Getting There and Getting Around on EARTH Magazine

Getting there and getting around Florida

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:18:07 -0500

Camping and canoeing are popular pastimes on Florida's Peace River. Credit: both: Bethany Augliere.

For travelers flying in from out of state, Florida has several major airports, including in Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA), as well as numerous other options. Orlando is the most central large hub and may be the best option if you’re heading toward the state’s springs, which are concentrated in the north-central part of the state. For traveling to and between sites, a car is the best option.

Getting there and getting around Azores

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 16:29:05 -0500

Hiking is a popular way to get around on Faial and throughout the Azores. Credit: Kat Cantner and Colin McFadden.

The Azores are unique, highly accessible and packed with activities. There are direct flights to Ponta Delgada (PDL) from Boston and New York, as well as from Lisbon and Porto in Portugal if you’re coming from Europe. Moving between the islands is fast and affordable via flights on SATA Air Azores, the local airline. You can also opt for a ferry, though the journey will take quite a bit longer. Be aware that weather changes quickly in the Azores, so it’s not uncommon for flights to be delayed, or to end up landing at alternative airports. Just go with the flow.

Getting there and getting around Tibet

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 11:21:22 -0500

“Tibet is a long way from most everywhere. There are no direct flights from North America, so it’s usually cheapest and most convenient to fly into a major Chinese city such as Beijing and then catch the next flight to Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA). Air China, Tibet Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and China Southern are among the carriers offering direct and connecting flights to Lhasa from most major Chinese cities. Sichuan Airlines and Air China also provide nonstop service from Kathmandu, Nepal. The Lhasa airport is located 65 kilometers south of the city center and takes about an hour to reach.

Getting There and Getting Around Washington, D.C.

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 10:48:12 -0500

With so much tourism, hotels and restaurants are plentiful in downtown D.C. The Gallery Place and Chinatown areas, several blocks north of the National Mall, offer numerous dining options. Credit: soomness, CC BY 2.0.

Washington, D.C., is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Reagan National is closest to downtown and is conveniently served by the Metro subway system. For those with window seats, flights in and out of DCA offer views of the Piedmont-Coastal Plain boundary along the Potomac River, in addition to exciting views of the National Mall. Dulles is a roughly 45-kilometer drive west of downtown D.C. in the exurbs of Northern Virginia. Window-seaters approaching IAD can spy quarries excavating rocks from the Culpeper Basin, as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. Flights to BWI, about 50 kilometers north of downtown D.C., offer views of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries draining the Coastal Plain. The airport is served by a commuter train that runs to Union Station, Washington’s downtown rail hub adjacent to the U.S. Capitol. Automobile traffic in and around the city is often heavy, and a cab or rideshare from IAD or BWI into the city can take upwards of an hour. Rail service aboard Amtrak into Union Station, which is on Metro’s Red Line, may be a convenient option for some visitors to D.C.

Getting There & Getting Getting Around Monti Sibillini National Park

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 10:46:15 -0400

Views of hillside orchards and the nearby Sibillini Mountains await visitors to the Al Respiro nel Bosco bed-and-breakfast in the foothills just outside the northern boundary of Monti Sibillini National Park. Credit: Callan Bentley.

For those traveling internationally by air to Italy to visit Monti Sibillini National Park, flying into Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is likely the best option. Florence is another option, but Rome is closer and hosts more flights. There are several routes into the park from different directions; all the entrance points on the western side of the park are a two-and-a-half- to three-hour drive east of Rome. Bus tour services run out of Rome, but the best way to reach the park is via rental car. Rental cars are plentiful, and the good news is that, unlike driving in some parts of Italy such as around Naples or in Sicily (which is not for the faint of heart), driving in the Apennines is much more like driving in the U.S. In this part of Italy, drivers are more courteous and generally adhere to road signage and lane guidelines. All countries have driving norms that are not immediately clear to foreign drivers, however. In Italy, to avoid scorn from your fellow drivers, it’s important to remember to never pass another car on the right. Italians consider it a severe breach of driving etiquette.

Getting There and Getting Around Cairo

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 12:23:25 -0400

An Egyptian woman bakes bread outside a Cairo restaurant. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

“Egypt’s main gateway is Cairo International Airport (CAI), which has nonstop flights to most major Middle Eastern and European cities. EgyptAir offers direct flights to Cairo from New York City and Toronto. From other North American locations, it’s usually most convenient to fly through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or a European hub. British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines are among the carriers offering connecting service.

Getting There And Getting Around Vancouver

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:04:20 -0400

“Most visitors to Vancouver and the surrounding area arrive via Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or by road, approaching the city from the east along the Trans-Canada Highway or from a U.S. border post to the south. Although flights into YVR are often good value, especially as a stopover for trans-Pacific flights, it’s often cheaper for U.S. travelers to fly into Seattle, as we did, and then drive across the border. Most rental car agencies permit travel between the two countries, but it’s important to verify this ahead of time. Although border formalities are usually quick and easy (as long as you remember to bring your passport), you should be prepared for queues lasting one to two hours.

