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Throughout his influential career, iconic singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has composed countless classics. For instance, his 1965 album, Highway 61 Revisited, has quite a few acclaimed Dylan songs, including "Like a Rolling Stone," "Ballad of a Thin Man," and "Desolation Row."

According to Far Out magazine, Dylan came up with "Desolation Row," which has an 11-minute and 19-second run time, inside a car. The publication reported Playboy magazine implored Dylan to name the location of where he was "when [he] wrote that" song.

“I was in the back of a taxi cab," replied Dylan in the interview with Playboy, as reported by Far Out.

Bob Dylan Referenced Making 'Highway 61 Revisited' in a 1986 Interview

20 years following the release of Highway 61 Revisited, Dylan's sixth album, the musician referenced the making of the record in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. During the 1986 interview, Dylan said he had refrained from ever putting in full effort into any of his projects.

"Somebody once told me – and I don’t remember who it was or even where it was – but they said, ‘Never give a hundred percent.’ My thing has always been just getting by on whatever I’ve been getting by on. That applies to that time, too, that time in the Sixties. It never really occurred to me that I had to do it for any kind of motive except that I just felt like I wanted to do it. As things worked, I mean, I could never have predicted it," said Dylan to the publication.

The Rolling Stone journalist pushed back on Dylan's claim, stating that he likely used his full abilities as a musician and lyricist while recording Highway 61 Revisited and 1966's Blonde on Blonde.

“Well, maybe I was," conceded Dylan with a smile.

Dylan, now 85, clarified that he had a reason to save some of his energy when creating and performing.

"But there’s something at the back of your mind that says, ‘I’m not giving you a hundred percent. I’m not giving anybody a hundred percent. I’m gonna give you this much, and this much is gonna have to do," said Dylan during the 1986 Rolling Stone interview. "I’m good at what I do. I can afford to give you this much and still be as good as, if not better than, the guy over across the street.’ I’m not gonna give it all – I’m not Judy Garland, who’s gonna die onstage in front of a thousand clowns. If we’ve learned anything, we should have learned that.”

The legendary Scottish rock band The Proclaimers is back on stage after a break of a few years, touring around Europe. Along with the concerts, the rock duo, which consists of Craig and Charlie Reid, just announced their first new album since 2022's Dentures Out.

The Proclaimers revealed that their 13th studio album, called You May Offend, is set to be released on Sept. 11, 2026. The record will feature 12 new songs, including the title track and others like "Easy Rhyme," "A Little Bit Late," and "When You Get There," among others. It is already available for pre-order.

The first single, "You May Offend," dropped on June 26, along with a stylish music video directed by Douglas Mackinnon. Touching on the themes of the song and video, Mackinnon described the project: “Across beaches, rooftops, city and country landscapes, listening machines hear everything in the world. Silent operators search for dangerous thoughts, listening for offensive statements and language. A surreal video about fear, surveillance, free speech and tolerance.”

The first single gives fans a taste of the album's overall message. Charlie commented on the song and album title and how it can be interpreted two different ways, “As in: ‘Look, careful what you do, you may offend someone.’ Or: ‘OK children, you may now offend.’ Is it an instruction or an invitation? Or a warning?”

The album is expected to further explore censorship and free speech through the many tracks, so fans should keep a lookout for these messages when You May Offend finally drops this fall.

Related: ’80s Metal Band Makes History With Unprecedented Stadium Milestone

Some fans have already gotten to hear other songs from the record during The Proclaimers' tour dates. The band started their current tour at the start of June in their big return to the stage. The last time the duo toured was back in 2023. Their current tour is expected to continue across Europe through December 2026, with quite a few stops already sold out.

Blitzedmagazine highlighted the song "But It Is" as a standout that fans at recent concerts have loved. As the publication described, "The song is about the impotence and the hypocrisy of Western countries, not just Britain, and how lecturing the rest of the world about democracy, about freedom, about rights in the past may have been more acceptable when the West was on top, but no longer."

Related: 1988 Folk Rock Song Hit No. 1 Two Decades After It Was Recorded

One of rock's greatest power ballads didn't become a worldwide smash until decades after it was written.

When Badfinger released "Without You" in 1970 on the album No Dice, the emotional ballad attracted little attention as an album track. Written by bandmates Pete Ham and Tom Evans, the song quietly became one of the group's finest compositions before taking on an extraordinary second life 24 years later.

Its remarkable journey began with heartbreak.

Although Ham and Evans wrote different sections of the song independently, they combined their ideas to create a devastating portrait of love and loss. Built around soaring melodies and deeply vulnerable lyrics, "Without You" stood apart from the band's better-known power pop sound, revealing a more emotional side of the British rock group.

“We didn't do big versions of things; we wanted to be a rock band," singer and guitarist Joey Molland told Guitar World. "We had guitars in our songs! So we did our version of it, and that seemed fine."

But, it was another version that would take the song to new heights. "Without You" first reached a mass audience when Harry Nilsson transformed it into a No. 1 hit in 1971. More than two decades later, another superstar would make it her own.

In 1994, Mariah Carey recorded "Without You" for her album Music Box. While remaining faithful to the song's emotional core, Carey showcased her extraordinary vocal range, introducing the classic to an entirely new generation of listeners.

"I used to love the song 'Without You' when I was a little girl," Carey said in an interview. "And I remember that it always made me cry and I always thought it was such a beautiful song. I heard it again when I was in a restaurant, they had it playing over the muzak. I was like, 'I love this song, this is such a great song. I haven't heard it in so long.' And I just decided that I wanted to cover it, so we did it and I just think its an incredible song, it's a beautiful song."

Released as a single, the recording topped charts in countries around the world and became one of the biggest international hits of her career.

The success of Carey's cover also shined a renewed spotlight on Badfinger's original composition. Although the band never enjoyed major chart success with the song itself, Ham and Evans' songwriting earned widespread recognition, with "Without You" becoming one of the most celebrated examples of a rock song finding even greater success through reinterpretation.

Over the years, both the Badfinger original and Carey's soaring version have remained fixtures on classic hits, adult contemporary and soft rock playlists. The song's timeless themes of heartbreak and longing have continued to resonate across generations, proving its emotional power transcends any one performance.

More than 50 years after Badfinger first recorded it, "Without You" remains one of popular music's most enduring ballads. What began as an overlooked album track ultimately became a worldwide soft rock anthem, demonstrating how a truly great song can find new life every time it's reimagined.

Related: 1976 Rock Classic, Inspired by One of the ‘Greatest Movies’ of All Time, Became a Timeless Road Trip Anthem

For 15 years, the airplane scene in Bridesmaidshas been one of the most quoted, most rewatched stretches in modern comedy. Kristen Wiig's Annie, unraveling at 30,000 feet on a cocktail of pills and Scotch, is the kind of insane moment that makes people wonder how they would deal with that type of chaos in real life. It turns out that's closer to the truth than anyone realized.

Co-writer Annie Mumolo, who appears in the film alongside Wiig as the anxious seatmate Helen, revealed the scene's unlikely origins in a June 18 episode of the Julia Cunningham Show podcast. The original script, she explained, sent the bridesmaids all the way to Las Vegas for the bachelorette party, a whole sequence involving Wiig's character getting separated from the group, losing a bar fight, and waking up with a black eye. It was raucous, it was funny, and by the time production was approaching, it was completely unusable.

The problem was the film's release timing. Mumolo and Wiig had been developing Bridesmaids for five years before it entered production, and in that window, similar scenes were reproduced in other big comedies. The Hangover arrived in 2009. What Happens in Vegashad already come and gone. The bachelor / bachelorette-party-in-Vegas genre had been claimed. Producer Judd Apatow called the writers in with the news. As Mumolo told the podcast, Apatow sat them down roughly a month before filming began and said, essentially, have a seat.

Related: Reese Witherspoon Finally Confirms 'Big Little Lies' Season 3 Is Underway

'I did two hours of uncontrollable sobbing,' Mumolo recalled, 'and then was like, 'Okay, we got to go.' Wiig was in New York; Mumolo was in Los Angeles. They got on the phone. By the end of that day, they had written the airplane scene, including the first-class/coach divide, the sleeping pill spiral, the air marshal, and all the rest of it. The improvised section that follows, in which Wiig's Annie attempts to describe a colonial-era colonial in the clouds, grew out of that same session. So did Mumolo's own character, planted in the next seat, the one who shares Annie's exact fear of flying.

The scene became the movie's most quoted passage and arguably its emotional core. It also, not incidentally, earned Mumolo and Wiig an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, one of only a handful ever given to an outright comedy. Mumolo has said the airplane scene remains her personal favorite in the entire film. The fact that it was written in approximately one afternoon, under duress, after two hours of crying, makes it one of the stranger origin stories in recent comedy history.

Bridesmaids is currently streaming on Prime Video.

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Season 8 required removing two Love Island USAislanders from the lineup because of a racial controversy scandal. Alannah Keyser was removed days after her video was found. She returned to social media to address her past.

Alannah Keyser Says Screenshots of Her Were 'Falsified' After 'Love Island USA' @alannahkeyser

remember that reality tv is HEAVILY edited & my chats/kisses with the other boys were unfortunately not aired

♬ original sound - alannah

The ousted bombshell made a TikTok video on June 28 to address the situation. She looked directly at the camera in a black outfit.

"I'm coming on here just to address some things that have been circulating online," she started. "I do want to begin by addressing the video of me singing along to a Roddy Rich song that contains a racial slur. I'm sorry to whoever seen that video and has been offended by it."

The video showed Alannah on a couch singing along to "The Box" and said the n-word before turning the camera to other people at a party. Viewers quickly called for her to be removed.

Related: ‘Love Island USA’: Carl Defends Trinity After Recoupling Argument With Tierra

"That was never my intention," she continued. "The video is from six years ago and that word is just not in my vocabulary anymore. I also like to address the screenshots that have been falsified. What has been shared does not reflect the truth, and it's never been in my character to discriminate against anybody's skin color. I do want to say directly that I do not support racism or discrimination of any kind and I never have."

