President Trump hosted 18 championship teams at the White House on Sunday, posing for photos, shaking hands, cracking jokes, and congratulating the student-athletes on their success.

With teams representing rowing, equestrian, skiing, and most everything in between, Trump made the rounds while showing the young champions around the White House.

Below we've gathered some of the best photos from the day.

Meeting with the Penn State Men's Wrestling team, Trump struck a pose ready to grapple. The Nittany Lions beat Ohio State back in March to take home their title.

Trump examined a softball glove from the University of Oklahoma, who beat the Florida Gators to win their NCAA championship in June.

He also posed with the University of Florida baseball team in the East Room of the White House, alongside Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

• Millennials prefer spending money on experiences rather than things.
• Research says this approach makes people happier. 
• We put together a list of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on travel and other experiential gifts.

Millennials prefer spending money on experiences rather than things — especially when those experiences can be Instagrammed.

And it turns out there's actually a ton of research supporting the idea that spending money on experiences can make people happier than spending money on material items.

When it comes to something like a concert, movie, or weekend trip, you feel excitement anticipating it, make memories during it, and can reflect on it afterwards. And since experiences are social, you can make connections with others, as well.

Since it's what millennials say they want — and what experts say is best for your happiness — we put together a list of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on travel and other experiential gifts.

SEE ALSO: 27 cities around the world where expats are happy, rents are affordable, and jobs are plentiful

That adventurous trip you've been dreaming about for months.

If you've been wanting to take an adventurous trip to Costa Rica, Nepal, or Thailand, there are plenty of exciting package deals available at Intrepid Travel.

From November 20 to 30, Intrepid Travel is offering 15% off all tours departing from February 1 to September 30, 2018. They have over 1,000 small group tours available across six continents.

Check out the group tours and destinations here.

A private island vacation.

A vacation on a private island might sound like something out of a movie, but turns out you can actually book a trip for your own little getaway.

On Cyber Monday, the Turneffe Island Resort — a 14-acre island off the coast of Belize City, Belize — is offering 25% off the total reservation for a stay in summer or fall 2018.

Check out the deal here.

A hotel room for your next trip — or glamorous staycation.

Black Friday hotel deals tend to be for high-end properties, so it's probably worth checking out swanky four- and five-star locations, according to Deal News.

From November 24 to 27, you can book a bunk room in the San Francisco Proper Hotel for more than 50% off for stays from November 27, 2017 through January 31, 2018.

And if you're off to Boston, you can get rooms for just $100 per night at Hotel Commonwealth. But be warned: this deal lasts for just 100 minutes starting at 10 a.m. on Cyber Monday.

Check sites like Expedia.com and Hotels.com, or sites of major hotel chains like the Hyatt on Black Friday.

• One of the largest pyramids in the world is a Bass Pro Shops megastore in Memphis, Tennessee. 
• The pyramid also hosts a hotel, indoor swamp, and bowling alley. 
• However, for roughly a decade, the pyramid was empty — and some believed it was cursed due to a crystal skull installed by the owner of the Rainforest Café. 

The pyramid has long captured the human imagination, with people traveling far and wide to view the architectural wonders that spring up from the sands of Egypt. 

But to see one of the biggest pyramids on the planet, Americans don't need to leave the country — they can just travel to Tennessee and visit a Bass Pro Shops. 

In 2015, Memphis' 321-foot-tall "Great American Pyramid" reopened as a Bass Pro Shop megastore after being abandoned for roughly a decade. The 32-floor pyramid contains a hotel, an indoor swamp, and a bowling alley. 

The road to opening a Bass Pro Shop in an enormous pyramid has been a rocky one. Here's the story behind how a hunting and fishing gear store opened up shop in one of the largest pyramids in the world. 

SEE ALSO: A European company you've never heard of has quietly acquired Panera, Au Bon Pain, and Krispy Kreme in its quest to build a coffee empire

Memphis, Tennessee has a sound historical reason to want to build a pyramid. The city was named after Memphis, a city in Egypt, when it was founded in 1819.

