Keeping tabs on patients' health at home has become a surging business during the coronavirus pandemic.

With the virus spreading, physicians needed to find ways to make sure their patients' health stayed in check while limiting in-person visits. They turned to virtual consultations and digital tools that could be used at home to track blood pressure, diabetes, and lung conditions like emphysema and COPD. 

Upstart primary care offices and major hospitals have been quick to adapt to telemedicine and remote monitoring, but smaller doctors' offices have struggled to bring the costly and complex technology into their practices. 100Plus, a San Francisco remote monitoring startup, thinks its approach could help clinicians navigate the world of remote healthcare.

100Plus offers remote patient monitoring services that are easy to set up and costs patients little or nothing. Instead, the company signs contracts directly with primary care physicians.

100Plus ships blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters, digital scales, and other devices to patients' homes, preprogrammed to operate as soon as the patient opens the box. The devices send the data they collect back to their physician's office. 

On Wednesday, 100Plus raised a $25 million seed round that valued the company at $150 million, a source close to the deal told Insider. The financing came from private equity giants Henry Kravis and George Roberts of KKR, as well as self-help guru Tony Robbins, television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz and other angel investors. Two venture firms, Plug and Play Ventures and Correlation Ventures, participated in the round.

The structure of this funding round was by design, CEO Ryan Howard told Insider. Prior to raising the funds, 100plus had never taken outside capital.

He said his experience fundraising for his last company, electronic health records startup Practice Fusion, showed him the "underbelly" of venture capital that promoted an unhealthy "growth-at-all-costs" mindset. He was ousted as CEO of Practice Fusion in 2015 and started working on 100Plus shortly after.

"We have a fair amount more autonomy than, I would say, almost every venture-funded company in the Valley. It was really important this time around just not to have a repeat of what happened to Practice Fusion," Howard told Insider. 

Now, Howard's comeback hinges in part on whether his strategy of being highly selective with venture capital can be successful.

Remote patient monitoring has remained an area of interest for industry investors both inside and outside venture firms, and Howard maintained said that the industry is still in its early days, with just 4% saturation divided among a handful of upstarts like 100plus. The recent funding will help Howard hire aggressively and continue to add new devices, he said, but he was adamant that this business could grow rapidly and sustainably. 

Investors bought into his vision. Here is the unredacted 21-slide pitch deck Howard used to win over billionaire investors without any ties to venture capital.

SEE ALSO: We got an exclusive look at the presentation that convinced Tiger Global and Humana to invest in a startup's bold vision to do hospitalizations at home at a $1.7 billion valuation

100Plus launched in January 2020 to provide what Howard describes as a remote patient monitoring "concierge service."

The company takes on the upfront financial risks when signing contracts with small and medium physicians' offices. It has an 80% gross margin after Medicare reimbursements, Howard told Insider.

The service is focused on seniors, who have high rates of chronic health conditions but underuse existing healthcare services. In its first year of operations, around 98% of the seniors that were using 100Plus stayed on the system, Howard told Insider.

Medicare pays between $700 and $2,100 per patient per year for 100Plus' remote monitoring services, plus another $615 per patient to cover the monitoring devices. That saves patients and physicians money upfront, Howard said, and helps the company gain customers.

100Plus' presentation lays out the financial benefits for physicians, as well as the company. Howard said the market for remote patient monitoring tools is still relatively nascent, and 100plus could capture even more market share as it grows.

100Plus currently has access to 100,000 healthcare practitioners through deals with AthenaHealth, AdvancedMD, and DrChrono. Most of these are small or mid-size doctors' offices that don't have the bandwidth to set up monitoring systems for their patients themselves due to cost and resource constraints.

In its first 13 months of operations, 100Plus has brought in $7 million in annual recurring revenue, according to its presentation. Nixing charges to healthcare providers and any need for their staff to set up these services enables faster implementation and billing.

Devices are shipped directly to patients' homes. They are preprogrammed to work upon arrival, Howard said, since many Medicare patients have limited access to the internet, smartphones, or working knowledge of connecting via Bluetooth.

100Plus' system includes software that can detect when a patient's health data — whether it's their blood sugar, heart rate, or other health signs being tracked — falls out of the normal range or is in danger of falling out of the range. When this happens, the system sends out a warning alert and sends the data to the patient's primary care provider. 100Plus sent out 40,000 of those alerts last year, Howard said.

All data collected by 100Plus devices is automatically shared with the patient's primary care physicians through its software. Primary care offices see the most patients within a healthcare system, Howard said, but also have the biggest constraints in providing comprehensive care to patients with demanding healthcare needs. Data sharing is just one way to help bridge that gap, he said.

100Plus also helps physicians track and bill all time spent on caring for individual patients in the software it developed for clinics. Howard said many primary care physicians can see up to 22 patients a day, making it difficult to accurately track and bill insurance companies throughout the day.

Part of 100Plus' appeal, according to Howard, is that it sends devices directly to patients and handles setup without the doctors' office having to set aside time to do it themselves, which is what many of his other competitors are doing, he said.

However, he said that the remote patient monitoring market is still incredibly new, with just 4% penetration among small and medium-sized clinics. Even the biggest players are small companies, he said, and all have room to grow.

Howard said he plans to use the $25 million in seed funding to rapidly grow the small team while also developing new devices and selling its services to new clinics.

The seed round was the first round of outside funding 100Plus took, Howard said, and was structured so that he and his executive team retained control over the company. "If we want to sell the company later this year, we have the power to do that," he told Insider.

100Plus offers five devices so far, and has more in development.

Howard said, even now, telemedicine doesn't quite meet every patients' needs, and gave the example of a time he called his doctor and was asked if he knew his blood pressure off hand. Monitoring blood pressure is one of the most common applications for remote monitoring startups like 100Plus and can help patients experiencing hypertension and other conditions.

Managing diabetes is also a common use case, Howard said, and can be one of the easiest ways to monitor patients at home if they are already used to measuring their blood sugar with other devices. With 100Plus, that data is shared immediately with the patient's doctor, and can help monitor for unexpected spikes or crashes.

Smart scales are not new, but have been helpful in patients managing weight with their doctors, Howard said. It can be used for patients experiencing renal failure or other chronic conditions where changes in weight are indicative of a larger health concern.

Part of the $25 million in funding will go towards manufacturing additional devices, like the thermometer and pulse oximeter, Howard told Insider. Although there is some manufacturing cost upfront, the company is close to achieving profitability through its sales of new devices.

The company is close to breaking even, Howard said, but rapid growth has contributed to higher costs over time. If growth slowed, he said the company would already be profitable.

• The best tea kettles are easy to fill and pour and bring water to a boil quickly and consistently. 
• Our top electric pick has various water temperature settings, a durable design, and an accessible price.
• While our top stovetop pick features drip-free pouring, large capacity, and other special features.

There's nothing more comforting than a hot cup of tea, but boiling water and safely pouring it into a mug or teacup is a surprisingly difficult task without a proper kettle. If you want to quickly and easily make boiling water — so you can relax with your tea sooner — you should invest in an electric or stovetop kettle.

Each style has its own merits, and the type you choose comes down to personal preference. Electric kettles are faster and you can heat water to the exact temperature your tea requires. Stovetop kettles have a more classic look and they often whistle loudly to grab your attention. 

We've included the best of both in our guide, and you can read more about them here. 

Here are the best tea kettles 

• Best electric kettle overall: Krups Cool Touch Adjustable Temperature Kettle
• Best stovetop kettle overall: OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle
• Best electric kettle on a budget: Secura Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Kettle
• Best stovetop kettle on a budget: Cuisinart Aura Steel Stovetop Teakettle
• Best high-end electric kettle: Smeg '50s Retro-Style Electric Kettle
• Best high-end stovetop kettle: Le Creuset Enamel-on-Steel Zen Teakettle

The best electric kettle overall

The Krups Cool Touch Adjustable Temperature Kettle heats water to the perfect temperature for brewing a variety of teas. It looks sleek and it costs much less than similar kettles.

Pros: Affordable, adjustable temperature settings, easy to use, attractive metal design

Cons: Some users experienced leaking

If you're serious about your tea and you like to drink all different kinds of tea, you need an adjustable temperature kettle. This 1.7-liter kettle has six preset temperature settings to ensure that you never burn your green tea leaves with scalding hot water ever again.

It's remarkably easy to select the temperature setting you need with pre-sets for delicate, green, white, oolong, and herbal teas. If you just want black tea, hit "boil" and watch the water go up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit within five minutes or less.  

Believe it or not, using the right temperature is a big deal. Whenever I make green, white, or oolong tea with this kettle, I always set it to the right temperature instead of just hitting the button. The teas' flavors come out in full force when brewed at the right temperature, and it's so easy to select the right temperature on the Krups kettle. 

The kettle automatically stops boiling when it hits the temperature you selected or if it runs dry. The kettle will even keep your water warm for a time before automatically shutting off to protect the heating element. 

The kettle is made out of brushed stainless steel, and it looks gorgeous in my kitchen. The kettle jug is unattached, so you can pick it up and pour the water over your tea, oatmeal, or cooking pot without worrying about the length of the cord. The cord is concealed in the base and you can have it as short as you need it to be. 

There's a big button on the top of the kettle, which pops the lid open when pressed. The handle is big, comfortable, and always stays cool for easy handling and pouring. There is a water window as well, so you can check how much is in there. Krups put the anti-scale filter in the spout of the kettle, and you can remove it if need be.

The best stovetop kettle overall

If you're looking for a classic kettle that heats quickly, fills easily, and is simple to pour, the OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle is an excellent choice.

Pros: Wide bottom for quick heating, easy to fill and pour, large capacity

Cons: Can rust if not properly cleaned

The OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle has a traditional shape with its wide-bottom body that narrows at the top and a spout that draws from near the bottom of the kettle. More importantly, it has a strong whistle that alerts you when the water is boiling. Once the water boils, you open the spout cover, and the spout offers precise, drip-free pouring.

This kettle is made of high-grade stainless steel that is supposed to be rust-resistant. OXO recommends wiping the kettle down regularly to keep cooking oils from wearing away at the steel. The handle and spout have silicone touch points that resist heat for burn-free use. The handle folds to the side for storage or easy filling. The kettle holds 1.7 quarts, which is a good amount for a big pot of tea.

OXO offers a satisfaction guarantee, so the company will refund or replace your kettle if you are not satisfied for any reason.

The kettle also has a handle that folds out of the way, there's good interior visibility, and it's easy to fill thanks to its broad opening.

The best electric kettle on a budget

The fast-heating Original Secura Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Water Kettle is about the same price as plastic models, but it's completely BPA-free.

Pros: Made of durable 100% stainless steel, keeps water warm, shuts off automatically, two-year warranty, easy to clean

Cons: No water gauge to see how much is inside, no variable temperature settings

Sometimes you just want a no-frills appliance that works and comes at an affordable price point. The Original Secura Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Water Kettle fits the bill as a budget-friendly stainless steel electric kettle that boils water quickly.

It may not have fancy features like variable temperature settings or a water gauge, but it does offer a full stainless steel unibody design and 1500 watts of heating power. The kettle turns off automatically so you don't boil a dry pot and damage the heating element.

Secura's kettle is about the same price as cheap plastic ones, but it's completely BPA-free and no plastic ever touches your water. The stainless steel inner wall is easy to clean after each use, so you can avoid mineral buildup over time. It has a double-wall construction, so the outer layer of plastic stays cool to the touch even as the water boils inside.

As long as you don't need variable temperatures for tea or want to see the water level inside, the Secura kettle is a real winner — especially at this price point.

The best stovetop kettle on a budget

Not only is the Cuisinart Aura Steel Stovetop Tea Kettle inexpensive, it also has a large two-quart capacity that is useful for much more than tea making.

Pros: Limited lifetime warranty, inexpensive, large capacity

Cons: Very loud whistle, can rust without proper cleaning

The Cuisinart Aura is a basic stovetop tea kettle, and sometimes that's all you need. It gets the job done at a great price point, and if it breaks or rusts, it won't break your heart.

The Cuisinart Aura features a two-quart-capacity solid stainless steel body — enough for eight cups of tea. The large capacity is also handy for boiling water for oatmeal, instant noodles, or anything else you need to quickly boil water for. This kettle notifies you that your water is boiling and ready with a whistle that increases in intensity. Sometimes it's a bit too intense and you'll find yourself running over to the stove to make it stop.

To pour the water, there's a lever on the handle that you push to open the spout cap, ensuring you'll never have to put your fingers near hot steam or boiling water to remove a cap. The handle is stationary and made of plastic, and the wide lid allows for easy refilling of the kettle.

To top it off, the entire setup is backed by a lifetime limited warranty.

The best high-end electric kettle

The Smeg '50s Retro-Style Electric Kettle adds style to any kitchen with its fun old school look, and it'll heat your water quickly, too.

Pros: Fun 1950s-inspired design, stainless steel, automatic shut off, removable stainless steel filter, water level indicator, lots of color options

Cons: You're paying for form more than function

Smeg's '50s Retro-Style Electric Kettle adds much-needed flair to the traditional kettle with its '50s color palette and fun design aesthetic. You can get it in multiple color options, including cream, blue, green, red, black, chrome, and pink.

The kettle is made of stainless steel that's powder-coated for added durability and protection from mineral buildup. If anything goes wrong, Smeg offers a one-year warranty.

Inside, there's a removable, stainless steel limescale filter that you'll need to clean every now and then to prevent too much of a deposit from building up. If you have hard water, you'll have to clean the filter more often. It also has a water level window so you can check how much water is inside.

You are paying a premium for the design, but anyone who loves well-designed appliances or has a retro-inspired kitchen will love this kettle.

The best high-end stovetop kettle

If you are looking for a stylish tea kettle that heats quickly and stores easily, you will be hard-pressed to find a better option than the Le Creuset Enamel-on-Steel Zen Teakettle.

Pros: Heat-proof handle folds down, loud whistle, can be used with any stove type, including induction

Cons: Expensive, may dribble

The enamel-on-steel body of the Le Creuset Zen Teakettle makes it more resistant to rusting and thus more durable than its counterparts. The kettle holds 1-5/8 quarts of water and has an inverted bowl shape, which helps it heat quickly. The arched handle folds down for storage and filling, and the lid is wide for easy cleaning and filling.

Though the enamel of the kettle is "chip-resistant," Le Creuset warns that repeated banging may damage the exterior enamel. The Zen Teakettle comes in ten colors, including Marseille, cherry, dune, and palm. Plus, each style comes with a limited five-year warranty.

Additional nice features are its heat-proof handle, loud whistle, and the fact that it can be used on any type of stovetop. However, the price is a bit steep for a kettle.

FAQs

Electric kettles vs. stovetop kettles — which should you buy?

Electric kettles: For real tea fanatics, it can be difficult to get just the right temperature water for your brew, and nuking H2O in the microwave is simply out of the question. That's where electric kettles come in. They boil water faster than a watched pot on your stove, and the best ones even offer adjustable temperature settings to ensure that the water is just right for your delicate tea leaves.

You can also use electric kettles to boil water quickly for any cause. No matter your needs, it's good to have a dedicated appliance in your kitchen that boils water quickly.

Stovetop kettles: The hardest part of making tea is remembering that you're making tea. An electric kettle won't notify you when the water is ready. Conversely, the whistle of the stovetop kettle demands attention more intensely — you can't forget you're making tea with something that whistles

What are kettles made of? 

Most kettles are made of stainless steel, plastic, enamel-on-steel, or some combination of these materials. There are a few glass kettles available, but they receive low marks for performance from both buyers and experts.

Due to research linking bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates to cancer, many people are a little squeamish around kettles made out of plastic, especially since heating plastics can cause chemicals to leach into liquids or foods. However, the plastics that have been shown to cause cancer are used to make clear, hard containers or soft, flexible products. Tea kettles don't fit into either of these categories.

But, if you are concerned about drinking hot water that has come into contact with plastic, make sure you choose a tea kettle that avoids this problem. Each of the kettles in our guide uses plastic sparingly, but never in the main part of the kettle.

What's the best way to prevent rust or mineral buildup in your kettle?

Though the name may suggest otherwise, stainless steel tea kettles are susceptible to rusting. The best way to combat this is to regularly wash your kettle and dry it completely. If you do notice rust, fill your kettle with a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water, boil it for a few minutes, empty it, and then wash your kettle per the manufacturer's specifications. Rusting is less common with enamel-on-steel kettles.

Check out our other tea-lover guides

• The best tea infusers
• The best travel mugs
• The best teas for every time of the day

What does Ryan Cohen want with GameStop?

That's the big, unanswered question at the heart of his 12.9% ownership stake in the company — an investment he made well before GameStop became a meme stock.

Cohen, who cofounded Chewy and acted as CEO before it sold to PetSmart for $3.35 billion in 2017, does not have a background in the video game industry. His claim to fame is outfoxing Amazon at its own game — e-commerce — in a specific category: pets. That's an especially meaningful claim to fame when it comes to Wall Street, which saw Cohen's involvement in the company as a reason to buy the ailing retailer's stock before Reddit found it.

Read more: Ryan Cohen made millions when Chewy got acquired. Now the millennial entrepreneur has a plan to turn around GameStop.

But Cohen is no casual investor in GameStop — he's a member of the board, and an activist investor who has successfully lobbied the company to follow his advice several times thus far. He is clearly in this for the long term.

Though the lingering question of "Why GameStop?" remains unanswered, we know a lot about Cohen's plans for the future of the company. 

1. Cohen wants GameStop to become a technology company, with a focus on ecommerce over brick-and-retail stores.

Cohen's investment firm, RC Ventures, owns 12.9% of GameStop. That stake makes it the second-largest single shareholder of GameStop.

Those shares cost tens of millions of dollars, and they put Cohen in a position to more directly engage with the company's leadership. But those private conversations apparently didn't go very well.

"Given that our attempts to privately engage with you since the summer have yielded little progress, we feel compelled to send a clear message to the Board today," Cohen wrote in an open letter aimed at GameStop's board of directors published in November 2020.

"GameStop's leadership should immediately conduct a strategic review of the business," he said, "and share a credible plan for seizing the tremendous opportunities in the rapidly-growing gaming sector." 

The letter, overwhelmingly, focused on the company's need to transition to ecommerce.

