fire for heat (and yes, triggered the fire alarm shortly afterwards).

After pulling into camp, we set our alarms for 3 a.m. so we could drive up to Cadillac Mountain and be among the first people to witness the sun rise over the eastern seaboard. Huddled next to each other for warmth, we stared at the horizon until the sun finally lifted its orange head above the sea, bathing the crowd of onlookers in an amber haze. It was like a scene from a movie: so beautiful it was hard to believe we were really there witnessing it in real life. But coastal wellness challenges us to breathe it all in and soak up the present moment.

Later that afternoon, my sister and I stole away for a hike in Acadia National Park and found ourselves completely lost - no parking, no visible trailheads, no signal. It was tempting to get frustrated and call the rest of the day a wash. Instead, we pulled over and asked for help.

"You can always turn the day around," my sister told me as we finally made our way to the Sieur de Monts Nature Center. We ended up hiking Jesup Path and followed a long wooden boardwalk through the middle of Acadia's white birch forest. We stopped to touch the peeling tree trunks and marveled at the great meadow - tall grasses blowing in the wind and leaves singed different shades of red and orange.

On the way back to Portland, we drank iced lattes and listed our favorite memories from the retreat. I glanced down at the GPS and wished I could freeze these final moments in time, extending our coastal wellness for hours and hours.

My Coastal Wellness Takeaways

Coastal wellness doesn't have to end the moment you leave New England. In fact, science says you can practice it practically anywhere. A 2022 study published in the Association for Psychological Sciences calls the kind of awe we experienced on our trip "a pathway to better mental and physical health." Simply put, when we're able to reduce our self-importance and increase our sense of meaning, oxytocin goes up and inflammation goes down. You can experience it yourself by waking up early enough to see the sunrise, hiking outdoors, or just watching the leaves fall on your next roadtrip. The best part is, it doesn't cost a thing.

Too often we reduce wellness to strict diets, pricey equipment, and disciplined fitness regimens. But if my childhood summers in Maine taught me anything, it's that wellness should be simple. It's not all about expensive red light chambers or full-body scans - it's about driving through Maine's misty fall foliage and gossiping with your sister. It's about pulling over for a particularly gorgeous patch of scarlet leaves because you never get to slow down in your normal life. It's about leaving your comfort zone, asking for help, and giving yourself permission to be awestruck more often. If you can do that, then congratulations! You're well on your way to becoming an actual coastal grandmother.

Related:

I Went to a Longevity-Focused Hotel After Losing My Mom and I Have No Regrets

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Chandler Plante (she/her) is a staff writer and PS Fit Producer. She has over six years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.

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I Took My Dream Babymoon . . . With My Baby

I never realized how peaceful it would be to see a sea turtle up close.

The ocean was calm that morning as I paddled off Wailea Beach on an outrigger canoe, stopping to inspect red pencil and collector urchins, which tickled the palm of my hand like a hedgehog. The guide said there'd be a chance of a sea-turtle spotting, but to keep expectations low. Yet, as we scanned the horizon, a turtle suddenly popped its head above the water, bobbing and coasting along the canoe for a moment before descending back down. It felt like a small miracle, like when a ladybug lands on you. It was exactly the kind of experience I knew my husband would love.

But my husband wasn't there. Instead, he was back in our hotel room, sitting in total darkness and getting blasted by artificial ocean waves emanating from a sound machine as our 9-month-old takes her morning nap.

We're finally taking our dream babymoon. The only issue is, our baby's here.

I should preface this by saying we were lucky to have no shortage of adventure while we were expecting. We visited my parents in Spain, did a pre-baby couples retreat in Arizona, I even took a "hatchelorette" trip with friends in Mexico. But somehow, we never got around to taking that quintessential babymoon we'd talked about - one where we could fully unplug, relax, and let the day be dictated by buffet hours and spa treatments.

That was quite alright. Again, we'd had plenty of travel, but a few months after welcoming our daughter, a thought crept into my mind one night as I washed and sterilized breast-pump parts for the millionth time. "Fuck. We should've gone to Hawaii." An idea was planted. While we'd never be able to turn back the clock and take that trip as our more carefree pre-parenthood selves, what if we tried?

Many months later, after careful planning and a good deal of panic shopping, that's exactly what we did. We made the nearly six-hour flight from LAX to Kahului Airport and arrived at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea ready for our babymoon, baby in tow.

As we pulled up to the open-air lobby, we were greeted with sweeping views of the Pacific, with Molokini Crater off in the distance. The lobby is pristine, swathed in soft lighting and neutral tones. Viewers of "The White Lotus" will recognize the hotel as the setting for the first season. But as we took in the sights, I realized we had a bit of a problem on her hands: my daughter had a blowout en route, and she needed to be tended to immediately . . . and her onesie also needed to be disposed of. (Off to a great start already, I'm sure you're thinking.)

