Across the Hawaiian Islands, which can swell with upwards of 10 million visitors each year, getting off the beaten path is the best way to appreciate the islands' multi-cultural history.

Beyond its sandy beaches and seductive, jewel-toned waves, Hawaii’s lesser-known local tours and activities make the days in paradise more meaningful. Whether it's mellowing out at a rum tasting that acknowledges Hawaii’s sugar-producing past or exploring the lush countryside on horseback, here are our favorite ways to embrace Hawaii's Aloha Spirit.

Oʻahu

Taste rum from pure sugarcane

For more than 100 years, the sugar industry shaped Hawaii into one of the most diverse populations in the world as plantation laborers and managers arrived from China, Japan, the Philippines, Portugal’s Madeira Islands, Puerto Rico and other parts of Europe. And although the last sugar mill closed in 2016, visitors can still taste its history today.

Manulele Distillers on Oʻahu cultivates more than 30 varieties of native Hawaiian sugarcane as part of their Kō Hana line of agricole rum. While most rum on the market is made from molasses, Kō Hana spirits are made from pure sugarcane juice. Witness part of the process in action with a tour, which passes through their native cane garden and includes a rum tasting.

Bring home a sippable souvenir, like their rum aged in koa wood barrels available exclusively in Kō Hana’s tasting room.

On Kauai, Koloa Rum Company offers daily tours and tastings at Kilohana Plantation in Lihuʻe, which got its start as a working cattle ranch in 1896.

The 10 best hikes in Hawaii

Don’t skip Chinatown

What was once associated with gambling and brothels, Honolulu’s historic commercial district is now an eclectic place to dine and take in the arts. After a bowl of vegan or oxtail pho from The Pig and The Lady catch a live musical, comedy or theatre performance at Hawaii Theatre. Or, whisk back in time with a food, history and cultural walking tour hosted by Hawaiʻi Heritage Center.

Know as you go

Oftentimes, outdoor recreation areas cross paths with historical and cultural sites that, without context, visitors may not recognize as a significant encounter. Native Hawaiian-led non-profit Kanaka Climbers on Oʻahu hope to change that. The organization offers online resources on how to recreate responsibly in Hawaii, including best practices for interacting with sacred sites such as traditional Hawaiian burial grounds (often found in caves); petroglyphs; and heiau, or religious altars, even when – or especially when – sites aren’t officially designated culturally significant. Occasionally, the group hosts site cleanups which they announce on their Instagram page.

Kauai

Tour traditional taro fields

Familial and cultural history blends throughout stops at the lo’i (flooded taro fields) and Haraguchi Rice Mill, the last of Hawaii’s rice mills, when you sign up for a farmer-led Ho’opulapula Haraguchi tour in Kauai. Taro – known as kalo in the Hawaiian language – was a staple in the Hawaiian diet and the starchy root vegetable is even referenced in the Hawaiian creation story.

An on-premise food truck serves fresh, seasonal taro-based eats and treats, from kalua pork to kulolo (a sticky pudding-like dessert made with taro and coconut). Drive over a one-lane bridge on Kauai’s Northside to get to the sixth generation working taro farm in Hanalei.

Explore local food

Similarly, a three-hour food tour with Waipā Foundation curates a tasting journey through the lens of the traditional Hawaiian ahupua’a, or land division system marked by portions of mountain, valley, river and sea and tied to ancient agricultural and spiritual practices. Local tastes might include ‘ulu (breadfruit), guava and liliko’i (yellow passion fruit).

How to get around in Hawaii

Maui

Hike with local guides

An interactive, small-group hike with local and longtime-resident guides from Hike Maui contextualizes the experience. Their Ultimate Hana Full-Day Adventure Tour includes stops at waterfalls and traverses through bamboo forest and tropical jungle – all located within Haleakalā National Park. Lunch and snacks are provided, along with transport to and from the trailhead along The Road to Hana from Central Maui.

Hike Maui’s roster of guides complete a six-week course to learn about ​​Hawaiian culture, history, geology and botany, and must have lived on Maui for a year minimum. Additionally, many guides tout background and personal passions from traditional Hawaiian herbal healing to marine biology.

Rest up in Upcountry

Wend your way up the long-dormant Haleakalā volcano some 3000ft to check in to G and Z Upcountry Bed and Breakfast, located in the tiny Upcountry Maui town, Kula. If snorkeling in Kapalua or windsurfing in Paia are classic Maui imagery, inland Upcountry presents an expanded perspective. From this base, don’t miss the Saturday local farmers market and fragrant lavender farm. Upcountry is also home to Maui’s cowboy culture.

King Kamehameha I received cattle as a gift in 1793, shortly thereafter placing a kapu (taboo, or ban) on them. The long-horned animals multiplied to excess and by the 1830s the monarchy sought ways to tame them. They invited Mexican vaqueros (from the Spanish word vaca, or cow) by way of Spanish missionaries to teach Hawaiians – and other ethnic groups who emigrated to the islands – how to herd and manage cattle and work with horses (another gift to the Hawaiian monarchy).

Hawaii Island (The Big Island)

Ride horseback to the shore

Signs of Hawaii’s lesser-known paniolo – or cowboy – culture, though dwindling, persist, including at Kahua Ranch’s Na’alapa Stables in Hawaii Island’s Northern parts. Their paniolo -led Kahua Ranch on Horseback tour is a 1.5-2.5 hour ride through one of Hawaii’s oldest working cattle and sheep ranches. The route covers grassy terrain with panoramic mountain and coastal views – from mauka to makai as the locals say; from the mountains to the sea.

Spend the night on a historic ranch

Keep the ranch vibes going with an overnight stay in one of Puakea Ranch ’s four cottages. A few of them, like the “Cowboy House,” sleeps up to six individuals. Some were built by working plantation families during the 1920s and 1930s, and all feature ample lanai space, or a wide veranda – a signature architectural feature at the time.

Watch the island grow at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Island may be the largest of the Hawaiian islands, yet it’s also the youngest due to its active volcanoes at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park – Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Check the National Park Service site for updates of volcanic activity, but there’s plenty to do within the Unesco World Heritage Site regardless of eruption. Hike the lava fields (wear sturdy, covered footwear) while on the lookout for nene geese, carnivorous caterpillars and Hawaiian hawks before taking a scenic ride on the Crater Rim Drive. Don’t be tempted to take home a piece of the park or – according to legend – face the wrath of temperamental Hawaiian volcano and fire goddess Pele, who calls Kīlauea home.

You might also like:
Which Hawaiian island should you visit?
The best time to visit Honolulu
When is the best time to go to The Bahamas?

The best things to do in Hawaii you probably didn't know about

Utah is made for hikers. Strike out into its big wilderness, and you’ll be floored by its landscapes: red-rock mesas thrusting above mighty rivers, vertiginous treks teetering along knife-edge ridges, and tracks leading ever deeper into skinny slot canyons that elemental forces have carved out since dinosaurs roamed the earth.

These expeditions into Utah's wild and rugged backcountry give the best outdoor experience the state has to offer.

Delicate Arch

Best hike for an incredible arch
3 miles round trip, 2-3 hours, moderate

Located in Arches National Park, you've seen this arch before: it's the unofficial state symbol, stamping nearly every Utah tourist brochure and prominently depicted on license plates. The best way to experience it is from beneath. Park near Wolfe Ranch, a well-preserved 1908 pioneer cabin. From there, a footbridge crosses Salt Wash (near American Indian rock art) and marks the beginning of the trail to the arch itself. The trail ascends slickrock, culminating in a wall-hugging ledge before reaching the arch.

It can get crowded here, but that can be part of the fun: visitors line up in front of the arch for their turn to snap a classic shot standing under the arch. Take your time and enjoy the conviviality – offer to take a photo of the group ahead of you, and they will likely return the favor.

Keep in mind that the ascent is shadeless, so take your time, wear rubber-soled shoes or boots and drink a lot of water along the way.

Tip for hiking Delicate Arch: Ditch the crowds by passing beneath the arch and continuing down the rock by several yards to where there's a great view but fewer folks (bring a picnic). If you drive past the ranch to the end of the spur road, there's a 50-yard paved path (wheelchair accessible) to the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint. But the arch is, admittedly, relatively distant from this viewpoint.

Landscape Arch

Best hike for families
1.6 miles roundtrip, 30 min to 1 hour, easy to moderate

Among the world’s longest natural stone spans in Arches National Park, Landscape Arch is a spectacular ribbon of rock reached via a moderate gravel trail with spurs of interest.