She claimed that this was a learning lesson for her. Alannah said it "sucks" that she didn't get to show her personality.

How Did 'Love Island USA' Handle Alannah's Firing? LOVE ISLAND USA -- "Week 4 " Episode 817 -- Pictured: (l-r) Alannah Keyser, Amora "Amora Cachee" Robinson, Parmida Keshani, Jaiden Bacciocco, Sherleaz "Sydney" Eugene, Tierra Davis -- (Photo by: /Peacock)

The six-day-a-week reality show is a couple of days behind filming, and Alannah appeared in episodes after Casa Amor started. She was coupled up with Zach Georgiou, who has been with Kayda Bosse for weeks.

Zach seemed more worried about Kayda after seeing the boat bring in 12 men for the villa. Alannah and Zach kissed on the daybeds in an episode after she said the ball is in his court. Ian Stirling announced that she was no longer on the show in episode 20. She was no longer seen or mentioned.

Fans were suspicious of Alannah interacting with KC Chandler, Corbin Mims, and Sincere Rhea differently from the non-Black men when the Casa Amor women introduced themselves. The comments on her apology video address that.

"So explain the heart rate challenge then [because] that was weird??" a most-liked comment read.

"Then explain why in the heart rate challenge you avoided all the Black guys and gave your all to the white guys. What was that about??" another person asked. "You know it was on TV right??"

"Girl, you [were] discriminating on the show," another viewer accused.

Zach recoupled with Kayda after Casa Amor ended. It's unclear if we'll see him talk to her about his time with Alannah. Kayda was upset to see that they kissed outside of the challenge in the postcard that production sent to the villa.

Related: Who Is ‘Love Island USA’s Tierra ‘Titi’ Davis?

Doobie Brothers lead vocalist Tom Johnston wrote a hard rock track that would become a staple road trip anthem, "Rockin' Down the Highway." The track would become a hit among fans looking for a track to listen to while cruising down the open road.

By 1972, the Doobie Brothers released one of their most successful albums, Toulouse Street, which had hits like "Listen to the Music" and "Jesus is Alright." "Rockin' Down the Highway" wasn't released as a lead single or intended as a major hit, and was the B-side track of "Jesus is Alright." The track was written by Johnston around the same time he wrote the others while renting a place to stay in San Jose, California.

Unlike their other hits, "Rockin' Down the Highway" never managed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but it still became a staple among die-hard fans. It also became a favorite among rock radio jockeys. Critics tagged it as one of the Doobie Brothers' fine song in the rock genre with an unusual but standout chord progression.

According to SongFacts, Johnston saw the track as a "good times" song and being about exactly what the lyrics describe. At the time, the band hadn't even been signed with a record label, and Johnston often drove up and down the coast.

'Rockin' Down The Highway' was a good times song. It's just what it sounds like. It's about being in a car with the top down flying down the road, which was not uncommon. I lived in San Jose, but I spent a lot of time in the Santa Cruz Mountains and driving up and down Highway 1 , down by Santa Cruz. You know, we hadn't signed with a label at that particular time, and I would imagine that the words came out of those experiences: it was footloose, fancy free, and just groovin' up and down the coast, partying," he explained.

"I don't think there was anything more in depth about it as far as the words. I don't think there's any major story to be told there. I mention a motorcycle in there, and it's not a direct mention, but it kind of glances off motorcycling and riding around in cars. I was motorcycle nuts in those days, so there's a reference to that."

He adds that he had the chords for "Rockin' Down the Highway" for about two years before it was ever released. It was even before the Doobie Brothers were a band, and simply never turned it into a full-fledged song. Later on, he developed the track and called it "pretty straight-ahead stuff."

While critics called the track a clone of some of the band's earlier works, they couldn't deny its popularity. Over the years, its remaine a staple for the open road, and even used in a Season 9 episode of Supernatural.

Related: 1976 Yacht Rock Ballad, Disliked by Band Members, Became a Soft Rock Classic About Love

Think fast: What are the first things that come to mind when you hear about the color orange? We asked Michelle Lewis, a color psychology expert and certified color analyst, and she told us that she thinks about: "A backyard barbecue. A perfectly ripe peach. The last hour of sunlight before it disappears."

"Orange is one of those colors that carries an almost physical warmth," Lewis, who is also the founder of ColorAnalysis.com and The Color Institute and the author of Color Secrets: Learning The One Universal Language We Were Never Taught, tells Parade. "You don't just see it, you feel surrounded by it. It's festive without being formal, energizing without being aggressive."

She describes orange as the color of abundance, gatherings and inclusive spaces that invite people to "come as they are."

"Unlike some colors that divide opinion sharply, orange tends to make people feel like they belong before they've even registered why," she says.

As a color psychology expert, Lewis understands why orange is so inclusive.

"Orange sits at a very specific intersection," she explains. "It has red's energy without red's intensity, and yellow's warmth without yellow's brightness. That balance is rare, and the people drawn to it are often seeking exactly that: a life that's full and warm and connected. 

There's no need to mask in an orange space—and around an orange lover? Lewis says that color preferences can reveal aspects of our core selves. She says that if your favorite color is orange, you likely have these seven traits (and a few challenges). Learn more below.

Related: Color Psychologist Says Wearing This Color Makes You Appear Instantly More Approachable

What Is the Psychology of Loving Orange?

From a color psychology perspective, Lewis says that orange represents warmth, connection, playfulness and abundance.

"It's inherently social," she says of the color. "It creates an energy of welcome and ease that draws people together without asking anything of them. Neurologically, orange is one of the most activating colors we know."

One reason we know? The University of Liège conducted research and found that exposure to orange light produced greater activity in the brain regions tasked with alertness and cognition (the frontal lobes) than in any other condition the scientists tested.

Orange lovers embody this energy.

"People who love orange aren't just warm personalities—they're neurologically tuned to a frequency that keeps them engaged, present and connected to the world around them," Lewis reports. "This is why wearing orange at a networking event, for example, can create such quick and strong connections."

Related: Color Psychologist Says if Your Favorite Color Is Pink, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

People may come to love orange for many reasons. For some, it was a color they grew up around because of their culture, landscape or family home.

"Many orange lovers... carry that sense of comfort and belonging with them. For others, orange is what they reach for when they need to feel grounded and human again in a world that can feel very cold and transactional," she explains.

Indeed, having a favorite color of orange is not a random occurrence.

"Color preference is a very specific signal that triggers physical, mental and emotional responses all at the same time," the color analyst says. "The colors you reach for consistently, the ones that show up in your wardrobe, your home and the art are reflecting something real about how you're wired and what you need."

Related: Color Psychologist Says Your Favorite Color May Be Connected to Type A or Type B Personality Traits

7 Traits of People Whose Favorite Color Is Orange, According to a Color Psychologist 1. They're deeply warm

The warmth of orange isn't limited to firepits with friends (and s'mores) and gorgeous summer sunsets.

"Orange lovers have a natural warmth that people feel unconsciously," Lewis states. "They make people feel comfortable and seen without trying, radiating a welcoming glow and judgment-free space."

Related: Color Psychologist Says if Your Favorite Color Is Purple, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

2. They're naturally hospitable

"If orange has a home, it's the kitchen table where everyone ends up at the end of the night," Lewis says.

She notes that people whose favorite color is orange often become de facto hosts. Their homes naturally become everyone's favorite gathering place.

"The door is always open, the food is always good and people move quickly from guest to family," she shares. "Creating that environment is a very natural expression of who they are."

3. They're playfully mischievous

People drawn to orange possess a lightness that makes them magnetic. Lewis says they're "genuinely fun to be around."

"They don't take themselves too seriously," she explains. "They have a natural sense of humor, and they have an almost magical ability to diffuse tension in a room."

4. They're generous

Energy is a currency, but Lewis points out that orange personalities aren't cagey about theirs.

"Orange lovers don't hoard their energy, their time or their warmth," she states. "They give it freely and consistently—to friends, to strangers, to anyone who seems like they need it."

She notes that social generosity is a defining quality for someone who prefers orange, and that their communities come to count on it.

Related: Color Psychologist Says These 5 Favorite Colors Are Loved by ‘Especially Creative’ People

5. They are comfort-seeking

Orange lovers know how to make others feel instantly comfortable. Lewis says they don't hang themselves out to dry, though—they do unto themselves as they do unto others.

"Orange lovers are drawn to what feels good—physically, emotionally and environmentally," she reveals. "They gravitate toward soft textures, familiar places and people who feel like home." 

6. They're abundantly optimistic

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, people whose favorite color is orange tend to look on the bright side of life.

"Orange lovers see life as something to be enjoyed and shared rather than endured and managed," Lewis states.

To be clear, people who gravitate toward orange aren't naive. They understand that difficulty exists.

"But their natural orientation is focused toward gratitude," she clarifies. "This abundance mindset tends to be self-fulfilling. Orange lovers often attract exactly the warmth, connection and good fortune they expect to find."

7. They're present and grounded

In a world where we always seem to be looking ahead (and regretting what's behind), Lewis says that orange personalities are something of a unicorn.

"Orange lovers are deeply rooted in the now—the meal in front of them, the person across the table and the feeling of a good day as it's happening," she shares. "This capacity for presence is something the people around them feel and genuinely value because it grounds them in the moment as well."

Related: Color Psychologist Says if Your Favorite Color Is Green, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

3 Potential Challenges Faced by People Who Love Orange

Here are some possible challenges for fans of this hue.

1. They may avoid conflict at all costs

Diplomacy and peacekeeping have their place. Yet Lewis notes that some people who love orange can take it too far, potentially harming relationships.

"Orange lovers want everyone to feel comfortable and the atmosphere to stay warm, which means they can sidestep difficult conversations longer than is healthy," she reveals. "Their natural inclination to smooth things over can prevent them from addressing problems directly until those problems become harder to resolve."

Related: Color Psychologist Says if Your Favorite Color Is Blue, You Likely Have These 7 Traits

2. They can overextend themselves

Sorry, but the Giving Tree did not get it right, and orange lovers may learn this lesson the hard way.

