It鈥檚 a bluebird day at Val Thorens in France, the highest ski resort in Europe, and there鈥檚 still an hour and a half till the lifts close. But unlike your diehard last-chair Rockies skier, we鈥檝e abandoned our skis. We鈥檝e traded the lift lines for the queues at La Folie Douce, a famous outdoor bar above a steep blue run.

To my left, a group of skiers in Hogwarts regalia bops along to house music. Artificial fog engulfs the group on the table in front of me, where a flannel-clad man is dancing in front of the crowd. He and his friends are doing lewd things with a six-liter bottle of ros茅鈥�550 euros鈥攁nd taking turns drinking straight out of it. A woman sways in black sequined pants. In the right lighting, she could be mistaken for a disco ball.

鈥淐hampagne鈥� shower. Champagne鈥� SHOWER,鈥� the DJ starts to chant from a balcony overlooking the wooden deck, slowly building speed and volume. He waves for the crowd to join in.

鈥淐hampagne鈥� shower,鈥� we chant back. 鈥淐hampagne鈥� shower. Champagne鈥� SHOWER. CHAMPAGNE鈥斺�� and then we get what we want: three bottles are popped and fizz rains from the balcony. We scream and duck, but there鈥檚 nowhere to hide from the spray. We鈥檙e packed in tighter than ski bums jockeying for the first tram of the morning.

We鈥檙e above treeline, surrounded by views of sharp, snow-covered peaks, yet the Alps are forgotten. The mountains aren鈥檛 the point鈥攖hey鈥檙e the vehicle.

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With all the greenwashing that goes into destination marketing, it can be easy to lose sight of the true meaning of 鈥渟ustainability.鈥� It鈥檚 simple: 鈥淪ustainable鈥� travel is travel we can keep doing. And a huge part of that equation is going to places that have are committed to climate neutrality, where you can trust that your behavior upon arrival is sustainable by default.

These destinations have put serious thought and resources into creating sustainable experiences for travelers who want to do better and feel better about how they use their precious vacation days. More than most other places on Earth, there has been significant governmental investment in public transportation, tourist education strategies, environmental rehabilitation, and waste management. They鈥檝e weighed all that behind-the-scenes stuff that you don鈥檛 have a lot of control over on a short trip鈥攖he environmental overhead, if you will.

To make this list, we looked for cities, countries, and regions that are internationally recognized for environmental innovation. We considered places with听impressive public transportation networks, where you can easily get deep into the backcountry without renting a car. We also looked at rankings of per-capita carbon footprints, which correlates to how sustainable daily life is for the average resident. These destinations stood out for being easy to get around (without cars or commercial airlines), protective of cultural traditions, and sustainable overall by design.

1. Sweden

With one of the lowest per-capita carbon footprints in all of the developed world, it鈥檚 no surprise this Scandinavian nation offers perhaps the most guilt-free traveler experience you can find鈥攚hether you鈥檙e going for urban sightseeing or outdoor adventure. For starters, the country has an incredible waste management system. Earlier this year, Sweden enacted a law that requires everyone鈥攊ndividuals and businesses alike鈥攖o separate food waste from regular trash, which is then converted into biofuel. The country also recycles 35 percent of all plastic waste, and 82 percent of aluminum.

About 60 percent of Sweden鈥檚 electricity comes from renewable sources, and the country intends to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. (In comparison, the United States gets only 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, according to the Department of Energy.)

More significant commitments to green energy abound in various Swedish cities. The port city of Gothenburg has been ranked the world鈥檚 most sustainable city on the Global Sustainable Destination Index for seven years running. Nearly its entire public transit system runs on renewable energy, and over 90 percent of its hotels have been environmentally certified. Stockholm鈥檚 whole land-based public transit system also runs on green energy, and the Swedish capital aims to make all of its ferries carbon-neutral by 2030. In the far north, the city of Skellefte氓 is currently working on electric snowmobiles to offer visitors a quieter way to spot wildlife in the winter.

Access to nature is ingrained in the country鈥檚 ethos, which means there鈥檚 a broad 鈥渞ight to roam鈥� for hiking and camping pretty much everywhere. Even still, the government has recently started investing more heavily into building waymarked trails in lowland regions. To that end, Sweden has spent about $600,000 on the brand-new , which connects roughly 170 miles of new and existing trails across 22 islands using a series of ferries. As of October 2024, you鈥檒l be able to thru-hike the Archipelago from north to south (or vice versa), starting with a ferry ride from Stockholm itself.

I recently got a sneak peek of the trail on a visit out to the islands of Ut枚, N氓ttar枚, Sandhamn, and 脜l枚, and was stunned by how pristine, quiet, and diverse the land was. Some sections traverse soft, sandy beaches where you can swim in solitude even in mid-August. Others wind through evergreen forests dripping with so much moss and lichen that they seem enchanted. You can backpack the entire trail, camping for free on beaches and in forests, or you can stay in well-equipped inns, B&Bs, and guesthouses on every island.

Flight-free travel is easy across the country. Sleeper trains and overnight ferry services connect the major urban centers in the south to other mainland European cities, and the whole country is well-connected by train. From Stockholm, long-distance trains will take you directly into the Arctic.

Beyond all this, Sweden is helping other countries lower their environmental footprints, too. Swedish companies including Northvolt are . Spending your tourism dollars in Sweden contributes to this green economy.

2. Switzerland

Don鈥檛 even think about driving a car in Switzerland. There鈥檚 just no need鈥攁s soon as you arrive, you can take trains, buses, and trams right into the mountains. And if that鈥檚 not enough, gondolas, chairlifts, cable cars, and funiculars can dump you right out onto the trails. The entire nation鈥檚 public transportation network is at your disposal with a , which grants you license to hop on and hop off as you please.

Behind the scenes, about 75 percent of Swiss energy comes from renewable sources, and the country has a serious commitment to recycling. 82 percent of PET bottles actually get recycled in Switzerland, compared to about 30 percent in the U.S.

Switzerland is a vocal champion of international climate issues while also putting policies into practice at home. The nation鈥檚 tourism board has attempted to make the country synonymous with sustainable travel through its long-running 鈥淪wisstainable鈥� campaign, which promotes environmentally-friendly businesses throughout the tourism sector. In order to work with the campaign, partners have to undergo a grading process to prove they meet minimum criteria for sustainable practices.

The national tourism board is also addressing overtourism by touting lesser-known regions eager to welcome visitors. Val Poschiavo, for example, is one of many gateway towns to the , an ancient trade route-turned-hiking-trail. The region has excellent infrastructure but relatively few international visitors, which is an extra bonus for you if you鈥檙e looking for a destination where travel feels鈥攁nd is鈥攅asy while also seeming completely different from your everyday life.

3. Costa Rica

Costa Rica has long been synonymous with eco-tourism for the abundance and diversity of wild experiences within its borders. More than a quarter of the country鈥檚 land is formally protected, and according to the Global Alliance of National Parks, that makes it the world leader in percentage of land protected.

Over the last few decades, Costa Rica has worked hard to repair the damage of previous deforestation. In 2019, it received a Champions of the Earth award from the United Nations for those efforts鈥攖he highest environmental honor the UN awards. In 1987, the nation was only about 40 percent forested, and today that鈥檚 increased to over half. But the nation has no plans to stop there. Currently, the country generates about 98 percent of its energy from renewable sources. By 2050, the country hopes to be entirely carbon neutral.