Landscape Arch lies 0.8 miles along the Devils Garden trail at the northern end of the main park road. Along the route, don’t miss the short spurs (0.5 miles) to Tunnel and Pine Tree Arches. From the trailhead, you’ll thread through sandstone fins that stand on end like giant wedges. A third of a mile in, bear right at the fork and head downhill to Tunnel Arch (on your right) and the 45ft Pine Tree Arch (on your left). High on a cliff, aptly named Tunnel Arch looks like a subway tube through the Entrada sandstone. In contrast, Pine Tree Arch is meaty, with a bulbous frame around its gaping middle. Look for the gnarled namesake juniper, which juts from the base of the window.

As you approach Landscape Arch along the main trail, the terrain opens up, revealing long views to distant ridges and a vast expanse of sky. In the past, visitors could hike right beneath the elegant 306ft sweep of desert-varnished sandstone, longer than a football field. But in 1991, a 60ft slab of rock fell from the arch, nearly killing several hikers. When you notice the cracks on the left side of the arch, it’s easy to understand why the National Parks Service (NPS) closed the trail.

Facilities include restrooms, picnic sites and drinking water.

Chesler Park/Joint Trail Loop

Best overnight hike
11 miles roundtrip, 1-2 days, moderate overnight hike, moderate-difficult day hike

This trail, located in Canyonlands National Park, loops across desert grasslands, past towering red-and-white-striped pinnacles and between deep, narrow slot canyons, some only 2ft across. It also gives a great perspective on the Needles. Elevation changes are mild, but the distance makes it an advanced day hike.

Keep in mind that you won’t find any water. The Trails Illustrated Needles District map should suffice for most hikers, but if you’re inclined to wander, carry a 7.5-minute USGS map.

Park at the Elephant Hill trailhead, three miles from Squaw Flat Campground. The trail climbs to a bench from the parking area, then undulates over slickrock toward rock spires. The next section is typically where people make a wrong turn. Cross the wash at the T-junction and follow signs to Chesler Park (not Druid Arch), descending 300ft along switchbacks into Elephant Canyon. Continue to follow signs along the canyon floor.

The final 0.2 miles to the Chesler Park Viewpoint climbs 100ft, topping out on the rocky pass amid spires 2.9 miles from the trailhead. This marks the beginning of the 5-mile Chesler Park Loop. Five campsites lie southeast of the junction.

The next morning, leave your backpack at the campsite and explore the claustrophobia-inducing Joint Trail, where the fractured rock narrows to 2ft across in places; the trail junction lies to the south, about midway around the Chesler Park Loop. Pause just east of the Joint Trail for stellar views of the towering pinnacles that ring Chesler Park. On the southwest section of the loop, you’ll follow a half-mile stretch of a 4WD road. If staying two nights, take the side trip to Druid Arch.

Grand Wash Trail

Best hike for beginners
4.4 miles roundtrip, 45 min-1.5 hours, easy

Capitol Reef National Park’s most dramatic canyon is worth visiting just to walk between the sheer walls of the Narrows. Avoid this hike if rain threatens, as the wash is prone to flash floods.

Start from the parking lot at the end of the Grand Wash spur road. It’s a leisurely stroll up the packed-sand wash from the parking area. Look for seasonal wildflowers such as reddish Indian paintbrush, shrubby white-flowering Apache’s plume and stalky, yellow-flowering prince’s plume. The canyon’s walls inch closer and closer together until, about 1.25 miles from the trailhead, you reach the Narrows, where the 80-story canyon is just 15ft wide – a thrilling sight. The canyon walls shrink and spread out again as the flat trail approaches Hwy 24. Return the way you came, or arrange for someone to pick you up on Hwy 24, around 4.5 miles east of the visitor center (look for a trailhead marker on the south side of the highway, where there’s a small gravel pull-off).

Lower Calf Creek Falls

Best hike to see a waterfall
6 miles roundtrip, 4 hours, moderate

The sandy track at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument eventually follows a year-round running creek through a spectacular canyon before arriving at a 126ft waterfall, a joy on a hot day.

Lower Calf Creek Falls’ beauty is no secret; this is easily the most heavily traveled trail in the entire monument. Its accessibility – right off Hwy 12 between Escalante and Boulder – makes it a perfect stopover. Though it doesn’t climb much, the trail has long sandy stretches that can take a lot out of you. Carry plenty of water (available at the trailhead); the creek is not safe for drinking.

Park at the Calf Creek Recreation Area (day use $5) and campground, between mile markers 75 and 76 on Hwy 12. As you work your way toward the creek, you’ll pass honeycombed rocks and Navajo sandstone domes, an 800-year-old Native American granary, a box canyon where calves were once herded (hence the name Calf Creek), prehistoric pictographs and lush green wetlands.

Past the last bend, the trail ends in an amphitheater of rock with a 126-foot-tall waterfall with a thin stream cascading into a large pool. The sandy shore and extended knee-deep wading area, before the deeper drop-off, make this a favorite with families. Remember, the sandy walk out is as strenuous as the walk in, so pace yourself.

Peekaboo Loop Trail

Best hike for a day trip
5.5 miles roundtrip, 3-5 hours, difficult

An ideal day hike, Peekaboo Loop Trail sees the most variety of terrain and scenery in Bryce Canyon National Park, with 1500 to 1800ft of cumulative elevation changes.

Access to this circular trail is via either the Navajo Loop or the Queen’s Garden Connecting Trail, which runs off the Queen's Garden Trail. The following description starts from Bryce Point – if starting from Sunrise Point it’s a 6.6-mile hike; from Sunset Point it’s 5 miles.

The Peekaboo Loop Trail is also a horse trail, so expect to see occasional riders. They move slowly, so you’ll have plenty of advance warning. Stock animals have right of way – step off the trail and let them pass undisturbed. If you don’t want to navigate around horse droppings, consider another route. But views here are among the park's best, particularly of the Wall of Windows, the Silent City and the Fairy Castle. You’ll also find shady spots to rest, a picnic area and pit toilets (the latter are on the loop, just west of its intersection with the connecting trail to Bryce Point, and only open during summer).

This trail rises and falls many times; be prepared for a workout. If you’re afraid of heights, be forewarned that in places you’ll pass sheer drops, though the trail is comfortably wide enough for a horse.

The Narrows: From the bottom

Best hike for adventure
Up to 10 miles roundtrip, up to 8 hours, difficult

Hiking through a fast-flowing river in knee- to chest-deep water, the canyon walls seem to grow and press in on you: this is arguably the quintessential Zion National Park experience. Although some hikers will want to do the full overnight trip beginning at the top, if you hike up from the bottom, you don't need a permit and you can still reach the narrowest and most spectacular section. If you trek the entire 5 miles to Big Springs (as far as day hikers are allowed), you'll outpace most of the day-trippers – but don’t underestimate the distance: this is a long way to hike upstream.

The "trail" begins at the end of the Riverside Walk, where you enter and start following the river. Around the first bend you'll find Mystery Falls, the exit point for Mystery Canyon. You may catch canyoneers on their last rappel here. As you hike, each alcove, bowl, hollow, crack and arch seems its own secret place. Ravens glide low over the water, and you can sometimes hear waterfalls spilling down from inside the rock.

It’s about 2.5 miles to the junction with Orderville Canyon, which is another popular canyoneering route. If you have time and energy, don't miss the side trip up the smaller and narrower Orderville. It’s possible to follow the canyon half a mile upstream to a waterfall, beyond which you’ll need a permit. (There are several small falls before this; you'll know you've reached the main one when you see a park service sign or by the simple fact that it is impassible to most.) However, there is an admission price of sorts to the canyon: about a quarter-mile upstream is a small pool that you’ll need to swim across to continue.

Past Orderville Canyon is the famous Wall Street, where the sheerness, nearness and height of the cliffs shatter whatever remains of your perspective. After this section, the canyon opens slightly again, the water gets periodically deeper (usually requiring swimming in places), and your fellow hikers thin out.

After the 4-mile point, you’ll negotiate a series of huge boulders, and the canyon, though gorgeous, becomes somewhat less otherworldly. At 5 miles you come to Big Springs, a fern-fringed rush of water much larger than anything so far. Here day hikers are required to turn around.

