Archives January 2023

Texas Hill Country offers travelers a break with wineries, rivers, hiking trails and live music. 

Covering 31,000 sq miles (80,290 sq km) of gently rolling hills in Central Texas, the region abounds with destinations to explore. As you head west from Austin, you’ll arrive at charming towns such as Marble Falls, Blanco, Wimberley, Fredericksburg, Dripping Springs and Johnson City. These towns have small populations, sure – but they’re big on Texas spirit.

There are, of course, plenty of Texas spirits, as well: distilleries and wineries dot the roads here. You’ll also find a lively art scene, restaurants both casual and refined, swimming holes, miles of nature trails and dazzling night skies you won’t find in the city. When you venture into Texas Hill Country, you’ll discover why it’s so popular with Texans and visitors alike. 

The best time of year to visit Texas Hill Country

March through May are great months to visit. Wildflowers bloom throughout the rolling hills in spring, including Texas’ state flower, the bluebonnet. This is also when you can sample Hill Country wines during the Wine and Wildflower Journey. The weather in spring is mild, with average temperatures around 60–85°F (15.5–29°C).  

In June through August, temperatures can reach into the triple digits Fahrenheit. Despite the sweltering weather, this is Hill Country’s high season. Summer visitors enjoy the region’s rivers and lakes for water sports. Fall is also a great time to visit, as the summer crowds retreat and pleasant temperatures prevail.

In the winter, the weather is generally mild enough to spend time outdoors golfing, hiking and touring wineries. Yet winter also does bring the occasional freeze, along with ice and snow. Toward the end of the year, small towns across Hill Country twinkle with Christmas lights as they celebrate the holidays.

How long to spend in Texas Hill Country

Most people tackle Hill Country in three days, wandering from town to town for wildflower views, winery visits and outdoor pursuits. Three or four days – perhaps a long weekend – is best to experience it all. 

If you only have a few days, spend time exploring Fredericksburg. Start with a stroll downtown, then shop on Main St and in the Warehouse District for home decor, clothing, furniture, pottery and souvenirs. Grab dinner at Vaudeville, where elevated options include Akaushi beef with Parmesan polenta and yellowfin tuna with a ginger broth.

Fuel up for the day with a German breakfast (Texas has lots of German heritage) at Old German Bakery & Restaurant before heading out to area wineries. Signor Vineyards has a wine barn, patio, sprawling lawn and market. Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten, which occupies a cottage on Main St, is also a must-see. Rest up at Inn on Barons Creek, where shuttle rides for the 290 Wine Trail begin, before heading home on Sunday. 

If you can add more days onto your trip, consider exploring other Hill Country towns such as Johnson City, Blanco, Marble Falls, Dripping Springs, Kerrville or Boerne. These destinations offer plenty of downtown squares, country hikes and cool waters to enjoy.

How to get in and around Texas Hill Country

It’s easy to access Hill Country from the international airports in Austin or San Antonio. Once you arrive, renting a car is your best bet for exploring a region without great public transport options. If you don’t want to drive yourself, rideshare companies can get you to and around Hill Country, though you’ll pay a premium for this. 

For those looking to visit area wineries, the 290 Wine Shuttle is a safe and reliable option at around $50 per person. On Saturdays, the shuttle picks up and drops off at 15 wineries and distilleries every 15 minutes from 10am to 6pm. Hop on and off as you wish throughout the day. Friday and Sunday shuttles are also available, though these days only offer stops at 11 wineries.

Top things to do in Texas Hill Country

Be surprised by Texas wine 

A warm climate almost all year long means great conditions for growing grapes. Indeed, Texas wine production has ramped up tremendously within the past 20 years. Today, Texas is the country’s third-largest American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Hill Country vineyards and wineries welcome visitors for tastings and private events. Wedding Oak Winery in San Saba offers 100% Texas-grown wines on its patio and terrace, as does Duchman Family Winery in Driftwood, together with charcuterie boards, pizzas and light bites. In Hye, Ron Yates Wines offers Spanish-, Italian- and Rhône-style wines at a tasting pavilion open seven days a week. Fredericksburg’s Slate Theory Winery has an awesome underground cellar for tastings (reservations required) and a tasting room open to the public. In Stonewall, Pedernales Cellars has a beautiful deck with Hill Country views. Johnson City’s Lewis Wines sits on 100 acres and offers tastings, tours and fun events. 

The website Texas Hill Country Wineries provides more information, including a winery map and event happenings. While planning, be sure to make reservations for wineries that require them and bring snacks, as not all stops have food.

Explore Texas Hill Country parks and natural areas

See what makes Texas for everyone at parks throughout Hill Country. Several state parks offer camping, hiking and stargazing. Top picks include Pedernales Falls State Park, Inks Lake State Park and Longhorn Cavern State Park. Hike, fish, or camp at Pedernales Falls and Inks Lake, or try spelunking at Longhorn Cavern.

The privately owned Krause Springs has swimming areas, campsites and a butterfly garden that are all open to the public. Perfect for families, the Cibolo Center for Conservation has children’s activities, family night hikes and birding workshops. During spring, stop by Wildseed Farms. This 200-acre working wildflower farm bursts with color and has a vineyard, beer garden, and walking trail. 

Spend a day on the water

Refreshing rivers weave throughout Texas Hill Country. Natural pools and springs dot the terrain. For a day of floating on the Frio River, visit Garner State Park. Then, check out the Guadalupe, Comal or San Marcos Rivers for more float spots. When you’re ready to swim, visit Hamilton Pool, a natural swimming hole surrounded by a canyon and waterfall (reservations required). The Blue Hole in Wimberley is another must-visit swimming hole fed by the blue-hued Cypress Creek (reservations required to swim). 

