Love knows no boundaries, and neither does Second Life! Your dream virtual wedding awaits at Costa Bella Weddings. 

Costa Bella Weddings is a full-service wedding provider with four beautiful and very different venues to choose from: Country, Winter, The Beach, and Black Tie Affair. You also get a choice of three full-region honeymoon locations: Brampton Island, Las Brisas Island, and Isola Dell Amore. With a capacity of 100 guests and an average of 30, celebrate big or small. At the bigger end of the spectrum, the wedding of Kacee and Fang featured at the start of the video had 75 people attending. 

Longtime resident JenJen Sommerfleck, a photographer for 14 years, has been working at Costa Bella for the last 2 years. She and her team provide all planning services, including rehearsal, ceremony, photography, officiant service, DJ, and more.

Jen shares her personal story in the video with us - as someone who can not have children in real life, she adopted kids in SL over the years and even had a pregnancy and is now caring for a Zooby baby.  

In regards to her job and the history of the wedding business in SL, Jen adds: 
“In my 14 years of experience, I have seen the industry grow and evolve in many ways. From simplistic, rudimentary setups of yesteryear to the complex, gorgeous productions of today. While still enjoying the hands-on of the wedding process in many aspects, my most enjoyable role is as manager here at Costa Bella. I have the great privilege of working closely with our amazing owners, Robin and Ian Moonkill. They operate Costa Bella on the premise of seeing people happy and in love, not as a money-making venture. That is something that is rare in the wedding industry. I love what I do here and I love how it ties into the most important part of my SL: family.”

Celebrate now, with loved ones near and far. There are no post-party regrets in the virtual world!

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

Costa Bella Weddings

Costa Bella Weddings is a full-service wedding provider. They walk you through the wedding process from beginning to end. They provide planning services, pre-ceremony coordination, rehearsal, in-ceremony coordination, photography, officiant service, DJ, and Venue choice of one of their beautifully decorated locations along with a choice of three full region honeymoon locations. Their services are provided from the heart because weddings are their passion. They look forward to creating the wedding of your dreams!

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Pictured: Cloud Edge

Get rid of the winter blues and have your virtual camera ready as you explore these photogenic destinations in Second Life this weekend!

Cloud Edge

Cloud Edge is a high-ground environment based above the clouds, surrounded by mountains. A place to escape, relax and enjoy the views. Add your photos to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/bananabuilds

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Kawaii City

A photogenic cyberpunk/dystopic city to walk around, eat some Asian food, have some delicious coffee, explore the bars and clubs or find a place with that special somebody and snuggle a little.

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Green Story

Green story is a beautiful, calm, and peaceful place for everyone. It's a place to relax or have a romantic time with a loved one. A perfect place to take pictures and create memories.

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Elvion

Enjoy beautiful vistas while exploring this magical paradise. From stunning ocean views to fantasy scenes. Elvion is an ideal place for photographers, bloggers, and couples.

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Chateau de Chantilly Palace by TONAL

The Château de Chantilly has had many names over its lifetime. This beautiful display of craftsmanship and passion is now open to the public for exploration, photography, events, vacations, dining, equine lifestyle, and exploration.

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The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is an amazing estate filled with magical places that will amaze you. Created by Patch Thibaud and adapted as a residence, this is a true work of art. Majestic beyond words, you must experience this to fully appreciate it! Let the gondola guide you to your arrival then explore this romantic creation.

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Pillars Of Hercules

For over five years Scottie Menges and Caleb Bruun ran the first Pillars Of Hercules open from 2009-2014. Now after ten months of building, Pillar of Hercules returns in 2022 as a public park open to anyone looking for a romantic and neoclassical fantasy destination where you can learn about Greek and Roman mythology.

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Lyric

Lyric is inspired by the Caribbean Islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines, where the architecture of different eras meet the uniqueness of the Island's natural landscape. It is composed of three regions streamed together to offer its residents and visitors an opportunity to sail between them. Come live, love, and play!

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Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media.
Signup for the Second Life Weekly Email Newsletter.
 

While many of us are still recovering from the winter holidays, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and our shopping itch just won’t go away! 

Linden Lab is winding up for a Valentine’s Day inworld shopping event - and we’re now looking for Merchants who would like to participate.

The 2023 Valentine’s Day edition of Shop & Hop will open on Friday, February 3rd, and will run through Sunday, February 19th. We are looking for Merchants willing to offer a discount on their items (at least 20% off) and provide a new non-exclusive gift to shoppers.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please fill out this form as soon as possible and no later than Monday, January 9th, 2023. We will contact you soon after that date if your application is accepted.

Love is in the air!

Start your 2023 by enjoying the sea breeze at Butter in Second Life, a rustic little seaside town where you can relax on the beach or add some adventure to the new year by going camping, hiking, or more!

Owner of Butter, Mona Molinaxil, shares her motivation for creating it:

“My motivation for Butter is watching other people's creations and then feeling an urge to actually create something myself.

I started adding all the things I like in the region first: Food, puppies, coffee, good music, dances, clutter, and rustic buildings. All with a bit of quirk to it. 

Butter is by no means a finished project. Things are always changing. New items are added, and areas that I get tired of or don’t like are changed. Being limited by LI limits forces some choices to be made. And that is not a bad thing, really.

If you want something new, you might have to remove something old. 

Currently, a part of the region is closed off for construction. One day it will be and it will be open to the public again.

I did not want private homes or rentals on Butter, because one of the most annoying things I know when exploring SL is to run into ban lines and being kicked out by security systems. I wanted furnished and decorated houses where people could hang out and explore without feeling like they are trespassing.

And by the way: visitors can change the music stream and group members can rez their photo props.

Basically, Butter is made to be a place where I would like to hang out myself. I just hope other people like it too.”

When asked what Second Life means to her, Mona says:

“I have been in SL for many many years. I did leave at some point but came back (Who was I kidding? I have made great friends and I have always been creating something.)

I want my SL to be relaxing and fun, not a chore. SL is where I can escape, relax and do some low-key socializing when I have free time, like going to live concerts or special events around the grid.

With a full-time job, I have never had the time and energy to learn how to make my own mesh but creativity is one of the big perks in SL for me. And I can still be very creative by designing regions like Butter.

Both the opportunity to create something of my own and watching other people create things, and getting inspired by them, that is what SL means to me.

There is something for everyone out there.”

The start of a new year is a time of new beginnings, so why not take some time to check out Butter in Second Life?

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

Butter

Butter is a rustic, little seaside town. Relax on the beach, go camping, hiking, or dancing. Visit the docks or the farm to meet the locals. There are plenty of places to eat, drink, and hang out. Refresh your pixels at the spa and don't forget to bring your camera! If you look a bit closer there are also several cozy hideaways.

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A Return to Our Roots…and a New Vision for the Future

As 2022 comes to a close, it is time for our annual look back at some of the year’s most notable developments and accomplishments in Second Life. The year 2022 began with a bang as original founder Philip Rosedale returned to Second Life as a strategic advisor. Philip’s pioneering vision for the now-mainstream concepts of virtual economies, cultures, and communities played a crucial role in the launch and subsequent success of Second Life since its inception almost two decades ago - and we are excited to work closely with him once again to shape our future direction.

One of the newest Second Life initiatives championed by Philip has been the long-awaited Preview Grid availability of "Puppetry", which adds avatar “expressiveness” either via camera-based movement or connecting the viewer to motion-based capture hardware for a whole new level of interaction and connectedness. Our announcement of this work was among the most-shared posts on our social channels for the year, and we’ve opened up the development of this feature to community contributions.

