On his feet, however, were a pair of ski boots.

For nine years Weber has organized the San Juan Skijoring competition, comprised of races in which skiers and snowboarders pulled by horses aim to complete an obstacle course made of snow. It’s Colorado’s version of a winter rodeo with additional high-adrenaline events like big air, which sees competitors jump over cars.

Organizers used 1.2 million gallons of water to create snow for this year’s course in Ridgway. The fastest competitors completed runs in under 25 seconds.

Weber has spent many years on horseback pulling athletes through the courses, and he currently competes in the professional division atop his trusty equine partner. But more recently, he decided to strap on a pair of skis and assume the position in tow. He competed last Friday in the novice division, which is specifically for newbies to the sport.

“It’s the most fun you can have with your pants on,” Weber said excitedly after his first ride. “People want to go out and buy a Corvette that has a lot of horsepower. Give me one horsepower on a skijoring track and I’m happy.”

Skijoring is said to have originated in Scandinavia, where residents rode the historic equivalent of skis and were pulled by horses as a means of transportation. The sport made its first and only Olympic appearance in the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. More recently, it’s become popular among skiers and horseback riders because it’s a seemingly uncanny combination.

Salt Lake City resident Jackie Nadel was first introduced to skijoring by a friend who attended a competition in Utah. Nadel couldn’t believe what she was seeing, but as an avid skier who grew up riding horses, she couldn’t resist the urge to try it.

“The most similar thing I could say is it’s like water skiing, with a little bit more excitement and a little more unpredictability,” she said.

As Nadel stepped onto the Ridgway track and adjusted the rope in her hands, she felt her stomach turning. She’s competed before, but few things compare to the feeling of the rope going taut and launching in action. Seconds later, she cleared the first obstacle, gaining some air that almost threw her off kilter.

“It’s similar to some riding in general, it’s a huck and pray,” Nadel said.

Nadel is working to get more women involved in skijoring, especially young women who competed in sports during high school and college. Recruiting first-timers appears to be a pretty easy sell.

Lacey Andersen of Durango competed in San Juan Skijoring’s novice division for the first time last week after a friend who rides horses had their skier drop out of the competition. Andersen, a member of the ski patrol at Purgatory Resort, volunteered to fill the position without doing a single training session.

“You don’t get to do any practice runs or anything. You literally just look at the course and then your first time skiing it behind the horse is your run,” she said. The cheetah-print jacket and fringed chaps over her ski boots didn’t earn her any style points, officially, but they did help boost her confidence.

Similarly, Cam Stark had “a good friend who’s a horse person” and decided to give skijoring a shot. Before the debut run of his nascent skijoring career, the Montrose resident said he felt a little nervous, but he was hardly shaking in his faux fur coat and telemark skis. After completing the course, though, it was pure exhilaration.

“The centrifugal force around the first two turns, that’s where you really felt it,” Stark said. If the rope gets slack, there’s a feeling of whiplash when it pulls tight again, he added.

Skier Mike Ramsden of Grand Junction donned a neon green jumpsuit and partnered with his girlfriend to try skijoring for the first time. On his second run, he took a hard fall over the tips of his skis.

“That’s probably going to hurt tomorrow,” he said afterward. So would he do it again? “Absolutely.”

San Juan Skijoring was the first of several upcoming competitions in Colorado. Here’s where you can check out the action throughout the winter.

Skijoring events in Colorado 2025

Skis and Saddles: Jan. 18-19 at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds, 344 Highway 84, Pagosa Springs. Entry costs $10 for a day pass or $15 for a weekend pass. Children ages 12 and younger get in for free.

Estes Park Skijor: Jan. 24-26 at the Estes Park Event Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park. Entry costs $17.30 for a day pass or $28 for a weekend pass.

Silverton Skijoring: Feb. 15-16 in downtown Silverton. Entry is free.

Leadville Ski Joring: March 1-2 in downtown Leadville. Entry is free.

Here are the dates that every national park in the country will be free to visit in 2025. You don’t need a pass, but a few do require advance reservations. (See below)

• Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• April 19: First day of National Park Week
• June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
• Sept. 27: National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day

So what about these reservations? Well, the National Park Service has instituted a reservation policy at certain popular parks during peak periods only, to keep visitors from being stuck in long traffic jams trying to get in. This is a good thing, right?

You’ll need to go to recreation.gov and search for the park you want and “timed entry” to find the reservation information.

