No adventure compares to driving across the United States. I鈥檒l never forget my first coast-to-coast drive. It was two friends and me, post college, in a beat-up Subaru loaded with everything I owned. We took the long way home, starting in the farmlands of Vermont and making out-of-the-way pitstops for hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains听of Tennessee, dining at legendary barbecue spots across Mississippi, and listening to live music in New Orleans. We drove west, climbed the highest peak in Texas, ate green chile in New Mexico, and stared into the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Most nights, we slept in a tent and dreamed of where the next day would take us. When we finally crossed the California state line toward our final destination, I remember feeling like I wanted to stay on the road forever.

The cross-country road trip is an American rite, a true pilgrimage where you can plan only so much; the rest will unfold wherever the road goes. These three epic journeys have starting and ending points, as well as some spots that may be worth pulling over for along the way, but what you make of the trip鈥攁nd what you ultimately take away from it鈥攊s up to you.

We鈥檝e picked three routes on major highways that cross the country (for a Southwest specific guide, explore our seven best road trips of that region), but along the way, we鈥檝e provided suggestions for detours and byways that get you off the beaten path and out of your car to stretch your legs, experience local culture, and see the sights you鈥檒l be talking about all the way to your next stop. You鈥檒l pull over for things like meteor craters, giant art installations, and donuts. With visits to roadside national monuments, waterfalls, and hot springs鈥攁nd with stays at unique hotels, campsites, and cabins along the way, these road trips aren鈥檛 just a long drive, they鈥檙e an incredible adventure waiting to happen.

The Music Lover鈥檚 Journey: Boston, Massachusetts, to Seattle, Washington

Route: Interstate 90

Distance: 3,051 miles

This northern route across the U.S. follows Interstate 90 from east to west, passing by major cities like Cleveland, Chicago, and Minneapolis. But you鈥檒l also touch on some of the country鈥檚 coolest wild spaces, like the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and Yellowstone National Park in Montana. Inspire your road trip playlist by checking out the outdoor music venues and festivals throughout this route.

Pitstop: The Berkshires, Massachusetts

Hop on Interstate 90 in Boston and point it west. Your first stop is the Berkshires, a mountainous region filled with charming small towns 120 miles west of Boston. Go for a hike in , then pick up a tangleberry pie or farm-fresh apples from market in Great Barrington. In Stockbridge, the is worth a stop to learn more about American painter Norman Rockwell, who lived in the area, or check the performance calendar at , home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, for major touring acts in this pastoral outdoor music venue. It鈥檚 worth the 30-mile detour off the highway to North Adams to post up for a night or two at (from $194), a revamped motor lodge that hosts guided hikes, live music, and pop-up dinners.

Must See: Niagara Falls, New York

Peel off the highway in Buffalo, New York, for a visit to , America鈥檚 oldest state park and home to its three namesake waterfalls. Grab a yellow poncho and a ticket ($14) to view the falls from below at the observation decks.

Pitstop: Saint Charles, Iowa

Take a detour to visit Saint Charles, Iowa, home to the four-day held each August on a 350-acre plot of grassland. This year鈥檚 headliners include Tyler, the Creator, Kacey Musgraves, and Lana Del Ray. You can camp on site during the festival and hop a free shuttle into nearby Des Moines. If you can鈥檛 make the show, Des Moines still delivers, with 800 miles of trails to explore on foot or bike, including the paved 25-mile , a converted rail-trail with an iconic bridge that鈥檚 lit up at night over the Des Moines River valley. rents bikes.

Pitstop: Black Hills, South Dakota

There鈥檚 tons to see in the Black Hills of South Dakota, including famous highlights like and , as well as lesser known gems like the third longest caves in the world at or the annual buffalo roundup each September in . Grab donuts for the road from , a famed roadside attraction. Stay in a canvas tent among ponderosa pines at (from $179), outside the town of Keystone.

Stretch Your Legs: Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming

It鈥檚 not far off I-90 to reach , a geologic monolith with deep roots to indigenous cultures in the northern plains and the country鈥檚 first national monument. Parking and trails can be crowded here, so skip the main lot and hike the 1.5-mile instead鈥攊t鈥檚 less busy and still has good views of the tower.

Pitstop: Bozeman, Montana

Post up at the (from $189) in downtown Bozeman, which has on the property. Stroll Main Street, then take a walk up through Burke Park, a few blocks away, for a nice view of town. It鈥檚 about an hour and 20 minutes drive to reach the north entrance to , known for its geysers and 2.2 million acres of wilderness. If you鈥檙e on the road for music, the in nearby Big Sky takes place in early August.

Pitstop: Coeur d鈥橝lene, Idaho

Home to Lake Coeur d鈥橝lene as well as dozens of smaller lakes, you鈥檒l want to stop in Coeur d鈥橝lene, Idaho, for a swim or a paddle. rents kayaks and paddleboards. on the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille has cabins and campsites (from $48), a , and access to 45 miles of trails for biking and hiking.

Must See: The Gorge Amphitheater, Washington听

Music听breaks up the drive, and there鈥檚 no better place to see live music outdoors in this part of the country than the in Quincy, Washington. There鈥檚 on-site camping during shows and an upcoming lineup that includes Billy Strings and Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Stretch Your Legs: Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Hike to stunning alpine lakes on Snoqualmie Pass, just an hour outside of Seattle on I-90. You鈥檒l need a $5 to access most of the hikes in this area. The 2-mile follows the Snoqualmie River to a 70-foot waterfall. For a more stout climb, the 8.5-mile roundtrip hike to in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is a real gem.

Final Stop: Seattle, Washington

Celebrate the end of an epic journey by watching the sunset over the Olympic Mountains and dipping your toes into Puget Sound from Seattle鈥檚 . Stay in the heart of downtown at the (from $189) and you can browse fresh produce and maker鈥檚 stalls outside your door. The 10-mile paved sits right along the waterfront. Want more live music to cap off your trip? The is downtown Seattle鈥檚 coolest music venue.

The Best National Parks Road Trip: San Francisco, California, to Washington, D.C.

Route: Interstate 80 and Interstate 70

Distance: 2,915 miles

Travel across the heartland of the U.S. on this iconic route along I-80 and I-70, passing through stunning western mountain ranges like California鈥檚 Sierra Nevada, Nevada鈥檚 Ruby Mountains, Utah鈥檚 Wasatch, and Colorado鈥檚 Rockies. You鈥檒l visit the great national parks across southern Utah听and hit cities like Denver, Colorado; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri, and Columbus, Ohio, before landing in the country鈥檚 capital.

Pitstop: Lake Tahoe, California

Depart San Francisco on Interstate 80 heading east, leaving the shores of the Pacific Ocean to begin a steady climb toward the mountains of the Sierra Nevada range.听, in the roadside town of Auburn, has good burgers and homemade pies for the road. Lake Tahoe is your first stop, a short but worthy departure from the highway. Stay at the new听 (from $138), which opens in March, and you鈥檒l be steps from the lake. Rent bikes at听 to pedal the world-class singletrack along the听 or grab a paddleboard from听. Don鈥檛 miss dinner at the newly opened, featuring eclectic dishes and locally-sourced ingredients.

Pitstop: Ruby Mountains, Nevada

听There鈥檚 not much on Interstate 80 as you cross Nevada between Reno and Salt Lake City鈥攅xcept for the Ruby Mountains, which spike straight up from the desert floor of the Great Basin. In the winter,听 offers heli-ski access to 200,000 acres of rugged terrain. In the summer, there鈥檚听. Stay at Ruby Mountain Heli鈥檚听 or one of their two mountainside yurts (from $190).

Must See: Great Basin National Park, Nevada

For a national park detour, consider visiting听, which has one of the darkest skies in the world for stargazing. Near the entrance to the park, the听 make for a great overnight stop and snack resupply station.

Pitstop: Moab, Utah

In Salt Lake City, you鈥檒l say goodbye to Interstate 80 and head south to meet up with Interstate 70, but not before spending time to explore the Mighty Five national parks that made southern Utah famous: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. You could spend weeks here鈥攐r just a couple of days. Be sure to book a self-guided or ranger-led hike in the slot canyons of the in Arches National Park and get a permit to hike the exposed rocky cliffside of in Zion National Park. (from $129) makes for a great base camp, or there鈥檚 .

Stretch Your Legs: Glenwood Canyon, Colorado

Get back on I-70 and make your way into Colorado, where scenic Glenwood Canyon makes for a stunning drive along the Colorado River. The paved parallels the highway for over 16 miles, making for an easy biking or running destination. Afterward, stay for a soak in the . A new 16-suite boutique hotel called Hotel 1888 is opening near the hot springs this summer.