The introduction of Event Regions makes it easier to hold large-scale events with expanded capacity for more concurrent visitors - owners and renters of Event Regions can host up to 175 avatars and get a 20% script performance boost along with other benefits. 

Second Life membership got a power-up too, with the introduction of Premium Plus, which rolled out to a steaming hot reception this summer. The introduction of the Plus membership tier later in the year has allowed residents to dip their toes into the waters of SL membership and mainland ownership. Everyone can find a level that fits their Second Life needs at the moment, and we hope the expanded offerings will continue to serve you well. 

This year, Residents spent nearly 320 million hours inworld, and we hope that you were having a blast the whole time!

2023 Roadmap

Want a sneak peek at the shape of things to come in 2023?  Here’s a look at what’s already in the works for the new year and beyond:

In 2022 we started working on a number of graphical improvements including physical based rendering (PBR), GLTF adoption, and reflection probes - with the intent of shipping our first iteration of these features early in the coming year.

Creators will be able to use tools like Substance Painter to generate GLTF materials to import into Second Life. PBR will leverage the new material types and sample from reflection probes for environment reflections and lighting. Second Life is about to get a lot more shiny.

All the reflection probes work set us up nicely for a much requested feature. Yes, Planar mirrors are also on our roadmap for 2023!

Also in the works for 2023:

• Avatar customization improvements to simplify creating your virtual identity, including inventory thumbnails to give a preview of what’s sitting in those boxes
• New user experience upgrades to better fuel retention, engagement, and growth across key parts of the new user journey
• New centralized "hubs" to better connect residents to the communities that match their passions and interests
• First peek at a world and avatar centered mobile-first Second Life experience
• New LSL functions that improve the quality of life for scripters
• Even more performance improvements to increase the quality and visual fidelity of the Second Life experience
• …and much more!

2022 Highlights

In addition to the Second Life innovations noted above, there were several other key accomplishments in 2022 worth spotlighting.

Bringing Second Life Back into the Conversation

In 2022, the renewed general interest in the Metaverse translated into significant media opportunities for Second Life. Over 21,000 articles and other stories included Second Life in 2022 –  nearly 5 times greater than the amount of media coverage we received in 2021.  We are especially proud of the range and scale of the media coverage – everything from community forums to more specialized technology press as well as some of the world’s largest media properties including the BBC, CNN and The Wall Street Journal. The four part Wall Street Journal podcast, How to Build a Metaverse, was particularly excellent coverage.

New Options, New Opportunities

In response to community feedback for more Premium account options, we debuted two all-new membership opportunities (Plus and Premium Plus) - each with added features and extras to match any budget. Check out our Premium overview page for a comparison of all benefits.  In addition to land, groups, stipends, priority entry and multitude others, we’ve also partnered with a third party viewer - Speedlight - to give Premium Plus members unlimited online time and priority support access on "Speedlight" - a mobile and browser- based viewer which allows you to stay connected to Second Life while on the go. 

Premium Plus members are now also able to purchase a Homestead region with their membership with no additional requirements for a full region. We’ve seen a lot of interest here, and are happy to be able to offer this valuable benefit.

By far, the most popular perks of both the Premium and Premium Plus membership are Linden Homes, which give Residents the opportunity to move into a ready-made home crafted in a variety of styles - including the new-for-2022 Newbrooke and Sakura themes. Could another new theme be around the corner? Saddle up and stay tuned…and expect even more new extras and enhancements to the various Premium offerings in the coming year.

Additionally, we continued to rotate in new “Last Name” options for community members seeking to better craft their identity and personas, including limited-time availability of several in-demand and specialized last names. Demonpaws, anyone?

Improved Performance & Viewer Enhancements

Our engineering team continues to make general performance updates to increase the quality of the Second Life experience. For example, there was improved support for complex scripting capabilities, often doubling the number of scripts that can run in regions! We also migrated our code to GitHub to help improve and modernize our tooling and better support the open source community.

There were also several backend improvements made to logins, including a fix to new device email notifications for newly created accounts, performance improvements for the viewer login handshake, and improvements to metrics and diagnostics for our internal tools. We also added the long-requested Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to help community members better protect their accounts. 

Other modifications to the Official Viewer were made based on community feedback, including improvements to Viewer profiles for a more responsive experience (including streamlined availability to Groups, which is now more accessible on the main Viewer profile tab).

Linkset Structured Data

In November, we introduced Linkset Structured Data (LSD), a new way for LSL to store data. The feature has been covered by external blogposts, and has been touted as a game changer for scripters who need persistent storage of data.

New Partnerships & Possibilities

One of the biggest community developments of 2022 was Second Life’s acquisition of several SL-related assets of CasperTech, which will help ensure that its popular merchant and vendor services will continue to operate smoothly with even more enhancements in the future.

Our parent company Linden Lab also announced that Tilia LLC,  the all-in-one payments platform that powers the Second Life economy. secured a strategic investment from J.P. Morgan Payments. The investment will help enhance its current capabilities throughout its processing platform including providing increased payment and payout methods, expanded pay-out currencies and support services.

There were several exciting entertainment and media industry partnerships in Second Life over the past year, too. The year started strong with the Metaverse Fashion Week event, held inworld in February. The event, which was covered in major outlets including Vogue and Glamour, included an elaborate inworld runway show that debuted an all-new virtual fashion collection from designer Jonathan Simkhai (who debuted the physical collection of the same fashions the next day in NYC).

Acclaimed DJ and musician Eli Brown launched a unique interactive music experience and nightclub in Second Life in partnership with London Records.

Our partnership with Film Threat also continued with several virtual cinema screenings, including the premieres of Draxtor Despres’ documentary “Virtual Cultures in Pandemic Times” and Huckleberry Hax’s full-length shot-in-SL machinima “WAARHEID.”

Community Celebrations, Marketing Milestones

All of the media attention throughout the first half of the year helped to heighten interest in our SL19B Celebration, which was the most successful birthday event ever with an all-time record for attendance and participation! The 24-region event housed 225 community exhibits and the related music events featured a total of 346 performers! We also saw record engagement at the SL19B Shop & Hop 20-region shopping event, which racked up all-time record sales for the 400 participating merchants. So, who is ready for SL20B?!!

In 2022, we opened the all-new Second Life University to help better educate both new and existing community members on how to get the most out of our virtual world. This initiative includes a series of both live and produced community videos educating participants on a variety of topics including Viewer Basics, dressing your avatar, and much more.

In addition, the community team debuted a new weekly email newsletter for those who want to stay connected with regular updates on the latest news and events each week.

Happy Holidays from Second Life

Thank you to the entire Second City community for your ongoing loyalty and support. While we will continue to work hard at Linden Lab to improve Second Life, we know that it is the Residents and your many creative contributions that form the heart and soul of our shared virtual world. Our Metaverse, if we may. 

Have a great holiday,

The Second Life team

Today we are shining a spotlight on Caligula Aquila, a talented Resident that has been creating content in Second Life for 15 years, and just in time for the holidays, he’s released a new machinima series!

How long have you been in Second Life and how did you first hear about it?
I have been in Second Life since 2008. It all started when I was on a business trip, and while watching the news in my hotel room, they mentioned in their highlights, a real estate lady who made the highest revenue in Second Life. When I traveled back to my office, out of curiosity I typed “secondlife.com”. That day, I didn’t realize that it was a beginning of a new era in my life.

