Since 1968 this has consistently been one of the best restaurants in Monterey. Reservations recommended. The wine list (and wine cellar if there’s not a group eating down there) is unbeleivable

Delicious Hawaiian restaurant offering lots of yummy seafood and great ocean views.

Art of the Table serves up a multi-course tasting menu with the emphasis being “celebrate food and those who dedicate their lives to raising, growing, foraging and catching our produce in the Pacific Northwest.”

This is generally considered one of those can’t-miss-dining experiences in the world. Located across Kachemak Bay in the settlement of Halibut Cove, you’ll jump aboard the Danny J (a restored antique fishing boat) and take the short cruise over. The seating is all outdoors on a big deck (no matter what the weather, dress accordingly). […]

It might be worth the trip to Orcas Island just taste the delicious food crafted by pastry chef Lee Horswill and bread baker David Ellertsen at Brown Bear Baking. Make sure you get breakfast here at least once during your stay on the island.

Fantastic food with a show (open kitchen). Great service as well. Be sure and book far in advance – it’s worth it. They also have excellent cocktails which use only seasonal ingredients (just like their food).

Located in a beautiful renovated Federal-style home in Georgetown, 1789 is one of Washington’s most famous restaurants. The food is delicious; it offers American cuisine with rotating seasonal options (including fish, meats, pastas, and vegetables). The service is excellent as well, but don’t expect a deal here

If you want to experience a luau, Lahaina is the place with it’s Old Lahaina Luau. While many luaus are disgustingly touristy (think big resort luau), this one tends is more authentic and shares more of Hawaii’s history and culture (you’ll need reservations).

Lovely farm to table restaurant in Lahaina right on the water.

At least one night in Key West you should treat yourself to the phenomenal food at Little Pearl. Enjoy the Japanese inspired tasting menu, based heavily in seafood. You’ll get to make a selection in each section – don’t miss the BBQ eel if the option presents itself. It also prides itself on its wine […]

This charming bar serves some of the best cocktails we’ve ever had. They do classic vintage cocktails, as well as drinks with a twist and some featuring local ingredients.

Our favorite Italian restaurant in San Francisco, Seven Hills offers up incredible, locally sourced Italian fare. Their handmade pastas are a can’t miss.

Unique outdoor venue with rustic communal tables for set five-course, farm-to-fork meals. It’s BYOB, though Princeville Wine Market will deliver to your table.

We’re natives of the area, so we can’t possibly recommend just one San Francisco restaurant or bar. Instead we prefer to list our favorites here.

Wow! A restaurant this good essentially in the middle of nowhere (OK not that far from Denali) this place can give any eatery in any city a run for it’s money.

A Hawaii institution, Merriman’s serves some of the best food on the island, featuring farm-to-table regional cuisine and delicious local fish. Their Big Island location, in the town of Waimea, is their original restaurant and worth the trek.

Fantastic food and setting a short distance outside Kennebunkport – well worth the drive. Arguably the best food in the state of Maine.

If I ate at one Chinese restaurant in San Francisco for the rest of my life, this would be it. Upscale with phenomenal food and cocktails, you can’t go wrong with your order.

Truly exquisite. Alexander’s offers some of the best steak we’ve ever eaten.

Eat at an out door picnic area right on Tomales Bay. Order your oysters from the bar or buy and shuck / cook your own. It’s a gorgeous setting with really great food. Reservations are a must and can be hard to come by – so book early.

Havana serves American cuisine with heavy Northeastern and Cuban influences. The food is exceptional; everything we ordered was fantastic. The restaurant also boasts an excellent wine list and tasty cocktails. If you’re looking for a nice dinner in Bar Harbor, look no further.

An extremely beautiful winery in Sonoma. Sit out on the terrace and absorb the fantastic scenery while tasting some truly exceptional wines. We particularly recommend the viognier and the pinot noir varieties.

Michelin-starred but unpretentious, Spruce is a perfect mix of seasonal, American inspired fine dining with really excellent food.

Our favorite spot for gelato, Pitango offers astoundingly good gelatos sourced locally, with milk from an eastern Pennsylvania farm that produces high-quality dairy in small amounts. While the gelato is certainly a main attraction, the coffee and hot chocolate are delicious as well.

Opal creates delicious mid-Atlantic meals featuring fresh local ingredients.

Big windows offer great views of the town and the ocean, and the restaurant serves up tasty food at reasonable prices, as well as several local draft beers and a good wine list.

This small spot makes some of the best shave ice in Hawaii, as well as ice cream and milkshakes.

Located in the Paradise Inn, this restaurant offers wonderful food, focused on organic and locally sustainable ingredients highlighting the Northwest’s cuisine. Enjoy great views of Mount Ranier in the background while dining in front of the great fireplace.

Delectable American cuisine with New England influences crafted from locally sourced ingredients in a charming downtown space. Fore Street also offers tasty cocktails, local beers, and an impressive wine list.

We’ve been going to La Mar for years and this Peruvian restaurant never disappoints. Located conveniently on the Embarcadero, you can gaze out at the water of the Bay while dining. Don’t miss the ceviche, California causas, or lomo saltado. Also a place for excellent cocktails.

Upscale cocktail lounge in Hayes Valley.

This downtown Mobile establishment offers excellent meals in a neat setting with lots of exposed brick. The bar offerings are great as well.

This fantastic restaurant, situated in the Ferry Building, offers sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay. The food is Vietnamese fusion relying heavily on Californian-grown ingredients. The cocktails are also wonderful. It books out weeks ahead so make sure to make reservations.

A tapas restaurant and bar featuring live music and flamenco since 1835 with a great rooftop bar.

This is a really cool spot which offers an exhaustive list of whiskeys as well as great food. The bartenders are true mixologists and whip up some wonderful cocktails. Make an online reservation for a seating.

While it’s mostly a cocktail bar, True Laurel also offers up elevated small plates and works great for a meal. It’s the sister bar to Lazy Bear (the Michelin starred restaurant). Their cocktails are out of this world good and it’s my favorite cocktail bar in San Francisco.

In Albuquerque’s crowded craft beer scene, Marble is a standout. The beers are interesting and tasty, and they’re served up at reasonable prices in a neat downtown brewpub. The staff is friendly, and they also offer house-brewed ciders and hard seltzers.

Another one of our go-to’s, the Tipsy Pig in Cow Hollow does comfort food right. While the inside can be loud, bring a coat and enjoy their lovely back patio seating. We can’t get enough of their fried chicken sliders. This is also a great place for reasonably priced cocktails.

The Portland Beer Hub offers an incredible selection of local beers. It’s a shop where you can pick up a bottle of a local favorite, or sit at the bar and order a draft or flight.

The outdoor lounge for Huggos, the Kona institution, On the Rocks serves up tasty food, cocktails, and draft beers right on the coast. Some of the seating is even right on the sand. A great spot for happy hour or a casual dinner.

Our favorite brewery in Alaska is located in downtown beer. They brew a wide selection of tasty beers, including an impressive variety of different styles. They also serve up tasty pub snacks.

If there’s one restaurant in NYC that can bring you holiday cheer, it’s Rolf’s. A true German restaurant, it embraces Christmas like no other.

We don’t hesitate to say that this is the best ice cream in Maine (and we tried a lot). Creative flavors and interesting combinations, all of which are delicious, make Mount Desert Island unique.

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This delightful bistro has delicious Californian cuisine, with a good selection of small plates as well as full-size entrees. It also serves creative cocktails and offers great wine and beer lists.

Barcelona offers delicious Spanish tapas and wines in a bustling 14th Street space.

Washington’s best and most creative tacos are served up at Surfside.

This cozy bar serves up tasty and interesting wines and beers in a neat space reasonable (for New York) prices.

Our favorite Italian restaurant in D.C., Centrolina serves delectable homemade pastas and seafood (the simply grilled fish specials are great) in a downtown location. The cocktails and desserts are fantastic as well.

This is an excellent choice for Dim Sum (effectively Chinese brunch) in the Richmond. A good choice if you’re planning a day in Golden Gate Park. It gets busy, especially on the weekends, so we recommend making reservations ahead.

Are you looking to get off the tourist path? Head to Spark Social in Mission Bay for a green space filled with food trucks and picnic tables. Usually sunny (a nice place to escape the SF fog), Spark is our go-to for an afternoon or evening out with our friends. You’ll find food trucks of […]

Our Texan friends who live in New York assure us that Javelina serves the best Tex-Mex in the city.

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This Savannah eatery serves delicious new American cuisine in an inviting space. It also offers delicious cocktails and desserts and excellent service.

Yes, this bar does in fact love dogs, but it also offers up some of the best classic cocktails in the city. Established in 1912, the cozy interior is still a favorite hang of colorful locals.

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Fantastic barbecue in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg. Eat inside the historic home that now houses the restaurant, or outside in the garden/patio if the weather is nice.

The Pig offers delicious new American cuisine. Of course the highlights are pork dishes—we loved the 12-hour heritage shank—but there are other options as well. The restaurant also offers an impressive whiskey list, tasty cocktails, a good selection of draft beers, and wines from across the globe.

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Probably the best restaurant in Moab. Expensive, but absolutely delicious food with incredible presentation. Full bar, great margaritas.

Don’t let its dump looks fool you: this downstairs bar has one of the most extensive beer lists in town. They always have a bunch of interesting taps in addition to a truly overwhelming bottle list.

When I get asked to recommend a restaurant for a nice dinner out in San Francisco, without hesitation I recommend Kokkari. This is a modern Greek restaurant with excellent ambience and service (and some of the best lamb you’ll ever taste).

The Portland Hunt + Alpine Club pours truly excellent cocktails (the best we found in Maine) alongside Scandinavian small plates.

This charming inn perched above Orcas Island’s West Sound offers a fantastic menu of northwest cuisine featuring local and farm-to-table ingredients.

Great flatbreads, salads, and mains accompanied by a vast selection of hard-to-find brews in a neat Logan Circle location. Eat downstairs for the full restaurant experience, or try ChurchKey upstairs for the same incredible beer selection and a more limited bar menu.

The cocktails are good, but the real draw is the view. Perched on the 96th floor of the skyscraper at 875 North Michigan Avenue, the Signature Lounge offers the best look at Chicago you’ll ever get.

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Looking for Austrian food in San Francisco? Look no further than Leopold’s. Yes, the waitstaff may be wearing dirndls, but this restaurant offers some seriously incredible food (and 2 liter boots of beer). Our favorites include the kasespatzle, wiener schnitzel and bacon wrapped trout.

One of the best places to eat in Skagway, the Skagway brewing company offers excellent food, as well as a selection of locally made craft beer.

This restaurant right on the coast offers steaks, pastas, and seafood, alongside tropical cocktails, beer, and wine.

The perfect place to get dim sum right in the heart of China Town. If you’re looking for an authentic dim sum experience look no further. They do accept reservations (important as dim sum is very popular weekend mornings).

The Barnacle is our favorite bar in Bar Harbor. It offers excellent cocktails aside a great selection of local craft beer in a warm and welcoming downtown space.

This hip lower-level offers craft cocktails, draft beers, wines, and more in a unique setting. The bartenders are friendly and the prices are a reasonable.

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The Purple Pig offers delicious Mediterranean-American fusion cuisine in a hip downtown Chicago location.

This ice cream shop originated in Portland. It has since expanded to some other cities (like San Francisco), but the ice cream is wonderful. They have a rotating board of monthly flavors always using innovative and local ingredients, as well as regular list.

If you’re looking for a meal in the River North area, it’s hard to go wrong with The Smith. It serves up fresh salads, sandwiches, and delicious American cuisine alongside tasty cocktails and and extensive beer list.

This east London-inspired restaurant serves up farm-to-table cuisine, craft cocktails, and beers. But the real highlight is the burger; the best in DC and one of the best in the country.

This Peruvian restaurant got started in Miami and recently opened a new location in Washington. It serves delicious fare in a hip setting with tasty cocktails.

We love Indian food and ROOH knows how to turn it upscale. The menu changes regularly (depending on what’s in season), though the dahi puri, butter chicken, and whatever fish they are offering are always excellent. Pick a cocktail off of their cocktail wheel to complete your meal.

Beatrix offers an excellent and eclectic mix of new American cuisine, as well as creative cocktails and a great wine list.

If you’re into baking, you’ve probably heard of Tartine. This is San Francisco’s famous bakery, making delicious breads, pastries, and cakes. There is no seating, so grab your breakfast or lunch and head to sunny Dolores Park for a picnic.

Have you ever wanted to drink where Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg did? Of course you do! Head to Vesuvio Cafe, the art deco hang out spot of the beat poets. Don’t miss a visit to famed City Lights Bookstore next door.

Famous for its French fries (which are, not unexpectedly cooked in duck fat), Duckfat is worth the visit to try those alone. But its salads and paninis are also delicious. And if you like milkshakes, be sure to get one of those as well (the salted caramel was fantastic).

