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The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2021

When the time comes to travel again, these destinations — all right in your own backyard — are the ones to visit next.

Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey.

Even for the compulsive jetsetters among us, it's a simple truth that most travel stories are aspirational in the best of times. There are too many incredible places to see, not enough vacation days, and sometimes we all have to content ourselves with scrawling another spot on the bucket list and hoping the stars align.

But this year, as we all sat at home and watched the world come to a halt, "aspirational" took on new meaning. When restrictions relaxed this summer , the familiar wanderlust crept back in. With even the most straightforward international getaways ruled out, and many travelers still hesitant to hop on a plane, even simple trips — scenic drives , camping weekends , staycations across town — suddenly felt novel and luxurious.

Related : Guide to more travel ideas

With the first vaccines now rolling out, it seems the end of our long international nightmare is finally (finally!) in sight. In anticipation of that moment, we've once again compiled our annual list of the best places to travel in the coming year — with one twist. In honor of our revived appreciation for the discoveries to be made in our own backyards, this year's list features 50 dynamic, of-the-moment destinations — all right here in the United States.

Related : The Top 15 Cities in the United States

Some spots on the list ahead are newly blossoming thanks to hotel or infrastructure developments or revamped cultural attractions. Others caught on this summer, as social distancing made empty expanses of wilderness more compelling than ever and we all looked for new wells of charm in our own home states. What they all have in common is that singularity that makes a destination memorable — the sense that this place has something to offer that you won't find anywhere else in the world.

One day soon, we'll all get back to traveling the way we did before. We'll gripe about security lines and airplane meals , delight at hearing an unfamiliar language or staying in a new hotel , develop passionate loyalties for a particular food truck or coffee kiosk. Until then, we hope this list will serve as something to hold onto — to stoke your wanderlust and keep the tiny flame of optimism burning. Sure, it's a little bit aspirational. But that just means we're still willing to dream.

Related : The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

Ahead, Travel + Leisure 's 50 best places to travel in 2021, listed in alphabetical order.

1. Alaska's Coast

In the midst of the pandemic, Alaska's entire May to September cruise season was cancelled in 2020. That left some 1.3 million travelers unable to board ships to experience thunderously calving glaciers, frolicking humpback whales, lively gold rush towns, and fascinating Alaska Native arts scenes. Tourism providers missed serious income. Cruise lines and local officials express muted optimism about 2021, which may be the best year to see Alaska given that cruise ships are unlikely to sail full and coastal towns won't have their typical crowds even post-vaccine rollout. Or skip the civilization part: Vast national parks such as Glacier Bay, Misty Fjords, and Kenai Fjords are best reached by boat. Small ship soft-adventure lines such as UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions — and ultra-luxurious Seabourn with its zodiac and kayak exploration program on the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey — have one-week itineraries that spend most of their time in the wild. For more privacy, rent the six-passenger, 78-foot Sea Mist for a luxury yachting experience in Prince William Sound, home to more active tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world. — Fran Golden

Listen to Travel + Leisure's "Let's Go Together" podcast for more inspiring stories and adventures celebrating inclusivity in travel!

2. Astoria, Oregon

Goonies never say die, and neither does the nostalgia of visiting Astoria, the northwestern Oregon town at the mouth of the Columbia River where the '80s cult classic film was shot. The oldest American settlement in the West, this charming seaside town evokes a simpler time with its colorful Victorian houses and treasure-filled antique shops. Around these parts, freshness matters only for fish and beer. A new mobile passport program by the North Coast Craft Beer Trail ensures drinkers find their way to both big names like Fort George Brewery — famous for its IPAs — and smaller spots like the 20-barrel Buoy Beer , built in a former fish cannery right on the river. It's one of many old cannery sites that have found new lives here, most notably the boutique Cannery Pier Hotel , where new ownership plans a February unveiling of renovations to its spa — famed for the Finnish sauna and water-view hot tub. Though the town made its name on tinned fish, Astoria now thrives on the direct connection to fresh seafood at places like South Bay Wild Fish House, from the family behind a fishing vessel of the same name. At their restaurant, sustainably caught Dungeness crab, Oregon pink shrimp, black cod, and more goes direct from boat to bánh mì. — Naomi Tomky

3. The Berkshires

City-dwellers have been visiting this region of gently rolling hills and charmingly sedate towns in Western Massachusetts since the 19th century, but a welcome boost of youthful energy arrived with the 2018 opening of the design-forward hotel Tourists in North Adams and, last year, the launch of Miraval Berkshires , the third location of the luxe wellness resort. While summer is still the most popular season, thanks in part to the beloved classical music venue Tanglewood and dance center Jacob's Pillow, there are still plenty of opportunities for social distancing, from the enormous exhibition spaces at the contemporary art museum Mass Moca , to the pastoral acres surrounding the Clark Art Institute (home to the Institute's first-ever outdoor exhibition, Ground/work, through October 2021), to a hike up Mount Greylock or Monument Mountain, to a meal at Cantina 229 , a restaurant set on a farm that offers outdoor seating in warmer months. Mooncloud, a new bar in Great Barrington, is riding out the pandemic with a slate of to-go meals and cocktail kits. Tuck in for the night at the peaceful but chic Inn at Kenmore Hall , a bed and breakfast in a classical Georgian estate. — Peter Terzian

4. Big Sky, Montana

Big Sky 's 5,800 acres of skiable terrain makes it a fan favorite for crowd-free skiing in the Rocky Mountains. But a multi-year, $150 million investment into Big Sky Resort aims to transform this region of Southwest Montana into America's Alps, meaning skiers may soon have to share their powder-perfect runs. Last year, The Wilson Hotel , a Residence Inn by Marriott, made headlines when it became the first and only major brand hotel to open in Big Sky's town center (don't miss the soon-to-open Tips Up, a vintage-inspired tavern across the street). Now, all eyes are on the $400 million ultra-luxury Montage Big Sky , which will open its doors for the 2021-22 ski season within Spanish Peaks Mountain Club , a 3,500-acre private golf and ski community. The 150-key resort features ski-in, ski-out access, an 11,000-square-foot spa, and a four-lane bowling alley. In warmer climes, guests can enjoy the development's 18-hole golf course, nearby fly-fishing rivers, and an extensive network of hiking and mountain biking trails. Two slope-side hotels, the Summit and the Huntley Lodge , have renovations in the works, and Moonlight Basin , another private development adjacent to the ski resort, has plans to build a luxury hotel (a One&Only if the rumors are true) on its 8,000-acre-property, which is also home to a thousand-acre high-elevation Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. New airlift is ushering travelers from Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, and Charlotte, N.C. to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (less than an hour's drive from downtown Big Sky), while a new six-person high-speed chairlift will begin whizzing people up Lone Peak in record time starting next November. When the snow melts, Big Sky's 18-mile proximity to Yellowstone National Park adds even more appeal for nature lovers in search of epic adventures in the great outdoors. Just be sure to get there before everyone else does. — Nora Walsh

5. Birmingham, Alabama

The modern scene in The Magic City is a great example of what can happen when Alabama kids head off to the big city to hone their skills, then return home to do their thing — in a really high-quality way. Take Chef Adam Evans: the Muscle Shoals native worked in New Orleans and New York and opened The Optimist with Ford Fry in Atlanta before heading back to B-Ham to launch Automatic Seafood & Oysters . Moves like this — along with quirky java shops ( Red Cat Coffee House ), upscale cocktail bars ( Paper Doll ), a women-owned vegan food truck , and the Pizitz global food hall — have brought a vibrancy to the city, where contemporary charm and old Southern hospitality mingle on a big scale. The destination is catching up to demand for luxury lifestyle hotels with the Valley Hotel , opening in the historic, cool-again suburb Homewood in January with a new outpost of Edgar's Bakery and more restaurants to come. Railroad Park , a 19-acre green space, has transformed downtown over the last decade, with walking trails, food truck festivals, and an outdoor symphony. And look for Protective Stadium , a 47,000-seat facility and entertainment district, to open in 2021. —Kelsey Ogletree

6. The Black Hills of South Dakota

The great American road trip is the best example of the journey as the destination. As Americans took to the road in search of wide-open spaces this year , places that may have been overlooked for lack of airlift found a new audience. South Dakota's Black Hills have long been a mandatory road trip stop — its mountains are home to Mount Rushmore, the historic town of Deadwood, and several national monuments and parks — and now it's back on the map as a destination in its own right. The region first got a little more glamour two years ago, when glamping outfitter Under Canvas raised its tent poles among the pine and juniper trees just four miles from the presidential monument. And this year, intrepid travelers can see the area in a fresh way with the debut of Adventure Cycling's new Parks, Peaks, and Prairies cycling route, which pieces together trails winding from Yellowstone to Minneapolis. Over in historic Deadwood, a new year-round public space in the heart of town, Outlaw Square, is home to a slew of activities that sound luxurious after nearly a year in lockdown — movie nights, concerts — while in Rapid City, work is underway on the Monument, a massive civic center expansion that will bring bigger crowds to landmark events like the Black Hills Powwow , which marks its 35th anniversary next fall. — Scott Bay

7. Buffalo, New York

Sure, you've heard rumblings about Buffalo's restaurants, or maybe its brewery boom. But lately, the city is getting attention for its visual arts scene — and most notably, a game-changing new gallery that's Native American-owned and dedicated entirely to Indigenous art. Dave Kimelberg, a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, founded K. Art — the only gallery of its kind in the U.S. — this year in an effort to showcase the diversity of Native nations and carve out a bigger space in the market for contemporary Native works. Elsewhere in the city, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is undergoing a massive expansion, currently slated for completion in 2022; until then, visit the institution's Northland campus, or explore projects across the city from the AK Public Art Initiative . Still more developments are in the works: the $65 million Silo City restoration and reuse will bring arts, commercial, and exhibition space to a string of abandoned grain silos, and golf brand OnCore is launching a massive golf complex and hotel on the Buffalo River. — Scott Bay

8. Burlington, Vermont

Escaping to Vermont sounds like a way to get in touch with nature and spend some time on a farm, but Burlington has all the offerings of a much larger city — plus opportunities to get some much-needed fresh air. The city is home to an array of bars and restaurants slinging creative drinks: Deli 126 , The Archives , Misery Loves Co. , Peg & Ter's , and a collaboration between Orlando's Bar & Lounge and Grandma's Spanish Kitchen with Cuban and Peruvian influences. CO Cellars — located in the Soda Plant , a small business base camp with everything from custom lighting to pickles — sells local naturally fermented fruit wines from ZAFA Wines and Shacksbury Cider. And if that's not enough, Dedalus Wine Shop and Market will help you taste through an array of natural wines from around the world, paired with housemade charcuterie, cheeses, and Spanish-inspired bites from the kitchen. Enjoy a slice of private beach with stand-up paddleboarding, yoga, and windsurfing at Burlington Surf Club when the weather is warmer. When there's at least a few inches of snow on the ground, the adventurous can try winter sports: Hotel Vermont will equip you with gear to get you going, whether you want to go snowshoeing or Nordic skiing through the snowy streets or down Vermont hillsides, dare to try snowkiting, or prefer to ice skate on the frozen parts of Lake Champlain. To fuel up for — or warm up after — some time in the snow, try an array of pakoras at the newly-opened Elaichi , tacos and margs at Taco Gordo , dynamic Chinese fare at A Single Pebble 's brick-and-mortar restaurant or roving food truck, or the combo of Café Mamajuana 's Dominican fusion and Poppy Café & Market 's creative sandwiches in one shared space. Wherever you go, you'll get a combination of small-town hospitality and big-city amenities. — Alyse Whitney

9. Cape May, New Jersey

During the summer of 1852, Harriet Tubman worked as a cook and housekeeper in Cape May, the seaside resort town where the Delaware Bay rushes into the Atlantic Ocean at the knifepoint of New Jersey. That was her day job, anyway. Given that Cape May was a hive of abolitionist activity at the time, it's long been accepted that Tubman's real work was guiding enslaved men and women through this critically situated junction between the South and freedom in Philadelphia and points north. Opening on Juneteenth, the years-in-the-works Harriet Tubman Museum chronicles her time in Cape May while contextualizing the city's status as a critical (and critically overlooked) place in Black history. The museum occupies the former parson's house of the historic Macedonian Baptist Church, and the late Reverend Robert Davis's collection of artifacts (Bantu and Bakota masks, iron shackles used on enslaved peoples) ties the experience back to Africa and the transatlantic slave trade. A few blocks away, the Underground Railroad trolley tour departs to landmarks like abolitionist Stephen Smith's house and the Franklin Street School, the city's first segregated school (slated to become a cultural arts and community center). Renewed interest in Cape May has energized the staid hotel stock, with Philly's Lokal brand opening a crisp beach house with a saltwater pool and the famed Peter Shields Inn debuting Inn Town Suites , a pair of palm-patterned quarters above Willow & Stone , a handsome boutique stocked with waterproof ORI knapsacks and knit cashmere for the modern seafaring rake. For more privacy, the meticulously furnished, ag-fantasy Cottages at Bach Plum Farm are situated on the less developed north side of town betwixt blackberry brambles and heritage hog paddocks — and a leisurely walk to the Cape May Lighthouse , a beacon for safety seekers fleeing slavery and stormy seas since 1859. — Adam Erace

10. The Catskills

From the 1920s to the 60s the scenic mountain region about two hours north of Manhattan boomed as the Borscht Belt, full of sprawling resorts catering chiefly to summering Jewish families. Today, young urbanites are snapping up weekend houses in the area at an ever-increasing rate, and entrepreneurs are following their lead by opening small, design-y hotels all over the region. The 15-room Shandaken Inn , in the village of Shandaken, puts outdoor enthusiasts within 25 minutes of the popular zipline canopy tours on Hunter Mountain and 35 minutes of the hiking trail to Kaaterskill Falls, the tallest cascading waterfall in the state. Seven miles down the road is the third outpost from Urban Cowboy . This 28-room fully embraces its rural setting near the Big Indian Wilderness forest preserve with on-site pursuits that include swimming and fishing for trout in the Esopus Creek. About an hour and a half southwest of Big Indian, Kenoza Hall began as a boarding house in the early 1900s. Sims Foster and his wife, Kirsten Harlow Foster, who own the nearby DeBruce inn , have overhauled the building, marrying historic touches like the original hardwood floors with custom elements, including sleigh beds. The boomlet shows no signs of slowing in 2021. Homeware design duo Nolan McHugh and Trevor Briggs are set to enter the hospitality scene in March with Piaule Catskill , a 24-cabin landscape hotel located just outside the region's namesake town. (Expect minimalist structures with lots of glass accented by steel and cedar.) Then in April, Sant Singh Chatwal of the Dream Hotel Group will open Chatwal Lodge in Bethel. Making the most of its position on 60 forested acres of the Chapin Estate, the refuge looks out onto the Toronto Reservoir and takes inspiration from its natural surroundings for decor elements like hand-carved wood accents and massive stone fireplaces. Accommodations will consist of 10 suites, a treehouse, and a glamping tent, and the food and beverage options will include a farm-to-table restaurant that will source fish from the onsite trout stream and produce from its own kitchen garden. — Sarah Bruning