Costa Rica does have some work to do with regard to recycling and waste management. In 2018, it was found that only nine听percent of renewable waste was recycled, though the country is now taking measures to address this. Earlier this year, Costa Rica passed laws banning the free distribution of single-use plastic straws and bags at the point of sale. Companies selling single-use bottles also have to agree to at least one of several measures to increase their use of recycled plastic, contribute to waste-management programs, or reduce their use of plastic packaging.听 听听

4. The Highlands, Scotland

Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, Scotland has a broad 鈥渞ight to roam鈥� that mimics that of Scandinavian countries. Even on private land, you鈥檙e allowed to camp, hike, and paddle pretty much anywhere you like as long as you鈥檙e respectful of people鈥檚 homes and personal space. Protecting the land is an important aspect of Scottish culture, so you鈥檒l also find a strong bent toward听sustainability here. The government has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2045.

If you want to take a guided adventure, go with Wilderness Scotland, an outfitter based in Aviemore. They鈥檝e long been a leader in the tourism industry when it comes to building and operating sustainable trips, and I鈥檝e seen first-hand how the company uses sustainable, locally-owned partners to elevate their small group adventures (starting at $1,825 per person). On one trip to Cairngorms National Park, we e-biked through the mountains to the off-grid Loch Ossian Youth Hostel, which can only be reached by foot or bike. The company uses trains where possible and has a fleet of electric vehicles to cart travelers when private wheels are necessary. They鈥檝e also scored every single one of their offerings so you can see how your carbon footprint on, say, an overnight, island-to-island kayaking and camping trip around the Hebrides compares to a trip where you鈥檇 stay in local inns and hotels.

Best of all, you can take the swanky Caledonian Sleeper Train straight from London to trail towns like Fort William, a terminus of the West Highland Way, and Inverness, where you can walk to put-ins for the .

5. Kyoto, Japan

Japan is a world leader in public transportation and plastic recycling. But the city of Kyoto wins for more than just environmental sustainability. The city has done an impeccable job of preserving its history and cultural heritage, too. It , like woven and dyed textiles, woodcrafts, and handmade washi paper, to keep them alive. There are also , which have been lauded for their dedication to maintaining their original form even as they age and restoration becomes inevitable.

Kyoto offers a fascinating balance of the new, the old, and the natural, all of which are connected by near-perfect public transportation. Within the city limits but worlds away from its busyness, you鈥檒l find the rural town of Ohara hiding among the foothills. Here, the natural environment blends seamlessly with urban comforts. Enjoy a stay in a ryokan to get a sense for traditional Japanese hospitality. Bathing rituals at onsen, or spring-fed baths, offer a glimpse at traditions that have evolved over more than a thousand years. Several temples in the area provide a quiet place for reflection among well-manicured grounds.

The city is also a leader in sustainable tourism among other peer cities in Asia. In 2019, it was the first Asian city to join the , which measures cities鈥� progress on various sustainability measures and creates benchmarks for improvement. Of course, there鈥檚 also ubiquitous public transportation connecting Kyoto to the rest of Japan, offering guilt-free access to adventure and culture well beyond the city limits.

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I am not a runner. And yet,听somehow, on a recent rainy Saturday morning, I found myself literally chasing men around the marshy parkland in my East London neighborhood.

They were all much faster than me, and so I gave up.

I sat down on the first bench I stumbled upon and thought about what a great story it would be if a very lovely, witty, and attractive Londoner just so happened to be running very late that morning. Late enough that I was in the way of his path.

鈥淵ou alright?鈥� I imagined he would say. This is a standard British greeting and should not be confused with a genuine question, as it translates to a passing 鈥淗ello!鈥� But as an American transplant, I would upcycle the acknowledgment of my existence into a kind concern about my wellbeing, and I would run with it鈥攁ll the way to a nearby caf茅, where we could have a cup of tea sheltered from the downpour. Never again would I be forced to even think about running in the rain, except for when we would laugh about this story at our wedding.

Alas, Prince Charming did not show. He and all his fellow could-be suitors were already two miles ahead of me by the time I dragged myself off my sodden log bench and back toward the trail. I sighed, disappointed in myself at this spectacular lack of stamina. Well, I figured, I guess this is why people go to run club every week.

I was at the Hackney Marshes Parkrun, a casual, weekly 5K that鈥檚 free to participate in and manages a leaderboard letting you know exactly how much slower you are than the other 300-plus members. I went not because I wanted to run but because I was looking for dates.

Dating Is Really Hard Right Now

Like many other singles, I have grown exasperated by the apps. According to the , at least 30 percent of American adults have used dating apps at some point, and we are fairly evenly split between finding the experience to be a net positive or net negative. Just over half say the apps have been 鈥渧ery or somewhat positive.鈥�

I would place myself in this more optimistic category鈥擨 have met many wonderful men on dating apps who have become close friends despite the romance not working out. However, the relationships that have spawned from these apps have gotten shorter and shorter as I鈥檝e gotten听older. Maybe we鈥檙e too old now to settle for clear incompatibility, preferring to be independent rather than mismatched. Or maybe we鈥檙e less willing to invest time into something that doesn鈥檛 feel like a hell yes from date one.

Either way, I鈥檓 in my early thirties and have been largely single for the last five years. So, I figured, why not try some literal speed dating?

How hard is a 5K? I wondered. True, I鈥檝e never completed one, at least not without stopping, and I鈥檝e never even participated in a race. But I did run (鈥渞un鈥�) a cumulative 13 miles in mid-January at an event called The Swimmer, which involved jogging to and then swimming (or, in my case, 鈥渟wimming鈥�) in four of London鈥檚 outdoor, unheated pools and ponds. Many successful couples have met each other at previous Swimmers, the founder told me at the time. They bonded over the sufferfest, and later married. That could be me! I thought.

I鈥檓 not the only one who鈥檚 looking for kismet the old-fashioned way. Scores of people around the world have turned to hobbies and run clubs to try to meet others with common interests, and many companies have popped up to serve those desires. At least one dating app, , is trying to make that easier by facilitating singles-only events in cities across the world, catering to a wide variety of interests.

Why Millennials and Gen Z Are Bringing Back Singles Events

In early July, one week before the Hackney Marshes Parkrun, I ventured to southwestern London for the Thursday Singles Run Club, a ticketed 5K jog. If you鈥檙e unfamiliar with Thursday, it has features similar to all the other apps you鈥檝e tried, but it only works on Thursdays鈥擫ondoners鈥� date night of choice. But the real draw, for me and most other users, is the in-person, singles-only events the company hosts.

I鈥檝e been to at least six or seven at venues ranging from cocktail bars (too loud) to a ball pit nightclub (too young) to a climbing gym (just right). The Singles Run Club was a little too fast for my ultra-beginner skill level, which made it tricky to have meaningful conversations, but I still enjoyed it. I met at least a dozen participants before and afterward, and they all seemed lovely.

Everyone I talked to said essentially the same thing: dating has gotten harder, the apps have gotten tired, and we want to try something new.

Matt McNeill Love, Thursday鈥檚 founder, told me he鈥檚 seen a massive shift toward in-person singles events as Thursday has grown. The company started in the U.K. and now runs events in major cities in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. They also host an annual singles ski trip to听France.

There was definitely some awkwardness at the beginning of the Thursday singles run, as attendees divided themselves along gender lines (Thursday has put on some LGBTQIA+-focused events, but the one I attended attracted largely straight people).

I think an icebreaker is warranted to get people chatting with members of the opposite sex. We鈥檙e human, after all, not reality TV stars on The Bachelor or Love Island鈥攖his stuff is hard, which is perhaps why nearly half of these days. But people did mingle eventually, and the vibe was much lighter and friendlier once we all finished the 5K, high on endorphins. A few people I talked to seemed to be serious runners, but many were like me: curious about running but more interested in dating.

Can Running Clubs Fix Modern Dating?

