The Wilder Side of the Nordics

Sponsored by The Nordics

The Nordic countries are famous for dramatic scenery, from Norway’s fjords and Sweden’s forests to Denmark’s coastlines and Finland’s lakes. But you don’t have to chase the most photographed viewpoints to experience The Nordics’ wild side. Venture off the well-trodden paths and you’ll find boulders that defy gravity, a railway that plunges down a mountainside, and a forest tower that spirals above the treetops. This itinerary pulls together some of the region’s more unusual experiences in nature, architecture, and the outdoors. Hike to a boulder suspended above a fjord, peer into the blue ice of a glacier, walk where two seas collide, and sleep among the pines in an architect-designed treehouse. This route favors places where the landscape itself is the attraction, and where exploring it can mean hiking, riding a ferry, or simply slowing down long enough to notice what’s around you.

Survey Strange Sites Around West Virginia

Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism

West Virginia contains multitudes. It has the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope and a town full of people who moved there specifically to avoid radio waves. It has a fallout shelter designed to house all 535 members of Congress, hidden under a five-star resort, that remained a state secret for 35 years. It even has a working lighthouse built from a wind turbine that rolled off a truck. And that’s just a taste of the weird and wonderful sites you’ll find across the Mountain State!

Red Rock Over Time: A Road Trip Through Native American History

The Four Corners region of the American Southwest—where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah converge—contains the highest concentration of Indigenous peoples in the United States, and the most extensive and best-preserved record of pre-Columbian civilization anywhere north of Mexico. The Ancestral Puebloans built a road network that stretched 400 miles from a canyon in northwestern New Mexico, with remnants that you can still explore today. The Navajo Nation, at 27,000 square miles, is the largest Native American territory in the country and is still home to more than 170,000 people. Taos Pueblo has been continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These are not archaeological remains of a vanished civilization. They are places where people live, pray, govern, trade, and make art today exactly as they have done for millennia. This three-day road trip connects eight sites running north from Albuquerque through the heart of the Four Corners to Mesa Verde. It is a route through Indigenous history that is also a route through the Indigenous present.

Strange Ground: Ecological Wonders of the Deep South

The southeastern U.S. is one of the most geologically and ecologically complex regions in the country. Its limestone karst terrain is riddled with sinkholes and underwater cave systems, while its coastal plains support the largest blackwater swamp in North America. Sandstone gorges harbor species displaced southward by ice-age glaciers, still surviving far from their original range. This three-day route—from northern Alabama through southwestern Georgia and into north-central Florida—allows you to experience all of this region’s fascinating natural diversity in eight stops.

Fade In: A Cinema History Road Trip Through Los Angeles

Los Angeles built itself around the act of making movies. Farms and orchards were cleared to build studios, and the rest of the city grew up in their shadow. A century later, the history is still readable in the architecture: in an alley behind Hollywood Boulevard where Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd all filmed within blocks of each other; in a Victorian office building that a mining mogul commissioned from a draftsman who consulted his dead brother before agreeing to the job; in a cluster of storybook cottages that gave Walt Disney the visual language of “Snow White.”

Explore Wisconsin’s Most Extraordinary Architectural Sites

Wisconsin is home to a vast collection of unusual architecture, including manmade grottos, strange sculpture gardens, and the aptly named House on the Rock. A number of these creations were built with no formal training and no particular audience in mind, using salvaged materials: concrete, broken tile, seashells, industrial scrap. Of these, several have since been recognized as significant works of outsider art and are now preserved by arts foundations. That said, the state doesn’t lack for more conventional estates either, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and a remarkably well-preserved villa built by a 19th century fur baron. This itinerary connects some of the state’s best destinations for art and architecture lovers, running southwest to northeast from Prairie du Chien to Milwaukee.

Time Travel Through Monterey County

Sponsored by See Monterey

Monterey County is one of those places where California history doesn’t just linger; it stacks, layer upon layer, across coasts, valleys, and mountains. On a single journey, you can move from Indigenous homelands to Spanish presidios, from Mexican-era ranchos to 20th-century artist colonies, and onward into a region shaped by agriculture, military history, creativity, and ecological conservation. In that spirit, Monterey is looking back at more than 1,000 years of its history, a project inspired by America’s 250th anniversary. Each of the places on this road trip is a part of that history, helping to shape this remarkable stretch of California coast. Learn more at The Monterey 1000 Project.

A Haunted Road Trip Through New England

New England has a longer, denser record of documented supernatural lore than almost anywhere in America. This is partly a function of age—the region’s colonial settlements date to the 1620s, giving four centuries for tragedy, execution, epidemic, and obsession to accumulate—and partly a function of the Puritan worldview that shaped its earliest culture. This long-weekend itinerary spans eight spooky spots from Connecticut through Rhode Island into Massachusetts, including a duplex that spawned a horror film franchise and the only surviving structure from the Salem witch trials.

Florence, Alabama: Soulful Sounds, Southern Food & Unexpected Wonder

Beneath cliffs, inside shadowed canyons, and within unassuming studio walls, northern Alabama hums with stories that feel slightly off-kilter in the best way. This route guides you through four places where nature, culture, and history collide.

Wonders of Nature: An Adventurer’s Exploration of The Florida Keys

Sponsored by Visit Florida Keys & Key West

The Florida Keys are a destination where the land loosens its grip and the ocean takes over. Here, adventure often requires swimming below the surface and wandering into landscapes where nature and the human past blur together. This route from Key Largo to Key West leans into the wild, the submerged, and the delightfully strange. Visit spots where a dive doubles as an aquatic adventure and a roadside stop is an oversized sea creature, all while learning more about the unique history of Florida’s most iconic isles.