While it can take up to eight hours to do the full round-trip to Big Springs, set aside a minimum of five hours so you’ll at least have time to reach Wall Street. Don’t forget you also have to hike the Riverside Trail back to the Temple of Sinawava.

Tips for hiking in Utah

Check the websites for Visit Utah and the National Park Service for maps and details on trails, permits, getting around and weather conditions. Park visitor centers can advise on trails and help arrange permits for backcountry hikes. The majority of trails are marked with cairns and signed at intersections. Advance reservation is essential for campgrounds in season (generally March to October). Hiking is possible in summer when temperatures can reach 100°F (38°C), but try to avoid the midday heat and carry sufficient water and sunscreen.

You  might also like:
Utah's best national parks
The Grand Circle is the ultimate US Southwest road trip
15 unforgettable experiences in US national parks

This article was originally published on April 12, 2021.

See the best of the Mighty Five on these best hikes in Utah

It can be difficulut to orient yourself in New Orleans.  North, south, east and west? Not in the Big Easy. This city’s directions are determined by bodies of water and how they flow, not by a compass. Here folks say Lake, River, Up and Down. "Lake" is Lake Pontchartrain, north of the city. "River," of course, is the Mississippi. "Up" and "Down" refer to the flow of the river, which heads "down" towards the Gulf of Mexico. So "Down" basically means east, and "Up" basically means west. Confused? We get it. But the best way to get to know the city is to visit it and you'll find it actually makes sense when you’re there.

Cruise around all the top neighborhoods in New Orleans and you'll feel right at home in no time.

CBD and Warehouse District

Best neighborhoods for museums

The Central Business District (CBD) and Warehouse District have long been a membrane between downriver Creole faubourgs (french for "suburbs," although "neighborhoods" is more accurate in spirit) like the French Quarter and the large leafy lots of the Garden District and Uptown. Between offices and forgettable municipal buildings lie some of the city’s best museums, as well as posh restaurants, art galleries and converted condos.

Along Canal St, you'll find theaters like the Joy and Saenger, two Audubon museums and the high-end Shops at Canal Place, plus several upscale hotels. Take the Canal Street Ferry, which runs from the foot of Canal St to Algiers Point and admire New Orleans from the traditional river approach. On the Algiers side, stretch your legs and learn about Louis Armstrong and other jazz greats on the Jazz Walk of Fame along the levee.

Heading south, once you pass Poydras St you're in the Warehouse District. You can walk down pedestrian Fulton St to soak in some of the old warehouse-style architecture. Around Camp St and St Joseph St, you'll find a cluster of some of the city's most important museums, including the Contemporary Arts Center and the National WWII Museum.

Faubourg Marigny & Bywater

Best neighborhoods for biking

Just downriver from the French Quarter, the Marigny and Bywater are both Creole faubourgs. By far the easiest way of exploring these two neighborhoods is by bicycle. On two wheels you're never more than 20 minutes from the edge of the French Quarter and the borders of Bywater.

In Marigny, hit Frenchmen St for a plethora of live music options. When you spin the Frenchmen St musical wheel, Cafe Negril is the stop for reggae, blues, Latin and world music.

From the French Quarter, you can either bike or walk out to Bywater – consider entering via Crescent Park, which connects Marigny and Bywater. In the evening, head out to catch music along St Claude Ave, or see if there’s anything interesting showing at one of the local theaters, such as Marigny Opera House.

The food cachet of these neighborhoods is increasing by the month, and there’s a general bohemian vibe and plethora of good eats here.

One of the city's most famous ghosts, Alastair Crowly, is said to haunt the Dragon's Den. This occult icon supposedly still hangs out upstairs at this famous venue. The bar also hosts a Saturday show called Talk Nerdy To Me. Its a cosplay burlesque show you do not want to miss.

Across Esplanade Ave from the Quarter, the grid-defying street pattern in Marigny and Bywater is speckled with colorful cottages, many of which have been converted into B&Bs. It’s possible to walk to the Quarter from either neighborhood, but if you’re heading back to Bywater at night, you’ll probably want to cab it.

French Quarter

Best neighborhood for doing all the touristy things

Also known as Vieux Carré ("voo car-ray," Old Quarter) and "the Quarter," the French Quarter is the original city as planned by the French in the 1800s. Here lies the infamous Bourbon St, but of more interest is an elegantly aged grid of shopfronts, iron lamps and courtyard gardens. Most visitors begin exploring the city here and some never leave the area.  The Quarter is lovely, but it’s a bit like a theme park: heavy on tourist traffic and light on locals (apart from your bartender or waiter).

Many visitors treat the French Quarter as a sort of adult playground, but skip this side and you'll find a compact neighborhood where historical preservation, incredible dining and great nightlife intersect like nowhere else in the USA. Take a walking tour by the Friends of the Cabildo for an introduction to both the architecture and history of the area. After the tour, meander along the river and consider catching a concert sponsored by the National Park Service at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Finish the evening with dinner at either Coop's Place or Galatoire's, and drinks at French 75.

Spend a day shopping and peruse some galleries as you walk up and down Royal Street. Other top spots include Jackson Square, sprinkled with lazing loungers, fortune tellers, sketch artists and traveling performers and the St Louis Cathedral, one of the best examples of French architecture in the country. And you can’t miss Café du Monde, an iconic fixture on the New Orleans scene, where you’ll want to try a beignet (fried donut topped with powdered sugar).

Garden, Lower Garden and Central City

Best area to eye historic mansions and shop

The Garden District, Lower Garden District and Central City are three distinct neighborhoods, each offering a different experience. Two days is enough time to explore all three.

The charming Garden District features historic mansions, lush greenery, chichi bistros and upscale boutiques. While there, check out Lafayette Cemetery No 1, where above-ground crypts hold tragic tales draped with vines and spreading tree roots.

Between the CBD and the Garden District, the Lower Garden District is somewhat like the Garden District but not quite as posh. Here the houses are pleasant, not palatial. In October this is the neighborhood to explore to see all the amazing ways New Orleans residents decorate their houses for Halloween. The creativity knows no bounds.

The neighborhood has a distinct youthful vibe, and plenty of bars and restaurants for those with university-stunted wallets and university-sized appetites for fun.

Central City, which lies between the CBD and Lower Garden District, has significant civil rights history. It is an historically important African American neighborhood and houses a concentration of community activist organizations working to address the abandoned buildings. It is also home to the Southern Food & Beverage Museum.

Bars in this part of New Orleans tend to attract a student and post-student crowd. Magazine St is, in its way, as much fun as Bourbon and Frenchmen Streets. It’s wild without being ridiculous or idiotic and, while it lacks Frenchmen's live-music scene, it makes up for that with a better variety of bars. Magazine St is also by far New Orleans’ best shopping strip, and as a center for commercial activity it begins in the Lower Garden District, near its intersection with Felicity St. From here, you can follow Magazine west all the way to Audubon Park and shop or window browse in antiques stores and galleries.

Mid-City, Bayou St. John and City Park

Best neighborhoods for exploring

Back in the day, this was the back of beyond: the bottom of the depression that is the New Orleans geographic bowl, an area of swampy lowlands and hidden gambler dens. Today? Mid-City and its adjacent neighborhoods form one of the loveliest residential areas in the city.  A bike ride may be the most pleasant way to explore the "green" sections of these neighborhoods. If you cycle independently, just roll up attractive Esplanade Ave and take it all the way to City Park, stopping at St Louis Cemetery No 3 along the way. Explore the park and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Starting from the southwest, near Banks St, Mid-City is a mix of commercial lots and residential blocks. Northeast is Bayou St John, ringed with historic houses, and the great green stretches of City Park. In the southeast, Esplanade Ave runs to the French Quarter, passing through the Tremé on the way.

There are loads of neighborhood restaurants out this way that serve excellent New Orleans cuisine (and increasingly, food from further afield). Local restaurants charge local prices; you can eat a lot cheaper here than in the Quarter or CBD.

Tremé-Lafitte

Best neighborhood for culture

Few neighborhoods hold their finger on the city's cultural pulse like the Tremé. This handful of square blocks – arguably the oldest African American neighborhood in the country – has had a disproportionate impact on world music. This is where jazz was invented, by free people of color and the descendants of enslaved Africans, who mixed African rhythms with European syncopation and homegrown improvisation. When you consider jazz led to rock led to hip-hop led to modern pop, just remember, the roots of that musical tree find their soil here.