11. Cincinnati, Ohio

The first clues that the Queen City — a Rust Belt capital that was hard hit by the decline of American manufacturing — was poised for a comeback started a few years ago, when tech startups and small businesses moved into disused Over-the-Rhine warehouses, filmmakers flocked in to take advantage of tax breaks and early-20th-century architecture, and historic spaces like the city's Music Hall got a much-needed polish. Now, the urban revival is official — but sneak in a 2021 visit and you can still claim to be a trendsetter. Check into the Kinley , which opened its doors in downtown Cincy in October with a much-buzzed-about restaurant from chefs Kevin Ashworth and Edward Lee. While you're in town, dine at restaurant standouts Please and Goose & Elder , explore new outdoor installations at the Cincinnati Art Museum , and pay a visit the lauded Cincinnati Zoo , whose animal dispatches on social media are the only reasonable justification for keeping your Twitter account. —Lila Battis

12. Delaware

Over the past year, Delaware has been making headlines as the de facto HQ for No. 46 and his transition team, but there's plenty of reason for buzz beyond politics. Many of the recent developments that have drawn young professionals to the capital of Wilmington from nearby hubs like Philadelpha — creative businesses, a high-caliber culinary scene, fewer crowds — also appeal to travelers. Wilmington's marquee hotel, Hotel DuPont , recently underwent a multi-million dollar refurbishment that breathed new life into its iconic Green Room, which now houses the refined French restaurant Le Cavalier, and added De.CO , a casual food hall with six stalls and a bar. Sartorially inclined visitors would do well to check out wares from Town and Store Studio. (For the time being, designer Liv McClintock is selling her handmade leather goods and jewelry via pop-ups and trunk shows.) And though Torbert Street Social is temporarily closed to adhere to COVID restrictions, the recent addition to Wilmington's cocktail scene is worth a stop for such well-crafted originals as the LL Mule J, which pairs vodka with blood orange and kombucha. Come summer, it'll be hard to stay away from the revitalized Riverfront area, which encompasses a number of seafood joints and provides access to watersports and local walking trails. — Sarah Bruning

13. Denver's Lower Highlands

When you visit a city, you want to be based where the cool crowd is. In Denver, that means the hip, arty Lower Highlands neighborhood. LoHi, as it's known by locals, has long been the city's hub for creative cocktails, craft breweries, and cult restaurants, like Pan-Latin small plates spot Señor Bear and Israeli hit Ash'Kara . In the face of a pandemic, the hood has loyally supported exciting newcomers including Fifth String , a restaurant focused on family-style dishes and natural wines, and Room for Milly , a cocktail bar inspired by the roaring 20s. The recent addition of 17-room Life House Lower Highlands finally gives visitors an option beyond Airbnb if they want to be immersed in the LoFi action. Located in the heart of the Navajo Street Art District, the intimate stay transports guests to a Victorian-era pioneer homestead — but, y'know, cool — with furnishings upholstered in dusty florals, Wild West nods like cowhide detailing and vintage cowboy photos, and a sexy, saloon-inspired restaurant and bar. Through an exclusive partnership with conservation-minded land management group Ranchlands, guests can escape the city for a day and experience the frontier spirit firsthand at Chico Basin Ranch . For a jolt of 21st-century culture, downtown Denver is just a short walk away and will unveil a massive art installation from New Mexico-backed artist collective Meow Wolf later this year. — Jen Murphy

14. Florida's Middle Keys

The closest you can get to a Caribbean vacation without leaving the continental U.S., the laid-back islands between Key Largo and Key West took the brunt of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and are where you want to visit in 2021 to connect with one of the country's most fragile ecosystems, both above and below sea level: astronomer-led stargazing walks at the family-friendly Hawk's Cay on Duck Key; Grimal Grove , where community organizer-turned-tropical fruit farmer Patrick Garvey is raising five varieties of nutritious breadfruit to fight hunger insecurity; the Turtle Hospital on Marathon, whose recent 911s include caring for babies beached by Hurricane Eta and endangered Kemps-Ridleys cold-stunned (like hypothermia for turtles) in Cape Cod. While unseasonably chilly water spells trouble up north, warming seas and a still-unidentified infection has bleached up to 98 percent of the Keys' local reef — the largest in North America — but the young scientists at the MOTE Elizabeth Moore marine lab on Summerland Key are in the midst of a promising project to rejuvenate the crippled reef through lab reproduction (like IVF for coral). You can even participate in a hands-on underwater coral transplant through a new partnership with Captain Hook 's dive center on Big Pine. To balance good work with sybaritic indulgence, there's no beating the scalloped pool and impeccable residences at Marathon's recently reopened Marlin Bay Resort & Marina . The resort is walking distance to Keys Fisheries , the best place in the islands for stone crab, a sustainable specialty that goes for $3 a claw in season at the pleasingly disheveled upstairs bar. — Adam Erace

15. Fort Worth, Texas

A walloping dose of Texas heritage — with some luxe, modern updates — is drawing visitors to hit the city where the West begins. The historic Fort Worth Stockyards , once a resupply stop for cattle drovers, captures the celebrated legacy of Texas' bustling livestock industry with rodeos, a history museum, and the world's only twice-daily cattle drive. It's also home to an array of boutiques rich with Lone Star style: In Mule Alley, visit Lucchese for a pair of hand-stitched boots, and stop at Stetson for the obligatory cowboy hat. The forthcoming Hotel Drover , too, will pay homage to the cowboys of old. Set to open in early 2021, the property has a design sensibility that's Old West-meets-Spanish Colonial, with a sprinkling of Victorian smoking lounge moodiness. Embark on a tour of the city's booming creative scene with stops at Art Tooth and the recently renovated Amon Carter Museum of American Art , then cap off your evening with some of Texas's best grain-to-glass bourbon at Blackland Distilling . Stay overnight at the soon-to-open Hotel Dryce , a posh, locally owned boutique hotel and bar situated in Fort Worth's Cultural District. — Gabrielle Nicole Pharms

16. Galena, Illinois

Hidden from the highway just a 30-minute drive from Dubuque, the town of Galena was once the largest riverboat port north of St. Louis. That may have made it one of the state's most influential cities in its 19th-century heyday, but today, history buffs are more likely to recognize it by name as home to nine former Civil War generals, most famously Ulysses S. Grant. And in an era when all of us are rediscovering regional treasures instead of heading further afield, the town has all the makings of the perfect afternoon: A main street just blocks from the Galena River that can be fully explored in a few hours, regional history museums , quirky boutiques, art galleries showcasing local talents , a bar on every corner, and a handful of restaurants. The magic begins not at the P.T. Murphy Magic Theatre , but on the journey into the downtown district: the quick and distinct shift from convenient fast food stops and gas stations to Late Victorian facades and cobblestones sets an oddly comforting tone, whether you're a repeat visitor or not. Galena's easygoing charm is enough to draw both domestic and international tourists, but taking a walk along what's locally known as the "Helluva Half Mile" will plant itself in your memory. If you're looking to extend your stay, book a room at the DeSoto House , the state's oldest operating hotel. —Erika Owen

17. Grand Staircase-Escalante, Utah

Glamping retreats gained new appeal in 2020 as travelers scrambled to safely scratch the vacation itch. And though the vaccine promises a slow return to normal in the months ahead, the taste for luxury in the wild is here to stay. That's good news for luxury glamping operator Under Canvas, which will round out its western offerings with the new Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase next year. The property sits on a 220-acre expanse right on the edge of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument , and guests staying in one of its 50 tents can enjoy all the standard Under Canvas amenities — chic, modern furnishings, s'mores by the fire — along with the option to tack on visits to the brand's other area properties for a full Southwestern road trip experience. Just a few miles down the road in Canyon Point, Aman, too, is jumping on the tented-camp trend with Camp Sarika , a ten-suite Amangiri offshoot that has an away-from-it-all feel — along with heated plunge pools, fire pits, soaking tubs, and views of the sunset over the surrounding mesas. —Lila Battis

18. The Gulf Coast

Picture a white-sand beach, clear aquamarine water, gently swaying palms — the almost-too-perfect scene that looks for all the world like a Caribbean paradise or a remote cove in the Seychelles. Along the Gulf Coast, beauty like this is a given, and a road-trip is the best way to get your fill. Tampa is a great kickoff point; stay at the newly opened Hotel Haya , which nods to the city's Cuban roots. On the Florida Panhandle, the cluster of towns that make up the Emerald Coast offer charms to spare. Grab a vacation rental for a few days to explore tony Alys Beach, which feels for all the world like it was plucked from a Grecian isle — its private shoreline, miles of meandering bike paths, and see-and-be-seen pool-restaurant complex have made it a favorite among the ultrawealthy. Over in Sandestin, Hotel Effie opens this February, with 250 rooms and a restaurant from chef Hugh Acheson. Time your trip right and you can make it to the Emerald Coast Open , a tournament focused on spearing invasive lionfish. At the corresponding Restaurant Week, local chefs work delicious magic with a fish long written off as bad eating. End your trip in Alabama's twin Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, where repair efforts are underway after Hurricane Sally swept through this fall. Family-friendly Perdido's Beach Resort will reopen in March after a full renovation, and closed areas of Gulf State Park are expected to reopen next year. Luckily, some of the area's biggest highlights — its 32 miles of pristine powder beaches, the carnival of seafood delights at Fisher's — remain unchanged. —Lila Battis

19. Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis may be famous for its annual Indy 500 motorsports race, but it's the state capital's arts and culture scene that's revving on all cylinders. Next year, the eight-mile Cultural Trail will undergo a two-mile extension, making it even easier to explore Circle City's attractions on two wheels, including the revamped Madam Walker Legacy Center and the new 12-acre Bottleworks District along Carrollton Ave. Here, a $300 million investment is giving new life to an Art Deco gem—a 1930s Coca-Cola bottling plant whose restored terracotta facade, original terrazzo floors and tilework, and vintage brass doors will be on full display at the 139-room Bottleworks Hotel debuting this month. An Asian-fusion restaurant, coffee bar, nail salon, and speakeasy are coming soon to the property, while old maintenance garages across the street are being converted into a 20-vendor food hall , a duckpin bowling bar and an independent movie theater. This spring, James Beard-nominated chef Abbi Merriss will open Kan-Kan , an arthouse cinema and brasserie in Windsor Park, while chef Craig Baker is using colorful shipping containers to repurpose a 40,000 square foot building in the 16 Tech neighborhood into a food lover's paradise with a European-style marketplace and dining venues. In June, THE LUME will permanently transform The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields ' 30,000-square-foot fourth floor into a digital art space with an inaugural exhibit featuring 3,000 moving images of Vincent Van Gogh paintings set to a classical music score. — Nora Walsh

20. Kansas City, Missouri

The City of Fountains has so much more to offer than its (rightly praised) barbecue. The Crossroads Arts District, in particular, has seen notable growth since the Crossroads Hotel reopened inside the former Pabst bottling plant in 2018. Last February saw the arrival of Mean Mule Distilling Co.'s Agave Lounge, a tasting room dedicated to blue-agave–based spirits. James Beard finalist Michael Corvino's late-night burger (served at his fine-dining supper club) became so popular that, in September, he decided to launch a dedicated venture, Ravenous, inside food hall Parlor KC . Several new breweries have also established roots in the neighborhood, with Casual Animal , Border Brewing Co. , Double Shift , and Torn Label . Elsewhere in the city, female entrepreneurs have proven particularly resilient in the face of the pandemic. When actor Jackie Nguyen's touring production had to close, the first-gen Vietnamese-American started Cafe Cà Phê , a mobile coffee shop serving both the classic beverage and Nguyen's creative riffs. Yoli Tortilleria brought Sonoran-style tortillas to the city — first with its own retail shop, then through several local markets and restaurants. There's also cultural news of note for 2021: after almost three years, the long-awaited renovation of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum is finally complete, and the facility — with its new multimedia and interactive exhibits — will be ready to go once cultural institutions are allowed to reopen. And don't miss the chance to check into KC's latest arrival, the new Hotel Kansas City , which opened this fall in the 1920s building that once housed the Kansas City Club. — Sarah Bruning

21. Las Vegas

You don't go to Las Vegas seeking solitude — you go to indulge, to splash out, to revel in the nonstop energy of this shimmering, seductive oasis in the desert. A city defined by its hypnotic pool parties, around-the-clock gambling, epic nightlife scene, glitzy, over-the-top hotels, and next-level restaurants — each one trying to one up the other — just dreaming about a visit is enough to push your endorphins into overdrive. And after a year of staying still within our own four walls — the extreme antithesis of Sin City — getting back to Vegas and its many venues designed to bring crowds together will feel like the ultimate luxury. Throw in exciting new properties, like the Resorts World Las Vegas, a 3,500-room mega-resort and casino combining Hilton Hotels & Resorts , LXR , and the Conrad across 88 acres; the recently completed Circa Resort & Casino , the first adults-only casino resort with a pool amphitheater; and Virgin Hotels , set to replace the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and well, you've hit the jackpot. — Alisha Prakash

22. Lexington, Kentucky

A handful of pilgrimage-worthy culinary and cultural developments will draw travelers to the Bluegrass State's second-largest city in 2021. It's not just The Queen's Gambit that has drummed up excitement around Lexington. After sitting empty for 20 years, Greyline Station has been newly reimagined as a 70-stall open market populated by dozens of local small businesses like North Lime Coffee and Donuts and Old North Bar, which will have a "sip and stroll'' license so visitors can enjoy a beverage while they browse. The anchor tenant — taking up just over a third of the 65,000 square feet — is Julietta Market , an open-air grocery in the vein of Seattle's Pike Place and Barcelona's La Boqueria. Elsewhere in the city will be the new Fresh Bourbon distillery from entrepreneur Sean Edwards, who grew up in Lexington and learned the craft from his grandfather and uncles. The 34,000-square-foot facility is set to be the largest Black-owned distillery in the state when it opens and will offer tours and guided tastings. Cultural sites are also furthering initiatives to tell a richer, more diverse history of Kentucky: Don't miss new walking tours of Lexington from the Faulkner Morgan Archive , an organization dedicated to preserving and chronicling the state's LGBTQ+ legacy. — Sarah Bruning

23. Lopez Island, Washington

Only the chilly saltwater splashing onto the rocky shores — and the occasional moo of the local farm animals — seem to disrupt the peaceful calm of Lopez Island. Idyllic nearly to the point of absurdity, the pace of life on these 30 acres in Puget Sound appeals to those who find serenity in the scenic route. For bicyclists, that comes in the form of the gentle, rolling roads that double as bike paths as they wind around the island. For food lovers, it means a feast of artisanal baked goods, heritage meats, and foraged foods from farm stands, markets, and restaurants. Midnight's Farm encapsulates the Lopez ethos, selling rotationally grazed grass-fed beef from little more than a cash box nailed to the side of a lean-to, hosting yoga classes in an on-site studio, and renting out the homey field house for farm stays. North Star Farms uses their own wheat to bake bagels and doughnuts from the kitchen at the Edenwild, a cozy boutique inn. And Barn Owl Bakery sells its wild sourdough alongside spreads from Ursa Minor , where chef Nick Coffey distilled the flavors of Lopez Island into world-class multi-course menus before swiftly transitioning to community-centric takeout during the pandemic. — Naomi Tomky

