Disney CEO Bob Iger has a message for Apple, Google, and every other tech company that distributes his company's streaming services: He wants a better deal.

At least that seems to be what Iger wants from them. Speaking at an investor conference this week, Iger said he's giving up too much money to the Big Tech app stores that distribute Disney-owned streamers like Hulu and Disney+.

"We have to look at the way we're distributing," Iger told analyst Michael Nathanson at a MoffettNathanson-hosted conference. "Unlike Netflix, we distribute largely through third-party app stores. There's obviously an advantage to that to some extent, but there's a cost to that, too. And we're looking at that."

Iger is referring to arrangements Disney has with tech platforms that allow users to sign up and pay for his streaming services. Those deals vary from platform to platform: Apple, for instance, has a deal for video companies like Disney that charges them 15% of revenue for signups made within Apple-distributed apps; Roku, the connected TV company, can charge video companies a fee for signing up customers on its devices and may also demand a slice of those services' ad inventory.

It may be telling that Iger referenced Netflix, which used to let consumers sign up for its service via third-party distributors like Apple, but stopped doing that in 2018. The move didn't seem to affect Netflix's growth, and has obvious benefits for the company's margins.

I've asked Disney, as well as Apple, for comment.

App stores and app distribution are a meaningful part of many tech companies' business plans. Apple, which can take up to 30% of revenue generated by in-app purchases and signups, has been telling investors that the growth in "services" businesses like the App Store is particularly important for its future.

It's also possible that Disney won't need to leave third-party app stores — or threaten to leave — in order to save money. Apple's App Store policies, in particular, have been under pressure from regulators around the world, and Apple is grudgingly making some changes.

Maybe one of them will include a way to take a bit less from one of the world's biggest video companies.

The new strain of bird flu has infected more than 90 million chickens and has spread to dairy cows and even humans. Here's what you need to know about the "global pandemic for animals."

• US and Philippine Marines conducted security operations in key terrain near Taiwan's south coast.
• They practiced defending strategic areas in preparation for a potential conflict with China.
• The mission aims to integrate Philippine forces into US operations and build rapport with locals.

The Marines were just over a hundred miles away from the southern tip of Taiwan when they seized the airstrip. They were operating in Northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands, Philippine territory north of the mainland — key terrain for a potential conflict with China.

The mission, known as maritime key terrain security operations, or MKTSO, was practice for that conflict, but had real-world implications. It was a show of force headed by elements of the Marine Corps' newest Pacific-oriented unit: the Marine littoral regiment, or MLR.

On April 30, three combined littoral reconnaissance teams made up of roughly 30 US and Philippine Marines each, flown by Army Chinooks and Black Hawk helicopters, departed a naval base off the northern coast of the mainland to insert into the remote islands.

Their purpose was to reconnoiter the territory not only through sensors and unmanned systems but interactions with local communities, laying groundwork alongside their Filipino partners where civilian maritime trade has experienced increased aggression from China.

Those units were joined by a rifle company, also a joint-nation element, with the ability to seize and defend key terrain in the event of conflict. It was the first time that Marines with the 3rd MLR, the unit deployed to the region, went to Mavulis, which is the furthest north island of the Philippines that its military has a presence on.

"The further that we get from the mainland in order to truly demonstrate a capability, a flyaway capability that can sustain itself — that's a significant demonstration of capabilities both on the air side and the ground side," Maj. Robert Patterson, a company commander who led forces during the air assault on one of the northernmost Philippine islands, told Military.com in an interview Monday.

The exercise marked a notch in the Marine Corps' philosophical shift after 20 years of war in the Middle East where it faced insurgent adversaries, ones less equipped and organized compared to its current "pacing challenge," China.

Lt. Col. Mark Lenzi, the battalion commander for the 3rd Littoral Combat Team, told Military.com that not only is it a shift in environment, but a recognition of the increased risk of conventional warfare.

Long-range missile strikes, loitering munitions and enhanced sensing capabilities are just "some of the things that have proliferated in the years since," Lenzi said. "You have to modify your tactics and your thinking to break the enemy's targeting cycles to avoid being detected by those weapons in the first place and then avoid being targeted by them when and if you are detected."

Lenzi is the commander of one of the MLR's critical set pieces, the littoral combat team. Within the MLR, it is accompanied by an anti-air and logistics battalion, for a total of nearly 2,000 Marines who are uniquely equipped for a Pacific fight.

That equipment includes naval strike missiles, unmanned aerial systems and radars — assets meant to support the unit's agile, dispersed nature. Those characteristics are exemplified in missions like the MKTSO, where Marines are sent out — alone and with only the necessary equipment they need to survive — to remote locations in the Pacific.

"The strategic significance is the ability to put combat-capable forces anywhere that we would need them, and to deter an adversary or engage in combat without as many limitations on having to pull them back," Lenzi said.

