This Quebec Resort Is Like a Cruise Ship on Land
This Quebec Resort Is Like a Cruise Ship on Land
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/canada/quebec/experiences/news/quebec-club-med-is-like-a-cruise-ship-on-land
At this all-inclusive Quebec mountain resort, I found everything I loved about cruising—without ever having to rush back to the ship.
After spending eight years working aboard cruise ships, I never expected the place that would remind me most of life at sea would be a mountain resort in Quebec. Club Med Québec Charlevoix surprised me because it captures many of the things I loved about cruising: the ease of an all-inclusive experience, exceptional dining, nightly entertainment, and the chance to meet people from around the world. The difference is that instead of waking up in a new port each morning, you have the opportunity to slow down and truly immerse yourself in one destination.
My days quickly settled into a rhythm. Mornings were spent exploring the mountain by bike or on foot, with sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River around every turn. Afternoons became an opportunity to unwind with a spa visit or yoga class. Evenings ended with lively performances by the Club Med G.Os (Gentle Organizer), creating the same sense of energy and community I remembered from life at sea. But unlike cruising, there was no rush to make it back before “all aboard.” I could simply enjoy the destination at my own pace.
Two experiences stood out above the rest: mountain biking and the spa. Having grown up in the birthplace of modern mountain biking, I couldn’t wait to hit the trails. We took the gondola to the summit before winding our way down through forested singletrack, carving banked turns and navigating rocky terrain. It was equal parts exhilarating and nostalgic. Later, I traded adrenaline for relaxation, unwinding in the dry sauna before soaking in peaceful mountain views overlooking the river.
Looking back, I realized I had experienced exactly what Club Med calls its “Summer Reimagined”, a blend of adventure, wellness, creativity, and connection. Connection, however, was the part that surprised me most. Not just with the destination, but with the people around me. Some of my favorite travel memories have never been about checking landmarks off a list; they’ve come from sharing new experiences with others, lingering over dinners that stretch into late-night conversations, and watching strangers become friends in just a few days.
That’s what makes Club Med Québec Charlevoix such a compelling option for families, couples, or travelers who want the convenience of an all-inclusive vacation without feeling disconnected from the destination itself. For me, instead of viewing Charlevoix from the deck of a ship, I experienced it from mountain trails, quiet spa moments, and conversations shared around the dinner table. And for a few days, I didn’t just visit Charlevoix; I felt like I was part of it.
The All-Coach Airline Is Officially An Endangered Species
Courtesy of JetBlue Airline
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/the-end-of-the-all-coach-airline-is-near
JetBlue is adding domestic first class, leaving Southwest and Sun Country as the last major U.S. all-coach airlines. Here’s what’s changing.
JetBlue, the airline that famously launched as an all-economy airline in 2000, will introduce a domestic first class cabin, which will be available for booking in the coming months. JetBlue had previously introduced a long-haul business class product, Mint, which will continue to be available on transcontinental and long-haul international flights.
“Domestic first class has become easy to predict. We think it’s time for a fresh take,” said Joanna Geraghty, chief executive officer, JetBlue, in a statement provided to Fodor’s. “Customers are increasingly looking for more premium experiences, and BlueFirst gives them an elevated experience that feels distinctly JetBlue, with thoughtful touches, caring service and great value. It’s another way we’re bringing our JetForward strategy to life and giving customers more reasons to choose JetBlue.”
The new BlueFirst will offer custom seats from Tuft & Needle, larger entertainment screens with Bluetooth connection and the ability to order meals and cocktails, free internet, and meals in a “bento-inspired” box. On shorter flights, BlueFirst passengers will be offered a selection of premium snacks and free alcoholic drinks.
That’s a remarkable about-face for an airline that was launched as an all-coach concept. In fact, all-coach airlines are fast becoming a thing of the past. Spirit Airlines was in the process of introducing a first-class cabin before it shut down earlier this year. Frontier Airlines has announced its intention to install first class, without a firm timeline, and Allegiant has also said it will add first class seats to its aircraft. Even Southwest Airlines, which built its brand on egalitarian discount service, has teased the idea.