Source: Memphis Magazine

Memphis' "Great American Pyramid" opened its doors in 1991, after two years and $68 million spent constructing the building.

Source: The New York Times

At 321 feet, the building is a bit smaller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was originally 481 feet tall. It's still pretty massive, typically ranking in the top 10 tallest pyramids in the world (exact ranking varies based on how pyramids' sizes are measured).

How much do critics matter?

For many TV shows, it seems like not that much. In fact, some of the most critically panned TV shows on the air are the most loved by audiences, and have big ratings.

We already collected a list of some new fall TV shows from 2017 that critics hate (but normal people love), and noticed huge differences in other popular shows as well. So we collected a longer list of current TV shows critics don't like, but everyone else loves enough to tune in every week — or to binge-watch on Netflix.

We used critic and audience scores from Rotten Tomatoes to judge, and some the differences are staggering.

Here are popular TV shows that critics hate, but audiences love:

SEE ALSO: 6 new fall TV shows that critics hate, but normal people love

21. "MacGyver"— CBS

Critic rating: 26%

Audience rating: 54%

Difference: 28%

Description: A resourceful former special forces operative is recruited into a clandestine organization.

20. "Bull"— CBS

Critic rating: 24%

Audience rating: 68%

Difference: 44%

Description: A renowned psychologist heads a prolific trial consulting service in this drama series based on the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw.

19. "S.W.A.T."— CBS

Critic rating: 45%

Audience rating: 68%

Difference: 23%

Description: A S.W.A.T. leader is torn between loyalty to the streets and duty to his fellow officers.

By 2050, the world's population is expected to swell to 9.6 billion, with around 66% living in urban areas. This projection is leaving many cities wondering how they will feed all those people.

A Swedish food-tech company called Plantagon is proposing that cities consider building what it calls "plantscrapers"— office towers that contain giant indoor farms. Plantagon is constructing its first plantscraper in Linköping, Sweden.

Called The World Food Building, the tower will operate hydroponically, meaning vegetables (mostly greens) will grow without soil in a nutrient-rich, water-based solution. The farm will largely be automated, Plantagon CEO Hans Hassle told Business Insider.

Construction of the $40 million building began in 2012, and it's set to open by early 2020.

Check out the plans below.

SEE ALSO: This futuristic complex in Cairo will feature indoor 'mega-trees' and 1,000 luxury apartments

The World Food Building will produce approximately 550 tons of vegetables annually — enough to feed around 5,500 people each year.

Source: Helgi Analytics

The front of the 16-story tower will include the farm, while the back will include the offices.

About two-thirds of the building will be devoted to offices, while the other third will include a huge indoor farm.

Companies are now signing leases to move in when it's complete.

Marathons, triathlons, and adventure races are extreme tests that force participants to push themselves in new ways physically and mentally.

But the most extreme endurance races in the world take that to another level.

These competitions test the absolute limits of the human body and mind.

In some cases, participants subject themselves to crossing more than 100 miles of desert, mountains, or ocean. In others, racers plan to go days with almost no sleep, reaching the point of hallucination and breakdown. There are even some races in which participants don't even know when the race will start or what sorts of obstacles they'll have to endure.

But they know it'll be brutal.

These are the most extreme endurance competitions in the world. Finish one of these and you can say you've truly challenged the limits of what's possible.

SEE ALSO: The most extreme daredevils alive reveal how they know they're ready for a terrifying feat

The Brutal might be the hardest triathlon in the world.

Picking a single "hardest" triathlon is almost impossible, as each present unique challenges. Competitors need to be able to swim, bike, and run under extreme conditions.

But the double-Ironman-distance Brutal is up there. Located in Wales, it involves a 4.8-mile swim, then a 224-mile bike ride, followed by a 52-mile run.

If that doesn't sound intense enough, the "triple" Ironman version is rumored to return in 2019.

"If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough," the race website says.

Only 15 people have finished the Barkley Marathons race since it began in 1986.

