John Fetterman is one of the most distinctive-looking members of Congress. The Pennsylvania senator is a giant, with the build of an NFL lineman. He’s got tattoos, some of which hold deep, personal meaning. He wears suits on Capitol Hill, but he usually rocks hoodies and basketball shorts. And he’s got a giant, busy goatee. But over the weekend he changed things up. Gone was the mass of chin hair, and in was an awesome ‘70s porn mustache (plus prescription glasses). When he debuted his new look, he teased that he’d “lost a bet to Karl,” his 13-year-old son. Turns out the full story behind the ‘stache is even better.
In an interview with GQ, Fetterman explained that the bet he lost involved the brainiest of games.
“Karl is into chess, he plays online, so I got him pieces and a board,” Fetterman explained. “We played together, and I bet him that if he loses, he’d have to make me a dozen deviled eggs because he makes great deviled eggs. He said that if I lose, I’d need to have a mustache for two weeks.”
Fetterman added, “I wish I could say that I went easy on him, but he beat the brakes off of me.”
When Fetterman debuted his new whiskers, social media inevitably melted down. It also further discombobulated the internet’s conspiracy theory nutters, who saw it as further evidence that the “current” Fetterman is really a clone due to the “real” one’s health issues.
The guy pretending to be John Fetterman looks nothing like the real John Fetterman.
Fetterman is aware of that line, addressing it in an April tweet. “You know, during my time [in] the hospital, the fringy fringies really came up with a conspiracy that I have a body double,” he wrote. “And I just want you to know that is just crazy. That’s not true!”
In any case, don’t get too used to Fetterman looking like he’s in Boogie Nights; he plans to shave it after the allotted fortnight.
When you think of fast cars, statistically, the only things you can and should think of are “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, Gran Turismo, and the Fast and Furious franchise. It just makes sense. But back when The Fast and Furious first came out, nobody knew what a staple it would become.
David Ayer, who wrote the movie back in 2001, says that he has “nothing” to show for penning the film, which spawned almost a dozen sequels, various spinoffs, and a stunt show at Universal that people love to visit when the VelociCoaster is down for the day.
Ayer appeared on Jon Bernthal’s Real Ones podcast where he said, “Biggest franchise in Hollywood, and I don’t have any of it. I got nothing to show for it, nothing, because of the way the business works.”
The writer, who also directed Suicide Squad, so he has had some critiques under his belt, said that he was the one who took the initial script and made it into the Vin Diesel masterpiece it turned out to be. “When I got that script, that s*** was set in New York, it was all Italian kids, right?” he told Bernthal. “I’m like, ‘Bro, I’m not gonna take it unless I can set it in L.A. and make it look like the people I know in L.A., right?’ So then I started, like, writing in people of color, and writing in the street stuff, and writing in the culture, and no one knew s*** about street racing at the time.”
Ayer implied that he didn’t get the recognition because he was an “outsider” in Hollywood at the time. “It’s like people hijack narratives, control narratives, create narratives to empower themselves, right? And because I was always an outsider and because, like, I don’t go to the f****ng parties. I don’t go to the meals, I don’t do any of that stuff. The people that did were able to control and manage narratives because they’re socialized in that part of the problem.” Instead of hijacking narratives, people should stick to just hijacking cars.
Meanwhile, Vin Diesel is out here creating a Fast empire. Maybe Ayer can attend one of those family meals for once.
It’s hard to pinpoint the moment when Rudy Giuliani’s legacy fully evaporated. Was it during his cameo in Borat 2? The Four Seasons Landscaping debacle? When hair dye melted on his face during a press conference? Whatever your pick might be, Rudy certainly lost the “America’s Mayor” title long ago. Or perhaps “MAGA’s Mayor” is a better term now.
Rudy, along with Jenna Ellis and Sydney Powell, has now surrendered at the Fulton County jail. This definitely looks like a man who is miffed about those Trump-fueled legal fees coming his way.
