best time to visit the appalachian mountains

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Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip | Our Recommended 5-Day Itinerary

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• North Carolina
• Road Trips In The U.S.
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There are more than 450 mileposts in the Milepost Guide of the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, which showcases the lovely Blue Ridge Mountains which are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Highlands range.

It includes everything travelers look for: small towns, tunnels, overlooks, campgrounds, cabins, bed and breakfasts, hotels and motels, restaurants, a visitor center, National Park Service, parking areas, picnic areas, wineries, hiking trails, waterfalls, mountains, lakes, rivers, and other attractions along the way.

This is why the parkway is the most visited single unit in the U.S. National Parks System. Driving straight through without stopping would take about ten to twelve hours, but three to seven days is needed to explore it well. To avoid the summer heat, visit in early spring.

There are many visitor centers, but to plan our exploration, we went to the main Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center (MP 384) near the city of Asheville and our campground in Lenoir, North Carolina. Based on the information from the visitor center, we grouped visits to our chosen landmarks into five parts and planned a day to see each grouping. We’ve ordered them chronologically, based on our itinerary, and I’ve provided milepost numbers for guidance when going on the Blue Ridge Mountains run.

jamee Kennedy / Shutterstock

Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip: The Perfect 5-Day Itinerary

Day 1: blowing rock.

The town of Blowing Rock (MP 219.9) was only about 30 minutes away from our campground. Its population of 1,500 balloons to 10,000 during the tourist season in summer. It takes its name from an unusual rock formation named The Blowing Rock that juts over 1,500 feet above the Johns River Gorge.

Wind currents from the gorge often blow vertically, causing light objects to float upward into the sky. Legend has it that a pair of lovers from warring tribes, the Cherokee and Catawba, separated by war, were reunited only when the woman prayed to the Great Spirit, who sent gusts of wind to blow him back up the cliff. And the winds stayed.

Whether you’re drawn by Blowing Rock’s history or its legend, you can’t afford to miss the views. Apart from the famed rock, you’ll find a scenic overlook and a sizable observation tower offering sweeping panoramic views. What further captivated us were the enormous, gorgeous exhibited crystals in the official gallery.

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum was our next stop. Admission was free so we enjoyed creative paintings and sculptures and took our time at the history exhibits. It’s interesting to read how Blowing Rock evolved over the years. From this museum, you can walk right outside into the heart of downtown.

The other popular tourist attraction near Blowing Rock is The Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park, which is home to the only remaining fully-functional steam engine train in North Carolina. Visitors to Tweetsie can ride the train for three miles to enjoy the lovely Appalachian trail mountain scenery, which is especially gorgeous in the fall. There are other park rides to enjoy, plus a deer park and shows, and this mountain town has many little craft shops. too.

Cvandyke / Shutterstock

Day 2: Grandfather Mountain And Linn Cove Viaduct

Grandfather Mountain (MP 307.4) has been designated by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve because of the seven environmental habitats it encompasses (one each for black bears, river otters, cougar, bald eagles, golden eagle, and white-tailed deer). Additionally, the flamboyant Catawba rhododendron blooms here at lower elevations by April. The huge purple blossoms progress to high peaks by late June when they become a real spectacle. The mountain is also famous for the Mile-High Swinging Bridge, which was built to give visitors a breath-taking 360-degree view — especially during fall — from Linville Peak. The 228-foot suspension bridge is more than one mile high and spans an 80-foot chasm.

Further down the parkway, there is a great view of the Linn Cove Viaduct (MP 304.4) from the Linn Cove Visitors’ Center (MP 304). The Viaduct, a 1,243-foot concrete segmental bridge which snakes around the slopes of Grandfather Mountain, is a sight to behold. It was completed in 1983 at a cost of $10 million and was the last section of the parkway to be finished.

I should tell you that one of the things included in your park admission is a CD that you can listen to on your skyline drive through this National Park. Listening to the fun facts about the historic sites we were passing by was very interesting actually. In fact, nobody had the faintest idea that a part of Forrest Gump was filmed here.

In the end, to sweeten up our trip to Grandfather Mountain, we turned to “Grandfather Mountain Fudge Shop”. To place an order for pickup and enjoy the cool flavors like peppermint or pumpkin call Mildred’s Grill .

amadeustx / Shutterstock

Day 3: Asheville To Linville Falls

On day three, we headed to Asheville , where we took a peek at America’s great castle, the beautiful Biltmore , but we didn’t have the time to explore it. Instead, we trekked up the parkway to the Folk Art Center (MP 382), which exhibits quality products from North Carolina’s talented craftsmen. I especially liked the handwoven scarves, stoles, and purses I saw there, but they were a little expensive.

It would have been spectacular had the rhododendrons been in full bloom, but they were just starting when we went to our next stop: Craggy Gardens at MP 364.6. Here, the parkway is literally lined with walls of the plants that are sometimes as tall as trees. The best time to visit is late June to early August when the pinkish purple blooms are at their peak everywhere. But another good visit time is fall, when you can witness the deciduous trees’ majestic display of yellows, reds, and golds.

Next up: Mt. Mitchell at MP 349. This is the highest peak on the East Coast at 6,700 feet. Climbing up to the Mt. Mitchell Observation Tower, I was alarmed when my heart pounded so much. I began to think of nothing else except how to keep fit while RV cruising. But I got a great treat after reaching the top. It wasn’t only the panoramic view but also the wonderfully hot chili and dogs at the restaurant we found there.

It was already getting late, so we skipped the other stops so we could reach Linville Falls (MP 316.4) before nightfall. The beautiful waters cascade down from the 2,000-foot Linville Peak of Grandfather Mountain. It took a brisk hike to get to the falls and the walk back was done even more hurriedly. In fact, we got back to Lenoir past 8 p.m., just before the library closed, to take out a movie for the night.

Carol Colborn

Day 4: Meadows Of Dan To Roanoke, Virginia

Next we tackled the Virginia section of the parkway. The sounds of the banjo, fiddle, and guitar greeted us at the Blue Ridge Music Center (MP 213) just after the North Carolina border. But it was Puckett Cabin (MP 190) that held our interest for some time. Orelena Puckett was a famous midwife in the late 1800s. Legend has it that, traveling miles on foot when called, she assisted in giving birth to about a thousand babies in 50 years — she lived to be 102 — and was paid about a dollar for each childbirth. The sad irony is that although she gave birth to 24 children herself, none of them survived beyond infancy.

After Puckett Cabin, we headed for the main destination of the day. Mabry Mill (MP 176.1) is the most photographed (and painted) scene along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I tried to capture its magic in photos, but it is truly best seen in person. The Mabrys were jacks of all trades, so the property even had a blacksmith shop in addition to the centerpiece mill and pond. To this day, the serene paradise depicts the way subsistence farmers lived during those days, especially how water was managed.

We ended the day in the charming mountain city of Roanoke (MP 120.4) which has a population of 300,000. As we proceeded to our motel, we saw a big star shining from atop the mountains. The next day, I found out that it was the eternally lit Mill Mountain Star, the world’s largest freestanding illuminated man-made star. Constructed in 1949 at the top of Mill Mountain, it stands 88.5 feet tall with 2,000 feet of neon tubing powered by 17,500 watts. It was red, white, and blue for six years after the Twin Towers attack and was switched back to all white after the Virginia Tech massacre. Now it turns red whenever there is a traffic fatality in the city.

Jill Lang / Shutterstock

Day 5: Beyond Roanoke And Toward The Northern Terminus

The following day was our last, as we’d almost reached the northern terminus at MP 0 near Shenandoah National Park. We started with a short drive from Roanoke to the Peaks of Otter (MP 86), which are called Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill. To hike up any one would have taken around three hours, so we opted to satisfy ourselves by taking lovely pictures from the lodge instead. Then we took a peek at Poplar Forest, the summer home of Thomas Jefferson, a short drive from the peaks.

Our next stop was the town of Glasgow. Fifteen miles from MP 61.4 is the Natural Bridge. For the last 500 million years, it has been a continuing work of art carved out by the waters of Cedar Rapids. Look for the letters GW that are inscribed on the rocks about 23 feet from the stream’s surface at the middle below the bridge; they’re said to have been carved by George Washington. All around the grounds are 1,600 year-old trees that have died and are in the process of becoming petrified. It was worth the hefty price we paid for entry, but it’s too bad that it’s been over-commercialized with a toy museum and wax factory, where we felt we wasted considerable time.

By the time we got out of the Natural Bridge area, we’d missed the open hours of the Stonewall Jackson House in Lexington (MP 46). They say that had he not been accidentally killed by one of his men, the Confederacy would have won the Civil War. The Virginia Military Institute, just a few miles away, is dubbed the West Point of the South and is responsible for managing the Stonewall House and museum.

After we’d packed up camp, we drove the parkway toward its southern terminus at MP 469. This section had so many tunnels, coming one after another and sometimes even back to back. It was an amazingly scenic skyline drive that inspired our next adventure at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Want more on our RVing adventures? Here’s what we learned from eight years of cruising North America in an RV and five fabulous glaciers to visit in Alaska .

How Long Would It Take to Drive Through Blue Ridge Parkway?

It would theoretically take 15 hours to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway straight through. But with the countless overlooks, waterfalls, and other attractions along the way, you will stop more than once to see the sights.

How Many Overlooks Are There Along the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Even though there are about 280 pullouts on the parkway, only 200 are listed as overlooks. Out of those, 68 are in Virginia and 132 in North Carolina. They’re notated using mileposts, from VA’s Afton Overlook to NC’s View Oconaluftee River.

How Many Blue Ridge Parkway Campgrounds Are There?

There are only eight official Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds. They are seasonal camps with restrooms, drinking water, picnic area with tables, and grills, but without RV hookups. However, there are many other private campgrounds located right off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Are There Visitor Centers Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Yes. There are 15 Visitor Centers located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with 6 located in Virginia and 9 in North Carolina. Three visitor centers are open year-round, but most of them are seasonal and open only from May through October. 

Can You Drive an RV or Pull a Camper on the Blue Ridge Parkway?

Yes, but it can be risky because tunnels and overhanging tree limbs may be a problem for tall RVs and campers. Also, you must exit off the parkway to fuel up because gas is not available on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Carol retired as a CEO for pioneering IT companies in the Philippines. Curious about the world she missed while stressing out working, she migrated to the U.S., ended up an adjunct professor and small business counselor while babysitting her grandson during the day. That is, until she met her travel partner on the internet! After the wedding ceremony, they honeymooned for eight years in an RV to 49 states, nine Canadian provinces, and six Mexican states.

They now call Mesa, Arizona, home. From this base, they embark on great road trips to meet family at reunions in picturesque resorts around the U.S. Visits to their kids’ homes in Anchorage, Boise, and Denver (his) and in San Francisco, Calgary, and Melbourne (hers) allow for exploring the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Carol has been to 48 countries but their 3-month all-inclusive winter escapes to Mexico in Mazatlan, Cancun, or Cozumel are their best times.

Carol maintains a blog, Carolina: Cruising Past 70 , and has published two travel books: Carolina: Cruising to an American Dream about her RVing years and Cruising Past Seventy: It's Not Only About Outer Journeys . It's Also about Inner Ones , is a collection of her most widely-read blog posts and articles. She has a BS in math, MBA, and DPA.

Authored by Zubin Panday of Going Locations

The Appalachian Mountains are a place that I know far too well as I have lived in this region my whole life. I have traveled up and down the region several times and have seen some of the Appalachian Mountains’ best spots, that’s what I’ll be covering today.

The Appalachian Mountains are a mountain range that runs through 14 states along the East Coast of the United States. The easiest way to experience the mountain range is through the Appalachian trail, a 2,190-mile hike that runs from Maine to Georgia.

Many of the spots on this list involve the Appalachian trail, while others are only a few miles off. This list covers mountain towns, ski resorts, national parks, waterfalls, and even the world’s largest cave system.

So without further waiting, let’s jump right into the best places to visit in the Appalachian Mountains.

12 Great Places to Visit in the Appalachian Mountains

Gatlinburg, tennessee.

There’s no better way to start this list than by a small mountain town at the heart of the Smoky Mountains.

Gatlinburg Tennessee is arguably my favorite place in the Appalachian Mountains because of its charm and proximity to so much. This small town receives over 12 million visitors per year but still maintains its secluded and iconic feel.

The main attraction in the town is the Gatlinburg Skybridge , which is the longest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge spans over 1,800 feet in length and suspends 140 feet over the forest floor.

Gatlinburg also boasts nearby ski slopes, a mountain coaster, scenic points, and zip lines. The town is under an hour away from Pigeon Forge with Dollywood, and under ten minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains, which we’ll cover below. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Under a mile from Gatlinburg will get you to the Great Smoky Mountains, a 522,000-acre national park receiving over 10 million visitors each year.

Hiking is the main thing here with over 150 trails spanning over 800 miles. Venture into the park to reach Clingmans Dome, one of the East Coast’s tallest peaks complemented by a huge circular-like structure.

Cades Cove on the west side of the park is one of the park’s few valleys and was home to many settlers before the national park’s formation.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park is a place I’ve visited countless times. I’ve grown to love this place and all its scenery.

The park is within 75 miles of Washington DC , meaning that a day trip here is possible. Skyline Drive runs straight through the park and connects all of the best viewpoints by car.

The Blue Ridge Mountains stretch 600 miles and run through Shenandoah National Park, the mountains look blue from afar and are iconic. Luray Caverns is a must-see place to discover, four million years of evolution have created this cavern, the largest on the east coast.

Massanutten is a place I’ve visited countless times, this resort is home to ski slopes, hiking trails, a zipline, and even one of the largest indoor waterparks in the country. 

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Kentucky

Cumberland Gap is a spot filled with history, it was the first gateway to the West for the settlers with a history that dates back to the 1670s.

This spot brings you to the center of the Appalachian Mountains with the best views. The national park is split between three states: Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

Inside the park are many viewpoints including Pinnacle Overlook , a great chance to see the surrounding area. If you plan on visiting in the fall, overlooks like these will be just that much better. 

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, West Virginia

New River Gorge feels like a hidden gem in the heart of West Virginia. The national park backs onto New River and is famously known for one thing.

Just outside of Fayetteville is the New River Gorge Bridge, an incredible arch bridge spanning over 1,700 feet in length and 876 feet in height.

Of course, driving on the bridge is a highlight but viewpoints such as Long Point Overlook and Tunney Hunsaker Bridge provide even cooler views of the bridge.

Ithaca, New York

Ithaca feels like a small charming town centered right on the Finger Lakes. This town is in the heart of Upstate New York at the south edge of Cayuga Lake.

Cornell University is the most iconic part of the town, the University is ranked 12th in the nation and has stunning 1800s architecture.

Take a short drive to Watkins Glen State Park and hike Gorge Trail , the rock formations are crazy with stunning waterfalls.

Asheville, North Carolina

Whether you visit in winter, spring, summer, or fall, Asheville, North Carolina has got it all. This small charming town attracts over 10 million visitors every year eager to see the town and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.

Several ski resorts are located under an hour’s drive from Asheville, a fantastic way to ski without the need to go north. The town is close to Pisgah National Forest, home to Mount Mitchell.

This is the tallest mountain on the East Coast at nearly 7,000 feet. The best part about this mountain is that you can drive up it, so the spectacular views from the top can be seen by everyone.

Stowe, Vermont

We can’t talk about the Appalachian Mountains without mentioning skiing. Stowe Mountain Resort is often considered the best ski resort on the East Coast . You have 40 miles of ski slopes spread out among 116 trails.

Stowe gets a crazy amount of snow per year meaning that most of the slopes consist of natural snow. The views from the top of the ski lifts are insane as the entire area is covered by a blanket of snow.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced skier, Stowe Mountain Resort is sure to give you a great time. 

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

The name speaks for itself, Mammoth Cave National Park is the world’s longest cave system with over 400 miles explored. Take a tour and see this incredible underground marvel for yourself.

Lights are scattered throughout the cave with paved trails so that everyone can enjoy this place, you’ll be blown away by the size of this cave.

That’s not all at this park, as 70 miles of above-ground trails take you straight through the Kentucky forests. Mammoth Cave National Park is a great scenery change from mountains and is one worth visiting.

White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

If you’ve ever heard about how beautiful New Hampshire is and want to experience it for yourself, this is the spot to visit.

White Mountain National Forest contains 750,000 acres of forests, mountains, ski resorts, and waterfalls, truly the best of New Hampshire. Mt Washington is the third tallest mountain on the East Coast at over 6,000 feet and is located inside of this National Forest.

Several hiking trails run up the mountain but what’s even better is that there’s a cog railway that leads to the mountain summit.

Just a short 10-minute drive from the park is Flume Gorge, an easy two-mile hike along the Pemigewasset River with stunning rock formations and waterfalls.

Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia

I originally was going to cover Natural Bridge State Park under the Shenandoah tab, but further thinking led me to give this incredible place a separate spot on our list.

Everyone visits here for one thing, to see the 215-foot-tall natural bridge. You can see this bridge up close and even go under it, the bridge looks the coolest at night when it glows with the lights.

This limestone structure was formed by the collapse of a cavern and further eroded by Cedar Creek. Cedar Creek trail starts from Natural Bridge and extends 36 miles providing an awesome hike. You’ll have a great time between these two activities.

Bear Mountain State Park, New York

Many of these places listed above aren’t really near any major city and often require a lot of effort and time to reach, that’s where Bear Mountain State Park comes in.

The park is under an hour and a half from the center of New York City , meaning that you can experience the Appalachian Mountains without the need to drive far or stay overnight. The state park is over 5,000 acres and backs onto the Hudson River.

Drive or hike up Bear Mountain to reach Perkins Memorial Tower, this place allows you to see 360-degree views of the park, Hudson River, and even New York City on a clear day.

The views are arguably my favorite on the entire East Coast as you can get views of the city and Appalachian Mountains at the same time.

As I’m writing this, some of the trails are closed due to a major storm so keep that in mind. If you want to visit an incredible spot in proximity to the largest city in the United States, Bear Mountain State Park is one I highly recommend.

I hope this blog post convinced you of how amazing the Appalachian Mountains are, it’s an underrated natural wonder. Whether you want to visit north or south, this mountain range is there waiting for you. So give the Appalachian Mountains a visit, I hope to see you there!

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Zubin is a true definition of a young traveler. At just 16, he has traveled the world visiting 16 countries among 3 continents. That’s when Zubin decided to start  Going Locations  and share his passion with the world. You can also check him out on  Instagram .

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I am Megan Jerrard, professional travel blogger/journalist with a focus on adventure, discovery, immersion and inspiring you to explore!

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Last updated: October 9, 2021

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Best times to day hike

Late spring and early fall are the prime hiking time for much of the A.T., but the trail is open year round, and each season has something special to offer.

Spring is a lovely time to hike, but keep in mind that true spring weather doesn’t reach the high mountaintops and ridges of the Appalachian Trail until mid-April or May–or even later in northern New England. The entire A.T. is typically still in the grips of winter during the traditional “spring break” period in March and early April. Once spring does arrive, though, it can be a glorious time to hike, with wildflowers in bloom, and more extensive views until leaves fill in.

Tip for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine– Avoid “Mud Season” during April and May.

Summer can be hot and humid, so starting early in the day when it’s cooler and before possible afternoon thundershowers is a good strategy. However, summer is prime time for hiking in northern New England. In Vermont, June is the earliest recommended time, especially at higher elevations. In Maine and New Hampshire, good hiking conditions don’t start until July; August can be even better in these northern states, with fewer bugs, but trails do tend to be more crowded.

Fall  is a great time to hike, when temperatures cool and autumn colors start to show. September is quite uncrowded in many places. October is the prime month for fall colors, but cold temperatures and snow is a possibility at high elevations in the South by the end of October. The first snows often fall at higher elevations in New Hampshire and Maine in September.

Late fall on a warm day can offer a nice hike with extra views when leaves are off the trees, but be careful of fresh leaves and acorns on the ground. Also be prepared for  hunting season , when wearing florescent orange and taking other measures is a must.

Winter can be beautiful, with the clearest skies of the entire year; many views open up that are obscured in summer by the Trail’s verdant forests. Bugs are gone, and solitude is much easier to come by. But hiking in winter requires extra care, precautions and planning, and gear. Any part of the A.T. can receive snow or ice from November into early April, earlier and later at high elevations in the South and in New England. Remember that daylight hours are greatly reduced, too.

Tip for any season: Elevation has a huge impact on temperature and weather.

Elevation also affects fall foliage and spring green-up. For example, the high peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina often have weather systems more like New England than the valleys below them. More snow falls on Clingmans Dome in Tennessee than any point on the Appalachian Trail north to Connecticut.

Day of the Week

If you’re doing a popular hike, weekends, especially Saturday, will likely be very busy when the weather is good or fall color is at its peak. Parking lots could be full by mid-morning.

If you’re looking for quiet and solitude, weekdays are a better choice. Holiday weekends can be super crowded, so that’s a good time to look for a lesser-known hike.

Time of day

Morning is a great time to hike. You don’t have to worry about getting a parking space and there’s less chance you’ll run out of daylight. Many hikes on the A.T. start by going uphill, so you can do the workout part of the hike while it’s cooler.

In winter or shoulder seasons, mornings may be chilly, but you’ll usually warm up quickly when heading uphill. It’s especially important to start early in winter as daylight hours are short.

Travelspirations

5 stunning road trips through the appalachian mountains.

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Last updated 5 months ago

Ah, the Appalachian Mountains. There’s truly something mesmerizing about this vast stretch of rolling hills, deep valleys, and ancient ridges that snake their way from Newfoundland in Canada to central Alabama in the US.

With each curve and crest, they tell tales of eras long past, whispering stories of nature’s grand design.

Now, imagine driving through these mountains, feeling the crisp air through your window, and being serenaded by the call of distant birds. That’s the magic of an Appalachian road trip. It’s not just about reaching a destination; it’s about embracing the journey itself.

Table of Contents

1. The Blue Ridge Parkway: Nature’s Highway

2. the great smoky mountains circuit: a whiff of wilderness, tips for the journey, 3. the shenandoah valley drive: history and scenery combined, 4. the appalachian trail road trip: for the hiker’s soul, packing for the trip, 5. the catskills loop: new york’s mountain gem, conclusion: embracing the mountain journey.

The serene landscapes, combined with the rich tapestry of history and culture, make the Appalachians a road tripper’s dream. And believe me, once you set your wheels on these roads, you’ll be yearning for more adventures to come. So, buckle up and let’s dive into five of the most stunning road trips this majestic range has to offer.

Stretching an impressive 469 miles, the Blue Ridge Parkway elegantly meanders between Virginia and North Carolina, acting as a scenic bridge between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park.

This iconic roadway, often dubbed “Nature’s Highway,” boasts panoramas that are nothing short of breathtaking. As you drive, you’re treated to a continuous visual symphony of misty peaks, verdant forests, and cascading waterfalls.

Some notable stops along this journey include Linville Falls, Craggy Gardens, and the Linn Cove Viaduct. Each offers a unique viewpoint, from the sheer power of a waterfall crashing into the rocks below to the delicate beauty of native rhododendrons in bloom.

The Mabry Mill, with its picturesque waterwheel, offers both a glimpse into historical mountain life and a perfect photo op.

So, why is this route a top pick for many travelers? Well, aside from its unparalleled beauty, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The drive itself is an experience.

With each turn, there’s a sense of discovery and a fresh perspective on nature’s wonders. And when the evening rolls in, watching the sunset over the vast mountain expanse is a moment you’ll cherish forever. It’s no wonder that for many, one drive down this route simply isn’t enough.

Also in United States

The Great Smoky Mountains, often referred to as the “Smokies,” stand as a testament to time’s enduring embrace.

Rich in both biodiversity and history, these mountains have been home to native Cherokee tribes long before the arrival of European settlers. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and boasting over a half-million acres, the Smokies are a haven for those seeking a connection with raw, untouched nature.

When traversing this majestic circuit, there are a few stops that are simply non-negotiable:

• Clingmans Dome : The highest point in the Smokies, it offers a 360-degree view that’s especially surreal at sunrise.
• Cades Cove : An isolated valley brimming with wildlife and historical structures, this area paints a picture of early life in the mountains.
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail : A one-way loop road offering pristine views of streams, old-growth forests, and preserved log cabins.

What sets the Great Smoky Mountains Circuit apart? Well, it’s not just the views – although, trust me, they are out of this world. It’s the feeling. A sense that, with each mile you drive, you’re delving deeper into a world where nature reigns supreme. The mist, which gives the Smokies their name, often wraps around the peaks and valleys, creating an ethereal atmosphere that’s almost otherworldly.

I remember the first time I drove through, and the scent of pine mixed with wildflowers filled the air. It felt as though the mountain was sharing a secret, pulling me into its ancient embrace. And that, dear reader, is an experience one can’t find just anywhere. It’s the soul of the Smokies, beckoning travelers to truly immerse themselves.

Embarking on the Great Smoky Mountains Circuit is no ordinary road trip, and with such an exceptional journey, some insider tips can be invaluable.

Here’s how to make the most of your expedition:

• Seasons Matter : The Smokies are glorious all year round, but for the most vivid display of nature, consider the fall. The mountains come alive with a riot of colors, from deep reds to golden yellows. Spring, on the other hand, brings wildflower blooms, with the mountainside dotted in a palette of pastels.
• Avoid the Crowds : As with many treasures, the Smokies aren’t exactly a hidden gem. To avoid the throngs of tourists, aim for mid-week travel and consider starting your journey at dawn. Not only will you beat the rush, but the early morning light paints the mountains in a hue that’s truly mesmerizing.
• Stay Charged : While the wilderness appeal is part of the charm, it’s essential to ensure your vehicle is in top condition, and your devices are charged. Service can be spotty, and you don’t want a dead battery ruining the experience.
• Pack Snacks and Water : There aren’t many convenience stores in the heart of the Smokies. Always have some water and snacks on hand, especially if you plan to hike or explore.
• Weather Watch : Mountain weather can be unpredictable. It might be sunny when you start, but rains can sweep in quickly. Always have an umbrella or raincoat stashed in the car.

Remember, the essence of this trip is about immersion. Taking a moment to inhale deeply, listen to the whispers of the trees, and truly connect with the world around you. Safe travels!

The Shenandoah Valley, often dubbed the “Daughter of the Stars” by Native American lore, is a place where the past and present coalesce in a beautiful ballet.

With its roots deeply intertwined with early American history, this valley has seen indigenous tribes, early pioneers, and even the tumultuous events of the Civil War. Its fertile lands have nourished communities, witnessed battles, and given rise to tales that resonate to this day.

As you cruise along the Shenandoah Valley Drive, there are several stops and towns that merit a pause:

• Harrisonburg : Known as the “Friendly City,” this charming town offers a mix of culture, history, and culinary delights. Don’t forget to visit the Hardesty-Higgins House, the city’s first home!
• Staunton : A hub of arts and history, Staunton is home to the American Shakespeare Center and the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th U.S. president.
• Winchester : A town that wears its history proudly, it boasts sites like the Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. The local apple blossoms in spring are a sight to behold.
• Luray Caverns : One can’t speak of Shenandoah without mentioning these magnificent underground wonderlands. Stalactites, stalagmites, and mirrored pools await those who venture below.

The Shenandoah Valley is a place where nature’s splendor is enriched by the echoes of history.

As you drive between the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny Mountains, you’re constantly reminded of the balance that defines this region. Green meadows that once served as battlegrounds, towns that combine colonial architecture with modern amenities, and ancient rivers that have been witnesses to centuries of change. It’s a journey that offers more than just scenic beauty – it’s a voyage through time, an expedition of discovery, and a testament to the resilience and evolution of both the land and its people. The Shenandoah Valley Drive is not just a route; it’s a narrative waiting to be explored.

The Appalachian Trail, fondly known as the “A.T.” by enthusiasts, is a hiker’s dream. Spanning over 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine, it’s one of the longest continuous footpaths in the world. But more than just its length, the A.T.

holds a special significance. It’s a rite of passage for many, a place of solace for some, and a testament to the endurance of the human spirit. Every year, thousands embark on this trail, seeking adventure, reflection, or even self-discovery.

Now, you might wonder, “How does a road tripper fit into this equation?” While hiking the entire trail is a commendable feat, not all of us have months to spare. Fortunately, the trail crisscrosses numerous roads, making it accessible for those behind the wheel.

Here’s how you can dip your toes into the A.T. experience:

• Max Patch, North Carolina : A bald mountain on the A.T., driving here and hiking a short distance will reward you with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. It’s especially stunning during sunrise or sunset.
• Newfound Gap, Tennessee : Located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this road intersects the A.T. Here, you can park and hike a segment of the trail, offering views of the misty mountains that gave the Smokies their name.

When gearing up for an Appalachian Trail road trip, preparation is vital. Here’s a mini-checklist to set you up for success:

• Trail Maps and Guidebook : Even if you’re hiking short segments, it’s essential to know where you’re going.
• Sturdy Footwear : Those mountain paths can be rocky and uneven. Good hiking boots or shoes can make all the difference.
• Weather Gear : Be it sunblock, a hat, or a rain jacket, be prepared for quick weather changes.
• Snacks and Hydration : Always carry water, and energy-boosting snacks like trail mix can be a lifesaver.
• Emergency Kit : Basics like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and any personal medications are must-haves.
• Leave No Trace : Remember, you’re a guest in nature. Pack out everything you bring in and respect the trail and its surroundings.

Embarking on this journey offers more than just picturesque views; it’s a taste of the magic that has lured hikers for nearly a century.

Whether you’re on foot or behind the wheel, the essence of the A.T. promises an adventure of a lifetime. Safe travels and happy hiking!

Nestled just a couple of hours north of New York City, the Catskills Mountains are a refreshing breath of alpine air amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Rising majestically above the Hudson Valley, the Catskills encapsulate an eclectic mix of bohemian vibes, deep-rooted history, and pristine nature. This region, once the muse of painters, poets, and writers, continues to inspire with its ethereal beauty and tranquil ambiance.

Taking the Catskills Loop is akin to stepping into a vibrant tapestry:

• Woodstock : Not to be confused with the famous music festival’s location, this artsy town is a haven for creatives. With its eclectic boutiques, art galleries, and historic ties to the counterculture of the ’60s, it’s a hub of inspiration.
• Kaaterskill Falls : A two-tiered waterfall that’s one of the highest in New York. It’s a relatively short hike to the base, but the mesmerizing views it offers are timeless.
• Hunter Mountain : Whether you’re up for skiing in the winter or a scenic skyride during warmer months, this spot promises breathtaking panoramas of the Catskills’ vast expanse.
• Phoenicia : This small town is a gem for those who love quirky shops, rustic charm, and the famous Phoenicia Diner, which serves classic American fare with a modern twist.

Comparing the Catskills Loop to the southern Appalachians brings forth a fascinating contrast.

While both regions offer awe-inspiring landscapes and a sense of escape, the Catskills exude a distinct northern charm. The architecture is a blend of colonial and Victorian, the forests seem denser with spruce and hemlock, and there’s a palpable sense of history with remnants of the Gilded Age and the early American frontier.

Furthermore, the cultural influences in the Catskills, given its proximity to NYC, introduce a unique blend of rural serenity and artistic flair.

This juxtaposition of untouched nature with pockets of vibrant, bohemian communities sets the Catskills apart, offering travelers an enriching experience that is both reminiscent of classic Americana and refreshingly contemporary.

In essence, the Catskills Loop is not just a journey through undulating mountains; it’s a dance between the old and the new, the wild and the cultured, the tranquil and the lively.

It’s New York’s mountainous gem, waiting to be explored and cherished.

As we journeyed through the sinuous roads of the Appalachian Mountains, from the serene beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the historic charm of the Shenandoah Valley, from the iconic Appalachian Trail to the bohemian havens of the Catskills, one thing became abundantly clear: the Appalachians are more than just a range of mountains. They are a tapestry of stories, landscapes, and cultures.

Every turn, every vista, and every town offers a unique narrative that adds to the larger tale of this majestic region.

The southern allure of the Smokies, with their mist-clad peaks, contrasts beautifully with the northern elegance of the Catskills, showcasing the diverse landscapes and experiences the Appalachians have to offer.

Whether it’s the call of the wild, the whispers of history, or the embrace of arts and culture, there’s something in the Appalachians for every soul.

