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Things to Do in North America

Things to do in North America Featured Image

Over the past 8+ years as a full-time travel blogger, I’ve explored 47 U.S. states, visited 30+ national parks, and traveled through countless regions across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

I’ve walked the streets of major cities like New York, Vancouver, Montreal, Mexico City, Chicago, and LA, and also road-tripped through lesser-known towns, stayed in cabins deep in the woods, soaked in natural hot springs, and surfed remote coastal breaks. This category is where all those adventures come together.

Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventure, cultural city breaks, beach escapes, or unique places to stay, this is where you’ll find the best of North America…backed by real experience.

What You’ll Find in This Section…

🏞️ National Parks & Nature Escapes

From Yosemite to Banff, Zion to Yellowstone, I’ve explored many of the top parks across the U.S. and Canada, along with lesser-known gems like Lassen, Great Basin, and Fundy. My guides go beyond the obvious and help you plan smarter: where to hike, stay, avoid crowds, and catch those jaw-dropping views.

🏙️ Iconic Cities & Hidden Urban Gems

I’ve spent time in nearly every major metro on the continent, including Boston, Toronto, Austin, Oaxaca, Quebec City, Seattle, and beyond. But I also shine a light on cities people overlook: think Halifax, San Miguel de Allende, or Milwaukee. Expect curated recs, great food spots, cool neighborhoods, and where to stay for the best vibe.

🏕️ Unique Places to Stay

From A-frames in Vermont to design-forward cabins in British Columbia and beachfront boutique hotels in Tulum, I’ve reviewed or handpicked dozens of epic places to stay that turn a good trip into a great one.

🚗 Scenic Drives & Regional Road Trips

Whether it’s the Pacific Coast Highway, a fall foliage route through New England, a desert loop through the American Southwest, or a Mexico road trip from Tulum to Valladolid, you’ll find multi-day itineraries with Google Maps, travel tips, and all the stops that make it special.

🌴 Coastal Escapes, Mountains, Forests & Beyond

The beauty of North America is its wild diversity. In this section, you’ll find:

  • Cold plunge retreats in Icelandic-feeling corners of Canada

  • Winter getaways in Colorado ski towns

  • Warm-weather escapes across Florida, California, Baja, and the Yucatán

  • Cultural deep dives, hiking hubs, food-focused trips, and more

Top Experiences in North America

Here are more of my top picks for bucket list experiences and things to do across this vast continent:

  • Hike in Glacier National Park
  • Go stargazing in Death Valley National Park
  • Road trip down Highway 1 in California
  • Polar bear and puffin watching in Canada
  • Fall foliage road trip in New England
  • Chase geysers in Yellowstone National Park
  • Food tours in Toronto, NYC, and Mexico City
  • Learn how to surf in Hawaii
  • Explore ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico
  • Go wine tasting in Napa Valley
  • Catch the Aurora Borealis in Canada or Alaska
  • Stay at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico
  • Chase the biggest waterfalls in North America: Niagara Falls
  • Road trip around the National Parks in Arizona and Utah

Here are my travel guides, itineraries, and other articles of North America:

  • Fall Foliage Planning Guide 2025: Best Trackers, Maps, Peak Predictions

    by Jon Miksis August 25, 2025
  • Where to Eat in the Berkshires for a Unique Dining Experience

    by Jon Miksis July 30, 2025
  • 15 Most Unique Restaurants in New England (Not in Boston)

    by Jon Miksis July 28, 2025
  • 12 Fall Foliage Airbnbs in New England for Cozy Off-Grid Vibes

    by Jon Miksis July 27, 2025
  • 13 Cheapest International Flights from Boston in 2025-2026

    by Jon Miksis July 23, 2025
  • 15 Dreamiest Fall Foliage Airbnbs in the US (Location + Views)

    by Jon Miksis July 22, 2025
  • Top 10 Fall Foliage Airbnbs in Vermont in 2025

    by Jon Miksis July 20, 2025
  • What to Do in Southie (South Boston) in 2025

    by Jen August 21, 2025
  • The Ultimate Colorado Road Trip Itinerary (3 Weeks)

    by Jon Miksis July 13, 2025
  • 13 Most Beautiful Airbnb Cabins in the USA (2025)

    by Jon Miksis July 13, 2025
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Hey, I'm Jon! Founder of Global Viewpoint

I’m an award-winning travel blogger, and I’m here to help you discover your inner explorer.

For 8 years, I’ve been a travel writer, content creator, and adventure junkie who’s visited 69 countries and 30 national parks (and counting). I travel for 3–6 months per year and my home base is Boston, MA!

I specialize in curated travel itineraries, epic bucket-list experiences, and off-the-beaten-path adventures...from chasing waterfalls in Iceland to hiking the Alps, trekking Patagonia, and road-tripping across New England. I’ve been featured in major publications including Forbes, HuffPost, Yahoo Travel, The Boston Globe, and more.

