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Natural wonders around the world

To point out that the world is full of wonders is hardly a revelation, whether you’re talking about ancient or modern marvels, feats of architecture and engineering, or geologic and natural wonders that take your breath away with their beauty. So that’s why it’s surprising that so many lists limit their wonders of the natural world to the single digits. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of natural wonders, incorporating places nominated on other top lists as well as places our editorial team thinks are the most beautiful and impressive on the planet.

From African deserts to European volcanoes to rare phenomena occurring across the globe, here are 39 of the planet’s most spectacular natural wonders of the world.

The new seven natural wonders of the world

Back in 2000, the New7Wonders Foundation decided to reboot the seven wonders of the world concept so that the places on the list were actually still standing, organizing a global poll to determine what the new wonders would be. In light of the campaign’s success, the foundation decided to tally another set of votes, which totaled over 500 million, to name the new Seven Wonders of Nature. Here’s the final list:

The Amazon River

Photo: Gustavo Frazao/Shutterstock

One of the most impressive water bodies on Earth, the Amazon is the longest river in South America at over 4,000 miles and has the largest drainage system on the planet, discharging roughly 7,4000,000 cubic feet per second. Whether or not the Nile is, in fact, longer is a point of contention for some as debates rage over the Amazon’s true headwaters.

Surrounding the river’s drainage basin, the Amazon Rainforest is just as impressive, stretching out over nine different countries and roughly 40 percent of Brazil’s land mass. With all that space, it’s no wonder the South American rainforest plays host to more species than any other bioreserve on the planet, including countless species that have yet to be recorded.

Jeju Island

Photo: Natthawut Utsawachaichot/Shutterstock

Jeju Island is a volcanic island and province of South Korea that sits to the south of the peninsula between South Korea and Japan. It’s where you’ll find the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, including  both the extensive Geomunoreum lava system and Mount Hallasan (the highest mountain in South Korea).

Ha Long Bay

Photo: Stephane Bidouze/Shutterstock

Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam is a popular tourist destination thanks to its gorgeous limestone karsts and floating fishing village. The landscape formed by its 1,600-2,000 islands and islets, most of them uninhabited, is just spectacular. Thanks to these unusual landforms, many of them still unaffected by human impact, the area became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994.

Iguazu Falls

Photo: Dmitry Pichugin/Shutterstock

The famous Iguazu Falls straddles the Iguazu River on the border between Argentina and Brazil. Its name, Iguazu, means “big water” in Guarani, and it seems appropriate — made of 275 waterfalls, it’s the largest waterfall system in the world. The tallest of these waterfalls, where approximately half of the river’s flow falls, is called the Devil’s Throat — a long, narrow, U-shaped chasm whose thunderous sound visitors never forget.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River

Photo: Dmitry Pichugin/Shutterstock

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is located on the Philippine Island of Palawan and leads into a cave that you can take boat tours through. It was impressive enough as it was, but in 2010, a group of environmentalists discovered the river has a second floor, so there are small waterfalls inside the cave. As the river emerges directly into the sea, its lower portion is subject to tidal influences.

Komodo Island

Photo: Pocholo Calapre/Shutterstock

Komodo Island is part of the Indonesian archipelago and is famous for being home to komodo dragons, in Komodo National Park. Its history also makes it a special place as its inhabitants (around 2,000, compared to the island’s 5,700 remaining Komodo dragons) are said to be descendants of former convicts who were exiled to the island in the 19th century by a sultan in Sumbawa. Also found on the island is Pink Sand Beach, one of the world’s best destinations for snorkeling and diving when the island is open to visitors.

Table Mountain

Photo: Andrea Willmore/Shutterstock

Table Mountain is a famous landmark that towers over Cape Town, South Africa. There are some great views of the city from the top (accessible via a hiking trail and cableway). Its main feature is a level plateau that stretches approximately two miles from side to side, edged by impressive cliffs. It’s also a cool place to practice some cloud watching — from afar — as the plateau is often covered by the famous tablecloth clouds.

Other wonders of the natural world nominations

While the wonders below didn’t make the final list with the New7Wonders foundation, they’re arguably just as impressive, and you’ll find them nominated on many a list of potential new additions.

The Great Barrier Reef

Photo: Edward Haylan/Shutterstock

Australia’s famous, gigantic barrier reef is sadly at risk of being destroyed by climate change, overfishing, and tourism. Coral bleaching is more widespread than previously thought, and scientists have admitted this great wonder is at a terminal stage and in desperate need of humans to alter their behavior. It’d be a sad end for the largest natural structure inthe world.

The Grand Canyon

Photo: Amineah/Shutterstock

The famous, massive canyon cut by the Colorado River through Arizona is one of the few wonders that belongs on every iteration of this list. At 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and attaining a depth of over a mile, it’s not the longest nor the steepest canyon in the world, but its overall scale combined with the beautifully colored landscape makes it one of the most amazing natural wonders. The Colorado River has been carving this canyon over the course of, according to several studies, five to six million years.

Harbor of Rio de Janeiro

Photo: marchello74/Shutterstock

Brazil’s most famous city fills in the spaces between the surrounding mountains and the ocean, making it one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. Above it all, it’s watched over by the Christ the Redeemer statue — one of the regularly cited man-made wonders of the world.

Mount Everest

Photo: UBC Stock/Shutterstock

Everest’s peak is 29,035 feet above sea level, or at least it was. Nepal’s earthquake in 2015 is believed to have clipped the mountain’s height, so India and Nepal are about to measure it afresh. For the sake of counting these, if you’ve seen Mount Everest, located on the border of Nepal and Tibet, you’ve been to it. You don’t have to have made it to the summit.

Nighttime aurorae

Photo: Denis Belitsky/Shutterstock

The aurora (also known as the aurora borealis, northern lights in the north, and aurora australis in the south) is caused by the collision of solar winds with Earth’s magnetosphere and can be viewed from pretty much anywhere within certain latitudes, depending on the visibility and severity of the geomagnetic storms.

Victoria Falls

Photo: Efimova Anna/Shutterstock

Victoria Falls — on the Zambezi River between Zimbabwe and Zambia — is the largest waterfall by volume in the world at over 5,500 feet wide and 355 feet high. Its local name in Tokaleya Tonga is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which literally means “the smoke that thunders,” gives a perfect explanation of what you’ll feel if you get close to it.

Paricutín volcano

Photo: Rubi Rodriguez Martinez/Shutterstock

Paricutín volcano in Mexico makes it on most lists just for the sheer bizarreness of its history. It was a cornfield in 1943 and then, in the span of a year, grew to a height of 11,475 feet. By the time the volcano’s eruptions ceased in 1952, its peak measured a whopping 9,210 feet above sea level. The villages around it are buried in lava, and only a church bell tower juts out from the rock.

Moraine Lake

Photo: Zhukova Valentyna/Shutterstock

Moraine Lake, which you may recognize from many a default screensaver, is one of the most beautiful — and busiest — places in Canada. Near Lake Louise, Moraine Lake shares the same distinctively blue water, caused by tiny rock particles from the nearby glaciers that float on the surface and reflect that brilliant blue color. If you want to visit, you’ll need to take a shuttle from Lake Louise Ski Resort. Try to get there as early as possible. If it’s too crowded, opt for the hike to a high-elevation at nearby Lake Louise, which looks down on the Victoria Glacier.

The Dead Sea

Photo: Olesya Baron/Shutterstock

The Dead Sea, on the border of Jordan and Israel, is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world. So salty that you can famously float in it and that no macroscopic organisms can survive in it. It was one of the world’s first health resorts (for Herod the Great) and has supplied a wide variety of products, from asphalt for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers. However, it’s receding at an alarming rate.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Photo: Volodymyr Burdiak/Shutterstock

Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and, as it’s a dormant volcano, the tallest free-standing, or non-massif, mountain in the world. Since Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller reached its summit in 1889, it has remained a popular climbing destination. It has also been the subject of many scientific studies because of its shrinking glaciers.

Jeita Grotto

Photo: Florian Kriechbaumer/Shutterstock

The Jeita Grotto is a series of karst caves in Lebanon that was inhabited in prehistoric times and is now a major cultural symbol of the nation, not to mention a practical one considering it supplies drinking water to over a million Lebanese people.

Masurian Lake District

Photo: Janusz Lipinski/Shutterstock

This well-connected system of lakes (comprising over 2,000) in Poland is a popular European vacation spot. Connected by rivers and canals, the lakes form an extensive system of waterways surrounded by large forests and historic towns. It’s a great destination if you like water sports like sailing or windsurfing, as well as activities such as hiking, fishing, and kayaking.

The Sundarbans

Photo: Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock

The Sundarbans — mostly in Bangladesh, though partially in easterm India — is one of the world’s largest tidal mangrove forests, and it’s famous for also being one of the largest Bengal tiger reserves. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987 on the Indian side and 1997 on the Bangladesh side, it covers 140,000 hectares and is home to a wide range of wild fauna, including 260 bird species and other threatened species, such as the estuarine crocodile and Indian python.

Maldives

Photo: icemanphotos/Shutterstock

Kudos to the Maldives for getting the entire country on the list. The Maldives is a series of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, and if climate change raises sea levels by even a little bit, it will no longer exist — the nation’s highest point is only about seven feet and 10 inches off the water (it’s the world’s lowest country). Its waters are home to several ecosystems, including 187 species of vibrant hard coral. This area of the Indian Ocean alone houses 1,100 species of fish, five species of sea turtles, 21 species of whales and dolphins, 400 species of mollusks, and 83 species of echinoderms.

