Back to Main Page

    Regional Guide · North America

    North America

    From Alaska's glaciers to Hawaii's shores — and every national park, coast, and city in between.

    North America map showing Alaska, Canada, Pacific Northwest, Rockies, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast
    AlaskaCanadaPacific NorthwestRockiesSouthwestMidwestSoutheastNortheast

    Destination Guides

    Read the full guides for this region

    Humpback whale breaching against Alaska mountain sceneryGuideAlaskaAlaska is several trips inside one state. Southeast fjords and ports, Denali and the Interior, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, rail corridors, wildlife, glaciers, and expedition access require different logistics. The strongest plan starts with cruise, land, or a deliberate combination—then protects enough time for the route to work.Read the Full GuideTurquoise alpine lake and mountain scenery in the Canadian RockiesGuideCanadaCanada rewards a clear regional point of view: mountain scale in the Rockies, Pacific energy in British Columbia, French-influenced culture in Quebec, or a longer rail story. The strongest itinerary gives one Canada enough time to feel complete.Read the Full GuideHighway 1 crossing Bixby Creek Bridge above California's rugged Big Sur coastGuideCaliforniaCalifornia is not a list of famous cities. The right trip chooses a geographic spine—Northern California, Highway 1, Southern California, or the national parks—and gives each stop a distinct purpose. This guide helps you decide what belongs together, what needs more time, and what should wait for another journey.Read the Full GuideSeven Mile Bridge carrying the Overseas Highway across turquoise water in the Florida KeysGuideFloridaFlorida works when the trip has a point of view. Choose family entertainment, a South Florida road journey, Gulf Coast restoration, nature, or a larger state narrative—then connect only the chapters that earn their travel time.Read the Full GuideChicago's skyline rises beyond the blue expanse of Lake Michigan under a dramatic summer skyGuideGreat LakesThe Great Lakes are not one drive-around-the-water checklist. Strong trips choose a geographic spine—Chicago and Wisconsin, northern Michigan, or the Lake Erie cities—then protect ferry schedules, seasonal access, and enough nights for places with very different rhythms.Read the Full GuideSunlight crosses the Pacific and the layered sea cliffs of Kauai's Na Pali CoastGuideHawaiiHawaii is an island system, not a single resort promise. Oʻahu layers Honolulu, Waikīkī, royal history, museums, food, and surf culture; Maui balances resort time with Haleakalā and the Road to Hāna; Hawaiʻi Island adds living volcanoes and enormous driving scale; Kauaʻi rewards travelers who prioritize nature and a quieter rhythm. The strongest plan protects culture, community, and realistic island time.Read the Full GuideMexico travel guide heroGuideMexicoMexico is often treated as a single beach category, but the strongest trips begin by separating the country's very different travel personalities. Riviera Maya and Cancun bring Caribbean water, all-inclusive resorts, cenotes, and Mayan ruins. Cabo brings desert-meets-sea scenery, Pacific drama, whale watching, villas, and polished luxury resorts. Mexico City brings food, art, architecture, neighborhoods, and cultural depth that can turn a beach trip into something much richer.Read the Full GuidePortland Head Light above the rocky Maine coast in autumnGuideNew EnglandNew England is not a six-state checklist. The strongest journey chooses a regional spine—Boston and history, Maine and the coast, foliage and mountains, or a longer grand circuit—then protects enough time for two-lane roads, character inns, weather, and the towns between landmarks.Read the Full GuideTravelers, artists, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral in the heart of New OrleansGuideNew OrleansNew Orleans is more than a French Quarter checklist. The strongest trip balances iconic streets with living neighborhoods, live music with thoughtful cultural context, Creole foodways with Louisiana’s wider Cajun traditions, and late nights with heat-aware, realistic pacing.Read the Full GuideBrooklyn Bridge spanning the East River before the Lower Manhattan skylineGuideNew York CityNew York rewards selection. Choose the landmarks that matter, the neighborhood rhythm that fits, and a realistic daily geography—then let museums, Broadway, parks, food, and borough life form one coherent city story.Read the Full GuideSeattle skyline glowing beyond Puget Sound as seen from a Bainbridge Island ferryGuidePacific NorthwestThe Pacific Northwest is a regional journey, not a Seattle–Portland checklist. The strongest trip chooses a Washington or Oregon spine, treats ferries and scenic drives as operating days, protects lodge and city time, and uses season, weather, mobility, and road tolerance to decide what belongs.Read the Full GuideHistoric Route 66 stretches toward distant desert mountains beneath a broad western skyGuideRoute 66Route 66 is a 2,400-plus-mile corridor of changing alignments, working communities, preserved roadside businesses, major cities, and landscapes from the Great Lakes to the Pacific. The strongest journey decides how much road to follow, where Interstate connectors protect time, and which places deserve more than a photograph.Read the Full GuideA long desert highway leading toward the monumental mesas of the American SouthwestGuideSouthwestThe Southwest is not one loop and not one climate. The strongest journey chooses an Arizona, Utah, or New Mexico spine, protects canyon and cultural bases, respects tribal sovereignty, and treats altitude, heat, shuttles, seasonal access, and long drives as part of the design.Read the Full GuideA red-dirt road winds through Texas Hill Country bluebonnets and limestone hillsGuideTexasTexas rewards regional decisions. The strongest trip treats Austin, San Antonio, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Hill Country, and West Texas as different experiences, then connects only the combinations that fit the traveler’s time, season, and tolerance for distance.Read the Full GuideAerial view of Grand Prismatic Spring and its visitor boardwalk in YellowstoneGuideU.S. National ParksAmerica's national parks are a collection of distinct operating environments, not one interchangeable trip type. The strongest journey starts with one geographic spine, protects meaningful time inside each park, and plans entrances, permits, wildlife hours, altitude, weather, lodging, and gateway logistics before adding another icon.Read the Full GuideWashington Monument reflected in the icy Tidal Basin at winter sunsetGuideWashington, DCWashington is more than a monument checklist. The strongest stay balances the Mall's civic landscape with Smithsonian depth, Capitol Hill context, neighborhood life, and a realistic plan for walking, security, timed access, weather, and recovery.Read the Full Guide

