If you’re asking yourself where you should go on vacation this year, you’re not alone. And there’s no shortage of “where to go” lists this time of year—competing compendiums of new hotels and resorts, trendy neighborhoods, and cultural hotspots to check out in the year ahead.
This is not that list. Not exactly, anyways.
As adventure addicts, we wanted to craft a roster of amazing destinations where you can get outdoors, camp, paddle, surf, hike, and crush some dynamic singletrack. Our overriding parameters determining what made the cut was simple: what’s cool and fresh in the world outside?
The answer? Plenty.
Here’s Where to Go on Vacation in 2025, If You’re Into These Outdoor Pursuits
Every one of these destinations promises an amazing adventure, whether that’s carving down a fresh-cut ski run, tackling a section of a new thru-hiking terrain, or releasing turtles on the beaches of Mexico. These trips all come with good food, great vistas, and unforgettable cultural experiences. And yes, a few even have luxe places to crash at night, too.
Many of these destinations are in the beginning phases of executing ambitious goals, and we included them to offer a glimpse of what’s to come. Others are perennial favorites that have simply been overlooked by online-influencer culture and thus remain indelibly cool in real life. In other words, we’re offering up some new options and some classic standbys. We also included both domestic and international destinations for each type of adventure, in case you’re feeling particularly wanderlusty (or a staycation).
Together, they prove, once again, that there’s no shortage of fun to have outside. Here’s where to travel in 2025 if you’re up for it.
Destinations Newsletter
Want more of ϳԹ’s Travel stories?1. Long Walks (or Runs)
Stay Domestic: Cross Texas Trail, Texas
🥾 🎒 Beginning this year, Texas will get its own thru-hiking epic, the new Cross Texas Trail, a proposed 1,500-mile-long haul that stretches from the Louisiana border in the east, near the town of Orange, to El Paso in the west. Among the many highlights of the planned xTx, as it is known: panoramic views of Hill Country, the rugged peaks of Big Bend Ranch State Park, East Texas barbecue joints, the crystal-clear Devil’s River, and the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, at 8,751 feet.
The trail, designed for hikers, bikers, and equestrians, is a work in progress, but the route features a mix of singletrack and paved and gravel backcountry public roads. You can ride much of the route now, but the nonprofit behind the xTx—led by bike advocate, former community design consultant, and state representative Charlie Gandy—is currently working on access to some private ranch land so that riders can more easily enter some sections of state and national parks. In the future, there could even be trailheads equipped with picnic areas, water stations, and campsites, but for now, it’s all a self-supported, DIY affair. The trail has a long way to go to match the history of the Appalachian Trail or the sheer beauty of the Pacific Crest Trail, but it could be one of the best, if longest, ways to experience the hardscrabble charm of the Lone Star State.
Go Abroad: Palmilhar Portugal, Portugal
🥾 🎒 Portugal is about to get its own version of Spain’s Camino de Santiago, a new 3,000-kilometer (1,850 miles) loop trail that is being billed as the world’s longest circular hiking route. The trail, called (or “Walking Portugal”, in English), will eventually pass through over 100 off-the-beaten-path attractions around the country, from windmills and vineyards outside Lisbon to mountain peaks in the north. Most of the trail is still under construction, but initial sections opened last summer, and new routes are being added regularly throughout 2025. While mostly a hiking trail, Palmilhar Portugal will have some sections open to cyclists, too. The team behind Palmihar Portugal plans to launch an app later this year, , that will help visitors look up information about the route and the services along the way, including places to stay, restaurants, and points of interest.
2. Fat-Tire and Mountain-Biking Fun
Stay Domestic: Killington Bike Park, Vermont
🚴 ⛰️ In the fall of 2024, , in Vermont’s Green Mountains, was purchased by a passionate group of local investors who promised big changes to New England’s iconic ski area, including a in capital improvements over the next two seasons. Those upgrades include an expansion to its already impressive bike park, with 30 miles of lift-accessed mountain-biking trails.
Beginning in 2025, the park will get a new trail, accessed by the Ramshead Express Quad, and other improvements are in the works. The new trail (dubbed Ramshead, construction on which starts this spring) will start at the top of the lift and snake down the mountain for more than two miles. Even without the new upgrades, the bike park is one of the best in the East, with features like berms, tabletops, and bridges that cater to intermediate and advanced riders alike. Its signature trail, “,” is a steep, technical descent with rock gardens and big jumps, but there are plenty of smoother trails for beginner downhillers, too. (One-day passes begin at $65.) Off the trails, Killington’s base area is buzzing with its new enhancements on the horizon, and everything points to this year being the start of upgraded riding to come for Killington.
