The Southwest always seems to me like a bit of a fever dream. The countryā€™s deepest canyons, wildest buttes, and broadest deserts spread here from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, offering a landscape so unlike any other in the country, you might think youā€™ve left earth altogether. It is a hot, inhospitable territory that demands respect, but it is also outrageously beautiful, with rock outcroppings that seem painted in shades of red and white, blooming cacti, and shifting dunes that undulate like waves onto the horizon.

The easiest and most efficient way to explore the Southwest is by car, bouncing from one breathtaking adventure to the next, so Iā€™ve created seven different road-trip itineraries, one in each state of this stunning slice of our nation. Iā€™ve driven the majority of these routes, while the remaining few are on my list of dream adventures. And each of these has something for everyoneā€”beaches, sand dunes, cliffs, rivers, hikes, bike rides, fishing holes, and more.

Set your playlist, and pack the sunscreen. Here are the seven best road trips in the Southwest.

1. Nevada

Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire

Distance: 175 Miles
Duration: 3 days

The obvious, and most common, road trip from Vegas would be to beeline straight for the Grand Canyon, but you do not want to overlook the suite of public lands that rings Sin City. The fun begins just 20 miles west of downtown Las Vegas at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a 195,000-acre park that is internationally known for its multi-pitch rock climbing, though my epic adventures here have been of other types.

My favorite way to explore Red Rock is by road bike, pedaling the 13-mile Scenic Drive through the heart of the park. The road has one-way traffic and a big shoulder, so thereā€™s plenty of room, and youā€™ll have both long-range and up-close views of the surrounding red sandstone cliffs and canyons. has bike rentals (from $40 a day). If you show up in the summer, do your adventures early in the morning before the heat gets unbearable.

Next skirt around the south side of Las Vegas for 70 miles to Lake Mead National Recreation Area, home to the massive Hoover Dam. I like Lake Mohave, a shallow, narrow reservoir below Hoover that follows the original path of the Colorado River through a series of canyons. If youā€™re looking for a full-day (or multi-day) adventure, paddle a piece of the 30-mile Black Canyon National Water Trail, which begins at the base of the dam and ends in Arizona, passing beaches, hot springs, and side canyons.

Only boaters with commercial licenses can launch below the dam, so hook up with , which offers DIY rentals and shuttles or guided trips throughout the water trail. Or for a quicker adventure, drive directly to Willow Beach, and paddle two miles upstream to Emerald Cave, a narrow side canyon with clear, shallow water below 75-foot sandstone walls (tours from $139 per person; rentals from $80 per boat).

has tent sites and RV sites in the hills above the sandy beach from $45 a night.

Driving north, you can stop at Valley of Fire State Park, Nevadaā€™s largest state park at 46,000 acres, where red and pink sandstone cliffs and canyons fill the valley, the walls popping out of the tan, scrubby dirt. Catch the area at sunset and you could think the whole valley is on fire. The park is full of short, scenic trails for hikers. The 3.3-mile loop takes in iconic features, from a narrow slot canyon to the sinuous Fire Wave, where the striped sandstone seems to flow like water.

Snag a campsite at one of the two from $10.

2. Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park to Capitol Reef National Park

Distance: 125 miles
Duration: 3 days

Itā€™s tempting to try to hit all of Utahā€™s national parks in a single trip, but youā€™d have to cover more than 1,000 miles and spend more time in your vehicle than on the trails. Instead, focus on this slice of Utah by driving the 122-mile Scenic Byway 12, which connects Bryce Canyon National Park with Capitol Reef National Park, hitting Grand Escalante National Monument in the middle. I drove this route last fall and was in constant awe of its beauty and diversity, as we cruised through sandstone tunnels at one point, then climbed to an aspen forest at another.

Pick up Highway 12 in the small town of Panguitch, about 50 miles east from Interstate 12, and keep driving east to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce, known for its hoodoos (sandstone spires that rise from the valley floor) is one of the countryā€™s smallest national parks at just 35,835 acres, which means you can see a lot in a short amount of time. Combine Queenā€™s Garden Trail with Navajo Loop Trail for a that begins on the rim of the canyon, then drops into the belly, passing hoodoos, arches, and tall cliffs.

Heading north, Highway 12 moves through the heart of the massive Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a 1.9-million-acre park with expanses of slick rock and sandstone canyons stretching all the way to the horizon. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days in the monument, scrambling down slot canyons and bushwhacking through the heart of a broad canyon before reaching the lush Escalante River. Itā€™s beautiful but unforgiving terrain that delivers plenty of solitude. Drive the unimproved dirt Hole-in-the-Rock Road (high-clearance two-wheel drive vehicles are usually OK) 33 miles south to the Dry Fork Slots to hike a through Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons, where the passage narrows to about a foot wide at certain points, and scrambling is mandatory. Too adventurous? Try hiking to , a 6.5-mile loop through a smooth canyon that ends at a 124-foot waterfall.

Thereā€™s plenty of camping and lodging around the town of Escalante. , inside the monument, offers seven primitive sites ($10 a night) with no frills. Or go upscale and snag a cabin or Airstream at , a camping-and-cabin resort with a drive-in movie theater, pool, and food truck (cabins from $175 a night).

Driving 65 miles further north on Highway 12, youā€™ll climb Boulder Mountain through Dixie National Forest before hitting the town of Torrey and Capitol Reef National Park. Here, youā€™ll find historic fruit orchards, sandstone domes, and more canyons than you could ever hope to explore. Start your journey with , a 3.4-mile out-and-back that crosses broad sections of slickrock before ending at a 125-foot-wide natural arch. Or hook up with and go canyoneering, dropping into the belly of narrow canyons deep inside the park ($300 for the first person).

For a longer adventure, check out our sister publication’s “.”

3. Colorado

Colorado National Monument to Rocky Mountain National Park

Distance: 310 miles
Duration: 3-5 days

Colorado offers a ton of incredible scenery, and this particular road trip takes you from the desert canyons of Colorado National Monument to the high alpine terrain of Rocky Mountain National Park. The diversity of adventure is off the charts, too, with opportunities for sandstone-heavy hikes, big mountain-bike descents, and whitewater rafting.

Start near the western border of the state, at Colorado National Monument, a 20,000-acre park with sheer cliffs and vertigo-inducing sandstone towers. Just driving the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive is worth the price of admission, with near-constant views of the canyon below, including of the massive Independence Monument, a 450-foot tall sandstone pillar.

But youā€™ll definitely want to get out of your car and explore this monument by foot. The Devilā€™s Kitchen is an easy, 1.2-mile out-and-back that gives you the chance to scramble over boulders and explore narrow sandstone channels. Get up close to Independence Monument on the , a 5.2-mile point-to-point that meanders past some of the monumentā€™s most recognizable rock formations, including the set of rounded pillars dubbed the Coke Ovens and a tower known as the Kissing Couple, because it looks like two people entwined.

After exploring the monument, head east for 25 miles to the town of Palisade, where you can tackle a piece of the , a 32-mile mostly downhill piece of singletrack that drops 6,000 feet off the rim of the Grand Mesa into the edge of downtown. The trail has multiple access points, so you donā€™t have to bite off the entire distance. has shuttles and rentals starting in March (check then for prices).

Head 75 miles northeast to Glenwood Springs to spend the night at , which has van-life sites on the Colorado River (from $112 a night) as well as glamping tents and cabins (from $179 a night). You can book a half-day on the Colorado, which includes the 1.5-mile-long class III Shoshone Rapids (from $75 per person), or just soak in one of the 17 different pools at , where each tub is tailored to a different temperature (from $44 per person).

When youā€™re refreshed, or worn out, drive northeast for 125 miles through to Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the country (4.1 million visitors in 2023). Donā€™t worry, most of those visitors enter through the Estes Park side, while youā€™ll access the park on the much-less crowded Grand Lake entrance. I remember, on a trip with my kids, seeing a moose in the valley near Grand Lake and marveling that we were the only people on the trail at the time.

Head to the for a choose-your-own-adventure sort of hike. For a short jaunt that packs a big punch, hike the three-mile out-and-back Green Mountain Trail up to Big Meadow, which in the summer is full of wildflowers and hosts the occasional moose. Or if you really want to get after it, combine the Green Mountain Trail, Tonahutu Creek Trail, and Hayach Lakes Trail for a 17-mile out-and-back that culminates at Hayach Lake, a natural pool that sits at 11,000 feet in elevation in the shadow of the craggy Nakai Peak. Turn it into an overnight if you like, choosing among multiple backcountry campsites along the way ($36 fee for a ).

For a longer adventure, check out our sister publication’s “.”

4. Texas

San Antonio to the Gulf

Distance: 250 miles
Duration: 3-5 days

Texas is big, so you need to narrow your focus for a road trip here, because getting from point A to point B can sometimes take you all day. This particular route starts with some urban exploration in San Antonio and ends on one of the longest undeveloped beaches in the country. In between are quiet swamps, beach campsites, and plenty of paddle trails.

San Antonio might not seem like the perfect place to start an adventure trip, but the cityā€™s 15-mile River Walk, expanded in the late 1990s, has served as an inspiration for other similar projects ever since and itā€™s still one of the coolest urban bike rides you can do. Five miles of the path cruise through downtown, but the best biking is just south of town in the , an eight-mile linear park that connects historic missions, grasslands, and wildflower meadows, all protected as the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park.

After spinning around San Antonio, drive east towards the Gulf of Mexico, making a pitstop at Palmetto State Parkā€”a small stretch just 25 miles east of San Antonio, thatā€™s home to the sort of tropical jungle youā€™re more likely to find in Floridaā€”complete with dwarf palmettos blanketing the forest floor. If you bring your own boat or paddleboard, you can slide along the languid San Marcos River, or explore Palmettoā€™s small Oxbow Lake. Hiking trails lead through swampy marshes with light-green water filling the forest floor. If youā€™re not in a hurry, pitch a tent in the parkā€™s ($12 a night) before heading to the beach.

Head south on Highway 183 to Mustang Island State Park, which separates Corpus Christi Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. The park protects five miles of Gulf-facing coastline, and has 50 drive-up where you can pitch a tent on the beach ($13 a night, first-come, first-served).

The beach is the obvious draw here. The Gulf is typically calm and warm, although some people are known to surf during hurricane swells. But the park also has more than 20 miles of marked paddling trails that traverse the western edge of the island, weave through islands in Corpus Christi Bay, and offer shallow water for fishing for redfish and speckled trout. runs daily guided trips (from $90 for two people) and rentals (from $50).

If you need more beach (and who doesnā€™t?) scoot 15 miles down the coast to Padre Island National Seashore. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can down-island for up to 60 miles until you leave the crowds behind. The national seashore is a hot spot for birding, with 380 different species reported, thanks to the islandā€™s location on a major migration route. Look for the endangered piping plover or the super colorful painted bunting.

5. New Mexico

Taos to the Bisti Badlands

Distance: 275 miles
Duration: 3-5 days

I havenā€™t spent enough time in New Mexico. Or seen enough of it. The last time I was there, on a fly-fishing trip, I couldnā€™t bring myself to leave the Taos area. So many fish, so many green chili dishes. But I regret my solitary focus, because the state has much to offer. This particular road trip delivers a variety of adventure and landscapes that Iā€™m convinced only New Mexico has.

The trip begins with a bang by rafting a tumultuous section of the Rio Grande, just 30 miles southwest of Taos. Different run options offer a variety of adventure, but the classic is a 17-mile portion through the Rio Grande Gorge, also dubbed the Taos Box because it is walled by black basalt cliffs. The trip brings a full day of whitewater action, with a six-mile section of non-stop class II and III rapids known as The Racecourse. If the weather is warm enough, you can swim in a few pools along the way, and good guides will point out petroglyphs on the rock walls. Book your trip with and youā€™ll get hot fajitas for a riverside lunch (from $110 per person).

Spend the night at the wellness retreat of Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, where the natural springs feature arsenic, Lithia, soda, and iron, all minerals thought to have healing properties (from $239 a night).

Keep heading southwest to , a super volcano that erupted 1.2 million years ago, creating a 14-mile-wide circular depression that has evolved into a lush basin full of creeks and meadows. Think of Valles Caldera as a mini Yellowstone, complete with hot springs, wildlife-viewing opportunities, and broad grasslands. A large elk population calls the caldera home (look for them in the meadows during early morning and evening), and keep an eye out as well for prairie dogs and coyotes. The Valle Grande Exploration Trail is a short, .8-mile walk through a prairie to a manmade pond that served as a watering hole when the area was a private cattle ranch. The South Mountain Trail is a bit more involved, taking you four miles up a narrow valley and to the top of South Mountain, where youā€™ll enjoy a view of the entire basin.