Marines who participated in the mission brought limited supplies to the islands, a tough logistical balance that was made more difficult by the humid climate. They filled packs with water and brought along platoon water purification systems, or PWPS, a piece of equipment that can produce up to 15 gallons of water per hour from sources found in the environment.

Patterson described the water effort as "colossal," adding that fuel and food were priority items that played into his planning for the mission. The latter was in part supported by the local community. The reliance on the surrounding environment is part of the MLR's expeditionary nature.

While dispersed operations for the Marine Corps are not new, the environment is. In 2022, after the MLR was set up, it was sent to the Philippines, a country known for its multiple islands, tropical jungles and reinvigorated alliance with the US in light of the threat of China, which has used its coast guard to disrupt local fishing commerce.

Now, service members find themselves constantly rotating to the country as part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a plan between the US and the Philippines that grants American troops access to nine Philippine military bases.

But in this case, with the MKTSO mission, Marines were sent to the farthest-reaching islands off of the Philippine coast, placing them close to Taiwan and China.

A critical part of these operations involves incorporating the Philippine military into them as a way to benefit from their knowledge of the terrain, legitimize interactions with the communities that live on the islands, and prepare for potential war together.

Those efforts were often led by Marine corporals and sergeants. It was through those squad leaders, Patterson said, that he was able to understand the community and environment based on their information and relationship-building.

"They recognized that they're some of the first United States forces on these islands," he said, specifically Itbayat, one of the islands not so far from Taiwan. "So, [they felt] very prideful, very excited to do their job."

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Fitness trackers do far more today than the rudimentary clip-on wearables Fitbit introduced in 2009. Now, it's like wearing a personal trainer and life coach right on your wrist. The best fitness trackers count steps, recommend workouts, track sleep habits, and motivate you to keep active. Some even double as premium smartwatches.

Among the best fitness trackers on the market, our top pick is the Garmin Epix Gen 2. It tracks a range of activities, offers a battery life of up to a week, and has highly accurate GPS. For a budget pick, we recommend the Fitbit Inspire 3. It's a no-frills but effective wearable with solid battery life and accurate tracking for less than $100.

Picking out the right fitness tracker comes down to how you intend to use it. Some may not need the bells and whistles of Garmin's Epix Gen 2, while others looking for a smartwatch may prefer the Apple Watch Series 9. To help, we've compiled the best fitness trackers across seven categories below.

Our top picks for the best fitness trackers

Best overall: Garmin Epix Gen 2 – See at Amazon

Best budget: Fitbit Inspire 3 – See at Amazon

Best Fitbit: Fitbit Sense 2 – See at Amazon

Best smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 9 – See at Amazon

Best for iPhone: Apple Watch Ultra 2 – See at Amazon

Best for Android: Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro – See at Amazon

Best training feedback: Garmin Forerunner 745 – See at Amazon

Best overall

When Garmin released the Epix Gen 2 in 2022, I was curious how it'd slot into the brand's lineup alongside the Fenix, a wearable that does just about everything. After wearing the Epix Gen 2 as my daily driver for a month, it became clear it's not only worthy of its own line but also happens to be the best fitness tracker you can buy. 

From a feature standpoint, it has it all. There are the basics, like heart rate monitoring, sleep and step tracking, and advanced features like stress, hydration, and respiration tracking. It also uses Garmin's unique Body Battery function, which can tell how well you rest each day and whether you should push for a PR or take it easy during your next workout.  

This is in addition to the endless list of available activities to track, unique coaching insights and workout tips, recovery time estimates, visual race time predictors, and custom workouts.

But what I've been most impressed about while wearing the Epix Gen 2 is that all these features are legitimately useful. I find myself using so many of them in all facets of my day, too. I use the recovery time estimate to see what workout my body is ready for, the coaching insights for daily inspiration, the race time predictors to adjust my training schedule, and sleep tracking to see how well my body recovers each day.

What's more is that the Epix Gen 2 can go upwards of six full days without needing a recharge, even if I'm using things like the built-in GPS each day or wearing it to bed to track my sleep. I've gone on multi-day camping trips and still had more than enough battery left on my trip home. 

Yes, the watch is on the expensive side, starting at $800, but it's the same price as the $800 Apple Watch Ultra 2, a similarly rugged outdoor watch with far weaker battery life. Plus, you're more likely to find a solid deal on the Epix Gen 2 than the Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

Because of its laundry list of available features, it's best used by those who are consistently active and enjoy getting outside. Anyone can buy one, but to get the most value out of it, you want to ensure you're using it as intended. 

Best budget

The Inspire 3 is one of Fitbit's latest wearables that blends advanced health and fitness tracking with a subtle, no-frills design. With features like skin temperature sensing and sleep tracking and a price tag that situates it under $100, the Inspire 3 is a budget fitness tracker that performs like something much more expensive. 

