I love a good road trip, especially in the mountains of Colorado, where I live. It鈥檚 when I do some of the best creative thinking, and it feels like the possibilities for exploration are endless. Should I hike a fourteener tomorrow? Cross the border into Utah to go mountain biking?

I scoured the globe to put together this list of the most stunning drives you could imagine, from the snowcapped peaks of Chilean Patagonia to the windswept west coast of Ireland. I鈥檝e completed a handful, driven parts of many of them, and the rest are on my bucket list. I also chose these road trips for their proximity to adventure, and include essential details like the best hikes, beaches, and accommodations along the way. Buckle up.

The Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean, Canada

Miles: 550
Road terrain: Mostly gravel
Best time to go: The Dempster Highway is open year-round, but traditional summer festivals in the Arctic towns and the aurora borealis viewing in winter are seasonal highlights.

Truly rugged and remote, this overland expedition traverses dramatic tundra landscapes, boreal forests, and mountain ranges en route to the Arctic Sea. Begin in the gold-rush outpost of Dawson City, Yukon, and load up on supplies鈥攖he unpaved gravel road is a known tire eater, so be sure you have a spare and a four-wheel drive car. From there the heads north through the historic Klondike region, crosses the Arctic Circle, and enters the Northwest Territories, where you鈥檒l have panoramas of what鈥檚 known as the polar Serengeti, a wide-open wilderness teeming with caribou, moose, and grizzlies.

Along the way, you鈥檒l pass through Indigenous communities such as Tsiigehtchic, reached by ferry in summer after the snow melts. If you’re traveling during August, you can watch canoe races and listen to traditional music during Tsiigehtchic鈥檚 Canoe Days celebration. By the time you arrive in Inuvik, Canada鈥檚 largest community north of the Arctic Circle, you鈥檒l have logged 457 miles. Pitch your tent or park your teardrop at (from $28), perched on a bluff overlooking the Richardson Mountains and the nation鈥檚 largest river, the Mackenzie.

Pick up the final stretch of the trip in town, the Inuvik鈥揟uktoyaktuk Highway, an 86-mile gravel road that winds past the Pingo Canadian Landmark, a collection of pingo (mounds of earth-covered ice) more than 100 feet high, and ends in the Inuit shorefront hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk.

Scenic Byway 12, Utah

Miles: 122
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: Early spring and early fall

This expanse of highway connects Bryce Canyon to , traveling through Dixie National Forest and the northern part of Grand Staircase鈥揈scalante National Monument. The whole thing could be completed in three hours, but given its proximity to so many perfect playgrounds for hiking, paddling, biking, and fishing, I suggest a four-day road trip. Bookended by Panguitch to the west and Torrey to the east, this designated bisects multiple ecosystems,听 from sage flats to slickrock deserts, and sleepy rural communities like Boulder, where you should stop for a meal at . The photo opps are endless, but Powell Point Vista, between the towns of Henrieville and Escalante, affords some of the best views of the area鈥檚 distinct Wasatch Limestone formations. If I could overnight in one place along the way it鈥檇 be , which has a drive-in theater, a pool, and a food truck (from $99).

The Romantic Road, Germany

Miles: 220
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: Spring or fall

Germany鈥檚 Romantische Strasse, or Romantic Road, could be the backdrop of a Grimm鈥檚 fairy tale, with its turreted and crenelated castles, red-roofed villages, and lake-dotted countryside in the Alpine foothills. This scenic byway across Bavaria connects the baroque town of W眉rzburg with the pastel-hued town of F眉ssen. The former is home to the Unesco-designated W眉rzburg Residence, one of the nation鈥檚 most opulent palaces, while F眉ssen is five minutes from what many consider the route鈥檚 highlight, King Ludwig鈥檚 , which was the inspiration for the palace in Disney鈥檚 Sleeping Beauty. If you want to stretch your legs, you can tackle the hike to Mount Tegel, located behind the castle, or take the cable car up and explore the trail network at the top.

Along the way you鈥檒l pass plenty of beer gardens鈥攖he riverfront in the hamlet of Landsberg am Lech is a must-stop鈥攖he vineyards of the Franconia wine region (pick up a bottle of dry, white Silvaner), and spend a few hours rejuvenating in the historic spa town of Bad Mergentheim; at the ($150), you can take advantage of the indoor pool, spa, and gardens.

The Explorers Way, Australia

Miles: 1,864
Road terrain: Paved (and remember, Aussies drive on the left-hand side)
Best time to go: Australia鈥檚 fall, March through May

The ultimate outback odyssey, the is a road trip through Australia鈥檚 Red Centre. Much of the drive follows the Stuart Highway, named after 19th-century explorer John McDouall Stuart, the first European to successfully traverse the continent from south to north. Stuart鈥檚 expedition took nearly a year, but two weeks is ample time to complete the journey from Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

I highly recommend detours to to stand in awe of the 2,831-foot-high monolith sacred to Aboriginals and to Litchfield National Park, teeming with waterfalls and wildlife like dingo and wallaby. Dedicate at least a day to explore the Aboriginal art galleries of Alice Springs, the Northern Territory鈥檚 second largest city and the approximate midway point of the route. When you reach the Top End, toast your trip with a bush negroni at Willing Distillery in Darwin or celebrate with a bush safari at (from $2,425, all-inclusive), just northwest of Kakadu National Park, home to more than .

Atlantic Road, Norway

Miles: 22
Road terrain: Narrow, paved
Best time to go: The coast is most dramatic in September and October

Norway has 18 designated national scenic routes, but the fact that the Atlantic Road was selected as the stage for the James Bond film No Time to Die is a testament to its wow-factor beauty. Officially known as , this drive links the village of K氓rv氓g on Aver酶y Island with the fishing village of Bud on the mainland via an archipelago connected by eight low-lying bridges. Few roads bring you so close to the ocean: roll down your window and you鈥檒l likely be kissed by sea mist.

