Insider Guides tips

The first thing travelers should know about the Swiss Travel System is that it’s available exclusively for international visitors to Switzerland for a choice of 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days. In fact, nearly all forms of transportation are included with a Swiss Travel Pass.

As the seasons change, there’s no better time to escape the busy city life and take a road trip. The New England region has a rich history, culture, and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for scenic drives. If you’re in the northeastern United States looking for an escape, here’s an extended weekend guide sharing the best places to visit on a road trip through Central and Western Massachusetts, including small towns, historical landmarks, mountainous terrain — all with a stunning backdrop.

In 1836, George Calvert Yount planted the first wine grapes in the Napa region. Wild grapes grew in the area, but Yount saw the potential for winemaking, and subsequent settlers followed suit with their own vineyards, including traditional European vitis vinifera grapevines.

Modern travel is full of conveniences. Global air hubs connect travelers to faraway places in a matter of hours. But with all these modern comforts, it’s easy to pass right by the things that make the actual travel part of the journey worthwhile. Vacation by Rail’s Winter Magic trip, on board VIA Rail’s Vancouver to Jasper train, is the ultimate way to take in Canada’s winter wilderness the slow, nostalgic way. Views of towering mountain peaks and river-carved valleys combined with a memorable onboard experience sure beats cramming into an airplane seat in economy.

The Grand Canyon sees around 5 million visitors a year for good reason: its grandeur is unlike any other place in the world. However, just a few hours away, there is another “canyon” national park that is smaller, much less trafficked, more colorful, and surrounded by distinct natural wonders. Bryce Canyon Country includes Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Kodachrome State Park, and so much more in its 3-million-plus acres of protected lands. It’s the perfect Grand Canyon alternative for anyone who wants to see Utah’s natural splendor without the same level of crowds — Bryce Canyon sees about 2.5 million annual visitors, Capitol Reef about 1.5 million, and not even one million visit Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument every year.

A sense of needing to hurry or stress doesn’t exist in South Carolina’s North Myrtle Beach if you don’t want it to – and that’s especially true in the shoulder season, from mid-September through November. With light traffic and thin crowds, reservations are rarely needed. Really, the only reason you’ll ever need to check the time is to not miss the show at the Alabama Theatre.

If you haven’t heard of Alula, don’t sweat it — the fact that it’s relatively unknown among Western travelers is just proof that it’s still mostly free from over-tourism.

Ruidoso, New Mexico, population about 8,000, sits in the Sierra Blanca Mountain range at an elevation of 7,800 feet. Though small, it has a big draw for travelers thanks to its history, Indigenous and Spanish culture, family-friendly atmosphere, opportunities for outdoor adventure, and central location near Carlsbad Caverns, Lincoln National Forest, White Sands National Monument, and more. It’s the type of mountain town where you can actually find relaxation unlike some of the more visited mountain towns in states like Colorado and Utah.

Surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and Cumberland Plateau, Chattanooga is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with plenty of hikes and bouldering spots within an hour’s drive. Not to mention the gorgeous Tennessee River that runs through downtown, offering a variety of watersports activities. Over the past decade, the word has gotten out about Chattanooga for more than just outdoor enthusiasts, too, with a mix of restaurants, attractions, and accommodations that have made the city and surrounding area one of the coolest weekend getaways in the country.

Amsterdam’s Red Light District (AKA De Wallen) is a small area that is densely packed with some of Amsterdam’s best-known businesses: coffeeshops, sex-show venues, window brothels, and sex clubs. But the Red Light District is not just for those looking to get high or get laid, the neighborhood has mix of art venues and unusual museums that can be enjoyed by everyone. No matter what you’re looking for in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, there are do’s and don’ts you should adhere to.

Whether Uluru is the largest monolith in the world really isn’t that important. What matters is that this immense, gorgeous rock in Australia’s Northern Territory, considered sacred by the local Aboriginal people, was formed hundreds of millions of years ago, and that today it stands isolated and beautiful in the desert. The best part is that you can see it with your own eyes, walk around its base, and learn more about what makes it special to the people who own the land on which it rests.