Getting There And Getting Around Switzerland

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:09:22 -0400

Jungfrau and other peaks in the Bernese Alps are easily accessible by train or bus from Geneva or Zürich. The Swiss train system is excellent, and generally on time. Buses are reliable as well, run by Swiss Post (post office, bank and bus system, all in one, and all three are available from mountaintops to lakeshores, in all kinds of weather).

Getting There And Getting Around Michigan

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 10:40:33 -0400

Part of the Upper Peninsula’s appeal is its inaccessibility. The U.P. boasts a few small airports with service from Detroit and Chicago, but they have limited car rentals, so driving up from Michigan’s lower mitt or from Wisconsin or Ontario (across the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge) is probably your best bet. Fortunately for travelers, much of the region’s economy is tourism-based and even the smallest waypoints offer cozy cabins and bed and breakfasts. Campsites are also plentiful throughout the U.P.

Getting There And Getting Around Oregon

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 10:02:49 -0400

Crater Lake Lodge is open to summer visitors. Credit: ©Scott Catron, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

To visit Crater Lake, fly into Portland, rent a car and take a five-hour ride down Interstate 5 and a couple of smaller highways to Crater Lake National Park. If you’re not pressed for time, take scenic routes 26 and 97 along the crest of the Cascades mountain range, where you’ll pass by 3,426-meter-tall Mount Hood, 3,200-meter-tall Mount Jefferson and 2,375-meter-tall Mount Washington. The closest large towns to the park are Bend, a picturesque ski town in the shadow of the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor volcanoes 180 kilometers north of the park, and Medford, a town with a small airport — with daily flights from Portland — in the Rogue River Valley 120 kilometers southwest of the park. Bend/Redmond also has an airport.

Getting There And Getting Around Zürich

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:41:37 -0400

The Post Bus, operated by the Swiss National Post Office, is a convenient way to travel around the Lower Engadine Valley. Credit: swiss-image.ch/Christof Sonderegger

Most visitors to Scuol fly into Zürich, and either stay to check out the old yet modern cosmopolitan banking city or grab a train straight to the Lower Engadine Valley. A train ride to Scuol from Zürich’s main station (Hauptbahnhof in German) takes just under three hours, with a transfer at Landquart. The trip provides passengers with amazing views of the Swiss Alps. Check ZVV.ch or SBB.ch for fares and schedules. If you plan to continue traveling south by train, into Italy’s dolomites, consider buying a Eurailpass to save some money. Once you’re in Scuol, try the Post Bus for day trips.

Getting There and Getting Around Albuquerque

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 14:49:29 -0400

To get to Ghost Ranch, fly into Albuquerque or Santa Fe, rent a car and drive north on Highway 84 past Española and Abiquiu to Ghost Ranch. A sign marks the right-hand turn into the Ghost Ranch Education and Conference Center between mileposts 224 and 225. The museums and visitor center are approximately 1.5 kilometers off the paved highway on a dirt road suitable for all cars.

Getting There and Getting Around the Burren

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 14:19:35 -0400

If you’re in Ireland, the Burren is definitely worth a visit. The Burren’s nearest airport is Shannon Airport, approximately a 45-minute drive away. The trip from Dublin is a four-hour drive. Renting a car is the best way to explore the region in depth. But keep in mind that the roads are narrower than you might presume, and visitors often underestimate how long journeys can take. (Keep in mind also that in Ireland, like in England, you drive on the left side of the road.)

Getting There and Getting Around Nova Scotia

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 13:50:53 -0400

Getting to Nova Scotia is easy by plane, car or ferry. Most flights arrive in Halifax, roughly in the middle of the province. If you’re driving from the United States, take New Brunswick Route One from the Maine border to meet up with the Trans-Canada Highway, which meanders through the province; however, it’s an eight-hour trip from Bangor, Maine, to Halifax and there’s not a lot to do or see along the way. A shorter route is to take the car ferry that sails from Saint John, New Brunswick, to Digby, on Nova Scotia’s northwestern coast. It takes a few hours, but there are several trips daily and it beats having to drive all the way around the Bay of Fundy.

Getting There and Getting Around The Blue Mountains National Park

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 13:16:46 -0400

The Blue Mountains National Park is about 100 kilometers west of Sydney. It is accessible by highway via the M4 Motorway and the Great Western Highway to the gateway towns of Leura, Wentworth Falls and Katoomba. Double-decker trains also run from 4 a.m. to midnight daily from Sydney’s Central Railway Station, stopping in the major mountain towns. Sydney’s international airport is connected directly to the train station by a rail line built in 2001. Alternatively, several bus or “coach” companies offer trips or tours of the Blue Mountains region from Sydney; tickets and information can be found in the kiosks along Circular Quay on Sydney’s harbor. Once you’re in the Blue Mountains region, it’s easiest to get around on foot. The trails are a short walk from most of the downtown areas, and, should you feel like switching towns, the rails are the easiest link between them.

