6 Places For An Amazing Supermoon Experience In 2020

From ruminating over our astrological signs to watching in wonder as the Northern and Southern Lights dance across arctic and antarctic skies, our fascination with heavenly bodies seems to be a unifying feature of our humanity. There are so many celestial wonders to enjoy and places to make the most of them: dark sky sanctuaries, planetariums, and observatories to name a few.

If we’re lucky, we can witness starry skies (or, alternatively, vivid cityscapes) from our own porches and patios, but if you’re a true aficionado of the night and its defining features, seeing a supermoon from a special viewing place could make for the travel memory of a lifetime.

What Is A Supermoon?

Supermoon is a relatively new term. It debuted in 1979 to describe a full moon that occurs at perigee — when the moon is closest to the earth. The result? The moon looking up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than full moons that occur when the moon is further away.

The mechanics of orbit and the relationship between the moon, the earth, and the sun mean stunning, glowy skies on clear supermoon nights, not to mention fantastic night-sky photo opportunities.

Supermoons only happen a few times a year. Here are some of the best places to see them (and when).

Full moon and starry sky over a pagoda in Chiang Mai, Thailand — jaboo2foto / Shutterstock

1. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Derek Remer, founder of travel gear company Alibi Supply Co., told TravelAwaits “One of the less-traditional best places in the world to view the moon is in Chiang Mai, Thailand.”

“Chiang Mai has a perfect mix of circumstances to create a truly unique moon-viewing experience. Chiang Mai is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains that don’t necessarily tower over the landscape but provide a beautiful backdrop.”

“During the rainy season,” he said, “after a huge downpour, the clouds start to disperse, and when a full moon or special moon appears over the mountains, it’s truly breathtaking. The real kicker here is that buildings in Chiang Mai can’t be built over six stories tall. If you make your way to Nimman — a neighborhood in the city — and situate yourself on top of one of the higher rooftops, you will be in for a real treat.”

Before or after enjoying a supermoon viewing from a Chiang Mai rooftop on Tuesday, March 10 or Wednesday, April 8, you can venture outside the city to climb up Thailand’s incredible sticky waterfalls, visit Na Phu Chet Si shrine, and see a nearby crystalline spring.

Full moon behind a Mont Blanc peak — ashenwolf / Shutterstock

2. Mont Joly In The French Alps

Almost equidistant from Milan in Italy, Zurich in Swizerland, and Marseille on the coast of France, sits Mont Joly — a peak surrounded by some of the best-known ski resorts in the French department of Haute-Savoie.

If it sounds dreamy, that’s because it is. In fact, Will Roberts of Freedom Snowsports, a ski school that operates in Chamonix, Saint Gervais, Megeve, and Les Contamines, France, said it’s the ideal place to see a supermoon.

“During a full moon and with the luck of a clear sky, the light is so bright that it reflects off of the snow.” He said you won’t need artificial light of any kind — not even a flashlight — to see everything around you.

One of his favorite moon-viewing experiences: sitting out on the deck of a mountain hut on the shoulder of Mont Joly sipping hot chocolate.

“We are looking directly at Mont Blanc and the brightest, fullest moon.” Since Roberts lives and works in the region, he said he feels privileged to be able to see this whenever the opportunity arises and, moreover to share it with others. See a supermoon from Mont Joly on Monday, March 9 or Wednesday, April 8.

Sunset and starry sky over Uluru — Eugenie Lai / Unsplash

3. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

Watching the sun set and the moon rise over Uluru — a defining features of the Australian Outback — over 15 years ago remains one of my favorite travel memories. As the bright Outback afternoon slips into evening, the sky turns from piercing blue to dusky purple to deep navy. Once it rises, the moon and Uluru seem to commune telepathically. The sounds of the desert take on a different tempo, and the spiritual significance of the place becomes even more apparent than it was in daylight.

Of course, arriving in the Outback involves a trek. Learn all about how to visit Australia’s Outback and plan on seeing a supermoon rise over Uluru Tuesday, March 10 or Wednesday, April 8.

4. Shelter Island, New York

Known as the un-Hamptons, Shelter Island is a wonderful, and star-studded, spot for reconnecting with nature. In fact, Susie Dempsey pointed out that it was on Shelter Island — at the secluded Ram’s Head Inn — that Jerry Seinfeld enjoyed the 2017 eclipse from an Adirondack chair.

Why is Shelter Island, and Ram Island (an excrescence of land that juts out into the water across from Mashomack Preserve) specifically, such a great place for supermoon viewing? Dempsey said, “There are no street lamps or city lights to interfere with the star and moonlight, so the stars come through crystal clear and in serious abundance. Moonlight doesn’t compete with any man-made light, so when it shines, it illuminates the island and the rippling bay water of Coecles Harbor.”

