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Travel Insurance

This refreshing airline amenity is making a comeback | Local Business

By SALLY FRENCH
NerdWallet

For those among us who like a tipple after takeoff, consider this a sign that the world is healing: Many airlines are resuming in-flight meals and alcohol service.

Early on in the pandemic, many airlines completely cut in-flight refreshment offerings (aside from perhaps a hasty water bottle delivery). Slowly but surely, airlines are reintroducing the amenity.

For example, in 2020, Southwest Airlines cut service completely on short flights and offered only water and a prepackaged snack on longer flights. In 2021, Southwest reintroduced a small selection of nonalcoholic drinks to all flights. It wasn’t until February 2022 that its complete pre-pandemic beverage menu returned, which included more soda and juice choices — plus alcoholic beverages for an additional cost.

Other airlines moved a bit more quickly. By July 2020, Delta Air Lines was offering beer cans and single-serve wine bottles. It wasn’t until March 2022 that it brought back hot meals for its Delta One and first class customers on some flights.

Why did in-flight alcohol get the ax?

It’s hard to peg just one reason why alcohol and hot meals disappeared on flights during the COVID-19 era. Some say it eliminated unnecessary lingering in the aisles while flight attendants took everyone’s orders.

Others point to unprecedented rates of unruly passenger reports as the reason to remove alcohol in particular. In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration initiated 1,099 investigations around unruly passengers. That’s up from just 183 in 2020, 149 in 2019 and 146 investigations in 2018. And not all bad behavior yields an investigation. In 2021, the FAA received reports of 4,290 mask-related incidents and 5,981 unruly passenger reports.

While it’s unclear how many of those cases involved alcohol (or how many more there might be if alcohol was accessible), flight attendants suggest a correlation.

An online survey of 5,000 flight attendants in summer 2021 by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, a union, showed that mask compliance and alcohol were among the most common factors in unruly passenger interactions. Additionally, 17% of respondents reported experiencing at least one physical incident with a passenger.

Some suspect the reason in-flight beverages got the boot comes down to money. Airlines have sought to cut costs by culling refreshments long before the pandemic. For instance, Frontier Airlines discontinued serving warm cookies on its flights back in 2012, stating that fresh cookie service “does not align with either the perception or financial reality of the ultra low-cost business model,” according to a memo obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Today, refreshments are available on Frontier flights for purchase, but there are no freebies.

These days, travelers say that while service has largely returned, it’s still been significantly reduced.

“Pre-COVID, United Airlines would always offer a drink before takeoff, and flight attendants would continue to offer drinks during the flight,” says David Decker, an insurance executive and United Million Miler member.

“Currently, the flight attendants make the rounds after the plane has reached cruising altitude, but you

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Travel Academy

The First Academy lefty Harper is right as ECS softball bats go silent in Final Four loss

Kenny Gretsch 3 hours ago

Anayeli Guzman is tagged out at second base as ECS lost to The First Academy 3-0 in a Class 2A state semifinal in Clermont on Tuesday, May 24.

CLERMONT — MacKenzie Thompson stole a bunt single to start Evangelical Christian’s night at the plate, but The First Academy senior Hannah Harper stole the show with a dominant outing in the circle in Tuesday’s FHSAA Class 2A State Semifinal.

Harper, a West Florida signee, allowed just two hits and struck out 13 Sentinels as the Royals shutout ECS, 3-0, at Legends Way Ballfields.

“She did a super job,” said ECS head coach Johnny Manetta. “Hats off to her.”

More: Evangelical Christian softball wins first regional title to clinch first state Final Four trip

More: Evangelical Christian looking to make history in first trip to state softball championships

Coming in, Manetta thought Harper could give his lefty-heavy lineup trouble. The memory of a two-hit shutout from Sickles left-hander Robyn Herron at the Longshore Memorial Tournament in Naples last month didn’t help.

“She gave us fits and we lost to them 1-0,” he said. “I had an idea that we may struggle. We’ve struggled all year against lefties. It’s something we can improve on next year. I love having all the left-handed bats in the lineup, but sometimes you just run into the wrong opponent.”

