Recreation | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/recreation/RSS feed for RecreationenMon, 27 Apr 2026 11:45:00 +0000Walt Disney Visited a Ford Factory in 1948. What He Witnessed There Laid the Groundwork for What Would Become Disneylandhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/walt-disney-visited-a-ford-factory-in-1948-what-he-witnessed-there-laid-the-groundwork-for-what-would-become-disneyland-180988551/A new book argues that the film producer's trip to the River Rouge plant in Michigan inspired him to embrace the power of automation when designing the first Disney theme parkMon, 27 Apr 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/walt-disney-visited-a-ford-factory-in-1948-what-he-witnessed-there-laid-the-groundwork-for-what-would-become-disneyland-180988551/Would You Jump Into Your Local River? Swimmable Cities May Be Within Reach as Once-Polluted Waterways Are Restoredhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/would-you-jump-into-your-local-river-swimmable-cities-may-be-within-reach-as-once-polluted-waterways-are-restored-180988317/Efforts to improve the “swimmability” of urban areas are gaining global traction, from Paris to ChicagoTue, 10 Mar 2026 15:13:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/would-you-jump-into-your-local-river-swimmable-cities-may-be-within-reach-as-once-polluted-waterways-are-restored-180988317/See How Alex Honnold Climbed a Dizzying 1,667-Foot-Tall Skyscraper Without Ropeshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-alex-honnold-climbed-a-dizzying-1667-foot-tall-skyscraper-without-ropes-180988071/He became famous after scaling El Capitan without protective equipment in 2017. Now the 40-year-old athlete has completed the first free solo of Taipei 101 in TaiwanMon, 26 Jan 2026 22:00:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-alex-honnold-climbed-a-dizzying-1667-foot-tall-skyscraper-without-ropes-180988071/The Race Is On to Save the Alps' Famous Huts and Trails as Melting Permafrost Threatens to Destroy Themhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-race-is-on-to-save-the-alps-famous-huts-and-trails-as-melting-permafrost-threatens-to-destroy-them-180987994/Hiking will always be a part of life in the Alps, but climate change has made navigating high-alpine routes more complicatedTue, 13 Jan 2026 17:18:48 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-race-is-on-to-save-the-alps-famous-huts-and-trails-as-melting-permafrost-threatens-to-destroy-them-180987994/Meet the Daredevils Chasing Down Speed Records at the Bonneville Salt Flatshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/meet-the-daredevils-chasing-down-speed-records-at-the-bonneville-salt-flats-180987713/Race officials, tinkerers and competitors converge in Utah every fall to test both metal and mettleWed, 19 Nov 2025 15:42:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/meet-the-daredevils-chasing-down-speed-records-at-the-bonneville-salt-flats-180987713/How Landlocked Idaho Became a Leader in Urban Surfinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-landlocked-idaho-became-a-leader-in-urban-surfing-180987688/Boise's wave park is attracting outdoor adventurers—and the innovative public works project is inspiring other citiesFri, 14 Nov 2025 13:56:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-landlocked-idaho-became-a-leader-in-urban-surfing-180987688/Third Places Are Being Reimagined—and Welcoming Travelers in the Processhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/third-places-are-being-reimagined-and-welcoming-travelers-in-the-process-180987159/Outside of home and work, spaces like parks, food halls and libraries are stepping up with social offeringsThu, 14 Aug 2025 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/third-places-are-being-reimagined-and-welcoming-travelers-in-the-process-180987159/How Sweden's Vätternrundan Became One of the Biggest Recreational Bike Rides on the Planethttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-swedens-vatternrundan-became-the-biggest-recreational-bike-ride-on-the-planet-180986794/For 60 years, cyclists have descended on the city of Motala in June to ride 196 miles around Lake Vättern and promote healthy livingFri, 13 Jun 2025 18:52:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-swedens-vatternrundan-became-the-biggest-recreational-bike-ride-on-the-planet-180986794/The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2025https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-15-best-small-towns-to-visit-in-2025-180986681/From a barbecue capital in Texas to the site of the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War in New York, these spots are worthy of a visit this yearMon, 09 Jun 2025 19:05:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-15-best-small-towns-to-visit-in-2025-180986681/How America's Forgotten Second National Park Lost Its Federal Status—and Gained a New Lease on Life as a State Parkhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-americas-forgotten-second-national-park-lost-its-federal-statusand-gained-a-new-lease-on-life-as-a-state-park-180986751/Much of Mackinac Island was designated as a national park in 1875, but it proved to be too expensive for the government to maintain, so it was transferred to the State of Michigan in 1895Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:13:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-americas-forgotten-second-national-park-lost-its-federal-statusand-gained-a-new-lease-on-life-as-a-state-park-180986751/