As technology has allowed airlines to offer their passengers more and more different products to suit their individual needs, and given them the tools to merchandise them online, aircraft cabins have become increasingly stratified. United Airlines, as an example, offers no less than seven distinct seat types (not all on the same aircraft): Polaris Studio, a sort of amped-up row in United Polaris with additional luxury amenities, United Polaris, its long haul business class, United Premium Plus, its long-haul premium economy, United First, the domestic first class cabin, United Relax Row, a row of United Economy seats passengers can purchase as a bed, the extra legroom (but Economy service) of Economy Plus, a dedicated row of Economy Plus on some aircraft with a blocked middle seat, and finally, United Economy.
JetBlue’s move leaves Southwest and Sun Country as the only remaining all-coach major airlines in the United States (both airlines sell extra-legroom economy seats for an additional fee).
Allegiant announced in July it will add first-class seating to “select aircraft” in early 2027, and began offering a complimentary beverage service to all passengers last month. Allegiant had previously charged for onboard beverages.
The moves come as airlines seek to increase onboard revenue by offering more premium products. Many airlines noted a shift in consumer preferences after the pandemic, seeing a boom in sales of first class and other premium cabin products while demand for standard coach seats lagged. Airlines that already had premium seating installed turned in better results during this period because of the increased interest in their products, while the all-coach discounters began to struggle as more price-sensitive travelers opted to stay home, and the premium-interested travelers chose airlines that offered products they wanted.
JetBlue will announce initial routes and fares for BlueFirst later this year. The airline also recently opened its second BlueHouse lounge, in Boston, which offers access to the airline’s top frequent fliers, credit card holders, and passengers traveling in Mint.
The Top 10 Most Toxic Beaches in America Are Deceptively Pretty and Popular
Jon Bilous/Getty
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/experiences/news/photos/10-most-polluted-beaches-in-america-to-avoid
These beloved beaches are hiding something.
They’re some of the prettiest beaches in the U.S.: A tucked-away expanse of white sand on the shores of a quintessential California beach town. A lush Florida park where you can spot manatees and dolphins. A famous Kaua’i filming site perched on a turquoise bay.
But beauty isn’t the only thing these beaches have in common; there’s something else lurking beneath the surface of their inviting waves. According to a report by environmental nonprofit Surfrider Foundation, they’re among the top ten beaches in the U.S. with the most consistently polluted water.
And it’s not just any pollution: Levels of fecal indicator bacteria (yes, it’s what it sounds like) are so dangerously high at these locations that they can make you sick with everything from vomiting and diarrhea to a staph infection or MRSA.
It’s not all bad news, though. If you’re planning on heading to one of these beaches for Labor Day weekend, knowing exactly when to go and where to lay your towel can quite literally save you from a world of…well, you know.
PHOTO: SUNDRY PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES
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Linda Mar Beach
WHERE: Pacifica, California
Linda Mar Beach has long been famous as the site of the “most scenic Taco Bell in the world.” Located directly on the sand, steps from the waves, this outpost of the fast food chain is a favorite with tourists who saw the viral TikTok videos or read the articles and were consumed by the need to drink a Baja Blast margarita while watching the waves roll in.
No shade to the newcomers, though—the place is popular with locals, too, who have been grabbing their post-surf burritos here since 1972, the same year California voters passed a proposition to protect their coastline from excessive development. The restaurant (then an A&W) was grandfathered in and has persevered despite threats from rising tides that creep underneath it and onto the parking lot during heavy storms.
Linda Mar has much to offer beyond its viral Taco Bell, however. So much, in fact, that it attracts over a million visitors a year.
Flanked by rugged Northern California cliffs and curving for almost a mile along a gentle surf break, Linda Mar is one of the top beginner surf spots in the Bay Area. It’s even the venue for the adorable World Dog Surfing Championships. At Linda Mar, you’ll see surf camps in full swing, kids playing in the creek that empties into the ocean, and families everywhere enjoying a beach day.
