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Uncover the great urban outdoors in Toronto, Canada’s most bustling city, to enjoy leisurely days of swimming, hiking, and kayaking complemented by delicious, eco-conscious restaurants and city excitement.

Ancient Roman ruins, hypermodern synagogues, and utopian urban centers are just some of the World Heritage Sites that make Germany worth a deeper dive. Click the icons on the map to explore these gems and nearby Hilton hotels for your stay.

Get in touch with your inner Viking when you sail on a Viking ship and check out archeological objects on this itinerary including an overnight in an 800-year-old castle.

Explore Arizona’s vineyards and desert spas, and a historic dude ranch near Tucson with this eight-day travel itinerary.

Immerse yourself in natural and cultural wonders as you uncover an enchanting landscape of ancient rock formations and underground cities.

I like hotels in general, but there’s a special place in my heart for national park lodges. The range of accommodations usually encompasses several levels of vacation budgets (Yay for patriotic inclusiveness!) and there’s nothing better than waking up surrounded by the very sights and sounds you’ve traveled to see. Denali National Park doesn’t have any NPS-owned lodges, but you can get pretty danged close in terms of atmosphere and location (the park is right on the other side of the roaring Nenana River) by staying at this sprawling Holland America-run resort. Recently renovated accommodations include deluxe rooms and suites in buildings strategically placed along the river and deluxe rooms in the Canyon Lodge building. All buildings are served by a shuttle service and linked by paths. Decorated with historic photographs and rustic-chic touches, my suite room was a dreamy blend of civilization and wild surroundings. Falling asleep to the soundtrack of a rushing river just feet from my window was perfect way to end a day spent in the park. [This photo is a view from my window just before midnight in late June. Midnight!]
Ann Shields traveled to Alaska and the Yukon with Holland America Line as part of AFAR’s partnership with the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), whose members provide travelers with unparalleled access, insider knowledge, and peace-of-mind to destinations across the globe. For more on Ann’s journey, visit the USTOA blog.

Enjoy everything from Cartagena’s colorful coastal lifestyle along the Caribbean to the dazzling urban vibes of Bogotá and Medellín on a trip through Colombia filled with history and culture.

Planned as a gathering spot for guests at the McKinley Chalet Resort, the design of Denali Square manages to take all the great things about a hotel lobby (a community center, a delivery system for pride of place, a communications hub, and a comfortable place to relax and people-watch) and move them outside. And when the light lingers past 11 p.m. and the air is fragrant with evergreen and mountain cool, you definitely want to be outside. A generous deck area allows you to listen to live music while dining or enjoying a cocktail. Inviting fire pits circled by chairs are scattered in the clearing (s’mores, please!). A covered two-sided stage offers live music in the evenings on one of its faces and ranger-talks during the day on the other. Shops, a theater, and an artist’s workshop surround the outdoor space. Inside the main building, the 7,800-square-foot Karstens Public House could take its status as the only game in town as a bland way out, but instead offers seriously good food with a well-considered sense of the surrounding: local craft brews, reindeer sausage, bison burgers, and a thick, roasted vegetable soup so delicious that I’m trying to replicate it at home. I doubt I’ll ever capture the lovely sense of enjoying it outdoors, under high mountains and northern summer light.
Ann Shields traveled to Alaska and the Yukon with Holland America Line as part of AFAR’s partnership with the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), whose members provide travelers with unparalleled access, insider knowledge, and peace-of-mind to destinations across the globe. For more on Ann’s journey, visit the USTOA blog.

Visit small villages, enjoy a traditional Thai meal in a local home, and stay at an eco-resort built into a hill.

The best design the country has to offer is at the heart of this trip, from open-air art installations and a porcelain manufacturer to Bauhaus buildings.

Bask in a luxurious Turkaegean retreat on the sun-soaked Turquoise Coast

From kayaking and biking to spa treatments and great eats, this itinerary blends adventure and relaxation.

Soak in the Dead Sea, learn Jordanian recipes, and camp in Wadi Rum on this epic adventure.

See thought-provoking contemporary art, world-class performances, and more at Toronto’s most treasured cultural institutions on this three-day itinerary.

Read articles from this print issue of Afar Magazine.