Now, dear reader, it’s your turn. The mountain trails beckon, the tales await your ears, and the experiences are ripe for the taking. Pack your bags, fuel your car, and set your spirit free.

Embark on your own Appalachian adventure and let the mountains narrate their story to you. Here’s to the road less traveled, the sights unseen, and the memories yet to be made. Safe travels and may the mountains always be with you!

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Appalachian Mountain Range – Home To The Iconic Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail , North America , USA

The Appalachian Mountains are a massive system of mountains that are situated toward the eastern edge of North America - USA and Canada. 

The mountain range is probably most famous for the iconic Appalachian Trail , which takes hikers on a 3,500 km journey from Maine's Mount Katahdin all the way to Springer Mountain in Georgia .

Check out this guide for a complete overview on the Appalachian Mountains with all the information you need to know and more about the range.

The Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains were formed approximately 480 million years ago in the Ordovician Period. The range was initially created through the collision of tectonic plates during the formation of Pangaea - the supercontinent. This means that the Appalachian Mountains and the Little Atlas range in Morocco were formed together in the same mountain chain.

The shifting of tectonic plates during the Ordovician Period then resulted in a new subduction zone being created along the continental crust of North America. This caused uplift and altered the old sedimentary rock of the mountains, thereby forming the Appalachian Mountains.

The mountain range once reached heights similar to the Rocky Mountains and the Alps but were eroded down until they were almost flat before being uplifted by the tectonic plate movement, which allowed rivers to wear down the rock into the valleys and create the peaks that characterize the Appalachian Mountains today. These peaks only reach heights of 2,037 meters.

The Appalachian Mountains are made up of numerous different mountain ranges that create a chain of alternating valleys and ridges toward the eastern side of North America. They stretch from Canada all the way to Alabama in the United States, spanning a distance 2,400km.

The range consists of many rolling hills and lush valleys that are the result of years of erosion that wore down its tall, jagged peaks.

The Appalachian Mountains cross through many provinces, both in North America and Canada, as well as many cities.

Due to the vast length of the Appalachian Mountains, the range has a diverse climate that differs between the northern and southern reaches of the slopes.

Two ocean currents affect the climate in the Appalachian region: the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current. The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the south coast and the Caribbean, while the Labrador Current brings cold Arctic water.

The northern Appalachian Mountains are affected by the cold water from the Arctic, resulting in harsh, cold winters and mild summers. The southern sections of the range get hot summers and milder winters.

Both regions get a lot of rainfall, resulting in the lush forests and vegetation that cover the hills and valleys of the mountain range.

Wildlife and Plants

Most of the Appalachian Mountains are covered with forests, making it a valuable region for lumber and manufacturing paper. The forests consist of seasonal broad-leaf and needle-leaf trees as well as many evergreen trees.

Conifers, including balsam fir and red spruce, and hardwoods, such as birch and ash, can be found in the more northern sections of the mountains. Various types of Oak trees and evergreens cover some of the upper reaches and rocky ridges of the mountains, while heath fields, known as "balds", grow over others.

There are also many species of flowering and fruit-bearing plants that add to the beauty of the Appalachian Mountain scenery.

Various small mammals and several predators can be spotted in the dense forests of the mountain range. Beaver, raccoon, skunk and several species of squirrel can be seen in the forests, as well as black bear, gray and red fox, bobcat, coyote and red wolves.

The Appalachian Mountains are also rich in bird-life, supporting about 200 different recorded species, including  wild turkeys, great horned owls and various songbirds.

Appalachian Mountain Regions

Northern appalachians.

Photo by  Joe Greene

The Appalachian Mountains are divided into three main sections: Northern, Central and Southern. The Northern Appalachians span from Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada to the Hudson River.

The most well-known mountains within this region of the Appalachians are the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Notre Dame Range in Quebec, the Long Range Mountains in Newfoundland and the Green Mountains in Vermont.

Some of the highest elevations of the Appalachian Mountains are located in the Northern region. These include Mount Katahdin (1,606m) in Maine , Mount Washington (1,917m) in New Hampshire and various peaks in the White Mountains.

Central Appalachians

Photo by  Tim Hetrick

The Central Appalachians run from the Hudson Valley through to New River, which flows through Virginia and West Virginia.

This region is renowned for New York's Catskill Mountains, Pennsylvania's Poconos, the Allegheny Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains that span from Pennsylvania to Georgia .

Southern Appalachians

Photo by  Kolin Toney

The Southern Appalachian Mountains stretch southward from the New River. The highest peak in the Appalachian Mountain Range, Mount Mitchell (2,037m), is located in this region in North Carolina.

The most prominent mountains in the southern region are the Great Smoky Mountains that border Tennessee and North Carolina, as well as the Black Mountains in North Carolina and the Cumberland Plateau.  

Notable Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains are a massive expanse of rolling hills, valleys and rocky peaks. Thus, they are made up of multiple different ranges with many well known mountains and summits.

The mountains are all quite uniform in height within the different regions and ranges so there are no particularly distinctive summits.

Here are some of the most notable mountains within the Appalachian Mountain system.

Mount Mitchell

Mount Mitchell is the highest summit in the Appalachian Mountains at 2,037 meters above sea level. This is arguably one of the most beautiful mountains in the USA .  It forms part of the Black Mountains in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, which gets its name from the bluish hue it gets when viewed from a distance.

The mountain is located in North Carolina in the Mount Mitchell State Park. It was previously known as Black Dome due its round shape, but was then named after Elisha Mitchell, who explored the Black Mountains in 1835 and concluded that the range reached higher elevations than Mount Washington, which was considered to be the highest mountain east of the Rocky Mountains at the time.

Springer Mountain

Photo by  Terry Garrison

Springer Mountain also forms part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It reaches a height of 1,155 meters and is regarded as the southern terminus for the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail.

Mount Katahdin

Mount Katahdin is located in Maine and is the highest mountain in the state at 1,605 meters. Penobscot Indians named the mountain Katahdin, which translates to "the Great Mountain".

The mountain is a rugged and steep granite massif that makes for a challenging climb. Mount Katahdin marks the northern end of the Appalachian Trail .

The first recorded ascent of Mount Katahdin was made by Zackery Adley and Charles Turner Jnr. in 1804.

Blood Mountain

Photo by  Brian Greer

Blood Mountain sits at an elevation of 1,359 meters above sea level and is the highest point in the Georgia region of the Appalachians. It forms the border between Union County and Lumpkin County and lies within the Blood Mountain Wilderness and the Chattahoochee National Forest.

The exact origin of the mountain's name is unknown although there are some theories behind it. Some believe that it is called Blood Mountain because of a battle that took place there between the Creek and Cherokee Indians. Others theorize that its name came from the red-colored lichen that grows around the summit.

Roan Mountain

Roan Mountain is located in the southern region of the Appalachian Mountains and includes the longest area of grassy bald in the whole Appalachian range, as well as the biggest rhododendron garden in the world.

The mountain has five peaks, the highest of which is the Roan High Knob at 1,619 meters. The other peaks are Roan High Bluff, Round Bald, Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge Bald.

Notable Hikes in the Appalachian Range

The most notable hike in the Appalachian Range is, of course, the famous Appalachian Trail. While the entire trail can take months to complete, there are plenty of shorter hikes along the way and popular sections of the trail that make for great day hikes and multi-day treks.

Here is some more information on some of the most notable hikes in the Appalachian Mountains.

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a world renowned trail that spans a total distance of about 3,500km down the eastern side of North America. The trail begins at Mount Katahdin in Maine and ends at Springer Mountain on the border of the Fannin and Gilmer counties.

The trail can take the average person anywhere between 5 and 7 months to complete, although experienced hikers have been able to do it in under 50 days.

While successfully trekking the Appalachian Trail is a massive accomplishment, most people opt to hike various smaller sections of the trail instead of attempting to complete the entire route.

Mount Katahdin Hike

Mount Katahdin hike is a daunting and challenging climb for even the most avid of hikers. It marks the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and includes a strenuous, near vertical climb up to its highest summit, Baxter Peak, at 1,605 meters.

The hike takes between 8 and 12 hours to complete and requires you to scramble at certain points and trek over rocky terrain. The Knife's Edge, which is a narrow ridge connecting two of the peaks, is one of the most distinctive points on Mount Katahdin.

Despite the challenge it poses, the climb up Mount Katahdin is a popular trek and has been classified as one of the best summit hikes in the world according to National Geographic.  

Blood Mountain Loop

The Blood Mountain Loop is a great portion of the Appalachian Trail that introduces you to the long trail with a 7km hike up to Blood Mountain in Georgia. The trail takes you up to the Blood Mountain summit, which sits at an elevation of 1,359 meters.

The hike is quite difficult around the summit but the views from the top make it worth every step. If you hike the trail in the autumn months you will be rewarded with stunning views over a landscape filled with red and orange trees.

Charlies Bunion Hike

Photo by kmat

The trail from Newfound Gap to Charlies Gap is a 13km round trip hike in the Smoky Mountains Range of the Southern Appalachians.

The hike is quite strenuous and steep with an elevation gain of 1,640 meters. It takes you along a very rugged section of the Appalachian Trail where you will see breathtaking views on either side of the route.  

References : Britannica , Wikipedia

About the author 

Mark Whitman

Mark has trekked extensively in Asia, Europe, South America and Africa. He founded Mountain IQ in 2014 with the sole aim to be the best online information portal to some of the most popular mountain destinations around the world. When not writing for Mountain IQ, Mark is out exploring the outdoors with his wife!

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Since the Appalachian Mountains are in the USA, I wish your measurements were in miles and feet in addition to kilometers and meters.

Hi Sherri, thanks for the feedback. We will be updating this in the future.

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The appalachian mountains: everything you need to know.

Where are the Appalachian Mountains?

The Appalachian Mountains, often referred to simply as the Appalachians , is located along the eastern region of the United States.

How Long is the Appalachian Mountain Range?

The Appalachian Mountain range is approximately 1,500 miles long. It primarily runs parallel to the east coast from the Canadian province of Newfoundland to Alabama in the United States.

What States are the Appalachian Mountains in?

The Appalachian Mountains are located in 15 states in the United States. These states are: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

The range can be generally categorized into northern, central, and southern sections based on their geographical location and distinctive features.

Northern Section

The northern section of the Appalachians extends through the northeastern United States. It encompasses the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.

This region is marked by rugged terrain, notably the Maine woods and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Mount Katahdin, in Maine’s Baxter State Park, represents the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. It’s an area known for its challenging trails, deep forests, and breathtaking scenery.

Central Section

The central section of the Appalachians includes Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

This section is characterized by the impressive Appalachian Plateau. It encompasses the Catskill and Pocono Mountains. This are is renowned for its diverse landscapes, including wooded areas, rolling hills, and river valleys. The region also holds cultural significance due to its coal mining history and the Appalachian folk culture.

Southern Section

The southern section of the Appalachians includes Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

This section features the Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s a region known for its biodiversity, fall foliage, and scenic beauty. The highest peak in the range, Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, lies in this southern stretch.

Where Do the Appalachian Mountains Start and End?

The Appalachian Mountains run north and south. The northern end fades into the Canadian Maritimes, while its southern end terminates in the foothills of northeastern Alabama.

How Did the Appalachian Mountains Form?

The Appalachian range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world .

The Appalachians are primarily folded mountains , characterized by their folded rock layers. The rock layers have been contorted and pushed upwards due to the intense pressure from tectonic movements.

Their story began 500 million years ago when what is now North America and Africa, as well as other landmasses, collided. This collision, known as the Taconic orogeny, brought together several landmasses, forming the supercontinent Pangaea.

Over a period of 200 million years, this ancient mountain chain experienced several phases of uplift, erosion, and reshaping. During subsequent events like the Acadian, Alleghenian, and Ouachita orogenies, the landscape formed its unique geological diversity and varied terrain.

How Big and Tall are the Appalachian Mountains?

The Appalachian Mountains are approximately 1,500 miles long.

In terms of height, the Appalachians vary significantly across their expanse. The highest point is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, standing at 6,684 feet (2,037 meters). Other notable peaks include Clingmans Dome in Tennessee at 6,643 feet (2,025 meters) and Mount Washington in New Hampshire at 6,288 feet (1,917 meters).

What is the Appalachian Trail (AT)?

The Appalachian Trail (AT) is a crown jewel for long-distance hiking. Spanning approximately 2,190 miles (3,540 kilometers), this footpath travels across 14 states:

• Georgia: The trail starts at Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
• North Carolina: It enters the state near the town of Hiawassee and continues through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Tennessee: The trail runs through the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Virginia: The trail covers the most mileage in Virginia, running through George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
• West Virginia: It enters West Virginia briefly near Harpers Ferry, a town considered the psychological midpoint of the trail.
• Maryland: The trail continues through Maryland, passing by several historic sites.
• Pennsylvania: It crosses through the eastern part of Pennsylvania, known for its rocky terrain.
• New Jersey: The trail passes through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
• New York: The AT continues through New York’s Hudson Valley and the Appalachian Trail Metro-North Railroad Station.
• Connecticut: The trail enters the state and passes through a portion of the Housatonic River Valley.
• Massachusetts: It goes through the Berkshires, entering the state near the town of Salisbury.
• Vermont: The trail enters Vermont, following the state’s border with Massachusetts.
• New Hampshire: The trail crosses the White Mountains National Forest, known for its rugged terrain.
• Maine: The trail finishes at Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park, marking the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

The time it takes to hike the entire trail varies greatly from person to person and depends on factors like fitness level, hiking experience, pace, weather conditions, and the chosen itinerary.

Here’s a breakdown of different average completion times:

Thru-Hiking: Thru-hiking the AT involves hiking the entire trail continuously in one season, typically taking about 5 to 7 months. Most thru-hikers start in Georgia at Springer Mountain and hike north to Maine’s Mount Katahdin. The majority of thru-hikers aim to complete the trail within this timeframe, averaging around 15 to 20 miles per day.

Section Hiking: Section hiking involves completing the trail in smaller segments or sections over multiple trips. Some hikers tackle the trail in sections spread across several years. The time it takes to complete the entire trail via section hiking varies greatly. It depends on the length and frequency of the individual trips.

Flip-Flopping: Some hikers opt for a flip-flop hike. This involves starting at a midpoint on the trail, typically Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and hiking to one end (like Katahdin) before returning to Harper’s Ferry and hiking to the other end (like Springer Mountain). This method may vary in duration but often takes around 5 to 7 months as well.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail as a thru-hike is an epic undertaking. Thru-hikers, as they’re known, face numerous challenges. These include unpredictable weather, rugged terrain, and the physical and mental demands of being on the move for many months. The trail culture is vibrant, fostering a sense of camaraderie among hikers, who share stories, support, and resources along the way.

The AT was conceived by Benton MacKaye in the 1920s as a means to connect people with nature. It has become an emblem of endurance and adventure. Completed in 1937, the trail winds through national parks, forests, and protected lands, offering hikers a journey through woodlands, rocky cliffs, and valleys.

For many, the AT is a transformative journey that instills a deep connection with nature, self-discovery, and a sense of accomplishment. Each year, thousands of hikers are drawn by the allure of this monumental outdoor adventure.

Here are some key highlights and noteworthy landmarks along the Appalachian Trail:

• Springer Mountain, Georgia: The southern terminus of the AT, marked by a bronze plaque atop Springer Mountain, serves as the starting point for many hikers.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The AT traverses through this renowned park, offering stunning vistas, diverse wildlife, and a section along the highest peaks of the Appalachian range.
• Roan Highlands, Tennessee/North Carolina: Known for its expansive grassy balds, these open meadows provide panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
• Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: A scenic stretch of the AT winding through lush forests and meadows, often accompanied by views of the Shenandoah Valley.
• Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: This historic town is home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s headquarters and marks the psychological midpoint of the trail.
• Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania/New Jersey: A picturesque spot where the AT crosses the Delaware River, offering stunning views and recreational opportunities.
• Clingmans Dome, Tennessee/North Carolina: The AT reaches its highest point here at 6,643 feet (2,025 meters) with a spiraling observation tower boasting panoramic views.
• Mount Washington, New Hampshire: Known for its unpredictable weather, this challenging section offers spectacular views but requires caution due to its extreme conditions.
• Mahoosuc Range and the White Mountains, Maine/New Hampshire: This rugged terrain presents some of the most challenging yet scenic sections of the trail.
• Katahdin, Maine: The northern terminus of the AT, Mount Katahdin stands tall at 5,269 feet (1,606 meters), offering a challenging and iconic finale for thru-hikers.

The trail is managed by a partnership between the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), volunteers, and various agencies. Volunteer-driven organizations dedicate countless hours to trail upkeep, including marking the path, building shelters, and maintaining footbridges.

What Plants and Animals Live in the Appalachians?

The Appalachian Mountains encompass an incredibly diverse range of ecosystems, fostering a rich biodiversity that includes various plant and animal species. The region boasts a variety of habitats, ranging from deciduous forests, mixed hardwood forests, coniferous forests, meadows, wetlands, and rivers. Each habitat supports a unique array of flora and fauna, contributing to the overall biodiversity of the area.

The mountains provide habitats for mammals like black bears , white-tailed deer, raccoons, foxes, and various species of rodents. Bird species like the scarlet tanager, wood thrush, warblers, and raptors such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, all live here. Additionally, numerous reptiles, amphibians, and fish species inhabit the rivers, streams, and wetlands.

The Appalachian forests are home to an extensive range of plant species, including diverse tree species such as oak, hickory, maple, pine, spruce, and hemlock. Wildflowers, ferns, mosses, and lichens thrive. The Appalachian flora is known for its vibrant fall foliage, attracting tourists from around the world.

Who Lived in the Appalachian Mountains?

The Appalachian Mountains have been home to various indigenous groups and tribes for thousands of years, including the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Seneca nations, among others. These mountains hold significant cultural and historical importance for Native American communities. They serve as a sanctuary, a source of spiritual inspiration, and a haven for traditional practices.

European settlement in the 18th century brought about cultural mingling, leading to a distinct Appalachian culture deeply rooted in folklore, music, and storytelling. The region’s traditional bluegrass, folk music, and ballads resonate with the tales of the mountains.

Appalachian art and crafts, such as quilting, basketry, and woodworking, reflect the unique cultural heritage of the area. The region’s distinctive dialects and customs further highlight its cultural significance.

How Did the Appalachian Mountains Impact Settlement?

The Appalachian Mountains served as a significant barrier to westward expansion in early American history. The steep slopes, rocky terrain, and dense vegetation, made travel and transportation of goods difficult. This barrier discouraged migration, creating a natural boundary between the established eastern colonies and the largely unexplored western territories.

It wasn’t until the development of better transportation methods, such as improved roads, canals, and eventually railroads, that people were able to traverse the Appalachian Mountains more easily. Eventually, these technologies facilitated the movement of settlers and encouraging westward expansion in the United States.

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best time to visit appalachian mountains

Best time to visit appalachian mountains.

The Appalachian Mountains stretch over 1,500 miles from the northeastern corner of the United States down to Alabama in the southeast. Due to their size, the Appalachian Mountains experience a diverse range of climates with different regions having their optimal visiting periods. In general, the best time to visit the Appalachian Mountains is during the fall and spring seasons.

Fall, from September to November, is the busiest time to visit the Appalachian Mountains as it offers the stunning views of the color-changing foliage. The crisp autumn air heightens the beauty of the green trees, igniting them into a blaze of gold, orange, and red. Hiking trails are filled with visitors enjoying the spectacular scenery, and the many festivals and events in small towns come alive with the music and bustling activity. However, it’s also the busiest season, so make sure to plan your trip well in advance.

Spring, from March to May, is a quieter time to visit the Appalachian Mountains. Wildflowers and trees start to blossom, and the weather is mild and comfortable for hiking and outdoor activities. The streams and rivers run high with freshly fallen snowmelt, making it an ideal time for kayaking, rafting, and fishing. Spring is also the perfect time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as the haze disappears, and the views become more crystal clear.

Winter, from December to February, calls for snow-time sports and activities. The Appalachian Mountains offer excellent skiing, tubing, and snowboarding during these colder months. Some ski resorts like Snowshoe and Canaan Valley in West Virginia, Wisp Resort in Maryland offer top-notch skiing facilities. However, the snowfall in the region can be erratic depending on the location, so it’s essential to check the forecasts before heading out.

Summer, from June to August, is a warm season in the Appalachian Mountains that sees temperatures rise periodically. This season offers plenty of water sports like canoeing and swimming, but watch out for bugs and high humidity. The season is also an excellent time to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the surrounding areas for hiking, discovering the waterfalls and caves.

In summary, the best time to visit the Appalachian Mountains is in the fall season, if you love to see the colors of the foliage, in spring if you want to enjoy an off-season with mild temperatures or winter if you want to enjoy snow sports. Regardless of the time you visit, the Appalachian Mountains promise breathtaking views, a vast range of outdoor activities, and the unique charm of the Appalachia culture.

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Best Times to Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park | A Monthly Breakdown

By Jason Barnette | Travel writer and photographer with 15+ years of road tripping experience

• Last Updated on April 9, 2024
• Published on March 19, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Affiliate Disclosure here .

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has one of the best problems: it’s too popular. In recent years, the park has become overcrowded with throngs of visitors parking for miles along the road’s shoulders, cramming onto narrow hiking paths, and clogging major intersections.

So, when is the best time to visit and avoid the crowds?

From late May until the end of October, the national park is visited by more than half a million people every month. As more and more people seek the most popular parts of the park, it becomes more and more difficult to get there.

Fortunately, two shoulder seasons are the best times to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And there are always less popular places to visit that still offer hiking trails and scenic views.

Read this month-by-month breakdown of the best times to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park to learn about the peak times to avoid, shoulder seasons that are the best, and specific events you may want to attend.

Do you have a particular time of year you visit annually? Or do you base your plans on off-seasons and around holidays? Leave me a comment below and let me know how you pick a date to visit this park.

Table of Contents

Best Time to Visit

I learned a lesson about weather predictions in the mountains the hard way. One morning, I checked the local high for the day – it was supposed to top 70 degrees. I grabbed shorts and a t-shirt, left my jacket behind, and headed to a nearby mountain summit for a day hike on the Appalachian Trail.

When I reached the parking lot, which was nearly 4,000 feet higher in elevation, the temperature was a frigid 50 degrees. And the wind made it feel even colder. I hiked to a round bald on the AT, captured precisely one photo, and immediately returned to my car.

Let this be a lesson.

The chart above shows the average monthly temperatures for the lower elevations of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . Places like Cades Cove , Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail , Oconaluftee, and Cataloochee Valley .

But if you want to know the temperature at Newfound Gap, Mount LeConte, or Clingmans Dome , you’ll need to subtract about 15 degrees from the current temperature in Gatlinburg.

Read More | 50 Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

April, May, and September are the most comfortable months for visiting the national park. June and July are the hottest and most humid months. Although it’s about five degrees cooler in the shade of trees, the humidity will cancel it out.

Rain falls in the park several days every month. March is the wettest month, with 4” of rainfall and less than an inch of snow. October is the driest month.

2023 was the second-busiest year ever in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . 13.2 million people visited the park for recreation, almost 1 million shy of the record in 2021.

The Great Smoky Mountains was the most-visited national park in the country. But it wasn’t the most-visited unit managed by the National Park Service. That record went to the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2023, with an astounding 3.5 million more visitors.

There are several reasons why the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited. It’s within a one-day drive of nearly 70% of the country’s population. The popular Blue Ridge Parkway feeds into the national park at Oconaluftee. And there is no admission fee, although there is a new parking tag fee.

June and July are two of the busiest months of the year in the national park, but October is the busiest – nearly 1.7 million people visited the park in October 2023. April and May are a great shoulder season before the hustle and bustle begins in the summer. August and September are a great buffer season between the popular summer and autumn.

It’s impossible to definitively claim a particular best time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . That answer depends on what you want to do in the park – hike a trail, spend a night in a campground, or see the fall colors.

But overall, two times a year are best to visit: the shoulder seasons in April through May and August through September.

The shoulder seasons have the most comfortable weather with little rain, comfortable high and low temperatures, and low humidity. These are also the times of year with only half the number of monthly visitors compared to July and October – the park’s busiest months of the year.

You can enjoy scenic drives, popular hiking trails, and flowering plants throughout the park from April through May. It’s a great time of the year to hike to Chimney Tops or Rainbow Falls. It’s also my favorite time of the year to spend a day in Cades Cove. It’s the best time of the year to hike to a waterfall to see the most water spilling over the top.

From August through September, you can enjoy many of the same activities except no flowering plants or thunderous waterfalls.

Each year starts quietly in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . January sees the highest monthly snowfall in the park, with 3.8” on average. U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) closes frequently in January due to the snowfall and typically remains closed for a day or two.

January is the coldest month of the year in the national park. Average temps in Gatlinburg reach a high of 47 degrees and dip as low as 29 degrees overnight. The higher elevations can be 10-20 degrees colder, especially on windy days.

It’s the least-visited month of the year in the park. The visitor centers, hiking trails, and scenic roads have an eerie “ghost town” vibe. 500,000 people still visit the park, but that’s only 25% of the number of visitors that peak in October.

Best Things to Do in January:

• Snow activities

Following on the heels of January, February is the second least visited month of the year in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . Temperatures increase slightly, which means less snow and more rainfall.

There are no activities or festivals in February. Clingmans Road and the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are still closed. February isn’t the best time of year to do anything in the park.

Best Things to Do in February:

• Visit historic structures

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to over 1,500 species of flowering plants. Beginning about mid-March, the flowers start blooming in the lower elevations.

It’s the wettest month of the year, with an average of 4” of rainfall and less than an inch of snow. Daytime highs reach about 60 degrees in the lower elevations but barely break into the 50s at Newfound Gap. It’s the first month of the year that overnight lows are above freezing.

Read More | Travel Guide to Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

March sees a jump in daytime visitors, nearly doubling the number of visitors in February. Weekends become crowded, but it’s still better than during the summer months.

Best Things to Do in March:

• Find the blooming wildflowers
• Hike to a waterfall
• Visit Cades Cove or Cataloochee Valley

April is my favorite month in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . And it’s one of the busiest times of year for ranger-led events and natural splendor.

Daytime highs reach the upper 60s in the lower elevation and the upper 50s around Clingmans Dome. Overnight lows still dip into the 40s, so bring an extra layer for after dark.

April is the second-wettest month of the year, with an average of 3.9” of rain. But the April showers are great for the spring flowers and waterfalls – two of the best things to do during this spring month.

Clingmans Dome Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail , Forge Creek Road, and Rich Mountain Road open around the end of March and the first week of April. This brings the first opportunities of the year to visit some of these areas of the national park that are typically overcrowded in the summer.

Read More | Travel Guide to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Hiking to waterfalls is the best thing to do in April. The plentiful rain leaves the waterfalls churning, creating spectacular sights. Although the trails can be wet and muddy, especially the trail to Abrams Falls, seeing the waterfalls at their peak is worth the extra effort.

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage and Music of the Mountains are annual festivals that attract thousands of visitors. It’s a great time for these outdoor events with comfortable daytime temperatures. National Park Week brings a surge of weekend visitors, but not that many during the weekdays.

April is the first month of the year to see more than one million visitors typically.

Best Things to Do in April:

• Go for a drive on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
• Day hiking on popular trails

May is the end of the shoulder season before the busy summer months begin in Great Smoky Mountains National Park . It’s the best month of the year to visit the national park because of the perfect alignment of weather, crowds, and things to do.

Daytime highs rise above 70 degrees for the first time all year. Overnight lows remain in the 50s in the lower elevations, though you’ll still see upper 30s and 40s at Clingmans Dome and Newfound Gap. An average of 3.6” of rain falls throughout the month, which remains steady throughout the summer.

The number of visitors grows slightly from April, reaching about 1.2 million in May. It’s the midpoint of monthly visitors for the year – five months are busier, and six are less crowded.

Read More | The Complete Travel Guide to the Foothills Parkway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Pro Travel Tip | The best time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park in May is during the week. Weekends, especially later in the month, will become increasingly crowded. However, until schools are closed for the summer, there will be far fewer weekday visitors than on the weekends.

Best Things to Do in May:

• Look for blooming rhododendrons
• Go for a scenic drive
• Visit Clingman’s Dome and Cades Cove
• Go for a day hike
• Spend the weekend backpacking through the park

June and July are two of the busiest months in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . 1.5 million people visit the park in June, pushing Gatlinburg, Cherokee, and Townsend to its capacity for lodging and dining. Parking in the national park becomes a nightmare as too many cars try to park in too few spaces.

Daytime temperatures reach the 80s in the lower elevations and 70s in the higher elevations. It’s the most comfortable time of the year to visit Clingmans Dome or hike to one of the Southern Sixers.

The synchronous fireflies event draws thousands of visitors to the national park. The annual event at the Elkmont Historic District became so popular that the national park staff created a lottery system for choosing visitors like overnight guests at LeConte Lodge.

Best Things to Do in June:

• Hike one of the popular trails
• Visit Cataloochee Valley, Fontana Dam, Greenbrier, or Cosby
• Go horseback riding

Worst Time to Visit

July is the peak month for almost everything you don’t want to see in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . It’s the hottest month of the year, with an average daytime high in the mid-80s. It’s the most humid month of the year, with an average humidity of 75%. It’s the second-busiest month of the year for visitors, with 1.6 million visitors – just one hundred thousand shy of the busiest month.

Between the Fourth of July weekend, overcrowding, parking issues, and hot and humid weather, it’s the definitive worst time of the year to visit the national park.

But if it’s the only time of the year you can visit, there is still a sliver of hope. Cataloochee Valley , Greenbrier, and Cosby are less popular park areas with hiking trails, waterfalls, wildlife, and scenic views. July is a great time to visit these areas.

And the Foothills Parkway is still a relatively peaceful place to visit in the national park. Go for a short drive to Wears Valley and get on the scenic highway. Drive as far as Look Rock Observation Tower.

Best Things to Do in July:

• Go for a drive on the Foothills Parkway
• Hike one of the less popular trails

After the mayhem of July, the average number of visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park drops 20%. You’ll notice the 400,000 fewer visitors when you try to find parking, book a campsite, or hike one of the trails.

August and September are a short shoulder season. It’s a lull between the summer tourists and the autumn leaf peepers. Temperatures begin to cool, although daytime highs still linger in the 80s. Interestingly, it’s the second-driest month of the year with just 3” of rainfall.

Read More | Cades Cove Loop Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Travel Guide, Map, and Photos

It’s a great time to plan a vacation to the national park. The weather is perfect for outdoor activities, like hiking, horseback riding, and overnight backpacking. The crowds are small enough to enjoy visiting Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome . August is the last great hurrah for green leaves and shorts.

Besides August being my birth month, it’s also my favorite month of the year for sunsets. Late evening humidity can turn an ordinary sunset into a spectacular display of reds, oranges, and pinks across the partly cloudy sky. Head to the Foothills Parkway, Morton Overlook, or Clingmans Dome for the best sunset views in the park.

Best Things to Do in August:

• Visit Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, or Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
• Go horseback riding in Cades Cove or Smokemont
• Watch the sunset from an overlook
• Spend a night in a campground

September is a shoulder month in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it one of the best times to visit for smaller crowds. After peaking with an average of 1.6 million monthly visitors in July, the number drops to about 1 million by September. It’s more crowded than the spring months but not as crowded as July or October.

It’s one of the best times of year to view wildlife from a distance safely. The annual elk rut begins about mid-September – it’s the time of year when young bull elks challenge other bulls for dominance in the herd. The elk are frequently spotted at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee and Cataloochee Valley.

Best Things to Do in September:

• Witness the elk rut at Oconaluftee

October defies the laws of nature because it simultaneously exists in two states. It’s the best and worst time of the year to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park .

It’s the best time of the year because of the spectacular autumn colors sweeping the mountains. But it’s the worst time of the year because of the 1.7 million visitors – the most of any month of the year.

It’s difficult to chase the fall colors in the national park because of the tremendous differences in elevation. Another challenge is timing the natural event to book your lodging before it’s all gone. The fall colors peak from mid-October until early November in different park areas.

