Canada is having a record-breaking wildfire season, with an astounding 4,241-wildland fires breaking out since the beginning of 2023. More than 12 million hectares of land has burned so far, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC), which mobilizes firefighting resources across the country.

In June, the majority of fires were impacting the eastern provinces, with more than 14,000 people evacuated in Quebec province alone. As of the end of July, the fires in the east are largely contained, but British Columbia, on the west coast, is now seeing an increase, with 440 active fires. Three hikers were rescued from the summit of Mount Bruce in southeastern B.C. by a passing tour helicopter Monday after a fire started on the peak.

Sadly, the end is nowhere in sight. Canada鈥檚 wildland fire season typically continues into October, and 1,074 fires are currently active coast to coast.

鈥淪ince the start of the season, we’ve experienced hot, dry, and windy conditions in many parts of the country,鈥� says Jennifer Kamau, communications manager for CIFFC, of the conducive conditions. 鈥淲e expect these conditions to persist.鈥�

Yet there is a silver lining: the vast majority of Canada鈥檚 epic national park system has been untouched by wildland fires. Besides British Columbia, the majority of active fires are in the remote northern sections of Canada鈥攕uch as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 鈥攚hile most units in its national park system run along the south and central portions of each province.

According to Parks Canada, there was only one active fire鈥攁 small one in Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta鈥攚ithin a Canadian National Park at press time. Fire bans are only being implemented on a localized, case-by-case basis across the parks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 business as usual for us,鈥� says Jorg Wilz, owner of , a guide company that leads multi-day adventures in Banff, Jasper, Glacier, Kootenay, and Yoho National Parks, all in the Rocky Mountains. 鈥淓ven the air quality has been good. We鈥檝e had summers in the past where fires were close to the parks and the smoke was difficult, but that鈥檚 not the case this summer. We haven鈥檛 had any bad air quality days or road closures. We haven鈥檛 had to cancel or alter any trips.鈥�

All of that is good news if you鈥檙e planning to explore one or more of Canada鈥檚 national parks this summer, as long as you remember the fickle nature of wildfires. 鈥淔ire highly depends on the weather, so the situation on the ground can evolve quickly depending on the conditions,鈥� says Kamau. Winds can shift and alter a park鈥檚 air quality overnight as well.

Keep on top of the situation鈥攁ccording to CIFFS, nine new fires started across Canada today鈥攂y monitoring CIFFS鈥檚 of the wildfires across Canada. also offers updated smoke forecasts and fire-related weather info. Each park鈥檚 home page has a link to alerts and restrictions like campfire bans in the park you鈥檙e planning to visit.

Where to Go in Canada Right Now

Looking to explore our neighbor to the north and need some inspiration? Canada鈥檚 park system is expansive, with 47 different units spread across 13 provinces and territories. Here are three suggestions to get you started.

1. Jasper National Park, Alberta

The largest national park in Canada, Jasper encompasses 2,774,500 acres of the Rocky Mountains, including the Columbia Icefield, a 125-square-mile collection of glaciers split between Jasper Banff national parks. Drive the Icefield Parkway, between Lake Louise and the border of Jasper, for great views of the spectacle. Or check out the backcountry hike, a 2.8-mile loop hitting a handful of ponds amidst the evergreen forest.

2. Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia

Forested canyons drop to the sea at , which protects a rugged mix of mountains and coast on the seafaring Nova Scotia province. Sample the 180-mile Cabot Trail, a mix of roadways and short hikes with non-stop views of the coast and fishing villages surrounding the park.

3. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario

envelopes the Niagara Escarpment, a tangle of forested ridgelines, caves, cliffs, and the turquoise water of Lake Huron in southern Ontario. There鈥檚 plenty to see inside The Bruce, but head straight for The Grotto, a collection of carved limestone rocks and caves that extend down to Lake Huron鈥檚 Georgian Bay. Plan ahead and make for parking.

Campfire Safety

Be a good guest in Canada鈥檚 national parks. Parks Canada recommends campers bring an emergency kit, know how to exit the park in an evacuation, and note the local or park emergency number for reporting a fire. No fireworks or sparklers; make sure safety chains on trailers are off the ground; and never drop or throw matches, cigarettes, or any other burning substance on the ground. See campfire safety tips 听and information on fire bans

Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He lives in the very wet Southern Appalachians, where wildfires are rare, though they occur on occasion. He understands they鈥檙e no joke; while living in San Diego years ago, he saw the flames of a wildfire on the horizon west of the city, and watched ash fall like snow in his front yard. He鈥檚 hoping for safe outcomes for people in Canada.

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This summer is slated to be a stellar one for stargazing. Saturn鈥檚 rings will be at nearly full tilt, providing quite a show if you have even a small telescope. In July, Mars will be about as close as it ever gets to Earth, meaning it鈥檒l shine even brighter. Add to that the usual smattering of planets, constellations, and meteor showers, and you stand a good chance of seeing something spectacular in the night sky. But with light pollution threatening our view of the stars in many urban and suburban areas, the best way to get a good glimpse听is to travel somewhere really, really dark. Here are some spots that won鈥檛 disappoint.

East Kemptville, Nova Scotia, Canada

At this particularly remote spot in East Kemptville, Nova Scotia, you鈥檒l get a front-row seat for mid-August鈥檚听Perseid meteor shower鈥攜ou could see as many as 150 shooting stars per hour. The , located within the UNESCO Southwest Nova Scotia Biosphere Reserve and certified by the Starlight Foundation as the world鈥檚 first Starlight Hotel, offers astrophotography workshops, guided stargazing walks, and a 12-foot-high viewing platform equipped with the latest in telescope technology. Don鈥檛 miss the outdoor barrel sauna and wood-fire hot tub.

Gila National Forest, New Mexico

Located deep in southwest New Mexico鈥檚 Gila National Forest, the free is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in North America. What it lacks in facilities鈥攖he only amenities are toilets and camping spots鈥攊t more than makes up with a stellar, 360-degree view of the cosmos. To better preserve guests鈥� night vision, white flashlights are banned, campfires are not allowed on the observation pads, and visitors are asked to arrive before sunset. Be sure to visit for a calendar of classes, star parties, and astronomical events.

Jackson, Wyoming

It鈥檚 dark enough in Jackson Hole that you can see the arms of the Milky Way Galaxy. offers guided outings in Grand Teton National Park, free Friday-night stargazing programs on the lawn outside the town鈥檚 Center for the Arts, and telescopes听you can rent to check out the view on your own. Stay at the (from $237) and you can book a stargazing trip through the concierge and see the stars from the outdoor hot tub.

Bend, Oregon

, 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon, takes its stargazing seriously. This sprawling 3,300-acre resort along the Deschutes River was once a World War II training facility and has its own observatory. A local ordinance restricts outdoor lighting to preserve the darkness. The observatory offers both daytime solar viewings and guided constellation tours at night. You can book a cabin or stay in a guestroom in the lodge (from $149).

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

At , which includes four large lakes and 26 smaller ones along the Canadian border, you鈥檙e far enough removed from the state鈥檚 population centers that you can catch a good glimpse of the northern lights and meteor showers. The park offers a Night Explorer Junior Ranger program for kids who want to learn more about the starry sky. Most of the camping is accessible only by boat. Don鈥檛 have听one? Pitch a tent at nearby on Kabetogama Lake ($14), or rent a houseboat from (from $335).

Castine, Maine

Maine has some of the last dark spots left on the United States鈥� overpopulated Eastern Seaboard. In Castine Harbor, runs paddle trips on weekends for stargazing and spotting glow-in-the-dark aquatic microorganisms. This summer, the company is offering specialty trips for the meteor showers and Mars at opposition, the farthest the planet gets from the sun and closest it鈥檚 been to Earth since 2003. A short drive away, the , taking place September 5 through 9 in Bar Harbor, offers workshops, speakers, and nightly viewings of the Milky Way.

Torrey, Utah

The town of Torrey, Utah, eight miles from the west entrance of Capitol Reef National Park, recently implemented stricter lighting ordinances, earning itself accreditation from the International Dark Sky Association as the state鈥檚 first dark sky community. Sleep under the stars at Capitol Reef National Park鈥檚 ($20) and take a night-sky tour from visiting astronomers within the park. Be sure to check out the occasional stargazing parties at .

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Picture this: You鈥檝e spent all day outside鈥攃limbing, swimming, biking, trail running鈥攁nd by day鈥檚 end, you鈥檙e ready to post up on the front porch of your very own cabin, maybe by a lake or a river and definitely with tall trees surrounding you and a fire pit out front. This is a summer dream, but it can be harder than you think to track down a cabin that鈥檚 rustic yet comfortable and has good, easy access to the outdoors. So we鈥檝e done the homework for you.

