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Family Travel

A Route 66 shield marks the storied highway in Needles, California.

When America Found Itself Ready to Roll, Route 66, Stretching From Chicago to Los Angeles, Was the Road of Endless Possibilities

The country’s “mother road” started out as a way to get from Point A to Point B but quickly became the host of a culture and a symbol of freedom

When the project is complete, Niagara Falls State Park will feature nearly five miles of continuous shoreline along the Niagara River.

The Oldest State Park in America Is About to Expand

Niagara Falls State Park in western New York is absorbing two neighboring parks, which will add more than 150 acres and new hiking trails to its bounds

A similar situation unfolded in January 2023, when a burrowing owl (pictured here) was found aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas.

These Owls Took a Free Vacation on a Cruise Ship—but Soon They’ll Be Heading Home

A pair of burrowing owls made themselves at home aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas in February, joining a trans-Atlantic sailing to Spain. They’ll return to the United States next month

The shadows of early morning visitors are cast on the base of the Abraham Lincoln statue at his memorial on the National Mall. 

Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries

These 15 Photographs Capture What It’s Like to Walk Through Wonderful, Historic Washington, D.C.

Enjoy this selection of images of the nation’s capital from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

El Capitan is an iconic 3,000-foot-tall cliff that soars above the valley floor in Yosemite National Park.

Another 8-Year-Old Boy Ascends El Capitan, Following in His Brother’s Footsteps

On October 24, Sylvan Evermore and his father reached the top of the 3,000-foot-tall vertical granite cliff using a method known as “jugging”

The hats collected in 2025 are worth nearly $6,000.

More Than 300 Hats Have Been Pulled From Yellowstone’s Geothermal Features So Far This Year

Debris, garbage and clothing often ends up in the park’s hot springs, geysers, fumaroles and mudpots

The 2025 map shows predictions for each week between September 1 and November 17.

See When Fabulous Fall Foliage Will Peak in Your State With This Interactive Map

Use the tool’s week-by-week, county-by-county predictions to plan your autumnal adventures—and make the most of the 2025 leaf-peeping season

The museum is filled with interactive exhibits and activities, including a bean-themed ball pit play area.

Now Open in Kansas City, The World’s First Barbecue Museum Is a Feast for the Senses

Jump in the bean-themed ball pit, solve a pork puzzle and pose with a championship mustard belt at the new Museum of BBQ

Zion National Park in Utah was the second most visited national park in the country with 4,946,592 recreation visits in 2024.

These Were the Most—and Least—Visited National Parks in 2024

America’s national park sites saw a record number of visitors last year. Great Smoky Mountains, Zion and Grand Canyon national parks are perennial favorites among travelers

When it opened in May 2005, Kingda Ka was the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster. It's now the second-fastest, but it's still the tallest.

Thrill Seekers Say Goodbye to the World’s Tallest Roller Coaster

After towering over Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey for two decades, Kingda Ka is slated for demolition—and fans are sharing their favorite memories of the iconic ride

The USS Cobia floats in the Manitowoc River outside the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

You Can Spend the Night on a Fully Restored World War II Submarine

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum is home to the USS “Cobia,” a 312-foot-long vessel that completed six war patrols during World War II

With its clear, dark skies, Colorado's Browns Canyon National Monument is an ideal spot to admire planets, constellations and the Milky Way.

A New Dark Sky Park in Colorado Offers a Front-Row Seat to the Cosmos

This week, Browns Canyon National Monument, a 21,586-acre protected natural area in central Colorado, achieved International Dark Sky Park certification

The free museum is located in Williams, Arizona, about an hour south of the Grand Canyon.

Admire the World’s Largest Collection of Fossilized Poop at the New ‘Poozeum’ in Arizona

Owner George Frandsen has some 8,000 coprolites from dinosaurs, sharks and other creatures

Extremadura spans more than 16,000 square miles and is home to roughly one million residents.

This Remote Region in Spain Could Pay You Up to $16,000 to Move There

Officials in Extremadura are hoping to attract digital nomads and tech workers in a bid to boost the region’s shrinking population

The color-coded map shows predictions for each week between September 2 and November 18.

This Map Lets You See When Magnificent Fall Foliage Will Peak in Your Area

Use the interactive tool’s week-by-week, county-by-county predictions to start planning your leaf-peeping trips across the United States

Museum officials say that jars of this size and age are rarely found intact.

This 4-Year-Old Shattered a Bronze Age Jar. Now, He’ll Get to See How Experts Restored It

The 3,500-year-old artifact had been on view at an Israeli museum, which wants to use the mishap as a teaching opportunity

The buoys and mooring lines help divers easily identify the wrecks while also giving boaters somewhere to tie up.

Divers Can Now Explore Historic Shipwrecks in Lake Michigan More Easily

Crews installed buoys and mooring lines to mark the locations of 19 wreck sites in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Six of the 12 islands, including Hiva Oa, are permanently inhabited.

These Remote Volcanic Islands in the South Pacific Just Became a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Marquesas, located some 3,000 miles from their nearest continental neighbor, are some of the most isolated islands on the planet

Travelers can get rewarded for participating in sustainable activities.

Copenhagen Is Rewarding Tourists for Good Behavior

A new initiative incentives activities like riding a bike, taking public transit and cleaning up litter

Denver's historic train depot dates back to 1881. Today, it's a thriving community hub.

See Inside Denver’s 143-Year-Old Train Station

The transit hub, which just got an $11 million makeover, is deeply connected to the city’s history

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