ECS sophomore Zoe Yzaguirre dueled with Harper for two scoreless frames. In The First Academy’s third, the Royals got a one-out double from Harper, who advanced to third on Morgan Duling’s base hit. Four pitches later, Camille Mackendon hit a triple just inches inside the third-base bag that rolled into left, scoring Harper and Duling. Molly Sheridan, the Royals’ cleanup batter, bunted into a suicide squeeze that brought Mackendon in.

The First Academy’s three spot in the third was all the run support Harper needed.

“Just one bad inning,” Manetta said. “Couple pitches that maybe weren’t where they were supposed to [be]. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.”

ECS lost to The First Academy 3-0 in a Class 2A state semifinal in Clermont on Tuesday, May 24.

Yzaguirre bounced back with a 1-2-3 fourth, then she worked around a leadoff single in the fifth. The right-hander retired 12 of the final 14 batters she saw to give the Sentinels offense a chance to come back.

“She’s another underclassman. Just a sophomore. We’re going to bring her back for two more years and she’s just going to get better and better,” said Manetta, who doubles as Yzaguirre’s travel ball coach. “Her velocity has gone up 2-3 mph every year, we expect another jump this summer. She’s just a warrior out there.”

Yzaguirre finished with 11 strikeouts, her third consecutive game in double figures. Even after allowing three earned runs in the state semifinal, the sophomore posted a career-low ERA at 1.06 to lead ECS. At the plate, Thompson added a second bunt single in the sixth to finish her sophomore campaign with a career-high 49

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Leisure Job

IV/CB visitors bureau tabs Peterson as sales director

Kenny Gretsch 5 hours ago

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Bart Peterson has been named as director of sales for the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau after serving for two years as its business development manager, the bureau announced on Tuesday.

Peterson has worked closely with regional partners through the North Lake Tahoe Marketing Cooperative and he will continue to support the Sierra region through group and leisure sales efforts.

“Bart has done an amazing job overseeing our collective North Lake Tahoe sales efforts over these last two years,” said Andy Chapman, President and CEO of IVCBVB. “He is well deserving of this new role and title as we continue to refine our visitor acquisition approach to focus on responsible visitation.”

As Director of Sales for IVCBVB, Peterson will advance the organization’s mission by planning and implementing strategies that drive national group, conference and leisure sales activities during need periods, in coordination with the North Lake Tahoe Marketing Cooperative. He will continue to represent the region with key partners including Brand USA, US Travel, Visit California, Travel Nevada and many others.

“I am honored to represent this incredible destination,” said Peterson. “As we emerge from the tumultuous years of the pandemic with a renewed focus on meaningful, sustainable tourism, I am excited to help more folks from around the world get to know, love and preserve Lake Tahoe.”

Peterson has been with IVCBVB since 2016, after returning to the Lake Tahoe area from San Francisco. He has worked at local ski resorts, including Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and on ski-centered travel initiatives in and around Reno-Tahoe. Peterson enjoys the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe as an avid mountain biker and paddle-boarding enthusiast.

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Health

Majority of Americans support continued migrant expulsions under Title 42

Kenny Gretsch 5 hours ago

The majority of Americans oppose the Biden administration’s decision to end a public health order used to expel migrants at the U.S. border, according to a new POLITICO-Harvard survey, underscoring how a law designed to stop the spread of disease is now widely seen as the best way to control immigration.

The survey found that 55 percent of American adults oppose ending the use of the order, known as Title 42, to prevent migrants from entering the U.S., compared to 45 percent who think the order should end.

The findings come as a Louisiana judge issued a preliminary injunction on Friday blocking the administration from ending the order on Monday, which would have allowed thousands of migrants arriving at the U.S. border each day to enter immigration system and apply for asylum for the first time in over two years.

The Biden administration came under fire from Republican lawmakers and many Democrats after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which authorizes the order, announced it would end this month, citing improved public health conditions and the availability of vaccines and treatments.