We settled into our room, which had graciously been set up with all the necessary baby accoutrements: a crib, of course, but also a diaper pail, bath seat, baby toiletries - the works. The hotel has even left alphabet bath sponges shaped spelling out my daughter's name.

Dinner on our first night was at Komo, the on-site sushi restaurant. Sushi is a favorite cuisine for us, but we hadn't yet taken our daughter to a sushi restaurant for obvious reasons. (We've got quite a bit of time before she's able to go to town on some toro.)

Somehow, it still managed to be fun for the whole family. We enjoyed pieces of buttery nigiri, and for the little lady, the chef whipped up a rice bowl with avocado and snow crab.

After a long travel day, however, my daughter started to melt down, and so, I brought her up to the room and put her to bed while my husband finished his food. Then, we switched off: he stayed with the baby as she slept, while I enjoyed dessert and a nightcap in the lobby lounge. I texted my husband about some of the goings-on in the lobby. People-watching is a favorite pasttime of ours, and I wished he was there, but I also really enjoyed the moment to myself.

The next morning, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet before I headed out for my aforementioned outrigger canoe excursion. When I returned, I relaxed at the pool with my daughter, as my husband enjoyed an oceanside massage. When he was done, the four of us spent the rest of the day in the cabana, transporting our daughter back and forth between the family pool and the playpen they had set up for her, complete with beach toys.

At night, we sprung for a babysitter, which was arranged with help from the concierge, so we could have dinner to ourselves at Spago. After nine months of childrearing with minimal breaks, it felt surreal to step out into the resort just us, on a date like old times.

On the walk to Spago, we were struck by the sunset. A couple on their honeymoon stopped to take some photos with the hotel's fountain pool in the background. I had been saying that we needed more photos together throughout the trip, but in that moment, we just held hands and took it all in.

At dinner, we enjoyed a bread basket with various avant-garde butters alongside Hunan glazed eggplant and a New York steak. We reflected on how we've grown since becoming parents, but also the growing that still lies ahead. Occasionally, we just sat and enjoyed the silence we've come to appreciate that much more since having a baby. We only looked at the baby monitor app twice, which felt like a win.

The next day, our final full day, I shuffled over to the concierge to see if they could arrange for my husband to do the same outrigger canoe excursion I had loved so much. Thankfully, there was an open seat that morning. He didn't see a turtle, but when the canoe stopped for a paddling break, he did get out and swim.

Though we couldn't experience it silmultaneously, we were still, in a way, experiencing it together.

After a leisurely last day, and an oceanside massage for me, we ordered our dinner to go from Ferraro's, the on-site Italian restaurant, and enjoyed it from the comforts of our balcony. It was there that our daughter discovered her love of cacio e pepe, and for this foodie, that meant the world.

I won't bore you with all the details, but the flight home would likely be interpreted by most as a disaster. We hadn't packed enough snacks or toys or whatever else, and when the travel exhaustion started hitting our daughter, she fussed and cried for the last half of the journey, only to fall asleep conveniently as we were landing.

I might've normally cried myself - and I came close - but fresh off our Hawaiian reset consisting of days spent lounging, swimming, and dining on delicious meal after delicious meal, I simply looked at my husband and laughed.

Related:

What a Rucking Retreat Taught Me About Doing Hard Things

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Kelsey Garcia (she/her) is the lifestyle director at PS, where she oversees coverage across Balance and Health & Fitness. Kelsey is passionate about travel, wellness trends, and evolving parenting styles. Before joining the PS team as an editorial assistant in 2015, she interned at Elle and Harper's Bazaar, among other publications.

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I Tested the Galaxy Z Fold8 Phone in Aniya Harvey's Viral Commercial

Image Source: Samsung and PS Photography / Jessica Andrews

By now, you've likely already seen the Samsung "Switchers" campaign taking over the internet featuring one of my favorite "Love Island USA" Season 8 couples, Aniya Harvey and Carl Schmidt, as well as "The Traitors" Season 3 alums Ciara Miller and Dylan Efron, and football stars Nick Foles and Clay Matthews. The premise of the clever ad campaign, which features the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 ($1,650, originally $1,900), is removing emotional barriers behind switching smartphones with renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik offering a playful take on unpacking our hesistancy to try out new devices.

While I certainly can't relate, I have to admit I'm an easy sell when it comes to considering a new smartphone; my one and only question is: how good is the camera? As a senior style director and content creator, I need the performance equivalent of a professional camera that's the size of a handheld device I can keep on me at all times. I also need a full-blown miniature version of a laptop so I can keep up with all the editing, emailing, and Zoom meetings I take on the go. A lot to ask of a smartphone, right?

Keep reading to see how the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 held up to my admittedly high demands.

About the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

• It has a 7.6-inch main inner display with a passport-style 4:3 aspect ratio.
• It has a 50MP dual camera.
• It offers 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage.
• It's available in lavender, cream, and graphite, as well as pistachio exclusively on Samsung.com and in Samsung stores.

