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The 25 Trips You Need to Take This Year

Our travel writers found unsung surf breaks, breathtaking lodges, waist-deep powder, and high-alpine gastronomy in these perfect escapes

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! .

Washington

In 2017, two Seattle-based surfers turned a mid-century motor lodge in the coastal town of Westport into a communal hub for anyone looking to hit the area鈥檚 beach, point, and cove breaks. Loge Camps takes a variety of budgets into consideration, offering private hotel rooms, hostel beds, and a campground. In addition, soft-top and performance board rentals are available on-site. A few hours inland, in Leavenworth, Loge has built a small Bavarian-themed mountain village on the Wenatchee River, with front-door access to some of the most popular skiing and mountain biking in the state. The 2.6-acre commune has all the amenities of its sister property but with the bonus of a bike- and ski-tuning shop. There鈥檚 even a training area where you can brush up on your avalanche-response skills. From $135; 聽鈥擥raham Averill

Caddo Lake, Texas
Caddo Lake, Texas (Tony Smith/Jarvis Boards)

Texas

With 95 percent of the Lone Star State in private hands, access to canoe-friendly water has been tricky. That鈥檚 changing with the launch of , designed to improve maps, mark routes, and build and restore put-ins and take-outs around the state. Texas now has 73 such designated water颅ways鈥攗p from just 14 a decade ago鈥攕panning nearly 600 miles. To explore some of the best, rent a Civilian Conservation Corps鈥揺ra cabin at , 170 miles east of Dallas, where ten paddling trails meander through 27,000 acres of swamps and 颅bayous. Bring a rod on the 8.8-mile Hell鈥檚 Half Acre loop, rich in paddlefish. Later, head into Uncertain (population 94) for po鈥檅oy sandwiches at Lafitte鈥檚 Caddo Grocery and Caf茅. The adjacent Johnson鈥檚 Ranch Marina rents canoes and kayaks with PFDs (from $30; ). 鈥擳im Neville

Sri Lanka

There鈥檚 glamping, and then there鈥檚 the surreally beautiful Wild Coast Tented Lodge on the Indian Ocean, pitched on the country鈥檚 largely untouched and lush southeastern side. As Sri Lanka recovered from a decades-long civil war, a team of Dutch, English, and local architects created the whimsical, inventive series of 28 cocoon-like tents, which were then constructed from weatherproof fabric, teak, and bamboo to blend in with the surrounding jungle, beach, and boulder-strewn landscapes. Game drives through wildlife-rich Yala National Park offer a glimpse of sloth bears, leopards, elephants, and monkeys, while to the south and west you鈥檒l find dozens of empty surf breaks with warm water and consistent swells, many of which are easy enough for beginners. From $445, meals included; 聽 鈥擲tephanie Pearson

Colorado

Some bars are worth a special trip. Bread Bar, a 19th-century bakery turned unlikely watering hole in the small old mining town of Silver Plume, is one of them. A 45-minute drive west of Denver on I-70 and perfectly positioned for a stop on the way back from Loveland Ski Area, the quintessentially Rocky Mountain bar serves an all-star selection of Colorado wines and craft beers, as well as cocktails named after historical regional characters like the infamous gambler Cortez Thompson, who is honored with a lava-salt-rimmed concoction of tequila and grapefruit soda. In summer bands perform on the patio, while chefs from top Denver restaurants cook up classic New American fare, like fried-chicken sandwiches and lobster grilled cheese. Open Friday through Sunday; 聽 鈥擩en Murphy

Romania

With its abundance of two-lane country roads and varied landscape of mountains, hills, and plateaus, Romania is finally getting recognition as an absolute heaven for cyclists. From May to October, the Slow Cyclist offers five-day trips into the heart of Transylvania, taking you through quiet Saxon villages, brilliant wildflower meadows, and beech and oak forests that are home to one of Europe鈥檚 largest populations of bear and wolf. You鈥檒l ride 20 to 40 miles a day, with stops to hunt for truf颅fles and explore local villages and their well-preserved traditional lifestyle. Lodging is in simple guesthouses and charmingly restored 18th-century homes, with meals such as cabbage lasagna and homemade plum brandy. From $1,665, all-inclusive; 鈥擩.惭.