Together with my team, we provide expert reviews and curated guides on hotels, restaurants, airlines, retreats, and more.

Over the past 8+ years, I’ve helped over 10 million readers plan smarter, more meaningful trips through my site. I focus on places that spark awe...whether it’s a remote alpine lake, a hidden glamping dome, or a culturally immersive retreat.

Want to travel like a local, not a tourist? You’re in the right place. Sign up below for expert travel tips, itineraries, and bucket list ideas that will inspire your next adventure.

READ MORE ABOUT ME

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    Inspiring Transformational Travel ✈️
    Adventure 🗺️ • Growth 🌱 • Wellness 🧘‍♂️
    Helping you find your next life-changing trip ⬇️

    Gamarjoba from Georgia! 🇬🇪 One of the last t Gamarjoba from Georgia! 🇬🇪 One of the last true hidden gems of adventure travel. Five days in, and this country keeps hitting me with new reasons to love it.

Up in the Caucasus Mountains, just a few hours north of Tbilisi, sits Kazbegi - one of the most pristine nature areas of the country. 

Today I hiked past the famous Gergeti Trinity Church and up toward the glacier overlook, where horses wandered freely and wild dogs followed along like loyal guides. The air was crisp, the peaks dramatic, and it felt like the mountains themselves were alive. 🏔️

Early September is the sweet spot here: crisp alpine air, decent weather, and trails that you don’t have to share with the crowds. It’s just you, the mountains, and silence broken only by the wind.

I’ve barely scratched the surface, and I’m hooked. From wandering the old streets of Tbilisi to drinking the world’s oldest wine and hitting a food festival in Borjomi, there’s so much more I’ll be sharing soon. I’m a few days behind, but trust me, it’ll be worth the wait. Stay tuned! 🇬🇪

#georgiatravel #kazbegi #hiddengems
    History has always been my greatest inspiration. F History has always been my greatest inspiration. From the pyramids of Giza to the ruins of Tikal, the streets of Ancient Rome and Greece, and the old city walls of China, I’ve never stopped chasing the wisdom of the ancients. 🏛️⛩️

Their castles, temples, and traditions remind me how much we can learn from those who came before us…and it’s one of the reasons I started Global Viewpoint over 8 years ago. 🏰🌍 

I’ve got a new journey coming up soon…one that will take me deep into the crossroads of civilizations, where so much ancient knowledge and culture still lives on. Not many travelers make it there today, but it’s been calling me for years. Any guesses where I’m headed next? 👀
    Finding freedom in the Faroe Islands 🇫🇴✨ Finding freedom in the Faroe Islands 🇫🇴✨

Two years ago, I explored the Faroe Islands - surrounded by foggy cliffs, crashing waves, and crisp air.

Not exactly what summer looks like in most places… but this wild, moody place lit something up in me.

No crowds. No noise. Just cliffs, wind, and freedom.

It reminded me: it’s not just about chasing epic moments…it’s about the quiet ones.
Laying barefoot on the damp earth. Breathing in the cold. Watching puffins fly through misty cliffs. Feeling alive.

Send this to someone who’d pick this over city lights ⛰️🌊 

#FaroeIslands #Wanderlust #ChasingViews #NatureTherapy #RemotePlaces #MinimalTravel #bucketlist #SimpleFreedom #OffTheGrid #ChaseStillness #VisitFaroeIslands #FaroeIslandsNature #FaroeIslandsTravel #HikingAdventures  #MindfulTravel #SlowTravel #FindYourCalm #GroundedInNature
    Summer in Europe looks like this… Aperol Spritz Summer in Europe looks like this…

Aperol Spritz and pizza in a sunny piazza. 
Salt in your hair after a boat day off the Croatian coast. 
Linen shirts, scooters, and stone alleyways.
Espresso on a quiet balcony as the city wakes up.
Gelato for lunch…because why not?
Golden hour wine in Paris.
Twilight that never ends in the fjords.
Wildflowers in bloom above the Alps.

Late dinners, slow mornings, and sunsets that last forever. 🌅

This is what it feels like to chase summer across Europe 🏍️✨

👉 Send this to that group chat who always says “we should go.” 🌍

#EuropeTravel #SummerInEurope #Wanderlust #TravelInspo #MediterraneanVibes #EuropeanSummer #BucketListAdventures #TravelGoals #CoastalViews #OldTownCharm #SunsetLovers #AperolSpritzSeason #ScenicViews #DreamTrip #HiddenGems #SlowTravel #PostcardPlaces #jetsetlife #TravelMore #ExploreEurope
    May is prime time for Yosemite 🌄 Towering gran May is prime time for Yosemite 🌄

Towering granite cliffs. Roaring waterfalls. Lush green meadows. Giant sequoias. Its nature turned up to 11…and it’s one of my favorite national parks for a reason 🇺🇸

Right now, everything’s alive. The waterfalls are insane from all the snowmelt (Yosemite Falls is next level), and wildflowers are starting to pop. Mornings are crisp, afternoons are sunny, and best of all…no summer crowds yet 🙌 

May is that sweet spot: perfect weather, peak waterfall season, and fewer people. If you’ve never been, this is the time of year to go. You’ll feel small in the best way.