What makes the Inspire 3 an especially great wearable is that it's perfect for people of all fitness levels and skills. Beginners and first-time wearers will find it easy to navigate and it offers plenty of basics such as daily steps taken, calories burned, and several trackable activities. 

Seasoned fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the Inspire 3's advanced health features, including the new skin temperature sensor and in-depth sleep tracker. It's not as comprehensive as our top pick, but the Inspire 3 still offers tons of useful features. It's also compatible with a range of the best Inspire 3 bands. 

The watch isn't perfect, though. During our tests, we noted that the lack of built-in GPS may tarnish the experience for more hardcore athletes who don't always want to work out with their phones. GPS syncing was quick when we brought our phone along, but it wasn't always ideal. The other major drawback is its lack of downloadable apps. 

Even when we factor those cons, we still feel the Inspire 3 is an excellent fitness tracker that punches above its weight. It's the best fitness tracker for those on a budget, beginners, or first-time fitness tracker users. It's even an adequate overall wearable for fitness veterans who seek an inexpensive, no-frills experience.  

Read our Fitbit Inspire 3 review.

Best Fitbit

The best Fitbit overall, the Fitbit Sense 2 is our favorite fitness tracker in Fitbit's lineup and satisfies just about everything you look for in a quality active wearable. 

It offers a wide variety of trackable activities and catalogs tons of unique insights into your sleep habits and fitness data while also monitoring your stress and menstrual cycles. It even has a built-in GPS and a battery that lasts around five days on a single charge. 

We found the watch lived up to those ambitious expectations at almost every turn. It was highly accurate during workouts, both in terms of GPS syncing and the data it tracked. Its health insights were easy to access and actionable, and the battery life was superb. 

It's also an incredibly easy watch to navigate. The swipe controls are simple and intuitive and offer enough customization to make the experience personal. 

But the biggest highlight of the Sense 2 is its advanced health and wellness tools. There's a skin temperature sensor (similar to the Inspire 3 above), the ability to get heart rhythm (ECG) readings, and the aforementioned stress tracker, which monitors stress levels in real time.

The watch doesn't come without a few drawbacks, though. The most apparent is that it's just not that impressive of a smartwatch. Even though Fitbit calls it a smartwatch, it struggles to fit the bill because it doesn't offer third-party app support and doesn't allow access to tools like Google Assistant (even though Google is its parent company). There's also no ability to store or play music. 

Unless you need a fitness tracker that doubles as a premium smartwatch, don't let those missing features preclude you from considering the Sense 2. Outside of those cons, it offers a great fitness tracking experience. Plus, it's still an adequate smartwatch with call, text, app, and email notifications. It's just not the ideal smartwatch. 

Read our Fitbit Sense 2 review.

Best smartwatch

The Apple Watch Series 9 doesn't represent a huge upgrade over the prior-generation Series 8, but it remains the best fitness-tracking smartwatch you can buy. Thanks to its new S9 processor, the Series 9 functions faster than any Apple Watch before it, which has a big impact on the wearable's overall performance. Navigating the interface is smooth, as is opening any of its apps or starting a workout. 

As a fitness tracker, the Series line has always been one of the best on the market, offering a wide variety of trackable activities and accurate GPS. It's also a highly motivating watch thanks to Apple's gamification, which pushes users to close their fitness rings each day. These rings consist of burned calories (called the Move goal), minutes active (called the Exercise goal), and how many hours each day you've stood up and moved around (called the Stand goal). 

Although the Series 9 debuted without significant new fitness tracking features, it's still a highly refined version of the Apple Watches before it and offers the best Series line experience to date. This is especially true considering its smartwatch capability in terms of its new software and hardware. 

Hardware-wise, the Series 9 debuted the above-mentioned S9 chip, which impacts how the watch functions overall. It allows for fast navigation of the interface and a boost in the watch's performance. The difference may not be noticeable to wearers of the Series 8 or Series 7, but users of older models will appreciate the uptick in speed. 

The S9 is also a major player regarding the Series 9's software updates, most notably led by the new double tap gesture. Now, users can tap their index finger and thumb together twice to interact with the central button in an app. For instance, this can answer or hang up a phone call or snooze an alarm. It's a unique new feature powered by the latest chipset. 

Other new software features, like the Smart Stack display and redesigned apps, are also great additions. However, these come packaged in the new WatchOS 10 operating system (compatible with Series 4 and newer).

There are also new cycling and hiking tracking features in WatchOS 10, including compatibility with Bluetooth cycling accessories, an updated Compass app, and new topographical map data. 

So, while the Series 9 isn't a revolutionary update over the Series 8, it's still the best smartwatch for fitness tracking, especially for iOS users. 

Read our full Apple Watch Series 9 review.

