Mountains & Ski

Tamarack, Idaho – October 06, 2026 -- Tamarack Resort has been named one of the top ski resorts in the country in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, based on more than 798,867 survey responses from travelers across the United States.

Readers rank Tamarack among the nation's best ski destinations

The Readers' Choice Awards are among the travel industry's longest-running reader-voted accolades. Scott Turlington, President of Tamarack Resort, called the honor 'an incredible honor,' noting it came directly from travelers who experienced the mountain and community firsthand.

Cambridge, Mass. and Salt Lake City – – October 06, 2026 -- Active-travel operator EF Adventures and outdoor retailer Backcountry have launched a four-tour collection of guided hiking and multi-adventure trips departing in 2027, pairing EF's travel-guiding expertise with Backcountry's gear know-how.

The collection opens on Backcountry's home turf in Utah

The anchor trip, American Southwest Hiking with Backcountry: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion, runs 7 days (9 with a Zion extension), departs April 25, 2027, and starts at $6,190 per person, land only. Travelers descend the Bright Angel Trail into the Grand Canyon and hike Zion's slot canyons, with an optional two-day Bryce Canyon add-on.

Sundance, Utah – October 02, 2026 -- Sundance Mountain Resort has opened sales for its 2026/2027 season passes and S-Cards, giving skiers access to an expanded mountain with more than 600 skiable acres this winter.

The resort adds over 60 acres of newly accessible terrain

A new Electric Horseman high-speed quad will carry riders to the entire back mountain in roughly six minutes. The new Storyteller ridge run adds a 1.7-mile groomed run along with access to three expert gladed chutes.

Five season pass tiers cover every schedule and budget

The Unlimited Season Pass has no blackout dates and costs $799 for adults aged 27 and up, $669 for young adults (18-26), $409 for youth (13-18, high school), $319 for juniors (6-12) and $359 for seniors (65+). Perks include free UTA bus access, discounted buddy passes and complimentary summer scenic lift rides.

Boulder – September 29, 2026 -- The Sundance Film Festival will leave Park City after more than four decades and debut in Boulder, Colorado, running January 21-31, 2027.

Boulder's Chautauqua Auditorium becomes an official festival venue

Set beneath the Flatirons, Boulder pairs the festival's screenings and premieres with immediate access to hiking trails at Chautauqua Park. Downtown, the pedestrian-only Pearl Street will mark its 50th anniversary in 2027, and the city's dining scene has drawn recognition from the MICHELIN Guide.

Estes Park offers elk sightings and quiet winter trails near Rocky Mountain National Park

As the basecamp for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park turns into a snowshoe-friendly landscape in winter, with elk commonly seen around town and mule deer spotted in the surrounding area. The Riverwalk trail follows the Big Thompson and Fall rivers through downtown.

San Diego – – September 28, 2026 -- Cyclists in San Diego are increasingly drawn to Mount Soledad, a climb that ends not just at a scenic overlook but at a nearly century-old veterans memorial.

Multiple routes lead to the same summit

Mount Soledad offers several distinct roads to the top. Some are short and steep, testing riders early with punishing pitches. Others wind longer through residential streets, offering a more gradual but sustained effort. Regardless of the route chosen, every path converges at the same summit.

A nearly 30-foot cross anchors the memorial

At the top stands the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial, centered on a large white cross rising nearly 30 feet and visible from much of the city below. An American flag flies beside it. The structure has stood on the hilltop in some form for close to a century.

Tucson – September 28, 2026 -- Western National Parks (WNP) is bringing the traditions of Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site on the road again for the 2026-27 season, with stops at national park sites and community venues across the West through June 2027.

The tour visits six confirmed locations starting in October

The schedule kicks off at Bandelier National Monument on October 10-11, 2026, followed by The National Parks Store on January 16-17, 2027, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area on February 13-14, 2027, the Tucson Festival of Books on March 13-14, 2027, White Sands National Park on April 17-18, 2027, and Petroglyph National Monument on June 12-13, 2027. Additional stops may be added during the season, and events on public lands run during regular Visitor Center hours.

Bismarck – September 24, 2026 -- North Dakota Tourism is highlighting fall road trips as autumn color spreads across the Turtle Mountains and the Sheyenne River Valley, with foliage typically starting mid-September and peaking by mid-October. Travelers can use North Dakota Tourism's fall foliage guide and prediction map to time their visit.

Scenic byways wind from wooded hills to open prairie

Lake Metigoshe State Park sits amid some of the state's most colorful fall scenery in the Turtle Mountains, while Fort Ransom State Park brightens the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway farther south. Near Bismarck, changing leaves frame the Missouri River at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, and trees along the Little Missouri River add color to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota.

Xiangxi – September 24, 2026 -- A delegation of international social media influencers traveled through the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture in Central China's Hunan province from Sept 22 to 24, exploring ethnic traditions, mountain landscapes, and rural development projects.

The tour started at Fenghuang Ancient Town's historic streets and river

Participants wore traditional Miao garments, sampled regional dishes, and cruised the Tuojiang River past rows of stilt houses. Thai journalist Pichayapa Sutabutra sang a love song on the river celebrating bonds beyond wealth and social standing.

Nigerian content creator Oluwabunmi Jimoh praised Fenghuang's scenery, cuisine, and cultural appeal, urging people to visit during the upcoming National Day holiday. French influencer Marius Etrillard highlighted the architecture and clear waters, noting the town's status as a 5A-rated tourist attraction in China.

Fly Creek, N.Y. – September 23, 2026 -- Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard has been voted the Best Cidery in the United States in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, marking the second national #1 ranking for the Upstate New York destination in three years.

The historic mill, located three miles from Cooperstown, previously topped the same list in 2024 and placed third in 2025. The USA TODAY 10Best competition nominated leading cideries nationwide, with rankings decided entirely by public vote.

The mill still runs on 19th-century water power

Built in 1856, Fly Creek presses cider using an 1889 Boomer & Boschert rack-and-cloth press. The equipment is powered by an 1872 water turbine that harnesses a 10-foot head of water from the on-site Millpond, letting visitors watch cider being made the same way it was generations ago.

Big Bear Lake – September 23, 2026 -- Big Bear Valley will host a two-day community event, Wings Over Big Bear, on Oct. 3-4 to honor Jackie, the wild bald eagle who became a global icon through a live nest camera before her death in August.

Jackie made her home in Big Bear Valley and was followed by millions worldwide via the Friends of Big Bear Valley nest camera, where viewers watched her and her mate, Shadow, nest and raise their young above Big Bear Lake for years. In July, she was found weak and unable to fly near Big Bear Lake and was rescued. After more than three weeks of intensive care, treatment and testing, she died Aug. 10 at age 14.