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  Travel

  The Most Scenic Road Trips in the United States

  The US is a country with everything from rugged coastlines and towering mountains to vast deserts and lush forests. For the travelloversin all of us, there's no way to experience the natural beauty of this great country than jumping in your car and taking to the open highway.Here are some of the most scenic drives that will provide memorable views and excursions.1.California State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway)Perhaps this is the world’s most famous road trip. The Pacific Coast Highway runs along the California coast. Starting in Dana Point and finishing in Leggett, it’s a gorgeous ride featuring the Pacific Ocean, dramatic cliffs and lovely seaside towns like Monterey and Santa Barbara.The scenic views include Bixby Creek Bridge in Big Sur, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and the Malibu beaches. With sunsets over the ocean or whales spotted from the roadside, this drive is a sensory feast.2.Blue Ridge Parkway (From Virginia to North Carolina)This road is regarded as “the favorite drive in America”. It winds its way through Appalachian Mountains, connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Carolina with the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. This 469-mile trip is the quintessential rolling hills, bright autumn leaf color and inviting mountain vistas. Along the way, you’ll traverse hiking trails and scenic overlooks, including the truly breathtaking LinnCove Viaduct, where you can admire the area views. The parkway’s slower speed invites visitors to detour and take in nature’s beauty.3.Route 66 (from Illinois to California)Though not necessarily the most picturesque route, Route 66 is an iconic slice of American history and culture. Passing through small towns, deserts and the Cadillac Ranch in Texas and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, this historic highway stretches between Chicago and Santa Monica. Although a lot of original roadways have been replaced by the modern freeways, these roads still offer you the chance to drive across the center of America. Along the neon lights, roadside views and stops, you can start a nostalgic travel.4.Going-to-the-Sun Road (Glacier National Park,Mont.)This road, which is 50 miles long, is considered to be an industry miracle, and it is one of the most beautiful roads in Rocky Mountains. It winds across the Glacier National park, you can see Logan Pass and the Weeping Wall. But the pity is that the road is only open seasonally, generally between late June through October (depending on weather), so plan accordingly to see this breathtaking drive.5.Peninsular Corridor Highway (Florida Keys)The 113 miles of road known as the Overseas Highway, which links mainland Florida to popular vacation destination Key West, while always zips over the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. That route correct 42 bridges, including the famous Seven Mile Bridge, and offers stunning views of both ocean — seawater never freezes — and the Keys’ tropical foliage. On the way, you can pull over to snorkel or fish, or to feast on fresh seafood at waterside restaurants. It concludes at Key West, a lively island town famous for its sunsets and relaxed vibe.6.Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 (Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef)Utah’s Scenic Byway 12 is a drive that desert landscape lovers will not want to miss. This 124-mile drive runs through some of the state’s most breathtaking national parks and monuments, including Bryce Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Capitol Reef. The drive includes red rock formations, soaring cliffs and wide-angle views that feel almost otherworldly. The Hogback, a narrow ridge with steep drop-offs on each side, also delivers thrilling views of the surrounding canyons.All over the United States, scenic drives offer different lenses through which to appreciate this country’s changing landscapes. Whether you’re cruising the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, driving mountain passes or visiting desert wonders, these road trips promise unforgettable memories and spectacular sights. So get your bags, get in the car, and make the journey just as memorable as where you end up.
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  Health & Wellness

  Treatment Options for External Hemorrhoids

  Hemorrhoids, while fairly common and usually treatable with a number of options that vary in severity, can be both highly annoying aswell as painful that the likes of using a cream can seem too little to go beyond when suffering from the condition. These swollen blood vessels around the anus can cause itching, discomfort, and bleeding; however, the right approach can reduce symptoms and help manage the condition. The treatment usually ranges from lifestyle changes and home remedies to medical surgery, depending on how serious the symptoms.1.Home and Lifestyle Remedies for SymptomsWe cantreat this condition first with lifestyle changes and home remedies. These steps are usually enough to relieve mild to moderate symptoms. Dietary fiber is one of the most effective management strategies for hemorrhoids. High-fiber diet dissolves the stool and help makes it drier to come out, you do not give so much strain in the bowel and that is one of the key reasons for the flare-ups of the hemorrhoids. It is best to incorporate more high-fiber foodssuch as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes into your daily meals. Consuming lots of water can also help ease bowel and soften stool and prevent constipation as well as help with regular digestion.2.Over-the-counter TreatmentsPeople can also useOTC options for external hemorrhoids. Topical creams, ointments and suppositories that include active ingredients like hydrocortisone or witch hazel can decrease itching and dial down inflammation.Instead, these widely available products can be used as directed to relieve discomfort. However, prolonged use of such medications can cause skin thinning and other side effects.3.Sitz BathsSitz baths — sitting in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day — can also help. Soaking a sore toe in warm water provides some relief of the affected area and reduces swelling while promoting healing. Self-administered and inexpensive, this treatment can be done at home and is particularly beneficial after a bowel movement.4.Medical TreatmentsWhere lifestyle changes and home remedies do not provideenough relief, medical treatment may be needed. More chronic or severe cases of external hemorrhoids may be treated in the office by a healthcare provider. One of the more standard procedures is rubber band ligation, in which a small rubber band is slipped over the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off blood supply so that it shrinks and falls off. This is usually reserved for internal hemorrhoids, but in some external cases, it may be appropriate, as well.5.SclerotherapySclerotherapyis also an effective treatment, which means injecting a chemical solution to make the hemorrhoid shrink. This is a more conservative approach, and it may apply to small hemorrhoids. For larger or troublesome external hemorrhoids, I may recommend a hemorrhoidectomy, surgery to remove the hemorrhoid.This option is more invasive than the others, however it is often the most effective option for more serious cases and gives long-term relief.6.Laser TherapyMore recently, minimally invasive procedures — laser therapy or infrared coagulation — have gained in popularity. These procedures use heat or light to shrink the hemorrhoid tissue and carry less pain and faster recovery than traditional surgery. But theyaren't for everyone, and a health care provider can help decide the best action to take given particular circumstances.7.PreventionPreventing externalhemorrhoidsinvolves frequentexercise, a high-fiber diet, and adequate hydration lowers the risk of first onset of hemorrhoids or flare-ups. It’s also important to avoid sitting for too long or straining while going to the bathroom.So, external hemorrhoids can be cured with a healthy lifestyle, home remedies, and medications. Mild cases can generally be managed through dietary changes or over-the-counter treatments; more advanced cases may need professional medical interventions. It’s crucial to identify the right treatment plan and to manage symptoms appropriately, so it’s important to see a health care provider. Yes, you can lead a life free of external hemorrhoids and this is how you can do it by gaining important knowledge and putting in the necessary care.
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  Home & Garden

  Designing the Perfect Kitchen: A Guide to Optimal Layout and Functionality

  Many just as often describe the kitchen as the heart of the home, a place where meals are cooked, conversations exchanged, and memories arecreated. But designing a gorgeous, hardworking kitchen can be a challenge. A good layout will make cooking easier and safer and thus more fun. Whether we're remodeling a kitchen in a home that already exists or designing one for a new dwelling from scratch, there are many elements that must be taken into account to make sure the room works for us.