1 ALASKA
▸ SEE: Aurora Borealis — also known as the northern lights — is most visible in the interior and arctic regions of Alaska between August and April, and there are plenty of tours and opportunities to take it in. Fairbanks is considered one of the best places for viewing.
▸ DO: Alaska Native Heritage Center is a village of interactive, history-rich sites surrounding Lake Tiulana, brimming with opportunities to learn and experience the lifeways and cultural traditions of Alaska’s Indigenous groups. alaskanative.net.
▸ EAT: Fresh seafood, wild game, and foraged veggies are on the menu at Seven Glaciers, the well-loved dining destination atop Mt. Alyeska. It’s located inside Alyeska Resort, another solid stay option 40 miles south of Anchorage.
▸ STAY: Whether you get there by train, car, or coach, the Grand Denali Lodge (denalialaska.com/grande-denali-lodge) on Sugarloaf Mountain can be a luxurious home base from which Denali National Park bus tours, flightseeing trips, ATV rides, water adventures, covered wagon expeditions, and fly-fishing sessions are launched.
▸ DAY TRIP: While you can’t go wrong taking deep dives into National Parks such as Lake Clark (nps.gov/lacl/), you can also board a boat for one of the state’s many glacier and wildlife day cruises. Find out more at travelalaska.com.
Ricko DeWilde:
I don’t belong in Alaska. I belong to Alaska. I don’t own land in Alaska. Alaska owns me. I’d be lost if I moved away.”
2 ARIZONA
▸ SEE: The Canyon de Chelly National Monument combines stunning cinema-ready overlook views and chances to take deeper tours led by authorized Navajo guides. Something to keep in mind on any visit: A community of Navajo people still lives and thrives in Canyon de Chelly.
▸ DO: Get adventurous in Lake Havasu — a beautiful haven for all manner of activities from cycling and off-roading to fishing and watersports. The hikes and the golf courses are abundant for the more relaxed among us.
▸ EAT: Inspired by the cuisines of Spain, France, and Italy, the fine-dining options at Cress on Oak Creek are enjoyed against a natural woodsy creek backdrop. And the restaurant itself is part of a luxury wellness resort, L’Auberge de Sedona, at which one can reset for days in a comfortable lodge room or a creekside cabin. www.lauberge.com
▸ STAY: In addition to rest-and-relax options (L’Auberge, Boynton Canyon’s Enchantment Resort), one can get even closer to nature thanks to Grand Canyon lodging options that run the gamut. grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging/.
▸ DAY TRIP: You don’t have to be obsessed with the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral to enjoy a day in Tombstone — but it certainly helps. The historic town’s Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park should be a good starting point for explorers. azstateparks.com/tombstone.
3 CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN
▸ SEE: The scenic drives and stops are the thing, whether you’re peering at the tall trees of the Redwood National and State Parks (nps.gov/redw/) or camping out in the Mendocino National Forest (fs.usda.gov/Mendocino).
▸ DO: One can cross it in a variety of ways, or simply marvel from one of the overlooks, but the Golden Gate Bridge is a must in San Francisco.
▸ EAT: Go gourmet in Sonoma County at one of its finest restaurants, Folktable, which serves up delectable dishes for carnivores, vegans, and vegetarians with ingredients sourced from neighboring farms. And for dessert? Sips from all the other nearby wineries, of course. folktable.com
▸ : The best way to do is to have a place close by to rest your head. One of the best in the area is , with options ranging from a simple, classic room to a private maison.. Back in the City by the Bay, offers a front-row view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