Swipe to see the wildlife I saw on the trail!! 🐻🦌 

#YosemiteNationalPark #YosemiteInMay #WaterfallSeason #NationalParksUSA #NatureLovers #HikingAdventures #SpringTravel #GetOutside #WanderlustCalifornia #ExploreMore #FindYourPark #BucketListTravel #yosemite #yosemitevalley
    D O M I N I C A 🏝️🇩🇲 Just wrapped up D O M I N I C A 🏝️🇩🇲 

Just wrapped up 6 days in Dominica - and wow, this island is one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets. Wild hikes, hidden waterfalls, volcanic hot springs… if you’re craving raw, untouched nature, this is the place. No resorts, just rainforest. 🙌
    Imagine an island where rainforest waterfalls outn Imagine an island where rainforest waterfalls outnumber hotels & beaches…Welcome to Dominica! 🇩🇲

Known as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” this wild, volcanic gem is dripping in waterfalls, hot springs, and untouched rainforest. No mega-resorts. No crowds. Just raw, untamed beauty. It’s a place where the earth still breathes, and you can feel it under your feet.

I stayed in Roseau, the small capital city on the coast, and it turned out to be the perfect launch pad for adventure. Just 15 minutes from two of Dominica’s most iconic waterfalls, this laid-back town made exploring the island incredibly easy. And unlike other Caribbean hotspots, Dominica isn’t swarmed with cruise ships every day…so you get quiet pockets of time when it feels like you have the island to yourself.

If you’re chasing real adventure, untouched beauty, and the feeling of discovering something sacred, Dominica is it! 🇩🇲🏝️⛰️ 

#Dominica #NatureIsland #HiddenGems #travelvlog #caribbeanvibes #caribbeanvacation #discoverdominica
    S A I N T L U C I A 🇱🇨🏝️ This island S A I N T  L U C I A 🇱🇨🏝️

This island will ruin all other Caribbean vacations for you...in the best way. Twin volcanic peaks (the Pitons) rise straight out of the sea like something out of a dream. Black sand beaches. Jungle waterfalls. Sulfur springs. Hidden coves. And sunsets that’ll stop you in your tracks. 🌅

It’s raw. It’s romantic. It’s wild. You can soak in a volcanic mud bath by morning, hike a rainforest trail by noon, and sip rum punch cliffside as the sun melts behind the Pitons.

But let me tell you - getting around St. Lucia is an adventure in itself. We rented a car and the driving was intense…twisty, narrow roads full of blind turns & somehow that just added to the thrill.

Another highlight: staying in a villa surrounded by jungle. By day, I’d float in a pool overlooking layers of rainforest, with nothing but bird songs and the distant hum of tree frogs. At night, the stars lit up the sky above the jungle canopy 🌌

I cracked open fresh coconuts, drank the water straight from the source, and foraged the land for mangoes, papayas, zucchini, and bananas. Not your typical beach vacation! 🥥

St. Lucia is for those who want beauty and depth. Luxury and adventure. Chill and adrenaline. I will definitely be back! 🏝️🇱🇨

#saintlucia #caribbean #stlucia #beautifuldestinations #sugarbeachviceroy #caribbeanlife #caribbeantravel
    Last month, I helped facilitate another transforma Last month, I helped facilitate another transformational retreat in Iceland - and I’m still taking it all in. 

There’s nothing easy about this kind of work. For a week, we step away from our usual comforts…no phone, no inbox, no mask on. Just nature, unpredictable elements, and each other.

And in that space, something incredible happens.

I watched people shed layers they didn’t even know they were carrying. I saw courage in every cold plunge, vulnerability in every story shared, and resilience on every mountain hike. Some confronted emotions they’d buried for years. Others rediscovered parts of themselves they thought were long gone.

These aren’t just “nice moments.” They are the breakthroughs that change the course of people’s lives. I’ve seen it over and over again- people coming on these experiences and going home a completely different person.

And as a facilitator, it’s an honor to hold space for this…to witness people show up raw, real, and ready to meet themselves fully. It’s why I choose to do this work a few times each year. It fills me with purpose and reminds me what matters most — community, courage, and connection.

There is nothing quite like watching someone come alive again.

