Making friends with locals while traveling isn’t always easily. Luckily, these apps and platforms make it simple to connect for a more authentic experience.
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Raiatea: French Polynesia’s Sacred Island
“Raiatea is the sacred island,” explains Karine, the director of Raiatea Lodge Hotel. “It’s a very authentic island with a rich history and culture that …
Cultural Immersion: Becoming A Mikoshi Bearer In Japan
It is still very hot on this November day. Some of my friends living in Saitama, the large prefecture north of Tokyo, have invited me …
Steel Pan Drumming: Exploring Trinidad Through Music
The national instrument of Trinidad & Tobago is the steelpan, or steel drum. Crafted from oil drums — although many of these drums never contained …
Artisans Unite: Exploring Local Art At Scenic Way In Hocking Hills, Ohio
The close-knit community of Hocking Hills is very sustainable, with restaurants promoting local ingredients, naturalist guides teaching the importance of ecology, accommodations made of recycled …