Pitstop: Breckenridge, Colorado

Spend the night at (from $320), which opened in early 2025 at the base of Peak 9 at, home to skiing and snowboarding in the winter and biking and hiking come summer. Stroll the charming Main Street of downtown Breck and don鈥檛 miss a visit to the , a 15-foot-tall wooden art installation now located on the town鈥檚 Trollstigen Trail.

Must See: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

It鈥檚 not exactly on the way, but this adventure clearly detours for national parks, so make the trek north to Rocky Mountain National Park, a quiet, snowy paradise in the winter and a fishing and backpacking mecca in the warmer months. The short hikes to and are popular among families. For experienced mountain travelers, Longs Peak is the park鈥檚 most famous 14er鈥� leads guided treks to the peak. Stay overnight in Denver before you head into the plains: (from $189), the country鈥檚 first carbon positive hotel, opened in Denver鈥檚 Civic Center Park late last year.

Stretch Your Legs: Monument Rocks, Kansas

There鈥檚 a on an 80-foot easel鈥攐ne of three in the world鈥攙isible from the highway in the town of Goodland, Kansas. Then, pull over for 50-foot-high fossil rock outcroppings and limestone spires on the Kansas prairie at , which is on private land that鈥檚 open to the public south of Oakley, Kansas, right off I-70. 国产吃瓜黑料 of Topeka, you can visit the , a former school site that commemorates the historic end of racial segregation in public schools.

Pitstop: St. Louis, Missouri

Next stop on your national park tour? The of St. Louis. You can ride a tram 630 feet to the top of the arch, walk the palatial grounds beneath the architectural wonder, or admire the arch from a riverboat cruise along the Mississippi River. The (from $149) is housed in a historic shoe company building and has a rooftop pool and restaurant overlooking the city. is a public market with a food hall, retail shops, and live music, and don鈥檛 miss brunch amid a plant nursery at the city鈥檚 .

Pitstop: Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio听

Ohio has but one national park and it鈥檚 worth the detour to visit: has paddling along the Cuyahoga River, 20 miles of multi-use pathways along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, and 125 miles of hiking trails through woodlands and wetlands. There鈥檚 no camping within the national park but has tent camping (from $40) nearby or the (from $200) is within the park and on the National Register of Historic Homes.

Final Stop: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland

End your national parks tour of the U.S. with a visit to the . The C&O Canal follows the Potomac River for 184 miles from Cumberland, Maryland, to Washington, D.C. It makes for a great walk or bike ride. Pitch a tent at one of the free hiker or biker campsites or pull your car up to one of a handful of drive-in sites (from $10). Or you can stay in a (from $175) along the canal.

The History Buff鈥檚 Tour of the U.S.: Los Angeles, California, to Charlottesville, Virginia

Route: Interstate 40

Distance: 2,696 miles

This pilgrimage sticks to one highway only for most of the way: Interstate 40, which starts in the Mojave Desert of California and crosses the southern portion of the U.S., over the Rocky Mountains and through the Great Plains and the Appalachian Mountains. It traverses Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Much of the western route parallels the historic U.S. Route 66, so it feels like a throwback to another era, a perfect journey for those who love learning about our nation鈥檚 past.

Pitstop: Mojave National Preserve, California

听You can watch a drive-in movie, visit a ghost town, or hike through lava tubes in . You can鈥檛 miss a visit to , an hour away, for stellar stargazing, rock climbing, and 300 miles of hiking trails. Stay in an adobe bungalow at the centrally located (from $195), which has an on-site farm, restaurant, and picnic lunches to go.

Stretch Your Legs: Lake Havasu, Arizona

will deliver you a kayak or paddleboard to explore the waters of the , once a major tributary on the lower Colorado River and one of the last ecologically functioning river habitats in the southwest.

Pitstop: Flagstaff, Arizona

Post up at the (from $109) in Flagstaff, Arizona, and then go explore the sights around Flagstaff, including , an hour and a half north. The 3-mile , along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, makes for a mellow stroll. The on Route 66 in Flagstaff used to be a historic taxidermy shop and is now a popular bar for country music and line dancing.

Must See: Meteor Crater National Landmark

Yep, you鈥檙e pulling off the highway to see this: The most preserved meteorite impact site on earth is right off I-40 near Winslow, Arizona. For a $29 admission at the , you can sign up for a guided hike of the crater鈥檚 rim.

Stretch Your Legs: Continental Divide Trail; Grants, New Mexico

听You鈥檙e passing from one side of the Continental Divide to the other: Might as well get out of the car and go for a trail run or hike along the Continental Divide Trail, which crosses Interstate 40 near the town of Grants, New Mexico.

Pitstop: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Take a detour off I-40 in Albuquerque to spend a night or two in Santa Fe, the highest elevation capital city in the U.S., which sits at 7,000 feet in the high desert. Splurge on a night at (from $645), a full-service retreat in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristos. For art and history buffs, the and the are well worth a visit.

Must See: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas

You鈥檝e already seen the actual Grand Canyon, so now it鈥檚 time to see the Grand Canyon of Texas, in , 25 miles outside of Amarillo. The park has camping and cabins, an 800-foot-deep canyon, mountain bike trails, and an outdoor stage where actors perform a Texas musical.

Pitstop: Hot Springs, Arkansas

You鈥檒l come to Hot Springs for the historic bathhouses and modern-day spa resorts. At , you can soak in one of two original bathhouses. Want to learn about some of the country鈥檚 most infamous criminals? , in downtown Hot Springs, has exhibits on Al Capone and Owen Madden. The (from $169) is housed in a centrally located historic building. Don鈥檛 miss: is the only brewery in the world that uses thermal spring water for its beers.

Must See: Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas

If you鈥檙e into geologic history, add a visit to Arkansas鈥� , where you can dig for minerals and gems in a 37-acre field on an eroded volcanic crater. (And yes, notable diamonds have been discovered here.)

Pitstop: Nashville, Tennessee

From the music scene to the foodie paradise, you might never want to leave Nashville. Stay in one of eight suites in a 19th century mansion at (from $306), where wood-fired pizzas are served in the backyard. The currently has exhibits on Luke Combs and Rosanne Cash. Go for a walk or run in or take a guided bike tour of the city鈥檚 murals and street art with .

Pitstop: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, you can hike to waterfalls like Mouse Creek Falls or Mingo Falls, fish for brook trout, or bike the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road, which is closed to cars on Wednesdays from May through September. The coolest place in the park to sleep? The (from $189), located atop Mount Le Conte and accessible only via foot. Open from March through November, the lodge requires at least a five-mile hike to reach. Bookings for this year are mostly snatched up already, but you can get on the waitlist or plan ahead for next year.

Final Stop: Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

Your trip finale comes in the form of ditching Interstate 40 in exchange for a meandering drive along the , a 469-mile stretch through the Appalachian Mountains and one of the most scenic roadways in America. You鈥檒l stop to see Whitewater Falls, the east coast鈥檚 tallest waterfall at 411 feet, and the rugged Linville Gorge Wilderness. Stay nearby at (from $175), which opened in the mountain town of Highlands in 2024 with a supper club and Nordic spa. They鈥檒l also book you outdoor excursions, ranging from rock climbing to fly fishing.

Megan Michelson is an 国产吃瓜黑料 contributing editor who loves long drives, even when her two children are whining in the backseat. She has recently written about Airbnb treehouses, the most beautiful long walks in the world, and the 10 vacations that will help you live longer.听

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Since the shift to remote work that started during the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing percentage of employees are in the position to work and live wherever they want. For some, that has meant relocating to a place with better outdoor access. Hordes of geographically-liberated professionals have made their way to mountain towns听across the country, exacerbating pre-existing issues of housing affordability, cost of living, and overcrowding in popular wilderness areas.

Some towns and counties, on the other hand, found themselves with a dearth of younger adult residents, and are offering incentives to remote workers willing to relocate. Many of these under-the-radar communities have ample trails, mountains, and waterways for active people to explore. In all of these cases, another benefit is the offer of cold hard cash if you move. Who would say no to that?

I selected the states listed below for their outdoor access. And new places are offering incentives all the time. Rochester, New York and the surrounding county, in the state鈥檚 beautiful Finger Lakes region, is definitely on my radar. They recently suspended their popular , which offered remote workers cash to move to the area and an extra bonus to buy a home. But they’re planning on relaunching it sometime this year with revised incentives.

West Virginia

The initiative pays remote workers to move to one of five participating communities, with some extra perks aimed at attracting outdoor enthusiasts in particular. Over 100 people have taken advantage of the program, which started in 2022, and the goal is to bring 1,000 remote workers to the state in the next several years.

