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From left: Cabo Rojo arch in Puerto Rico; students performing in traditional Mongolian attire at the Flaming Cliffs
(Photo: From left: Stanley Chen Xi/Getty; Courtesy Three Camels Lodge)
From left: Cabo Rojo arch in Puerto Rico; students performing in traditional Mongolian attire at the Flaming Cliffs
From left: Cabo Rojo arch in Puerto Rico; students performing in traditional Mongolian attire at the Flaming Cliffs (Photo: From left: Stanley Chen Xi/Getty; Courtesy Three Camels Lodge)

The 23 Best Places to Travel in 2024

Published

Our expert travel writers circled the globe to find the next-best destinations to explore—and why to go now.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

Puerto Rico beckons with beautiful waters, like those at Peña Blanca beach; the colorful cityscape of Aguadilla
Puerto Rico’s Peña Blanca beach (left)—the country is packed with surf breaks, empty shoreline, and hikes. Right, the colorful cityscape of Aguadilla (Photos: Alanis Colina)

Puerto Rico

Why Now: After rebounding from a series of devastating earthquakes in 2019 and 2020—and Hurricane Maria in 2017—this U.S. territory (read: no passport required for Americans) quickly became one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean. Although it has long been a favorite with surfers, 36 years have passed since Puerto Rico hosted the sport’s world championships. But in February, the Atlantic town of Arecibo, an hour west of the capital city of San Juan, welcomed the 2024 International Surfing Association’s World Surfing Games, the final qualifier in the run-up to the Summer Olympics, putting its shores’ serious swells back on the map. It’s easier to get there now, too. In recent months, three affordable carriers have begun nonstop service to San Juan—Avelo Airlines, from Philadelphia and New Haven, Connecticut; JetBlue, from Raleigh, North Carolina (and from Tampa, Florida, to Aguadilla, on the west coast, not far from the low-key surf scene in Rincón); and Spirit, from Fort Myers, Florida. Southwest is expected to join the bandwagon with direct flights from Austin, Texas, starting March 9.

Adventure Intel: In sunny San Juan, Surf with a Pro offers everything from beginner lessons to guided tours of breaks at Playa El Escambrón and Isla Verde. For a different kind of paddling, take a short flight from the capital to the charming island of Vieques to kayak the glowing waters of Mosquito Bay, a natural reserve offering one of the brightest bioluminescent displays in the world. Pirate Bio Bay Tours leads groups in clear-bottomed kayaks. Vieques is also an idyllic place to stay for a couple of nights; its white-sand beaches are always stunning. Or keep to the mainland and head for the interior: at El Yunque National Forest, you can hike past waterfalls and ancient petroglyphs to take a dip in the swimming hole at El Hippie. The Ritz-Carlton San Juan, closed since Hurricane Maria hit, is slated to reopen in the beachfront Isla Verde zone in late 2024. Or opt for a more local, artsy vibe at the year-old (and already award-winning) Don Rafa Boutique Hotel in Miramar. Can’t decide? Travel the island’s entire 110-mile coastline at your own pace via the Puerto Rico Sunshine Route, stopping at any number of gorgeous beaches, like eastern Fajardo, secluded Aguadilla, and the pink salt flats of Cabo Rojo.

Local Tip: La 8 Surf Shop, known locally as La Ocho, across from the San Juan beach Escambrón, rents boards and will give you advice on where to go, says Surf with a Pro founder Alejandro Moreda. After surfing, “Get yourself a mofongo, a traditional dish made from fried plantains,” at cozy La Casita Blanca. —Megan Michelson

A women walks down a desert trail at Arizona’s Saguaro National Park.
At Saguaro National Park, the namesake prominent plants can grow upward to 30 feet. Look for the crested version, which are rarer; scientists aren’t sure what causes the mutation.   (Photo: Victor Bordera/Stocksy)

Greater Tucson, Arizona

Why Now: Saguaro National Park was recently certified as one of nine Urban Night Sky Places around the world, and Kitt Peak National Observatory recently reopened with a revamped overnight observation program. The region’s already awesome trail system has expanded, letting hikers into a previously private, geologically rich slice of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Adventure Intel: The first time I visited Tucson, my rental car sat unused. The city’s 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop makes it possible to bike the entire metro area, and satellite lanes extend to more than 40 parks. There are also hundreds of miles of singletrack. Rent wheels from Transit Cycles and saddle up at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort to explore the Starr Pass Trail System’s mix of smooth and technical terrain. Hiking options are equally endless and now include an eight-mile network in a boulder-strewn section of Texas Canyon Nature Preserve, an hour’s drive east of the city. The Colossal Vail 50/50 ultra race, held on the Arizona Trail between Saguaro National Park and the Santa Rita Mountains, was put on runners’ radars by the Native-produced documentary Run to Be Visible; in 2023, the race hosted a record number of Indigenous participants, and it will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year.

Local Tip: Moniqua Lane, owner of the Downtown Clifton Hotel, prefers to forgo hikes in the crowded western section of Saguaro in favor of adjacent Tucson Mountain Park. Her favorite route is the three-mile out-and-back Hidden Canyon Trail. —Jen Murphy

Swimmers frolic in the waves of New York’s Camp Hero State Park.
New York’s Camp Hero State Park has stunning ocean vistas and is known as one of the best surfcasting locations. (New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation)
Tackling an overhang in the Shawangunks
The Shawangunks are a mecca for climbers, with moderate one-to-three-pitch trad routes. The best months to go are September and October, when the rock is drier and temperatures are cooler. (Christopher Beauchamp)

New York State Parks

Why Now: New York State Parks and Historic Sites—a 360,000-acre network of beaches, forests, lakes, campgrounds, trails, and other natural and cultural attractions—is celebrating its 100th anniversary with 100 activities. Participate in as many as you can during the yearlong Centennial Challenge for the chance to win prizes like a multi-season Empire Pass to New York parks (a $205 value). Activities range from hiking to camping at one of more than 8,500 campsites.

