Quirky New Year's Eve countdowns across the USA 12 places to celebrate outside of Times Square.

There are plenty of ways to ring in the New Year, and perhaps the most famous of all is Times Square and the famed ball drop, watched by millions around the world. Here are 12 other fun ways to celebrate 2015 across the USA.

Chocolate chip cookie fans, rejoice! A replica Toll House Cookie will drop at midnight for the first time over the center of the Town of ...  Go there...

The 51 longest highways in the USA

There's nothing like a road trip to see this enormous country of ours. There's something about just getting in the car and driving until the road ends. We just decided to take that to its natural conclusion here, with the 51 longest highways in the USA. Between US highways and interstates, the list above should get you where you want to go (assuming there's no ocean in between). And if you're in Brownsville, Texas, and want to go to Canada, well there are two options for you. You're welcome.  Go there...

Picturesque National parks to visit in the wintertime

Generally, wintertime is associated with sitting by a crackling fireplace and watching the snowfall from the comfort of your warm home. Mix in some fast-paced winter sports like snowboarding and skiing, and it completes the package.  Go there... 

Olympic National Park: Disconnect from the world

We stood silently in the middle of the Hoh Rainforest within Olympic National Park, the only sounds birds chirping, water drops falling and camera shutters clicking. Around us, streams babbled and unseen wildlife went about their daily, untouched lives amidst the trees that soar hundreds of feet towards the sky  Go there...

Vail Vs. Aspen: The Ski Destinations Duke It Out

Aspen versus Vail: It's one of the oldest destination rivalries of all time. And while fans of each will claim that their chosen locale far outshines the other in numerous ways, the two Colorado ski towns are most likely so often at odds with one another because they are actually quite similar. Both have amazing slopes. Both attract a celebrity clientele.  Go there...

10Best: Military museums that bring battles to life

Despite their dramatic topic, military museums used to be dry stuffy collections, mainly appealing to soldiers and scholars. But the galleries have grown up, capturing the interest of young visitors with theme-park thrills and dynamic displays, says Dr. Charles H. Cureton, chief of the museums division at the Center of Military History in Fort McNair in Washington.  Go there...

The 10 Best Cities In America

From the "smartest," and "fittest" to the "best place to meet single men." PureWow ranks the 10 best cities in America. Did your hometown make the cut?  Go there...

6 Of America's Favorite Little Towns You Need To Visit This Fall

As with certain seasons and songs, sometimes you just want to take a back road or enjoy all that a quiet, peaceful town has to offer. Fall is a cozy season, and with that comes a longing for tiny towns with quaint B&Bs and little carriage tours.

Just in time for colder weather, here are a few towns, courtesy of Travel + Leisure, that you'll definitely fall in love with this season:   Go there...

Route 66: A road trip into history

Alien-themed motels, vintage auto installations, ghost towns, truck stop diners and London Bridge are among the many magical aspects of Route 66, America's beloved Mother Road. Though parts of this legendary highway are fading into antiquity, it's more important to our heritage than ever. The road shows you this country as it used to be and as it is;   Go there...

7 Florida Beaches Locals Want to Keep Secret

Panama City Beach is the go-to destination for Spring Break. Miami's South Beach is a playground for the beautiful people. And Key West has been lauded by everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Kenny Chesney. But with 663 miles of beaches, Florida still holds a few sandy secrets, including these seven under-the-radar spots we Floridians would rather keep to ourselves.  Go there...

10Best: The brightest fall foliage around the USA

As the crisp fall air sweeps across the USA, so too does autumn color as the forests become ablaze with red, orange and yellow hues. Don't miss taking in the fall foliage at one of the colorful destinations below.  Go there...

10Best: Spookiest haunted houses in the USA

As Halloween approaches, scare seekers across the US will descend upon haunted houses for a hair-raising, bone-chilling, skin crawling experience. These ten spooky settings are sure to thrill even the most seasoned haunted house enthusiast.  Go there...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

This 800-square-mile preserve in the Southern Appalachians, America's most-visited national park, offers a stunning peek into some of the most intensely biodiverse land in all of North America. Saved from logging companies in the 1930s by a coalition of dedicated Tennessee and North Carolina conservationists, landowners who donated their land – and, surprisingly, motorists organized by the American Auto Club (AAA) – the park offers a beloved escape for city dwellers and a critical habitat for thousands of plant and animal species.  Go there...