24. Los Angeles

Visit Los Angeles for the stress-relieving powers of sunshine and surf, stay to see two long-awaited museums finally open their doors. Renzo Piano has reimagined the 1930s May Company department store in Mid-Wilshire, where the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will unveil its centerpiece, the last-surviving full-scale shark model from Steven Spielberg's "Jaws," when it opens in April. Other collection highlights include Judy Garland's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz," items from the late Debbie Reynolds' personal collection, and memorabilia from the Star Wars and Matrix films. If all that entertainment leaves you thirsty, 2021 will be the year a craft beer scene flourishes in South L.A.'s Florence neighborhood, thanks to the soon-to-open 13,000-square-foot South Los Angeles Beverage Company, a Black-owned brewery, tasting room, cidery, and coffee roastery. Meanwhile, a spate of new hotel openings is led by the Pendry West Hollywood , the brand's first L.A. property, opening in January at the former House of Blues on the iconic Sunset Strip. In Century City, the expansive Fairmont Century Plaza will have 400 rooms and 63 luxury residences, and in Downtown L.A., the latest Proper location will feature Kelly Wearstler's eclectic design combining work from California-based artists, plus restaurants, bars, and a rooftop pool sure to be a hit with the Staples Center crowd. — Nina Ruggiero

Miami continues to prove it's much more than its blockbuster beaches and hedonist party scene. Early next year, the initial phase of the Underline , a planned 10-mile linear park below Miami's Metrorail (from the same design studio as New York's High Line ), will debut as the "Brickell Backyard" on a half-mile stretch from the Miami River to Coral Way. Expect public art, free concerts, outdoor gathering spaces, fitness activities, and lush landscapes with butterfly gardens. Cap off a visit with a bite at one of Brickell City Centre 's various new dining concepts, like the Cuban-inflected Marabu . Meanwhile, the neighborhood of Allapattah has become a fledgling arts district home to billionaire Jorge Perez' year-old museum El Espacio 23 , the Rubell Museum , and the highly-anticipated 50,000-square-foot experiential art space, Superblue , launching with three large-scale installations this spring. Throughout 2021, an overhauled CocoWalk will bring retailers, eateries, and slick architecture to quaint Coconut Grove. And when it comes time to bed down, travelers have their pick of glossy new Miami Beach hotels flaunting Art Deco design, swoon-worthy pools and exceptional food and drink. Check out souped-up iterations of the W Hotel , Mondrian , the Ritz-Carlton ; recently opened Palihouse and Kimpton's Palomar; and upcoming sure-to-be-hot spots Moxy Miami , Citizen M Citizen MCitizen M and Goodtime Hotel , the brainchild of hospitality mogul David Grutman and singer Pharrell Williams. —Nora Walsh

26. Nantucket

The charm of Nantucket is that not much changes. Luckily, the historic cobblestone downtown, the tiny rose-covered S'conset cottages, the timeless beaches — they're all still here. But as locals mark the 200th anniversary of the sinking of the Nantucket whaling ship Essex and cannibalism on the high seas, it's a perfect time to remember that even on Nantucket, some changes can be okay. This year, the iconic Century House on Cliff Road left the ranks of Nantucket's bed and breakfast lodgings to join the new Life House Nantucket . It's just the latest of the new boutique hoteliers marrying tradition with luxury in the historic downtown — check out the Greydon House and their new Venetian-inspired small plates at Via Mare. From there, grab locally sourced provisions from Proprietors Bar and Table , Company of The Caldron , or Black-Eyed Susan's , or wander to Tap Room , recently restored to the cellar of the Jared Coffin House. Out of town, Cisco Brewers is upping its game, partnering with the Levitate Music and Arts Festival to bring a schedule of big-name bands to play their festive outdoor island flagship location. After 2020, couldn't we all use some outdoor tunes, craft beer, and a few cocktails? — Charles Graeber

27. Nashville

Nashville has been an "it" city for a while, we know. But if you look past Lower Broadway — and the hoards of bachelor and bachelorette parties that roam the stretch — there's a lot more to the city than honky-tonks and country. In January, the long-awaited National Museum of African American Music will open its doors, adding a permanent home to celebrate the work of Black musicians and the evolution of gospel, blues, jazz, and hip-hop, among others. The 346-room W hotel will bring new flavor to the upscale Gulch, while legacy brands like Conrad and Four Seasons continue building out a true luxury market in Music City. Assembly Food Hall , at nearly 100,000 square feet, will bring over 24 restaurant stalls and a new music venue space overlooking the historic Ryman Auditorium downtown. And we'll all be celebrating the Dolly Parton-funded vaccine at Graduate Hotel's Dolly Parton-themed rooftop bar, White Limozeen . —Tanner Saunders

28. New Orleans

New Orleans never goes out of style , though for a moment, with 2021's Mardi Gras parade season called off due to crowd concerns, it looked as if next year would be a low point for the city. But the top krewes rallied — drumming up virtual parades and scavenger hunts, making plans to deck out houses in lieu of floats , and charging forward with fundraising efforts to support their communities — reminding us all that this beloved city's spirit is irrepressible. And while Mardi Gras may not look the same in 2021, that doesn't mean there's nothing to look forward to. This fall saw the opening of The Chloe , a 14-room hotel on St. Charles with an interior that marries old-fashioned drama and playful, pastel-colored sweetness. Still to come: Four Seasons New Orleans , a $530 million conversion of the landmarked World Trade Center building, right on the banks of the Mississippi. — Lila Battis

29. New York City

It's often said that change is the only constant in New York — the very name serves as a reminder that new is indeed its hallmark. When the pandemic hit hard this spring, the city — resilient at its core — slowly reinvented itself: Restaurants eventually set up shop curbside, performances and museums went virtual, bars began peddling to-go cocktails from modest, makeshift windows, and hotels transformed rooms into remote offices. When the city cracks its door open to travel again, it will undoubtedly be another new New York. Its fresh look will include a slew of new hotels, like the Aman New York , with a three-story spa and sweeping Central Park views; the sophisticated yet laid-back Pendry , perched in Manhattan's Hudson Yards district; and the Ritz-Carlton NoMad , a 38-floor tower touting a public garden, rooftop bar, and striking city vistas. Meanwhile, luxury hospitality group Six Senses , known for its wellness resorts in places like Bali and the Maldives, will soon bring a dose of its signature tranquility to the high-octane urban landscape, with a standout spa and calming views of the High Line and Hudson River. Restaurants, shops, and museums are poised to make a comeback, too. The only missing ingredient? You. — Alisha Prakash

30. North Carolina's Triangle

For starters, let's get one thing straight: Raleigh-Durham is an airport, not a city. But, okay, it's handy to have a catchall term for this buzzy part of the Southeast, so go with local parlance: The Triangle, shorthand for the Research Triangle, a cluster in the North Carolina Piedmont anchored by the cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Even as the area saw through-the-roof growth in recent decades, leisure travelers have overlooked the Triangle in favor of N.C. getaway spots like Asheville or the Outer Banks. That's finally changing as new hotel stock has made it more inviting to linger. Boutique properties like the 53-room Durham Hotel and the tiny, stylish Guest House Raleigh have opened in the past few years, raising the bar for local accommodations and kicking off a wave of new spots with a design-forward sensibility. January 2020 saw the opening of the Longleaf Hotel , a downtown Raleigh motor lodge revamped with a fittingly midcentury-inspired aesthetic, and the sleek Origin Hotel — the upstart brand's fourth location — made its debut this summer. While you're in town, make time to explore the trails of Duke Forest or Umstead Park , wander down Durham's Main Street or Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, and hit up the many incredible restaurants in the area. Much talked-about spots like Saltbox Seafood Joint , Brewery Bhavana , and Garland — not to mention chef Ashley Christensen's stable of restaurants — live up to the hype. But don't overlook the Triangle's longstanding gems: You can't go wrong with La Farm Bakery in Cary for artisan bread and a signature white chocolate baguette, Char-Grill for unfussy burgers, or Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill for the platonic ideal of shrimp and grits. Cap it off with a visit to the downtown Raleigh Krispy Kreme right when the HOT light goes on and you're practically a native. —Lila Battis

31. Northern Minnesota

The promise of starry skies awaits in Minnesota's northern reaches, where Voyageurs National Park recently joined Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as a certified Dark Sky destination. Clear views of the cosmos — and even the Northern Lights, if you're lucky — are only part of the fun in this water-rich region. Adventurers flock to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness' 1.1 million rugged acres to paddle 1,200 miles of canoe-portage routes and camp under the constellations. Meanwhile, more than a third of the neighboring 218,000-acre Voyageurs National Park is a watery wonderland, making motorized houseboats a novel way to stargaze and explore the park's five main lakes and boreal and deciduous forests. Both parks offer an abundance of wildlife from aquatic birds and beavers to timber wolves and black bear; miles of scenic nature trails; and opportunities to angle walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. In winter, the firmament glitters even brighter, plus there's dog sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling (the latter is only offered in Voyageurs National Park). Call on local outfitters to help organize year-round itineraries and stock up on necessary gear.— Nora Walsh

32. Northwest Arkansas

With the opening early last year of the Momentary , a center for arts and culture housed in a former cheese factory, the formerly sleepy town of Bentonville in northwest Arkansas continued its transformation into a hub for creativity and outdoor experiences. Last October, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art , founded by Walmart heir Alice Walton, announced that it will augment its collection with an outdoor play space that promises to harmonize with the surrounding landscape. The 21c Museum Hotel offers further art adventures, as well as the Hive , one of the region's best restaurants. Venture beyond the town to Bella Vista, where you can hit the 39 miles of mountain biking paths at the recently expanded Little Sugar Trail System, or to Springdale, home of the new J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center , where families can explore exhibitions, nature trails, and an archery range. — Peter Terzian

33. Oahu, Hawaii

In October, America's 50th state once again welcomed visitors from the mainland after six months of pandemic lockdown. And while many travelers opt to use the capital and most populous city, Honolulu, as a stopover to Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island, there's good reason to stay put on Oahu this year. The hotel scene continues to expand — most recently with a complete overhaul of a Waikiki classic, Queen Kapi'olani , which debuted its new look in December. Inspired by vintage Hawaiiana and local art, the 315-room resort sits across the street from legendary Waikiki Beach, and is (fittingly) home to a new surf school and shop. Over is Kaimuki — a neighborhood that's become the center of Oahu's increasingly dynamic food world — chef Chris Kajioka followed up his wildly popular (and perennially packed) Arts District restaurant, Senia, with Miro , featuring a French-inspired menu using Japanese techniques and ingredients. And for a look at the island's contemporary art, fashion, and design, head to Kaka'ako, a warehouse-filled industrial area near downtown with an ever-expanding open-air commercial compound, SALT at Our Kaka'ako to check out local creations and a weekly Saturday morning farmers market. — John Wogan

34. Omaha, Nebraska

Nebraska's largest city is hitting its stride. Omaha 's patchwork of eclectic neighborhoods (one of which is home to billionaire Warren Buffett) blends old with new in exciting ways. A shining example: The just-opened Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel , a $75 million reinvention of the iconic Blackstone Hotel, which has played host to notable dignitaries like Eleanor Roosevelt, John and Jackie Kennedy, and Richard Nixon. Special attention was paid to preserving the 105-year-old grand dame's hand-carved terra cotta columns, marble staircase, hardwood floors, and grand ballroom's vaulted ceilings. The property's 21st-century updates include five contemporary dining venues, including a modernized Orleans Room (which, in its heyday, consistently ranked as one of the nation's best restaurants), a steakhouse, and reimagined speakeasy. A host of top-notch culinary purveyors and a 70-work art collection curated by artist Watie White highlights the best of Omaha's local talent. To experience the revival playing out in the surrounding Blackstone District (birthplace of the Reuben sandwich), guests can hop in the hotel's electric tuk-tuk to cruise streets chock full of ultra-hip eateries, craft-beer bars, and trendy boutiques. Be sure to grab front-row seats to Omaha's hot-ticket events in 2021 including the buzzy Omaha Fashion Week in March, where attendees can buy looks right off the runway; the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in June to see the nation's top athletes compete; and the annual Maha Festival , a high-caliber music and food festival happening late July. — Nora Walsh

35. Orlando

Remember roller coasters? Dole Whips? Carefree days when the most important thing was not getting vertigo on the Tower of Terror? Next year, there's no better place to live out your pent-up theme park fantasies than Walt Disney World Resort, which turns 50 in 2021. No details yet on the actual celebration, but we do know there's a huge transformation of Epcot underway, including new experiences like Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and a space-themed restaurant. Seeking an adrenaline rush (and who isn't, these days)? Hit the new Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal come summer, where you'll catapult upward at 70 miles per hour. Feel safe knowing Orlando was one of the first cities to develop a citywide health and safety program , with major parks going above CDC requirements. (Expect virtual kiosks and check-in at each.) And though its new south terminal won't be open until 2022, Orlando International Airport just introduced on-site COVID testing, one of the first airports in the country to do so. Helping to welcome visitors back, newcomers to Orlando's hotel scene include internationally inspired TRYP by Wyndham opened in November, Dockside Inn and Suites at Universal Orlando Resort in December, AC Hotel Orlando Downtown expected in January 2021, and the upscale Reserve tower at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort (with free shuttle service to Disney) in mid-2021. Fancy downtime away from the city? The tranquil Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes completes a $120 million transformation in February. —Kelsey Ogletree

36. Palm Springs, California

From the cocktails and pools to the starry night skies, the swath of desert east of L.A. never gets old. And now, a new crop of hotels, restaurants, bars, art and even sound bathing experiences are lending fresh energy to Palm Springs and its neighboring desert cities. Soak in mineral-rich waters at the just-opened Azure Palm Hot Springs , a 40-room resort and spa, in Desert Hot Springs. At the reimagined Casa Cody , rooms — 30 in total — feature fireplaces and patios, as well as colorful details such as Moroccan zellige tiles and otomi-embroidered pillows. And at year-old, 27-room Les Cactus , guests wake up to breakfast baskets with freshly baked croissants. Debuting its third installment this year, biennial art exhibition Desert X , which has quietly become a major art attraction, returns with new site-specific installations. Also opening in 2021, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum is part 48,000-square foot museum and gardens, part bathhouse-cum-spa celebrating the history and culture of the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians. Come dinner, sample inventive rolls paired with scotch at Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey , helmed by chef Engin Onural. His latest venture is Tailor Shop, a cocktail bar drawing inspiration from faraway places including London, Norway and Hong Kong. For adventure of another kind, head to otherworldly Joshua Tree National Park nearby. The hiking, rock climbing, and stargazing do not disappoint. — Tanvi Chheda

37. Park City, Utah

With Sundance events going mostly virtual and many still wary of travel, Utah's greatest ski town is likely to take a tourism hit this winter. But once it's safe to do so, make a beeline for this outdoor paradise — before everyone else does. A series of big-deal developments in the works have Park City poised for major growth in the coming years. Mayflower Mountain Resort — a massive 6,800-acre, multi-hotel complex which creators claim would be the first new ski resort in the U.S. in 40 years — is in the works for a 2023 opening. If and when it finally debuts, it's expected to bring serious crowds, and a potential agreement with Deer Valley might mean some of the most exclusive slopes in the States (and famously, some of the last to ban snowboarding) get a little more traffic. Elsewhere in town, development for a new arts district is underway, and the forthcoming Pendry Park City is setting up shop in Canyons Village, with 152 guestrooms, a luxe spa, and the area's first rooftop pool. Until that all arrives, soak in the highlights that have made Park City so beloved: the small businesses on historic Main Street , the crowd-free powder at tony Deer Valley , and the year-round outdoor adventures to be found in the surrounding mountains. —Lila Battis