The Barkley Marathons has no website — the way to enter the ultramarathon is a secret.

The race begins an hour after a conch shell is blown by founder Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell — which can happen anytime between midnight and noon on race day. The course is said to snake 100 miles through brutal terrain in the mountains in Frozen Head State Park in Tennessee (though some say it's closer to 130 miles long). Racers have 60 hours to finish.

The course is unknown to racers until the day before the race and is mostly off any sort of trail — many participants get lost for hours.

Up to 40 people are allowed to compete every year, though more than 200 might apply. The pool includes winners of some of the other toughest ultra-races in the world.

Yet only 15 people have ever finished the race within the time limit.

Impressively, course-record-holder Brett Maune has completed it twice (his record time is 52 hours, 3 minutes, and 8 seconds). And a racer named Jared Campbell has finished the course three times.

Fun fact: If you’ve completed the course before and want to try again, your entry fee is just a pack of Camel cigarettes.

No one who has done the Patagonia Expedition Race can tell future competitors what to expect.

Every Patagonia Expedition Race follows a unique route. Racers form teams of four and cross glaciers, rivers, mountains, forests, and plains.

They might kayak, mountain bike, or rock climb, potentially traveling hundreds of miles over multiple days.

"Why are we here time and again? What invisible force attracts all of us here?," Race Director Stjepan Pavicic asked during the 2016 closing ceremony held in Puerto Natales, Chile.

The answer: "The place, the challenge, and the human endurance experience … sometimes we need to return to our original home in the wild, to reconnect with where we’ve come from."

• Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, New York is arguably the world's most famous boxing gym, having trained everyone from Muhammad Ali to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
• Anyone can train at Gleason's Gym — most of the members today are regular New Yorkers learning how to box
• Gleason's is one of New York City's "last true melting pots," according to owner Bruce Silverglade

To call Gleason's Gym in New York City a "mecca" of boxing is an understatement. 

Nearly every major boxer over the last half-century either learned how to box at Gleason's or trained there in advance of one fight or another. Legendary fighters like Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, and Mike Tyson — along with current boxing star Floyd Mayweather Jr. — have all trained at Gleason's.

Since the gym opened in 1937, Gleason's has helped 134 world champions reach their peak.  In 2016, the gym moved a few blocks from its long-time home at 77 Front Street in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood to a new location.

We visited recently to see if it's still full of the sweat and grime that has long marked the gym as a true New York landmark.

Gleason's Gym is located at 130 Water Street in Brooklyn's trendy DUMBO neighborhood. The gym first moved to the neighborhood in 1985. It was a ghost town at the time.

Gleason's may be in a new building with fresh coats of its signature red paint, but it has retained its gritty vibe. "Boxing is a sport of the underclass, a sport of the underdog," according to owner Bruce Silverglade.

Head into the back and you'll find Silverglade's office. He has helped run the business since 1983. The original owner was Peter Robert Gagliardi, an Italian boxer who wanted to open a gym in an Irish section of the Bronx.

The number of hours Americans work has gone down over the last several decades, according to data from the OECD, while leisure time has gone up. But that's hardly the perception for many working people.

How come?

The psychologist Adam Alter offered one reason in his 2017 TED talk "Why our screens make us less happy." He says that screen-based devices eat up what precious free time we have left.

But that may only be part of the story when it comes to the lack of leisure time. Here's why it feels like you have no free time anymore.

SEE ALSO: Meet the first-ever robot citizen — a humanoid named Sophia that once said it would 'destroy humans'

Our view of free time has changed.

Now that Americans have left the Industrial Age for the Information Age, the way people think about the value of time has changed.

Psychologists have found people do actually equate time with its monetary value (i.e. "Time is money."). At the same time, people have more opportunities than ever for multi-tasking. The result is time not spent working feels like a waste.

"Multi-tasking is what makes us feel pressed for time," Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, told the Economist.

People are working from home more often.

A 2017 Gallup survey of 15,000 American workers found that 43% of people spent at least some of their time working remotely — an increase of four percentage points since 2012.

