Eating at Denny’s. Sleeping at Walmart. What Could Go Wrong?

Plus, why you should check out Sir John Soane's Museum in London.

Subscribe View in browser  The entire world in your inbox. This week's newsletter is guest-edited by Malcolm Jones, who covers books, music, travel, and photography for The Daily Beast.   I am, I confess, a conventional traveler. My idea of roughing it is sleeping on the couch. I haven't camped out under the stars since I was sentenced to the Boy Scouts. That said, I love reading about braver souls who take less-traveled paths and share sleeping space with bears, snakes, and the occasional redneck drunk. In that regard, my tour guide of choice will always be the intrepid Melanie Hamlett.   For The Daily Beast travel section, Melanie has written about everything from a Cabbage Patch doll hospital to a Christian theme park in Florida, but this week she gets delightfully personal. Writing about her five years of living in her Toyota pickup truck—and her disastrous decision to reprise that experience—she takes us on a hilarious and creepy late-night tour of Denny's and a Walmart parking lot in a tiny Colorado town, where things get really interesting after midnight.   Melanie's experience did not make me envious. I've never been so happy being an armchair traveler. But she did make me laugh out loud, and she convinced me I was right: You should follow this woman anywhere she goes.   You would also do well to take Shannon Robinson's advice and check out Sir John Soane's Museum in London. Originally the famed 19th-century architect's house and studio, it is one of the craziest places you'll ever encounter, almost as weird as Denny's after midnight, but a lot more fun.   —Malcolm Jones   Did We Really Find Pliny the Elder's Skull? The famed historian perished in the eruption that wiped out Pompeii. One man claimed to have found his bones but was laughed at. Now, scientists say he may have been right. Antigua's Newest Luxury, Adults-Only Retreat Is on the Edge of a National Park The phrase "all-inclusive" has almost become pejorative, but a new hotel in Antigua is trying to change that while taking advantage of its spot on the edge of a dramatic park. Israel's Grand Canyon Is From Another World The former workers' camp is now a bohemian paradise with access to a lunar landscape perfect for those seeking an exciting outdoor adventure. Antelope Canyon is Over-Touristed AF, Is It Still Worth Going? With the recent photography crackdown and long lines, it's only reasonable that you'd ask if you should bother with this world wonder. "If you'd asked me about Merida a few years ago, I'd have said it was a great place to stay in Mexico. Little did I know that the original in Spain is filled with wonders."   — Robert Hofler takes us on a tour of Merida, Spain which he suggests may be Spain's best-kept secret.  OMG, I Want to Rent This House: Jamaica, Vermont Green Mountain Modern House, Jamaica, VT on Vrbo: The New Year's confetti has settled and the months of cold weather seem to be stretching endlessly into the future. You guessed it: we think it's time for yet another vacation. (They're like diamonds—you can never have too many.) A winter escape is in order, but that doesn't necessarily mean you need an escape from winter. When you're sitting in the middle of the fluffy white Vermont wilderness doing your best impression of an A-list snow bunny, all thoughts of the dirty melting slush back home and your already broken 2020 resolutions will melt right away. RENT ON VRBO >> COOLIFE Carry On This simple carry-on suitcase features a fold-out front pocket that fits up to a 15" laptop plus cords and chargers for all your gadgets. Inside is a pocketed divider to help you keep your toiletries, valuables, and other small items organized. BUY ON AMAZON >> Travel to the Greatest Works of Starchitect Tadao Ando   His churches fill non-believers with awe. His name attached to a museum is often a bigger draw than its collection. And his private homes have architecture buffs worldwide dreaming about a glimpse. Thus it's a no-brainer that this week's selection for our Just Booked series (our twice-monthly showcase for travel-related coffee-table books) is the freshly updated, XXL, Ando. Complete Works 1975–Today by Philip Jodidio from Taschen. BUY ON TASCHEN >> Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts or newsletters, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales. © Copyright 2020 The Daily Beast Company LLC  555 W. 18th Street, New York NY 10011  Privacy Policy If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your browser. To ensure delivery of these emails, please add emails@thedailybeast.com to your address book. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, or think you have received this message in error, you can safely unsubscribe.