"GameStop's challenges stem from internal intransigence and an unwillingness to rapidly embrace the digital economy," the letter said. "GameStop needs to evolve into a technology company that delights gamers and delivers exceptional digital experiences — not remain a video game retailer that overprioritizes its brick-and-mortar footprint and stumbles around the online ecosystem."

2. He wants to reshape the company's leadership, and has already begun doing just that.

Throughout his letter, Cohen directly criticizes the company's leadership — both its executive suite and its board of directors, to whom the letter is addressed.

GameStop CEO and board member George Sherman, "appears committed to a twentieth-century focus on physical stores and walk-in sales, despite the transition to an always-on digital world," Cohen said, and the board lacks "the type of strategic vision" necessary for GameStop, "to pivot toward becoming a technology-driven business that excels in the gaming and digital experience worlds."

That criticism appeared to have a major impact, as GameStop announced in early January that Cohen and two of his former Chewy lieutenants would become new members of the board. Pending a vote in June, the trio will make up one-third of the board's membership.

Soon after Cohen joined the board, major c-suite changes began.

Amazon vet Matt Francis was hired on as the CTO in early February. A former Amazon Web Services engineering lead, he's tasked with, "overseeing e-commerce and technology functions" for GameStop.

Then, in late February, CFO Jim Bell was suddenly forced out of his role at the company. The board of directors "lost faith" in Bell, according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke with Insider.

3. Cohen is in charge of a newly announced committee that intends to "transform" the company.

Just this week, GameStop announced that Cohen is in charge of a new committee at the company that intends to, "identify initiatives that can further accelerate the company's transformation."

The "Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation Committee" is tasked with "identifying actions that can transform GameStop into a technology business and help create enduring value for stockholders," GameStop said in a press release on March 8.

If that language sounds familiar, that's because it's very similar to the language used by Cohen in his letter to the board last November.

The group — which includes Cohen, former Chewy exec Alan Attal, and activist investor Kurt Wolf — was seemingly created to carry out the changes proposed by Cohen last year.

4. One potential for GameStop's future: online trade-ins.

In September 2020, when Cohen initially purchased a significant chunk of the company's shares, he privately proposed a plan to the board to focus GameStop on e-commerce opportunities.

One example of those opportunities is tied to GameStop's core business: reselling used games.

Cohen reportedly proposed an online version of the retailer's (in)famous game trade-in program.

During those talks, he proposed a major expansion of GameStop's online footprint, according to Bloomberg. Beyond just games, GameStop's online store would offer "a wide range of merchandise," the report said, and prioritize fast shipping.

Cohen has yet to publicly spell out his specific plans, and his representative didn't respond to a request for comment as of publishing.

Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@insider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

• Good-quality headphones can be expensive, but they often go on sale.
• We've rounded up the best headphone deals for March 2021.
• Right now, the Bose 700 are on sale for $329— that's $50 off their full price.

A great pair of headphones can change the way you listen to music. Sure, the random earbuds that you have in your bottom drawer may do the job just fine for some, but if you want to hear nuanced details, well-rounded bass, or a sparkling high-end, you'll need something a little more versatile.

If you are in the market for a new pair of headphones, it's worth figuring out exactly what kind of headphones you want. The first step is to determine whether you want in-ear headphones, on-ear headphones, or over-ear headphones.

In-ear headphones are more portable than any other headphones, while over-ear headphones are the most comfortable and deep-sounding. On-ear headphones are often considered a good compromise between the two. If you hate wires, you could also get true wireless in-ear headphones, like AirPods, which cut the cables completely. 

It's also worth looking into a few headphone brands. If you're an audiophile who wants the best-sounding headphones, companies like Sennheiser, Klipsch, and Shure are worth considering. If you want incredible noise-cancelling headphones or those that work great for day-to-day use, consider those from Sony or Bose. And, if you want plenty of bass and tight integration with your Apple products, look into headphones from Beats or Apple itself.

Once you've determined the type of headphones you want, you'll want to figure out what your budget is. These days, you can get solid headphones for under $100, but as with anything, you get what you pay for — and the more you're willing to spend, the better headphones you'll be able to get. 

Of course, you don't necessarily have to spend as much as you normally would if you can find a great deal. And that's exactly why we put together this guide for the best headphone deals that you can take advantage of right now.

Here are the best headphone deals in March 2021

Over-ear headphone deals

Over-ear headphones may not be the most portable headphones out there, but they generally sound a whole lot better than in-ear headphones, thanks to their larger drivers. They also boast long battery lives and plenty of padding for a comfortable fit. Some models even include smart features — like integration with your digital assistant, noise cancellation, and more.

On-ear headphone deals

On-ear headphones are a good compromise between portability and sound-quality. Sure, you won't be able to fit them in your pocket, but they're light-weight enough to easily carry around in a bag or backpack without noticing much of a difference. Unlike over-ear headphones, on-ear headphones rest on your outer ear, but good ones don't do so uncomfortably.

In-ear headphone deals

Looking for something portable that you can easily put into your pocket? In-ear headphones are the way to go. We have technically split the in-ear headphones into two categories — so if you're looking for modern true wireless headphones, skip ahead to the next section. 

The deals below are for wired in-ear headphones, which connect through a cable to your listening device, and wireless in-ear headphones which connect via Bluetooth to your listening device. Unlike true wireless headphones, however, regular wireless in-ear headphones still feature wires to connect each earbud together.

True wireless in-ear headphone deals

Perhaps you want to avoid wires all together with a pair of true wireless headphones. These headphones feature separate earbuds that connect wirelessly to each other and to your listening device. A good example of true wireless headphones are Apple's AirPods Pro— which are on sale right now for $199.

Check out our various headphone buying guides:

• Best true wireless earbuds
• Best earbuds
• Best noise-cancelling headphones
• Best over-ear headphones
• Best wireless Bluetooth headphones

• White Elephant, Yankee Swap, and Nasty Christmas gifting exchanges reward originality and humor the most. 
• To save you hours of internet searching, here are 61 great White Elephant gift ideas, all under $50.
• Looking for more gift ideas? Check out all Insider Reviews gift guides here.

When it comes to gift-swapping games like White Elephant, Yankee Swap, or Nasty Christmas, the master gifters must first forget everything they know about gifting.

Instead of cashmere scarves or Belgian chocolates reserved for birthdays or big holidays, gift swaps typically reward the niche, novel, and irreverent, with bonus points going to those who can check the boxes of funny and useful. Think: Quirky cookbooks, personalized pillows, and card games that immediately break the ice.

Below, we rounded up 61 gifts that are perfectly primed for this occasion.

A funny meme-inspired card game for adults

What Do You Meme Game, available at Uncommon Goods, $30

What Do You Meme is the second (and possibly more fun) wave of Cards Against Humanity.

A Danny Devito reversible sequin pillow cover

Jasen DIY Sequin Pillow Cover, available at Amazon, $10.99

The perfect gift doesn't exis-

For Jeff Goldblum fans, you're going to want to head here.

What's been called the world's strongest coffee

Death Wish Ground Coffee, available at Amazon, $19.96

Death Wish claims to be the world's strongest coffee, with about double the caffeine of your average cup. The added kick is attributed to a unique blend of Arabica and Robusta beans and a slow roasting process. It's Fair Trade, has no additives, and makes a pretty good cup of coffee!

A wine club subscription

Firstleaf Wine Subscription, available at Firstleaf, from $39.99

The best part of a White Elephant exchange is when everyone fights over the same great gift. A wrapped card with a Firstleaf subscription code qualifies as exactly that.

Firstleaf sources its wine from some of the most acclaimed vineyards around the world, all while remaining affordable. An online quiz generates tailor-made results according to wine preferences, so you can be confident that they'll receive a bottle (or six) that they love. 

*Sponsored by Firstleaf

Mini tabletop cornhole that they can play whenever and wherever

Tabletop Cornhole, available at Uncommon Goods, $48

Have a hankering for games that fit inside your home these (cold, distanced) days? This Tabletop Cornhole game is easy to store and not at all weather-dependent. Enjoy it wherever! 

A funny, practical to-do list notepad

Knock Knock Notepad, available on Amazon, $9.45

Working from home hasn't been kind to all of us. This to-do list notepad can help them organize all their tasks and help lighten the mood.

A reusable tote that looks like the iconic plastic design

Embroidered Thank You Tote, available at Uncommon Goods, $38

Quirky, nostalgic, and practical — this tote is one of the sweet spot gifts. Inspired by the 2007 plastic bag ban in San Francisco, it's made from recycled taffeta and is machine-washable and reusable.

An engaging board game that can last for hours

Settlers of Catan Board Game, available at Walmart, $43.67

The Settlers of Catan relies upon using strategy to build civilizations — and can last for hours. 

An adult coloring book full of swear words

Maybe Swearing Will Help: Adult Coloring Book, available at Amazon, $6.99

Adult coloring has had a resurgence in recent years as a great de-stressor (Kate Middleton was one notable fan). But before then, humans used swearing as the next best thing. Why not pair the two together for a truly balanced catharsis?

A face mask that gives them braces again

Braces Funny Face Mask, available on Etsy, $14.95

Who doesn't want to be spirited back to grades 5-8? 

Sugar cubes that turn a glass of champagne into cocktails

Minute Mimosa Sugar Cube Trio, available at Uncommon Goods, $30

Turn a glass of champagne into your favorite brunch-time drink — mimosa or bellini — by dropping one of these cubes into the glass.

A book that teaches you how to craft using excess cat hair

Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat, available on Amazon, $10.54

Remember that lovable cat you adopted way back in March? You thought its talents stopped at giving you attention, love, and physical touch in isolation. But what if we told you it could also help you make the rest of your holiday gifts this year?

A funny cartoon shower curtain

MitoVilla Funny Dog Shower Curtain, available at Amazon, $19.99

A funny — yet totally usable — new shower curtain. Plus, the set comes with curtain hooks. 

A PopSocket Pickle Rick from "Rick and Morty"

PopSockets Pickle Rick Phone Stand, available at PopSockets, $15.00

Know a fan of "Rick and Morty?" They'll love this Pickle Rick PopSocket from one of the show's most recognizable episodes. 

A gift for their other best friend (that's you)

Fun Face Cutout Paddles, available at Amazon, from $39.99

Michael Scott once said that gifts were great because you can point to them and say "Hey, man, I love you this many dollars worth." This gift also says "I love you this huge." 

Socks that mimic some of the most famous paintings in history

Chalier Famous Painting Socks, 4-Pack, available at Amazon, from $8.99

Klimt, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Munch — the gang's all here. Whether they're an art buff or just love socks that are fun but still functional, these are a great $10 gift to tack on. 

A plug-in that lets them control the TV and lights from the couch without getting up

Amazon Alexa-Enabled Smart Plug, available at Amazon, $24.99

Give couch potato people what they want: the ability to control the lights, TV, stereo, and other appliances without needing to get up from the comfortable spot they fell into. 

A 2020 calendar celebrating only the cringe-worthy awkwardness of timeless family photos

Awkward Family Photos 2020 Day-to-Day Calendar, available at Amazon, $15.99

Matching outfits, terrible stage direction, and a collection of 365 photos that will make you recoil in either recognition or secondhand embarrassment.

A punny breakfast spoon that works especially well for horror fans

Personalized Cereal Killer Spoon, available at Etsy, from $9.99

This spoon can be personalized with their name so it's well-suited for the true-crime or horror movie lovers in your life or anyone who just respects a good pun.

A Nicolas Cage activity book

"The Unofficial Nicolas Cage Coloring Book," available at Amazon, $7.99

Join Nicolas Cage on coloring pages that chronicle his iconic career — from "National Treasure" to "Raising Arizona."

A calendar of dog-shaming photos

Dog-Shaming 2021 Day-to-Day Calendar, available at Barnes & Noble, $15.99

If they also have a dog whose diet consists of chair legs and their favorite pair of slippers, they'll get a kick out of this dog-shaming calendar. 

A saint candle with your friend's face on it — or their pet's

Custom Prayer Candle, available at Etsy, from $20

You tell your friends you love and respect them, but what have you done to prove it lately?

A gimmicky present they'll actually wind up using

Tweexy Wearable Nail Polish Bottle Holder, available at Amazon, $9.99

If you've ever painted your nails, you can sympathize with the hassle of finding a safe spot for an open bottle of gooey, brightly colored polish. This $10 nail polish holder looks gimmicky, but it's actually useful. 

A kitchen towel that has a chart of beer and food pairings on it

Beer and Food Pairing Guide Towel, available at Wolf & Badger, $20

If they're the friend who will be brewing beer in their garage in a few months, urge along the process with this beer and food pairing towel. It'll give them great ideas for foods they may want to cook to complement beers they already have, or vice versa.

An unusual spiked seltzer ornament for an unusual year

Spiked Seltzer Ornament, available at Paper Source, $19.95 

A 2021 Christmas tree also recognizes no rules or traditions. The more unconventional and unapologetic, the better. 

An aesthetically pleasing wine holder for a glass at bathtime

Bathtime Essentials Wine Holder, available at Uncommon Goods, $38

Despite being a simple vehicle for enjoying wine in a bathtub, you can feel proud of this holder: it's accented with hand-picked beach stones, and the ash wood looks nicer than transparent plastic. It'll also come with a BPA-free plastic wine glass for safety.

A baking pan that makes edible cookie spoons

Cookie Spoon Pan, available at Uncommon Goods, $18

What's more fun than dipping cookies in milk? Replacing all the silverware in your home with cutlery made out of cookies like a second grader who became president for a day. 

A funny choose-your-own-adventure cookbook

What the F*@# Should I Make for Dinner?: The Answers to Life's Everyday Question, available at Amazon, $11.38

This popular cookbook was derived from the website of the same name, and it's a choose-your-own-adventure book of 50 solid meal ideas for the nights when they have no clue what to make. 

A binge-watching survival kit for the deep Netflix rabbit holes

Pinch Provisions Binge-Watching Survival Kit, available at Pinch Provisions, $20

This binge-watching survival kit is especially perfect for the friend who's always complaining about the thinly-veiled disapproval in Netflix's "Are you still watching?" notification. 

A card game that has you anonymously answer the question "who's the most likely to..." out of your friends

The Voting Game Adult Card Game, available at Amazon, $24.95

This card game basically asks you to anonymously answer "Who's the most likely to..." out of your friends — perfect for the next low-key night or pregame. You may also want to check out "Who in the Room" or the card version of "Never Have I Ever". 

A punny and entirely functional umbrella

Raining Men Clear Bubble Dome Umbrella, available at Amazon, $22.95

The perfect accessory for days when it's "raining men." 

A mug with a built-in basketball hoop

Giveback Mug with a Hoop, available at Uncommon Goods, $25

Turn hot chocolate with marshmallows or cereal into a game with this mug made by an eight-year-old kid-preneur. 

A Dr. Seuss parody reimagined for the working world

Oh, The Meetings You'll Go To!: A Parody, available at Amazon, $12.68

Laugh. Otherwise, you'll cry. 

A pie dish with a geeky pun baked right in

I eight sum pi dish, available at Etsy, $23.95

Do they love puns, math equations, and/or pie? This popular "I eight sum pi" dish is a great intersection of them all. 

A to-go sriracha sauce keychain for the hot sauce friend

Sriracha Sauce Keychain, available at Amazon, from $13.99

Perfect for the friend who asks for hot sauce before even tasting the food.

An eerily accurate poster

Coffee Talk Art Print, available at Society6, from $17.49

If they're never further than 45 feet from a coffee pot, they'll probably appreciate the gallows humor of this spot-on poster. 

A funny T-shirt that's perfect for fans of rock and roll

Devil's Music Sing-Along Classic T-Shirt, available at Redbubble, from $29.40

Celebrate their love of rock and roll with a T-shirt dedicated to their love of the "devil's music," complete with a record player engulfed in flames. 

Ceramic takeout-inspired dishes

Fortessa Fortaluxe Food Truck Chic Small Take Out Box, set of 4, available at Amazon, $32.56

Perfect for the friend whose ideal night is staying in. 

A tiny fan for the friend who logs 15 minutes per week complaining about the office's temperature

Fred & Friends Little Big Fan USB, available at Amazon, from $18.15

For the perpetually overheated, grab a small fan they can plug into your computer or laptop for power. 

A Bob Ross Chia Pet

Chia Pet Bob Ross with Seed Pack, available at Amazon, $20.99

Just because they've never asked for a live plant in the shape of an angelic cultural giant doesn't mean they won't love growing one. 

Hilarious, NSFW stories from American history you didn't learn in school

The United States of Absurdity: Untold Stories from American History, available at Amazon, $13.49

From the creators of the podcast "The Dollop" comes the weird, hilarious, and true untold stories of American history — accompanied by full-page illustrations that bring each historical "milestone" to life. 

All the moods of Nicolas Cage on a T-shirt

Nicholas Cage Mood T-Shirt, available at Headline Shirts, from $28

A national treasure in its own right. 

A hilarious NSFW card game you can play together

Cards Against Humanity: Red Box, available at Amazon, $20

Most people already have Cards Against Humanity, and this extended "Red Box" version comes with 300 fresh cards to add into the mix (230 white and 70 black). The company also notes that it "transforms your deck of Cards Against Humanity into a better bludgeoning weapon against home invaders." 

A cocktail recipe book that pairs good music with good drinks

Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks, available at Amazon, $22.49

Combine two great pastimes into one with a guide of 70 albums from the '50s through the '00s, paired with an A-side and B-side cocktail for each one. They're organized by mood, so they'll know just what pairing to use.

A satire picture book on bringing kids to an art gallery

We Go to the Gallery, available at Amazon, $10.02

This parody of a 1960s children's book satirizes what it's like to bring kids to an art gallery — perfectly examining contemporary art and existential dread. 

A mini waffle maker for tiny waffles

Dash Mini Waffle Maker, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, $9.99

This mini waffle maker is perfect for when they want to make a waffle just for them rather than a whole spread. 

A Tile Mate to ring their keys or phone wherever they lost them

Tile Mate with Replaceable Battery, available at Amazon, $24.95

For the friend who has invested far too much money in key duplicates. 

Abbi Jacobson's book

I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff, available at Amazon, from $15.16

This "New York Times" bestseller comes from the co-creator and co-star of the hit series "Broad City"— and you can rest assured that if your friends have ever mentioned the show, they'll love this. 

