• Some homes affected by the Los Angeles wildfires might not have insurance.
• Insurers have been canceling plans and refusing to sign new ones in the state.
• Years of worsening wildfires have increased payouts and other costs for insurers in California.

As wildfires destroy homes in Los Angeles, some homeowners might face rebuilding without insurance payouts.

That's because some insurance companies have been cutting back on their business in California in recent years as wildfires in the state have worsened.

State Farm, for instance, said in 2023 that it would no longer accept new homeowners' insurance applications in California. Then, last year, the company said it would end coverage for 72,000 homes and apartments in the state. Both announcements cited risks from catastrophes as one of the reasons for the decisions.

Homes in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood, one of the areas hardest hit by the fires so far, were among those affected when State Farm canceled the policies last year, the Los Angeles Times reported in April. State Farm did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Other home insurers have dropped coverage in the state, even in areas where the wildfire risk is low, NBC Bay Area reported in September.

"When insurance companies face higher losses or payouts, they typically respond in two ways: raise premium prices and stop renewing policies or writing new policies," Dave Jones, the director of the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at the University of California, Berkeley's School of Law said in a September Q&A posted to the university's website. "California insurers are doing both."

Between 2011 and 2018, Jones was also California's insurance commissioner.

A new rule, set to take effect about a month into 2025, will require home insurers to offer coverage in areas at high risk of fire, the Associated Press reported in December. Ricardo Lara, California's insurance commissioner, announced the rule just days before the Los Angeles fires broke out.

At a press conference on Wednesday, one reporter asked Lindsey Horvath, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, whether the Los Angeles fires would affect insurance companies' operations in California.

"I believe it already has, and the conversation is ongoing," Horvath said.

• After living in seven different countries, I've learned a few things that surprised me. 
• Prague was the hardest place to adjust to because of its cold temperatures and language.
• Texas' Dry Sundays, Europe's showers, and Wales' KFC menu surprised me the most.

Moving abroad can be exhausting, but I've done it multiple times, leaving my native island of St. Lucia for college in the US about 15 years ago. Since then, I've lived in places like Wales, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, and Greece. 

Traveling was daunting at first, especially coming from a country with a population of less than 200,000. But I loved immersing myself in new cultures, forming close friendships, and discovering new delicacies in every possible city.   

I felt knowledgeable about my destinations from my education, books, and television, but you never truly know a country until you've lived like a local.

Here are 11 things that surprised me during my travels.

Living in Spain can require a lot of paperwork 

There's always a lot of paperwork involved in traveling, but Spain is a different level of bureaucracy if you plan on living there for more than six months.

First, you must secure the Empadronamiento or "padrón," which is a document necessary to register with the town hall in the region of Spain you live in. This document adds your name and address to your city's census and is also necessary for administrative tasks like applying for a Social Security number, residency, public healthcare, opening a bank account, and getting married.

The process needs to be repeated if you move to another city and your residency must be canceled before leaving the country. Though the process seems simple, spots are often unavailable, so booking an appointment to do so can be very difficult.

The food scene is vast and varied in Prague

As a tourist in the Czech Republic, there are certain meals that you must try: beef steak tartare, Kulajda, Svíčková, and kolache.

Prague's international food scene is impressive, with restaurants representative of multiple cultures and palates. I was even able to find the ingredients to cook a local St. Lucian meal that included chicken backs and ripe plantains.

If you're not sure where to start or want to sample a variety, Manifesto Market features an eclectic mix of cuisines including authentic Hawaiian poké, rump steak tartare with shiitake mushrooms, traditional Mexican tacos, and Mediterranean dishes.

The bars are also stocked with Italian prosecco and a selection of craft beers. 

Italian food is actually as good as advertised

I had often been told that you haven't had real pizza or pasta until you go to Italy, and I can confirm that this is true. 

The best pizza I had was at a small, family-run joint in Crocetta del Montello, a tiny commune about an hour outside of Venice. It was simple, with some well-seasoned sauce and cheese on a crispy crust, but tasted amazing.

