内容摘要：While commenter Jean joked that Murphy is "taking [his mom] for a walk" instead of the other way around, it looks like Belle has a hold on the leash the entire time. Even if Murph is an eager beaver who wants to take the lead like one of Santa's reindeer, his responsible dog mom is never far behind.

While commenter Jean joked that Murphy is "taking [his mom] for a walk" instead of the other way around, it looks like Belle has a hold on the leash the entire time. Even if Murph is an eager beaver who wants to take the lead like one of Santa's reindeer, his responsible dog mom is never far behind.

Looking at today's trends, though, it seems that travelers want the best of both worlds: indulgence but also intention. In 2025, vacations and trips are unfolding in ways that prioritize familiarity, flexibility, and emotional recharge over status updates and bucket-list bragging rights.Beyond logistics and cost, there's a new urgency influencing travel decisions: safety from natural disasters and geopolitical conflict.

With hurricane season looming and astill in the news, it's no surprise that 35% of U.S. travelers now consider the risk of natural disasters a deal-breaker when picking their next vacation destinations. The rise in wildfires, floods, and extreme heat has made planning a trip feel less like a fantasy and more like a risk assessment.Even more striking: 48% of North American travelers now factor in the possibility of armed conflict when choosing where to go. That number has tripled since 2023, according to the study. Europe, too, has seen a dramatic shift, with 57% of Europeans now considering conflict zones a critical deterrent, up from just 21% the year prior.

Interestingly, while many Americans are choosing to stay stateside, travelers in other countries are increasingly avoiding the U.S., citing political instability as a factor. In 17 of the 23 countries surveyed, the United States ranked among the top five destinations people would avoid due to political climate concerns.That’s a sharp contrast from previous years. In Canada, for example, interest in traveling to the U.S. has dropped by more than half, from 33% in 2024 to just 14% this year.

While this might feel like a blow to the American tourism industry, there is still a booming market for "local travel" as Americans focus inward, rediscovering

, coastal towns, and underrated cities that offer culture, comfort, and a break from global chaos.When it comes to picking a pineapple at the store, Testa's tips center on three things: color, smell, and the spiky leaves on the crown. Pineapples that are more yellow or orange are ripe, while greenish pineapples are unripe. A good pineapple "should smell sweet and fragrant," but will have a fermented or alcohol-like scent if it's going bad, Testa says.

Senior Food Director at Delish,, adds, "A good pineapple should be firm but slightly yielding. If it's rock hard, it's underripe."

Testa's favorite tip is one that she learned from her grandmother. "When a pineapple is ripe, the green leaves should pull out easily," she says. "If it is difficult to pull out a leaf, the fruit is likely not sweet." Just know that yanking the leaves out of a pineapple at the store might earn you some dirty looks from fellow shoppers. But in your own home, it's a great trick.Aside from smell, Testa says there are a couple of things that signal a pineapple is not good. White mold on the bottom center of the pineapple and soft or brown spots on the skin are both signs to skip the fruit.