Image Source: PS Photography / Jessica Andrews

What I Like About the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

As I mentioned, the camera is a major priority for me, which essentially means the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 had me at hello. While Samsung devices are known for their powerful and clear cameras, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 takes it to a new level with an expansive screen that allows me to see every detail of my landscape photos if I'm capturing a fashion show finale or taking pics at a tennis tournament, for example.

But beyond the camera, I almost exclusively watch TV shows on my laptop (ahem, "Love Island" and Bravo's "Summer House" included) and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is the first time I've even considered watching on my smartphone. With an expanded shape, a super-steady video (using horizontal lock), and a bright display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 offers a seamless content-consuming experience that I've never experienced before on a handheld device. And these features come in handy whether you're watching movies, reading books, gaming, or taking Zoom meetings. What's more, after I'm done, I can fold the phone again and slip it in my pocket or handbag, so it's truly the best of both worlds.

Speaking of, yes, I know the folding capability is the big draw and hype around the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and yes, it delivers. You can easily and effortlessly fold the smartphone, which feels nostalgic in the best way as someone who loved her flip phone in the early 2000s.

Image Source: PS Photography / Jessica Andrews

What's Worth Noting About the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

If smartphones with an expansive screen are not your thing, you can opt for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 ($1,200) for the same fun flip-phone experience (and stellar camera!) at a smaller size: a main inner display of 6.9 inches when unfolded and a cover screen of 4.1 inches when folded.

Also, Samsung regularly faces criticism around the "green bubble" and the inconvenience of data transfer between smartphones from other tech companies, something the brand addresses head-on in the aforementioned "Switchers" campaign. The Smart Switch feature promises to alleviate some of that stress by allowing you to transfer contacts, photos, videos, apps, and more from your old phone seamlessly, though it's worth noting it only enables transfer to a Samsung device, not externally to non-Samsung brands.

There's also RCS messaging, which allows you to share hi-res photos and videos between devices but doesn't completely eliminate green bubbles. And finally, the brand is promoting its Quick Share feature as a convenient way to send files; while it still was a bit of a challenge for me, I find that uploading files to Google Photos or Drive helps me share them easily with any device.

Who Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Best For?

Anyone who believes in the art of multitasking. With a larger inner display, you can use the Galazy Z Fold8 for watching TV shows and movies, reading, gaming, video conferences, and more. It even lets you run multiple apps side by side, a dream for someone like me who is always juggling several tasks at once. And it still delivers the powerful camera you'd expect from a Samsung, with even more potential for beautiful landscape photos and videos thanks to the expansive screen.

Where Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Available?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is available at Samsung, Amazon, and Best Buy.

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Jessica C. Andrews (she/her) is an award-winning editor and writer who currently works as the senior style director of PS, overseeing beauty, fashion, shopping, and identity content. With more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include fashion, shopping, and travel. Prior to joining PS, Jessica held senior roles at Teen Vogue, Refinery29, and Bustle and contributed to The New York Times, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Essence. She's appeared on "Good Morning America," NBC, and Fox 5 New York and spoken on various panels about fashion, hair, and Black culture.

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Meet 3 Couples Who "Fake Dated" and Actually Fell in Love

In high school, Olivia Brent had an ex who wouldn't leave her alone. Her solution? Get a fake boyfriend to get him off her back. "It was a very quick, gut-panicked reaction," says Brent, who was 17 at the time. When her ex showed up at their school football game, she turned to Tyler, a guy in her social circle sitting next to her on the bleachers.

"I said, 'Oh my god, hold my hand. We have to pretend like we're dating,'" Brent, now 33, recalls.

"What?" he said.

"Roll with it. I'm freaking out."

For the next month or so, the two committed to the bit: talking more often on the phone, coordinating their stories, and figuring out how to make their sudden romance convincing to mutual friends and, most importantly, her ex. What started as a temporary arrangement eventually became a very real, 17-year relationship. And now, it's a marriage that's been going strong for 10 years.

Courtesy of Olivia Brent

If that sounds suspiciously like the plot of a rom-com, that's because fake dating - with a friend, enemy, or a complete stranger - is one of the genre's most reliable tropes.

In "Off Campus," a shy student and hockey stud feign a relationship to get the attention of her crush. In "Anyone But You," two flings-turned-enemies pose as a couple to get through a destination wedding. And now, "The Love Hypothesis" is the latest to join in on the cliché, with Lili Reinhart starring as a student who enters a pretend relationship with a young professor.

On screen, the appeal is obvious: pair two people who insist they're not into each other, give them an opportunity to act like they're in love, and wait for the inevitable tension to kick in. But what happens when the trope leaves fiction? We talked to couples who fake-dated their way into the real thing - how it played out, what they learned, and the unofficial rules for pulling it off.

