Tim Chester

3 weeks ago | afar.com | Tim Chester

Every responsible traveler knows you should keep a decent distance from marine life. But some marine life hasn’t gotten the memo. I realized this while snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef recently, when I turned my head and came face-to-face with a hefty, majestic loggerhead sea turtle. I squirmed gracelessly out of the turtle’s way; the turtle glided nonchalantly off into the depths. Around us, hundreds of fish rode the gentle currents above the contours of coral.

4 weeks ago | afar.com | Tim Chester

Curling is harder than it looks. And while most of us admire the sweepers manically brushing ice every Winter Olympics, the job of getting the stone moving is way more difficult. I learned that the hard, wobbly, cold way on a recent visit to Wauwatosa Curling Club in the namesake suburb of Milwaukee. It’s not that the ice is slippery; it’s textured, and less hazardous than it looks.

Feb 13, 2025 | afar.com | Tim Chester

By February, you’ve either totally crushed—or totally given up on—those New Year’s resolutions. But whatever happened, now’s a great time to set some serious travel goals. Our new collection of planning stories is full of intel and inspiration to guide you through an amazing year of adventure. We reveal how to make the most of your airline points and which hotel loyalty schemes are best.

Jan 17, 2025 | afar.com | Tim Chester

Disconnecting resets your nervous system. Photo by Max/Unsplash Is it even possible to travel unplugged in 2025? Since Afar ran a campaign to encourage travelers to explore device-free in 2018, smartphones have gotten smarter and even more present in our lives. Americans spend an average of 4.5 hours per day on them, up from just under three hours in 2022.

Oct 29, 2024 | afar.com | Jessie Beck |Bailey Berg |Tim Chester

Gundlach Bundschu Winery is a historic yet laid-back place to drink a glass (or two) of wine in Sonoma. Courtesy of Gundlach Bundschu Winery As a San Franciscan, I’m lucky enough to live within driving distance of several incredible wine-growing regions. But when I want to spend a day (or even weekend) tasting wine among the vines, more often than not I head to Sonoma County’s wine country.