A fantastic wine bar in the heart of Hayes Valley where you can order wine by the glass or buy a bottle form the wine shop and they’ll open it for you. Enjoy your wine in their bistro-light lit courtyard while listening to frequent live-music. You can order food from the attached restaurant Arbor for […]

Waterfront Restaurant in Lahaina and a good place for lunch – try the poke appetizer and kula pie dessert especially.

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One of San Francisco’s best cocktail bars, Bourbon & Branch is designed to give visitors an authentic speakeasy experience. You’ll need to plan ahead and make a reservation to get the full experience, though the bar also offers the Library, a more casual room that doesn’t require reservations. If you’re interested in the speakeasy experience, […]

Think locally sourced upscale California cuisine. This small restaurant has one of the best burgers in town, but you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu (a favorite of mine is the polenta). Also a fantastic place for brunch.

An excellent choice for dining in Ogunquit, the Crooked Pine offers seating in its charming historic building or outside on its beautiful patio. The food is New England fare with French and Italian influences, and it’s all delicious.

The Side Street Cafe has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a traditional Maine meal, their lobster dinners are tasty and reasonably priced. They also offer a wide selection of salads, sandwiches, and entrees, as well as interesting cocktails and local beers.

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Rising Tide makes a variety of interesting and delicious beers. Their tasting room also has great food; we had an excellent pizza with our beer flights.

This North Beach cafe is settled right across the street from Washington Square Park. It’s been in this area since the early seventies when North Beach was a primarily Italian neighborhood. It continues to be a family business today, offering wonderful paninis, coffee, and fantastic “house camparis”

This Bend craft cidery offers up delicious, locally sourced ciders in its dog-friendly taproom. Try the blackberry cider; it’s one of our favorites!

One of our favorite bars in DC, McClellan’s Retreat is located a few blocks northwest of Dupont Circle. It’s got a welcoming vibe and neat decor with lots of exposed bricks. The cocktails aren’t cheap, but they’re delicious, and all of the bartenders are pros.

Celebrity chef Jose Andres’s restaurant offers some of the best Mexican food in DC, along with delicious craft cocktails and fresh tableside guacamole.

Washington’s first Georgian restaurant offers a collection of Khachapuri (Georgian cheesy breads) as well as tasty appetizers and entrees. Supra makes it all delicious and interesting.

Near the waterfront in downtown Olympia, this restaurant offers up Northwest fusion cuisine with European and Southeast Asian influences. The food is locally sourced, sustainable, and imaginative. It’s got a great ambience.

The best ice cream we’ve found in Washington. Jeni’s is a chain originating in Ohio that prides itself on creative flavors and high quality. You can get a cup or cone, and they also offer flights, permitting you to sample more flavors in smaller portions.

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The Dabney serves up some of the best food we’ve ever had in a cozy setting. It’s an upscale Michelin-starred place with prices to match. The Mid-Atlantic cuisine, featuring a huge wood grill, is fantastic, as are the cocktails and wine list.

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Our favorite pizza spot in DC. The highlight is the Chicago-style deep dish pie. Pi also offers an extensive beer list. Beware that the deep dish pizzas can take a while to prepare, so this isn’t a great option if you’re in a hurry.

Located in the beautiful Resort at Port Ludlow, The Fireside serves up delicious northwest cuisine, often with local ingredients. They also offer tasty cocktails, a good wine list, and local beers and ciders.

Edgewood Tahoe, a upscale Alpine lodge, offers a bistro and a restaurant with a deck that offers sweeping views Lake Tahoe. Perched right on the lake, you watch the sun set while enjoying great food and cocktails. While it sits on a golf course, we can forgive it that for its views and ambience.

An absolutely fantastic Italian restaurant with seasonally offered dishes including wood-fired pizza, pasta, and mains.

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Perched on a deck above the ocean, Magics offers a welcoming atmosphere, neat views, and tasty sandwiches, salads, and seafood. It also has a full bar with good signature cocktails and beers on draft.

This restaurant is the star of the Santa Fe fine dining scene. It’s also probably the prettiest restaurant in Santa Fe with open fireplaces and a beautiful bar.

This is a small restaurant in Portland that offers a 6-course tasting menu for a reasonable price. They have 2 seatings a night, one at 6 and one at 8:30 in a restaurant that can fit 11 guests. It’s intimate, and the food is wonderful. Open Weds – Sat.

Deschutes is a fantastic craft brewery founded in Bend in 1988. Their brewery and tasting room offers one of the best brewery tours we’ve been on. The tasting room has a great selection or rare and hard-to-find Deschutes beers.

A fun winery on a hill above Sonoma also offering spectacular views. It has a pleasant tasting room as well as a cool wine tour through their cellars. They offer really great Pinot Noirs.

This is the best pizza restaurant in San Francisco – pretty much hands down. Located right off Washington Square Park in North Beach, everything about Tony’s is good: ambience, food, service. Yes, the famous margherita pizza is good, but the honey pie is out of this world.

Oregon is known for its wine and food. Why not experience both at the same time? You can get just a simple glass of wine, try a flight, grab dinner or do the best of all worlds with a flight and food combination.

This local hangout across the channel from Juneau serves up the best pizza in town, along with a good selection of draft beers and tasty cocktails.

Regularly featured on lists of D.C.’s (and sometimes the country’s) best restaurants, Rasika never disappoints.

Operated by a rum distillery, this bar/restaurant offers excellent cocktails and a menu of tasty Hawaiian food.

Swanky, romantic bar serving up inventive and incredibly tasty cocktails alongside small plates of food.

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This Navy Yard restaurant offers a menu of creative and delicious small plates to share. The cuisine is accurately described as eclectic, though most of it is new American, often with an Asian twist.

If you want to try New England shellfish, Eventide Oyster Co. is the place to go. They offer delicious seafood and tasty cocktails, along with a raw bar and lobster rolls.

This small Hells Kitchen watering hole probably has the best whiskey selection in Manhattan, with over 400 bottles on their shelves. The friendly and knowledgeable bartenders will help you find something to your taste

A neat spot with a relaxed vibe offering local brews.

A fantastic place, right on the water, to enjoy seafood (especially oysters). Go at happy hour when they have great deals.

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Built in 1864 this log cabin restaurant offers fantastic food in a beautiful setting.

If you’re in NYC and want to feel elegant and like you’re stepping back in time into old school NYC luxury head to the Plaza Hotel for High Tea.

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With a menu filled with locally sourced products, Sazon serves up high-end Mexican cuisine, all served with a medley of moles. Enjoy a flight of agave while you’re at it.

One of our favorite brunch spots in DC, Leopold’s serves tasty German food in a Georgetown location with a nice outdoor patio.

Fantastic Thai food in Camden, Maine? You’d better believe it. Long Grain serves up excellent curries, stir fries, house-made noodles, and more.

Located right on Mauna Lani beach, Napua is a great option for a delicious dinner with an ocean view. The restaurant serves tasty food and creative cocktails in this tranquil spot.

A fantastic, though upscale, Napa winery. It’s worth the trip because it boasts the best chardonnay in the world (it actually beat France in a blind tasting competition in 1976, putting Napa on the world’s map).

Farm-to-table cuisine offering upscale, Southern-inspired dishes as well as an amazing bourbon collection (75 bourbons and whiskeys) which are a nice break from tequila.

If you can look past the conceit of the theme, you’ll be treated to an amazing experience and some of the town’s best and most creative cocktails. We recommend trying the flight of three cocktails (but beware–they don’t serve food).

Good place to eat in Port Townsend, especially great for locally caught seafood. They have a great wine list including wine flights. Reservations: OpenTable

Excellent Spanish Tapas in Santa Fe. It is not large so reservations are suggested.

This downtown Mobile bar makes a selection of interesting cocktails, as well as a diverse array of taps in a very cool space. Come by the for the excellent happy hour (4 – 6:30 Mon – Sat).

Maybe you think it’s strange to enter a museum for lunch, but Café Sabarsky is well worth it.

A dive bar with a local vibe, Asylum is a great place to stop for drinks during your visit to Ketchikan. It has an extensive list of (mostly local) draft beers, all of which are $3.50 all day.

This hip Tribeca bar serves delicious craft cocktails.

The food was good – the setting spectacular. This is dining in a grand, bordering on almost over-the-top, full Adirondack dining room – think logs, stone, antlers, the whole shebang.

Casual and inviting atmosphere with Southwestern cooking offering a rooftop with top-notch cocktails.

Truly a local establishment, the Bawden Street Brewing Company serves up tasty and interesting craft beers in a cozy tasting room.

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This Waimea spot offers tasty locally-brewed beer alongside scrumptious burgers, sandwiches, and tacos.

This cidery creates delectable hard ciders, often with local ingredients. They also offer unique hard (and non-alcoholic) slushies; be sure to try one! Their deck has a beautiful view of the sound, and it’s a great place to stop and enjoy an afternoon.

This is a great brewery across the river from downtown Portland. If you’re staying on that side it’s a very convenient stop, and even if you aren’t you may want to venture that way. The beer is Hopworks’ own, it’s great with tons of variety in flavor profiles and the food is really good as […]

This beer bar and bottle shop offers a great selection of craft beer from the New England area and beyond.

This is the oldest brewpub in Olympia, offering up local Northwest cuisine and 14 taps with Fish Tale Organic Ales, Levenworth Biers, and Spire Mountain Ciders. With many vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, it’s a great spot for everyone.

This is a brewpub in downtown Cannon beach. They offer large flights and reasonably good food.

Located close to downtown Wailea, Monkeypod, located next to one of the trees it’s named after, is a fun restaurant located a short drive from the beach, offering local Hawaiian dishes, fresh fish, wood-fired pizzas, and island-inspired cocktails served in some extra fun glasses.

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This casual restaurant is a great spot for a quick bite. The food includes yummy salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Drinks include an extensive beer list, cocktails, and a smaller selection of wines.

Salads, sandwiches, brunch, entrees, and more with a distinct New Mexico twist. Full bar serving local drafts, margaritas, and other cocktails. A great spot for a meal any time of day.

Paradiso offers delicious wood-fired pizzas in a casual setting, along with an extensive beer list. They have locations in Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and Alexandria.

Some of the best Mexican food in town, reasonably priced, and in a convenient location. Make sure you try the queso fundido.

Very good locally sourced farm-to-table dining in Rhinebeck, New York.

Open City is one of our favorite brunch spots in DC. It offers all-day breakfast, pizza, burgers, and more.

Highlighting Pacific Northwest cuisine, this family-friendly, casual dining room offers fantastic food in a relaxed environment. You can even take your drink and enjoy spectacular views of Mount Rainier from comfortable chairs on the front porch. Open year-round.

This is a distinctly Soviet flavored restaurant. The chef is a first generation American of Belarusian descent and the food consists of dumplings, skewers, smoked and cured fish, pickles, etc (along with a lengthy vodka menu). Ingredients are local and the food is great. It’s consistently one of the best restaurants in Portland.

The Maine Beer Company makes some of the best beer in the state (and it’s a crowded market, so that’s saying a lot). Their Freeport tasting room may be a little out of the way, but it offers samples of their excellent brews, tasty pizzas, salads, and more.

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Located on the 34th floor of the RSA Trustmark Bank Building, Dauphin’s is a stylish restaurant and bar that offers great views of Mobile. Come by for the happy hour (3 – 6:30pm Monday – Friday) for $6 cocktails, $4 craft beers, half-off wines, and deals on small plates.

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Shaved ice can be found all over the Maui. This is our favorite.

Located in downtown Ketchikan, the 108 Tap House & Burger Bar serves up delicious and creating burgers, as well as a great selection of local draft beers.

A very solid Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. Our go-to when we order take out, but also a nice place to dine in.

Nice brewpub near lovely Auke Bay (just east of Juneau). Near the airport so a good place to go if you have time between flights. Limited but good food selection.

garden district’s patio is a great spot on a warm Washington evening. They offer a tasty selection of craft beer and ciders alongside delicious sandwiches (think burgers, pulled pork, and fried chicken).

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This cafe/restaurant/bar offers delicious baked goods as well as tasty dinner fare (with a full bar). A great option if you’re in DC’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Fun atmosphere, good but not great food. Classic American options; good for families and large parties.

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Mijitas offers tasty Mexican food as well as margaritas and a small but interesting list of draft beers.

A D.C. legend, Thomas Sweet’s Georgetown location offers great ice cream, fudge, and milkshakes in generous portions.

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This creamery offers artisan organic cheeses. They have a store in the San Francisco Ferry building but the actual creamery is in Point Reyes Station and has tastings and a deli and offers picnic supplies.

This charming pub is a great option for drinks in Bar Harbor. It offers a full bar and a good selection of local craft brews, as well as tasty bar snacks.

It’s hard to beat dinner and drinks right on gorgeous Waikoloa Beach.

The Glacier Brewhouse serves tasty food, including some delicious seafood options, as well as a selection of house-brewed beers.

This historic restaurant has been in Central Park since 1934, however the interior is completely redesigned and the food is fresh, inviting, and innovative with creative takes on classics. It’s an especially wonderful restaurant to stop by in November and December when the interior explodes with holiday cheer. Make reservations ahead of time!

