Bluffs Beach

Where: Block Island, a 7,000 acre, pork chop-shaped island off the coast of Rhode Island

Why: Often called “the Bermuda of the North”, much of the 17-miles of beach front on this island offers clean, powdery sand and clear, turquoise-blue water similar in feel to the beaches of the Caribbean.

How: Most visitors arrive to the island via ferry from New London, CT or Point Judith, RI, and New England Airlines offers daily shuttle flights, too. Rent a bike or a moped from Aldo’s on Weldons Way—the best way to navigate the island’s winding, country roads.

The main beach on the island is Crescent Beach, which stretches along the island’s east coast from the ferry landing at Old Harbor to Clay Head. It includes Town Beach, a best bet for families as this busy stretch includes a pavilion with food, restrooms, and changing rooms, as well as life guards during peak hours.

Fitness fans will appreciate the journey to Bluffs Beach at Mohegan Bluffs marked by the Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, accessible via a long, steep staircase. Our favorite time to visit is first thing in the morning when the beach is nearly empty, and visitors can wander along and take in the dozens of stacked rocks placed there by previous visitors, and maybe create one themselves.

Vacationers looking for a bit of privacy should bike down the dirt road to the Clay Head Preserve, where a short hike leads to Clayhead beach. On the way back to the trail head, visitors should take time to explore “the Maze”, a series of interconnected pathways offering spectacular viewpoints of the island.

Best of all, admission and parking at all beaches is free.

More: For maps, photos, and travel info on the island, check out the Block Island Tourism Council’s super-helpful website.

Town Beach

Bluffs Beach

A couple enjoys the quiet of the beach accessible via the Clay Head Preserve’s nature trail

Zion Canyon from the top of Angel's Landing

Where: Zion National Park in Southern Utah

Why: While Angel’s Landing is among the more harrowing hikes in the National Park system, the incredible view from the top makes the 5-mile trip along the steep, winding path well worth it for any nature lover.

How: Hikers begin with a free shuttle ride to the park’s Grotto stop, where you can fill up on water before crossing the bridge over the Virgin River at the trail’s base. From there it’s a two-hour trip to Scout Lookout at the top of the 1,488-foot rock formation. There’s plenty to take in along the way, particularly for birding enthusiasts who can expect to spot winged creatures like the black-chinned hummingbird, turkey vulture, and California condor.

The first few miles of the trail are well-groomed, with shady spots like Refrigerator Canyon offering breaks from the heat before hikers reach the last half mile, one of the toughest parts of the trek thanks to 21 pinball-like switchbacks known collectively as Walter’s Wiggles. Reaching the very top with the help of anchored support chains, visitors are rewarded with spectacular views of Zion Canyon that American geologist Clarence Dutton aptly described as, “…a scene never to be forgotten. In coming time it will, I believe, take rank with a very small number of spectacles each of which will, in its own way, be regarded as the most exquisite of its kind which the world discloses.”

More: Get an even better sense of what’s in store with Zion National Park’s Angel’s Landing eHike, featuring photos, videos, and more facts about the trail.

Runners cross the Verrazano Bridge. photo by Martineric via Flickr

I’m breaking from the usual “Glorious Bucket List” post format for this week’s entry, one that’s near and dear to me: The ING New York City Marathon, the world’s largest 26.2-mile race which brings runners through all five boroughs of the city. I watched my first NYC Marathon in the November of 2001, a little over a month after I’d moved to New York. At the time I knew all of one person in the city, so I was alone when I headed uptown on a crisp fall day and into Central Park to watch the race.

Company, as it ended up, was easy to come by. The hills surrounding the park’s roads were packed with people cheering on runners as they made their way along the last few miles of the course. Participants hailed from all around the world, and words of encouragement were being shouted in a dozen languages.

The September 11th attacks had happened not even two months before and if one thing stood out the most on race day, it was the palpable love for the city. Everyone could feel it, from the racers to the spectators. Many of the runners from other countries even donned American flags—painted on their cheeks and ironed on to shirts—or “I Love NY” tees. Gestures of solidarity. I’ve never been to the Olympics, but I imagine the international spirit of the event, the sense that, for a few moments we are all united for one common purpose, is similar to what I felt in Central Park that day.

It had never been a goal of mine to run a marathon before then, but I was so taken by the idea of participating in this particular race I promised myself then and there that someday I would run the New York City Marathon and experience the excitement and accomplishment written on the faces of the runners I saw that first November.

Five years later, I did.

Clearly I had a good time, although truth be told it wasn’t easy. But if you were to ask me whether the months of training and effort was worth it I’d answer “yes” without hesitation. It was one of the best experiences of my life, and in a way I feel like I gave something back to the city I’ve come to love so much by running it.

Info for registering for this year’s race on November 4th can be found here. Some runners may qualify for guaranteed entry, though most of the over 100,000 applicants will be entered into the lottery (the deadline to submit your name is April 23rd). One way to be sure you’ll have a spot on race day is to run for an ING participating charity. I ran with Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Fred’s Team and can vouch for their outstanding training program and excellent race day organization. You’ll raise money for a good cause and in return you’ll get a little taste of glory, running a race you’ll never forget.

