We are ready for summer. We鈥檝e got our lightweight tents and Tevas out, spend our free time examining trail maps, and have been outdoors soaking up the longer days in preparation for all sorts of adventures. Where are we going this summer? Some of us have plans to escape to tropical Caribbean ports and the high peaks of South America, while others are simply road-tripping one county or one state over for a long weekend escape.

Haven鈥檛 nailed down the specifics of your summer vacation yet? It doesn鈥檛 have to be spendy, and you can go with friends, family, or solo. Just pick a place that will offer a sense of wonder, a disconnect from your routine, preferably in nature, which has been shown to improve everything from our psyches to our relationships and even heal heartbreak. Here are the trips we鈥檝e booked.

Northern New Mexico

When the heat hits the country with full force in July, my husband and I will head from our home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, up north to cooler climes near Taos. We鈥檙e eager to stay at , which isn鈥檛 a hotel at all but a grouping of vintage Airstreams all decorated differently. We鈥檝e rented Castor, built in 1972, our best friends have rented the adjacent Pollux, from 1967, and we鈥檒l share a deck. Each trailer has a queen bed, a full kitchen, a bathroom, and views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The hiking around Taos is incredible, too, with trails in nearly every direction.

From Luna Mystica, you can walk to the Taos Mesa Brewery鈥檚 mothership location, which has a stage and live music many summer nights. Early in the mornings we鈥檒l drive the quick 13 miles to the Black Rock Hot Springs on the Rio Grande; my husband will fly-fish from the wide banks while I soak and enjoy the July traffic through the canyon: dragonflies, swallows, kayakers, hawks, and bright-yellow butterflies.

One day we want to tour the nearby , self-sufficient off-grid homes that look like futuristic dwellings. I鈥檓 fascinated by their modern sustainability efforts but also love their incorporation of beautiful, unique design elements鈥攚alls made of used tires and earth or accents of recycled glass bottles that glimmer colorfully in the sun. 鈥�Tasha Zemke, 国产吃瓜黑料 managing editor

Ten Sleep Canyon, Wyoming

At some point over the winter, I decided I sucked at climbing. As I dragged my feet out of the gym, devoid of stoke and prepared to suck again the next day, I had no idea how to cure my melodramatic self-diagnosis. But that changed two months ago when I started climbing with the , a mentor program in the Denver area led by big-wall athlete Jordan Cannon. A dozen of my peers and I have attended clinics, trainings, lectures, and meet-ups to define and achieve our climbing goals, and it all culminates in a final trip in June to Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

Why Ten Sleep? This tiny cowboy town in the north-central reaches of the state happens to be the base camp of a massive limestone canyon 15 miles away with more than a thousand sport routes for climbers of every skill level. One of last year鈥檚 mentees called it 鈥淪helf Road on steroids鈥濃�攁 reference to a popular Front Range climbing mecca鈥攁nd noted how the population of the local campground, when filled with climbers, seems bigger than the actual town itself. 鈥�, National Park Trips digital content producer

Saint Lucia

My fianc茅 and I are taking our honeymoon this summer on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, best known for two mountains called the Pitons鈥擥ros Piton and Petit Piton. While we鈥檙e eager to lounge on the white-sand beaches, snorkel, eat jerk chicken and breadfruit, and enjoy a mud bath at Sulphur Springs, in the dormant Soufri猫re volcano, we鈥檙e most looking forward to guided hikes. I鈥檓 especially excited to tackle the Gros Piton Trail (see Gaia GPS map below), which is three miles round-trip, with a little more than 1,800 feet of elevation gain.

We鈥檝e been told this is challenging, but the view from the top of the island and the sea is said to be spectacular. Plus, I plan to set my alarm for an early-morning run just as the sun rises over the sea. 鈥�Mallory Arnold, Run associate editor

Machu Picchu, Peru

I鈥檓 an editor at Backpacker, and the biggest hiking goal of my life has always been Machu Picchu. I first learned about the ruins in Peru in my middle school history class, and the combination of hiking and Indigenous history intrigued me. A trip to South America seemed like a long shot, but I kept dreaming. Flash forward to the end of May: my college friends and I are going international on our annual reunion trekking trip. We鈥檒l fly into Cuzco and spend two days acclimatizing to the altitude鈥攁 little more than 11,000 feet鈥攚hile touring the city before hitting the Inca Trail with , a sustainable-tourism company.

For four days we鈥檒l hike between 7,218 and 13,780 feet before ending at the famous Inca site. With porters carrying our belongings and chefs cooking our meals, this is going to be a lot more glamorous than my usual excursions to the backcountry. I can鈥檛 wait. But there鈥檚 a more personal reason why this trip is particularly meaningful to me: I recently learned that a suspicious mole was actually stage-one melanoma and was sidelined for weeks in between procedures. I can鈥檛 imagine a better place to celebrate being cancer-free. 鈥� Emma Veidt, Backpacker associate editor

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

My theme for the summer is: Stay local, but get far, far away. From our home in Boulder, Colorado, my wife and I can drive to Rocky Mountain National Park in less than two hours, and we鈥檝e exploited that proximity to visit many of the park鈥檚 peaks, lakes, and trails. Not surprisingly, popular spots are often packed with other nature lovers. So this year we鈥檙e taking advantage of a little-used type of wilderness permit to escape the crowds. We鈥檝e reserved long weekends in four of Rocky鈥檚 23 , remote areas without developed trails or campsites, where we鈥檒l likely see more elk and moose than people.

Hidden in some of the park鈥檚 most rugged terrain, typically at elevations of 9,000 to 11,000 feet, these zones require expert navigation skills and total self-reliance. Expect rangers at the backcountry desk to quiz you on bear safety, Leave No Trace ethics, orienteering know-how, and prior wilderness experience before issuing your permit, and expect challenging bushwhacking through dense forest. But the reward is worth the effort: the crisp, star-filled nights, high-country wildflowers, and Alaska-worthy solitude will make you feel much farther from civilization than you actually are.

Fair warning: the park provides scant information about the zones, and trip reports are few and far between. Your best bet is to download the and subscribe to the Premium edition so you can access detailed topo maps for offline use (there鈥檚 typically no cell reception in these zones). Study the terrain closely before you go, and don鈥檛 expect to cover more than one mile per hour. 鈥�Jonathan Dorn, 国产吃瓜黑料, Inc., chief entertainment officer

Switzerland

When I realized I鈥檇 be spending my 30th birthday in Europe, I only had two nonnegotiables: Alpine hiking and cheese. Switzerland, specifically the Lauterbrunnen Valley, perfectly fit that bill. My husband and I are planning to spend four nights in the central Jungfrau region: one in a village hotel at each end of the valley, and two at the remote , an off-grid hut 迟丑补迟鈥檚 only accessible by foot through forests and wildflower-filled pastures. (See Gaia GPS map to the hut below.) Reservations can only be made by phone, a charming and slightly confusing experience that secured us a bed in a private room, breakfast, and dinner for two days for about $106 per person per night.

We鈥檒l fill our days ascending the area鈥檚 many trails in the shadow of imposing peaks, past some of the valley鈥檚 72 waterfalls, and our evenings eating hearty meals, including Obersteinberg鈥檚 homemade cheese. I鈥檓 crossing my fingers that raclette is served鈥搈y favorite Swiss dish, it consists of melted cheese scraped over potatoes鈥揵ut if not, I鈥檒l indulge back in town with a celebratory pot of fondue.

We鈥檙e traveling to Switzerland by car but will leave it parked in Interlaken to take advantage of the valley鈥檚 excellent public transportation (think: trains, trams, and gondolas), as many of the hamlets are otherwise inaccessible. 鈥�Mikaela Ruland, National Park Trips editor in chief

Victoria, British Columbia

Last year my husband and I became rooftop-tent converts in Iceland. I鈥檝e pitched and slept in backpacking tents my whole life, and I never thought I鈥檇 be into a roof rig until our European rental experience went right. We realized it can take us two minutes, instead of twenty, to set up or break down camp. Plus, memory foam is so much comfier than the ground, and our gear stays a helluva lot more organized inside the vehicle.

So we scored an open-box deal on a , and this summer we鈥檙e taking it for a spin from New Mexico up through the Pacific Northwest to Canada. We鈥檒l hit campsites near Olympic National Park along the way, before ferrying to Victoria, British Columbia, to hang out at an oceanside apartment along a 70-mile bike path for six weeks. We鈥檙e stoked to beat the heat, enjoy the nearness of open water, and work from a place 迟丑补迟鈥檚 new to us both where we can trail-run through the backcountry.

On our way home, we鈥檒l swing through Banff, in Alberta, then Glacier National Park, in Montana鈥攖wo bucket-list areas I鈥檝e been dying to check out. The best part? My husband is the king of finding last-minute camping reservations, so I barely had to lift a finger to map it all out. 鈥�Patty Hodapp, 国产吃瓜黑料 Online interim digital director

Paris and Annecy, France

I鈥檓 heading to Paris for the Summer Games! I鈥檝e been a huge fan of the Olympics for as long as I can remember, and about a year ago I haphazardly put my name on an email list for the ticket lottery. I didn鈥檛 put much thought into the idea of actually attending, until I beat out thousands of other eager fans (a process that saw me awake at 3 A.M., repeatedly refreshing my browser) to secure two tickets to men鈥檚 rowing in late July.

This will be my third time to the French capital, so after the event concludes and I鈥檝e gotten my fill of Olympic pride, I plan to head southeast to Annecy, a town on the French-Swiss border, for a long weekend in the fresh Alpine air. I鈥檒l brave the frigid temperatures of Lake Annecy, stroll Jardins de 鈥橢urope, and of course do some hiking. Routes to the Citadel of Lake Annecy and the Parmelan Plateau have already caught my eye, but like most things, there鈥檚 something to be said for going in with half a plan and figuring out the rest later. 鈥�Jamie Aranoff, Ski digital editor

British Columbia’s West Coast Trail

Ever since writer Scott Yorko pitched me on the deadly history of Canada鈥檚 (see Gaia GPS map below) a number of years ago, I鈥檝e wanted to see the area鈥檚 storied shipwrecks, beaches, and wildlife for myself. Yorko wrote not only of the dramatic rescue attempts that led to this 48-mile path鈥檚 construction along British Columbia鈥檚 rugged coast but also of sandy campsites, verdant rainforest walks, tide pools brimming with sea life, and a floating crab shack that caters to hungry hikers.