鈥淒ating in this world is really hard right now,鈥� Rosie Smith, a 29-year-old PhD student at Cambridge University who wishes to use a pseudonym, told me after the run. We grabbed drinks and hung out at a picnic table in the sun with a small group of other Thursday runners. I wanted to know what had possessed them to try to chase down a partner on one of the hottest days of summer so far. Many had traveled over an hour from other parts of London and even other cities. Catherine Mwandi, a 33-year-old living in Windsor, told me, 鈥淕etting a job is easier鈥� than dating today.

鈥淎s you get older, your criteria changes,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淏efore, I wasn鈥檛 thinking about compatibility; I was just like, 鈥楧o I fancy him?鈥� Now, you actually think about whether they fit into your life, as well.鈥�

Mwandi said she sometimes feels like she鈥檚 missed her shot. 鈥淕rowing up, you don鈥檛 realize how hard it is to make connections with people,鈥� she said.

Everything Mwandi and Smith said resonated with me. In my thirties, I鈥檝e found it easier to meet people but harder to meet the right person for whom I鈥檓 willing to reshape my life. I have lost track of how many meet-cutes have led to promising second and third dates before reality sets in and one of us realizes this whole partnership thing is too much, too soon. It鈥檚 like we鈥檙e too wary to let dating be easy, to just meet someone organically and allow it to run its own course without tripping ourselves up along the way.

I have often criticized the dating scene in London for being full of people who skip out in the early days of relationships that are 90-percent amazing because they think someone who鈥檚 100-percent perfect is waiting just around the corner. But of course, you have to want to be in it. You have to feel the drive to keep running alongside this other person, for curiosity to push you to chase them just a little further.

Especially if you meet them at a run club an hour away from your house.

Based on My Experience, I’d Say Give It a Shot

So, how did it go? I left the Thursday singles run with a half-dozen new phone numbers, but I suppose you could say I cheated: I acquired these numbers under the guise of journalistic due diligence so that I could text the link to this article once it gets published. I didn鈥檛 meet anyone I clicked with straight away, and no one asked me out.

I didn鈥檛 get any dates out of Parkrun, either, but I think we鈥檒l blame that on the rain鈥攖he group was much too large to convene inside the caf茅, and the weather was much too dismal to hang around outside to chat. Parkrun might be too speed-oriented to facilitate easy chit-chat while moving, but I鈥檝e been investigating some other smaller and more social run clubs in my neighborhood. I鈥檓 particularly interested in one that finishes at my favorite pub.

Even though I didn’t meet Prince Charming, there was nothing about either event that felt like a waste to me. I think Harry Ballard, a 24-year-old I talked to at the Thursday run, said it best: 鈥淚f you do speed dating and you don鈥檛 meet anyone, it literally was a waste of your time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you do a run, at least you got听a good run out of it.鈥�

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At the southern terminus of the Cotswold Way, a 102-mile trail through the English countryside, there鈥檚 a beautiful sight for sore legs: the Roman Baths.

is a time-honored tradition in the U.S. and beyond, and not just because soaking feels good after a long walk. Many hot springs enthusiasts also claim that the waters themselves have healing properties. The Romans were no different: They believed Bath鈥檚 springs, which are today cordoned off as a museum exhibit, could and other afflictions. And now, recent science shows that they might have actually been right.

Bath鈥檚 Bacteria-Fighting Microbes

Scientists from the University of Plymouth recently analyzed Bath鈥檚 spring-fed waters and discovered 15 different types of microorganisms with the potential to fight human pathogens. These microorganisms have natural antimicrobial properties that could be , including E. coli infections, staph infections, and others.

While doctors currently have treatments for many of these infections, the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance could render some of them ineffective over time. If that proves true, then Bath鈥檚 waters could be the secret to finding new, more effective antibiotics.

By 2050, 鈥渁ntimicrobial resistance is predicted to be , maybe even more so,鈥� says Dr. Lee Hutt, senior author on the research paper published in the journal The Microbe. As bacteria grow more and more resistant to antibiotic drugs, we may soon find ourselves at risk of dying from infections we see as minor today. And as hot springs are literal hotbeds of microbe activity, they could hold many more opportunities for potentially life-saving antibacterial microorganisms.

Healing Lore in Hot Springs Around the World

Interestingly, Bath鈥檚 hot springs don鈥檛 have the best track record for good bacteria. The Roman Baths were closed for swimming and bathing in 1978 after a girl died from a bacterial disease contracted in the pool. However, other springs have more consistent reputations. Tennessee鈥檚 , for example, were long thought to cure rheumatism, tuberculosis, and other ailments. And many of Colorado鈥檚 were used by Native Ute people for centuries as a source of healing and medicine.

Across cultures, hot springs have held similar allure. Perhaps it鈥檚 no wonder. Hot springs are a very unique environment, Hutt says, and he thinks they have a lot of potential, worldwide, to harbor other interesting microbes鈥攊ncluding bacteria with possible medicinal uses.

Another recent study in Japan supports this idea of healing potential. Research published in January by Scientific Reports found that visitors to hot springs in Kyushu, Japan, after soaking for at least 20 minutes per day over the course of a week. Just by soaking in the hot springs鈥攏ot drinking them鈥攖hey experienced significant increases in certain types of gut microbiota.

Most notably, participants saw an increase in B. bifidum concentrations. That bacterium has been linked to improved glucose tolerance, relief from constipation, and better gut immunity overall. A limitation of the study, however, was that it didn鈥檛 involve a control group or compare results with a test group that experienced the heat of a sauna, for example, without the presence of the bacteria. So, it鈥檚 still possible that it鈥檚 the heat of the hot springs鈥攔ather than what鈥檚 in the water鈥攖hat facilitates a beneficial environment for your gut. Scientists will need to conduct more research before we can say for certain.

So鈥擠o Hot Springs Really Have Healing Properties?

Hutt said it鈥檚 important to note that you won鈥檛 cure diseases just by soaking in the hot springs alone. Significant research and testing still needs to be conducted in order to figure out how to make these microbes work for us in a medicinal capacity. There is a slim chance, however, that the Romans might have experienced the benefits of antibiotics in the water if they soaked in the pools while suffering from some kind of skin infection, he said. But he emphasized that that鈥檚 a stretch.

Of course, it鈥檚 hard to deny that soaking in hot springs can also make you feel better immediately. According to the Aspen Valley Hospital, a relative neighbor to the famous , soaking can , improve flexibility, and help you sweat to clear clogged pores. Minerals in some hot springs can also decrease stress, the hospital said, but we鈥檇 venture to guess that the simple fact of sitting in a natural hot tub with a stunning mountain view is pretty relaxing in itself. Even better, perhaps, if you鈥檝e hiked there yourself.

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The first time I went to a clothing-optional hot spring in Colorado, I was shocked. It was afternoon on a super-sunny spring day, and strangers sitting in the pool around me were talking about politics. While naked. I couldn鈥檛 believe how comfortable all the nude soakers seemed, or that I was one of very few opting to stay covered.

That place, on the Orient Land Trust in Colorado, quickly became a place of lore among my friend group. It was a get-comfortable-quick scheme if I鈥檝e ever experienced one. There was no deep end to hide in鈥攋ust broad daylight and bare bums. I stayed in a hostel-style bunk room on the property, and distinctly remember the sight of one of my fellow bunkers鈥攖he man sleeping below me鈥攚alking around the kitchen and living room with his bathrobe hanging wide open.

You could call it weird, sure, and I definitely found it awkward, but that was as weird as it got. Everyone was operating within their own comfort zone, and no one encroached on anyone else鈥檚. I learned from this: There are few more rewarding accomplishments than being so comfortable in your own skin that you are not bothered at all by who sees it, let alone what they think of it.

