Awesome Travel

Located in the Wulingyuan region of Zhangjiajie, China, the Bailong (aka “Hundred Dragons”) Elevator is a 1,070 foot-tall glass elevator. While some might question the impact it has on nature, it’s an incredible feat of engineering, and provides astounding views.

Believe it or not, that’s the inside of a converted school bus. Living Big In A Tiny House spoke with “schoolie” owners Luke and Rachel about their solar-powered mobile home. The couple spent about $30,000 and a year-and-a-half to complete the conversion.

There are lots of big, well-known festivals around the country, but if you’re looking for something a bit more off the beaten path, check out Rides and Drives‘ feature, which catalogs eight wonderful music and arts gatherings which are well worth a road trip.

Matador’s microfiber towels are incredibly lightweight and come with a loop for hanging and a silicone case that has a built-in keyloop. They absorb up to 2.3x their weight and have anti-microbial coating. Available as a 15″x 15″ hand towel or a  47″x 24″ shower towel.

Filson’s new duffle bag has padded backpack straps that can be kept inside a dedicated compartment when not in use. It’s made of lightweight and scratch-resistant nylon, has a 15″ laptop compartment and a water-resistant side pocket. Available in brown and green.

The 15.6″ ASUS ZenScreen MB16AC is the world’s thinnest and lightest portable 1080p monitor, at only 8mm thick and weighing just 1.8lb. It gets power and data via USB-C and can be used in both portrait and landscape modes as either a mirror or a second display.

A tiny outlet adapter that’s compatible with outlets in over 150 countries, thanks to its US-style, UK-style and Euro-style plugs. It also has surge protection courtesy of a replaceable fuse.

We spent the day with the fine folks from Nashville’s Lane Motor Museum checking out some of the weird, wonderful, and downright goofy microcars which they’ll be showing off in their new exhibit Microcar Mania, opening on 5/25/17. Check out more on 95octane.

FilmSpektakel presents a bonkers hyperlapse video of New York City shot via helicopter, taxicab, on foot, and using a variety of cameras and rigs. Assembled from about about 65,000 photos, the fast-moving imagery is a perfect reflection of the city’s on-the-go lifestyle.

Lay-N-Go are satchels that lay flat when fully opened. They can be turned back into a bag just by pulling their drawstring. They’re available in different sizes and have variants for toys, toiletries and gadgets.

Rind-Raja Picture Company took in the sights of South Africa using DJI’s Mavic Pro drone. Just a few years ago it would’ve been impossible for a single person to take these shots without a helicopter. Technology is awesome. The song is African Skies by Stephen Anderson.

Return to the grand days of air travel with a meal aboard a replica Boeing 747 jumbo jet. $300+ for dinner isn’t cheap, but it’s less than a First Class ticket just about anywhere. This LA hotspot sells out months in advance, and they’re considering a Las Vegas location.

Elk is an iOS app that provides currency conversion at a glance. It shows conversions in multiples of ten, hundreds, thousands etc. You can tap on a value to see smaller increments. It also has a very convenient companion app for the Apple Watch. $4 unlocks all currencies.

In 1914, Ernest Shackleton and team set out to cross Antarctica by boat. They ran into ice, and were stranded for 634 days. He helped save his entire crew, but never finished his mission. 100 years later, his great-grandson completed the task in a tricked-out Hyundai Sante Fe.

…but it’s gonna cost you. Japanese food chain Ichiran serves only tonkotsu ramen – noodles in thick pork broth. They let you customize it to your heart’s content, then serve it in private cubicles. Just you and your food. There’s one in Brooklyn, but again…

95% of all the world’s bourbon is produced in Kentucky, and 50% of that comes from Jim Beam. Take a tour of their Clermont Kentucky distillery and you’ll see Beam family history everywhere, proving that big doesn’t mean cold or impersonal.

Photographer Joerg Daiber used a combination of aerial, time-lapse, and tilt-shift techniques to capture a trip through the many scenic locales of the Sultanate of Oman. As usual, the distortion of tilt-shift makes the entire sequence look like its been played out with toys.

Travel reporter Chris Broad shares his experience staying in one of the bargain-priced sleeping pods at Ginza’s Bay Hotel in this lighthearted video from his series Abroad in Japan. The rooms may be tiny, but the communal areas actually look pretty nice.

We flew to Arjeplog, Sweden to drive some of Jaguar and Land Rover’s awesome cars on challenging ice circuits, and spent the better part of a week going sideways and doing donuts. Attend for yourself, and you might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

TAB has cinches on both ends that let you adjust it between three sizes – 31, 46.5 and 62 liters – in seconds. It also has an even more compact form for storage. The bag is water-resistant and has multiple handles as well as a detachable strap.

Drop by The Awesomer Shop now for a chance to win $500 to spend on your next vacation, as you fly in the lap of luxury and style on Virgin American airlines. After you enter, be sure to share for bonus entries! (Ends 2/9/17)

With bowl season in full swing and the NFL regular season coming to an end, our friends from Rides & Drives take us on the ultimate football weekend. Join them as they show us how to tailgate Wisconsin-style.

Australian trailer maker Patriot Campers modifies Toyota GXL Land Cruisers to conquer all conditions. It has an EFS suspension, custom aluminum bodywork with extended chassis and all the drawers and toolboxes that you need.