They're also doing it more often: While the share of people who said they work remotely one day a week or less has fallen since 2012, the share of people who do it four or five times a week has risen, from 24% to 31%.

On the one hand, more flexibility in where to work has made it easier for parents and people who travel a lot to get their work done. But it's also had the side effect of getting people comfortable with working at home, at times they'd normally be relaxing.

We are spending longer hours in the office.

A 2011 survey of more than 300 companies in the US and Canada found nearly two-thirds of employers were demanding longer hours of their employees than they did three years prior.

Roughly half said they expected the longer hours to get even longer over the next three years.

According to additional survey results, the attitude may be due to the fact employers weren't aware that workers felt their mental health had suffered due to the longer hours.

Tens of thousands of protesters have reportedly taken to the streets of Harare in Zimbabwe to call for the resignation of president Robert Mugabe.

Protesters sang songs, hugged soldiers, and waved banners, placades, and the national flag as Zimbabweans added their voices to the political changes this week.

On Wednesday, the military took over the country's state broadcaster and blocked access to the country's parliament and courts.

The military said it was determined to weed out "criminals" and wanted to "pacify a degenerating political, social, and economic situation."

The military added that it would only return power once it had achieved it's goal.

On Saturday, the military sanctioned a march in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. Here are some of the best photographs.

Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets of Harare, according to The Guardian, as people began to march toward the home of president Robert Mugabe.

Demonstrators carried signs that said "Mugabe must go," waved the Zimbabwe flag, and stopped occasionally to embrace with soldiers.

Earlier this week it was reported in South Africa that Mugabe had been placed under house arrest. He made a public appearance at a graduation ceremony on Friday, but appeared to fall asleep in a chair.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk surprised everyone and unveiled a new Roadster on Thursday evening. 

After unveiling the company's first big-rig, Tesla had its new Roadster driven out of the back of the semi-trailer. 

The sports car will be able to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds, making it the fastest production car ever made, Musk said. 

Here's a closer look at the newest Tesla vehicle. 

SEE ALSO: Tesla just unveiled its first electric semi — and it looks like a spaceship

Musk said the car would have a top speed of about 250 mph.

It will feature Plaid mode, which will enable it to do 0 to 60 mph in just 1.9 seconds.

What's more, it will do a quarter-mile in 8.9 seconds and ...

On Black Friday — the most hectic day in retail — there are plenty of things store associates would love to tell shoppers.

But, whether it's because there's just no time or for fear of repercussions, there are some things they can't tell you.

And some of these things, while perhaps controversial, could end up being a service to shoppers or the workers themselves, if only someone would just say something.

So we asked a number of Black Friday workers to weigh in on the one thing they'd love to tell customers but can't.

We've anonymously included some of the more constructive thoughts here:

SEE ALSO: Here's what it's really like to work retail on Black Friday

DON'T MISS: 19 things bartenders wish people would stop doing

The deals are usually the same all day

"You're stupid if you think waiting in line at midnight means you're going to get a better price than waiting a few hours and coming later." 

And they tend not to be that great

"Honestly, none of the discounts are worthwhile. A majority of the time, sale electronics are last year's or older models."

Consider what your time is worth

"The time you spend waiting in line could have been used to work and pay the extra cash for the item you want."

Flying offers the opportunity to disconnect from the internet — unless you pay for it — and turn your mind off from the constant barrage of phone notifications.

Why not spend that time getting smarter on a topic you've always wanted to learn more about.

With that in mind, Business Insider found seven smart books you can finish over the course of a single plane ride. They are short, visually stimulating, or both. For this list we selected an array of lengths, from a 64-page book that's perfect for your hour-long flight, to a 320-page book that would fit the bill if you fly coast-to-coast.

Below we've listed them in order of length, from shortest to longest.

So grab one, or a few, for your next flight, and get smarter by the time you've deplaned.