38. Rhode Island

Known for its Colonial seaside towns and Gilded Age mansions, Rhode Island is a destination steeped in history. But it's become a modern hot spot recently with the openings of several new properties. The Wayfinder Hotel in Newport, created by a group of locals, touts its anti-nautical design vibe — visit the on-site restaurant, Nomi Park, for traditional New England fare with a twist. And the past blends with the present at Providence's new hotel, the Beatrice , once the 1887 Exchange Building. Now, it's a 47-room boutique property within walking distance of the university city's buzzing downtown. And there are even options for outdoor enthusiasts thanks to the opening of the 3,500-acre Preserve Sporting Club & Residences in Richmond, from the team behind Ocean House . The one-of-a-kind wilderness retreat features an 18-hole golf course, zip line, mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking, archery, and more. The pint-size state is having such a moment, luxury travel company Black Tomato even included a stop at the Vanderbilt in Newport on a New England road trip itinerary launched as part of its curated Take the Open Road with Auberge and Black Tomato collection. Of course, the classic experiences are just as appealing: You can't leave the Ocean State without making a pilgrimage to try the epic Sunday brunch at Castle Hill Inn , overlooking Narragansett Bay. — Jordi Lippe-McGraw

39. Richmond, Virginia

One of 2020's most indelible images, and the one that best captured the changing identity of Richmond, was that of Marcus-David Peters Circle on Monument Avenue: A statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee astride a horse, its stone plinth a kaleidoscope of tags in support of Black Lives Matter. Now, with the statue's removal in the works, Richmond is looking toward a new, more inclusive future. Virginia's governor announced a proposal to allot $10 million in state funding to redesign the site, along with the stretches of Monument Avenue that once held similar tributes to Confederate figures. Another $9 million is proposed to help improve Richmond's existing Slave Trail and establish a Slavery Heritage Site. Elsewhere in the city, look for public art created this year as part of Mending Walls RVA , a project spearheaded by muralist Hamilton Glass that brings together artists from disparate backgrounds to create murals around Richmond. Newly launched nonstop flights from Florida, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles will make visiting in 2021 a breeze, and Richmond's location — within easy reach of Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, and wine country — makes it an ideal home base for a lengthier exploration of the state. —Lila Battis

40. The Rockies

Colorado's peaks have been all the more alluring in 2020 as outdoor activities became the default and the Great American Road Trip made its long-awaited comeback. But next year holds even more in store for visitors: Rocky Mountaineer , known for its impossibly scenic, glass-domed train rides through western Canada, will launch its first U.S. route in August, from the Rockies via Denver along the Colorado River to the Red Rocks in Moab, Utah. The two-day journey includes sparkling wine toasts and three-course meals served with views of canyons and cliffs, deserts and mountains. Before hopping on board, take time to visit Colorado's newest state park, Fishers Peak , opening its 30 square miles of land in phases. Marked by a 9,633-foot mountain, it's home to black bears, elk, mountain lions, and more wildlife to spot. For skiers, Aspen Snowmass will debut a high-speed chairlift, additional snowmaking for seamless shredding, and a new dining concept at High Alpine Marketplace , an offshoot of local favorite Gwyn's, serving warming dishes with fresh ingredients sourced sustainably from local farmers. At the Viceroy Snowmass , a COVID-era uptick in interest in backcountry skiing has prompted a new Uphill Thrills experience, where guests can book an excursion to Aspen's most isolated slopes and forego the lifts all together. —Nina Ruggiero

41. Santa Fe, New Mexico

A UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art as well as City of Design, Santa Fe is widely known as an arts mecca. Stalwart stays like the Inn at Five Graces and the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi , celebrate that status with their adobe architecture and distinctive art. But sometimes it takes a new hotel to help us see a destination with fresh eyes. The reimagined Bishop's Lodge , Santa Fe's newest luxury hotel in nearly a decade, aims to showcase far more than the city's artistic side when it opens this spring. Set on 317 acres bordering Santa Fe National Forest, the 100-room Auberge Resorts Collection property will offer fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and wrangler-led trail rides from its on-site stables. A restaurant helmed by Dean Fearing, the godfather of Southwestern cuisine, and a healing arts studio with therapies such as turquoise gem therapy are respites from wilderness adventures. The lodge will serve as a base for new four- and six-day cycling trips from Trek Travel, as well a new road trip itinerary from Black Tomato. Meanwhile, Marcia Gordon, the New Mexico-born co-owner of African safari specialist Extraordinary Journeys, has cast her attention back home, with custom itineraries that might include hikes in Georgia O' Keeffe's beloved Ghost Ranch or Navajo-led walks through the ruins of Chaco Canyon. — Jen Murphy

42. The Sea Islands

Running along the southeastern coast of the U.S. are the Sea Islands, a chain of over 100 tidal and barrier islands spanning from Florida to North Carolina. The marshy region is also home to the Gullah Geechee Corridor , a 12,000-square-mile National Heritage Area — the cultural homeland of the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans who have preserved their traditions and language for centuries. The Sea Islands have emerged as a compelling travel destination in recent years, beginning with President Obama's 2017 move to establish a Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina's Beaufort County. In 2019, a redesignation expanded the corridor, and this year brought still more attention to the region, with the new Reconstruction Era National Historic Network incorporating several sites in the area. You'd need a lifetime to fully explore the islands, but start your trip in South Carolina: Johns Island is home to Moving Star Hall, the last remaining praise house in the region, along with the Angel Oak Tree, rumored to be one of the oldest of its kind east of the Mississippi River. Visit St. Helena to see the Penn Center , one of the first schools for free Black children in America and the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. composed his "I Have A Dream" speech. On Georgia's largely undeveloped Cumberland Island, undisturbed views more than make up for the bare-bones facilities, while further south in St. Augustine, Florida, Fort Mose Historic State Park offers opportunities to learn about the first legally recognized free Black settlement in America. Don't leave without a stop at Gullah Grub Restaurant on St. Helena for a taste of true Gullah Geechee cuisine, a seafood- and grain-rich culinary tradition similar to the soul food developed by enslaved Africans across the American South. —Danielle Dorsey

43. Sonoma, California

In the face of back-to-back years of wildfires, Sonoma County is forging ahead to achieve a more sustainable future. As of 2019, 99 percent of the region's vineyards were certified sustainable, earning Sonoma the accolade of world's most sustainable winegrowing region. And last year, area vineyards launched a pilot program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With that earth-conscious ethos, it's only fitting that nature is the star of Sonoma's newest experiences. Guests at the new Montage Healdsburg, which debuted this December, will literally feel like they're living amidst the vines. Nestled among 258 acres of rolling vineyards, the resort's 130 rooms each have spacious outdoor living areas, and guests can book experiences such as yoga classes and wine tastings amid rows of Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. While Montage begs indulgence at its terroir-to-table restaurant, Hazel Hill, nearby New Tree Ranch , a 120-acre biodynamic farmstead that opened last November, caters to guests in need of a reboot with plant-based menus, sound journeys, and cold water therapies. Boutique operator Bohemian Highway has launched chef-led tours of Healdsburg farms and vineyards leading the way in organic and biodynamic practices. Any DIY wine tasting tour of Healdsburg should include stops at winemaker wunderkind Jess Katz's new sustainably-minded tasting room, Aperture Cellars, and the hip new al fresco venue from winemaker Noah Dorrance's new project, Blood Root Wines . Sonoma's restaurant scene is also heating up. Star chef Michael Mina debuted his first wine country project, Wit & Wisdom , in the town of Sonoma last fall, and later this year, acclaimed chef Douglas Keane will put sleepy Geyserville on the map when he unveils Cyrus 2.0, a reinvention of his two-Michelin-star restaurant previously in Healdsburg. —Jen Murphy

44. Texas Hill Country

Just outside the capital city of Austin is the idyllic region known as the Hill Country . Comprising over 20 towns — along with plenty of lush, loping countryside — the Hill Country has an inimitable charm that those outside of the state just seem to be catching onto. Experience the best in Texas terroir by visiting Driftwood-based wineries like the renowned Fall Creek Vineyards , run one of the founding families of the Texas wine industry, and acclaimed Duchman Family Winery , which makes exceptional wines (try their award-winning Aglianico) from Italian grape varieties. Stay the weekend in one of the rustic-chic Getaway cabins, which opened in early 2020 in the quaint town of Wimberley, and stop for a dram in Dripping Springs' Distillery District, which is home to more than 25 distilleries, such as Treaty Oak Distilling and Deep Eddy Vodka . Complete your weekend road trip with a stay at the luxurious Camp Lucy , situated on 289 acres on a bluff above the famous Onion Creek. — Gabrielle Nicole Pharms

45. Tucson, Arizona

Tucson has long lived in the shadow of its higher-profile Southwestern siblings like Phoenix, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. But this undercover desert rose has come into its own recently, as more visitors discover the saguaro-dotted city that's been a magnet for wellness enthusiasts long before the term went mainstream. Lately, new, boutique hotels have popped up, joining established spa resorts like Miraval and Canyon Ranch. These include The Tuxon — a 112-room property that takes its whimsical design cues from the region's Mexican and Native American roots — and JTH Tucson , a five-suite earth-toned escape on the edge of Saguaro National Park. And architecture buffs will appreciate projects saved by the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, like the Ball-Paylore House, an important mid-century modern residence designed by Arthur T. Brown which became available for overnight stays last year. Meanwhile, Tucson continues to cater to outdoorsy types, and anticipation is high for the forthcoming Bike Ranch, a sustainable, 20-acre resort adjacent to Saguaro National Park that's dedicated to all aspects of cycling and mountain biking. — John Wogan

46. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Big, open green spaces like the 100-acre Gathering Place and a high quality of life — especially as measured in microbreweries and trendy restaurants — brought new crowds to the Art Deco darling of Tulsa in recent years. But Tulsa's renaissance remained incomplete without a reconciliation and recognition of the city's dark past. As much of the U.S. learned only last year, through television depictions on Lovecraft Country and Watchmen , the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 wiped out the thriving and successful neighborhood of Greenwood, known as Black Wall Street. Approaching the 100th anniversary of the horrific attack, a new class of Black artists and entrepreneurs honors and explores that history, bringing residents and visitors to face the dark past through creative means. The Black Moon collective, Black Wall Street Gallery , and Fulton Street Books and Coffee each aim to heal and unify by centering the work and narratives of the Black community. Those narratives come in physical form in the sculptures at John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park , near the coming Greenwood Rising center dedicated to the legacy of Black Wall Street, and site of commemoration events planned leading up to a candlelight vigil marking the anniversary. —Naomi Tomky

47. The U.S. National Parks

The National Park Service saw another banner year in 2020 — even if it was for all the wrong reasons. As the pandemic spurred interest in outdoor pursuits, Yellowstone National Park recorded the busiest September in history . Other biggies, like Joshua Tree, were bracing for huge holiday-season crowds . It should come as no surprise: Travelers also swarmed parks and nature preserves during the 1918 pandemic, according to Quartz . But record visitation and crowding at iconic spots kind of defeats the point of exploring wide-open spaces, doesn't it? Enter TCS World Travel, a luxury outfitter that coordinates private jet trips. They've just launched a private itinerary — designed for quarantine pods of four to 12 guests — that hits many of the most in-demand national parks, including Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, and Zion, by private Citation CJ3 or Hawker 800XP jet. These fully customizable trips will have adventurers tracking wolves in Yellowstone, hiking past hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, standup paddleboarding on Lake Powell, or whatever else your crew wants to do. And while TCS can't promise you won't see another soul along the way, they can get you into some of the most exclusive hotels in the American West, including Amangani, Amangiri, and Sage Lodge. —Paul Brady

48. Washington, D.C.

The push and pull between past and present is the great drama of Washington, D.C. Once you know to look, you'll see it everywhere. The newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza — its great yellow block letters both immediately recognizable and extremely photogenic — abuts Lafayette Square, in front of the White House, which once was an open-air slave market. The Smithsonian Institution marks its 175th anniversary with its first national Latino gallery on the National Mall : a new exhibition space to open inside the National Museum of American History. The new Kimpton Banneker Hotel , just north of Scott Circle, is named after the city's great polymath, Benjamin, the 18th-century free black writer and astronomer who surveyed the District's boundaries. And making his debut at the National Zoo is Xiao Qi Ji ("Little Miracle"), a panda cub whose presence can be traced back to Nixon's 1972 trip to China. But the pandemic-age inauguration of a new president in January will doubtless be the city's biggest milestone — unless this is the year D.C. finally becomes a state. —Molly McArdle

49. White Sands, New Mexico

Nothing is as it seems in White Sands , the 176,000-acre swath of New Mexico desert that was first established as a national monument in 1933. From afar, the gypsum dunes —the world's largest such expanse — look as sterile and sun-scorched as the surface of a distant planet. Up close, the luxuriously cool sand teems with life. Bleached earless lizards, Apache pocket mice, and sand wolf spiders — all mostly white, to blend in with their surroundings — skitter across the dunes. At first, there's no evidence of humankind, but investigate the right spot and you'll find fossilized footprints overlaid by mammoth and giant-sloth tracks. Last year's redesignation as a national park expanded the protected region's scope by 2,030 acres, and, more importantly, increased its visibility to travelers. Researchers estimate that the change in status could contribute $7 million in spending, and 100 jobs, to the local economy. — Kieran Dahl

50. Wyoming

No one could have dreamed up a better marketing plan for Wyoming than social distancing. The country's least-populated state has only six people per square mile, meaning it's not only easy, but natural to stay safely apart. Yellowstone and Grand Teton have both seen huge spikes in visitation (credit "Yellowstone" binges), but don't overlook Wyoming's 12 state parks . A new 4-mile section was recently added to the famous Continental Divide Trail, too. Not so good with a compass? Go deeper into the park (without getting lost) with new itineraries from ToursByLocals, including a full-day adventure in Grand Teton National park, or book the new winter experience with wolves from Scott Dunn. In Casper, College National Finals Rodeo (the Rose Bowl of the sport) resumes in June after a year off, and the world's largest outdoor rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days , celebrates its 125th anniversary in July 2021. Hit the pancake breakfast to feel like you really belong. In south central Wyoming, the Relais & Chateaux Magee Homestead reopens to leisure travelers and relaunches its popular culinary events. And in Jackson, the first hotel on the historic town square, the 100-room Cloudveil , opens in spring with a huge rooftop terrace overlooking Snow King Mountain. —Kelsey Ogletree

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The role of intellectual property rights on access to medicines in the WHO African region: 25 years after the TRIPS agreement

• Marion Motari 1 ,
• Jean-Baptiste Nikiema 1 ,
• Ossy M. J. Kasilo 1 ,
• Stanislav Kniazkov 1 ,
• Andre Loua 1 ,
• Aissatou Sougou 1 &
• Prosper Tumusiime 1  

BMC Public Health volume  21 , Article number:  490 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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It is now 25 years since the adoption of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and the same concerns raised during its negotiations such as high prices of medicines, market exclusivity and delayed market entry for generics remain relevant as highlighted recently by the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) mandate to work on the interface between intellectual property, innovation and access to medicine has been continually reinforced and extended to include providing support to countries on the implementation of TRIPS flexibilities in collaboration with stakeholders. This study analyses the role of intellectual property on access to medicines in the African Region.

We analyze patent data from the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) to provide a situational analysis of patenting activity and trends. We also review legislation to assess how TRIPS flexibilities are implemented in countries.

Patenting was low for African countries. Only South Africa and Cameroon appeared in the list of top ten originator countries for ARIPO and OAPI respectively. Main diseases covered by African patents were HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and tumors. Majority countries have legislation allowing for compulsory licensing and parallel importation of medicines, while the least legislated flexibilities were explicit exemption of pharmaceutical products from patentable subject matter, new or second use of patented pharmaceutical products, imposition of limits to patent term extension and test data protection. Thirty-nine countries have applied TRIPS flexibilities, with the most common being compulsory licensing and least developed country transition provisions.

