Golden sand beaches, the sulfuric pools of the world’s “only drive-in volcano” and the famed twin-peaked Pitons are the hallmarks of any St Lucian getaway, but the island is also flush with dense emerald vegetation, vibrant flowers and diverse marine life.

For adventure – and a back-to-nature respite from 21st-century life – add these national parks and botanical gardens to your island itinerary.

Pigeon Island National Park

Best park for history buffs

Pigeon Island played a pivotal role in the contentious battle between the British and the French for control of St. Lucia. It was a strategic outpost between the 17th and 19th centuries, as ownership of the island changed hands 14 times before ultimately remaining under British rule. In 1972 Pigeon Island was joined to the mainland by causeway, giving visitors easy access to the 44-acre monument to St. Lucian history.

This living museum – which was declared a national park in 1979 and a national landmark in 1992 – harbors the remnants of the Battle of the Saintes and America’s military presence during World War II. Highlights include the hospital foundation, military latrine, officers’ mess, powder magazine, soldiers barracks and Amerindian caves.

The casual hiker will appreciate Fort Rodney (225ft), named after the British admiral who kept an eye on the French naval base in Martinique. The taller Signal Peak (330ft) significantly ramps up the intensity with a steeper climb and loose, gravelly terrain, making it more suitable for the seasoned hiker. Between Fort Rodney and Signal Peak, you’ll encounter more relics of the colonial era, such as the Gun Slide, Musket Redoubt, Ridge Battery, and US Signal Station.

If you’ve got some time, enjoy a picnic on the expansive lawn or take a dip in the sea at one of the two white-sand beaches on site. There is also the option to enjoy a local meal waterside at Jambe de Bois restaurant (a reference to French pirate Francois Leclerc’s wooden leg) or along the causeway at Thirsty Parrot Beach Bar and Grill.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Visiting Pigeon Island National Park: Pigeon Island is at the northern tip of the island, about a half-hour drive from the capital city. The landmark is open daily year-round, from 9am to 5pm (8:30am to 6:30pm from July to September). Entrance to the park costs US$10 for adult visitors and US$3 for kids 5 to 12 years old. Most of the tours are self-guided, but guided tours are available for US$20 for a group of up to five, with additional guests charged US$5 per person. Be sure to call at least 24 hours in advance to make your request.

No reservations are needed to visit the park without a guide. A guidebook with a small map and details on the geological, ecological and historical elements of Pigeon Island can be purchased on arrival. If you’re planning on climbing the park’s peaks (which is part of the guided tour), carry a pair of hiking boots along with sunscreen and insect repellent. The tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Soufrière Marine Management Area

Best park for scuba divers, snorkelers, and water lovers

Water-sports lovers, especially those partial to snorkeling and scuba diving, will find a slice of heaven in the depths of the Soufrière Marine Management Area. The protected area stretches across 6.8 miles (11km), from Anse L'Ivrogne and its well-preserved coves in the southwestern parish of Choiseul to Rodney Bay in the north. It is sectioned off into five zones, including marine reserves for the regeneration of fish stocks, fishing priority areas where commercial fishing takes precedence, recreational areas for beach activities and yacht-mooring areas for visiting yachts.

The final zone, designated for multiple uses like diving and snorkeling, is arguably the expansive area's pièce de résistance. These pockets of marine life are in close proximity to some of the premier hotels on the island, including Sugar Beach, which boasts a celebrity clientele, and the adults-only hideaway Ti Kaye Resort & Spa. Luxury honeymoon haven Anse Chastanet’s beach is just yards away from a reef considered to be one of the best snorkeling destination in the Caribbean, where the remarkably clear water allows glimpses of soft coral, colored sponges, boulder coral, brain coral and more than 150 different species of fish. There are also opportunities for kayaking, tubing, windsurfing and sunfish sailing, but jet skiing is prohibited.

Visiting Soufrière Marine Management Area: The area's sprawling nature means there are multiple points of entry along the coast. Visitors will likely need to be transported to their activities by boat, so consult with someone at your accommodations or contact the Soufrière Marine Management Area directly for information on safely getting to your destination. The entrance fee is US$1, US$5 for a diving day pass, and US$15 for an annual dive permit. The use of the moorings requires a Coral Conservation Permit, which starts at US$20 per night. Booking water activities through your hotel may incur a separate fee, and all activities must be guided.

Mamiku Botanical Gardens

Best park for birdwatchers

Along the island’s east coast, between the villages of Praslin and Mon Repos, sits Mamiku Botanical Gardens. The gardens are an extension of the Mamiku Plantation, which was gifted to Baron de Micoud in the early 1700s by the King of France Louis XIV.  The property has changed ownership over multiple generations – Mamiku is the final iteration of a series of names bestowed upon the estate, including “Union de Micoud”, “Madame de Micoud” and “Ma Micoud" – and now rests in the hands of Veronica E. Shingleton-Smith, a landscaper designer with extensive experience in creating floral gardens. Mamiku’s 12 acres of natural woodlands feature an orchid and medicinal-herb garden that doubles as an oasis for bees, butterflies and birds, with endangered white-breasted thrashers, golden orioles, black finches and many more flitting among the riot of exotic tropical flowers.

Visiting Mamiku Botanical Gardens: It’s roughly a 45-minute drive from the north side of the island to the property, while visitors from the south can enjoy a much shorter commute – just 20 minutes. Mamiku Botanical Gardens is only open a few days a week, so it’s best to contact the estate beforehand to ensure availability. On open days, you can wander for as long as you want between 9am and 5pm.

Tours are also available according to your preferred activity, in the categories of bird watching, garden lovers, or hiking. Options range from a full-day tour with a picnic lunch and river bath to a half-day door with local staples like hot bakes and cocoa tea or rum punch. Entrance starts at XCD$20 (US$7) for independent travelers. The property is partially wheelchair accessible, with a handicapped bathroom and a ramp onto the terrace for viewing the gardens.

Maranatha Gardens

Best park for seeking peace

A "prayer sanctuary" with guest houses and a restaurant, Maranatha Gardens is a respite within an already tranquil island paradise. Maranatha means “Lord come” or “Come Lord,” which is quite fitting for a space created to transport visitors to a blissfully peaceful existence, and its unhurried serenity has made it a popular pick for intimate weddings and photography sessions alike.  The garden is teeming with 100 plant species, including evergreen perennials, torch lilies, ginger lilies, dragon's breath celosias and heliconia lobster claws. Further exploration reveals a koi carp reflection pool and the Pitons' peaks standing tall just beyond the brush.

Visiting Maranatha Gardens: From the north, follow the west coast road to Colombette, Soufrière. The gardens are tucked into a hairpin bend, just before The Beacon Restaurant, which is also part of the owner’s portfolio. If your accommodations are in the south, drive northbound until the restaurant comes into view. Entrance to the garden is free.

Union Orchid Garden

Best park for flower enthusiasts

Union Orchid Garden is the product of a collaboration between the governments of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and St. Lucia, which started in 2009. The property features two greenhouses with a combined total area of 1500 sq meters and the capacity to harbor up to 50,000 adult flowering plants and an additional 100,000 tissue culture plants. As the name indicates, the main attraction here are orchids, a flower species known as much for its fragility as its intense color and fragrance. Anthophiles will find a selection that includes dendrobiums — with more than 2000 species, the largest orchid group, identifiable by their pastel hues — phalaenopsis, cattleyas, oncediums, vandas, as well as a mélange of cut flowers, root and tuber crops and local produce.

Visiting Union Orchid Garden: The Union Orchid Garden is currently revamping its tour offerings but guests can still pop in for an informal visit. It’s a 20-minute drive from the north of the island and 10 minutes from the city to the Union community. The Dame Pearlette Louisy Primary School is an easy marker just before the garden.

You may also like:
The best beaches in St Lucia
How to get around the mountainous island of St Lucia
From verdant rainforests to beachey towns: the 7 best hikes in St Lucia
St Lucia wants travelers to make the most of their stay with a six-week trip

St. Lucia's best parks and gardens to explore

From snow-capped mountains and the Bushveld to sub-tropical beaches and the Kalahari, South Africa is a mind-bogglingly diverse country. Showcasing the best of its stunning landscapes, its national parks and reserves are great places to experience the wilderness and see Africa's famous wildlife.