Travelers who prefer being on the water rather than in it can also experience Hill Country by boat. At Lake Buchanan, several boat ramps make it easy to set sail. Kayakers will want to head to Canyon Lake or Lady Bird Lake for a day of paddling.

Go on a barbecue adventure 

Between outdoor pursuits and wine adventures, you’ll work up quite an appetite. Visit Lockhart, which is the “official barbecue capital” of this grilling-mad state. Stop by Kreuz Market, Smitty’s Market or Black’s Barbecue for mouthwatering brisket, ribs, sausage and all the sides (think potato salad, coleslaw and pinto beans) you can handle.

Lots of barbecue joints are upping their game these days to cater to the craft-barbecue crowd. This means you can expect elevated side dishes, creative cocktails and global flavors infusing Texas classics. Eaker Barbecue in Fredericksburg serves gochujang pork ribs and kimchi fried rice, along with traditional barbecue offerings. Pflugerville’s Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue cranks out brisket boudin links and Texas banh mi sandwiches, while Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor delivers dino beef ribs, among other tasty classics.

Texas Hill Country events

A calendar of festive events keeps Texas Hill Country active in all seasons. On December 31, visit Fredericksburg and dance until the New Year at the Hangar Hotel as a band plays live music. When Valentine’s Day arrives, bring your sweetheart to a winery like Pedernales Cellars for a romantic wine tasting event. In spring, celebrate the region’s wildflowers at events like Georgetown’s Red Poppy Festival. For a memorable community experience, plan a summer trip around small-town Pride events in Dripping Springs, Boerne or Fredericksburg.

Discover Hill Country celebrations in the last half of the year, too. In October, Sundrop Springs hosts its Fall Festival, San Marcos puts on the Frights & Sounds Music Festival, and New Braunfels hosts its Dia De Los Muertos Festival. New Braunfels finds more to celebrate in November during Wurstfest, an event honoring German culture. In December, get in the holiday spirit with colorful lights at Johnson City’s Lights Spectacular or Santa’s Ranch in New Braunfels.

My favorite things to do in the Texas Hill Country

Hill Country is full of adventure, including some fun, free things to do in Texas. I love starting the day with a hike uphill at Enchanted Rock State Park. The views from the pink granite dome are a must-see Texas Hill Country attraction. Next, I might stop at a couple of the wineries along nearby Hwy 290. Never miss a trip to Luckenbach, where there’s live music almost every day.

For overnight stays, I visit Dripping Springs for Camp Lucy. The resort has colorful decor, modern amenities, a relaxed atmosphere and a fabulous on-site New American restaurant, Tillie’s. For a health-focused stay with a heavy dose of relaxation, I like Lake Austin Spa Resort. This spot has soothing rooms and a full calendar of activities, with everything from hydrobiking, kickboxing and tai chi to cocktail classes.

How much money you’ll need for a Texas Hill Country trip

What are some important things to know before traveling to Texas? A trip to Hill Country can range from affordable to expensive, depending on where you stay, eat and shop. There are many inns, hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and vacation rentals in the area. Prices range from budget rates of around $60 per night to upward of $500 per night. Plan on spending around $50 to $150 per person per day for meals. 

A guide to average daily costs in Texas Hill Country

• Lunch for two: $40

• Mid-range dinner for two: $60

• Basic room for two: $150–200 per night

• Average Airbnb: $200 per night

• Glass of wine: $18

• Winery tour and tasting: $115-300

Natural playgrounds and all-season outdoor recreation define the ‘City of Trees.’ Boise’s 160 miles of trails, picturesque river, community ski hill, unique urban parks and pedestrian greenbelt practically demand adventure.

Though Boise might feel a little more lived-in than touristy, its laid-back, friendly demeanor is refreshing; want to stop at the brewery in your bike shorts? No problem! But if you fancy a proper clean-up before partaking in the finer arts of history and culture, you’re in luck; Boise fancies that, too.

1. Cruise the Boise River Greenbelt

You haven’t truly experienced Boise until you’ve walked, biked or scootered some part of the Greenbelt. For over 50 years, this paved, 30-mile trail has been Boise’s central artery. It stretches from Lucky Peak Reservoir in the east to Veteran’s Park (and beyond) in the west and includes more than 15 park-and-ride access points. The city parks along the Greenbelt are referred to as the ‘Ribbon of Jewels,’ but some locals prefer to call those parks the ‘Queens of Boise’ since they are named after prominent women who helped shape Boise’s community.

Besides green space and beachy river pull-offs, other points of interest include the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, MK Nature Center and Bethine Church River Trail, which features some of the state’s top bird-watching spots.

Bring a swimsuit to enjoy a visit to Quinn’s Pond and Esther Simplot Park, which could easily last all day. Swimming, fishing, paddling and waterside-lounging with on-site watercraft rentals from Idaho River Sports are refreshing on a hot summer afternoon. A playground, covered shelter, bathrooms and wetland walking trails round out the experience.

Planning tip: After a swim, throw a sun dress or shirt over your suit and explore the restaurants and wine-tasting rooms of Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District, named after Boise artist Surel Mitchell, who championed the idea of a community living space that would both support and inspire artists.