The Deal: $10,000 received in your first year, paid in monthly installments, and an additional $2,000 at the end of your second consecutive year. Plus, a one-year outdoor recreation package valued at $2,500 that includes guided outings and free gear rentals.

How to Enter: Interested parties can . Promising applicants鈥攕howing a love of the outdoors and a desire to be a part of new community helps鈥攃ontinue on to an interview.

Why Move: The aptly-named Mountain State is home to some of the best whitewater and rock climbing in the Eastern U.S., and plenty of opportunities for a wide range of outdoor sports. In winter, skiers and snowboarders get in turns on the slopes of . In New River Gorge, the newest national park in the U.S., there鈥檚 camping, hiking, fishing, and whitewater rafting. There鈥檚 even lift-served downhill mountain biking on the Snowshoe resort鈥檚 ski trails. And in August 2023, Governor Justice signed a bill to designate the first new state park in West Virginia in 30 years鈥�. It sits on the northern shore of the state’s largest lake and has hiking and biking trails, climbing access, and climbing education programs as well.

Owensboro, Kentucky

The Bluegrass State isn鈥檛 offering as large of a cash incentive for remote workers to relocate to counties in the eastern part of the state in the Appalachian foothills as others on this list. But some of the small-dollar add-ons are quite charming. Over 1,000 for the program, known as (Shaping Our Appalachian Region), and stipend since it was launched in 2022.

The Deal: A $5,000 cash stipend paid in two installments plus a few other perks, like concert tickets, a health and fitness club membership, free banjo, fiddle, or mandolin lessons with a local instructor, and a year of free donuts and coffee from a local coffee shop. Only remote workers who earn at least $60,000 a year, are U.S. citizens, and are moving to Owensboro or surrounding counties from outside the state are eligible.

How to Apply: There鈥檚 currently a waitlist to apply for the incentive, which you .

Why Move: Owensboro is in Western Kentucky, not quite in the heart of the Bluegrass State鈥檚 best-known outdoor recreation areas. The , a world-famous sport climbing destination, is four hours away鈥攚ithin reach for a weekend trip, if not a quick one-day outing. Closer to home: Mammoth Cave National Park, containing over 400 mapped miles of (kinda spooky caves), plus singletrack mountain biking trails and access to the Green River.

Topeka, Kansas

Unlike some of the other options on this list, the Choose Topeka relocation incentive, which started in 2019, is geared towards incentivizing people to move to the city to accept jobs with local employers.

The Deal: Up to $10,000 for rent in the first year, or up to $15,000 towards buying a house.

How to Enter: The has information about participating employers鈥攐nce you have the job, you can apply through them.

Why Move: Skiers and downhill mountain bikers might not want to live in the middle of the Great Plains, but other outdoor athletes and nature lovers will find plenty to do in and around Kansas鈥� capital city. Several large parks and a lake with boating, fishing, and swimming are within city limits. The state is known for cycling, particularly gravel biking鈥�, the sport鈥檚 premier event, is held in Emporia. And there鈥檚 unique, beautiful nature right in Topeka鈥檚 backyard, like the 40 miles of hiking trails through some of the last remaining old-growth grassland at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Alaska

听is actually more of a universal basic income than a relocation incentive. Oil and mining revenues go into the state-run fund, which distributes an annual sum (usually between $1,000 and $1,500) to all Alaska residents. It鈥檚 a smaller check than the others on this list, but you鈥檒l continue to receive it for as long as you live in the state.

The Deal: The exact dollar amount varies year-to-year. In 2023, Alaskans received $1,312.

How to Enter: After living in Alaska for one year, full-time permanent residents are eligible to .

Why Move: Where to start? Alaska鈥檚 not called the last frontier for nothing鈥攖here鈥檚 over 322 million acres of public lands in the state, full of bucket list destinations and adventures 听for mountaineers, skiers, hikers, hunters, anglers, and kayakers. If it鈥檚 wild and rugged, Alaska鈥檚 probably got it. The tallest mountain in North America? Check. Denali stands at 20,310 feet. Massive glaciers? Sure, right outside of many towns. National parks? Undeveloped wilderness? You bet. The on the continent? That鈥檇 be , an hour from Anchorage with an average snowfall of 669 inches. Absolutely gigantic wildlife? Look no further.

Miyo McGinn is an assistant editor at听国产吃瓜黑料.听She鈥檚 happily living in Bozeman, Montana, but is seriously considering Alaska for her next move鈥攆or the wilderness, of course, but the annual cash payments do sweeten the deal.

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Bill McKee was an avid outdoorsman: in 10 years of vacations to Colorado, he and his sons fished backcountry streams, hiked for miles, and summited several fourteeners, until a motorcycle accident in 2002 put him in a wheelchair. Afterward he felt unable to do many of the things he loves most. Trying the Action Trackchair, a beefy, battery-powered wheelchair with tank-like treads, last year changed that.

鈥淏eing on a trail in Colorado was a blast from the past,鈥� the 64-year-old McKee, of Garland, Texas, said. Developed in 2008, the Trackchair, which can handle rugged terrain that would stall a traditional chair, 鈥渂rought me full circle to the adventurer and explorer that lives inside me,鈥� McKee said.

While a volunteer-led program launched in 2016 at Staunton State Park, near Denver, is considered the granddaddy of adventure-wheelchair loaner programs, others are now blooming. On November 4, a collaboration between the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the debuted a fleet of 12 all-terrain wheelchairs for use, free of charge, at 11 state parks and historic sites across Georgia. This past spring, the Department of Natural Resources launched a pilot program to provide track chairs at five state parks. The Department of Natural Resources, which received its first track chair, donated by , in 2017, now has 15 loaners spread over each of 11 state parks and recreation areas. The Department of Wildlife and Parks offers track chairs at eight state parks, while has one chair and has two at state parks; and Wisconsin has the chairs at stations in 12 counties through the nonprofit . Two years ago Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan was the first national park to offer a track chair. It now has three.

In a massive shift, public land managers across the U.S. are beginning to look at accessibility as an integral part of park improvements and additions, rather than a separate and possibly expendable line item in the budget. 鈥淲e are really following the path of improving accessibility as we improve our overall infrastructure,鈥� said Jeremy Buzzell, manager of the Park Accessibility for Visitors and Employees (PAVE) program at the National Park Service, adding that accessibility 鈥渉as to be baked into everything we do, so that it becomes a part of the culture.鈥�

The Staunton initiative, which started with one chair donated in memory of the avid outdoorsperson and quadriplegic Mark Madsen, now has five battery-powered Action Trackchairs and three and is leading similar efforts, according to Kristin Waltz, program manager. This year alone, park personnel have consulted with organizations from upstate New York, Florida, and Brazil on bringing track chairs and greater accessibility to their regions.

The Georgia initiative, known as All Terrain Georgia, provides people with mobility impairments with and easy access. A visitor to popular sites like Panola Mountain State Park and Cloudland Canyon State Park simply needs to complete an program to learn how to operate the chair (which costs roughly $12,500 retail), then make a reservation for a hike via the organization鈥檚 鈥搉o doctor鈥檚 note required.

鈥淎ll Terrain Georgia bridges the gap between accessibility and wilderness,鈥� said Aimee Copeland, director of the Aimee Copeland Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to create outdoor experiences for people with physical disabilities. Copeland has used a wheelchair for ten years since losing her hands, a foot and one leg to amputation following a ziplining accident and bacterial infection at age 24, and tested the track chairs herself. The chairs can go up banks, across streams, and even over fallen trees. 鈥淚 love that these chairs allow me to safely explore with my friends who love camping,” she said, 鈥渨ithout putting the chair I rely on every day at risk.鈥� She hopes to extend the program in the Southeast and South, she said, and into the national parks.

The Minnesota program has met with resounding success, taking off immediately. 鈥淭he chairs were used often in the first six months of the program, especially on weekends,鈥� said Jamie McBride, state parks and recreation area program consultant at the department. 鈥淔eedback from users as well as park staff has been overwhelmingly positive.鈥�

, 13.7 percent of U.S. adults report living with a serious mobility disability. That鈥檚 over 28 million people. Though the Park Service鈥檚 PAVE program has been around in some form since the 1970s, it鈥檚 largely focused on maintaining existing ADA-compliant campgrounds and paved pathways, like South Rim Trail and many of Valley鈥檚 trails. Yet the world of mobility devices is rapidly evolving.

鈥淭here鈥檚 all kinds of stuff out there that even ten years ago didn’t exist,鈥� said Buzzell.

At the moment, is the only unit within the NPS that offers a track-chair loaner program, and it might take some time before larger national parks ramp up. 鈥淥ur preference would be for organizations that represent the disability community to partner with us, so that the devices can be provided,鈥� said Buzzell. He added that the NPS wants to ensure visitors鈥� safety by making sure that the people checking out the chairs have the necessary training and assistance. Some parks, like in California and , Colorado, already provide special sand-specific devices, and many more have standard wheelchairs available at visitor centers.

