Best Summer Trips
Explore Mountain Towns
Ditch the heat. Drive to the mountains.
Every great adventure needs a staging area. Here they are, from simple and affordable to dreamy and luxe, in unbelievable locations, with endless terrain to explore and a warm bed to return to at night.
Plan your next summer escape around these parks, where high latitudes and high altitudes are still keeping temps cool
Our National Parks columnist, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina, shares his favorite southern towns for outdoor access, wilderness, and scenery. Who says the West is best?
From Lake Placid to Cordova and some select places in between, here’s our (highly subjective) list of the nation’s best mountain towns. Before telling us where we went wrong, please take a moment to acknowledge the courage and gall it takes to attempt such an impossible feat.
Tour Colorado's best hot springs with this week-long road trip, from rustic tubs to full-service resorts
Escape to the Sea
Spend time by the water at these unforgettable places
Our farthest-roaming travel writer reveals her favorite stretches of sand, from a sheltered cove in Greece to a stunning outpost in North Carolina. Which looks best to you?
We’ve sniffed out the best beaches for swimming, fetching, and tail-wagging fun for you and your pup
These seven destinations are the perfect summer base camps, with plenty of adventure on and off the water
In summer or shoulder season, there’s nothing better than a water-view hike or one that ends up at a beach for lounging and swimming. From the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and places in between, these are our favorites.
Road Trips to Remember
Trek across the country's most scenic routes
From hairpin turns to boulder fields, driving these routes requires skill, the right weather, adequate preparation, and helluva lotta gumption. Do it right, and the panoramic payoff is huge.
From the craggy Canadian coast to the deserts of Arizona, these cosmic drives promise around-the-clock awe
With charging stations increasing and battery life improving all the time, the Great American Road Trip is more EV-friendly than ever. These are the most beautiful trips.
From western landscapes to the Blue Ridge Parkway, our national park expert maps out five beautiful road trips—all doable in a week