Angel Falls

Photo: Alice Nerr/Shutterstock

The world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall (at 3,212 feet) is in the jungles of Venezuela and undoubtedly one of the best natural wonders of the world, whether it’s on a list or not. It was not known to the outside world until American aviator Jimmie Angel, following directions given by the explorer Félix Cardona who had seen the waterfall six years before, flew over Angel Falls on November 16, 1933. The falls are named after him.

Bay of Fundy

Photo: V J Matthew/Shutterstock

Canada’s Bay of Fundy is famous for having the highest tidal ranges in the world, with an incredible maximum of 53 feet (though the highest water level ever recorded was a whopping 71 feet in 1869). It’s also a popular whale-watching destination — 12 species of whales, including the rare right whale, call the Bay of Fundy home each summer and fall.

The Black Forest

Photo: Funny Solution Studio/Shutterstock

Germany’s famous Black Forest is famously dense and dark, but it’s also home to the cuckoo clock, charming little towns, and fairytale castles. It’s the place where Hansel and Gretel had their encounter with the witch and where Little Red Riding Hood was followed by the wolf.

The Cliffs of Moher

Photo: shutterupeire/Shutterstock

Western Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher are one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. And for good reason. The cliffs hug the Atlantic Ocean for roughly five miles and, at their tallest, tower around 700 feet over the sea. Not just popular with people, the Cliffs of Moher also provide a habitat for more than 20 different types of seabirds, including puffins and peregrine falcons.

El Yunque

Photo: Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock

Stretching a modest 29,000 acres, El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US National Forest System and just a short drive east of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Within the park are opportunities to swim in waterfall pools, rare species of tree frogs called coqui frogs, and excellent hikes through some of the lushest forest in the US. It’s easy to take a day trip from San Juan, but there are plenty of ecolodges and boutique hotels in nearby towns like Fajardo or Ceiba if you think you’ll want to stay for a few days.

The Galapagos Islands

Photo: FOTOGRIN/Shutterstock

Among the natural wonders, the Galapagos Islands are perhaps most famous for their biological diversity, which informed Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking theory of evolution by natural selection. Among the islands’ most iconic inhabitants are the giant tortoise, blue-footed booby, Galapagos albatross, Santa Fe land iguana, and Galapagos fur seal. Together, all of the species that visitors are most eager to see are known as the Big 15, a play on Africa’s Big Five safari animals.

The Matterhorn

Photo: emperorcosar/Shutterstock

The Matterhorn, which rises to 14,692 feet between Italy and Switzerland, is considered one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the world, particularly from the Italian side. While expert rock climbers may be able to summit it, for everyone else, the best way to see it is to take the Matterhorn Gondola from Zermatt. Though if the weather is really nice, you’ll be able to see the Matterhorn from various vantage points around town.

Milford Sound

Photo: Blue Planet Studio/Shutterstock

Rudyard Kipling called this fiord on New Zealand’s South Island the “eighth wonder of the world.” To see it for yourself, venture out to the northernmost part of Fiordland National Park. While there, snap a photo of the nation’s famous Mitre Peak, conveniently located on the shores of the sound. The drive from Queensland to the park takes about two hours, and the two options for basecamps with lodging and restaurants are the towns of Te Anau and Manapouri. You’ll also find three of New Zealand’s Great Walks in the vicinity.

Mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan

Photo: Denis Sv/Shutterstock

A mud volcano is exactly what it sounds like: a volcano-shaped mud buildup caused by geothermal pressure. It’s not a volcano in the lava/Dante’s Peak sense, but it’s still amazing cool (and pretty rare). Azerbaijan is home to between 350 and 400 mud volcanoes, more than any other country in the world (and half of the world’s total). They’re mostly in and around Gobustan (also spelled Quobustan) National Park, about an hour outside the capital city of Baku.

Uluru

Photo: Stanislav Fosenbauer/Shutterstock

Australia’s Uluru (or Ayer’s Rock) ranks among the continent’s most recognizable natural wonders icons, rising up over the arid Red Centre near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The Anangu people, one of the oldest human societies in the world, are the traditional and current custodians of Uluru.

Vesuvius

Photo: S-F/Shutterstock

As impressive as this Italian volcano near Naples is as a geographical landmark, Mount Vesuvius is most famous for its violent history, which includes the destruction of Pompeii and neighboring Herculaneum in 79 AD. If you’re in Rome, you can do a day trip to the site as well as the Antiquarium, where most of the relics and remains from the towns are on display. By the way, you can hike to the top and look into the crater, but keep in mind it’s an active volcano. So if you see headlines saying there have been a few ground tremors in the area recently, maybe re-think your hike.

Yushan

Photo: weniliou/Shutterstock

Yushan is Taiwan’s tallest mountain, sometimes referred to as Jade Mountain. It’s surrounded by a national park of the same name where hikers will find several scenic routes to explore. The trek to the summit is rather arduous at 15 miles and a 6,110-foot gain, and you’ll need to make a reservation to stay at Paiyun Lodge — the only option for sleeping along the route — at least four months in advance. If you don’t plan to hike to the summit, you can get great views of Yushan from almost anywhere within the eponymous Yushan National Park.

Yellowstone National Park

Photo: Anders Riishede/Shutterstock

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Yellowstone National Park — America’s first national park — on this list. The Yellowstone Caldera supervolcano and surrounding Yellowstone National Park represent one of the most striking landscapes in the world. Pictured above is the Grand Prismatic Spring, one of more than 500 geysers (and roughly 10,000 various geothermal features).

The Sahara Desert

Photo: Anton Petrus/Shutterstock

The Sahara is the world’s hottest desert, having been known to reach temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, and it’s the largest desert outside the polar regions. It spans most of northern Africa, stretching across 10 countries and the disputed territory of Western Sahara. One of the easiest ways to walk through the Sahara is to book a multi-day trip from Fes or Marrakech in Morocco, which usually includes other stops along the way as it’s roughly a nine-hour drive to Merzouga, the gateway town for the Sahara.

Salar de Uyuni

Photo: Sara Winter/Shutterstock

Bolivia’s salt flat is the world’s largest. During the rainy season, water collects on the ground creating a mirror-like effect, giving photographers something extra surreal to capture. As with many ancient natural wonders, there’s a legend behind it: there was a love triangle between three mountains in the area, and the one was was eventually left out cried so many salty tears that it created this lake.

Pando

Photo: Kreig Rasmussen/Shutterstock

Pando is a tree colony spread across more than 100 acres in Utah that’s actually a single organism, the largest in the world. It weighs around 13 million pounds and is also one of the oldest organisms on the planet. Unfortunately, the extensive quaking aspen grove is dying due to grazing wildlife and human encroachment.

Giant’s Causeway

Photo: Kanuman/Shutterstock

Giant’s Causeway is a group of some 40,000 basalt columns in Northern Ireland that’s believed to be about 50-60 million years old. It’s a World Heritage Site and free to visit since most of the land is own by the country’s National Trust, which is akin to a parks service (the rest is privately owned). However, there is a low fee to see the visitor’s center’s displays, take a guided tour, or park on-site. Those tickets cost about $15 USD and should be purchased in advance if possible.

Zhangjiajie

Photo: aphotostory/Shutterstock

The stunning sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area’s Zhangjiajie looks like it belongs on Avatar’s Pandora rather than Earth. Luckily, visitors only have to travel as far as China’s Hunan Province to see this spectacular natural wonder for themselves.

This article about natural wonders was first published in 2014, updated in 2019, and again in 2022. 

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A Stunning New Resort Makes One of the Caribbean’s Least Visited Islands Instantly Accessible

The first place to recognize the United States is an island few Americans know exists.

Back when the United States was just a Revolutionary government, it repurposed merchant ships as war ships and used them to transport arms and munitions from the Caribbean. When one such ship, the Andrew Doria, sailed into the bustling Dutch free port of St. Eustatius in November of 1776 waving the American flag, the island’s governor ordered his men at Ft. Oranje to return its salute. It was the first time any foreign government recognized the US flag, and while it later would lead to England declaring war on the Netherlands, the First Salute is still celebrated every year on St. Eustatius.

Despite all that, most people couldn’t tell you what hemisphere it’s in.

Of course, that pleasant anonymity is what makes St. Eustatius (or Statia, as it’s locally known) one of the most alluring destinations in the Caribbean. Because few people recognize the name, much less know where it is, the island has flown largely under the tourism radar since it was the Caribbean’s largest trading hub 400 years ago.

That leaves the stunning nature – where you can hike up a volcano and down into its crater, then dive for blue beads along colorful reefs – mostly untouched and completely uncrowded. And with the opening of a gleaming new luxury resort, it’s easier to access than ever before.

A less touristy Caribbean island experience

Photo: Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort

If you’ve been to the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, then you’ve likely seen Statia from a distance. It’s the two-humped island in the far distance from St. Barts, and the large volcano that looks like it’s swimming distance from St. Kitts. Statia is a 20-ish minute flight from St. Maarten, too, but because the island hasn’t made much of a name for itself, it has largely stayed off of the tourism radar.