South Africa has hundreds of national parks and reserves, many featuring wildlife, while others are primarily wilderness sanctuaries or hiking areas. Here are the best national parks to add to your South Africa itinerary.

Kruger National Park

Best national park for wildlife watching

Kruger National Park is one of the world's greatest wildlife-watching destinations. All of Africa's iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra – share the bushveld with a supporting cast of 137 other mammals and more than 500 varieties of birds. Beautiful granite kopjes (hills) pepper the south, the Lebombo Mountains rise from the savanna in the east, and tropical forests cover the north of the 7520-sq-mile park.

Yes, Kruger can sometimes become crowded. And yes, you may have to wait in line to see those lions. But that's because the vast network of roads makes Kruger one of Africa's most accessible parks. You can explore on your own or take one of the plentiful guided wildlife activities, and accommodations are both plentiful and great value.

Royal Natal National Park

Best national park for mountains

Fanning out from some of the range’s loftiest summits, the 30-sq-mile Royal Natal National Park has a presence that far outstrips its relatively meager size. With some of the Drakensberg’s most dramatic and accessible scenery, the park is crowned by the sublime Amphitheater, a 5-mile wall of cliff and canyon that’s spectacular from below and even more so from up on high. Here, the Tugela Falls drop 2788ft in five stages (the top one often freezes in winter). Looming behind is Mont-aux-Sources (10,767ft), so called because the Tugela, Elands and Western Khubedu Rivers rise here; the last eventually becomes the Senqu (Orange) River and flows all the way to the Atlantic. The park is renowned for its excellent day walks and hiking opportunities.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Best national park for sunsets

Right before the darkness erases the remaining flecks of color from the sky, something magical happens in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The jagged sandstone outcrops fronting the foothills of the wild, maroon-hued Maluti Mountains glow golden in the dying light, and lemon-yellow rays silhouette a lone kudu standing still in a sea of mint-green grasses before the sky explodes in a fiery collision of purple and red. Golden Gate Highlands National Park might not boast any of the Big Five, but it does feature fantastic nightly sunsets.

There are quite a few animals in the park, though, including grey rheboks, blesboks, elands, oribi antelope, Burchell’s zebras, jackals, baboons and numerous bird species, including the rare bearded and Cape vultures as well as the endangered bald ibis. The park is popular with hikers on long treks, but there are also shorter walking trails.

Table Mountain National Park

Best national park for activities

Stretching from Signal Hill to Cape Point, Table Mountain National Park is a natural wonder, its range of environments including granite and sandstone mountains, giant-boulder-strewn beaches and shady forests. For the vast majority of visitors, the main attraction is the 3560ft-high mountain itself, the top of which can easily be accessed by the cableway, which runs every 10 to 20 minutes. The park is the venue for a host of adventure activities including hiking, abseiling, mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, bird and wildlife watching, snorkeling and diving.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Best national park for desert

A long, hot road leads between crimson dunes from Upington to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of the world’s last great, unspoiled ecosystems. Once you enter the magical park, tucked away alongside Namibia in the Northern Cape and southwest Botswana, you’ll soon see why the journey was well worth the effort.

The Kgalagadi is a wild land of harsh extremes and frequent droughts, where shifting red and white sands meet thorn trees and dry riverbeds. Yet despite the desolate landscape, it’s teeming with wildlife. From prides of black-maned lions to packs of howling spotted hyenas, there are some 1775 predators here. It’s one of the best places in the world to spot big cats, especially cheetahs. Add in giant, orange-ball sunsets and black-velvet night skies studded with twinkling stars, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered the Africa of storybooks.

Cederberg Wilderness Area

Best national park for hiking

Some of the Western Cape's finest scenery is found in the desolate Cederberg Wilderness Area. Here, craggy peaks reaching around 6560ft harbor weird rock formations, well-preserved San rock art, clear streams and excellent hiking and rock climbing.

The region isn't known for its wildlife, though you might glimpse a baboon or one of the small antelope that hop along the rocks here. Elusive leopards do roam at night, but you'd be extremely lucky to see one. The region is better known for its plant life – mountain fynbos (shrubby vegetation with fine leaves) abounds, and wildflowers erupt in spring. Vegetation varies with altitude, with the eponymous cedar stands living between 3280ft and 4920ft. This is also the only place in the world where rooibos (red bush) grows and is processed into tea.

Mapungubwe National Park

Best national park for history

Stunningly stark, arid, rocky landscapes reverberate with cultural intrigue and wandering wildlife at Mapungubwe National Park. A Unesco World Heritage site, Mapungubwe contains South Africa’s most significant Iron Age site, plus animals ranging from black and white rhinos to the rare Pel’s fishing owl and meerkats. The wildlife here is excellent, with lion, leopards and elephants, as is the birdwatching. But the park is as much about history as wildlife – archaeological finds from the 1930s are on display at the excellent Interpretation Center, and the site itself can be visited on a tour.

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Best national park for rock formations

The stunning Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve centers on the 19-mile-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye views abound at the dramatic meeting of the Drakensberg Escarpment and the lowveld. It's one of the world's largest canyons and one of South Africa’s most outstanding natural sights.

Most visitors drive along the canyon’s edge, where Route 532 offers plenty of viewpoints for gazing in awe. If you have enough time, however, the canyon is even better explored on foot.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Best national park for coastline

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a Unesco World Heritage site, stretches for 137 glorious miles from the Mozambique border to Maphelane, at the southern end of Lake St. Lucia. With the Indian Ocean on one side and a series of lakes on the other, this park protects five distinct ecosystems, offering everything from offshore reefs and beaches to lakes, wetlands, woodlands and coastal forests. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest along the park’s shores, and whales and dolphins appear offshore. The park is occupied by numerous animals, including antelopes, hippos and zebras. The ocean beaches pull big crowds during the holiday season for everything from diving to fishing.

iSimangaliso means "miracle" or "wonder" and, given its extraordinary beauty, it’s an appropriate title.

Namaqua National Park

Best national park for wildflowers

Flower-seekers flock to the small, remote Namaqua National Park each spring, when the shrub land and old wheat fields are transformed by the spectacle that is the wildflower bloom. There are short nature trails and drives with viewpoints – the park is one of the best places in Namakwa to photograph the flowers. For the rest of the year, the national park is largely forgotten, although that does make it a peaceful place for a hike. It's also a decent birdwatching destination.

Addo Elephant National Park

Best national park for elephant watching

The jewel in Eastern Cape's crown is Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third-largest national park. It protects the remnants of the huge elephant herds that once roamed the Eastern Cape. When Addo was proclaimed a national park in 1931, there were only 11 elephants left; today there are more than 600 in the park, and you’d be unlucky not to see some. A day or two at Addo is a highlight of any visit to this part of the Eastern Cape, not only for the elephants but for the lions, zebras, black rhinos, Cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas and myriad birds. The park is also one of few which boasts the "Big Seven," thanks to sightings of great white sharks and southern right whale (in season) off its coastal sections.

The 11 most incredible national parks in South Africa for spotting wildlife, hiking and more

Italy – and its awe-inspiring art, architecture and food – is no secret. The epicenter of the Roman Empire and the birthplace of the Renaissance, this European virtuoso practically groans under the weight of its cultural cachet.

The challenge is not so much where to go – an amazing experience is honestly assured wherever you end up – but rather how to go about it. Here are some ideas from a veteran Italy traveler to turn every Italy trip into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Return to the Roman Empire

Working out the best way to spend your time in the Italian capital is a cultural conundrum. Rome is the former caput mundi (capital of the world), the epicenter of the Roman Empire, the spiritual HQ of the Christian world and the repository for over two millennia of European art and architecture. The city exudes must-see sights from every pore.

From the Colosseum (buy a "Full Experience" ticket to access the recently opened, underground vaults) to the Pantheon, and the Roman Forum to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, there’s simply too much to cover in a single visit.

Zooming around Italy’s Eternal City on the back of Vespa moped to sightsee at speed is one option, and a great way to sample the dolce vita (good life). Before you leave, toss a coin into the pool below the wild horses and cascading rockfalls of the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return visit to this captivating city.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Hit slopes and trails in Valle d’Aosta

Ringed by some of Europe's highest peaks, including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso, the Aosta Valley sports some of the best winter sports facilities on the continent. In fashionable Courmayeur, winter skiers descend hair-raising runs into France and Switzerland, crossing glaciers and returning via lofty cable cars.