Critics say the government is not prepared to handle the surge of migrants that the order’s end might bring. The Department of Homeland Security has said it is preparing for as many as 18,000 migrants to arrive on a daily basis when the order ends.

More than 20 states signed on to a legal challenge to allow the migrant expulsions to continue in a Louisiana court, saying the CDC had not followed the correct procedure ending the order and failed to consider the impact of their decision on states. A Trump-appointed judge on Friday ruled in their favor, granting a preliminary injunction to prevent the order from ending.

The fact that so many Americans also support using a public health measure to stop immigration unrelated to the pandemic is ultimately a reflection of lawmakers’ failure to make progress on immigration reform, said Robert Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis, emeritus, at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“They’re taking something used to control epidemics and are fighting for it because they know there’s no way to reach an agreement over immigration,” he says. “Congress can’t agree what to do, and they’re using it as a fig leaf a public health emergency measure.”

The poll’s findings suggest that individuals’ support for keeping the order in place is informed both by their attitude toward immigration and their political affiliation.

Among those who said they think there should be less immigration into the U.S., opposition to ending the order rose to 77 percent, while 72 percent of people who support more immigration think the order should end. Eighty-one percent of Republicans oppose ending Title 42, compared to just 36 percent of Democrats.

Since Title 42 was first enacted in March 2020, there have been more than 1.7 million expulsions under the policy, rendering the public health law a de facto immigration control

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Health

Title 42: Keeping public health authority in place won’t slow US-Mexico border crossings, officials say

Kenny Gretsch 5 hours ago

Since taking office, President Joe Biden has faced mounting pressure over his handling of the US-Mexico border, dividing members of his own party following a decision by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lift Title 42, which allows authorities to swiftly turn people away at the border, effectively barring migrants from seeking asylum.

Republicans hammered the administration for not being tough enough on the border. Some Democrats and immigrant advocates, meanwhile, say the White House has waited too long to rescind it. Regardless, a federal court ruling means the administration will be forced to keep it in effect for now.

Along the northern border of Mexico, advocates say some migrants remain undeterred and desperate. “I don’t think that just because Title 42 didn’t go away today that people are thinking that was the one and only way they were going to get over,” said Sam Bishop, Mexico country director for Global Response Management.

“To me, the lack of some sort of visible and major outcry today in particular or since Friday, is kind of an indication that this isn’t the only thing they’re necessarily waiting for,” Bishop, who works directly with migrants, added.

Over the weekend, following the court ruling, Border Patrol agents arrested more than 500 migrants in the Rio Grande Valley sector alone, which covers south Texas, according to US Customs and Border Protection. And in Yuma, Arizona, border agents arrested over 1,500 migrants in a 24-hour period over the weekend, a Homeland Security official told CNN.

Migration is at new highs amid deteriorating conditions in Latin America that were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. At the US southern border, about 40% of border crossers are now from countries outside of Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, according to a Homeland Security official.

The Department of Homeland Security, officials say, is operating under the belief that numbers will remain high even with Covid-19 border restrictions still in place. The number of border crossings generally increase in the spring, but the current pace of record numbers highlights the continued urgency on the US-Mexico border.

For months, DHS prepared for the future lifting of Title 42, which was invoked at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, while grappling with around 7,000 border crossers daily.

In a statement following Friday’s ruling, DHS maintained the department would press forward with preparations to manage a potential increase of migrants at the border. Officials are also racing to strike agreements with countries in the region to stem the flow of migrants journeying to the US southern border.

DHS is similarly working with Mexico to mitigate traffic along key areas on the US southern border, like patrols, checkpoints, and going after smugglers, the agency official said.

More than 6 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have fled the country, according to DHS. Nicaraguans have also increasingly been migrating, as well as Haitians who had moved to the region years ago. Arrangements on migration management have already been

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Clothing

25 Best Things to do in Brooklyn, New York in 2022

Kenny Gretsch 6 hours ago

There are many amazing things to do in Brooklyn. You can admire art in Brooklyn Museum or street art on Troutman Street. You can dine at a Michelin restaurant or an outdoor food market. Brooklyn has an answer for every tourist request making it perfect for entertaining all types of vacationers.