Six Spots to Celebrate the Natural Beauty of Illinois

Sponsored by Illinois Office of Tourism

Whether you’re looking for sweeping prairie restorations, sandstone overlooks or deeply layered archaeological sites, this journey traces some of Illinois’ most compelling intersections of landscape, ecology, and human history. Moving from north to south, it unfolds as a gradual immersion into wilder, quieter spaces—where glacial formations, tallgrass ecosystems, river backwaters, and ancient rock shelters each reveal a different chapter of the region’s natural and cultural story.

An Austin Food Crawl Through Hidden Taquerias, Backyard Bars, and Global Barbecue

Sponsored by Visit Austin

Austin’s most interesting meals often appear in unlikely places. A family café that has served legendary migas for generations sits just miles from taco trucks pushing new ideas about tortillas and smoke. A quiet alleyway hides a taqueria. A barbecue pit channels Egyptian street food. This food-focused route crosses the city from historic East Side breakfasts to backyard bars and globally inspired smokehouses. It is less about fine dining and more about the innovative and delicious directions Austin cooking keeps taking.

Parkitecture & Provisions

Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism

In this stretch of West Virginia, gorgeous scenery rises from creeks and cliffs, cabins sit nestled in golden forests, and the best meals come with a side of regional lore. From a postcard-perfect mill to sandstone corridors carved by time, you can explore the stunning geological and human-built “parkitecture” of the forests. And when all that exploring works up an appetite, sample the bounty of local fare—from historic pancakes to sweet-and-savory Appalachian relish.

Where to Rest, Relax, and Recharge in Sonoma County

Sponsored by Sonoma County Tourism.

Sonoma County is a getaway like no other, welcoming visitors from near and far with one-of-a-kind outdoor discovery, refined accommodations, and endless opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation. Beyond its famous vineyards and towering redwood forests, there are plenty of other ways to explore this picturesque region along the Pacific coast and experience the rich culture and history of Northern California. Just 40 miles north of San Francisco, a visit to Sonoma County feels like entering another world, where day-to-day stresses take a backseat and the sights, sounds, and flavors of life become more pronounced. Here, visitors will find a laid-back vibe that instantly feels welcoming, first-class food and drinks (including plenty of wine, of course!), and curated amenities that allow a true chance to unwind. Make the most of your next Sonoma County getaway by exploring these 10 unforgettable spots.

The Golden State via Route 66: An Adventurer’s Guide

Sponsored by Visit California

Since the 1920s, when construction began on the highway that would eventually connect Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 and California have filled the global imagination with stories of ambition and possibility. California is well known as a state that values individual expression and welcomes both diversity and creativity. During the Great Depression, Route 66 offered a literal pathway for westward migration toward opportunity within the United States. As the road was modernized, it also provided an economic lifeline to businesses in small towns, which benefited greatly from access to larger markets along the highway. Route 66 turns 100 in 2026, marking a perfect time to go west to play. In California, families and solo travelers will find plentiful year-round outdoor activities, staggeringly gorgeous mountains and beaches, and a culture that celebrates freedom of expression and quality of life. If you’ve ever felt the pull to go west, make this your year to experience California.

From the Big Screen to the Slopes: Your Cinematic Winter Getaway in Colorado

Sponsored by Visit Colorado

A winter trip to Colorado, with its cinematic mountainscapes, can feel like you’re in a movie. With such a variety of activities—fast-paced snowmobile rides, railroad adventures, scenic snow shoe treks—it’s no wonder so many great films, from snowy adventure flicks to buddy comedies, were shot there. In fact, Colorado’s long onscreen history is about to welcome a new era, with the Sundance Film Festival making its home in Boulder in 2027. Travelers seeking midwinter adventure can find feature-film vistas and plentiful thrills in these Colorado spots—the settings or inspiration for favorite snow-frosted films. Whether you’re exploring the state’s alpine scenery, gliding down its powdery slopes, or engaging its rich and colorful history, Colorado has something for everyone.

7 Offbeat Experiences in (and Around) Utah’s Mighty Five Parks

Sponsored by Visit Utah

The great state of Utah isn’t lacking in natural wonder. It’s famous for its five extraordinary national parks—Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion—which offer stunning views, endless hikes, and unique rock formations. But those aren’t the state’s only sights to behold. Between the parks lie even more otherworldly landscapes, historical treasures, and opportunities for relaxation. Explore an ancient Native American dwelling perched above a rushing river, wander among sandstone giants, and uncover the history of a long-lost mining town. We’ve put together an itinerary you can cover in a couple of days, with plenty of time for further wandering.

Explore Savannah’s Southern Charm for Your Getaway

Sponsored by Visit Savannah

Wander down Savannah’s cobblestone streets into a curious setting, where stately Victorian homes and moss-covered trees color the neighborhoods with unparalleled elegance. Here, a pervasive sense of history—of stories and traditions around every corner—will win you over more and more the longer you explore. There’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon popping into riverfront shops, trying saltwater taffy from a local confectionery, or taking one of the city’s famous ghost tours. In a city where the arts and culture are as rich as the comfort food, spending the night (or several) is the best way to fully experience its uniquely Southern refinement. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in a storied town with modern flair.