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Coffee ought to be hot. Even when you made the batch you’re currently sipping two hours ago. Even after you’ve commuted miles away from the coffee maker. That coffee should till be hot. And although you likely have plenty of travel coffee mugs stashed in your kitchen cupboards or in the back seat of the car, none of them are all that good. They’re either too flimsy, they imbue the drink with a metallic-y flavor, or they splash hot liquid all over every time you open the cap. Zojirushi doesn’t make mugs like that. It makes mugs that retain heat, stop spillage, and defy all expectations. Its SM-TA vacuum-insulated mug is a mug worth buying, and it won’t cost you all that much it do it.

Tim Mulcare

It keeps coffee hot for hours.

Zojirushi’s mug keeps your beverage steaming for an astonishingly long time—long enough to survive terrible commutes and early-morning meetings. Technically speaking, the midsize, 16-ounce model preserves drinks at 189 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour, and at 160 degrees for six hours. Its cold retention is just as good, should you prefer cold brew or iced tea. This is all thanks to the construction of the stainless steel bottle itself, with a double-layered interior, and the lid, which keeps it all locked down. You won’t be sipping tepid, lukewarm coffee from this thing.

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Tim Mulcare

It locks tightly and flips open for easy drinking.

Spills are not an issue with this Zojirushi mug, even when you’re flipping the lid open to drink. If its lid is locked up tightly, you won’t get coffee everywhere should you drop the mug or drive over a big bump in the road; that lock means business. And when you’ve unlocked it and hit the big button to open the lid, you won’t have to duck out of a splash zone—unlike a lot of cheaply constructed mugs that spit coffee when the vacuum seal is broken. Zojirushi also built in an air vent into the lip if the lid, so the liquid inside flows out steadily. You’d think that’d be a no-brainer for all travel coffee mugs. It’s not.

Tim Mulcare

It’s very easy to clean.

Cleaning a mug is the worst part of owning a mug. You put it off for one day. Then another. Next thing you know, it’s been a week since it’s seen soap, and there’s a scum building along the spout. Just me? Anyway. Zojirushi engineered a cap system that not only does the stuff I talked about before—locks tightly, stops spillage, prevents heat escaping—but also comes apart into four pieces that you can clean. Sure, it’s not as simple as your standard reusable, two-piece plastic mug. But all the pieces are necessary for making this mug what it is: the best travel coffee mug you can get for cheap.

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Have you ever gone to the movies and found yourself imagining your next vacation before making it out of the theater? Well, if you’ve ever caught yourself planning a trip based on the superhero destinations depicted on the silver screen, know that you’re not alone.

When we see iconic cities or far-flung locales showcased in blockbuster movies, it inspires us and sparks the urge to witness those places with our very own eyes. The travel trend is known as “set-jetting” or taking a “location vacation,” and it has exploded in popularity over the past few years―despite the fact it isn’t exactly a new phenomenon.

Original Star Wars film sets strewn throughout the deserts of Tunisia have lured franchise fanatics for decades. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which was filmed across more than 150 locations in New Zealand, spawned countless collections of curated travel packages and themed experiences. Even rom-coms like Mamma Mia!, shot on-location in Greece, did wonders for the country’s tourism board. But these days, the set-jetting craze is laser-focused on another massive movie genre: superhero flicks.

If you haven’t noticed, superhero movies are dominating the box office, representing a whopping 25 percent of the overall domestic marketplace. The genre pulled in an impressive $3.3 billion in domestic revenue last year alone, according to Statista. Meanwhile, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (including favorites like The Avengers, Iron Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy) has amassed a total worldwide box office revenue of $22.5 billion to date. That translates to a lot of ticket stubs sold, and the trend doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Luckily, it doesn’t take superpowers to vacation like a DC or Marvel superhero (although Tony Stark’s budget certainly wouldn’t hurt). Whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway to a nearby state or an epic excursion in a faraway land, there’s a set-jetting trip suited for every type of traveler. Here’s where you should go based on your favorite superheroes ruling the silver screen.

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Apple set a trio of new iPhones upon the world last week: the iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The phones are equipped with a batch of new features—but, of course, the camera technology is what it’s all about, and all three have new systems.

First, think of the iPhone 11 as the successor to the iPhone XR. It’s cheap(ish), it comes in flashy colors, and it has the longest battery life of any iPhone. It also has a dual-camera system with wide and ultra-wide zooms. But it doesn’t have a triple camera. Apple reserved that trio of lenses, its so-called Pro Camera, with telephoto, wide, and ultra-wide depths, for the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max. The only significant differences between the Pro and the Pro Max are size (the Pro Max is bigger) and battery life (the Pro Max is better, although both are long-lasting).