But there’s something else you can’t see. For 12 years, toxic bacteria levels in the water have been so high that they exceed the human health threshold many times over. Last year, volunteers with Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force found that water samples taken at the mouth of San Pedro Creek exceeded the state health standard 72% of the time, averaging about 30 to 40 times above the safety threshold.
While the source of the pollution remained a mystery for years, recent studies have pinpointed it as human waste, likely leaking from old sewage pipes made of wood pulp and tar. The City of Pacifica has replaced some of its sewer mains and offered $2,000 to homeowners who replace their failing sewage laterals; nonetheless, the problem persists. Surfrider has joined with a coalition of nonprofits to advocate for an effective solution.
In the meantime, there are ways to enjoy this popular beach without endangering your health. As the data from the Surfrider report demonstrates, the contaminated water samples were taken where the San Pedro Creek drains into the ocean, carrying with it leaking sewage and polluted stormwater runoff. Avoiding the area near the creek and sticking to the beach north of the Taco Bell is a safer bet. In fact, experts say you should generally avoid the water anywhere a creek meets the ocean, as these areas tend to have higher bacteria counts.
And as any surfer will tell you, staying away from the water after heavy rains is always a good idea—72 hours is ideal. If all else fails, be sure to rinse off with clean, fresh water after getting out of the ocean.
PHOTO: ALAN-LEW-CC-BY-NC-SA-2
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Avila Beach
WHERE: Avila Beach, California
It has all the elements of an ideal beach—Rainbow-colored umbrellas dot the sand. Waves lap at the posts of a historic wooden pier. Vacationers stroll along the coastal promenade. Everyone gets down to live music during the Friday farmers market.
Despite its hidden-away location, Avila Beach is popular with tourists, locals, and students at nearby Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. It’s especially beloved by families with young kids, who play in the shallow waters of the estuary at the north end of the beach.
But it’s precisely at that spot, where the San Luis Creek flows into the Pacific, that 47% of water samples taken over the course of 2025 showed fecal contamination exceeding safety standards. In fact, Surfrider has found consistently high bacteria levels here for over a decade. The creek, which passes through downtown San Luis Obispo and agricultural areas, can collect everything from fertilizer and animal waste to runoff from leaking septic systems on its journey to the sea.
There’s no need to cancel your Avila Beach trip, however. While the creek and the ocean area where it lets out have high bacteria levels, this doesn’t mean the whole beach does. Avila’s location on a sheltered cove offers plenty of other safe spots to enjoy the ocean.
PHOTO: ALFRED HERMIDA [CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] FLICKR
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Moloa’a Beach
WHERE: Kaua’i, Hawaii
Moloa’a Beach so resembles the kind of tropical paradise where you’d want to get shipwrecked that it formed the backdrop for the classic 1960s TV series Gilligan’s Island. The show, which follows the adventures of a group of island castaways, exploded in popularity with after-school reruns in the ‘70s and ‘80s, cementing it as a bona fide piece of Americana.
Today, visitors say not much appears to have changed since the pilot episode. Moloa’a is still a picturesque beach on a remote turquoise bay, known for snorkeling, sunrises, and occasional humpback whale sightings.
But its serene beauty hides an ugly secret: 100% of the water samples collected here in 2025 showed fecal contamination exceeding safety standards. Like Linda Mar and Avila, Moloa’a Beach lies at the mouth of a creek where stormwater runoff drains pollution into the ocean. It also has a much bigger problem: cesspools.
The Hawaiian Islands have 88,000 cesspools—underground pits that store untreated sewage and wastewater, allowing pollution to seep into the groundwater and make its way to the ocean. It’s the highest number of cesspools per capita in the U.S.; collectively, they release approximately 50 million gallons of wastewater every day.
To make matters worse, climate change is causing Hawaii’s water table to rise along with its sea level, resulting in even more leakage of sewage-contaminated water. While the State has mandated elimination of cesspools by 2050, conversion costs are prohibitively high for many residents of rural Hawaii.
Besides endangering beachgoers, water contaminated by sewage harms coral reefs and coastal ecosystems. This can also mean a decrease in tourism to beaches with dying reefs and few remaining fish.
