A scenic loop on southern Vancouver Island, the Pacific Marine Circle Route is beloved for its winding roads and broad ocean views. The total loop drive is 179 miles (289 kilometers), offering plenty of panoramic pull-offs, quiet beaches, and places to picnic. The old-growth forest on Vancouver Island and the thrills of driving the route’s steep hills and snaking roads also draw visitors here.
The Alchemist Brewery calls a town known for its skiing and beer culture home. The family-owned Alchemist Brewery specializes in fresh, unfiltered IPAs. With spaces for beer lovers inside the brewery and on its grounds, and almost daily tours, a visit to this Vermont favorite is a must.
The Stowe Recreation Path is a 5.3-mile (8.5-kilometer) multiuse paved greenway that runs from downtown Stowe to the covered Brookdale Bridge. It crosses over the West Branch Little River multiple times, showcasing mountain views. Popular with both visitors and locals, it is used for nonmotorized recreational activities such as walking, running, rollerblading, cycling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Blue herons, snowy egrets, and spoonbills are just a few of the birds that make their homes and nests in swamp-wrapped Lake Martin. It’s no surprise that the Lake Martin Rookery is a big destination for bird-watchers, but there’s more to see here, as well. The rookery is part of the larger Cypress Island Preserve that encompasses ancient cypresses, bottomland hardwood forest, and plenty of lounging alligators.
Queens is known for its multicultural population, which is reflected in its diverse food scene. The seasonal Queens Night Market, held in the grounds of the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, is a great place to sample this local cuisine and is a must-visit for foodies. It operates from mid-April to mid-October.
Spanning two major neighborhoods in downtown Monterrey—the Zona Rosa and Barrio Antiguo (Old Town)—Calle Morelos is a pedestrianized shopping, dining, and sightseeing street in the Nuevo León city. West of the Macroplaza, expect local shops with leather goods, clothing, and more; east of the Macroplaza, look out for cool restaurants, cute cafés, and the Mercado Barrio Antiguo.
Shop vintage clothes, unique collectibles, and more at the weekly, seasonal Brooklyn Flea, one of the borough's largest flea markets. The primary location is in the Dumbo neighborhood, near the scenic Brooklyn waterfront. Browse records, antiques, homewares, jewelry, art, and more on a visit to this outdoor market. Located in the Dumbo Archway, Brooklyn Flea also offers a full bar.
Running from the Wisconsin–Michigan border in the north, the Wisconsin River courses for some 430 miles (692 kilometers), through the hilly Driftless Region and all the way to the Mississippi River. Ideal for rafting, paddling, fishing, and wildlife-watching, this waterway is a fine example of the scenic splendor of the Upper Midwest.
The restored opulent interior of Kings Theater is like something from a bygone era—think chandeliers, plush velvet, and art deco splendor—making this performance arts venue one of the loveliest in Brooklyn (Flatbush, to be exact). A powerhouse of cultural events, it hosts big-name concerts, comedy shows, film screenings, and red-carpet events.
You’d be forgiven for confusing this tiny island for a fishing village in New England. But no, this tranquil slice of the Long Island Sound coast is part of New York City, located in the northeastern corner of the Bronx. The area draws sailing and boating aficionados, locals looking to tuck into a meal at a seafood shack, and travelers in search of a quiet escape.
Part of the Wildlands Conservancy group of California nature preserves, Mission Creek Preserve spans more than 4,700 acres between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. In addition to the typical arid landscape of the desert, the preserve features a patch of wetlands and is home to wildlife such as deer, bears, and bighorn sheep.
Rainbow flags, painted flower stencils, and an eclectic montage of paper lanterns welcome you to the Cubbyhole, one of just a handful of lesbian bars left in New York City. Starting life as DT’s Fat Cat in 1987, it changed into the Cubbyhole in 1994, continuing to be a safe haven for LGBTQ+ folks and anyone else who wants to swing by.
Spanning more than 80,730 square feet (7,500 square meters), the Museo de Historia Natural in Mexico City is housed within a series of colorful dome structures, which showcase more than 2,500 specimens. It’s a must-visit museum for anthropology buffs and a fun and educational experience for kids, too.
While most people associate Oregon wine with the lush Willamette Valley and Columbia Gorge region, the mineral-rich soils in parts of Eastern Oregon are great for wine-growing, too. The people behind Copper Belt Winery in Baker City know this, and the winery is celebrated for producing a huge range of delicious wines from grapes grown in higher elevations.
