national geographic 2023 travel list

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCES ‘BEST OF THE WORLD 2023’ LIST, UNVEILS 25 EXTRAORDINARY PLACES AND COMMUNITIES TO INSPIRE YOUR NEXT TRIP

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WASHINGTON (Oct. 26, 2022) – As travel continues to make a roaring return in 2022, National Geographic today unveils its annual list of the 25 inspiring destinations for the renewed travel landscape to help individuals get a jump on planning for the year ahead.

For 2023, Nat Geo’s “ Best of the World ” is themed around travel destinations and experiences that leverage the benefits of tourism to strengthen their local communities and environments, both natural and built.

Nat Geo’s “Best of the World” list for the year ahead celebrates destinations and travel experiences that illuminate our beautiful world and the diversity of communities and people within it, grouped by category: Family, Adventure, Culture, Nature.

New this year, however, is a Community category, designed to be inclusive of healing and heritage journeys, community-led conservation efforts, ways for travelers to give back, and locations doing groundbreaking work in eco-tourism, sustainability and inclusive travel. The goal is to spotlight destinations where people make places better for locals, the environment and visitors, and to showcase homegrown, rooted, locally relevant and engaged places to visit.

In total, the 2023 list honors educational journeys for all generations ( Family ); exciting activities in breathtaking places ( Adventure ); explorations of history and heritage ( Culture ); escapes to wild, beautiful places ( Nature ); and healing journeys, community conservation, giving back, sustainable places and more ( Community ).

“We have experienced so many changes and disruptions in the way we explore over the last few years, so with this year’s list, we really wanted to get back to identifying positive stories about destinations and communities,” said Amy Alipio, senior editor at National Geographic Travel. “With our team of travel experts and editors, we took a deeper dive into places all over the globe that are providing experiences that are unique and beneficial for both locals and travelers: locations where visitors ultimately sustain and support—not damage—the destination’s environment and community. We also worked hard to provide lesser-known gems on the list, equally inspiring alternatives to destinations that have become overcrowded (think Choquequirao vs. Machu Picchu in Peru).”

“Best of the World’ is Nat Geo’s annual love letter to the most incredible places in the world, both near and far,” said Nathan Lump, National Geographic’s Editor-in-Chief. “We couldn’t be prouder to shine a light on these 25 extraordinary places that most inspired us this year, and which we know will define travelers’ itineraries for years to come. From craft breweries and Asia’s top film festival in Busan, South Korea, to women-led Indigenous tourism in Alberta, Canada, and the densest leatherback turtle nesting ground in the world in Trinidad and Tobago, this year’s list reminds us that there is still so much out there to explore and experience.”  

The list was created, researched, reported and written in collaboration with National Geographic Traveler ’s international editorial teams, which serve millions of readers through their magazines and websites in more than a dozen offices around the world.

The “Best of the World 2023” list is available online now at NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld , where readers will be transported to each destination through spectacular photography and reporting.

National Geographic’s “Best of the World 2023” list:

Culture Appian Way, Italy Busan, South Korea Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China Egypt Charleston, South Carolina

Nature Scottish Highlands Botswana Slovenia Big Bend National Park, Texas Azores

Adventure  New Zealand Choquequirao, Peru Utah Austrian Alps Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico 

Community Dodecanese Islands, Greece Milwaukee, Wisconsin Alberta, Canada Laos Ghana

Family Trinidad and Tobago San Francisco, California Colombia Manchester, UK Switzerland

About National Geographic Media: Nat Geo Media is a worldwide digital, social and print publisher, operating in over 170 countries, with several print and digital products and over a half billion followers on social media. We inspire curious fans of all ages through bold and innovative storytelling about people, places and projects that shape our world, and enable our fans to connect, explore, engage with and care about the world. For more information, visit  nationalgeographic.com , find us on the National Geographic app or visit us on  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  YouTube ,  LinkedIn ,   Pinterest  and  TikTok .

Media Contacts: Caitlin Holbrook, [email protected] , (716) 225-0502 Anna Kukelhaus, [email protected] , (202) 258-8020 Janean Ruttner, [email protected] , (909) 677-8989 Natalia Colon, [email protected] , (407) 484-1026

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National Geographic has unveiled its annual list of the 25 inspiring destinations for 2023. Nat Geo’s “Best of the World,” is themed around five categories: Family, Adventure, Culture, Nature, and new this year, Community.

“We have experienced so many changes and disruptions in the way we explore over the last few years, so with this year’s list, we really wanted to get back to identifying positive stories about destinations and communities,” said Amy Alipio, senior editor at National Geographic Travel. 

“With our team of travel experts and editors, we took a deeper dive into places all over the globe that are providing experiences that are unique and beneficial for both locals and travelers: locations where visitors ultimately sustain and support — not damage — the destination’s environment and community. We also worked hard to provide lesser-known gems on the list, equally inspiring alternatives to destinations that have become overcrowded (think Choquequirao vs. Machu Picchu in Peru).”

Here is National Geographic’s “ Best of the World ” list for 2023.

These five destinations were chosen because Nat Geo says they allow you to immerse yourself in history and heritage.