You only have to get a reservation during the peak visitor periods, which vary according to the park. For example, at Arches National Park in Utah, you’ll need a timed entry reservation this year starting in April, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you can’t get a reservation or you don’t want to pay the $2 reservation fee on recreation.gov, then you can just enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Or walk or bike in. Occasionally, like at Yosemite during holidays, the reservation policy is in effect 24 hours per day, so read up.

Keep in mind that these free days are really popular, so you’ll want to get there at dawn anyway, so you’ll have it more to yourselves.

But where to go? Well, you could trek up to Yosemite, Sequoia or Pinnacles national parks, if you want to stay in California.

If you’ve never been to Pinnacles National Park, I recommend checking it out. It’s a bit of a hidden gem.

However, when I take advantage of these days, I head out to Joshua Tree, in the desert toward Palm Springs.

I recommend going before the crack of dawn — I know, that’s just insane, but hear me out. If you leave your house in the dark, you can watch the sun come up over the desert, which is always dramatic.

Then, eat the snack you brought with you (you did bring a snack and water, didn’t you?) and hit a couple of trails. You can get a park map from the ranger, or if you’re there even before the rangers get there,  you can download one on NPS.gov.

And make sure you have gas and food and water, because there are no facilities inside the park.

When the rest of the hikers start pouring into the park, that’s your cue to leave, have a nice relaxing lunch and then drive home, maybe with a swim stop at Desert Hot Springs.

Enjoy! nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

Great Wolf Lodge is extending its special discount of up to 30% off standard rates to celebrate the reveal of Great Wolf Adventure Park, according to the business. Guests can book their stay and use the promo code OPENMAY23 before Jan. 19 to obtain the discount.

The new resort is slated to open May 23, according to a statement. Guests can book their stay at greatwolf.com or by calling 1-888-983-WOLF.

“Guests will enter the newly imagined Great Wolf Adventure Park through the Grand Lobby by traversing under a canopy of mossy branches and twinkling lights,” according to a statement. “This whimsical portal into the Adventure Park is one of many immersive experiences that await families, several of which are NEW and exclusive to the next generation Great Wolf Lodge coming to Mashantucket.”

Get ready for snow and a frigid week in Connecticut: What is forecasted

Curious about what to expect at Adventure Park? Here is the full breakdown, courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge:

• Howlers Peak Ropes Course: Families can enjoy an invigorating aerial adventure that will have them balancing on ropes, crossing bridges and climbing through obstacles: all from the safety of a climbing harness.
  • NEW — The Ropes Course features an element new to Great Wolf Lodge – an indoor Sky Rail — which is a modern zipline experience that allows participants to soar over the entire Adventure Park.
  • NEW – a harness-free Adventure Trail adjacent to the ropes course that provides a climbing adventure through an interactive tree-fort.
• Howl in One Miniature Golf Course: A 9-hole miniature golf course that will feature NEW theming based off of the character adventures featured in Great Wolf Lodge’s animated series, the Great Wolf Pack.
• MagiQuest: Great Wolf Lodge’s brand-exclusive interactive fantasy adventure game, where players use their magic wands to collect relics and runes on their journey to become a powerful Magi. The game features multiple quests and adventures to complete as players progress through the game.
  • Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket, will receive the newest version of the game, including updated graphics, an interactive Source Tree, epic boss battles, and an entrancing storyline.
• NEW! Virtual Frontier: The attraction takes families on a variety of virtual adventures where families can dive below the ocean, complete exciting puzzles or walk among dinosaurs.
  • Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket will offer a special game that will give families the opportunity to step into the world Vellara and go on a new MagiQuest virtual adventure.
• Oliver’s Mining: Kids can sift through silt and sand at a wooden sluice using specially designed pans to find their own gemstones to take home.
• Northern Lights Arcade: More than 100 interactive video and redemption games that allow guests to redeem points for prizes. The arcade is open 24-hours.
• Ten Paw Alley: Family-style bowling with pint-sized bowling balls.

“In the Adventure Park, families will have the opportunity to journey to the mystical world of Vellara both through the resort’s popular MagiQuest adventure game and an all-new virtual reality experience,” according to the statement. “Guests are also invited to explore areas found in the Spirit Water Forest, home of the Great Wolf Lodge characters – including an interactive gem finding adventure based off Oliver Racoon’s passion for rock collecting.”

Plan for a sunny getaway in the new year. Here are five ideas to consider.

