Destinations
ArchiveSeven years ago, Florida resident Hitesh Mehta embarked on a journey that took him through 46 countries in six continents. The purpose of his trek? To find the world's greatest ecolodges–places where tourism and sustainablility combine to create one-of-a-kind, environmentally friendly vacations. The result?…
There's more to Scotland than rain and whisky. A couple of weeks ago, I hit up the Adventure Travel World Summit in Aviemore on a mission to find the best international trips of 2011. I found them, and also brought back the top…
Mamils: A term used in London for triathletes pushing middle-age, which stands for middle-aged men in Lycra. A little context for those looking to use the word in conversation: Research conducted by the retail analyst Mintel suggests there has been a surge in the number of middle-aged men choosing to…
Italy boasts an enduring culture of Alpinism, to-die-for cycling, and hard-core ultrarunning. It's why I planned a trip there this fall. (Yes, there's also…The food! The vino!) I spent a week trekking in Abruzzo, a multi-sport mecca for climbing, trekking, paragliding and mountain biking. It's…
Photo Courtesy of Flickr At the end of the Trans Canada Highway, surrounded on three sides by water, lies Tofino, a town of 1,500 people. It's a beautiful place—old-growth cedar, migrating whales, a rich native history—packed full of adventure options. I hit…
Photo courtesy of Flickr. A baby snow leopard was caught on camera high in the Himalayas of Bhutan, the BBC reports. The cub triggered a camera trap set up by a BBC Natural History film crew, walking…
Hiya Outsiders, Last week, I moved from Outside HQ to Newcastle, England. (Yes, like the beer.) So i…
A new Australian resort built by Unilever, makers of Axe products, will open in November–for men only, the New York Post reports. Lynx Lodge, located just outside of Sydney, promises to fulfill…
Last summer, in our June issue, we wrote about our favorite summer music festivals. Jazz Aspen Snowmass, of course, was one of them. Well, Labor Day Weekend is nearly here and a bunch of us are…
Any top-ten list is open to debate, but the folks over at Budget Travel have done a good job with their list of the world's ten most beautiful lakes, with picks like Crater Lake, Peyto Lake in Alberta, and Lake Matheson in New…
In which you mount a horse and follow a charismatic Iranian-American visionary into a Mongolian no-man's-land known as the Dark Heavens. Watch out for the bandits, don't give the shaman too much vodka, and hold on for dear life.
For the second consecutive month, Yellowstone National Park has seen record-breaking attendance, the Jackson Hole (Wyoming) Daily reports. Nearly one million people visited the Park in July, more than any other month since Yellowstone…
He dodges sharks, fends off charging elephants, and parries David Letterman with relaxed aplomb. Meet scientist and pitchman M. Sanjayan, coming soon to a channel near you.
In an era of massive oil spills and increasing energy demands, why does river conservation still matter? Because free-flowing water is fun. Because it's good for the national chutzpah. And because, as these four comeback stories illustrate, saving rivers is more profitable than exploiting them.
Last year, I took a half-day road trip through Yellowstone with my brother Garrett. We saw four bears, two herds of buffalo, antelope, elk, four moose, and thousands of tourists. Garrett, an ecologist in the Rockies at the time, could name…
Photo courtesy of alobonzo on Flickr. On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee voted 25-20 to do away with the long-standing restrictions on American citizens visiting Cuba. The vote was largely partisan, the New York Times…
Cruise trips to the Antarctic may end next August, according to The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald. The article states that the International Maritime Organization is banning the use and carriage of heavy oil fuels, the kinds commonly used by big ships in the…
Now that I'm part way through day three of my first Telluride Bluegrass, I've officially drunk the festival kool-aid. We're already making plans to come back next year. I've already been on two incredible mountain bike rides—the pic above if from yesterday's ride up the Bridal Veil trail, before snow…
As I mentioned in my earlier post, a bunch of us are getting fired up for Telluride Bluegrass this weekend. If you're on the fence about going this year, it's not too late. I just got a press release last…
Things are ramping up at the Outside in Aspen Weekend. Skier Chris Davenport led a hike to Maroon Bells, cyclist Tyler Hamilton headed out with a crew on a road ride, and kayaker Jesse Coombs led a kayaking contingent out…
Last summer, in our June issue, we wrote about our favorite 17 summer music festivals in America. Of course, Telluride Bluegrass was among them. Well, summer is finally here and a bunch of Outside staffers…
In the range wars of the 21st century, the cattle rustler runs Ponzi schemes and the lawman drives an SUV. STEVEN RINELLA joins the new posse.
