U.S. and International Travel Destinations - Vacation Ideas

Hit the Links, Trails, and Rapids in Jersey's Skylands

Top-notch mountain-biking raceways, some of the area’s best golf courses, and serious rapids await in Jersey's northern corner, only an hour’s drive from the George Washington Bridge. By Brian McCallen

More Outdoor Adventures

Climb Peaks in North Creek, New York: By Betsy Wiesendanger; A four-hour drive from Manhattan, the sleepy Adirondacks town is a great jumping-off point for strenuous fall hikes.

Banish the Big City in Big Sur: By Sari Lehrer; With its rugged beauty and bohemian vibe, the coastline south of Monterey, California, represents the antithesis to urban living. Think tree-house hotels, kelp forests, and coed, naked hot springs.

Tri-State Area

Turn Water Into Wine in Greenport: By Andrea Strong; This North Fork town has vineyards, secluded trails, and beaches to suit every preference.

Summer on the Cheap in Montauk: By Amy Ahlberg; The Long Island getaway has the same sandy beaches and fresh-fish obsession as the Hamptons but won't wreck your wallet.

East

Catch Experimental Rock in Baltimore: By Rachel B. Doyle; Charm City's dives and underground venues host a burgeoning scene of art-rock acts and electrifying dance parties.

See Modern Martha’s Vineyard: By Julie Earle-Levine; The summer perennial has rarely looked better. Find revamped hotels, a robust art scene, and those ever-gorgeous beaches.

West

Play in Portland’s Shadows: By Adam H. Graham; The city’s darkest spots (under-the-bridge skate parks, secretive clubs, respectfully louche strip bars) are its coolest.

Dig Up Classic Clothes in San Francisco: By Amy Ettinger; Top-notch vintage stores brimming with upscale hand-me-downs and drag-queen couture abound.

South

Find Solitude in the Smoky Mountains: By Elizabeth Cline; The nation's most-visited national park is replete with remote outdoor adventures.

Take in Wild Rivers in Big Bend: By Melissa Burdick Harmon; Full of untamed waters, Florida’s north country will make you forget the beach.

Midwest

Rock and Roll in Indianapolis: By Amy Zavatto; There's a booming indie scene in the Indiana capital, thanks to its intimate rock clubs and great music stores.

Catch a Show in Chicago: By Jean Tang; The Second City considers itself a purer theater town, favoring acting over hype, and small gems over $100-a-seat blockbusters.

International

Pedals to the Pavement in Paris: By David Sax; The city’s year-old bike-sharing program has sparked a cult of cyclisme, night rides past the Arc de Triomphe, and a way to hit all the farmers’ markets and historical sites you can in 72 hours.

Go Out With the Old in Tel Aviv: By David Kaufman; Gorgeous historic buildings have been repurposed as fabulous hotels, eateries, boutiques, and design museums.