Visitors setting out to explore Seattle should think of the city as a United States of Neighborhoods or – to put it in more human terms – a family consisting of affectionate but sometimes errant members.

There’s the aloof, elegant one (Queen Anne), the social butterfly (Capitol Hill), the artistic, bearded one (Fremont), the effortlessly cool one (Ballard), the grizzled old patriarch (Pioneer Square), the precocious adolescent still carving out its identity (South Lake Union) and the one who lives out of town (West Seattle). You’ll never fully understand Seattle until you’ve spent a bit of time with them all. Here's where to start:

Ballard

A former seafaring community with Nordic heritage, Ballard still feels like a small town engulfed by a bigger city. However, that's not to say it's lacking in attractions. The neighborhood has come into its own as one of the city's best locales for exciting restaurants, lively bars and killer shopping.

The commercial heart of Ballard stretches out on either side of NW Market St between roughly 14th Ave NW and 32nd Ave NW, which is lined with an expanding selection of eateries, shops, and nightlife, though some local faves like pizza joint Delancy and its sibling bar Essex spill outside those lines. You can find everything from American comfort classics to fresh seafood at The Walrus and the Carpenter to Oaxacan cuisine and Lebanese treats at The Golden Beetle.

These blocks closer to the water contain many of the neighborhood's most charming historic buildings, now home to a bevy of modern offerings, including some of the best shopping in the city. The neighborhood's far west side is bordered by the Puget Sound and has staggering views of the water and Olympic Peninsula to match.

On the southwestern edge you'll find the historic Hiram M Chittenden Locks, from where you can continue south over the water to the hiking trails of Discovery Park. Don't miss the unconnected western section of the recreational Burke-Gilman Trail that stretches from Hiram M Chittenden Locks out to Golden Gardens Park (1.75 miles) and takes in a different, quieter side of Ballard that faces the open Sound.

Capitol Hill

To decipher Seattle's most diverse, fashionable and consciously cool neighborhood it's useful to understand a little of its geography. There are three main commercial strips worth exploring in Capitol Hill – Broadway (the main drag), 15th Ave and the ultra-cultural Pike–Pine corridor – all of which are refreshingly walkable (if you don't mind hills).

Geographically the strips are gelled together by Capitol Hill's residential grid, a mixture of apartment complexes, large grandiose houses and the green expanse of Volunteer Park. This weird but never caustic juxtaposition of chic and scruffy is one of the neighborhood's biggest allures.

If you're walking up from downtown crossing I-5 on E Pine St, you'll enter the neighborhood close to Melrose Market at the western end of the Pike–Pine corridor. This stretch of aging brick warehouses and former 1950s car dealerships made over into gay bars, live-music clubs, coffeehouses, record stores and fashionable restaurants is Seattle's nightlife central.

Running perpendicular to Pike–Pine is Capitol Hill's main commercial street, Broadway, while several blocks east is the quieter business district of 15th Ave E. This is where some of the city’s wealthiest residents live in the grand old mansions that embellish tree-lined streets such as 14th Ave (aka Millionaires Row). Gawp at the opulence as you make your way up to Capitol Hill's peak, Volunteer Park, home to the Seattle Asian Art Museum, a conservatory and a water tower.

More genteel First Hill is best accessed from the bottom of Pike–Pine or by the streetcar line that bears the neighborhood's name.

Fremont

Weirder than Ballard and more self-deprecating than Capitol Hill, Fremont's essential business is its public sculpture. Most of its outlandish statues and monuments lie clustered around a few square blocks on the southern edge of the neighborhood close to the bridge, roughly between the water and NW 36th Street, stretching to Aurora Avenue North and Phinney Avenue North. Here you'll also find the bulk of the notable eating places, offbeat boutiques and Fremont's best situated hotel.

Fremont's a great neighborhood for getting a taste for local life, especially in summer, when festivals and regular outdoor movies send the locals positively delirious. With good bus connections and a bike-friendly intra-urban trail, it can easily be incorporated with visits to the adjacent neighborhoods of Ballard and Wallingford.

Belltown and Seattle Center

Where industry once roared, glassy condos now rise in the thin, walkable strip that is Belltown. The neighborhood gained a reputation for trend-setting nightlife (read: grunge) in the 1990s, but these days it’s more renowned for its 100-plus restaurants.

Capitol Hillers might disagree, but Belltown's main nightlife zone (1st and 2nd Avenues between Blanchard and Battery Streets) is the best place in the city to string together a bar-hopping evening out. A few of the grunge-era landmarks are still in business, but these days distorted guitars compete with the chatter of the cocktail crowd. Whatever your fashion affiliations, Belltown's after-dark scene is hip and noisy and rarely stands still.

Belltown is also near the Seattle Center, home of the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and former site of the legendary 1962 World's Fair. Today the green lawns and fountains attract, in equal measure, gawking tourists and families looking for a retreat from the bustle of downtown.

Entertainment-wise, the Seattle Center offers plenty of sit-down plays, concerts and films. The McCaw Hall is home of the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet, plus there's a cinema, a children's theater and a regional theater in the complex. It's also a fun place to just hang out, especially in summer when alfresco events and street performers take over.

Pioneer Square, International District, and SoDo

Browsing the Pioneer Square Historical District is rather like visiting a movie set of early 20th-century Seattle, except that the food and the shopping are better. This is the birthplace of Seattle, and the red-brick district of historical buildings, antique shops and musty bars is still a real crossroads of the modern city.

Some visitors arrive by long-distance bus or train at King Street Station, a good place to get oriented due to its proximity to a trio of local squares. A few blocks west of the station is Pioneer Square Park, an architectural showpiece, and neighboring Occidental Park was recently given a beautiful face-lift. Just off Occidental Square, Zeitgeist will brew your first (and possibly best) Seattle coffee. Take time to wander the streets afterward to admire the handsome architecture.

