region: North America

DATALAND

Los Angeles, prepare to have your minds blown and your retinas dazzled; DATALAND is coming. Opening in 2025 at The Grand LA, this isn’t a museum where you shuffle past oil paintings and nod thoughtfully while trying to figure out how people actually make sense of this stuff.

No, DATALAND is an electrified fever dream of human imagination fused with the wild possibilities of artificial intelligence. It’s the world’s first Museum of AI Arts, and it’s here to make your neural circuits do cartwheels (in a terrifying but secretly excited for all of this tech pioneering kinda way).

Brought to life by the digital sorcerer himself, Refik Anadol, and his partner in creative genius, Efsun Erkılıç, DATALAND is a swirling, data-driven utopia. Expect immersive experiences, mind-bending visuals, possibly an existential crisis about what it means to be human, and AI-generated wonders that will make you question reality.

This place is a playground where technology, creativity, and big ideas collide. With AI as your co-pilot, you’ll dive into massive datasets transformed into hypnotic digital tapestries, proving once and for all that math can be sexy.

Los Angeles has always been a city of dreamers, and now, those dreams are powered by algorithms. So, whether you’re an art geek, a tech nerd, someone who loves a good light show or anyone with a functioning pair of eyeballs, DATALAND is about to hijack your imagination in the best way possible.

Visit the world’s first Museum of BBQ

Kansas City, prepare your napkins because things are about to get gloriously messy; the Museum of BBQ is setting up shop in Crown Center. Officially opening in Spring 2025 (but figuratively open in our stomachs from right now), the world’s first shrine to smoked meats, saucy secrets, and pitmaster wizardry is coming to town, and it’s bringing all the sizzle.

Founded by barbecue aficionado Jonathan Bender (an Emmy-winning storyteller with a well-trained palate) and chef/butcher extraordinaire Alex Pope, this museum isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a full-on flavour experience. You’ll follow storytelling trails through the 4,223-square-foot space, exploring the essential BBQ elements: Meat, Rub/Spice, Wood, Fire, Smoke, and Sauce. It’s basically the periodic table for carnivores.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better – boom – regional rivalry enters the chat. Wander through the Carolinas, Memphis, Texas, and, of course, Kansas City, to see how each locale smokes, slathers, and serves its barbecue. You can even take a pit stop in an oversized crock of barbecued beans, because why the hell not?

You won’t even walk out empty-handed. The gift shop will be slinging regional sauces, rubs, and BBQ swag, so you can take a little smoke home with you. Plus, a tiny, whimsical preview version of the museum is already waiting at Crown Center for those too impatient to wait for the real deal.

So, fire up your excitement, KC. The Museum of BBQ is coming, and it’s bringing the meat sweats with it.

Try the food from your fav Netflix shows

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino has done all of us a solid by opening the very first NETFLIX BITES restaurant in Las Vegas (it’s exactly what you think it is). Yes, the streaming giant is serving up a binge-worthy dining experience, where your favourite shows leap off the screen and onto your plate.

From the moment you enter, you’ll be greeted by masked guards straight out of Squid Game, setting the stage for a meal that’s as thrilling as a good season finale (no, Game of Thrones, not yours).

And the menu is nothing short of a plot twist.

Start with the ‘To All the Tomato Soups I Loved Before,’ a classic tomato soup with a heartbroken crouton for dipping, just like the kind of emotional depth you’d expect from a rom-com. Or if you’re feeling competitive, try the ‘Red Bite, Green Bite,’ where you spin a wheel to decide your fate and dive into fried chicken with dipping sauces inspired by Squid Game’s iconic suspense.

For something more sophisticated, the ‘Bridgerton Regency Tea’ is our pick and offers a three-tiered tea service with finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries that represent different families from the show, making you feel like royalty while you nibble. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a side of Simon Basset.

And for dessert, ‘The Dessert Is Lava,’ features a chocolate mountain that erupts with molten lava, bringing all the drama of The Floor Is Lava to your tastebuds. Wash it down with a ‘Dalgona Rum Buzz,’ a creamy rum and coffee cocktail with a dalgona candy garnish straight out of Squid Game (okay we’ll stop mentioning it). And if you’re looking for a cocktail with a little mystery, the ‘Love Is Blind,’ drink comes in a customisable gold chalice you can even take home as a souvenir.

So, whether you’re a Stranger Things aficionado or a Money Heist mastermind, NETFLIX BITES is your ticket to a dining experience as entertaining as it is delicious.