Youā€™ll only be 20 miles west of Bandelier National Monument, which protects 33,000 acres of canyons and mesa that were the Ancestral Puebloansā€™ home until 1550. They used blocks of soft volcanic rock to build homes at the bases of cliffs, carving additional rooms into the walls themselves. Hike the 1.4-mile Pueblo Loop Trail to see some of these archeological sites first hand. Youā€™ll even get to climb ladders into some of the rooms carved into the side of cliffs. Grab a campsite at the monumentā€™s ($20 a night, reserve up to six months in advance).

Itā€™ll add some mileage, but you need to cap this road trip off with a walk on the moon, or at least, as close as most of us will ever come to walking on the moon. The , in northwestern New Mexico, are loaded with some of the strangest rock formations you will ever see, with cap stones and some massive cliffs actually in the shapes of manta rays, all rising from rolling taupe shale hills. The Bisti Badlands are part of the BLMā€™s 60-square-mile Bisti/De-Na-Zen Wilderness Area, which has no formal trails or paved roads. The De-Na-Zin parking area, off county road 7500, will give you access to the dry Bisti Wash, which you can hike into the heart of the badlands to see all of the weirdness for yourself.

6. Arizona

Grand Canyon to Monument Valley

Distance: 250
Duration: 3-5 days

I spent most of my youth believing Arizona was a desert wasteland, but in recent years Iā€™ve had the chance to turn that around with some of the stateā€™s wonderful signature adventures. Yes, much of Arizona is desert, but it is no wasteland. Itā€™s a vibrant landscape full of life and adventure. Iā€™ve driven ATVs across the desert, biked lonely gravel roads near the border of Mexico, and ridden a mountain bike into a cactus on the outskirts of Scottsdale. In short, I love Arizona, and as much fun as Iā€™ve had in that state, I still have so much to discover. The following road trip meanders through Northern Arizona, beginning in Grand Canyon and connecting a few waypoints that I still need to tick off my bucket list.

You could argue that all adventure trips in Arizona need to feature Grand Canyon National Park, and I wouldnā€™t disagree, so weā€™re hitting that 6,000-foot-deep ditch first. Also, Grand Canyon Village is just 1.5 hours from Flagstaff, so itā€™s a logical first stop. Is the Grand Canyon crowded? Yes. But the vast majority of visitors stick to a few scenic overlooks. The last time I was at the South Rim, I lost the crowds after hiking about a mile on the . But youā€™re going to do a lot of hiking on this road trip, so consider biking The Hermit Road, which hugs the south rim of the canyon for seven miles from the village, offering copious views along the way. The best part? Itā€™s closed to private vehicles from March through November. rents cruisers (from $30).

Try to get a room at , an iconic national park lodge if there ever was one (from $391 starting in March). Or snag a coveted site at , which is first-come, first- served.

Heading north for 130 miles, youā€™ll hit the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, a 280,000-acre geological wonder of buttes, canyons, and cliffs that tends to get overshadowed by its grand neighbor. Still, you may have seen photos of the swirling pink and tan sandstone layers of rock in the Coyote Buttes known as The Wave. Itā€™s a stunning scenic reward that requires a tough hike through the desert. Accessing the Coyote Buttes requires a ($6). Grab one four months in advance, or try your luck with the daily lottery.

If you canā€™t score a permit, try hiking the 1.2-mile out-and-back through White Pocket. There are no marked or maintained trails in the monument, but cairns will guide you through more wavy sandstone features. Wherever you hike, look towards the sky for the endangered California Condor, which are hatched and released in the monument each year. And bring (or rent) a 4WD vehicle, as there are no paved roads inside the monument. Grab a site at the BLMā€™s , which views a cluster of sand-white buttes ($12 per site, first come/first serve).

Roughly 100 miles east, near the border of Utah, sits the 91,696-acre , a broad valley where 1,000-foot-tall sandstone towers rise abruptly from the earth. You can see some of the most iconic features, the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte, from the visitor center, but youā€™ll want to hike the Wildcat Trail, a four-mile loop that wraps around the West and East Mitten Buttes. Itā€™s the only self-guided trail open within the park, so to explore any more requires hiring a local Navajo guide with . A number of operators run auto tours of the 17-mile scenic loop road within the park, but consider booking a stargazing tour, also with Monument Valley Tribal Tours, that focuses on nighttime photography, framing the buttes within the context of the Milky Way and surrounding stars (from $95).

7. California

So Cal Coast to Mojave Desert

Distance: 300 miles
Duration: 4-5 days

Because this is a collection of road trips through the Southwest, Iā€™m focusing on Southern California, as the terrain in the area is more complementary to the Southwest vibe than, say, that of Californiaā€™s Redwood National Park or Yosemite Valley.

This trip starts on the coast and ends with the dunes in the Mojave Desert, so thereā€™s plenty of sand along the way, as well as big rocks, desert camping, and hiking. Keep the L.A. fires in mind when youā€™re traveling to Southern California. Hopefully the worst of that fire will be in the rearview by the time you make this trip, and while this route steers clear of the burn areas, the disaster has impacted residents throughout the region. Be considerate.

Californiaā€™s coast is loaded with state parks, but San Onofre State Beach has a rugged character thatā€™s hard to match, with cliffs rising directly from the beach and whales and dolphins often spotted in the water. If you fancy yourself a worthy surfer, you can paddle into the lineup at the world-famous Trestles break on the north end of the park, which has been ground zero for Southern Californiaā€™s surfing culture since the 1940s. The park offers beginner breaks, too. In fact, San Onofre has one of the more gentle waves in Southern California. offers beginner lessons at the San Onofre Bluffs Beach, which is flanked by 100-foot cliffs (from $100 per person).

Try to score a site at the (reserve up to six months in advance, starting at $45 a night) or San Mateo Camp, a couple of miles inland.

Leave the beach and head east, making a pit stop at the sleeper destination Anza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness, an often overlooked member of Californiaā€™s crowded public-lands portfolio. The park is packed with palm oases, slot canyons, and after a wet winter, fields of wildflowers. Stretch your legs on the , a three-mile out and back that begins near the parkā€™s visitor center and climbs up a canyon, ending at an overlook of a palm oasis (currently recovering from a previous wildfire) with a seasonal waterfall.

Continuing east for 60 miles, and youā€™ll wrap around the Salton Sea to hit Joshua Tree National Parkā€™s southern entrance (if youā€™re tired or showing up late, look for free campsites on BLM land between I-10 and the parkā€™s entrance). Spring is a great time to visit the park, as the temperatures are manageable, and the local cacti and Joshua Trees for which the park is named could still be sprouting flowers. Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails. The easy 1.4-mile is a no-brainer loop that delivers you to a natural arch, with plenty of opportunity to scramble on sandstone boulders along the way. For a birdā€™s-eye view of the park, climb the 5,456-foot Ryan Mountain via its and for a vista stretching clear to the 11,000-foot San Gorgonio Mountain. I tried running to the top of Ryan Mountain the last time I was in the park, but the 1,000-foot elevation gain got the better of me.

Aside from the BLM land near the south entrance, the park has six with sites you can reserve up to six months in advance. Theyā€™re all good.

Still want more desert? Great, because youā€™re heading 70 miles north of Joshua Tree into the heart of the Mojave National Preserve, 1.6 million acres of dunes, cliffs, and cactus that somehow only gets half a million visitors a year. You have to hike the , a 45-square-mile expanse that will have you thinking youā€™re in the Sahara. The popular three-mile Kelso Dunes Trail will take you to the top of the tallest mound, which rises 650 feet.

Also, the easy, mile-long Lava Tube Trail provides access to an actual lava tube, where the sun pours in through a ā€œsky lightā€ in the stone. Wherever you explore, keep an eye out for the desert tortoise, a threatened species that lives in the Mojaveā€™s valleys and moves slowly through the heat. The preserve has three developed campgrounds. Try to reserve a spot at , which has potable water ($25 per night).

Graham Averill is ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazineā€™s national-parks columnist. Heā€™s been in love with road trips since he read Jack Kerouacā€™s On the Road at age 17. His longest road trip to date was a month-long romp through the Southwest with his wife and twin then four-year-olds. Recently, he wrote about bucket-list golf courses, the best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park, and the nine national parks that will need timed-entry reservations this year. One of the weirdest places heā€™s ever slept for a story was a renovated lookout tower in the middle of the ocean.

The post The 7 Best Road Trips in the Southwest appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Matthew Bryce went surfing alone. Would he die alone, too? As he was riding waves, Bryce got blown out to sea. He had a wetsuit and a surfboard, and nothing else. No way to call for help, or signal to the rescuers that he could see searching for him in a helicopter. Alone and freezing in the ocean, how do you keep from giving up?

The post Surviving at Sea on a Surfboard appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

In traveling, Iā€™ve always chosen to go it alone rather than not go at all. Over the years, friends have called me fearless. Donā€™t you get scared? they ask. Very rarely. Lonely? Honestly, never, even before the days of social media. And isnā€™t it more expensive to travel by yourself than with others? Traditionally, yes. Solo travelers often got slapped with single-supplement, or premium, hotel and tour fees, but since the pandemic, companies have started courting solo travelers. Priceline even held its first-ever .

, safety, loneliness, and expense are the three biggest reasons people hate to travel solo. But Iā€™ve been adventuring on my own for more than two decades, and I find it freeing. I can travel at my own pace and on my own budget. I can easily score a table for oneā€”even at top restaurants that often require bookings weeks in advance. And I connect more with locals.

More people are catching on to the appeal of solo travel, however, especially Gen Zers and Millennials. Google searches for solo travel have increased 223 percent over the past decade, and according to a , 50 percent of Americans planned to travel alone in 2024. And while women have led the indie trip trend in recent years, men are joining the ranks. A from the travel booking site Omio found that 30 percent of men, compared to 23 percent of women, have solo journeys planned for 2025.

If youā€™ve hesitated to give solo travel a go, let me alleviate your concerns and suggest some of my favorite places for awesome adventuring on your own.

Always Consider Safety First

Certain destinations lend themselves to solo travel more than others. Certainly, safety is top of mind.

I scan the U.S. State Departmentā€™s and avoid countries of conflict. I also browse the (GPI), an annual ranking of nations based on factors like the absence of violence or fear of violence, a nationā€™s level of harmony or discord, and its degree of militarization. Coming into 2025, Iceland, Ireland, and Austria are the safest three countries in the world, according to the overall GPI score.

, which also researches and ranks the safest places to visit each year, is another great resource. Rankings are based on an average of ā€œall measures from [BHTPā€™s] State of Travel Insurance research,ā€ and factor in other indices including the Global Peace Index and information from sources like , a destination database that scores living conditions. Berkshire Hathaway puts Iceland, Australia, and Canada as top three for safety, with Ireland close behind.

In addition to its list, Berkshire Hathaway provides write-ups that touch on smart considerations to take into account in each of the high-ranking nations, from dangerous wildlife like box jellyfish in Australia to driving on the left-hand side of the road in Ireland to expensive emergency-evacuation costs in remote destinations of northern Norway.

My 6 Favorite Solo-Travel Destinations

Some of my picks are at the top of the Berkshire Hathaway and Global Peace Index lists, but I cast a wider lens to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. In particular, such places have satisfied my craving for big doses of nature and adventure.

Portugal

The GPI ranked Portugal the seventh-safest country in the world in 2024. Itā€™s also a bargain compared to most Western European countries (a draft of craft beer cost me $3 in Lisbon compared to $8 in Paris), and the effortlessly connects the northern and southern regions.

Iā€™ve visited this country solo four times and have always found the locals extremely hospitable. On my first trip, I checked out the beach town of Sagres in the southern region of Algarve and met two couples from Lisbon who offered to drive me back to the city. One of the women took off work the next day to be my tour guide, and that evening she and her husband threw a dinner party for me at their home.

I love making solo surf trips up and down Portugalā€™s coast. Hotels like (from $200) in Santa Cruz and (from $73), just north in the town of Peniche, have a clubhouse vibe and offer activities and eventsā€”like rooftop music sessionsā€”that make it easy to meet new friends. Both places can arrange board rentals, lessons, and English-speaking guides.

If you, too, fall hard for the country, Portugalā€™s recently introduced makes it easy to pursue residency while working remotely.

