Tourism has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late, from fuel shortages to water-gun-wielding locals, yet travel is poised to have a banner year. Behind the gloomy headlines, the real story is one of resilience and determination. Here are some ways people are getting around the obstacles and fulfilling their love for travel this year.
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will pass over remote parts of Greenland and Iceland’s western edge before arcing across northern Spain. Two summer trips will put Smithsonian Journeys travelers right in the path of totality—which just happens to cover World Heritage sites, intriguing cities, and Spain's beautiful wine country.
Behind the shamrocks and gold-tipped rainbows, Ireland is packed with surprises—both in its history and in the ways it has shaped culture far beyond its shores.
Smithsonian's educational travel program was one of the first of its kind when it debuted nationally in 1970, and it quickly found an audience eager to explore places both familiar and far-flung—from New Mexico to post-Mao China and the Soviet Union.
Egyptologist Huub Pragt and Smithsonian Journeys traveler Kellie Mecham share first impressions from their visit to the museum just days after its long-awaited opening.
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