鈥淭here has been a lot of interest from the public about us being able to provide better access to mobility devices,鈥� said Buzzell. 鈥淥bviously, there’s a considerable expense involved in transporting them from home.鈥�

Syren Nagakyrie, founder and director of , cited 鈥渁 combination of a lack of awareness and motivation, lack of funding, and complicated protocols鈥� as the biggest hurdles facing improvement of access programs in parks today, while saying that well-designed trails can benefit everyone. For example, an accessible boardwalk leading to a remote campsite at Apostle Islands, in Wisconsin, also helps prevent erosion caused by visitor foot traffic.

When used properly, the burly Action Trackchairs should also leave no trace, even on dirt trails, said Copeland: the chairs are all-electric and quieter than they appear. 鈥淪tigma around all-terrain chairs due to misuse and misinformation is an issue,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen operated properly, the chair鈥檚 impact is no more than footprints.鈥� She called this generation of chairs 鈥渢ruly spectacular.鈥�

The age of all-terrain wheelchairs in our parks is instigating a strategy shift in how trails are labeled, too, because these modern devices have the power to travel deep into the backcountry. Rather than marking some paths as 鈥渁ccessible,鈥� because they meet a series of , land managers are instead compiling as much trail information as possible (like grade, surface pack, length, and stair count) and letting visitors decide what works best for them. 鈥淲hat we call an accessible trail might not be accessible to everyone, and what we say is not an accessible trail might be accessible to plenty of people,鈥� said Buzzell.

Buzzell believes all Americans, regardless of their ability level, deserve to experience what he called the magical national park 鈥渁ha moment.鈥�

鈥淲e can design trails that are sustainable and accessible,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd that’s going to improve the experience for everyone.鈥�

At Staunton, McKee, accompanied by a volunteer, takes gravel trails through dense forests, to airy vistas of high mountain peaks, and even small tarns stocked with trout.

鈥淭o be back in the wild and coming across wildlife and smelling the pine-scented air was emotional and satisfying,鈥� McKee said after riding the track chair at Staunton, which he called 鈥渁 very pretty place.鈥�

鈥淵ou are in the forest most of the time and there are several small streams and then open fields with wildflowers and some views of large cliffs. There is an accessible area to fish and some small ponds … so you can add fishing to your accomplishments for the day.鈥�

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Kansas City, known for its jazz, barbecue and passionate sports fans, is also home to one of the best road races in the country: the . As the largest race in the city, and one of the oldest in the region, it encapsulates much of what makes Kansas City the 鈥淗eart of America鈥� and one of the most captivating cities in the Midwest.

The weekend鈥檚 festivities begin with the two-day Health and Fitness Expo at Union Station, located in central downtown Kansas City. In addition to packet pickup, runners will be able to see the latest and greatest running technology from Garmin, as well as other vendors selling shoes, gear, fitness accessories and nutrition. Two commemorative posters, designed by local artists and limited to a run of 250, are NEW for 2022. The overall winners (male and female) will receive the original pieces of art as a special keepsake at the awards ceremony.

An enhanced VIP experience returns this year with premium amenities like parking at the closest designated lot, a tented and heated private space with its own bathrooms, coffee, snacks and gear check.

The course, which begins in front of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, takes runners on a scenic tour past some of the city鈥檚 iconic landmarks like the Country Club Plaza, WWI Museum and Memorial, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, historic 18th and Vine District and Ward Parkway. While considered moderately challenging, this Boston Marathon Qualifying Course sees a diverse mix of elite, amateur and new runners each year.

After the race, participants and spectators gather at the where runners receive complimentary barbecue and beer to celebrate their accomplishment, while enjoying live entertainment from local musicians. With the Nelson-Atkins on one end and Brush Creek on the other, it鈥檚 a beautiful Kansas City backdrop for everyone involved.

This is the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation鈥檚 biggest annual fundraiser, which means your support directly impacts Kansas City鈥檚 ability to secure major sporting events like the Big 12 Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Basketball Championships, the 2023 NFL Draft and 鈥� most recently 鈥� the history-making FIFA World Cup 2026. Those events create millions of dollars in economic impact for the city and region, which help to drive opportunity and growth for local businesses.

The Garmin Kansas City Marathon has been recognized by RaceRaves, the leading online race finder and community review site for runners, as the 鈥淏est Marathon in Missouri.鈥澨� It was also rated one of the top 20 Marathons on BibRave.com thus qualifying for 鈥淭he BibRave 100: a Definitive List of the Best Races in America.鈥�

国产吃瓜黑料+ Member Perk

国产吃瓜黑料+ members will enjoy the “VIP Experience” — a $75 value — at no additional cost with their Garmin Kansas City Marathon registration. The VIP Experience includes perks such as guaranteed parking in the closest available parking lot, a heated space to relax and stretch before and after the race, private restrooms reserved only for VIPs, private gear check in the VIP tent, complimentary snacks and drinks, and access to post-race food and beer in the VIP tent (skip the line!). Find your 国产吃瓜黑料+ member code and redemption instructions in the MyPerks section of your 国产吃瓜黑料+ account.

2022 Garmin Kansas City Marathon

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The federal public lands that are so celebrated today came about in parallel with the Indian reservation system to cement the legal and physical separation of Indigenous peoples from their homelands. The Department of Interior was founded in 1849 to manage issues of domestic concern by the government, but now houses a number of agencies that oversee and manage the millions of acres of public lands violently disposed from Indigenous peoples centuries earlier. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is now a part of the DOI, manages a听significant portion of the federal relationship with and the treaty obligations to Native Nations. Consequently, this relationship and who heads this agency directly impacts the millions of American Indians and Alaskan Natives, who are the descendants of this dispossession.

The听 was established in 1824 as part of the U.S. War Department, a precursor to the Department of Defense. Its placement is telling of how the government used the bureau to deal with what it thought of as the 鈥淚ndian problems,鈥� caused by settler violence and westward expansion. This path led to an increasing level of military engagement with tribes across the West, and consequently the signing of treaties intended to subdue Native peoples and to force the cessation of lands. The immense brutality and death caused by the civil war and the multitude of Indian wars in the decades that followed led to a shift in policies toward Native peoples: instead of complete extermination, policies began to focus more on reformation through assimilation. While the new approach seemed less bloody, the end goal of genocide continued as the U.S. government attempted to erase Native cultures and peoples through tools like boarding schools.

Haskell Indian Nations University, in Lawrence, Kansas, began as an Indian boarding school in the 1870s. Its purpose was to further goals of genocide through the cultural erasure of Native peoples by forcing the removal and assimilation of Native children into white culture. In the 1890s, the federal government issued a compulsory attendance law that allowed for the forced removal of Native American children from their homes. Many of these children, as young as toddlers, would never return home because of assimilation from disease. In other instances, children ran away from the school trying to reunite with their families, but often died from exposure, dehydration, or starvation. The museum on the Haskell campus displays handcuffs used to keep Native children from seeking freedom and escaping these policies.

My own mother was forced to attend boarding schools in the Navajo Nation and was physically beaten for speaking Navajo. When she was eight years old, my aunt ran away from the boarding school and covered nearly 50 miles from Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, toward her home in Red Valley, Arizona, before she was caught. It was from these experiences that my mother was driven to improve education for Native children after her. She was the only child in her family to go to college, and she pursued doctoral studies that focused on the role of language and culture in Native student achievement. She became the president of听, the first tribally run university in the United States, and a political appointee in the Department of Education under the Obama administration, focusing on Tribal Colleges and Universities.

I was raised in Lawrence by my Navajo mother and Scottish and Romanian father. As a child, the juxtaposition between the history of Haskell Indian Nations University and the vibrancy of the young Native people pursuing a college education left me confused about how these two realities could exist on this small plot of land in eastern Kansas. Growing up, I would present my Certificate of Indian Blood to the Indian Health Service clinic on campus for routine dental and medical screenings, as promised in treaties from over a century earlier.听

Because of the unique relationship that the federal government has with American Indian tribes, and the fact that American Indians have a unique political and legal identity in addition to race, my healthcare and education were controlled by the policies of the Department of the Interior. The policies of Congress, the Department of the Interior, and consequently those of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, over the past century have defined Haskell and the many Native people within it by the (failed) policies, (lack of) funding, and multitude of (broken) treaty obligations.