Go Abroad: Mogo Trails Project, Australia
🚴 ⛰️ Like many areas rich in adventure bona fides—British Columbia, South Africa, New Zealand—Australia is investing heavily in new trails for mountain bike aficionados, and one the largest ongoing projects is , in New South Wales.
The expansive trail network, roughly four hours south of Sydney, is being developed near the town of Mogo, a tiny outpost adjacent to the area’s temperate rainforests. Mogo Trails is being designed for various skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders, with a mix of park-style gravity trails with jumps and cross-country trails.
Currently, there are about 70km of singletrack ready for riders, with a total of 130km planned to be completed in 2025 and beyond. Finished trails are listed on, along with descriptions of each one. If you’re coming from Sydney, you’ll need to book lodging nearby. Batemans Bay, a version of an Oregon beach town Down Under, has excellent options, including , an upscale motel that also offers easy access to surf breaks just down the beach. (From $140 per night.) The much larger town of Canberra, the capital of Australia, is two hours away. Other nearby mountain bike trails, like the new Narooma Trails, which opened in 2023, are making the area a legitimate international destination for MTB enthusiasts.
3. Fresh Piste
Stay Domestic: Deer Valley Resort, Utah
🎿 ❄️ Over the next few years, Park City’s Deer Valley Resort is undergoing a , with a new base village, 100 new trails on 2,600 acres of fresh terrain, and more than 10 new lifts to access it all, including a 10-passenger gondola. When it’s all said and done, the resort will double in size to over 5,700 acres, making it one of the ten largest ski resorts in the United States.
The transformation is already under way. Debuting for the 2024–2025 season are three new chairlifts, 300 acres of terrain, and freshly cut trails leading to the new East Village. When it’s complete, the East Village will offer the same level of premium service that Deer Valley has become known for, with restaurants, retail shops, and an ice-skating facility, among other facilities. Of course, for day skiers, perhaps the biggest draw of the new East Village is that it’s located on U.S. Route 40, which allows you to avoid driving through the heart of Park City itself, often crowded with traffic.
For now, the brand-new , with 381 guest rooms and suites, anchors the East Village, and it’s the only place to stay on that side of the resort. (From $270 per night.) But the hotel has more than enough amenities to keep you comfortable, including a restaurant and bar, a downstairs speakeasy-style lounge, a coffeeshop, a heated outdoor pool, three hot tubs, and a partnership with Ski Butlers to offer white-glove ski valet service when suiting up for the day. There’s even a , a High Tea service but instead of tea and hand sandwiches, you get hot chocolate paired with s’mores cookies, chocolate snowballs, and other baked goods.
Go Abroad: Andermatt Ski Area, Switzerland
🎿 ❄️ Unknown to most Americans, the combined ski resorts of , an hour and a half south of Zurich, is poised to become one of Europe’s premier ski destinations. Over the last handful of years, more than $2 billion has been invested in upgrades, with ten new lifts that allowed you to ski all three by accessing any one of them. Combined, the resorts have more than 100 miles of trails.
The historic village of Andermatt, with cobblestone streets and a very Swiss vibe, has also been undergoing a series of renovations to accommodate the influx of skiers. This winter, for example, it unveiled a brand-new shopping and dining district featuring 35 stores and 10 restaurants. The resort is also on track to become carbon neutral by 2030, a hugely ambitious goal for such a large operation.
For American skiers, it’s also become easier to shred: In 2022, Vail acquired majority ownership in the resort, which means that it’s now . With over 12 feet of average annual snowfall, a range of terrain—from blue and yellow runs to steep couloirs and powder-filled bowls—Andermatt is one of the best resorts in all of Europe. And with a master plan mapped out for the next 30 years, now is the time to go, before the hordes descend.
4. Beach Vibes
Stay Domestic: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
🏖️ 🌊 As part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras is known for its expansive East-Coast beaches, world-class kiteboarding, and laid-back charm. It’s also now home to one of the more exciting Atlantic Coast lodging conversions in years: , a 14-room wellness-oriented hotel that faces Pamlico Sound, a vast expanse of shallow water good for both paddling and kiting. The hotel opened last year after owners bought a failed, two-story strip mall and transformed it into a chic hotel with suites designed by world-famous interior designer Jonathan Adler.
If that turns you off, don’t let it. The result is a quirky mashup of coastal kitsch and beach sophistication with a focus on outdoor recreation. There’s even an outdoor deck featuring cold plunges, a sauna, and a hot tub for relaxing in after a long day on the saltwater. (From $179 per night.) And its location, adjacent to the entire length of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore—where windswept dunes and unspoiled stretches of sand offer endless opportunities for surfing, fishing, and paddleboarding—leads to a perfect blend adventure and tranquility in one of the most celebrated beach destinations in the U.S.