Years later, I started traveling abroad for work and was frequently plunged into different sets of cultural norms around nudity. In the United States, I was typically shy in locker rooms, often opting for restroom stalls over communal changing areas. But on a co-ed ski weekend with friends in Sweden, I found it surprisingly commonplace to walk around the cabin in one鈥檚 underwear. In Iceland, I saw men and women shamelessly changing into and out of bathing suits in open air next to a naturally hot river.

On a business trip to Hokkaido, Japan, I ran into other women in my group at the hotel onsen鈥攁 hot spring or mineral bath in Japan鈥攚here full nudity was so essential to the experience that you should not even consider asking to leave your bathing suit on. And in Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, I have come across many a botched English translation sternly warning sauna-goers of the rules: No 鈥榖ath textiles鈥� allowed.

These experiences underscored for me how arbitrary body shame is, and how nudity is only sexualized and inappropriate if we make it so. Of course, I鈥檓 not advocating for you to show up to your office naked on Monday鈥攃ontext matters. But what better place to get than, well, nature?

Whether you鈥檙e a full-fledged nudist or just wanting to bare a few toes, National Nude Day is coming up on July 14. Consider venturing to one of these nude-friendly destinations.

Valley View Hot Springs, Colorado

is one of Colorado鈥檚 best-kept secrets. Its website does not do it justice, so don鈥檛 bother looking at the photos; just book and turn up. The whole site is clothing-optional, and offers a range of affordable cabins, private rooms, bunk beds, and camping sites. The site offers a sauna and a few built-up soaking and swimming pools, some of which are artificially heated so they鈥檙e piping hot, as well as a handful of natural pools you can hike to. The area is isolated and well-protected from light pollution, so you can soak under the stars when you stay overnight. Make a road trip out of it by stopping at Great Sand Dunes National Park on your way out or back. We definitely recommend clothes for that, though.

Dyer Woods Nudist Campground, Foster, Rhode Island

In the western half of Rhode Island, the North South Trail runs from the Connecticut border to the ocean. Dispersed camping isn鈥檛 allowed on the 75-mile trail鈥攖he Ocean State doesn鈥檛 have much wild open space鈥攂ut the is conveniently located right off the path. All common areas here are strictly clothing-free zones, so go on: have a barbecue in the buff.

Lake Michigan, Michigan

It鈥檚 a Great Lake鈥攐f course there鈥檚 space for sly skinny dipping. But the Naked 国产吃瓜黑料 Club of Detroit didn鈥檛 stop at just one鈥攖hey recently organized a road trip to skinny dip in all five Great Lakes in 24 hours. Check out their for upcoming adventures (or just some inspiration), or look for a similar club near you. The lists dozens of local and regional groups where you can find some company for adventures au natural. These include: The , , and the .

Sauvie Island Nude Beach, Portland, Oregon

Ten miles northwest of Portland, Oregon, you鈥檒l find one of the largest river islands in the country. Sauvie Island, sandwiched between the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, is roughly the size of Manhattan. Its mile-long has been a nudist hotspot since at least the 1970s. Collins is almost completely surrounded by a fish and game reserve, offering it a fair bit of privacy, but take care to know where you are and abide by the rules. Neighboring property owners have complained in the past about nude beachgoers traipsing a little close for comfort, according to the island鈥檚 visitor page. Make a whole day out of it by exploring Sturgeon, Steelman, and Mud Lakes, which are popular spots for kayaking.

Parksland Retreat, Alabama

Escape to the forests of Talladega, Alabama, for a clothing-optional oasis with just about every outdoor activity you can imagine. At , you can fish, paddle, rock climb, swim, cook over an open fire, and take a short hike to the Blue Hole Waterfall. Parksland stretches across 40 acres of land in the Talladega National Forest, and has accommodations for every style: tent pitches, yurts, and cabins. It鈥檚 no surprise it was named the No. 1[[number one]] Hipcamp site in Alabama last year.

Lupin Lodge, Santa Clara, California

One quick look at the offerings of in California鈥檚 Santa Cruz Mountains is enough to signal there鈥檚 something fascinating going on here. The hosts of this compound of yurts and canvas tent sites say the property is a private nature park, destination resort, and a 鈥渞ecreational/athletic/fitness/social club.鈥� It鈥檚 also an art gallery, a massage school, a campground, and a 鈥渟pontaneous retreat.鈥� Reviews are massively positive, with nudist-curious (and perhaps even nudist-skeptical) guests praising the lodge as a relaxing, freeing, and welcoming introduction into clothing-optional spaces. Come for a visit and you鈥檒l be treated to 110 acres of mountain biking, Redwood hikes, swimming, and wildlife watching.

Ten Thousand Waves, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Curious about onsens, but can鈥檛 make it to Japan? Check out Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, which is known for its . Once you arrive on site, you can put on a traditional Japanese yukata鈥攁 casual kimono鈥攁nd wear it around the entire property throughout your visit, including to dinner. Bathing suits are required in some soaking pools, but all private soaking areas are clothing-optional.

Seattle, Washington

For years, the have added a bold and colorful flair to Seattle鈥檚 Fremont Solstice Parade. This year, the clothing-optional crew will ride through the city on June 22. So grab your bike, paint your body鈥攐r stay tuned for details on joining the pre-parade paint party鈥攁nd hit the road. (But please wear a helmet.)

Maine

Yes, that鈥檚 right. All of it. Maine may have Puritanical roots, but in many ways it鈥檚 just as live-free-or-die as its next-door neighbor. Maine state law 鈥攄efined as 鈥渒nowingly鈥� exposing one鈥檚 genitalia 鈥渦nder circumstances that in fact are likely to cause affront or alarm.鈥� So, be cool about it, stay discreet, and go trail run wild. Not sure where to start? Maybe try this , which costs just $140 per night and still has some availability for the summer solstice. There are a few catches, depending on how luxurious you like your wilderness-adjacent experiences to be鈥攖here are 鈥渕osquitoes galore鈥� in the summertime. So, even if you do plan to go au natural, you might still want to consider investing in some serious bug repellent technology. Or at least get a head net.

Kassondra is an outdoor travel journalist from Rhode Island whose experiences with nude saunas听abroad quite literally changed her life. She now lives in London, where nudity is just as frowned upon as it is back home. She has installed a clothing-optional sauna tent in her backyard. Thankfully, she has only听 once.

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Maybe we鈥檙e biased, but we like to think outdoor gear companies are changing the world in ways that far surpass the size of their business. The outdoor industry is full of adventurers who are passionate about playing hard in nature and working hard to protect it. And you can bet the people who work at these brands are talking to one another.

They meet up at industry events, and they ski, climb, hike, camp, paddle, and practice yoga with another, trading intel about threats our public lands face and trying to figure out what they can do about it. Many of these companies鈥� leaders directly and indirectly push each other to set and meet challenging goals for getting plastic out of shipping, making their designs more eco-friendly, or rallying customers to advocate for public policy change. And as they influence one another to make their businesses better, they influence us to make better choices, too.

Of course, the ultimate sustainability move is to not make anything at all. Making more stuff鈥攔egardless of what it is鈥攔equires resources. Crafting apparel from organic cotton doesn鈥檛 un-use the water it takes to turn that cotton into a t-shirt, and neither does planting an entire forest of trees. So it takes a lot more than green听design to have a net-positive impact on the world.听

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies doing valuable work to not just offset the impact of producing consumer goods but also improve the outdoors. We think the the eight brands listed here go above and beyond. They push the envelope for sustainability in design鈥攚hich should be the bare minimum these days anyway鈥�raise the standards for corporate and social responsibility in ways that improve lives around the world, have meaningful environmental impact, and influence both competitors and customers for the better.听

Patagonia

Obviously, you can鈥檛 talk about advocacy, conservation, or political action within the outdoor industry without namedropping Patagonia. In addition to the brand鈥檚 well-publicized stunts to raise money for environmental causes鈥攍ike donating all of its Black Friday sales, , to 1% for the Planet back in 2016鈥擯atagonia also holds social influence to motivate its customers to take political action. The company鈥檚 Worn Wear program has made it cool to repair, upcycle, and recycle your worn-out stuff instead of just tossing it or letting it rot in the back of your closet, keeping untold heaps of clothing out of landfills. It鈥檚 not afraid to campaign for political change or pick fights with state, federal, or outdoor industry leadership. And Patagonia鈥檚 workplace policies have set and raised standards that transcend the outdoor industry, from offering childcare at its headquarters to committing to posting bail for employees who are arrested for protesting abortion restrictions.