This is a fun stop on highway 50 up to South Lake Tahoe from the Bay Area. Located in an old gold mining town, the Public House serves up great food and tons of local beer on draught. On weekend nights you can enjoy a live concert, but arrive early as seats get quickly taken.

A great place to stop if you’re driving across Whidbey Island, Vail Wine Shop & Tasting Room is located near the Coupeville Wharf. We had a great time sitting on the patio and tasting a selection of hard-to-find Washington wines. They also offer some small plates if you’re hungry and some local beers and hard […]

The Beekman Arms is the oldest Inn in the country. There is a good restaurant and atmospheric tavern on site – the tavern has been here for over 200 years and people like George Washington used to frequent it.

Celebrity chef Jose Andres’s Peruvian-Asian fusion spot serves up tasty Peruvian dishes with an Asian influence in a Penn Quarter location that’s convenient for the National Mall and many of the Smithsonian museums on the north side of the Mall.

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Good place on the road tp Exit Glacier

Deschutes started in Bend, Oregon and offers up fantastic beer. You can now find their beer at at restaurants and bars serving microbrews across the country, but you their Portland brewpub offers access to uncommon vintages that are tough to find elsewhere.

Started as a spot to get deliciously crafted non-alcoholic beverages, Vena’s also offers an equally extensive menu of alcoholic cocktails. Whether you prefer cocktails or mocktails, you’re sure to find something tasty at this charming spot.

Set in a renovated 18th-century granary, Virtue Feed & Grain serves tasty pub food and offers a full bar near Alexandria’s Waterfront Park.

El Pinto serves up tasty New Mexican food in a beautiful hacienda setting. Sit outside in the garden area if you can. The restaurant also offers an extensive tequila and margarita menu, and local draft beers are reasonably priced.

This Swiss restaurant serves a variety of tasty foods, as well as fresh-baked bread on weekends. A great option for weekend brunch.

This is a very friendly winery with good wines. Still family owned, it has a very pleasant atmosphere.  Reservations are required, though very easy to book online.  Set in beautiful Calistoga it’s the quintessential laid back Napa winery. They also have great picnic areas and bocce ball that you can play while you taste!

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Farm-to-table comfort food in the heart of Santa Fe. A casual spot with a butcher shop and bakery attached and plenty of local beers on tap, you can’t go wrong with a meal here.

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This artisan bakery located in downtown Olympia is wonderful. Everything is made from scratch using local ingredients. Stop by the bakery for sweets and breads or head to the cafe for a full lunch.

This place started as a food truck and has now grown to three locations. It’s regularly on the Best of Portland lists for its mostly northern Thai food.

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The Thirsty Pig offers tasty pub grub along with a great selection of local beers. The restaurant’s main attraction is its sausages, but its sandwiches are great, too.

New Mexico’s original craft brewery, and now the largest brewery in the state, it offers up some interesting beers.

Some of the better Chinese food in DC, Shanghai Lounge offers familiar Chinese dishes in a Georgetown location.

Crimson is a southern restaurant and whiskey bar. The restaurant is good, but not exceptional, but we love the downstairs whiskey bar for its extensive whiskey list, creative cocktails, and bar bites.

Neat Napa winery with good reds and cool architecture and art.

Country Inn with a nice restaurant not far from sights in lower Hudson Valley.

The Von Trapp family (made famous in the Sound of Music) settled near Stowe, Vermont after fleeing Austria. They built a lovely lodge on the top of a hill surrounded by beautiful mountains, forests, and fall color. Take a look at the lodge then drive down the hill short distance to the brewery and beer […]

This restaurant is regularly listed as a top choice in Portland Maine. They serve local and seasonal fare. The food was good, not great in our opinion. It’s a solid option, but we weren’t dazzled as we were at some other Portland eateries.

This is my favorite place if you’re wanting a quick bite in the city. Souvla, a fast-casual Greek restaurant, has spots peppered throughout San Francisco and offers with incredible salads and sandwiches. Get their chicken salad and greek frozen yogurt – trust me.

This is a brewpub with a good selection of beers, food, and a pleasant outdoor space to grab an Adirondack chair and enjoy the fall weather.

Orcas Island’s local brewery offers a balanced selection of interesting and tasty beers, as well as a small selection of snacks. It’s a great spot to spend an afternoon; make sure you get a flight and taste all of the beers currently on tap.

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This is a typical Portland eatery where dishes are cooked in a wood fired oven and served in a rustic room, farm-to-table style. Try the 3 course prix fixe with wine pairings on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.

If you like Gulf shellfish, you’ll love Felix’s. Situated on the Battleship Parkway, Felix’s offers great views of Mobile Bay and tasty Southern seafood dishes. It also offers a good happy hour, though the views from the bar aren’t nearly as good as those from the restaurant. If you want to ensure a good view of the sunset, get a reservation and request a table by the window.

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This beer hall offers a wide selection of tasty and interesting beers, as well great burger burgers and scrumptious bar bites.

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This restaurant’s branch in the Upper East Side is located in the Jewish Museum, but is open to those not visiting the museum and just stopping by for lunch. It’s both a full-service restaurant and takeout spot and located on 92nd street and 5th Avenue.

This restaurant near the Exit Glacier offers good food and decent cocktails.

One Eight Distilling makes gin, vodka, and whiskey. You can try all of them at their tasting room, or get a unique cocktail mixed with one of their delicious house-made spirits.

This is a great pic in Point Reyes Station. It’s a casual place with great food highlighting local ingredients and a fun cocktail list. The vibe is cozy.

This historic bar has a very old-time San Francisco bar. Step in and you’ll be transported to the late 19th/early 20th century when big names like Huntington, Crocker, Hopkins, and Stanford ran the city. The inside is cozy and swanky, and the bartenders turn out fantastic classics and wonderful new creations.

The Standard Baking Co. is a great option for a light breakfast during your time in Portland. The pastries are delicious, their breads are great, and they offer tasty coffee and tea as well.

Located at the beautiful Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Meridia is overpriced, but the food is good. The restaurant serves up tasty Mediterranean-influenced dishes above spectacular Hapuna Beach.

Our favorite coffee shop in Portland, Bard Coffee offers delicious coffee, tea, hot chocolate, lemonade, and more.

Located in Port Townsend, the Silverwater Cafe serves good meals using fresh, locally harvested ingredients.

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Portland’s famous potato donut shop has been serving delicious and inventive pastries since 2012. Be sure to stop by for breakfast (or lunch or something) during your visit to Portland.

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A 1920s style French dining cafe near Union Square caddy corner to China’s town Dragon’s Gate entrance, offering casual indoor and outdoor seating and a great array of French food options. A nice place to stop for espresso and breakfast.

This may be, if not the only, the best place on the planet to get your hardware, a beer, and a meal (“screw and brew”) at the same time.

Adjacent to the lobby of the Pendry Chicago Hotel, the Bar Pendry is a classic Chicago hotel bar with a low-key, welcoming vibe. The cocktails are pricey but tasty and creative, and there’s a good selection of local beers on draft and wines by the glass.

The Seafood Bar and Grill is aptly named; it offers tasty seafood and sandwiches as well cocktails in a tiki lounge atmosphere.

Brixens serves up tasty American cuisine with a strong New Mexico influence. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of craft beers (cans and bottles only; no drafts, unfortunately) and cocktails in a neat downtown space. Hours Tuesday – Thursday: 11am – 10pmFriday & Saturday: 11am – 11pmSunday: 11am – 10pmClosed Monday

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Serving up a small but interesting selection of yummy beers, this downtown Chicago brewery is great place to stop for a flight or a pint.

Really fantastic and inventive baked items. Everything from bread to rolls to flaky pastries. You can also grab a coffee here to go with your pastry.

Roadside stand which is actually more like 2/3 of the way to Hana. Awesome banana bread, shaved ice, and pineapple smoothies.

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These donuts are fantastic and made from a mashed potato base (but it works, trust us). They come in many inventive flavors. They do seasonal flavors and if you’re visiting in the fall I have to put a plug in for their apple donut.

If you want a casual drink in downtown Mobile, Alchemy is a great choice. The staff is friendly, and they offer a great selection of draft beers.

In a charming location overlooking Camden’s beautiful harbor, The Waterfront serves up tasty New England fare and seafood.

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This place in downtown Napa is a true market. Offering a variety of restaurants and shops you can graze your way through Northern California fare. Some of the best places to eat include Kitchen Door and Hog Island Oyster Co. Grab a local sour beer at the Fieldwork Brewing Company, coffee at Ritual Coffee, and ice cream from Three Twins.

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Another very solid Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. Great for take out or also a nice place to dine in.

Taproom and beer garden with a cool list of international beers.

Built in 1890 as a grocery store, this is now fondly known as the oldest bar in Key West. This saloon can have locals outnumbering tourists on any given night. This is an excellent place to enjoy a dive bar while listening to great music.

“Twisted foods from traditional roots” is their tagline and the restaurant offers up regional cuisine with a farm-to-table mentality and a slightly eclectic menu.

Brewpub with decent beer and food selection

Breakfast: Lunch/Dinner: Drinks:

This excellent health store and cafe serves up tasty coffee, matchas, smoothies, and sandwiches (including vegetarian and vegan options). While you can take it to go, they also have a nice seating area right out front.

Restaurants Drinks

This restaurant is a mainstay in Portland, ME. It’s large with a huge bar, but offers great New England seafood and classic cocktails. Reservations strongly suggested.

We’re not entranced with this Mediterranean restaurant. The food is fine, but it’s not worth the high prices or the hype.

Neat spot offering house-brewed and guest drafts, as well as coffee and local art.

New England inspired Asian cuisine with a strong cocktail game.

Via Sophia isn’t one of the better restaurants in Washington, D.C. The food is fine, but nothing particularly interesting, and the bar doesn’t offer much to draw your attention.

This spot is quite close by to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. It’s a great place for vegetarian and vegan fare, brunch, and fish tacos. Don’t miss their homemade pastry case – we recommend perusing before ordering dessert. It offers both indoor and outdoor dining.

If you love hazy IPAs, you’ll probably want to try Austin Street Brewery. We love hazy IPAs, but we still found their menu repetitive and a bit uninteresting, but the beer was still pretty good.

This brewery offers interesting beer and tasty food. They have locations in Bar Harbor, Camden, Bangor, and Biddeford.

Restaurants: Bavel Sqirl Grand Central Market Rossblu Rustic Canyon Bludso’s Bar & Que Langer’s Son of a Gun Felix Shibumi Jitlada Guelaguetza P.Y.T Destroyer Marugame Monzo Gjusta Guisados Nong Lá Cafe Botanica Republique Kismet Pizzana Freedman’s Dan Tana’s Little Sister Night + Market Providence Petit Tois Son of a Gun Broad Street Oyster Co. Malibu […]

Miyake is a Japanese restaurant in downtown Portland. If you’re getting tired of New England cuisine, this is a great spot. It uses seasonal ingredients. Definitely try their take on a lobster roll wrapped in sushi rice.

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There are VERY limited dining options in Hana and this is probably your best bet unless you want to dine at a food trucks or a chain.

Restaurants: Commander’s Palace Emeril’s Cochon Peche Seafood Grill Brennan’s (brunch) Turkey and the Wolf (lunch) Shaya Galatoire’s Gautreau’s Marjie’s Grill Bacchanal Willie Mae’s Scotch House Killer PoBoys Parkway Bakery & Tavern (for the po’boys) Willa Jean (breakfast) Elizabeth’s Ruby Slipper Cafe (brunch) Herbsaint Evangeline Dooky Chase Restaurant La Petite Grocery Cavan (brunch) Paladar 511 Doris […]

Louie’s Backyard is comprised of both a house and a porch with incredible views over the water. The food is fresh and contemporary. It’s a particularly excellent spot for brunch or lunch. Here you’ll see more locals than tourists. The Afterdeck Bar is right on the Atlantic and serves up delicious cocktails. Stop at Dog […]

Want to dine on the beach? This is your place. Set on Higgs Beach, you can’t get closer to ocean-front dining. Enjoy especially the fresh fish or pasta. Check ahead to see if there will be live music while you dine.

Food Eventide Oyster Co Duckfat Fore Street Central Provisions Honey Paw Scales Rose Foods Miyake Izakaya Minato Chaval The Shop by Island Creek Oysters Luke’s Lobster Standard Baking Company Holy Donut Tandem Bakery Drink (Breweries) Rising Tide Goodfire Shipyard Allagash Foulmouthed Austin Street Oxbow Lone Pine Bissell Brothers Drink (Non-breweries) Portland Hunt and Alpine Club […]

Restaurants: Rooster and the Pig Jake’s Las Casuelas Elmers Cheeky’s Great Shakes (best milkshakes) India Oven Bar Cecil Viet 533 Brown’s BBQ Sopa Melvyn’s restaurant  Eight4Nine Birba Bars Coachella Valley Brewing Company Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Workshop kitchen and bar Bar Cecil

This Rum Distillery offers both tours and an excellent bar with craft cocktails, and, more often than not, live music. Named after Ernest Hemingway “Papa” and his ship “Pilar” they embrace his spirit – you can even sidel up to the bar and take a selfie with the life sized statue of him. The cocktails […]

Oui! Wine Bar / Restaurant Willow Kachka Q Restaurant Expatriate Ripe Cooperative Le Pigeon Ok Omens Hat Yai Normandie Life of Pie Nuestra Cocina Bamboo Sushi Yama Sushi Departure Lounge Proud Mary Cafe (breakfast) Sweedeedee XLB Kim Jong Grillin Fried Egg (breakfast)

A tapas restaurant with French and Spanish inspired tapas using seasonal ingredients. Also offers great cocktails and good wine list.