Sure, you should still visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and you must make your way to The Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building, but once you’ve seen New York City’s classic attractions, make sure to head over the Brooklyn Bridge and explore all the best things to do in Brooklyn as well.

Top Things to do in Brooklyn, New York

the best things to do in Brooklyn NY Map

Brooklyn may be a borough of New York City, but with a population of 2.6 million, it is the fourth largest city in the United States making it its own destination unto itself. This travel guide will give you plenty of ideas of things to do in Brooklyn.

When visiting New York, we highly recommend The New York Go City Explorer Pass. It includes many attractions around New York and Brooklyn including Brooklyn Bridge Full-Day Bike Rental, Brooklyn Museum and Botanic Garden Combo, Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Walking Tour, Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour, plus choices include the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry. See details here.

1. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

things to do in brooklyn walk water street

Walking along the Brooklyn Bridge is a bucket list item of things to do in New York City and not only that, it lets you see some great views of the NYC skyline. Read: 30 Best New York Views – Where to See the Manhattan Skyline

Take your time to stop and enjoy the views of the East River, and the iconic buildings of New York City: The Empire State Building, Crysler Building, One World Trade Centre, the Statue of Liberty, and the other two famous bridges of New York City – The Williamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge.

The bridge is popular with cyclists and commuters walking into Lower Manhattan, so if you want to avoid the crowds, walk early in the morning or later in the evening. If you to take a guided tour, this highly-rated Brooklyn Tour is a 2-hour walking tour of the Brooklyn Bridge and through the trendy Brooklyn neighborhood of Dumbo. (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass)

2. Take a Stroll in Brooklyn Bridge Park

things to do in brooklyn - brooklyn bridge park views of manhattan — Views of Manhattan from Old Pier 1

Brooklyn Bridge Park is not only a great destination in New York, but it is also one of the best places to see the Manhattan Skyline. The best place to see the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges is also at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The park stretches along New York Harbor, with 85 acres of waterfront green space to explore.

Swim in the pop-up swimming pool, take snapshots from DUMBO or soak up the New York Skyline Lookout views. If you want to relax with bridge and city skyline views, Brooklyn Bridge Park is the best place

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Clothing

New Orleans based business helps local fashionista create her own private label clothing line| WGNO.com

Kenny Gretsch 6 hours ago

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — New Orleans is known for its history, culture, food, music and so much more.

Fashion is another unique part of New Orleans culture. People like Molly Stalter who has a passion for design said she has always loved fashion.

Stalter said she wanted to create something unique for women across the U.S.

One idea during the start of the pandemic is what launched Stalter’s dream to be an entrepreneur.

“I would always get frustrated or packing for trips, or trying to pick an outfit for a weekend because like my brother my boyfriend can throw a pair of trousers and a top and be set, and re-wear that, but girls, we always want options,” said Stalter.

That is why the first design Molly created was a “skress“, also known as a skirt that can be worn as a dress.

Stalter said the skirt/ dress is designed to be worn in multiple ways.

She said she never expected to see herself with her own private clothing label at 25 years old.

“I worked in events, which I loved, but I always as a little girl had a passion for design just never pursued that, so it’s really cool to see that, it’s not even what I graduated in college for and I get to do my dream.”

A local business called Privy Label is what helped Stalter get started on the process of living out her dreams.

Jessica Osborn, the founder of Privy Label said she helps people across the U.S with creating their own clothing line.

Osborn said she loves helping people’s dreams come true.

“It’s really energizing to see the inspiration that each new entrepreneur comes to you with. This is my baby, this is my idea, I have been thinking about this for a really long time, them putting their trust in me to help them bring that to life really energizes me,” said Osborn.

Osborn said she has helped people who with no experience, like Stalter who needed some hands-on support, and people with a lot of experience who need help with just certain things like hiring an artist.