The historical core of the Tremé is the area between Rampart St, Claiborne Ave, St Bernard Ave and Basin St. Much of this real estate is taken up by Louis Armstrong Park. This is where you'll find some of the most attractive streets in the neighborhood; the area where Gov Nicholls St intersects with Henriette DeLille St is particularly lovely. In general, the neighborhood becomes more rundown the closer you get to Basin St.

Worth a visit is the Backstreet Cultural Museum, where you’ll learn about the city’s deep well of unique African American institutions.

In general, the accommodations here consist of B&Bs, although there are plans for more high-volume hotels near Canal St. There's a large concentration of short-term rentals here; many advertise themselves as "within walking distance of the French Quarter." While technically true, if you're staying anywhere between Claiborne and Broad St, you may want to avoid that walk at night.

Uptown and Riverbend

Best area for growing food options

Uptown is the area where American settlers decided to prove to the original French inhabitants that they could be as tasteful and wealthy as any old-world aristocrat. The views of mansion after mansion on St Charles Ave are worth checking out even if you're not an architecture fan.

If you’ve only got one day, check out the Audubon Zoo in the morning. Enjoy dinner on Freret St, located above St Charles Ave, then catch a band or grab drinks at a local joint such as Tipitina's. Freret Street is getting quite the reputation for its rapidly expanding eating options.

If you’ve got another day, ride the St Charles Avenue Streetcar to Tulane University for a bit of wandering. Continue into Riverbend to check out the shops and restaurants off S Carrollton Ave, particularly along Maple St and Oak St.

Magazine St stretches from downtown to Audubon Park, covering 4 miles in the Garden District and Uptown. To get a handle on its shops, galleries and restaurants before your trip, order the guide published by the Magazine St Merchants Association.

Be sure to check out Terrance Osborn's Gallery on Magazine Street. Osborn is a New Orleans artist who uses broad brushstrokes and eye-popping colors to capture life in New Orleans. His art has been featured by brands as diverse as Nike and Heineken and his Jazz Fest posters are some of the most collected in the world.

You might also like:
Learn New Orleans' history through cocktails at this new museum
Top 10 city parks in New Orleans
New Orleans with kids: what to eat, see and do

This article was originally published on March 21, 2021 and updated on September 24, 2021

Orient yourself in New Orleans by exploring its best neighborhoods

Despite the tasty crabs and picturesque waterfront, Baltimore often gets overlooked in favor of its larger neighbors Philadelphia and Washington, DC. But this revitalized former industrial city offers endless historic and cultural attractions that compete with the bigger cities with one major advantage – it’s easy on the wallet.

Baltimore's two major museums, the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum scrapped admission fees in 2006 while many of the historic attractions are partially free. The city is filled with stunning 18th- and 19th-century architecture and miles of waterfront walkways that visitors can leisurely explore. Here’s our guide to Baltimore’s 10 best free attractions.

Climb up Federal Hill Park's 99 steps

Locals know that the best view of the Inner Harbor can be found by crossing Key Highway and heading south to the expansive green hill known as Federal Hill Park.

Tourists, dog walkers and fitness fans who climb the 99 steps to get to the top are rewarded with a phenomenal view of Baltimore skyscrapers and the attractions that dot the Inner Harbor, including the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Harborplace Mall and the Maryland Science Center.

Visitors will find monuments that commemorate the War of 1812 and The Battle of Baltimore in 1814, during which the park served as a lookout point due to its strategically high elevation.

Peruse Walters Art Museum's vast collection

The Walters Art Museum’s vast art collection spans seven millennia — from ancient times to the 21st century — and five buildings. The best part is that visitors can enjoy Islamic art and manuscripts, archaeological finds from Egypt and two Fabergé eggs completely free.

Most of the museum remains open except for the Family Art Center (closed due to Covid-19) and the Hackerman House, which recently underwent a $10.4 million renovation is now getting a new exhibition.

Baltimore's top neighborhoods

Grab a bite to eat on The Waterfront

While Baltimore’s waterfront has added swanky restaurants, apartments and hotels in recent years, city planners have kept the path open to the public so pedestrians can enjoy miles of uninterrupted views of the Patapsco River.

Start at the Inner Harbor and make your way to the newer neighborhoods of Harbor East and Harbor Point, where you can stop at the beachy hangout Sandlot. Or pop in one of the many excellent restaurants like Cindy Lou’s Fish House and Lebanese Taverna, before you make your way to the cobblestone-lined streets of Fells Point.

There you’ll pass by the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park, where you can read the outdoor placards highlighting the story of Black Americans' role in Baltimore’s maritime trade. Indoor admission is just $5.

Visit Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine

Sitting on the eastern edge of the industrial Locust Point neighborhood lies one of Baltimore’s most important historic treasures. Fort McHenry defended the city in many wars and inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the USA's national anthem. While there’s a fee to enter The Star Fort, the entrance to the grounds offers one of the city’s best waterfront views and plenty of green space where you can enjoy a bench picnic or a game of your choice with friends.

Scope out the city's art scene

Baltimore’s artsy edge is on display everywhere you turn. Local artists have painted more than 250 colorful murals scattered throughout the city depicting everything from the Chesapeake Bay watershed to impactful female leaders and John Waters’ iconic drag queen and actor Divine.

A dazzling courtyard where every inch is filled with bright scribbles from street artists, Graffiti Alley in the Station North Arts and Entertainment neighborhood attracts selfie snappers.

Best day trips from Baltimore

Meet authors at Enoch Pratt Free Library

Baltimore’s central library completed a $115 million renovation in 2019 that updated its structure while preserving its resplendent Neoclassical-meets-Art Deco design. Its vast collections include ancient maps, sheet music for Broadway shows and photographs, paintings and drawings. Check the library’s calendar to attend one of the free live and virtual author events.

Hike the Gwynn Falls Trail

The 15-mile trail covers 30 Baltimore neighborhoods and passes through 10 parks, including its namesake Gwynn Falls, making it the perfect green urban escape. Start at one of the nine trailheads and make your way past the Patapsco River, streams, wooded paths or the Inner Harbor. Also known as Leakin Park, the green space offers a mix of gravel and paved trails of varying difficulty.

Tour the Baltimore Museum of Art

Located in the Charles Village neighborhood a few miles north of the Inner Harbor, the admission-free Baltimore Museum of Art makes a great first impression with its column-lined neoclassical facade. Inside, visitors will find a staggering collection of 19th-century, contemporary and modern art, including the world’s largest public collection of works by Henri Matisse.

The ever-expanding museum also recently received 90 works of art by nearly 70 artists that encompass photography, prints, drawings and paintings. Don’t leave before experiencing the serene sculpture garden, where you’ll sometimes be entertained by jazz musicians or other events.

Marvel at The Washington Monument

The Washington Monument towers 178ft above the mansion townhomes in the Mount Vernon neighborhood, like a beacon welcoming visitors to Baltimore’s cultural epicenter.

Not to be confused with the statue in DC, the 206-year-old monument underwent a $7 million restoration in 2015, which enhanced the indoor gallery space at the base of the monument with interactive touch screens that offer a virtual tour of the attraction.

It stands at the center of the Mount Vernon neighborhood as the crowning jewel of a neighborhood whose eclectic historic buildings give it a European feel. Entrance to the gallery is free.

Best time to visit Baltimore

Watch Mr. Trash Wheel work

In a mission to clean up the Inner Harbor water of cigarette butts, plastic bottles and other debris, Baltimore officials installed the first Mr. Trash Wheel in 2014. Shaped like a face with eyes and a mouth, the contraption sucks up the litter with a conveyor belt powered by a water wheel and sunlight.

Watching Baltimore’s trash wheels in action offers a great activity with kids who will enjoy seeing them in action while getting a lesson on the environment. You can find the current location of the whole trash wheel family on social media.

You might also like:

Spending diary: what I spent on a three-day road trip to Baltimore
The best things to do in Howard County, Maryland
48 hours in Baltimore

This article was originally published on July 21, 2021.

Go easy on your wallet with these 10 free things to do in Baltimore 

Alaska is a storied landscape – just ask the Inupiat and Tlingit people, who have for generations shared tales about how the state's peninsulas and glaciers and crevasses were formed, and of the bears, whales, and ravens that fill Alaska's forests.

And those same natural features continue to draw hikers from all over the world who want to experience Alaska up close and personal, one mile at a time.