This has been all well and good by the local population, who going about their daily business around the lush volcanic island with nary a visitor. They work their property in the shadow of The Quill, the island’s iconic 2,000-foot peak, then visit their neighbors in the small bars of Oranjestad, and hike in the Northern Hills.

Photo: Sam Horine

“Statia is one of those places you can still talk to someone. If you have a question just go up and ask them,” says Celford Gibbs, a Statian renaissance man who leads hikes up the Quill, does landscaping, and raises bees on the side. “If you need help, we help you. If you need a ride, we take you there. If you’re hungry, I’ll give you something to eat. You don’t need to be my friend to be fed.”

The only thing even remotely resembling a crowd is at the Boardwalk Café, a popular sundown happy hour spot for locals where you’ll find families enjoying pizza and beer as the sun sets. “Traffic” is when more than one car arrives at a stop sign. And you’ll never find a wait to enjoy a drink by the water in the breezy seaside bars in Lower Town.

It’s a refreshing change from the most popular Caribbean islands where everything caters to tourists. Statia offers a look at what life is like without a visitor-approved veneer. But experiencing this pastoral Caribbean lifestyle has traditionally been a challenge for visitors, as the island hasn’t typically offered much in the way of accommodations aside from a handful of rustic dive lodges and a few local B&Bs.

The new Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort ushers in a new era for Statia

Photo: Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort

Late in 2021, seldom-visited St. Eustatius saw the opening of its first luxury hotel, the Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort at the base on the Quill about 10 minutes from Oranjestad. It makes traveling here a comfortable experience thanks to a full-service restaurant, swimming pool, bar, and forthcoming private beach club.

“We are in the middle of islands filled with hotels, but our [island] is still nature,” says Peter Barnhoorn, the Dutch flower magnate behind Golden Rock. “Nature is almost untouched here, for divers, for nature lovers, for people who want to go rock climbing and hiking. It’s the perfect place to be, and now you can have a nice restaurant and a swimming pool.”

Photo: Sam Horine

The resort, as it stands now, has 32 rooms in its long, two-story main building facing the Caribbean. Ultimately, the resort will include far more, including a collection of villas, dive “lodges,” and private houses near the water. No view will be obstructed, as the steep hillside serves as stadium seating for the ocean.

The whole project is ambitious, to say the least. And it’s a major gamble on an island that hasn’t traditionally been much of a tourist destination. But Barnhoorn believes once he’s put the place on the map, others will follow. In the future, St. Eustatius could see a similar economic flow from tourism dollars as other Dutch Caribbean islands.

Photo: Sam Horine

“There has already been interest in buying other pieces of land for resorts,” he says. “We are working with the airport for a jet fueling station so larger planes can come in. We have to be the engine behind it, but the hope is other entrepreneurs will follow, and then the sky’s the limit.”

What to do on Statia: Explore a volcano, inside and out

Photo: Sam Horine

From the front gate of the Golden Rock, an ambitious climber can immediately start straight up The Quill. For a slightly more gradual ascent, head to the main trailhead in Oranjestad. A path through tropical forest leads you to the top of the crater, where you can look out to distant islands in one direction, and down into the mouth of a volcano in the other.

This is where Statia differs from other Caribbean volcano hikes. Upon reaching the top, rather than hiking back down you can then hike right into the crater. The peak hasn’t erupted in over 1,800 years, so no need to worry about lava shooting up at you. The biggest danger is scaling the boulders along the trek down, though it’s pretty easy for an experienced climber.

Thick trees line the trail, as monkeys and other animals swing by overhead. The crater floor is a welcome slice of flat ground where you can stare up at 360-degrees of mountain around you and enjoy the sunshine as it trickles through the treetops. It’s an ideal spot for a lunchtime picnic, or even an overnight camping trip if you’re feeling ambitious.

Photo: Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort

For a second day of hiking, head to the island’s other side and Northern Hills. It sits about a 10 minute drive from the Quill and offers a completely different perspective of the island. Here, you can hike along the ridges of Gilboa Hill and past the ruins of old plantations and rum distilleries. You’ll also catch glimpses of surrounding islands in the distance, and wild, deserted beaches below. You won’t find a ton of shade in the Northern Hills, but if you pack enough water this half of the island is the kind of remote Caribbean experience that’s become harder and harder to find.

Dive for sunken blue treasure off the coast of Statia

Photo: Golden Rock Dive and Nature Resort

Statia’s other big natural draw is its diving. While you don’t have to be an advanced diver, the best sites tend to be at lower depths, like the 40-meter Volcano Fingers – stunning rivers of petrified lava that now house colorful corals and seahorses.

Less-experienced divers can still appreciate the wreck of the Charles S. Brown, a 1950s cable laying ship that’s now filled with barracuda. The top if it sits at about 60 feet, and gives you plenty of opportunities to interact with marine life. The coolest thing about it, though, is the abundance of swim-throughs at about 100 feet, so you can poke around and discover the inside of the vessel beyond simply looking at fish.

The most unique thing about diving in Statia, though, is the hunt for blue beads. As local lore tells it, enslaved people on the island were paid in blue beads, and once they accumulated enough beads, they were granted their freedom. When a person was freed, they would then throw their blue beads in the ocean, where many still sit today.
Most local divers will tell you the blue beads on the ocean floor likely come from a ship that wrecked near the island. But they still make for fun treasures should you be lucky enough to spot one.

Photo: William Drumm

Most dives leave from Lower Town, the historic warehouse district that was once the busiest port in the New World. Today, the ruins of those 16th Century warehouses still dot the shoreline, interspersed with wine bars and sunset lounges. It’s the odd stretch of Caribbean beach bars that still feels relaxing and unfettered. And even with the addition of a luxury resort, this historic section of the island feels mostly unchanged.

Directly above Lower Town stands Fort Oranje, the place where the U.S. first received international recognition. Its significance, like everything on this island, remains mostly uncelebrated for now. How long it stays this way is anyone’s guess. But for the time being it strikes the perfect balance of remote and comfortable, and might be the perfect trip for island hoppers seeking something different.

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These Chinese Street Food Tours and Cooking Classes Showcase Authentic Shanghai Cuisine

Trying out a Chinese street food tour or cooking class in Shanghai should be on your list of things to do when you’re in the city. Today, Shanghai is a megalopolis, both a financial and cultural hub that showcases some of the world’s best architecture. Let’s not forget the food culture that started it all — the city’s heritage stems from steamed crab, fried pork buns, and the infamous Xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings. If you’re looking for a Chinese street food tour in Shanghai, check out these unique options.

We hope you love these Shanghai street food tours! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book an experience. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Authentic local food tour

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

In this Chinese street food tour in Shanghai, guests will walk around the former French concession, walk by the birthplace of the Chinese Communist Party, and learn about the history and culture of the city. Dive into Shanghai’s food scene by stopping at multiple restaurants, breweries, and more. On the docket are traditional egg tarts, dim sum stops, and of course, the famous soup dumplings.

Price: From $48 per person

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Croissant making in popular bakery

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This Shanghai food tour takes you to one of the most popular bakeries in Shanghai and includes plenty of bread samples. But the experience that separates it from other tours is that you will learn how to make traditional croissants. Learn all about the history of the croissant, how it evolved into an unexpected star of Shanghai’s pastry scene, and then get to baking. The class climaxes as you taste your creations — and believe us, they’re going to be mouthwatering, even if you’ve never baked before.

Price: From $33 per person

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Shanghai craft beer tasting experience

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

There are only a handful of microbreweries in the big city of Shanghai. In this tasting experience, you’ll visit at least three local brew tap rooms in Sinan Mansions and the Xintiadai area. Along the way, not only will you be tasting local drinks, but also you’ll get to stroll through Shanghai’s Old City and see the traditional neighborhood. Enjoy Shanghai-style dumplings and local rice wine with your best craft beer — you’ll never want to pair your beer pretzels and burgers again.

Price: From $70 per person

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Making soup dumplings

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Get your hands dirty and learn how to make a traditional dish with this cooking experience. Over the course of a few hours you’ll learn how to make xiǎolóngbāo, commonly known as soup dumplings. Learn how to make traditional and popular dumplings by understanding how the soup gets wrapped up inside the dumpling (we’ve always wondered how that happens) and you’ll even craft the dipping sauce that goes with the dumplings.

Price: From $57 per person

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Authentic tea and dessert tour

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

Photo: Airbnb

This Chinese street food tour in Shanghai teaches you how to make authentic tea and dessert. Experience the secret of Chinese afternoon tea while tasting multiple traditional desserts. You will taste tea and desserts from Huaihua Road during the tour and experience a traditional tea ceremony. In addition to satisfying both your sweet tooth and your penchant for caffeine, you’ll come away steeped in tea culture, history, and fun trivia like the meanings behind teacup sizes.

Price: From $65 per person

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New Data Show the Best Countries in the World To Work Remote

Remote work used to be a luxury for the lucky few. People would grind for years in a job for the privilege of being trusted with a remote, work-from-anywhere position. Telling your friends you “WFH” was a brag-worthy, enviable perk. Not to take the shine off working from home in the US, but nowadays, it is as common as a positive COVID test. Partly thanks to lingering COVID-19-era work policies, and partly due to employers’ developing conception of work-life balance, and new digital nomad visa schemes, working outside the office has become the norm rather than the exception. That evolution means workers are now faced with unprecedented freedom — the freedom to travel more frequently, and perhaps take the opportunity to remote work abroad.