We were able to test out the phones over the past week, giving us a little more insight into how they function.

iPhone 11 (6.1″)

$699
apple.com

For all of its buzz over the three cameras, the 2019 iPhones are definitely more of an evolution than a revolution. All three are equipped with the new A13 Bionic chip, which Apple says is its fastest, most efficient smartphone processor to date. Plus, those triple cameras finally bring Apple up to the level of other smartphone photography from Google and Samsung. But if you don’t care much about photography, there’s nothing else as impressive.

With all this in mind, here are the buzziest features about the new iPhone 11s. Consider the following before deciding to upgrade or to sit this year out. The phones are available for pre-order now and will be released September 20.

iPhone 11 Pro (5.8″)

$999
apple.com

iPhone 11 Pro Max (6.5″)

$1,099
apple.com

The Triple Camera

You can’t miss the triple camera. It’s massive on the back of the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max; people suffering from trypophobia have registered their complaints. Going all the way from telephoto to ultra-wide gives you 4x optical zoom range for one shot, which is another way of saying you can stand in one place and take the same photo with the three different zoom options, and all three photos will look like they were taken at drastically different distances—and all will be high quality, with much improved contrast and color. In fact, significantly higher quality than the iPhone X, thanks to upgrades like Smart HDR. Your photos will look beautiful without you having to actually be good at taking photos.

The photo app interface is very simple to use, letting you toggle between the three cameras in the frame, or use a dial to get a zoom that’s in between the telephoto and wide zooms, for instance. And even if you take a photo with the telephoto camera, the camera still captures the scene outside the frame, should you need a more zoomed-out option (if you activate this feature in the settings menu, that is). This likely won’t come up often in your own photography, though.

In short, the triple camera is a huge boon to Apple fans who’ve envied the camera capabilities on the Google Pixel 3 or Samsung Galaxy 10+. Although the iPhone 11 only has a dual camera, it also takes gorgeous photographs. Your depth of range will just be more limited.

Night Mode

Night Mode, available on all three iPhones, is perhaps the most exciting new feature for amateur photogs. In low-light situations, it automatically turns on, prompting you to hold a shot for one, two, or three seconds. Essentially, it takes a longer exposure, letting more light into the image. If your subject is moving within those one-to-three seconds, the photo won’t turn out well. But if your subject stays still for those one-to-three seconds, the image will look remarkably light and clear. And because everyone takes photos in darkly lit rooms or outside at night, Night Mode is definitely useful for any iPhone user.

4K Video

For the video-takers of the world, all three iPhones will let you record 4K video at 60 frames per second. That’s some crisp, high-res stuff with impressively smooth motion. And the editing tools Apple gives you let you alter, chop, and correct video just like you would a photo. Another cool feature lets you transition cleanly from a photo-taking scenario to a video-taking scenario. As in, if the dog you’re taking a picture of starts doing something really freaking cute, you just hold down the camera button and the iPhone will start recording. Then, you can lock it into video recording mode.

Additional Camera Features

Speaking of features that will not likely impact your life: the new front camera on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pros now gives you the ability to take slow-motion selfies, or Slofies, as Apple dubbed them. Who will use this newfound ability? Likely the same people who used those Animojis Apple introduced with the iPhone—a.k.a. children (who then tired of it) and the influencer/vlogger crowd.

Apple also added a new Portrait Mode setting called High-Key Light Mono that it’s excited about, but it is decidedly not a good enough reason to invest in a new iPhone, unless you really like taking Portrait Mode photos. Basically, it takes the Stage Light Mono mode and swaps in a white background. It looks cool, but c’mon, how often are you going to utilize this? In general, however, Portrait Mode is better all around, including on the front-facing camera.

Non-Camera Features

And then there’s everything else the new iPhones have to offer. All three look nice, with stainless steel and glass finishes that you’ll be loathe to cover with a protective case. The iPhone 11 comes in six colors, and the iPhone 11 Pro comes in four colors, one of which is a deeply gorgeous midnight green. The iPhone 11 Pro also has an OLED screen. It looks damn good, but so did the iPhone X models, meaning the little improvements Apple made will only matter to screen snobs who know what Nits are.