Iceland, you did it again.
    Another wild, beautiful, and deeply transformation Another wild, beautiful, and deeply transformational week with @intothewild.within is in the books ❄️🔥 Iceland never fails to deliver with raw nature, unpredictable elements, and deep personal breakthroughs.

This retreat had it all:
🌊 Cold immersions that pushed our limits and expanded our minds
💨 Breathwork sessions where energy and emotion moved like the wind
🏔️ Hikes through epic landscapes that reminded us of nature’s power and our own resilience
🔥 Sweat lodge ceremony that stripped us down to our essence 
🧘‍♂️ Mindful meditations that brought stillness and clarity 
🎶 Dancing, laughing, and celebrating life with an amazing group of souls

And the weather this week? Next level, even for Iceland standards. One moment, we were in a snowstorm. The next, the skies cleared, and the sun broke through. A perfect metaphor for the inner work we do on these retreats. 

This journey has come full circle for me. I first came as a participant in 2022, diving into my own self-discovery. Now, after facilitating my third retreat (two in Iceland!), I’ve loved stepping into this role…guiding others on their own journeys. It’s an honor to hold space for these breakthroughs, alongside my brothers @joren_debruin and @joshuadeanchurch.

Some of my other favorite moments?

💡 Witnessing people break patterns and rewrite their stories
🌍 Chanting Spanish expressions during breathwork to connect with our Spanish-speaking members & my alter ego “Juan” 🤣💪
🏔️ Hiking up a snowcapped mountain and treating ourselves to natural hot springs beneath the stars 

Feeling beyond grateful for this work, this group, this place. Iceland, you’ve done it again. 🇮🇸⚔️

📸 Swipe through to feel the energy of this wild, unforgettable week.

#IntoTheWildWithin #Transformation #IcelandRetreat #SelfDiscovery #PersonalGrowth #Breathwork #ColdImmersion #Mindfulness #RetreatLife #transformationaltravel
    Colombia, you set the bar high for 2025. 🇨🇴🔥

This past trip with my brother @joshuadeanchurch was all about expanding. Daily movement, wholesome food, deep convos, and fresh ideas flowed effortlessly in this paradise. The beaches, jungles, and vibrant culture elevated our vision-building, making it one of the most inspiring masterminds I’ve ever had.

Colombia has a special kind of energy. From the liveliness of Medellín to the serene beaches of Palomino, there’s so much to appreciate about this country. Tayrona’s wild beauty, Santa Marta’s coastal charm, and the warmth of the people made this mastermind experience next level. With the rhythm of life and the flavors in every meal…it’s impossible not to feel alive here. From sunrise swims to jungle hikes, this place is a playground for dreamers and doers alike.

Thinking of doing mastermind trips like this more often…already planning the next one. Who’s been here before? Or who’s adding this to their list? 👇🏼🔥

#ColombiaTravel #MastermindRetreat #TravelAndGrow #TransformationalTravel
    🌋 Are you ready to step into the most transform 🌋 Are you ready to step into the most transformational week of your life? From March 1-8, 2025, join me and @intothewild.within for an epic journey into your full potential…set against Iceland’s stunning landscapes of fire and ice! 🔥❄️

This isn’t just a retreat, it’s a breakthrough. Over six powerful days, you’ll move beyond the surface to uncover new depths within yourself 🌌 Break free from old limitations, expand your perspective, and connect with the raw, untamed power within 🧘‍♂️

Here’s what we’ll be doing: mindful hikes through Iceland’s wild terrain, glacial cold immersions that leave you feeling truly alive, grounding meditations, and the sacred sweat lodge ceremony—all designed to help you build resilience, release blocks, and tap into something greater.

This is transformation like you’ve never experienced before, surrounded by Iceland’s jaw-dropping landscapes 🏔️ It’s a chance to grow, connect, and leave with a renewed sense of purpose and strength. I’ve done 20+ retreats and group travel experiences over the years, and this is my absolute favorite that I’d be thrilled to have you be a part of 🙌

Spaces are filling up FAST…this is your moment to experience deep inner work in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring places 🇮🇸

Comment ICELAND below, and I’ll send you all the details! I also have an exclusive discount for the next 2 people who sign up. Let’s make this happen ❄️💥

#iceland #retreatyourself #transformationaltravel #grouptravel #europetravel #mindset #icelandtrip #lifeisajourney
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    • Home
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      • North America
      • Europe
      • Asia
      • South America
      • Africa
      • Oceania
    • Travel Tips
      • How I Plan My Trips in 2025
      • My Favorite Travel Websites
      • How to Start a Travel Blog
      • Travel Hacks for Flying
      • Most Essential Travel Apps
      • Travel Photography Tips
      • Tips To Save Money on Travel
      • Why Buy Travel Insurance?
      • My Best Travel Blogging Tips in 2025
    • About Me
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