Conclusions

Opportunities exist for WHO to work with ARIPO and OAPI to support countries in reviewing their legislation to be more responsive to public health needs.

Peer Review reports

The adoption of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights [ 1 ] (TRIPS Agreement) in 1994 by Member States of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was a watershed event, which gave rise to a new global intellectual property protection (IPP) regime with significant effects on access to medicines. Some of these effects include high prices of medicinal products [ 2 ], prevention of local manufacture of generic products through reverse engineering of patented products, importation of cheaper medicinal products from off-patent countries or under licensing agreements and delayed market entry for generic products.

The potential impact of the TRIPS Agreement on access to medicines in developing and least developed countries, has caused debate with some commentators arguing that IPP makes it possible for pharmaceutical companies to recoup their Research and Development (R&D) costs and hence act as an incentive for investment in biopharmaceutical research [ 3 ] and innovation [ 4 ]. However, this incentive structure has failed to spur R&D investments for diseases that predominantly affect people living in countries with a high prevalence of neglected diseases [ 5 ], leading to the emergence of alternative product development partnership (PDP) models such as the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) [ 4 ], proposals for a global R&D treaty, Footnote 1 and the promotion of public health interests by using existing TRIPS flexibilities [ 6 ] or through revisions to the TRIPS Agreement. Footnote 2

Although this paper focuses on the role of intellectual property rights on access to medicines, it is recognized that limited access to medicines in countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region Footnote 3 is a multidimensional problem. It is affected by other factors such as lack of public financing for health care and over-reliance on out of pocket expenditur e[ 7 ], fragile logistics, storage challenges and high transport and distribution costs [ 2 ] and inadequate or inappropriate medicines regulatory frameworks [ 8 ]. These factors are further exacerbated by insufficient scientific, technological and local manufacturing capabilities in the Region [ 9 ].

The occurrence of public health emergencies of global concern such as Ebola [ 10 ] and COVID19 Footnote 4 [ 11 ], have served to highlight further the tensions between IPP and access to medicines [ 12 ]. For example, in March 2020, Gilead Sciences, the makers of remdesivir which is a drug initially studied in clinical trials for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and has received US FDA emergency use authorization Footnote 5 for the treatment of adults and children hospitalized with severe COVID-19 disease, made an application for orphan drug status for the drug, which has since been rescinded. Footnote 6 Orphan drug designation for remdesivir would have granted Gilead Sciences 7 years of market exclusivity in addition to the standard 20 years of patent protection guaranteed by the TRIPS Agreement Footnote 7 and other benefits such as tax credits of up to 50% of qualified clinical development spending, exemption from certain FDA fees and access to special FDA technical advice [ 13 ]. Gilead Sciences has since signed non-exclusive license agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers in Egypt, India and Pakistan for the supply of remdesivir in 127 low and middle-income countries, Footnote 8 which include all countries of the WHO African Region.

WHO, intellectual property and access to medicines

The earliest articulation of WHO’s mandate to work on the interface between access to medical products, R&D in rare and tropical diseases, and trade can be traced back to 1996, in a World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on the Revised Drug Strategy Footnote 9 which requested the WHO Director-General (DG) to support Member States in their efforts to improve access to essential drugs; to encourage the promotion of R&D of drugs for rare and tropical diseases; and to report on the impact of WTO concerning national drug and essential medicines policies and make recommendations for collaboration between WTO and WHO as appropriate. This mandate has been continually reinforced through subsequent assembly resolutions. Footnote 10 It has been extended over time to include upon request, providing technical and policy support to Member States, on formulating coherent trade and health polices and the implementation of TRIPS flexibilities in collaboration with other relevant international organizations.

In 2003, WHO member states agreed through resolution WHA56.27 to establish a Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) which recommended Footnote 11 that “WHO should develop a global plan of action to secure enhanced and sustainable funding for developing and making accessible products to address diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries” and “ … continue to monitor from a public health perspective, the impact of intellectual property rights … on the development of new products as well as access to medicines and other health care products in developing countries”. These recommendations led to the adoption Footnote 12 of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (GSPOA-PHI) in 2009 and in the same year the WHO-WIPO-WTO trilateral cooperation, which is an interagency collaboration on public health, intellectual property and trade was commenced.

Most recent are assembly decisions WHA 71(8) of 2018 on ‘Addressing the global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines’, which requested the DG to “elaborate a roadmap report, in consultation with Member States, outlining the programming of WHO’s work on access to medicines and vaccines including activities, actions and deliverables for the period 2019 – 2023; and WHA71(9) of 2018 on the ‘Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property (GSPOA-PHI): overall programme review’, which requested the DG to “implement the recommendations addressed to the Secretariat … in an implementation plan, consistent with the global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property”. Additionally, in 2019 resolution WHA72.8 on ‘Improving the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines, and other health products’, requested the DG to “continue supporting existing efforts to determine patent status of health products and promote publicly available user-friendly patent status information databases for public health actors, in line with the GSPOA-PHI and to work with other relevant international organizations and stakeholders to improve international cooperation, avoid duplication of work, and promote relevant initiatives”.

Technical assistance for the implementation of TRIPS and the role of WIPO

Within the framework of the WHO-WIPO-WTO trilateral cooperation, the 3 agencies work collaboratively to each fulfill their respective mandates without duplicating efforts and within existing resource constraints. By virtue of the 1995 Agreement Footnote 13 between WIPO and WTO, and recommendations Footnote 14 of the WIPO Development Agenda (2007), WIPO plays an important role in providing developing countries with technical assistance to implement the TRIPS Agreement. Recommendation 1 states that “WIPO technical assistance shall be development-oriented, demand-driven and transparent, taking into account the priorities and the special needs of developing countries, especially LDCs”. An analysis of information provided on the WIPO website Footnote 15 indicates that 24 countries Footnote 16 of the WHO African Region have received technical assistance Footnote 17 specific to the development of national IP strategies, policies and/or for legislative assistance. Based on the same information, Gabon, Ghana and South Sudan have not received any form of WIPO technical assistance.

Aims of the study

The WHO commitments highlighted above and the fact that it is 25 years since the adoption of the TRIPS Agreement provide a good backdrop for reviewing the status of intellectual property rights and the use of TRIPS flexibilities in WHO African Region Member States. The study presents a situational analysis of patenting activity and trends at the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization Footnote 18 (ARIPO) and the Organisation Africaine de la Proprieté Intellectuelle Footnote 19 (OAPI), the two African regional patent offices. It reviews the intellectual property regulation and governance landscape affecting countries of the WHO African Region, including regimes established by ARIPO and OAPI. Finally, the study provides an assessment of the Region’s preparedness to respond to public health emergencies by analyzing how countries have implemented available TRIPS flexibilities in national legislation, including the disincentives and challenges experienced. The findings of the study provide a baseline for WHO’s work towards the implementation of the Health Assembly’s decision WHA 71(8) and resolution WHA72.8 mentioned above.

Patenting trends

The patent data used in this study was obtained from the ARIPO and OAPI offices in April 2019. Face-to-face meetings were organized with officers of the two organizations to explain the objectives of the study and to clarify that the data required was in the areas/fields that can potentially be applied in medical inventions using the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) international patent classification (IPC) codes. Table 2 (see Appendix 1 ) presents the codes for patents falling within the scope of this study.

Officers of both patent offices conducted a data search using parameters defined and provided the requisite data as downloaded files in MS Excel. The total number of health-related patents registered in ARIPO and OAPI databases as of April 2019 was 3458 and 2811 respectively. This study only reviewed and analysed patents that had been granted within the past 20 years. Consequently, the patents analyzed were 960 (28%) for ARIPO and 2274 (81%) for OAPI. In order to identify the specific disease(s) a patent can be associated with, we used the patent short title, and in instances where the short title did not mention the disease, the patent abstract was consulted. Those that did not mention a specific disease were left out of the analysis. In doing the analysis the diseases covered by the patents were clustered in broad categories namely: inflammatory diseases, cancers, tumors and abnormal cell proliferation, cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and diabetes-related conditions, infections, pain, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, mental disorders, nervous system diseases, digestive system diseases, weight related disorders, lung diseases, eye diseases and vaccines.

Application of TRIPS flexibilities

This study conceptualizes flexibilities as understood within the context of the TRIPS Agreement, its amending Protocol and the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement on Public Health (Doha Declaration). Footnote 20 We define TRIPS flexibilities through the lens of Articles 1.1 Footnote 21 and 8.1, Footnote 22 which provide policy space for countries to implement the TRIPS Agreement in a manner appropriate and responsive to their contexts, as different options which consider national interests and can be transposed into national law.

The study conducted a desk review of available patent laws and policy frameworks Footnote 23 of WHO African countries with the aim of analyzing whether or not they have implemented TRIPS flexibilities within their national legal frameworks. To supplement this analysis, the study used data from The TRIPS Flexibilities Database, found on http://tripsflexibilities.medicineslawandpolicy.org/ , which is a searchable publicly accessible database maintained by the Medicines Law and Policy group. Footnote 24 The database contains records of instances when national authorities of WTO member countries have invoked the application of a TRIPS flexibility for public health reasons since 2001 to 2020. Finally, the study analysed information elicited from an online questionnaire administered by WIPO, and available on https://www.wipo.int/scp/en/exceptions/ to identify the most often cited challenges by respondent WHO African countries, Footnote 25 in implementing TRIPS flexibilities.

The TRIPS Agreement uses the term flexibility in paragraph 6 of the preamble and in Article 66.1 in the context of the need for least developed countries (LDC) to create a viable technological base and their readiness to implement it. Paragraph 4 Footnote 26 of the Doha Declaration reaffirms the right of WTO members to use full provisions of the TRIPS Agreements and provides a contextual basis for understanding flexibilities while Paragraph 5 clarifies that they include;

applying customary rules of interpretation of public international law so that all provisions of the TRIPS Agreement are read in light of the object and purpose as expressed in its objectives (Article 7) and principles (Article 8);

the right of each member to grant compulsory licenses and the freedom to determine the grounds for granting such licenses;

the right of each member to determine what constitutes a national emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency, it being understood that public health crises include those relating to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics; and

the freedom of each member to establish its exhaustion of IPR regime without challenge subject to the national treatment (Article 3) and most-favored-nation treatment (Article 4) provisions.

Given that Paragraph 5 does not provide an exhaustive enumeration of flexibilities, the study highlights a number of applicable TRIPS flexibilities that African Region countries may evoke to enhance access to medicines. These flexibilities, which are discussed in detail in Table 3 (see Appendix 2 ), include:

An interpretation of Article 27.1 of the TRIPS Agreement in national legislation in a manner that excludes new uses, formulations, dosages or combinations of previously patented medicines from patentability criteria. This legislative measure coupled with the implementation of substantive patent examination procedures would serve to prevent frivolous patent applications, ever-greening and creation of patent thickets around one invention.

Allowing limited exceptions to exclusive rights conferred by patents for purposes of scientific experimentation (research exception); and for facilitating regulatory and market entry approval (Bolar exception) in accordance with Article 30 of the TRIPS Agreement. The research exception makes it possible for countries to develop their local scientific and technological capacities and competencies to reverse engineer pharmaceutical products for generic production and for developing them further to better suit local conditions. On the other hand, the Bolar exception allows the use of a patented invention during the patent term without consent of the patent holder for purposes of developing information to obtain market approval and facilitates market entry by competitors immediately after the patent term expires hence ensuring early access to generic medicines.

Compulsory licensing under Article 31 of the TRIPS Agreement, which allows for the exploitation of patented subject matter through government authorization without the patent holder’s consent, for reason of national emergency and public non-commercial use.

Exhaustion of rights and parallel importation under Article 6 of the TRIPS Agreement and Paragraph 5 (d) of the Doha Declaration which make provision for importation and resale in a country without consent of the patent holder of a patented medicine put on the market of the exporting country by the patent holder or in a legal manner.

Patent term extension – Countries may consider disallowing/limiting patent term extension in national law for pharmaceutical products.

Limits on test data protection – Article 39.3 of the TRIPS Agreement allows countries to determine how to protect test data in the public interest. This provision demands protection from unfair commercial use and does not demand data exclusivity. Countries may therefore incorporate in domestic legislation the right of regulatory authorities to rely on available data to assess new drugs for market entry.

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) transition periods – These include the TRIPS Council decision Footnote 27 for the extension of the transition period for LDCs under Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement to 1 July 2021; the TRIPS Council decision Footnote 28 and TRIPS General Council decision Footnote 29 stating that LDC member states are not obliged to protect pharmaceutical patents, or to provide means for filing patents and provide exclusive marketing rights for pharmaceutical products until 1 January 2033.

Creation of patent opposition (pre and post patent grant), as required by Article 62.4 of the TRIPS Agreement, to serve as an additional administrative layer of patents review to prevent the grant of invalid patents.

Figure 1 below depicts health-related patent application trends at ARIPO and OAPI. Data shows that there was a sharp increase in patent applications at both offices from 1994 to 1999, which started to decline in the period 1999–2000. This trend matches that reported in a study on inventions and patenting in Africa [ 14 ]. The observed increase in patent applications in the late-1990s may have been caused by developments in molecular biology, genetics and genomics and their application in the biopharmaceutical sector. Footnote 30

Health-related patent application trends at ARIPO and OAPI

According to the 2018 Report on the State of Health in the WHO African Region [ 15 ], the main five causes of morbidity and mortality in the Region, are lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrheal diseases, malaria and tuberculosis. Other top causes of morbidity and mortality include stroke and ischemic heart diseases, preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia and congenital anomalies.

An analysis of the top 10 diseases covered by patents granted at ARIPO and OAPI corresponds to a certain extent, with the top 10 causes of morbidity as illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 below. In both repositories the three top categories of diseases covered by granted patents were inflammatory diseases; cancers, tumors and abnormal cell proliferation; and cardiovascular diseases. Within the inflammatory diseases category, there were patents for lower respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. HIV/AIDS, which was the second cause for morbidity and mortality, was 7th among the top 10 ARIPO patents and 10th for OAPI. Stroke and ischemic heart diseases which ranked 4th and 5th as causes of mortality respectively, fall within the broad category of patents covering cardiovascular diseases, which ranked 3rd on the list of top 10 diseases covered by patents at ARIPO and OAPI.

Fig. 2 Top 10 diseases covered by patents granted by ARIPO

Fig. 3 Top 10 diseases covered by patents granted by OAPI

Diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis and malaria, which are among top causes of mortality and morbidity did not appear among the top diseases covered by patents in the Region. There were only 23 TB patents at ARIPO and 25 at OAPI, while there were only 37 malaria patents at ARIPO and 47 at OAPI.

The top 10 categories of diseases covered by patents taken at ARIPO and OAPI were the same, the only difference being in the ranking. Another interesting finding, whose implications merit further interrogation, is the ranking of cancer-related patents, which was 2nd at both patent offices.

An analysis of the countries of origin of health-related patents at ARIPO and OAPI shows that the top 10 sources of patents at ARIPO were USA, Great Britain, the European Patent Office, France, India, China, South Africa, Germany, Italy and Denmark. South Africa was the only African country in the top 10 list. The top 10 sources of patents at OAPI were USA, France, Great Britain, Germany, India, Belgium, Japan, Cameroon, Switzerland and Ireland. Cameroon was the only African country in the top 10 list. The African Region countries that had health-related patents at ARIPO were Kenya, Mauritius, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and Egypt from the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) of the WHO. While in OAPI the African Region countries were Burkina Faso, Benin, Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, South Africa and Egypt and Morocco from EMRO.

