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...