Everything You Need to Know About Travel in 2021
We came up with a list of the people, places, and trends that matter now, from the rise of outdoor reservation systems and new mountain-biking meccas to where to thaw out this winter
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Just because we haven鈥檛听been traveling听doesn鈥檛 mean our favorite destinations weren鈥檛听busy creating new adventures, thinking more sustainably, and capitalizing on the pandemic-driven outdoor boom. There鈥檚 a lot to be excited about this year. If you don鈥檛 know where to start, we鈥檝e got you. Here鈥檚 everything (give or take) in the adventure travel world worth knowing about this year.
1. Sustainability Is the Future

We all know that some of the planet鈥檚 most beautiful places are being loved to death. COVID-19鈥檚 forced pause on tourism has been a wake-up call about just how significant our environmental impact is. Here are three ways the travel industry plans to dial it back going forward.
Reservations Only: Before the pandemic, the thought of calling ahead to visit a national park or an outdoor mecca seemed preposterous. But reservation systems formerly in place at popular sites like Yosemite and Rocky Mountain have shown that a little planning isn鈥檛 all that painful, especially when it means fewer people on the trails. One of Colorado鈥檚 most frequented spots鈥攖he Maroon Bells, near Aspen鈥攔equired ad颅vance bookings last summer to reduce the impact of its 300,000 average annual visitors.
Climate Positive: Being merely carbon neutral is no longer good enough; many travel companies are going a step further and offsetting more than they help produce. Australia鈥檚 , which has been carbon neutral since 2010, has pledged to cover 125 percent of its emissions in the year ahead, and Canada鈥檚 will be offsetting 110 percent.
Voluntourism 2.0: Hawaii鈥檚 two-week travel quarantine, put in place last March, all but halted tourism for six months. To shift gears toward more responsible travel when the state reopened in mid-October, the tourism department launched . (Malama means 鈥渢o care for.鈥) The initiative encourages 颅volunteerism like native-tree planting and beach cleanup by offering free nights at partner hotels. The hope is that giving back imparts a fresh perspective for travelers on the islands鈥 rich culture.听鈥Jen Murphy
2. E-Bikes Come to National Parks

In October, the Department of the Interior finalized 颅orders to everywhere in the National Park System that traditional bikes are permitted. The decision is controversial among purists, but it could get more people out of their cars and into these classic landscapes. 鈥Graham Averill
3. New Base Camps to Check In To

The听Green O,听Montana
in Greenough, Montana, pretty much invented glamp颅ing, and it plans to expand in June. , an adults-only retreat located on Paws Up鈥檚 37,000 acres, will have 12 treehouses and cabins (from $2,100). 鈥Erin Riley
Nimmo Bay Resort, British Columbia
When the U.S.-Canadian border reopens, British Columbia will be at the top of many Americans鈥 list. For a remote getaway, our in-house travel experts Sandy and Chip Cunningham recommend a stay at newly renovated , a 90-minute plane ride from Vancouver. Six overwater and three forest cabins are surrounded by 50,000 square miles of Great Bear Rainforest, where you can kayak with orcas, lounge on secluded beaches, and paddleboard a glacial fjord (from $1,495; book with ). 鈥E.R.
Camp Aramoni, Illinois
With opening this August, 90 miles southwest of Chicago, the state will see its first luxury camping resort (from $450). Set on 96 acres along the Vermilion River, 11 safari-style tents will make ideal base camps for fishing, hiking, and exploring nearby . 鈥E.R.
The Gravel House, Patagonia, Arizona
Eighteen miles north of the Mexi颅can border, is a dream escape for gravel riders in search of winter warmth and routes in the San Rafael Valley. There鈥檚 a yoga deck, a sauna, and the option of healthy meals with a southwestern kick (from $117). 鈥Stephanie Pearson
4. Mines听Get an听国产吃瓜黑料听Overhaul
Who knew mountain biking was worth its weight in gold? Trail systems in former mining towns are revitalizating those communities. in Chisholm, Minnesota, officially opens in June with 23 miles of world-class trails built around former iron-ore pits. In the Appala颅chian foothills of southeastern Ohio, 26 of the 88 miles of the , ringed by abandoned mines, are ready for action. And in the tiny town of Redstone, Colorado, Walmart heirs Tom and Sam Walton have restored 4.5 miles of beginner-friendly trails, opening this spring. 鈥擩.惭.
WFH Went 24/7: As a result, digital nomadism increased 49 percent in the U.S. last year, according to MBO Partners.
5. Road Trips by Electric Car Are Easier than Ever