California

Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Lucia Mountains, the new Ventana Big Sur resort sits on 160 pristine acres overlooking the coast. It鈥檚 got a laid-back mountain-cabin vibe (albeit a really high-end one), with 59 rooms plus a handful of glamping tents tucked into a small canyon among the redwoods. If you can drag yourself away from the communal Japanese hot baths, yoga and tai chi classes, and infinity pool overlooking the ocean, there鈥檚 a lot to explore in the area. A nearby stretch of Highway 1 has long been a favorite with road bikers. For surfers there鈥檚 easy access to a mini point break at the mouth of Big Sur River. And hikers can hit a number of remote beaches on the nine-mile Andrew Molera Loop or immerse themselves in the giant redwoods of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. From $675; 鈥擥.础.

Cuba

Because it was isolated for so long, this country has some of the most spectacular intact coral reefs and tropical ecosystems in the world. The best way to see them? Paddling with Cuba Unbound, a branch of ROW 国产吃瓜黑料s, which recently partnered with local outfitters to offer the only kayak tour available on the eastern side of the country. The eight-day trip starts in the city of Holgu铆n, from which you鈥檒l explore the northern coast, gliding over vibrant reefs of fan and brain corals, swimming with clown fish, and bunking at the Cayo Saet铆a Hotel on an island in the Bah铆a de Nipe, a 1970s retreat for the country鈥檚 communist elite. When you aren鈥檛 paddling, you鈥檒l hike little-known mountains in Alejandro de Humboldt National Park and spelunk in the crystal-rich Cueva de los Panaderos. Mixed in are tours through classic cities like Baracoa and Santiago de Cuba, known as the birthplace of Afro-Cuban music. Most nights, you鈥檒l stay in casas particulares鈥擟uban B&Bs鈥攁nd relax over simple home-cooked meals like ropa vieja washed down with cans of Bucanero cerveza. From $3,590; 鈥擳.狈.

Alaska

For centuries polar bears have gathered on the sandbars outside Kaktovik, an Inupiat Eskimo community on the north shore of ; there they devour the carcasses of whales harvested in August and September by subsistence hunters. The village offers an unparalleled way to see one of the world鈥檚 most legendary predators, and with climate change threatening the creature鈥檚 habitat, the time to see them is now. Unlike the mass-market tundra buggies on Hudson Bay, which park travelers above the action, local guides take no more than six people out in small open boats, affording you the equivalent of courtside seats. From 90 feet away, you鈥檒l observe mammas and cubs somersaulting on the beach and play-wrestling with eight-foot-tall males in a steely, end-of-the-world landscape of sand, water, and sky. From $1,899, including the three-hour round-trip flight from Fairbanks; 鈥擪ate Siber

Peru

Virgilio Martin茅z helped put Lima on the global culinary map when he opened Central, an eatery ranked number one in the country in 2012 by the Peruvian restaurant guide Summum. With his new project, Mil, the chef has turned the spotlight on Peru鈥檚 verdant Sacred Valley, his favorite source of high-altitude ingredients. Located near the Incan ruins of Moray, just outside Cuzco, the restaurant focuses on Andean cuisine prepared with ancient cooking techniques like the pachamanca, an underground barbecue. Diners enter the 40-seat restaurant through a food lab, where Martin茅z and his team plan to create house-made chocolate. 国产吃瓜黑料, the crew hovers over fire pits of roasting corn and potatoes. One ambitious tasting plate is an homage to the potato. (The country produces more than 4,000 varieties.) Be warned: Mil sits at 11,500 feet, so a single Peruvian craft beer is probably enough to get you buzzed. From $145; 鈥擩.惭.