You can spend Monday, March 9 or Tuesday, April 7 biking Shelter Island or exploring the walking trails in Mashomack Preserve, then settle into an Adirondack chair of your own as the moon comes up. Dempsey said, “You don’t have to wait long to spot your first shooting star.”

5. Sheldon Chalet In Alaska

Astrotourism is a thing at Sheldon Chalet — one of the most exclusive places to see a supermoon, period.

The property, situated on five private acres within Denali National Park, is only accessible via private helicopter ride from Anchorage or Talkeetna, a census-designated place up the Susitna River from Anchorage and downriver from the park. According to the chalet, where a one-night stay will cost $3,150 per person (and a minimum three-night stay is required), visitors can enjoy “aurora borealis and meteorological viewing, full moon glacier treks, and golden sunrises.”

What’s more: “At 63 degrees latitude and an elevation of 6,000 feet, Sheldon Chalet’s troposphere is some of the thinnest on the planet, allowing guests to see shooting stars” — and supermoons — “brighter than anywhere else.”

The chalet has expert guides are on hand to help visitors better understand the aurora borealis and to “offer insight into the night sky constellations.”

“World-class stargazing is enhanced by the cozy fire and satisfying beverages custom crafted by your private chef.” What the chalet doesn’t have: Wi-Fi, but who needs it when you can enjoy a remote hot spring excursion or constructing your very own igloo as a supermoon lights the last frontier?

You could see a supermoon from Sheldon Chalet, or elsewhere in Alaska, on Monday, March 9 or Tuesday, April 7.

Full moon rise in South Africa with bush tree in foreground — Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH / Shutterstock

6. On Safari

I recently learned that one of our writers has been on safari nearly a dozen times. She finally went gorilla trekking in Uganda and said it was worth the wait. Another has participated in five Tanzanian safaris (and has stunning photos to prove it). They’ve convinced me that a safari should be at the top of my bucket list, and in reading about safaris, I’ve learned that night drives can be part of the experience.

Safari guides take participants out into the bush after dark, which means an opportunity to see nocturnal animals in addition to those who roam freely during daylight hours. What better time to witness the majesty of the savanna than a night when the moon is 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter?

You could venture out under the auspices of a Tanzanian supermoon on Monday, March 9 or Wednesday, April 8.

Want to see a supermoon closer to home? Park rangers host full moon hikes at national parks around the States, and these are the seven most incredible stargazing sites in the U.S.

Lessons From The Road: It’s All About Attitude

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said: “I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.” Yes, unfortunately, luck has two sides to it. And for travelers who put themselves in foreign or new lands and choose to participate in unfamiliar activities, luck seems to come into play more often than normal. Sometimes a travel day turns out well. Sometimes it turns out poorly. How do we navigate such differing situations?

Here are some lessons to keep in mind.

You Can’t Control Everything

One of the worst days of our life happened last year. My husband and I were at Washington Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C. waiting to board a flight bound for London where we were to catch a connecting flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Our airline, Primera, had declared bankruptcy earlier in the day while we were en route from Phoenix. All its flights were canceled. I was terribly upset. Our tickets had been bought at the unbelievably discounted price of $250 per person, but we wound up paying more than ten times that to get to Ljubljana — even after receiving our refund.

My husband said, “It’s just money.” When we arrived in London, he immediately looked for an English pub at the airport. The Scottish-Irish fellow delighted in a classic British breakfast he had been missing stateside.

Don’t Be Stymied; Go Ahead With Your Travel Plans

Without hesitation, we went ahead with our travel plans — $3,000 poorer. The Slovenia portion of our trip was something we could not postpone. It was dependent on the schedule of our two hosts, whom we met on the road in the Philippines a few years earlier. In fact, we’d hosted them in the U.S. two years after. The apartments they had reserved for us were fully booked before and after our visit.

Our room at a bed and breakfast was at the foot of Ljubljana Castle in front of the huge daily farmers market in Old Ljubljana. In Bled, we got to enjoy an apartment that was right on the famous lake with postcard scenes from the balcony. We couldn’t have asked for more. Our week in Slovenia was not just spectacular; it also didn’t cost us a cent.

A tram in downtown Vienna. — Carol Colborn

Be Easy on Yourself: You Are Allowed To Make Mistakes

The shock of our airfare’s $3,000 price tag behind us, we enjoyed our time in Slovenia. Next up: Austria. From our base in Innsbruck the following week, we wanted to explore more of the country. We decided to take the train to Vienna, stay overnight, then stop in Salzburg, midway on the way back to Innsbruck, the next day. At the railway station I got a brochure from the ticket counter while Bill set off to buy a bottle of water. Mixed signals meant we had almost zero time till departure when we finally found each other again. That’s how we got on the wrong train — the one going in the opposite direction of our intended destination. Instead of Vienna, we found ourselves in Munich.