Getting There and Getting Around Colorado Springs

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 13:01:38 -0400

Colorado Springs is a good jumping off point for exploring Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. A car is necessary to get around the area; you can rent one at the Colorado Springs Airport if you choose to fly into Colorado. Once you’re ready to visit the fossils, head west on Highway 24 for about 50 kilometers to the town of Florissant, where you’ll find gas, a couple of restaurants and convenience stores. Woodland Park, about 25 kilometers east of Florissant, offers accommodations and more eating options.

Getting There, Getting Around and Getting Informed

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 12:04:31 -0400

Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey’s capital, are both easy to fly to from the United States. Within Turkey, most travelers opt for the inexpensive but well-developed bus system, including overnight routes that take you from one part of the country to another while you sleep. (I recommend bringing earplugs and a sleep mask if you actually want to get some sleep.)

Getting There and Getting Around Mallorca

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 13:32:32 -0400

A view of Palma de Mallorca's coast. Credit: Naomi Lubick

To get to Mallorca, you can fly from many major airports in Europe on a one- to two-hour flight. If you have the time (and perhaps already plan to have a car during a trip in mainland Spain), you can also take a ferry. Going from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca with your car can cost the same as a plane ticket on an average airline carrier, about $350 — but it’s a seven-hour trip to cover a few hundred kilometers.

Travels in Geology: Exploring Vulcan's Playground: The Volcanoes of Southern Italy and the Aeolian Islands

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 12:35:11 -0400

The prospect of traveling to Italy might conjure romantic thoughts of stucco-covered villas surrounded by terraced vineyards, ancient visages carved in marble, fountains gurgling in cobblestone piazzas, and pasta smothered in tomato and basil. However, when I was asked to spend a semester teaching in northern Italy, these were not my first thoughts. As a geologist, I instead pondered the Dolomites in alpenglow, the exposure of the iridium-bearing Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (formerly known as the K/T) in Gubio, and the possibility of visiting some of Italy’s famous volcanoes — Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna — to the south.

Getting There and Getting Around Sicily

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 12:26:57 -0400

Italy’s volcanoes are mostly in the south, so flying into Rome or Naples is probably easiest. Getting around Italy is also very easy, whether you take the train or rent a car.

To get to Sicily and Mount Etna, you can take a puddle-jumper flight from most airports in Italy into Palermo or Catania or take a ferry from several locations, including Naples and just outside of Rome. Getting around Sicily is a bit more difficult than the mainland, but relatively easy via bus or train, especially if you plan ahead and aren’t traveling on a major holiday when many stations shut down. Getting to more remote locations is easiest if you rent a car, but beware that driving on Sicily can be dangerous. If you book a volcano tour, such as through Volcano Trek or Volcano Discovery, your travel arrangements will be made for you.

Getting There and Getting Around Namibia

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 11:50:10 -0400

The best time to visit Namibia is in the dry season, from April to December. In particular, the dry season offers the best game-viewing in Etosha National Park. Water scarcity draws the animals to the park’s springs.

Getting There and Getting Around Colorado

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:54:42 -0400

Colorado Springs is easily accessible via major roads or by air. Although the city suffered a devastating wildfire this summer, none of its primary tourist attractions were burned, and all are open for business.

The town is well equipped with hotels, restaurants, tours and everything else a traveler could need. Your one-stop shop for area maps showing all the attractions listed here, lodging, food and activities, not to mention coupons, is the city’s helpful tourist website www.visitcos.com.

Getting There and Getting Around South Africa

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:27:30 -0400

Table Mountain provides a dramatic backdrop to Cape Town. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Hongqi Zhang

Getting to South Africa is going to set you back a pretty penny. Our airline tickets cost about $2,000 each, for coach. It’s a very long flight, so you may as well commit to several weeks in country to make it worthwhile. We broke the journey up by taking advantage of a 10-hour layover at London’s Heathrow airport by going downtown to see the Rosetta Stone and pay our respects to Charles Darwin and Charles Lyell, who are interred near one another at Westminster Abbey.

Getting There and Getting Around Nevada

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 09:52:46 -0400

Getting to Lake Tahoe from the major airports in Sacramento, Calif., and Reno, Nev., is fairly easy. From Sacramento, it is about a two-hour drive along scenic Interstate 80 or U.S. 50. Interstate 80, which takes visitors to the northern part of Lake Tahoe, is a bit of a longer but easier drive and it passes the Donner Memorial State Park. The park — which commemorates the emigrants from the East to California in the mid-1800s, including the famed Donner Party, many of whom perished in the winter of 1846-1847 — offers recreational opportunities in the summer and winter. U.S. 50 is a slightly shorter but windier drive that goes through California gold country and ends up at South Lake Tahoe, a city with lots of casinos and ample beaches and recreational activities. From Reno, Lake Tahoe can be reached in less than an hour via Interstate 80 and the Mount Rose Highway. All roads to Lake Tahoe are open year round, with only temporary closures during times of very heavy rain or snowfall. A few local public side roads such as Fallen Leaf Lake Road and Blackwood Canyon Roads are not plowed in the winter.

Getting There and Getting Around Iceland

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 12:47:35 -0400

Iceland Air is the main airline serving Iceland, but many major American and international carriers stop there. The airport is in Keflavik, about 50 kilometers from the capital city of Reykjavik. Public buses timed to flight arrivals run to and from Reykjavik.