• Appian Way, Italy: Rome’s “Gateway to the East” is known as Europe’s ancient “superhighway.” It was selected for its ability to take you on a trip through history. 
• Busan, South Korea: As the nation’s second largest city, it’s known for its beaches, mountains, and temples.
• Charleston, South Carolina : With its cobblestone streets and Low Country Cuisine, this city allows you to explore culture and history.
• Egypt: Home to King Tut’s new home at Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum and Luxor’s Avenue of the Sphinxes, this country that links northeast Africa to the Middle East dates back to the time of the pharaohs.
• Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China: This is one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties, made up of 2,300 caves, almost 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, and more.

Described by Nat Geo as “wildly underrated,” these five destinations will spark a new appreciation for our planet.

• Scottish Highlands : This mountain region in northwest Scotland has incredible scenery and is praised for its movement to restore the original landscape.
• Botswana : Located in Southern Africa, this landlocked country is home to several notable animal species like giraffes, cheetahs, and hyenas and is selected for its programs to rehabilitate the species that are endangered.
• Slovenia : This central European country is known for its mountains, ski resorts, and lakes and was selected for this category for being a longtime leader in sustainable tourism.
• Big Bend National Park : This park located in southern Texas was chosen because of its surprising landscape.
• Azores : This is an island region in Portugal known for nature and sustainability, which is why it was selected.

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These five destinations are chosen by Nat Geo because they’re for those looking for adrenaline-pumping adventure.

• New Zealand : If you’re looking for a post-pandemic adrenaline rush, you’ll be interested in this country known for adventure; after all, it did invent bungee jumping.
• Choquequirao, Peru : This Incan site in southern Peru may not be well-known, but it will remind you of the architecture of Machu Picchu.
• Utah : This landlocked state out west may be known for skiing, but was chosen for this category for the adrenaline rush you can get from the less visited parts.
• Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico : Known as the “Galápagos of Mexico,” was selected because it holds one of the largest aggregations of sharks and manta rays in the world and is an iconic dive destination.
• Austria : Located in the southern part of Central Europe, it’s known for castles and palaces, but is becoming more popular for cross-country hikes to sample local culture.

Chosen for being forward-thinking, these five destinations were selected by Nat Geo because they offer opportunities for meaningful travel.

• Dodecanese Islands, Greece: This is a group of 15 large and 150 small Greek Islands, chosen for this category because there are women-led ventures and sustainable tourism.
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin : This Great Lakes city is known for its celebration of breweries but was selected because it is becoming known for how it celebrates its culture.
• Alberta, Canada : This is home to Banff National Park and iconic Lake Louise. The traditional countryside and contemporary perspectives come together here.
• Laos : Located in southeast Asia, French colonial architecture, hill tribe settlements, and Buddhist monasteries come together here. Chosen for this category because of a new high-speed train that makes lesser-known regions more accessible to tourists and locals.
• Ghana: This country in West Africa is becoming known for its fashion-forward capital, Accra.

Chosen to “inspire the whole family in 2023,” these five destinations are family trips that Nat Geo says will help educate and illuminate.

• Trinidad and Tobago: As the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, it’s known for beaches and nature. Because of that, it was chosen for its work saving turtles at one of the most important leatherback turtle rookeries in the world.
• San Francisco, California : You’re probably thinking of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and steep streets, but it was chosen for other activities like Presidio Tunnel campfires and hiking the Crosstown Trail.
• Colombia : Disney’s Encanto brought this country to a whole new audience. Enjoy the story while also birdwatching in this “avian paradise” of South America.
• Manchester, England: With a rich industrial heritage, this city mixes history with sports as it’s home to Manchester United.
• Switzerland : Take a train ride through this country famous for the Alps and chocolate. Take in hiking and skiing as you visit its quaint towns.

To read other articles about where to travel, check out: 

• 12 Under-The-Radar Tour Destinations For 2023, According To Experts
• 17 Most Popular Tour Destinations To Visit In 2023, According To Experts
• 4 Places You Should Travel As Soon As You Retire

Allison spent almost 20 years of her career as a TV news anchor. She’s covered everything from political conventions to Super Bowl LV to hurricanes and, most recently, the pandemic. She is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist. She's been recognized for her work nationally and regionally by organizations including the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists.

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This is where you should travel in 2023, according to National Geographic

From the American Great Lakes to swimming with sharks in Mexico, here’s some travel inspo for the next 12 months

It’s never too early to get thinking about next year’s big trip. But where should you go? Well, venerable mag  National Geographic has revealed its ‘Best of the World’ list for 2023, offering a few pointers as to the travel experiences that should be on your radar over the next 12 months or so.

This year’s Nat Geo list is split into five categories, with each one containing five experiences. Here’s the lowdown.