You have been creating content in Second Life for many years, do you have a background in fashion or 3D creation?
Not at all, I worked for many international companies, and I used to travel all around the globe to open new properties. A year before entering Second Life, I participated in a graphic design competition, organized by a well-known international tv station. I won the first prize, and it was a hint that my passion is somewhere else.

Can you tell us more about the various brands you have in Second Life?
I have five brands in Second Life: 

1. CA WEAR carries men's casuals, smart chic, and street fashion styles.
2. CHIC carries women’s fashions.
3. HATSWORLD carries a wide range of hats, caps, headdresses, helmets, and more.
4. AZALEA is a premium furniture store.
5. CALIGULA is our oldest brand, specializing in uniforms.

You also have an interest in machinima, when did you start creating videos in Second Life? 
I made machinima in my early days in Second Life. Back then we used to use Fraps to capture our scenes. Unfortunately, it was only a tiny experience before I started focusing on retail for the next 15 years. Until this last October, when we filmed Scrooge – A Second Life Christmas Carol, as a tribute to Second Life in its 20th Anniversary year, and it was a great comeback!

You have now started AVTV, can you tell us more about that and your future plans?
AVTV is our newest project with a unique new concept of delivering a quality, realistic, and decent image to all our viewers in Second Life or even outside the grid. Besides AVTV’s newscast and the special reports, we will be presenting many programs and interesting shows, like “Garry inSL Show”, “Live the Adventure”, “Fashionista” and many more. Our aim is to reach a wide audience in SL, highlight Residents' success stories, talk about new SL trends, recommend quality products and great offers in the market, visit popular events, and many more SL activities.

How has Second Life impacted your life?
I strongly believe that SL changes RL. And this is my case on a personal level.

I don't know if the fathers of Second Life predicted back in 2003 the positive impact of their motivational project on thousands of people. How many times have we seen RL disabled people running and flying in SL? How many times have we seen RL veterans proudly wearing again their uniform in SL? How many times have we seen couples who met in SL and got married in RL? And there are plenty of similar great stories.

Where can people follow you to know more about your work? Please share links to your sites and social media accounts.
Our inworld Stores are located on the “Shores of Joy” region and on the Marketplace.
Regarding AVTV, I encourage every SL resident to subscribe to our channel!
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AVTVinSL 
Facebook: Avtv Insl

We hope you enjoyed learning more about Caligula and his exciting new project! 
Watch his new six-part machinima series on the AVTV channel this holiday season.

1. AVTV - SCROOGE - A SECOND LIFE CHRISTMAS CAROL PART 1
2. AVTV - SCROOGE - A SECOND LIFE CHRISTMAS CAROL PART 2
3. AVTV - SCROOGE - A SECOND LIFE CHRISTMAS CAROL PART 3

The rest of the three episodes will be released over the next few days before Christmas!

Each of our Spotlight posts features a different Resident to showcase the spectrum of experiences and personalities found in our virtual world. If you have created something inworld that you’re proud of, or have had a deeply meaningful experience that could brighten someone else’s day, please sign up! More info here: https://second.life/spotlight-signup

Spend time with friends in Second Life and enjoy winter activities at Grey Magic this holiday season.

Grey Magic is a photogenic destination in Second Life that changes with the seasons. It is owned and run by Kimma Rayna and Dan Grey, who also offer rentals for those that want to make it a home. 

Dan shares how he feels about Second Life and his purpose for creating Grey Magic: 
“My first avatar is from 2006. I can hear you wonder, 16 years SL you must have seen it all? Yes! I have seen it all and yet Second Life is still a great place to be.

Over the years I made many (RL) friends from all over the world; Ireland, USA, UK, Italy, Jordan, Germany. These friends I call my family for real. The realness in this Second Life world is what makes me want to stay in SL.

And having your own sim of course too. My passion for Grey Magic lies in creating the feeling of home. I love when people can relate to this home feeling and to create the perfect one for tenants is the cherry on the pie. 

Grey Magic is for everyone to enjoy. There are always public houses for people to enter and parks to hangout. Kimma and I are not interested in traffic, we are interested in people that want to explore and feel welcome.”

Kimma feels that Second Life’s name suits it well:
“One of many passions Dan and I share is our love of creative spaces.  Dan is hands down, the genius behind Grey Magic.  As I’ve joked before, he is the Picasso and I happily clean his brushes!
 
Having friends from all over the world is a gift you can only have in a place like Second Life.  How could you not be drawn to it and return over and over again? I would be lost without the connections I’ve made through the years here.

Second Life is actually a great name with real meaning. For so many of us, it could easily be called Blended Life as it bleeds into and blends with our real or first lives. How lucky we are to have such a magical place to share with others!”

Experience the magic of the season at Grey Magic.

Residents featured in the video:
Haley Golightly Grey 
Linealrise 
Jana Guynot 
Legolas Baxton 
Meihel Baxto
ᐺĖNUϟ ᐺӨṈ  ĐẸĖP 
Nᴀᴀɴᴀᴀ Gʀᴇʏ-Cᴀᴘᴇʟᴏ 

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

Grey Magic

Grey Magic is the perfect place to skate or hang out in one of the public houses. Or maybe a nice visit to the friendly pub? Catch the train and come to Grey Magic because it's snowing and Christmas is around the corner. Add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/14698900@N23

Visit in Second Life

Pictured: Under the Northern Lights

Make the most of this festive season at incredible winter destinations in Second Life.

Under the Northern Lights

Lemon Fox Estates welcomes you to a Winter under the Northern Lights! Grab your friends for some holiday-themed mini-golf or challenge them to a board game while you sit nestled by the fireplace. Explore the vast, snowy outdoors, stop by the tree farm, or put on your ice skates and visit the rink. Enchanting Dome rentals are also available with amazing views of the Northern Lights.

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Stillness Of Heart - Winter

Winter is the perfect season. You feel like a child again, look with your heart, feel, relax and enjoy. Have a look at this Winter themed spot. Come alone or with your loved ones. Enjoy the games, the cuddle areas, enjoy a dance, or friendly conversations. Have a joyful holiday season and add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/14820866@N20

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I'll Be Home For Christmas

Inspired by the nostalgia of memories long past, I’ll Be Home For Christmas is a winter destination that captures a fondness for the holiday season. There is an ice skating rink, a tobogganing and snowboarding hill, a Santa sleigh tour of the region, a Christmas Village with eight holiday stores (each designer providing a gift to visitors), a winter neighborhood with twenty-three uniquely decorated homes, and more!

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Flyte at FlyGearZ

Beautiful vistas await the visitor at every turn and include spots that are ideal for quiet moments as well as more community fun-oriented spots. Steampunky by nature, Flyte doesn't end at ground level, instead, visitors will be encouraged to take the Flyte Tour upon arrival where they will see the entire region can be skated, and that there are cocoa stands, and many photo/cuddle spots.

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A Who-Christmas

"Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot, but the Grinch, who lived just north of Whoville - did not." Whether you're Team Who or Team Grinch, you'll have fun exploring "A Who-Christmas!" Experience the magic and joy - wander the town, scale Mt. Crumpit and visit the Grinch's cave, stop by the tree farm and take home your own holiday tree! Inspired by childhood memories of Christmas jammies and Whoville.

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Winterset Hollow

Winterset Hollow is a Frogmore Christmas Region. A vintage Swedish village with charming tiny shoppes, warm winter cabins, and glowing holiday fires, surrounded by a deep snowy valley. Everyone is welcome so come for the views and stay for the hot cocoa and Christmas treasures. Group members have rezz rights so bring your cameras and create amazing holiday memories.