Getting There and Getting Around Cairns

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 11:47:25 -0400

Unusual animals can be seen at the Great Barrier Reef and wandering the backroads of the Atherton Tablelands. Credit: ©Shutterstock.com/Ralph Loesche

Most visitors fly to Cairns, a tourist-oriented city of 124,000 people with a huge range of restaurants, services and accommodations, including two campgrounds. Several companies run bus tours from Cairns to the Tablelands, but it’s most convenient to rent a car from one of the many airport rental agencies and drive yourself. Just remember to drive on the left side of the road.

Getting There and Getting Around Greece

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 10:59:22 -0400

A stay on Santorini is not complete without watching the sun set over the Aegean from Phira, Oia, Firostefani or Imerovigli. Credit: Megan Sever

Reaching Santorini by one of the regular domestic or chartered international flights is convenient, but to appreciate fully the dramatic caldera, we recommend arriving by slow ferry (with observation decks). Several are available each day from Athens’ port, Piraeus, as well as more sporadically from other islands. Santorini is very compact, so you can stay on any coast and still see all of the attractions. Although there are established bus routes, the most convenient way to explore the island is by renting a car, motorbike or ATV in any of the main towns.

Getting There and Getting Around Chile

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 10:38:44 -0400

You can arrive in Arica through a few different channels. The easiest is to fly to Santiago and then Arica with a short stop in Iquique; there are daily flights on LanChile and Sky Airlines. A more adventurous option is to fly into Tacna, Peru, and take either a “collective,” or shared ride, a taxi or the Ferrocarril Tacna-Arica train south to Arica.

Getting There and Getting Around California

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 16:50:35 -0400

Due west from Death Valley are California's Sierra Nevada mountains, including Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states, seen here on the left. Credit: Mary Caperton Morton

One of the easiest ways to visit Death Valley is to fly into Las Vegas, rent a car with four-wheel drive and head due west 250 kilometers to the east entrance of the park. Before exploring, stop at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center for park maps and information on weather and road conditions. Before heading out on a hike or a dirt-track drive, talk to a ranger about where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

Getting There and Getting Around Africa

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 16:06:26 -0400

Virunga National Park may be more easily accessed from neighboring Rwanda. It is quite difficult to travel around the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and there are fewer reliable flights into Congo than into Rwanda, where carriers from all over the world fly into Kigali, the capital, every day. Rwanda is beautiful, safe and accessible, making it easy and worthwhile to combine with a trip to Virunga.

Getting There and Getting Around southern Utah

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 16:52:34 -0400

To get to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, fly into either Salt Lake City, Utah, or Las Vegas, Nev. By vehicle, the monument can be accessed from three directions: south from Torrey, Utah, or east from Bryce Canyon, both via Scenic Byway 12, or north from Arizona via the unpaved Cottonwood Canyon Road. Southern Utah is home to half a dozen other national parks and monuments, so you’ll probably want to combine your trip with visits to some of these. Allow at least three to four days to take in all of the features mentioned in this article.

Getting There and Getting Around India

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 16:12:23 -0400

Most of the roads in Shillong were built during the period of British colonial rule. Credit: Jordan Clary

Shillong is connected to the rest of India by regular flights from Kolkata (Calcutta) that fly into Gopinath Bordoloi Airport in Guwahati, roughly 100 kilometers from Shillong. There is also a small airport at Umroi about 40 kilometers from Shillong with flights from Kolkata on certain days of the week. The nearest railway station is in Guwahati, which is well connected to all the major cities of India. Travel by bus is also an option.

Getting There and Getting Around Utah

Thu, 24 May 2018 16:53:10 -0400

Moab's famous rock shop.Credit: Mary Caperton Morton

Moab is well worth the effort required to get there. Direct daily flights to Moab’s tiny Canyonlands Field airport are offered through Great Lakes Airlines. Because a car is necessary to tour the area, a less expensive, though more time-consuming, option is to fly into one of the larger regional airports — Salt Lake City (a four-hour drive), Denver (six hours), or Grand Junction, Colo. (1.5 hours) — rent a car, and then enjoy the scenic drive to Moab.

Getting There and Getting Around Florida

Thu, 24 May 2018 16:21:13 -0400

Credit: ©DanielSchwen, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

The Florida Keys are a popular year-round vacation destination. There are only two seasons: the dry season, from November through May, and the wet season, from June through October.

Getting There and Getting Around Spain

Thu, 24 May 2018 15:24:22 -0400

Credit: ©Shutterstock.com/ArenaPhotoUK

Two airports serve Tenerife, which is a 2.5-hour plane ride away from Spain’s capital, Madrid. Most inter-island flights, plus those from mainland Spain, arrive at Tenerife Norte (Los Rodeos), 11 kilometers from Santa Cruz, the island’s largest city. Nearly all international flights (even those on Ryanair) arrive at the larger Tenerife Sur airport (Reina Sofía), located about 60 kilometers south of Santa Cruz. Although there are established bus routes across the island, the most convenient way to explore it is by car. A number of local and international agencies have depots at both airports.