Noon Lodge

Big Bear Lake, California

At in Big Bear Lake鈥攁bout three hours east of Los Angeles鈥攜ou鈥檒l stay in a cozy cabin built in the 1950s. It鈥檚 quirky and historic but has the modern-day conveniences of cornhole, bocce ball, shuffleboard, and outdoor barbecues. Big Bear, in the heart of the San Bernardino Mountains, is known for its hiking, lake sports, and, in winter, skiing and snowboarding at Big Bear Mountain Resort. From $156 per night.

Shobac

Upper Kingsburg, Nova Scotia

Once an abandoned fishing village, , on the end of a peninsula in Nova Scotia, was resuscitated in 1988 by renowned architect Brian MacKay-Lyon and turned into a beautiful village of cottages and studios at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The four cottages are stunning but not overdone鈥攜ou鈥檒l get an outfitted kitchen, cedar floors, a couple beds, and a sleeping area under the stars. There鈥檚 sea kayaking, surfing, and fishing nearby. From $1,189 for a week.

Huttopia White Mountains

North Conway, New Hampshire

In June, a French camping-getaway company called Huttopia opened its first U.S. outpost in North Conway, New Hampshire. Called , the place is essentially the campground of your dreams. You have the choice of bring-your-own-tent sites, pop-up canvas tents, and five charming 350-square-foot wooden cabins that sleep up to six people, all within easy access to the White Mountains. You can get fresh crepes, croissants, espresso, and pizzas from an Airstream trailer on the property. From $150 per night.

Sunwolf

Squamish, British Columbia

An old fishing camp in Squamish, British Columbia, was purchased and renovated in 2011 by former Whistler ski patrollers and raft guides who dreamed of a cabin operation on five acres of grassy woodland at the confluence of the Cheakamus and Cheekye Rivers. Today, there are ten cabins and one cottage, half of which have been completely renovated. You can take guided whitewater raft trips with Squamish Rafting Company. The resort鈥檚 restaurant, Fergie鈥檚 Caf茅, has been voted best breakfast in town. From $100 per night.

The Mohicans

Glenmont, Ohio

is a rustic enclave of treehouses and cabins located between Cleveland and Columbus, near Findley and Malabar Farm State Parks. Folks come here for barn weddings, but the quaint wood cabins alone are worth a visit. Hand-built by local Amish and timbered from nearby forests, the four cabins are either two or four bedrooms, so they鈥檙e best suited for a family or group of friends. Nearby, you can hike in Mohican State Park, fish a pond on the property, or mountain bike from your cabin. From $250 per night.

Suttle Lodge

Sisters, Oregon

The opened in 2016 near Sisters, Oregon, following a total overhaul of an old campy lodge by the group that operates Portland鈥檚 hip . Head to the Boathouse for kayak or SUP rentals, or order up buttermilk pancakes or fish and chips. The main lodge has a cocktail lounge and 11 rooms, or book one of the 14 cabins near the shores of Suttle Lake鈥攕ome are rustic with bunk beds and shared bathrooms; others have been completely redone with full kitchens and fireplaces. Located within Deschutes National Forest, the lodge offers ample hiking, biking, fishing, and hot-spring soaking in the surrounding wilderness. From $125 per night.

Ultima Thule Lodge

McCarthy, Alaska

础濒补蝉办补鈥檚 isn鈥檛 at all easy to get to鈥攊t鈥檚 , within Wrangell鈥揝t. Elias National Park. To get here, you鈥檒l fly or drive from Anchorage to the historic mining village of McCarthy, then hop a flight to the lodge. Once you鈥檙e there, you鈥檒l sleep in one of five gorgeous cabins and be treated to a cedar sauna, wood-fired hot tub, and meals prepared with ingredients from the lodge鈥檚 own organic vegetable garden. By day, you鈥檒l fish for salmon and trout in the Chitina River, hike through high-alpine tundras, or fly bush planes through the Wrangell Mountains. $7,950 for an all-inclusive four-night stay.

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Southeast

North Carolina: Shred in Paradise

To fill the void of lift颅-served bike parks听in the southern 颅Appalachians, shuttles riders听for $35听to the top of a private peak outside Asheville. From there you can bomb through roller-coaster berms or try black-diamond trails with sizable gap jumps. The Banshee, a crazy run with rock drops, kickers, and tabletops, is probably our favorite. With 1,000 vertical feet and a daily cap of 65 bikers, traffic听is nil. At day鈥檚 end,听an outrageous den颅sity of 颅breweries await you in Asheville, 30 minutes away. Stop by Wicked Weed, which serves superior IPAs and sours.

Texas: Ride the听Breakers

After years of hype, the opened in Austin last October. At $60, you can now you can surf to a self-sustaining, 1,000-foot-long, rainwater-fed听la颅goon that forms听a perfectly sculpted wave every two 颅minutes. The break has multiple entry points, and you can up your game in a surprisingly short period of time. 颅Beginners head for the foot-high open-face wave, while听the more advanced catch a six-foot interior face with听a 35-second barrel ride. It ain鈥檛 the beach, but after each surf session you can step out for perfectly smoked brisket鈥攖his is Austin, after all鈥攁t classic joints like Franklin Barbecue.

Georgia: Stay Afloat

Much of the Peach State鈥檚 100 miles of stunning coastline hasn鈥檛 changed since the days of Blackbeard. Why not experience it from a former shrimping boat? The 42-foot has room to sleep six听($400), with all the kayaks, rods, and paddleboards you need to explore remote channels and 13 barrier islands. Spend your days wandering the creeks of St. Catherines and Blackbeard Island鈥檚 boneyard beaches, then return to听the boat at sunset for cocktails and a meal of fresh trout听or shrimp grits cooked up by the captain and deckhand.

Mountain West

Colorado: Stay High

Following in the听style and tradition of Europe鈥檚 legendary ski huts, is built for the winter. But the place is just as fantastic in 颅summer, and it鈥檚 an ideal base camp for up to 16 mountain bikers and hikers who want deluxe digs and immediate access to the goods in the San Juan Mountains. At 11,700 feet, you can hike directly from the hut on old mule trails to alpine lakes or drop big singletrack descents off Ophir Pass. Dinner will be waiting when you get back to your solar-powered abode, prepared with local ingredients by an in-house chef. Pri颅vate rooms start from $120; $640 for the full hut.

Utah: Hit the Wall

Climbers and native-rights advocates rejoiced last December when President Obama established Bears Ears National Monument. On the east side of Canyonlands National Park, Bears Ears measures over 1.3 million acres full of cliff dwellings and thousands of pieces of prehistoric art. Head to Indian Creek, at the northern end of the monument, for some of the best crack climbing in the world. Venture into the Valley of the Gods, or take a 颅guided trip or climbing clinic on sandstone towers with . 鈥淭here are several lifetimes鈥� worth of climbing here,鈥� says Josh 颅Ewing, a climber himself and exec颅utive director of Friends of Cedar Mesa, a nonprofit that pushed for establishing a monument at Bears Ears. Responsible recreation could be the best way to support the resource-rich area鈥檚 federally protected status, which some are trying to have revoked.

Montana: Run a River

Depending on water levels, a three-hour hike鈥攐r a bush plane鈥攊s required to reach the sweet spot of the Flathead River. Luckily, has you covered either way. On its four-听and five-day trips (starting at $750) in June and July, you can fly to a grassy landing strip or hike with pack animals for six miles into the Great Bear Wilderness. Expect big water in June, as the snowmelt fills the river basin, and more technical whitewater in July, when the water is lower and the westslope cutthroat will swim right up to the bank by your campsite, ready to bite. 鈥淲e鈥檒l spend five days rafting the river and never see 颅another person,鈥� says Jeff Baldelli, co-owner听of Glacier Raft. 鈥淭he听pressure on this fishery is nonexistent.鈥澨�

New Mexico: Pick Your Own

Depending on what鈥檚 available听for harvest on-site, the menu at Los Ranchos de Albuquerque鈥檚 rotates constantly, starting at $210. Days begin with 颅local eggs, bacon, and cakes infused with honey from the resident bees. On Saturdays, guests are free to pitch in around the 25-acre grounds, or borrow one of the inn鈥檚 bikes and explore the Paseo del Bosque Trail, which follows the Rio Grande. Go in June, when the property鈥檚 lavender fields are in bloom. With a glass of champagne before dinner, you鈥檒l feel like you鈥檙e in Provence.听

Northeast

New York: Paddle the听Adirondacks

Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous U.S. Its 330,000 acres are predominantly wet and home to more than 3,000 lakes and ponds and 30,000 miles of rivers. With St. Regis , you can knock out a pristine section of the park northwest of St. Regis Canoe Area on its three-day Floodwood Pond Loop. Along the way, you鈥檒l have your choice of fishing holes, including the sandy bottom at Clear Pond. Pick a new campsite each night, and spend a day on Long Mountain鈥斅璦ccessible only by boat鈥攆or views of the forest from the summit. Two-day guided trips start at $299,听with canoe rentals from $210.