Whenever the colors begin to peak, here’s when you can expect to see the best fall colors in different areas of the park:

• Week #1 | Little River Road, Cades Cove, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Oconaluftee
• Week #2 | Cataloochee Valley, Fontana Dam, Foothills Parkway, and the lower portions of Newfound Gap Road
• Week #3 | Clingmans Dome, Newfound Gap, Look Rock, Mount LeConte, and the Appalachian Trail

Pro Travel Tip | Many hotels, resorts, and short-term lodging have a window for booking cancellations. Make several bookings if you can visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park whenever the fall colors are peaking. Book your lodging for once a week from the second week of October until the first week of November. When the cancellation date approaches, make your decision about when to visit.

While the daytime highs remain in the 70s in the lower elevations, by September, the higher elevations begin dipping into the 60s during the day and 30s overnight. It’s the driest month of the year, so at least you don’t have to worry about being cold and wet.

Best Things to Do in October:

• Visit Cades Cove, Cataloochee Valley, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Newfound Gap, or Clingmans Dome
• Go for a scenic drive (last chance of the year)
• Visit a less popular place like Greenbrier, Cosby, or Fontana Dam

Everything changes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in November. Campgrounds, scenic drives, and visitor centers begin closing for the season. The weather takes a significant turn toward winter. And the visitors finally go home.

Smokemont, Cades Cove, and Elkmont are the only campgrounds open year-round. The Balsam Mountain Campground is the first to close seasonally in mid-October. These campgrounds close for the year by the end of October:

• Abrams Creek
• Cataloochee

Cades Cove, Cataloochee Road, and Newfound Gap Road are open year-round. These scenic drives close between the end of October and the end of November:

• Clingmans Dome Road
• Heintooga Ridge Road
• Rich Mountain Road
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

The Cades Cove and Clingmans Dome Visitor Centers close at the end of October. But if you need information or advice, you can still visit the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg or the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee.

The weather gets closer to freezing temperatures, with overnight lows dipping into the 30s in the lower elevations. November is a wetter month, and typically, it is the first month in autumn to see snowfall.

The number of visitors plummets by almost 50% after the peak of fall colors. November isn’t the quietest month of the year – that’s January – but it’s quiet enough to enjoy scenic drives and hiking trails without seeing many others.

Best Things to Do in November:

• Visitor historic structures (outside only)
• Build campfires in the campgrounds

The year ends with thunderous silence after the chaotic leaf peeping season and overcrowded summer. Temperatures drop to the second lowest of the year, and up to one inch of snow blankets the mountain summits and Newfound Gap.

Surprisingly, 700,000 people visit the national park in December. Most are day trip visitors from Gatlinburg and Cherokee eager to hike the sparsely populated trails.

Sugarland Visitor Center and Oconaluftee Visitor Center are closed during the winter. December and January are the only months of the year with no open visitor centers.

Best Things to Do in December:

• Winter camping at Cades Cove, Elkmont, or Smokemont

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Appalachian Adventure: 15 Things to Do in the Great Smoky Mountains

Our visit to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge started with a shared goal of exploring Tennessee, but the reality is that Adam and I were looking for very different things from a very quick vacation. Although we love to take a week off whenever we can, many of our vacations are crammed into long weekends that don’t require using vacation time—a precious, limited commodity for us. We picked the Great Smoky Mountains because it seemed like a great compromise for us. Adam was excited to spend a few days learning about the region’s history, the people and places that contributed to the rise of a popular vacation destination. I was emerging from a few busy weeks at work and looking at a few more busy weeks ahead of me, and I needed a break: a real break, where I could truly disconnect. I needed, in the words of John Muir, to “ Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean .” I didn’t have a whole week, but I did have three days, so off to the Great Smoky Mountains we went.

If you are thinking about a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains, here are some of the items that might draw you into the region—and some of the surprises that might make it one of your favorite vacation spots.

Why Is It Called the Smoky Mountains?

Our visit to the Smoky Mountains wouldn’t have been complete without at least a bit of a hazy view, and that same view has welcomed people for hundreds of years. Local Cherokee tribes described the land as shaconage, a word that translates to, “blue, like smoke.” On hot, humid days, a misty, naturally occurring haze can be seen rising over mountains, creating the illusion of smoke and likely inspiring the name.

Smoky Mountains Outdoor Activities

You’ll have plenty of outdoor activities to choose from during your visit to the USA’s Appalachian region. Here are a few of the places we visited during our visit.

► Great Smoky Mountains National Park

No visit to the Smoky Mountains is complete without a stop in the national park bearing the same name. Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the line between Tennessee and North Carolina, and it’s an unmissable stop whether you plan to spend a weekend or a week in the area.

In addition to seeking out great views, you may have some chance encounters with wildlife as well. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to an estimated 1,500 black bears, which means there are roughly two bears per square mile. It may be exciting to see one, but remember not to approach them if you do: respect their space and their home, and do not interact with them or feed them.

More Information: NPS.gov/grsm

► Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster

More Information: SmokyMountainAlpineCoaster.com

You’ll need to leave lose items like hats, wallets, and purses safely locked in your car (if they come loose you’ll never see them again!), but mounted cameras like GoPros may be approved to make the journey with you. This video from Thrillist shows what the track looks like, and it’s a great way to consider if the experience might be fun for you. We loved our ride, and it was a truly memorable way to experience the Smoky Mountains.

Zoom through Tennessee by riding the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster. pic.twitter.com/iW0mfhH0De — Thrillist (@Thrillist) August 12, 2019

► Gatlinburg SkyBridge

The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the United States is located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, right at the base of the Smoky Mountains. Stretching 680 feet wide, the suspension bridge is 140 feet above the ground and provides some of the best panoramic views of the Appalachian Mountains that you’ll find in the area. There is a chairlift that will take you to the top in order to make the walk over the bridge, which was completely packed with tourists during our visit. Still, earlier in the day before the crowds arrive, the SkyBridge is a great addition to your Smoky Mountain itinerary if great views combined with just a little bit of daredevil-ish risk sound like a fun experience.

This video from the Gatlinburg SkyBridge shares some behind the scenes footage of the construction and gives you an idea for what the experience is like.

More Information: GatlinburgSkylift.com/skybridge

Landmarks to Visit in the Smoky Mountains

If you enjoy a touch of local history and culture in your vacation plans, your Smoky Mountains itinerary won’t be complete without a stop at a few key landmarks.

► Davy Crockett Tavern Museum

The Davy Crockett Tavern Museum in Morristown, Tennessee is a great place to start your exploration of Crockett’s life. Knowledgeable volunteer docents staff the small cabin that houses plenty of memorabilia and artifacts that will transport you to a very different Tennessee. Even though he was born into poverty and lacked a formal education, he served in the Tennessee militia, became a United States Congressman, and took part in the Texas Revolution where he ultimately perished at the legendary Battle of the Alamo. You’ll have the chance to learn about these highlights, as well as lesser-known facts, during your visit to the museum. It’s a worthwhile stop as you begin your visit to the Smoky Mountains.

More Information: CrockettTavernMuseum.org

► Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

Andrew Johnson served as the 17th president of the United States of America, taking office after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Johnson was not born in Tennessee—he hailed from Raleigh, North Carolina, but he called Tennessee home for almost 25 years and worked in Greenville as a tailor before moving to Washington, DC for much of his political career. He served as the mayor of Greenville as well as the governor of Tennessee, so a visit to the national historic site that bears his name will also teach you some interesting facts about the state’s history as well as the country’s history. A series of buildings, including his homes and the cemetery where he is buried, are part of the visit and a nice way to spend an educational afternoon.

More Information: NPS.gov/anjo

► Bristol Sign on the State Line

Not far from the Smoky Mountains, one of our favorite stops might be recognizable to you, too! Located just off of I-81, the towns of Bristol straddle the border of Virginia and Tennessee. State Street, which runs through both Bristols, is adorned with both state flags , and it serves as the dividing line in what otherwise looks and functions as a single town. If you can imagine standing on one side of the street and jumping to the other, bouncing between Virginia and Tennessee, you may be picturing a small, green gecko who did exactly that in a famous national commercial.

The state line might draw you into Bristol, but we recommend staying for breakfast on your way to the Smoky Mountains. We stumbled upon Blackbird Bakery while searching for a cup of coffee and something to tide us over until we reached Pigeon Forge, and the pastry case was more than equipped to do the job. We picked a couple of donuts to pair with steaming mugs of fresh coffee, and while the orange frosted donut was delicious, the maple bacon donut stole the show.

More Information: BlackbirdBakeryBristol.com

Smoky Mountains Amusement Parks, Museums, and Shops

There is plenty to learn in the Smoky Mountains, but there is also plenty to keep yourself entertained—especially if traveling with children or your family! Here are a few of our favorite places to visit if you’re looking for a few truly fun activities.

► Dollywood

More Information: Dollywood.com

► Shopping

We were especially happy to stumble upon The Island in Pigeon Forge, which is a destination for even more than shopping (you’ll find restaurants and entertainment, too!). Although we don’t typically spend a lot of time shopping on our vacations—unless we’re hunting for a great souvenir —we spent a couple of hours exploring some unexpectedly interesting stores, including Emery’s 5 and 10 that was memorable for its huge display of old-fashioned (and odd) sodas and candy that will remind many visitors of the stories their parents and grandparents told them about childhood treats. We also loved the Kryptonite Character Store, which sells an almost unparalleled collection of pop culture toys and memorabilia. We wandered in to check out the selection, and we both left with Funko Pops, including my Carmen Sandiego that now sits on my desk as a reminder of our trip—and to be a more responsible world traveler than she was.

► Museums

Smoky Mountains Restaurants, Wineries, Distilleries, and Dinner Theater

One of the best ways to experience a new place is by exploring the food and beverages that are local to a region, and you’ll find plenty of great dining and drinking options when you visit the Great Smoky Mountains. Here are a few of our favorite stops in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

► Poynor’s Pommes Frites and Spaghettieis

More Information: IslandinPigeonForge.com/poi/poynors-pommes-frites

► Dinner Theater

In Pigeon Forge, dinner theater is a big deal. Every hotel has fliers in the lobby, billboards remind you to buy tickets around every turn, and the establishments themselves are so big and over-the-top they will catch your eye as you drive past them. You’ll have a few choices if dinner and a show sounds like a fun evening, including the famous Dolly Parton’s Stampede (featuring live animals and talented stunt artists), Pirates Voyage (complete with sword fights and canons), Comedy Barn (a family-friendly choice with comedy and jugglers), Murder Mystery (a light-hearted whodunit show), and even the Bible Times Dinner Show (bringing the Bible to life while you eat).

Dinner theater experiences tend to be a bit pricey, often stretching past $50 per person, but the price point often include an all-you-can-eat meal and a theater experience, which may make it seem like a good value for the money. We enjoyed the evening, and whether you watch the Hatfields and McCoys duke it out or find yourself more inclined to enjoy one of the other dinner theater experiences in the area, don’t overlook it as a way to experience nightlife in the Smoky Mountains.

More Information: HatfieldMcCoyDinnerFeud.com

► Smoky Mountain Winery

Wine is not something you might be seeking out when visiting the Smoky Mountains, but because we’re always curious about how winemaking traditions are influenced by the places we visit, we stopped into Smoky Mountain Winery in Gatlinburg for a tasting during our vacation. Established in 1981, Smoky Mountain Winery is the oldest winery in east Tennessee, and it’s a great place to learn about the kinds of grapes that grow well in the region. Especially known for the sweet muscadine grape, which grows well in the USA’s southern states, the tasting menu is surprisingly extensive and fun to sample. Tastings are provided free of charge, and bottles are well-priced, so taking home a bottle of your favorite is a good idea.

More Information: SmokyMountainWinery.net

► Ole Smoky Moonshine

In the Smoky Mountains, there is no better place to try moonshine than Ole Smoky Moonshine , a distillery that specializes in all manner of moonshine. For just five dollars, we sampled ten different flavors ranging from light and fruity to creamy and sweet, and from strong to, well, very strong. A few flavors were standouts for us, including the refreshing sweet tea moonshine and sweet blackberry moonshine; we also liked the mountain java moonshine, which would make a delicious after dinner drink. To taste real moonshine, though, be sure to try White Lightnin’, which is great for mixing but a little much to drink on its own. Of course, if you want to go a notch above, Blue Flame is 128 proof and guaranteed to burn a bit as it goes down.

More Information: OleSmoky.com

Hotels in the Smoky Mountains

From humble motels to luxurious resorts, there are plenty of places to stay when visiting the Smoky Mountains. We based ourselves in Pigeon Forge at the Clarion Inn, which provided us with a nice, clean, and centrally located room that made our activities easy to plan. From the fresh-baked cookies at night to the comfortable room, we were excited that the hotel met our needs for our weekend trip.

More Information: Booking.com/hotel-waldens-main-street

We found the Clarion Inn on Booking.com, which we use to compare hotel amenities and locations during our travel planning. Check out Booking.com to see if they have a room at a hotel that will work well for your Smoky Mountains vacation!

Enjoy the Smoky Mountains!

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Appalachian Mountains Tours & Trips

Whether you're seeking a Smokies adventure from Asheville or venturing to the heart of the Appalachian Trail at Harpers Ferry. Stroll through verdant forests, past blooming wildflowers, scale rewarding summits, and witness black bears in the wild on the world's longest hiking trail. We've got you covered with our Complete Guide to Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail , perfect for beginners or those looking to walk through the Appalachian Mountains alone!

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51 appalachian mountains tour packages with 304 reviews.

• Hiking & Trekking
• Christmas & New Year

USA – 5 Days Blue Ridge Parkway to Great Smoky Mountains

• In-depth Cultural

New England's Fall Foliage (Classic, 8 Days)

I was hoping we'd stop more so that I could take more pictures of foliage but overall I enjoyed all that we did. Brigette is a great person, with a fantastic personality.

• Mountain Hikes

Hiking and Backpacking North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains

Hike New Hampshire's Appalachian Trail and Presidential Peaks

Classic Walks in Vermont

3 Day Smoky Mountains Hiking Experience

A wonderful trip. Three days of mountain hiking, 2 nights in amazing super deluxe mountain cabins, 2 dinners at their very upscale and inventive restaurant with two excellent, friendly, and knowledgeable guides. My only caveat was self induced. Mountain trail hiking is the real deal. And I was not physically prepared for it. Especially the first day which was the most difficult. To be fair day two and three were much easier. The mountains are beautiful, the town is great, and everyone had a friendliness that one doesn’t often find. Overall I confidently recommend this trip for anyone. Especially those who have a little mountain trail experience.

Asheville Inn Based Hiking Tour

My wife and I are very grateful to Kyle for his professional thoughtful service. We are so glad for Wildland trekking and Kyle to make this 45th wedding anniversary wonderful.

• Coach / Bus

New England's Fall Foliage (Small Groups, 8 Days)

Memphis, Mountains & Music City

Had a great time with everyone on this tour. Dollywood was definately a highlight fir us. Great company throughout and loads of laughs. Don't hesitate to book a Travelling Time Tour...they will look after everything for you.

America's Historic East with Extended Stay in Washington DC

There was much information, history given. At times the pace was too fast; as I think back now that I am home the various places are kind of a blur. Several places we were just not given enough time to explore, local guides seemed pressured under timelines. Sometimes “free time this afternoon “ was just too short,rushed and not relaxing. Baltimore was one example. Finding food when not provided was kind of a challenge; buying dinner at a grocery store was quite novel, but the store had much to offer. More quidance as to what is offered in each area would be helpful.

Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains

America's Historic East

Nashville & Dollywood Tour

Bluegrass Appalachia

Bluegrass Country & the Smoky Mountains featuring Louisville, Lexington, Gatlinburg & Asheville (Louisville, KY to Asheville, NC) (2025)

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I was hoping we'd stop more so that I could take more pictures of foliage but overall I enjoyed all that we did. Brigette is a great person, with a fantastic personality.

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Appalachian Mountains

Peaks in the Appalachian Mountains

The top 10 peaks in the appalachian mountains.

Old Rag Mountain Summit

Hiking Highlight

The Old Rag Hike in Shenandoah National Park is a well-known hike. Some rank it among the top 25 hikes in the world. Old Rag has received several awards. The … read more

Mount Chocorua

You are standing at the top of Chocorua Mountain. Its easily identifiable summit is famous for its beauty but also for its legend: It takes its name from a short … read more

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Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock is located in the Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina, near the beautiful Lake Lure area. The actual 96m high rock can be easily climbed via several … read more

Mt. Mansfield

Mt. Mansfield looms over the small ski town of Stowe, Vermont, at 4,393 feet. As the tallest mountain in Vermont, Mansfield is a very popular and rewarding summit for any … read more

McAfee Knob

McAfee Knob is the most photographed point along the Appalachian Trail. It features a 270-degree panoramic view of the Catawba Valley and North Mountain to the west, Tinker Cliffs to the north, and the Roanoke Valley to the east. read more

Whiteface Mountain

Whiteface Mountain is 4,867 feet (1,483 meters), the fifth-highest mountain in New York, and a ski resort in the winter. The summit is unique, with a restaurant, gift shop, and … read more

Mount Jackson

Mount Jackson is one of the two southernmost peaks of the Presidential Range. Getting to its summit is an excellent hike both in winter and summer.

Tip by Vincent Reboul

Mount Lafayette

Mount Lafayette, located just east in Franconia Notch, is the highest peak in New Hampshire's White Mountains outside of the Presidential Range (6th highest overall).

Mount Mitchell

Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River at 6,684 feet. There is a cool little lookout tower at the top. There is also a parking lot … read more

Blood Mountain

Blood Mountain is the highest point on the Appalachian Trail in the state of Georgia, and much of the approach to the summit opens up enough to allow for long … read more

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The Leaf Peeper’s Guide to Fall Foliage Hikes in the Appalachian Mountains

I t’s almost October, and there’s finally a hint of crisp fall weather in the air. Decorative gourds will soon appear on suburban lawns up and down the east coast. However, the real hallmark of autumn—the fall foliage—won’t emerge all at once. While Mainers are already enjoying peak color in their mountains, Georgians may wait the better part of a month before their trees turn. It’s sure to be a spectacle as the green tunnel turns gradually to gold all throughout the Appalachian Mountains.

The  fall foliage map developed by SmokyMountains.com uses long term weather forecasts and historical data from NOAA to estimate when fall colors will peak across the continental United States. Note that fall colors will still be gorgeous for at least a week or so before and after the peak.

According to this (highly theoretical) map, fall foliage is already peaking in Maine. Peak color will gradually migrate south as October progresses and will be past peak throughout the Appalachians by November 2nd. That means that October is the month to enjoy some fall foliage hikes in the Appalachian Mountains. Here’s when fall colors should reach their peak in every section of the Appalachian Trail this year.

COVID Considerations for Fall Foliage Hikes in the Appalachian Mountains

Not to be a buzzkill, but there’s still kind of a whole pandemic thing happening right now. Remember to be mindful of local pandemic guidance and restrictions before planning a leaf-peeping trip. If possible, stick to fall foliage hikes in your local area to minimize non-essential travel. Remember that many states still require out-of-state visitors to self-quarantine for two weeks upon crossing the border. Other restrictions may also be in effect. Either way, you should be prepared to follow pandemic best practices, including social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing on your leaf-peeping adventures this fall.

September 28th – October 5th: Northern New England

There’s a reason New England is the quintessential leaf-peeping destination in the United States. The northern hardwood forests of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are studded with jewel-bright maples and other vibrant autumn trees. Vermont’s Green Mountains, New Hampshire’s Whites, and Maine’s… everything?… make a stunning mountainous backdrop to this glorious metamorphosis every year around this time.

Choose a hike in southern Vermont if you want gentler terrain, or go to the Whites or Maine if you crave a more challenging leaf-peeping trip. Hiking in this region is spectacular all year, but the color change takes things to the next level. Peak color is happening now, so if you want to see the best autumn has to offer, there’s no time to waste.

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October 6th – october 12th: massachusetts and connecticut.

No need to despair if you’re not able to lace up your hiking boots and take to the trails of northern New England right this minute. Fall color should be peaking a bit further south in Massachusetts and Connecticut the following week. The Appalachian Trail in this region takes you over rocky ledges, through rolling farms and fields, and along meandering rivers. Take a leisurely stroll along the Housatonic River in Connecticut or hit the Massachusetts high point at Mount Greylock. Either way, you’re sure to peep some pretty rad leaves here this month.

October 13th – 19th: Northern PA, NJ, NY, NC, TN, VA

The second full week in October will be a busy one for those seeking fall foliage hikes in the Appalachian Mountains. Northern Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey will all be peaking around that time. So will North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Both regions have a lot to offer for prospective hikers and sightseers.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York offer gentler terrain (but plenty of rocks) combined with a typically vibrant color change. This region also has the added benefit of numerous Small New England Towns for added ambiance.

On the other hand, North Carolina/Tennessee is home to the Great Smoky Mountains, one of the country’s most sought-after leaf-peeping destinations. And Virginia offers hundreds of miles of prime fall foliage hikes. These include Shenandoah National Park, Grayson Highlands, and the highly photogenic Roanoke Triple Crown (Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs). Road trippers love cruising down the Blue Ridge Parkway that connects Shenandoah to the Smokies at this time of year.

October 20th – October 26th: Southern Pennsylvania

Late October is prime time for fall foliage hikes in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Appalachian Trail in southern PA offers some of the gentlest, most idyllic hiking on the entire AT.

October 26th-November 2nd: West Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia

The winding, cobblestone streets, and tall, white steeples of historic Harpers Ferry make a perfect backdrop for brilliant fall foliage. Those looking for an easy (but still gorgeous) fall foliage hike in the Appalachian Mountains will love the C&O Canal bike path that passes through this area. Those seeking more of a challenge can climb up to Weverton Cliffs. The overlook provides a 180-plus degree view of the river valley and ample leaf-peeping opportunities. Be on the lookout for the tasty pawpaw fruits that grow in this area and come ripe in late autumn.

Over a thousand miles further south, the color change is also peaking down in Georgia. Georgia is one of the last places for fall foliage hikes in the Appalachian mountains, but it’s certainly not the least. Amicalola Falls near the AT’s Southern Terminus and Mount Albert on the North Carolina border are both primo leaf-peeping hikes.

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Oh hey there! I'm Ibex, managing editor of this site. I mostly spend my spare time scheming new adventures and inadvertently setting my hair on fire while cooking. Thru-hikes: Appalachian Trail 2018 | Wonderland Trail 2019 | Colorado Trail 2020 + 2021 | Wind River High Route 2022 | Pyrenean Haute Route 2023

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The best time to go to Chattanooga

Aug 10, 2021 • 5 min read

With lively music events and beautiful fall scenery, there are many great times to visit Chattanooga, TN © Kruck20 / Getty Images

Located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, along the beautiful Tennessee River , Chattanooga is one of America's most spectacular cities. The so-called "Scenic City" offers stunning natural landscapes, including Ruby Falls, the largest underground waterfall in the US, and Rock City , a mountaintop vista dotted with massive, ancient rock formations and over 400 native plant species.

With four distinct seasons, each bringing a unique charm, there's always something going on in Scenic City. From dousing the summer heat with a paddle down the Tennessee River Gorge to getting festive at winter holiday celebrations, these are the best times to visit Chattanoooga.

High season: June to August

Best time to visit for outdoor adventures and baseball

Summer is Chattanooga’s peak tourism season, so expect higher hotel prices as well as higher temps: Tennessee tends to be hot and humid during the summer, with temps reaching into above 90°F (32°C). One of the best ways to embrace the summer in Chattanooga is to paddle the Tennessee River Gorge in a canoe or kayak. At Lula Lake Land Trust, located on Lookout Mountain, you can set off on a hike where you’ll encounter refreshing and scenic waterfalls. Summer is also prime baseball season – the city’s beloved Chattanooga Lookouts have been playing ball since 1885!  

Shoulder season: September to November  

Best time for stunning fall foliage and great leaf peeping 

The best time to visit Chattanooga is in the fall, from September to November, when the summer crowds clear, cooler temperatures make it easier to enjoy the great outdoors, and when the changing fall foliage creates a stunning, natural backdrop. Fall is the top time to explore Chattanooga's natural wonders: Set off on the 4100ft-long walking trail that leads up Lookout Mountain, the mountain ridge located along the southeastern Tennessee state line, where fantastic views of the entire city and its surrounding area dressed in its autumnal best await. Stroll the Tennessee Riverpark, which spans 150 acres along the Tennessee River, or cross the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, the Walnut Street Bridge , which connects the southern and northern sides of the city. Fall is also a prime time to shop the Chattanooga Market, an open-air pavilion where over 300 vendors sell fruits and veggies of the harvest, and locally made arts and crafts. 

Low season: December to May

Best for seasonal, outdoor events and museum visits

The winter weather calls for chilly temperatures and rain in Chattanooga, though the temps rarely reach below zero and the city averages a mere two inches of snow per year. Annual holiday events, such as the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's North Pole Limited and the Holiday Trail Of Lights, when Chattanooga drapes its boats, bridges, cliffs and more in millions of twinkling lights, celebrate the spirit of the season. Warm up with locally-distilled whiskey at the Chattanooga Whiskey Co., a micro-distillery and tasting room.

Spring is another attractive season, with temperatures becoming more moderate and wildflowers bursting into bloom. Explore five miles of walking and hiking trails nestled along both sides of the South Chickamauga Creek at the Audubon Acres Nature Sanctuary, one of the best places to find colorful wildflowers and song birds, or explore both 10,000 acres of preserved and uninhabited landscape and Civil War-era history at the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.

January in Chattanooga can be brisk. Low temperatures are around 30°F (1°C) with highs barely reaching the 55°F (12°C). Key events: Ice on the Landing (Gardens at the Chattanooga Choo Choo).

February in Chattanooga is winter’s last hurrah. The weather tends to be rainy, with an average high temperature of 51°F (11°C). Key events: Romance at Ruby Falls .

During March, average daily temperatures in Chattanooga can range from 59°F to 68°F (15°C to 20°C), and you should expect cloudy skies. That doesn’t stop the St. Patrick’s Day fun, especially at Rock City’s Shamrock City, an event that highlights Irish food served with specialty beer from Chattanooga Brewing Company . There are also Irish dancing performances and other family-friendly entertainment. Key events: Rock City’s Shamrock City .

Spring arrives, bringing warmer weather, and the launch of the 4 Bridges Art Festival (4BAF) and the Chattanooga Market, the region’s best artists’ and farmers’ market, hosted each Sunday, April through to December, from 11am to 4pm in downtown Chattanooga. Key events: 4 Bridges Arts Festival , launch of Chattanooga Market (April–December).

May ushers in summer, minus the upcoming swelter. It’s one of the best times of year to enjoy outdoor sports and water activities.  Key events: Chattanooga Beer Fest , JFest , Ironman 70.3. 

Summer is in full swing in June in Chattanooga, with festivals and free concerts galore, including the Nightfall Concert Series, a free live music concert series that attracts 2500 people every Friday, from June through August, and features international, national and regional talent.  Key events:  Riverbend Festival, Riverfront Nights (June–August), Nightfall Concert Series (June–August).

July is the hottest month for Chattanooga, with an average high temperature of 89°F (32°C).  Key events: Independence Day: Riverfront Nights, Nightfall Concert Series.

August is one of Chattanooga’s sunnier months, but temps can also be sweltering.   Key events: Chattanooga Bluegrass, Riverfront Nights, Nightfall Concert Series.

September kicks off autumn in Chattanooga, when the crowds clear and the temps dip. The Moon River Music Festival, celebrating music, food and local traditions, brings people from all over the world to the Riverfront of Chattanooga. Key events: Moon River Music Festival , Founder’s Day, Chattanooga Pride .

October is peak leaf peeping season. Fall colors and mild temps make this one of the best times of the year to visit Chattanooga. Chattanooga’s Oktoberfest is the oldest and largest celebration in the city and features 99 local and seasonal craft brews. Key events: Tennessee Whiskey Festival , Dread Hollow: Extreme Haunt and Escape Rooms , 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival , Oktoberfest .

Moderate temps, fewer tourists and lingering fall colors make November an excellent time of year to visit Chattanooga. Key events: Hike Bike Brew: Beer Festival at Lula Lake , Head of the Hooch regatta, Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon Weekend,

Chattanooga shines bright in December thanks to holiday lights and heartwarming seasonal events.  Key events: North Pole Limited Christmas train, Chattanooga Zoo Holiday Lights, Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights , Ruby Falls’ Christmas Underground .

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Road Trip To Kittatinny Ridge: A Scenic Drive Through Pennsylvania's Stunning Appalachian Mountains

Quick links, how long is the road to kittatinny ridge in pennsylvania, scenic stops on a kittatinny ridge road trip, what is the best time to go to kittatinny ridge, where to stop for food and drinks on a kittatinny ridge road trip.

A road trip to Pennsylvania's Kittatinny Ridge is the ideal escape from the daily grind of city life. Visitors are treated to breathtaking views of stunning Appalachian mountains along this scenic route. With crystal-clear rivers, lush green forests, and sun-drenched valleys, there is no shortage of awe-inspiring sights for travelers to take in. This majestic ridge also boasts several charming towns with a rich history of culinary delights and local culture. On top of it all, numerous overlooks throughout the route provide even more jaw-dropping vistas that the entire family can enjoy. All in all, Kittatinny Ridge is an idyllic backdrop for a memorable road trip - here's what to know about taking this breathtaking route.

For a truly spectacular time exploring this part of the country, go on a journey through Pennsylvania's Kittatinny Ridge, one of the best classic road trips in the US. Here's an overview of the route and what travelers can see along the route, which goes on for around 185 miles from the Delaware River to Pennsylvania's Mason-Dixon Line (and vice versa).

• Beginning in East Stroudsburg, just a short drive from New York City and Philadelphia, Route 611 South will take travelers through the picturesque Delaware Water Gap .
• Afterward, head west along Route 209 to Milford and discover the natural wonders of this 185-mile-long neck that reaches from the Delaware River Gap to the Mason-Dixon Line.
• Along the journey, take some time to visit Appalachian Trail campsites, towering waterfalls, and countless lookout points perfect for taking in sweeping panoramas of this National Recreation area.

Whether getting some exercise or simply marveling at Mother Nature's finest work, there are plenty of exciting things to see and do here.

Related: U.S. National Parks: 10 Road Trips To Explore The Best Of America's Natural Beauty

The Kittatinny Ridge offers a beautiful scenic drive through Pennsylvania's stunning Appalachian Mountains. This road trip has something for everyone, from charming towns to breathtaking overlooks. For the nature lovers, history buffs, or any other type of traveler looking for a relaxing escape, the Kittatinny Ridge has it all. So, pack up the car and hit the road for a memorable adventure through one of Pennsylvania's most beautiful regions. Here are some of the best stops on the Kittany Ridge road trip.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Located on the borders of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a must-see. This park spans over 70,000 acres and offers visitors a chance to explore the beautiful Delaware River and surrounding mountains. In addition, there are plenty of hiking trails, picnic areas, and scenic overlooks to enjoy.

Dingmans Falls

Dingmans Falls are located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It is a beautiful waterfall worth stopping on this road trip. The falls are over 100 feet tall and are surrounded by lush forests. A short hiking trail leads to the base of the falls, where hikers can take in the beauty of the cascading water.

Visit Milford To Experience Pennsylvania's Charm

Milford is a charming town (especially in the rain) located on the banks of the Delaware River. This town is a good example of why travelers should visit Delaware; it's rated 7th place on the list of the most beautiful Delaware towns to visit In 2023 . It's the perfect lunch stop or shopping location. Known for its historic architecture, quaint shops, and scenic river views, travelers enjoy taking a rest in Milford before moving on.

Grey Towers National Historic Site

Located just outside Milford, the Grey Towers National Historic Site is a must-see for history buffs. The estate was once the home of Gifford Pinchot, the first United States Forest Service chief and a two-term governor of Pennsylvania. The estate is now a museum that offers tours of the historic mansion and surrounding gardens.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

Located just north of Kittatinny Ridge, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a great place to stop and take in some stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The sanctuary is known for its raptor migration, and visitors can often see hawks and eagles soaring overhead. In addition, several hiking trails take visitors through the sanctuary's lush forest.

• Hours: Daily from 9am-5pm
• Established: 1934
• Area: 10.52 km²

Bushkill Falls

To enjoy the healing sound of another beautiful waterfall on this trip, stop at Bushkill Falls. Located just a short drive from the Kittatinny Ridge, Bushkill Falls is known as the "Niagara of Pennsylvania." Several hiking trails take visitors to different vantage points of the falls, and a zip line takes visitors over the falls for a unique perspective.

