Attracting about 1 million annual visitors, Badlands National Park might not be the country’s most popular national park, but it’s definitely one of its most awe-inspiring. Encompassing 244,000 acres, the park is home to bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and badgers. It’s also home to one of the world’s richest fossil beds, and it’s working to become an International Dark Sky Park, of which there are only 89 in the United States.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center in the park’s North Unit is a good stop before driving the famous 30-mile Badlands Loop; the loop has 16 lookout spots, otherworldly rock formations, and the aforementioned wildlife. If you want to explore on foot, there are eight official hikes, but the 1½-mile round-trip Notch Trail is probably the most popular, even though it’s on the strenuous side.

Rapid City, just under an hour from the park, is a great base for exploring. The city has experienced a culinary explosion of late with almost every type of cuisine, from worldwide inspirations (Tandoor Bocado) to Mexican flavors (Ma Cualli), good coffee (Grounded Coffee Co.), and a delicious bakery (The Sour). When you’re not eating, check out the 88-year-old Dinosaur Park, which overlooks the City of Presidents. When going to or from Rapid City, be sure to stop at the infamous Wall Drug; it’s one of those places you just have to see for yourself.

The park’s only lodging options are the rustic cabins and campground at Cedar Pass Lodge. If you’re looking for a hotel, it’s best to base yourself in Rapid City. From the DoubleTree by Hilton Rapid City Downtown Convention Center, it’s a seven-minute walk into downtown. The hotel has a pool and complimentary breakfast. If historic properties are more your speed, the Hotel Alex Johnson (built in 1928) is just steps from the town’s Main Street.

What do you get when the fourth most diverse city in the United States meets one of the nation’s largest concentrations of cultural institutions and a thriving urban cowboy culture? Houston, Texas! Each of its multiple monikers—Bayou City, Space City, Clutch City, the Energy Capital of the World—reflects a unique facet of Houston’s indelible history, multiculturalism, and must-see attractions, making it a city unlike any other.

Houston is a foodie destination, and Sunday Funday has evolved into a culture all its own. Brunch lovers can flock to Citycentre for lively patios, The Heights for cozy, local eateries, and Montrose for its eclectic dining scene. EaDo offers craft brews and bites, while the River Oaks and Galleria areas deliver upscale brunch experiences. These Houston hotspots aren’t reserved just for Sunday Funday; you can indulge in the city’s gastronomy scene any day of the week.

If your palate craves a feast of the arts, Houston’s Museum District, featuring 21 museums, is a treasure trove. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike and bike the trails of Buffalo Bayou Park—kayaks and canoes are also available to rent. History and aerospace lovers would be remiss not to visit NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Houston has seven professional major league teams, so sports-loving visitors have options galore, no matter the season.

The luxurious Post Oak Hotel, a newly minted Michelin-Key property, is perfectly positioned in the Galleria shopping district. Wanderstay, a themed, 10-room boutique hotel, is conveniently located in the eclectic East End Downtown area and within steps of restaurants, bars, and sporting venues.

We all have a friend who hates Vegas. The one who can’t stand the chaos of it all–it feels overwhelming and exhausting, especially if they’re not a gambler. Maybe you feel that way about Vegas, too. Or maybe you went to a “What Happens in Vegas…” bachelorette party years ago and swore it off. Whatever you may think or feel about Vegas, we’re here to tell you that it’s time to roll the dice and get in the game. Embrace the chaos, the heat, the lady with a newborn on her lap playing slots. Drink a devilish amount at an ungodly hour. Treat yourself to truffle fries while getting a caviar pedicure. Join the mile-high club in style (and legally.) Do all the weird and wonderful things that Vegas promises with abandon and sans shame. You’re in Vegas, baby!

Beyond the obvious debauchery, Las Vegas has something for everyone. Families can unleash their kids upon Area 15 for the Meow Wolf Omega Mart experience or tire out tykes at Electric Playground at the Forum Shops at Caesars. Sinners and saints alike can enjoy hidden speakeasies and wild dining experiences or high-profile residencies like Adele and Shania Twain. Foodie heaven awaits not just at fine dining favorites like the iconic Golden Steer and Mott 32 in the Venetian but also in the city’s vast culinary diasporas like Hawaiian on the mainland and dumpling heaven at Xiao Long. We’ve written about the outdoor adventures awaiting you just outside the city, and off-strip is quickly becoming the new way to stay and play. Explore every corner, and don’t be afraid to try something new.