Philadelphia: Find Philly鈥檚 Wild Side

From a burgeoning trail system to the city鈥檚 first ax-颅throwing bar, Philadelphia is 颅happening. Hop听on a bike and ride the Schuylkill River Trail, a 26-mile path that connects to the 300-mile Circuit Trail. For a bigger challenge, try the 12-mile course used by the Philadephia International Cycling Classic, which includes the 17-percent-grade Manayunk Wall. 颅Recharge at one of the food trucks around the Oval, an eight-acre park near the Museum of Art, then head to Urban听Axes, a hatchet-throwing club that offers walk-in lessons (from $20; urbanaxes.com). Stay at the new听听for around $225, where you can play 3-D golf in the fitness center.

Nova Scotia: Go Coastal

With a compact 10,000 acres, runs from the rugged tip of Cape Chignecto to the wild Bay of Fundy. Take three days to hike through old-growth forest and rocky beaches via the 32-mile Cape Chignecto Coastal Trail. You鈥檒l yo-yo from sea level to the top of 600-foot lookouts, wandering across beaches hemmed by rocky coves. Be sure to time your hike with the tide鈥斅璫ertain beaches expand when it鈥檚 low, and some river crossings are impossible when it鈥檚 high. On the plus side, you鈥檒l be able to pack light: a series of primitive cabins along the trail allow you to ditch the tent.

Midwest

Nebraska: Party on the Prairie

On August 21, a total eclipse will be visible in the lower 48 for the first time since 1979. It won鈥檛 happen again until 2024. For the best view, we like the Sandhills, a vast grassland in western Nebraska with low light pollution and 颅typically clear skies. Small towns and private ranches will host viewing parties throughout the area, but find your own spot along the two-lane Sandhill Journey Scenic Byway. Since the eclipse lasts only two 颅minutes and 40 seconds in 颅Nebraska, you鈥檒l have time to听kill. This is your chance to try 鈥渢anking,鈥� a state 颅pas颅time that involves floating听down the Middle Loop River in a 1,500-gallon steel livestock-feed container. (It鈥檚 way better than a tube. Seriously.) , at the Sandhills Motel offers tank rentals, with shuttle included for $20.

Michigan: Ride the Upper Peninsula

The 16,000-square-mile Upper Peninsula might as well be its own state, if not its own country. Cell coverage is spotty, roads are minimal, and the landscape is surprisingly wild. The best way to explore it is on a mountain bike, and the tiny town of Copper Harbor has more than 35 miles of singletrack famous for its intermediate flow trails and freeride-inspired downhills. (For more on Copper Harbor, see 鈥淪upe颅ri颅ority Complex鈥� page 64.) Twenty minutes south, has 15 miles of trails and a new log-cabin-style hostel that comes complete with, according to its owners, the largest hot tub in the Upper Peninsula. Respect.听Breakfast and dinner are included for $45.

Northwest

Oregon: Explore New Terroir鈥�

Napa shmapa. Forty years after transplants from California began settling into Oregon鈥檚 lush Willamette Valley, the region is widely recognized for producing some of the world鈥檚 best pinot noirs. There are more than 500 wineries between Mount Hood and Willamette National Forests and the coast south of Portland. Start at the southern end, at King Estate Vineyards, and splurge on dinner at King Estate鈥檚 farm-to-table restaurant. Then drive north听to Sokol Blosser,听a B Corp鈥撀璫ertified winery, for a hike through the 120-acre estate and lunch ($75; sokolblosser.com). Finish by kayaking six miles down the Willam-ette River and听riding back up the Trolley Trail with the听听on its new half-day trip,听starting at $75.

California: Camp Like a VIP

Even if you hate the word glamping, you can鈥檛 deny the appeal of four-star comfort in a wilderness setting. , a collection of plush safari-style tents (starting at $115)听and refurbished Airstream trailers, is tucked into 32 wooded acres in Mendocino County. Wi-Fi, hot showers, and a gas barbecue are available鈥攖his is the perfect hideout to return to after hiking in Jackson State Park or cruising the cliff line of Highway 1. Set aside time to explore the tidal estuary of the Big River in a hand-carved outrigger canoe from 听(from $28). At sunset, bioluminescent plankton cast a light green glow just below the surface of the water.听

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The advantage of being a van owner is that new adventures are always nearby, even if things don't go as planned. , of , found some of his own earlier this fall when the ocean failed to produce waves on a 10-day surf trip to Nova Scotia. He and some friends made the most of it and explored the province's beautiful landscapes, instead. You can follow Go-Van on Facebook .

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The Top 9 New England 国产吃瓜黑料s

Most serious adventurers think of the Northeast as a good place to catch a connecting flight. Which means they鈥檙e missing out. From Class IV rafting to some of the wildest sea kayaking in North America, here are the best trips on the right coast.

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The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Mountain Biking

East Burke, Vermont

The most extensive network of mountain-bike trails in the Northeast sits in the backyard of East Burke, a tiny village in Vermont鈥檚 wild Northeast Kingdom. Cross-country is king here: the well-maintained Kingdom Trails roll across green pastures and ascend ridgetop pine forests; easy doubletrack passes by farmhouses to link up with steep singletrack barely wider than your handlebars. Each piste in the 100-mile maze is named, mapped, and rated by the non-profit . Set out from one of multiple entry points ($15 fee), and ride flowing singletrack like the iconic Sidewinder鈥攁 beautifully sculpted trail that twists between 100-foot-high walls. Experts: try the combo of Upper J Bar to Burn 鈥檈m Down (accessible via the toll road on Burke Mountain) for a 2,300-foot descent. If that鈥檚 not enough, head to the local ski hill: added lift-accessed riding in 2010 ($30), with a high-speed quad that drops riders into flowing intermediate runs like Jester and double-black affairs like Knightslayer. Which, by the way, is also the name of a killer stout at Trout River Brewing Company in nearby Lyndonville. Pick up a rental at (hardtails, $30; full-suspension, $60) and crash at the , which has out-the-door trail access (doubles, $155).

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Canoe Touring

Adirondack north country, New York

We wouldn鈥檛 recommend tackling the entire Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a 740-mile inland water route crossing New York, Vermont, Quebec, New Hampshire, and Maine. A through-paddle of the whole beast鈥攐riginally a network of Native American trading routes that was mapped in 2006 by a non-profit group of paddlers鈥攔equires 55 miles of portages. But for a three-day canoe trip in the lower 48, you鈥檇 be hard-pressed to find anything better than the 42-mile segment from the town of Long Lake, New York, to the village of Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks. This chunk, on the route of the annual Adirondack Canoe Classic, is accessible and user-friendly, with two portages and a set of locks as it traces Long Lake, the Raquette River, and the three Saranac Lakes. And the sense of wilderness is profound: once you put in, there鈥檚 just the densely forested beauty of the 鈥橠acks, with the High Peaks rising to the east. Lean-tos are scattered along the route. Get maps from , and rent your boat鈥攁nd arrange a shuttle back to Long Lake鈥攆rom Lake Clear-based (rentals from $35 per day; shuttle, from $125). Before putting in, treat yourself to a night at the on Long Lake (doubles, $120).

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Sea Kayaking

Cape Chignecto Provincial Park, Nova Scotia

Paddlers on this side of the Mississippi usually make for the rugged coast of Maine. Which is fine if you haven’t been spoiled by Nova Scotia. Cape Chignecto, about four hours north of the Maine-New Brunswick border, offers the kind of stuff you can’t even find in British Columbia: 600-foot sea cliffs, wild rock formations, and, of course, the mercurial Bay of Fundy. The bay can get extreme, with 40-foot tides, but Chignecto is actually fairly benign. “It’s not inherently difficult to paddle here,” says guide Scott Cunningha, author of Sea Kayaking in Nova Scotia. “It’s just that conditions can change so quickly.” Which is why you want a guide on your first outing. Cunningham takes novices and experts alike on four-day trips from Red Rocks, near the town of West Advocate, to Spicers Cove. On the way, you’ll paddle down winding channels where harbor seals line the rocky ledges, over basalt reefs, under towering spires, and through sculpted caves near the remnants of 18th-century boatbuilding operations (four-day trips, including gear, $895). At trip’s end, recover at the (doubles, US$97), a converted lightkeeper’s residence near the put-in.

