On her 30th birthday, one writer decides to turn the tables on Mom – with a trekking trip in the Andes. Rain fell in gentle sheets as I carefully ascended a path of slick cobblestone steps toward Dead Woman’s Pass. At 13,779ft, it’s the highest point along Peru’s Inca Trail, and after two days of
Destinations
New York City evokes both high-rise luxury and savvy deals. And the best offer in town? The number of free attractions the Big Apple has to enjoy. Read on for our roundup of some of our favorite concerts, museums, tours and much more to take in, all of which are always (rather than only occasionally) free.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, and traffic is heavy in its gateway towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, especially in the summer and on autumn weekends, when the leaves in the Smoky Mountains change color. Travelers driving to and from the park funnel through downtown Gatlinburg on Parkway/US 441,
The French Riviera might be known for its glitz and glam, its old-world opulence and its elegant villas, but Nice needn’t be an expensive destination to visit. Getting around is easy and inexpensive, entry to the main sights and attractions doesn’t cost much (if anything at all), with plenty of free things to see and
Few cities provoke as many confusing stereotypes and preconceptions as Marseille, a city that spent decades slumbering in the shadows as a “dirty, dangerous port city” and the “black sheep” of France. Yet contemporary Marseille sparkles. The ancient Greek harbor still retains that edgy, hedonistic mix of grit and grandeur, but with a dynamic cultural
Once mainly visited by volunteers, aid workers and backpackers on a budget, Guatemala has now made it onto the radar of trendsetters and Hollywood stars. With direct flights from multiple destinations in the United States (and from Spain), Guatemala is easy to reach, and citizens of many countries don’t need to pre-apply for a visa
Asian and Pacific Islander people have played a profoundly significant role in shaping American history, contributing to the rich heritage of the United States in countless ways. But although the past year has been difficult for everyone, the Asian-American community is experiencing an additional, anguish-filled sense of anxiety and panic. Many are fearful for their safety and
No matter where you go in the Caribbean, the beaches are bound to be beautiful. But those in St Lucia, a tropical island nation located in the Eastern Caribbean, are known to be especially gorgeous. While the island is covered with soft white sand and surrounded by crystal-clear water, it’s the incredibly lush landscape – most
Coastal cacti collide with white sand beaches and turquoise tides in Aruba. This tiny Caribbean nation sits just 15 miles off the coast of Venezuela, but despite its proximity to South America, Aruba primarily hosts US tourists who’ve turned the island into an Westernized playground of booze cruises, ATV excursions and resorts. That combination makes Aruba
Kentucky’s most vibrant city, Louisville has a lot going for it. On top of a great dining and drinking scene, fun arts events and picturesque neighborhoods, the city lies within easy reach of a diverse range of attractions. Snaking caverns, world-renowned thoroughbred horse farms and some of the best distilleries in America are all less than
Base yourself in Tokyo and you’ll have all the city’s charms on your doorstep. But be sure to make time for some day trips from Tokyo. Within easy reach of the capital, you can tour the historic temples and Buddhist monuments of Nikkō and Kamakura, take hikes up Takao-san mountain, hang out in the port
The chances are you’re already familiar with the volcanic splendor, lush cloud forests, sprawling Mayan ruins, stunning black sand beaches and rich indigenous cultures of Central America. To tread lighter but delve deeper into the region, just book into one of the region’s excellent sustainable places to stay. There are eco-lodges powered by solar energy,
You can cover a lot of ground on your first visit to Jordan, given its small size (less than three quarters the size of New York state). But the unique rules of the road, lack of reliable public transportation options and the long stretches of desert highway between popular spots such as Amman and Petra
Arkansas is one of the wildest corners of the USA. Within the Nature State’s comparatively compact dimensions, you can find the 1.4 billion-year old granite foundations of the Ozark Mountains, river valleys, wooded canyons and the alluvial delta of the largest river in North America. While many of the most fabulous wild areas are preserved
Summer is the traditional time to visit this sun-blessed city on the Mediterranean: its big blue sea is toasty warm, urban beaches sizzle with outdoor action, festivals are a dime a dozen, and dancing spills across the sand and on starry rooftops after dark. The party vibe rocks. Yet there is far more to France’s
No landscape is as iconically associated with Arkansas as the Ozark Mountains. These forested highlands are crucial to the state’s self-conception as a natural, rugged wonderland that incubates deep folk culture and a cherished sense of independence. The Ozarks dominate northwestern Arkansas, where they are divided into two geologic categories: the Springfield Plateau and the
When adventurer Benton MacKaye conceived of the Appalachian Trail in 1921, he probably had no idea how thru-hiking, long-distance hiking and backpacking would one day take the outdoor industry by storm. Today, thousands grab a backpack, stuff it with a stove, camping gear and food and take to the hills, canyons, valleys and plains for
Colombia’s equatorial position means temperatures fluctuate by altitude, not the time of year, so almost anytime is a good time to visit, and the country’s diversity of landscapes is matched by few other places. The changes in altitude also mean Colombia has many microclimates and mini dry and wet seasons to factor in, although most
Leave the front country behind in favor of more remote, wild spans away from serious crowds. But that ambition doesn’t mean every night has to wind down on a foam camping pad inside a drippy tent. A hike-in lodge offers all the adventure of a wilderness trek with the comfort of a clean bed, hot showers
When it comes to the best cities in the US to visit, Seattle is a classic. It’s home to some of the best grunge music ever created, the first ever Starbucks and possibly the best software developer to ever grace our lives, Bill Gates. You might also know it for its role in movies and