Related: Gateway To Nature: The Ultimate Travel Guide To Great Falls & Things To Do

From June to September, the Kittatinny Ridge area teems with wildlife, including some of the most diverse bird populations in the country and a variety of wildflowers that bloom among the trees. Travelers can also look forward to plenty of outdoor activities right through to fall, such as kayaking on the Delaware River or camping near one of the many state parks that dot the Kittatinny Ridge.

With plenty of natural wonders to explore and mild temperatures throughout October, there’s no better time to visit this incredible region than in fall for foliage. That said, the area also offers some of the most scenic springtime drives in the US , so travelers are guaranteed a good time no matter the season.

Kittatinny Ridge is a scenic area in the USA known for its natural beauty and landmarks. Here are some recommendations for where to stop to recharge during a Kittatinny Mountain road trip.

The Settlers Inn

This is a charming bed and breakfast that offers delicious farm-to-table cuisine. Known for its cozy atmosphere, The Settlers Inn is a delightful B&B in Hawley, Pennsylvania. This quaint inn offers farm-to-table cuisine and is known for its cozy atmosphere and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Guests can relax in one of the inn's comfortable rooms, each uniquely decorated with antique furnishings and modern amenities. The restaurant at The Settlers Inn is a must-visit, featuring locally sourced ingredients and a seasonal menu.

Enjoy a romantic dinner or gather with friends and family in the warm and inviting dining room. In addition, the inn's location is perfect for exploring the beautiful outdoors, including hiking and skiing in the nearby Pocono Mountains. Whether looking for a peaceful retreat or an active adventure, The Settlers Inn is the perfect destination.

• Address: 4 Main Avenue, Hawley, PA 18428
• Hours: Check-in time is from 3:00 – 9:00 pm, and Check-out time is at 11:00 am.
• Amenities: Air Conditioning, Private Baths, Telephones, Wireless High-Speed Internet Access (no charge), Microfiber Robes, Hair Dryers, Flat Screen LCD Cable Televisions are featured in all rooms. Many rooms additionally feature Fireplaces, Jacuzzi Tubs, and work desks.

The Walpack Inn

Whether one is a fisherman, a family, or a Manhattanite needing a getaway, they are invited to join for freshly baked Brown Bread, tasty handcrafted cocktails, and an amazing view from the greenhouse dining room.

The nostalgic and charming restaurant & cabin has been tucked away in the heart of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey since 1949, providing a unique and memorable experience for all who visit.

Enjoy great drinks and music in a fun and lively atmosphere.

• Address: 7 National Park Service Rd 615, Layton
• Hours : Fri 4PM- 9PM Sat 4PM- 9PM Sun 2PM- 8PM
• Phone: (973) 948-3890
• Email: [email protected]

Enjoy Live Music & All-Day Happy Hour every Sunday from 2-7 PM in the barroom. Also, visitors can enjoy the Friday Night Prime Rib Special: a 14 oz prime rib every Friday for $36.00 (normally $46.00).

Cocoon Coffee House & Bakery

The Hawley Silk Mill, built in 1880 and previously operated as a Silk Mill until 1956, holds the distinction of being the largest laid bluestone building in the world. Recently renovated as an education center and office space, the mill is a significant economic and historical resource to the Northeastern Pennsylvania region. Adjacent to the massive structure, a charming little building that once housed the cocoons that supplied the silk now sits.

This building is now home to a coffee house, which proudly carries on the legacy of the Silk Mill in its name. Cocoon Coffee House offers a menu for breakfast and lunch daily.

• Address: 8 Silk Mill Drive, Hawley, Pennsylvania
• Hours: The coffee house and bakery are open every day

Another stunning road trip to take (especially in the fall) is the Shawangunk Scenic Byway in New York State , as is the Seven Lakes Drive through the scenic Hudson Valley .

• 8 Of The Most Charming Small Towns To Visit In The Poconos

The Pocono Mountains are located in northeastern Pennsylvania . With over 2,400 square miles of protected forests and parks, the Poconos are a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, providing opportunities for hiking, skiing, fishing, and wildlife observation. The region also has numerous resorts, spas, and golf courses. Historically, the Poconos were inhabited by Native American tribes, and the area played a role in the colonial era, with many charming towns dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, the Pocono Mountains are home to scenic small towns where visitors can explore rugged natural wonders and stroll down historic Main Streets.

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, is within the rugged terrains of the Pocono Mountains and alongside the Lehigh River. Originally known as Mauch Chunk, which means "Bear Mountain" in the native Munsee language, the town's early economy thrived on coal mining, railroading, and canal shipping. The town was renamed in 1954 in honor of Jim Thorpe, an Olympic athlete whose remains are buried there to preserve his legacy.

Glen Onoko Falls and Trail has a series of waterfalls and forested scenery. This trail leads to views of cascading waters set against a backdrop of dense foliage. Next, the Asa Packer Mansion is a well-preserved example of Victorian-era architecture built in 1861 for Asa Packer. She was a prominent figure in the railroad industry and the founder of Lehigh University. The mansion is now a museum. Last, aboard the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. This vintage train journey takes passengers along the winding Lehigh River, through cliffs, and past the forests of the Pocono Mountains.

Milford is located at the confluence of the Delaware River and Sawkill Creek and is enveloped by the Pocono Mountains and the Delaware Water Gap. It is a connection between Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The town was founded in 1796 by Judge John Biddis, one of Milford's forefathers who named its streets after his children. Milford's architecture reflects its historical affluence, with well-preserved Federalist and Victorian buildings.

The Grey Towers National Historic Site is the ancestral home of Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the US Forest Service and twice-elected governor of Pennsylvania. This French château-style mansion, set on sprawling grounds, is open for tours. For a natural attraction, Raymondskill Falls is located just a few miles from the town center. The falls cascade in a series of three tiers, with a total drop that is only a few feet shorter than Niagara Falls. Conclude your visit with a relaxing day at Milford Beach, a spot along the Delaware River with sandy shores, picnic areas, and boat access. It is great for water-based activities like kayaking and canoeing.

Stroudsburg

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, is located along the banks of the McMichaels Creek and is near the Delaware River. Founded in 1799 by Jacob Stroud, the town's layout and growth were significantly influenced by its transportation, first through waterways and later through railroads and highways. Stroudsburg's architecture and urban planning include a blend of colonial, Victorian, and modern influences. Historic buildings, some of which date back to the town's early days, line the streets.

Near Stroudsburg, Big Pocono State Park is a natural reserve atop Camelback Mountain, one of the highest points in the Pocono Mountains. The park has panoramic views that stretch into three states, perfect for hiking, picnicking, and wildlife observation. Alternatively, step back in time at Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, a 19th-century Pennsylvania German farm. This interactive museum has costumed interpreters demonstrating traditional farming techniques, crafts, and daily living activities of the era. Do not miss visiting Stroudsmoor Country Inn, a charming resort that epitomizes the hospitality and rustic elegance of the Pocono Mountains. This family-owned inn has fine dining with mountain views.

Delaware Water Gap

Delaware Water Gap is a small borough that derives its name from the natural feature where the Delaware River cuts through a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains , creating the "Water Gap." It is on the eastern border of Pennsylvania, adjacent to New Jersey. Historically, this area was a critical passage for Native American tribes, European settlers, and, eventually, for those traveling westward during the expansion of the United States.

Bushkill Falls, often referred to as the "Niagara of Pennsylvania," has a collection of eight waterfalls nestled deep within the forests of the Pocono Mountains. It is accessible through a network of hiking trails that cater to all levels. Next, step onto a segment of the Appalachian Trail, the footpath that stretches over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. The section near Delaware Water Gap has scenic vistas, with trails leading through forests, over mountain ridges, and along streams. End your visit with the Water Gap Trolley Tour, a guided excursion. Riding in the comfort of a trolley, visitors can learn about the area's history, geology, and natural beauty.

Kunkletown is a small, unincorporated village in the rolling hills and landscapes of Monroe County within the larger Pocono Mountains region. Its geography of verdant valleys and streams, such as Aquashicola Creek, intertwines the community with the natural environment. Over the years, Kunkletown has retained much of its quiet way of life, with historical farmhouses and barns dotting the landscape.

The Blue Mountain Vineyards near Kunkeltown is known for its commitment to crafting fine wines that reflect the region's terroir. Visitors can tour the facilities, learn about the winemaking process from grape to glass, and taste award-winning wines. Another top attraction is the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary. This sanctuary lets visitors interact with and learn about butterflies, moths, and other insects in a hands-on environment. Guests should also stop at Beltzville State Park. It has a 949-acre lake, sandy beaches, and miles of hiking trails in the Pocanos .

Lehighton is set on the banks of the Lehigh River and cradled by the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. The Lenape Native Americans initially inhabited the area before European settlers arrived in the 18th century. Lehighton's establishment and growth were intimately tied to the coal mining industry and the transportation networks that supported it, including the Lehigh Canal and, later, the railroads. The town's name itself, adopted in 1866, reflects its roots, with "Lehighton" likely deriving from "Lehigh Town."

Country Junction in Lehighton is famously known as the "World’s Largest General Store." It goes beyond the concept of a traditional general store, selling a mix of goods, from home décor and gardening supplies to pet products. Meanwhile, Mauch Chunk Lake Park has a picturesque lake for swimming, fishing, hiking, and boating. The park also has educational opportunities that explore the local flora, fauna, and geological features. Lastly, Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery is in the rolling hills of the Lehigh Valley. This family-owned vineyard takes pride in producing high-quality wines that reflect the terroir of the region.

Lake Harmony

Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, is a locale in the Pocono Mountains of Carbon County. Formed by a glacier during the last Ice Age , the lake is the centerpiece of the area, surrounded by forests and hills that have made it a sought-after retreat from urban life. Historically, Lake Harmony was part of the vast hunting and fishing grounds of the Lenape Native Americans before European settlers arrived. In the early 20th century, the area began to develop into a vacation destination.

Lake Harmony Cruises has guided boat tours, a peaceful and informative way to explore the lake. The guests give visitors insights into the area's history, geology, and wildlife while witnessing the Pocono Mountains from a unique vantage point. For an adrenaline-pumping excursion, visit the Pocono Raceway, a premier motorsports facility known as the "Tricky Triangle" due to its unique triangular shape. The raceway hosts various high-speed racing events, including NASCAR and IndyCar races. Finally, Hickory Run State Park has over 40 miles of hiking trails, wildlife habitats, and the impressive Boulder Field, a National Natural Landmark. The park is ideal for hiking, fishing, and picnicking.

Hawley is positioned near the northern edge of the Pocono Mountains and along the banks of the Lackawaxen River. The small town was established in 1827 and named after Irad Hawley, the first president of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. The town's growth was initially fueled by its location on the Delaware Canal and Hudson Canal. The surrounding landscape, with its forests and proximity to the river and Lake Wallenpaupack, contributed to lumber mills later on and other industries reliant on natural resources.

Lake Wallenpaupack near Hawley is a man-made lake built in 1926 that has since become one of the largest and most popular recreational destinations in the Poconos. It spans over 5,700 acres and has 52 miles of shoreline. Additionally, the Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary has walking trails that meander through diverse habitats, home to plant and animal species native to the Poconos. The sanctuary also houses the Dorflinger Glass Museum, which shows the exquisite cut glass produced by the Dorflinger Factory in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Finally, Hawley Silk Mill was once the largest bluestone building in the world and a silk mill employing hundreds of workers. The building now hosts a collection of boutique shops, art galleries, a coffee shop, and a fitness center.

The Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania harbor scenic small towns—havens for those seeking immersion in nature, history, and a slower pace of life. From Jim Thorpe's vintage railway to Milford's three-tiered falls, the array of experiences available in these towns is unmatched. Stroudsburg's blend of colonial, Victorian, and modern architecture, alongside its proximity to state parks, adds to the region's allure. Indeed, the small towns in the Poconos cater to nature lovers, history buffs, and those seeking a timeless escape.

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Most Smoky Mountain hikers go missing by going off trail. New analysis shows how they survived

It seems counter-intuitive. How can anyone go missing in the most visited national park in the country? But given the size of Great Smoky Mountains National Park − 522,419 acres − and the sheer number of people inside its boundaries with 13.3 million visitors in 2023, it is actually surprising there are so few lost hikers .

Great Smoky Mountains National Park averages 103 search and rescue missions annually, with 118 in 2021, park Emergency Manager Liz Hall told Knox News. Of those, the vast majority − 80% − were injured hikers, while only 6% were for missing people.

Since the park was established in 1934, there have been only five documented cases of people who went missing in the park and were never found.

New analysis from Smoky Mountains website looks at wilderness survival stories

What is the best way to prevent that worst-case scenario from ever happening to you or your loved ones? Researchers at SmokyMountains.com have your back . They analyzed more than 100 reports to discover how survivors got lost in the first place; if and how they found warmth, shelter, food, and water; whether they stayed put or kept moving; and whether they found their own way out or were rescued.

The survivors in the data pool were lost anywhere from less than a day to an astonishing 90 days, with survival tactics that included finding shelter and rationing food. Only one of the cases involved someone in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Austin Bohanan, who was lost for 11 days in 2017 .

The most common way that hikers got lost was by wandering off the trail (41%). In 17% of cases, bad weather was to blame, while 16% of news reports analyzed cited falling off the trail as the cause.

To find a way back to safety, survivors were faced with an important decision: whether they should stay put and wait to be rescued, or if they should keep moving in order to find their own way out. The research found that two-thirds decided to keep moving (65%), while just a third chose to stay put (35%). Just under a quarter found a way out themselves (23%), and the remaining 77% were rescued. 

Lost hikers detail most important considerations for survival

In the cases examined by SmokyMountains.com, survival often hinged on the ability to find a combination of four basic things: warmth, shelter, food and water.

In order to stay warm, 10% built fires and a further 10% used camping gear. Other methods of keeping warm included the body heat of fellow hikers (including dogs), exercise and digging in.

For shelter, 11% of survivors used camping gear. Some 9% were able to discover caves and other existing shelters, while 8% took shelter beneath trees.

In order to stay hydrated, survivors needed a reliable source of water. Almost a quarter found a natural body of water (24%), 16% used snow, rain or puddles, and 13% rationed their own water. Other sources of water that were named included drinking urine or licking leaves, moss and grass for hydration. 

Survivors also needed to find food. Over a third were able to ration their own supplies (35%) and 9% ate berries and fruit. A number of hikers also ate plants and insects.

Expert offers wilderness survival tips

Andrew Herrington, who is a survival instructor, search and rescue team leader and wildlife ranger in the Smokies, shared his top hiking advice with SmokyMountains.com. Not surprisingly, his best advice involved preparation:

• Carry the 10 essentials : Navigation aids, sun protection, insulation (good clothing), illumination (flashlights etc.), first aid supplies, fire-making supplies, repair kit, nutrition, hydration and emergency shelter.
• Leave a trip plan and check-in time with two trusted people.
• Study your maps and identify a “bailout” direction in the area you’re exploring.
• Check the weather forecast (including overnight in case you’re forced to stay out).
• Practice lightweight tarp shelter building at home.
• Print off free maps at sartopo.com .
• Download a backup GPS app, like Avenza.
• Practice fire-making and carry the gear (including petroleum jelly-soaked cotton balls and fatwood sticks).
• Look into personal locator beacons and satellite messengers for cutting-edge signaling options.

Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email  [email protected] .

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at  knoxnews.com/subscribe . 

Rising Appalachia Share New Music Video & Hometown Travel Guide To Asheville, NC

The life of a touring artist isn’t for the weak. As most fans and musicians are aware, artistic preservation demands a break from time to time to make space for re-centering, writing, and relaxing . With that, it only made sense when globally recognized Americana and world folk ensemble Rising Appalachia announced that they’d be taking a creative sabbatical from the road to work on new music.

With several weeks into their global travel rest, frontwomen sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith have announced their upcoming album, Folk and Anchor . The project will see the group release an all-new collection of thoughtful reimaginings of cover songs spanning the likes of Bob Dylan, James Blake, Erykah Badu, Beyonce, and beyond. Due out May 17th, Folk and Anchor will showcase the group’s eclectic style, inviting old and new listeners into a rich musical journey.

“We grew up immersed in a musical family, and our songwriting and performance has been deeply influenced by so many Americana genres over the years,” says Leah Song.

“We wanted to create a body of work where all those influences could be showcased under one roof…As folk musicians, we have always been inspired by public music that is not our own. Along with songwriting, we have always played tunes and traditionals from Appalachia, Ireland, and beyond. With this album we were inspired to branch out and do our spin on some different styles of music, ranging from pop to folk to soul. The artists we chose to cover are both contemporary favorites as well as people we grew up listening to and adoring. It has been a treat to sit back in Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC and work on these renditions of beloved songs.”

With a month out from the full album release, Rising Appalachia has released the first single, “The Bones.” Originally recorded by Maren Morris and Hozier, the new single is accompanied by a music video that sees the group harmonizing in their hometown of Asheville, North Carolina .

As Leah and Chloe continue settling into their artistic rest in the mountains of Asheville, they have compiled a personal travel guide to this little Appalachian city. From breweries to mountain hikes, scroll down to see personal recommendations ahead of the group’s Summer Solstice Soiree at Salvage Station on June 8th. Tickets and additional information can be found here .

Best Place To Caffeinate In The Morning: Dobra TeaHouse

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dobra Tea in Asheville, NC (@dobrateanc)

We love Dobra TeaHouse for its ambiance and tucked away coziness. Their tea selection is divine and worldly and the cafe is a perfect place to quietly reflect or work on a project with a warm mug of herbal sweetness. Try the Shakti-tea!

How To Spend A Proper Afternoon in Asheville: Our Favorite Independent Bookstores

We are usually out and about in the woods around these mountains more than in town, foraging or cold plunging or taking in the splendor of birdsong in the green hills. For town we can get lost in Malaprops Bookstore for hours on end in literary bliss, perusing their immaculate selections of fiction novels or how-to books. We are big supporters of independent bookstores. Firestorm is also an amazing one over in West Asheville.

Best Place To Grab A Bite To Eat: Zambra

View this post on Instagram A post shared by zambra (@zambra.asheville)

Zambra is our go to. Incredible tapas, underground aesthetic, low lit and romantic, great wine selection. We also love Benne on Eagle for its incredible brunch menu.

Best Brewery In The 828: The Wedge

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Brewery Explorer (@thebrewery_explorer)

The Wedge ! Always and forever old school. We love them because they are the original brewery in Asheville. The iron work around the brewery is incredible and the river arts district is steezy and pleasing on the eye for an artist.

Favorite Hiking Trails: Craggy Gardens/Shining Rock

We are sneaky about this and won’t share our favorite so as to keep the trails we love quiet…however…some more well known ones we love are Craggy Gardens during the autumnal season and the hike up to Shining Rock via the Art Loeb trail. There are so many great trails in every direction of this mountain region. What a treasure to spend a day in the woods.

Best Place To See Live Music: Salvage Station

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rising Appalachia (@risingappalachia)

Salvage Station for outdoor live music…kudos to our sound engineer Scarekrow that runs sound there. It’s right on the river which is a sweet spot to listen to music in town. They have ample parking and it’s an old salvage yard so it’s rustic and charming. We also love the Grey Eagle for more intimate shows. They are a staple of the Asheville music scene and have been for many years, so it’s important to support businesses who have been here for a long time amidst the insane growth of this town. Lastly, the LEAF Festival is a gem of a music and arts event here and we have been going since we were babies.

What Do You Want People To Know About Asheville?

We recommend Asheville city council and residents to help this town grow smart and not fast. With so many people moving to the area, there is a high need for bike lanes, affordable housing, and water management to name a few. There are tons of good people working on these agendas locally so get involved if you love living in this town!

Pre-order or pre-save the band’s new album ahead of its May release here .

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• It List 2024 Overview: It List 2024

The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year

• The Best New U.S. Resorts of 2023
• The Best New Affordable Luxury Hotels of 2023
• The Best New International Resorts of 2023
• The Best New Cruise Ships of 2023
• The Best New City Hotels of 2023
• The Most Luxurious New Hotels of 2023
• Hotels + Resorts
• It List 2024 The 100 Best New Hotels of the Year The Best New U.S. Resorts of 2023 The Best New Affordable Luxury Hotels of 2023 The Best New International Resorts of 2023 The Best New Cruise Ships of 2023 The Best New City Hotels of 2023 The Most Luxurious New Hotels of 2023 CLOSE Part of It List 2024

It List 2024: The best new hotels of the year, all visited and reviewed by Travel + Leisure's expert editors and contributors.

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.

Our annual guide to the most game-changing hotel openings (and reopenings) has taken Travel + Leisure editors and contributors to 39 countries on six continents. We started with a list of more than 200 soon-to-open hotels, and T+L editors and reporters visited nearly 130 of them over the last 12 months. The endeavor brought us to a swish, antiques-filled hot spot in Fort Worth , Texas’s Cultural District; a hideaway that breathes big personality into Spain’s little-known wine region of Priorat; and an all-inclusive ski resort in Hokkaido, Japan , among other intriguing new hotels redefining the destinations around them.

Related: Our Hotel Values

Ahead, the 100 very best new hotels, including hidden gems in Morocco and reborn icons in Mexico and Hawaii. And, for the first time, the best newly launched luxury cruise ships. We’ve divided our picks into six categories to help you find the right escape for your travel mood. And we’ve noted, at the end of each entry, properties that have accessible rooms and common spaces that meet or exceed ADA or similar, country-specific rules. 

Read on for T+L’s 2024 It List — we’ll see you at the rooftop pool. 

— Edited by Maya Kachroo-Levine and Danielle Pointdujour

Hotels by Category

The full 100, 1 hotel hanalei bay, kauai.

Nina Ruggiero/Travel + Leisure

Once in a while, a hotel lands in a new place feeling like it’s always belonged there. The 1 Hotels brand and the Hawaiian island of Kauai were destined to be a match: They share a dedication to sustainability and a reputation for lush greenery. When 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay opened its doors in February 2023, the first thing locals and returning visitors noticed was that unlike its predecessor, the stark-white St. Regis Princeville, it didn’t stand out. On Kauai, that’s a good thing. A khaki-green exterior, rooftop gardens, and a host of endemic plants mean the hotel blends into its surrounding hills, leading all eyes straight to Hanalei Bay. And the bay is well deserving of the spotlight: as if its clear, swimmable waters weren’t enough, the skyline is dominated by the peaks of Mount Makana — also known as Bali Hai, the start of the otherworldly Na Pali coast — and the vibrant rainbows that appear in the sky almost daily. From the ocean-facing rooms and open-air restaurants to the pool with a view, everything at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is built for enjoying this incredible backdrop, blurring the lines between indoors and out. The Bamford Wellness Spa is focused on Hawaiian plant medicine, with personalized facials and massages that make use of local scrubs and honeys. The spa also offers sensory stimulation like hyperbaric oxygen therapy and a zero-gravity float chamber. The new Within Wellbeing program, a first for the 1 Hotels portfolio, curates four- and seven-night retreats focused on personal growth, longevity, balance, nutrition, and more. The 8,000-square-foot Anatomy gym offers personal training and fitness classes daily, and the signature restaurant, 1 Kitchen , serves organic vegetables grown on site, sustainably and locally caught seafood, and biodynamic wines. The hotel makes a concerted effort to support Hawaiian businesses, from the designers in its boutique and the juices and coffee at Neighbors , its all-day café, to its partnerships with nearby farms, surf schools , guides, and nonprofits including the Kauai Humane Society . From $1,200/night. Accessible hotel. — Nina Ruggiero

21c Museum Hotel St. Louis

Courtesy of 21c Museum Hotels

Opening in August 2023 with the not-so-hidden agenda to breathe new life into one of St. Louis’s most historic neighborhoods, this 173-room property — Missouri’s second 21c Museum Hotel — has proven that it is indeed fun to stay at a YMCA. Before the renovated, 10-story neo-Renaissance building found a second life as a hotel, it housed the downtown St. Louis chapter of the YMCA for nearly a century. Today, instead of luring guests with team sports and weight rooms, this Locust Street location does so with art exhibitions, culinary extravagances, and well-curated guest rooms. The building’s Wes Anderson–esque facade was renovated by the preservation pros at Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel , while Bill Rooney Studio reimagined the guest rooms and architecture firm Hufft designed the public spaces. True to the brand’s ethos, the hotel only showcases art from the 21st century, each piece hanging from an unexpected place, like on the walls lining the YMCA’s former basketball court — gloss floors, suspended running track, and all. Altogether, there is more than 14,000 square feet of art exhibition space, all designed to double as event space hosting community activities like altruistic happy hours supporting a different local nonprofit each month. Even the hotel rooms act as mini galleries, featuring unconventional layouts and exclusive artwork from artists with strong ties to Missouri, like Carmon Colangelo. Designers brought in custom Rookwood Pottery tiles to replicate the historic inlays of the basement fitness and swim club, where the phrase “Swim for Life” is still etched on the pool floor, preserving a piece of YMCA history. In contrast, new culinary additions bring a fresh appeal to the hotel — I loved the Northwest Coffee at Good Press cafe and the playful, Spanish-style tapas and cocktails at Idol Wolf restaurant. From $161/night. Accessible hotel. — Kristy Alpert

Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel, Italy

Housed in a 13th-century Capuchin convent, Anantara Convento di Amalfi 's church has been meticulously maintained, as have its Arab-Norman cloisters, where a Franciscan friar leads walking meditations and luxury wedding ceremonies between the cliffs and the sea. Inside, convent benches still line simple, dimly lit halls, inspiring quiet moments of contemplation, though the bougainvillea-draped exterior corridors are just as appealing. Convento is built high into a cliff overlooking one of the most beautiful sections of the Amalfi Coast, serving a sparkling blue view that’s best enjoyed by day from the infinity pool or a table at La Locanda della Canonica , where pizza by legendary Neapolitan pizzaiolo Gino Sorbillo is plated on colorful ceramics. By night, yachts light the dark waters below, adding to the romance of fine-dining restaurant Dei Cappuccini , where chef Claudio Lanuto creates tasting menus using fresh seafood and vegetables from the on-site monks’ garden. The sea is also on display from the outdoor gym and each of the 52 beige-and-white rooms and suites — where reflections of the sapphire Mediterranean offer the only pop of color, save for bowls of bright yellow Amalfi lemons. The only exception is the Suite del Priore (formerly home to the convent prior), with a ceiling covered in preserved frescoes above the four-poster bed. The serene neutral color palette extends to the spa , which includes a hammam and uses Valmont skin care products. Amalfi’s town center is a short walk away, and the hotel arranges some of the area’s most breathtaking excursions , from private sunset cruises and scenic hikes to helicopter tours. From $1,401/night. Accessible hotel. — Nina Ruggiero

Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas, Thailand

Courtesy of Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas

The 40-minute speedboat ride from Phuket to the new Anantara Koh Yao Yai brought me to a secluded property in the middle of Phang Nga Bay. The 27-acre paradise sits on a quiet, powdery stretch of sand shared only with elusive hornbills and macaques. Built from the ground up, Anantara Koh Yao Yai’s 148 rooms are spread across a handful of buildings: two-story penthouses and cozy villas, all featuring private plunge pools, plus family-friendly suites outfitted with darling bunk beds and slides. A minimalist design runs through every butler-serviced room: sleek wood paneling, woven headboards, marble baths with soaking tubs, and copious amounts of light pouring in through floor-to-ceiling balcony doors. The same aesthetic carries over to the 10,00-square-foot spa with a hammam as well as the resort’s main, silver gray–tiled infinity pool overlooking the water. The indoor-outdoor Beach Restaurant serves an ambitious international menu — sushi, pastas, and much more — which excels thanks to fresh, local ingredients. For a more hands-on culinary experience, I tried a cooking class at the on-site Spice Spoons culinary school and learned to make green curry, pad Thai, and mango sticky rice with an expert chef. From $750/night. — Tanvi Chheda

andBeyond Punakha Valley, Bhutan

Chris Schalkx

Luxury safari operator andBeyond’s first property outside Africa and South America, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge is a game-changer for Bhutan. After locating a lush plot of land along the roaring Mo River in the Punakha Valley, the company worked with Fox Browne Creative, known for its high-end African safari camps, to bring the vision to life. The lodge’s eight suites meld the brand’s signature safari-style tents with Bhutanese details such as ornate timber frames, shingled roofs, and kaleidoscopic textiles (woven by Renew, a nonprofit dedicated to women’s empowerment). Bathrooms open onto outdoor showers and have skylights above the soaking tubs, making them perfect for stargazing. The spa features herbal hot-stone baths and poolside loungers with views of the Himalayas. Adventure seekers can opt for bike rides in the mountains and whitewater rafting, complete with elaborate picnics. The lodge also offers guided tours to the gold-trimmed Punakha Dzong, one of the country’s oldest fortresses, and jungle hikes to frozen-in-time villages. From $890/night, all-inclusive. Accessible hotel. — Chris Schalkx

Angama Amboseli, Kimana, Kenya

Emli Bendixen

In the south of Kenya, everybody looks for elephants, but it’s the birds you notice first: lilac-breasted rollers, grey-crowned cranes, turacos, kingfishers, and hornbills. The wildlife is as varied and eye-catching as the landscape, which is dominated by the spectacular Mount Kilimanjaro. No wonder high-end safari operator Angama chose this spot for its new lodge , a follow-up to the game-changing Angama Mara, which opened in 2015. The new property, with its 10 spacious suites, sits in the private Kimana Sanctuary, a 5,700-acre tract filled with wildlife, including antelope, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, impalas, and warthogs. With an infinity pool, excellent farm-to-fork cuisine, and a bar lounge, Angama Amboseli makes for a plush home base for forays into Amboseli National Park. From $1,650 per person, all-inclusive.​ Accessible hotel. — Paul Brady

Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection, Fort Worth, Texas

Denny Lee/Travel + Leisure

Arriving at Bowie House on a Friday night, I was surrounded by fun-loving Texans in cowboy hats and fur vests leaving their Rivian SUVs with the valet. They walked through the art- and antiques-filled lobby, richly adorned with Texas longhorns, cowhide-upholstered club chairs, wool rugs, and a riot of horse-themed objects: paintings, statues, photographs, saddles. The wood-paneled bar overflowed with elegantly dressed women laughing over bottles of wine; older couples slurping down oysters by the fireplace, families carving into steaks in the Bricks & Horses restaurant, and young professionals perusing the impressive art (all collected by the hotel’s charismatic owner, Dallas businesswoman Jo Ellard). The equestrian theme continues upstairs in the 88 rooms, each of which is furnished with comforting touches like bar carts, art books, woven leather headboards, and dimmable lighting. Of course it’s no accident that the hotel is practically next door to the Will Rogers Memorial Center, a premiere venue for horse competitions and livestock shows. (When I visited, there was a stock show and rodeo going on.) Now those riders, cowboys, and cowgirls have a place to hang out, in all their western finery. From $609/night. Accessible hotel. — Denny Lee

Broadwick Soho, London

Courtesy of Broadwick Soho

Broadwick Soho ’s mishmash of florid patterns and bold colors make it hard not to fall for this endearingly eccentric London property. Its aesthetic has proven to be catnip to the artists and actors who’ve always patronized Soho, central London’s most louche and creative district. At the ground-floor reception, finished in pretty pinks, big-bucks artworks by Bridget Riley and Francis Bacon are displayed without fanfare. Truth is, they’re easily missed in the midst of so much aesthetic flamboyance. Look out for drinks cabinets secreted within adorable brass elephants, handcrafted by Jaipuri artisans; pretty illustrated countertops specially made in Positano, Italy; and a glitzy mirrored cabinet in The Nook, a residents-only lounge where hotel guests can peruse a British-inflected record collection including classics from Sade and The Rolling Stones. There are opportunities to mingle with locals at rooftop bar Flute, where the gorgeous, golden onyx-topped bar counter is offset by some good-humored kitsch: animal-print fabrics, cork-clad walls, palm-print carpets. This might be a lighthearted spot, but they take cocktails seriously; a bartender educated me on Soho’s long standing as a center of mixology before presenting me with a perfect paloma, and the atmospheric city views from the terrace make this a top spot for date nights. Named for the owner’s mother, dimly lit basement restaurant Dear Jackie is more discreet and feels fun and indulgent — my rich, punchy puttanesca pasta was delicious and a good value at less than $20. Sated on all the delights of Soho, within and beyond the hotel, guests can retire to one of 57 comfy, characterful rooms finished in soft pastels, distinguished with unique artworks, and generously stocked with toiletries by chic Sicilian outfit Ortigia. From $753/night. Accessible hotel. — John O'Ceallaigh

