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Size has something to do with it, but it is more about why the land is being preserved

Pack up the surfboards and the mountain bikes but don’t get too lost in adventure, there’s plenty to eat and drink as well.

I'd love to haul my kids up the railings to Half Dome, but don't want to risk accidents—or turning them off of hiking forever. How can we have fun while staying safe in the national park?

Think you're ready for the world's longest stand-up paddleboard race? We'll be the judge.

Summer days are getting shorter, but you can still end the season with a feel-good bang.

Now is the best time of year to plan your trek.

Procrastinators are about to get the last laugh. Turns out you can save 10 to 40 percent if you book a hotel at the last minute through an app.

You don't need an ocean to stand-up paddleboard

I want to explore the best of what nature has to offer. Where can I find some up-and-coming ecotourism sites?

A photo is only worth 1,000 words if you know how to capture the right one. These six programs can help.

The Pennine Way, England’s first national trail, turns 50 this year. Even if it’s literally over the hill, the 268-mile route of rolling terrain is as popular as ever, especially this weekend. July 12 marks the annual National Trails geocache release, during which new coins…

Traveling light and fast up and down mountains—that’s the concept behind skyrunning, a sport that now boasts 200 races and 30,000 participants annually. In fact, the 2014 Skyrunning World Championships took place over the weekend in Chamonix, France. The event continued the valley’s reputation as a trail running mecca where…

With the World Cup underway, the beautiful game is first in hearts and minds. But Brazil has another signature sport: jiu-jitsu. The martial art and self-defense method is based on grappling and ground fighting. It’s a finer art than just choking a dude out. Although hailing from Japan, the Brazilian…

Cuba. Where travelers lounge on picturesque beaches, swirl mojitos, dance til sunrise, and cruise back to their hotels in ’57 T-birds. Travelers, yes. But Americans, no. Until 2011, these indulgences were long off limits to U.S. citizens due to a Bay of Pigs–era trade embargo.  But despite the Obama Administration…

What’s better than ice cream? It’s not a purely rhetorical question. The answer? Grown-up ice cream, spiked with wine, beer, and spirits. As the summer heat cranks to high, head to one of these regional ice cream spots for a shot of cool, creamy delight. Cayuga Lake Creamery Interlaken, New…

To best appreciate the fruit of the vine, you have to go to the source. And if the source happens to be the eastern foothills of the Andes in Mendoza, Argentina, all the better. This high-altitude terroir produces rich flavors, but the environs are also ripe for exploration by bike,…

Pounding out miles on stoplight-strewn streets and past convenience stores quickly loses its luster. Whether you’re commuting or training, here are ten urban trails in the U.S. that offer scenic views and traffic-free paths to keep your run enjoyable. Atlanta Beltline Georgia’s Beltline cinches its…

If you’ve topped out on talking about a wine’s terroir and session ales, it’s time to tackle the next alcohol trend that’s gaining volume: craft distilling. The desire for authentic, handmade goods drove the craft-beer bonanza. Now the same ethic is sparking passions for locally made spirits such as gin,…

Rail trails are the ultimate in reusing and recycling. Converted from former railroad corridors, these multi-use paths carve gentle grades through cities and the countryside, making them family-friendly routes for hiking and biking. To date, there are more than 1,800 rail trails open nationwide, covering more than 21,000 miles. “They…

If you’re looking for the seclusion of a private beach with the affordability of a state park, but want to do more than kick off your flip-flops and sunbathe, these are the five Florida beaches for you.

Digital devices store every detail of our lives—from business transactions and grocery lists to messages, both sweet and unsavory, meant only for our partners. Though Americans, in all their Fourth Amendment bravado, might consider themselves immune to unreasonable search and seizure of their devices, they have few rights to digital…

Like any real estate choice, camping is all about location, location, location. Camping on a portaledge—a deployable, hanging-tent system—gives rock climbers locations worth bragging about: unimpeded views, no noisy neighbors, and everything from egress to big-wall climbs. In the U.S., there’s no better place for a suspension sleeping system than…

Day scuba diving offers the Grand Central Station view of a reef or wreck, bustling in a Technicolor blaze. But reefs hardly close for business when the sun sets. There’s something inherently mysterious about venturing into the deep with only a dive light and a sense of adventure. Here’s where…

Before you go off the grid camping and hiking, tap the latest apps that will help you plan your trip, your trails, and where to pitch your tent. Even if you don’t have service, many of these apps will remain handy. AllTrails | (AllTrails, Inc.) A catalog of hiking…

Gone are the days of lugging around travel tomes with dog-eared pages. In the digital era, all that info is jammed in a Smartphone-size package. And sure, you can still download entire guidebooks in app form—such as Fodor’s City Guides or Rick Steves’ audio tours—but those…

Portland, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, and Milwaukee might be the U.S.’s most widely acknowledged beer cities, but don’t discount the underdogs. Here are five unexpected brewery towns worth rooting for. Albuquerque, New Mexico Marble (Alejandro de la Cruz/Flickr) With two dozen breweries in this southwestern hub of…