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Road Biking

Northampton, Massachusetts

Most cycling outfitters steer you toward Vermont鈥檚 country lanes, but western Massachusetts has a much denser network of roads, meaning more choices and less traffic. Base yourself at the downtown (doubles, $196), and get rentals from (Cannondales available for $35 per day). Then pick from flat routes along the Connecticut River, a rolling century around Quabbin Reservoir, or farm-road rides that climb into the Berkshires鈥攁ll of which will leave you wondering: Where are the cars? If you鈥檝e got time for only one big ride, make it a 66-miler recommended by Patrick Brady, a cycling journalist and part-time guide. Head west out of Northampton on Route 143, turn south on Route 112, and head back to town on Route 66. Grab a fresh peach at Outlook Farm before a gentle descent into Northampton. Tip: don鈥檛 freak out if your paved road turns to dirt. The unpaved routes are super smooth around here; in fact, an annual 65-mile group ride called the , Massachusetts鈥� answer to Italy鈥檚 famed Gran Fondo rides, includes 20 miles of dirt.

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Acadia National Park, Maine

has crowds, sure鈥攂ut it also provides access and options that can鈥檛 be beat anywhere on the East Coast. Base yourself in Bar Harbor, entry point for the 35,000-acre park, where there鈥檚 always someplace that鈥檚 downwind, sheltered, or at least out of the fog to paddle. Get a room at the on the water in Bar Harbor (doubles, $279) and rent a board and鈥攊f you need it鈥攁 guide from (daylong rentals, $60; guided trips from $65). Warm up with a mellow cruise down Long Pond, located on the west side of the park (seven-day pass, $20). Day two: Take on dramatic, fjordlike Somes Sound. Launch in the village of Somesville, paddle 3.5 miles south to Valley Cove, then hang out and watch the falcons until the wind starts to funnel through the sound. Then rip a downwind return back to town. Day three: Opt for a sailboat-supported exploration of the rugged Porcupine Islands. For $55 per person, Thorfinn will send a 30-foot boat to accompany you on the two-mile paddle across Frenchman Bay. After gliding around the Porcupines beneath 100-foot cliffs, hop a ride back on the boat.

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Fly-Fishing

Montauk, New York

For sheer density of fish, no place rivals Montauk during blitz season, from late August to November. That鈥檚 when huge schools of striped bass flood Montauk Point in search of the tiny bay anchovies that turn the water a swirling chocolate brown. During the blitz, just about every striper in the Northeast shows up to feast on the baitfish. Large schools of fishermen follow鈥攍ocals surfcasting from shore and visitors working the action from guide boats. The only etiquette you need to know: boaters don鈥檛 encroach upon the range of the surfcasters. Whether you set up on shore or in a boat, bring a ten-weight rod, a reel with strong drag, and a bunch of anchovy-imitating flies. Then let 鈥檈r rip. 鈥淚f you can get your fly out of the boat, you can catch fish,鈥� says Captain Paul Dixon, a who started fishing the blitz 20 years ago (daylong trips, $650). You鈥檙e allowed one keeper (28-plus inches) a day, which the chef at Gurney鈥檚 Inn, a waterfront hotel and spa (doubles, $420; gurneysinn.com), will cook up for you. To go on your own, pick up flies and leaders from . Boat rentals are available at ($170 per day for a 16-foot dinghy).

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Peak Bagging

Presidential Range, New Hampshire

Your buddy from Boulder might scoff at the elevations, but the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire鈥檚 White Mountains is a serious project. The whole enchilada consists of 24 miles, 10 peaks, and 9,000 feet of elevation gain. Plus there鈥檚 the unpredictable weather above the tree line, where you鈥檒l be for 11 of those 24 miles. The wind can get nasty (gusts up to 90 miles per hour), clouds can gather, and a warm day in the lower woods can turn bone-chilling up high. Purists maintain that the traverse should be done in a single day. But it鈥檚 a lot more pleasant if you take two or three, staying at the 鈥檚 cozy backcountry huts, which supply bunk beds and hearty meals prepared by bandanna-sporting seasonal workers (reserve a hut in advance; from $120). The best route is north-south鈥攖hat way you get the most brutal peaks, like 6,288-foot Mount Washington, out of the way first. Start at the Appalachia trailhead on U.S. Route 2 and end with a hot meal and a shower at AMC鈥檚 Highland Center Lodge at Crawford Notch (bunks, $103), then catch the daily shuttle back to your car. In between, you鈥檒l have 130-mile vistas.

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Rafting

Kennebec River, Maine

In the fall, when many rivers are reduced to a trickle, the Kennebec is still churning Class IV whitewater through a steep-walled granite gorge in remote western Maine. This makes for what鈥檚 arguably the wildest and most consistent river trip in the Northeast, with no signs of civilization anywhere on the 12-mile run. True, the Kennebec owes its late-season flow to releases from the Harris Station dam, but there鈥檚 a big upside. Several times a year鈥攊ncluding this September 8 and 22鈥攖he dam鈥檚 operators double the flow to 8,000 cubic feet per second. 鈥淲e suddenly get big, curling-back standing waves 10 to 12 feet high,鈥� says Northern Outdoors president Russell Walters. 鈥淵ou just don鈥檛 see that kind of thing in inland rivers in the middle of September.鈥� The one-day trip is a roller-coaster anytime you run it鈥攍ook out for the Three Sisters and Maytag rapids鈥攖hough it mellows out after the upper gorge, where you can swim or paddle inflatable duckies down the Class II sections. In addition to day trips ($79), runs a lodge, cabins, and a brewery below the takeout on the Lower Kennebec (doubles at the Forks Resort Center, $105).

The Best East Coast 国产吃瓜黑料s: Hot Links

Moosehead Lake, Maine

This summer the venerable Appalachian Mountain Club is trotting out an 8.9-mile lodge-to-lodge hiking route near Moosehead Lake, Maine. Thanks to a brand-new connector trail, hikers can leave (opened in 2011) and hike north to Little Lyford Lodge. Both offer bunkhouse rooms, cabins, showers, and full meal plans. But the draw is what lies between. That鈥檚 Gulf Hagas, the narrow, 400-feet-deep slate canyon of the West Branch of the Pleasant River, and it鈥檚 full of waterfalls, rapids, chutes, and swimming holes. Other recommended detours from the lodges: the great north-woods views atop Chairback Mountain, Indian Mountain, and Laurie鈥檚 Ledge; the wild brook trout fishing near Little Lyford; and the pond paddling right out the back door of Gorman Chairback. Gratis canoes are available on-site. Lodges from $80.

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The 10 Best Canadian 国产吃瓜黑料s

How do you pick an adventure in a country as big and boundless as Canada? We asked our favorite nomads to reveal the greatest hidden paddling, biking, and hiking spots, from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories.

• Mountain-Bike Quebec
• Paddle Ontario’s Missinaibi
• Climb B.C’s Okanagan Valley
• Sea Kayak B.C.’s Clayoquot Sound
• Trek Alberta’s Willmore Wilderness
• Ride Nova Scotia’s Tidal Bore
• Northern Exposure

The Best Canadian 国产吃瓜黑料s: Mountain-Bike Quebec

Easy cranking

Canada鈥檚 tourism department sells British Columbia as the World鈥檚 Best Mountain-Biking Destination. They might be right, but I鈥檒l be in Quebec. With hardwood forests, steep fjordlands, and 17th-century cities, the province has European culture and rugged terrain. Plus, it鈥檚 just a 90-minute flight from New York City. Three summers ago, I spent a week riding half a dozen trail systems on a west-to-east road trip through Quebec with a group of B.C. mountain-bike junkies. We started with downhill laps an hour east of Montreal at , a 1,263-foot peak with three chairlifts, 19 downhill trails, and no crowds. Then it was twisting, technical singletrack through the rolling hills of Coaticook Gorge and beginner banked turns at a limestone canyon called Vall茅e Bras du Nord. But the choicest rides were on the 100 miles of cross-country trails at , a bike-friendly ski resort 45 minutes from Quebec City. An hour after finishing the nine-mile Le Ruissea Rouge loop, I was sipping beer at a bar with views of the Saint Lawrence River on one side and 400-year-old ramparts on the other. Try finding that in B.C.

GET THERE: Fly to Quebec City and set up shop at the at Ski Bromont (doubles, US$177). Get your bikes at the mountains鈥� rental shops (US$60 per day at Ski Bromont; US$116 at Mont-Sainte-Anne).