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa (Aventura, Florida)

For more: www.jwturnberry.com

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Ko Olina, Hawaii)

If you want to mix a little magic into your sun-filled holiday, the Aulani island paradise might be right for your crew. Mickey Mouse and his well-known pals are on hand for character memory-making moments, inducing smiles all around. The 351-room hotel blends the vision of Disney Imagineers with the history and natural beauty of the island. Families can take advantage of the kids club, swimming and boogie boarding, snorkeling, paddle boarding, spa time and simply relaxing under Hawaiian skies.

For more: www.disneyaulani.com

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (Scottsdale, Arizona)

A family stay at this Arizona desert resort is full of fun surprises, beginning at the kids check-in desk. In a destination where visitors can rely on 333 days of sunshine each year, your gang will want to swipe on the sunscreen and waste no time before digging toes in the sand at the Sunset Beach pool or joining the festivities at the Sonoran Splash pool, where water slides, music, games and dive-in movies up the fun factor. Kids can fish in the lagoon, play golf or spend the day at the Trailblazers Kids Club where activities include ping pong, learning about desert wildlife, making s’mores in a solar oven and recreational games. Parents will appreciate the Lifestyle Cuisine menu for adults and children that focuses on providing healthy choices.

For more: www.fairmont.com/scottsdale; experiencescottsdale.com.

Curtain Bluff (Antigua)

Put Curtain Bluff, a laid back but luxurious Relais & Chateau resort in Antigua, on your can’t miss list. It’s an enchanting, all-inclusive experience that offers extensive water sports including water-skiing, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, paddle-boating and sailing. When you are ready for some time on terra firma, head to the pickleball court or stretch out in a yoga class. While the kids enjoy the Cee Bee camp activities, relax in a hammock you’ll find tucked within the palm trees or spend an afternoon at the spa where open-air massages provide a perfect end to a sports-filled day.

For more: www.curtainbluff.com

La Quinta Resort & Club (La Quinta, California)

Visit this 45-acre desert oasis for a hefty dose of sunshine and nonstop sporting opportunities. Long a getaway spot for Hollywood hot shots, the Palm Springs area playground is well-known for top-notch golf and tennis. If your clan is inclined to indulge in a multisport vacation, book tee times on any of the five award-winning golf courses, play tennis, hike or spend time in and around the 41 climate-controlled pools in the complex. Thanks to the addition of eight pickleball courts, you can learn the game or perfect your skills. The resort’s staff of certified pickleball professionals will be on hand to offer lessons, clinics or simply encouragement.

For more: www.laquintaresort.com

©2024 FamilyTravel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

While I find value in all types of travel — including adventure and sightseeing trips all over the world — I try to plan family vacations that are both relaxing and fun. With two teen girls to keep happy and entertained, my partner and I don’t want to over-plan or try to do too much on vacation. Instead, we like to sit back and relax, enjoy a week (or longer) without cooking or cleaning and spend time together chatting, playing games and basking in the sun.

Are cruises worth it? I certainly think so. It’s fun, and cruises let you book the bulk of your vacation plans with a few easy clicks. Here are some of the other important reasons I love cruising — and why I don’t plan to give it up any time soon.

1. Cruises offer great value for family trips

One of the biggest reasons I love cruising is the value you can get if you shop around and look for deals. It goes without saying that a cruise is both your hotel and your transportation to whatever destinations are included on an itinerary. But cruises also include a range of activities, entertainment, pools, water parks and more.

The pricing can be phenomenal for what you get in return. For example, on the new MSC World America, which will begin sailing out of Miami, Florida, in April 2025, a family of four (with children ages 13 and 15) can book a seven-night Caribbean cruise starting at $689 per person for an inside cabin or $1,029 per person for a balcony room.

The total cost for the seven-night trip for four people works out to $2,002 for the trip in an interior cabin, which means the cruise is around $286 per night. And remember, the fare includes your hotel room, three meals a day (plus snacks and basic drinks) and a luxury, scenic ride to wherever your ship happens to be sailing.

For this particular cruise, the MSC World America stops in San Juan in Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, which is MSC Cruises’ private island in the Bahamas.

2. Meals are included, along with dishes and cleanup

Did I mention that meals are included on cruises? While dining options vary, most cruise lines and vessels feature a main buffet (or several buffets), main dining room options, eateries serving up fast-and-easy meals and a handful of specialty restaurants.