    Why Travel There

    Plan North America by the kind of trip you actually want.

    North America works beautifully when you want meaningful variety without complicated long-haul logistics: Alaska cruises, national parks, rail journeys, Canadian mountain routes, beach time, and city stays can all be shaped around comfort and time.

    Best For

    • No-passport or close-to-home planning
    • Rail journeys and national parks
    • Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and U.S. regional escapes
    Match me to this region

    Destination Guides

    Explore North America

    Humpback whale breaching against Alaska mountain scenery

    Alaska

    Choose the access, route, and pace that make Alaska's scale meaningful.

    Alaska is several trips inside one state. Southeast fjords and ports, Denali and the Interior, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, rail corridors, wildlife, glaciers, and expedition access require different logistics. The strongest plan starts with cruise, land, or a deliberate combination—then protects enough time for the route to work.

    Highway 1 crossing Bixby Creek Bridge above California's rugged Big Sur coast

    California

    Build one great journey from coast, cities, wine country, mountains, and desert.

    California is not a list of famous cities. The right trip chooses a geographic spine—Northern California, Highway 1, Southern California, or the national parks—and gives each stop a distinct purpose. This guide helps you decide what belongs together, what needs more time, and what should wait for another journey.

    Turquoise alpine lake and mountain scenery in the Canadian Rockies

    Canada

    Rockies. Rail. Coastlines. Culture.

    Canada rewards a clear regional point of view: mountain scale in the Rockies, Pacific energy in British Columbia, French-influenced culture in Quebec, or a longer rail story. The strongest itinerary gives one Canada enough time to feel complete.

    Seven Mile Bridge carrying the Overseas Highway across turquoise water in the Florida Keys

    Florida

    Build the right journey from theme parks, cities, islands, beaches, wetlands, and spaceflight.

    Florida works when the trip has a point of view. Choose family entertainment, a South Florida road journey, Gulf Coast restoration, nature, or a larger state narrative—then connect only the chapters that earn their travel time.

    Chicago's skyline rises beyond the blue expanse of Lake Michigan under a dramatic summer sky

    Great Lakes

    Build a freshwater journey around landmark cities, island resorts, harbor towns, and shores that feel like inland seas.

    The Great Lakes are not one drive-around-the-water checklist. Strong trips choose a geographic spine—Chicago and Wisconsin, northern Michigan, or the Lake Erie cities—then protect ferry schedules, seasonal access, and enough nights for places with very different rhythms.

    Sunlight crosses the Pacific and the layered sea cliffs of Kauai's Na Pali Coast

    Hawaii

    Choose the islands that fit—then give each one enough time to become more than a view.

