Insider Guides tips

In the heart of the Appalachians, where the Great Smoky Mountains and North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest meet, there’s a town called Bryson City where adventure and serenity also converge. It’s a place where the roar of the Nantahala River soundtracks whitewater rafting trips, where the wind whistles as you whip down mountain biking trails or zip line runways, and where nature’s subtler sounds backdrop afternoons spent hiking or relaxing on Fontana Lake.

With its many restaurants and breweries, eclectic mix of shops and museums, and ample trails, a visit to Virginia’s Blue Ridge — the city of Roanoke and the surrounding area — is a treat any time of year. But if you ask me, the ideal season to visit is fall, when the foliage decorates the Blue Ridge Mountains and the warm-but-not-too-hot days and cool nights are perfect for hiking and biking.

Memphis is a soulful and historic city that’s become something of a magnet for young creatives and movers and shakers. It makes sense: The former stomping grounds of blues legend BB King, funkmaster Isaac Hayes, and rock-and-roll king Elvis Presley (whose Graceland mansion is open for tours) has a lot going for it, from live music and classic Southern cuisine to major landmarks like Beale Street. It’s also less than a four-hour drive south from Nashville.

From the moment I arrived, I could feel the buzz in Detroit. It has a creative energy and a strong sense of renewal that’s impossible to ignore. If you’re looking for a blend of history, culture, and innovation, this city has it all. Whether wandering museums, taking in the jazz scene, or sampling foods I couldn’t get out of my mind, Detroit kept surprising me at every turn. Here’s what to add to your list when you’re ready to experience the Motor City for yourself.

Editor’s note: In September, Hurricane Helene barreled through the Southeast and devastated parts of North Carolina. Recovery efforts are still underway, particularly in the severely affected areas of North Carolina’s mountains and foothills, while less-impacted areas prepare to welcome fall tourists, recognizing that the state’s visitor economy will depend on a strong return of businesses, services, experiences, and other tourism essentials. Visit North Carolina has shared an interactive map indicating which areas of the state are safe to visit and which should be avoided as they work hard to rebuild. Now, more than ever, visitors to North Carolina are encouraged to travel responsibly and support local businesses as they explore the state’s open areas. Find more information at Visit North Carolina’s website.

On the first Friday of every month in Richmond, Virginia, the art galleries on Broad Street open to the public so that everyone can celebrate the city’s creatives. That’s one example of how deep the arts run in Richmond, where you’ll also find murals painted on historic brick buildings across town and a variety of museums and monuments honoring the city’s Black culture.

As if Rome wasn’t already one of Europe’s — and the world’s— most popular destinations, the Vatican’s 2025 Jubilee is anticipated to push the city (and the patience of tourists) to its limit.

Located inside the Pamukkale hot springs (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Pamukkale, Türkiye, Cleopatra’s Pool a geothermal hot spring with one feature that makes it standout from every other hot spring on earth: It’s located within the ruins of an ancient temple that once might have belonged to Cleopatra.

“In Corpus Christi, it’s the beaches, then everything else,” my shuttle driver Angela shouted over the roar of the highway as we hurriedly made our way downtown. That might be the truest statement I’ve heard in some time. McGee, Whitecap, North Beach, Mustang Island State Park, Padre Island — Corpus Christi’s beache scene is iconic.

Pint-sized Carmel-by-the-Sea is packed with fairy-tale-like cottages, gorgeous Pacific Ocean scenery, delightfully dog-friendly dining, and oversized charm. Trees and flowers abound in this one-square-mile town in Central California whose quirks include no street addresses.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to escape into a fairytale? To command a dragon, slay beasts, or ride into battle like Norse mythology’s Valkyrie? Hans Christian Andersen, the father of modern fairytales, likely imagined the same. Both the author and his stories were born and raised on the island of Fyn, Denmark (pronounced Foon in Danish).

Where to eat and drink is a high priority for many travelers. For those who work in the industry, that’s especially the case. I’ve been in the wine business for more than 10 years, first as a wine buyer for a retail store in New York City, and then as a journalist for the past seven years. Finding the best places to get a glass in a new destination is one of the first things I research. This past summer, I headed to Athens for the first time and was intrigued by the city’s wine scene before even hitting the ground.

Psst. We’re going to let you in on a secret. Lake Tahoe doesn’t disappear after Labor Day… but the summer crowds do. That means less traffic, fewer hikers on the trails, and beaches you barely have to share. Campsites get easier to book, too, so you can marvel at the autumn hues reflecting on Big Blue on a spur-of-the-moment getaway.

Christmas is already around the corner. You may be in denial because snow has yet to arrive, but it’s high time to start planning your holiday travels. Between the mulled wine, carols, and delicious sweet treats, organizing a trip to a Christkindelsmärik in Europe is the most festive way to head straight into the holiday season. Christmas in Europe must be celebrated with a cinnamon coated chimny cakle in one hand and cheese-filled bratwurst in the other. So, this year, plan for a perfectly wintry holiday experience at one of the 15 best Christmas markets in Europe.

I’m a devout fan of the Outlander books, so much so that I once spent a week making an 18th-century corset inspired by the main character, Claire. That’s why, when presented with an opportunity to visit Scotland and tour various filming locations for the long-running TV adaptation, I jumped at the chance.

It’s easy to overlook Torrance, California. The modest city barely registers as a blip on the radar alongside the 110 Interstate, but it’s more than a place you pass en route to somewhere else.

My dad is from a small town in Massachusetts and has never been much for travel, but his eyes lit up like a child’s when I told him I was headed to Stuttgart, the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg in the Swabian region of southwestern Germany. A lifelong car buff, pop knew Stuttgart as the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Driving me to the airport, he gushed about the legendary car museums in his coarse Boston accent: “Christalmighty, Johnny Boy, you’ll see the most gawgeous Muhcedes and Pawsches evah made!” I could only imagine otherwise-polite Germans shuddering at his pronunciation of their cherished automobile brands (but I kept that to myself).

Guyana goes by many names. One of the only countries in the Caribbean Community that’s not located in the Caribbean Sea, Guyana is often referred to as the “Land of Many Waters” owing to the numerous rivers that flow through its perch on South America’s North Atlantic coast. It’s also called the “Land of Giants” — an abundance of water and minimal human interference have preserved Guyana as a fertile, untapped country where large flora and fauna thrive.

On the western slope of the Wasatch Range, Salt Lake City is well known for its giant lake and for being a winter playground, with an abundance of chairlifts, backcountry ski runs, snowshoeing trails, and more snowy activities within reach less than an hour from downtown. But locals know that Salt Lake City has just as much outdoor adventure to offer during the warmer months. In fact, from the expansive canyons of the neighboring Wasatch Range to the foothills that form the edge of downtown, Salt Lake City is a hotspot for summer wildflowers.

Landlocked Armenia occupies a special spot in the South Caucasus, one half of a larger region that’s known for being straddled by the Black and Caspian Seas. Geographically, it belongs to Asia. Geopolitically, it’s considered European. And as European destinations go, it most certainly qualifies as a hidden gem.

For Italians, Sardinia is synonymous with “Costa Smeralda” (Emerald Coast), the summer playground of the rich and famous. But the natural and cultural attractions of the second-largest island in the Mediterranean are available to many travelers, not just the glitterati who gather on their mega-yachts at Porto Cervo every August.