Look up on a Celestial Glamping Expedition

Ever wanted to fully embrace the camping experience, but didn’t feel like leaving the warmth and comfort of your fluffy doona? Well, don’t we have the glamping experience for you.

It’s called ‘Celestial Glamping Expeditions,’ and it’s run by the guys over at The Inn of the Five Graces. Forget roughing it. Here, “glamping” is code for “I still want champagne with my stargazing.”

So, prepare yourself for a journey through Chaco Canyon (which is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and an International Dark Sky National Park) and Taos, where you’ll witness some of the most jaw-dropping night skies known to humanity; it’s just you, your private luxurious tent, and the Milky Way stretching out above you like the universe’s most exclusive red carpet.

Led by expert guides, you’ll explore sacred sites and the ancient mysteries of Chaco Canyon without getting sand in your shoes or wondering if you’ve packed enough sunscreen by day and by night, you’ll sleep under the twinkling gaze of the night sky’s finest.

But as you’d expect, this isn’t your average camp. Each tent features luxe amenities such as raised wooden bed frames, memory foam mattresses (no sore backs here), bedside tables, comfortable butterfly canvas chairs and enchanting Southwest textiles.

And because these expeditions believe in doing things stylishly, you can expect private chefs, custom excursions and a whole lot of “wow” moments.

Hop on a unique beer tour in San Diego

If you’re going to drink your way through San Diego’s legendary craft beer scene, you might as well do it in a vintage Swiss Safari vehicle with six wheels and zero shame. Welcome to Scavengers Beer Tours, where beer tasting meets off-road adventure.

First off, let’s talk about the ride. This beast of a vehicle is half military transport, half beer chariot, and fully guaranteed to make pedestrians jealous as you roll past, sipping an ice-cold road beer (yes, that’s allowed).

With an open-air design, the wind in your hair, and a cooler stocked with drinks between brewery stops, this isn’t just a tour – it’s a moving party with seat belts.

Now for the important part, the beer. San Diego has over 150 breweries, and Scavengers curates a killer lineup, from hop-heavy IPAs to smooth stouts and everything in between. Expect stops at top-tier spots like Ballast Point, Modern Times, or Belching Beaver, where you’ll sip, sample, and pretend you’re a craft beer connoisseur while nodding knowingly at words like “mouthfeel” and “hoppy finish.”

Drinking beer is great, but drinking beer while being chauffeured in an absolute unit of a vehicle is next-level. Whether you bring friends or make new ones on the tour, one thing’s certain; you’ll end the day full, buzzed, and seriously considering buying your own safari truck.

Floating yoga

Your yoga class has just started, and you’re gracefully attempting a downward dog – except you’re perched atop a 10-foot-long surfboard in a 72-foot-long pool with the Philly skyline glinting behind you.

Obviously, this isn’t your normal yoga class. This is Aqua Vida at AKA University City; a cheeky twist on traditional yoga that turns balance into a hilarious battle against gravity (a battle that you’ll probably lose if you don’t have epic core strength).

Dubbed the ‘floating sauna’ by its loyal groupies (read: those who do have great core strength), this complimentary experience is proof that self-care doesn’t always have to be serious. In fact, it can accompany an “oops!” as your surfboard wobbles and the zen moment you were relishing takes a less than graceful dive.

Aqua Vida combines classic yoga with the added thrill of instability, offering hotel guests a chance to trade their mats for a surfboard, because why just ‘find your centre’, when you can fight tot keep its afloat?

It might sound a little quirky, but according to science, this floating form of exercise is actually really good for you. Harvard Health insists yoga can zap anxiety and depression, and further research suggests floating therapy (a.k.a not wiping out every two seconds) helps you sleep better, stress less, and smile more.

So, while you’re waging war with balance on the water, know it’s all for the greater good of your mental and physical wellness.

Atlantic Park

Hold onto your surfboards, Virginia Beach, because Atlantic Park is about to make waves, literally and figuratively. In the middle of this year, the city’s most anticipated surf and entertainment precinct is finally opening, and it’s looking to be a game-changer. We’re talking about a $500 million investment to transform 17 acres of prime beachfront real estate into a sprawling, surf-tastic haven.

There’ll be pristine waves on demand; who really needs to rely on Mother Nature when you can have a world-class, artificial wave pool built to your exact specifications? So, whether you’re a pro trying to impress everyone around you with your sick moves or a beginner simply trying to stand up on a board, this high-tech setup promises consistent waves, perfect for every level of surfer. No more waiting for the perfect swell, just show up, strap in, and ride the wave.