PHOTO: LEONARD J. DEFRANCISCI [CC BY-SA 3.0] VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
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Ballard Park
WHERE: Melbourne, Florida
Lush Ballard Park draws everyone from paddleboarders to boaters to its idyllic location at the confluence of the Eau Gallie River and the Indian River Lagoon. The lagoon has long been home to an abundance of wildlife, including dolphins, manatees, osprey, and egrets.
But if you do go paddleboarding here, try not to fall off: 76% of water samples tested toxic and unsafe for recreation.
Don’t expect to see a manatee, either. Water quality in the Indian River Lagoon has been declining for years, with devastating consequences for Florida’s official marine mammal. Stormwater runoff and leaking septic tanks dump large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus into the lagoon, triggering toxic algae blooms in a process called eutrophication. These massive blooms block sunlight and kill off seagrass—the manatees’ favorite food. The polluted waters in the lagoon have contributed to the deaths of thousands of manatees from starvation.
Surfrider is working to save the local ecosystem by building buffer gardens at Ballard Park to slow runoff into the lagoon, but the problem will persist until it’s addressed at its source. In 2025, a federal court ruled that Florida needs to do more to prevent wastewater pollution in the lagoon and protect the manatees. The State has appealed the ruling.
PHOTO: CHIARA SALVADORI/GETTYIMAGES
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Punalu’u Beach Park
WHERE: Oahu, Hawaii
Lined with palm and ironwood trees and with views of the dramatic Ko’olau Mountains, Punalu’u Beach Park is an oasis on Oahu’s windward side. It’s a popular beach for fishing and spotting endangered honu, or Hawaiian green sea turtles.
Yet social media drone videos apparently meant to show the area’s beauty reveal something else instead: a striking contrast between the sparkling, turquoise waters on either side of the park and the dirty, brown water pouring into the ocean at the mouth of the Punalu’u stream.
Surfrider data confirms that this isn’t just mud or a one-time weather event. All of the water samples collected here tested above the limits for toxic enterococcus bacteria—giving Punalu’u the dubious distinction (along with Moloa’a) of being the most toxic beach in America.
This isn’t surprising in light of the high concentration of cesspools in Punalu’u, which, due to its remoteness, is not hooked up to the central sewage system. But considering that the ocean here is a source of seafood for the local community and a habitat for endangered marine life, it is alarming.
PHOTO: MDV EDWARDS/GETTYIMAGES
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Margaret Pace Park
WHERE: Miami, Florida
Margaret Pace Park is a miniature green jungle on the edge of urban Miami where you can picnic, play a game of volleyball, or rent a paddleboard to tour the Biscayne Bay. The Bay, which some call Miami’s “blue heart,” is a habitat for over a dozen endangered and threatened species, including manatees, sea turtles, and American crocodiles. It’s the location of Biscayne National Park, a center of tourism in the area.
Despite the Bay’s economic and environmental significance, Surfrider found that 62% of water samples collected here contained dangerous levels of toxic bacteria.
Miami-Dade County has come under fire from federal and state regulators for years for its aging sewage system, which leaks millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Biscayne Bay. Climate change is making the problem worse, with more frequent extreme storms and groundwater rise causing more sewage spills and overflows.
Under a federally mandated consent decree, Miami-Dade is slowly replacing its sewage infrastructure. State legislation also requires it to build deep injection wells as an alternative to pumping treated wastewater miles offshore into the Atlantic Ocean.
PHOTO: GMC3101/GETTYIMAGES
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Thea Foss Waterway
WHERE: Tacoma, Washington
The Thea Foss Waterway runs along the edge of downtown Tacoma, opening onto the Puget Sound. While not abundant with natural beauty like some of its counterparts, it’s a popular spot for kayakers, paddleboarders, and the occasional seal or sea lion. An esplanade along the waterfront leads to attractions like famed Tacoma artist Dale Chihuly’s Bridge of Glass and the Museum of Glass.
Surfrider volunteers who took samples at the Thea Foss floating dock, where kayakers commonly launch, found that the water quality exceeded human safety standards 29% of the time. It isn’t hard to spot the culprit: two large storm drains that continuously empty into the waterway.
