Taryn Shorr-Mckee

The topic of travel insurance can be overwhelming – and, frankly, unpleasant. Options abound, as does fine print – and the best choice isn’t always the most obvious one, but rather depends on your personal needs.
But there’s good news: once you know just what you want covered, navigating the process gets much simpler.

US national parks are known for stunning, mind-bogglingly diverse landscapes, and fall reveals a quieter, shier side. As summer crowds fade and cooler weather sets in, vibrant foliage transforms forests and mountains, wildlife becomes more active, and brisk pine-scented air encourages cozy campfires and serene hikes.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, almost to the day, passenger trains will once again travel the Gulf Coast between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans.
On August 18, Amtrak’s Mardi Gras service launches twice-daily departures between the two cities, with stops in four Coastal Mississippi communities: Bay Saint Louis, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Pascagoula. Despite the name, the service is available year-round (not just during carnival season).

For three days, we saw maybe three other people, one of whom was a park ranger. There were no planes overhead, no vehicles on the road, and no chatter from nearby campsites. It truly felt like just us and the wilderness, and was startling at first. Though my husband and I are both avid hikers and campers, after a lifetime of background noise, the silence felt almost loud, demanding our attention at all times.
As it turns out, this level of true quiet is rare in the United States.

With its spectacular granite monoliths, plunging waterfalls and glacier-carved valleys, Yosemite National Park delivers the kind of epic scenery and adventure that sticks with you long after your trip ends. Most visitors arrive expecting to see the icons: Half Dome, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls. And while they absolutely deliver, what surprises many is how much variety lies beyond the postcard views of Yosemite Valley.

Craggy headlands, foamy waves crashing against sea stacks, wildflowers blowing in the wind, fog that’s simultaneously eerie and beautiful – you’ve almost certainly seen Mendocino’s coastline. It’s one of the most iconic (and most photographed) stretches of California. Yet the county somehow flies under the radar. About three hours north of San Francisco, Mendocino feels untamed and quiet compared to California’s more famous, more buttoned-up wine and beach towns.

Whether it’s cowboy hats and bootcut jeans showing up everywhere from runways to NYC streets or Stagecoach crowds rivaling Coachella’s, one thing’s clear: cowboy core isn’t over. It’s evolving. Growing, even. And the best way to experience it isn’t by scrolling TikTok or line dancing at a country bar. To really immerse yourself in the movement, spend time in small towns across the American West. Places where rodeo is a way of life and horses are still a primary mode of transportation.

Nothing says summer like lazily drifting down a river with just a few days’ worth of gear stashed in dry bags and the sound of gently lapping water. But if you didn’t grow up paddling local streams or if your only frame of reference is splashy, adrenaline-packed whitewater rafting, this world might sound completely foreign.

Even if you’ve never visited New England, there’s a good chance you know lobster rolls are synonymous with summer in Maine. Up and down the coast, they’re as familiar and beloved as lighthouses – best enjoyed outside near the water, the salty breeze an essential part of the experience. Maine’s famously cold, clean and tightly regulated waters produce what’s widely considered the best lobster in the world, notably sweet and tender.

The Finger Lakes is one of those places that people mean to visit. But tucked deep into the heart of central New York and surrounded by farmland, the area is often overshadowed – by the Great Lakes to the north, the Hudson Valley closer to New York City and even Niagara Falls with its flashy cascade. That makes discovering the Finger Lakes all the more special.

When you think of a classic cabin escape, a few destinations probably come to mind: upstate New York, the Great Smoky Mountains, Big Bear, just about anywhere in Colorado or Maine – or heck, nearly all of New England. Those places are rightfully popular; they’re fantastic. But if you’re craving tranquility, somewhere a bit more remote, less crowded and, often, easier on your wallet, it’s time to look beyond the usual suspects.

The first time I visited Branson, Missouri (many years before my family moved to nearby Springfield), I expected flashing lights, dinner shows, and theme park-style attractions—and sure, they’re all part of the scene. But what surprised me was how much this town of just 13,000 leans into its Ozarks heritage. You can have scenic adventures on Table Rock Lake, hike along winding mountain paths, or support small businesses run by people who love their hometown. Branson gracefully balances kitsch...

Once a hub of meatpacking and industrial warehouses, the West Loop has transformed at a dizzying speed over the past 15 years into one of Chicago’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Today, tech giants like Google and LinkedIn occupy formerly dilapidated buildings alongside Michelin-starred restaurants and trendy rooftop bars.

It’s easy to see how San Diego's La Jolla translates to "the Jewel." Here, in the northern end of the Southern California city, rugged coastline meets upscale boutiques, breezy cafes and some of San Diego’s most celebrated dining – all accompanied by legendary surf breaks and resident seals and sea lions sunbathing year-round.

Stretching between Bozeman and the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park is aptly-named Paradise Valley, where the jagged Absaroka and Crazy mountains tower above vast ranches and the wild Yellowstone River. Here lies Livingston, Montana, the kind of place that even the most avid travelers return to again and again. A former stagecoach stop turned railroad boomtown, it still hums with its old frontier spirit. But these days, alongside Western grit, you’ll find art galleries, excellent f...