In June, I鈥檒l finally experience the trail for myself. I鈥檓 prepared for slow miles through boot-sucking mud, rickety wooden ladders, cable cars, and changing tides. With any luck, my partner and I will spot sea lions, whales, and otters; bears, cougars, and wolves are also known to wander the shore. The salty air and marine views should be a welcome departure from the alpine hikes I usually gravitate toward in the summer, and I couldn鈥檛 be more excited. 鈥�Zoe Gates, Backpacker senior editor

The Andes, Chile

In 2013, I spent five months living in southern Chile. But that was before I was a skier. In the intervening decade, I鈥檝e spent 100 days on snow almost every year. I rarely travel away from my home in the eastern Sierra to ski these days, but my ultimate dream trip is a ski trip to Chile and Argentina. This is the year that becomes a reality. In August, when the austral winter is in full swing, my fianc茅e and I will fly from Los Angeles to Santiago and enjoy the change of scenery while sipping pisco sours, sightseeing at the Pablo Neruda museum, and checking out the mountaintop zoo. The following day we鈥檒l take a bus to Portillo, a resort nestled among the Andes 迟丑补迟鈥檚 famous for runs that empty out at Laguna del Inca, for three days on the slopes, and after that, we鈥檒l travel southeast to Las Le帽as, in Argentina, for a final two days of skiing above wine country. I never much cared for summer anyway. 鈥擩ake Stern, 国产吃瓜黑料 Online digital editor

The post Seize the Summer! 10 Incredible Trips Our Editors Are Taking. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

You like to travel but you love history. Why not combine the two? We鈥檝e rounded up unique, off-the-radar destinations, both within the U.S. and abroad, that will appeal to history buffs who want to take a more active approach to discovery. Would you ski to a silver mine, or scuba dive to a shipwreck? Or how about walk the length of a half marathon to visit literary sites? From geologic to architectural history, we鈥檝e got some great ideas for getaways that will spark your thirst for knowledge and satiate your adventurous spirit.

If You鈥檙e Eager to Explore Old Shipwrecks

Hamilton, Bermuda

Named after Spanish explorer Juan de Berm煤dez, this archipelago was colonized by pirates and its waters are home to more than 300 shipwrecks. Book an underwater excursion with one of the three outposts of to scuba dive or snorkel among various wreckage sites. The capital city of Hamilton boasts the oldest church in the New World and the oldest parliament in the British Commonwealth. Take a self-guided for a few hours of outdoor exploration, including a quad workout up to the tower of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, which dates back to 1905. Stay at the Hamilton Princess Hotel and Beach Club, a convenient base for all points on the island.

If You鈥檙e into Architecture

Mazatl谩n, Mexico

You should also pack your best road-running shoes for long strolls around this historic city center, famous for Neoclassical and French Baroque architecture, colorful houses, and charming old churches. Catch a play at the newly restored Angela Peralta Theater, which first opened in 1874, and walk through the stunning cathedral of Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Mazatl谩n鈥檚 12 miles of beaches are also a main attraction, and those in the know climb the series of steep switchbacks (followed by more than 300 paved steps) to the top of Cerro Creston, mostly for the incredible 360-degree views but also to check out El Faro (the lighthouse), built in 1890. To round out your time here, stay at the nine-room , a midcentury property decorated with quirky antiques and designed with a pool overlooking the Pacific.

If You Want to Ski to Silver-Rush Sites

Park City, Utah

At Park City Mountain Resort, you can learn about the mountain town鈥檚 silver-mining past on a to historic mining structures. Post-slopes, hop a free city bus to the Park City Museum, whose exhibits and special lectures bring the stories of early settlers and prospecters to life. Come dusk, takes groups to the streets with animated tales of local murder and intrigue. Listed on the National Historic Register and built just five years after Park City was incorporated in 1884, the is now a lavish 12-room hotel popular with VIPs at the annual Sundance Festival. If 迟丑补迟鈥檚 too pricey, consider downtown鈥檚 Blue Church Lodge, a seven-condo vacation-rental complex in what was Park City鈥檚 first Mormon church, also listed on the National Historic Register.

If You鈥檙e Captivated by the Geologic Complexity of the West

Gateway, Colorado

In the high desert of western Colorado, you can search for preserved dinosaur tracks, take guided hikes through 300-million-year-old red-rock canyons, and enjoy 26 miles of beginner-to-intermediate just outside this small town. Stay in a lodge room or a casita at the , where you can sign up for an excursion to Dolores River Canyon to study Native rock art, sit in on a lecture about how ancient astronomy was used by the Ancestral Puebloans, and spend a few hours climbing or bouldering the granite walls of Unaweep Canyon.

If You鈥檙e Fascinated by the Timeline of Women鈥檚 Rights

Rochester, New York

A little more than 100 years ago, women were given the right to vote across the U.S. Rochester hosted several early women鈥檚 rights conventions and was home to the legendary suffragist Susan B. Anthony. Visit the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House, where Anthony met with leaders of the civil rights movement and was arrested for voting illegally in 1872, then paddle the Genesee River, ride a bike along the Erie Canal, or enjoy a beer with a view of High Falls at the Genesee Brewhouse, which is also more than 100 years old. From there it鈥檚 just two miles to the Neighborhood of the Arts and the, at the center of stores and eateries.

If You鈥檙e an Oenology Buff Who Likes to Bike

Healdsburg, California

Sure, Northern California鈥檚 oenological history doesn鈥檛 date as far back as some other regions of the world, but its vineyards have a fascinating past nonetheless, one that started with prune farming in the 1920s and ended with winemaking. Stay at the 39-room , named after Healdsburg founder Harmon Heald, an Ohio businessman who left the mining industry for the agricultural bounty of these Sonoma County hills. The hotel has paired up with pro cyclist Peter Stetina to offer , and its sister property, , has a new “Wildflower Walks” package that gets guests outdoors for a scenic trail hike with a local health coach.听If floating is more your thing, book a guided paddle trip of the Russian River via kayak or SUP with (dogs are welcome along). Or spend your idle hours birding within the 155-acre Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve, home to more than 40 species, including turkey vultures, buffleheads, and cedar waxwings.

If You Classic American Literature

Baltimore, Maryland

Many of our country鈥檚 literary greats once called Baltimore home, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, Frederick Douglass, and Edgar Allen Poe. Take a to see landmarks around the city referenced in historic books鈥攜ou鈥檒l log a respectable 12.4 miles鈥攐r stop into Edgar Allen Poe鈥檚 house or F. Scott Fitzgerald鈥檚 favorite bar, . Other worthy walkable attractions include the pedestrian-only brick Waterfront Promenade that stretches from Fort McHenry, past the Visionary Arts Museum鈥檚 sculpture garden, and around the Inner Harbor. , in the historic Mount Vernon neighborhood, opened in 2018 in a site that was once a private mansion.

Megan Michelson is an 国产吃瓜黑料 contributing editor and a fan of historical nonfiction, art and science museums, and any spot listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The post 7 of the Best Outdoor Getaways for History Buffs appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Fly to Florida for $39! Act now and get round-trip airfare to Denver for $79! Budget airlines advertise ridiculously cheap flights to cities across the country. They can be enticing, but do the deals hold up when you read the fine print?

My wife and I jumped on one of those deals a couple of years ago to fly Allegiant Air to Fort Myers, Florida, for a long weekend for about $200 total. We could only take a backpack each, and had a dawn flight on a Monday to get home. Was the flight OK? It definitely wasn鈥檛 what I鈥檇 call 鈥渃omfortable.鈥� There wasn鈥檛 much leg room, the seats were thinly padded, and my wife was on the other side of the plane. But the price was too good to pass up, and we found sun and fun midwinter.

Expect tradeoffs with budget carriers, says Zach Griff, senior reporter at , a website that analyzes flight trends and credit-card points in order to uncover deals. Sure, he says, the fares are cheap, but these ultra-low-cost airlines are stripped of most of the inclusions you expect from traditional airlines. There are often extra charges to bring a carry on, reserve a seat, etc.

鈥淥nce you start adding in all the ancillary charges,鈥� he says in an email, 鈥渢he deal isn鈥檛 as good as it might鈥檝e looked.

鈥淭hat said, there are certainly deals to be had. For some people who don鈥檛 value these extras, flying on a budget carrier can pay off. Even when factoring in all the extras, it鈥檚 often cheaper to fly a budget carrier.鈥�

What about the reliability of these smaller airlines? When weather and other delays affect airports, larger network carriers have more planes moving, which adds a layer of redundancy in their operations, Griff explains. A company like Delta can absorb that delay and get you on another flight within a few hours. But smaller, budget airlines often only have one flight a day, or just two a week in some markets, which could leave you stranded.

I鈥檝e analyzed some of the most trusted budget airlines in the business, as well as some promising newcomers, to see how well their super-low prices hold up. I鈥檝e also figured out the most adventurous locales you can get to by flying the fare-reduced skies. Here鈥檚 what I found.

1. Avelo Airlines

is a relative newcomer to the scene, introducing ultra-low cost airfares in 2021. The company has hubs in Hollywood/Burbank, California; and New Haven, Connecticut. Avelo operates a small fleet and essentially offers two different route maps serving mostly small regional airports. If either of those airports are convenient to you, you can get cheap flights to some pretty great destinations. Avelo does charge for add-ons like carry-on bags, but the fees are more reasonable than in some other price-cutting airlines.