Sixteen-year-old Noa Ginella beat out favorites Charlie MacArthur and Dan Gavare in a stunning upset this past weekend at the Teva Mountain Games' First Ascent SUP Surf Sprint, Paddling Life reports. The virtually unknown North Shore native had never paddled whitewater…
My parents were reasonably earthy, but I’m convinced my passion for the outdoors came from Manito-wish, a Wisconsin summer camp that, like any real camp, includes a true wilderness trip. If you’re at all concerned that your child is becoming a thin-skinned lily-dipper, consider booting your beloved into the wildwith…
High water meant big air for the riders in downtown Vail, Colorado, at this weekend's Teva Mountain Games, according to paddlinglife.net. Where organizerspreviously had to dial in an adjustable inflatable barrier to funnel flow, this time there was almost too…
On July 11, GearJunkie.com will host a one-day-only Treasure Hunt event in a wilderness park near Roanoke, Virginia. More than $40,000 in outdoor gear–from backpacks to kayaks–will be given away to an estimated 300 participants. The event will essentially be an adventure,…
Paragliding trips in the Indian Himalayas are deadly, unpredictable...and one of the greatest thrills on earth.
Five hundred dollars can buy you a lot of things: an iPad, a mediocre bike, a lawn mower—or three days of glorious summertime freedom (transportation excluded). Here are our picks for the best do-it-yourself budget escapes in North America, plus outfitted adventures you can't afford to miss.
Talk to me about Spain in the late summer! I'm planning my trip now and want to have a hell of a time!—LisaBoulder, CO
Need a quick getaway? You can score one for free by going to OutsideInAspen.com and clicking on the Enter To Win tab. If you take the prize, your trip includes airfare…
This fat-tire Shangri-La's got stunning scenery, challenging riding, plenty of beer and music—and you don't have to be an expert rider or endurance junkie. Here's everything you need to make the most of this weekend-long party, er, mountain-bike race.
This season, among other dubious firsts, Mount Everest will see a summit bid by the youngest climber, 13-year-old Jordan Romero, and the first attempt by a climber with an artificial hip, 65-year-old Don Healy. One bright spot: Draper, Utah–based Apa Sherpa, who first summited the peak in 1990 with Rob…
Love Acadia, the Tetons, and the Grand Canyon? Wait until you meet their crazy little cousins.
From fresh, tropical milkshakes to buffalo steaks the size of your head, we dug up the best chow near America’s national parks.
More than two months ago, heavy rains stranded roughly 4,000 visitors at Peru's most well-known tourist site. Mudslides took out the main rail to the Incan…
What's the best defense for when you are running alone and get chased by a couple of wild dogs? All I had was a twig and a snowball to defend myself! Dogs in Mongolia often have rabies and these two were very nasty (and hungry) looking.—DaveMongolia
I’m going on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills in upstate New York this summer and need a pair of pants for the trip. Something light and breathable, yet tough for abrasion resistance on scrambles. I would also like a bit of water resistance, and a quick dry time if they do get wet. Lastly, I would like something that can pack small if I decide to also carry a pair of shorts with me.—SamWoodstock, NY
Anyone going to Turkey and looking for a long-distance trail to hike? You're in luck. Although the 310-mile St. Paul's Trail opened in 2004, volunteers are about to finish…
Retracing Mao Zedong's epic 1934 Long March through China's Great Snowy Mountains, DEAN KING gains a new respect for the few who survived—and discovers a rugged wilderness ripe for modern adventure.
It's not enough to be at the forefront. In an era when everything has supposedly been done, these adventure icons ignore convention, court risk, and let their passion lead the way.
Registration for the ninth annual Teva Mountain Games is now open, with two stand up paddleboarding competitions added to the roster of adventure events. After record attendance and participation last year at host site Vail, Colorado, spots are expected to fill quickly. So if you think you've got…
Cut back on adventure overload with our curated trip guide.