Bulgari Hotel Tokyo

Courtesy of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts

“We bring the art of Italian living wherever we go,” Silvio Ursini, executive vice president of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts , told me at the opening of the Bulgari Hotel Tokyo . The 98-room property, which occupies the top five floors of the 45-story Tokyo Midtown Yaesu tower, is the eighth in Bulgari’s small, luxurious portfolio (a ninth, in Rome, opened in June). It feels like a Roman holiday in Japan — where both arigato gozaimasu and grazie mille are completely acceptable ways to thank someone for a glass of Champagne. Guests can choose from an Italian restaurant helmed by Niko Romito, an acclaimed chef born and raised in Italy, or an eight-seat omakase counter from chef Kenji Gyoten, known for his Michelin three-starred restaurant in Fukuoka, Japan. The hotel’s design is a pastiche of Japanese artistry. In my room, the ceilings were hand-painted with five layers of gold paint by local craftspeople and were second only to the alluring black granite bathtub. My favorite Italian design piece was the one I visited each morning, when I would take the elevator to the 40th-floor, and plunge into the spa’s 15,000-square-foot pool. Its floor is breathtaking, made of mosaic tile and Venetian glass in an entrancing shade of green that glimmers gold when natural light shines through the water. From $1,700/night. Accessible hotel. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

Cap Karoso, Sumba, Indonesia 

Frédéric Lagrange

Nothing builds anticipation like a 45-minute drive between corn fields and the sapphire Indian Ocean, on a road lined with flora so lush vines spill onto the pavement. It wouldn’t have taken much to enchant me after that trip, but the welcome I received at Cap Karoso , a 15-acre beachfront resort on an undeveloped island east of Bali, still managed to overdeliver. The staff greeted me by name and handed me an indigo ceramic cup containing a heavenly hibiscus-coconut elixir: precisely the type of off-the-grid charm that makes this 47-room, 20-villa property so singular. The food and drink from the Beach Club restaurant and Apicine Bar were flavored with local ingredients — think papaya spritzes and handmade gnocchi with Sumba cashew foam, courtesy of executive chef Antoine LeVacon and consulting mixology maestro Nico de Soto. The guest chef–only restaurant Julang stimulated my tastebuds with dishes like king prawn with asparagus, cardamom foam, and ponzu sauce courtesy of Tokyo-born chef Katsuaki Okiyama, the guest chef during my stay. This is a place well equipped for downtime, thanks to the Malala Spa, which uses healing herbs and rituals for its treatments, and has two picturesque pools, sunlit accommodations with generous bathtubs, and commissioned artwork that plays on motifs from ancient Sumbanese culture. Nearby, traditional Marapu villages, crystalline lagoons, and surf breaks are also ripe for exploration. Fiery sunsets mesmerized me from the beach, where at low tide locals fished for their dinners, but nothing captivated me quite like my interactions with the predominantly Sumbanese staff, who are overwhelmingly warm. From $300/night. — Kathryn Romeyn

Capella Sydney

Samantha Falawée/Travel + Leisure

When Capella Sydney opened in March 2023, the news created a buzz. That might have been because it was Sydney ’s first luxury hotel to open in almost a decade — and is housed in a handsome, early 1900s building in the heart of the city that once held Australia’s Lands and Education offices. Or it may have been because it was the first property outside of Asia from the Singapore-based Capella Hotels & Resorts, which was voted the No. 1 hotel brand by readers in last year’s World’s Best Awards. Walking into the lobby entrance, I passed four multimedia pieces by aboriginal artist Judy Watson that depict motifs of the Indigenous Eora, the original inhabitants of the land on which Sydney now stands. Hanging from the ceiling of Aperture, the indoor courtyard-garden area serving finger sandwiches and afternoon tea, is a mesmerizing, flower-like light installation by Dutch duo Drift — the only other one like it is housed in the permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam . In the hotel’s 192 rooms, dramatic black steel window frames and soothing dove-gray marble blend unobtrusively with a warm, neutral palette. Brasserie 1930 has a modern but cozy atmosphere. My eggs Benedict, served on a fluffy crumpet with truffle hollandaise, sautéed kale, and smoked Berkshire ham, was so delicate and delicious, I ordered it every morning of my stay. In the evening, I headed to the McRae Bar to try craft cocktails inspired by popular drinks of the late 1800s to early 1900s – and was  surprised to come across a local “Culturist,” a rotating cast of local experts from mixologists to magician Harry Milas , who delighted me, along with a handful of guests, with a sleight-of-hand show. The hotel is located within walking distance to the city’s Royal Botanic Garden, the ferry and train stations at Circular Quay Wharf, and the Sydney Opera House. After a day spent sightseeing, I headed to Auriga Spa on the sixth floor. Swimming in the 66-foot heated pool, under a glass ceiling flooded with sunlight, was the perfect relaxing moment. From $650/night. Accessible hotel. — Samantha Falewée

Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, France

Courtesy of Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel

As I opened the door to my beachfront room at the Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel , I was greeted by a perfectly framed view of a lone yacht perched on a lightly rippled Mediterranean Sea. The scene was so quintessentially Côte d’Azur that it felt scripted just for my arrival. Considering this property’s silver-screen credentials, maybe it’s not so far-fetched a thought. The address of choice for Hollywood’s A-list since the first Cannes Film Festival in 1946, the Carlton, like the most-loved cinema hits, was due for a modern remake. After a two-year closure, La Grande Dame, as the hotel is known along La Croisette, has emerged with a new swagger, whether that’s from the false ceilings pulled away to reveal hidden frescoes in the lobby; a refreshed dining scene that includes Rüya, the French Riviera’s first Anatolian restaurant; or the rooms, smartly restyled in soft grays, light pinks, and off-whites. The color palette was deliberately chosen by designer Tristan Auer to showcase the region’s famous light as it streams through the bay windows. With its heritage-listed belle époque facade relatively untouched, the hotel’s biggest change is felt on the side facing away from the sea. Gone is an unsightly car park, replaced by two expansive wings split into a clutch of exclusive branded residences and an immense 10,770-square-foot penthouse. Tucked inside this new horseshoe form is a tranquil garden, Cannes’ largest infinity pool, and enough space to fit an ice rink come winter. From $550/night. Accessible hotel. — Chrissie McClatchie

Casa Pestagua, Cartagena, Colombia

Kiko Kairuz/Courtesy of Casa Pestagua

Thanks to a $15 million renovation, one of Cartagena’s most beautiful colonial mansions now shines as a 16-room boutique hotel, Casa Pestagua . The 18th-century facade blends seamlessly into the charming squares, cobblestoned streets, and colorful buildings of the historic Old City, and inside, guests enjoy amenities that include a bar and a gym. AniMare, the restaurant, serves both traditional dishes like ceviches and seafood cazuela — a stew made with coconut milk and vegetables — and more contemporary offerings like açaí bowls. For guests in need of a break from the city, the hotel offers day trips to Barú Island; you can even stay overnight in one of six beachfront bungalows (exclusive to guests of Casa Pestagua and its sibling property Casa San Agustín) for an additional cost. From $500/night. ​ — Susmita Baral

Cayo Levantado Resort, Dominican Republic 

Courtesy of Cayo Levantado

As the only resort occupying the palm-fringed Cayo Levantado island off the coast of Samana Bay, this luxury all-inclusive wellness property, which opened its doors in the summer of 2023, whisks guests away to a serene world that blends ancient traditions with modern practices. Travelers get a sense of what’s to come as soon as the resort’s private boat approaches the island’s Victorian-inspired dock, where turquoise waters backed by lush tropical greenery conceal 218 spacious guest rooms, suites, and villas with private plunge pools and patios. Dominican architect Ramón Emilio Jiménez has done a spectacular job of introducing a sense of place by incorporating local materials and handmade decor like palm leaf-shaped sconces and Guayacán wood trays. However, the highlight of Cayo Levantado is the wellness experiences, which are organized around four “paths”: refresh, restore, relax, and renew. For each, guests can choose from a long list of activities such as breathwork classes, yoga, sound baths, Tibetan singing bowl meditation sessions, cold plunges, and even a Shamanic cleansing ceremony — many of which take place in the resort’s open-air wellness center. 

Nutrition is also an important part of any stay. Some of my favorite meals were at the resort’s Santa Yuca restaurant. This idyllic open-air space serves healthy dishes, like a fantastic grilled watermelon salad with avocado cream sauce, prepared with ingredients that literally grow right next to the tables. From $450 per person per night, all-inclusive. — Dobrina Zhekova

Château des Fleurs, Paris

Mr. Tripper/Courtesy of Château des Fleurs

The family-run Vivre-Les Maisons Bertrand group has been having quite the opening season in the Triangle d’Or section of Paris’s eighth arrondissement with the debut of Château des Fleurs , a boutique escape just off the Champs-Élysées. Designed by Barcelona firm Quintana Partners, the 37-room hotel is a highly designed flurry of custom flourishes, from the Gaudí-inspired doors to the elegantly sculpted wooden gym equipment to the ebullient motif of carved wooden balls that pops up throughout the lobby, evocative of the bubbles in the glass of Champagne that greets guests staying in a suite. With hammam-style showers and a railway-style dressing area, tufted velvet sofas and a claw-foot tub within feet of the bed, the Belle Époque sanctuaries can be hard to leave. What feels most 21st-century about this 1910 hotel is that the lobby bar and snug micro-restaurant, Oma, which means “mother” in Korean, is as much a meeting space for guests and city residents as it is for pulling out a laptop to work. From $490/night. Accessible hotel. — Christine Muhlke

Club Med Kiroro Grand, Hokkaido, Japan 

Lydia Price/Travel + Leisure

With its new property in Japan, Club Med has achieved an enormous feat: making it easy for families to take a far-flung international ski trip. The brand’s latest all-inclusive resort, Club Med Kiroro Grand , is on the northern island of Hokkaido, where heaps of fluffy snow are blown in on Siberian winds. The towering 266-room property immerses guests in an enchanted forest. You’ll find giant sculptures of woodland creatures, mushroom-shaped light fixtures, and foliage-covered ceilings in the sprawling complex, which includes an indoor pool, a kids’ campus, and a spa. My favorite amenity was the outdoor onsen, where I soaked in mineral-rich spring water every afternoon. The main dining hall serves a diverse spread of comfort food designed to please the broad range of nationalities staying at the resort. Dishes included bulgogi, pad see ew, and roasted chicken with mashed potatoes — all freshly made by Kiroro’s chefs and bursting with layers of flavor. Apart from the multicultural buffets, the resort houses three specialty restaurants. My eight-course sushi feast at Ebisu was a masterpiece made almost exclusively from local ingredients. Not to be outdone, barbecue restaurant Kaen served the most succulent Wagyu beef I’ve ever tasted, with other Hokkaido-sourced produce like scallops, pork, and salmon on the guest-manned grills. And at the lively Ogon, I took a crash course in making my own Japanese hot pot. All three restaurants are mere steps away from the lobby doors; in fact, everything at Kiroro Grand is less than a 10-minute walk away from the guest rooms, making long treks schlepping skis and disgruntled children a thing of the past. From $2,250 per person for seven nights. Accessible hotel. — Lydia Price

Como Le Montrachet, Burgundy, France 

Courtesy of COMO Hotels and Resorts

Though new to the scene, Como Le Montrachet — the luxury hospitality group’s first venture in France — is quickly becoming a go-to for local and visiting Burgundophiles alike. At the head of Puligny-Montrachet’s sleepy town square, this breezy inn combines contemporary design with its sturdy, rustic, 19th-century bones, and even in its infancy drew a consistent crowd for dinner at adjoining restaurant Le Montrachet. The wine selection is, of course, world-class — it’s never difficult to find great wines when in France (especially in Burgundy), but the Le Montrachet team truly takes the selection and service to the next level in its quest to highlight the region’s best at a variety of price points. Apart from a few local winery visits (a must), my time spent here revolved around the seasonally driven menu and its accompanying pours, each with a sommelier’s anecdote or two. And I’d be remiss to not call out the cheese cart, which could easily be considered life-changing, although certainly not for the faint of heart. Accessible from Paris, Dijon, Lyon, and nearby Beaune, Como Le Montrachet is an epicure’s sanctuary, and an unpretentious one at that (you certainly don’t need to be a wine expert to feel welcomed here). And in true Como fashion, each of the hotel’s common areas and guest rooms are directly inspired by the surrounding environment — a theme that defines Le Montrachet’s culinary program in a holistic harnessing of terroir. From $377/night. Accessible hotel. — Céline Bossart

Como Metropolitan Singapore

Last September, the Singapore-based Como group unveiled Como Metropolitan Singapore , the brand’s first hotel in its home country. Located on Orchard Road — the city-state’s famed shopping and lifestyle hub — the hotel is part of Como Orchard, an immersive experience spread over 19 floors, which showcases the group’s strengths in hospitality, wellness, fashion and cuisine. Designed by Atelier Ikebuchi and Milan-based Otto Studio, the interiors feature clean lines, contemporary aesthetics, and furniture from noted Italian brand Giorgetti. A bonsai tree marks its discreet entrance, while the lobby features a huge LED display of flowers by artist Thomas Hilland and locally sourced coffees served by Bruno, the robot barista. The 156 rooms are full of thoughtful touches, such as amenities from wellness brand Como Shambhala, butler hatches, and refillable water bottles. A newly launched Sleep Dreams package encourages deep relaxation in your room using a device that plays low-frequency sound waves. Como Shambhala offers yoga, pilates, a 1,500-square-foot gym, and innovative treatments like hot and cold immersion therapies. (I tried the Oxygen Therapy, which involved destressing in a lightly pressurized hyperbaric device.) International dining concepts like Cedric Grolet Singapore and Cote Singapore draw both travelers and locals to the property; the former serves Grolet’s exquisite fruit and flower-shaped pastries, sandwiches, and teas. Cote Singapore — the Michelin-starred U.S. restaurant’s first international outpost–blends American steak preparations with Korean BBQ, offering top-quality beef cuts and a lively, clubby atmosphere best described as “sexy Yakuza den.” From $300/night. Accessible hotel. — Shamilee Vellu

Curtain Bluff, Antigua

Courtesy of Curtain Bluff

Tucked away on Antigua’s southwest end, this 72-room property recently unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation that combines old-school elegance with modern flair. It’s evident in the details: the rattan chairs from the ‘80s that have been re-lacquered; the classic turquoise and green bedding now juxtaposed with contemporary tiling. This delicate dance between welcoming the new and continuing the legacy of late founders Howard and Chelle Hulford is what makes Curtain Bluff one of the most coveted resorts in Antigua. The resort’s new two-story, state-of-the-art wellness center is a hideaway, complete with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, an expanded fitness center, and a yoga pavilion. After your massage, retreat to the upper balcony to take a dip in the cliffside Jacuzzi. The resort’s most popular suites have been outfitted with marble soaking tubs and large walk-in showers that leave you feeling energized and ready for the day. Guests will still find all the familiar amenities that make Curtain Bluff so special: four full-size tennis courts, delicious Caribbean-French dishes at restaurants Sea Grape and Tamarind, and a host of sports and water activities for families. Be sure to carve out time to sample the resort’s international wine cellar during a tasting with head sommelier Glouster St. Ville. From $1,850/night. Accessible hotel. — Jasmine Grant

Dawn Ranch, Sonoma County, California

Maya Kachroo-Levine/Travel + Leisure

The spicy, amber-rich scent of cedar greeted me before I saw the wooden cabins at Dawn Ranch , which form a horseshoe around a grassy lawn dotted with cornhole boards and a giant Connect 4 set. The whimsy of this redwood-shaded hideaway from the hospitality group behind Marram Montauk reflects the carefree energy of Guerneville, a town on the Russian River. The 87 accommodations include seasonal glamping tents, but I opted for a cottage, which had a double-sided fireplace lined with green tile. The property has its own dock on the river and is just 14 miles from both Healdsburg’s posh wineries and the Pacific coast. Guests can also borrow bikes for a quick jaunt to the famed 1,400-year-old Colonel Armstrong redwood. Don’t let the allure of Sonoma fine dining pull you away from the Ranch’s restaurant: helmed by two Argentine chefs, it has South American undertones, with dishes like yellowfin tiradito at dinner and Paraguayan chiapas , a gluten-free cheesy bread, for breakfast. From $450/night.​ Accessible hotel. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa, Kefalonia, Greece

Courtesy of Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa

Covertly nestled on a cypress-clad hillside on Kefalonia island, this unpretentious, all-villa hotel in a profoundly soothing setting is a rare find on Greece’s Ionian Sea. Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa was born out of a love for the sprawling, fertile isle shared by London-based interior architect and designer Maike Gruna and her Greek-Australian husband with Kefalonian roots. Gruna crafted 12 minimalist, honey-hued stone villas that meld inconspicuously with surrounding olive groves. The three-bedroom sea-view villa, framed by beamed timber ceilings and dressed in neutral tones, stands out as Eliamos’ premium offering — expansive terrace included. En suite bathrooms feature walk-in showers, matte earthenware sinks, and soul-grounding pale gray concrete floors. Beside Villa 103’s private saltwater infinity pool, I sunk into a plush sunbed and tuned into soporific island time as distant sailboats floated on electric, indigo waters. At the exceptional alfresco restaurant, chef Sokratis Maligkanis turns out creative, seasonal Mediterranean comfort fare amid a riot of pink and violet wildflowers and aromatic herbs like sage and rosemary. He sources hyperlocal raw materials like forest mushrooms foraged from looming Mount Ainos for luscious risotto. Ripe summer peaches are marinated and laced with extra-virgin olive oil, making for a sweet alternative to classic tomato salad. Foodies, take note — only guests can dine here. For the fitness-minded, there’s a communal lap pool and an all-wood outdoor gym where yoga classes are also held. Hop on a complimentary e-bike to explore nearby beaches or rent a motorboat and reach isolated coves. To completely unwind, book an in-villa massage or reflexology treatment. From $700/night. — Helen Iatrou

Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire, England

Courtesy of Estelle Manor

Don’t let the stately Jacobean facade fool you: There’s nothing stuffy about Estelle Manor , a 60-acre estate in the green pastures of Oxfordshire, about an hour northwest of central London. A country offshoot of the U.K. capital’s private club Maison Estelle, the resort is all Roaring Twenties, devil-may-care razzle-dazzle. It all feels cinematic and delightfully British, including the way the house car — a Land Rover, naturally — clatters over the pebbles of the tree-lined drive and the cheery apricot glow of the fire that seems to flicker in sync with the DJ. The 108 guest rooms are outfitted in a flamboyantly aristocratic style: tasseled pillows, faded kilim fabrics, four-poster beds, and lacquered mini-bars crammed with everything from elderflower kombucha to collagen eye patches. Amenities include a gym, a co-working space, a chic boutique, and three good restaurants: the Billiards Room, a buzzy Chinese venue; the Glasshouse, which serves heritage vegetables and Cotswolds chicken; and the Brasserie, with seasonal favorites like Oxford-cheddar soufflé and Alaskan king crab. From $500/night. Accessible hotel. ​— Nicole Trilivas

Explora Journeys’ Explora I

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

It’s not every day a new cruise line arrives. The debut of the remarkable Explora I was a moment years in the making for Explora Journeys , the upstart luxury operator that aims to bring a European sensibility to the world of vacations at sea. So far, the project is a smashing success, thanks to the ship’s low-key vibe, standout food and beverage, and intriguing itineraries that visit in-demand ports in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. My own August 2023 trip on Explora I , from Copenhagen to Hamburg, Germany, included fulfilling visits to places such as Oslo and the town of Stavanger, Norway, a gateway to adventurous hiking with a postcard-perfect Old Town. The ship itself was also a destination, with its abundance of outdoor space — including an alfresco fitness center — and pools at seemingly every turn. The 461 suites, all of them with balconies, are filled with luxurious touches such as Frette linens and robes, heated marble floors, and Dyson hair dryers. But Explora I truly shines when it comes to food: During the week I was aboard, it was impossible to find a bad meal — and I was often astonished at the quality of, in particular, the pasta served in the Emporium Marketplace and the sushi on offer at Sakura, two of the nine restaurants aboard. The most ambitious of them all is Anthology, a rotating-chef concept that has seen a residency from seafood whiz Mario Ulaissi, known for his Michelin three-starred restaurant on Italy's Adriatic coast, and that recently welcomed Emma Bengtsson, from Aquavit , in New York City. Much has been made of Explora I ’s Rolex boutique — the first on any cruise ship — but for my money, the other shops on board were more interesting: the company has tapped family-owned businesses around the world to create capsule collections of resort wear, handbags, fragrances, sunglasses, and beautiful gifts that can’t be found elsewhere. From $2,050 per person for a six-day sailing. Accessible ship. — Paul Brady

Faraway Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts 

Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure

Martha’s Vineyard — with its golden beaches, illuminated lighthouses, seafood shacks, and periwinkle hydrangea bushes — is the prototype for a classic New England summer escape. And while structured navy stripes and fish paintings have their place, Faraway Martha’s Vineyard trades the old-school nautical aesthetic found throughout the Vineyard for something breezy, refined, and whimsical. Owner Blue Flag Partners and design firm Workshop/APD transformed the Vineyard’s beloved old Kelley House and its surrounding buildings into the second Faraway location (the first opened on Nantucket in 2021). Bohemian influences from the 1960s and ‘70s are felt throughout the 58 guest rooms and suites — which range from standard rooms in Kelley House to two-bedroom suites in the adjacent houses — and in the lobby, with ceiling-high bookshelves adorned with bursts of jewel-toned florals and black-and-white tapestries. I was one of the first to check into the totally reimagined Edgartown hotel in July, prime time for a seaside stroll and a lobster roll — both of which I found just a short walk from the hotel’s central location. The hotel’s restaurants honor the location’s historic roots with a fresh take: The Newes From America, an Edgartown institution that actually predates the hotel by a few centuries, serves classic pub fare, while the lush outdoor Pelican Club offers tropical cocktails and delicious sushi (I ordered The Pelican maki roll and the spicy tuna crispy rice). At the center of the property sits a new pool lined with loungers and cabanas, a large hot tub, and a fitness center. From $695/night. Accessible hotel. — Elizabeth Rhodes

Fontainebleau Las Vegas 

Connie Zhou/Courtesy of Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Since Fontainebleau Las Vegas was first announced in 2005, there has been an infusion of more than $3.7 billion into this 67-story resort. And after walking through its cantilevered porte-cochere, I can say, as a Vegas local, that it’s been worth the wait. Beyond the lobby is an impressive art collection including a 46-foot sculpture by Urs Fischer and paintings by Richard Prince. The design, curated by the resort’s creative director Peter Arnell and executive vice president of design John Rawlins, feels cohesive, especially with a six-acre pool deck that boasts every aquatic feature imaginable, from serenity pools to full on bacchanals. The nearby spa features a performance sauna where professional dancers use choreographed towel flicks to warm the guests, and the massive co-ed thermal area is the city’s largest, with hydrotherapy pools, cold plunges, a snow shower, a salt-mist cave, and an herbal inhalation room. Rooms start at a generous 488 square feet and feature striking views of the Strip and Las Vegas Valley; I particularly loved the massive sunken tub in my Royal Suite. There are 36 restaurants and bars: my favorites included Kyu (an Asian-inspired, wood-fired BBQ) where the nam prik –sauced kale chips and wagyu tartare mixed with brûléed bone marrow was a revelation; Papi Steak, serving some of the city’s best prime selects; and Ito, where booking one of the 12 seats at the swank omakase counter affords access to the resort’s super-exclusive members’ club, the Poodle Room, before and after dinner. For more convivial pursuits, visit the on-site outpost of white-hot Miami nightclub Liv and Liv Beach. From $300/night. Accessible hotel. — David Morris

Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

The Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo , originally opened in 2004, got a major update that finished at the end of 2023, including an expanded kids’ club, a reimagined, adults-only, infinity-edge pool with cabanas and chairs for rental, and a spectacular beach club. I was particularly fond of the new Virador Beach Club , which invites you in with its neutral palette and amazing Mediterranean eats. (The labneh and moussaka were two of my favorite noshes, but the whole menu, orchestrated by chef Khaled Natour, offers something truly different on the Gold Coast.) The property also has a new wellness shala, basically a serene tree house hovering over the resort and gazing out toward the water. The architectural marvel perfectly blends with its environment, and I found it immediately relaxed me before my sound-healing session, in which the vibration of gongs and sound bowls lulled me into a trance. Next, I visited the separate spa building for a Tsuru Cacao Ancestral Ritual before retiring to the hydrotherapy pools. The property is sprawling, at 120 acres, which you can explore on foot or e-bike, and the activity roster is impressive — golf on the 18-hole Arnold Palmer–designed green, local rum tastings, and surfing lessons are all on offer. Whether you venture out to the waves on a standard board or get a lesson on the new eFoil surfboard that’ll have you floating above the water, it’s all about pura vida . From $1,200/night. Accessible hotel. — Samantha Leal

Gardiner House, Newport, Rhode Island 

Michael P.H. Clifford/Courtesy of Gardiner House

Entering the newly opened Gardiner House in Newport, Rhode Island, felt like stepping back into the Gilded Age. Inspired by the Gardiner family’s 1860s mansion, the luxury 21-key boutique hotel is located on Lee's Wharf — a piece of prime real estate facing Newport’s idyllic marina. Though it opened in fall 2023, just as Newport hit the off-season, Gardiner House turned the city’s hospitality scene on its head by quickly becoming a social hub for stylish locals and in-the-know winter visitors. The heartbeat of the hotel is the Studio Bar and lounge right off the foyer, where art-littered, dark-green walls; a real-wood fireplace; and an eclectic assortment of velvet sofas, comfy accent chairs, and oversized ottomans strike the perfect balance between cozy and chic. There’s a variety of delicious craft cocktails to choose from, and a small menu of light bites: yellowfin with avocado, kobe beef sliders, and truffle fries were my favorites. The property’s culinary portfolio will expand this spring with the debut of a second-floor Mediterranean restaurant with an outdoor terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows offering an unobstructed view of Newport Harbor. Most of the rooms and suites have harbor views, too, plus simple, beachy decor and thoughtful amenities — Matouk linens and Ortigia toiletries, for example — throughout the space. Guests can walk to Thames Street, Newport’s buzzy downtown area, in less than a minute where a myriad of mom-and-pop shops, vintage boutiques, and restaurants await. From $725/night. Accessible hotel. — Annie Archer

Gran Hotel Mas d'en Bruno, Priorat, Spain

Located in Tarragona, a province roughly an hour-and-a-half outside of Barcelona, Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno is set between hilltop villages, undulating country roads, and the Siurana River. On arrival guests pass through rows of Grenache grapes before being welcomed into a 500-year-old building, complete with arched windows and terra-cotta rooftops. Consider the 24 rooms to be siblings; some have soaking-tubs, others fireplaces. All the marble, from the coffee tables to the Catalonia-sourced alabaster lamps, hails from Spain. Organic shapes echo throughout the hotel, which comprises the main house (or masia ) and the separate atelier annex, which holds a few of the guest rooms and sits along miles of vines owned by winery Clos de L’Obac. The rounded edges of the bed headboards and wood accents seamlessly merge with exterior features such as terraces or balconies. Once the former site of an olive press, the spa offers a single treatment room, as well as a hot tub and a stone-walled soaking pool. The restaurant, which has views of the property’s swimming pool and proprietary vineyards, transforms from morning to night. During the day, enjoy lunch at Tarraco, which combines Mediterranean and Italian fare, and after sunset try the tasting menu with local wine pairings at Vinum (à la carte offerings are also available). Arrange for a rock-climbing or hiking excursion in Serra de Montsant Natural Park or opt for a bike ride through the region (four electric bikes are complimentary). From $450/night. Accessible hotel. – Alexandra Cheney  

Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland 

Courtesy of Highland Base – Kerlingarfjöll

Iceland is famous for Ring Road, the 820-mile route circling the island, but tucked in the center of the country is a remote region known as the Highlands. It’s hard to access, with only a few unpaved roads, and in the winter, you must be driven there by a guide. Now, at the edge of the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range, a new hotel — Highland Base — is letting travelers post up in comfort. “We're basically putting a destination here in the middle of the island,” Magnús Orri Marínarson Schram, Highland Base’s general manager, told T+L. The journey here typically takes four hours from Reykjavík, but mine took six due to unpredictable weather — and the destination was worth every minute of the journey. Highland Base has 46 hotel rooms, six one-bedroom private lodges, seven huts, and a campsite. My room had all the luxe amenities I could ask for, but didn’t feel too out of place in the middle of nature thanks to the earthy tones that match the exterior landscape. The underground passageway connecting the hotel rooms to the main building was a nice touch for guests (read: me) who didn’t want to face the outdoor elements before every meal. The menu featured hearty, seasonal dishes like mushroom soup made with coconut cream; Icelandic lamb soup with rutabaga and potatoes; and pan-fried Arctic char. But the real gem is the daily waffle bar, which is a touching tribute to the site’s past: It used to be a ski school that served waffles to kids after their lessons. Opening this year is a sauna and three geothermal pools with water sourced from the nearby hot springs; Kerlingarfjöll has the third-largest geothermal area in all of Iceland. From $430/night. Accessible hotel. — Susmita Baral

Hotel 1928, Waco, Texas

Courtesy of Hotel 1928

Over the past decade, Joanna and Chip Gaines have won fame for making old homes in and around their hometown of Waco, Texas, new again. On their TV show Fixer Upper, they uncovered countless shiplap walls and helped popularize the modern farmhouse trend. Their shoppable Magnolia empire now offers everything from wallpaper to kitchenware to baked goods — and, with the recent opening of Hotel 1928 , luxurious lodgings in downtown Waco.