An analysis of the African country patents shows that the top three disease categories covered are HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer and tumors. Table  1 below provides a summary of the main diseases covered by African country patents.

The intellectual property regulation and governance landscape in the WHO African region

Countries of the WHO African Region operate within a multi-layered IP regulation and governance landscape. The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883) and the TRIPS Agreement (1994) regulate the global IP framework within which African Region countries operate. Most countries (40 out of the 47) in the Region are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and are Parties to the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), which provides a minimum standard for the regulation of intellectual property. Article 1.1 of the TRIPS Agreement states that signatory Members States may, but shall not be obliged to, implement in their law more extensive protection than is required by TRIPS, making it open for them to determine the appropriate level of implementing it within their own legal system and practice. At the time of writing this article Algeria, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sao Tome and Principe, and South Sudan were not members of the WTO. All countries with the exception of Eritrea had commenced accession discussions leading to eventual membership.

At the Regional level, countries are either signatories to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Design (1982), which is administered by ARIPO or the Bangui Agreement (1977) administered by OAPI.

The African regional intellectual property office (ARIPO) system and TRIPS flexibilities

The African Regional Intellectual Property Office (ARIPO) was established by the Lusaka Agreement in 1976; and has 20 member states, 18 Footnote 31 of whom are members of the WHO African Region. The objective of ARIPO is to promote the harmonization and development of intellectual property laws appropriate to the needs of its members, fostering the establishment of a close relationship between its members on intellectual property matters and establishing such common services or organs as may be necessary or desirable for the co-ordination, harmonization and development of intellectual property activities affecting its members.

The Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs (Harare Protocol) was adopted in 1982 and came into force in 1984. There are 18 contracting parties to the Harare Protocol namely Botswana, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Of these, Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia are classified as LDCs.

Under the Harare Protocol, an application for the grant of a patent is made with any Contracting Party or directly with ARIPO, in which the applicant designates any one of the Contracting Parties in which they wish the invention to be accorded protection. The Protocol establishes a regional mechanism that administers the filing, examination and grant of patents, in all fields of technology, including the pharmaceutical field (section 3.10.a). A review of how the TRIPS flexibilities identified in the methods section above are implemented by the Harare Protocol shows that patentability criteria extends to cover pharmaceutical products under Rule 10 of the Regulations to the Harare Protocol. Additionally, Rule 7 (3) on drafting patent claims implies that ARIPO allows claims relating to second uses of known and already patented pharmaceutical products, which is likely to encourage frivolous patent applications and ever-greening.

Rule 3.3 of the Regulations to the Harare Protocol makes provision for ARIPO to, upon request, undertake or arrange for the substantive examination of a patent application. According to one of the ARIPO officials interviewed for this study, substantive examination is ordinarily conducted at ARIPO. However, ARIPO has bilateral agreements with the European Patent Office (EPO), the Australian, German and Swedish patent offices as well as with WIPO, for the conduct of substantive examination in technical fields or for complex inventions that ARIPO may not have adequate examination capacity. Footnote 32 A study conducted in 2014 [ 16 ] revealed that ARIPO had only 6 patent examiners at the time, which is a grossly low number of examiners. Rule 19bis of the Regulations to the Harare Protocol provides for the publication of patent applications as soon as possible after the expiry of 18 months from the date of filing or from priority date, and does not make provision for opposition of patents granted by ARIPO.

The organisation Africaine De La Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) system and TRIPS flexibilities

The Organisation Africaine De La Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) was created in 1977 by the Bangui Agreement and has the objective of implementing and applying common administrative procedures deriving from a uniform system for the protection of industrial property, providing services related to industrial property, and promoting the economic development of Member States by means of effective protection of intellectual property and related rights, according to Article 2.1 of the Agreement. According to Articles 2 (2), 8 (1) and 8 (2) of the Bangui Agreement OAPI serves as both a national and central patent documentation body for all its member countries and for Member States party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). In this case, OAPI serves as the national, designated, elected, and/or receiving office within the context of Article 2 Footnote 33 of the PCT, and the Bangui Agreement is the law governing industrial property rights in each of its member states. This being the case, patent applications at OAPI are designated for protection in all OAPI member countries.

The countries signatory to the Bangui Agreement are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Out of the 15 Member States, only 4 countries are not LDCs namely Cameroon, Congo Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, and Gabon.

According to the Bangui Agreement a patentable invention is defined as a product or process that is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable. This broad definition of patentability criteria is construed to cover both pharmaceutical products and processes. In accordance with provisions of Article 20 of the Annex to the Bangui Agreement, OAPI is a formality and not a substantive examination office. Therefore all patent applications that meet the formality examination requirements namely, Articles 6, Footnote 34 14.1, Footnote 35 and 15 Footnote 36 of the Annex to the Agreement, are granted under Article 22. The Bangui Agreement just like the Harare Protocol does not make provision for a patent opposition system that would serve to prevent granting of invalid and or frivolous patents.

Implementation and application of TRIPS flexibilities by WHO African region countries

Table 4 (see Appendix 3 ) below presents a summary how the TRIPS flexibilities identified in the methods section and discussed in Table 3 (on Appendix 2 below) have been enacted into law by African Region countries. The summary is based on a review of all WHO African countries’ patent legislation and IP policies as accessed through the WIPO Lex depository. Footnote 37

The analysis shows that 3 countries, namely Namibia, Footnote 38 Rwanda Footnote 39 and Zambia Footnote 40 have specific legislation on patentability of pharmaceutical products based on what constitutes novelty to limit ever-greening of patents. These countries have explicit legislation against new or second use patents of already patented pharmaceutical products. Twenty one (21) countries Footnote 41 make provision for limited exceptions to exclusive patent rights for purposes of research and scientific experimentation (research exception), while twelve Footnote 42 allow for the use of patented knowledge during the patent term for purposes of developing information necessary for attaining regulatory and market-entry approval (bolar exception). The Bangui Agreement as currently enforced, does not make provision for research and bolar exceptions for signatory member states.

The most commonly legislated flexibilities are compulsory licensing and parallel importation where 45 out of the 47 (95%) countries have enacted legislation to allow for compulsory licensing, and 40 (85%) for exhaustion of rights and parallel importation. The 2 countries that do not legislation on compulsory licensing were Eritrea and Madagascar and the 7 without legislation on parallel importation are Angola, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Ethiopia, Eritrea, DRC and Malawi.

The least commonly legislated flexibilities were those imposing limits to patent term extensions and on test data protection. Only Angola Footnote 43 and Zimbabwe Footnote 44 were found to have legislative provisions that could be used to limit pharmaceutical product patent term extensions, while only Uganda has legislation which allows the medicines regulatory authority to rely on available data to assess new generic drugs for market entry.

Out of the 30 WHO African Region member states who are classified as LDCs Footnote 45 and qualify for pharmaceutical product patent waivers, until 1 January 2033, on the mailbox provision and exclusive marketing rights for pharmaceuticals relating to Articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the TRIPS Agreement, only Angola, Footnote 46 Madagascar, Footnote 47 Liberia, Footnote 48 Rwanda Footnote 49 and Uganda Footnote 50 have explicitly excluded pharmaceutical products from patentability criteria in their national laws. Burundi’s Industrial Property law Footnote 51 states that this exemption was valid until 1 January 2016. Least developed countries signatory to the Bangui Agreement and members of OAPI do not exempt pharmaceutical products from patentable subject matter. Algeria, Angola, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and all OAPI countries were found not to have any patent opposition procedures (whether pre and/or post grant) in place.

An analysis of the TRIPS flexibilities database Footnote 52 summarized in Table 5 (see Appendix 4 ) below shows that 39 out of the 47 African Region Countries have used one or more TRIPS flexibility at one time or another. African Region countries that were not recorded on the TRIPS flexibilities database as having applied any flexibility are Algeria, Botswana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, and Seychelles. Majority of the applications were for sourcing treatments for HIV/AIDS, except in the cases of Angola, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Togo that applied flexibilities for sourcing all medicines.

The analysis shows that only three flexibilities are recorded in the database as having been applied, namely Article 31 of TRIPS which allows for compulsory licensing including for non-commercial use; paragraph 7 of the Doha Declaration on LDC country transition periods and paragraph 5 (d) of the Doha Declaration allowing for parallel importation. The most commonly applied flexibility is paragraph 7 of the Doha Declaration on transition provisions with 27 countries having applied it, followed by Article 31, allowing compulsory licensing, which has been applied by 16 countries. Parallel importation has only been used by Kenya once (in 2002) for the importation of generic medicines.

Some countries have applied flexibilities more than once; the highest being five times by Kenya, four times by Zimbabwe, and three times by Benin, Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Togo and Zambia. Central African Republic, Chad, the Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda and Sierra Leone have all applied flexibilities twice respectively. Guinea, Mozambique and Zambia adopted a mixed approach of using both Article 31 and paragraph 7, and Kenya both Article 31 and paragraph 5 at different times. In the case of Kenya, it did not execute 4 of its applications which were under Article 31 for HIV/AIDS medications. The pharmaceutical companies involved in these cases, GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim, entered into voluntary license agreements with a Kenyan manufacturing company Cosmos Ltd. The 5th application by Kenya, and the only one to be executed was under paragraph 5 and related to sourcing of generic drugs. Cameroon and South Africa too did not execute their flexibilities applications which were both under Article 31 and were both for HIV/AIDS drugs. The database does not record why Cameroon did not execute its application. In the case of South Africa, the concerned pharmaceutical companies GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim entered into a voluntary license with Cipla, an Indian manufacturing company.

An analysis of responses provided by twelve WHO African countries Footnote 53 to an online questionnaire administered by WIPO, Footnote 54 identifies a number of challenges that countries experience in applying TRIPS flexibilities to meet public health needs. The most often cited challenge in the survey was insufficiency or no local manufacturing capacity [ 17 ] to produce generic pharmaceutical products in relation to the use of compulsory licensing. This arose from the fact that Article 31 (f) Footnote 55 and (h) Footnote 56 of the TRIPS Agreement, before entry into force of Article 31 bis in 2017 , which made it impossible for countries with insufficient or no pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to use compulsory licensing to access patented medicines. It was however noted from the survey that the considerable burden of proof on governments and potential users of the Article 31 bis system Footnote 57 remains to be a challenge. Another challenge identified from the WIPO survey and in literature [ 18 , 19 ], is the risk of having counterfeit pharmaceutical products introduced into the market through parallel importation.

The WHO African Region is characterized by what could be termed as a collage of member states as far as IP regulation and governance is concerned. To begin with, we have countries such as Algeria, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sao Tome and Principe and South Sudan who are not yet signatories to the TRIPS Agreement and are exempt from any intellectual property protection requirements imposed by the Agreement that may hinder access to medicine. Out of the other 40 WHO African Region Member States, 21 Footnote 58 signatories to the TRIPS Agreement are unlikely to benefit from the LDC transition waivers under Article 66.1 for fully implementing the TRIPS Agreement until 1 July 2021; and on obligations under Article 70.8 Footnote 59 and 70.9, Footnote 60 with respect to mailbox applications and provision of exclusive marketing rights of pharmaceutical products until 1 January 2033 Footnote 61 since they are signatories to the Harare Protocol or the Bangui Agreement (1977). The Harare Protocol and the Bangui Agreement require these Member States to attain a TRIPS – plus standard, where patentability criteria extends to pharmaceutical products and process, hence more onerous than the one required under TRIPS.

The IP frameworks imposed on ARIPO and OAPI Member States are inconsistent and misaligned with the TRIPS Agreement and are more onerous than the minimum standard provided by TRIPS. Areas of misalignment that have an impact on access to medicines in countries is the uniform treatment of LDC member states with non LDCs hence the lack of differentiation between obligations for LDCs and non LDC; the absence of capacity to conduct substantive patent examination to ensure that patentability criteria are met prior to granting patents, the absence of patent opposition procedures, failure to impose limits on pharmaceutical patent term extension and on test data protection to prohibit data exclusivity especially in the interest of public health.

In the years following the adoption of the TRIPS Agreement, developing countries experienced challenges in applying TRIPS flexibilities such as compulsory licensing (Article 31) and parallel importation (Article 6) of drugs in their bid to address the HIV/AIDS crisis that was facing most developing countries towards the end of the twentieth century. One such example in the African Region was South Africa, which enacted the Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act 1997 that allowed for parallel importation and compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals in the country. These amendments to the law led to a backlash from pharmaceutical companies and culminated into legal action against the South African government, which was later withdrawn [ 20 , 21 ]. Over time and with a lot of public pressure on the pharmaceutical industry African countries have been able to put in place legislation allowing them to exploit some available TRIPS flexibilities to address public health needs. Though some positive strides have been made by WHO African Region countries, a lot more can be done by legislating for a wider range of flexibilities such a more rigorous application of the LDC transition waivers, adopting rigid patentability criteria which prohibits new or second use of already patented pharmaceutical products, limiting patent term extensions and limiting test data protection to facilitate faster entry of generic medicines into the market.

Compulsory licensing was a commonly evoked flexibility by countries, which in some instances was not executed, hence the conclusion that these may have served to encourage pharmaceutical companies to enter into voluntary licensing arrangements.

We observe that exhaustion of rights and parallel importation is not commonly applied in the Region, despite being one of the most legislated flexibility. This could be due to the fact that some countries have adopted a national exhaustion approach such, while those governed by the Bangui Agreement have precluded international exhaustion and restricts parallel importation to the regional exhaustion regime within OAPI countries. It could also be due to fears of proliferation of substandard and counterfeit medicines into the market.

The experiences of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the nineties, and most recently, the search for an effective treatment and vaccine for COVID-19 highlight the tensions between intellectual property rights and public health interests. There is evidence that learning has taken place from the lessons of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Some of these lessons include the willingness by pharmaceutical companies such as Gilead Sciences to enter into voluntary licensing agreements with manufacturing companies in developing countries to serve less developed markets. The speed with which countries such as Canada, Germany, Chile and Ecuador have amended their respective patent laws to prohibit market exclusivities and to allow for compulsory licensing, should it become necessary, of COVID-19 medicinal products are examples of how TRIPS flexibilities can be deployed to address health needs.

The low levels of patenting activity by African Region countries calls for the need to develop and strengthen health innovation systems in the Region. This can be done through policies that support health research systems and a local incentive structure that focuses research on local health challenges. Other aspects of developing health innovation systems would include developing local scientific and biomedical research capacities and local manufacturing capabilities.