How These Fake-Dating Couples Found Love in Real Life

Pretending to be a couple might sound simple enough - until you have to keep up the act, or, say, run into your fake boyfriend's very real ex. That's exactly what happened to Jade Parnell, who fake-dated her longtime friend (and now partner of seven years) in 2019 on a two-week vacation in Budapest, Hungary. At first, their arrangement was mostly for their own spontaneous amusement. Then, somewhere between boarding the plane and landing, they realized there was one complication they hadn't anticipated.

"His ex-girlfriend from a number of years ago was also in Budapest," Parnell recalls. "He was like, 'Well, the odds of us bumping into her in a random large city is pretty low.'"

As it turns out, the odds were not that low, and they ran into her at a bathhouse. Suddenly, their innocent game of make-believe had stakes.

"It felt to me more real," she says, "because this is someone who's going to hold you more accountable. It feels more legitimate."

The more they committed to the act, the more convinced Parnell became of their potential to be more than friends. "Calling ourselves boyfriend and girlfriend . . . it just felt so easy," she says. So easy, in fact, that afterward, she suggested they stop pretending. "I was like, "we should just continue to do this." (And they did.)

Courtesy of Jade Parnell

In the movies, fictional couples can seemingly kiss, hook up, and push the boundaries of their arrangement while insisting it's all for show. In real life, however, things can get a lot messier. This is why Maia Fraser was careful about avoiding mixed signals and one-sided heartbreak when enlisting her friend to be her pretend-boyfriend for one night in an attempt to ward off creepy men at a bar.

"I was very concerned about me potentially getting upset because I developed feelings and he wouldn't," she says. So, she established clear boundaries: he could put his arm around her waist, occasionally grab her hand, and generally look the part - but that's where the performance ended. "I didn't open any sexual doors at all," she explains. There was no kissing, no hooking up, and no sneaking off together in private.

With those boundaries in place, she didn't have to second-guess herself or let physical intimacy complicate her situation. However, after the night ended, when there was no longer a charade to maintain, her friend admitted he'd liked playing the role - and wanted it permanently. Two and a half years, they're still together. "I honestly think it's because I didn't allow for those emotions to get mixed up at the same time of the fake dating."

Courtesy of Maia Fraser

It's easy to assume that every pretend couple must have secretly liked each other all along. Otherwise, why even agree to play the part? That's certainly the movie version. But for Brent, the experience itself sparked something she hadn't seen coming: feelings for someone she'd never considered romantically.

While she and her now-spouse had grown up together, to her, their relationship was purely platonic. That is, until the fake intimacy began. The hand-holding, late-night calls, the small decisions they made to sell their romance created a version of their friendship she'd never experienced before - as well as a glimpse of what it might be like to be more than friends. To her surprise, she liked it.

"People are like, 'Oh, it's just movies. It's just fantasy," Brent says. "But it is a real love story. My 33-year-old self is still as madly in love, if not more than my 17-year-old self was."

Related:

8 Romantasy Authors Share Their Best Real-Life Dating Advice

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Jenna Ryu (she/her) is a writer who covers relationships, friendships, mental health, fitness, and beauty. Most recently, she was the lifestyle writer at SELF, where she reported on the latest wellness trends and launched the magazine's first friendship advice column, Asking for a Friend. Her work has also appeared in Outside Magazine and The Washington Post.

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This Affordable Hidden Gem Is My Go-To Hotel in New York

Ten years ago, I spent a summer in New York City, living out my dream of working at a magazine. I was in college, and my best friend and I managed to find two month-long sublets in Williamsburg - which, at that time, was the coolest place we could imagine. There were dark, moody restaurants and rooftop bars and a newly opened Whole Foods. I took the J train every morning to work and felt like adulthood was really starting.

It was a wonderful summer, which is why I still have a soft spot in my heart for Williamsburg. A short train (or ferry) ride into Manhattan, the area still boasts very cool restaurants and bars, and it offers a slower pace that, in my 30s, feels much more suited to my lifestyle than Manhattan proper.

As a frequent traveler to New York from the West Coast, I used to try to maximize my work trips by staying in Midtown. But I found that these hotels are often crowded, expensive, and not very nice, given they're overrun with tourists. So I set out to find a hotel that felt impossible by New York standards: affordable, spacious, and well-located. And I'm excited to report that I've discovered a hidden gem: The Penny Hotel in Williamsburg.

Without further ado, here are all the reasons you should stay there on your next trip to the Big Apple.

About The Penny Hotel Williamsburg

• Queen rooms come equipped with a queen-sized bed, a kitchenette with a microwave, mini fridge, and pour-over coffee setup, and a sizable bathroom.
• The hotel also offers Queen Sleeper rooms, Supreme Queen rooms, and the Your Majesty suite.
• When I stayed at The Penny in August, rates started at about $230 for a Queen room, but prices vary depending on demand.
• ElNico, a rooftop bar and restaurant on the top floor, serves Mexican fare.
• The hotel partners with local nonprofit LAND Gallery to feature artwork by New Yorkers with developmental disabilities across its rooms and common spaces.