And when the snow melts, spectacular hiking trails in the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso and around Mont Blanc await. Whatever the season, keep your ears peeled for Franco-Provençal (also known as Valdôtain), the Franco-Italian valley’s distinctive local language.

Live the Naples street life

Italy’s most spirited urban hub, this highly charged, charismatic city in the country's deep south is a curious potpourri of nail-biting history, classical art and a grungy grassroots cocktail of frescoed ruins, frenzied markets and epicurean adventures. Drama is the order of the day in boisterous Napoli, where street life unfolds like a grand opera.

Shop for swordfish heads and sweet ricotta pastries at Naples’ oldest market, ogle street art in the Centro Storico, admire Mt Vesuvius views from the Lungomare seafront, explore subterranean catacombs, then follow the lead of locals and join the after-dark passegiatta (promenade) on Via Chiaia. Whatever you do, count on drama 24/7.

Time travel to Ancient Greece

The eternal crossroads of the Mediterranean, the island of Sicily dazzles with its brilliant diversity of landscapes and cultural treasures. In the southeast, honey-hued Syracuse was the largest city in the ancient world – bigger even than Athens and Corinth - and played an important role in classical Greece. Its hypnotic archaeological ruins, rising out of lush citrus orchards and the sparkling blue Mediterranean, continue to encapsulate Sicily's timeless beauty.

Two-and-a-half millennia later, Greek dramas still flourish in Syracuse's great amphitheater, alongside contemporary theatre, live music and more. A show beneath the stars on the antiquity stage at Teatro Greco is an unforgettable and spellbinding spectacle.

Go backstage in Tuscany

Most Tuscan tours begin in the Unesco-listed city of Florence, a cinematic feast of Renaissance palazzi (palaces), medieval-frescoed chapels and art museums brimming with Botticelli and Michelangelo masterpieces. At the historic heart of Florence is the Uffizi, stormed by millions of visitors each year for its unmatched Renaissance works. To take the art journey further, the new Uffizi Diffusi project encourages art buffs to trek across Tuscany ’s backcountry – on foot, by bike or car – following an untrodden trail to Italian masterpieces.

Designed to diffuse Florence’s heavy tourist load, this sustainable tourism project is bringing pop-up galleries to backcountry chapels, fortresses, hilltop villages and other unconventional spaces. Not only does it lead visitors off the beaten track, it also allows artworks to be admired in the Tuscan landscapes that inspired the artists – an iconic terrain of rolling hills dipped in morning mist, timeless cypress alleys, silver olive groves and terraced rows of vines. Check current venues on the Uffizi website.

Savor slow food in Piedmont

Rare white truffles from the vine-striped countryside around Alba offer the most grassroots gastronomic experience in all of Italy. Once these fabulous fungi are tracked down by dogs in the woods, ceremoniously sniffed, and greedily scoffed, there is no going back.

Truffles aside, the northwestern region of Piedmont, birthplace of the Slow Food movement, serenades gourmets with sweet creamy hazelnuts from the rolling Langhe hills and silky chocolate and myriad cocoa creations in gilded cafes in elegant Turin. Nebbiolo grapes metamorphose into magical Barolo and Barbaresco wines, and lavish banquets pair these treats with sacrosanct aperitivo (pre-meal snacks to eat with a drink and open up the appetite). Savor the slow feast, one delicious mouthful at a time!

Follow the Via Francigena pilgrim trail

Cycling and walking is a great way to get under the skin of Italy’s diverse landscapes, and there is no finer long-distant trail than the medieval Via Francigena. A perfect, less-trodden alternative to Spain’s Camino de Santiago, Italy’s most celebrated pilgrim route wends its way for 1900km (1180 miles), running all the way from Canterbury in England to Rome.

The scenic Italian section mooches at a meditative snail’s pace through Tuscany and Lazio, breaking for breath at beautiful hilltop villages, volcanic lakes, Etruscan ruins, remote monasteries and enchanting emerald hills around Lucca, the Unesco-protected Val d’Orcia, Viterbo and other gloriously overlooked spots.

Glam it up on the Amalfi Coast

Whether you follow the rugged cliff-laced coast in search of a wild swimming spot or live the high life with spritz-sipping A-listers in Positano, the Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most glamorous destinations. This dramatic coastal strip has thrills and spills to suit every taste and budget, from hunting down traditional marquetry in Sorrento ’s maze-like old-town to garden-hopping in Ravello. Don't overlook the Sentiero degli Dei or ‘Path of Gods’ – a rugged hiking trail that delivers on its name with positively celestial views.

Harvest grapes in the Cinque Terre

Nothing matches Cinque Terre ’s stunning setting: five teeny, sherbet-colored villages pinned to a jaw-dropping backdrop of terraced vineyards, wave-carved cliffs and blue sea on the Italian Riviera. Summer packs these celebrity villages to bursting point, but the autumn vendemmia (grape harvest) ushers in a quite different scene.

Come for mellow days of strolling along quiet cobbled lanes and hiking through vertical vineyards and hillsides perfumed by macchia (herbal scrub) to ancient sanctuaries. The sight of local pickers gallantly harvesting the grapes that go into the Cinque Terre’s sweet fortified Sciacchetrà, and sipping the resulting vintages in a Corniglia or Riomaggiore wine bar with vertiginous views, is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Pick an idyllic island

Italy’s prized island collection hovers around the 450 mark, meaning il bel paese ("the beautiful country") has a beach-laced island with your name on it. Myriad islands dot the Mediterranean, Ionian, Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. Venice alone is made up of 17 islands, and Sicily and Sardinia – the country’s biggest and busiest islands – offer an enticing mix of outdoor thrills and living history.

Unblemished Capri, a boat ride from Naples, attracts celebrities and the super-rich (as does posh Panarea in Sicily’s Aeolian archipelago). Volcanic Ischia is awash with thermal spas and manicured gardens. At the other extreme, nature lovers gravitate to peaceful salt marshes and mudflats teeming with birdlife in the pristine Grado lagoon, on the country’s northeast border with Austria and Slovenia in little-explored Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Help to save Venice

Venice is impossible to ignore, hence the hordes of tourists who pile into this dreamlike city of romantic canals and ethereal fogs. In an average year, 25 million arrive to snap selfies beneath the Bridge of Sighs and glimpse heaven (in fresco form) in Basilica di San Marco. To curb future crowds, a tourist tax, turnstiles at city entrances, and advance reservations via an app to enter the city  are all on the drawing board.

To make a positive impact on Italy’s most mobbed city, come out of season, and don’t duck in and out on a day trip. Instead, stay for a few days using the community-powered, home-sharing platform Fairbnb and meet and learn from Venetians who are passionate about their city through Venezia Autentica. At mealtimes, favor lagoon-caught seafood in local restaurants over tourist joints with English-language menus.

Get off-grid in Abruzzo

The Abruzzo region doesn’t have the Amalfi’s natural glamour or the cultural colossi of Rome, but for travelers seeking an immersive, emotive brush with rural Italy and its people, it definitely hits the spot. Cradled by the gritty Apennine mountains and unforgiving Adriatic sea, the region was hit by an earthquake in 2009, but Abruzzo is slowly rebuilding itself and reclaiming its rich heritage.

In the quiet town of L’Aquila, a new outpost of Rome’s MAXXI (National Museum of 21st Century Arts) is just one sign of this cultural rebirth. In remote Santo Stefano di Sessanio, the Sextantio albergo diffuso program hosts visitors in rustic rooms scattered around this pretty mountain village. Spotting rare Marsican bears padding around the Parc Nazionale d’Abruzzo is the icing on the cake.

You may also like:
Planning your first trip to Italy
How to drink coffee like a true Italian
6 of the most beautiful road trips in Italy

Insider tips for the best things to do in Italy

Known for its mix of high and low, the Florida Keys can be both budget-friendly and uber expensive.

While the chain of islands has plenty to offer in terms of natural beauty and outdoor activities, there is also a vibrant cultural scene that is worth exploring. Best of all, if you get creative, many of these attractions can be experienced for next to nothing. From public art trails to bird sanctuaries, here’s our guide to the top free activities in the Florida Keys.