When an entrepreneur goes to Jessica for help she said she always asks them what their price point will be first.

She also said she asks her clients what will make their product different from the rest.

“What’s going to make your swimsuits different from all the other eco-friendly swimsuits out there.”

Osborn said another thing to get a clothing business started is to do a lot of research beforehand.

“If you want to make a high-end product that lasts a long time and be something that people love in the closets for a long time this is the place for you,” said Jessica Osborn.

Stay updated with the latest breaking news, weather, and sports! Download the WGNO News App and subscribe to our daily headlines newsletter.

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Travel Insurance

13 Best Mountains in Switzerland

Kenny Gretsch 1 day ago

There are so many things to love about Switzerland; the chocolate, the cheese, the mountains, the clean air. The Swiss Alps are some of the most majestic and awe-inspiring mountain ranges in the world, and a visit to them is a must for any traveler.

If you’re looking for the best mountains in Switzerland, you’ve come to the right place.

In this blog post, we’ll be discussing some of the best Swiss mountains to visit and providing some information on each one.

Here are our picks for the best Switzerland mountains.

Best Mountains in Switzerland

Switzerland is a beautiful country located in Europe with some of the most stunning mountains. It’s known for its breathtaking scenery and alpine surroundings.

The mountains here are truly impressive! Whether you love to hike or want to take in the fantastic views, there is something for everyone. Here are some of the best mountains to visit in Switzerland.

1. Jungfrau

Mountains always seem to garner a bit of mystery and magic. Perhaps it’s because they take us out of our element- clambering up inclined slopes of rock and dirt, breathing in the rarefied air at high altitudes.

The Jungfrau, one of Switzerland’s best and highest mountains, elicits all of these feelings and more. Perched in the Bernese Alps, the Jungfrau offers visitors some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the Swiss countryside.

On a clear day, you can see Italy from the summit and the fascinating views of Central Switzerland! And if you’re looking for a ski resort to ski or snowboard, Jungfrau is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland.

With its long stretches of groomed slopes and reliable snowfall, it’s no wonder that this mountain is such a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. So whether you’re looking to commune with nature or conquer your fears, the Jungfrau is sure to deliver an experience you won’t soon forget.

It’s also home to the highest train station in Europe! The cogwheel train ride isn’t for everyone, but it affords lovely views of the region.

Where to Stay

Hotel Bellevue Palace. A prestigious hotel located in the heart of Switzerland. It offers guests a unique experience with wonderful views of the Alps and an array of luxurious amenities.
Hotel Alpenhof. A luxury hotel located in the heart of the Swiss Alps. It is renowned for its breathtaking views and excellent service.
Hotel Silberhorn. A world-renowned hotel situated in the heart of the Swiss Alps. It is known for its spectacular views of the mountains and its luxurious accommodations.

2. Mount San Salvatore

At 912 meters, Mount San Salvatore is not the tallest mountain in Switzerland, but its location overlooking the city of Lugano makes it one of the most popular. The views from the summit are stunning, with Lake Lugano and the Alps visible in all directions.

The well-maintained trails make the hike to the top of Mount San Salvatore an easy one. But the beautiful scenery

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Travel Academy

Evangelical Christian looking to make history in first trip to state softball championships

Kenny Gretsch 1 day ago

The Evangelical Christian softball program will make its Final Four debut in Clermont Tuesday night at 7 against The First Academy.

Despite their lack of experience on the big state stage, the Sentinels have an old pro guiding them on their historic run.

ECS coach Johnny Manetta has been a regular participant in the Final Four since 2017, winning the Class 7A state title with the Green Wave in 2017 and the 5A crown last year with two other state visits in between.

He said he’ll have very simple advice for his young club, which has only two seniors and otherwise starts middle schoolers and underclassmen in the field.

