fun places to visit 2023

52 Places to Go in 2023

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London  Copied to clipboard!

A buzzing city ready for a coronation, a brand-new airport link and a prehistoric colossus read more.

Tom Jamieson for The New York Times

Between an altered post-lockdown landscape, sensational changeovers at 10 Downing Street and the death of Queen Elizabeth II, there is no doubt that London is in transition. But the city continues to juxtapose old traditions and new possibilities, offering something for everyone who loves culture, history, art and nightlife.

For fans of the royal family, and maybe a few naysayers, the crowning of King Charles III , Britain’s first coronation in seven decades, will be the main event in May. There’s also the revamping of Battersea Power Station , an iconic former coal-fired power plant, into a shopping and leisure hub, and a new line on the Underground will directly connect Heathrow Airport to the central boroughs. A cast of a titanosaur, the largest creature ever to walk the planet, will make its European debut at the Natural History Museum , and late-night obsessives can head to newly opened dance clubs like the Beams . Big changes, yes, but a wealth of new choices, too.

— Isabella Kwai

Morioka  Copied to clipboard!

A walkable gem without the crowds, just a short bullet train ride from tokyo read more.

Andrew Faulk for The New York Times

Morioka, Japan

Until this past October, Japan maintained some of the most stringent travel restrictions of any major country. Now, travelers are beginning to stream back to popular destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

The city of Morioka, in Iwate Prefecture, however, is often passed over or outright ignored. Circumscribed by mountains, it lies a few hours north of Tokyo by Shinkansen, the Japanese high-speed rail lines. Morioka’s downtown is eminently walkable. The city is filled with Taisho-era buildings that mix Western and Eastern architectural aesthetics as well as modern hotels, a few old ryokan (traditional inns) and winding rivers. One draw is an ancient castle site turned into a park.

There’s also fantastic coffee, including one of Japan’s third-wave originators: Nagasawa Coffee, whose owner, Kazuhiro Nagasawa, is so committed to his beans that he uses a vintage German-made Probat roaster, which he personally imported and restored. Azumaya serves up all-you-can-eat wanko soba , which comes served in dozens of tiny bowls; Booknerd offers classic Japanese art books; and Johnny’s, a jazz cafe, has been open for over 40 years. An hour west by car: Lake Tazawa and dozens of world-class hot springs.

— Craig Mod

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park  Copied to clipboard!

The majesty and awe of towering buttes in a setting fit for hollywood read more.

Rachael Wright

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park,

Americans have been flocking to national parks, many of which were overrun with visitors during the peak of pandemic-related international border closures. Amid the bustle, peacefully taking in the majesty of nature can be a challenge.

Monument Valley offers a less crowded alternative. The site, known as Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii in Navajo, has been a popular insignia for the American West ever since John Wayne rode in to film “Stagecoach” in 1939, and the grandeur of its cinematic sandstone buttes, towering above a copper-red desert vastness, elicits a feeling of reverence and awe.

The tribal park, which features a 17-mile driving loop, is open to visitors under the stewardship of the Navajo Nation. Its relatively basic infrastructure — in contrast to sites governed by the National Park Service — and its out-of-the-way location on the Arizona-Utah state line help create a more serene experience compared with other awe-inspiring U.S. destinations.

— Rachael Wright

Kilmartin Glen  Copied to clipboard!

A misty scottish stonehenge, with all of the mystery and far fewer visitors read more.

Andy Haslam for The New York Times

Kilmartin Glen, Scotland

The sun rises over Kilmartin Glen as it has for thousands of years, illuminating an ancient landscape of more than 800 archaeological monuments sprouting in the mist. This verdant valley on Scotland’s wild west coast is one of the most significant prehistoric sites in Britain, yet it’s largely off the visitor circuit; imagine Stonehenge without the crowds.

Wander among majestic stone circles, standing slabs that jut from the earth, burial cairns and rock carvings of concentric rings, expanding like ripples from a drop of water. And now the past is getting a refresh: The Kilmartin Museum is reopening with expanded exhibits and new experiences that delve into the region’s relics and flourishing natural life, including Moine Mhor (Great Moss), one of the few remaining raised bogs in Europe, above which looms the Iron Age hill fort of Dunadd.

For full immersion into the Scotland of yore, stay at the moody 16th-century Kilmartin Castle , which was recently transformed into a boutique hotel, with vaulted ceilings, copper tubs and a wild swimming pond.

— AnneLise Sorensen

Auckland  Copied to clipboard!

New Zealand

Pastries that rival France’s best, with a side of adventure tourism on the North Island Read more

Susan Wright for The New York Times

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is usually considered the entry point for the rest of New Zealand’s natural attractions, but travelers just passing through can miss that it’s also the culinary capital (sorry, Wellington).

Restaurants that have been germinating while the country’s borders were closed are now ready to be sampled by all. Just 10 minutes on foot from the newly renovated downtown, for instance, takes you to Hugo’s Bistro , where a regular clientele, including many lawyers, dines on unfussy French-inspired food that takes advantage of New Zealand’s fertility: Saffron, wasabi and truffles, among other delicacies, are grown in the country. Cazador , a longtime staple of the residential neighborhood Mt. Eden, serves local game in its restaurant and house-cured meats in its delicatessen.

The city’s famous multiculturalism also plays a part: Omni , which opened in 2020 and whose head chef worked at Hong Kong’s Yardbird, makes high-end yakitori, and Little French Pastry ’s founders, originally from France, serve up mille-feuille rivaling Paris’s best.

Palm Springs  Copied to clipboard!

Spotting stars in the streets and counting galaxies in the sky read more.

Beth Coller for The New York Times

Palm Springs, California

Yes, this is the land of midcentury nostalgia, with its low-slung Modernist architecture and the recent return of the 26-foot-tall “ Forever Marilyn ” statue. But these days, there’s another headliner: the surrounding desert, and the dark skies above.

Astrotourism is on the rise, with a constellation of ways to explore the cosmos, including at the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory , which offers tours and monthly “Swoon at the Moon” events. Unfurl a blanket on the desert floor and gaze up at the starry sky at Joshua Tree National Park . This designated International Dark Sky Park has one of the darkest skies in California, with stargazing treks and the annual Night Sky Festival .

The desert nature and history that flourish around Palm Springs are also shaping the city’s landscape, including the new Palm Springs Downtown Park , designed to reflect Indian Canyons , ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza and Museum , which, when it opens later this year, will be one of the largest Native American cultural centers on the West Coast; and new desert-inspired hotels like Azure Sky .

Kangaroo Island  Copied to clipboard!

A haven for koalas and other wild creatures, healing after devastating wildfires read more, kangaroo island, australia.

A short trip from Adelaide, South Australia’s capital, the nearly 1,700-square-mile Kangaroo Island is known for incredible wildlife, breathtaking ocean views and its status as an ecological haven — like a zoo without fences.

Three years ago, devastating fires consumed the island, wiping out wildlife and destroying a famous luxury hotel, the Southern Ocean Lodge . Efforts to rebuild are continuing, and the island is more compelling than ever to visit. New organizations that sprang up to help with the wildlife recovery offer visitors a chance to play a part in funding that regeneration.

At the Kangaroo Island Koala and Wildlife Rescue Centre , you can book a private tour to see the animal hospital facilities, or bottle-feed a joey (a baby kangaroo). At the long-established Seal Bay Conservation Park , you can watch one of Australia’s largest colonies of sea lions frolic on the beach. And in 2023 the Southern Ocean Lodge will reopen, grander and better than before.

— Besha Rodell

Vjosa River  Copied to clipboard!

Cycling through the canyons and valleys of one of europe’s last untamed waterways read more.

Shutterstock

Vjosa River, Albania

Protecting the Vjosa , one of Europe’s last undammed rivers, hasn’t been easy. After a decade of proposed projects that threatened to alter the waterway’s wild flow, its innumerable ecosystems and its valleys strewn with ancient communities, the Albanian government signed a commitment last June to create the Vjosa Wild River National Park .

Making good on that pledge, scheduled to become reality in 2023, will establish a global conservation model while preserving the country’s canyon-lined, 120-mile stretch of the 169-mile waterway, which runs from the Pindus Mountains in Greece to the Adriatic Sea, as well as including around 60 miles of tributaries.

For travelers — on trails like Albania’s new UNESCO Cycling Route (opening January 2023), which runs along the river and visits World Heritage sites like the city of Gjirokastra — safeguarding the Vjosa and its river system, with over 1,100 animal species, encourages responsible discovery of alpine settlements, where locals welcome adventurers for coffee, raki (local fruit brandy) and a chance to imbibe oft-overlooked Balkan culture.

— Alex Crevar

Accra  Copied to clipboard!

Feast first, dance later, in a hub of innovative west african cuisine read more.

Jessica Sarkodie for The New York Times

Accra, Ghana

Accra’s food scene typically consists of two schools: “chop bars” that serve traditional, cheap meals like fufu (made from pounded cassava, green plantains or yams) with tomato-based spicy soup, and pricier restaurants serving foreign fare.

Travelers to Accra, Ghana’s capital, can now see a new wave of chefs and entrepreneurs bridging this gap by emphasizing and innovating with local produce. At the Mix, a new restaurant and design hub, the West African staple gari (granulated cassava root) is dyed pink with beetroot and accompanies squid in a passion fruit sauce.

The sustainable food space in Accra is also one to watch; Ghana Food Movement , an educational group, hosts events throughout the year, including a signature Dine & Dance series in which underutilized indigenous ingredients like millet, eaten by Ghanaians almost exclusively as porridge, are made into stars over three courses. The meal is followed by a dance party, of course, in true Ghanaian fashion.

— Jessica Sarkodie

Tromso  Copied to clipboard!

A clear-skied hot spot where aurora seekers are likely to spy their dazzling prize read more.

Nerd Nomads Travel Blog

Tromso, Norway

After years of low solar activity, projections are looking up for travelers hoping to experience the aurora borealis, or northern lights. As the sun’s volatility increases, with more coronal mass ejections and solar flares, so, too, will the frequency and intensity of the aurora. Experts predict solar activity to peak in 2025, explained Trond S. Trondsen, an aurora expert at Keo Scientific , a designer of specialized optical instruments for space research in Calgary, Alberta. Already, he said, “the number of sunspots are climbing faster than predicted .”

One of the best places to see the northern lights, Tromso, Norway, is more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and is relatively accessible, as far as reliable viewing locations go. Travelers can get there either by plane or by a combination of train and bus. Cruise ships and ferries are also a possibility.

Most important, the town’s surrounding landscape, near the sea but with mountains nearby, offers enough distinct weather zones to make it likely that there will be clear skies most nights — a must for seeing the lights when they do appear.

— Ingrid Williams

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park  Copied to clipboard!

Blinding white dunes and aquamarine pools in an otherworldly natural water park read more.

Scott Baker

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

Want to feel like you’ve traveled so far that you’re only vaguely tethered to Earth? Welcome to Lençóis Maranhenses , a horizon of rolling, blindingly white sand dunes rising into the sun and descending into otherworldly green and blue lagoons filled with rainwater.

Forget your cell signal or trappings of comfort: There are few if any structures, people or even trees around, and the park’s location near the Equator means it’s blazingly hot during the day. Yet almost all Brazilians will tell you they want to visit this remote area to experience the sensation of playing in a lunar water park.

Logroll down the dunes, splashing into the natural pools. Traverse the area on horseback, stopping at “oases” along the way. Or be mesmerized by its immensity via helicopter tour. It’s the antidote to that claustrophobic Covid-era feeling — a vast, borderless moonscape where you can roam wild and free.

— Shannon Sims

Bhutan  Copied to clipboard!

Cliff-top fortresses and rhododendron forests on a revived trekking trail read more.

Marcus Westberg

After two and a half years of pandemic isolation, Bhutan reopened in September with changes to its longstanding “high value, low volume” tourism policy. Visitors are no longer required to travel on package tours, but Bhutan’s mandatory “sustainable development fee” increased to $200 from $65 per day.

At the same time, the 250-mile Trans Bhutan Trail, a path used for centuries as a pilgrimage and communications route, reopened after a three-year restoration that mended suspension bridges, stone stairs and long-overgrown temples. The trail stretches east to west across nearly the entire country, passing through cities, villages, farmlands and wilderness. Depending on the route and time of year, trekkers might spy the snowcapped Himalayas, visit cliff-top fortresses, scale sacred mountain passes or pass through blooming rhododendron forests.

Official guides are required, and itineraries range from half a day to more than a month. Accommodations include guesthouses, home stays, luxury hotels and well-appointed campsites on each of the trail’s 28 sections. Proceeds from trips booked with Trans Bhutan Trail , the nonprofit that led the restoration, go toward trail maintenance, educational programs, guide training and other community causes.

— Sara Clemence

Kerala  Copied to clipboard!

Learn to climb a palm tree, visit a temple during an annual festival and get a sustainable taste of village life read more.

Poras Chaudhary for The New York Times

Kerala, India

We travel to immerse ourselves in other cultures, but some forms of community tourism put residents on display without offering benefits. Not so in Kerala — a southern Indian state celebrated for its beaches, backwater lagoons, cuisine and rich cultural traditions like the Vaikathashtami festival — where the government has adopted an award-winning approach that allows visitors to experience village life while supporting the communities that host them.

In Kumarakom, one of several “ responsible tourism destinations ” in the state, visitors can paddle through jungly canals, weave rope from coconut fiber and even learn to climb a palm tree. In Maravanthuruthu, visitors can follow a storytelling trail and enjoy village street art before taking in an evening performance of a traditional temple dance.

— Paige McClanahan

Greenville  Copied to clipboard!

South Carolina

Adventure in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and on dinner plates downtown Read more

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

Greenville, South Carolina

Set in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville has established itself on the culinary scene. The quaint city of about 70,000 has more than 200 restaurants — 85 percent of which are local, without a tie to a national chain — in its strollable downtown area alone. Visitors may come for the access to outdoor adventures, but they’ll most likely leave having been introduced to flavors from around the world.

Even as the renowned Soby’s celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022 and two food festivals — euphoria and Fall for Greenville — attract tens of thousands of people annually, restaurants continue to crop up around the city. The second location of Charleston’s acclaimed Lewis Barbecue opened to long lines in September. Mr. Crisp , with Greg McPhee as executive chef, highlights seafood, especially its crisp-yet-tender hand-battered fish and chips. Keipi celebrates Georgian khachapuri and the country’s ancient wines; Aryana delivers a taste of Afghanistan; and Califas has brought Mexican birria tacos to Greenville.

“The real heartbeat of Greenville is a creative and diverse food community that keeps reinventing itself,” said Sid Evans, the editor in chief of Southern Living. “The food here is adventurous, and the chefs have embraced the global influences shaping the modern South.”

— Ari Bendersky

Tucson  Copied to clipboard!

A rebounding center of art and adobe with centuries-old ties to mexico read more.

John Burcham for The New York Times

Tucson, Arizona

Barrio Viejo, an area of more than 150 acres in Tucson, is the largest barrio in the United States and exemplifies Tucson’s connection to Mexico, with centuries-old Sonoran adobe architecture.

This year, the neighborhood, which has one of the most diverse racial, cultural, religious and ethnic populations in the country, will receive National Historic Landmark designation . Revival projects include the restoration of the 300-seat Teatro Carmen , built in 1915 and later converted into the Black Elks Club , and female-owned boutique hotels, like the Citizen in the former home of the Tucson Citizen newspaper and the Downtown Clifton in a once-faded motel.

Take the Tucson Origins Tour by Borderlandia , which specializes in tours of the U.S.-Mexico border area, for a deep dive into history. Then explore the famed Etherton Gallery and Andrew Smith Gallery , both in new spaces. Don’t forget Barrio restaurants like the local coffee drinkers’ favorite EXO Roast , housed in an 1885 adobe home, and the Coronet , which moved to the neighborhood in 2019.

— Daniel Scheffler

Martinique  Copied to clipboard!

Creole culture, giant ferns and hummingbirds that don’t back down from a staring contest read more.

Martinique,

While travel was frozen in 2020, Martinique celebrated the induction of its traditional yole sailboat — a lightweight craft kept upright by crew members, who use their body weight as ballast by sitting on poles that extend over the sides of the hulls — on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. In the fall of 2021, the entire island was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , recognizing the destination’s commitment to sustainable economic and social development.

Islanders are awaiting yet another decision from UNESCO, which they hope will name the nearly 4,600-foot volcano Mount Pelée and the Pitons du Carbet range to the World Heritage List. The region represents “the diversity of Martinique,” said Alex Dobat, who owns Natiyabel , a scuba diving and hiking outfitter (whose name means “nature is beautiful” in Creole), who described ferns the size of trees, wild begonias and hummingbirds “staring at you quietly.”

Tourism officials are counting on the UNESCO certifications to attract ecotourists to its peaks, rainforests, reefs and Creole culture.

— Elaine Glusac

The Namib Desert  Copied to clipboard!

Southern Africa

1,000-foot dunes and crashing waves along a nearly uninhabited coastline Read more

The Namib Desert, Southern Africa

Along the desolate coast of Namibia, 1,000-foot-tall sand dunes descend into the sea. During low tide, intrepid adventurers can drive along the beach, past towering yellow dunes on one side and the South Atlantic’s churning waters on the other. This is the Namib, the world’s oldest desert, and the perfect place for a long road trip . After almost three years of Covid-19 restrictions, it’s hard to imagine a place where you can feel more free.

“Namib” means “vast place” in Khoekhoegowab, a language spoken in many parts of Namibia. It’s astonishingly easy to get lost in this almost entirely uninhabited expanse of sand, where you might travel for days without seeing another human being.

In the Namib-Naukluft National Park, travelers can go back in time at the Deadvlei, where 600-year-old trees stand eerily lifeless, preserved by the dry air; challenge themselves to climb the 100-story Big Daddy Dune; observe desert-adapted wildlife like oryx and springbok; and even see mysterious fairy circles .

— Jen Guyton

The Alaska Railroad  Copied to clipboard!

470 miles of mountains, glaciers and grizzlies from the comfort of a glass dome read more.

Christopher Miller for The New York Times

The Alaska Railroad,

Since 1923, the Alaska Railroad — the last railroad in the United States to carry both people and freight — has connected millions of passengers and trade goods over 470 miles of track, from Seward to Fairbanks. This year is the centennial of its operation and a celebration is planned in Nenana, where President Warren G. Harding drove in the golden spike on July 15, 1923, completing the railroad.

Operational well before Alaska became a state, in 1959, the railroad is an environmentally friendly way for passengers to see wilderness, and even the aurora borealis, without sacrificing comfort: Glass-domed rail cars make viewing easy. It is also the only remaining flag-stop major railroad in the country. Passengers can wave a flag to embark or disembark, gaining access to more remote locations, including harder-to-reach areas of the Chugach National Forest, through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

Sights along the way include Denali, North America’s tallest peak, and Kenai Fjords National Park. History buffs can view a special exhibit at the Anchorage Museum that runs from May to February 2024, chronicling the railroad’s history.

— Charu Suri

Fukuoka  Copied to clipboard!

Savoring an endangered street-food tradition on the often overlooked island of kyushu read more.

Fukuoka, Japan

Fukuoka, a subtropical city perched on the northern shore of Kyushu, is one of the few remaining places in Japan where you will see rows of yatai — open-air street-food stalls resembling boxes of neon light. Many sell traditional foods like ramen, yakitori and oden, but if you stroll along the riverfront on Nakasu, a small island that is Fukuoka’s red-light district, you’ll find some diversity with wine, coffee, and even French sausages and garlic toast.

Yatai were a common sight across Japan in the 1950s, but during the 1964 Summer Olympics, the authorities had them removed to project an image of economic recovery. In the present, Fukuoka is the only city left that’s fighting this bureaucracy. The government has acknowledged the cultural significance of yatai by increasing the safety and quality of the food and by offering more licenses in 2022. Even so, the number of yatai has fallen drastically to around 100 stalls today from more than 400 in the ’60s. Pull up a seat while you can and enjoy rubbing shoulders with strangers over supper again.

— Harvard Wang

Flores  Copied to clipboard!

An island paradise where crater lakes change color and nine-foot dragons roam read more.

Lauryn Ishak for The New York Times

Flores, Indonesia

The term “fairy-tale getaway” is overused, but what else do you call a far-off, unspoiled, Southeast Asian island with nine-foot Komodo dragons, active volcanoes, white-sand beaches, coral gardens, rushing waterfalls and color-shifting crater lakes reputed to house departed spirits?

Such are the allures of Flores, one of the roughly 17,500 islands of the Republic of Indonesia. An hour’s flight from Bali and far less visited, Flores may be seeing more visitors with the scheduled opening late this year of Kodi Bajo , a luxury resort in the fishing town of Labuan Bajo. Operated by the group behind the NIHI hotel on Sumba, a nearby Indonesian island, Kodi Bajo will offer sumptuous hillside accommodations and views of the nearby Komodo National Park archipelago — the only place in the world inhabited by the famous giant lizards.

— Seth Sherwood

Guadalajara  Copied to clipboard!

Celebrating queer culture’s diversity and l.g.b.t.q. athletes from around the globe read more.

Adrian Wilson for The New York Times

Guadalajara, Mexico

Travel has always been a way to experience diversity, and in 2023 you’ll find a variety of sexual expression and shifts in traditional gender roles in Jalisco’s capital. This fall, the city will co-host (with Hong Kong) the 11th annual Gay Games . Athletes from around the world — of varying ages, sexual orientations and levels of athletic experience — will participate in 20 sports.

The city is also home to the annual Prohibido festival , during which an abandoned theater is transformed into a celebration of sexual diversity through art installations, interactive experiences, live music and talks about polyamorous and nonbinary culture. In Guadalajara, too, women take on nontraditional performance roles. On most nights, you can hear one of almost a dozen female mariachi bands from the area at Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara or El Patio, a restaurant. There are also local performances by female cowboys, known as escaramuzas, who present their choreography on horseback.

The city is considered by some to be Mexico’s drag capital, with numerous performers and shows. Guadalajara has also developed “antiturista” maps, including one for L.G.B.T.Q. travelers, that provide a local’s perspective on places to see and stay.

— Maggie Jones

Tassili n’Ajjer  Copied to clipboard!

Rock art, sandstone pillars and a glimpse at a lost saharan history read more.

Tassili n’Ajjer, Algeria

Often overshadowed by its neighbor, the tourism giant Morocco, Algeria — a stone’s throw from Mediterranean Europe and a mere three-hour flight from London — has recently relaxed its visa policies, allowing for much easier exploration of the country. While most visitors tend to stick to the coastal north, which contains some of the region’s best preserved Roman ruins, Africa’s largest country also contains its largest national park.

Virtually unknown to the outside world, Tassili n’Ajjer is eight times the size of Yellowstone. At the heart of the vast landscape of Saharan sand and stone lie the deep red dunes and pillars of Tadrart Rouge. Accessible only by a four-wheel-drive vehicle, this astonishingly striking national park is home to thousands of ancient works of rock art, stretching back to when the desert was a thriving savanna, as well as to a very much living nomadic Tuareg culture.

— Marcus Westberg

Kakheti  Copied to clipboard!

New flavors and ancient winemaking traditions in tiny hilltop towns and green valleys read more.

Irma Laghadze

Kakheti, Georgia

The mountainous nation of Georgia’s 8,000-year-old winemaking tradition is at the center of several new trends in the wine world, including skin-contact (a.k.a. orange ) wines, amphora fermentation and charismatic grape varieties like saperavi. As a result, Georgian wine exports to the United States recently topped one million bottles and are growing at almost 29 percent annually, as Wine Enthusiast recently reported .

For wine lovers, a tasting trip to estates like Vazisubani and Kardanakhi in Kakheti offers a chance to discover new wines in a landscape of tiny hilltop towns and verdant valleys framed by the Caucasus. Many wines are made in traditional pointed qvevri clay vessels that are buried in the earth.

To complement the experience, local chefs have started offering cooking classes where gastronomes can learn how to make the meaty dumplings known as khinkali and other dishes from what Saveur magazine called “Europe’s great unsung cuisine.”

— Evan Rail

Nîmes  Copied to clipboard!

A sunny mediterranean morsel whose charming streets are studded with roman monuments read more.

Joann Pai for The New York Times

Nîmes, France

Nîmes is that rarest of Gallic delicacies — a sunny southern French city with great charm and fascinating architecture and museums that hasn’t yet become thronged with tourists like Arles or Avignon.

The city has a growing word-of-mouth reputation for the excellence of its dining options, which include everything from Michelin two-star restaurants like the chef Pierre Gagnaire’s Duende at the recently renovated Hotel Imperator to exceptionally good lunchtime dining in Les Halles de Nîmes, a covered food market, where the Halles Auberge and La Pie Qui Couette offer first-come first-serve counter service at noon. The latest local buzz is about the chef Georgiana Viou, originally from Benin, who serves up her personal and very delicate Afro-Provençal cooking at Rouge , the restaurant of the elegant new 10-room Margaret-Hôtel Chouleur in a landmarked mansion in the heart of the Écusson, or Old City. Le Coin and Menna, two excellent cosmopolitan modern French bistros — a type of restaurant that’s new to Nîmes — are not far away.

Shed some calories after a meal by taking in the sights of the Rome of France, a sobriquet explained by the most spectacular collection of Roman monuments in Europe outside of Italy.

— Alexander Lobrano

Ha Giang  Copied to clipboard!

A two-wheeled thrill ride leads to mountainside settlements where hmong and tay culture lives read more.

Ha Giang, Vietnam

The several-day loop by motorbike through the Ha Giang highlands in northern Vietnam is not for the timid. Getting to the city of Ha Giang takes six hours by road from Hanoi, and the loop’s steep roads, serpentine passes and recurring switchbacks can make the journey both treacherous and exhilarating.

This remote tableau of soaring peaks and cavernous valleys inspires a deep connection to the landscape and its inhabitants. Veer off the main road onto the narrow ribbons of concrete streaking the mountainsides and into the Hmong and Tay settlements dotting the hillsides and hollows. To learn more about their cultures, you can hire a guide from QT Motorbikes and Tours .

Road improvement projects and new high-end accommodations have made the loop more accessible and inviting. Don’t miss a boat ride through the canyon on the emerald river at Ma Pi Leng Pass.

— Patrick Scott

Salalah  Copied to clipboard!

A historic frankincense-trading center where the desert erupts in waterfalls read more.

Salalah, Oman

With last year’s World Cup drawing attention to the built environment elsewhere in the Persian Gulf states, seaside Salalah, Oman, offers visitors a chance to see the region’s natural beauty. Depending on when you go, the area is either lush and green and blanketed in thick fog, or basking in sunlight and a warm breeze.

During the khareef (monsoon), the valleys and riverbeds are flooded with fresh water, and the mountains flow with waterfalls. The city is also home to Al Baleed Archaeological Park and the Museum of the Frankincense Land , which provides a visual history of the ancient incense trade and the associated export routes to the rest of the world. (A nearby collection of sites, known as the Land of Frankincense , is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.) Another draw is the collection of historical ports spread along the coast.

The population of Salalah, one of Oman’s largest cities, is around 330,000, so it’s easy to find oneself alone in the crystal clear waters of the area’s many tranquil beaches, including Mugsail, Fazayah and Haffa.

— Noa Avishag Schnall

Cuba  Copied to clipboard!

An island of music and white-sand beaches ripe for rediscovery as the united states eases travel restrictions read more.

Robert Rausch for The New York Times

With its sea-sprayed, pastel facades, white-sand beaches and tobacco-rich valleys, Cuba sits tantalizingly close to the United States, though it often feels out of reach — especially in recent years, when the Trump administration reinstated strict rules for American citizens hoping to visit.

But a confluence of factors just made travel to the island nation a bit easier. Last spring, President Biden relaxed many of the restrictions imposed by his predecessor. And in November, American Airlines resumed flights beyond Havana, adding departures to the beach town Varadero and the interior city Santa Clara, a regional capital steeped in revolutionary history. More flights from other carriers are set to begin in the coming months.

Cuba’s people are as generous with their stories — of history, family, even politics and protest — as they are with their music, an omnipresent, joyful soundtrack thrumming through the island’s cities and towns. Less than two years after historic protests were met with harsh repression, and as the country rebuilds from Hurricane Ian, travel to Cuba and support of its people may never be more valuable.

— Lauren Prestileo

Odense  Copied to clipboard!

A mystical new museum and garden with all you need to write your own fairy tale read more.

Andreas Meichsner for The New York Times

Odense, Denmark

Designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma & Associates, the new Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, on the island of Funen, is more than a museum. It’s a mystical land, featuring labyrinthine gardens that double as a public park.