Nova Scotia

Looking for point breaks all to yourself? Pack your six-millimeter wetsuit and migrate to the Canadian maritime province of Nova Scotia, where hurricane season delivers pumping swell from August through November. Or if you鈥檙e really hardcore, go in December or January鈥攜ou might have to dodge chunks of ice in the 30-degree water, but you鈥檙e almost guaranteed unforgettable long solo rides. Nico Manos, Nova Scotia鈥檚 only pro surfer, offers lessons and rentals at Lawrencetown Beach, 16 miles east of Halifax (from $75; ). If the waves aren鈥檛 firing鈥攐r you鈥檝e surfed to the point of hypothermia鈥攔etreat to the peninsula鈥檚 southwestern interior and the roaring fireplace at Trout Point Lodge. Nestled in the , one of the largest protected areas in eastern Canada, the 100-acre property hosts a resident astronomer to help guests spot the region鈥檚 frequent meteor showers. From $263; 鈥擩.惭.

Nepal

In the weeks following the April 2015 earthquake, 33-year-old Nepali photographer NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati operated a relief network out of her family鈥檚 B&B. Six months later, she unveiled her follow-up effort: a photo festival in Kathmandu, cele颅brating the spirit of the people who survived. With works mounted in museums, galleries, and public squares of the mazelike district of Patan, has become a bona fide international event, attracting some 400,000 visitors and sponsors like Instagram and the National Geographic Society. But it maintains its wild ad hoc feel; to wander these streets is to choose your own adventure in a place of history while surrounded by art of the searing present. To raise funds to help rebuild the neighborhood, Photo KTM sells prints, but admission to host sites is free. Stay at 颅Swotha Homes, a bed-and-breakfast in Patan (double rooms from $71; ). 鈥擜be Streep

Italy

Even by Italian standards, the southern region of Puglia is an unusually friendly place鈥攁nd far less visited than the north. Which won鈥檛 be true for long, thanks to its spectacular location on the Adriatic Sea, drippingly fresh seafood, whitewashed hill towns, and endless rocky coasts and plains to hike and bike. At Borgo Egnazia, a 155-room family-run establishment near the seaside village of Savelletri, guests are immersed in the local culture and assigned a guide who shares insider advice via WhatsApp. When you aren鈥檛 taking a pasta-making class, sign up for a day tour with former pro cyclist Antonello Losito in the nearby Itria Valley and pedal through sun-washed villages and too many vineyards to count. Trust us, you鈥檒l want to work up an appetite: Puglia specializes in spicy cuisine and indulgences like creamy burrata cheese and handmade pastas like orecchiette with broccoli rabe. From $249; 鈥擩.惭.

Cloud Mountain鈥擫ake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania
Cloud Mountain鈥擫ake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania (LOOK Die Bildagentur der Fotografen GmbH/Alamy)

Tasmania

Tasmania feels like the end of the earth. The Australian island-state鈥攁 launching point for scientists en route to Antarctica鈥攊s blessed with wide-open wilderness and a stunning empty coastline. Start in the capital of Hobart at the Museum of Old and New Art, a subterranean bunker with provocative installations. Then head north to to hike up and down mountains to one spectacular beach after another. Make your home the Edge of the Bay Resort, a charming eco-lodge on the water (from $310; ). You can surf in nearby Bicheno. Next, head to Port Arthur to trek the rugged , or go inland to tackle the challenging peaks of the Overland Track in Cradle Mountain鈥揕ake St. Clair National Park. Prefer a little more luxury? Check out Great Walks of Australia, especially the three-night Bay of Fires Lodge Walk across a sandy windswept coast (). 鈥擬ary Turner

Middle Fork of Idaho鈥檚 Salmon River
Middle Fork of Idaho鈥檚 Salmon River (Becca Skinner)

Idaho

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, passed in 1968 to preserve rivers with 鈥渙utstanding natural, cultural, and recreational value.鈥 Only 208 waterways have received the designation, and OARS offers rafting trips on nine of them, including the free-flowing Middle Fork of Idaho鈥檚 Salmon River. On a six-day adventure, you鈥檒l float more than 100 miles of winding water and over 100 sets of Class II鈥揑V rapids. After setting up camp each night, paddlers can hike to see Native American pictographs on precipitous canyon walls, or soak tired bones in abundant hot springs, each just a short walk from the riverbank. From $2,549; 鈥掷.笔.