Compared to simply choosing a leisure vacation destination, people traveling for remote work have a whole unique set of criteria to consider. That includes the country’s COVID-19 response and public health situation, economic and social conditions, digital and physical infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Using the metrics, NordLayer created a Global Remote Work Index ranking the top five countries for remote workers. It’s worth noting that European countries make up eight of the top 10 destinations, though Singapore, South Korea, Canada, and Japan put up stiff competition. 

Germany

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Expat life in Germany comes in top in the remote work rankings, scoring highly across all four categories. This is partly thanks to its high cybersecurity score (#3) and strong economic and social conditions. Despite its many benefits as a remote work destination, it’s worth keeping in mind that Germany is still rather expensive, ranking #43 overall in cost of living. This means that budget-conscious remote workers may want to forego Germany for a cheaper destination.

Denmark

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The Scandinavian countries are famous for their work-life balance and general quality of life, but equally notorious for their high cost of living. Denmark ranks highly in its COVID-19 handling and digital and physical infrastructure, though the expense of living there may deter many travelers. In exchange for the high cost, however, you can expect to live in a safe country with great digital resources and superior health coverage. 

The United States

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Good news (or maybe bad news) for those of you living in the US. You’re already in one of the world’s top remote work destinations. Though third on the overall list, the US comes first in its handling of COVID-19 (though many would likely dispute that), making it attractive for health-conscious travelers. It also scored high regarding economic and social conditions, even if it’s only #19 on the list for cybersecurity. Cost of living is another benefit of remote working in the US. While it may seem high, it’s actually quite affordable for a highly sought-after destination. 

Spain

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While Spain ranks reasonably well in cybersecurity, economic and social conditions, and COVID-19 response, it falls somewhat behind when it comes to digital and physical infrastructure, ranked at #19. They also came in fairly low for internet quality and affordability. So while Spain certainly isn’t on the forefront of the digital revolution, its low cost of living — especially compared to Germany and Denmark — will make it desirable to many remote workers.

Lithuania

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You might not think of Lithuania as one of the best places in the world for safe internet access, but the Baltic nation came in #2 in cybersecurity. While economic and social conditions are rather low (#33), and internet quality leaves something to be desired, the internet is extremely affordable here, which might make up for some of the country’s drawbacks. Perhaps most attractive, Lithuania’s cost of living is much lower than many other countries on the list, making it a stand-out destination for remote workers.
 

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Underrated UNESCO heritage sites

You’ve heard of the Vatican, Athens, and Iguazú. Heck, you’ve probably been there. These attractions draw huge numbers of tourists each year, thanks in part to the UNESCO statuses they’ve earned for their cultural significance, natural beauty, or both. What you may not know is that there are over 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world — and some of them come with surprisingly thin crowds.

The fact that certain UNESCO World Heritage sites have remained relatively crowd-free is not indicative of their significance or beauty. Factors like ease of access and guidebook hype can affect how popular a site becomes. But if you’re willing to travel a bit deeper, you can check out these 13 amazing and underrated UNESCO sites from Spain to Seychelles — and have the place nearly to yourself.

1. Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles

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Inscription date: 1982Why it’s underrated: Aldabra’s extreme isolation has historically kept humans from settling there, let alone popping over for a visit. Tourism remains limited and regulated through the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF). But you can visit, provided you get permission from the SIF, arrange your own transport, and secure accommodation aboard whatever vessel you charter to get there.When to go: April-May, October-NovemberWhat not to miss: Only select zones on the western and northern edges of the atoll are open to visitors. It’s possible to see giant tortoises in the wild in these zones — as well as a Grand Poche frigatebird colony — but there are also two giant tortoises at the atoll’s research station that visitors can approach more closely.

When it comes to African islands in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar gets a lot of attention for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife — DreamWorks even made a movie about it. But just north, roughly 600 miles southwest of the main Seychelles group in the archipelago’s Outer Islands, sits a group of four islands that make up the Aldabra Atoll, one of the largest coral atolls and least disturbed ecosystems on the planet.

Between coastal beaches, coral reefs, mangrove mudflats, scrub forests, and seagrass beds, Aldabra hosts a wide range of habitats that create a breeding ground for incredible biodiversity. But what’s most impressive is the fact that over 400 of the atoll’s species are endemic. Arguably, the most notable species is the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, whose 100,000-plus population is the largest giant tortoise population on Earth.

2. Antequera Dolmens Site, Spain

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Inscription date: 2016Why it’s underrated: Because of their recent inscription, the Antequera Dolmens in southern Andalusia are still largely unknown as a UNESCO World Heritage site to the many visitors who flock to the Alhambra of Granada or the Alcazar of Seville.When to go: April-May, September-OctoberWhat not to miss: The Menga Dolmen is one of the largest and heaviest megaliths in Europe. Calculated to weigh roughly 200 tons, it’s approximately seven times heavier than the largest megalith at Stonehenge, which is estimated to weigh about 30 tons.

Built during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, the Antequera Dolmens are a set of three megalithic tombs — the Menga and Viera Dolmens and the Tholos of El Romeral — that collectively represent one of the most remarkable examples of European Megalithism and prehistory. They’re hidden beneath the southern Andalusian landscape roughly 45 minutes north of Málaga, Spain, but there are two natural landmarks within the UNESCO site that let you know you’re close: La Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal. In fact, the Menga Dolmen is the only dolmen on the European continent that points toward an anthropomorphic mountain — in this case, La Peña de los Enamorados, or the “the Rock of Lovers.”

Influenced by two ancient Iberian architectural traditions, the dolmens were built to host rituals and funeral practices. Their existence helps identify a time in history when Western Europeans began constructing large ceremonial monuments. The sheer size and number of stones used to create this archaeological marvel alone make it worthy of a UNESCO inscription — it makes Stonehenge look like toy in comparison.

3. Historic Centre of Bukhara, Uzbekistan

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Inscription date: 1993Why it’s underrated: The tiled architecture of Bukhara’s mosques, madrasas, and minarets are as elaborate and intricate as anything you’d recognize from Morocco or Iran.When to go: April-June, September-NovemberWhat not to miss: About 20 minutes west of Bukhara, the Chor-Bakr memorial complex is another striking Uzbek historical site that’s been awaiting UNESCO status since 2008.

Maybe travelers miss this ancient hub of Islamic culture because of Uzbekistan’s proximity to Middle Eastern nations shown in the news for ongoing conflicts — or maybe they just can’t find it on a map. But you’ve definitely heard of the city’s most famous visitor: Marco Polo. The Italian merchant and his family set up shop here for three years due to its location along the Silk Road, which made the city an important cultural and economic hub for centuries.

While the beautiful brick Poi-Kalyan minaret, the Magoki Attori mosque, and the famous Ismail Samani tomb are highlights of 10th- and 11th-century Muslim architecture, it’s the entire urban center as a whole, one of the most complete examples of a well-planned and -preserved ancient Central Asian town, that stands out.

4. Huascarán National Park, Peru

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Inscription date: 1985Why it’s underrated: At over 22,000 feet, the national park’s namesake mountain, Huascarán, reaches the tallest point in Peru and the fourth-tallest point in South America.When to go: April-SeptemberWhat not to miss: Between peaks, the park is dotted with brilliantly blue lakes and lagoons, notably Lake Llanganuco and Laguna 69.

Once you’ve done your obligatory visit to Machu Picchu, head northwest to the striking landscape of Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, the world’s highest tropical mountain range. Here, you’ll find over 100 glacial lakes, pockets of varying vegetation, and tropical glaciers set among snow-covered mountains — specifically, the national park’s centerpiece is a cluster of 27 sky-high peaks, including Huascarán itself. The spectacled bear and Andean condor call this breathtaking UNESCO site home. With natural beauty like this, you’ll wish you could, too.

5. Kakadu National Park, Australia

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Inscription date: 1981 (extended 1987 and 1992)Why it’s underrated: It’s almost as big as New Jersey.When to go: May-OctoberWhat not to miss: Kakadu is full of natural swimming holes and waterfalls. Among the most impressive are Jim Jim Falls, the largest in the park; Gunlom Falls, a natural infinity pool; and Motor Car Falls, which is less likely to come with a big crowd of swimmers.

The Great Barrier Reef might overshadow Australia’s Kakadu National park in popularity — but not in size. At roughly 7,700 square miles, Kakadu is the continent’s largest national park, and it hosts a range of unique ecosystems, including mangroves, floodplains, and monsoon forests. The list of wildlife that calls the park home is long. It includes some 10,000 crocodiles, which is roughly one-tenth of all the crocodiles in Australia’s Northern Territory, and around 280 bird species, which is roughly one-third of all the bird species in Australia.

Cave paintings and rock carvings from the area’s original owners, the Bininj and Mungguy people, have also been well preserved within the park. The oldest can be traced as far back as 20,000 years. Members of these Indigenous groups have inhabited the region consistently for over 50,000 years. To this day, they carry on the hunting-and-gathering traditions that began in the Pleistocene Era while also helping to manage the park in tandem with Parks Australia.