The museum explores Andersen’s literary interplay between real and imaginary: You can gaze up at the sky through a glass dome and feel like the Little Mermaid; roam sunken courtyards, illuminated by sunlight splintering through trees; and engage with exhibits by contemporary artists in cylindrical spaces wrapped in latticed timber that suggest the city’s traditional thatched-roof houses. The museum is as much about telling stories as it is about imagining your own: Creativity is encouraged at the magical Ville Vau children’s center, where children can paint, draw, write and play dress-up amid colorful scenes from Andersen’s fairy tales.

Time your visit with Odense’s summertime H.C. Andersen Festivals , and then find artistic inspiration, as Andersen did, by venturing across his home island of Funen, the “garden of Denmark,” with its storybook castles (the moated Egeskov is the stuff of dreams), heather-coated hillsides and misty coastline.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park  Copied to clipboard!

The shape-shifting sandstone heart of a continent and its indigenous heritage read more.

Matthew Abbott for The New York Times

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

At Uluru, time stretches, dissolves. Over 500 million years old, the 1,142-foot sandstone monolith in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is a shape-shifter: aflame in pink, orange and violet through the day; its crevices gush with the rain, its surroundings erupt with wildflowers.

Now, Uluru is a symbol of urgency. In 2017, it was the site of the Uluru Statement From the Heart , which calls for an Indigenous “voice to Parliament” to be enshrined in Australia’s Constitution. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced there would be a national referendum on the issue in 2023.

Uluru is sacred to the Anangu people, who protect and manage the land, and for decades tourists climbed the rock against their wishes. Climbing was banned in 2019, and now visitors can take a 5.8-mile walk around Uluru’s base to experience its splendor. The ban was a rare victory for Indigenous rights and cultural respect, and evidence that even deep-rooted attitudes can change.

— Tacey Rychter

Boquete  Copied to clipboard!

A slope-side nirvana for coffee geeks, waterfall hikers and white-water rafters read more.

Paul Castillero

Boquete, Panama

Geisha, among the world’s most expensive coffee varietals, thrives on the slopes of the Barú Volcano, near Panama’s western border. In recent years, specialty coffee geeks the world over have gravitated here, encouraging coffee farms around the highland town of Boquete to act more like Bordeaux vineyards. New cupping rooms and bodega tours have been added at farms like Lamastus Family Estates , Chevas Coffee Estate and Finca Altieri , while coffee-themed hotels — including Finca Lérida and Panamonte — have updated their facilities.

In Boquete’s town center, which acts as a base for adventure activities like waterfall hikes and white-water rafting, the noted Panama City chef Mario Castrellón has opened a branch of the coffee roaster Café Unido , as well as a restaurant and bar with seasonal menus and Geisha-infused cocktails, in the new Selina hostel . The bold, 60-room property straddles a small river, with rooms ranging from beds in concrete cylinders to luxe suites.

— Nicholas Gill

Tarragona  Copied to clipboard!

An unsung artsy seaport rich in well-preserved roman ruins, and delicious tapas read more.

Tarragona, Spain

Long upstaged by the flash of Barcelona, this unsung waterfront city on the Costa Daurada is a culturally rich alternative, with thriving Catalan traditions, from the famous castells (human towers, formed by people standing on one another’s shoulders) to earthy Romesco sauce, often served with grilled fish and vegetables, and best enjoyed in El Serrallo, a maritime neighborhood.

But what elevates the Tarragona experience is the past: This is one of the oldest Roman settlements in the Iberian Peninsula. The impressively preserved Tarraco ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, transform the city into an open-air museum, from the mighty Roman walls to the amphitheater framed by the Mediterranean.

Against this ancient backdrop, the city is in the midst of change: a revitalized port, new low-cost fast trains to the region and a growing contemporary arts scene. Perhaps the best way to savor it is to partake in a paseo: Stroll the Rambla Nova, grazing on tapas along the way, to the aptly named Balcó del Mediterrani observation point, where touching the iron railing is said to bring good luck.

Charleston  Copied to clipboard!

A powerful space will examine a city’s past and honor the african american legacy read more, charleston, south carolina.

Charleston’s brutal history of slavery can be overshadowed by a romanticized portrait of a city with charm, award-winning restaurants and plantation gardens. The planned opening of the $100 million International African American Museum this year will help comprehensively display the city’s complicated past.

The I.A.A.M. occupies the former Gadsden’s Wharf, where an estimated 30,000 African captives landed during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, more than at any other site. The sleek, single-story building floats atop 18 pillars clad in tabby, a kind of concrete made from oyster shells, and houses a genealogy center, a social justice action lab and 10 exhibit galleries that include stories of slavery and the Great Migration. A public outdoor space offers an African Ancestors Memorial Garden featuring indigenous plants like Lowcountry sweet grass and Canary Island palm trees.

This spring, the Charleston tourism board will debut a comprehensive guide to Black-owned businesses to elevate the overlooked successes of creative locals.

— Lauren Matison

Cayos Cochinos  Copied to clipboard!

Planting coral and counting sea turtles where there are no cars or roads read more.

Cayos Cochinos, Honduras

Off the northern coast of Honduras, the Cayos Cochinos archipelago, part of a marine preserve where commercial fishing is banned, encompasses about 300,000 acres, two main islands and 13 small cays, with a collective population of about 200 Indigenous Garifuna residents.

Before the pandemic, the nonprofit Cayos Cochinos Foundation, which manages the reserve, derived much of its funding to study and protect its biodiversity from the fees paid by day-trippers to snorkel there. Now, the nongovernmental organization is gently opening itself to tourism, allowing visitors to stay in basic cabins (from $45 a night) that previously hosted exclusively scientists.

Between scuba dives and hikes to see pink boa constrictors and black-chested spiny-tailed iguanas, travelers can volunteer to propagate new coral or count sea turtles. Travel to the islands, which are roadless and free of cars, also supports the Garifuna community, which offers guide services, restaurants and tastings of the local root-infused spirit, guifiti.

Burgundy Beer Trail  Copied to clipboard!

Paying homage to hops and yeast in a region where wine has long reigned read more.

Burgundy Beer Trail, France

Wine lovers have long revered the great vintages of Burgundy. Now, beer lovers have their eyes on the Burgundy region, following the arrival of head-turning new breweries like Ammonite , Vif , Independent House and 90 BPM , all within 90 minutes of one another, and all rated among the best in France by fans on sites like Untappd and RateBeer .

Winemaking influences these new brewers, some of which employ solera barrel systems (like those used to age and blend sherry and Madeira wines), natural yeast, small oak barrels and other tools and techniques most often used by vintners.

For years, France has been a laggard in the global craft beer revolution, running far behind neighboring countries like Spain and Italy. The emerging beer trail in Burgundy’s wine region shows how France might soon develop an enviable beer culture of its own.

Istanbul  Copied to clipboard!

Reviving a city’s historic architecture just in time for modern turkey’s centennial read more.

Maria Mavropoulou for The New York Times

This October, the Turkish Republic celebrates its 100th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, Istanbul’s local government has invested millions in giving historic structures new life.

Among them: Feshane, a factory that manufactured the iconic Turkish hats and one of Istanbul’s first steel buildings, will become one of its largest art centers; west of the old city, a comprehensive restoration of the stone-and-brick Mevlanakapi city walls with their 22 towers dating back to the fifth century, will transform them into a four-and-a-half-mile walking path; and the Botter Apartment, one of Istanbul’s earliest Art Nouveau buildings, whose bottom floor was originally a studio for the sultan’s private tailor, will be turned into a fashion design center.

There’s more. Art museums are planned for the former Yedikule gasworks and the Halic Shipyard, one of the world’s oldest still in operation. And most notably, the newly built Istanbul Modern museum, designed by the architect Renzo Piano, will open its doors along the Bosporus in Karakoy, showcasing the works of notable Turkish artists such as Fahrelnissa Zeid and Erol Akyavas.

— Nora Walsh

Taipei  Copied to clipboard!

Floating sky lanterns and soaring skyscrapers in a sprawling, thrumming capital read more.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei is a glorious assault on the senses, a capital with stunning natural beauty, low crime, and clear air despite its immense urban sprawl. From its neon-lit night markets to its Qing Dynasty temples, visitors can feel the quiet drum of independent pride, however fragile its future.

Beijing, which sees self-ruled Taiwan as an unruly child, continues to assert its desire to reunify with Taiwan and put the island firmly back under its control. But for now, a visit to this city offers a riot of culinary and cultural pleasures. In 2023, the island’s third-tallest skyscraper will open, and the Taiwan Lantern Festival , a beloved tradition in which thousands of glowing lanterns float skyward in tandem, will return to Taipei after more than two decades.

Taipei’s future is uncertain. But in 2023, it remains an ideal place to gape at the sheer power of human innovation.

— Debra Kamin

El Poblado  Copied to clipboard!

Medellín, Colombia

A chic shopping district, pulsing nightlife and rainbow-colored macaws Read more

Federico Rios for The New York Times

El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia

In the 1600s, Spanish settlers established El Poblado, “the village,” along the Medellín River. Eventually, the larger city of Medellín grew to the north, and El Poblado became a rural getaway for wealthy Colombians.

Today, it is once again a center of activity. The grid of two- or three-story homes has blossomed with shops and restaurants, interspersed with boutique hotels rising above the treetops. Nearby, gushing waterfalls and rainbow-colored macaws add to the lush tropical vibe.

An afternoon roaming the neighborhood, popping into Mon y Velarde for menswear or Makeno for artisanal home goods, followed by coffee at Pergamino or modern Colombian cuisine at Oci.Mde , is a worthy entry on any South American traveler’s bucket list. Stay out late enough to see the area transform into the pulsing heart of the city’s nightlife, with D.J.s on the rooftops and dance parties in the streets.

Lausanne  Copied to clipboard!

Switzerland

Spectacular views of Lake Geneva and an exploding architectural and artistic scene Read more

Clara Tuma for The New York Times

Lausanne, Switzerland

Already blessed with a sublime Lake Geneva location and dramatic mountain views, Lausanne, Switzerland’s fourth-largest city, has been adding architectural and artistic beauty to its repertoire as well.

Known as Plateform 10 , the city’s three-year-old arts district recently inaugurated a bold new building that resembles an artfully cracked block of white stone for a pair of museums. Photo Elysée is dedicated to exhibiting photography in all its forms, while MUDAC is a haven of five creative outlets: design, glasswork, ceramics, jewelry and graphic art. The two institutions join the new home of the city’s international art museum, the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts , which moved into its ridged, rectangular building in 2019.

Methana  Copied to clipboard!

A hike, a stroll or a run into the bronze age followed by a soak in an ancient tub read more.

Methana, Greece

Athens’s nearest active volcano, Methana, sits on a peninsula of the same name some 30 miles southwest of the Greek capital. Though largely unknown to tourists, the area is slowly evolving, in part because of its increasing popularity as a hiking destination.

In recent years, groups of locals have managed to reopen and map old walking paths, some of which date back to the Mycenaean Era, creating hiking trails that attract visitors from around the world. (So far, more than 18 miles have been cleared and marked.) The Methana Volcano Challenge , first organized in 2021, offers a trail run across the peninsula’s sloping landscape.

Visitors to this volcanic peninsula can also enjoy several hot springs, the most interesting of which is an ancient (and recently renovated) tub known as the Pausanias Baths near the village of Agios Nikolaos.

— Demetrios Ioannou

Louisville  Copied to clipboard!

A rising l.g.b.t.q. scene with quilts, drag shows, the derby and, of course, bourbon read more, louisville, kentucky.

One of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains, and arguably among the most beautiful, Louisville somehow flies under the radar. This despite its graceful 19th-century park system , designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and its bourbon-fueled convivial spirit.

Today, its L.G.B.T.Q. scene is also thriving, with hot spots like Chill Bar and Play Dance Bar , which hosts regular drag nights featuring touring artists. (The city has also earned top marks from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index for seven years running and is home to two new L.G.B.T.Q. community centers.) This spring brings Hotel Genevieve , from the Texas-based Bunkhouse Group, which offers Louisville-inspired touches like décor that pays homage to the city’s rich quilting heritage, an on-site market selling work from local artists and bourbon selections from neighboring Rabbit Hole Distillery .

Make plans for 2023, because the city might not stay below the radar much longer: 2024 will draw the masses for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

— Paul L. Underwood

Manaus  Copied to clipboard!

River-to-table cuisine and ancestral recipes in the heart of the amazon read more.

Manaus, Brazil

Michelin-starred restaurants in São Paulo use Amazonian ingredients to appear exotic, but in Manaus, where you can sip steamy gourds of tacacá from a stand in front of the Teatro Amazonas or wander past plastic bottles of tucupi, the juice squeezed from grated cassava, in Adolpho Lisboa Municipal Market, Amazonian ingredients are a fact of life.

At the Indigenous-owned Biatüwi , a restaurant that pays homage to ancestral recipes and cooking techniques, drinks are made from fermented purple yams, and chiles are used to purify river fish in piquant stews like quinhampira.

Then there’s the chef Felipe Schaedler, who has helped threatened Yanomami communities commercialize their native mushrooms and runs two restaurants of his own: Banzeiro and Moquém do Banzeiro . Steering away from traditional preparations, Mr. Schaedler reimagines ingredients like lemon-grass-flavored ants and tambaqui ribs in a modern format, as do the bistros Caxiri , set in a colonial building overlooking Largo de São Sebastião, a grand plaza, and Fitz Carraldo, in the boutique hotel Villa Amazonia .

Vilnius  Copied to clipboard!

A 700-year-old survivor ready to party like there’s no tomorrow read more.

Gordon Welters for The New York Times

Vilnius, Lithuania

Lithuania’s cobblestoned capital has a long history of bootstrap survival. Occupied once by the Nazis and twice by the Soviets, Vilnius has a story that is complex and fascinating to explore. Its architectural riches span from Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque; grand churches rub shoulders with quaint timber homes on leafy streets.

In 2023, the resilient city celebrates its 700th birthday with a full year of revelry. A light festival , free music performances and the first Vilnius International Biennial are all on the calendar. Artificial intelligence will resurrect one of the city’s first operas from the 17th century, and an exhibition space will allow visitors to virtually explore Vilnius’s streets as they looked more than 200 years ago.

Ringing in its eighth century, Vilnius reminds travelers that, when viewed through the long lens of history, our own uncertain times are fleeting.

Macon  Copied to clipboard!

1,100-year-old native american mounds and deep rock ’n’ roll roots read more.

Macon, Georgia

The area around Macon has been home to multiple Native American tribes for 12,000 years. That history will be acknowledged this year, when Georgia is expected to get its first national park: The Ocmulgee Mounds, some of the most significant prehistoric Indigenous mounds in North America, date to the year 900, and are now a national historical park .

The national park will include the Bond Swamp National Wildlife Refuge , for a total of 50,000 acres, and offer a network of exquisite hiking trails and artifacts from American Indian culture. Management will be shared by the Muscogee Nation and the National Park Service.

Additionally, the city, whose musical roots run deep — Little Richard, the Allman Brothers and Otis Redding all got their start here — is celebrating its 200th anniversary with a new 10,000-seat amphitheater . Visitors can check out the Hotel Forty Five , a boutique hotel that opened downtown last year and that was named both for the angle of the street on which it sits and as a nod to musical history.

— Ondine Cohane

Madrid  Copied to clipboard!

Kicking off a worldwide tribute to picasso in a place that’s a masterpiece unto itself read more.

Emilio Parra Doiztua for The New York Times

If art is a universal language, as travel often reveals, Pablo Picasso’s antiwar “ Guernica ” may be one of its most potent symbols.

The Spanish and French governments recently announced the Picasso Celebration 1973-2023 in front of the famous painting at the Reina Sofia museum, kicking off a transnational commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the artist’s death. The worldwide tribute, from Madrid to Paris to New York City, includes some 50 exhibitions, many of which explore the artist through the lens of the present day. Madrid leads the way, with tributes throughout the year, including “Picasso. The Sacred and the Profane” at the Thyssen-Bornemisza ; “Picasso 1906. The Turning Point” at the Reina Sofia ; and an exhibition exploring Picasso and El Greco at the Prado .

During Picasso’s anniversary year, it’s worth noting that the city’s artistry isn’t just within its museums, but outside as well: Madrid’s cultural core is an urban masterpiece of art, nature and light, and in 2021, the entire area of the Paseo del Prado and verdant Parque del Buen Retiro, called “Landscape of Light,” was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Grand Junction  Copied to clipboard!

A bonanza of canyons, arches and cliffs, without the hordes of tourists read more.

Grand Junction, Colorado

On Colorado’s Western Slope, arid Grand Junction offers attractions similar to those of Moab, Utah, the gateway to Arches National Park, without the throngs.

The area around the Colorado alternative has the second-largest concentration of natural arches in the country in Rattlesnake Canyon, where some 35 sandstone spans are part of the roughly 123,700-acre McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area , reachable via off-road vehicle or a strenuous 14-mile round-trip trek. More convenient hiking trails in the Colorado National Monument — where geologic uplift and erosion formed monoliths of the same Entrada sandstone found at Arches — lie within about 10 minutes of town.

The 2021 opening of the Palisade Plunge adds a 32-mile descent — from the world’s largest flat-topped mountain, 10,000-foot Grand Mesa, down to the Colorado River — to the area’s biking challenges. All trails lead back to downtown Grand Junction, filled with shops, craft breweries, locavore restaurants and wine-tasting rooms from area vineyards.

La Guajira  Copied to clipboard!

An unspoiled land of orange-sand beaches and flamingo-lined lagoons read more.

La Guajira, Colombia

The remote and arid La Guajira peninsula, straddling Colombia’s border with Venezuela, remains largely unknown to international tourists — in spite of its dramatic salt flats, flamingo-lined lagoons and orange-sand beaches.

Terrorist activity made this area mostly off limits until 2016, but eco-minded hotels, including La Casa del Pavo Real and Hotel Waya Guajira , have spread along the peninsula, relying on increased flights to Riohacha, the regional capital, and nearby Santa Marta.

This region is the home of the Indigenous Wayúu people, who have expressed concerns that giant development projects may irreparably alter their ancestral lands. Tour operators visit Wayúu weavers known for their chinchorros, the colorful hammocks that take months to make, and their rustic kitchens, where cooks like Zaida Cotes showcase traditional cuisine based on salted fish, goat meat and purple corn.

Bergamo and Brescia  Copied to clipboard!

Open-air theater, art, music and a plateful of local delicacies in a cultural crossroads read more.

Andrea Wyner for The New York Times

Bergamo and Brescia, Italy

Milan may outshine Bergamo and Brescia , but in 2023 a spotlight will fall on these two Lombardy cities after they were jointly named the Italian Capital of Culture . More than 100 art projects, music and theater events (some open-air), nature walks and new bike routes are ​meant to map a way forward after the tragic headlines this northern region generated in 2020, when it was more ravaged by the coronavirus than anyplace else in Italy.

Bergamo is distinctive for its ancient, walled Città Alta (Upper Town) and modern Città Bassa (Lower Town), the two connected by ​narrow roads, a funicular and a footpath. Brescia, around 30 miles southeast , is a handsome crossroads of Roman, medieval and Renaissance sites .

Outstanding food is another draw — it’s Italy, after all — with menus in both areas featuring creamy, nutty polenta taragna and variously stuffed crescents of casoncelli swirled with butter and sage — little pasta miracles that prove how good life can still be.

— Julie Besonen

American Prairie  Copied to clipboard!

A vast, and growing, swath of nature where you can still feel tiny read more.

Janie Osborne

American Prairie, Montana

With its wide-open skies and boundless horizons, American Prairie is ideal for visitors seeking a respite from the fast pace of modern life. A vast nature preserve founded by a Montana nonprofit, A.P. has been accumulating grasslands since 2004. It currently consists of 455,840 acres — and the preserve continues to expand by acquiring private properties that connect to surrounding public lands. The goal: to create a contiguous, three-million-acre reserve and restore a disappearing ecosystem.

A.P. offers a broad range of activities, including leisurely walks, cross-country skiing and expert-level hiking, biking and paddling. Paved roads lead to Antelope Creek Campground, which features an interpretive trail and distant views of the Little Rockies. Buffalo Camp, accessible by gravel roads and situated among the reserve’s largest bison herd, is a little farther off the beaten path and provides a chance to see a buffalo jump, a cliff traditionally used by Indigenous peoples to harvest bison.

— Janie Osborne

Eastern Townships  Copied to clipboard!

A leisurely journey through the countryside with stops for wine, cheese and poutine read more.

Eastern Townships, Quebec

This is slow travel at its best: Pedal across the quiet Quebec countryside, refueling on local cheese, wine and, yes, poutine. Montreal and Quebec City are the stars of the region, but the bucolic, lake-laced terrain between them is often relegated to fleeting glimpses from the windows of a rental car.

The Eastern Townships — Canada’s New England, with French flair — deserves a visit all its own, and especially now, with the recent debut of the Véloroute Gourmande . The 150-mile cycle route traces the Route Verte and Trans Canada Trail across this charming region dotted with flower-festooned villages, and features more than 100 epicurean stops along the way, from farmers’ markets to maple groves to fromageries to vineyards.

Try the lush, sweet vin de glace (ice wine), made from ripe grapes that have frozen naturally on the vine, at Le Cep d’Argent , and the buttery Brise des Vignerons at the family-run Fromagerie des Cantons , one of the first in the area to develop cheese exclusively from Jersey cows, a nod to the region’s British influences.

New Haven  Copied to clipboard!

Connecticut

A home to tinkerers and rebels, and a treasure trove of contemporary art and architecture Read more

New haven, connecticut.

Connecticut’s third-largest city is a historic, mostly walkable and bikeable seaside town with distinctive neighborhoods, an encyclopedic collection of great American architecture, a thriving cultural life and one of the best food scenes in the country for a city of its size (134,000).

Founded in 1638, it’s a place where people have always tinkered with, mused about and challenged the status quo, which is why the New Haven Preservation Trust is now looking at saving the modernist buildings of the 1970s, which many see as disastrous examples of urban renewal. Discover one of the best of these brutalist concrete buildings by checking into the new Hotel Marcel , named for its architect, Marcel Breuer. Recently renovated, it’s become the first completely solar-powered, energy-neutral hotel in the United States.

Check out NXTHVN , a cutting-edge, community-focused arts center founded in 2019 in two abandoned factory buildings in the Dixwell neighborhood that has become the heart of a vibrant African American artists’ community. And then treat yourself to a great meal — maybe crispy artichokes with Parmesan aioli and pork belly with Tuscan cabbage and apple mostarda — at the recently opened Villa Lulu .

The Black Hills  Copied to clipboard!

South Dakota

Pine forests, powwows and a climb up to Crazy Horse’s giant granite face Read more

Benjamin Rasmussen

The Black Hills, South Dakota

The Lakota people trace their creation to the He Sapa, or Black Hills, a mountain range of dramatic peaks and pine forests in an area that is South Dakota’s chief tourism attraction.

Now, representatives of all nine tribes in the state — working as the South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance — are having a say in how to experience Native American sites with the publication of a new tribal nations’ visitors guide , including destination suggestions and tips on visitor etiquette. The assembly helped identify the Great 8 , eight sites and experiences — among them powwows, or dance celebrations — that are significant to Indigenous culture, with a concentration in the Black Hills. These include Bear Butte State Park where hiking trails may lead past prayer cloths tied to trees, 7,244-foot Black Elk Peak, the state’s highest, and the Crazy Horse Memorial .

The massive sculpture of the Lakota warrior turns 75 next summer, when the biannual Volksmarch will allow hikers to ascend the carving, still under construction, and stand beneath Crazy Horse’s more than 87-foot-tall granite face.

Sarajevo  Copied to clipboard!

Bosnia and Herzegovina

A living museum of resilience where empires and cultures have long intersected Read more

Todd Heisler/The New York Times

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo’s history lives in the present. There is the Latin Bridge, where a certain archduke was assassinated, catalyzing World War I. There are buildings still pockmarked by shells from the siege three decades ago. And there is the intricate interplay of empires, from the Ottoman to the Austro-Hungarian, that allows visitors to tour a mosque, a cathedral, an Orthodox church and a synagogue all within a few blocks.

These layers of history, of course, can detonate as easily as they can coexist. Bosnia’s multiethnic capital remains on edge. Look up to the hills, and there are the artillery positions built on the grounds of the 1984 Winter Olympics. But Sarajevo’s splendor comes from this intrusion of the past. It remains a living museum that hints at how a Ukraine or a Syria cannot only survive but perhaps one day flourish anew.

— Hannah Beech

Design and Production

Sean Catangui and Gabriel Gianordoli

Danial Adkison, Stephen Hiltner, Suzanne MacNeille, Morrigan McCarthy, Fiona Murray, Nancy Ramsey, Tacey Rychter and Amy Virshup

Photo Editing

Phaedra Brown

Baden Copeland

Corrections

A photograph with an earlier version of this article misidentified the city shown in the image. The photograph depicted the province of Tarragona, Spain, not the city itself. The image has been replaced.

The article also misstated the size of the Barrio Viejo neighborhood of Tucson, Ariz. It is more than 150 acres, not 150 blocks.

A photograph with an earlier version of this article misidentified the location in the image. It is Keelung, Taiwan, not Taipei.

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The 18 best places to travel in 2023

For many people, this year marked the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that travel was back within reach. It was a year defined by joyous reunions — reconnecting with friends and family in person, rediscovering favorite destinations and taking stock of this new, changed world.

It was also a year of novel travel challenges . As demand soared, so, too, did prices. We returned to the roads and skies to find a travel industry that could barely keep up with our ravenous appetite to explore the globe.

But somehow, our love of travel has endured, our wanderlust is just as insatiable as ever and destinations around the world are beckoning us to visit.

That's why we're thrilled to share the destinations on our list of the best places to go in 2023. And this year, we've not only tapped our editorial team to contribute their tips and insights but also our extraordinary network of writers from around the world.

Reaching your travel goals has never been easier when you download the free TPG App !

As always, we looked at exciting new hotel openings and boundary-pushing flights, plus the places that embody the travel trends and philosophies we see taking shape in 2023 and beyond: The destinations prioritizing sustainability, focusing on Indigenous and community-based tourism and encouraging travelers to venture beyond the obvious gateway or itinerary.

We also saw a proliferation of innovative new ways for travelers to use their points and miles to experience the world, including exciting ultra-long-haul flights where miles will come in handy and hotels in destinations that previously might have been absent from most reward travelers' maps.

As we head into 2023, get excited (we are!) about embarking on unforgettable journeys to new corners of the globe, prepare to take a second look at places you already thought you knew and connect more personally with the people who call them home along the way. We hope this list of places to visit rekindles your passion for travel and look forward to exploring this wonderful, awe-inspiring planet with you. — By Eric Rosen and Melanie Lieberman

Aotearoa-New Zealand: The future of inclusive travel

Best for sustainability-focused outdoor adventurers and sports enthusiasts.

Laid-back beach towns, award-winning wine, genuine hospitality and outdoor adventure aren't the only reasons why you should put Aotearoa-New Zealand at the top of your 2023 travel list.

Although the country's commitment to sustainability has long, deep roots (more than 33% of its land is protected), New Zealand's tourism industry launched the Tiaki Promise, a sustainability pledge, just prior to the pandemic. The Maori word "Tiaki" means to care for people and places, so the aim of this pledge is to avoid overtourism and encourage visitors to explore lesser-known destinations.

One way to do so is to seek new Maori cultural encounters and experiences, such as a traditional hangi feast in Rotorua, which is prepared in underground pits, after a visit to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Or, take an interpretive storytelling trek up Maunga Hikurangi on the North Island's east coast. If you're there in June or July, you can celebrate the Maori New Year, Matariki, which is based on the lunar calendar and became an official public holiday in 2022.

Next year, New Zealand will also co-host the largest FIFA Women's World Cup ever along with Australia. Matches will be played on both the North and South islands. Along with other large sporting events like the Women's Rugby World Cup, it's a clear example of the nation's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion as international visitors return.

A handful of new hotels have opened recently, too, such as the art-filled Park Hyatt Auckland , the environmentally friendly Hotel Britomart in Auckland's central business district and, on the South Island, The Carlin Hotel in Queenstown, which overlooks the Eyre and Remarkables mountain ranges surrounding Lake Wakatipu.

Getting to the country from the U.S. is even easier now with Air New Zealand's new nonstop flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Auckland Airport (AKL) and Qantas' launch of the same route starting in March 2023.

TPG tip: If you're staying in Tamaki Makaurau, the Maori name for Auckland, explore one of the towns or nearby islands in the harbor. The ferry ride to Devonport takes 15 minutes, while Waiheke Island is only 40 minutes away by ferry. The latter has fabulous beaches and wineries to explore using a hop-on, hop-off bus. — By Becky Blaine

Orlando: Easy fun with classic experiences

Best for roller coaster riders, of course, but also space geeks and culture freaks.