To the east of King Street Station is the International District (ID) – Seattle’s de-facto Chinatown. The "international" moniker has some merit: while predominantly Chinese, there is a strong Vietnamese presence and a few reminders of the city's Japantown, which has never recaptured its pre-WWII vibrancy after its citizens were detained in internment camps during the war.

The ID is perfect hunting ground for cheap food: dim sum and Vietnamese phở predominate. You'll also find the Wing Luke Asian Museum and the delectable Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House. Hidden treasures include everything from a massive Japanese department store to a pinball museum.

Access spread-out SoDo by strolling south on 1st Avenue South. Beyond its two sports stadiums you'll stumble upon rugged bars, weed dispensaries, a whiskey distillery and a little-known computer museum.

Queen Anne and Lake Union

At some point during your Seattle sightseeing sojourn, you'll want to exit the tourist-heavy Seattle Center and be deposited on one of the busy thoroughfares of Lower Queen Anne, a lived-in urban locale good for a cheap meal or an eye-widening dose of Seattle coffee culture. To get a view of a posher side of the neighborhood, take a steep hike (or jump on a bus) up Queen Anne Ave N, aka "the Counterbalance" to a markedly different neck of the woods.

Georgetown and West Seattle

Located south of downtown and its industrial extension, SoDo, the neighborhoods of Georgetown and West Seattle feel detached from the center by the glassy expanse of Elliott Bay and SoDo's utilitarian warehouses. Since transportation connections to downtown are better than those between the neighborhoods, they're often visited separately. Georgetown can be incorporated with a visit to the Museum of Flight, while West Seattle works as a summer-weekend beach getaway courtesy of sandy Alki Beach.

Spread over a hilly peninsula, the neighborhood spins on two hubs: the de-facto downtown called "the Junction" at the intersection of California Ave SW and SW Alaska St (whose indie record store, one-in-a-million bakery and smattering of great restaurants make worth the visit), and the aforementioned famous beach and its promenade. Free shuttles from the water-taxi dock connect with both.

The U District

Head east off I-5 north of Lake Union and suddenly you'll feel as if you're no longer in Seattle. The U District, named for "U Dub" (what locals call the University of Washington, or UW), feels like its own little college town. Just like you, most of the people here are visitors – they're merely staying a bit longer (several semesters or more).

Nearly everyone gets oriented in the U District on "the Ave" (University Way, roughly between 40th and 50th Sts), an atmospheric main drag full of tiny cheap eateries, thrift stores, record stores, secondhand bookstores, tattoo parlors, bars, and coffee shops full of deadline-chasing, laptop-gazing students. Read fly-posters on lampposts, eavesdrop on conversations in coffee bars and follow the action on the Ave and you'll soon feel 23 again (if you aren't already).

The number of cheap places to eat, especially Indian and southeast Asian cuisines, makes the Ave the best place to find an inexpensive meal. If you want to head inside, lose yourself in the cavernous University Book Store, which takes up an entire city block.

Reserve a sunny day to explore the adjacent UW campus, a veritable arboretum/architectural showcase with a couple of top-notch museums focusing on art and natural history. The campus is made for people-watching (or, more specifically, student-watching) and you can enter many of the buildings unannounced, including the Suzzallo Library and the Hub (student union).

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With its golden sands and azure waters, Indonesia looks so good you just want to dive right in. But book your dream trip to the country in the wrong month and you may find yourself being greeted by monsoons or energy-sapping humidity. Thankfully any travel mishaps can be easily avoided with a touch of forward planning.

Whether you’re dreaming of hitting the beach in Bali, seeing orang-utans in Borneo or diving off the coast of the Maluku Islands, here’s our guide to the best time to visit Indonesia.

High season: July-August

July and August are dry season for most of the country, except for diving hotspots Maluku and Papua, where it is rainy. The days are perfect for beach lounging, and as a result, tourist numbers surge. Room rates can spike by up to 50%.

Despite the additional crowds and costs, country-wide celebrations around Independence Day and the spectacular canoe races in South Sumatra (both in August), coupled with the great weather, makes this an inviting time to travel.

Shoulder season: May-Jun and September

Shoulder season sees the best weather in Java, Bali and Lombok, where it’s dry but not so humid. Despite this, crowds are not as thick as during July and August. Maluku and Papua are still wet.

September brings dry weather to Kalimantan (the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo), making it perfect for orang-utan spotting (the apes are harder to find during the rainy months). Likewise,  it’s also a good time to spot orang-utans in northern Sumatra, with less rain and daily temperatures that aren't too hot for hiking.

Low season: October-April

Low season brings rains to Java, Bali and Lombok. Because tourist crowds are thinner you’ll find good deals on accommodation and you can travel with little advance booking (except at Christmas and New Year, where tourist numbers shoot up for a couple of weeks).

The exception is Maluku and Papua, which has its dry season from October-April; meaning it’s prime time for diving.

January

The near-perfect temperatures in Bali draw many Australians for Christmas and New Year holidays (who are happy to contend with the occasional prolonged downpour). Europeans searching for warmth also arrive in large numbers. The city of Yogyakarta starts the year with a bang, hosting Gerebeg, one of Java’s most colourful festivals, with huge numbers of people in traditional dress march in processions with eye-catching floats. Gerebeg festivals also happen in the city at the end of April and the beginning of November.
Key events : Gerebeg

February

It's the dry season in the east. This is a good time to hit dive and snorkel sites in Maluku and Papua, where the waters will be especially clear. Nusa Tenggara 's biggest festival, Pasola, takes place in February, with vividly dressed teams of horsemen engaging in mock, though sometimes bloody, battles in West Sumba. The event often coincides with Nyale in Lombok, a huge fishing festival celebrated by the Sasaks.
Key events : Pasola, Nyale