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Coeur Lac d'Annecy Ski Resort

The Coeur Lac d'Annecy Ski Resort has two slopes for timed skiing. The scoreboard on the western slope shows your best 3 runs, while the eastern slope scoreboard tracks up to 8 skiers at a time. There is a ski lift to the summit or take the cable car in the lower lodge to the ground for cross country skiing or ice skating over 6 regions.

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Winter at Four Bridges Project

It's Winter at the Four Bridges Project and the air is cold. Not to worry, there are fires aplenty to warm you, and activities galore to distract you. Come get your skates and enjoy one of the many rinks or do a little downhill skiing and sledding. Whatever you do, bring your friends, or that special someone, or come alone and explore, enjoy, and find some peace. Grab the HUD from the landing point and away you go!

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North Pole Sleigh Ride Adventure

Celebrating their 12th year, The North Pole Sleigh Ride Adventure is back with all of the magic of Christmas! Experience an SL winter tradition! Sleigh ride, skating, sledding, shopping, restaurants, Santa, and more! Come celebrate Christmas!

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And stop by for a snowball showdown on Monday!

Linden & Resident Snowball Fight

Get in the winter spirit for the most epic snowball fight in Second Life. Come with a group of friends and meet new people - either way, you're sure to have a blast as you toss snowballs at other Residents and even Lindens! The annual Snowball Fight event will be held on Monday, December 19th at 10am to 11am PT and another one at 2pm to 3pm PT.

Visit in Second Life

Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | TikTok | LinkedIn

Hang out at Jet No Mori, a gothic-themed garden, complete with monsters and a vampire princess at the top of a tower!

Created by Miss Jetcat Despres for a gothic-themed photo session with friends, Jet No Mori was made public for all to enjoy.

Jetcat hails from Japan and joined Second Life when she saw coverage of SL on Japanese TV in 2007. She says, “Back then, they presented it as a game where you could fly and swim, and they called it the Metaverse.”

Jetcat did step away from the OG Metaverse for almost 10 years as she got busy in the physical world, but she says she just could not forget about Second Life and became more active again about two years ago.

Jetcat now runs a blog and has a little plot in-world which she calls her garden. In fact, she herself identifies as a gardener, changing up the looks of her public land to go with the seasons. 

Jetcat shares how she feels about Second Life and what her future plans are in this virtual world:
“Second Life is a place where anything is possible and anything can be created. This world is full of beautiful things, all created by people with their own ideas. There are many ways to enjoy this world, to explore it, to play in it, to be what you want to be. I'm going to keep enjoying it! It is after all a game where you can fly and swim! And it's still very very meta today.
It's like the times are repeating themselves, aren’t they?”

Jetcat’s friends who participated in this video include:
SaraUsami
Ruby O'Kelly
Noa Cloud

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

Jet No Mori

Jet No Mori is a gothic party that was created for you to have a great time. Now it is a garden with monsters who enjoy the gothic atmosphere and party every night. Watch out for the vampire princess on top of the tower!

Visit in Second Life

We are well into the month of December and still have lots in store for you this holiday season!

WINTER WONDERLAND IS OPEN

Winter Wonderland

Discover an exciting snowy adventure in this winter attraction by Linden Lab. Enjoy some holiday gifts in the Village of Lights, then make your way to snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice-skating, or snowball fighting in the snowball fight arena. If you’re in the mood for something quieter, take a breathtaking trip on the Ferris Wheel and catch incredible views of the twinkling lights and shimmery snow.

Visit in Second Life

Winter Wonderland is back in all its beautiful glory with interactive fun that you won’t want to miss! Start your adventure in the Village of Lights, then make your way to snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice-skating, and of course, the snowball fight arena. These activities are more fun with friends - so grab your besties and plan to spend a few hours catching everything that Winter Wonderland has to offer. If you’re in the mood for something a bit quieter after all that running around, take a breathtaking trip on the Ferris Wheel and catch incredible views of the twinkling lights and shimmery snow. You may be prompted to opt in to the Winter Wonderland experience in order to participate in the activities - be sure to read and accept the experience.

LINDEN & RESIDENT SNOWBALL FIGHT

Linden & Resident Snowball Fight

Get in the winter spirit for the most epic snowball fight in Second Life. Come with a group of friends and meet new people - either way, you're sure to have a blast as you toss snowballs at other Residents and even Lindens! The annual Snowball Fight event will be held on Monday, December 19th at 10am to 11am PT and another one at 2pm to 3pm PT.

Visit in Second Life

‘Tis the season for some snow-slinging shenanigans at the Winter Wonderland Snowball Fight Arena.

Get your warm clothes and throwing arms ready - it’s time for a Lindens and Residents snowball fight! This snowball showdown means you're free to pelt your fellow Second Life Residents and Lindens with a bevy of sparkling snowballs - launched fresh from the snow-arsenal available at the arena.

The battles take place on Monday, December 19th from 10am to 11am PT and then again from  2pm to 3pm PT. Spots are limited, so be sure to get there early to grab your free snow-launching weaponry from the vendors around the arena. 

Mark your calendars, assemble your dream squad, and be there!

2022 HOLIDAY SHOP & HOP

The 2022 Holiday Shop & Hop returns with 320 participating Merchants across 16 shopping regions, bringing you loads of festive fun! Every store will have at least a 20% discount on all items and a free (non-group) gift for shoppers or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or above! Check the Shop & Hop blog post for a full list of all 320 merchants with slurls!

WINTER LAST NAMES 2022

To celebrate the winter holiday season, we have released some festive new last names, but they are only available for a limited time. Click here for more information!

NEW WINTER PREMIUM GIFT

Premium members - we have something special for you - a limited and exclusive Premium and Premium Plus gift that’s sure to delight and add a little extra holiday charm to your inworld adventures. Drop by one of the Premium Gift kiosks and pick up this holiday light kit for your Linden Home!

SPECIAL OFFER FOR PREMIUM AND PREMIUM PLUS SUBSCRIBERS

Another offer for our Premium and Premium Plus members, during the whole month of December, pay no setup fees for any new regions purchased! Learn more about this offer at this link.

12TH ANNUAL SL CHRISTMAS EXPO 

12th Annual SL Christmas Expo

The 12th Annual SL Christmas Expo & Winter Breedables Fair, held December 2-11, 2022, is a mega event that raises funds for the American Cancer Society's support of childhood cancer initiatives. The Expo will feature special events, including live performances, dance performances, DJs, Holiday Shopping Spree Mega Raffles, Stocking Stuffer Hunt, The Gift Of Hope Silent Auctions, a Christmas Tree & Wreath Lot, Lights of Hope Decoration, Photos with Santa Patch, and so much more! For more info, visit: slchristmasexpo.com

Visit in Second Life

This year’s SL Christmas Expo is bursting with bright and merry delights - all for supporting the American Cancer Society and the fight against childhood cancer. You only have until December 11th to enjoy many holiday activities at the expo and donate to a good cause! 

Did you miss posing with Santa Patch and his Molelves this past Tuesday? No worries, read about more of the Linden Lab activities at the expo: 

• Vote (by donation to a special ACS Christmas Expo Kiosk) for your favorite decorated Linden Home at the 5th Annual Lights of Hope Home Decorating Contest. 
• Donate and pick up your very own Christmas Patch Bear!
• Teleport to the auction area to bid on different packages that include Premium and Premium Plus subscriptions, Homestead, Free Name Change, and even a hang-out with Patch Linden!

Head over to discover the magic of the holiday season and the joy of giving!

