20 best Japanese islands

I was 20 years old and had J Robert Oppenheimer's house all to myself. From the porch of the small yellow cottage, four steps led down to the beach where coconut trees swooped low at the water's edge and the Evian-clear Caribbean gently lapped the sugar-white sand. Day after day, I'd hike here after work to marvel at the parrotfish, butterflyfish and hawksbill turtles that glided between the shallow coral reefs, never once seeing another soul. 

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

The chance to spot a bear, bison, or bald eagle in the wild is one of the major reasons travelers visit the United States’ 63 national parks. You might assume that a megafauna mecca like Yellowstone National Park would offer the best odds of seeing multiple animals. 

This month saw the launch of what many in the travel blogosphere are calling the best travel-rewards credit card ever: the Sapphire Reserve Visa card from Chase.

Enter the Hallmark Channel “Summer Nights” sweepstakes by August 29, 2016, for a chance to win one of two grand prizes: 1) a seven-day Virgin Islands cruise for two, including air and hotel before and after the cruise; 2) or a four-night trip to Victoria Island, British Columbia, to visit the set of “Chesapeake Shores,” including air, transfers, and hotel.

Enter the Paul Gauguin Cruises “Soul of the South Seas” sweepstakes by May 31, 2016, for a chance to win one of four grand prizes: each a seven-night cruise for two of Tahiti and the Society Islands, including air, onboard meals, and ground transfers.

The esteemed Dr. Beach has released his annual list of America’s top ten beaches, and you’ll want to visit all of them this summer—doctors orders.

Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, a one-time "cow town" turned Rocky Mountain powerhouse. At the core sits LoDo, the city’s oldest neighborhood with historic buildings, boutique shopping and some of Denver’s best hotels. Just west of there is LoHi, a leafy Victorian-era neighborhood and foodie’s haven. South and east are the Golden Triangle, Capitol Hill and City Park neighborhoods, home to museums, edgy urban life and big green spaces. And north is RiNo, Denver’s heart of cool, with street art and hipster nightlife.

There’s only one place on Earth where you can see swimming iguanas, lava lizards, and giant tortoises: the Galápagos Islands. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978, the archipelago off the shore of South America is a must-visit destination for anyone with a passion for fauna and flora, and their protection. 97 percent of the land was designated as a national park in 1959, and over 51,000 square miles of ocean around the islands have been a protected marine reserve since 1986, making for a destination where you’re a guaranteed to be immersed in nature and observe unique wildlife.

New Zealand offers an idyllic escape and is a perfect place to visit for those in search of a luxurious getaway. From its awe-inspiring mountains and captivating landscapes, to its majestic lakes and sprawling vineyards, New Zealand is a paradise for travelers. There are also plenty of opportunities to indulge in luxury experiences such as enjoying gourmet cuisine with locally sourced produce expertly paired with wines, staying at luxurious lodges that offer superior amenities such as floor-to-ceiling windows with unbeatable views, and exploring iconic art collections from the late American billionaire Julian Robertson.

There are few tourism destinations out there that have avoided the scourge of high-rise condos, Quarter Pounders, and traffic lights. And if that destination happens to be our planet at its most beautiful? Forget about it.