A punny soap opera kitchen sponge holder

Peleg Design Scrubber Holder Soap Opera, available at Peleg Design, $15

Who doesn't love a good pun? Or cleaner sponges? 

A mini flip cup game

Mini Flip Cup Game, available at Uncommon Goods, $40

A good-natured drinking game with friends, but make it tiny. If you'd rather try your pointer finger at Mini Beer Pong, there's that too for $60. 

A funny cookbook made especially for hungover, demoralizing mornings

The Hungover Cookbook, available at Amazon, $7.99

This cookbook was built to handle hangovers — six types of them to be exact. Recipes are tailored to the specific hangover and are bookended by insights into hangover science, quizzes to see if you're maybe just still drunk, and witty jokes. 

A mind-blowing fusion of two beloved standbys: cookies and lip balm

Taste Beauty Oreo Molded Lip Balm, available at Amazon, $5.49

Oreo flavored lip balm — because once humans figured out how to make fire and penicillin, they just decided to have fun.

A device that stirs ingredients for you

Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer, available at Uncommon Goods, $25

Like the wearable nail polish holder, this is another product that arguably shouldn't exist. And yet ... it's a great way to make sure everything is perfectly cooked, without hovering over the pan and stirring continually. Funny, weird, and — according to its 43 reviews and 4.8-stars — actually very useful.

Cute loose tea infusers shaped like Nessie

Ototo Baby Nessie Silicone Tea Infuser, available at World Market, $5.98

Buy a cute Loch Ness Monster tea infuser and some delicious loose leaf tea blends to fill it with.

A Slothmas sweatshirt

RAISEVERN Unisex Funny Print Ugly Christmas Sweater, available at Amazon, from $11.99

Merry Slothmas to all and to all a 20-hour sleep cycle, goodnight.

A wine glass that fits an entire bottle of wine

BigMouth Inc Ultimate Wine Bottle Glass, available at Amazon, $17.99

This "wine glass" fits an entire bottle of wine as a single-serving.

An extremely fun board game that made Kickstarter history

Exploding Kittens Card Game: NSFW, available at Amazon, $15.99

Exploding Kittens is basically a highly strategic version of Russian roulette with a cat theme. It was the most-backed project in Kickstarter history. (Note: this version is NSFW).

A crowd-pleasing gag gift mug

BigMouth Inc Toilet Mug, available at Amazon, $14.99

This ceramic gag gift mug has become a bit of a mainstay in the genre, and it holds up to 12 ounces of their favorite drink. 

A set of tumblers with the best advice from bad dogs

Bad Dog Wisdom Tumblers, available at Uncommon Goods, $35

A bad dog learns a few good tricks — like when to bluff or when it's ok to ask for forgiveness instead of permission. 

A microwavable popcorn popper

Microwave Popcorn Popper, available at Walmart, $8.88

Load this microwavable popcorn maker up with kernels and pop it in the microwave for delicious popcorn without the hassle of actually doing the stovetop thing. 

A punny mug made by an independent artist

For Fox Sake Mug, available at Society6, from $15.29

For the friend who loves puns, has a penchant for swearing, or appreciates a nice ceramic mug, this gift is a (fox)hole in one.

• Amidst the continuing pandemic, many travelers are still seeking close-to-home domestic getaways.
• The Jersey Shore offers an easy East Coast vacation with sandy beaches and retro towns.
• We chose top Jersey Shore Airbnbs from Point Pleasant to Cape May, ranging from $88 to $375.

Though the pandemic is still ongoing, there's hope on the horizon with vaccine rollouts well underway and many day trippers and weekend warriors are itching to get back down the shore this year. 

In general, the boardwalks are made up of small businesses, so the opening and distancing rules of each establishment will vary, and it will continue to depend on how the COVID-19 situation evolves.

Last year shore icons like the Wildwood tram car installed plexiglass dividers and a twice-per-hour wipe down, measures that will likely continue. But, despite the recent changes, Jersey's beaches still offer an easy coastal vacation with plenty of appeal, both in summer and the less crowded off-season, which sees lower prices. 

And if you're wondering if travel is safe, experts consider private vacation homes, such as those on Airbnb, as one of the safer places to stay, especially when compared to hotels. This is because you can book an entire home protected from interaction with others. Airbnb also has rigorous new Enhanced Cleaning Protocol procedures that all hosts must now follow. 

Of course, there is still no firm guarantee with regard to safety. It's crucial to continue to follow guidelines and advice from organizations such as the CDC and WHO, and practice safety measures including wearing a mask, washing your hands, and maintaining social distancing. Additionally, even once you're vaccinated the CDC advises you should continue to wear a mask in public areas.

If you do decide to take a jaunt down the shore, we searched the most popular Jersey beach towns for Airbnb listings. The area has mostly shaken its party reputation, and towns like Asbury Park and Ocean City are excellent for families. Though, if the Point Pleasant house from MTV's hit is what you're looking for, it's bookable, too.

We chose the best Jersey Shore Airbnbs based on the following criteria:

1. Airbnb listings are for the entire home, so you don't have to worry about sharing a bathroom or keeping distance.
2. The home is affordably priced, ranging from $88 to $375, with availability to book as of publishing time.
3. All are highly-rated Airbnb listings with a review score of 4.8 or higher.
4. Properties are unique and modern with free parking and offer close proximity to the beach.

Although not a perk offered by all of these Airbnbs, ask your host if beach badges will be included. They are required to access most beaches in New Jersey and can save you from paying a pesky fee.

These are the best Airbnbs on the Jersey Shore, sorted by price from low to high.

Cozy oceanfront condo with amazing views in Atlantic City, $88

Book this oceanfront condo starting at $88 per night

Wake up and see nothing but blue. With a panoramic window overlooking the ocean, this high-rise studio condo in Atlantic City is a chic and minimalistic alternative to a room at one of the casino hotels. With parking included, you won't need to worry about where to keep your car and can enjoy direct access to the boardwalk. The listing also mentions a shared gym and pool in the building, but these may be closed currently.

One unique design element of this apartment is the window above the Jacuzzi tub, which lets in a lot of natural light, but can also be covered up for more privacy.

This Airbnb has scattered availability in the next couple months, with more dates open in May.

Beach block apartment in Atlantic City, $157

Book this beach block apartment starting at $158 per night

This second-floor studio apartment was recently remodeled and includes a parking pass that will allow you to park on the street.

Inside, you'll find a modern kitchen, smart TV, and nice tile work in the shower. It's a relatively new listing, but the space feels fresh and up to date. Ideal for couples or solo travelers, the location is this listing's biggest draw. You can see the boardwalk and beach from the first-floor patio (which guests have access to).  

This home has full availability over the next several months.

Two-bedroom beach apartment in Asbury Park, $164

Book this two-bedroom apartment starting at $164 per night

Asbury Park, aka Bruce Springsteen's stomping grounds, is only a two-and-a-half-hour train ride from New York City. This newly renovated two-bedroom apartment is also within walking distance of the beach and the main strip of shops and restaurants, making it a convenient home base.

The kitchen is fully stocked and in addition to the four beach badges provided, guests also are able to borrow beach chairs, towels, and even a beach tent for babies. With hipster flair — think llama paintings and pops of color — and a porch furnished with cushioned outdoor furniture, this Airbnb is as thoughtful as any modern hotel, and certainly more spacious.

This home has decent availability over the next few months and opens up fully starting in August.

Family-sized home on the lagoon in Mystic Island, $175

Book this home on the lagoon starting at $195 per night

With three bedrooms and room for six, this huge house on the Mystic Island Lagoon, between Atlantic City and Long Beach Island, is great for a family-focused getaway with water views.

In addition to the outdoor seating area, hammocks, fire pit, and grill, this listing includes a huge dock that puts you right on the water. Rent kayaks or use the house's pedal boat free of charge. The home's decor is nautical without being kitschy and the deck views, complete with an outdoor breakfast nook, are lovely. 

This popular home has scattered availability over the next few months and becomes fully available in September.

Large house with private balcony and patio in Ventnor City, $188

Book this house starting at $184 per night

Not far from Atlantic City and only two blocks from the Ventnor City Beach, this house is so spacious with three bedrooms spread over two floors that there's room for nine guests.

Staying here includes complimentary beach badges and chairs and space for two cars to park. The decor is modern and light, but still beachy with a touch of sophistication. While here, you can gather the crew around the kitchen island or sit out on the big patio and enjoy the salty air. For an extra fee, you can even bring your four-legged friends to join you.

The house has good availability over the next few months, but is already booking up fast for summer weekends.

Newly renovated apartment in Seaside Heights, $200

Book this apartment starting at $199 per night

Despite being the epicenter of every Jersey Shore stereotype, there's a reason why Seaside Heights is so popular — it's a lot of fun. And this newly renovated three-bedroom apartment located right on the beach provides a wonderful counterbalance to the boardwalk's gimmicky charm. The interior is tasteful, dressed in light beach tones that make it feel airy and bright. Bookings include beach badges, as well as a shared outdoor space with picnic tables, a grill, and an outdoor shower.

There are four apartments in total in this building, so if you have a large group, you may even consider renting out the whole space. And given the beachside location along Jersey's most famous strip of sand, it's actually quite the steal.

This listing has availability starting in June, but books out early. It may be worth booking a summer vacation now.

Oceanfront condo in Wildwood Crest, $218

Book this oceanfront condo starting at $218 per night

The balcony of this ocean-facing condo overlooks Wildwood's famously large beach, and its location on the crest, south of the main boardwalk, also means it's a quieter alternative to the more boisterous side of town.

The decor is light and calming thanks to the serene tones of turquoise accents, aquamarine walls, and wooden furnishings. This is a small studio apartment ideal for a couple or small family with a Queen-sized bed plus a pull-out sofa that numerous guests have praised for its comfort. A large flat-screen TV, board games, and access to a shared pool make it a worthy pick.

This Airbnb has good availability for the next few months, but it already booking up fast for summer weekends.

Chambourcin cottage at Willow Creek Vineyard in Cape May, $271

Book this cottage starting at $271 per night

Willow Creek Winery lists multiple cottages varying in size on Airbnb, but the second-floor Chambourcin Cottage strikes us as the coziest and offers the best value. The open layout includes a comfortable living area with two plush couches, a nicely-tiled bathroom with walk-in shower, a stocked kitchen, and a Queen-sized bed. 

The apartment's two porches overlook 50 acres of grapevines, which you'll be free to walk around throughout your stay. The quaint atmosphere offers a romantic spot for couples looking to nestle in for a weekend.

Although this listing isn't directly on the beach, it's only two miles away from the iconic Cape May Lighthouse.

There is good availability over the next few months and the calendar is wide open starting in August.

Townhouse with ocean view in Sea Isle City, $279

Book this townhouse starting at $279 per night

With four bedrooms, as many as 11 people can enjoy this huge townhouse located steps away from the Sea Isle City Beach. The decor is clean and bright with a hint of a beach vibe and there's even an indoor fireplace, in case you want to get cozy on chilly nights. Soaring ceilings, a full kitchen, and well-kept bedrooms make it feel extremely liveable.

But the best standout feature is the three-tiered roof deck, which is a prime spot to take in incredible sunsets. Past reviewers also praise how easy it was to communicate with the host.

There's good availability in April and May, but summer is already booking up.

Bay house in Wildwood Crest, $375

Book this bay house starting at $375 per night

This enormous house might be at the top of the price range, but with four bedrooms, room for 12 people, and a full deck that leads out to a boat dock on Sunset Lake, it's a solid deal.

If you know you're not going to wake up early enough to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic, at least you'll know you'll never miss a sunset with the bay for your backyard. The decor leans beachy, but amenities include everything from paddleboards and kayaks to crab traps and fishing poles.

Guests share the deck with other apartments on the property, but it's possible to book the whole house and property as well if you have a really big group.

The house has good availability in April and May but is already largely booked for the summer.

Discover more great beach getaways

• The best Airbnbs in Cape Cod
• The best vacation rentals in Ocean City
• The best Airbnbs beach houses in the US
• The best Airbnbs in the Hamptons
• The best Airbnbs in New England
• The best vacation rentals in the Outer Banks

• There's nothing cozier than curling up in a hotel room with its own private fireplace. 
• Studies have even shown sitting by a fire can lower your blood pressure and decrease your stress levels. 
• We found hotels across the US at a range of prices that offer the ultimate in-room amenity: a fireplace.

Do you feel like your stress level goes down a number of notches when you're sitting by a roaring fire? You're not imagining things. Scientists have found that an open fire lowers your blood pressure — and the longer you stay in front of a fireplace, the more relaxed you get.

So it's no surprise that some of my most memorable hotel experiences have happened by a fireplace, from the time I got happily stuck during a blizzard at the XV Beacon Hotel in a room with a gas fireplace, to a romantic escape at New York's Lake Placid Lodge back when my husband and I were first dating. 

And here's the thing about a fireplace: It doesn't have to be the dead of winter to create a cozy atmosphere. I have equally fond memories cozying up at Phoenix's historic Hermosa Inn in August. Luckily, the desert cools off at night, but trust me — I would have run the air conditioner all night long just to be able to enjoy my room's beautiful beehive fireplace.

And let's admit we've all gotten used to the idea of lounging around in our pajamas over the past year. So if the idea of snuggling up next to a fireplace in your PJs on your next hotel stay is appealing, check out these welcoming US hotels that have private, in-room fireplaces. 

I've selected these properties based on the following criteria:

1. In addition to my own travel experiences, along with insights from other friends and industry colleagues, all hotels are highly rated and reviewed on sites such as Trip Advisor, Booking.com, and Hotels.com. 
2. Scattered across the US, each one of these properties delivers not only with an inviting in-room fireplace, but also by offering a well-rounded travel experience that includes useful amenities, creative programming, and top-notch service. 
3. Most of the hotels on this list start under $400 in low season, but there are also a few more luxurious options for people who want to splurge. (Perhaps a fireplace in the room will help make up for that Amalfi Coast honeymoon that got canceled because of COVID-19?) 
4. These hotels also feature enhanced COVID-19 policies, which are highlighted below.

All that said, if you're not sure whether it's safe to stay in hotels right now, it's important to understand the risks associated with travel during the ongoing pandemic. While vaccinations are becoming more widespread, there is still no guarantee of safety. It continues to be crucial to follow guidelines from the CDC, wear a mask, wash your hands, sanitize, and maintain social distancing. Additionally, it's important to check current state travel restrictions before booking, assess your own risk levels, and consider whether your travels might increase infection rates in other areas.

Read on for the best hotels with in-room fireplaces across the US.

Topnotch Resort – Stowe, Vermont

Book Topnotch starting at $241 per night

Spread across 120 wooded acres with jaw-dropping mountain views, Topnotch is the ideal place to get away from it all and experience nature at its finest. At the main hotel, three of the suites have sleek fireplaces that are great for warming up after a day on the slopes or hiking some of the state's most spectacular trails. For people who want to have even more social distancing, there are also spacious two- and three-bedroom Resort Homes, each with a fireplace that will take the edge off the chilliest Vermont night.

In case you haven't gotten your fill of fireplaces, Topnotch also has a massive fireplace in Roost restaurant where everyone gathers (safely) après ski, as well as a firepit outside that's perfect for roasting s'mores and enjoying a craft cocktail while overlooking Mount Mansfield, Vermont's tallest peak.

TripAdvisor Ranking: 8 out of 25 hotels in Stowe

Booking.com Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pros: Reviewers say that the staff is friendly and welcoming to everyone from children to dogs. The food at the in-house restaurant gets high marks. They also appreciate the indoor pool and hot tub.

Cons: Guests complain that some of the services aren't available or are reduced due to COVID, which has resulted in — for example — longer waits for a table in the restaurant. 

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• The frequency of cleaning and disinfecting has been increased in all public spaces.
• Some in-room disposable amenities are available only by request. 
• Physical distancing and mask-wearing is enforced throughout the resort.
• Restaurants and bars will reduce seating capacities to allow for a minimum of six feet between each seated group.
• You can read more here.

Eastwind Hotel – Windham, New York

Book the Eastwind Hotel starting at $279 per night

In Windham, a charming little mountain town in the Catskills, Eastwind is your Instagram dream come true. This former bunkhouse for hunters and fly fishermen dates back to the 1920s — but it has been given a thoroughly modern overhaul. Rooms now have sleek Scandinavian furnishings and the grounds are dotted with Lushna cabins with huge picture windows overlooking the hotel's lush 17 acres. But the heartwarming showstopper is the Suite within the property's Bunk House. At 600 square feet, it's as big as some Manhattan apartments and features not just one but two King-sized beds, two seating areas, and a private fireplace. Pull up a chair and wrap yourself in one of the Faribault wool blankets — perfect for cuddling. 

If you weren't able to snag the Suite (or just want to get out and explore), Eastwind has plenty of outdoor firepits scattered around the property. Plus, the hotel offers amenities like wood barrel saunas and drinks delivery — just the thing you need when you're craving a craft cocktail in your room or a thermos of mulled wine by one of the firepits. 

TripAdvisor Ranking: 4 out of 8 B&Bs in Windham

Booking.com Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Pros: Rooms are stylishly designed and guests rave about the extra touches like complimentary mulled cider, hats, blankets, and s'mores kits. The property is also dog-friendly.

Cons: Reviewers complain that the bathrooms are lacking in storage space. Also, many restaurants in the area are closed mid-week due to COVID-19, so finding food at off-times can be a challenge.

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open, and contact-free check-in is available. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• The main lodge is open at reduced capacity.
• All rooms will remain empty for a minimum of 24 hours before and after your stay.
• Drinks from the bar are by delivery.
• The hotel is equipped with contactless check-in/out via key code entry.
• Cleaning of property amenities occurs daily and additional sanitizer stations are positioned near all amenities.
• You can read more here.

Read our full review of Eastwind Hotel's Lushna Suite cabins

High Peaks Resort – Lake Placid, New York

Book High Peaks Resort starting at $129 per night

With so many hotels sporting in-room fireplaces, you could call Lake Placid the fireplace capital of the world. Besides Lake Placid Lodge — which helped me fall in love with the concept of a fireplace in a room — another appealing destination is the High Peaks Resort. The hotel has several lodging options, but it doesn't get much better than the Waterfront Hotel, set right on the shores of Mirror Lake. Five out of seven junior suites, as well as the Waterfront Suite, have fireplaces, in addition to priceless views of the lake.