Trump, for his part, is expected to surrender on Thursday. He has claimed that he will be “proudly” doing his fourth (alleged) perp walk. Meanwhile, everyone can watch and wait to see if either of these (alleged) co-conspirators will turn on Trump. Rudy knows where all of the (again, alleged) RICO details are buried, and this is a guy who has bragged about knowing RICO all too well. So, Trump might be a bit apprehensive on that note. That will especially be the case if no one shows up to that high-rolling, $100,000 per head fundraiser that he decided to go ahead and hold for Rudy’s legal fees.
If there’s anyone left out there who owes Trump an expensive favor, they will probably be receiving that call soon.
It’s been decades since her last flight, but Joy Lofthouse, a 92-year-old Air Transport Auxiliary veteran, was given the chance to board a Spitfire airplane for one more trip.
Her job as a service pilot was to shuttle planes from the front lines back to factories for repairs. During her time in the service, she flew 18 different aircrafts, but one always held a special place in her heart.
To mark the 70th anniversary of the war’s end, she was called on to once again fly in a Spitfire, her favorite model.
In the video, she shows such genuine excitement and nervousness. She tells the interviewer that she’s not as confident as she was when she was younger, and that she is “aware of [her] age.” Still, she couldn’t pass up the chance to fly again.
After landing, Lofthouse just beamed, proving that it’s possible to be amazing at any age.
“It’s very hard to describe the feeling,” she told BBC News. “It almost makes one feel young again.”
Though we’re all part of the same species living on the same planet, our experience as humans walking through this world can differ widely. Children see things through a different lens than adults. Women and men have different perspectives on certain issues. And because racism has long been an active element in our society, people with varying amounts of melanin in their skin face specific challenges that others don’t.
As a white American, I don’t instinctively know what it’s like to walk in a black person’s shoes. I can tell you about the legacy of white supremacy laced throughout our country’s history. I can explain the far-reaching effects of slavery, lynch mobs, Jim Crow laws, redlining, mass incarceration, and more. I can intellectually break down the psychological and sociological impact of centuries of race-based oppression.
But I can’t tell you what it feels like to walk through this world, right now, as a black person—which is why it’s so important to listen to the voices of people who can.
David Summers shared a story on Facebook that reflects the experience of many black Americans—one that can help us non-black folks see through a lens we simply do not and cannot have. Perhaps that’s why it’s been shared more than 20,000 times. From the fear that any object he carries might be mistaken as a gun to figuring out how to smile at a stranger just right so he won’t be considered a threat, the “black thoughts” Summers describes during his walk through a beautiful, white neighborhood—presumably a neighborhood most of us would consider “safe”—are heartbreaking.
He wrote:
“I took a black walk this morning. I took a black walk through a white neighborhood. When I take black walks, I think black thoughts. I am conscious of where I’ve placed my gun, my gun, and my gun. I mean, my phone, my wallet, and my keys. Because Peace Officers have a hard time telling the difference. I rehearse what I’ll say if a concerned resident, or a law enforcement employee has questions about why my black body is walking through their white space. And I remind myself to make sure the law enforcement employee has his body camera recording. Sometimes it helps if there is video evidence to accompany the hashtag.
There is no way to be stealthy when you take a black walk. White neighborhoods are blanketed by a sophisticated security system comprised of nosy neighbors, Ring doorbell cameras, and white women walking their dogs. So, I’ve learned to notice the white world through my periphery. To be aware of the dangers without acknowledging them. There is an art to making white people feel safe. To say ‘Good Morning’ and flash a smile that shows confidence and deference at the same time. To being polite because your life depends on it.
I felt the squad car behind me before I saw it.
It moved deliberately. Not like the other cars mindlessly whizzing past. Its tires inched. Crept. Stalked their way toward me.
I kept walking.
“Don’t take your hands out of your pockets,” I thought. Or wait, maybe I should? Maybe it’s better if my hands are clearly empty. But it’s cold outside…maybe it’s nothing. Keep walking.
The car rolled past me and made a slow right turn. I glanced quickly but didn’t stare. The air is still. My ears tuned out everything but the slight scuff of my sneakers on the sidewalk and the fading sound of those stalking tires.
Almost there.
Suddenly the squad car re-emerged. It was a block ahead of me. It made a quick right turn, continued to the end of the street, and then waited. No more stalking. This was a show of force. This was a roar. This was a reminder that I was trespassing.