Popular Home pizzeria

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The shop is a seafood joint which cells oysters, caviar, and tinned seafood sprads. The oysters are cheap and come on large trays of ice with classic fixings.

You really shouldn’t visit San Francisco without a stop at The Buena Vista Cafe, home of the original Irish coffee. The story goes that in 1952, Jack Koeppler, the then owner of the Buena Vista, challenged international travel writer Stanton Delaplane to help him recreate the famous “Irish Coffee” served at the Shannon Airport in […]

This has to be one of the most famous donut shops in the world. It’s still a hole-in-the wall operation and there are long lines. Are the donuts worth it? I mean, they’re donuts.

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An outdoor cafe abutting the southernmost house, a historical hotel from 1897, grab a seat and enjoy famous mojitos, margaritas, or a mango daiquiri. Their pizza is also excellent. This makes a nice place to enjoy sunset.

This is on all the best of Key West lists and for good reason. Set in a beautiful backyard with a tall banyan tree towering above, this relaxed restaurant serves food heavily spiced with Caribbean and Creole influences. More often than not there’s live music. Hopefully you don’t mind a few chickens strutting around while […]

Part laundromat, part cafe, this is the place to go for a Cuban sandwich. You’ll order from the sidewalk through a takeout window. Also try their excellent Cuban Coffee.

An upscale bagel shop, open for breakfast and lunch.

We weren’t impressed with Atlantic Brewing. The beer was uninteresting and sub-par. The food was fine, but nothing special. If you’d really like to visit a brewery while you’re in Bar Harbor, this is a fine option, but otherwise you can skip it.

This popular place on the Spit has been a Homer institution before Alaska was a state

Not a palace and no champagne but often a good place for live music

Probably the most famous coffee in Key West, you should try Cuban Coffee Queen. Here you can grab an extra strong cafe con leche or a Cuban sandwich. While this not necessarily our favorite coffee in Key West, it’s a solid option and, as we said, this is an institution and you’ll see it top […]

The food was fine, but nothing special, and our takeout order came about 15 minutes late, almost causing us to miss our connecting ferry.

Walk up a blue lit staircase and enter this intimate and candlelit music venue. You can check the lineup online before to see who’s playing (and this place does get artists from all over the world), but regardless of the artist, it’s a perfect after-dinner venue to finish your evening. Two good drinks include the […]

This is both a seafood market and restaurant serving up excellent and casual seafood. Here you’ll find more residents than tourists, and the best lobster rolls and fish dip in Key West. The fresh catch of the day is a can’t-miss as well. The only seating is outside, but shady. Stroll up to the counter […]

This is a very strange place – in the basement of the Fairmont Hotel exists this bar… A full pirate ship where a loud band plays surrounded by water and small tables where you can enjoy sugary tiki drinks. It’s a can’t miss stop.

A modern speakeasy with inventive cocktails, a huge selection of whiskey and rum, and a good wine and beer list. Also serves a good menu.

Truly one of the most beautiful places on earth, Yosemite is more than just the Valley (there are 1200 of square miles in this park) but the Valley cannot be missed. Warning: in the summer the valley gets uncomfortably crowded.

The National Gallery of Art houses a large permanent collection of works, tracing the development of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present. The East Wing focuses on modern art, and the museum’s Sculpture Garden contains works from the Gallery’s collection, as well as loans and special exhibitions, and a collection of native American trees and plants.

Central Park is NYC’s biggest green space and one of the prettiest city parks in the world. It offers up 843 acres of meadows, fields, tree lined paths, a lake, resevoir, outdoor theatre, and castle.

This is one of the hardest national parks to get to in the country, but it’s well-worth it for its beautiful waters, fantastic sea life, and history. The archipelago is about 70 miles off the coast of the Keys. This was the site of the wreckers during Key West’s heyday. These wreckers made a living […]

The second-deepest lake in North America lies in the crater of a dormant volcano. It boasts some of the most pristine water in the world. It’s also stunningly beautiful.

Spanning almost two miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the United States Capitol, the National Mall is a landscaped park containing memorials and monuments to the United States’s leaders and soldiers.

This is a spectacular Old Growth Redwood forest just 12 miles north from San Francisco. Walk through the world’s tallest trees and marvel at their size. Named by Teddy Roosevelt to honor John Muir in 1908, this site is not to be missed. As easy loop trail takes you through the magnificent forest. We suggest […]

Best beach on the island. At the end of the road to the Na Pali trail (State park here with a parking lot if not full – I’d go early) lies a gorgeous beach with great snorkeling when the water is not rough.

Some of Kauai’s most beautiful beaches, and the island’s best spots for relaxing, swimming, and body surfing are in the area around Poipu.

The Rock (now a National Park) was a famous federal prison where the worst of the worst criminals were kept. It was said when lavish parties in the 1920s occurred on the mainland, the prisoners could hear it from their cells way out at sea. The tour includes a cruise from San Francisco and audio tour of the cell blocks that’s great.

A fantastic beach in west Maui – sandy and with safe swimming. It’s walking distance from Napili lodging. Good snorkeling at offshore and left side of reef.

An annex to the National Air and Space Museum located in a massive hangar near Dulles Airport, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is one of our favorite museums. Make sure to go on a (free) guided tour, offered at minimum at 10:30 am and 1:00 pm but usually more frequently.

This fantastic landscape of red rocks is like nowhere else on earth.Be sure and take a hike down amongst the formations – we suggest the Navajo loop as a great trail that hits the highlights. If you have time and energy the fairytale loop is worthwhile as well

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival puts on some of the best theatrical productions in the world. People will vacation in Ashland to see the entire season catalog. Definitely worth a visit on your trip through Oregon.

Bring your most comfortable shoes as you get ready to enjoy this vast array of art and antiquities in one of the largest museums of the world (17 acres large). The Met has more than 2 million objects in their permanent collection including an intact ancient Egyptian temple. You’ll want to allow several hours to see the museum’s highlights, but it’s easy to spend a full day.

For 150 years these wooden cars have been trundling up and down San Francisco’s hills. Riding them is a great way to get around and should not be missed.

Gorgeous waterfall on the way to Hana – probably the most impressive as three falls cascade into a fern filled basin. You can walk to the falls and swim below them but the “trail” is slippery and is basically muddy rock scrambling. Don’t try it in flip flops. It leaves just on the far side […]

Choose the upper canyon with easier hiking and amazing beams of light or the equally beautiful narrower and somewhat more climbing involved south canyon. For both you will need a tour – book far in advance. These are both on Navajo land. To tour the upper canyon you will meet your tour operator in or […]

This north shore beach offers some of Kauai’s best snorkeling.

Fantastic aquarium in an old cannery building on Monterey Bay. This is our favorite aquarium in the world.

This is a pretty amazing museum a few minutes south of Burlington. Electra Webb founded the museum in 1947 – initially to persevere er family’s collection of horse drawn carriages but ended up with a huge collection of new England historic buildings, folk art, and a whole lot of other stuff – set on 45 […]

This incredible museum houses exhibits about everything in the natural world, from wildlife to geology to fossils. Highlights include the recently reopened hall of fossils (officially the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils) and the hall of geology, gems, and minerals.

“The greatest meeting of land and water” – This is a gorgeous spot with cypress tress, cashing waves, intimate beaches, tide pools, forests, and meadows, all with easy walks. Not to be missed.

Opened in 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has always been extremely popular, and for good reason. It’s a stunning retrospective that explores the history of African Americans, from first slaves forced across the ocean to the modern day.

A beautiful portion of Haleakalā National Park on Maui’s southeast coast that has spectacular pools, beaches, and waterfalls, as well as a great hike up the valley.

You can’t miss this iconic site. This is the signature site of the city built in 1937 and connects San Francisco to the North and Marin highlands. Some good places to see it from: the beach near Ghirardelli square, Fort Point, or in Marin at Vista Point.

These may be the best donuts we’ve ever had. Not listed under restaurants because it’s more than that – gift store, apple processing plant, tourist stop. Found on the road to Stowe.

This modest, small church near Sleepy Hollow has an amazing attraction: a rose window by Matisse and 9 amazing Chagall windows (this was the local church for the Rockefeller’s whose estate was nearby – it pays to have connections and money). Grab tickets in advance and stop by to take a guided tour.

NYC’s museum of modern art feature tons of Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Rothko, Pollock and Bourgeois and 200,000 pieces of artwork, some of the above mentioned’s most famous (like Van Gogh’s Starry Night). The museum just reopened with an additional 50,000 square feet of space to house more art.

The second oldest lakes in North America – it actually is alkaline water (think really salty) with no outlet. The minerals creates amazing tufa towers which stick out from the water like mysterious sand castles and a unique ecosystem.

Georgia O’Keefe was from New York but fell in love with New Mexico and did most of her painting here. This is the best museum of her work anywhere – right off the main plaza and a must see in Santa Fe.

This is an amazing place. For 1000 years people have been living in the large multi story adobe building that is a UNESCO world heritage site. Be sure and take a tour (every 20 minutes starting at 9am). Be aware that while the Pueblo is open daily it does close for various tribal activities – check the website. The tour only takes about 30 minutes but we highly recommend a visit here.

An arresting and moving memorial and museum that documents the history of the Holocaust. The museum is a must-see, but be prepared for an intensely raw, emotional, and disturbing experience.

Great on calm days. Not a lot of parking but not a lot of people either.

The national air and space museum is a necessary stop for anyone interested in aircraft of space travel. It’s got incredible exhibits detailing the history of aviation and space exploration, including real vehicles, replicas, and a moon rock you can touch. This is probably the best collection on the history of air and space travel anywhere.

This is indeed the grandest canyon on earth. There are a couple that are deeper but nothing catches this one for sheer majesty and awe. 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep, with layered colorful rock revealing millions of years of geological history.

The National Portrait Gallery’s focuses on portraits of famous Americans. Its most popular attraction is presidential portrait gallery, which has an entry for every U.S. president. While it’s technically an art museum the National Portrait Gallery is also a history and biographical museum—you’ll learn a lot about the people whose portraits hang in the gallery and the times in which they lived.

An art museum in a beautiful Washington townhouse, the Philips collection has an impressive permanent collection and typically good rotating exhibitions. Be sure to see Renior’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, as well as works by El Greco, Matisse, van Gogh, O’Keeffe, and more.

Located in eastern Utah near the town of Moab, Arches National Park is a spectacular spot, featuring more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. The arches are the primary attraction, and visits typically involve driving to an arch or trailhead and then walking or hiking to see nearby arches.

This is a fascinating area near Seward. Nice flat walk to view of the Exit Glacier (off of massive ice filed above). The years of where the glacier was in the past are marked so you can really appreciate the rapid retraction

The United States National Arboretum is a large outdoor area in northeastern Washington. It has wide open areas with picnic spots and the National Capitol Columns. There’s also a large collection of bonsai trees, an herb garden, and a number of other collections.

Alexandria’s historic district offers cobbled streets, charming townhouses, beautiful waterfront, delicious restaurants, and fun bars. There are also a number of historical sites to visit.

Set on 5th Avenue’s Museum Mile, this art gallery is housed in a beaux-arts mansion. It hosts art of Vermeer, Titian, El Greco, Van Dyck and Rembrandt.

A United States military cemetery spanning 624 acres just outside of Washington, D.C., Arlington National Cemetery was established in 1864 and is the final resting place for over 400,000 American servicemen and women. The cemetery is a beautiful and moving place.

Lovely 151 foot waterfall with an easy to drive to overview

10-15 minute hike only swimmable on calm summer days. It even has a waterfall .

Lovely beach within walking distance (along the shore path just past Napili Kai condos / Merriman’s) of Napili condos. This is usually calm and has great snorkeling as well. Not better than Napili bay, but a lovely different option.

Marjorie Post, heir to the General Foods fortune, bought this stunning mansion in 1955 and soon decided it should be a museum open to the public. She filled the house with beautiful furniture and art from 18th and 19th century France and Russia. She landscaped the estate’s 25 acres with beautiful gardens and woodland paths.

Waves spout up through a small lava shelf squirting through a blow hole. Makes a loud moaning / gasping sound. The scientific reason has to do with air being forced through but the real reason is a giant lizard tried to attack a man and got stuck in the lava tube…

New Mexico has a long and interesting history – from Native Americans living here for thousands of years to the Spanish Colonial era to the early US frontier to building the first atomic bomb – and this museum does a good job of explaining it all. Well worthwhile.