Whether you want to feel like you're in outer space, watch an actual rocket lift off or catch a concert in one of the world's best theaters, Orlando is the destination to visit in Florida — and 2023 is going to be a banner year for the city.

Many travelers come for the world-class theme parks, but Orlando is undergoing a travel renaissance that includes a just-opened terminal at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and 170 miles of railway that will connect the high-speed Brightline train from Orlando to Miami by mid-2023.

But don't hop the train too fast. Book tickets to a concert at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts' Steinmetz Hall, which opened in 2022 and is rated as one of the world's most acoustically perfect spaces. An urban pocket park downtown called Art2 is also elevating this area of Orlando with can't-miss experiences, including performances and food trucks.

Cape Canaveral, an hour east on the coast, is also now home to Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, a 50,000-square-foot, multilevel addition to the Kennedy Space Center that's full of interactive exhibits. And that's to say nothing of the full lineup of planned rocket launches travelers can check out over the course of 2023.

Of course, it's always a good idea to visit the theme parks, especially to catch the final months of Disney World's 50th-anniversary celebration , which includes a reimagining of Epcot with that park's first-ever roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind , and the spring 2023 debut of Tron: Lightcycle Run in the Magic Kingdom.

Disney World is also home to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser , a "Star Wars"-themed journey unlike any other. The immersive, interactive two-night hotel experience (ahem, space mission) opened in early 2022.

Walt Disney World Resort isn't the only theme park behemoth elevating the park experience in 2023. Universal Studios Florida opened the thrilling VelociCoaster ride just last year, and it's keeping the excitement up with an all-new theme park, Epic Universe, already under construction. It will deliver new rides, themed lands, hotels and restaurants.

TPG tip: If you are one of the millions of travelers who rent a car in Orlando each year, there is a new 7-Eleven on the airport property where you can refill your tank at retail prices and make a pit stop to grab snacks for your journey. — B y Summer Hull

Oslo: Europe's coolest art capital

Best for art and design lovers seeking new city-shaping museums and hotels.

Norway continues to claim the attention of travelers, but in 2023, all eyes are on the capital city, which is finally ready to flaunt its latest investments in the arts and hospitality.

Across from the white, angular slashes of the opera house's Carrara marble ramps and staircases is the curving 13-story tower housing the new Munch Museum, which opened in 2021. Even more imposing is the sprawling new National Museum, now one of Europe's largest art museums, which houses works from Edvard Munch's iconic "The Scream" to masterpieces from European artists like Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Henri Matisse.

This fall also saw the debut of Sommerro, an art deco hotel packed with contemporary art collections curated by museum director and art critic Sune Nordgren, along with 1930s works by Norwegian master Per Krohg — including a mosaic feature in the restored public baths, which opened in November. There's more to come from the boutique hotel and cultural center next year, including the addition of Villa Inkognito, an 11-suite retreat in a former 19th-century residence.

You can even bookend your trip to Oslo by venturing farther south to Kristiansand, where Kunstsilo, a modernist Nordic art museum, will debut next year inside an award-winning functionalist silo from the 1930s.

TPG tip: It's never been easier to explore beyond Oslo thanks to a flurry of new flights and cruises. Low-cost carrier Norse Atlantic (which began operating in 2022) continues expanding its reach in the U.S. by offering a number of promising nonstop routes, including one between London's Gatwick Airport (LGW) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) that's coming next year. Norwegian airline Widerøe is connecting Bergen to four new European cities next summer as well. For those interested in heading north, Norway's oldest cruise company, Hurtigruten, is restarting the Svalbard Express next year, while Viking and Disney have announced new itineraries to the remote Arctic region . — By Melanie Lieberman

Jordan: Connections by air, land and sea

Best for travelers who want a taste of the ancient world at the heart of the modern Middle East.

Home to some of the world's oldest pieces of history, Jordan is on many travelers' bucket lists, especially now that there are several new additions on the way. In 2023, this Middle Eastern country is channeling its renowned hospitality to welcome travelers via new flights and a host of new hotels and experiences.

In the capital city of Amman, The Ritz-Carlton is the latest luxury hotel to join the gaggle of points-friendly properties near the city's 5th Circle landmark. Lavish white interiors and crystal chandeliers bedazzle the new hotel, which has 194 rooms and 34 suites with floor-to-ceiling views of the capital's sand-hued buildings. Next summer, Radisson will pump up its Middle East portfolio with Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall. And across the red sand desert, the Crowne Plaza Resort Petra will reopen after a 10-year renovation and expansion.

Northwest of Amman, the former ancient trading town of Al-Salt became Jordan's sixth and latest UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its reputation as "the city of tolerance and urban hospitality." History and design fans can explore touches of European architecture alongside the city's distinct yellow limestone facades. This city is also a new stop on the Jordan Trail's Thru Hike. Launched in 2017, the trail offers the chance to spend 40 days hiking through eight regions that, together, traverse the entire country. Originally connecting 52 villages, it's recently been upped to 75 different communities.

Nearly 75% of Jordan is covered in pomegranate-hued sand, but head south and the watercolor greens and blues of the Red Sea emerge. Here, cruising is making waves in a country renowned for its mystical desert landscapes. Emerald Cruises recently debuted its first oceangoing yacht the Emerald Azzurra, which sails from the famed seaside city of Aqaba to Athens, Greece. Next year, Windstar Cruises is following suit by launching new itineraries from Amman to Athens and Athens to Dubai, with a stop at Aqaba.

TPG tip: Hopping on a flight to Jordan from select North American cities has just gotten easier. United has launched its first-ever direct flight from Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Amman's Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) , which departs three times per week. Last summer, Royal Jordanian Airlines, a Oneworld member, also launched a new route from Amman to Toronto via Montreal, and it will be increasing frequencies to Chicago, Detroit, Montreal and New York in the spring and summer of 2023. — By Katie Lockhart

American waterways: Rediscovering our backyard

Best for travelers craving a nostalgic way to see America's small towns.

There's something charming about life along the water — and we're not talking about the swanky condos overlooking Miami Beach or Malibu, California's Billionaires Beach. Think instead of historical small towns like Natchez, Mississippi, and Muskegon, Michigan, as well as industrial cities like Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Chicago, which have long relied on the nation's waterways.

American lakes and rivers remain key commercial arteries, but the cruise industry has turned them into some of the world's top leisure destinations as well thanks to a slate of new, offbeat itineraries that are only going to draw more passengers in the coming years.

Although Great Lakes and U.S. river cruises have been around for more than a century, 2023 could be one of the best years yet to sail domestically thanks to lines like American Queen Voyages , American Cruise Lines , Ponant , Viking and Pearl Seas Cruises, which are adding more capacity and itineraries along the Mississippi, Ohio, Columbia and Snake rivers; the Great Lakes; and the Chesapeake Bay.

Viking's new expedition arm rolled out its first two ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, which both spent time sailing the Great Lakes in 2022. Next year, travelers can also look forward to two new vessels, American Eagle and American Glory, from American Cruise Lines. The ships will debut along the East Coast and sail exclusively domestic itineraries. Additionally, American Queen Voyages will roll out the longest river voyages to date: 23-day sailings on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers .

If you book a domestic cruise, you'll see unexpected sides to major cities like Cincinnati, where the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center provides a sobering experience, as well as Detroit, which is a staple on many Great Lakes voyages, and New Orleans along the Mississippi. You might also visit towns such as Madison, Indiana, home to stately houses and a historical saddletree museum, that you might not have heard of otherwise. With more itineraries rolling out over time, there will be plenty more destinations to discover along America's waterways.

TPG tip: If you're looking to engage your competitive spirit, book American Queen Voyages' Kentucky Derby Cruise on American Countess. During the sailing on May 3, 2023, the boat will go head-to-head against two other vessels in Louisville, Kentucky's Great Steamboat Race, part of the annual Kentucky Derby Festival. — By Ashley Kosciolek

Los Angeles: In-person events are the hottest ticket in town

Best for travelers seeking a new side to the City of Angels.

Events for sports enthusiasts and tech acolytes will draw big crowds to Los Angeles next year.

In January, the College Football Playoff National Championship will kick off at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, and the 123rd U.S. Open Championship golf tournament will be held at the Los Angeles Country Club in June. A third major event, the 40th Annual Breeders' Cup horse racing world championship, will gallop out of the gate at Santa Anita Park in November. The venue sits across the street from the still-new Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia.

You'll also want to get your virtual reality headset ready, because E3 is getting back in the game, live and in person this June at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The video game industry's biggest annual event was held virtually in 2021 and canceled outright in 2022.

It will at long last be easier to get around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) , too. After three years of construction, the Automated People Mover at LAX will finally open, connecting all terminals, the Metro Rail and a new rental car center. This state-of-the-art train will reduce travel time both to and within the airport.

Even frequent visitors will find exciting new places to bed down in LA since eight major hotels opened in 2022, including the Hyatt -branded tommie Hollywood, The Shay in Culver City and the adjoining Hyatt Place and Hyatt House LAX/Century Blvd. Two Marriott hotels — a Moxy and an AC — will debut downtown in the 38-story Fig + Pico tower, which sits across from the convention center and Crypto.com Arena. A few blocks away, a $1 billion, Frank Gehry-designed mixed-use development called The Grand LA opened. Here, you'll find Hilton 's splashy Conrad Los Angeles and four new restaurants from chef José Andres.

Also new downtown is the Sixth Street Viaduct, a 3,500-foot-long bridge with an accompanying 12-acre park with walking and bike trails. Spanning the Los Angeles River, this bridge connects downtown's Arts District with the Mexican food hot spot, Boyle Heights.

TPG tip: The Los Angeles Dodgers are considered the early-odds baseball team to beat in the 2023 World Series, so we recommend keeping an eye out for autumn points deals at downtown LA hotels near Dodger Stadium. — By Melanie Wynne

South Africa: More flights to wildlife sites

Best for nature lovers dreaming of visiting the Rainbow Nation.

South Africa has a wealth of natural and cultural riches that travelers never tire of exploring, from the Big 5 of safari lore (elephants, lions, leopards, hippos and buffaloes) to the historic steps of Nelson Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom." One thing the country has been lacking, however, is direct flights to both Cape Town and Johannesburg via multiple U.S. carriers.

In mid-December, Delta will commence a triangle service, flying the Airbus A350 from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Johannesburg's O.R Tambo International Airport (JNB) and then on to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) with a nonstop return from there. And through a special arrangement with the Department of Transportation , United is now offering nonstop flights between Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This is in addition to its nonstop services from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to both Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).

When they arrive, travelers will find new safari lodges opening next year in some of the best wildlife-viewing destinations. The Tswalu concession in the southern Kalahari Desert is South Africa's largest private reserve — and it's less than two hours away by plane from both Cape Town and Johannesburg. There are few lodges here, though, so the new Loapi Tented Camp opening in 2023 is truly notable. With just six modern, eco-friendly tented micro-camps that are perfect for privacy, it will feel like you have the remote savannah all to yourself as you head out on private ranger-led safari drives to spot African wild dogs and desert black rhinos.

Also set to open in 2023 is The Homestead, a sustainability-focused luxury lodge in the secluded Nambiti Private Game Reserve. Nestled into the mountains of malaria-free KwaZulu-Natal, the lodge is around a three-hour drive from either Johannesburg or Durban. In addition to a dozen sleek safari suites with expansive wilderness views and butler service, expect electric safari vehicles for game drives and innovative energy-saving touches as part of the lodge's larger conservation efforts, such as grass-planted roofs and a solar farm.

TPG tip: Plan a trip around South Africa's epic music festivals, including Johannesburg's Afropunk Festival on Constitution Hill, the seat of the country's lawmakers, in December. In March, the largest music festival in sub-Saharan Africa (the Cape Town International Jazz Festival) takes center stage. And AfrikaBurn, South Africa's answer to Burning Man, sets up on the Eastern Cape in April. — B y Melissa Klurman

Rome: The Eternal City shines anew

Best for history buffs and hotel enthusiasts itching to discover ancient ruins amidst modern luxury.

In 2023, Rome's full historical heritage will be front and center for visitors to enjoy.

A project to open the Sacred Area of Largo di Torre Argentina (where Julius Caesar was assassinated) via a series of elevated walkways is slated for completion next summer. The archaeological site near the Pantheon was unearthed in the 1920s but has been inaccessible for decades. It joins The Mausoleum of Augustus, which reopened in 2021 following an 8 million euro ($8.2 million) restoration, as one of the ancient sites newly accessible to visitors.

Additionally, the Museo dell'Arte Salvata (the Museum for Rescued Art) opened in 2022. Here, precious antiquities that were returned to Italy after being plundered from archaeological sites and trafficked on the black market to auction houses, private collections and even institutions like New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art are on display. The exhibits will change, but you might see sculptures, ancient coins or even an amphora painted with erotic scenes that dates back to the sixth century B.C.

But there are new, modern developments luring luxury travelers back to Rome, too.

The arrival of international brands like W, Soho House, The Hoxton and Mama Shelter, plus boutique hotels like The First Musica and Umiltà 36 have heralded a contemporary hotel boom. Next year's openings will up the ante even more, with arrivals by Six Senses, Edition, Bulgari and Nobu, as well as a renovation of the 19th-century Palazzo Naiadi, a neoclassical landmark on Piazza Della Repubblica, by Anantara.

Rome will also see increased airlift from the U.S., with three daily seasonal flights (up from two) on Delta from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and a new daily seasonal route from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Fiumicino Airport (FCO) on United , both of which will launch on May 25.

TPG tip: The best way to explore the Eternal City is on two wheels. Just in time for the 2023 season, Scooteroma is revamping its popular Street Art Vespa Tour and debuting a brand-new experience focused on the city's oft-overlooked early 20th-century art and architecture, such as the iconic Vittoriano Emmanuel II National Monument in Piazza Venezia. — By Laura Itzkowitz

Bangkok: Setting the table for an epic comeback

Best for passionate foodies and arts aficionados.

For the last few years, Bangkok has been quietly setting the stage for a monumental rebound once the travel floodgates reopened and international tourists returned en masse.

On the Chao Phraya riverfront, a luxury hotel revival led by Capella and Four Seasons outposts has been underway since 2020. Both properties house destination restaurants, including soulful Thai at Capella's Phra Nakhon and the swanky Buenos Aires-themed BKK Social Club at the Four Seasons. This summer, Hong Kong's Mott 32, plus five other dining outlets, arrived at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon around the corner. Early next year, Southeast Asia's first Soho House opens in Bangkok with multiple bars and restaurants (plus a 39-foot outdoor pool), and an Aman will follow in the coming years.

Hotels aren't the only places for tourists to experience the energy of Bangkok's evolving culinary scene. Innovators all across the city are transforming it into the world's next great food destination. Just this year, a former monk opened Small Dinner Club, which serves offbeat dishes like dessert tom yum, while mixologists at Mahaniyom Cocktail Bar craft boozy, zero-waste concoctions starring an individual element like coconut or squid.

The 2023 Michelin Bangkok guide features 35 starred restaurants (five more than last year). Additionally, both Samrub Samrub Thai and Raan Jay Fai ranked on the World's 100 Best Restaurants list in 2022. Buzz is gathering around watering holes like No Name Noodle, which opened in 2022 and serves just 35 bowls of Japanese soba per day, and chef Arnaud Dunand Sauthier's just-opened, alpine-inspired restaurant Maison Dunand as well.

Bangkok's art scene is also reawakening. Just before the pandemic, 31-year-old Mook Attakanwong founded ATT 19, an exhibition space in a former Chinese school where works broach once-taboo topics like mental health. At Aurum The River Place, exhibits range from street art to a subway car installation.

Airlines are putting flights to Thailand back on their schedules, too. Air Canada's seasonal route from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Bangkok running through March 24 is the first nonstop from North America in more than a decade. Just don't forget to make those restaurant reservations first.

TPG tip: Spend a few days hiking through tropical, UNESCO-listed Khao Yai National Park and stay in a Bill Bensley-designed heritage train car suite at the brand-new InterContinental Khao Yai Resort , which is located just a 2.5-hour drive away from Bangkok. — By Kathryn Romeyn

Panama: Leading the way with homegrown tourism

Best for adventure seekers looking to explore an untouched paradise.

Panama might be best known for its famous canal, but in 2023, all that changes for the Central American country, as previously untouched areas become more accessible to travelers. The country is a hotbed of biodiversity and an eclectic blend of cultures unlike any other in the region. Now, it's easier than ever to experience it all.

Launched in August 2022, Panama's community tourism network, SOSTUR, is a digital platform connecting travelers with rural communities and local tourism businesses. Travelers planning a visit for 2023 can select tours across 10 pilot communities in remote corners of the country. Experiences range from agritourism farm visits to sloth watching in the jungle.

Hikers will love exploring the pristine southern coast of Panama's Azuero Peninsula, which is brimming with tropical flora and fauna, natural caves and hidden beaches. Next year, the tour operator Azuero Adventures — based in the rural village of Cambutal — is introducing its Cerro Hoya Mountain Expedition, a six-day adventure that includes a three-day camping tour in Cerro Hoya National Park, home to some of the last areas of primary jungle on the peninsula.

Bookend your trip with a few days in the capital and a stay at the stylish new Hotel La Compañia, part of Hyatt's Unbound Collection. Also in the city's Casco Antiguo colonial district is the new Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, an Accor-affiliated property slated to open before the end of the year. It has a desirable location on the water's edge and unobstructed city skyline and Pacific views.

Since Delta launched three new routes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Orlando International Airport (MCO) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Panama City's Tocumen International Airport (PTY) late last year, it has gotten that much easier for many flyers to visit Panama.

TPG tip : If you're flying to Panama on Copa Airlines, the nation's flag carrier, consider upgrading to see the new Copa Club lounge in Tocumen International Airport (PTY)'s new Terminal 2. It's a sprawling 21,500-square-foot space with buffet-style dining, leather loungers, a dedicated family entertainment area and a bar. — By Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Bhutan: A legendary trail reopens

Best for adrenaline junkies craving both nature and culture.

When Bhutan reopened for tourism in September 2022, it also unveiled the highly anticipated Trans-Bhutan Trail, an ancient footpath that stretches for 250 miles across the country. Over the previous two years, the trail was carefully restored by people from around the country, connecting the popular western area with the less-traveled eastern edge of Bhutan.

For decades, hiking has lured mountaineers to Bhutan. The tiny Asian kingdom has exceptional trails, especially through the Himalayas, such as the famous Snowman Trek, a demanding 216-mile hike considered one of the toughest in the world. The newly restored Trans-Bhutan Trail, by contrast, has sections that can be tackled in single or multiple days, so it's more beginner-friendly. Hikers wind through forested mountains, rice paddies and bustling villages with new campsites and homestays along the way. While there are still challenging tracts, the intention is to open parts of the country that are less touristed.

As a commitment to a more sustainable tourism strategy, the country also implemented a new, higher $200 daily tourism fee. The tariff (which replaces a daily $65 fee) funds various economic, social, environmental and cultural developments and is partially intended to limit tourist entries to manageable numbers. It also means travelers no longer need to purchase packaged trips, which allows more flexibility to book preferred hotels and tours.

The country has no shortage of luxury lodges (Aman, Como and Six Senses all have properties here), and more are on the way. Next year, andBeyond will unveil the new Punakha River Lodge on the banks of western Bhutan's Mo Chhu River in a bucolic, rice-growing region. It will have tented suites and two villas designed in a traditional Bhutanese architectural style.

TPG tip: Along with the new daily tourism fee, travelers have to adhere to a number of rules, which include hiring a local guide (in certain areas) and not self-driving. The upside is a guide can unlock the country's history and reveal its storied heritage. The roads are also extremely steep and winding, so having someone navigate them for you is a major plus. When planning your trip, keep in mind that there are no direct flights from the U.S. to Bhutan. Most travelers transit via Bangkok or Delhi, both of which have direct flights with Drukair to Paro International Airport (PBH). —By Mary Holland

Mexico's Pacific Coast: Stylish new destinations emerge

Best for swimmers, surfers and sybarites who appreciate design-driven beach resorts.

The roughly 1,200-mile stretch of mainland Mexico's Pacific Coast from Nayarit to Oaxaca is famous for the resort destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and Zihuatanejo. But swanky new hotels, major infrastructure improvements and breathtaking natural scenery have brought three very different areas along it into focus for 2023: Riviera Nayarit, Costalegre and Riviera Oaxaqueña.

Beginning just north of Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit is undergoing one of Latin America's biggest luxury hotel booms. This 65-mile string of resort communities includes Punta Mita, already home to Four Seasons and St. Regis properties, as well as the surf town of Sayulita and, farther north, the up-and-coming Mandarina and Costa Canuva developments. Recent openings include the Conrad Punta de Mita , Secrets Bahia Mita, One&Only Mandarina and Auberge Resorts' ultra-exclusive Susurros Del Corazón. Rosewood Mandarina and Costa Canuva's Ritz-Carlton Reserve Riviera Nayarit are coming soon, along with the VidantaWorld theme, water and nature park.

The dramatic headlands and secluded beaches of the 60-mile Costalegre, which is 2.5 hours south of Puerto Vallarta, have drawn celebrities to enclaves like Careyes for decades. The region is about to take off with the opening of a new airport in Chalacatepec and continued improvements along the winding coastal artery, Highway 200. The posh Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo opened in November 2022 with 157 open-air rooms and suites, and the famed Las Alamandas boutique resort recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation. There's also the continued expansion of the 36,000-acre Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, home to a posh 40-room eco-resort with a Byzantine design.

Served by two smaller airports, including the recently expanded Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM), Riviera Oaxaqueña is increasingly appealing to visitors seeking an easygoing, mindful vibe (think: yoga retreats and eco-conscious architecture). Grupo Habita's new Hotel Escondido and Hotel Terrestre offer understated luxury, while Puerto Escondido's adults-only Casona Sforza is an idyllic end-of-the-road beach retreat. And just down the coast, the artsy and diverse villages of Mazunte and Zipolite (with its LGBTQIA-popular, clothing-optional beach ) are blissful beach towns for chilling out.

TPG tip: The anticipated early 2023 completion of the Barranca Larga-Ventanilla Highway, which traverses a 10,000-foot-high mountain pass, will cut the drive time from Puerto Escondido to the historic town of Oaxaca, with its art galleries and renowned restaurants, from seven hours to less than three. — By Andrew Collins

Kenya: Africa's top ecotourism destination

Best for wild-at-heart travelers seeking adventure and eco-friendly luxury.

Kenya has long been the standard bearer for sustainable tourism in Africa. The emergence of wildlife conservancies in the 1970s not only prevented poaching and illegal trade but also ushered in a new era of community involvement.

In 2023, Kenya's ecotourism movement will forge ahead with bold new initiatives to protect what is arguably the greatest safari destination on Earth. Kenya's emblematic mountain bongo (a critically endangered, notoriously shy type of antelope) will be repatriated to Mount Kenya from a preserve in Florida in a project spearheaded by the Meru Bongo and Rhino Conservation Trust. Sanctuaries within Mount Kenya National Park will also provide refuge to endangered black rhinos and draw on the knowledge and engagement of local Masai communities.

Points travelers will soon have even more reason to add the East African nation to their travel wish list. In 2023, Marriott will debut its first high-end safari lodge on the continent: the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge . Its location, at the heart of Masai Mara National Reserve, will ensure optimal wildlife viewing; the park is home to a staggering inventory of more than 450 animal species, including the Big 5. The lodge will feature 20 classic safari-style tents with canopy beds, stone tile floors and Masai-inspired prints and fabrics. Marriott has committed to hiring 50 individuals from the Masai community, too.

Beyond the Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park is home to an extraordinary density of wildlife thanks in no small part to conservation efforts such as the Amboseli Trust for Elephants. Today, the park is one of the best places on the planet to see long-tusked elephants, as well as giraffes, eland, zebras and wildebeest in large numbers. Debuting in November 2023, Angama Amboseli will comprise 10 luxury tented suites located within Kenya's first community-owned conservancy, the Kimana Sanctuary. All tents will frame views of Mount Kilimanjaro, but the main draw here, no doubt, will be the once-in-a-lifetime elephant encounters.

TPG tip: The Billionaire Resort & Retreat Malindi, an erstwhile A-list hangout that opened to the masses in 2022, offers the ultimate safari and Indian Ocean combination without any grueling border crossings. Located in Malindi (75 miles north of Mombasa, Kenya), the resort's opulent villas and gorgeous infinity pool overlook a private white sand beach you won't want to miss. — By Caroline Lascom

Turks and Caicos: Getting out in the archipelago

Best for sun seekers and beach lovers.

Beyond the white sands and aquamarine waters you'll find around the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos offers exciting developments, including new hotels and cruise facilities, plus better airports that will make some of its previously remote islands much more accessible. So, it should come as no surprise, then, that Turks and Caicos has seen the fastest-growing travel demand by Americans year over year, according to TripAdvisor's Fall Travel Index .

To help with the influx of inter-island and private flights, the new South Caicos Airport (XSC) on South Caicos Island — the easternmost island in the Caicos group — will complete construction in June 2023. The government will also break ground on a new-and-improved international airport for Providenciales in early 2023, a project expected to cost $300 million.

Visitors will have plenty of new accommodation options, too. Andaz Turks & Caicos Residences at Grace Bay is targeting a spring 2023 opening and will be the first Andaz-branded resort and residential property in the Caribbean. Also coming in 2023, The Shore Club is adding eight six-bedroom pool villas to its iconic Long Bay Beach property. Travelers can also look forward to boutique-style suites and panoramic views of Grace Bay Beach at The Bight Hotel and Providenciales' newest resort and marina, South Bank Turks & Caicos, both of which are in the pipeline.

A recently completed dock extension at the Grand Turk Cruise Center can now accommodate larger cruise ships, so it's bound to be a port of call on more itineraries. Additionally, $1 million in grants has been distributed to water sports operators and beach vendors to accommodate the projected increase in cruisers.

TPG tip: For the first time since the pandemic, a full lineup of events is planned for Turks and Caicos in 2023. This includes the weekly Island Fish Fry at Bight Park and legendary events like the Conch Festival, the Valentine's Day Cup on Middle Caicos, the Caribbean Food and Wine Festival and the largest festival in Turks and Caicos, Maskanoo, a cultural celebration started by enslaved people in the 19th century mocking the wealthy islanders' costume balls. —By Devorah Lev-Tov

Charleston, South Carolina: A new museum casts light on a dark past

Best for diving deeper into a much-loved city .

Yes, we know. Charleston on a "best of" travel list is a lot like saying "florals for spring" — universally popular but hardly groundbreaking. But in 2023, the International African American Museum will open in Charleston, heralding a new era for cultural tourism in the city. In the works for the past two decades, the museum officially opens its doors on Jan. 21.

The museum will be a powerful lens on the past and is fittingly located at Gadsden's Wharf, where slave ships docked in Charleston Harbor and thousands of enslaved Africans first set foot in North America. The museum is raised off this now-hallowed ground on 18 pillars, each 13 feet high — a monumental structure designed by renowned architect Henry Cobb.

Inside, exhibits explore both the history of enslavement and the stories of African Americans in South Carolina's Lowcountry from the past through the present. There's a genealogical center here as well. Outside, the African Ancestors Memorial Garden includes a reflecting pool facing the harbor and a soundscape that explores the diverse range of African languages.

Beyond the IAAM, Charleston is welcoming new nonstop flights to several cities. Breeze Airlines continues to roll out new flights, including two weekly nonstops each to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and six direct flights per week to Provo Airport (PVU) in Utah, which all commenced in November. Earlier in 2022, Breeze rolled out daily nonstops to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN).

On the hotel front, travelers can stay at the historic Charleston Place hotel, which is under new ownership as part of the Beemok Hospitality Collection and in the midst of a $100 million renovation. Mills House Charleston in the city's French Quarter recently emerged from a complete refurbishment as the city's first Curio Collection by Hilton property. The Loutrel, a new luxury hotel in the heart of Charleston's historic district with a buzzy on-site restaurant, is also worth checking out.

TPG tip: Spoleto Festival USA presents more than 150 performances of opera, dance, theater, classical music and jazz spanning two full weeks from Memorial Day through the beginning of June. It's a fun time to plan a visit, and there are numerous hotel package deals available. — By Melissa Klurman

Ecuador: Coastal towns capture the limelight

Best for travelers searching for new destinations to unlock with points.

Though Ecuador's capital city, Quito, and remote Galapagos Islands may be the first to come to mind, exciting developments along the country's Pacific Coast are drawing a new wave of adventurers to unexpected corners of the nation.

In March of 2022, Kontiki Expeditions launched expeditions aboard the exclusive M/S Wayra, a nine-stateroom yacht that bears the distinction of being the first "water-based" Small Luxury Hotels of the World member, which partners with World of Hyatt . That means travelers can earn Hyatt points while exploring such seldom-visited ports of call as the surf spot San Mateo and Isla de la Plata, often referred to as an inexpensive alternative to the Galapagos.