As of March 2020, there were approximately 25,000 public vehicle-charging stations in the U.S., and that number will soon spike. Last year, Florida鈥檚 governor announced $8.6 million in funding to build EV stations along state highways, and starting this year, General Motors and , the nation鈥檚 largest public fast-charging network, are set to add 700 fast chargers in states including California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. By the end of the year, Volkswagen鈥檚 initiative plans to install 800 outposts, in addition to its just-completed EV-charging route from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles. 鈥Alex Temblador
6. 国产吃瓜黑料 Goes Members Only

A new crop of membership-based clubs make it easier for travelers to connect and explore.
Work Hard, Play Hard: If your idea of life balance is scoring first tracks, squeezing in a Zoom call, and then banging out a HIIT class before networking over fireside beers, you鈥檒l fit right in at 听(from $480 a year). The hotel and membership club has locations in Breckenridge and Vail Village鈥攁nd, come Febru颅ary, in Winter Park, with future properties outside Colorado. Members also get access to coworking and fitness facilities, and discounts on avalanche courses and hut trips.
Expert Advice: In August, adventure-media company Roam launched , an education platform that shares the expertise of its founding members, who include climber Sasha DiGiulian, filmmaker and athlete Jimmy Chin, and other outdoor legends. Members can also tap into a library of original films and receive discounts on Roam 国产吃瓜黑料s, small-group trips Roam plans to roll out in early 2021 (from $149 a year).
Private Pods: Wary of commercial flights but itching for more than a road trip? , a chapter-based travel club, provides custom excursions in the U.S. for groups of eight people or fewer, including private plane service (from $2,500 a year and $3,500 a trip). Chapters are capped at 175 members and currently exist in Colorado, California, and Arizona. Outfitter curates some of the trips, among them rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and camping in the High Sierra. 鈥擩.惭.
Tents Filled Twitter: The platform saw a 93 percent rise in the use of the camping emoji from March to September.
7. Mountain-Biking Meccas Are on the Rise
Trail builders and advocates were busy during the pandemic.
The Palisade Plunge, Colorado: With 32 miles of purpose-built singletrack, , which opens this spring, begins at the 10,719-foot Mesa Top Trailhead on the Grand Mesa and drops through 6,000 feet of backcountry, making its way to the Colorado River in downtown Palisade.
Ride Kanuga, North Carolina: This , built by two-time national champ Neko Mulally, has nine trails that descend 500 vertical feet in a series of jumps, berms, and techy gnar. Trails range from flowy cruisers to steep, feature-heavy lines. There鈥檚 no lift or shuttle, but Kanuga is e-bike- and tow-strap-friendly (from $19).
The Great Lake-to-Lake Trail, Michigan: Long-distance riders who鈥檇 prefer not to suffer, take note鈥攖his follows 275 miles of dirt and backcountry roads from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron, passing through more than 30 small towns with hotels and restaurants. Amtrak runs the length of the route, making it possible to self-shuttle.
Aquarius Trail Hut System, Utah: The state gets with five repurposed shipping containers along a route that begins on the 11,306-foot peak of Brian Head and ends 190 miles later in the town of Escalante. Each hut accommodates 12 riders and has a grill, an e-bike charging station, and optional beer delivery. Make it a five-night adventure (from $899).听鈥擥.础.
8. Rural Destinations听Are In

It鈥檚 no surprise that travelers have been heading for less touristy locales since the start of the pandemic. Places like , South Carolina; , Florida; and , Idaho, are among the most popular for long-term stays, according to a recent survey by Airbnb. 鈥擜.罢.
9. International Travel Has听New Rules