Nothing gets us excited about a hike or bike ride more than a good map. And the best interactive backcountry maps are those offered by Gaia GPS and Trailforks, which set the standard for clarity and detail. Download any of the maps seen here in our Travel Awards—as well as millions of other trails worldwide—for offline use, so you always find your way.

Adventure Intel: The park system encompasses a variety of beautiful landscapes, from the Allegheny Mountains in the west to the beaches at Camp Hero State Park in the east. Among the best known is the 24,000-plus-acre Minnewaska State Park Preserve, home to the Shawangunk Mountains (a.k.a. the Gunks in climbing circles). In 2023, the park’s historic 2.8-mile High Point Carriage Road opened following a 14-month renovation, easing access to Minnewaska’s forested interior. Hikers, bikers, and cross-country skiers can now enjoy 35 miles of carriage paths and 50 miles of trails. New to the area are Wildflower Farms, a 65-cottage resort, and Inness, an inn with 12 guest rooms, 28 cabins, and an organic farm on 220 acres. Both properties are less than ten miles from the park’s main gate.

Minnewaska State Park mountain biking trails
Minnewaska State Park mountain biking trails (Photo: Courtesy Trailforks)

Local Tip: “Park at Lake Minnewaska and cycle out on Castle Point or Hamilton Point Carriage Road,” says Gregory Kanter, a guide and an employee at the outfitter Rock and Snow, in New Paltz. “You ride out on one and come back on the other, and you’re on a cliff top the whole time, looking straight down into the Hudson Valley.” —Ryan Krogh

A group of hikers stretch out atop Divide Peak in Denali National Park, Alaska, with an incredible view over the peaks.
A well-deserved rest atop 5,195-foot Divide Peak in Denali National Park and Preserve, with views of the braided Toklat River and mountains for miles. All of this sector of the park is above tree line. (Photo: Emily Sullivan)

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Why Now: A landslide halfway up Denali Park Road—the primary route bisecting the six-million-acre park and preserve—cut off access to the terminus community of Kantishna in 2021. While construction of a bridge over the problem area continues, the only way into Camp Denali is a 55-minute flight that departs near the park’s entrance and includes a scenic flyby of North America’s highest peak. Which is why this is the year to capitalize on the lack of crowds.

Adventure Intel: Fly into Kantishna and you’ll be privy to gravel grinding, bear viewing, and hiking that visitors who explore via vehicle can’t reach. You can still stay at Camp Denali; its 19 cabins are tucked among boreal forest west of the landslide and afford awesome views of the mountain. Even before it became marooned, the camp had exclusive rights to offer naturalist-guided hikes into the wilderness to spy grizzlies, caribou, and wolves. But the atmosphere was different back then, with abundant visitors and tour vans. “Being the only ones on the road and the only people in the backcountry has been a marvel,” says co-owner Jenna Hamm. “We can park in the middle of it and take half an hour with a spotting scope.”

Local Tip: Technically, you can bike into Camp Denali. “I’ve seen intrepid bikepackers ride the road from the east, walk their bikes along the gravel bar below the landslide, and then continue west,” says Hamm. —Tim Neville

The pristine waters off Virgin Gorda are ideal for snorkeling.
The pristine waters off Virgin Gorda are ideal for snorkeling, and many trip-goers head directly to an area known as the Baths, a jumble of giant boulders accessed via a short hike. (Photo: C.D. Wheatley/Getty)

British Virgin Islands

Why Now: Hurricanes Irma and Maria obliterated every major marina in these islands in 2017. But parks and ports are flourishing again, an inaugural sailing adventure is up and running, there are new places to stay, and legendary watering holes have reopened.

Adventure Intel: The Nomada at Sea, a 62-foot catamaran based in Nanny Cay, Tortola, has begun welcoming up to ten passengers for weeklong trips around the islands. Stops may include Anegada Island, famous for fresh lobster and an array of beaches to explore. Virgin Gorda’s North Sound, where surrounding landforms stifle swells but the trade winds blow unabated, is a paradise for wing foiling, kiteboarding, and windsurfing. For après, hit the Bitter End Yacht Club, established in 1969. The well-regarded resort was flattened in the storms, but after a four-year renovation, it’s as good as new and has retained its inclusive vibe, appealing to sailing bums and superyacht owners alike. The club’s second-floor mariners’ lounge offers 180-degree views of North Sound, and its two marina lofts are the only over-the-water bungalows in the BVI. The Bitter End plans to add more accommodations in 2024. Elsewhere, on Jost Van Dyke, the swim-in Soggy Dollar Bar has reopened. And throughout the islands, nature reserves have healed. Head out for a trail hike at Sage Mountain National Park in Tortola and snorkel among the reefs off Anegada, where marine life has returned.

Local Tip: “Mount Sage, the highest point in the islands at 1,780 feet, includes the only true rainforest we have, and it bounced back extremely quickly after the hurricanes,” says Mervin Hastings, a guide at Eco Adventures BVI. “Thetrail to the summit has reopened, so you can enjoy views across the islands.” —Kelly Bastone

Cafe tables with umbrellas are set up alongside Berlin’s Spree Riverfront.
Berlin’s lively Spree Riverfront is full of beer gardens, shops, and green spaces. (ElOjoTorpe/Getty)
Lake Sylvenstein in Bavaria, Germany
Lake Sylvenstein, just 50 miles south of Munich, is considered by many to be the most beautiful lake in Germany. (Gavin Hellier/Stocksy)

Germany

Why Now: There’s no fest like a German fest, but things will get über exciting when one of the continent’s largest sporting events, the UEFA European Football Championship, kicks off across ten German cities in June. The tournament features 24 teams and begins in Munich, which also serves as the departure point for a new cycling route in upper Bavaria.