SEE ALSO: The most exciting city in every state — and the most boring one you can probably skip

'Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words' by Randall Munroe

'Thing Explainer' is intentionally short and simple to understand. The 64-page book uses drawings and the 1,000 most common words to give readers simple explanations for different complicated subjects.

Buy it here »

'We should all be feminists' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

MacArthur Genius Grant winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie expanded on a popular TED talk by the same name to write her 64-page book. She provides a modern-day definition of feminism, and explores the sexual politics at work in society today.

Buy it here »

'The War of Independence' by John Fiske

Originally published in 1890, this 115-page book provides a historical perspective on the American Revolution 100 years following the war, rather than today's more than 230 years. It was written by a historian and scholar who graduated from Harvard Law School.

Buy it here »

When it comes to college football, there are powerhouses and then there's everyone else.

Business Insider has compiled a list of the schools that have run the most dominating football programs over the last 15 years.

To create the ranking we used a formula based on factors such as games and championships won in the last 15 years across all levels (with recent championships weighted more heavily), appearances in the biggest bowl games during that stretch, NFL players produced, and revenue generated by the football team.

Here are the 30 most dominant college football programs.

30. Houston

Football revenue, last 3 years: $36.9 million

BCS/New Years 6 bowl appearances: 1

Conference championships: 2

BCS title game/Playoff appearances: 0

National championships: 0

Players in the NFL: 13

One thing to know: Houston has proven in recent years to be one of the top and most consistent teams in FCS. They have been ranked in the top 10 at different points in three of the six seasons prior to this year and reached a New Year's Six bowl in 2015 under Tom Herman when they beat Florida State.

Data is is for the 2002-16 seasons across FBS, FCS, Division II, and Division III. Championships were weighted by division and years since title.

29. Louisville

Football revenue, last 3 years: $103.5 million

BCS/New Years 6 bowl appearances: 2

Conference championships: 4

BCS title game/Playoff appearances: 0

National championships: 0

Players in the NFL: 24

One thing to know: In 2007, head coach Bobby Petrino left Louisville just months after signing a 10-year contract extension, accepting the head coaching job for the Atlanta Falcons. Prior to the 2016 season, he signed a new 7-year deal that has him under contract at Louisville through the 2023 season. Louisville won at least nine games in six of Petrino's first seven seasons at the school.

28. Northern Illinois

Football revenue, last 3 years: $25.8 million

BCS/New Years 6 bowl appearances: 1

Conference championships: 3

BCS title game/Playoff appearances: 0

National championships: 0

Players in the NFL: 4

One thing to know: Northern Illinois won at least 11 games every season from 2010 through 2014. They also played in eight straight bowl games — including the 2012 Orange Bowl — a streak that only ended last season.

Clemson University won their second national championship last season and have played in each of the last two College Football Playoff championship games.

This season, the Tigers were a favorite to make it back to the College Football Playoff and they will take the journey in their new $55 million football complex.

The school opened the facility earlier this year, and now we get a peak inside and outside what looks like a swanky playground for college students.

Here are some photos and videos of some of the swankiest features, via HOK.

Here is an aerial view of the new facilities.

The "Allen N. Reeves Football Complex" was designed by HOK, the architect firm responsible for many stadiums around the world.

According to Thad Turnipseed, Clemson's director of recruiting and external affairs, he visited 36 football facilities around the country and was told by coach Dabo Swinney to "take the best from each place."

Source: Clemson Tigers

• LeBron James and his wife Savannah met in high school and have been together ever since.

• They became engaged at a star-studded New Year's Eve bash in 2011, and tied the knot in 2013.

• The couple has three children, and James is the one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

In 2013, LeBron James married his longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson. Their lavish wedding included a performance of "Crazy in Love" from Beyonce and Jay-Z, according to Deadspin. The three days of festivities also featured plenty of celebrity cameos, from family friend and fellow NBA star Dwayne Wade to singer Neyo, wrote The Hollywood Reporter.

The couple started off as high school sweethearts, who grabbed dinner at Outback Steakhouse on their first date and stuck together through James' meteoric rise through the NBA.