March

The rainy season is tailing off in Java, Bali and western Nusa Tenggara, and this is a good time to visit Indonesia as crowds are few and travel options are many. An additional (and somewhat surprising) March draw is Java Jazz, a huge jazz festival at the Jakarta Convention Center that attracts acclaimed international artists. This is a major event on the cultural calendar and each year the number of luminaries on the performance list grows.
Key events : Java Jazz

April

In April the dry season is beginning in Bali, and the rain has mostly stopped on Java as well. As the rains stop, Bali’s major Hindu festival, Nyepi, celebrates a new year on the religious calendar. The night before sees community celebrations with ogoh-ogoh, huge papier-mâché monsters that go up in flames. The festival sometimes takes place in late March. April also marks the start of surf season, which generally runs from April through to October (though swells vary by region).
Key events : Nyepi

May

The weather in Java and Bali is ideal, but in the eastern parts of the Indonesian archipelago the rainy season is set to start. A key festival for Indonesia's Buddhists, Waisak commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Gautama Buddha. Thousands of monks and worshippers gather at Java's Borobudur temple complex on the first full moon of May.
Key events : Waisak

June

A relaxed time in Indonesia that sees few crowds anywhere. June tends to be very hot around much of the archipelago, but the dry season is just around the corner. A highlight of Papua 's north, the Danau Sentani festival, centred on lakeside Kalkhote, near Sentani, features spectacular traditional dances and chanting as well as boat events, music, crafts and more.
Key events : Danau Sentani

July

Visitor numbers are high in Bali and other areas popular with tourists. July is often the coolest and driest time of the year outside Maluku and Papua, where it is the rainy season.

August

Independence Day on 17 August sees parades and celebrations in Jakarta and across the country. You'll see school kids practising their marching in the prior weeks. Bali gets busy with Australians escaping the southern-hemisphere winter. An additional reason for an August visit to Indonesia are the spectacular bidar (canoe) races, held on South Sumatra's Sungai Musi in Palembang every 17 August and 16 June (the city's birthday). There is also a dragon-boat festival in Padang in July or August. Up to 60 rowers power these boats.
Key events : Bidar Races

September

The driest month of the year on Kalimantan and so perfect for orang-utan spotting (the apes don't like the rain and often hide away in the monsoon season).

October

A good month for travel with few crowds and many good deals. It's the start of rainy season in Java and Bali, but the end of it in Maluku and Papua. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival brings scores of literary types to Ubud each October. Its reputation grows each year.
Key events : Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

November

It's the rainy season across western Indonesia. But it's perfect weather in Maluku and Papua, and the diving is spectacular in those regions at this time of year.

December

Popular tourist areas are very busy from the week before Christmas through New Year's. It's prime time for diving in areas such as Maluku's Banda Islands.

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When to go to Indonesia

Stunning hikes in the summer, white powder getaways in the winter and cultural festivals year-round means New Zealand is always ready to play host. The land of inspiring Māori culture and truly breathtaking landscapes is hard to reach for some, but no matter when you visit, there's always a Kiwi adventure to experience.

Here's our guide to the best time to visit New Zealand.

High Season: December to February

Best time for outdoor activities

Summer brings busy beaches, gorgeous hiking weather, cricket matches and loads of festivals like Rhythm & Vines, Art-Deco and Fringe. The large crowds mean you’ll have to move fast. Book ahead because accommodation prices are at their highest.

Shoulder Season: March to May

Best time for outdoor festivals

Expect cooler, but pleasant weather, autumn colors, warmish ocean and long evenings. Fewer crowds mean shorter lines and popular road-trip routes like Auckland to the North are clear, particularly after Easter. Popular events during this time include Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, the Jazz National, WOMAD and Bluff Oyster & Food Festival.

Low Season: June to August

Best time for budget travel

Though warm weather beach towns will be half asleep, ski towns are thriving with lots of skiing and snowboarding to enjoy. So depending on where you head, you will either be in the thick of the action (and crowds) or nabbing some deals at the warm weather regions. Both instances will require booking accommodation ahead of time.

January

With perfect weather and the cricket season in full swing, it's holiday time for the locals.
Key events: Festival of Lights, Bread & Circus Festival, Auckland Folk Festival.

February

NZ kids are back at school and the “sauv blanc” is chillin' in the fridge; this is high summer. There is no shortage of festivals and sporting events to choose from.
Key events: Hamilton Sevens, Waitangi Day, Marlborough Wine & Food Festival, New Zealand Festival of Arts, Fringe, Art Deco Weekend, Splore, Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival.

March

A hint of autumn and harvest time in the vineyards and orchards. Celebrate Māori culture at the Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival.
Key events: Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, Artists Open Studios, Wildfoods Festival, WOMAD, Pasifika Festival Auckland City Limits.

New Zealand's most scenic day hikes

April

The ocean is still swimmable and the weather still mild, with nary a long line in sight.
Key events : National Jazz Festival, Clyde Wine & Food Festival.

May

Chilly winter beckons, but that doesn't stop the festivals.
Key events: Bluff Oyster & Food Festival, New Zealand International Comedy Festival.

June

It's ski season! Queenstown and Wānaka come to life in winter.
Key events: Matariki, New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards, LUMA Southern Light Project.

July

Ski season reaches its peak with Queenstown's Winter Festival. If you want to avoid crowds, hit Mt Ruapehu on the North Island.
Key events: Queenstown Winter Festival, New Zealand International Film Festival, Russell Birdman.

August

Land a good deal on accommodation pretty much anywhere except ski towns.
Key events: Taranaki International Arts Festival, Bay of Islands Jazz & Blues Festival, Beervana.

September

Spring is sprung. The amazing and surprising World of WearableArt is always a hit.
Key events: Auckland on Water Boat Show, World of WearableArt (WOW).

