HERE
Exhibit celebrates Ethiopian culture
Explore Ethiopia’s vibrant culture and artistic legacy at a new exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) on show through July 7. “Ethiopia at the Crossroads” features more than 200 objects from the past 2,000 years, including carvings, coins, religious icons, illuminated manuscripts, and metalwork. The show, co-organized by PEM, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, and the Toledo Museum of Art, pairs historic art objects with contemporary works. It celebrates the cultural impact of this often-overlooked nation — one of the only countries in Africa to resist colonization — and includes videos highlighting Boston’s Ethiopian diaspora community. See objects related to the Queen of Sheba, a gospel book from the early 14th century, and distinctive baskets and bowls created by women in eastern Ethiopia. Contemporary mixed-media collages by artist Helina Metaferia depict women in elaborate headdresses and contain messages of resistance and change. The exhibit also includes six new photographs by contemporary artist Aïda Muluneh, the first African woman to serve as a commissioned artist for the Nobel Peace Prize and co-curator of the Nobel Peace Prize exhibition. Admission is free for Salem residents and up to age 15, $18 for 65 and older, and $20 for 16 and older. www.pem.org
THERE
Wyoming’s new luxury wilderness retreat
Get ready to explore ranch life at a new property in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains. Guests at Paintock Canyon Ranch can horseback ride, fly fish, and hike on the new 80,000-acre Ranchlands property in northern Wyoming. Here, at the western base of the Bighorn Mountains, you can explore burgundy-colored sandstone hills, monolithic rock formations, high-alpine meadows, pine forests, and lakes. Stay in safari-style tents and enjoy meals prepared by a private chef. A five-night ranch vacation includes horseback riding to the top of Lumen Canyon or Courthouse Rock, fly fishing in local fishing holes, and a chance to learn about the 2,000-year-old Native American petroglyphs at the Medicine Lodge Archaeological Site. A seven-night pack trip includes a stay at the ranch before heading into the backcountry at Bighorn National Forest, where you’ll stay at a simple but comfortable mountain camp — complete with hot showers and meals prepared over a campfire. Prices start at $790 per person per night for ranch vacations and $600 per person per night for pack trips, which includes all meals, lodging, and activities. https://ranchlands.com/pages/explore-the-paintrock-canyon-ranch
EVERYWHERE
This well-crafted pack suits all adventures
Take NEMO’s new Vantage 30L Everyday Adventure Daypack on a weekend getaway near home or as a carry-on bag for more far-flung adventures. This uniquely designed, 30-liter bag has two main compartments: One that’s big enough to hold clothes, camera, and other items and comes with a small, zippered pouch and two sleeves for holding a tablet or laptop, and a duffel-style compartment up front with two zippered mesh pockets and plenty of room for packing cubes and a jacket. It also comes with a clever zippered bottom compartment for stashing a pair of shoes and a hidden security pouch on the back for travel documents or other valuables. The Vantage, made with fully recycled — and recyclable — materials, has an abrasion- and water-resistant exterior, contoured shoulder straps, and a super comfortable, breathable padded back. Two mesh outer sleeves can hold a water bottle and umbrella. $229.99. www.nemoequipment.com
KARI BODNARHUK
Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at travelwriter@karib.us.