The same can be said for the gelato, which is velvety with intense fruit flavor.

I have also always loved spaghetti Bolognese, but enjoying the savory sauce in its native Bologna was unmatched. 

Some states participate in Dry Sundays

During the two years that I lived in Texas, I discovered Dry Sundays, during which liquor-store sales are prohibited on Sundays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

If Christmas or New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the liquor store is closed the following Monday.

The law itself can be a bit complex, as beer sales on Sundays are permitted from 10 a.m. to midnight, and wine sales are regulated within special hours.

There are also different stipulations in place if you're attending a fair, festival, concert, or sporting event.

Other states like Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee participate in some variation of Dry Sunday as well.

Showering can be an extreme sport in some places

Showers in Europe can be small, making it difficult to move around. The half-door, which doesn't extend all the way across the tub, can also result in a very wet and messy floor.

The shower nozzle can be handheld, and once you figure it out, showering will be a breeze. However, washing your hair can be difficult, so be prepared to lay some towels out on the floor. 

Greece has a Caribbean vibe

As a native of one of the premier vacation and honeymoon spots in the world, if the water is cold or there are rocks in lieu of sand on the beach, I am not interested.

But as I drove along the coastline to Olympia, the blue sea and sunny sky were reminiscent of St. Lucia. Skafidia Beach made me feel at home and showed me that Greece is a fantastic option if you can't make it to the Caribbean. 

Some parts of Spain take siestas very seriously

In Prague, my Valencian roommate retreated to her bedroom every day around two o'clock for siesta, the Spanish tradition of taking a nap shortly after lunch. Our professors at a Barcelona university also scheduled classes during the morning to observe the ritual.

In my L'Hospitalet de Llobregat neighborhood, well outside of Barcelona's city center, the practice was going strong. Stores closed every day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and I even witnessed a shop owner ask a woman to leave so that he could close at two.

KFC and many other fast-food chains don't have the same menu around the world

Kentucky Fried Chicken struck gold when it opened in the Caribbean Islands, becoming the most popular fast-food restaurant across the region, beloved even by Barbados native Rihanna.

Besides the fried chicken, one of the most popular sides is the golden buttermilk biscuit. Or at least that's what I thought until I wandered into a KFC in Wales only to discover that they didn't have it. After some confusion from workers who thought I was trying to order a cookie, they offered me rice, which I never knew was an option.

Major food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and KFC offer location-specific menus to appeal to target audiences worldwide. This can range from a Samurai Burger in Asia to a Chee-Zee Marmite Stuffed Pizza Crust in New Zealand. 

People are friendlier than you might expect across the globe

Friendly faces are always a welcome sight and in Spain, Greece, and Italy, I found the locals to be patient and helpful even if I wasn't fluent in the language.

In the US, I met some of the warmest people when I lived in Detroit, Louisiana, and Texas.

In the UK, I initially thought people were a bit more reserved. However, when I had a problem with my visa, an amazing family in Wales helped me through it.

Though I thought Czechs, had a tough exterior, they also have a wonderful, dry sense of humor.

I learned to travel with an open mind and ignore the stereotypes — otherwise, you might miss out on connecting with some incredible people. 

Prague was the most difficult place to adjust to

With its Romanesque architecture, steep hills, and small rivers, Prague is one of the most gorgeous cities in Central Europe.

However, Prague is also a cold city, so I bundled up in layers — coming from the tropical Caribbean, this was a tough adjustment.

The Czech language was also difficult to learn, and unlike in Spain, where English was very prevalent in the city center, Czech was spoken virtually everywhere. Because Czech falls in the West Slavic language group, it didn't have the familiar structures shared by French, Spanish, and Italian, which made it hard for me to retain.

The Czech Republic is very dog-friendly

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Prague's pet owners proudly walking with their dogs and on the trams instead of strays roaming the streets.