The agencies charged with carrying out treaty obligations, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, have historically assumed a paternal relationship with Native Nations, dictating policies to tribes and听assuming them incapable of managing their own affairs. In recent decades, though, the relationship has shifted to one more closely resembling self-determination, with the understanding that tribes are capable of governing themselves. My own experience at Navajo Preparatory School, a Bureau of Indian Education high school in Farmington, New Mexico, was very different and much more positive than what my mother and aunt encountered at boarding schools: it鈥檚 where I learned to speak Navajo and was taught about Navajo culture.听

The nomination of an American Indian to the role of secretary of the interior represents another shift in the relationship between Native Nations and the federal government. It鈥檚 been a long time coming and a reality that seemed impossible even just a few years ago. Deb Haaland, a Pueblo woman, is the most fitting to serve this role.听

Today, many of the current issues and politics surrounding public lands involve climate policy. Much of听Secretary Haaland鈥檚 confirmation reflected this larger existential question, but the impact these policies will have on Native peoples was left out of the discussion. Implementing these climate-focused policies and balancing the multitude of stakeholder positions and complicated trade-offs will appear to be a compromise too far for some on the left and too radical for those on the right. In this mix sits the multitude of tribes: there are those who rely on fossil fuel development and extraction, like the Crow and Navajo Nations, who are heavily invested in coal development. And there are those experiencing the direct effects of climate change, like the many听coastal Alaskan Native villages in the Arctic.

Increasing pressures to reduce carbon emissions will lead to an increased demand in the mining for minerals used in critical components, including power electronics, batteries, solar panels, and modular nuclear reactors. Compounding this demand, national security concerns have led to a more substantial discussion about how the United States should secure this critical mineral supply. Tribes, like my own, have had a tumultuous relationship听 in the name of national security. My grandfather was one of many Navajo miners who extracted uranium ore for nuclear weapons and technology during the Cold War. Companies were allowed to operate with little safety precautions for their workers. And when the uranium market collapsed at the end of the war, many of these mines were abandoned, often poisoning communities nearby.

There is no one size fits all for Native Nations when it comes to economic development, energy, and climate policy. To avoid repeating the past, the government will need to embrace robust tribal consultation early on in creating and establishing these policies. Secretary Haaland understands this, and she committed to doing so. I have little reason to doubt her commitment, as her past includes working for her tribe, both as an administrator and the director of the tribe鈥檚 development corporation.

The challenge of this position, in this time, is significant. Secretary Haaland not only inherits the long and tumultuous history of the position she has been appointed to, but also the uncertain questions of the role of federal lands in climate policy. A number of secretaries of the interior in recent decades have been more supportive of tribes and advanced beneficial policies; none have had to live with the effects of these policies after their tenure. Auntie Deb, as she is known endearingly within many Native communities, is well aware of how her tenure will affect her life, those of her community, and Native people throughout this country. She has a stake in the game, and her future success will open the door for many other Native people after her.

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Looking for a new place to camp听in your backyard or beyond? You鈥檙e not alone. As droves of people across the U.S.听look to safely travel by , it鈥檚 no surprise that campgrounds are more popular than ever. ,听the online and app-based booking system for both private and public campsites, is a great resource听for those looking听to stay away from the hordes. From affordable camping near National Parks to decked-out glampsites with epic views, here are our favorite Hipcamp sites in every state.

Alabama

Pinewood Nature Cottage (From $85)听

Located in the shrimping village of Bon Secour, 11 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico, is the perfect base camp for paddling and wildlife viewing in ten-mile-long Little Lagoon, fishing the听Bon Secour River, and听surfing the sandbar break at West Pass in the nearby town of Gulf Shores. Birders will want to check out the estuary at or .

Alaska

Seaside Farm Meadows (From $25)听

This affords access to , a roughly 400,000-acre refuge that borders both the Kenai Mountains and Gulf of Alaska. You reach it via a 30-minute water-taxi ride from the town of Homer, four hours听south of Anchorage. Once there, you can walk to a 20-mile-long beach to spot sea otters and eagles. But with stunning glacier views across the water from camp, we don鈥檛 blame you if you choose to simply linger by the raspberry patch.

Arizona

Grand Canyon Glamping听Eco-Yurt (From $89)

A 45-minute drive from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, , set on ten听acres, is only eclipsed by its hosts. They鈥檒l make you breakfast with farm-fresh eggs, arrange private yoga classes, and听set up guided hiking or biking tours in nearby and National Forests.

Arkansas

Thunder Mountain River Camp (From $70)

This on the South Fork of the Caddo River, about 95 miles west of Little Rock, offers complimentary kayaks, tubes, and a paddleboat. It also has听access to a multilevel deck and鈥攈ere鈥檚 the kicker鈥攁n open-air bathhouse overlooking the river and the Ouachita Mountains.

California

Glamping in the Sierra Foothills (From $85)

Two and a half miles from the Yuba River鈥檚 Middle Fork, and听95 miles north of Sacramento, these boast new beds, an outdoor shower, and an onsite veggie garden between the property鈥檚 dual orchards. Swim or boat at , and hike, bike, or climb in .

Colorado

Riverside Glamping in the Rockies (From $75)听

Soak in a claw-foot tub after a day exploring Rocky Mountain National Park鈥攁 25-minute drive northwest鈥攐r the 20-plus miles of听trails in adjacent听.听听also overlooks a seasonal stream and has a private trail that leads to miles of hiking and mountain biking routes.听

Connecticut

Quarry View (From $100)

You鈥檒l find waterfalls and dinosaur tracks near , which is perched on the edge of a former听quarry, a national historic landmark that鈥檚听now a lake. At the neighboring , an adventure-sports center, swim in听the lake, rent stand-up paddleboards or kayaks, go scuba diving, or climb man-made听routes.

Delaware

Top of the Pond (From $55)听

Enjoy simple pleasures at this primitive but serene : take a walk in the woods, go fishing, or paddle the large on-site pond or one of several lakes located within a mile of the property. For a day trip, head to , six miles away.

Florida

Live Oak Cove (From $50)

Ideal for those with an RV, a trailer, or a van, sits beside a private lake that鈥檚 perfect听for swimming, boating (two canoes are provided听at no cost), or fishing. Bonus points: there鈥檚听a fenced-in area for your pups (and the owners鈥櫶齦ovable Labs) to run free.

Georgia

Stone Mill Camping (From $45)听

The owners share their remote homestead (located just over an hour north of Atlanta) with . Hiking, swimming, fishing, and off-roading await 30 miles northeast at in the North Georgia mountains.

Hawaii

Hamakua Camping Cabanas (From $38)听

Swim or paddle听in the Big Island鈥檚 Hilo Bay, hike rainforest trails along the northeastern Hamakua Coast, or surf at . Then crash in these screened-in , located just east of 鈥攂lankets and pillows will be waiting for you.

Idaho

Mountain Top Getaways (From $12)听

Get back to the land at these almost entirely at the mouth of Cub River Canyon听in southeastern Idaho. In return听you鈥檒l enjoy听sweeping views from听9,460-foot Wilderness Peak听and everything the nearby has to offer: hiking, bouldering, snow sports, and more.

Illinois

Farm Girl and Friends (From $25)听

Pitch a tent at (or bring a trailer to) . If you can tear yourself away from the miniature piglets, swim at or head to to hike, fish, and boat.

Indiana

Luxury Tiny Beach Cabin (From $100)听

Wood-fired cedar hot tub? Check. Lofted, king-size听memory-foam bed with 800-thread-count sheets? Double check. This posh听, located one block from on Lake Michigan, also comes with an outdoor shower, two bikes, and two kayaks.

Iowa

The Barnyard (From $55)听

From , bike across the river to , or rent a canoe or kayak from , roughly 15 miles southeast, to float the Wapsipinicon River. Don鈥檛 spend all your energy, though鈥攖here might be a live band playing when you get back. If you don鈥檛 have the gear, the host offers a six-to-eight-person rental tent for $20 more.

Kansas

Enchanted Oaks (From $20)听

Camp in a grove of walnut trees just 25 minutes from downtown Kansas City. This seven-acre property has , hiking trails, and a fishing pond with a paddleboat.

Kentucky

The Lookout at Raven Ridge (From $35)听

Roll out your sleeping mat on a deck overlooking the famed Red River Gorge. Situated on 50 acres, is a stone鈥檚 throw from the Red鈥檚听popular climbing routes, hiking trails, and , which is home to the excellent fly-fishing spots of Cave Run Lake and the East Fork of Indian Creek River.

Louisiana

Cajun Retreat Campsites (From $38)听

This in southeastern Louisiana has its own boat launch for kayaking Bayou Manchac or simply watching birds and turtles. Let the friendly hosts, who live on-site, cook you a meal, set you up with fishing gear, or听point you to the best local seafood markets and swamp tours.