Best For: SoCal and Connecticut-based travelers looking for vacation escapes on the cheap.

Adventurous Destinations: From New Haven, you can get to Charleston, South Carolina; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From Burbank, you can go to: Bend, Oregon; Boise, Idaho, Bozeman, Montana; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Kalispell, Montana.

The Deals: From Burbank, you can find really good prices to any of the above cities Avelo serves. I found relatively last-minute round-trip weekend flights to Bend for under $200, and flights to Colorado Springs for $225.

The Catch: Avelo has few daily flights, so for you to get a good deal to a smaller destination, like Bozeman, one of your legs might have to be midweek. Also, if that return flight is canceled, you might have to find another way home.

2. Breeze Airways

took flight in 2018, serving mostly smaller, regional airports on the East Coast, but has steadily grown to reach more than 35 cities, including several key destinations in the Western U.S. The cheapest flights go through the company鈥檚 hubs in Charleston, South Carolina; Provo, Utah; Tampa, Florida; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Breeze offers some of the cheapest cross-country flights around, with three different fare classes鈥擭ice, Nicer, and Nicest鈥� to choose from, so you can pick how plain you want the experience to be. The airline never charges change or cancellation fees.

Best for: Flying across the country on the cheap.

Adventurous Destinations: Charleston, South Carolina; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; Provo/Salt Lake City, Utah, Bentonville, Arkansas.

The Deals: If you live in a city that Breeze serves, there are tons of good deals, as long as you鈥檙e OK with the lack of frills, like paying extra for snacks and choosing your seat. I found round-trip flights from Phoenix to Provo/Salt Lake for $137. If you鈥檙e looking to go coast to coast, I found round-trips from Charleston, South Carolina, to San Francisco for $299. Keep an eye on their site for periodic sales with one-way cross-country flights for $29., which doesn鈥檛 seem like a fiscally responsible pricing scale to me, but who am I to judge?

The Catch: Destinations are limited and the base fare (Nice) is sparse on frills; you鈥檒l have to pay to choose your seat, have a snack, or bring more than a small personal item. For the best deals on longer, cross-country flights you鈥檒l probably have to fly midweek.

3. Allegiant Air

, an ultra-low-cost airline 迟丑补迟鈥檚 been around since the late 1990s, serves more than 130 destinations in the U.S. The routes hit mostly smaller, regional airports, and Allegiant typically only offers two or three flights a week to each city. Allegiant, too, has taken 鈥渁dd-on鈥� fees to new levels. You鈥檒l pay extra for everything from a carry-on bag to a printed boarding pass (yes, you read that right). But with an expansive route map and But with an expansive route map and a large presence in big destinations like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and multiple cities in Florida, Allegiant may well fly where you want to go, and for cheap if you can pack light and don鈥檛 mind risking a middle seat.

Best For: Impromptu getaways, and people who work from home or for any other reason can fly midweek.

Adventurous Destinations: Asheville, North Carolina; Bellingham, Washington; Bentonville, Arkansas; Boise, Idaho; Bozeman and Billings, Montana; Denver, Colorado.

The Deals: Allegiant offers really cheap flights all over its route map. I found mid-winter flights from Austin, Texas, to Provo/Salt Lake, Utah, for $100 round trip. From Chicago, you can escape the freezing cold with a round trip to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for $120 in January. I like their interactive map, which allows you to put in your origin city and the date you want to travel and shows you the destinations served from that town as well as sample fares of one-way tickets. If you can fly mid-week, you can save a lot of money.

The Catch: Watch out for those add-on fees, and be prepared to fly midweek.

4. Southwest

is the oldest, and the king, of budget airlines. T, and feels the most like a traditional airline鈥攖he seats recline, and there are actually some free beverages and snacks. You even get two free checked bags, which is unheard-of, even on larger air carriers.

This airline has one of the most extensive destination lists, too, reaching 121 cities and 10 different countries. And now Southwest flies to multiple cities in Hawaii. It was also the airline that was hit the hardest during the winter storms that forced thousands of flight cancellations last Christmas. that Southwest was hit harder than traditional airlines because of their aggressive flight schedule (short turnaround times) and under-investment in staff. The airline returned to normal operations after the holidays.

Southwest isn鈥檛 classified as an 鈥渦ltra-low cost carrier,鈥� so you might pay a little more than for flights, but the extensive route map and quality experience might make the extra worthwhile.

Best for: Travelers who don鈥檛 want to sacrifice dignity for a deal.

Adventurous Destinations: Hawaii; Costa Rica; Bozeman, Montana; Salt Lake City, Utah; Montrose and Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Reno/Tahoe, Nevada; San Diego, California, and more.鈥�

The Deals: Southwest flies to Costa Rica, Belize, Puerto Vallarta, Havana, and the Bahamas, although they don鈥檛 fly to international destinations often, or from many U.S. cities. For good international deals, you have to plan your trip around the airline鈥檚 flight schedules. By checking their , you can find really good bargains between the larger U.S. 听cities that Southwest reaches. Skiers should definitely look into Southwest flights this winter. I found round trip tickets from Greenville, South Carolina, to Denver for a January trip for just over $300 per ticket. I found similar fares to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Southwest is also a good option if you鈥檙e looking to escape winter. I could fly to Miami from Greenville in the middle of the winter for $100 each way. Or, I could fly round trip to Hawaii from Atlanta for $520.

The Catch: Southwest鈥檚 pricing is straightforward, even if tickets are a bit more costly than those of the ultra-low-cost carriers on this list. But pay attention to the flight times and durations; the cheapest flights could be red-eyes with purgatory layovers. I once spent six hours in Atlanta鈥檚 airport to save some money and spent most of that time roaming the various terminals cursing my frugality.

6. JetBlue

Like Southwest, operates much like a traditional airline, with reclining seats in a plane 迟丑补迟鈥檚 divided by class鈥攜ou can pay more for extra leg room. It also offers some free beverages and snacks, plus free wifi with seat-back entertainment. Some large carriers don鈥檛 even offer free wifi.

JetBlue isn鈥檛 classified as an 鈥渦ltra-low-cost鈥� airline, but offers tickets that are usually cheaper than the larger airlines to certain destinations, and serves more than 100 different cities. The company鈥檚 main hub is JFK International, in New York, but it also has bases in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Long Beach, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, which means you can usually find pretty cheap flights between these hubs. Thanks to that San Juan airport, JetBlue serves a lot of Caribbean countries, such as the Dominican Republic, Barbados, and Aruba.

Best For: Escaping to some place tropical.

Adventurous Destinations: San Diego, California; Denver and Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana; Las Vegas and Reno/Tahoe, Nevada; Asheville, North Carolina; Salt Lake City, Utah; Burlington, Vermont; Seattle, Washington; Vancouver, BC; multiple cities in Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; and all over the Caribbean.

The Deals: Honestly, the airline鈥檚 flights between major cities in the U.S. often cost the same price as traditional airlines. But with escaping winter in mind, I found round-trip tickets to San Jose, Costa Rica, from Atlanta for $400, and weekend flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the middle of winter for $300 round trip.

The Catch: If you go with the lowest fares, you have to pay extra to carry on a bag or pick your seat. Also, cancellations or flight changes will cost you if you choose their cheapest fare.

7. Play Airlines

An Icelandic-based company, recently started offering service from four American cities鈥擝altimore; Washington, D.C.; Boston; and New York City鈥攖hat gives East Coasters cheap flights to 22 destinations in Europe, and especially good deals to Play鈥檚 home base in Reykjavik. Don鈥檛 expect frills on the long, cross-Atlantic flights. You鈥檒l pay for seat assignments and any checked bags, but if you can handle that, there are good deals. Also cool: If your ultimate destination is one of Play鈥檚 other European cities, you can request an extended layover in Iceland for up to seven days between flight legs.

Best For: That trip to Iceland you鈥檝e been dreaming about.

Adventurous Destinations: Reykjavik; Amsterdam; Dublin; Prague; Mallorca; Vienna; and more.

The Deals: I found round trip tickets from New York and Washington, D.C. to Reykjavik two weeks from the date of my search for $233. If you鈥檙e flexible and like the idea of flying to Europe at the last minute, Play could be for you; the airline announces relatively last-minute deals on their website regularly. When I looked well in advance, prices were also cheap. I found spring break trip options to Paris and Reykjavik in April from under $400 per round-trip flight.

The Catch: Flying to Europe last minute is a tough sell for some of us, and do you want to take that flight knowing you can only bring a backpack and can鈥檛 choose your seat?

Yes, I do.

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He will always choose the cheapest flight option, even if it means he can only carry on what he can fit in his pockets and has to catch a flight home at 4 A.M.

The post The Best Budget Airlines鈥攁nd 国产吃瓜黑料 Locales They Go To appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

As the cold settles in, we’re thinking about those places we know will have sun, blue skies, warm turquoise waters, and amazing adventures all winter long. Start dreaming and maybe scheming. We’ve made it easy for you by choosing the top 10 places to go, along with the best things to do there. See you on the beach.

Hike Coast-to-Coast in Costa Rica

Since Costa Rica became the spokesmodel for ecotourism in the 1990s, its natural treasures鈥攖he cloud forests of Monte Verde, the gently active Arenal volcano鈥攈ave attracted millions of visitors every year. But you can still escape the crowds. a 174-mile trail stretching between the Caribbean and the Pacific, was completed in 2018 and showcases largely untrodden parts of the country, like the coffee-growing region of Tarraz煤 and the Indigenous territory of Nairi Awari.

Funded by the nonprofit Mar a Mar Association, the 16-stage route spans four provinces and half a dozen or more microclimates; borders protected areas; and passes through remote villages, Native lands, and more than 20 towns that receive little benefit from conventional tourism. Trekkers can eat with locals in their homes and sleep in family-run lodges, campsites, or boutique hotels set on farms with hot springs.