The Best Canadian 国产吃瓜黑料s: Paddle Ontario’s Missinaibi

High water

Of the 50 sets of rapids studding the Missinaibi River鈥檚 350-mile route, only two absolutely must be portaged. The rest are fun Class II鈥揑II affairs, which is what makes the Missinaibi one of the world鈥檚 best canoe trips: it鈥檚 tough to find that many moderate rapids all in one place. A centuries-old trade route between Lake Superior and James Bay, the Missinaibi cuts through thick birch and spruce forest, rimmed with granite bedrock that makes for clean, level campsites. One July, I led a group of teens down the river for a canoe camp, and we spent a day hauled out at one of those mandatory portages. Thunder-house Falls is a spectacular three-tiered maelstrom and an ideal place to lay over for a few days, listen to the falls鈥� roar, and yank walleye out of the water below. Which is what we were doing when a camper ran up shouting that one of our canoes had floated away and another one was about to. The river had flash-flooded overnight. I waded nipples deep into the swollen current and dragged one escapee back to shore. We loaded the remaining boats to the gunwales and wobbled downstream in search of the other. Then, slowly spinning in a wide eddy just a few hundred yards above the nasty, appropriately named Hell鈥檚 Gate gorge, there was our missing green canoe, upside down but intact. It being summer camp, we celebrated that night by hog-tying a camper to a tree. (Sorry, Will.)

GET THERE: You can paddle the entire 350-mile route from Missinaibi Lake to Moosonee in 20 days鈥攐r split the trip in half by putting in at Mattice, where the river is crossed by the Trans-Canada Highway. Rent boats from in Chapleau (US$240 per week), which also offers shuttles. At Moosonee, load your canoes into a boxcar on the train鈥攖here are no roads here鈥攁nd head to Cochrane, where your shuttle awaits (US$60 plus US$100 for the shuttle).

The Best Canadian 国产吃瓜黑料s: Climb B.C.’s Okanagan Valley

Sweet sidetrack

One time a couple lady friends and I had this great idea to drive my two-seater pickup with all of our climbing gear from Santa Fe to Alaska, each of us taking turns riding in back. We never even got close, and the reason wasn鈥檛 because we waited until September to roll out or because the Mounties at the Canadian border ransacked our dirtbag-mobile for several hours. The problem was British Columbia. It stopped us as if we鈥檇 run into a rock wall, which wasn鈥檛 too far off. Just 40 miles north of Oroville, Washington, the gneissic goodness of the Skaha Bluffs poured through the windshield, and we mashed the brakes. How could we not linger here in the hot Okanagan Valley, where more than 650 sport routes soar over the pines? A few days later, with knuckles sore from so many crimpers, we packed up and hopped in with a plan to gun it 1,400 miles north to Haines. Instead we drove 160 miles the wrong way to Revelstoke, where the intermediate crags below a gorgeous 5.10 roof at the Begbie Bluffs area kept us occupied for days. In more than two weeks on the road, we never got farther than four hours north of the U.S. border. We all learned something valuable about planning Alaska road trips, though: if B.C. is in the way, you should probably take a plane.

GET THERE: Fly to Kelowna and drive an hour south. In Okanagan, book a lakeside campsite at the (US$45). In Revelstoke, crash at the (US$90) and climb the Raptor Wall at Begbie Bluffs, just south of town. For guides, call .

The Best Canadian 国产吃瓜黑料s: Sea-Kayak B.C.’s Clayoquot Sound

Fire islands

Reaching Clayoquot (klak-wot) Sound, one of the woolier sea-kayaking destinations in North America, requires a two-hour ferry ride from the city of Vancouver to Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, a 130-mile drive west to the end of the Pacific Rim Highway, and a willingness to launch your craft into a storm-lashed archipelago crowded only with killer whales. The draw: 236,000 square miles of watery wilderness. Some 30 miles from the put-in at Tofino are shoreline hot springs鈥攁 perfect camp spot. Of course, that doesn鈥檛 mean the paddling is easy, as I learned on my debut trip to Clayoquot back in high school. It turns out that following the windward side of the islands, instead of the tame inland passage, means surf landings and long, exposed crossings. Fog can arise even in July, and strong currents slow the progress of those unacquainted with local tides鈥攍ike me and my three buddies. We never made it to the hot springs: a squall blew in and stranded us on Vargas Island for three days. To pass the time, we built a driftwood fire large enough to divert passing tanker ships. (Hey, we were 17.) Recently, I asked my friend Tim what he remembered about the trip. 鈥淚 still have nightmares about the awesomeness of that fire,鈥� he said. 鈥淗ad it not been absolutely pouring rain, we would have surely lit up the entire island. It was freaking beautiful.鈥�

GET THERE: Plan your trip with Sea Kayaking Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds, by Mary Ann Snowden. Tofino provides the essentials: groceries at the and boats and charts from (US$40 per day for kayaks, including paddles, flares, PFD, sprayskirt). For a deluxe, all-inclusive version of the Clayoquot experience, take a 30-minute boat ride from Tofino to the spectacular kayak-equipped (US$4,800 for three nights).

The Best Canadian 国产吃瓜黑料s: Trek Alberta’s Willmore Wilderness

Big empty

Summer is the season to embrace the sunlight, celebrate, and make a few hundred new friends.

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A Festival Built for You: The 10 Best Summer Destinations

Whether you like to mountain bike, sail, meditate, or just eat, there鈥檚 a festival somewhere in North America that鈥檚 calling your name. There, you鈥檒l be able to relax, get away, and meet others who share similar outdoor passions, no matter how obscure they might be. (Who knew so many people were interested in learning how to logroll?) Pick one, make a weekend of it with our picks for the best nearby hotels and lodges, and let your summer officially begin.

June 1-24: Victoria International Cycling Festival
June 21-24: Wanderlust Festival
July 9-15: Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
July 13-15: International Folk Art Market
July 19-23: Tall Ships Nova Scotia
July 27-29: Lumberjack World Championships
August 1-5: Maine Lobster Festival
August 10-19: Crankworx Whistler
August 22-26: Wake Up Festival
September 7-9: Wooden Boat Festival

The Best Summer Festivals: Victoria International Cycling Festival

Victoria, British Columbia; June 1-24

A three-week with races, rollerjams, bike art, and, of course, thumping outdoor bass and good beer. Road cyclists sign up now for the , a 268- kilometer full-day ride around Southern Vancouver Island, following the that鈥檚 limited to 85 participants. Tricksters can compete in Jumpship, a free-ride competition set up on a floating barge surrounded by beer gardens in Victoria鈥檚 Inner Harbor.

Where to Stay: Splurge at the , a sleek and glassy oceanfront resort 20 minutes north of Victoria. Doubles from $249.

The Best Summer Festivals: Wanderlust Festival

Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, Vermont; June 21-24

Keep it sane and healthy. That鈥檚 what , which kicks off in Vermont, is all about. Visualize this: Morning meditation hikes, yoga with stars like and , music by and , and inspirational talks by activists like founder Eli Pariser. All of this fueled by delicious and organic farm-to-table meals. If you didn鈥檛 arrive sane, you might be by the time you leave.

Where to Stay: Camp at the , a full-service campground just a mile from the main festival site. Sign up with and a Eureka tent with cots will be set up by the time you鈥檙e ready to crash.

The Best Summer Festivals: Crested Butte Wildflower Festival

Crested Butte, Colorado; July 9-15

The flora will be going off in the Rocky Mountain peaks surrounding Crested Butte during . Scout the best blooms along more than 80 miles of easy to technical hiking trails, sign up for a wildflower or landscape photography workshop, take a yoga class in a Lupine-filled alpine meadow, or get schooled in how to make the perfect picnic. When class is over, head to town for a Teocalli rum martini at the . For a more adrenaline-packed week, bring your mountain bike.

Where to Stay: The dog-friendly offers complimentary wine every evening, hand-picked by a local sommelier. Doubles from $185 per night (with 12 percent off for CBWF participants).

The Best Summer Festivals: International Folk Art Market

Santa Fe, New Mexico; July 13-15

This pop-up global village in Santa Fe is the next best thing to buying a round-the-world airline ticket. For three days, more than 150 master artists from every corner of the globe show off and sell their intricately handmade beadwork, pottery, paintings, baskets, scarves, jewelry, and textiles. Sales from the radically improve most artists鈥� lives鈥攎any of them earn less than $3 per day back home. Watch for the hand-strung beaded jewelry of . From Northern Kenya, Lolosoli founded an entire village for abused and homeless women. Bring your plastic and be prepared to spend.

Where to Stay: The enclosed garden courtyard of the , which sits on a quiet residential street near the Plaza, is the best secret spot to eat breakfast in Santa Fe. Rooms from $189.

The Best Summer Festivals: Tall Ships Nova Scotia 2012

Halifax, Nova Scotia; July 19-23

Since May 7 a fleet of tall ships have been sailing north from Savannah, Georgia, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the . The fleet, which includes an 84-year-old British naval minesweeper and the HMS Bounty, which starred in , are scheduled to arrive in the Halifax harbor, a gorgeous international seaport with green space and a public beach, on July 19. Spectators can board the ships and meet the crews and feast harbor-side on Nova Scotia delicacies . On July 23 the entire fleet, with bells ringing and sails unfurled, heads back out to sea in the Parade of Sail.

