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Outside's East Coast editor visits the town he grew up in, situated on the west side of the Hudson River about 25 miles outside of Manhattan, in the middle of Hurricane Sandy
You don’t have to give up the amenities of a large urban environment just because you prefer traveling on two wheels over four
The island traps you. That’s what Manhattanites say when rationalizing their inability to travel freely. But with a little creativity, finding adventure is easier than you think. Outside fan Joe Sacaridiz, an ad-agency art director who lives in Hell’s Kitchen, spends spring and fall weekends climbing upstate and winters snowboarding in Vermont. Here’s
On Socotra, an island 250 miles off the coast of Yemen, the roads are so bad that 90 minutes of tailbone-bruising driving equates to five miles of travel. The roads would be one reason to paraglide…
What’s your thought on the new law allowing you to carry firearms in national parks? I bring a handgun when I backpack in Yellowstone, but my girlfriend thinks it’s pointless.
The Samaria Gorge Trail in Crete is one of the most popular hikes in Europe. But in the summer, when the trail is unbearably hot and overrun with tourists, visit the Imbros, a simple walk in an area full of charm.
I’m headed to Vegas for a long weekend with some buddies, but we don’t want to spend all of our time at the casinos and we don’t play golf. Where can we go for outdoor adventure?
Obstacle courses are the biggest thing in adventure sports, with millions of amped-up Americans charging into the slop—and a cadre of cutthroat entrepreneurs cashing in. No one is profiting more than Tough Mudder creator Will Dean, a polished Englishman and Harvard Business School grad who will stop at nothing to sell you his brand of suffering.
To celebrate this issue's Best Towns 2012 winner, Richmond, Virginia (“Southern Comfort“), we printed two covers. One, a photo of downtown Richmond, is for newsstands; the other—for subscribers—is a composite of the same shot made up entirely of reader-submitted images. Here's…
Brian Blickenstaff celebrates Germany's "Enjoyment Day" by drinking a lot of wine and then riding his bike home—all within the letter of the law
I live in Dallas, which is a hub for American Airlines. American often has the cheapest flights, but I'm a little nervous to book reservations with them, given all the bad press they've gotten lately. Should I be?
I’ve always wanted to go to Cuba, and I’ve heard the government has eased travel restrictions. How do I do it legally?
I’m a mountain biker, hiker, and trail runner. Every time I travel, it seems like I’ve got to pack two huge suitcases to fit all of my gear. My shoes alone take up a crazy amount of space. Any advice on how I can travel lighter?
We’ve all got that buddy—the one who executes an epic ski or raft mission every year. Reader Keith Pearen is one of those guys. For the past 10 years, the 32-year-old Boulder, Colorado, aerospace engineer has been organizing trips for groups of up to 20 friends. Here’s the formula he applies.
I live in the Midwest and want to get to another part of America for some epic road biking. I’ve ridden in the Colorado Rockies a bit. Where else would you recommend?
Ambitious conservation efforts have put Namibia at the head of the safari class. Stephanie Pearson explores the country's latest projects.
In September, when the nights cool and the mosquitoes follow the RVs inland, the salt marshes of Assateague Island National Seashore are perfect for a quick fall paddling escape
Matt Krause's American friends refused to believe that Turkey was anything like the United States. To prove them wrong, he's walking across the entire country.
For nearly 800 years, the residents of Cuéllar, Spain, have been risking their lives in the annual encierro. Bill Hillmann traveled to this small town to participate for the first time and to speak to Josechu Lopez Jimeno, who has been running for 44 years and doesn't plan to stop anytime soon.
An Italian chef, a pro snowboarder, and five other Sun Valley, Idaho, locals tell you the best way to play in one of America's most pristine mountain towns
As an avid hiker, I often stay in huts. I’m kind of freaked out about the recent outbreak of the hantavirus at Yosemite. How much should I really worry, and what can I do to avoid it?
I’m planning a getaway weekend to Asheville, North Carolina, sometime in the next couple of months. What should I do while I’m there?