Adventure Intel: Looking to feed off the energy of two ecstatic fan bases? Head to Munich to catch three-time champion Germany’s opening bid against a proven Scottish squad. (The Viktualienmarkt beer garden, with some of the country’s best schweinebraten mit sauerkraut, is worth a visit, too.) Also, don’t miss the city’s whopper of a climbing gym: the German Alpine Club’s Climbing and Bouldering Center, with 60,000 square feet of walls, boasts some 500 routes, a few as high as 80 feet. If the Bavarian countryside exerts more pull, sightseeing on two wheels is never a bad idea. The new 115-mile Blue Rider route skirts Lake Starnberg and Lake Kochel, in a region with more than 100 miles of hiking trails. Alternatively, ride the 173-mile Hop Loop north to Ingolstadt, spinning past castles like Nymphenburg Palace and cooling off in Lake Radersdorf.

Local Tip: Jana Meier Roberts, a Munich-based graphic designer, recommends taking a dip in the Isar River near Praterinsel before heading to the Muffathalle Biergarten. “The food there is superior to most Munich biergarten food. From there you can walk to the Deutsches Museum to finish the night at the rooftop bar.” —T.N.

Surfers in Jupiter, Florida
Juniper Inlet and the Juniper Beach Pier are the best options for surfing in Jupiter, Florida, along the route. Swells pick up in the fall, during hurricane season. (Daniel Grill/Getty)
Biscayne National Park’s Boca Chita Lighthouse, Florida
The 65-foot-tall Boca Chita Lighthouse, in stunning Biscayne National Park, is a short day trip from the train's terminus in Miami. ( Images; Kyle T Perry/Getty Images)

Florida’s Brightline

Why Now: This high-speed train debuted in September, carrying passengers the 156 miles from Orlando to Miami in 3.5 hours. An eco-friendly mode of transportation, the trains run on clean biodiesel.

Adventure Intel: The Brightline is the first private rail line in the U.S. in 100 years, with stations centrally located in six cities along the route. From these you can Uber or even bike to the coast. Embark in Orlando, the northern terminus, and make your first stop Boca Raton. It’s just two miles from sandy public beaches. Check out Red Reef Park, home to hundreds of species of fish and an easy place to snorkel. Aventura Station, north of Miami, is just 4.5 miles from Oleta River State Park; there you can rent a paddleboard and cruise through a mangrove forest. At the railway’s southern terminus in downtown Miami, hail a rideshare for the 40-mile drive south to Biscayne National Park. From the park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center, join the Biscayne National Park Institute’s guided kayak trips to Boca Chica Lighthouse, for views of the Miami skyline, or through remote seagrass canals. Camp at Boca Chita Key—its sites are the best in the park. For an adventure closer to the station, head ten miles south to Key Biscayne and walk with peacocks in Crandon Park or relax on the two-mile-long beach in the shade of coconut palms.

Local Tip: “Check out Tam Tam, an amazing Vietnamese restaurant two blocks from the Miami station,” says Eric Barton, a Miami-based cyclist and foodie. “Like all the best restaurants, it has a karaoke machine in the bathroom. Get the wings. They’re incredibly crispy and covered in a caramel fish sauce.” —Graham Averill

Two mountain bikers explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island.
While many visitors trek through Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, mountain biking is another fun way to take in the Southern Alps. The Alps 2 Ocean Trail starts in the national park and can take anywhere from four to seven days to complete. (Photo: Matthew Micah Wright/Getty)

New Zealand’s South Island

Why Now: United Airlines started offering nonstop service from San Francisco to Christchurch, on the South Island, a year ago, putting this place of superlatives within easier reach of American travelers. Cementing its reputation as an adventure mecca are new cycling and hiking trails—notably the latest installment of its Great Walks hikes—while the burgeoning culinary hub of Arrowtown is shining a spotlight on a compelling food and wine scene. Dozens of new lodges have opened, including two from high-end adventure collective Eleven. And on the multimillion-dollar Pounamu Pathway project, a collaboration between the Poutini Ngai Tahu people and the Weta Workshop (the company behind the visual effects for the Lord of the Rings movies), visitor centers highlighting Maori history are opening on the west coast.

Adventure Intel: The 38-mile Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, a three-day hike along the south coast, is slated to be designated New Zealand’s 11th Great Walk in October. The loop’s two backcountry lodges already attract 3,500 hikers a year; the track’s new status is expected to double that number, so reserve now for prime trekking season (October to April). In Queenstown, the ten-mile Wharehuanui Trail is on schedule to be completed by year’s end. It will connect the suburb of Arthurs Point, where Cargo Brewery’s new brew hall will open in June, to the mining burg of Arrowtown, hipper than ever thanks to Ayrburn Farm, a historic site repurposed as a gastro hub. Ayrburn recently opened a wine and cocktail bar; a pizzeria, butcher shop, and bakery are in the works. For a biking and hiking combo, sign up for Adventure South NZ’s new multi-activity itinerary up north: you’ll bike the 124-mile Great Taste Trail, hike in both Abel Tasman and Queen Charlotte National Parks, and visit craft breweries, wineries, and farmers’ markets. If it’s angling you’re after—New Zealand is considered the trophy-trout capital of the world—two legendary fishing lodges are now run by Eleven: the four-room Cedar Lodge on the Makararoa River, and the six-cottage Owen River Lodge in the Nelson Lakes district. And on the west coast, two of the 186-mile Pounamu Pathway’s four connected towns—Mawhera (Greymouth) and Hokitika—have opened museums with amazing light and sound displays; the towns of Awarua (Haast) and Kawatiri (Westport) will open similar experiences in mid-2024 and late 2025, respectively.

Local Tip: For Philip Wyndham, general manager of Adventure South NZ, the 34-mile Lake Dunstan Trail in Central Otago is a favorite for cycling: “It traverses rocky bluffs on cantilever bridges above the Clutha River, and huge rideable swing bridges span chasms. The trail finishes at the historic gold-rush town of Clyde, where I grab a post-ride beer at Olivers Brewery.” —J.M.

A woman on a yoga platform starts her dawn practice at Mongolia’s Three Camel Lodge.
You'll sleep in traditional yurts at Mongolia’s Three Camel Lodge, which is staffed by locals and is the only eco-lodge in the Gobi Desert. (Photo: Courtesy Three Camel Lodge)

Mongolia

Why Now: The Mongolian government has declared 2024 the year of tourism, with ambitions of attracting one million visitors and working to establish the first-ever direct flight between the U.S. and the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. New lodges and cultural tours make it more feasible to discover the nation’s immense wilderness, along with honored traditions like horse racing and eagle hunting.