Travelers eager to connect with Ecuador's overlooked coast can also take advantage of the country's increased airlift: LATAM resumed its route between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO) in October with daily flights, making it altogether easier for Americans to reach Ecuador. American Airlines has also increased the frequency of its flights between Miami and Guayaquil, the gateway to Ecuador's beachy coastline.

Even Ecuador's most famous destination, the Galapagos, continues to see significant travel industry investments. Earlier this year, Ecuador's president expanded the protected Galapagos Marine Reserve by more than 23,000 square miles. Months later, a former boutique eco-friendly hotel was reborn as Royal Palm Galapagos, a Curio Collection hotel, making it possible for travelers to redeem Hilton Honors points in the Galapagos. Standard award nights start around 80,000 points, putting the islands well within reach for many travelers with points and miles stashes.

Plus, a new Hotel Indigo is now accepting reservations for end-of-year trips to the archipelago, unlocking IHG One Rewards points redemption opportunities there, too.

TPG tip: If an eight-day sailing along the coast isn't enough immersion in the culture and wildlife of Ecuador, remote workers can take advantage of Ecuador's new Nomad Visa, which launched in 2022 and allows foreign workers to live and work in Ecuador for up to 24 months. — By Melanie Lieberman

Disney Wish: The most magical place at sea

Best for travelers who want the best of Disney while exploring the Caribbean.

Disney Wish first set sail in mid-2022, but 2023 is going to be the best time to sail on the company's first new cruise ship in a decade.

The itineraries and cabin types (ranging from a first-ever funnel suite to the cleverly designed oceanview staterooms with split bathrooms that help a whole family get ready faster by creating two distinct spaces) are now more widely available than in the first few sold-out months, but the new ship smell and sparkle remain.

Of equal importance, the staff has now had the necessary time to hit their stride with service, including on stage with Broadway-caliber reimaginings of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," and in the thrilling all-new restaurants with "Frozen"- and Marvel-inspired dinners (be sure and try the sticky date pudding with vanilla ice cream while in the Worlds of Marvel and Anna's Koldtbord with goodies like smoked salmon, sweet shrimp and dill honey mustard while dining in Arendelle).

With its three- and four-night sailings from Florida's Port Canaveral to the Bahamas, most passengers book Disney Wish to experience the ship itself rather than the ports of call. In fact, many guests don't even disembark in Nassau, preferring instead to take a turn on the AquaMouse slide, book a treatment at the Senses Spa or just have fun with the many Disney characters and themed spaces on board. It's a stress-free alternative to the increasing complexity and cost of indulging in a visit to the Disney theme parks.

TPG tip: There's the magic that's easy to spot on Disney Wish, but then there is more waiting to be discovered. For example, if you enjoy whiskey, don't walk past Hook's Barbery without popping in, as the secret space is far more than just a nook for a shave and a haircut. And if you can stay up late, make your way to the Grand Hall at midnight and look up for a fun surprise. — By Summer Hull

Sydney: Global celebrations abound

Best for travelers eager to say they attended some of the biggest events in 2023.

A fabulous flock of international visitors will descend upon Sydney in February and March to celebrate WorldPride (the first in the Southern Hemisphere) mashed up with the city's Mardi Gras festival. An opening concert headlined by — who else? — the inimitable Kylie Minogue is reason enough to hop on a flight Down Under.

In August, the city's Accor Stadium will host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final, bringing to an end a month of soccer (sorry, football ) and Australia's shared hosting of the tournament with New Zealand.

Fortunately, getting there will be easier than ever, as Qantas recently announced it would fly from Sydney Airport (SYD) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) via Auckland Airport (AKL) in June, cutting travel times for East Coasters and heralding a new age of super-long-haul flights.

Arrivals will have a bounty of new hotels to choose from for their visit, too, including the recently opened Kimpton Margot Sydney and Ace Hotel Sydney, as well as a luxurious new Capella opening by Circular Quay early in the year and the forthcoming W Sydney set to debut in October.

Aside from all the sundry Sydney outdoor activities visitors can continue to enjoy year-round, from beach walks to BridgeClimb Sydney, travelers will also be able to explore the Art Gallery of New South Wales' stunning (and eco-friendly) new Sydney Modern Project, which the museum has billed as "the most significant cultural development in the city since the opening of the Sydney Opera House nearly half a century ago."

Opening in December of 2022 and overlooking the lush Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the complex will comprise both new and historical buildings, performance spaces, creative studios and terraces and gardens. It was designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architectural firm SANAA and will house specially commissioned works by both international and Australian artists along with rotating exhibitions … so, you never know what you might see on your next trip to Sydney.

TPG tip: Indigenous tourism experiences are flourishing across Australia, including in Sydney, where travelers can learn about Indigenous Australians' way of life on a walking Dreamtime Southern X tour of The Rocks neighborhood or even book BridgeClimb Sydney's popular Burrawa Indigenous Experience guided tour as you scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge. — By Eric Rosen

Feeling inspired? Our sister site, Elsewhere , can help you plan bespoke itineraries to several of these destinations.

The Best Weekend Getaways to Take Right Now

Here's where to spend a few blissful days for that well-deserved break.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Stowe, Vermont

Stowe may be a popular ski destination, but it's equally appealing in the fall with its abundance of outdoor pursuits. And, obviously, the foliage alone is reason enough to visit. The 68-room Topnotch Resort sits on an expansive 120 acres with views of Mount Mansfield. Hotel activities include horseback riding, ATV tours, biking, wagon rides, and, for something a little more relaxing, a lovely spa.

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Want to escape to a quaint New England seaside village? Look no further than Martha's Vineyard, with its miles of beaches and historic houses. Stay in Edgartown, a former whaling port, and you'll have access to shops, galleries, and restaurants galore. The Christopher is a chic boutique hotel with just 15 rooms that mix modern design with a classic New England aesthetic. For a seamless—and fast (read: no traffic)—trip from the New York area, book a flight on Tradewind Aviation.

Read Reviews The Christopher

Telluride, Colorado

It is a bit of a trek to get to this Colorado hideaway, but so worth it for its unlimited supply of fresh mountain air. The Madeline Hotel & Residences, an Auberge Resort , is surrounded on three sides by the majestic San Juan Mountains. Horseback ride through Colorado's backcountry, go fly fishing, cycle the mountains, or simply let the hotel set up a picnic feast for you in the middle of a scenic alpine meadow. However you choose to spend your days, you're guaranteed to return home refreshed.

Read Reviews Madeline Hotel & Residents, Auberge Resorts Collection

Washington, Connecticut

A quick two-hour drive from New York City, Washington, Connecticut has long been a retreat for a very discerning, moneyed crowd, because of its rolling hills, historic architecture, and proximity to the city. Soak that all in at the grand Mayflower Inn & Spa, an Auberge Resort , set on 58 acres of manicured gardens and woodland. There's plenty to do, including hiking, fly-fishing, archery, tennis, and croquet. In 2021, for its 100th anniversary, the hotel was refreshed by celebrated designer Celerie Kemble.

Read Reviews Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection

Whitefish, Montana

For a more adventurous weekend getaway, the mountain town of Whitefish, Montana offers four seasons of activities—from skiing Whitefish Mountain to hiking through Glacier National Park. Book a stay at the Lodge at Whitefish Lake , a classic mountain lodge that offers suites in the main building as well as standalone luxury homes on the property.

Read Reviews Lodge at Whitefish Lake

Malibu, California

This 27-mile stretch of sparkling ocean and beach is the epitome of barefoot luxury, which is why so many Hollywood A-listers own homes here. Hotels are pretty scarce, all the more lending to Malibu's locals-only vibe. Stay at the 47-room Malibu Beach Inn , located right on the water on a strip of coastline nicknamed Billionaire's Beach for all of its famous homeowners, like Larry Ellison, who owns 10 properties. For a real splurge, book a room at the intimate 16-room Nobu Ryokan , an oasis like no other that marries serene Japanese minimalism with the iconic California coast.

Read Reviews Malibu Beach Inn

Read Reviews Nobu Ryokan Malibu

Annapolis, Maryland

Just 45 minutes outside of Washington, D.C., Annapolis feels a world apart. Yes, it's home to the United States Naval Academy, but it's far more than a college town. Embrace its nautical legacy with a visit to the Annapolis Maritime Museum, followed by an afternoon out on the water. And then enjoy Maryland's famous crabs for dinner before retiring to 134 Prince , a luxury inn in a Dutch Colonial home.

Read Reviews 134 Prince

The Berkshires, Massachusetts

Massachusetts' Berkshires are a year-round destination full of scenic hikes, stellar art museums, like MASS MoCA and the Clark Art Institute, and fun seasonal programming, like the region's famous Tanglewood concert series. It's also a hotbed for wellness resorts, including Canyon Ranch Lenox , which is centered around a Gilded Age mansion, and Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa , which is home to a 29,000-square-foot spa.

Read Review s Canyon Ranch Lenox

Read Reviews Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa

For East Coasters, Bermuda makes for a perfect weekend getaway. It's just a two-hour flight from NYC and Washington, D.C., meaning it basically takes less time to get there than it does to drive out to the Hamptons. Once you're on the island, head to The Loren at Pink Beach if you're in the mood for a little solitude. The property's one- and three-bedroom villas have their own private pools, making them prime spots for lounging and sipping on Bermuda's famed rum swizzles.

Read Reviews The Loren at Pink Beach

Bar Harbor, Maine

A gateway to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is everything you'd want from a coastal New England town, from stellar seafood restaurants to a bustling harbor from which you can easily hop on a boat for the day. The Primrose is a cottage-style inn built in 1878, but completely refreshed with new decor in 2020.

Read Reviews The Primrose

The North Fork, New York

The South Fork of Long Island (aka the Hamptons and Montauk) may be buzzier, but for a more low-key, quiet, and down-to-earth alternative, head to the North Fork. Oysters at Little Creek Oyster Farm in Greenport are a must, as are the homemade pies at Briermere Farms in Riverhead. Then spend your afternoons visiting the area's many wineries, such as Bedell, Sparkling Pointe, and Kontokosta before retiring to the Sound View Greenport , a chic hotel where every room looks out onto the Long Island Sound and has direct access to the private beach.

Read Reviews Sound View Greenport

Asheville, North Carolina

Drive the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway on your way to Asheville—the fall foliage is particularly spectacular, though the views are majestic no matter the season. There, you'll want to spend plenty of time at the impressive Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the country, built by George Vanderbilt at the end of the 19th century. While you can't stay in the home itself, you can stay on the property at the Inn on Biltmore Estate , which grants you access to the Biltmore gardens, Antler Hill Village, and the Biltmore Winery.

Read Reviews Inn on Biltmore Estate

Asbury Park, New Jersey

When the Asbury Hotel opened in 2016, it promised to bring about a much classier era to the oft-maligned Jersey Shore—and, in particular, the city of Asbury Park. It's just an hour away from New York City, but will feel like a proper vacation. Aside from the beach, which is a block away, the Asbury has plenty of al fresco spaces fit for play, including an expansive rooftop space that screens outdoor movies.

Read Reviews The Asbury Hotel

Texas Hill Country

Easily accessible from both Austin and San Antonio, Texas Hill Country is filled with quaint towns, wineries, and, in the spring, fields of blossoming bluebonnets. Treat yourself to a wellness weekend at the Sage Hill Inn & Spa , a 16-room luxury property set on 88 acres just 25 miles outside of Austin. Spend your days meandering the hiking trails, getting a massage at the spa, or playing a game of pickleball on the courts.

Read Reviews Sage Hill Inn & Spa

Golden Isles, Georgia

Located along Georgia's Atlantic coast between Savannah and Jacksonville, Florida, Jekyll Island is one of the barrier islands comprising the Golden Isles. Here, you can summer like the Vanderbilts, Morgans, Pultizers, and Rockefellers once did at the Jekyll Island Club Resort . There are loads of leisure activities, 20-plus miles of paved bicycle exploration, and two open-air restaurants. It's easy to see why some of the great American dynasties returned here year after year.

Read Reviews Jekyll Island Club Resor t

The Finger Lakes, New York

The West Coast might get the lion's share of attention when it comes to wine regions, but the Finger Lakes is perfect for a weekend away for East Coasters or Midwesterners. Explore the eleven lakes, the charming towns that surround them, and the scenic gorges. Make your home base Aurora on Cayuga Lake. It's home to the Inns of Aurora , a collection of five boutique hotels in historic buildings.

Read Reviews Inns of Aurora

Mackinac Island, Michigan

Retreat to Michigan's Mackinac Island for a leisurely weekend in what might feel like a bygone era. The island, located in between the state's Lower and Upper Peninsulas on Lake Huran, has banned cars, resulting in quite a peaceful atmosphere. Stay at the historic Grand Hotel , which bills its 660-foot-long porch as the world's longest.

Read Reviews Grand Hotel

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona has the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation—the hiking is superb, as are the spa resorts. The 70-acre Enchantment Resort has the best of both worlds, with 50 hiking trails and an extraordinary destination spa called Mii Amo. (As of September 2022, the spa is closed for renovations, but will reopen in late 2022 or early 2023.) The property is also close to downtown Sedona, where you can get your fill of shopping between art galleries and funky boutiques.

Read Reviews Enchantment Resort

Lexington, Kentucky

Kentucky has two major claims to fame: horse racing and bourbon. You'll find both in and around Lexington, between the city's famous Keeneland Race Course and the 15 distilleries within 45 miles of the city. While in town, stay at the ultra-modern 21c Museum Hotel Lexington , which also functions as a museum.

Read Reviews 21c Museum Hotel Lexington

Cape May, New Jersey

Cape May is perhaps the most charming of all of New Jersey's beach towns, thanks to the colorful Victorian-era houses that line its streets. Spend the day at the beach or peruse the shops of the Washington Street pedestrian mall, which is particularly festive in December. Congress Hall is the grande dame in this seaside resort town, and it's been hosting guests since 1816.

Read Reviews Congress Hall

Leena Kim is an editor at Town & Country , where she covers travel, jewelry, education, weddings, and culture.

Stefanie Waldek is a Brooklyn-based writer covering architecture, design, and travel. She's worked on staff at Architectural Digest, ARTnews, and Oyster.com, a TripAdvisor company, and has contributed to Condé Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, Design Milk, and Hunker, among others. When she's not dreaming about midcentury chairs, you can find her re-watching The X-Files,  likely in an airport lounge or on a plane.

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Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to Florida!

36 Things To Do In Florida In 2023: FL Bucket List

August 26, 2023 //  by  Florida Trippers

Looking for some of the best things to do in Florida? I’ve got you covered!

Florida is full of adventure and unique places. From theme parks to sunken gardens, our famous beaches , historical cities, and hole-in-the-wall surprises, this state is great for any tourist or resident to explore!

As a Florida local, I have explored so much of the state and know all the best and underrated areas to visit! From top museums to beautiful beaches, I love exploring my amazing state!

Here I have put together a list of the cool things to do in Florida. But be warned: they are spread across the state, so be prepared to travel a bit!

And don’t forget you don’t have to visit all these stops, I just love them so much that I wanted to make sure you had a Florida bucket list to help navigate this wild, Sunshine State.

Here are some ideas of what to do in Florida!

Below I have included some of the most fun things to do in Florida as well as some of the most unique things to do in Florida. Visit where and when you can, and keep in mind that these are in no particular traveling order! Just go and have fun exploring the Sunshine State!

Devil’s Den

This underground spring is one of the U.S.’s most prehistoric places, so of course, I had to add it to your Florida bucket list! In my experience, it is one of the best hidden gems in Florida!

The spring of Devil’s Den is 120 feet in diameter and averages 72 degrees year-round. With a depth of 54 feet, many people come here to snorkel, scuba dive, and even rent a cabin or park their RV for some overnight adventure!

Recreationally, there are huge cabanas, charcoal grills, pavilions, lawn games, and a heated swimming pool, so this spring is full of things you can enjoy!

I used to dive here with my sister and dad before he passed so it holds a special place in our family. It really is such a cool place to explore!

You cannot miss out on Devil’s Den because it is a must-see in Florida attraction!

Where To Stay Near Devil’s Den! Little Ridge Ranch: Check Rates on Booking.com

Ginnie Springs

Ginnie Springs is a private park near High Springs, Florida, and is located near the Santa Fe River. Known for its clear and cold water, this is one of the best things to do in Florida during a hot summer day!

Make sure to check out my master post on the best time to visit Florida including a breakdown by month, weather, events, and more!

There are accessible caverns with sand and limestone bottoms at this spring, and you can float your way around the springs on inner tubes, kayaks, paddle boards, and more.

If interested you can also scuba or snorkel in “Florida’s favorite freshwater dive” or camp by at the wooded acres for a full adventure!

Personally, this is my favorite spring in Florida if I had to pick just one! My favorite part is the Devil’s Ear and Devil’s Eye caves.

Ginnie Springs really is one of the popular Florida things to do!

Where To Stay Near Ginnie Springs! BlueGem Motel : Check Rates on Booking.com

Ringling Museum

One of the coolest things to do in Florida is the Ringling Museum in Sarasota .

This museum is HUGE as it has a variety of different exhibits to explore. If you plan to visit, don’t forget to check out my tips for visiting the Ringling Museum !

From the John and Marble Ringling Museum of Art, which displays antiques and modern works, to the Circus Museum at the Ringling, which is an interactive American circus museum, you can spend hours exploring here.

The Bayfront gardens are also gorgeous, and you can visit the Ca’ d’ Zan mansion on the property! This is to say that this museum is massive (66 acres to be exact!) so give yourself time to marvel at everything!

There is a reason that this tops my list of places in Florida that feel like Europe!

I love that the Ringling Museum feels like Europe. It is a place I always recommend to people visiting Florida.

Check in advance for discounted or free days!

Where To Stay Near The Ringling Museum! Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach : Check Rates on Booking.com

Bok Tower Gardens

Florida is known for its nature and beautiful views on summer days, so it only makes sense to add gardens and sanctuaries to your Florida bucket list!

Bok Tower Gardens is a contemplative garden and bird sanctuary in Lake Wales, Florida. With 250 acres of vast plants, flowers, trees, and art, this place will leave you breathless.

It features a 205-foot tall Singing Tower with carillon bells, and you can also hike the Pine Ridge Trail or visit the Pinewood Estate if you’re feeling adventurous! Just check out the visitor center when you first stop here!

I first visited this site when I was really young and the memory stayed with me. It is so cool and unique!

This is one of the best things to do in Central Florida .

Where To Stay Near Bok Tower Gardens! Hampton Inn & Suites Lake Wales : Check Rates on Booking.com

Disney World

Would it really be a Florida bucket list without Disney? Walt Disney World is one of the most famous things about Florida, and I highly recommend checking out these theme parks!

I am an annual pass-holder and have been visiting the Disney parks my whole life!

The four parks– Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot– feature different rides and themes. With character meet and greets, fantastic food, shows, and rides around every corner, you’re bound to have fun here!

Disney is one of the best things to do in Florida with kids, but even adults can have a magical time! Can you really say you’ve been to Florida without the iconic photo in front of the Magic Kingdom castle ?

This really is a must-do in Florida activity for making family memories.

There is also the surrounding area of Disney you can check out, such as the resorts and Disney Springs! Either way, there is so much to do here. If you want more information about Disney, check out my site: Disney Trippers .

Where To Stay Near Disney World! Buena Vista Suites Orlando : Check Rates on Booking.com

Universal Studios

Often seen as Disney’s “competitor” Universal Studios is another theme park in Orlando that is a cool place to visit in Florida, especially for those who love Marvel and Harry Potter!

Featuring thrill rides, Universal has three parks: Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is split between two parks and you can take the Hogwarts Express between the two!

Volcano Bay is one of the best water parks in Florida perfect for a summer day.

For movie lovers alike, this theme park is one of the best things to do in Florida, as there is so much history and love for classic films throughout each park. And you can enjoy Citywalk before or after your adventure inside the parks!

Where To Stay Near Universal Studios! Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Check Rates on Booking.com

Dome Houses in Florida

Close to Cape Romano Island (which is close to Marco Island ), the Dome Houses are one of the most unique things in Florida to visit!

The Cape Romano Dome Houses are only accessible via water, and their offshore location catches the attention of many. Six dome-shaped homes sit on stilts, surrounded by water.

These homes are abandoned. After being built in the 80s, the firm beach on which the domes were built eventually faded away, and now the domes are surrounded by water, making them the perfect setting for wildlife and tall tales. Make sure to check out the legends when you visit!

If you are looking for things to do in West Florida , make sure to add this to your list!

Where To Stay Near The Dome Houses! Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa: Check Rates on Booking.com

Kennedy Space Center

The Kennedy Space Center is one of ten National Aeronautics and Space Administration field centers. Located on Merritt Island, this is one of the coolest things you can do in Florida! It is a great day trip from Orlando .

At the space center, you can meet an astronaut, see the Space Shuttle Atlantis, go through the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, and visit the rocket garden.

This center lets visitors get an up-close and hands-on view of humans in space. From exploring NASA’s space shuttle program to discovering more about upcoming space exploration, the Kennedy Space Center is educational and fun.

Growing up, I visited the Kennedy Space Center with my dad. It is such a unique experience!

Book Here: Orlando: Kennedy Space Center Visit with Options

Where To Stay Near The Kennedy Space Center! Beachside Hotel and Suites: Check Rates on Booking.com

Saint Petersburg Sunken Gardens

Located in Saint Petersburg , the Sunken Gardens is one of the most unique things to do in Florida, as there aren’t many gardens like it (they are literally sunken! Below sea level!).

The Sunken Gardens are 4-aces of botanical gardens that have existed for more than a century. They are one of the oldest attractions in the U.S., let alone in Florida.

This paradise located in the city is a great living museum that has a vast amount of tropical plants, meandering paths, waterfalls, and more. The gardens also offer tours, special events, and horticultural programs if it interests you!

A romantic stroll here is one of the best things to do in Florida for couples . Take photos and admire the views together.

I love the Sunken Gardens and think it is the best place to visit in the Tampa area. I have brought many people here including my guy cousins who loved it!

Where To Stay In Saint Petersburg! Crystal Bay Historic Hotel: Check Rates on Booking.com

Clearwater Beach

Would you really have a Florida bucket list if you didn’t have a beach on it? Known for its stretch of soft, white sand, the calm waters of Clearwater draw tourists and residents year-round. It is one of the best cities in Florida !

With a winding beachfront lined with restaurants, cafes, and Pier 60 (which has nightly festivals that feature street performers and craft vendors), this place is always busy! This is also our favorite place to catch the sunset in Clearwater Beach!

From jet-skiing to parasailing and paddle boarding, many people love to spend hours on this beach and then retreat to the promenade for food, shopping, museums, and more.

This beach is one of the best free things to do in Florida.

Where To Stay In Clearwater! Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach: Check Rates on Booking.com

Dry Tortugas National Park

It’s strange to think of national parks in Florida , but Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most fun things to do in Florida!

Located along the Gulf of Mexico, east of Key West, the 7 islands of this park are surrounded by coral reefs ripe for exploration. Many beaches are popular, too!

Famously, Loggerhead Key has a lighthouse and is known for its sea turtles because Loggerhead Reef is nearby. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can check out Windjammer Wreck, which is the remains of an 1875 ship! It’s perfect for scuba and snorkeling in Florida !

Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the best activities to do in Florida!

Where To Stay In Key West! Truman Hotel: Check Rates on Booking.com

Castillo De San Marcos in Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is arguably one of the most historical cities in Florida, so of course, I are adding it to your Florida bucket list!

The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. Located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay, it is now a national monument!

With Spanish stones, this monument was built to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World. While visiting you can explore rooms that once housed soldiers and prisoners, tour the courtyard and gun deck, and watch weaponry demonstrations while learning about its history!

If you are interested in history, this is one of the best historical sites in Florida !

Where To Stay In Saint Augustine! Bayfront Inn : Check Rates on Booking.com

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach is known for two things: the beach, and NASCAR! Of course, I had to add this to my list of things to do in Florida!

Daytona International Speedway is a racetrack that opened in 1959, where it has been home to the Daytona 500, which is arguably one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR history.

When you’re not witnessing a famous event, though, you can also participate in speedway tours and enter the world of racing!

A race here is one of the top things to see in Florida!

Where To Stay In Daytona Beach! Daytona Grande Oceanfront Resort: Check Rates on Booking.com

Butterfly World

Located in Coconut Creek, Florida, Butterfly World is one of the most best things to do in Florida because it is the largest butterfly park in the world!

Opening in 1988, this facility houses 20,000 live butterflies across 3 acres. But the best part is that it doesn’t solely feature butterflies: there are also botanical gardens, a working butterfly farm, and a research facility featured here!

Recently the park has expanded to include aviaries for tropical birds and a lorikeet center! The owners here are adamant about supporting the conservation of butterflies!

Where To Stay Near Butterfly World! Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Coconut Creek : Check Rates on Booking.com

Duval Street in Key West

Duval Street is a downtown street in Key West, Florida , that runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. This is one of the coolest things to do in Florida, as it is full of adventure and iconic stops!

With its vibrant, hole-in-the-wall bars, historical haunts, shops, and galleries there is not a dull moment on this street! Exploring here is one of the things to do in Florida at night.

You can embark on bar crawls here, run with the bulls, go on a ghost tour, visit Hemingway’s house (which features 6-toed cats!), and eat famous Key lime pie all while enjoying the sun and nearby Key West beaches !

Book Here: Key West: 2.5-Hour Duval Street Pub Crawl

Where To Stay Near Duval Street! The Casablanca Hotel : Check Rates on Booking.com

Legoland is another theme park in Florida that you can add to your Florida bucket list! This theme park is known for being family-friendly, as it focuses on the construction of Lego toys.

Here at Legoland, everything is designed to be like a Lego! The rides look like blocks and pieces, and the park is filled with displays of the famous bricks.

This is one of the best things to do in Florida for adults and kids alike! Everyone will have great childhood fun.

Better yet? There is an awesome hotel you can stay at to really immerse yourself with the brand! Staying here feels like you have shrunk down and are now a little Lego too! Just don’t step on any!

Where To Stay Near Legoland! LEGOLAND Florida Resort: Check Rates on Booking.com

Naples Botanical Garden

Of course, I am adding more botanical gardens to your best things to do in Florida itinerary! Florida has so many of them, and they’re beautiful– especially the Naples Botanical Garden!

Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre paradise and one of the best things to do in Naples .

Stepping in here, you can see plants from all around the world with beautiful horticultural design and attention to sustainability!

Today, the garden welcomes over 220,000 guests per year to experience the education centers, shops, halls, themed gardens, and flora that continue to grow.

The is one of the prettiest places to visit in Florida !

Where To Stay Near Naples Botanical Garden! Inn at Pelican Bay : Check Rates on Booking.com

The Dali Museum

The Dali Museum is one of the most unique things to do in Florida, and probably because Dali himself was so unique!

This museum houses the largest collection of Salvador Dali’s work outside of Europe. Set on a waterfront setting, the architecture and exhibits of this museum call people to St. Pete for this gorgeous experience.

Make sure to also check out the Avant garden for a sense of tranquility and do not miss out on the building itself– the cafe is also cute, and the gift shop has so many unique souvenirs!

This is a great activity in one of the best beach towns in Florida .

Where To Stay Near The Dali Museum! Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront : Check Rates on Booking.com

Wynwood Walls

The Wynwood Walls in Miami are some of the best things to do in Florida! This unique outdoor destination features HUGE street murals from artists across the globe.

The walls are now considered a museum as they feature some of the greatest artists that have worked in graffiti and street art. People come from all over to experience this art.

You can take official tours here or just navigate the murals by yourself! You can also stop by the Kitchen and Bar to support locals!

Where To Stay Near Wynwood Walls! Sentral Wynwood: Check Rates on Booking.com

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a 1.5 mullion acre preserve that features wetlands on the southern tip of Florida ! This is one of the must-do Florida activities!

Made up of coastal mangroves, marshes, flat woods, and a variety of animal species, this is a fantastic thing to do in Florida, as you can drive through the Everglades or take a boat out to enjoy the natural beauty.

Don’t forget to book an Everglades airboat tour !

Lots of Florida hiking trails also help you navigate this beautiful park, and if you’re lucky, you can see some endangered Florida animals such as the Florida Panther and West Indian manatee!

It is one of the best places to see alligators in Florida .

This is a great place to stop on your Florida bucket list.

Book Here: Everglades National Park: Airboat Tour and Wildlife Show

Where To Stay Near Everglades National Park! Hampton Inn & Suites Homestead Miami South : Check Rates on Booking.com

Busch Gardens

Busch Gardens is a great addition to your Florida bucket list as it is a perfect combination of a zoo and theme park! This is one of the best things to do in Florida with kids!