The bottom line: Patagonia is the O.G. benchmark for corporate responsibility, and has shown us time and again that it is indeed possible to run a profitable business while also standing for something, treating people well, and making a damn good product that lasts for generations鈥攖he ultimate sustainable design.

REI

As one of the biggest retailers of outdoor gear in the U.S., REI Co-op holds a massive amount of influence. And it鈥檚 proven willing to wield that power to make positive change not just for the environment but for social good. Take REI鈥檚, for example: a $30 million program to provide funding and support for non-white entrepreneurs鈥攚ho currently make up just 1 percent of outdoor industry brand founders. Separately, the REI Cooperative Action Fund provides grants to local organizations across the country who are working on recreation access issues for the millions of Americans who can鈥檛 easily get out in nature or don鈥檛 feel like they belong in the great outdoors.

REI also exerts influence on the brands it stocks, pushing them to invest in greener design and expand size inclusivity. Its demand that brand partners do the following, among other things: establish an action plan to calculate and reduce their carbon footprints; annually measure and share sustainability outputs performance; have policies in place to prevent cultural appropriation; and use ethically-sourced down and wool. By 2030, every product on REI shelves is expected to have at least one for sustainability, such as Bluesign-approved chemicals or Climate Neutral certification.

As a beloved retailer and adventure outfitter, REI influences us, too: REI鈥檚 shares information about pending legislation affecting climate change, equity in outdoor access, and conservation, and provides tools to help customers get in touch with their elected officials. Through this platform, REI has recorded sending over 140,000 letters to representatives . And you can call #Opt国产吃瓜黑料 a publicity stunt if you like, but show us another ad campaign that sparked a widespread seven-year (and counting) tradition to ditch Black Friday shopping in favor of spending the day outdoors.

Finally, REI has demonstrated attention and care to threats to its own employees, if they have to travel out of state to do it.

Tentree

Here鈥檚 the problem with audacious claims to change the world through product sales or one-for-one style donation campaigns (鈥測ou buy X, we give Y鈥�): How on Earth can you verify that the cause you think you鈥檙e helping actually benefits from your dollars? Tentree has clearly thought about this.

Since 2012, Tentree has been planting 10 trees for every product sold. That amounts to more than 80 million trees to date, and they’re well on their way to their goal of planting 1 billion by 2030. Since this past Earth Day they鈥檙e taking it one step further with a blockchain verification system that lets customers check in and confirm that the trees their products supported have actually been planted. The system,, is backed by the public blockchain platform Cardano and makes it possible for everyone involved in the tree planting to keep in touch, track progress, and stay accountable to orders placed. Other companies that promote planting programs can use the technology, too.听

Tentree鈥檚 commitment to transparency applies to its own business, too: The company has gone through the rigorous process of being (with an impressive score of 124.6, far above the required 80 point threshold) and has published an explaining exactly how they measure the environmental impact of their products and how they compare to conventional design. Want to support the cause without buying new stuff? Tentree also enables customers to buy carbon offsets in the form of themed tree planting packages to make up for Netflix binges, delivery habits, international flights, and more.听

Janji

Janji stands out for its to support one goal鈥攃lean water access鈥攁round the globe. Each year, the running apparel brand commissions local artists to design a unique product line with a limited run. For their latest product drop, Janji hired Indonesian artist . He used a traditional Batik technique, which involves color blocking on fabric canvas with wax, to create his prints for the series.

The company takes special care to manufacture clothes using durable fabric that is often recycled and designed to reduce microfiber shedding. Two percent of proceeds from every piece sold go back to a local NGO partner working on water sanitation and access projects in the artists鈥� communities. Janji鈥檚 latest NGO recipient is , which is working to remove garbage from Indonesia鈥檚 Citarum River, one of the world鈥檚 most polluted waterways.

Janji also recently introduced a membership program that gives customers a lifetime discount in exchange for a $25 fee, to those same clean water initiatives around the world.听

Toad & Co

Being a sustainable apparel company requires more these days than simply using the least water-intensive fabric you can find. And while Toad & Co is committed to using organic and recycled fibers and Bluesign- and Oeko-Tex-certified materials, it鈥檚 also shown a clear commitment to investing in the circular economy. As a founding partner to the Renewal Workshop, which has since been acquired by global supply chain manager Bleckmann, Toad & Co got in on the ground floor with an idea that has since diverted over .

More recently, the brand has curated its own vintage line and partnered with online secondhand retailer ThredUp to encourage customers to send in clothing from any brand in exchange for store credit. They鈥檙e working to ship those products in eco-friendlier ways, too. From experimenting with reusable mailers and fully-recyclable paper packaging to to test-drive paper poly bags (the protective coverings your clothing is usually shipped in), Toad & Co seems willing to take risks in pursuit of 鈥攐ne of which is to be plastic-free by 2026.

Toad & Co has a longstanding commitment to providing employment and improving recreation access issues for people with disabilities. In 1997 the brand partnered with nonprofit Search, Inc. to co-found the Planet Access Company, which provides job training and employment for people with developmental disabilities. Since 2000, Toad & Co has also provided grants to fund outdoor adventures for people who face barriers to access.

LifeStraw

LifeStraw acts like a people-first, not product-first, company. It started out by developing a simple plastic straw for humanitarian work to prevent Guinea worm disease. In the ensuing decades, the company has grown to make impressive sales of trail-focused water filters, and it puts proceeds toward funding clean water projects and providing emergency relief in disaster situations.

LifeStraw hires local employees in the communities it operates instead of dropping in workers from elsewhere in the world, and provides necessary education, training, and support around water safety rather than just dropping off products and heading home. Its efforts have helped tens of millions of people, including 6 million kids a year who get access to safe drinking water with LifeStraw water purification systems in their schools.听

LifeStraw is certified as a Climate Neutral company and has , as does its parent company, Vestergaard. It also has a robust internal code of conduct and non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, all of which are publicly available to read.

BioLite

BioLite鈥檚 innovative solar, power, and cookstove products make great backpacking companions, but its household products are also directly changing lives in communities where people lack access to electricity, artificial lighting, and clean-burning stoves. Biolite cookstoves have been certified by the United Nations as a viable carbon-reducing solution, which they鈥檝e been able to monetize to offset their production costs and provide the stoves inexpensively to people who need them. While producing solar products can be environmentally taxing itself, BioLite has been independently to prove that the carbon emissions from those its manufacturing operations are suitably offset.

BioLite estimates that it provided clean energy access to over 2 million people last year alone, and is aiming to reach 20 million total by 2025. The brand also says it offset an estimated 719,000 tons of CO2 in 2021, equivalent to taking 155,000 cars (that鈥檚 very roughly the entire population of a small city like Tallahassee, Florida) off the road for an entire year.