If you are craving a hike in Alaska and aren't sure where to start, here are our fourteen favorites. There's a little something for all levels of skill and ambition, from mellow strolls to strenuous guided treks that require specialized gear.

Chilkoot Trail

The Chilkoot Trail, the epic trek undertaken by over 30,000 gold-rush stampeders in 1897–8, is sometimes known as the "Last Great Adventure" or the "Meanest 33 Miles in America." Its appeal is legendary, and, consequently, more than 3000 people spend three to five days following the historic route between Dyea (Alaska) and Bennett (British Columbia, Canada) every summer.

The trail crosses the US–Canadian border, takes in numerous climate zones, and traverses terrain etched with the discarded remnants of one of the 19th century’s most incredible journeys. For contemporary hikers, it’s a chance to connect with the past, emulate erstwhile struggles, and relive an adventure that played out in an age before motor cars and the internet made everything so damned easy.

The trailhead is at Dyea, 9 miles northwest of Skagway and site of a once-rambunctious gold rush town that came and went in the space of just six years (1897–1903). The hike ends at Lake Bennett in BC, Canada, which has a good campground, a railway station and an unusual wooden church dating from 1898. A special "hiker’s train" using the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad leaves Lake Bennett for Skagway four times a week (3:15pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 2:15pm on Saturday). Experiencing the Chilkoot and returning on the train is probably the ultimate Alaska trek, combining great scenery, a historical site and an incredible sense of adventure.

Before starting the trail, all hikers must call in at the Trail Center in Skagway to obtain backpacking permits (adult/child $55/27.45), check out trail conditions and watch a bear safety video.

Parks Canada allows only 50 hikers per day on the trail and holds only eight permits to be handed out each day at the trail center. It is wise to reserve your permits ($11.70 per reservation) in advance through Parks Canada if you intend to walk mid-July to mid-August. Don’t forget your passport.

For transport to the Dyea trailhead, call the reliable Ann Moore at Chilkoot Trail Dyea Transport.

The Kenai River Trail

A half-mile down this trail are wonderful views of the Kenai River Canyon. There are really two trailheads; the main "upper" trail starts at mile 0.6 of Skilak Lake Rd, and the other at mile 2.3.

Turnagain Arm Trail

This mellow 11-mile hike begins at Potter Trailhead (Mile 115). Originally used by Alaska Natives, the trail, with a mountain goat’s view of Turnagain Arm, can also be accessed at points along the way: McHugh Creek (Mile 112), Rainbow (Mile 108) and Windy (Mile 107).

Iditarod National Historic Trail

The National Historic Iditarod Trail is a 24-mile trek used by gold miners and sled-dog teams until 1918 when the Alaska Railroad was finished. It’s a two- to three-day hike through superb mountain scenery to Girdwood (where it's known as the Crow Pass Trail) and is the region’s best backpack adventure.

Pitch a tent at Rapids Camp or Echo Bend (Mile 3), or rent one of two yurts ($65 per night) close by. For a shorter outing, you can turn around at the Perch, a massive rock in the middle of wonderland, then backtrack to the Dew Mound Trail at Echo Bend and loop back to the Nature Center, making this a scenic 8-mile trip.

Reed Lakes Trail

Two alpine lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and towering granite walls: the 7-to-9-mile Reed Lakes Trail is one of the most gorgeous hikes in the region and worth the climb. Once you reach upper Reed Lake, continue 1 mile to Bomber Glacier, where the ruin of a B-29 bomber lies in memorial to six men who perished in a 1957 crash.

Near mile 14 of Hatcher Pass Rd, a road to Archangel Valley splits off from Fishhook–Willow Rd and leads to the Reed Lakes trailhead, a wide road. If you’ve got a 4WD, you can (theoretically) drive the first 3 miles of the Craigie Creek Trail. It’s better, however, to walk the gently climbing old road up a valley and past several abandoned mining operations to the head of the creek. It then becomes a very steep trail for 3 miles to Dogsled Pass, where you can access several wilderness trails into the Talkeetna Mountains.

Lost Lake Trail

This challenging 7-mile trail to an alpine lake is one of the most scenic hikes the Kenai Peninsula has to offer in midsummer. The trailhead is in Lost Lake subdivision, at Mile 5.3 of the Seward Hwy.

Clemens Memorial Cabin is 4.5 miles up the trail (book way ahead). It has amazing views of Resurrection Bay and is also a good winter destination. The final 2 miles are above the treeline, making the shores of Lost Lake a wondrous place to pitch a tent.

If you’d rather not return the same way, continue around the east side of Lost Lake to the Primrose Trail, an 8-mile alpine trek ending at Primrose Landing Campground at Mile 17.2 of the Seward Hwy. Plan on seven to 10 hours for the round-trip to Lost Lake, and bring a camp stove, as wood is hard to come by.

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier Guides gives you the chance to tread upon Seward’s backyard glacier. Its six-hour ice-hiking trip costs $130 per person, gears you up with crampons and ropes, ascends partway up the Harding Ice Field Trail and then heads out onto the glacier for crevasse exploration and interpretive glaciology.

Exit Glacier Guides also offers helicopter tours, hiking tours and a historic downtown tour as well as overnight journeys.

Heney Ridge Trail

Cordova’s most popular trail – as it incorporates multiple ecosystems and is only 5 miles from town – is this fairly easy 3.7-mile (one-way) route beginning by a bridge near the end of the Whitshed Rd.

The first stretch winds around reedy Hartney Bay, followed by a mellow 2-mile climb to the tree line through forests and wildflowers (and, in rainy weather, lots of mud – rubber boots are recommended). It’s another steep mile up to the ridge, where you’ll enjoy a gorgeous view.

Resurrection River Trail

This 16-mile trail accesses a 72-mile trail system connecting Seward and Hope. The continuous trail is broken only by the Sterling Hwy and provides a wonderful wilderness adventure through streams, rivers, lakes, wooded lowlands and alpine areas.

It’s difficult and expensive to maintain, so expect to encounter natural hassles such as downed trees, boggy patches and washed-out sections. Resurrection River Cabin is 7 miles from the trailhead and cannot be reserved.

The southern trailhead is at Mile 8 of Exit Glacier Rd. The northern trailhead joins the Russian Lakes Trail 5 miles from Cooper Lake or 16 miles from the Russian River Campground off the Sterling Hwy. The hike from the Seward Hwy to the Sterling Hwy is a 40-mile trip, including Exit Glacier.

Ugadaga Bay Trail

On the southeast side of Unalaska, this pleasant hike is 2.2 miles one-way along an ancient portage route. More recently, the US military ran communications lines from Unalaska all the way to Seattle, and you’ll see remnants of them in eroded spots. Seal hunters were using the portage as late as the 1960s.

Termination Point

This 5-mile loop starts at the end of Monashka Bay Rd and branches into several trails near Termination Point, a spectacular peninsula that juts out into Narrow Strait. Most hiking is done in a lush Sitka spruce forest. If you’re nervous about your navigational skills, simply hike the coastal half of the loop and then backtrack.

Denali Discovery Hikes

In most national parks in North America, hikers are constantly reminded to stay on marked trails in order to prevent soil erosion, deter damage to flora and fauna, and minimize the risk of getting lost. But Alaska – being Alaska – operates a little differently. Since most national parks in the state don’t have an extensive network of marked trails, visitors are actively encouraged to get off the beaten track and explore the backcountry on their own.

Hiking without a signposted trail can be an intimidating experience to the average city dweller, especially if you’re sharing the domain with bears, moose and various other unseen fauna (not to mention mosquitoes).

The key to successful backcountry travel is being able to use a compass and read a topographic map. Riverbeds are easy to follow and make excellent avenues for the backpacker. Formed by glaciers during the last ice age, the river valleys never fill, though individual braids can get dangerously high and fast and must be forded with caution. Ridges are also good routes to use if the weather isn’t foul.

National Park Service (NPS) rangers lead moderate to strenuous three- to five-hour hikes deep into the heart of the park on a daily basis during summer. The location varies from day to day; you can find the schedule at the Denali Visitor Center or online. Sign up at the center one or two days in advance and then reserve a shuttle ticket at the WAC.

Shuttles leave at 8am. Note that because hiking is off-trail, you must have sturdy footwear and pack rain gear, food and water. Rangers will turn away unprepared hikers. This is an all-day affair; the bus ride to the hiking departure point can take up to four hours, to hike for three to five hours, and then a similar-length bus ride back to the park entrance.