Essential detours include the coastal path at Vevang to see Jan Freuchen鈥檚 鈥�,鈥� a sculpture scattered across the rocks and heath-covered hills, and the glass-walled viewing platform at Askev氓gen, which affords spectacular mountain and ocean vistas. Str酶msholmen Seasport, located between the towns of Kristiansun and Molde, offers scuba diving, fishing excursions, and wildlife safaris on the water. It also has four waterfront cabins that sleep up to ten people (from $55).

The Ring Road, Iceland

Miles: 820
Road terrain: Mostly paved, with some stretches of gravel
Best time to go: Late spring or early fall

Stretch after stretch of otherworldly landscapes unfold along this , also known as Route 1. It shows off vast lava fields, tumbling waterfalls, spouting glaciers, and bubbling geysers. You鈥檒l want at least seven days to enjoy all the attractions and adventures along the way, and if you do the drive in May, June, or July, you can take advantage of nearly 24 hours of sun.

Most road-trippers start in the capital, Reykjav铆k, the city closest to Keflav铆k International Airport. You can tackle it counterclockwise or clockwise, but if you do the latter first, the scenery crescendos from pretty to jaw-droppingly gorgeous. If there鈥檚 one thing you shouldn鈥檛 miss, it’s a detour to the northern Troll Peninsula, which loops around the headlands past the end of the Skagafj枚r冒ur fjord.

On the southeastern coast of Iceland, take time to explore J枚kuls谩rl贸n, a glacial lagoon studded with icebergs, and nearby Diamond Beach, named for the brilliant chunks of ice that sparkle like gems against its black sands. The geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon, just 20 minutes from the airport, are the perfect final stop. Or tack on an adventure鈥攎aybe kayak in a glacial lagoon or ride an ATV along the beach鈥攚ith outfitter .

Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland

Miles: 1,600
Road terrain: Narrow, winding, and paved (you鈥檒l also driving on the left-hand side here)
Best time to go: summer to take advantage of longer day-light hours

One of the longest coastal routes in the world, the Wild Atlantic Way hugs the Emerald Isle鈥檚 rugged and spectacular west coast for miles, from its northern terminus on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to its southern terminus in the town of Kinsale in County Cork. The route is broken into 14 stages, and you鈥檒l want to budget a minimum of five days to complete it.

There are loads of opportunities to stretch your legs on untouched swaths of beach near soaring sea cliffs. Those at Slieve League jut up 1,972 feet at their highest point; follow the Pilgrim鈥檚 Path from Teelin village 1.5 miles to the tops, and after pop into town for lunch. You鈥檒l have plenty of options, but I highly recommend the award-winning pub (rooms are also available from $54). The iconic Cliffs of Moher, in the lunar-like Burren region, are one of the natural treasures of Ireland, with a five-mile (one-way) coastal walk that connects the charming villages of Liscannor and Doolin.

On Achill Island, explore Keel Beach, a nearly two-mile stretch of golden sand. When I visited, the waves were pumping and I rented a board and a thick wetsuit from . If the water鈥檚 calm, you can rent a stand-up-paddleboard. If your final destination is County Cork, celebrate with a pint at , a pub in Ballydehob that鈥檚 been run by the same family for a century.

Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, Oregon

Miles: 363
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: Late spring, early fall, or winter

Most people associate the Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, with California, but the storied road spans from Canada to Mexico. Some of the best lengths, in my opinion, are in Oregon, where the road skirts virgin beaches, craggy mountains, and rocky coves, through a series of quirky seaside resorts and sleepy fishing villages. You could zip along all of it in 10 to 12 hours, but five days is the better plan, stopping at the many parks and public lands along the route. Ecola State Park (sea stacks, tidepooling, wildlife-watching) and Oregon Dunes Recreation Area (whose sweeping sandy expanses are said to have been the inspiration for 顿耻苍别鈥�s planet Arrakis) are both top of my list.

About 30 miles northwest of the city of Bandon is Cape Arago; this short detour off the byway takes you through the South Slough National Estuarine Reserve, home to more than 150 kinds of birds and . In the town of Coos Bay, I like to overnight at the modern cabins at Bay Point Landing ($235). The next day, you can drive 24 miles east to the remote Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area and hike 1.4 miles to the top of Golden Falls for an eagle鈥檚-eye view of the cascading waterfall and old-growth firs. Schedule your journey for spring and winter and bring your binocs鈥攜ou can often spot the blows from migrating gray whales as they surface off the coast.

The Garden Route, South Africa

Miles: 124
Road terrain: Paved
Best time to go: June to December, when you can spot whales from shore

This ocean-hugging highway showcases the Western Cape鈥檚 outrageously beautiful beaches, lush forests, national forests, and abundant marine life. Just under two hours鈥� drive from Cape Town, the former fishing village of Hermanus Bay is the gateway for the Garden Route. I always stop here to take advantage of the excellent land-based whale-watching between June and December. Continue three and a half hours east on the N2 highway to the harbor town of Mossel Bay, the route鈥檚 official starting point. Spend some time trekking around before heading out on your drive; my favorite is the 2.5-mile out-and-back trail from Pinnacle Point to Oyster Bay.

, approximately midroute, is a great spot for birdwatching and kayaking and has accommodations that include campsites (from $20), cabins (from $50), and a bed-and-breakfast (from $90). A half-hour farther east is Plettenberg Bay, nicknamed the Saint Tropez of South Africa for its palatial beach homes. Just south is , a nice picnic spot where you can observe seal colonies. Spend a day exploring , which boasts a 50-mile-long shoreline and an interior with 500-year-old trees. Looking to burn off some energy after hours in the car? I suggest the Otter Trail. South Africa鈥檚 oldest hiking trail takes five days to complete and begins near the Garden Route鈥檚 eastern terminus at Storms River rest camp.

