Explore United States

Explore United Stateshttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-statesExplore United Stateshttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/winter-skillcationsHow travelers can use their winter getaways to level up 2026-01-12T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/winter-skillcationshttps://www.worldnomads.com<div class="callout light"> This article features activities covered by World Nomads Travel Insurance for US residents. Coverage may differ for residents in other regions. For non US residents, please refer to the policy documents relevant to your location. </div> All that flipping, racing, double axel-ing, and sledding have you amped up for winter sports this year? Sure, the Olympics are fun to watch but imagine getting out there and doing it yourself! The good news is that you don’t have to be a professional to dabble in some of the most popular Olympic sports. You just need a weekend lesson. ‘Skillcations’ - a combination between a vacation and personal development - are on the rise across the globe, and especially in the US. According to <a href="https://www.sdxcentral.com/press-releases/rvshares-2025-travel-trend-report-finds-that-quality-experiences-passion-driven-travel-and-splurgecations-take-center-stage">2025 travel trend report</a>, more than half of respondents said they wanted to take a trip centered around a passion (hobbies, learning, adventure). So why not get out there and learn a new winter sport? You’ll be in good company. While there are countless places to take a ski lesson or play ice hockey in the United States, we’ve put together some recommendations for where trying that new sport will be extra special. Make a trip out of it and experience a little Olympic magic for yourself. <h2>1. Bobsledding</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/skillcation-bobsledding.jpeg" alt="Four men bobsled racing down track, view from above (blurred motion)" /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Getty images / Nicholas Reid</figcaption></figure> Sport: Bobsled Bobsledding is one of winter’s purest adrenaline hits. You load into a streamlined sled, grip tight, and launch down an icy track that twists and drops at speeds that feel wildly unreal. Even with a pro pilot at the controls, every turn delivers a jolt of G-force that reminds you why this sport is an Olympic classic. Where: Park City, Utah. Just 35–45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City’s <a href="https://utaholympiclegacy.org/location/utah-olympic-park/">Utah Olympic Park</a> makes it easy to try bobsledding for yourself. Direct flights into SLC from across the U.S. keep travel simple, and shuttles run regularly up to the resort town. Once you’re there, the Olympic Park sits right on the edge of town—close enough to fold into any winter adventure. How: At Utah Olympic Park, beginners don’t need any experience to take a ride. The <a href="https://utaholympiclegacy.org/activity/winter-bobsled-experience/">Comet Bobsled</a> experience pairs you with a trained pilot and a professional brakeman, so you can focus on the ride while they handle the skill. After a quick safety briefing and gear check, you’ll load into a four-person sled and fly down the Olympic track at speeds that may reach 60–70 mph in winter. It's fast, safe, and one of the most accessible ways for a novice to experience a real bobsled run in the U.S. Why Here: This track isn’t a replica—it’s the real deal from the <a href="https://www.olympics.com/en/olympic-games/salt-lake-city-2002/results/bobsleigh">2002 Winter Olympics</a>. Today it still trains world-class athletes, so when you climb into a sled, you’re experiencing the same ice that Olympians push off on. Between the training facilities, the stories told in the on-site museums, and the sheer sense of history, it’s one of the most iconic places in the U.S. to give bobsledding a go. Make a trip out of it: Park City is built for winter explorers. Spend a day skiing legendary terrain at <a href="https://www.parkcitymountain.com/">Park City Mountain</a> or <a href="https://www.deervalley.com/">Deer Valley</a>, take a snowshoe trail deep into the pines, or wander Main Street’s cafés and indie shops. At the Olympic Park, you can keep the adrenaline going with tubing, zip lines, or freestyle ski demos. When you’re ready to slow down, warm up with a local whiskey or settle into a fireside lounge with mountain views. <h2>2. Ice Hockey</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/skillcation-hockey.jpeg" alt="Ice hockey players facing off." /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Getty images / Ryan McVay</figcaption></figure> Sport: Ice Hockey Ice hockey blends speed, precision, and just enough chaos to make it addictive from the moment you step on the ice. Players glide, pivot, and chase pucks across a slick sheet where every move demands balance and quick reflexes. Even at a beginner level, there’s something electric about hearing your skates cut into the ice inside a real Olympic arena. Where: <a href="https://lakeplacidolympiccenter.com/visit/#tab+directions">Lake Placid, New York</a>. Tucked in the Adirondacks, it’s about a two-hour drive from Albany International Airport or roughly three hours from Burlington or Montreal. Once you reach the village, the Olympic Center sits right in town, surrounded by mountain views and an easy walk from cafés, shops, and lodging. How: Lake Placid makes it surprisingly easy for first-timers to learn the basics. The <a href="https://lakeplacidolympiccenter.com/">1932 & 1980 Olympic Center</a> offers beginner-friendly skating and hockey clinics, stick-and-puck sessions, and public skate times where you can ease into the sport at your own pace. Instructors can walk you through fundamental skills like skating strides, passing, and basic stick handling so you get a feel for the game—even if you’ve never held a hockey stick before. Why Here: Lake Placid is one of the most storied places in winter sports history. This is where the U.S. pulled off the “<a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-22/u-s-hockey-team-makes-miracle-on-ice">Miracle on Ice</a>” in 1980, defeating the Soviet team in one of the most legendary hockey games ever played. Training still happens here today, which gives the rinks a sense of living history. Skating on the same ice where Olympic athletes competed adds an unmistakable thrill to even the most basic practice session. Make a trip out of it: Beyond the rink, Lake Placid is a winter playground. Try cross-country skiing at <a href="https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/">Mount Van Hoevenberg</a>, ride the Skyride gondola for panoramic mountain views, or lace up your boots for snowy lakeside hikes. Wander the village for hot chocolate, local brews, and cozy Adirondack restaurants. If you want more Olympic vibes, tour the ski jumps or visit the museum that brings decades of winter-sports stories to life. <h2>3. Cross-Country Skiing</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/skillcation-cross-country.jpg" alt="Cross-Country Skiing" /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Getty images / Henrik Trygg</figcaption></figure> Sport: Cross-Country Skiing Cross-country skiing is a full-body workout that blends endurance, rhythm, and a sense of quiet exploration through snow-covered landscapes. Unlike downhill skiing, it moves at your pace, letting you glide across groomed trails while soaking in the surrounding mountains. Even beginners quickly feel a sense of flow as skis carve through powder and the crisp winter air fills your lungs. Where: <a href="https://www.sunvalley.com/">Sun Valley, Idaho</a>. Flights into Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey connect from major U.S. hubs, and the scenic drive into Sun Valley takes about 20 minutes. The Nordic Center sits conveniently near town, making it easy to pair skiing with shopping, dining, or spa stops in the charming mountain village. How: At <a href="https://www.sunvalley.com/things-to-do/nordic-skiing/">Sun Valley Nordic Center</a>, novices can take lessons tailored to first-timers or intermediate skiers. Instructors guide you through basic strides, turning techniques, and how to navigate flat and rolling terrain. Rentals are available on-site, so you can just show up and start exploring miles of well-maintained trails without needing your own gear. Why Here: Sun Valley has been a hub for <a href="https://www.bontraveler.com/sun-valley-guide/">winter sports since the 1930s</a> and is known for its world-class Nordic skiing terrain. The trails here are groomed to Olympic standards and have trained elite skiers for decades, so even as a beginner, you’re skiing on legendary snow. Combine that with the iconic old-Hollywood ski town vibe and pristine mountain scenery, and it’s easy to see why Sun Valley is a cross-country skier’s dream. Make a trip out of it: After skiing, explore Sun Valley’s Main Street for cozy cafés, art galleries, and boutique shops. Try snowshoeing in the surrounding trails, or take a scenic <a href="https://www.sunvalley.com/things-to-do/scenic-gondola-rides/">gondola ride at Bald Mountain</a> for panoramic winter views. Evenings are perfect for warming up by a lodge fire, enjoying local craft cocktails, or planning your next day of mountain adventure. <h2>4. Speed Skating</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/skillcation-speed.jpeg" alt="Cross-Country Skiing" /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Getty images / Ryan McVay</figcaption></figure> Sport: Long-Track or Short-Track Speed Skating Speed skating is all about power, precision, and rhythm as you glide around an oval at speeds that feel exhilarating even for first-timers. Whether you’re on a long-track or short-track course, every push of the blade propels you forward with a rush of adrenaline. Beginners quickly get hooked by the thrill of moving fast on ice while learning to control your balance and stride. Where: <a href="https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/">Milwaukee, Wisconsin</a>. The Pettit National Ice Center sits about 15–20 minutes from downtown Milwaukee and is accessible from Mitchell International Airport. Its location on the city’s south side makes it easy to pair skating with urban winter exploration, dining, and local culture. How: At the <a href="https://www.thepettit.com/">Pettit National Ice Center,</a> public lessons make it easy for novices to try speed skating. Coaches guide you through proper technique, cornering, and stride mechanics so you can safely build speed and confidence. Skate rentals are available on-site, meaning you can show up ready to experience the same ice where Olympians train. Why Here: The Pettit National Ice Center is one of only a handful of <a href="https://www.thepettit.com/public-skating/">indoor long-track ovals</a> in the world, and it’s a training ground for Olympic athletes year-round. Skating here gives beginners the chance to experience world-class facilities while feeling the energy of elite-level ice beneath their feet. The venue’s combination of history, training excellence, and public accessibility makes it uniquely inspiring. Make a trip out of it: After your session, explore <a href="https://www.visitmilwaukee.org/food-drink/">Milwaukee’s vibrant beer scene, food culture, and lakefront architecture</a>. Take a stroll along the shores of Lake Michigan or check out seasonal winter events downtown. Whether you’re warming up with a craft brew or exploring quirky local neighborhoods, there’s plenty of fun to be had. <h2>5. Snowboardcross or Alpine Racing</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/skillcation-cross.jpeg" alt="A professional snowboarder performing a backside air off the slopes against the deep blue sky with powder snow spraying." /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Getty images / 4FR</figcaption></figure> Sport: Snowboardcross or Ski Racing Snowboardcross and alpine racing are all about speed, strategy, and precision as you navigate gates, rollers, and banked turns down a snowy course. Whether on skis or a snowboard, it’s a rush of adrenaline that challenges your balance, reflexes, and focus. Even as a beginner, learning to carve clean lines and manage terrain changes gives a real taste of what competitive racers experience. Where: <a href="https://www.travelportland.com/region/mount-hood/">Mt. Hood, Oregon</a>. Just over an hour from Portland, the mountain is accessible via car or shuttle from the city, which makes it an easy winter getaway. Both Meadows and Timberline are located on the slopes of Mt. Hood itself, offering immediate access to world-class terrain and training facilities. How: At <a href="https://www.skihood.com/">Mt. Hood Meadows</a> or <a href="https://timberlinelodge.com/">Timberline Lodge</a>, lessons and race programs are designed for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Professional instructors guide you through gate technique, course reading, and progression drills so you can safely gain confidence at your own pace. Rentals are available on-site, making it easy to step into the sport without owning specialized racing gear. Why Here: Mt. Hood’s <a href="https://www.skihood.com/explore/Schedule">long season</a> and varied terrain make it a training ground for elite athletes while still welcoming beginners. The mountain has respected race programs and progressive terrain, meaning you’re learning on slopes designed to build skill safely. Add in the glacier views and iconic volcanic scenery, and it’s one of the most memorable places in the U.S. to practice competitive winter sports. Make a trip out of it: Beyond racing, explore <a href="https://traveloregon.com/places-to-go/portland/?utm_actcampaign=22736005361&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22736005361&gbraid=0AAAAADMn03uVVmWcR7vRBRJCgmFBAarQJ&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfvIBhA6EiwAcErpydcWSi_kOzxwoEoSdQLNphvvbp2KZzOtTKXcUi870ck1fh8JwXoqXRoCjHYQAvD_BwE">Portland</a>’s food scene, craft breweries, and beautiful parks before heading up the mountain. Take scenic hikes, try snowshoeing, or simply soak in the glacier-backed vistas from Timberline Lodge. Evenings can be spent by the fire in a mountain lodge, planning your next day of high-speed winter fun. <h2>6. Ice Skating</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/skillcation-ice-skating.jpeg" alt="An semi professional ice skater's blades cutting curves and spirals into a frozen lake." /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Getty images / Tom Werner</figcaption></figure> Sport: Figure Skating Figure skating blends grace, strength, and technique on ice, whether you’re gliding across the rink or learning your first spins and jumps. Even as a beginner, there’s a thrill in moving with precision while imagining the champions who once trained on the same ice. The sport challenges balance, focus, and rhythm which makes every lesson a small victory. Where: <a href="https://www.visitcos.com/">Colorado Springs, Colorado</a>. The arena is just a short drive from downtown and about 90 minutes from Denver International Airport. If you wanted to combine figure skating with other winter sports, like skiing, there are a number of resorts, including <a href="https://www.breckenridge.com/">Breckenridge</a>, within three hours driving distance. How: The <a href="https://www.broadmoorworldarena.com/icehall/figureskating">Broadmoor World Arena</a> offers programs for skaters of all levels, from absolute beginners to more advanced students. Adult and youth Learn to Skate USA sessions give step-by-step instruction in skating basics, spins, and footwork. Skates are available for rental, so you can arrive ready to experience figure skating in a legendary environment. Why Here: This rink is considered the <a href="https://www.broadmoorworldarena.com/icehall/about">birthplace of U.S. figure skating excellence</a> and is a rare opportunity to skate where American legends trained. From 1930 to 1994, the original Broadmoor rink produced dozens of champions, and today the arena continues that legacy. Colorado Springs is also home to the <a href="https://www.usfigureskating.org/about/who-we-are/us-figure-skating-hall-of-fame">U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.</a> Make a trip out of it: Beyond the rink, explore Colorado Springs’ outdoor beauty with a hike in <a href="https://gardenofgods.com/">Garden of the Gods</a> or a scenic drive up Pikes Peak. Wander the city’s charming streets, enjoy local dining, or check out winter events and ice festivals. Be sure to get a tour at the <a href="https://www.teamusa.com/visit">US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center</a>, too. <h2>Why Travel Insurance Matters for a Winter Skillcation</h2> Trying a new winter sport is exhilarating, but it also comes with a few more moving parts—icy trails, fast-paced activities, and gear that doesn’t always behave. A travel insurance plan may help if an unexpected fall leads to a medical issue, if weather delays your trip, or if an airline loses your bags along the way. It’s a simple way to stay focused on learning something new while knowing you’re covered if the unexpected happens. Travel insurance doesn't cover everything, and coverage may differ depending on the country of residence, state or province. Carefully read the policy wording for a full description of coverage, including the terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the plans described.Milo Zanecchia / Ascent Xmedia 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/why-you-should-visit-charleston-nowThere’s more to this historic Southern city than antebellum charm. Get to know the other sides of Charleston: visit the brand new International African American Museum, paddle a kayak through a blackwater estuary, or check out the vibrant food and art scenes.2023-08-22T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/why-you-should-visit-charleston-nowhttps://www.worldnomads.comFounded in 1670, Charleston, South Carolina, is America’s 11th oldest city – it has seen the nation take shape, tear itself apart, rebuild and reckon with its history. It offers a window into the United States’ tumultuous past, but it has gone to great pains to ensure that its future is happier. The charms of “Chucktown” are well documented – horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping across downtown cobbles; live oaks draped with Spanish moss; blonde beaches and championship golf courses – so I figured I’d take a look at those lesser-known aspects of the city that will help strangers really understand it, and illustrate how it’s found a way to move forward by going back. <ul> <li><a href="#museum">Fort Moultrie and the International African American Museum</a></li> <li><a href="#food">Charleston’s food scene and dishes to try</a></li> <li><a href="#nature">Mother nature, father history</a></li> <li><a href="#art">Charleston’s art scene</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="museum">Fort Moultrie and the International African American Museum</h2> At Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan’s Island at the mouth of Charleston harbor (where the first shots of the Civil War were fired), a memorial bench donated by the Toni Morrison Society remembers the 14 million Africans who were sold into slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean (about a million of whom were shipped to North America) and the two million who died during the Middle Passage, the brutal trans-Atlantic journey from West Africa. Charleston was the first point of entry to North America for about 40 percent of the Africans who were enslaved there. Frankly, it’s an outrage that Sullivan’s Island isn’t as well-known as Ellis Island in New York. I attended Toni Morrison’s unveiling of the bench in 2008. The writer gave a speech, saying, “It’s never too late to honor the dead, and it’s never too late to applaud the living who do them honor.” So, I’m delighted that, after 20 years of planning and $100 million in fundraising, the <a href="https://iaamuseum.org/" target="_blank">International African American Museum</a> (IAAM) opened in June 2023. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/charleston/IAAM-charleston.jpg" alt="Exterior of the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC." /> <figcaption>The African Ancestors Memorial Garden at the IAAM. Image credit: Joe Furey</figcaption></figure> Built on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, a former disembarkation point for slave ships, the museum, a long horizontal block raised on pilings, manages to look like both a boat in dry dock and a Wakandan UFO about to land. It’s set in a public park, the African Ancestors Memorial Garden, planted with palm trees and sweetgrass broken up by sculptures, and has paving that’s etched with the ghostly imprints of bodies packed shoulder to shoulder. The IAAM’s nine galleries show how enslaved Africans and free blacks shaped economic, political, and cultural development across the nation and beyond, while presenting a granular look at the South Carolina Lowcountry and the <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/travels-with-the-gullah-geechee">Gullah-Geechee</a> who settled there – the descendants of Africans who were put to work on the rice, indigo, and cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast. And it provides a genealogical resource, too: The Center for Family History, which holds a wealth of research materials, including the largest collection of United States Colored Troop records outside of the National Archives. The story it tells is one of struggle and trauma, yes, but also of resilience and victory and, looking forward, of inclusion and equity. You can’t even begin to understand Charleston, which made its fortune on slave labor, without visiting the IAAM. <h2 id="food">Charleston’s food scene and dishes to try</h2> It would be unthinkable to leave food off this list. If it’s true that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, it’s fair to say that I have more than a crush on Charleston. In the past 25 years, it’s become an internationally lauded dining destination, and that success owes much to its best restaurants’ elevated takes on <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/a-vegetarian-on-the-barbecue-trail">Southern cooking</a>, and their promotion of the kitchen practices, heirloom ingredients and social eating principles of the Lowcountry. These foodways and traditions are rooted in Gullah-Geechee culture. Slaves did all the cooking in the planters’ grand homes, adapting the incredible larder of the Atlantic coast – as well as the ingredients they brought with them – to European culinary techniques. You could call Lowcountry cuisine the Tamla Motown of soul food, but unlike soul food, its focus is on seafood and seasonality. Signature dishes include Frogmore stew, a concoction of shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes; roasted Bulls Bay oysters (they’re wild-harvested, but the fishermen lay down fresh cultch for new oysters to set on); deviled crab and she-crab soup (a bisque with Atlantic blue crab meat, roe, and a ladle of cream); Carolina gold rice pilau (pronounced “purloo” and more like paella); hopping john (a kind of sea island red bean pilau); and whiting and tomato rice (a century ago, the “mosquito fleet” would leave the Charleston docks before dawn each day to catch whiting, black bass and porgy). And Charleston is producing long-aged madeira wine again, the proper capper to a Lowcountry feast, which should always be around a large table, the better to accommodate multiple parties. <h2 id="nature">Mother nature, father history</h2> A rod’s cast southwest of Charleston, the 350,000-acre ACE Basin is one the largest undeveloped wetland ecosystems on the Atlantic Coast, its name coming from its three rivers: the Ashepoo, Combahee, and Edisto. Home to several wildlife refuges, protected areas and historic rice fields, it provides invaluable habitat for such endangered and threatened species as the bald eagle, wood stork, osprey, anhinga, loggerhead sea turtle, and shortnose sturgeon. In late spring, rare white spider lilies line the banks, and spikes of purple pondeteria break the water. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/charleston/blackwater.jpg" alt="Paddling along the Combahee River near Charleston, SC." /> <figcaption>Paddling along the Combahee River in the ACE Basin. Image credit: Joe Furey</figcaption></figure> The best way to see this miraculously preserved blackwater estuary is <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">by kayak</a>, your own or on a tour, with guides narrating the history of the area, giving plenty of coverage to the Combahee Ferry Raid in 1863, when Harriet Tubman, a legendary conductor on the Underground Railroad, became the first woman to mount a major military operation in the United States. Using field intelligence from scouts she’d recruited – boatman who knew every ripple of the surrounding waterways – Tubman, under the command of Union Colonel James Montgomery, co-led an expedition of 300 soldiers of the Second South Carolina Volunteers up the Combahee River, aboard two paddle steamers converted into gunships. Coming five months after the Emancipation Proclamation, it was a liberation raid first and foremost, and it succeeded to that end – some 750 men, women and children clambered onto those boats to freedom – though plantations, mills, and mansions were plundered and torched. It was still war, after all. <h2 id="art">Charleston’s art scene</h2> Shepard Fairey – the “American Banksy” who made the “Hope” image for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign – was born in Charleston, so perhaps the amount of street art in this venerable city is less surprising than it first appears. In fact, the city vigorously supports artistic endeavor of every kind. The <a href="https://halsey.cofc.edu/" target="_blank">Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art</a>, at the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston, hosts exhibitions of emerging artists and runs an artist-in-residence program, whose guests have included such luminaries as Lonnie Holley, whose work spans sandstone carvings, painting, assemblages of found objects, and improvised music. The <a href="https://www.gibbesmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Gibbes Museum of Art</a> launched the annual Art Charleston festival just last year, with lectures, live performances, and a street party. This year, digital artist Mike Winkelmann, aka Beeple, got in on the act, having just moved into a huge studio in town, after a collage of his work was sold as an NFT at a Christie’s auction for $69 million. More traditional, but no less satisfying, is the <a href="https://spoletousa.org/" target="_blank">Spoleto Festival USA</a>. Founded in 1977 by the composer Gian Carlo Menotti – who saw in Charleston a “twin” of Spoleto, Italy, where a similar festival had been held since 1958 – this showcase of the best in opera, dance, theater, classical music, and jazz takes place over 17 days in May and June, across nine venues and sees more than 100 performances.Joe Furey 1 Joe Furey An elegant historic house and live oak tree in Charleston, SC.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/a-new-era-for-indigenous-sitesAll across the country, Native American tribes are taking part in the management of their ancestral lands and debunking myths about their history. Here are six sites where visitors can experience and understand indigenous cultures in new ways. 2022-12-23T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/a-new-era-for-indigenous-siteshttps://www.worldnomads.com“To us, this is sacred ground.” Alice Haldane and I are standing beside a broad gravel beach looking north into one of the world’s most famous fiords. <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/a-local-park-rangers-guide-to-exploring-southeast-alaska">Glacier Bay</a> is not just sacred, it’s mythical, embodying a global image of Alaska’s snow-crowned peaks whose slopes spill rivers of ice to the sea. Like more than a million travelers who come here every year, I’m an outside visitor. But to Haldane this is her ancestral homeland, the territory of the Huna Tlingit people. It’s also one of the world’s best-known national parks, “discovered” and first described by George Vancouver in 1795, popularized by famed naturalist John Muir in 1879 and as a result added to America’s parkland inventory in 1925. Its awesome scenery and active glaciers first drew travelers aboard cruise ships in the late 19th century, and even though the fiord’s glaciers have retreated 65 miles since 1795, it remains one of the most-sought cruise destinations on Earth. Now, under 21st century federal policy, its 3.2 million acres are the province of both the National Park Service and its original inhabitants, the Huna. That’s why Haldane is stationed today at GBNP’s visitor center complex to greet visitors who wander the beachfront path and discover the new Huna Tribal House, built as a joint NPS/Tlingit project in 2016. Visitors can see beautiful totems and wall panels, enjoy chant and dance performances, and learn the difference between the “scientific” version of the bay’s glacial history, and the Huna version. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/indigenous-renaissance/huna-longhouse-opening-new.jpg" alt="Interior of the Huna Tribal Longhouse in Glacier Bay National Park during the dedication ceremony." /> <figcaption>Tribal leaders experience the interior of the Huna Tribal Longhouse during the dedication ceremony. Image credit: NPS</figcaption></figure> When Vancouver sailed by in 1795, there was no bay: tidewater glaciers had covered it entirely during the previous century as a result of the Little Ice Age (which brought cold-weather famine across much of Earth’s northern latitudes). The Tlingit version of what happened is a bit different. “Well, one day a young girl – Kaasteen – got mad at the glacier and insulted it,” Haldane relates the Huna oral history tale. “Angry, the glacier advanced, and we had to leave.” One must respect mother Nature, is the obvious point of the tale. “But we always knew we would come back,” Haldane adds. They did so on Aug 25, 2016 – the park service centennial – when the new longhouse was dedicated with a ceremony that included the arrival of many Huna leaders in specially carved traditional cedar canoes. <ul> <li><a href="#renaissance">America’s indigenous renaissance</a></li> <li><a href="#stereotypes">Breaking stereotypes and bringing people together</a></li> <li><a href="#cooperation">A new spirit of cooperation at Indigenous sites around the country</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="renaissance">America’s indigenous renaissance</h2> Marvelous as it is to witness the newfound spirit in which America’s indigenous peoples and its national government are collaborating at hundreds of parks and other preserves, one need not trek to famous landscapes to experience the Native American renaissance. Across the country, the old Native theme – “Yes, we’re still here” – has become, in many places: “We’re on a roll.” Cash from hundreds of Indian casinos has been put to use funding scholarships, interpretive centers, art programs, wellness programs, and land conservation. A few years ago, when a development proposal was going to surround Snoqualmie Falls, east of Seattle, with suburbs, the Snoqualmie and Muckleshoot Tribes dipped into their capital reserves and bought the land and famous Salish Falls Lodge overlooking the falls, thus protecting a natural feature that’s been sacred to them for centuries. Many futurists have declared the 21st century the “Indigenous Century,” and the breathtaking array of <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/people/indigenous-tourism-companies">Native owned, managed, or co-managed attractions</a> across North America is one of the most conspicuous facets of that potential. Some are major commercial businesses, such as the lodge. Some are just one-off enterprises where simple human encounters erase preconceived notions. <h2 id="stereotypes">Breaking stereotypes and bringing people together</h2> The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s Indian Pueblo Kitchen in <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/hiking-hot-air-balloons-history-in-new-mexico">Albuquerque, New Mexico</a> is perhaps the best place in the United States to taste indigenous cuisine – and what cultural facet is more important than food in human society? But while some dishes are totally “authentic,” such as the restaurant’s signature Pueblo feast day stew and blue corn enchiladas, some reflect the colorful nature of modern indigenous life, such as the fried Kool-Aid pickles crusted in blue corn with salsa de arbol – about as all-embracing a dish as you are likely to find anywhere. “One of our missions is to help people unlearn the worst Native stereotypes,” says IPCC chief operating officer Monique Fragua, a member of the Jemez Pueblo. “Food brings people together, and believe me, at our Pueblo, it’s not all corn and beans, however important they are.” One could apply this idea to much of the indigenous renaissance. <h2 id="cooperation">A new spirit of cooperation at indigenous sites around the country</h2> • At Grand Canyon National Park, federal officials recently granted a request by the canyon’s Native inhabitants to change the name of a popular resting spot on the Bright Angel Trail, from Indian Garden to Havasupai Gardens. The change is meant to make modest amends for the park service’s forced removal of the indigenous inhabitants from the canyon rim after the park was established in 1928 – and remind us that, long before the landscape became the “property” of the American people, it was the homeland of human beings who had lived, loved and thrived here since time immemorial. • At Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, one of America’s newest preserves is being managed jointly by NPS and the Bears Ears Commission that includes five nearby tribes – the Ute, Zuni, Hopi and Navajo peoples to whom these peaks, plateaus and hidden canyons are sacred territory, holding thousands of ancient dwellings, petroglyphs, and artifacts. Exactly what shape co-management will take is still being determined – but the point is sharing the decisions among the government and the region’s indigenous inhabitants. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/indigenous-renaissance/bears-ears.jpg" alt="Valley of the Gods in Bears Ears National Monument." /> <figcaption>Valley of the Gods in Bears Ears National Monument. Image credit: Getty Images / Don Miller</figcaption></figure> • At Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, NPS officials regularly consult Native Hawaiian community leaders to determine how to manage and interpret the Big Island’s famous eruptions. While to Western geologists the outflows from Mauna Loa and Kilaue’a are lava, to Hawaiians they are the living manifestation of the goddess Pelehonuamea, commonly known as Pele. Mauna Loa’s recent eruption, first in almost four decades, was a sacred occasion for Hawaiian cultural practitioners, many of whom brought offerings of ti leaves, breadfruit, bananas and more for Pele’s new appearance. As with many other issues, the park honors such offerings but restricts activity within the Kilauea caldera itself. “It’s important to remember that many Native Hawaiians of the past, present and future have deep ties and lineal connection to the volcanic landscapes and natural and cultural resources protected by the park, long before Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was established,” points out park superintendent Rhonda Loh. “Since Pele embodies elements that can be hazardous to humans, you could say she sets her own boundaries and the park enforces them.” <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/indigenous-renaissance/mauna-loa-eruption.jpg" alt="Mauna Loa volcano spews lava into the sky." /> <figcaption>Mauna Loa spews lava into the sky during its recent eruption. Image credit: Getty Images / Douglas Peebles</figcaption></figure> • At Mesa Verde National Park in southwest Colorado, visitors today learn another myth-busting story from the park’s Native Puebloan interpreters. A half-century ago, anthropologists and park officials told visitors that the inhabitants of the park’s awesome cliff dwellings had simply vanished six centuries ago. These mysterious people were called the “Anasazi.” In reality, the descendants of what are now known as Ancestral Puebloans are today’s inhabitants of New Mexico’s 19 thriving Indian Pueblos, from Taos to Santa Clara – the tribes represented at Albuquerque’s IPCC. “Anasazi” is a pejorative epithet from the Navajo language that white ethnologists mistakenly adopted and have now discarded. And “Navajo” is a Puebloan word that somehow replaced “Diné,” the original term that, like most indigenous peoples’ names, simply means “the people.” These distinctions are infinite and infinitely meaningful, and the federal co-stewardship policy endeavors to incorporate them into almost every property under federal management. While some places are just starting, destinations such as Glacier Bay have been pursuing this for years. GBNP, in fact, won a prize for its program in 2018. Most of the visitors who sail into those famous waters benefit from co-stewardship without ever knowing it has a name, title, and proclamations behind it. Most ships that enter the bay now have Native interpreters onboard, a practice begun under the park’s formal pursuit of co-stewardship. As at every park and preserve, the sharing of cultures enhances understanding and enjoyment for all involved. When I tell Alice Haldane that, on my cruise ship the day before, the adventurous among us had plunged into the frigid waters in a colorful ritual, she shivered and declared me crazy. “But, you know, long-ago Tlingit warriors would steel themselves for battle in war canoes by standing in the ocean up to their necks for hours,” she says. “I guess you took a step on the warrior’s path.” Not my goal. But an immersive experience is my goal when I travel, and the indigenous renaissance makes that far more possible today.NPS 0 NPS Huna tribal leaders arrive at the dedication of ther longhouse in traditional cedar canoes.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/9-architectural-masterpiecesWestern Pennsylvania and western New York are blessed with numerous works by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright – and the settings are just as stunning as the structures. Join Joe Furey on a road trip as he tours nine remarkable sites, including the iconic Fallingwater house. 2022-06-30T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/9-architectural-masterpieceshttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#1">Frank Lloyd Wright sites in Buffalo</a></li> <li><a href="#2">Graycliff</a></li> <li><a href="#3">Polymath Park</a></li> <li><a href="#4">Fallingwater</a></li> <li><a href="#5">Kentuck Knob</a></li> </ul> Buffalo, New York, had it tough for a while. Dismissed as a post-industrial ruin – its population having fled to the suburbs, its nightlife a couple of bums staring into the Erie Canal – the city had almost forgotten that it used to be somewhere, the eighth largest city in the United States, no less, and one of the most prosperous (in 1901, it had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in America). When I first visited, in 1994, “the Queen City” of New York state wasn’t doing so well, and not only because the Bills had just lost their fourth Super Bowl in a row. But even though its heyday had been over for at least 40 years, I could see grounds for hope in its buildings. From the middle of the 19th century, <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/north-america/united-states/underrated-usa">Buffalo</a> was shaped by the best American architects of their generation – Henry Hobson Richardson, Frederick Law Olmsted, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright – and the city being down on its luck had done wonders for its preservation (empty pockets don’t flatten historic neighborhoods to put up high-rise condos). Life has been much kinder to Buffalo since, I’m happy to say. The city saw the value of what was staring me in the face all those years ago and invested heavily in it. To see some of the fruits of that investment, I suggest you join me on a little adventure, a <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-insurance/activities/road-trip">road trip</a> dedicated to one of Buffalo’s friendlier ghosts, Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW). The Great Wright Road Trip (GWRT), a showcase of nine FLW sites, starts in Buffalo, then wends its way through lake-facing western New York to the leafy, rolling Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania. It would take you seven hours if all you did was roll down your window and drive, so make the trip a journey, a long weekender. You’ll want to savor your surroundings, because Wright’s work is as much about where it is as what it is. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/north-america/martin-house-buffalo.jpg" alt="Martin House, Buffalo" /> <figcaption> Martin House, Buffalo. Photo credit: Getty Images / The Washington Post</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="1">Frank Lloyd Wright sites in Buffalo</h2> Our first stop is the Darwin D Martin House, named for the man who commissioned it, one of Wright’s oldest friends and his chief benefactor (both thankless tasks – the architect, though undoubtedly brilliant, was a libidinous egomaniac and reckless spender, of both his and his clients’ money). Built between 1903 and 1907, the residential estate, comprising the main house and five other structures, including a pergola, is the finest early example of the near instantly iconic “Prairie” style that became FLW’s Hallmark, and an object lesson in attention to detail: Wright designed everything the eye can see there – the furniture, decor, fixtures, gardens, the 394 pieces of stained glass – so it all works in wondrous concert. After Martin’s death in 1935, the complex fell into what looked like terminal disrepair, but it, and its grounds, have been painstakingly restored – and we can see again why Wright described it as a “well-nigh perfect composition”. Located in Buffalo’s Parkside neighborhood – the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, who also gave us Central Park – the house is open to the public as a museum, and guided tours are available. Buffalo has three other Wright buildings, and they share an unusual distinction: none of them were constructed in his lifetime. Designed in the 1920s for a local oil company, the Filling Station wasn’t built until 2014, and then as a permanent exhibit at the Pierce-Arrow Museum, where it is surrounded by restored antique cars, which the architect, a real autophile, would have loved. The Fontana Rowing Boathouse, which in the first decade of the 20th century was destined for a site at the University of Wisconsin (Wright’s home state), eventually found a home in 2007 at the West Side Rowing Club alongside the Niagara River. It is open by appointment. By far the most impressive of the three is the Blue Sky Mausoleum. This modernist masterpiece of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Delaware Park (another Olmsted creation) was commissioned by Darwin D Martin to be the final resting place for his family, but the Wall Street crash of 1929 wiped him out financially, and his wish wasn’t realized. The design was unusual for its time with a wide terrace set with benches and a modest central stone – rather than a commanding obelisk – on which a quote from Wright is engraved (“a burial facing the open sky … the whole could not fail of noble effect”), with a set of 12 steps, each housing a crypt, on either side, gently descending towards a pond at the foot of the memorial. It is a compellingly transcendent vision, which blurs the boundary not just between structure and setting, but also earth and heaven. While you’re at the cemetery, do as I did and seek out the grave of Rick James, the funk legend who was buried there in 2004, the year the mausoleum went up. Super Freaks need love too. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/north-america/blue-sky-mausoleum.jpg" alt="Blue sky mausoleum" /> <figcaption> The Blue Sky Mausoleum. Photo credit: Joe Furey</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="2">Graycliff</h2> From downtown Buffalo, it’s a 25-minute drive south along I-90 to Derby, and Graycliff, the Martin family’s summer home, which looks out over <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/north-america/united-states/great-lakes-road-trip">Lake Erie</a>. Built in the late 20s, and so dubbed because it sits on a bluff of grey shale and the Tichenor limestone used in the construction of its three buildings, the handsomely renovated Graycliff truly gives itself to its locale, its broadly cantilevered balconies letting the outside in, the spray of Niagara Falls just visible on the horizon. For our next stop, and a glimpse into FLW’s working life, stay on the I-90 till you hit Erie, Pennsylvania. His San Francisco office has been lovingly reassembled at the Hagen History Center. And his prized rusty orange 1930 Cord L-29 Cabriolet is also on display. <h2 id="3">Polymath Park</h2> Heading south for some 170mi (274km), via I-79 and I-76, will take you to Polymath Park, the “Frank Lloyd Wright oasis”, near Acme, Pennsylvania. A 125-acre resort encircled by private forest, the park features two relocated Wright residences – Duncan House, originally a prefab home in Lisle, Illinois; and Mäntylä House, a mini essay in concrete block, tidewater cypress, and Ludovici tile roof, formerly of Minnesota – and two designed by an apprentice of Wright’s, Peter Berndtson, which are original to the site. All are available for tours, with lunch or dinner, and overnight stays. <h2 id="4">Fallingwater</h2> On Route 381, 30mi (48km) south, near Mill Run, is, according to an American Institute of Architects poll, “the best all-time work of American architecture”. Designed in 1935 as a weekend retreat, Fallingwater is Wright’s magnum opus. Legend has it that the concept sprang, like Athena from the head of Zeus, fully formed from Wright’s imagination when his clients called to say they were coming over to view the plans for it and the procrastinating architect had to improvise a full set of drawings in a couple of hours. Perched above a waterfall on a rocky outcrop, for all its appearance of mass this haut bourgeois house seems to float above God’s own country, while growing out of it, its balconies suggesting deep pools, its interiors somehow cave-like yet spacious and doused with light. It looks, even now, uncompromisingly modern, alien even, but as though it’s been there forever. It has to be seen, at least half a dozen times, to be believed. Tours, except on Wednesdays and holidays, are available. <h2 id="5">Kentuck Knob</h2> Our last stop is Kentuck Knob, a mere 6mi (9.6km) down the road from Fallingwater. Completed in 1956, just three years before Wright’s death, this work of art in sandstone, red cypress, copper, and glass is an exceptional illustration of what the architect called his Usonian style – affordable dwellings that were usually single-story, crafted from native materials, naturally cooled and heated, turned away from traffic and towards their environment, and free of architectural conventions. Blending seamlessly with the landscape, the house manages to feel, at once, cozy and colossal, intimate yet thrown open to the elements by its expanses of glass and the jaw-dropping view of Youghiogheny River Gorge just beyond the back terrace. What makes Kentuck Knob the perfect spot to end your trip is its sculpture park. More than 30 works – by, among others, Andy Goldsworthy, Claes Oldenburg, Michael Warren, Wendy Taylor, and Sir Anthony Caro – occupy the grounds and woodlands surrounding the house, as well as “found art” pieces such as a French pissoir and a standing slab of the Berlin Wall. Control freak that he was, I’m not sure that FLW would approve, but I do. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/north-america/kentuck-knob.jpg" alt="Kentuck Knob" /> <figcaption> Kentuck Knob. Photo credit: Joe Furey</figcaption></figure>Joe Furey 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/keeping-indigenous-traditions-alive-at-crow-fairHeld each year at Crow Agency, Montana, Crow Fair is one of the largest Native American gatherings in the world, featuring parades, a rodeo, traditional dancing, and more than 1,000 teepees – and it’s open to everyone. 2022-05-05T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/keeping-indigenous-traditions-alive-at-crow-fairhttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#powwow">An epic five-day powwow</a></li> <li><a href="#rodeo">The Indian relay: the highlight of the rodeo</a></li> <li><a href="#dance">Traditional Native American dance</a></li> <li><a href="#food">Native American food at the Fair</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> I was just shy of my 8th birthday when <a href="http://www.crow-nsn.gov/crow-fair.html" target="_blank">Crow Fair</a> first came on my radar. To their credit, my parents were introducing their kids to a different culture – but they should have warned us it wasn’t going to be like the county fair. The disappointment was real when we arrived and didn’t see a Ferris wheel on the horizon. But the tears were short lived. Even as kids, we could tell Crow Fair was something special. Every year, during the third week of August, a patch of unassuming prairie along the banks of Montana’s Little Bighorn River transforms into the “teepee capital of the world.” There’s no official count – who wants to take time away from the festivities to tally teepees? – but most sources cite at least 1,200. Constructed of white canvas stretched tightly across lodgepole pines, the teepees stand out sharply against the brown earth. August in southeastern Montana is hot and dry, but it’s also the start of the harvest season – and originally, Crow Fair was established as an agricultural event. <h2 id="powwow">An epic five-day powwow</h2> Now in its 103rd year, Crow Fair has grown exponentially to become one of the largest powwows in the world. For five full days, thousands of representatives of <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/native-american-journeys">different tribes from across the country</a> and even <a href="/explore/north-america/canada/a-guide-to-exploring-haida-gwaii">Canada</a> gather to celebrate a culture the US government once tried to decimate. The irony that outsiders are welcome to attend is not lost on anyone – least of all the Crow people. They’re happy to be known for their hospitality, and their horses. Indeed, for every teepee at Crow Fair there is a horse trailer. For tribal members, going to Crow Fair without your horse is like going to war without a weapon. It’s unfathomable. For starters, there’s the parade around the encampment which kicks off each day of the fair. Most of the participants are on horseback – their animals elaborately adorned as if they’re going to the equine Academy Awards. The riders are also dressed to impress. As a kid I remember being enamored with the royalty riding by. There was Junior Miss Crow Nation, Miss Northern Cheyenne, and Center Lodge Princess – all practicing their pageant waves while wearing traditional dresses far prettier than anything I had hanging up in my closet at home. <h2 id="rodeo">The Indian relay: the highlight of the rodeo</h2> After the parade, all eyes are on the rodeo. Two years ago, I sat high in the grandstand, perched on the edge of my seat watching fearless men and women risk it all to race around the arena on seemingly wild horses. Their goal? To win a cash prize and a year’s worth of bragging rights. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/crow-fair/bronco-riding.jpg" alt="A tribal member rides a bronco during the rodeo at Crow Fair in Montana" /> <figcaption>Bronco riding at the Crow Fair rodeo. Image credit: Getty Images / Tom Williams</figcaption></figure> While the kids’ pony race always draws a huge crowd, the signature event is the Indian relay. Specific to Native American rodeos, this unique event requires riders to ride a lap on one horse, climb on the back of another horse for the second lap and then climb on the back of a third horse for the final lap. The riders do all of this bareback. It’s athleticism and horsemanship at its finest. <h2 id="dance">Traditional Native American dance</h2> Before the last of the dust settles, rodeo-goers start making their way to the dance arbor. Some show up hours in advance to plant their lawn chairs around the periphery of the large expanse of grass where the evening’s dancing and ceremonies will take place. I usually end up in the bleachers in the back. Still, there’s no bad seat at Crow Fair. The evening begins with the grand entry where everyone stands for the presentation of the colors. Tribal members who are veterans and active-duty military carry tribal flags, the Montana State flag, the American flag, and the POW MIA flag. Next, the dancers file in. “Be proud but not prideful,” reminds the emcee who announces them. The men – sporting head-to-toe regalia – enter first. Like their feather headdresses, their beaded belts, metallic armbands, and elaborate breastplates are all works of art. They dance, bowing their heads as if humbled by some unseen force of nature, to the beat of the drums. The drumming, and the singing, never seems to cease. It’s the soundtrack for the next few hours as hundreds of other dancers – everyone from toddlers to elders – shuffle in. Since many have sleigh bells sewn onto their fringed boots you hear them coming long before you see them. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/crow-fair/traditional-dance.jpg" alt="A colorfully costumed tribal member performs a traditional dance at Crow Fair in Montana." /> <figcaption>Traditional dance at Crow Fair. Image credit: Getty Images / Tom Williams</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="food">Native American food at the Fair</h2> It would be remiss to talk about Crow Fair without mentioning the fare. There are the usual suspects like ice cream, pizza, and burgers, but the event’s culinary crown jewel is the Indian fry bread. The line for this flattened dough – deep fried to perfection and served with an array of toppings – is never short, but the wait is always worth it. Until my first visit to Crow Fair, I didn’t think fair food could get any better than cotton candy. Little did I know! Twenty-five years later, I still can’t think of a single food that makes my mouth water more than a piping hot pillow of Indian fry bread smothered in powdered sugar. Like other powwows, Crow Fair is an alcohol-free affair. It makes the event far more family-friendly which is important because at its core, Crow Fair is basically a massive family reunion. As entertaining as it is, it’s not meant to be a tourist attraction. Can non-tribal members attend? Yes. Is it our right? No. It’s a privilege – and one I’ll never take lightly. In fact, I plan on bringing my future kids to Crow Fair someday. Until then I’m fine flying solo (and not having to share my fry bread). <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/crow-fair/fry-bread.jpg" alt="A woman holds a serving of Native American fry bread at Crow Fair in Montana." /> <figcaption>The author, with some of that delicious fry bread. Photo credit: Katie Jackson</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> Crow Fair takes place the third week in August at Crow Agency, about an hour’s drive east of Billings on I-90. Accommodations can be found in the nearby town of Hardin as well as in Billings, Montana’s largest city. Admission is free for enrolled tribal members. Event organizers are still determining the cost of admission for the general public for 2022, but in past years, it’s been around $12 per adult. Entry to the rodeo is an additional $10-$20 per person.Getty Images / Evo Danchev 1543375069 Getty Images Hundreds of white teepees cover the grounds around Crow Fair in southeastern Montana, United States.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/3-of-the-best-food-trails-in-oregonShowcasing locally produced food, beer, and wine, these trails are ideal for replenishing after a hike or bike ride, or just for a fun, delicious day out.2022-04-28T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/3-of-the-best-food-trails-in-oregonhttps://www.worldnomads.comIt’s been a big day of play in the high Cascades of central Oregon and my friends and I are famished. For the past six hours or so we’ve been hiking around a dormant volcano called Black Crater that rises about 7,251ft (2,210m) over the charming town of Sisters, about 150mi (240km) southeast of Portland. More volcanoes rise around us, their piebald summits looking like half-melted scoops of ice cream. Within an hour, we’re back in town tearing into dinner. It’s easy to burn calories here in the Pacific Northwest, with so many paths to hike and trails to bike, but it’s also easy to replenish them with delicious meals that highlight Oregon’s culinary bounty. The soil under our feet bursts with wild mushrooms and edible greens such as oxalis and miner’s lettuce. You can find fresh steelhead caught in regional waters on brew-pub menus where the beers reek of local hops. One of the best pies in the world comes packed with marionberries, a type of blackberry “invented” here. It’s little wonder then that over the past few years Oregon has exploded with new “<a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/eat-drink/oregon-food-trails/">food trails</a>” that highlight chefs and shops dedicated to showcasing local ingredients. These aren’t actual footpaths but a series of stops on self-guided road-tripping (or cycling) routes where you can play hard in nature and then taste a chunk of it, too. You can find these all over the country. There’s the <a href="https://missouriwine.org/sites/default/files/Rhineland_Tour.pdf">Missouri Rhineland</a> with its focus on wine and German food, and the <a href="https://www.lacajunbayou.com/foodtrail">Cajun Bayou Food Trail</a> in Louisiana. One day, I’ll make it out to Pennsylvania for the <a href="https://www.visitcumberlandvalley.com/blog/post/cumberland-valleys-coffee-chocolate-trail/">Cumberland Valley Coffee and Chocolate Trail</a>. Each stop typically focuses on ingredients special to that area. Here in Oregon, we have the <a href="https://www.eugenecascadescoast.org/restaurants/tasting-trails/south-willamette-valley-food-trail/">South Willamette</a> (pronounced “will-AM-ette”) Valley Food Trail with its artisanal cocktails made with local honey and herbs, and the <a href="https://eastgorgefoodtrail.com/">East Gorge Food Trail</a> where cherries reign. The <a href="https://northcoastfoodtrail.com/">North Coast Food Trail</a> offers thick bowls of clam chowder. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/oregon-food-trails/preserves-l-and-s-farm-and-garden.jpg" alt="Several shelves lined with homemade preserves at L & S Farm and Garden in central Oregon." /> <figcaption>Homemade pickles and preserves at L & S Farm and Garden in Prineville, Oregon, a stop on the High Desert Food Trail. Image credit: Amanda Photographic / L & S Farm and Garden</figcaption></figure> “The bounty and the amount of the ingredients we have is so large,” says Jami Flatt, a chef at Amaterra, a new winery that opened in Portland this year with a farm-to-table-style restaurant. “And it’s all right in our backyard.” <h2>High Desert Food Trail</h2> One of the most recent additions to the state’s food trail scene loops within a few short miles of our hike off the eastern side of McKenzie Pass, down in Sisters, population 3,060, a town in the transition zone between the snowy mountains and the yawning deserts to the east. We pull up to a place called <a href="https://www.thebarninsisters.com/">The Barn</a>, where local food trucks park around a central common area with fire pits, a stage, and, yes, a barn, that serves beer from local breweries like <a href="https://www.threecreeksbrewing.com/">Three Creeks Brewing</a> just down the road. We find a table near one of the fires and order up a “red pie” from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/boonedogpizza/">Boone Dog Pizza</a>, one of the newer eateries on the food trail. The chef, Daniel St. Lawrence, had started a popular bakery in the mountain town of Bend about 21mi (34km) southeast of Sisters and turned to wood-fired pizzas as a literal platform for local ingredients. “Pizza is kind of the perfect marriage of seasonal, local food, veggies, grains, all on bread, which is my passion,” he tells me. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/oregon-food-trails/boone-dog-pizza.jpg" alt="Wood-fired pizzas made from locally grown ingredients at Boone Dog Pizza in central Oregon." /> <figcaption>Two wood-fired pies from Boone Dog Pizza. Image credit: Amanda Photographic / Boone Dog Pizza</figcaption></figure> The pizza comes with tomato sauce, Calabrian chiles, parmigiana, extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt, nearly all of it from farms located around the Pacific Northwest and Central Oregon. The meats, for example, come from an animal welfare-certified farm in Corvallis, a college town on the west slope of the Cascades. In all, the <a href="https://hdffa.org/portfolio-posts/hdft/">High Desert Food Trail </a>covers 42 stops from La Pine in the south to Madras in the north, a span of 72mi (116 km). You can paddle along Suttle Lake near Camp Sherman and then get huckleberry ice cream at <a href="https://thesuttlelodge.com/the-boathouse/">The Boathouse</a>. After <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/4-of-the-best-places-for-mountain-biking#bend">mountain biking in Bend</a> you can swing by <a href="https://thealeapothecary.com/">The Ale Apothecary</a> for beers made with wild yeasts cultivated from the air around town. And up in Warm Springs, a community of Native Americans from the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute tribes, you can raft through the volcanic canyons of the Deschutes River and then swing by the non-profit <a href="https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/twisted-teepee-food-cart/">Twisted Teepee</a> for a bowl of traditional lucka’meen, a salmon stew. A message from the cook says it all: “Tribal food sovereignty at its finest.” <h2>Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail</h2> Other food trails around the state have caught my attention over the years, especially the ones that line the Oregon Coast. This western fringe of North America is by far one of the state’s biggest natural attractions, a 360mi (580km) stretch of beaches with towering dunes, bays lined with craggy sea stacks, and rocky reefs piled with sea lions. And every last inch of it is publicly owned. With a fat bike, you can ride for more than a hundred miles (160 km) on the sand – maybe even more if the tide is right. The community of Coos Bay, which is actually three towns about 210mi (340km) south of Portland, is easily my favorite for its awesome tide pools, surf fishing, expanding mountain bike scene, and <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/where-to-hike-in-the-usa-year-round#march">hiking around state parks like Cape Arago</a>, a stop on the <a href="https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.page&id=95">Oregon Coast Trail</a> (an actual trail). In the winter, the storm-watching at Shore Acres State Park will leave you breathless – but never hungry. Coos is a hub on <a href="https://www.wrcfoodtrail.com/">Wild River Coast Food Trail</a>, which, as you might expect, includes lots of delicious seafood. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/oregon-food-trails/freshly-caught-dungeness-crab-coos-bay.jpg" alt="A net filled with freshly caught Dungeness crab in Coos Bay, Oregon." /> <figcaption>Freshly caught Dungeness crab in Coos Bay, Oregon. Photo credit: Tim Neville</figcaption></figure> The <a href="http://www.sharkbites.cafe/home">Shark Bites Cafe</a> in downtown Coos Bay sits across from one of the last Egyptian theaters in the United States but it’s the fish tacos that keep me coming back. You can get local oysters or a salad with Dungeness crab cakes. Farther south in Port Orford, where you can snorkel with the anemones and forage for edible seaweeds, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenestcafe04/">The Nest Cafe</a> serves awesome berry smoothies. I’ve yet to try the “Oregon Burger,” a monster with Oregon bleu cheese and kale. All in all, there are more than 100 stops on this food trail — including places (ok, bogs) where you can get fresh cranberries – and I’m doing my best to hit them all. Mostly, though, I can never seem to pry myself away from the tide pools at Sunset Bay State Park, where I’ll gather my (legally permitted) limit of mussels and then roast them right there on the beach. <h2>Hood River Fruit Loop</h2> Most people know Hood River for one thing – wind – as this town in the Columbia River Gorge 67mi (108km) east of Portland is a paradise for <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/surfing">windsurfers and kite boarders</a> who come for the steady breezes. But in the spring, and particularly the fall, my family and I will make the trip up from our home in Bend to bask in the region’s other major attraction, fruit. The <a href="https://hoodriverfruitloop.com/">Hood River Fruit Loop</a> covers about 35mi (56km) of scenic byways that roll past nearly 15,000 acres of orchards and farms, and that you could easily bike. In the spring, those fruit trees turn on a spectacular show with delicate flowers that light up the valley under the watchful gaze of Oregon’s highest peak, Mount Hood, at 11,240ft (3,426m). You can ski up there, even in the summertime, but the hiking’s great too. The <a href="https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Timberline_Trail_around_Mount_Hood_Hike">Timberline Trail</a> runs for 41mi (66km) around the entire peak. It’s best to start and end your hike at the classic Timberline Lodge, a sprawling historic hotel built in 1937 and featured in the opening scene of The Shining. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/oregon-food-trails/lavender-farm-hood-river.jpg" alt="Lavender fields in Hood River, Oregon, with Mount Hood in the background." /> <figcaption>Lavender fields in Hood River, Oregon, with Mount Hood in the background. Image credit: Getty Images / Cindy Kassab</figcaption></figure> But fall is our time to go and we home in on apples. The <a href="https://kiyokawafamilyorchards.com/">Kiyokawa Family Orchards</a> in Parkdale, a small farming community, is typically our first stop. The family has strong Japanese roots after the family’s patriarch emigrated to Oregon in 1905. I’ll put my daughter on my shoulders so she can grab the highest fruit. The Asian pears and Hokotui apples are always a hit. You can easily spend a weekend up here and next time we will. We’ll hit the <a href="https://foxtailcider.com/">Fox-Tail Cider and Distillery</a> and swing by <a href="http://www.hoperanchlavender.com/">Hope Ranch Lavender</a> for its fragrant bottles of massage oils. The wineries almost outnumber the farm stands, but I’ll save that trail for another time.Tim Neville 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/5-of-the-best-places-to-kayak-around-the-usExploring by kayak offers access to places you can’t reach by car or on foot and up-close encounters with wildlife. Our nomads share their favorite kayaking adventures around the country.2022-03-15T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/5-of-the-best-places-to-kayak-around-the-ushttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#canalway">The New York State Canalway Water Trail </a></li> <li><a href="#northern-forest">The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Vermont</a></li> <li><a href="#calusa">The Great Calusa Blueway, Florida</a></li> <li><a href="#mirror-lake">Mirror Lake State Park, Wisconsin</a></li> <li><a href="#maryland">Maryland water trails</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="canalway">The New York State Canalway Water Trail</h2> It’s the only time I’ve ever wanted someone to ask me about my sunburn. “I got it <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">kayaking</a> the Oswego Canal,” I’d brag, not embarrassed that my legs – thanks to sporting shorts on an open-top kayak – were the color of a lobster. We launched from Minetto, a tiny hamlet in upstate New York just south of Lake Ontario. The local outfitter we rented our kayaks from also supplied a guide. She wore a mic and as we paddled with the current, north toward the port town of Oswego, she told us about the canal’s history as a vital commercial thoroughfare. When it opened in 1828, the Oswego Canal linked the Erie Canal with Lake Ontario, and was a game-changer for trade between New York and Canada. Both the Oswego Canal and the Erie Canal are part of the 524mi (843km) <a href="https://www.canals.ny.gov/maps/paddling-watertrail.html">New York State Canalway Water Trail</a>. It also includes the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2022 and is just one of 33 designated <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationaltrailssystem/national-water-trails-system.htm">National Water Trails</a> in the country. With more than 125 public access points, the New York State Canalway Water Trail is popular with kayakers, canoers, and paddle boarders. Passing through the historic locks – hydraulic lifts that raised and lowered us as the water levels changed – was the best part. But by the time we reached the Oswego Lighthouse, looking out over Lake Ontario, my legs and feet were fried. Still, it was worth it. While I wish I’d worn more SPF, I’ll always remember those five miles, four locks, and three hours of history and fun. – <a href="/about/contributors/katie-jackson">Katie Jackson</a> <h2 id="northern-forest">The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Vermont</h2> I was looking for some kind of sign. Drifting in the slow current of Vermont’s Missisquoi River, I scanned the forested riverbank for any indication I’d reached my first campsite along the 740mi (1,190km) <a href="https://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/">Northern Forest Canoe Trail</a>, the United States’ longest inland water trail. Designed for both canoers and kayakers, the route begins in New York’s Adirondack mountains, then passes through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Quebec en route to Fort Kent, Maine. Paddling the whole trail is an endurance feat even for experienced boaters, who spend four to seven weeks navigating its extraordinary chain of lakes, rivers, and streams. Not that the trail is reserved for experts. <a href="https://www.northernforestcanoetrail.org/plan/suggested-paddling-trips/">Recommended sections</a> range from placid day trips to family-friendly, multi-day adventures. Seeking time alone on the river, I’d chosen a scenic three-day section near my home in northern Vermont. It was nearly dusk when I spotted a yellow campsite sign nailed to a riverside tree. Steering my small wooden kayak to the bank, I climbed a short, steep trail to a clearing overlooking the water — like many tent sites along the NFCT, it was free to use with no reservations required. While I brought my own boat and camping equipment, rentals and guided trips are available from outfitters throughout the region. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/kayaking/northern-forest-canoe-trail-kayak.jpg" alt="A kayak on the shore of the Missisquoi River in Vermont." /> <figcaption>The author's kayak on the shore of the Missisquoi River. Image credit: Jen Rose Smith</figcaption></figure> After setting up my tent, I returned to the riverbank with a mug of hot tea. The Missisquoi shone under a rising gibbous moon, then disappeared quickly into darkness. I smiled to think that, come morning, I’d follow it around the bend and paddle downstream once more. – <a href="/about/contributors/jen-rose-smith">Jen Rose Smith</a> <h2 id="calusa">The Great Calusa Blueway, Florida</h2> This blessed slice of southwest Florida is God’s gift to waterborne adventure. A 190mi (306km) trail for paddling the waterways of the Fort Myers area along the Gulf coast, the Blueway works its way up three rivers and their tributaries, through Estero Bay and Pine Island Sound and around many coastal islands. The trail is, in fact, composed of dozens of different trails. The northern edge of the Blueway is the top of Pine Island near Bokeelia. The southern end is the Imperial River through Bonita Springs. The trail has three distinct regions: the Pine Island Sound-Matlacha Pass, which includes Cayo Costa, Captiva, Sanibel, and Pine islands; the Caloosahatchee River and its tributaries (power boats use the Caloosahatchee itself); and Estero Bay (the state’s first aquatic nature reserve) and the Imperial River, which includes Lovers Key, where I saw my first manatee up startlingly close. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/kayaking/lovers-key-florida.jpg" alt="Kayakers paddle along the mangroves on Lovers Key near Ft. Meyers, Florida." /> <figcaption>Kayaking on Lovers Key. Image credit: Getty Images / Hanneke Luijting</figcaption></figure> I became a water baby, imagining myself an honorary Calusa, the people who put down roots among the mangrove forests of southern Florida 5,000 years before, and left at what is now Mound Key Archaeological State Park a complex of mounds and shell and pottery remains, which rises more than 30ft (9m) above Estero Bay. As well as mangrove tunnels, with branches arching overhead like cathedral roof trusses, the Fort Myers area has 50mi (80km) of white sand, three species of nesting turtles and, on Sanibel, one of the best shelling spots in the country (the same island is home to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and 245 species of birds). It’s easy to get back to nature there. And occasionally, suddenly, in the form of a bottlenose dolphin, a river otter, a pilot while, or a roseate spoonbill, it will get back to you. The <a href="https://www.visitfortmyers.com/calusablueway/explore">Blueway</a> will mail a free set of maps to anyone who requests them, and there’s a navigational app that provides real-time GPS coordinates. A great many trails are served by kayak outfitters and guides, many of whom will come to you. – <a href="/about/contributors/joseph-furey">Joe Furey</a> <h2 id="mirror-lake">Mirror Lake State Park, Wisconsin</h2> For me, kayaking has always been a way to slow down and appreciate my environment at a more intentional pace. I tend toward <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/where-to-hike-in-the-usa-year-round">hiking</a> and <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/4-of-the-best-places-for-mountain-biking">biking</a> – moving strongly and quickly so I can see as much as possible – but, for some reason, when I slide into a kayak, I’m less focused on how far I go and more concerned with soaking in my surroundings. Mirror Lake State Park, near Wisconsin Dells, allowed me to do just that. I visited in early October, at the tail end of kayaking season but just in time for fall foliage and bird migration season. Kayak rental is available from April to October (depending on the weather) but in May, September, and October, rentals are only available on the weekend. If you bring your own kayak, you can paddle whenever you want. The lake is long and narrow, shaped somewhat like the letter “h”, so kayaking through the narrowest part (the top of the “h”) felt like floating along a river. Pine trees and brilliantly yellow and orange maple hugged both sides of the water as I navigated around fallen trees and passed a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed cottage hidden in the trees. Though I didn’t pass any sandhill cranes on my water journey, I saw many during bike rides in the area and while visiting the nearby <a href="https://savingcranes.org/">International Crane Foundation</a>. Next time I visit Mirror Lake State Park, I plan to bring my mother, as it’s one of the most accessible in the state for people with disabilities. A <a href="https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/OpenOutdoors">specially adapted kayak</a> is available (contact the park office in advance to book it). – <a href="/about/contributors/cassandra-brooklyn">Cassandra Brooklyn</a> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/kayaking/crane-wisconsin.jpg" alt="A sandhill crane at the International Crane Foundation in central Wisconsin." /> <figcaption>A sandhill crane at the International Crane Foundation. Image credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="maryland">Maryland water trails</h2> Every summer I return from the American West to the place I grew up, the mid-Atlantic state of Maryland, where I’ll spend a few days on its Eastern Shore exploring a vast filigree of salt marshes and sandy beaches by canoe or kayak. With more than 7,700 mi (12,400km) of coastline shared between the fabled Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and the Atlantic, the state is a paddlers paradise where you can drift among bald eagles and dolphins and sleep on beaches with wild horses for neighbors. Water rules Delmarva, the rural, folksy peninsula pinched between bay and sea, where you’ll find my favorite place to go, Assateague Island National Seashore, an undeveloped barrier island that runs for 37mi/60km along the Atlantic Coast. A water trail spans the lee side of the island to four <a href="https://www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping-map.htm">backcountry campsites</a> tucked among the pines, each about two to 12 miles (3 km to 19km) apart. Out here there are no boardwalks and carnival rides, just miles of soft sand and stunted forests that are home to miniature sitka deer. Most people just drive up to the beach, pitch an umbrella in the sand and call it good. You, however, should rent a kayak from <a href="https://www.assateagueoutfitters.com/">Assateauge Outfitters</a> on the north end of the island ($70 for three days) and tool along the lee side of the island looking for herons and egrets. Come evening you can stake your tent in the forgiving shade of the pines and take a sunset dip. You’re almost guaranteed to come across at least some of the 200 wild horses that roam the island. How they got there – pirates? shipwreck? forgetful farmers? – is still something of a mystery. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/kayaking/wild-ponies-maryland.jpg" alt="Kayaker's point of view of two wild ponies on Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland." /> <figcaption>Wild horses on Assateague Island National Seashore. Image credit: Getty Images / Canvan Images</figcaption></figure> About an hour southwest of Assateague on the Chesapeake side of the Delmarva Peninsula you’ll find a sneaker gem, <a href="https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/JanesIsland/Water-Trails.aspx">Janes Island State Park</a>, the first place I ever went camping. Today the park near Crisfield is home to more than 30mi (48km) of marked water trails and three backcountry campsites. You can rent a boat inside the park at the headquarters near the <a href="https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/eastern/JanesIsland/Boating.aspx">Daugherty Creek Canal</a> ($55/day) and paddle about a mile east (1.6 km) on the Yellow Trail to reach Flat Cap Beach, a 5mi (8km) strand of unspoiled sand. The 12.5m (20km) Brown Trail circumnavigates the entire island, taking you past campsites and the vestiges of a small community from the 1800s. No matter where you go, it’s best to know the weather and the tides and bring lots of freshwater for drinking. The mosquitos and gnats will eat you alive, so don’t forget some repellent and wear loose-fitting clothing. Then kick back in the sand, watch the sun set, and let the stars compete with the lighting bugs for brilliance. I’m confident you’ll see why I sometimes wish I’d never left. – <a href="/about/contributors/tim-neville">Tim Neville</a>Jen Rose Smith 0 Kayakers on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in Vermont.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/tales-of-sorrow-and-uplift-on-the-us-civil-rights-trailCovering more than 120 sites across 15 states, the Civil Rights Trail commemorates the fight for social justice in the US during the 1950s and ‘60s. Here's what to see along the way.2022-02-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/tales-of-sorrow-and-uplift-on-the-us-civil-rights-trailhttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#memorial">The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama</a></li> <li><a href="#mlk">Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy</a></li> <li><a href="#birmingham">The seeds of racial justice in Birmingham, Alabama</a></li> <li><a href="#charleston">Reckoning with the past in Charleston, South Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="#railroad">Commemorating the Underground Railroad</a></li> <li><a href="#southern">Racism in America: not just a Southern problem</a></li> </ul> It was 1990 when I first encountered racial discrimination of a kind I hoped had long been extinguished in the United States. Having walked off the cramps and nausea of a 10-hour Greyhound ride to Mobile, Alabama, a friend and I made for one of its divey bars. After 45 minutes of clinking bottles and idle chat, I started to take in the room. The patrons were all white, and the pictures and paraphernalia on the wall included the Confederate flag and campaign posters for George Wallace, Jesse Helms, and Lester Maddox, all famously fierce opponents of the civil rights movement. Then, if a clincher were needed, I heard the bartender refusing admission to a Black sketch artist, “not welcome, not for work, not for play”. The beer turned to ashes in my mouth. I was mortified to have put money in the pocket of prejudice. Plainly, nothing had changed – not fundamentally – since the Jim Crow period, when laws enforced racial segregation across the South (from the Reconstruction Era, that largely bungled attempt to redress the inequities of slavery and its political, social, and economic legacy after the American Civil War, to the beginning of the civil rights movement in the mid-50s). I promised myself that I would never be so naive again, and so began my 30 years of study, allyship, and writing on race relations in the United States. If you want to educate yourself on America’s long, winding, and often bloody road to civil rights, and understand why the nation is still struggling with racial justice, hit the <a href="https://civilrightstrail.com/">US Civil Rights Trail</a>. Launched in 2018, the trail features more than 120 sites across 15 states, mostly in the South, where activists fought to advance social justice and racial equality in the 1950s and 1960s. By the time the civil rights movement came into being, “emancipated” Black people across the South had been told where they could walk, how and to whom they could talk, where they could live, work, shop, or be educated for almost a century. And they had been subject to daily torments, from verbal abuse to acts of unconscionable inhumanity. <h2 id="memorial">The National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama</h2> Nowhere is that inhumanity more devastatingly brought home than at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, aka the National Lynching Memorial, which opened in 2018, in Montgomery, Alabama, along with a new Legacy Museum. Together they address the maintenance of white supremacy by racial terrorism in the form of extrajudicial killing and modern mass incarceration. The vision of Bryan Stevenson, a civil rights lawyer and founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a not-for-profit organization committed to criminal justice reform, the memorial honors each of the more than 4,000 people of color who lost their lives to lynching. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/civil-rights-trail/lynching-memorial-new-crop.jpg" alt="The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, aka the National Lynching Memorial, in Montgomery, Alabama." /> <figcaption>The National Lynching Memorial. Image credit: Joe Furey</figcaption></figure> At its center is an open walkway with 800 steel columns hanging from its roof. Engraved on each column is the name of an American county and the people who were lynched there, most listed by name, some as “unknown”. Some of the horrors that befell them are related on plaques fixed to the wall (read them and weep, literally). You meet the columns at eye level first, but as you walk, the floor descends, till by the end, the columns are dangling above you, leaving visitors feeling uncomfortably like the crowds of spectators seen in old photographs (10,000 people gathered to watch Henry Smith, 17, be tortured and burned on a 10-foot scaffold in Paris, Texas in 1893; while 15,000 attended the mutilation and burning of Willy Brown in Omaha, Nebraska in 1919). <h2 id="mlk">Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy</h2> Martin Luther King Jr. connects many of the sites on the Civil Rights Trail. He had been pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery for about a year when, in 1955, he was chosen to lead a boycott of the city’s public bus system after Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger and was consequently arrested for violating the city’s segregation law. You can tour King’s childhood home and birthplace at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born upstairs because his parents refused to use segregated hospitals, and he and his wife are buried nearby. The National Civil Rights Museum, in Memphis, Tennessee, incorporates the Lorraine Motel where Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding took rooms, Wilson Pickett composed In the Midnight Hour, and King was gunned down on the balcony on April 4, 1968, leaving a psychic scar on the city that has yet to fully heal. I attended the 50th anniversary commemorations, and spoke to Hampton Sides, who wrote Hellhound on My Trail about the assassination. “I don’t believe King accomplished more in martyrdom than he would have accomplished had he lived,” he said. “We could use him right now. At this time of police brutality, the war on truth. We need his civility, his moderation, his message of non-violence.” <h2 id="birmingham">The seeds of racial justice in Birmingham, Alabama</h2> According to King, <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/underrated-usa">Birmingham</a>, Alabama, was probably “the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States” and his “Birmingham campaign”, a model of non-violent direct- action protest organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1963, drew the country’s attention to the hardships and brutality faced by Black citizens there. In April, King was jailed for two weeks, and on his release the city's Black youth redoubled their insurgency. After a few verses of I Woke Up With My Mind Stayed on Freedom, they burst through the doors of the 16th Street Baptist Church and faced down vicious dogs and fire hoses. Within days, an agreement was forged to desegregate the city. The nation had begun its stagger toward the March on Washington, King's I Have a Dream speech, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/civil-rights-trail/16th-street-baptist-church-birmingham.jpg" alt="The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, site of a number of important events in the US Civil Rights Movement." /> <figcaption>The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Image credit: Getty Images / John Coletti</figcaption></figure> The city now has its own Civil Rights Heritage Trail, which winds through downtown, marking significant locations along the 1963 Civil Rights march routes, including the 16th Street Baptist Church, which was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in September 1963, killing four young girls. <h2 id="charleston">Reckoning with the past in Charleston, South Carolina</h2> Established in 1851, the 37-acre McLeod Plantation in <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/us-islands-for-outdoor-adventure">Charleston, South Carolina</a>, is rare among former plantations in that it makes no attempt to whitewash history. Charleston, though it was built on slave labor (Sullivan’s Island was the point of entry for an estimated 400,000 enslaved Africans brought to British North America), has started to reckon with its ignominious past, and the International African American Museum is slated to open, on the site of a former slave market, in 2022. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/civil-rights-trail/lynching-memorial-sculpture.jpg" alt="A sculpture of enslaved Africans in chains, at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama." /> <figcaption>A sculpture at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. Photo credit: Joe Furey</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="railroad">Commemorating the Underground Railroad</h2> A “center of education and discourse”, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, in Cincinnati, Ohio, is located on the banks of the Ohio River, which once separated the slave states of the South from the free states in the North. The museum works to keep alive the stories from the Underground Railroad, the secret network of “conductors” (allies) and “stations” (safe places) by which fugitive slaves made their way towards, they hoped, a measure of liberty. <h2 id="southern">Racism in America: not just a Southern problem</h2> I use the word “measure” advisedly. The story of the civil rights movement may be a Southern one, but racial discrimination was, and remains, a nationwide problem, and it behooves us all, not just during Black History Month, to keep this in mind. Take “sundown towns”. Products of the Great Migration – between 1916 and 1970 six million Black people left the South in search of work – those towns got their name from the threatening signs they erected that warned people of color they wouldn’t be welcome within their city limits after dark (Anna-Jonesboro, Illinois, had such signs on Highway 127 as recently as 1976). As I learned from my late friend James Loewen – who wrote the definitive book on the subject and had me visiting sundown towns to record interviews and take photographs for his archive – beginning in about 1890 and continuing until 1968, thousands of towns were established across the US for whites only. Many drove out their Black populations and destroyed their communities, then put up the intimidating signs. Others passed ordinances prohibiting African-Americans and other minority groups from owning or renting property. This policy may have officially ended decades ago, but discrimination is far from over in the United States. Until there is genuine equality of opportunity, the same racial disparities in economic wellbeing that dogged our past will go on to inform our future. The Civil Rights Trail is a good reminder of both how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go.Joe Furey 0 Joe Furey The Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennesee, where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/hiking-hot-air-balloons-history-in-new-mexicoNew Mexico is famous for its hot air balloon festival, but this Southwestern state is also great for hiking, biking, and exploring Native American history – especially in wintertime.2022-01-24T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/hiking-hot-air-balloons-history-in-new-mexicohttps://www.worldnomads.comI’ve always wanted to visit New Mexico but since I’m not a fan of dry climates where temperatures can regularly soar over 100°F (38°C), I knew I’d need to avoid the summer. A winter visit meant both manageable temperatures and smaller crowds – double win! But bear in mind, the state has dramatically varying temperatures and climates depending on where you are, so plan (and pack) accordingly. Las Cruces, which is only about 50mi (80km) from the Mexican border, might be 10-15°F warmer than Albuquerque. In turn, Albuquerque may be another 10-15°F warmer than higher-elevation regions such as Taos, where you’ll also find significantly more snow. <ul> <li><a href="#sands">Sand sledding in White Sands National Park</a></li> <li><a href="#caverns">Stunning geology at Carlsbad Caverns National Park </a></li> <li><a href="#balloons">Ballooning, biking, and exploring Pueblo Indian history in Albuquerque </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sands">Sand sledding in White Sands National Park</h2> My first stop was <a href="https://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm">White Sands National Park</a> ($25 admission per car or free with an annual pass) located near Las Cruces, in the far south of the State. As Las Cruces doesn’t have a major airport, I flew into nearby El Paso, Texas, where I rented a car and drove the 50 minutes northwest to start my trip. While I was looking forward to <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">hiking</a> in the park (hikes range from ¼-mile boardwalk strolls to full-day desert treks), I was most excited to go sand sledding. Since the soft, snow-white sand gets uncomfortably hot in the summer, winter sledding is far more enjoyable (sleds are available in the gift shop for about $20). Note that unlike snow sledding, you need a steeper hill to get the sled going on sand so make sure you have plenty of clearance at the bottom. Not only was it thrilling to quickly slide down the sand dunes, but it also felt amazing to be sledding – actually sledding! – in warm weather, no cumbersome winter jackets, gloves, or hats required. The following morning, I rented a bike from <a href="https://www.bikelc.com/">Outdoor Adventures</a> to explore the local pecan orchards. The shop staff had great suggestions for how to access the orchard-lined roads without traffic (take Snow Road south then head back north on bike paths along the Rio Grande). Initially, I was sorry not to be exploring the orchards in fall, when the trees are full of colorful leaves but, to my surprise, I discovered that winter is pecan harvesting season, so the trees were still full of nuts. I had never thought twice about how pecans are harvested so it was interesting to see huge, tractor-like machines make their way through rows of trees, whipping up dust storms as they gathered the pecans that “shaker” machines had previously shaken off the trees. <h2 id="caverns">Stunning geology at Carlsbad Caverns National Park</h2> The most direct route from Las Cruces to Carlsbad takes you through northern Texas, so I made a quick pit stop at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Even if you don’t have time to hike, it’s a stunning place for a bathroom break. Though there are a handful of motels right outside <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm">Carlsbad Caverns National Park</a>, I overnighted 20mi (32km) north in Carlsbad, which has more dining options. Carlsbad Cavern is <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm">pretty accessible</a> since you’re able to take the elevator 75 stories down to the “Big Room”, where much of the cavern can be viewed via a mostly-flat trail and boardwalk. I opted to take the 1.25mi (2km) hike down the Natural Entrance Trail. During my hour-long hike, I only ran into two other people (plus a park ranger, who explained a bit of geology) so it felt like I was exploring the giant cavern on my own. Once I reached the Big Room, I was surrounded by thousands of stalagmites shooting up from the ground and stalactites dripping down from the ceiling, occasionally reflecting off small pools scattered around the cavern. You can either hike back up and out or take the elevator. Note that since the caverns (which are the park’s main draw) aren’t open-air, the park is requiring timed entry tickets to limit capacity. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/new-mexico/winter/carlsbad-cavern.jpg" alt="Stalactites and stalagmites in the Big Room at Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico.." /> <figcaption>The “Big Room” at Carlsbad Cavern. Image credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="balloons">Ballooning, biking, and exploring Pueblo Indian history in Albuquerque</h2> New Mexico’s largest city may be best known for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which began in 1972 and now features 500 balloons each October. Though I’m averse to festival crowds, flying sky-high in a hot air balloon was still a priority so I booked a morning flight with <a href="https://www.rainbowryders.com/locations/albuquerque/">Rainbow Ryders</a> ($139 weekdays / $159 weekends). Keep in mind that balloon flights are entirely dependent on the weather so try to schedule your ride early in your stay in case you need to reschedule. On the morning I went out, high winds cancelled the trip, but I was able to go on a successful (and stunning!) flight that afternoon. It was surprisingly silent up there, as we sailed over fields, roads, and subdivisions, gazing at mountains to the west and the nearing sunset in the east. I didn’t have time to hike the steep, 8mi (13km) La Luz trail up to the top of Sandia Mountain (about 17mi/27km northeast of downtown Albuquerque) so I took the <a href="https://sandiapeak.com/">Sandia Peak Tram</a> instead. My weather-altered schedule meant I missed sunset at the top of the mountain (which is supposed to be spectacular) but the morning tram ride was crowd-free, and I was able to enjoy the panoramic view of Albuquerque and explore some of the mountaintop trails, lined with snow-covered trees, before catching the next tram down. Since I couldn’t leave town without getting in a hike, I added in a visit to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm">Petroglyph National Monument</a>, just 10mi (16km) from downtown Albuquerque. The trails are each only a few miles long or less, but they vary dramatically in terms of elevation and difficulty (ask at the Visitor Center to determine which route may be best for you). And don’t worry, even on the easier routes you’ll still be able to see dozens – if not hundreds – of ancient petroglyphs depicting animals, people, and symbols that Native Americans and Spanish settlers carved into the rocks over 400 years ago. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/new-mexico/winter/petroglyph-albuquerque.jpg" alt="A bird-like petroglyph at Petroglyph National Monument, New Mexico." /> <figcaption>One of the many ancient carvings at Petroglyph National Monument. Photo credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> Though I had a car for my visit, I did most of my exploring in Albuquerque on two wheels. I rented a bike at <a href="http://routesrentals.com/">ROUTES bike shop</a> (which also offers guided bike tours) for a 34mi (55km) solo spin around town. The shop helped me plan my route and gave me a city bike map marked up with points of interest (<a href="https://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/lands/paseo-del-bosque-trail">Paseo del Bosque trail</a>, <a href="https://lospoblanos.com/organic-lavender-farm/lavender-farm/">Los Poblanos</a> lavender farm, <a href="https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/tingley">Tingley Beach</a>, and the <a href="https://www.sawmillmarket.com/">Sawmill Market</a> food hall were my favorites). ROUTES is conveniently located in the Old Town neighborhood so after my ride, I walked around exploring dozens of unique local shops – think Navajo rugs, pottery, handmade soap, chocolatiers, tea, and oil and vinegar. The Southwest is famous for the <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/native-american-journeys">rich history and culture</a> of the Pueblo Indians that have occupied the region for generations. Since all the Pueblos remain closed to protect vulnerable populations during the pandemic, the best way to explore their culture and contributions is by visiting the <a href="https://indianpueblo.org">Pueblo Indian Cultural Center</a> in Albuquerque. The museum can be explored in about an hour and the staff is extremely well-informed. Don’t miss breakfast or lunch at the museum’s Indian Pueblo Kitchen, which specializes in traditional Native American foods of the region (I loved the corn, quinoa, and amaranth atole porridge).Cassandra Brooklyn 0 Cassandra Brooklyn A man sits watching the sunset over the dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/4-great-us-snow-adventures-for-nonskiersNot a skier? Not a problem. These fun and memorable winter activities will get you out in the snowy wilderness all over the United States. 2021-12-16T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/4-great-us-snow-adventures-for-nonskiershttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#wolves">Go wolf-watching in Yellowstone National Park </a></li> <li><a href="#yurts">Snowshoe to backcountry yurts in southern Colorado</a></li> <li><a href="#dogsled">Take a dogsledding tour in Oregon or California</a></li> <li><a href="#skate">Skate the longest ice trail in the US at Lake Morey, Vermont</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="wolves">Go wolf-watching in Yellowstone National Park</h2> My goosebumps aren’t from the cold. They’re from watching the elusive Canis lupus feeding on an elk carcass in the distance. It’s my second time taking a guided wolf tour in Yellowstone. Still, my body reacts like it did when I first witnessed these revered residents of our country’s first <a href="/travel-safety/north-america/united-states/wilderness-safety-in-the-usa">national park</a>. January in northern Wyoming isn’t warm. But gray wolves are easiest to spot against a backdrop of white snow. They’re also more active, preferring to hunt in the colder months when their prey is weaker. Heavy snow at high elevations has elk and bison herds feeding at lower altitude, closer to Yellowstone’s roads. It’s bumper-to-bumper traffic in June. In January, we have the park to ourselves. Nathan Varley, founder of <a href="https://www.wolftracker.com/">Yellowstone Wolf Tracker</a>, is behind the wheel. We can see the Junction Butte pack, including its healthy litter of pups, from the warmth of our SUV. Still, we climb out and post up behind a high-powered spotting scope. Varley, the son of park rangers, has a Ph.D. in Ecology. In 2014, he guided my family on snowshoes up to the pens that held the wolves when they were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. He also takes clients out on cross-country skis. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/snow/wolves-from-car-nps-jim-peaco.jpg" alt="Wolves in Yellowstone National Park, seen through the window of a car." /> <figcaption>Watching wolves (and being watched) in Yellowstone. Image credit: NPS_Jim Peaco</figcaption></figure> Experiencing this wild, winter wonderland is an extreme privilege – even if all we see are tracks. That said, wolf sightings are pretty much guaranteed. Since some of the animals are collared, wildlife biologists like Varley have their radio frequencies. In fact, the best way to find a wolf is to find a wolf watcher. – <a href="/about/contributors/katie-jackson">Katie Jackson</a> <h2 id="yurts">Snowshoe to backcountry yurts in southern Colorado</h2> Colorado is known for Fourteeners (mountains above 14,000 ft) and world-class <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/ski-snowboard-travel-insurance">downhill skiing</a> when its lofty crags are blanketed in snow. But Centennial State winter itineraries aren’t complete without trekking into the backcountry. I strapped on snowshoes for a dose of solitude in the San Juan Mountains along the 10,022ft (3,055m) Cumbres Pass, which bridges southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The pass shelters a system of four remote yurts – a type of hut that hails from the Central Asian steppes. Like other yurt systems in big-time outdoorsy states, the <a href="https://southwestnordiccenter.com/">Southwest Nordic Center</a> rents the wood-frame, canvas-sided huts to adventurers who don’t mind the 2.75- to 4-mi (4.4- to 6.5-km) trek through pine-studded forests to their accommodations. I called upon some basic backcountry knowhow during my excursion, including navigating via marking blazes, since this time of year trails are buried under snow. The terrain suits telemark skiing, where skiers arm their skis with skins to grip the snow, and beginner-friendly snowshoeing. Physical fitness is a must – and not just because of the elevation. Traveling here often calls for breaking trail through several feet of fresh snow while carrying a gear-filled backpack. Huts are outfitted with pots, pans, pillows, and games, but you’ll need to pack in food, a sleeping bag, and plenty of warm layers. Water is available via snowmelt. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/snow/colorado-yurt-ashley-biggers.jpg" alt="A yurt aglow with firelight at night in a snowy forest." /> <figcaption>A cozy yurt welcomes snowshoers after an active day. Photo credit: Ashley M. Biggers</figcaption></figure> Reaching the remote huts unlocks extended touring in pristine mountains. My group were the only humans within miles as we explored untouched ridges, dropped into deep backcountry bowls, and left crampon tracks up and down gentle slopes. After long days of exertion, we rewarded ourselves by kicking our feet up around the roaring woodstove at night. Two nights from US $100; yurts sleep six. – <a href="/about/contributors/ashley-biggers">Ashley M. Biggers</a> <h2 id="dogsled">Take a dogsledding tour in Oregon or California</h2> You can hear the dogs long before you see them – a cacophony of yelping and barking, a whirlwind of energy at the staging area at the base of Mt. Bachelor ski resort near Bend, Oregon. The soothing voices of Nick and Rachael Scdoris and their team of mushers at <a href="https://www.mtbachelor.com/things-to-do/resort-activities/sled-dog-rides">Oregon Trail of Dreams</a> do little to tamper the excitement of dozens of dogs eager to pull visitors along <a href="/stories/discovery/dog-sledding-at-the-top-of-the-world">snowy forest trails</a>. As Rachael, using the wisdom of her Iditarod racing experience, arrays ten dogs along two leads per sled, I pet some who nearly bowl me over with their enthusiasm. Dressed in standard winter snow gear, I hop aboard a sled with a friend, tuck under a blanket, and sit back as the musher shouts “Gee” for “right” and “Haw” for “left” to guide the dogs along the trail. Cruising at ten miles an hour and more, I watch the trees fly by, hear the joyful yipping of dogs, and feel the whoosh of the snow beneath me. It’s a wonderful taste of wilderness adventure easily accessible to any visitor who wants to reserve a trip. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/snow/oregon-dogsled-bill-fink.jpg" alt="A team of dogs pulls a dogsled through a snowy forest." /> <figcaption>A happy team of dogs pulls a sled through the woods near Mt. Bachelor. Image credit: Bill Fink</figcaption></figure> Oregon Trail of Dreams has hour-long dogsled rides beginning at $200 per sled (up to two adults and a child) and also offers Marathon 26-mile adventures with lunch that can be booked for $1,100 per couple. In California’s eastern Sierras, <a href="http://www.mammothdogteams.com/">Mammoth Dog Teams</a>, based about 10 minutes outside of Mammoth Lakes, provides similar trips, $95 per adult for a 50-minute ride (+$55 for a child), or a 105-minute ride with hot drinks for $185 (+$90/child), and even overnight camping adventures for the intrepid. Trips are dependent on snow and weather conditions and require reservations. – <a href="/about/contributors/bill-fink">Bill Fink</a> <h2 id="skate">Skate the longest ice trail in the US at Lake Morey, Vermont</h2> Temperatures were in the single digits when I arrived at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont, last winter. It was cold enough that snow creaked underneath my boots as I walked to the lakefront, where ice skaters whizzed by with scarves wrapped to the tips of their noses. Many of the tiniest Vermont villages – including my own – have an outdoor rink or two, but Lake Morey merits a special trip. The 4.3mi (6.9km) <a href="https://www.lakemoreyresort.com/activities/the-lake/">skate trail</a> around the lake’s perimeter is the longest in the United States, a ribbon of white-blue ice wrapped in low-lying, evergreen-forested mountains. You can rent ice skates there, and the trail itself is free to use. That makes it a social hub for the rural community. After lacing my skates and pushing off, I joined the families chatting as they skated, dodging stray pucks from pickup ice hockey games. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/snow/vermont-skating-jen-rose-smith.jpg" alt="Skaters on a long skate trail in the wilderness of Vermont." /> <figcaption>Skaters on the Lake Morey Skate Trail. Image credit: Jen Rose Smith</figcaption></figure> We thinned out on the long straightaway, until the only sound was the clean scraping of ice underneath my blades. Summer houses around the lake slumbered under a blanket of snow, but when I saw a bald eagle bank over the far horizon, it felt like I was gliding away into the wilderness. – <a href="/about/contributors/jen-rose-smith">Jen Rose Smith</a>NPS_Doug Smith 0 NPS_Doug Smith A pack of wolves in a snowy field in Yellowstone National Park.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/winter-adventures-in-arizonaArizona’s natural wonders don’t stop with the Grand Canyon. Naturalist guide John Baston shares southern Arizona’s striking landscapes, rich history, and abundant desert wildlife.2021-09-28T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/winter-adventures-in-arizonahttps://www.worldnomads.comIn the depths of winter, many of us find ourselves longing for sunshine and warmth – a place where we can ditch the parka, wear our sandals, and walk around in short sleeves. Fortunately, there’s plenty of space under the wide-open skies of southern Arizona to enjoy a winter escape. I started to guide hiking trips in Sedona and the Grand Canyon 20 years ago. The first thing to know is that Arizona is not all desert. It’s the sixth largest of the United States and is also home to mountains, canyons, rivers, and forests. Many areas in northern Arizona are high elevation and cold and snowy in the winter, while the southern third of the state is mostly low altitude, hot, and dry. At first, I always arrived in Phoenix and left it for the more iconic destinations in the north. But over the years, my intrigue grew with the mountains and canyons around Phoenix and Tucson. I specifically started to come just for the desert and now I <a href="https://www.roadrunnerexpeditions.com/">enjoy guiding trips</a> in winter and early spring in, what we generally refer to as, the Sonoran Desert. <ul> <li><a href="#phoenix">Native American culture and desert adventures near Phoenix </a></li> <li><a href="#scenic">The scenic route between Phoenix and Tucson</a></li> <li><a href="#tucson">Saguaros, waterfalls, and wildlife near Tucson</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="phoenix">Native American culture and desert adventures near Phoenix</h2> When I lead tours here, I make sure to bring guests who are interested in Native American culture to the Heard Museum. Founded in the late 1920s, and originally based on one couple’s personal collection, this splendid museum has grown up with the city and evolved in its perspectives and presentation of Arizona’s first peoples. As a guide who is always trying to provide deeper meaning and context, a visit here is great preparation for visiting other Native American sites around the region. For great natural experiences not far from Phoenix, I go to the many trailheads of the gorgeous McDowell Mountain Regional Park, about 37mi (60km) northeast of town. Here opportunities abound to see unique desert wildlife such as Harris’s hawks, Gilded flickers, Gila woodpeckers (living in saguaro cactus!), and Regal-horned and Zebra-tailed lizards. Some people come here just to take pictures of the gnarly, weathered granite boulders, reminiscent of Joshua Tree National Park in California. Another spot just 7mi (11km) south of downtown Phoenix is South Mountain Park and Preserve which has about 50mi (80km) of <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">hiking trails</a>. Here, you can hike or drive to Dobbins Lookout (2,330ft/710m) for great views of the Phoenix area. As a hiker, I’m generally more comfortable moving through the desert on my own two feet. But a local friend suggested I try <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/mountain-biking">mountain biking</a> on the groomed desert single-track trails at Brown’s Ranch, north east of Phoenix. As I whizzed through the gravel and past the cactus in the sunshine I felt as though I’d discovered a brand-new sport. I’m certain to come back for more. You can pick up a detailed trail map of the many beginner and intermediate paths at the trailhead. If you call the local REI store, you can even have some mountain bikes delivered to the trailhead to rent for the day. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/arizona/mountain-biking-phoenix.jpg" alt="A man mountain bikes on a desert trail at Brown's Ranch near Phoenix, Arizona." /> <figcaption>The author on a trail at Brown's Ranch. Image credit: John Baston</figcaption></figure> For campers, Lost Dutchman State Park, east of Phoenix, is my favorite campsite in the area. It’s open year-round and has great scenery, hiking trails, and showers. Hike right to the base of the Superstition Mountains for an amazing sunset. <h2 id="scenic">The scenic route between Phoenix and Tucson</h2> If you’re driving to Tucson, skip the Interstate and take the quieter, more scenic Pinal Pioneer Parkway (State Rt. 79). You can find many wonders along the way. Hikers won’t want to miss the southern access to the Superstition Wilderness at the Peralta Trailhead. I like to park here and walk up Peralta Canyon 1,500ft (457m) to the saddle (about 2.5mi/4km one-way). The first time I was here, I was taken by the geology of the canyon, but did not expect to come upon one of the finest views in the entire desert. Bring a lunch, find a seat on the rocks, and appreciate the extinct volcanic plug known as Weaver’s Needle. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/arizona/weavers-needle.jpg" alt="Hikers sit gazing at Weaver's Needle, an extinct volcanic plug in the Superstition Wilderness, Arizona." /> <figcaption>Weaver's Needle. Image credit: John Baston</figcaption></figure> Along the Pinal Parkway you’ll also find Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, home to the single largest remaining freestanding building of historical <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/native-american-journeys">North American civilizations</a>, and also the ancient story of the “Valley of the Sun”, which we now generally refer to as “Greater Phoenix”. Imagine no concrete, cars, and strip malls but instead, a huge, sun-drenched valley fed by three rivers (Gila, Verde, and Salt) and irrigated by a massive canal system, which supported more than 100,000 people. What is now the Phoenix area was once the homeland of the Hohokam people – the ruins and displays at Casa Grande NM are a great way to reconnect this landscape to this ancient civilization. <h2 id="tucson">Saguaros, waterfalls, and wildlife near Tucson</h2> Tucson lies about two hours southeast of Phoenix and is known for being artsy and intellectual. To a Californian, I would say that Los Angeles is to San Francisco what Phoenix is to Tucson – they’d get it. Tucson is also higher in elevation, and so just in the strike zone of the saguaro cactus. They are everywhere there – the densest stands are protected in Saguaro National Park. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/arizona/saguaro-cactus.jpg" alt="A group of hikers stares up at a massive saguaro cactus near Tucson, Arizona." /> <figcaption>A group of hikers gazing up at a massive saguaro cactus. Image credit: John Baston</figcaption></figure> Just before you arrive in Tucson on the Pinal Parkway, you’ll come to the edge of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. I bring my tour groups here for a stroll at sunset to see the spectacular light on the western-facing slope of the mountains. You can hike into this rugged stretch of mountains from Catalina State Park and find frogs in the famous vernal pools. The Catalina Mountains climb thousands of feet behind the town of Tucson and provide a wide range of recreational opportunities. Arrive early at the popular Sabino Canyon trailhead and take the tram up into the mountains to do some easy walking to observe the scenery or get dropped at the much less visited Bear Canyon trailhead and hike (5mi/8km round trip) to Seven Falls. It still amazes me to see waterfalls in the desert next to cactus! These trails are great for early spring (mid-February) wildflowers. It’s also possible to drive to the top of the Catalina Mountains. As a seasoned observer of nature, I enjoy this little voyage which starts in the desert studded with saguaro cactus, moves through a number of ecosystems on the way to the coniferous forest and tops out at a ski area. Stop at Windy Point (elevation 7,000ft/2,134m) for pictures or to watch the sunset. Tucson is also home to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This lovely outdoor museum perched at the edge of Saguaro National Monument has exhibits of live animals from the Sonoran Desert including mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects from both the Mexican and American sides of the desert (most of the Sonoran desert <a href="/explore/north-america/mexico/border-towns-the-real-story#biosphere">lies in Mexico</a>). You won’t want to miss the morning raptor free flight – this well-orchestrated “show” only happens once a day and allows visitors a close-up experience of birds of prey flying and perching. And the gardens and botanical displays are worth the price of admission alone. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/arizona/raptor-show.jpg" alt="A raptor flies towards some prey during a raptor show at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. " /> <figcaption>The free-flight raptor "show" at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Image credit: John Baston</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> Tuscon and Phoenix both have international airports. Winter and early spring are the best times to visit this beautiful landscape (summers can be stiflingly hot). But be careful – the snowbird inside you will have you longing to return.John Baston 1 John Baston