Adventure Intel: Pioneering tour operator Nomadic Expeditions now has two camps of traditional ger (yurts). Three Camel Lodge is in the southern Gobi Desert, where I stayed last fall to explore the Flaming Cliffs—one of the world’s greatest fossil sites—and nearby Singing Dunes. Then there’s Three Eagle Camp, in the westernmost Bayan-Ulgii province (hop a 90-minute flight from the capital), home to some 200 Kazakh eagle hunters. Nomadic Expeditions’ Mongolian-American founder, Jalsa Urubshurow, launched the Golden Eagle Festival here 25 years ago, and trips to the festival in October, and lead-up events in September, spotlight the ancient form of falconry. In the northern region of Selenge, the year-old Yeruu Lodge offers kayaking and horseback riding and is a convenient base to experience the Naadam Festival, a competition of horsemanship, archery, and wrestling held each July.

Local Tip: Observing that Mongolian meals are heavy on meat, paleontologist Minjin Bolortsetseg says that when she craves vegetables, she goes to Agnista, a vegan restaurant in Ulaanbaatar, close to the University of Science and Technology. —J.M.

A man rides a mountain-bike trail outside Park City, Utah.
The National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, offers mountain-biking programs in summer, with 500 miles of trails to explore in the area. (Michael Svoboda/Getty)
A blind man gets climb-ready at the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah.
Getting climb-ready at Park City’s National Ability Center, home to two indoor walls. The center facilitates active education with dozens of programs and offers scholarships as well. (Matt Didisheim/Courtesy the National Ability Center)

Park City, Utah

Why Now: These days, people of all abilities can better enjoy Park City Mountain Resort, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in February. For 26 years, the National Ability Center—a Park City nonprofit focused on adaptive outdoor recreation—ran its winter operations out of a double-wide trailer at the base of the resort. But in October, the NAC opened the 9,400-square-foot McGrath Mountain Center, adjacent to the First Time chairlift, to offer more high-quality accessible space for its participants.

Adventure Intel: The NAC is best known for its alpine-skiing and snowboarding programs (instructors teach 4,000 lessons annually), but adaptive athletes can also sign up for nordic skiing and sled hockey in the winter, mountain biking and watersports in the summer, and more. The center’s 26-acre Park City Ranch, just east of town, has a 25-room, ADA-approved lodge, access to 56 miles of outstanding trails, an equestrian facility, and a climbing gym. Additionally, Park City’s free bus system offers door-to-door paratransit service.

Round Valley mountain biking trails
Round Valley mountain biking trails (Photo: Courtesy Trailforks)

Local Tip: “My favorite activities are hiking and biking the Round Valley trail system with my husband, a former Paralympian, and our three kids,” says Tracy Meier, the NAC’s chief program and education officer. “There are both paved and dirt trails offering incredible views of the mountains.” —M.M.

A panoramic view of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
For panoramas of Lake Michigan and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, walk the Empire Bluff Trail to the scenic viewpoint; on a clear day, you can see for 25 miles. (Photo: Bo Shen/Getty)

Michigan’s Lower Peninsula

Why Now: The Detroit Riverwalk, the city’s crown jewel, now connects to nearby Belle Isle, the southern terminus of the nearly completed 2,000-mile Iron Belle Trail. The statewide project, with hiking and biking paths to the Upper Peninsula, is over 70 percent ready following new route additions in 2023. Up north, Traverse City celebrated the advent of a lakeside loop 30 years in the making, and new lodgings opened in the state’s renowned national lakeshore.

Adventure Intel: The expansion of the Detroit Riverwalk—a 3.5-mile riverfront promenade voted one of the nation’s most beautiful—means easier access to Belle Isle, a 982-acre park. In the food and brew hub of Traverse City, the four-mile Boardman Lake Loop lets you bike, fish, and kayak just minutes from downtown. Thirty miles west, on the beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the 150-year-old Sleeping Bear Inn is being revitalized and is expected to open this summer with eight rooms. Off the northern tip of the peninsula, no-cars-allowed Mackinac Island is home to one of my favorite Midwest cycling routes, the M-185 lakefront loop. Park near mile marker one and ascend the 200 stairs to the Milliken Nature Center at Arch Rock, opening this spring. And stargazers, take note: Beaver Island is in the final stages of becoming the state’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary.

Local Tip: “Many rides, runs, and hikes start at Detroit’s Eastern Market,” says Todd Scott, of the Detroit Greenways Coalition. “Cutter’s is my go-to for a cold beer and pub grub in a relaxed environment that typifies Detroit.” —Stephanie Vermillion

Sunrise at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho
Whether you’re there to explore lava tubes, try out spelunking, camp in the backcountry, or enjoy the spring wildflower bloom, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is specatacular. (Alan Majchrowicz/Getty)
A group of visitors exploring Craters’ Indian Tunnel
Craters’ Indian Tunnel is one of the largest in the park. Its stalactites were formed by dripping molten lava. Birders keep an eye out for great-horned owls and swallows, which nest within its cracks and ledges. (Jonathan W. Cohen/Getty)

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho

Why Now: Craters of the Moon, protecting the largest lava field in the lower 48, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with new and updated trails to welcome visitors. The preserve is also a designated International Dark Sky Park and the perfect spot to witness two large meteor showers, in August and December.

Adventure Intel: Imagine 750,000 acres of crusty lava with exposed fissures, craters, and lava-tube caves. The seven-mile Loop Road is a popular path to viewpoints and hikes up cinder cones (small dormant volcanoes). While most of the 500 caves are closed to protect native bats, you can get a free permit to explore 800-foot-long Indian Tunnel, where stalactites cover the ceilings and lava flows left tidemarks on the walls. Strike out on the four-mile Wilderness Trail, which passes Big Cinder Butte and rises 700 feet from the valley. With a free backpacking permit, you can keep going after the trail ends, following the 52-mile-long Great Rift—a crack in the earth’s crust preserved by lava. Craters also has some of the darkest skies in the park system. Show up in mid-August for the Perseid meteor shower or in mid-December for the Geminids—both promise up to 100 streaks of light per hour.