Getting There and Getting Around New Mexico

Thu, 24 May 2018 14:50:10 -0400

White Sands National Monument is located in south-central New Mexico. To get there, fly into Albuquerque or El Paso, rent a car and drive 360 kilometers south on Interstate 25 from Albuquerque or 160 kilometers north from El Paso. The closest town to White Sands is Las Cruces, which has plenty of hotels, restaurants and attractions, including a natural history museum and a historic Spanish village.

Getting There and Getting Around Wyoming

Thu, 24 May 2018 12:48:23 -0400

"Road" is a loose term in parts of Wyoming. But even on a lot of main roads, you can go a long way without seeing a sign of civilization. Credit: Mary Caperton Morton

To drive all or part of this loop, fly into Cheyenne and rent a car. You can also fly into Denver, 160 kilometers south of Cheyenne. The loop runs from Cheyenne to Laramie, then up through Casper, Buffalo, Gillette and Devils Tower before returning back south to Cheyenne via U.S. Highway 85. Primitive and developed camping opportunities abound in Wyoming, and hotels, motels and other accommodations can be found in the cities along the loop.

Getting There and Getting Around Croatia

Thu, 24 May 2018 12:05:01 -0400

Most visitors to the Bay of Kotor arrive via cruise ship or an all-day excursion from Dubrovnik, Croatia. These options usually leave only a few hours to enjoy Kotor and neglect most of the bay’s other attractions.

Getting There and Getting Around France

Thu, 24 May 2018 11:09:03 -0400

Most flights to France from the U.S. land in Paris. If you are heading directly to Provence, you can fly from Paris to Marseille-Provence Airport. Another option is France’s high-speed TGV train, which zips between the capital and Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, and Arles. During the summer, Eurostar trains run directly from London to Avignon, and there are also direct flights from London to Marseille. In addition, ferries sail regularly to Marseille from Sardinia, Corsica, and Tunisia. Although the public transportation system is excellent in France’s urban areas, the most convenient way to explore Provence’s countryside is by car. Most visitors arrive with accommodations already booked, a wise strategy especially during the bustling summer months. Websites such as booking.com offer a wide range of properties throughout Provence. If you are planning on staying at least a week in one location, consider renting a gîte — a small, furnished holiday home typically located in a rural area — through the website http://en.gites-de-france.com. Be aware that you often need to wire a deposit ahead of time to the owner, who may not speak much English. Provence isn’t cheap. Camping is a great way to save money, see some out-of-the-way places, and meet locals and other (usually European) tourists. If you don’t wish to haul camping gear with you, renting a camper van is another option. If you decide to hike on Mont Ventoux, good places to begin are the villages of les Fébriers or les Colombets near Bédoin, or from Chalet Liotard, located on the northwest side much closer to the summit. If you choose to cycle up the giant, the town of Malaucène has several shops, including Ventoux Bikes, where you can rent a reliable bike, as well as some great cafes to catch up on some post-ride calories.

Getting there and getting around Idaho

Tue, 01 May 2018 10:57:33 -0400

Most river trips down the Main Salmon begin at the boat ramp at Corn Creek Campground, where rafters rig their crafts and have their gear and permit checked by a U.S. Forest Service ranger. Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If you’re interested in a trip down the Main Salmon, you have two options: put a trip together yourself, or hire a professional outfitter to take you. Permits are required for self-organized trips between June 20 and Sept. 7. Permits are awarded through a lottery via www.recreation.gov, and the lottery application period runs from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31. Though they can be very hard to get, each permit allows a maximum of 25 people to travel the river: In 2017, there were 9,000 applications for just 310 launches. (It may be a good idea to have a lot of people from your group apply.) Permits are not required if you go with an outfitter. For outfitter suggestions, check with the U.S. Forest Service. Lastly, bring a waterproof guidebook that you can keep open as you splash through waves. I highly recommend “RiverMaps Guide to the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers, Idaho," which contains the mileages referenced above.

Getting there and getting around Oman

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 15:25:15 -0400

Oman’s main gateway is Muscat International Airport (MCT), which offers service to most major Middle Eastern and European cities. There are no direct flights to Oman from North America; it’s usually most convenient to fly through Dubai, Doha, Bahrain or a major European city. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Oman Air and Turkish Airlines are among those that offer connecting service. The airport is located on the western edge of the capital city; if your hotel doesn’t offer a free shuttle, you can reach the downtown via blue-striped airport taxis, which operate on a fixed, prepaid rate, or one of the microbuses that depart from the opposite side of the footbridge that spans the highway outside the airport.

Getting there and getting around the Causses

Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:16:19 -0400

Visitors to the Causses region can find places to stay in any of dozens of charming towns throughout the region. Credit: both: Callan Bentley.

Toulouse is the best gateway to the Causses region. Toulouse-Blagnac Airport hosts plenty of flights to connecting cities in Europe, but no direct flights from the United States. Rent a car at the airport and head north to explore the region. The main highway going north to the Causses is well maintained, with fueling stations along the way that offer everything a traveler might need, including showers. Figuring out how to pay for gasoline was tricky — but that’s part of the adventure of travel.