WINTER ATTRACTIONS ON THE DESTINATION GUIDE

Pictured: Mellow Daze Christmas

If you’re looking for even more winter activities, there are already over 100 snow-covered locations in the Winter Attractions category on the Destination Guide. We’re adding new regions daily, so if you have a spot you’d like to invite other Residents to explore, make sure to check out the submission guidelines and submit yours today!

Wishing a safe and happy holiday season to everyone in our virtual community! 

The 2022 Holiday Shop & Hop is almost here with 320 participating merchants across 16 shopping regions, bringing you loads of festive fun! Every store will have at least a 20% discount on all items and a free (non-group) gift for shoppers or a gift certificate valued at L$300 or above! 

The event formally opens to the public on Thursday, December 8th at 9am PT - but who wants to wait when you can get early access?! If you can’t contain your excitement, join the official Second Life Birthday group inworld to be granted immediate access.

Before you jump inworld, you can get a sneak peek at many of the items that will be available in the official Second Life Shop & Hop Flickr pool. And don’t forget to share photos of your haul after your shopping excursion!

To visit the 2022 Holiday Shop & Hop - start at any one of the Regions - but be sure to visit them all to see everything that's available. Happy shopping!

You can also join us for even more Holiday Events and Activities - including the Linden & Resident Snowball Fight!

A complete list of all 320 participating Shop & Hop Merchants in alphabetical order, and the direct slurls, is below: 

Bundle up and explore the many winter destinations filled with snowy surprises this holiday season in Second Life! 

We’ve featured a handful of beautiful winter destinations in this video, but you’ll also find close to 100 more in the Winter Attractions category on the Second Life Destination. 

Here is more information about the destinations featured from the creators themselves: 

Forever Winter
The creator of Forever Winter, Hailey Ayashi, shares the reason for her creation: 
“Designing and decorating has always been a passion of mine which sparked the idea to start creating themed sims. Around November I thought of creating Forever Winter as my first project. I wanted to have plenty of picture spots along with activities that can be enjoyed with friends. This whole experience has given me such great appreciation for all those who take time to create wonderful spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

Forever Winter

SHI Entertainment presents Forever Winter, where you can find beautiful winter scenery with lots of picture spots. Enjoy a sleigh ride, an ice rink, a ski slope, Santa's workshop, dancing, games, and more!

Visit in Second Life

Winter Wonderland at Lam
Winter Wonderland at Lam was created as a safe place by Clair Wolf Takeda: 
“In Real Life I care for my daughter and autistic son. He has his own world. In Second Life I found mine. What a place to refill the energy that I need for my family and spend time with friends without needing to leave home. This year my dream to create a magical spot where other people can find a safe and positive place came true. Me and my friend Eddie Takeda rented a space and until the 16th of January 2023. We are here to share the Christmas spirit.”

Winter Wonderland at Lam

Experience a Winter Wonderland on the Lam region, created by Czech and Slovak Residents where you can enjoy the wonderful feeling of Christmas. All are welcome to skate, explore, have some cocoa, and more! The destination is open until January 16th, 2023.

Visit in Second Life

8th Annual Christkindl Market & Advent Calendar
This is the 8th year that Dina and Didi LaVega have created a nostalgic space: 
“We are from Germany and started our Second Life in 2013. We had always missed a traditional German Christmas market in-world: The unique flair of the decoration, the lights, and the special food, so we started to build our own items and share them. This is now the 8th annual Christkindl Market. Our Advent Calendar features a brand new build every day and you have to collect all 24 parts to complete.”

8th Annual Christkindl Market & Advent Calendar

What would the holidays be without a visit to a traditional German Christmas market? You are invited to a merry stroll through the festively illuminated Christkindl Market. Come and enjoy roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, traditional handmade Christmas decoration from the Erzgebirge, or a ride on the Christkindl Express, more than 65000 m² to warm your heart with the spirit of Christmas.

Visit in Second Life

Snowy Monverdun
Yoyo Collas created a peaceful place for all Residents this holiday season: 
“Winter is one of the most beautiful times of the year. I like to build, so I decided to build my own version of winter. I have built this winter landscape so that people can enjoy it during the Christmas season as a peaceful place where they can forget the problems of Real Life, even if just  for a brief moment.”

Snowy Monverdun

Monverdun is a small city that is dressed in winter outfits. The Christmas market has opened its doors and spread the smell of fresh pastries and hot mulled wine. Visit and explore this beautiful winter wonderland.

Visit in Second Life

Winter Love Valley
Evely Heartsong brings her artistic talents to her Second Life building adventures: 
“Winter Love Valley all began with my own venue as an SL musician and performer. I had built The Blues Rock Cafe back in 2017, and every winter season I added a special seasonal setting. Then in 2020 I went bigger, focusing on the winter theme, and noticed that when I was finishing the sim, more people than usual were at the sim. It felt like opening up a theme park. I am an artist in Real Life as well, I draw, paint and do photography, so I love to share the feeling you get from walking in the snow with the colors and the lights and in SL have added some extra magical feelings to it with special effects.”

Winter Love Valley

If you are looking for that magical romantic winter feeling full of joy and lights, then you need to visit Winter Love Valley. Come hang out with a friendly community, or bring your friends or lover. Come skate on the ice, snowboard off the hill, horse ride in a romantic setting full of cuddle places, or just come for some winter fun and joy at Winter Love Valley.

Visit in Second Life

Snowy Peaks
Red sends an invitation to all for some winter activities at Snowy Peaks: 
“I like Second Life as a getaway from my own. I can live out what I can't IRL. There's a lot of people I have met on SL, and we talk and hang out, and for this season I welcome them to Snowy Peaks, a winter-themed Christmas experience. You can ride with Santa on his sleigh to our dining and dancing location, or make a stop at his house. You can mingle with his elves, or maybe take a spin on the ice skating rink. You will probably find me by the cozy fire, chatting with my friends. Come join us.”

Snowy Peaks

Welcome to Snowy Peaks, a winter-themed Christmas experience. Ride with Santa on his sleigh to the dining and dancing, or make a stop at Santa's house. Mingle with his busy elves, or maybe take a spin on the ice skating rink. Finally, come sit by the fire.

Visit in Second Life

Grab a sweater, and perhaps some mittens, and head on over for some snowy fun!

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

We’re excited to announce that Second Life and Film Threat are partnering for the world premiere of WAARHEID, the sequel to STÖMOL, an award-winning feature-length sci-fi movie shot entirely in Second Life by machinima creator Huckleberry Hax! Watch it live with your fellow residents at a special virtual cinema screening event exclusively at the Film Threat venue in Second Life!

Huckleberry Hax has been a resident of Second Life since 2007. He has also written a number of novels set in Second Life. WAARHEID stars Caitlin Tobias returning to reprise the role of the ill-fated truth hunter from the previous film and AvaJean Westland as Totuus. It also features Ylva, Strawberry Singh, Boudicca Amat, Lydia Lindemann, Mich Michabo, and Huckleberry Hax himself.

Learn more about this special screening event and watch some of the cast on Lab Gab as they give you a peek behind the scenes and also a walk through the WAARHEID art exhibition opening soon. You can also watch the trailer for this movie on Huckleberry Hax's YouTube channel!

Add the following dates and timings for the upcoming events to your calendar:

Friday, December 9th at 10am PT - Watch the cast of WAARHEID on Lab Gab on the Second Life YouTube channel!

Thursday, December 15th at 1:30pm PT - Come to the Virtual Cinema Screening Event for WAARHEAD at the Film Threat venue in Second Life!