10Best: Quirky attractions in the South

There's a mystique about the South, and to find the true essence of the region it's best to hop in a car and seek out the unique experiences that can only be had below the Mason-Dixon Line. While many follow the conventional visitor circuit and hit all the main sights, intrepid travelers looking for one-of-a-kind experiences plan their journeys around quirky yet popular attractions that leave friends and families saying "...you saw what?" The next time you're traveling through the region, consider a detour to visit one of these unusual visitor attractions, most of which are located in small towns and isolated regions.  Go there...

10Best: Taverns where American history's on tap

If you choose the right bar, going out for cocktails can be a cultural experience, literally offering a chance to drink in history. "Every drink has a context. When you mix that drink and you sip it, you're stepping into a moment in time," says Lesley Jacobs Solmonson, co-author with David Solmonson of 12 Bottle Bar (Workman, $14.95), inspired by their popular blog 12bottlebar.com. They share some favorite historic watering holes with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.   Go there...

Wounded Warriors Enjoy Camping, Fishing

RVC Outdoor Destinations, a leading provider of high-quality outdoor vacation properties in the United States, has partnered with Wounded Warrior Fishing to host its 2014 Wounded Warrior Weekend at Live Oak Landing, an RVC site in Freeport, Fla.
Local fishing guide and wounded warrior Mark McDuffie of Wounded Warrior Fishing and his partner Jeep Sullivan of Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures teamed up to create special events to benefit wounded warriors. The two combine both fishing and hunting,,, Go there...

America's Top 5 Cities To Keep On Your Radar

Whether it's a revamped corner of New York or an up-and-coming Midwest town, it seems like there's always a new "hip" neighborhood or "it" city to visit. Which had us thinking about the coolest cities to visit right now.
After much map-scouring and a sprinkle of savvy, here are our conclusions:  Go there...

15 Relaxing Fall Getaways

As autumn rolls in, it’s the ideal time to get away. From California’s majestic redwoods to the quiet shores of North Carolina, here are a few serene destinations perfect for the cooler weather.  Go there,,,

The Molokini, A Transparent Ocean Kayak So Genius, We Wish We'd Thought Of It

There are plenty expensive gadgets and gizmos we'd like to buy for our next traveling adventure, but sometimes it's just not in the budge.

For example, we're not going to spend $9,000 on this tent for our glamping trip and$50,000 for a barbecue dining boat is simply out of our price range.

But we have located one item that might actually be worth shelling out some cash for. This insanely cool, rather genius transparent sea kayak called the Molokini, is that item and we need it now.   Go there...

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in the U.S.

The grand-daddy of all beer festivals, Munich's two-week extravaganza draws about seven million thirsty souls to the Bavarian capital. From September 20 to October 5, 14 beer halls – some seating 10,000, others smaller – will serve beer from six Munich breweries with roast pork, chicken and potato pancakes galore, while bands continuously play German oompah and American pop. The beer halls are themed: one displays rural Bavarian scenes, one is horse-themed, one is family-friendly, another lures celebrities -- and some specialize, serving only duck, venison, seafood or cheese.  Go there...

What To Eat While On Kentucky's Bourbon Trail

In Kentucky's bourbon country, the classic American whiskey isn't just for sipping anymore.

Restaurants stretching along the Urban Bourbon Trail in Louisville are creating bourbon-inspired sauces and glazes to jazz up main courses, side dishes and desserts. The 6-year-old bourbon cocktail and culinary experience has grown to 34 establishments, adding more zest to the city's nightlife.  Go there...

Best Road Trips 2014

Nothing says “road trip” more than cruising down the highway, windows down and music up, with all your worries disappearing in the rearview mirror and the open road lying ahead. Buckle up and get ready for a ride to remember with Travel’s Best Road Trips 2014, our coveted list of the most picturesque and adventurous drives across the globe.  Go there...

11 Southern Towns You're Forgetting About But Shouldn't

The South can be pretty damn charming, true, and there is certainly more to it than places like Nashville or Charleston (which are admittedly great).
There are some cute towns strewn across the region, each with their own unique vibes that make us want to visit stat.
Here are 11 places you're definitely missing out on.  Go there...

Go underground: Exploring Virginia's caverns

Thanks to its location alongside the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley sits on a limestone base – the geological equivalent of resting on Swiss cheese. Limestone is the softest type of rock formation in nature, and dissolves in contact with rainwater – about 1/10th of an inch every year. Thus the valley boasts an impressive collection of caves that go for 150 miles. There are seven commercial caves, ranging from quirky mom-n-pop ventures to US National Landmarks.
Go there...