2. Ride and hike the Ridge to River trails

Whether it’s a family hike, marathon-training trail run, or undulating mountain bike loop, this network of dirt paths linking public and private lands in the city’s foothills never fails to provide a moment of solitude and appreciation for nature. In the fall, the yellow blooms of rabbit brush and purple aster vibrantly paint the hills. In spring, the pink petals of the mariposa lily and sunny yellow blooms of arrowleaf balsamroot bring cheer to an otherwise monochrome landscape. Very few fragrances beat the smell of sagebrush after a rare desert rain.

Trailheads at Camel’s Back Park, Hull’s Gulch and the Military Reserve are popular for their variety of distances and cityscape vistas. Be sure to check signs for pedestrian or bike-only routes as well as one-way directional patterns.

Detour: A short walk south on 13th St from Camel’s Back Park also brings hikers to the community of Hyde Park, a cute North End neighborhood with local boutiques, a few restaurants and a Boise gem: Goody’s Soda Fountain. Parents, keep this knowledge in your back pocket if your hike with wee ones dissolves into bribery.

3. Spend a Saturday afoot downtown

Boise hosts two summer Saturday Markets: the Boise Farmers Market on Shoreline Dr and Capital City Public Market on 8th and Main St. Between browsing locally picked produce and hand-crafted sundries, check out the rest of the city. JUMP, a nonprofit community center, is a splash of architectural intrigue. Visitors can wander the building and grounds, which display vintage tractors and steam engines in honor of Idaho’s most famous potato farmer, J.R. Simplot, and then zip down its five-story slide.

Another unique stop is the ‘pink tree.’ It’s a beautiful life-sized tree sculpture in Cherie Buckner-Webb Park on Bannock Street that features two bench swings strung from its limbs – perfect for tilting skyward and watching the pink leaves flutter and reflect off the surrounding glass high-rises. While you’re on the west side of downtown, you might as well pop into The Record Exchange or swing by Rhodes Skate Park to see what the youth are up to.

Planning tip: Before heading to a morning market, put your name on the waitlist at Goldy’s (on Capitol) for a post-walk brunch table. Expect a 45-minute to hour-long wait on Saturday mornings, but the mango mimosas and salmon benny are delish and well worth your patience. Truth be told, their cheese grits rival those of the American South, but that feels blasphemous to divulge.

4. Plan a budget-friendly kid’s day

Beyond parks, playgrounds and open spaces, Boise is as kid-friendly as it gets. The Boise Depot is a Spanish-style building located at the historic Union Pacific Railroad site on Vista. Encompassed by the beautiful Platt Gardens, it features Big Mike (a 1920s steam train) and panoramic views of downtown’s Capitol building and foothill surrounds. The gardens are free to visit.

The MK Nature Center is another free option. Nature trails wind around a pond that is home to numerous five-and-six-foot sturgeon, and fish-viewing windows along the trails display the life cycle of native species. Other kid favorites (with entrance fees) include Zoo Boise, the Discovery Center and Idaho State Museum.

5. Gaze at the wondrous Freak Alley Gallery

This is one of Boise’s curiously organic phenomena: an open-air public mural that seems to keep stretching into new territory. The mural was first hatched in 2002 when Colby Akers started doodling on the walls outside of Moon’s Cafe. Rather than ask him to cover it up, the owners told him to sign and date it. Twenty years later, the doodles have flourished into an iconic Boise treasure of rotating displays by volunteer artists. Get your Instagram-worthy photos here – or take your morning coffee from Dawson Taylor to-go so you can fully indulge in your downtown meander.

6. Indulge in a splurge-worthy date night

We’re always keen on dinner and a show, so here’s a curated menu of excellent options. The Flicks on Fulton Street is an independent movie theater featuring international and non-blockbuster films. The Morrison Center and Boise Contemporary Theater showcase live performances throughout the year: plays, dances, talks and music.

To couple your show with lighter fare, we recommend the delicious Basque wine and tapas at the Basque Market (closes at 5pm, though, so go before the show; or in warmer months, order pickup for a pre-show picnic). For a more experimental flavor adventure, KIN accepts monthly reservations for a five-course prix fixe meal, and its ambient setting at the bottom of a grassy hill at One Capital Center is very chic and somehow still humbly Boise.

7. Celebrate Boise with bikes, balloons and all things Basque!

Between Boise’s Goathead Fest, Jaialdi, Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic and the Twilight Criterium, Boise’s community events slice the best of life for everyone. Goathead Fest, held every August, is the vision of local bicycle advocate Jimmy Hallyburton. It brings together ‘pedal-powered’ volunteers to remove the invasive goathead weed from bikeways and celebrate with a ‘wonderfully weird’ bike parade, costumes, food, music and dancing at Cecil D Andrus Park.

Jaialdi is a quinquennial, world-renowned celebration of Basque culture. If you happen to miss the next one in 2025, you can always visit the Basque Block anytime. The Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic is an annual event during Labor Day Weekend that fills the Boise skies with hot-air balloons. And for three days in July, the Twilight Criterium transforms a block of downtown streets into an intense and exciting circuit of youth, amateur and professional cycling athleticism.

8. Sightsee at Idaho Botanical Garden and Old Idaho Penitentiary

These may seem like opposite ends of the sightseeing spectrum, but the botanical garden and prison happen to be neighbors in the east end, so why not get your doom and bloom in one fell swoop? Twelve distinct garden areas display flowers, herbs and vegetables alongside sculptures and art. Special garden events throughout the year cater to family-oriented fun. Winter Garden Aglow is worth visiting; it’s a spectacle of lights that transforms the dormant winter garden into an electrifying wonderland of color.