• Take a women-led sustainable tour in the Dodecanese Islands in Greece .
• Spend a long weekend on the Great Lakes in Milwaukee , USA .
• Try out indigenous outfitters in Alberta , Canada .
• Go on a new high-speed train in Laos .
• Explore Black heritage in Ghana .
• Explore the biodiversity of Botswana .
• Witness rewilding in the Scottish Highlands .
• Go on a foodie biking tour of  Slovenia .
• Visit Big Bend National Park in Texas , USA.
• Take part in sustainability programs in the Azores .
• Head to Egypt to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
• Watch films and down craft beers in Busan , South Korea .
• Take a pilgrimage to the Appian Way in Italy .
• Visit the International African American Museum in Charleston , USA.
• See the Longmen Grottoes’ stone statues in Hunan , China .
• Go on an Alpine rail trip in Switzerland .
• Help conserve turtle populations in Trinidad and Tobago .
• Head to San Francisco , USA, for city-view campfires and urban hiking trails.
• Bird-watch in Colombia .
• Visit football stadiums in Manchester , UK.
• Trek to isolated Peruvian Inca site Choquequirao .
• Finally return to the outdoorsy paradise that is New Zealand .
• Venture into the lesser-visited bits of Utah , USA.
• Hike Austria ’s cross-country Bergsteigerdörfer network of mountaineering villages.
• Swim amongst sharks and manta rays at Revillagigedo National Park in Mexico .

Okay, so it might not all be up your street – but it’s undeniably a spectacular range of stuff. You can read more on National Geographic’s official page here – and get pumped for a year of life-changing travel experiences.

Looking for new year travels? These are the best places to visit in January 2023 .

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Best places to travel in 2023: National Geographic unveils list of top 25 destinations for next year

From craft breweries in South Korea to turtle nesting grounds in Trinidad and Tobago, the list highlights adventures near and far.

Need inspiration for your next travel destination? National Geographic has you covered.

Its "Best of the World 2023" list, unveiled Wednesday, highlights 25 must-see destinations near and far, from craft breweries in Busan, South Korea, to the world's densest leatherback turtle nesting ground in Trinidad and Tobago.

Created in close collaboration with NatGeo's team of travel experts and international editors, "Best of the World" takes a "deeper dive into places all over the globe that are providing experiences that are unique and beneficial for both locals and travelers," Amy Alipio, senior editor at National Geographic Travel.

"We also worked hard to provide lesser-known gems on the list, equally inspiring alternatives to destinations that have become overcrowded (think Choquequirao vs. Machu Picchu in Peru)," Alipio said in a statement.

National Geographic groups the list into five categories: Family , educational journeys for all generations; Adventure , exciting activities in breathtaking places; Culture , explorations of history and heritage; Nature , escapes to wild, beautiful places; and the newly-added Community , healing journeys, community conservation, giving back, sustainable places and more.

Among domestic destinations, Utah is highlighted for its rugged landscape and Milwaukee is featured for its revitalized warehouse district, the Historic Third Ward.

Those jonesing for international adventure should consider The Greek island of Karpathos, a growing center of ecotourism, or Egypt, with its well preserved 4,300-year-old tomb of Khuwy.

National Geographic's "Best of the World 2023" list

• Appian Way, Italy
• Busan, South Korea
• Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China
• Charleston, South Carolina

• Scottish Highlands
• Big Bend National Park, Texas

• New Zealand
• Choquequirao, Peru
• Austrian Alps
• Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico

• Dodecanese Islands, Greece
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Alberta, Canada

• Trinidad and Tobago
• San Francisco, California
• Manchester, UK
• Switzerland

Find out more about the "Best of the World 2023" list online at NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld .

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of National Geographic Partners and this ABC station.

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Travel | cal poly humboldt closes campus for rest of semester over gaza protests, travel | national geographic reveals its top destinations for 2023.

It’s never too early to start planning for next year’s big trips.

National Geographic is getting an early start, too, releasing its Best of the World list in late October with 25 must-see destinations for 2023.

Respect — for the people and their cultures, for the land and its conservation — is an overarching theme of the list, which is divided into five official categories.

The hope is that 2023 will be not just a big return to travel but also to rediscovering wonder, said Amy Alipio, senior editor for National Geographic Travel.

“Because when you are awed by something, you treat it with respect. And that spirit is something we want to encourage with this list,” Alipio said.

The list focuses on destinations that have community-led conservation efforts, healing and heritage journeys and ways for travelers to give back as well as places that are doing important work in ecotourism, sustainability and inclusive travel.

Looking at community

National Geographic has introduced a new category in this year’s list, replacing “sustainability” with a broader “community” category.

“It’s about broadening the focus on the people striving for sustainable destinations and the various ways that manifests, from making travel more accessible to supporting local businesses,” Alipio said.

Sustainability has been woven into every category a bit more. The other four categories are nature, culture, adventure and family.

The five destinations listed under the “community” heading represent a diverse range of strengths.

Ghana is listed as an important destination for Black heritage travelers in West Africa.

Alberta, Canada also makes the list.

“They have been a leader in Indigenous tourism, basically getting travelers out there learning the stories and the ways of life of the First Nations here in North America,” and their vibrant, contemporary cultures, Alipio said.

In Laos, a new high-speed train is making the country more accessible to visitors and bringing economic opportunity to locals.

The Great Lakes city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is listed in part because it has been “really supportive of its creative community,” Alipio said, citing Bronzeville, which is opening a cultural center focused on African American art.

And in Greece’s Dodecanese Islands, Karpathos is a standout for sustainable tourism with female leadership.