Today, they have three children and two sprawling mansions: a $21 million mansion in Los Angeles, and a $9.2 million one in Akron, Ohio. The three-time NBA champion is worth $275 million as of 2016 and is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, according to Forbes.

Here's a look inside their 15-year-relationship:

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk has finally spoken out about his personal life — here's his complicated history of marriages, divorces, and dating

DON'T MISS: LEBRON JAMES: How the king of the NBA spends his millions

James and Savannah both grew up in Akron, Ohio and attended rival high schools. He was a sports prodigy, excelling at basketball and football. She was a cheerleader and softball player.

Source: Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated

They met at a football game. She told Harper's Bazaar she wasn't aware of his athletic prowess when she accepted his invitation to a basketball game: "I had no idea who he was."

Source: Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated

Later, Savannah joked to Vogue, "He met me! I didn't meet him!"

Source: Vogue

The INSIDER Summary:

• A lot of work goes into making sure Disney World remains the "Happiest Place on Earth."
• No matter how many times you've been to the parks, there is probably some detail you haven't noticed or secret you're not aware of.
• As someone who has worked at Disney World, I've had an inside look at those secrets.
• Here are 21 things you probably didn't know about the Disney parks and their cast members.

There's no denying that the magic of Disney is infectious. Guests spend years saving up and travel from places all over the world just for a couple days of excitement and no matter how old you are, you can't ignore that giddy feeling you get when you step foot on Main Street and set your eyes on Cinderella's castle for the first time. Disney is a place where adults can act like kids and kids can go to live out their fantasies. It's also a place where you can wear mouse ears and eat turkey legs the size of your head without receiving judgmental looks.

Growing up in Orlando I spent a lot of my time walking the streets of Disney World, but it's not until I spent my summer working there that I truly realized how much goes into making the magic happen. From all of the effort cast members put into making guests feel special to the inner working of the locations themselves, these are 21 things you probably didn't know about the Disney parks.

Disney is just one big never-ending show

When guests step foot in any Disney park, they are really stepping into a live show where everything from the costumes to the trash cans play a part. Disney even has their own lingo, which is why you may realize that visitors are called "guests" and workers are "cast members." When you walk through the streets of a park you are "onstage," and for the most part, "backstage" remains hidden.

Nothing should compromise the feeling that Disney guests are a part of the show. If a cast member is dressed in their work clothing, they are not even allowed to cross a certain the line from their section of the park into the next because it would make no sense to see someone from the future (Tomorrowland) walking around the Old West (Frontierland). 

Magic Kingdom sits on top of a set of tunnels

Many people don't realize that when they are standing on Main Street, they are actually on the second level of Magic Kindgom and working their way up to the third when they head for Cinderella's castle. This is because the park sits on top of a set of tunnels known as the utilidors where cast members can walk around freely without ruining the "show." 

If you're really itching to get a look at these not-so-secret tunnels you can sign up to take a backstage tour for a pretty penny, but prepare to be rather unimpressed. The utilidors aren't exactly what you would call magical, but you can get a look at all they have to offer for cast members from the cafeteria to a barber shop.

There's a strict "Disney Look"

Reputation is important to Disney. This is why cast members are expected to maintain a specific appearance known as the "Disney Look."Extreme hairstyles, over-the-top makeup, visible tattoos and body piercings beyond the earlobes are strictly prohibited. If you're a male with facial hair prior to starting at Disney, you can keep it as long as it is neatly trimmed, but if you were clean shaven when you got hired then say goodbye to switching up your look with a moustache because that's not allowed.

If you're hoping to get casted as a character, you must meet strict requirements when it comes to looks. People interested in playing Mickey Mouse should be no taller than 5'2". Given this height requirement, chances are the person behind the Mickey Mouse costume is actually a girl.

• GoBankingRates consulted Kiwi.com's 2017 Flight Price Index and identified the countries you can fly to for the cheapest airfare (per 100 kilometers). 
• The top 11 countries include South Africa, Portugal, and Romania. 
• The country on their list with the cheapest airfare per 100 km is Malaysia.