Outside editor Chris Keyes sits down with TV's most adventurous anchor.
photo by Raid-de-Himalaya Listen up, AT fans. The Great Himalaya Trail is a 2,800-mile trek through five countries, and it's…
Mongolia (Courtesy of REI Adventures) Gadling just posted a list of the “World's Best Hikes“, including Machu Picchu and California's John Muir Trail. Feel like Asia should have got some World's Best love?…
In preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa is building six soccer stadiums, investing some $2 billion in transportation upgrades, and assigning 40,000 police officers to babysit the 450,000 fans who'll descend on nine host cities this June. But thanks to now-vacant rooms at new hotels, plus an exchange rate of seven rand to the dollar, you
I’m working in Southeast Alaska (Juneau) again for the summer as a deckhand on a whale-watching tour boat. The rain jackets they gave us last year weren’t all that great, and I want to bring something that offers a little more protection. I work 8 to 16 hours at a time, sometimes it's raining the whole time. I like being able to move, but weight isn’t that big an issue. As a younger student I am also budget-conscious. What do you recommend?—JosephAustin, TX
After moving from Boulder, Colorado, to New York City, our boy was in desperate need of a new fitness plan. Then he discovered boxing—which worked great, until it came time to start getting hit.
Forgive me if this sounds like I'm just rewriting a press release. Frankly, I am. But it's only because I think this is a really cool program that deserves some attention. Teva, the footwear brand, is holding an essay/video contest. The question: If someone gave you $10,000 to fulfill your…
It's freezing outside, and you need a tropical vacation. You can score a trip for free by entering King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel giveaway. If you win, you get a three-night stay…
I a hospital corpsman stationed in Okinawa. I wanted to know what I could try out around here in the surrounding islands. Hiking, kayaking, camping? Brett Okinawa, Japan
Enough with the beer jokes—curling's quickly gaining on classic Olympic sports like skiing.
Short-track speed-skating gold medalist Apolo Anton Ohno hasn’t changed his facial hair or bandanna in two Olympics. Help us give him a winning makeover. You can follow Ohno in Vancouver on Twitter.
Winter weekends are short and dark—which means you need to be fast and smart. Beat the blues with one of these surprisingly affordable escapes.
Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love, but did you know that it's name actually means 'sibling love'? The true meaning of city names and other geographic monikers is on display in a slideshow created by The Telegraph. The slideshow samples some…
Book clubs, rejoice: The rollicking sequel to Three Cups of Tea is here.
Roadmonkey Adventure Philanthropy is the latest outfitter to specialize in "voluntourism," that sometimes contrived marriage of far-flung travel and community service. MIKE KESSLER checked out one of their new cycling trips in Vietnam. Initially, he was skeptical. Now? He works for the company.
It's the biggest adventure in the aid world—and by far the toughest. JOSHUA HAMMER takes a hard look at the relief effort in the war-torn nation of Chad, where rebels stage their raids on neighboring Darfur and the humanitarian fallout has become the worst show on earth.
Starting February 2010, you can no longer simply show up to get a permit to hike overnight in the backcountry of the Grand Canyon. You're going to have to send your request via snail mail or fax within four months of your planned visit. One…
The International Adventure Film Festival starts today and runs through Sunday, November 14th in Boulder, CO. Over 30 movies in three days, the festival is sure to be packed with workshops, parties, and great prizes. Buy a three day pass for $50 at www.adventurefilm.org…
Check out David D'Angelo's short film of still images stitched together from his weekend in Singapore. You can read more about the filmmaker, formerly of Serac Adventure Films, here. –Aileen Torres…
You may not be able to swim like Michael Phelps, but you might be able to beat him with your putting skills. If you're supreme on the green, enter The Best of Us Challenge,…
Jack Johnson will perform an acoustic show at the Hawaii Theatre on November 13 and 14. The set will be preceded by a screening of his latest film, Jack Johnson: En Concert. You can buy tickets at…
In the rugged eastern provinces of Afghanistan, where peaks rise thousands of feet on all sides and the next valley is a world away, American troops are engaged in a kind of alpine warfare not seen for decades. Months can go by without combat, but when you're patrolling terrain as dangerous and unpredictable as the enemy, the calm is often shattered when you least expect it.
Rick Lyke's reaction to his diagnosis of prostate cancer at 47 was a proactive one: He founded “Pints for Prostates,” an organization that promotes prostate cancer screening among men via the common bond of beer. “Beer is a universal thing for men,” Lyke said…
As a team of rookies at the World Elephant Polo Championships, we were set up for embarrassment. Instead we tasted glory.
Bagpipes or bikes? In Scotland, the choice is easy: World-class singletrack ranges across the stark beauty of the Highlands, transecting the ancient kingdom and drawing fat-tire aficionados from far and wide. MARK LEVINE takes his lumps in craggy Caledonia.