I kept walking.
“Don’t take your hands out of your pockets,” I thought. Or wait, maybe I should? Maybe it’s better if my hands are clearly empty. But it’s cold outside…maybe it’s nothing. Keep walking.
The car rolled past me and made a slow right turn. I glanced quickly but didn’t stare. The air is still. My ears tuned out everything but the slight scuff of my sneakers on the sidewalk and the fading sound of those stalking tires.
Almost there.
Suddenly the squad car re-emerged. It was a block ahead of me. It made a quick right turn, continued to the end of the street, and then waited. No more stalking. This was a show of force. This was a roar. This was a reminder that I was trespassing.
I kept walking.
As I approached the corner, the front window began to roll down. The occupant didn’t speak. Didn’t smile. Just stared. I was being warned.
I crossed the street and the lion trotted off. He had effectively marked his territory. The brave protector had done his job.
I however, couldn’t help but wonder what I’d missed during my black walk. It’s hard to hear the birds chirping, or to smile at the squirrels playfully darting along the branches when you’re on a black walk. It’s easy to miss the promise of a light blue sky, or appreciate the audacity of the red, yellow, and purple daisies declaring their independence from the green grass when your mind is preoccupied with black thoughts.
I took a walk through a beautiful neighborhood this morning. But I missed the whole thing.”
Thank you, Mr. Summers, for sharing your “black walk” experience. Hopefully, it will prompt us all to ask ourselves whether our words and actions serve to reinforce or remedy what you’ve described.
The next generation of superheroes is upon us (no, not those guys yet). The Boysspinoff Gen V is heading to Prime this fall, and now we get gratuitous violence, sex, and political corruption but from the familiar comforts of a college campus!
Same Universe, New University. From the world of The Boys, Gen V arrives September 29. pic.twitter.com/KHLWzxY0Md
The show follows a new group of superheroes-in-training at Godolkin University as they learn the ins and outs of becoming a real-life superhero, with brand deals included. Here is the official synopsis:
Set in the diabolical world of The Boys, Next Gen expands the universe to Godolkin University, the prestigious superhero-only college where students train to be the next generation of heroes—preferably with lucrative endorsements. When the group of young supes discover that something bigger and sinister is going on at school, they’re put to the test: Will they be the heroes or the villains of their stories?
Since there is a whole new crew of supes to get familiar with, here is the lowdown on the incoming class.
Jazz Sinclair will star as Marie Moreau, a new student at the college, who has the slightly nauseating power to weaponize her own blood. She intends to be the first Black woman in The Seven. Sinclair’s Chilling Adventures ofSabrina co-star Chance Perdomo will portray junior Andre Anderson, who’s Golden Boy’s BFF and has his own magnetic powers.
Speaking of Golden Boy, Patrick Schwarzenegger plays the boy himself, also known as Luke Riordan. He’ll be a senior at the school who is also set on joining The Seven. Maddie Phillips portrays Luke’s girlfriend Cate Dunlap, a junior who is able to push people to do whatever she commands.
Also starring in the show is Lizzy Broadway, who will portray Emma Meyer aka Little Cricket, a super who can shrink herself down to insect size, and Asa Germann who plays Sam, a powerful supe who is plagued by hallucinations. London Thor and Derek Luh play Jordan Li, a student who can change between male and female forms, each with their own powers.
As for the adults, Clancy Brown will play Professor Rich Brinkerhoffn who trains the best and brightest superhero minds, Sean Patrick Thomas will portray Polarity, Andre’s father and a Godolkin alum, and Shelley Conn will portray Indira Shetty, the powerless dean who takes a special interest in Marie.
The Boys: Gen V premieres on September 29h on Prime.
The water bill at the Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis residence appears to be pretty low after recent revelations the couple made about their family’s bathing habits.
In a recent appearance on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast, they admitted they’re not that into bathing themselves or their two children, Dimitri Portwood, 4, and Wyatt Isabelle, 6.
The conversation started when Shepard explained his ongoing disagreement with co-host Monica Padman. The two have dissenting views over whether people should use soap. “You should not be getting rid of all the natural oil on your skin with a bar of soap every day,” he said. “It’s insane.”