The hotel lends out free ice skates and snowshoes and also gives guests admission to Lake Placid's full-service Nordic Center, with access to more than 12 miles of groomed trails for cross-country skiing. So you can spend your days exploring the surrounding 6-million-acre Adirondack Park, then come back to the room and rejuvenate by your very own fire. 

TripAdvisor Ranking: 10 out of 33 hotels in Lake Placid

Booking.com Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Pros: Reviewers rave about the hotel's convenient location right in town and right next to Mirror Lake. Guests also like the indoor and pools.

Cons: Some guests complain about the additional resort fee, as well as reduced services due to COVID. 

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open, and contact-free check-in is available. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• The frequency of cleaning and disinfecting has been increased in all public spaces with an emphasis on frequent contact surfaces.
• Rooms are sealed with a sanitation label. All in-room disposable amenities are available on request.
• Physical distancing and mask-wearing is enforced in public areas.
• You can read more here.

White Elephant - Nantucket, Massachusettes

Book White Elephant starting at $185 per night

The White Elephant — a Nantucket landmark since the 1920s — is the height of preppy New England elegance, with gray shingles and white trim. This is the place where families visit for generations and brides dream of being married, an island institution with a main hotel, multi-room residences, and two lofts with balconies. The one-, two- and three-bedroom Residences are ideal for families. Much like your own personal beach getaway, the homes feature private entrances, pantry-style kitchens, and — you guessed it — fireplaces that invite guests to linger longer. There are also select rooms and suites at the main 21-room inn that feature fireplaces to snuggle next to after the sun sets — a welcome amenity on cool Nantucket summer nights. 

Located just steps from town and one of the only hotels on Nantucket with a pool, White Elephant allows for easy access to the island's restaurants, shopping and water activities. White Elephant will reopen for the season on April 15, 2021. 

TripAdvisor Ranking: 6 out of 12 hotels in Nantucket

Booking.com Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: Guests rave about the spacious and impeccable rooms, the top-notch staff, and the convenient location close to the harbor.

Cons: Naysayers complain about the high prices, and some guests say that the rooms could use updating (while others rave about the decor). 

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel will reopen for the season in April 2021. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• Increased vigilance and frequency in sanitizing and cleaning, especially public areas.
• The hotel is in regular contact with Town of Nantucket health officials.
• You can read more here.

Kingsmill Resort - Williamsburg, Virginia

Book Kingsmill Resort starting at $179 per night

Set along the James River in Williamsburg, Virginia, Kingsmill was founded by the Busch Family, which is known for Budweiser beer and the nearby Busch Gardens. The sprawling property keeps its guests entertained with a lazy river, waterslide, outdoor and indoor pool, two 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, and more.

The resort offers basic guest rooms, but for people who need more space — and pampering — there are one-, two-, and three-bedroom condos featuring wood-burning fireplaces. During winter months, Kingsmill guest service members bring firewood and will build and light the fire for you on request. If you really want to stretch out, splurge on the four-bedroom estate that was once the private mansion for the Busch Family and has its own private chef, custom golf carts for getting around, and — no surprise — multiple fireplaces.

TripAdvisorRanking: 13 out of 71 hotels in Williamsburg

Booking.com Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Pros: Convenient location for families who want to visit Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Williamsburg (with free shuttle service), and Water Country USA water park. There are plenty of restaurants and activities on-site.

Cons: Condo buildings do not feature elevators, and the daily mandatory resort fees that start at $22 do not include all activities.

COVID-19 status and policies: The hotel is currently open. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• Implementing the American Hotel & Lodging Association's Safe Stay industry-wide initiative.
• Resort guests and employees will be required to wear a face mask in all indoor settings.
• Parking is available directly in front of guest rooms and the shuttle is suspended.
• Guest rooms have private entrances.
• You can read more here.

The Campbell House - Lexington, Kentucky

Book The Campbell House starting at $104 per night

The oldest operating hotel in Kentucky horse country pairs southern elegance and charm with a warm and inviting atmosphere. Originally built as an equestrian farm, the Campbell House was recently renovated. Now, the hotel's historic beauty is discretely captured through its reimagined decor, including a selection of suites where a separate living area features a crackling fireplace. 

Fun fact: The Campbell House was recently inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and its Rackhouse Tavern features over 300 bourbons. So order a tasting from one of the city's famed distilleries, head back to your room, and chill out by the fire with a good book, a snug blanket, and a glass of Kentucky's finest.

TripAdvisor Ranking: 42 out of 77 hotels in Lexington

Booking.com Rating: 7.7 out of 10

Pros: Guests love the stylish common spaces, thanks to a recent remodel, and the cleanliness of the rooms.

Cons: Critics complain about not having enough towels in the room, as well as hearing noise from people in the hallways and nearby rooms. 

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open, and contact-free check-in is available. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• Following Hilton's CleanStay guidelines.
• Social distancing and mask-wearing enforced in common areas.
• Temporarily simplified breakfast services.
• You can read more here.

Big Cedar Lodge – Ozark Mountains, Missouri

Book Big Cedar Lodge starting at $209 per night

Picture yourself sipping hot cocoa as you lounge by the fire at Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri's Ozark Mountains, just south of Branson. Each of the log cabins and lakeside cottages comes with a wood-burning fireplace and a spa-like bathroom with heated stone floors. With its wide open spaces, this sprawling 4,600-acre wilderness resort — developed by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris — is just what you need during COVID. You'll find a variety of nature-based experiences including fishing, boating, and hiking. 

Want to explore? Just 25 minutes away is Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, a 10,000-acre nature park that is the Midwest's best-kept secret for wildlife lovers and bald eagle spotting. But you won't want to stay away too long because a peaceful fire awaits you back at the ranch.

TripAdvisor Ranking: 1 out of 2 hotels in Ridgedale

Hotels.com Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Pros: Guests rave about the fireplaces in the rooms and the service; wood is constantly restacked, even in an ice storm. Reviews also give a nod to the breathtaking scenery and range of outdoor activities.

Cons: Guests complain that the hotel's Valley View Lodge rooms need some updating. Some reviewers mention that the food at the Devil's Pool restaurant is overpriced and underwhelming.

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open, and contact-free check-in is available. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• Disinfecting all commonly touched screens, keypads, handles, phones, counters, and switches, multiple times daily, with CDC recommended products. 
• Housekeepers have added extra sanitation steps to room cleanings.
• Placing hand-sanitizing stations strategically across the property.
• Social distancing and mask-wearing is enforced in common areas.
• Overnight guests are provided masks in-room upon check-in.
• You can read more here.

The Broadmoor – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Book The Broadmoor starting at $230 per night

At The Broadmoor, which been hosting travelers in the Colorado Rockies for over 102 years, you'll find more than 50 rooms with fireplaces (just be sure to request one in advance). And as if that weren't enough, there are also eight fireplaces in the resort's lobbies, as well as dozens of firepits scattered around the 5,000-acre resort — perfect for making s'mores or gathering safely outdoors.

This part of Colorado is known for its picturesque mountains, streams, and canyons, as well as endless ways to enjoy the gorgeous nature around you — ziplining, fly fishing, horseback riding, golf, and more. But the best part of a stay here is kicking back by a crackling fire at the end of a rugged day of adventures, just like the prospectors would have done back during Colorado's historic gold rush.

TripAdvisor Ranking: 6 out of 114 hotels in Colorado Springs

Hotels.com Rating: 9.6 out of 10

Pros: Guests rave about the professional staff and seamless service, as well as the beauty of the hotel and the grounds.

Cons: Critics complain about the changes due to COVID, which has resulted in some long waits for restaurants, drinks, and the spa.

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• Adhering to mandated directives on both the federal and state levels, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Utilizing professional products and tools by EcoLab that are hospital-grade and approved by the EPA.
• Using electrostatic sprayers to apply Penetrexx, an antimicrobial coating, to high touch areas and fabrics at the property.
• Appropriate signage will be present throughout the property reminding guests and staff of required social distancing.
• Interactive guest texting is available.
• You can read more here.

Jackson Hotel – Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Book The Jackson Hotel starting at $419 per night

Set in the heart of downtown Jackson Hole, Wyoming, just minutes away from Grand Teton National park and an hour away from Yellowstone National Park, the Jackson Hotel will be your basecamp for a number of outdoor adventures. In winter, there's skiing, snowshoeing, ice hiking, and snowmobiling. In summer, you can go white water rafting, ziplining, hiking, and fly fishing. The hotel has incredible fireplaces throughout the property, from the public spaces (like the Sacajawea Library, which serves craft cocktails) to every guest room and suite. 

A LEEDS-built property, the woodsy, rustic hotel blends reclaimed barn wood, soft leather detailing, and modern western decor. As you relax by the fire in your room, gaze out the window at the breathtaking views of the mountains. 

TripAdvisor Ranking: 3 out of 40 hotels in Jackson

Booking.com Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Pros: Guests rave about the convenient location, the excellent service, and the food at the in-house restaurant.

Cons: Guests complain about the strict cancellation policies, as well as the high rates — especially during high season.

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open, and contact-free check-in is available. Many services and amenities have been updated to ensure the well-being and safety of guests, team members, and the community, including:

• After departure, each room is treated with Ultraviolet C (UVC) light for 30 minutes for sanitization. If possible, rooms are aired for 24 hours between guests. 
• Only individuals with reservations for the hotel or with reservations for our restaurant are permitted to enter the building.
• Contactless check-in is available.
• Reservations are required at restaurants.
• You can read more here.

Mt Ada – Catalina Island, California

Book Mt Ada starting at $480 per night

Experience a bit of California history at Mt Ada, the former island home of William Wrigley Jr. (of chewing gum and Chicago Cubs fame). This grand residence — named after his wife, Ada — showcases the style and sophistication of the 1800s, when the couple came here to escape from civilization. Each of the six guest rooms reflects a bygone era, and four have fireplaces in them — the perfect way to have a modern-day escape. The hotel also has a grand communal fireplace in the living room, with a portrait of Ada over it.  

Don't miss the lower level of the property, which features Mr. Wrigley's former billiards room, now a den with a bar, fireplace, and majestic island views. A spectacular wrap-around terrace looks out to Avalon Bay and is a great place to spot one of Catalina Island's resident Bald Eagles.  

TripAdvisor Ranking: 2 out of 8 B&Bs in Avalon

Pros: Reviewers love this "carefully preserved piece of living history" and the gracious staff that works hard to make people feel welcome.

Cons: Loyal guests miss some of the former perks like a free lunch and other reviewers complain about the high prices.

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open. Many services and amenities have been updated, though it does not go into specifics on the website. You can read more here.

Posthotel – Leavenworth, Washington

Book Posthotel starting at $475 per night

Located in Leavenworth, a small Washington town with strong Bavarian influences, the adults-only Posthotel is the next best thing to staying at a European-style wellness spa in the Alps, complete with saunas, steam rooms, hydrotherapy treatments, a saltwater swim-out pool, and plenty of other indulgences. And with fireplaces in the rooms, as well as hand-carved marble soaking tubs, you might never want to leave. 

But that would be a mistake. This beautiful part of Washington state is known for its outdoor activities — snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, biking — and rentals are included in the room rate. After you've worked up a sweat, come back to the hotel to relax in the spa and have breakfast or lunch (also included in the rate). Then head straight back up to the thing that drew you here in the first place — the fireplace in your room.

TripAdvisor Ranking: 13 out of 19 hotels in Leavenworth

Booking.com Rating: 9.7 out of 10

Pros: Guests rave about the hotel for recharging and relaxing and love the amenities like the saunas and pools.

Cons: Critics say that some of the other guests aren't respecting mask rules and complain that some services have been reduced because of COVID. Smoking is also allowed in some rooms, which is bothersome to other guests.

COVID-19 status and policies: This hotel is currently open. The hotel does not go into specific new COVID policies on its website, but you can read more about the hotel here.

• Apple iPad lineup consists of the iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro models.
• The newest iPads are the standard 10.2-inch iPad and the 10.9-inch iPad Air.
• Apple's standard 10.2-inch iPad is the cheapest, while the priciest is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Although they're not for everyone, the enduring popularity of tablets stands as a testament to their appeal. Tablets inhabit a middle zone between a smartphone and a laptop, giving you more computer-like capabilities for work and entertainment without the bulk. 

Apple's tablet family runs the gamut in pricing from as low as $329 for a standard iPad to around $1,649 for the latest iPad Pro with all the bells and whistles. So, whatever you're looking to spend, there's probably an iPad out there for you.

Below, we've rounded up all of the current iPad models available online right now so you can find the right Apple tablet for your needs and budget.

For more shopping advice, check out our full buying guide to the best iPads.

How much does the iPad cost?

• 10.2-inch iPad (2020): $329+
• iPad Mini (2019): $399+
• iPad Air (2020): $599+
• iPad Pro (2020): $799+ (price varies by size)

10.2-inch iPad (8th-gen, 2020)

Apple announced a new 8th-generation 10.2-inch iPad during its launch event in September  2020. 

It's powered by Apple's A12 chip, the same chip that powers the iPhone XS from 2018, which means it's powerful enough for basic tasks like watching Netflix, checking email, and browsing the web. It'll easily run advanced power-hungry games now, but this older chip will become outdated and slow over the years. 

The 8th-generation iPad supports Apple Pencil and Apple's Smart Keyboard, which connects to the iPad through a specific port and doesn't require Bluetooth. 

We've called the 10.2-inch iPad  the best iPad for most people because of its excellent balance of performance and value, at least compared to its more expensive counterparts. In our full review, we praised the tablet for its long battery life, affordable price, and solid performance given the specifications. 

On the flip side, buyers should be aware that the base model only comes with 32GB of storage, which is half the amount of space you get with the cheapest iPhone configuration. The 1.2-megapixel camera also isn't very sharp, which may be important if you spend a lot of time on FaceTime or Zoom.

It starts at $329 from Apple for the 32GB Wi-Fi model. You can get the 128GB Wi-Fi model for $429, the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model for $459, and the 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model for $559. These are the prices on Apple's website; keep an eye on third-party sellers for deals and discounts.

iPad Mini (5th-gen, 2019)

The current iPad Mini is in its 5th generation, and was released in March 2019.

Running on the A12 Bionic processor, it shares many qualities with the eighth-generation iPad that was released in September 2020. Other than its more compact size, the biggest differences between the two iPads are that the Mini has a sharper 7-megapixel selfie camera, a more advanced screen with Apple's True Tone tech and support for the P3 wide color gamut, and more storage at the high end. 

However, the iPad Mini isn't compatible with Apple's Smart Keyboard, so you'll have to use a Bluetooth keyboard if you want to get some work done on the Mini. But it is compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, which as we wrote in our full review is particularly great for the iPad Mini since its size makes it feel similar to scribbling in a notebook.

Unless you want a smaller tablet with a better camera for video chatting, it's not the best deal at $399 considering the standard iPad starts at $329. Still, it's the best option for a small tablet, if that's what you're after. 

iPad Air (4th-gen, 2020)

Apple announced the 4th generation of its iPad Air with a 10.9-inch display during its launch event in September 2020. 

It runs on Apple's A14 chip, which powers the iPhone 12 series. The new iPad Air also comes with an updated look that more closely resembles the iPad Pro, namely with the all-screen design and sharper squared-off edges. It was also updated to include USB-C instead of Apple's proprietary Lighting ports and cables for charging and connecting to computers. The Touch ID fingerprint sensor has moved to the top button.  

It supports Apple Pencil and Apple's new Magic Keyboard that comes with a trackpad. 

The iPad Air's main allure has always been its light weight, but at 1-pound, the latest 4th-gen isn't much lighter than other iPads. Still, we love the iPad Air's larger display, sleeker design, long battery life, and Touch ID support. The biggest downside is that it only comes with 64GB of storage, which is low for a premium tablet. 

With a starting price of $599, it's an ideal iPad if you want current powerful specs for performance and longevity, but don't want to spend as much as the iPad Pro.

iPad Pro (4th-gen, 2020)

The current and latest iPad Pro is in its 4th generation and was launched on March 18, 2020

The iPad Pro is the most high-end tablet in Apple's iPad lineup. Because it has more advanced hardware such as Apple's A12Z processor — which has more cores for computing and graphics processing — the iPad Pro is best-suited for those who intend to use their tablet primarily for work.

The iPad Pro really shines when paired with peripherals like the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio, although the cost of Apple's peripherals do drive up the overall price significantly.

The iPad Pro also comes with an enhanced rear camera with LiDAR depth sensing and a dual-lens system, making it more ideal for creative professionals than everyday users.  

The 11-inch model starts at $799, while the 12.9-inch version calls for $999 to start. 

We also recommend the Apple Pencil Stylus

The Apple Pencil officially works with every iPad Apple currently sells. The first-generation Apple Pencil works with the new iPad Mini and iPad Air, as well as the older 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the 2018 and 2019 standard iPads.

If you buy the new 11- or 12.5-inch iPad Pros, you should buy the second-generation stylus, which was made for those tablets and is even better than the original.

Over the years, we've tested a lot of styluses from companies like Adonit, 53, Wacom, and more. None of those styluses can hold a candle to the Apple Pencil. Whether you buy the first-generation Pencil or the second, you're getting a stylus that was made by Apple in tandem with the iPad.

As such, the Pencil works with the iPads' screens in special ways that no other stylus can. The result is improved pressure sensitivity and an impressively low level of latency. When you use an Apple Pencil, you actually feel like you're using a normal graphite pencil.

There are a few differences between the first and second-generation Pencils: The newer model has wireless charging and magnetically attaches to the side of the iPad. It was made for the new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pros, while the first-generation Pencil is for the older 9.7-inch iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. The older Pencil charges with a Lightning port on the end and doesn't attach to your iPad. It's also a bit cheaper.

Choose whichever works for the iPad you buy.

• NYU is one of the top schools in the world, but its tuition and location aren't accessible to all.
• Online learning platforms like edX and Coursera offer university courses completely for free.
• Below are some NYU classes you can take online for free, from performing arts to coding.

Ranked as one of the top universities in the world, New York University boasts schools like the Stern School of Business and the Tisch School of the Arts, each with their respective lists of impressive alumni. But beyond that, NYU's Greenwich Village/NoHo location can make it the dream school of anyone who loves NYC (or fantasizes about living there).