Local Tip: Ted Stout, author of Craters of the Moon, says that one of his favorite campsites is inside Echo Crater: “The incredibly high walls create a natural amphitheater that blocks the wind, and you’ll have an uninterrupted view of the amazing night skies.” —G.A.

A large wave crashes on the beach at Makena Beach in Maui, Hawaii.
Maui's Makena Beach is one of the island’s least-developed stretches of shoreline, with white sands bookended by black lava rocks. (Photo: Troy Harrison/Getty)

Maui, Hawaii

Why Now: For years, the Hawaii Tourism Authority talked about embracing a more regenerative approach that promotes locally owned, Native-led outfitters and properties. On Maui, these goals are now paramount in the wake of August’s devastating fires.

Adventure Intel: The island is still healing after the loss of life caused by the blazes. Historic Lahaina remains off-limits to tourists as residents rebuild, but the rest of Maui is open, and many businesses need tourism dollars to survive. One of the biggest ways to help is by choosing locally owned restaurants, accommodations, and guiding outfits. As Kevin Shenk, owner of Helewai Eco-Tours, says, “There’s no better way to connect with a place than through its people.” His company’s two-mile Honolua Ridge Hike on the west side educates visitors about island ecology while providing them with stunning views. At the doorstep of Haleakala National Park, Kula Lodge—one of Maui’s few independent hotels—has been refreshed by new owners. Continue a local-focused itinerary by joining a hike of Haleakala Crater with Humble Tours, or rent a mountain bike at Maui Cyclery in Paia or Krank Cycles in Makawao or Kahului and tackle the 6.8-mile Haleakala Maui Skyline Trail. And offer to volunteer: you might harvest at Hua Momona Farms or plant taro at Na Mahiaio o Keanae. Both distribute food to those in need. GoHawaii also just launched the Malama Hawaii dashboard in partnership with Kanu Hawaii, which allows visitors to search for and sign up for volunteer experiences online and find ways to donate to nonprofits. Local Tip: Skip Starbucks and get your caffeine fix at Akamai, a local coffee franchise, says Riley Coon, director of sustainable tourism at Sail Trilogy. —J.M.

Taking a dip in the Caribbean waters surrounding Panama’s San Blas Islands
Panama’s San Blas Islands offer up a laid-back beachfront vacation without the crowds. You can explore nearby islands with native Kuna guides, eat freshly caught lobster, hike jungle trails, and swim in bioluminescent waters. (Photo: Pedro Merino/Stocksy)

Panama

Why Now: Panama’s new Sustainable Network of Rural and Community Tourism project connects travelers with locals in the country’s most far-flung forests and along its coastlines. Last year Panama also kicked off its 1,000 Kilometers of Trails initiative—a push to create over 600 miles of land and water paths by 2030—with 18 miles open to trekkers around the dormant El Valle stratovolcano. Copa Airlines eases the way with direct flights to Panama City from Austin, Texas, Baltimore, Toronto, and Montreal.

Adventure Intel: Squeezed between the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, amid one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, Panama is wild with flora and fauna—more than 10,000 species. During a one-week trip, I accompanied sea turtle conservationists on moonlit beach walks and floated the Teribe River between Naso villages on a traditional balsa raft. Hiking is another Panama staple, notably the 16-mile round-trip trek up 11,400-foot Baru, Panama’s highest peak. Myriad marine animals are on view in the diving hub of Bocas del Toro. And the adults-only Nayara Bocas del Toro recently added treehouse digs and scuba, snorkel, and surf lessons.

Local Tip: George Hanily, executive director of the conservation group ANCON, recommends that birders book a stay at Los Quetzales Ecolodge and Spa in the Cerro Punta highlands. “It’s the easiest place in Central America to spot the spectacular resplendent quetzal,” he says. “You will find lovely cabins and trails.” —S.V.

Croatia’s “Eye of the Earth” spring
Southern Croatia’s “Eye of the Earth” is a karst spring fed by the Cetina River. It's located about 90 minutes from the city of Split. (Courtesy Matevz Hribar/Trans Dinarica)
Gravel grinding in southwest Serbia
Gravel grinding in southwest Serbia along the route (Courtesy Matevz Hribar/Trans Dinarica)

The Balkans

Why Now: Construction of the final segments of the Trans Dinarica Cycling Route, linking eight Balkan countries, is wrapping up. All 1,250 miles are expected to be fully connected by July, offering new opportunities to visit national parks and heritage sites across this little-visited region.

Adventure Intel: Born from years of collaboration, the Trans Dinarica is designed to lead travelers off the beaten path, through fairy-tale forests and small villages between Slovenia’s Soca Valley, on the Italian border, and Lake Ohrid, a Unesco World Heritage site on the Albanian–North Macedonian border. If you want to DIY, plan to ship your bike and to ride between 25 and 40 miles per day, with anywhere from 1,600 to 3,200 feet of elevation change, says Jan Klavora, one of the project’s masterminds. Suggested stops include a stay at Hisa Franko in Kobarid, Slovenia, whose Michelin-starred restaurant serves farm-to-table meals; Rijeka, Croatia, where you can dine on fresh fish beside the Adriatic Sea; and Lake Skadar, Montenegro, home to abundant carp and eel and some of Europe’s last pelicans. There are also easy detours to national parks like Montenegro’s Durmitor and Serbia’s Tara, both in the Dinaric Alps. Want help planning? Ljubljana-based Visit GoodPlace leads a nine-day gourmet food and cycling tour and a 15-day mountain-biking tour through Slovenia and Croatia. Or book Sarajevo-based Green Visions’ eight-day highlands mountain-bike traverse through Bosnia and Herzegovina. For inexpensive flights to the region, check out Ryan-air’s routes into Croatia and Albania.