Kunis agreed with Shepard and was very candid about her bathing ritual. “I don’t wash my body with soap every day,” she shared. “But I wash pits and tits and holes and soles.”
“I can’t believe I’m in the minority here of washing my whole body in the shower,” Padman replied. “Who taught you to not wash?”
“I didn’t have hot water growing up as a child,” Kunis recalled, “so I didn’t shower very much anyway.” Kunis was born in the then-Soviet controlled Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi in 1983. Her family migrated to America when she was seven.
Kutcher added that he regularly uses soap and water on just his “armpits and crotch” and “nothing else.”
Kunis has passed her lax attitude towards bathing on to her children.
“When I had children,” she said, “I also didn’t wash them every day. I wasn’t the parent that bathed my newborns—ever.” Shepard agreed, saying that he and wife Kristen Bell only bathe their children as part of a nighttime routine and don’t pay much attention to their cleanliness.
“That’s how we feel about our children. We’re like, ‘Oof, something smells,'” Kunis added. Kutcher has a simple rule when it comes to his children and their cleanliness. “Here’s the thing — if you can see the dirt on ’em, clean ’em,” he says. “Otherwise, there’s no point.”
u201cMila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher Say They Only Bathe Their Kids When ‘You Can See the Dirt on Them’u201d
While the Kutcher-Kunis clan’s approach towards hygiene may not be typical of the average American family, they may not be wrong according to science. Research suggests that children benefit from being exposed to germs early in life.
“This line of thinking, called the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ holds that when exposure to parasites, bacteria, and viruses is limited early in life, children face a greater chance of having allergies, asthma, and other autoimmune diseases during adulthood,” WebMD says.
Basically, the more your body is exposed to the more it can fight off.
“Just as a baby’s brain needs stimulation, input, and interaction to develop normally, the young immune system is strengthened by exposure to everyday germs so that it can learn, adapt, and regulate itself,” notes Thom McDade, PhD, associate professor and director of the Laboratory for Human Biology Research at Northwestern University.
As for Kutcher and Kunis, they both share the same attitude when it comes to hygiene so nobody in the relationship has the right to complain if the other is a little funky. If it works for them, who are we to judge?
I remember sitting in advanced algebra and trigonometry class in high school wondering if I was really ever going to use any of what I was learning. Math at that level meant nothing to me in a practical sense. I planned to study English and education to become an English teacher, so I couldn’t imagine why I’d need to learn the ins and outs of trig.
As it turned out, some of what I learned came in handy in the functions class I was required to take to fulfill my math requirement in college. But again, I found myself sitting in class with zero idea of why I was learning this level of math and suspecting that I was never going to actually use that knowledge in my adult life.
Now I’m a middle-aged adult and I can say with absolute certainty that I was right. In 27 years, I have not used anything I learned in functions. Not once. Not even a little bit. I agonized my way through that class to eek out a B-minus and to promptly forget everything I’d learned because it was utterly useless to me.
To be clear, higher math isn’t useless—it’s amazing. It was just completely useless to me.
You know what would have been useful? Learning about financing a car or a mortgage or understanding how and why and where to invest money. In all that time I was doing trigonometric proofs and calculating polynomial functions, I could have been learning all the various real-life math-related decisions I’d have to make as an adult.
I see the same thing happening with my kids in high school and college. It totally makes sense for students who are interested in going into math and science fields to take math beyond basic algebra and geometry. But for those who aren’t—why? There are so many more valuable things for them to take the time to learn—things that every single person really needs a basic knowledge of, such as:
Basic Psychology/Mental Health Maintenance
Every one of us has a brain and mental health is an issue for a huge percentage of people. Even those of us who don’t struggle with mental illness benefit from learning about how our minds work, gaining strategies for managing our thoughts, emotions and behaviors, and understanding why people do the things they do.
How many people would have been saved by learning how to spot a narcissist before getting into a relationship with one? How many people could mitigate an anxiety spiral right when it starts because they learned to recognize the signs earlier? How many people would appreciate the support and understanding of everyone having a basic understanding of their mental health disorders?