We aren’t fancy eaters, but we are vegetarian, and we usually find that the food served on cruises is perfectly fine and even great at times. It’s also nice to know that all meals (other than specialty dining) are included in the cruise fare. We’ve also scored plenty of cruise deals that include free drink packages, which is another major benefit I look for any time I book.

3. Fewer financial surprises at the end of a trip

Another benefit of cruising is one that also applies to all-inclusive resorts. Once you pay for your cruise fare and transportation to the cruise port, there are fewer financial surprises to watch out for over the course of a trip.

Of course, cruises do charge gratuities on top of the cruise fare that must be planned for, and there are excursions to book if you don’t want to explore on your own. And yes, we occasionally buy something in an on-board store or pay for a meal in a cruise specialty restaurant.

The thing is, these are all items you can research and book ahead of time, and we have never arrived home from a cruise to a big vacation bill that was higher than anticipated.

4. Drive to the cruise port for additional savings

There’s one other reason I like cruises that typically does not apply to all-inclusive resorts. Whereas most resorts that include food, drinks and entertainment are located outside the United States and necessitate a flight, there are cruise ports you can drive to dotted throughout the United States.

We do sometimes fly for a cruise, depending on rates and timing, mostly because we are landlocked at home in our state. We also do a lot of international cruises. However, we typically drive to the cruise port in Port Canaveral, Florida, over winter break to board our annual New Year’s cruise, and it’s nice to have that option, considering travel delays are so common over the holidays. Not only that, but driving 15 hours and spending a few hundred dollars on gas easily saves us more than $1,600 on round-trip flights for the four of us.

5. Explore new cultures and destinations

I’m not going to lie — my family of four rarely gets off the ship when we cruise the Caribbean anymore. We have been to all the cruise ports already, and we all like to enjoy the features of our ship on those days when everyone else gets off for the day. With that in mind, our Caribbean cruises are more about leisure and not meant to provide a cultural experience by any means.

That said, we often book cruises around the world and learn about new cultures that way. For example, we booked a seven-night cruise for fall break last year that departed from Athens, Greece, and stopped in Kusadasi, Turkey; Cyprus; and the Greek islands of Rhodes, Santorini and Mykonos. In total, we paid less than $3,800 in total for this seven-night cruise, including one balcony cabin and an interior cabin across the hall for our kids.

My husband and I also enjoyed a 12-night Norway cruise on the MSC Preziosa while our two kids were at summer camp last year. Not only did we stop in the Arctic Circle and see the most northern point in continental Europe, but we explored the Norwegian coastline with stops in Tromso, Trondheim, Alesund, Bergun and more.

During the trip, we tried local Norwegian delicacies, climbed up thousands of ancient sherpa stairs built into the side of mountains, spent time in small villages and hiked through the wilderness.

That said, you can make a cruise a relaxing escape or an adventurous escapade, whatever fits your style best.

6. Paying with credit card rewards helps offset costs

Finally, it’s important to remember that I rarely pay full price for cruises, thanks to my stash of credit card rewards. When we do fly to the cruise port, we almost always redeem airline miles to cover our airfare.

We have also used flexible travel rewards to cover cruise fares directly, and we have booked a nearly endless number of cruise excursions and day trips using Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

I don’t have any co-branded cruise credit cards because, by and large, it’s much easier to earn more rewards and have more flexibility when you opt for a flexible travel credit card instead. With that in mind, my favorite credit cards for cruises include the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

I like the Chase Sapphire Reserve for cruises because you can get 50% more points value for cruise fare when you book travel through the Chase travel portal and because you can use Chase Ultimate Rewards points for pre-departure hotels, airport pickups and cruise ship excursions.

In the meantime, the Capital One Venture X Rewards credit card is great for cruises because you can redeem miles as a statement credit to cover travel purchases made to the card (within the past 90 days) at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

The bottom line

Are cruises worth it for families? Are they one of the best modes of travel? Well, my family loves cruising, and we have no plans to stop any time soon. We have cruised with MSC Cruises, Carnival and Princess in the past, and we have enjoyed all our experiences in different ways.

Aside from the fact that your lodging, transportation, food and fun are all included in your cruise fare, taking a cruise feels like more of an “event” than other types of trips have in the past. As long as cruise lines keep offering great value and I can use rewards credit cards to cover different parts of our family vacations, I’ll keep cruising until the end of time.

