Laura Barry

6 days ago | athensmessenger.com | Laura Barry

I got one of the worst text messages a parent can receive at 12:05 p.m. on April 17. “Active shooter.”kAm|J 52F89E6C :D :? 96C 7:?2= EH@ H66<D @7 F?56C8C25F2E6 DEF5:6D 2E u=@C:52 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ H96C6 2 D9@@E6C[ =2E6C :56?E:7:65 2D u$& DEF56?E !9@6?:I x<?6C[ @A6?65 7:C6] pD x HC:E6[ DE:== E96 52J @7 E96 D9@@E:?8[ EH@ A6@A=6 92G6 5:65 2?5 D:I @E96CD 2C6 :?;FC65] %96 D:I =:<6=J :?4=F56D x<?6C[ H9@ C67FD65 E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 A@=:46 4@>>2?5D 2?5 H2D D9@E 2?5 9@DA:E2=:K65 3FE 2D @7 E9:D HC:E:?8 :D ?@E :?

1 week ago | holidayswithkids.com.au | Laura Barry

Native to Western Australia, quokkas are most commonly found on Rottnest Island, just off the coast near Perth. Their elusive nature makes them a rare sight outside their native range – until now! Sydneysiders can now snap a selfie with these charismatic creatures without hopping on a plane across the country. In celebration of their arrival (and just in time for the school holidays!) Sydney Zoo is running a public naming competition.

1 week ago | vacationstravel.com | Laura Barry

Virgin Australia is now offering Australian passengers transiting through Doha Hamad International Airport ‘Dine On Us’ vouchers. Hot off the back of announcing its new direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha – launching June 2025, and taking wing from Melbourne in December 2025 – Virgin Australia has dropped another sweet deal.

1 week ago | holidayswithkids.com.au | Laura Barry

Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns, QueenslandGet ready for a jungle adventure on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a breathtaking 90-minute ride from Cairns into the heart of the Wet Tropics of Queensland. This journey winds through lush rainforest, past tumbling waterfalls and across towering bridges, with every twist revealing another incredible view. As you climb towards the village of Kuranda, the windows become a front-row seat to one of Australia’s loveliest landscapes.

1 week ago | vacationstravel.com | Laura Barry

Many of the best iPhone travel hacks come pre-installed and hidden in your device, offering smarter, simpler ways to explore the world – no extra downloads or apps required. There was a time when international travel required paper maps, a Lonely Planet guidebook and a foreign language dictionary. Today, all this functionality – and more – is hidden in the depths of your iPhone, if only you know where to look.