In reality, NYU's tuition makes it one of the top 50 most expensive US universities, and that's in addition to being located in the most expensive region of one of the most expensive cities in the country. Aka, it's not necessarily accessible to everyone who wishes they could go there.

One nice perk of e-learning is that many top schools— including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Yale, and more — offer online courses completely for free through platforms like edX and Coursera. NYU is one of those colleges, offering both individual classes and longer paid programs such as an edX MicroBachelors in Computer Science Fundamentals ($447.30) or an edX MicroMasters in Integrated Digital Media ($896.40).

Read below to learn more about some of NYU's free online offerings (some of which are also part of larger certificate programs).

9 NYU courses you can take online for free:

Creative Coding

Length: 14 weeks

Certificate cost: $249

Ideal for students with high computer literacy and some introductory programming experience, this course focuses on coding for creative projects, such as games, art, and design. Students learn the tools they need to create 2D art, animations, and other design-heavy projects. This is the first course in the Integrated Digital Media MicroMasters program.

Theories of Media and Technology

Length: 14 weeks

Certificate cost: $249

Whether you work in graphic design, UX/UI, or any field that strongly involves media and technology, this course teaches you how both those things impact society and culture. You'll leave with a richer understanding of how media is created and consumed, and be able to apply it to your own career. This is part of the Integrated Digital Media program, and it's recommended that you take Creative Coding before this course.

Introduction to Performance Studies

Length: 13 weeks

Certificate cost: $49

No matter which kind of performance art you're interested in, this course will be relevant in how you process and analyze performing arts whether it's theatre, dance, a political campaign, or even something on social media. Featuring insights from dozens of experts, this course also centers on a wide range of cultures and historical time periods in its lessons.

Basics of Computing and Programming

Length: 9 weeks

Certificate cost: $199

This introductory course starts off the Computer Science Fundamentals MicroBachelor program, teaching students the basics of the Python programming language, including binary code, positional number systems, branching statements, loops, strings, functions, lists, and more.

Introduction to Database Queries

Length: 5 weeks

Certificate cost: $166

The first course in the Introduction to Databases MicroBachelors program, this class focuses on learning the programming language SQL and using it to create, read, update, and delete databases. Students will also leave with hands-on experience with a relational database management system (RDBMS).

Introduction to Information Security

Length: 5 weeks

Certificate cost: $166

This is the first course in the Cybersecurity Fundamentals MicroBachelors program, and walks students through the three main terms in cybersecurity (confidentiality, integrity, and availability) before exploring good security design; ethical issues related to design, and how to tell threats apart from vulnerabilities and attacks.

Introduction to Networking

Length: 7 weeks

Certificate cost: $149

Providing an overview of computer networking, this course covers topics like networking applications, peer to peer networks, routers, IP protocol, and common securities technologies such as firewalls. It's part of a longer MicroBachelors program in Computer Science Fundamentals.

Introduction to Programming in C++

Length: 8 weeks

Certificate cost: $332

Perfect for students who have either completed NYU's Computer Science Fundamentals MicroBachelor program or have some familiarity with coding, this course covers the basics of the C++ programming language with lectures and practice lab activities. This is the first course in the Programming and Data Structures MicroBachelor program.

Engineering Health: Introduction to Yoga and Physiology

Length: 6 weeks

Certificate cost: $49

Through the lens of yoga and meditation, this course delves into the role and structure of human physiological systems — with a focus on how mindfulness can promote healthier functioning and even serve as effective preventative treatment.

For many parents (and their kids) across the US, Roblox has become the next best thing to exploring the world in real life.

The user-generated platform offers a mind-numbing array of "experiences," allowing anyone to take their personal avatars and jump around to do just about anything imaginable.

Roblox's growth and popularity, however, are anything but virtual. Fifteen years ago, the company was a tiny startup launched by cofounders David Baszucki, who remains CEO, and Erik Cassel, who died from cancer in 2013.

Today the company counts over half of all Americans under the age of 16 as users, it said recently. It has exploded from 12 million daily active users in 2018 to 17.6 million in 2019 — and grew 85%, to 32.6 million, in 2020. 

That's the kind of growth that gets a startup a valuation of about $29 billion, which is where Roblox sat ahead of its direct listing on Wednesday. After getting a so-called reference price of $45 a share, the stock took off in its market debut, closing Wednesday up 54% to $69.47.

SEE ALSO: Josh Kushner stands to make a mint on Oscar Health's much-awaited IPO, and has almost total control. Here are the venture investors who will also do well.

Altos Ventures: $8.08 billion

Silicon Valley-based Altos Ventures has taken part in six of Roblox's nine funding rounds, including last month when it bought 2 million shares in a Series H round for $90 million.

Altos managing director Anthony Lee has been on the Roblox board since 2008 as a lead independent director.

Its stake is:

• 116.3 million Class A shares

At $69.47 a share, those shares are worth $8.08 billion.

Cofounder and CEO David Baszucki: $4.58 billion

It all started with a car crash.

The idea for Roblox began in 1989 when cofounder David Baszucki, a Stanford-trained electrical engineer, and Erik Cassel programmed a 2D simulated physics lab called Interactive Physics. Students across the world used Interactive Physics to see how two cars would crash, or how they could build destructible houses.

The founder says that Roblox was started in 2014 to replicate the imagination and creativity they watched being used in their simulations on a bigger scale. Thirty-seven million daily users later...

His stake is:

• 8.66 million Class A shares and 57.3 million Class B shares

At $69.47 a share, those combined shares are worth $4.58 billion.

Meritech Capital: $3.84 billion

Meritech also has taken part in multiple funding rounds for Roblox, including a Series F in the summer of 2018, when it bought 3.63 million shares for $16.4 million ($4.51 per share) and a Series G in February 2020, buying 234,040 shares for $1.48 million ($6.32 per share).

Its stake is:

• 55.3 million Class A shares.

At $69.47 a share, those shares are worth $3.84 billion.

Index Ventures: $3.69 billion

Index Ventures has taken part in three of Roblox's funding rounds, most recently in its Series F in July 2018, when it bought 3.63 million shares for $16.4 million ($4.51 per share).

Its stake is:

• 53.1 million Class A shares

At 69.47, those shares are worth $3.69 billion.

Tiger Global Management: $2.81 billion

Tiger Global has participated in Roblox's last three funding rounds (Series F, G, H), buying 19 million shares at a price of $83.1 million ($4.37 per share).

Its stake is:

• 40.4 million Class A shares

At $69.47, those shares are worth $2.81 billion.

First Round Capital: $2.33 billion

First Round took part in two relatively modest Series D rounds in 2009 and 2011, according to Crunchbase, when the company raised a combined $6.2 million.

Its stake is:

• 33.6 million shares

At $69.47, those shares are worth $2.33 billion.

Greg Baszucki: $1.08 billion

The brother of Roblox cofounder David Baszucki, Greg Baszucki has been on the board since 2008. 

He's the CEO of Wheelhouse Enterprises, a marketplace for buyers and sellers of business software, and is the cofounder of FounderPartners, which builds and invests in capital efficient mobile, internet and software companies.

His stake is:

• 15.6 million Class A shares.

At $69.47, his stake is worth $1.08 billion.

Chief Business Officer Craig Donato: $213.3 million

Donato has served as the company's chief business officer since December 2016. Prior to that, he served as vice president of business development at Nextdoor.com, a social network service for neighborhoods, from September 2015 to December 2016. 

His stake is:

• 3.07 million Class A shares

At $69.47 a share, those shares are worth $213.3 million. 

CFO Mike Guthrie: $175.1 million

Chris Carvalho, director: $148.7 million

Carvalho has been on the board since December 2015. Since January 2014, Mr. Carvalho has been a board member and an advisor to several private gaming and entertainment companies. Between January 2010 and December 2013, Carvalho was chief operating officer of Kabam Games, a developer of online computer games.

His stake is:

• 2.14 million Class A shares

At $69.47 a share, those shares are worth $148.7 million.

Other investors: millions and millions

Additional investors that took part in Roblox's funding over the years, but are below the 5% shareholder disclosure threshold, include Andreessen Horowitz, Tencent Holdings and Warner Music Group.

Andreessen, for example, took part in the company's Series H round last month when it sold 11.9 million shares at $45 each for gross proceeds of about $535 million.

Trevor Milton, the charismatic founder of the electric-truck startup Nikola, became a minor celebrity in the automotive world last year after he took Nikola public in June, setting off a wave of public listings from electric-vehicle companies. Nikola had big names behind it — including General Motors, BlackRock, and Anheuser-Busch — and investors who at one point gave it a valuation larger than Ford's.

But in September, allegations that Milton had a long history of lying and exaggerating about Nikola's products quickly reversed the company's momentum, leading Milton to resign in a matter of weeks. 

Beginning in August, Insider started interviewing people who know or have worked for Milton while reviewing regulatory filings and lawsuits involving his companies. On March 6, Insider published the results of that investigation. You can read the full story here.

Below is a summary of the story's main findings.

Through a spokesperson, Milton declined to comment on Insider's story. Nikola also declined to comment.

SEE ALSO: Andy Jassy will be the next CEO of Amazon. Insiders dish on what it's like to work for Jeff Bezos' successor, who built AWS into a $40 billion business.

Milton's early successes came with allegations of dishonesty

Milton has been more successful than most entrepreneurs. He's sold two of his five startups, and his fifth, Nikola, made him a billionaire after it went public. Many of those who spoke with Insider said Milton's an unusually gifted salesman.

But some who have dealt with Milton over the years have accused him of misleading them or others.

• Glen Pilz, the man who bought Milton's first startup in 2006, told The Wall Street Journal that Milton misled him about a $30,000 contract he says Milton had presented to him as a done deal but which his company hadn't won. "The books were not what they said they were," Pilz told CNN. 
• Swift Transportation, a trucking company that worked with dHybrid, Milton's third startup, sued dHybrid for breach of contract in 2012. Swift alleged dHybrid executives had spent some of a $2 million advance in ways that violated their agreement. Swift also alleged that dHybrid's technology, fuel systems that mixed diesel and natural gas, didn't have the "technical efficiencies or capabilities" the startup had advertised. dHybrid denied Swift's allegations.
• Milton sold his fourth startup, dHybrid Systems, to the manufacturing company Worthington Industries in 2014. Many of dHybrid's fuel systems had to be repaired, but two former Worthington employees told Insider that a report, prepared by an engineer Milton had hired, gave the impression nothing was wrong with them.  

Milton continued to exaggerate during his time at Nikola

Milton founded Nikola in 2014. During his time at Nikola, Milton made a number of misleading statements, according to regulatory filings and people who worked for the company.

• Two contractors who worked on a prototype truck for Nikola in 2016 told Insider that Milton would tell visitors to Nikola's headquarters that the company had developed parts that it had actually bought from suppliers.
• In June, Bloomberg reported that Milton had lied when he said a prototype truck unveiled in 2016 had all the components needed to drive under its own power. Milton initially denied Bloomberg's report, but Nikola later admitted it was true.
• Nikola said in February that the financial-research firm Hindenburg Research correctly identified at least eight other instances in which Milton or the company made inaccurate statements, including comments Milton made in 2020 that Nikola developed all the "major" components in its vehicles.

Two women have accused Milton of sexual assault

Two women accused Milton of sexual assault last year. The first, Aubrey Smith, is a cousin of Milton's. She told Insider that he groped her after their grandfather's funeral in 1999, when she was 15 and he was 17. Three people close to Smith said in interviews with Insider that she told them about the alleged assault years before she spoke with Insider. 

In September, CNBC published a story that included an allegation from a former employee of St. George Security & Alarms, Milton's first startup, that Milton had sexually assaulted her in 2004, when she was 15 and he was 22. The woman's name was not disclosed by CNBC, though the publication said a friend of the woman, as well as Tyler Winona, a former friend of Milton, corroborated parts of her account.

Winona told CNBC that Milton later bragged to him about the alleged assault, saying, "I like virgins because they are naive."

Milton denied the allegations made by Smith, Winona, and the woman mentioned in CNBC's report.

Milton's friends say he's misunderstood

Three of Milton's friends described to Insider a different side of Milton, one that's loyal, highly intelligent, and generous.

"He's got a huge heart," one of those friends, Jimmy Rex, said. "He's always been willing to do things for other people. There's so many things that he does that no one ever sees."

Another friend said he never saw Milton walk past a homeless person without giving them something when the two lived in Utah. More recently, Milton gave Nikola employees a total of 7 million shares, worth about $125 million, as a token of gratitude.

Milton had a difficult childhood

When he was growing up in Las Vegas and Utah, Milton dealt with a number of challenges: His mother and step-mother died before he turned 22, he was bullied in grade school (according to a childhood friend), he failed out of high school, and he dropped out of college after one semester.

When Milton lived in Utah, his father worked four hours away, forcing Milton and his siblings to become more self-sufficient. "I didn't have people there to take care of me," Milton said last year on "The Mark Haney Podcast.""I had to do it myself."

Milton's been quiet since leaving Nikola

Milton has been quiet since leaving Nikola, a surprising development for someone who once expressed himself through a steady stream of tweets, Instagram videos, and interviews. 

After spending much of his adult life leading startups, Milton now wants to rest and focus on his personal life in a way he wasn't able to before, Michael Fleming, a friend of Milton's, told Insider. Milton's LinkedIn profile says he's "currently taking a break from social media and work."

Are you a current or former Nikola employee? Do you have a news tip or opinion you'd like to share? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@insider.com, on Signal at 646-768-4712, or via his encrypted email address mmatousek@protonmail.com.

The autonomous-vehicle industry is crowded with companies looking to cash in on what could be a $50 billion market by 2030. Zoox, which Amazon acquired last year, stands out for pursuing a difficult strategy followed by few of its peers. Where many companies are focusing only on the software and hardware needed to create a computer-operated "driver," Zoox is also designing and assembling a custom robotaxi.

When Georgina Salamy, Zoox's director of talent acquisition and insights, interviews job candidates, she looks for people who have researched Zoox's philosophy and are excited by it.

"We want to see if the candidate does have a fundamental understanding of the difference between our approach and other companies," Salamy told Insider, as well as why the company is taking a different tack than the rest of the industry.

These are two of the key questions Salamy asks during interviews and what she's looking for when candidates answer them.

SEE ALSO: How to land an interview at Amazon's white-hot self-driving startup, according to its hiring director

What is your ideal job?

Salamy wants to understand what drives the candidate and what kind of work environment they prefer. When evaluating a candidate's answer, she'll think about how closely it aligns with what it's like to work at Zoox.

It's a good sign if the candidate says they embrace being challenged and held accountable, appreciate working with smart colleagues, and want to build a product that has transformative potential.

"These are all things that are super important for us because of the complexity and the scale of what we're doing," Salamy said.

Why are you interested in working at Zoox?

You'll hear this question at just about every job interview, and Salamy will notice if it sounds like you haven't thought about your answer ahead of time.

Salamy wants the candidate's answer to indicate that they've taken the time to learn about the autonomous-vehicle industry and the different approaches companies are taking to developing self-driving cars. She's looking for candidates who find Zoox's approach particularly exciting and can explain why.

"If somebody doesn't have a compelling reason for why they are choosing Zoox over any other company in this space, it doesn't sit well," Salamy said.

Are you a current or former Zoox employee? Do you have a news tip or opinion you'd like to share? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@insider.com, on Signal at 646-768-4712, or via his encrypted email address mmatousek@protonmail.com.

Shortly after Taylor Poindexter began a job as a tech consultant at a small firm in 2016, she had a pivotal conversation that shaped the way she now thinks about salary and compensation transparency. 

During drinks with coworkers who were hired around the same time and at the same level, one person divulged that he, an asian male, had received a $10,000 signing bonus. Poindexter had not, so she decided to ask her manager about it.

Management said she would not receive a bonus and warned her not to discuss compensation with her coworkers again. (Even though talking about wages is a legally protected activity, employers often try to discourage it.)

This was the first time that Poindexter would confront stark pay inequity as a Black woman in tech, but certainly not the last. At her next job, she and a white male coworker shared their salaries and discovered he was making significantly more despite having the same level of experience.

Inequalities in tech-industry wages are well documented and widespread. Job-search marketplace Hired conducted a survey in 2020 that found that job applicants who identified as Black or Hispanic continued to both anticipate and accept lower pay offers than their white and Asian counterparts for the fourth year in a row.

One of the first steps to closing the pay gap is pay transparency, experts say.

"From a worker's perspective, without accurate information about peer compensation, they may not know when they're being underpaid," economics professor Emiliano Huet-Vaughn recently told The New York Times. "Without knowing what other workers' salaries look like, it naturally becomes harder to make the case that one is suffering a form of pay discrimination."

That's one of the reasons Poindexter, who is a cofounder of Black Code Collective and was most recently a senior back-end engineer at a stealth civic tech startup, created a tech-salary-transparency document that she shared with her thousands of followers on Twitter in September.

The most valuable aspect of having pay transparency, Poindexter said, is that it makes it harder for companies to treat people unfairly.

"By being transparent, you cut that bull crap outright at the root," she said. "Granted you may not be able to get the money from that company, but at least you know [comparable salaries] so that you can hopefully go somewhere else where you can get your true value."

Almost 2,200 people have taken part in Poindexter's survey so far, which asks questions about respondents' job title, job location, company size, industry, salary, experience, and bonuses. 

Although the survey does not include information about race, Poindexter said that she hopes that both minority tech workers and white allies will use it to share their compensation.

"Quite a few Black and brown women have sent me messages either on Twitter or other communities I'm in through Slack and told me that since viewing the document, they've been brushing off the résumés and getting ready to go somewhere else," she said. "Because while they thought that they were well paid, they now realize that they are by far underpaid."

The data from this survey has been aggregated by Cody Braun on GitHub. You can read some of its takeaways below.

Poindexter is not the first to create a way to share tech-industry salaries. While an engineer at Square in 2018, Jackie Luo collected salary information from tech workers on Twitter and published her findings. Erica Baker shared on the "Re/code Decode" podcast in 2015 that while she was at Google, thousands of her coworkers contributed to her salary-transparency spreadsheet (though she said her managers withheld the "peer bonuses" she was awarded for creating it).