We finally got to Vienna mid-afternoon instead of before lunch as we had planned. I was stressed. My dear husband said, “Charge it to experience; we’re allowed to make mistakes.” We started to walk and made it to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Mozart House, the opera house, Karlskirche, the Hofburg Palace, and the Museum Quartier. The only Vienna bucket-list site we missed: Schonbrunn Palace.

Granted, we had to run from place to place. It was great that they were so close to each other. We even ended the day with dinner complete with sacher torte — a classic Austrian chocolate cake — at a Viennese coffee house. We would’ve preferred to go to the Hotel Sacher for the original, but, as luck would have it, they have an outlet in Innsbruck.

Lake Bodensee in Germany. — Carol Colborn

There Are Many Good People On The Road

Our next base was Oberstaufen, Germany. This is where our bad luck turned into really good luck. After one of our long day trips, we missed the shuttle bus back to our resort. Tired and hungry, I must have looked utterly desperate when I found out the next shuttle was an hour away. A German couple who was also waiting at the station read each of the posters (all in German), looking for available alternatives for us. They didn’t find any, but it didn’t matter. We loved the gesture.

The following day, we decided to explore the iconic Hotel Ludwig in Steibus, a village close to Oberstaufen. It turned out that the same couple’s vacation condo was right in front of the RV campground adjacent to the hotel. They invited us in for drinks. The interesting thing was that the German man spoke very little English, my husband spoke very little German, and the wife and I wound up gesticulating a lot. Before we parted, they extended us an invitation to visit them at their home in Uberlinger, Germany. The day before we left for France, we found the chance to do just that.

On their deck overlooking the legendary Bodensee Lake, we enjoyed a typical German lunch. Then we toured the resort city, which was hardly touched during WWII because of various treaties. Meeting such good people is GOOD LUCK in capital letters.

The writer enjoying beef and cheese fondue in Brussels. — Carol Colborn

Let The Good Times Roll

By this time, we had definitely moved from saying “When it rains, it pours” to “Let the good times roll.” In Paris, France, we were even gifted with a fabulous upgrade from a studio to a one-bedroom apartment. For one romantic week, this elegant Parisian home was the base for our day trips to the highlights of Paris. In Brussels, Belgium, we didn’t expect to find so many great foods. Aside from being awed by the attractions, we also delighted in the food-tripping: We indulged in beef carbonnade, moules frites, beef and cheese fondue, Belgian waffles, Belgian chocolates, and Belgian beer.

Luck is iffy, especially on the road. We have found that bad luck turns into good luck — sometimes as quickly as it came — and vice versa, of course. In any case, we have learned to remember what matters most. What we can control is how we react — to others, to things, and to situations. When bad luck strikes, we should quickly pick up the lesson and move on. And when good luck happens, we should let our gratitude freely express itself. This is the kind of attitude that will surely let the good times roll.

Note: It also helps to travel with people who remain positive. They make the best traveling companions.

Touring the continent? Consider stopping for Trappist beer in Belgium or planning a Christmas markets road trip.

How To Visit Idaho’s Beautiful Shoshone Falls

Southern Idaho’s Shoshone Falls is often called the Niagara of the West, and the landmark certainly resembles the New York falls, especially when in full flow. The views of Shoshone Falls from the observation deck can be incredible, and the sound can be deafening. When you’re in Idaho (or even Salt Lake City, Utah, which is only 3 hours away), you simply must visit.

My son lives in Twin Falls, and my wife and I recently visited the area to see him and his new fiancée. The drive to Twin Falls is amazing. You won’t believe the majesty of the Snake River Canyon as you head across the Perrine Bridge into Twin Falls. Our afternoon trip to see Shoshone Falls, however, was the highlight of our visit.

Welcome signe for Shoshone Falls. — melissamn / Shutterstock

Where Is Shoshone Falls?

Shoshone Falls is located 3 miles outside of Twin Falls, a city of 50,000 people in the southern part of Idaho. Twin Falls is only an hour’s drive from the Nevada border, 1 hour and 30 minutes from the Utah border, and 2 hours and 30 minutes from the Oregon border. Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls offers daily flights to Salt Lake City on Delta Airlines, but the closest international airports are in Salt Lake City (a 3-hour drive) and Boise (a 2-hour drive).

Twin Falls is located right next to the Snake River Canyon. Some may remember Evel Knievel’s attempted Skycycle jump in the Snake River Canyon in 1974. The spot where it took place was just a mile outside of Twin Falls, between Shoshone Falls and the city itself.

If you drive from Salt Lake City to Twin Falls, you will cross over the Snake River near Rupert, Idaho (approximately 50 miles east of Twin Falls), and notice that there’s no canyon. The Snake River flows near the elevation of the land. In the 50 miles from Rupert to Twin Falls, however, it cuts into one of the more amazing canyons of the West. By the time it reaches Twin Falls, the canyon is nearly 500 feet deep, with steep cliffs on either side. This is where you’ll find Shoshone Falls.