Fall is here, and the temps are dropping—time to pick a fresh new adventure in the American Southwest
Alexander Chee went to the Fifth Annual Coney Island Beard and Mustache Competition. He came back with some kind of unified theory of facial hair.
I’m staying at a cabin outside of Lake Placid, New York, for a short vacation. What should I do in the Adirondacks while I’m there?
In the small towns along the coast of Guerrero, Mexico, traditional rooster fights have turned into ostentatious affairs with narcos from warring groups dropping in to wager up to 100,000 pesos on a single match. The government can't control the area, but at least the violence at these sporting events is constrained to the ring. For now.
Readers voted Richmond, Virginia, the nation's most livable river town. (No joke!) To find out why, Jon Billman paddles, runs, and snorkels for crabs in the former Confederate capital. Plus: the lowdown on nine other great river towns.
I’m saving up for my dream trip to Machu Picchu. What tips would you give to a first-time visitor?
In the Napa Valley, Clif Bar CEOs Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford have built a wine-tasting room that doubles a a refuge for cyclists. To really understand the concept, I figured I had to join Erickson for a ride. I should have known better.
Of course adventurer Timmy O'Neill's musings about love include phrases like the “karmic boomerang of love” and have him talking about the color of the line between the black and the white in the yin and yang. O'Neill, who travels the world slacklining, kayaking Class V rapids, and climbing, has…
Behind the scenes with sculptor and Burning Man regular Marco Cochrane. Read about the festival’s history in Brad Wiener’s story, “Hot Mess.” Find more of Ian Mackenzie’s work.
Traveling will drive you crazy, no matter where you are. But at least in Germany you get to choose how to be miserable.
I started taking fly-fishing lessons earlier this year, and I’m already starting to get the bug—so to speak—for the sport. What are your favorite fly-fishing rivers in the Northeast?
Burning Man, the annual super-rave in Nevada, has become Independence Week for a worldwide tribe of inventors, artists, and desert freaks. Brad Wieners talks to founders and fans about how the party got started—and the death, mayhem, and power struggles that almost shut it down.
I’m planning a cross-country road trip this fall. Any suggestions for good driving music?
The Seychelles is a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean that relies heavily on tourism. It is about two-and-a-half times the size of Washington, D.C., with a population of roughly 90,000. Ninety percent of the people speak creole. They are mostly of African, French,…
I’ve always dreamed of climbing Mont Blanc, but I'm rethinking it after the recent incidents there. I’m not a mountaineer, but I’m an avid hiker who’s in great shape. How doable is it for me, and what’s the best route?
A fundraising trip in Tigray, Ethiopia, next February gives 14 runners the chance to train with some of the world’s greatest runners—and help restore sight to more than 1,000 locals
Fall is here, and the temps are dropping—time to pick a fresh new adventure in the American Southwest
We know what our readers look for in any kind of experience: adventure, grit, sweat, a worthy struggle, tested endurance, goosebump-inducing views, wide-open skies, maybe some roiling water. So why should college be any different? The correct answer is: It shouldn’t.
The key to a successful family vacation is to travel light, maximize adventure, and leave room for spontaneity. Ward off hunger by bringing wholesome and tasty snacks wherever you go. Good ‘n Natural® bars are a high-protein, fiber-rich snack that will keep your energy up whether you plan to kayak the northeast or hike the Rockies.
A Perseid. Photo: ESO/Wikimedia Commons The best nights to see the best meteor shower of the year will start this weekend, according to NASA. The agency has released a video guide (below) that says the prime viewing nights for the Perseid meteor…
I want to get in shape for the fall marathon season. What are the best adult running camps in the U.S.?
I’d like to head up north for some outdoor fun. What are the best Canadian mountain towns for active, adventurous travelers?
It's possible that you're enjoying your summer and that all of the new ski and snowboard trailers coming out aren't making you long for fresh powder, bluebird skies, and a little time in the lodge. If you are craving turns in virgin snow, cooler…
I'm headed to San Francisco to visit my buddies, and I want to do some mountain biking while I'm there. What are the must-ride trails in the Bay Area?