Big openings, small crowds

The list is not without big new attractions. The long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum outside of Cairo figures into Egypt’s appearance on the 2023 list in the “culture” category. And Charleston, South Carolina, will soon be home to the International African American Museum, which is set to open in January.

US wilderness features on the list in two categories, with an emphasis on getting away from the crowds.

Utah, where five national parks are a huge draw, appears in the “adventure” category in part for its efforts to direct tourists to some of its lesser-known areas to combat overtourism.

Visit Utah has a page dedicated to responsible travel where it asks visitors to consider their impact with questions including “Am I doing what I can to avoid crowded locations?” State parks including Dead Horse Point and Goblin Valley are located near one or more of Utah’s five spectacular national parks.

Big Bend National Park in Texas appears in the “nature” category. While Big Bend hosted a record 581,000 recreational visits in 2021, it was still far less visited than some of the United States’ most popular national parks. Yellowstone welcomed 4.9 million visitors and Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted a whopping 14.1 million recreational visits in 2021.

Slovenia, “a longtime leader in sustainable tourism,” is pairing cycling trails with visits to vineyards, cheesemakers and other food producers in a way that earns it a slot in the “nature” category with a culinary bonus.

The Scottish Highlands, Portugal’s dazzling Azores volcanic archipelago and Botswana also make the “nature” list for their efforts toward conservation and sustainability.

Family, adventure and culture

Colombia has been in the spotlight with the Disney movie “Encanto,” making it a timely choice for the “family” category. In California, San Francisco’s Crosstown Trail is another spot perfect for family adventure.

Speaking of “adventure,” that category also includes Choquequirao, Peru, an Inca site to rival Machu Picchu that is becoming more accessible and spurring economic development.

And New Zealand, long an adventure capital, makes the list as excitement builds with travel’s resurgence.

The Austrian Alps also provide great opportunities for adventure within the Bergsteigerdörfer network of 29 mountaineering villages.

While China remains closed to international tourism, its Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province also make the “culture” list as new technology brings attention to one of the largest collections of stone statues in the world.

For more of National Geographic’s Best of the World list, visit their website .

National Geographic’s Best of the World 2023 list:

Appian Way, Italy Busan, South Korea Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China Egypt Charleston, South Carolina

Scottish Highlands Botswana Slovenia Big Bend National Park, Texas Azores

New Zealand Choquequirao, Peru Utah Austrian Alps Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico

Dodecanese Islands, Greece Milwaukee, Wisconsin Alberta, Canada Laos Ghana

Trinidad & Tobago San Francisco Crosstown Trail, California Colombia Manchester, United Kingdom Switzerland

The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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National Geographic reveals its top destinations for 2023

October 26, 2022, 6:01 AM

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It’s never too early to start planning for next year’s big trips.

National Geographic is getting an early start, too, releasing its Best of the World list in late October with 25 must-see destinations for 2023.

Respect — for the people and their cultures, for the land and its conservation — is an overarching theme of the list, which is divided into five official categories.

The hope is that 2023 will be not just a big return to travel but also to rediscovering wonder, said Amy Alipio, senior editor for National Geographic Travel.

“Because when you are awed by something, you treat it with respect. And that spirit is something we want to encourage with this list,” Alipio said.

The list focuses on destinations that have community-led conservation efforts, healing and heritage journeys and ways for travelers to give back as well as places that are doing important work in ecotourism, sustainability and inclusive travel.

Looking at community

National Geographic has introduced a new category in this year’s list, replacing “sustainability” with a broader “community” category.

“It’s about broadening the focus on the people striving for sustainable destinations and the various ways that manifests, from making travel more accessible to supporting local businesses,” Alipio said.

Sustainability has been woven into every category a bit more. The other four categories are nature, culture, adventure and family.

The five destinations listed under the “community” heading represent a diverse range of strengths.

Ghana is listed as an important destination for Black heritage travelers in West Africa.

Alberta, Canada also makes the list.

“They have been a leader in Indigenous tourism, basically getting travelers out there learning the stories and the ways of life of the First Nations here in North America,” and their vibrant, contemporary cultures, Alipio said.

In Laos, a new high-speed train is making the country more accessible to visitors and bringing economic opportunity to locals.

The Great Lakes city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is listed in part because it has been “really supportive of its creative community,” Alipio said, citing Bronzeville, which is opening a cultural center focused on African American art.

And in Greece’s Dodecanese Islands, Karpathos is a standout for sustainable tourism with female leadership.

Big openings, small crowds

The list is not without big new attractions. The long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum outside of Cairo figures into Egypt’s appearance on the 2023 list in the “culture” category. And Charleston, South Carolina, will soon be home to the International African American Museum, which is set to open in January.

US wilderness features on the list in two categories, with an emphasis on getting away from the crowds.

Utah, where five national parks are a huge draw, appears in the “adventure” category in part for its efforts to direct tourists to some of its lesser-known areas to combat overtourism.

Visit Utah has a page dedicated to responsible travel where it asks visitors to consider their impact with questions including “Am I doing what I can to avoid crowded locations?” State parks including Dead Horse Point and Goblin Valley are located near one or more of Utah’s five spectacular national parks.