Apple also gave all the iPhone 11s improved spatial audio, so you almost forget you’re watching John Wick 3 on a screen so small. For all of us who spend a not-insignificant amount of time watching television or movies on our phones while lying prone in bed, the new theater-mimicking surround sound is a big winner. Finally, iOS 13 allows you to AirDrop content to someone by pointing at them, thanks to new U1 chip that is a big deal to tech heads. It’s not exactly a groundbreaking feature, but it is handy.

It’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan. Actually, at the rate these new movies and games and TV shows are coming out, it’s always going to be a great time to be a Star Wars fan. But right now, there’s The Mandalorian to look forward to on the small screen, The Rise of Skywalker on the silver screen, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on your PS4, Xbox, or PC—all before the year ends. If you’re on the lookout to celebrate the intense, emotional connection you’ve kept to the series from the moment you saw those blue letters appear on the screen—but don’t worry, you’re not one of those fans—or you know someone who fits that bill, here are more than 30 awesome Star Wars gifts, from cool merch to literal lightsabers. May the Force…well, you get it.

On Sept. 30, 2018, Randall Reeves sailed out of San Francisco Bay aboard his 45-foot, aluminum-hulled boat, which he named Mōli. Over a year and 40,000 miles later, he’s back. On Oct. 19, 2019, he sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge after following a massive figure-eight route that brought him down to Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, around Antarctica, up through the Atlantic Ocean, across the Arctic Ocean above Canada, and back down around Alaska to San Francisco. To do it, he had to navigate across some of the most dangerous stretches of ocean on the planet—completely alone and unsupported. He’s believed to be the first person ever to complete the route solo.

“One of the cool things from my perspective about the figure-eight is that it takes you to the extremes of the world,” Reeves told Men’s Journal over the phone. “To be able to complete it has been thrilling.”

The 57-year-old sailor, who lives in Oakland, California, has sailing in his blood. The son of a naval captain, he grew up with stories of ocean voyages and began sailing himself while in high school, according to CNN. His dad purchased a boat, and Reeves would “borrow” it while his dad was away, eventually making longer and longer journeys on California’s rivers and into San Francisco Bay. While in college, he met the legendary French sailor Bernard Moitessier—he participated in the first nonstop singlehanded round-the-world sailboat race, and then opted to keep on sailing instead of returning to the finish line. The meeting made a big impact on Reeves.

“That bit me,” Reeves said. “Along with just the beauty of being out there, being able to see the wild parts of the world yourself.”

Reeves first came up with the idea for the figure-eight route after a long solo voyage in the Pacific Ocean in 2013. Looking for his next trip, his wife challenged him to go for something even bigger, and that’s when he decided on a truly epic journey: Sail from California to Cape Horn and around Antarctica and the Americas, all in one year. Reeves noted that the route incorporates two legs that are legendary among sailors—rounding Cape Horn and sailing through the ice-clogged Northwest Passage in the Arctic.

“For me, it’s really cool pulling together two pieces of history into one super, super long ocean voyage,” he said.

He first attempted the journey in 2017, but Mōli sustained serious damage during a storm in the Southern Ocean, and he chose to abandon the journey and start over.

“I was pretty confident when I left that I knew what I was doing,” Reeves said. “[But] the Southern Ocean is a beast, and really taught me that I wasn’t as good as I thought I was.”

Even so, that didn’t deter him, and the first attempt gave him valuable lessons for the next journey, he said. Despite raging storms, towering waves the size of houses, lack of sleep, and the inherent dangers of long offshore passages, Reeves’s second attempt was successful.

Reeves made only one resupply stop on his journey, pulling into Halifax, Nova Scotia after over 230 days at sea. That meant that he had to pack enough food, fuel, and water to last him for months at a time. To maintain control of the boat, he had to limit his sleep to 90-minute stretches, and he went 200 days without hearing another human voice. At one point during the journey, he was closer to astronauts on the International Space Station than any human on land. But Reeves was in his element.

“I’m adapted for this kind of stuff. I definitely appreciate solitude,” he said. “I really just don’t feel alone.”

His sailboat was another big asset. The sturdy aluminum vessel was custom-built in Germany in 1989 for a man who wanted to circumnavigate the Americas, and it’s designed to be simple, rugged, and with its full keel and reinforced hull, capable of handling the worst conditions on the ocean. It passed through two more owners before Reeves purchased it a few years ago. He describes it as more of a “tractor” than a yacht, but it was exactly what he needed for a trip like this.

“I could not have bought a better boat. I just got so lucky,” he said.