Best for iPhone

Although the Apple Watch Ultra 2 does a lot of the same things as the Series 9 above, it offers a few more advanced activity tracking features that make it the best pure fitness tracker for iPhone users. These features include a brighter screen, which is great for use in bright, sunny conditions, water resistance down to 100m, a wider range of altitudes, and a longer-lasting battery. The Series 9 offers 18 hours of battery life, while the Ultra 2 is rated at 36 hours. 

These extra features make the Ultra 2 the best Apple Watch for advanced users like athletes, especially those who need the extra battery life. For instance, the Ultra 2 could comfortably make it through something like a marathon or even a multi-day backpacking trip. 

The Ultra 2 also now features an array of watersports features aimed at freedivers, scuba divers, wakeboarders, and kitesurfers. Its built-in Depth app can log diving sessions, GPS data, water temperature information, and time spent underwater. These features are certainly on the niche side, but they're an example of Apple's intent to aim the Ultra 2 at a subset of potential wearers.

Like the Series 9, the Ultra 2 also features the new S9 chipset and the useful double-tap gesture, which can be used to snooze alarms or answer a phone call, among other things. The new chipset is particularly impressive in how fast it navigates the interface and opens apps. Ultra 1 users may not notice a difference, but it is apparent for anyone coming over from a Series 6 or older. 

Beyond those new features, the Ultra 2 is nearly identical to the original Ultra. It features a rugged, durable design, premium smartwatch functionality, and highly accurate GPS tracking. iPhone users who want a highly capable fitness tracker that seamlessly integrates into the Apple ecosystem should strongly consider the Ultra 2. 

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.

Best for Android

The competition for the best Android smartwatch is stiff as both Samsung and Google offer premium wearables worthy of the title. However, when it comes to tracking fitness, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the clear choice. We recognize that the newer Galaxy Watch 6 is available, but it can't beat the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, especially when the latter has a price cut from being a previous-generation model. 

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 Pro aims to be a fitness and adventure version of the standard non-Pro models (like the Apple Watch Ultra to the standard Series models) with extended battery life and a titanium build. It has advanced health and fitness features and uses the WearOS operating system, which delivers a fluid, intuitive user experience. 

For the fitness-focused crowd, the Watch 5 Pro is an exceptional activity tracker. During our tests, we found the watch to be highly accurate in terms of how quickly it synced its built-in GPS and how well it tracked activities like runs, bike rides, and hikes. It's also compatible with a variety of the best Samsung Galaxy Watch bands, like canvas options for something more durable or nylon straps for working out. 

There's even a track-back function that leaves digital breadcrumbs, so you know your exact path on a hike. We do wish this was available for more activities (it's only compatible with hikes and, oddly enough, bike rides), but perhaps this will be an update in the next release.

Those looking for a smartwatch will also appreciate how well the Watch 5 Pro functions. The Google Play Store offers many downloadable apps, and navigating the watch is incredibly easy. You can even customize the watch face and its displayed data to fit how you prefer to use it. Additionally, all notifications from emails, texts, apps, and phone calls are simple to interact with.

But perhaps the Watch 5 Pro's best feature is its expanded health tracking offering. It has comprehensive sleep tracking that charts your nightly sleep habits and a body composition scanner that tracks your muscle mass percentage, body fat, and water weight. 

It's worth pointing out that the Watch 5 Pro experience is more fully capable when using a Samsung phone. While it does work on something like the Google Pixel, a few features are missing, including the heart rhythm tracker (i.e., the ECG app). We also found some syncing issues when we initially set up the watch. 

Despite those drawbacks, however, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is the best fitness tracker for Android users (and our top overall pick of the best Android smartwatches currently available). It functions incredibly well as a smartwatch, offers a wide variety of fitness-tracking capabilities, and provides tons of unique and actionable health insights.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review.

Best for training feedback

Garmin has long-made highly advanced fitness trackers that serve the needs of hardcore athletes. The Forerunner 745 brings that in-depth approach to a wider audience, providing highly valuable fitness insight and feedback to anyone, regardless of how active they are. 

The beauty of this watch rests in the advanced data it provides. During workouts, the 745 displays everything from time active and heart rate to distance covered and pace. Each of these is highly useful if you're interval training or aiming for a certain time on a run or bike ride. It's also quite easy to customize this screen so you have exactly what you want when you want it. 

Though that in-the-moment data is great, what the watch offers after the activity (or between workouts) is even better. It provides challenging workout recommendations that adapt to your output, the ideal amount of rest you need between activities (which is highly important), and customized training plans. Neither of these is just tacked on, too, and I found myself gravitating toward them more and more as I tested the watch, even though I've always preferred my own custom workouts to anything pre-written for me. 

Its tracking accuracy is also highly precise, and I found it similar to that of Suunto's 7 and the Apple Watch Series 6. It syncs with GPS rather quickly and consistently produces similar metrics (for distance and pace), regardless of whether I cycle or run. 