Nice  snorkeling in calm seas. Near the St Regis

One of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska this is just a short drive from town and an impressive sight (though rapidly retreating). Take the relatively short Nugget falls trail for great views or with more time consider the West Glacier trail In bear season the steep creek trail takes you to salmon spawning and […]

A great beach with great snorkeling on the right side near the lava rock. There are many, many people here, mostly served by giant resorts. There is pay public parking at the Sheraton (this is the side of the beach you want). Whalers village mall is right adjacent to the middle of the beach and […]

The Metropolitan Museum’s Cloisters is set in Fort Tyron Park in Upper Manhattan on a hilltop overlooking the Hudson River. The building itself is made up of various European monasteries and historic buildings. This branch of the Met houses medieval European history and art.

Perhaps our favorite science museum anywhere, the exploratorium focuses on “hands on” interactive activities. Located right on the wharf in San Francisco in a 9-acre glass walled building, it’s easy to spend hours here.

Part of Yosemite National Park, but about 55 miles away from Yosemite Valley at an elevation of 8600 feet, this is the a breathtakingly beautiful subalpine meadow set in the Sierra Nevadas. It offers beautiful fields, wildflowers, lakes, mountains, and cooler temperatures than the valley as well as an array of hikes to make anyone of any level happy.

Hanalei is the Hawaii of your dreams –  a gorgeous spot but not necessarily the best for swimming much of the time. Pounding shore break and backwash a lot of the time in the winter. Popular with surfers. There are several areas around the bay with access The “town” consists of beach houses Black pot beach […]

REI is one of the largest (and best) retailers of outdoor equipment anywhere. The old store spanned across several buildings. The new one is a slick center for all things outdoors – complete with a three story indoor climbing wall, dirt mountain bike test track and even a booth where you can test out the rain gear in a simulated rainstorm.

A beautiful bay with great snorkeling. Park near preserve signs and take the short walk through jungle to reach snorkeling. The right side of the bay is sandy but the water is cloudy from the stream.

A gorgeous gothic revival mansion with intact interiors overlooking the Hudson available to tour. The mansion was built by architect Alexander Jackson Davis in 1838 and later acquired and added onto by Jay Gould, at the time the richest man in the country (and a rather unscrupulous businessman).

An overwhelmingly large collection of exhibits and artifacts chronicling American history, including technology, transportation, art, culture, and much more. You could probably spend several full days here. A must-see for any history buff.

The unusual building, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright is probably more famous than the artwork within, however inside you will find art by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Pollock, and Kandinsky as well as some surrealist work.

This ridge offers beautiful views of the Straight of Juan de Fuca, Mt Olympus and the North Cascades. Several hikes from short to long leave from the visitor center.

This is a sumptuously decorated Italianate Mansion built between 1858 and 1860 which has large intact interiors from one of the most famous interior designers from New York. Get reservations for your tour in advance.

This is a really unique attraction. On a grassy field in the upper Hudson River Valleysee 100+ year old airplanes (WW1 and older) still fly. It’s a pretty amazing 2 hour show. There is even a cheesy melodrama which does not seem to have changed since the 1950’s. But the sight of a rickety 1913 […]

Powell’s is the largest independent bookstore in the world and a Portland Institution. It’s huge – they’ll give you a map it’s that big. Let your inner bibliophile go wild.

People have been living in the canyon at Bandolier for 11,000 years and this National Monument is an amazing place full of cliff dwellings set in a spectacular canyon. From Mid May to October you will access the canyon by frequent and convenient shuttle bus (other times you’re with your car). Be sure and take […]

This beautiful lake is located in Oregon’s rain forest. There is a lovely loop drive around in southwestern Olympic National Park.

Stop in to learn the history of Skagway and the struggles of stampeders to get to the Klondike gold fields. Also grab a map for Skagway’s historic walking tour.

This is the cove right adjacent to the Napili point condominiums. It offers amazing snorkeling. Be careful getting in (you need to get in via lava rocks) and don’t go in if it is rough. The upside: lots of turtles live here!

A famous independent bookstore in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. Its three stories offer art, poetry, and books.

Not necessarily one of the top visited museum in NYC, the Whitney offers an unparalleled collection of American art. Built with 63,00 square feet you’ll find works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Mark Rothko, Edward Hopper, and Jasper Johns along with a fantastic rotating exhibit. In even numbered years you can enjoy the Whitney Biennial which shows (very) contemporary art.

This is the oldest public Japanese garden in the US, first planted in 1894. On the 5 acres you can experience flower gardens, cherry blossoms, maple leaves, bonsai, and pretty bridges to cross.

A historic fort rebuilt at the south end of Lake Champlain. Originally built by the French during the French and Indian war, later captured by British, and then the Americans in the American Revolutionary War. The star shaped fort has now been restored and has costumed interpreters and living history displays.

Along the route of scenic coastal Maine, stop by this museum with a fantastic collection of three generations of Wyeths and other Maine artists.

This museum contains a remarkable array of more than 34 million natural science artifacts including a Fossil Hall (with over 600 fossils), galleries of gems, minerals, and ocean life, an entire space center with a planetarium and featuring the Willamette Meteor, and a butterfly conservatory with 500 + butterflies from all over the world. It’s […]

This is a beautiful coastal park near Cannon Beach. Favorite walks are to Indian Beach and the Clatsop Loop Trail.

The National Zoo is great for adults and children alike. The sprawling park houses thousands of animals from all over the world, including the famous giant pandas.

An impressive collection of works by famous artists from around the world, as well as some by local artists. The building was designed by I.M. Pei, and it includes an outdoor sculpture park.

The Getty Villa in Malibu features Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities in a villa modeled after a first-century Roman House, the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum, Italy.

Chihuly is a Washington artist who blows amazing sculptures out of glass. The art is truly mind boggling. You won’t even believe some of the amazing colorful glass creations are made out of glass. You owe it to yourself to see this. If you can, look on the museum’s website for the glass blowing demo […]

This picturesque lighthouse is only about a 20 minute drive from downtown Portland, and it’s a great introduction to Maine’s many lighthouses. The lighthouse on this site dates to around 1791, and a small museum houses exhibits on the history of the lighthouse and its keepers.

Soaring 210 feet above the summit of San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower is a monument to honor the city’s firefighters. The interior boasts striking WPA murals, and it offers incredible views of the city and the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area.

Originally constructed in the early 17th century as Spain’s seat of government for what is today the American Southwest, the Palace of the Governors chronicles the history of Santa Fe as well as New Mexico and the region. This adobe structure, now the state’s history museum, was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1960 and an American Treasure in 1999. It is part of the New Mexico History Museum.

Emerald Bay gives you quite possibly the prettiest view of Lake Tahoe anywhere. Granite Cliffs loom above the cove with teal and emerald water. Fannette Island is what you’ll see sitting in the park’s center.

The heart of Boulder is this pedestrian only corridor full of shops, bars, and restaurants. We find it utterly charming

This 173-foot double waterfall is easy to get to. In ancient times men would jump from the top to prove their manhood, which we guess worked if they survived

LACMA is the largest museum in the western United States. It has a vast array of collections including Asian Art, Japanese Art, Greek and Roman Art, and Latin American Art spanning millennia as well as Contemporary and Modern Art. Expect to find works by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Jose Clemente Orozco.

This museum leads very interesting tours through the Lower East Side’s historic tenements dating back from the 19th century. Explore very well preserved tenements with original artifacts from the time as you learn the stories about the families who lived there in the years leading up to and following the turn of the century.

Originally the transport terminus for ferries from across the bay, it now still has some cruises leaving from its pier but is predominantly an artisan food hall. Wander up and down the hall where vendors offer mushrooms, cheese, olive oil, ice cream, coffee, and much more as well as artisan craftwork.

This is a cute little church in Santa Fe that is famous for its staircase. That’s right – the spiral staircase has quite a story behind it.

On the way to Seward from Anchorage this is a good stop as they have a variety of animals in a level location. They are dedicated to wildlife rehab

One of the two fine arts museums in San Francisco, the de Young Museum houses a variety of artists with a constant rotating special exhibit. The copper building is slowly oxidizing to green in the park and sports a tall tower (free to go to the top) that gives a 360-degree view of the city.

Gorgeous coastal scenery and beaches. Miles of trails and a waterfall onto a beach. Historic lighthouse The best hike in the park leaves from the Palomarin trailhead near Bolinas, passes a couple of lakes and ends u at Wilcat Beach – walk back south the direction you came to Alamere falls – falling from the […]

These are great beaches in Makena state park in south Maui. Big Beach is, well big, but also beautiful. It offers good body surfing at times but the waves can get too big to make it safe. Little beach is a short walk over trails though lava on the right end of big beach and […]

Lovely often secluded beach. Steep rocky sometimes slippery trails may be why. Tranquil beach accessible by a half-mile trail, with native vegetation, clear water & snorkeling. The public access trail is in front of building A at Sealodge and takes 15 minutes to walk. The trail goes down a ravine with some wood steps at […]

This place offers 11 beautiful acres of Japanese gardens. The famous and equally beautiful international rose garden is just across the street. You’ll see koi ponds, ornamental cherry trees, a ceremonial teahouse and a sand garden.

A beautiful dairy farm located on the scenic slopes of Haleakalā. Take a tour, meet the goats, and sample some delicious cheeses.

A fun, interactive museum exploring the history and techniques of espionage. Great for adults and kids alike, the museum has informative exhibits as well as activities that teach you what it’s like to be a spy.

You should not visit Ketchikan without seeing the historic and beautiful totems from the Tlingit culture. There are 3 places to see totems in Ketchikan: Totem Bight State Park, Totem Heritage Center, and Saxman Totem Park. Totem Bight State Park, located north of town, is set on a lovely peninsula with a long house and […]

This is a great public market that’s been operating since 1906. Be sure and visit the fish booth and wait for someone to order – flying fish is the norm. There are also restaurants and craft stores as well as fresh produce along the entire market.

The Getty Museum hosts art from the 8th to 21st century as well as exquisite gardens and amazing views of Los Angeles. You’ll find an excellent collection of European art including from Van Gogh, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt, Turner, Renoir and more.

This is the worlds largest collection of folk art and a fascinating place to visit. Its main gallery has objects from over 100 countries and includes dolls, masks, toys, garments, paintings. Per the museum, there is no one definition of folk art, and so it hosts quite the collection of items. If you’re visiting in July don’t miss the International Folk Art Market.

One of ancient Hawaii’s best-preserved prehistoric sites, Pu’uhonua O Honaunau (also called the City of Refuge) is an incredible opportunity to learn about Hawaiian history.

A former gold-mining town, Bodie was founded in 1859, and by the late 1870s was a bustling Old West outpost of a few thousand. It was abandoned by the 1940s and is now a state park.

Frederick Church, the most famous painter in the US in the 1870’s (Hudson River School) built this magnificent Persian- style castle high on a hill overlooking the Hudson River Valley. The interiors are largely intact and filled with paintings. The setting is as spectacular as the building. Get reservations in advance.

A required stop on the road to Hana. Visit to see the beautiful black sand beach and stunning sea arch.

This unique national park protects the area around Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the most active volcanoes in the world, and extends from sea level to 13,681 feet of elevation.

One of the two main fine arts museums in San Francisco. Located ear the Lands End walk, this museum offers an eclectic collection from old world masters to Impressionists to contemporary artists as well as a rotating exhibit. It also has great views over the Golden Gate and a lovely cafe.

The Sol Duc Hot Springs actually are both hot springs and lodging/camping in Olympic National Park. They are located among a beautiful forest and river. Soak in a magical setting.

Rainforest, aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum—all under one living roof. This LEED-certified green museum has more than 40,000 creatures living under it’s natural roof.

Located in downtown Anchorage, this museum has a variety of exhibits on Alaskan art and history.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a tribute to the events that affected the United States when 2 airplanes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in NYC on 9/11/2001.

The Maritime Museum offers a huge collection of historic ships that can be toured. Located in the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood, you’ll get to explore the Pacific Coast’s maritime history.

Get up very early to drive to the top of Haleakalā and see the sunrise and take in the gorgeous views, drive up a little later in the day for just the views, or come at night for stargazing.

This saloon offers a short tour of the former bordello in Skagway and is a good place to eat. If you are there when a lot of people (a cruise ship day) you may want to stop in and reserve in advance.

Star of a hundred Westerns, this Navajo tribal park is home to iconic sandstone formations. You can drive 17 miles on dirt roads to see the highlight of the area with a pass you purchase. Allow 2-3 hours. If you want to spend more time the View Hotel is in the Park. You can arrange […]

A Victorian greenhouse from 1878 set in Golden Gate Park houses an amazing array of plants including rare orchids, lilies, and tropical varietals.

The flagship of New York’s public library system, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a research, rather than lending, library. The beautiful marble building houses several stately reading rooms, fascinating book collections, and interesting exhibits. We highly recommend taking the free guided tour.