October

Post-rugby and pre-cricket, sports fans twiddle their thumbs: a trip to Kaikōura, perhaps? Around the rest of NZ, October is “shoulder season” – reasonable accommodation rates, minimal crowds and no competition for the best campsites.
Key events: Nelson Arts Festival, Kaikoura Seafest.

November

Across Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast, NZ's iconic pohutukawa trees bloom, the weather picks up and tourists start to arrive.
Key events: Toast Martinborough, Oamaru Victorian Heritage Celebrations, NZ Tattoo & Art Festival, Highlands 101, Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.

December

Summertime! Office workers surge towards the finish line. Everyone gears up for Christmas and shopping centers are packed out.
Key event: Rhythm & Vines.

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American visitors who have been vaccinated may get to enjoy France's culture, gastronomy and natural assets this summer as the country works on plans to reopen tourism.

President Emmanuel Macron said that the country's lockdown should start easing from early May, and officials from the French government and the White House are finalizing the technical discussions around granting a "special pass" to allow US citzens to enter. Speaking to " Face the Nation" on CBS News, he said that they are working hard to propose concrete solutions for travelers who have been vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19. However, more details about how a "special pass" would work were not revealed.

France is currently undergoing a third national lockdown, but it is hoped that every adult will receive at least one dose of a vaccine before the end of the summer. While there are curfews and closures of nonessential businesses, Macron hopes to progressively lift the restrictions from the beginning of May. The EU currently has a "traffic light" system in place, and US travelers are currently not permitted to enter many countries for nonessential reasons.

However, the European Commission has outlined its plan for a certificate or pass showing that the holder has received the vaccine, recently tested negative for or recovered from the virus in the previous 180 days. Macron has indicated that the "special pass" might be part of the European certificate.

France consistently ranked as one of the world's most-visited countries before the pandemic, however tourist numbers plummeted during the past year. Some European countries that rely heavily on tourism are also looking at ways to reopen this summer to vaccinated Americans, like Greece, which began welcoming back some visitors this month.

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Alaska encompasses many realities, from packed neighborhoods in Anchorage to small villages with no connecting roads to the outside world. Although much of Alaska remains largely inaccessible to the average traveler, there are plenty of excellent sights and experiences within range of road and ferry, as well as other tourist infrastructure.

Many visitors arrive to Southeast Alaska on a cruise or the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry, fly into Anchorage and explore the Kenai Peninsula or head up to visit Denali National Park. A smaller number fly to remote streams and lodges for salmon fishing, bear-watching or simply an epic river float. Here's how to get around in Alaska.

Plane

Scheduled flights are cheaper than charter flights, and Alaska Airlines serves a surprisingly comprehensive list of destinations. The rest is picked up by several smaller airlines, including Alaska Seaplanes, PenAir, Ravn Alaska and Taquan Air.

With 75% of the state inaccessible by road, small, single-engine planes known as "bush planes" are the backbone of intrastate transport. They carry residents and supplies to desolate areas of the Bush, take anglers to some of the best fishing spots in the country and drop off backpackers in the middle of untouched wilderness.

In the larger cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan, it pays to compare prices before chartering a plane. In most small towns and villages you’ll be lucky if there’s a choice.

Bush aircraft include floatplanes, which land and take off on water, and beachlanders with oversized tires that can use rough gravel shorelines as air strips. Fares vary with the type of plane, its size, the number of passengers and the amount of flying time. On average, chartering a Cessna 185 that can carry three passengers and a limited amount of gear will cost up to $500 for an hour of flying time. A Cessna 206, a slightly larger plane that will hold four passengers, costs up to $550, while a Beaver, capable of hauling five passengers with gear, costs in the vicinity of $600 an hour. When chartering a plane to drop you off in the wilderness, you must pay for both the air time to your drop-off point and for the return to the departure point.

Tips for flying on a bush plane: Double-check all pickup times and places when flying to a wilderness area. If you’re not at the designated pick-up spot when the pilot flies over, they usually return to base, call the authorities and still charge you for the flight. Always schedule extra days around a charter flight. It’s not uncommon to be "socked in" by weather for a day or two until a plane can fly in to get you. Don’t panic: they know you’re there.

Boat

With a tightly packed jumble of islands and landscape-molding glaciers sliding down mountainsides to kiss the ocean, Alaska's waterways hold an obvious allure. And with many of Alaska's ports and cities not accessible by road, you've got another reason to eschew terra firma and take to the high seas.

The Alaska Marine Highway

The Alaska Marine Highway ferry calls at 35 ports across 3500 miles of coastline from Bellingham, Washington, to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutians. There are nine regular vessels serving four main regions: the southeast (Ketchikan up to Skagway), the Cross-Gulf Route (Juneau to Whittier), Southcentral Alaska (Prince William Sound, the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak) and the Southwest (the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands).

In some cities – namely Juneau, Sitka and Haines – the ferry terminal is located several miles outside town, necessitating a bus/taxi transfer.

The Southeast is also served by the Inter-Island Ferry Authority, which connects Ketchikan with Prince of Wales Island; and Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry, linking Skagway and Haines.

Cruising in Alaska

Alaskan cruises allow people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to glimpse into a vast natural wilderness once only accessible to hard-nosed adventurers and travelers with piles of money and equipment. On top of this, it enables ordinary people to do it with a high degree of comfort and convenience. Trips that once took 19th-century gold-rush pioneers months, if not years, can now be shoehorned into a manageable two- to three-week itinerary taking in hundreds of miles of coastline.

On standard cruises, you’ll disembark at a port most days for anywhere from four to eight hours, where you can bop around town, take in a hike or an excursion, or even a longer trip inland to places such as Denali National Park, Talkeetna or Eagle. On the smaller cruise lines, there will be more wildlife excursions and more stops.