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is an African-themed theme park that is over 335 acres and features a variety of animals such as hippos, elephants, otters, and more. You can even see some surgeries take place in the watch center of the animal hospital!

Aside from the animals, there are also shows and SO many thrill rides. Known for its high-speed coasters, you will love the adventure this park brings! It is easily one of the most fun places in Florida!

You will not want to pass up on one of the best things to do in Tampa !

Where To Stay Near Busch Gardens! Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Tampa Busch Gardens Area : Check Rates on Booking.com

Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A.

I’ve already talked about some things to do in Florida in regard to Key West, but I am adding more to your Florida bucket list because there is so much to do here!

In particular, make sure to check out the Southernmost Point of the Continental United States. This is the lowest latitude in the North American States and is anchored by a concrete buoy.

Eighteen feet above sea level, this is a popular destination and tourist attraction off of Whitehead Street. It is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in Florida!

This is one of the top things to do in Key West !

Where To Stay In Key West! The Capitana Key West : Check Rates on Booking.com

Anna Maria Island

I am adding another beach to your list of best things to do in Florida! Anna Maria Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf Coast offering many Florida vacation activities.

It is well known for its broad, family-friendly beaches , such as Manatee Beach Park, and its small city is like a resort, lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants on Anna Maria Island .

With a wooden pier and cute markets, lots of tourists love to explore the area that sells food, art, and jewelry in between their time on the sand and in the water!

Where To Stay In Anna Maria Island! Sunrise Garden Resort : Check Rates on Booking.com

Venetian Pool

The Venetian Pool is another cool thing to do in Florida. It is a historical swimming pool located in Coral Gables and was completed in 1924!

Created across 4-acres, the pool has gone through several phases over the years, and has become a National Historical Place.

Occupying over 820,000 gallons of fresh water from artesian wells, this is the largest freshwater pool in the United States. It varies in depth (4 feet from 8 feet), features a waterfall, and has a kiddy pool, bridges, grottos, cafes, and sandy areas!

If you are looking for relaxing Florida vacation things to do, this is it!

Where To Stay In Coral Gables! Hotel St. Michel : Check Rates on Booking.com

Manatee Springs

Manatee Springs State Park is one of the few Florida state parks that have a spring (Manatee Spring) flowing directly into the Suwannee River, one of the best Florida rivers .

This spring features boardwalks beneath cypress forests and in the cooler months, you can spot manatees in some of the clearest water in Florida .

One of the best activities in Florida is kayaking with manatees . Other birds, mammals, and fish are spotted year-round.

From camping to tubing in Florida to walking the 32-mile Nature Coast State Trail, this park is full of adventurous things to do and explore, so therefore it is one of the most fun things to do in Florida!

Overall, this is one of the best state parks in Florida ! If you want to see manatees in Florida , add this to your bucket list.

Where To Stay Near Manatee Springs! Quality Inn near Manatee Springs State Park : Check Rates on Booking.com

Weeki Wachee: City of Live Mermaids

The 12,000-acre Weeki-Wachee preserve is one of the most unique things in Florida because they have mermaids! Yes, live mermaids! This is what to see in Florida!

The Weeki Wachee Springs Park is one of the most commonly visited areas in Florida, as the springs feature cool, clear waters, slides, diving platforms, areas to sit and eat, and more.

It is one of the best swimming holes in Florida !

Better yet, though, this city is known for its legend of mermaids: every day there is a live mermaid show, but if you’re not feeling the fictional wildlife, you can go down the springs and onto the river to kayak and see more wildlife.

This is one of the best springs near Tampa for a relaxing day trip from the city.

Where To Stay Near Weeki Wachee! Lydia’s Retreat : Check Rates on Booking.com

Cassadaga is one of those things in Florida that is so strange but so wonderful. This small town in Voluisa County, Florida, is known for its psychics and mediums.

Known as the “Psychic Capital of the World,” many travel far and wide just to experience the vibe and spiritualness of this area. The streets and small homes are quaint but provide a specific energy.

Between its medium, psychics, healers, haunted hotels, and healing energy, this city is really a village that feels a world away from everything else.

I recommend stopping by for a tour and a reading!

Where To Stay Near Cassadaga ! The Ann Stevens House : Check Rates on Booking.com

Miami Marine Stadium

Located in Virginia Key, Miami, the Miami Marine Stadium was once one of the best things to do in Florida. Even though it hasn’t been used in years, it is still a unique stop on your Florida bucket list!

Once used to host water sports and famous for its scenic views of Downtown Miami, this stadium is now abandoned. However, it is still worth a stop!

Today the entire concrete stadium still stands tall, slanting down toward the water with a folded plate roof, and every inch of it is covered in graffiti. There are claims for it to be haunted as a speed boat driver was killed on opening day, but you might just have to check it out for yourself when stopping to explore and take photos!

If you are looking for unique things to do in Miami , this is it!

Where To Stay Near Miami Marine Stadium! Novotel Miami Brickell : Check Rates on Booking.com

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Previously known as Villa Vizcaya, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the former villa and estate of James Deering and was built in 1916. This is one of the best activities in Florida for both history and architecture lovers.

This National Historic Landmark is an experience and therefore I am adding it to your things to do in Florida itinerary as it is a unique cultural gem and one of the best museums in Florida .

This Gilded Age estate on Biscayne Bay is surrounded by 10 acres of gardens, mangroves, and rocky lands. During your tours here you can do a food lab, discover what is in bloom near the Fountain Garden, and explore the estate’s stunning architecture.

Come walk the grounds here and enjoy one of the most romantic things to do in Florida.

Where To Stay Near Vizcaya Museum and Gardens! Hilton Garden Inn Miami Brickell South : Check Rates on Booking.com

Florida’s Volkswagen Graveyard

One of the most unique things to do in Florida includes going to Florida’s Volkswagen graveyard. Although this isn’t an expected stop on any Florida bucket list, it is strange and fun!

Referred to as the “Disney World for Volkswagen enthusiasts,” this junkyard features vintage VWs and you can wander through a field of aging VWs, parts, and more.

With over 300,000 cars here, this graveyard is unique, cool for photo ops, and perfect for any car enthusiast!

The graveyard is found near Dade City.

Where To Stay Near The Volkswagen Graveyard! Hampton Inn Dade City – Zephyr Hills : Check Rates on Booking.com

Juniper Springs

Juniper Springs is another of the best springs in Florida and is perfect for a day of relaxation.

Found in the Ocala National Forest, this is the place to go for swimming, kayaking, and hiking. It is also a great place for wildlife viewing, including otters, American eels, and even albino gray squirrels.

The beautiful blue water is super clear making it ideal for snorkeling. With a year-round temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit, it is refreshing in the heat of a Florida summer.

You can also camp at this spring . The dense canopy provides plenty of shade, picnic tables, and restrooms. This is considered one of the best places for camping in Florida .

Where To Stay Near Juniper Springs!

Big River Marina & Lodge: Check Rates on Booking.com

Bahia Honda State Park

As one of the best state parks in the Florida Keys , Bahia Honda State Park is truly a slice of paradise!

There are three beaches in Bahia Honda , both with beautiful, clear water. This is one of the best places in Florida to scuba dive .

You can also have fun swimming, kayaking , playing in the best white sand of Florida , or relaxing in the shade of a swaying palm tree. Make sure to walk the trail up to the Old Bahia Honda Bridge too so you can find amazing views of the beaches and ocean.

If you chose to camp in the Keys , you will be rewarded with gorgeous stars overhead. Since this Florida Keys island is so remote, the sky is dark, making it one of the best places for stargazing in Florida . There are even stargazing programs led here so you can learn more about the night sky.

Make sure to check out some of my other favorite things to do in the Lower Keys in addition to Bahia Honda!

Where To Stay Near Bahia Honda!

Blackfin Resort and Marina: Check Rates on Booking.com

Crab Island

You’ll find Crab Island off the shore of Destin on the panhandle. This huge sandbar is a great place to anchor your boat and enjoy some classic Florida vibes.

The calm water makes it perfect for swimming, and you can even order some food at one of the floating restaurants. Grab a drink and float on a raft as you soak up the sun.

You can also play water volleyball, jump on water trampolines, or play on water slides. Ley your inner child out! This is a family-friendly attraction too, so bring the kids!

To get here, you can charter a boat, ride the Crab Island Shuttle Boat, or kayak. This is easily one of the best things to do in Destin .

Where To Stay in Destin!

Hampton Inn & Suites Destin: Check Rates on Booking.com

Ocala National Forest

One of the best things to do in Ocala is visiting the national forest. At 383,000 acres, this is the largest sand pine scrub forest in the country.

There is so much to see and do in Ocala National Forest , making it one of the cool places to go in Florida for nature. You’ll enjoy springs, rivers, lakes, and amazing hiking trails.

This forest is also a great place to spot wildlife such as black bears, alligators, deer, and tortoises. Make sure to bring your camera for amazing nature shots!

After hiking or biking, cool off by swimming in one of the beautiful springs in Ocala .

Where To Stay in Ocala! Equus Inn : Check Rates on Booking.com

Silver Springs State Park

Silver Springs State Park is on the edge of Ocala National Park so you can easily visit both of these fun places in Florida on the same day.

Found on the Silver River, this park has a history dating back to the 1870s. Like many tourists before you, come and enjoy the clear water and scenic nature.

One of the top things to do here is taking a glass-bottom boat tour. You will love the unobstructed view of aquatic life.

Other Silver Springs activities include kayaking, canoeing, hiking, camping, and spotting wild monkeys. Keep in mind, though, that swimming is not allowed.

Where To Stay Near Silver Springs State Park! Holiday Inn Express Silver Springs: Check Rates on Booking.com

Looking for small towns to explore near Orlando? You will love all the fun things to do in Mount Dora .

Set on Lake Dora, this is a quaint town full of shops, restaurants, museums, and historic buildings. The town also hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year.

You will have a great time relaxing at the lake or enjoying views from the water as you kayak. Keep an eye out for bald eagles, turtles, and alligators. Fishing is also popular.

Whether you are golfing, shopping, or taking a seaplane tour, you will have a memorable time in Mount Dora!

Where To Stay in Mount Dora! Hampton Inn Mount Dora : Check Rates on Booking.com

What is the Most Visited Destination in Florida?

Orlando is one of the top vacation destinations not only in Florida but in the whole country! People from all over the world travel here to enjoy the best things to do in Orlando .

This Florida city is home to top theme parks such as Disney World, Universal Studios, and Legoland. These are some of the most fun things to do in Orlando with kids !

Even if theme parks are not your scene, there are great museums, world-class dining, rooftop bars, relaxing spas, sporting events, and more.

Because Orlando is centrally located, nature is not far away too. There are many nearby springs, rivers, and hikes.

Orlando is popular because of of all the Florida must-see attractions!

What is the Least Touristy Part of Florida?

The Sunshine State might be a tourist hot spot, but there are plenty of hidden gems in Florida where you can avoid the crowds.

Head away from the major cities and enjoy quiet time in some of the cute small towns in Florida .

North Florida is usually less touristy as well, but still with lots to do. Check out the best things to do in Gainesville or take a trip to the pretty Amelia Island .

Overall, Florida is a big state with many undeveloped areas where you can stay away from the main crowds.

And there you have it: a Florida bucket list that is full of stops that are perfect for any tourist or resident alike.

From unique places to highly anticipated beaches or theme parks and all the natural beauty in between, Florida is not a dull state.

You can spend forever exploring all Florida has to offer, but these 36 stops are where I recommend starting!

And if you’re worried about what to pack on these adventures, check out my Florida packing list , or even my Florida road trip itinerary to help with this bucket list!

Go on and explore the Sunshine State, I promise you won’t be disappointed with the best things to do in FL!

Did You Find This Post Helpful?

If so, we would love to keep in touch! We enjoy seeing photos and comments about your experiences in Florida! You can follow us on Instagram and we will repost your photos on our feed and comment too! Just tag us at @floridatrippers and hashtag #floridatrippers. We can’t wait to see your travels!

Dust off your suitcases and get ready: 10 destinations to visit with the kids in 2023

Family travel has rebounded in a big way over the past year and expectations are high that it will bounce back to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. With fears of COVID-19 transmission easing, families are more ready than ever to explore popular family vacation spots like New York and Orlando, Florida, while more moderately sized cities like Portland, Maine, and Pittsburgh are also having a moment. 

Fresh-air diversions continue to be among the best places to go with kids, too, making rural regions from Mendocino in California to the Berkshires in Massachusetts appealing. And thanks to a strong U.S. dollar and the lifting of coronavirus testing requirements, many of the most popular family vacation spots in Europe are an enticing proposition as well. 

Continuing to balance health and safety precautions with a desire to maximize family vacation opportunities, the best places to go with kids in 2023 include all-inclusive resorts , family beach destinations , national parks and – as always – the country's top theme parks . So, dust off your suitcases and get ready: Here are the top destinations to visit with the kids in 2023: 

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1. New York

The Big Apple‘s attractions spell nonstop family fun year-round. Simply gazing at the city’s towering skyscrapers is a thrill and for many kids, the excitement of seeing a live Broadway show is a once-in-a-lifetime thrill. The TKTS ticket booth sells same-day tickets to select shows at a discount of up to 50%.

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The American Museum of Natural History ’s planetarium and collection of dinosaur fossils should win over even self-proclaimed museum haters, while Central Park’s zoo antique carousel and lakes attract families like a magnet by offering a quiet respite from urban energy. 

Stay at Thompson Central Park , which has modern guest rooms plus an in-house restaurant called Burger Joint that serves up one of the best burgers in the city at a surprisingly reasonable price. 

2. Lake Como, Italy

Italy has always been one of the best places to go with kids and idyllic Lake Como is the cherry on top. With public ferries that are a perfect perch for sightseeing and sleek yachts owned by Hollywood celebs that will wow even jaded teens, the lake is the sparkling centerpiece of this slice of Italian paradise. 

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The lovely lakeside promenade is even stroller-friendly for families vacationing with toddlers and gelato shops around every corner keep the whole family refreshed. Ride the funicular up the steep mountainside and in seven minutes you’ll arrive in Brunate, a frozen-in-time hilltop village with views of the lake and the nearby Alps. 

Splurge on this European getaway with a stay at Vista Palazzo Lago di Como , where everyone in the family can enjoy the perks of full butler service.

3. Mendocino, California

With majestic redwoods and rugged cliffs overlooking the windswept Pacific, Mendocino County is an immersion in nature. Hike the fern-filled forest at Van Damme State Park , spot seals as you paddle an outrigger canoe in the Big River Estuary and pedal a two-person railbike surrounded by towering trees. 

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Satiate your hunger at Frankie’s , where pizza is adorned with adventurous toppings and ice cream sundaes are a frosty fantasy. Top off your visit at Little River Inn , which has tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, rooms with ocean views and breakfast featuring Swedish hotcakes.

4. Pittsburgh

Once known for steel and coal, Pittsburgh has traded industry for cultural institutions that are heavy on family appeal and light on pretensions. For a sky-high perspective of Pittsburgh’s three rivers, ride the Duquesne Incline ’s wooden cable cars, which is a great way for kids to take in the city before exploring its many charms.

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Sports fans will appreciate Pittsburgh’s legendary passion for sports at the Senator John Heinz History Center’s Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum , while the Carnegie Science Center 's interactive exhibits are a paradise for curious minds. And kids of all ages will find something to enjoy at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh , where cutting-edge experiences in art and technology always offer something fun to do. 

For spacious rooms and grand public spaces, stay at Omni William Penn Hotel .

5. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

On Vancouver Island, Victoria blends old-world charm with Western Canada cool. The showery climate is a springboard for lush blooms that grace postcard-pretty parks and gardens. 

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At Butchart Gardens , families with little ones can meander stroller-friendly paths and soak in the floral splendor. Bucolic Beacon Hill Park has a petting zoo and totem poles dispersed among ponds, lakes and streams. Or enjoy aquatic serenity on a whale-watching cruise departing from the Inner Harbour before you head indoors to explore Canada’s First Nations People at the Royal BC Museum . 

Stay near the Inner Harbour at the boutique and family-friendly Magnolia Hotel and Spa .

6. Portland, Maine

Breathe salty air and see seagulls strut in Portland, a small Maine city that’s tethered to the sea. Kids will love watching the lobster boats dock in the harbor before catching a ferry to one of the timeless Casco Bay islands . 

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Sample local seafood at Luke’s Lobster , where clam chowder is heavenly and lobster rolls are luscious and visit the aquarium at the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine to see turtles, sunfish, frogs and other marine species up close. 

Stay at Cambria Hotel Portland Downtown Old Port  within walking distance from waterside attractions. 

With more than 140 languages spoken, Houston is one of the best places to go with kids while celebrating the nation’s diversity of cultures and experiences. At Smither Park , a medley of mosaics adds up to a vibrant outdoor gallery. Artists work on this evolving project on Saturdays, providing an opportunity to observe the creative process. 

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Head to Rice University to experience James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyspace . Enter the spaceship-like structure and enjoy an ever-changing play of light and psychedelic vibes. And for the granddaddy of interactive experiences, try on a spacesuit and helmet as you explore the workings of mission control at Space Center Houston . 

Stay at Hotel Zaza in the heart of Houston’s Museum District. Zaza’s over-the-top cattle horn accents add a Texas twist. 

8. Williamstown, Massachusetts

A patchwork of cute hamlets nestled among rolling hills and mountains, The Berkshires is a fabulous place to go with kids for a classic New England vacation any time of year. Consider Williamstown, a sweet little village that’s infused with youthful energy courtesy of Williams College. 

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Here you can browse mom-and-pop bookstores, eat ice cream at Lickety Split and enjoy the Clark Art Institute ’s rich family programming and world-class collection of Impressionist art. The Clark’s acres of meadows and walking trails are home to a friendly herd of pastured cows, an unexpected delight. 

The upscale Williams Inn has family-friendly perks like outdoor fire pits and delectable dining.

Beach fun and Caribbean culture meet in Curacao , an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands that embraces its multicultural identity. Gorgeous beaches like Grote Knip have soft sand, gentle waves just right for little swimmers and water that’s as blue as a sapphire.

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Willemstad, the cosmopolitan capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, charms with candy-colored buildings and vibrant street art. Go hands-on and paint your own Chichi doll, one of Curacao’s most recognizable crafts. Stay at Avila Beach Hotel, which has a protected beach and an infinity pool that are pure tropical fantasy.

The city of London is one of the most kid-friendly cities in the world and an especially great place for family vacations with teenagers . Enjoy a birds-eye view of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament from the London Eye, the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel. If your kids are Potterheads, don’t miss the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter , where the whole family can explore the Wizarding World at the studio where the eight films were produced. 

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There are parks and playgrounds galore in London, too. At the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground , the massive Captain Hook’s wooden pirate ship and collection of teepees should get everyone’s imagination spinning. 

Stay at The Dilly , which has a children’s library, large indoor pool and a Peter Rabbit-themed tea you won’t want to miss. 

The best places to visit with kids in 2023 originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com .

More from FamilyVacationist:

• 9 best hotels near Disneyland for families on a budget
• 11 best Amtrak vacations and scenic train rides in North America
• 16 best flight booking sites for cheap airfares

FamilyVacationist.com covers family vacation ideas ; family vacation spots ; all-inclusive family resorts ; and must-have travel accessories for families of all shapes, sizes and orientations. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

After Dark: 14 Fun Things To Do In Honolulu At Night

• Honolulu offers a vibrant nightlife with live music venues like Blue Note Hawaii and Jazz Minds Honolulu.
• Experience the beauty of Honolulu at night by going on sunset hikes or moon walks in places like Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail and Waimea Valley.
• Enjoy unique nighttime activities like nocturnal reef exploration at Waikiki Aquarium or take a guided ghost tour to learn about the haunted history of Honolulu.

One of the most populous cities in America, Honolulu is full of experiences ; it boasts bounties of natural and manmade treasures, along with many war memorials, such as the USS Arizona Memorial and the Lolani Palace, as well as the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. In fact, the fascinating history and culture of Hawaii can be witnessed by taking a stroll to Lolani Palace, where the Hawaiian monarch once lived.

Aside from this, Honolulu is a vibrant and energetic city that is also known for its food scene. Many international dishes are given a local twist here, such as the Hawaiian pizza (love or hate the pineapple on pizza!). However, a lot of Honolulu's focus is all about activities during daylight hours, from museum and memorial visits to enjoying stunning beaches and in-water adventures.

Those willing to explore after dark will find the city never sleeps; there's always something going on, and many happenings can be even more fun once the sun sets. For nightbirds, here are some of the many fun things to do in Honolulu at night, from attending authentic Luaus to checking out the city's superb bars, and much more.

UPDATE: 2023/11/30 21:05 EST BY REENA JAIN

More Nighttime Activities In Honolulu!

Nighttime activities are plenty in Honolulu. So, we have added four more things to do at night in Honolulu, each of which can make the vacation after dark exciting and unforgettable.

Related: Next Time You're On Big Island, Explore Hawaii's Only desert, Kaʻū Desert

Enjoy Live Performances At Night

Catch live music, from nightclubs to jazz bars, at the many venues in honolulu.

Enjoying live music is another of the best things to do in Honolulu at night, filling a trip with after-hours memories. There are many exciting locations in Honolulu where people can listen to live music from local bands as well as international artists and have a fun night out.

Blue Note Hawaii is one of the top places in Waikiki for a perfect night out, and Jazz Minds Honolulu is a must-visit for jazz fans.

• Most Popular Live Music Venues in Honolulu: Blue Note Hawaii , The Republik , Hawaiian Brian's , Anna O'Brien's , Downbeat Lounge

Go Sunset Hiking

Enjoy sunset hikes in honolulu, like the makapu’u point lighthouse trail.

Honolulu at night is impressive, and what could be a better way to witness its grandeur than sunset hikes?

The Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail is one of the best places in Honolulu for sunsets as well as a great hiking experience at dawn. There are plenty of other beautiful sunset hikes in Honolulu, too, from the Diamond Head Summit Trail to the Koko Head Crater Trail and many more.

• More Popular Trails For Sunset Hiking in Honolulu: Diamond Head Summit Trail, Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail, Tantalus Lookout, Manoa Falls Trail, Koko Head Crater Trail

Go On A Moon Walk In Waimea Valley

See the waimea valley under the magical moonlight after dark.

A few hours' drive from Honolulu is the beautiful Waimea Valley, which hosts "moon walks" from May to October. The roaring waterfall and the verdant surroundings for which this valley is renowned look gorgeous under the moonlight.

This walk starts at 8:30 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. Visitors can even enjoy dinner at the onsite cafe or concession before the walk begins. Visitors enter the valley in a group of 50 people and are escorted by Waimea Valley staff, who also give them a safety and precautions briefing.

• Location: 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
• When: May to October from 8:30 pm
• Cost: Tickets cost $10.00 per person over 4 years of age

Experience Nocturnal Reef Exploration At Waikiki Aquarium

On select nights, this aquarium offers exclusive nighttime experiences.

On select nights throughout the year, the Waikiki Aquarium offers nocturnal reef exploration, giving guests a chance to see marine life up close. After dusk, guests will venture outside with aquarium personnel to search for marine life, like octopuses, lobsters, and crabs in the water.

Occasionally, the aquarium also offers nighttime tours of its exhibits, which enables visitors to see the fascinating and unique behavior of certain species once the lights go out. The aquarium also holds a lot of other unique evening events all year, so there might be things that visitors can do while they're in Honolulu. This is easily one of the best things to do in Honolulu at night with kids if it's available at the time!

• Location: 2777 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
• Cost: General admission to the aquarium is $12, but tickets for special nighttime experiences may vary

Visitors can check the aquarium's events calendar on its website or call the staff in advance to find out if there are any nocturnal activities scheduled.

Related: Top 10 Free Things To Do In Honolulu, Hawaii

Attend A Luau In Honolulu

A luau is an authentic hawaiian celebration with hula dancing, entertainment, music, and feasting.

Luaus are especially incredible in Maui , but Oahu and the capital of Hawaii also offer their own. Truly, a trip to Honolulu is not complete without experiencing a Luau. The Luau is a Hawaiian feast with a lot of food and entertainment. Luaus are lined up in every neighborhood of Honolulu.

The hula performances tell the islands’ history, while live music, fire dancing, and delicious local food keep the party going. Many hotels, attractions, and parks host a Hawaiian Luau, so it will not be the hardest thing to find one. Evening Luaus can sometimes go for $100 per person, but as one of the best experiences in Oahu at night, it's worth every cent.

• Most popular Honolulu Luau: Aha Aina - A Royal Hawaiian Luau , Diamond Head Luau

Take A Honolulu Zoo Twilight Tour

Witness the animals' unique nighttime rituals and behavior on this guided tour.

Zoos usually close before evening, and most people don't get to see the life inside after dark. However, Honolulu Zoo offers guided twilight tours in the evening! It is an exciting activity since one gets to see the bedtime ritual of some animals, and some wake up at that time.

The guided tour lasts 2 hours and is the perfect after-dinner activity for families. The tour also includes light refreshments. Another activity at the zoo is stargazing, which lets visitors witness the beauty of the night. However, this is a seasonal activity that only occurs in the summer.

• Location: 151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
• Twilight Tour Hours: Every Saturday from 4:30pm until 6:30pm (September – March) and 5:30pm until 7:30pm (April – August)
• Cost: Adults: $30; Children (12 and under): $25; Children 2 and under are FREE

Discover The Underwater World On A Honolulu Night Dive

Go scuba diving in honolulu at night and experience active marine life in the dark.

Scuba diving (anywhere around the world) mostly happens in broad daylight; however, night diving is a bucket list experience because it allows divers to witness the marine world at a unique time. Many species "wake up" at night and become extremely active, exhibiting behaviors that they wouldn't normally engage in during the daytime. Night diving in Honolulu is no different; although, most diving happens during daytime hours, nighttime diving is also popular among scuba fans.

The top dive sites in Honolulu and Ohau in general include the Sea Tiger Shipwreck, YO-257 Shipwreck, and the Corsair plane wreck. The Sea Tiger is the deepest recreational wreck that was sunk by Voyager Submarines. The YO-257 Ship was a navy refueling ship that was decommissioned and later bought by Voyager Submarines to sink it in the ocean for marine life habitat.

On a training exercise from Pearl Harbor in 1948, the Corsair plane developed a malfunction and was emergency landed into the sea, where it sank and now has become one of the most iconic wreck dive sites in the world.

• Tour: Certified Diver: 2-Tank Night Dive
• Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
• Cost: From $106.63 per person

Prices can vary between $100-200

Have A Picnic On Waikiki Beach

Grab some food and friends and have fun at night on the sands of waikiki.

A picnic is always thought of as a midday affair, but hey, who said it could not be turned into a lively, musical night at the beach with friends and food? Waikiki Beach is a manmade beach that breathes into life after the evening. Supplies for the picnic can be bought from the nearby grocery shops.

The beach is surrounded by a variety of restaurants and cafés, so visitors can order food from many of these spots. The night ocean breeze, coupled with the starry night, can also be turned into a romantic date night, and everyone knows that there is no place as romantic as Hawaii.

• Location: 424 Nahua St, Honolulu, HI 96815

Related: How Expensive Is Honolulu? Here's A Budget Breakdown

Watch The Fireworks At Hilton Hawaiian Village

Every friday night, hilton hawaiian village launches a fireworks spectacle.

It has become a Friday night ritual of the Hilton Hawaiian Village to host fireworks . The spectacular fireworks show can be seen from lots of spots, but the prime choice of seating is easily Waikiki Beach. However, Hilton organizes special screenings at its gorgeous pool area for guests.

The fireworks show is in sync with the music, too. As the sun sets, the sky is turned into a spectacular display of color and light. The sound of water washing up on the beach, paired with the crackles of fireworks, is the perfect end to a day in Honolulu.

• Location: 2005 Kalia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815
• When: Every Friday
• Hours: Begins at 7:45 p.m

Eat At The Eat The Street Festival

Eat the evening away at this huge signature food truck festival.

This is a festival for foodies in the heart of Honolulu. The Eat The Street Festival is held at the end of every month on the last Friday. With more than 40 of Hawaii's favorite food truck vendors and 7000 attendees, this event is a great hit with tourists and locals alike, where attendees can sample tons of the best foods in Honolulu .

The festival is held at Kaka’ako Park on the last Friday of every month. From brisket tacos to sea salt caramel tacos, everything is available here. Child-friendly activities are also available such as face painting, water balloon throwing, and water slides. Dance to the beat of DJ-spun music while enjoying with friends and family.