And if that鈥檚 not enough, BioLite products are also putting significant cash back into the pockets of its customers. According to the company鈥檚 the annual energy savings families have realized from these products amounted to an estimated $176 million last year, which for many of BioLite鈥檚 lowest-income customers equates to about 14 percent of their annual income.听

The North Face

As the outdoor industry鈥檚 second-biggest brand (Patagonia is the first, ), when The North Face speaks, everyone listens. And by expertly straddling the adventure space and lifestyle consumer apparel, TNF has a wide, diverse audience. In recent years, the brand has put money and movements behind inclusivity projects making impacts in communities across the U.S. Just one example: TNF鈥檚 adventure grant program Explore Fund recently got a major overhaul when the brand committed an additional $7 million and . And another: the Walls Are Meant for Climbing campaign provided funding for local community recreation projects like a climbing wall in in the face of calls to 鈥渂uild that wall鈥� at the border.

Behind the scenes, TNF is continually working on improving its design sustainability鈥攁nd with the scale of the business, those changes have wide-reaching effects. Its PFC-free Futurelight series pushes the envelope for sustainable waterproof gear made without harsh, greenhouse gas-emitting chemicals. And to using 100 percent听organic, regenerative, responsibly-sourced or recycled fabrics, FSC-certified shipping materials, and no single-use plastics by 2025.

TNF has also made it easier for individual customers to shop more sustainably. Its sell repaired gear and one-of-a-kind pieces, like down parkas, that have been professionally cleaned and repaired by designers who鈥檝e taken rips and tears as invitations to make something special. And through its program, people can drop off unwanted clothes at any TNF retail shop鈥攔egardless of who made them鈥攕o they can be sent off and sorted for reuse or responsible recycling into raw materials.

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If you keep your money in a checking account with a major bank in the United States, there鈥檚 a good chance you鈥檙e inadvertently funding projects that directly negate the efforts you make to mitigate your climate impact. If you鈥檙e signed up with a big bank like Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, or Bank of America, bad news: your money is .

Massive oil and gas companies need to borrow money to build new pipelines or start extracting from new areas. They get that money from institutions, like JPMorgan Chase鈥攖he bank I鈥檝e used for the past several years鈥攚hich over the past three years. And Chase gets that money from people like us, who store our paychecks and savings with the bank in exchange for a paltry few cents of interest each year.

During conversations I had with several leaders from financial institutions and environmental agencies, the same idea kept coming up: we often think of our money as a pile of cash sitting in a bank vault, waiting for us to need it. But in reality, about 90 percent of that money is being lent out at any given time, and it鈥檚 鈥渄riving the destruction of the planet,鈥� says Andrei Cherny, CEO and co-founder of , a new banking option. Banks have invested an average of roughly $2.4 billion per day in fossil fuel companies since the was signed in 2015, according to the , a group that assesses greenhouse gas emissions associated with loans and investments. And while some major players have recently to slow down such funding or , a total environmental ceasefire is a long way off. In May, Chase shareholders a to force the company to be more transparent about its fossil fuel investments and outline plans to reduce its impact in line with the Paris Agreement.

鈥淭here are a lot of people out there who are recycling their aluminum cans and drinking out of metal straws and making all kinds of differences in their lives, and yet thinking nothing about buying that drink with a Wells Fargo debit card,鈥� Cherny says. 鈥淭heir money sitting in a big bank is actually having a much bigger negative impact than all the other positive impacts they鈥檙e making.鈥�

Why You Should Switch Banks

鈥淚 had a lightbulb moment myself thinking, wait a second, I recycle, I work for an environmental nonprofit, I do all these things,鈥� says Kate Williams, CEO of . 鈥淏ut in a way, is the biggest way that I can drive impact through what鈥檚 happening with the dollars I have in my bank account or retirement account?鈥� The organization itself, which is based in Burlington, Vermont, now banks with a local credit union, VSECU, which Williams says is a positive community force. It sponsors a community co-working space, runs an investment platform to support local businesses, and offers a , among other initiatives.

Williams says 1% for the Planet has seen a recent uptick in new members from the financial sector, including investment firms and financial planners, which is a good sign that tides could be changing. 鈥淭here is this growing awareness that what I do with my dollars, from investing to how I set up my retirement accounts, all of that makes a big difference and is a big driver of change,鈥� she says.

It can certainly be a hassle to switch banks, but moving your money not only pulls your own dollars out of fossil fuels, but also sends a message to the big banks that you鈥檙e not willing to let them profit off extracting from the planet.

Greener Banks

John Oppermann, executive director of the environmental awareness nonprofit , recommends starting your search with local credit unions, which typically have better sustainability records and are more focused on your community. But there are also some bigger options with solid records.

Bank of the West

On July 20, launched a . One percent of the revenue the bank makes from every such account will be donated to environmental causes at no cost to the account holder. Based on internal calculations, Bank of the West estimates this will amount to $150,000 to $200,000 from the first year of the program and has selected to be the first beneficiary. Account holders can keep an eye on their own footprint as well, thanks to a tool that estimates the carbon output of every purchase. Bank of the West has that rule how it lends your money: it won鈥檛 fund Arctic drilling; irresponsible palm oil production; coal-fired plants that aren鈥檛 working to transition; fracking, shale, and tar sands mining; tobacco; or unsustainable wood pulp production. It has committed to divest from thermal coal by 2040, and hasn鈥檛 funded new coal projects since 2017. 鈥淓nergy is big business, so some of the largest American banks are some of the largest fossil fuel financers in the world,鈥� says Ben Stuart, chief marketing officer at Bank of the West. Walking away from that money is a 鈥渂old choice,鈥� he says, but an important one.

Amalgamated Bank

is a B Corp and a member of the , which is committed to making the banking industry more socially and environmentally sustainable. Aside from promising to refrain from funding fossil fuel companies and instead investing heavily in clean energy, Amalgamated has a long list of credentials holding it accountable to its promises. It鈥檚 one of just a few U.S. banks that have signed the , a commitment to evaluate its impact on people and the planet, set targets for improvement, and publicly report on their progress. Amalgamated also signed the , which promises to make no new loans to the top 200 fossil fuel companies, exit any existing investments within five years, and contribute to climate solutions. And it led the charge to bring North American banks on board with the , a global effort for transparency in the financial sector. Morgan Stanley and Bank of America have since joined the cause.

Aspiration

A certified B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, online-only launched in 2015 with a mission that includes a promise to keep deposits fossil fuel-free. Co-founder听Cherny听worked under Vice President Al Gore during the Clinton administration, including on climate change issues, and has also spent time consulting for big banks. He says he鈥檚 seen firsthand that they鈥檙e making 鈥渨ay too much money on things that are destroying the planet鈥� to have any incentive to change of their own accord. One of Aspiration鈥檚 most unique features is a tool called , which analyzes hundreds of thousands of data points to create scores for companies based on their sustainability records and their reputations for how they treat their employees. Customers can use this tool to decide on the fly, say, whether they want to shop at CVS or Walgreens. You can also opt in to programs that will automatically deduct money from your checking account to plant a tree every time you make a purchase or to on your behalf, calculated from an estimate for how much you drive based on the gas you purchase with your debit card.

Don鈥檛 Leave Your Bank Quietly

If you decide to switch banks鈥擨鈥檓 planning to!鈥攄on鈥檛 go in silence. Earth Day Initiative鈥檚 Oppermann says you should be a 鈥渃limate communicator鈥� and tell the bank you鈥檙e leaving because you disagree with its climate policies. Likewise, if you move to a bank or local credit union with policies against supporting fossil fuel companies, express when you join that you chose it because of that.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a widespread belief in a lot of industries that people aren鈥檛 actually motivated to change their behavior or who they shop with based on climate change,鈥� Oppermann says. 鈥淏ut if you start providing that feedback, that can get passed up the channel, so there鈥檚 more and more pressure for those organizations to actually change their behavior and divest from fossil fuels.鈥�

Don鈥檛 call it quits after you switch banks, either. Oppermann has been involved in an effort to get Harvard, where he attended law school, to transition away from investments in fossil fuels, and it鈥檚 not the only institution with such investments. In addition to moving your own money, Oppermann encourages speaking up to all organizations where you have a voice. You can ask your own university where it invests its endowment, if it has one, or you could ask your church or a nonprofit you volunteer for where it does its banking.