Maine

Off-Grid Oceanfront Acadia A-Frame (From $120)听

An off-the-grid A-frame? Yes, please! Literally steps from a swimmable (at high tide) sand beach听on Mount听Desert Narrows, 听has access to surrounding hiking trails, a dining deck, and views of Acadia National Park, a 30-mile drive away.

Maryland

Willet Family Farm (From $50)听

The sound of bullfrogs will lull you to sleep at this private, secluded . Tucked away on a 100-acre farm, you鈥檒l be just a ten-minute drive from fishing at 听or can head off on five miles of multi-use trails at the 240-acre .

Massachusetts

Bakers Island Light Campsite (From $35)听

Set up camp on a raised platform on a grassy knoll overlooking Salem Sound. Located on Bakers Island next to its eponymous light station, three miles off the coast of Salem, this is the perfect base camp for those looking for seclusion.

Michigan

Lynx Run Wilderness Retreat (From $125)听

A lush haven within the Lower Peninsula鈥檚 , features both Japanese and English country gardens, as well as an orchard, a trout stream, and a natural spring with not one but two Japanese-style bridges. Although the cabin is off the grid, you can plug in at the main house, and there鈥檚 warm water for showers and the antique bathtub on the porch.

Minnesota

The Stuga (From $79)听

Named after the Swedish word for 鈥渃ottage,鈥澨齮his 10-by-12-foot packs a lot in. Beyond听the basics鈥攖hree beds and a table鈥攜ou鈥檒l find a kitchenette, a rocking chair, and a propane heater that resembles a fireplace. It鈥檚 the perfect setting for relaxing after a day spent exploring the adventure capital听of听Duluth.

Mississippi

Camp Topisaw (From $35)听

Drive right up to Topisaw Creek听and spend your days splashing in the sandy, spring-fed waterway, or hit up the nearby state parks, Percy Quin and Lake Lincoln, from 90 miles south of Jackson.

Missouri

ItzaWayzBack Farm (From $99)听

Near a good halfway point for float trips on the Current River, two sides of听 in the Ozarks are bordered by听. Grill on your private deck, cook from听the outdoor kitchen鈥檚 wood-burning听stove and oven, and enjoy听coffee and tea delivered to your doorstep each morning.

Montana

Cabin on Bank of Mountain Stream (From $125)听

This sits on the bank听of Bear Creek鈥檚 North Fork, a quarter-mile walk from , six miles from the Yellowstone River鈥攁 whitewater destination鈥攁nd less than 20 miles from Yellowstone National Park鈥檚 north entrance.

Nebraska

Gorgeous Tiny House (From $209)听

Get the lowdown on permaculture during a tour of the owners鈥櫶齩rganic farm, or use as home base for exploring , located on the banks of the Missouri River, a ten-minute drive away. Breakfast supplies and a hot tub are included.

Nevada

Water Rock Ranch (From $125)听

Roughly 30 miles east of Death Valley National Park and 30 miles west of , 听at Water Rock Ranch is surrounded by ample听hiking and climbing. Guests can take advantage of a pergola sitting area plus a fire pit and grill for cooking.

New Hampshire

Sacred Nectar Sanctuary (From $77)听

With broad views of the White Mountains, is situated听next to a trailhead for Mount Whiteface, a 11.3-mile听loop. There are quiet country roads for scenic biking and a small communal shelter, but be sure to bring tents or a vehicle to sleep in if听inclement weather is听forecast.

New Jersey

Restorative Lakeside Retreat (From $400)听

This 听(adjacent to the property鈥檚 main house)听on Cape May听offers hiking in addition to the听big听attraction: the hosts鈥櫶�20-acre lake. In the summer, launch free kayaks, canoes, SUPs, or a sailboat from the dock, or opt for the ocean,听five miles away.听

New Mexico

Abiqui煤听Tiny House (From $60)听

In the high desert of northern New Mexico, in the village of Abiqui煤 boasts sweeping vistas of the Chama Valley. Walk among pi帽on and juniper in the footsteps of artist Georgia O鈥橩eeffe, who called this area听home for many years, raft the Rio Chama, swim at Abiqui煤听Lake, or day-trip to Taos or Santa Fe.

New York

Birdsong Cabin (From $125)听

This is the definition of cozy: a听wood-burning heater warms the space, which features plush armchairs, a rocking sofa, and a queen-size bed in the loft. Come summer, six-foot-tall windows on multiple walls let in lots of light, and French doors open up onto a petite porch. For active day trips, there are plenty of nearby trails, plus听swimming at Dorset Marble Quarry and fly-fishing at just across the border in Vermont.

North Carolina

RV Paradise (from $100)听

Ideal for motorized vehicles, 鈥檚 most popular feature is its mountaintop observation deck, which听features听spectacular views of . Your stay听comes with a slip on Lake Glenville, where you can launch the property鈥檚 complimentary canoe, kayak, and SUPs.听

North Dakota

Cottonwood Campground (From $15)听

This spartan in is a good jumping-off point for backcountry hiking, road biking, fishing, cross-country skiing, or听a multi-day float down the Little Missouri River.

Ohio

Creekside Cottage (From $80)听

This fully equipped, is part of a campground in the Appalachian foothills, just over 70 miles east of听Cincinnati. After hiking, biking, and hanging out creekside, drive eight miles to the , a prehistoric Native American structure slated to become a Unesco听World Heritage site.

Oklahoma

Dragonfly Tiny Cabin (From $50)听

Only two people can fit inside this postage-stamp-size听, but more guests can camp outside. Located about听15 miles east of downtown Oklahoma City, you鈥檒l听be surprised at the variety of adventure found听nearby: angling, climbing, boating, biking, and hiking are all possible at , a half-hour south.

Oregon

Owl Creek Cabin (From $125)听

In the mountains just east of Ashland, this delightful is adjacent to BLM land. Day-hike a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, or paddle around one of several nearby lakes, including the neighboring Howard Prairie Lake, before retiring to the claw-foot tub set under a canopy of boughs.

Pennsylvania

Summer Smiles Honey Farm (From $88)听

Roam around 鈥檚 environs, a 34-acre working farm, before heading out to fish at the farm鈥檚 lake or explore nearby hiking trails. For an additional fee, the hosts will cook you meals (think wood-fired pizzas) made with fresh ingredients produced on-site. Keep an eye out for their friendly Irish wolfhound.

Rhode Island

Burlingame State Campground (From $10)听

Set right beside Watchaug Pond in , this听 offers 20 cabins and听700 tent sites. Rent a canoe, hike through rocky forestland, or drive ten听minutes to or 15 minutes to .

South Carolina

Wild Hope Farm (From $100)听

Stake out a tent at , an organic farmstead situated 45 minutes south of Charlotte, North Carolina. Amble along oak-lined trails and fish a听ten-acre pond that鈥檚 stocked with bass.

South Dakota

Whispering Winds Campsites (From $45)听

The eight RV spots and ten听cottages at put听you within easy reach of Black Hills favorites, like and the , the latter a monument to the Lakota leader that has been under construction since 1948.

Tennessee

On the Beech Treehouse (From $110)听

Perched on the edge of a mossy cliff, this indoor-outdoor includes a covered deck and can sleep six people. Cook up a storm in the large outdoor kitchen, stroll听to the private听50-foot-tall waterfall, or visit one of eight state parks within a half-hour drive of听the property.

Texas

Sky Ranch Terlingua (From $20)听

Just outside Big Bend National Park, this offers respite from the West Texas heat (and wind) and a private slice of desert. You鈥檒l have a sturdy fire pit to go with a panorama that includes landforms like Nine Point Mesa, Camel鈥檚 Hump, Black Hill, Packsaddle Mountain, and Hen Egg Mountain.

Utah

Running Deer Tipi (From $70)听

Thirty minutes from Bryce Canyon National Park and an hour from Zion National Park, boasts a 360-degree vista of red rocks and the Sevier River. Unlike bare-bones tepees, this one comes with an ozan, an interior awning that catches any water that may fall in through the smoke hole up top.

Vermont

SiloSide A-Frame (From $50)

If you book this charmingly rugged , be sure to snag the farm host鈥檚 $5 Garden Goody Basket, full of fresh herbs, greens, and vegetables. You can also rent a听canoe听to paddle on nearby Harvey鈥檚 Lake, meander among the apple trees, or head over to 听to hike.

Virginia

Incredible Mountain Camping (From $35)听

Although it has since returned to nature, the ten-site was once a bustling resort. Best for tents, it affords pedestrian access to a wooded lake for fishing, boating, and seasonal swimming.

Washington

Treehouse Place at Deer Ridge (From $225)听

Follow a circuitous听boardwalk through the forest to find perched among the trees, complete with a kitchenette, fireplace, slipper tub, and spiral staircase leading to the loft, where floor-to-ceiling windows are a constant reminder that you鈥檙e in a treehouse. It鈥檚 just an hour north of Seattle and near plenty of day hikes.