Basic Sociology/Human Behavior
Similarly, every one of us lives in a society. Understanding social connections, relationships and group behavior might kind of come in handy. If we don’t understand the causes and consequences of human behavior, we’re going to be confused by society at best and allow or enable atrocities to occur at worst.
From learning how cults and conspiracy theories work to recognizing how our prejudices can blind us to reality, sociology has useful knowledge we all need to internalize.
Media Literacy
If we’re going to be bombarded with media 24/7, we’d better know how to process it. Understanding how journalism works, what makes a source credible, how information can be skewed and how to recognize misinformation and disinformation is vital. What is bias and how can it be mitigated? How can we recognize when an outlet values accuracy?
So many of the problems the U.S. is facing currently are due to people watching or listening to dubious news sources. Mandatory media literacy courses would (hopefully) go a long way toward changing that.
The Stock Market and Other Investments
I underestimated how much I’d need to know about the stock market when I was younger. None of that economic stuff interested me, but I wish I understood it better now.
But really, it’s investing in general that we need to understand more about when we’re younger, especially since starting young is the No. 1 best advice any financial advisor will give you.
How Banking, Credit and Credit Cards Work
Every single one of us uses a bank or credit union and credit is a huge part of adult life. And yet most people I know have had to piece together how credit and credit cards actually work through advice from friends and family and good old trial and error, sometimes with devastating consequences.
Taxes
Good gracious, right? Not just how to do taxes, but what taxes get used for.
Financial literacy is what I’m saying. We need mandatory financial literacy classes. (Florida has actually just become the first state to require personal finance education to graduate, so yay Florida.) I think I was required to take economics in high school, but it was much more high-level economic theory than personal finance. We need personal finance first, then the bigger picture.
First Aid/Safety/Self-Defense
Most of us probably got some first aid and/or CPR training in health class, but how comprehensive was it? Did it include infant CPR? Do we know how to recognize if someone is having a stroke? Signs of infection?
What about basic everyday safety, like why you shouldn’t leave a car running in a garage or common household fire dangers or how to spot asbestos?
Self-defense seems like a no-brainer. Basically, a “How to Stay Alive and Keep Others Alive” course that includes most everything you need to know to protect yourself and your loved ones on a daily basis.
Navigating our Healthcare and Health Insurance System
Ugh. I’ve been an adult for almost three decades and everything about our healthcare system confuses and frustrates me. Maybe if we required schools to teach young people how it works, it would shine a big spotlight on how ridiculously and unnecessarily complicated it is because no one could possibly explain it in a way that’s understandable. Maybe that would push lawmakers to actually do something about it, because honestly, it’s just a gigantic mess.
There are surely others, but those are the major subjects that come to mind as vital after being an adult for a long while and seeing what my own kids need to have a decent grasp on as they make their way into the world. And honestly, there are some classes that adults should be required to take well into adulthood. Parenting classes, for example. Or local government and voting.
All subjects and courses have value to some people, but if we want students to be prepared for adulthood, we should make sure they are given the vital knowledge and skills every person actually needs and will use.
In a move that nobody could have seen coming, Zack Snyder is already promoting a director’s cut for Rebel Moon, a film that hasn’t even started streaming on Netflix yet. The sci-fi epic, which originally started as a Star Wars pitch, has been split into two movies thanks to Snyder’s notorious penchant for making massive films. We’re talking about a guy who infamously delivered a four-hour “Snyder Cut” for Justice League.
That said, the first installment of Rebel Moon — now titled Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire — was made for Netflix who gave Snyder full creative freedom to deliver his sci-fi epic. The only one who could’ve held back Zack Snyder’s vision is Zack Snyder, but apparently, that still left him itching to cram an extra hour of footage into a film without a revealed runtime yet. Considering Rebel Moon ballooned into two movies, we’re guessing it’s long.
I think it’s a legitimate extended universe version. You really get to see a lot. It’s just more painted-in all the way. The director’s [cut] is a settle-in deep dive, which I have notoriously done throughout my career. I don’t know how I got into this director’s cut thing, but what I will say about it is that, for me, the director’s cuts have always been something I had to fight for in the past and nobody wanted it. It was this bastard child that I was always trying to put together because they felt like there was a deeper version.