According to epidemiologists, traveling abroad won鈥檛 be risk-free until there鈥檚 widespread distribution of a vaccine. And with vaccinations underway, experts are hopeful that many Americans will be vaccinated by summer. Still, some folks are traveling anyway, so companies are looking for ways to make it safer. In an attempt to create a universal indicator of good health, an app called will allow travelers to share their COVID-19 status across borders. Users take a test at a certified lab or site, download it to their mobile device, then complete the destination country鈥檚 health declarations.
Perennial spots are also getting creative to keep tourists coming. With a mandatory $40 fee, every traveler to Jamaica will receive on-island health coverage up to $50,000, through a partnership with . This includes case management, field rescue, evacuation, and repatriation for medical emergencies, including COVID-19, and international health coverage of up to $100,000. While existing travel-insurance companies consider how to adapt their plans to the current times, new organizations are springing up in response. , which launched in August, will fly travelers home on a private aircraft from anywhere in the world if they test positive for COVID-19 and exhibit at least one symptom (from $995 for 30 days). And in Addis Ababa, recently completed the first terminal in the world built with biosafety measures, including state-of-the-art thermal scanners, self check-in, and socially distanced gate screening. 鈥掷.笔.
10. There Are More Ways听to Stay听Connected
Three new products to help you adventure with friends, find community, and work remotely
WildKind: Hiking, camping, or RV travel with the whole family can be an intimidating prospect. is stepping in to help parents get outdoors with kids. Sign up for an online membership (from $10 monthly) and get access to a community forum, gear swap meets, and virtual courses, like how to help an infant sleep soundly outdoors.
Milo the Action Com颅muni颅cator: The key to a socially distanced adventure? A superpowered walkie-talkie. keeps groups connected up to a mile apart. There鈥檚 no need for Wi-Fi or cellular service颅鈥攋ust clip on the palm-size device and com颅municate by speak颅ing (from $249).
Skyroam: Whether you鈥檝e converted to full-time vanlife or need to work during a camping trip, offers Wi-Fi in remote 颅places for up to ten devices, along with features like a built-in camera and a smart assistant. The brand鈥檚 new Solis X hotspot provides a year of 4G LTE in more than 130 countries for $249. 鈥擜.罢.
11. Bikepacking Comes to the听Navajo Nation

Jon Yazzie loves bikepacking his ancestral lands in southeast Utah, but he rarely sees other Navajo on bikes in the backcountry. The 46-year-old former mountain-bike racer decided to change that by launching , a guiding service with two goals: first, bring sustainable tourism to the Nation through commercial bikepacking trips; and second, use the money from those trips to fund a Navajo youth bikepacking program. 鈥淭he best way to change the culture is to start with the kids,鈥 Yazzie says. 鈥淏ikepacking can enhance their connection with the land and help them experience some of their history.鈥
Yazzie has been mentoring a small group of Navajo teenagers that will assist with leading the adventures, and he kicked off the youth program last fall with a short trip for younger kids using donated bikes and his own gear. He plans to start running commercial trips this spring (from $950 for one night). 鈥擥.础.
12. Travelers Are 颅Heading South

In a survey conducted by the , of the 70 percent of Americans and Canadians who intend to travel this year, nearly half named Mexico and the Caribbean as top picks. These hotels make prime adventure base camps.
Itz鈥檃na Resort and Residences, Belize: Diving the world鈥檚 second-largest barrier reef, hiking , and tracking jaguars at will occasionally tempt you away from your beachfront loft at , which opened in late 2019 (from $325).
Lovango Resort and Beach Club, U.S. Virgin Islands: A 颅ten-minute boat ride from St. John, will soon have a selection of glamping tents and bungalows to choose from (from $995). For now, book the three-bedroom villa and explore the island鈥檚 hikes and pristine听coral reef. Or head back to St. John for a visit to .
One&Only Mandarina, Mexico: There鈥檚 adventure just minutes from your treehouse or clifftop room, including fishing and hiking. sits on the beach of the Riviera Nayarit, and its seafood-focused restaurant is helmed by Enrique Olvera, the chef behind Mexico City鈥檚 (from $990). 鈥Heather Greenwood Davis听
Everyone鈥檚 Gone Fishing: According to the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, there were just over three million more fishing licenses sold from January to August of 2020 than in previous years.
13. The 颅Outdoors Is 颅Mainstream
Large travel companies have 颅taken note of the increased interest in road trips, camping, and hiking. , the hotel group鈥檚 loyalty program, partnered with the to offer discounted rates at hotels near major parks, and introduced outdoor filters on its Map Search function to make it easier to find flights near parks and wilderness areas. 鈥擜.罢.