If you’re a regular traveler like me, you already know this: most airports are awful. You’re constantly rushing through a crowded terminal, competing with a harried mess of humanity, only to then cram yourself into a narrow seat for a few hours until you get to your next terminal purgatory—meanwhile, dragging your luggage the whole way. Germs waft through the air. Couples argue about holding each other up in the TSA line. As I write this, I’m sitting in the F concourse at Minneapolis Saint-Paul listening to a kid whine at NASCAR-engine levels about not getting soft serve ice cream and his Chick-fil-A nuggets.

Airports are the worst.

Except
not all of them. Around the world, there are a growing number of destinations that are making their airports, well, welcoming. A shocking idea, I know. I’ve been to a handful of these miraculous creations (compared to the usual dreadfulness)—international airports like Vancouver, Zurich, and Munich. They’re clean, organized, and, best of all, have a place to get some fresh air before your next long-haul flight. With this new wave of amenities (and your travel sanity) in mind, here are the best airports in the world, from Asia and the Middle East to right here in North America, that offer incredible open-air areas to soothe your traveling stress.

Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore (SIN)

Don’t Miss: The Indoor Climbing Area

Changi Airport is a perennial winner of the , thanks to a seemingly never-ending list of Disneyland-like attractions, including a onsite, a on the roof of Terminal 1, and the , at seven stories high. There’s even an indoor forest, called , with walking paths and a glass walkway that rises 23 meters above the terminal floor, allowing you to trek amongst the treetops. (To see how impressive the full list of attractions is, you can scroll through it .)

For nature lovers, though, the true gem is Changi’s series of gardens, including Cactus Garden, Sunflower Garden, Enchanted Garden, Petal Garden, and Butterfly Garden. Together, they offer the most complete botanical adventure you’ll get at any airport on earth. And even though some of the gardens are indoors, it’s hard to tell.

The , for example, is set in a large conservatory designed as a tropical forest, with an 18-foot high grotto waterfall. It’s home to over 1,000 butterflies from as many as 40 species and, on your way to your gate, you can stop by and stand amidst the flora as the butterflies flutter around you. For a splash of yellow, the is worth a quick stop if you have some time to kill in terminal 2, and the , also in Terminal 2, is designed to offer Shangri-La-like atmosphere, with the sounds of a forest pumped into is a large room dominated by four giant glass bouquet sculptures that are filled with a variety of flowers and ferns.

Perhaps most Zen of all, though, is the on the roof of Terminal 1, which features over 100 species of arid plants from Asia, Africa, and the Americas—everything from prickly pear cactus to giant ponytail palm trees. It also has a bar and shaded tables, so it may just be the best place to grab a local while you hope for another hour delay on your flight out.

Denver International Airport, Colorado (DEN)

Don’t Miss: The Ice-Skating Rink

This pick comes with a minor asterisk: the primary outdoor area is before you go through security, so you’ll need to enjoy the al fresco offerings in advance of your flight, but the options are worth the early arrival. The space is called the , and it’s a large synthetic turf located between the Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin Hotel, underneath the airport’s famous faux mountain peaks.

In summer, the turf is set up with cornhole games and wooden benches for lounging, and there’s often live music or other events throughout the season (all of which are free to the public). In the winter months, typically from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, the area features an open-air ice rink with free loaner skates.

Of course, don’t fret if you’re running on time and need to get through the TSA line: inside the airport there are three outdoor lounges with seating and fire pits, at Concourse A-West near gate A15; on Concourse B-West at gate B7; and at gate C67 on Concourse C-East.

Zurich Airport, Switzerland (ZRH)

Don’t Miss: The Outdoor Walking Paths

If you find yourself craving one last view of the Alps before your flight home, , the primary hub for Swiss International Airlines, has an executive lounge with an outdoor terrace that has impressive views of the mountains beyond. The at the Midfield Terminal is open to all travelers for a fee (roughly $50) and, in addition to the outdoor terrace views, you get access to all of the lounge’s food and drink options, and other amenities.

But the real reason Zurich Airport is on this list is because of its adjacent , a 20-acre park filled with forested walking paths and a modest hill with good views from up top. It’s a great place to unwind during a long layover or if you get caught waiting for a delayed flight. You’ll need to leave the terminal to access it, but the short walk and fresh air are worth it. During much of the week, there are park rangers who will take you on a , explaining the flora and fauna and how it was designed for maximum relaxation (check the rangers’ in advance). There’s even a free cable car to whisk you into the park in the most Swiss way possible.

From the arrivals area, walk across the parking area to the Circle, the large building adjacent to the terminal that hosts restaurants, hotels, and stores. From there you can take the cable car into Der Park.

Vancouver International Airport, Canada (YVR)

Don’t Miss: The Digital Light Show

For most passengers headed through , their first introduction (or last farewell) to British Columbia is YVR’s Chester Johnson Park, located directly adjacent to (and underneath) the Canada Line train station. The park is designed to feel like an , with rock-lined paths, native trees, driftwood benches, and a large wooden sculpture—the Musqueam Welcome Figure—curving throughout its length. It’s also home to the Green Wall, a 17-meter-high vegetated art installation made up of, at last count, 27,391 individual plants.

As for inside the airport itself, there’s a new 47-foot-high open-air atrium in the international terminal, with three full-grown hemlock trees in the center. Until recently, the glassed-in atrium was only visible to passengers as they commuted past, like looking into a giant terrarium, but you can now open a door and walk out into the atrium for a breath of fresh air. At night, the trees and rock landscape are lit up by digital light projections—faux waves crashing over the rocks, for example—and a corresponding soundscape. The whole experience is designed to showcase the sights and sounds of B.C., and it does just that and more. It may be the most successful attempt of any airport in the world to bring a little bit of the region’s natural landscape into the airport itself.

Incheon International Airport, South Korea (ICN)

Don’t Miss: The Indoor Gardens

Among the many attractions for passengers flying into or through South Korea’s —the country’s main international gateway and one of the busiest airports in the world—is a sprawling, in Terminal 2.

The green features are spread throughout much of the large space, with a mix of flowers, trees, ferns, and bamboo growing from planters situated throughout—in the floors, dividing walls, large garden spaces, and above kiosks’ ceilings, with strands hanging down. Smaller water, rock, cactus, and pine gardens are strategically located across the airport campus, too. Technically, none of these areas are outdoors, but the enormous roof above the main area, with translucent panels in the center, makes it feels as such, which is why we’re including it on this list.

We’re also including Incheon because of the airport’s ongoing plans to add even more green spaces that utilize a variety of plants to create a living, breathing indoor space with healthier air for all visitors. As part of its , the airport also plans to add a terrace with an outdoor garden, so passengers can decompress before their (likely long) overseas flight.

Long Beach Airport, California (LGB)

Don’t Miss: The Palm Treed Courtyard

, bills itself as “America’s coolest airport,” and while that moniker is a bit of a stretch, it does have an impressive courtyard with a series of tall palm trees and a drought-tolerant garden. The airport, one of the five major commercial airfields serving the greater Los Angeles metroplex, is the second smallest, with just 11 gates. In such a tiny airport, the 4,200-square-foot courtyard is definitely a unique amenity, one that punches well above its weight.

The courtyard is also ringed by dining options from local establishments, so it’s an excellent place to grab a bite to eat while you wait for your flight out. For those heading to this side of L.A. or points south along the coastline, LGB is definitely a good choice over LAX (see below).

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Don’t Miss: The Private Lounges

For anyone who has traveled through recently, you know it’s a mess, thanks to a $30 billion overhaul one of the world’s busiest airports is getting ahead of the , in L.A. By the time construction is done, it will almost be a brand new airport, with new terminals, an elevated train, and an on-site rental-car facility to help eliminate the shuttles current clogging up the passenger pickup/drop-off areas. Already some of the upgrades are beginning to appear, including a series of new lounges with outdoor terraces.