6. Kluane/Wrangell-St Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek National Parks, US and Canada

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Inscription date: 1979 (extended 1992 and 1994)Why it’s underrated: You can knock off four national parks at once.When to go: June-AugustWhat not to miss: Mount Logan, the tallest peak in Canada and the second-tallest peak in North America, sits in Kluane National Park.

If you want to see the world’s largest non-polar icefield backed by towering, snow-capped mountains, you won’t be heading to Yosemite, Yellowstone, or Banff. Instead, trek to this underrated UNESCO site comprised of four impressive national parks along the US-Canada border between the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, and Alaska. It’s one of the last places on Earth where natural evolutionary and environmental changes still control ecological processes. Populations of animals that are endangered elsewhere, like grizzly bears and Dall sheep, self-regulate and thrive in this untainted environment.

7. Historic Center of Morelia, Mexico

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Inscription date: 1991Why it’s underrated: The capital of Mexico’s Michoacán state, Morelia has a food culture to rival Oaxaca’s — so much so that Michoacán’s traditional eats earned their own UNESCO designation on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.When to go: January-AprilWhat not to miss: Of the many mouthwatering foods you’ll find in Morelia, the city is most famous for producing sweets. In the historic center, check out the Museo de Dulce (Candy Museum) and Mercado de Dulces (Candy Market) to see — and taste — for yourself.

At the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental range sits Morelia, a 16th-century city center that showcases a combination of Spanish Renaissance and Mesoamerican experiences. It was also one of the major centers where forces clashed during the nation’s battle for independence in the 19th century. There are over 200 historical monuments and buildings in Morelia’s historic core — including a whopping 21 churches — all constructed from the region’s characteristic pink stone. This architectural mastery makes it an underrated UNESCO site that’s a must-see for travelers visiting Mexico.

8. Wuyishan, Fujian, China

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Inscription date: 1999Why it’s underrated: Mount Wuyi, at the heart of the Wuyishan range, plays host to a sizeable and mostly intact rainforest that exemplifies the ecological variety found within the Chinese Subtropical Forest and South Chinese Rainforest better than anywhere else in the country.When to go: September-NovemberWhat not to miss: Wuyishan is the birthplace of Oolong tea, and you can see six mother trees of one of the most famous types of Oolong, Da Hong Pao, in the Da Hong Pao scenic area. After, stop by a local Wuyi teahouse to get some as a souvenir.

Mount Wuyi gives visitors a look at both the biodiversity and history of China in one package. Temples and monasteries where neo-Confucianism blossomed line the epic gorges of the Nine Bend River, and Han dynasty rulers established a prominent administrative capital in the first century BCE where an archeological site now stands.

Located in the southeast province of Fujian, the area surrounding Wuyishan serves as a refuge for ancient wildlife — notably reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants — many of which are only found in their native China. While many travelers only see the Great Wall, the cultural and ecological significance of the Wuyishan make it worth the visit.

9. Bahla Fort, Oman

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Date of Inscription: 1987Why it’s underrated: Though the Nizwa Fort is one of Oman’s most popular tourist attractions, the Bahla Fort is just 30 minutes away and the only fort in Oman with a UNESCO designation.When to go: October-MarchWhat not to miss: Surrounding the fort are mud-brick houses arranged around afalaj irrigation channels, an ancient infrastructural system that inspired its very own UNESCO designation.

Like much of Omani history, the accomplishments of the Banu Nebhan tribe that ruled central Oman between the 12th and 15th centuries, due in large part to a prosperous frankincense trade, remains unknown to many. Bahla, the historical capital of the Banu Nebhan, and its namesake fort are testimonies to the tribe’s prosperity.

To start, the fort is large — approximately eight square miles. And its engineering is impressive, from defensive structures such as castellated parapets to the afalaj watering system that ensured both farming and daily life were sustainable. Just outside of the fort’s boundaries, the Friday Mosque and remains of a semi-enclosed souq also testify to how significant, and successful, Bahla was for the Banu Nebhan people.

10. Gulf of Porto, Corsica, France

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Date of Inscription: 1983Why it’s underrated: Not everyone who visits Corsica realizes they can visit a UNESCO World Heritage site just by driving the coast.When to go: May-SeptemberWhat not to miss: Tucked beneath the Calanques de Piana, Plage de Ficajola is a beautiful and secluded beach with red pebbles, deep blue water, and views of passing yachts.

The French island of Corsica spans 3,368 square miles, making it the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean. Approximately 1,351 of those square miles — some 40 percent of the island — belong to the Regional Natural Park of Corsica. And roughly 45 square miles of that make up this UNESCO-listed gulf on the island’s west side, which includes the Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, and Scandola Nature Reserve.

The composition of both the land and sea that comprise the gulf helped land it on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Terrestrially, evergreen shrubs and other vegetation are an excellent example of maquis scrubland, a biome that’s unique to the Mediterranean. Under the water, whose remarkable clarity is also worth recgonizing, myriad types of algae represent just some of the area’s spectacular marine life. Together, these conditions make the Gulf of Porto an important habitat for seabirds, such as seagulls, ospreys, cormorants, and sea eagles.

11. Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar

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Date of Inscription: 1990Why it’s underrated: There’s a “forest” of limestone pinnacles — and it’s as wild as it sounds.When to go: April-OctoberWhat not to miss: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is split between Big Tsingy and Little Tsingy. If you only have time for one, make it Big Tsingy. But be warned, walking tours of Big Tsingy are challenging — think harnesses, carabiners, and dizzying heights. One of the biggest payoffs? All the lemurs you’ll pass along the way.

Limestone is type of sedimentary rock that’s incredibly common and relatively unremarkable. But the formations they’ve made in Tsingy de Bemaraha is anything but ordinary — clusters of jagged, pointy spires that can reach heights of over 300 feet create a landscape akin to horizontal cliffs at this nature reserve in west-central Madagascar.

But that’s just some of what the landscape has in store. Within Tsingy, there’s also deciduous forests, savannas, mangrove swamps, lakes, rolling hills, and the Manambolo River that cuts through it. Several species that live in the park are only found locally — so many, in fact, that Tsingy is considered a “center for endemisim” — but lemurs and rare bird species are the highlights for wildlife lovers.

12. Hanseatic Town of Visby, Sweden

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Inscription date: 1995Why it’s underrated: Visby is located on the largest island in the Baltic Sea, roughly 150 miles from Stockholm if you were to travel straight down, where Viking history meets natural beauty.When to go: June-SeptemberWhat not to miss: After touring Visby’s two-mile city wall, its dozen-plus churches and church ruins, and the Gotland museum, find someplace to refuel with a plate of saffron pancakes. It should be easy — along with Gotland truffles, they’re a local delicacy.

Visby is the capital of Gotland, Sweden’s largest island. It was settled by Vikings during the Viking Age — go figure — and by the 12th century had become an important trading hub in the Baltic Sea. Its tenure as a trading hub lasted roughly until the 14th century, bringing with it the development of around 200 warehouses and merchant quarters.

To this day, Visby is better preserved than any other walled, medieval, commercial city in Northern Europe. It’s still a fully functioning town, but its heritage remains at the forefront of daily life. To see this underrated UNESCO site in its full glory, visit during the summertime Medieval Week, Sweden’s largest historical festival.

13. Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

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Date of Inscription: 1978Why it’s underrated: Several US national parks are inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, but Mesa Verde is the only one listed solely for its cultural significance.When to go: May-June, September-OctoberWhat not to miss: The 2.4-mile Petroglyph Point loop trail is the only trail in Mesa Verde National Park that showcases prehistoric rock carvings, alongside excellent views of the Spruce and Navajo Canyons.

Mesa Verde National Park is set in a scenic plateau in southwest Colorado, but it’s not the vistas that attract visitors — it’s the network of Pueblo Indian dwellings constructed between the sixth and 12th centuries around which the park’s boundaries were drawn.

In total, there are around 4,400 archaeological dwellings within the park. The most eye-catching were erected inside natural alcoves within cliff faces, though ancient villages were also built atop the mesa. And they’re no small settlements. The largest of Mesa Verde’s cliff dwellings — which total around 600 — contain as many as 200 different rooms. Among the most famous sites are the Cliff Palace, Balcony House, and Square Tower House. In addition to housing, these sites served multiple purposes, from storage to shrines to farming terraces.

At more than 8,500 feet, Mesa Verde also has value as an outdoors destination, with roughly 30 miles of trails within the park. The longest loop, the Prater Ridge Trail, spans nearly eight miles between the North and South Loops, which together showcase the scenery of the Prater and Morefield Canyons, Montezuma Valley, and the San Juan Mountains.

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Priceline Is Offering Cruise Deals Around the World for as Low as $25 Per Night Through September

Whether you’ve always wanted to get on a cruise but never had the chance or you’re a veteran cruise lover, pack your bags because it’s time to sail. Cruises are surging since pandemic restrictions have eased, and Priceline is offering amazing steals that depart from multiple ports across the United States. Whether you’re looking for a one-day or seven-day adventure, these last-minute deals for as low as $25 per night make it easy to embark to sea.

For full details, head over to Priceline’s deals page. Here are the options you can expect to find:

Priceline Caribbean cruise deals

Head to the Bahamas on a three-to-five-night cruise starting at just $27 per night on a Carnival Cruise Line. This trip embarks from Orlando and has dates year-round. When you’re not on board, get ready to explore Nassau and Princess Cays, the cruise line’s private island. Dates are available starting in August and go all the way until 2024.