Costa Rica

Pura vida vibes have always made me feel welcome in Costa Rica. The State Departmentā€™s Level 2 advisory recommends that trip-goers use increased caution here, due to petty crime risks and natural hazards like earthquakes (which are common-ish here, with events of magnitude 7 about every decade). For 2025, Berkshire Hathaway Costa Rica the sixth-safest place in the world for female, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ travelers.

Surf towns such as Nosara and Santa Teresa along the Pacific Coast attract a lot of Americans and have small expat communities. , a hotel brand catering to digital nomads with coworking spaces as well as rooms, has eight outposts in Costa Rica, including in Nosara, Santa Teresa, and Monteverde (shared dorms from $24). These properties host music events and arrange local experiences for guests.

On the Caribbean Coast, Iā€™m a big fan of the boutique hotel (from $365), which is part of the sustainability-focused Cayuga Collection. The hotel works with local guides and outfitters to arrange snorkeling excursions and hiking day trips in Cahuita National Park, including for solo guests. The place also offers free bike use, which I love for exploring the nearby town on my own.

CanadaĢż

Canadians have a reputation for being incredibly friendly, and that as well as proximity to the U.S. and our shared language are bonuses. highlighted the countryā€™s low crime rate and noted that wildlife like bears and moose posed some of the biggest dangers to visitors.

Vancouver and Montreal, great jumping-off points for the wilderness, ranked two and three, respectively, on a that see the most solo-travel searches on the travel site Kayak and the most solo-dining reservations on OpenTable.

Canada has 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves, as well as two beautiful coasts. Iā€™ve made friends while soaking in the swimming-pool-sized hot tub at (from $250) in Albertaā€™s Banff National Park. Iā€™ve also plotted solo snowboard trips to , British Columbia, to coincide with the Natural Selection Tour freestyle competition, knowing Iā€™d meet like-minded travelers.

If youā€™re wary of wandering the wilderness alone, sign up for a guided trek with a local outfitter. I like the .

Another low-stress option is crisscrossing the country via rail. The Rocky Mountaineerā€™s from Vancouver to Banff takes just two days and is staffed with storytellers who can shed light on indigenous sites and wildlife. It offers single-berth accommodations from $1,752.

Australia

Australia has long been a magnet for backpackers. I spent nearly a year in my twenties backpacking mostly solo around the countryā€™s east coast, and the biggest dangers were crocodiles, snakes, and jellyfish. Despite its resident poisonous critters, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection scored AustraliaĢż the second-safest place in the world to travel for 2025.

Affordable and clean hostels, like (from $140) in Queenslandā€™s Daintree Rainforest, abound and are filled with other solo travelers. is a beach-club-vibe hostel brand with Queensland locations in Noosa, Cairns, and Airlie Beach (from $32 for a spot in a mixed dorm).

Australia is a fantastic destination for hiking. is a collection of 13 treks that you can do yourself or with a guide. I spent four days traversing the wildlife-filled in Tasmania, opting for a guide via the local outfitter the because I wanted to learn more about the flora, fauna, and culture on the island (from $1,900, all-inclusive). The first two nights we stayed in secluded, simple bush camps near the beach ($7), and the final night we were pampered in the recently renovated historic-home-turned-hotel, Bernacchi House.

If youā€™re sticking to the mainland, the in the state of Victoria is a very doable 27 miles over four days along the Great Ocean Road, with campsites en route. The walk is suitable for hikers of any experience and takes in the shipwreck-dotted coastline, wild beaches, and Great Otway and Port Campbell National Parks.

Austria

Austria is a fantastic option for solo alpine adventures. The country is ranked third on the Global Peace Index and fifth worldwide in terms of safety by the . Most locals speak English, and a great public transportation network makes it easy to travel car-free. If youā€™re deciding between alpine destinations, consider that the cost of living in Switzerland is higher than in Austria, and that affects tourism; in general, expect lodging and meals in Austria to cost half of what youā€™d pay in Switzerland.

The runs a network of more than 170 huts, where itā€™s easy to engage with other hikers. Most mountain resorts, such as or or have guided hiking, biking, and paddling tours that allow you to mingle with others. And many villages offer special . I met some friends on a solo trip to the , held each September.

Bhutan

Solo travel, for me, has been the perfect way to do some soul searching when Iā€™m making big decisions or going through a transition. And one of the most soulful places Iā€™ve ever visited is the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is a place of beauty and spirituality, and travelers here are required to have a guide, which is an exceptional way to become familiar with the culture.

Six years ago, I went on assignment on a solo ten-day guided trip of this Southeast Asia nation and learned so much, including the proper way to throw a dart (this is a traditional sport in Bhutan) and about dating habits here (yes, thereā€™s Tinder in Bhutan). I still keep in touch with my guide, who was a woman, on WhatsApp.

Bhutan is ranked 21 on the Global Peace Index, and itā€™s a mecca for hiking and mountain bikingā€”the king is an avid mountain biker, and my guide and I spotted him one day on the trail. While getting there from the U.S. isnā€™t cheap, nor are costs within the country, visits are slightly more affordable since the kingdom halved its daily tourist fee from $200 to $100 last year.

Phil Bowen of should be your go-to logistician to find a guide, driver, and accommodations, which can range from homestays to splurge-worthy hotels. (from $550, half-board, meaning room, breakfast, and one other meal) is one of the most memorable places Iā€™ve stayed in throughout my global travels.

5 Tips for Solo Travelers, From a Pro

Here are some tips and tricks for making the most of a solo trip.Ģż

Share Your Plans

I always email my mom my rough itinerary. It includes the contact information for any hotels Iā€™ve already booked or the names of campsites where I plan to stay. I also regularly check in with her or a good friend via Whatā€™s App or email to let them know Iā€™ve reached a destination safely and when Iā€™m moving on to my next stop.

Eat at the Restaurant’s Bar

I absolutely love dining alone at the bar. Itā€™s usually easy to score a single seat, and before long Iā€™m chatting with some fascinating local characters. Bartenders are often fantastic sources of local intel and can direct you to good restaurants and the best hiking and mountain-biking trails. Finally, happy-hour specials are a great way to save a few bucks.

Watch and Post on Message Boards

If youā€™re craving companionship, you might post on social-media channels like Facebook and Instagramā€”you never know who in your circles, or your friendsā€™ circles, is headed to the same place as youā€”or use the Friends setting on apps like Bumble. Many hotels and hostels, and often the local grocery store, still have bulletin boards with postings for local activities, like free yoga sessions or group hikes.

Pack Meds

Being alone isnā€™t so great when you fall ill in a far-flung place. In many countries itā€™s manageable: you can walk into a pharmacy, explain your symptoms, and get what you need. But I recently suffered through a debilitating urinary-tract infection in Morocco, and now I never travel without the broad-spectrum antibiotic I needed. I convinced my doctor to prescribe one in case I get that sick on the road again.

Donā€™t Second-Guess Yourself

Trust your gut. If something feels unsafe, it probably is. The very few times Iā€™ve gotten food poisoning have been when actions went against my instinct. Donā€™t be afraid to be impolite. Once, in Varanasi, India, an elderly woman offered me a glass of sketchy looking lassi. I felt rude saying no, and all it took was one sip to give me Delhi Belly. I knew better.

You should also follow your intuition. When I meet strangers and feel genuine good vibes, I will accept an invitation to share a ride or join for a meal in someoneā€™s home. These chance encounters have rewarded me with some wonderful friends and experiences over the years.

Jen Murphy is °æ³Ü³Ł²õ¾±»å±šā€™s online travel-advice columnist. She has had some of her most memorable adventures while traveling solo, from dancing with a local tribe in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia to joining members of the Indian army on a run in Delhi. Her journal and a good book have always served as great companions. She has also recently written an ultimate guide to winter fun in a choice selection of mountain towns in Colorado, a guide for anyone new to adventure travel in Costa Rica, and the funniest things travelers ask their adventure guides. There are doozies.

The post Iā€™ve Been Traveling Solo for Decades. Here Are My Pro Tips and Favorite Countries to Visit. appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

As a touring bluegrass musician, Tim Parr was passing through Malibu, California in 2017 when he decided to shop for reading glasses. At age 49, the outdoor industry veteran whoā€™d worked at Patagonia and founded a bike company (Swobo) had never worn glasses before. But, Parr says, his younger band members had been giving him a hard time for having to print out a separate set list for him, one with a bigger font.

ā€œIt was always at least two pages, when the other guys had one,ā€ Parr, whoā€™s now 57,Ģż told me on a GoogleMeet from his home in Baja California, Mexico, last month, after a morning surf session. ā€œThatā€™s what started Caddis.ā€

Parr channeled his years working in the outdoor industry and recreating on bikes, rocks, and waves (heā€™s been surfing for 42 years, hence the house in Baja), combined them with rockstar (okay, bluegrass) sensibilities, and came out with super-cool readers.

ā€œNinety percent of people over 40 have whatā€™s called presbyopia,ā€ Parr said. I looked it up. The Mayo Clinic website defined presbyopia as ā€œthe gradual loss of your eyesā€™ ability to focus on nearby objects.ā€ The Mayo Clinic adds: ā€œItā€™s a natural, often annoying part of aging.ā€

I concur. As an active non-20-year-old, itā€™s annoying. But whatā€™s more irritating is that, as someone who cares about quality products and lives a youthful, adventurous life, putting on cheap, drug-store reading glasses makes me feel older than I want to feel. I mean, we spend decades doing cool shit outdoors and valuing the gear that enables us to do so. I personally donā€™t want to rely on anything that makes me feel dorky, or worse, trapped in a slow decay of aging and everything that comes with it.

So Iā€™m thankful that Parr started for people like me.

To Read the Menu, Play the Guitar, Work, or Just Not Feel Old

I was in a dimly lit restaurant a couple years ago when I realized I couldnā€™t read the small print on the menu. I did the old lady thing; I stretched out my arm, pulled back my head, and furrowed my brow in an attempt to refocus my eyes. It didnā€™t work. In the end, I had a friend confirm what I thought I saw and ordered.

Last winter, after obtaining a pair of at a media event, I was out with the same group of friends in another dimly lit restaurant. I pulled out my new readers to the tune of, ā€œOoh, what are those?!ā€ My reading glasses were confirmed to be cool, at least by my girlfriends.

Iā€™ve since used themā€”along with another pair, the which I kind of think are cooler than I amā€”to work on my computer when my eyes are tired first thing in the morning or in the evening. I use them to read music I print out on my crappy printer to fool around on my guitar, or to work on complicated (to me) picking patterns that benefit from, well, being able to see the strings and what my fingers are doing. Knowing that the glasses were born out of musical need makes this feel especially aligned.

Caddis eyewearā€™s scope and vibe, however, goes beyond aging musical surfers. While the companyā€™s first ambassadors were surfer/musician Donovan Frankenreiter, legendary surfer Lisa Andersen, and surfer/filmmaker Taylor Steele, the brand has since added iconic Rolling Stone cover stylist Lysa Cooper, tattoo and airbrush artist, Mister Cartoon, custom motorcycle builder and ex-Nike executive Wil Thomas III and more. The thread holding these people together is that theyā€™re all ā€œliving their best lives right now,ā€ says one of six Caddis cofounders (and surfer) Enich Harris, who came from roles at Fox Racing, Billabong, and Arnette. And, theyā€™re all over 40 years old.

Weā€™re All in the Cool Club

Harris and Parr explain how potential early investors in the company advised shying away from the topic of aging. But the two realized age was exactly what they wanted to talk about. ā€œWe decided we wanted to lean in and make people feel good about getting older in this,ā€ says Harris, 52. ā€œSo that became our ā€˜why.ā€™ Weā€™re really here to empower people in the next chapter of their lives.ā€

Caddisā€™ mantra, written out in large, all-cap type on the bottom of the box of every pair of glasses, reads:

THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THE LONG PROCESS OF GIVING UP. IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH AGE, BUT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR JOB, YOUR GENDER, OR WHETHER YOU LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY OR HAZARD COUNTY. IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING WHO YOU ARE AND OWNING IT.

Harris acknowledges that other brands, like Look Optics, Warby Parker, and eyebobs are offering ā€œcoolā€ readers, but that none of them are ā€œleaning in around ageā€ like Caddis. He says that the brand further sets itself apart by offering a narrow selection of classic styles. ā€œWe feel like we have a point of view,ā€ he says. [Note: The company launched a line of sunglasses in the summer of 2014 and now considers themselves ā€œfull-service optical.ā€]

The day I spoke to Harris via GoogleMeet from his backyard in Laguna Beach, California, he was gearing up to bring a sampling of readers to what he called a ā€œmidlife conference with 200 womenā€ put on by Liberty Road, a membership-based resource hub dedicated to women embracing midlife. ā€œItā€™s 200 women just there celebrating getting older, supporting each other, and getting new tools in the chest to feel good about this next stage of their lives,ā€ Harris said, adding: ā€œWe end up at a lot of menopause conferences.ā€

The thing is, it isnā€™t uncool to age. It happens to all of us, if weā€™re lucky, and so what if we need a little help to read a menu. Iā€™m personally thankful for Caddisā€™ refreshing point of view, and the fact that my reading glasses make me feel better, not worse, about myself.