Tourists admiring the Shoshone Falls. — Rigucci / Shutterstock

How To Get To Shoshone Falls

The magnificent landmark is a 5-minute drive from the city limits of Twin Falls. If you’re coming from the city, take Falls Avenue eastward until you get to Champlin Road. Signs at that intersection will direct you to turn left toward Shoshone Falls. If you’re coming from the east, you’ll likely be on Highway 30. There is a right turn for Champlin Road from the highway, and that road will take you to Shoshone Falls.

Once you reach the rim of the canyon, Champlin Road will turn into Shoshone Falls Grade, a steep, winding road into the canyon. Approximately a mile down the grade, you will come to the entrance of Shoshone Falls Park. If you arrive between March 1 and September 30, you’ll have to pay $5 per car to enter the park. If you arrive during the off-season, you won’t have to pay anything.

Once you pass through the gate, you’ll head down a second winding road to the main parking lot. The ideal spot to view the Falls — the observation deck — is located only 75 feet from the parking lot. You’ll walk down a set of stairs and then out onto the observation deck.

If you are arriving in an RV, there are two RV parking locations. There is RV parking in the main parking lot near the observation deck. But if those spots are full (and many tour buses visit Shoshone Falls, so the spots are often full), loop back up the main road to the second RV parking area farther up the hill. It will be on your right as you enter the park and on your left if you’re returning to it from the main parking lot.

Strong flow of Shoshone Falls in the spring. — Png Studio Photography / Shutterstock

When Is The Best Time To Visit Shoshone Falls?

As is true of most waterfalls, the best time to visit is when the water is plentiful. The Snake River is the passageway through which melting snow from the northern Rockies heads to the Columbia River in Oregon and eventually out into the Pacific Ocean, so late spring is absolutely the best time to visit.

But this does not mean that the late spring is the only time you can visit the Falls. The fall is typically the low-flow time for Shoshone Falls (reservoirs upstream that have been depleted during the summer months are being restocked), but you can still catch the Falls in decent form. The photo below was taken on September 23, and the flow was still very strong.

A low flow of Shoshone Falls in the autumn. — Robert Rosenthal

During the spring, the area to the right will be much more spectacular — you’ll see twin waterfalls. But as you can see, even a lower autumn flow is quite stunning.

Since the tourists will be out in force during the regular vacation season, the perfect time to visit the Falls is probably on or around May 1. The snow melt will be charging through the Snake River Canyon and over the Falls, creating an incredible scene.

What To Know About The Flow

The flow of the waterfalls is controlled by the Milner Dam, 20 miles upstream from Shoshone Falls. The United States Bureau of Reclamation maintains the dam and the entire Snake River Basin in order to regulate the amount of water available for agriculture in the region. If you look at an aerial photo of Idaho, you will see a green band extending through the southern part of the state. Every ounce of that green comes from the Snake River and its associated irrigation canals.

The priority of the Bureau of Reclamation is to maintain enough water in the reservoirs for the irrigation canals to remain full. The excess water is sent down the Snake River on its way to the Pacific Ocean, and that excess water is what feeds Shoshone Falls.

In the spring, especially in late April and May, you are nearly guaranteed to get a great view of the Falls, since the snow melt is feeding the entire system with more water than it can handle. In the summer, fall, and winter, the flow depends on the rainfall that year and the fullness of upstream reservoirs. You can visit this site to look at the reservoir levels. If the reservoir for Milner Dam is fairly full, there’s a good chance that the Shoshone Falls will be flowing well. If it’s not, the Bureau of Reclamation is likely holding back water to fill the reservoir.

You can also visit the Shoshone Falls website for a recent CFS (cubic feet per second) rating for the falls. On the day that the photo above was taken, Shoshone Falls was at 400 CFS. If the number is higher, the falls will be more impressive. If it’s lower, the falls will have a restricted flow.

There’s no way to perfectly plan for the highest flows. With a dam upstream controlling the flow, it can fluctuate from day to day. Your best bet is the spring, but really, there are incredible views year-round.

View from the Snake River Rim Trail near Shoshone Falls. — Ventu Photo / Shutterstock

What Else Is There To Do In The Area?

Twin Falls has much more to offer than Shoshone Falls. Here are some other things to do around town.

Walk The Rim Trail

The rim trail is a 12-mile network of trails that extends from the western end of Twin Falls all the way to Shoshone Falls and Dierkes Lake. Perhaps the best portion of the trail is the portion in Twin Falls.

Park at the visitor center that overlooks the Perrine Bridge when you enter Twin Falls from the north. From there, you can walk the trail either to the east or the west. The entire trail is perched right atop the canyon, so the views from every angle are incredible.