Local Tip: Bojan Senkinc, a Croatian guide with Promotiv Travel Outdoor, recommends exploring the Velebit Mountains, renowned for their cliffs, caves, and panoramas of the Adriatic. The Trans Dinarica passes through the Velebit, where recent rewilding efforts have bolstered populations of chamois, red deer, wolves, and lynx. —Delilah Friedler

A walk amid Madagascar’s massive baobabs
Six of the world’s eight baobab species are found in Madagascar and are a sight to behold in person. Towering up to heights of 80 feet, with trunk widths averaging 10 feet, these trees have edible leaves, bark that has been used for medicine, and seeds used for juice or incorporated into rice dishes. (Michael Lutz/Getty)
The tsingy pinnacles of Madagascar
Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is a Unesco World Heritage site, home to the world's largest concentration of the limestone formations. (Mirecca/Getty)

Madagascar

Why Now: Daunting logistics have long deterred travelers from visiting the world’s fourth largest island, but new internal flights and conservation-focused lodges are making this otherworldly place more accessible. And trust me: it’s worth it to experience mind-blowing safaris and activities like kayaking and kitesurfing in some of the world’s most gorgeously multihued water.

Adventure Intel: I’ve visited Africa more than a dozen times, and Madagascar has truly unbelievable biodiversity and adventure potential. In the northeast, Masoala National Park protects the island’s largest remaining rainforest and endemic species like the red ruffed lemur. I stayed at the park in one of Masoala Forest Lodge’s seven treehouses. Co-owner Pierre Bester is a fanatical kayaker and partnered with Wild Expeditions, a collective of owner-run African safari camps, to offer 10- and 11-night paddling expeditions between his lodge and its new two-story Crusoe’s Cabin, on an island off Cap Masoala. Namorokoa National Park in the northwest is also incredible, notably for its tsingy limestone pinnacles, towering baobab trees, ancient burial sites, and 100-plus bird species. The nonprofit Wildlife Madagascar is opening a tented camp midyear to give travelers a better base to roam from. Off the west coast, luxury property Miavana opened a kitesurfing school on Nosy Ankao, with helicopter trips to far-flung sites like the Red Tsingy Reserve.

Local Tip: Bester sends strong paddlers from Crusoe’s Cabin to a sacred point where the Malagasy ask their ancestors for blessings. A local guide meets them and shares insight about beliefs and taboos. “It’s a humbling and spiritual experience,” Bester says. —J.M.

Summer at Campfire Ranch Wash Gulch, in Crested Butte
Campfire Ranch Wash Gulch, in Crested Butte’s backcountry, sits at 10,400 feet. It can sleep up to 12 people, has a sauna, and high-speed Wi-Fi service for those who can't bear to disconnect. (Our vote? Don't use it.) (Photo: Courtesy Campfire Ranch)

Colorado

Why Now: The Centennial State continues to woo travelers with improved adventure options. The first thing that caught our eye was San Juan Mountain Guides’ Million Dollar Trek, which debuted last year as a five-day hut-to-hut hike; from July through September, you can head out from Ouray and overnight at three full-service backcountry lodges. It’s never been easier to plan an EV-powered road trip through Colorado’s most beautiful places: in 2024, you’ll find charging spots on 14 of the state’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways, with more on the way. On June 1 and 2, don’t miss the new Outside Festival (brought to you by Outside Inc., this magazine’s parent company) in Denver’s Civic Center Park. It will feature headline musical acts, a films and ideas summit, climbing walls, and gear demos.

Adventure Intel: Populus, the country’s first carbon-positive hotel, is on track to open in downtown Denver this summer with a distinctive design: its white exterior and windows are meant to look like notches in an aspen tree. The southern Colorado town of Trinidad is quietly becoming a hot spot for gravel cyclists; it hosts September’s Rad Dirt Fest race, with three courses through the Spanish Peaks. Hikers are heading to Fishers Peak State Park for its new 16-mile round-trip trail to the eponymous 9,633-foot summit. (Note: the top of the trail is closed from March until August for raptor nesting, so bring your binos if you’re a birder.) From Trinidad it’s about two hours to Great Sand Dunes National Park, where the startup Ramble recently installed 25 spacious campsites, with kitchens and shared showers, and a stargazing area with hammocks. Rent a sandboard while you’re at it. Ramble is also opening a campground near Mesa Verde National Park later this year. Other new stays around the state include the Campfire Ranch Wash Gulch in Crested Butte; it requires a four-mile approach in winter, but the payoff is incredible ski touring and summer hiking. Campfire Ranch also operates a campground, open from May through October, on the Taylor River in nearby Almont; there are sleeping bags, coolers, and tents for rent. The staff will teach you how to set up camp, and a concierge can organize fly-fishing and mountain-biking outings. In Aspen, the 68-room Mollie Hotel opened in December with a rooftop pool; from there it’s a ten-minute walk to Aspen Mountain, which expanded its terrain by more than 20 percent over the winter, with 26 new chutes and trails, the majority expert-level.

Local Tip: Sam Degenhard, founder of Campfire Ranch, sends intermediate-to-advanced mountain bikers to Doctor Park, northeast of Almont. “It’s a Colorado classic, with eight miles of flowy downhill,” he says. “Afterward, get green chile tamales at Teocalli Tamale.” —M.M.

An adaptive cyclist heads up one of the new Gateway Trails in Old Fort, North Carolina.
Western North Carolina has become a mecca for mountain bikers, thanks to an expanding network of trails that range in difficulty and length and are adaptive-friendly. (Photo: Eric Gray)

Old Fort, North Carolina

Why Now: A former manufacturing town on the edge of Pisgah National Forest, Old Fort was down on its luck until the local community started building mountain-bike routes. The Gateway Trails were the first to open, in 2022. And thanks to a $2.5 million grant, the G5 Trail Collective will construct 42 miles of flowy singletrack in the next few years, nine of which are already done. The burgeoning system has boosted the economy; in the past two years, 13 businesses have opened, including a number of breweries, the Old Fort Bike Shop, Mountain Top Shuttles, and Gogo’s Cinnamon Rolls.