Raquette is a scenic lake in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. A long-time getaway for well-to-do New Yorkers, the lake is a popular summer cool-down spot with boatloads of outdoor recreation, including swimming, boating, scenic cruises, fishing, and hiking. With 99 miles (160 kilometers) of shoreline, Raquette is the largest natural lake in the Adirondacks.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center is an expansive 83-acre (33.6-hectare) arts complex featuring museums, themed gardens, and performance spaces. The site on Staten Island was once a home for retired sailors, but now hosts art exhibitions at the Newhouse Center, concerts, and festivals. Come here to explore the beautiful landscapes, learn about maritime history, and enjoy cultural events.
Penn Quarter is a lively and compact neighborhood in eastern Washington DC; its famed for its diverse selection of restaurants, bars, museums, and sports and entertainment venues. The district is a short distance from the National Mall and US Capitol.
Born in Los Angeles to American-Japanese parents, Isamu Noguchi’s decades-long career as an artist saw him design everything from public sculptures to stage sets to modernist furniture. This museum and sculpture garden, located in Astoria, was designed and curated by the artist himself and remains the most significant collection of his works.
Magnolia Bakery has been a New York City food icon for decades, perhaps best known for its cameo on Sex and the City. Based in Manhattan’s downtown Greenwich Village neighborhood—and now operating additional locations across town—the bakery is famed for its signature cupcakes, although other treats aren’t to be missed, including its cult-favorite banana pudding.
Granting travelers passage through the rugged Canadian Rockies for centuries, Yellowhead Pass began as trade thoroughfare and today is a National Historic Site and a popular roadside stop. In addition to a plaque noting its historical significance, the site provides road-trippers with views of Mount Robson and the Fraser River Valley.
The Amache National Historic Site is a solemn reminder of a dark chapter in American history—the unjust internment of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II. Located in Granada Colorado, it's a poignant memorial and educational resource to honor the resilience of those who endured this injustice.
Set along US Route 66, this quirky cultural landmark is Oklahoma’s largest and most important collection of environmental folk art. Creator Ed Galloway spent decades in the mid-20th century building this collection of stone and concrete totem poles decorated with brightly painted bas-relief designs that tower up to 90 feet (27 meters) high.
Covering an area of more than 1,135,000 acres (460,000 hectares, this vast untouched wilderness contains virgin boreal forest, pictograph-adorned granite cliffs, and thousands of lakes. Its remote setting—most of the park can only be accessed by canoe—has helped preserve its pristine splendor, as well as its wildlife.
Midtown Manhattan’s Walter Kerr Theatre is a grand performing arts venue that’s just off Broadway. Opened in the 1920s as the Ritz Theatre, it was later renamed and refurbished in honor of a Pulitzer Prize-winning theater critic. Throughout its long history, it has put on different kinds of shows, but nowadays, it hosts musicals and plays, including the likes of Hadestown and Springsteen on Broadway.
Spanning genres and media, the David Zwirner Gallery specializes in cutting-edge contemporary art in the heart of Chelsea. You’ll find an ever-changing roster of paintings, sculptures, and other works at this sleek gallery, which has several locations in NYC as well as outposts in Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, and Paris. But be quick—the shows here usually last only a month or two.
Van Cortlandt Park is New York City’s third-largest park. Located in the northwest Bronx, its thickly forested interior valleys and ridges are flanked by sports fields, a pool, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities. Containing some of New York City’s last remaining native woodlands and wetlands, it’s an ideal place to hike and get outdoors without going too far from the city.
Set in a schoolyard in East Harlem, this open-air gallery of street art has been a New York City cultural institution for over four decades. Established back in 1980 by a pair of graffiti artists, it once served as a meet-up and practice space for emerging talents. Today, the Graffiti Hall of Fame is a canvas for international street-art stars.
The Boulder Public Library, located along pretty Boulder Creek, is a hub of culture. Beyond offering books and learning materials, it has a modern design featuring open spaces, reading areas, and a bridge connecting different sections—great for a quiet moment in a bustling city. The library also hosts art exhibits, workshops, and other events, making it a vibrant space for learning, creativity, and collaboration.
Founded in 2018, Glacier 45 Distillery produces all-natural vodkas in a range of flavors—think blood orange, hot cinnamon, cucumber, huckleberry, and more—plus gin and bourbon whiskey. You can try it for yourself at its tasting room in downtown Baker City, Oregon.
Like other Hard Rock Cafes around the world, the Washington DC branch of the megachain has plenty of rock ’n’ roll–themed memorabilia, along with regular live music performances. In an ode to their surroundings, however, this branch has a few localized decor features, with the words "Embassy of Rock" emblazoned on a mezzanine wall.