• Location: Kaka’ako at 555 South St (right behind Restaurant Row), Honolulu, Hawaii
• When: The last Friday of each month, from 4:00 PM to 9 PM

Enjoy A Pint At The Maui Brewing Company

A tall pint of beer is the perfect end to a night. To enjoy a similar end to an awesome day, head over to the Maui Brewing Company (which has a location in both Maui and another branch in Waikiki, Honolulu ) and grab a mug of home-brewed beer. Visitors can take advantage of a VIP tour that includes an up-close look at the beer cellar, packaging line, brewhouse, and a free beer tasting.

Moreover, guests can enjoy various foods during their visit, including pizza, BBQ, and fish and chips. Visiting a brewery or wine-tasting garden is always an exquisite experience, and one should not miss this opportunity when in Hawaii.

• Location: 2300 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Hop On A Scenic Sunset Cruise

See the city's stunning skyline after dark on a honolulu sunset cruise.

Another one of the best activities in Honolulu at night is a spectacular sunset cruise, which takes visitors along the beautiful coastline, past the iconic Diamond Head State Monument, and the stunning high-rise hotels that line Waikiki Beach.

• Tour: Private Sunset Boat Cruise in Waikiki, Honolulu
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours (approx.)
• Cost: From $248.00 per person

Go On A Guided Ghost Tour

Learn the dark history and haunted secrets on this guided night tour in honolulu.

A haunted ghost and dark history walking tour in Honolulu is the ultimate nighttime adventure, but it's not for the faint-hearted. If tourists are scared by horror movies or games, then they should brace themselves for a night that they’ll never forget.

The tour is offered by Mysteries of Hawaii, the longest-running native Hawaiian-owned tour operator. A knowledgeable guide is also provided.. Meet up with the guide in front of the Kamehameha Statue and tear through the most haunted places in downtown Honolulu. At each stop, one will learn an even creepier tale than the last one. Seasonal ghost hunter or just a curious traveler, the Honolulu ghost tour is surely an unforgettable experience after dark.

• Tour: Ghosts of Old Honolulu Walking Tour
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
• Cost: From $28.00 per person

For those driving in to start this tour, car parking is free at S. King and Punchbowl Streets after 6 pm.

Take On A Honolulu Pub Crawl (21+ Only!)

Explore the bars and pubs in honolulu after dark, one after the other.

A pub tour is surely an unusual word, but it is a thing in Honolulu, and visitors can book it. A fun way to experience Honolulu's nightlife is to go to the many pubs, bars, and taverns, one after the other on an epic pub crawl. Making new friends is another side product of visiting so many bars! However, be sure to drink responsibly.

The different pubs and taverns offer a plethora of drinks, wines, and beers. Some tours also include a visit to a brewery or distillery so that visitors can see the actual behind-the-scenes making of various local favorite alcoholic beverages.

• Popular Pubs in Honolulu for Pub Crawls and Tours: The Brewseum , Mai Tai Bar , Arnold's Beach Bar & Grill , Smith & Kings , Murphy's Bar & Grill Irish Pub

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E-newsletter, view our free, travel guide, five rides in bentonville that aren't mountain bike rides.

You might have heard Bentonville referred to as “the mountain biking capital of the world,” and while the city’s mountain biking and cycling amenities are top-notch, our city was also dubbed “a new capital of cool” by The Wall Street Journal in 2023. We’ve created this guide to help you experience all the cool sights and things to do in Bentonville by bike. The rides below range from beginner to experienced and could take anywhere from a half to a full day. We recommend a day per ride so you can be sure to enjoy all the stops along the way.

Take a Coffee Tour RideWithGPS Route

Visit the Kittens at Best Friends Northwest Arkansas RideWithGPS Route

Go for a swim at the Bentonville Community Center RideWithGPS Route

A Day of Fun at Osage Park (Cafe Louise, Lake Bentonville, Food court, pickleball, archery) Bird Watching, and Food Trucks! RideWithGPS Route

Museum Tour - Crystal Bridges, Amazeum & The Momentary RideWithGPS Route

Heroes Coffee

Third Space Coffee

Onyx Coffee Lab at the Momentary

Tour de bentonville coffee shops.

Bentonville is home to many amazing coffee shops—why not take a leisurely ride and explore them all? This ride starts and ends in the Bentonville Square, utilizing low traffic streets, bike paths, and bike lanes as much as possible. Every coffee shop featured has bike parking and welcomes cyclists.

Total Distance: 9.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 450 ft

Difficulty level:  Green

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46430560

Best Friends Pet Resource Center

Visit the kittens at best friends northwest arkansas .

Did you know that Bentonville has a community pet resource center where you can play with adoptable cats and dogs, learn more about fostering, give your own dog a bath, and enjoy a vegan, gluten-free coffee shop? Best Friends Pet Resource Center opened in April 2023 and has quickly become a favorite community hub. 

This ride, starting and ending in the Bentonville Square, uses low traffic roads and our new protected bike lane on 8th Street. Best Friends Pet Resource Center has lots of bike parking and welcomes visitors of all ages. This is a perfect family-friendly ride.

Total Distance: 3.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 68 feet

Difficulty Level:  Green

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46161726

Bentonville Community Center

Go for a swim at the bentonville community center.

T he Bentonville Community Center is a hub of activity for the whole family, with basketball courts, dance studios, soccer fields, and two indoor pools, complete with multiple slides, a lazy river, and kids water park area. Day passes are $7 per person, with options for annual passes for residents. The community center offers great family changing rooms as well. Be sure to bring your own toiletries and dry clothes to change into for after your swim!

P ack up your swimsuit and towel for this ride, which starts and ends at the Bentonville Square. This ride uses sidepath bike lanes on 8th Street and I Street, so while it's not the lowest traffic route, cyclists are separated from cars for nearly the entire route. Use caution when crossing 14th, 28th, and I Street (all are marked crosswalks with traffic controls.)

Total Distance: 7.7 Miles

Elevation Gain: 24 feet

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46161759

Oh Snap! Ice Cream in Osage Park

Osage Park Trails

Osage Park Neon

A day of fun at osage park.

Osage Park is an incredible 12-acre urban watershed just outside of Downtown Bentonville. With Lake Bentonville feeding a natural, preserved watershed you’re sure to encounter amazing bird watching and you might even see a beaver or turtle! The park also features The Quiver, a public archery range, eight pickleball courts (first come, first serve), a dog park, a playground, and a food truck plaza! Lake Bentonville is frequently stocked with fish, making it a popular fishing spot. Be sure to keep your eyes on the sky, as small planes are frequently landing and taking off at nearby Thaden Field.

This route starts and ends at the Bentonville Square, using low traffic roads and bike specific side paths. Use caution when crossing 14th Street and Walton, both of which are major streets but have signed, controlled crossing locations. 

Total Distance: 5.1 Miles

Total Elevation: 87 feet

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46430937

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Museum of Native American History

The Momentary

Bentonville museum tour.

Bentonville has a wealth of world-class museums, including Crystal Bridges, the Museum of Native American History, The Walmart Museum, The Amazeum and the Momentary. This ride visits each of these unique locations in a loop that starts and ends at the Bentonville Square. 

Use caution when riding the Walton sidewalk to the Museum of Native American History. We also recommend riding on the sidewalk on 2nd Street to access the Museum of Native American History.

Total Distance: 7.9 miles

Elevation Gain: 379 ft

Difficulty:  Green-Blue 

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46431167

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57 Mother's Day activities that celebrate Mom

There are a lot of holidays throughout the year, but there's only one Mother's Day.

Landing on Sunday, May 12 this year, don't forget to let that all-important woman in your life know just how much she means to you and how thankful you are for all she does.

From lending an ear when you need someone to listen to doling out that one-of-a-kind mom advice, it’s Mom that seems to always know just the right thing to say and do.

To celebrate her in style, we've gathered a list of Mother’s Day activities to do with your mom, stepmom, grandmother , aunt, wife, daughter , friend or anyone else you’re honoring this year.

To help inspire your plans browse this collection of ideas to find the right activity to make her feel like the queen she truly is.

Among them you find fun suggestions like creating a time capsule filled with happy memories, making matching t-shirts, tracing the family tree or taking her out to eat so she can kick back and simply enjoy the day.

Looking for something for the whole family? No problem. In the list below you'll find activities for the kids as well as ideas for extended family and friends.

Pick one of these suggestions or use one to inspire your own Mother's Day celebration. Either way, what likely matters most to the special woman in your life is time with you, and there's no better gift than that.

Plant a tree

For Mother's Day, consider planting a tree either with, or in honor of, the special mom in your life. Visit a nursery or garden center, choose a sapling, then plant it. If you're so inclined, you can plant trees for each of the children, give your new transplant a name or whatever strikes your fancy. When you're done, you'll get to watch it grow through the years. If it sounds like a metaphor for family and raising kids, it is, making it the perfect tribute.

Clean the house

Even if your mom likes cleaning, she's bound to love an offer to take a break. Donate a day to do a deep clean of a room, closet or the whole house. If it's a big job, enlist the help of other family members, or hire a service to help take care of business. Because while some folks don't mind doing the work themselves, plenty of others would appreciate someone else doing all the heavy-lifting.

Flower-arranging

It's Mother's Day so, naturally, you're probably thinking of giving her a bouquet of flowers in honor of the occasion. Instead of springing for a premade arrangement, grab various blooms and greens from the local market and spend the afternoon arranging them into custom bouquets. You'll not only make memories, but you'll each have a pretty keepsake of the activity.

Attend an art exhibition

Whether it's a gallery opening, museum exhibit, sculpture garden or local show, use Mother's Day as an opportunity to infuse a bit of culture into your lives. Depending on where you go, you just might come home with a new masterpiece to hang that'll remind you of the experience for years to come.

Take a bike ride

When was the last time you went on a bike ride with your mom or other special woman in your life? If it's been awhile, consider putting on the helmets and going for a spin. Choose a fun destination and head out, or, better yet, book a local bike tour and explore new sights.

Go on a picnic

Choose a sunny or seaside spot, pack a checkered tablecloth and take your mom (and the whole family) for a picnic in honor of Mother's Day. Or stay close to home and host lunch alfresco in the backyard. Invite friends and relatives to stop by or keep it simple with just you and Mom. Either way, don't forget the potato salad and rosé.

It's always nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. If both you and Mom could use a bit of a break, take time out to either take a local yoga class or freestyle at home with YouTube yoga. Elevate the experience by adding quiet music, scented candles and a special luncheon after.

Brunch in bed (or anywhere else)

We all know Mom will be up and awake long before anyone else, which certainly can make breakfast in bed a bit of a challenge. Why not make it brunch in bed instead? At this point in the day, she’ll have all her chores done (not that she should be doing them on Mother’s Day anyway), so she’ll have plenty of time to indulge in a leisurely meal of her choice. If going out is more her speed, make reservations at her favorite restaurant.

Attend a concert

Whether your mom loves Joan Jett or Mozart, plan a musical outing. Pick up tickets to see her favorite band or attend a local concert or performance together. When you're done, create a playlist of all the tunes you listened to to ensure that the memory of your shared experience is preserved forever.

Volunteer together

Spend quality time with your mom or other special person this Mother's Day by volunteering or donating your time to a worthy cause. Whether you volunteer at a food bank, animal shelter, make care packages for the military at home or other activity, you'll enjoy time together and bond over doing something meaningful for someone else.

Take a class

Does your mom like to hike, box, or make pasta from scratch? Whatever her preferred pastime, consider signing up to do a class together. It can be in-person, or, if you live miles apart, you can both join online instead. It doesn't have to be a shared interest —your agreed-upon class can be doing completely new, like learning a language, painting or photography.

Visit friends or relatives

Is there a close friend or relative you haven't seen in a while? Use Mother's Day as an excuse to arrange a drop-by or meetup. After all, there's never a bad time to get together with loved ones. Even if it's just a virtual date, talk to attendees ahead of time, then coordinate a plan for your long-overdue catch-up.

Get a tarot or astrology reading

Curious to know what the stars have planned for you or your mom? Whether you're a skeptic or believer, booking a reading with an astrologer or tarot-card reader is a fun way to spend time together. And, who knows, you just might be surprised by what you learn.

Prepare a special dessert

Whether she loves ice cream or apple pie, make your mom a special dessert in honor of Mother’s Day. Tackle a tough one like Baked Alaska or a chocolate soufflé. Not a cook? Not to worry, she’ll be just as happy if you take her out for ice cream.

Host a scavenger hunt

If Mom has an adventurous spirit, plan a scavenger hunt. Print out a treasure map or clues for her to find. Have the kids or the whole family join in on the game. Hide trinkets, gifts or make it a competition to see who can find a list of household items first, and have prizes on hand for the winner.

Make plans for next Mother's Day

Whether you're spending this Mother's Day together or are separated by miles this year, there's no time like the present to make plans for the next Mother's Day. Start planning now for a special bucket list trip or book a reservation for that restaurant she's been wanting to try.

Start a new tradition

Whether it's watching a favorite movie or making a beloved family recipe, establish an annual Mother's Day tradition. Invite everyone to participate or offer suggestions on what to do. Then, carry it out each and every year. It'll be something to look forward to and help create lasting memories.

Try a new hobby

Whether it’s knitting, rock climbing or starting a family book club, Mother’s Day is a great time to try a new hobby together. Whatever the skill or endeavor, it’s better attempted as a team of two (or more) than alone. Even if you end up knitting a sock instead of a scarf, the memories you make will be worth it.

Make custom Mother's Day t-shirts

Show her that you are totally Team Mom by making a special t-shirt to wear in honor of Mother's Day. Surprise her and have the family all wear matching t's with her photograph or a funny saying written on them. Or, include her in on the fun. Make tie-dye t-shirts together or other commemorative shirt that'll be a treasured keepsake after the holiday is over.

Create a time capsule

Preserve the moment forever by creating a time capsule in honor of Mother's Day. Add sentimental items, handwritten letters, photos, craft projects or anything else you can think of to document this time in your life and, of course, your mom's.

Make a gratitude jar

You can always just tell your mom all the things you're thankful for, but putting them down on paper means that she'll have them forever. Write or print off all the reasons you appreciate your mom or other special lady in your life. Fold them up and tuck them into a jar or any other container you see fit. Have her read them all in one shot or spread it out over days or weeks.

Since Mother's Day falls in May, head outdoors and go old-school by flying a kite. If it's been awhile, you may have forgotten what a fun activity it is. Better yet, it's something everyone in the family can participate in.

Host a movie marathon

Get a list of your mom's favorite movies and settle in for a film festival that pays homage to whatever genre she loves best. Whether it's a line-up of thrillers, rom coms, weepers or comedies, she's bound to love a day (or evening) rewatching old movies. Don't forget the popcorn and Junior Mints.

Plan a getaway

Level up your Mother's Day plans this year by taking your mom someplace special. While a day trip is always fun, an overnight or two is even better. Pamper her at a fancy hotel, plan a family camping trip or go all out and book a cruise. Given that she works so hard every day of the year, a vacation might be just the gift she's been waiting for.

Indulge in afternoon tea

Head to your local tea parlor or serve scones, finger sandwiches, tiny treats and tea right at home. Or if you want to include something hot in your spread, take a note from the Scottish and opt for high tea instead.

Treat her to a spa day

When's the last time your mom enjoyed some quality R & R? Exactly. Sign her up for the full spa treatment or pick something that targets a specific need, like a pedicure or deep tissue massage. Treat yourself to a treatment, so you can be there to watch her stress melt away.

Go to the zoo or aquarium

If your mom is an animal-lover, plan an outing at the zoo, local aquarium or nature preserve. In fact, make an entire day of it. Find other local landmarks nearby or a restaurant to enjoy a meal together. Better yet, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the day.

Go shopping

Enjoy the day browsing through her favorite stores and offer to pay for that one-of-a-kind item she falls in love with (if you're able to, of course). Throw in lunch or dinner and, voila, you’ve just planned the perfect day.

Cook something together

Pick up the ingredients necessary for a joint food venture, then spend the day working on it together. Homemade pesto? Chocolate chip cookies? Jars of blueberry jam? Whatever you settle on, make enough for both of you to bring some home and share with the rest of the family.

Visit a botanical garden

Find serenity among the blooms by taking your mom to a botanical garden or nature conservancy. Just about every state in the U.S. has one (or more) and it's a lovely way to spend time together, especially if she's a gardener.

Offer to do a chore

One of the best things you can do for your mom on Mother’s Day is to do something she doesn’t want to do. Because there’s no greater gift than your time, which, if we’re being honest right now, is the one thing she probably wishes she had more of.

Go on a nature walk

Whether it's a stroll or meander, get outside and enjoy a day doing something in the great outdoors. It doesn't have to be high-octane. In fact, just sitting in the backyard or a local park and listening to the sound of the birds is a peaceful way to enjoy the day. If she's an adventurer, pack a picnic and take a hike.

Plan a surprise

Surprises are sweet. And while not everyone is a fan, your mom certainly won’t mind if you show up with tickets to see her favorite sport, Broadway show or an unexpected visit from a long-distance loved one.

Trace your family tree

It's never been easier to learn about past relatives and family members. Discover where you came from on a genealogy site or simply by looking at old photos, and asking her to share stories about her parents, siblings and other important people in her life.

Go to a flea market or farmers market

Depending on your mom’s preference, take her to a flea or farmer’s market, antiques show or art festival. Do your homework ahead of time to find out what events are being held on Mother’s Day weekend, then plan your shopping date.

Sing karaoke

Belt out show tunes, Taylor Swift, Guns 'N Roses or any other music your mom loves by planning a karaoke date. Take her to a club or rent a machine and invite the family to come along so everyone can get in on the act. Taking video of this momentous occasion is mandatory.

Redecorate a room

Is she tired of looking at the same-old, same-old? Help your mom spruce up her least favorite space. Take her shopping for new throw pillows, paint for the bathroom or, if the budget is tight, rearrange the furniture for a fresh new perspective that doesn’t cost a dime.

Make a cookbook

Recipes are how families pass on traditions. Don't let yours get lost in the shuffle of life. Spend the day learning about your family's special meals. When you're through, preserve them all in a cookbook either through an online service or simply make one of your own.

Play trivia

Get to know the person behind the parent by asking your mom trivia questions about her childhood, life, interests and just about everything else. Follow it up with a game of regular trivia questions and answers on everything from movies to music and get the whole family in on the fun.

Visit a winery or take a food tour

If Mom loves sipping vino, find a local winery and go for a tasting or the whole afternoon. Otherwise, search around for a local food tour. Many larger cities and vacation destinations offer them. Who knows? You just might discover something new about your local cuisine.

Pot flowers or garden

Instead of buying Mom a bouquet or having flowers delivered, head over to the garden center and let her pick out some blooms of her choice. Grab some pots, soil, gardening gloves and anything else you might need, then pot or plant them together.

Make a signature Mother's Day cocktail

Make her favorite drink mom-tastic by customizing it just for her. After all, who deserves a signature cocktail or mocktail more than your mother? Whether it's a fresh lavender spritzer or classic margarita , show your Mother's Day spirit (pun intended) with a drink all her own.

Take a boat cruise

No need to book a vacation to enjoy a cruise on Mother’s Day. Every state has some kind of scenic waterway, river or lake, many of which offer daily boat cruises lasting an hour or two, which is just the right amount of time to take in the sights together.

Organize a family portrait

Getting the entire family together is no easy feat. If you can manage it, then preserve the moment by asking a neighbor, friend or passerby to snap a few pictures of the whole crew. Share your favorites with the group or post on social media with a sweet Mother's Day caption.

Organize a virtual celebration

If everyone is scattered in different locations, coordinate a virtual Mother's Day celebration. Text or email loved ones ahead of time, then schedule a time to meet. Take this moment to catch up, share memories, play games or plan your next in-person adventure.

Play her favorite board or card game

Cribbage, Spades, Monopoly, Backgammon — the options are endless. If you don't know how to play, ask her to teach you. Not only is it a great way to spend uninterrupted time together, but it'll fire up some friendly (and welcome) competition.

Pick out matching sets of anything

Everything's better in two, so make it your mission to find matching necklaces, t-shirts, garden gnomes or whatever else you think of to share as a pair. No matter what you settle on, it's sure to — wait for it — double the Mother's Day fun.

Dine al fresco

Why eat in when you can take her out? Outside, that is. The Europeans have the right idea because dining al fresco levels everything up a notch and makes any meal feel extra special. While you can always head to a nearby restaurant, you can enjoy a home-cooked meal outside with a portable speaker and twinkle lights.

Take a local field trip

Sometimes we overlook the destinations closest to home. Head to a local spot that's yet to be discovered to see your area in a whole new way. It's a fun adventure — sans the long commute.

Make a playlist

You've probably listened to a thousand songs together over the years, but that doesn't mean you know which ones are her favorite. Find out which tunes she loved as a child, a teen and now. Make a playlist, then listen to it together.

Plan a cultural outing

Does she appreciate art? Love the theatre? Enjoy wandering through exhibits at a museum? Whatever cultural activity she enjoys doing in her free time, make a date to do it with her. The only thing better than doing something you love is doing it with some one you love.

Paint a picture or make pottery

Schedule a time to create an original masterpiece with your mom. Follow in the footsteps of Picasso and bring home an abstract or get your hands dirty making a lopsided coffee mug. No matter how your skills stack up, it's the time you spent together that really matters.

Recreate a favorite memory

Nothing can take the place of a special moment or memory, but that doesn't mean you can't try. Ask your mom which of them she cherishes the most and if possible, do your best to recreate it. Whether it's the time the family watched movies in the backyard or ate ice cream sundaes for dinner, let the good times roll again.

Make a craft

Kids of all ages love making crafts and, no surprise, Mom does, too. Pick up a kit at the craft store or come up with one of your own like making handprint coasters or a one-of-a-kind flower pot.

Detail her car

Is she driving a Messy Mom car? Don’t judge because her car is bound to be littered with snack wrappers, water bottles and other cast-offs. Even if the kids have long-since left home, there’s no way your mother will turn down an offer to detail her car and make it shine like new.

Visit an amusement park

Just because she's a mom doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy thrill rides. If she has an adventurous spirit, plan a trip to the nearest theme park and spend the day riding the rides. With cotton candy in one hand and a giant stuffed dinosaur in the other (from winning the bean bag toss, naturally), she's bound to have a blast.

Make her favorite childhood meal

She's spent a lifetime making you all your favorite meals. Return the favor by whipping up one of her cherished childhood recipes. Not handy in the kitchen? No problem. Do some research to see if a nearby restaurant prepares something similar or enlist the help of someone who knows their way around a kitchen.

Sarah is a lifestyle and entertainment reporter for TODAY who covers holidays, celebrities and everything in between.

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100 Things We Learned in 2023

By mentalfloss .com | jan 6, 2024, 5:09 pm est.

Every year, we collect our favorite stories, fun facts, and innovations from the previous 12 months. In 2023, we learned about some amazing space discoveries, a few hard-working robots, and enough awesome animal news to get you through the winter. Read on for all the fun facts we learned last year, adapted from an episode of the List Show on YouTube.

1. The world’s largest onion was grown in 2023.

The world’s biggest onion, which was grown and shown in 2023 at the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, weighed just under 20 pounds—imagine making a Bloomin’ Onion out of that.

2. For a few months in 2023, Jupiter held the title for having the most moons in our solar system.

Following the verification of several new Jovian moons in February, astronomers determined that Jupiter had 95 moons. But by May, Saturn had knocked the bigger gas giant off its throne. The International Astronomical Union—the same folks who took Pluto down a peg back in 2006—recognized more than 60 new moons orbiting Saturn, bringing its total to 146. In addition to having the greatest number of moons, Saturn's lunar satellites are some of the most tantalizing to researchers hoping to discover more about Earth’s neighbors. 

3. A huge geyser was spotted on Enceladus. 

Enceladus is covered in ice, and in 2023 we saw new evidence of its liquid interior. The James Webb Space Telescope recorded a geyser of water vapor breaking through the frozen surface and erupting 6000 miles into space. Its height was nearly 20 times greater than the moon’s diameter. The plume was the largest geyser ever spotted on Enceladus, and it gave us a fascinating look at how Saturn’s rings form. It takes the moon 33 hours to orbit the gas giant, and if a geyser is spraying in that period it leaves a trail of vapor that feeds Saturn’s rings. Experts are also hopeful that the plumes contain microscopic lifeforms, but evidence supporting that theory has proven hard to collect.

4. Experts theorized that ‘Oumuamua is a comet.

When ‘Oumuamua suddenly appeared in the inner solar system in 2017, and then left it just as rapidly, astronomers weren’t sure what to make of the cigar-shaped object. It moved a lot faster than a typical asteroid, and it didn’t leave a trail that would suggest it was a comet. Certain Harvard astrophysicists even proposed it could be an alien probe . In March of 2023, however, two ‘Oumuamua experts from Cornell and UC Berkeley said they believe it’s a comet after all —just one without a tail of gas and dust. They theorized that the interstellar visitor is powered by bursts of hydrogen from its icy core, which are released from the ice by the sun’s radiation. The amounts of gas are so small, they don’t show up as a tail, but they can still propel ‘Oumuamua through space.

5. Scientists declared a lake the defining site of the Anthropocene.

A lake in Canada beat out Australian coral reefs, a Polish peat bog, and the Antarctic ice sheet as the defining site of the Anthropocene, according to scientists tasked with pinpointing its start. Crawford Lake near Toronto is small but deep, and the sediment that collects at its bottom stays put. Those layers of mud reveal evidence of the dawn of a new geologic era characterized by human impact—specifically, the sediments trapped fallout from nuclear tests in the 1950s, which the researchers say is the dividing line between the earlier Holocene and the proposed epoch. The lake also shows carbon particles from fossil fuel use and nitrates from agricultural runoff. If Crawford Lake’s nomination is approved by a higher-up group of geologists, it will receive a marker identifying it as ground zero for our brave new world.

6. A 2022 volcanic eruption was found to have produced the most intense lightning ever observed ...

In June 2023, we learned that the 2022 volcanic eruption in Tonga was not only one of the strongest on record, but also produced the most intense lightning ever observed. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption set off a “supercharged” thunderstorm that sparked almost 200,000 lightning flashes within its plume of smoke and ash. At the peak of the storm, there were more than 2600 bolts per minute, and some reached as high as 19 miles into Earth’s atmosphere. 

7. … and that the eruption affected the ozone layer.

If that wasn’t incredible enough, scientists have also suggested that it affected the ozone layer. According to New Scientist , Australian researchers determined that the hole in the ozone layer was bigger in August than it should have been, which they blamed on large amounts of water vapor turning into clouds and providing a surface on which chlorofluorocarbons reacted with ozone. We’re sure to learn even more about this spectacular eruption as researchers continue to analyze data.

8. A new extinct species of penguin was discovered.

Known as “Wilson’s little penguin,” Eudyptula wilsonae was described in a paper published in June. The animal’s modern-day relatives, little penguins/kororā , is an adorable species that lives in New Zealand and other countries. According to Bob Yirka of Phys.org, the newly discovered species is the “oldest-known extinct little penguin.”

9. Hank the Tank was caught.

Since February 2022, Lake Tahoe, California, has been terrorized by what authorities said was a male black bear responsible for 28 break-ins. They named the bear Hank the Tank. In 2023, though, they discovered that the break-ins had actually been perpetrated by three black bears, with the largest number—21—being attributed to a female officially known as 64F. “Hank,” who pulled off her capers with cubs in tow, was linked to her crimes via DNA. There are plans to relocate her to a sanctuary in Colorado.

10. The first-ever crocodile virgin birth was recorded in 2023.

Parthenogenesis is the ability to reproduce in the absence of sperm. It’s been observed in a handful of species, including some birds and reptiles. But in 2023, the first-ever crocodile virgin birth was recorded . It actually happened back in 2018, when a croc in a Costa Rican zoo delivered 14 eggs despite having not been around other crocs for 16 years. They took seven promising eggs and artificially incubated them, and while none of them hatched, one egg did contain a non-viable fetus, making this the first observable proof the species is capable of an extraordinary evolutionary ability.

11. A 2023 study found that crocs are attracted to babies’ cries.

Speaking of crocs, if your infant falls into a crocodile-occupied river, you better hope they don’t cry. An August 2023 study found that crocodiles are attracted to the cries of human, bonobo, and chimpanzee babies. It’s thought the vocalizations of a helpless infant in distress probably sound like an easy meal. One crocodile did attempt to protect the source of the cries—which, in the study, was a speaker and not an actual helpless child—from other curious crocs.

12. We discovered that humans and horses have a long history. 

According to one March 2023 study, people may have been riding horses 5000 years ago. Horse-drawn chariots, meanwhile, didn’t enter the archaeological record until about 1000 years later. Researchers analyzed human skeletal remains from various sites around southeastern Europe for telltale signs in the legs, pelvis, and backbones—all areas known to show the physical toll of horseback riding.