Sunset Celebration

There are many quirky characteristics about the Southernmost outpost of the US, but none quite as iconic as the Sunset Celebration. Starting every evening before sunset, visitors in Key West can experience a multitude of live performances, stunt acts, musical groups and much more in Mallory Square. The celebration, which is part circus, part art fair, embodies the oddball spirit of Key West and is not to be missed. If you stay long enough, you’ll also be treated to a gorgeous view of the sun as it sets over the Gulf of Mexico. While payment is not required, it’s worth noting that many of the entertainers work for tips, so you might want to bring a few dollars if you can spare them.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

Connecting the entire Florida Keys in segments from one end to the other, the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail is a recreational pathway that was once the famous Flagler Railroad. The path is open to cyclists and pedestrians and offers opportunities for fishing, birding, picnicking, hiking and other leisure pursuits. The trail incorporates 23 of the historic Flagler Railroad bridges along with access to state parks, nature trails, boat ramps and important landmarks.

Traversing the trail allows for easy island hopping, but there are some sections that are directly next to the heavily trafficked Overseas Highway, so anyone walking or biking should be comfortable with motor traffic close by. Also, because sections of the trail are historic, there are often partial closures due to renovations and repairs. The website is updated frequently with the latest announcements, so be sure to check before you plan an excursion.

Morada Way Arts & Cultural District

Morada Way is Islamorada ’s arts and cultural district. The 6-block area is home to art galleries, studios, hip restaurants and boutiques. Every third Thursday of the month, Morada Way hosts an Art Walk from 6 to 9pm. During the event, artists flood the neighborhood to showcase their work, and musicians play live at several local venues. Whether you’re there to invest in some art or just to be inspired, the scenic walk is a great way to get acquainted with downtown Islamorada and enjoy the laid back beauty of the area. Grab a beer at Florida Keys Brewing Company or a quick bite from one of the food trucks and make an evening of it.

Relax at the Public Beaches

With an average of 260 sunny days per year, the Keys are a great place to spend time outdoors. While the region, which sits mostly on coral rock, isn’t known for its expansive sandy beaches, there are a few outliers that can be enjoyed for free all year. Anne’s Beach in Islamorada, Sombrero Beach in Marathon and Smathers Beach in Key West are all beautiful places to spend the day.

In addition to the larger beachfronts, there are also secret enclaves to explore. In Islamorada, all the way down Beach Road, a small public beach is nestled between the private waterfronts of the luxurious Cheeca Lodge and Moorings Village. In Big Pine Key, Horseshoe Beach at Mile Marker 35 is a quiet place to snorkel or scuba dive. Some, such as Smathers, do require a small fee if you are parking a vehicle, so be sure to prepare in advance if you are driving.

The 8 best beaches in the Florida Keys

Florida Keys Sculpture Trail

Spanning 80 miles from Islamorada down to Key West, the Florida Keys Sculpture Trail features twelve monumental sculptures dotted along the Overseas Highway. The works were first created for the Art Students League of New York’s “Model to Monument” program in Manhattan before being relocated to the Keys. From a monumental iron sundial to a stainless steel bird, from a red triangular structure to an oversized mesh shell, each sculpture is as different as the next. Now permanent fixtures in the area, the public art trail can be freely enjoyed by anyone passing by.

The Studios of Key West

The Studios of Key West is a cultural hub in downtown Key West that is dedicated to encouraging and connecting creativity on the island. In addition to offering lectures, workshops, studio space and residencies, the organization presents gallery shows and live performances and is home to Books & Books, a charming independent bookstore. On Thursday evenings, guests can enjoy Glow Hours on Hugh’s View. The free weekly cocktail hour not only includes an open bar and live music, but also a panoramic view of the city from the stunning rooftop. Admission to the campus and gallery spaces is free, but many of the scheduled events require a ticket purchase.

Blue Hole

At the center of the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine Key is the largest freshwater lake in the Keys. Blue Hole was once a limestone quarry whose rock was used to create many of the original roads in the area. Because it is a rare source of freshwater, the lake attracts a variety of wildlife including alligators, herons, turtles, fish and, most especially, Key deer, an endangered type of deer that only live on Big Pine Key. The lake provides an unmatched opportunity to revel in the natural beauty of the Keys, and there are several short trails for hiking around the refuge. While the trails are less than one mile each, they are not shaded, so come prepared with sunscreen and bring good walking shoes!

The Key West Garden Club

The Key West Garden Club at West Martello Tower is a historic and secluded tropical paradise. A group of dedicated volunteers maintains the grounds, which include a prehistoric garden, a native garden and a butterfly garden, among others. Visitors can take in seaside views, delight in the exceptional collection of exotic trees and plants and learn about the fascinating history of the West Martello Tower, an important site built during the Civil War. Take your time as you wander the circular layout, as some of the most striking flora can hide in plain sight.

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1980, Crocodile Lake National Refuge is an important nesting ground for the American crocodile, an endangered species found only in South Florida. These crocodiles find refuge in this 6700-acre protected habitat, and it is believed that nearly a quarter of the country’s population lives here. While you aren’t guaranteed to see this reclusive animal during a visit, there are more draws to the refuge including sightings of other rare animals like the white-crowned pigeon, Stock Island tree snails and several kinds of endangered butterflies.

Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Tavernier is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild birds and consists of both a hospital and the Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary, a natural refuge open to the public, houses nearly 40 different species of rescued birds. Visitors can walk through a mangrove forest and observe an array of birds including Great Horned Owls, Great Egrets and plenty of Eastern Brown Pelicans. At the end of the pathway, past the animal enclosures, the mangroves open up to the Florida Bay and a beautiful view of the water. Admission is free, but they do request a donation upon entry.

You might also like:
Which island in the Florida Keys is best for you?
First-time Florida Keys: island hopping along the Overseas Highway
How to get around the Florida Keys

The top 10 free things to do in the Florida Keys

There’s more to Malibu than its beautiful beaches. The eastern border of the California city extends into the Santa Monica Mountains, where visitors can hike through canyons and wander through nature preserves. There are also a few carved out spaces along the coastline that are ideal for picnics and recreation. Although the ocean is always in the background, hitting up a park in Malibu doesn’t have to mean spending the day at the beach.

Malibu Creek State Park

The 14-mile Malibu Creek winds its way through the Santa Monica Mountains eventually ending at Malibu Lagoon at the beach near the pier. But there’s plenty to do in this state park besides rock skipping – from a range of hiking trails (including one that goes through where the TV show M*A*S*H was filmed) to mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding and even kayaking in a small lake. There are also plenty of open spaces to simply take in the beautiful oak woodlands and the craggy mountain canyons. The city of Los Angeles feels a world away, instead of just 25 minutes. Overnight camping is also allowed here, but reservations are required. Not quite sure how to tackle the park on your own? Sign up for a hike guided by a park docent who will explain the area’s flora and fauna as well as its cinematic history.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Trancas Canyon Park

Trancas Canyon Park in north Malibu is a couple of miles inland from Zuma Beach, and it’s one of the best parks for families. There’s a spacious playground area with sweeping views of the mountains and the ocean as well as a fenced dog park. The park’s giant grassy field is an idyllic spot for a picnic, but there are covered tables when you need a little shade. Restrooms and water fountains are available, and parking is plentiful. Nearby is the Trancas Market where you can pick up picnic provisions like pressed paninis, salads and pizza.

Malibu Bluffs Park

Malibu Bluffs Park, just north of the Malibu Pier and past Pepperdine University, is the ultimate recreation spot for families. The six-acre park has two baseball fields, a soccer field that doubles as a grassy vista for a picnic, a play structure, a skatepark, picnic tables, restrooms and a jogging path that winds around the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Michael Landon Community Center, named for the Little House on the Prairie actor, often hosts community classes and parties. Since the park is home field for local recreational sports, the weekends are often crowded and the parking lot fills up fast. But if you can time it for a mid-morning visit during the week, you’ll find it to be a blissful spot to take in the ocean views.

Las Flores Creek Park

Las Flores Creek Park is a few miles inland from the famous Duke’s Restaurant that overlooks the ocean on the Pacific Coast Highway. The offerings are relatively simple: a modern playground for children, picnic tables, restrooms and easy walking trails. This is an ideal spot to learn about Malibu’s native plants because the park has detailed information about its wildlife and history. Once you’re done exploring, you can head down to Duke’s for lunch or dinner.