The in Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) has a large outdoor deck with fire pits, trees, running water, and great views of the Hollywood Hills in the distance ($75 for standard access). The United Club in Terminal 7 is much smaller—more a balcony than a lounge—but it’s spacious enough to get some fresh air and does have good views of the tarmac ($59 for a single-entry pass).

The new , which is open to Delta customers traveling with a Delta One ticket, is the company’s premium lounge, with table service at every seat, a sushi bar, and eight relaxation pods. It also has a large private Sky Deck on the roof, with a landscaped terrace full of chairs, sofas, and enough plants to keep it feeling like a lounge, rather than an extension of the tarmac.

LAX will remain a very urban airport, but with a few spots to sneak in some last-minute SoCal sun, these lounges are worth it, if you can afford them.

Hamad International Airport, Qatar (DOH)

Don’t Miss: The Indoor Tropical Garden

Yes, this is another entry highlighting a space that is not, technically, outdoors, and yet we promise that visiting ’s “The Orchard” will feel more like being in nature than just about any of the other places on this list.

It’s a massive, 64,000-square-foot set beneath a soaring, translucent roof shaped like the inside of a shell. More than were sourced from around the world to create the indoor garden, and at its center is a “water feature” that is best described as a spiraling waterfall emerging from a slanted halo. At points the faux forest is so lush that you almost forget that you’re surrounded by roughly five dozen shops, lounges, and restaurants, with hundreds of rushing bodies scrambling to catch their flights. It’s almost worth a trip to Doha just to see it—or at least a long layover.

Munich International Airport, Germany (MUC)

Don’t Miss: The Next-Door Surf Park

This wouldn’t be Bavaria without beer, so it’s fitting that not only does have a beer garden onsite, it’s also an open-air one, with a covered glass roof. Called the, it’s the first brewery in an airport on earth. It has an indoor tavern for drinking, but the patio offers both fresh air, protection from the occasional rain shower, and food and beers, like the Fliegerquell Lager and the Kumulous Wheat.

Munich Airport also has a 900-square-meter , with seating and binoculars to take in the alpine views on clear days. Across from Terminal 1 is , an extensive outdoor area with grass lawns and trails, a playground area, interactive exhibits, benches for sitting, and a 90-foot-high hill overlooking the area. It’s an excellent place to stretch the legs before a long flight or burn off some of the kids’ energy before boarding.

Oh, and just in case you have half a day to kill, there’s a brand-new surf park, , just around the corner from the airport. It’s Germany’s first wave pool and the largest in Europe, at over 215,000 square feet, capable of churning out waves .Ìę Getting there is a cinch: it’s just a five-mute car ride away, literally in the shadow of landing flights.

Bonus Picks: Other Noteworthy Outdoor Areas in North American AirportsÌę

While these airports do have notable outdoor areas, they really can’t compare with our picks for the best airports in the world featured above. That said, they’re still worth calling out on honorable mentions—especially for domestic travelers—for these specific reasons.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Texas (AUS)

The accessible to Sapphire Reserve cardmembers, has a large outdoor terrace with seating overlooking the tarmac and Hill Country beyond. The Delta Sky Club, directly adjacent to the Sapphire Lounge, also has outdoor seating, and more outdoor areas are in the works as part of the airport’s multi-billion-dollar expansion.

San Francisco International Airport, California (SFO)

For ticketed passengers, there’s a free in the international terminal with seating and excellent views of the airfield and beyond. Three bronze sculptures by local artist Woody Othello decorate the space, at the end of Boarding Area G. For plane-watching, there’s also the , located atop Terminal 2. It’s a good, free place for the public to come (no ticket necessary) to see some of the largest aircraft serving SFO. The SkyTerrace is open Friday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia (ATL)

The in Concourse F has an outdoor deck for its club members, with seating for roughly 40 guests and a free bar. As with all of Delta’s clubs, there’s free food and drinks, as well as WiFi.

John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)

For travels heading through JetBlue’s Terminal, there’s a roughly 4,000-square-foot post-security rooftop lounge with green spaces, seating, a children’s play area, and even a dog-walk area. The rooftop lounge also offers passengers views of the Manhattan skyline and of the iconic TWA terminal, which is now the . The , as it’s called, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the entrance is across from Gate 28.

Ryan Krogh is a freelance writer and editor based in Austin, Texas. He mostly covers the subjects of travel and the outdoors, and is always looking for a way to get some fresh air in airports worldwide.ÌęÌę

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I love a good road trip, especially in the mountains of Colorado, where I live. It’s when I do some of the best creative thinking, and it feels like the possibilities for exploration are endless. Should I hike a fourteener tomorrow? Cross the border into Utah to go mountain biking?

I scoured the globe to put together this list of the most stunning drives you could imagine, from the snowcapped peaks of Chilean Patagonia to the windswept west coast of Ireland. I’ve completed a handful, driven parts of many of them, and the rest are on my bucket list. I also chose these road trips for their proximity to adventure, and include essential details like the best hikes, beaches, and accommodations along the way. Buckle up.

The Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean, Canada

Miles: 550
Road terrain: Mostly gravel
Best time to go: The Dempster Highway is open year-round, but traditional summer festivals in the Arctic towns and the aurora borealis viewing in winter are seasonal highlights.

Truly rugged and remote, this overland expedition traverses dramatic tundra landscapes, boreal forests, and mountain ranges en route to the Arctic Sea. Begin in the gold-rush outpost of Dawson City, Yukon, and load up on supplies—the unpaved gravel road is a known tire eater, so be sure you have a spare and a four-wheel drive car. From there the heads north through the historic Klondike region, crosses the Arctic Circle, and enters the Northwest Territories, where you’ll have panoramas of what’s known as the polar Serengeti, a wide-open wilderness teeming with caribou, moose, and grizzlies.

Along the way, you’ll pass through Indigenous communities such as Tsiigehtchic, reached by ferry in summer after the snow melts. If you’re traveling during August, you can watch canoe races and listen to traditional music during Tsiigehtchic’s Canoe Days celebration. By the time you arrive in Inuvik, Canada’s largest community north of the Arctic Circle, you’ll have logged 457 miles. Pitch your tent or park your teardrop at (from $28), perched on a bluff overlooking the Richardson Mountains and the nation’s largest river, the Mackenzie.

Pick up the final stretch of the trip in town, the Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway, an 86-mile gravel road that winds past the Pingo Canadian Landmark, a collection of pingo (mounds of earth-covered ice) more than 100 feet high, and ends in the Inuit shorefront hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk.

Scenic Byway 12, Utah

Miles: 122
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: Early spring and early fall

This expanse of highway connects Bryce Canyon to , traveling through Dixie National Forest and the northern part of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. The whole thing could be completed in three hours, but given its proximity to so many perfect playgrounds for hiking, paddling, biking, and fishing, I suggest a four-day road trip. Bookended by Panguitch to the west and Torrey to the east, this designated bisects multiple ecosystems,Ìę from sage flats to slickrock deserts, and sleepy rural communities like Boulder, where you should stop for a meal at . The photo opps are endless, but Powell Point Vista, between the towns of Henrieville and Escalante, affords some of the best views of the area’s distinct Wasatch Limestone formations. If I could overnight in one place along the way it’d be , which has a drive-in theater, a pool, and a food truck (from $99).

The Romantic Road, Germany

Miles: 220
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: Spring or fall

Germany’s Romantische Strasse, or Romantic Road, could be the backdrop of a Grimm’s fairy tale, with its turreted and crenelated castles, red-roofed villages, and lake-dotted countryside in the Alpine foothills. This scenic byway across Bavaria connects the baroque town of WĂŒrzburg with the pastel-hued town of FĂŒssen. The former is home to the Unesco-designated WĂŒrzburg Residence, one of the nation’s most opulent palaces, while FĂŒssen is five minutes from what many consider the route’s highlight, King Ludwig’s , which was the inspiration for the palace in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. If you want to stretch your legs, you can tackle the hike to Mount Tegel, located behind the castle, or take the cable car up and explore the trail network at the top.

