Our unscientific but highly authoritative guide to the 20 BEST PARTIES on the planet

On January 17, Hollywood hotshots and thousands of movie fans will invade the Wasatch Front for 11 days of movies and partying at the Sundance Film Festival. Get your cinematic thrills, then ditch the glitz and experience the real star: Park City’s adventure playground.

The government’s latest biotech weapon is a stealthy, sweater-eating spy

Treetop retreats, increasingly popular in the Pacific Northwest and South America, have hit New Zealand. The Hapuku Lodge, a South Island eco-resort near the town of Kaikoura, is drawing raves for its five new tree houses, perched 30 feet off the ground in a native tea tree grove. And while…

I've decided to take a trip to India on my next vacation. What is the one thing I should do while I'm there? Gary F. Dallas, TX

Welcome to the new Bolivia, where former coca grower Evo Morales has made the leaf a symbol of his two-year-old government. Now everybody's growing it, everybody's chewing it, and the war on drugs has taken a very strange turn.

Need something (or somebody) flown around Africa without a lot of questions? Can you pay with bricks of cash? Then you want old-school bush pilot Tim Roman, a man with Kurtzian ambitions, a deft touch on jungle runways, and a place on every smart dictator’s speed dial.

Nine Caribbean playgrounds heavy on the sports—and dead serious about kicking back

What is the best mountain to ski in the early December? What place usually has the most and best snow? Ryan San Luis Obispo, CA

I'm traveling to Oz for six months and need to buy a wheeled bag that converts into a backpack if needed. Can you suggest anything? Lisa Cardiff, Wales

How do I prepare for a climb of Mount Rainier and/or Denali? I have about eight months before my climbing window and I live at sea level.

When British Columbia’s Revelstoke Mountain Resort opens this December, it will offer fresh natural snow—every day. An ambitious transportation trifecta will deliver complete access to an already powder-pounded region (up to 60 feet annually). Dumped last night? Ride the gondola and high-speed lifts. Runs are tracked out? Hop in one…

I just qualified to run in the Boston Marathon. What can I do after the race that'll be fun, but won't kill my already-battered legs? Sean M. Chicago, IL

Since I was a kid, I've been warned that the mighty Mississippi is a deadly stew of swirling eddies—and that swimming across it is oneof the stupidest things a person can do. Naturally, I had to give it a try.

Six weeks, I told my wife. All the way to heaven and then home. Perhaps I would fail in some, or every, way. But one must go oneself to know the truth.

On a cosmic night of baseball Randy Wayne White joins the armada in San Francisco's McCovey Cove to fish for Barry Bond's record-breaking home-run ball

Don’t like to brag, but I have climbed Mount Everest 30 times. Everest The first time I climbed it, I was only ten years old. I was lucky to make it to the top. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was wearing only corduroys, a windbreaker, and…

To celebrate Outside’s founding in the boffo year of 1976, we asked a longtime contributor to risk embarrassment by dressing as an outdoorsy dude from that era, then circulating among innocent people to watch their jaws drop. The result was an offbeat gem by one of the magazine’s most versatile and creative voices.

I've never been to Indiana and will be attending a wedding there this fall. How about a little advice on what to do during my stay? Michael S. Phoenix, AZ

New York City-based writer Patrick Symmes and Irish photographer Seamus Murphy scoured the Far East in search of the legendary city of Shambhala for the October 2007 feature story “The Kingdom of the Lotus.” Here, listen to a podcast interview with Symmes and see Murphy’s photo outtakes from the assignment.

Our man Eric Hansen has scoured the globe in the name of misadventure and excitement. Here, read all of Hansen's columns for Outside, listen to audio versions, peruse photos he took while on assignment, and watch a video as our guy shows you how to drink Tequila.

It brought you Gisele, Ronaldo, and samba. But the real Brazil gets even better. Here's your map to the best sin and sand on the planet.

Escape from New York (and nine other big cities) with these 40 fast adventures

We sent our wayward columnist to row a boat in Cinque Terre and all we got was this lousy letter

How can I physically challenge myself in Ecuador and still see a lot?

In his September Out of Bounds column, "The Italian Job" columnist Eric Hansen tries to convince us that he did not waste our money on a trip to Italy, where, as near as we can tell, he just downed Chianti and gelato. Hansen reads his story, talks in a podcast interview, and shares his photos here.

Resort towns no more—move here before the masses do.

As you may have heard, they ski in Iran. As you may not have heard, the terrain is pretty sweet, there are dudes bouncing on the chairlifts, and The hills are alive with happy women in flowing robes. Can we make peace with this place Immediately?

Go farther faster, stay out all day, and don't carry a thing (except your credit card) on these five perfect, three-day hiking and biking adventures

Taking down a dam used to require an act of Congress—or terror. Now it's just good business.

