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Even though decades have passed, I still remember my first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. I’d waited years to see this natural wonder—now the country’s third most visited national park, and I was bowled over by its scale and beauty. It was 100 percent worth the wait, and proof that there’s nothing like the thrill of finally, finally getting to see a bucket-list attraction or destination. But were I to visit today, I’d probably have to wait a little longer—up to two hours to get through the entrance gate alone. According to a recent study of TripAdvisor users, many of America’s national parks and monuments, museums, amusement parks and major landmarks experience exceptionally long wait times. They may not be enough to ruin a vacation, but hours spent waiting in line instead of enjoying the destination can certainly put a damper on things, especially if you have young kids or an elderly aunt in tow. To help you plan accordingly, we’ve taken a look at the attractions with the longest wait...

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (and arguably the most delicious), but sometimes it can be the hardest to squeeze into your busy schedule. That’s just one of the reasons we’re so incredibly grateful for our favorite-fast food breakfasts. From Egg McMuffins to Croissant’wiches to breakfast burritos, they come in clutch when you’re in a rush—and even when you’re not. Of course, there’s a lot of competition for the title of “the best fast-food breakfast spot,” but only one restaurant can truly reign supreme. Lucky for us, we don’t have to do any of the legwork and can instead simply reap the rewards. That’s because USA Toda y’s 10BEST Awards just crowned a champ … and the winner might surprise you. Keep reading to find out which restaurant chain earned the top spot in this best-breakfast showdown—and which other fast-food chains were hot on its heels. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more food news, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts ...

You’ve got something to say. No, it’s more than that—you’re fired up, ready to make your case about the brilliance of the show you just binge-watched or the ridiculousness of those 4 p.m. Friday Zoom calls. You gather your thoughts, find the perfect words and lay out your argument with conviction. You hit your final point and look around, expecting to see at least a raised eyebrow. But instead? Total, enthusiastic, immediate agreement. Heads nod. Someone says, “Exactly.” Another adds, “I’ve been saying that for years.” And suddenly, you realize: You’re not changing minds. You’re preaching to the choir. Which, let’s be honest, feels great­—but maybe a little pointless. But where does the expression preaching to the choir come from? And why has it stuck around so long? To find out, I turned to Grant Barrett, a linguist, lexicographer and co-host of A Way with Words , a national radio show about language. Read on to unpack preaching to the choir ’s   meaning and to sing the prai...

Finding the best place to retire is an important life decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are so many aspects to consider, from weather to affordability to safety. A new survey by Bankrate has revealed the best and worst states to retire, ranking all 50 based on key factors that matter most to retirees. Whether you’re dreaming of sunny beaches or peaceful mountain towns, this list helps pinpoint the states that offer the most—and least— retirement-friendly conditions . Read on to learn which state earned the top retirement spot for 2025 and see if it sounds like the place you’d like to spend your golden years. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more news, wellness, travel, tech, humor and fun facts all week long. How was the study conducted? Bankrate compared all 50 states across the following eight categories: affordability, weather, safety, health care, taxes, arts and entertainment, people of a similar age and miscellaneous/other. Each ca...

We all hate them. They show up uninvited, lurking just below the surface, ready to ruin your morning commute, destroy your suspension or launch your coffee into your lap. Yep, I’m talking about potholes—those nasty, tire-munching craters that turn everyday roads into off-roading adventures. But have you ever actually wondered why they’re called potholes ? It’s such a weirdly specific word. Are pots involved? Was there a hole-to-pot ratio requirement? The name sounds like it should have something to do with cooking. Spoiler: It kinda does, but not in the way you might think. To get the whole story on these nasty holes in the road, I reached out to Laurel Brinton, PhD, professor emerita at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Let’s dig in (pun intended) to find the answer. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more fun facts, grammar, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long. Which popular pothole origin story isn’t actually true? The...

Family resemblances can be crazy sometimes, and if you need proof, just check out the current crop of royal kids. That’s all we could think about when Prince George celebrated his 12th birthday on July 22. His parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, continued their tradition of posting portraits of their kids on social media on their big days, and let’s just say it’s clear the young prince wasn’t switched at birth. He’s definitely a full-blooded member of the house of Windsor, and in fact, everyone’s saying the same thing: He’s the spitting image of a certain royal family member. And he’s not the only one. Charlotte, Louis and their royal cousins also look like little royal doppelgängers! So who does each royal kid look like? Read on to find out—and have an adorable case of déjà vu. Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more royals, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. Who does Prince George look like? Prince George looks like a carb...

I was 14 when I met a firecracker of a soul, a bombastic professor of life with colossal charisma who stood all of 4-foot-10. Mrs. Korthaus was the beloved English teacher at our rural Pennsylvania Catholic high school. She hadn’t married until she was almost 40, and hadn’t become a teacher until her husband’s job brought them to our industrial town, where there weren’t many careers for women. In the 1990s, we subtly noticed that her years in corporate life, being financially independent, had given her a sense of fearlessness that she transmitted to us. She gave me an unjudged ground to tumble through young mistakes and learn, by trial and error, who I wanted to become— who I could become . Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter for more real stories, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long. Teacher and student, back in the late ’90s … The kind of woman I want to be As much as she taught me about literary works and journalism, knowledge I would...