Along the way you’ll pass plenty of beer gardens—the riverfront in the hamlet of Landsberg am Lech is a must-stop—the vineyards of the Franconia wine region (pick up a bottle of dry, white Silvaner), and spend a few hours rejuvenating in the historic spa town of Bad Mergentheim; at the ($150), you can take advantage of the indoor pool, spa, and gardens.

The Explorers Way, Australia

Miles: 1,864
Road terrain: Paved (and remember, Aussies drive on the left-hand side)
Best time to go: Australia’s fall, March through May

The ultimate outback odyssey, the is a road trip through Australia’s Red Centre. Much of the drive follows the Stuart Highway, named after 19th-century explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to successfully traverse the continent from south to north. Stuart’s expedition took nearly a year, but two weeks is ample time to complete the journey from Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

I highly recommend detours to to stand in awe of the 2,831-foot-high monolith sacred to Aboriginals and to Litchfield National Park, teeming with waterfalls and wildlife like dingo and wallaby. Dedicate at least a day to explore the Aboriginal art galleries of Alice Springs, the Northern Territory’s second largest city and the approximate midway point of the route. When you reach the Top End, toast your trip with a bush negroni at Willing Distillery in Darwin or celebrate with a bush safari at (from $2,425, all-inclusive), just northwest of Kakadu National Park, home to more than .

Atlantic Road, Norway

Miles: 22
Road terrain: Narrow, paved
Best time to go: The coast is most dramatic in September and October

Norway has 18 designated national scenic routes, but the fact that the Atlantic Road was selected as the stage for the James Bond film No Time to Die is a testament to its wow-factor beauty. Officially known as , this drive links the village of KĂ„rvĂ„g on AverĂžy Island with the fishing village of Bud on the mainland via an archipelago connected by eight low-lying bridges. Few roads bring you so close to the ocean: roll down your window and you’ll likely be kissed by sea mist.

Essential detours include the coastal path at Vevang to see Jan Freuchen’s “,” a sculpture scattered across the rocks and heath-covered hills, and the glass-walled viewing platform at AskevĂ„gen, which affords spectacular mountain and ocean vistas. StrĂžmsholmen Seasport, located between the towns of Kristiansun and Molde, offers scuba diving, fishing excursions, and wildlife safaris on the water. It also has four waterfront cabins that sleep up to ten people (from $55).

The Ring Road, Iceland

Miles: 820
Road terrain: Mostly paved, with some stretches of gravel
Best time to go: Late spring or early fall

Stretch after stretch of otherworldly landscapes unfold along this , also known as Route 1. It shows off vast lava fields, tumbling waterfalls, spouting glaciers, and bubbling geysers. You’ll want at least seven days to enjoy all the attractions and adventures along the way, and if you do the drive in May, June, or July, you can take advantage of nearly 24 hours of sun.

Most road-trippers start in the capital, ReykjavĂ­k, the city closest to KeflavĂ­k International Airport. You can tackle it counterclockwise or clockwise, but if you do the latter first, the scenery crescendos from pretty to jaw-droppingly gorgeous. If there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss, it’s a detour to the northern Troll Peninsula, which loops around the headlands past the end of the SkagafjörĂ°ur fjord.

On the southeastern coast of Iceland, take time to explore JökulsĂĄrlĂłn, a glacial lagoon studded with icebergs, and nearby Diamond Beach, named for the brilliant chunks of ice that sparkle like gems against its black sands. The geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon, just 20 minutes from the airport, are the perfect final stop. Or tack on an adventure—maybe kayak in a glacial lagoon or ride an ATV along the beach—with outfitter .

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Miles: 1,600
Road terrain: Narrow, winding, and paved (you’ll also driving on the left-hand side here)
Best time to go: summer to take advantage of longer day-light hours

One of the longest coastal routes in the world, the Wild Atlantic Way hugs the Emerald Isle’s rugged and spectacular west coast for miles, from its northern terminus on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to its southern terminus in the town of Kinsale in County Cork. The route is broken into 14 stages, and you’ll want to budget a minimum of five days to complete it.

There are loads of opportunities to stretch your legs on untouched swaths of beach near soaring sea cliffs. Those at Slieve League jut up 1,972 feet at their highest point; follow the Pilgrim’s Path from Teelin village 1.5 miles to the tops, and after pop into town for lunch. You’ll have plenty of options, but I highly recommend the award-winning pub (rooms are also available from $54). The iconic Cliffs of Moher, in the lunar-like Burren region, are one of the natural treasures of Ireland, with a five-mile (one-way) coastal walk that connects the charming villages of Liscannor and Doolin.

On Achill Island, explore Keel Beach, a nearly two-mile stretch of golden sand. When I visited, the waves were pumping and I rented a board and a thick wetsuit from . If the water’s calm, you can rent a stand-up-paddleboard. If your final destination is County Cork, celebrate with a pint at , a pub in Ballydehob that’s been run by the same family for a century.

Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, Oregon

Miles: 363
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: Late spring, early fall, or winter

Most people associate the Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, with California, but the storied road spans from Canada to Mexico. Some of the best lengths, in my opinion, are in Oregon, where the road skirts virgin beaches, craggy mountains, and rocky coves, through a series of quirky seaside resorts and sleepy fishing villages. You could zip along all of it in 10 to 12 hours, but five days is the better plan, stopping at the many parks and public lands along the route. Ecola State Park (sea stacks, tidepooling, wildlife-watching) and Oregon Dunes Recreation Area (whose sweeping sandy expanses are said to have been the inspiration for ¶ÙłÜČÔ±đ’s planet Arrakis) are both top of my list.

About 30 miles northwest of the city of Bandon is Cape Arago; this short detour off the byway takes you through the South Slough National Estuarine Reserve, home to more than 150 kinds of birds and . In the town of Coos Bay, I like to overnight at the modern cabins at Bay Point Landing ($235). The next day, you can drive 24 miles east to the remote Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area and hike 1.4 miles to the top of Golden Falls for an eagle’s-eye view of the cascading waterfall and old-growth firs. Schedule your journey for spring and winter and bring your binocs—you can often spot the blows from migrating gray whales as they surface off the coast.

The Garden Route, South Africa

Miles: 124
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: June to December, when you can spot whales from shore

This ocean-hugging highway showcases the Western Cape’s outrageously beautiful beaches, lush forests, national forests, and abundant marine life. Just under two hours’ drive from Cape Town, the former fishing village of Hermanus Bay is the gateway for the Garden Route. I always stop here to take advantage of the excellent land-based whale-watching between June and December. Continue three and a half hours east on the N2 highway to the harbor town of Mossel Bay, the route’s official starting point. Spend some time trekking around before heading out on your drive; my favorite is the 2.5-mile out-and-back trail from Pinnacle Point to Oyster Bay.

, approximately midroute, is a great spot for birdwatching and kayaking and has accommodations that include campsites (from $20), cabins (from $50), and a bed-and-breakfast (from $90). A half-hour farther east is Plettenberg Bay, nicknamed the Saint Tropez of South Africa for its palatial beach homes. Just south is , a nice picnic spot where you can observe seal colonies. Spend a day exploring , which boasts a 50-mile-long shoreline and an interior with 500-year-old trees. Looking to burn off some energy after hours in the car? I suggest the Otter Trail. South Africa’s oldest hiking trail takes five days to complete and begins near the Garden Route’s eastern terminus at Storms River rest camp.

Queenstown to Milford Sound, New Zealand

Miles: 180
Road terrain: Paved, two-lane highway
Best time to go: New Zealand’s fall, March through May, is perfect for hiking

Described by Rudyard Kipling as the “eighth wonder of the world,” Milford Sound is big nature on steroids. The drive on the South Island from Queenstown along State Highway 6 (a.k.a. the Southern Scenic Highway) and then State Highway 94 (Milford Sound Highway) will get you thereÌę in just over four hours, but slow down to marvel at the waterfalls and alpine lakes framed by mountains. Te Anau is the halfway point of the drive and an ideal place to overnight, refuel, and stock up on food as there are no services farther en route to the sound. The lakeside town is also the gateway to the glacier-carved wilderness of and the jumping-off point for the Milford Track, arguably one of New Zealand’s most famous , so consider tacking on a few extra days.

