Travel in county Cape May

From the deserts of Arizona to the rocky coastline of Maine, from the sandy shores of Florida to the peaks of Colorado, the United States offers a breathtaking range of natural landscapes. The new National Geographic book Great Outdoors USA: 1,000 Adventures Across All 50 States reveals how to hike, raft, climb, surf, and bike through some of the best of them. Here are 50 of its top picks, one in each state.

New Jersey might be one of the most underrated destinations in the US. Sandwiched between New York City and Philadelphia, the Garden State is often delegated to the shadows (or as a punchline to its urban neighbors). But this state has plenty of charm—from its 130 miles of Jersey Shore beaches and sprawling natural sites (like the Pinelands biosphere reserve and the country’s largest collection of cherry blossom trees) to its historic riverside towns and sky-high mountains.

Summer holidays are right around the corner, and for travelers hoping to book a vacation home, the time to start planning is now.

Massachusetts may measure in at just 27,363 square kilometers, but what this historic state lacks in size it certainly makes up for in biodiversity. From the craggy peaks of the Berkshires to the tip of Provincetown, classic New England fauna can all be found in abundance across the commonwealth—but when it comes to winter birdwatching in particular, it’s best to head east. Carved eons ago by moving glaciers, Cape Cod serves as a top summer vacation destination, while the dead of winter brings ample opportunity for birdwatchers hoping to lengthen their life list. With winter in its final throes, don’t miss out on the last few weeks of cold-weather birding across this stunning Bay State region.

Now a trip to the urban jungle of New York City can come with a day on the sand, as Manhattan debuted its first-ever public beach on Monday. 

As the birthplace of American democracy — where the Founding Fathers debated and signed the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution — Philadelphia is best known for its rich history. Well, that and cheesesteaks, and that movie about that boxer.

Summer may be over, but beach season doesn’t have to be. In fact, with fewer crowds and cooler temperatures, fall is the best time to explore coastal towns where cultural sites, natural wonders, and tons of history tell memorable stories to take back home. Here are seven seaside escapes that are even better offseason.

Ghost stories are fun. Though folk tales and flatout fabrications abound, the best of them prompt us to ponder the lives of those who inhabited the world before us.

There's no shortage of breathtaking beaches in the USA. From the island paradise of Hawaii to Cape May in New Jersey, here's our rundown of the best beaches in the USA.