Some of the world's largest cruise-line companies ply the waters of Alaska, including Princess, Norwegian and Holland America. Most large cruises stop only in the major ports of call, and generally start from Vancouver or Seattle. Costs for Alaskan cruises average around $120 a night (per person), but that does not include your flight to the port of embarkation. You can save good money (sometimes as much as 50%) by hopping on a "repositioning" cruise, which takes the boat back to its home port.

Just 3% of Alaska cruisers take a small-ship voyage. While you’ll have tighter quarters, bumpier seas and fewer entertainment options than on the big boys, these vessels offer better chances of seeing wildlife. There will also be more land and kayak excursions, onboard naturalists (most of the time), good food, a more casual atmosphere (you can leave that blue sports coat at the office where it belongs) and a more intimate portrait of Alaska.

These boats sleep anywhere from 12 to 100 and are more likely to depart from within Alaska. While this is probably your best bet if you are looking to match comfort with quality and authentic experience, it does come with a steeper price tag: anywhere from $400 to $1200 a night.

Tips for cruise travel: Check the small print about what's included in the price before you commit. Unless you're on a luxury cruise, you'll likely be paying extra for alcoholic beverages, shore excursions and tips. Then there's the spa, casino, gift shop and so on.

Bicycle

For those who want to bike it, Alaska offers a variety of cycling adventures on paved roads under the Arctic sun that allows you to peddle until midnight if you want. A bicycle can be carried on Alaska Marine Highway ferries for an additional fee and is a great way to explore small towns without renting a car.

Most road cyclists avoid gravel, but cycling the Alcan (an increasingly popular trip) does involve riding over some gravel breaks in the paved asphalt. Mountain bikers, on the other hand, are in heaven on gravel roads such as the Denali Highway in the Interior.

If you arrive in Alaska without a bicycle, some towns have rentals; expect to pay $30 to $50 a day. You can take your bicycle on the airlines for an excess luggage fee. Alaska Airlines charges $100.

Anchorage’s Arctic Bicycle Club is Alaska’s largest bicycle club and sponsors a variety of road-bike and mountain-bike tours during the summer. Its website includes a list of Alaska cycle shops. Other bicycle groups: Bike Anchorage, Fairbanks Cycle Club and Juneau Rides.

Bus

While there is no statewide bus network, and no Greyhound, various shuttle buses (usually 12-seater vans) cover most of Alaska's main highways in the summer, though they don't always run daily. Check online for schedules and prices and book in advance.

Car, motorcycle and motorhome

Not a lot of roads reach a lot of Alaska but what asphalt there is leads to some seriously spectacular scenery. That’s the best reason to tour the state in a car, motorhome or motorcycle, whether you arrive with your own or rent one.

AAA, the most widespread automobile association in the USA, has one office in Alaska, Anchorage Service Center, which offers the usual, including maps, discounts and emergency road service.

For two or more people, car rental is an affordable way to travel, far less expensive than taking a bus or a train. It is almost always cheaper to rent in town rather than at the airport because of extra taxes levied on airport rentals.

In cities and most mid-size towns there will be taxi service.

RVers flock to the land of the midnight sun in astounding numbers. This is the reason why more than a dozen companies, almost all of them based in Anchorage, will rent you a motorhome. Renting a recreational vehicle is so popular you have to reserve them four to five months in advance. Popular choices for these rentals include ABC Motorhomes, Clippership Motorhome Rentals and Great Alaskan Holidays.

Tips for traveling by car: Along heavily traveled roads, most towns will have a car mechanic, though you might have to wait a day for a part to come up from Anchorage. In some small towns, you might be out of luck. For anybody driving to and around Alaska, a full-size spare tire and replacement belts are a must.

Read any rental contract carefully, especially details on driving on gravel or dirt roads. Many agencies, particularly those in the Fairbanks area, will not allow their compacts on dirt roads. If you violate the contract and have an accident, insurance will not cover repairs.

For road conditions, closures and other travel advisories for the Alaska highway system, even while you’re driving, contact the state’s Alaska511.

Train

It took eight years to build it, but today the Alaska Railroad stretches 470 miles from Seward to Fairbanks through spectacular scenery. You’ll save more money traveling by bus down the George Parks Highway, but few travelers regret booking the Alaska Railroad and viewing the pristine wilderness from its comfortable cars.

The Alaska Railroad operates a year-round service between Fairbanks and Anchorage, as well as summer services (from late May to mid-September) from Anchorage to Whittier and from Anchorage to Seward.

The most popular run is the 336-mile trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks, stopping at Denali National Park. Northbound, at Mile 279, the train passes within 46 miles of Denali, a stunning sight from the viewing domes on a clear day. It then slows down to cross the 918ft bridge over Hurricane Gulch.

The ride between Anchorage and Seward may be one of the most spectacular train trips in the world. From Anchorage, the 114-mile trip begins by skirting the 60-mile-long Turnagain Arm on Cook Inlet and then swings south, climbs over mountain passes, spans deep river gorges and comes within half a mile of three glaciers.

The Anchorage–Whittier service, which includes a stop in Girdwood and passes through two long tunnels, turns Whittier into a fun day trip. So does riding Alaska Railroad’s Hurricane Turn, one of America’s last flagstop trains, which departs from Talkeetna.

You can reserve a seat and purchase tickets online; this is highly recommended for the Anchorage–Denali service in July and early August.

The White Pass & Yukon Railroad was built during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, and it's still possible to travel it from Skagway to Carcross in the Yukon and complete the journey to Whitehorse by bus. The trip is classed as a "tour," with a guide giving interesting commentary. Reservations are highly recommended at any time during the summer.