But this place isn’t just about surfing. Oh no, Atlantic Park is bringing the fun in more ways than one (we love a rhyme). Expect live music, beach bars, high-end eateries, and yes, even a few Insta-worthy spots to snap pics that’ll make your friends jealous. The whole shebang is designed to be a non-stop party on the sand, with an emphasis on outdoor fun, wellness, and seriously cool vibes.

All of this means Virginia Beach might just become the new epicentre for surf culture in the USA unless, of course, you’d prefer to keep waiting around for a wave that might not even come somewhere in Cali. Yeah, we thought so.

The JUMP at Limitless Flight

There are plenty of things in life that take your breath away: seeing your bank account after a holiday, hearing your voice on a recording and experiencing the JUMP at Limitless Flight.

These guys use cutting-edge technology to create hyper-detailed 3D landscapes of some of the world’s most death-defying base jumps, so you can pretend to be a hardcore adrenaline junkee for like, 10 minutes.

First, they strap you into a real wingsuit that definitely makes you feel like a super-spy, though you might look more like a toddler in a puffy jacket, and make you slide on a custom VR helmet (how else are you going to get these breathtaking visuals?)

Then, after some safety instructions that you’ll nod through (you’re too busy imagining how base jumping is going to feel to actually listen), you’ll get shown into ‘the back of an airplane’. There’s no airplane, but you’ll feel like it’s 100% real when they open those plane doors and force you to stand at the very edge of the platform. From there, you’ll starfish into the sky and your base jump will begin.

You’re free; you’re flying, you’re… okay, maybe you’re mostly flailing. But who cares? The wind is roaring in your face, your arms are flapping like a confused pigeon, and you’ve just become the human equivalent of a kite while taking in the stunning hyperreality of this incredible experience.

It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s hilarious. And it’s kind of a must-do.
When the experience ends, you’re left floating in a cloud of euphoria. You just (sort of) defied physics and survived to tell the tale. Time for round 2.

Squid Game, The Experience

Hold onto your hats, New Yorkers— you’ve watched it on TV and now Netflix’s smash hit show Squid Game has arrived in the city. Only this time, you’re not just bingeing the series, you’re in for an experience that’ll leave you questioning your life choices (and survival instincts).

This game is all about the battle of wits, ultimate strategy, and, let’s be real, who can keep their shit together under immense pressure while wearing a red jumpsuit. There’s five thrilling games to try your luck at; some you’ll recognise straight from the show (Red Light Green Light, anyone?), and some that have been made especially for the experience.

But this isn’t some backyard production, Netflix has thrown some serious cash behind it. Everywhere you look, there’s iconic environments, set recreations and familiar characters from the show that’ll make you feel as though you’ve fallen straight through your TV screen.

You can’t even try to fool the infamous Front Man since the experience boasts advanced tech – think a custom real-time ranking mechanism feeding data directly to an innovative leaderboard – that’s designed to separate the winners from the losers.

Regardless of whether you’re on cloud nine or if your ego’s a little bruised, all that gaming works up an appetite. So, settle in for a feast at the neon-drenched Korean Night Market and wash every tasty bite down with a soju-infused cocktail.

And hey, if you fail spectacularly the first time ‘round, it only costs AU$45 to go again.

Experience Interstellar Arc

Buckle up, little Earthlings, because Las Vegas just bought its one-way ticket out of this world. No, we’re not talking about Elon Musk’s newest space creation, we’re talking about Interstellar Arc; the city’s shiny new immersive space attraction where you can live out your astronaut fantasy without the terrifying rocket launch or questionable freeze-dried bangers and mash.

But what exactly is it? Well, no one really knows yet, but it will transport visitors on a futuristic space fiction experience – think an epic 26th-century space mission across the far reaches of the universe. It’s also made by Emmy award-winning creators Felix & Paul Studios (the pair who brought you Space Explorers), so you know it’s going to be good.

While the details are scarce (we do know it’ll be located in a completely custom-built 20,000 square foot venue at AREA15), Interstellar Arc was created to satisfy our collective obsession with space, curiosity, and escapism. And let’s face it: pretending to save the universe is a solid upgrade from waiting in a buffet line at one of Las Vegas’ overpriced casinos.

The only downside? You’ll have to wait a while, this experience isn’t set to open its doors until autumn 2025. Which is a shame because we can’t bloody wait, but that does give us enough time to brush up one our astronaut lingo, so we’re not really complaining.