The Old Pen, built in 1870, operated for 101 years and stands to tell the story of Idaho’s wayward rabble-rousers. In addition to walking through the gallows and closing themselves in solitary confinement, visitors can peruse the exhibits, such as prisoner-fashioned contraband weaponry. If it sounds macabre, it is!

Detour: The trailhead to Table Rock, a 3.7-mile loop, is located just off the parking lot at the Penitentiary. It’s a well-marked, well-used trail with steep climbs and picturesque views.

9. All the world’s a stage at Idaho Shakespeare Festival

We love this festival! It partnered with Great Lakes Theater (Cleveland, Ohio) in 2002 and eventually Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival (Incline Village, Nevada) in 2010 to bring incredible, quality performances to audiences across the country. The amphitheater and surrounding habitat reserve in Boise’s east end are worth a visit on their own, but the magic of a Shakespeare or contemporary play under a Boise night sky is undeniably intoxicating.

Planning tip: Arrive well before showtime to wander the paths in the surrounding reserve. Strategically placed rock slabs along the river are perfect for a picnic or bistro-style dinner from the cafe. Shows run May through September, rain, shine or 100-plus-degree nights, so dress accordingly.

10. Catch your all-season thrills at Bogus Basin

For the past 80 years, Bogus Basin, just 16.5 miles north of Boise, has operated as a nonprofit ski hill for the local community. It still retains that hometown hospitality, though it has evolved into a year-round locale for outdoor recreation. In the winter, it operates 10 lifts for 2,600 acres of skiable terrain and hosts a parking lot that feels a bit like a tailgate party; tents, barbecues, fire pits and a few friendly dogs keep the mood festive even on the coldest days. In the summer, a pair of lifts bring bikers and hikers to its multi-use trail network. Throw in live music at the lodge and a mountain coaster ride, and you’ve got an enticing family retreat.

11. Visit the World Center for Birds of Prey

In the fall, visit the World Center for Birds of Prey and catch a program called Fall Flights. It may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feel the swoop of a hawk, falcon or owl overhead. The event, held in an outdoor amphitheater, features falconers showing off the spectacular aerial skills of birds of prey. Besides this special program, the center is home to the archives of falconry and an educational and interpretive center for visitors to learn about the Peregrine Fund’s conservation programs and the raptors’ impressive biological features.

Planning your trip: Fall Flights run autumn weekends, mid-September through the end of October. The rest of the Interpretive Center is open year-round.

12. Dance into the music scene

With Treefort Music Festival hitting its 10th anniversary, Boise has established itself as an eclectic, independent music scene for breakthrough bands. Quirky venues continue to pop up in new pockets of town. Flipside (a Treefort off-shoot) launches its inaugural festival in the fall of 2022, and Garden City (a city within Boise) will play host. Alive After Five is a free summer concert series on the Grove where it’s not uncommon to witness a dance circle of freestyle breakdancers and a toddler.

The Idaho Botanical Garden offers a more natural setting and reverberates with mountain tunes and main-stage rockers alike. If it’s intimacy you’re after, the upscale restaurant, KIN, is dabbling in “PiKINic” nights on their Main Street grassy knoll, with musical guests such as Boise’s beloved Doug Martsch of the indie rock classic Built to Spill.

It’s easy to understand why anyone who saw the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar would catch a case of footy fever: the non-stop, unscripted drama of serious soccer is more nail-biting than anything you’ll find on Netflix. The coronation of Lionel Messi as World Cup king was the stuff of legends. The surprise success of Morocco will be remembered for decades to come. There’s a reason the World Cup is the world’s most-watched sporting event.

But if you want to get tickets to FIFA’s 2026 World Cup, you’ll have to wait.

FIFA’s website currently promises information is coming regarding ticketing for the 2026 tournament, and in the meantime, you can sign up to receive ticketing information when it becomes available. According to the United 2026 World Cup bid book, tickets will likely go on sale in 2025. Additionally, FIFA has secured a company called On Location, to offer fans a concierge experience at the tournament (think priority access and VIP experiences). 

Still, there’s plenty to consider while waiting for tickets to drop. FIFA recently announced where the upcoming games will take place – and it’s never too early to start making travel plans.

When is the World Cup?

Unlike the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which scored millions of international viewers in November and December 2022, the next tournament will return to its usual summer slot, lasting from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Where will the World Cup 2026 take place?

Games will kick off in 16 cities across North America, and for the first time in World Cup history, they’ll span three countries. Canada will host for the first time, the US will host for the second and Mexico will become the first country to host the World Cup three times.

The majority of matches will take place across the US, with 11 cities represented: Atlanta (eight games), Boston (seven games), Dallas (nine games), Houston (seven games), Kansas City (six games), Los Angeles (eight games), Miami (seven games), New York (eight games), Philadelphia (six games), San Francisco (six games) and Seattle (six games).

The remaining matches will be split between Mexico’s Guadalajara (four games), Mexico City (five games) and Monterrey (four games), along with Canada’s Toronto (six games) and Vancouver (seven games).

Which cities will host the most popular matches?

Soccer is improvisational – it’s challenging to forecast which games will make it into the pantheon of football favorites. But to ensure a festive atmosphere, check the match schedule and consider visiting a city hosting the tournament’s most spectacular events.

For the opening match, plan a trip to Mexico City around Thursday, June 11, when international teams will square off against one another at the Estadio Azteca.