The Carretera Austral, Chile

Miles: 770
Road terrain: Rugged, pock-marked dirt, requiring four-wheel drive
Best time to go: Austral spring and summer, November to MarchÌę

Waterfalls tumbling from hanging glaciers. Forests of lengua trees and turquoise lagoons. Ancient marble caves and flamingo-filled lakes. The wild backdrop of Chile’s Southern Highway (Route 7) is an adventurer’s fantasy. Also known as the , this road cuts through remote, mountainous wilderness in northern Patagonia. Set aside at least two weeks so you can take time to visit Queulat National Park and Pumalín National Park, both located along the route.

Puerto Montt, a bustling town in the Chilean Lake District, is your starting point. It’s considered Chile’s seafood capital, so attempt to score a table at Pa Mar Adentro Restaurant and try the caldo curanto, a traditional seafood stew, before starting your journey south.

Coyhaique, the capital of Chile’s AysĂ©n region, marks the route’s midway point. Take a day here to trek the trails of Reserva Nacional Coyhaique, home to two beautiful lakes, Los Sapos and Venus. Campsites are available in the Casa Bruja section of the reserve ($5), or continue a couple hours south toÌęGeneral Carrera Lake and hole up at the family-runÌę ($170). The owners serve terrific farm-to-table meals and partner with local guides who lead kayak trips to the Marble Caves and treks across Exploradores Glacier.

Rumbo Sur Hotel ($190), in the isolated terminus town of Villa O’Higgins, is a comfy final base surrounded by hiking trails and glaciers. A 4×4 is recommended, as most of the road is unpaved.

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű travel columnist Jen Murphy hates driving but will happily sit shotgun on any road trip. Last fall she navigated on a weeklong mother-daughter road trip through southwest Colorado.

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Here’s a little-known fact: is the perfect destination for adventurers with a drive to explore sustainably. With three natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 16 UNESCO biosphere reserves, 16 national parks, and 104 nature parks, Germany offers an immense array of natural beauty and opportunities to escape the mundane. From the mountains to the sea and the forest in between, we talked to three German outdoor enthusiasts—, , and —to learn about their favorite outdoor spaces and how to travel more sustainably while visiting them.Ìę

Hike in the Mountains

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű: What makes the Partnachklamm Gorge so special?

Rudolf Achtner, Gorge Warden in Partnachklamm Gorge: You won’t find more beautiful, wild, or varied nature anywhere else in Germany. Located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a mountain town in southern Germany, the Partnachklamm Gorge is a must-see wonder. The gorge is especially beautiful during the early morning or in the evening when you can enjoy solitude. If you’re looking to experience the most dazzling light, visit at noon. Between half past eleven and half past one, direct sunlight reaches into the gorge and reflects off its many large and small waterfalls and illuminates the gorge in the most beautiful rainbow colors.

On sunny days, you feel like you’re in a small Grand Canyon. Once it has rained for a few days, you can see the wild, pure nature spring to life. On hot days, the tall cliffs provide shade. In the cold season, the frozen water creates bizarre formations, with large icicles that hang down from the rocks.Ìę

To get epic views of the surrounding mountains, hike through Partnachklamm Gorge to Eckbauer Mountain—a challenging but worthwhile seven-mile trek. The gorge is walkable at any time of the year and is perfect for visitors of all ages. After walking through the gorge, the way back to the trailhead via the Iron Bridge features an inimitable view into the deep gorge.

How can travelers plan a responsible and more sustainable visit to the Partnachklamm Gorge?

RA: Many visitors choose to travel by bike to Partnachklamm Gorge and take advantage of the bike racks we have here. If biking isn’t your style, you could also use public transportation—just take the local bus lines 1 or 2 from Garmisch-Partenkirchen main station to the ski stadium, and from there it’s a nice 25-minute walk to the gorge. For anyone who doesn’t want to walk from the ski stadium, there are horse-drawn carriages that travel back and forth to the entrance of the gorge.Ìę

Before arriving at the gorge, you should pick your route. Decide whether you want to trek beyond the gorge (after the gorge there are many hiking possibilities) or travel back through the gorge to return to the main entrance. The gorge does have operating hours that change seasonally.Ìę

Finally, we are always happy when hikers pack out everything they carry into the park so we can keep it clean and beautiful for all visitors.

Marvel at the Sea

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű: Where is the best place to experience the sea in Germany?Ìę

Tanja Rosenberger, Seal Rescuer: The Wadden Sea and its inhabitants on the Schleswig-Holstein coast have a special place in my heart. I grew up in Hamburg, but I’ve always been drawn to the landscape and serenity of northern Germany. Since 1997, preserving seal habitat and ensuring a healthy seal population has not only been my job, but my passion. The Seal Sanctuary is a unique institution on the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea coast and was certified as an educational institution for sustainability in fall 2020.

Anyone who visits the Wadden Sea coastline will be in awe of the wind, expanse, cloud formations, and the way the mudflats shimmer in the light. I’ve traveled to many coasts around the world, and I’ve never seen anything quite like what we have here in Germany.

Wander in the Forest

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű: What’s your favorite forested destination in Germany?

Sandra Wendt, Forest Ranger in Hainich National Park: The Hainich Mountain Range in Thuringia is the largest contiguous deciduous forest area in Germany, and my favorite. The southern part of the range was designated as a national park in 1997 and is the second smallest national park in Germany. Although it’s small in size, Hainich National Park has immense beauty and is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Here, nature is allowed to develop undisturbed—we humans are only silent observers.

The red beech, which characterizes Europe, is the dominant tree species, but there are more than 30 different types of trees in Hainich National Park. The variety of trees that make up the forest here creates a breathtaking blaze of color in the autumn, and due to the shell limestone as a substrate, there are countless spring flowers.

If you visit, the treetop path in the east of the national park offers a bird’s eye view of Hainich. There’s also a must-see exhibition in the adjacent national park center that explains the hidden world of roots and forest soil.

How can travelers plan a responsible and more sustainable visit to Hainich National Park?

SW: Hainich National Park is accessible by public transport. Visitors can travel by train to nearby cities, such as Eisenach, Bad Langensalza, and MĂŒhlhausen. From the cities, there’s a bus system that shuttles hikers to select trailheads in the national park. It’s also possible to explore Hainich National Park by bike using the 15-mile bike path.

The 17 certified national park partners offer information, accommodations, and related catering. They’re characterized by regionality, and are known for their commitment to environmental awareness. They avoid the use of disposable packaging, prioritize using regional products, and align with the philosophy of the national park.

Whether you’re a mountain lover, beckoned to the sea, or a forest fanatic, Germany should be among the top destinations on your adventure bucket list. It’s the perfect time to a sustainable visit to one of the many beautiful outdoor wonders that Germany has to offer.

The (GNTB) is the central organization for marketing Germany as a travel destination. We aim to communicate the beauty, diversity, romance, and vibrancy of the country to people of all ages in Germany and abroad.

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Those familiar with American distance-running lore have probably heard the story. When future marathon great Meb Keflezighi was in middle school, his PE teacher made the class run a mile and promised an A to anyone who could do it in under six minutes and 15 seconds. Keflezighi ran 5:20—auguring big things to come.

In the revisionist history of my own early youth, which I spent in Germany, there was a moment when I also showed a glimmer of Keflezighian potential. As a fifth-grader, I won a cross-country race that was held in the woods behind my school. It was a devastating upset for several of my classmates, who, thanks to the early onset of puberty, were already lethal forces on the dodgeball court. They were incredulous that a scrawny guy like me could be better than them at something. So was I. At the time, genetics was still too abstract a concept, but I had another way to rationalize my unexpected success, one that I could also blame on my parents: despite my tender age, I was already a veteran of the volksmarsch.