Poindexter's advice for advocating for increased workplace transparency is to create bonds on your team: Through mutual trust and clarity, all workers can benefit. Armed with peer-salary information, it's easier to have compensation conversations with your employer.

The salary doc has helped Poindexter set her own expectations

Poindexter recently found herself at the center of a Twitter fracas when she tweeted her salary expectations for her next job. The tweet received all kinds of responses: Many people sent her links to job openings, but others blasted her with criticism that her minimum salary was too high. 

But because the number she tweeted was based on concrete data, Poindexter brushed off critiques about her salary bar. She feels confident in her own worth in the market. 

"My main take on the trolls is the fact that they're either people that think I can't do something simply because they can't or they're turned off by a Black woman having the nerve to be so direct about her worth," Poindexter said about the backlash. "Either way, they're irrelevant to my overall trajectory, and I fully anticipate they'll continue to belittle me as I reach greater heights."

Takeaways from the survey so far 

Developer Cody Braun aggregated the data from Poindexter's survey on GitHub, organizing by annual salaries based on respondents' specialty, location, and years of experience.

The data showed that full-stack developers made an average annual salary of around $75,000, while an engineer with ten years' worth of experience made around $200,000 annually. 

Annual salaries in San Francisco tended to average between $150,000 and $200,000, the data found, while the average salary in Atlanta was between $80,000 and $100,000.

SEE ALSO: Open source developers are using GitHub's 'sponsors' program to get paid for work they used to do for free — and some are making 6 figures

SEE ALSO: API startup Shippo doubled its valuation to $495 million with new funding to make all shipping as easy as Amazon Prime

SEE ALSO: Top 10 programming languages companies are hiring for in 2021, according to coding bootcamp Coding Dojo

This histogram based on the location of respondents shows that a tech role located in San Francisco made $150,000 to $200,000 a year on average.

This experience scatter plot shows that, despite the experience, each role tended to stay around or below a $200,000 annual salary.

This chart shows that large (>5000) companies tended to make the highest salaries, with smaller organizations (0-10) making the least.

This chart shows that large and midsize organizations had the highest rate of remote work at the time of the survey.

This graph shows the distribution of salary where most respondents were making around $100,000 or less.

These graphs show the survey results distributed by speciality, with management and leadership roles making the most, and quality assurance making the least.

This pie chart shows that most respondents identified as general engineering, with the next largest sector being management and leadership.

• Many Americans are still spending a lot of time at home and are postponing or canceling travel plans.
• You can replicate a five-star experience under your own roof and mimic the feel of a luxury hotel.
• These hotel-inspired products range from cozy slippers and sumptuous sheets to high-end bath products. 
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals.

Though vaccine rollouts are underway and there's hope on the horizon for future travel, the novel coronavirus pandemic continues and those far-flung vacations and luxe hotel stays are still on pause.

For my part, I'm dreaming of days spent enveloped in the comfort and indulgence of some of my favorite hotels around the world. I'm burning my sumptuous Aman candle, sliding around in a pair of slippers once monogrammed for me by the Beverly Wilshire, and drinking copious Vanderpump rose from a bottle Lisa Vanderpump autographed at the opening of her Caesars Palace lounge venue — all in attempts to channel those hotel vibes.

The good news is that you can turn your home into the closest facsimile possible of a dazzling hotel experience with some thoughtfully curated (and mostly affordable) upgrades.  

To come up with our list of luxury hotel-inspired items, we considered the categories most essential to the five-star experience, like bath amenities, bedding, and robes. We also looked for items that mimicked food and beverage offerings, and even replicated indulgent offerings, like room service, thoughtfully stocked minibars, and fresh flowers in rooms.

We also considered a range of price points, from products under $20 for a quick and affordable fix, to a few high-end investment pieces such as sumptuous sheets and luxe decor.

Almost all the items on our list fall under $100, so pick a few ideas and give your home the hotel-style upgrade it deserves … until your next check-in.

Here are 13 easy upgrades to make your home feel like a luxury hotel.

SEE ALSO: 18 hotels and Airbnbs around the world are currently offering virtual classes in lieu of their usual on-site activities and events — almost all of them are free

SEE ALSO: 14 signature cocktail recipes from hotel bars around the world — plus the tools and spirits you'll need to make them

A plush robe

Every traveler knows a plush white robe is a key component of a luxurious hotel experience; on a recent work trip to London at Christmastime, I spent as much time as possible prepping work in my fluffy robe at the Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square so I could stay cozied up until I had to brave the elements.

This version from Allswell does an ideal job of balancing the look and feel of a quintessential hotel spa robe. A waffle weave lends both a luxe look and feel with plenty of practicality: Its grooves enable it to absorb water like a sponge to dry you quickly and comfortably. And thanks to a stone washing process, it starts ultra-soft and only gets softer with each wash.

Soft slippers

These cozy waffle-weave slippers by Casual Avenue complement the robe for a matching hotel-like set. I picked this pair because they are super comfortable, soft, and absorbent — just right to keep by the side of your bed at night to replicate a posh turndown service. But, no judgment if you're still wearing them under the desk for your Zoom meetings, too.

Indulgent bath amenities

You don't need a deep soaking tub or high-end rain shower to feel the effects of a pampering hotel bathroom, though, they certainly help.

Indulgent bath products found in top hotels also do the trick. Cult-favorite Kiehl's — whose products have been carried in such hotels as LA's famous Hotel Bel-Air and Sunset Tower— offers a healthy skin starter kit with a set of five skin-care essentials to perk you right up and help moisturize.

Start with vitamin C serum, hydrate your face and eyes with cream and eye treatment containing nourishing avocado, and then replenish your skin before bed with facial oil — all included in this kit. All five products come as a set in a colorful, travel-ready carrying bag you can reuse when you next hit the road.

Crisp white sheets

Few things feel better than checking into a hotel room after a long journey and depositing yourself into a perfectly made bed, topped with crisp white sheets finished to perfection by expert housekeeping staff, hospital corners and all.

Frette bedding is found in many luxurious hotels around the world, including top-end brands like St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton. They even have their own hotel collection sheets that you can buy and feature double borders on durable cotton percale sheets made in Italy. In fact, we named the H by Frette collection the best hotel sheets in our guide to the best bed sheets. Sets include a top sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases.

Fluffy white towels

There's nothing quite as sumptuous as fluffy white towels. Just about every high-end hotel from the Four Seasons on down uses 100 percent cotton towels.

Get a set of your own for divine comfort reminiscent of a five-star suite with towels from Crane & Canopy, made from long-staple Turkish cotton for a lightweight yet soft and rich-feeling towel. You can even monogram them for an extra-special hotel feel. The essential bundle comes with two washcloths, two hand towels, and two bath towels. Unfortunately, housekeeping service to launder them after use is not included.

Read Business Insider's guide to the best bath towels

Room service breakfast buffet

If you're the room service type, you're going to want to set yourself up with an abundant breakfast basket to enjoy with a fresh pot of coffee or tea in the morning — ideally while kicking your slipper-clad feet up and reading the paper.

While you can't wake up and order fresh baked goods from Cafe 52 at the Hotel Grand Powers in Paris, you can come close with Harry & David's signature bakery assortment filled with delicious baked goods such as lemon poppyseed coffee cake and baklava.

The basket also includes cookies like raspberry galettes to round out a generous collection of baked goods that weighs in at over four pounds.

Fresh cut flowers

Cheery floral blooms typically decorate hotel lobbies and rooms, especially during seasonal periods. Some hotels really go all-in, like the Kitano Hotel New York, which employs a resident ikebana expert to create weekly customized floral arrangements.

Channel some of that beautiful sentiment and impart a pop of color to your space with a fresh potted bloom. This magenta Phalaenopsis orchid plant from 1-800-Flowers arrives in a distressed brown planter that is at once elegant and uplifting, adding a zen vibe to any space.

Read more: The best flower delivery services

An elegant scented candle

Transport yourself to a tranquil oasis — even as you shelter at home — with a scented candle that will perfume your entire space for a hint of hotel-like sensory pleasure.

Consider a candle from Jo Malone, whose scents waft through luxury hotels around the world like the elegant Beaumont Hotel in London and the chic London West Hollywood in Beverly Hills.

This version includes notes of honeysuckle to evoke the English countryside and its stately hotels, plus a fruity top note of davana and an earthy base of moss. 

Readmore: The best candles and where to buy them

Minibar pre-mixed cocktails

You may find yourself more tempted than ever right now to access an alcohol stash. Make your own minibar at home by keeping some pre-made canned cocktails at the ready, like Cutwater's vodka mule, made with ginger, a splash of bitters, and a hint of lime, plus Fugu vodka.

Four packs in attractive copper-colored cans are refreshing and affordably priced, and shipping is available to Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

The Moscow Mule traces its history back a century to New York's Chatham Hotel, so you can indulge in a little lodging lore while you sip. Plus, we love these for the pre-made ease. Quarantine is no time to add an extra trip to the store for ingredients, which are in limited supply anyway. Enjoy responsibly.

Read more: 14 signature cocktail recipes from hotel bars around the world — plus the tools and spirits you'll need to make them

A serene spa experience

Visiting a hotel spa may be out of the question, but here's how you can turn your home shower into a spa-like experience with some affordable, widely accessible amenities.

JR Watkins has an aromatherapy in-shower mist that adds fragrance to the at-home experience, instantly converting your shower into a spa-like steam room. Choose from Sleep, Detox, and Awaken aromas meant to stimulate or relax as needed. JR Watkins sent a complimentary sample of the Detox formula for me to try in my own bath, and it helped me melt off a bit of the stress of this challenging time.

The products aren't specifically available in hotels at this time, but the in-shower mist was a solid way to recreate experience showers I loved at spas like the Waldorf-Astoria Beverly Hills' La Prairie spa.

Read more: The best affordable hotel spas

Gorgeous glassware

There's nothing quite like visiting a swanky hotel bar or restaurant and sipping on an expertly-crafted cocktail to unwind. While many hotel bars and restaurants are still closed or have limited seating right now, you can still recreate the experience for yourself. 

You can start by mixing up one of these signature drinks from hotel bars around the world. But to really take it to the next level, invest in some beautiful glassware that can double as eye-catching art on your bar cart even when not in use. 

Estelle Colored Glass sells sets of handblown glassware in beautiful jewel tones from pastel peach to royal blue. There are options for stemware and stemless glasses, as well as champagne coupe glasses, and you can choose a set all in one color or have fun mixing and matching.

Read more: The best wine glasses

A hotel mattress

To really simulate the hotel experience at home, stretch out on an actual hotel bed, the kind that envelops you in comfort and instantly puts you into a deep sleep after a long day of traveling, sightseeing, or working.

Westin's well-known Heavenly Bed, found in all Westin Hotels & Resorts properties, is made with six layers of thick padding for plush comfort. Plus, it has a 13-inch conforming pillow top to complete the experience, which eliminates the need for mattress flipping, too.

Read more: The best mattresses

A destination-inspired bed frame

Saatva has recently introduced four new upholstered beds inspired by international cities. While travel to Australia and Europe might still be limited right now, you can bring the sophisticated feel of Valencia, Porto, Copenhagen, or Sydney straight to your bedroom.

Each frame is handcrafted with sustainably sourced hardwood that has been kiln-dried for extra durability. Each fream is available in three sizes (Queen, King, and Cal King) and in three color options (Taupe Vintage Velvet, Graphite Vintage Velvet, and Natural Linen).

More ways to recreate hotel experiences

• Hotel-branded products that will mimic a luxury travel stay at home — from Ritz-Carlton sheets to Marriott wine glasses
• Easy home decor tricks to steal from the world's top hotel designers
• Hotels and Airbnbs around the world are currently offering virtual classes in lieu of their usual on-site activities and events — almost all of them are free
• Signature cocktail recipes from hotel bars around the world — plus the tools and spirits you'll need to make them

A growing number of execs and investors are looking to cash in on media through special-purpose acquisition companies.

SPACs are blank-check companies set up to acquire and take companies public, often with less scrutiny, cost and time than a traditional initial public offering. SPACs have been viewed critically by some as riskier for investors, but they have boomed over the past year.

Some $82.8 billion was raised by 248 SPACs in 2020, up from the $13.6 billion raised by just 59 SPACs the prior year, according to J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

While the bulk of SPACs have focused on areas like technology or healthcare, media companies are getting into the space, too. Big names like Dish co-founder Charlie Ergen, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, Group Nine founder Ben Lerer and former Hearst chief content officer Joanna Coles are spearheading SPACs focused on acquiring media companies. And media companies like Playboy and CuriosityStream have recently gone public through SPACs.

"You have to be a big and credible name to be able to raise institutional capital to do it," said Chris Cunningham, founder of investment firm C2 Ventures. "A SPAC has to be tied to a healthy business."

Insider spoke to a handful of experts including executives, consultants, analysts, and bankers to identify 12 media-focused SPACs that are worth watching this year.

This article was first published on January 25 and was updated on March 11 to include new details about 890 Fifth Avenue.

890 Fifth Avenue

IPO price: $287.5 million

890 Fifth Avenue is a SPAC focused on tech, media, and telecom companies that made news for reportedly looking to merge with digital publisher BuzzFeed.

The SPAC is run by executive chairman Adam Rothstein and CEO Emiliano Calemzuk and is interested in acquiring companies with enterprise values between $750 million and $2 billion, according to its S-1.

Its board includes big media names like Linda Yaccarino, NBCUniversal's chairman of global advertising and partnerships; and media executive and investor Greg Coleman, who previously was president of BuzzFeed and CRO at HuffPost. BuzzFeed acquired HuffPost in February 2021.

"We believe that our management's extensive experience investing in, acquiring, operating and growing businesses in these sectors and size ranges, coupled with our vast network of leading industry executives, board members, entrepreneurs, investors and deal makers, provide us with unique insights and access to key decision makers," 890 Fifth Avenue wrote in its S-1. "We believe this collective experience, real-time market intelligence and vast network will translate to strong proprietary deal flow enabling us to source deals effectively and consummate an attractive initial business combination."

Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $414 million

Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp is led by longtime tech and entertainment executive Mark Gerhard, who is perhaps best known as the former CEO of UK games developer and publisher Jagex, owner of the free online multiplayer roleplay game RuneScape. He also previously ran AI firm PlayFusion and serves as vice chairman of the board at TIGA.org, a trade association for the games industry.

Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp is looking for businesses that it considers part of the "attention economy," including digital entertainment, film and television, music and e-sports firms. The SPAC is specifically interested in companies with intellectual property that can potentially be used for franchises and companies that have strong customer retention.

"The attention economy ecosystem is highly fragmented with hundreds of content owners and creators, publishing and distribution platforms and other companies providing enabling technologies and services to other industry participants and consumers, many of which are privately owned," the SPAC says on its website.

Its leadership also includes Riaan Hodgson, another former Jagex exec; and David Gomberg, who cofounded Playfusion with Gerhard and Hodgson.

Conx Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $750 million

Conx Acquisition Corp was formed by wireless exec and billionaire Charlie Ergen, the cofounder and chairman of Dish. He stepped down as CEO of Dish in 2017 and oversees the company's long-term business development as chairman.

"[Ergen] really knows what he's doing with combining media, telecoms and technology ... the full stack," said Igor Shoifot, investment partner at TMT Investments, a publicly traded investment firm. "[Conx] can create a tremendous media conglomerate."

The SPAC is targeting tech, media and telecommunication companies that can tap into the group's expertise. In its S-1, Conx Acquisition Corp. cites the growth of 5G technology as an opportunity.

Longtime Dish employee Jason Kiser serves as the SPAC's CEO and director.

Falcon Capital Acquisition

IPO price: $345 million

Falcon Capital Acquisition is led by Alan Mnuchin, a longtime media banker who has worked at Ariliam Group, Bear Stearns, and Goldman Sachs. He formed the investment firm AGM Partners in 2003, which  handled $80 million in transactions.

Mnuchin is the brother of former US Treasury Secretary and hedge fund manager Steven Mnuchin. His father Robert Mnuchin is a former long-time Goldman Sachs exec.

Mnuchin's SPAC is focused on "media, digital media and consumer technology, interactive entertainment and related industries," according to its S-1.

Falcon Capital Acquisition's team also includes CFO Saif Rahman, who is managing director at Ariliam Group; and director Jeff Sagansky, a Hollywood executive who also heads the Flying Eagle Acquisition Corp. SPAC that took mobile gaming firm Skillz public in December 2020.

Forest Road Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $300 million

A group of top entertainment and media execs including former Elliott Management COO Keith Horn, former Disney COO Tom Staggs, former TikTok CEO and Disney exec Kevin Mayer are behind the Forest Road SPAC, which was formed through entertainment finance firm Forest Road last year.

The SPAC is hunting for media, tech, and telecom companies.

When the SPAC started trading in November, Zachary Tarica, Forest Road CEO and chairman and chief investment officer of the SPAC, told Deadline that it had been contacted by more than 50 companies. Forest Road Acquisition Corp's targets include companies with intellectual property and firms changing consumer behavior, according to its S-1.

"They have got a real shot," said Michael Kassan, CEO of strategic advisory and business development firm MediaLink. "People like Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs are brilliant operators and deal guys — Keith Horn, similarly, relative to his experience at Elliott."

The team's advisors and directors also include former NBA star-turned-investor Shaquille O'Neal, human rights advocate Martin Luther King Jr. III, and Salil Mehta, who has served as an executive at media companies including Fox, NBCUniversal and Disney.

Group Nine Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $230 million

Discovery-backed Group Nine Media formed a SPAC earlier in January to raise money and acquire other digital media companies. Group Nine Media's sites include Thrillist, NowThis, and the Dodo.

Group Nine Media CEO and chairman Ben Lerer is also leading Group Nine Acquisition Corp. Lerer is also a managing partner at venture capital firm Hippeau Ventures that he founded with his father Kenneth Lerer. Group Nine Media's president and director Brian Sugar and CFO Sean Macnew also are on the SPAC's management team.

Read more: 10 digital media companies that are hot acquisition targets, including TheSkimm and FuboTV

Group Nine Acquisition Corp. plans to buy Group Nine Media while acquiring another company in "the digital media and adjacent industries," according to its S-1 filing. That could include companies in social media, e-commerce, events, digital publishing, or marketing.