Although the journey put him and Mōli to the test, it’s clear that Reeves enjoyed it. He described meeting pelagic sea birds out on the open ocean and marveling at how they’re so well adapted to their harsh environment. He was awed by the howling storms of the Southern Ocean and the surprisingly mountainous terrain near the Arctic Circle. But one of the biggest surprises came during his trip around Antarctica, when he saw Cape Horn—a notorious graveyard for ships—twice. Many sailors never glimpse the fabled landmark because it’s nearly always shrouded by bad weather.

“That’s like the Everest of sailing, and I got to behold it twice,” he said.

According to CNN, the Ocean Cruising Club honored Reeves with a plaque commemorating his record-breaking journey on Saturday. For now, he’s looking forward to spending some time in Oakland with his wife and eating real meals again beside a crackling fire. But he’s sure he’ll be out at sea again eventually.

“I gotta keep going somehow.”

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The Mandela Effect is a phenomenon that makes us question even the most mundane memories from the past. In June 2019, the famed New York Times crossword puzzle made it the theme, and defined it as, “a recent refinement of false memory that typically refers to pop culture or current event references.” Named by paranormal researcher Fiona Broome, it’s basically remembering something that doesn’t match with historical records. For example, the stuff you use to make your home smell fresh isn’t “Febreeze” (more on that later).

Broome has said that she “loves” the idea that the Mandela Effect, or others claiming they distinctly recall different events or details, could be proof that we’re existing in alternate realities. We’re not so sure that’s the truth, but these comparisons between popular belief and reality is making our jaws hit the floor as we type. Check out 40 of the most gobsmacking “facts” below.

While most people visiting Vietnam opt for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, we recommend bypassing the throngs of tourists in favor of Hoi An. Located on the country’s central coast, this well-preserved 17th-century port city is rich with culture (its Old Town was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999), white sand beaches, a mouthwatering culinary scene, and best of all, an incredibly warm and welcoming community.

Though the climate year-round is tropical and humid, you’ll find a bit of relief in March and April—along with fewer crowds, too. As for how to get to Hoi An, you’ll want to fly into Da Nang International Airport. Although the airport is small, many Asia-based airlines (including Vietnam Airlines, Korean Air, and Hong Kong Express Airways) offer regular and relatively affordable flights there.

Here’s our guide on how to have the ultimate long weekend in Hoi An.

Where to Stay in Hoi An

There’s no shortage of bold-faced accommodations in the area, but the best spot to call home base is Four Seasons The Nam Hai. Perched on a serene stretch of Hoi An Beach, the resort encompasses 86 lush acres, yet maintains a hushed, intimate feel. Rather than rooms, guests retreat to airy villas, all sumptuously appointed with outdoor showers, spacious patios, and dreamy platform beds.

Thursday Night

Since you’ll probably be exhausted upon arrival from traveling, stay put for the night to take advantage of the resort’s amenities. First, pay a visit to The Heart of the Earth Spa, where eight private treatment pavilions seem to float on a koi-filled pond. Instead of pampering—which there’s no shortage of here—the spa is focused squarely on wellness. The signature 150-minute Nam Hai Earth Song treatment helps restore body and mind with a cleansing smoke ritual, deep pressure massage, and immersive sound bath.

After hitting your reset button, head to La Sen, one of the resort’s restaurants, for some traditional Vietnamese hot pot (Lẩu). Offered on Thursday nights, this interactive, family-style meal gives you the chance to cook assorted proteins, vegetables, and starches table-side in a bubbling broth.

Friday Morning

Jet lag have you up at the crack of dawn? No problem: book a Hoi An Sunrise Cruise Tour. The three-hour excursion commences at 5 a.m., and gives you an up-close look at local fishing culture and its prominent role in the community. Where the Thu Bon River meets the Cua Dai Sea, watch fishermen catch the freshest seafood and try your hand at paddling a Vietnamese bamboo basket boat. (Though all the guides are terrific, locals highly recommend Lilly—ask for her.)

Friday Afternoon

Unlike the touristy sister cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An’s Old Town is blissfully easy to navigate on foot, and not nearly as crowded (in fact, many streets are reserved for just pedestrians). And because the port town was frequented by the Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and French, you’ll pick up on a range of cultural influences in local architecture and attractions, such as the Old House of Tan Ky Japanese Covered Bridge, and Quan Cong Temple.

