U.S. and International Travel Destinations - Vacation Ideas

Get Wet

A water obsessive’s guide to beaches, creeks, lakes, swimming holes, and lazy, hazy rivers—all within two hours of midtown Manhattan.
By Christina Amoroso, Catherine Coreno, Kari Milchman, and Kathleen Reeves

Spring Travel Planner More

North Africa: The ruins! The souks! The windsurfing! Take a breezy, aromatic, culturally rich escape to the top of the continent.

South America: Sip Malbecs in the foothills of Mendoza, walk Incan flagstones in the Bolivian Andes, and pick up some new moves in Medellín.

East

Explore Experimental Music in Baltimore: By Rachel B. Doyle; Charm City's dives and underground venues host a burgeoning scene of art-rock acts and electrifying dance parties.

Find Heart-stopping Adventure in Kaaterskill Falls: By Jennifer Vanderkwast; Off-road thrills await in the northern Catskills.

See Modern Martha’s Vineyard: By Julie Earle-Levine; With a spate of revamped hotels, a robust art scene, and those ever-gorgeous beaches, the summer perennial has rarely looked better.

West

Play in Portland’s Shadows: By Adam H. Graham; With its under-the-bridge skate parks, secretive clubs, and respectfully louche strip bars, the city’s darkest spots are also its coolest.

Dig Up Classic Clothes in San Francisco: By Amy Ettinger; The city is filled with top-notch vintage stores brimming with upscale hand-me-downs and drag-queen couture.

South

See a Solitary Side of the Smoky Mountains: By Elizabeth Cline; The nation's most-visited national park is replete with remote outdoor adventures, especially in spring.

Take in the Waters in Big Bend: By Melissa Burdick Harmon; Full of untamed rivers and freshwater springs, Florida’s north country will make you forget the beach.

Midwest

Rock and Roll in Indianapolis: By Amy Zavatto; There's a booming indie scene in the Indiana capital, thanks to its intimate rock clubs and great music stores.

Catch a Show in Chicago: By Jean Tang; The Second City considers itself a purer theater town, favoring acting over hype, and small gems over $100-a-seat blockbusters.

International

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in South Tyrol: By Farhad Heydari; In the heart of the Dolomites, Italy’s northern region is replete with sustainable and state-of-the-art thermal baths, wineries, and hotels.

Explore Design Through the Ages in Zaragoza: By Rebecca Rothbaum; Zaha Hadid's serpentine footbridge for the International Expo is just the latest architectural wonder found in this 2,000-year-old Spanish city.