AFAR Search

History + Culture

14 Beautiful Medieval Castles in Europe You Can Visit

Indulge your medieval castle fantasies in Europe.

October 18, 2023 12:24 PM

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Jennifer Ceaser

Weekend Getaways

Why Your Next Weekend Getaway Should Be to San Diego

Beyond the relaxed beach scene, the city pulses with energy. Here’s how to experience both sides.

Sponsored by Marriott

Museums + Galleries

Overlooked American Stories Come to Life at These New Museums

New museums and exhibitions are exploring the underrepresented experiences, histories, and legacies of minorities in the United States.

April 6, 2020 02:28 PM

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Devorah Lev-Tov

Hotels

The 10 Best Hotels for Architecture and Design

From a reimagined safari camp to an art-filled Canadian outpost, these 10 hotels get high marks for their innovative architecture and purposeful design.

September 1, 2023 04:23 PM

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Nicholas DeRenzo

Sunrise over colored trees at Shenandoah National Park

Natural Wonders

Charming Small Towns, National Parks, and Road Trips: 18 Beautiful Places to Travel for Fall Foliage

Here’s where to spy those gorgeous hues of gold and vermilion, from New England to northern national parks.

August 25, 2025 04:00 AM

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Chloe Arrojado

Underwater shot of diver in bikini next to large humpback whale

Outdoor Adventure

A Scuba Diver’s Guide to the Best Places in the World to Explore Underwater

From Fiji to Mexico and beyond, these are the essential places to dive deep.

September 11, 2025 03:04 PM

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Terry Ward

Road Trips

Highway 1 Is Now Open Again on California’s Big Sur Coast

You can take a classic Big Sur road trip once again now that a section of Highway 1 is open. AFAR joined 80 other cars for the ride.

July 18, 2018 01:48 PM

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Tim Chester

Books

The Miracle of Strange Encounters in Travel

Who are the people you just can’t shake? In the new book “Letter to a Stranger,” 65 writers explore the remarkable power of those they’ll never really know.

March 23, 2022 08:54 AM

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Aislyn Greene

Beaches

12 of the Best Secret Beaches in the United Kingdom

These remote beaches across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland afford visitors a crowd-free day by the sea.

August 23, 2019 04:30 PM

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Rachel Mills

Tips + News

Marriott Is Launching Its Version of Airbnb

Loyalty members will be able to gain and use points at more than 2,000 vacation home rentals.

April 29, 2019 06:20 PM

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Michelle Baran

Winter 2025

Where to Go in 2025

Mark our words: 2025 will be the year of crowd-free travel. Here are our picks for the world’s 25 most exciting, lesser-visited destinations to plan a trip to right now.

November 18, 2024 09:15 AM

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Tim Chester

Hotels

The 9 Best New Hotels in NYC of 2022

Check into one of these new spots near Central Park, over in Brooklyn, and yes, even on Roosevelt Island.

August 3, 2022 02:09 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

Fall 2023

The Otherworldly, Overwhelming, Oftentimes Unbelievable Natural Wonders of Oman

Rock climbing. Wadi hiking. Sinkhole swimming. Author Sarah Thankam Mathews seeks out adventure in her childhood home.

December 5, 2023 01:30 PM

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Sarah Thankam Mathews

Gora Kadan Fuji room with shoji screens leading to a garden

Hotels

The Best Luxury and Boutique Hotels in Japan—Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto

As travel to Japan continues to boom, we rounded up 23 of the best hotels across the country, many in sublime—and often less-visited—destinations.

April 22, 2026 04:18 PM

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Adam H. Graham

Weekend Getaways

11 Easy, Drivable Weekend Getaway Ideas From San Francisco

Get away from the city with one of these close-by destinations throughout Northern and Central California.

May 9, 2024 03:50 PM

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Jessie Beck

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