This newest branch of the Met opened in 2016. It houses 20th and 21st century art. Your three-day admission includes the Met and the Cloisters. The lower ground floor has a great drinking spot: Flora Bar.

This beautiful salt-and-pepper beach offers some of the best snorkeling on the island (we recommend exploring the rocks to your left as you look at the ocean).

It may be hard to get to, but gorgeous Makalawena Beach is one of the prettiest on the Big Island. To get here, you have drive a rough road to Mahai’ula Bay and then hike about a mile and a quarter.

This is a beautiful park on Lake Washington in Seattle.

One of the prettiest beaches on the Big Island, Hapuna is a long expanse of beautiful white sand. It’s a great place to relax on the sand or swim, and sometimes the surf comes up enough for some body boarding.

If you want to get the feel of NYC in one setting, head to Times Square. The sheer number of people combined with thousands of cabs and giant billboards lit up on the sides of skyscrapers advertising Broadway shows can be overwhelming, but gives you the experience of NYC out of a movie.

Portland is nicknamed the Rose City and after seeing these gardens you’ll be able to understand why. The gardens cover 4.5 acres and as you wonder you can enjoy fountains, a wide away of flowers (beyond the roses) and an incredible view of downtown Portland and, weather permitting, Mt. Hood.

The Empire State Building’s outdoor observation deck on its 86th floor offers spectacular views over the NYC skyline.

A beautiful beach beyond Hana with good body surfing when conditions aren’t too rough.

Actually a 22 acre “city within a city”, Rockefeller center was built by John D Rockefeller Jr at the height of the Great Depression. It was the US’s first retail/entertainment/office center of 19 buildings and declared a National Landmark in 1987. Most interesting in this space is the GE Building offering a Top of the Rock observation tower (actually taller than the Empire State Building’s) and Rockefeller Plaza.

Inspired by Japanese Onsen (hot springs) this spa/hotel is set in 20 wooded acres near Santa Fe. You need not stay at the resort to visit the hot tubs. Book a hot tub ahead via the website. They also offer up a full list of spa services.

Millicent was a wealthy heiress and socialite who moved to Taos in 1947 and started collecting southwestern art. Her home has been converted to a museum which now houses a large collection of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo-American art, with a specific emphasis on northern New Mexico and Taos, New Mexico pieces.

The name sort of says it all – a series of pink sand dunes formed from Navajo sandstone and the wind. You will probably see ATV’s roaring around but you can take a short hike to see the dunes as well.

Perched at the end of a breakwater about seven eighths of a mile long, Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is a picturesque lighthouse in Downeast Maine. To reach the lighthouse, you must walk the length of the breakwater, which can be treacherous during high tide and large swells.

Stop here on your way to Hana for incredible views and sheer Hawaiian beauty.

A living plant museum, the national botanic garden shows rare plants from all over the world. It also houses a butterfly garden.

Stop by this unique spot just north of Point Reyes Station to sample a variety of meads. You can really taste how the different flowers influence the flavors

See a beautiful coffee farm in the mountains above Kona, learn about the coffee-making process, and sample some delicious coffee.

On the road into Stowe be sure and stop at the Ben and Jerry’s mothership for an ice cream (and tour, if open). You can stop by the quirky flavor graveyard on your way down from the parking lot to see all of the retired flavors.

Lewis and Clark spent a very rainy winter here at the end of their journey through the American West in 1805-1806, and the cabins they built have been reproduced. It’s a pretty place to visit and in the summer there are living history demonstrations.

The Penobscot Narrows, near where the Penobscot River flows into the Atlantic Ocean, were a strategically important site during early American Republic. An impressive fortification, Fort Knox, was built on the west bank of the Penobscot River to defend against a potential British naval assault.

At 1,776, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the United States. Its observation deck 102 stories above the streets of Manhattan offers truly incredible views of New York.

Lumaha’i Beach. Wide long beach beautiful beach that you access after a sort walk through a pandanas grove made famous in the movie South Pacific. Unfortunately not safe for swimming. Look but don’t touch

Large shallow bay. This has the most protected swimming on the north shore when seas are high

Worth a quick stop in Hana for the eclectic selection and arrangement of hardware next to fishing equipment and breakfast cereal. Oh and yes, you can of course gets snacks and drinks. Check out the best machete options on the wall above the register.

A series of 9 interesting historic buildings in York.

The Renwick Gallery is an art museum focusing on American crafts and decorative arts from the 1800s through the present. The permanent collection is underwhelming; the real draw is the rotating exhibitions, which can be incredibly cool.

Picnic area, large grassy area, playgrounds, two large boulder enclosed ponds – perfect for kids. The adult pond has snorkeling

The story of Kit Carson is the story of the American Frontier. Carson lived much of his life in Taos when he was not out trapping and guiding and this Spanish colonial house-turned museum was where he lived and has a collection of many of his belongings.

Don’t be disappointed that there’s actually no beach here; Māhukona offers some of the Big Island’s best snorkeling.

This is the central shopping square in San Francisco and offers a great plaza for people watching and a coffee in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter.

Lake Union in the middle of Seattle is connected with the ocean but about 15 feet higher. It’s interesting to watch the always busy lock operations as boats and ships move between the bodies of water. Then walk to the south side of the complex and look at the fish ladder – where there are windows where you can see salmon making their way back upstream.

La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is an active paleontological research site in Los Angeles. It was formed around a group of tar pits where natural asphalt has seeped up from the ground for tens of thousands of year, preserving the bones of prehistoric animals.

Located near Pier 39 and Fisherman’s wharf, this square boasts shops, a chocolate store, and ice cream at a converted former chocolate factory. Pro tip: just walking into the ice cream shop or candy store gets you a free pice of Ghirardelli chocolate, but actually sitting down with a sundae is worth it.

This is a delightful little garden in downtown Portland. It’s a classic Chinese garden that houses ponds, pretty plants, and a traditional teahouse.

Built in 1827, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse stands guard over a craggy, rocky shoreline. Visitors can climb the tower and walk along the surrounding coast.

Incredible view of canyons and Colorado River, but no real hiking. Possibly great opportunities for mountain bikers and/or off-roaders. It’s worth it to visit for the view alone, but unless you’re planning on doing a biking or off-roading trip, do not plan to spend more than half a day here.

The home and office of the President of the United States and his or her highest-level staff, the White House is one of the most famous mansions in the world. While you should definitely stroll by and see it from the outside, we think you should skip the tour.

The National Postal Museum traces the history of the people, technology, and ideas that make the mail work. It also has a large collection of stamps and exhibits about the people and events that have been featured on them.

Built around 1786, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House was the home of one of New England’s most prominent families. The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow grew up here. Today, it houses a museum containing numerous original items and artifacts, as well as the Maine Historical society.

This is collection of houses from the pre-revolutionary period of New York. This NationalHistoric Landmark is the oldest street in America with its original buildings and the walking tour visits several of the historic houses.

Beautiful limestone caverns bear the quaint little gold rush era town of Volcano

NYC’s Chinatown is a colorful area of the city, full of temples, exotic goods, bakeries, and restaurants. It’s a densely populated neighborhood, one of the best Chinatown’s in the US, and a great place to enjoy culture while sampling dim sum, dumplings, pork buns and hand-pulled noodles. Locals hang out in leafy Columbus Park for […]

The National Archives houses the United States’s most important historical records, including the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Rotating exhibits highlight other important historical documents.

Spanning 52 acres, the BBG is a green escape from Brooklyn. It offers numerous plants and gardens (Shakespeare, Japanese, Discovery, Fragrance, Flowering Cherry).

Washington, D.C.’s theatre scene can’t compete with New York’s or London’s, but it still offers an opportunity to see a quality show.

This is a small state park/wayside with picnic tables and bathrooms and offers you the easiest access to swim in the pond below waterfalls.

Two beautiful gardens in the Poipu region.There are guided tours lasting about two hours. Allerton is the more desirable of the two Be aware that these tours are not cheap

Built in 1825, Owls Head Lighthouse overlooks spectacular Penobscot Bay, offering an incredible view of the seascape and islands. It’s well worth the short walk out to the lighthouse for the view. There’s also a small museum and gift shop.

Housed in a mansion from 1914, this museum highlights Austrian and German art, especially that of Klee, Kirchner, and Klimt. Don’t miss the huge gold Klimt piece Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I. It’s a small museum, but has a rotating exhibit that is interesting. There is an excellent cafe, Cafe Sabarsky, attached to the museum […]

A series of shops and restaurants with a resident sea lion population. It’s a bustling spot and things feel kitschy, but the sea lions are well worth the stop.

In a town famed for its art, this is the place with all of the galleries. Even if art galleries are not your thing, you really need to wander along and check out the scene. There’s lots of cafes in this area as well, which is perfect for a meandering break. You can walk, drive, […]

Near Montpelier, this is a fun visit to a working maple sugar farm where you can buy and try everything maple syrup and find out how maple syrup is produced from a short film that describes the process of collection and processing.

There are more than 50 species of butterfly and 20 species of exotic birds from around the world in this glass conservatory. Here, you can learn everything you could ever want about butterflies, however the best part is simply wandering the conservatory itself with hundreds of butterflies everywhere you look. It’s magical. This is also […]

Sunnylands is a historic 200-acre estate and gardens in Palm Springs. The gardens are composed of more than 70 types of native and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean and 1.25 miles of walking paths.

A small town at the end of the aptly named road to Hana. You don’t need to spend much time here, but it’s a nice spot to get lunch if you’re hungry after the long drive.

This art museum was founded in 1938 and offers a permanent collection of 19th, 20th, and 21st century works focused on California art, classic western and Native American art, Mesoamerican art, Mexican art, and European modern art.

The Gamble House is an iconic American Craftsman house in Pasadena designed by Greene and Greene. It was constructed in 1908 as a home for David B. Gamble, son of the Procter & Gamble founder. Reservations required.

With borderline fanatical devotion to its canine citizens, quaint Carmel has the well-manicured feel of a country club. Watch the parade of behatted locals toting fancy-label shopping bags to lunch and dapper folk driving top-down convertibles along Ocean Ave, the village’s slow-mo main drag. Founded as a seaside resort in the 1880s – fairly odd, […]

Scenic stop along the highway to Homer. Be sure and check out the Russian orthodox church as well

The Griffith Observatory is on a hill overlooking Griffith Park. It holds a wide array of telescopes, a planetarium, and exhibits. Its Zeiss telescope, a 12 inch refracting telescope, is open to use by the public. It’s a famous area to stargaze, but also offers excellent views of the city. You can also see the […]

Hanalei remains old Hawaii at its best.  The resorts are up on the bluff in Princeville, the best food is probably the food trucks and the few shops are funky mom and pop stores. Farner’s market Saturdays

The Harry S. Truman Little White House is where President Truman spent 175 days of his presidency. Before that the same building served as a naval station’s command headquarters during the Spanish-American War. You’ll visit the house as it was in 1949 and see the rooms where the Trumans lived and worked during their time […]

This is a nature reserve around a palm-filled oasis which offers picnics & hikes in a desert wilderness setting. The San Andreas fault line cuts through the valley and the groundwater that pushes to the surface grows California fan palms, the only variety native to the state. Here, enjoy shade beneath their fronds. Choose from […]

Catch a ferry, operated by Statue Cruises out of New York Harbor at Battery Park to see both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Fisherman’s Wharf beginning at Pier 39 has been around since the gold rush and have remained a bustling port of entry to the city. Today you can find a bunch of fresh seafood and the the famous clam chowder at Boudin. Grab a bite from one of the vendors.

At this zoo, dedicated to the animals of arid climates, you’ll see leopards, mountain lions, warthogs, bighorn sheep, and Peninsular pronghorns (along with another 450 animals). The extensive botanical gardens create replicas of arid climates from Baja California’s Viscaino Desert to Madagascar.

The Huntington is a library, art museum and botanical garden. It offers an immense collection of rare books including the Gutenberg Bible, manuscripts including an illuminated manuscript of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and a First Folio edition of Shakespeare, and famous works of art including those by Gainsborough, Cassatt It’s surrounded by 120 acres and […]

Visit this remarkable center to learn about the Japanese Internment in the United States during WWII. In 1942 the United States government ordered more than 110,000 people to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps which incarcerated Japanese immigrants and Japanese American citizens […]

100 acre homestead preserved much as it was when sugar was king. Located right in Lihue. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, starting at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (2 hour escorted tours) $20 adults $10 children

In 1903, this was Ketchikan’s red-light district but today the boardwalk street over Ketchikan Creek, propped up on wooden pilings, is filled with gift shops, museums and well-preserved homes. More than 30 “bawdy” houses, most with one or two”working girls,” lined the creek over the years. Along with Prohibition, some houses became speakeasies – rowboats […]

In Lihue. The beach at the Marriott. Popular for swimming and beginning bodysurfing

This is way the heck up in the Bronx at the New York Botanical Gardens. However, if you choose to make the trek you’ll be privy to a Christmas tradition. Over 20 miniature trains, ferries, and trollies wind through 175 NYC landscapes and the 5 boroughs. Finish your visit with a stroll through cold, and often snowy gardens on the Winter Wonderland Tree Tour. It’s open late November to late January.