If you’re looking to explore more of what the Caribbean has to offer, Carnival also has a five-night cruise leaving from Miami and headed to the Bahamas as well as Turks and Caicos. Make the most of Grand Turk Island while you are there. Rates start at just $26 per night with dates available from October to December.

A seven-day cruise with Royal Caribbean will take you across Mexico and multiple islands: the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica. Starting at just $50 per night, dates run from July to October 2022.

Priceline Mediterranean cruise deals

If you’re looking to make your way around Greece, consider this 10-night cruise on Norwegian Escape through the Greek Isles, Malta, and Italy. For just $128 per night, explore Santorini, Athens and Mykonos along with Sicily, Naples, Florence, and Pisa in Italy — plus Valletta, Malta. This ship sets sail on July 24 departing out of Rome, so you’ll need to move quickly.

For another option that’s just $50 a night leaving out of Barcelona, a seven-night cruise will take you to Gibraltar in the UK, along with Marseille, France, and multiple Italian cities: Genoa, Livorno, and Rome. Regal Princess has dates from July to September.

Priceline Alaska cruise deals

If you’ve always wanted to make the trek to Alaska, Priceline is featuring a five-night Norwegian Sun cruise that journeys from Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia in Canada. And the best part is it’s only $54 per night. Dates run from August to October.

If you have a bit more time, Holland American Line is running a seven-night cruise for only $46 a night. This trip from Washington takes you across Alaska and to Canada, with stops at Cruise Puget Sound, Stephens Passage, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Cruise Glacier Bay National Park, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. This trip embarks with dates in July through September.

Priceline Mexico cruise deals

Carnival is offering a four-night cruise that’s headed to Ensanada, Mexico, but you’ll also get to stop in California’s beautiful Catalina Island. This cruise is only $27 per night and has dates running from July all the way through 2024.

Carnival also has a seven-night trip available that will take you across the Mexican Riviera — Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas. Rates are only $36 per night and run from July all the way to 2024.

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5 Places Where You Can (Safely) Dive With Great Whites, Hammerheads, and More

If you look forward to Shark Week every year, you’re not alone. What started as a 10-episode program in 1988 has become a yearly phenomenon, and it’s obvious why: Sharks are a marvel of the sea. From small nurse sharks to great whites, people are endlessly curious about these spectacular creatures (even if they seem a little dangerous). The idea of getting up close and personal with sharks is so popular that there are plenty of places in the world where if you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with the sharks, you can definitely make that a reality.

We connected with Julie Andersen, PADI Worldwide‘s global director, brand, for insight on the best places around the world to dive with sharks.

Tiger Beach, Bahamas

Photo: Neil Andrea and Julie Andersen

About an hour by boat from the West End of Grand Bahama, Tiger Beach is known for reliably offering the chance to see gorgeous tiger sharks up close. Water in the Bahamas is crystal clear, and you’ll also catch views of lemon sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and, if you’re lucky, hammerheads. Even though Tiger Sharks get a bad rap during shark week, there’s nothing like swimming up to one (safely, of course). To participate, you’ll need either a Freediver or Open Water Diver PADI Diving Certification.

Guadalupe Island, Mexico

Photo: Andy Casagrande

Great whites are the sharks that everyone seems to fear more (thanks Jaws), but great white attacks are rare, with only 57 confirmed unprovoked shark attack cases worldwide in 2020. And experts agree that these sharks attack humans not because they like the taste, but because their poor eyesight means it’s easy for them to mistake you for their prey. That shouldn’t stop you from heading on this trip to Guadalupe Island, a remote archipelago off the coast of Baja California. Marvel at the different species of seals and sea lions. Then, dive into the crystal clear water and catch sight of varied fish species and one of the 170 great white sharks that wander in the area from July to November. There’s no diving certification needed to enjoy this excursion.

Shark Reef, Fiji

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If you’re PADI certified as an advanced open water diver, add a trip to Shark Reef in Fiji to your bucket list to have an experience like never before. The Shark Reef Marine Reserve’s Beqa Lagoon has earned its representation as one of the best places to see the giant bull sharks along with tiger sharks, gray reef sharks, nurse sharks, black tip reef sharks, and silvertip sharks at any of its 20 dive sites. Your visit to the reserve also benefits the sharks and the locals. The proceeds from a dive go to shark research and local fishers for lost income from no-take zones.

Bimini, Bahamas

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A trip to Bimini, Bahamas, to see the majestic hammerheads is so easy, you can make it a day trip from Miami by just catching the ferry. While hammerhead sharks may look intimidating, the truth is this species is quite shy and skittish, making Bimini a gem for how populated the area gets with hammerheads from December to March. You’ll need an Open Water Diver or Freediver PADI Diving Certification to take advantage.

Rhode Island, United States

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Rhode Island doesn’t have the year-round warmer water that the other locations do. But in the summer, the Gulf Stream moves close to shore, bringing sharks and game fish alongside it. You don’t have to leave the country or have a diving certificate to swim with the Mako and Bluefin sharks you’ll find here this time of year. Makos, often called miniature great whites, are rare, yet right in Rhode Island an encounter is within reach. You’ll be surprised how fast they move, so stay alert so you don’t miss it.

Of course if diving is not your thing but you still want a close underwater encounter, you can head to Maldives to sleep with them.

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The 7 Best Things To Do in Qatar When You’re Not at the World Cup

To many around the world, Qatar is somewhat of an enigma. The small country of 2.8 million people in the Persian Gulf is barely visible on a world map beside the hulking landmass of Saudi Arabia. Despite its size, however, Qatar is the fourth wealthiest country per capita in the world, and much like Dubai, it is a beacon of progress in the Middle East. This is partly why Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 World Cup, taking place from November 21 to December 18. The illustrious international competition might have put the tiny country on your radar for the first time, and maybe you’re even considering making the trip overseas for a match or two. The good news is, Qatar’s size isn’t indicative of its level of fun. Whether or not you’re a huge soccer fan, there are plenty of things to do in Qatar to keep you busy here when you’re not at a World Cup match.

Go dune bashing

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Dune bashing probably conjures images of swinging a huge wrecking ball through mounds of desert sand, but it’s not quite that extreme. In Qatar, dune bashing means riding along the dunes and bracing yourself for all the bumps that come with it. It’s not exactly a Mad Max-style, life-or-death proposition, but it’s still quite an adrenaline rush. Tour operators will usually pick you up right at your hotel and bring you into the desert for the thrill ride. Many even choose to extend the experience by camping in the desert – either in glamping-style luxury or in a self-pitched tent. Either way, a desert excursion is an absolute must for any visit to Qatar.

Visit a museum

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Those interested in Qatari culture will find no shortage of museums in the country, particularly in Doha. The Museum of Islamic Art is one of the most popular museums in Qatar, containing Islamic patterns, jewelry, textiles, and calligraphy from three continents. Many of the items date all the way back to the 7th century. There’s also a restaurant with an outdoor terrace on the top floor of the museum, with stunning views of Doha. The National Museum of Qatar is another museum you should visit in Doha. Looking like a spaceship crossed with a blooming flower, the museum tells the story of Qatar’s development from the desert to the contemporary age, and is perhaps the best way to learn about Qatar’s history.

The East-West/West-East installation

Photo: Davor Flam/Shutterstock

In the Brouq Nature Reserve, about 30 miles northwest of Doha, you’ll find Qatar’s best-known art installation, created in 2014 by sculptor Richard Serra. The East-West/West-East installation is composed of four pillars, each 50 feet tall, lining the desert corridor to the sea. The height of the plates represents the height of the old sea levels. The area is now immensely popular with visitors, particularly those interested in art and culture. A Fatbike tour is one of the best ways to see the installation, with tour companies operating off-roading adventures into the desert.

The Pearl

Photo: Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock

The Pearl is an artificial island 1,100 feet off the coast of Doha’s West Bay Lagoon. The pinnacle of luxury and extravagance in Qatar, The Pearl is defined by its expensive townhouses, resorts, beaches, upscale restaurants, and entertainment venues. It will be composed of 13 islands once construction is complete, making it one of the largest real estate developments in the Middle East. The Taliamare Beach Club at Qanat Quartier Beach is one of the most luxurious places to stay on The Pearl, as well as the Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel, located on its very own islet.

Katara Cultural Village

Photo: Sven Hansche/Shutterstock

Those looking to dive into Qatari culture can’t skip the Katara Cultural Village. Also known as the “Valley of Cultures,” the village opened in 2010 as part of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, and remains immensely popular with visitors. In addition to hosting festivals like the Traditional Dhow Festival and the Palestinian Heritage Festival, the village is home to several international restaurants and kiosks, beaches, and a maze of passages and waterways often utilized by artists and filmmakers. There’s also an opera house, which the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra calls home, and an outdoor amphitheater overlooking the sea.

Watch a camel race

Photo: OSTILL is Franck Camhi/Shutterstock

If World Cup soccer matches don’t quite stoke your enthusiasm, how about camel racing? About an hour from Doha, in Al Shahaniya, camel racing is the big draw, and it’s one of the most beloved events among Qataris. Camels run at speeds of up to 40 mph in short sprints, and are ridden by remote-controlled robot jockeys dressed in colorful racing clothes. A traditional sport of the country’s sheikhs, it’s now a popular public event, with tracks holding tournaments every Friday from November to February. Even if there are no races going on when you visit, the public is still allowed to stop by and observe the camels in training.

