Park life: More people are visiting US National Parks

9/21/23 7:00PM

Parks

‍Running dry on wholesome activity inspiration for the weekend? Tomorrow is the 30th annual National Public Lands Day, one of 5 days in 2023 when the National Park Service (NPS) offers free admission to its 400+ sites.

Usually, 109 NPS sites charge for admission, including iconic and ever-popular beauty spots like Yosemite and Yellowstone, as well as the Grand Canyon National Park, all of which usually require visitors to hand over $20 per person.

‍Recreation

‍All told, the NPS operates some 425 locations across the US, including 31 memorials, 84 monuments, and 11 historic battlefields. However, the true gems in the NPS collection are its 63 prestigious national parks — “larger, physical areas” that visitors have been making the most of more and more in recent years.

In 2022, more than 88 million people embarked on journeys to these natural wonders, just slightly fewer than the record-breaking 92 million who seized the opportunity to explore their homeland's national parks in 2021, when international travel was still constrained.

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Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

Starbucks disclosed on Monday evening in a regulatory filing that it will sell control of its ailing China business to Boyu Capital for about $4 billion.

Under the agreement, Boyu will own a 60% stake in the China segment, which will become a joint venture between Boyu and Starbucks. The coffee chain will retain a 40% interest in the entity and will continue to own and license the brand and intellectual property.

Bloomberg reported earlier this year that the company was looking to sell its China segment. The American coffee giant has struggled to succeed in China, its second-largest market after the US.

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This month’s 137,000-barrel-a-day boost is a little more modest than some expected.

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China, the world’s largest carbon polluter, has pledged to cut emissions for the first time

President Xi Jinping has announced that China is aiming to slash carbon emissions by up to 10% in the next decade.

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John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

Despite a record year of passenger numbers, flight cancellations, and delays, a new survey has revealed that flyers have been increasingly satisfied about their experiences in North American airports.

According to this year’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study from data analysts at J.D. Power, overall passenger satisfaction scores were up 10 points (on a 1,000-point scale), largely from “improvements in food, beverage and retail and ease of travel through the airport.” The annual survey measures overall traveler satisfaction across the region’s airports in seven categories (in order of importance): ease of travel, level of trust, terminal facilities, airport staff, airport departure experience, food and retail, and airport arrival experience.

Here are the region’s favorites:

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More than 40% of American adults now report being online “almost constantly”

While a new survey showed Japan has the greatest share of perpetually online people, there was a significant number reporting not using the internet at all.

Park life: More people are visiting US National Parks

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Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

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