Big Bend National Park in Texas appears in the “nature” category. While Big Bend hosted a record 581,000 recreational visits in 2021, it was still far less visited than some of the United States’ most popular national parks. Yellowstone welcomed 4.9 million visitors and Great Smoky Mountains National Park hosted a whopping 14.1 million recreational visits in 2021.

Slovenia, “a longtime leader in sustainable tourism,” is pairing cycling trails with visits to vineyards, cheesemakers and other food producers in a way that earns it a slot in the “nature” category with a culinary bonus.

The Scottish Highlands, Portugal’s dazzling Azores volcanic archipelago and Botswana also make the “nature” list for their efforts toward conservation and sustainability.

Family, adventure and culture

Colombia has been in the spotlight with the Disney movie “Encanto,” making it a timely choice for the “family” category. In California, San Francisco’s Crosstown Trail is another spot perfect for family adventure.

Speaking of “adventure,” that category also includes Choquequirao, Peru, an Inca site to rival Machu Picchu that is becoming more accessible and spurring economic development.

And New Zealand, long an adventure capital, makes the list as excitement builds with travel’s resurgence.

The Austrian Alps also provide great opportunities for adventure within the Bergsteigerdörfer network of 29 mountaineering villages.

Asia, which has been slower to reopen from the pandemic, features prominently in the “culture” category. Busan, South Korea, appears in the category for offerings from craft brews to Asia’s top film festival.

While China remains closed to international tourism, its Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province also make the “culture” list as new technology brings attention to one of the largest collections of stone statues in the world.

For more of National Geographic’s Best of the World list, visit their website .

National Geographic’s Best of the World 2023 list:

Appian Way, Italy Busan, South Korea Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China Egypt Charleston, South Carolina

Scottish Highlands Botswana Slovenia Big Bend National Park, Texas Azores

New Zealand Choquequirao, Peru Utah Austrian Alps Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico

Dodecanese Islands, Greece Milwaukee, Wisconsin Alberta, Canada Laos Ghana

Trinidad & Tobago San Francisco Crosstown Trail, California Colombia Manchester, United Kingdom Switzerland

The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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National Geographic releases list of top 25 destinations for 2023

Rigi Railways’ cogwheel trains present dazzling views of Lake Lucerne as they ascend Mount Rigi, known as the "queen of the mountains" in Switzerland. (Photograph courtesy Christian Meixner, Switzerland Tourism)

NEW YORK - National Geographic has unveiled its annual list of the 25 inspiring destinations for 2023.

Its "Best of the World" list celebrates destinations and travel experiences that illuminate beauty and diversity grouped into 5 categories: Family, Adventure, Culture, Nature, and Community.

The 2023 list honors educational journeys for all generations (Family); exciting activities in breathtaking places (Adventure); explorations of history and heritage (Culture); escapes to wild, beautiful places (Nature); and healing journeys, community conservation, giving back, sustainable places and more (Community).

"We have experienced so many changes and disruptions in the way we explore over the last few years, so with this year’s list, we really wanted to get back to identifying positive stories about destinations and communities," said Amy Alipio, senior editor at National Geographic Travel.

Twilight falls over Delicate Arch and other red rock formations in Arches National Park, one of Utah’s five national parks. (Photograph by Chad Copeland, Nat Geo Image Collection)

The list was created, researched, reported and written in collaboration with National Geographic Traveler’s international editorial teams, which serve millions of readers through their magazines and websites in more than a dozen offices around the world.

National Geographic’s "Best of the World 2023" list:

Culture Appian Way, Italy Busan, South Korea Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China Egypt Charleston, South Carolina

Nature Scottish Highlands Botswana Slovenia Big Bend National Park, Texas Azores

Adventure  New Zealand Choquequirao, Peru Utah Austrian Alps Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico

Community Dodecanese Islands, Greece Milwaukee, Wisconsin Alberta, Canada Laos Ghana

Family Trinidad and Tobago San Francisco, California Colombia Manchester, UK Switzerland

The "Best of the World 2023" list is available online.  For more of National Geographic's Best of the World list, visit: NatGeo.com/BestOfTheWorld

National Geographic releases ‘Best of the World 2023′ with 25 must-see destinations

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- National Geographic has unveiled its annual list of ‘Best of the World 2023′, 25 must-see locations across the globe.

This line-up is themed around travel experiences that helps strengthen local communities and environments. Each location is grouped by category: family, adventure, culture, and nature. This year features the community category, meant to focus on ways tourists can give back to the locations they’re visiting!

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“We have experienced so many changes and disruptions in the way we explore over the last few years, so with this year’s list, we really wanted to get back to identifying positive stories about destinations and communities,” said Amy Alipio, senior editor at National Geographic Travel. “We also worked hard to provide lesser-known gems on the list, equally inspiring alternatives to destinations that have become overcrowded (think Choquequirao vs. Machu Picchu in Peru).”