Evangelical Christian softball wins first regional title to clinch first state Final Four trip

Island Coast baseball heads to state; Fort Myers, Naples, ECS softball on to regional finals

“You know, just play it as one game at a time,” Manetta said. “You know, because there’s enough stress that the game puts on itself, don’t put any pressure on yourself to be you know, any better than you were the day before. Go out there and just do your job and hope that the person next to you does their job. And just be excited for the opportunity. Because it doesn’t come every day.”

It also helps to have a stud pitcher on the mound, which Manetta was blessed with during his runs at Fort Myers with Vivian Ponn, Hannah Perkins, and Julia Knowler last year. The Sentinels have sophomore Zoe Yzaguirre, who has allowed just one unearned run over her team’s first five playoff games and has 139 strikeouts and 19 walks over 92 innings with a .91 ERA.

“You know, she’s very composed, she has been in a lot of big situations,” Manetta said. “She understands the moment, the moment’s never too big for her, she’s gonna go out there, she’s gonna give you everything she has, and she’s not gonna let little things affect because she knows that behind her sometimes is a little bit more inexperience. So she feels like she has to sometimes carry a little bit more of a load and she does a great job with her composure doing so.”

Although this will be her first time competing in Clermont at the state level, Yzaguirre has played at those fields during travel ball tournaments. And she’s enjoyed watching her team grow and mature around her this season as a team leader and is excited to see what they can accomplish next.

“Because you get to see how they grow and how they play and just emotionally and physically help them get through their tough times as a teammate is just amazing,” Yzaguirre said. “I think we’re just going to work really hard at practice on Monday, and just work on the basic things so that we know our little mechanics are there and that we can just fall upon them like whenever we get nervous.”

Action from the regional final softball game

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Leisure Job

You’re not alone – everyone else is having a work crisis too

Kenny Gretsch 1 day ago

Burnout. Languishing. The great resignation. The midlife crisis. The brain drain. Something is going on with how we feel about work, and those feeling the worst of it aren’t yet 40. What’s driving the desire to do less? Kirsty Johnston reports.

When Auckland councillor Richard Hills decided not to run for mayor, almost everyone who knew him was surprised.

Hills, elected as a North Shore councillor in 2016, always pushed himself to go for leadership roles. Before council, he was on the Kaipatiki local board, while working in his day job supporting youth. Now, he’s the chair of the environment and climate change committee. His days are filled with meetings and committees and projects and consultations, his nights with residents’ events, more meetings, reading and social media. He works up to 80 hours a week. And he’s always been like this, his time full of community and social and volunteer activities.

“Everyone thought being mayor would be something I’d relish,” he says. “And after I said, no, I’m not going to run, even I was like ‘why did I do that?’. I had a bit of a crisis about it.”

But during the pandemic something had shifted in Hills, 35. In November, he became a father, and having baby Theo – something he never expected as a younger gay man – made him want to spend more time at home. Even before that, he’d begun to have nagging doubts that the way he was working wasn’t quite right.

“The two long lockdowns, they refocused my activity – they took all the site visits, community events, they took that all out,” Hills says.

“I remember in the first lockdown in March 2020 my husband Leight and I were watching TV together, bingeing TV shows. We had time to walk around the neighbourhood. I was like, ‘woah this is what normal people do’. It gave me time to assess things and focus on what was important, that family was important.”

And so, adding the extra duties that come with the mayoral role seemed less appealing. Even though he’s decided to “slow down” to see Theo more, the Friday morning I call, he’s been out four nights already that week, and attended an event that day at 7am.

SUPPLIED

Auckland councillor Richard Hills.

“I assume when I look back on my life on my deathbed I will regret not spending as much time with family and friends. I regret it now,” Hills says.

There’s no data that really captures Hills’ experience. There are no academic studies. There’s no catchphrase to go viral, like “burnout” or “languishing”, yet.

It’s not “The Great Resignation” (because not everyone can or wants to quit). It’s a more underlying

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People are also reading…

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1. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

2. Take a Stroll in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Suggest a Correction

Best Mountains in Switzerland

1. Jungfrau

Where to Stay

2. Mount San Salvatore

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