©2024 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

1. Don’t start the cruise in Cairo. This is only my opinion, but those first couple of days cruising down to Luxor are a bit of wasted time that could be better spent. Definitely get yourself a good private Cairo guide, which is very affordable, and see the pyramids in Giza and the spectacular museums, but then hop a plane to Luxor and take your cruise from there. Or go to Aswan and do it backwards.

2. Nearly all cruise boats go back and forth between Luxor and Aswan. Be aware that the first day of a cruise from Luxor involves just staying in port. You get off the ship to go visit the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Karnak in Luxor, then get back on to sleep.  Most cruises are five days from Luxor to Aswan, or four days from Aswan to Luxor (because you’re sailing with the current, not against it.)

3. If you’ve got the money and you love history, consider traveling on a dahabiya. These are wooden sailing vessels like the one fictional detective Hercule Poirot sailed on “Death on the Nile.”  This is a costly option, though. Sailings can cost $1,100 to $10,000, depending on the length of time and luxury of the boat. You will feel like you’re traveling back in time. The boats are smaller and typically would have only a dozen or so cabins, eliminating the crowd factor. Smaller vessels can also go places that the big boats cannot.

4. On the topic of money, this is not a time to cheap out. Book the nicest ship you can afford. You’re going to be stuck on it most of your trip, so make sure you’ll be happy with the food and amenities. Do shop around, though, because there are bargains to be had. A typical cruise at this writing between Luxor and Aswan would run $500 to $2000 per person or even more, depending on how luxurious you want to go, whether or not it’s high season and what type of cabin you book. A travel agent in Egypt who specializes in cruise ships can give you the best advice. Also, note that a “5-star” cruise is not as luxurious as you might think. It’s just a nice boat with good amenities–it’s not going to feel like the Ritz.

5. Get a balcony cabin, if you can afford it. If not, choose a ship with a cabin with a big picture window, so you can watch the Nile float past easily from your room.

6. If you have mobility issues, take note: There aren’t many Nile cruisers out there with elevators, so make sure you find one of them. Otherwise you’ll be traipsing up and down flights of stairs several times a day. Go online and make sure about the elevator before you plop down any money.

7. Get your own guide. Cruise ships are familiar with this custom and will provide lodging. This will prove invaluable when a cruise ship lands and disgorges hundreds of passengers simultaneously, and you don’t know where you’re going. Your guide will lead you to the attraction at hand — invariably an ancient temple — and then tell you about it. This is a less expensive option than you think, and smart cruisers do it.

8. Shop around. Prices vary widely even for the same sailing of the same ship. Make sure you understand exactly what you’re booking — how many days,  how big is the cabin, what does it include, what costs extra and so forth. YouTube is a great source for looking up Nile cruisers, there’s a good chance you’ll find one or more videos of your ship. I found Egypt Joy travel (egyptjoy.com) online and was very happy with their attention and service. They were able to book the cruise I wanted at considerably less than the big travel agencies were offering. Tell Hatem, the manager, that I said hi.

9. Eat the Egyptian food on board. Since the passengers are nearly all foreigners, your ship will give you mostly Western food. (There were chicken fingers on my cruise. Ick.) There is little or no Egyptian food available on the inevitable mealtime buffet, but the crew downstairs is eating it. Can’t hurt to ask if you can have some. And drink the red juice at breakfast. It’s hibiscus juice and super good for your heart. Drink two of them.

10. Bring apples. If you like horses, snag a few fresh apples off your breakfast buffet, and bring them along on your next shore excursion. Ask the owners of the malnourished horses that pull the tourist carriages if you can give one to his horse. Typically, these caleche owners don’t mean to mistreat their animals, they’re just desperately poor and don’t have enough money to feed them properly. Sometimes, I ask them, “If I give you money for your horse, will you buy food for him with it? And nothing else?” They always say yes,  and I can only hope they’re being truthful. A tiny pittance will feed a horse for a day.

11. Generally, Nile cruises stop at three temples en route: The Temple of Esna dedicated to the ram-headed god Khnum, the Temple of Horus at Edfu and Kom Ombo — the temple of Sobek, the crocodile god. (Don’t miss the museum if you want to see scores of mummified crocodiles.)

12. Prepare yourself emotionally for the crowds. Most if not all of the Nile boats cruising the same route stop at these temples at the exact same time. No, I don’t know why, but what it means is a roiling mass of humanity all getting off their boats simultaneously. In fact, the boats park so close together that you have to walk through the other boats to get to the shore. If this image makes you cringe, just be waiting with your guide in the lobby for the first moment you can disembark, and quickly make it to shore and the temple. You might have a few minutes to enjoy before the others crowd in. If not, bring a cattle prod. (Just kidding.)