"Because orange lovers give so freely of their warmth, time and energy, they can find themselves stretched thin without realizing how depleted they've become," Lewis says. "They're so naturally oriented toward others that their own needs often go unnoticed—by themselves most of all."

3. They might underestimate themselves

People who love orange can make others feel like a million bucks, but they end up discounting themselves in the process.

"Orange lovers can be so focused on making others feel comfortable and valued that they forget to advocate for themselves," Lewis notes. "Their warmth and playfulness can cause others to underestimate their depth and drive...Over time, orange lovers can start to underestimate themselves, too."

Related: These 3 Favorite Colors Are Often Linked to Emotional Intelligence, According to a Color Analyst

Final Takeaways

There are many reasons why someone may grow to love orange. Often, people who count orange as their favorite color grew up around it. It may have been a prominent color in their childhood home, landscape or culture. People who love orange can have certain traits. Here's what to keep in mind.

• Color preference isn't random. According to color psychology expert Lewis, your favorite color triggers physical, mental and emotional responses simultaneously. Your favorite color reflects something about your wiring and needs.
• People who love orange have certain traits. If your favorite color is orange, you're likely warm, naturally hospitable, optimistic and comfort-seeking.
• Orange lovers have some challenges. Often, people who prefer orange avoid conflict for too long and overextend and underestimate themselves.

Up Next:

Related: Color Psychologist Says the Color of Your Shoes Impacts You More Than You Think—Here's Why

Sources:

• Michelle Lewis is a color psychology expert, certified color analyst, author and the founder of ColorAnalysis.com and The Color Institute. She is also the author of Color Secrets: Learning The One Universal Language We Were Never Taught.
• Cortical excitability is affected by light exposure – Distinct effects in adolescents and young adults. Neurobiology of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms.

The definitive taste of summer did not come from a glass; it leaked through the bottom of a clear plastic wrapper. Now, bubly sparkling water is banking on those sticky, tri-colored memories with its latest seasonal flavor rollout: Melted Ice Pop.

The beverage giant's newest limited-time offering is a bid for millennial nostalgia, capturing the taste profile of the classic red, white, and blue ice pops that once dictated hot July afternoons. The drink hits shelves as a zero-calorie, zero-sweetener option, relying on a sharp blend of natural cherry, lime, and raspberry flavors to mimic the melting treats of childhood.

According to Katelyn Meola, Brand Marketing Director for bubly, the flavor profile was engineered to perform a very specific kind of mental time travel. "bubly Melted Ice Pop was made to tap into the kind of nostalgia that instantly takes fans back — to freezer pops, first crushes and the summer daydreams they still remember," Meola says.

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To anchor the liquid nostalgia in its proper era, the brand is rolling out a Y2K-themed promotional push spearheaded by the ultimate era-appropriate centerpiece: actor Chad Michael Murray.

The One Tree Hill and A Cinderella Story star anchors a new social media campaign alongside internet archivist and podcast host Erin Miller. Set to the driving chords of The All-American Rejects’ 2005 hit "Dirty Little Secret," the promotional video drops Miller into a full-blown, early-2000s rom-com fantasy opposite Murray.

"Playing into the hero love interest was a riot," Murray says of the campaign. "Pairing up with bubly was all about unlocking that nostalgia with every sip." Miller adds that sharing a screen with the star felt like "a millennial fever dream."

The nostalgia trip extends past the screen and onto Walmart.com, where the brand has launched a limited-edition $20 "Y2K Summer Kit." The bundle doubles down on the flip-phone era, pairing an eight-pack of the Melted Ice Pop cans with a charm anklet, an inflatable cooler, a beach towel, a tote, and a digitally signed poster of Murray designed to look like a vintage teen magazine pin-up.

The Melted Ice Pop eight-packs are landing at grocery retailers nationwide now, but like the classic ice cream truck favorites that inspired them, they will disappear from shelves once the summer heat breaks.

A beloved Hollywood actress went through one of the most difficult public moments of her life 16 years ago, when her marriage came to an end following a shocking scandal.

Back in 2010, Sandra Bullock finalized her divorce from her then-husband Jesse James after allegations of infidelity came to light. At the time, several women had come forward claiming they'd had an affair with James, who married Bullock in July 2005.

"Yes, I have filed for divorce," Bullock told People magazine in April 2010. "I’m sad and I am scared."

Meanwhile, James issued a statement that included a public apology to the Practical Magic star.

Actor Jesse James and Actress Sandra Bullock arrive at the 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter held at Sunset Tower on March 7, 2010 in West Hollywood, California.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

"The vast majority of the allegations reported are untrue and unfounded. Beyond that, I will not dignify these private matters with any further public comment," he told People at the time. "There is only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me. It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way. This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension and I am extremely saddened to have brought this on them. I am truly very sorry for the grief I have caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me."

In the years since the divorce, Bullock has largely stepped away from the spotlight. She took time away from acting to focus on raising her two adopted children and later found love again with Bryan Randall. She became his caretaker in 2020 after he was diagnosed with ALS. Randall died in 2023.

Bullock has taken on only a handful of projects over the past decade, choosing to keep much of her life away from Hollywood’s spotlight. She never remarried.

Everyone deserves to experience abundance, but not everyone attracts it the same way. Astrologically, we all came with certain energies specifically coded into the month we were born. These particular energies not only inform our experience, but they also guide us in activating our natural powers of attraction. Since each birth month responds to two different zodiac signs, integrating them is the ultimate tool when it comes to manifesting money and abundance. 

How Can Each Birth Month Attract Money And AbundanceJanuary: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Long-term Vision

Whether you’re a Capricorn or an Aquarius, working with time is of the essence! For you, saving and investing smaller amounts continuously is sure to snowball into riches. Having a long-term goal is what fuels you. And before you even anticipate it, you’ll have a meaningful amount of money to create the life of your dreams. 

February: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Visualization

Be careful with what you think, as it could become your reality! February Pisceans and Aquariuses were born with the manifestation tools attached to their vision. Choose an image of yourself enjoying abundance in your mind, and play it over and over again, with trust that it will become real. Watch the magic as it moves from a dreamlike state to a 3D reality. 

March: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Chasing Your Dreams

Everyone manifests differently, and you manifest with the power of action! March natives, whether Pisces or Aries, are dreamers, but without action, these dreams dissolve into the ethers. When you purposely chase a dream, you send a thread of magic to the universe. In return, you may be granted something even better than what you envision. 

FUN: Which Van Gogh Painting Mirrors Your Soul, Based on Birth Month

April: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Attracting

While a part of them is action-oriented, April babies don’t chase—they attract. This is one of the birth months most connected to the flow of nature’s abundance. Spending time in nature and visualizing themselves as magnets brings money, abundance in all its forms, and even the attention of possible romantic lovers. 

May: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Speaking Your Desires

In this birth month, desire meets expression. Whether you’re a Taurus or a Gemini, you may have noticed that when you express what you want as if you already had it, it magically appears in front of your eyes sooner or later. This is specifically true when it comes to money and romantic lovers.

June: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Reciting New Moon Mantras

What’s unique about this birth month is its connection with communication (Gemini) and the powers of the Moon (Cancer). June-born activate their ability to attract abundance by honoring the monthly rebirth of the Moon. If you are a June baby, devoting yourself to this practice can also help you feel connected to a higher power. 

NEXT: The Seashell That Mirrors Your Soul’s Journey, Based on Your Birth Date

July: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Creative Expression

If you were born in July, you do everything deeply and passionately. Everything you do comes from the heart, and your ability to attract money and abundance should respond to that, too. The sole action of creating by expressing what’s in your heart assists you in communicating to the universe what you desire to attract. 

August: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Embracing Leadership

Those born in August are so capable at getting things done that at times, they may forget that in reality, they were born to lead. Whether you’re a Leo or a Virgo born in August, you may want to stop second-guessing your capabilities. By embracing a leadership attitude in many aspects of your life (especially your career), you magnetize abundance. 

RELATE?: The 4 Most Ambitious Birth Months, Per Experts

September: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Intellectual Stimulation

The two zodiac signs of September, Virgo and Libra, may seem very different from one another. What unites them is a strong connection with the intellect. If you are September-born, your mind is your most powerful tool. Feeding it with knowledge gives you ideas on how to make money, but also live a more fulfilling life. 

October: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Integrating Feminine And Masculine Energies

Some birth months attract by chasing, others by attracting, and October-born manifest abundance by finding the sweet spot between the two. Whether you’re a Libra or Scorpio, you’ll receive a clear message when chasing something that is not for you. If you embrace stillness and wait, something better and more aligned shows up in its place. 

November: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Practicing Gratitude

November babies are lucky, and they know it. Uniting powerful Scorpio with lucky Sagittarius, there is little these natives can’t do. You may notice that expressing gratitude for what you already have skyrockets your ability to magnetize not only money and abundance, but everything else that you desire. For you, words like “thank you” and “I am grateful” function as spells. 

MORE: Your Lucky Angel Number, Based on Your Birth Date

December: Your Money Manifestation Tool Is Practicing Generosity

What goes around comes around! Whether you’re a fortunate Sagittarius or a self-made Capricorn, you may have noticed your abundance being connected to the universal laws of karma. This means that the more of your energy that you give, the more you experience coming in. Over time, your abundance becomes a beautiful loop of giving and receiving. 

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Fast-food burgers occupy a unique place in American culture. They're the stars of road trips, late-night cravings, lunch breaks and endless social media debates. Ask 10 people to name the best burger in fast food, and you'll probably get 10 different answers—often delivered with the intensity of a sports argument.

Part of the reason these burgers become legends is familiarity. The most famous menu items have decades of advertising behind them, generations of nostalgia and armies of loyal fans willing to defend them online. But popularity doesn't always guarantee that a signature burger is the best thing on the menu.

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Across Reddit, TikTok, Instagram and fast-food forums, burger lovers regularly revisit the same question—which iconic burgers actually deserve their reputation? The answers can be surprisingly divided. While many of these sandwiches remain hugely popular, some diners argue that their fame has outgrown their flavor, value or consistency.