Queenstown to Milford Sound, New Zealand

Miles: 180
Road terrain: Paved, two-lane highway
Best time to go: New Zealand鈥檚 fall, March through May, is perfect for hiking

Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 鈥渆ighth wonder of the world,鈥� Milford Sound is big nature on steroids. The drive on the South Island from Queenstown along State Highway 6 (a.k.a. the Southern Scenic Highway) and then State Highway 94 (Milford Sound Highway) will get you there听 in just over four hours, but slow down to marvel at the waterfalls and alpine lakes framed by mountains. Te Anau is the halfway point of the drive and an ideal place to overnight, refuel, and stock up on food as there are no services farther en route to the sound. The lakeside town is also the gateway to the glacier-carved wilderness of and the jumping-off point for the Milford Track, arguably one of New Zealand鈥檚 most famous , so consider tacking on a few extra days.

The Carretera Austral, Chile

Miles: 770
Road terrain: Rugged, pock-marked dirt, requiring four-wheel drive
Best time to go: Austral spring and summer, November to March听

Waterfalls tumbling from hanging glaciers. Forests of lengua trees and turquoise lagoons. Ancient marble caves and flamingo-filled lakes. The wild backdrop of Chile鈥檚 Southern Highway (Route 7) is an adventurer鈥檚 fantasy. Also known as the , this road cuts through remote, mountainous wilderness in northern Patagonia. Set aside at least two weeks so you can take time to visit Queulat National Park and Pumal铆n National Park, both located along the route.

Puerto Montt, a bustling town in the Chilean Lake District, is your starting point. It鈥檚 considered Chile鈥檚 seafood capital, so attempt to score a table at Pa Mar Adentro Restaurant and try the caldo curanto, a traditional seafood stew, before starting your journey south.

Coyhaique, the capital of Chile鈥檚 Ays茅n region, marks the route鈥檚 midway point. Take a day here to trek the trails of Reserva Nacional Coyhaique, home to two beautiful lakes, Los Sapos and Venus. Campsites are available in the Casa Bruja section of the reserve ($5), or continue a couple hours south to听General Carrera Lake and hole up at the family-run听 ($170). The owners serve terrific farm-to-table meals and partner with local guides who lead kayak trips to the Marble Caves and treks across Exploradores Glacier.

Rumbo Sur Hotel ($190), in the isolated terminus town of Villa O鈥橦iggins, is a comfy final base surrounded by hiking trails and glaciers. A 4×4 is recommended, as most of the road is unpaved.

国产吃瓜黑料 travel columnist Jen Murphy hates driving but will happily sit shotgun on any road trip. Last fall she navigated on a weeklong mother-daughter road trip through southwest Colorado.

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A series of听recently launched听and soon-to-be-finished trails around the world are leading to places you might not picture for a typical hike in the woods. We鈥檙e talking about routes that pass听through First Nations lands and surf spots in British Columbia, Lord of the Rings鈥�themed scenery in听Spain鈥檚 Sierra Norte,听and every single national park in Italy. Thanks to the hard work of crews and land managers in the following remote locales, these听long walks are all about getting off the beaten path.

El Camino del Anillo, Spain

If you鈥檙e a Lord of the Rings fan, then you鈥檒l especially appreciate the vision behind this听76-mile听trail through the Sierra Norte, an听hour north of Madrid. With a resemblance to the fictional Middle-earth landscape and a name that translates to the Ring Road,听the circular route has听been five years in the making and was completed in 2020. It also features Tolkien-inspired sights along the way, including the听town听of Buitrago del Lozoya, which resembles Bree, the听village of hobbits and men. A good听alternative to Spain鈥檚 other pilgrimage routes, like the popular听Camino de Santiago, you can hike it on your own or sign up for a seven-day guided outing through the听听(from $328), which can help book lodging along the way.听

England Coast Path National Trail, England

When it鈥檚 completed later this year, the听 will be the longest marked and maintained coastal path in the world. Its roughly 2,800听miles听will connect multiple existing trail networks along the country鈥檚 jagged seaside cliffs, from swimmable beaches near Cornwall in the southwest to Victorian towns on the eastern Yorkshire coast.听 offers intel for听a self-guided, multi-day treks on the stretch that intersects with the 630-mile听, and get help听arranging logistics, like luggage transfers and lodging through听听(from $623).

蕯apsc虒iik t虛as虒ii,听Canada

A听previously uncharted section of the听, on the west coast of British Columbia鈥檚 Vancouver Island, is the site of this soon-to-launch听paved trail.听Built in partnership with the Tla-o-qui-aht and Ucluelet First Nations,听 (pronounced 鈥渦ps-cheek ta-shee鈥�) means 鈥済oing in the right direction on the trail鈥� in their indigenous language. When it鈥檚 completed in early 2022,听the 15-mile route听will connect the surf towns of Tofino and Ucluelet. Running parallel is a rugged expanse of coastline that offers access to offshoot trails, a shorefront that includes Long Beach and First Nations landmarks.

The National Famine Way, Ireland

A new 100-mile interactive historic walk called the听 opened last fall on the Emerald Isle听to commemorate a group of emigrants who, in 1847, were evicted and forced to walk from the north-central town of Roscommon east to Dublin during the Great Famine to board ships for听North America.听Bronze sculptures and signage along the pathway tell the stories of their historic plight. The trail starts at the at Strokestown Park and follows the Royal Canal all the way to in the capital.

Sentiero dei Parchi, Italy

The听 recently announced plans for a new trail that will traverse听all 25 of Italy鈥檚 national parks. Called听, or 鈥減ath of the parks,鈥澨齮he route, when finished, will be over 4,000 miles long and will cross the mountainous regions of the country, including听the northern听Dolomites, as well as the coastal villages of Cinque Terre and听the southern island of Sicily, connecting many existing trail networks. The trail was announced in 2020听and is expected to be completed by 2033.

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, from and , follows a group of elite European climbers to northwest Ireland, where they听prove听you don鈥檛 always have to travel far for first ascents.