What I Liked About The Penny Hotel

I was immediately taken by the property when I showed up at 6 a.m. after a redeye, bleary-eyed and probably smelly, and the front desk managed to get me into a room despite my showing up several hours before check-in.

But it wasn't just that: the entire property allowed me to actually exhale, even though NYC usually makes me feeling on edge. Its common areas (including a patio and a rooftop) are tastefully decorated with local art, and I was so surprised at the size and capabilities of my room when I opened its doors: it boasted a whole kitchenette, lots of space to spread out, and a colorful robe that I immediately changed into.

One of my gripes with staying in cramped Manhattan hotels is that there's virtually no room to hang out, whether that's getting some work done or chowing down on takeout. That's not the case at The Penny, where I cooked myself breakfast every morning, making delicious cups of coffee they provided with the room's high quality Fellow kettle and pour-over set-up. The entire room is outfitted with these delightful touches; there was also a colorful yoga mat and roller that allowed me to stay active throughout my stay there.

My younger self would absolutely approve of the location, which is just a two-block walk from the L train, which takes you directly downtown. I actually don't find that staying in Williamsburg makes travel any less convenient, even if most of my work events are in Manhattan. You are 15 minutes from the heart of the city, and yet you get all the benefits from being located a bit outside the fray. What's more, this hotel is significantly cheaper than its Manhattan counterparts; you pay "budget" prices for somewhere that feels far more elevated than your typical Manhattan hotel.

And it should be said that Williamsburg is worthy of a trip in and of itself - one of my favorite restaurants in all of NYC, Lilia, is right around the corner from The Penny. I also spent an entire afternoon working out of the restaurant's rooftop restaurant, elNico, enjoying the panoramic views of Brooklyn and Manhattan. I'll say that the entire building feels quiet and chill; the staff is friendly but not overly intrusive, making it feel like more like an apartment building than a stuffy hotel.

I've now been back to The Penny twice, and every time, I feel like I'm coming home. You'll never catch me squeezing into a Midtown hotel again.

Who Is The Penny Hotel Best For?

The Penny Hotel is perfect for any traveler to New York who appreciates efficiency, more space in their hotel rooms, and a very well-designed space. I've recommended it to all my friends who are looking for an affordable option in New York.

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Lena Felton (she/her) is a senior director of special projects at PS, where she oversees sponsored packages, tentpole projects, and editorial partnerships. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity. She has been working in journalism since 2017, during which time her focus has been feature writing and editing and elevating historically underrepresented voices. Lena has worked for The Atlantic, InStyle, So It Goes, and more.

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How I Reset My Nervous System on a Solo Trip in Los Cabos

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

It dawned on me that I hadn't taken a deep breath in a while. I exhaled, lowered my shoulders to ease the tightness, and gazed out at the open ocean ahead of me, all while submerged in my private plunge pool at
Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – a beachfront resort located in San José del Cabo, Mexico.

Frankly speaking, the moment felt like a simulation, as I had never experienced something so simple, yet luxurious before. It was only after I returned from this trip that I realized how much my nervous system had needed a reset.

As I boarded my flight to Mexico last month, nervous with anticipation about my first solo international trip, I tried to remind myself just how incredible this stay would be. Sure enough, once the brilliant blue Sea of Cortez many miles down below me started to come into view through the airplane window, I immediately felt at ease as we touched down in the desert oasis.

The Los Cabos Tourism Board hosted me on this trip to Los Cabos, in which an intimate group stayed at two different properties, tried out a variety of food experiences and enjoyed several wellness-focused activities. This trip was my very first time visiting this region of Mexico, so I went into the stay with no expectations, and left feeling inspired, renewed, and well-rested.

About Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

• The property has 87 guestrooms, 27 suites, one villa, and exclusive residences.
• Standard category rooms have partial or full ocean views of the resort, as well as private plunge pools.
• The Sensei spa offers a large hydrotherapy pool, wellness consultations, spa treatments, and group classes.
• The property also has six culinary venues that celebrate both local and global flavors, including Humo, El Barrio, Equis, Candil Agave Bar, the intimate Sótano cellar, and the casual cafe, Azul.

What I Liked About Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Upon arrival at Zadún Los Cabos, I was greeted by the property staff at the resort entrance with an assembly line of welcome drinks, gifts, and a complimentary welcome mezcal margarita. I was soon whisked away via a golf cart driven by Miguel, my personal attendant, or "tosaoni," a word derived from the indigenous Nahuatl language that translates to "dream watcher."

Property Views

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

Miguel talked through the amenities as we zipped along the winding pathways of the property, transporting me to a true state of zen. After a tour of the room, which includes breathtaking ocean views, a dreamy outdoor shower, and a personal plunge pool, I couldn't throw a bathing suit on fast enough as the feel-like temperature outside climbed to a steamy 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Private Plunge Pool

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

This was my first time experiencing a private plunge pool right outside my hotel room, and let me tell you, my hotel expectations are now incredibly high! It was quite magical to take a dip at my leisure: in the morning after (literally) rolling right out of bed, midday when the sun was at its highest (and hottest) point, and to close out the evening after still buzzing from dinner and drinks. The evening may have been my favorite time to take a plunge, as the sound of ocean waves breaking onto the beach in the distance lulled me into a meditative state before bed.