The findings of this study provide an opportunity for the WHO Regional Office for Africa to work closely with ARIPO and OAPI to develop and promote a Regional IP framework that is responsive to public health challenges of the Region; and to support countries in reviewing national IP laws taking into account available flexibilities especially the LDC transition waivers and those not commonly used in the Region such as research exception, regulatory review exception and patent term extension.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to the fact that they are held by ARIPO and OAPI patent depositories but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

In 2012 the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on R&D: Financing and Coordination (CEWG) recommended that governments begin negotiations over a global medical R&D convention to address the problems of the current medical R&D system in a systematic way. See full report on https://apps.who.int/iris/bitsream/handle/10665/254706/9789241503457-eng.pdf;sessionid=DD5FA93B35229C40C7D989BBF9B8E6F8?sequence=1 (accessed on 19 June 2020)

In January 2017 Article 31 bis came into force thus amending Article 31(f) and (h) of the TRIPS Agreement to allow countries producing generic medicines under compulsory licensing to export those medicines to LDCs lacking manufacturing capacity

These are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Was first identified in December 2019 as a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2). See generally Helmy YA et.al. The COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive review of taxonomy, genetics, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and control. J Clin Med 2020; 9 (4) E1225

USFDA. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA issues Emergency Authorization for Potential COVID-19 Treatment. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-issues-emergency-use-authorization-potential-covid-19-treatment (Accessed on 27 July 2020)

Gilead Sciences. https://www.gilead.com/news-and-press/company-statements/gilead-sciences-statement-on-request-to-rescind-remdesivir-orphan-drug-designation (accessed on 28 July 2020)

It is noted that some low and middle income countries such as Albania, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Malaysia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mexico, Montenegro, Paraguay, among others, are not covered under these non- exclusive license agreements

For example WHA56.27 (2003) on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health; WHA59.24 (2006) on Public Health, Innovation, Essential Health Research and Intellectual Property Rights: Towards a Global Strategy and Plan of Action; WHA59.26 (2006) on International Trade and Health; WHA60.30(2007) on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property; WHA 62.16 (2009) on Global Strategy & Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property; WHA65.22 (2012) on Follow up to the Report of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination

CIPIH Report (WHO, 2006)

Through resolution WHA62.16

Article 4 (1)

Cluster A on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

https://www.wipo.int/directory/en/

Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principle, Seychelles, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

WIPO technical assistance may also be in the form of support to attend meetings, workshops and/or training and also for buying equipment.

https://www.aripo.org/

http://www.oapi.int/index.php/fr/

http://wto.org/english/thewto_e/min01_e/mindecl_trips_e.htm (Accessed on 19 June 2020)

Which states that countries ‘…shall be free to determine the appropriate method of implementing the provisions of this Agreement within their own legal system and practice’

Which makes specific mention of public health protection and states that “Members may … adopt measures necessary to protect public health and nutrition, and to promote the public interest in sectors of vital importance to their socio-economic and technological development, provided that such measures are consistent with the provisions of this Agreement.”

Available on WIPO Lex at https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/index.html

https://medicineslawandpolicy.org/

At present only 12 WHO African Region Member States namely, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Congo, Gambia, Kenya, Madagascar, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have responded to the online WIPO questionnaire.

It states ‘the TRIPS Agreement does not and should not prevent Members from taking measures to protect public health’ and that it ‘can and should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of WTO Member’s rights to protect public health and, in particular to promote access to medicines for all’

WTO, IPC/C/64

WTO, IP/C/73

WTO, WT/L/971

Botswana, Eswatini, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Somalia and Sudan are the other 2 members and are members of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region)

Discussions with study key informant, April 2019

Article 2 (xii – xv) defines what a national, designated, elected and or receiving patent office are respectively.

Which defines non-patentable subject matter

Which provides for patent application requirements, including the documents required

which provides that a patent application shall be restricted to a single principal subject and that it shall have a title that describes in a precise and succinct manner the purpose of the invention

https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/index.html

Section 17 (1) (j) Industrial Property Act No. 11 of 2017

Article 18.5 of Law No. 31/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property

Section 17 (e) Patents Act No. 40 of 2016

Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda

Botswana, Cabo Verde, Kenya, Liberia, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Article 6 (2) of Law No. 3/92 of February 28, 1992 on Industrial Property states that once the patent validity period of 15 years expires, the subject of the patent shall fall into the public domain

Section 24B (2) of the Zimbabwe Patents Act, 2002 states that where test batches of a patented product (through Bolar exception)… the term of a patented product shall not be extended.

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia

Article 4 (d) of Law No. 3/92 of February 28, 1992 on Industrial Property

Section 1 (8) (1) (v) Ordinance No. 89–019 of July 31, 1989 establishing Agreements for the Protection of Industrial Property

Section 13 (2) (b) Liberia Intellectual Property Act 2016

Article 18 (8) Rwanda Law on Protection of Intellectual Property 2009

Section 8 (3) (f) Uganda Industrial Property Act 2014

Article 17 of Law No 1/13 of July 28, 2009 relating to Industrial Property in Burundi

Found on http://tripsflexibilities.medicineslawandpolicy.org/

Available on https://www.wipo.int/scp/en/exceptions/

This provision states that compulsory licensing shall be authorized predominantly for the supply of the domestic market of the country authorizing it

Which states that ‘the right holder shall be paid adequate remuneration in the circumstances of each case,

taking into account the economic value of the authorization’

See a supporting view in Correa, C.M. Will the Amendment to the TRIPS Agreement Enhance Access to Medicines? South Centre Policy Brief No. 57 January 2019

Namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia

Article 70.8 provides “Where a Member does not make available as of the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement patent protection for pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical products commensurate with its obligations under Article 27, that member shall:

notwithstanding the provisions of Part IV, provide as from the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement a means by which applications for patents for such inventions can be filed;

apply to these applications, as of the date of application of this Agreement, the criteria for patentability as laid down in this Agreement as if those criteria were being applied on the date of filing in that Member or, where priority is available and claimed, the priority date of the application; and

provide patent protection in accordance with this Agreement as from the grant of the patent and for the remainder of the patent term, counted from the filing date in accordance with Article 33 of this Agreement, for those of these applications that meet the criteria for protection referred to in subparagraph (b).

Article 70.9 states “Where a product is the subject of a patent application in a Member in accordance with paragraph 8 (a), exclusive marketing rights shall be granted, notwithstanding the provisions of Part IV, for the period of 5 years after obtaining marketing approval in that Member or until a product patent is granted or rejected in that Member…”

Abbreviations

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

African Regional Intellectual Property Organization

Antiretrovirals

Azidothymidine

Corona Virus Disease of 2019

Director General

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative

Eastern Mediterranean Region

Ebola Disease Virus

GlaxoSmithKline

Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property

Human Immuno Deficiency Syndrome

Intellectual Property

International Patent Classification

Intellectual Property Protection

Intellectual Property Rights

Least Developed Countries

Organisation Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle

Product Development Partnership

Research and Development

Ribonucleic Acid

Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate

Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property

United States of America

United States Food and Drug Administration

World Health Assembly

World Health Organization

World Intellectual Property Organization

World Trade Organization

World Trade Organization (WTO), Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Apr. 15, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1C, 1869 U.N.T.S. 299, 33 I.L.M. 1197 (1994).

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the two regional patent offices ARIPO and OAPI and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) who provided relevant information and patent data from their respective depositories. The article contains the perceptions and views of the authors only.

This study was supported by unrestricted program funds of the WHO Regional Office for Africa Universal Health Coverage/Life Course Department. The WHO staff involved in this study are listed as co-authors to the paper and their roles were as follows, JBN who is the Team Leader for the Medicines, Health Infrastructures and Equipment maintenance programme, provided technical guidance for the study and with OMJK contributed to the study conception and design. JBN and OMJK accompanied MM, the lead author, to data collection missions at ARIPO (Harare) and OAPI (Cameroon). SK, AL and AS are members of the Medicines, Health Infrastructures and Equipment maintenance team who read different versions of the manuscript and provided useful suggestions and inputs to the manuscript. PT is the Director of the Universal Health Coverage/Life Course Cluster under whose leadership the Medicines, Health Infrastructures and Equipment maintenance programme falls. PT provided overall leadership and guidance for the project.

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Motari, M., Nikiema, JB., Kasilo, O.M.J. et al. The role of intellectual property rights on access to medicines in the WHO African region: 25 years after the TRIPS agreement. BMC Public Health 21 , 490 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10374-y

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The universal visitation law of human mobility

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Human mobility impacts many aspects of a city, from its spatial structure 1 , 2 , 3 to its response to an epidemic 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 . It is also ultimately key to social interactions 8 , innovation 9 , 10 and productivity 11 . However, our quantitative understanding of the aggregate movements of individuals remains incomplete. Existing models—such as the gravity law 12 , 13 or the radiation model 14 —concentrate on the purely spatial dependence of mobility flows and do not capture the varying frequencies of recurrent visits to the same locations. Here we reveal a simple and robust scaling law that captures the temporal and spatial spectrum of population movement on the basis of large-scale mobility data from diverse cities around the globe. According to this law, the number of visitors to any location decreases as the inverse square of the product of their visiting frequency and travel distance. We further show that the spatio-temporal flows to different locations give rise to prominent spatial clusters with an area distribution that follows Zipf’s law 15 . Finally, we build an individual mobility model based on exploration and preferential return to provide a mechanistic explanation for the discovered scaling law and the emerging spatial structure. Our findings corroborate long-standing conjectures in human geography (such as central place theory 16 and Weber’s theory of emergent optimality 10 ) and allow for predictions of recurrent flows, providing a basis for applications in urban planning, traffic engineering and the mitigation of epidemic diseases.

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Acknowledgements

We thank L. M. A. Bettencourt, R. Sinatra, P. Herthogs, G. Du, Y. Qin and Y. Liu for helpful discussions; W. Cao for assistance with performing the CCA analysis; and S. Grauwin for providing the MATLAB code for the radiation model. We acknowledge Airsage, ORANGE/SONATEL and Singtel for providing the data. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (grant number PHY1838420), the AT&T Foundation, the MIT SMART programme, the MIT CCES programme, Audi Volkswagen, BBVA, Ericsson, Ferrovial, GE, the MIT Senseable City Lab Consortium, the John Templeton Foundation (grant number 15705), the Eugene and Clare Thaw Charitable Trust, Toby Shannan, the Charities Aid Foundation of Canada, the US Army Research Office Minerva Programme (grant number W911NF-12-1-0097), the Singapore National Research Foundation (FI 370074016) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 41801299).

Author information

These authors contributed equally: Markus Schläpfer, Lei Dong, Kevin O’Keeffe

These authors jointly supervised this work: Carlo Ratti, Geoffrey B. West

Authors and Affiliations

Senseable City Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

Markus Schläpfer, Lei Dong, Kevin O’Keeffe, Paolo Santi, Michael Szell, Samuel Anklesaria, Mohammad Vazifeh & Carlo Ratti

Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA

Markus Schläpfer & Geoffrey B. West

Future Cities Laboratory, Singapore-ETH Centre, ETH Zurich, Singapore, Singapore

Markus Schläpfer & Hadrien Salat

Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China

Istituto di Informatica e Telematica del CNR, Pisa, Italy

Paolo Santi

IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Michael Szell

ISI Foundation, Turin, Italy

Sociology and Economics of Networks and Services, Orange Labs, Châtillon, France

Hadrien Salat

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Contributions

G.B.W., C.R., M. Schläpfer, L.D., K.O. and P.S. designed the research. L.D., M. Schläpfer, K.O. and M.V. processed and analysed the data. G.B.W. and M. Schläpfer identified the data collapse to a single, universal curve. K.O., L.D., S.A. and P.S. developed the PEPR model. H.S., M. Schläpfer and G.B.W. developed the theoretical argument. M.V. and P.S. tested the Fermat–Toricelli–Weber metric. L.D., M. Schläpfer, K.O., M. Szell, P.S., G.B.W. and C.R. wrote the paper. C.R. and G.B.W. contributed equally as senior authors. All authors discussed the results and reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lei Dong .

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Extended data figures and tables

Extended data fig. 1 the spatio-temporal structure of movement in cities..

Panels show visitor influx maps for Greater Boston for different parameters ( r ,  f ). The colour of each grid cell (500 m × 500 m) indicates the value of the spectral flow ρ . Remarkably, visitor influx maps for the same quantity v  =  rf are nearly identical, as is clear from viewing along the diagonals indicated by the coloured arrows in the figure. Hence, doubling the visitation frequency f (from top row to bottom row) results in the same quantitative decrease of the influx as doubling the travel distance r (from left column to right column).

Extended Data Fig. 2 Empirical power-law exponents of the distance–frequency distribution.

a , Histogram of the exponents for all locations in the Greater Boston area. The values were determined using ordinary least squares minimization to a linear relation of the logarithmically transformed variables. The red line shows η  = 2, consistent with our theoretical argument. b , Corresponding histogram of the R 2 values.

Extended Data Fig. 3 Universality of the scaling relation ρ ∝ ( rf ) −2 across Greater Boston.

The panels depict the data for individual locations (500 m × 500 m grid cells), ranked according to the total number of visitors from neighbouring cells. Shown are locations of rank 1–30 (from top left to bottom right). The geographic coordinates of each location (latitude and longitude of the centre point of the grid cell) are indicated. The straight lines denote the inverse square of rf (slope = −2), consistent with our theoretical argument.

Extended Data Fig. 4 Universality of the scaling relation ρ ∝ ( rf ) −2 across Portugal.

The panels depict the data for individual locations (1 km × 1 km grid cells), ranked according to the total number of visitors from neighbouring cells. Shown are locations of rank 1–30 (from top left to bottom right). The geographic coordinates of each location (latitude and longitude of the centre point of the grid cell) are indicated. The straight lines denote the inverse square of rf (slope = −2), consistent with our theoretical argument.

Extended Data Fig. 5 Universality of the scaling relation ρ ∝ ( rf ) −2 across Dakar.

Extended data fig. 6 universality of the scaling relation ρ ∝ ( rf ) −2 across singapore..

The panels depict the data for individual locations (500 m × 500 m grid cells), ranked according to the total number of visitors from neighbouring cells. Shown are locations of rank 1–30 (from top left to bottom right). The geographic coordinates of each location (latitude and longitude of the centre point of the grid cell) are indicated. The straight lines denote the inverse square of rf (slope = −2), consistent with our theoretical argument.

Extended Data Fig. 7 Simulation results of the EPR model.

a , b , Generated number of visits ( a ) and attractiveness values μ i ( b ). c , d , The EPR model generates the rf scaling of the population flows with a scaling exponent that is in remarkable agreement with the data. The generated visitor counts, N i ( r ,  f ), are shown in c , and the resulting rf scaling of the spectral flows, ρ i ( r ,  f ), is shown in d . The generated attractiveness values μ i are rather homogeneous and uniform across space, which is in contrast to the empirical data ( b ). Model parameters are taken from Song et al. 32 (Methods).

Extended Data Fig. 8 Estimation of the magnitude of flows from population density ρ pop .

The schematic shows a zoom-in on the immediate vicinity of a destination location j (small values of r ), where it is reasonable to assume that ρ pop ( j ) ≈ constant. Hence, the local population density imposes an upper bound on the influx, ∫ ρ j d f ≤ ρ pop ( j ). A simple boundary condition of the continuous model then dictates that the minimum visiting frequency of all individuals living directly on the boundary (each being assigned to a point at r  =  r j ) assumes the minimum frequency with which the individuals living inside the attracting location return home, f min  ≈  f home . The minimum distance r min for locations from which individuals visit with minimum frequency f min  <  f home increases with decreasing value of f min .

Extended Data Fig. 9 CPT and radius of attraction.

a , Schematics of CPT, showing the spatial arrangement of three tiers of centres (see Supplementary Information for details). This hierarchical arrangement of central places results in the most efficient transport network. b – f , Average travel distance per visit ⟨ r ⟩ f to perform activities with fixed visiting frequency f across all locations in Greater Boston ( b ), Singapore ( c ), Dakar ( d ), Abidjan ( e ) and Lisbon ( f ). We find a clear inverse relation, ⟨ r ⟩ f ∝ 1/ f . The quantity ⟨ r ⟩ f can be interpreted as the characteristic distance associated with the level of specialization of the functions provided by the locations.

