SmarterTravel Spotlight: Gaylord Opryland Resort and SoundWaves Water Park, Nashville, Tennessee

I visited the town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in April during a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and stumbled upon a square that made me feel like I had traveled back in time.

From my seat on the pontoon boat, I squeal in excitement at the splinter of gray I see in the distance. I almost missed it, despite the attempts of my fellow travelers to aim my gaze, but the flapping ears give him away.

Every year, a small suburban town called Twinsburg, Ohio hosts the Twins Days Festival — the largest gathering of twins in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Answering the decades-long call of Native American tribes and environmentalists alike, President Joe Biden earlier this week created a new national monument buffering parts of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Meaning “where tribes roam” to the Havasupai people and “our ancestral footprints” in the Hopi language, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni covers 917,618 acres across three distinct sites north and south of the natural wonder. Home to wildlife like bison, elk, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and rare cactus species, the protected area encompasses plateaus, canyons, Colorado River tributaries, and countless culturally and spiritually significant sites for the Indigenous peoples of the Southwest.

As thousands of flight disruptions on Monday due to severe storms spanned across the East Coast, U.S. airlines have called on the the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to extend a waiver that allowed them to cut back on service.

Visiting at night and taking free public transportation are just two of the ways the National Park Service is encouraging visitors to go green.

Make the most of summer in Ontario by swimming in crystal clear water under the hot sun. Ontario is Canada’s second largest province, covers more than 415,000 square miles, and is home to lush forests, waterfalls, trails, and refreshing lakes, rivers, and hidden gem coves. The natural landscapes and rugged beauty of Ontario make a great road trip destination whether you live in Canada or are driving from the United States. Pack up your car for a road trip to one of these three Ontario beaches and before long you will be walking barefoot along the soft sand or splashing in the water without a care in the world.

In a recent data report from Foursquare, local and tourist hotspots were compared to figure out who was going where in the Big Apple. As one of the most visited cities in the world with 58.3 million visitors last year, NYC continues to define tourism trends, while the 8.4 million locals pride themselves on originality. So find out who goes where and know which places to avoid if massive crowds aren’t your thing.

A new national monument has been established to honor Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. 

For most travelers, there are a few trips considered bucket list must-dos: seeing the northern lights, sleeping in a tropical over-water bungalow, and walking through Times Square in New York City are just a few. And for many, one of those dream trips is also taking an African safari.

Panama City Beach has over 27 miles of white sandy beach. And while that’s undeniably one of the main draws for anyone looking to visit, even people who prefer to stay sand free won’t run out of things to do in town. You can get in touch with nature at Camp Helen State Park, take a deep sea fishing charter trip, stroll along Pier Park boardwalk, and, of course, enjoy lots of delicious seafood at marina restaurants.