The following list was created in collaboration with National Geographic Traveler’s editorial teams:

• Appian Way, Italy
• Busan, South Korea
• Longmen Grottoes, Henan Province, China
• Charleston, South Carolina

• Scottish Highlands
• Big Bend National Park, Texas

• New Zealand
• Choquequirao, Peru
• Austrian Alps
• Revillagigedo National Park, Mexico

• Dodecanese Islands, Greece
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Alberta, Canada
• Trinidad and Tobago
• San Francisco, California
• Manchester, UK
• Switzerland

For more on the list, click here to learn more!

Copyright 2022 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.

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Top 30 travel destinations worldwide for 2024 revealed by National Geographic

From “wildlife havens and urban escapes to off-grid locales and cultural gems,” National Geographic Traveller’s Cool List 2023 reveals destinations that are “set to make the news” next year, a company press release said.

National Geographic Traveller (UK) announced a list of thirty locations which span five continents that were chosen by editors as the “top places and spaces around the world where tourism benefits communities and the environment as much as the visitors and locals themselves.”

“The 30 entries reflect an incredible range, featuring everything from exciting immersive journeys to inspirational visits that could take just a few hours,” the statement says. 

“Whether it’s culinary excellence, solar eclipses, night trains, new national parks, rewilding initiatives, ancient wonders revisited or cultural landmarks, we’ve curated some of the best travel destinations for the next 12 months,” Pat Riddell, editor of National Geographic Traveller (UK), was quoted as saying in the statement. “From Canada, the US and Argentina to Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Australia and beyond, the world is represented in all its full glory.”

National Geographic's top 30 travel destinations for 2024 

• Albanian Alps, Albania
• Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Emilia-Romagna, Italy
• Europe by train
• Galloway & Southern Ayrshire, Scotland
• Nordland, Norway
• North Yorkshire, England
• Pompeii, Italy

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• Saimaa, Finland
• Tartu, Estonia
• The Euros, Germany
• Valletta, Malta
• Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

North America

• Dominican Republic
• Nova Scotia, Canada
• Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico

South America

• Atacama Desert, Chile
• Iberá Wetlands, Argentina
• Akagera, Rwanda
• Andrefana Dry Forests, Madagascar
• Sierra Leone

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• Sikkim, India
• Tainan, Taiwan
• Xi’an, China

Australasia

• Victoria, Australia

To see the full list online, visit: nationalgeographic.com.

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Five US destinations made National Geographic's 'Best of the World’ travel list: Are you surprised?

Annual list has 25 'best' global locations for 2023 — including these american destinations.

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Five locations in the U.S. have been designated as some of the best places to travel in 2023.

National Geographic released its annual "Best of the World" list last week, which features what it calls must-see locations worldwide.

List curator and National Geographic senior editor Amy Alipio told Fox News Digital that the picks for each year are determined in collaboration with explorers, writers and editorial teams all over the world.

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After 11 years of compiling the annual travel list, Alipio revealed that she and her team are "always looking for an interesting mix."

"We want to get people interested in other places that they might not have heard about," she said.

Cynta de Narvaez soaks in the Big Bend National Park hot springs on a Far Flung Adventures canoe trip down the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National Park near Terlingua, Texas, on Jan. 14, 2012. (Erich Schlegel/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

"It’s about finding places where you're surprised — and I feel like when you're surprised and kind of in awe of a place, it generates empathy and a desire to protect that destination."

Here’s why National Geographic included these five — Texas’ Big Bend National Park; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; San Francisco's Crosstown Trail; Charleston, South Carolina; and the state of Utah — in the mix.

1. Big Bend National Park, Texas

Big Bend National Park of Far West Texas made an appearance on NatGeo’s list in its nature category.

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Although it’s one of the least visited national parks, according to Alipio, Big Bend has stunning views and wildlife features just as other popular outdoor destinations do.

"One of the reasons why we love that it was on the list this year was that because with a lot of the overcrowding that's going on at some national parks — like, for example, Yellowstone — Big Bend gets a fraction of the visitors that Yellowstone does," she said.

Santa Elena Canyon on the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National Park in Texas. (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

"But it has landscapes that are just as amazing."

Big Bend National Park sits at the border of Texas and Mexico, showing off its desert landscape and picturesque rivers. 

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The national park also has several "interesting" towns around it, including Marathon, Alpine and Marfa, said Alipio.

The Prada Marfa sculpture by artists Elmgreen and Dragset is pictured on March 3, 2014, in Marfa, Texas. (Veronique DUPONT/AFP via Getty Images)

The towns emulate an early-frontier Texan feel with small, locally owned shops and wide-open spaces.

"It feels like you’re in a movie," Alipio said.

2. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s lake-side city of Milwaukee was mentioned in the list as NatGeo introduces a new community category.

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The destinations listed under community are highlighted for giving back to locals through tourism.

Milwaukee skyline with Menomonee River in the foreground.  (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Alipio pointed out that Milwaukee is so much more than its stereotype of "breweries and bratwurst."

"It's a lively city that supports its creative community," she said.

Milwaukee has recently reclaimed vacant lots to rebuild its entertainment district, also known as Deer District.

The Milwaukee skyline with Lake Michigan in the background is seen at night on January 6, 2020, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images)

The city also plans to open a new African American art and cultural center in the revived traditional neighborhood of Bronzeville.

"There's always a place on the list that kind of makes you go, ‘Who knew about this place?’" she said.