WAARHEID Virtual Cinema Screening Event

Watch WAARHEID, a feature-length sci-fi thriller completely shot in Second Life, during this special virtual cinema screening event at the Film Threat venue in Second Life. Watch together with the cast and crew of the film and along with other members of the SL community on Thursday, December 15th at 1:30pm PT!

Visit in Second Life

Happy December! To celebrate the winter holiday season, we are releasing new last names today! ❄️

The following winter-themed names are only available for a limited time:  
Tinseltail
Elf
Mistletoe
Gingerbread
Noelle
Claus
Blitzen

These names for winter are seasonal and may come back around this time next year, for a limited time.

The following is a screenshot of the full list of current last names available:

We will continue to make additional updates to the available last name pool, so if these options aren’t for you, stay tuned for future updates. You can also suggest your favorite name on our suggestion form, the new names were chosen from there! 

For more information about the costs and how-tos involved in name changes, read the Changing your username FAQ. Click to change your name now!

To kick off the holiday season, where the days are short and the air is cold, we’ve got something to keep you warm: a special offer for Premium and Premium Plus subscribers!

Premium and Premium Plus subscribers will pay no setup fees for any new regions purchased during the month of December. Only pay the first month’s maintenance fee and move right in.  

Here’s how to take advantage of this offer:

• Have a Premium or Premium Plus account
• Order a region between December 1 and December 31, 2022 by filing a support ticket with your order request using the Land and Region -> Order Private Region ticket type
• Region delivery will occur within 2 business days once all details have been verified. For quickest delivery:
  • Please note that region names must adhere to our naming guidelines
  • If you need assistance finding grid coordinates for your region, please review the Choosing a location for your Private Region help article
• You will be billed for the first month’s maintenance fee at the time of delivery

For more information about Private Regions, please review the Private Regions knowledge base article and Private Region Pricing.

Please note that in order to purchase a Homestead Region, you must either be a Premium Plus subscriber (additional information here) or own at least one Full Region.

We can’t wait to see what you’ll do with the place!

Enjoy the last days of Autumn in a fall-themed café with a pumpkin spice brew as you listen to the soothing sounds of November Rain.

November Rain was built by SEMINΛ, a live musician who has been playing gigs around the grid since 2016. 

SEMINΛ has an interesting way for the virtual world to boost her creative output in the physical world: as she works on new music in the physical world, she finds it comfortable to "park" her avatar at a Second Life destination that's inspiring. It helps spark creativity to surround herself with a certain environment. She says, “Pre-COVID meant visiting a lot of places and traveling in RL so it was quite comforting to find a little part of what was missing in RL at the moment, right in front of you, on the screen.”

SEMINΛ explains that November Rain actually came about on a warm midsummer night: 
“I was tired of the heat and couldn't wait for pumpkin spice season so I thought, let's create it then! Me and my bestie Aurelia von Troubles wanted to open a little place of our own for the longest time where we could host different types of events. Our friend Ƶąȼƙ happened to have some leftover land so we thought, why not? I wanted to create a poetic place with some of my favorite things. Autumn, cozy cafés, the forest, gloomy indie music, sprinkled with a little bit of rock n roll (Guns’N Roses - November Rain), and of course: the sound of the pouring rain.”

SEMINΛ says to her there is a lot of beauty to be found in the gloomy darkness of things: 
“It doesn't always have to be sunshine and rainbows for something to thrive in a good or positive way. I do read a lot of books and while building November Rain, I imagined this to be a place where a modern Jane Austen would come to relax. I'd sit in the corner of the café, secretly looking up at her from the lyrics in my notebook. She wouldn't notice me though…I'm a typical extroverted introvert and as much as I love the social part of SL, I also like to curl up alone with a hot drink at an autumn café in the woods, listen to music and the sound of … November Rain.”

Teleport now and find your inspiration at November Rain.

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

November Rain

Explore the autumn-themed café: November Rain. Grab an umbrella, take lots of pictures and meet new friends. Curl up with a hot drink in the Café and listen to live music and the sound of autumn rain.

Visit in Second Life

This holiday season, take a trip back to the 80s at Le Chateau, a retro community in Second Life!

Creator Victoire Sire shares the inspiration behind Le Chateau:

“In 2021 a friend suggested that we design a typical American motel.

But as I'm French, we don't have motels in France or they are super rare. After some investigation I thought it was a great idea and that's how the adventure started. 

We had to find inspiration for the colors, the design and especially a global theme to create this idyllic resort. So we went for the goofy aesthetics of the 80s and 90s, inspired by Miami, GTA Vice City, Scarface, Synthwave, Vaporwave, South America, French Guiana and two French TV series: OVNI(s) (a kind of French Stranger Things taking place in the 70s) and 3615 Monique (the debut of the phone sex on an early internet made in France known as Minitel). 

Why French Guiana you gonna ask? Well, I simply wanted to make a French-inspired destination without actually being in Europe.

Imagine being in the late 80s where technological and social evolution happened. 

The Plaza was also heavily inspired by yuppie culture, movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street and skyscrapers like the Tour Pleyel in Paris and the original World Trade Center design. But also the "Message a caractère informatif" - a French comedy TV show based on old corporate films from the 1980s with modern funny dubbings.

Here we are in 2022, bringing the 80's back to the community! Le Chateau is a virtual tale of luck, grit, know-how and the magic that arises when an assortment of eccentric characters comes together to live in this 80's island paradise. It's not just a shady motel by the roadside anymore, it's a whole lifestyle.

We also offer rentals in the estate. long-term motel rooms inside skyboxes, short-term motel "romantic" suites for daily usage, "lodge" suites with private gardens, premium villas at Le Chateau Vice Island, and so much more. We have a full waiting list available in the small Le Chateau Vice Island gazebo building. The office tower is still under construction but so far we don't offer any rentals in it.”

When asked what Second Life means to them, Victoire responded:

“I am 25 now. I've been in SL for a very long time (my first account is from 2009), at the time I was using SL on PG sims for teens, I did a lot of roleplay. 

Those are really my best memories. Since then I have found my passions: Decoration, modding, landscaping, designing sims , photography, making SL videos for myself or for my clients and role-playing. 

Second Life is for me THE most amazing metaverse experience you can currently have. As an autistic person, social life in real life is difficult but in Second Life I can be who I truly am and it is so much easier to communicate.” 

Grab a cocktail, slip into an iconic retro swimsuit, and dive into a neon-filled 80s vacation!

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

Le Chateau - A Retro 80s Community

Do you like vacations and hanging out while drinking an exotic cocktail by the poolside? Then Le Chateau is the place for you to be! With their kitsch and cheesy atmosphere and non-stop flowing exotic cocktails, a mix between French and American "80s'" culture atmosphere, they offer a wide variety of services, from the jungle-like airfield to the arcade room! Take your pick!

Visit in Second Life

Pictured: Where our Journey begins - Snowtide

We're only in mid-November and the snow has already started to hit the Second Life streets. We've dusted off our Winter Attractions category so take some time to explore some of these sparkling snow-covered destinations.

Where our Journey begins - Snowtide

Winter is so calm, serene, and white. As white as purity itself. Let us all welcome this beautiful season with our hearts wide open and a mug of mulled wine. You will find photography opportunities, a Christmas Market, ice skating, horse riding, cozy spots, cuddling areas, events, and much more. Enjoy your stay and add your images to their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/whereourjourneybegins

Visit in Second Life

Echo Ridge

It's that magical time of year at Echo Ridge. Fires are lit and cabins are warm as the snow starts to fall on the evergreen forests. Hear the ice sing under the setting sun and make a wish upon a shooting star. Skate, Toboggan, and explore before snuggling under a blanket beside the campfire while sharing stories over a mug of hot chocolate. Experience Echo Ridge in its winter guise, relax, and enjoy this peaceful retreat.