Malibu Country Mart

Malibu Country Mart is a ritzy retail center with trendy boutiques and restaurants that are often frequented by celebrities (and paparazzi). But for families with children, there are two playgrounds to try in between shopping and eating. The original playground is in the center of the mart near John’s Garden café and just past the Toy Crazy toy store. The structure, which includes a pair of swing sets, is built into sand, so be prepared to go barefoot and do some cleaning up afterward. A second playground was built recently near the new Whole Foods Market and offers modern interactive play features, along with the usual slides and climbing structures. Since the Country Mart is so close to the pier, it’s easy to go from one to the other during your visit.

You might also like:
California’s 15 best hiking trails
Visit all of California’s national parks on this legendary road trip
Why you should drive California’s scenic Highway 395

The best Malibu parks for fun in the sun

Nearly a third of Chile is protected parkland, making this small South American nation one of the best places on earth for active adventures. On a thrill-seeking trip to Chile, you can hike up volcanoes, skirt fjords and glaciers or navigate the wilds of the world’s driest desert.

There's only one problem: with 42 national parks to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to begin. To take away some of the guesswork, here's a look at 10 national parks you won’t want to miss.

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Best park for overnight treks

Easily the most famous park in Chile, Torres del Paine is the Patagonia travelers dream about, with a unique location tucked between the Magellanic subpolar forests and the Patagonian Steppe. The five-day "W Trek" and eight-day "O Circuit" are the most popular hikes, with epic scenery and well-run campgrounds and comfy refugio lodges along the way.

You can also sleep in five-star adventure lodges on the park’s periphery and tackle day hikes atop glaciers, around moraine lakes or up to the park’s namesake granite spires. Visit in winter to search for pumas and enjoy a respite from both the crowds and the reserve's driving winds.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Parque Nacional Archipiélago Juan Fernández

Best park for naturalists

Lying 670km (416 miles) off the coast of Valparaíso, this little-visited archipelago is home to 213 species of native flora, of which 135 are endemic. This gives Parque Nacional Archipiélago Juan Fernández a higher percentage of endemism than Hawaii or even the Galapagos Islands.

There are a dozen trails on the main island – appropriately named Robinson Crusoe – crisscrossing primordial forests of perky tree ferns and giant rhubarb (really). Most routes start from the archipelago’s only true town, San Juan Bautista, where lobster dinners are practically obligatory, taking advantage of the abundant crustaceans hauled from local waters.

Parque Nacional Nevado de Tres Cruces

Best park for mountaineering

Hardcore mountaineers flock to Nevado de Tres Cruces each year to acclimatize for trips up Ojos del Salado, which is both the highest active volcano in the world and the second-highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres. Not only that, the crater lake on this muscular 6893m (22,615ft) peak is the highest body of water anywhere on earth.

Those who don’t have the time, money and willpower for a summit expedition can still enjoy hiking to the blue and green lagoons, arid Andean peaks and blindingly white salt flats of this stunning stretch of the Chilean high plains.

Parque Nacional Queulat

Best park for waterfalls

Picture a lush forest sliced in half by a river of blue ice that runs to a jagged clifftop, spilling out in waterfalls that thunder into a turquoise lake below. That's what you’ll find on the 3km (2 mile) Mirador del Ventisquero Trail to the hanging glacier of Parque Nacional Queulat, one of the best kid-friendly outings in Patagonia.

Most visitors sleep in nearby Puyuhuapi, a small town on the edge of a fjord with homey restaurants, steaming hot springs and distinctively German architecture thanks to its earliest settlers. It's a great hub for family-friendly outdoor adventures.

Parque Nacional Patagonia

Best park for wildlife

Wildlife watching doesn’t get much better than this! Formerly occupied by large cattle ranches, the section of Patagonian steppe along the Chacabuco River near Cochrane is now home to one of the most ambitious rewilding projects in the world. Pumas prowl the grasslands of Parque Nacional Patagonia hunting wild herds of lama-like guanacos, while 10% of the world’s remaining huemul deer enjoy a rare oasis.

Then there are the birds, including massive condors, blushing flamingos, Magellanic woodpeckers and ostrich-like ñandús. The fantastic infrastructure built by Tompkins Conservation and Explora makes the national park well suited for families, with the promise of a comfortable bed at the end of a busy day of wildlife spotting.

Parque Nacional Rapa Nui

Best park for history and mystery

The great mysteries of Rapa Nui – Easter Island, to those unfamiliar with the local name – have perplexed mankind for centuries. How did one of the most isolated islands on earth give birth to such an advanced civilization? How did it rise so fast and collapse so dramatically?

And how did the ancient people of Rapa Nui build the 887 monolithic human statues known as moai, and transport them all across the island? This park offers some clues, but no definitive answers, making it ripe for an inspiring family adventure. Administratively, Rapa Nui is a Chilean territory in the Pacific, and is best reached by plane from Santiago (or circuitously, from Tahiti).

Parque Nacional Alberto de Agostini

Best park in Southern Chile

One of Chile’s largest and least-visited national parks, Alberto de Agostini is a great option for those who like to view raw nature and abundant wildlife from the comfort of a cozy, well-heated boat. Expedition cruises depart from Punta Arenas for the glacier-capped Cordillera Darwin in Chile’s extreme south, popping into narrow fjords filled with whales, penguins and barking elephant seals.

Many outfitters carry kayaks on board so you can have up close and personal encounters with the southernmost animals of the Americas. This far south, the climate is cold all year round, so the best time to visit is the austral summer.

Parque Nacional Pumalín Douglas Tompkins

Best park to visit in summer

This heavily rainforested park is named after the late Douglas Tompkins, an American philanthropist who purchased vast swaths of Patagonia to restore the land to its natural state, and then donated it back to the Chilean government. In the heart of the Chilean Lake District, Pumalín was his crown jewel; it’s modeled after the US national park system, with a spectacular trail network, a well-thought-out visitor center and simple lodging.

Rains are less frequent during the summer months (December to March), making this the best time for hikes to thundering waterfalls, montane lakes or the caldera of the Chaitén Volcano. Access the park from the region's main transportation hub, Puerto Montt.

Parque Nacional Lauca

Best park in Northern Chile

Travelers hoping to experience the Andean altiplano (high plains) invariably head to the parks near San Pedro de Atacama, but the reserves near the indigenous Aymara hamlet of Putre in Chile’s extreme north, are even more spectacular. Lauca is the most accessible park, with twin volcanoes and a vast area of puna (montane grassland) filled with alpacas, llamas and their wilder cousins, vicuñas and guanacos.

The greater Lauca Biosphere Reserve includes two more parks that can be reached via unpaved roads to the south – Reserva Nacional Las Vicuñas and Monumento Natural Salar de Surire. Both include glistening salt flats, wilderness hot springs and turquoise lagoons filled with fluffy flamingos. Visit in winter to avoid summer rains that can make roads impassable.

Parque Nacional Conguillío

Best park to visit in the winter

There’s something about the appearance of the araucaria trees in winter that makes this park seem to shine during the coldest months of the year (June-August). These ancient conifers – a species that has hardly changed in appearance since the age of the dinosaurs – pop up above the thick snow on the Llaima Volcano like arboreal fireworks.

You can ski in their midst at the Ski Araucarias resort and then rest your weary bones nearby in a thermal hot spring. Hikes in the park take in dense forests, crystalline lakes and vast lava flows from the 37 eruptions registered here since 1852.

You may also like:
The best places to visit in Chile for sipping and roaming
The best beaches in Chile for swimming, surfing and camping
Chile's best hikes and treks through extraordinary landscapes

Find adventure in Chile's best national parks 

One July evening last year on my first trip to Yosemite National Park, my partner and I took a leisurely swim in Mirror Lake. As warm orange alpenglow from the setting sun lit up the face of Half Dome, we waded into the small but deep pool, the imposing peak towering directly above us. The lake was emptying quickly, as other travelers hurried to hike back to their cars before dark. Soon, it was just us and the glowing mountaintops. The sounds of evening settled around us, and I felt a surge of awe and gratitude to be there to witness night falling on this utterly remarkable place.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have been able to visit Mirror Lake at all. Most Yosemite visitors access it via a two-mile hike. My fibromyalgia, a systemic connective tissue disorder, makes that impossible; more than 20 minutes of walking is just too painful under most circumstances. But the day before, on a whim, I had asked at the park gate if they ever gave out temporary disability placards for people like me – someone with mobility limitations that don’t qualify for a government placard but who could use some help in order to experience the park fully. To my surprise, the woman at the gate said yes.