Sensei Spa and Lunch at Equis

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

Our itinerary at Zadún Los Cabos included an array of activities meant to focus on wellness including a sound journey, a hydrotherapy session and a daily warm up at Sensei, the incredibly tranquil spa at Zadún.

There were also multiple on-property meal experiences including breakfast at El Barrio, a stunning dinner at Humo, a cinematic dinner under the stars at El Mirador, and an informative lunch at Equis, during which we ate and spoke with executive chef Victor Garrido, who was responsible for curating the meal, overseeing the sourcing of ingredients, and working alongside the incredibly seasoned and dedicated team that showed nothing but care and hospitality toward us for the entirety of our stay. My lunch highlights were the fried tuna and tacos al pastor.

Dinner at Humo

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

One of my favorite culinary experiences was at Humo, an on-property contemporary grill where the "elemental flavors of fire, sea, and soil come together to celebrate the essence of Baja." The moody interior combined with the smell of the local mesquite wood burning in the open kitchen made for a memorable evening and meal presentation, all thanks to Karla Najera, the restaurant's chef de partie.

Menu highlights included charred local watermelon with cashew cream, pickled seaweed salad, ancho chili oil, yuca charcoals (i.e. fried yuca, squid ink, salsa brava, and leek ash), and the A-maiz-ing Cocktail, which consisted of a corn-based Oaxaca spirit and passion fruit, making for a tropical twist on a traditional piña colada.

As the sun rose on our last day at Zadún, I was sad to be checking out, but also excited at what still lay ahead of us, as our trip was only halfway through. Before arriving at our final destination, we made a pitstop at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt, a luxury boutique hotel nestled along the shores of Cabo San Lucas that features stunning views of El Arco, a famous rock formation, and a saltwater pool carved into the rocks adjacent to the property.

About The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt

• The property has 159 guestrooms, all with terraces featuring ocean or garden views.
• The hotel is located on Playa Monumentos, a "surf paradise" with views of El Arco.
• There is one outdoor infinity pool and one outdoor saltwater pool as well as a full service spa, salon, and fitness center.
• Dining venues include Sunken Bar, The Rooftop, Point Break, The Ledge, Beach, and Manta.

What I Liked About The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt

A Property Tour and Brunch at The Ledge

The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

It was here where I first spotted the aforementioned iconic Los Cabos arch accompanied by an expansive view of turquoise ocean swells and brazen surfers catching the next best wave. This property offered us brunch at The Ledge where I ordered a Café D'Orange (iced espresso chocolate, orange and oat milk) and The Cape Toast (roasted banana, caramelized almonds, vanilla whipped cream, mint, piloncillo glaze, and raspberry atop french toast) - both of which were memorable enough for me to attempt recreating them at home just to reminisce.

About Montage Los Cabos

• The property has 122 guestrooms, including suites and casas steps from Santa Maria Bay, as well as 52 resort-style Montage Residences.
• There is on-property access to the finest snorkeling and swimming beach in the region.
• Spa Montage is 40,000 sq ft. and features a fitness center, pool, and movement studio.
• Dining venues include: Mezcal, Marea, Talay, and Paletas.

Our last and final stop of the trip was Montage Los Cabos, a 39-acre resort located on the Santa Maria Bay waterfront, with various offerings including snorkeling and scuba experiences on-property, several restaurants, four pools, and Spa Montage. We were again greeted with an assembly line of welcomes and smiles upon arrival at check-in. My room boasted another incredible view of the ocean, as well as another (dreamy!) outdoor shower.

What I Liked About Montage Los Cabos

Ocean Views and Turn-Down Treats

Montage Los Cabos. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

We were very well taken care of at Montage and quite literally felt full throughout most of our time at the property with the many culinary delights and experiences they had to offer us, including lunch at Marea, an agave experience and dinner that followed at Mezcal, not to mention a sweet treat (abuelita's hot chocolate!) and a gift left in our room during turn-down service each evening.

Lunch at Marea

Montage Los Cabos. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

As mentioned, the first meal at Montage Los Cabos was lunch at Marea, which offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes led by chef de cuisine Eric Arellano. The food, albeit delicious and fresh, wasn't the only thing that transported me to the Mediterranean as I stared out at the views. My favorite dishes were the Angus Iowa hanger steak and ceviche puttanesca, which included local kampachi, castelvetrano olives, sun–dried tomatoes, and calabrian chili.