That doesn't mean these burgers are bad. In most cases, the criticism comes from people who genuinely like the restaurant but believe another item on the menu delivers a better experience. Sometimes it's a bigger patty; sometimes it's the ratio between bun, burger and toppings; and sometimes it's simply a matter of getting more bang for your buck.

If you usually order one of these overrated fast-food burgers, it may be time to branch out and try another burger hiding on the menu. Luckily, we've done the work for you and rounded up the best burger alternatives across the top fast-food restaurants. See what picks made our list below.

Overrated Fast-Food Burgers

Here are eight fast-food burgers that frequently get labeled overrated online—and the alternatives that devoted fans often recommend instead.

1. McDonald's Big Mac

McDonald's

No fast-food burger is more recognizable than McDonald's Big Mac. The three-piece bun, shredded lettuce and famous special sauce have made it one of the most famous sandwiches in restaurant history.

The problem, according to many critics, is that the burger's appearance promises more meat than it actually delivers. Because the Big Mac uses two relatively thin patties separated by a middle bun, some customers feel the sandwich ends up being more about bread and sauce than beef.

One Reddit user summed up the complaint by saying they had essentially eaten "a bun with salad and sauce" after receiving a particularly skimpy-looking Big Mac. Similar comments frequently describe the burger as looking substantial in advertisements but feeling surprisingly light once it's in your hands.

Some longtime McDonald's customers argue that nostalgia does much of the heavy lifting for the Big Mac's reputation. The special sauce remains popular, but critics say the burger itself can feel dated compared to modern fast-food competitors that offer thicker patties and a stronger beef flavor. Even former McDonald's corporate chef Mike Haracz has publicly suggested skipping the Big Mac in favor of other menu options that provide a better meat-to-bun ratio.

What to order instead: Quarter Pounder with Cheese. This also-iconic sandwich tends to get higher marks from customers seeking a meatier burger. Unlike the Big Mac's pair of thin patties, the Quarter Pounder features a single larger beef patty (or two) that's cooked fresh to order at many locations, giving it a noticeably juicier texture and more pronounced beef flavor.

With cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard on a sesame seed bun, it offers a simpler construction. Plus, it only has top and bottom buns, which allows the burger itself to take center stage rather than relying on sauce and bread.

2. Burger King's Whopper

Burger King

The Whopper remains Burger King's flagship sandwich and one of the most recognizable burgers in America. Its flame-grilled patty and fresh toppings have earned generations of loyal fans.

Yet one criticism appears repeatedly in online discussions—inconsistency. Customers often report that a great Whopper can be excellent, but a bad Whopper can be disappointing. In a recent Reddit discussion, one customer described Burger King as "hit or miss," saying quality often depends on which location is preparing the food.

Burger King itself has acknowledged complaints surrounding its signature burger. The company recently updated the Whopper after years of customer feedback involving presentation, quality control and consistency. Even after those changes, many online discussions continue to focus on portion sizes, uneven preparation and whether the sandwich still lives up to its legendary reputation.

What to order instead: Bacon King. For hungry customers looking for a richer experience, the Bacon King often earns stronger praise thanks to its bacon-heavy build and larger overall profile.

Two flame-grilled beef patties, multiple slices of cheese and a generous helping of bacon create a burger that leans fully into indulgence. The focus stays squarely on smoky, savory flavors, making it a favorite among customers who want a more substantial alternative to Burger King's classic offering.

Related: 7 Genius McDonald's Hacks Employees Actually Use When They Order for Themselves

3. In-N-Out Double-Double

In-N-Out

Few fast-food burgers inspire as much devotion as In-N-Out's Double-Double. For many travelers, trying one has become a bucket list food experience.

The challenge is that years of internet hype have elevated expectations to nearly impossible levels. First-time visitors frequently arrive expecting the greatest burger they've ever eaten, which naturally leads some customers to feel underwhelmed.

One Reddit user who finally tried In-N-Out after years of hearing praise described the experience as "nothing exceptional" and argued that local independent restaurants in their hometown made better burgers.

Critics also regularly point to the chain's relatively thin beef patties. Discussions about the Double-Double often mention that the burger feels smaller than expected, particularly when compared with some competitors.

What to order instead: Upgrade to Animal Style. Many devoted fans recommend this upgrade because the patties are cooked with mustard directly on the grill, creating extra caramelization and a more complex flavor. Grilled onions replace the standard raw onions, and extra spread adds richness throughout the sandwich.

The result is a version that many regular customers consider more flavorful, more memorable and a better representation of what makes In-N-Out special.

4. Wendy's Dave's Single

Wendy's

Wendy's built its reputation on fresh, never-frozen beef, and Dave's Single remains one of the chain's most iconic menu items.

Ironically, one of the biggest criticisms of Dave's Single is that it's almost too traditional. While few customers actively dislike the burger, many describe it as safe, predictable and overshadowed by more exciting options elsewhere on the menu. The combination of lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise creates a classic burger experience, but some diners feel it lacks a standout feature that makes it memorable.

That's particularly noticeable at a chain known for indulgent menu items loaded with bacon and specialty toppings. Online discussions frequently recommend more adventurous choices, arguing that Dave's Single feels conservative compared with the burgers that helped generate Wendy's modern fan base.

What to order instead: Double Stack. This substantial burger also happens to be on the value menu, and it delivers the kind of eating experience that many customers associate with Wendy's at its best. It’s meaty and cheesy and comes with just onion, pickle, ketchup and mustard, and it delivers the right ratio of ingredients with two well-seasoned patties.

Wendy's fans are calling it “literally perfect,” and with today’s fast-food prices, it certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s much cheaper.

5. Five Guy's Cheeseburger

Five Guys

The criticism aimed at Five Guys usually has less to do with flavor and more to do with value. Few people dispute that the burgers are fresh, customizable and satisfying. The issue is the price.

Across social media, customers routinely express sticker shock when sharing receipts for meals that cost significantly more than fast-food competitors. Critics argue that while the burgers are good, they're not necessarily so much better that they justify the premium pricing.

This often leads to a common conclusion among regular customers—the standard cheeseburger simply isn't the best value on the menu. Five Guys allows customers to add an extensive list of toppings at no extra charge, so many fans believe the larger burger offers diminishing returns relative to its higher price.

What to order instead: Little Cheeseburger. This smaller but equally as delicious sandwich has developed a loyal following. Despite its modest name, it still provides a substantial burger experience and comes with access to the same wide selection of free toppings.

Customers can pile on grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, jalapeños, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and sauces to build a burger that feels fully loaded while costing noticeably less than the standard cheeseburger option.

Related: The Best Starbucks Ordering Hack for Cheaper Drinks, According to Baristas

6. SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger

Sonic

Sonic's traditional burger lineup sometimes gets overlooked because the chain is known for so many other menu items, from slushes and limeades to hot dogs, mozzarella sticks and specialty snacks.

While the SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger has long been one of the company's flagship burgers, it doesn't generate the same passionate following as some of Sonic's limited-time offerings.

One common criticism is that the burger feels generic in a crowded fast-food market. Customers often describe it as perfectly acceptable but rarely memorable. Reviews frequently praise the burger's size and familiar ingredients, yet many diners struggle to identify anything that truly separates it from comparable double cheeseburgers offered by competing chains.

What to order instead: Garlic Butter Bacon Cheeseburger. If you’re really in the mood for a burger and pull up to the drive-in, this over-the-top option tends to receive stronger reviews because it offers a more distinctive flavor profile.

Rather than relying solely on traditional burger toppings, it incorporates a rich garlic butter sauce that adds a savory, almost steakhouse-inspired quality to each bite. Crispy bacon contributes smoky flavor and texture, while grilled onions help balance the richness with a touch of sweetness. The result is a burger that feels more deliberate and unique than Sonic's standard offerings.

7. Whataburger Original Whataburger

Whataburger

For Texans, the Original Whataburger is more than just a burger—it's a cultural icon. The chain has built decades of loyalty throughout the state, and many lifelong customers associate the burger with road trips, late-night meals and hometown pride.

That reputation, however, can become a double-edged sword. First-time visitors often arrive expecting one of the greatest fast-food burgers ever created, only to discover a fairly straightforward burger with mustard, vegetables and a large bun. The criticism isn't usually that the burger tastes bad; rather, many newcomers feel it doesn't fully justify the near-legendary status that surrounds it.

Online discussions regularly feature comments from first-time customers who describe the Original Whataburger as "good, but not amazing" or "solid, but overhyped."

Another common complaint centers on the burger's size and construction. While the large bun contributes to the burger's signature appearance, some diners feel it can overwhelm the beef and toppings. Others argue that the Original Whataburger simply lacks a defining flavor element that makes it stand out from other classic fast-food burgers. Compared with more modern menu items featuring specialty sauces, bacon or unique preparation methods, the flagship burger can feel surprisingly basic.

What to order instead: Patty Melt. This classic diner sandwich emerges as the menu item that wins over skeptics. Instead of a traditional hamburger bun, it uses thick slices of toasted Texas toast that provide a buttery crunch and a more substantial texture. It combines beef patties, melted Monterey Jack cheese, grilled onions and Whataburger's creamy pepper sauce, creating layers of flavor that aren't present in the Original Whataburger.

The sweetness of the onions, the richness of the cheese and the mild kick from the pepper sauce work together to create a more distinctive sandwich. Even among longtime Whataburger fans, the Patty Melt is often cited as the chain's true signature item and the one most likely to impress first-time visitors.

8. Shake Shack's ShackBurger

Shake Shack

Shake Shack helped redefine the fast-casual burger industry, and the ShackBurger remains the chain's most recognizable menu item. Built around a smashed beef patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce, it helped establish the company's reputation for premium ingredients and elevated fast-food dining.

The most common criticism isn't usually about taste—it's about value. Many customers enjoy the ShackBurger, but question whether the portion size justifies the premium price. Compared with burgers from traditional fast-food chains or even some direct competitors, the ShackBurger can appear relatively small.