The pets were also incredibly obedient and well-behaved at restaurants and on public transportation. This is the antithesis of St. Lucia's cultural norms, in which pets are not typically allowed in restaurants or public buses.  

This story was originally published on February 1, 2022, and most recently updated on January 8, 2025.

• After traveling to many US national parks, I've found that state parks are just as beautiful.
• State parks tend to be less crowded, cheaper to visit, and easier to get to than national parks. 
• Letchworth State Park in New York and Tettegouche State Park in Minnesota are two of my favorites.

I'm one of those people who's obsessed with visiting US national parks. I proudly carry around my National Parks Passport book and collect stamps at every site I visit that's operated by the National Parks Service.

I'll never stop loving national parks, but I'll be the first to admit that, sometimes, they get too much attention. After all, the National Park Service reported 325.5 million park visits in 2023.

I've found that national parks can be overcrowded, difficult to get to, and very expensive to visit. On the other hand, there are incredible state parks all over the country that tend to be less crowded, cheaper to visit, and easier to get to. Many of them also happen to be just as amazing as national parks.

Here are 10 of my favorites.

New York's Letchworth State Park is a combination of the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls.

Known as the "Grand Canyon of the East," Letchworth State Park lives up to the hype. In a way, it's like the Grand Canyon meets Niagara Falls, as the park's enormous gorge is dotted with a series of impressive waterfalls. 

The 7-mile Gorge Trail runs along much of the gorge's rim and has plenty of scenic overlooks and opportunities to hike down (or up) to the falls. There are also several bathrooms, snack bars, and restaurants along the way. 

If you prefer a more isolated and facility-free trek, head to the lesser-visited Finger Lakes Trail. During a recent 15-mile hike along it, I only ran into one person.

Watkins Glen is another great state park in New York.

Watkins Glen State Park is about an hour-and-20-minute drive from Letchworth, so it's easy to get both in on the same trip. In fact, both parks are often featured on lists of the best state parks in the country.

Watkins Glen is much smaller and has fewer hiking trails than Letchworth, but it packs a pretty punch of beauty along its short, main trails. 

The two-mile main trail follows the glen's stream, which generates 19 waterfalls as it dives down 400 feet. The path winds over and under waterfalls through refreshing sprays of water.

Because you can start and finish the walk at various places, you can walk a distinct route each way.

Like the national parks, Watkins Glen State Park has a ton of options for tent camping and RVs.

However, since you're only 10 minutes from the city of Watkins Glen, you could easily go the hotel and restaurant route instead.

Montana's Makoshika State Park has stunning badland formations.

Montana's largest state park, Makoshika State Park, is also the most unusual.

Come for the out-of-this-world badland formations and stay for the fossilized remains of prehistoric creatures.

Makoshika comes from the Lakota phrase meaning "bad land" or "bad earth," and here, mudstone and sandstone badlands stretch across over 11,500 acres.

Mushroom- and Mars-like formations shoot up from the land like orange, gray, and rust-colored stone tents in a fossilized fairy forest.

The delightfully distinctive landscape also makes it a pristine place for photography lovers.

Table Rock State Park in South Carolina has challenging hikes and stunning views.

South Carolina is loaded with photo-worthy locations, but the most-photographed natural wonder in the state is the exquisite Table Rock State Park.

Nestled along the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this underrated state park is basically a huge chunk of metamorphic rock that geology nerds and happy hikers can both get excited about. 

The challenging seven-mile Table Rock Trail hike requires visitors to climb more than 2,000 feet in elevation, but the epic views at the top are well worth it. 

My favorite feature, however, might be the adorable accommodations inside the park. Think rustic wood cabins with fireplaces, flannel bedspreads, porches with rocking chairs, and full kitchens, so you don't need to leave the park if you don't want to.

If hiking isn't your thing, you can also explore the park by kayak, raft, or even hot-air balloon.

Kachemak Bay was Alaska's first state park.

Kachemak Bay State Park was declared Alaska's first state park in 1972, and its mountains, forests, beaches, glaciers, and ocean are home to an astounding number of wildlife species. 