Go Abroad: Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast
🏖️ 🌊 Nicaragua’s Pacific Coastline has long been considered one of the best stretches of remote coastline in Central America, with excellent surf breaks framed by undeveloped sand beaches and tropical forest. Now, thanks to an ongoing , it’s about to get much easier to access much of the coastline.
The country’s new Carratera Costanera Highway, or Emerald Coast Highway, will stretch more than 350 kilometers (217 miles) from the Gulf of Fonseca in the north to Playa El Naranjo in the south, making it smoother and safer to travel along the coastline. Construction has already , near San Juan del Sur, which is known as the country’s surf capital, because of its proximity to some of Nicaragua’s . Up and down the coastline, you’ll find a variety of waves, from mellow beach breaks to beefy points, with consistent year-round swell (although the summer months remain the best).
The promise of easy access is already drawing development interest to the coastline and new tourist offerings, like the newly refreshed and reopened , which was the country’s first true luxury eco-resort when it opened in 2013. (From $776 per night.) The resort has direct walking access to a world-class surf break just off of its private beach. While funding is secured for the road construction, the pace of progress is nearly impossible to predict, so don’t expect to be driving down a long stretch of empty, freshly paved highway this year. (Also, the U.S. State Department has a for the country, in part because of the government’s arbitrary enforcement of laws, although like Costa Rica or Panama, Nicaragua is generally safe for tourists if you exercise caution). But if you want to experience the surf breaks before the rush on the rapidly developing coastline, now is the time to go.
5. Paddling Pristine Backcountry
Stay Domestic: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
🛶 💧 In January 2023, the Biden administration helped ban mining and geothermal exploration on over 225,000 acres of land in the Superior National Forest, preserving the integrity of the Rainy River watershed and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the process.
With President Trump in power again, however, advocates are once again worried that the BWCAW, one of the most pristine landscapes in the Lower 48, could return to becoming a political football. If so, it could be tossed back into the hands of the Chilean-owned mining conglomerate that has been seeking to open a copper-sulfide mine in the area for years. All of which is a good reason to explore the area now, to see firsthand just how special this landscape is.
Spanning over a million acres of North Woods forest dotted with thousands of lakes, this is a paddler’s paradise, with more than 1,200 miles of canoe routes and 2,000 campsites, most of which are paddle-in only. If you want a break from modern life and all its real-time annoyances and aggravations, the BWCAW has always been one of the best places to do it, and now you can show your tacit political support for the area simply by enjoying a weekend paddle through it.
Go Abroad: Pacuare River, Costa Rica
🛶 💧 The Pacuare River, roughly 60 miles east of San José, is not only one of the best tropical rafting trips on the planet—and by extension one of the best ways to experience Costa Rica’s wild side—it’s also “home” to the perennial favorite . With 20 suites, a restaurant, and a spa set along the riverbank, the lodge has set an impossibly high standard for eco-luxury in the heart of the rainforest. (From $949 per night.)
The best part, however, is that arriving at Picuare requires getting on the water first. With no road into the property, guests float down the Pacuare’s class II–V rapids, through canyons and untouched jungle, and arrive via boat on the lodge’s front steps. Despite its remoteness, it’s full of amenities. Each suite has a range of luxuries like outdoor showers, spring-fed fountains, and plunge pools. The restaurant serves exceptionally high-quality, fresh ingredients and the spa has wellness programs that include open-air yoga sessions and treatments inspired by indigenous traditions. The surrounding forest is home to toucans, sloths, and howler monkeys, and non-river activities include guided rainforest hikes to see the wildlife, zip-lining, and visiting local Cabécar communities. The lodge itself is worthy of a visit alone, but combined with its entrance theatrics—a float down the whitewater of Pacuare River—the experience may just offer the perfect balance of adventure and indulgences for a weekend jungle-induced rejuvenation. Pura vida indeed.
6. Camping (with Creature Comforts)
Stay Domestic: Yosemite, California
⛺ 🔥 Outdoor-oriented hospitality group is expanding once again, this time to an 80-acre camp near Yosemite National Park. Ever since it started with a single glamping resort in West Yellowstone in 2012, the company has grown year over year to offer overnight access to some of America’s most iconic destinations, including Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and Moab (thanks to its luxury offshoot ULUM Moab).
is the company’s first foray into California, and it will feature the same safari-inspired tents—with king-size beds, a private deck, and ensuite bathrooms—that have made its 13 other locations so popular. There will also be regular activities in the camp, such as live music, morning yoga, and nightly fires with s’mores. (The seasonal camp runs from May 15 to October 27 in 2025, and rates start at $349 per night, meals not included.)