The Best of Beantown

Boston is a city steeped in history and delicious food. Whether you want a guided journey on the Freedom Trail or a gustatory tour of the city’s neighborhoods, here’s what can’t be missed.
Go there...

Celebrate the Pacific Northwest's cider apple country

Long before the Pacific Northwest became known for producing table apples like the Red Delicious, it was cider apple country. Gnarly, feral fruits with strange names like Yarlington Mill and Brown Snout, cider apples are nearly inedible, but they provide just the right acid, tannin and aroma required to make complex, fine hard cider. These pioneer-era drinking-apples (which were a mainstay of a budding American nation) were all but wiped out by Prohibition.  Go there...

Shenandoah more than just beautiful scenery

As national parks go, Shenandoah is not a heavyweight. It is gorgeous, to be sure, packed with forests, waterfalls and overlooks, all connected by Skyline Drive winding through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Still, this is not nature on the scale of parks like Yosemite or Glacier. But filmmaker Ken Burns says that's not the point.  Go there...

Believe your eyes: America's most stunning views

America is a big country full of bigger views, from sea to shining sea. From stunning natural formations to architectural wonders, these ten sights rise above the rest.   Go there...

Ken Burns shares secrets of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

"There is a great human story" of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to Ken Burns, the Emmy award-winning filmmaker.

As co-creator of the PBS series America's Best Idea: The National Parks, Burns and his team spent over six years filming in national parks across the United States.   Go there...

Behind the lines: Tour Southern literary destinations

Moody shrouds of Spanish moss, crumbling antebellum mansions, sweat-damp seersucker: Perhaps more than any other US region, the South packs an atmospheric punch that seems tailor-made for the written page. No wonder it's produced a wealth of writers who claim a hard-to-shake hold on readers' imaginations.  Go there...

13 reasons to do Labor Day at the beach

What began as a workingman's holiday is now synonymous with summer's last hurrah. Labor Day — recognized in the USA and Canada — is one of the rare occasions when it's socially acceptable to look forward to a Monday and start celebrating on the Friday before. Temperatures are dipping and school is starting, but with the finality of the season front-of-mind, the beach beckons even more than it did.  Here are a few shorelines you'll want to share with friends and family before fall sinks in.   Go there...

Secret seaside escapes for a final summer fling

With their simple pleasures, sleepy oceanside towns capture the no-frills essence of a classic beach vacation. What they lack in stoplights or strip malls they more than make up for in quiet kayaking channels and shores of ankle-deep shells. At these 10 lesser-known seaside escapes throughout the U.S. and Canada,  Go there...

This epic drive is what road trips were made for

This scenic byway takes you along towering mountains, past alpine lakes and misty waterfalls and through lush forests. It's everything a road trip should be.
 Tucked away in the very Northwest corner of the continental United States is Washington's Olympic Peninsula, a lush green paradise begging to be explored. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Olympic Peninsula literally has everything...  Go there...

America's Best State Fairs

Nothing says America like deep-fried food, butter sculptures, and dubious carnival rides. Whether you like livestock, musical shows, or food on a stick, there's a state fair out there for you. Here are 10 favorites across the country.  Go there...

Kentucky: Horses, bourbon and natural beauty

The "Bluegrass State," so named for the iconic grass that proliferates on its fertile soil, is synonymous with horses and horse racing. Its two major cities – Louisville (home to the Kentucky Derby) and Lexington (home to Keeneland Race Track, as well as the University of Kentucky) – are hotbeds for the horse industry.   Go there...

Scenic drives throughout the South

The days of making a lazy Sunday afternoon drive just for the heck of it might have vanished elsewhere, but not in the South, where miles of marshes, wetlands (and badlands!), stunning green hills, and rolling mountains regularly induce the automobile inclined to get behind the wheel. While the topography may vary the pleasure principle remains constant. Beauty rewards drivers in ways unexpected and uplifting throughout these, our favorite scenic Southern drives: .. Go there...

Garibaldi Is A Beautiful Volcanic Lake Hiding Out In Canada This Might Just Be Canada's Best Kept Secret

Garibaldi Is A Beautiful Volcanic Lake Hiding Out In Canada

We just found the most magical lake in the world, and it's been hiding out in Canada all along. Welcome to Garibaldi Lake in British Columbia.

Located just outside of Vancouver and a little south of Whistler, Go there... 

