Smithsonian ranks America’s top 20 best small towns to visit

While there are many lists that rank America’s best small towns, few take a scientific approach.

For the third year in a row, editors at Smithsonian magazine worked with geographical informational systems company Esri to analyze data from towns or cities with a population of fewer than 15,0000 that still offer world-class cultural activities.  Go there...

Great Spring Weekend Getaways

Each year as March fades into April, acres of Indian paintbrush and Mexican poppies blossom across Arizona’s Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park. It is one of America’s best spots to watch the desert bloom each spring—and it’s just an hour outside of Phoenix.

For much of the country that has spent this lingering winter cooped up indoors, once the weather begins to warm, the urge to take off for some long weekend getaways can be overwhelming—so why resist?  Go there...

America the wild: Where to find untouched wilderness

The lower 48 states are a huge swath of territory, spanning over 3.1 million square miles from coast to coast.

But even across this seemingly limitless expanse, very little land is untouched by civilization. There are more than 4 million miles of public roads in the United States, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and that doesn't count private roads, utility roads or off-road vehicle trails.  Go there...

North America's best public gardens: You decide!

Nominees have been announced for the 10Best Readers' Choice award for "Best Public Garden" and they include some of the most stunning green spaces across North America. Readers have until March 31 at noon to vote on their favorite garden; votes are allowed once per day, per category.  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 Beach Pier in Southwest Florida.  Go there...

5 Free Activities In 'Secretly Awesome' Mobile, Ala.

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Mobile is that "other" city on the northern Gulf Coast, the one that sometimes gets lost between the beaches of the Florida Panhandle and the nonstop party of New Orleans. Local promoters call it "secretly awesome."

No, Mobile doesn't draw millions of tourists annually. But the bayside town drips with Old South charm and has plenty of things to do, some of the best of which don't cost a dime.  Go there...

Photo tour: Beautiful South Carolina

South Carolina, the first colony to declare independence from the British crown and the eighth to join the Union, is a state of beaches, mountains, waterfalls and a fascinating blend of cultures. Take a photo tour with the slideshow.   Go there...  

Alabama Gulf Coast Named Top Tourism Attraction

Alabama’s Gulf beaches and Gulf State Park are the largest tourism attractions in the state, overwhelmingly so, according to the new attendance figures released last week by the Alabama Tourism Department.  The state’s largest stand-alone festival events, located about 20 miles apart, are also located in the Gulf Coast region. The Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival (March 14-16, in 2014) and National Shrimp Festival (October 9-12, in 2014) in Gulf Shores come in at the top two spots among event promotions staged over a single weekend.  Go there... 

America's Coolest Small Towns 2014

Who wouldn’t want to live in the Coolest Small Town in America? Budget Travel's 9th annual contest saw some of the liveliest competition ever, with some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet creating videos, songs, and mobilizing their fans all in the name of getting their town to the top. Here, the results.  Go there...

Volunteering in national parks: Jobs you can do in 2014

Whether you're a recent retiree with time on your hands or a traveler in search of an opportunity to give back, consider volunteering at one of America's 401 national park units. You won't be paid, but you'll enjoy new acquaintances, wildlife in its natural habitat, sparkling night skies — and a sense of performing a meaningful service.  Go there...

The best of North Carolina's Outer Banks

The Outer Banks of North Carolina, also known as the "OBX" by veteran visitors, draw people from all over the world to its barrier islands for family fun. At the heart of this popular beach lies the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, home to eight historic villages immersed among some of the largest spans of undeveloped natural beaches on the East Coast...Go there...