AFAR Search

These New Activist-Led Trips Will Help Protect U.S. National Parks

In the wake of budget cuts, one travel company has launched environmental advocacy trips to the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Yellowstone.

August 14, 2025 11:40 AM

·

Chloe Bergé

The sun shining over a wooden walking path along an oceanfront cliff

National Parks

7 Less-Crowded Canadian National Parks for Backcountry Skiing, Rainforest Hikes, and Stunning Ocean Vistas

Avoid the crowds at Canada’s busiest national parks by visiting these magnificent, practically empty alternatives, from coast to coast.

January 7, 2026 05:53 AM

·

Nick Hilden

Johnson Lake, an alpine lake in the Snake Range, located inside Great Basin National Park in Nevada.

Travel Tips + Etiquette

U.S. National Parks Are at Risk Amid Staff Shortages and Budget Cuts. Here Are 6 Ways to Support Them

Budget changes mean that how you support the national parks—either in person or from afar—is more important than ever.

April 18, 2025 07:04 AM

·

Bailey Berg

National Parks

Alaska Has the Biggest National Parks and Some of the Least Visited. Here’s How to See Them All.

Alaska has the four largest national parks in the U.S.—and four more. Here’s everything you need to know for a visit to these famous (and less famous) natural wonders.

June 3, 2024 01:36 PM

·

Bailey Berg

National Parks

Tallest Volcano in the Galápagos Erupts for the First Time Since 2015

National park guards and scientists doing field work on pink iguanas living on the volcano’s slopes were evacuated.

January 7, 2022 03:14 PM

·

Associated Press (AP)

National Park of American Samoa, Tutuila island, American Samoa, South Pacific

National Parks

This Remote U.S. National Park Is Home to Bats, Beaches, and Tropical Rainforests

You may be the only traveler in sight at the National Park of American Samoa.

February 27, 2026 03:02 PM

·

Maggie Fuller

Hotel News + Openings

A New Mountain Lodge Is Coming to This Lesser-Visited, Volcanic Region of Japan

The Lucy hotel from luxury brand Hoshino Resorts is opening next to a national park in the Japanese countryside.

May 20, 2025 12:35 PM

·

Olivia Young

A night sky lit up by stars and the milky away above a desert landscape with red mountains

Astrotourism

16 Stunning Places to Go Stargazing in 2025

Enjoy a celestial show every night in these ultra-dark locations around the globe.

December 27, 2024 04:42 AM

·

Nile Cappello

Starry sky over a canyon with shrubbery in the foreground

National Parks

9 Incredible U.S. National Parks for Stargazing

These are the country’s best parks to see the night sky.

July 11, 2024 09:12 AM

·

Anna Fiorentino

National Parks

9 U.S. National Park Adventures You Need to Experience at Least Once

To escape the crowds and get to the essence of the United States’ magnificent natural treasures, embark on one of these special outdoor expeditions.

May 19, 2026 05:24 PM

·

Matt Bell

A field of purple hydrangeas in front of a green misty mountain with a small mountain chalet and evergreen trees

Where to Travel Next

Shhh! These Are Some of the Quietest Places on Earth

Quiet Parks International has selected parks, trails, and wilderness where you can escape noise pollution and finally find that ultimate luxury: some good old-fashioned silence.

July 11, 2024 09:56 AM

·

Nicholas DeRenzo

Visit Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and you'll experience an ecosystem that interweaves the land and ocean.

National Parks

9 Canadian National Parks to Visit for a Beautiful Escape

Nothing solves a bad case of cabin fever like a national park, and Canada is in good supply.

November 6, 2024 04:21 PM

·

Chloe Arrojado

Glacier National Park - Fireweed Blooms along Going-to-the-Sun Road

National Parks

Spring Isn’t the Only Time for Wildflowers—These 7 U.S. National Parks Bloom in Summer, Fall, and Winter

See petals all year long across the states, from Washington to Tennessee.

May 4, 2026 12:53 PM

·

Bailey Berg

Outdoor Adventure

8 Festive National Parks for the Holidays, From Carols in a Cave to a First-Class Polar Express Train

From the Smokies to Hot Springs, celebrate the season with snowman scavenger hunts, sailing or skiing with Santa, and snowball competitions.

November 24, 2025 03:10 PM

·

Matt Kirouac

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

·

Chloe Arrojado

Search results for