Space might not yet be the final frontier, but it’s an intriguing one. The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) recommends places for Earthlings to stargaze—especially places absent the yellow haze of light pollution.  The association’s Dark Sky Places program sets a high bar for national and international communities,…

While planning your trip in your pajamas in the comfort of your home, travel insurance might seem unnecessary—and an easy cast off from your trip budget. But in certain circumstances, coverage could save you thousands of dollars and perhaps even your life. It’s an individual choice, so here’s what to…

Visitors flock to Grand Canyon National Park for awe-inspiring views. But if a quick peek over the edge isn’t enough, here are a few places to camp on the South and North Rims: On the popular South Rim, where most visitors venture, Ruby Hill sits 30 miles from…

Sometimes family vacations aren’t complete unless all the members—even the four-legged ones—are there. Preparing the documentation to travel internationally with your dog can take months, so it’s valuable to begin your research as soon as you make your plans. Here’s what to know if you want Rover to come on…

With nearly 30,000 miles of well-marked and maintained trails, Switzerland is a mecca for hikers. From late June to early September, walkers can explore alpine peaks, wildflower meadows, and crystalline lakes. Although day hikes abound, it’s also possible to string inn-to-inn treks into multi-day, budget-friendly trips. Although routes are graded…

Whether you’re hoping to PR or party over 26.2 miles, consider these 10 events.

Restroom. Food. Gate. Outlet. Chair. Repeat. Most airport layovers have a Groundhog Day familiarity to them and are boring to boot. Some airports, however, are worth planning time to enjoy. Skytrax World Airport Awards recently named Singapore Changi Airport the best overall airport and the best airport for…

Paying for your vacation is fraught with potential pitfalls. Here are a few tips about what form of payment to use when, how to get the best exchange rates and avoid conversion fees, and other things to know before you go: Cash Travel with a handful of local currency for…

Regimented work on the track might tune up your speed, but unleashing yourself on scenic trails will feed your soul. Here are four U.S. trail-running camps that turn grueling practice into a vacation. Runners at PRS Fit Camp. Since 2010, PRS FIT Over the Divide Trail Running…

Ribbons of green. Curtains of red. Swirls of violet. All are possible during auroras, created when solar particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere. Although these awe-inducing light displays happen at both poles, the better-known aurora borealis (Northern Lights) occur above places such as Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway, and the…

If you’ve lost that loving feeling for running, there’s a surefire way to rekindle the flame: camp. “Putting yourself in an environment where you’re surrounded by other runners, and where you can focus only on your own running, is the perfect place to reenergize your passion,” says Ryan Warrenberg, assistant…

The California Coastal National Monument extends from south of San Diego to the Oregon state line and is composed of 20,000 islands, rocks, and reefs that extend 20 nautical miles from the shore. These features make up the scenic views that travelers enjoy along the coast, but few…

Black-water rafting sounds dark and mysterious, right? It is. Sort of. Black-water rafting is essentially cave tubing, and it involves climbing, rappelling, and floating subterranean rivers—both freely (in the safety position, feet downstream) or in inner tubes. Black water rafting the Waitomo Caves in New Zealand. New Zealand’s …

A religious pilgrimage and epic thru-hike

Surf lessons in Hawaii are as plentiful as drops of water in the ocean. More unusual, however, are surf camps: multi-day immersions in the sport that build confidence and skill in novices and aficionados alike. Former pro Ken Bradshaw, who made a name for himself riding 45-foot waves, is at…

Before researching this article, I had no idea that zip lines—incline-mounted cables that use gravity to enable said zipping—were also called death slides. It’s probably best I didn’t know this when I harnessed into the lines at Grouse Mountain to slide at nearly 50 miles an hour…

If you don’t just want to run on vacation, but you want to make running the vacation, book a running tour. There are two primary categories of tours: those tied to an event, such as a marathon, and those tied to a destination. A runner celebrates at Machu Picchu.

If receiving a post-trip mobile phone bill has you practicing newly learned swear words in foreign languages, here are a few tips for keeping your bill out of the cuss-worthy category:  Sign up for a global plan with your current provider. Most carriers offer plans for international…

Although travelers might be drawn to Puerto Rico for its beaches and nightlife, the island’s outdoor recreation opportunities outshine its other attractions. Rainforest �����ԹϺ���s El Yunque National Forest’s status as the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system earns it the top spot on most…

If packing for a trip means throwing a pair of running shoes and some clean underwear in a suitcase, meet sightrunning: destination sightseeing via group runs. Athletes with an indie streak can build their own routes around a city’s attractions, but a growing number are joining preplanned outings that allow…

Budget-friendly prices, and the freedom and comfort of staying at a home-away-from-home have made vacation rentals popular alternatives to hotels. Property owners list their homes on sites such as Home Away and the associated VacationRentals.com, VRBO, and Flipkey, the latter of which is…

For American Olympic fans, biathlon is overshadowed by blockbuster sports, such as alpine skiing and snowboarding. But biathletes are just as badass as the downhillers—these cross-country skiers race to average heart rates of 175 bpm, then fire five precision shots in as few as seven seconds,…