That placard transformed my visit to Yosemite, giving me access to whole swaths of the park (like Happy Isles) that would otherwise be accessible only by foot, allowing me to more easily admire the stunning alpine scenery and have my sunset alone with Half Dome. Anyone can ask for a placard if they need it. And, as it turns out, Yosemite is not the only park to give them out. Many national parks are looking for ways to better serve travelers with disabilities these days. Here are just a few of the parks that are doing it right.

1. Yosemite National Park, California

The temporary placard that made so much possible for me is only the beginning of the thoughtful and thorough accessibility measures in place here. A brand-new path and viewing area under construction at towering Bridalveil Fall will be wheelchair accessible. And Mariposa Grove, a wonderful place to see giant sequoias, recently got a new wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, plus tactile maps and displays throughout the Grove for low vision visitors. Sadly, the Grove sustained major storm damage in winter 2021. Visitors with permanent and temporary placards can still drive the restricted road to the Mariposa Grove Arrival Area, but the accessible parking area near the 3000-year-old Grizzly Giant tree is closed. Check the Yosemite website for up-to-date information.

Plus, Yosemite provides a panoply of disability-friendly programming for people of all kinds of access needs. With enough notice, the accessibility team can provide tours, presentations and hikes for visitors with low vision, with mobility issues or who are on the autism spectrum. They’ve also sprinkled a collection of tactile maps of Yosemite Valley and popular viewpoints throughout the park, so blind visitors can experience the landscape everyone else is enjoying.

But Yosemite’s crown access jewel is its Deaf Services program, which dates back to the 1970s. Deaf and hard-of-hearing travelers have access to a public videophone and to specialized kits providing items like a shake-awake alarm clock and a smoke alarm light flasher if they’re staying in a park lodge. They also can request personalized help from the park’s dedicated Deaf Services Coordinator, who is available to help plan their visits beforehand, meet them when they arrive, attend programs with them as an ASL interpreter and lead private talks and walks for Deaf groups in ASL. This kind of attention to the Deaf community has not escaped notice, and the park sees a notably high number of Deaf and hard of hearing visitors. It celebrates that community and its history every five years with a celebration that includes campfires, storytelling and tram tours of the valley – all in ASL.

The world’s most wheelchair-accessible travel destinations

2. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Colorado

Sand is one of the great nemeses of wheelchair users, walker users and anyone with balance issues. For a place that’s known for its enormous, eerie sand dunes, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is surprisingly accessible. Wheelchair users can reserve specialized rides with blow-up wheels for traversing sand, making exploring the unearthly beauty of the dunes something more than a non-starter. (Note that you’ll still need to go with a partner, though, and that the wheelchairs can be hard to push!) For visitors who prefer to remain stationary or who want to focus on the more visual aspects of the park, the park has helpful tips on drawing the dunes.

Plus, Great Sand Dunes is known for its clear, dark skies. (As its website says, “Half the park is after dark!”) NPS offers evening programs from accessible amphitheaters on many summer nights.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter .

3. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The majesty of the Rockies is impressive any time of year, but Rocky Mountain National Park offers a particular multisensory delight in the fall season, through late October. The drive on Old Fall River Road to Trail Ridge Road will wind you through the spires and points of the alpine tundra. That’s a treat enough on its own, especially for people who like a side of geology with their outdoor travel.

But what you’re here for is the elk. An hour before sunset, pick a picnic spot in one of the meadows, enjoying the long shadows of golden hour. Soon, you’ll hear the males bugling in the distance, a haunting whistle coming down the mountains as they prepare for battle. If you’re lucky, the sounds will come closer and closer until the buglers themselves come out into the meadow to fight for the right to claim a mate. It’s a unique experience for people with all kinds of accessibility needs.

Plus, Rocky Mountain has done a lot of work to make its many beautiful hiking trails accessible for wheelchairs and walkers. Bear Lake Trail, Coyote Valley Trail, Sprague Lake Trail and Lily Lake Trail are all wheelchair accessible (although some large rocks make the last a bit of a challenge). And you can expect to see the grade listed on hills in at least some places to help users decide what makes sense for them. Forest Canyon Overlook trail is a particular stand-out, with a short, paved and accessible path leading to gorgeous canyon views.

Take a spin around the globe with an accessible travel expert

4. Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming

Speaking of multisensory experiences, it doesn’t get much better than Yellowstone. Beyond the dayglo colors of the thermal features and the crash of waterfalls, there’s another element to a Yellowstone visit that can’t be denied: its signature sulfurous scent. It might not be your favorite perfume, but it does make for a powerful reminder: something amazing is happening here. In addition to savoring the olfactory adventure, blind and low-vision travelers can download an audio-described park guide, request a Braille park brochure or download a copy in Braille Ready Format.

Rotten eggs aside, one characteristic of a great national park for travelers with disabilities is the amount of it you can see from a vehicle or boardwalk, and Yellowstone has this in spades. Many of its thermal features are wheelchair accessible, with clear signage about what’s passable for people on wheels. The drives that crisscross this enormous park provide stunning views of its unique mix of ecosystems and out-of-this-world geology.

The Victoria Cascade grand loop, for example, will bring you to an isolated meadow with great picnicking and a decent chance at sighting a bear or deer. The Firehole Lake drive takes you through some of the best of the park’s thermal areas – plus there’s almost always bison around. An adventure at Lamar Valley provides remarkable alpine views, with the possibility of spotting a grizzly or wolf. These drives are also great for people with sensory processing issues. Yellowstone can get pretty crowded during peak times, and it’s sometimes hard to find places away from people.

5. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

There’s nothing quite like seeing a Giant Sequoia for the first time at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. The trees are simply too huge to comprehend, towering overhead to create a shady cathedral in greens and browns. A walk through a sequoia grove is a multisensory bonanza. Not just the sights but the smells and sounds – the sweet-musty scent of pine needles, the creak and sigh as the enormous trees shift in the wind, the spongy-light texture of fire-scarred bark – create a peaceful atmosphere that’s unique to these woods. A visit to these parks would be worthwhile for people with all kinds of sensory and mobility needs even without the extensive disability access measures in place.

The General Grant Grove is a highlight for any Sequoia/Kings Canyon visitor. The short, wheelchair-accessible (though sometimes a bit steep) trail meanders through sequoias the size of apartment buildings, culminating at the Grant Tree, which is the world's third-biggest. And Braille text and tactile features along the trail help blind and low-vision travelers learn more about what they’re experiencing. (Bring gloves! The braille signs can be cold in the winter.) Taking an, um, leaf from its big brother Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon offers free ASL interpretation for any scheduled program with a week’s notice, as well as Deaf guest kits at Wuksachi lodge.

The COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately disrupted some of the park’s accessibility offerings. Travelers with mobility issues can usually borrow wheelchairs from multiple points and use them anywhere within the parks. Temporary accessible placards like the one I used at Yosemite are usually also available on request at entrances to the park. Unfortunately, both programs have been suspended during the pandemic. Still, several trails remain open and wheelchair accessible; Panoramic Point and Roaring River trails are especially good for hikers who need level and flat terrain.

6. Golden Gate National Recreation Area

It’s not technically a national park, but Golden Gate National Recreation Area is doing such cool accessibility work – and has so many beautiful and interesting things to see – that it’s worth mentioning to put on your vacation bucket list. The National Recreation Area encompasses an array of gorgeous northern-California-style beaches (think dramatic cliffs plunging into blue waves, whales spouting offshore, views of the Golden Gate Bridge) plus the atmospheric history of Alcatraz Island and the dappled wonderland of Muir Woods. Golden Gate has been hard at work in recent years implementing accessibility measures all over the place.

With advanced notice, beach wheelchairs are available on-site at Stinson Beach, Muir Beach, Rodeo Beach and Baker Beach for wheelchair users craving sun and sand, using a code and on-site locker. Plus, the Area offers a series of ASL videos talking about access and things to see in its various parks, as well as an ASL tablet tour of Alcatraz Island. Hard-of-hearing visitors preferring to go on tours in English can also request assisted listening devices.