Online reviews frequently mention finishing the burger quickly and wishing it felt more substantial, particularly when adding fries and a drink pushes the total meal cost well beyond what customers expect from a burger chain.

Some critics also argue that the ShackBurger is simply too straightforward to justify its reputation. The burger relies on quality ingredients and careful preparation rather than dramatic flavors or unusual toppings.

For some diners, that simplicity is a strength. For others, it leaves the burger feeling less exciting than competing menu items. As a result, conversations about Shake Shack often include recommendations to skip the standard burger and order one of the chain's more distinctive creations instead.

What to order instead: SmokeShack. This is the option most frequently recommended by fans. It begins with the same beef patty, cheese and potato bun foundation as the ShackBurger, but layers on applewood-smoked bacon and chopped cherry peppers. Those additions dramatically change the experience. The bacon introduces a deep smoky flavor that complements the beef, while the peppers add bursts of acidity and heat that cut through the richness.

Combined with ShackSauce, the result is a burger with significantly more contrast, complexity and personality than the standard ShackBurger. Many regular customers view it as the menu item that best balances Shake Shack's premium ingredients with the bold flavors needed to create a truly memorable burger experience.

Final Thoughts

Not every iconic fast-food burger lives up to its reputation, and sometimes the biggest names rely more on nostalgia and marketing than standout flavor. While chains like McDonald's, In-N-Out and Whataburger have loyal followings, some of their most famous burgers can leave diners expecting more than they actually get.

At the end of the day, taste is subjective—but it never hurts to look beyond the hype before deciding which burger is truly worth your next order.

Related: The Truth Behind the Wendy's Logo

Often, the motivation to exercise stems from wanting to improve physical appearance. Maybe you want to look slimmer, more toned or you want bigger muscles. While exercising regularly can certainly support these goals, one overlooked benefit is that it's good for your brain.

According to a review published in the scientific journal Genes, regular physical activity delays brain aging and lowers the risk of dementia, Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. It also lowers depression.

Maybe you’ve never been big on exercise and have lived a predominantly sedentary lifestyle for a long time, and now you’re middle-aged and starting to think about your brain health. Is it too late for you to reap the brain-supporting benefits of exercise? Not in the slightest. 

Related: Here's Exactly What Happens to Your Brain Health When You Eat Bananas

“Data from the Framingham Heart Study showed that higher physical activity in midlife and late life, but not early adulthood, was associated with a 41 to 45% lower risk of dementia. Moderate-to-heavy intensity was most effective in midlife, while any intensity was beneficial in late life,” Dr. Babak Tousi, MD, a neurologist at Cleveland Clinic, tells Parade.

He emphasizes that all forms of exercise are good for your brain (and the rest of your body). However you like to get moving will support your health. But perhaps you’re wondering if there’s one, or a few, forms of exercise in particular that’s the absolute best for brain health. If you want to build an exercise routine specifically centered around brain health, Dr. Tousi has some tips.

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The 3 Best Exercises for Brain Health, Cleveland Clinic Neurologist Explains

All forms of movement are beneficial to health. When it comes to the best one, Dr. Tousi says that it depends on your brain health goal. 

“The best exercise for brain health is a multicomponent program. No single one outperforms a combination of aerobic, resistance and mind-body exercise because each targets different cognitive domains. Simply put, aerobics is most beneficial for memory, resistance training is most beneficial for global cognition and mind-body exercise is more beneficial for working memory,” he says. 

Let’s break down exactly what this means and looks like. 

1. Aerobic exercise for memory 

Want to support your short-term and long-term memory? Regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, cycling and swimming, is a great way to do it. The effects, Dr. Toussi says, are both immediate and long-term. “Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, delivering more oxygen and nutrients," he explains. "Studies show that 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity can improve higher-level thinking skills for at least 20 minutes afterward."

As for supporting long-term memory, Dr. Tousi explains that aerobic exercise can slow the natural shrinkage of the hippocampus (the brain's memory center), which is important for learning and memory. “Studies suggest regular aerobic exercise can help maintain or even increase the thickness of the brain cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain, with greater cognitive benefits at older ages,” he says.

Additionally, aerobic exercise increases blood flow to the brain, strengthens connections between brain cells, supports the growth of new blood vessels and reduces brain inflammation, all of which support long-term memory. 

Related: Neurologists Warn That This nightly Habit Could Be Secretly Shrinking Your Brain

2. Resistance training for global cognition

Global cognition is a term neurologists use that refers to a person’s overall mental functioning. The ability to pay attention, concentrate, executive functioning (including skills like planning, problem-solving and abstract thinking), verbal fluency and memory are all part of global cognition.

“One analysis of multiple studies found that strength training [a type of resistance training] was the most effective type of exercise for improving overall cognition in older adults, performing better than aerobic exercise,” Dr. Tousi says. Another study, published in the journal Aging & Mental Health, found that resistance training improved overall cognitive function both in cognitively healthy older adults and cognitively impaired older adults. 

Why is resistance training so beneficial for global cognition? “The biological effects of resistance training are somewhat different from those of aerobic exercise. Resistance training raises levels of IGF-1, an insulin-like growth factor, which helps neurons grow and survive. It also increases BDNF, brain-derived neurotropic growth factor, with maybe a greater effect than aerobic training,” Dr. Tousi says.

Related: The Popular Lunchtime Habit Brain Health Experts Are Begging You To Stop

3. Mind-body exercise for working memory

Working memory is different from long-term memory. It refers to short-term memory used to perform cognitive tasks. It only lasts about 30 seconds. Some examples of using working memory include calculating how much to tip, following instructions or directions, following along in a conversation or memorizing a phone number or code long enough to type it.

If you want to support your working memory, Dr. Tousi recommends mind-body exercises such as tai chi, yoga and Pilates. “Their cognitive effects work through mechanisms different from aerobic exercise, mainly stress regulation, attentional control and neuroplasticity,” he says.

According to scientific research, doing yoga regularly may protect the hippocampus (the part of the brain used for working memory) from age-related shrinkage. Similar to what Dr. Tousi explained, the researchers say that this is due to the stress-reducing benefits of yoga. 

As for tai chi, Dr. Tousi says that it shows the largest effects of any mind-body exercise, particularly for executive function. He adds that this type of exercise has been shown to benefit global cognition as well. 

As you can see, different forms of exercise benefit the brain in slightly different ways. That’s why Dr. Tousi recommends an exercise routine that includes some form of aerobic exercise, resistance training and a form of mind-body movement. 

Having an exercise routine that incorporates different types of physical activity isn’t just a well-rounded approach to supporting your brain health; it’s the best way to support your entire body. Have fun mixing it up! 

Up Next:

Related: Neurologists Warn This Morning Habit Could Be Secretly Shrinking Your Brain

Sources:

• Maria Di Liegro, C., Schiera, G., Proia, P., et al. (2019). Physical Activity and Brain Health. Genes. 10(9):720. 
• Dr. Babak Tousi, MD, neurologist at Cleveland Clinic.
• Grimanesa Revelo Herrera, S. and Leon-Rojas, E. (2024). The Effect of Aerobic Exercise in Neuroplasticity, Learning, and Cognition: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 16(2):e54021.
• Han, H., Zhang, J., Zhang, F., et al. (2025). Optimal exercise interventions for enhancing cognitive function in older adults: a network meta-analysis.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1510773.
• Coelho-Junior, H., Marzetti, E., Calvani, R., et al. (2022). Resistance training improves cognitive function in older adults with different cognitive status: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. Aging & Mental Health. 26(2):213-224.
• Cowan, N. (2008). What are the differences between long-term, short-term, and working memory?Progress in Brain Research. 169:323-338.
• Voss, S., Cerna, J. and Gothe, N. P. (2024). Yoga Impact Cognitive Health: Neurophysiological Changes and Stress-regulation Mechanisms. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 51(2):73-81.

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If you're looking for an easy way to refresh your outdoor space this season, a bird bath is a good place to start. Beyond the decorative appeal, it serves a practical purpose as birds naturally help manage pests and support healthier soil, making your garden more balanced over time. Right now, Walmart has one on sale that's worth considering. 

The Ktaxon Solar Fountain Bird Bath is currently marked down to as low as $32 from $44 during Walmart's Summer Deals event, which lasts through June 28. Designed with a vintage-inspired bronze finish, it features fleur-de-lis accents and soft European-style detailing that gives it a classic, decorative look. It comes in two colors: brown and blue-green. Shoppers appreciated the bath’s appearance overall, with one calling it a “great garden addition.”

Ktaxon Solar Fountain Bird Bath, From $32 (was $44) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

This round bird bath stands 28 inches tall with a 20-inch-diameter basin — large enough for several birds to gather at once. Unlike a traditional still-water basin, it has a built-in solar fountain that activates in sunlight, keeping the water gently moving throughout the day. The rim also features small oval cut-outs that give smaller birds a place to perch as they lean in for a drink. 

Walmart buyers have praised its look and performance, with one describing it as “pretty cute” and “sharp,” while another shared, “My wife loved it and we are sending pictures and videos to friends.” 

The basin and pedestal are made from weather-resistant resin, so it can stay outside year-round without cracking or fading. For added stability, the hollow pedestal base can be filled with sand or rocks. Ground stakes are also included to keep it more secure. Assembly is simple and straightforward. Since the package includes just the bird bath and stakes, setup takes only a few minutes.

Shop More Deals

• Specstar Oval Bird Bath, $25 (was $43) at Walmart
• WEXLYN Solar Water Fountain for Bird Bath, $15 (was $21) at Walmart
• Pennington Earth Smart Hopper Wild Bird Feeder, $7 (was $11) at Walmart

Related: Walmart’s Packable $6 4-Piece Cutting Mat Set Is a Great Budget-Friendly Way to Protect Your Counters

For bird lovers looking to add a touch of charm to their yard, the Ktaxon Solar Fountain Bird Bath is currently on sale at Walmart for $38. It’s an easy, affordable upgrade that brings life to any outdoor space. Because it’s part of a flash sale and included in Walmart's limited-time Summer Deals event, it’s worth acting quickly before the price disappears. 