    Hawaii is an island system, not a single resort promise. Oʻahu layers Honolulu, Waikīkī, royal history, museums, food, and surf culture; Maui balances resort time with Haleakalā and the Road to Hāna; Hawaiʻi Island adds living volcanoes and enormous driving scale; Kauaʻi rewards travelers who prioritize nature and a quieter rhythm. The strongest plan protects culture, community, and realistic island time.

    Mexico travel guide hero

    Mexico

    Cancún, Cabo, and the Riviera Maya — each version of Mexico is completely different.

    Mexico is often treated as a single beach category, but the strongest trips begin by separating the country's very different travel personalities. Riviera Maya and Cancun bring Caribbean water, all-inclusive resorts, cenotes, and Mayan ruins. Cabo brings desert-meets-sea scenery, Pacific drama, whale watching, villas, and polished luxury resorts. Mexico City brings food, art, architecture, neighborhoods, and cultural depth that can turn a beach trip into something much richer.

    Portland Head Light above the rocky Maine coast in autumn

    New England

    Build the right regional journey from history, coast, mountains, villages, food, inns, and season.

    New England is not a six-state checklist. The strongest journey chooses a regional spine—Boston and history, Maine and the coast, foliage and mountains, or a longer grand circuit—then protects enough time for two-lane roads, character inns, weather, and the towns between landmarks.

    Travelers, artists, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral in the heart of New Orleans

    New Orleans

    Build a culture-first city stay around music, food, history, neighborhoods, and the Mississippi River.

    New Orleans is more than a French Quarter checklist. The strongest trip balances iconic streets with living neighborhoods, live music with thoughtful cultural context, Creole foodways with Louisiana’s wider Cajun traditions, and late nights with heat-aware, realistic pacing.

    Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River before the Lower Manhattan skyline

    New York City

    Build the right city stay from icons, neighborhoods, performance, food, history, and room to breathe.

    New York rewards selection. Choose the landmarks that matter, the neighborhood rhythm that fits, and a realistic daily geography—then let museums, Broadway, parks, food, and borough life form one coherent city story.

    Seattle skyline glowing beyond Puget Sound as seen from a Bainbridge Island ferry

    Pacific Northwest

    Choose the right balance of cities, islands, rainforest, mountains, wine country, and Pacific coast.

    The Pacific Northwest is a regional journey, not a Seattle–Portland checklist. The strongest trip chooses a Washington or Oregon spine, treats ferries and scenic drives as operating days, protects lodge and city time, and uses season, weather, mobility, and road tolerance to decide what belongs.

    Historic Route 66 stretches toward distant desert mountains beneath a broad western sky

    Route 66

    Build an American road journey around the miles that matter—not a race to collect every shield.

    Route 66 is a 2,400-plus-mile corridor of changing alignments, working communities, preserved roadside businesses, major cities, and landscapes from the Great Lakes to the Pacific. The strongest journey decides how much road to follow, where Interstate connectors protect time, and which places deserve more than a photograph.

    A long desert highway leading toward the monumental mesas of the American Southwest

    Southwest

    Choose the right balance of national parks, desert culture, restorative stays, and road-trip scale.

    The Southwest is not one loop and not one climate. The strongest journey chooses an Arizona, Utah, or New Mexico spine, protects canyon and cultural bases, respects tribal sovereignty, and treats altitude, heat, shuttles, seasonal access, and long drives as part of the design.

    A red-dirt road winds through Texas Hill Country bluebonnets and limestone hills

    Texas

    Build a Texas journey around distinct cities, Hill Country, Gulf culture, and the desert scale of the west.

    Texas rewards regional decisions. The strongest trip treats Austin, San Antonio, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Hill Country, and West Texas as different experiences, then connects only the combinations that fit the traveler’s time, season, and tolerance for distance.

    Aerial view of Grand Prismatic Spring and its visitor boardwalk in Yellowstone

    U.S. National Parks

    Choose the right parks, season, route, lodging, and pace—not the longest possible checklist.

    America's national parks are a collection of distinct operating environments, not one interchangeable trip type. The strongest journey starts with one geographic spine, protects meaningful time inside each park, and plans entrances, permits, wildlife hours, altitude, weather, lodging, and gateway logistics before adding another icon.

    Washington Monument reflected in the icy Tidal Basin at winter sunset

    Washington, DC

    Shape a capital stay from national stories, living neighborhoods, public institutions, and room to absorb them.

    Washington is more than a monument checklist. The strongest stay balances the Mall's civic landscape with Smithsonian depth, Capitol Hill context, neighborhood life, and a realistic plan for walking, security, timed access, weather, and recovery.