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Like most听great ideas, this adventure started at a bar, when filmmaker , who is based in Sheffield, England,听asked his buddy Dave Cook if he could run ten marathons in ten days. The result听is听Dave Goes West, which follows Cook and his friend听Chris Jones听as they听run听260 miles from Dingle to Croagh Patrick on the west coast of Ireland, an entertaining yet听punishing听endeavor听complete with stunning scenery,听comedy,听and bloody nipples.

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As people are being priced out of our favorite adventure hubs (we鈥檙e looking at you, Boulder)听and searching across the country and abroad for new places to settle down, we asked 国产吃瓜黑料 contributors to name the spots they would move to if they could. From the small city听of Bern, Switzerland,听which is upping the ante on its love of urban swimming,听to a community on Oregon鈥檚 central coast that offers awesome outdoor access and relief from the crowds in Portland and Bend, here are their picks.

Paia, Maui

Outdoor Philosophy: 鈥淚f it鈥檚 raining on one side of the island,听drive to a different side.鈥澨�

Population: 2,561

Stereotypical Resident: Big-wave chargers from around the world who drive beat-up Toyota Tacomas loaded with foils, SUPs, big-wave boards, and kite gear; twentysomething back-to-the-land yoga devotees working freelance; and gray-haired New Age hippies who live communally, forage for avocados, and juggle waiting tables, valet parking cars, and selling handicrafts.

Why Now: Over the years, Paia has managed to strike a balance between tourist attraction and livable surf community. Unlike other parts of Maui, the town has kept cookie-cutter souvenir shops and big resorts at bay. But the indie boutiques, locally run restaurants, and surfable beaches that give Paia its character have also made the town a checklist stop on the Hana Highway circuit. Luckily, a new bike path connecting Baldwin Beach Park to the heart of town allows residents to avoid the parking dilemma, and a crackdown on short-term rentals has helped free up housing.听

A Perfect Day: Wake up before sunrise to surf Ho鈥檕kipa Beach, then refuel with a bulletproof coffee and a Supah Shot (made with a听Hawaiian pepper called lilikoi) from the caf茅 at , a Paia institution. If you鈥檙e a seasonal nomad like me, hole up with your laptop at before grabbing lunch at , a new beachside joint that hosts events and offers board storage. Sunset is a ritual that usually involves another surf at Ho鈥檕kipa or a swim alongside turtles at Baby Beach, but the best views are from atop the island鈥檚 famous crater, reached by an 11-mile, full-day hike in Haleakala National Park, a 40-minute drive from Paia. Bedtime is 9 p.m., unless there鈥檚 live bluegrass at , Maui resident Willie Nelson鈥檚 bar.

The Hangout: Maui-raised big-wave surfer Ian Walsh and his brother Luke operate , a tucked-away听palm-shaded alfresco caf茅 with a soundtrack of Trevor Hall and Tom Petty and a TV that screens the latest surf films. Barefoot groms, boards in tow, walk straight from Paia Bay to reenergize with tropical fruit鈥搕opped acai听bowls, avocado toast, and smoothies blended with superfoods like chaga, cordyceps, and spirulina. Steps from the shops in town, it has also become a regular stop for aloha shirt鈥揷lad day tourists.听

The Escape: Navigate the turns and one-lane bridges of the Hana Highway and head 43 miles east to set up camp at , with its black-sand beach and coastal trails. Friday is pizza night at ,听 a six-minute drive away, where wood-fired pies and live music makes it the spot to kick off the weekend. Spend the next two days body surfing and sunning at Hamoa Beach and hiking to its nearby hidden waterfalls.鈥�Jen Murphy

Donegal, Ireland

Outdoor Philosophy: 鈥淎ll the craic, all the time.鈥�

Population:听3,000

Stereotypical Residents: Wizened locals in tweed; hipster farmers who听could听moonlight as Colin Farrell鈥檚 body double.

Why Now: Located on Ireland鈥檚 tempestuous northwestern coast, Donegal听was once relegated to folklore and the errant tour bus. Today, it plays home to one of the country鈥檚 best all-around recreation destinations, including some its first鈥攁nd toughest鈥攎ultipitch climbing routes, hundreds of miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, and killer big-wave surfing. Factor in the proliferation of microbreweries and farm-to-table dining, and your lips will never see an overpriced Guinness or lamb stew. The cost of living here is some of the cheapest听in all of Ireland, and great public transportation makes day-tripping easy. And with a national government that prizes clean energy and socialized systems, you can rest easy knowing that you and the landscape will be well cared for.

A Perfect Day: Start off at , where the bright-red walls are covered with photos of kitesurfers, paddleboarders, surfers, and sailors all finding their stoke. If you鈥檙e not up for a , you can鈥檛 go wrong with the chocolate crepes. Donegal is famous for its rough terrain, so try a morning 2.6-mile out-and-back hike on Errigal Mountain, the highest in the county. There, two dramatic peaks and a gnarly knife鈥檚 edge offer amazing views. If you鈥檙e looking for something a little less turbo, take the two-mile Pilgrim鈥檚 Path at . Unlike the less dramatic Cliffs of Moher, these steep faces are rarely populated with tours, and the 2000-foot drop is a good reminder of your humanity.听

But the real appeal in Donegal is watersports. With 11 beaches, there鈥檚 plenty of space to surf, grab a moonlit paddle, or sail. The county also has a high concentration of wrecks for diving, including the SS Athenia, a 13,580-ton ocean liner and the first ship that sunk during World War II, and the听U-89, a World War I submarine that was torpedoed in 1918. Keep the ocean theme going with some oysters听and mussels tacos (no, really) at in the village of Downings, or drive an hour and a half southwest for a cup of chowder at the . If you鈥檇 rather have a picnic by the sea, grab听a CSA box from one of the area farms, most of which will pack up veggies, sourdough bread, and house-made cheese听and yogurt听into听takeout boxes.听

The Hangout: The Reel Inn in Donegal town doesn鈥檛 look like much when you first walk in. But this pub is as legit as any in Ireland. Its taps pull all the classic Irish beers, and you鈥檒l find more than a few whiskeys that have never crossed the Atlantic. Take a nap before you go: music and dancing start late here, and you can jig with the locals and drink with the musicians until dawn.