Ana Milicevic, principal and cofounder at Sparrow Advisers, said that Group Nine's SPAC could be a way for Group Nine to build a holding company that rivals legacy media brands and magazine publishers.

"I see SPACs as a new twist on what a holding company should be, with the ability to raise the right amount of money and fund the right operational strategy," she said.

With venture capital investors cooling on the digital media sector, SPACs can offer companies in the space an alternative access to funds to help them gain more scale, faster.

"The Group Nine SPAC is to say, 'We believe these digital publishers need far more scale to work, therefore we are going to look for merger partners'," said Terence Kawaja, CEO of investment bank LUMA Partners. "They already have the strategy and are using the SPAC as a vehicle to execute ... If I'm an investor, I get a lot more comfort out of knowing what that's likely to look like."

Northern Star Investment Corp III and IV

IPO Price: $300 million and $300 million

Northern Star Investment Corp III and IV are, as the names would suggest, the third and fourth SPACs formed by media executive Joanna Coles and SPAC veteran Jonathan Ledecky. Their first, Northern Star Acquisitions Corp, went public in November. It announced a $1.6 billion deal to take pet subscription service Barbox public the following month. In February, Northern Star Investment Corp II agreed to merge with Apex Clearing, valuing the fintech company at $4.7 billion.

Coles is a well-known media executive who previously served as chief content officer at Hearst. She's currently an executive producer on Freeform and Hulu TV series "The Bold Type" and sits on the boards of Snap, Sonos, Blue Mistral, and Density Software.

"I would make a bet where Joanna is involved," said MediaLink's Kassan.

Ledecky, meanwhile, is the co-owner of NHL franchise the New York Islanders and has also been involved with other SPACs including Pivotal Acquisition Corp and Endeavor Acquisition Corp.

Northern Star Investment Corp III is on the hunt for businesses in the "direct-to-consumer and digitally-disruptive e-commerce spaces," according to the SPAC's S-1, filed earlier in February. The S-1 states the SPAC is also on the lookout for companies which "create, produce, own, distribute and/or market content, products and services or facilitate the sharing economy. Northern Star Investment Corp IV also states it's targeting similar companies. 

"Growth in these sectors has been driven by new technologies, the expansion of emerging markets, and new consumption habits lead by Millennials and 'Gen Z' who value experiences as much as "stuff," health over wealth and transparency in how something is produced," both SPACs state in their S-1s.

Liberty Media Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $500 million

U.S. billionaire John Malone is known as the "cable cowboy" from being a frenetic dealmaker in media and telecoms. Now his Liberty empire has a SPAC to pursue even more deals (though Malone won't actually play a direct role).

Liberty Media's current portfolio includes The Formula One Group, Braves Group (owner of the MLB team the Atlanta Braves), and Liberty SiriusXM Group, which includes its holdings in Live Nation.

The SPAC, led by Liberty Media president and chief executive officer Greg Maffei, is searching for a company in the "media, digital media, music, entertainment, communications, telecommunications and technology industries," according to its S-1 filing.

Alongside Maffei, the SPAC will be led by other senior Liberty Media execs. 

"There are live events, in particular ones around motorsports, that could be attractive," Maffei said in April 2020, many months before the SPAC was announced, as reported by Motorsport.com. 

Oyster Enterprises Acquisition Corp.

IPO price: $200 million

Hedgefund exec turned newspaper baron Heath Freeman runs Alden Global Capital, the finance firm that has acquired around 200 newspapers including The Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post, and The New York Daily News. Alden has been criticized by editorial staff at its newspapers for its sharp and painful cost-cutting. Columbia Journalism Review described Alden last year as "the most feared owner in American journalism."

Freeman's newest venture is the SPAC Oyster Enterprises Acquisition Corp., which aims to invest in technology, media, financial services, real estate, consumer products, industrials, hospitality and entertainment companies.

Eric Peckham, Techcrunch's former media critic who now runs the Monetizing Media newsletter, speculated that the SPAC is a way for Freeman to raise more money for newspaper acquisitions.

Reinvent Technology Partners

IPO Price: $600 million (and $200 million for Reinvent Z)

Famed Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors Reid Hoffman and Mark Pincus are the brains behind Reinvent Technology Partners.

Hoffman, the billionaire founder of LinkedIn, and Pincus, founder of social-gaming company Zynga, launched their $600 million SPAC in August 2020 with the aim of finding a unicorn tech startup to invest in.

"We believe this disconnect between the quantity of scaled technology companies and the number of those companies that actually go public each year has created an attractive backlog of potential targets for our blank-check company," the prospectus said.

The pair went on to form another SPAC, Reinvent Technology Partners Z, in November. The second, smaller SPAC similarly is targeting businesses in technology.

"Mark and the team know the inner workings of their industry on all levels and understand the roles played by different components of the ecosystem," said TMT Investment's investment partner Igor Shoifot. "They would have lots of fun, and not much trouble, identifying the missing — and most wanted — pieces of the puzzle."

Hoffman in particular, through his experience at LinkedIn and PayPal — and later at venture capital firm Greylock — understands both sides of the industry, Shoifot added.

"[Hoffman] will not only find the right fit, so important in SPAC business, but also knows how to scale up businesses at a dizzying pace," said Shoifot.

Spinning Eagle

IPO price: $1.5 billion

Spinning Eagle is the seventh SPAC set up by former CBS Entertainment president Jeff Sgansky and former MGM CEO Harry Sloan. Prior SPACs from the pair of Hollywood executives have taken companies including fantasy sports betting platform DraftKings and esports platform Skillz public.

"Harry [Sloan] and Jeff Sagansky ... wrote the book on this," said MediaLink's Kassan.

Spinning Eagle says in filings with the SEC that while its combination target "will not be limited to a particular industry, sector, or geographic region" it intends to capitalize on its management team's "established global relationships and operating experience," suggesting a media or entertainment-related merger would be the most obvious candidate.

Spinning Eagle also said that if it doesn't spend all the money it has raised on merger deals, it might use some of the funds to launch yet another new SPAC.

Supernova Partners Acquisition

IPO price: $402.5 million

Serial entrepreneur and investor Spencer Rascoff, the co-founder of tech companies Zillow and Hotwire.com, is behind Supernova Partners, which is seeking to acquire a company in the tech space. 

The SPAC is co-chaired by Alexander Klabin, Sotheby's Financial Services executive chairman and led by tech M&A expert Robert Reid, formerly a senior managing director at Blackstone, who is now Supernova's CEO.

Supernova says on its website it is looking to partner "with an advantaged growth company that benefits from thematic shifts and tech-enabled trends."

The Information reported earlier in January that Supernova had held discussions with BuzzFeed, citing people familiar with the situation.

A spokeswoman for BuzzFeed declined to comment on The Information's report at the time.

"Billions of investment dollars are sitting on the sidelines now, aggressively chasing and competing for content-driven opportunities that can be presented to a frothy and liquid public market increasingly driven by new tech-driven platforms like Robinhood," Peter Csathy, founder of advisory Creatv Media, told Insider in December. "Robinhood feeds off young, inexperienced investors, and BuzzFeed is precisely the type of high profile youth-driven brand that logically could take advantage of these trends."  

Disney Plus' "WandaVision" concluded last week, but it's still the most in-demand series in the US, followed by Disney Plus' other mega hit, "The Mandalorian."

Every week, Parrot Analytics provides Insider with a list of the nine most in-demand TV shows on streaming services in the US.

The data is based on "demand expressions," Parrot Analytics' globally standardized TV-demand measurement unit. Audience demand reflects the desire, engagement, and viewership weighted by importance. The list is ranked by how much more in demand the top series are than the average TV show in the US.

Apple's "Ted Lasso" broke through this week after recent wins at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

SEE ALSO: Warner Bros.' strategy of releasing movies to theaters and HBO Max on the same day is very popular with consumers, according to a new survey

9. "Ted Lasso" (Apple TV Plus)

Times more in demand than average show: 21.5

Description:"Jason Sudeikis plays Ted Lasso, a small-time college football coach from Kansas hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 1): 91%

What critics said:"Ted Lasso is breezy and fun and full of heart, but its easy escapisms are also uneasy ones. They are mordant, but they are mournful too."— The Atlantic (Season 1)

Season 1 premiered August 14 on Apple TV Plus. See more insights for "Ted Lasso."

8. "The Expanse" (Amazon Prime Video)

Times more in demand than average show: 21.8

Description: "In different parts of the Solar System, the crew of the Rocinante and their allies confront the sins of their past, while Marco Inaros unleashes an attack that will alter the future of Earth, Mars, the Belt, and the worlds beyond the Ring."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 5): 100%

What critics said:"Science fiction is always about the present, even if — especially if — it's set in the future."— Memphis Flyer (Season 5)

Season 5 premiered on Prime Video on December 16. See more insights for "The Expanse."

7. "The Crown" (Netflix)

Times more in demand than average show: 24.3

Description: "This drama follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 4): 97%

What critics said:"From the shy smile, to the cocked head and whispered voice, [Corrin] has perfectly captured the mouse that eventually roared."— The Sun (season 4)

Season four premiered on November 15 on Netflix. See more insights for "The Crown."

6. "Titans" (HBO Max)

Times more in demand than average show: 24.3

Description: "'Titans' follows young heroes from across the DC Universe as they come of age and find belonging in a gritty take on the classic Teen Titans franchise. Dick Grayson and Rachel Roth, a special young girl possessed by a strange darkness, get embroiled in a conspiracy that could bring Hell on Earth. Joining them along the way are the hot-headed Starfire and lovable Beast Boy. Together they become a surrogate family and team of heroes."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 81%

What critics said:"With a bit of time, Titans might end up getting steady on its feet again and returning to being one of the better live-action cape shows, but for the time being, it's definitely showed itself to be a bit more than rusty."— io9 (Season 2)

Season 2 premiered on DC Universe in September, 2019. See more insights for "Titans."

5. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (Disney Plus)

Times more in demand than average show: 28.4

Description: "From Dave Filoni, director and executive producer of 'The Mandalorian,' the new 'Clone Wars' episodes will continue the storylines introduced in the original series, exploring the events leading up to 'Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.'"

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 7): 100%

What critics said:"This season will also serve as a gauge to see whether audiences want more of the STAR WARS saga told in animated form. If it comes even close to the quality of The Clone Wars, the answer will undoubtedly be yes."— JoBlo's Movie Network (season 7)

Season 7 premiered on February 21 on Disney Plus. See more insights for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

4. "Cobra Kai" (Netflix)

Times more in demand than average show: 32.6

Description: "Decades after the tournament that changed their lives, the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel reignites in this sequel to the 'Karate Kid' films."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 3): 90%

What critics said:"Even with its flaws in season three, Cobra Kai hasn't just honored the Karate Kid way of storytelling, but mastered it."— RogerEbert.com (season 3)

Season 3 premiered on January 1 on Netflix. See more insights for "Cobra Kai."

3. "Stranger Things" (Netflix)

Times more in demand than average show: 37.1

Description: "When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 3): 89%

What critics said:"Even the most distinctive moments feel disconnected from the rest, especially a segment in the final episode that feels as if its sole purpose is to be extracted and recirculated as a meme."— Slate (Season 3)

2. "The Mandalorian" (Disney Plus)

Times more in demand than average show: 40.5

Description: "After the fall of the Empire, a lone gunfighter makes his way through the lawless galaxy."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 2): 94%

What critics said:"At the end of a rousing and provocative sophomore season of The Mandalorian I'm pleased and relieved to know that its Jedi fascination is definitely not the only way."— Salon (Season 2)

Season 2 premiered on Disney Plus on October 30. See more insights for "The Mandalorian."

1. "WandaVision" (Disney Plus)

Times more in demand than average show: 50.6

Description: "Marvel Studios' captivating new series 'WandaVision' stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, and marks the first series from Marvel Studios streaming exclusively on Disney+. The series is a blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision — two super-powered beings living idealized suburban lives — begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Season 1): 91%

What critics said: "It's unlikely that this show, with this focus, could ever have been successful without Elizabeth Olsen's indelible central performance."— NPR (Season 1)

Season 1 premiered on Disney Plus January 15. See more insights for "WandaVision."

• Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX offers thousands of free online courses and paid certificate programs.
• Through the platform, Harvard University has over 140 online courses you can take for free.
• Below, you can find 30 of the most interesting ones, from computer science to poetry.

edX, a main online learning platform and nonprofit founded by Harvard and MIT, aims to democratize learning by removing barriers like expensive tuition and location. 

edX's 2,500+ online courses are free to audit, with many from the world's top universities— including MIT, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, the University of Michigan, NYU, and more. Of them, about 145 are from Harvard— spanning subjects from public health and history to programming and poetry. 

You can audit these classes for free, or opt to pay $50-$200 for features like graded homework and certificates of completion that you can add to your resume or LinkedIn. 

Below, find 30 of the most interesting Harvard courses you can take for free, with descriptions provided by edX.

CS50's Understanding Technology

Enroll for free

This is CS50's introduction to technology for students who don't (yet) consider themselves computer persons.

CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python

Enroll for free

Learn to use machine learning in Python in this introductory course on artificial intelligence.

Masterpieces of World Literature

Enroll for free

Embark on a global journey to explore the past, present, and future of World Literature.

Data Science: Inference and Modeling

Enroll for free

Learn inference and modeling, two of the most widely used statistical tools in data analysis.

Improving Your Business Through a Culture of Health

Enroll for free

Learn how a Culture of Health can transform your business to improve the well-being of your employees and company, while increasing revenue.

Using Python for Research

Enroll for free

Take your introductory knowledge of Python programming to the next level and learn how to use Python 3 for your research.

CitiesX: The Past, Present, and Future of Urban Life

Enroll for free

Explore what makes cities energizing, amazing, challenging, and perhaps humanity's greatest invention.

The Health Effects of Climate Change

Enroll for free

Learn how global warming impacts human health, and the ways we can diminish those impacts.

Justice

Enroll for free

This introduction to moral and political philosophy is one of the most popular courses taught at Harvard College.

The Opioid Crisis in America

Enroll for free

Learn about the opioid epidemic in the United States, including information about treatment and recovery from opioid addiction.

Prescription Drug Regulation, Cost, and Access: Current Controversies in Context

Enroll for free

Understand how the FDA regulates pharmaceuticals and explore debates on prescription drug costs, marketing, and testing.

Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster

Enroll for free

Learn the principles guiding humanitarian response to modern emergencies, and the challenges faced in the field today.

Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

Enroll for free

Gain critical communication skills in writing and public speaking with this introduction to American political rhetoric.

Introduction to Family Engagement in Education

Enroll for free

Learn about successful collaborations between families and educators and why they lead to improved outcomes for students and schools.

Statistics and R

Enroll for free

An introduction to basic statistical concepts and R programming skills necessary for analyzing data in the life sciences.

Introduction to Probability

Enroll for free

Learn probability, an essential language and set of tools for understanding data, randomness, and uncertainty.

Fat Chance: Probability from the Ground Up

Enroll for free

Increase your quantitative reasoning skills through a deeper understanding of probability and statistics.

Data Science: R Basics

Enroll for free

Build a foundation in R and learn how to wrangle, analyze, and visualize data.

Women Making History: Ten Objects, Many Stories

Enroll for free

Learn how American women created, confronted, and embraced change in the 20th century while exploring ten objects from Radcliffe's Schlesinger Library.

MalariaX: Defeating Malaria from the Genes to the Globe

Enroll for free

How can we eradicate malaria? Explore cutting-edge science and technology, and examine policies needed, to control and eliminate malaria.

Lessons from Ebola: Preventing the Next Pandemic

Enroll for free

Understanding the context for the Ebola outbreak: What went right, what went wrong, and how we can all do better.

Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology

Enroll for free

Explore the archaeology, history, art, and hieroglyphs surrounding the famous Egyptian Pyramids at Giza. Learn about Old Kingdom pharaohs and elites, tombs, temples, the Sphinx, and how new technology is unlocking their secrets.

American Government: Constitutional Foundations

Enroll for free

Learn how early American politics informed the US Constitution and why its promise of liberty and equality has yet to be fully realized.

US Political Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy

Enroll for free

Examine the inner workings of the three branches of the US Federal Government.

Citizen Politics in America: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media

Enroll for free

Learn about the forces in American politics that seek to influence the electorate and shift the political landscape.

Science & Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science

Enroll for free

Top chefs and Harvard researchers explore how traditional and modernist cooking techniques can illuminate basic principles in chemistry, physics, and engineering. Learn about elasticity, viscosity, mayonnaise, baking, and more.

Practical Improvement Science in Health Care: A Roadmap for Getting Results

Enroll for free

Learn the skills and tools of improvement science to make positive changes in health, healthcare, and your daily life.

*This course is currently archived, but it is still available to audit.

CS50's Mobile App Development with React Native

Enroll for free

Learn about mobile app development with React Native, a popular framework maintained by Facebook that enables cross-platform native apps using JavaScript without Java or Swift.

*This course is currently archived, but it is still available to audit.

Saving Schools: Reforming the US Education System

Enroll for free

An overview of the past, present, and future of the United States public K-12 education system.

*This course is currently archived, but it is still available to audit.

Poetry in America: Modernism

Enroll for free

Reading works by Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes, Marianne Moore, William Carlos Williams, and Wallace Stevens, among others, learn how American Modernist poetry departed from past traditions and past forms.

*This course is currently archived, but it is still available to audit.

As the at-home fitness industry continues to grow, the exercise manufacturing sector is booming right along with it. 

According to a recent report from Allied Market Research, the fitness equipment industry was valued at $11.5 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $15.2 billion by 2027. Spotting an opportunity to capitalize, investors have started pouring funds into fitness manufacturers, especially as demand for the connected fitness brands many of them own and produce has risen sharply during the pandemic.

Though most of these manufacturers aren't exactly household names — despite producing everything from stationary bicycles to elliptical machines and treadmills for the mass market — they are increasingly making headlines thanks to high-profile deals with buzzy brands like Peloton. Deals like the one between manufacturer Precor and Peloton, will likely significantly help curb mass delays and lengthy wait times for Peloton products.

And while large-scale commercial production for traditional gyms and fitness studios is typically their bread and butter, many manufacturers are adding high-tech products to their portfolios in an effort to stay relevant and appeal to potential partners. 