Extended Data Fig. 10 Fermat–Torricelli–Weber (FTW) efficiency of collective human movements.

a , The schematic shows how the FTW efficiency is computed (see Supplementary Information). The effective distance travelled by the visitors of a specific location (cell) can be minimized by moving it on the grid. The efficiency is \(\Delta {\mathcal{D}}/{\mathcal{D}}\) , which is the ratio between the reduction of the effective travel distance of all visitors when moving the cell from its actual location to the optimum FTW point ( \(\Delta {\mathcal{D}}\) ) and the actual effective travel distance of all visitors to that cell ( \({\mathcal{D}}\) ). b , Density plots representing the number of cells with a given number of visits and FTW efficiency for the Greater Boston area (for the month of August 2009). The FTW efficiency is computed for each cell based on visits made by visitors who live at distances larger than a given threshold value  r thr . For r thr  = 0 (top left), the density of locations is particularly high where the FTW efficiency is very high. As the number of visits is increased, the distribution becomes narrower and the FTW efficiency increases. This pattern is generally also valid for larger values of r thr but becomes weaker.

Supplementary information

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Schläpfer, M., Dong, L., O’Keeffe, K. et al. The universal visitation law of human mobility. Nature 593 , 522–527 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03480-9

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A UTAH TO ARIZONA ROAD TRIP LOOP FROM LAS VEGAS: SECRETS OF THE SOUTHWEST

A Utah to Arizona road trip is one of the highlights of the great American Southwest. After taking my own Colorado to Utah road trip I became fascinated with the area and eager to know more about its national parks, picturesque western Colorado towns and different Utah and Arizona road trip itineraries . That’s why I asked our guest writer, Jennifer Paquette , to tell us about her own memorable trip. Jennifer shares her secrets of the southwest with us in this this informative post.

The Southwest has always been on my “bucket list” especially a Utah to Arizona road trip , however an international trip always seemed to take precedence over exploring my own country. As the months loomed ahead with time carved out for our annual spring trip but no pen or even pencil marks on the calendar, I realized “need to plan something !” But where could we go that would be new and exciting, plus keep us outside enjoying the great outdoors as much as possible?

Without hesitation, we pulled out our Southwest folder of articles, navigated blogs and national parks sites and began to plan a good ‘ole US of A adventure.  Having only seen the Grand Canyon from an airplane, we figured we’d get a little closer.  Soon one of my famous aggressive itineraries began to form: a 1,000+mile loop of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, the Grand Canyon and back to Las Vegas on the famed Route 66 .  A Utah to Arizona road trip started to take shape. The next step was to apply my three basic travel rules:

• I want to be where the people…aren’t.  
• I want to do things out of the ordinary.
• I don’t want to spend a lot of money if I don’t have to.

This might seem next to impossible for a trip that would surely hit a few Disney-like national parks, but my rules had yet to be broken!

Researching dos and don’ts in three different states provided a challenge, as well as a few sets of flight cancellations and shuffling around of new dates and times, which meant hotel and car changes as well.  But it was well worth it, for not only did we journey through an amazing part of our country, but I managed to apply my three rules as well.  The end result was a delectable feast for the eyes and senses, as we unearthed some sizzling southwest secrets that were just waiting to be revealed.

Where to stay in Las Vegas for all budgets.

A UTAH TO ARIZONA ROAD TRIP

Table of Contents

THE UN-ZION

I thought Zion would be a great introduction to the national parks of the west, until I saw that during the months of March – November the only way you can get up to the trails is on a Disney-like shuttle that left every half hour, with a lottery for the $1 ticket that opened up two months ahead.  Determined not to break my first rule of travel, I discovered that about 40 miles north of Zion’s main entrance is the sleeper sister of Zion National Park – a spectacular set of finger canyons and trails called Kolob Canyons .

The word “kolob” is from Mormon scripture meaning “residence closest to heaven”.  And indeed, it did seem that way.

The five-mile stretch of Kolob Canyon Road begins at the park entrance and crosses the major fault line which gives rise to the great plateau that houses some of the oldest and youngest rocks in all of Zion. There are two major trails, the one-mile roundtrip Timber Creek Trail at the ridge top offering sweeping vistas of canyon country, and the almost six mile roundtrip Taylor Creek Trail that takes you down the narrow box canyon and across the Zion Wilderness.

Both trails did not disappoint with majestic geological formations as well as very little, to no crowds. Hopping across river rocks in the shade of the canyon valley as the trail crisscrossed a winding creek, was a how-close-to-nature-can-you-get experience.  At the end of the trail was an awe-inspiring geological wonder – a double arch formation where you could rest in its shade before hiking back.

These two trails were like a mini version of the main park of Zion – canyons, rivers, arches and other geological wonders all combined in one un-Disney section.

HOW TO HANG WITH THE HOODOOS FROM UTAH TO ARIZONA

On to one of the “Mighty Five” national parks on our Utah to Arizona road trip . The trip to Bryce Canyon is on the famed Highway 89, a stretch of road that overpowers your senses with sweeping ranches (can you say Dallas ? Dynasty ?), livestock only seen in westerns (longhorn steer really do exist!), and teeny tiny towns that consist of a few houses, a gas station and at one junction, an “outlaw saloon.”

Bryce is known for its hoodoos (columns of soft, weathered rocks topped by harder, less easily eroded stone) and the vastness and beauty of the hoodoo amphitheaters is nothing short of breathtaking.  There are two main trails, Navajo Loop and Queens Garden, and I highly recommend descending Navajo and ascending via Queens Garden, as the elevations differ between the two. 

Bryce’s scenic 18-mile drive is definitely worth it, providing restrooms, a picnic spot, gorgeous vistas and trails to stretch your legs at the final (but should be your first) stop, Rainbow Point. The trick is to stop at all the overlooks on the return trip down, as they’re all on the right-hand side.  My favorite was Natural Bridge Overlook, which showcased an 85-foot arch formation of red-hued limestone formed over millions of years by wind, water and chemical erosion. This was one of the most spectacular sites on our Utah to Arizona road trip .

Can’t get enough of beautiful Bryce Canyon and the surrounding area? Here is another spectacular road trip, Bryce Canyon to Capital Reef.

Don’t miss the Bryce Point Overlook, yet another expansive and breathtaking view of the Silent City, an assemblage of hoodoos resembling figures frozen in rock.

Accommodations in majestic Bryce Canyon.

Hoodoo’d out?  Give it one last shot as you exit the park.  Half a mile north of the Visitor Center is the turnoff for Fairyland Point.  The spectacular views of the ballerina-pink hued Fairyland Amphitheater will dazzle you and leave the wonders of Bryce imprinted in your mind for a very long time.

KANAB : READY FOR MY CLOSE UP

Known as “ Little Hollywood ” for having provided the backdrop for many famous Western movies and TV commercials, Kanab, Utah lives up to true wild west kitsch and more.  Perfectly located and practically equidistant from Zion and Bryce, this is the place to call home base for your national parks ventures from Utah to Arizona . We stayed at the simple but overly accommodating Days Inn Kanab, whose hearty breakfast of coffee, homemade waffles, omelets, fruit, breads, oatmeal, juices and more gave us the jet lagged jump start we needed by opening their doors at 6am (thank you, thank you!)

No matter how long and exhausting your day is, make the time to explore Kanab. Every turn is photo-worthy, from the covered wagons that adorn the gas stations to the giant “K” scrawled across the mountain overlooking the town. Visit the free Little Hollywood Museum , making sure to head out back and wander among original old movie sets. Eat at Escobar’s for inexpensive and authentic Mexican food with big portions. 

Kanab was a secret treat in so many ways.

Where to stay in Kanab, Utah

WHEN GOING FROM UTAH TO ARIZONA, GET BAD IN THE BADLANDS

The road from Utah to Arizona is a pretty cool stretch. Who knew there was so much to do in the 74 miles between Kanab, Utah and Page, Arizona ?

Initially we chose Page as it is a gateway to the wonders of the Colorado River, including Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend and of course, the Grand Canyon.  But first, we had to cross the Badlands of Utah to get there.  I had only heard of the Badlands through Stephen King novels, so I was pretty psyched.

Here is where historic Highway 89 can either be just a road from point A to B, or the most remarkable leap back in time to some pretty cool hidden natural wonders of southern Utah.

We were now in the uncharted land of no wi-fi and no cell service so our only guide was the milepost markers.  It’s also a place to watch that speedometer and have a good pair of sunglasses.  Approximately 11 miles out of Kanab is Johnson Canyon Road, which stretches north along the colorful cliffs of the Grand Staircase Escalante.  At first glimpse are idyllic farmhouses and grazing horses, and after about five miles, on the right, were the remnants of the true old West: the dilapidated buildings from the Gunsmoke film set, now on private land.  At the eight-mile mark we started to climb through the White Cliffs, with steep bone colored edges and green juniper and sage at the base. The cliffs continue for 18 miles, and if you choose, you can then continue deeper into the Escalante on a dirt road called Skutumpah Road.

Heard songs about the Badlands? Read The Stand by Stephen King? Welcome to milepost marker 31.

A sign that reads “Old Pahreah Townsite”, and a plaque and landmark await you in a small, dirt parking lot.  There was a brief “are our tires going to make it?” and “is this in the rental car agreement moment”? before we threw caution to the winds of the Badlands and headed out, billowing clouds of red dust behind us. We were now on a six-mile long dirt road, with undulating hills and narrow twisting turns that crossed rainbow-hued foothills comprised of encrusted minerals of iron oxides, manganese and cobalt.  We finally reached a “parking lot” and were pleasantly surprised to find picnic tables and a simple, clean (much needed) restroom.  Down a few more narrow, steep hills was the Old Paria Cemetery, which has about 20 graves.  Not only were we surrounded by the breathtaking Rainbow Mountains, but we seemed to be the only people there basking in its majesty. 

Moving right along on Highway 89…who would have thought one could be obsessed with toadstools? At milepost marker 19.3 is a sign marked “The Toadstools.” Here you’ll find a less-than-a-mile flat ground hike showcasing panoramic views of the colorful badlands and an assortment of wildflowers.  The end reward is the majestic Red Toadstool holding court over the Toadstool garden.  We roamed child-like through the garden rim discovering other mushroom-shaped hoodoos hidden within the cliffs and few other humans. This was one of the more magical sites we experienced from Utah to Arizona.

Continuing on from Utah to Arizona, highway 89 leads into Page, Arizona, home to Lake Powell, the second-largest manmade lake in the United States. It also houses the Glen Canyon Dam and the secret vista point of Glen Canyon Overlook, where you can climb and roam rock formations and soak in your first glance of the Colorado River, and the mighty dam that supports it. 

Page, Arizona accommodations.

Ten miles due south is Horseshoe Bend , the only place I capitulated to not only pay for parking, take a selfie, then leave, but also endure the most people seen so far on this trip  (and some feisty mosquitoes).  But it was worth it to soak in yet another breathtaking natural wonder of the southwest.

GO EAST YOUNG MAN

I was torn.  I wanted to go to the Grand Canyon , but I did not want the crowds.  Enter Google, because by simply typing “Grand Canyon no crowds”,  I found out about entering the park on Desert View Drive, via the East Entrance. However, depending on where you’re coming from it may be out of the way, but it is well worth it.

The Desert View entrance, via Highway 64 from the east, is the easternmost entrance on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and one of the highest, with an elevation of 7,348 ft. The entrance goes through Little Colorado River Navajo tribal park and Little Colorado River Gorge, and we immediately noticed there were fewer cars using this gateway to the Grand Canyon.

Desert View Drive offers some of the most beautiful views of the Grand Canyon, many including the muted blue of the Colorado River as it snakes its way through the rock.  There are about eight overlook stops, each more breathtaking than the next.

Where to stay near the Grand Canyon.

We enjoyed leisurely stops at vistas that provided historic stories, incredible views and places to park.  Oh, and minimal people.

Nestled somewhere between mile markers 243 and 245 is an unmarked dirt parking lot that is not on any map.  Once you park, go around the gate and follow the one-mile trail through the ponderosa pine forest to Shoshone Point, a spectacular rocky overlook vista with an unforgettable canyon view. Picnic tables and restrooms complete the experience. Note that this is not advertised on any park maps, so it is truly a special viewpoint.

Later on, when we got to the main park and did a quick walk to some of the tourist bus vistas, we realized that the Colorado River wasn’t visible from this part of the South Rim.  This made our time exploring Desert View Drive even more special, as everywhere we looked, the blue ink of the Colorado River winked back at us.

Note that you can get to Desert View Drive from the main entrance on the South Rim, but since we were coming from Page, we entered from the east. 

OTHER NEED TO KNOWS ON A UTAH TO ARIZONA ROAD TRIP

To date, the price for a car to enter the national parks is $35.  The America the Beautiful pass , for an annual fee of $80, can be used at over 150 national parks.

– Utah is a “dry state” so buy all your libations before you cross the border. Get more than you think you’ll need, especially if you have a rent a car.  Just buy it and let it roll around in the back seat.

– Williams AZ, about 60 miles due south of the Grand Canyon’s main (Southern Rim) entrance is well worth a stop and a walk along Main Street, which is part of historic Route 66.  

– Don’t wait until your tank is near empty to buy gas because there may not be a station for hundreds of miles.  Distances from Utah to Arizona can be long and populations sparse. Cell service is sketchy and at times you can be the only car on a stretch of road.  

Want to know more about this beautiful part of the country? Here are a couple of books to refer to as you explore this spectacular part of the USA.

What are your thoughts on our Utah to Arizona road trip ? I’d love to hear your secrets of the southwest!  I’m sure we all have a few…

BTW, if you are getting ready for your trip, make sure to take advantage of these useful,  money-saving links  to book your trip:

• Research and  book your flight  with  Skyscanner . I have found them to be the best because they list all airlines including the budget ones. You are always sure of having researched all options.
• For  car rental around the world, Discover Cars has flexible pickup and drop-off options, I recommend   Discover Cars .
• Book your accommodation  with  Booking.com . I find they have a wide selection and a nice, user-friendly, transparent website.
• Protect your trip  and, more importantly, protect yourself with travel insurance. I use  Travelinsurance.com  and have been very happy with them.
• Looking for a  small group tour  to unforgettable destinations with top professionals?  Intrepid Trave l is your choice.
• For more  general tours  to any destination or attraction,  book with   Viator . Check them out.
• Need a visa?   Get your visa  for all countries with   Passport Visa Exp ress.
• Looking for a cool walking tour to explore a city? My favorite walking tours are offered by Take Walks.
• Food and drink tours are the best way to enjoy a city. And Devour Tours are my favorite.
• Looking for a good VPN to protect your security, privacy and freedom online while traveling? Nordvpn is your best option.

I personally use, and can recommend, all the companies listed here and elsewhere on my blog. By booking through these sites, the small commission we earn – at no cost to you – helps us maintain this site so we can continue to offer our readers valuable travel tips and advice.

Talek Nantes

5 thoughts on “a utah to arizona road trip loop from las vegas: secrets of the southwest”.

My road trips in the American West were via the Greyhound buses in the mid-late 1970s. Cheap – yes. Crowds – sometimes. Out of the ordinary? Well, it was quite an adventure for an impoverished English student at the time. And on one trip my luggage was stolen. But for all that, I had a good trip. However, I was limited to where the buses went. I would love to do it again, and be able to go to other parks, spending time where I wanted to. This piece has brought back some great memories. Glad you enjoyed your trip too.

Thanks for reading. It really is an amazing place.

What an absolutely epic trip! It sounds amazing, and I love the no-crowds itinerary.

We are headed back to Utah for the fourth time next month! It is such an amazing place and I have still so much to see. thanks for your tips…pinning for future use!

Yes, it’s an amazing place. Thank you for reading and commenting.

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