Learning about the companyā€”and the fact that founder Parr picked up the dobro guitar at age 50 (and the guitar at 45) and will be working on his third album over the next six months while running Caddisā€”is inspiring. So is the fact that Parr and five other founders, including Harris, all came together after years in various roles in the outdoor industryā€”and playing in the outdoorsā€”to create gear for aging.

Iā€™m ready for whatever comes next, wearing my cool readers.

The post Need Reading Glasses but Donā€™t Want to Look Old? Youā€™re in Luck, Thanks to These Surfers. appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Golf gets a bad rap. The sport has a reputation for being too expensive and too resource-intensive, which are true in some cases. There are private clubs so expensive you need to be a billionaire to join, and courses where the landscape was bulldozed to make way for overwatered and overfertilized fairways.

But not every golf course is that way.

A movement is afoot to make golf more accessible and sustainable. How do I know? Iā€™m an avid golfer. I play twice a week, mostly on public courses that are cheap and built over repurposed farmland. Affordable golf is actually easy to find, but better yet is the sustainability movement thatā€™s creeping into destination courses.

ā€œThe golf industry has made tremendous strides in the area of sustainability over the past 20 to 30 years,ā€ says Frank LaVardera, director of environmental programs in golf for , which operates Americaā€™s first and most comprehensive green-golf-course certification program. ā€œTraditional courses use a significant amount of water and chemicals, but many courses are reducing their amount of managed turfā€ā€”the manicured lawns that require so much water and fertilizerā€”ā€œand creating native areas that require less water, while enhancing wildlife habitat.ā€

What an Eco-Conscious Golf Course Means

Audubon Internationalā€™s certification process can take years, and requires evaluation of a courseā€™s impact on wildlife habitat, water quality and conservation, pest management, and energy efficiency. In turn, eco-minded course managers reduce the amount of turf, use recycled gray water to irrigate, emphasize walking over use of gas-powered carts, and create wildlife habitats with natural grasses and trees that attract birds, bees, and even the occasional bear. Since 2001, when the program was introduced, Audubonā€™s Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf has grown to include more than 2,000 certified courses in the U.S. and beyond.

The timing of this sustainability movement couldnā€™t be better, as America has rediscovered its love of golf. According to the (NGF), 3.4 million new people played golf in America last year. Each of the past 10 years saw more than 2 million beginners, with the past four topping 3 million.

Golf’s Changing Demographics

The that since the pandemic era, women and people of color have been flocking to the game; the biggest demographic jump has come from traditionally under-represented populations, with the number of Asian, Black and Hispanic golfers rising by 43 percent in the last five years. Of the 26 million people who play golf recreationally, 23 percent are people of color and 26 percent are women.

The demographic makeup of the Professional Golf Association (PGA) is still skewed (80 percent of pro golfers are white), but the game is changing from the ground up as recreational players trend toward being younger and more diverse. The most sought-after clothing brands in the sport, like Malbon and Eastside Golf, bring streetwear aesthetics to the golf industry, while many prolific and successful golfers on social media are women and people of color. If youā€™re not following on Instagram, you should be.

Part of the issue with diversifying the outdoors is access. There were 480 ski resorts in operation last year, with most of them located in remote, mountainous regions. Compare that to the 16,000+ golf courses scattered all over the country. I live in a southeastern mountain town that is not known for its golf, but I can play on any of 10 courses situated within half an hour of my home. There are three courses within three miles of downtown, and I play on two of them for under $20 a round. A program called enables members aged 18 and under to play any of its 2,133 enrolled courses across the U.S. for just $5 a round.

My 15-year-old son is a YOC member, and able to play half a dozen courses within 10 miles of our home. He and I can walk nine holes of golf for $20 combined, $35 if we want to play 18.

Why I Love Golf

As for the argument that golf shouldnā€™t be considered an outdoor sport because of its environmental impact, most things we do leave footprints. Iā€™ve been a dedicated skier since age 12, and I donā€™t love the fact that the ski industry has gotten cartoonishly expensive and is resource-intensive, especially in water use. But I do love skiing. I have the same relationship with golf. Itā€™s not perfect, but I love it.

This surprises people because I make a living writing about adventure sports, and I have the scars and expensive-gear habit to prove it. People assume golf and surfing or mountain biking are a world apart, but look closely in my garage and youā€™ll see a set of golf clubs tucked between my mountain bike and longboard.

When I play, I always walk, carry my bag, and try not to focus too much on my score. Itā€™s a slow, meditative walk in the woods. I like the challenge of golf as well. I recently picked the sport up again after a 20-year-hiatus, and Iā€™m consumed with the pursuit of getting better, but I also know that Iā€™ll never master golf. No matter how good I get at hitting a little white ball in the air, there will always be room for improvement.

Golf is cerebral and thought-provoking in a way that the other fast-paced sports I love are not. The game is 99.99 percent mental, allowing me to see how my thoughts impact my actions. Golf is a chance to clear your head and be outside.

Fortunately, there are certain destinations where golf and adventure go hand in hand. Some of the most sustainable golf courses in America are located in places that could be on any adventure-travelerā€™s radar, so you can play 18 holes one afternoon and go mountain biking or surfing the next morning.

Here are nine of the wildest, most sustainable golf courses in the world, each paired with a local adventure to round out the perfect weekend.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

1. Bear Trace, Harrison, Tennessee

Fee: Starting at $41 for 18 holes

Even if youā€™re not a golfer, you know the name of Jack Nicklaus, one of the gameā€™s most famous professionals. Not only was Nicklaus a legendary golfer, he was also a designer, creating courses all over the country, including this 18-hole masterpiece sits in the 1200-acre , 20 miles outside of Chattanooga. In the last two decades, managers have addressed every aspect of the course to minimize its impact, converting the greens from bentgrass to a less-thirsty Bermudagrass, removing 50 acres of turf to cede that area to natural grasses, and eliminating irrigation beyond the greens. The place has also purchased all-electric maintenance equipment, and installed mallard nesting tubes, wood duck boxes, and feeders for bluebirds and wild turkey.

As a result, as of 2008, Bear Trace is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, and restored the wildlife habitat to the point where the course was home to a pair of nesting bald eagles for a decade.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Paddling on in Harrison Bay State Park makes for a fun afternoon (paddle boards are $8 an hour through the park). If youā€™re looking for something more adventurous, , 45 miles west of the state park, offers trips (from $50 per person) on class III-IV whitewater full of play spots and wave trains that formed the 1996 Olympic whitewater course.

Ģż

2. Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, Missouri

Fees: ĢżStarting from $80 for the 13-hole short course

OK, is a behemoth. The brainchild of Johnny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, the 4,600-acre retreat features five distinct public golf courses, all set amid a dramatic Ozark Mountains backdrop, with routing that regularly nears ancient limestone cliffs. In recent years, Big Cedar Lodge has become one of the countryā€™s top golf destinations, regarded as the best public golf in the Midwest.

Big Cedar Lodge was the first golf resort in the world to receive Audubon Internationalā€™s highest certification, the Signature Sanctuary status, given for all five of its courses. Water conservation and improving wildlife habitat are priorities, with more than 75 percent organic fertilizer used, while chemical runoff and water use are addressed through a water-recycling program with reclamation ponds, as well as moisture meters embedded in the ground to help minimize watering in general.

One of Johnny Morrisā€™ founding principles is the notion of connecting people and the outdoors. On several holes his courses put the golfer between towering limestone cliffs, and, extra cool, those who play Big Cedar Lodgeā€™s Buffalo Ridge course can spy herds of bison that roam and feed on the natural-grass prairies surrounding the fairways.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: You could spend your entire weekend playing different courses at Big Cedar Lodge, but bring your mountain bike, too. The resort is on the edge of , which has 11 miles of cross-country trails in a stacked-loop system that hugs the shoreline of Table Rock Lake. Or you could hit the gravity-minded , which has 10 trails and a pump track and skills area. The place has something for everyone, from the kid whoā€™s just learning how to brake, to the adult who thinks heā€™s a kid sending gaps (day passes start at $45).

3. Streamsong Golf Resort, Bowling Green, Florida

Fees: Starting at $249 for 18 holes

This massive golf retreat 60 miles east of Tampa wins my vote for best use of scarred land. built its courses on 16,000 acres of land that was previously used for a phosphate strip mine. After the mining ended, sand dunes took over, and course designers used all of that bumpy elevation to create a whimsical playground where fairways wind through grassy mounds and small ponds.

Course designers used compost in the soil before grassing to reduce the need for fertilization, and limited the acreage of maintained turf, opting instead for natural grasses and dunes beyond the fairways. The resort has a water-treatment facility that captures rainwater, and reuses it for irrigation. Streamsong features three 18-hole courses, and a short course, called The Chain, that has no set tee boxes or suggested pars. This short course is a ā€œchoose your own adventureā€ sort of experience.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: You can keep the reclaimed land theme rolling by driving 25 miles west to , 7,714 acres of surprisingly hilly terrain on a former phosphate mine, with more than 20 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails through a forest and alongside lakes and the banks of the Alafia River. Streamsong wasnā€™t impacted much by Hurricane Milton when it hit October 9, both because the courses were designed to manage water and the place had few trees for high winds to damage. But much of this area of Florida was devastated by the storm, so check with surrounding businesses and parks before exploring the area.

4. Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington

Fees: Starting at $85 for 18 holes

This 18-hole course is links-style, meaning that like Scotland’s St. Andrews, believed to be the oldest course in the world, it has little to no manipulation of the land, resulting in rugged terrain, with many dunes covered in tall grasses. Similarly set on a craggy shoreline of Washington, it might also be the pinnacle of sustainable design. was built on reclaimed mine land, turning a former gravel pit into a championship course that now enhances the landscape. Designers shaped the course with native plants and wildflowers like douglas iris, and sodded with drought-resistant fescue grass species.

The fairways are irrigated with recycled gray water and fertilized with treated bio-waste from the countyā€™s wastewater plant. Chambers Bay doesnā€™t have golf carts; itā€™s a walking-only facility. (Some courses in the U.S. require golfers to use carts on weekends to maintain a quick pace of play.) Maybe the best part is that Chambers Bay is a municipal course, with affordable fees. Itā€™s also located within a county park with trails adjacent to the links and coast, so you donā€™t have to play golf to enjoy the scenery.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Chambers Creek Regional Park, which is home to the golf course, is a 930-acre preserve with two miles of shoreline and more than five miles of paved trails with views of Puget Sound. You should also drive 50 miles east to Mount Rainier National Park, where you can hike the 5.5-mile loop on , bagging copious views of the eponymous 14,411-foot active volcano in all its glaciated glory.

5. Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah

Fees: Starting at $300 for 18 holes

A 19-hole course that opened in May 2023, was built from the ground up with the surrounding environment in mind. The entire property is only 600 acres, with just 75 acres of turf, all irrigated with non-potable gray water, and the fairways are made from a drought-tolerant bentgrass species that needs less maintenance and fertilizer than many other common turf grasses. Almost 70 percent of the grounds are dedicated as protected open space, and sustainability was a factor throughout the propertyā€™s design, from having a low-voltage power infrastructure for the resort to using an irrigation system in a grid, where each section can be adjusted individually.

The coolest aspect of the course is that itā€™s become a haven for endangered fish species. The property managers partnered with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to relocate 400 Virgin River Chub, a kind of rare minnow, to the lakes on the golf course, so they can live and breed in a stable environment. The course itself is gorgeous, running through fields of black lava rocks with views of the surrounding red cliffs.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Long-term plans for Black Desert include building several miles of hiking trails. Moreover, the resort sits nine miles north of St. George, just an hour (48 miles) west of Zion National Park. If itā€™s your first time to Zion, snag a ($3 plus a $6 registration fee) and hike , a 5.5-mile out-and-back that involves a bit of scrambling and ridgeline traversing and might just lead to one of the most iconic photo sites in our national-park system.

