Whether your particular brand of adventure involves walking, biking, kayaking, rafting, sailing, or just kicking back and discovering an emerging destination, these 10 new trips will leave you feeling like a real explorer.... view gallery»

The world's most popular tourist attractions have a gravity all their own, pulling millions into their orbits each year. Here are some of the standouts, from the world's most popular public park to the theme park that beats all others.... view gallery»

No disrespect to gorgeous beaches with powdery white sand, but sometimes the standard-issue paradise starts to feel, well, bland. It's time to set off for shores with strange hues of sand, alarmingly low-flying aircraft, and hot pools you can dig yourself.... view gallery»

Forget nightclubs—instead, check out these after-dark hot spots delivering firefly spectaculars, midnight snacks, and stellar light shows.... view gallery»

When lightning strikes, blizzards blow, and fist-size hail balls rain from the skies, there are certain gateways where flyers should proceed with caution. See which hubs made our list of stormy, snowy, delay-prone airports.... view gallery»

Once the warm glow of the holidays fades, January can get downright depressing. Here's the remedy for the lingering chill: Ten drive-to U.S. destinations that heat up your winter weekend without wrecking your 2012 budget resolution.... view gallery»

If you think a frozen hotel and warm night's sleep are polar opposites, think again. From snowy pockets in eastern Canada to the mountains of Romania, here are the world's best ice hotels and igloo villages.... view gallery»

Now that we've left 2011 in the dust, it's time to look ahead to what's going to be hot in 2012—and darned if two blasts from the past aren't among the more interesting developments expected in the coming months.... view gallery»

Just 90 miles from Key West, Cuba has been forbidden fruit for most Americans since the 1960s. But travel restrictions were eased somewhat in 2011, and visiting Cuba is much easier than you think.... view gallery»

Through your eyes, we saw a world of infinite adventure, of cliff divers, camel caravans, and fiery sunsets. The competition was fierce, but this year's crop of winning photos dazzled the judges by elegantly capturing the rare glimpses of life that travel affords. ... view gallery»

Pictures are worth a thousand words, and that's especially true for travel photos. They evoke places near and far, are utterly addictive to look at, and can tell a story all by themselves. Here are some visually stunning examples from 2011.... view gallery»

The prophecies and speculations about what might happen on the last day of a 5,125-year-long cycle in the Maya calendar are, well, endless. For you planners and you naysayers, we've compiled a list of the top 10 destinations to witness the event (or nonevent).... view gallery»

When the winter doldrums start to set in, nothing jump-starts your adrenaline like a frozen T-shirt contest, a snow bath, or an outhouse race in a blizzard. We give you 10 over-the-top winter festivals in North America and frozen tundras abroad.... view gallery»

Volcanoes may arouse a sense of peril, but they also inspire awe. Whether you're the adventurous type or not, here are 10 volcano destinations that have made headlines this year—from the famed Ring of Fire to the Land of Fire and Ice.... view gallery»

From a country that's looking to host the world in 2012 to a region celebrating the end of the world as we know it, these hot spots are worth a look when planning your travel adventures in the new year.... view gallery»