Getting there and getting around Flagstaff, Arizona

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:30:01 -0400

Flagstaff has long been an important transportation hub: It's along historic Route 66 and a major east-west railroad line. The rail depot was formerly known as the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Depot. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/miroslav_1.

“Flagstaff is a two- to three-hour drive from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and a four-hour drive from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS). The small but conveniently located Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) also offers several flights daily to Phoenix.

Getting there and getting around Patagonia

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 15:22:02 -0400

Credit: Bottom: NASA/AGI.

There are many ways to get to Patagonia. I would have preferred to get there by following Charles Darwin’s route, aboard a replica of H.M.S. Beagle (especially considering that last year was the 200th anniversary of his birth). Sadly, the modern school calendar dictated that I move more quickly: Two weeks was all I had to work with.

Getting there and getting around Bolivia's Antiplano

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 12:30:59 -0400

Traveling to Lake Titicaca and other parts of Bolivia can be quite an adventure. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

“Bolivia’s main gateway, El Alto International Airport (LPB), is located 13 kilometers southwest of the country’s capital, La Paz. It hosts regular, year-round flights to and from major destinations in South America, including Lima and Cuzco, Peru, Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as connecting flights to Miami on American Airlines and Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. (Dulles) and Orlando, Fla., on Avianca. Several regional airlines, including Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) and Amaszonas, offer multiple flights daily from La Paz to Uyuni. The hour-long flight typically costs about $150 one way. We found the South American carriers to be extremely efficient; it’s important to arrive at the airport two hours in advance because the flights often depart early!

Getting there and getting around Austria's Salzkammergut

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 10:06:53 -0400

Left: Visitors can choose among many quaint inns while staying in Austria's salt district; right: Cable cars throughout Austria's salt region offer easy access to caves, ancient salt works and lookouts with gorgeous views. Credit: both: Lon Abbott and Terri Cook.

“Salzburg boasts Austria’s second-busiest airport, with nonstop flights to cities throughout Europe and connecting flights to a number of North American gateways. Munich, Germany, just 145 kilometers and 1.5 hours away on the A8 autobahn, has direct flights from North America. Picking up a rental car is easy at either airport. Austria’s official language is German, but many Austrians are fluent in English. Road signs are in German but are easily followed by English speakers.

Getting there and getting around Grand Junction, Colorado

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 10:51:17 -0400

You can enjoy great views of the Book Cliffs as well as delicious wine at many of Grand Valley's locally-owned vineyards. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

Grand Junction is a 4.5-hour drive from major airports in both Denver and Salt Lake City. The smaller but more convenient Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) offers nonstop, year-round service to Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Las Vegas, and seasonal service to Los Angeles.

Getting there and getting around Easter Island

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 08:45:57 -0400

Easter Island offers plenty of chances to surf, snorkel and fish in the South Pacific. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

“Easter Island has just one gateway, tiny Mataveri International Airport (IPC), to which only one airline, the Chilean carrier LATAM, offers regular service. This includes one flight weekly from Tahiti, as well as daily service from Santiago, a five-hour flight. Airfares are high, ranging from about $400 to $1,500 round trip. The island’s unusually long runway once served as an emergency U.S. space shuttle landing site; today, it allows LATAM to land large Boeing 787s there, a rarity among small islands.

Getting there and getting around the Dead Sea rift

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 11:16:35 -0500

Most flights into Israel from the U.S. and Europe go through Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), located 19 kilometers south of Tel Aviv. The most flexible and convenient option for getting to and from the airport and for exploring the region is to rent a vehicle; the airport and downtown Tel Aviv offer many rental options. Cars drive on the right, and road signs are marked in Hebrew and English. From the airport, the Dead Sea is about a three-hour drive (170 kilometers).

Getting there and getting around Shetland

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 15:02:22 -0500

Visitors to the Shetland Islands take overnight ferries, with comfortable berths and showers, from Aberdeen to Lerwick, the largest town in the Shetland Islands. The NorthLink Ferry has a children's playroom with toys and Viking costumes. Credit: clockwise from top: Swifant, CC BY-SA 2.0; Callan Bentley; Tom Bastin, CC BY 2.0.

Getting to the Shetland Islands requires taking a ferry from mainland Scotland. Ferries are very comfortable and well-run, with a smooth overnight passage from Aberdeen to Lerwick. We took that route up to Shetland, and a different route — to the Orkney Islands — on the way back. The schedule running from Lerwick to the town of Kirkwall (in Orkney) is less ideal, arriving in the middle of the night, but the local hotels are used to their guests dropping in at midnight.

Getting there and getting around Patagonia

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:24:04 -0500

High-pressure systems that bring clear skies are reasonably common during the winter in Chilean Patagonia, a region that is notorious for its foul weather. Credit: Lon Abbott & Terri Cook.