The final match will rile up New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19 – a 30-minute train ride from New York City. Don’t get confused by the stadium’s name: MetLife will be called the New York New Jersey Stadium for the duration of the event, honoring FIFA’s rule against corporate-sponsored facilities.

For those more interested in the love of the game than the fanfare of a grand finale, consider Dallas, Texas, as a home base for the events. The Big D will host nine matches – more than any other city participating in the tournament. Dallas will also host one of the semifinals, along with Atlanta. Miami will host the bronze final.

What can I do now to prepare for travel?

1. Decide where you’d like to travel. If there’s a particular team or match you want to see, let that information guide your travel plans. If you’re less concerned with a specific match, explore all possible locations. The 16 hosting cities represent a diverse swath of urban life in North America. There’s something for everyone – be it verdant Vancouver, BBQ-smoked Kansas City or sun-kissed Los Angeles. Traveling through an exciting metropolis can be just as rewarding as watching a world-class football game.

2. Get the proper travel documents. Unless you’re attending the tournament in your home country, ensure you have an up-to-date passport, valid for six months after any intended travel. (Your passport should be valid through January 2027 to attend the World Cup’s final match in July 2026.) Visitors from outside the host nations should also check Canada, Mexico and US visa requirements and obtain any necessary paperwork.

3. Start making a budget and saving money. Attending the World Cup gets pricey, particularly if you want to see the final match in NYC – a city known to be expensive. Although ticket information isn’t available for 2026, the cheapest tickets to Qatar’s final showdown cost roughly $200 for locals and $600 for visitors. Add airfare, on-the-ground transportation, hotels and food to the mix, and you’ll spend a pretty penny.

According to accommodation website Booking.com, traveling from New York to Doha for one week during the 2022 World Cup would’ve cost upwards of $4000 – and that doesn’t account for game tickets or food. If seeing Argentina fight for another World Cup title is a must-do for you, start setting aside money now.

Which destinations should be on my shortlist?

America’s budding soccer capital

Kansas City is positioning itself as ‘the soccer capital of America,’ as the city begins to plan for the six games it will host. Brush up on your familiarity with this midwestern gem. Arrowhead Stadium (home to the Kansas City Chiefs) and the National WWI Museum and Memorial (the site for the FIFA Fan Festival) have been pegged as the two sites where Kansas City will hold its World Cup matches. 

The city has invested $600 million in the sport over the last 15 years, with the KC Current opening a new training facility and stadium downtown. Expect Kansas City to go all out for the World Cup, aiming to cement its reputation as the center of everything for US soccer fans. 

Apart from soccer, Kansas City has plenty to do. It’s an incredibly livable city with a robust arts scene and great food. If you’re there and don’t go to Gates or Arthur Bryant’s for barbecue you’re missing out. City Market is another stop well-worth your time, too. Expect fresh-baked goods, excellent coffee and fresh produce from local vendors at the farmer’s market there; It’s a wonderful place to wander, shop and snack. 

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is another must-see with a sculpture garden and a collection that rivals those of more notable standouts around the world. In terms of where to stay, look to some new properties including the AC Hotel Kansas City and the Origin Hotel. The Truitt is another great, more boutique option with a beautiful design and central location. 

The beautiful game, a beautiful place 

Vancouver is also fighting hard for its place in soccer tourism come 2026. And with good reason. The city offers an incredible opportunity to take in both sport and nature during the World Cup. Having already hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2015, BC Palace Stadium is already known to soccer fans as a great venue to watch a match, with a retractable roof and seating for 54,000. It’s also easy to get to and not far from the rest of what Vancouver offers.

The city is a great blend of urban adventure and outdoor exploration with endless ways to spend your time outside of the tournament. Vancouver’s Indigenous history is rich, so carve out some time to visit the Bill Reid Gallery or grab a bite at First Nation’s restaurant Salmon n’ Bannock. For a beach day, head to beloved Second Beach or English Bay Beach, or take a hike on the West Coast trail, which is open May to September. 

Vancouver is also as chic as it is outdoorsy, so expect your accommodations to match. We like the Pan Pacific and the Smithe House. 

Cow town turned soccer HQ

FIFA has placed its tournament headquarters in Dallas, making it an obvious World Cup soccer destination. Catch one of the nine matches planned there at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Dallas is a melting pot of a big Texas energy, incredible food (you can’t find better Tex-Mex) and a splash of cosmopolitan culture. From shopping to arts and eating, there is so much to explore. Plus, the soccer scene in North Texas is a force with FC Dallas as the hometown team and a roster of more than 175,000 registered soccer players across the region. 

If you choose to stay near the stadium in Arlington, you’ll be uniquely positioned to take advantage of both Dallas and nearby Fort Worth while you’re in town. Each has its distinct vibe: Dallas is a little more metropolitan and Fort Worth has a bit more historic charm. Visit the Sixth Floor Museum and Dallas Museum of Art, as well as the Stockyards and the Kimbell Art Museum. 

The best way to see San Francisco is on foot – hills be damned. Long strolls will let you fully appreciate the city’s nuances, quirks and endless appeal.

We’ve compiled five long walks that will take you into the historic heart of the city and explore some of its most diverse neighborhoods. Even in the center of the city, you can expect encounters with nature while enjoying the fabulous views that are part of the city’s lore. You’ll even get up close and personal with some of the city’s top icons. Whether you have two hours or most of a day, one of these walks will suit you. Along the way, you’ll discover opportunities for good food and drink, as well as shops like none you’ll find elsewhere.

