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These 10 small yet enchanting U.S. wine towns will surprise and delight you with their farm-to-table restaurants, shops and galleries, and cozy boutique inns—and probably have you shipping bottles home by the case, too.

The expanding U.S. Bicycle Route system allows plenty of unique opportunities to traverse lesser-known roads and explore America on two wheels.

Start planning your next summer escape now.

Paddle three rivers, tee up at a signature golf course, and hop on the saddle for a trail ride through the forest at the enchanting Palmetto Bluff resort.

The tradition of artisanal rum making has become central to island life.

On a luxurious journey from Singapore to Bangkok, writer Chris Colin lifts the veil on the magic—and mystery—of rail travel.

Where can you find an island rising above a wetland marsh that provides for thousands of snowy egrets nesting on man-made stilt platforms and a historic factory producing over 700,000 bottles of a fire-hot red sauce a day? Only one place in world, Avery Island, Louisiana, home to the world-famous Tabasco sauce. Located about 3 hours west of New Orleans, Avery Island is where Tabasco sauce was created in 1868 by Edmund McIlhenney. Still family-run, the factory (open for tours) produces over 700,000 bottles a day of the hot stuff after aging the pepper “mash” in white oak casks for 3 years. The factory tour (free of charge) includes a video about how Tabasco sauce is made, a view of the bottling room, and a chance to see a oak cask up close filled with the pungent smelling pepper mash. After the hot stuff, it is time for a little nature. In the late 1890’s the founder’s son, E.A. McIlhenney created what is now known as Bird Island to encourage the nesting of the beautiful snowy egrets which had been hunted for their plumes nearly to the point of extinction. Over 120 years later, thousands of snowy egrets mass each spring in a squawking community of white to raise their young safely on man-made stilt and reed platforms. Bird Island is located within the 170-acre Jungle Garden along the Bayou Petite Anse just a two-minute drive from the Tabasco Factory. The gardens include bamboo forests, camellia and azalea gardens, massive oak trees, gators, deer and raccoon.

Audubon Park sits on the site of a former sugar plantation—the only plantation in the city that wasn’t subsequently developed for homes or businesses. It’s about 25 minutes via streetcar from downtown, but feels a world apart, with its spreading live oaks hung with Spanish moss and its lagoons that serve as sanctuary—appropriate given the park’s name—to egrets (great, cattle, snowy), herons (green, blue, night), ibises, and the black-bellied whistling ducks. A loop around the paved walkway/bikeway, which boasts a public golf course at its center, runs 1.75 miles; alternatively, trek to Magazine Street for a visit to the Audubon Zoo, then catch a bus downtown along the city’s best shopping thoroughfare.

Amelia Island’s salt marsh is perfect for paddle boarding and kajaking. I spent a gorgeous morning on, and -whoops- in the water, although I had been warned by the locals that the water would be ‘freezing’ cold in October. I goofed around. I fell in. When you’re from San Francisco where the Bay is so freakin cold, it will kill you instantaneously Florida marsh water feels more like a lukewarm bathtub. Just sayin. Mind you, the thought of gators (and sharks?!!) had me back on the board in no time! The real highlight of this excursion was a tree, all the way on the other side of the water–completely taken over by birds. Paddling towards it, we saw a majestic blue heron and a number of hectic little kingfishers. Once we got to the tree, we saw great egrets, snowy egrets, roseate spoonbills, and even a woodstork. Call the Nature Center (904-321-5082), open daily 9am-5pm, for a schedule of tours. Tour duration is 1 1/2 hour. Tour time will vary depending on tides. Meet at Walker’s Landing. $65 per person. __________________________ A warm thank you: My Amelia Island experience was courtesy of Omni Resorts Amelia Island Plantation (http://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/amelia-island-plantation). #MeetMeAtAmelia

