Is this the Most Outrageous Race in Winter Sports?

Plus, coronavirus is bad but even during the worst pandemics, people found refuge.

Subscribe View in browser  The entire world in your inbox. I'm currently driving across the U.S., crossing a couple of states I've never been to off my list. The first two days were spent going across eastern Colorado, Kansas, and into Missouri. As I still recover from jet lag from my recent trip to New Zealand, I got an early start, leaving Boulder at 3AM, and whipped down I-70 until the sun rose over the hills (Kansas, at least on 70, is not flat at all) which was pure bliss. The drive to Topeka was kind of a bizarre one. I built a bed in my backseat to nap in 30-45 minute bursts at rest stops every few hours. The relentless wind kept trying to push my little Prius off the road—a road with an endless number of state troopers. (Yes, one of them did manage to snag me for speeding.) There were so many random things along the way, and honestly Kansas is trying harder than any place I've been in a long time to convince you to come check it out. Billboards advertised everything: Wild West museums, exotic animals, Abilene as the best little town in America, the Greyhound Hall of Fame, wine tasting (I didn't have time to stop but Prairie Fire Winery seems beloved online), and a museum about the Orphan Train (which after Googling at the next rest stop, I am now obsessed). Perhaps my favorite thing about driving in this part of the country is encountering a scene like an adult superstore across the highway from a Russell Stover warehouse. Our feature story takes place in a similar landscape about 1000 miles to the north. Carol Patterson takes us to a truly wild (but outrageously fun) event held in Alberta called Skijordue. It's a twist on the Nordic winter sport of skijoring (a horse pulling a skier) with lots of throwback neon, cowboys, and some fondue. Enjoy!   —William O'Connor, Travel Editor  The Coronavirus is Bad But Even During the Worst Pandemics, People Found Refuge From the Catskills during polio to the Tuscan Hills during the Black Death, people have always found a way to escape. The Escape-From-the-Crowds Wonders of Menorca Often overshadowed by its hard-partying neighbors, the smallest of the Balearic Islands is just delightful. The Boeing 737 MAX Nightmare Keeps Getting Worse A damning report from House investigators shows the worst breakdown in keeping passengers safe since the start of the Jet Age. Can this NYC Hotel Make Small Rooms Cool? Many first-time visitors to New York City are shocked at the smaller size of hotel rooms, but one new hotel is making a bet that it can convince you to love them. An RV Is the Unique Way to Vacation This Spring Break   Make a radical decision this Spring Break and take your family on an RV adventure. READ MORE >> "As they excavated the grounds of the Church of St. Bavo's Cathedral, scientists stumbled across some walls constructed from the human bones. The remains—mostly the thigh and shin bones of adults—are thought to have come from a graveyard that was cleared during the sixteenth century … but this discovery isn't the only example of a church built using the remains of the faithful dead. These quaint old-world chapels and churches conceal some macabre secrets."    —historian Candida Moss takes the discovery of a church made of bones in Belgium and gives us a tour of other such wonders. OMG, I Want to Rent This House: Scottsdale, AZ Scottsdale Manor on Vrbo: Let's say you've got a little money to burn, and a little Insta fame to put on display (we're talking Bachelor levels, not Kardashian), and you're desperately in need of a getaway. You'll be inviting along some of your closest friends—we are living in the age of FOMO, after all—so you'll need a palatial space to serve as the perfect backdrop for the obligatory holiday pics. You won't want to jet off too far, since you don't have access to a private plane (again, not the Kardashians), which means it's Scottsdale or bust! History is littered with those who have spent their lives seeking paradise. They've sailed across oceans, pursued transcendence through visions and adventures, and put their utopian dreams into treatises both fictional and philosophical. After all that blood, sweat, and tears, it's a shame that all they had to do to find the paradise they craved was visit a cliff overlooking Playa Flamingo in Costa Rica. RENT ON VRBO >> Ello Campy Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug If you're more into the traditional silhouette of a travel bottle, this one from Ello is a great option. It's made from insulated stainless steel and can keep drinks warm up to 10 hours. The best part is a slightly hidden feature. The inside of the handle is coated in cork, which means you'll never have a hot handle to hold. Everything is dishwasher safe and BPA-free. Plus, the camp-inspired colors and speckled exterior make it a unique on-the-go option. BUY ON AMAZON >> Travel to the World's Coolest Postmodern Buildings   Only Brutalism comes close to the universal disdain many reserve for a lot of Postmodern architecture. Lovers of classical architecture as well as those who adore the stripped-down intensity of modernists bemoan the ill effects of this architectural style dominant since the 70s. And yet, as the completely wonderful new coffee table book from Phaidon, Postmodern Architecture: Less is a Bore, shows, the style is full of some of the most joyous, exuberant, outlandish, and fun works on the planet. Flipping through, it's impossible not to be mesmerized by the interiors of Robert A. M. Stern's Llewelyn Park residence or charmed by Fat and Grayson Perry's house in Essex. That's why it's our latest selection in our series on gorgeous new travel-related coffee table books, Just Booked. BUY ON AMAZON >> 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.