Hotel 1928 — in a Moorish Revival building constructed in, yes, 1928 — might be the couple’s most remarkable fixer-upper yet. The former Shriners temple had sat largely empty since the 1990s. With AJ Capital, owner of the soon to be Hilton -operated Graduate Hotels , Joanna and Chip restored the elaborate plasterwork inside and out, buffed and polished the original terrazzo floors, and created 33 sumptuously furnished rooms and suites. The hotel is now a sparkling showcase for Joanna’s evolving but always elegant aesthetic, with moody, black walls and red, vintage area rugs in the public spaces; plush, pink sofas and floral-upholstered banquettes in Bertie’s, the rooftop bar; and stunning deep-green tile paired with white marble in the expansive bathrooms. What truly sets the Hotel 1928 apart is its devotion to local history as well as Texas’s rich culture. Up and down the halls, you’ll find framed vintage images by local photographer James Jasek, who has been shooting Waco since the 1950s. One of famed author Larry McMurtry’s typewriters sits in the corner of the library. A signature scent blending the state’s legendary cedar with sandalwood and jasmine infuses the building (candles are available in the gift shop). And at your preferred wakeup time, a gentle knock on your door will announce the arrival of your coffee — a custom blend by Texas’s own Merit Coffee Co . From $375/night. Accessible hotel. — Jeff Chu

Hotel Bardo Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is known for its antebellum architecture, its Southern hospitality — and its fabled ghosts. And now there’s a luxury resort that channels all three. Opened in February, Hotel Bardo Savannah occupies a Southern Gothic terra-cotta mansion on Forsyth Park, 30 acres of green space surrounded by historic homes and Spanish-moss-draped oak trees. During a pre-dinner stroll, I wandered the streets of restored Victorian homes without seeing a single bachelorette party or a horse-drawn carriage (common sights in the city’s more touristy areas to the north). On my return, the hotel beckoned like an urban oasis, with friendly valets in olive green uniforms welcoming me back by name. Entering the lobby, I found a warm, festive space furnished with circular club chairs, marble-topped tables, and potted palms. The welcoming décor continues in the 149 guest rooms and suites — think pole-wrap headboards, green velvet chairs, and brass lamps. My “Bardo” suite was particularly huge, with a full kitchen, six-person dining table, and plush daybed under a 12-foot-high turret. Saint Bibiana, the hotel’s hot-ticket Italian restaurant, is housed in a separate three-story mansion. There I had a delightful dinner that included fresh oysters, silky burrata and perfectly cooked pasta before heading to Club Bardo, a members-only lounge on the second floor, for cocktails. Hotels often try to make their guests feel like locals, and Bardo has succeeded in this goal by inviting its neighbors to join in the fun. By 10 p.m. the club was buzzing with well-dressed couples, flirty singles, and young professionals sipping wine and Negronis. From $450/night. Accessible hotel. — Denny Lee

Hotel Casa Lucia, Buenos Aires

Courtesy of Hotel Casa Lucia

If Casa Lucia 's walls could talk, they’d tell you it was the tallest building in Latin America when erected in 1929. Set in the upper-crust neighborhood of Recoleta on a sycamore tree– and neoclassical building–lined street, the 20-story art deco skyscraper debuted after a year-long renovation under the flag of Spanish lifestyle brand Único Hotels . Breaking from tradition, the new iteration swings open the hotel’s wrought-iron gates to directly connect the slick lobby bar and signature Cantina restaurant to Calle Arroyo’s vibrant tableau of sidewalk cafes, art galleries, and cocktail haunts. The atrium entrance, gleaming in polished checkerboard marble, is home to a new showpiece brass-and-wood bar that serves cocktails and more than 400 wines by the bottle. Evening hangout Le Club Bacan is a handsome candlelit cocktail and tapas bar with a private members’ club, while Cantina pays homage to Argentina’s polo heritage and culinary roots with helmets and mallets mounted on walls and a menu appealing to the local palate (read: delicious beef and wine). Of the 142 rooms and suites, choose one on an upper floor with a balcony to take in panoramic cityscapes and a bird’s-eye views of Rio de la Plata, as well as contemporary Argentinian artwork, hand-woven lampshades, and photographs of the beautiful doors of Buenos Aires, which hang over every bed. Soon, a serene spa will open with a 52-foot pool, sauna, steam room, and massage and reflexology offerings. From $600/night. Accessible hotel. — Nora Walsh

Hotel Honeyrose Montréal, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel 

Courtesy of Hotel Honeyrose Montreal

At Honeyrose , a new downtown Montreal hotel, bold design gestures mean Insta-ready surprises everywhere: a swirling lobby staircase, pressed-flower bar tables, and black-and-white murals in the common areas. While Honeyrose is part of Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand, its owners amped up the local flavor by tapping stellar Montreal talent. Architects from Provencher Roy designed the sleek guest rooms — among the city’s biggest — with bathroom amenities from local organic brand Idoine and art from Montreal painter Roxy Peroxyde, who adds floral face tattoos to traditional portraits. Homegrown design guru Zébulon Perron dreamed up the naval-inspired, ground-floor Commodore restaurant, where a wooden crown hovers over a glossy circular bar. French bistro fare here includes an epic Niçoise salad, Gruyère-slathered onion soup, and an ethereal crème brûlée. I was thrilled to see coffee sourced from my local roastery, Atwater Market’s beloved Brûlerie aux Quatre Vents. Montreal-based set designer Juliette Sarrazin outfitted the buzzy, fifth-floor Muze lounge with pink flamingos, birdcages, and 1970s swing seats on the massive terrace. The 15th floor houses a T-shaped pool and Precor machinery–equipped gym with city views through floor-to-ceiling windows. You won’t find a better location if you’re here for one of the city’s big cultural events, like the Montreal International Jazz Festival . Honeyrose borders the Quartier des Spectacles ― literally, the “neighborhood of shows” ― with its concert halls, outdoor performance venues, and museums. Access to the city’s speedy, efficient Metro is across the street, and Old Montreal is a 15-minute stroll south. From $269/night . Accessible hotel. — Michael Kaminer

Hotel La Palma, Capri, Italy

Courtesy of Hotel La Palma

Expectations were high when the prestigious Oetker Collection — the brand behind legendary properties like the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on the French Riviera and The Lanesborough in London — took over Capri’s most historic hotel just steps from the famed Piazzetta. Originally opened in 1822 as the Locanda Pagano, the new design draws on this rich heritage, with ceiling frescoes in the lobby and neoclassical furniture. The color palette consists of varying shades of aquamarine, from the striped lounge chairs by the pool to the upholstery in the 50 rooms and suites, as if the hues of the Mediterranean on a bright summer day were used to decorate the space. Acclaimed chef Gennaro Esposito opened a namesake restaurant at La Palma serving simple coastal cuisine like zucchini tartare and sole meunière. The ground-floor bar and the rooftop restaurant, Bianca, are a bit more casual — by Capri standards, anyway — and provide the perfect spot for a pre-dinner spritz. But the hotel’s secret weapon is the beach club, Da Gioia, occupying a prime position in Marina Piccola. Anyone can book a table for a lazy lunch of caprese salad and lobster linguini on the deck overlooking the sea, but only hotel guests can use the lounge chairs on the pebble beach. After a day in the sun, visit the spa for a facial, using skincare products by Tata Harper and Augustinus Bader, before freshening up for dinner. From $1,028/night. Accessible hotel. — Laura Itzkowitz

Hotel San Fernando, Mexico City

Hugo Campoy/Courtesy of Hotel San Fernando

Did you know San Fernando is the patron saint of the Spanish Army Corps of Engineers? The designers from Bunkhouse, the creative Austin, Texas–based hospitality group, reveled in such off-beat details of Hispanic culture when they reimagined the Edificio San Fernando, an elegant art deco apartment building from 1947, as a boutique hotel in La Condesa, one of CDMX's leafiest and most charming neighborhoods. The Hotel San Fernando is a loving celebration of mexicanidad that recalls the genteel beauty of the city in the post-war era, when it was a sleepy mountain capital where a few cars trundled down broad, leafy avenues and artistic celebrities like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo were bringing the country's Indigenous culture into the mainstream. The hotel’s 19 rooms spread over five floors feel like spacious apartments, with original casement windows, contemporary furnishings from local design studio La Metropolitana, and (in many cases) their own kitchens and lounge rooms. Bunkhouse's designers say they were inspired by the Mexican idea of sobremesa , the dreamy after-meal time when diners relax into conversation and take a respite from their hectic lives. The sense of entering a serene refuge from the 21st century begins as you pass through the original curved doors to the lobby, which is adorned with striking green tiles, stained-glass windows, hanging textiles, and decorative lamps from the Oaxacan-based studio Oaxifornia. The polished-stone and wood stairway leading upstairs is overflowing with potted plants, giving a calming, tropical greenhouse effect (there is no elevator), while the attached Lounge Fernando extending onto the sidewalk serves tasty small bites (try the fried shrimp tacos), an array of creative margaritas, and Mexican natural wines. Drinks can also be taken to the sun-dappled rooftop, which doubles as a breakfast patio for guests in the mornings. And because San Fernando opens into the heart of La Condesa, an array of fine restaurants, bars, cafes, parks, clothing boutiques, and art galleries are only a stroll away. From $225/night. — Tony Perrottet

Hôtel Swexan, Dallas 

Marco Galloway/Courtesy of Hotel Swexan

There’s a reason Hôtel Swexan is putting Dallas on the radar for luxury city stays since its opening last summer. The paradoxical name takes Swiss and Texan to form a singular word and a thoroughly considered approach to hospitality and design. The 134-room, 20-floor hotel building was designed by famed architect Kengo Kuma — making it his third in Dallas’s growing bounty of world-famous architecture. From the moment of entry, I felt the warmth of Texas hospitality and the remarkable influence of sophisticated and traditional European design. The intimate foyer eases your senses into a relaxing and indulgent atmosphere and the guest rooms are lavishly comfortable with just the right amount of residential feel. The floor-to-ceiling windows reveal city views while the spacious marble bathrooms give a spa-like experience with Le Labo products and a dramatic bathtub that fills from the ceiling. Staying at Hôtel Swexan transports you away from Dallas while also very much anchoring you to the best the city has to offer. A standout feature of the property is its ability to act either as a full retreat you’ll never want to leave or as a home base for exploring the city’s museums, entertainment venues, sporting events, and walking trails. There are five unique food-and-beverage concepts within the building from rooftop to basement. The most notable is the seventh-floor steakhouse, Stillwell’s. Its midcentury ranch atmosphere and the zero-waste beef program of locally raised Akaushi cattle make this a contender for top tier steakhouses in a city known for them. In between meals and lounging poolside under the Texas sun, a visit to the gym is a must — the sprawling, cutting-edge fitness center would impress even a professional athlete with its choice of equipment, outdoor terrace, cold plunge, and saunas offering a plethora of ways to work out or relax. Beyond the expansive list of on-property features, what steals the show here is the level of service. Our stay was made memorable by the personalized touches for us and the over-the-top-attentive staff. With its intentional design details, top-quality service, and offerings in wellness and dining, Hôtel Swexan sets a new standard for city hotels. From $432/night. — Mariah Tyler

JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa, South Korea 

Ben Richards/Courtesy of JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa

Formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, South Korea’s Jeju Island puts on a show: Idyllic fishing villages are flanked by glistening black basalt, cascading waterfalls gurgle against dormant volcano backdrops, and rugged shorelines dotted with azaleas abound in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the southern city of Seogwipo, JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa sits on a quiet cliffside overlooking a rugged coastline, forested hillsides, and the crouching tiger–shaped Beomseom Island in the distance. Led by designer Bill Bensley, the property pays homage to Korean culture, with walls made of quilting fabric called jogakbo , and ceiling lights shaped like traditional Korean scholars’ hats, called gat . The property features 197 guest rooms, including 28 suites, with hanok-inspired wooden walls and balconies that reveal panoramic views of the cobalt East China Sea. Five on-site restaurants highlight local Jeju delicacies like the Udo peanut, apple mangos, and a crispy black pork belly – which executive chef Joon Ko salts for three days and slow cooks for three hours. Other amenities include four pools, a spa, a gym, and a sundrenched lounge where I enjoyed afternoon tea and desserts like citrus sponge cake topped with green mandarin cream. Ask the hotel how you can swim with Jeju’s famous haenyeo female divers, whose sustainable practices and daily catches like abalone and urchin have been feeding their communities and hotels for decades. From $827/night . Accessible hotel. — Kristin Braswell

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, Island of Hawaii

Courtesy of Rosewood

Kona Village , once a celebrity haven on Hawaii’s Big Island, shuttered in 2011 after an earthquake off the northeastern coast of Honshu, Japan, generated a devastating tsunami, and reopened this past summer as part of the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio. When my husband and I arrived eight days into Kona’s new chapter, we met return guests — the old resort amassed a hefty cult following, counting Steve Jobs among its biggest fans — eager to revisit their old rooms. Sure enough, you can still book the six legacy hales that survived the tsunami, though along with the 144 new stand-alone villas, these have been upgraded by designer Nicole Hollis with improvements that include palapa-shaded decks, outdoor showers, and Hawaiian accents such as fans, hats, paddles, and kapa -printed pillows. We spent one afternoon on a sailing canoe, gliding three miles out into the Pacific, and followed that with a soak in the 82-foot Shipwreck Pool. At around 3 p.m. a cart brimming with bright-green coconuts came around, which we drank from in a sumptuous black-stone hot tub. We feasted at the four restaurants and bars — each of which has its own mai tai recipe, by the way — starting our day with Hawaiian malasada donuts at Moana and ending it with wood-fired local ahi tuna at Kahuwai Cookhouse, our toes in the sand as we watched the sunset. From $1,800/night. Accessible hotel. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

KuKaya Lodge by The Bushcamp Company, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Courtesy of The Bushcamp Company

At KuKaya , the latest lodge from safari outfitter The Bushcamp Company , just a few miles from the main entrance to Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, guests choose their own adventure. I had my pick of private game drives day or night, or thrilling walking safaris. Each of the lodge’s six thatched-roof tents comes with luxurious interiors, plush bedding, separate living areas, full kitchens, and glass walls that open completely for indoor-outdoor living and wildlife viewing opportunities. There’s ample outdoor space, too, and every tent has a fire pit and private plunge pool, so you can enjoy the scenery in total solitude. I found my solitude was only interrupted by vervet monkeys giving me a mile-long stare from the trees above, a tower of giraffes walking to the water’s edge, a pride of lions stalking their prey, and endangered African wild dogs playing along the riverbed just a few feet away. Each night, guests are invited to dine at KuKaya’s outdoor restaurant, where they’re served an astonishing meal of fruits and vegetables grown at Bushcamp’s private garden, fish caught in the river just down the street, and even local mango dried on-site, ensuring the lowest carbon footprint possible. Just be sure to close the door to your outdoor shower before you leave; the monkeys really are just waiting to ransack your room. From $590 per person per night. — Stacey Leasca

La Fantaisie, Paris 

Jérôme Galland/Courtesy of La Fantaisie

Faubourg-Montmartre, a stretch of the ninth arrondissement that’s often passed over by non-Parisians, is now attracting a crowd of creatives at La Fantaisie . Camouflaging with the boulangeries and bistros of villagey Rue Cadet, the only sign of the hotel entrance is the rattan tables lining the sidewalk cafe out front. The rest of the hotel, by Swedish design darling Martin Brudnizki, isn’t nearly as discreet. The 73 rooms and suites are themed around the oasis-like courtyard garden, originally designed by celebrated 16th-century master gardeners Jacques and Jean Cadet (the market street is named after the brothers). Pistachio, coral, and pale lemon are the dominant shades splashed everywhere, from the ceilings and Sicily-inspired ceramics to the velvet bar stools of Dominique Crenn’s restaurant, Golden Poppy. An homage to California’s state flower — and a link to the chef’s Michelin three-starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco — the winter garden eatery unfolds around a centerpiece olive tree with mirrors dangling like Christmas ornaments and faux fleur poppies sprouting behind floral fabric–swathed banquettes. With culinary royalty like Crenn at the helm, pescetarian dishes take risks that pay off — scone-like banana pancakes with a dollop of smoked osciètre caviar, corn waffles checkered with smoked trout roe, and carrot and mussel sabayon were standouts. Even if you’re visiting in winter like I was, the rooftop Bar Sur Le Toit’s Mediterranean garden is still in bloom (herbs are plucked for Crenn’s signature cocktails). If you’re feeling jet lagged, the holistic philosophy from the subterranean Holidermie wellness sanctuary extends to minibar offerings like a botanical-based sleep elixir and melatonin-infused gummies placed on the nightstand at turndown. From $378/night. Accessible hotel. — Lane Nieset

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, Greece

Margarita Nikitaki/Travel + Leisure

They say breakfast is the best part of the day (and many a hotel stay). At the Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, they are right: smiling waiters in relaxed linens bring you a ginger kombucha shot and warm pastries while you ponder whether to order the Peloponnesian porridge made with trahanas (fermented wheat with goat’s milk) or the Greek-style eggs Florentine with spanakopita stuffing and feta dill hollandaise. Before you’ve made up your mind, you’re presented with the paramana , a tray of dainty sweet and savory dishes that changes daily. Almost everything is sourced within a 50-mile radius of the resort, from the sheep’s milk yogurt and honeycomb to the organic tomatoes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. With some fifteen million olive trees, the region of Messenia (a 3.5-hour drive from Athens) is the agricultural heartland of the Peloponnese and home to a rare trove of ancient ruins. Greece’s first Mandarin Oriental pays homage to the abundance of local products and artisans, as well as the country’s myths and legends: There are olive oil tastings, textiles inspired by folk costumes, electric bikes for exploring the Gialova lagoon — a rich habitat for migrating birds — and boat trips to pay homage to the heroes of the battle of Navarino, which took place on the placid bay that is visible from every sun-drenched suite and villa of the 99-key resort. The curvy, glass-fronted buildings are embedded in the hillside and enveloped by greenery, creating a sense of space and openness. It requires serious willpower to venture out when there’s Ormos Beach Club, a sexy swim-up pool bar for slushie cocktails; Pizza Sapienza, an okamase pizza bar that will change your relationship with carbs forever; an indoor-outdoor lap pool that seems to float between sea and sky, and a serene spa that blends Eastern and Mediterranean botanical remedies. From $1,095/night. Accessible hotel. — Rachel Howard

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya, Mexico

William Jess Laird/Courtesy of Belmond

Mexican architect Jose Luis Moreno was scouting for a home by plane when he first saw the 200-acre piece of land that would eventually become Maroma , the Riviera Maya’s first luxury resort, which opened in 1995. By 2021, the white stucco property, by then part of the Belmond group, was ready for a glow-up. After a two-year closure and $45 million design overhaul by London-based Tara Bernerd & Partners, Maroma now fully channels the joy of Mexico. Some 700,000 clay tiles were sourced from Jalisco for the 72 rooms and suites, but strategic pops of yellow — on an umbrella by the saltwater pool or woven into loaner guest caftans by female artisans in Chiapas — are what caught my eye. Chef Curtis Stone crafts a menu of fire-roasted meats and seafood at Woodend, while at Casa Mayor, executive chef Daniel Camacho sources 90 percent of his ingredients from within Mexico, including surprises such as a regional coffee of the day. (I loved the beans from Veracruz.) The electric-white beach is still the main draw, but when you need a break from the sunshine, a small-batch tequila and raicilla tasting in the private cantina awaits. From $1,095/night.​ Accessible hotel. — Jacqueline Gifford

Mollie Aspen, Colorado 

Courtesy of Mollie Aspen

By the time I made it to Mollie Aspen in January, only a month into the hotel’s life, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky had reportedly already been through. That’s Aspen for you. Rihanna’s pick, unsurprisingly, hits; the hybrid lobby-restaurant-cafe is cozy without the in-your-face, capital-m Mountain Vibes. (Read: no taxidermy.) At the restaurant, furnished with soft brown banquettes and deep chestnut leather couches, I had a winter salad with roasted squash and a perfectly smashed burger on a toasty sesame bun. Mollie’s food and drinks are by Death & Co. , and as a longtime fan of the cocktail empire that brought us now-classic cocktails like the mezcal-aperol Naked & Famous, I mostly came to the new hotel to eat and drink. I ended my Saturday night at the hotel with fried, powdered sugar–dusted zeppole and a Pineapple Express, a non-alcoholic cold brew and Seedlip concoction that could give even the best espresso martini a run for its money. It was a perfect drink to nurse while warming my hands by the slate and marble–lavished fireplace, but I’m eager to return in the summer when the third-floor rooftop terrace bar will open with exceptional views of Aspen Mountain and an al fresco plunge pool. The design of the 68 rooms match the muted common space aesthetics — all by Brooklyn, New York–based Post Company , whose work shows up twice more on It List this year: natural wood and butter-soft black leather, Maison Balsac tinted glass water pitchers, Parachute sheets, grid-patterned rugs, and of course, mountain views. From $500/night. Accessible hotel. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

Nay Palad Hideaway, Siargao Island, Philippines

Courtesy of Nay Palad

This resort on the soft sands of Siargao Island, a 90-minute flight from Manila, has been reborn. It used to be Dedon Island, an upscale tropical hotel from the owners of outdoor furniture company Dedon, until 2021’s Typhoon Odette all but leveled the property. In June 2023 it rose again, as Nay Palad Hideaway . You can expect warm, thoughtful service, and the resort staff can arrange activities, like island-hopping yacht excursions and picnic lunches under coconut trees, that are just right for jealousy-inducing selfies. But you should take time to enjoy the comfort and charm of your villa, too. Whether you’re staying in a tucked-away garden unit surrounded by sweet-smelling spider lilies or hiding out with your crew in the three-bedroom Perlah Villa, these spacious dwellings are sanctuaries in themselves. Most of the furniture was made by artisans from Siargao and evokes the easy-breezy vibe of island life: oversize wooden headboards carved with jungle motifs, woven loveseats that swing from the ceiling, and baskets in the shape of crabs. In addition to these quirky details, however, what elevates the 10 pointy-roofed villas is their size — each has indoor and outdoor showers, a private patio large enough for yoga sessions, and a secret loft space that can act as a separate lounge or extra bedroom. From $1,780/night.​ — Chadner Navarro

Nolinski Venezia

Guillaume de Laubier/Courtesy of Nolinski Venezia

Venice may be slowly sinking, but the enchanting canal-filled city proved irresistible to Evok Collection , the group behind a handful of boutique hotel brands in France. Its first property in Italy recently opened in the 1929 Stock Exchange building near Piazza San Marco and brought some French je ne sais quoi (and superlative croissant-making skills) to La Serenissima. Entering the red-carpeted foyer, head to the ground-floor restaurant, Il Caffè, which serves an excellent fritto misto in an intimate dining room with exposed brick walls or the adjacent courtyard. Upstairs, the design becomes even more show-stopping. Off the colonnaded second-floor lobby is the cozy Library Bar, replete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stacked with more than 4,000 books, a piano, velvet banquettes, and a Marc Chagall–inspired ceiling mural by French artist Simon Buret. Housed in the former council chamber’s auditorium, the Palais Royal Restaurant sports a glamorous midcentury air and serves an à-la-carte breakfast menu worth waking up for, especially those buttery French croissants and pain au chocolat. Though the hotel owners are French, there are nods to Venice, including around 600 Murano glass objects, some in the shape of an octopus, a recurring motif. The 43 rooms and suites are beautifully decorated with stucco headboards, mango wood paneling, and bathrooms featuring mosaic tiles and Japanese Toto toilets. Suites come with a separate sitting area, a bar stocked with complimentary full-size bottles of premium liquors, and elegant cocktail glasses in which to drink them. Fancy a midnight soak? A small indoor pool on the top floor festooned with gold mosaic tiles is open 24/7. From $851/night. Accessible hotel. — Laura Itzkowitz

Norumbega Inn, Camden, Maine

Courtesy of Norumbega Inn

Just north of Camden, Maine, on Route 1, the towering, turreted “ Castle by the Sea ” has been winning the hearts of road-trippers and romantics for the better part of 130 years. After an overhaul by owners Will Tims and Brett Haynie, who purchased the property in 2022, the interiors of this Gilded Age treasure now live up to the grand facade. New York City–based design firm Studiocake was tapped to collaborate on the refreshed look, which is inspired by the home’s original owner: an inventor and globetrotter named Joseph Baker Stearns. The finishes and furnishings layer old and new, and give guests the impression that they’ve been spirited away to a storied country estate. You might encounter a pressed-flower collage by artist Tricia Paoluccio across from an antique chest of drawers, or one of Greta Grossman’s midcentury modern Grasshopper lamps perched next to a Baroque-inspired carved wooden chair with tapestry cushions. Norumbega’s 11 rooms each have their own selling point, such as the curving leaded-glass panes of the turret room, the second-floor gallery in the library room, or the sweeping views of Penobscot Bay from the top-floor balcony. If you can bear to leave your room, there’s a lounge with a grand piano and a well-stocked library waiting downstairs, along with a basement game room, a bar overlooking the grassy back lawn, and a covered porch where you can hang out in warm weather with a cocktail and a pulpo snack plate whipped up by the property’s Peruvian chef. From $229/night. — Lila Harron Battis

North Island Okavango, Botswana

Martin Harvey/Courtesy of Natural Selection

North Island Okavango ’s greatest luxury is its exclusivity. Set amid tall ebony trees on the edge of a lagoon frequented by elephants and hippos, the idyllic camp has just three tents — and it’s really a stretch to call them “tents,” though their roofs are indeed made of canvas. Each luxurious suite has 850 square feet of indoor space — living room, bar area, one-and-a-half bathrooms — and 650 square feet outside. They all have indoor and outdoor showers as well as a soaking tub with lagoon views. While the furnishings are carefully chosen, the decor — contemporary African baskets, fine woodwork, flat-weave rugs — never steals attention from the stunning surroundings. That all-too-rare feeling of immersion in nature continues when you’re out on safari. North Island, part of the Natural Selection portfolio of camps and lodges, sits in a section of the Okavango with few other safari camps, so you’ll rarely see other tourists. Wildlife is plentiful — on my trip, I spotted not just lions and leopards, but also sitatungas, an unusual amphibious antelope. And because of North Island’s prime location in the Okavango Delta’s neck, there are year-round opportunities to travel both on land and by water, either by the local dugout canoes called mokoro or by motorboat, which are ideal for viewing hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife. The solar-powered camp’s design honors its environment in other ways, too: North Island Okavango’s tents and the network of decks on which they sit can be totally deconstructed, with no permanent trace on the fragile ecosystem. And because the surrounding concession belongs to a community trust, a portion of the revenues directly supports five nearby villages. From $1,395 per person per night. — Jeff Chu

Oceania Cruises’ Vista

Nick Tortajada/Courtesy of Oceania Cruises

The new Oceania Vista is in a class of its own; no really, it’s the first in Oceania Cruises ’ new Allura class. Of its 11 bars and restaurants, three are entirely new to the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings–owned brand — including a high-end cocktail spot called Founders’ Bar, serving 26 intricate drinks that use house-made syrups and top-shelf booze like Whistle Pig and parsley-infused Grey Goose. As Oceania levels up, the cruise line has produced a ship that feels more like a floating resort than the vessels that came before. There’s pickleball; a health-conscious restaurant, Aquamar, serving made-to-order salads and pressed juices; and a coffee shop that looks like one in walking distance of my home in L.A. (marble counters, gold accents, leather bar stools) and pulls an espresso shot of similar quality. Vista has more suites than others in the Oceania fleet, too: There are 14 Oceania Suites (up to 1,200 square feet); eight Vista Suites (up to 1,850 square feet); and three Owner’s Suites with Ralph Lauren Home decor and two massive terraces (2,400 square feet). But the most hotel-like touch? A celebrity chef–driven restaurant, Toscana, where Giada De Laurentiis — the ship’s godmother — supplied two recipes for the menu. As someone who watched a lot of Everyday Italian in the early aughts, I was particularly excited to try her signature, Capri-inspired lemon spaghetti, and lemon-cream sauce with grilled shrimp and capers didn’t disappoint. From $2,499 per person for a seven-night sailing. Accessible ship. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

One&Only Aesthesis, Greece 

On the Athens Riviera, 10 miles from the city center, Greece’s first One&Only seems to float along the tranquil Saronic Gulf. Spacious “residences,” designed for families and groups of friends, unfold onto private stretches of beach, and waterfront bungalows have wooden docks and ladders that descend to the water. The stay is more akin to a Mykonos vacation than a city break, yet I could get to the Acropolis in less than an hour. Though the tavernas and wine bars of Athens beckoned, I was reluctant to miss any meals at the resort, where chef Paco Morales — known for the Michelin three-starred Noor, in Córdoba, Spain — has a pop-up that serves chicken croquettes topped with ras al hanout mayo and delicate, flash-fried calamari stuffed into a brioche. The food wasn’t the only luxury: the country’s first Guerlain Spa, where I indulged in an ultra-hydrating facial, made it even harder to leave the resort. From $1,620/night.​ — Maya Kachroo-Levine

One&Only One Za’abeel, Dubai 

Courtesy of One&Only Resorts

In Dubai, change is intentional — and the opening of One&Only One Za’abeel , the One&Only Resorts brand’s first hotel in the heart of a major city, is no exception. In the affluent Za’abeel district, the hotel is connected to an adjoining tower by the world’s longest cantilever , the 750-foot-long Link, a concept by Japanese architecture firm Nikken Sekkei that hovers more than 300 feet above the ground. Inside, the resort vibe is brought to life by noted Aman designer Jean-Michel Gathy, with a soothing color palette and rich textures that pay homage to the country’s desert landscapes. The 229 rooms and suites continue the elegance with sand, taupe, and gold tones, marble floors, and carpets so soft you’d sleep on them if there wasn’t already a plush, king-size bed calling your name. Floor-to-ceiling windows draw your eyes to the horizon over Old Dubai or the futuristic skyline of Downtown Dubai, depending on your room. Relaxation is built into the resort’s ethos, with a three-floor spa, the Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie. I enjoyed a 90-minute Longevity Path to Detox treatment, a three-step process that involves phytotherapy and hydrotherapy. But where the intentionality behind One&Only One Za’abeel shines is in its cuisine. In step with Dubai’s plans to become a major culinary destination , the resort offers 11 exceptional restaurants and six chefs known for their Michelin-starred restaurants (chef Anne-Sophie Pic of London’s La Dame De Pic , for example). From the inventive street food at StreetXO by chef Dabiz Muñoz (try the paella pollo and caviar) to the interactive Andaliman, where dishes like the Jimbaran-style grilled red snapper are prepared tableside, each restaurant feels like a destination in its own right. Even indecisive eaters will find a home at the upscale food hall, Arrazuna, where sampling everything is expected. To wind down, grab a sunbed at Tapasake Pool Club, take a dip in the 393-foot-long infinity pool, the longest in the UAE, and watch the sunset. From $835/night. Accessible hotel. — Danielle Pointdujour

Otro Oaxaca, Mexico

Courtesy of Otro Oaxaca/Design Hotels

Directly across the street from Oaxaca’s Baroque cathedral Santo Domingo, Otro Oaxaca boasts perhaps the best views and most coveted location of any hotel in the cobblestoned city. The newest opening from Mexican boutique hotel firm Grupo Habita , Otro is its fourth installment in the state of Oaxaca. Otro is just a short walk from some of the city’s most tempting restaurants, museums, and attractions, yet it offers guests a tranquil respite from the clamor. The neo-vanguardist hotel, with its natural palette of reclaimed wood, adobe, brick, and iron, is a dream for design aficionados, and each of its 16 utilitarian rooms includes surprising pops of color, like green–coated aluminum bed frames with built-in bedside tables and burgundy suede blackout curtains. On the rooftop, guests can take in the panoramic views of Oaxaca’s central valleys while lounging on French terry cloth daybeds lining the lap pool. For those who prefer more private swimming quarters, book an hour-long slot at Otro’s subterranean plunge pool, meant to mimic a cenote. I happily spent 60 minutes luxuriating in the underground space before heading to dinner at Otro’s restaurant. I started my meal by choosing from a wide selection of mezcals, the menu offering everything from espadín to rare agave spirits like tepeztate and tobasiche . Otro’s dinner menu highlights the bounty of Oaxacan seafood, with fish delivered daily from the coast. The stone crab pâté toast with fermented black garlic — at once sweet, savory, and with generous hunks of meaty crab — is a must-order. From $300/night. — Catherine Tansey

Palihouse Hyde Park Village, Tampa, Florida

Courtesy of Palisociety

Accessed from a street-level scene of upscale boutiques and restaurants in one of Tampa’s most sought-after residential neighborhoods, Palihouse Hyde Park Village made me feel like I was arriving at a friend’s house. Inside I found a two-story lobby with checkerboard terrazzo floors and a coffered white oak paneling; elsewhere in the property I spotted other surprising touches, like a three-tier, hand-blown glass chandelier, a framed collection of vintage Hermès scarves, and handmade Mexican ceramic tiles. The hotel’s living-room-style lounge, the Lobby Bar, is perfect for cocktails and conversation, and serves breakfast plus an all-day bar menu featuring classic burgers, lobster tacos, and tuna tartare. Tucked away down art-filled corridors are 36 rooms outfitted with Smeg mini fridges, custom wallpaper and drapery, and a cocktail bar stocked with artisan spirits, tools, and tumblers for in-room cocktail hour. Outside in the leafy Hyde Park Village neighborhood, you can browse boutiques, bike along the nearby bayfront, or just picnic on pizza under the shade of a live oak. From $305/night. Accessible hotel. — Terry Ward

Pelorus Private Island, Australia

Jason Ierace/Courtesy of Pelorus Private Island

The Indigenous Manbarra people, custodians of Australia’s Palm Islands for millennia, believe this small, northeastern archipelago was formed when the Rainbow Serpent emerged from the Queensland tablelands and lay down in the ocean. The islands, strewn across the Coral Sea, are the vertebrae of its spine. On the northernmost island, known as Pelorus, North Palm, or Yanooa, an $8 million property with five lavish residences has opened, promising the most exclusive – and inclusive – accommodation on the Great Barrier Reef. Access to this isolated idyll is by helicopter (30 minutes) or motor yacht (five hours) from the Queensland city of Townsville. At the southwestern tip of a 1,000-acre tropical island, guests are greeted with chilled towels and Champagne before hosts Grant Logan and Kate Hawkins settle them into their reclusive hideaway. The modernist pavilion-style building features an infinity pool and generous interior spaces of neutral tones and native timbers to ensure the eye is always drawn to the saturated blues and greens of your playground: the Coral Sea. Days are as active or sedentary as you desire, with every imaginable water toy – Jet Skis, Seabobs, water bicycles, and a motorboat – at your disposal for island or outer reef explorations. Craving company, a spa treatment, or a quick lesson in marine science? Sibling resort Orpheus Island Lodge, a short speedboat ride across the strait, has a restaurant, day spa, and marine research center. From $13,067 per night for two people. Accessible hotel. — Kendall Hill