Barzan Towers

Photo: Photo Play/Shutterstock

Built in the late 19th century as watchtowers, and renovated in 1910, the Barzan Towers are located about 12 miles from Doha, and were originally meant to protect the Rawdat valley. At 52 feet tall, they’re built with coral rock and limestone—a traditional Qatari design—and are arranged in the shape of a “T.” The towers now function as a museum open 24-hours to the general public, and serve as a vital educational resource for learning about the history of Qatar and the cultural importance of state monuments.

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How To Crush Miami’s Frost Museum of Science in One Day

Like so many things in Miami, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is made to be photographed. America’s most aesthetically pleasing science museum is chock-full of Instagrammable moments, from its sprawling top-floor view of turquoise waters and glimmering towers, to its underwater windows bathed in soft blue natural light.

But unlike a lot of pretty things in Miami, the Frost Museum has substance. A lot of it. Part aquarium, part science museum, it can teach you more about the ecology and evolution of South Florida in a few hours than some locals learn in a lifetime. And while it’s easy to get caught up in its beauty, taking time to delve into the Frost Museum’s exhibits can be just as memorable. We took a deep dive with VP of Animal Husbandry and Marine Conservation Andy Dehart and Director of Animal and Museum Exhibits Skip Uricchio, and they showed us how to make the most of your time at the Frost Museum of Science.

The #1 piece of advice for visiting the Frost Museum of ScienceTips for visiting the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of ScienceThe best times to visit the Frost MuseumWhere to start your Frost Science Museum visitHow long you should budget to visit the Frost MuseumWhere to eat at the Frost MuseumThe five best things to do at the Frost Science MuseumThe five areas you absolutely can’t miss at the Frost Museum of ScienceWhat you can skip at the Frost Science MuseumThe #1 piece of advice for visiting the Frost Museum of Science

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Since there’s a lot of ground to cover at the Frost Museum, and planetarium shows tend to sell out during busy times, you’ll want to book your show in advance, and plan your day around that.

“If you do online ticketing, you usually get the first shot at the planetarium shows,” says Dehart. “They’ll give you your choice of time slot, and what show you want to watch. And if you can get that done right out of the gate you can take your time exploring and not worry about a showtime.”

The shows at the 67-foot, 360-degree planetarium include Worlds Beyond Earth; Dynamic Earth; and Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter. Admission is included in your Explorer Ticket.

Tips for visiting the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of ScienceFrost Museum tickets

A regular ticket (dubbed the Explorer Ticket) to the Frost Museum includes museum exhibitions, aquarium, live science demonstrations and one Frost Planetarium show for $29.95 for adults, and $24.95 for children between the ages of four and 11.

It is recommended to purchase your timed tickets online in advance because, as explained above, Frost Planetarium shows are limited and you would not want to miss out. Note that times tickets can only be used on the day and time you selected so don’t show up late!

Frost Museum parking optionsIf you choose to drive to the Frost Museum, you can park in the museum garage during the museum’s hours of operation (10 AM to 7 PM); however it will cost you $15 (by credit car only) and the garage fills up very quickly. There are also three nearby parking lots.The best times to visit the Frost Museum

The best time to go to avoid crowds, according to Dehart, is right around when school starts up, towards the end of August and into September. Is that also the hottest, muggiest part of the year in Miami, and may necessitate a change of shirts when you visit the outdoor exhibits? Maybe. Just stay hydrated and you’ll be fine.

As one might expect in Florida, the busiest times at the Frost Museum are around the holidays in December and January, and spring break in March and April. And if that’s the only time you can make it, both Dehart and Uricchio stressed that coming early is crucial. The museum opens at 10 AM daily, and in addition to that being the emptiest time it’s also the coolest.

Frost Science Museum free daysThere are no free days at the Frost Museum; however the following museumgoers are admissible for free:Children age three and underMembers of the Frost Museum (membership is $109 per year)First responders, active US military, and veterans with proper identificationWhere to start your Frost Science Museum visit

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

To see the museum properly, the first thing you’ll want to hit is the Royal Caribbean Vista on the fourth floor. It looks out onto Biscayne Bay and the city skyline, and down into the aquarium’s tanks. But once you’ve had your fill of the top floor, the Frost Museum is best visited as two different spaces.

“I typically tell people to go up to the fourth floor of the aquarium, at the Royal Caribbean Vista, first, and work their way down,” says Dehart. “You’ll end up in the Power of Science, which has an aquarium component to it, then take the yellow elevators up and do the trick all over again. It’s like two cascading waterfalls.”

How long you should budget to visit the Frost Museum

Even though it’s effectively two museums, The Frost Museum Science can be done in about two and a half to three hours, even if you take your time. However, this can be extended by excessive selfie time, which will be a lot more than you think if you’re visiting with kids who own cell phones.

Where to eat at the Frost Museum

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Just before you exit the museum, you’ll spot Food@Science, the Frost Science Museum’s café. The menu is surprisingly varied, ranging from pizzas to Mexican street corn to veggie power bowls. You can even get a little taste of the city here, with the Miami bowl and its pollo a la plancha, beans, and rice. There are also healthier options like mezze salad or beyond burger. And beer and wine, if a day chasing kids around the museum calls for a drink.The five best things to do at the Frost Science Museum1. Gaze down into tropical coral reefs from the top floor

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Aquariums the world over allow you to look in on the undersea world, where colorful fish swim past you behind a thick glass wall. Few, however, let you peer down into the undersea world. Standing atop Frost Science’s fourth floor, you’ll be at the surface of the Gulf Stream, a 100-foot, 500,000-gallon tank where shark fins cruise the surface with the Miami skyline in the background.

A few steps from the Gulf Stream you can look down into an artificial coral reef, meant to replicate the reef just off the South Florida shore. You’ll see into a world of colorful, tropical fish enticing you to delve deeper into the museum, and similarly see them from below.

2. Take a picture at the Oculus

Photo: World Red Eye / Frost Museum of Science

If there is one iconic, Instagrammable moment at Frost Science, it’s the Oculus. This 31-foot circular window at the bottom of the Gulf Stream allows visitors to stare up into the underwater world, where hammerhead sharks, manta rays, mahi-mahi, and 7,000 shiny bait fish make for one of the most mesmerizing views in American museums. The eerie blue lighting juxtaposed against the natural light coming from above also makes it an ideal place for pictures. And you’ll find tourists, photographers, and influencers queueing up for their turn in front of the window.

Is it a little cliché? Sure. But kinda like taking a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower in France, if you haven’t been before, you kinda have to.

3. Take a load off at the planetarium

While the Royal Caribbean Vista and the Oculus may be the social media stars of the Frost Science Museum, its most recognizable exterior feature is its massive planetarium. Its shows are all captivating and educational, but Frost’s planetarium also affords visitors the opportunity to do something else critically important: Cool off.

Miami, in case you weren’t aware, can get warm. And much of the best stuff at Frost is outside. The planetarium, however, is refreshingly air-conditioned, and the 20-25-minute shows serve as a welcomed chance to relax and recharge.

4. Pet a stingray

On the museum’s top floor, you’ll find a large tank of Atlantic and Southern rays sitting on the far eastern end, right near the wall. This is the Florida Bay Touch Experience, where kids and kids-at-heart can take their turn safely petting one of the ocean’s coolest-looking creatures. For those concerned about the ethics of touching an animal that may not have a choice, Dehart assured us the rays are only pet when they want to be.

“The experience is designed so that the rays really have to choose to be touched,” Dehart says. “It’s deep enough that people can’t just reach down and touch them. If the rays don’t want to be in that contact zone, they’re not. Some of them will, and some of them won’t.”

5. Immerse yourself in the virtual gulf stream

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Beautiful and massive as the Gulf Stream exhibit is, it still can’t give you a fully immersive experience inside the ocean. For that, there’s the virtual gulf stream, a 55-foot-wide by 10-foot-tall circular screen, that puts you in the middle of jellyfish, sharks, and even the occasional whale.

But this is no simple movie projection. As you move through and touch the screen, schools of fish and large creatures react to your presence, just as they might if you were swimming among them. You’ll learn the animals’ behaviors both with each other, and interacting with other creatures. The experience is made even more immersive by top-quality surround sound.

The five Frost Museum areas you absolutely can’t miss1. Gulf Stream Aquarium

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Standing atop the “giant martini glass” — so named because of its conical shape — might be one of the best vantage points of Downtown Miami. But the exhibit includes animals that people travel the world to see, from Eagle Rays to Hammerhead Sharks to mahi-mahi. And you can view it from three different levels throughout the museum.

In addition to showcasing the creatures that live in the current off the Florida coast, the Gulf Stream is also designed to educate visitors on the vastness of the ocean.

“We wanted to show it was kind of that wet desert, that wet kind of middle of nowhere,” says Dehart. “If you jumped off a boat on your way to Bimini halfway across, this is what you’d see.”

2. Everglades

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Obviously, the best way to visit the unique and heavily endangered ecosystem of the Florida Everglades is to drive about 45 minutes west of Miami to Everglades National Park. But if you don’t have that much time — or insect repellant — stepping into the fourth floor aviary and Everglades habitat is a great way to learn about it.

