What Are You Dreaming About Doing When It's Time To Travel Again?
Here are ideas we're thinking about, whether they're 3 months, 6 months or a year down the road.
Have you developed a new appreciation for going places this year? Whenever it's time to travel again, where will you go? Will you take what you've learned during this time and plan a trip based on that? Here are some things we're thinking about.
Explore Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park.
Discover Places Nearby
Are you ready to get out in the world and see things in a new way? There are plenty of places to explore that aren't too far away.
Visit a Rainforest
Did you know you don't have to travel to another country to visit an actual rainforest? Nature lovers are fascinated by their dense green scenery and the myriad life that inhabits them.
The massive Tongass National Forest, in southeast Alaska, is the nation’s largest rainforest by a long shot. Covering some 16.9 million acres, the forest spans much of the famous Inside Passage that includes Glacier Bay National Park. About 5.7 million acres of the forest are protected as wilderness, including habitat for grizzly bears, moose, river otters, harbor seals, wolves and more.
Olympic National Park is best known for its cool green old-growth trees, which provide habitat and shelter to wildlife including the largest unmanaged herd of Roosevelt elk in the Pacific Northwest. Hoh Rain Forest lives up to its name, receiving as much as 14 feet of precipitation per year. Sitka spruce, western hemlock and other conifers are the dominant trees, as in many other temperate rainforests, but the ferns and mosses growing on their trunks and branches provide more of a traditional jungle atmosphere.
See Big Cats in the Wild
From the enormous Siberian tiger to the water-loving jaguar, the big-cat family represents some of the most majestic animals on earth. It's the combination of their feline grace and killer instinct that makes these big cats so irresistible. You can see three of the best-known big cats at the San Diego Zoo, but read on to learn where you can see lions, tigers and jaguars in the wild.
The tiger is the world’s largest big cat, with Siberian males weighing up to 650 pounds. While the tiger’s distribution range stretches from Siberia to Sumatra, most of the world’s remaining tigers belong to the Indian subspecies known as the Bengal tiger.
Only slightly smaller than the Siberian tiger, the lion is the second-largest big cat. You can see the African lion without much trouble in a number of national parks in Africa, including Kruger in South Africa, Serengeti in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya.
The jaguar is the largest big cat in the Americas and the most water-loving cat in the big-cat family. Its range extends from the Southwestern United States to Argentina. The best place for spotting a jaguar is the Brazilian Pantanal. The big cats are typically spotted on the river banks, but are rarely seen in the rain.
Delicate Arch is one of the most famous geologic features in the world.
Wide-Open Spaces
Of all the ways we travel, the all-American road trip is likely to be least affected by new rules and regulations. Hit the road and explore some destinations that offer plenty of room to roam.
Arches National Park
In a park with more than 2,000 stone arches, Delicate Arch is a widely recognized symbol of the state of Utah and one of the most famous geologic features in the world. It's difficult to see Delicate Arch from the main park road; you must get out of the car to view it. At Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint, you can walk a level 100 yards to see the arch from a mile away.
Balanced Rock, one of the most iconic features in the park, stands a staggering 128 feet tall and you can see it from the park road. At sunset, Balanced Rock becomes saturated in a deep red-orange, making it a great place to end a day in the park.
Yellowstone National Park
It was unique thermal features like Old Faithful geyser that inspired the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872. Old Faithful is one of nearly 500 geysers in Yellowstone. Watch eruptions from the Old Faithful viewing area or along the boardwalks that weave around the geyser and through the Upper Geyser Basin.
Hayden Valley is a great place to view wildlife. See grizzly bears in the early summer preying upon newborn bison and elk calves. You can spot bison all the way through the fall rut. Ducks, geese and American white pelicans cruise the river; and keep an eye out for bald eagles, Northern Harriers and sandhill cranes.
Santa Fe cuisine is based on traditional Mexican dishes recreated with New Mexican flavors, spices and cooking methods.
Travel For Food
There are some cities you just have to visit for the food. Ready to explore a culinary destination? Here are two to start with.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cuisine in Santa Fe mainly consists of traditional Mexican dishes recreated with New Mexican flavors, spices and cooking methods. Be prepared to answer the classic New Mexico chile question: "Red or green?" If you're unsure, try the Christmas—red and green chile sauce side-by-side on your burrito or enchilada. Enjoy Native American fry bread–style sopapillas; pozole and slow-cooked beans; plus creations native to the area, including the green chile burger.
If you love history, Santa Fe is the spot for you. The city's rich past is preserved in historic sites near and throughout the city. Explore ancient Native American ruins filled with petroglyphs or a living history museum devoted to Spanish colonial life. Visit centuries-old adobes and European-style churches. Ride a historic working railroad or enjoy the unique architecture of downtown Santa Fe.
Olympia, Washington
A walk through Olympia's year-round farmers market is a reminder that the Pacific Northwest truly excels at putting food on the table. From local oysters to local oyster mushrooms, if the market doesn't have everything you're looking for, it comes spectacularly close. Washington produces six out of every 10 apples consumed in the United States, so if you're a fan of cider, you'll find plenty of tasty options in the area.
The state capital makes a great base camp for exploring western Washington's top destinations—Olympic National Park is about a one-hour drive, you can be at Mount Rainier National Park or on the coast in around 90 minutes or at Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in about two hours.