Luke Wright takes a ride on Bolivia's Yungas Loop
Gunther Holtorf left Germany with his wife in 1989 for an 18-month tour of Africa in an old Mercedes Benz G Wagon. Once they got on the road, the couple never stopped traveling. They ignored hotels and restaurants to save money, and visited everything from Everest Base Camp to the…
On June 5, Valery Rozov made news when it was announced he had scored a world record for the highest wingsuit jump from a mountain on record. The 47-year-old extreme athlete had jumped from a height of 21,063…
Where in Colorado can I learn to stand-up paddleboard in whitewater?
This week Google announced it had improved its Street View offering for Antarctica, which previously showed pictures of the Cape Royd's Adelie Penguin Rookery. The company added 360-degree panoramic views of…
I’m going backpacking through Europe and Southeast Asia later this summer, and I have a question for you. When you hit a big city, do you fly by the seat of your pants or do you make a plan for what you’re going to see and do?
Whitewater on Maine's Kennebec River, single-track in Vermont—these are the Northeast's best-kept adventure secrets
Kuntaur Wharf. Photo: Jason Florio Not many people in the United States know much about The Gambia. It’s a sliver of a country tucked into the northwestern rump of the continent of Africa. It cuts into Senegal at the Atlantic coast…
I travel a lot for work, mostly to major American cities, and don’t get as much opportunity to get outdoors as I’d like. What are some of the best urban parks for outdoor exercise?
I plan to go backpacking on a beach this summer in the Pacific Northwest. Do you have any recommendations?
I’d like to take an outdoorsy and earth-friendly vacation in Europe. What are the top eco-lodges there?
Screenshot of The Outdoor Recreation Economy. Photo: OIA People in the United States spend $646 billion a year on outdoor activities, according to The Outdoor Industry Association's recently released report “…
San Francisco views at Angel Island State Park. Photo: John Trippe/FecalFace.com If you're all about eating locally-produced food and being active in your community, consider staking claim to some nearby dirt or sand, too. Here's a quick (and coastal-centric) list of camping options.
Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA), Athens. Photo: Courtesy of The Olympic City As London prepares to host the…
Whether you're looking forward to your first dance with death or pride yourself on being a seasoned veteran, these tips will help you enjoy a safe run with the bulls
By Emily Brendler Shoff It’s easy to find an outdoor adventure in the Rockies. What’s not as simple is finding an adventure base camp for the whole family. For mountain biking, there may be no better place than Boggy Draw. This camping and biking Mecca, located in southwestern Colorado’s…
I’ll be in Boston this summer and I’m a decent runner. What are some fun and competitive road races I should consider entering?
Check out these ideas from Good 'n Natural® for how you can support local causes and help transform your environment into a cleaner, safer, and healthier place.
Why the crisis in California’s state parks could foretell turmoil for public playgrounds everywhere
I live in Minneapolis and have begun to take up rock climbing. Where do you think are the best places to go bouldering in the Midwest?
From paddling to biking to hiking, here are the top spots from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories
In the foothills of the southern Sierra Nevada lies a huge stash of obscure singletrack. David Page learns some humility (and the value of a modern bike) on a ride with the trails' developers.
The stablest country in the Middle East also makes for the most action-packed getaway
Skiing Mount Hermon. Photo: Kari Medig In April, a skier on the Lebanese side of Mount Hermon was injured by machine gun fire coming from Syrian border guards. The Israeli side of the mountain,…
I’ve got three days to jet away to Jamaica with my wife. What should I do while I’m there?
If you’re like most people, your summer strategy probably looks like this: Dispatch the kids to day camp while you spend the sweetest season behind your desk. But research shows that while children may be quicker studies, adults benefit hugely from learning new things, too. Good news: Now you can…
I want to go zip-lining—but in the wilderness, not in some amusement park. What are my best options in the U.S.?