"And here — Milwaukee — we have it as this Great Lake city to watch."

The entire state of Utah was noted as a place to visit for maximum adventure.

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The western state is known for its variety of outdoor excursions, from paddleboarding to mountain climbing, and its overall gorgeous landscape.

Adventurers paddle board across Lake Powell in Utah.  (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

NatGeo’s list encouraged readers to get their "adrenaline rush" in the less visited areas of Utah.

While visitors seek out popular Utah stops such as Zion National Park, Alidio said the state is working to override issues of overcrowding by building out the park’s east side entry and opening a visitors’ center.

A hike on the Emerald Pools Trail introduces families to the grandeur of Zion Canyon at Zion National Park in Utah. (Doug Merriam/MCT/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

"It’s just as beautiful," she said.

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"They’re promoting other areas of the state as well where you can have just as amazing adventure experiences."

The east side of Zion is often known as the quiet side, according to VisitUtah.com, with closer access to other sites like Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and the Grand Canyon's North Rim.

4. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is well-known for its southern charm.

NatGeo added the South Carolina city to its list under the culture category, noting the thrill of exploring Charleston’s low country cuisine and cultural history.

"We all love Charleston for its food and architecture and its setting there in South Carolina," Alipio said.

Historic Charleston housing and architecture during the Christmas festivities along Rainbow row, South Carolina.  (Christopher Pillitz/Getty Images)

But Charleston is also highlighted now for acknowledging the city’s "less than ideal" history in slave trade, Alipio mentioned. 

Charleston's International African American Museum is slated to open in January 2023.

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"There are lots of stories there of tragedy," she said. "But also, stories of triumph as well."

The city is also home to a genealogical center where people can research family history and heritage.

Aerial view of historic Charleston, South Carolina. (Visions of America/Joseph Sohm/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Historians believe that nearly 90% of Black Americans can trace an ancestor back to Charleston, according to Alipio.

"This is a really important place in American history, and we wanted to shine a light on this destination for that reason."

5. San Francisco, California

San Francisco's Crosstown Trail made an appearance on the list for being family-oriented.

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Even though San Francisco, California, is already a popular spot, Alipio shared that the city has reimagined its outdoor spaces.

The city’s new Crosstown Trail cuts diagonally across San Francisco, which allows families to hike, bike and enjoy nature right at home.

Day hikers explore the view from Philosopher's Way, a 2.7 mile loop trail that was officially dedicated at McLaren Park in San Francisco on Jan. 5, 2013. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

"You don't have to go out really remote or have special gear to go hiking," she said. 

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"An urban trail is right there as close as your neighborhood basketball court."

San Francisco also opened the Presidio Tunnel Tops this past summer, which were built on top of former freeway tunnels on the bay within Presidio National Park.

A construction worker stands on the roof of the northbound main post tunnel while work continues on the Presidio Tunnel Tops landscaping project in San Francisco on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.  (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

The new attraction offers a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as a nature center, playgrounds, food trucks and sites to start a campfire.

"It’s just a really fun place," she said.

The full list from National Geographic is divided into five categories, each geared to different traveling styles: culture, nature, adventure, community and family.

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Chris Thompson, CEO of Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States that's headquartered in Washington, D.C. , told Fox News Digital of the five choices made by National Geographic, "It’s no surprise that five U.S. destinations have made this global list. The USA is enviably positioned to provide visitors with a wealth of diverse experiences from beach to mountain, city to rural, and national to cultural heritages all within a short drive to a gateway city." 

Thompson added, "The close proximity of these U.S. experiences makes the country an attractive destination for international travelers. Now more than ever, the traveler is looking to connect emotionally with local communities to better understand a destination — and we’re so lucky to have such rich offerings to share with the world."

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital.

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This 8-foot-long ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought

For years, paleontologists thought this ancient salmon was like a saber-toothed cat, but now facial reconstruction offers a brand new look.

When paleontologists announced the discovery of the largest salmon to have ever lived in 1972, they thought they had found the aquatic equivalent of the saber-toothed cats that roamed the landscape when this fish was alive between 12 and 5 million years ago.

The eight-foot-long fish was believed to have had two curved teeth jutting down from its upper jaw. But now, a new reconstruction has fundamentally altered the face of this iconic fish, proposing instead that its impressive teeth stuck out sideways from its snout—like a warthog.

In an April study published in PLOS ONE , experts present a new vision of the spike-toothed salmon, formally known as Oncorhynchus rastrosus . The changes to the salmon’s face reflect new knowledge about the fish gleaned from the fossil record. In 2016 , paleontologists found that the ancient salmon’s distinctive teeth changed as the fish aged, growing as the salmon reached adulthood and transitioned from the sea to freshwater.  

This study, by Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine paleoecologist Kerin Claeson and colleagues, now finds that the fish’s famous teeth stuck out sideways like tusks.

A bold new look

Refining what the fish looked like rested on both new fossil finds and a reanalysis of the first fossils to be described half a century ago. Among the earliest finds, the part of the jaws holding the prominent teeth were disarticulated from the rest of the skull. “Part of the reason why scientists didn’t recognize the position of the teeth at first was because they were all found in isolation,” Claeson says. A downward, saber-like position seemed reasonable given that no other known fish had such teeth.  

