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Mountain Music and Sparkling Streams: The Ultimate Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip

Road Trips

This Is One of the Most Beautiful Drives in the U.S—Here’s How to Experience It

Two lanes, five days, nine tunnels, and endless diversions on this scenic drive through Virginia and North Carolina.

October 19, 2023 12:30 PM

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Jess Graves

Key west florida Smathers beach palm trees in USA

U.S. Beaches

6 U.S. Mainland Beaches That Look Straight out of the Caribbean

Save yourself the long-distance flight with these stateside beaches.

May 26, 2025 01:46 PM

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Becca Blond

Where to Travel Next

Why Small is Beautiful in French Polynesia

Sail with Paul Gauguin Cruises aboard their intimate ship for a once-in-a-lifetime trip filled with culture and adventure in the Islands of Tahiti.

Sponsored by Paul Gauguin Cruises

Maine is truly a four-season state, with each one offering new treasures and surprises. In summer, enjoy the coastline at Popham Beach, Higgins Beach, or even a <a href="https://www.afar.com/places/greenville-greenville-61131aa6-6637-43e3-9eec-ded2a5c1bf79" target="_blank">Moose Safari</a>. The leaves put on a show in the fall around the Bigelow Mountains and <a href="https://www.afar.com/places/acadia-national-park-maine" target="_blank">Acadia National Park</a>. Winter offers snow-covered ski trails at Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Shawnee Peak. And spring brings new life blooming along the Appalachian Trail. From Portland's culinary sophistication to the rustic beauty of the Appalachian Trail’s “100 Mile Wilderness,” you can find what you’re looking for in Maine, at any time of year.

Where to Travel Next

A 93-Mile Trail and Hobbit Homes: New England’s Latest Reasons to Visit

Ahead of fall foliage season, New England’s got plenty going on this summer and autumn.

June 24, 2024 08:47 PM

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Miles Howard

Road Trips

I Took a Solo Road Trip for Months—8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went

Here’s some solid advice for taking a solo adventure on the road.

April 23, 2025 08:43 PM

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Chloe Arrojado

Travel for Good

In Patagonia National Park, an Ancient Migration Route Is Restored

Chile’s new park was created with the goal of rewilding what was an important corridor for wildlife and people for millennia.

April 28, 2022 04:09 PM

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Chloe Bergé

Spring 2022

Birding Around the World: A Beginner’s Guide

All around the world, bird tours and trips are taking flight. Inside, your go-to guide on how to bird, where to bird, and what gear to buy.

May 3, 2022 08:25 PM

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Svati Kirsten Narula

The NYC edition joins five other US Virgin Hotel locations: Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville, and New Orleans.

Stay Here Next

Social Hot Spot or Hotel? The New Virgin Hotels New York Aims to Be Both

Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels New York outpost has arrived—with plenty of red velvet, clever design, and a nightlife hub that dreams bigger than the usual hotel bar.

October 13, 2023 09:00 AM

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Billie Cohen

Image of the deck of the 136-passenger 'Sea Cloud Spirit' with blue loungers and sails billowing overhead

Small Ship Cruises

Not Big on Cruising? This Intimate Sailing Ship Feels More Like a Private Yacht

Here’s what it’s really like to cruise on the classic sailing vessel Sea Cloud Spirit.

February 28, 2024 08:02 PM

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Jeri Clausing

The Next List

8 Can’t-Miss Places to Visit in New Zealand Right Now

Sculpture gardens, epic hiking trails, and food steeped in Māori history await.

September 19, 2024 02:10 PM

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Laura Dannen Redman

What Is Turbulence—and How Can Understanding It Help Anxious Flyers?

Air Travel News

What Causes Turbulence on Flights?

Reports of severe turbulence on planes (and in some cases, injuries) can make flying stressful. But understanding what turbulence is—and why it’s not so bad—can help ease fears.

March 15, 2023 01:01 PM

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Ali Wunderman

Restaurants + Cafés

The World’s Largest Underwater Restaurant Opens in Europe

On the southern tip of Norway’s coast, the aptly named “Under” restaurant offers fine dining among the fishes.

March 20, 2019 03:41 PM

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Matthew Phenix

National Parks

The Grand Canyon Is the Newest Dark Sky Park in the United States

A great stargazing destination just got even better.

June 7, 2019 06:46 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

Clockwise from top left: Drinks and food at Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman (1st and 3rd); Alesund, Norway; Abu Dhabi, UAE, The Aquarium near Margaret River in Western Australia; street scene in Istanbul, Turkiye; Antwerp, Belgium; Koks Restaurant in Greenland

Where to Travel Next

We Took Hundreds of Trips This Year and These Are the Places We Would Go Back to in a Heartbeat

Afar’s team roamed wide in 2024. These were our favorite spots from a year of exploring.

December 13, 2024 01:33 PM

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Tim Chester

Switzerland-MountPilatus-pongpinun-traisrisilp-Shutterstock.jpg

History + Culture

A Winter’s Night Atop Mount Pilatus

Unable to resist its lure, one writer makes a journey up Switzerland’s mythical mountain in the less crowded winter.

September 15, 2022 11:36 AM

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Hilary Nangle

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