From legacy companies like Life Fitness — the 50-year-old equipment maker that developed the first electronic stationary bicycle — to newer manufacturers like Water Rower and Hydrow that are supplying machines for the growing indoor rowing market, these companies are showing their versatility.

We took a look at 7 of the largest and fastest-growing fitness equipment manufacturers leading exercise into a new era. 

SEE ALSO: Peloton just shelled out $420 million for massive fitness manufacturer Precor. Experts say the acquisition is vital to getting more Peloton machines to more people.

Nautilus Inc.

Valuation: $570 million,

Company headquarters: Vancouver, Washington

Brands it manufactures and/or supplies: Bowflex, Modern Movement, Nautilus, Octane Fitness, Schwinn Fitness, and Universal

Why it's a company to watch: Despite producing traditionally "old school brands" synonymous with the leotard-wearing, fitness video days of the 1990s, Nautilus is showing it knows how to evolve in the modern era of fitness.

The company increased sales by 152% in 2020 thanks to demand for its at-home fitness products, while introducing new high-tech equipment in a push to attract new consumers. Its success persisted, even though its largest contract manufacturers are based in China and the Netherlands. 

Its Bowflex VeloCore stationary bicycle, for example, is designed to compete with Peloton with a slightly cheaper price (the VeloCore starts at $1,699, compared to Peloton's $1,895) and a leaning seat the allows for a wider range of motion. 

"[These products] really helped Nautilus become a more digital brand," Nautilus CEO Jim Barr told Insider in February. "That was one of the issues, that we were viewed as the old school equipment provider, whose job was done when we shipped the machines to the customer. But with connected fitness, we have an ongoing ability to motivate people every day." 

Icon Health & Fitness

Valuation: $7 billion, according to Pitchbook

Company headquarters: Logan, Utah

Brands it manufactures and/or supplies: NordicTrack, iFit, Proform, Freemotion, Weider, Weslow, HealthRider, UTS, Lotus

Why it's a company to watch: According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Icon is teaming up with Bank of America and Morgan Stanley on a potential initial public offering slated for later in 2021. The company has reported significant growth in recent years, particularly within its at-home and connected fitness products such as NordicTrack and iFit.

In 2020, amid heightened demand for such products, Icon raised more than $200 million from investors including the private equity firm L Catterton. The company's success during the pandemic was furthered by its ability to produce its products domestically, as most of its manufacturing takes place at in Logan, Utah.  

According to Jake Matthews, senior intelligence analyst at CB Insights, Icon's potential push to go public is indicative of the staying power of at-home fitness products and the companies that product them. 

"My initial takeaway is this is just another signal that the at-home fitness market is here to stay and competition will continue to intensify," Matthews told Insider. "I think the habits that we formed over the last year because of the pandemic aren't going away and it's clear that these connected fitness products bring a ton of convenience to our daily routines."

Precor

Valuation: $420 million

Company headquarters: Woodinville, Washington

Brands it manufactures and/or supplies: Peloton, EFX, Adaptive Motion Trainer, AMT, Preva Networked Fitness, Queenax, Spinning

Why it's a company to watch: Precor is one of the largest fitness machinery manufactures in the world, and produces commercial equipment for large public spaces such as gyms, hotels, universities.

Though Precor has long demonstrated its impressive manufacturing capabilities — which include more than 625,000 square feet of collective factory space — it became a particularly valuable asset amid pandemic-driven supply chain woes. Spotting an opportunity to speed up production of its hugely popular stationary bicycles, Peloton acquired the company for $420 million in December 2020.

For Peloton, the deal also holds long-term value in helping the company "boost research and development capabilities with Precor's highly-skilled team and accelerate Peloton's penetration of the commercial market," the company wrote in a statement in December.

"Peloton's acquisition of Precor helps set foundations for both short- and long-term growth for the brand," Andre Artacho, the managing director of the growth consultancy Two Nil, told Insider in December. "As Peloton currently has capacity challenges to serve a huge increase in demand, the deal helps Peloton add a large footprint to be able to serve consumers."

Core Health & Fitness

Valuation: Not available, but the company generates an estimated $240.59 million in annual sales, according to Dun & Bradstreet

Company Headquarters: Vancouver, Washington

Brands it manufactures and/or supplies: StairMaster, Schwinn, Nautilus, Star Trac, and Throwdown among others

Why it's a company to watch: Core Health & Fitness produces several of the most well-known, name brand gym equipment products, including StairMaster and Schwinn. Its manufacturing facility is based in China, and is "the sole producer of our high-end commercial fitness products,"according to the company. 

In February 2020, Core Health & Fitness announced it had received an undisclosed amount of funding from the private equity firm Gainline Capital Partners, which specializes in middle market companies in the US. In a press statement at the time, Core CEO Michael Bruno said the partnership and cash infusion "will propel Core to its next level of growth and vertical integration."

Bryan O'Rourke, a fitness analyst and board member with the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association, told Insider such a deal may put the company on the trajectory toward an initial public offering, especially given its portfolio of both commercial and direct-to-consumer products.  

Life Fitness

Valuation: $490 million 

Company headquarters: Rosemont, Illinois

Brands it manufactures and/or supplies: Life Fitness, HammerStrength, Cybex, SciFit, Indoor Cycling

Why it's a company to watch: Life Fitness has been in the business of selling fitness equipment for more than 50 years, during which it helped lead several major advancements including developing the first electronic stationary bicycle.

It remains one of the largest global manufacturers of commercial gym equipment, and its products are distributed to 166 countries. While it has factories scattered across the world, it has a robust US-based fleet — including facilities in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin — which has helped prevent pandemic-related supply chain issues. 

Today the company owns and operates an array of brands spanning several sectors of the fitness industry, including cardio, strength training, and group exercise products. Life Fitness has also worked to keep up with the fast-moving connected fitness world by adding new products to its rosters, such as the Myzone digital heart rate tracker. 

Life Fitness is owned by the investment firm KPS Capital Partners, part of a $490 million deal inked in 2019 when its original parent company Brunswick decided to spin off its fitness brands. 

Hydrow

Valuation: $110 million, according to Pitchbook

Company Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Brands it manufactures and/or supplies: Hydrow

Why it's a company to watch: As far as exercise trends go, indoor rowing has been picking up steam for several years now, well before the pandemic changed the face of fitness. In 2020, the at-home fitness boom has only served to introduce more consumers to the benefits of rowing. 

Hydrow, largely considered the pre-eminent indoor rowing brand since it first hit the market in 2017, has impressed investors with its rising sales and highly engaged users, many of which are first-time rowers. The company reported that sales grew by a whopping 500% during the pandemic — demand Hydrow was readily able to meet thanks to doing its own manufacturing in Massachusetts.

In June 2020, private equity firm L Catterton invested another $25 million in the company, after first investing in Hydrow in 2019. 

"We see it as the fastest-growing modality in fitness," Michael Farello, a managing partner at L Catterton who oversaw the deal, told Insider's Mary Hanbury in July 2020. 

Hydrow CEO Bruce Smith told Bloomberg at the time that the company has plans to expand its rowing content as well as move into mat-based yoga and strength training workouts. Smith has also teased the possibility of developing further at-home equipment for exercises typically conducted outside. 

"In the future, we will expand to bring other outdoor activities to a home workout environment," Smith told Boston Business Journal in February 2019. 

WaterRower

Valuation: N0t available

Company headquarters: Warren, Rhode Island

Brands it manufactures and/or supplies: Ergatta, City Row

Why it's a company to watch: WaterRower is quickly become a major contender for Hydrow, with its high-tech indoor rowing machines. The company has grown in popularity as consumers look to diversify their at-home gyms during the pandemic, and increasingly turn to rowing machines to spice up their workout routines.

In addition to its direct-to-consumer business, WaterRower also produces rowers for buzzy companies like Ergatta, which already rakes in $2.5 million in revenue a month on average despite just opening up sales in March 2020.  

WaterRower is carving a niche and competitive advantage thanks not only to its especially sleek design — its rowers are made in Rhode Island and made using sustainably harvested cherry wood —  but also due to basing its production in the US rather than overseas.

Tom Aulet, CEO and co-founder of Ergatta, told Insider's Grace Dean in March that his company is the only major connected fitness brand that manufactures in the US, which has helped it to avoid the supply chain delays afflicting its peers during the pandemic. 

"It's really easy to sell when a thing is beautiful," Aulet told Insider.

The "strongest consumer stock backdrop in decades" is forming as growth in personal income and vaccine distributions unleash strong demand for consumption in the services sector, according to Jefferies' chief economist Aneta Markowska. 

Many Americans have been responding to the widespread uncertainty that COVID-19 brought to the world in part by saving up substantial cash from relief packages or paychecks. 

A recent World Economic Forum article found that excess savings, or the amount by which personal savings during the pandemic exceeded those in a world without the pandemic, add up to around $1.6 trillion. 

However, consumers are starting to look less worried about what lies ahead and are buying more. Data shows that January saw a 2.4% uptick in spending as displayed below.

"The surge in January retail sales created tremendous momentum for 1Q GDP and demonstrated a very strong propensity to spend stimulus payments, which has major implications for the next few months," Markowska wrote in a note on Sunday.  

One of those implications is that income can grow by more than 25% on the back of Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus bill that was passed by the House on Wednesday. It will provide direct checks and unemployment benefits among other things when signed into law. 

Taking into consideration the amount of stimulus that can be unleashed, vaccine distribution, and the recent jump in consumer spending, Markowska upgraded her GDP forecast. More specifically, she is expecting economic growth in the second quarter of the year to exceed 8%.

She also predicts 7% growth in personal consumption expenditures this year, and 4.21% for 2022. If consumer spending were to grow as much, then for the first time since the nineties, average PCE growth would trend 4% higher for more than two consecutive years. 

To find the companies that will benefit the most from consumption growth, Jefferies' research analysts screened their coverage groups to find those names that have the greatest exposure to this investing backdrop. 

Detailed below are the five stocks, along with their respective tickers and price targets, that Jefferies sees benefiting from pent-up demand. We have included commentary on each one as well. 

SEE ALSO: A fund manager who's beaten 95% of his peers over the past 5 years told us 3 e-commerce stock picks for one of the most 'misunderstood' parts of the market — and shared 4 growth themes rich with opportunity

1. Airbnb

Ticker: ABNB

Price Target: $210 

Commentary: It is one of the stocks that's poised to benefit the most from pent-up demand. Jefferies analyst Brent Thill "expects ABNB booking and revenue to return to pre-pandemic levels by 1H22, showcasing the resilience of the home-sharing market."

Source: Jefferies

2. Bloomin' Brands

Ticker: BLMN

Price Target: $28 

Commentary: "While current multiples for QSR category and growth names look stretched vs historicals, Full-Service/casual dining is broadly trading within historical ranges of 5-10x fwd. EV/ EBITDA," said analysts Andy Barish and Alex Slagle.

Andy and Alex believe investors are willing to entertain modestly more multiple expansion should the upside framework above come to fruition, and rates remain low."

Source: Jefferies

3. Caesars Entertainment

Ticker: CZR

Price Target: $99

Commentary: Jefferies equity research analyst David Katz "expects that the Las Vegas recovery trajectory continues to steepen, and given its prominence within the company's earnings stream (~40% of EBITDA), he believes this should be a meaningful driver of the shares. Second, the synergy opportunities within the regional casinos and corporate segments should be accelerating on the heels of COVID. In short, he expects estimates to continue progressing higher and consider valuation less relevant than the earnings progression."

Source: Jefferies 

4. Brinker

Ticker: EAT

Price Target: $67

Commentary: Analysts Barish and Slagle see the full-service segment as "best positioned to benefit from the recovery (not to mention capacity reductions, margin improvements, pricing power, and other tailwinds), and model SSS, EBITDA, and EPS higher than the Street on average."

Source: Jefferies

5. Southwest Airlines

Ticker: LUV 

Price Target: $55

Commentary:  If pent-up demand is a "significant driver" through the second half of the year,  the airline is best positioned to benefit as domestic traveling restrictions are likely to be lifted before full international restrictions, according to Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu.

Source: Jefferies

6. Lyft

Ticker: LYFT

Price Target: $75

Commentary: Analyst Brent Thill "views Lyft (LYFT, Buy, PT: $75) as one of his top reopening plays for 2021.

"With a vaccine in distribution, Brent believes LYFT is positioned for an initial recovery in 2021 (est. rev +30%; Street 31%), with EBITDA profitability expected in 4Q21. He models a return to pre-pandemic revenue levels by 4Q21 ($1.04B, or roughly flat vs 4Q19), and models full-year growth of 30% in '21 and 52% in '22."

Source: Jefferies 

7. Planet Fitness

Ticker: PLNT

Price Target: $95

Commentary: Jefferies analyst Randy Konik believes that the company can continue dominating the fitness market. "Health and wellness interest is rising, new joins are growing while cancellations are subsiding, pricing architecture is unmatched and competition is folding."

Source: Jefferies

8. Six Flags

Ticker: SIX

Price Target: $56

Commentary:"Pent-up leisure demand is most evident in drive-to and outdoors operators, and stands to be one of the greatest beneficiaries from a therapeutic release standpoint due to its accessibility. In addition, the business restructuring initiative that was started in late '19 marked a shift in the business' focus onto the domestic customer experience through CRM, pricing, and ancillary products."

Source: Jefferies

9. Molson Coors

Ticker: TAP

Price Target: $53

Commentary: Analyst Kevin Grundy "sees more ways to win in '21 than any time in recent years (e.g., on-premise recovery, strategic alliances, etc.); b) reinstitution of dividend expected in 2H21 and c) valuation is attractive at 7.5x EV/EBITDA (very low-end of consumer staples)."

Source: Jefferies

10. The TJX Companies

Ticker: TJX

Price Target: $82 

Commentary:"Across their coverage, they would expect spending levels to accelerate most among lower-end income consumers, given an improving economy and stimulus aid," the note said of Randy Konik, Janine Stichter, and Corey Tarlowe.

"As a result, they would focus on the value- oriented names in their coverage" that includes TJX.

Source: Jefferies

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic exactly a year ago.

"We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing on March 11, 2020.

Back then, Americans knew little about how their actions were fueling the coronavirus' spread: People met friends at bars and concerts, blew their noses in public, and gathered en masse for campaign rallies, Mardi Gras celebrations, and college basketball games. 

Research now shows the coronavirus was likely spreading in the US as early as December 2019. But even after the country confirmed its first case in January 2020, life continued somewhat normally through mid-March. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn't recommend against gatherings of 50 or more people until March 15.

Had the US instituted broad social-distancing measures one week earlier, a study found, roughly 600,000 infections and 32,000 deaths could have been prevented by May 3. 

The following photos, taken roughly a year ago, show how little Americans understood about what was ahead.

More than 1 million people gathered in New Orleans for Mardi Gras from February 14 to February 25, 2020.

A study found that Mardi Gras "greatly accelerated" the coronavirus outbreak in New Orleans, Louisiana — and likely introduced the virus to other nearby states.

Though the research is still awaiting peer review, the authors wrote that most of the roughly 50,000 COVID-19 cases reported during Louisiana's first wave can likely be traced back to Mardi Gras.

One day after New York City confirmed its first coronavirus case, officials crammed into a conference room to discuss their emergency-response plan.

Researchers at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine estimate that New York City's initial coronavirus outbreak started in mid-February. As late as March 9, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told people not to worry about transmission in crowded areas.

"It's not people in the stadium, it's not people in the big open area or a conference," de Blasio said that day, referring to the way the virus spreads.

Seven days later, de Blasio closed the city's public schools. Four days after that, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statewide stay-at-home order.

Ohio ordered bars to close on March 15, one of the first states to do so.

That same day, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, called for a "dramatic" decline in personal interactions in bars and restaurants. 

"Everybody has to take this seriously, even the young," Fauci told CNN.

A September CDC report found that adults with COVID-19 were twice as likely to have reported dining a restaurant in the two weeks before they got sick than those who tested negative.

President Donald Trump toured the CDC in person on March 6. "It came out of nowhere," he said of the coronavirus at a a press conference that day. "We're taking care of it."

Trump also falsely claimed on March 6 that anyone who wanted a coronavirus test could get one. But the US was only testing 20 out of every 1 million people at that point.

Thousands of people gathered in Kansas City, Missouri, at a campaign rally for Joe Biden on March 7.

"We knew that this was coming, back as far as January," Biden told CNN on March 1.

He began canceling his rallies around March 10, shortly after the CDC advised older Americans to "stay home as much as possible" and avoid crowds.

The CDC didn't recommend wearing masks in public until April.

Masks were in short supply in the spring, so US officials were primarily concerned with preserving enough for healthcare workers. That shortage, combined with limited research about whether face coverings were effective in curbing the coronavirus' spread, led experts not to recommend masks to the general public right away.

Instead, experts emphasized hand-washing and told people not to touch their faces, since preliminary research suggested the virus could spread via surfaces.

More recent studies have found, however, that surface transmission is somewhat rare. The virus spreads mainly when people share the same air — it travels either through respiratory droplets exchanged when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes, or via smaller particles that linger in the air for minutes to hours.

Americans returning from abroad flooded US airports after Trump banned most travel from Europe on March 11.

Passengers waited in hours-long customs lines in cities like New York, Chicago, and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told The Wall Street Journal that people were standing "cheek to jowl" at O'Hare International Airport. A passenger told the Journal that baggage claim there "looked like Ellis Island."

Several major sports leagues suspended their seasons during the second week in March.

The NBA suspended its season on March 11 after several Utah Jazz players tested positive for COVID-19. The NHL, MLS, and National Lacrosse League followed suit a day later.

Sports stadiums have recently started to reopen at partial capacity. At the end of February, New York City began allowing 10% of seats to be filled in stadiums like Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center. 

Disneyland closed its Anaheim, California, theme parks on March 14.

The parks remain closed, but they could reopen as soon as April 1, according to California's guidelines. Capacity could range from 15% to 35%, depending on local transmission rates.

The New York Stock Exchange didn't go virtual until March 23, after two of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.

By then, New York's stay-at-home order had been in place for three days. The physical trading floor had never shut down independently before, even during World War II or 9/11.

At a March 15 press briefing held indoors without masks, Trump said the US had "tremendous control" of the virus.

At the same briefing, though, Fauci warned that "the worst is yet ahead."