Harding Ice Field Trail

This strenuous and yet extremely popular 4-mile trail (six- to eight-hour round-trip) follows Exit Glacier up to Harding Ice Field. The 700-sq-mile expanse remained undiscovered until the early 1900s when a map-surveying team discovered that eight coastal glaciers flowed from the exact same system.

Today you can rediscover it via a steep, roughly cut and sometimes slippery ascent to 3500ft. Beware of bears; they’re common here. Only experienced glacier-travelers should head onto the ice-field proper.

The trek is well worth it for those with the stamina, as it provides spectacular views of not only the ice field but Exit Glacier and the valley below. The upper section of the route is snow-covered for much of the year; bring a jacket and watch for ice bridges above creeks. Camping up here is a great idea, but the free, tiny public-use cabin at the top is for emergencies only.

Perseverance Trail

The Perseverance Trail, off Basin Rd, is Juneau’s most popular. The trail is a path into Juneau’s mining history and also provides access to two other popular treks: Mt Juneau Trail and Granite Creek Trail. Together the routes can be combined into a rugged 10-hour walk for hardy hikers or an overnight excursion into the mountains surrounding Alaska’s capital city.

To reach Perseverance Trail, head north out of town on Basin Rd, a dirt road that curves away from the city into the mountains as it follows Gold Creek. The trailhead is at the road’s end, at the parking lot for Last Chance Mining Museum. The trail leads into Silverbow Basin, an old mining area that still has many hidden and unmarked adits and mine shafts; be safe and stay on the trail.

From the Perseverance Trail, you can pick up Granite Creek Trail and follow it to the creek’s headwaters basin, a beautiful spot to spend the night. From there, you can reach Mt Juneau by climbing the ridge and staying left of Mt Olds, the huge rocky mountain. Once atop Mt Juneau, you can complete the loop by descending along the Mt Juneau Trail, which joins Perseverance Trail a mile from its beginning.

The hike to the 3576ft peak of Mt Juneau along the ridge from Granite Creek is an easier but longer trek than the ascent from the Mt Juneau Trail. The alpine sections of the ridge are serene, and on a clear summer day, you’ll have outstanding views. From the trailhead for the Perseverance Trail to the upper basin of Granite Creek is 3.3 miles one way. Then it’s another 3 miles along the ridge to reach Mt Juneau.

You may also like:
Top 8 road trips in Alaska
Introducing Alaska’s national parks
Why Alaska's stunning coast is best seen by ferry

This article was originally published on May 13, 2021.

Find your footing in the Last Frontier with these top hikes in Alaska

Music City's honky-tonks, stylish hotels and creative restaurants are widely known these days, but when is a good time to visit Nashville? In reality, there's always something going on in Nashville, and whether you're into country music, craft beer or hot chicken, you'll rarely be disappointed whatever month you decide to visit.

With an energetic music scene, a food scene that always seems to put a fresh spin on comfort food and excellent access to the surrounding region's best attractions, Nashville is always the perfect host. Here’s our guide to help you decide the perfect time to visit.

Fall: September to October

Best time for cooler temperatures and outdoor adventures

During the shoulder season in Nashville, temps are cooler and rain is often on the forecast, but lighter crowds make it a good time to visit the city's museums and live music venues, or dabble in the food scene without fighting over a restaurant reservation. It's also a great time for outdoor adventures – look for fall foliage in the parks or spring blooms at Cheekwood Botanical Garden.

You'll also be able to find affordable accommodation rates and airfare at this time.

Winter: November to March

Best time for budget travelers

Along with dark, cold days, winter visitors will find virtually no crowds. Few attractions close over winter, so you'll be able to hit all the top Nashville experiences like tours at the Ryman Auditorium or Country Music Hall of Fame but have them virtually to yourself (although big shows at the Ryman do sell out well in advance whatever time of year). Heavy snow is rare (the average is 6.1in annually). The seasonal star at this time is Christmas – many attractions add decorations, and special holiday events are held across the city.

With the exception of the holiday season (December to early January), winter travelers can find great deals on rooms and airfare.

Summer: June to August

Best time  for concerts

The summer months bring hot, sunny days and peak tourist season in Nashville. Visitors during this time often escape the oppressive heat by squeezing into the air-conditioned live music venues, or by cooling off at one of the city's top breweries.

Music and food festivals dot the calendar through summer, such as East Nashville's Hot Chicken Fest or Bonnaroo, which is held about 45 minutes south of town in Manchester, Tennessee.

Along with the surge in visitors comes a surge in accommodation prices. High-traffic neighborhoods like Downtown and the Gulch will see high prices for hotels and vacation rentals.

Spring: April to May

Best time to avoid the crowds

Anything goes in terms of weather in the spring in Nashville. Be especially mindful of potentially violent storms that hit the area during this time of year. But when the weather is comfortable spring is a great time for outdoor festivals like the East Nashville Beer Festival and the Full Moon Pickin' Parties. The Rock n' Roll Nashville Marathon takes place in April. Visitors may still be able to nab a deal on airfares and hotels before the summer rush and all those bachelorettes flood the city.

Best free things to do in Nashville

January

The weather can get nippy in January, with average temperatures in the 40s. The social calendar slows down a bit.
Key events: Restaurant Week.

February

Temperatures stay cool, making February a good time to check out mansions and museums.
Key events: Antiques & Garden Show.

March

March is the lull before the festival storm. This may be your last chance to score a lodging deal downtown. Temperatures warm up to the mid-50s and low 60s.
Key events: Tin Pan South.

April

It's festival season in Music City. Concerts, beer and exercise kick things off. Temperatures are pleasant, ranging from the mid-60s to low 70s.
Key events: Cherry-Blossom Festival, East Nashville Beer Festival, Rock 'n Roll Marathon Nashville.

Best neighborhoods in Nashville

May

May is Nashville's rainiest month, but temperatures in the 70s keep things pleasant.
Key events: Full Moon Pickin' Parties, Iroquois Steeplechase, Brew at the Zoo.

June

With the end of the school year and the start of summer, Nashville buzzes with festivals. Book early, and it's OK to grimace at the high-season lodging rates.
Key events: CMA Music Festival, Bonnaroo, Jefferson Street Jazz & Blues Festival, Nashville Pride, Porter Flea Market.

July

With temperatures in the '80s and low 90s, the heat is on in Music City. The festival scene heats up on the 4th of July, with celebrations across town.
Key events: July 4, Hot Chicken Festival, Music City Brewer's Festival, Frist Fridays.

August

Temperatures remain toasty, but festival season parties on.
Key events: Tomato Arts Festival.

September

Kids head back to school, making early fall an agreeable time to visit if you don't like crowds. Temperatures cool, but the weather's still pleasant – an especially nice time to visit the parks or canoe the rivers.
Key events: Tennessee State Fair, Music City Food & Wine Festival, African Street Festival.

October

It's all things Halloween in October, when the countryside fills with pumpkin patches, corn mazes and scary hayrides.
Key events: Southern Festival of Books, Nashville Film Festival.

Best city parks in Nashville

November

Temperatures drop as winter approaches. The festival scene takes a breath early in the month before Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season.
Key events: A Country Christmas, Holiday at Cheekwood.

December

Christmas lights, Nutcracker performances, gingerbread workshops and visits with Santa mark the Christmas season. Ring in the New Year at celebrations across the city on January 31.
Key events: Dickens of a Christmas, Music City Midnight.

You might also like:
Beyond Broadway: exploring the flip side of downtown Nashville
The best Nashville hotels for every travel style
Getting around Nashville

This article was originally published on February 12, 2021.

Why autumn in Nashville always hits the right note 

For such a small country, Wales sure packs in a lot of adventure. Wherever you end up, let the landscape lead the way – whether that means climbing mountains, hiking along the castle-strewn coastline or venturing into underground caverns.

Get trip planning with our roundup of the best things to do in Wales.

Visit a castle

Wales has more castles per square mile than any other European country. Top picks include Unesco-listed Harlech Castle, which overlooks Cardigan Bay from its hilltop perch; fairytale-worthy, forest-shrouded Castell Coch, with its distinctive conical roofs; and Powis Castle, renowned for its elegant gardens.