Expect to hike between four and twenty-four miles per stage, cross rivers, and do plenty of up and down鈥攎ore than 70 percent of the route is hilly, with a peak elevation of upward of 19,000 feet. If you push the pace, you can complete the whole thing in 11 days. But if time permits, allot 16 days so you can tack on experiences like whitewater rafting the Pacuare River or visiting the Pacuare Nature Reserve鈥檚 turtle hatchery.

You could technically go it alone, but given the trail鈥檚 isolation, a guide is advisable. Five local outfitters, including Urri Trek and Ticos a Pata, operate group and individual trips, and their naturalist guides will school you in the unique flora and fauna, like purple tibouchina flowers, massive guanacaste trees, glasswing butterflies, and broad-billed hummingbirds. 鈥擩en Murphy

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63 Parks Traveler started with a simple goal: to visit every U.S. national park. Avid backpacker and public-lands nerd saved up, built out a tiny van to travel and live in, and hit the road, practicing COVID-19 best safety protocols along the way. The parks as we know them are rapidly changing, and she wanted to see them before it鈥檚 too late. The Dry Tortugas is her 57th park visit.

A strong wind whipped the tops of the palms into a frenzy as I boarded the in Key West, Florida. is one of the country鈥檚 few island-centric national parks, and getting to its remote location, 70 miles due west, would be a challenge, even in good weather. I gritted my teeth and zipped up my wind shell as the boat rocked and rolled for nearly two and a half hours.

Like a mirage, the park appeared, a small series of islets surrounded by glittering, aquamarine seawater, with its main attraction鈥攖he Civil War鈥揺ra 鈥攕itting squat in the middle of Garden Key, massive and rust red.

Given the gales, as soon as I disembarked, I sprinted to the shelter of the fort for a guided tour. The hexagonal structure was enormous鈥攂uilt on 47 acres, with over 16 million handmade bricks, the project took over 30 years to complete鈥攁nd it inspired daydreams of pirates and frigate ships as I stood in its center. Our guide, a long-haired Floridian in cargo shorts and wraparound shades, led the group around the surprisingly green, overgrown fields within the citadel, past historic cannons and hallways that reminded me of an M.C. Escher drawing.

The Dry Tortugas were first discovered by Ponce de Le贸n on an expedition in 1513, named for their lack of fresh water and an abundance of delicious sea turtles, which sailors ate. Pirates frequented the area throughout the 1700s, often using the small islands as a base and attacking merchant ships en route to and from the Gulf of Mexico. But real development didn鈥檛 commence here until after the War of 1812; the U.S. government acquired the Dry Tortugas from Spain and decided to build a string of coastal forts from Maine to Texas, with Fort Jefferson to be the grandest of them all. The reasoning was that, as a budding superpower, it needed the Dry Tortugas to defend one of the most strategic deep-water anchorages in North America. Later, when the Civil War commenced, it was this fort that helped blockade southern shipping routes, strengthening the Union Army.

Wandering around with only a few dozen tourists behind me, it was hard to imagine that this bastion once housed nearly 2,000 men and women, many of whom were enslaved people tasked with the backbreaking labor of erecting the huge fortress.

When the tour concluded, I shuffled off with an armful of , bobbing up and down in the choppy, azure waves as I tried to make out the odd bit of coral or sea sponge. The park was the first marine area ever designated as a national monument, and with its abundance of Technicolor tropical fish, nesting sea turtles, and vast colonies of seabirds, it was easy to see why. I was adrift in an oasis of life.

I boarded the return ship feeling spacey and blissed-out, as though I鈥檇 just been tumbled through an ocean of time itself. The return trip was arduous, freezing, and unsteady, with salt water spraying over the ferry鈥檚 hull for hours. But I didn鈥檛 care. Lost in daydream, the long ride made me realize just how remote the park was and how much more remarkable that made it.

63 Parks Traveler Dry Tortugas Info

Size: 47,125 acres

Location: Southwest Florida, 70 miles from Key West

Created In: 1935 (Fort Jefferson National Monument), 1992 (Dry Tortugas National Park)

Best For: Boating, history buffs, snorkeling, diving, birding, lounging on the beach

When to Go: June through November (70 to 92 degrees) is considered hurricane season in this region, and ferry service is regularly canceled when storms strike. December (67 to 76 degrees) to May (75 to 86 degrees) are the most temperate months to visit and less prone to foul weather.

Where to Stay: Before and after your trip, you鈥檒l likely want to bask in the quirky beach town of Key West, home to , , and, of course, infinite slices of .

Mini 国产吃瓜黑料: All aboard the ! This high-speed catamaran jets up to 175 visitors per day to and from the park during high season. An is one of the best and most family-friendly ways to enjoy the Dry Tortugas; lunch, snorkeling gear, and a guided walking tour of Fort Jefferson are all included.

Mega 国产吃瓜黑料: To really enjoy the soul of a park, you often have to stay the night. Though reservations book up quickly, Dry Tortugas does offer for adventurous souls who want to bed down among the sand and surf. Stargazers will be rewarded: the Milky Way springs to life, as very little light pollution reaches this far-flung outpost.

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63 Parks Traveler started with a simple goal: to visit every U.S. national park. Avid backpacker and public-lands nerd saved up, built out a tiny van to travel and live in, and hit the road, practicing COVID-19 best safety protocols along the way. The parks as we know them are rapidly changing, and she wanted to see them before it鈥檚 too late. Virgin Islands National Park is her 56th park visit.

After navigating the bustling Miami airport, sweating in a KN95 mask for a packed three-hour flight, swerving through the traffic of St. Thomas in a taxi, and zipping across the seas on a breezy 20-minute ferry ride, I arrived on St. John, exhausted and dizzy from a year of near constant travel.

The Caribbean island is home to one of the country鈥檚 rare tropical national parks, . Once part of the Danish West Indies and a hub for cotton and sugar plantations, most of the land on St. John was donated to the U.S. government by Laurance Rockefeller in 1954, with the express interest that it be preserved in perpetuity as a park. It has been a popular destination for Americans ever since but was severely affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, leaving many lodging options shuttered, not to mention locals homeless. However, the Virgin Islands have bounced back considerably, and I was excited to see St. John听firsthand, as soon as I pushed through the mental fog that had set in from a lack of sleep and my disorientation at having arrived in yet another new place.

Sensing that this park would be my last chance at anything resembling a respite before a mad dash to see the final seven parks on my quest to visit them all, I allowed myself to touch down slowly with a . Instantly befriending the bartender, who wasted no time in serving me a locally brewed , I milled about the boat and watched the sun sink and the clouds light up in a hundred shades of honey and pink.

Ever the Type A traveler, I decided to challenge myself to unwind and go with the flow on my three-day visit to the Virgin Islands, a far cry from the maxed-out calendar of dates, deadlines, and park destinations I鈥檇 subjected myself to over the past year. On day two, I woke up and lounged in my twin-size hostel bed for over an hour before lazily making a bowl of granola, heading outside into the humid air, and sauntering up a random trail near the National Park Service visitor center. I passed cacti and West Indian as I ascended to a spectacular view of Cruz Bay, freckled with tourist boats. Moments later, a sign marked a turnoff for and, with nothing on my agenda, I hung a left and continued down a path rutted with gnarled roots, nearly tripping over a hermit crab as I neared the beach.

It looked like one of those cheesy postcards you鈥檇 buy on vacation to make your friends back home jealous鈥攁 thin strip of sugar-soft, white sand framed by sea grape鈥攂ut in my travel delirium, this beach seemed a perfect opportunity to check my desire to constantly do more, to instead simply bask in the sunshine and salt water. I laid out my towel and pulled out my Kindle.

I鈥檝e never been a beach person, but something about the metronomic whooshing of the waves lulled me into a state of bliss, and I passed the entire day reading and plunging into the ocean to cool off. My planning-addicted mind began to loosen its grip, thanks to my surroundings, and time began to dilate wildly.

Have I been out here an hour? I wondered. Five? Hands on a clock didn鈥檛 seem to matter much at the moment. Sure, I had a snorkeling trip the next morning, but that was for future Emily to worry about. Right now all I had to do was breathe and enjoy.

It was a mental shift I would carry with me for the remainder of the trip, soul food in the best possible way.

63 Parks Traveler Virgin Islands Info

Size: 15,052 acres

Location: St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Created In: 1956 (national park)

Best For: Snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking, relaxing on the beach

When to Go: Winter (66 to 79 degrees) and spring (67 to 83 degrees) are the driest months and considered high tourist season for this park. Summer (72 to 86 degrees) and fall (69 to 85 degrees) bring fewer crowds and more affordable lodging, due to the Atlantic hurricane season, when more frequent and severe storms hit the region that can result in torrential rain, flooding, heavy winds, and canceled flights, not to mention damage to coral reefs in extreme cases.

Where to Stay: I enjoyed a private, hostel-style twin room in town at , just a short walk from the Cruz Bay ferry dock. It had clean bathrooms, a mini fridge for groceries, and, best of all, afforded easy access to everything in that central area. If you鈥檙e jonesing for a more rustic experience, offers tent and glamping sites inside the national park.

Where to Eat: , full of funky street-art vibes (courtesy of artist ), serves up delicious Sonoran-style Mexican food, with a few epic options for vegetarians. The restaurant is committed to helping reduce single-use plastic, and all take-out orders are served in recycled, biodegradable materials.

Mini 国产吃瓜黑料: Hike to . Picturesque and chock-full of the silky white sand visitors expect in the Caribbean, their beaches are worth exploring, and this 2.5-mile hike to both is a mellow way to spend an afternoon. At Salomon, you鈥檒l get a chance to explore and revel in a bit of solitude, while Honeymoon features more creature comforts, like hammocks, , and live music.

Mega 国产吃瓜黑料: Go for an all-day snorkeling trip. offers a plethora of different options, from five-hour trips with a floating lunch stop to half-day swims in secluded coves. I opted for the daylong trip on my visit and tripped out on the colorful coral reefs, sea turtles, and my first-ever restaurant-boat experience.