1. Chinatown and North Beach

Best for essential San Francisco
1.5 miles one-way, 3 hours, moderate

This itinerary starts in Chinatown at Portsmouth Square, the neighborhood’s unofficial living room. The square is graced by the Goddess of Democracy, a bronze replica of the statue that Tiananmen Square protesters made in 1989.

Stop in at the Chinese Historical Society of America, dedicated to the experiences of Chinese immigrants to the USA during the gold rush, construction of the transcontinental railroad and the decades that followed, with virulent racism a steady backdrop. Meander north on the busy, shop-lined streets, watching for the 41 historic alleyways packed into Chinatown’s 22 blocks. Don’t miss Waverly Place and its historic clinker-brick buildings and flag-festooned temple balconies.

Cut over to Columbus Ave and the heart of San Francisco’s Beat culture at Jack Kerouac Alley. Take note of the words of Chinese poet Li Po embedded in the alley: “In the company of friends, there is never enough wine.” And indeed, in the 1950s, Kerouac, Arthur Miller and other literary icons used to raise a few at the neighboring bar Vesuvio. Nearby is legendary City Lights Books, one of America’s best bookshops.

Continue up Columbus through the heart of North Beach, which still has discernible Italian roots. At lushly planted Washington Square, you’ll spot parrots in the treetops and octogenarians in tai chi tiger stances on the lawn.

Next, head up steep, residential Greenwich St to Coit Tower – and the best views in the city. The exclamation point on San Francisco’s skyline, this stark, white art deco structure is surrounded by a park, from which thrilling vistas open up from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge and beyond. Take time to duck into the tower’s lobby, where murals depict city life during the Depression: people lining up at soup kitchens, organizing dockworkers’ unions, partying despite Prohibition and more. These scenes have riled up conservatives since they were first unveiled.

Now, head east and down the Filbert Street Steps. The steep climb leads past hidden cottages along Napier Lane, more sweeping views and more colorful wild-parrot flocks. Continue across the Embarcadero to the waterfront at Pier 23, where you turn left for Fisherman’s Wharf or right for the Ferry Building.

2. The Mission

Best for seeing San Francisco’s contradictions on display, and for murals
2.75 miles one-way, 3 hours, easy

The Mission is a crossroads of contradictions. At its heart is Mission St, SF’s faded “miracle mile” that’s now occupied by dollar stores and rollicking street life, festooned with colorful murals and filled with buzzy restaurants. West of Mission St, Valencia St has both quirky boutiques and seven-figure condos. Calle 24 (24th St) is SF’s designated Latino Cultural District. A walk through the Mission puts the multitudes that modern San Francisco contains on full display.

Begin at the city’s first building and neighborhood namesake: the adobe Mission Dolores, built by some 5000 conscripted Ohlone and Miwok laborers in the 18th century. (You can see the Miwok memorial hut, dedicated to these anonymous laborers, through the mission fence on Chula Lane.) Hitchcock fans will note a prime filming location from the 1958 classic Vertigo.

Climb to the upper southwestern corner of Dolores Park for panoramic views and prime people-watching. Then walk down 19th St, past Daniel Doherty’s impressionist-inspired 2009 mural A Sunday Afternoon at Dolores Park, which depicts Dolores Park’s regular cast of characters, including frolicking pugs and handlebar-mustached men in matching swim shorts.

On Valencia, pause to pay your respects to bygone celebrities at Dog Eared Books: the front window features hand-drawn obituary cartoons of luminaries. Window-shop down Valencia, then hang a left onto Calle 24, where you’ll pass community centers, churches, bodegas, panaderias (bakeries) and taquerias all swathed in murals. Stop at 24th & York Mini Park, where Aztec serpent-god Quetzalcoatl rears his mighty mosaic head.

Double back along 24th St, cross over and swing down to Balmy Alley, where you may recognize beatified activist Archbishop Romero and surrealist painter Frida Kahlo among the colorful characters illuminating garage doors. Since you’ll have worked up an appetite by now, join the line at La Taqueria for one of SF’s best burritos. Get yours dorado–style, with a crispy surface.

 3. Presidio and Crissy Field

Best for views of the ocean, bay and Golden Gate Bridge
3.5 miles one-way, 4 hours or more, easy

As you explore the Presidio, the vast splotch of green on the map between Baker Beach and Crissy Field, you’ll find parade grounds, historic buildings by the dozen, beautiful natural areas and some fascinating art projects. What started as a Spanish fort built by Ohlone conscripts in 1776 is today a treasure hunt of surprises. It was decommissioned as a military base in 1994 and turned over to the National Park Service (NPS), which has been transforming it into one of the nation’s most exciting urban parks. Download the NPS Presidio app for details on trails and sights.

At mile-long Baker Beach, you can take in the spectacular views of the Golden Gate. Crowds descend on weekends, especially on fog-free days, so arrive early. For nude sunbathing, head to the northern end. Mind the currents and the c-c-cold water.

Hike up along the Batteries to Bluffs Trail, which follows the coast and offers spectacular views from bluffs where huge guns once defended San Francisco. Head inland to Fort Winfield Scott, with its flat parade ground and vintage buildings. Curve east on paths along Lincoln Blvd and enjoy the bay and bridge views.

At the manicured Main Parade Lawn, cafes and museums await. The Presidio Officer’s Club is the site’s oldest building, its gorgeous Spanish-Moorish adobe architecture dating to the 1700s. The free Heritage Gallery shows the history of the Presidio, from Native American days to the present, along with temporary exhibitions.