Golf At The Base Of The Canyon

From the rim trail, you will see two golf courses at the base of the canyon. The course you see on the north side of the canyon, Blue Lakes Country Club, is a private course, but the course on the Twin Falls side of the canyon, Canyon Springs Golf Club, is a public course.

I played the course with my son while visiting Twin Falls. I hadn’t brought my golf clubs with me, but the course had several sets of rental clubs available. And the environment is like nothing I’ve experienced before. It’s not often that you get to golf at the base of a canyon with 500-foot cliffs on either side and one of the more iconic bridges in the American West hovering over you.

Walk Across The Perrine Bridge

Speaking of the Perrine Bridge, there is a lane for pedestrians that is completely separated from the traffic. So if you’re interested in getting some amazing photos, you can walk out on the bridge. Start at the visitor center and follow the path to the bridge walkway.

While you’re there, you’ll likely see BASE (Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth) jumpers leaping from the bridge with parachutes. The Perrine Bridge is the only man-made structure in the United States that allows BASE jumping without a permit, so BASE jumpers from around the world flock to Twin Falls. Watching them jump, open their parachutes, and float to the base of the canyon is an incredible sight.

Meet Merlion: The Fascinating History Behind Singapore’s Most Enduring Symbol

Keeping watch over Singapore’s Marina Bay is an alabaster-colored sentry whose solemn duty started on September 15, 1972.

The Merlion celebrates Singapore’s modest past as a small fishing village and its present as one of Southeast Asia’s most important financial and cultural hubs. Its lion head is a nod to Singapore’s early name, Singapura, which is Malay for “lion city.” And this icon certainly embodies the spirit of the small island nation today.

Singapore’s influence in the region can’t be overstated, and the tiny country has more wealth and power than any of its larger neighbors. The stately Merlion is a nod to the past and an optimistic beacon of the future — not to mention an iconic stop during any first-timer’s visit to Singapore.

The Original Merlion

Marina Bay’s Merlion Park is the home of the original Merlion statue, crafted by sculptor Lim Nang Seng. Towering nearly 30 feet tall, the first Merlion was initially situated at the Singapore River before being moved to its new home near Marina Bay.

Today, the primary Merlion has company in the form of a Merlion cub, whose statue rises nearly 7 feet high and can be viewed right behind the giant Merlion.

There’s no fee to visit the park, so you can see these enduring Singaporean symbols for free. Go during the evening to catch a glimpse of the sunset and one of Singapore’s incredible light and water shows.

The original Merlion and the Merlion cub. — Vintage Tone / Shutterstock

More Merlions

Until recently, there were five official Merlions in Singapore: the two residing in Merlion Park, plus three others scattered throughout the city. Sadly, the massive Sentosa Merlion is scheduled to be demolished, but you can still visit the remaining two using Singapore’s fantastic public transportation system.

Take the MRT to Singapore’s Tourism Court, where you’ll see another of these hybrid creatures. Simply get off at the Orchard MRT station and walk a few blocks. Additionally, there’s a 10-foot-tall Merlion at Mount Faber Park.

Mount Faber Park is a well-known scenic green space sprawling over 138 acres. It overlooks the city of Singapore and is known as a hiking and bird-watching hotspot. Unfortunately, the park is not wheelchair accessible and contains some rigorous terrain that could be challenging for some visitors. Tourists should bring plenty of sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and water if they plan to spend some time here.

The park is a phenomenal place to catch a ride on Singapore’s cable car, where you will be treated to an unparalleled view of the sun setting over the city.

Singapore's Merlion at night. — RENATOK / Shutterstock

General Tips For Visiting Singapore

Singapore has very strict import laws, so familiarize yourself with what is prohibited to avoid fees or lengthy questioning upon arrival. There are also hefty consequences for littering and jaywalking. Abide by the rules of this island nation, and your trip will be smooth sailing.

Singapore is a lot pricier than many of its neighboring countries, but you can find fantastic deals on street food. Don’t miss out on the delectable chili crab and chicken with rice — or the chance to eat at the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant.

Since it sits right on the equator, Singapore’s climate is tropical. Pack sunscreen and an umbrella to ward off hot rays and unexpected showers.

Singapore is a delightful country with a fascinating past and a bright future. The Merlion is the ultimate emblem of its success and independence: a quirky tourist attraction that invites you to fully appreciate all that this nation has to offer.

Once you’ve met the Merlion, make your way to these 10 truly stunning locations to see in Singapore.

5 National Parks You Must Visit During Winter

Winter is just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you have to halt all your plans for visiting America’s stunning national parks until spring rolls around again. In fact, it may even be worth it to revisit a park you’ve already visited in the winter. So much is different during this time of year, meaning you can have an entirely new national park experience. Because of this, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of national parks you absolutely have to visit in the winter.