What: An unforgettable journey through the belly of the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world

Why: The rush of rafting through whitewater, majestic limestone cliffs, cactus gardens, visits to Native American ruins, canyon hikes.

How: Since 1969, rafting outfit O.A.R.S. has been operating guided, non-motorized trips down the Colorado River. Guests can choose from two types of vessels: an inflatable raft which offers a bit more give over rapids and travels more quickly through the water, or hard-hulled dories, which make for a more up-and-down experience through whitewater and go at a more leisurely pace through the canyon. Trips range in length from 4 days to 18-19 days, but on each visitors can expect to spend 3-5 hours aboard the boat, and the rest of the time hiking around the canyon, eating, or hanging out at camp. For first timers, we like the 5 day Whitmore Wash to Lake Mead trip, which also includes an afternoon of horseback riding, ATVing, of hiking at Bar 10 Ranch and a scenic helicopter ride into the Canyon.

all photos via O.A.R.S.

photo by Rachel Walker

What: An annual celebration commemorating the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, D.C.

Why: This is Washington at its prettiest, and with over five weeks of activities planned there’s plenty to keep visitors of all ages entertained

How: There’s no better time to attend the National Cherry Blossom Festival than this year, which marks the celebration’s 100th anniversary. The festival officially runs from March 20th to April 27th, with event highlights that include:

March 25th: The festival’s Opening Ceremonies, taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 5-6:30pm.

March 31st: Hundreds of kites take to the skies surrounding the Washington Monument during the Blossom Kite Festival.

April 7th: Starting at 2pm, the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival features live music, family-friendly water activities, and cherry-inspired foods and drinks, and culminates with a fireworks show at 8:30pm.

April 14th: Lavish floats, balloons, marching bands, and more travel down Constitution Avenue during the The National Cherry Blossom Parade from 10am-12:30pm. And from 11am-6pm, Pennsylvania Avenue is home to Sakura Matsuri, the largest Japanese cultural festival in the country, featuring food from 25 restaurants, two Kirin Ichiban beer gardens, and dance, musical, and martial arts performances.

April 19th-22nd: Starting each day at noon, music fans can perch on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial and enjoy free performances and spectacular views of the Tidal Basin during Jazz at the Jefferson.

There are also myriad tours and activities centered around the cherry blossoms. Shutterbugs can take a workshop on travel photography around the memorials, art fans can attend a gallery lecture centered around Japanese bird-and-flower paitings, and amateur botanists can take a self-guided spin around the National Arboretum to see other flowering cherry trees. Exercise enthusiasts should opt for the two-hour Blossoms by Bike tour along the Potomac, and if sitting’s more your speed, climb aboard DC Cruises for a view of the blossoms from the water.

See the complete calendar of events and performances and get visitor information here.

photo by Rachel Walker

via National Cherry Blossom Festival

What: Over 40 local cheese makers across the state of Vermont, collectively known as the Vermont Cheese Trail

Why: The fun of driving along winding country roads and across the state’s picture-perfect covered bridges in quest of some of the country’s best goat, sheep, and cow’s milk cheeses to start. Along the way you’ll also have plenty of chances to stop at roadside stands and shops for other treats like locally-made maple sugar ice cream and apple cider and donuts. It’s fun for animal lovers and kids too, as many of the farmyards are open to the public.

How: The Vermont Cheese Council has created a handy map of all of the cheese producers open to visitors, and if you plan to visit several we recommend making a long weekend out of it so as not to feel rushed. Important note: since many of the farms are family-owned and operated, they’ll need a heads up before you arrive so that they can be sure someone will be there to greet you (They’re happy to. Just give them a call).

One of our favorite places along the way is Shelburne Farms. Cheese-wise you’ll find excellent farmhouse cheddar, but the large grounds with beautiful walking trails, children’s farmyard, and an Inn with a delicious Sunday brunch make it a spot you can spend several hours visiting. Wine enthusiasts should also plan on visiting the nearby Shelburne Vineyard for a glass overlooking the grape vines.  Other picks include Fat Toad Farm in Brookfield for goat’s milk caramels, smoked chève at Stowe’s Sage Farm, and burratta, mozzarella, and ricotta at Maplebrook Farm in Bennington. Be sure to check the farms’ websites before you go as visiting hours can vary by season.

Shelburne Farms

via Fat Toad Farm

Where: The northwest coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai

Why: The sheer size of this 16-mile-stretch of volcanic cliffs is breathtaking to behold. There’s an almost supernatural quality to the bare, rugged landscape—one of the reasons it’s served as a backdrop for films like Jurassic Park and King Kong.

How: Inaccessible by car, the easiest way to take in the Na Pali Coast is by boat. We like Captain Andy’s for sailing trips that range in length and include extras like snorkeling stops, dinner, and drinks. And, if you’re visiting during the December to April whale season, you’re also likely to experience the incredible sight of humpbacks breaching out of the water. Another way to see the coast is from the air with any of the region’s helicopter tour operators. Outdoorsy-types with the right permits and know-how can also opt to experience the coast on foot with a hike along the 22-mile Kalalau Trail.