#outdoor-recreation

#outdoor-recreation

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most popular park in the country last year, drawing more than 11.5 million visitors, according to data from the National Park Service. In fact, the park, which straddles North Carolina and Tennessee, accounted for 12.3 percent of all national park visits.

Located just 24 miles southwest of Austin, Driftwood is a road trip-worthy spot beyond the barbecue. Here, you can sip award-winning wines in the heart of the Texas Hill Country AVA, tour a sotol distillery, and rest up in some of the cutest accommodations around.

Get up early to drive into the hills and park in the main lot, which opens 30 minutes before sunrise. This will leave you with enough time to make your way to the peak through the wildflower-scattered trails and watch the sunrise over the Bay.

The state park is more remote and rugged. We offer a more dispersed and self-guided experience. It's also a more relaxed choice for paddling trips, it's popular among birdwatchers, and it's also one of the best places in Texas to stargaze-after all, West Texas has the darkest skies in the state.

The issue dates back to a 2014 ruling by the Oregon Supreme Court stemming from a snowboard injury case at Mt. Bachelor. In that decision, the court determined that certain liability waivers signed by recreation participants could be considered "unconscionable contracts," effectively weakening their enforceability.

A hotel on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Ely, Minn., teaches guests how to harness, mush, and manage teams of three to six dogs during their stay.

Bisbee is surrounded by the Mule Mountains, offering plenty of opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, and camping. The nearby Sabino Canyon Recreation Area has scenic hiking trails and stunning views. But beyond the art and beauty lies a long, fascinating history as a copper mining town.

Nashville may be known as the 'Music City,' but it was Knoxville where several artists, including a young Dolly Parton, actually cut their teeth. The city has a self-guided tour to give you important intel on the music industry and a lay of the land for your trip.

Some travelers love vacations that involve doing absolutely nothing-trips where lounging by the beach or pool, napping, reading, or going for a light swim are the most rigorous activities on the agenda. Other travelers, however, crave trips that are a bit more ... active, whether that means hiking, biking, or parasailing. If you fall into the latter category, you should consider heading to Wyoming for your next trip, according to Wander.

Home to Grand Teton National Park, world-class ski slopes, and the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is a destination unlike any other. Victoria Gonzalez, lead Pathfinder at The Cloudveil, describes the region as "the intersection of wilderness and the resilient American spirit." In other words, it's somewhere travelers can go to experience a "flourishing cultural arts center with celebrated restaurants, a playground for year-round recreational opportunities ... and natural wonder."

In many ways, western North Carolina destinations-like Asheville, Highlands, Hot Springs, and Waynesville, to name just a few-are quite similar. There's typically a genuine appreciation of art, music, food, and craft beer, and life tends to revolve around the great outdoors. And why shouldn't it? The Appalachian Mountains have created a lush, green paradise in this region, complete with stunning views, amazing hikes, and plenty of fresh air.

"Today, another kind of treasure typically lures travelers to Franklin, though, one found among the trails, waterfalls, and scenic byways of the community. Surrounded by the Nantahala National Forest, and a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Franklin is closely tied to the Appalachian Trail, and became the first designated Appalachian Trail Community in 2010, welcoming travelers with open arms."

What makes this area special is the fact that it's not urban, it's not suburban, and it's not rural-it's a combination of all three,

Our local guide covers popular family destinations across North Suffolk, West Suffolk, and both the South Shore and the North Shore. Suffolk County offers a mix of indoor and outdoor activities for kiddos and families. While you may need a car for this day-out-adventure, most places are organized by proximity so that you can reduce driving time. You can also extend it to a weekend getaway! There are plenty of things to do in Montauk

Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colo., is an awe-inspiring canyon boasting scenery any traveler would be lucky to soak in. It's also, bafflingly, crowd-free. "People tend to head straight for the Grand Canyon, or maybe Arches or Zion national parks," says Adam Kinsey, owner and founder of Grand Junction's Handlebar Tap House as well as the new WestCo Brewing. The canyon boasts a serenity you simply won't find at the Grand Canyon, with its steady flow of tourists.

You may have heard of the Colorado River-it starts at the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park and is known for whitewater rafting -but one of the best ways to experience its grandeur and natural beauty is on a scenic drive. The Colorado River Headwaters Byway spans 80 miles, from Highway 34, north of Grand Lake, to State Bridge.

Located about 25 miles northeast of Atlanta, this small city of 79,000 is ideal for young professionals and families searching for a place with access to the outdoors, cultural activities, and relatively easy access to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). With Johns Creek as your base camp, you can spend your weekends walking the trails at the 46-acre Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, paddling the Chattahoochee River, attending performances by the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, and sampling craft beer at Six Bridges Brewing.

Kick off your health-focused New Year's resolution with Urban Park Rangers on an invigorating trek through Clove Lakes Park. Bundle up in warm layers and comfortable hiking boots as experienced guides reveal Staten Island's natural treasures and urban forest landscapes. This scenic walk offers the perfect opportunity to disconnect from daily stress and embrace the outdoors as you begin the year.