The word—which waltzes off the tongue with characteristic German euphony—translates to “people’s march” and refers to that began popping up in Central Europe during the 1960s. A volksmarch is essentially a more formalized version of a hike, in which participants check in at the start and proceed along a prescribed route—usually ten kilometers, or 6.2 miles. Most events are put on by an organization known as the (IVV). There is no official start time, but there are checkpoints along the trail where walkers can get a cup of tea and receive a stamp to prove they aren’t cutting the course. Not that there would be any incentive to do so—these events are emphatically noncompetitive. They are an excuse to wander for a few hours and then have a beer at the end. Sometimes there’s a band. There are worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.

My mother and father certainly felt so. We lived in central Germany, in a hilly, densely forested section in the state of Hesse, whose sylvan enchantments were largely lost on me at the time. (Fortunately, the same can’t be said of the Brothers Grimm, who were born nearby 200 years earlier.) During the warmer months, there were regional volksmarches pretty much every weekend. I did my first one in 1987, the year I turned five.

I still have the small statuette of a grape harvester that I received for my efforts that day. Typically, you paid a small fee to take part in a volksmarch, and, for a few deutschmarks more, you could also prepurchase a prize to be received on completion. My nostalgia is probably doing a lot of work here, but to me, these small mementos had an idiosyncratic charm that puts the average marathon finisher’s medal to shame. It was, essentially, souvenir store kitsch. A porcelain plate with a gold-painted rim. A beer mug in the shape of a hiking boot. A garishly oversized pin with an obscure coat of arms. For a few years, these were my most sacred possessions.

I wish I could say that I was an enthusiastic walker from day one—a mini Thoreau—but my parents usually had to make an appeal to my materialism. Walking ten kilometers can be tough, or, at the very least, kind of tedious when you’re barely taller than a coffee table. The prizes were a big motivator. Napoleon allegedly once said that a soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon. That was my mentality when I first started volksmarching: the struggle was worth it, so long as it was rewarded with a novelty shot glass.

Eventually, however, I began to look forward to these walks as a weekend ritual. Before I knew it, I had more than 500 kilometers’ worth of volksmarches in my tiny legs, as documented by the small, stamp-filled booklet that functioned as a kind of hiker’s passport. I don’t know if they still do this, but at the time, the IVV awarded you a certificate and pin to commemorate certain benchmarks: 100K, 500K, 1000K, and so on. I was envious of the old-timers, ancient men in Tyrolean hats, which casually flaunted their accomplishments. These guys were the alphas of an extremely un-alpha scene. I wanted to be like them. Anything for a ribbon.

As for the actual experience of hiking hundreds of kilometers through the German countryside as a child, all that remains are sensory echoes. Beech trees in the afternoon. The peculiar sweetness of the tea they would serve at checkpoints. I spent a lot of time climbing on trailside piles of felled timber (not recommended), bewitched by a vague notion that what I was doing was kind of dangerous. I remember the unnerving slickness of the bark after it had rained.

It’s been more than a quarter-century since my last volksmarch; in the summer of 1994, the year I turned 12, my family moved to Vienna, Austria, and that was pretty much that. The Brothers Grimm landscape was supplanted by a city of 1.5 million people. In hindsight, the timing seems fortuitous. I was entering adolescence and less interested than ever in countryside constitutionals with my parents. Vienna had one of the world’s best public transportation systems. The night became dangerously accessible. Bring it on.

But it cuts the other way, too. Those volksmarching years in Hesse are now synonymous with a romanticized version of my vanished childhood. Don’t tell anyone, but sometimes, usually in a state of mild inebriation, I’ll go on Google Maps and stare at aerial shots of my former home in the hope of triggering a Proustian reverie. This hasn’t really worked. Instead, I might have to force my two-year-old son to come on a volksmarch with me in a few years. He’ll thank me for it later.

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Well, it’s about damn time.Ìę

Today, Mercedes-Benz has taken the intriguing step of offering a factory-built pop-top camper to the American masses. Thanks to a just-announced partnership with Seattle’s and Mercedes-Benz Master Solutions partner , you will be able to walk into any U.S. Mercedes-Benz Vans dealership this spring (a firm date has not been announced yet) and order a fully warrantied Weekender model camper with seating for up to five and sleeping for up to four. It’s the first time a manufacturer has offered a pop-top camper in America since Volkswagen ended its Winnebago-built Eurovan camper program back in 2003.Ìę

Thanks to Harley Sitner, owner of Peace Vans, one of the largest VW camper businesses in North America, I’ve been given a sneak peak of the Weekender model camper, which makes its debut this weekend at the Chicago Auto Show. As someone who’s owned seven VW Westfalia Vanagons, a 2003 VW Eurovan camper, and driven a Metris (known as a Vito in Europe) all over Scotland, I feel comfortable calling thisÌęrig an heir apparent to VW’s storied campers.Ìę

What’s the Deal?

In late 2016, Sitner made a trip to Germany to scout out camper-equipment manufacturers for his business. Though happily restoring, selling, and renting all manner of aging VW campers to eager customers at Peace Vans, Sitner was frustrated thatÌęmidsizeÌępop-top campers like theÌę and Ìęweren’t available in the States. After intensive discussions with German manufacturers (camper interiors) and (pop tops), Sitner loaded a shipping container with parts from those two companies and worked with his crew to engineer a U.S.-built Metris camper. That camper, which he dubbed the Weekender, quickly sold, and he soon convinced the owner of neighboringÌęMercedes-Benz of Seattle to stick a couple of Peace Vans rigs on hisÌęlot. Sitner was soon selling as many of his Weekenders and full-camper models—equipped with a stove, sink, refrigerator, and furnace—as his small shop could supply.Ìę

Around a year ago, Sitner was contacted by Mercedes. The team at the Mercedes Vans factory in Charleston, South Carolina, had been paying close attention to the U.S. camper-van market. While there were all manner of RVs available on the larger Sprinter platform, the team agreed with Sitner that the smaller Metris might prove to be the perfect pop-top rig for a much larger fan base.Ìę

Sitner didn’t have the resources to build a factory, but just up the road from the Charleston plant,Ìęupfitter Driverge had the room and ability to produce Peace Vans campers on a manufacturer’s scale.

“One thing we struggled with was, How do we capture the passion and knowledge these smaller, great upfitters bring to the table?” Mercedes Vans upfit manager Don Maxwell told me. “That’s what we feel like we’ve done partnering with [Sitner]. It’s the best of both worlds, having [Sitner] and his credibility and design and our trusted partner Driverge, which has invested a lot here in Charleston and can produce with the same material and processes [Sitner] usesÌębut at a quicker rate.”Ìę

What You Get

Size-wise, the Metris is in a class of its own. It’s a bigger vehicle than Dodge’s ProMaster City, Ford’sÌęTransit Connect,Ìęand Nissan’sÌęNV2000, but it’s not nearly so large as a full-size Sprinter, ProMaster, or Transit. The pop-top-equipped Metris will fit inside a standard seven-foot-high garage and offerÌęa very tight 36-foot turning circle (which destroys my Eurovan Camper’s 47-foot circleÌębut is slightly less than the 34.5-foot circle made byÌęmy nimble Vanagon Westfalia). It’s as maneuverable as a car.Ìę

Pricing isn’t completely nailed down, but for somewhere between $26,000 and $30,000 above the base Metris’s sticker price ($31,000) you’ll get the following. (The starting price for an empty 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van is $34,495.)

A Pop TopÌę

The tough, crash-tested, elevatingÌęfiberglass roof features aÌęwater-resistant heavy-duty tent and has a sleeping area for two. The upper bed is very comfy, with an integrated spring system, a two-inch memory-foam mattress, three windows, and added USB ports for lights and charging. Two of the three zip-open windows are outfitted with fine-mesh screens, while the third zips down to reveal a clear plastic window—a terrific option for seeing outside when it’s cold or rainy. Another thing I really dig is that both the top and the bed are gas shocked/spring loaded, so they go up with an easy push. Unlike the Eurovan or Vanagon, the Metris top pops up around 19 inches—high enough in back that you can sleep with your head towardÌęthe rear. (At the front edge of the mattress, that height increases to 38 inches.)