According to the director, he purposefully shot footage just for the extended cut because, well, that’s how Zack Snyder rolls.
“We shot scenes just for the director’s cut,” Snyder said. “So in that way, it’s really a revelation because it gives that second kick at the can for big fans, like a real discovery that they would not [otherwise] get. I’m really excited about it!”
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire premieres December 22 on Netflix.
Summer may (technically) be coming to a close, but you can still suck a whole lot more marrow out of the season. While this summer certainly didn’t disappoint when it comes to the endless music festivals, National Park adventures, and exploring new American cities… have you gotten wet yet? Running barefoot along a muddy path on the way to a swimming hole is one of the most iconic summer activities on earth. And definitely one of the most fun.
With that said, there are so many swimming holes scattered across our vast country that it’s hard to be authoritative when covering them. Still, we keep right on trying — because that’s a whole lot cooler than throwing our hands up in despair. This time around, we asked the Uproxx team and some of our fellow travel writers where their favorite natural swim settings are across the country — so you can savor the last weeks of summer in style.
Oh, and don’t forget to bring one of these milkshakes along with you for the ultimate summer double up!
STEVE BRAMUCCI (@steve_bramucci): DEEP CREEK HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
The WGA/ SAG-AFTRA strikes, the psychedelic boom, and Instagram’s affection for hot springs have put this lesser-known spot on the freaking map this summer. It’s the LA cool kids hang out and if Lisa Rosen doesn’t post about it by October, I’ll be shocked. With that said, this spot is worth the hype. In part, because it’s on the Pacific Crest Trail, so there’s a steady rotation of interesting folks, and in part because it’s beautiful, and in part because it’s accessed via a private campground (Bowen Ranch) that is folksy and scruffy and where the staff looks the other way when people get loud or run around naked or take mushrooms or whatever (seriously, this place is 97% people on mushrooms at all times).
Plus, unlike California’s parks — which seem to fill up decades in advance — this campground is literally never full. They pride themselves on not turning people away. So you can be a half-assed planner (like me!) and still get a spot.
As for the swimming hole itself: It’s an oasis. Multiple hot springs. A river swirling with deep, cold water. Plenty of shade. It’s pretty magical to find that combination in Southern California. To find it at a spot where camping is affordable and easy is beyond amazing. To find those qualities ensconced in this level of beauty? Well, that’s a discovery for the ages.
Washington is known for its beautiful alpine lakes, so you’ll join many other swimmers by following popular day hiking trails to Lake Colchuck, Blue Lake, or Lake Serene. Those looking for more solitude should consider visiting Stehekin, Washington, a small village on Lake Chelan in North Cascades National Park that is only accessible by hiking or taking a ferry. While this is a resupply spot for thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail, it’s managed to remain pristine and largely undeveloped since it’s not accessible by car.
While visiting, you might find yourself the only swimmer taking a dip in Lake Chelan while others hike or relax by the lodge. From the main lodge area, you can walk right off the boat dock and swim into a picturesque mountain scene.
MELANIE GORDON(@livinginflowco): STRAWBERRY PARK HOT SPRINGS, COLORADO
MELANIE GORDON
Tucked away in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado you’ll find one of my favorite natural swimming holes in the country, Strawberry Park Hot Springs. This forest-bathed therapeutic oasis is just 15 minutes from downtown Steamboat and offers camping, massage, and a clothing-optional after-hours vibe.
Hot, mineral-rich spring water mixes with the crisp Elk River and flows into the naturally occurring stone pools below. Since the water cools as it cascades down, you get to select your ideal temperature. The hottest pool at the top is perfect for your post-ski decompression, at over 103℉. The lowest pool provides a cold immersion experience.
A visit to Strawberry Park Hot Springs in the winter is like being inside a snow globe. And in the autumn, an enchanted forest sanctuary. Though the scent of summertime blooms at Strawberry Park is hard to beat… I guess the best time to visit this geothermic natural wonder is year-round!