13. Some of the biggest aquatic attack stories in 2023 involved not sharks, but orcas. 

In 2023 we learned that pods of the black-and-white dolphins got too close for comfort with several boats off the coasts of Spain, Portugal, and France. They mainly swam around the vessels and booped the rudders. But according to records covering the past few years, there have been 250 cases of orcas causing damage to a boat, 60 cases of serious damage, and four sinkings . For now, only the orcas living around the Iberian peninsula have demonstrated this behavior, but scientists still aren’t sure why the animals are so keen on messing up people’s booze cruises.

14. Sea lions got aggressive in 2023.

It’s not just orcas that got combative in 2023: Sea lions in California have also been acting out —but in this case, scientists think they know the reason. In 2023, a harmful algae bloom produced a ton of the potent neurotoxin domoic acid in the waters. Fish ate smaller creatures that consumed the algae, then the sea lions ate the fish. Domoic acid poisoning can make a lot of animals behave unpredictably: A similar algae bloom off California in 1961 is thought to have caused flocks of seabirds to act erratically, which is rumored to have influenced Alfred Hitchcock's film The Birds .

15. We learned about a really big fan of the movie Titanic in 2023.

A Florida-based editor named JD has set a goal of collecting 1 million copies of Titanic on VHS, which consisted of two tapes because the movie clocks in at three hours and 15 minutes. JD—who apparently started collecting around a decade ago—has more than 2581 copies as of late 2023.

16. Greta Gerwig made history with Barbie . 

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie opened with a bang, raking in an impressive $162 million in the U.S. during its opening weekend. The momentum didn’t slow down from there: The Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-led film has since earned more than $1.4 billion. It has also given Greta Gerwig the title of history’s highest-grossing female director.

17. A funeral home started selling Barbie-themed coffins.

The Alpha and Omega Funeral Home in Ahuachapán, El Salvador, started selling pink Barbie-themed coffins to capitalize on the Barbie craze—and as of early August 2023, 10 people had purchased them to be their future final resting places. 

18. Swifties in Seattle caused seismic activity.

How many Swifties does it take to generate the same seismic activity as a 2.3-magnitude earthquake? About 70,000, give or take. That’s what happened at Taylor Swift’s two back-to-back concerts in Seattle over the summer. It wasn’t just the fans’ dancing that caused the ground shakes—the booming sound system itself played a role, too. But still: It’s probably best not to ever underestimate the power of Swifties.

19. A library book was returned 119 years after it was due.

In order for libraries to work, borrowers need to respect the window of time they have to read and return a book. And most do. But every now and again, a title will disappear for 119 years. In 1904, someone checked out An Elementary Treatise on Electricity by James Clerk Maxwell from the New Bedford Free Public Library. It wasn’t returned until 2023, when it surfaced as part of a donation pile at West Virginia University Libraries. No one knows where the book went in the interim, but it’s now back where it belongs.

20. Tons of new words got added to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The Oxford English Dictionary added hundreds of new entries in 2023. Here are a few of our favorites: Groomzilla is the male counterpart to bridezilla , which made it into the OED back in 2009. And while the meaning of the term comfort-wear is pretty obvious, the OED traces it back to at least 1903 to describe a woman in slippers and a housecoat. The phrases spider sense and spidey sense also made the dictionary. Spidey sense is obviously Spider-Man-related, but spider sense predates our favorite webslinger by nearly 50 years and originally meant “the ability of certain people to sense nearby spiders.”

21. A Tudor-era book was discovered hiding in plain sight.

In 2023, Alison Palmer saw a 16th-century prayer book—a Book of Hours published in 1527—at the University of Cambridge, and it looked very familiar … just like a book featured in a circa 1533 Hans Holbein portrait of Thomas Cromwell, chief advisor to Henry VIII (who sentenced Cromwell to death). A team of experts reviewed the evidence and concluded it was the same book in Cromwell's portrait. It was among the volumes left to Cromwell’s secretary, Ralph Sadleir, and it came to Cambridge through the wife of the secretary’s grandson. According to a press release, the bejeweled tome “is thought to be the only object from any Tudor portrait to survive to this day.” Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn each owned their own edition of the book.

22. A document thought to be a forgery was shown to be the real deal.

Famous documents are occasionally found to be forgeries. In 2023, the opposite occurred. Graduate student and Mental Floss contributor Vanessa Braganza was perusing Harvard University’s Widener Library when she spotted a copy of The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia by Philip Sidney on the shelf. It was donated to Harvard in 1913 after businessman Harry Elkins Widener died on the Titanic and left behind his personal library. Elizabethan author and Philip Sidney’s sister Mary Sidney Herbert was thought to be the book’s original owner, but in the 1940s, Harvard’s rare books librarian William A. Jackson claimed it was a forgery. Harvard accepted his argument until 2023, when Braganza proved it really was from the 16th century. The university was pleased to hear it had owned an authentic piece of rare literature all along.

23. Conservators found a hidden image under a René Magritte painting.

René Magritte’s 1943 painting The Fifth Season isn’t among his most lauded paintings, but as we discovered in 2023, it harbored a secret: Under the two men holding frames on a street was the image of a woman—possibly the artist’s wife. It was found by conservators at the Royal Museums of the Fine Arts of Belgium using infrared reflectography. If you look hard enough, you can find evidence of it in the painting.

24. Chipotle is testing a new robot. 

In 2022, Chipotle introduced a chip-making robot named “Chippy,” and last year, we learned Chippy will have a friend: The company announced that they’re currently testing a robot named “Autocado,” which slices, cores, and peels avocados so human employees don’t have to. It could potentially cut the time it takes to make a batch of guacamole in half, so consider this a win for people behind and in front of the counter.

25. An iOS update finally got rid of that ducking autocorrect.

We’ve all been there: You’re on your iPhone, typing out a heated text complete with f-bomb, when that f-bomb morphs into the d word: duck . But in fall 2023, Apple finally issued an autocorrect update in iOS17. As Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, put it, “In those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it.”

26. We may have gotten a step closer to flying cars in 2023. 

We’ve been hearing about flying cars since well before The Jetsons . But we hopefully got closer to that reality when Alef Aeronautics received permission from the FAA to test its Model A car, which is the first flying automobile that can be parked on the ground in a conventional parking spot. Alef expects it to be available in 2025 for a bargain $300,000. But don’t reserve it just yet: It has a lot of testing to be done.

27. A super-reflective white paint was developed.

In 2023, The New York Times reported that scientists had developed a paint so white and reflective that 98 percent of the sun’s rays bounce right off it . The coating was developed by a team at Purdue University led by mechanical engineering professor Xiulin Ruan. The idea is to use the paint on rooftops, where it would do its ray deflecting thing and keep items cooler inside the buildings. According to the scientists, the paint is as much as 8°F cooler than the air around it during the day; at night, that number drops to as much as 19°F cooler.

28. Wawa debuted its pizza.

This summer, Wawa —the uber-popular convenience store— added a new item to its menu: Pizza. Like the chain’s hoagies, you choose between a couple of sizes and pile on the toppings you prefer. The pizzas are served from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. and are made fresh in dedicated pizza ovens, which means around a 20 minute wait. Don’t even ask what’s in the sauce—that’s proprietary.

29. July 2023 was really, really hot.

According to scientists, July was most likely the hottest month ever recorded in human history—a fact that was declared on July 27th. “We don’t have to wait for the end of the month to know this,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said. “Short of a mini-ice age over the next days, July 2023 will shatter records across the board.” 

30. In 2023, heat waves in Italy got some ominous names. 

In Italy, the founder of a popular weather website has been naming heat waves since 2012. In 2023, he picked names like Cerberus, a.k.a., the dog that guards the underworld in Greek mythology. According to the BBC, temperatures across Italy were well above 100 degrees.

31. Leprosy made headlines in Florida in 2023 ... 

Leprosy (a.k.a.Hansen’s disease) cases have been increasing in the central part of the state, and health experts fear the infectious disease could become endemic to Florida—meaning that it’s permanently established in that area. Previously, most leprosy cases in the U.S. originated through carriers traveling from other parts of the world. 

32. … As did malaria.

Malaria is also on the rise in the Sunshine State, as well as Texas and Maryland. Seven cases were recorded across Florida, and like the recent leprosy outbreak, they were locally acquired rather than imported from overseas.

33. Nintendo closed some of its e-shops. 

In March 2023, Nintendo permanently closed down their 3DS and Wii U e-shops. While this does mean that no new software can be downloaded onto these consoles, both the Wii U and the 3DS are still able to access the internet. 

34. The world’s oldest bodybuilder was crowned.

Age is just a number. For Jim Arrington, it’s 91. That might also be the number of reps he pumps out as part of a bodybuilding regimen. Arrington was actually crowned the world’s oldest bodybuilder by Guinness World Records when he turned 83. Seven years later, he was still getting his swole on, so Guinness declared him the reigning record holder.

35. The most popular wedding songs were revealed.

A group gift platform called Givetastic crunched the numbers on 100,000 wedding-related Spotify playlists to determine the most popular wedding song. Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” took the blue ribbon, followed by “Marry You” by Bruno Mars. The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” also made the list.

36. American Girl’s debuted ‘90s-era historical dolls.

In 2023, American Girl debuted two new dolls in its historical collection: Isabel and Nicki Hoffman, fraternal twins growing up in Seattle during the 1990s, making elder Millennials feel very old indeed.

37. Guinness gave out a record for the world’s most expensive ice cream. 

If you want to eat the world’s most expensive ice cream, which Guinness World Records crowned in 2023, you better have some seriously deep pockets. Japanese ice cream company Cellato charges a whopping $6696 for its decadent dessert. Its ingredients include decorative gold-leaf shavings, a rare white truffle, Parmigiano Reggiano, and sake lees.

38. There was an important update to the Henrietta Lacks story in 2023. 

Lacks—a Black woman—visited Baltimore’ s Johns Hopkins Hospital in February 1951, where a piece of cancerous tissue was removed from her cervix. Those cancerous cells were cultured and labeled “HeLa”—and, in contrast to the other cells researchers had tried to culture, they didn’ t die. Instead, they divided and divided and divided. These immortal cells were distributed, mass produced, and commercialized, all without the knowledge or permission of Lacks, who had died in October and was buried in her unmarked grave, or her family, who didn’ t learn about the cells until 1973. 

It’s impossible to overstate the impact of Lacks’s immortal cells—as Bettye Kearse wrote in a piece about Henrietta for MentalFloss.com, her cells were “central to the development of vaccines and many medical advances. By 2017, HeLa cells had been studied in 142 countries and had made possible research that led to two Nobel Prizes, 17,000 patents, and 110,000 scientific papers, thereby establishing Henrietta’s role as the mother of modern medicine.” And many people—though not the Lacks family—made money off of those cells. 

Some of Henrietta’s heirs eventually sued Thermo Fisher Scientific, a biotech firm, accusing them of profiting from the HeLa cell line without compensating her family. That lawsuit was settled in 2023; the amount wasn’t disclosed. Afterward, Lacks’s grandson, Alfred Lacks Carter, Jr., said , “It was a long fight—over 70 years—and Henrietta Lacks gets her day.” 

39. Lacks was also honored with a statue.

A statue of Lacks went up in her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, in October 2023, replacing a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

40. The Food and Drug Administration approved the first new drug in 20 years to treat Alzheimer’s disease. 

Leqembi, its brand name, slowed the progression of the disease by about five months in an 18-month clinical trial, but it comes with high risks for serious side effects, such as brain bleeding and death. It also can’t stop disease progression completely nor repair cognitive function. But it gives hope to Alzheimer’s patients and their families, who still have very few therapeutic options. Dr. Joanne Pike, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, hailed the decision, saying , “This treatment, while not a cure, can give people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s more time to maintain their independence and do the things they love.”

41. The oldest evidence for the parasite Giardia duodenalis was found. 

Archaeologists working in Jerusalem in 2023 pulled 2500-year-old feces out of two ancient toilets and discovered evidence of Giardia duodenalis , a parasite that can cause something akin to dysentery—specifically, according to LiveScience, “a cyst wall protein that is produced and released by G. duodenalis .” It’s the oldest evidence of the protozoan discovered so far.

42. In 2023, we learned about one of the world’s earliest cases of brain surgery. 

Archaeologists working in the ancient site of Tel Megiddo in northern Israel discovered the graves of two high-status brothers who lived during the Late Bronze Age, roughly 1550 to 1450 BCE. The skeletons showed signs of chronic disease—possibly leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease—which given that they lived to their early 20s, alongside other lines of evidence, suggested that the brothers were elite individuals who had access to quality food and medical care during their lives. The skull of the older brother, who was between 20 and 40 when he died, also displayed a hole cut with a human-made beveled instrument . This type of cranial surgery, called trephination, was used in the ancient world to relieve sinus pressure and other ailments, but evidence for it being performed in the Near East is rare.

43. A highly-detailed 3D scan of the wreck of the Titanic was released in 2023. 

The wreck of the Titanic has been disintegrating on the bottom of the North Atlantic for more than a century, and its decay has accelerated in recent years. In May, the underwater mapping company Magellan Ltd. and Atlantic Productions released a stunning “digital twin” of the entire ship and its 15-square-mile debris field to preserve them for all time. The mapping team used robotic submersibles to scan the legendary ocean liner over the course of six weeks with super-high-definition equipment. Then, they knit the images together to create a 3D digital model. It is so detailed that you can even read part of the serial number on one of the ship's three propellers.

44. In August 2023, we learned that a man bitten by a stray cat contracted an unknown infection. 

His arm and fingers became enlarged and swollen, but when doctors analyzed the tissue samples from his wounds, they found an organism they hadn’t seen before. Researchers came in to sequence the bacteria, and found that while it appeared to be a streptococcus-like organism giving the man such a violent reaction, it was actually a never-before-documented globicatella species.

45. We found out that vaccines are beneficial to bee health. 

American foulbrood, a destructive disease that affects honeybees, can now be prevented in the pre-pupal stage with a vaccine created by biotech company Dalan Animal Health. It works by having worker bees ingest dead Paenibacillus larvae cells (the bacterium responsible for American foulbrood), which they then pass on to their queen. While the vaccine is under conditional approval, it’ll hopefully be leagues better for both bees and beekeepers than the previous alternative: burning the infected bees and hives.

46. There were important updates on the sea spider front. 

Did you know that there aren’t just land spiders—there are also sea spiders? And that we recently got our first look at one type of them mating? In 2023, during an expedition by the Ocean Exploration Trust, scientists captured footage of a type of sea spider mating for the first time. The researchers announced in a study released in June 2023 that these particular sea spiders were from the genus Colossendeis , which had a leg span of over a foot; analysis of the footage showed a pair of spiders, one on top of the other. The female used specialized legs to manipulate her eggs. Why is this important? In the words of lead study author Georg Brenneis, University of Vienna zoologist, “This is the first time humans have ever witnessed this behavior ... At this stage, people believed [sea spiders of the Colossendeidae group] may have a completely different reproductive biology to their relatives. But this video unmistakably shows that at least their mating follows typical sea spider fashion.” 

47. One Florida town was overrun by bunnies.

Dozens and dozens of friendly, domesticated bunnies are populating the yards, driveways, and roads of Jenada Isles. It’s a pretty adorable problem to have, but it’s still a problem: The rabbits could dig holes in yards and chew on wires, and the animals—which stem from a group illegally released by a breeder who moved out of the area—could feel the ill effects of Florida’s heat. One resident, Alicia Griggs, has started a GoFundMe to capture and relocate the rabbits.

48. T. Rex might not have had such prominent chompers.

Anyone who’s seen The Land Before Time remembers, Tyrannosaurus rex are known for their sharp teeth. But those fatal pearly whites may not have been as prominently displayed as we thought. New research has suggested T. rex ’s teeth were concealed by a fleshy, lip-like tissue. People tend to depict T. rex in a crocodile-like way; it’s why we popularly imagine them with a mouthful of protruding teeth. A 2023 study, however, showed that T. rex choppers don’t have the kind of outer-tooth erosion crocodile teeth do, suggesting they were likely protected by lips.

49. Props got nabbed from the set of the new Beetlejuice movie.

It seems only fitting for mysterious hijinks to ensue during production of the Beetlejuice sequel. Two props disappeared from set: a lamppost with a pumpkin-shaped top, and a 150-ish-pound abstract sculpture designed by Catherine O’Hara’s character, Delia Deetz, in the original film. 

50. In 2023, fans of Beyoncé and Jay-Z were given the opportunity to live like hip hop royalty. 

An architectural salvager auctioned off many items from the superstar couple’s rented home, including their lights, sconces, and French doors. The reseller also offered Jay and Bey’s bidet for an asking price of $2400. Fans didn’t need to travel to a fancy auction house to bid on the pop culture artifacts—they were listed on eBay and sold to the highest bidders.

51. Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers were discontinued.

Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers were all set to celebrate their 100th birthday in 2024: They hit the market way back in 1924. Sadly, the company decided to discontinue them instead. The crispy, slightly bittersweet wafers were the choice cookie for icebox cakes, where they softened to perfection between layers of whipped cream. Bakers have suggested using Oreo Thins, Goya Maria Chocolate Cookies, or Dewey’s Hot Cocoa Cookies as replacements. Or you could skip the cookies altogether and just mainline whipped cream straight into your mouth.

52. The site where Caesar was stabbed opened to the public.

Rome is packed with ancient historical sites—but due to funding issues, not all of them have been open to the public. Take, for example, the square where Julius Caesar was stabbed . Caesar’s heir, Augustus, declared the square a cursed place after the dictator’s murder. Thousands of years later, the square was discovered after 20th-century Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had parts of Rome razed to search for ancient archaeological sites. The space wasn’t opened to the public until June 2023.

53. Quotes from an interview with Martin Luther King, Jr., seem to have been altered.

Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcom X didn’t always see eye to eye. MLK had even famously criticized Malcom X to the journalist Alex Haley—or so we thought. But it turns out Haley reportedly fabricated some of the quotes from that famous 1965 Playboy article. A journalist named Jonathan Eig made the discovery after finding what appears to be an unedited transcript during his archival research. Based on what the unedited transcript shows, Haley took some of MLK’s words out of context, and also made up some of the quotes.

54. In 2023, we found out that it’s possible to live in the home of a former Queen of England. 

At least it is if you have $2.9 million. In June, the former home of Anne of Cleves —Henry VIII’s fourth wife—went up for sale. Theirs wasn’t exactly a love story for the ages: Henry, having split with one wife, beheaded another, and lost yet another after childbirth, agreed to wed the German-born Anne supposedly after seeing her portrait. When he got a look at her in person, though, he apparently yelled “I see nothing in this woman as men report of her!” Was it because of the portrait? Probably not—the better guess is that it was Henry’s ministers who played up her beauty. He married her anyway, but their union lasted just six months before it was annulled. Anne might not have done it for Henry in the looks department, but they did get along and remained close. He also gifted her a lot of property, including a house called Wings Palace. After she died in 1557, its ownership reverted back to the crown before it became a private residence. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom house’s history dates all the way back to 1095, but it has the most modern amenities, including heated floors and an updated kitchen.

55. Henri Matisse’s home was also for sale in 2023.

Henri Matisse’s former apartment—a two-bedroom, four-bathroom abode spanning 1700 square feet that sits atop the iconic Régina building on the French Riviera in Nice—hit the market for $2.7 million in May. Matisse, who lived there for about 10 years, also used the apartment as a studio , where he created cutouts after suffering some health issues.

56. We got some insight into minstrel comedy.

We know minstrels had some jokes, but because a lot of their material was passed down via oral tradition, we didn’t really know what their jokes were. That’s changed thanks to a comedy routine found within a 15th-century manuscript in 2023. The minstrel’s comedy routine includes a bunch of acts, including a preacher’s satirical sermon about the virtues of drinking a lot.

57. A plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II was revealed. 

In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II visited the U.S. amidst the Troubles, a 30-year-long conflict between Protestants and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland over whether or not the country would become part of Ireland proper or remain part of the U.K.—and papers released in May 2023 revealed that the FBI and Secret Service uncovered a plot to assassinate the queen while she traveled the country. Apparently, around a month before Liz was due to be in San Francisco, police learned about a man who claimed his daughter had been killed by a rubber bullet in Northern Ireland and that “he was going to attempt to harm Queen Elizabeth and would do this either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the Royal Yacht Britannia when it sails underneath, or would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park.” The Secret Service apparently walked the Golden Gate Bridge, but it’s unclear if any other steps were taken to protect the monarch, or if an arrest was made.

58. The official history of Queen Elizabeth I was called into question.

William Camden wrote the official history of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign in the years after she died. His work was a foundational text for historians of the period, but Camden didn’t quite record an unbiased history. New transmitting light technology has revealed the contents of pages full of crossed-out or covered-up text, showing how Camden self-edited his version of history to curry favor with James VI and I—the king who reigned after Elizabeth I. He even included a fabricated bit about how the late queen had declared James her heir before dying.

59. In 2023, we found out what an original Bob Ross painting will cost you.

And it’s not cheap . Most of Ross’s paintings are owned by Bob Ross, Inc., but this one was donated by the artist, who hosted The Joy of Painting on PBS from 1983 to 1994, to the Virginia-based PBS studio where that particular episode had been filmed. A studio volunteer picked up the painting for $100 max at auction and held on to it before selling it to a gallery that sells a lot of Ross paintings. They were asking $9.8 million for it.

60. Beethoven’s hair provided insights into his health. 

No one is totally sure what killed composer Ludwig Van Beethoven at age 56 in 1827, but a new analysis of his hair has provided some answers. A total of around 10 feet of his hair was examined using DNA testing. Researchers found that Beethoven had a genetic predisposition to liver disease and also suffered from hepatitis B. Scientists were also able to determine that he didn’t suffer from lactose intolerance or a gluten allergy despite having stomach ailments. While the cause of death remains ambiguous, it’s pretty amazing what we can learn from his locks nearly 200 years later.

61. A new national monument was designated.

In 2023, President Joe Biden created the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona, which consists of 917,618 acres spread out over three locations around the Grand Canyon that contain sites important to Indigenous tribes in the area, including the Havasupai and the Hopi. The phrase Baaj Nwaavjo translates to “where Indigenous peoples roam” and i’tah kukveni means “our ancestral footprints” in Havasupai and Hopi, respectively. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said that the new monument “makes clear that Native American history is American history. This land is sacred to the many Tribal Nations who have long advocated for its protection, and establishing a national monument demonstrates the importance of recognizing the original stewards of our public lands.”

62. A proclamation was signed assuring Emmett Till will be receiving national recognition. 

The horrific 1955 murder of the 14-year-old shocked communities across the country, and was a major event in the Civil Rights Movement. Now, he and his mother will be recognized at three sites across Mississippi and Illinois as the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument .

63. Part-human kidneys were grown in pigs. 

In 2023, scientists in China grew part-human kidneys in pig embryos. To do it, the scientists switched off the cells that would have made the pig embryos develop their own kidneys, then added modified human stem cells to nearly 200 embryos, which were then implanted into pigs. When they checked in 28 days later, five of the embryos had grown kidneys composed of up to 65 percent human cells. Getting to this point took five years, and there’s still a long way to go—it’s believed that any kidney that would potentially be implanted into a human could not contain any pig cells at all because the organ would then be rejected by the body. And there are plenty of ethical issues, too. 

64. That’s not the only research that took place on the pig/kidney front in 2023. 

On July 14, 2023, surgeons at NYU Langone Health performed a xenotransplant, taking a genetically modified kidney from a pig and transplanting it into a man on a ventilator who had been declared braindead. On August 16—32 days later—the kidney was still working, and the study continued until mid-September 2023. This could have huge implications: According to a press release, there are more than 100,000 people in the U.S. on the transplant list. Dr. Robert Montgomery, chair of the Department of Surgery and director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who performed the surgery, said that “There are simply not enough organs available for everyone who needs one …. Too many people are dying because of the lack of available organs, and I strongly believe xenotransplantation is a viable way to change that.”

65. Scientists were able to successfully build new technology that allowed a paralyzed man to walk again. 

The team built a “digital bridge” between the brain and the spinal cord that reestablished the broken communication between the two. The man is now able to walk, climb stairs, and even “traverse complex terrains,” in the words of the researchers.

66. The world’s tallest poison ivy plant was found in Canada.

Paris, Ontario, resident Robert Fedrock was out for a walk on his property when he spotted a towering poison ivy plant that ultimately measured a whopping 68 feet—as tall as two school buses stacked end to end. In June 2023, Guinness World Records named it the world’s tallest poison ivy plant. Fedrock got a case of poison ivy during his investigation, but presumably, it was worth it.

67. Sesame Street debuted the first Filipino American muppet in 2023.

TJ is a spirited 4-year-old boy who loves basketball, dancing, and making his baby sister laugh. He’s also learning Tagalog with his grandmother’s help. His family moved to Sesame Street from California.

68. Super Nintendo World opened in Universal Studios Hollywood.

The theme park opened in February. Highlights include dining at Toadstool Cafe, riding in an augmented reality Mario Kart course, and playing challenges to win coins, like Mario Party without the danger of ending friendships. Maybe.

69. The original voice of Mario retired … 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie came out in April 2023 with Chris Pratt as the title character. Charles Martinet, the original voice actor for Mario, made a cameo appearance. However, in August, Martinet announced that he would be retiring from voicing the beloved red plumber.

70. … but took on a special new role.

But Nintendo announced that Martinet would be granted the unique, official title of “Mario Ambassador.” His responsibilities are “traveling around the world sharing the joy of the Mario family and being able to continue meeting with all of you wonderful fans who I absolutely cherish the most.”

71. We found out the best time to go to the bathroom on an airplane …

If you get nervous about going to the bathroom on long flights—with the horror of walking down the cramped aisle and finding the tiny toilet occupied, then forced to stand there awkwardly as flight attendants squeeze by you—we have good news. In 2023, a former flight attendant gave her advice for the ideal times to plan your bathroom trip with no competition. She recommends going right when the pilot turns the seatbelt sign off, or, right before the beverage service starts. According to her, you’ll be in the clear.

72. … And how to avoid awkward odors.

Her second piece of advice? Ask the flight attendants for a packet of coffee grounds. If you hang them up in the bathroom, they will soak up any uncomfortable smells.

73. Research published in 2023 suggests that our brains may perceive silence and sound the same way. 

For the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , researchers adapted common auditory illusions to test how people reacted to stretches of silence. The quiet illusions had the same effect as the noisy ones, which could mean the brain processes a lack of noise as if it were sound.

74. Disposable diapers were used as a building material.

Researchers in Japan have discovered the benefits of using disposable diapers in the construction of concrete houses. Apparently shredded diapers can replace a large chunk of the sand used in concrete construction without reducing its strength. This actually has great implications for the environment, including reducing the waste of non-recyclable diapers and hopefully cutting down on the carbon emissions from concrete construction.

75. A recipe for space yeast was nearly perfected. 

In an attempt to solve the problem of supplying food for long-term space missions, it was found that the secret ingredient for making yeast while in space is … astronaut breath. “Astronaut breath, water, yeast starter, electricity, a rolling pin and we can make it happen,” Stafford Sheehan, a finalist in the NASA-sponsored Deep Space Food Challenge , told NPR. The challenge’s goals were “create novel and game-changing food technologies or systems that require minimal inputs and maximize safe, nutritious, and palatable food outputs for long-duration space missions, and which have potential to benefit people on Earth,” according to its website.

76. We found out what seismic activity sounds like. 

A scientist and a musician teamed up to create music out of Yellowstone’s seismic data, and now you can listen to it. The scientist, Domenico Vicinanza, is a particle physicist who developed a computer program that takes the data from seismic activity generated by the supervolcano and turns it into sheet music, and flutist and musicologist Alyssa Schwartz plays that music. 

77. Ötzi the Iceman may have been bald.

Ötzi, a roughly 5300-year-old mummy found in the Ötztal Alps in 1991, may have had more in common with many of today’s middle-aged men than we thought. Researchers recently resequenced the ancient man’s genome and discovered that he carried gene variations for male-pattern baldness. That doesn’t prove that Ötzi actually went bald during his lifetime, but there is some compelling evidence to support the theory: Although his remains were in remarkably good condition when unearthed, there was barely any hair on his head.

78. The face of a passenger who died on the Vasa was reconstructed.

The Swedish warship Vasa would have been one of the most beautifully constructed and powerful royal vessels in history—if it hadn’t sunk before it even left Stockholm Harbor in 1628. About 30 people died in the disaster. But just as the Vasa was raised from the water to become a popular tourist attraction, the face of one of its victims has been recreated by artist Oscar Nilsson. DNA was sequenced from bones recovered from the shipwreck to find clues to the person’s appearance. The facial reconstruction reveals a pale-skinned woman with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a strong jaw. The Vasa museum team nicknamed her Gertrud .