Unlike with a Eurovan or Vanagon pop-top, you can’t really leave your sleeping gear up top after the bed is folded away, but there’s plenty of room for that behind the rear seat.Ìę

Curtains

Hand-sewn by Peace Vans, the Weekender has privacy curtains all around, including a big one that covers the frontÌędriverÌęand passenger windshields, just like in an old-school Westy.Ìę

Rear Bed/Seat

The Reimo seat has three shoulder belts and attachments for two child seats. The seat doesn’t come outÌębut slides forward on rails into four different positions—including flush up against the front seats—allowing the van to function as a cargo rig should you need it. It folds down into a double-sizeÌębed, and the seat itself pops open to reveal a huge storage area. There’s a swing-out leg that allows for the mounting of a sturdy table inside (or even outside)Ìęthe van. The table, which mounts to the back of the seat, also has freestanding legs. Because it’s Reimo, and a standard design, the seat tracks should accommodate all manner of for gear. This versatility allows you to make quick changes to your living area while you’re on the road.

Rotating Front SeatsÌę

The comfortable and firm stock Mercedes seats rotate 180 degrees with the flip of a lever, making it easy to lounge in the van’s interior.Ìę

A Coach BatteryÌę

Key for any camper van, the second auxiliary battery will keep an running without draining the starter batteryÌęand will power lights, a small inverter, or other accessories.Ìę

A Rear Receiver HitchÌę

The rearÌęfeatures a standard receiver, wired with a trailer brake and solar connector for portable panels, to provide additional power to the coach battery. The Metris features a solid 5,000-pound tow capacity. Pull a tow-behind trailer and you have two bedrooms.

On the Road

It’s important to note that Mercedes has a higher safety standard for this camper than essentially any other vanlife camping rig on the road. RVs aren’t subject to the same crashworthiness requirements—that’s why so many have rear lap belts instead of shoulder belts and no rear airbags. But if a vehicle is sold through a dealer, stricter rules apply. The Weekender maintains the Metris’s stock rear airbags and collision prevention, and it includes its excellent , plus a rearview camera.

I had the opportunity to drive a turbo-diesel Vito—the European version of the Metris—all over Scotland. I was amazed at the van’s stability, power, and collision prevention, and I fell in love with its steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which were a boon on long Highlands downhills.

For a bit more information on an actual Peace Vans build, I reached out to a Weekender owner named Scott Erickson. Erickson lives in Ojai, California, with his wife and two young kids. He bought a Weekender last year, and the family calls it Scout.

Like me, Erickson has had a decades-long love affair with VW vans. After owning everything from microbuses to a Eurovan Weekender camper, he said he and his wife were looking for the safety and reliability of a new vehicle. “You don’t have time to worry about working on a van when you have two kids,” he said. “Our van had to be a daily driver. When we saw the Peace Vans Metris, I was like, Holy shit, this is it.”

Erickson said he looked at a couple of other Metris upfits, but none had the Peace Vans fit and finishÌęor what he called the van’s “magical” sliding seat. “Plus, the dual swivel seats provide a tremendous amount of room,” he said. “In the summer, we take her down the beach when I get off work and play and swim for an hour and then share a pizza right in the van as the sun sets with our dog at our feet. It’s a beautiful thing.”Ìę

He described the 2.0-liter, 208-horsepower turbocharged motor as plenty powerful for effortlessly propelling Scout through the High SierraÌęat 80 miles per hour. Equipped with Peace Vans’ 1.5-inch lift, and shorn with all-terrain tires, the rear-wheel-drive van has camped everywhere he’s wanted to go with little drama. In economy mode, which shuts the motor at stoplights, he’s seen 25 miles per gallon. By contrast, my 201-horsepower 2003 Eurovan camper averages around 18 miles per gallon wherever I go.

Mostly, he said, the family just piles into the camper and goes, without a care in the world. “We get stopped by people all the time. Getting gas, people run across the street—‘Hey man, can I check it out?’”

“[Sitner] built a modern version of what we wanted from Volkswagen,” Erickson said.

Optional Upgrades

The options list for this van are expected to rapidly expand as production ramps up. But the current rundown is as follows:

• Solar panels, which can be mounted to the pop top, an off-grid charger, and a plug-in outlet for charging at campsites.Ìę
• A Kenwood touchscreen head unit with navigation and Android/AppleÌęinterface to replace the stock model.
• 3M body wrap with a choice of over 200 colors. This actually makes a good bit of sense if you’re going to be traveling off the grid and want to protect your paint.Ìę
• An eight-foot Fiamma F-45 awning—an industry standard with an integrated gutter to keep rain from running down into the hatch.
• Mosquito/bug screens for the rear hatch and sliding doors. This would be key for places like my home in buggy Charleston, where the van is upfitted.Ìę
• A rear tent that quickly attaches to the back lift gate to addÌęspace and privacy.Ìę
• Swing-out rear doors. The van comes standard with a lifting hatch, which is better in most instances because it blocks sun and rain. But if you want to attach something to the rear doors like a bike rack, or cut out a hole for a window air-conditioningÌęunit, optional swing-out doors can make sense.Ìę
• Roof racks for hauling surfboards, cargo boxes, or skis.
• A pullout rear kitchen custom-designed by .
• A 1.5-inch lift,Ìę if you purchase a van directly through Peace Vans. Before Mercedes offers this option on dealer-purchased vans, it will have to go through additional testing.

Possible Upgrades

• A middle seat.ÌęIt will have to undergo additional testing, but a removable middle seat is on the horizon, according to Sitner.Ìę
• A full camper. If you want one of Peace Vans’ amazing, European-sourced interior , you’ll have to purchase it directly from them for at least the next six months. After more testing and certification, Maxwell said, Mercedes hopes to build full Peace Vans campers as well.Ìę

The post We’re Dying to Get Mercedes-Benz’s Metris Weekender Van appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Without a doubt, January through March is the cheapest time to book an international flight departing from the U.S. The reason why is pretty simple, according to Scott Keyes, founder of the flight-deals newsletter Scott’s Cheap Flights. Weather aside, lots of would-be jet-setters are hamstrung by the academic calendar, so travel demand is highest in summer. The numbers don’t lie: according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism , from July to August 2018, about 6.4 million Americans flew to Europe. By comparison, about 2.7 million Americans departed for Europe between January and March.

For years, Keyes and his team have spent hours a day scouring airline sites for too-good-to-be-true deals. (Recently, he found a $433 round-trip flight between New York and Tokyo.) For travelers looking to get away on the cheap, Keyes suggests being as flexible as possible—and a little crafty. For example, if you’re interested in visiting France, bookÌęan affordable flight to an airport in a nearby country, like the Netherlands. Taking a train or a separate flight from there can save you hundreds of dollars.

If you’ve been dying to make a quick escape but have to pinch pennies, there are several world-class destinations that are far more affordable to get to during winter.

Iceland

Iceland, which sees more tourists annually than it has in year-round inhabitants, is one of the most expensive countries to visit in the summer, when the days are up to 22 hours long. But in the dark winter months, solitude comes cheap. If you’re willing to put up with just a few hours of sunlight, you’ll be treated to low prices for hotels, tours, car rentals, and empty tourist attractions. Stay warm by visiting natural hot springs, like the near the capital, as well as lovely and ultra-affordable heated public pools in nearly every town. Plus, December to February is the ideal time to catch the northern lights. If you want to tack a few days here onto another trip, consider booking a stopover. allows you to take up to a seven-day layover in the country without any extra charge.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S., according to flight-deals newsletter : $260 to $500. Average peak summertime cost: $870.