Adventure Intel: My son and I love to hammer downhill laps on the new trails, and there’s an easy gravel climb directly out of a trail hub with bathroom facilities. In the backcountry, I like to ride the months-old Bernard Mountain Trail, where a lonely ascent rewards you with three miles of sidecut singletrack dropping almost 1,000 feet. I’m also excited about the new three-mile Lower Heartbreak Trail, which connects with existing routes to form an 11-mile adventure from Blue Ridge Parkway at the base of Mount Mitchell that drops more than 3,400 feet to the edge of Old Fort.

Bernard Mountain Road multi-use trail
Bernard Mountain Road multi-use trail (Photo: Courtesy Trailforks)

Local Tip: Jason McDougald, founder of the G5 Trail Collective, raves about Abbiocco, the new pizza truck at the Whaley Farm Brewery. “It’s the real deal,” he says, “run by a chef from Asheville who imported the pizza oven from Italy. There’s always pepperoni on the menu, but go with one of the seasonal pies, like the fall pizza with butternut squash and pine nuts.” —G.A.

The Seven Stars pub, south of Liverpool, England
The Seven Stars pub, south of Liverpool, England, is a cheery stop for hikers in the area. (P.A. Thompson/Getty)
Southern England’s Seven Sisters Cliffs
The walk spanning Southern England’s Seven Sisters Cliffs is 13.5 miles and considered a moderately difficult trail. (Duet Postscriptum/Stocksy)

The UK

Why Now: Whether you go for football on the telly or a full English brekky on the terrace, pubs are an integral part of life in the UK. Yet recent economic pressures have threatened the beloved institutions: in 2022, an average of 32 closed every month. However, the campsite-booking company Pitchup is pairing with country pubs that have scenic grounds where campers can spend the night. “Pubs are landmarks in their own right,” says Pitchup founder Dan Yates, who notes that such reservations searches on the site were up 10 percent from 2022. “Being able to sleep at one offers a truly one-of-a-kind camping experience.” For pub owners, campsite fees are a vital new revenue stream, and most guests enjoy the food and drink as well.

Adventure Intel: Currently, 128 pubs offer a place to either pitch your tent or park your trailer. (Use its pub campsite filter to get pub listings.) Prices average $40 per night and usually include amenities like Wi-Fi and a hot shower. I’ve got my eye on the Ring, a 19th-century stone building on Wales’s rugged Anglesey peninsula, just off the stunning 870-mile Wales Coast Path.

Local Tip: At the George in Gloucestershire, walk the nearby 17-mile Jubilee Way and then dig into the “banging carvery,” as one reviewer put it. The Gaggle of Geese, in the Dorset hamlet of Buckland Newton, is nestled in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; you might spend time on the premises playing with pygmy goats or testing the pins on its skittles alley (a lane for bowling, not a pathway lined with candy). —Tom Vanderbilt

Northern lights over Nunavik, northern Quebec
The Northern Lights shining bright over Nunavik, northern Quebec. Green is one of the most common color, a result of charged particles colliding with oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. (Photo: Paul Zizka)

Quebec, Canada

Why Now: NOAA recently predicted that the current solar cycle, which began in 2019 and will run until 2030, is likely to peak from now until October. What does that mean for those of us who travel to witness the wonders of the night skies? More chances to see a bright aurora borealis.

The latitude of northern Quebec’s Gyrfalcon Islands falls within the auroral oval—a ring above the geomagnetic poles where more activity happens—making it a good area for sightings, says Shawn Dahl, of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. A Native-run expedition that combines sky gazing with wildlife watching is one of the better ways to make the most of your time in these remote reaches, while two small-town destinations along the Saint Lawrence River offer new opportunities to explore the province’s under-the-radar outdoor settings.

Adventure Intel: In 2022, James May and Jonathan Grenier, Inuit guides from the small northern Nunavik town of Kuujjuaq, started Ungava Polar Eco-Tours. In August and September (the best months for the northern lights, according to Dahl), they offer a half dozen seven-day adventures on six-mile-long Tiercel Island in the Gyrfalcon archipelago, just below the Arctic Circle. You’ll explore by foot, fat bike, ATV, and boat—the latter of which requires experience in this corner of Ungava Bay, where the tidal range can be as much as 63 feet. Sightings of birds and seals are guaranteed, but there are also walruses, a variety of whales—minke, humpback, beluga, and orca—wolves, foxes, and polar bears. Guests are housed in insulated fiberglass domes that can withstand bumps by a disgruntled beast and winds up to 155 miles per hour. May and Grenier harvest caribou, musk oxen, arctic char, Canada geese, and berries throughout the year, and send their bounty to the renowned Quebec chef Kim Côté, who prepares traditional Inuit meals for guests. If you can’t make it to the wilds of northern Quebec, two destinations along the Saint Lawrence have ample dark skies, stunning scenery, and attractions with affordable overnight accommodations. Attitude Nordique, a year-round adventure park in Baie-Comeau, has a new zip line and suspension bridge, plus kayaking, climbing, and canoeing, as well as beachfront lodging and campsites. On the river’s southern shore, in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, gaze at the heavens from one of seven Panora seaside pods, each with a hot tub and deck. The property is just 27 miles from Gaspésie National Park, known for its hiking and an abundance of moose and caribou.

Local Tip: When the aurora borealis—known as aqsarniit by the Inuit—appears, Grenier recommends whistling. “In our culture, they teach us that when you whistle at the lights, they move even more,” he says. “It brings a joyful mood.” —Stephanie Pearson

Hikers amble through Valley of the Winds in Australia’s Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park.
Valley of the Winds is part of Australia’s Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, one of the nation’s most recognized monuments and sacred to the Aboriginal people. A public walking path around the monoliths takes about a half day to complete. (Photo: Lucy Laucht)

Australia’s Red Centre

Why Now: Located smack-dab in the middle of the country’s outback, the Red Centre is climbing the ranks of many travelers’ lists. A flourishing LGBTQ+ festival in Alice Springs is drawing enthusiastic crowds, while visitors interested in Indigenous tourism now have easier access to Uluru, the iconic sandstone formation, thanks to direct Virgin Australia flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Ayers Rock Airport, 20 miles from the site.