If there were something to nitpick about the Forerunner 745, it'd be its clunky menu system. Like most Garmin watches, the OS isn't exactly intuitive, though it does get easier the more you use it (as would anything). It's not enough to be a dealbreaker, especially considering how much this watch does that's superior to most fitness trackers currently available.

Read our full Garmin Forerunner 745 review.

How we test fitness trackers

Each of the best fitness trackers in this guide underwent a series of tests to determine their performance in four categories: fit and comfort, tracking accuracy, features, and value.

Here's how we considered each category while testing:

Fit and comfort: If a fitness tracker isn't comfortable or doesn't fit well, you're far less likely to want to wear it — and if you don't wear it often, what's the point? Wearable brands know this, so many of the best fitness trackers have bands that not only stay comfortable for long periods but won't chafe or become bothersome while you sweat. When testing, I looked at everything from how they felt when I put them on to if I noticed any discomfort during short or long workouts. 

Tracking accuracy: Testing for accuracy isn't always easy. You can wear two different watches and get different GPS readings, pace data, and so on. So, instead of using a second tracker to test a wearable's accuracy, I'd map out how far an exact mile was from my house before running it a few times wearing the same watch. The trackers we recommend all produced results no more than .1 miles off. 

Features: This category is mostly straightforward: Does a tracker have any supplemental features outside of tracking steps, calories burned, or heart rate? These could be anything from extra activities it's capable of logging to the ability to act like a smartwatch and get smartphone notifications, etc. Trackers aren't defined by their added features, but it's a nice touch and something that can separate a good tracker from a great one. 

Value: The value of a fitness tracker isn't just its sticker price but also how valuable it is from a function standpoint. Does it have the features you need? Will it track and compile the data you want it to? Can it serve as something that benefits your fitness? When shopping to find a tracker's true value, these are all questions you want to consider. Value becomes more of a subjective category when viewed that way, but when testing, I judged how well each tracker held up across the above categories against how much they cost.

What to look for when shopping

Those looking for a device dedicated to tracking daily activity, workouts, and sleep have a vast number of choices, even without including members of the smartwatch family. Here's what to consider:

Comfort and design: Since you'll wear the tracker daily (even to bed for sleep tracking), comfort is a high priority. If it's not comfortable, you won't want to wear it. The same goes for design. If you have a small wrist, you may want a tracker with a sleek, understated look. Fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find one that suits your style.

Features: If you're looking for a no-frills fitness tracker, one that only tracks steps and your sleep habits may suffice. However, if you work out often or want insight into how your activity impacts your overall health, a more advanced tracker with a heart rate monitor or built-in GPS may be the one for you.

You should also consider the types of workouts you like to do. For example, if you're a swimmer, waterproofing is a must. If you're just starting a new fitness routine, a device that coaches you and gives you goals to work toward may provide the extra motivation you need.

App experience: Most fitness trackers are designed to work in tandem with your smartphone, syncing the data collected with a downloaded application, which allows you to gain even more insight into your health and save the information collected to track your progress over time.

Unfortunately, not all companion apps are effective, and you may find some experiences you prefer over others. It's important to choose a fitness tracker that gives you a good app experience. Easy navigation and compatibility with your phone's operating system are a must.

FAQs

Are fitness trackers worth wearing?

Yes, so long as you use the tracker and the data it collects to inform your fitness goals. You should understand what a fitness tracker offers and opt for one that provides insight into your needs. For instance, if you just need something to motivate you to increase your daily activity, you shouldn't buy a full-featured watch like the Coros Apex or Suutno 7. Something like the Apple Watch or Fitbit's Versa 3 would be better suited to your lifestyle.

Although there's nothing wrong with wearing a fitness tracker to only keep tabs on your daily steps or calories burned, that information it accrues can be vital for anyone who wants to develop a daily, weekly, or monthly fitness routine.

The term "worth," as it applies to fitness wearables, is relative to how exactly that information is used and who is using it. You first need to decide how you intend to use a fitness watch to determine how worthwhile it can be. 

What does a fitness tracker do?

The best fitness trackers monitor and accrue a variety of activity data, such as the number of steps a wearer takes each day, how many calories they've burned, and the flights of stairs they've climbed, among many others.

Basic fitness trackers often offer tracking for just those listed above, while more advanced wearables and fitness smartwatches provide a slew of advanced features such as workout tracking (running, cycling, weight lifting, etc.), heartbeat monitoring, smartphone notifications, and more. 

Some trackers even have compatible smartphone apps that centralize the data they collect, allowing users to chart their progress over time via a dashboard or activity calendar. 

What are the pros and cons of fitness trackers?

Deciding whether a fitness tracker's pros outweigh its cons ultimately comes down to how you intend to use it. It can be extremely beneficial if you plan to be routinely active and use the data it collects to develop and maintain a fitness routine. 

However, if you never look at the data amassed or buy a watch with too many features you'll never use, it will surely become an expensive digital timepiece that tracks fitness data for no reason. 