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A few years ago, I left my Seattle home of 15 years and flew to Recife, Brazil, to live on a 46-foot Polynesian-style catamaran with my husband, Michael; our children Enzo, 10, and Francesca, 8; and our dog, Molly. We would make Wakataitea our home for one year and sail her from South America to the Bahamas.

This was a dream Michael and I shared and worked toward. I鈥檇 seen another family living on a sailboat a long time ago, and they looked like the kind of family I wanted to have. At home, I missed travel, adventure, and hearing a language other than my own, and I wanted my children to experience these things, too.

In the children鈥檚 book听Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan, the protagonist, Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton responds to a newspaper advertisement for a wife. She moves from an oceanside village in Maine to a place far from the sea, in the Midwest. She marries Jacob Witting and cares for his two motherless children. Sarah learns to love her new family and new life. But she misses the salty air, the seals, the gulls, her brother, William, and his gray and white boat, Kittiwake. Her neighbor and friend Maggie consoles her. 鈥淭here are always things to miss,鈥� she says. 鈥淣o matter where you are.鈥�

When you set off to chase a dream, you can鈥檛 know ahead of time what you鈥檒l miss. I missed friends and family and the comfort and stability of home, as I expected. But I also missed much more than I could ever have anticipated. And in the end, it was the steady companion of the dream itself that I missed the most.

When we moved onto Wakataitea, the boat was anchored in the Para铆ba do Norte river, a sleeve of protected water behind Brazil鈥檚 coastal city of Jo茫o Pessoa. There, I missed cool air鈥擨 craved the movement of any air. At the local Marina Jacar茅, I missed feeling clean and fresh after a shower, because my body never stopped sweating. I missed showering without flip-flops. I missed knowing how to live my life, yet I took the helm as if I did. I missed the friends who helped us pack up our Seattle home. I missed my sister, Vanessa, who was mourning our departure and the loss of her dog. And I already missed the life I had been so eager to leave.

After 1,700 miles of offshore sailing north, we reached Suriname鈥擲outh America鈥檚 smallest sovereign state, nestled between Brazil, Guyana, and French Guiana. There, I missed Portuguese; my ears never reconciled the sound of Dutch so far from the Netherlands. I missed the familiarity of Brazil, which initially had seemed so foreign. I had to let go of the possibility that we could still call the whole thing off. If I can get through this, I thought, I can get through anything. Vanessa and her husband, Simon, flew to the capital city of Paramaribo to sail the next leg with us. When I met them at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, dressed in crisp summer wear, I realized how much I missed clean clothes.

In Tobago, our first Caribbean island, 100 miles off the coast of Venezuela, I felt the absence of half my crew. Michael, Simon, and Enzo were sailing the boat from Suriname without Vanessa, Francesca, and me, because I needed a break; we flew to Tobago instead. In the village of Charlotteville, at the seaside cottage we rented while awaiting the boat, I missed feeling badass. I missed our anchorage in the muddy Suriname River. I missed getting to know a destination that most people couldn鈥檛 place on a map (including me, until we sailed there). I missed telling friends back home that there were piranhas and crocodiles in the water and monkeys and sloths in the trees; and that a synagogue and a mosque shared a parking lot; and that people from every period in Suriname鈥檚 history shared the streets: Caribs and Arawaks, colonial Dutch, Maroons (descendants of escaped African slaves), Suriname Creoles, and descendants of laborers from India, China, and Java. I missed Gaby, the Dutch friend we made in the riverside town of Domburg after our boat bumped into his one night. And I missed feeling like a sailor.

When Wakataitea sailed into Charlotteville鈥檚 Man o鈥� War Bay, I moved back onboard. The reprieve was over. I missed the cottage鈥檚 starched bedsheets, the cold fridge, faucets with running water, the toaster, and the wooden chairs surrounding the tiny table draped with a white muslin tablecloth. I missed the stillness of land. Then I missed Vanessa and Simon when they left in a taxi for Tobago鈥檚 international airport to fly home to British Columbia.

We approached the southern tip of Grenada on a starboard tack at dawn and congratulated ourselves on completing our first overnight sail without vomiting. When we saw 200 masts at anchor in the popular Prickly Bay, I missed everything that had come before. I missed the remoteness of the places less traveled by cruising sailboats. I missed morning visits to the Charlotteville Public Library鈥攁n unexpected facility in such a rural location鈥攖o homeschool Enzo and Francesca in a place where the desks didn鈥檛 sway and our pages didn鈥檛 flap in the trade-wind breeze.

We continued north, making our way up the Windward Islands. When we reached St. Anne in Martinique, I thought I鈥檇 miss nothing, because France supplied so much. We found Camembert, Comt茅, Cantal, freshly baked pain au chocolats and croissants. But I missed the joy of the Grenadians and the buses that throbbed with soca music and too many passengers because they could always fit one more. I missed the humor, the , and the local produce: soursop, cashew apples, governor鈥檚 plums, rambutans, rock figs, and water lemons.

One year became two. We lived on the cheap, stretching our savings and the rent from our house. And as time went on, I missed less and less of home.

In Dominica, I reminisced about the first time I鈥檇 sailed here, 20 years earlier, when my husband was still just a friend and ours was the only boat in Prince Rupert Bay. I missed the blanket of tropical foliage that Hurricane Maria had stripped off the island. But when we sailed three miles offshore to deep water and watched female sperm whales and their calves, I missed nothing.

In the British Virgin Islands, I missed the volcanic topography and the affordability of the other islands. I missed the sailing families we鈥檇 left behind, and their boats: Cocolo, Serena, and Pontea. After six weeks of hosting visitors from home, I missed it just being the four of us. Yet when our friends and family left, I missed sharing our boat life with those in our Seattle life. In Trellis Bay, off Beef Island, I missed my daughter; she鈥檇 found a new hero, M眉n, a 26-year-old Guatemalan surfer and artist, who was awesome and wasn鈥檛 me.

Two years became three, and we set a deadline to go home. Each day in each place became the last day in that place. I missed them all already.

In the Turks and Caicos, I missed my dad, who, with his heavy Italian accent, used to call them the Tarts and Crooks. When he died, three years earlier, my life cleaved in two: the before-my-dad-died life and the after-my-dad-died life. Now, thankfully, I would have a before-Wakataitea life and an after-Wakataitea life.

In the Exuma Cays of the Bahamas, I missed every day as it moved from the present to the past. We鈥檇 sailed over 5,000 miles in a direction toward home but thousands more from the versions of ourselves we鈥檇 left behind. I missed the life we would soon leave.

In The Long Way, French sailor Bernard Moitessier wrote, 鈥淚 have set course for the Pacific again 鈥� last night was too hard to take, I really felt sick at the thought of getting back to Europe. Does it make sense to head for a place knowing you will have to leave your peace behind?鈥� Moitessier became a legend in the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the first nonstop, single-handed, round-the-world yacht event. After rounding South America鈥檚 Cape Horn, the race鈥檚 last major challenge, Moitessier鈥攚ho was poised to win鈥攁bandoned the competition. Instead of steering north, back to Plymouth, England, he eased the sails and let the westerlies of the Southern Ocean take him once more around South Africa鈥檚 Cape of Good Hope and Australia鈥檚 Cape Leeuwin and into the Pacific; there, after ten months and 37,455 miles alone at sea, he finally stopped and settled in Tahiti.

Now we鈥檙e home in Seattle, and I sometimes forget why we came back. I miss living outside. I miss the limits that a boat imposes on resources鈥攆resh water, power, space. I miss spending every day with my family, and I miss our work being relevant to each other. I miss the exigencies that come with living on the water and the connection that happens among fellow sailors because you need them and they need you. I miss the rhythm of dawn to dusk. I miss Enzo and Francesca鈥檚 bronzed, capable bodies. I miss the sense of purpose that comes with making bread regularly. I miss feeling excited about a glass of ice water.

After Moitessier committed to leaving his life in Europe, he wrote in his journal: 鈥淭here are two terrible things for a man: not to have fulfilled his dream, and to have fulfilled it.鈥�

Now that we have fulfilled our dream, I miss our dream.

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Whether you鈥檙e craving snow or sun, we鈥檝e got you covered. We scoured North America, the Caribbean, and Mexico to come up with close-to-home destinations brimming with fun for any type of traveler鈥攆rom slopeside lodging to vintage Airstreams to timeless backcountry huts. Enjoy.

