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Just because you’re in a national park, doesn’t mean you have to eat freeze-dried meals. No how. No way. Both Banff and Jasper National Parks have restaurants that range from high-end to full-on quirky. Whether you go for a traditional meal of Alberta beef or a vegetarian meal (something slightly newer to the area) at Nourish Bistro, you’ll head off to sleep satisfied and ready to take on another day of fun.

If you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park in the summer—when grizzly bear sightings, hot spring treks, and Grand Teton Mountain vistas are at their peak—remember to reserve a room far in advance. With their guided tours and unparalleled access to nature, these lodges fill up fast.

In the city’s once-gritty fishermen’s quarter, a group of activist chefs is reviving—and reinventing—traditional cuisine.

Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada is a place where elk still wander through town and bears are often spotted along the highway—and the locals prefer it that way. This is a place where residents prefer cabins to condos, and believe 5-star ratings pale in comparison to the 5 million stars in the night sky. Glacier walks and mountain hikes, scenic cruises and epic road trips, Jasper is the largest park in the Canadian Rockies and it’s got the diversity of wildlife, wild views, and adventures to prove it.

You don’t have to sleep on the ground after a day spent exploring the Grand Canyon’s rim trails on foot or by air via helicopter tour. We’ve rustled up a passel of our favorite national park lodgings so you can spend time where it counts: planning visits to the skywalk and Hopi House.

Even with all the distractions of trees and views around here, a person still has to eat. Fortunately, you can find waterfront restaurants, cheese shops, and historic inns. Here are some of the best places to eat around Redwood National Park.

You don’t necessarily need to know how to wield a paintbrush to participate in these seven art-filled tours.

The Redwood National and State Parks cover 139,000 acres, which can be a lot of ground to cover. Hit up these highlights to find the tallest trees, greenest groves, and best beaches.

Although D.C. style has historically leaned conservative, it doesn’t mean that shoppers can’t find the latest clothes, home furnishings, or food items. The nation’s capital has a number of high-end stores, independent boutiques, and outdoor markets to satisfy the shopaholic, whether you’re looking for designer suits, crafts, or vintage whatnots.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent Vendela Vida on a spontaneous journey to St. Maarten.

Volcanoes birthed Dominica’s rugged, vertiginous landscape and nine still simmer, creating mudpots and the famous Boiling Lake. Hike, climb, and bird-watch on steep tracks through the tropical rain forest, or challenge yourself on the Caribbean’s first long-distance route, the 115-mile Waitukubuli Trail.

There’s more to the Smoky Mountains than black bears and hiking trails: in this neck of the woods, you’ll also find genteel former mansions turned hotels and chic farm stays with world renowned food, surprising vineyards, and woodland diversions. Here’s your Appalachian getaway guide.

Interested in eco-adventure, but don’t want to sacrifice luxury? How about a romantic getaway? No worries! One of Belize’s best attributes is its lack of massive all-inclusive resorts where you battle for pool loungers and reservations at restaurants. Instead, the country offers a number of boutique and luxury resorts situated beachside on the Caribbean, or nestled in Central American rain forest.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent Sloane Crosley on a spontaneous journey to Ecuador.

Whether you want to stay somewhere historic or new, close to Yosemite National Park or far from the crowds in Mariposa Grove, there are several options for couples, families, and even groups, complete with everything from gourmet restaurants to awe-inspiring views of Glacier Point, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.