Here, there, and everywhere

Visit Cambridge’s MIT Museum to learn how one of the university’s earliest graduates affected the boatbuilding industry and created six America’s Cup winners, among other innovative vessels. “Lighter, Stronger, Faster: The Herreshoff Legacy,” on show through May 2021, highlights the work of N.G. Herreshoff (class of 1870) who, with his brother John, built the first modern catamarans, the first torpedo boats for the US Navy, the country’s first steam-powered fishing vessels, and America’s Cup boats. The exhibit includes objects from the museum’s Hart Nautical Collection, the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Rhode Island Historical Society, and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. See models, art works, and historical documents, and an interactive digital visualization of the collection. Admission: $10 adults; $5 seniors and 17 and younger. 617-253-5927, www.mitmuseum.org

Learn about the Europe’s famous pilgrimage routes, find out how to make hummus, and meet people from around the world during upcoming events at Hostelling International Boston. The hostel hosts Cooking as a Second Language Dec. 1 (noon-3 p.m.) when Colin Daly, founder of Boston’s Just Hummus, explains the cultural history of hummus, and shows you how to make this healthy dish. World-traveler Kathleen Peters runs the new workshop “Travel 101: Exploring Pilgrimage” Dec. 4 (6-8 p.m.), which highlights Europe’s historic pilgrimage routes, such as Spain’s Camino de Santiago and Italy’s Via Francigena. She discusses how to pack, travel logistics, and more. All programs free, but reservations recommended. 617-536-9455. www.hiusa.org/hostels/massachusetts/boston

Visit the West Coast’s Portland

If you’re heading to Oregon, check out The Hoxton, Portland, which opened this month in a historic 1906 building in Old Town Chinatown. The 119-room hotel has two restaurants, a rooftop eatery with stunning city views, several public spaces, and The Apartment, an events space that hosts cultural events. Choose from four 1960s West Coast room styles: shoebox, snug, cozy, and roomy, all with free water, Wi-Fi, an hour of free calls to anywhere in the world, a mini fridge, and daily breakfast delivered to your door. Rooms start at $115, double occupancy, and include breakfast. 503-770-0500, www.thehoxton.com

Cycle Tuscany’s historic gravel roads on a new 8-day cycling adventure that crisscrosses Italy’s famous Chianti region. The trip, offered by Virginia-based Tourissimo and Ride and Seek, passes through medieval hilltop towns, and by abbeys, wineries, and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Be ready for steep climbs and winding descents when you join this trip Sept. 14-21. Riders cover 20-70 miles per day, for a total of 315 miles, and stay in boutique hotels and an agriturismo (translation: authentic Italian farmhouse). Rates start at $3,995 per person, based on double occupancy. 857-997-0051, www.rideandseek.com/tour/tuscany-strade-bianche

Safeguard your camera lenses

Many lens caps accidentally pop off and do little to protect your lens when you’re traveling and exploring. Kuvrd’s new Universal Lens Cap holds on tight and creates a protective shield around your lens that safeguards it in wet or dusty conditions. The super lightweight and flexible rubber cap stretches around the front of virtually any lens and protects it from the elements. It’s waterproof and dustproof and adds a thin cushion of support in case you bump your lens into a tree or doorway while on the go. The Universal Lens Cap works well for protecting your lens during transport, too — slip one cap over the front of the lens and one over the back, and then pack the lens into your suitcase or dry bag, for instance. When you’re shooting, the lens cap can easily squish down and slip into a pocket. $30 for one to $150 for 10. www.kuvrdcamera.com