13. In Aswan, your cruise package may include the beautiful Philae Temple of Isis. Don’t miss it. Also a look at an Unfinished Obelisk, which is surprisingly interesting.

14. If your cruise company offers you the chance to sign up for a hot air balloon excursion, think twice about it. You might be jammed onto a bus with a horde of others, maybe even separated from your friends, and then poured into balloons willy-nilly. Happened to my friend. There are much better balloon companies out there and you can find one. Especially check their safety credentials.

15. Give yourself at least one extra day, maybe more, in Luxor.  The ancient history of this place deserves much more than a quick look. And there are many pleasant resorts and hotels. It’s so nice that many people from the U.K. retire there.

16. Your cruise company is going to offer you a chance to visit Abu Simbel, where the temples of Ramses the Great reside. Yes, you want to go to Abu Simbel. It’s remarkable. But going on the cruise excursion involves a four-hour drive through the Sahara each way, and of course that limits the amount of time you can spend there. A better choice would be to end your cruise in Aswan, and then take a short flight to Abu Simbel. Spend the night there and come back the next day. This gives you the chance to explore the temples without the thundering hordes, all of whom are generally gone by noon. It’s on the banks of Lake Nasser and a pleasant place to visit. Well worth spending the night. And then you can see the Sound and Light show at the temples, too. The plot makes no sense, but the visuals are nice.

17. My final tip on the Nile Cruise is this: Just say no. You can actually do the identical route on shore, in a taxi, stopping at the temples on your own sweet time, when the cruisers have all departed. Sometimes you can find yourself the only one there. If your objective is to see the ancient temples, this is the best way by far. But of course you miss the cocktails on deck and the entertainment. Enjoy.

The multiplatinum-selling artist will perform a 12-date residency at the much-ballyhooed Sphere venue beginning in May.

Chesney will be the first country artist to perform concerts at the high-tech Sphere space.

The other Sphere bookings have been classic rock bands — U2, Dead & Company and Eagles — as well as Phish, the wildly eclectic (and awesome) group that really belongs in a category all by itself.

“When we started talking about all of the possibilities playing Sphere offered, I was all in,” Chesney said in a press release. “Just the idea of 4D technology and the impossibly dialed in sound raises the experience for No Shoes Nation, literally immersing them in music, visuals, sound and being together. To me, this is going to be a whole new way of rocking the fans, and I can’t wait.”

Kenny Chesney Sphere tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. (PT) Jan. 31, thesphere.com. There is also a Sphere presale that begins at 2 p.m. Jan. 21 (code: SPHERE).

Vibee is the official VIP concert & hotel Package partner for Kenny Chesney’s Sphere residency, KennyChesney.Vibee.com.

SHOW DATESThu⁠rsday, Ma⁠y 22Sa⁠turday, Ma⁠y 24Su⁠nday, M⁠ay 25Wed⁠nesday, Ma⁠y 28Fr⁠iday, Ma⁠y 30Sa⁠turday, Ma⁠y 31We⁠dnesday, Ju⁠ne 4Fr⁠iday, Ju⁠ne 6Sa⁠turday, Ju⁠ne 7We⁠dnesday, Ju⁠ne 11Fr⁠iday, Ju⁠ne 13Sa⁠turday, Ju⁠ne 14

Elena Rapti, a deputy minister of tourism, announced government plans to clear existing legal hurdles to pumping seawater into private pools that would allow for the switch in response to shrinking water reserves on many islands.

“This (draft legislation) regulates the framework for carrying out seawater extraction and pumping it for swimming pools. The focus, of course, is to conserve water resources,” Rapti told a parliament committee.

Rapti spoke Monday during a debate on a new hospitality industry reform bill and her remarks were published Tuesday on the Greek parliament website.

Flights are set to begin April 30 with operations daily and year-round, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority. The new service builds upon JetBlue’s ongoing expansion in the state, with 35 additional weekly flights between Bradley and the airline’s Florida destinations this winter. JetBlue is also planning to add 30% more seats for flights this summer compared to last summer.

“We are excited for JetBlue’s continued growth at Bradley International Airport,” said Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority. “Their new service to JFK will not only quickly connect our passengers with New York City, it will also facilitate easy access to JetBlue’s domestic and international network.”