1. Bryce Canyon National Park

Utah

Despite the colder temperatures in this Southwest park during winter, it still has plenty of life for snowbirds. One thing that makes Bryce Canyon National Park such a stunning spot to visit during wintertime is the vivid contrast between fresh, white snow and the canyon’s red-hued rock faces. The park is also less busy in winter, so you’ll have more nature to yourself and less foot traffic around you.

The park takes safety very seriously due to the hazards associated with wintertime in the area. It’s not uncommon for temperatures to spike into the upper 30s then fall to 15 degrees or cooler in the course of a day. This creates a freezing and thawing cycle which, on the one hand, produces a unique landscape, but can also create rockfall dangers. Pack for wet, cold conditions. Waterproof hiking boots, ice crampons, and quality winter clothing are highly advisable.

Snowshoeing and cross country skiing are very popular among Bryce Canyon visitors during the winter months. However, due to the risk of cornices — a unique type of avalanche — hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, and other activity is forbidden around the canyon edge until spring. Much of the park, however, is fair game for these exciting winter pastimes. Guided snowshoeing treks are also provided at this park. You don’t need your own snowshoes for these, but waterproof hiking boots are required.

One thing you might want to plan your trip to Bryce Canyon National Park around are the guided full-moon snowshoe hikes. Reservations are not guaranteed due to demand; instead, hikers are chosen via lottery. Simply bring your group (maximum party size of six) to registration to enter the lottery. You will be required to show you have appropriate footwear in order to enter. While you’re not guaranteed a spot, planning a trip around the dates listed on the full-moon snowshoe hike page is still a great idea given that it’s a rare and memorable opportunity you might be able to enjoy.

2. Acadia National Park

Maine

If you’re looking for a Northeastern national park experience this winter, Acadia National Park is the ticket. Located just south of Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park offers a wide range of incredible activities and vivid landscapes you won’t find anywhere else.

Prepare for some frigid temperatures if you plan on visiting Acadia National Park in the winter. Average temps range between 14 and 35 degrees before factoring in the windchill. Since some of the park is coastline and the park is surrounded by ocean on three sides, it can get pretty windy, making the temps feel much colder.

If you’re properly equipped, Acadia National Park will welcome you. It’s an unparalleled winter wonderland in northern Maine. Expect to see the beautiful, rocky New England coastline coated in sea spray that freezes on, creating gorgeous scenery most of us only think possible in our dreams.

Because of how drastic the changes here can be between summer and winter, large portions of the park will be closed or traversing through them will be advised against. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do here though. In fact, the wintery sights are unlike any others in the nation.

Winter at Acadia National Park in Maine. — Amy Meredith / Flickr

Skip the most hardcore winter activities and opt for a scenic drive to some of the park’s most sought-out destinations instead. Jordan Pond Road and Ocean Drive are both open during the winter. If you want to get out and hike, know that even with extra traction, such as ice grippers, cleats, or other traction-boosting gear, the park’s granite rocks can still be slippery. If you’re not experienced and confident about keeping yourself safe, take easier hiking trails or stick to the carriage roads for winter hiking. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing some of the 45 miles of carriage roads in the park are also great wintertime activities.

Acadia National Park allows for other wintertime activities that few other parks permit. Snowmobiling and ice fishing are fair game, which adds additional layers of possibility to a New England adventure. Snowmobiling is permitted on unplowed roads including the fire roads and park loop road system (which is closed to cars during winter.)

3. Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado

Mountainous terrain means winters that come early and stick around for some time even after leaves are budding at lower elevations, and you won’t want to miss an opportunity to visit this incredible national park during its extended winter. There’s a ton of things to do despite the colder conditions and snow blanketing the ground.

You’ll find there’s plenty to keep you occupied for well over a week. Snowshoeing is one of the most popular activities in the park, and many of the trails are accessible by snowshoe. You can even register for a free park ranger-led excursion. Cross country skiing is another major winter attraction in this park. You’re sure to run into some fellow cross-country skiing enthusiasts during your trip.

Those with young children can even go sledding at Rocky Mountain National Park’s Estes Park Hidden Valley (the only place where sledding is permitted in the park). Plastic sleds, tubes, or saucers are required. Metal sleds and sleds with metal runners are not allowed.

An elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. — Robert Kelsey / Shutterstock

Another great reason to visit the park is wildlife viewing and photography. The white snow provides excellent contrast to spot treasured animals such as moose, elk, and mule deer. The Colorado River is a popular gathering place for these large mammals.