Fitness trackers can offer deep insight into one's health profile but can also be expensive. It's important to figure out how you want to use the watch before buying one and research which watch is best for your lifestyle and goals. 

• Built in 1765, Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest surviving residence in Manhattan.
• George Washington spent time there during the Revolutionary War, and Aaron Burr married its owner.
• I visited the mansion, now a restored museum, and felt like I stepped back in time.

Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest surviving residence in Manhattan.

The historic home was built in 1765 by Colonel Roger Morris, a Loyalist who returned to England when the Revolutionary War broke out.

During the war, George Washington used the site as his military headquarters during the Battle of Harlem Heights. It was then purchased by Stephen Jumel, a wealthy French merchant, in 1810.

After Jumel died in 1835, his widow Eliza married former vice president Aaron Burr, though the couple divorced a few months later.

Today, the mansion is located in what is now New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood in upper Manhattan. I toured the historic home in 2022 to learn more about its fascinating history.

Morris-Jumel Mansion is located just off 162nd Street in Manhattan.

Self-guided tours are available Thursday through Sunday and cost $10. Tickets can be purchased through the Morris-Jumel Mansion's official Eventbrite page.

It is part of the neighborhood's Jumel Terrace Historic District, which also features historic homes on Sylvan Terrace across the street from the mansion.

The cobblestone street outside the Morris-Jumel Mansion was originally built for horse-drawn carriages entering and exiting the home. Now called Sylvan Terrace, the street's wooden townhouses were built in 1862.

Walking into the Morris-Jumel Mansion felt like stepping back in time.

The City of New York purchased the Morris-Jumel Mansion in 1903 and turned it into a restored museum.

While I was amused to find that the entrance to the historic home featured a Ring doorbell, I immediately forgot about the building's modern touches when I stepped inside. I was greeted by a grand entryway with floor-to-ceiling portraits, historic furniture, and fine architecture.

On the first floor, a French parlor off the entryway served as a greeting room for guests.

The parlor also hosted Eliza Jumel and Aaron Burr's wedding in 1833.

Eliza Jumel bought most of the Empire-style furniture in France.

The Jumels were rumored to have known Napoleon Bonaparte while residing in France.

Further into the first-floor hall, a floor-to-ceiling portrait depicted Eliza Jumel and her grandchildren.

The portrait was painted by Alcide Carlo Ercole in 1854.

The dining room featured a replica of the original patterned wallpaper that the Jumels sourced from France in 1825.

The "Draped Cone" pattern was produced by the French wallpaper firm Zuber beginning in 1797.

One of the most stunning parts of the house was the Octagon Room on the first floor.

Designed by the home's first owner, Roger Morris, it is thought to be the first octagon-shaped room built in the American Colonies. The shape was common in British garden structures because it allowed for breezes to cool off the room.

The 1833 painting of Eliza Jumel in the Octagon Room shows her seated on the same ornate sofa that remains displayed in the room today.

The room's original cloud wallpaper was custom-made by Atelier d'Offard. The reproduced version in the present-day museum is based on an 1815 pattern from the Musée des Artes Décoratifs in Paris.

Even the staircase leading down to the kitchen featured an artifact of historical significance.

An exposed beam uncovered during a 2001 restoration project featured individual notch marks that indicated skilled labor done by hand — likely by enslaved individuals. 

The basement kitchen contained the original fireplace, hearth, and oven from the 18th century.

The basement used to also feature wine and food cellars, and possibly housing for the staff and enslaved people who worked there.

The lobby on the second floor had cannonballs from the Revolutionary War on display.

The cannonballs were excavated from upper Manhattan.

Upstairs, what the Morris family used as a parlor became George Washington's war room in 1776.

The room's elevated location and many windows proved a helpful military advantage. It was in this room that Washington strategized for the Battle of Harlem Heights, which helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War.

Lin-Manuel Miranda spent time writing his hit musical "Hamilton" in Aaron Burr's former bedchamber.

Burr didn't live at the mansion for long — Eliza Jumel filed for divorce from Burr after four months. Burr died the day the divorce was finalized in 1836.

Eliza's bedchamber was decorated with more Empire-style French furniture.

Eliza used to claim that her sleigh bed was once owned by Josephine Bonaparte, though that has since proven false.

After concluding my tour of the mansion, I explored the surrounding grounds.

The grounds are open to the public even when the mansion itself is closed. A few people were there walking their dogs, and there were a few benches that would make great spots to sit and read.

I couldn't believe that such an expansive, historic mansion was located just steps from the subway's 163rd Street stop in New York City.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion is definitely worth a visit to see some incredible architecture and transport yourself back to the early years of the United States.

• CDC officials failed Margaritaville at Sea Paradise on a surprise health inspection.
• The ship scored 83 points, below the 86 needed to pass, with 65 issues noted.
• Margaritaville at Sea told BI some issues have been resolved and it's seeking a reinspection.

