The 6 Best Hotels Near the Entrances of Joshua Tree National Park

From the indescribable west coast sunsets at El Matador Beach to the fun and vibrant electric energy in Venice Beach, Los Angeles is home to some of Southern California’s best beaches.

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.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed a park road due to bear activity during a time when the animals are foraging for food.

Picnics signal a return to a simpler life, when there was plenty of leisure time to spend lazing about in a bucolic, pastoral setting, stuffing yourself full of delightful food and drink in the sun-dappled company of family and friends.

America’s coastal areas don’t have a monopoly on great beaches . . . or groovy beach towns.

Each season brings something different to Denver, whether it’s glittering snow in winter or vibrant foliage in autumn. Perched at 5,280 feet above sea level, the Mile High City’s weather is one of the primary considerations for deciding when to visit — though Denver also offers plenty to do indoors if Mother Nature is not cooperating. 

Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.

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.

Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most-visited parks in the national park system, but don’t let that stop you from visiting — it’s absolutely stunning and there’s plenty of room for everyone. It’s also a great park for both active visitors and more laid-back travelers, as you can do a 20-plus-mile hike all the way through the canyon or just stay on the top, strolling between viewpoints and checking out the various visitors centers.

By now, everyone knows that there’s a real-life Barbie DreamHouse in Malibu, California, that’s available on Airbnb in anticipation of the blockbuster Barbie movie that’s coming to theaters next month. But if Barbie taught us anything, it’s that no one is limited to just one thing. In Barbie’s case, that meant changing professions as often as she changed outfits. When it comes to travel, the doll’s do-it-all mentality is a nice reminder that we can go anywhere we want. The world is our bright pink proverbial oyster — at least in the case of these Barbiecore Airbnbs. If you’re planning a road trip this summer, why not do it in style at these bright pink Airbnbs?

People go for the epic food, the sprawling urban national park, the beaches, and the chance to follow the zigzagged Lombard Street. What San Francisco lacks in square miles it makes up for in the sheer variety of things to do. San Francisco hotels reflect the diversity of the Northern California city with accommodation reflecting the glamorous past, the counterculture movement, and tech-savvy San Franciscans. These are the best luxury and boutique hotels in San Francisco for seeing the City by the Bay.

The National Park Service (NPS) is advising visitors to proceed with extra caution as two people were recently injured after interactions with wild bison at both Yellowstone National Park, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  On Monday, a woman from Arizona was charged and gored by a bison at Yellowstone National Park.