Turkey

Istanbul sees the fewest tourists in January and February, when average temperatures are relatively mild, in the upper thirtiesÌęand forties. Meanwhile, other parts of the country become winter wonderlands. From December through May, two hours by plane from Istanbul, there’s heli-skiing in the Kaçkar Mountains ofÌęeastern Turkey, on peaks as tall as 12,917 feet. Closer to the capital is Uludag National Park, a favorite ski destination with locals. The off-season is also the best time to visit the famous—and typically crowded—Cappadocia, 450 miles southeast of Istanbul, known for rock formations filled with ancient cliff dwellings, which look especially magical when covered in a dusting of snow. Turkish Airlines also offers a free stopover program for thoseÌęwho want to spend a day or two in Istanbul on their way to another destination. The company gives economy passengers , while business-class passengers getÌętwo free nights in a five-star hotel. Email the airline to work out the details after you’ve booked your flight.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S. to Istanbul, according to Dollar Flight Club: $390 to $750. Average peak summertime cost: $1,160.

Scandinavia

Scandinavians know how to do winter, and luckily for the rest of us, joining them from December to March is the most affordable time to visit. In ±·ŽÇ°ù·ÉČčČâ’sÌęcapital of Oslo, you’ll find the metro full of people lugging cross-country skis for laps around Sognsvatn LakeÌęor sledding down (the metro drops you off at the top and picks you up at the bottom). In Stockholm, locals will skate across frozen lakes in the city or take the four-hour trip north to cross-country ski resorts like . Throughout ScandinaviaÌęfrom December to February, you can also catch the northern lights if you travel close enough to the Arctic Circle. Winter is also a great time to experience the sauna culture here—Scandinavians love to set them at nearly unbearable temperatures, then plunge directly into snowbanks or frozen lakes before going back inside for another round of melting, as a way to increase circulation. In Oslo, check out the , which float on the fjord at the edge of downtown.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S. to Stockholm, according to Dollar Flight Club: $291 to $600. From the U.S. to Oslo:Ìę$253 to $599. Average peak summertime costs: $997 toÌęStockholmÌęand $1,008 to Oslo.Ìę

Western Europe

Western Europe is typically a summer destination for a reason: in the winter months, it can be cold, dark, and dreary. But places like Bavaria, in Germany, turn into gorgeous snow globes, where famous old castles such asÌęNeuschwanstein are covered in a thick blanket of powder. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities abound in Bavaria, as doÌęcable-car rides to the tops of mountains for views of the scenery below, like Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest mountain at 9,718 feet. Alpine skiing in Europe is also surprisingly affordable—think $37 a day at in Slovenia;Ìę$63 for a day at , Austria’s largest ski resort;Ìęand $80 at in Switzerland, home to the Matterhorn. If you already have an Epic or Ikon ski pass, check for access or discounts to European resorts (Arlberg is on the Epic pass, and Zermatt is on the Ikon). Skiing in Europe also exists in places you’d never guess. For example, you can snag lift tickets in Italy for southern Tuscany’s tallest mountain, , for under $30 a day.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S. to Florence, Italy, according to Dollar Flight Club: $404 to $890. From the U.S.Ìęto Munich: $309 to $659. Average peak summertime costs: $1,115 to Florence and $1,056 to Munich.

Brazil

It’s now easier than ever to get to Brazil—as ofÌęJune, American travelers no longer need a visa to visit. Scott’s Cheap Flights predicts that early 2020 will bring great deals to SĂŁo Paulo, the largest city in South America. From there, you can snag cheap flights—under $100 round-trip—to Aparados da Serra National Park, known for the 2,300-foot-deep Itaimbezinho Canyon. Some waterfalls in the park tumble from so high up that they turn into mist before they hit the ground.ÌęThe falls are best viewed from the Cotovelo Trail, an easy two-mile hike along the canyon rim. Since Brazil’s summer is our winter, use the opportunity for a tropical island getaway on Ilhabela, an island four miles off the coast and a couple hours from SĂŁo Paulo, with over 40 miles of pristine beaches and abundant scuba-diving opportunities.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S. to SĂŁo Paulo, according to Dollar Flight Club: $470 to $825. Average peak summertime cost: $1,390.

Hawaii

It’s surprising that Hawaii made this list, because winter is one of the most attractive times to go, with temperatures in the high seventiesÌęand consistent swells. Head for the Big Island, which is drier than the others and is looking to welcome tourists back after MountÌęKilauea’s monthslong eruption, which closed Hawaii Volcanoes National Park lastÌęMay. The vast majority of the park has reopened, including the the , a four-mile loop that passes through a rainforest and solidified lava lake.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S., according to Dollar Flight Club: $226 to $640. Average peak summertime cost: $856.

Palestine

Palestine’s West Bank is best known for religious tourism, but there’s plenty of outdoor adventure, too. With temperatures in the fortiesÌęand fiftiesÌęand relatively little rain, winter makes for ideal hiking weather. Check out the , a 205-mile trail that extends the length of the West Bank, through cities and towns like Bethlehem, Jericho, and Nablus. Along the trail, you’ll find beautiful scenery saturated with signs of ancient history, including Wadi Qelt, where the centuries-old Monastery of St. GeorgeÌęclings to the side of a steep canyon. The , a nonprofit tour company, runs hiking and walking trips through the West Bank as well as cultural-immersion experiences like homestays and camping with a Bedouin community (from $550). There is also a burgeoning rock-climbing scene centered around a Ramallah gym called Wadi Climbing, with over 200 bolted outdoor routes spread out across nine different crags.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S. to Tel Aviv, Israel, according to Dollar Flight Club: $396 to $708. Average peak summertime cost: $1,210.

Japan

The Scott’s Cheap Flights team regularly finds flights to Tokyo and some of Japan’s smaller airports for as much as $1,000 less in January than you’d typically find in summertime and during cherry blossom season in the spring. That’s the perfect time to visit Hokkaido, a bastion of winter sports that’s considered to have some of the world’s best powder. In addition to skiing at , you can , trek on in the Shiretoko Peninsula, and warm up in onsen, or hot springs, at the end of each day. From November to March, in the town of Kinosaki, it costs just $12 a day to access the town’s seven public onsens. It’s free if you stay at a traditional ryokan in town, like (from $86), which has its own private hot spring.

Typical round-trip cost of aÌęwinter flight from the U.S. to Tokyo, according to Dollar Flight Club: $425 to $850. Average peak summertime cost:Ìę$1,210.

Morocco

You can ski Morocco in two totally different ways in the winter months: on snow or on sand. For the kind of downhill you’ve likely tried before, head to the Atlas Mountains, where you can carve , with peaks rising up to 10,600 feet. For a fresh approach to the sport, rent equipment to ski or board down the dunes in the SaharaÌęon Morocco’s southeast border, where temperatures in the summer months regularly top 100 degrees but stay around 50 in the winter. The off-season isÌęalso a great time to navigate usually hectic city bazaars without having to battle crowds of tourists.

Typical round-trip cost of a winter flight from the U.S. to Marrakech, according to Dollar Flight Club: $420 to $808. Average peak summertime cost: $1,154.

The post Save Money by Traveling to These 9 Places in Winter appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Imagine tree pose in an aspen forest or pigeon on a white-sand beach, and you’ll immediately understand how being outside in a stunning setting can elevate your yoga practice. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best locales around the world for an open-airÌęyogiÌęvacation, whether you’re a lifelong practitioner or someone just getting into the game. And they happen to be near some awesome adventure terrain, too.

Aspen, Colorado

Five days a week during summer, you can partake in $5 outdoor yoga sessionsÌę, where you’ll be treated to views of the Elk Mountain Range and blooming wildflowers. Get there by riding the Silver Queen Gondola (lift-ticket prices apply) or hiking a 3.1-mile trail that climbs 3,200 feet to the top. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies also offers summertimeÌę for a $10 suggested donation on its 40-acre nature preserve downtown. Or book a suite atÌę (from $199), which has yoga classes at the confluence of the Roaring Fork River and Castile Creek.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Ìęleads guided treks into the Santa Fe National Forest, where you’ll climb to a mountaintop, then set up a temporary, open-air yogaÌęstudio atop a peak for an hourlong guided class. TheÌę also has regularÌęyoga classes on its grounds all summer. Stay in a casita at theÌę (from $399), set on a 57-acre property just tenÌęminutes from downtown Santa Fe’s historic plaza. Guests can practice yoga and meditation at an on-site yoga tepee and deck built on a spiritual vortex once identified by a shaman. During winter, the hotel offers yoga outside in the snow.