Idyllic and historic main streets across the USA

Finding mom and pop in the Wal-Martization of America is becoming increasingly difficult. However, these ten small town gems will quickly dispel you of any notion that the historic and charming streets of Americana have long been eradicated. Visit them for a refreshing — and friendly — blast from the past.   Go there...

10 mistakes campers make

Camping can be a lot of fun and, in a national park, it's easy and affordable. But there are a few things that can trip you up. These 10 mistakes will put a damper on any adventure.  Go there...

2015 Millennium H3-45, S4 #10095

Charleston, S.C., wins for friendliest U.S. city

Southern hospitality lives on. Eight of the 10 friendliest cities in the USA are in the South, according to a new survey by Conde Nast Traveler.

Charleston, S.C., was named the friendliest city and recognized for its culture, history, natural beauty, and food scene, the magazine said in its 2014 Readers' Choice Awards. Charleston earned top honors last year as well.  Go there...

These RVs Are Swankier Than Hotels

Known by some as luxury condos on wheels, these motorhomes and trailers will make you forget you’re not staying at a hotel. Whether you rent or buy, here are seven options (with suggested routes) to inspire your next road trip.  Go there...

Civil War battlegrounds in the South

It's impossible to deny the compelling narrative the Civil War still weaves into the culture of the South. A visit to former battlegrounds and sites where the war played out offers the visitor a gateway into why the issue remains important. Often, there are tour guides available that provide insight into the conflict and its impact locally — then and now. These Civil War battleground sites in the South are your ticket to that history and its present day resonance.  Go there...

10Best: Food festivals to dive into

To Anthony Anderson, a food festival combines the best of both worlds: a chance to explore a new place and to eat some incredible food. The guest judge on Iron Chef has just launched Eating America With Anthony Anderson, a Food Network series running Mondays through Sept. 15 (9 p.m. ET/PT) that has the actor exploring and tasting his way around food festivals. "It's a natural for me," he says. "I grew up watching Julia Child and The Galloping Gourmet." He shares some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.  Go there...

10 Charming Midwestern Towns to Visit This Summer

While New England hamlets are perhaps the epitome of small towns, the Midwest has its fair share of quaint communities with a unique charm all their own. During the summer season, these towns can nearly double in size on any given weekend, with the promise of relaxed sailing and throwback street festivals offering a pleasant reprieve from city life.  Go there...

Driving Vermont's Very Tasty Cheese Trail

I'D BEEN DRIVING for hours through southwest Vermont, steering my rental car up and down idyllic, tree-lined country roads that less resembled a transportation system than an unraveled ball of yarn. An atlas and a state map lay discarded on the passenger seat. Neither showed my destination, a farm somewhere along the flank of Vermont Route 30. A lot of farms lie along that road. I had no idea what would distinguish this one from the others.  Go there...

Year-round beauty: Mount Rainier National Park

Visible throughout much of Washington State, Mount Rainier is an iconic, almost regal volcano. The contiguous USA's fifth-highest peak stands at 14,410 feet and is surrounded by sub-alpine meadows thick with wildflowers and 35 square miles of glaciers and snowfields. About 2 million visitors enter the national park annually to hike, camp and soak up the ethereal beauty of Mount Rainier, located about 80 miles from Seattle.  Go there...

25 beautiful piers, promenades and boardwalks

There's something undeniably appealing about a beautiful waterfront, and these 25 Piers, promenades and boardwalks represent some of the country's most picturesque waterfront.  Pictured here is the Fort Myers pier in southwest Florida.  Go there...

The 10 Best Small Cities in America

Instead of planning a trip to New York City or Los Angeles, explore some of America's quainter cities. These spots, voted among the best in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler's readers, have plenty of cultural attractions, stylish hotels, and charm to spare.

See how they compare with the 10 Best Cities in America.  Go there...

5 Great Travel Alternatives to a Beach Vacation

There are many good reasons why beach vacations are such an obvious choice for families. The things that make them up -- water, sky, and sand -- are elemental. No matter what beach town you choose to visit, it's sure to have a casual, laid-back atmosphere.   Go there...

5 Awesome & Affordable American Drives

Every corner of the U.S.—including yours!—offers a bold, beautiful road trip that rolls out an unforgettable vacation at a reasonable price. Here, five that we bet you haven’t taken yet. Canyonlands National Park, with its beautiful Mesa Arch, is just one of the stops along our five amazing American drives.  Go there...