Where to Stay: Drive north to Cape Breton Island and , a 55-acre island sanctuary with 2,000 feet of shoreline and accommodations ranging from a luxury chalet to a tipi (tipis from $90).

The Best Summer Festivals: Lumberjack World Championships

Hayward, Wisconsin; July 27-29

Lumberjacks have the most dangerous job in the world. That鈥檚 why this 52-year-old, three-day event is so much fun to watch. The best timber kings on the planet descend on in this lake-addled Wisconsin town to scale 90-foot cedar poles; chop through a vertical standing aspen 12 inches thick; and compete in Jack and Jill Sawing, where a one man, one woman team speed-saws through a 20-inch white pine log.

Understandably, amateurs are not allowed to participate in any of the serious competitions, but they are allowed to try their hand (or, rather, feet) at logrolling, set up in a special tank by the local , the training ground of world champions. Warning: It鈥檚 harder than it looks.

Where to Stay: has four North Woods-style cottages nestled in a pine forest on the bank of the Namekagon River, within walking distance from Hayward. Doubles from $97 per night.

The Best Summer Festivals: Maine Lobster Festival

Rockland, Maine; August 1-5

This 65-year-old serves up 20,000 pounds of steaming hot lobster, most of it dripping with butter. There are also clams, crab cakes, mussels, shrimp, haddock, and calamari, served in every variation imaginable. Whip up a better lobster 茅touff茅e or seared scallop and possibly win the $200 first prize in the cooking contest.

To burn off the food, run the 10k foot race on Sunday morning or try the oddly popular lobster crate race: The person who runs back and forth over a string of 50 partially submerged lobster crates before falling into the Atlantic, wins. The record: 4,000 crates crossed.

Where to Stay: The sits on seven acres and looks like a rich uncle鈥檚 oceanside getaway, complete with infinity pool and Adirondack chairs on green grass overlooking the ocean. Doubles from $295.

The Best Summer Festivals: Crankworx Whistler 2012

Whistler, British Columbia; August 10-19

Leave your daredevil eight-year-old at home. Whistler鈥檚 annual 10-day free-ride is a testament to just how free-spirited (and crazy) this crowd can be. With one of the most progressive free-ride competition lineups in the world and the largest cash purse prize鈥�$30,000鈥攆or the , Crankworx lures the world鈥檚 best mountain biking greats. But amateurs are welcome too.

The festival starts off with the 鈥渞unning of the bulls,鈥� an 800-meter that circles Whistler village, moves into the , where participants execute gravity-bending tricks, and winds down with the , a competition that fuses slopestyle, dirt jump, and North Shore mountain biking into one race.

Where to Stay: is 60 seconds from the best mountain biking in North America and has lofted suits with kitchens and en-suite dry saunas; from $109 per night.

The Best Summer Festivals: Wake Up Festival

Estes Park, Colorado; August 22-26

Looking for radical renewal? Look no further than the first-ever . This supercharged lineup of dancers, musicians, yogis, poets, energy healers, neuroscientists, and spiritual teachers, from Buddhist teacher to yoga goddess , will give participants the boost they need to get out of a rut, rejuvenate, and really start to live. Practice Qigong purification or mindfulness meditation, take a workshop on topics like 鈥淗arnessing Energy As We Age,鈥� or dance under the stars to 鈥淕roove Sessions鈥� with . It鈥檚 all good.

Where to Stay: The lodge rooms or cabins of the are affordable and offer close-ups to bighorn sheep or whatever wildlife wanders in. Cabins from $159 per night.

The Best Summer Festivals: 36th Annual Wooden Boat Festival

Port Townsend, Washington; September 7-9

It鈥檚 been written that there is 鈥渘othing鈥攁bsolutely nothing鈥攈alf so much worth doing as messing about in boats.鈥� Kenneth Grahame said it best, but those who agree need to be at this late-summer that takes place in a historic Victorian village 40 miles northwest of Seattle. The eye candy here is endless: More than 300 wooden kayaks, native canoes, tall ships, sailboats, and powerboats will be on display or in use. Watch a boat-building demonstration, sign your boat up, or, if you don鈥檛 have one, sign on to crew during the , or network with the countless other passionate wooden boat fanatics.

Where to Stay: Fort Worden State Park is on the beach a mile from the festival, with 30 forested tent sites adjacent to hiking trails. .

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Nothing beats a great live show, especially when you’re enjoying it under the sun or the stars. Presenting the 15 best outdoor music festivals in North America. Because summer is the time to play the field.

Sasquatch!
Bonnaroo
The Roots Picnic
Telluride Bluegrass
Waterfront Blues
Rothbury
Forecastle
Vancouver Island
Grey Fox Bluegrass
Evolve
Lollapalooza
Mulberry Mountain Harvest
国产吃瓜黑料 Lands
Jazz Aspen Snowmass
Monolith

PLUS: Etiquette

Sasquatch!

George, Washington, May 23-25

Perched on a cliff on the Columbia River, 2.5 hours from Seattle and 4.5 from Portland, the Gorge Amphitheatre is Pollstar‘s perennial best outdoor venue. This year, the rock/alternative festival will also have a comedy tent, starring the People’s Republic of Komedy, that morphs into a dance party late at night for you and 25,000 friends.
Don’t Miss Jane’s Addiction, Doves, Fleet Foxes, the Decemberists, Blitzen Trapper, and Blind Pilot. $67 per day; .
Intermission Climb soaring basalt walls at Frenchman Coulee, outside Vantage ().
Crash As with all the festivals listed here聴unless otherwise noted聴your lodging should be a tent on the festival grounds. (Fees may apply.)
Also This Weekend Strawberry Music Festival, Yosemite, California.

The Roots Picnic

Philadelphia, June 6

The second annual Picnic is the hip-hop celebration of the summer, curated by the Roots in their hometown. The 6,000-strong block party at Penns Landing, on the Delaware River, is a rare chance to see these acts in the open air.
Don’t Miss TV on the Radio, Santi颅gold, and what could be the musical event of the year: Public Enemy, with the Roots and the Antibalas Afro颅beat Orchestra, performing 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. $48; .
Intermission Take a 44-mile round-trip spin from the Schuylkill River Trail out to Valley Forge National Historic Park, where Washington and his troops spent the winter of 1778 (rentals, $30 per day; ).
Crash The art deco Loews Hotel, across from the bustling Reading Market, is a mile from the Festival Pier (doubles from $169; ).

Bonnaroo

Manchester, Tennessee, June 11-14

Yes, this seven-year-old, 80,000-spectator festival is a headbanging, sweaty mess, but it belongs on your “do once before I die” list. Thirteen stages’ worth of great music booms across rolling farmland 60 miles south of Nashville. Check out the Silent Disco, where a DJ pumps music into your headphones and hundreds of people dance in silence.
Don’t Miss Bruce Springsteen, the Beastie Boys, Andrew Bird, MGMT, the punky White Rabbits (whose new album was produced by Spoon’s Britt Daniel), and African-kora-playing Toumani Diabate’s set with B茅la Fleck. Four days, $250; .
Intermission Bring your road bike and hook up with the wooded 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway for a ride among the salt licks of verdant central Tennessee ().

Telluride Bluegrass

Telluride, Colorado, June 18-21

What started as a small bluegrass fest 36 years ago has morphed into what may be the season’s best party, with a setting聴an amphitheater planted beneath a cirque of fourteeners聴that’s without equal. The vibe is no longer just bluegrass; it’s more like a rock concert in the mountains, with some 10,000 fans per day.
Don’t Miss The Punch Brothers; Three Girls and Their Buddy (Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, and Buddy Miller), and headliners David Byrne and Elvis Costello, whose backing country band includes fiddle virtuoso Stuart Duncan. Tip: The best shows often take place after hours, in the NightGrass series at bars like Fly Me to the Moon Saloon (from $15; ). Four days, $185; .
Intermission Take your mountain bike and ride Mill Creek, a six-mile singletrack loop just outside of town.

Waterfront Blues

Portland, Oregon, July 2-5

With more than 100,000 attendees, this benefit for the Oregon Food Bank is the largest blues fest west of the Mississippi. With 100-plus performances on four stages on the grassy banks of the Willamette River, it’s by far the best bang for your buck.

Don’t Miss Headliner Etta James, the R&B funkiness of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and the Zydeco Swamp Romp stage, where you can booty-shake to Creole blues all day long. $10聴plus two cans of food聴per day; .

Intermission End your trip with a half-day Class IV rafting trip on the Middle White Salmon ($60; ).

Crash The swank Heathman Hotel, whose chef is James Beard winner Phillippe Boulot (doubles from $230; ).

Also This Weekend High Sierra Festival, Quincy, California.