Four million copies. A full year on the New York Times bestseller list. A Goodreads Choice Award and a spot on the Times' list of the 100 best books of the 21st century. Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow has been one of the most discussed novels of the decade, and for three years its readers have been waiting for news of the film adaptation. On June 19, they got the most concrete update yet in the form of a date.

Paramount Pictures announced that the adaptation will open in theaters on November 12, 2027. Daisy Edgar-Jones will star as Sadie Green, the brilliant game designer at the center of the story. Siân Heder, who won the Academy Award for Best Picture for CODA in 2022, is directing and writing the screenplay.

The novel follows Sadie and her collaborator Sam Masur across several decades, from a chance encounter at a hospital when they are children to a long creative partnership building a video game studio called Unfair Games. The setting, the rising video game industry of the 1990s and 2000s, is unusually specific for a love story, and it is part of what made the book resonate so broadly. Readers who grew up playing games in that era recognized the world immediately, and readers who didn't found a story about creative ambition and the cost of intimacy. The Wrap confirmed that the roles of Sam and Marx Watanabe have not yet been cast.

Edgar-Jones, who broke through in Normal People and has since starred in Where the Crawdads Sing, Twisters, and On Swift Horses, has become a reliable adapter of beloved source material. Her casting as Sadie, announced earlier this year by Variety, was met with wide approval from fans of the novel.

Related: Ginny Weasley Is Being Recast Before Harry Potter Even Premieres

Zevin is writing the screenplay herself, working from earlier drafts by screenwriters. That's an unusual level of authorial involvement that suggests she intends to protect the novel's specific detail in the translation to film. The book was named a best of the year title by more than 25 publications, including The Atlantic, Time, The Washington Post, and Oprah Daily, when it published in 2022.

The November 12 slot places the film in the traditional awards-season corridor, which signals that Paramount is treating the adaptation as a major release rather than a specialty title. Hollywood Reporter noted the competitive positioning of that date. Whether the adaptation captures the novel's particular blend of nostalgia, heartbreak, and creative obsession is a something we'll have to wait until November 12, 2027 to know.

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“I Dig Rock and Roll Music” was a 1967 song released by Peter, Paul and Mary that poked fun at iconic artists like the Mamas & the Papas, Donovan, and The Beatles. The lyrics were written by Paul Stookey, James Mason and Dave Dixon—but Stookey, 88, has recently admitted that he regrets one line in particular.

“When you write songs, you sometimes get overwhelmed by the desire to rhyme something rather than to say what it is you mean,” he said when speaking with Rolling Stoneon June 23. “I was young and impatient when I wrote ‘I Dig Rock and Roll Music,' and the verse that says, ‘And when the Beatles tell you they got a word love to sell you, they mean exactly what they say,' I never meant to demean their motives.”

He went on to explain that he has always loved The Beatles and said, “I thought [Paul] McCartney and Lennon, Harrison, Starr, they were digging deep into personal relationships, and there was a truth there. There still is. I mean, in pop music today, it's very hard to summon, how shall I say, the substantiation of wanting to do the twist to ‘This Land Is Your Land' or to boogie or to dance to ‘Blowin' in the Wind.'”

Stookey continued, “I thought The Beatles did an amazing job of bringing first-person angst into the public arena, ‘She Loves You,' I mean, even their early tunes. As they got later and later in their careers, I don't think they lost a thing, and their musicality was off the charts. It was just some brilliant writing."

Related: 1962 Classic Hit, Named One of the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, Never Reached No. 1

Stookey also added that he thinks people will be “talking about the immense library of work that still is performed that was created by Paul McCartney and John Lennon” 50 years from now.

Peter, Paul and Mary were a folk group comprised of Stookey, Peter Yarrow, and Mary Travers. Some of their most iconic songs were "Leaving on a Jet Plane," "Puff, the Magic Dragon," and “500 Miles.” In 1999, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, but the band dissolved after Travers died in 2009. Yarrow died in 2025, making Stookey the last surviving member of the band.

There are two kinds of Trader Joe's shoppers: those who walk in with a carefully written list, and those who think they're walking in with a carefully written list. Somewhere between the frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken, the unexpected seasonal treats and the snack aisle that somehow demands a quick detour every visit, most carts end up a little fuller than planned.

But tucked away in the produce section sits one of the longest-running bargains at Trader Joe's: the humble banana.

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For decades, the grocery chain's bananas sold for just 19 cents each—a price that became almost as iconic as its Speculoos Cookie Butter or Everything But the Bagel Seasoning. While nearly everything else at grocery stores seemed to get more expensive, the Trader Joe's banana price barely budged. Even when the company finally raised the price to 23 cents per banana in 2024, shoppers barely blinked. After all, where else could you still grab a fresh piece of fruit for less than a quarter?

It turns out that those famously inexpensive bananas aren't just a lucky break for shoppers. They're the result of a business philosophy that's been part of Trader Joe's DNA for decades—one that puts customer convenience ahead of tradition, trims unnecessary costs wherever possible and occasionally listens to a single shopper who has a really good idea.

The story behind Trader Joe's bananas begins with one customer, continues through one of the grocery industry's leanest business models and helps explain why those little yellow fruits have become one of the store's most recognizable bargains. Read on to learn more about why Trader Joe's bananas are so cheap.

The Senior Citizen Who Changed the Pricing Model

Photo by Adhitya Sibikumar on Unsplash

Believe it or not, Trader Joe's didn't always sell bananas individually.

Years ago, Trader Joe's sold them by the pound, much like many supermarkets do today. The difference was that Trader Joe's doesn't have scales to weigh a specific quantity, so bananas were sold in pre-packaged bundles. On episode one of the Inside Trader Joe's podcast, former Trader Joe's CEO Dan Bane recalled a brief conversation he had with a customer while visiting a store in Sun City, Arizona. After observing an elderly shopper examine and then put down a bunch of bananas, Bane asked the customer why she hadn't placed them in her cart. The woman responded, "Sonny, I may not live to that fourth banana.”

Inspired by the notion of living life one banana at a time, the company changed how they sold bananas the very next day. Trader Joe's seized an opportunity to make shopping easier for everyone, and it was a small change that quickly became one of the chain's signature perks.

It's a simple story, but it perfectly captures the company's willingness to rethink even the smallest details if it improves the customer experience.

Why Selling by the Banana Just Made Sense

Photo by Mockup Graphics on Unsplash

Selling bananas individually solved more than one problem too. For shoppers, it meant buying exactly what they needed instead of committing to an entire bunch. Someone packing a lunch could grab one banana, a large family could buy nine, and nobody had to worry about wasting money or fruit going bad simply because it came bundled together.

The system also sped up shopping. There was no need to pre-weigh produce or print labels before stocking shelves. Customers simply grabbed the number of bananas they wanted and kept moving.

That approach fits neatly with Trader Joe's philosophy of making grocery shopping feel approachable rather than complicated. Instead of overwhelming shoppers with dozens of versions of the same product, the retailer offers a carefully edited selection of items—most sold under its own private-label brands. Selling bananas one at a time became another example of putting convenience ahead of convention.

Related: 9 Discontinued Trader Joe's Frozen Meals Shoppers Are Still Mourning

The Direct Supply Chain Advantage: Cutting Out the Middleman

Photo by Monika Guzikowska on Unsplash

Of course, convenience alone doesn't explain how Trader Joe's has kept banana prices remarkably low for so many years. The answer lies in the company's overall business model.

Unlike many traditional grocery chains that stock tens of thousands of products, Trader Joe's carries a much smaller assortment, with the vast majority sold under its own private-label brands. That approach allows the retailer to work closely with suppliers, simplify distribution, reduce marketing costs and eliminate many of the expenses that can drive up prices elsewhere.

Those savings don't just apply to frozen meals or pantry staples—they extend throughout the store, including to fresh produce.

Rather than relying on flashy promotions or weekly sales to attract customers, Trader Joe's focuses on offering consistently competitive everyday prices. Bananas have simply become one of the most visible examples of that philosophy in action.

The 2024 Plot Twist: The End of the 19-Cent Era

Fred Hernandez

Every legendary bargain eventually faces reality. After holding steady at 19 cents for more than two decades, Trader Joe's quietly increased the price of its bananas to 23 cents in early 2024 after rising costs throughout the supply chain finally made the longtime price unsustainable.

Even so, the increase was hardly dramatic. Four extra cents still leaves Trader Joe's bananas among the least expensive available at major grocery stores, and the company noted that it also lowered prices on several other products around the same time.

In other words, the goal wasn't to abandon its reputation for value. It was to continue balancing affordability with the economic realities of running a grocery business.

For longtime shoppers, the price change marked the end of an era. However, it also reinforced something Trader Joe's has demonstrated for decades: low prices aren't about gimmicks—they're the result of countless small decisions designed to make grocery shopping easier, more efficient and a little more enjoyable.

So the next time you toss a banana into your cart, remember that you're not just buying one of the cheapest items in the store. You're holding a tiny piece of Trader Joe's history—one that started with a simple conversation and became one of the company's most enduring traditions.

Related: 5 Best Produce Items To Buy at Trader Joe's (and 4 To Skip)

Colliderrecently ranked World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War as one of the “Best Post-Apocalyptic Books of All Time.” The novel, which was released by Max Brooks in 2006, was turned into a movie starring Brad Pitt in 2013. It was also adapted into a video game.

The novel, which has a 4.2 rating on Goodreads, includes a series of interviews conducted by a fictional version of the author. When asked about what caused the book to connect with so many readers in an interview with ScifiNow, Brooks said, “Beats me. Maybe it’s that I approach the subject matter with as much realism as I can. Maybe it’s that I try to tackle big, complex stuff and explain in language simple enough for me to understand. Maybe it’s just that zombies are popular.”