To dig deeper into the park, consider trekking through , a slot canyon where the walls of Zion Canyon rise 1,000 feet up while pinching to 30 feet wide at certain points. Youā€™ll be hiking through the river, so be prepared to get wet. The shortest route is a 9.5-mile out and back from the Temple of Sinawava, a red-walled natural amphitheater, to Big Spring, which is as far as you can go without a permit, but hits some of the skinniest portions of the gorge. Just donā€™t attempt it when thereā€™s rain in the as flash floods are common and fatalities have occurred. Save it for a stellar day.

6. The Mountain Course at Spruce Peak, Stowe, Vermont

Fees: Starting at $165 for 18, and you need to stay at The Lodge at Spruce Peak to play (rooms start at $249).

Surrounded by 2,000 acres of preserved land, the rambles along the flank of the mountain it is named for, with views of the adjacent Mount Mansfield, Vermontā€™s tallest peak, to boot. Spruce Peak, which sits at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort, was designed with the environment in mind, input from Audubon International, and a focus on preserving local black-bear populations by routing around their preferred habitat of beech trees. Designers also created buffers around streams and ponds to protect water quality, and planted a mix of native flowers and grasses, like milkweed and false sunflower, around tee boxes.

Peregrine Lake serves as a water feature for golfers to admire and avoid, but also a reservoir capturing rainwater that is used to feed snowmaking operations at Stowe Mountain Resort. Course management hosts an annual field trip to teach a local fifth-grade class about the elements of water quality.

The course fits into the greater ecosystem of the Spruce Peak community, a resort and residential property at the base of Stowe Mountain Resort that was built around eco-sensitive principles like a property-wide composting program and a renewable energy program that provides more than 50 percent of its power.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Youā€™re close to Stowe, a town renowned for its ski culture (and beer). Sadly, ski season and golf season donā€™t overlap. But donā€™t fret; during the warmer months, there is plenty of hiking, fly fishing, and climbing nearby. Do it on your own or if you want a guide, Spruce Peak Resort offers hiking and fly fishing adventures. If youā€™re into climbing, runs trips on the granite walls around the Stowe area, from top-roping routes suitable for beginners to multi-pitch cliffs that will please experienced trad climbers (from $250 per person).

7. Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Oregon

Fees: From $50 for the par 3 courses

has become one of the most coveted golf destinations in America, with seven public courses spread throughout the 2,525-acre coastal resort. All seven courses have earned Audubon International Sanctuary status, too, as the designers have kept Oregonā€™s coastal beauty and environmental harmony in mind throughout the process, from construction to management.

The course looks wild, thanks largely to the use of native plants and grasses, including the threatened silver phacelia, outside of the fairways, while for the turf on those mowed areas Bandon Dunes uses fescue, a type of grass that requires less fertilizer than others. And when fertilizer is applied, itā€™s organic and used sparingly. Roughly 85 percent of the resortā€™s energy is supplied by renewable resources, with more solar panels still to be installed throughout the property. The maintenance department has moved to electric-powered equipment.

Most of the resortā€™s landscape holds native plants that require no irrigation, but with six courses, roughly 600 acres that need to be watered. The resortā€™s own wastewater-management system supplies non-potable gray water for the job, recycling roughly 50,000 gallons of water daily.

One of the courses, Bandon Preserve, puts net proceeds directly to local conservation projects in Oregonā€™s southern coast through a , which has helped restore salmon fisheries and funded mountain bike trails. Bandon Dunes is working towards the lofty goal of becoming a completely carbon neutral resort.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Bandon Dunes sits on Oregonā€™s southern coast, which is a multi-sport adventurerā€™s dream, with miles of singletrack and wild beaches punctuated by dramatic sea stacks. Go for a trail run at , where several miles of trail wind through a pine forest and access five miles of hard-packed beach.

The surfing is good too, with beach breaks found throughout this part of the coast. Head north for 25 miles to Coos Bay, where the bluffs of Yoakam Head hang over the breaks, which have something for all levels of surfers. Beginners should head to Bastendorff Beach for a wide, sandy-bottom break with a cool backdrop of rocky headlands. The water temperature is cold year round, but winter brings the most consistent waves, so in that case pack a thick wetsuit.

8. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Fees: Starting at $110 for 18 holes

The a resort five miles south of Colorado Springs, is home to two of the most respected golf courses in the U.S., designed by legends Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones and hosting marquee tournaments like multiple U.S. Amateurs, U.S. °Ā“Ē³¾±š²Ōā€™s Opens, and U.S. Senior Opens. At 6,250 feet in elevation, the course was the highest in America when it first opened in 1918, and several holes feature views of Pikes Peak.

The place has become significantly more eco-friendly with age. Managers have replaced more than 50 acres of turf with native grasses and wildflowers, and use gray water to irrigate the fairways and greens. Mulching mowers return grass clippings back to the soil, and the property uses no pesticides Over the years the resort has added bird-nesting boxes and habitats for bees and butterflies. All of the carts are electric, and otherwise the place promotes walking and its caddy program. Resort chefs harvest honey from the propertyā€™s own hives, and source meat from the Wagyu beef raised on the ranch. Even the resortā€™s cooking grease is recycled into biodiesel.

The Broadmoor participates in one of the most heartwarming recycling programs Iā€™ve ever heard of: all of their spent tennis balls are donated to local senior-citizen facilities to be used on the ends of walkers and canes.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Colorado Springs offers so much to do. The 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, with trailheads six miles from town, has to be the most accessible fourteener in the U.S.; you can drive your car or take a train to the summit, but I say earn it by hiking the ($20-$37 parking fee, depending on day of week), a 13-mile one way trek that gains more than 7,000 feet on its way to the top. Donā€™t worry, you can take the down from the summit ($30). Or go explore the iconic red sandstone fins that rise from the center of Garden of the Gods Park. operates half and full day trips for all abilities (starting at $221).

9. Rising Sun Golf Course, Emigrant, Montana

Fee: Greens fees are included in the cost of your stay (one week minimum, and you must contact the for pricing).

Itā€™s hard to beat Rising Sunā€™s location. The 18-hole course sits on the 17,000-acre Mountain Sky Ranch, within the aptly named Paradise Valley and with near-constant views of the surrounding Absaroka and Gallatin Mountains. This is the biggest splurge on this list, and for most, a once-in-a-lifetime situation at best, but the rest of us can dream, right?

Rising Sun is not an easy course to play, thanks to its remote location and the fact that tee times go only to guests of the ranch, but you couldnā€™t ask for a more beautiful setting, and the Rising Sun was the first course in Montana to be designated an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary. The course was built on a hayfield with an emphasis on maintaining as much natural habitat as possible, converting dry pastures to prairie grass, and maintaining native plant buffers along bodies of water.

Course managers also installed bird-nest boxes to encourage multi-species nesting, and have put in bat houses. They regularly consult with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on issues concerning elk and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Aided by a dry, cold environment, course managers use no pesticides for the turf and greens, and theyā€™ve limited water usage by keeping the irrigated acreage to only 52 acres, almost a third of the average 18 hole course in America. Maintenance crews regularly monitor the quality of water in the course ponds as well as Big Creek.

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Mountain Sky Ranch is an adventure-minded ā€œdude ranchā€ with a host of activities located on property. The resort also offers guided horseback tours in Yellowstone National Park, with an entrance just 30 miles south. But I say to pair a round of golf here with some fly fishing. If youā€™re new to the sport, Mountain Sky has a trout pond where pros can teach you the nuances of casting, but if you can hit the ground running, head to nearby Big Creek, which is loaded with cutthroat and rainbow trout. Or sign up for a of the iconic Yellowstone River, which offers opportunities for long, wide open casts that just might net a cutthroat or brown. (From $595)

Nearby ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų: Mountain Sky Ranch is an adventure-minded ā€œdude ranchā€ with a host of activities located on property. The resort also offers guided horseback tours in Yellowstone National Park, with an entrance just 30 miles south. But I say to pair a round of golf here with some fly fishing. If youā€™re new to the sport, Mountain Sky has a trout pond where pros can teach you the nuances of casting, but if you can hit the ground running, head to nearby Big Creek, which is loaded with cutthroat and rainbow trout. Or sign up for a of the iconic Yellowstone River, which offers opportunities for long, wide open casts that just might net a cutthroat or brown (from $595).

Graham Averill is ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų magazineā€™s national parks columnist and an avid golfer who is dying to play every course on this list. Follow his golf shenanigans on Instagram at @the_amateur_golf. Graham recently wrote ā€œThis Is What Itā€™s Like to Live in Asheville After Hurricane Heleneā€ and answered some questions about it while standing in line at FEMA offices. He has also recently written ā€œ9 Most Underrated National Parks for Incredible Fall Foliage,ā€ ā€œ8 Surf Towns Where You Can Learn the Sport and the Culture,ā€ and ā€œThe 9 Most Fun ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Lodges in North America.ā€

The post The 9 Wildest Golf Courses in America appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

In July, when I reviewed the new version of Patagoniaā€™s R1 wetsuits, I talked about how there is often a compromise between a productā€™s eco-friendliness and its performance, but Patagoniaā€™s suit finally managed to score high marks in both. A month later, Billabong said, ā€œHold my beer.ā€ The companyā€™s new wetsuit performs even better on both fronts. Not only is it the most sustainable wetsuit currently available, but itā€™s also the most comfortable one Iā€™ve ever worn. Plus, it cost less, too.

Billabong ²Ń±š²Ōā€™s 3/2mm Furnace Natural Upcycler Chest Zip Wetsuit

Sizing: S-XXL (menā€™s), XS-XXL (womenā€™s)
Materials: 85% Natural Rubber and 15% synthetic ingredients, including Bolder Black, Oyster shell powder and Soybean oil
Models: 2/2, 3/2, 4/3, 5/4, and 6/5 millimeter thicknesses, some with optional hoods, some sleeveless

Pros and Cons
āŠ• Excellent flexibility
āŠ• Comfortable
āŠ• Easy entry/exit
āŠ• Extremely eco-friendly
āŠ• Materials dry quickly
āŠ— Lack of silicone inside wrist and ankle cuffs allows some water to get in
āŠ— Not quite as warm as the slightly thicker Patagonia R1

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Unparalleled Sustainability

The most notable change that Billabong makes from traditional wetsuit construction is switching from neoprene to natural rubber for the foam material that makes up the bulk of the wetsuit. Unlike traditional neoprene, which uses rubber derived from fossil fuels or limestone, this rubber comes from sustainable, FSC-certified, organic hevea rubber trees in Guatemala, grown in a plantation that has existed since the 1940s. The rubber it produces is of exceptionally high quality, and it meets , , and compliance for environmental standards.

The rubber foam (think ā€œneoprene,ā€ but a natural version) contains 85 percent natural rubber, with the other 15 percent stabilizers typically called carbon black. While most companies still use petroleum-based carbon-black stabilizers, Billabong has partnered with Colorado-based Bolder Industries to incorporate its flagship product . Bolder Black is a very high-quality carbon black, but itā€™s made entirely of post-consumer recycled wetsuits (supplied by Billabong) and other used rubber products like tires. These stabilizers give the rubber its strength, increase elasticity, add pigment for UV resistance, and allow it to be blown into the stretchy foam that we know and love.

To make the other major components of wetsuits, the jerseys, and liners that cover the outside, Billabong has now switched to 100 percent post-consumer recycled textiles, keeping a lot of unwanted clothes out of landfills. Graphene panels, which are made of a combination of recycled textiles infused with Graphene, are added to keep you warmer, and Billabong claims that all of this feel-good eco-friendly stuff doesnā€™t sacrifice performance. Much to my surprise, I agree.

How It Tested

I spent the last couple of months testing the Furnace Natural Upcycler ($380), and can attest that the suit is sublimely comfortable. Thanks to the incredibly soft and flexible rubber, itā€™s easier to get on and off than any other suit Iā€™ve worn. Itā€™s so stretchy that I feel effectively no resistance when paddling, and I move about as freely as I do in boardshorts. The kneepads (made from natural rubber laminated with an abrasion-resistant recycled nylon jersey called Supratex) are resilient, providing ample protection when duck diving, and the inner seams havenā€™t chafed me at all. The liner has a nice cozy loft to it also. The zipper is high-quality: I havenā€™t had any issues with snagging like I did in the Patagonia wetsuit.

Iā€™ve experienced no paddle fatigue in the suit, even during long sessions. It dries at least as quickly as any of my other suits, and itā€™s held up well, surviving the odd encounter with a rock or a fin without showing a scratch.