Keep your mouth shut and the masses won't follow

It took hundreds of years and the heavy-heeled stomping of thousands of trekkers. Now some 30,000 miles of trails high in the Swiss Alps are finally packed down, buffed out, and ready for their true calling: downhill mountain biking. This August, the first North American outfitter to guide armor-clad cyclists…

My friends and I are interested in learning how to whitewater kayak. Can you recommend a good two- or three-day course in California or Oregon? Thomas H. Los Angeles, CA

Take one desert island, insert one strapping lad, and see how long he survives. That's the recipe for our half-starved, sunburnt castaway, who lived to tell the tale.

If you're still not convinced you've found paradise after reading, "Yes, Real People Live Here" in the August, 2007 issue of Outside, you're in luck. We've profiled a slew of the best towns in the U.S. Here, dive into the archives for more places to hang your hat, kayak, surfboard, or crampons.

For the August 2007 feature story, “Powder Keg” we sent Josh Dean and Alex Tehrani to lay some tracks at the highest ski area…in Iran. Here, flip through some of Tehrani’s outtakes from their epic, see more images from his previous assignment for Outside, and read an interview with the…

Sometimes one culture just isn’t enough. Steeping yourself in the South of France is great, but drop in to an Asian-themed resort on a French island and you’ll leave feeling like a true global denizen. Here are three hotels that import their home country’s ethos. Banyan Tree…

Try summiting one of Southeast Alaska’s 16,000-foot peaks and you’ll run into a few potholes—literally. Thousands of pits (or moulins), up to 300 feet deep, scar 3.2 million glaciated acres of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, and more and more visitors are trading in a summit bid to rappel…

Five perfect adventure lodges for your next escape

Discover the pleasure and pain of pro-caliber climbs with these U.S. mountain monsters

My husband and I have two weeks at the end of our year-long stay in Germany before returning home to the U.S. and would like to do an extended backpacking trip in the Alps. Do you have any suggested routes? Eileen K. Germany

A Playboy bunny, massage tents, martinis, bootleg movies, high altitude golf. As correspondent Kevin Fedarko reports in the July 2007 feature story, "High Times" the scene at Everest Base Camp ain't what you'd expect. Here, listen to an audio version of the story and hear an interview with Fedarko.

Colorado River guide Michael Ghiglieri publishes irresistible books about the weird, wicked things that kill people in national parks. With a bestselling Grand Canyon necrology behind him and a new one on Yosemite coming out this spring, he talks to KEVIN FEDARKO about accidents, suicides, and murders—and why forensic gawking can actually

Conrad Anker heads back to Everest, in search of answers

At some point after puberty and before mortgage payments, that summer ritual our parents used to make us do became something we couldn't do without. And the rules have changed. Cars are faster, highways are better, and there's cool stuff—really cool stuff that doesn't involve buffets or Dollywood—just about everywhere. Stop sitting on those vacation d

In the June 2007 feature story “The Boomtown, the Gringo, the Girl, and Her Murder” Tony D’Souza reports on the murder trial of American ex-pat Eric Volz in Nicaragua. On March 26, 2007, after months of research and nearly two weeks of attempting to get access to Volz, Supreme Court…

I'd like to attend an outdoor camp this summer. Where can I find one that offers a unique adventure? Melissa C. Spokane, WA

In the June 2007 feature story "The Boomtown, the Gringo, the Girl, and Her Murder" Tony D'Souza reports on the trial of American Eric Volz in Nicaragua. Listen to D'Souza discuss the investigation in our podcast interview, see more of Jason Florio's photos of San Juan del Sur, and, coming soon, read a transcript of his two-hour prison talk

When a local beauty turned up dead in Nicaragua's San Juan del Sur, the dream of paradise became a nightmare for one expat American surfer. He got 30 years and, predictably, a media melee ensued. But Tony D'Souza was on the scene from day one. This is the story you haven't heard.

Are you in love with your home? We’re scouring the country to find the best places to live, work, and play for our annual Best Towns issue, and we want you to contribute. Tell us why we should pack up and move to your place by emailing us at…

In the unlikeliest of places, in the waters off JFK airport in New York, IAN FRAZIER lands a few big fish with Captain Frank, a guide who matches his passion striper for striper and knows why fishing is connected to everything

In one of the cruelest marches in World War II, a battalion of American soldiers trekked through nearly impassable jungle in Papua New Guinea to battle the Japanese. Six decades later, JAMES CAMPBELL attempts to repeat the journey, and discovers a deadly trail, ravenous leeches, and a rare look into one of the last remote places on earth.

An amateur archaeologist's discovery of ancient pyramids under the hills of Bosnia and Herzegovina has kicked off an exuberant national celebration and a massive dig that's drawing tourists by the thousands. There's just one problem: There aren't any pyramids. But why let that stop the party?

Where is the best place in the United States for a family or husband/wife "team" to learn to scuba dive? Michelle Delphos, KS

Finding uncrowded bliss from Olympic to Acadia

Helicopter rescues on the summit of Everest may soon be reality. And the pilot won't be anywhere in sight.