Through red and black mangroves you’ll spot the impossibly rare Roseate Spoonbill, once hunted to near extinction for hat feathers. Creeping through the hardwood hammock, you’ll also see baby alligators and crocodiles, as the Everglades is the only place in the world you’ll find both. There are also owls, hawks, eagles, and plenty of snakes (behind glass, don’t worry). The birds are all part of rehabilitation programs, too, meaning they were found injured in the wild and were brought to the museum to recover.

3. The Dive and The Deep

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Descending down from the Royal Caribbean Vista level you’ll find yourself moving deeper into the aquarium tanks you just viewed from above. The third level, The Dive, includes dozens of small aquariums showcasing fish from around Florida and the world, including invasive species like the lionfish. There’s even a Pacific coldwater tank with a little red octopus.

Drop down another level and you’re in The Deep, where the light fades away and you meet deep-sea creatures you’d never see at diveable depths. It’s also home to two of the museum’s more memorable experiences — the immersive virtual gulf stream and the Insta-famous Oculus.

4. Feathers to The Stars

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

No exhibit at the Frost Science Museum is more thought-provoking as Feathers to the Stars, a look at how birds evolved to fly, and how humans used that evolution to propel ourselves into the sky. Inside you’ll be met with a 30-foot Yutyrannus huali, a feathered dinosaur that ultimately learned to fly. You’ll also see life-sized airplanes suspended from the ceiling, and have the chance to land a spaceship on Mars as part of the exhibit’s space section.

“Once you understand that story arc, the emergent evolution of flight of animals from dinosaurs to birds, then the evolution of flight from the Wright Brothers to the moon, it’s pretty cool,” says Dehart. “It’s probably my second favorite.”

5. Power of Science

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

The final exhibit as you walk down to the ground floor is a masterful transition from aquarium to science museum. Here, visitors step into the shoes of scientific researchers, learning how theories are tested and experiments performed, with historic tools and interactive installations along the way. It examines four frontiers in science: Our oceans, bodies, environment, and universe. And it tells the stories of famous scientists who made breakthroughs in each.

6. Observation deck and the sun spot

Because most journeys within the Frost Science Museum start at the fourth floor Royal Caribbean Vista, few people ever visit the museum’s lush rooftop. But take the elevators up to floor six and you’ll be met with a terrace filled with native Florida beach plants, and a look at how solar energy is harnessed to help power the museum. You’ll find a good dose of Florida sunshine, so if you’re planning to spend some time up here, pack some sunscreen.

“It was originally part of our being a LEED [​​Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] certified building,” says Uricchio. “But it’s all the native beach plants from right on the water, and we want people to see that they can have a really beautiful landscape using native plants that are more efficient.”

7. Wet Lab

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

Hidden behind some nondescript doors on the museum’s seldom-visited fifth floor, you’ll find a sort of coral-incubation lab called the Wet Lab. Here, real-life scientists are working to restore 40 genotypes of coral, raising smaller specimens in tanks to hopefully replenish the dying reefs off Florida’s coast. “It’s kind of like the Noah’s Ark of Pillar Coral,” Dehart says with pride. While it’s not advertised as one of the museum’s main exhibits, it is open to anyone who pays admission.

8. River of GrassThis interactive children’s exhibit near the outdoor Everglades might be easy to write off as only for kids. But it can teach adults a lot. The immersive screen in the River of Grass’ main room lets visitors walk through a virtual Everglades, where Florida panthers dash by in the distance. Video-projected “water” reacts to your steps on the ground, and terrifyingly-large cartoon mosquitoes come out at sunrise and sunset, just like in the real Everglades.

Just outside, a series of interactive water features show what happens to the Everglades’ water flow when we build roads and dams. And though it’s aimed at children, it’s an important education in water conservation that anyone can benefit from.

What you can skip at the Frost Science Museum

Photo: Frost Science/Facebook

The Frost Science Museum isn’t intimidatingly huge, so there’s no reason you can’t visit everything during one visit. But if you’re pressed for time, and you don’t have kids, you can probably give the MeLab a miss. While it’s an interesting look at how bodies work, and the impact of food and exercise on your health, it’s typically packed with kids and it can get noisy.

If you do have kids, understand every exhibit in the MeLab is highly interactive, so you may end up spending a lot more time here than you’d planned. Still, younger children will probably also find this more fun than the Power of Science. Our advice is to do both, but if you’ve got little ones with a short attention span opt for the MeLab instead.

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7 Tennessee Vacation Ideas Your Kids Will Love

There’s a reason Tennessee has captured the imaginations of so many songwriters and musicians. The state teems with natural beauty, history, and culture, not to mention mouthwatering cuisine. And the best way to experience all Tennessee has to offer is with the people you love.

From outdoor adventures to kid-reviewed attractions, Tennessee has plenty of options to excite everyone in your family. Here are seven Tennessee destinations in cities and towns around the state guaranteed to give your entire crew a vacation that’ll be one for the books.

1. Lookout Mountain | Chattanooga

Photo courtesy of Ruby Falls

The picturesque mountains of southeastern Tennessee wrap a protective arm around the vibrant city of Chattanooga. Take a stroll on the Walnut Street Bridge over the Tennessee River to the North Shore — it’s one of the country’s longest pedestrian bridges, erected in 1890 — on your way to nearby Lookout Mountain. Spend an afternoon here visiting Rock City and Ruby Falls, where you’ll take an elevator ride deep into the earth to view a rushing 145-foot waterfall. Prepare to stand in awe, both adults and kids — this is the tallest and deepest underground waterfall in the US that’s accessible to visitors.

2. National Civil Rights Museum | Memphis

The National Civil Rights Museum. Photo: Tennessee Tourism/National Civil Rights Museum/Isaac Singleton

Blues, barbecue, and rock n’ roll are only part of the story of Memphis. Education is the name of the game at the National Civil Rights Museum, one of the best places in the country for kids to learn about this crucial chapter of American history. The museum itself stands on a historic site, built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968. Exhibits explore the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-1900s but also trace the story back to the 17th century and forward to today. A visit here is powerful for anyone, and both kids and adults will come away with a deeper understanding of our country.

Bonus: Your family trip to Memphis should also include a day for the Memphis Zoo. With over 3,500 animals including elephants, tigers, pandas, and polar bears, it’s earned its rank as one of the top zoos in the nation. If you time your visit right, you can attend an after-dark tour or even let the kids do an overnight stay.

3. Adventure Science Center | Nashville

Adventure Science Center. Photo: Tennessee Tourism

Science comes to life at Adventure Science Center in Nashville. With hands-on, interactive exhibits, activities and original programs, the center makes science not just educational, but also entertaining for kids and adults alike.

The onsite Sudekum Planetarium — a state-of-the-art 63-foot dome theater — will dazzle the family with shows like Nightwatch, where you’ll learn to locate and identify constellations, bright stars, and planets with your naked eye. In the 75-foot-tall Adventure Tower, you and your kids can crawl through a beating heart, generate power by pedaling a bicycle, or climb to the observation deck to catch a breathtaking view of the city.

4. Anakeesta | Gatlinburg

Anakeesta Theme Park. Photo: Tennessee Tourism/Anakeesta

Just outside the gates of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the town of Gatlinburg, a wonderland of waterfalls and mountain drives, ice cream stands, and attractions. Take the “Chondola” up to Anakeesta Mountaintop Park, a picturesque theme park that offers thrilling nature adventures like a treetop dueling zipline course and mountain coaster with a 400-foot elevation change. Kids can traverse alongside the birds on the longest tree-based skywalk on the continent, suspended some 60 feet in the air. Keep an eye out for wildlife on the forest floor below!

5. Dunbar Cave State Park | Clarksville

Entrance to Dunbar Cave. Photo: Manny_Stock/Shutterstock

This revitalized northern Tennessee town on the Cumberland River just might be the state’s hottest weekend getaway secret. Take a stroll through Clarksville’s historic downtown, filled with trendy boutiques, antique stores, art galleries, and restaurants. Then, make your way to Dunbar Cave State Park, the only publicly owned cave in the world where you can view Native American petroglyphs and pictographs dating back to the 14th century. Besides a guided tour of the caves, you and the kids can also enjoy exploring the park’s several hiking trails.

6. Ijams Nature Center | Knoxville

Ijams Nature Center Boardwalk. Photo: Dee Browning/Shutterstock

Home to the University of Tennessee, the spirited city of Knoxville combines outdoor fun with increasingly sophisticated cuisine and culture. Spend an active afternoon at Ijams Nature Center, where you can hike or bike more than 12 miles of trails or rent kayaks or canoes and explore Mead’s Quarry Lake, with its sparkling waters and dramatic cliffs. Recover from your outdoor adventure over sweet or savory crepes at The French Market Creperie (always a hit with the kids!).

7. Rugby | Northwest of Knoxville

Cottage in Rugby. Photo: Tennessee Tourism/Historic Rugby Inc.

This quiet Victorian-era village on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau will enchant your entire family. Kids will be captivated by a tour of the village and hearing about the wealthy second sons who moved here from England to make their fortunes — and ultimately lose them. Once you’ve explored the Victorian townscape, take the short, scenic walk to the Gentleman’s Swimming Hole on Clear Fork Creek, believed to be the oldest continuously used swimming hole in the US. Splashing in the cool waters of Clear Fork? Vacation accomplished!