Lots of people are taking this week to look back at some of their favorite adventures from the past year. And we will too.
But let’s start the week with a round-up of some of the “want” activities and destinations we’ve been keeping in our inbox.
A while back we spent 10 days in South Dakota, by mistake (long story), and loved it!
We’d go back intentionally in 2026 to visit the wacky roadside attraction that is Wall Drug, stop in the historic town of Deadwood during its 150th anniversary, spend more time at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which was about to close due to a goverment shutdown when we last visited in 2015, and see the murals at the Corn Palace celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary.
United Airlines now flying from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia
At the beginning of the year, we traded in a lot of miles to fly from Seattle to Sydney, Australia on United Airlines to join a 14-day Holland America cruise from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand that included stops in Melbourne, Hobart, Christchurch, Wellington, Picton, Rotorua and other destinations.
We’d like to go back. Especially since United just launched the first nonstop connection between North America and Adelaide, in South Australia, with a 15-to-16 flight setting out from San Francisco.
The flight operates on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner; featuring 257 seats, 48 of which are in United Polaris Business Class, along with 21 in United Premium Plus.
The new service starts with three flights each week until the end of March 2026 arriving in Adelaide at 9:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and taking off for San Francisco those same days at 2:55pm.
Airports have decked the halls
Airports around the country are all decked out for the holidays. So be sure to leave extra time to explore and enjoy if you’re flying this season.
We’ll add more highlights during the week, but let’s kick the festivities off with Denver International Airport (DEN).
The airport has decided not to bring back its free ice-skating rink this year, but it has put up a 24-foot tall holiday tree, scheduled a piano player in the Great Hall from 8 am to 8 pm in the Great Hall through December 22 and will have roaming carolers in the concourses from 11 am to 6 pm. through December 24.
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