Argentina

If you鈥檝e ever wanted to meet Alex Honnold, Conrad Anker, Rick Ridgeway, or Kris Tompkins, here鈥檚 your chance. In November, Wilderness Travel is offering a one-of-a-kind tour through the heart of Patagonia that begins with a four-day symposium in . Between talks from Honnold on his career as a climber and Tompkins on public lands in South America, there鈥檚 time to stomp through the park; watch films like, a documentary about Honnold and fellow climber Tommy Caldwell鈥檚 route up the Fitz Roy Traverse; and relax beneath Andean peaks at the . When classes let out, you鈥檒l have five options to explore the region. Our pick is the 13-day wildlife journey, with orca-watching off Argentina鈥檚 Peninsula Vald茅s, a chance to see the recovering jaguar population in the Iber谩 wetlands, and a finish at the 275 towering cascades of Iguaz煤 Falls. From $8,595; 鈥掷.笔.

Kyrgyzstan

In 2009, Colorado-born Ryan Koupal traveled to the remote northeastern corner of this Central Asian republic to backcountry ski and was immediately hooked. Now he hosts groups of up to eight from January to March in the Tien Shan Mountains, picking up skiers at the Bishkek airport and shuttling them by van and Soviet military bus to a camp in the Terskey-Alatoo Range. The rugged half-day journey is worth it. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e basically skiing three feet of sugar,鈥 says Koupal. 鈥淭here鈥檚 almost nothing but big, open, powder-filled faces.鈥 For a week you can skin up hills of untracked snow, sleep in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt with a wood stove, and fill up on traditional fare like meat and potato stew and beetroot and cabbage soup. Some backcountry experience is required. From $2,750; 鈥擜very Stonich

Mexico

Want to sleep in a treehouse near the beaches of San Jos茅 del Cabo, on the grounds of one of the best restaurants and mezcal distilleries in Mexico? Since opening in 2015, Acre has been luring foodies with its ambitious tasting menus and Espadin and Cenizo mezcal. Hidden amid Jurassic-size palm trees, the building was developed on a converted mango grove, and guests are encouraged to spend the night in one of a dozen treehouses, take complimentary classes in yoga and goat milking, or explore the towns of San Bartolo and Los Barriles. While rustic, the accommodations have king-size beds and spacious terraces for stargazing. You鈥檒l fall asleep to the sound of baja breezes and wake up to complimentary breakfasts of banana beignets and chilaquiles. From $275; 鈥擩.惭.

Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky
Breaks Interstate Park, Kentucky (Gerry Seavo James/The Explore Kentucky Initiative)

Kentucky

Eastern rockhounds looking for a new playground to explore were rewarded with a jewel in the summer of 2016 at Breaks Interstate Park, which encompasses a five-mile-long gorge on the Virginia border. Since 聽it started welcoming climbers, a dozen or so lines have been established on its sandstone cliffs, and locals see openings for hundreds more鈥攎ost of them in the 5.10 to 5.12 range. If you鈥檙e looking for a hard overhanging wall, climb the Pavilion; there鈥檚 also more moderate trailside 5.10鈥檚 along the Overlook Trail. Easier climbs are sure to crop up soon. When you鈥檙e ready to cool off, grab hold of the rope swing at Pool Point, a waterfront area on the Russell Fork River. The park has cozy lakeside cabins on-site, while dirtbag purists can stay at the 138-acre campground. $2; 鈥擥.础.