Believe the hype surrounding strip newbie Fountainebleu Las Vegas; its ultra-glam decor and OTT, sublimely scrumptious dining options truly recall the Vegas of Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. For an equally swanky and budget-friendly option, off-strip Durango Casino & Resort is truly an oasis in the middle of the desert (and haven’t you heard, off-strip is the new Vegas, baby).

A cozy country-western escape just 40 minutes outside Santa Barbara in SoCal’s Santa Ynez Valley, this city and its surrounding towns are brimming with charm and oh-so-fine grapes on the vine. Thirty years ago, a drive through Los Olivos off Highway 154 might’ve been marked by images of literal tumbleweeds and old olive trees, but now it’s a stylish yet laid-back retreat with over 20 wineries and tasting rooms in a mere six-block radius (Carhartt Family Wines is a new favorite). The best way to explore? Start wandering! You’ll likely stumble (quite literally) into a snug stagecoach-like winery. One would wonder if they were in California and not Colorado—that is, until you spy a Goldendoodle with better hair than you.  

Drive slightly out of the town center for heralded and celebrated estates like Fess Parker, which offers stays at their gorgeous ranch property where you can wine and dine or take a scenic horseback ride through the estate. But don’t miss out on new-school and vibrant estates like Stolpman, Brave & Maiden, and women-owned Dreamcôte. There’s plenty to build a day of tasting around, whether it’s a carb-y start to your morning at beloved Bob’s Well Bread or Little King Coffee for a breakfast sandwich. Many of the wineries and tasting rooms in the area offer low-key activities like yoga and live music. But really, you’re in Los Olivos to relax, drink, eat, and repeat. Other must-visits include seafood-focused Bar Le Côte and the trendy French-focused Bell’s Los Alamos. But you can’t go wrong with an afternoon playing board games with friends on the sprawling Bodega patio. “Should we just split a bottle?” someone will ask. The answer is always yes.

The Inn at Matteis Tavern is a bespoke and breathtaking property. Don’t miss out on drinks in front of the inviting fireplace at The Bar, even if you don’t stay on-site. Or save your pennies for another wine tasting and pack your bags for the lovely Hotel Ynez, a revamped luxe motel outfitted with firepits and beautiful outdoor space.

Along Lake Michigan’s shoreline and Grand Traverse Bay, in the state’s Northern Lower Peninsula, you’ll find Norman Rockwell-esque Main Streets and a skyline sprinkled with sailboats. There are no vehicle bans, like on Mackinac Island, and most hotels and attractions are open year-round. Feel the salt-free air cool your skin as you curl around the coastline… in your own car. Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state, including one here where you can spend the night: the 1870 Mission Point Lighthouse atop Old Mission Peninsula.

As travelers become more focused on areas sheltered from wildfires and hurricanes, these four freshwater towns—Traverse City, Glen Arbor, Leland, and Torch Lake—are rising in popularity. Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City (the largest of the four towns, with 15,678 people, and the world’s largest tart-cherry producer) offers 20 non-stop flights within the U.S. and an airport lounge reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie-style design. From lazy summer afternoons at the beach to gold and red autumn leaves in fall and cross-country skiing through vineyards come winter, locals feel like they’re on vacation every day. The recent crop of celebs moving here or reclaiming family roots includes Pete Buttigieg, Michael Moore, Amy Smart, and Carter Oosterhouse (they own Bonobo Winery in Traverse City).

Two American Viticultural Areas (Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula) continue to woo sommeliers and wine-country trippers—and their tasting rooms beckon, some with water views. After all, there’s no better reward than a glass of wine after you finish the breathtaking (and strenuous) vertical dune hike at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Sleeping Bear Inn, an eight-room 19th-century B&B in Glen Haven’s Historic District, right on the Lake Michigan shoreline, just wrapped its first summer post-restoration. For modern conveniences—including a hot yoga studio and buzzy restaurant—stay at Delmar Traverse City, a 15-minute walk from downtown.