Southern Chile has two main gateways, the homey town of Puerto Natales, a 1.5-hour drive from the national park, and Punta Arenas, a small city about 4 hours’ drive to the south. Of the two, Punta Arenas (PUQ) has the larger airport, which hosts regular year-round flights from Santiago on LATAM and Sky Airline, an efficient regional carrier, plus occasional flights from Puerto Montt in Chile’s beautiful Lake District. Flights to Puerto Natales (PNT) only operate during the summer season. There are no direct flights from the U.S. to this region.

Getting there and getting around Tumbler Ridge

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 16:29:45 -0400

Boulder Gardens is a domed sandstone peak overlying softer shale; the sandstone spalls off, creating a talus pile known as the gardens. Credit: Larry Erlendson.

There are no direct commercial flights into Tumbler Ridge, which is about a 13-hour drive from Vancouver, B.C. However, Air Canada and WestJet fly from Vancouver into nearby Fort St. John, and from there, it is about a two-hour drive to Tumbler Ridge. Regional airline Central Mountain Air also flies from Vancouver into Dawson Creek, about a 90-minute drive from Tumbler Ridge. You can also fly into Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, a 6.5-hour drive, or Grande Prairie, a 2.5-hour drive.

Getting there and getting around Gubbio

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 10:16:51 -0400

Most flights to Italy from the U.S. land in Rome or Milan. If you are heading directly to Umbria, it is possible to fly from Rome to Perugia’s San Francesco d’Assisi airport, 42 kilometers from Gubbio. Direct international flights to Gubbio are possible only from London and a few other European cities.

Getting there and getting around Guatemala's Volcan Pacaya

Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:11:12 -0400

Shops, restaurants and hotels line Antigua's famed cobblestone streets. Agua Volcano looms behind Santa Catalina Arch, which originally allowed nuns to cross from one side of the Santa Catalina convent to the other without going outside. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/ loca4motion.

Visitors to Guatemala fly into Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport, the country’s only international airport. From there, I recommend traveling to the beautiful old colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers some of the best of Guatemalan culture, from restaurants and bars to architecture and shopping. It is common for travelers to share a shuttle bus from the airport to Antigua — expect to pay about $10 for the 60- to 90-minute journey.

Getting there and getting around Northern Vietnam

Fri, 19 Aug 2016 15:52:44 -0400

Street food is cheap and delicious in Vietnam. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

“Northern Vietnam has two international airports, Hanoi and Da Nang. Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport is the main gateway, offering service to most major Asian cities, including Hong Kong, Bangkok and Tokyo, but no direct service to the U.S. The airport is located 30 kilometers north of the city center and is best accessed by taxi. Many Hanoi hotels will arrange airport pickup or dropoff for you.

Getting there and getting around Zermatt

Tue, 19 Jul 2016 10:27:36 -0400

Zermatt, a car-free resort town at the foot of the Matterhorn, can be reached from major international airports in Geneva, Zürich or Milan. All three airports offer nonstop flights from several North American cities and have numerous rental-car agencies. Switzerland has four official languages, of which German and French are the most commonly used, but road signs are easily followed by English speakers, making it easy to navigate around the country. However, private cars are not allowed in Zermatt, so you might instead want to take one of the Swiss Rail Network’s clean and reliable trains to Zermatt, a 3.5-hour trip from Zürich or a four-hour trip from Geneva. If you do drive, you must park in a garage in Täsch, 5 kilometers north of the resort town, and take a train or taxi into town. The village itself is quite walkable; a 10-minute stroll will get you across town.

Getting there and getting around Michigan

Wed, 29 Jun 2016 10:27:29 -0400

The waterfalls at Pictured Rocks freeze in the wintertime, offering outdoor enthusiasts the chance to try their hands (and feet) at ice climbing during Michigan's annual Ice Fest. Credit: Lucas Joel.

The nearest city to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the more remote of the two lakeshores, is Marquette, Mich., where travelers can fly into Sawyer International Airport, typically via connections through Chicago or Detroit. The closest town with lodging is Munising, right next to the lakeshore.

Getting there and getting around peninsular Greece

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:02:23 -0500

The staging spot for the two-day ascent of Olympus is the quaint village of Litochoro. From there, visitors drive to Prionia (above), where they start hiking. The trail leads through gorgeous scenery for 6 kilometers up to a well-appointed hut (left), which serves up heaping plates of pasta, bowls of hearty soup and steaming mugs of cocoa, and where people usually spend the night before summiting Olympus. Credit: both: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

Northern Greece has two major airports: Athens and Thessaloniki. Athens International Airport offers the most options, including seasonal daily nonstop flights from New York, Philadelphia and Montreal, as well as flights to most European cities.

Getting there and getting around Sedona

Fri, 20 Nov 2015 08:49:12 -0500

Sedona is home to dozens of art galleries. Credit: Don Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Montezuma Castle in the Verde Valley is one of North America's best-preserved Sinaguan cliff dwellings. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

Although Flagstaff’s Pulliam Airport is located just 40 kilometers from Sedona, flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a two-hour drive to the south, are usually cheaper and have better connections. It is also possible to ride Amtrak’s Southwest Chief route to Flagstaff. To fully explore central Arizona, you will need a car; if you fly in, you can rent one at either city’s airport, in downtown Flagstaff or in Sedona.