How It Compares to the Patagonia R1

The Furnace Natural is noticeably more comfortable than the fall 2023 (the next version of the R1 will likely be out in 2025). It feels lighter, it has more stretch, and it doesnā€™t have any zipper issues. It isnā€™t quite as warm as the R1, but that makes sense, considering the R1 is a 3/2.5-millimeter suit, not a 3/2-millimeter (Patagonia is one of the rare manufacturers that uses half-millimeter sizes).

The Furnace is also significantly cheaper, coming in at $380 versus $479 for the R1. You can even get a 3/2 Absolute Natural Upcycler (Billabongā€™s mid-range version) for as little as $269. This cheaper version has all the same eco updates, though it loses some of the higher-end bells and whistles (like the Airlite 4D jersey, the graphene lining, and the improved seam sealing). Patagonia doesnā€™t have a cheaper version, unfortunately.

While the Patagonia suit is very sustainable, Billabong has edged it out here by being the first company to produce a fully-functioning wetsuit available to the public with Bolder Black stabilizers, making the Natural Upcycler wetsuits derived by a vast majority from natural rubber or post-consumer recycled products. Patagonia wonā€™t disclose where the stabilizers in its current suits come from, which, like in the Billabong, make up 15 percent of the foam rubber. Patagonia has announced, however, that it will also be using Bolder Black in its next iteration of wetsuits.

Downsides

The only ding on the Furnace Natural Upcycler is that I wish it had a silicone seal on the inside of the wrist and ankle cuffs. Because the rubber is so soft and malleable, Iā€™ve had the sleeves or legs roll up on me a bit when wiping out (and once when paddling hard to get over a large approaching set). Itā€™s a minor gripe, but it would be nice if that could be prevented.

Final Thoughts

The 3/2 Furnace Natural is fantastic for Southern California in the late spring, summer, and fall, but having spent time in it, I might opt for a 4/3 instead. This suit breathes well, and Iā€™d like to be able to wear it during the colder months. Also, I prefer to be a little too warm than a little too cold. That said, I know plenty of people that feel the opposite.

At the end of the day, this is my new favorite wetsuit. All of the eco-forward features give me peace of mind, and I like that Iā€™m not covering my entire epidermis in potentially cancer-causing materials. Apart from that, I wouldnā€™t know that it was an eco-forward suit if you didnā€™t tell me: this is a full-on performance wetsuit without sacrifice.

The Billabong Furnace Natural Upcycler suits are now available in and and in a variety of thicknesses and styles.

The post Billabongā€™s Newest Wetsuit Is the Most Sustainable and Comfortable on the Market appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Professional surfer Keala Kennelly was sipping her morning cappuccino at home in Hawaii on October 13 when she received a text from a friend. The message said that the World Surf League, organizer of competitive surfing’s Championship Tour, was planning to hold a 2025 competition in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Kennelly, who came out as gay two decades ago, was outraged. UAE laws .

“I felt sick to my stomach,” Kennelly told ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų. ā€œHow can WSL expect an LGBTQ+ athlete to travel and compete in a country where their very existence is illegal?ā€

Kennelly, one of the most decorated womenā€™s surfers ever, wrote a scathing note about the WSLā€™s decision and . She wrote that hosting events in countries that have documented human rights violations should be unacceptable. She expressed concern for Australian surfer , a two-time world champion, who is openly gay and is slated to compete in the WSL 2025 Championship Tour.

ā€œI decided to make the post to raise awareness, hoping that using my social media platform would outrage people like hearing the news outraged me,ā€ Kennelly said. ā€œI also wanted to show support for Tyler so she knows she is not alone and that she has people backing her.ā€

Kennelly wasnā€™t the only person from the surfing community to comment on the decision. While Wright did not comment, her wife, Lilli Wright, . ā€œTyler has competed on this tour for over 14 years and has had the pride flag on her jersey since 2020,ā€ Lilli wrote. ā€œEven after winning 2 world titles she is still not valued enough by the WSL to be considered when they sold this event.ā€

Lilli penned her note under a photo of Tyler Ģżjogging down the beach with a surfboard underarm, next to a pinned post of the coupleā€™s striking wedding portraits from 2022. ā€œWSL have the duty of care to their athletes to not put them in potentially life threatening circumstances like this,ā€ she added.

ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų reached out to the WSL for comment, but we did not receive a response.

The Abu Dhabi leg of the Championship Tour will take place February 14-16, 2025 at the Surf Abu Dhabi artificial wave pool on Al Hudayriat Island, a stretch of sand just south of the city where officials have constructed a BMX park, road cycling track, and water park, among other attractions. According to the WSLā€™s press release, the surfing venue features groundbreaking wave-making technology from the Kelly Slater Wave Company and is home to the world’s largest and longest human-made wave.

The WSL is not alone in staging events in the UAEā€”nor is it the only league to receive criticism for doing so. Every February, the worldā€™s best cyclists line up for the UAE Tour, the opening event of the sportā€™s UCI WorldTour, the highest category of competition. Since 2009, auto racing league Formula One has staged the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at a state-of-the-art auto track. Abu Dhabi hosts some of the best tennis players of the year in an event called World League, and even the National Basketball Association stages an exhibition event in the UAE, called the Emirates NBA Cup. The UAE hosts other major international events for beach volleyball, soccer, and sailing.

Critics have called this practice ā€œsportswashingā€ā€”when repressive countries attract international sports to seem more in line with Western ideals. The New York Times of holding sporting events like NBA preseason games in Abu Dhabi, citing Ben Freeman of the Quincy Institute: ā€œWhen you think of the U.A.E., they want you thinking about tennis. They would love for you to think about the N.B.A. [. . .] much rather have you thinking about that than all the bad things that are also part of their reputation.ā€

In her Instagram post, Kennelly specifically called out the UAEā€™s track record on human rights, specifically for LGBTQ+ people and women. ā€œEmirati women live under male guardianship,ā€ she wrote. ā€œHonor Killings can go unpunished, as the victimā€™s family can pardon the murderer.ā€

According to , an advocacy and research group based in New York City, authorities in the UAE can also arrest people for a variety of vaguely defined ā€œflagrant indecent actsā€ including ā€œpublic displays of affection, gender nonconforming expressions, and campaigns promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.ā€

On October 16, the Queer Surf Club, an international organization that coordinates meet-ups for like-minded surfers, to urge the WSL to remove Abu Dhabi from its World Championship tour calendar.

ā€œThe WSL have chosen to support a government that criminalizes LGBTQIA+ people and discriminates against women, and in doing so are choosing to place their athletes, support teams, and spectators at risk,ā€ reads the opening paragraph to the petition.

More than two-dozen organizations, ranging from London Surf Film Fest to Surf Queer Mexico to Trans Cyclist Collective, have taken up the cause, promoting it on their own social networks.

Kennelly told ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų that she would ā€œAbsolutely notā€ travel to Abu Dhabi. ā€œSome of the comments on my post said things like “get over it, just don’t do gay things while you are there,ā€™ she said. ā€œBut even if I traveled there without my wife, I look like a lesbian. I have short hair, I don’t dress in feminine clothes. Even if I wasn’t physically harmed I can’t imagine how badly I would be treated in a place like that.ā€

Kennelly retired from WSL competition in 2007, and sheā€™s doubtful that Wright or other current competitors will speak up against the UAE event. Article 14.04 of the specifically prohibits athletes from making comments that cast the league, WSL management, judges, or its sponsors in a negative light. This rule extends to a surfer’s social media.

Lilli Wright declined to comment to ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų when contacted. ā€œI definitely think it is a very important discussion to be had,ā€ she wrote in response to a request for an interview. ā€œBut at this stage Iā€™m not comfortable saying anything further.ā€

But she also wrote candidly about how uncomfortable she feels at the thought of Tyler competing in a place like Abu Dhabi, while at the same time recognizing how disadvantageous, career-wise, it would be for her to skip the event. ā€œI see how hard my wife works every day on her career and itā€™s unreasonable to expect her to just not go,ā€ she wrote. ā€œHer life is worth more than one event, but I canā€™t not acknowledge that missing this event would put her career at a huge disadvantage.ā€

Lilli ended her post by circling back to her frustration with the WSL: ā€œAt the end of the day, WSL had absolutely no business selling this event to this location expecting their only openly queer athlete to go along quietly.ā€

The post Pro Surfing Is Headed to Abu Dhabi. LGBTQ+ Athletes Are Outraged. appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

One of the most biodiverse places on the planet, Costa Rica is a carefully preserved paradise for adventure travelers. The countryā€™s government has protected one quarter of its land by designating parks, refuges, and reserves, and safeguarded approximately 30 percent of its marine area, too.

I first started traveling to Costa Rica nearly two decades ago, drawn to its then sleepy, surf-swept Pacific coast. As more people started to discover the pura vida vibes of laid-back beach towns like Malpais and Nosara, I ventured further inland and visited the wildlife-packed natural parks and cloud forests in the north. More recently, I scoped out the Caribbean coast, home to stellar waves, snorkel spots, and hiking trails, and a totally distinct cultureā€”food, music, architectureā€”that made me feel like I was rediscovering a country I thought I knew.

On my latest trip last year, I hiked the countryā€™s 174-mile, coast-to-coast with outfitter (from $565). This cross-country trail is the ultimate showcase for Costa Ricaā€™s cultural and natural diversity, crossing four provinces and seven microclimates. (If you donā€™t have time to complete the entire 16-day hike, you can piece together an itinerary that delivers just as much variety in a shorter time frame.)

Bottom line: I donā€™t think Iā€™ll ever tire of traveling to Costa Rica. From kayaking freshwater canals and surfing barrel waves to zip lining through clouded forests and scuba diving colorful reefs, Costa Rica offers the best adventure travel options. Hereā€™s a cheat sheet to experiencing the countryā€™s highlights, including six must-know tips from a local expert if youā€™ve never been before.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Map of Costa Rica: Regions and National Parks to Visit

This interactive map of Costa Rica highlights the country’s diverse regions, and pinpoints each national park I mention belowā€”all musts for first-time visitors. (Map: Erin McKnight)

Costa Rica Travel: A Word on Getting Around

Newbies should know that most of the countryā€™s coolest spots require a car to get there. You can rent one at airports for a DIY road trip, or hire a driver to take you from region to region. Below, I share both flight and car options to reach each of destination. Plus, how renting the right rig and interpreting weather forecasts can dramatically impact your experience. Now, to the good stuff.

Costa Ricaā€™s Pacific Coast

Surf swept coastline, laid back beach towns, and intensely biodiverse protected areasā€”both on land and at seaā€”make this one of the most popular areas for adventure.

Where to Go in the Nicoya Peninsula

Nosara

One of five official Blue Zones, geographically designated areas people statistically live longer, the Nicoya Peninsula offers an endless choice of dreamy beach towns including Santa Teresa, Malpais, and Manzanillo. But, Nosara stands out for its long, wide, golden sand beach, Playa Guiones, which has perfect waves for longboarding. Youā€™ll find countless surf schools, including ($8,300 per week including room and meals), (lessons from $125; board rentals from $25 for a half-day) and (lessons from $120; week-long retreats from $5,642), where you can finesse your pop up or have a guide take you wave hunting up the coast. And there are plenty of delicious restaurants to refuel you, like (its fish tacos are a must).

How to Get There: Guanacasteā€™s Daniel Oduber QuirĆ³s International Airport, also known as Liberia International Airport (LIR) is roughly 2.5 hours by car. Juan SantamarĆ­a International Airport (SJO) in San JosĆ© is a five to six hour drive.

Where to Stay: Family-friendly is a five-minute walk to Playa Guiones and has its own surf club and school and offers mountain bike rentals and tours (from $168 per night).

Where to Go in the Osa Peninsula

Corcovado National Park

Located in the southernmost region on the Pacific coast, Corcovado National Park packs 2.5 percent of the worldā€™s biodiversity into .001 percent of its surface area. The countryā€™s largest park covers more than 30 percent of the Osa Peninsula and protects mammals like the two and three-toed sloths, cougar, and giant anteaters, birds like the endangered Bairdā€™s tapir, several types of hummingbirds, and one of the largest populations of scarlet macaws, and some 220 species of butterflies. Trails range from the mellow .8-mile out-and-back Quebrada San Pedro that leads to a view of a waterfall to the day-long, 6.3-mile out-and-back La Leona Madrigal, a bird watcherā€™s dream with epic sea views.

How to Get There: Sansa Airlines has daily 50-minute flights from San JosƩ to Puerto JimƩnez airstrip (PJM). The drive from San JosƩ is around seven hours.