To see how locals shop for everyday food, check out Central Market. Situated riverside, it’s bustling with vendors doling out everything from pristine seafood to fresh handmade noodles. And because Hoi An was a trading port on the old silk route, the town brims with tailors who can custom make—sometimes in as little as 24 hours—any kind of garment, from button-down shirts to suits. Bargaining is the norm here, so don’t settle for the initial price.

For lunch, try a banh mi from Bánh Mì Phượng. A favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain, the hearty baguette sandwich is stuffed with pork, pâté, herbs, and pickled vegetables. Don’t be put off by long lines, as they move quickly. Just order yours to go, and enjoy it while exploring town.

Eating locally doesn’t get more authentic (or more fun) than the Streets & Eats of Hoi An. For four hours, your guides will you zip you around town on Vespas to some of the destination’s best street foods—all of which are paired with cold beer. Among the stops is White Rose Restaurant, which specializes in the namesake dumplings unique to the city. (Imagine delicate rice flour purses resembling flowers, filled with pork or shrimp, then topped with crispy shallots.) The excursion ends on a sweet note with Banh Flan, a Vietnamese spin on crème caramel.

Saturday Morning

Since cuisine has a big social aspect in Hoi An, why not learn how to whip up some dishes on your own? Headed up by chef Huynh Van Hien, the Nam Hai Cooking Academy goes far beyond the usual demonstrations and classes. Depending on what kind of experience you’re seeking, you can visit Central Market with Hien to source ingredients for your lunch, learn about traditional farming methods at Tra Que Village, or even dive into the delicate art of rice milling.

Saturday Afternoon

You’ve had a productive morning, now it’s time to kick back at a beach. Look no further than An Bang, a sandy white oasis just a few kilometers from Hoi An’s Old Town. Beach loungers are widely available (and super affordable, too) with no time limits. Because there’s little wind, the waters are relatively calm, and ideal for swimming and paddle boarding. Feeling peckish? Check out Soul Kitchen, at the northernmost tip of the beach. The casual shack, an An Bang mainstay, turns out dependable bar food and cocktails.

Saturday Night

While Old Town is beautiful during the day, it lights up (quite literally) at night—thanks to thousands of colorful paper lanterns lining the narrow streets and alleys. You’ll also notice vendors selling small paper lanterns by the river. Buy a few, make some wishes, and release them on the water: The tradition is believed to evoke luck and happiness. Afterwards, head to Hoi An’s Night Market—not to be confused with the Central Market—located just across the river on Nguyen Hoang. With over 50 stalls, it’s a prime spot for souvenir shopping and wallet-friendly snacking.

Sunday

Close your long weekend by visiting My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about an hour’s drive from Hoi An. A complex of Hindu temple ruins dating as far back as the fourth century A.D., it served as the capital of the Champa Kingdom until the 13th century. After the fall of the kingdom, the site fell into a state of disrepair until the end of the 19th century, when the French rediscovered it and began excavation. With its towering temple structures, My Son is considered one of the strongest examples of Hindu architecture in Asia.

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Earlier this year, astronauts in the International Space Station got a front row seat for an epic event, but it wasn’t happening in space. On June 22, the astronauts looked down at the earth and saw the Raikoke Volcano erupting, which led to some incredible images captured by NASA and other satellites.

It was very rare sight—the Raikoke Volcano most recently erupted back in 1924, according to the National Museum of Natural History. Before the 1924 event, the volcano hadn’t had a recorded eruption since 1778. The volcano is located on an uninhabited island in the middle of the Kuril Islands chain between Japan and mainland Russia, and it reaches 1,808 feet at its highest point.

An unexpected series of blasts from the remote #Raikoke volcano in the Kuril Islands sent ash and volcanic gases streaming high over the North Pacific Ocean. https://t.co/ptL4i4dNOH #NASA pic.twitter.com/XAUziKxurK

— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) June 24, 2019

The volcano has a 700-meter-wide crater and the explosion created a large plume of ash and gas that reached between 13 kilometers (8 miles) and 17 kilometers (10 miles) into the sky, according to NASA’s report on the eruption.

“What a spectacular image. It reminds me of the classic Sarychev Peak astronaut photograph [see photo below] of an eruption in the Kuriles from about ten years ago,” said Simon Carn, a volcanologist at Michigan Tech, in a NASA statement about the volcanic eruption. “The ring of white puffy clouds at the base of the column might be a sign of ambient air being drawn into the column and the condensation of water vapor. Or it could be a rising plume from interaction between magma and seawater because Raikoke is a small island and flows likely entered the water.”

Here are a few more of the incredible photos of the Raikoke eruption, courtesy of NASA:

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