Pool Cabana and Spa Day

Montage Los Cabos. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

A pool day (at one of the property's four pools) on our last full day was the perfect way to wind down and reflect back on our time in Los Cabos. I ordered a Cabo Sunset (passion fruit-coconut sorbet, lime sorbet, fresh pineapple and vanilla bean whipped cream) from the pool cabana menu before heading off to Spa Montage for an hour-long massage, which left me feeling light on my feet and without a care in the world, even if for just a moment.

Our evening concluded with an agave experience, followed by dinner at Mezcal, all led by executive chef Xavier Salomon, head sommelier Fabián Martínez, and chef de cuisine Alejandro Euroza. During the agave experience, I discovered that I actually prefer the taste of raicilla (vs. mezcal) on the tequila spectrum, which left me wanting to try out more raicilla-forward cocktails once back home, even as a historically self-proclaimed fan of mezcal.

Dinner Off-Property

Cocina de Autor. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

Our second to last dinner took us off property to Cocina de Autor, a Michelin-starred restaurant located at Grand Velas, featuring a sensorial dining experience of fine gastronomy led by two-Michelin-Star head chef Sidney Schutte.

The theme of the meal was "memories," wherein the chef based each dish off a specific memory he had experienced throughout his life. As the swirl of dry ice billowed off The Big Apple (matcha latte, green apple, kaffir lime, coconut, and amaranth) and the crispy crunch of the red snapper katsuobushi (hoja santa, grapefruit, avocado, dashi) lingered on my taste buds, I tried to take in this moment as much as I could, appreciating how nice it was to not have anywhere to be other than right where I was, with who I was with.

Final Thoughts

I left Los Cabos feeling full (literally) and restored - creatively, mentally, physically, my camera roll looking like a sea of bright blue and beige. But the complete effect of the trip didn't fully hit me until I returned home, and I realized just how good I actually felt. Well-rested, my skin glowing, my shoulders not feeling as tight. I thought back to how I felt before I had gone on the trip – tense, exhausted, foggy.

While it's not everyday that someone gets to have an experience as luxurious as this one, I tried to take away the aspects that left me feeling more relaxed that I could recreate on my own: slow mornings, swimming, eating wholesomely, being present. As a meme that I saw recently said, "Maybe all we really need is just a fresh tomato and a morning swim." (In this case, fresh avocado.)

Related:

What I Learned About Loneliness After Visiting a Blue Zone

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Emily Zirimis is the associate creative director at Popsugar. Before joining the PS team, she worked as Creative Design Director at Teen Vogue for nearly six years. She holds a BFA in Communications Design with a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute and has been working in the digital media space since 2014.

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What I Learned About Loneliness After Visiting a Blue Zone

Loneliness is so back. Between the rise of "loneliness influencers" and constant discourse about the male loneliness epidemic, loneliness has become something of a hot topic. But that doesn't make it any easier to live with.

In 2024, I moved out of my ex-partner's home and into a studio in Los Angeles. It was my first time living alone in four years and my first time being really, truly single as an adult. Almost three years later, I'm still living alone. Still really, truly single.

Unfortunately, loneliness isn't just fodder for internet discourse - it's legitimately bad for our health. A 2023 advisory from the US Surgeon General found loneliness and isolation to be "more widespread than many of the other major health issues of our day, including smoking, diabetes, and obesity, and with comparable levels of risk to health and premature death."

This point was driven home for me when I got the opportunity to visit the Nicoya Peninsula in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica - home to one of the world's five blue zones. These are areas of the world where people live significantly longer and healthier lives. The question is: why?

My trip started (alone) at the beautiful Westin Reserva Conchal by Marriott. After exploring the property, I met with a larger group for a boat safari in the Palo Verde National Park. There, our tour guide educated us on the local wildlife, the Guanacaste region, and the specific blue zone to which we were headed. This area is known as the Nicoya Peninsula, and it's currently home to 600 people over the age of 100.

Life is hard, but we don't have to go it (completely) alone.

According to our guide, this longevity can be attributed to a myriad of lifestyle factors, including eating habits and environmental resources. But every blue zone has its own secret ingredient - Nicoya's is its sense of community.

The Nicoya Peninsula is led by the "plan de vida" culture. Literally translated to mean "life plan," plan de vida tells us that we all have a unique sense of purpose. In Nicoya, plan de vida also serves the community, with relationships based on trust and care for your family, friends, and neighbors. This community-centered culture doesn't just mean greater shared resources - it's also created a calmer, less stressful way of life. People work hard, but they always know they aren't doing it alone. It takes a village, after all.

So many of us have been told to lower our stress levels at some point in our life (which . . . easier said than done). As Micaela Bayard, MD, previously explained to Popsugar, long-lasting stressors can contribute to inflammation, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, digestive problems, and other chronic health conditions. That said, some stress is unavoidable. The solution? Maybe the village has something to do with it.

The Surgeon General's report writes that "higher social connection provides increased opportunities for and access to support, thus reducing the likelihood of perceiving challenging situations as stressful." This has certainly proven to be the case in Nicoya. Life is hard, but we don't have to go it (completely) alone.