Where to Stay: Founded in 1993, is often called Costa Ricaā€™s original eco-lodge. Rooms are nestled amidst the treetops of a 1,000-acre private reserve of Central Americaā€™s last remaining tropical lowland rainforest that skirts the park boundary (from $823 per night).

Where to Go in the Central Pacific

Manuel Antonio National Park

This seven-square-mile protected area combines beautiful beaches, rainforests, and wildlife. The resort town of the same name has all the amenities youā€™d want from an access point to such pristine nature. Wide, golden beaches including Escondido Beach, Manuel Antonio Beach, and Espadilla Sur can be reached via the main, 1.3-mile flat trail. The government recently capped daily visitors at 1,200 people and you must . The park is closed Tuesdays.

How to Get There: From San JosĆ© itā€™s a three-hour drive or a 20-minute flight on Sansa to the gateway town of Quepos (XQP).

Where to Stay: Splurge on a stay at , a sustainable, community-minded resort set on an 11-acre, trail-laced, private nature reserve. After a ten-minute walk from the property, a short trail unfurls to the north end of the beach, and the resortā€™s team of naturalists took me on nature walks to point out sloths and fiery-billed aracari (from $610 per night).

Marino Ballena National Park

One of the countryā€™s newest national parks has a distinctive whaleā€™s tail shape and is committed to conserving the marine systems within its boundaries. Twice a year (mid-July to October and December to March) humpback whales migrate to these waters. Book a whale-watching tour with (from $78). The local outfitter also offers snorkeling tours to Isla de CaƱo, which lies just outside of the protected area but promises sightings of dolphins, turtles, and colorful fish. hosts camps (one week from $1,795) and one-off surf lessons (from $65) at beach breaks in the park. The park has four entrance points, but head to Uvitaā€”the main gateway to Whale Tail Beach where boat tours depart.

How to Get There: From San JosĆ© itā€™s around a four-hour drive or connect via a 20-minute flight on Sansa to Quepos, then drive one hour.

Where to Stay: Perched high atop a steep hill, has unparalleled views of Uvita town and the national park from its eight suites, open-air restaurant, and infinity pool (from $788 per night). And the more affordable in Uvita has just 12 rooms, each with terraces from which guests can spot hummingbirds and toucans (from $155 per night).

Costa Ricaā€™s Caribbean Coast

The less trodden east coast offers all of the natural beautyā€”wildlife-filled rainforests, virgin beachesā€”of the west, but has fewer crowds and a distinct Afro-Caribbean culture. Expect to hear Patois spoken alongside Spanish, dance to Calypso music, and dine on Jamaican-influenced cuisine like saltfish fritters and rondon, a rich coconut stew.

Where to Go in the Northern Caribbean

Tortuguero National Park

This nearly 50,000-acre patchwork of canals, lagoons, dense jungle, thick mangrove forest, and beaches on the northern Caribbean Coast often draws comparisons to the Amazon. The name is a nod to the thousands of turtles that nest on its shores, mainly from July through October. In addition to leatherback, loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles, you can see around 400 species of birds, including toucans and spoonbills, 60 some species of mammals, and over 100 reptiles. Within hours of a recent visit, I ticked off sightings of capuchin monkeys, a sloth, red dart frogs, howler monkeys, and the emerald basilisk. A night boat tour along the canals revealed the glowing eyes of crocodiles, a coiled boa in a tree, and my eagle-eyed guide spotted a common potoo camouflaged in a cluster of broken branches.

How to Get There: The park can only be accessed by boat or plane. From San JosƩ, you can drive two hours to the La Pavona Dock and catch a two-hour scenic boat transfer. Sansa has a daily 40-minute flight to Tortuguero Airport (TTQ). Most lodges in the parks can arrange van and boat transfers from San JosƩ.

Where to Stay: is a collection of 11 humble, off-grid bungalows immersed in jungle and perched in front of the Madre de Dios lagoon. Guests have free use of kayaks and canoes and can join day and evening boat tours guided by wildlife experts (minimum two-night stay from $700).

Where to Go in the Southern Caribbean

Note: These three destinations below are accessible day trips from LimĆ³n, so you can pack each hot spot into a span of a few daysā€”or better yet, take more time and relish the diverse nature of each. Our tips below on how to get there and where to stay apply across the board here.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

In fall, expert surfers flock to this lively beach town to test their mettle riding Salsa Brava, arguably Costa Ricaā€™s biggest barreling wave. The black sands of Playa Negra are ideal for lounging beneath palm fronds and an excursion to the nearby , which rehabilitates and rewilds the cats, is a must. You can get a taste of the regionā€™s signature Afro-Caribbean flavors and sign up for Afro-Latin dance classes at locally loved . The town is also a jumping off point for Cahuita National Park and Gandoca-Manzanillo National WIldlife Refuge.

Cahuita National Park

Set aside one day to explore the coastal wildlife trails that reveal sloth, monkeys, keel-billed toucan, and paca, a rodent that resembles a big guinea pig. The other should be devoted to chilling on the unspoiled beaches or snorkeling and diving the largest system of reefs in Costa Rica. In autumn the waters are calm and clear, making it easy to view stingrays, reef sharks, and 35 types of coral. guides boat trips to snorkel the reef of Cahuita National Park ($90).

Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge

Stretching south nearly to the border of Panama, this collection of unique habitats includes a six-mile swath of golden sand, two swamps, a vibrant coral reef, and 740 acres of trail-laced rainforest. The reef teems with brain coral, Venus sea fans, neon anemones, electric blue parrot fish, and along the coastline youā€™ll find rare mangrove oyster beds. On land, you may spot endangered ocelot, the elusive harpy eagle, and from March to May four species of turtles come to nest here.

How to Get There: From San JosĆ©, you can drive five and a half hours, or Sansa offers multiple daily 35-minute flights to LimĆ³n International Airport (LIO).

Where to Stay: has 15 boho-chic rooms nestled on a forest-fringed beach in Puerto Viejo. Iā€™m a fan of the complimentary bikes and snorkel gear, and applaud the hotelā€™s commitment to hiring employees and sourcing ingredients locally. The national park is just 25 minutes away and the wildlife refuge, ten minutes; the hotel can arrange tours of both. (Rooms from $365 per night.)

Costa Ricaā€™s Northern Region

You could spend a lifetime park hopping in the north. First timers wonā€™t want to skip Costa Ricaā€™s crown jewels: Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve and Arenal Volcano. Miravalles Volcano National Park, Tenorio Volcano Park, and waterfall mecca Juan Castro Blanco National Park are less known but equally spectacular.Ģż

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve

The cloud forests of Monte Verde, a more than 35,000-acre reserve in the Cordillera de TilarĆ”n mountain range, contain approximately 50 percent of the countryā€™s flora and fauna, including over 420 types of orchids, 200 species of ferns, rare birds like the three-wattled bellbird and iconic resplendent quetzal, and charismatic mammals like the sloth. You can get a birdā€™s eye view of the wildlife from walkways suspended in the canopies or on a zip line tour. leads night walks in nearby Monteverde Wildlife Refuge where you can observe nocturnal animals like ocelot, sloth, and armadillos (tickets from $25).

How to Get There: Itā€™s about a 2.5-hour drive from either San JosĆ© or Guanacaste airports.

Where to Stay: A hanging bridge connects (from $265 per night) to Aguti Wildlife Reserve and guests get free admission. The reserve is minutes away and the hotelā€™s in-house naturalists take guests on tours of the adjacent expanse.

Arenal Volcano National Park

The parkā€™s namesake stratovolcano soars 5,357 feet towards the clouds and is one of the northern regionā€™s most popular attractions. But thereā€™s plenty else to see and do in the 30,000-acre protected area including zip lining, river rafting, horseback riding, and hiking. The Heliconias, Coladas, Tucanes, and Los Miradores trails provide views of flora and fauna as well as the remains of volcanic lava tracts. Outfitter offers a trip that combines a hike through the park with a scenic boat ride on Lake Arenal (tickets from $88).

How to Get There: The gateway town of La Fortuna is around a 2.5 to 3-hour drive from either San JosƩ or Guanacaste airports.

Where to Stay: Adults-only is a luxe option in the heart of the park; villas come with private hot spring-fed soaking pools (from $396 per night). And carbon neutral is nestled at the base of the volcano, so you get the up-close experience (from $375 per night). Day passes to TabacĆ³nā€™s massive hydrotherapy circuit are also available for non-guests.

Costa Rica Travel: 6 Expert Tips for First-Time Visitors

Even though Iā€™ve been to the country over 20 times, I know Iā€™ve barely scratched the surface. So I called Javier Echecopar, co-founder of travel company , to share his top tips for smart travel, to get that extra localā€™s intel Hereā€™s what he says every Costa Rica first-timer should be aware of to make the most of your trip.

1. Know Your Seasons

Despite the size, Costa Rica has two distinct weather patterns. December through April is hot and dry in most of the country, but rainy on the Caribbean side. May through November is wet and green across the country, but dry on the Caribbean side.

2. Ignore the Daily Weather Forecast

Ask any Tico (a colloquial term for native inhabitants of Costa Rica) and theyā€™ll tell you normal day-by-day weather forecasts are pretty much useless. For example, the forecast might show rain every day for a week but those tropical showers will only last one hour each afternoon.

3. Consider Using a Driver

Costa Rica is one of the safest places to travel but the roads can be challenging. While driving along the coast is easy, you might consider hiring a driver to explore the mountains and rainforest, which can be more challenging with tight roads, sudden rainfall, and early nightfall.

4. If You Do Drive, Choose Your Rig Wisely

Try to rent a high-clearance SUV with all-wheel drive, and if you need extras like a car seat for kids or roof rack for surfboards, book with . Itā€™s the only company that offers all of the above for no fee. Locals avoid Google maps which has been known to confuse rivers for roads. Instead, follow instructions on Waze.

5. Donā€™t Expect Late Nights

Costa Ricans are early risers. Sunrise is usually around 5:30AM, year-round. And it will be dark by 6PM as well. Expect to shift your day a little earlier to make the most of your time here. If you want nightlife, head to the capital, San JosƩ.

6. Carry Small Bills for Tips

American dollars are widely accepted. ā€œI havenā€™t touched a colĆ³n in a long time,ā€ says Echecopar, referring to the local currency. You can pay almost everything with a card, but keep some smaller bills in either currency for gratuities.

Jen Murphy has visited Costa Rica more than 20 times and feels like she has still barely scratched the surface of all the country offers. Last year she trekked the Camino de Costa Rica from the Caribbean to the Pacific Coast and encountered fewer than five other tourists on the trail.

The post Costa Rica: The Beginnerā€™s Guide to ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Travel appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

In 2005, Hawaii’s John John Florence became the youngest surfer ever to enter the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing at age 13, which established him as the sport’s wunderkind. Florence is 31 nowā€”older than many of his competitors on the World Surf Leagueā€™s pro circuit. Heā€™s also a new dad: Florence and his wife Lauryn CribbĢżwelcomed their first child, Darwin, in May. And Florence is also a veteran of the painful injuries that surfing dishes out. Heā€™s broken his back, torn the ACL in both of his knees, cracked bones in his wrist, leg, and arm, and suffered too many sprains and strains to count.

But Florence is still one of the best wave riders on the planet, and earlier this year he won his third world championship. The accomplishment, when added to his hefty trophy case, makes him one of the most decorated competitive surfers ever.

We caught up with Florence to discuss the demanding regimen that keeps him atop a field of athletes that gets younger every year.

OUTSIDE: It’s been seven years since your last world championship win. What did it take for you to achieve that this year?
Florence: It was the best journey that I could have ever imagined. There were a lot of years where it seemed like I was on my best roll, and I was like, ā€˜this is my year to win another one,ā€™ and then thereā€™d be injury after injury. But I think that’s what made this one feel so special,Ģżall that work and sacrifice and everything that went into it.

Meditation was a really big part of my whole program this year. The first thing I do when I wake up each morning is a 20-minute meditation, and then usually later in the day, I do another meditation, more of a visualization of the lead-up to a competition heat. Visualizing what it looks like an hour before a heat, and then 30 minutes before a heat, and then five minutesā€”down to the moment it starts. For me, I don’t necessarily love visualizing specifics in my surfing, but more the way I feel.

I visualize how I feel when I surf my best, and how it feels when I’m really enjoying myself. It’s like this kind of relaxed confidence, and I put myself there over and over and over again, seeing everything from the water to the sun to putting my jersey on to the feeling of the sand. Thinking about all that and trying to build the most real picture you can. It’s crazy how well it works.