Related: 1944 Classic Film Ranked Among the Greatest Crime Movies Was Inspired by a Real Murder Case

Brooks continued, “I think we’re living in very uncertain times. People have a lot of anxiety about the future. They’re constantly being battered with these very scary, very global catastrophes. Just like the 1970s, I think a lot of people think the system is breaking down, and just like the 1970s, people need a ‘safe place’ to explore their apocalyptic worries. They can’t read stories about real plagues or nuclear war. That’s too scary. That’ll make them turn away. Zombie stories give people the opportunity to witness the end of the world they’ve been secretly wondering about, while, at the same time, allowing themselves to sleep at night because the catalyst of that end is fictional. Reading Cormac McCarthy’s The Road will keep you up all night because you’ll be thinking, 'This could really happen!' You won’t have that problem with World War Z.”

The book was a critical and commercial success, becoming a number one New York Times bestseller. The film adaptation was also a massive success, becoming the highest-grossing zombie movie of all time.

Related:1985 Novel Ranked the ‘Heaviest Book of All Time’ Became an American Classic

When asked whether the zombies were a metaphor, the author said, “Not really, because what happens in a zombie plague is pretty much what happens in any real disaster. Pandemics, hurricanes, conventional wars, you name it, the human reaction is the same. For me, the zombies are just the catalyst of looking at how humanity deals with calamity.”

Collider’s list of the “Best Post-Apocalyptic Books of All Time” also included the aforementioned The Road, The Stand, and I Am Legend.

The next generation of creators don't need a million followers or a blue checkmark to get corporate backing. And they don’t have to sell a part of their company to a celebrity billionaire on television to get it, either.

For years, if makers invented a new tool or built a clever piece of furniture in their garage, the path to the big leagues was usually to appear on Shark Tank and ask for cash. But the sharks always demand a massive chunk of the company in return. Entrepreneurs gave up permanent ownership to get boxes onto a retail shelf.

Lowe’s just opened a backdoor to the whole industry and they are skipping the equity problem completely.

The home improvement giant dropped an open casting call for a program called Lowe’s Creator: Into the Blue. If makers have a blueprint or an existing small-business item, you can pitch it directly to their corporate merchants before September 1, 2026. If they like it, they will use their own factories, trucks, and assembly lines to manufacture the item and put it in their stores. They want to sell the product, not a percentage of the business.

The biggest surprise? They do not care about your follower count.

Many corporate talent deals require a large digital footprint. But this program bypasses the usual influencer requirement. Makers can have zero followers and a quiet social media page. If the physical product solves a problem for someone standing in a hardware aisle, you get the same shot as an internet superstar.

The strategy builds on a recent test run with online giant MrBeast, whose collectible toy kits showed the retail chain that buyers want items designed by the actual people using them. Now, they want everyday builders.

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“Creators today are evolving their ideas and audiences into businesses, brands and products,” Jen Wilson, Lowe’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer said in a statement. “Through Lowe’s Creator Network, we’ve helped creators grow through content and curation, and we took it a step further with MrBeast by expanding the collaboration into creation with the launch of new products and workshops. Lowe’s Creator: Into the Blue is the next evolution of that strategy, allowing us to help more creators move into creation and turn their ideas into products and scalable businesses.”

The move is meant to shake up the traditional TV pitch model.

On the broadcast show, an investor cuts a check, but the struggling companies still need to figure out factory negotiations, overseas shipping, and freight logistics on their own. Lowe’s already operates the factories and the 1,700 storefronts. They supply the infrastructure without taking ownership.

The hardware giant is looking for three things: items that need massive retail scaling, raw sketches that need factory sourcing, or clever add-ons that fit into their current tool lines. In all likelihood, the next great invention isn't coming from a corporate design firm. It is sitting on a workbench in someone's backyard right now.

Imagine a family vacation where you wake up each morning in the heart of a different gorgeous European town—no packing and repacking or navigating between cities. You spend your days strolling cobblestone streets and vibrant village squares, cycling through vineyard-covered hillsides and exploring ancient castles, then gather for dinner as you drift to your next destination overnight.

That's the appeal of river cruising through Europe, and families are catching on fast. Long thought of as an adults-only pursuit, river cruise lines now offer more options for multigenerational travel than ever, from adjoining staterooms and accessible excursions to itineraries that pass through some of Europe’s most breathtaking scenery. Whether you're traveling with young kids, aging parents or four generations all at once, there's a river cruise that’s perfect for your family.

We talked to experts to find out which European river cruises are best for every type of family group—and how to make the most of every moment on the water.

Related: We Asked 3 Travel Advisors To Pick the Best First-Time River Cruise

Best for Disney-Loving Families and Exclusive Experiences: Adventures by Disney Adventures by Disney offers exclusive sailings in collaboration with AmaWaterways, a leader in luxury river cruising.

Photo courtesy of Disney

If you're looking for the most family-focused river cruise experience in Europe, Adventures by Disney is tough to beat. Operated in partnership with AmaWaterways, these sailings traverse the Danube, Rhine, Rhône and the waterways of Holland and Belgium, with Disney-trained Adventure Guides hosting curated activities on board and local guides leading immersive excursions on shore. The minimum age for sailing is either 4 or 5 (depending on the itinerary), with a recommended minimum age of 8. It's Disney's unmatched level of service and attention to detail, set against a European backdrop.

“Adventures by Disney sails on AmaWaterways ships, but they charter the entire vessel and create a completely different onboard experience,” said York, Pennsylvania-based travel advisor Kate Newland, owner of Kate's World Travel and the website River Cruise Girl. “They bring Adventure Guides who travel with your family through every excursion, and these guides take photographs and document the whole trip. After you get home, all the photos are yours to download. It’s perfect for families who want every moment captured.”

Related: AmaWaterways Unveils Europe's Largest New River Cruise Ship

Best for Multigenerational Groups: AmaWaterways Children are welcome on most sailings on AmaWaterways, such as this one sailing past the town of Cochem in Germany's Moselle Valley.

Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways is one of the most respected names in European river cruising, known for its premium, activity-rich sailings along the Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Rhône and Portugal's Douro. For families with children ages 4 and up, the practical details matter: many ships offer connecting staterooms, and the AmaMagna ship has connecting suites roomy enough for larger multigenerational groups. Children are welcome on most sailings.

“AmaWaterways does a great job of making sure there are wonderful options for everyone,” Newland said. “For example, if you have a family member who uses a cane or needs to walk at a slower pace, they have the Gentle Walkers tour—but they also have bike rides, food tours, architectural tours and regular walking tours. Family members can do different excursions or choose something everyone can do together.”

Related: Celebrity's Viral River Cruises Are Expanding Across Europe

Best for Families with Younger Children: A-ROSA Cruises The pirate-themed kids club aboard A-ROSA SENA, the family river cruise ship from A-ROSA Cruises.

Photo courtesy of A-ROSA Cruises

If traveling with young children, German cruise line A-ROSA is a wonderful choice for a family vacation. With no formal minimum age on all sailings, the line regularly schedules family sailings during school holidays and summer vacation periods, and its ships often offer supervised kids' activities and family entertainment depending on the departure. Its standout family ship, A-ROSA SENA, features a pirate-themed Kids Club, family staterooms that sleep up to five and a children's pool. The line sails the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Rhône and Douro.

“A-ROSA SENA is perfect for families with younger children because it has a kids’ club and supervised kids activities,” said Rachelle Lucas, publisher of ActiveVoyager.com. “A-ROSA also has a generous ‘kids cruise free’ policy that allows children to sail free of charge in select stateroom categories.”

Best Luxury River Cruise for Families: Riverside Luxury Cruises Riverside Luxury Cruises is known for its stylish, upscale river cruise ship experience.

Photo courtesy of Riverside Luxury Cruises

For multigenerational families who want to travel in serious style,Riverside Luxury Cruisesfeels less like a river cruise and more like a five-star floating hotel. The line operates some of the most spacious ships on Europe's rivers, with oversized suites that are especially appealing for grandparents traveling with grandchildren. Children of all ages are welcome, and private family excursions can also be arranged in many ports.

“Riverside Luxury Cruises offers a very high-end, luxurious experience,” Newland said. “They’re known for their massive suites, and the food is absolutely incredible. The excursions also aren’t automatically included, so it’s a great choice for foodies who want flexibility.”

Best Budget-Friendly Family River Cruise: CroisiEurope CroisiEurope is very popular among European families, known for its high value and inclusive fares.

Photo by Alexandre Sattler, courtesy of CroisiEurope

Proof that a river cruise doesn't have to break the bank, CroisiEuropeis Europe's largest river cruise operator and one of its best-kept secrets for families. The Strasbourg-based, family-owned line offers a wide range of itineraries, frequent discounts for children and family groups and access to smaller waterways. Fares are highly inclusive, covering meals, onboard Wi-Fi and complimentary drinks, and the line is known for its authentic French dining and exceptional value. Children of all ages are welcome on its European itineraries.

“CroisiEurope is a great choice for families who want an authentic European river cruise experience,” said Calgary-based writer and cruise industry consultant Aaron Saunders. “The onboard flair is decidedly French, but crew (and many guests) speak fluent English. It's a nice compromise between a stay on land, immersed in European culture, and a river cruise that offers the comforts of home. Plus, CroisiEurope's affordable price point is seriously hard for families to ignore.”

Best for Grandparent-Grandchildren Trips: Tauck Bridges Tauck Bridges journeys bring multigenerational families closer through shared experiences.

Photo courtesy of Tauck

Tauck'sBridges family travel program was designed for generations traveling together, with one upfront price that covers nearly every expense. With a minimum age of 4 (but recommended for ages 8 and up), its family-focused river cruises pair sightseeing with hands-on experiences designed to keep kids engaged, from scavenger hunts and local performances to workshops that bring European history to life. For grandparents who want to share Europe with their grandchildren without managing complicated logistics, this one delivers.

“The Tauck Bridges program makes trips really, really special for kids,” Newland said. “The programming is amazing for both grandparents and grandchildren. They have tours and activities with exclusive private experiences like dinner at a palace, perfect for families looking to enjoy something incredible together.”