Airfares can change by the day or even the hour and are driven by movements in everything from fuel prices to currency conversion rates. So it's no surprise that the average cost of outbound air travel can vary significantly from country to country.

To help travelers navigate the complex world of fluctuating fares, GOBankingRates consulted Kiwi.com's 2017 Flight Price Index. The flight search engine company analyzed more than 1 million flights to find the average price of outbound air travel in 80 countries. All flight searches took into account high and low seasons, and prices were checked for the same travel dates.

Many of the countries that topped Kiwi.com's list for cheapest outbound airfares also offer rock-bottom rates at restaurants and hotels. What's more, several of these countries offer attractive exchange rates, making them bucket-list bargains for travelers looking to get the most bang for their buck.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best cities to own investment properties

11. South Africa

The average cost per 100 km: $7.25

South Africa boasts beautiful beaches and mountain vistas, and its diverse attractions include everything from safaris to winery tours. Many of its top attractions are also affordable ― or free. For instance, hiking up Cape Town's Table Mountain is free, and a round-trip cable car ride up and down the mountain starts at 275 South African rand for adults, or around $19.75.

As a whole, costs in the country seem relatively affordable. A three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant averages around $32, according to Numbeo.

10. Spain

The average cost per 100 km: $7.08

Spain counts Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and many other iconic artists as native sons, so it's no surprise the nation boasts a number of notable museums — many of which you can visit for free. Spain is also known for its diverse cultures and cuisine, and it continues to draw crowds to the beach resorts on its southern coast.

In fact, a record number of tourists have been sampling Spain's tapas and other offerings recently. It drew 12 percent more tourists in the first half of 2017 than during the same period a year ago, despite drawing a record 75.3 million visitors for all of 2016.

9. Sweden

The average cost per 100 km: $6.96

Sweden is known for its crystal-clear lakes and expansive forests, but the Scandinavian country also offers beautiful beaches that are often uncrowded, considering its population barely tops 9 million. Sweden also boasts a number of ferry-accessible islands ideal for hiking or an invigorating dip during warmer weather.

Considering the country's mild climate, it's no surprise hotel prices spike when temperatures do. So visitors should plan on spending some of the cash they saved at the airport on accommodations if they visit during the summer.

2017 has been a big year for LGBTQI rights.

Both Malta and Germany legalized same-sex marriage and, this week, Australia made big strides towards doing so as well.

In a nation-wide postal poll, 61.6% of Australian voters said they were in favor of same-sex marriage, ensuring the federal government will try to pass a marriage equality bill before the end of the year.

Yet while demand continues to grow for LGBTQI rights, there are currently only 25 countries that allow same-sex couples to marry.

Keep scrolling to read the full list:

SEE ALSO: How Australia's slow march toward same-sex marriage compares to the US

1. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriages.

The legislation gave same-sex couples the right to marry, divorce, and adopt children. 

Source: CBS News

2. Belgium followed suit in 2003 and granted equal rights to same-sex married couples.

Beginning in 1998, the Belgian parliament offered limited rights to same-sex couples through registered partnerships. In 2003, the parliament legally recognized same-sex marriages.

Source: The Guardian

3. In 2005, the Canadian Parliament passed legislation making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

In 1999, some provincial governments extended common law marriages to gay and lesbian couples, providing them with most of the legal benefits of marriage but laws varied across the country.

Source: CBC News

What do you picture when you imagine a hedge-fund office? A noisy trading floor full of hedge-fund guys in fleece vests?

Two Sigma, a $45 billion hedge-fund firm that uses advanced technologies to find investment opportunities, is a little different. The firm, which says it has seen head count grow by more than 400% in the past seven years, is as much a technology company as it is a finance company, analyzing over 10,000 data sources to find patterns in markets.