鈥淭his works across the spectrum,鈥� Stuart says. 鈥淚f you think about how organic yogurt got into Walmart, it鈥檚 because consumers came and said, 鈥楧o you have organic yogurt?鈥� Consumers pushed it. We want people to do the same thing with their banks.鈥�

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It鈥檚 become one of my favorite traditions. Every year, some of my best girlfriends and I head to Utah. We play in the mountains with our dogs, splash in hidden swimming holes, marvel at the Milky Way. Every trip has a different flavor, but we always come back as a more fulfilled version听of ourselves. Utah is good like that. And, if you're like me, you've found peace and grounding in nature this year like never before. Whether it鈥檚 late night conversations around the campfire or the kind of blazing sunrise only the red-rock desert seems to be capable of producing, the state鈥檚 epic landscapes have a profound way of helping you reconnect with friends and focus on what really matters. Sound like what you鈥檙e looking for, too? Here are some ideas to get a big dose of nature鈥檚 nourishing power.听

You Can Go Off the Grid or Live in Luxury听

Utah has seemingly endless swaths of public lands where both the dispersed and established camping are unrivaled. As of early July, while some activities and services may be limited, nearly all of the state鈥檚 parks and open spaces are open (check out the state鈥檚 continuously updated guidelines on responsible travel ). You can browse online, but in Utah there鈥檚 room to roam and explore however you want to. I鈥檝e found some of my favorite dispersed sites by chance, in areas near Valley of the Gods, a landscape whose stunning deep-red hoodoos do its name justice, and , where you can hike to archeological sites of Ancestral Puebloan villages. (The visitor center is currently closed, but trails, roads, and restrooms are open, as is dispersed camping in the surrounding ).

Prefer something a little more luxe? The state is home to dozens and dozens of world-class luxury resorts within footsteps of mountain playgrounds. Ski resorts turn into mountain-biking meccas by summer. In , you can rip singletrack all day at Deer Valley鈥檚 bike park, which is operating this summer with socially distant measures in place, and then sleep slopeside in luxury at resorts like the , which reopened for business on July 1st, by night. Rebecka Zavaleta, who works in ad tech in Los Angeles, visits Park City with friends almost every year, in part, because she loves the city鈥檚 atmosphere, views, and dining scene. After a long day of adventuring in the mountains, she loves coming back to town. 鈥淭he food scene in Park City is amazing,” she says. She recommends dinner at the upscale , which features southern-style dishes and, like many of Park City's incredible restaurants, is offering curbside pickup to keep customers safe.

You Can Learn a New Sport鈥擲afely

You don鈥檛 have to be a seasoned outdoor adventurer to take advantage of the state鈥檚 natural playgrounds. From rock climbing and rafting to trail running and paragliding, there are experienced guides all across Utah who are ready to show you the ropes, many of which have and nearly all of which are now operating with social distancing measures in place. 鈥淭here are so many benefits that can be gained from going outdoors, and one of them is to be able to rediscover yourself and step into your own innate power,” says Nailah Blades Wylie, the founder of Salt Lake City-based , a travel and coaching company dedicated to helping women of color听harness the power of outdoor adventure. 鈥淭he whole goal of Color 国产吃瓜黑料 is to really help women of color tap into their unapologetic joy through outdoor adventuring.鈥澨齏estern Rivers, a fly-fishing shop in Salt Lake City, offers women-only throughout the spring, summer, and fall on a limited basis. Sacred Rides, one of the world鈥檚 premier mountain-bike tour operators, chose St. George as the base camp for its Desert Rose women鈥檚 , complete with skills clinics, post-ride yoga sessions, and, of course, plenty of pedaling on the area鈥檚 world-class singletrack.听

It鈥檚 one of the main reasons why Lindsey Davis, the Vice President of the , a coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations and organizations, chose to live in Salt Lake City. She regularly hikes, mountain-bikes, hunts, and fly-fishes in the backcountry surrounding the city, like the Wasatch and Uinta mountains, and Stansbury Island, in the Great Salt Lake. 鈥淚 can do anything I want to do here,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd most of it within a few hours of my house.鈥�

You Don鈥檛 Have to Share the Views

Yes, some of the National Park Service鈥檚 most popular鈥攁nd stunning鈥攐fferings are in Utah. But with dozens of equally amazing state parks and BLM areas, it鈥檚 still easy to find secluded trails and viewpoints. is a perfect example: just over 40 miles down the road from Zion National Park, this city in far southwestern Utah is enveloped by underrated gems like the 眉ber-colorful and ,听and the slot canyons of . The views are all the more impressive for the scores of tourists you won鈥檛 have to share the scenery with. 鈥淧laces like that make you feel like you鈥檙e really tiny in the world, but in a good way,鈥� Zavaleta says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good place to anchor yourself in terms of relativity.鈥�

You Can Fast-Track New Friendships and Deepen Old Ones

You can find Utah鈥檚 special blend of magic just about anywhere in the state. But I seem to experience it most often with desert sunsets on the empty trails in places where it's easy to find solitude, like the massive wilderness areas beyond Moab. On one of my recent trips to Utah with a crew of girlfriends, we spent an afternoon meandering around unmarked trails north of Mexican Hat and the stunning , which is like if Horseshoe Bend were a triplet. 鈥淣ot only were we alone with each other and our dogs in this amazing landscape, we also had to route-find and problem-solve together,鈥� my friend and freelance outdoor writer Amelia Arvesen recalls. The experience allowed us to share parts of ourselves that we normally don鈥檛 tap into in our everyday lives鈥攁nd that鈥檚 what keeps us coming back.

From fighting for suffrage to experiencing the wild lands today, Visit Utah is highlighting the achievements of Utah women past and present.听.听

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If there鈥檚 one thing that makes New England stand out among other outdoorsy regions of the United States, it鈥檚 the history. All across Connecticut,听Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, outdoor traditions run deep. This is where you鈥檒l find the country鈥檚 oldest long trail鈥�the听, a 272-mile path built in Vermont in 1910 by what is now the Green Mountain Club鈥攁nd the country鈥檚 oldest outdoor group,听the听, a conservation and outdoor recreation organization founded in New Hampshire in 1876.

It鈥檚 also where you鈥檒l find many of the nation鈥檚 oldest and most interesting gear shops鈥攁nd some of its younger and most innovative. These stores run the gamut from more than 100 years old to brand-spankin鈥� new, and they鈥檙e all worth a detour on your next trip up north.

L.L.Bean Flagship in Freeport, Maine

For more than 60 years, L.L.Bean鈥檚 听in Freeport, Maine, has kept its doors open around the clock. This massive compound of several stores started out with one building in 1917 and has been open听24/7听since 1951, offering New England鈥檚 outdoorsiest residents the chance to shop for tents at all hours. The flagship store has shut its doors only听five times鈥攁nd just once for more than 24 hours, when it closed in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from a massive Bean Boot sculpture outside the front door and separate shops specializing in different activities鈥攁n outlet and stores for home goods, hunting and fishing, and biking, boating, and skiing鈥攖he flagship also has its own restaurant, the , named for the year the company was founded. In the summer, L.L.Bean typically hosts a live concert series.

And yes, people do show up at all hours. It鈥檚 not at all uncommon for shoppers to swing by at 3 a.m. just to hang out with their friends and have some fun trying out camp chairs or lounging in tents.