Visit in Second Life

DayDream Believer

Everything starts as somebody's daydream! Welcome to DayDream Believer, a place between consciousness and semi-consciousness where our minds wander. Currently in a winter setting, enjoy daydreaming at this destination and share your images in their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/14757153@N25

Visit in Second Life

The Northern Trek at LeLoo's World

Stepping onto the frozen landscape you can feel the snow and ice crunch under your feet while off in the distance there are sounds of icebergs breaking apart. The clean, crisp air is frigid, and it blows snowflakes up into your cheeks, stinging them as you explore. Welcome to The Northern Trek. Grab the free snowshoes for your hike across this frozen landscape. Have fun getting in the winter mood! All are welcome to this PG event!

Visit in Second Life

Winter Love Valley

If you are looking for that magical romantic winter feeling full of joy and lights, then you need to visit Winter Love Valley. Come hang out with a friendly community, or bring your friends or lover. Come skate on the ice, snowboard off the hill, horse ride in a romantic setting full of cuddle places, or just come for some winter fun and joy at Winter Love Valley.

Visit in Second Life

Astoria

Astoria is a Dutch destination with winter vibes. Enjoy the snow, the skating tours, and the snowboards. Make new friends while drinking hot cocoa sitting by the fire or bring old friends to have a great time enjoying the snow. Put on shared environment if you don't see ice.

Visit in Second Life

Let it Snow!

A snowy, winter setting with lots to see and do including ice-skating, dancing, a lighthouse, a planetarium, a coffee shop, a cave, and more. Everyone is welcome! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Visit in Second Life

Winter Wonders of Cornelia Street

You'll find the perfect combination of all things yuletide and more on Cornelia Street! Stroll the snowy cobblestone, stop at the bookshop and Christmas tree lot, then warm up with a hot toddy from Toe Beans Cat Cafe. Brought to you by The Nature Collective!

Visit in Second Life

Snowy Monverdun

Monverdun is a small city that is dressed in winter outfits. The Christmas market has opened its doors and spread the smell of fresh pastries and hot mulled wine. Visit and explore this beautiful winter wonderland.

Visit in Second Life

Sainte Rose Sur Mer

Sainte Rose Sur Mer is inspired by the Mediterranean French villages by the sea. Listen to live DJs throughout the year at the Bardeco le Club and explore the winter mood at this photogenic destination.

Visit in Second Life

Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Flickr | Pinterest | TikTok | LinkedIn

As we approach the holidays, we’re excited to roll out several shiny new updates to our offerings. 

From now on, our European residents will no longer need to pay VAT charges on any of our membership plans.

Continuing the theme of giving you more for less: We’re reducing the price of owning your piece of Second Life. We want to put Mainland ownership within reach of many more residents, because we think having land of your own is one of the key parts of Second Life. In addition to the free allotment that comes with each membership level, we’re lowering the price at 1/8 region (8,192 m2) and higher by over 5%. As of today, the new pricing looks like this:

And how about that new membership plan? We’re calling it Plus! We already have Premium Plus, but this is Plus for the rest of us! For just $5.50/month (annual billing), you can take advantage of these newly reduced mainland prices without having to shell out for all of the other Premium features. 

Plus lets you dip your toe in the water -- get yourself a plot of mainland, a few more groups to play around in, and enjoy a weekly stipend -- all for the price of a pumpkin spice latte. Unlike the latte, the joy will last you all month!

So what are you waiting for? Give Plus a try and enhance your Second Life.

For more information about Plus, read the Plus Membership FAQ. For more information about all of our membership plans, check the Knowledge Base.

Class is back in session! Second Life University returns today with a pre-recorded video by Boston Blaisdale as he shows you how to make a fantasy avatar! 

Watch the premiere of the Fantasy Avatar video at 8am PT: 

Here is a glimpse at the topics and fantasy creators and events he will cover in this video:

• The Mesh Head featured is from BeSpoke. Learn more about BeSpoke from our Made in Second Life video last month.
• Adding the head and all the different parts to the avatar
• Wearing the shape and editing it in the shape menu
• Adding the HUD
• Playing with face animations
• Adding furry feet from Apricot Paws and hiding the human feet
• Adding fantasy themed-gloves from Cubic Cherry
• Adding a fantasy outfit from Sekai   
• Adding an animesh tail from Haro  
• Adding particles from Static  
• Adding a cosmic sword from Vae Victis  
• Adding rotating projector lights from Nefekalum  
• Wearing a warrior animation from Vista Animations
• Adding fantasy animal companions from Rezz Room  
• Sharing information about a fantasy event called Necrotize
• Exploring the Abnormality Event (closes on November 28th)

Stay tuned for future updates about Second Life University. Happy learning! 

Are you looking for a way to stay informed about all the latest destinations and events happening on the grid? Do you want Second Life breaking news delivered directly to your inbox? Signup for our Second Life Weekly Email Newsletter! 

For a while now we’ve been sending a weekly email to a small group of our most active Residents and the clicks show that many of you enjoy receiving these exclusive updates directly in your inbox. If you have not been receiving these weekly emails from us, now is your chance to sign up for them! You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of any email.

Our newsletters usually include some of our latest videos of the week along with links to different events or destinations and an image from one of our Residents that is selected as the Fresh Look of the week!

For a chance to have your Destination featured, submit it to the Second Life Destination Guide.

For a chance to be featured in Fresh Looks, submit your image to the Official Second Life Flickr Group! Did you know we just hit ONE MILLION IMAGES AND VIDEOS in the group? All submitted by our wonderfully creative Residents!

Email isn’t the only way you can stay on top of all of our latest news. You can also follow us on various social networks along with keeping an eye on our community blogs.

Dive into a world of new possibilities at Leviathan Bay in Second Life, where a city once thriving, was hit with a mysterious disaster and is now flooded and taken over by sea life!

Ziekling Bunnyhug started this community over 8 years ago and tells us more about it in her own words: 

“Our community can be as hard to define as Second Life itself. It's not exactly a place to role-play, but it has a story. It's not exactly a dance club, but we do have musical events with DJs and live musicians too. 

I've been taking inspiration from RL cities that I've been to, places I would like to see, places I've explored in other games, and mashed it all together. 

We also have a lovely little art gallery in the center of the city, run by one of our own long-term staff members, Apple, showcasing her real-life artwork. 

Meanwhile, our original builder HG will be hosting her own Groovi Movie which is a drive-in theater up the road, with its own sunflower beach and community area. 

Under the water, we have the sunken city and if you explore the subways it will lead you to Leviathan's Lair, sometimes even featuring Cerberus (who owns the region) himself!” 

When asked what Second Life means to her, Ziekling tells us: 

“Second Life is my creative outlet, it's a mirror I look into that reflects my dreams and desires, but the most important thing it has been for me is a home. I've moved a lot IRL, to different cities, states, and even another country. It is hard to make friends just to say goodbye to them shortly after. In SL I am able to keep meaningful relationships close no matter where I end up physically. 

Creativity was always a part of my life. I was into drawing, painting, the typical art forms you learn in school, lots of doodling, and lots of daydreaming. I always had a world inside my head and in SL it's not only a way for me to enter it, but I can bring other people to that world too.” 