West Virginia

Loafer鈥檚 Glory Wilderness Camp (From $85)听

Set on a scenic bike route of the , also has access to the camp鈥檚听own trails (and many more to be found in the greater area, too). You鈥檒l get to play at听on-site fishing ponds,听nearby swimming holes,听multi-pitch trad and sport听climbing at Seneca Rocks鈥攁 world-class climbing destination just 30 miles north鈥攁nd the adventure hot spot of Monongahela National Forest, 60 miles west.

Wisconsin

Sanctuary at Little Sand (From $87)听

A self-described 鈥渆co-glamping鈥� site, offers a snug canvas tent, a composting toilet, and a solar-powered shower. You鈥檒l be within two miles of the beach at , on Lake Superior, and close to paddling and swimming at .

Wyoming

Japanese Cabin (From $150)听

Bike, boat, fish, climb, windsurf, swim, and paddle whitewater within a small radius of the property. You might not want to leave. Overlooking the Bighorn Basin, has a cedar sauna, a wood-fired stove framed by geometric windows, and a traditional tub in addition to a separate wooden soaking bath.

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Jim Cummins was not only the founder of one of the world鈥檚 best-known gravel-bike races, the Dirty Kanza, but he was also its public face鈥攖he man at the finish line in Emporia, Kansas, waiting to give each returning rider a hero鈥檚 welcome after 200 miles of rutted roads, headwinds, and tire-sucking mud. That is, until June 17, when Cummins posted a video on his personal Facebook page听calling the shooting听of Rayshard Brooks,听a 27-year-old Black man who was听killed听 on June 12听when Brooks听was found sleeping in a Wendy鈥檚 drive through lane,听鈥渏ustified鈥� and inviting anyone who disagreed to 鈥渦nfriend鈥� him. Many followers did so, and even more expressed hurt and anger about the post on social media.听

Cummins鈥檚 reach in the bike world is considerable. The race he dreamed up in 2006 as a solo, self-supported tour of Kansas鈥檚听rolling Flint Hills has since grown into a marquee event听attracting not only top professional racers but amateur riders from听all over the country鈥攖he closest thing the burgeoning gravel scene had to a World Tour. Last year听the Dirty Kanza attracted thousands听of riders to its 25-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 350-mile events. The race put Emporia on the map as a top U.S. cycling destination, a new and unexpected reputation the 24,000-person town was happy to adopt.听

In 2018, Life Time, a national chain of races and fitness companies, the once scrappy gravel grinder and kept Cummins on as its 鈥渃hief gravel officer.鈥� Until that post went up. Within 24 hours, Life Time had 鈥減arted ways鈥� with Cummins, according to the senior vice president Kimo Seymour. The company describing his Facebook comments as 鈥渋nappropriate and insensitive,鈥� and clarified its听mission of making gravel racing 鈥渁 more inclusive and progressive place where all feel welcome and represented.鈥�

Cummins declined an interview, but in a statement shared with Road Bike Action, he , 鈥淚听chose my words poorly鈥� and 鈥淸I]听hope that, some day, I can听help to heal the wounds that I have caused.鈥� But his words landed during a summer marked by civil rights protests and in a cycling world grappling with a historical lack of inclusivity, particularly for Black and Indigenous riders.听

His dismissal also reignited another听long-simmering, racially charged controversy surrounding the Dirty Kanza.听

Race director LeLan Dains has a long history with both this region of听Kansas and the race. An Emporia local, he first competed in the 200-miler in 2008听and joined the four-person staff five years later. Then听someone approached the event team about the problematic nature of the name of the race itself, which some argue is a racist slur against the听Kaw people native to the land on which the race is held.听Translated as the 鈥�,鈥� the Kaw were given the name 鈥淜anza,鈥� or 鈥淜ansa,鈥� by early French traders and other European settlers. But听it鈥檚 the pairing of 鈥渄irty鈥� with the tribal name that many argue turns the race鈥檚 title into a historical racist stereotype.听

Dains says that there were no ill intentions behind the name of the race. 鈥淲e named it 鈥榙irty鈥� for the gravel roads and the dirt you get on your legs and body when you ride them,鈥� he says, 鈥渁nd 鈥楰anza鈥� for the state, which gets its name from the Kaw tribe.鈥澨�

Still, over the years, Dains says members of the organization made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the Kaw Nation鈥檚 leadership for their thoughts on the name.听

In 2019,听Cummins听was finally able to meet with Lynn Williams, chair of the Kaw Nation Tribal Council. The two convened at Kaw Nation headquarters in Kaw City, Oklahoma, on February 26 of that year听and ultimately agreed that the name would stay as is. Seymour says, 鈥淭he last time we spoke, Williams said the Kaw Nation took no offense to the name.鈥� (Williams did not respond to requests for comment.)

But continuing criticism听raised the question of whether Williams鈥檚 decision accurately reflected her community鈥檚 feelings as a whole. In fact, according to by听Bicycling, a few months before he met with Williams,听Cummins was forwarded an email on November 9, 2018, 鈥渟igned by 45 members of the Kaw Nation, along with academics, advocates, and allies鈥� saying that听鈥渢he name was offensive to many people in or associated with the Kaw Nation,鈥� James Stout wrote for听Bicycling. (Dains says he鈥檚 not 鈥減ersonally aware of a petition that potentially contained 45 members of the Kaw Nation.鈥�)

In April of 2020, Christina Torres, the founder of听, an independent publication focused on 鈥渟haring knowledge and the stories of BIPOC and FTW [femme, trans, and women]听folx in cycling,鈥� launched a urging the race to change its name. The issue felt personal to Torres, as an avid cyclist and a Kawaiisu Shoshone-Paiute descendant of the Tejon听Indian Tribe, she . 鈥淭he Kaw Nation of Kansas, now of Oklahoma, has survived adversity and today is a federally recognized, self-governing tribe seeking to recover its cultural heritage and land,鈥� . 鈥淭o preface the Kanza people with 鈥榙irty鈥� shows a disconnect of America鈥檚 legacy of anti-Indigenous violence.鈥�

The petition drew more than 1,200 signatures鈥攎any from Indigenous people across the country鈥攁nd the attention of the team in Emporia. In response, Cummins issued in April 2020 revealing his 2019 meeting with Williams听and said that the race name would not be changing. The statement also clarified his听intentions behind choosing its name. Though Williams鈥檚 signature appears on the open letter, her voice seemed to be absent.

At the time, the Dirty Kanza wasn鈥檛 the only gravel event confronting the impact its name might have on Indigenous groups. In late 2019, Bobby Wintle, founder of the gravel race in Oklahoma, announced that听he had changed the race鈥檚 official title to .听Wintle VeloNews that when he first named the race, he was 鈥渦naware that the name held negative connotations for many still living today.鈥� The Oklahoma land rush听was named as such because a , effective April 22, 1889, allowed 50,000 white settlers to seize two million acres of Indigenous land. (The land run of 1893 saw settlers take a further six million acres.)听鈥淥nce our small crew and myself realized that the correlation with the original land run of 1889 was offensive to others, we had to make a change,鈥� Wintle said in .

To many, the Dirty Kanza was one more example of the way Native-derived names often ignore the voices of the very people they purport to honor, raising the question of who gets to grant permission听to use those names. 鈥淥ne person from the Native community saying, 鈥業 think it鈥檚 OK鈥� is no different than someone saying, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 not racist, because I have a Black friend,鈥欌�� says artist, gravel rider, and Indigenous activist Gregg Deal. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e talking about an entire community of people, which means there are different ideas and schools of thought.鈥�

Deal bemoans the fact that Indigenous people aren鈥檛 given agency or authority in matters so deeply tied to their culture. 鈥淧eople will tell you straight to your face, 鈥業t鈥檚 not offensive, that鈥檚 not the intent,鈥欌�� he says. 鈥淢ost Americans in that school of thought feel like they get to decide what鈥檚 offensive, what鈥檚 not offensive, and what鈥檚 an honor, what鈥檚 not an honor. But that can鈥檛 exist without a true dialogue or relationship of some kind.鈥澨�

That dialogue is finally being attempted on more of a national scale. Just this week, the NFL鈥檚 Washington, D.C., team announced plans for a to replace its long-protested racist one, California鈥檚 Squaw Valley Ski Resort reportedly for a less offensive moniker, and Yeti Cycles they鈥檇 stop using the word 鈥渢ribe鈥� in their marketing.