Summit a mountain

If you haven’t schlepped up a Welsh mountain or two, some would argue you haven’t really been to Wales. The landscape here is as rugged and ridged as a dragon’s back, but even the highest peaks are surprisingly family-friendly, and kids will love searching for mythical dragon lairs, sleeping giants and bottomless haunted lakes. Mt. Snowdon (the country’s tallest at 3560ft) and Pen y Fan are spectacular hikes but can get incredibly busy. Avoid the crowds by heading to the remote Cambrian Mountains. Summiting Pen Pumlumon Fawr (2467ft) is made all the sweeter when you have the place all to yourself.

Head underground

Mining and the industrial revolution transformed the economy and landscape of Wales and are a quintessential part of the country’s heritage. Don a hard hat and descend 300ft below ground at the Unesco-listed Big Pit in Blaenavon to get a taste of what it was like to work there or opt for a less historically accurate experience at Zip World, where you can scramble along via ferrata or bounce on trampolines within the old Llechwedd Slate Caverns.

Eat Welsh food

By all means, try the Welsh classics – such as leek-filled Glamorgan sausages, Welsh cakes and bara brith – but save room for top-notch street food, vegan bakes and an ever-expanding selection of artisanal cheese ( Caws Cenarth makes a superb blue). For a fantastic introduction to Wales’s leading food producers and chefs (among others from around the UK) come in September for Abergavenny Food Festival. Foraging is on the rise too – join a coastal foraging course, scour the hedgerows for tasty weeds on a mindful walk with Wild Pickings, or bottle your own botanical gin with Brecon Beacons Foraging.

Hike the Wales Coast Path

Wales was the first country in the world to launch a trail that covered its entire coastline – and what a trail it is. Spanning 870 miles (1400km), the Wales Coast Path meanders over craggy cliff tops and windswept headlands and is dotted with pristine beaches, seaside towns and ancient castles. Pick a section – Llŷn Peninsula, Anglesey or the Gower are all good places to start – pull on your boots and get walking.

Tour a distillery

Welsh spirits are having a moment. In 2021, gin distillery Aber Falls launched its first whisky and plans to seek Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for the locally made tipple, while Penderyn Distillery opened its second location in Llandudno. Book a distillery tour, try a glass or three at any decent country pub, or make your very own bottle of gin at Hensol Castle in South Wales.

Watch a rugby match with the locals

For many people in Wales, rugby is more than a sport – it’s an expression of Welsh identity. It doesn’t get much better than watching a Six Nations game at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium – which is smack bang in the city center – but even if you can’t get tickets, match day in the capital is an experience in itself.

Go glamping

If the mere suggestion of going camping in Wales makes you think of tramping through wet and miserable weather, don’t panic. The spectrum of Welsh accommodations with a back-to-nature feel has expanded rapidly in recent years, meaning you don’t need to wrestle with a tent pole in the rain unless you want to. Bed down in a geodesic dome complete with onsen-inspired outdoor tub and log burner at Fforest Farm near Cardigan, stay cozy in one of The Secret Yurts with private hot tubs near Welshpool or lounge in a luxury safari tent at NightSky Glamping in Abersoch.

Spend the day at the beach

Wales has 45 Blue Flag (ie exceptionally clean and safe) beaches, as well as countless hidden coves and secluded bays. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park – the UK’s only dedicated coastal national park – has the lion’s share, and Barafundle Bay, Broadhaven South and Whitesands Bay are all absolute stunners. Wherever you go along the coast, you won’t be far from swimmable, surfable and walker-friendly shores.

Ride the Ffestiniog Railway

Sure, it’s a little twee and touristy, but if you’re a lover of steam trains or slow, scenic travel, a journey along the Ffestiniog Railway is a delight. Established in 1836 to transport slate between the quarry and port, it’s now a heritage attraction – and the world’s oldest surviving narrow-gauge railway. You’ll trundle between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog – both part of the newly minted Unesco-listed slate landscapes of North Wales – past rushing rivers, forested hills and soaring peaks. Splash out on a 1st-class observation carriage for the best views.

Experience an eisteddfod

The ultimate celebration of Welsh culture, the National Eisteddfod of Wales is an annual event that sees musicians, poets, dancers, actors and creatives from across Wales come together to perform, compete and share their talents with the nation. The event is conducted through the medium of Welsh, but Welsh learners and non-Welsh speakers are welcome to attend (time to start that Welsh Duolingo course!). There’s also a youth-specific festival held earlier in the year.

Watch wildlife in its natural habitat

Wales’s bounty of unspoiled landscapes provides sanctuary for an abundance of wildlife, especially birds. Keep your eyes peeled for red kites in Mid-Wales (these birds of prey have been brought back from the brink of extinction); spot guillemots and razorbills at Southstack Cliffs RSPB Reserve; or take a boat to Skomer Island, a haven for Manx shearwaters and a colony of breeding puffins between April and August. Porpoises, dolphins and seals can also be spotted year round off the west coast.

Go stargazing

Wales’s rural landscapes offer some of the best stargazing in the UK. Both Brecon Beacons National Park and Snowdonia National Park are designated International Dark Sky Reserves, and privately owned Elan Valley Estate is an International Dark Sky Park, meaning light pollution is at its lowest here. The UK Dark Sky Discovery Partnership also lists many other spots where you’re likely to get stellar views, including the beautiful beaches of Broad Haven South and Poppit Sands in Pembrokeshire.

You might also like:
Best things to do in winter in Wales
Introducing Wales’s epic national parks
Top 10 Instagram hotspots in Wales

Top 13 things to add to your Wales trip itinerary

As spring approaches the southern hemisphere, Argentina is preparing to reopen its borders to international visitors. Following a decrease in coronavirus case numbers, the government has said it will welcome all fully vaccinated visitors from November 1.

Argentina's breathtaking natural landscapes and lively cities have been without tourists for more than a year as authorities continued to extend COVID-19 related restrictions. The current measures are scheduled to last until October 1, before Argentina takes the first step to reopening borders by welcoming fully vaccinated visitors from neighboring countries like Chile and Uruguay first.

Then from November 1, all foreign visitors will be welcome and exempt from quarantine, provided they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. They must present proof of a negative COVD-19 result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel, in addition to taking an antigen test seven days after arrival.

Read more: International tourists can visit Chile starting in October - but many COVID-19 rules still apply

To be considered fully vaccinated, travelers must have received the full recommended course of vaccines. Argentina's health ministry currently recognizes the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Sputnik, Sinopharm and Convidecia jabs. Those who aren't fully vaccinated are also required to take two tests but they must undergo at least a week of quarantine too.

📌A partir del 1 de noviembre se autoriza ingreso de todos los extranjeros. Quienes no presenten esquema de vacunación completo deberán realizar cuarentena, test de antígeno al ingreso, y test de PCR al día 7.
— Carla Vizzotti (@carlavizzotti) September 21, 2021

As officials work "toward the full recovery of activities," there are plans for businesses such as restaurants, cafes, bars, entertainment venues and cultural attractions to return to full capacity. Mass events such as football games and high-risk venues including nightclubs and discos will return at 50% capacity. In addition, face masks will no longer be required when outdoors.

Argentina was hit hard by the pandemic and struggled with vaccine supplies earlier this year. In recent weeks, however, the campaign has gathered momentum with at least 50 million doses administered so far. According to statistics from Our World In Data, at least 46.4% of the population is fully vaccinated. By the time borders open fully in November, officials hope that figure will have climbed to 50%.

Read more: 15 thrilling things to do in Buenos Aires

Because of the severity of restrictions put in place to curb infections, El País reports the average number of daily new cases is steadily decreasing. If you're planning a trip to Argentina, remember that authorities could reimpose, extend or tighten restrictions with little-to-no notice if there is a sudden surge in infection rates.

We will update this article when more information becomes available, including details on the process visitors will follow to present vaccine and testing status at the border. In the meantime, you can stay up-to-date with the latest entry rules and COVID-19 restrictions on the health ministry's website.

You might also like:

When is the best time to go to Argentina?
The best things you can do for free in Buenos Aires

Argentina will open to international visitors from November - here's what tourists need to know

Cards on the table: Edinburgh isn’t a cheap place to eat, drink, or live. Second only to London as the most expensive city in the UK, and officially the most expensive place in the country to grab a pint, the Scottish capital is an easy place to bleed contactless payments if you’re not careful.

However, with a little scheming, Edinburgh opens up to even the most budget-restricted travelers, with a wealth of art galleries, outdoor spaces, community endeavours and charming nooks and crannies ready to be discovered for precisely zero pounds.

Here’s the best things to do in Edinburgh for free.