Along with failing sewage systems, stormwater runoff is one of the primary sources of ocean pollution. Runoff contains urban and agricultural pollutants like gasoline, pesticides, and fertilizers. One effective way to combat this problem is to replace chemical-laden lawns or artificial turf with native gardens that soak up and naturally filter runoff, an approach that Surfrider supports through its Ocean Friendly Gardens program.
PHOTO: BILLY MCDONALD/GETTYIMAGES
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Hakipu’u Boat Ramp
WHERE: Oahu, Hawaii
Down Oahu’s eastern shore from Punalu’u Beach Park, the Hakipu’u Boat Ramp is a popular entry point for snorkeling, boating, and fishing in beautiful Kāne’ohe Bay—the largest sheltered body of water in the islands and the site of Hawaii’s only barrier reef.
But the boat ramp is located near a large stream mouth that dumps polluted water into the Bay; 82% of the samples collected here failed to meet health standards. As with all toxic bacteria hotspots in Hawaii, Hakipu’u is also in an area that relies heavily on cesspools.
The safest way to enjoy Kāne’ohe Bay is to avoid the Hakipu’u Boat Ramp entirely. The closest alternative entry point is the beach at Kualoa Regional Park or the He’eia Kea Boat Harbor.
And when heading to the beach in Hawaii or anywhere else, it’s always a good idea to check closure notifications first.
PHOTO: DSTANA [CC BY-SA 4.0] VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
9 OF 10
Imperial Beach
WHERE: Imperial Beach, California
From Imperial Beach’s 1,500-foot wooden pier, you can see Mexico, downtown San Diego, and the Coronado Islands.
Everything’s on a grand scale here: The beach itself is 3 ½ miles long—the perfect place for the city’s popular Sun & Sea Festival, featuring San Diego’s largest sand castle competition.
The waves at legendary surf break Tijuana Sloughs are some of the biggest in California. Surfers first began flocking to the area in the 1940s to try their hand at what were then the largest waves in the continental U.S.
And unfortunately, the waters are some of the most polluted in the country. The water quality is so bad that officials closed Imperial Beach almost every day of the year in 2025 (325 days total), leading Surfrider to give this beach an 89% toxicity rating.
Millions of gallons of untreated sewage pour into the ocean here from the Tijuana River, the result of failing and overwhelmed sewage systems. The wastewater plume is even visible from space. Old-school surfers who still brave the waves say it’s almost impossible to do without getting sick; kids who used to attend surf camps in their own community have to take a 40-minute bus ride to a safer beach.
The polluted waters are affecting air quality, too, releasing hydrogen sulfide—sometimes called “sewer gas”—at 4,500 times normal levels. Residents have been suffering from health issues for years, including headaches, asthma, and brain fog. Schools here implement indoor “rainy day schedules” not for rainy days, but for excessive hydrogen sulfide levels.
Surfrider and other organizations helped to secure government funding for sewage infrastructure improvements, and wastewater treatment plants on both sides of the border are currently upgrading their facilities to the tune of $800 million. In the meantime, advocates seek more immediate fixes to this entrenched environmental issue.
PHOTO: KEVIN FLEMING/GETTYIMAGES
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Park View Kayak Launch
WHERE: Miami Beach, Florida
Not long ago, the waters off of Park View Island in Miami Beach were clear and seemingly clean. People swam and kayaked in the canal, and residents frequently spotted pufferfish and dolphins right off their docks.
Now, the fish keep dying, and the water is murky. Surfrider found that 92% of water samples here exceeded safety limits. Like Margaret Pace Park, Park View Island Canal is located on Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County, which has been plagued by sewage system problems for decades. In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) concluded that the pollution was essentially suffocating the Bay through eutrophication, leading to a massive die-off of 27,000 fish in 2020.
As dire as the situation is at Biscayne Bay and the other locations on this list, the Surfrider report also found that the waters at most U.S. beaches are safe. 66% of the locations tested had low bacteria levels, and 11% had medium levels still considered safe by state standards. With federal funding for water quality management and public notification programs at risk, one way to take action for safer beaches is to contact your senator.
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