EMILY HART (@emilyventures): JACKSON LAKE, GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING
EMILY HART
Over the past several years, I’ve spent all my summers traveling around the United States to National Parks. I love to hike, of course, but what I really love is finding a beautiful body of water to jump in afterward. There is nothing as joyful, to me, as jumping in a frigid lake with mountains surrounding me. And after visiting 59 of the 63 major US National Parks, I’ve found more than my fair share of swimming holes. Still, one always stands out among them: Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park.
Right off Colter Bay Campground – my favorite campground in the park – is the expansive Jackson Lake, marina, and swim beach. Despite its tendency to become slightly more crowded than other slightly more hidden bodies of water in the park, the accessibility is part of the fun for me. The water is generally frigid, to be sure, but there’s just nothing like that backdrop.
Pro-tip: walk to the Colter Bay General Store and grab a box of wine and snacks to bring to the rocky coastline.
MIKALA LUGEN (@mikalalugen): NELSON LEDGES QUARRY PARK, GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO
MIKALA LUGEN
I studied public relations and journalism at Kent State University and this magical place was a short 30 minutes away. Nelson Ledges Quarry Park started as a local gem but has quickly gained national recognition due to its hosted music festivals throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The location is built up by beautiful quartz and sandstone cliffs surrounded by a wooded forest. In the ’40s and ’50s, Nelson Ledges was an operating rock quarry. After digging a little too deep, the machinery hit one of the many springs and a 30-acre quarry filled within days, leaving peninsulas, rock shelves, and an island.
Since then, it’s become one of the best places to camp and swim in Ohio. What can be better than a beach in the middle of the woods? You can camp out here in the shaded woods with plenty of trees to hang and lounge in a hammock under the summer sun. Many weekends in the summer are reserved for music festivals but there are plenty of days during the week and on off weekends to come here with friends to cliff jump, lounge on floaties, and sun tan. There are also plenty of hiking trails throughout the park so once you’re done swimming you can go out and explore the beauty of Ohio’s beech-maple forest.
ZACH JOHNSTON (@ztpwhiskey): RED RIVER GORGE, KENTUCKY
After living in Kentucky for a year, there’s one place that every local insists you have to go — Red River Gorge. The hikes! The caves! The pizza! The waterfalls! That last element makes for a good place to both get your IG on but also cool down during the incredibly hot and humid summers here in Kentucky.
Kentucky is full of amazing outdoor adventures. It’s home to the largest known cave system in the world, which is centered around one of the best free National Parks in the country. There’s also just a shitton of wild forests, lakes, rivers, and swimming holes all over the state. What sets Red River Gorge apart is access. The canyon lands run through the Daniel Boone National Forest, which means that you can go pretty easily without too much planning ahead. There are tons of campgrounds, cabins, and hotels around to lay your head.
Moreover, the food is on point. Miguel’s Pizza is the center of the universe if you’re in the know.
Then there are places to dip into cool water pools along rivers, under cliffs, and below waterfalls all over. Trust me, when it’s 90 degrees with 60% humidity, a dip in a cool pool under a cliffside waterfall is the perfect way to cool down on a hike or after rock climbing. Make your way to Friday Falls (pictured above) for the most idyllic version of this summer fantasy.
I just returned from Hawaii and must say that the natural pool created by the Hanakāpīʻai Falls on the island of Kauai is one of the coolest swimming holes I have ever swam in. There are several reasons. It is at the bottom of a spectacular 300-foot-tall waterfall which leaves one speechless once you finally reach it. I write “finally” because it requires an approximate four-hour hike from Ke’e Beach in Hā’ena State Park (which is also the beginning of the famous Kalalau trail). The hike is not easy: lots of ups and downs over rocks, roots, stairs, hot sun with heat and humidity, or pouring rain with water gushing on the trail from everywhere and thick sticky mud. Add several creek crossings (water level depending on the weather) over giant slippery boulders and you have quite the adventure.
One has to earn a chance to visit these falls and the exclusive swimming spot, but it is definitely worth it: crystal clear, deliciously refreshing water (so welcome after a strenuous hike) and relative seclusion (especially if you come early in the morning). Pro Tip: Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit and keep in mind that it takes another four hours to get back to where you started the hike.
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