Whether you want to walk, bike, skate, fish, or just enjoy the view, you can do it on the North Bay Trail. Stretching from Demen’s Landing Park (south) to Rio Vista Park (north), The North Bay Trail provides a paved, scenic route where you can enjoy views of Tampa Bay, downtown St Petersburg, wildlife, boats, and beautiful old homes in the Old Northeast section of St Pete. We often walk or bike the 1.5-mile stretch of the North Bay Trail that runs from our home in the historic Old Northeast along Coffee Pot Bayou, through North Shores and Vinoy Parks, around the Vinoy Yacht Basin, St Pete Waterfront and St Petersburg Marina, and out to Demen’s Landing. Here we can watch boats sail into the harbor or planes land at Albert Whitted Airport. Along the way we stop to watch the egret, pelican, and heron rookeries on Bird Island in the middle of Coffee Pot Bayou with the hopes of catching a glimpse of the elusive Roseate Spoonbill. We sit on a bench and watch egrets and herons fish along men fishing in thigh deep water. There is always a friendly dog to pet as St Pete is filled with dog lovers who regularly walk their dogs along the North Bay Trail. Once downtown, we can stop for a gelato at Paciuga’s, a croissant at Cassis, or a chocolate at the new Kilwin’s. The we head home enjoying the views once more.

This Ranch Preserve has several miles of trails that run along the edge of the coastline and up sloping hills into pine forests. I’ve hiked here several times with my husband and we’ve seen squirrels, red-tail hawks, kites, egrets, deer, whales, and dolphins. There are burrowing owls, but we haven’t seen those yet! This is a beautiful place to stop and spend a couple hours walking out in the fresh ocean air.

Positioned on Aruba’s west coast, this protected expanse of wetlands is a landing spot for migrating birds. Of the more than 80 species that come to feed, mate, or simply rest here, black-necked stilts are the most common—keep an eye out for their long red legs. Others include green herons, egrets, and Caribbean parakeets. For the best sightings, stop by when the sun is rising or setting. Note: The sanctuary isn’t the easiest place to find, which makes this stretch of marsh and mangroves delightfully void of tourists. There are no admission fees or set hours.

As we pulled onto the Marble Lane Bridge, a steel trestle built by a Dayton, Ohio, company in 1908, we realized why John Muir Laws (author of Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide, and research associate at the California Academy of Sciences) cites this as the best birding spot in the Northern Sierra. As it was midday, the bird activity in the Sierra Valley (the largest intermountain valley in the Sierra Nevada) was relatively quiet. And yet: hundreds of white-faced ibis pecking in the marshes; barn swallows and tree swallows looping above the water; one egret in flight; plus yellow-headed blackbirds, willets, coots, geese, (what I think was) a Swainson’s hawk, and more.

Carlsbad’s South Ponto Beach is a big favorite with local residents. The annual surf clinic for the blind and sight-impaired—with nearly 100 surfer-assistant volunteers from the Swami’s Surfing Association and San Diego Surf Academy—is held here in mid-Sept every year. Plenty of sand to stretch out on, and the sand dunes shelter the beach from Highway 101. This popular beach is backed by the tranquil Batiquitos Lagoon to the east. Check out the viewpoint at the top of the stairs at the south end for a spectacular view of the North County coastline. It’s handicapped accessible, with two parking spaces right off 101 (just south of the parking lot entrance). There’s a paved path leading to the viewpoint. The beach can be rocky in places (which is a very healthy and good thing) and there are large dunes to scramble over to reach the waves. Batiquitos Lagoon is 600 acres of restored and protected wetlands that opens to the ocean at South Carlsbad State Beach. Paths through the protected area make it accessible to visitors, and leashed dogs are permitted. A popular birdwatching spot, look for blue herons, egrets, killdeer, even the endangered California least tern.

Sometimes it is hard to find a piece of “old” Florida; a reminder of what the Tampa Bay area looked like when settlers first came in the 1800s. Luckily Boyd Hill offers the visitor a glimpse into that not-so-distant past. Spend an hour or two wandering through a Florida wilderness set on the beautiful shores of Lake Maggiore (only 10 minutes from downtown St. Petersburg). Well maintained and signed trails and boardwalks make it easy to enjoy the various habitats and critters. An aviary is home to a number of birds who have been rehabilitated from injuries but are not able to return to the wild. The Boyd Hill Preserve is 240-acres of lake, marsh land, pine flatwood forest, marsh woodlands, and sand scrub. The gopher tortoise make Boyd Hill its home and it is delightful to watch a pair lumber across the trail. Roseate spoonbills, anhingas, egrets and herons all hang out in the lake and marshes of Boyd Hill. Ospreys and bald eagles are known to roam and nest in the area as well. Are you in the St Petersburg area and maybe have had just about enough beach? It can happen. Maybe you want to take a break from the umbrella drinks on the patio? How about spending the day immersing yourself in the nature here. When that umbrella calls, you can be back in no time.