Best for Immersive Family Vacations: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises Uniworld's Generation Collection sailings feature family-focused amenities and activities.

Photo courtesy of Uniworld

Uniworld is known for its high crew-to-guest ratio and all-inclusive luxury, and its Generations Collection sailings bring that same level of care to family travel. These select departures feature kid-friendly excursions and activities designed for younger travelers while maintaining the upscale experience that the line is known for. Itineraries naturally incorporate kid-approved destinations like castles, medieval villages and interactive cultural stops. The minimum age is 4 on the line’s Europe itineraries.

“Uniworld has great offerings for kids. On their Generations Collection sailings, they offer kids’ cooking classes, craft classes and movie nights,” said McKinney, Texas-based travel advisor Erin Johnson, owner of My Live Love Travel agency. “They offer great multigenerational family excursions on most of their sailings, too, from treasure hunt trekking and city scavenger hunts to a full daytrip themed to The Sound of Musicor a cable car climb with stunning views of the Rhine.”

Best for Families who Want a Combined Land-and-River Adventure: Avalon Waterways Avalon Waterways is part of the Globus family of brands, offering seamless options for pairing river cruises and land tours.

Photo courtesy of Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterwaysstands out for two reasons: its spacious Panorama Suites with wall-to-wall windows, and its status within Globus, a Swiss-based tour operator with an extensive network of escorted land tours. With a minimum age of 8 on most European river cruises, families can easily add on pre- or post-cruise land adventures, and choose from a wide range of active excursions during the cruise itself.

“Avalon Waterways has these really hands-on special itineraries called Active & Discovery, where excursions include painting workshops, e-bike tours or kayaking in the canals in Amsterdam,” Newland said. “They also have some really interesting land extensions that you can add on, such as a week-long train adventure through Switzerland followed by a Rhine River cruise.”

Best for Flexible Family Travel: AMADEUS River Cruises AMADEUS River Cruises is known for its authentic, destination-focused itineraries.

Photo copyright: Lueftner Cruises/Amadeus

Austria-based AMADEUS River Cruisesis a smart pick for multigenerational families who prefer to set their own pace. The line sails iconic waterways including the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle and Seine, and its relaxed, destination-focused approach works well for families who'd rather spend a free afternoon exploring a market or a castle on their own than follow a structured program. The minimum age to sail is 8 and there is no child-specific programming, so this one is best for independent-minded families.

“AMADEUS River Cruises provides a luxurious experience at a lower price point, and there’s a lot of flexibility,” Newland said. “Because excursions cost extra, it’s a great choice for families who want the choice to explore cities on their own or go on a tour.”

Best for a Relaxed, Resort-Style Ship Experience: VIVA Cruises VIVA Cruises offers sleek, modern ships and an all-inclusive river cruising experience.

Photo courtesy of Viva Cruises

VIVA Cruises offers a contemporary river cruise experience that works well for families who don't need a packed schedule. The ships feature modern accommodations, flexible dining and a laid-back atmosphere that appeals to travelers of different ages. Children of all ages are welcome, and families can spend their days exploring European cities together and return to a comfortable ship without worrying about rigid schedules or formal dress codes.

“VIVA Cruises is known for its highly flexible dining, with no set dining times or assigned seating,” Lucas said. “Families can choose from multiple onboard restaurants and eat when it works best for them.”

Best for Families with Teens: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours itineraries cater to families with older children and teens.

Photo courtesy of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Families with teens who are interested in history, culture and active exploration will find a lot to love about Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. The line's included excursions often feature immersive experiences, and complimentary e-bikes give families the freedom to explore destinations at their own pace. With a minimum age of 12, there's no dedicated kids' programming, but many teens will appreciate the freedom and flexibility that come with the cruise line’s excursion options.

“The excursions are incredibly interactive,” Newland said. “If you sail on the Seine in France, there is this amazing tour guide named Ben Baillie who dresses up as Rollo the Viking, the raider who founded the Duchy of Normandy in modern-day France. He really brings history to life.”

Best Guided River Cruise for First-Time Visitors to Europe: Trafalgar River Cruises Trafalgar's river cruises are perfect for families new to Europe.

Photo courtesy of Trafalgar

If Europe is new for your family, Trafalgar's river cruises are a great way to get to know the continent. Known for its popular escorted land tours, Trafalgar recently expanded into river cruising with the same emphasis on immersive cultural experiences and locally guided excursions. With a minimum age of 5 for its river cruises, itineraries mix guided sightseeing with free time, allowing families to customize each day based on their interests and energy levels.

“I think Trafalgar is a great opportunity for travelers who are traveling to Europe for the first time because of the brand’s expertise with land tours and how they incorporate that into the river cruise experience,” Johnson said. “They prioritize in-depth cultural connections and unique dining experiences, like the brand’s exclusive Be Our Guest dinners that let travelers dine with locals.”

Related: Trafalgar Just Launched Boutique River Cruises

Tips for Making the Most of a Family River Cruise Adventures by Disney itineraries feature immersive excursions such as canoeing through Strasbourg, the cultural center of France’s Alsace region.

Photo courtesy of Disney

Work with a travel advisor. “Make sure you’re working with a travel advisor who really knows the difference between the different river cruise lines and itineraries to make sure this trip is perfect for your family,” Newland said.

Prep kids for the experience. “There’s something so magical about learning about something and then seeing it in real life. For example, show kids Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and then go on a river cruise along the Seine and visit the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris,” Johnson said.

Consider timing carefully. “European Christmas market sailings book up fast; I tell families to plan those at least two years in advance because the window is so short. If the kids have a Thanksgiving school break, those sailings are often on sale and it’s a wonderful time to go,” Newland said.

Don’t overschedule excursions. “Spacing out big excursions is best. If you’re booking all-day excursions every single day, you’re going to exhaust your family. Try to build in time to go to a café and enjoy hot chocolate and pastries,” Johnson said.

Consider extending your trip. “One of the joys of river cruising is that you’re typically starting in a major European city and ending in another, so I definitely recommend adding a few days on either end and seeing more of Europe,” Newland said.

Pack lighter than you think you need to.
“There are no formal nights on a river cruise, so there’s no need to overpack. Nearly every line also offers laundry service onboard for a fee; Uniworld even offers complimentary self-service laundry on most ships,” Johnson said.

Don't skip the slow moments.
“As Americans, we tend to live life very fast-paced—but there’s something incredible about going somewhere and sitting in a piazza where everything around you could be 1,000 years old. River cruising is about soaking in history and building in time for the slow moments, too,” Johnson said.  

Related: I Got an Early Look Inside Celebrity's Sold-Out River Cruise—Here's Why It's Already the Most Anticipated Launch of 2027

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If you grew up in the ’90s, there’s a good chance you slept on Wamsutta sheets. The iconic American bedding brand was a longtime staple at Bed Bath & Beyond, earning a loyal following for its crisp cotton percale sheets and luxurious bed and bath linens.

After Bed Bath & Beyond’s 2023 bankruptcy, Wamsutta reemerged as a direct-to-consumer brand. Curious whether the quality lived up to my memories, I tested the Wamsutta Supreme Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set. Starting at $290, the set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases, and promises an ultra-smooth, silky-soft sleep experience. Here's how it performed.

What Is the Wamsutta Supreme Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set?

Ashley Zlatopolsky

The Wamsutta Supreme Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set is made from 600-thread-count long-staple Egyptian cotton, a premium material known for its softness, breathability and durability. It also features a sateen weave, a construction technique that creates a silky-smooth feel and lustrous sheen, giving the sheets a more luxurious look and feel than traditional cotton bedding.

Available in full, queen, king and California king sizes, the set features deep-pocket fitted sheets designed to accommodate mattresses up to 20 inches thick. One thoughtful detail I appreciated: the fitted sheet is labeled "Top" and "Bottom," which takes the guesswork out of making the bed.

The Wamsutta Supreme Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set can be machine washed on a normal cycle. The brand recommends tumble drying on low heat and advises against dry cleaning.

My Honest Review of the Wamsutta Supreme Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set

Ashley Zlatopolsky

As a Certified Sleep Science Coach and self-proclaimed picky sleeper, I have high standards when it comes to bedding. I'm also a hot sleeper who tends to toss and turn, so I look for sheets that are soft, breathable and cooling.

The Wamsutta Supreme Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set felt silky-smooth straight out of the package. Even better, it retained that luxurious feel after washing. Many sateen sheets lose some of their signature softness after the first wash, but that wasn't the case here. I also appreciated the fitted sheet's "Top" and "Bottom" labels, which made making the bed much easier.

One feature I wasn't as enthusiastic about was the pillowcase design. I personally prefer envelope closures because they keep pillows neatly tucked inside. These pillowcases have an open-end design, which isn't a deal breaker but leaves some excess fabric at the end that I find less polished.

Ashley Zlatopolsky

Sateen sheets are notoriously polarizing. Some sleepers love their buttery-soft feel, while others prefer the crisp texture of percale. Sateen also gets a bad rap for retaining heat, which initially concerned me as a hot sleeper. Fortunately, these sheets stayed surprisingly cool throughout the night and never felt overly warm against my skin, meaning they regulate temperature well. They struck a nice balance between softness and breathability.

The deep-pocket fitted sheet was another standout feature. There's nothing more frustrating than waking up to find a fitted sheet slipping off the corners of your mattress. On my 13-inch mattress, the sheet stayed securely in place all night. I can easily see it working just as well on taller mattresses or beds topped with thick mattress pads.

Ashley Zlatopolsky

Overall, these sheets delivered the elevated, hotel-like feel I associate with luxury bedding and the classic Wamsutta quality I remember from my teenage years. The lustrous sheen added a refined, sophisticated touch to my bedroom, and I’d be interested in pairing them with a matching duvet cover for a complete set.

While the price might give you pause, I think the comfort, quality and durability make it a worthwhile investment. I’d recommend the Wamsutta Supreme Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set to anyone seeking incredibly soft sheets with a refined look and surprisingly breathable feel.

Related: Aldi's Breathable New 4-Piece Sheet Sets Are Perfect for Hot Summer Nights