79. In 2023, scientists found what may be evidence of ancient cannibalism. 

A 1.45 million-year-old shin bone of a Homo sapiens relative unearthed in northern Kenya had nine cut marks on it that were confirmed to be from a handmade, stone tool. “The information we have tells us that hominins were likely eating other hominins at least 1.45 million years ago,” paleoanthropologist Briana Pobiner said . “There are numerous other examples of species from the human evolutionary tree consuming each other for nutrition, but this fossil suggests that our species’ relatives were eating each other to survive further into the past than we recognized.” According to a press release about the discovery, the cuts alone aren’t enough to unequivocally declare this a case of cannibalism, but the researchers do think that’s the most likely explanation.

Also, it might not technically be cannibalism at all because, as the press release notes, “cannibalism requires that the eater and the eaten hail from the same species” and because the scientists can’t determine which species of hominin this shin bone belongs to, “it is also possible this was a case of one species chowing down on its evolutionary cousin.”

80. A 50-year-old shipwreck was discovered in April 2023 ... 

In October 1973, Blythe Star —a coastal freighter en route to King Island from Hobart, Australia—began taking on water. The crew of 10 abandoned ship and spent more than a week adrift in an inflatable raft before the survivors landed on the Forestier Peninsula in Tasmania. Three of the men wandered around in the jungle until they came across a person who was able to take them to a nearby town. Seven of the crewmembers survived the ordeal, but the Blythe Star was lost without a trace until researchers studying underwater landslides confirmed the location of the wreck off the coast of southwest Tasmania in April 2023 . 

81. … And a much older wreck was found in July.

Just a couple months later, in July, researchers found an Ancient Roman shipwreck near the port of Civitavecchia. The wreck dates back to the 1st or 2nd century BCE and its cargo hold is full of hundreds of sealed amphore. The researchers think the ship might have originated in Spain, in which case those amphore may be full of things like olive and figs. They’re currently making plans to conduct more research.

82. Archaeologists discovered the “Stonehenge of the Netherlands.” 

In June 2023, Dutch archaeologists announced that, over five years of digging in a town called Tiel, they’d discovered what they dubbed “Stonehenge of the Netherlands”: a religious site created 4000 years ago that included three burial mounds, the largest of which measured 65 feet in diameter and served as a burial mound-slash-solar calendar. They also found a single glass bead in one of the graves, which is a big deal—glass wasn’t made there at the time, and further analysis showed that the bead had come all the way from Mesopotamia. According to University of Groningen professor Stijn Arnoldussen, “Things were already being exchanged in those times. The bead may have been above ground for hundreds of years before it reached Tiel.”

83. We may have found the oldest known phallic object. 

We’ve known that the ancient Romans wore phallic objects for good luck, but in 2023 we may have discovered the oldest known phallic object. A 42,000 year old vaguely penis-shaped object was dug up in Mongolia back in 2016, but scientists finally examined it closely in 2023 and noticed specific carvings and grooves that convinced some that it’s supposed to represent a phallus. Others think it’s more of a blob.

84. The grave of one of Maryland’s earliest colonists was opened.

In 2023, archaeologists working in Historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland, opened the grave of one of the first Europeans to colonize the future state: a 5-foot-tall boy, probably around 15 years old, with a broken leg. He may have come on the Ark or the Dove , which came to the future Maryland in 1634. Finding the remains was a pretty big deal, according to Travis Parno, director of research and collections, who told The Washington Post that “This is someone who was here in the first years of the settlement, the vanguard of the Colonial invasion … Someone nobody wrote about. It’s a period that we have such little documentation on.”

85. We found out some disturbing information about ticks.

Few creepy-crawlies can terrorize people as much as the humble tick, the tiny parasite that can transmit Lyme disease to humans. They can’t jump or fly, so we thought that they were very limited in how they could find prey. But a new study published in Current Biology in July demonstrated that ticks can travel through the air via static electricity, meaning they can latch on without needing to crawl on us first. They can clear under an inch, which for a tick is like several flights of stairs for a human. 

86. Humans aren’t the only animals that like to get dizzy. 

You probably spent time as a kid whirling around and around until you’re too dizzy to walk. Turns out humans aren’t the only ones to chase that head-spinning feeling. Great apes, such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, also enjoy a good dizzy spell. It’s thought they could be chasing the high of an altered mental state.

87. Some species of jellyfish can learn. 

A sign of intelligence in animals is being able to learn from past experiences and change behavior. Generally, this requires a brain. Jellyfish with no central brain would seemingly not have this skill, but in 2023, it was discovered that they do, in fact, learn and adapt from past experiences. Caribbean box jellyfish have figured out how to avoid obstacles. Sounds like an iPhone app in the making.

88. Gators who live near golf courses are at a disadvantage.

 If you think that alligators who live in and around golf courses are the upper crust of gators, you’re sorely mistaken. A 2023 study from the University of North Florida found that alligators who live on golf courses have very different eating habits than those in natural environments, which can negatively affect them. In addition to the main result, which was that the golf course juvenile gators were eating more insects and arachnids, the gators living near golf courses were found to have ingested things like canned corn and a cheeseburger with fries. All of that, while tasty, is probably not great for gator health. Not to mention, the alligators living near golf courses are likely exposed to way more man-made chemicals. 

89. AI had a big year. 

ChatGPT—which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformers, by the way—was technically launched in November 2022, but it really took off in 2023. It also accelerated the development of other large language model-based (LLM) AI tools, such as Google’s Bard, Baidu’s Ernie Bot, and Meta’s LLaMA. Whether or not it will replace all workers someday is still up for debate.

90. Researchers made progress in being able to translate brain signals into audible speech. 

Using implants and AI, they were able to predict individual words a person was thinking and wanting to say with near-perfect accuracy. In the future, they hope to be able to predict full sentences and beyond.

91. A new innovation allows AI programs (like those used in robotics, not LLMs) to see in the dark. 

HADAR , or heat-assisted detection and ranging, will allow machines to see even in pitch black conditions. So next time you’re playing hide and seek with a robot, just know that they might be cheating.

92. In 2023 it was found that the Earth tilted 31.5 inches to the east between 1993 and 2010. 

Scientists believe the change in tilt was caused by pumping groundwater from the soil. “Earth’s rotational pole actually changes a lot,” Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University and study lead, said in a statement . “Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole.”

93. Scientists discovered a very specific method of writing with ink in liquid. 

It involves a nearly microscopic bead that manipulates pH levels in order to successfully write or draw in a liquid bath. Scientists really are just doing whatever they want, huh?

94. We found out that participating in genetic studies is a genetic quality. 

According to scientists at Oxford’s Big Data institute, it turns out that being inclined to participate in genetic studies is a genetic quality. This inclination leaves “visible” footprints on the brain which can be passed down, leading to generations of people who are genetically more likely to participate in genetic studies.

95. The island nation in the best position for survival during a nuclear winter is New Zealand. 

Per a recent study , it’s one of just a few island nations that could continue to produce enough food to feed its residents while the sun is blotted out and temperatures creep lower due to nuclear fallout. Honey, we’re moving to Oceania.

96. We now know more about Vlad the Impaler’s health.

Vlad III , a.k.a. Vlad the Impaler, is often cited as the real-life inspiration for Dracula . New research into Vlad’s letters have revealed what health conditions might have led to his vampire-esque manner, and they did it not by reading the letters but by using special chemicals to isolate proteins and peptides from Vlad’s skin and blood. Analyzing those proteins revealed that he could have been suffering from respiratory conditions and may have had haemolacria, which can make you cry literal tears of blood.

97. Rats were tickled for science in 2023. 

While animal testing often comes off as a pretty unethical practice, one 2023 study showed that it doesn’t always have to be. In order to study the part of the brain responsible for laughter and playfulness, scientists went to rats and tickled them. According to Dr. Michael Brecht, professor of systems neurobiology and neural computation at Berlin’s Humboldt University, “Rats really love to be tickled.”

98. United Airlines is adding Braille signs to their planes. 

United Airlines announced plans to be the first U.S. airline to offer Braille signs in their planes. This will hopefully help visually-impaired travelers find their seats much easier.

99. An unusual world record was set in Georgia in 2023. 

The record for the World’s Largest Skeletal Chicken is held by Fitzgerald, Georgia. The huge metal chicken topiary stands 62 feet tall.

100. Scientists discovered that our elbows and shoulders might have developed as climbing tools for early apes. 

Research into the climbing habits of different primates shows that chimpanzees with similar rounded shoulder joints and shortened elbow bones as us were able to climb down without, you know, falling to death. They climb downwards like a human descends a ladder, with their arm able to fully extend above their head. So now every time you bang your funny bone, you can thank your ape ancestors. 

This story was adapted from an episode of The List Show on YouTube. Make sure to subscribe to Mental Floss on YouTube for new videos every week.

Best places to live: See where Greenville, Spartanburg rank on U.S. News most desirable list

Greenville and Spartanburg were among five South Carolina cities mentioned in U.S. News & World Report's 2023-24 list of the 150  "Best Places to Live in the U.S .," released Tuesday.

The report analyzed 150 metro areas in the United States to find the best places to live based on quality of life and the job market in each metro area, as well as the value of living there and people's desire to live there.

Among the 150 US metros, Greenville ranked 31st on the list while Spartanburg was 43rd.

Other highlights:

• Greenville is the second-best place to live in SC. In the US stats, Greenville ranks 12th in cheapest places to live, 23rd in fastest-growing places, 23rd in most dangerous places and 67nd in best places to retire.
• Spartanburg is the third-best place to live in SC. In the US stats, Spartanburg ranks 11th in cheapest places to live, 12th in fastest-growing places and 68th in best places to retire.
• Myrtle Beach ranks as the top place to live in SC and the 18th best place to live in the US.
• Charleston ranks as the 53rd best place to live in the US (No. 4 in SC) and Columbia ranks 92nd (No. 5 in SC).
• Charlotte, NC is the No. 8 best place to live in the US.
• Asheville, NC is the 29th best place to live in the US.

18. Myrtle Beach: Golfer's paradise, retirement destination

Year after year, Myrtle Beach brings in tourists from all around the world, the magazine said. Outsiders know the city for its sprawling boardwalk and beaches, but its No. 28 ranking in best places to retire prove that it is also a great place to live. Young professionals, growing families and empty nesters will relish the city's warm weather and relatively low cost of living. Nature lovers will find that there is always somewhere new for their hiking boots to explore, like hiking at Huntington State Park or strolling the 60 miles of shoreline that run along the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach is also home to 90 golf courses, making it the perfect vacation getaway for those looking to score a hole in one after a long week at the office.

31. Greenville: Vibrant downtown, arts and athletics

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city, once the "textile capital of the world", has transformed into the Upstate's cultural and entertainment center, the magazine said. Its award-winning downtown is expanding with projects like the $1 billion County Square redevelopment and luxury McDaniel townhomes development . The city has many sports fans who proudly display their athletic spirit for Clemson University's Clemson Tigers and Greenville's Minor League baseball team, the Greenville Drive, who can be found swinging away at Fluor Field. Events like the three-day Artisphere , which has gained national attention, embrace talented artists and musicians, both local and from around the world, who keep the downtown scene bursting with color and sound.

Here's how much we donate to charity: Greenville County among the most charitable in SC

43. Spartanburg: The Hub City of international business

Spartanburg was once a major railroad intersection in the 19th century known as the "Hub City," its rich history predating the Revolutionary War, the magazine said. The city is now known for having a diverse collection of international companies like its full-time North American BMW plant. Downtown, it is hard to miss the Denny's restaurant chain headquarters, a tall building that sticks out off of East Main Street. It is also not uncommon to find locals dining with their pets at restaurant patios in the pet-friendly downtown. Institutions of higher learning and a burgeoning food scene keep locals busy with things to do.

Economist: BMW Plant Spartanburg adds $26.7 billion to SC's economy. Here's how.

53. Charleston: Charming architecture, fine cuisine

The magazine said, no one does southern hospitality like the Holy City. Its culinary scene lures food lovers from all around with its seafood and lowcountry cooking. Southern style clothing is featured through the fronts of boutique shops lining King Street, America's most distinctive downtown. History is preserved through cobblestone walkways, Spanish moss hanging from oak trees and spooky ghost legends that raise goosebumps on the arms. The city's summers are hot and humid, but locals use days like these to soak in the sun on the beach.

92. Columbia: Capital city features Gamecocks' sports, family fun

Residents of South Carolina's capital will find that there is plenty to do in the city, the magazine said. Columbia has a variety of music and art galleries around town, such as the Koger Center for the Arts and Township Auditorium. Home to the University of South Carolina, many residents bond over their love of USC sports, especially the Gamecocks football team. Parents also know that there is an abundance of places to bring children, like the EdVenture's Children Museum where kids can engage in scientific and technological learning activities, and the Columbia Museum of Art which contains an observatory, planetarium and 4-D theater. Traffic is relatively mild in the city, but don't be fooled ― Columbia is South Carolina's second most populous city.

Nina Tran covers trending topics for the Greenville News. Reach her via email at [email protected].

50 Best Baby Shower Gifts of 2024, Tested By Parents and Experts

Unique gift ideas for baby boys, baby girls and even the mom-to-be.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

No matter which direction you choose, whether you're looking for a baby boy gift , a baby girl gift or a gender-neutral gift , these are the best baby shower gifts to buy in 2024. This includes gear that has been tested by Good Housekeeping Institute experts and vetted by real families. These have been found to be safe, durable and — yes — helpful to the families of testers who gave them rave reviews (plus some other best-sellers and editor's picks we threw in just for fun).

Britax Willow Brook Travel System

Get that baby on the go! This travel system won a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award because of its ease of use — the buckles were especially easy to click tight on a squirmy baby — and the fact that it can take a little one from birth through preschool. The seat snaps into a car seat base or a stroller, so you can lift the baby seat out of the car and snap it into the stroller without having to un-buckle and re-buckle the baby.

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards

BabyBjörn Baby Bibs

They'll be trying their first solid foods sooner than you'd think! When the time comes, they'll be ready with this bib two-pack, which has a curved spill pocket to catch any mess. It can also be thrown in the dishwasher, which makes for easy clean-up.

Vicks 3-in-1 SleepyTime Humidifier

One bad thing about babies? They can't blow their own noses. So colds — of which they get many — keep them up at night, which keeps parents up at night. A humidifier in the room can help, and this one is a humidifier, a night light and an essential oil diffuser all in one. Parent testers also found it lightweight and compact.

Keekaroo Peanut Changer

Parents are over the moon about this changing pad because it eliminates the need for changing and washing covers (and changing and washing them again when the baby pees on the clean one instantly). Instead, this has a liquid-impermeable shell over a soft foam filling inside, which makes it both comfy and easy to clean.

'Touch and Feel: Wings' Board Book

Babies get exposed to different textures with the feathery, leathery and other touchable wings included in this book. Good Housekeeping Institute testers also liked the text. The book uses great adjectives to describe each of the wings," one parent said. You can give this as a wishing well gift, or pair it with other Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award winners to start a baby's library.

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Awards

Personalized Lovey

New parents put a lot of time and care into their baby's names, so if they've shared it before the shower, shout it from the rooftops! You can choose the font, embroidery thread color and up to two lines of text, plus a moon or heart symbol, if desired.

Graco On-the-Go Pack 'N Play

Good Housekeeping Institute experts appreciated that this playard has just the basics — keeping things light if you're on the go and traveling. There's an arch with a couple toys for entertainment, and the feet have wheels so you can move it out of the way. (And maybe get a Graco playard-size crib sheet to go with it?)

RELATED: The Best Pack 'n Plays and Playards

Edushape Sensory Balls

These Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award-winning balls can be used in different ways as babies grow. When they're first born, they can explore the different textures. As they get older, they can work on grasping them and shifting them from hand to hand. And then they can try throwing and catching them — they're a little less inflated, so they're easier to grip.

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards

The Honest Company Diaper Cake

It wouldn't be a shower without a diaper cake. But if your DIY skills are ... lacking, you don't have to spend your time unwrapping and arranging diapers. Instead, the Honest Company can do it for you, in a stack that includes 35 diapers in one of its fun prints.

CeraVe Baby Bath Set

CeraVe is good for those with sensitive skin — the wash and shampoo won a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award for it — and testers liked how good it feels on a baby's skin. These necessary items are always nice to gift, especially if you throw in something cute like an animal bath towel .

HonestBaby 10 Pack of Short-Sleeve Bodysuits

Spit-up, spills and diaper leaks — oh my! Parents might not even realize how many outfits they can go through in a day. Make sure they're set up for success with this set of GOTS-certified organic cotton bodysuits, which come in a rainbow of colors. You can also get a long-sleeve version , or a pastel set in short sleeves or in long sleeves .

Pastel Rainbow Silicone Toy

There are so many ways to use this toy. First, it looks good sitting on a shelf as room décor. It's also made of platinum silicone, which means it can be used as a teether or as a bath toy. As kids get older, they can practice stacking it together like a puzzle.

Burt's Bees Baby Bath Bundle

Baby pajamas might get all the glory, but baby bath goods are secretly the cutest. Who could deny a newborn in a hooded bath towel? This gift set comes with two, plus a baby bath robe (OMG!) and a set of washcloths, all in the Burt's Bees Baby's ultra-soft cotton.

BabyBjörn Balance Soft Bouncer

Parents love everything about this bouncer: It looks nice, it's easy to clean and it even folds up flat so it can be stored out of sight. And Good Housekeeping Institute experts appreciated that babies are soothed by the gentle rocking that's powered by the child's motion, not a motor, so you don't have to worry about changing batteries or being near an outlet.

RELATED: The Best Baby Bouncers

Zutano Cozie Fleece Baby Booties

Baby shoes are adorable, but ultimately impractical. These booties keep tootsies warm, and snap on and off, so they're easy for parents to remove, but harder for babies to take off. Plus, they come in a rainbow of fun colors and prints.

Pure Enrichment Bear Air Purifier

Parents loved the cute, bear-shaped design of this air purifier, but Lab engineers were also impressed with how quiet it was, despite having a powerful fan. It's designed to clean rooms that are just over 260 square feet.

Crawligator Tummy Time Toy

Babies as young as 4 months can use this as a tummy-time helper; they lay on the contoured surface, push with their feet and use it to roll across the floor (not carpet) while working on those gross motor skills. The gator, a previous Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award Winner , even comes with a pad for extra comfort.

Trunk of Hearts Elephant Bodysuit

Parents wear their hearts on their sleeves — babies can wear it on their one-piece bodysuits. This adorable elephant design comes in five colors , and in sizes up to 24 months.

Hatch Rest 2nd Gen

There's so much this little night light can do besides glow (in several different colors). Using the app, adults can set up different routines, complete with a light show and white noise or other relaxing sounds, for bedtime or wake-up time. The Hatch, a previous Good Housekeeping Parenting Award Winner , can also read bedtime stories, and toddlers can use it as an okay-to-wake clock. Testers really appreciated that the light could be controlled through an app, so you don't have to try and sneak into the baby's room to turn it on if you forgot.

HALO Sleepsack Swaddle

Lots of gift-givers love giving receiving blankets as gifts, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies don't use loose blankets in their cribs until they're at least 1 year old. For nighttime snuggles, go for this wearable blanket/swaddle combo instead. Good Housekeeping Institute experts say Halo's fabrics are just the right amount of soft, without being too hot. You can get it in a gender-neutral gray, or go for one of the colors or patterns. It's for babies ages 0 to 3 months, and then parents can move on to the sleepsack without the swaddle .

RELATED: The Best Baby Sleepsacks

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The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

• space weather
• solar flares
• solar storm

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Best places to visit in florida in 2024.

With more than 8,000 miles of shoreline, the Sunshine State is prime vacation territory. But with so many diverse destinations in Florida, it can be hard to pick which place is right for your next getaway. That's why U.S. News considered factors like the number of attractions, availability of accommodations and the opinions of everyday travelers to pick the best places to visit in Florida. Vote for your favorite spots below to help determine next year's list.

Clearwater Beach

St. augustine, anna maria island, dry tortugas national park, marco island, amelia island, sanibel island, miami beach, everglades national park, st. petersburg, fl, fort lauderdale, cocoa beach.

This picturesque barrier island off the coast of Sarasota is a prime vacation spot for relaxation-seeking travelers. Spend your getaway lounging on Siesta Beach, often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world , and enjoy powdery white sands and a bevy of family-friendly amenities including beach volleyball, a playground and concession stands. Or, head to quieter Turtle Beach for shelling and kayaking. In the evening, catch some live music in Siesta Key Village.

Clearwater Beach's beautiful white sand , crystal clear water and small-town vibe make it an ideal destination for a family vacation on the Gulf Coast. Spend the day getting a snapshot of the city during a Segway tour or visit Caladesi Island State Park (only accessible by boat) for its untouched natural splendor. Also save time for a visit to one of the area's biggest attractions, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where the dolphins that inspired the "Dolphin Tale" movies were rehabilitated. Later, head to Pier 60 to catch a sunset, purchase locally made crafts and watch various street performances.

History buffs should make a beeline for St. Augustine. Founded by the Spaniards in 1565, this town in northern Florida is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the U.S., earning it the nickname the Ancient City. Constructed from local coquina, a unique type of stone made from compressed shells and limestone, St. Augustine's structures and monuments (including the buildings lining pedestrian-friendly St. George Street and the imposing Castillo de San Marcos National Monument) act as a living guide to history. When it's time to relax after taking in the sights, head to Anastasia State Park for its unspoiled beaches and sand dunes.

This tranquil barrier island located roughly 35 miles south of St. Petersburg is the perfect place to recharge your batteries. Kick back on gorgeous white sand shorelines like Bean Point and Coquina Beach, then grab a bite to eat along Pine Avenue, the island's historic main street. And if you're traveling with children, Mote's Marine Science Education & Outreach Center features several kid-friendly programs worth checking out. Meanwhile, history enthusiasts should pencil in time for a tour of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum.

Made up of six islands in the Florida Keys – Plantation Key, Windley Key, Indian Key, Lignumvitae Key and Upper and Lower Matecumbe Keys – Islamorada boasts tranquil parks, colorful coral reefs and art galleries. Thanks to its position between the Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, this laid-back coastal village is a renowned sport fishing destination, bringing in species like sailfish, marlin, mahi-mahi, tuna and tarpon. But if you don't feel like casting a line, you can check out the History of Diving Museum or put a dent in your wallet at the shops in Rain Barrel Village. 

Sitting about 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is known for its premier snorkeling and wildlife-viewing opportunities. Home to nearly 300 species of birds, five types of sea turtles and about 30 species of coral, this remote seven-island park in the Gulf of Mexico is a popular Florida day trip destination for nature lovers. Plus, travelers can go on a self-guided tour of the 19th-century coastal fortress Fort Jefferson, located on Garden Key. Keep in mind, Dry Tortugas National Park can only be reached by boat or seaplane, and an entrance fee is required.

The elegant and romantic city of Naples is all about luxury and relaxation. This spot on Florida's Paradise Coast is known for its gorgeous sugar-white sand beaches and incredible golf courses. High-end shops and gourmet restaurants abound, especially along Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South. Plus, flora and fauna lovers have access to all kinds of nature-focused attractions here, such as the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, the Naples Botanical Garden and Clam Pass Park. Those who appreciate art won't want to miss The Baker Museum or one of the city's many art galleries.

Known as the Diving Capital of the World, Key Largo offers access to the only living coral reef in the continental U.S., the country's first undersea park (John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park) and the only underwater hotel in the world solely accessible by scuba diving. The largest island in the Florida Keys is also a prime spot for other aquatic activities, including snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and glass-bottom boating. When you're ready to trade your sea legs for solid ground, grab a bite to eat and a rum runner cocktail at one of Key Largo's laid-back eateries.

World-famous attractions such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida make Orlando a year-round tourist destination, but there are many attractions and activities outside of the theme parks . Travelers can shop till they drop at outlet malls, hit the links at one of the area's many golf courses, and get up close and personal with dolphins and stingrays at Discovery Cove. Those without little ones can explore Orlando's revitalized nightlife and restaurant scenes in the downtown area.

Travel to this island in the Florida Keys to relax at a beachside resort and see the southernmost point in the continental United States. Key West is known for its free-spirited locals, colorful conch-style homes and coral reefs ripe for snorkeling and scuba diving. Between boat tours and margaritas, bibliophiles will enjoy visiting the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, where they can learn more about the famous writer and see descendants of his six-toed cat, Snow White. Or, head to Key West's main drag, Duval Street, for its cafes, shops and nightlife.

The largest of Southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island is a haven for water sports like boating, fishing and kayaking. Its sunny skies and white sand beaches invite visitors to sunbathe, swim and search for seashells. Those who want a break from the sand can learn about the island's ties to the ancient Calusa Native Americans at the Marco Island Historical Museum or look for manatees, sea turtles and other wild animals in Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Located about 30 miles northeast of Jacksonville, Amelia Island's historical charm and 13 miles of uncrowded beaches make it a top vacation destination. Stroll through Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach, where pirates used to roam and the modern shrimping industry was born. For some fun yet relaxing activities, go horseback riding by the water or play a round of golf on one of the island's highly regarded courses.

This spot along the Florida Panhandle's Emerald Coast is a home away from home for thousands of summer vacationers. Its unique, postcard-worthy white sands made from Appalachian quartz and its clear, bright blue-green water help Destin stand out from other Florida beaches. The nearby Henderson Beach State Park is a must-visit shoreline, with its 30-foot white sand dunes. And Destin's manicured golf courses, optimal fishing conditions and shop- and restaurant-lined boardwalk continue to attract travelers year after year.

Relaxation is a given on Sanibel Island. Severely impacted by Hurricane Ian in 2022, Sanibel Island continues to recover but is once again welcoming tourists. Your first stop here will no doubt be the beach – Bowman's Beach offers prime shelling opportunities and Captiva Island is an excellent place for water sports like snorkeling and kayaking – but it would be a shame to visit the area without also exploring its many art galleries, bike trails and shops. Plus, you'll want to save time for activities like birding and fishing in the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Just plan ahead; lodging options remain limited.

Few places in the world compare to colorful, vibrant Miami Beach. From the one-of-a-kind art deco architecture along Ocean Drive to the scantily clad beachgoers on South Beach, this Miami offshoot attracts everyone from relaxed retirees to night owls. But you'll want to bring along your credit card because those fashionable dance clubs and chic, trendy restaurants don't come cheap. To save some money, consider buying a Go Miami card before your trip to access to some of the area's museums and tours for a fraction of the price.

Florida is almost as famous for its alligators as it is for its beaches and theme parks, and one of the best places to see them is in Everglades National Park. As the largest subtropical wilderness in the country, the park is the world's only environment where alligators and crocodiles coexist. It's also home to rare species like manatees and panthers. The Everglades offers several hiking trails and guided tours for navigating its vast 1.5 million acres. Be sure to visit between November and April (the park's dry season) to enjoy lower temperatures, fewer mosquitos and increased chances of spotting wildlife.

Holding the Guinness World Record for most consecutive days of sunshine, St. Petersburg appeals to all types of travelers. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy St. Pete Beach and the 7 miles of waterfront parks. Away from the shore, downtown St. Petersburg offers plenty of attractions, including a museum dedicated to the works of Salvador Dalí and the Sunken Gardens, the city's oldest living museum. The city also hosts one of the largest Pride events in the U.S. every summer and is home to a large LGBTQ+ community.

If you're looking for sun, sand and superb shopping, Fort Lauderdale is the place to go. Fort Lauderdale features palm-tree-lined beaches, and its 165 miles of waterways and canals have earned it the nickname the Venice of America. Those looking to partake in some retail therapy will find plenty of shops and restaurants on Las Olas Boulevard and in Galleria Fort Lauderdale and Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet mall in the country. When you're not exercising your wallet or lounging on beautiful Las Olas Beach, don't forget to check out the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Much like its sunny neighbor, St. Petersburg, Tampa attracts visitors with its balmy weather and outdoor pursuits. But as the third largest city in Florida, Tampa also offers a little more action. Visitors can stroll along the lively Tampa Riverwalk to get a glimpse of public art and dazzling light displays, or visit one of the area's museums, such as the Tampa Bay History Center. Those bringing kids along can also explore Glazer Children's Museum or The Florida Aquarium (with a stop at Sparkman Wharf for lunch), or tire them out with some thrills at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Cocoa Beach appeals to everyone from space enthusiasts to surfers. The nearby Kennedy Space Center offers a firsthand look at NASA's shuttles and launch pads. In the northern part of Cocoa Beach, visitors will find one of the best places in Florida to surf and the flagship Ron Jon Surf Shop, the largest surf shop in the world. Here, you'll also find the Florida Surf Museum, where you can learn more about the history of Florida surfing. Vacationers can also sign up for bioluminescent kayaking tours of the area's waterways or play beach volleyball next to the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier.

Vote to Add these Destinations to the Rankings

Fort Walton Beach

St. George Island

Panama City Beach

West Palm Beach

Delray Beach

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