On May 1, CDC officials boarded Margaritaville at Sea, a Jimmy-Buffet-themed ship that welcomes 1,680 passengers, for an unexpected health inspection.

The Vessel Sanitation Program officials gave the ship a failing grade. During the visit, they noted 65 issues on the ship, which resulted in an 83-point score. A score of 86 is needed to pass.

In the inspection detail report, officials noted food and drink concerns as well as crowded whirlpools.

In a statement sent to Business Insider, representatives for Margaritaville at Sea said, "Following internal policies, immediate corrective actions have been taken to address the issues identified in the inspection."

"Many of these issues have already been resolved and we will be working with USPH for a reinspection as soon as possible. We expect this reinspection will exceed USPH standard," the statement continued.

The report noted concerns about food and drink safety

Across the Paradise ship, there are seven dining venues, six bars, and food and drink areas for the ship's workers.

Within these spaces on Paradise, the officials noted in the inspection report that one worker handled an ice machine with gloves that "were stored with tools," adding that "it was unclear if the crew member washed his hands before putting on gloves."

The report stated that items like heavy cream were not in cold enough environments to meet CDC standards and that a crew member "could not demonstrate competency in verifying the concentration of the chemical used" while washing lettuce.

Additionally, numerous fridges, freezers, and deep fryers were out of service across the ship, areas of decks were soiled and in disrepair, and multiple rooms on the ship also didn't reach the required light intensity of 220 lux, the inspection stated.

Beyond food and drink, the officials noted that whirlpools often had six guests, although they're designed for a maximum of four people.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise isn't the only ship to fail its inspection

In a statement sent to Entrepreneur, the Vessel Sanitation Program officials said, "Inspections usually take 6-8 hours, depending on the number of inspectors, ship size, amount of time the ship is in port, and issues identified during the inspection."

Previously, the MSC Seaside failed with a score of 67, Business Insider reported last spring. During that inspection — the lowest score given in six years — officials found a "crew member's hands and refrigerator door handle covered in hamburger blood" and "black filth residue" on four yogurt containers.

Meanwhile, fifteen ships gained perfect scores in last summer's report. Those ships included Disney Fantasy, Disney Wonder, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Sunshine, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Millenium, Celebrity Summit, MSC Seascape, Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, Oceania Riviera, Rotterdam, Silver Moon, Norwegian Joy, and Norwegian Pearl.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise scored an 87 in the biannual report last year.

In the past two years, multiple Business Insider reporters have boarded the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise ship, and their reviews have been mixed. Reporter Brittany Chang was on the ship's inaugural sailing, where she noticed outdated features and quality issues, deeming a Paradise cruise "not worth it."

Lauren Mack came to a similar conclusion after boarding the ship last summer following the cruise line's multimillion-dollar renovation. During her cruise, she moved staterooms twice due to cigarette smoke smells and felt like the ship lacked a cohesive theme.

"Margaritaville has all the cruise basics, but I think they're scaled back in quantity and quality," Mack said. "If you temper your expectations and want an extended booze cruise or a beach day on a budget, you may find the cruise worthwhile."

• Donald Trump was warned not to go after prosecutors or witnesses again.
• Now, his allies are doing it.
• Outside his hush-money trial, surrogates have gone on the attack, toeing the line of a gag order.

Donald Trump has been testing the limits of his gag order in his hush-money trial — with 10 violations culminating in a warning from the judge that he could be jailed.

But while the former president has been uncharacteristically restrained recently, a cast of Republican lawmakers and Trump surrogates have traveled to court to rail about the proceedings.

US Senators and even the Speaker of the House have trashed the trial just as prosecutors are calling their key witness, Trump's former fixer, Michael Cohen.

It's raised questions about whether the "surrogates" could be violating Trump's gag order.

Legal experts told Business Insider it hinges on whether Trump is directing them to speak — but warned that extending a gag to uninvolved parties could raise free speech concerns.

For now, Trump's pals appear free to attack the trial — as long as Trump isn't telling them to.

Allies rally to Trump's side

Trump's fleet of surrogates has included House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sens. JD Vance of Ohio and Rick Scott of Florida, and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Some of the guests, including Vance and Gov. Doug Burgum, have been identified as formal campaign representatives in other appearances, such as on TV — further blurring the line.

They have been "speaking very beautifully," Trump said, blasting witnesses and Judge Juan Merchan's daughter.

On MSNBC, features writer Andrew Rice said he'd seen Trump in court "annotating and editing" the comments his surrogates were set to deliver.

A Trump campaign official told Business Insider that all supporters have volunteered to come to support their friend, and none were invited by the campaign.

Some have been transparent about their intent. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who has been floated as a potential VP pick, told Newsmax one reason he attended was to "overcome this gag order."