National Galleries of Scotland

All national museums and art galleries in the UK are free, which makes them a perfect place both to immerse yourself for an entire day or to pop into for an artsy break in between other activities. The Scottish National Gallery is located on the foot of The Mound, the steep hill that separates the medieval Old Town from the neoclassical New Town, and houses an impressive collection of art, including Claude Monet’s Haystacks, Van Gogh’s Olive Trees and John Singer Sargent’s Lady Agnew of Lochnaw.

Its modern counterpart, meanwhile, boasts great art and even better grounds, from sculpted alien parkland by Charles Jencks to a permanent installation by Turner-Prize winning artist Martin Creed that sees “EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT” written in neon across the gallery’s neoclassical façade.

Arthur’s Seat

One of the most iconic features of Edinburgh’s cityscape is the towering mass of extinct volcano, Arthur’s Seat, and the sharp Salisbury Crags that surround it. Sitting at the heart of the city in Holyrood Park, walking to the top takes around 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how hardy your lungs are feeling.

There are also gorgeous, more accessible paths including one at the foot of the hill that passes by the swan-filled St Margaret’s Loch and looks out onto the eerie ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel, and another that goes through the quaint village of Duddingston at the back of Arthur’s Seat.

Calton and Blackford Hill

Arthur’s Seat is everyone’s bucket list climb, but don’t forget that Edinburgh is famously a city of seven hills, many of which are well worth your time. Calton Hill just on the east end of Prince Street takes but a few minutes to scale and has an eclectic collection of historic monuments – including the infamously half-finished National Monument and the Greek temple-esque City Observatory – and experimental art space Collective Gallery at the top.

Meanwhile, Blackford Hill in Morningside in the southwest of the city is surrounded by the Hermitage of Braid nature reserve and affords picturesque views – including of Arthur’s Seat itself.

Independent art galleries

If the city’s national museums feel overwhelming, head to one of the many small, privately owned art galleries for a glimpse of a far more cutting-edge arts scene. Ingleby Gallery in the heart of the New Town stages solo exhibitions of up-and-coming, established, and historically forgotten artists such as Antiguan painter Frank Walter, while Arusha Gallery ’s rotating group and solo exhibitions change almost every month and focus on art with a striking, dreamy aesthetic.

Bookshop crawl around Edinburgh

Edinburgh was famously declared the world’s first City of Literature by Unesco and its wealth of independent bookshops regularly host free events during the summer festival season.

Browsing is, of course, free (depending on your self-control): start in the Southside with radical queer bookshop Lighthouse Books before heading down the hill to second-hand treasure trove Armchair Books and the gorgeously curated Golden Hare Books and women’s writing-only bookshop Rare Bird Books in Stockbridge.

Festivals

The cornucopia of festivals that take over Edinburgh are usually ticketed, but there are lots of free gems buried in their programmes: Edinburgh Festival Fringe has numerous free comedy and theatre performances (notably at The Counting House on West Nicholson Street and The Free Sisters on Cowgate), Edinburgh International Film Festival puts on open air screenings of classic films in St Andrews Square, and exciting newcomers Fringe of Colour offer free performing arts tickets for people of color.

Out of the Blue Drill Hall

Edinburgh may be a large capital city but community spirit still thrives and nowhere more so than in its art scene, which is dedicated to fostering local talent. Out of the Blue Drill Hall is one such community-minded endeavour: half open-access riso print studio, half arts center, the space hosts free exhibitions, zine fairs, and creative classes open to all. There’s also a cosy cafe right in the middle of the warehouse-studio space, making it a perfect stop off while exploring the nearby Leith neighborhood.

Royal Mile

Running between the looming mass of Edinburgh Castle at one end and the stately Palace of Holyroodhouse on the other, this long cobbled street is almost exactly one Scots mile (roughly 200 yards longer than an English mile) in length and one of Edinburgh’s most quintessential streets.

It’s heavily touristed, especially during the August festivals when it turns into a single, almost unnavigable crowd, but it’s charming to wander down in quieter months. Avoid the tartan tat shops and opt to poke your head down the dozens of little closes that branch off the main street and lead to courtyards, including the quaintly manicured Dunbars Close Garden.

Innocent Railway Tunnel & Colinton Dell

For something less traditional, head to either the Colinton Dell or Innocent Railway Tunnel. These two disused railway tunnels have had their abandoned industrial vibes transformed by a rotating display of street art and murals, from intricate portraits to Gaelic graffiti that form a living, ever-changing gallery.

The former is about an hour’s walk from the center while the latter starts in a housing estate next to Arthur’s Seat and is best seen on bike – not only does the sharp incline offer an exhilarating ride, but it leads to cycle paths that wind round the back of Holyrood Park and to the seaside neighborhood of Portobello.

Scottish Parliament Building

A post-modern feat of architecture, the Scottish Parliament Building is currently closed for free guided tours due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but don’t worry, the exterior is the best bit anyway. A palimpsest of Scottish history and culture, the edifice features the Canongate Wall with 24 quotes from local writers inscribed into blocks of Aberdeen granite, and a staircase-like cascade of asymmetrical windows influenced by Henry Raeburn’s painting The Skating Minister (on display in the Scottish National Gallery) across the facade.

Its irregular corners, prodigious use of natural wood and stone, and almost affable accessibility (you can picnic by the ponds right next to the front door) set it far apart from its highly embellished, traditional counterpart in London’s Westminster.

Grassmarket Community Picture House

There are numerous indie cinemas in Edinburgh, but Grassmarket Picture House is the only free one, putting on a programme of old and recent releases mere minutes from the Royal Mile. For more budget-friendly film events, check out local festivals such as Take One Action and Africa in Motion. Many offer a sliding scale, pay-what-you-can model if money is tight.

Gorgie City Farm

An adorable alternative to an Edinburgh Zoo ticket, which can set you back a small fortune, Gorgie City Farm is but a 15-minute walk from the west end of Princes Street. Thanks to the local community who have rallied around to save it, this city favorite has survived the specter of closure many times. It’s a lovely way to reconnect with nature – pigs, goats, guinea pigs, you name it – right in Edinburgh’s urban center.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a very green city, with sprawling parks punctuating even the most populous parts of the center, from the flat expanse of The Meadows to the carefully cultivated flower beds of Princes Street Gardens. The most impressive public park, however, is the city’s Botanic Garden, found in the village-like neighborhood of Stockbridge.

The greenhouses are ticketed but the grounds are free: head to the towering 25ft (7.6m) hedges – especially striking when dressed in autumn foliage – that trace the edges of the floral herbaceous border. Don’t miss one of the world’s largest collections of rhododendrons either. They bloom in luscious clusters of pink, red and white in spring.

Fruitmarket

Fresh from a multi-million pound renovation, Fruitmarket ’s exhibition space is looking extra shiny, but the cherry on its sundae is the new industrial gallery located in the former home of beloved Edinburgh club Electric Circus. As well as culturally pioneering exhibitions, the gallery functions as an arts hub for nurturing creativity. The website has details of workshops, poetry nights and art fairs.

Walk through the city

When in doubt, wander around – join a free walking tour or just explore yourself. Edinburgh is split into numerous distinct and tightly contained neighborhoods (some only a few streets wide). Check out the artsy, multicultural stretch of Leith Walk or the fairy-tale charm of Dean Village, and walk the Water of Leith river between them. In the other direction, the Water of Leith joins up with the Union Canal, a long stretch of water that starts in central Edinburgh and snakes through countryside and suburbia and along aqueducts all the way to Falkirk.

This article was first published 23 August 2012.

You might also like:
What to see in Edinburgh's best parks and open spaces
17 best things to do in Edinburgh - Scotland's lively capital city
The best beaches near Edinburgh for hiking, birding and wild camping

All Stories

The best things to do in Hawaii you probably didn't know about

See the best of the Mighty Five on these best hikes in Utah

Orient yourself in New Orleans by exploring its best neighborhoods

Go easy on your wallet with these 10 free things to do in Baltimore

Find your footing in the Last Frontier with these top hikes in Alaska

Why autumn in Nashville always hits the right note

Top 13 things to add to your Wales trip itinerary

Argentina will open to international visitors from November - here's what tourists need to know

Budget Edinburgh: the best things to do for free in Scotland's capital

Featured in Best in Travel 2021

Berlin

Germany

City

County Clare

Ireland

Region

Costa Rica

Central America

Country

Faroe Islands

Europe

Region