Explore the Caribbean Island That Time Forgot

Bequia is the destination for people who are tired of the same old beach vacation. First off, it鈥檚 an island few have heard of and most people mispronounce (bek-way, if you really want to know). There are just 5,000 people that live on the seven-square-mile spit of land, and the locals treat visitors as if they鈥檙e hosting a family friend. They鈥檒l drive you around in the back of their pickup, take you to the island鈥檚 ramshackle turtle nursery, or chat with you about life on the only island in the Caribbean that still has an aboriginal whale hunt each year. The volcanic island has just a handful of hotels, the newest of which is the (from $550), an upscale resort that feels more like staying at a family compound than a five-star retreat, thanks to its size鈥攋ust nine villas, currently鈥攁nd the island鈥檚 overall small-town vibe. During the day, hike Bequia鈥檚 highest peak for a bird鈥檚 eye view of the stunning Princess Margaret Beach (named after the royal when she visited in the 1950s), or charter a boat for the 30-minute ride to the private island of Mustique, where you can swim with turtles and snag lunch at Basil鈥檚 Bar, a Caribbean cult favorite lunch spot. But the allure of Bequia is just being there, relishing in the warm blue waters and that end-of-the-world feel that comes from a place 迟丑补迟鈥檚 closer to Venezuela than Puerto Rico and gets hit with the occasional dust cloud drifting over from the Sahara. It feels adventurous, even if you do just veg out on the beach. 鈥擱yan Krogh

Hike to a Lodge on California鈥檚 Coast

If you like the idea of backpacking to a beautiful, remote place to spend the night, but you don鈥檛 love the notion of sleeping on the ground, let us introduce you to (from $100), a rustic backcountry hotel with seven rooms and six cabins on a ridge atop California鈥檚 Mount Tamalpais, less than an hour north of San Francisco. To get to the inn, you鈥檒l hike or bike two miles from , near the town of Mill Valley, on a path once used by a historic scenic railway. It鈥檚 just far enough to feel like you鈥檝e earned a good night鈥檚 sleep, but not so far that you can鈥檛 bring the kids. The hotel, which was built in 1904 as a restaurant and pitstop for the railroad, has the charm of a backcountry hut but a few more amenities鈥�think plush quilts and running water. You鈥檒l still need to bring your own sheets and food and share a bathroom down the hall. But from the main porch you can enjoy unparalleled views of the Marin Headlands and the East Bay, as well as occasional sightings of the Golden Gate Bridge through the fog. In the winter, temperatures are still comfortable for daytime hiking and inn availability is much easier to snag. 鈥擬egan Michelson

Ski Summit to Sea in Alaska

When your ski lodge floats, it鈥檚 easy to escape the crowds and access untouched terrain. From February through May, uses a 58-foot boat from as its base for five- and seven-day trips exploring the deep fjords and towering peaks of . Leg-burning descents are punctuated with incredible wildlife experiences, like spotting breaching orcas as you carve from summit to sea. Zodiacs ferry guides, guests, and gear ashore, and a stable maritime snowpack means it鈥檚 possible to drop into 40-degree slopes and bag runs ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 vertical feet. Last season, Warren Miller joined to film a segment for , premiering October 20. (Warren Miller Entertainment is part of 国产吃瓜黑料 Inc., the same company that owns 国产吃瓜黑料.) 鈥淚t鈥檚 true exploration,鈥� says Remarkable 国产吃瓜黑料s founder and AMGA-certified ski guide Nick D鈥橝lessio. 鈥淢ost of this stuff has never been skied before.鈥� It鈥檚 not just about the gnar, though. There鈥檚 plenty of lower-angle terrain for relaxed days, and on down days guests can ski the shoreline in search of otters, fish, or kayak. And unlike a hut trip, you won鈥檛 be roughing it. Apr猫s sessions might involve bacon-wrapped dates and beers around a beach bonfire. Plus, a chef keeps guests fueled with huevos rancheros in the morning and halibut tacos and just-baked cookies in the evenings. Starting at $4,000 per person for up to five people, including guide and meals. 鈥擩en Murphy

Camp at a Colorado Backcountry Ski Area

is a no-frills ski area that opened in 2020 on private land outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This isn鈥檛 your typical ski resort鈥攜ou鈥檝e got to earn your turns here. In lieu of crowded lift lines and fancy lodges, you鈥檒l get guided backcountry outings, avalanche courses, pre-set skin tracks, warming huts, and a limited number of guests on the mountain each day. Twelve new trails are opening this winter, offering more than 1,200 acres of avalanche-managed terrain. Last winter, Bluebird began allowing camping two miles down the road from the base area in a designated zone known as . It鈥檚 a fun, communal spot to park your van alongside other backcountry skiers and riders. A season pass (from $249) includes five nights of free camping. Otherwise, day tickets start at $50 (reservations required) and an overnight campsite is $25 per vehicle. This is what skiing was like in the 70s. 鈥擬.M.

Go by Boat to a Barrier Island in Florida

is one of Florida鈥檚 largest and most stunning undeveloped barrier islands. The only way to get there is by boat or kayak. runs a ferry service (from $45) from Captiva Island to and from Cayo Costa. Or, for the experienced sea kayaker, it鈥檚 about a seven-mile paddle from island to island along the . Pitch a tent or book a cabin from the (from $22)鈥攚inter temperatures here are ideal for camping, plus the mosquitoes are less prevalent. Collect shells from the nine miles of unspoiled beaches, spot sea turtles nesting, or fish for redfish, snook, and trout. Bikes and kayaks are available to rent from the camp store, and the island has six miles of hiking trails. Don鈥檛 miss Manatee Hole, a lagoon 迟丑补迟鈥檚 full of the lovable marine mammals year-round, and paddling 20-minutes to dinner at , on a namesake island, where the bar鈥檚 walls are lined with 60 years’ worth of dollar bills from previous customers. 鈥擬.M.听

Explore Yellowstone National Park

America鈥檚 oldest (established in 1872) and arguably most spectacular national park celebrates its 150^th anniversary this winter. Yellowstone is pure magic in the snow, with all the steam from its bizarre geothermal features and far fewer people. In early November, most of the park鈥檚 roads close, leaving the pristine landscape to the elk and bison鈥攁nd to cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Select roads re-open in mid-December to snowmobiles and snow coaches, providing unique access to Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and other iconic park sites, as well as enabling outfitters to run winter wildlife tours and photo safaris to capture sightings of bison, elk, and wolves. One historic in-park lodge remains open in winter: (from $264), which is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. The hotel completed a major renovation of its guest rooms and public spaces in late 2019, but staying here in the winter still feels like going back in time. 鈥擩ayme Moye听

Drink Craft Whiskey in Vermont

At the newly renovated (from $169; Ikon passholders get a discount on rooms), at the base of , the is located just off the lobby. What does this mean? Well, for one, maple cask bourbon whiskey after a day on the slopes. In addition to tasty cocktails鈥攖ry the maple old-fashioned or the spiked elderflower lemonade鈥攖he distillery also has pub fare perfect for the end of a big ski day, like truffle fries and flatbreads loaded with Cabot cheddar and fried onions. It鈥檚 the first so-called distillery hotel in New England, but you鈥檒l find similar properties elsewhere, like , near Minnesota鈥檚 Voyageurs National Park, the in Marble, Colorado, and the , near Park City, Utah, where shares the grounds. Wherever they may be located, this is a trend we can definitely get behind. 鈥擬.M.

Ride Your Gravel Bike in the Desert

Need a break from the cold? Head just north of the Mexican border to the small town of Patagonia, Arizona, a place calls the 鈥渘ew gravel mecca.鈥� Mid-winter, temperatures can be in the 60s, which is perfect for riding. Your home base for the weekend is the (from $320), a vacation rental property run by a crew of endurance cyclists. The compound has a straw bale home that fits six comfortably, in addition to a quaint wooden studio that sleeps two. A fire pit and a fruit orchard with apples and peach trees are just outside the front door, and downtown Patagonia is a short walk away. Come for the , which takes place in early November, or sign up for the Gravel House鈥檚 guided gravel rides or wine tours by bike all winter long. Not into gravel riding? You can hike, trail run, or mountain bike a section of the 800-mile Arizona Trail, which passes through town. Patagonia is also only an hour from Tucson, which makes for an easy detour. 鈥擬.M.

Heli-ski in British Columbia

British Columbia鈥檚 namesake mountain range is home to the world鈥檚 largest heli-skiing outfitter, Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH), whose founder Hans Gmoser is widely credited with inventing the sport in the 1960s. This winter, CMH adds a 12^th destination to its powder portfolio: 495,000 acres in the subrange known as the Purcells. Certified local guides will lead small groups of six skiers down high-alpine bowls and glaciers, and, at lower elevations, through听some of the best tree-skiing in the region. is the only CMH heli-skiing operation to offer short trips of one, two, or three days, and is the first without a backcountry lodge. Instead, guests stay in the nearby adventure hub of Golden, a three-hour drive from Calgary. The town just so happens to have its own world-class skiing, at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Don鈥檛 miss dinner at 7,700 feet on top of a mountain at , or lunch at , serving healthy, homemade fare made by Katie Mitzel, a local backcountry cookbook celebrity. 鈥擩ayme Moye

Hike in Big Bend National Park, Texas

Winter temperatures in Big Bend National Park, in the far West corner of Texas, are mild, topping out at around 70 degrees in January and February. Which means you can check off the park鈥檚 longer trails鈥攍ike the ten-mile round trip hike to 7,825-foot Emory Peak, the highest summit in the Chisos Mountains鈥攊n a far more comfortable climate than midsummer鈥檚 scorching 90-degree temps. Nighttime temperatures can get below freezing, so pack accordingly. Plus, there鈥檚 excellent stargazing at this International Dark Sky Park come winter. For a place to stay, there鈥檚 in the park (from $16), as well as the (from $166), which is in the heart of Big Bend. Or stay closer to the gateway town of Terlingua at (from $335), a low-key modernist retreat that manages to combine ascetic indulgence with dramatic views of the Chisos Mountains in the distance. 鈥擬.M.

Sleep in a Yurt in Oregon

is the coolest ski area you鈥檝e never heard of. This eastern Oregon gem鈥攆ive hours from Portland or three from Boise, Idaho鈥攊s low key and family friendly. Tickets cost just $45 a day and kids six and under and those over 70 ski free. The best part? It鈥檚 only open Thursdays through Sundays, so if you show up on a Thursday morning after a midweek storm, you鈥檒l get three days鈥� worth of powder piled up. The place isn鈥檛 huge鈥攋ust one triple chair, a rope tow, and 1,100 skiable acres鈥攂ut the base area is at 7,100 feet in elevation, the highest in Oregon, making cold, dry snow all but guaranteed. The ski area rents out two fully stocked (from $200) a quarter mile from the main lodge that you can post up in overnight. Book a yurt and you鈥檒l get half-priced lift tickets, making this possibly the most affordable slopeside ski trip in America. 鈥擬.M.