Cross over the new grasslands covering Hwy 101 and head down to Crissy Field, a military airstrip turned waterfront nature preserve with knockout Golden Gate views. Bird-watchers, walkers, windsurfers, kitesurfers and cyclists flock here. Rent a bike and join the fun, or sit on the beach and watch for the gray whales that sometimes venture into the bay.

4. Haight and Golden Gate Park

Best for hippie culture and a fun-filled park
4.5 miles one-way, 4 hours or more, easy

Begin this long walk in Buena Vista Park, with its panoramic city views, then head west up Haight St and into the neighborhood that defined the Summer of Love in 1967. Hippie flashbacks are a given here, where the fog is fragrant downwind of Haight St’s legal marijuana dispensaries.

Turn right onto Waller St and left uphill past 432 Delmar St, site of the Sid Vicious overdose that broke up the Sex Pistols in 1978. A block over, pay your respects to Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir and Pigpen at the Grateful Dead House. Down the block, 635 Ashbury St is one of many SF addresses associated with Janis Joplin, who had a hard time hanging onto leases in the 1960s.

At the corner of Haight and Ashbury, the clock overhead always reads 4:20 – better known in “Hashbury” as International Bong-Hit Time. Follow your bliss to the drum circle at Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park, where free spirits have gathered since the ’60s to sway to the beat.

This blissful green space sprawls across 1017 wonderful acres, with a variety of sites that hold something for every interest. Heading west toward the ocean, you can see carnivorous plants gobbling insects at the Conservatory of Flowers, or spot blue butterflies in the rainforest dome at the California Academy of Sciences. Perhaps you’ll choose to get lost in the art galleries of the de Young Museum, or maybe you’ll allot a couple of hours to sipping green tea in the Japanese Tea Garden. Note that cars were banned from John F Kennedy Dr in 2021, which makes walking here even more enjoyable.

Continuing west, there’s the walk to the summit at Strawberry Hill and the namesake large, furry critters grazing at the Buffalo Paddock. The sound of the surf means you’re close to the Pacific and magnificent 4-mile-long Ocean Beach.

5. The Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito

Best for dramatic views and nature
5 miles one-way, 4–6 hours, moderate

One of San Francisco’s best walks takes you immediately out of the city. But what a walk it is.

Your first steps will take you onto the Golden Gate Bridge, which you’ll cross before bending around the bay to the delightful town of Sausalito, and a ferry back to SF. (Confirm the ferry schedule before you set out.) Expect sweeping views of the city and extensive natural beauty that surprises so close to a major metropolis.

The city’s most spectacular icon towers 80 stories above the roiling waters of the Golden Gate, the narrow entrance to San Francisco Bay. Begin your walk at the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center at the south end, where you’ll learn how the monumental undertaking was completed in 1937, a mere 4 years after construction began.

Pedestrians will take the eastern sidewalk. Be sure to dress warmly: It’s 1.7 miles across, and you’ll want to take your time for the views, both horizontal and vertical. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to look right down the funnel of a passing ship.

At the north end, follow the curving walkway and road all the way down to Ft Baker and Horseshoe Bay. This former military post, which must have one of the world’s best views, served as a defensive position for much of the 20th century.

Continue on East Rd along the tree-lined coast north into Sausalito, where you can stroll the cute town center and enjoy some of the region’s best seafood in a waterfront cafe like Fish. On a Golden Gate Ferry for the 30-minute ride to the Ferry Building in SF, you’ll go right past Alcatraz.

Unfurling like an eel in New York City’s East River, Roosevelt Island is a full 2 miles long yet a mere 800ft across at its widest point.

This long sliver of prime real estate has a fascinating history: for almost 150 years, it was the site of numerous hospitals, prisons, asylums and other grim institutions to which “undesirable” patients and inmates were banished. Over the last half-century, however, a remarkable planned community has taken root, with some 12,000 New Yorkers who live a uniquely low-key version of big-city life now calling the redeveloped island home.

In recent years, further grand projects – including a mighty memorial park and a cutting-edge tech campus – have continued to put space between the island’s troubled history and its lovely present, drawing visitors from all over. And the preferred way to get to the island may be the most exciting part of any excursion here.

Intrigued yet? Here’s how to get to know Roosevelt Island, in six ways.

Hang out (literally) in NYC’s only cable car

Despite its super-central location, Roosevelt Island remained unconnected to the rest of the city for centuries. Today, a road bridge to Queens, a subway stop and a new-ish ferry terminal offer many ways to cross the water – yet none compares to what might be the island’s most famous attraction.

There might be no better ride for the money in New York than the iconic red cable car (or aerial tram) that departs from Midtown Manhattan. Gripping fast-moving steel cables above, the bus-sized cabin quickly makes a vertiginous ascent (almost 250ft!) in a couple of minutes, as it floats with surprising smoothness between a forest of high rises and the tower of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. Before you know it, the East River is beneath you, and the skyline becomes a spectacular panorama as the tram whisks you across the water. The descent comes quickly – hopefully before you’ve had time to recall that harrowing rescue scene from Spider-Man. All for the price of one MetroCard swipe.

Detour: On your way up, you might catch a quick glimpse of a historic stone-fronted structure between the ultra-modern buildings of E 60th St. Dating to the 18th century, the Mount Vernon Hotel was built as a country inn for day-trippers escaping the clamor of the city, whose limits then ended many miles downtown. (Who needs the Hamptons?) The improbably preserved building offers a fascinating glimpse into Manhattan’s bucolic past.