The Escape: A two-hour bus ride听followed by a jaw-dropping ferry trip听will land you on one of the three Aran Islands, an official gaeltacht district (designated as such because Irish is still the official language). The Aran Islands are home to some of Ireland鈥檚 oldest ancient ruins, including Bronze Age forts. Check out the international cliff diving competitions on the island of Inis M贸r, fish for mackerel off the Inis Me谩in pier, or gallop on a Connemara pony through the rock-strewn hills of Inis Thiar. The on Inis M贸r听offers nine tiny houses built in the tradition of early monastic beehive huts (from $10), or pitch a tent on one of the nearby pads and catch the dramatic sunset.鈥�Kathryn Miles听

Coos Bay, Oregon

Outdoor Philosophy: 鈥淲hy bother with yoga pants and organic kale when you can slap on some muck boots and go forage for gaper clams and crabs instead? Hauling five-gallon buckets of mussels back to your rig is a real workout anyway.鈥澨�

Population: 16,062

Stereotypical Resident: Once-upon-a-time loggers;听off-the-grid libertarians; a growing clutch of sea kayakers, mountain bikers, and surfers who are more than happy to have you think there is no sea kayaking, mountain biking, or surfing here.听听

Why Now: Oregon鈥檚 largest community on the coast is actually three towns鈥�North Bend, Coos Bay, and Charleston鈥攖ucked on a San Francisco鈥搇ike thumb of land surrounded by ocean, bay, and freshwater slough. What鈥檚 still a sleepy community is now also seeing an influx of young families lured by cheaper rents, small-town living, and a growing outdoor scene.听

A Perfect Day: Wait for an early morning receding tide and go dig for clams in the beds off the neighborhood of Empire听or toss a few crab pots in the bay. Then drive down to the Goonies-esque to cast for rockfish from a kayak, or hike back to a hidden World War II bunker near Cape Arago State Park. Alternatively, head 18 miles north to Whiskey Run for 30 miles of new singletrack (clay!) trails. Back in the town of Coos Bay, has excellent Neapolitan-style pizza. Afterward, grab a beer at the听, which has Celtic music on Wednesday nights, or catch a moviet at the , one of the last of its kind in the country. Along Cape Arago Highway, , which calls itself a 鈥渕odern camping resort,鈥� rents sleek wood-and-glass cabins (frm $149), tricked-out Airstreams听(from $129), and RV sites (from $44).听

The Hangout: The makes awesome sessions and pales using ingredients found as close to home as it can get while supporting local听musicians through an 鈥渋nvestor pint鈥� program, which involves giving accepted musicians a year of dividends in the form of pints, the revenue from which is spent on their听band fees.听

The Escape: The Coos conundrum! Do you head south to Northern California听for a long weekend in the redwoods and a summer ski up Lassen or Shasta, or do you drive north to Portland for a weekend of hip city stuff? Frankly, I鈥檇 go east to Oregon鈥檚 Alvord Desert for nonstop sun, hiking Steens Mountain, and soaking in hot springs.鈥�Tim Neville

Varberg, Sweden

Outdoor Philosophy: 鈥淭here鈥檚 no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.鈥�

Population: 60,000

Stereotypical Residents: Young IT professionals who commute by train 46 minutes from Gothenburg to surf;听former Volvo executives from the big surrounding cities who鈥檝e retired here.

Why Now: This growing city, three hours north by train from Copenhagen听on the shallow Kattegat Sea (the strait between the North and Baltic Seas), has been a favorite spa getaway for 200 years. , the beautiful Turkish-inspired nudist 鈥渃old bath house,鈥� built in 1903, is still a centerpiece of the city. In addition to visiting the bathhouse, residents take cooling dips in the sea year-round,听relax au natural on private his-and-hers nude beaches (or fully suited on others),听surf the best waves in northern Europe,听walk the 1.5-mile seaside promenade,听wander the twice-per-week farmers鈥櫶齧arket,听and cycle more than 40 miles of city paths. With plans underway for V盲sterport, a new seaside city district including 2,500 homes, hotels, restaurants, and a promenade, it鈥檚 no wonder Varberg鈥檚 population is expected to reach 80,000 by 2030.

A Perfect Day: Work up a sweat cycling a portion of the 250-mile, seaside Kattegat Trail, the longest cycling route in Sweden. (Rent a three-speed cruiser at.)听Be sure to make a stop at the cool fishing enclave of Tr盲sl枚vsl盲ge, south of town, to check out its ice cream caf茅, , and , a sublime shop of Swedish design. Back in Varberg, cool off with a sauna and dip in the sea at Kallbadhuset, then spend the evening at听听(from $140), an iconic hotel built in 1902 updated with a state-of-the-art Asian spa overlooking the sea.听听

The Hangout: Crescent moon鈥搒haped Apelviken Beach, less than a mile south of Varberg, is one of the best wind-sport beaches in northern Europe. Take a windsurfing, surfing, or kiteboarding lesson, or rent an SUP at听;听laze in the sun; then wander at sunset to , a classy beachside restaurant that serves everything from herring and reindeer to roasted butternut squash with chanterelles.听听听听

The Escape: , an hour east of Varberg by car, bills itself as a 鈥渓ifestyle lab.鈥� It鈥檚 a fully sustainable retreat in the forests of eastern Halland, with an off-the-grid restaurant whose chefs forage or harvest everything they create the same day it鈥檚 eaten. The simple cabins offer organic linens, a dazzling sunlit view of the forest, and no showers (from $917 for two; all inclusive). Of course, there鈥檚 a wood-fired sauna on the shores of Lake Halla.鈥�Stephanie Pearson听

Sierraville, California

Outdoor Philosophy: 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 a听mountain town. It鈥檚 a ranching town with incredibly good access to the mountains.鈥�

Population: 200

Stereotypical Residents: Old ranching families who have been raising cattle for generations, mixed with sarong-wearing yogis from the local hot springs resort.听听

Why Now: With a housing crunch and the rising cost of living in the ski town of Truckee, 30 minutes away, Tahoe-area residents are flocking to the tiny ranching community of Sierraville, where they can afford a house on a decent chunk of property and live a simple, back-to-the-land lifestyle. Plus, from here you have easy access to a wild and remote piece of the Sierra Nevada听that sees far fewer听visitors than Tahoe.听

A Perfect Day: Start with coffee and a breakfast sandwich at the听, the lone coffee shop in town, where they smoke their own meats and make a mean rhubarb pie, then drag your canoe out to what locals call the Steel Bridge, in the marshlands of the Sierra Valley, for a paddle down the Feather River. In the afternoon, help shear sheep at your neighbor鈥檚 farm or collect eggs from the chicken coop. By night, go for a soak at .听

The Hangout: Locals gather after work at Los Dos Hermanos, the Mexican restaurant in town, for enchiladas and cold beer. And pretty much everyone has a reason to stop into Sierraville Service and Country Store, the gas station that doubles as the town鈥檚 gathering place, where you can pick up a fishing license, groceries, or feed for your steer.听

The Escape: Sierraville is the doorstep to the Lakes Basin region, a zone less than an hour away from town, situated under the spiky peaks of the Sierra Buttes. The area is dotted with high-alpine lakes, a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail, and a thriving mountain bike scene. Grab a campsite at , mountain bike the 14-mile singletrack that descends nearly 5,000 vertical feet into the nearby town of Downieville, then sip a cocktail from the bar on the dock at .鈥�Megan Michelson

Bern, Switzerland

Outdoor Philosophy: 鈥淚f you can float it, climb it, hike it, or slide down it, there is no excuse not to go big, especially since strong coffee and a pastry will be involved somewhere along the way.鈥澨�

Population: 140,000

Stereotypical Resident: Slow-driving, slow-talking polyglots who wear scarves while rhapsodizing about the superior quality and energy efficiency of Swiss mountain huts over those in Italy.

Why Now: The fact that it鈥檚 one of Europe鈥檚 smallest capitals means you get the best of both worlds: a slow, rustic, and affordable scene with all the perks of city living (excellent food and a ton of culture). Bern has also seen a game-changing development to its citywide pastime: urban swimming. The Aare River runs through town green and clean. On a hot day, you can find thousands of residents floating the swift current between city parks with nothing but drybags packed with a change of clothes. Last summer, city officials opened a novel way to exit the water: a concrete canal on the river that sucks swimmers out of the Aare and into a swimming pool. Check 听for temperatures and flows, expressed as glasses of beer per second.听听

A Perfect Day: Head to the main station in the city center for a mini cheese pie and a coffee before catching a one-hour train ride southeast to the village of Grindelwald, at the foot of the Bernese Alps. Spend the day hiking under the North Face of the Eiger mountain听on the 4.5-mile Eiger Trail, and make a stop at the restaurant in the mountain pass of Kleine Scheidegg for a sausage and beer (or Rivella soda if you鈥檙e thirsty). Hike four miles along the Eiger Ultra Trail down to the village of Wengen under weeping rock walls to catch another train down to Lauterbrunnen, a town of tidy chalets tucked in spectacular valley framed by towering limestone cliffs. From there, it鈥檚 an hour and a half by train back to Bern for spaetzle and a liter of m盲rzen on the deck of the , one of the city鈥檚 classic breweries.听

The Hangout: The Sunday brunch buffet at the brings friends together over plates of delicious dried meats, stinky cheeses, and homemade breads. Sit outside under the trees, then work it off with a leisurely stroll along the Aare.

The Escape: The high-speed TGV train stops in Bern and makes getting to Paris a morning affair. Alternatively, zip down to Geneva (or up to Basel) to catch a cheap EasyJet flight to Lisbon simply because you can.鈥�Tim Neville

Boulder, Utah

Outdoor Philosophy: 鈥淲e like to practice quiet use. It鈥檚 a place of big spaces and big solitude.鈥澨�

Population:听226

Stereotypical Resident: Since Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument听was designated in 1996, desert explorers听have come to make up about half the population of this traditionally Mormon ranching town.

Why Now: While听adventure hubs like Moab and Sedona are more popular than ever, tiny Boulder听remains blessedly quiet despite its location inside Grand Staircase-Escalante. The James Beard Award鈥搉ominated is a national draw for foodies and has spawned culinary spinoffs. In summer, residents escape the heat on adjacent Boulder Mountain, an alpine plateau reaching elevations of 11,000 feet.听

A Perfect Day: Pick up kimchee breakfast tacos and regionally roasted coffee at , a farm-to-table food truck parked at the ,听and then hike Peek-a-boo Gulch and Spooky Gulch, which are tight, twisting slot canyons accessed from Dry Fork Overlook off the Hole-in-the-Rock Road. For lunch, order tortilla soup and a latte at overlooking the Escalante River. Afterward, beat the heat on the 4.4-mile out-and-back hike along听and through听the river to Escalante Natural Bridge. Grab a post-hike pint and tacos at the hip on Scenic Highway 12.

The Hangout: Hell鈥檚 Backbone Grill and听Farm grows much of its own produce, employs about 50 people, gives locals a 20 percent discount, and has become against the Trump administration鈥檚 efforts to shrink the monument.

The Escape: Pick your (national) park: Capitol Reef is 45 minutes away,听Bryce Canyon is an hour and 45 minutes west,听Zion听is two hours and 45 minutes southwest,听and Arches and Canyonlands are听three to four hours northeast.鈥�Frederick Reimers

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Yes, paddling the Grand Canyon, skiing the Haute Route, and climbing Half Dome are all legendary missions. You should totally do those things and other notable听bucket-list adventures. But they鈥檙e outings that most people already know听about and may be crowded when you get there.听What are the less known epic trips that few听people ever do? We found a few.