SUP Florida
SUP Florida (Yolo Board)

Florida

Last year鈥檚 hurricane season luckily bypassed South Walton, a lively 26-mile chain of barrier islands on the panhandle. The region has also been off the radar for travelers, who somehow overlook its 200-mile network of trails and 25,000 acres of state parks and forests. Plan at least a week to hit the high points: bike across a series of connecting bridges through small seaside neighborhoods, SUP coastal dune lakes, and surfcast for pompano. Stay at the Pearl Hotel, a boutique beachside inn, to catch sunset views of the Gulf from its rooftop lounge (from $349; ), and rent a board from Yolo Board and Bike, which will deliver to your door (). Finish the day with oysters on the half shell at Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar, named after the historic fishing reef that sits directly south. 鈥掷.笔.


Plus six adventures from 国产吃瓜黑料 Go, our in-house travel pros

British Columbia
British Columbia (Michael Wigle)

British Columbia

The Great Bear Rainforest sits in the rugged Coast Mountains, and the nine-chalet is built on 60 acres of private wilderness within it. Hike the Bella Coola Valley, fish for cutthroat trout and sockeye along the Atnarko River, and watch grizzlies feast during the salmon run. Or show up midwinter for access to 2.64 million acres of heli-ski terrain. At night, unwind in a sweat lodge or the outdoor hot tub before heading in for dinner. From $3,375 鈥Megan Michelson

Nicaragua
Nicaragua (Morgan's Rock)

Nicaragua

国产吃瓜黑料 GO owners Sandy and Chip Cunningham handpicked the surf breaks on this . It begins in Granada, with a hike up and sandboard down the nearby Cerro Negro volcano. Then it鈥檚 a short jaunt to Jicaro Island Lodge on Lake Nica颅ragua, where guests sleep in treehouse-like cabins and enjoy paddleboarding at sunset. The final four nights are spent at Morgan鈥檚 Rock, an eco-lodge near the surf haven of Maderas Beach, with access to board rentals and instruction. From $3,135 鈥擬.M.

Tanzania

Want to spot the Big Five without hordes of khaki-clad tourists? This starts at the Arusha Coffee Lodge at the foot of Mount Meru. You鈥檒l move on to Chada Katavi, a tented camp in million-acre Katavi National Park, to see the hippo and crocodile populations, then take guided safaris through Ruaha National Park, the Sand Rivers Selous game reserve, and down the Rufiji River. Or tack on extra days to visit the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar. From $9,997聽鈥擬.M.

Australia fine dining
Australia fine dining (Spicers Peak Lodge)

Australia

Here鈥檚 the perfect: after two days of sailing in Sydney鈥檚 harbor, touring the Opera House, and sampling oysters on the waterfront, fly to Brisbane and drive inland for a four-day trek on Queens颅land鈥檚 Scenic Rim Trail. You鈥檒l traverse rainforests and a dormant volcano, leading you to a solar-powered tent camp at the edge of Main Range National Park. The trip concludes with a ten-mile hike to the mountaintop Spicers Peak Lodge. From $3,995聽鈥擬.M.

Ecuador
Ecuador (La Selva Amazon Eco Lodge)

Ecuador

The in the Gal谩pagos Islands has been threatened in recent years by invasive species and overfishing. Go now be颅fore one of the most pristine wild颅life experiences is further com颅promised. At the Galapagos Safari Camp tent village on Santa Cruz Island, you can surf and see giant tortoises and cormorants. Next up: guests fly to La Selva, an eco-lodge in the Amazon on Lake Garzacocha, and then on to the nearby Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, where you鈥檒l stay at Hacienda Zu颅leta, a 17th-颅century home on a farm in the Andean foothills that has mountain bikes, horses, 4,000 acres of property, and 50 miles of trails. From $7,650聽鈥擬.M.

Montana

Spot wolves in Yellowstone National Park on this new custom-designed trip, spend颅ing a few nights in the park before heading to the hand-built cabins at the historic Lone Mountain Ranch in nearby Big Sky.聽鈥擬.M.

For dates, itineraries, and more information, visit .

From 国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine, April 2018 Lead Photo: Gina & Ryan Photography