Sure, you won鈥檛 have the place to yourself, but who cares? These are the sights you have to see during your lifetime. Besides, if you play your cards right鈥攃ome early or late, don鈥檛 show up on a busy weekend, arrive through the sneaky back entrance that few people know about鈥攜ou can get around some of the crowds. These are our picks for top spots worth visiting, despite the fact that everyone else will be there听too.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The South Rim of Grand Canyon is notoriously jammed with shuttle busses, RVs, and hikers wearing CamelBaks. And for good reason鈥攖he views of the canyon from this side are stunning. If you鈥檙e entering the park from here, plan to line听up well before 9 a.m. or come at night. (Rangers lead听 on stars, bats, and geology at the McKee Amphitheater.) Otherwise, skip the bustling Grand Canyon Village and enter the park from听, 25 miles to the east, or via the harder-to-reach听.
While everyone else hikes down the Bright Angel Trail, opt for the more challenging but less traveled Hermit Trail, which you can reach via shuttle from Grand Canyon Village or by car if you have an听.
Foz do Igua莽u, Brazil
In June, Brazil began allowing听visa-free entry into the country for travelers from the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. That means it鈥檚 even easier to book a trip to visit the famous waterfalls at Foz do Igua莽u, which straddle the border between Brazil and Argentina.
Thousands of people visit the park each day, most of whom come from the Argentinian side, so accessing the falls from the Brazilian side is a good bet. Stay near the falls at the听 (from $441), and you can be on the trail out to the Devil鈥檚 Throat viewpoint before everyone else.听
Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Colorado
罢丑别听, which takes place in late June, brings some 12,000 people to the normally sleepy mountain town. In the 46 years of the festival, the lineup keeps getting more impressive. This year, headliners included Brandi Carlile, the Sam Bush Band, and Railroad Earth. Camping at the festival is a must-do experience, but it鈥檚 hardly a solitary one. If you want a little more room, pitch a tent in the forested听, seven miles away, and hop the shuttle to the festival.
Don鈥檛 forget running shoes and a tarp. To claim a spot near the main stage, you鈥檒l need to line up early for the mad dash that is the听.
Tuckerman Ravine, New Hampshire
If you鈥檙e a budding backcountry skier on the East Coast, Tuckerman Ravine is your pilgrimage. It鈥檚 a classic route with some of the finest steep terrain in the country. Each spring, tens of thousands of people hike the 4.2-mile trail to ski the iconic bowl and chutes on the flanks of Mount Washington. To avoid the crowds, don鈥檛 show up on a busy weekend in April. Or you could hire听a guide from the International Mountain Climbing School to take you to听Tuckerman Ravine and some lesser-known zones off Mount Washington with far fewer people.
Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, France
No matter the season, the scenery from the top of the听, which rises to 12,391 feet above the Chamonix valley and offers panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps, is worth battling the crowds. Nearly half a million people visit this spot every year.
During the summer peak, the lift starts running at 6:30 a.m.鈥攂e on the first tram to reduce your exposure to crowds. This is a prime launching point for experienced backcountry skiers and climbers, but 听if you鈥檙e going that route.
Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand
On the west coast of New Zealand鈥檚 South Island, the Franz Josef Glacier is a true spectacle:听a massive chunk of shifting ice that used to extend from the mountains to the sea.听
Join a听 for a hike in the valley or a helicopter ride to walk on the glacier itself. Peak season is November to March, so come outside that window for less traffic. The nearby听 has treehouses (from $300), cottages (from $120), and places to park your van (from $31).
Montauk, New York
Summer crowds are a real thing in Montauk, where city dwellers escape to the eastern end of Long Island for weekend and summer holidays on the beach. Come in the fall for a quieter experience.
Things to do: Climb to the top of the听, and join the Instagrammers on the patio snapping photos of the sunset from听 or Montauket, an old-school听cliffside bar and restaurant with the best views of Fort Pond Bay. Stay at听 (from $229), a few minutes from town but far enough off the main drag to give you a feeling of serenity.听
Joshua Tree National Park, California
As the closest national park to Los Angeles,听 is as accessible as it is beautiful, with thousands of established rock-climbing routes and endless hiking trails. Get this鈥90 percent of the park鈥檚 visitors come through a single entrance, the west gate near the town of Joshua Tree. If you want to avoid that backup, use the north entrance near Twentynine Palms or the southern entrance from Chiriaco Summit. Or听show up midwinter, when nobody else is around. Most campers head to听; instead, try for a first-come, first-served spot at the smaller听 ($15).