Rapidly expanding low-cost airline scraps three routes at CT airport. Here’s why.

“JetBlue is proud to announce new service between Hartford and New York’s JFK,” said David Jehn, vice president of network planning and airline partnerships at JetBlue. “This route underscores our commitment to providing customers in Connecticut with seamless access to the extensive network we serve from our New York focus city. Whether customers are traveling to New York for business or connecting to one of our many destinations across the U.S., Caribbean, and beyond, they’ll enjoy our low fares, award-winning service, and convenience.”

JetBlue additionally flies from the Bradley to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, San Juan, and Los Angeles, according to a release.

Consider our Top 10 for 2025 an evolving and ever-changing list of the best new rides and attractions coming to theme parks around the globe in the coming year.

ALSO SEE: 1,000-foot-tall roller coaster about to become a reality

Many parks have already begun construction on 2025 projects while other parks have only announced plans or launched teaser campaigns.

We’ll update our Top 10 list for 2025 as new rides and attractions are unveiled and more details become available.

1) Six Flags Qiddiya City

The new $1 billion Six Flags Qiddiya City coming to Saudi Arabia will boast eight roller coasters when the amusement park debuts in 2025.

Falcon’s Flight will be on every coaster enthusiast’s bucket list as the steel behemoth becomes the fastest (155 mph) and tallest (640 feet) coaster in the world.

2) S&S Worldwide Axis

The world’s first S&S Axis coaster under construction at a Saudi Arabia indoor family entertainment center is set to open in 2025.

Riders on a S&S Axis coaster sit on a swiveling seat that swings when the ride vehicle banks or passes through inversions.

Clones of the Transformers-themed rides are planned for other indoor mini-parks throughout Saudi Arabia.

3) AlpenFury

The AlpenFury coaster coming to Canada’s Wonderland will boast nine inversions — more than any coaster in North America and the most in the world for a launch coaster, according to Six Flags.

Riders aboard the Premier Sky Rocket coaster will board a sleek, modern sled in an alpine village and travel along closed climbing trails to the mountain’s core where the combination of fire and ice generate a powerful mystical force, according to the ride’s backstory.

4) YoY

The YoY single rail coasters coming to Walibi Holland in the Netherlands will offer two distinct ride experiences on a pair of intertwining tracks.

The Rocky Mountain Construction Dual Track Raptor will have a green thrill track with six inversions and a blue family track with no inversions.

5) Legoland Shanghai

Legoland Shanghai will be the first Lego-themed park in China when the 75 rides, shows and attractions open in summer 2025.

Among the marquee attractions: A Bolliger & Mabillard family inverted coaster and the world’s first Monkie Kid Flower Fruit Mountain Adventure themed land.

6) Animal Treasure Island

A new $10 million dark ride coming to Italy’s Gardaland will take riders on a treasure hunt set amid a good-versus-evil backstory created by the Merlin Entertainments creative team.

The first-of-its-kind underground water attraction will feature 20 dark ride-style scenes.

7) Grand Prix Edventure

The new Grand Prix Edventure coming to Germany’s Europa Park will serve as a showcase of Mack Ride’s new Gameplay Theater attraction that combines a 3D dark ride with interactive video gaming experience.

The “edventure” is a nod to park mascots Ed and Edda who will play a role in the trans-European auto race.

8) Smurfs dark ride

The new Smurfs dark ride coming to Germany’s Holiday Park will replace the Burg Falkenstein indoor coaster in 2025.

The Jora Vision dark ride will feature 3D practical sets, animated videos and more than 40 animatronic Smurf figures.

Riders will encounter the Smurf-hating wizard Gargamel who threatens to destroy the Smurfs’ woodland village with a vine-like Flora Monstera plant.

9) Cetautomatix

A new Gerstlauer Amusement Rides spinning coaster coming to France’s Parc Asterix will replace an old fashioned car ride.

The coaster station will be themed as a chariot garage run by an Asterix villager named Cetautomatix.

10) Dreams Take Flight

The new “Dreams Take Flight” stage show debuting July 16 at Tokyo DisneySea in Japan will find a flight crew of Disney characters working together to build an airplane.

The 25-minute production will feature several choreographed songs and appearances by Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Chip, Dale, Miguel, Timon, Merida, Pocahontas, Moana, Goofy’s son Max and Mickey’s villainous arch-nemesis Pete.