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Smithsonian Lists

The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit

From the blues to the big top, 20 small towns that are big on culture

The Smithsonian Life List

From Iguazu Falls to the Outer Hebrides: 43 places to see this lifetime

Top EvoTourism Destinations

The best places to see the wonders of evolution

Editors' Picks

Tour Frank Sinatra’s Las Vegas

Relive the haunts of Ol’ Blue Eyes and the Rat Pack

Tour Louis Armstrong’s New Orleans

Visit the dance halls, saloons and honky tonks that gave Satchmo his start

Tour Jane Austen’s English Countryside

Follow in the footsteps of Mr. Darcy and the Bennet sisters

Food & Travel Beats

Exploring the World’s Most Imperiled Rivers

Agriculture, pollution and hydroelectric development threaten many great rivers. See them while they still flow, via raft, kayak, canoe—or bicycle
May 01, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Page 1 of 53

Americans Are Actually The Best Tourists

A recent survey reveals that many service workers don't find American that bad at all
May 06, 2013 | By Rose Eveleth

What’s Better at the New Orleans Jazz Fest: The Food or the Music?

From oyster patties to po'boys, crawfish to étouffée, the caterers and restaurants offer strong competition to the legends on the big stage
May 02, 2013 | By Leah Binkovitz

From Sea to Shining Sea: Great Ways to Explore Canada

The latest Gallup poll results are in—and Americans love Canada more than any other nation. Here are six ways to experience the greatest scenery of America's neighbor to the north
April 22, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Map best small towns

Interactive: The Best Small Towns to Visit in America

Tour this map and see which idyllic small towns are closest to you

Hiking with Your Dog This Summer May Be Harder Than You Think

If you've entertained ideas of boundless romping in the woods with your pet, you may be in for a serious letdown, as more and more parks have cracked down on man's best friend
April 24, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Cheating Their Way to Fame: The Top 9 Adventure Travel Hoaxes

From polar exploration to summit bids to marathons, claims of heroic journeys have turned out to be tales woven with lies
April 17, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Inside the Great American Baseball Road Trip

Forget team loyalty. In 2013, it's all about the stadium, as ballpark chasers take to the road with the goal of seeing a game in every stadium on the continent
April 12, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Frank Sinatra

How to Tour Frank Sinatra’s Las Vegas

Even though most of 1950s Vegas is long gone, there are still many ways to relive the haunts of Ol’ Blue Eyes and the Rat Pack
April 01, 2013 | By Nina Fedrizzi

In Bloom At Last: D.C.'s Cherry Blossoms Have Arrived

2013's cherry blossom bloom along the Tidal Basin was worth the wait

Sokos Hotel Viru

Pay No Attention to the Spies on the 23rd Floor

For years, the KGB secretly spied on visitors to the Hotel Viru in Estonia. A new museum reveals the fascinating time capsule and all the secrets within
April 09, 2013 | By Andrew Curry

Abu Camp elephants

The Joys and Dangers of Exploring Africa on the Back of an Elephant

Renowned travel writer Paul Theroux journeys through Botswana’s spectacular, wildlife-rich wetlands
April 2013 | By Paul Theroux

Going the Distance on the Pacific Crest Trail

One of America's great long-distance hiking trails, the PCT meanders 2,650 miles through three states, from Campo, California, to E.C. Manning Provincial Park, in British Columbia
April 08, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Underwater Orda Cave

Antartica, South Georgia Island

How to Tour the World’s Greatest Science Labs

Around the globe, physics and astronomy labs—some on mountaintops, others underground—welcome visitors to tour the premises
April 03, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Beautiful Photos of Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors

Photo contest submissions capture the eye-popping colors of the annual celebration

Gettysburg, PA

Has Gettysburg Kicked Its Kitsch Factor?

Historian Tony Horwitz travels to the Civil War battlefield and finds that even where time is frozen, it’s undergone welcome changes
April 2013 | By Tony Horwitz

Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor, Cambodia

Green strawberries

Strawberries Still Green? You’re on Trend!

Chefs around the country are experimenting with the springy, tart version of this favorite berry. Try pickling them yourself
April 30, 2013 | By Twilight Greenaway

Travel Photography: A Discussion With a Pro About Ethics and Techniques

The author discusses the ethics, joys and challenges of photography with Canadian travel photographer Matt Kadey
March 22, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

Best small towns in America

The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013

From the blues to the big top, we’ve picked the most intriguing small towns to enjoy arts and smarts
April 2013 | By Susan Spano

Great Camp Sagamore

Where Was the Birthplace of the American Vacation?

First in rustic tents and later in elaborate resorts, city dwellers took to the Adirondacks to explore the joys of the wilderness
April 2013 | By Tony Perrottet

Travel books

The Top Ten Most Influential Travel Books

Even before there were armchairs, voracious bookworms traveled the world just by reading
March 20, 2013 | By Tony Perrottet

Faces From Afar: Through Wild Desert and Urban Shantytowns, Two Men Walk the Baja Peninsula

Armed with food, water and a surfboard, two young Americans leave the comfort of home to walk and paddle the length of the Baja California peninsula
March 26, 2013 | By Alastair Bland

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