Plus the best parks for spring, surf dog Sugar’s final wave, and a giveaway to win
We also break down everything visitors usually get wrong, including where the longest lines form, the easiest way to skip them, and two big updates for 2026.
And it's a bad idea.
The Park That Doesn’t Live Up to the Hype
Quiet trails, fewer crowds, and better wildlife sightings
Where serious hikers are going next
The rules for one of the most competitive hiking permits just changed
Everyone thinks they have the best dog in the world — and everyone is right.
Mountains to Pacific: a full-spectrum adventure state
Skip Summer Crowds
From the Alps to the Arctic, these winter towns feel straight out of a fairy tale
And How to Choose Between Them
Here's how to have the best experience.
Check out all the nominees.
Find your own food.
Every park on this list is every bit as exciting as a national park.
Portals, Legends, and Andean Yetis
(If You Dare)
It Depends on the State
Here's what you can expect when you visit one of the US's rare quiet parks and places, areas where there's virtually no noise at all.
Great white shark sightings in South Africa have dropped drastically in five years. Here’s what’s behind the decline, how it’s changing tourism, and what travelers can do to help.
7 No-Cost Strategies
Science
Paint with all the color of the wind
According to Google