It's natural to feel lonely sometimes, especially as a single 30-something living by herself in a big city. But if I learned anything from Nicoya, it's that - even when loneliness does strike - we're never truly alone. It's our job to call upon those doorbell friends and show up for others the same way (if only to sit with them and do nothing on the couch).

My trip to Reserva Conchal made me realize that, in many ways, I've already built a village of my own, and it's made up of people who love, trust, and show up for each other. My heart and my calendar are both full, and that's actually a great thing for my stress levels and physical health. Who knows? If I keep it up, maybe I'll be celebrating my 100th birthday with them, too.

Related:

Why Game Nights Are the Ultimate Friendship Hack in Your 30s

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Jordan Shalhoub (she/they) is the supervising producer for Vox Media's lifetyle group and has been creating content and digital media since 2012. They started their career as a documentary editor and continued to report and create around real stories that impact real people - at the heart of their experience is a love of storytelling. She also brings to her work a personal passion for wellness through a fitness trainer certification, mental health advocacy, and championing LGBTQ+ rights (and joy!). Currently, they oversee the short-form video program, from strategy through execution, across editorial and sponsored content.

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"Mastectomy Moons" Are Helping Patients Find Peace Before Surgery

With certain diagnoses, grief is inevitable. How you cope with it is up to you. In 2012, Michele Kraus Bennett tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, which indicates an increased risk for breast cancer. Nearly a decade later, after years of screenings, MRIs, mammograms, and blood tests, she finally scheduled her preventative prophylactic mastectomy for Dec. 1, 2021 . . . along with a road trip across the West Coast. "I was like, 'I'm going to go show my boobs a bunch of stuff,'" Kraus Bennett tells Popsugar. "'I'm going to go show my boobs Joshua Tree.'"

These kinds of "mastectomy moons" might seem a little unusual from the outside looking in. To some, the lead-up to a major surgery isn't the most opportune time for such an impromptu vacation. But for people like Kraus Bennett, there's peace in these moments of spontaneity - not to mention a unique opportunity to grieve, celebrate, and escape on one's own terms.

The trip was partially inspired by Kraus Bennett's actual honeymoon in 2020, which also involved a road trip. "We loved it so much, and at every moment in life, I always think: Is this an opportunity to do something really memorable and big?" After planning her mastectomy, Kraus Bennett had the same thought. "This is something I could just pass by, or I could really celebrate and mark this moment and do something exciting." Thus, her pre-surgery road trip was born.

Image Source: Courtesy of Michele Kraus Bennett

Kraus Bennett's trip started with a flight from Portland, OR, to Los Angeles. From there, she and her husband rented a sprinter van and started making their way across scenic camp sites along the West Coast. In various Instagram galleries documenting her journey, Kraus Bennett describes rugged rocks and blue skies, quiet mornings and peaceful hikes, soft sunrises and cold sand.

"As it turns out, I had cancer on the road trip, but I didn't know," she says. "We camped at this place called the Alabama Hills and we were all alone in the campground . . . it was like $8 a night. It was so pretty, and we would just go on walks in the evening." Throughout her trip, she also explored Death Valley, went horseback riding, visited Meow Wolf Omega Mart in Las Vegas, had breakfast in Palm Springs, saw the Hoover Dam, and spent time at Disneyland. "I took my bra off in the bathroom before Tower of Terror," she laughs. She looks back on the memories fondly.

Image Source: Courtesy of Michele Kraus Bennett

Kraus Bennett says the road trip allowed her to find some levity in a dark situation. But it also gave her space to come to terms with all the changes that were about to take place. "The other night, floating around in the pool, waving my arms around, I tried to feel the cold water on my chest, and feel how my breasts float, because that will change," she wrote in an Instagram post from Nov. 18. As a synchronized swimmer, the grief felt especially heavy. "I remember standing in the shower and being like, 'I'm not going to feel the water on my chest,'" she tells PS. "I have to soak this up."

"I went on this trip and really did something special."

When her operation finally came around, Kraus Bennett went in with a clear mind and a calm soul. "There's nothing else I can do to prepare. I feel really good about this decision," she thought to herself. She credits the mastectomy moon for helping her step into this mindset. "I made the choice and I went on this trip and really did something special," she says. "It was really nice to be celebrated and get to say goodbye."

Everyone is operating under different circumstances. But if you have the means to schedule a trip before a similar surgery or major life change, Kraus Bennett would definitely recommend it. "I think stuff like this is always a good idea," she says. Beyond all the fun memories, it also helped her approach a longer health journey in the best headspace possible.

"I felt like I was as majestic as the places we were visiting," she says. "It gave me so much more peace and happiness."

Related:

4 Loved Ones Share How Best to Support Someone With Metastatic Breast Cancer

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Chandler Plante (she/her) is a staff writer and PS Fit Producer. She has over six years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.

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