Rothbury

Rothbury, Michigan, July 2-5

Three hours northwest of Detroit, the country’s greenest festival is powered by biofuels, features a Think Tank climate-change symposium, and is nestled in the woods near Lake Michigan. Of some 40,000 fans, 3,500 rise with the sun for early-morning yoga.
Don’t Miss Bob Dylan, the Dead, Brett Dennen, Cold War Kids, and聴could you get more patriotic?聴a possible July 4 appearance by Willie Nelson. Four days, $250; .
Intermission Catch smallmouth bass or trout on the Muskegon (two people, $350 per day; ).
Also This Weekend 80/35, Des Moines, Iowa.

Forecastle

Louisville, Kentucky, July 10-12

PORTSMOUTH ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA – On a weekend last summer, while the rest of the beachgoing world descended upon overrun sand traps like Nags Head and Virginia Beach, I took a 4×4 and a shortboard and made for Portsmouth Island. There are a few selling points to this skinny, 18-mile-long barrier island in the northernmost part of North Carolina's Cape Lookout National Seashore. The surf, for one鈥攜ou can catch punchy beach-break waves all along the eastern, Atlantic-facing shore. The fishing's not bad, either鈥攂ring a spinning rod and some shrimp and you'll pull in as much drum as you can eat. Also, the whole damn place is uninhabited. Except for a smattering of cabins near its middle, all that's to be found is miles of sea oats and dunes and the Atlantic coast's finest, most surprisingly reachable beach camping. There's not a paved road on the entire island, so the Park Service permits beach driving, which does wonders for people who secretly harbor redneck alter egos, like me.

Malia Jones

Malia Jones, your guide to summer. Check out more of Malia, including an interview, photo gallery, and exclusive video.

听

Fly into Wilmington (US Airways flies direct from LaGuardia in less than two hours), rent a vehicle, and drive the three hours to the town of Atlantic. Go to Morris Marina and catch a 40-minute ferry ride to Portsmouth Island (round-trip, $14 per person or $75 per vehicle; ), but don't board before renting a kayak at the marina ($150 for three days). Portsmouth offers only a few lodging options with roofs and walls, such as the unfortunately named Kabin Kamps (from $100; ). Pass the cabins by, head for the beach on the eastern shore, and pitch your tent above the high-tide line. Paddle out to the west side of the island and explore the miles of tidal marshes. Upon returning to your campsite, you'll notice, well, nothing. No lifeguard towers, no Rollerblades, no wafting scent of hair gel mixed with sunscreen. Just a big, white beach that's all your own.

The Easiest Catch

fly-fishing rock creek, montana

Hats off to Montana fly-fishing

MISSOULA, MONTANA – There are fishing purists who throw fits if another angler comes within 100 feet. In general I agree with this principle. But not in June, not in southwestern Montana. As fat, ugly salmonflies hatch and die by the thousands on Rock Creek, some 20 miles east of Missoula, the trout spend a good month slapping the surface of the 52-mile freestone river, and they don't care how many orange or yellow stonefly imitators are floating over their heads or how many hacks are elbowing for backcasting room on the shoreline.听So go, fight for space, get tangled in the cottonwoods, splash around. You'll still catch fish. Purists: There might be some open water above mile 21 on Rock Creek Road, where the holes in the road turn back sedans.

Fly into Missoula, secure a vehicle with four-wheel drive, and rent a fully furnished cabin on the creek (from $95; ).听For fishing advice delivered by a gravel-voiced old-timer who knows every riffle on the river, stop at Doug Persico's Rock Creek Fisherman's Mercantile, just off I-90 (). Warm up in town with the aspiring novelists at the Old Post Pub, where the food is bad, the music is slightly better, the waitstaff are beautiful, and the hatch chart on the wall is to be trusted, for the most part (). Afterwards, drink and gamble around the corner at the Oxford Saloon. If you're still on the poker table at 4 a.m., the bartender will serve you a free chicken-fried steak ().

Lights Out

How Not to Spend Summer

Collecting prize money for killing gophers at the Gopher Count festival, in Viola, Minnesota, June 19

Spitting seeds for four days at the Watermelon Thump, in Luling, Texas, June 26鈥�29.

Literally watching paint dry at the National Fence Painting Championship, in Hannibal, Missouri, July 3鈥�5.

Calling mosquitoes at the Great Texas Mosquito Festival, in Clute, Texas, July 24鈥�26; contestants try to lure the biggest bug with their voices.

鈥擟LAIRE NAPIER GALOFARO

GRAND CANYON, ARIZONA – The summer solstice at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a throng of shuttle buses, clicking cameras, and vendors hawking I GC booty shorts. But on the less frequented North Rim, there's a nighttime solstice party where you can watch the skies erupt in peace. Under the orchestration of Arizona's Saguaro Astronomy Club, a score of astronomers from across the country converge to set up powerful telescopes on the terrace of the Grand Canyon Lodge, a castle-like stone building perched on the edge of the canyon (doubles, $100; ). For eight nights, more than 100 people鈥攈ikers, amateur stargazers, passersby鈥攕top for a quick peek through a scope and end up staying, starstruck, as late as 5 a.m. Since the Grand Canyon has one of America's darkest night skies, you can see Saturn's rings, storms on Jupiter, and millions of stars glittering like galactic bling. Exploit the extra daylight with a quad-busting, nine-mile round-trip hike on the North Kaibab Trail to the Roaring Springs waterfall, 3,050 feet down the canyon. Afterwards, refuel with the lodge's brand-new Grand Cookout dinners. The chuck-wagon-style beef brisket, roasted chicken, and fresh-baked biscuits will sate the most astronomical of appetites ($35 per person). Nearest airport: Flagstaff, Arizona, a somewhat daunting 200 miles away.

Flatwater Freedom

GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA – The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of the largest wilderness areas east of the Rockies. It's also one of the most heavily trafficked: More than 200,000 people ply its 1,200 miles of routes annually. So while the weather's best in late summer, I go toward the end of June, when the water is cool, the smallmouth are biting, the blackflies are disappearing, and the Boy Scouts hoping to earn their tree-carving badges have yet to arrive.

Fly into Duluth and pick up a canoe on your way to Grand Marais at Sawbill Canoe Outfitters ($85 for three days; ). There are nearly 80 entry points to the Boundary Waters; ignore most of them and enter at East Bearskin Lake, 26 miles from Grand Marais up the Gunflint Trail highway (entry permits, $16 per person; ). A 2.5-mile paddle plus a short portage lead to Alder Lake, where there's a perfect camping spot on the tip of the main peninsula. Bring a lightweight rod and cast a Rapala into the rocks just offshore. With any luck, you'll catch dinner to fry over the fire. The next night, stay six miles away in a lakeside cabin at the Old Northwoods Lodge, bear-and-lumberjack kitsch at its finest (doubles, $120; ). Before leaving, dine on Lake Superior trout at the Angry Trout Caf茅 (), a refurbished fishing shanty on the harbor in Grand Marais.

The Backyard

ANYWHERE, USA – Look, I'm a patriot. I like beer. And having mostly overcome a scarring childhood incident involving a bottle rocket, the San Francisco police, and a hefty insurance claim by a downstairs neighbor, I like fireworks again. So don't get the wrong idea when I tell you to stay home on the Fourth of July. But for God's sake, do stay home. Something like 41 million Americans will celebrate by going somewhere, making this the busiest travel period of the summer. Even if you're the kind that digs the woozy high of flirt-flirt honking as your convertible crawls through a carbon monoxide haze鈥攚hich, I think, makes you a high schooler鈥攃onsider that July 4 is traditionally the deadliest day of the year on our nation's roads. The second-deadliest? July 3. And anyway, I've devised the ultimate at-home party: a few friends, lots of beer, barbecue (see The Guide, page 65), and a kiddie pool. You can add bottle rockets鈥攋ust don't shoot any into the neighbor's window.

Great Green North

STRATEGY: THE WELL-PACKED WEEKENDER

Seven items to have at the ready:
1. Rubbermaid聮s 75-quart DuraChill Cooler, which keeps beer cold for almost a week ($43; rubbermaid). 2. Sweat- and waterproof K2 Endurance Sunblock ($13; ). 3. Patagonia聮s wrinkle-free Vitaliti polo shirt, which looks better at dinner after you聮ve worn it hiking ($55; ).4. Smith聮s gold-rimmed Bellaire sunglasses ($100; ). 5. Hi-Tec聮s V-Lite Radar II eVent light hikers, which can double as trail runners, since they聮re built onrunning lasts ($120; ). Drive west an hour to Baddeck and set up camp at the Chanterelle Country Inn, a solar-heated B&B where the organic dinners mean wild mushrooms, fresh mussels from the harbor out back, and, until July 15, lobster; for the rest of the month you're stuck with the snow crab (doubles, US$158, including breakfast; ). Then load up your bike and drive out to 200-year-old Acadian villages, through Highlands National Park, and, if 18 percent grades don't dissuade you, to the majestic north end, where you can take a guided sea-kayak tour through pilot whale feed zones (US$100; ). Before leaving Baddeck, unwind at a ceilidh, the old Celtic precursor to the rave, with fiddles, tin whistles, and (in place of ecstasy) the island's own single-malt whiskies.