Meet the other members of Leviathan Bay that make this community thrive: 

Matti
Shylarei 
Mykie 
Sol 
Amiee 
Maxwell 

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

The Leviathan Bay

The Bay returns in its new form. Jump into the future where a city, once thriving, was hit with a mysterious disaster, flooding the lower half and taken over by the mermaids and sea life nearby. Only a small portion of the city remains, where the people rebuilt. There is an entire area full of life with a thriving art district and many restaurants on the main road, as well as a theatre for special events and many venues for entertainment. Perfect for hanging out, exploring, photography, or on a date with someone special. Casual RP is welcome but not required.

Visit in Second Life

This Veterans Day and beyond, Veterans and their families can find camaraderie, answers, live help, and more at EchoVets in Second Life.

Stacy Maracas is a female Desert Storm combat veteran, who is heading up a Second Life operation to help veterans around the world. She tells us more about EchoVet:

“Echo Group, a Real Life 5013C, Band of Brothers is dedicated to our veteran community. We currently have our main group in California on the Central Coast and chapters in Arizona, Tennessee, and the Metaverse.

We are working closely on initiatives that directly affect the veteran community, such as the Veteran Homeless Crisis as well as the 22 a day initiative. 

On our sim, we have kiosks providing up-to-date Veteran’s Affairs system information for veterans and family members. We have live classes on Veteran Suicide Awareness Training, PTSD Awareness Training, group camaraderie sessions, and club events at our Club Echo.

Numerous garden areas and places to just be and relax, we even have a farm tucked in the corner. And of course our famous aquarium.

We are getting our sim ready to become a Gateway in Second Life. Our Veterans will be available via scheduling to aid new Residents, and it will help the veteran earn their red, white, and blue jersey.” 

When asked what Second Life means to her, Stacy said, “Second Life literally is my other life.  I have been here for over 18 years. In my early years after leaving the military, Second Life was a place I could socialize at my own pace. Many people do not understand how simple things like large crowds, noise, and traffic, are serious triggers for some combat veterans. Second Life was a safe space, to start my baby steps to venturing back out into society.”

The EchoVets SL leadership team consists of:
President – Stacy Maracas, US Army
Vice-President – Rave Absinthe, US Navy
Executive Officer – Suta Northman – US Navy
Outreach Commissioner – SouthernRebelGrl (Teyla)
Family Support Ambassador – Marahjean Resident (MJ)
Networking/Recruitment Ambassador – Soldier Waverider
Veteran’s Affairs Lead Ambassador - Theremes Langdon-Tone
Ambassador PTSD/Mental Health Support - Evelynn Evergarden

Learn more about Echovets at the following links:
Echovets.org 
Band of Brothers – California - https://www.facebook.com/EchoGroup805 
Band of Brothers – Arizona - https://www.facebook.com/echovetsaz 
Band of Brothers – Tennessee - https://www.facebook.com/groups/391784402943337 

If you’re a veteran looking for support and want to be part of a caring community, visit EchoVets today. 

Video Production by Draxtor Despres

EchoVets

EchoVets.org Band of Brothers non-profit is a new destination for all Veterans. They have current, up-to-date information that benefits YOU the Veteran, and the Veterans' families! Lots to do and see here! Stacy Maracas is a Female Desert Storm Combat Veteran, US Army, and has the knowledge of the systems in place to help Veterans and their family members. Come to EchoVets for camaraderie, answers, live help, brotherhood, and sisterhood. All Veterans are welcome!

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Pictured: The Deep Woods

Don your best elven look and explore these fantasy destinations full of magic and adventure. Find even more in the Adventure & Fantasy category.

The Deep Woods - Brought to you by Spark

"And into the forest, I go, to lose my mind and find my soul." Go on a journey between light and dark, good and evil, reality and fantasy. Explore the Untold Tales of the Faerie brought to you by Spark Project.

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80Days - AMON DUIN - An Elven Realm

The sea brought you to AMON DUIN, a fictive, Elven realm. Follow the illuminated paths through a golden, autumnal forest while listening to the cheerful songs of the birds in the trees. Find your inner peace. Photographers and bloggers are welcome!

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Neverending - Touch and Fall

Neverending is the storybook of an artist, whose drawings come to life through his magical pen and paper. His first book was Mad Wonderland and now he has released his 9th book of Neverending "Touch and Fall" Explore with him and share the magic. Learn more at neverendingsl.blogspot.com

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B sori

B sori is a peaceful and dreamy destination. "B" is what you want to be and "sori" is what you want to sound. Share your beautiful memories of B sori in their Flickr group: flickr.com/groups/14812520@N23

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The Elvenwood

Wander amongst the trees and be surprised at the delights of the Fairytale Forest (can you find the hidden treasure chest?) Discover the Ballroom of the Mermaids and walk with trepidation through the Dark Wood. Travel to distant Asia to the island of Enoshima or back in time to the classical world of Delfai (and have your prophecy read by the Oracle). And mostly come for peace and tranquility.

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Cerridwen's Cauldron

Visit the fantasy world of Second Life artist Elicio Ember. With an aesthetic style drawing influences from Art Nouveau and Celtic culture, the use of bright color, fantasy plants, and soaring temples make these floating islands well worth exploring.

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AS Eleven Fairy Waterfalls Land

Lose yourself in this magical fairy waterfalls garden that is full of adventure and fantasy. It's the perfect place to do Taï Chï, take pictures, meditate, sleep in a giant flower, and chat with new friends.

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The Forgotten

A magical swamp born from sorrow, lighting the way for explorers to follow. A castle in ruin, gardens left to despair. Eyes of lost statues left only to stare. Whispers of sadness from voices long gone, dancing fairy dust left to sing its last song.

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Fairy Tales

Let your footsteps follow the colorful sparkles leading through the magical forest. Near the river, you can click on the barrels and set yourself adrift along the riverbank to be dazzled by the fantasy creatures dancing the night away.

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Storybook

Welcome to Storybook, a fairytale forest dedicated to your childhood bedtime stories. Find your favorite fairytales, take pictures and explore!

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Don't forget to check our Recently Added category to see all the latest additions to the Second Life Destination Guide!

Got a spot that you’d like listed in the Destination Guide? Make sure to drop us a note at editor@lindenlab.com or submit your spot via web form. Learn more about the Destination Guide criteria for Editors’ Picks or the Destinations Floater in the viewer, and increase your chances of being featured in those coveted spots!

Connect with Second Life on Social Media:
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As featured in the October 21 edition of Lab Gab - we’re excited to announce a new Premium Plus benefit available beginning today, November 1, 2022.  Premium Plus members are now eligible to purchase up to one Homestead on their account, without the requirement of a full private island region.  

Premium Plus members who wish to take advantage of this new benefit will need to maintain their Premium Plus account status, in good standing, for the duration of ownership of the Homestead region on their account. In the case of a downgrade to a lower subscription level, it will be necessary to cancel or transfer the Homestead to another Resident eligible for owning Homestead regions.

To place an order for your new Homestead, please go to support.secondlife.com and submit a Support Ticket under the following category:

Land & Region > Order Private Region

Fill out that form including the unique name you prefer and location on the grid for placement.  A support agent will be in contact with you soon to discuss your request.  Region names must adhere to our naming guidelines.  For more information about Private Regions, please review the Private Regions knowledge base article and Private Region Pricing.

There is no change to Homestead ownership for all other accounts: everyone is still able to own Homestead regions as long as there is at least one Full private region owned on that account as well. 

As a reminder, Homesteads cost US$149 for the first month with setup and US$109 per month thereafter, plus applicable VAT and taxes.

And, of course, if you have any questions, please reach out to our Support Team and they will be happy to assist.