Sea otters, seals, porpoises, and even whales make frequent appearances along the bay, as do eagles and the ever-popular puffins.

Inland dwellers include moose, mountain goats, coyotes, wolves, and black bears, which you might be lucky enough to spot while hiking or skiing.

The park's remoteness helps preserve its ecological diversity and wilderness status, and its limited access points mean the park receives fewer visitors than other parks on the list.

Since there are no roads into the park, you'll need to fly or water taxi in from Homer, Alaska. If you plan to head into the backcountry, be prepared and bring a satellite device.

Tettegouche State Park is one of the many parks along Minnesota's North Shore.

Tettegouche State Park is about an hour north of Duluth, Minnesota. 

Hiking along the waterfront trails of Tettegouche reminded me of the jagged cliffs of Acadia National Park in Maine — but with far fewer tourists.

Lake Superior is so vast — and can get so whipped up on a windy day — that it really feels like the Atlantic Ocean. The crashing waves provide even more ambiance to the already astonishing scenery.

The park also has a range of trails, from the short-and-sweet waterfront walk to Shovel Point with 300 steps to climb (but plenty of scenic overlooks to stop at) to the over 300-mile Superior Hiking Trail.

Baxter State Park in Maine rivals Acadia National Park.

Not to throw shade on Acadia, which truly is a stunning national park, but Baxter State Park is basically its lesser-known and lesser-visited cousin.

Like Acadia, Baxter has amazing hiking, but it can also claim both Maine's highest peak, Mount Katahdin, and the terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

Head out on the northernmost end of the Appalachian Trail or tackle the Knife's Edge Trail, where you hike along the peak's ridge and feel like you're at the top of the world.

If hiking isn't your thing, you have 200,000 acres of parkland to wander around at your own pace, taking in tranquil lakes and gushing waterfalls while watching for hawks, eagles, and even black bears.

Because the park's main priority is preserving wilderness, it lacks paved roads, running water, and electricity, so you can really enjoy an off-the-grid experience.

South Dakota's Custer State Park is a great place to see buffalo.

In my opinion, Custer State Park is the most beautiful park in South Dakota. This stunning 71,000-acre park is a wildlife wonderland in the middle of the rolling Black Hills.

My family spent several days exploring the park, and while the hiking was great, the highlight of our weeklong trip was the buffalo jeep safari tour. 

Hundreds of buffalo wandered the hills, lazily sauntering in front of and around the open-air vehicle. Many of them were only a few inches from us.

Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park in Hawaii is a remote wonderland.

Hawaii has some of the most stunning scenery in the country, so it's no surprise that its state parks are also jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park takes its name from the pali, or cliffs, that rise thousands of feet above the Pacific Ocean and create deep and narrow valleys punctuated with waterfalls.

Like many of the most remote and well-preserved wilderness areas, the park is not accessed by bridge or road. Rather, you need to either hike the coast or take a boat in.

Once you're in the park, you'll have more than 6,000 acres of remote beaches, lush valleys, and forested cliffs to explore by foot, kayak, or snorkel.

Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah looks like the Grand Canyon.

If you're looking for spectacular scenery and dreamy desert views without the crowds of nearby Arches National Park, head to the lesser-known Dead Horse Point State Park. 

Its desert canyons and woodlands very closely resemble the Grand Canyon, and the immensity of this park is the sort of thing you need to see to believe.

Hike along red-rock trails and down into deep canyons, bike the thrilling single-track Intrepid Trail System, or simply just look up for some world-class stargazing.

Dead Horse Canyon is an official International Dark Sky Park. On a clear night, you can see thousands of sparkling stars illuminating the desert landscape.

This story was originally published on November 9, 2023, and most recently updated on January 8, 2025.

Apple this week released the second beta of iOS 18.3, which isn’t exactly an exciting update as it doesn’t add any major new features. However, the update did reveal details about a potential new app from Apple to be called “Invites.”