But in 2014, paleontologists searching a locality in Oregon found new fossil skulls of Oncorhynchus rastrosus that showed the prominent teeth still in articulation. Combined with CT scans of the original finds, the new fossils confirmed that different sexes of the spike-toothed salmon had the prominent teeth in adulthood.

Finding the spikes on different salmon sexes came as a surprise to the researchers. “When I talked to the collectors of the 2014 fossils, they kept finding fossils in close proximity in such a way they were likely breeding pairs, which both possessed the enormous spikes,” Claeson says. All spike-toothed salmon started to go through skull changes as they approached adulthood, each fish growing the iconic spikes.

“The new reconstruction is supported by very convincing evidence,” notes University of Alberta paleontologist Mark Wilson, who was not involved in the new study. The fact that the spikes were found as a species-wide trait, he noted, is especially remarkable.

Naturally, the unusual nature of the spikes has led paleontologists to wonder why such features evolved and what they were used for. Previous research indicated that some of the teeth in adult fish were blunted and worn, hinting that they were rubbing against hard surfaces. Perhaps the fish were using the teeth to scrape and move sediment in constructing nests, and could have also been helpful in defending those nests from other fish looking to dig their own divots in the riverbed.

Claeson and colleagues prefer a defensive function for the spikes. The prehistoric salmon, just like their living counterparts, swam with side-to-side motions of the body. Their strongest muscles were devoted to these movements, and also would have allowed the fish to take strong swings against predators or other rivals. Not all experts agree, though. Wilson notes that the fish could have been using the spikes to dig nesting areas, and males could have been using the spikes to intimidate competitors for mates during spawning season.  

Regardless of whether the fish were using the spikes for defense or in competition, the teeth were surely formidable. “Imagine a one-pound geology hammer, sharpened, and wielded by 200 pounds of lateral muscle,” Claeson says. The salmon is no longer a sabertooth, but its teeth were just as formidable.

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Here are the top 10 smartest cities in the world — and none are in the U.S.

Smart cities in Europe and Asia are gaining ground globally while North American cities have fallen down the ranks, according to the 2024 Smart City Index released April.

Of the top 10 smart cities on the list, seven were in Europe.

This year's index was produced by the IMD World Competitiveness Center's Smart City Observatory in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) that's based in Seoul, South Korea.

The report ranks 142 smart cities worldwide based on data analyzed by researchers, as well as survey responses of 120 residents in each city. The study captures an overview of how the infrastructure and technology available in a city impacts the city's performance and the quality of life of its inhabitants.

So, what is a smart city?

According to the IMD , a smart city is defined as "an urban setting that applies technology to enhance the benefits and diminish the shortcomings of urbanization for its citizens."

With very few exceptions, cities in the top 20 are geographically located in areas where social and economic environments are relatively predictable, even against the overall climate of global uncertainties. IMD Smart City Index 2024

The cities that perform well on the list have also developed initiatives that cater to their citizens' overall quality of life.

"Such initiatives have focused on developing green spaces and broadening opportunities for cultural events and social bonding, for example," according to the report.

"In the majority of these leading cities, such efforts have been combined with innovative strategies to attract and retain talent, foster investment in a selective fashion [e.g. pro-sustainability], and tackle long standing issues regarding geographical inequalities and inclusion," the report said.

Here are the top 10 smart cities, according to the 2024 Smart City Index.

• Zurich, Switzerland
• Oslo, Norway
• Canberra, Australia
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Lausanne, Switzerland
• London, England
• Helsinki, Finland
• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Notably, for the first time since the index's inception in 2019, there is an absence of North American cities in the top 20.

"Using three year moving averages (i.e. comparing a city's average ranking for the period 2021-24 to that of the period 2020-23), a significant number of US cities have been losing ground," according to the report.

"This is the case in particular for Washington DC, Denver, and Los Angeles (-12, -12, and -11 respectively), but also for San Francisco (-9), New York City (-7), and Chicago (-4)."

The highest ranking U.S. city this year is New York City which ranked 34th, followed by Boston at 36th and Washington DC, coming in at 50th place.

While European cities dominated the list, Asian cities are gaining ground too.

Here are the top 5 smart cities in Asia:

• Singapore (5th)
• Beijing (13th)
• Taipei City (16th)
• Seoul (17th)
• Shanghai (19th)

Singapore has consistently ranked among the top 10 positions since the index's inception in 2019. It ranked 7th from 2020 to 2023 — except in 2022 when no rankings were released, and jumped up two positions this year.

Taipei City has also jumped 13 positions over the last year, from 29th in 2023 to 16th this year.

"Cities must design and adopt strategies that can resist the test of a future plagued with growing uncertainties, " said Bruno Lanvin, president of the Smart City Observatory.

"Health-related concerns remain high, while climate-related ones grow even larger; a mix complicated by renewed international tensions. Trust and good governance are growing in importance, and the significance of Al in city design and management is set to increase," he said in the report.

"Counterintuitive as it may sound, Al can help cities to become more human-centric," Lanvin added.

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