Scuba Dive with a Navy SEAL in Oahu

Stephen Kaplan and James Beck are retired U.S. Navy SEALs听who were deployed overseas for years as top combat divers. Now听they鈥檙e teaching others skills, like jumping out of a helicopter into the ocean听and scuba diving among听deep-sea wrecks, through their outfitting business,听, based in the town of Kapolei on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Sign up for the听three-hour Navy SEAL dive (from $589), and you鈥檒l get a crash course in underwater travel from literal veterans in the field. No scuba experience is necessary, and all gear comes included.

E-Mountain Bike听Across the Swiss Alps

You can certainly ride a standard mountain bike in the Alps. But if you鈥檙e looking to really cover some ground, an e-mountain bike听could be just the ticket.听 is offering a new eight-day guided e-mountain-bike trip (from $3,988) across the mountains of听Switzerland starting this summer. You鈥檒l travel on听trains, gondolas, and trams to reach the trails and stop at classic mountain huts for midday meals and overnight stays. A highlight is riding the 25-mile听, designated Epic by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. If you鈥檙e not into e-bikes, you can听 of the Swiss Alps on a regular mountain bike, too.

Snowkite听the New Hampshire Backcountry

The听听in North Conway, New Hampshire, can teach you traditional skills听like avalanche education or听mountaineering as well as how to听. Its courses (from $150 an hour) are geared toward newbie snowkiters听and held on frozen lakes and fields in the White Mountains. Lessons include kite听and harness rentals; you鈥檒l need your own ski or snowboard gear. Once you鈥檝e got the skills, you can head out on your own when the wind is up. The school provides information for experienced snowkiters who want to plan a DIY expedition into the backcountry.

Camp in the Country鈥�s Least-Visited听National Park

Let everyone else swarm the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, and head to听, one of the most remote national narks in the nation, located in听the middle of Lake Superior. This park gets fewer visitors per year than Yellowstone sees in a single day. Isle Royale is closed from November to mid-April, but come spring, you can access it via ferry or a chartered seaplane from nearby Houghton or Copper Harbor, Michigan. The backcountry camping here is desolate and beautiful鈥攊t鈥檒l just be you and some moose.

Cycle Idaho鈥檚 Route of the Hiawatha

Do this in a day: ride, hike, or run the , a 15-mile rail-to-trail route near the historic town of Wallace, Idaho, along the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains. You鈥檒l start near Lookout Pass Ski Area and pedal听over train trestles and through ten听tunnels, including the 1.6-mile-long Taft Tunnel, making for a dark and spooky passage (you鈥檒l need bike lights to illuminate the way). Kids will love it, especially because you can do the whole thing in one direction鈥攁nd all downhill鈥攖hen听hop the听shuttle back to your car. Camp in a nearby听 (from $45).

Heli-Paddleboard听in Whistler, B.C.

This summer,听 will begin offering a new backcountry stand-up-paddleboard half-day adventure (from $1,171). Here鈥檚 how it works: You and your inflatable Red Paddle Co. loaner board will be loaded onto a helicopter in Whistler听and whisked to an alpine lake unreachable听by hiking. There听you鈥檒l be treated to a catered picnic lunch and set free to paddle around a body of water that鈥檚 entirely your own (for a couple of hours anyway).

Climb a Sea Stack in Ireland

Off the coast of Donegal, you鈥檒l find over 100 craggy sea stacks, or rock towers, that rise hundreds of feet above the ocean. These are among the tallest sea cliffs in Europe. Book a day of guided climbing with local outfitter听, and it鈥檒l take you to the top of several听(from $250). You鈥檒l climb, then do a Tyrolean traverse on a rope over the open water, connecting you to neighboring sea stacks. No previous rock climbing experience is necessary. Stay in the 19th-century听 (from $215), now a five-star hotel, and staff will arrange the adventure for you.

Paddle听the Barrier Islands of听Virginia

You don鈥檛 need to be a seasoned sea kayaker to handle this scenic 70-mile stretch of the Virginia Seaside Water Trail, which connects the state鈥檚 barrier islands. You鈥檒l spend several days paddling from Chincoteague to Kiptopeke, the longest undeveloped shoreline on the eastern seaboard, stopping to collect oysters and crabs and staying at quaint, waterfront听bed-and-breakfasts.听 offers four-day trips (from $995), where you can stay a couple of nights in an updated 1920s-era fishing lodge called听, which opens for the season in March.

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Surfer was born into an unstable family life听in California, and at age four, he was separated from his family. Despite these challenges,听his resilience enabled听him to eventually become听an听instructor at one of the most prestigious surf schools in Ireland, known as the听. Relentless, from filmmaker , chronicles Messam's听remarkable journey.

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When I first fell in love with surfing, I spent quite a while in France, working as a lifeguard in Biarritz. When I came back to Scotland, I would always go up to this beach in Westport. One morning, I headed there with just a short funboard and paddled out. There were six- or seven-foot swells. Conditions were great. I was the only person in the water, but that is perfectly normal for this beach. It鈥檚 one of the most isolated parts of Scotland.

I鈥檇 only caught about three waves before everything went wrong. I paddled out behind the break to rest. I鈥檇 really worn myself out climbing at an indoor gym two days before, and now my arm was cramping. I sat there for a couple of minutes catching my breath, but the wind began carrying me out. When I started trying to head back in, a cramp in my right shoulder made my paddling shockingly bad. So the wind just took over. By that time, there were a few people on the beach, and I tried signaling for help, but they were too far away. The wind became relentless. Instead of trying to paddle in, I decided to aim for the jut of land to the south, but the wind was still pushing me away from shore.

After several hours, the current switched and began carrying me north, so I tried to hit a different piece of land. But I was maybe three miles from shore at this point. By late afternoon, I ended up so far out, I no longer had any reference point to tell which way I was moving. Night fell and I was exhausted. I decided to count 30 seconds paddling, then stop and count 30, then paddle again. I was basically heading toward Ireland.