Pendry Newport Beach, California

Courtesy of Pendry Newport Beach

Nestled in the heart of Newport Beach’s Fashion Island, the latest addition to the Pendry portfolio promises to establish itself as an Orange County icon — following in the footsteps of its long-loved sibling property, Montage Laguna Beach , 11 miles down the road. In true younger sibling form, Pendry Newport Beach is Montage’s cool, trendy foil that comes alive at night. After the sun sets on the cabana-lined pool and fireside Jacuzzi out back, a vibrant atmosphere unfolds at Bar Pendry, where locals mingle with hotel guests over craft cocktails. After joining in the revelry with a smoky bourbon for him and a tropical, toasted coconut–topped concoction for me, my fiancé and I ducked into the hotel’s private wing for a more subdued nightlife scene at the members-only Elwood Club . The club hosts a coastal Italian restaurant, Viamara , and a cozy sports pub where we swung our way through a few rounds in the Topgolf Swing Suite. But the late-night highlight is its cabaret, where we sat in a velvet booth listening to live jazz over two glasses of red. At Set Steak & Sushi , dinner is an event in its own right as bluefin tuna pizza, Peking duck, and prime steaks are served beneath glowing lanterns on a romantic terrace, or inside a stylish nautical-themed dining room. The 40-ounce tomahawk still regularly makes its way into our dinner conversations. Spread throughout a 20-story tower, the hotel’s 295 guest rooms, 114 of which are suites, are sleek and contemporary, offering a spacious home base from which to explore the area. You won’t wake up on a beachfront, but you will find yourself close to must-visit spots such as Balboa Island, Crystal Cove, and Corona del Mar. Take advantage of Pendry’s Ride & Drive program and grab keys to a Cadillac at no charge, or strap on a helmet and take out a Scott e-bike. If you’re traveling with little ones, don’t worry, Paintbox, the on-site kids’ club, will entertain them while you’re out. Or, you may decide to use your kid-free time to pamper yourself at the spa; it’s the only Spa Pendry with a MediSpa machine and cryotherapy. From $396/night. Accessible hotel. — Nina Ruggiero

Raffles Boston

Courtesy of Raffles Boston

The 137-year-old Raffles hotel brand is finally making a splash in North America — and in Boston, of all places. Opened in September and set in a 35-story tower in the well-heeled Back Bay neighborhood, it is as smashing as you’d expect. On arrival, I was whisked to the 17th-floor Sky Lobby, which has wraparound views of the skyline. My room was sumptuous, with sophisticated gold and black touches that gesture to the brand’s Asian roots. Butler service was discreet and attentive — after check-in, I found a chilled cranberry cocktail called the “Boston Sling” (a nod to the Singapore Sling, which was created at the flagship property in 1915) waiting in the room’s glass-fronted wooden bar. From $700/night.​ Accessible hotel. — Elizabeth Cantrell

Raffles London at The OWO 

Flora Stubbs/Travel + Leisure

In a city where splashy new hotels seem to pop up on a weekly basis, how do you make sure your property makes the biggest splash of them all? In the case of Raffles London at The OWO , it went something like this: Purchase the landmarked Old War Offices from Britain’s Ministry of Defense (rumored listing price: $450 million). Lavish more than $1.25 billion on restoring its hallowed corridors, along which Sir Winston Churchill famously strode, making decisions that altered the face of history as he went. (The wood-paneled office in which he decided to enter World War II is now part of the Churchill Suite, bookable for $29,000 a night.) To keep things contemporary, install a gleaming, 27,000-square-foot Guerlain spa over four subterranean floors and invite Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco, known for his Michelin three-starred restaurant on the French Riviera, to oversee three of the hotel’s nine restaurants, including an eponymous dining room focused on the finest ingredients from the British Isles. The effect of all this? Every bit as dazzling as you might expect. Stepping through The OWO’s Portland Stone portico on Whitehall Street, I was wowed by the Grand Staircase, above which a 26-foot Murano glass chandelier hangs like a benevolent planet. Up on the third floor, my boots sunk into the deep, cream and ruby-red carpets now lining the building’s 2.5 miles of corridor, along which boy scouts once delivered messages by bicycle. I stayed in a suite named after Vera Atkins, a British-Romanian spy — one of eight female politicians, spies, and public figures around whom the hotel’s expansive corner suites are themed. Thierry Despont, the late Parisian interiors star, sprinkled his fairy dust over all of The OWO’s 120 accommodations; the Atkins suite had an updated art deco look, with curvaceous velvet banquettes and heavy-cream accents to brighten up all the wood paneling and parquet. Speaking of spies, “James Bond” author Ian Flemming regularly visited the OWO’s library (now the restaurant Mauro Colagreco), and the building itself has appeared in no fewer than five Bond movies, as the MI6 offices. There may be stiff competition among high-end London hotels, but there can be few that deliver a more quintessentially British experience than this one. From $1,385/night. Accessible hotel. — Flora Stubbs  

Regent Hong Kong

Susmita Baral/Travel + Leisure

Regent Hong Kong has been a fixture in the city’s Kowloon area since 1980, but it just reopened after a massive two-year renovation. Walking onto the newly renovated property felt like entering a secret oasis in a city of 7.4 million people. The hotel presents like a sanctuary, starting with the Feng Shui fountain outside and the terrace with lush landscaping and three infinity pools. My room had a window-front daybed and a deep soaking tub from which I could enjoy the views across the city’s iconic Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island. And should you, like me, not want to leave unless absolutely necessary, know there are excellent on-site dining options. The hotel is home to seven restaurants and bars, including Michelin two-starred Lai Ching Heen ; an outpost of Nobu; and Harbourside, where guests can indulge in an elevated daily buffet for breakfast and lunch. I found myself crippled with decision fatigue on what to eat for breakfast — the local specialties, the continental breakfast, the fresh-baked pastries, or all of the above? The answer was obviously D, all of the above. From $767/night. Accessible hotel. — Susmita Baral

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Grandeur

Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ sixth ship, the Seven Seas Grandeur , sailed its inaugural season in December, joining sibling ships Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor as the newest member of the luxury fleet. The cruise line is a favorite among Travel + Leisure readers for its gorgeous ships and all-inclusive pricing that covers unlimited shore excursions, dining at specialty restaurants, and even round-trip airfare. Grandeur lives up to its name thanks to stunning, art-filled spaces designed by cruise ship interior experts Studio Dado: signature restaurant Compass Rose is enchanting with interiors inspired by a fairy-tale forest; the Observation Lounge sparkles with an undulating chandelier and swanky bar; and the $11,000-per-night Regent Suite has a private en suite spa and custom Treesse mini pool. As I boarded Grandeur for the ship’s inaugural sailing, I was mesmerized by the grand staircase and glittering chandelier. And with a maximum capacity of 744 guests, I found it easy to take time to myself in the myriad of quiet spots tucked throughout the ship, whether in the Serene Spa and Wellness area, in the Library, or on the Sports Deck overlooking the ocean. Seven restaurants include specialty steakhouse Prime 7, pan-Asian restaurant Pacific Rim, and breakfast and lunch buffet La Veranda, which refines the cruise buffet experience with daily specials like paella and sushi. Several bars and lounges, a pool and hot tubs, a casino, Broadway-style productions, and cooking classes at the Culinary Arts Kitchen make the ship a destination in itself, though guests will want to take advantage of those included excursions on Caribbean, Central American, North American, and European itineraries, ranging from seven to 16 nights, during the ship’s 2024 season. From $4,669 per person for a seven-night sailing. Accessible ship. — Elizabeth Rhodes

Roost Detroit

Matthew Williams/Courtesy of ROOST Detroit

Tucked inside Detroit’s iconic Book Tower, this Roost location merges the comforts of a contemporary home with the elegance of a bygone era. The building’s past and future blend seamlessly, thanks to a transformative renovation by the real estate firm Bedrock Detroit. The painstaking restoration, conducted over a seven-year period, invokes the structure’s Italian Renaissance–revival style, originally conceived by architect Louis Kamper in the 1920s, which includes awe-inspiring arches and a romantic rotunda that now floats above an all-day café and wine bar. The property has been updated with a contemporary art collection curated by the Library Street Collective gallery and features pieces by local creatives Senghor Reid and Sydney James. Travelers staying in one of the property’s 117 apartment suites will love the spacious floor plans, some of which feature Detroit river views.

But the details are what define the guest experience: stellar service, Le Labo Santal 33 amenities, elevated electronics from Sonos and Samsung, and colorful Fortessa glassware are just a few ways this property defies the expectations of a standard extended stay. Roost is also an ideal hideaway for remote work: a 3,000-square-foot study also serves as a co-working space and lounge that features private booths and retreat-ready conference rooms. There are several restaurants, including a chic rooftop bar named Kampers, but Le Supreme is the one that stands out. This Parisian-inspired brasserie has vintage-inspired decor. I parked myself in a booth and ordered a rhubarb and rosé-filled Mon Cheri cocktail, which paired well with the peppercorn-crusted filet mignon and a shrimp, avocado, and mâche salad. From $289/night. Accessible hotel. — Keyaira Boone

Rosemary, Marrakesh

Marina Denisova/Courtesy of Rosemary

Hidden behind a hand-carved cedar door, Rosemary is the latest example of the creative energy sizzling through this ancient city. The five-bedroom guesthouse was designed by Belgian artist Laurence Leenaert, who founded the ceramics and textile brand Lrnce, known for its cool, artsy aesthetic. Working with more than 30 local artisans, she used materials sourced in Morocco — including stained glass from Meknes, pots from Safi, and marble from Rabat. Every inch of the riad is an expression of her imagination, from the abstract drawings hand-carved into sandstone tables to the colorful murals made from zellige tiles. Squint and you’ll notice that each of the tiles in the bathroom is a miniature painting; find out more in the ceramic and plaster workshops that turn Rosemary into a creative hub. From $236/night.​ — Chloe Sachdev

Rosewood Munich 

Davide Lovatti/Courtesy of Rosewood

Entering the Rosewood Munich , a hotel 10 years in the making, feels like walking into your friend’s living room (granted, your most stylish friend’s living room), with a grand lobby where you can sink into plush seating while sampling the local sweets the hotel puts out to satisfy your sugar cravings. Cuvilliés, the brasserie open to both guests and locals, is one of the poshest new restaurants in Munich, with ingredients sourced from the region, including Helmut Schlader Alpine caviar, wagyu beef from Tegernsee, and lamb from a breeder in Jochberg. Guests can retire to their apartment-style rooms, decked out in bespoke furnishings and all-marble baths. The most luxurious accommodations, though, are Rosewood’s five houses, with unparalleled amenities like full kitchens, massive soaking tubs, private courtyard terraces, and more than 2,600 square feet of living space. My favorite spot at the hotel is much smaller: the ultra-exclusive speakeasy, 100B, hidden on the property. During my visit to the hotel, I caught a rare glimpse inside the space to find soft, red velvet furnishings accent rich, dark-wood walls, made all the better by its top-shelf drink offerings, including hard-to-find bottles of Pappy Van Winkle and other rarified liquors. The only way in is to butter up a bartender, who may or may not acknowledge its very existence. From $865/night. Accessible hotel. — Stacey Leasca

Sha Wellness Clinic Mexico

Courtesy of SHA Mexico

Wellness culture reaches its apex at Sha Wellness Clinic , open since January 2024 in Costa Mujeres, Mexico, just north of Cancun. The 100-room property, with 35 privately owned residences, offers an all-inclusive, immersive wellness experience in four- to 21-day programs. Guests engage in wellness therapies, ranging in scope from the medical – intravenous oxygenation, for instance – to the therapeutic, like Shiatsu massage. Upon arrival, each traveler receives a state-of-the-art evaluation, assessing everything from body composition to vascular age to muscular strength, to determine specific wellness needs. My own four-day Rebalance & Energize program included sessions with a Chinese medicine specialist for acupuncture and energy healing; a consultation with a head nutritionist for a meal plan; various overall health assessments with the clinic’s physicians; a Tibetan sound bowl session; and a water-based treatment called the hydroenergetic detox, in which I was wrapped in seaweed and massaged by machine. Shamadi, the nutrition-focused fine-dining venue, serves sophisticated, multicourse menus both inside and outside, on a terrace overlooking the sea. (A second restaurant, Earthy, focused on live-fire cooking, is set to open soon.) When they aren’t meeting with the clinic’s trained professionals, guests are also welcome to use the property’s hydrotherapy circuit, infinity pools, and fitness facility, or snorkel at the largest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere. During my stay, a swim with a school of stunning barracuda, shimmering in Caribbean sunlight, proved particularly restorative. Four-night program from $5,600, all-inclusive. – Hannah Selinger

Shinta Mani Mustang, Nepal

Elise Hassey/Courtesy of Shinta Mani Mustang

There are still wildly beautiful and enchanted pockets of the world to discover, and this new property — imagined by celebrated interior designer Bill Bensley — is right in the heart of one: the ancient Kingdom of Mustang in Nepal, close to the border of Tibet. From the outside, this U-shaped structure, built using local Baglung stone, resembles a monastery. But inside, thanks to Bensley’s historical research and taste for rich color and pattern, it feels like an elegant, colorful palace. Large public spaces are appointed with a mix of antique Mustang treasures, lampshades decorated with cascading yak hair, and pops of orange and yellow. When not on daily excursions to nearby temples and villages, guests can visit the resort’s spa, which is overseen by a doctor of traditional Tibetan medicine. Each of the 29 rooms has a spacious bathroom — many with deep tubs — as well as woven tiger rugs on the polished black wood floors, and felt blankets from a Nepal-based workshop that supplies Hermes. But none of it can begin to compete with the view of Mount Nilgiri through the floor-to-ceiling windows. From $1,800/night, with a five-night minimum. Accessible hotel. — Gisela Williams  

Silversands Beach House, Grenada 

Courtesy of Silversands

Just three minutes from the airport — and steps from Portici Beach — the latest from luxury hospitality brand Silversands is a 28-room resort with hillside rooms offering panoramic views and canopied beachfront suites that almost touch the surf. All are designed with relaxing neutral tones, artwork handpicked by the property’s Egyptian developer, Naguib Sawiris, and floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that lead to expansive terraces or decks. The restaurant, Azzurro, blends Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisines in dishes like pasta topped with coconut-​and-panko-crusted shrimp and island-inspired sorbets. There are three more restaurants for guests to enjoy, as well as the longest pool in the Caribbean, at the bigger Silversands Grand Anse, 15 minutes away via Mercedes-Benz shuttle. From $700/night. Accessible hotel. ​ — Danielle Pointdujour

Silversea’s Silver Nova

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Carrying 728 passengers, Silver Nova is big for the luxury sector, but boasts a hugely important metric: a capacious passenger space ratio — that is, the number of guests relative to the size of the ship. Simply put, this ship offers more elbow room per passenger than almost any other cruise vessel. Silver Nova is wrapped in glass, with an asymmetrical layout; the funnel is positioned off-center, so is the pool, offering an expansive, uncluttered pool deck. Many features of the brand-new ship recall previous Silversea successes, my favorite of which is the S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) program, expanded for Silver Nova . S.A.L.T. perks include a gorgeous, sea-facing lab for hands-on culinary lessons (at no additional cost), plus a new concept, the Chef’s Table, where an 11-course menu is prepared for just 24 diners. All facets of the S.A.L.T. ecosystem, including ingredients, a bar, lectures, and shore excursions, are keyed to the region Nova is sailing. While food is a drawing card for Silver Nova , accommodations also received a revamp. Tied to the theme of bringing the outside in, there are brilliant new suites found in the aft starboard corner of the ship, with wraparound balconies revealing a 270-degree view.  This is where you can tuck me in when I win the lottery and head off on a world cruise. But until then, Silver Nova will summer in Alaska and spend northern hemisphere winters in Australia and New Zealand, places where top-deck views should prove ceaselessly rewarding. From $3,250 per person for a seven-night sailing. Accessible ship. — David Swanson

Silvestre Nosara Hotel & Residences, Costa Rica

Juan Tribaldos/Courtesy of Silvestre Nosara

If there is a formula for building a hotel that immediately makes you feel at home, Chris Ingham Brooke and Ilya Korolev, the owners of Costa Rica's newest boutique stay, Silvestre Nosara , have nailed it. Maybe it's because the nine-key property is also where Brooke and his family live, or perhaps it's because every single detail of the spacious residences was executed with the utmost consideration for the comfort and privacy of families. Each apartment-like residence has two bedrooms and two en suite bathrooms, plus floor-to-ceiling French doors that open to patios or balconies. The ground-level residences feature lush private gardens with saunas and cold-plunge bathtubs. The kitchens come with fully stocked refrigerators, and if you run out of something, the concierge team is happy to run out and get it from a nearby organic food store. Guests can head to the two-level rooftop for breakfast; the roof is also where you'll find the hotel's infinity pool and cabanas, surrounded by a canopy of trees providing shade from the ground. Naturally, if you've come all the way to Nosara with your family , you're probably here to soak up the sun and catch a few waves. So grab a complimentary board from the hotel's surf school and head straight down the hotel’s jungle path to the famous Playa Guiones, just five minutes away. From $960/night, with a three-night minimum. — Dobrina Zhekova

Singita Mara River Tented Camp, Serengeti, Tanzania

Courtesy of Singita

The most low-key property in Singita’s illustrious East African lineup is also the most exclusive. Singita Mara River Tented Camp is one of only a few permanent camps in the sought-after Lamai wedge, a spit of savanna sequestered from the vast Serengeti National Park by the Mara River. Reopened after a complete rebuild that saw infrastructure from the old camp cleverly repurposed, the camp is sexy and sustainable, and channels the adventurous spirit of a mobile operation — while still providing every imaginable creature comfort. Over 20 African designers and makers were commissioned to add their creative stamp to the new camp. The six well-spaced tents have king-size beds, outdoor tubs, and beaded Maasai artworks by Sidai Designs , an Arusha-based female collective. The chic but utilitarian interiors are done in bold blues and reds, inspired by traditional Maasai blankets. Compact design solutions like mobile wardrobes add to the clutter-free vibe; there’s even a canvas-clad mini-bar stocked with local beers, homemade fruit cordials, Champagne, and vegan chocolate. Like all Singita lodges, the hub of the camp is a bar where smoothies, cappuccinos, and craft cocktails are served by the 100-percent Tanzanian staff. The camp’s prime riverfront site guarantees front-row seats to all the predator-prey action during migration season, but sightings remain impressive year-round, thanks to plentiful resident plains game, including herds of buffalo and elephants, and all the big cats. Suites from $2,045 per person per night. — Jane Broughton

Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Imagine you took a quiet, sleek spa with darkened windows and hushed hallways and deposited it onto a Swiss mountainside in an old ski town in the most skiable part of the Valais region, and you get the idea behind Six Senses Crans-Montana . In a town that still feels ripped from a 1987 calendar (in a good way!), the property is like a portal to the future that you can ski right into — or out of. And when you enter that portal from the cold slopes, a “ski concierge” will be waiting to rush your gear into a warm room to dry before it’s delivered to you again on your way out in the morning. My favorite parts of the 45 room-resort were the views of the Alps and the huge soaking tub in my room. Byakko, a lacquered jewel box of a Japanese restaurant on the second floor, serves sushi and other dishes not quite local to the Rhône Valley. The more woodsy Wild Cabin, on the first floor, is where you can have your smoothies for breakfast, pizzas at lunchtime, or game-heavy dinners. A local charcuterie and cheese course is served every evening in the lobby bar. But the pièce de résistance is the spa, a steamy subterranean waterworks with hot tubs and cold plunges, two full-size pools, and toasty massage rooms. From $1,090/night. Accessible hotel. — Devin Friedman

Six Senses Rome

Courtesy of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas

The Eternal City has plenty of exclusive hotels where the brass is polished to a shine and the Negronis flow easily (see: the famed Hotel de Russie terrace). The new Six Senses , a 96-room temple to wellness, smack on Via del Corso and a five-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain, is a welcome departure from all that tradition. Fresh off a red-eye from New York City, I tested “biohacking” remedies at the subterranean spa, slipping on a blue-light facial mask, a back massager, and Normatec compression socks to shake off the jet lag, before making my way to a sprawling series of Roman baths — utterly palatial, by any city hotel standards. And though the property is housed in a 15th-century palazzo, with a central marble staircase that transported me back to the Renaissance, the overall vibe feels fresh and relaxed thanks to Milan-based designer Patricia Urquiola. In a nod to well-being, the rooms are designed to soothe, from the spare, cocciopesto-covered walls to the divine Naturalmat organic mattresses. They also give you a sense of place — contemporary photos of ancient Roman busts crown the beds — and if you're willing to splurge, the license to live like a local. Book a deluxe junior suite with a terrace, and you can enjoy a bottle of wine outdoors with the rooftops of the city seemingly at your fingertips. The travertine-clad lobby embraces warm earth tones, with plants and a skylight bringing the outdoors in; for true alfresco living, don’t miss the Notos Rooftop, a combination yoga studio, restaurant, and farmers market. How very 21st century is that? From $1,083/night. Accessible hotel. — Jacqueline Gifford

Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland 

From a distance, you could easily mistake Slieve Donard for a castle. The sprawling Victorian resort first opened 125 years ago as a railway hotel, becoming the grande dame of Newcastle, a small seaside resort town in Northern Ireland’s County Down. Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts — a brand with a collection of five historic properties located near some of Scotland and Northern Ireland’s best golf courses — completed Slieve Donard’s renovation in September. The transformed lobby and guest rooms highlight Northern Ireland’s natural beauty and the property’s heritage, and reimagined restaurants update the grandeur of the hotel’s heyday. J.J. Farrall’s, named after the hotel’s architect, serves afternoon tea and refined Irish cuisine at dinner; the Percy French, Lighthouse Lounge, and the Wolf offer more casual snacks and drinks. I was immediately struck by the hotel’s plush interiors, striking facade, and stunning views of the Irish Sea and the Mourne Mountains. Many of the 180 rooms look out over the Mournes, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — and home to Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in Northern Ireland and the hotel’s namesake. Beautiful hikes, Game of Thrones tours, and whisky distilleries are among the most popular things to do in the area, but many visitors come here for one thing: golf. The property is located right next to the Royal County Down Golf Club, which dates back to 1889 and is home to the Championship Course, widely recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world. From $286/night. Accessible hotel. — Elizabeth Rhodes

Son Bunyola Hotel & Villas, Mallorca, Spain

Courtesy of Son Bunyola Hotel & Villas

A stay at this sprawling property on Mallorca’s sunbaked western coast feels like a visit to a billionaire’s home, and in a sense, it is. Son Bunyola is the newest in Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition hotel collection. The centerpiece of the 1,300-acre plot is a 16th-century manor, which houses 26 rooms and suites. There are also three multi-bedroom villas, one of which is built into a defense tower that dates back to the 13th century. The design team managed to make these storied structures feel like a home away from home. The result is an exclusive Mediterranean hideaway where guests spend their days sunning on yachts, sipping Mallorcan wines, and indulging in ancient Moroccan rituals at the spa. Nights are filled with seven-course tasting menus and starry views. It’s an adult playground, and that’s by design. Thankfully, when you check out, you can take the handmade espadrilles in your room with you, to continue the relaxation at home. From $703/night.​ Accessible hotel. — Jennifer Bradley Franklin

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island, Australia 

GEORGE APOSTOLIDIS/Courtesy of Southern Ocean Lodge

When Southern Ocean Lodge first opened on an island off the coast of southern Australia in 2008, it set the bar for all-inclusive eco-lodges in Australia with its spectacular setting, striking design, and precise yet easygoing hospitality. But the resort burned to the ground in one of the devastating bushfires of 2020. Sheltering underground with smoke seeping into their bunker, longtime managers John Hird and Alison Heath vowed to rebuild. Their employer, Baillie Lodges, agreed, and the lodge reopened this past December. The 25 terraced suites have been updated to include soaking tubs, double vanities, and master controls for zoned lighting. Furnishings are smartly positioned — I could count the night stars through the floor-to-ceiling windows from bed — and the suites have also been angled to provide maximum privacy and views of the surf on the beach below. Chef Tom Saliba makes ample use of island ingredients, like hand-fed partridges, which he barbecues, and mushrooms for whipped tofu with panisse at breakfast. The lounge features a 1970s-style central fireplace and plenty of comfortable seating, but perhaps its greatest charm is a wide-open bar generously stocked with ingredients, a cocktail book that guests are encouraged to use to mix their own drinks, and bar accoutrements. The wine cellar is filled with southern Australian bottles to wander in and grab. The expanded spa now includes warm pools and cold plunges, plus a sauna, and those looking for adventure can book guided tours to spot fur seals and endangered sea lions. From $2,213/night. Accessible hotel.­ — Betsy Andrews

Tanda Tula Safari Camp, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa

Courtesy of Tanda Tula

At this reimagined camp in the Timbavati , one of South Africa’s lesser-known private nature reserves, there are 180-degree views of the Nhlaralumi River, which is dry for much of the year, allowing for feet-in-the-sand sundowners and barbecues after immersive game drives. Part of the Greater Kruger region, the reserve is known for guaranteed, year-round sightings of leopards lurking in riverine thickets, large herds of buffalo, packs of wild dogs running free, and numerous prides of lions — including rare white lions. But perhaps the real luxury of choosing this intimate camp is that you’ll rarely bump into other safari cars while exploring the ecosystem, unlike reserves located inside Kruger that can be overrun with tourists. The interiors of the nine off-grid suites channel a strong sense of place through homegrown design that feels refreshingly modern, while still honoring the intricate patterns of traditional Tsonga motifs. Everything is steeped in the colors of the surrounding bush — including the deep aubergine of the purple pod cluster leaf, an indigenous tree. Sleek, statement bathrooms lead to open-air showers, private plunge pools, and incredible views. The service feels easy and intuitive, whether you’re arranging a massage in your suite or ordering lunch on your deck. Menus are in sync with the seasons and champion fresh produce grown by small-scale local farmers. Uplifting people is part of Tanda Tula’s DNA: through the work of the property’s foundation, your stay helps fund educational opportunities and scholarships for bright young minds, as well as an adult literacy program for staff. Suites from $1,338 per person per night. Accessible hotel. — Jane Broughton

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York City

William Abranowicz/Courtesy of The Fifth Avenue Hotel

The buzz on social media surrounding the debut of The Fifth Avenue Hotel was hard to ignore — especially with Sarah Jessica Parker as host of the grand opening. The Fifth, as those in the know call it, brought new life into Manhattan’s hospitality scene with 153 rooms and suites decorated in a maximalist style by the firm of designer du jour Martin Brudnizki. The interiors are defined by rich colors; luxurious tapestries; artwork like Queen Mary, a portrait by Alanna Airitam; and Murano-glass chandeliers that provide an air of fantasy. Café Carmellini, from chef Andrew Carmellini, is reminiscent of the HBO series The Gilded Age, with lush fabrics and balcony seating overlooking the dining room. But instead of icy glares between the Astors and the Russells, you’ll find delicious dishes like lobster cannelloni and rabbit cacciatore. Before you head back to your room, have a nightcap at the Portrait Bar. The Cebu Island, an inspired cocktail blending rum, scotch, and Midori with a variety of tropical ingredients, deserves a buzz of its own. From $895/night. Accessible hotel. ​— Danielle Pointdujour

The Georgian, Santa Monica, California 

Douglas Friedman/Courtesy of The Georgian

The First Lady, as The Georgian is often referred, first opened its doors in 1933 and quickly became a hangout for the Hollywood A-list crowd. In a sea of white buildings lining Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, California, The Georgian’s not-quite-Tiffany & Co. blue facade with gold trim pops. The eight-story hotel reopened in 2023 after an extensive renovation, and for Blvd Hospitality co-owners Jon Blanchard and Nico Rusconi, deciding what stayed and what went was a grand undertaking. Stayed: the original bathrooms in the 56 guest rooms, including the antique tile work, and that unquestionably Georgian blue facade, which is echoed in the bellhops’ baby-blue uniforms. Another vintage nod: The Georgian Room restaurant hosts Spaghetti Sundays, where I feasted on house-made garlic bread, spaghetti in a hearty marinara sauce, and Grandpa Tony's Meatballs, all a nod to the Red Griffin, the restaurant The Georgian housed in the ‘50s. Currently, the hotel offers a total of 84 guest rooms (including 28 suites), two open-to-the-public restaurants, an art gallery (with new exhibitions opening every two weeks), a library curated by Lee Kaplan of Arcana Books , a Peloton-outfitted gym, and a sultry, U-shaped lobby bar. A feast for the eyes, textures and colors fill every space. Pink chairs and yellow booths populate the outdoor terrace, coral-colored feathered lamps and mustard floor-to-ceiling curtains are seen throughout the lobby, and black-and-white images of Santa Monica line the walls. In the guest suites (one of which is named after Blanchard’s son, Hudson), there are record players and art deco–inspired bars, complete with a quartet of buttons that read like a directory: “Champagne,” “dessert,” “book club,” and “the usual,” the last of which is meant for repeat guests and their beverage/room service order of choice. From $700/night. Accessible hotel. — Alexandra Cheney

The Hotel Maria, Helsinki, Finland

Courtesy of The Hotel Maria

Founded by an Olympic champion and named for Empress Maria Feodorovna, the cosmopolitan mother of Russia’s last tsar, Helsinki’s The Hotel Maria has ambitions as rarefied as its pedigree. In 2020, Finnish developer (and three-time Olympic gold medalist) Samppa Lajunen acquired a parcel of mostly 19th-century buildings in the elegant Kruununhaka neighborhood and set out to convert them into the five-star hotel he believed Finland’s capital needed. The result is a 117-key property that blends glossy international luxury with Nordic sensibilities in a way that feels classic, even pleasantly old-school, as well as purposefully Finnish. The spa, for example, provides guests with an opportunity to try out the national obsession by alternating between sauna and cold plunge. And, throughout the hotel, 200 dreamlike, silvery paintings of iconic flora and fauna by homegrown artist Pia Feinik are on display. Thanks to quirks of the historic structures, every room is unique. Entry-level guest rooms are spacious and well-appointed, and those seeking something more distinctive can choose from 38 suites, including the sprawling, kitchen-equipped Imperial Suite, which feels like the pied-à-terre of a minor royal. Perhaps as an antidote to the winter darkness, around 180 chandeliers blaze in Maria’s rooms and public spaces, most strikingly in the sleek Bar Maria, where clusters of stylized glass icicles glow softly overhead. At the hotel’s hushed and refined flagship restaurant, Lilja, local ingredients like reindeer and cloudberry are foregrounded, and elbow room abounds (Finns like their personal space). Although Helsinki is often visited only as a day trip off a Baltic cruise, it’s a city with a welcoming, walkable center that rewards a longer stay, especially with The Hotel Maria as an unabashedly fancy — though not stuffy — home base. From $487/night . Accessible hotel. — Maggie Shipstead

The Hoxton, Brussels

Courtesy of The Hoxton

In the rapidly developing Northern Quarter of Brussels, close to the Bruxelles-Nord railway station, is a 198-room outpost of The Hoxton , the U.K. hotel brand’s first in Belgium. Concrete architraves adorning the windows, which local architecture practice 51N4E left intact, are a stark yet nostalgic reminder of the building’s industrial and corporate past as the former IBM Tower. But the interiors, courtesy of in-house creative team Aime Studios, exude warmth and softness. For instance, the striking double-height lobby is filled with plants, in homage to the 19th-century botanical garden that once stood nearby. This greenery is juxtaposed with artwork (the lower level doubles as the Hox Gallery) and a smattering of glamorous vintage furniture snagged at flea markets and secondhand shops across the region. Public spaces are buzzy: Cantina Valentina, the Peruvian-style restaurant, is packed with locals devouring ceviche and tequeños against a backdrop of artist Madeleine Schilling’s dreamy botanical mural. There’s also Tope, a rooftop taqueria, where artist Claire de Quénetain’s painted pink ripple wallpaper is enjoyed alongside jalapeño margaritas, cacti, and heady views of the city. After a frothy, orange flower-scented Pisco sour nightcap in one of the lobby’s cocooning chairs, guests head up to their color-blocked rooms, a mélange of deep red, cream, and sky blue punctuated by striped headboards, long oval-shaped glass room dividers, and velvet sofas. Bathrooms, outfitted with confetti-pink pedestal sinks, exude an equally delightful retro feel. From $217/night. Accessible hotel. — Alia Akkam