There’s something sublime about a dip in a natural swimming hole, be it a lazy oxbow in a cool river, a hillside nook fed by a subterranean hot-spring, or a limestone bowl bored out by a 40-foot waterfall. “The swimming hole is the perfect outdoor experience,” says Pancho Doll, author…

In the May 2007 Outside feature story "Chasing Ghosts," writer James Campbell follows in the footsteps of American soldiers who trekked 130 miles through Papua New Guinea during World War II. Here, watch a trailer for the film, The Ghost Mountain Boys and see Philipp Engelhorn's photo outtakes from the trip.

Where can I go in Mexico or Cuba to learn kite surfing? I prefer the western coast, or the Yucatan in Mexico. Oh, and I’m a total newbie. Craig Mexico

It’s not like we needed another reason to love Moab. But we’ve got one: Utah’s red-rock mecca for adventure sports is pursuing one of the most ambitious green-energy policies of any town in the West. The movement is led by mayor and 35-year resident Dave Sakrison, 61, who was elected…

I moving from New England to Salisbury, Maryland, for work. The problem is, Salisbury and the surrounding area are dead flat. I rock climb, mountain climb, mountain bike, etc. and these sports appear to be hopeless in this area. Any suggestions on how I can continue these sports or what adventures are available in Maryland? Mike Salisbury, Maryland

Alan Dershowitz, meet Steven Donziger. On behalf of 30,000 inhabitants of Ecuador's remote Oriente region, this New York lawyer is putting it to Big Oil. But will his multi-billion-dollar lawsuit establish a global precedent—or is he just looking for a scapegoat for one of the nastiest messes on earth?

We’ve been tracking the adventure travel world for more than three decades. Our latest discovery? The planet is more wide open for exploration than ever. Whether you want to raft an unknown Himalayan river or link a few Colorado peaks in your own backyard, we have…

Where's the best place for spring skiing on the East coast? Brett W. Reston, Va

I'm new to the alpine scene and want to get my bearings. Where's the best place in the Rockies to learn how to ski? Brett W. Reston, Va

Our reconnaissance of French Polynesia turns up the South Pacific's freshest adventures

After landing at Bangkok’s glass-plated Suvarnabhumi Airport, which opened in September, you’ll be forgiven for thinking the entire country’s been upgraded. The new facility is equipped to land Airbus’s 555-passenger A380 and then speed visitors downtown via light rail—currently under construction—in just 15 minutes. (Anyone who’s ever braved a cab…

Welcome to Halley VI, the swankiest address this side of Dronning Maud Land

The old Seven Wonders are history

With a muscular combination of new technologies, capitalist smarts, and old-school stewardship, the tiny Danish island of Samsø has become the greenest, cleanest, most energy-independent place on earth. Can a revolution this sweet be exported to a big, messy world?

Welcome to the tropical Philippine island of Jolo, where life is like a Corona ad—coconut trees, white-sand beaches, bathtub-warm seas. Except those guys in the water are U.S. Green Berets, and those kids on dirt bikes are jihadists known for kidnapping Western tourists. Even stranger? On this front, at least, America seems to be winning.

Listen to an interview with John Falk, author of February’s “This is the War on Terror. Wish You Were Here!” and see Antonin Kratochvil's photo outtakes from the story here.

Get ready for the new age of adventure on the world's wildest continent. Whether it's the Ugandan National Kayak Team leading raft trips on the raging White Nile or entrepreneurial young guides building stylish bush camps with an eye toward helping local communities, a fresh generation is redefining travel in…

Four years ago, the president of Gabon announced the creation of an unprecedented 13 new national parks. Ready for a visit? On a grueling first descent down the Djidji River, ROB BUCHANAN checks in on the world's most ambitious conservation plan and discovers a pristine wilderness unmatched in its magic—and a country not quite ready fo

Forget après ski. Three January film festivals are redefining post-powder entertainment. Head to Park City, Utah, or Nevada City, California, for the winter’s coolest mountain town film festivals, where you can play outside by day and catch top film premieres by night.

The land-speed record for motorcycles has stood untouched for 16 years, at 322 miles per hour. But last summer, California velocity freak Mike "Ack Attack" Akatiff surveyed the competition, ran the numbers, and announced that, um, the other guys were doing it wrong. Them's fightin' words on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Can he back it up?

When freeskier Kit DesLauriers dropped in at 29,035 feet on Mount Everest in October, she became the first person to ski off the Seven Summits. Kit, her husband, Rob, and photographer Jimmy Chin also became the first Americans to ski from the top of the world's tallest mountain.

I'm traveling to Torino, Italy, over the holidays and would like to go snowboarding. Where should I go? Also, is it possible to take a train from Torino to the location since I've heard the hotels in the ski towns have minimum-night requirements during the holidays. Alex Santa Fe, NM

Big names, big adventure—and a message for the masses

The year's best voices on the hottest spots around