Outdoor plans and unlikely heroes

[View this email in your browser]( Hey all, Are you on a road trip this long weekend? When we travel somewhere, we may get so focused on the destination that we forget what’s special along the way. If you happen to be headed to Mount Rushmore, know that the state of South Dakota has [much more to offer]( beyond the monument. Or if you’re off to Portland, don’t forget to see many of Oregon’s other [incredible natural sites](. Are you going skiing instead? If it’s a party you’re looking for on your snowcation, these resorts have the [best gay ski week celebrations](. Or maybe you’re sitting the MLK crowds out and planning ahead to the next three-day weekend, one that’s quieter and more kid-centric. If so, we’ve got your list of the best family-welcoming ski areas for Presidents' Day. If you want to ditch the ski resorts altogether, gather your friends, and hit the backcountry, here’s how you can actually stay in a yurt and have the [fresh powder to yourselves](. We’re lucky to have a lot of snow this year despite this week’s continuing dire news about [our warming planet](. If you’re concerned about the environment but aren’t sure where to donate, we checked out the NGO scorecard and found the top organizations where you can [make your money matter](. This week, we were also moved by an inspiring story. Heavy rains have fallen on Australia’s east coast, bringing some relief there. It’s given people time to discover something remarkable: [wombats have been heroes]( helping save countless animals from fire by giving them shelter in their extensive network of tunnels. Let’s hear it for the good news! Noelle Alejandra Salmi, outdoor editor NEWS [Wombats are the heroes of the Australian fires, sheltering animals in their burrows]( Amid all the devastation caused by Australia’s bushfires, an unlikely hero has emerged: the wombat. Quite generously, wombats have reportedly been allowing other animals to take refuge in their homes, as they hide from the blazes that threaten their own habitats. Complex underground tunnels, created by wombats, have served as safehouses for other species like wallabies and echidnas, allowing them to survive an otherwise fatal situation. [WOMBAT HEROES]( LATEST ARTICLES --------------------------------------------------------------- US NATIONAL PARKS [After Mount Rushmore, there’s a lot more to see in South Dakota]( --------------------------------------------------------------- OUTDOOR [9 natural and cultural sites you’ll miss in Oregon if you only see Portland]( --------------------------------------------------------------- LGBTQ TRAVEL [The best resorts for gay ski week]( --------------------------------------------------------------- FAMILY TRAVEL [The most fun places to ski with the family on Presidents’ Day weekend]( --------------------------------------------------------------- SKIING [A backcountry yurt trip is the perfect ski escape. Here’s how to plan one.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS [2019 was the hottest year on record for ocean temperatures]( --------------------------------------------------------------- ACTIVISM [The 5 best environmental charities to make your money matter]( MATADOR CITY GUIDE TRIP PLANNING [The ultimate guide to Kiev nature and parks]( Kiev is green. Over half of its landmass is taken up by parks, both big and small, natural and man-made. Outside the city, Kiev is snugly encircled in pine forests, and its biggest natural asset — the Dnieper River — splits the city in two. A wave of new development may be nibbling away at those green spaces, but Kiev is holding strong and trying to preserve its parks and forests. Hit one of them for a stroll, a biking session, a picnic, or just a breath of fresh air. [KIEV: NATURE AND PARKS]( ADVENTURE [Shinrin Yoku: The Art of Forest Bathing]( [Stuck swiping Insta every day? The practice of "forest bathing" can change your life. Unplug with Mike and Kati on an ancient Japanese trail, learning the creative and health benefits on Shinrin Yoku.]( [WATCH THE FILM]( FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( Copyright © 2020 Matador Network, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Matador Network PO Box 7775 #40021San Francisco, CA 94120 [Add us to your address book]( Need to change something? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from our newsletter](. We'll be here when you need us!