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, Los Olivos, California

Courtesy of Inn at Mattei's Tavern/Auberge Resorts Collection

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern finally brings a luxurious place to stay to Los Olivos, a gem in the Santa Ynez Valley with a population of 1,132 that was crowned America’s best small food and culture town by T+L in 2023. The delightful 1880s property is pristine and enchantingly symmetrical, with guest houses coated in a gleaming layer of white paint and a red-shingled water tower sitting in the middle of an idyllic, greenhouse-flanked lawn. During my first evening, I crossed this perfect patch of grass to the Tavern restaurant for a round of martinis and just-out-of-the-oven focaccia, followed by clams served with a slab of pork belly in a garlicky broth. I then slipped down the hall to the Bar, housed in the tavern that original owner Felix Mattei opened in 1886, to finish my evening with a spicy red blend from the Santa Rita hills and a chocolate soufflé doused in caramel sauce. I loved strolling into town to taste wine at Dragonette Cellars , Story of Soil , and the beloved Stolpman Vineyards Fresh Garage — just a small sampling of the 27 wineries within walking distance of the hotel. There’s also the cute Los Olivos General Store and a new restaurant from the chef behind the Michelin-starred gem in nearby Los Alamos , Bell’s . But spending time at the hotel was equally tempting. On my last day, I gave in and just lazed by the pool, where I lunched on duck wontons and grilled shiitakes at the alfresco Gin’s Bar — named for Gin Lung Gin, the head chef at Mattei’s in the 1910s. From $950/night. Accessible hotel. — Maya Kachroo-Levine

The Lafayette Hotel & Club, San Diego

Courtesy of The LaFayette

After opening in 1946, The Lafayette Hotel & Club in San Diego quickly became a celebrity hot spot. Bob Hope, its first guest, owned a penthouse apartment there. Johnny Weissmuller, of “Tarzan” fame, designed the pool. Confirmed visitors included Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra, and Katharine Hepburn; local lore says Marilyn Monroe might have checked in with a politically powerful friend of hers. Over the subsequent decades, The Lafayette’s star flickered. Three years ago, local restaurateur Arsalun Tafazoli bought the hotel, and after a stunning, $31-million renovation, The Lafayette reopened this past summer. While the landmarked exterior is largely unchanged, the interior shouts loudly with new life. The Brooklyn, New York–based firm Post Company orchestrated the unabashedly maximalist design: sofas and chairs with leopard print, zebra stripes, and bold florals; multicolored Mexican Talavera toilets; hand-painted murals; one custom wallpaper featuring kimono-clad women, another with jungle-dwelling bush babies. Look closely at the bedside reading lamps and the posts of the canopy beds, and you might spot snakes; Tafazoli sees the creatures as avatars of revitalization because of how they shed their old skins. And this isn’t style over substance: There are Sferra linens on the beds, Diptyque toiletries in every bathroom, and even stationery custom-printed with the guest’s name on the desk in every room. Listen up; famed music producer Swizz Beatz curated the soundtrack. The Lafayette’s exuberant eclecticism continues in its bars — there are three, including The Gutter, where you can play skee-ball and shuffleboard while you drink — and its restaurants, most notably Quixote, where Mexican-born chef José Cepeda serves modern takes on venerable family recipes. From $248/night. Accessible hotel. — Jeff Chu

The Lana, Dubai

Courtesy of The Lana

The Middle East debut for the Dorchester Collection is just another sign that when it comes to hospitality, Dubai is on the level of London, Paris, Rome, and Los Angeles. And The Lana still manages to stand out in a crowded field. That’s partly because of its location in Marasi Bay Marina, an upscale new development. The striking Foster & Partners building is avant-garde, while the interiors, from designers Gilles & Boissier, are more subtle, with soft pinks and sandy beiges that nod to the surrounding desert and elegant touches such as textured wallpaper and rich wood paneling in the 225 rooms and suites. There’s also a Dior spa and a trio of notable restaurants helmed by celebrated chefs — Martin Berasategui, Jean Imbert, and Angelo Musa. Locals are already clamoring to get into the rooftop bar, High Society, where I took in the skyline, martini in hand. From $925/night. Accessible hotel.­ — Chrissie McClatchie

The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel, Kerala, India

Courtesy of The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts

On the banks of Kerala’s second largest lake, Ashtamudi, The Leela offers visitors the chance to experience the unhurried beauty of Kerala’s backwaters. Tourist traffic on Ashtamudi is substantially lower than at Kerala’s other waterways, like the sought-after Kumarakom Backwaters and Alleppey Backwaters. While the new hotel is still a work in progress — a bar and restaurant, among other things, are not yet open — it is arguably the best in this underappreciated region. On a recent trip, I saw no tourists as I took the hotel boat around the lake in search of brackish water dolphins, only fisherfolk tending to their nets. After a morning on the lake, I had lunch at the hotel overlooking the lakeside garden. Here, guests can have a chef prepare the fish they catch on their trip, or visit a local market with one to buy produce and cook it together. Later that day, I enjoyed an Abhyanga treatment at The Leela’s spa, where the masseurs kneaded my travel-weary back. The hotel’s 93 rooms and suites are tastefully done up; where some rooms feature traditional Kerala mural work drawn from Hindu myths, others carry modern art. The furniture, too, is a mix of colonial and contemporary. The room to book: the Royal Heritage suite that offers an expansive view of the lake, sunset included. From $97/night. Accessible hotel. — Prasad Ramamurthy  

The Peninsula London

Will Pryce/Courtesy of The Peninsula London

The Peninsula brand, which operates a 96-year-old flagship in Hong Kong as well as properties as far-flung as Beverly Hills and Istanbul, spent 35 years looking for the right address in London. They found it on a prime corner overlooking Wellington Arch, in the heart of Belgravia. The eight-story building, its Portland-stone facade a nod to British craftsmanship, opened to the public in 2023. The timing couldn’t have been better — or worse — depending upon how you look at it, as the British capital is experiencing a luxury hotel boom. So what sets The Peninsula London apart? That location, for one. I was able to walk to Harrods and Buckingham Palace in 15 minutes, and yet still feel tucked away from the fray, thanks to the quiet courtyard, anchored by two 120-year-old Japanese maple trees, and the subterranean, forest-themed spa. The 190 rooms, designed by Peter Marino to soothe with their neutral, calming tones, start at a very generous 549 square feet. But the biggest perk might be the in-room technology, a Peninsula signature, so seamless I could charge all of my devices on a bedside table (some cord-free) without unpacking an adapter. If some parts of the hotel lean classic, others skew more whimsical, including the rooftop Brooklands Bar & Restaurant by Claude Bosi, themed around race cars and aviation (even if you don’t eat there, have a peek at the replica Concorde suspended from the dining-room ceiling). And Canton Blue, the formal Chinese restaurant, is a true feast for the eyes with its displays of suspended porcelain cups, plates, and antique musical instruments. Full from the excellent soup dumplings and Peking duck, I left my table at 11:30 p.m. — and the room was still abuzz. From $1,600/night. Accessible hotel. — Jacqueline Gifford

The Pinch, Charleston, South Carolina

Matthew Williams/Courtesy of The Pinch, Charleston

Just off of King Street in Charleston, South Carolina, the flicker of gaslight beckons those in the know down a cobblestone alley to The Pinch . Housed in a collection of 19th-century buildings, the property was brought to life by design and management company Method Co . Its 22 rooms and suites, plus three extended-stay residences, are furnished tip to toe in sumptuous materials — walnut herringbone floors, zellige tiles, burnt-orange velvet sofas, marble farmhouse sinks with unlacquered brass fixtures — but the overall feel is playful and easygoing, never fussy or formal. The hotel is also home to The Quinte, a moody, wood-paneled oyster bar that retains traces of its billiards parlor past, and Lowland, a fine-dining spot in a historic townhouse across the alleyway. Presiding over the culinary show is James Beard Award–winning executive chef Jason Stanhope, who gestures to Southern classics without veering into cliché. At Lowland, unexpectedly inspired dishes such as a celery salad with dates and cheddar stuck with me well after I pushed back from the table. The Pinch is just right for a long, leisurely stay, with washer-dryers in every room and kitchens that bear the design fingerprints of a true cook: hooded gas ranges, a full lineup of kitchen tools, and enough place settings to invite friends for dinner. It’s the details that make this place sing: there’s a white-noise machine by the bed, a burr grinder for the freshest coffee, a minibar lineup that nails the high-low mix (An adaptogenic zero-proof spritz? Yep. Moon pies? Also yep.). Pair all that with extended-stay discounts and a price tag that feels refreshingly reasonable, and a multiweek Charleston residency starts to look less like a pipe dream and more like an ideal plan for shaking off the midwinter blues. From $300/night. Accessible hotel. — Lila Harron Battis

The Restoration Asheville, North Carolina 

Blake Shorter/Courtesy of The Restoration Asheville

Front-door access to the best trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains, James Beard Award–winning restaurants, abundant breweries, and a thriving art scene have made Asheville, North Carolina, one of T+L readers’ favorite American cities . But what’s long been missing is an elevated hotel in the heart of downtown. Enter The Restoration Asheville , a 60-key property from The Restoration Hotel Collection (which has a flagship property in Charleston ) that opened in April 2023. My room had a green suede chaise lounge and a dramatic, oversized church-window mirror. I appreciated the Appalachian touches throughout the property, like floor-to-ceiling murals by local painter Scott Allred depicting the nearby mountains. The library-themed lobby and the adjacent streetside patio are excellent places for coffee and people-watching. I also appreciated the variety of dining options, including The Exchange restaurant, which has upgraded Southern favorites, like a jalapeño- and buttermilk-battered fried chicken sandwich and a trout and chicory caesar salad, and The Draftsman, a basement-level bar with a bowling alley and skee-ball. But if you’ve come to Asheville, you’ve come to eat and drink your way through the city . I recommend brunch at Chai Pani or Cúrate , dinner at Neng Jr.’s , and cocktails at Anoche , a snug mezcal bar in the River Arts District. Plus, the new S&W Market , a food hall and taproom in a soaring art deco building, is next door to the Restoration. From $225/night. Accessible hotel. — Elizabeth Cantrell

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida

Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples , to me, has always embraced its status as a social hub with gusto. I’ve seen many an anniversary dinner, Champagne toast, and lavish, eggs Benedict–stuffed brunch celebrated on these grounds. Kids splash away in the wave-shaped family pool; adults indulge in stiff cocktails with their shoes off at Gumbo Limbo, the seaside restaurant; and everyone relaxes under the spell of that old-school, Ritz-Carlton service. Now, this 38-year-old resort – reopened after Hurricane Ian and a $100-million-plus glow up — leans more new school in its design. I was still greeted by a fleet of staffers outside the grand porte-cochere, but the lobby interior is less claustrophobic. Gone are the dark-wood beams, chandeliers, and thick carpet; in their place are brass accents and floating crystal pendants suspended above a marble-topped bar, the hot reservation on a Saturday night. The airy, nautical feel also extends into all 474 guest rooms, where I was impressed by the grasscloth headboards, the built-in bedside reading lamps, and the full-size bottles of Diptyque amenities. Seventy new suites and the largest Ritz-Carlton Club lounge in North America lie in the 14-floor Vanderbilt Tower, an addition that flows so well with the original building, you can’t really tell what’s old and new. Other fun tweaks include a new adults-only pool, 10 poolside bungalows (all named for Florida islands) with en suite bathrooms, and Sofra, which, unlike Gumbo, favors lighter dishes like heirloom tomato salad accompanied by barrel-aged feta and grilled whole sea bream. With dining trends moving the way they are these days, this Mediterranean spot, like the resort itself, will soon be the talk of the town. From $1,100/night. Accessible hotel. — Jacqueline Gifford

The Rome Edition

Nikolas Koenig/Courtesy of The Rome EDITION

The first thing you notice about The Rome Edition is its ideal location, a 10-minute walk from both the Borghese Gardens and the Trevi Fountain. Inside, you’re struck by the floor-to-ceiling green velvet curtains designer Patricia Urquiola chose to contrast with the travertine walls of the lobby, while boxy white sofas echo the straight-lined architecture. The 91 guest rooms feel minimalist, even with beds swathed in Italian linens and marble bathrooms stocked with Le Labo amenities. Cobalt-blue and lime-green upholstery pop against the white-oak paneling in the restaurant Anima, helmed by Paola Colucci, the chef behind Trastevere cult favorite Pianostrada. Diners rave about the pillowy focaccia topped with mortadella, smoked ricotta, pistachios, honey, and orange zest. For drinks, choose from the Jade Bar, the Punch Room, and the Roof, which offers memorable city views. From $747/night.​ — Laura Itzkowitz

The Rounds at Scribner’s, Hunter, New York 

From left: Chris Mottalini/Courtesy of The Rounds; Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

Does the perfect cabin in the woods exist? It does now. A new hotel within a hotel in New York’s Catskill Mountains promises forest bathing without the grit, a dose of nature while keeping it hygge. A set of just 11 cabins, inspired by the shape of yurts, they’re up the hill from Scribner’s Catskill Lodge , the destination lodge that’s popular with city families seeking an escape and groups of friends intent on a ski weekend without the hassles of flying. Picture the Muji Hotel Ginza , crossed with the chicest Airbnb A-frame you’ve ever seen in Joshua Tree, California, and you’ll have a feel for the cabins at the Rounds. Designed by Post Company (known for their work on Mollie Aspen , nearby upstate gem Inness , and The Lake House on Canandaigua ), the stand-alone cottages here are a fusion of Scandinavian and Japanese motifs, along with several contemporary features: oiled white-pine floors and trim, linens and cottons, an outdoor cedar soaking tub, angular accent lights, and a freestanding gas-fueled fireplace. In the five suites, a large sunken sitting area is the focal point, below a small skylight that affords plenty of natural light. (Another showstopper: the Calacatta Viola marble pedestal sink in the bathroom.) Guests have the full run of the main Scribner’s lodge, which has an array of games and activities (bocce in the summer, ice skating in colder months), plus a full-service restaurant, Prospect, where I sat at the bar and ordered the winter harvest salad and a pork chop with Morita chile sauce. The wine list features plenty of natural finds, including several from New York State. Those staying in the Rounds have their own communal spot, the Apex Lodge, a low-key place to grab a morning coffee or evening brew and check with the staff about hiking trails or local restaurants. While it’s certainly possible to simply veg out here, bouncing from one’s private deck to the soaking tub, there’s a nightly ritual that’s worth emerging for: once the sun sets, and the fire in the Lodge’s midcentury modern chiminea gets going, there’s no better place to be, s’mores in hand. From $450/night. Accessible hotel. — Paul Brady

The Singapore Edition

Courtesy of The Singapore Edition

With a slew of ambitious newcomers opening their doors and long-standing stalwarts emerging from floor-to-ceiling refurbishments, 2023 was a banner year for Singapore's hotel scene . Among the most-anticipated new arrivals was The Singapore Edition , the first Southeast Asian outpost of the buzzy, design-minded hotel group launched by nightlife guru Ian Schrager (of NYC's Studio 54 fame) and Marriott International. Those familiar with the brand will clock its hallmarks from the get-go: A sculptural staircase takes center stage in the marble-floored lobby; oversized artworks dot the common areas; and the 204 guest rooms channel the brand's signature minimalism through straight-lined furnishings in soothing palettes of ivory and oak. Even the Punch Room, the punch-focused cocktail bar now found at almost a dozen Edition hotels across the globe, made its Singapore debut swathed in eye-popping Yves Klein blue. But the hotel is far from a copy-and-paste affair. Uniquely Singaporean touches include lush indoor gardens that nod to the city's tropical greenery, and louvered window panels inspired by the homes that once dominated this neighborhood, called the Orchard Road district. Similarly fresh is The Edition Singapore’s signature restaurant, the aptly named Fysh, where Australian chef and self-proclaimed “fish butcher” Josh Niland serves up wildly innovative fin-to-tail creations such as noodles from fish bone, tuna merguez sausage, and sweet ice cream — really! — from fish eyeballs. From $400/night. Accessible hotel. — Chris Schalkx

The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Courtesy of The St. Regis Kanai Resort

While all of the five-star service and amenities associated with The St. Regis brand are here (including the acclaimed 24-hour butler service and the nightly Champagne sabering), this Riviera Maya, Mexico, resort presents a significant break from tradition. About 40 minutes from Cancun, in the gated Kanai community, is an airy, architectural marvel that makes the most of its stunning natural setting — while still protecting it. The curved, overlapping circular design by Mexican architectural firm Edmonds International was inspired by the stellar constellation Pleiades. It reminded me of a bright-white UFO, gently hovering over lush green vegetation. Yes, it hovers: To achieve a minimal footprint, the entire resort is set on stilts above the surrounding mangroves, which bleed into the adjacent 620-acre Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The view from my sleek, spacious room looked out on the mangroves, with the smooth, white-sand beach and cerulean water beyond. The 143 rooms and suites (all with patios and many with private infinity pools) feature locally inspired details like green marble sinks nodding to Mexico’s cenotes, ceramic light pendants that evoke the stars above, and wood-carved headboards reminiscent of ancient Maya textiles. When I tired of the beach, I moved between the two pools, the spa with its hydrotherapy circuit, the well-curated boutique filled with Mexican-crafted creations, and the hotel’s eight bars and restaurants. I especially loved escaping to the library when I needed a break from the hot sun, sampling the Maya cacao and teas on offer. From $1,099/night. Accessible hotel. — Devorah Lev-Tov

Todos Santos Boutique Hotel, Mexico

Fernando Marroquin/Courtesy of Todos Santos Boutique Hotel

During the pandemic, a media-shy Mexican family of shoe tycoons visited Todos Santos, the enchanting oasis an hour up the coast from Los Cabos, and bought a cobweb-collecting lodge housed in the historic villa of a 19th-century sugarcane baron (as one does). With zero hospitality experience but a keen eye for design, the optimistic hoteliers renovated extensively and opened the Todos Santos Boutique Hotel in January, giving the building the thoughtful, exquisite inn its handsome Spanish Colonial–style bones deserve. Potted palms nearly skim the black coffered ceilings in the open-air lobby, where twin stone staircases cascade down to the pool, sunken like some chic little lagoon where tasseled khaki umbrellas have sprouted along the edges like mushrooms. The lush landscaping and surrounding brickwork — including a new-build casita housing four suites and upping the existing room total to 10 — give the space the cloistered vibe of a Mexican riad . With checkerboard marble floors in the lobby, a gold-framed art collection, impeccable woodwork covering La Copa bar, and emerald-tiled bathrooms, every new material feels considered and luxurious. Every preserved element feels historically purposeful, even the bullet holes peppering the foyer walls from a long-ago gunfight. Honestly, who wouldn’t kill for this property? From $796/night. Accessible hotel. — Adam Erace

Trunk(Hotel)Yoyogi Park, Tokyo 

Courtesy of Trunk

Since opening its first location in Harajuku in 2017, the Trunk brand has distinguished itself as Tokyo’s go-to cool-kid hangout. Its latest iteration, Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park , opened in September just steps from one of the city’s largest green spaces. The rooftop infinity pool provides views of the cityscape and the park’s tree canopy, best enjoyed over a cocktail from the oyster bar. The minimalist design, from Japanese architect Keiji Ashizawa and the Danish firm Norm Architects, mixes rough materials with high polish, adding washi-paper pendant lights by Kojima Shoten of Kyoto and Ariake paper-cord chairs. Some of the 25 rooms have terraces facing the park, freestanding bathtubs, and copper-trimmed room dividers. Pizzeria e Trattoria L’Ombelico offers all-day dining, and is best known for Tokyo-Neapolitan-style pies — made with an extra punch of salt. From $405/night.​ — Kristin Braswell

Ulum Moab, Utah

Courtesy of ULUM Moab

Ulum Moab is the first outpost of Ulum, a new brand from glamping hospitality giant Under Canvas. The concept was born from Under Canvas Moab guests' requests for "more comfort in nature," said Matt Gaghen, CEO of Under Canvas. And it certainly delivers: Despite technically staying in a tent, not once did I feel like I was roughing it. My 360-square-foot tent had a king-size bed, a queen-size sofa bed, temperature control, a rain shower, a 70-square-foot deck, and a bathroom stocked with Aesop amenities. The glamping resort, which sits on 200 acres of desert with views of 100-foot cliffs and the Looking Glass Arch, has 50 tents, hot and cold dipping pools, and a lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows to enjoy the stunning views. The concierge can point guests to nearby hiking and biking trails at various state parks, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and rock climbing at Looking Glass Arch — and you’re just an hour away from both Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park . What took my breath away was the stargazing on clear nights; Moab is known for its low light pollution and uses International Dark Sky standards to keep it that way. The on-site cafe and restaurant serve breakfast and dinner, with a heavy emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients and Southwest-inspired flavors. Even the cocktail and mocktail offerings are inspired by local flora. From $629/night. — Susmita Baral

Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Indonesia

Elspeth Velten/Travel + Leisure

Skirting the edge of a cliff above Bali’s southernmost point sits Hilton brand LXR’s newest resort: the 72-villa Umana Bali . On an island where resorts are clustered in major tourist centers like Seminyak, Nusa Dua, and Jimbaran, LXR’s first resort in Southeast Asia is refreshingly off the beaten path in the village of Ungasan. The resort’s Balinese pride is on full display, starting from the traditional welcome ceremony that greeted me on arrival and continuing with the property’s terraced layout (a nod to Bali’s iconic tiered rice fields) and the jewel-box of local desserts in all colors of the rainbow at breakfast. Each of Umana’s one-, two- and three-room villas encircle their own massive infinity pools, with access directly from the primary bedroom (and a secret path to a tropical outdoor shower). Inside, villas are studded with touches from Bali designers like Kevala Ceramics and locally made sandals, beach bags, and sun hats for use during a stay. These local accents are complemented by top-of-the-line amenities like Sonos speakers and Toto Washlet toilets. I grabbed a sun hat while taking advantage of the hotel’s easy access to Melasti Beach, which has, in my opinion, some of the clearest water in Bali. During my stay, the Umana staff made everything on my Bali wish list happen: I enjoyed a morning village walk through the local market and past the temples at Ungasan, participated in a private sound healing session in the resort’s beautiful spa, and felt totally catered to when I brought up my pregnancy-related dietary restrictions. Whether I ate on-site at Commune or Oliverra, or indulged in an in-villa breakfast, I never had to mention a specific restriction twice. From $750/night. Accessible hotel. — Elspeth Velten

Vermelho, Alentejo, Portugal

Rodrigo Cardoso

While today, few travelers can point to the tiny village of Melides on a map, that could soon change with the opening of Vermelho , the first hotel from legendary shoe designer Christian Louboutin. Portuguese architect Madalena Caiado made the property look like the centuries-old monasteries found throughout the region; Louboutin, the king of red-lacquered soles, selected every eye-catching interior detail. Opulent carpets? Yes. A chandelier shaped like a celestial sea urchin? Absolutely. An installation of 100 ceramic bird heads by the artist Elisabeth Lincot? You bet. Many pieces were pulled from Louboutin’s personal collection, including vintage prints and intricately designed textiles. Vermelho’s centerpiece is a cocktail lounge with an ornate silverwork bar made by Sevillian jeweler Orfebre Villareal. The restaurant, Xtian, serves classic Portuguese dishes with international flavors. Each of the 13 rooms and suites has a different look, but all come with enormous tiled tubs and colorful Frette robes. Outdoors, noted landscape designer Louis Benech has added peaceful gardens and a heated natural swimming pool. From $322/night. Accessible hotel. ​​ — Lindsay Cohn

Villa Mabrouka, Tangier, Morocco

Chris Wallace

Nearly 30 years after first arriving in Morocco in 1966, Algerian-born couturier Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, bought Dar Mabrouka, a whitewashed villa in Tangier overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, and made it their summer home. In 2019, more than 10 years after Saint Laurent’s death, English designer Jasper Conran purchased the property, renamed it Villa Mabrouka , and transformed it into a 12-suite hotel. During my stay, I couldn’t help being reminded of the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles—partly because of the laid-back, house-party atmosphere, and partly because of the eclectic design style. The mélange of pieces in the Marrakech Suite (formerly Saint Laurent’s bedroom) included an inlaid pearl table from Syria, a Kermit-green cashmere throw from India, and Moroccan lanterns. The gardens overflow  with 6,500 new plants, shrubs, and trees, as well  an emerald herringbone tiled pool. The newly constructed dining gazebo has a trompe l’oeil wallcovering painted by the English artist Lawrence Mynott, and serves a can’t-miss Berber tagine. From $490/night . Accessible hotel. — Chris Wallace

Volga Hotel, Mexico City

Courtesy of VOLGA

I barely knew where to rest my eyes at the architecturally inventive Volga Hotel , the latest offering from the Mexican hospitality group Hamak that takes the concept of a "design hotel" to new levels. Perhaps guests should think of it as an urban cenote — or at least that’s what Javier Sánchez, one of the three Mexican architects behind this hotel, which opened its doors fall 2023 in the trendy neighborhood of Cuauhtémoc, wants you to think. The aesthetic experience begins when approaching the hotel from the street: its Brutalist, fortress-like exterior gives no clue as to the magic that lies within. Once inside, guests descend a circular stairway made of shining copper, down into near darkness, to the reception desk and lobby located one floor underground, where raw-concrete walls sprout exuberant plants. The 50 spacious rooms have the spare, calming aesthetic of a Japanese ryokan , with natural materials — wood, volcanic rock, brass, and Turkish marble — and are stocked with scented bath amenities from local company Aromaría. All have interior balconies with curved wooden screens that offer privacy when shut, or slide open to offer ringside seats to the courtyard far below, which is occupied during mealtimes by a fine-dining Mexican-Mediterranean restaurant run by the celebrity chef Edo Kobayashi. The reservations-only lounge, the Music Room, is where hip young Mexicans sip mezcal- and tequila-forward cocktails as local DJs play, but the outside world is not entirely ignored. Take the elevator to the rooftop during the day and you step out into an explosion of brilliant sunshine and a bar serving "ethnobotanical" drinks around a heated lap pool with 180-degree views of the city. From $416/night. — Tony Perrottet

Courtesy of W Budapest

In July, the W Hotel brand opened its grandest property yet, in the Hungarian capital’s UNESCO-listed Drechsler Palace. The W Budapest is the revival of an architectural gem that also showcases W’s new creative direction: grounded in elegance and sophistication, without foregoing the brand’s fun side. On entering the hotel, guests walk through archways made from an intricate metallic mesh — a modern "second skin" designed to represent the building’s new life. Other details that blend past and present, and celebrate the city's history, can be found throughout the interior — from the wave-like glass ceiling covering the courtyard to the mirrored walls that create an optical illusion in the underground spa, a nod to Hungarian escape artist Harry Houdini. In fact the serene spa, with its aromatherapy steam room, Finnish sauna, and heated relaxation pool, is one of the hotel’s highlights, and offers a welcome moment of tranquility in the heart of this busy city. I had a phenomenal de-stress massage that cured all signs of jet-lag and fatigue. Another way to unwind? Head to the hotel's underground speakeasy, Society25, where head bartender Stefano Ripiccini has dreamt up a cocktail list inspired by the Belle Époque. From $326/night. Accessible hotel. — Dobrina Zhekova

Warren Street Hotel, New York City 

Simon Brown/Courtesy of Warren Street Hotel

When Joni Mitchell wrote, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot,” she certainly wasn’t singing about Warren Street. In quite the opposite turn of events, British designer Kit Kemp and her Firmdale Hotels group took a soulless parking lot in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood and erected its very own turquoise steel-and-glass paradise from the ground up. Bursting with contemporary art and Kemp’s signature prints, the Warren Street Hotel quickly secured its spot as my happy place in New York; even on the cold, gray first week of February, I found it was impossible to hold onto a sour mood upon entering. In its 69 unique rooms, colors and patterns mix in unexpected ways, creating the feeling that anything could happen. In addition to her beloved London lineup , this is Kemp’s third NYC hotel. She’s the creative mind behind the Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo and The Whitby Hotel in Midtown, but the opening of Warren Street may be her most whimsical creation yet. She worked on the project with her daughters, Willow and Minnie Kemp, and the mother-daughter connection is undoubtedly what injected such warmth into the stylish property, particularly in its suites and residences. Mine came with a bookshelf-lined lounge, fireplace, and marble soaking tub with a TV hung beside it, beckoning me to stay in for the night. Some are even outfitted with the ultimate city luxury: private terraces with manicured gardens. Regardless of room type, expect floor-to-ceiling windows and a space that will entice you to linger a little bit longer and order breakfast in bed. (Yes, even with downtown Manhattan waiting outside.) Still, don’t keep all your meals behind closed doors. Downstairs, the Warren Street Bar & Restaurant , an all-day brasserie with a big personality, was already drawing locals when I visited in the hotel’s first month. From $925/night. Accessible hotel. — Nina Ruggiero

Wilderness Usawa Serengeti, Tanzania

Courtesy of Wilderness

The main attraction of virtually any Serengeti safari is invariably the great migration, the 1,200-mile mass journey of more than 2 million wildebeest and zebra each year. Chasing that magnificent natural spectacle is especially thrilling at Usawa , a new roving camp from luxury safari company Wilderness , which migrates along with the animals, following the herds across nine sites in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The camp starts the year in the southern part of Serengeti National Park, in Kusini (where the calving season runs from January to March), and makes it all the way to Bologonja in the north (where wildlife famously crosses the Mara River). Each of the camps is identical, with six canvas-wrapped guest tents featuring king-size beds, all-natural skin care products, and colorful decor like woven blankets and upcycled glassware — all handmade by Tanzanian artisans. Usawa, which means “balance” in Swahili, is also fully off-grid, operating via a combination of solar panels, portable sewage tanks, and mobile batteries. The light footprint means wildlife is never disturbed as camps are manually erected and deconstructed, making game drive–worthy sightings possible even from your tent — and leaving no trace behind once Wilderness packs up and moves to the next location. Sustainability plays a part in the culinary offerings as well, with elevated traditional recipes like creamy  mtori  plantain soup and spicy curry showcasing fresh veggies and meat from Tanzania’s robust farming communities. Most satisfying of all at Usawa, however, is the chance to see one of nature’s greatest phenomena up-close, year-round: dramatic Mara River crossings by the thousands, big cats and other predators in action, and the birth of hundreds of calves in a single day. From $950 per person per night, with a minimum two-night stay. — Jackie Caradonio

Yowie Hotel, Philadelphia

Bre Furlong/Courtesy of Yowie

Shannon Maldonado opened Yowie , a tiny shop in Philadelphia’s Queen Village neighborhood, in 2017, garnering a devoted following with her ever-evolving collection of cool, highly curated wares. In what feels like a natural evolution, last July, the designer opened a boutique hotel where nearly every item in the rooms is available to purchase. If walking through her shop is like getting a glimpse into Maldonado’s dynamic world, checking into the Yowie Hotel is getting to live inside it, even just for a night. The 11-room hotel is situated on the city’s historic South Street, anchored on the ground floor by the new Yowie shop and Wim, a bright, minimalist cafe. Accommodations range from a cozy room with a king-size bed to a two-bedroom suite, and while each space is outfitted with a kitchen and splashed in her calculated mashup of contemporary furniture, color, and custom art, no two are the same. Yowie is an invisible service hotel, which means in lieu of a check-in desk, you’ll get a welcome text with a code to unlock the doors. It’s all the more impressive, then, that even without the traditional hotel trappings, the designer and her team manage to impart so much warmth into the guest experience. Find a poster by the elevator with this month’s neighborhood happenings, a drawer full of goodies you may have forgotten to pack in the hallway, and a handwritten welcome note alongside a few paper guides recommending the staff’s favorite Philly spots in your room. And since there’s no lobby, I didn’t have to walk through the shop or cafe, but I wanted to for a salted caramel latte and a spiced carrot toast at Wim, and to pick up a few ceramic cereal bowls I admired in the room, as a way to bring a little piece of Yowie home. From $215/night . Accessible hotel. — Regan Stephens

It List 2024