Relive the Olympic Spirit in Lake Placid, New York

In 1980, Lake Placid was transformed into the center of the winter sports world, when the tiny village of 2,500 got听upgrades to host the Olympics, including new hotels and a brand-new sports arena. The town has been mostly stuck in an Adirondack-style time-capsule ever since, but the last few years have ushered in a series of well-deserved changes. This winter sees the re-opening of Main Street鈥檚 (rates have yet to be announced) after a dramatic renovation of the 92-room hotel. The wood-and-stone lodge first opened in 1927. Today it resides in the heart of the village, across the street from Mirror Lake, which in winter transforms into an ice-skating loop and rinks for pick-up hockey games. From the lodge鈥檚 rooftop bar, you can see the runs at , a burly resort with New England鈥檚 highest vertical, at 3,430 feet. Lake Placid is the gateway to Adirondack Park鈥攚hich is home to some 3,000 freshwater lakes, rivers, streams鈥攂ut the village truly comes alive in the snow. There鈥檚 an abundance of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, with the nine miles听of professional-groomed tracks at the being the most popular. There鈥檚 also dog sledding nearby and even a 30-foot-high toboggan chute that spits you out onto Mirror Lake. Before your adventure, fuel up at the recently opened , a delightful mashup of donut shop, hot dog stand, and cocoa shop, with graffiti-covered walls. Get the Campfire, a donut covered in Marshmallow Fluff, crushed golden grahams, chocolate kiss, chocolate drizzle. The shop is perhaps the most delicious example of how the town is transforming into a hipper resort destination while still managing to keep all of its winter charm. 鈥擱.K.

Hike Death Valley National Park in California

Death Valley鈥檚 punishing 120-degree summer daytime temperatures mellow out to a pleasant 70 degrees in winter, making it an ideal hiking and camping destination. As the largest national park in the lower 48, at 3.4 million acres, there鈥檚 plenty of room to roam. Choose from nearly 100 hiking routes leading through an astounding diversity of landscapes, including multi-colored badlands, rock cathedrals, sand dunes, canyons, gulches, and even waterfalls. One day, you鈥檙e trekking across the otherworldly salt flats of Badwater Basin, the lowest point of elevation in the U.S. (282 feet below sea level), and the next, climbing the Telescope Peak Trail to the area鈥檚 highest point at 11,049-feet. You can camp anywhere within the park, but for toilets and basic amenities choose from nine designated . Bring cold weather gear and apparel for hiking at elevation and the evenings, when temperatures dip into the 30s. 鈥擩ayme Moye

Fat-bike and XC ski in Wisconsin

There鈥檚 a good reason that North America鈥檚 largest cross-country ski marathon is held in the Northwoods of Wisconsin every year. Besides the 100-plus miles of the (available for public use all winter), you鈥檒l find another 100 miles of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails maintained by local groups like the . There鈥檚 also 50 miles of dedicated, groomed fat bike trails courtesy of the . And don鈥檛 forget about the other 600 miles of snowmobile trails that traverse the region鈥檚 rolling hills and hardwood forests maintained by the 鈥攖he self-proclaimed world鈥檚 largest single owner of trail grooming equipment. Stay at the north end of the Birkie Trail, in Cable, at (from$119). Or at the south end, in Hayward, at 听(from$110). Rent skis, snowshoes, and fat bikes at or 听 Leave it to Wisconsinites to find so much to do in the snow and cold. 鈥擩ayme Moye

Splurge on a Cool New Hotel in Sedona, Arizona

The (from $1,500), due to open mid-December in Sedona, Arizona, is being billed as one of North America鈥檚 first landscape hotels. What does that mean exactly? It鈥檚 basically a property that blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings. See Norway鈥檚 or Spain鈥檚 for reference. Ambiente continues on admirably in the tradition of those properties. Perched on the edge of , it鈥檚 made up of 40 stilted guest atriums, which are constructed of sustainable materials meant to match or reflect the red rock desert around it. Nearby Sedona has year-round hiking, winter temperatures in the 60s, and mountain biking on world-class trails. You can practice yoga outdoors or search for the hidden energy centers known as vortexes that Sedona is famous for. Whether or not you find them, you鈥檙e sure to come home re-energized. 鈥擬.M.

Backcountry Ski to a Hut Near Lake Tahoe

Slated to open in late December, (from $225) consist of three architect-designed backcountry huts located on Castle Peak, a popular backcountry ski zone on Donner Summit, near Truckee, California. Built in a European style, the cabins have cozy bunks, gas stoves, flush toilets, and hot water. A communal cabin nearby has a kitchen, fireplace, and map room. The ski terrain in the area includes everything from steep, north-facing chutes to low-angle tree skiing through old-growth red fir. The land around Frog Lake used to be privately owned and was closed to the public for years, but in June 2020, the Truckee Donner Land Trust and its partners purchased it in a historic $15 million deal and opened the area for public recreation. To get here, you鈥檒l ski tour, snowshoe, or splitboard some three miles and 1,500 vertical feet from the Castle Peak trailhead parking area on Interstate 80. Your effort will be more than rewarded. 鈥擬.M.

Search for Hidden Shrines on Aspen Mountain

For decades, skiers have been discretely and anonymously creating hidden shrines, made from mementos like photos and personal possessions, amongst the snow-covered glades of Aspen鈥檚 four ski areas. David Wood, who wrote a guidebook called 迟丑补迟鈥檚 dedicated to finding the shrines, estimates that these eclectic memorials started appearing on the mountain in the 1970s, with over 150 of them scattered across Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk, and Aspen Highlands today. Tucked away in the trees are tributes to the Beatles, 9/11 victims, David Bowie, and Jerry Garcia. There are memorials to local skiers, like John Nicoletta, who died in a freeskiing competition in 2008. There鈥檚 a shrine to the Smurfs and to Snoopy. The shrines differ in size and style, but most contain photos, notes, and artifacts. You won鈥檛 find them all, but if you鈥檙e skiing or riding , it sure is fun to look for them in between powder turns. 鈥擬.M.听

Relax at a New Eco Lodge in Todos Santos

An hour north of Cabo San Lucas on the west coast of Baja, Mexico, the small village of Todos Santos feels like a little slice of paradise. The town has a throwback bohemian vibe, full of artists鈥� galleries, farm-to-table restaurants, and nearby surf breaks. Plus, there鈥檚 a new hotel worth the trip itself: (from $550), which opened in February 2021, has 35 suites situated across five bucolic acres of former farmland. The adults-only hotel offers tours of local farms, morning yoga, guided sunset bike rides and hikes, and taco tours of Todos Santos. Afterward, relax with a massage at the hotel spa or enjoy a shaman-guided temazcal, a traditional Mayan ceremony held inside a mud hut that acts as a sweat lodge. 鈥擬.M.

Chill at an Ice Festival in Michigan

Come winter, the sandstone cliffs in along Lake Superior in Michigan鈥檚 Upper Peninsula transform into sizable ice sculptures, tempting people from all over the U.S. to come for cave openings dripping with giant icicles, massive frozen waterfalls, and towering ice pillars. Not surprisingly, Pictured Rocks is the site of , held for climbers every February. Visitors can watch from the sidelines or get in on the action with free classes and demos (no experience required). New for 2022, Black Diamond is offering a class called 鈥業ntroduction to Ice for People of Color,鈥� and pro athlete and guide Will Gadd is coming down from Canada to teach 鈥楢valanche Safety for Ice Climbers.鈥� Base yourself out of Munising, an outdoorsy lakeside village in , which has the most lodging options. Then make it a point to stop in at or (ideally both) for pasties, a traditional Cornish pastry 迟丑补迟鈥檚 stuffed with expedition-quantities of meat and potatoes. It鈥檚 a Michigan thing. 鈥擩ayme Moye

Unwind in Colorado鈥檚 Most Relaxed Ski Town

It鈥檚 hard to beat for Rocky Mountain ski town culture and vibe. The quintessential Colorado resort celebrates its 60^th anniversary this season, with festivities starting opening day, November 12th, and a new chairlift on Peak 7. Resort staff have dubbed the new high-speed quad the Freedom SuperChair, and expect it to better balance the flow of skiers moving from Peak 6 to 7. For off-piste enthusiasts, Breck (as locals call it) is home to the backcountry experts and educators of , and the Summit Huts Association recently added a new mountain hut, , just outside of town on the slopes of Bald Mountain. Tin Plate, an upscale pizza joint located in a 138-year-old mining cabin in Breck鈥檚 historic District, is the hottest new restaurant. Stay at (from $249), a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. If you fly to Colorado on United (Breck is a two-hour drive from the Denver airport), you can now skip the rental car鈥攖he airline is partnering with to shuttle visitors on a luxury bus between Denver International Airport and the resort. 鈥擩ayme Moye

Treat Yourself at Big Sky鈥檚 Newest Luxury Lodge

惭辞苍迟补苍补鈥檚 is known for its massive terrain. With runs like the听Big, a 1,400-vertical foot couloir that requires checking in with ski patrol and wearing an avalanche beacon to descend, the resort is the birthplace of the triple black diamond difficulty rating. Starting this winter, it鈥檚 also the home of big luxury. (from $1,395) is set to open in mid-December, with the most luxe (and most expensive) guest rooms, suites, and residences in town. The lodge has six restaurants, a spa, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs, and a recreation room with a four-lane bowling alley, not to mention ski-in, ski-out access to the resort. Meanwhile, on the mountain, Big Sky debuts North America鈥檚 fastest six-person chairlift this winter. 鈥攃omplete with heated seats, individual headrests and footrests, and a protective weatherproof bubble鈥攚ill replace the existing Swift Current Quad, cutting the 12-minute ride time in half. The new upgrades are quickly transforming one of America鈥檚 largest resorts into one of its best. 鈥擩ayme Moye听