That approach seems to have paid off. Two Sigma ranked as the fifth-biggest hedge fund in the world in Institutional Investor's Alpha's 2017 Hedge Fund 100 list, while cofounders David Siegel and John Overdeck each made $750 million last year, according to the magazine's list of the top-earning hedge-fund managers. The firm also runs an insurance business, Two Sigma Insurance Quantified, a market-making arm called Two Sigma Securities, and a venture-capital arm.

In August, Business Insider took a tour of the firm's two New York offices, which are across the road from each other in the SoHo neighborhood. The offices are stashed with arcade games, computing memorabilia, gyms, a hacker space, and a music room.

SEE ALSO: These before-and-after photos show tech billionaires' dramatic transformations

There was a teach-in on Python for Research when we visited 101 Avenue of the Americas, one of three talks the firm hosts weekly.

The kitchen was well stocked.

You may be able to see a Juicero machine on the left side. Two Sigma Ventures, the venture arm of Two Sigma, is an investor in Juicero, which recently announced a price cut and layoffs.

Across the road at 100 Avenue of the Americas, there's another kitchen, with staff taking time out to play games.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

A few weeks after I moved into my apartment in Brooklyn, I gave video tours of the space to my groups of friends back home. Someone always inevitably noticed our dining table. "Hey that table's from IKEA, isn't it?" they would say.

I get the implication: The home goods in my apartment are virtually indistinguishable from any other young working professional's. I would love to come home to an apartment with nice, luxurious goods, but I shop at the big retailers because high-end boutiques, while great for beautiful inspiration, aren't so friendly on the wallet. 

Rachel Cohen and Andrés Modak were two recent Wharton MBA grads who moved to New York. They, too, struggled to make their apartment their own with unique, inexpensive home goods. Shopping at traditional retailers was also overwhelming and confusing — a classic example of the paradox of choice, when more options actually paralyze decision-making.

This experience led to an idea: creating an exceptional home can be refreshingly simple. 

Cohen and Modak started Snowe in 2015, which offers simple and accessible luxury goods that bring a little something extra to your home, whether you're hosting a dinner party or just carrying about your daily activities. Unlike our parents' generation, who brought out the coveted dinnerware and drinkware only once or twice a year for special occasions, the cofounders believe in the power of everyday luxury.

In an interview with Bond Street, they said, "We believe your nicest products should be used on a daily basis. That glass of wine at the end of the day, that cup of coffee you have in the morning. You want those small moments to feel luxurious." It's like the feeling of wearing a really nice but simple piece of jewelry. It makes a difference in how you carry yourself, and you actually care for that gold ring or necklace instead of throwing it around like the piece of jewelry you could've gotten anywhere. 

Cohen and Modak didn't want to settle when it came to building their home, and you don't have to either. 

Learn more about Snowe and why it's a favorite among millennial home shoppers, below.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best purchases I've made to save space in my small apartment

The shop is divided into five categories.

Eat: Dinnerware, flatware, table linens, sets, and accessories

Drink: Drinkware, serveware, sets, and accessories

Sleep: Sheets, pillows, pillowcases, duvets, shams, comforters, sets, and accessories

Bathe: Towels, sets, and accessories 

Clean: Candles and diffusers 

As you browse products and images, you'll notice that Snowe's aesthetic is clean and pleasant to look at.

It gives you a taste of the look and feeling you can bring to your own home. Since all of Snowe's products come in neutral colors, they're easy to incorporate into your dining room, bedroom, and bathroom setups. 

The quality of design and craftsmanship is apparent, but the prices are actually reasonable.

Snowe's dinnerware is made from lightweight but durable porcelain and is oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe. You can grab an 18-piece Dine and Serve Set, which includes plates, bowls, and serving platters, for $295. Its dishwasher-safe glassware is made from lead-free crystallized glass, and individual pieces cost $12 to $15. 

For the bedroom, Snowe offers crisp yet breathable percale and sateen sheets, duvet covers, and shams, as well as down pillows for $38 to $228. 

Its soft and quick-drying towels are made with 100% long-staple cotton and cost $8 to $48 per piece.