Torres declined an interview, and while she didn鈥檛 provide her reasons, the naming saga had become heated and sometimes personal.听Once Cummins issued his open letter, many thought the issue was settled: the Kaw Nation had granted an ostensible stamp of approval on the race name. This prompted a fair amount of online backlash to the petition. Commenters unleashed their usual gripes about cancel culture, some of which spilled over into personal criticism of Torres. 鈥淪top looking for ways to be offended!鈥� read one听of the tamer responses on Instagram.听

And then came Cummins鈥檚 June 19 Facebook post, which renewed the听push to change the race鈥檚 name.听Activists began a second petition.听Titled , the petition is a 鈥渃ampaign to end the use of the slur 鈥榙irty Kanza鈥� as the event name of DIRTY KANZA (DK) in Emporia, KS.鈥� The authors听have decided to remain anonymous听but听are described as a 鈥渦nited collective of Indigenous advocates, cyclists, people of faith, educators, elders, youth, local Kansas residents and builders of a just world.鈥� I reached out to the authors听through an intermediary, and they declined to comment. As of today, the petition has been signed by more than 6,500 people.听

This time, the team in Emporia was ready to listen. In a June 22 , race organizers committed to changing the name. Dains confirmed over the phone on June 24 that they were in the process of landing on a new race title, which they would announce in 鈥渆ight to ten weeks.鈥澨鼿e added that the petition had accelerated the decision, but that the name-change conversation had remained open for some time.听

鈥淲e know now more than ever that words have meaning,鈥� Dains says. 鈥淎t the time we made that announcement in unison with the Kaw Nation, we felt we were right in continuing with the name. But at the end of the day, we can be legally 鈥榬ight,鈥� or听we can be kind. We鈥檙e going to choose to be kind and change the name.鈥澨�

For many, that change can鈥檛 come fast enough. Support for the petition and further demands鈥攊ncluding more acknowledgement of the Indigenous groups who have long opposed the name and have had their complaints ignored鈥攃ontinues to grow after the announcement, even among past riders and winners. Amity Rockwell, the winner of last year鈥檚 race, requests for the organizers, including a name change and a BIPOC athlete-sponsorship program.听

The decision to change the name is a 鈥済ood move, in good faith,鈥� says Deal, adding that it鈥檚 one 鈥渢hat won鈥檛 change the hard, grueling nature of the race.鈥� It鈥檚 a move toward better accountability to the Indigenous communities whose names and images have long been appropriated to represent the outdoors.听But it鈥檚 not the finish line. That will come into sight, Deal says, when Indigenous people are given true agency听over the use of their names and symbols, and when bike races create more opportunities and accessibility for riders of color.听

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One summer听I went with my mother on a weeklong cruise to the Caribbean, during which someone jumped overboard. According to boat gossip and accounts from heavily intoxicated eyewitnesses, a man was arguing with his wife when he suddenly yelled, 鈥淔鈥攃k听it!鈥澨齛nd leaped听from the balcony. I only noticed something was wrong when I saw searchlights appear on the water. The following day, the captain assured us that听the man had been successfully rescued,听but the night it happened, everyone was fearing the worst. I went back to our room to find my mom. She was inside, sobbing: 鈥淚 thought it was you. You鈥檝e been so miserable this entire trip.鈥澨�

On some level, I began to suspect this is how all family trips go. We invest so much (money, emotions, liver health) to bond over rum punches and zip-lining excursions, determined to make memories at all costs. Disappointment and allegations of ingratitude are practically baked in. Is there any way to emerge from it all unscathed, with something that feels even remotely like a vacation?

While the face of contemporary travel literature is increasingly that of the solo female looking to find herself (Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love and Cheryl Strayed in Wild), the fact is: most people do not travel this way. Rather than pursuing solitary self-transformation by stepping out of our comfort zone, more often than not, we bring our comfort zone听with us in the form of grumpy kids and stressed-out听spouses. According to , 100 million Americans will go on a family vacation this year, and a lot of those people will be crammed into a car together (and we all know that I Spy听stops being fun really fast). That鈥檚 what makes two new books out this fall鈥�,听by Dan Kois ($28; Little, Brown and Company), and , by Kim Brown Seely ($25, Sasquatch Books)鈥攔efreshingly relatable.听They both meditate on the highs and lows of traveling听as a family.

How to Be a Family follows Kois, his wife, Alia, and their two preteen daughters as they spend a year away from their fast-paced life in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Arlington, Virginia. They divide the year into four parts, spending three months each in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and rural Kansas to escape what was starting to feel like a 鈥渂lur of petty arguments, overworked days, exhausted nights.鈥� This caper, they hope, will be possible with the help of an intricate configuration of logistics: musical subletters, gracious bosses who agree to let them work remotely, and a book advance.听

The four destinations in How to Be a Family provide opportunities to explore different cultural attitudes toward听parenting (from New Zealand鈥檚 emphasis on outdoor time to the Dutch practice of giving children sprinkles鈥�丑补驳别濒蝉濒补驳鈥�for breakfast). Kois, who cohosts Slate鈥檚 parenting-advice podcast, is open-minded when it comes to all of them (even the sprinkles)听but finds parts of it incompatible with the particulars of American听society. For instance, , a Dutch guidebook on parenting, is rooted in the idea听that听happiness comes from听being content with what you have, but as Kois points out, such a perspective 鈥渟tands in direct conflict with the American model of viewing our possibilities as limitless.鈥澨�

Kois鈥檚 podcast is called ,听but in the book it鈥檚 largely him butting heads with his daughters听on a topic many parents will relate to: screen time. Throughout the book, Kois frequently returns to a problem that seems to especially burden modern parents, a 鈥渧ision of what our time together should be like鈥� that can so easily 鈥渋nvade and darken the time we actually have.鈥� This becomes particularly acute, for Kois and for most families, while traveling. Halfway through the journey, he says, 鈥淚 wanted us to get off screens and into the world; instead we鈥檙e all staring at our devices, shouting when the rain knocks the internet out.鈥� His children, 9-year-old Harper and 11-year-old Lyra, don鈥檛 really seem to understand where these expectations for togetherness are coming from or where adults get the idea that we need to actively make memories. And maybe they have a point. After all, if it weren鈥檛 for the internet, would they have ever mastered the song 鈥淒espacito鈥� enough to make up a new version, 鈥淣o Mosquitos,鈥� a more fitting anthem for their relationship to the Costa Rican air?

In Uncharted, we find a different figuration of family: two empty nesters, but the outdoorsy kind who live in the Pacific Northwest and profess to having a weakness for the word 鈥渞emote.鈥� With one son in college and another about to start, Kim Brown Seely and her husband, Jeff, contemplate their next chapter. Seeing so many people in the same situation, staving off depression or divorce (or both), they鈥檙e determined to find a new way to be 鈥渁lone together.鈥澨�

They decide to sail away in search of a mysterious blond听bear that can only be found in the Great Bear Rainforest of听British Columbia. They embark on the 700-nautical–mile journey, sailing by themselves on a听54-foot boat, which they worry is like 鈥渁 giant flagpole announcing to the entire world that someone on board was having a midlife crisis.鈥� Seely and her husband are committed to this adventure though, one that is perhaps as defined by the elements (cold water, colder winds, bears) as it is by the prospect of suddenly being alone for the first time in twenty-some-odd years. When Seely wonders aloud 鈥渋f [their] boat would survive,鈥� it is clear she means more than the floorboards and the sails. But quite literally听in the middle of it all, Seely has a revelation. Seeing a pair of breaching whales swim in the same water that keeps her boat afloat, she feels connected, in a tactile sense, to all living things, including her two sons. 鈥淓verything is with you,鈥� she realizes, in a way that you can only realize things when you鈥檙e at sea.听

Uncharted and How to Be a Family are firm reminders that despite the independent allure of solo travel, sometimes听we can鈥檛 change on our own. And it鈥檚 true, because despite my own harrowing solo adventures (hitchhiking in Russia, causing a minor bar fight in Lithuania, crossing the street in India), I think all I really learned about myself is that I like wine, something I probably would have figured out even if I鈥檇 never left my hometown. It鈥檚 the trips I took with other people that, for better or worse, told me the most about what kind of daughter, friend, and partner I was: one who can be moody, but not to the point where I wouldn鈥檛 dance to 鈥淣o Mosquitos.鈥澨�

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DK 2019, from , is a recap video from this year's race, where听 took first in the men's full course.

The post Colin Strickland Took Dirty Kanza by Storm appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This festival cut of the full documentary, 听looks at why humans pursue type-two听fun. Filmmakers听听and follows a group of cyclists as they prepare for gravel grinding’s hardest race, the Dirty Kanza. But at the next level, it’s also kind of humorous and irreverent. We’ll let you be the judge.

The post A Weirdly Honest Type-II Fun Cycling Film appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.