Check Out Puerto Rico鈥檚 Farmhouse Retreat

Vieques, a sleepy island off the east coast of Puerto Rico, is home to a farmhouse-style bed and breakfast tucked into the forested hillsides. The theme at (from $169) is rejuvenation, with an Ayurvedic Wellness Center and 12 luxe guest suites, each uniquely decorated by Puerto Rican owner-designer Sylvia de Marco. Stays include a vegetarian poolside breakfast, yoga classes, and all-you-can-eat fruit from the garden. The tiny island听remains mostly undeveloped, and the attraction here is the wilderness: its 18,000-acre is the largest in the Caribbean, with some of its most pristine beaches鈥攕ome with bright white sand, others with sparkling black. Elegant, gentle Paso Fino horses brought by the Spanish roam free throughout the island. But its biggest draw is Puerto Mosquito, or Mosquito Bay, the brightest bioluminescent bay in the world. Several local outfitters offer nighttime tours of the glowing water by kayak. Ideally, time your trip with the new moon, when the night sky is darkest. 鈥擩ayme Moye

Crash at Utah鈥檚 Most Memorable New Lodging

Utah鈥檚 latest backcountry lodging option is located on 20 acres within , making for an ideal鈥攁nd memorable鈥攂asecamp for exploring must-sees like Lower Calf Creek Falls and the slot canyon hike at Spooky Gulch. (from $195) is meant to be an experience as much as a place to stay. It consists of 22 tiny-home style A-frame cabins, 10 vintage Airstreams tricked out as guest suites, and 67 RV sites. The 1960s nostalgia continues with an outdoor movie screen (the site is a former drive-in theater) and a small fleet of classic cars for rent to attend screenings. A 24-hour general store that sells beer, spa-like bath houses with indoor and outdoor showers, and a swimming pool and hot tub complete the desert retreat. Winter temps generally hit a high of 50 degrees, so the hot tub is still inviting in the depths of January. Yonder Escalante鈥檚 surrounding mesas and million-star night skies make it feel as if you鈥檙e in the middle of nowhere, but it鈥檚 just two miles from the galleries, cafes, and boutiques of of Escalante. (The property is closed from around Thanksgiving until January 17th. All accommodations are heated and have their own fire pit.) 鈥擩ayme Moye

Surf and Chill Out in SoCal

Come winter, California鈥檚 mild weather and palm-dotted ocean scenery is hard to beat. This year, a pair of high-end hotels opened on San Diego鈥檚 northern coastline at Oceanside Beach. O鈥檚ide, as it鈥檚 known locally, has it all鈥攖he laid-back SoCal vibe, the oceanside breweries, the historic wooden pier, and, in the winter, whale watching. It鈥檚 also a hotbed of surf culture with a four-mile long coastline and the California Surf Museum. Choose the (from $349) for its grand coastal architecture and farm-to-table restaurant, or stay at (from $349) for spectacular sunsets from its rooftop bar (the food鈥檚 great, too). Both hotels feature original artwork curated by the and complimentary beach butler service while relaxing in the sun. For surfing lessons, go to to work with Duran Barr, a second-generation pro surfer from Oceanside. 鈥擩ayme Moye

Celebrate Snow in Quebec

Twenty years ago this winter, some hard-bitten skiers got the idea to traverse Quebec鈥檚 Gasp茅 Peninsula, a tongue of soaring mountains and quiet forests south of the St. Lawrence River鈥攁nd with that one of Canada鈥檚 most lively and colorful cross-country ski events was born. Today as the adventure is called in French, isn鈥檛 an actual crossing of the 12,000-square-mile peninsula so much as a week of day-tripping forays that take you deep into Quebec鈥檚 vibrant winter culture. (There鈥檚 also a summer version on bikes.) This year鈥檚 edition, which runs February 19鈥�26 (entrance fees start at $1,300, which includes lodging), kicks off with line dancing in your muck boots at the , a cozy four-star hotel located in the heart of 309-square-mile . You鈥檒l spend the next four days in the park skiing or snowshoeing 15 to 22 miles a day on trails that slip through the 4,000-foot Chic Choc Mountains. After that it鈥檚 off by bus to the coastal town of Gasp茅 on the Gulf of St. Lawrence for three more days of exploring trails in the remote 94-square-mile . The听 COVID-19 pandemic has thrown some traditions like village home-stays into disarray, but the entire field of roughly 275 skiers often eat dinners together in churches or halls large enough to house them all. Either way, expect to find musicians singing on the trails, impromptu dance parties in warming huts, and treats like the caribou鈥攁 classic Quebecois cocktail with whiskey, wine, and maple syrup鈥攚aiting for you at the end of the day. Bring your warmest clothes and learn the Quebecois word 鈥渇rette.鈥� That鈥檚 dialect for weather 迟丑补迟鈥檚 colder than cold. 鈥擳im Neville

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A thunderhead loomed to the south of the island of Culebra, in Puerto Rico, threatening to drench Paul Knapp Jr. and the three passengers of his 18-foot inflatable dinghy, the听Little Compass. The sticker at the helm of his boat read: 鈥淚 Speak Whale.鈥澨�A sun-swept couple from Michigan waited toward the bow, while I sat beneath the Bimini top. As we exited the harbor, Knapp punched the engine and headed northwest, the wind to our stern. The听Little Compass skimmed across the blue swells like a well-skipped stone.

After 20 minutes, we reached Knapp鈥檚 most reliable listening location, an indistinctive stretch of open water just west of a peninsula. Knapp cut the engine, plugged a hydrophone into a pair of boat speakers, and dropped the device into the water. 鈥淥K,鈥� he said as the cable ran through his fingers, falling听to 50 feet below the surface. 鈥淟et鈥檚 see if we hear anything.鈥�

Within seconds, a chorus of cetacean song filled the air鈥攈umpbacks emanating a series of elevated chirps and听bellows听and downward-spiraling moans. I鈥檇 listened to countless whale recordings in preparation for the trip, but they failed to convey how haunting the songs are in person. Knapp fell silent for a few minutes before rattling off guesses at the whales鈥櫶齨umbers and distance from us鈥攖wo or three of them, maybe three or four miles away.

For more than 30 years, Knapp has guided some 4,000 people on such listening trips in the Caribbean Sea, where many Atlantic humpbacks spend winter and spring, the males crooning in competition and the mothers nursing calves, before migrating听north in search of fish and krill. Whale-watching attracts millions of visitors to hot spots like Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico annually. On Puerto Rico鈥檚 main island, tourists flock to the west-coast town of Rinc贸n each spring for the annual Festival de la Ballena听(Whale Festival), embarking on day trips with one of the numerous outfitters that line the streets. Despite the guaranteed business, Knapp prefers the aural experience.听

鈥淎s far as I know, I鈥檓 the only person who鈥檚 just listening,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not interested in seeing them at all.鈥�

Few people were listening to whales until 50 years ago, when biologists Katy and Roger Payne released the album , which featured little more than the calls against a backdrop of waves. It became an unexpected hit, selling more than 100,000 copies. In the years that followed, the album was part of a rise in international activism to protect marine mammals like whales, dolphins, and porpoises, inspiring people like Knapp to explore their vibrant vocal world. When the album听was added to the National Recording Registry in 2010,听 鈥減robably the most famous nature album in American history.鈥�

But with the discovery of whale songs and the critical nature of their submarine communications came revelations about an urgent threat from noise pollution. As anthropogenic activity floods the ocean with mechanical sounds, whales have been forced to compete with human-made noise in order to communicate.

Some 50,000 merchant ships traverse the ocean, their engines and propellers generating a din that can be heard from hundreds of miles away. And 迟丑补迟鈥檚 nothing compared with the intensity of the sound created by seismic air guns used by many oil and gas companies at offshore sites听across the globe. These blasts take place every ten to twelve seconds, can travel up to 2,500 miles, and can be as loud as 260 decibels鈥攍ouder than a rocket launch. Whales migrating along the Atlantic coast of the United States have been spared from this disturbance since the 1980s, the last time seismic surveys occurred in this area. But in 2017, the Trump administration sought to lift Obama-era bans and open up the Atlantic, a move 迟丑补迟鈥檚 been in limbo ever since.

Though scientists that singing plays a role in breeding displays, a lot remains unknown about humpback songs. Experts aren鈥檛 sure how the male鈥檚 ballad functions鈥攊t might be meant to show off for females听or to communicate with other males during mating season. (While female humpbacks also use sound for communication, they haven鈥檛 been observed singing like the males.) What we do know is that underwater noise pollution has been shown to increase and migration patterns among many marine animals, including Atlantic humpbacks. Additionally, it鈥檚 been听 that zooplankton鈥攊ncluding krill, a main food source for whales鈥攁re especially susceptible to loud blasts. An published in 2014 by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management found that hundreds of humpbacks could be negatively affected each year if seismic听surveys were permitted in South and mid-Atlantic waters.听

It disturbs terrestrial creatures attempting to listen in, too鈥攕ince Knapp started his work, he has sometimes strained to hear and record whale songs amid听the increased racket of boat traffic. As we drifted off the coast of the island, it wasn鈥檛 long before the whir听of a yacht engine drowned out the sound of the calls.

Knapp reached over to turn off the speaker. 鈥淟et鈥檚 wait until this one passes,鈥� he said.

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For a good number of travelers, the ultimate bucket-list experience is swimming with whales. There鈥檚 something听about the idea of being in the water with these enormous creatures that calls to people. And if you talk to people who have swum with whales, chances are they鈥檒l tell you it changed their lives. This is true even for veteran adventurers who鈥檝e seen it all鈥攑eople like 国产吃瓜黑料 contributing editor Rowan Jacobsen, whose past assignments include a journey to the Amazon to seek out the source of the world鈥檚 greatest chocolate. Last fall, Jacobsen joined a small crew in the Caribbean that was filming and studying sperm whales by getting in the water with them. Though he had no delusions that swimming with whales would heal him or transform him, he was certain that he would learn a thing or two听from being very, very close to these legendary giants of the sea. And he did.

This episode of the 国产吃瓜黑料 Podcast is brought to you by Avocado Green Mattress, makers of 100 percent听organic-certified mattresses鈥攁nd more products, like their new meditation pillow. Visit to learn more. And to save $175 dollars on any mattress, use the code OUTSIDE175 at checkout.

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