Consider the island’s grim history at the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital

Native Americans first arrived on Roosevelt Island some 12,000 years ago, before Dutch colonists “purchased” the land in the 17th century and cleared it for farmland. The Blackwell later family settled the island over four generations before selling the whole lot – then known as Blackwell’s Island – to the government in 1828. (The deal was negotiated on the porch of Blackwell House, a 1796 mansion that still stands.)

Over the following century, New York City authorities turned the island into a complex of institutions designed to house – or, really, to get rid of – some of the city’s most vulnerable populations. A notorious prison, insane asylum, workhouse and hospitals for patients with smallpox, typhus and other infectious diseases soon gave Blackwell’s Island a well-deserved reputation for Dickensian squalor.

Happily, these institutions are long gone, with parks, playgrounds and other public spaces today occupying their former sites. Yet one physical trace of this past remains: the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital, to the island’s south. Now covered in ivy and hollowed out by the elements, this castle-like pile (now fenced off for safety) once housed patients who suffered greatly – or worse. As you take in the decaying structure’s eerie appeal, spare a thought for those who visited Roosevelt Island through no choice of their own.

Local tip: A row of cherry trees grows on the waterside pathway that leads from the tram to the island’s southern tip. Come April, they put on quite the show – and shots of these glorious white and pink blossoms against the backdrop of Manhattan will activate major FOMO among your followers.

Feel the calming grandeur of Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

The last project of master architect Louis Kahn, this monument to the legacy of President Franklin D Roosevelt (the island’s namesake) was left unrealized until 38 years after Kahn’s death. The stark yet uplifting result was well worth the wait. After ascending a grand set of marble steps just beyond the Smallpox Hospital, visitors traverse a lawn, flanked with elegantly planted trees, that tapers to a bust of FDR, the text of his famous “Four Freedoms” speech engraved on marble slabs that flank the sculpture. On the other side of the panels lies the pièce de résistance: “The Room,” a wide, water-level terrace that turns the very southern tip of the island, with New York’s skyline unfolding all around, into an extraordinary space for quiet reflection.

Local tip: From here, you’ll enjoy perhaps the best view in town of the modernist United Nations complex. The formation of this multilateral institution – and the establishment of its seat in New York – is one of FDR’s many important legacies.

Meet the start-up founders of tomorrow at the Cornell Tech campus

Put on a hoodie and sport sandals with white socks, and you might just pass for a student at Cornell Tech, a cutting-edge campus that’s been a work in progress (from scratch) over the last 15 years – with much more to come. Within these ultra-high-tech buildings, entrepreneurs and graduate students studying computer science, design and business engage in hands-on learning, exchange ideas and launch new companies. (Chances are at least one of them will achieve a trillion-dollar market cap someday.) While the university buildings are off-limits to visitors, the appealingly landscaped grounds feature plenty of lawns and seating areas for the use of laptop-toting students and interlopers alike. Take an alfresco break here for a taste of campus life you’ll find only in New York.

Local tip: After a stressful day in class (even if you’re just playing pretend), nothing lifts the spirits by lifting a glass at the Panorama Room, an 18th-floor bar atop the Graduate, a hotel on the campus. Through floor-to-ceiling windows, you’ll enjoy some of the best views of the city around (and there’s stiff competition).

Cycle the island’s perimeter to get a sense of New York City’s mighty infrastructure

The presence of very few cars on Roosevelt Island makes it a cyclist’s paradise, and a bikeable path encircles the island’s entire perimeter. Fresh air, river views and minimal traffic all make for prime pedaling – yet a bike tour of the island provides something even more special: a visual X-ray of the mighty systems that keep New York City going.

Start at the tram station by looking up at the underside of the Queensboro Bridge, with a lattice of steel beams that supports the weight of more than 150,000 crossing vehicles each day. Its four towers topped with decorative spires, this sturdily braced 1909 span is New York City infrastructure at its most Gotham City–esque. Pedaling up the island’s west side, take note of the half-exposed lanes of FDR Dr just across the water, which whisk traffic along the edge of the East River, and underneath the Manhattan apartment buildings, hospitals and parks that are dramatically cantilevered above. With its giant smokestack, the massive power station at E 74th St from 1902 is a beaux-arts marvel. A complementary hulk lies across from the island’s east side: the waterfront, 2480-megawatt Ravenswood Generating Station in Queens, which powers Times Square marquees, Wall Street trading desks, Fashion Week spotlights and everything else that makes the city hum. At the north end of the island, a 50ft-tall lighthouse dates from 1872. Made from locally quarried gneiss (and allegedly built by inmates incarcerated on the island), the beacon is a reminder of the fierce currents that still bedevil ships in these waters.

Local tip: Bring your bike on the F train; the island’s deep station here has elevators serving both platforms. If you’re more ambitious, a protected bike line runs parallel to the East River along Queens’ Vernon Blvd, connecting to the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

Savor the quiet

A 1969 master plan for Roosevelt Island’s redevelopment called for a mix of apartment towers and green spaces free of cars, a vision that came to pass in the decades that followed. And the residential core of the island is today a neighborhood unlike any other in New York.

While the centrally planned apartment blocks that radiate off Main St aren’t architectural marvels, the plan’s harmonious whole – which includes connecting footpaths and ample greenery – is far more gracious than the sum of its parts. What’s most remarkable is the sheer quiet of it all – the sounds of children playing or joggers huffing interrupted only rarely by a passing car or bus. You won’t be able to catch a cab here. But then again, you won’t need to.