Sled dogs love to run and you can ride along and visit them – summer or winter

In 1860 the residents of Hula wanted to build a church out of lava rock and intended to use coral as a bonding agent. But they were stymied by the fact that harvesting coral from the ocean took a huge amount of time and effort. As they prepared to begin building, a massive storm washed […]

One of Key West’s top sites, the Hemingway House is where Ernest Hemingway lived for over a decade with his second wife and wrote some of his most famous novels including A Farewell to Arms. The house itself is filled with memorabilia and copies of his books. Explore his artist studio where most of his […]

In a spectacularly beautiful mountain range, Maroon Bells is the most photographed area in Colorado. That should tell you something about this hike. Interestingly however it is really not all that difficult. There are many variations you can do to make the walk longer or shorter. Due to popularity in summer you will need to […]

This is one of our favorite “walks” The quotations are because it’s more of a wade than a walk – most of the time you are walking up the river. Drive to the end of the Zion Park road and head into the canyon. The first half mile or so is easy and paved. Sandstone […]

Winding through Canyonlands National Park, Cataract Canyon features spectacular red rock walls and intense rapids. Though not as well-known as the Grand Canyon, Cataract Canyon offers sights that can be just as dramatic and whitewater at least as intense (Class III-IV, reaching Class V during late spring and early summer).

This is one of the best hikes in California. Start at Pan Toll Station on the shoulder of mount Tamalpais and walk down along a stream through the redwoods (there is even a section with a ladder). Reach the famous Dipsea trail, turn right and come to a fantastic view over the north coast and Stinson Beach. Continue down and pass an ice cream stand then onto Stinson Beach.

One of the most popular rivers for rafting anywhere in the country during the spring and summer, and for good reason too – reliable water levels (mostly), suitable for beginners, and plenty of action for all.

This remarkable tour combines stunning landscapes and amazing opportunities to view wildlife. It’s one of the best national park tours we’ve been on. Your all-day tour will begin at the dock below the Glacier Bay Lodge and take you through the park’s coves and fjords so you can see some of the spectacular glaciers up close.

1 mile to some lovely falls (about 20 minutes)

In the fall, this scenic byway (one of the first in the nation) provides a spectacular passage through the white mountains of New Hampshire. There are a lot of stops along the way but also a lot of other leaf peepers so parking can be challenging at some of the more popular sites. We recommend […]

Take an all day trip out to Aialik Bay. On the way out see beautiful scenery, tons of wildlife (orcas, humpback, whales, sea otter, seals, mountain sheep on our trip) then get into your kayak and kayak through a bay full of icebergs to the calving Aialik glacier.

This great loop hike starts about 40 minutes south of South Lake Tahoe (near Kirkwood). It starts at around 8100 feet and climbs to about 9500 (1272 foot elevation gain, about 5 miles).

In the summer, with calm seas there is a pool to swim in on a lava shelf with an inlet to the sea. In the winter do not go (many people have drowned here). Even in the summer only go in calm seas and watch for rogue waves.

This is an awesome hike. Just do the hike to the first beach and you encounter magic. You leave the end of the road near Ke’e beach and walk along the steep coastline and arrive at a totally wilderness tropical beach (Hanakapi’ai) in just two miles.

This hike in Olympic National Park is one of our favorites in the state of Washington. It’s a tough slog, but much of the uphill is shaded, and you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of Crescent Lake,the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Canada in the distance. There’s a boulder at the summit that’s highly Instagrammable and frequently used for photos.

Misty Fjords National Monument can only be reached by air or sea. Unless you have time to spend a night in the wilderness, the best way to see it is by a flightseeing trip from Ketchikan.

Hawaii is perhaps the best place in the world to see manta rays. You’ll cruise to the ideal spot to see the rays and hang onto a lighted float while the rays swim and swirl around you. A truly magical experience.

You shouldn’t visit NYC without catching a Broadway show. NYC is famous worldwide for its theatre scene and here you can catch a play or musical for every taste.

If you love sailing this is a great way to get out on the water. Most of the other whale watch trips are by power boat, which is fine for seeing whales but there’s something really relaxing about sailing and this boat spends their time under wind power.

Gettysburg was perhaps the most important (and is almost certainly the best-known) battle of the Civil War. The battlefield is beautiful, moving, and fascinating.

Half of the Hawaii you need to see is under the water. If you don’t get to see it you are missing out. There’s a lot of great options for where to go – some of our favorites are listed here.

In our opinion the Road to Hana is a must see. it is undeniably gorgeous. Waterfalls, jungle greenery, spectacular ocean vistas, and a view of “old Hawaii” await you. If you are not comfortable with driving winding roads, a variety of tour operators make the trip – a quick google search will give you a ton of options.

NYC’s Holiday Markets are charming and are nearly as enjoyable as those in Europe. If you’re in the US, here’s your chance to enjoy the holiday spirit with some Old World charm. Held in parks, city circles, and springing up at food markets around NYC, you can’t help but run into them. And we recommend you not only stumble upon one, you should seek them out.

This tram whisks you 1800 feet above Juneau to a series of trails and a retardant at the top. Great in days with good views. You can lie up aa well.

Located in beautiful Ouray surrounded by 13,000 foot snow capped mountains this hot springs complex is naturally heated with 5 pools varying in temperature between 76 and 104 Fahrenheit, There are soaking pools for the adults and water slides for the kids (or kids at heart). This is a laid back sort of place, in […]

Lahaina is Hawaii’s historic former capital and was the hub of whaling and missionary activity. It’s a great town to wander around on foot with real charm.

Pope beach is one of the most easily accessible and fun beaches in South Lake Tahoe. There’s always room and offers great swimming. It’s within walking distance of some bars and restaurants if you get hungry.

What used to be a train track running from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street was turned into a public park in 2009. It’s a beautiful 1.5 mile walk which gives you views of architecture throughout the city and is a great escape for a bit of nature, views over the Hudson River, and public art installations.

Nice hike through forest to great views. Generally uphill but not awful to the picnic table )on the giant’s chest. If you choose to proceed onto the giant’s face you’ll have great views but be very cautious as the ridge is narrow and can be slippery.

See the beautiful city of Savannah and learn about its history on a free walking tour. You’ll see the city’s beautiful squares and parks, you’ll learn about its historical buildings, and you’ll see the bench from Forrest Gump.

Whale watching trip near Juneau with added bonus of amazing bald eagle viewing

There are a lot of great trails in the Adirondacks – this one, very near the town of Lake Placid, climbs a small hill above Mirror Lake for great views and passes a lovely lake on the way back down. Only a little over a couple miles and 500 feet elevation gain it’s a great […]

Visit Haleakalā at night to avoid some of the crowds and check out the cosmos through the mountain’s famously clear air. Be sure to dress very warmly.

Just about an hour and a half from Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a great way to escape the bustle of the city for some natural beauty.

A whale watching trip is a great way to spend a few days during your time in Juneau. Trips vary in length, but we recommend spending least 2.5 hours on the water. You’re virtually guaranteed to see humpback whales and bald eagles.

This is long all day bus trip into the heart of the park. In Denali there are two ways to get in – there are shuttle busses between the various stops with no narration or nature spotting or this excursion where the goal is to see the park and wildlife. The bus is just a […]

This place is awfully hard to describe. In gist, it’s an immersive and interactive museum based in fantasy. You’ll be immersed in art installations, videos, music, and “extended reality” (yup, that’s from off their website). Part museum, part semi-escape room (think secret passages and portals to magical worlds) it’s an extremely unique not-to-miss experience.

This beautiful hike offers spectacular views of Hawaii’s northern coast. Start at Pololū Valley Lookout (see map below), and hike a quarter mile and about 300 feet down to the beach.

If you’re in San Francisco during baseball season, go see a Giants game! The team plays at AT&T Park, one of the most beautiful ballparks in the country nestled against the bay in China Basin.

Construction started on the Beaux Arts building in 1901 and finished on 1911, leaving NYC with a world-famous library. Guarded in the front by a duel pair of lions, Patience and Fortitude, it’s one of the city’s best free attractions. We recommend catching the free tour offered by the library every day which will walk you through the highlights of the library and explain its history on an hour long tour.

At the west end of the Kancanagmus Highway is Franconia Notch State Park. The “Notch” is a pass through the mountains – be aware that it can accumulate a lot of weather because of that. The most popular activity – and the iconic walk here – is to Flume Gorge, described as “The Flume is […]

Paniolo Adventures offers excellent horseback riding trips on the slopes of the beautiful Kohala Mountain on the northern tip of the island of Hawaii.

Spend a fantastic morning watching dolphins frolic and snorkel off the coast of the mostly uninhabited island of Lanaʻi.

Molokini is a small island visible from wets Maui. It has incredibly clear waters and thus is a destination for MANY snorkel trips. There are dozens of boats that can take you out there and we can’t really recommend one over the others, but grab the latest copy of Maui Revealed and make a selection.

The :iron way” is an Italian invention which allows non skilled rock climbers to travel some technical rock sections in relative safety using iron ladders and cables attached to the mountain. You have a regular climbing harness, equipment to attch, climbing helmet and appropriate she’s and off you go for a high altitude adventure. These […]

There are quite a few zippiness which have sprung up on Maui. We did this one and had a blast. It has the advantage of (besides being fun, beautiful, and the largest on the Island) being  5 minutes from your Napili bay condo.

This is the kind of gondola you ride up a mountain on. Grab it at Heavenly Ski resort and soar up the slopes. You’ll get panoramic views of Lake Tahoe at the top.

We’re going to call this an activity – this tour takes you through Santa Fe’s best specialty-crafted margaritas while you restaurant/bar hop through the city. It actually explores 45 of Santa Fe’s best margaritas (good luck with that). You can actually get a paper Passport or download the app (see link below) to learn about […]

A fun, family-friendly nighttime walking tour of Washington, D.C.’s historic and charming Georgetown neighborhood. Your guide will point some of the area’s historic buildings and tell you spooky stories about them.

Trail near Girdwood leads to hand trolley over a gorge

When in Alaska do as Alaskans do. Given the size and lack or roads in the state often to only practical way to get around in by air. There are more seaplanes per capita than anywhere in the world. We don’t normally include information on airplane transportation but in Southeast Alaska you may end up […]

Local Tlingit guide Lisa Edenshaw-Krieger offers tours of the town’s natural and human history. You’ll look for bears and eagles near Herring Cove, and visit the Totem Heritage Center and Totem Bight State Historical Park.

Just about a twenty minute drive from downtown Albuquerque, the Sandia Peak Tramway will take you to the top of Sandia Peak, which towers over the city at an elevation of about 10,300 feet. The views are incredible, and there are hiking trails up top as well.

Kayak up the Wailua river to secret falls. About 5 miles round trip (allow three hours) If you dot want to go as far you can canoe from closer

For a great introduction to this beautiful city, try the Best of Portland walking tour.

In the heart of Chelsea, this market turned a former factory into a shopping area and market hall that is a food-lover’s paradise. Fun to explore even without eating, this market hall houses a great variety of foods and goods and is very enjoyable to wander.

Minnewaska State Park in New York has a lovely lake and an easy walk to a nice waterfall. In the fall it’s the perfect leafy hike. It’s not exactly the Catskills (technically a slightly different mountain range – but we think close enough to give you the idea of the region). It’s also not far […]

Walk by many of the foreign embassies in Washington on a fun and interesting walking tour. Once known as Millionaires’ Row, many of the large homes along this stretch of Massachusetts Avenue have been converted into embassies.

This is one of the prettiest walks in San Francisco that begins at the Ocean Beach, winds past the historic Sutro Baths and offers sweeping and iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge – 3.4 miles in total.

Take an easy half-mile (paved) hike to a scenic viewpoint of Kuka‘emoku (ʻIao Needle), a formation that rises 1200 feet from the valley floor.

You can rent canoes here and paddle up to secret falls (about 10 minutes) Alternatively for a longer tour rent from Kayak Wailua for a longer (5 mile round trip) 3 hour tour

These are natural hot springs flowing into a pool where you can soak. There’s a cooler pool adjacent to cool off in. It’s set in a state park with a nice subalpine meadow and has camping and hiking trails as well

The High Falls Gorge is similar to the Flume Gorge trail but a lot shorter – a series of boardwalks above rising waterfalls. Perhaps the best part is the drive here goes under the face of Whiteface Mountain – the main ski area for Lake Placid and winds along a beautiful river.

This is a charming river view house on 10 acres that was home to author Washington Irving who was best known for the short stories Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The tour guides are dressed up in looks of the time. Irving designed the grounds himself with pretty garden paths and water vistas.

We found this to be an enjoyable way to learn about the “camps” of Lake Placid. For many many years very wealthy people have escaped in the summer to Lake Placid to their “camps” (local lingo for mansions with boat houses) for the three months during which they can be accessed by boat – there […]

This park offers numerous hiking trails and a campground, but the main attraction is Mount Battie. You can hike or drive to the summit, which offers an incredible panoramic view of Penobscot Bay.