Beech Mountain, North Carolina

In the winter, Beech Mountain Resort has skiing and snowboarding. But the fun doesn’t stop when the snow melts. One of the main summer draws?Ìę atop the mountain’s 5,506-foot summit, which takes place every weekend June through September for $12 a person. Stay at theÌę (from $300), located 22 miles away near the town of Blowing Rock, and you can take outdoor yoga classes at itsÌęwellness center, with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

East Serengeti, Tanzania

has access to a private, 10,000-acre swathÌęof Tanzania called theÌę. Most people come for wildlife-spotting expeditionsÌęand guided nature hikes through the savannah. But the camp’s new, specially-built yoga platforms might be worth a visit of their own. Do downward dog and warrior’s pose in the middle of the grasslandsÌęwhile giraffes and zebras wander in the distance. Teachers lead classes, or you can stretch on your own. From $5,490 for eight days

Homer, Alaska Ìę

From May through September, guests get delivered toÌę via a water taxi or chartered flight. Located at the mouth of a fjord nine miles from the seaside town of Homer, the family-owned, 11-acre property has six guest cabins, a sauna, hot tub, and, you guessed it, a spectacular yoga deck where instructors lead morning sessions overlooking Kachemak Bay as bald eagles soar in the distance. Whip up three-course meals at the lodge’s cooking school in your downtime, or head out to sea kayak orÌęhike the trails inÌę. From $5,695 for three nights

Bavarian Alps, Germany

The resort of , nestled in a stunning region of the Bavarian Alps justÌę60 miles south of Munich, is known for its spa and wellness offerings, including yoga retreats. You can enjoyÌędaily classes with mountain views in its spacious studio,Ìęor take your child’s pose outside, overlooking a neighboring lake and the sky-scraping peaks. The resort is also home to aÌęrenownedÌębookstore and has a concert hall with regular classical-music and jazz performances.ÌęFrom $566

Austin, Texas

You’ll find outdoor yoga all over the Texas capital.Ìę is a studio with rooftop yoga and freeÌęhourlong vinyasa classes inÌęRepublic Square Park. Even Whole Foods has rooftop sessionsÌęin partnership withÌę.Ìę caps off treks into the surrounding state parks and nature preserves with gentle classes and trailside mindfulness exercises. And theÌę (from $205) hosts a freeÌę outside in an amphitheater on its grassy lawn.

Oahu, Hawaii

(from $269) sits on a North Shore peninsula and has five miles of coastline, 12 miles of beachfront hiking trails,Ìęseveral outdoor yoga classes each day, and hostsÌę,Ìęa four-day retreat each spring with top yoga instructors, DJs, and workshops. Or stay at the (from $645), on the island’s west coast, for white-sand beaches and rolling mountain rangesÌęplus yoga outside at scenic Pohaku Point.

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There’s a game that Jesse Bowen, who runs the bar in Denver, likes to play.

Here’s how it goes: “I put six shots of amaro on the bar.” Amaro is an Italian liqueur which, with its bittersweet,Ìęherbaceous flavors, is really having a moment.

Next: He has a customer try each one, telling them about the notes of cloves or anise or mint.

Finally:ÌęBowen reveals that one of the shots isn’t actually an amaro. It’s JĂ€germeister, the mid-ninetiesÌęparty staple that we all thought we’d aged out of.

But what if, instead of aging out of JĂ€germeister, we’re actually just now growing into it? That’s the hope of Germany’sÌęMast family, who have owned JĂ€germeister since its inception in 1934. The company is embarking on a major rebranding effort, trying to shake JĂ€ger’s frat-kid image. The question is:ÌęWill it work?

The interesting thing about JĂ€germeister is thatÌęslamming it in bombs is purely an American invention. In Germany, JĂ€germeister has a totally different reputation. How do I know this? Well, as a 17-year-old exchange student in Germany, I remember being stoked to do so many JĂ€ger bombs. But the teens we met were confused when we asked in fractured German: Wo sind die JĂ€germeister SchĂŒsse? (Translation: Where areÌętheÌęJĂ€germeister shots?)

“Up until six or seven years ago, in Germany, JĂ€germeister had this generational issue,” says Willy Shine, the company’s U.S. brand manager (or brand meister, as JĂ€ger calls it). “Young Germans thought, This is what our grandparents and parents drank.” He adds that young people abroad are starting to embrace JĂ€germeisterÌębut, apparently, as a teen, I was essentially asking my German friends to sit down with their grandparents for an after-dinner drink. Great.

Originally crafted for sipping after the hunt and harvest, JĂ€germeister literally translates to “hunt master.”ÌęDistilled with 56 ingredients (the full recipe is a secret), it’s dark, bitter, herbaceous, and just a touch sweet. It got its hold-my-hair-back reputation in the States thanks to creative marketing. “When it first came to the U.S. in the 1980s, the flavor profile, no one understood what to do with it,” says Shine. Stymied, the company hired “JĂ€gerettes” to pass out ice-cold shots at college bars and in spring-break locales. Shine says they didn’t purposely introduce the JĂ€ger bomb, but they didn’t fight itÌęeither. “We’re not mad about it,” he says. The companyÌęsold a lot of JĂ€ger in bomb format.

But Gen Z as previous generations, and millennials are getting a little old for the shots! shots! shots! shtick. So JĂ€germeister is rebrandingÌęand hoping that millennials and Gen Xers forget that JĂ€ger was responsible for the nights they, well, forgot. ÌęÌęÌęÌę

Rebranding is a tricky venture. Just look at New Coke, or Radio Shack’s attempt to become “The Shack.” More recently, Arby’s tried to make itself out as a fresh-food restaurant, which, well—it’s Arby’s. The positive examples, like PBR becoming the drink of choice for hipsters in the 2010s, and Old Spice getting cool after a series of viral ads, are tantalizing. If you get it just right, it’s a cash windfall.

JĂ€germeister is recruiting bartenders to help. This is smart, not only because bartenders influence what patrons order, but because bartenders lovedÌęamaros—JĂ€germeister is basically a German version of an amaro—before the rest of us even knew what they were. “We tend to like flavors like that,” says Brian Prugalidad, a bartender at San Diego’s .

JĂ€gerÌęmadeÌęan even smarter move when itÌęcreatedÌęHubertus Circle, an invite-only club for master mixologists. It’s been active overseas since 2011, but now the brandÌęis inviting American bartenders into the guild. “It’s an honor to be asked,” says Prugalidad, adding that the regular meetings with his city’s best bartenders haveÌębecome a looked-forward-to event. Members of Hubertus Circle are not paid, but Prugalidad says he doesn’t need bribing to spread the good word about JĂ€ger. “It’s a great product. I couldn’t recommend something I didn’t love,” he says.

Meanwhile, JĂ€germeister just released an oak-aged, top-shelf version called .

Still, getting people to retry something they may have overindulged in in the past may be tough. Bowen has had patrons send back a cocktail when they found out it was made with JĂ€germeister. “But I’ve also had them order several more,” he adds. “It’s a perception thing,” he says, referring to his amaro shot game. “When no one knew what it was, no one batted an eye.”

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Mountain biker lives inÌęRuhrpott, Germany, a city lacking in undulating, remote singletrack. So Rasche and the team at films flew out to British Columbia, rented themselves anÌęold truck, then drove around in search of famous, stunningÌęlines. Outlaw Diaries II: Return to the Glory DaysÌęfollows their journey.Ìę

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C&R – Crime and Reality is a film from about Germany's current policy that makesÌę. The trailer follows three groups who are trying to make the case for healthy management of their waterways through conservation. The full film will be on tour as a part ofÌęthe

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