Tuberville's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado said on Thursday that a group of Republicans from the far-right House Freedom Caucus were in Manhattan to "stand with" Trump. She then tore into Cohen, Trump's former attorney.

"He wants President Trump to suffer that is why he has done what he has done," Boebert told reporters in a press conference held in a park near the courthouse. "That is why he has told the lies that he has, and we are here today to counter those as we stand for our friend President Donald J. Trump."

Under the gag order, Trump is not allowed to comment about Cohen.

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida later emphasized that the group was "here on our volition because there are things we can say that President Trump is unjustly not allowed to say."

Trump is walking a fine line

Andrew Lieb, an attorney and legal analyst, said it was a "close call" whether Trump's surrogates could cause further legal trouble given the fine line between whether he's directing or merely endorsing the support.

"Contempt of the gag order is no slam dunk because contempt requires the Judge to find that Trump is the one directing his surrogates," Lieb explained, though he warned: "Eventually, he is going to learn that if you keep touching the fire, you ultimately get burned."

If Trump's supporters suggest they were recruited to act on his behalf, "the court could hold a hearing to see if Trump was again in violation of the court's order," Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson told BI.

She said this could result in further fines or even jail time.

But Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told BI that "practically speaking," Judge Merchan can do little to stop lawmakers from speaking on Trump's behalf.

"Elected officials have a right to campaign and discuss issues publicly," Rahmani said. "It's a free speech issue and a matter of public concern, which is entitled to the greatest First Amendment protection."

Former Indiana Attorney General Jeff Modisett added that the scope of gag orders typically applies "only to the parties directly involved in the case" and that courts have limited authority to impose them beyond that.

A judge could consider extending the gag order to Trump's surrogates if they were deemed to threaten the integrity of the trial, he said, but any such decision "would need to be carefully justified and balanced against the constitutional rights of free speech and press."

• United Airlines' new inflight safety video is creative but also extremely distracting.
• The video's busy and engaging theatrics overshadow key safety information.
• Japan Airlines' straightforward safety video likely helped save 379 people escape a fire in January. 

I didn't retain much from United Airlines' new inflight safety video. And I doubt passengers will either.

The video, released on Thursday, is the latest in United's series of entertaining briefings that attempt to combine required safety and fun into a heavily regulated part of flying.

The mini-movie follows a shiny blue ball as it snakes its way through lively and colorful sets that focus on key safety information, like seatbelt usage and how to use the oxygen mask.

In a press release, United said the video was designed with the goal of capturing the focus of passengers clearly and succinctly in hopes the creative scenes and transitions will help people pay more attention to its emergency instructions — especially frequent flyers who have likely memorized the spiel by now.

"The safest safety video is one that people will want to watch even on your 45th viewing," United's creative director, Meg Mitchell, who oversaw production, told NPR. "People start to tune out. And so we wanted something that felt like you could watch over and over and over again and still want to pay attention to."

However, the blue ball isn't just rolling slowly across the screen — it's bouncing across windows, knocking down dominoes, and being launched across seats. All the while, the crewmembers are simultaneously giving safety instructions and demonstrating the equipment.

I found the theatrics to be distracting

As someone who worked in airline safety before becoming an aviation journalist, I understand United is using entertainment to get people to focus on the video instead of their phones.

Despite good intentions, the video's in-your-face theatrics are just as distracting.

Throughout the entire video, I found myself focusing more on where the ball was going next in its winding web of tracks rather than on the core safety message.

For example, the ball overshadowed information like where the life jackets are located and how to use the exit doors. The seatbelt presentation was interrupted by a close-up of the ball instead of what the camera should focus on — the flight attendant giving the safety instructions.

There was simply a lot going on, and I can't imagine passengers — particularly first-time flyers or those who only travel once or twice a year — absorbed the important safety elements.

The video's launch comes shortly after the airline faced heightened FAA oversight after a string of safety incidents earlier this year.

In a statement to Business Insider on Thursday, United pointed to its collaboration with the agency on the video, saying it believes it is one "passengers will actively watch."

"We worked closely with the FAA throughout the production process to ensure the video aligned to their standards, culminating with the FAA's approval of the video," the airline said.

United and Japan Airlines' safety videos are polar opposites

United's video piggybacks on a similar discussion I wrote about in January after a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 caught fire in Tokyo.

All 379 passengers on board that plane survived, and the airline's no-nonsense safety video likely helped.

Instead of humor and Hollywood-style sets, JAL takes a straightforward approach to its safety instructions, providing clear and concise information without any extra pizzazz that could distract from the core content.

Notably, its warning to leave luggage behind during evacuations included a visual explanation of how to go down the slide — including arms crossed and heels off — and showed the consequences of failing to follow instructions.

United, as well as many other Western carriers, lack this level of detail in their videos.

Don't get me wrong; I do think there is room for creativity in an airline safety video so long as it clearly conveys the message — but, in my opinion, United's got lost in the theatrics this time.