While preparing for your adventure, you’re going to want to keep a few things in mind. The weather in Rocky Mountain National Park can feel like the home base of Old Man Winter. Snow falls steadily and temperatures throughout the winter months dip down into the 20s with warmer days reaching 40. Pack warm, dry gear that’s built for extended periods of time outdoors. Because of the warmer spikes throughout the winter seasons, avalanches can be a risk and it’s not uncommon to encounter trail closures. Check the avalanche forecast each day you’re spending in the park.

4. Grand Canyon National Park

Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park was the second most-visited national park in 2018, so it goes without saying that it can get pretty busy, especially during peak months. Winter, however, is not the peak time and the crowds will be much more manageable, allowing you to better enjoy the park. While the North Rim closes in the winter, the South Rim remains open.

Weather in the park is about as unpredictable as it is in Bryce Canyon. Temperatures range from 14 to 44 degrees on average, and you may experience snow, rain, and sun all in the same day. Be prepared for the season, and you can have a great time in the park.

Most of Grand Canyon National Park’s scenic roads are open throughout the winter and only close during periods of inclimate weather. Those feeling up for a real challenge can take a multi-day trek that runs from the South Rim to the North Rim. The park has a resource page to help make sure visitors are well-prepared for long winter hikes in the canyon. You’ll also want to check out these 10 tips for hiking the Grand Canyon, no matter what time of year you go.

If you’re not one for hiking — or driving — consider taking a bus tour along the South Rim for excellent views or a scenic train ride from Williams, Arizona to the park. The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel in Williams also offers ride and stay packages that are enticing — and customizable.

5. Death Valley National Park

California

One national park that flies under the radar in regard to excellent winter visiting is Death Valley. This location is known for being very hot and very dry throughout most of the year. In winter, though, temps are more humane with average January highs around 67 degrees and lows in the 40s. Despite the more agreeable temps, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is when Death Valley National Park sees the least amount of visitors.

The many things you would do in summer — like visiting the mysterious sliding rocks of Racetrack Playa — can also be enjoyed in winter, just without summer’s triple-digit temperatures. Spend part of a day at Furnace Creek Golf Course, which sits more than 200 feet below sea level and is touted as the lowest golf course on earth. The ball won’t travel as far as it usually does and players must adjust their club selection to this interesting challenge.

Despite the cooler temperatures, Death Valley is still very dry in winter, so visitors should bring lots of water, and extra sunscreen won’t hurt.

Don’t let the cooler temperatures and risk of snowy weather slow you down. Take some time to plan a trip to one of these exciting national parks this winter. There are plenty of new sights to see and memories to make.

California bound? Don’t miss Yosemite’s Firefall: the incredible must-see phenomenon that only happens one time of year. (Hint: It’s in the winter!)

Eating Local In Portland, Maine: The Best Restaurants To Try

If you’re only imagining lobster when you think of Portland, Maine’s food scene, you’re missing out. Don’t get me wrong — the lobster is there in abundance, and it’s amazing! But there’s so much more to the culinary scene in the beautiful seaside city, from old-fashioned diners perfect for budget travelers to gourmet dessert bars offering incredible combinations of ingredients. There are also bespoke cocktails, wonderful little market shops, and delicious spots to share a meal with friends.

I’ve been visiting Portland for 10 years now, and these are the foodie-focused destinations I always recommend.

Becky’s Diner

Since 1991, this unassuming building on the water has served a long line of locals, including fishermen just leaving their boats. It’s the best place in the city for a hearty breakfast, but be warned: The pancakes are huge! You might want to double-check the sizes before you order a full platter. You’ll also find old-fashioned dishes like oatmeal with raisins and corn beef hash here, along with a long list of omelets.

Becky’s Diner is the kind of place where you can still order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and where most breakfast and lunch combos are under $10, including the classic club sandwich. The lobster platters, which vary depending on the market price, are always reasonable, and all of Becky’s classic desserts are made in house. Overall, this is an affordable, delightful place to get your comfort-food fix.

Vena’s Fizz House

Steve Corman knows a thing or two about grapefruit. One-half of the power duo behind Portland’s most beguiling bar, Vena’s Fizz House, Corman knows spirits, bitters, and flavors like the back of his hand. His bitters-infused cocktails and mocktails make for sweet sipping — especially when grapefruit, one of his favorite ingredients, is in the mix!

Vena’s is the kind of place that has travelers raving after their visit, insufferably boasting to their friends that they have discovered the best little bar in the world. And they’d be right! Vena’s is just as famous for its complex, delicious mocktails as it is for its alcoholic cocktails, and it’s the perfect place to drop in for a pre-dinner aperitif or for an afternoon pick-me-up after a long day of shopping and sightseeing.

Duckfat

Tell anyone in Portland — local or frequent visitor — that you’re heading to Duckfat, and they’ll likely swoon with joy. One of the city’s original foodie destinations, this tiny spot is always packed with people hungry for the restaurant’s homemade poutine (with fries cooked in duck fat and gravy made with duck sauce), decadent milkshakes (including one made with caramel from duck fat), and rich paninis. Flying under the radar are Duckfat’s delicious salads and hearty soups, which are upscale comfort food. I’ve been multiple times since 2009, and I’m still dreaming of the roasted cauliflower bisque and beet salad I had 10 years ago. They’re that good!