听

The Uncrowded Mountain Town

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TELLURIDE, COLORADO – Between the weekends of Memorial Day and Labor Day, the town of Telluride hosts no fewer than 15 festivals. Think about that. On any given Saturday, you might have to share this remote outpost's epic hiking trails, casual restaurants, and approximately 23 parking spaces with either hordes of slamgrass fans (the Bluegrass Festival), a gaggle of oeno颅philes (the Wine Festival), or an army of downward-doggers (the Yoga Festival). But crowds are the last thing you want to see here. Placed at the dead end of a box canyon and surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks, Telluride offers as good a setting as any town in America for a quiet summer idyll. So there's only one celebration worth attending: The Nothing Festival. For three days, there are zero planned events聴but something incredible does happen. Hotels open up (try the Telluride Mountainside Inn; doubles, $119; ), Main Street empties out, and a few visitors breathe easy. How to spend those days? Just bring your hiking boots and follow the directions on telluridenothingfestival.com: “Thank you for not participating.” Nearest airport: Montrose, Colorado, 70 miles away.

America's Oktoberfest

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PORTLAND, OREGON – Nothing says summer like 60,000 people raising glasses of beer into the air and letting loose a spontaneous cheer that makes Yankee Stadium sound like the baking section at Borders. Welcome to the OBF, or Oregon Brewers Festival, which takes place every July in Portland's Tom McCall Waterfront Park. With 72 participating breweries from around the country, it's the finest outdoor tasting in the world that doesn't require speaking German. The beer's cold and often of the hard-to-get variety鈥擨'm partial to Allagash White, a spicy Belgian-style wheat beer. By the end of the day, the local blues bands sound much better than they are, and as the sun sets, those cheers grow longer and a hell of a lot more infectious. The wise visitor, though, doesn't spend all four days at the festival: With more than 270 miles of bike routes in the city, plus Forest Park, the nation's largest urban forest, Portland offers ample opportunity to work up a healthy thirst (rentals, $28 for a half day; ). Freshen up at the Heathman Hotel and browse their library, which contains first editions signed by the likes of Kurt Vonnegut (doubles, $230; ). Then go drink up and scream ($5 for an official mug, $4 per beer; ).

The Non-Hamptons

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK – For discerning New Yorkers, the North Fork of Long Island has long provided a much more relaxing escape than the Botox-injected Hamptons side. But as word gets out that North Fork wineries like Bedell are rivaling their cousins in Napa, there is some concern among locals that things may not stay so quaint. My suggestion? Stay home and pretend to visit. A few things you could imagine and then brag about at the watercooler: sailing from Preston's dock, in Greenport, on a restored 1906 schooner while slurping down fresh oysters (day trips on the schooner Mary E, $38; ); tromping through Shelter Island's vast nature preserve; kiteboarding Peconic Bay ($100 per hour with Island Riders; ); bathing with locally made goat's-milk soap at the North Fork Table & Inn (doubles, $275; ); or riding the 40-mile North Fork bikeway toward Orient Point beach with the sun and salt water on your face (daylong rentals, $28 at the Bike Stop, in Greenport; ). Your co-workers will be none the wiser, and I won't get in trouble for letting the secret out. Nearest airport: MacArthur Airport, 50 miles from Greenport.

True Grass

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GRAND TARGHEE, WYOMING – Perhaps you're one of those people who holds to the misguided notion that bluegrass music is for hippies. If so, you may be familiar with Telluride's annual jam-o-rama, which is a great party and a good place to go if you like Hacky Sacks and Ani DiFranco. Real bluegrass festivals, on the other hand, are about impromptu circles of fiddlers and banjo pickers in which solos are passed around with far more reserve than whiskey.

Go to Targhee and you'll see. Fifty miles across Teton Pass from Jackson Hole, at Grand Targhee Resort, the Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival (three-day pass, $125; ) hosts 6,500 people over the course of the weekend, compared with the 10,000 who choke Telluride per day. Mountain-town favorite Tim O'Brien headlines, but listen closely to Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular. The two banjos (never a good idea) can be abrasive, but Trischka plays with Michael Daves, a Georgia-born guitarist with a gut-wrenching high tenor that's far more Joe Strummer than Jack Johnson. For a break, ride Targhee's new lift-accessed mountain-bike park. If you can score a room in the resort (doubles, $125), look for the headliners picking and passing bottles in the lobby, and don't say a word.听Nearest airport: Jackson Hole.

Moon Paddle

[photo size="full"]1498501[/photo] [sidebar hed="STRATEGY: THE SURPRISE DIRECT FLIGHT"] Easy routes to the regional airports mentioned in this story: Delta flies from Atlanta to Jackson Hole in just under six hours (from $370; ). Continental flies from Houston and Dallas to Montrose, Colorado (from $400; ). Allegiant Air flies regularly from Las Vegas to Duluth (from $270; ) and Missoula ($140). And barring any planning hiccups, Horizon Air will offer direct service from Los Angeles to Flagstaff starting this June ($200; ).

TOMALES BAY, CALIFORNIA – It wouldn't be hard to miss the coastal village of Marshall, an hour north of San Francisco on Highway 1鈥攐nly 100 or so people live here, and the place looks kind of scrappy. But gritty is in these days, and last summer, restaurateur Pat Kuleto turned Marshall into the home of the North Coast's most serenely stylish digs. Nick's Cove & Cottages is a cluster of gussied-up fisherman's cabins, complete with water-view decks and bedside cheese plates. Next door, Nick's roadhouse serves oysters caught out front and pinot noir from up the road. But the reason to go is the full moon on Saturday the 16th: As night falls, kayak due west from your cabin, past Hog Island, and visit Tomales Point's tule elk herd (daylong rentals from Point Reyes鈥揵ased Blue Waters Kayaking, $60; ). When you return to shore, moonlit wine tasting and oyster slurping await on the deck of your cabin (doubles, $300; ). Nearest airport: San Francisco.

Lightning Show

walter de maria's lightning field

MOTHER NATURE鈥橲 LASER SHOW: Walter de Maria鈥檚 Lightning Field

QUEMADO, NEW MEXICO – Whoever named the two-diner town of Quemado (translation: “Burnt”), in southwestern New Mexico, had a way with words. The place attracts a fair amount of lightning strikes. That's why sculptor Walter De Maria put his installation, the Lightning Field, which combines highbrow art with one of the last great remote landscapes in America, nearby.

Fly into Albuquerque, rent a car, and drive three hours southwest to Quemado. At a small white gallery-like space that could be in SoHo, you'll await a grizzled cowboy who drives precariously fast in his truck and drops you off 45 minutes later at a three-bedroom cabin overlooking the fields. Your provisions: enchiladas, whatever libations you've brought, and orders to wander. The installation consists of a surreal one-mile grid of 400 stainless-steel poles in the lightning-happy high desert. The display is best viewed from the back porch, with a cold Negra Modelo in hand. Book far in advance鈥攜ou can rent the cabin for only one night ($250 per person with maximum six-person occupancy; ). What to do with the rest of the weekend? Doesn't really matter, if you're lucky enough to see lightning strike out the back door. But there are plenty of weird attractions around that could exist only in New Mexico鈥攖he Very Large Array of radio telescopes, near Socorro, for instance.听Spend the next night in the emerging artsy town of Truth or Consequences and soak at the Sierra Grande Lodge (doubles, $130; ).

Treasure Island

SANTA CATALINA, CALIFORNIA – In the early days of Hollywood, Santa Catalina Island's sand coves doubled as Tahiti and its mountains stood in for the Wild West. A 76-square-mile island located 25 miles southwest of Los Angeles, Catalina has retained its flair for drama because 88 percent of the place is a land trust. Charter a sailboat on the mainland in Marina del Rey (from $100 per day; ), five miles from LAX, and sail five hours to Catalina. Catalina's port town of Two Harbors provides immediate access to the island's 50-mile network of rugged hiking and mountain-biking trails (daylong bike rentals from Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center, $53; 310-510-4272). For cozier digs than the berths on your boat, stay at the Banning House Lodge, which has 11 ocean-view rooms (doubles, $216; 800-626-1496). To branch out from the sails and trails, sign up for Two Harbors' annual buffalo-chip contest, during which townsfolk gather at the pier to throw buffalo dung onto the beach. The record toss鈥�187 feet鈥攊s waiting to be broken.

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