Getting there and getting around Cyprus

Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:00:57 -0400

In the Troödos foothills near Paphos is an eerie village that was abandoned in the late 1960s following a powerful earthquake that damaged nearly all of the buildings. Credit: both: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

Indigenous grapes, including the white xynisteri and the red maratheftiko varietals, are cultivated, crushed and fermented to create some delicious and relatively inexpensive Cypriot wines. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

Cyprus has been populated for centuries by a mix of ethnic Greeks and Turks. Periodic ethnic tensions erupted into communal violence in 1963, leading to a Turkish invasion in 1974. Turkey has controlled the northern third of the island ever since. The Troödos Mountains, which host the ophiolitic rocks, rise in the center of the island, within the Republic of Cyprus.

Getting there and getting around Hells Canyon

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 12:57:23 -0400

Rafting trips begin below the 100-metertall Hells Canyon Dam. Credit: Mary Caperton Morton.

The Snake River is still plentiful in smallmouth bass. Credit: Mary Caperton Morton.

The closest major airports to Hells Canyon are Missoula, Mont., Boise, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash. If you book a multiday trip with a reputable rafting company, the company will likely help you arrange shuttles to the beginning and end of the canyon, or you may need to rent a car. Most Hells Canyon river trips end in Lewiston, Idaho, which also has a small airport with regularly scheduled flights to Salt Lake City, Seattle and Boise.

Getting there and getting around Texas' Trans-Pecos

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 10:30:46 -0400

If you’re driving through West Texas on Interstate 10, which runs from Jacksonville, Fla., to Santa Monica, Calif., you’ll pass right through the Trans-Pecos region. Commercial air service is also available into El Paso International Airport, located about 170 kilometers west of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. A car is necessary to get around the area; you can rent one at the airport if you choose to fly in. Fall is a great time to visit the region, once the summer heat has waned.

Getting there and getting around the Andean Volcanoes

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 11:51:03 -0500

The innkeeper at the base of the mountain shows the skiers how the 2011 eruption of Volcán Puyehue reshaped the local landscape, making the map obsolete. Credit: Karin Kirk.

Loading the horses for the trip to base camp. Credit: Karin Kirk.

The towns of Puerto Montt, Temuco and Osorno make suitable jumping-off points for the region, and all are accessed via a short (and scenic!) flight on LAN Airlines south from Santiago, Chile. The volcano ski season lasts from early September through mid-October.

Getting there and getting around France's Massif Central

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 11:44:15 -0500

Le Puy is famous for the manufacturing of fuseau lace, which is still made by hand, as well as by machine. Credit: both: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

Vulcania, Europe's only volcanic theme park, was the brainchild of two volcanologists who were killed in the explosive 1991 eruption of Japan's Mount Unzen the year before the park opened. Credit: Terri Cook and Lon Abbott.

Most flights to France from the U.S. land in Paris. If you are heading directly to the Massif Central, you can either take a one-hour flight from Paris to Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport or take the Corail Auvergne train, a 3.5-hour trip.

Getting there and getting around Scotland

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 10:19:24 -0500

The main bus terminal (above) is located right next to Edinburgh's Waverly Train Station, also a hub for car rentals. Credit: Mary Caperton Morton.

To visit Scotland, fly into Edinburgh or take a train from London. Arthur’s Seat is within walking distance of the Royal Mile and downtown Edinburgh. Scotland has a good train and bus system with routes to the Highlands, but traveling between the smaller villages is easier by private car, if you can handle driving on the left-hand side of the road. The Cairngorm Mountains are best approached from Braemar, Tomintoul, Aviemore or Kingusse, all small towns with hotels and restaurants that cater to tourists visiting the park.

Getting there and getting around on the John Muir Trail

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 09:56:09 -0500

Getting to the trail can be a challenge, but one way is the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System bus, seen here at the Merced train station. Copyright Ricky Courtney, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0

The best time to hike the John Muir Trail (JMT) is late summer. To plan your own adventure, start by reading up on the trek at various websites such as the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s JMT trail site (www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/john-muir-trail/) and in guidebooks. Then, when you know when you want to go, procure your permits. To start in Yosemite, you can apply for permits through their lottery over the winter or get a permit for an alternate trailhead like we did. Or, if you have enough time to be flexible, you can try to get some of the first-come, first-served permits available every day. Most people do the 340-kilometer trip in two to four weeks, depending on their hiking pace and interest in exploring side trips or taking days off.

Getting there and getting around in Antarctica

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 10:48:44 -0500

Traveling to Antarctica pretty much requires being part of an organized tour, something tens of thousands of people do each year. We went on a trip arranged by the Geological Society of America and Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris. If you aren’t lucky enough to take a scientific tour, there are plenty of more traditional tours that will get you there. Most depart from Argentina, but some go through the Falkland Islands as well as Australia and New Zealand. The vessels used by tour operators range from icebreakers to cruise ships to smaller yachts (not for those with a weak stomach) that can carry you across the Drake Passage to the more remote islands of the Scotia Arc and on to Antarctica.