Accessible travel in Alaska

Thanks to the American Disabilities Act, many state and federal parks have installed wheelchair-accessible sites and restrooms in their campgrounds. You can call the Alaska Public Lands Information Center to receive a map and campground guide to such facilities. The Alaska Marine Highway ferries, the Alaska Railroad and many bus services and cruise ships are also equipped with wheelchair lifts and ramps to make their facilities easier to access. Chain motels and large hotels in cities and towns often have rooms set up for guests with disabilities, while some wilderness guiding companies are experienced in handling clients who are wheelchair-bound on rafting and kayaking expeditions.

Access Alaska includes statewide tourist information on accessible services and sites and Challenge Alaska is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing recreation opportunities for those with disabilities. You can also download Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel guides for more information.

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How to travel around Alaska

Spread along the sparkling blue Adriatic Sea, Croatia constantly claws at travelers’ wanderlust with its pebbly coves, rolling green hills and historic yet vibrant cities, which play host to festivals and events throughout the year. So, of course, you want to visit, but when is the best time to go?

Whether you’re looking to slump down on the beach or enjoy the action at one of the country’s famous wine festivals, keep things cheap or avoid the tourist crowds, here’s our guide to the best time to visit Croatia.

High season: July and August

Croatia’s high season in July and August offers guaranteed sun but also guaranteed crowds, due, in part, to European schools being on summer break. Accommodation prices are also at their highest during this peak period.

July and August is also prime festival season, bringing added incentive for a visit. Dubrovnik and Split both host summer festivals with concerts and theatre staged around town, and Krk ’s eponymous fair includes medieval costumes and stalls selling traditional handicrafts.

Shoulder season: May-June and September

Shoulder season is a great time to visit the coast: the Adriatic is warm enough for swimming, the crowds are sparser and prices are lower. In spring and early summer, the maestral (strong, steady westerly wind) makes for great sailing.

Low season: October-April

Winters in Croatia are cold and ferry schedules are vastly reduced. However, crowds are very thin and accommodation prices low, and October and April offer a chance of good weather (if you time it right!).

Christmas brings a buzz to Zagreb 's streets with its winter market, even with the snow. There’s also skiing from December to February at Sljeme a short distance from the town.

January

As the country goes back to work after the holidays, snow makes inland roads difficult to tackle, while strong winds on the coast and islands limit the ferry schedule. This is one of the least popular months for tourism, though skiers may be tempted by the downhill slopes right outside Zagreb at Sljeme (the main peak of Mt Medvednica), and culture vultures may be drawn to the Night of Museums event, which sees dozens of museums and galleries around the country throw open their doors to the public on the last Friday in January.
Key events : Night of Museums

February

Enjoy scenic snowy hikes in continental Croatia but still be mindful on the roads. Bura (cold northeasterly) winds blow along the Adriatic, ferries run infrequently and many hotels in coastal towns shut down. If you enjoy a party though, February may appeal, with pre-Lent Carnival celebrations bringing colorful costumes and revelry to towns like Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik and Samobor. The Feast of St Blaise, honoring Dubrovnik’s patron saint, also brings dancing and fun to the streets of the city at the very start of the month.
Key events : Carnival, Feast of St Blaise

March

Days start to get longer and temperatures begin to rise, especially at the seaside. As winter ice melts, it’s a great time to catch the waterfalls in Plitvice and Krka. Most action is still indoors, but hefty discounts on accommodation make March a more tempting prospect. The annual documentary festival Zagrebdox starts in late February and continues into March, bringing a buzz to the city of Zagreb.
Key events : Zagrebdox

April

April is a great month to visit Croatia for those serious about avoiding the tourist crowds (it’s the last month of low season), but still hoping for pleasant weather. April brings days of glorious sun (especially towards the end of the month), but also rain and chilly temperatures; an unpredictability that keeps visitor numbers low. Trees also start to blossom during April, making the countryside picturesque, and, as rivers swell with water, it’s a great time for rafting and kayaking. Hvar ’s 500-year-old Holy Week events, including the all-night-long Following the Cross procession, which is inscribed on the Unesco Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, adds extra incentive for an April visit.
Key events : Holy Week

May

May marks the beginning of shoulder season in Croatia. It’s sunny and warm on the coast, and you can take a dip in the sea. Hotels are cheaper, too, and crowds have yet to arrive in earnest. Cafe life in Zagreb and Split kicks into full gear. If that wasn’t enough, May is bookended by two intriguing cultural events: The Feast of St Domnius, Split's patron saint, is stretched out into a weeklong extravaganza starting at the beginning of the month. Expect concerts, rowing races, religious rituals and fireworks. While on the last Sunday, renowned winemakers and winegrowers of Istria open the doors to their wine cellars for free tastings and wine-fuelled merrymaking.
Key events : feast of St Domnius, Open Wine Cellar Day

June

Swim in the Adriatic, take in festivals across the country and enjoy outdoor activities galore during June. Ferries start their summer schedule, peak-season prices haven’t quite kicked in and hotels are still not packed.

July

Tourist season is in full swing: hotels along the coast get booked out, beaches are busy and ferries run on their maximum schedule. Head inland to escape the coastal crowds. July is also the epicenter of Croatia’s festival season, with Dubrovnik Summer Festival, which has been bringing classical music, theatre and dance to the streets of the city since the 1950s, and Split Summer Festival, where open-air stages for plays, ballet, and concerts erected all over the harbourside city, just two of the many events happening. Zadar ’s Full Moon Festival sees the city’s quays lit with torches and candles, stalls selling local delicacies, and boats lining the quays become floating fish markets.
Key events : Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Split Summer Festival, Full Moon Festival

August

Tourist season peaks in the Adriatic, with the hottest days and sea temperatures, swarming beaches and highest prices. Zagreb is hot but empty, as people escape to the coast. Events this month include the Krk Fair, a three-day Venetian-inspired event held on the island of Krk that includes concerts, medieval costumes and stalls selling traditional food and handicrafts, and the annual Vukovar Film Festival, showing features, documentaries and shorts, mainly from Danubian countries. Visiting is a great way to support the city, which is still recovering from the war.
Key events : Krk Fair, Vukovar Film Festival

September

The summer rush is over, but sunshine is still plentiful, the sea is warm and the crowds have largely gone – it's a great time to visit Croatia. Zagreb comes alive again after the summer exodus to the coast. The Festival of Subotina kicks off the white-truffle season in Istria on the second Saturday in September. Stick around to help consume the giant truffle omelet.
Key events : Festival of Subotina

October

Children are back in school, parents are at work and the country sways to its regular rhythms. Ferries change to their winter schedule but the weather is still pretty mild.