This 40-room mansion was built by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. The mansion features works by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Alexander Calder. Don’t miss the cavernous Coach Barn, with its collection of classic cars and horse-drawn carriages.

Start at Silver Lake (about 40 miles south of Tahoe – near Kirkwood). Park at the Silver Lake dam, cross highway 88 and walk north along either side of the creek an easy 1/2 mile or so to a series of roman bath-like pools carved out of the granite and filled with water from the stream that flows down from Silver Lake.

This ice skating rink is set in the heart of Central Park and is a star player in numerous Hollywood movies. Located at 59th Street and 6th Avenue, it has spectacular views of the skyline of Manhattan.

This easy 1 1/4-mile walk boasts excellent views of Ogunquit’s dramatic shoreline. You’ll also see some of the beautiful hotels and homes along the city’s coast. It’s definitely worth taking the time to walk this path and take some photos of the waves crashing on the craggy shores.

Rombauer chardonnay is my (and many Californians) favorite. They have a very pretty tasting room off the Silverado Trail. Wind up the trail and to their tasting room. The views are lovely.

A fantastic place to snorkel on the Big Island is Kealakekua Bay, where the Captain Cook Monument stands. A snorkel cruise is one of the best ways to see it.

Kīholo Bay might be one of the most beautiful spots on the Big Island. An idyllic turquoise gem surrounded by white sand beaches frequented by green sea turtles with good snorkeling, it’s worth the trek.

After the great Seattle fire of 1889, Seattle rebuilt itself on top of the old town. The old town is still there and this 75 minute humorous tour explores it. Well worth your time spent, it’s a great and lesser known way to explore Seattle.

This is Key West’s prettiest and largest beach which runs along the southern shore of Key West for nearly 2 miles. The sand is brought in from the Bahamas, making it soft and fine. The water is calm and perfect for a swim or dip. The beach is clean, peaceful, and relaxing, and you can […]

In the morning, in good weather, take this boat tour along the gorgeous Na Pali coast. 4  hour trip with 45 minutes of snorkeling. check in at 6:45 AM for 7:30 departure from Hanalei bay Afternoon tour check in at noon but seas not as calm for snorkeling. Includes drinks, snacks, sandwich, snorkel gear

A pretty state park in Napa Valley with nice hiking trails.

The walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into or out of Manhattan is delightful at 1.3 miles long.

This picturesque spot about half an hour northeast of Portland boasts beautiful nature walks along an estuary and rocky coast. If you’re lucky, you might see Ospreys gliding above or nesting among the trees.

This 5.5 mile hike is one of the most quintessential hiking trails in the whole of Washington State. It circumnavigates the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park and offers amazing scenery.

Fort Taylor was built for defense during the American Civil War and the national historic monument remains, but so does the lovely beach it is set upon. If you love history, start by visiting the monument which houses the largest collection of Civil War military equipment in the world and learn about the fort’s role […]

This is an ideally situated condominium in Wailea. There’s a beach and snorkeling right outside the door. (Not inexpensive but nothing is in Wailea)

Seaside cottages on Orcas Island (one of the San Juan Islands). This was a really great place with cabins offering a large decks, killer sunsets, and private hot tub.

This is THE fanciest place on this end of the Island. It has everything you’d expect from a fancy resort (and prices to match). Used to be the St Regis

This gorgeous bed and breakfast just outside of town is our favorite place to stay in Ashland. The setting is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the owners are fantastic.

Our favorite place we stayed in Maine, Abigail’s Inn is a charming bed and breakfast in an historic (built 1849) building. It combines the history and glamour of its historic roots while adding modern amenities and avoiding the frumpy, dated look of so many historic B&Bs. Hosts Kent and Dave are welcoming and extremely friendly, and they’ll provide comfortable lodgings and an excellent breakfast for their guests.

This is a B&B from 1898 is in an amazing Victorian mansion and is a National Historic Landmark. It has beautiful rooms and sits on a bluff over Puget Sound. It’s a lovely place to stay in charming Port Townsend.

Condos directly adjacent to Napili Beach with very lovely grounds.

This beautiful hotel is located on the Port Ludlow Marina. It’s comfy and cozy (most rooms have working fireplaces and beautiful bathrooms), though the interior is a little dated.

These charming cabins are an excellent option for your stay on Orcas Island. Situated on a beautiful point overlooking the island’s West Sound, these cabins are quiet and peaceful. They include kitchens and outdoor grills (bring your own charcoal), as well as a hot tub and access to a private beach (with kayaks and stand-up paddle boards included).

Very nice hotel with beautiful pool/spa. Great wrap-around porch with view of Moab. Helpful, attentive staff.

This is a castle-like hotel in beautiful Cannon beach. It offers wonderful and comfortable rooms and a very good breakfast. It’s about 5 minutes south of town but a short walk to a lovely uncrowded beach.

Upscale lodging just outside the entrance to Yosemite near the Mariposa grove of giant sequoias. The downside? about 1h 20m from the visitor center in the valley

This is the only lodging in Glacier Bay National Park. There’s a series of nice rooms in the trees overlooking the water connected by boardwalks to the main lodge area.

This is the national park lodging at Mesa Verde National park. It’s located within the park and is very quiet and surrounded by views. The Metate restaurant at the hotel is excellent

This place seems to spread all over Lake Placid with several different areas. We chose the “Waterfront collection” room and it was right on the lake. The whole place has fabulous views.

Charming old craftsman house filled with period furniture in downtown Juneau across the street from the capital. There was quite a variation in room quality however – opt for one of the upstairs rooms or suites. Very good breakfast.

Cabins located in Forks Washington near the famous Hot Valley Rainforest trail. They are extremely nice cabins, large and well equipped.

This is the only lodging in Glacier Bay Park. There’s a series of nice rooms in the trees overlooking the water connected by boardwalks to the main lodge area. The lodge itself has a good dining room – which is good because there is no other dining option nearby. The lodge has a bus that […]

Stay in a hotel in the National register for historic places when you’re in Yosemite National Park. The Awahnee is not cheap but it really evokes the history of the park. It also offers a great dining room as well. Previous presidents and queens have stayed just here when they explored the valley. This books […]

Kauai is the most laid-back of the main islands, and this place really drops you into that vibe. There are 61 restored plantation cottages (where the sugar workers lived). Each cottage has a kitchen and private Lanai. It’s right on its own black sand beach, has a oceanfront pool.

Located about a five-minute drive from the Gettysburg visitor center and ten minutes from downtown Gettysburg, the Baladerry Inn is our favorite place to stay around Gettysburg.

We have not stayed here – YET, but every time we have been to Hanalei we have drooled over the possibility of staying in those gorgeous houses on the beach – well here they are. There are a whole variety of options.

This offers nice lodging at June Lake. Located about 15 minutes south of the Tioga Pass road to Yosemite, it can be a convenient area to stay if you’re exploring Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley.

A boutique hotel located on Bryant Park, which is a fantastic location. The rooms are well-sized by NYC standards, modern in decoration, and many offer wonderful views of the park. It offers all of modern conveniences as well as a gym. The Koi Restaurant, offering Asian-fusion cuisine is attached.

Located in a convenient downtown Anchorage spot, this bed and breakfast has extremely comfy beds, a tasty and healthy breakfast, and a great view. It also offers free onsite parking, which isn’t always a given in Anchorage.

A charming boutique this is not, but we think this Marriott property is a great option to stay in Portland. It’s clean and comfortable and has a nice bar with a surprisingly good happy hour. Most importantly for us, it’s in an excellent location and offers reasonable rates.

About a ten minuted drive north of central Ketchikan, the Black Bear in is a beautiful and comfortable place to stay.

This beautiful hotel in downtown Mobile offers spacious, comfortable guest rooms. It has a very good fitness center and offers a full-service spa. One of the onsite restaurants, the Trellis Room, is consistently rated one of the better restaurants in Mobile.

Delightful place to stay in Springdale just outside the Zion entrance. Nice gardens and comfortable rooms

A beautiful hotel on the slopes of Mt. Hood, Timberline Lodge is perfectly placed for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The rooms are a little dated, and it can definitely be overpriced, but the views are unbeatable and the restaurant is good.

This is a lovely inn in Bethlehem not far from Franconia Notch in central New Hampshire. The associated restaurant is very good. There are a few acres of woods right on the property with trails and a fire pit area.

Lodging right on Napili Bay. It’s pricier than some of our other listed options but is in an awesome location.

This was actually designates as one of the “Great Lodges of the West” and if you can manage a reservation, you should absolutely stay here. Book far in advance. It’s located right on Mount Ranier, has a great restaurant, and tons of hiking right outside. Of note, there is no internet.

Nice condos right on a beach. If you want remote you have come to the right place – it is the only lodging PAST Hanalei Bay. Right on the beach (but the beach cis usually  too rough to swim)

This hotel, part of the Marriott chain is located in midtown near Grand Central Station and the 51st Street subway. The rooms are small but nice, offering all modern amenities including a gym and TV with streaming apps provided. The Stayton Room is a lively attached bar offering nice cocktails and food. A Starbucks is […]

If you want to stay in a refurbished Victorian house from the turn of the century with the charm of a B&B this place is probably right for you. The breakfast is phenomenal. The only downside about this B&B is that it’s further from downtown and you can’t walk.

Lodge on a bluff above Ketchikan. Great views and good restuaraunt. There is a funicular down to main part of town (not running when we were there).

Friendly staff and nice facilities. They offer different types of rooms: basic rooms with king beds, and suites with bedrooms and common rooms (with pullout sofas in the common room).

This lodge was built of native stone and timber in 1928, burned down, and was rebuilt in 1936 and has been operating ever since. You can stay in the lodge or one of many cabins. OK so not fancy – but the setting is great and you are in fact getting a cabin to stay […]

Nothing special (sort of standard motel) but great location within walking distance to Yosemite falls Often fills far in advance

Once an early 1900’s gentleman club, this hotel oozes old world style and charm. It’s housed in a downtown building known for its carved walrus heads and was also once the location of an association for the 1897 Klondike goldrush. It’s wood paneling shouldn’t make you assume it doesn’t offer all the modern day amenities […]

This hotel on Bryant Park (excellent location) offers bright, airy rooms and a hotel with all modern conveniences. Guestrooms have a TV with netflix streaming, a Nespresso machine, and many rooms offer great views of Bryant Park. It has a rooftop lounge offering cocktails and a breakfast bar and gym with a sauna.

This inn offers fantastic views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains and is just steps from Pike Place market. It’s a nice boutique hotel in downtown Seattle with a 5th floor deck offering more views of Puget Sound.

Nice cabins very bear Seward (on the road up to exit Glacier. There are kitchens in the rooms and a nice garden with fire-pits.

There are a lot of places to stay in Vegas – generally all are associated with big casinos and in some ways are pretty interchangeable. We ike this one for the lazy river pool – hey of you’re in the desert night as well have a nice pool

This is a modern hotel near the river and downtown Portland. It’s right on a streetcar line to downtown making it a convenient place to stay. While we don’t tend to love big name hotels, the location and price make this a decent option.

This is a nice, more budget friendly option in Portland. Housed in a building which dates from the 1881, its a restored budget boutique hotel in downtown Portland with easy access to walking to all major sites.

The Hyatt is located right downtown. It’s standardly nice but a bit generic. A good deal if you have Hyatt points.

This boutique hotel in downtown Seattle offers up a Scandinavian vibe. It’s within walking distance of famous downtown Seattle sites like Pike Place Market and the waterfront. I

There are 69 tent cabins in the Tuolumne Meadows area. They book up far in advance, so plan accordingly. There is no electricity in the tents. The showers and restrooms are in the center of camp.

This place is awesome. Both elegant and funky, it’s a great option in downtown Portland in easy walking distance of what you’ll want to do. The attached restaurant, Clyde Common, offers locally sourced food.

Sort of like camping without bringing all the gear you can stay in a tent cabin in Curry village. These may be easiest to book if the lodging options are full

Excellent lodging in downtown Burlington, describing itself as “country-contemporary”. It offers locally sourced products and local food.

The oldest inn in America – the list of guests is really pretty amazing. Definitely atmospheric although we found the standard room in the Inn to be just so – so. The related Delamater Inn was designed by the same fellow who designed Lyndhurst and is probably a better choice for rooms.

The only place to stay inside Zion National Park. Both cabins and hotel rooms are available. In season staying here is the only way to be able to drive into the park (all others must use the shuttle system). There are more dining options in Springdale but you can drive there easily enough.

We can’t comment on any of these, as we’ve not stayed here. But we will the next time we drive the Hana Highway.

If you’re staying in Death Valley this is the only place you should consider and is well-worth the splurge. A WPA project, Old Hollywood used to escape from Los Angeles to this getaway out in the desert. You’ll still find a gorgeous fern-tiled pool, decent restaurant, and beautiful sunset views. Do not waste your time […]

Literally a castle on a hill overlooking the Hudson.