Plus, Golden Gate has spent the last decade in partnership with the San Francisco non-profit LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, creating audio-described tours and large print, Braille and tactile maps of many of the Area’s best spots. The hope is that, along with the sounds of gulls wheeling above and the splash of waves, these resources can more fully bring the magic of the Bay Area to life for blind and low vision visitors.

Check out Lonely Planet's comprehensive guide to accessible travel online resources here.

You might also like:
Accessible England: ten of the best places for visitors with a disability
What I have learned from travelling the world with a wheelchair
Accessible travel in Italy

6 of the best national parks for persons with disabilities

Craggy cliffs cut by rivers, filled with old-growth forests, and flowing with waterfalls. These are the Catskills : a wild refuge two hours north of New York city where urbanites escape the hustle-bustle to explore the sublime.

The rolling plateaus of the Catskills offer a dynamic line-up of trails fit for all levels of hikers. Snap pictures of the state's tallest cataracts, try your luck on the East Coast's most daunting paths or glide along paved roads to see why millions of travelers fall in love with this region every year.

Sam's Point Area

Best hike for diverse landscapes
7.4 miles round trip, 4-5 hours, moderate

Sam's Point is the over-achiever of Catskills trails: instead of one jaw-dropping destination, it has three. The first of these spots is the area's eponymous lookout, located less than a mile from the parking lot. After climbing a steady paved path, step onto the flat, bald-faced ledge to see the Shawangunk Ridge and Wallkill Valley unfurling below.

Continue onward through a scrubby forest of huckleberry and pitch pine trees until you reach the ice caves – a series of chilly crevices where snow lingers well into July. Wood planks and ladders clearly mark the loop trail as it winds through the rocks. The caves may be impassible if you visit between late autumn and early spring; check at the visitor's center before beginning your hike.

To reach the third site, backtrack to signs for Verkeerderkill Falls – a 187-foot cascade that roars most impressively in spring and early summer. A sign along the trail exclaims "This is one of Earth's last great places" – a bold statement you'll have trouble refuting.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Kaaterskill Falls

Best waterfall hike
1.6 miles round trip, 1-2 hours, easy to difficult

Kaaterskill Falls isn't only one of New York's tallest cascades – it's also one of the most famous. Thomas Cole, founder of the Hudson River School, replicated the site in his romantic 19th-century landscapes. Washington Irving featured the "sheet of feathery foam" in Rip Van Winkle, his legendary tale from 1819. Today, everyone from plein air painters to camera-happy hikers captures the two-tiered, 260-foot waterfall as a work of art, enticing an estimated 100,000 people a year to follow in their footsteps.

A series of forested trails starting at Laurel House Road give hikers the option to choose their own adventure. For a quick, family-friendly stroll, head to the upper falls observation deck and wait in the steady stream of visitors waiting to pose for photos. To see both cataracts, take the strenuous 200-stair descent to the lower fall's base. From here, scramble over river rocks until you find a sturdy platform to admire the scenery.

On hot summer days, daring swimmers cool off in the refreshing watering hole below the upper falls. In winter, skip the icy downward climb and stick to the observation deck to see the frosted landscape from above. You'll likely encounter large crowds during autumn's leaf-peeping season – a price worth paying to see such natural beauty.

Bonticou Crag

Best hike for beginner-level rock climbing
2.3 miles round trip, 2 hours, difficult

Mohonk Preserve, located on the southeastern edge of the Catskills, covers over 8,000 acres and contains nearly 70 miles of trails. Choosing the proper hike can be a challenge, though not nearly as challenging as the trail to Bonticou Crag.

Don't be fooled by the trail's unassuming start. Meadows filled with eye-high grasses lead to a gravel road winding through peaceful woodlands. It isn't until you reach the Bonticou Ascent Path, marked in yellow, that the difficulty level dramatically increases. Here, the cliffside shoots above the treeline, and hikers must climb a short but intense rock pile to reach the top.

Brave hikers reap big rewards: the white quartz-and-sandstone summit offers 360-degree views of the region. Sit back on one of the ledges and refuel with a light snack before starting the descent. Luckily, you don't have to go down the way you came. Follow yellow arrows near the climbing area to walk down the mountain's backside. If this quick loop is still too easy, tack on a few extra miles by hiking to Table Rocks, a tranquil cliffside outcropping that doesn't require climbing.

Overlook Mountain

Best hike for panoramic views
4.6 miles round trip, 3 hours, moderate

The steep gravel road used to scale Overlook Mountain might not be the bucolic footpath of a John Muir daydream, but this hike above the town of Woodstock isn't entirely about the journey – it's about the destination. From the 3,140-foot summit, hikers can spot the Ashokan Reservoir glistening to the south and Hudson River Valley unfolding eastward. If the sights from here aren't grand enough, scale the 60-foot fire tower to change your point of view.

Before the hike begins, check out Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery where strings of colorful prayer flags flap in the wind. As you continue along the path, it's impossible to miss the ruins of a century-old hotel that welcomed guests from the early 1800s through the early 1900s. In 1940, the property was sold to New York State following a plague of slow business, fires, and shoddy reconstruction. While you're not likely to find ghosts from the hotel's heyday rustling among the abandoned rooms, do stay vigilant for signs of timber rattlesnakes, which occasionally slither along the trail.

Ashokan Reservoir Promenade

Best ADA-approved hike
5.4 miles round trip, 2 hours, easy

You don't have to climb the Catskill Mountains to marvel at their magnificence. This is particularly true along the wheelchair-accessible Ashokan Reservoir Promenade – a flat, paved trail hugging the water's southern shoreline as it stretches from Slide Mountain to Esopus Creek.

Although it may seem like a natural part of the landscape, this lake did not exist until the early 1900s. As New York City's population began booming, lawmakers looked toward the Catskills to find residents an adequate source of clean drinking water. Their solution was building this reservoir – but only after displacing roughly 2,000 people and clearing 10,000 acres of land. The 123-billion-gallon tank now provides Big Apple residents approximately 40% of their daily drinking water in non-drought seasons.

With the water came new kinds of communities. Today, families of trout, salamanders, frogs, and turtles call the Ashokan Watershed their home. Bald eagles nest in the maple and pine forests lining the shore, and white-tailed deer graze among grasses adjacent to the esplanade. Stroll, jog, or roll your way along the path and you'll understand why so many animals covet this century-old real estate. Plan your trip just before dusk to see the sunset’s neon palette reflected in the reservoir.

Devil's Path

Best hike for adventurous backpackers
25 miles from point to point, 2-3 days, very difficult

West Coast climbers familiar with the rugged Rocky Mountains will call most New York trails child's play until they attempt the Devil's Path. With six peaks covering over 14,000 feet in elevation change, this is widely regarded as the East Coast's most challenging through hike.

The arduous path is not for the faint of heart. Daring souls who attempt the trail usually spend three days camping in lean-tos and purifying their water from streams as they backpack along the east-to-west route. Unpredictable weather, rocky scrambles, and run-ins with black bears are par for the course.

But for all its danger, the Devil's Path is undeniably Edenic. For the majority of the trail, hikers will find themselves far enough from civilization to enjoy an abundance of wild waterfalls, thick forests, and spectacular vistas in solitude. If the payoff isn't worth the punishment, consider a day hike along some of its shorter sections, like the 7-mile Indian Head Loop Trail or the path to Plateau Mountain. Devil's Tombstone Campground – a popular site along Notch Lake – offers access near the route's midpoint.

Beer Mountain

Best trail for non-hikers
30 minutes, easy

If you can't commit to a full-fledged hike, consider taste testing the Catskill's natural landscape near the trendy town of Livingston Manor. Upward Brewing Company, a microbrewery favored by local hop heads, serves its suds with a side of hiking. Follow the sign near the chalet-style pub to climb up the property's aptly named Beer Mountain (not to be confused with Bear Mountain State Park).

The path starts with a steep ascent through a calm forest, then follows a rocky road to a meadow framed by rolling hills. It might not pack the same punch as other hikes on this list, but that’s not the point. This quick jaunt is just an excuse to order another beer after tricking nature naysayers into giving the mountains a go.