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/4-of-the-best-places-for-mountain-bikingThe sport of mountain biking originated in the United States, so it’s no surprise that there are endless great places to ride here, whatever your skill level. Our nomads share their favorites around the country.2021-09-13T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/4-of-the-best-places-for-mountain-bikinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#colorado">Breckenridge, Colorado</a></li> <li><a href="#arkansas">Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas</a></li> <li><a href="#bend">Bend, Oregon</a></li> <li><a href="#west-virginia">Fayetteville, West Virginia</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="colorado">Breckenridge, Colorado</h2> It’s been said that Breckenridge (in the Colorado Rockies, about 80mi(129km) outside Denver) is just one big trailhead, and mountain biking fanatics, and even relative newbies, like me, swear that it's true. With more than 800mi (1,287km) of trails in and around the town, which sits at a whopping 9,600ft (2,438m) elevation, cyclists may have as hard of a time choosing a trail as they do adapting to the altitude. If I’m in the mood for a gentle and relaxing ride to help me acclimate, the River Trail that parallels the Blue River through town is a solid and bucolic choice. If I’m in the mood to test my courage, then the skill-building B-Line Trail with its jumps, wooden bridges and bermed turns is a true adrenaline rush. Either way, I’ve found trails that fit whatever kind of challenge I’m up for. Hardcore cyclists can test their mettle on the advanced Wheeler Pass Trail. This old hiking trail is steep and unforgiving, one of the most epic challenges avid mountain bikers can take on. The elevation is no joke, and your lungs burn as you churn your way over ruts and rocks to climb up to 12,000ft (3,658m), so make sure your body is acclimated. Weather can be tricky at this elevation, but the views and vistas make the misery of this trail well worth it. The ride starts off with a leg-quaking climb that inevitably requires some walking. But the pain is rewarded by a beautiful forest ride and a fast and fun single track. I gazed for quite a while at surrounding 13,000ft (3,962m) mountains and the beaver ponds while catching my breath, knowing that the next leg of the trail was about to spike almost 1,500ft (457m) in a mile. While you may cuss or even cry on the 11mi (18km) one-way Wheeler Pass Trail, it’s by far one of the most stamina-testing – and ultimately rewarding – trails in the Tenmile Range of the Rockies. For a full listing of trails and a map, swing by the Breckenridge Visitors Center in Downtown. Later, reward a hard and beautiful day of riding with a cold one from Breckenridge Brewery. – <a href="/about/contributors/heide-brandes">Heide Brandes</a> <h2 id="arkansas">Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas</h2> The great state of Arkansas, known to locals as “The Natural State”, is often known to outsiders simply as “where President Bill Clinton is from”. Indeed, the 42nd POTUS is from Arkansas and was also its Governor. It’s a green and glorious state with a growing reputation for its outdoors activities in general (<a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/where-to-hike-in-the-usa-year-round#june">hiking</a>, biking, kayaking, tubing), and strong cycling scene. No Arkansan itinerary would be complete without the bike-friendly capital city, Little Rock, which has produced a detailed <a href="https://www.littlerock.com/experience-little-rock/cycling">cycling guide</a> with routes for different skill levels and riding styles (mountain, gravel, and road) both within the city and in nearby state parks. After leaving Little Rock, I headed to Hot Springs, an hour away. Though it’s best known for Hot Springs National Park, the real highlight of my trip was the <a href="https://www.northwoodstrails.org/">Northwoods Trails</a> system, a five-minute drive from downtown. The trail network is made up of nearly 30mi (48km) of trails that stretch across city, state, and national parkland, and is one of the few trail systems in the country that include national park trails open to mountain biking. These shared hiking/biking trails are wonderfully free of crowds. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/mountain-biking/arkansas-biking-group.jpg" alt="A group of women mountain bikers on a trail near Hot Springs, Arkansas." /> <figcaption>The Spa City Lady Gang. Image credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> In Hot Springs, Wednesday is the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/187194206464685/?ref=share">Spa City Lady Gang</a>’s weekly group ride, when any female-identifying rider is invited to hit the mountain bike trails around the city. During my visit, a dozen or so ladies welcomed me to the Northwoods Trails and took me on a guided tour of the area. I was glad I joined them. There’s a trail network map at the trailhead, and the name of each trail is clearly signposted at the start, but once you’re on the web of trials, it’s hard to know how they all interconnect. Had I not gone with the gang, I would’ve been checking the photo I took of the map every few minutes so as not to get lost. We twisted and turned through dense foliage, rotating between steep climbs and rugged descents – a few of which some of us decided to get off and walk – and stopped at several bridges and streams to catch our breath and take pictures. While the Northwoods do have more challenging trails, the gang made sure we rode beginner (and a handful of intermediate) trails since I’m a relative newbie. As was the case in Little Rock, the trails are open year-round but may close after heavy rains. – <a href="/about/contributors/cassandra-brooklyn">Cassandra Brooklyn</a> <h2 id="bend">Bend, Oregon</h2> Almost any outdoorsy person living in the United States will have heard of Bend, Oregon. It’s like Boulder or Bozeman in that way, not too big, not too small, and packed with fun, world-class ways to play and be fit and happy outside. There’s skiing, hiking, fishing, and climbing, and all of it within a can-do-after-work distance. Specifically, though, people really like Bend for <a href="https://bendtrails.org/">mountain biking</a> and beer. A wonderful pairing, anywhere, sure – but it’s Bend’s abundance of both that makes it remarkable. More than 300mi (483km) of single-track trails wend through evergreen forests and over passes and up into the airy, hinterlands of the Deschutes National Forest, a 2,500mi2 (7,300km2) swatch of public land that cradles the city. You can flow through spicy-scented ponderosas in sweeping S-curves on Phil’s Trail or climb into the strange cinder country of red gravel peaks on Flagline. There are lakes to reach on the Metolius Windigo and rapids to follow on the River Trail. It’s so good and varied that bike magazines do their reviewing here. This is not slick rock, like that in Moab, or the root-riddled paths of New England. Some of the riding here is technical lava rock, but much of it is not. You can bomb steep trails over and over while riding the bike-friendly chairlifts at Mount Bachelor in the summer, or explore endless squiggles of pleasing, smooth, forgiving routes that weave through the woods and steppes. I’ve seen deer and eagles out there. I sometimes pack a small rod to fish. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/mountain-biking/bend-biking-dave-cox.jpg" alt="Two mountain bikers on a forest trail near Bend, Oregon. " /> <figcaption>Riders on the Tumalo Creek Trail. Image credit: Dave Cox, Mountain Media</figcaption></figure> My friend Katy Bryce agrees we have it good. “We have everything,” she says. She’s the author of the guide book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Bike-Bend-Select-Singletrack/dp/1680510649">Mountain Bike Bend</a>, and the CEO of a <a href="https://robertaxleproject.com/">local bike company</a>. “I have my favorites, but there are infinite ways to link trails together to create your own fun and adventure.” My favorite has always been how you can ride so many trails right from town – no car required. You can pedal along a new car-free footpath that dives and swoops its way to the <a href="https://bendtrails.org/trail/phils-trail-complex/">Phil’s Trail Complex</a> on the edge of town, where the pavement becomes duff or sand and perfectly tacky right after a rain. You can ride any time of year, really, though too much snow or heat mean April to July and September to October are best. That’s when I’ll spin up Kent’s or Ben’s – both easy green trails – and work my way over to a fast, hoot-worthy descent down Phil’s. It’s 15mi (24km) door to door and I’ll pass a <a href="https://www.visitbend.com/bend-ale-trail/">dozen breweries</a> on the way. I think we have 30 of them now. If you're looking for a guided adventure, <a href="https://www.cogwild.com/">Cog Wild</a> runs guided trips, shuttles, and skills courses in and around Bend. – <a href="/about/contributors/tim-neville">Tim Neville</a> <h2 id="west-virginia">Fayetteville, West Virginia</h2> West Virginia’s state motto,“Wild and Wonderful”, appears on welcome signs and license plates and is fantastically accurate. A variety of wild adventures – hiking, biking, rafting, mountain climbing – along with the state’s natural beauty make West Virginia a wonderful place to holiday. I arrived at the <a href="https://wvtourism.com/company/arrowhead-bike-farm/">Arrowhead Bike Farm</a>, near Fayetteville in central-south West Virginia, on a warm September morning, half expecting the mountain bike trails to be closed due to the previous evening’s powerful rainstorm. Instead, I was greeted by a cheery skills instructor and learned that the region’s sandstone filters and absorbs rain quickly so, while trails in other states become sloppy messes after a storm, these trails stay open. In fact, they’re open year-round, even if it snows. Arrowhead Bike Farm also offers skill-building workshops and guided tours (it also has adorable goats, a great restaurant, and awesome campsites). I’ve been an avid road cyclist for 15 years and enjoyed mountain biking in forests in <a href="/explore/central-america/costa-rica/traveling-in-costa-rica-during-covid#to-do">Costa Rica</a> and deserts in <a href="/explore/middle-east/jordan/exploring-jordan-from-a-local-womans-perspective">Jordan</a>, but I’d never taken a mountain biking class. Just as personal trainers help tweak your form for a safer, more effective workout, a mountain bike coach helps you develop habits that will result in a safer, more enjoyable ride. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/mountain-biking/west-virginia-biking-alt.jpg" alt="A woman rides a mountain bike through the woods near Fayetteville, West Virginia." /> <figcaption>The author riding the trails at Arrowhead Bike Farm. Image credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> After a 20-minute session, that covered proper form for riding uphill and downhill and how to maneuver and increase stability while dodging trees, we headed to the trails. Intermediate riders should try the Dalton and La Croix trails, while experienced riders should check out the Wolf Creek Trail system a few miles away, which offers riders large rock gardens and downed trees to tackle. Since I’m still a beginner, we rode the Long Point Trail (in <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/best-of-the-blue-ridge-mountains">New River Gorge National Park</a>), a mixed-use trail (shared with hikers) that leads to a spectacular view of the New River Gorge Bridge. The last .25mi (0.4km) of the trail must be walked. During the ride, my coach constantly watched my form, reminded me where to shift my weight, and checked in to make sure I felt comfortable. He let me know when we’d be approaching a hill and suggested when I should switch gears and/or adjust my speed. It was great. Had I taken a lesson like this while in Costa Rica, I probably wouldn’t have run into a railroad track and broken off a pedal. Next time I’m in the area, I’ll be sure to visit on a Wednesday for their weekly women’s ride. – <a href="/about/contributors/cassandra-brooklyn">Cassandra Brooklyn</a>Getty Images / Jordan Siemens 1523108724 Getty Images A woman bikes through aspen trees near Breckenridge, Colorado.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/where-to-hike-in-the-usa-year-roundThe United States offers fantastic hiking every month of the year. Our nomads share their favorites – from easy day trips to multi-day treks – that let you enjoy the best of the seasons and the regions while avoiding the crowds.2021-08-19T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/where-to-hike-in-the-usa-year-roundhttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#january">January: Torreya State Park, Florida </a></li> <li><a href="#february">February: Beartooth Mountains, Montana </a></li> <li><a href="#march">March: Oregon Coast Trail </a></li> <li><a href="#april">April: The Historic C&O Canal Towpath from Harper’s Ferry to Washington, DC</a></li> <li><a href="#may">May: Green River Lakes Trails, Wyoming</a></li> <li><a href="#june">June: The Ozark Highlands Trail, Arkansas</a></li> <li><a href="#july">July: Mountains-to-Sea Trail, North Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="#august">August: Desolation Wilderness, Northern California</a></li> <li><a href="#september">September: The Cliff Walk, Newport, Rhode Island </a></li> <li><a href="#october">October: Meyers Beach Sea Cave Trail, Wisconsin</a></li> <li><a href="#november">November: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California </a></li> <li><a href="#december">December: Acadia National Park, Maine</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="january">January: Torreya State Park, Florida</h2> Being a keen birdwatcher has only deepened my appreciation for trees, despite their habit of obscuring the objects of my attentions. In fact, I’ve become something of a tree-spotter. It was to satisfy this interest that I first visited Torreya State Park, on Florida’s Panhandle, between Tallahassee and Pensacola. There, growing only on the bluffs some 150ft (46m) above the Apalachicola River, can be found the torreya, aka the stinking cedar or gopher tree, the rarest evergreen in North America. It has been critically endangered since 1998, due to fungal blight. Unapologetically rugged – and occasionally challenging, because of the aftermath of 2018’s Hurricane Michael, the 12mi (19km) Torreya Challenge trail takes in most of the park’s highlights, such as Gregory House, an antebellum mansion, which can be toured; Confederate cannon emplacements; and glorious stands of white oak, water hickory, Florida maple and fan-leaved palmetto. The neighboring Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve, a longleaf pine landscape restored by The Nature Conservancy, where 47 zoo-raised non-venomous eastern indigo snakes were recently introduced, makes for exceptional hiking, too. January is the best time of year to visit; the mosquitoes haven’t stirred yet, but it’s warm enough for light clothing, and you might see the golden-crowned kinglet, which spends the winter there. The park is open every day from 8am to sunset and entry costs US $3 per vehicle and US $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. A yurt, cabin, and 30 shaded <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/camping-travel-insurance">campsites</a> with restrooms, showers, and electric and water hookups accommodate overnight visitors. – <a href="/about/contributors/joseph-furey">Joe Furey</a> <h2 id="february">February: Beartooth Mountains, Montana</h2> Snowshoes are a bit of a misnomer. Since they work by distributing weight over a larger surface area, they’re actually flotation devices. The Beartooths, however, are aptly named. These snow-capped peaks, straddling the Montana/Wyoming border, look like the canines you’d expect a grizzly to flash right before he eats you. Fortunately, it’s February. Bears are hibernating. Avalanches are a concern at higher elevations – the Beartooths boast Montana’s highest point (elevation 12,779ft/3,895m) – but the trail I’m on, Wild Bill Lake Loop, is lower. Well-groomed and well-marked, it’s as flat as the Beartooths are jagged. As a Big Sky Country native, I know the Beartooths’ premiere hike is The Beaten Path – a 26mi (42km) summit-to-summit trail that takes 2 to 4 days. I only have 2 to 4 hours. Luckily, there are a dozen easy and moderate hikes, including Wild Bill, within 20 minutes of Red Lodge (pop. 2,012), the gateway to this relatively underrated Montana mountain range. In October, snow begins to filter through the lodgepole pines to blanket the forest floor. In December, The Beartooth Recreational Trails Association starts grooming its winter-use trails on a weekly basis, and Red Lodge stores rent out <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/ski-snowboard-travel-insurance">Nordic skis</a> and snowshoes. I opt for the latter so my lumbering 150-pound Leonberger dog can keep up. Because the trails aren’t crowded – even on weekends – dogs are allowed off leash. I dread the day the Beartooths become so popular it’s hard to find parking at the trailheads. That said, I’m not going to stop bragging about my backyard. Mountains this special only form once in a millennium. – <a href="/about/contributors/katie-jackson">Katie Jackson</a> <h2 id="march">March: Oregon Coast Trail</h2> A few years ago, a travel editor sent me to the southern Oregon Coast to <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/mountain-biking">ride a fat bike</a> along the broad, sandy beaches that make up a good portion of the Oregon Coast Trail. It’s a 362mi (583km) route along the Pacific that links state parks, campgrounds and quaint towns anchored by inns, seafood shacks, and breweries. Even as a longtime Oregon resident I thought the route was awesome, but it was the whale sightings that have kept me coming back. The OCT isn’t as well-known as a lot of the other long-distance trails in the United States, but it is worthy for its simplicity. The entire Oregon coast is public land, and the route stretches from the mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria south to the California state line. It’s hard to get lost with a giant ocean to orientate you. Along the way you’ll find beaches, single-track trails, and a few stretches of road, none of which is heart-crushingly difficult. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/hikes-year-round/oregon-coast-trail.jpg" alt="A woman hikes through a misty forest on the Oregon Coast Trail, USA." /> <figcaption>Hiking through misty forests on the Oregon Coast Trail. Image credit: Tim Neville</figcaption></figure> The rewards are magnificent. Temperate rainforests give way to mountain vistas overlooking mighty sea stacks. Tide pools teem with starfish and green sea anemones. And, come March, thousands of gray whales start passing by on their migration north to the plankton-rich waters of British Columbia and Alaska. On some days, it’s not unusual to count 50 of them. The areas around Depoe Bay rank as prime whale watching regions, but my favorite has always been the 4.5 mile (7km) one-way stretch between Sunset Bay State Park and Cape Arago State Park near Coos Bay in the south. Rocky, dramatic, and less visited, the trail winds along sandstone cliffs, twisted like taffy, and past Shore Acres State Park with its lovely botanical gardens. Bring binoculars to look for the tell-tale spout of a whale coming up for air. When night falls, build a campfire on the beach and roast mussels harvested off the rocks. All you need is a <a href="https://myodfw.com/crabbing-clamming/licensing-info">permit</a>. – <a href="/about/contributors/tim-neville">Tim Neville</a> <h2 id="april">April: The Historic C&O Canal Towpath from Harper’s Ferry to Washington, DC</h2> Just across the Potomac River from historic Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, pick up the C&O Canal Towpath for a mostly flat, 60mi (97km) hike or bike into Washington, DC. I love this stretch of the trail for the scenery, especially in the spring, when native rhododendrons, wild azalea, and dogwood bloom, pawpaw give off their curious fruit (taste it if you like), and bluebells, bloodroot, lilies, and trillium pop up from the forest floor. On more isolated spots along the trail, I’ve spotted white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and foxes, plus abundant bird life. The entire 184mi (297km) towpath forms the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park, which runs from Cumberland, Maryland, near the Pennsylvania border, all the way to Georgetown in DC. Canal boats were once pulled by mules along the towpath, hauling passengers, coal, food, and other supplies. For nearly 100 years of the 19th and 20th centuries, the canal was a key supply route to Western Maryland and beyond. Wooden locks raised and lowered boats to allow for elevation change – a few of them still function and many others are in a preserved state. Today, the towpath is a wide, shady trail for walkers, backpackers, and bikers content to traverse a small section or make the entire journey end-to-end, with stops along the way at campsites or country inns. The towpath is shaded almost the entire way, but still offers dramatic views of the roaring Potomac, imposing rock formations, and fascinating history lessons – all at a pace that won’t leave you winded. – <a href="/about/contributors/elizabeth-heath">Elizabeth Heath</a> <h2 id="may">May: Green River Lakes Trails, Wyoming</h2> I dedicated my time in Wyoming to lesser-known hiking destinations. Sure, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park are both spectacular, but they’re also spectacularly crowded. While national parks get all the attention, national forests, such as Bridger-Teton, are massively underappreciated – huge swaths of public land just begging to be explored. The Bridger Wilderness area inside Bridger-Teton National Forest is 2.5 hours south of Jackson, Wyoming and 1.5 hours north of Pinedale (where I was based) – far enough off the main drag that it’s not overly crowded but close enough to civilization that daytrip hikes are possible. Overnight camping is also an option – and the only option for multi-day hikes. The Green River Lakes trail network is especially beautiful, with the Green River Loop (a 7mi/11km loop around a lake) the most popular. For multi-day hikers, the Highline Trail is a 35mi (56km) out-and-back trek with campsites scattered along the route. Instead of taking the Highline Trail to the Lakeside Trail to complete the lake loop, I opted to continue on the Highline side since the Lakeside Trail was full of downed trees. Just 3mi (5km) from the Highline trailhead I was rewarded with views of snowcapped mountains reflecting off the emerald and turquoise lakes. If you want to get that epic view but complete the loop, just double back a bit to connect to the Lakeside Trail. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/hikes-year-round/bridger-teton-lake.jpg" alt="A mountain is reflected in a lake in Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wisconsin." /> <figcaption>A mirror lake on the Highline Trail. Image credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> By early May, most snow is melted along the trails, there are no mosquitos yet, and pre-summer vacation season means few crowds. Elevation gains are fairly minimal and not too strenuous. Though hiking poles aren’t necessary, the terrain is easier in proper hiking boots, and bear spray is absolutely essential. This part of Wyoming is <a href="/travel-safety/north-america/united-states/how-to-avoid-bears-tips-for-wilderness-safety">prime bear country</a> (both black and grizzly), so be sure to have bear spray handy, wear bear bells, bang sticks, and/or sing while hiking so bears hear you coming. As I usually hike alone and am terrified of bears, I actually mistook the rev of a distant boat motor for the pounding footsteps of a charging grizzly. For a moment, time stood still while I envisioned a mama grizzly charging me from the forest. My heart stopped, then raced, then I laughed at my mistake. Ten minutes later, I fell for the same motorboat trick again. – <a href="/about/contributors/cassandra-brooklyn">Cassandra Brooklyn</a> <h2 id="june">June: The Ozark Highlands Trail, Arkansas</h2> Now fixed in the popular imagination by the eponymous TV series, the Ozarks are a heavily forested group of highlands extending southwestward from St. Louis, Missouri to the Arkansas River and take in four states. The Midwest’s answer to the Appalachians, the Ozarks aren’t a mountain range so much as a heavily weathered plateau, one of the oldest on Earth. The Ozark Highlands Trail is a work in progress. So far, 270mi (435km) of a projected 320 have been cleared, and I’ve tackled 100mi (161km) of it, on and around the Boston Mountains of Arkansas, averaging about 15mi (24km) a day, from the Fort Douglas trailhead to Lake Fort Smith State Park. This is physically demanding backcountry hiking, involving, in summer, a fair amount of bushwhacking, so it’s best to pack light (it’s easy to pitch a mesh tent and a light tarp beneath the dense tree cover that’s a fixture of much of the trail). Fresh water is easy to find, but clean fresh water isn’t, so have a portable water purifier on hand, and a bear canister to contain your vittles, as black bears and raccoons are never far away. The Trail crosses more than 60 named creeks, streams, and rivers, traverses the Hurricane Creek Wilderness Area and scales White Rock Mountain, and yet it’s lightly trafficked. I was rarely accompanied for long on my trek, so its steep inclines, sudden drops, sandstone cliffs, jungly intensity, and views of what could have passed for heaven felt as though they’d been laid out just for me. I can’t think of another slice of genuine wilderness with its sense of scale and isolation – and populations of elk, mountain lion, and bald eagle – so close to civilization (Fayetteville, Arkansas, is just 40 minutes’ drive from Lake Fort Smith). – <a href="/about/contributors/joseph-furey">Joe Furey</a> <h2 id="july">July: Mountains-to-Sea Trail, North Carolina</h2> Strictly speaking, this isn’t the 1,175mi(1,891km) MST – as it’s commonly acronymed – but a 45mi (72km) section of it, ideal for a very long weekend. A friend sold me on this hike, from the town of Asheville to the Black Mountain Campground, as a practice run for an assault on the Southern Sixers, the 53 peaks that stand taller than 6,000ft (1,828m) among the Southern Appalachian Mountains of <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/mountain-biking-in-the-smoky-mountains">North Carolina and Tennessee</a>. Other than Mount Washington in New Hampshire, these fairly tightly clustered summits are the only ones that make the cut east of the Mississippi. Even in July, the walking is cool, thanks to the elevation not dropping below 5,000ft (1,524m) for almost half its length, though a wide-brimmed hat is essential if sunstroke isn’t your bag. The trail tops out at 6,359ft (1,949m) at Blackstop Knob, but Mount Mitchell – at 6,684ft (2,037m), the highest of the Sixers, and beloved of the Cherokee, who called it Attakulla – is temptingly close, and worth the detour if you have the legs for a much steeper climb. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/hikes-year-round/mt-mitchell-getty-878650830.jpg" alt="A panoramic view of forested mountains from the top of Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina" /> <figcaption>View from the top of Mt. Mitchell. Image credit: Getty Images / MargaretW</figcaption></figure> A nine-site tent campground in the free-to-enter Mount Mitchell State Park is open in warmer months, and a concession area and full-service restaurant caters to visitors from May to October. Many of the trailheads are a short distance from the <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/best-of-the-blue-ridge-mountains">Blue Ridge</a> Parkway, a manmade wonder, so the journey can be broken up without fuss if you want to use Asheville, with its charming downtown, arboretum, galleries, Pinball Museum and proximity to the historic Biltmore Estate, as base camp. – <a href="/about/contributors/joseph-furey">Joe Furey</a> <h2 id="august">August: Desolation Wilderness, Northern California</h2> Above Northern California’s Lake Tahoe is a wonderworld of granite domes, alpine lakes, evergreen forests and bluebird skies that seems to stretch forever. This is Desolation Wilderness, one of the Sierra Nevada’s last strongholds for peace and isolation. My favorite hike through this 100mi2 (260km2) wilderness area begins at Echo Lake and ends 1,800ft (549m) up at Lake Aloha. You can do this 12mi (19km) out-and-back trip in a day, but I like extending it with a few nights camping along the shores of the numerous lakes found north of here, making a one-way trip from Echo Lake to the Eagle Falls trailhead on Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay. It’s 16+ mi (26+ km), connecting numerous trails, so a map and compass are essential. It’s best to start early to get the best light and miss the day-trippers. This is pure California magic, rewarded by vast views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, meadows, and granite-shored lakes. There are plenty of chances to spot wildlife, such as mule deer, black bear, badgers, and bobcats, and fun little guys including fishers, pine marten, marmots, and pika. Keep an eye out for jays, chickadee, mountain bluebird and maybe even a golden eagle. Lake Aloha has probably the best lake swimming I’ve ever done – anywhere. The crystal-clear waters are ice cold, and a wonderful treat after a long slog. After a dip and a serious “lizarding” sunbathing session, I set up camp, take an afternoon hike (without my backpack), or just chill lakeside with my thoughts. If you want to stay for longer, you can camp at any of the lakes enroute to Eagle Falls. All overnights in Desolation Wilderness require an easy-to-get <a href="https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233261">permit</a>. This is bear country, so be sure to bring a bear canister to store your food well away from the campsite and never, ever cook in your tent. You’ll also need a good tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad, bug spray, food, water and a water filtration system, and standard mountain trekking gear. In some areas you might be required to pack out your poop (a specially designed <a href="https://www.rei.com/product/662978/cleanwaste-go-anywhere-toilet-kit-waste-bags-package-of-12">poop pouch</a> comes in handy). – <a href="/about/contributors/greg-benchwick">Greg Benchwick</a> <h2 id="september">September: The Cliff Walk, Newport, Rhode Island</h2> The Cliff Walk, in the classic New England seaside town of Newport, Rhode Island, is a popular destination during the summer season, when crowds flood in. But my favorite time to hike this trail is in September. By then, the air is cooler and the vacationers have left. The 3.5mi (5.6km) National Recreation Trail offers incredible views of the rocky Atlantic coastline as well as Newport’s iconic, gilded mansions: the Breakers, the Marble House, and the Elms. The term “walk” is used lightly, because while there are parts that are paved and easy to navigate – especially at the start of the trail – there are also plenty of areas with uneven terrain. Some parts even have steep inclines of over 70ft (21m) and require extreme caution, so make sure to wear some good hiking shoes. Aside from the thinned crowds, September is also usually warm enough to enjoy the last bits of summer fun, such as the local beaches, outdoor dining, and playing lawn tennis at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival is also held mid-month and allows guests the unique experience of wining and dining like a Vanderbilt in the gilded age. The trail is open 365 days a year and access is free and open to the public. I’ve done the walk several times and no matter how many times I hike this trail, I never tire of the views. – <a href="/about/contributors/gina-zammit">Gina Zammit</a> <h2 id="october">October: Meyers Beach Sea Cave Trail, Wisconsin</h2> When I was growing up in Wisconsin, each summer my family would “go up north” (Wisconsin speak for visiting the northern part of the state). This stunning part of the country isn’t well-known outside the region, but it’s packed with gorgeous and unique hiking trails for all skill levels. My absolute favorite hike in Northern Wisconsin is the Meyers Beach Sea Cave Trail. Located within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, the trail meanders along the southern coast of Gitchigami, the name the Red Cliff band of <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/great-lakes-road-trip">Lake Superior</a> Chippewa gave the Great Lake. As the tribe’s name implies, the region (and the Meyers Beach trail, in particular) is lined with red cliffs and the trail itself is mostly shaded, well-maintained, and easy to follow. If it’s hot out, the best way to cool off is to jump in the lake after the hike. The first .75mi (1.2km) of the out-and-back trail follows a wooden plank boardwalk, then changes to a mixture of dirt paths and wooden stairs – nothing too technical. Note that if it’s been raining, the trail can get quite muddy and slippery so be sure to bring proper footwear. The first mile is through a densely wooded area that transitions to a waterfront path overlooking Lake Superior and the area’s famous sea caves. Around the 2mi (3.2km) mark – right where the cliffs are – the trail becomes narrow and overgrown, so most people turn around here, but the trail continues for another 3mi (5km) or so, on to the Lakeshore Trail Campsite. If you don’t mind climbing over fallen trees, the full out-and-back route is about 11mi (18km). <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/hikes-year-round/wisconsin-myers-beach.jpg" alt="Kayakers on Lake Superior below the Myers Beach Sea Cave Trail in northern Wisconsin." /> <figcaption>Kayakers below the Myers Beach Sea Cave Trail. Image credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> Huge evergreen trees maintain their green hue year-round but each October, maple, birch, and other deciduous trees transition to festive yellow, red, and orange. Come winter, the kayakers who paddled below the cliffs in summer have been replaced with hikers making their way across the frozen-over lake and into the icicle-filled sea caves. – <a href="/about/contributors/cassandra-brooklyn">Cassandra Brooklyn</a> <h2 id="november">November: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California</h2> The California sand was still warm when I collapsed into it, eyes skyward, to watch satellites trace across the stars. The dark was dizzying. A few hours ago I’d been in San Diego wandering the Gaslamp Quarter, but out here I was alone with silhouettes of spindly ocotillo. I’d never heard of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park until a guide book project I was working on took me there one November – the ideal time to visit. The park sits in the shadow of the more popular Joshua Tree National Park, but this is California’s largest state park, a 600,000-acre expanse of canyons with ancient pictographs, soaring peaks, and ragged badlands. More than 110mi (177km) of trails wind through the park, including portions of the Pacific Crest Trail, but I’d spent a few days doing smaller day hikes instead. I wandered for 5.5mi (9km) out and back to the 20-foot-high (6m) Maidenhair Falls in Hellhole Canyon, a place that in summer lives up to its name with temperatures that can reach 125ºF (52ºC). I found an oasis of shimmering California fan palms tucked 1.5mi (2.4km) into Borrego Palm Canyon, a haven that has since burned in a small wildfire but that ecologists say will regrow quickly. On my last day, I spent a challenging several hours scrambling up to the cooler climes of 5,600ft (1,706m) Granite Mountain on a trail so lightly used at times it disappeared. Make no mistake: this is rough, rugged country and even in winter temperatures can still get hot. Be sure to bring a map, don’t expect mobile service, carry lots of water (at least a gallon per person) and, if you’re camping, be sure to carry a headlamp and mark your tent with reflective tape to find it in the dark. Then sit back, turn your gaze to the heavens and <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/planet/reach-for-the-stars">watch the show</a> till dawn. – <a href="/about/contributors/tim-neville">Tim Neville</a> <h2 id="december">December: Acadia National Park, Maine</h2> Most people who visit <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/exploring-the-maine-coast-by-boat">Acadia National Park</a>, one of the country’s most popular parks, with roughly 3.5 million visitors a year, know it as a summer getaway. But the park’s best kept secret is that it’s just as beautiful during the shoulder seasons and, as long as you’re willing to bundle up, you’ll have it all to yourself. The Gorham Mountain and Ocean Path Loop is a 3.5mi (5.6km) hike that encompasses everything iconic about the park, starting with a moderate climb to the top of 525ft (160m) Gorham Mountain, one of Mount Desert Island’s many mini peaks. From its granite summit spread seemingly limitless views of Frenchman Bay and its conifer-covered islands. My hands glide over snow and icicle-covered rocks on the way down and my boots crunch through iced-over puddles and streams. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/hikes-year-round/acadia-winter-getty-1303763744.jpg" alt="Snow-covered rocks on the shoreline of Acadia National Park in Maine." /> <figcaption>Acadia National Park in winter. Image credit: Getty Images / KenCanning</figcaption></figure> I cross the road to Sand Beach. The Maine ocean is cold year-round, so a walk on its sandy shore is no less enjoyable in the winter and the beachcombing is even better. A short climb brings me to Ocean Path, which hugs the rugged pink granite coastline and parallels Park Loop Road, closed to cars in the winter. Without the noise of the summer’s bumper-to-bumper traffic, the sound of sea birds and crashing surf intensifies and it’s easy to harken back to the park’s less peopled beginnings in the early 1900s when it was a playground to the Rockefellers. While the island typically gets less snow than inland Maine, be sure to check for weather conditions and dress for cold weather. – <a href="/about/contributors/catie-joyce-bulay">Catie Joyce-Bulay</a>Getty Images / sierralara 01204592309 Getty Images A hiker overlooks the rugged badlands in Anza-Borrega Desert State Park, California.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/hawaii-travel-discover-molokai-and-lanaiThese two amazing islands have all the beauty of Hawaii’s busier spots without the crowds. Nomad Will shares how to get there, where to stay, and how to experience authentic Hawai’ian culture.2021-05-24T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/hawaii-travel-discover-molokai-and-lanaihttps://www.worldnomads.comThe first time I went to Molokaʻi, I drove out west to its most famous beach, Pāpōhaku. With more than three miles of golden sand, it’s one of the longest in the entire state, and on clear days, after dark, you can look across the ocean and see Oʻahu lit up in the distance, sparkling like a diamond. For those reasons, I prepared myself mentally for the buzz and busyness that comes along with most of Hawaiʻi’s iconic places. I could barely believe it when I arrived and found that I had to squint to see the next person down the beach. I felt like I had discovered something. While everyone else was going right, I had gone left, it seemed. Over the years, Molokaʻi, as well as its neighbor, Lānaʻi, have become my two favorite islands to tell (certain) people about for this exact reason – no one seems to go there. In 2022, Hawaii received nearly 10 million visitors, yet only about 1% of them went to Molokaʻi or Lānaʻi. Why? Well, both can be a challenge to navigate. Lānaʻi is over-the-top expensive, which deters most, and Molokaʻi only has one hotel, which prevents most. But, knowing how to work around those obstacles opens up a set of adventures that few ever experience. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/hawaii-papohaku-beach.jpg" alt="An empty stretch of sand on Molokai's most famous beach, Pāpōhaku." /> <figcaption>Pāpōhaku, the most famous beach on Molokaʻi. Image credit: Will McGough</figcaption></figure> <ul> <li><a href="#ferries">Arrive via the last remaining ferry in Hawaiʻi</a></li> <li><a href="#lanai">Snorkeling from your campsite on Lānaʻi</a></li> <li><a href="#molokai">Volunteer on Molokaʻi and reap the rewards</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="ferries">Arrive via the last remaining ferry in Hawaiʻi</h2> Today, many people will casually say that you can’t travel between the islands by boat anymore, but that’s not true. There is indeed an active ferry left in the islands, and it leaves from Lāhainā on Maui and goes to <a href="https://go-lanai.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Lānaʻi</a> ($30 each way; 1 hour trip). (Note: Due to the Lāhainā fire in August 2023, the Lāhainā to Lānaʻi route has been suspended but there are departures from Maʻalaea Harbor on Maui.) Infrequently used by tourists, the ferry sets you up nicely – it's cheaper and more interesting than flying, and it doubles as a scenic tour. Shoving off from Maui, you get spectacular views looking back on the island’s two volcanoes, and whales, dolphins, and other sea life are often encountered along the way. Crossing the channel from Maui to Lānaʻi is an old-school way to visit an old-school island. <h2 id="lanai">Snorkeling from your campsite on Lānaʻi</h2> The irony that only about 1% of people visit Lānaʻi is that its tiny tourism game is built around attracting the top 1%. Lānaʻi has three hotels – two of which are Four Seasons – and it’s not unusual to see rates that trend upwards of $1,000 a night. Yikes. My initial trips to Lānaʻi were funded by work, so when it came time to visit on my own dollar, I knew I had to get creative. The key to my success was noting that the island’s only <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/camping-travel-insurance">campground</a> was just steps away from the ferry landing. To this day, the $60-per-night campsite at Hulopoʻe Beach Park is still the most expensive I’ve ever booked (with additional charges for additional people). But as far as Lānaʻi goes, this is dirt cheap, and the fact that you can bring a cooler full of groceries on the ferry sweetens the deal. Otherwise, all you need is some basic camping gear, which I recommend bringing from home. Consider it a backpacking trip where you don’t have to hike. (Note: as of November 2023 the campsite is open to Lānaʻi residents only.) From Maui (Lāhainā), I took the evening ferry to Lānaʻi and arrived at the Manele Small Boat Harbor about a half hour before sunset. It was a short stroll to the campground, my site within steps of the ocean and the white sand of Hulopoʻe Beach. There’s a nearby trail atop the cliffs to the overlook of Puʻu Pehe, a towering formation better known as Sweetheart Rock. I sat, drinking a beer, listening to the waves crash, watching the cliffs glow red and the pink, purple, and orange sky fade into twilight. Across the way I could see the top of Haleakalā on Maui, and that night, I cooked dinner with my feet in the sand. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/hawaii-view-puu-pehe.jpg" alt="Clifftop view of Puʻu Pehe, aka Sweetheart Rock, on the Hawaiian island of Lanai." /> <figcaption>Clifftop view of Puʻu Pehe, aka Sweetheart Rock. Image credit: Will McGough</figcaption></figure> The next morning at sunrise, I donned my snorkel gear (bring your own or rent on Maui) and explored the Manele-Hulopoʻe Marine Life Conservation District, which sits just offshore. Snorkel boats come here from Maui in the late morning and early afternoon, but go at dawn and you’ll have the crystal-clear, turquoise-blue water – filled with sea turtles, tropical fish, eels, and coral heads – all to yourself. If you want to explore beyond the south shore, you can rent a car or hire a taxi at the harbor to Lānaʻi City for the afternoon. Renting an off-road Jeep and exploring Lānaʻi’s many dirt roads is also a worthy adventure, although the Jeeps can cost up to $200 a day. <h2 id="molokai">Volunteer on Molokaʻi and reap the rewards</h2> Molokaʻi is a wonderful place to visit because of how uncrowded, undeveloped, and, thus, how unspoiled it remains. I could set you up by pointing you in the direction of the campsites at Pāpōhaku, the cultural hike in Hālawa Valley, or the historical tour at Kalaupapa. But, as I found out, if you want to dig deeper on Molokaʻi, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty. You’re going to have to <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/the-evolution-and-future-of-voluntourism">volunteer</a> somewhere. I can feel you rolling your eyes. Volunteer? On my vacation? I know, it sounds like a total drag. But if you want the real Molokaʻi, that’s the only way to get it. The discovery came organically for me. One day, while hanging about a beach, I noticed a group of locals coming my way, collecting trash that had washed onshore. I happened to strike up a conversation as they passed, and before I knew it, I had a bag in my hand. We walked the beach collecting bits of microplastic, getting to know one another. When one man learned that I was from out of town, he insisted I come over for dinner. That night, I sat outside at a picnic table on his family farm, eating kalua pork, listening to the entire family sing songs in a tradition known as kanikapila. I felt extremely out of place, which told me I was on the right track. Before I left, they circled some unmarked places on the map for me, and gave me the names of some of their friends on the island. The next day, because of their introduction, I joined the owner of the local bike shop on his evening ride. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Whereas before I had been limited to observing the island’s beaches and landscapes, I was now plugged into its people. When I asked why these places and experiences weren’t more openly marketed, they explained that this is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willmcgough/2019/10/21/hawaii-5-things-to-know-before-visiting-molokai/?sh=56a5cb5122a1" rel="nofollow noopener">how things work on Molokaʻi</a>. For locals, tourism is not a financial transaction, and its places are not for sale. Rather, tourism here is striving to be a people-to-people exchange, a process that’s mutually beneficial. Now, before you go around the island performing random acts of kindness and fishing for invitations, know that today’s voluntourism industry is more organized. For example, the <a href="http://molokaiflowers.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Halawa Tropical Flower Farm</a> offers free overnight lodging for a half day of help, and volunteers at the <a href="https://molokailandtrust.org/participate/" rel="nofollow noopener">Mokio Preserve</a> receive access to otherwise restricted lands. The <a href="https://visitmolokai.com/wp/" rel="nofollow noopener">Molokaʻi Tourism Office</a> is actively promoting these exchanges and works to find the best host for your interests – just give them a call and see where it leads you. Worst case, if you don’t like it, you can still head to Pāpōhaku and take a few photos. There will be room for you there, and no one will bug you, that I can guarantee. Note: As of November 2023, Hawaiian Airlines is not offering flights to Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. However, <a href="https://mokuleleairlines.com/">Mokulele Airlines</a> operates flights to those islands.Getty Images / Archershoots 11219108968 Getty Images An aerial view of the steep green cliffs of Molokai, Hawaii.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/us-islands-for-outdoor-adventureCraving crowd-free serenity? Longing for pristine beaches? Fascinated by wildife, nature, and history? These gorgeous archipelagos just off the US coast are exactly what you need. 2021-04-21T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/us-islands-for-outdoor-adventurehttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#channel"> The Channel Islands of California</a></li> <li><a href="#san-juans">Washington’s San Juan Islands</a></li> <li><a href="#sea-islands">The Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="channel">The Channel Islands of California</h2> It was a fascination with island ecology that led me to the Channel Islands of California. I had a pilgrimage to the Galápagos planned, but my wallet had other ideas, and the more I read about evolution, the more satisfied I was that if I wanted to see Mother Nature at her inventive best, I didn’t need to join legions of travelers on a quest for a giant tortoise selfie in Ecuador. Islands are laboratories for biodiversity, places where natural selection has produced a remarkable array of creatures unique to their locales. Darwin may have had his “eureka” moment on the Galápagos, but he could have had it in Borneo, South Georgia, Coiba or… The Channel Islands. This archipelago of just eight small, mostly uninhabited islands, between 12-64mi (19-103km) from the Californian mainland, is home to more than 2,000 animal and plant species, 145 of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Five of those islands – Anacapa, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Barbara – comprise the Channel Islands National Park, and their surrounding waters are a National Marine Sanctuary. Of the three remaining islands, only Santa Catalina, a tourist destination first developed by the chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. in the 1920s, is open to the public and not owned by the US Navy. My first glimpse of the archipelago was on an Island Packers whale watching tour out of Ventura, California. That day in late March, the waters were churning with activity – fin, humpback and California gray whales, large pods of dolphins – but what really grabbed me was the sight of Anacapa rising up out of the fog like a gothic galleon. I determined to learn more. Within a month I had arranged my trip. A contact, a research scientist with the United States Geological Survey, found a room for me in Avalon, a resort town of about 3,700 people on Santa Catalina. He and his colleagues treated me as a fellow researcher. With the use of a private boat (there are others ways to explore - see below), I spent 10 days exploring each of the park’s islands, <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">kayaking</a> into some of the world’s deepest sea caves, watching elephant seals nurse their giant pups, and hiking trails through intensely beautiful yet slightly alien landscapes. I lay in wait like a paparazzo for the Channel Island fox (not in the least bit flustered by my presence), Island scrub jay, deer mouse, fence lizard, spotted skunk, and slender salamander, each endemic, as a species or subspecies, to the Channel Islands. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/islands/channel-island-fox.jpg" alt="The endemic Channel Island Fox." /> <figcaption>The endemic Channel Island Fox. Image credit: Joe Furey</figcaption></figure> The human story told here is every bit as affecting, from the earliest dated remains in the Americas being found on Santa Rosa (proof that Paleoindians settled California 13,000 years ago and watercraft were in use by then) to the advanced culture of the indigenous Chumash and Tongva peoples, who were later effectively enslaved by European colonists. As the Catalina Museum in Avalon spells out, the “civilized” colonists brought ranching, gold mining, and the trade in sea otter fur, the ill effects of which the Channel Islands have spent the past 100 years trying to recover from. <h3>How to get there</h3> If you don’t have friends in the USGS, it’s still very possible to explore the islands. The Channel Islands National Park is accessible by boat and plane (to San Miguel and Santa Rosa from Camarillo Airport). Island Packers is the sole concessionaire for boat transportation, leaving from Ventura and Oxnard harbors. Journeys take between an hour and three and a half hours, one way, and round-trip day fares range from US $68 to $115. Kayaks can be rented, and you can camp with Island Packers on Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. Visit <a href="https://flycia.com/">flycia.com</a> and <a href="https://islandpackers.com/home2/">islandpackers.com</a> for details and to book. Two companies offer a high-speed ferry service to Santa Catalina from Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point and Newport Beach. – <a href="/about/contributors/joseph-furey">Joe Furey</a> <h2 id="san-juans">Washington’s San Juan Islands</h2> An archipelago located off the west coast of Washington state, the San Juan islands offer some of the most quintessential <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/4-usa-parks-you-probably-didnt-know-about#cascades">Pacific Northwest</a> landscapes – thickets of evergreen trees spilling into deep, lapis-blue waters and expansive coastline. Just a short drive and a ferry ride from Seattle, these islands are accessible, but feel a world away from mainland Washington state, offering at once adventure and serenity. Having lived on and off in Seattle for the better part of my life, the San Juan Islands are one of my favorite weekend getaways from the city, particularly during the fleeting and glorious summer months. I have frequented the San Juan Islands several times over the years, including my best friend’s wedding, camping trips with friends, and weekends spent exploring local pottery shops and remote beaches with my mom. Of all the islands, spectacular Orcas Island is the one that draws me back time and again. Getting to the San Juan Islands – whether you choose to go to San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, or one of the smaller islands – is always part of the adventure. As soon as the ferry departs from Anacortes Ferry Terminal, about a 1.5-hour drive north from Seattle, I head to the windy top deck and watch as the mainland disappears into the horizon. The one-hour trip passes peacefully as the waves lap against the ferry and the rolling green hills and the harbor of Orcas Island draws closer. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/islands/orcas-island-mountain-lake.jpg" alt="Green fir trees line the azure waters of Mountain Lake, Orcas Island, Washington." /> <figcaption>Mountain Lake, Orcas Island. Image credit: Alicia Erickson</figcaption></figure> <h3>Exploring Orcas Island</h3> Orcas Island is filled with treasures: the majestic coastline and secluded bays, and the rugged interior filled with farms, artisan shops, forests, and lakes. I’ve spent days kayaking the glassy waters with stops on uninhabited islands, and others on whale watching adventures where it’s possible to spot orcas, humpbacks, sea lions, and other Pacific Northwest marine life. Secluded Doe Bay, on the eastern coast, is a phenomenal place to relax and catch the tunes of local musicians. After a day of exploring the outdoors, I often take a stroll along the colorful streets of Eastsound, the small downtown area of Orcas Island, filled with cafes, local art galleries, and bookshops. On a foggy morning on my last visit, I hiked to the top of Mt. Constitution with friends, the highest point on the San Juans. The summit offers sweeping views over the forested island, sparkling waters, and nearby islands. After a morning of <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">hiking</a>, we continued the winding drive through Moran State Park deeper into the interior of the island. We relaxed on the docks of Mountain Lake beneath the warm afternoon sun and floated in the pristine water, surrounded by statuesque evergreens. In the evening, we headed back to our campsite on a cliff’s edge and watched as a supermoon rose over the water, creating a jagged, silvery reflection. Moments like these are what keep me coming back. <h3>Trip notes</h3> Airbnb rentals, bed and breakfasts, farm stays, and grassy campgrounds are among the accommodation options. The San Juan Islands are an extremely popular destination during the summer months and places fill up quickly. Book in advance (campgrounds included) to avoid disappointment, or consider traveling during off months, even though the weather will be less predictable. Rates also vary by season. Campgrounds can be booked for US $40-$50 per night per vehicle, while cabins and cottages from $120-$350/night. Kayak tours start at around $90 for three hours and go up from there the longer the trip, while whale watching tours range from $79-99. The islands are easily reached and can be experienced without a tour, though a car is required. If boarding the ferry with a vehicle, <a href="https://www.visitsanjuans.com/washington-state-ferries">advance reservations</a> are strongly recommended. – <a href="/about/contributors/alicia-erickson">Alicia Erickson</a> <h2 id="sea-islands">The Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia</h2> I have always sought out coastal areas – deltas and estuaries, wetlands, marshes, tidal zones. They are liminal spaces, ever on the threshold of being this, that, or the other, their physical reality a matter of meteorological opinion, subject to the whims of the wind and waves. And nowhere can this be better appreciated than in the Sea Islands, the chain of 100-plus barrier islands that break up the Atlantic coast between the mouths of the Santee River, in South Carolina, and St. Johns River, in Florida. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/islands/ossabaw-island-2.jpg" alt="The sun sets over marshlands on Ossabaw Islands, Georgia." /> <figcaption>Ossabaw Island, Georgia. Image credit: Getty Images / Charlie Miller</figcaption></figure> I return to the region each October, to fish, to surf, to just be. There’s nothing quite like walking down a dirt road on South Carolina’s Dafuskie Island, savoring each footfall, until the packed earth and the live oaks flanking it give way to a stretch of sand that faces the not-yet-cold Atlantic Ocean. With dining and art scenes of international standing, Charleston, SC is wearing its 349 years well, and the city makes a good base from which to explore the islands on either side of it. I’m also happy to report that, although it was built on slave labor, and the first shots of the Civil War were fired in its harbor, the International African American Museum is slated to open on the site of a former slave market there in 2022. <h3>South Carolina’s barrier islands: Sullivan’s, Bull’s, Folly, and Hilton Head</h3> Sullivan’s Island, at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, should be as well-known as Ellis Island in New York. It was the point of entry for – it has been widely estimated – 400,000 enslaved Africans brought to British North America, and 50% of all African Americans are thought to have ancestors who passed through here. There is a memorial bench, provided by the writer Toni Morrison, on which I’ve seen whole families weeping. Bull’s Island is part of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (favored by loggerhead turtles and more than 293 species of birds) and became the site of the red wolf breeding program, the intention of which was to reintroduce viable pairs into the wild. Sadly, that has not been a great success, but other suitable habitats have been identified and permissions sought for the release of future wolves. Called “the edge of America” by locals, Folly Beach, a small boho-y town, is Folly Island’s main attraction. It’s also the heart of South Carolina’s <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/surfing">surf</a> scene. In the fall, under the right conditions – hurricane swells and powerful nor’easters – it can inspire an amateur like me to not look a total kook. If it’s crowded, try the nearby Isle of Palms. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/islands/folly-beach-surfing.jpg" alt="A surfer braves the stormy waves at Folly Beach, South Carolina." /> <figcaption>Surfing at Folly Beach, South Carolina. Image credit: Getty Images / AwakenedEye</figcaption></figure> The site of the first “green” resort in the US, Hilton Head Island is rather swanky, but there’s an air of generosity about it. It’s where the town of Mitchelville, the first self-governing community of freed slaves, was built during the Civil War. With a language and culture rich in Central and West African influences, <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/travels-with-the-gullah-geechee">the Gullah</a>, who are direct descendants of Mitchelville’s founders, steer much of the cultural life on the island. <h3>Georgia’s barrier islands: Tybee, Ossabaw, and Cumberland</h3> Just 20 minutes from Savannah, Georgia, Tybee Island has a faded-genteel, sun-streaked, five-miles-of-public-beach charm. Slurp a cold root beer in the shadow of its vintage lighthouse and ponder that the French and Spanish once fought a battle here over control of your drink’s chief flavoring, sassafras. From Tybee it’s a short boat trip to the mysterious Ossabaw Island, whose 13 miles of sand are open to the public from sunrise to sunset, but since Ossabaw is a heritage preserve, visitors can’t go beyond the dunes unless they sign up for something improving, like a creative retreat, indigo workshop, or an archaeology dig. (<a href="https://ossabawisland.org/visit/day-trips/">Sign up in advance</a>.) <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/islands/cumberland-island-horses.jpg" alt="Wild horses stroll down a sandy trail through an oak forest on Cumberland Island, Georgia." /> <figcaption>Wild horses on Cumberland Island, Gerogia. Image credit: Getty Images / Frank Staub</figcaption></figure> The ferry from St. Mary’s, on the Georgia mainland, to Cumberland Island might as well be a rocket, because it takes you to somewhere so gloriously other. 16 miles long and extending almost as far south as Florida, the island contains one of the largest barrier island Wilderness Areas in the country; maritime forests, marshes, uncombed beaches, and wild horses whose bloodlines can be traced back to the stables of the King of Arabia. You’ll need to make reservations, as visitor numbers are limited, and then come up with excuses for why you’re not able to leave. – <a href="/about/contributors/joseph-furey">Joe Furey</a>Getty Images / Edmund Lowe 11135614049 Getty Images A man paddles a kayak over still waters in front of Orcas Island, Washington, at sunset.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/best-of-the-blue-ridge-mountainsThe rugged, scenic Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the true glories of the eastern United States. Local Jason shares his favorite parks and places to camp, hike, bike, raft, and swim.2021-03-23T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/best-of-the-blue-ridge-mountainshttps://www.worldnomads.comI first saw the Blue Ridge Mountains as a gateway from my childhood home in West Virginia to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Cross the Blue Ridge Mountains and you can smell the salt air – or so it seemed to someone who spent half the ride asleep. One summer, returning home from the beach, my dad detoured onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the evening light, I saw how the Blue Ridge earned its name as the sky blazed orange and pink above and the mountains – ridge after ridge of them – faded to blue. In the intervening years, I’ve fallen head over heels for the Blue Ridge, writing about every mile of the Blue Ridge Parkway, chasing waterfalls from the <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/mountain-biking-in-the-smoky-mountains">Smoky Mountains</a> to the Shenandoah Valley, finding places that make these mountains – and all of the mountains of the Southern Appalachians – worth exploring. If you’re ready to heed the call of the mountains, here are five places (and one road trip) that’ll make the Blue Ridge your next great love. <ul> <li><a href="#new"> New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia</a></li> <li><a href="#springs">Hot Springs, North Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="#lake">Sherando Lake, Virginia </a></li> <li><a href="#biking">Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail</a></li> <li><a href="#waterfalls">Waterfalls in Transylvania County, North Carolina</a></li> <li><a href="#parkway">Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="new">New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia</h2> West Virginia’s unofficial motto – “Wild and Wonderful” – is on full display at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The centerpiece of the National Park comes in three parts: the New River (one of the oldest in the world), the New River Gorge (a near-vertical 900ft/274m drop at Grandview Overlook), and the New River Gorge Bridge (the third-longest single-arch bridge in the world). I grew up calling it “The New,” and The New was legendary for its whitewater. In fact, 53mi (85km) of river and free-flowing <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">whitewater</a> ranging from Class I-V cut through the heart of the 70,000-acre National Park. Rapids to run, cliffs and boulders to climb, plus nearly 100mi (160km) of hiking and 60mi (97km) of <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/mountain-biking">mountain biking</a> trails make it an outdoor lover’s dream. Camp in the Park or stay at one of the adventure outfitters nearby – who, in addition to having campsites and cabins available, also run <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/can-i-go-rafting-during-covid">rafting</a> and climbing trips – or just visit for the day. I’d recommend Bridge Day, the third Saturday in October, for a celebration that’s all about the New River. <h2 id="springs">Hot Springs, North Carolina</h2> The Appalachian Trail passes through downtown Hot Springs, North Carolina, and after a few miles on the AT, a hot spring is exactly what you need. Lucky for you, this adorable little mountain town is aptly named. The Cherokee have visited the springs here for thousands of years, soaking up the healing and relaxing mineral water. Back in 1778, word reached European settlers in the region and they came in droves. These days, Hot Springs has been largely forgotten, overlooked by all but a few: AT hikers, hot spring enthusiasts, and outdoors lovers. It’s a welcome respite from the urban speed of nearby Asheville. Around town you’ll find cabins and campsites with access to the hot springs, as well as that downtown trailhead for the Appalachian Trail. For a real taste of the Blue Ridge, hike a little ways south to Max Patch. The AT cuts through fields of spring and summer wildflowers on this 4,529ft (1380m) bald mountaintop, where you’ll also get some of the best autumn views around. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/blue-ridge/craggy-pinnacle-tunnel.jpg" alt="Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel, one of many stone tunnels along the Blue Ridge Parkway." /> <figcaption>Craggy Pinnacle Tunnel, on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, North Carolina. Image credit: Jason Frye</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="lake">Sherando Lake, Virginia</h2> When you think of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the last thing you think of is spending the afternoon soaking up the sun on a sandy beach, but at Sherando Lake Recreation Area, that’s exactly what you can do – if you can pull yourself away from the swimming, the hiking, the fishing, and the lure of some mountain peak, that is. This former Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) recreation area in the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson National Forest has a pair of lakes, 37 tent and RV sites, and miles of <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">hiking</a> and mountain biking trails. Anglers frequent the seven-acre upper lake to fish for trout, bass, and blue gill; swimmers and boaters congregate at the 25-acre lower lake, where I’ve spent many an afternoon with my toes in the sand watching paddleboarders and novice sailors ply the waters of Sherando Lake. The Blue Ridge Parkway is only 5m (8km) away, and from here – Milepost 13.7 – you’re not far from two of my favorite hikes: Humpback Rocks (north to Milepost 5.9) and Crabtree Falls (south to Milepost 27.2). <h2 id="biking">Biking the Virginia Creeper Trail</h2> When I lived in Southwestern Virginia, friends kept telling me about the “Creeper Trail” (which I thought had to be a scary Halloween hayride on bicycle) and inviting me out for a ride. Finally I did it, and I wish I’d done it sooner. The 34.3mi (55.2km) Virginia Creeper Trail is a rails-to-trails project running from Abingdon, VA, through Damascus, to the Virginia-North Carolina state line, and it’s a mighty-fine bike ride indeed. But it’s not just for cyclists; you’ll see plenty of walkers, joggers, horseback riders, and even a cross-country skier or two (if you’re there in deep winter) along the way. The towns of Abingdon and Damascus are charming – and if you need a bite to eat or a bit of ice cream to fuel your trip, they’re perfect – but the showpiece is the ride itself. Dense deciduous forests, Christmas tree farms, fields and pastures, creeks, and rivers ensure you’re never bored, and at the end of the ride, near Mount Rodgers, you might even spy a few of the wild ponies that live on the mountain. <h2 id="waterfalls">Waterfalls in Transylvania County, North Carolina</h2> The first time I took my wife to Brevard, in North Carolina’s Transylvania County, I told her, “They call this ‘The Land of Waterfalls’ and they weren’t joking.” When she asked what I meant, I pulled the car over and we took a two-minute walk to Looking Glass Falls, only a few miles from our destination and only a few feet off the road. That was the first of a dozen waterfalls we saw on that trip, and even though we’ve been back several times, we still haven’t seen them all. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/blue-ridge/moore-cove-falls.jpg" alt="Hikers gather at the foot of Moore Cove Falls in Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County, North Carolina." /> <figcaption>Moore Cove Falls. Image credit: Jason Frye</figcaption></figure> Looking Glass Falls is just off the highway in the Pisgah National Forest, and adjacent is Moore Cove Falls (requiring an easy 1mi/1.6km hike) and Sliding Rock (a natural waterslide in the middle of a bracing mountain stream), as well as Daniel Ridge, Cove Creek, and Slick Rock Falls, but those aren’t the big ones. For the major cascades, grab a room in Brevard or set up camp in the National Forest, then head to the DuPont State Recreation Forest for a day-long hike to Hooker, High, Triple, and Bridal Veil Falls. <h2 id="parkway">Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia</h2> I couldn’t leave out the jewel in the crown of the Blue Ridge: the Blue Ridge Parkway. Unfurling along the ridgelines from Cherokee, NC, to Waynesboro, VA, for 469mi (758km), it’s a low-speed drive (seriously, the speed limit is 45) past rugged mountains and over rolling hills, packed with scenic overlooks, gorgeous picnic areas, waterfall hikes, pioneer cabins, and cities like Asheville, NC, and Roanoke, VA. Whether you go for an <a href="/travel-safety/worldwide/top-tips-to-stay-safe-while-driving-in-remote-areas">end-to-end tour</a> or you just want to cruise along for a couple of hours, it’s simply stunning.Jason Frye 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/walking-tour-of-new-york-lower-east-sideEven when the rest of Manhattan is crowded with visitors, the Lower East Side remains off the beaten path – perfect for a history-steeped, socially-distanced walking tour.2021-01-25T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/walking-tour-of-new-york-lower-east-sidehttps://www.worldnomads.comManhattan’s Lower East side is the North Star of New York City’s gritty soul – and remains so despite the Big Apple becoming a deserted COVID-19 orchard. While <a href="/travel-safety/north-america/united-states/united-states-travel-alerts-must-read-now">this pandemic</a> has reduced most of Manhattan’s tourist attractions down to nearly nil, it has gifted the Lower East Side more of what it does best: being on the fringe. This neighborhood, once the bustling, jam-packed new frontier of American immigration, slowly transitioned over the last decade from a dodgy place most people avoided into Manhattan’s <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/4-us-museums-worth-a-special-trip">newly hip</a>, off-the-beaten-path quarter. Although geographically it makes sense to call it the Lower East Side (aka LES), its name actually derives from the parts of the neighborhood averaging only 20ft (6m) above sea level, as compared to Manhattan’s Upper East Side, rising as high as 175ft (53m) above sea level. In real estate terms, you might call the LES bargain swampland, a label that was certainly evinced when Superstorm Sandy drowned the neighborhood in 2012. <ul> <li><a href="#tour">A new kind of New York walking tour</a></li> <li><a href="#phases">The many phases of the Lower East Side</a></li> <li><a href="#highlights">Some highlights from a stroll through the Lower East Side</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="tour">A new kind of New York walking tour</h2> After a raucous suburban Long Island childhood, I’ve been living in Manhattan’s LES since 1985. I began giving <a href="https://americandetour.com/">walking tours</a> around my neighborhood a few years ago, so I know it well. In terms of people jams, my tour is a literal walk in the park, where social distancing is a cinch. I’ve made a few other concessions to the pandemic – masks are required, for example, and we no longer go inside certain businesses. Because of cramped quarters, bars have doubled as New Yorker’s living rooms for centuries. That’s no longer the case. But, one upside to the pandemic’s impact on NYC has been the resurrection of locals meeting for outdoor happy hours. As New Yorkers mingle throughout Gotham’s streets and parks, we’ve all rediscovered that we can survive socially without bars. The city once known as the place to see Broadway plays, scale skyscrapers, and dine to your heart’s content now features outdoor venues offering North America’s best people watching. The underdog Lower East Side has been ready for this trend since the Dutch began running New York in 1624. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/new-york/nyc-walking-park.jpg" alt="A group of visitors listens intently to a guide on a walking tour of New York's Lower East Side." /> <figcaption>In pre-COVID days, a group of visitors listens to Bruce sharing the history of the Lower East Side. The tours are still going (but masks are required). Photo credit: Matt Petosa</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="phases">The many phases of the Lower East Side</h2> In 1910, the LES was considered the world’s most notorious slum when it crammed 2.3 million residents within 535 acres; that’s 400,000 people per mi2 (154,000 per km2). Today, the entire population of <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/5-reasons-to-venture-outside-the-major-cities#sup">Manhattan island</a> is 1.6 million. What makes these statistics even more flabbergasting is that, in 1910, the LES was mostly four-story tenement buildings, compared to modern Manhattan’s skyline boasting mostly skyscrapers. The LES has hosted many immigration waves, with the largest clans arriving in this order: Dutch, English, Irish, German, Italian, Jewish, Chinese, Puerto Rican. The ultimate quest of those groups soon became moving out of the LES to greener parts of the city or the suburbs. A ghost town until 10 years ago, this now trendy neighborhood was resurrected once people realized they could live as affordably here as in the outer boroughs and reap all the cultural benefits of Manhattan without a long commute (if any). COVID-19 has upended our former way of living, globally. But, pandemic or not, here’s some of what you can safely encounter in Manhattan’s LES on foot. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/new-york/nyc-walking-chinatown.jpg" alt="Visitors on a walking tour of the authentic Chinatown of New York's Lower East Side." /> <figcaption>Exploring the "real" Chinatown, pre-COVID. Photo credit: Matt Petosa</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="highlights">Some highlights from a stroll through the Lower East Side</h2> <ul> <li>The Williamsburg Bridge roars into the heart of the LES via Brooklyn. Completed in 1903, it was originally used by pedestrians, trolleys, and railways. Today, it carries eight lanes of roadway, two subway tracks, and a spectacular pedestrian walkway. There is talk of renaming it “The Rollins Bridge” for legendary American jazz tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who lived near the bridge and frequently practiced on it when his neighbors complained about him doing so indoors. These outdoor practice sessions coincided with a career slump that ended in 1962, when the songs he wrote on the bridge landed on what became his most successful album, The Bridge.</li> <li>During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington placed an army at Corlears Hook (now Corlears Hook Park) and chose a nearby Dutch-built mansion as his headquarters. In 1839, the street flanking what is now the park had 87 brothels. If you were seeking a prostitute back then, it meant going to “the hook,” which soon coined the term “hooker”. Today, the park features beautiful gardens, seasonal yoga, and a dog run where labradoodles frolic with pit bulls.</li> <li>The LES is an architectural candy store. Here, classic gems meld with some of the city’s oldest housing projects (such as the Vladeck Houses, built in 1940). Luckily, there are many grand architectural landmarks of centuries past that survived the urban-renewal bulldozer, including Old Gouverneur Hospital. Built in 1901 in Renaissance style, it was the first public US hospital to open a tuberculosis clinic as well as the first to employ a woman ambulance surgeon. Today, renovated into 123 apartments, it houses homeless and special needs adults.</li> <li>St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church was built in 1828, the year after slavery was legally abolished in New York State. However, the church still has the remnants of a slave gallery, two cramped rooms with mini windows hidden upstairs in the rear of the church. Edgar Allan Poe frequented the building seeking peace for his troubled mind. Later, infamous politician “Boss” Tweed, while a fugitive from justice, attended his mother’s funeral here, hiding from the authorities in the slave gallery.</li> <li>The city’s most famous Jewish food landmark is Katz’s Delicatessen, on East Houston Street, but you’ll likely have to wait in a long line for that experience. For a sample of Jewish culture without the tourists, we stop at two ultra-Kosher businesses that are neighbors on Grand Street. One deli-style market features Kosher pizza and sushi. Next door, a classic bakery has a vintage bread cutter that’s missing one blade, so each sliced loaf comes with one double-wide slice.</li> <li>We go into the authentic version of eastern Chinatown, which is starkly different than the tourist-friendly, Disney version of Chinatown west of <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/4-us-museums-worth-a-special-trip">the Bowery</a> – even most New Yorkers don’t know about it. For now, I’m giving guests the option of not entering its most hardcore wet markets. As compared to how most of America operates, New York’s Chinatown has its own culinary ecosystem. Whereas most of the food Americans eat is transported by huge trucking companies like Sysco, the meat, fish, and vegetables sold here are sourced from Chinese-owned businesses along the east coast and stored outside the city, mostly in New Jersey. From New Jersey, items are delivered on-demand by vans, making them fresher and cheaper than the competition.</li> </ul> While in New York City – a cross-cultural melting pot within a melting pot – don't be afraid to roam out of bounds. On our walkabout, you’ll develop a heightened respect not only for your food's journey, but the journey of this nation. Seize the moments and discover insights you can’t find online.Bruce Northam 0 Bruce Northam East Broadway Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/road-tripping-in-nebraska-during-covidIf you’re looking for a United States road trip destination with loads of outdoor activities and few crowds, Nebraska should be at the top of your list.2020-09-29T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/road-tripping-in-nebraska-during-covidhttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#planning">Planning my pandemic road trip through Nebraska</a></li> <li><a href="#cherry-county">Cherry County: Stargazing, tubing, and a rural bike share</a></li> <li><a href="#omaha">Omaha, the Gateway to the West</a></li> <li><a href="#arbor-day">The Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska City</a></li> <li><a href="#tips">Tips for a COVID-19-safe road trip</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="planning">Planning my pandemic road trip through Nebraska</h2> If you’re looking for a United States road trip destination with loads of outdoor activities and few crowds, Nebraska should be at the top of your list. Since Nebraska’s population is relatively small and spread out, and because the state wasn’t experiencing any major COVID-19 outbreaks during my trip, it felt like a pretty safe destination. Masks were rare in small cities and rural areas, but in the state’s largest city, Omaha, the vast majority of people wore masks, both indoors and outdoors. Though museums and art galleries were open (and accompanied by mask mandates and social distancing policies), I still opted for outdoor activities. I split my time between two main regions: big-city Omaha and rural Cherry County. While in Omaha, I chose a downtown hotel because it was centrally located, had a bike share station outside, and had very firm safety and hygiene measures in place. In fact, nobody was allowed to enter the building without a hotel keycard, and there were mask mandate and social distancing signs everywhere. In rural Cherry County, which hasn’t been significantly affected by COVID-19, things were more relaxed. Most people weren’t wearing masks, and indoor dining was the norm, so I got meals to go or bought groceries from supermarkets. I stayed at a motel in Valentine, where my private room entrance meant that I didn’t have to worry about mingling with other customers in the lobby. <h2 id="cherry-county">Cherry County: Stargazing, tubing, and a rural bike share</h2> After wrapping up a road trip across North Dakota (another incredible state for outdoorsy travel), I drive seven hours southwest to Valentine, Nebraska, just 10 minutes south of the South Dakota border. State parks in this part of Nebraska center heavily around boating, hunting, and fishing, so unless you plan on bringing a boat, you’ll want to look into kayaking or tubing activities. Several <a href="https://visitvalentine.org/places/navigate-the-niobrara/">outfitters</a> offer watercraft activities in <a href="https://visitvalentine.org/places/smith-falls-state-park/">Smith Falls Park</a>, which also has a short hike and a pretty waterfall. On my way to Smith Falls Park, I take a scenic drive through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, not to be confused with the 72,000-acre <a href="https://visitvalentine.org/places/valentine-national-wildlife-refuge/">Valentine National Wildlife Refuge</a> 30 mi (48km) away (which I explore later). I seek out bike shares in every city I visit, and find they’re becoming fairly commonplace in <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/underrated-usa">mid-large sized cities</a>, but until I visited Nebraska, I’d never heard of a rural bike share. Valentine (population 2,737) is a small community that’s extraordinarily proud of its brand-new <a href="https://visitvalentine.org/places/new-valentine-bike-share/">Heart City bike share</a> system. Like most bike share bikes, this one is rather heavy, and best suited for short rides around town, but I ride that bad boy across the stunning Niobrara River and 10mi (16km) down the <a href="https://visitvalentine.org/places/cowboy-trail/">Cowboy Trail</a> rail trail, a former railroad converted to a pedestrian path. It’s by far the best way to enjoy the trail. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/nebraska/nebraska-niobrara-river.jpg" alt="A rural bike share bike parked on a bridge over the Niobrara River in Cherry County, Nebraska." /> <figcaption>My Heart City bike on the bridge over the Niobrara River. Photo credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> As much fun as I have in and around Valentine, the highlight of my visit to the region is camping at the Merritt Reservoir, which hosts the annual <a href="https://www.nebraskastarparty.org/">Nebraska Star Party</a>. The recreational area has exceptionally dark skies but not much else to do (unless you BYOB – bring your own boat) so I lie on the grass reading until it’s dark enough to witness the Perseids Meteor Shower. There are only two other people at the primitive Snake River Area Campground, making the stargazing experience that much more special. The next morning, I drive through the stunning <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/Rocky_Mountain/McKelvieNF/index.shtml">McKelvie National Forest</a> (another great place to camp) up to Cody to visit <a href="https://www.georgepaulvinegar.com/">George Paul Vinegar</a>, one of only two vinegar distilleries in the entire country that produce vinegar in the traditional way. The owner, George Paul, wears a mask as he gives me a tour of the distillery, then leads me outside to continue the conversation in fresh air. Though masks aren’t mandated in the area and few residents wear them, I’m pleased to see the distillery distributing masks and enforcing the policy. After eating my fair share of bread with vinegar samples, I hop in my rental car and head to Omaha. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/nebraska/nebraska-snake-river.jpg" alt="Car camping at the Snake River Area Campground in Cherry County, Nebraska." /> <figcaption>Camping at the Snake River Area Campground. Photo credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="omaha">Omaha, the Gateway to the West</h2> I’ll admit that I’m surprised by how much I enjoy Omaha. I thought two days would be enough, but I spend nearly five days here, and could easily spend longer. Though Omaha is a modern city, with a vibrant dining scene and downtown culture (especially the Old Market Entertainment District), what surprises me the most is its variety of outdoor activities. Omaha has a convenient bike share system, Heartland B-Cycle, and easy-to-identify bike route signs across the city, making it a great city to ride. I recommend riding over Bob the Bridge (yes, the bridge is named “Bob”) to Iowa. Just 10 minutes from downtown is <a href="https://fontenelleforest.org/">Fontenelle Forest</a>, 2,100 acres of forest, prairie, and wetlands along the Missouri River. The most beautiful (and easiest) trail is the boardwalk right near the welcome center – where you can easily spot deer and other wildlife without putting in much effort – but I spend the majority of the day hiking 8mi (13km) of trails around the park. Another nature-fix option within Omaha is the <a href="https://www.lauritzengardens.org/">Lauritzen Gardens</a>, a stunning botanic garden and conservatory where you could spend 30 minutes to several hours. Note that advance, timed tickets are required. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/usa/nebraska/nebraska-bob-bridge.jpg" alt="The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge streching across the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska." /> <figcaption>The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha. Photo credit: Getty Images / DenisTagneyJr</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="arbor-day">The Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska City</h2> Until I crossed the border into Nebraska, I had no idea that Arbor Day started in Nebraska. I also had no idea you could visit its farm, which has 260 acres of historic buildings, forested hiking trails, and tree orchards where you can pick apples in the fall. Thanks to the state welcome sign, I add the <a href="https://www.arbordayfarm.org/index.cfm">Arbor Day Farm</a> to my road trip and head to Nebraska City. Once I arrive, I head straight for Tree Adventure, where I have no shame in being the only adult climbing around the netted walkways and bridges of its new treetop village. After hiking a few trails in the forest, I head to Arbor Lodge, a 52-room mansion built by Arbor Day founder, J. Sterling Morton, whose son went on to found the Morton Salt company. I also make time to stroll through downtown Nebraska City, where they’ve installed a series of adorable, old-timey murals. <h2 id="tips">Tips for a COVID-19-safe road trip</h2> <ul> <li>Only visit destinations that have low infection rates and enforce mask mandates.</li> <li>Carry sanitizing gel and use frequently, especially after touching high-touch surfaces like gas pumps, doorknobs, and restaurant tables.</li> <li>Use sanitizing wipes to disinfect gas pumps and to clean frequently touched surfaces in your car (steering wheel, gear shift, radio buttons, door handle, etc.) and in hotel rooms and public bathrooms (light switches, doorknobs, etc.)</li> <li>Pay for gas at the pump instead of inside.</li> <li>Store extra masks in your car and always wear them in public, including when interacting with people outdoors.</li> <li>Use the bathroom in your hotel/homestay before heading out for the day to help limit how much time is spent in public bathrooms.</li> <li>Always wear a mask inside public bathrooms, as research shows <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/health/coronavirus-toilets-flushing.html">flushing the toilet may spread COVID-19 aerosols</a> in the air. When possible, shut the lid before flushing.</li> <li>Use a towel or tissue to open doors.</li> <li>Choose hotels that have firm COVID-19 safety and hygiene policies.</li> <li>Review customer feedback about hygiene protocols at accommodations, restaurants, and activities you plan to visit.</li> <li>Avoid indoor activities, including dining. Eat outside or order takeout.</li> </ul>Cassandra Brooklyn 0 Cassandra Brooklyn A white Mustang car parked by the highway, in front of the Nebraska welcome sign at the state line.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/what-its-like-to-fly-during-covidNomad Cassandra shares her experience flying in the United States during COVID-19. From safety precautions at airports to mask mandates on airplanes, here’s what to know before your next flight.2020-09-14T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/what-its-like-to-fly-during-covidhttps://www.worldnomads.comOver the past two months, I’ve flown with several carriers in and out of six US cities. Air travel may seem a bit scary right now, but some airlines and airports are making significant safety and hygiene improvements, and there are steps you can take to minimize risk when flying. <ul> <li><a href="#airport">What to expect at the airport</a></li> <li><a href="#airplane">What to expect on the airplane</a></li> <li><a href="#reduce">How to reduce flying</a></li> <li><a href="#where">Choosing where to fly</a></li> <li><a href="#tips">Safety tips for flying during the pandemic</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="airport">What to expect at the airport</h2> Airports are less crowded right now, and virtually every airport has stepped up sanitation and hygiene protocols, albeit to different degrees. Many airports have made hand sanitizer readily available, installed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) vending machines that sell face masks, wipes, and hand sanitizer, and blocked off seats in boarding areas to ensure six feet of distance between passengers waiting to board flights. Some airports have done better than others (in my experience, larger airports tend to have instituted the most significant improvements), but nothing is guaranteed, and conditions are constantly changing, so it’s important to always bring your own PPE and to practice social distancing. <h2 id="airplane">What to expect on the airplane</h2> While some airlines and routes have eliminated food service entirely, some have switched to handing out paper or plastic bags containing sanitizing wipes, a small bottle of water, and a bag of cookies or pretzels. Personally, I turn down the bag, not only to minimize virus risk, but also because plastic packaging is pretty bad for the environment and <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/planet/how-to-reduce-plastic-use-while-you-travel">we’re all trying to be responsible travelers</a>, right? Popular flight routes (like New York City to Chicago) tend to be less crowded because airlines offer numerous flights per day. However, I’ve noticed airlines crowding more people onto smaller planes and less-frequent routes simply because there are fewer options to spread out passengers. Though I strongly prefer direct flights – particularly during a pandemic – cost-cutting measures have eliminated some less-popular routes, meaning layovers are often required to visit smaller cities. Most airlines are requiring masks to be worn during the entire flight, except when eating and drinking, but compliance varies. Upon boarding an American Airlines flight from Milwaukee to Chicago in July, my assigned seat was between two men whose masks hung around their necks as they leaned across my seat to converse. The flight was completely full, aside from a few empty rows in first class, so before taking my seat, I immediately approached the flight attendant. I explained that I was going to visit my elderly mother, who is immunocompromised, and that I was very uncomfortable sitting between unmasked passengers. I requested to move to an empty row and was told 1) those rows were only for customers who pre-paid for them, and 2) I should be understanding of people who may be unable to wear masks. Given the men put on their masks when I asked them to – without citing any conditions that would prevent them from doing so – I suspect they just didn’t take the mask mandate seriously. More concerning was the fact that flight attendants weren’t enforcing the mandate and didn’t even make an announcement about it until after we were in the air. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/covid-flying/flying-delta.jpg" alt="Masked passengers on a Delta flight during the COVID-19 pandemic." /> <figcaption>Masked passengers on a Delta flight. Photo credit: Cassandra Brooklyn</figcaption></figure> In early August, I flew on a half-full flight from New York City to Minneapolis on Delta, and asked the flight attendant if I could choose a row that was empty. She said I could sit wherever I wanted to. Since my next flight to Sioux Falls was a less-popular route on a small plane, I expected it to be crowded. I paid extra to sit in a premium seat, only to find that everyone else had the same idea, so it was more crowded than coach. <h2 id="reduce">How to reduce flying</h2> Based on my own experiences, and those of many travelers I’ve spoken with, there really is no consistency when it comes to air travel. There’s no guarantee that booking first class will ensure you have the row to yourself, and it’s up to individual flight attendants (and, apparently, assertive passengers such as myself) to enforce mask policies. Although several studies have shown that <a href="/explore/worldwide/the-world-nomads-podcast-flying-fact-vs-fiction-2">air travel is relatively safe</a> because of the way air is filtered on the flights, the on-board behaviors were still concerning. After visiting family in the Midwest, I decided that instead of flying back to New York City, I would take Amtrak. None of the train cabins were full, everyone was wearing a mask, and I was reassured by how frequently the conductor made announcements enforcing the mask policy – even specifying that the mask must also cover your nose. From Milwaukee to Chicago, I rode economy. From Chicago to New York City, I relaxed in a private “<a href="https://www.amtrak.com/superliner-roomette">Superliner Roomette</a>” on the sleeper train. This option was about twice as expensive as flying would have been, but it felt much safer, not to mention the scenery was gorgeous. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/covid-flying/flying-amtrak.jpg" alt="An empty train car on Amtrak." /> <figcaption>The blissfully empty Amtrak Quiet Car. Photo credit: Cassandra Brooklyn.</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="where">Choosing where to fly</h2> This November, I have plans to visit Ecuador. Obviously, outbreaks are possible anywhere in the world – and are still occurring in the US – but Ecuador is requiring all visitors to produce recent, negative COVID-19 test results before entering the country, which I find reassuring. Upon arriving in the Galapagos Islands (my intended destination), temperature checks are required before being admitted onto small boats to explore the islands. Because I’ll be traveling with Metropolitan Touring, which has taken <a href="https://www.metropolitan-touring.com/health-safety-travel-metropolitan-touring/">dramatic steps</a> to protect its passengers – and the Ecuadorian population and environment – and because my trip will focus on exploring remote islands and sparsely populated highlands, I feel safer traveling there than some parts of my own country, where local governments are still fighting mask mandates. <h2 id="tips">Safety tips for flying during the pandemic</h2> <ul> <li>Bring your own sanitizing gel and wipes to disinfect the tray table, arm rests, and seat belt.</li> <li>Minimize mask removal by eating and drinking before boarding the plane.</li> <li>Minimize or eliminate consuming food handled by others. Pack snacks and fill your water bottle at a hands-free refilling station in the airport before boarding.</li> <li>Reduce liquid consumption to minimize the need to use the bathroom onboard.</li> <li>If you anticipate needing to use the bathroom during a flight, go immediately after boarding, before it’s been used by others.</li> <li>If the main cabin is crowded and there’s more room in premium areas, use frequent flyer points to upgrade.</li> <li>Confirm before boarding that there will be no passengers next to you.</li> <li>Once on board, if you see that the flight is not very crowded, ask if you can sit in a row with few passengers around you. The flight attendant may allow it.</li> <li>Bring carry-on luggage only, to minimize the number of people touching your belongings and the need to wait around at the luggage carousel.</li> <li>Fly direct, whenever possible.</li> </ul>Cassandra Brooklyn 0 Cassandra Brooklyn Passengers wearing face masks walk through Chicago's O'Hare airport.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/north-america/united-states/the-world-nomads-podcast-rv-travel-during-covid-19In this episode, how Google and the National Park Service helped this couple create an updated itinerary after COVID-19 destroyed their European plans.2020-09-09T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/north-america/united-states/the-world-nomads-podcast-rv-travel-during-covid-19https://www.worldnomads.com<h2>The World Nomads Podcast: Traveling during COVID-19 </h2> The World Nomads Travel Podcast has suspended its regular destination episodes, and in their place, sharing the thoughts of travelers who are shaping the future of the industry post COVID 19. We tap into their vast bank of knowledge to discover what can be learned from the past as we plan a new way of traveling moving forward. <h2>What’s in the episode</h2> 00:35 Restrictions being lifted or relaxed 01:30 Plans change 02:19 Let’s get to know Rebecca 05:12 When you can’t get to Europe 09:38 What America looks like on the road 10:58 Traveling to Mexico 12:40 Vacations in fall 13:29 How’s Marcos coping? 14:50 Next episode <h2>Quotes from the episode</h2> “We stayed at the Lake McDonald Lodge; they wouldn't allow anyone in their famous lobby unless you had a reservation. Bedrooms were not cleaned in between your days there, which was fine with us. And then it was grab and go. So, no bar, no sitting by the large fireplace…” - Rebecca <h2>Who is in the episode</h2> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.merrell.351">Rebecca Merrell</a> and her boyfriend Marcos were supposed to go to Eastern Europe this summer for the Euro Cup Soccer Tournament in Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, but COVID-19 forced a change of plans. Instead, they flew to Boise from San Diego to begin a road trip in Stanley, Idaho in the National Forest of the Sawtooth Range. <figure><img src=" https://media.worldnomads.com/podcast/Lake_McDonald_Rebecca.jpg" alt="woman near a lake" /> <figcaption> Exploring the US by road. Rebecca at Lake McDonald.</figcaption></figure> Follow Rebecca on Instagram @rebeccasmerrell <h2>Resources & links</h2> Read Rebecca’s article <a href="https://www.manopause.com/travel/america-the-beautiful-adventure-travel-in-the-time-of-covid-19-part-i-24134/">America The Beautiful: Adventure Travel in The Time Of COVID-19, Part I.</a> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm">Find a park by state in the US</a>. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/worldwide/top-tips-to-stay-safe-while-driving-in-remote-areas">How to Plan a Safe Road Trip During COVID-19</a>. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/stories/discovery/usa-road-trip">USA Road Trip: California's Highway 101</a>. Bookmark World Nomads <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/worldwide/worldwide-travel-alerts">travel safety alerts.</a> You can get in touch with us by emailing <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a>. <h2>Help us spread the word</h2> We’d love it if you could please share #TheWorldNomadsTravelPodcast with your twitter followers and join in the conversation in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/worldnomadspodcast">Facebook Group</a>. If you liked this episode please head to <a href="itms://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-world-nomads-podcast/id1297825851?mt=2">Apple Podcasts</a> and kindly leave us a rating, review, and of course, subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. We use the <a href="https://www.rode.com/rodecasterpro">Rodecaster Pro</a> to record our episodes and interviews when in the studio, made possible with the kind support of Rode. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"> Kim: Hi it’s Kim and Phil with you and yes Phil, so many plans canceled or changed because of coronavirus. Phil: Restrictions are being lifted or at least relaxed in many places around the world, although it’s not appropriate according to health advice to totally remove controls. So, moving forward in our episodes we will be reflecting that with practical guidance for travelers to those countries that are on the radar again. We will include some information about what changes companies have put in place, like limiting the number of people on a boat, how often vehicles and trains are sanitized, etc. And in this episode will hear examples of that from Rebecca, who as you said Kim had her plans changed when restrictions in Europe were at their highest. Kim: Yes! Rebecca and her boyfriend Marcos had it all planned, tickets to three UEFA soccer games in Budapest and Bucharest as part of the Euro 2020s, Dracula’s castle, monasteries, etc. and then COVID-19 hit. Determined to use the time put aside Rebecca turned to Google and the National Park Service to create a six-week road trip. Before she tells us about that, let’s get to know a bit about Rebecca. Rebecca: Well, I live in San Diego and I've been here for a little over 20 years. I've worked in a couple of different industries, but the first one being more environmental protection and wildlife preservation, and then throughout the years, I ended up moving into the medical device field, which I've been in now for 15 years. Kim: That is great, but where's the segue? Rebecca: Yeah, there really isn't one. I ended up working in a field in marketing after I was doing international environmental work. I moved back to California and at that point, I enjoyed marketing for an environmental consulting firm, but then I thought, "You know what? I really want to try my hand at sales. I think I might be good at this." And I worked, you'd be happy to know, in the wine industry for about four years, I'd actually did spell the Australian premium wine collection for a while. Rebecca: Yeah. So I went from the wine industry to sales and medical sales because I had the sales experience. And in between all of that, I had always loved travel. I've traveled since I was 13 and did a lot of long trips. So, four months in Southeast Asia on my own when I was 22, and then I did another seven months in Southern and Eastern Africa, spent some time in Seychelles. Summer school in France and I did an internship at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney, Australia in 1992. So I got to spend a good amount of time there and doing weekend trips to Byron Bay and that kind of thing, which was a blast. Kim: No stranger to travel. Have you earned any money from it? Rebecca: Sadly? Now? I have not. And the website I write for now is sort of more in the hobby stage. I wish it was a full-time job, but it's always been some travel. When I worked in international environmental work, I did probably four that job. To a few places, Asia and Ukraine, and other places like that. But, in terms of just like a travel industry, it's just been a hobby and a passion forever, and a lot of adventure travel hiking. I'm a big scuba diver and just love to be outside, love nature, and love culture. So. Can't get enough of it, actually. Kim: Perfect combination. Although, we have been challenged in 2020, haven't we? At the time I'm chatting to you, I think we're about seven months into this pandemic. And we all had the lockdown in March where we couldn't really do anything, but hit the road, really. This is why I'm speaking to you from a campground in New South Wales, South of Sydney. I think you were supposed to be in Europe, but obviously you couldn't get there. So you hit the road and look, America is a great place for road trips. There's so much to explore and so diverse. Rebecca: Yes, it's really got everything and think people like John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt and all the heroes that set up the parks and preservations of areas that would have been destroyed if they hadn't. Kim: Take us through your road trip, which I did follow on Facebook, you did enter some pretty cool places. So, offering inspo to someone and it's okay to have the dog bark, I'm sitting in a campsite, I'm on snake alert. Rebecca: I'm like, "If I just hold her dinosaur toy, maybe she'll be quiet." Kim: Some inspo for people that... And we are avoiding air travel because we'll certainly in Australia, there are only four reasons why we can leave the country. We've still got hard border closures as well at the time of recording. So, we are all hitting the road. We are all kind of exploring our backyard and given that we can work remotely, it's fantastic. A great opportunity. So, for the American audience, who can't get to Australia at the moment, give them some inspiration. If they were to jump in their car, where did you go? Rebecca: Well, we did fly first from San Diego to Boise, Idaho, and Southwest Airlines was great. They had the middle seats empty. They made sure everybody was wearing a mask. So if you are flying, there are airlines that are still taking measures for that, as far as I know. And if not, and you're just going to get on the road. There's a couple of tips I would suggest. I mean, if you going to go camping, obviously reservations for campsites have been out of control. So, make sure to look at that ahead of time, the state park websites, and then of course the national park service to nps.gov, which has all the campsites. Rebecca: So, if you're a camper, that's the way to do it. And as you have heard, a lot of people can't even rent the RVs anymore because there are none available. I think there's one of those websites now where you can actually find a parking spot on a winery or some other places that you know, "Okay, we're going to only charge you a small fee and you can at least park your sprinter there," or your van or whatever it is you're in. Kim: How'd you find it COVID wise? Were there a lot of red flags? Rebecca: Well, I think the first thing was that when we entered like Glacier Park because we started in Boise and drove to the Sawtooth Mountains and then into Glacier. And at Glacier, it was still why they're empty because it had just opened up when we got there. But for example, at the lodge, we stayed at the Lake McDonald Lodge, they wouldn't allow anyone in their famous lobby unless you had a reservation. Bedrooms were not cleaned in between your days there, which was fine with us. And then it was grab and go. So, no bar, no sitting by the large fireplace, there was no fire in the fireplace. You were outside picnicking with your grab and go dinner at sunset. We bought our own wines at the local shops outside of the glacier. You're in a beautiful place. The sun doesn't go down until 10 o'clock. Rebecca: So, you were going about the spacing of people. I think the same, a little bit less so in Yellowstone, there's just a lot more traffic. A lot more people have access to Yellowstone then Glacier, which is further North. So, Yellowstone was a bit more crowded. But, they still were doing social distancing, limiting people who were coming into the general store. Their visitor centers were closed, but the general store and provisions were open. What was nice is when we moved into the Grand Tetons. We stayed in Jackson, which is outside of Grand Tetons. Those restaurants were open, social distancing, the minimal capacity of people, all of the waiters and waitresses were wearing masks. We did have three really nice meals. So, we just had a very good balance, if anything. But, I do think it's all about managing your expectations and what are your goals of the trip? Are you going for nature? If you want fine dining, you might want to skip it and do something else. Kim: Just listening to you explain that experience. It's kind of creating a picture of an America that we hear. I can only speak for Australia, don't think exists. That everyone's flouting the rules and there's no social distancing and no one wants to wear masks and this is not the case. Rebecca: Yeah. I feel like it... Well, for example, if you're watching Old Faithful, the beautiful water that's streaming up. That happens about every hour and a half if you want to watch that Geyser and watch it erupt. There were a lot of people around that and there was no social distancing at that particular moment that everybody wants to get it on video. But, that walkway that goes through all of the geysers is about a four-mile walk. And people were very respectful of each other when I was there wearing masks and trying not to huddle together in groups. So, there was some dispersing of people once, you got away from the main attraction. Kim: I've found on my road trips since we've been able to move within new South Wales, that some places do health and safety surrounding COVID really well. And then, other places you go to, you wouldn't know it existed. But have you found that [crosstalk 00:08:24]? Rebecca: Yeah, absolutely. And California has been aggressive. But, where I live in San Diego, there's still a lot of people that don't respect what's going on. Whereas we did go over the border into Mexico recently and the border is sort of a fluctuating situation that we didn't have any problems driving over it and getting back. But then, they were kind of cracking down in about a week ago with people driving back and forth. You can fly to Mexico without a problem right now from the States. Rebecca: But what I thought was really notable in [inaudible 00:08:58], which is a coastal town, is that they were more diligent about protocols for COVID than anything I've seen in the U.S., which I would not have necessarily expected. It was taking your temperature and give me your sanitizer, social distancing. And the other thing that they do in Mexico is when you walk into a place there's this place on a mat on the floor to wet your feet, and then you take another step to dry off your feet. I have yet to see that in the States, but the places I've been in Mexico, that's what they're doing, which I think is probably smart. Kim: Now as America opens up and there is that domestic travel. There are a few hotspots that people are enjoying. I think Mexico is one, the Caribbean, Florida, any others that are on the ride there? Rebecca: The only other ones I've heard about for Americans is some countries in Eastern Europe. And of course, a lot of people now are like, "Well, I don't really want to go to the Caribbean. It's hurricane season." That just might not be the right time. So, Mexico is really a great option if you're just going to make sure you take all the protocols for yourself with your distancing, the sanitizer... You've you go to a hotel, probably want to wipe everything down. You're not going to have the maids coming in. Then, once you're out and about doing whatever it is you're doing, I think you just take upon yourself to be responsible and do the right thing. Kim: Yeah. So, you were heading into fall in America. How did its travel change from summer to fall? Rebecca: Well, I think it's probably going to drop just simply because all of the schools have started. So, everyone with families has got to have online education going on. For example, in San Diego, there are a few schools that are back in person and there are others that are not. So, I think it's just depending on where you are and what the rules and regulations are for that community. So, I think it will probably drop in terms of travel as a family [inaudible 00:10:51] get back to another routine. And I think there are others if they are not having to worry about that are probably going to do a little bit more camping until the weather gets cold. And then, maybe they'll start to choose other destinations that are, that are warmer. Kim: Okay. Marcos, your boyfriend, you couldn't go to Europe. He was going for the Euros 2020, which I think has been postponed until next year. How's he coping? Rebecca: Well, let's just say he was thrilled to be able to watch soccer again, because as a Brazilian, his world revolves around soccer, especially his team. Palmeiras in San Paulo, where he's from and he's able to watch those games as well. So he is now back to his normal self. I love it as well and it was really looking forward to the Euro cup. We had tickets in Bucharest and Budapest, and obviously didn't happen, but hopefully have a chance to do something else like that again. When we're sort of under duress with the new changes in a new world, it's always good to find something positive out of it. And the things that you've discussed on the podcast about wildlife and animals and the environment and the earth, just being able to take a large breath. And that I think has been a really wonderful aspect of this. Kim: So true and with Americans being able to travel to Mexico (and as you heard it’s a good experience), next week we will release an updated version of our destination episode on Mexico and has Phil said earlier include information on traveling there during COVID. Phil: To share your current travel experiences with us email <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a>. In the meantime, don’t forget to rate, share, and subscribe to the World Nomads Travel podcasts from wherever you get your favorite pods. Bye </div> </div> </div>Supplied: Grand Teton National Park 0