I definitely showed up to the world championships with more intention in what I was doing. I put a lot more preparation and energy into it, and then was able to really let go and feel good. That happens a lot during the year in certain heats or events, but it doesn’t happen in every heat.

That’s what I was worried about, was showing up that day, not being in the right headspace and really nervous or anxious and that’s when I don’t surf my best or perform my best. To have gotten myself to get there for that specific heat was special.

How does your training and injury prevention differ now fromĢżwhen you first started?
When I first started, I didn’t do any. Now I spend a lot more time on recovery and making sure my body and my mind in the right place. I learned a lot about how much my mind has an effect on my physicality. The times I’ve been injured have been when I’ve been anxious or not wanting to be there. So now I do a lot of work behind the scenes. Almost nonstop, actually.

I do a lot of meditation and mental stuff. And then on the physical side, I like to make my training fun. I do a lot of cardio and leg work, whether it’s cycling or riding a foil board, or just things that I like to do, like hiking in the mountains. And then I do a lot of this newer stuff called Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization. Itā€™s smaller movement, more functional muscle activation.

That has made me feel pretty solid in my knees and my old injuries. I’ve gotten to work with a few people over the years: Chris Prosser, Tim Brown, and Drew Morcos at MOTUS Physical Therapy here in California. Learning from them and trying to create a program for myself that makes sense. These workouts impact everything in surfing, from quicker recoveries to less soreness. I’ve had two ACL surgeries back to back. Both knees, if you don’t do anything for them, can get stiff and sore. Now I don’t even think about it. I forget that they happened. I attribute that to a lot of the work I did behind the scenes.

For recovery, I do a lot of sauna and ice. At my house I have a little recovery center. I have a float tank too, which is cool for mental training. You can fill it with Epsom salt. I also have a hyperbaric chamber. I kind of go in and out of using them based on what I’m feeling like I need. So I have a lot of little knickknacks and things

This summer you again competed in the Olympics. How was the experience different from Tokyo?
It’s funny because the first year I went to Tokyo, I came to the realization that it feels like any other event. When you’re in the water and you’re surfing and you’re competing, it feels the same, almost.

But then, when I went to Tahiti, I underestimated everything that was around the event, and I guess I didn’t really prepare myself in the best way for that. On the tour, I have my team that I travel with, and I have a lot of control over how I set up my program in and around the event. Going into the Olympics, you’re going with Team USA, and they’re setting up everything, and there’s a whole new set of people that are there helping. It’s incredible support that they gave to us down there, but it’s just different. And the Olympics ā€“ the structure around the event ā€“ is also very different; it’s much, much more structured than we’re normally used to.

Those things that were around the event made me nervous once I was there for a week. I got a little anxious about it. As a whole for surfing, it was amazing to have the waves that they got, though ā€“ other than my result, personally, I was kind of bummed.

How has being a dad changed the way you surf for fun?
My normal surfing hasn’t changed that very much. But my feeling around competing has really changed. My wife and my son were down at the finals at Trestles [in Southern California]. It was such a tense environment down there. But when I would look at my sonā€”he’s four months old, so he’s tinyā€”he’d smile. For me that changed it from life or death in the finals to ā€˜Okay, that’s a game. This is my life. He’s my life.ā€™ It took the pressure off in a way and made it a little more clear for me to be able to take a step back. ā€˜Okay, I just got to go there and surf. I know how to surf, right?ā€™ Rather than being a little bit lost and like, ā€˜Oh shit. This is intense.ā€™

What advantage do younger surfers have on the old guard in competition, in the U.S. and overseas?
Everyone just gets better and better at surfing. There’s that. And then, I think the guys are starting to take it more seriously earlier on. So these guys are coming on to the tour and learning at such a quick pace how to compete and how to wrap their mind around the events, and whether they’re meditating or training or nutrition or whatever it is, everyone’s going like, 100 percent into it. When I first got on tour, there were probably a handful of people taking it super seriously, and now it almost seems like it’s everyone. It pushes me. It pushes the sport.

This year I went all-in with nutrition and chefs and bodywork. I told myself, ā€˜I’m going to do everything I can.ā€™ And you have to now, because a lot of guys are doing that. Maybe itā€™s the pure drive of wanting to win. Everyone wants to win so badly now.

This interview was edited for space and clarity.Ģż

The post Pro Surfer John John Florence Makes Winning Look Easy. Itā€™s Not. appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.

Born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, I grew up chasing after horned lizards, flying off inflatable tubes pulled behind boats, and camping in triple-digit-degree summers. Family vacations were a mix of relaxing on the Galveston coast and testing my athletic abilities slalom water skiing on Lake Arrowhead.

Texas sometimes receives eye rolls and groans from the rest of the country, and I get it. We can be a little loud and braggy, and Iā€™ve got a bone to pick with some state policies. But the thing Iā€™ve never understood is why more people arenā€™t aware of the bounty of outdoor experiences here. Thereā€™s something indisputable about the diverse geography of the Lone Star State that Iā€™ll defend time and time again. Weā€™ve got outdoors to rival them all, yā€™all.

My state has some of the biggest and best landscapes in the country, filled with diverse wildlife, awe-inspiring views, and adventurous activities. I am proud to put on my braggart Texan cap to explain how to experience it all. These are my favorite places and experiences to get outside in Texas.

1. National Parks

It was hard to believe Texas had ā€œrealā€ mountains until, in the most spiritual experience Iā€™ve ever had in a state where churches sit on every corner, I saw them rising gloriously out of the desert in Big Bend National Park. On my first visit, seven years ago, I stayed with an 80-year-old in Terlingua whom I found through couchsurfing.com. He took me to the national park for a hike and we gazed at exposed ancient pictographs, which seem to show darts or arrowheads for hunting, in red pigments on the gold limestone.

Then we soaked in the Langford Hot Springs, outdoor baths above ancient faults where Tornillo Creek enters the Rio Grande. Big Bend National Park offers float trips through canyons, horseback riding, hiking, and stargazing; itā€™s an International Dark Sky Park.

That night I joined Terlinguan locals and national-park visitors on an impromptu walk through old mining tunnels, followed by porch-side singing of 1990s classics, and then a swim in the Terlingua Creek. I had thought Iā€™d spend most of my time in Big Bend hiking alone; instead I was surrounded by a host of characters with big personalities. Sometimes a trip to a Texas national park takes you on a journey you donā€™t expect.

You can find many of the same activities at our other national park, Guadalupe, two hours east of El Paso. Guadalupe National Park has eight of the ten highest peaks in Texas, the worldā€™s most extensive Permian fossil reef, and 80 hiking trails through unique geological formations, like thousand-foot cliffs and rocks with dark water-ripple streaks.

2. Kayaking and Canoeing

In 2021, I paddled a folding kayak on a voyage under the downtown Dallas skyline for a 12-mile portion of the 130-mile . The serenity of the experience was only interrupted by a few car honks when I floated under bridgesā€”and the sight of a passing gator.

Texas has located throughout the state, and with 3,700 streams, 15 major rivers, and 3,300 miles of tidal shoreline, an abundance of other places to paddle or row as well. You can kayak with dolphins in the Galveston Bay or canoe with gators through , home to one of the worldā€™s largest cypress forests, the trees covered in Spanish moss. Autumn paddle trips are ideal for fall-foliage views and cooler temps, not to mention a chance to witness thousands of monarch butterflies migrating to Mexico over the Devil’s River in West Texas.

3. Climbing

Rock climbing has become popular in Texasā€”you now see just as many dating profiles with rock-climbing photos as you do of folks holding up dead fish theyā€™ve caught. Climbers from here and elsewhere are scrambling to places like , a bouldering hub 30 miles east of El Paso featuring problems (meaning short routes done ropeless) from V0-V16, and near Austin, which offers bolted sport climbs. Some Texas property owners are opening their private lands to climbers for limited camping and use. For instance, new routes are being developed among the granite cliffs and boulders at .

4. Hiking

Iā€™ve hiked through flat North Texas fields of bluebonnets, across dinosaur tracks at , and up hills and limestone canyons full of Uvalde bigtooth maple trees at . Even within our cities there are spectacular hiking trails: like Austinā€™s ; or, just an hour-and-fifteen-minute drive from Houston, the 129-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail, which winds through the , the largest national forest in Texas.

For less crowded hikes, aim for natural areas in the South Texas Plains, Pineywoods, Panhandle Plains, and Big Bend Country. I hiked about eight miles on that follows the rim of Seminole Canyon in in Big Bend Country and saw only two other people.

East Texas holds the four national forestsā€”Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Sabine, and Angelinaā€”with the Caddo-Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands, also Forest Service-managed, located in northeast Texas. All are laced with hiking trails.

Texas hiking tips: Always pack more water than you need, and then pack an extra bottleā€”and if you hear a rattle, move your ass. We have 15 varieties of venomous snakes, so be careful. But to keep it in perspective, more people die in Texas from lightning strikes than snake bites. So donā€™t chance the storms, either.

5. Cycling and Mountain Biking

You have to admire how most Texans arenā€™t fazed about cycling and biking in extreme temperatures in outdoor environments. Take meā€”I rode 100 miles in 100-degree-heat for a cycling ride aptly called in my hometown. My parents thought itā€™d be a ā€œfunā€ challenge for us to do together. They took me to a cycling shop and urged me to buy a bike. ā€œItā€™s a good investment,ā€ my dad said. ā€œYouā€™ll use it all the time.ā€

My mom and I completed the Hotter Nā€™ Hell Hundred ride more handily than I expected, while my dad, who was 60 at the time, outshone us by completing the Triple Threat (a 12-mile mountain-bike ride on Friday, 100-mile road ride on Saturday, and a 12-mile trail run on Sunday).

Our big olā€™ state has cycling trails of all kindsā€”like the 30-mileĢż, which passes by historic Spanish missions in the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. The challenging 133-mile follows the old Union Pacific and Chaparral railroad right-of-ways through small towns and over railroad bridges from northeast of Dallas to Texarkana.

Letā€™s not forget mountain-biking trails. Looking for steep hills, granite outcrops, and other forms of technical terrain? Hit up Hill Country State Natural Area for 40 miles of mountain-biking trails like the .

6. The Coast

The Gulf of Mexico is warmer than the Atlantic or Pacific oceansā€”so why suffer the cold when Texas has 367 miles of shoreline and sandy beaches. Camp on the beach at places like or the remote , made up of 56,000 acres of offshore barrier islands and bayside marshes. You can swim, parasail, surf, water ski, boat, fish, kayak, and go horseback riding.

Despite what you may think, there is surfing along Texasā€™ coastline, at Surfside Beach, Port Aransas, and South Padre, especially during hurricane swells. Corpus Christi has among the largest number of kite-able days in the U.S., making it a well-known kitesurfing destination.

Dying for a surf experience but canā€™t make the drive to the coast? Do what I did and catch waves at located between Austin and Dallas, an hour and a half from each. The two-acre surf lake makes waves for beginners, intermediates, and pros. I easily caught 10 smooth waves in an hour and had a blast cheering other surfers between the ages of 10 and 78.

7. State Parks

Years ago, my friends and I packed our tents and drove to the Texas Panhandle to stay in the United Statesā€™ second-largest canyon, . During the day, we hiked through red strata rock formations, and at night we marveled and sang:

The stars at night

Are big and bright (clap four times)

Deep in the heart of Texas

Texas has 89 state parks, natural areas, and historic sites that display its geological variety. near San Antonio is a tropical getaway with dwarf palmetto plants, while has a 70-foot waterfall and 400 underground caves. Board across sand dunes in the , see the Texas State bison herd roaming in , or jump into the worldā€™s largest spring-fed swimming pool in .

8. Lakes, Rivers, and Springs

Weā€™ve got every flavor of water you could want, from the picturesque swimming holes of to the crystal-blue reservoir at . I have many memories boating on Lake watching daredevil youths (and some adults) jumping off cliffs, sticking my backside in an inner tube to , and trying not to fall off paddle boards. There is scuba diving in , which has 200 artesian springs and the densest population of turtles in the country.

Come on out! Hope to see you on the trails.

Ģż

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.ĢżLearn more.

ĢżAlex Temblador was born and raised in North Texas, the traditional homeland of the Caddo, Comanche, Kiowa, Tawakoni, and Wichita peoples. She lives in the Dallas area, a short drive from hills, rivers, lakes, and springs, and continues to find beautiful places in her state to paddle, hike, and explore.Ģż

The post Texas Is a Great Outdoor-ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų State. I Would Know. appeared first on ŗŚĮĻ³Ō¹ĻĶų Online.