In 2012, the government of Singapore set out to create a “City in a Garden,” a futuristic botanical garden that would showcase the city-state’s embrace of the future and add to its already distinct skyline. Singapore is small — 274 square miles — yet it managed to fit Gardens by the Bay, an area containing several hundred acres of lush greenery, a waterfall, 1.5 million plants, and the largest glass greenhouse in the world into its tiny frame. Many visitors to Gardens by the Bay come for the iconic Supertrees, Cloud Forest, and Flower Dome, but there are a number of lesser-known exhibits to walk through on a day trip to the Gardens by the Bay.

For most French people, Provence conjures up the sound of the cicadas, the lovely accent of the inhabitants of the region, sunny weather, and olives. To most outsiders, Provence is all about lavender fields. No matter where you’re from and what you think Provence is like, you won’t be disappointed because it’s all the above. The historical region of Provence is an area of simple beauty and unhurried, uncomplicated pleasures, all of which are best enjoyed in the late spring and summer.

There are around 25,000 castles, palaces, and mansions in Germany, but there’s one that clearly stands out from the crowd: Neuschwanstein Castle. With its white facade and its graceful turrets, the 19th-century fairytale castle sits on top of a rock ledge over a gorge in the Bavarian Alps, dominating the landscape. Since 1886, a few weeks after the castle’s commissioner, Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, died, visitors have been able to visit the extravagant edifice that inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Today, 1.4 million people come from just about every corner of the globe to see the castle — inside and out.

With its rich history, rejuvenated attractions, and picturesque beaches along the iconic Jersey Shore, there isn’t really a bad time to embark on a memorable journey to Atlantic City, the gaming and resort capital of the East Coast. From celebrity-chef restaurants and incredible Italian food to thrilling amusements, cultural landmarks to world-class entertainment, this seaside city is constantly evolving for a mix of modern and Atlantic City’s famous former glory.

The South Carolina Aquarium, commonly referred to as the Charleston Aquarium because of its location, has the deepest aquarium in North America: the Great Ocean Tank. In this 385,000-gallon tank that is so tall it stretches from the first to the third floor, you’ll see sharks, a 220-pound loggerhead sea turtle, and many more fish, each more intriguing and beautiful than the next. But the aquarium is home to all sorts of animals beyond fish: a rehabilitated bald eagle named Liberty, a large pink spoonbill named Pearl, and adorable river otters. Need another reason for visiting? The aquarium hosts adult-only night visits where you can wonder the galleries with a canapé on one hand and glass of wine in the other.

Any time is a great time to visit Sugar Land, Texas. Sugar Land is 20 miles southwest of Houston, and the area enjoys nearly year-round warm temperatures, which make outdoor activities an option just about any day of the year.

St. Louis is known as the Gateway to the West. A major stop on the Mississippi River and just south of the Missouri River, it was the jumping-off point as the United States expanded its border westward and the city boomed in 19th and 20th centuries. Today, you can see vestiges of an affluent past mix with a forward-thinking, artistic community that make St. Louis an exciting destination year-round.

Every traveler worth their salt knows that Egypt is not the only country in the world to have pyramids, there are plenty of them in Sudan, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico, among other locations. In fact, the largest pyramid in the world, The Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtépetl, is in Mexico, just 80 miles southeast of Mexico City. And it’s not even the closest pyramid to the capital: The Archeological Site of Teotihuacán, just 27 miles northeast of the city is home to three of them. Actually, Mexico City itself has a few.

In 2023, the city of Carlsbad, just north of San Diego, launched an “All Paws Lead to Carlsbad” tourism initiative to encourage pet friendly travel to the Southern California beach town. Although the campaign officially ended in May, Carlsbad is always a dog friendly town that welcomes woofers of all breeds and sizes to many of its shops, restaurant patios, and hotels. There are also dog parks to frolic in and dog friendly beaches in the general vicinity for pups that like to swim, surf, or go for long runs in the sand.

Miami needs no introduction. From beautiful parks and beaches in the day and a lively bar and club scene at night, to incredible Latin and Michelin-star restaurants and tourist attractions even locals love, there’s no shortage of draws to the Magic City and its 250-or-so days of sunshine a year.