It was the middle of the night, I was freezing cold, and I was passing out. I was thinking I was going to die. I was paddling as often as possible to generate heat, but the board was so small, and I could only keep about half my body above water. The wind really started whipping up waves, which were going over me, causing me to cough and sputter. My feet were numb, my muscles were cramping.

At some points, I wanted to just pass out and slip into the water. I started saying goodbye to everyone in my head. Goodbye, I love you, I鈥檓 sorry.

When the sun began to rise, I immediately thought about how I was supposed to be at work that day, and figured they might contact my parents to find out where I was. I found out later that that鈥檚 when the search started. By about noon, I actually saw a helicopter searching in squares鈥攂ut it stopped a couple of squares away from me and flew away. I decided to try and stay in that area, but it never returned.

I was horribly, horribly dehydrated and a little bit delirious. The day was ending. I thought I鈥檇 done well to carry on this long, but I was done. I was ready to die. Then another helicopter came from the direction of the sunset. I could see the copilot looking. Even when they were getting ready to drop down and recover me, I still wasn鈥檛 convinced it was really happening. Once the line was in the water, the rescuer came up to me and said, 鈥淲ell done.鈥�

As told to Peter Frick-Wright.

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Director treats us to a dark look at his upcoming film,听.

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Game of Thrones may have one of the most beautiful and sprawling worlds in fantasy, but the colossal realms of Westeros and Essos as depicted on the television show are within relatively easy reach. Just book a ticket to Iceland, Spain, Croatia, or Northern Ireland and be ready to explore.

Itzurun Beach, Spain

Dragonstone is House Targaryen鈥檚 ancestral seat, but their castle鈥檚 real-world stand-in is actually perched over Itzurun Beach on the Basque Coast. Grab a board at in the town of Zumaia and surf or SUP the left-hand and right-hand breaks along what locals call the Flysch, a five-mile spine of sedimentary rock. Then take in 60 million years of geologic and cultural history on the three-hour guided tour of , or hike nine miles of coastal trails from , where you鈥檒l walk among ancient rock formations and tour the hermitage of San Telmo, named for the patron saint of fishermen. Stay at , a rustic boutique hotel just outside Zumaia, and dine on veggies grown in its large organic garden (from $51).

Kirkjufell, Iceland

In season seven, when Jon Snow and company head north of the Wall in search of an arrowhead-shaped mountain鈥攚here a vision says the army of the dead awaits鈥攚hat they are really looking for is Iceland鈥檚 Kirkjufell. The massif, located just outside the tiny town of Grundarfjodur on the Saefellsnes Peninsula, is the country鈥檚 most photographed peak. You can snag your own vision of the mount at (from $112), which looks across the fjord to Kirkjufell, before tackling the half-mile, Class 3鈥�4 scramble it takes to summit. The Kirkjufellsfoss (the stunning stacked waterfall at the massif鈥檚 toes) and the surrounding beaches are worth exploring before you head back to the 24-hour sauna and hot tub in your digs.

Krka National Park, Croatia

from Split, Croatia鈥檚 second-largest city, to Westeros鈥� Riverlands, a 42-square-mile expanse of emerald cascades also known as . If you鈥檇 rather stick to solid ground, rent a 29er from in Skradin, the small town at the park鈥檚 entrance, and you鈥檒l receive a map and local beta for exploring Krka鈥檚 seven waterfalls, including the multitiered pools of 150-foot Skradinski Buk and , where whitewater tumbles 50 feet down the Krka River. Stay at in central Skradin, an easy walk to the marina where you can catch a boat into the park and sip walnut brandy on the terrace (from $40).

Reynisfjara, Iceland

The Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, where the Night鈥檚 Watch guard the end of the Wall, is better known in Iceland as , a black-sand beach on the South Coast. But the real-world location is steeped in just as much legend. Local folklore says the towering sea stacks, columnar cliffs, and crashing North Atlantic waves are where giant trolls once pulled ships in from the sea before turning to stone. Amble along the beach to Halsanefshellir Cave, tucked among the basalt rock columns, or walk up the 1,000-foot Reynisfjall for commanding views of the stone trolls, black beach, and boundless sea.

Bardenas Reales, Spain

The badlands of , an hour south of Pamplona in northern Spain, are familiar as the Dothraki camps where the horseback hoard held Daenerys Targaryen captive. The 104,000-acre UNESCO Biosphere Preserve is best explored by mountain bike to take in the wrinkled sandstone canyons, dry riverbeds, and barren plateaus. Bike from in Tudela and pedal the 20-mile , with a stop at Castildetierra, an iconic, isolated rock hoodoo. Or ride the one-way haul down the 42-mile , a north鈥搒outh track with 1,700 feet of climbing and a challenging descent.

Glens of Antrim, Northern Ireland

Remember when Sansa and Lord Royce watch Robin Arryn training in the Vale? The Irish know this verdant spot as the Glens of Antrim, an 80-mile swath of rugged cliffs and deep, green valleys. Grab your rucksack and will lead you on a three-day, 32-mile trek over the hills and along the coast between Ballycastle and Portstewart, with stays in quaint guesthouses along the way. Climbers should stop by Fair Head, the cliffs where Jon Snow and Daenerys first meet and where steep corners, crack lines, and massive boulders that boast more than 50 test pieces beg to be scaled.

Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

You鈥檒l find the pass to the Eyrie and the setting for Brienne of Tarth and the Hound鈥檚 in Iceland鈥檚 lava-strewn . Hike to Oxararfoss Waterfall, also seen in the show, then pitch your tent on an abandoned farm at the Vatnskot campground on the shores of Lake Thingvallavatn. Don鈥檛 miss the opportunity to ride between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates on Bike Company鈥檚 two-wheeled , or go deeper with and scuba dive the continental divide at the Silfra, a fissure filled with crystal-clear glacial water and created by the two continents鈥� slow drift apart.

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