Another reason to love Duckfat? All of their organic food scraps are composted by a Portland program called We Compost It! Local gardeners who are also Duckfat customers can buy compost for their plants at a 30 percent discount.

Sebago Brewing Company’s Portland Brewpub

Situated on the ground floor of a hotel, Sebago Brewing Company’s Portland Brewpub might appear to be just another hotel restaurant. But it’s anything but! In addition to serving up its own in-house brews and offering a long list of weekly drink specials, it offers fantastic food. The avocado tacos, beet and orange salad, fish and chips, and bacon mac and cheese are all deservedly popular. And its classic burger was declared the best in the city by no less of an authority than my mother, moments after she was lamenting that it was impossible to get a good old-fashioned well-seasoned burger anymore. You can’t argue with that!

Public Market House

Portland’s food scene might be on everyone’s radar these days, but locals have been in on the secret since 1825, when the first public market house was established near what is now Monument Square. Some form of public market has existed in the city ever since. Since 2006, the newly established Public Market House has been thriving just steps away from the original 1825 location.

This isn’t a market in the traditional sense of the word, though there is a weekly in-season farmers market for fresh produce in the square. The indoor Public Market House houses vendors and artisans who rely on local produce to create their delicious wares, much like the vendors at Toronto’s Saint Lawrence Market and Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market. It’s my top choice for lunch in Portland.

Kamasouptra specializes in homemade soup, including maple-roasted butternut squash soup, jalapeño beer and Cheddar soup, and white bean soup with kale. Meanwhile, Maiz offers Colombian-style street food like arepas, or stuffed corn pockets that come with chicken, pork, chorizo, cheese, vegetables, and beans.

Sur Lie

Sur Lie offers globally influenced small plates and tapas, a style that goes very well in a diverse port city where community is as important as the food itself. The restaurant is dedicated to local food, and the menu features Maine cheese, organic produce, and meat from nearby farms — plus, the cocktail and wine lists are beautifully curated and incredibly tempting.

While you’d be forgiven for spending all your time at the bar, it would be criminal to leave without trying the food. Sur Lie’s sweet pea hummus is one of its signature dishes, and it tastes like spring in a bowl — in a really, really good way. It’s the perfect appetizer to share with friends while you’re sampling one of the amazing cocktails. Other delicious nibbles include the fried milk-braised cauliflower, lamb Bolognese, fennel salad, and grilled smoked pork chop with pickled mushrooms.

If you only have time for one special meal in Portland, I recommend that you go here. It’s perfect for a cozy dinner, a romantic night out, or a reunion with friends.

The Highroller Lobster Co.

No trip to Portland would be complete without a lobster feast, and, in my opinion, the best place to go is The Highroller Lobster Co. The restaurant offers classic lobster rolls with mayonnaise or drawn butter and traditional sides like coleslaw and potato salad. It also offers funky flavored sauces — curried ketchup, honey dijonnaise, and charred pineapple mayo, to name a few — for those who want to take their lobster roll in a new direction. The “fried lobby pop,” a deep-fried lobster tail dipped in cornbread batter and served with the sauce of your choice, is one of the most fun and creative ways I’ve ever tried lobster. Highly recommended!

Gross Confection Bar

Have you ever dreamed of walking into a restaurant and ordering every single thing on the menu? I did exactly that at Gross Confection Bar, a basement-level dessert bar in downtown Portland. It offers a tasting menu of different dessert samples, from a banana brownie mousse cake to a brown butter panna cotta with jasmine and pineapple. You can also order full-size desserts like pumpkin spice latte crème brûlée and caramel pear cake with cardamom vanilla bean rice pudding. Simply decadent!

Vervacious

Vervacious isn’t a restaurant — but it’s so beautiful it really should be. This gourmet food shop on Portland’s waterfront was founded by a husband and wife who spent years sailing around the world. At each port of call, they fell in love with a different flavor or ingredient. Stepping inside their store is like stepping into a world of memories. The shelves are lined with unique global spices, seasonings, jams, jellies, oils, and vinegars, all in gorgeous containers.

I had the chance to sample some of the gourmet balsamic vinegars with fresh fruit, and I was blown away. I know it sounds like an unusual combination, but when balsamic vinegar is aged with a fine touch, it turns into a thick syrup, not unlike molasses, and pairs beautifully with other flavors, such as chocolate. This is the perfect spot to visit if you want to bring some of Portland’s culinary scene home with you.

Planning a trip to Portland? Check out these 12 hidden gems in the seaside city.