Adventure Intel: Alice Springs is the final destination of road-tripping drag queens in the 1994 film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and each spring the outpost hosts the four-day FabAlice festival. This year it expects 25 percent more revelers—upwards of 5,000 people—to celebrate the cult classic’s 30th anniversary, with performances, a parade, and other gatherings at the new Priscilla Bar at Lasseters Hotel Casino (featured in the movie). Hikers will head out for a trek at Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which includes the Priscilla’s Crack lookout. Uluru, 200 miles southwest, is a different kind of mecca—Aboriginals believe that the distinctive formation was created by their ancestors. To see more of the region, sign up for Indigenous-operated 100% Finke River Culture and Adventure’s five-day cultural-immersion tours across the Red Centre, which include treks to sacred sites and evenings around a campfire eating Aboriginal cuisine.

Kings Canyon Rim Walk near Alice Springs
Kings Canyon Rim Walk near Alice Springs (Photo: Courtesy Gaia GPS)

Local Tip: Alice Springs may be remote but it doesn’t lack worldly fare: Stuart Ord, volunteer chair of FabAlice’s board, recommends dining at the Alice Vietnamese Restaurant. You can also find Turkish, Chinese, Korean, and Italian eateries in town. —D.F.

Lobster for lunch is nearly a given during Maine’s summer season. Although harvested year-round, more are pulled from offshore waters between June and December.
Maine has miles of stunning coastline and plenty of mountains to hike; a lobster lunch is nearly a given during the summer season. (Photo: J. Anthony/Stocksy)

Maine

Why Now: The Pine Tree State is on a roll, with an expansion at its largest ski resort, the ongoing renaissance of once down-and-out mill towns, and the opening of hotels close to outdoor recreation. Did we mention the solar eclipse on April 8? A swath of Maine will be in the path of totality.

Adventure Intel: Sugarloaf Mountain has increased its terrain by 10 percent; additions include 12 trails, a high-speed quad, and, this summer, a lift-served mountain-bike park. Saddleback Mountain cut the ribbon on a midmountain restaurant with a ski-up bar and views of Rangeley Lake; the resort is also expanding its network of lift-accessed singletrack. Portland’s new Longfellow Hotel is a mile from the terrific restaurants of the Old Port, while in nearby Biddeford, a revitalized former textile town with its own buzzy dining scene, an 1850s mill is now the 33-room Lincoln Hotel. To the north, in Skowhegan, the River Fest, held in August, will highlight the ongoing downtown River Park project, with an adjustable wave for surfing and paddling. (Borrow kayaks and other gear from Skowhegan Outdoors.) Way north, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary, and its visitor center, set to open on August 17, tells the story of the area through the eyes of the Penobscot and other local Native tribes.

Local Tip: Brian Catapang, co-owner of the Magnus on Water restaurant in Biddeford, says, “Pick up a cold-brew at Time and Tide Coffee on Main Street—it’s so good we use it in our espresso martinis—before heading to Fortunes Rocks, the best surf spot around.” —Meg Lukens Noonan

Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring
Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring, located just seven miles north of Old Faithful, is 330 feet wide and 120 feet deep. Its colors are created by various thermophilic organisms. (Photo: Frankie Spontelli)

Wyoming’s Yellowstone Highway

Why Now: Part of the historic Yellowstone Highway is turning 100. The anniversary celebrates my favorite two-lane ribbon of asphalt anywhere in the world, which cuts 300 miles from Shoshoni through an especially scenic section of Wind River Canyon before continuing into Yellowstone National Park and then Grand Teton National Park. The trip is all the better this year when you factor in the new planetarium, with one of the state’s largest telescopes, near Yellowstone’s south entrance, new park trails, and a new zip line and new bike-park features at the two ski resorts in Jackson Hole, where the highway ends.

Adventure Intel: Fly into Casper on a one-way ticket and rent a four-wheel drive (to return later in Jackson). Then head west 100 miles to Shoshoni, the start of the Yellowstone Highway, and drop a line in Boysen Reservoir, teeming with trophy-size trout and walleye. Continue north to Thermopolis via the 34-mile Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway, flanked by 2,500-foot-high rock walls and the Bighorn River that carved them. Hot Springs State Park, which has added and updated six miles of hiking and biking trails, has a thriving bison herd and a free bathhouse where you can soak in a 104-degree mineral spring. Hit the highway again, and in three to four hours you can be kayaking across high-alpine Yellowstone Lake with the naturalist guides at Shurr Adventures. Or cruise south toward the Tetons for the climbing and hiking around Jackson Hole. It’s pricey, but I like to crash at the Cloudveil, right on the Town Square. (The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa is aiming to reopen in late May, too.) Pro tip: for the best views of the Town Square or Snow King Mountain, request a room facing Center Street. Last September, I ventured onto Snow King’s new zip line; with a 36 percent grade, it’s the steepest in North America. In June, the resort will open a $5 million mountaintop planetarium. At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, while traversing the via ferrata, I watched construction workers put the finishing touches on the Grand Teton Skywalk, at 10,450 feet. This summer, the resort’s bike park will debut a new jump line codesigned by pro freerider Cam Zink; après at the renovated Spur Restaurant and Bar at the base of the mountain. Hikers, take note: four-legged friends will finally be allowed on the gondola.

Local Tip: “Grab a trail map from the chamber of commerce and check out the awesome trails on the high points overlooking Thermopolis,” says Dusty Lewis, owner of the outfitter Rent Adventure. “If you’re worried about the climbs, they’re e-bike-friendly. And a spicy blackened burger from One-Eyed Buffalo Brewing always hits the spot.” —Katie Jackson

From March/April 2024 Lead Photo: From left: Stanley Chen Xi/Getty; Courtesy Three Camels Lodge