If you have Olympic yearnings, be advised that the luge is within reach for amateurs. But, despite a low bar of difficulty to begin sliding, it might take years to master the sport. Jon Owen, Western Regional Program director for the United States Luge Association, says it takes about eight…

A longtime favorite of the X Games, slopestyle joined the Olympic ranks at Sochi this year. Freewheeling American snowboarders Jamie Anderson and Sage Kotsenburg won gold over the weekend, and strong competitors on the skiing side taking to the course this week (watch the women’s…

The days of waiting for Old Yellows to appear are gone, replaced by smartphone apps that make catching a ride only a few taps away. With TaxiMagic, travelers can book a ride with a nearby taxi or schedule a pick up. Then, track the taxi’s progress (no…

Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia have the biggest mountains among the 14 states on the Appalachian Trail. The southern portion of the Appalachian Trail. Although the promise of southern temps might draw spring break hikers to Georgia, sleet and snow are common here in March. Georgia is better hiked in…

The Mid-Atlantic section of the Appalachian Trail includes New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Surprisingly, this portion is known for the hottest weather—even more so than the southern section of the trail—due to lower elevations. The Mid-Atlantic portion of the Appalachian Trail. The Virginia section of the Appalachian…

The Appalachian Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails and—along with the Continental Divide and Pacific Crest trails—one of three popular, near-border-to-border treks in the U.S. The New England portion of the Appalachian Trail. Through-hikers on the AT have a roughly 2,180-mile journey in front of them. However, the…

Francis Sheil, lead chef at the Palmer Station in Antarctica, has spent a total of 62 months of “ice time” and two complete (nine-month) winter seasons at the South Pole. Sheil has plenty of advice for cold-weather cooks, even if they don’t encounter Antarctic conditions as he…

Here are five choices worth traveling for: Eat and drink in a Mexican cave at Alux Bar and Lounge. At approximately 6,000 years old, the Sunland “Big Baobab” is the widest of its species. The inside of the tree is cavernous and contains the world-famous Baobab Tree Bar. Tip…

Called the purest form of climbing, deep-water soloing (DWS) is free rock climbing practiced on sea cliffs, lakeside ledges, or climbing walls above pools. In deep-water soloing, water serves as the safety net. In deep-water soloing, water is your safety net. “It’s an exciting type of climbing; usually you can’t…

Skate skiing is classic cross-country’s edgier cousin—literally. Propulsion comes from pushing off the edge of the ski with a duck-footed stance, similar to how speed ice skaters drive off their blade edges. Couple that with gliding on the flat of the ski and thrusting with chin-to-toe poles, and skate skiers…

Kloofing is the South African version of canyoneering. The term comes from the Afrikaans (Middle Dutch) term “kloof,” meaning “a steep-sided, wooded ravine or valley.” Thought to have developed in the 1920s, kloofing is the art of following gorges—and the rivers that flow through them—by walking, swimming, floating, jumping, bouldering,…

Who wouldn’t want to eat a fresh lemon while hiking the trails in Cinque Terre, Italy? Or a jackfruit growing in the courtyard of a wat in Thailand? Unfortunately, the skin of fresh fruits and veggies are breeding grounds for microbes—some of which can cause disease. If you’re traveling where…

Cliff diving traces its roots to Hawaii, where, in the 1760s, King Kahekili initiated his warriors with the tactic, thus proving their loyalty and bravery. Cliff diving is now a sanctioned sport under the World High Diving Federation (WHDF), but no measure of officiousness can take away its homespun daredevil…

There are few species more in need of a helping hand than the sea turtle: All seven species are on threatened or endangered lists. And thanks to the turtles’ penchant for secluded, sandy beaches, altruists planning volunteer trips have exotic vacations in store—bonus! Most volunteer work involves working at a…

Recommending multi-day hikes in Hawaii is a bit of a challenge—the islands just aren’t big enough to for many long distance treks. Kalulau Trail sign. But the hike that best fits your wish list is the Kalalau Trail through the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai.

The all-mighty budget is a hurdle for many travelers. Couchsurfing (CS), an online network where travelers exchange free lodging, allows you to leap this obstacle. But couch surfing isn’t just about getting a free place to stay; it’s about fostering connections among a community of, now, seven million…

I want to ride an elephant, but I also want to ensure the animals are cared for well. Where should I go?

I want access to prime powder outside the resort but don’t want to hike in for ski-touring. How do I find the right heli-skiing guide?

I want to come home with both my devices and my identity in tact.

A friend and I are planning to hike a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail next summer. We'll have a week; what are the best sections for a trip like this?

Where's the best place for a novice to learn? How do I select an outfitter?

I'll be in Banff, Alberta, from October to December. What shouldn't I miss?

I want to take lots of photos during my holiday adventures. What do I need to know before hitting the road?

Side effects ranging from nausea to hallucinations make some travelers question whether they should take preventative medicine for the mosquito-born parasitic disease.