But perhaps the best reason to book a stay here while visiting Yosemite National Park is the easy access it affords. The camp is located just ten minutes from the west entrance to the park and, more importantly, across from a bus stop for the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS). Without a reservation in summer, you are no longer allowed to enter the park by car. So staying at Under Canvas Yosemite means you not only get all the amenities, but you also get easy, car-free access to the park.
Go Abroad: Playa Viva, Mexico
⛺ 🔥 On a remote beach 35 miles south of Zihuatanejo lies one of the most ecologically sensitive, off-grid, wellness-focused resorts on the planet: . This is far from camping, but the 19 open-air treehouses and casitas, designed with bamboo and other sustainable woods, will make it feel as if you’re poaching a nap on the last stretch of perfect sand in all of Mexico.
Each room has unobstructed views of the beach, with nothing to be seen either direction besides palm trees, Pacific waves, and the occasional breaching whale. Set on 200 coastal acres, Playa Viva is home to a vibrant turtle sanctuary, a regenerative farm, and mangrove forest. The resort supports local communities through various initiatives and actively works to help restore surrounding ecosystems. Guests can even participate in activities like helping release baby sea turtles (during the fall hatching season).
The on-site restaurant even serves farm-to-table dishes that celebrate the region’s culinary heritage. Think fresh-caught seafood, handmade tortillas, and tropical fruits picked just steps from your casita. Daily beachside yoga classes and a variety of massage services round out the offerings. Again, you’re not exactly roughing it, but the resort is a world away in a wild, pristine corner of Mexico. (Summer low-season rates begin at $240 per night.)
7. Wildlife Encounters
Stay Domestic: American Prairie Reserve, Montana
🦬 🦌 When it was established in 2004, —a private, nonprofit effort to create the largest wildlife reserve in the continental U.S. at three million acres—seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream. But the group has steadily managed to acquire an impressive amount of land on Montana’s Northern Great Plains in their effort to reestablish a functioning ecosystem that supports free-roaming wildlife.
In December, APR , which brings their total to over half a million acres of deeded land and leased public property. Thanks to all the efforts over the years, the reserve is now home to a wealth of iconic wildlife, including herds of bison, elk, and pronghorn. It also contains some of the most remote areas of the lower-48 states, with a diverse landscape—from sagebrush plains to riparian areas to the steep hills of the Missouri Breaks—that offers visitors the chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat.
The APR’s National Discovery Center has excellent exhibits about the prairie ecosystem, and is the best place to learn about the reserve’s hiking, biking, and camping opportunities, especially considering that it continues to expand its offerings, which includes interpretive programs. But as a quick-start option, one of the best ways to experience the wildlife is by camping at , located four miles north of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge on the rolling shortgrass prairie. (RV sites are $19 per night and tent sites are $13.) Here, you’re almost certain to see plains bison and pronghorn roaming past prairie dog towns and get a much deeper connection to one of the most overlooked landscapes in the U.S. The American Prairie Reserve isn’t just a trip, it’s a chance to witness (and participate in) conservation history in the making.
Go Abroad: Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, British Columbia
🐳 🦅 Tucked into a Pacific Ocean inlet on Vancouver Island’s wild west coast, is perhaps the most luxurious gateway to British Columbia’s wildlife-rich temperate rainforest. It may also be the best way to see the area’s charismatic, iconic species, from black bears and eagles to whales and otters.
The lodge’s 25 canvas tents, which are lavishly appointed with specially made furnishings, king-sized beds, and wood-burning stoves, offer guests the perfect blend of off-grid seclusion and high-end comfort. (From $3,300 per night.)
Meals focus on hyper-local, foraged ingredients crafted into exquisite dishes. Committed to sustainability, the seasonal lodge operates with an extremely light footprint, relying on renewable energy to power the camp. It also supports local First Nations communities through cultural exchange programs and eco-tourism partnerships. All of which makes staying here feeling as if you’re part of a very lucky family.
But the real reason to come are the wildlife excursions, which includes hiking or horseback rides in the forest to see and sea kayaking outings on the inlet, where it’s common to spot whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions. And this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to the lodge’s eco-adventure program. For those seeking a communion with nature that has more than a dash of indulgence, Clayoquot offers an unforgettable escape into the wild heart of British Columbia.
Ryan Krogh is a writer and editor who lives in Austin, Texas. Among the dozens of destinations that he traveled to in 2024, including Iceland, England, and a road trip through Mexico’s highlands, his favorite was a weekend fly-fishing trip to the Texas Coast. In 2025, he’s hoping to see Nicaragua and Portugal for the first time, which is why they’re included here, but he also has plans to explore the new “Gulf of America” coast, whatever that is. He has recently written about the world’s best airports with cool outdoor spaces, the beginner’s guide to carry-on luggage, and the most dog-friendly beaches in the U.S.