November

The continent chills but the seaside can still be sunny, albeit not warm. Many hotels along the coast shut their doors for the season, as do many restaurants. Martinje (St Martin’s Day) is celebrated in all the wine-producing regions across Croatia on 11 November. There are wine celebrations and lots of feasting and sampling of new wines.
Key events : Martinje

December

It's freezing everywhere, but marginally less so on the coast. In this deeply Catholic country, the churches are filled to bursting for midnight Mass on Christmas morning. Zagrebians brave the freezing temperatures for the mulled wine and street food at this site-shifting Advent market.
Key events : Christmas Day, Zagreb Christmas market

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When to go to Croatia

No matter where you go in the Caribbean, the beaches are bound to be beautiful. But those in St Lucia, a tropical island nation located in the Eastern Caribbean, are known to be especially gorgeous.

While the island is covered with soft white sand and surrounded by crystal-clear water, it’s the incredibly lush landscape – most notably its iconic twin volcanic peaks, Gros and Petit Piton – that takes its sandy stretches to stunning new levels.

Whether you’re looking to plop in the sand with a book and a beer and some sweet mountain views, or you’re looking to be a bit more adventurous on your beach trip, St. Lucia’s got you covered.  Read on for the best beaches around the island for every kind of beach bum.

Editor's note: During COVID-19, please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government health advice. Events may be subject to change.

Jalousie (aka Sugar Beach)

Best  for epic views of the twin peaks
Did you even go to St. Lucia if you didn’t spend at least one afternoon baking in the sun while admiring the views of the stunning twin peaks? This beach is THE place to make that happen. Nestled right in the middle of the two mountainous landmarks, Jalousie Beach looks and feels incredibly green – but it’s also known for its powdery white sand and its quintessential Caribbean blue waters.

Half of the beach is owned by the luxury hotel Sugar Beach Resort (hence its nickname Sugar Beach), but fortunately, you don’t need to be a guest to enter. There is also a portion of the beach that’s accessible to the public. Aside from the epic views, the beach is also a favorite among snorkelers and scuba divers, who are lured in by the 1800ft dropoff at the base of the Pitons.

Grand Anse beach

Best for turtle spotting Yes, yes, most people head to the beach for its saltwater and its sand. But this east-side beach also has turtles! Lots of turtles! And not just any turtles, either – these are endangered leatherback turtles, aka the largest of all sea turtles. During the nesting season (which goes from March until August), travelers come to watch them crawl out of the water and lay their eggs.

Not a turtle lover? Not a problem. Grand Anse is also a stunning beach in and of itself, especially if you’re into that off-the-beaten-path vibe. Due to its location on the eastern side of the island, Grand Anse is decidedly more wild and remote than its west-side cousins, with a long stretch of unspoiled sand (one and a quarter miles) that’s perfect for a peaceful solo stroll on the beach. Not surprisingly, though, the secluded beach is a bit hard to get to – you may want to take a 4x4. Ask a local for the best way to get there when you want to go, as the conditions tend to change with the weather.

Reduit beach

Best for families
Reduit is one of the most well-known family beaches on St. Lucia for a reason: It’s got tons of amenities. For one thing, it’s located in the capital of Castries, super close to lots of beach shops and restaurants in the adjacent Rodney Bay village ( Spinnakers is a perennial favorite for bar-and-grill cuisine). There are also lots of places to rent snorkeling equipment, or try windsurfing or water skiing or jet skiing. But the piece de resistance may just be Splash Island, the Caribbean’s first open-water sports park that features inflatable slides, swings, monkey bars, and even a climbing wall.

For all of the lively activity, though, the best part about Reduit is that it doesn’t ever feel annoyingly packed or loud. It may be perfect for kids and families, but with about five miles of sand, there’s certainly room to spread out – so it doesn’t feel overly crowded. And the waters are super calm, too (basically zero waves).

Cas en Bas beach

Best for local life
For beach bums on a mission to find the local hangout spot, the beachfront shack that truly captures the spirit of your destination of choice, Cas en Bas is for you. And that’s because it’s home to Marjorie’s, one of the island’s most popular spots for local flavor — in all senses of the word. The owner, Marjorie, serves up tasty and affordable meals that attract both locals and travelers alike. But the real appeal is Marjorie herself, whose warm and welcoming vibe reels you in and makes you want to hang out all day (there’s even a photo of Marjorie with the late Amy Winehouse, who was known for doing just that).

Aside from Marjorie’s, the rest of the beach at Cas en Bas highlights the local life, too. Located on the northeast coast – away from the more touristy west side – the beach has a more rugged and homey feel, with local men and women fishing along the shoreline. You’ll even spot the occasional horse (and yes, you can ride them).

Anse Chastanet beach

Best for black sand lovers
First things first: This entire beach is technically inside a resort of the same name. But don’t worry – it’s free to enter whether you’re a guest or not. Just park your car in the resort’s free parking lot, and walk right on in.