Tusten Mountain Trail

Best historic hike in the Delaware Valley
3 miles round trip, 1-2 hours, easy to moderate

Cross the rocky Ten Mile River as it ambles toward the mighty Delaware and you'll find yourself at the foot of Tusten Mountain – a gentle slope that climbs nearly 600 feet to a bird's eye view of the Western Catskills. You might spot a few locals from nearby Narrowsburg strolling along the forested path, but you're more likely to see a variety of avian travelers soaring through the canopy. Songbirds flit about at eye-level in spring and autumn, and if you look up, you may catch a turkey vulture or bald eagle surveying the landscape.

While driving along the dirt road leading to the hike, it's possible to make out remnants of early colonial communities. The short-lived Reeves Mill settlement occupied this area in the mid-18th century, followed by the 19th-century Tusten settlement, which set up workshops like a sawmill, gristmill, and quarry to take advantage of the area's natural resources. A historic stone arch bridge made of native bluestone greets hikers at the trailhead.

Tusten is a trail for all seasons, but the surroundings are most splendid in fall, when changing leaves of beech, oak, and maple trees put on a kaleidoscopic art show. For a less strenuous climb, follow the loop trail counterclockwise. Pack a lunch and spread out on one of the river's many flat rocks to enjoy a post-hike picnic.

You might also like:
How to plan the perfect Catskills weekend getaway
Get your hygge on in the Catskills in these Scandi-style cabins
When is the best time to visit US and Canada's national parks?

The 8 best hiking trails in the Catskills for every fitness level

Stretching across the Indian Ocean just southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives is renowned for countless paradise isles ringed by silky white sands, swaying palms and waters too clear to be true.

Lounging at a lavish resort here takes self-care to new heights, but venture beyond your sunbed and you’ll find cultural wonders, fiery-hot local food and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. Keen to find out more about this equator-spanning archipelago? Be inspired with our picks for the 10 best things to do in the Maldives.

Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

Experience local island life

Luxury resorts may be utterly blissful, but they exist entirely within their own private-island bubbles. To experience authentic Maldivian culture, you’ll need to visit a so-called ‘local island’ such as Huraa, Hithadoo or Maafushi, where you can stay at family-owned guesthouses, buy fresh-as-can-be mahi-mahi direct from fishermen and wander whitewashed streets as the call to prayer summons mosque-going crowds. Remember – Maldives is a Muslim nation; bikinis and speedos are fine at many hotels, but modest clothing is the norm elsewhere.

Relax and unwind

If you’ve chosen to travel to the Maldives, chances are you’re looking to do some serious chilling. If the chalk-white sands and pastel-pink sunsets aren’t enough to soothe away your stress, an exceedingly indulgent massage certainly is. The sleep-enhancing treatment at Huvafen Fushi resort is like a lullaby for frazzled grown-ups, and takes place in the world’s first and only underwater spa.

On a Beyoncé-level budget? It doesn’t get more opulent than the spa at Cheval Blanc Randheli, which occupies its own private island and can only be reached by dhoni (traditional boat). From deep-conditioning Parisian coiffeur–approved hair treatments and four-hand massages to meditation and ocean-view aerial yoga classes, a day here is like having a vacation within a vacation.

Swim with whale sharks

If swimming with whale sharks is on your travel bucket list, you’re in luck. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to spot them year-round – especially if you make Alifu Dhaalu Atoll ( Southern Ari Atoll) your base. Most resorts and guest houses offer whale-spotting snorkel trips and dives; choose a reputable operator that puts the wellbeing of the whales first and remember to keep a good distance away from the gentle giants if you have the good fortune of spotting one.

Try Maldivian cuisine

Step away from the continental buffet. Don’t you dare order a steak. Traditional Dhivehi (Maldivian) cuisine deserves your tastebuds' attention. Little produce grows here – pineapples and coconuts, primarily – and the dominant protein is tuna, but the limit on local ingredients has led to much invention.

You’ll find mas huni – a cold breakfast dish consisting of chili peppers, coconut, onion and tuna with roshi flatbread – everywhere, and spicy fish curries abound. But don’t miss a visit to a local cafe or teashop to sample hedhikaa (‘short eats’) such as kuli boakiba (spicy fish cakes), gulha (fried fish dumplings) or bis keemiya (tuna- and egg-filled pastry).

Explore the capital, Male

Most people who visit the Maldives completely bypass Male, perhaps due to the fact that it’s the antithesis of the typical tropical island aesthetic – the capital is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, cramming more than 200,000 people into just 3.2 square miles. But linger a while and you’ll be amply rewarded. Artificial Beach offers the chance to see how urban Maldivians do beach days; the guts-and-all fish market is a sucker punch to the senses and the ancient Old Friday Mosque captivates all those who enter with its intricately carved coral stone.

See bioluminescence

We’ve all seen the photos – nighttime beach shots where the surf glows neon blue. Vaadhoo is commonly named as the place to witness this nocturnal phenomenon, which occurs when bioluminescent organisms in the water are disturbed, but the truth is it can happen all over the Maldivian archipelago. Much like spotting the northern lights, you simply need good timing (come between June and October for the best chance) and a big dollop of luck.

Go scuba diving

Clear blue water is the Maldives’ defining feature – and scuba divers from all over the world come here for the chance to spot hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, manta rays, whitetip reef sharks and more. Unfortunately, rising sea temperatures lead to a devastating coral-bleaching event in 2016, which affected some 70% of the Maldives’ coral. While diving here remains far from the kaleidoscopic explosion of color it once was, the precious seascapes are slowly recovering.

Never dived before? Local island Fulidhoo is a laid-back spot to learn, but you’ll find PADI-certified instructors at practically every resort and guest house. Scuba-focused travelers might even prefer to skip dry land altogether in favor of a liveaboard dive trip or research expedition. Travel between January and April for the best visibility, or opt for October or November when plankton levels are high and larger fish come out to feed.

Stay in an eco-conscious resort

Maldives is the lowest-lying country in the world, making it particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Given the environmental impact of flying to these far-flung isles, it’s important to choose a hotel that prioritizes sustainability. That doesn’t mean you have to give up that opulent water villa you’ve been dreaming about, though – some of the most luxurious resorts are leading the pack when it comes to green initiatives.

For example, Soneva Fushi is carbon neutral and home to one of the largest solar power plants in the Maldives. The hotel is 90% waste-free, and you can take part in a glass-blowing workshop upcycling discarded drinks bottles from the restaurant. At Gili Lankanfushi, marine biologists run a substantial coral restoration project, and if you’re PADI-certified you can take part in a ‘dive against debris’ – the underwater equivalent of a beach clean.

Spot dolphins on a sunset cruise

Free-flowing champagne, fresh sea air and a candyfloss-colored sky – you’ll never regret splashing out on a luxury sunset cruise in the Maldives. It’s a classic experience for honeymooning couples, but even if you’re not celebrating recent nuptials, you may find you get caught up in the romance of the moment when you spot a playful pod of spinner dolphins surrounding your boat. They’re plentiful in Maldivian waters and will often pursue boats, corkscrewing out of the water seemingly just for the fun of it.

Go parasailing

The Maldives is pretty much pancake-flat (its highest ‘mountain’ on Villingili is just 5m high), and beyond the odd rooftop pool and seaplane flight, there are few means of getting a bird's-eye view of these turquoise-trimmed islands in all their glory. Despite being touted as an adrenaline sport, parasailing above the Maldives’ dreamy atolls is actually utterly peaceful – just remember to hold on tight to your camera.

You may also like:
When is the best time to go to Maldives?
It's easy to get a visa for Maldives - here's how
These women left winter in the city for a dream job in the Maldives

All Stories

St. Lucia's best parks and gardens to explore

The 11 most incredible national parks in South Africa for spotting wildlife, hiking and more

Insider tips for the best things to do in Italy

The top 10 free things to do in the Florida Keys

The best Malibu parks for fun in the sun

Find adventure in Chile's best national parks

6 of the best national parks for persons with disabilities

The 8 best hiking trails in the Catskills for every fitness level

10 incredible experiences in the Maldives to go beyond the villa

Featured in Best in Travel 2021

Berlin

Germany

City

Greece

Europe

Country

Palau

Australia & Pacific

Country

Faroe Islands

Europe

Region