Outdoor Gear Exchange听in Burlington, Vermont

Burlington, Vermont鈥檚 beloved听 is the rare store that offers both new products and a large consignment selection to foster the upcycling of gear. This 25-year-old retailer also runs gear repair services under the same enormous roof鈥攖he mom-and-pop shop has 44,000 square feet of goods for biking, camping, paddling, and climbing.

Beyond the gear, the OGX community loves the store for all the ways it gives back. Its Charitable Grant Fund offers a handful of $2,000 grants each year to nonprofits working to improve recreation access and facilities. In 2019, for example, the Northwoods Stewardship Center was awarded funds to buy cross country ski gear to foster a love for winter sports in young kids.

Lahout鈥檚, America鈥檚 Oldest Ski Shop, in Littleton, New Hampshire

in the United States听started out as a country store on wheels, then morphed into a grocery store听and, eventually, a gear shop. In 1920, Herbert and Anne Lahout sold groceries, wool products, ammunition, and dry goods from a horse and buggy in Littleton, New Hampshire. Their son, Joe, fell into skiing as it exploded in popularity in the United States. When he got back home after serving in World War II, his mission was to make the sport more accessible for children and families by selling more affordable gear. Today, the family owns eight locations around New Hampshire鈥檚 ski country, but the coolest is undeniably the original. While you will听find all the brand names of modern times, the shop is like a time capsule: it鈥檚 full of old photos, vintage leather ski boots, and memorabilia from the U.S. Ski Team鈥攁nd lots of odds and ends from the days when听Joe was skiing for 25 cents a lift ticket.

A film about Joe, who was born in the apartment above the shop and died at the age of 94 in 2016, was an 听for the .

Portland Gear Hub听in Portland, Maine

If you cycle, you know it鈥檚 an expensive sport to get into. To lower the barrier to entry and get more kids on bikes, the five-year-old nonprofit听听spruces up donated bikes to sell them at affordable prices. It also hosts听classes and workshops in its garage to teach everything you could possibly need to know about bikes, including how to be your own mechanic.

While the shop started with bikes, it has expanded to get the community outdoors in other ways, too. Thanks to a 听with craft brewer , the Hub offers fat bike, snowshoe, and Nordic ski rentals alongside a large network of cross-country ski trails behind one of the brewery鈥檚 locations. It also sells consignment apparel and camping equipment like tents, packs, stoves, and sleeping bags in the main store.

Intrinsic Provisions听in Hingham, Massachusetts

Every time you visit the year-old , you鈥檒l see something new. At Intrinsic, half the space is reserved as pop-up space for outdoor brands to set up mini shops. Every four to six weeks, brands like听Fj盲llr盲ven, MiiR, September swimwear, Shwood, and听Topo Designs come in and take over that side of the shop, as if it were their own outfit. The other half of the store is more like your traditional retailer, with consistent brands whose gear cycles in and out with the seasons.

Wish you had something 听in your town? You might听some day: owner Mark Boles says he hopes to open ten to 15 more shops like this in other cities around the United States听within the next few years.

This story was produced in partnership with magazine.

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Those of us fortunate enough to be in a position to daydream about traveling听when it鈥檚 safe to do so听again may have seen some crazy-low ticket prices of late鈥攆rom $400 round-trip flights to Japan, Iceland, and Norway to $200 fares to Hawaii. As airlines have essentially ground听to a halt right now, they鈥檙e slashing some future fares dramatically in an effort to encourage people to buy flights for trips down the road. Many carriers听have also temporarily suspended change and cancellation fees, which can cost a few hundred dollars per ticket. But if you鈥檙e thinking of buying, there are some risks to be aware of听and also some mixed messages. Because the timeline of COVID-19 remains uncertain and听tourist destinations are听, while听some travel companies are听, how do you decide how far out it鈥檚 safe to plan a trip, what deals to jump on, and what to do if your plans need to be pushed back further? Here鈥檚 everything you should know before you book, according to industry experts.

Check the Terms of Your Airline鈥檚 Change and Cancellation Policies

Most major airlines, like ,听, , and听, have issued statements that change fees will be waived for flights booked before March 31. (Since the time of publication, many airlines have now extended this policy into April.) 听If you purchase a ticket before each airlines cutoff date, if need be, you鈥檒l be able to change your flight to a new date or destination. Delta, for example, is 听previously purchased flights scheduled for听March, April, and May for an e-credit to be used within two years听of the original ticket date. It听will also permit an unlimited number of date, origin, and destination changes for free on new bookings for future trips made before April 15.

But be sure to double-check the terms of an airline鈥檚 change policies before you book, because听each company鈥檚 terms听continue听to evolve rapidly.

Don鈥檛 Rely on Travel-Insurance Policies to Cover COVID-19 for Future Trips

Because the coronavirus pandemic is now a 鈥渒nown issue,鈥澨�travel insurance on future trips won鈥檛 offer you the blanket peace of mind that it may have several months ago. According to Phil Sylvester, a spokesperson for the adventure travel insurance company , 鈥淚f there is currently a Do Not Travel alert for a destination, it鈥檚 going to be next to impossible to purchase insurance鈥攖emporarily鈥攆or a trip there scheduled for even months in the future.鈥� Travel restrictions around the world are , and your coverage is essentially voided if you travel in spite of a country鈥檚 advisories, Sylvester says.

Policies for future travel vary from company to company. For example, 听and 听are still selling insurance for future trips, but their standard policies won鈥檛 cover any cancellations or illness related to COVID-19. Your best bet is to try to purchase a cancel-for-any-reason policy, which usually covers a percentage of a future trip for any reason should you need to cancel it, sometimes including COVID-19. But at this time, not every company is offering cancel-for-any-reason policies. Whatever you do, it鈥檚 crucial to ask very specific questions about what a policy will cover听and read the fine print before you buy听it. Coverage qualifications are evolving听and also vary based on the state you live in.

Wait as Long as You Can to Cancel an Existing or Future Flight

Whether you booked a flight for travel in April听or are听looking into a trip ten听months from now, Scott Keyes听of 听recommends holding out as long as you can before canceling your flight. Why? Because if the airline has to cancel a flight on you, it听typically offers a cash refund if it听can鈥檛 rebook you on another option, Keyes says. But if you make the first move and cancel the flight, it听usually offers听a travel credit instead. He recommends waiting 24 to 48 hours before your flight to cancel.

This Might Not Be Your Only Chance to Find a Deal

Keyes says the economic turmoil airlines are currently facing could lead to longer-term increased leniency with fee waivers, an extended period of slashed fares to encourage nervous passengers to get back on planes, and experimentation with flexibility as a competitive advantage. 鈥淚 would be a bit surprised if these [change] policies last well beyond the outbreak, but I wouldn鈥檛 be as shocked as if you鈥檇 told me three months ago all airlines would waive change fees for all tickets,鈥� Keyes says. 鈥淣ow听I think it鈥檚 within the realm of possibility.鈥�

If You Want to Book, How Far Out Should You Be Looking?

While the is still largely unknown, Scott Mayerowitz, executive editorial director of听, recently said in a that he鈥檚 still hoping to take a trip to Portugal he has planned for May, while Scott鈥檚 Cheap Flights is currently looking at prices past July. 鈥淎nd I would only book on an airline that鈥檚 offering to waive change or cancellation fees,鈥� Keyes says.

Based on input from our travel sources, we found flights to international adventure destinations for August and beyond with airlines that will allow you to change or cancel right up to your departure date.

August

听on听Delta

听on Delta, Icelandair, and听United

听on听American and Avianca

September

听on听Finnair and Swiss International Air Lines

听on American and听United

听

听on听Korean Air

October

听on Aeromexico

听on American and听United

November

听on听Finnair

听on听Virgin Atlantic

December

听on听American

听on听Delta

January

听on听United

听on Lufthansa and听Swiss International Air Lines

This story has been updated to reflect current airlines policies and dates.

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