So many features on Northern California hotels and inns topped our list this year, we decided to give them their own place to shine (8 Northern California Hotels + Inns We Loved in 2025). Many of our other most-loved stories celebrated the great outdoors, from the hip new pool club and upscale camping resort The River Electric in Guerneville to the newest California National Monument, Cotoni-Coast.

If you dream of sunrise hikes and coastal drives, Maine could be your ideal home. Nicknamed "Vacationland," the state draws in visitors with its lighthouse-lined shores, working harbors, and 3,400 miles of tidal shoreline. It stands out with its small-town charm, protected wilderness, and revitalized historic mill communities. With holiday celebrations that feel like they belong in a Hallmark movie, it's clear why so many people choose to move here.

There isn't a nook or cranny in the Almaden Valley that Ali Henry hasn't spent time in. She grew up here, camping, boating and fishing with her dad and her grandparents. Those long, sun-drenched days on the water often finished with fresh-caught trout sizzling over a campfire. Today, Henry is devoting her life to preserving and celebrating some of her favorite childhood hangouts as Santa Clara County Parks' first-ever woman chief park ranger.

The Catskills have long been a retreat-first for 19th-century painters and writers, later for city escapees chasing mountain air and summer swims. That legacy hasn't faded, but the region feels freshly alive these days as chefs, artists, and creative entrepreneurs put down roots. Farm-to-table restaurants, craft food and beverage purveyors from breweries to creameries, and design-driven boutique hotels now coexist with retro diners, antique shops, and historic inns-many of which have been restored.

When legendary mountain men, trappers, and explorers scrambled over Bend's forests, peaks, and rivers in the early 1800s, there were moments, amid the plying of beaver pelts, the mapping, surveying, and general Manifest Destiny-type tromping, when they were simply knocked out by the snow-dusted volcanic peaks, endless stretches of ponderosa pine, and the sagebrush-scented serenity of the high desert. After camping along Tumalo Creek in what is now Bend's beloved Shevlin Park in December 1843, famed US expedition leader John C. Frémont journaled,

"It seems to me that Montana is a great splash of grandeur. The scale is huge, but not overpowering. The land is rich with grass and color and the mountains are the kind I would create if mountains were put on my agenda. While some aspects of his travelogue have since been disputed, it's hard to argue with this description of the Treasure State."

The run clubs that took off in the past few years were outpaced by hiking. That's according to new data from Strava, a fitness tracking app, and AllTrails, a hiking navigation app. Strava's end-of-year report, analyzing data from over 30,000 users, found that hiking clubs grewsixfold in 2025 - nearly double the pace of run clubs. In 2025, AllTrails saw a 20% increase in users (i.e., people who created an account on the app) to 90 million.

Tucked between Lassen Volcanic National Park 's calderas and the winding roads that dip toward the Feather River Canyon, Plumas County feels like California before the crowds. During my recent drive through the area, I was transported to an undiscovered, more nostalgic version of the state, where narrow mountain highways lead to glassy alpine lakes and former gold rush communities still ooze with small-town charm.

Arizona is often defined by its icons-including the Grand Canyon and the Phoenix sprawl - but the essence of the state is just as alive in its smaller towns. Tucked into Arizona's canyons, deserts, and high plateaus are small communities that carry the stories of the miners, artists, ranchers, and Indigenous groups who shaped the region. These small towns, which range from just a few hundred people to almost 10,000, each offer something different.

Located roughly an hour and a half from Washington D.C., Shenandoah County, Virginia, is home to Blue Ridge views, boutique wineries, and charming valley towns steeped in history. Growing up in northern Virginia, I spent countless days leaf-peeping on the Skyline Drive and taking field trips to Shenandoah Caverns, but it wasn't until I returned as an adult that I realized just how special the area truly is.

Set within the rolling dunes of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the seven-and-a-half-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive takes travelers through magnificent woodlands, sandy ridges, and sweeping overlooks along the shores of Lake Michigan. The drive honors the late lumberman and conservationist Pierce Stocking and begins just south of Glen Lake before winding upward through thick hardwood forests. During the journey, visitors can stop at 12 viewpoints that showcase the area's diverse scenery.

Like many places in Virginia-and the South as a whole-Lexington has a complicated history. Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson is buried in the mountain town-the graveyard, formerly known as the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, was renamed Oak Grove Cemetery in 2020-and Robert E. Lee once served as the president of Washington & Lee University (W&L), then named Washington College.

Texas is drawing in new residents every day, whether it's those who want to dodge frigid winters and state income tax or those chasing a lower cost of living.

Surrounded by two of Colorado's highest "14ers" (mountains that rise above 14,000 feet), Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, Leadville is a playground for every kind of outdoor enthusiast. You can hike or bike the Mineral Belt Trail, paddle on Twin Lakes, or hit the slopes at Ski Cooper, all within minutes. And there's plenty to explore off the trails in town, too, with a growing arts scene, annual festivals, and a community that's as warm as the high-altitude sun.

Remote work has allowed people to live wherever they choose, no longer tied to urban and suburban areas to be close to their jobs. High urban and suburban home prices and the availability of remote work had Americans looking for more affordable cities that offer a good quality of life. The numbers tell a remarkable story of transformation. Between 2020 and spring 2024, two-thirds of population growth for those aged 25 to 44 occurred in areas with fewer than 1 million residents or rural counties.