Now, the beach itself: It is stunning! As the darkest black sand beach on the island, Anse Chastanet reflects St. Lucia’s volcanic history. It’s also one of those beaches where you feel completely immersed in nature, as it’s lined with tall palm trees and other lush foliage, and you can even hear the tropical birds chirping in the background. Plus, thanks to the beach’s coral reef, there’s epic snorkeling and diving right there by the shore – no need to take a guided boat tour out to deeper waters (though you can definitely do that, too). For those seeking even more serenity and seclusion, there’s a sweet little walking path on the north side of the beach that leads to an even smaller and quieter beach, Anse Mamin.

Pigeon Island National Landmark

Best beach for culture buffs
Located on the northern side of the island, Pigeon Island is a 44-acre national landmark and island reserve that, contrary to its name, is not actually an island – it was joined to the mainland in 1972. The reserve has two lovely beaches with crystal-clear water, soft sand, and gorgeous mountain backdrops to boot.

But Pigeon Island isn’t only about the beaches. While there, travelers can also visit the nearby Pigeon Island Museum and Interpretive Centre to learn about the island’s colonial history. After that, most visitors hike to the top of Fort Rodney, where you can explore historic ruins – and check out the sweeping panoramic views of the landscape below. On a clear day, you can even see the nearby island Martinique in the distance!

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The American Museum of Natural History in New York has become a COVID-19 vaccination site, and those who get their jabs there can do so in the presence of the famous blue whale sculpture.

The center will open on the ground floor of the museum to administer vaccinations between Friday and Tuesday every week, starting on April 23. To mark the importance of the occasion, the whale is now sporting a bandage of her own to signify that she has been "vaccinated." Everyone who receives their needles at the museum will receive a voucher for complimentary general admission for up to four people, redeemable online for a future visit.

The whale is suspended from the ceiling and was first constructed in the mid-1960s, based on photographs of a female blue whale found dead in 1925 off the southern tip of South America. Museum artists worked on the renovation of the 94-foot-long model in 2001, which is comprised of 21,000 pounds of foam and fiberglass. As they had more images and live footage of blue whales to use as reference, they flattened the original model's once overly-bulging eyes, corrected the blowholes and tapered the tail. They also added a belly button as a reminder of one of the traits that humans share with the mammal.

The American Museum of Natural History is an appropriate venue for administering vaccinations as it is dedicated to fostering scientific knowledge and understanding and providing access to the public. It will serve all eligible New York City residents, and those who wish to choose it as a center can register on NYC COVID-19 Vaccine Finder's website here.

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Now you can get vaccinated at the American Museum of Natural History

Colombia's equatorial position affords it a diversity of landscapes matched by few countries. The changes in altitude also mean there are many micro-climates and mini dry and wet seasons to factor in. Once you know where you’d like to go, spend some time researching the weather in the area.

Here’s our guide to the best time to visit Colombia and experience the best festivals the country has to offer.

High Season (December – February)

A fantastic time to travel through Colombia as it’s dry everywhere but the Amazon. In the Andes expect sunny skies and warmish days while San Andrés and Providencia are at their most gorgeous. The downside is that prices are at their highest throughout the entire country.

Shoulder Season (March – September)

You should check the weather carefully before booking your trip as there are massive regional variations. Bogotá, Medellín and Cali suffer a secondary rainy season in April and May, while Cartagena shines through April but hard rains begin in May. For animal lovers, the best whale-watching is July to October on the Pacific coast. Festivals around Easter are a spectacle worth traveling for though.

Low Season (October – November)

Prices everywhere are at their lowest and it’s a wonderful time to visit the Amazon where low water levels in the Amazon mean excellent hiking and white-sand beaches. Elsewhere though, flash floods often wash out roads in the Andean region and Cartagena and the Caribbean coast are disproportionately wet in October.

January

Colombia's equatorial position means temperatures fluctuate by altitude, not season, so almost anytime is a good time to visit. January could be considered ideal for dissipating holiday crowds coupled with lingering festivals and parties.
Key events: Carnaval de Blancos y Negros

February

The Andean region remains pleasant and Cartagena almost drought-stricken, making February a great time to beach-hop along the Caribbean coast. With kids back in school and domestic merrymakers returned to the grind, Colombia is tranquila.
Key events: Carnaval de Barranquilla, Fiesta de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

March and April

Easter is big business. Whether it falls in March or April, the country is seriously tuned in. Expect crowds, high prices and weather taking a turn for the worse.
Key events : Semana Santa, Concurso Nacional de Belleza, Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogotá

May

The rainy season begins in earnest in the Andes. If you’re lucky though, you could squeeze a holiday in the sweet spot before the worst of the weather and while prices are still low. There are no guarantees though.
Key events: Primero de Mayo

June

After a respite in April and May, storm clouds once again loom. Bogotá is at its driest, though, and humpback whales begin arriving on the Pacific coast. Prices rise for summer school vacations.

July

One of the peak months for foreign visitors so expect crowds at popular tourist spots.
Key events : Independence Day

August

Relatively mild August can be drizzly, but excellent festivals more than make up for impending rains. Bogotá, Cali and Medellín all soak up the end-of-summer atmosphere with a bonanza of music and culture.
Key events : Rock al Parque, Festival Petronio Álvarez, Feria de las Flores

September

Showers hit most of the country, but Amazonian river levels are low, making it an excellent time for wildlife viewing, hiking or just kicking back on a sandy river beach.
Key events: Festival Mundial de Salsa, Congreso Nacional Gastronómico, Festival Internacional de Teatro

October

On average, October is one of Colombia's rainiest months, along with November. Bogotá, Cali, Medellín and Cartagena are all at the mercy of the weather.

November

November is wet, wet, wet throughout Colombia. Your best refuge from the deluge is Bogotá, but you'll still be breaking out the umbrella on a regular basis.

December

The rains begin to recede and the country is awash instead in holiday festivals, spectacular light displays and spur-of-the-moment partying. Expect crowds and cries of joy throughout Colombia.
Key events: Alumbrado Navideño, Feria de Cali

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