Jessica Spiegel

While Portland may not have been the first to use a version of the phrase, “Keep Portland Weird” has become the city’s mantra. Far from a slight, it’s a badge of honor locals wear proudly—and that was true long before IFC’s show “Portlandia” brought some of the city’s quirks to a national audience.

Venice tends to evoke passionate responses from visitors—both good and bad. The Canal City is undeniably beautiful and surreal, just as it’s often overcrowded with tourists. But despite how it might look at times, Venice is a real, functioning city, not an open-air museum.

The ubiquity of Italian restaurants around the world can be both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, a very basic understanding of Italian food terms gives travelers something of a confidence boost before they visit Italy. The problem, however, is that this same basic understanding may also bring a false sense of security.

We here at Devour Tours love the kinds of stories that food can tell us about a place. So when there’s a food story that includes witchcraft, Marilyn Monroe, and the Roman god of thunder, we’re even more eager to share.

Sometimes travel introduces you to flavor. Sometimes it’s history. And sometimes, in the case of Italy’s beloved aperitivo, it’s a little bit of both.

Luggage fees come in three basic forms: checked bags, overweight bags, and carry-on bags. Most airlines charge basic economy-class passengers to check a bag. Most airlines also charge passengers extra for checked bags over a specific weight. Some discount airlines also charge for carrying on a bag that’s larger than a personal item. What’s a budget-conscious traveler to do? Here’s how to outsmart baggage fees, no matter which airline and destination you choose.

This article appeared in the November-December 2018 print edition of Via Magazine (including the cover of the Oregon edition), and on the website (https://www.viamagazine.com/destinations/things-to-do-portland-oregon).

For the vast majority of Italy travelers, the best way to get around Italy is by train, although it's not always a straightforward process to do so – and that's where this guide comes in.

Gelato is Italy's most affordable and delicious souvenir, a treat in which every visitor should indulge as often as possible while in the country. This guide will help you find the best gelato, order more efficiently, and branch out in your flavor selections.

Think a two-day trip is too short to make a weekend getaway count? Think again.

There are a few tips we routinely dole out to travelers looking for hints about how to find cheap flights, and one of our favorites is “cross the ocean as cheaply as possible,” also known as “the Greek Islands trick.” The gist is that if you can get a killer deal on a long-haul international flight to the continent you want to visit, you can pair that with a cheap regional flight (or even a train or bus ride) to get to your final destination.

In southeastern California, an area called the "Lonesome Triangle" delivers mountains, mesas, buttes, canyons, an ancient lake, and volcanic relics.