Every year, National Geographic publishes a list of the top travel destinations and adventures. The goal is to draw attention to both off-the-radar spots and recognize increased tourist interest in particular destinations and activities.
While the 2019-2020 influencer obsession with the ancient Mexican city of Tulum pushed multiple airlines to start flying there and local authorities to even approve construction of an entire airport, countries such as Portugal and South Korea have seen an even more recent spike in visitors.
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While the top of National Geographic’s 2024 list is marked by foolproof activities such as going on a safari in Kenya and running a marathon during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, one unconventional place has also made it into the top 20: going white-water rafting in West Virginia.
Views of New River Gorge National Park from fall 2023.
Veronika Bondarenko
National Geographic calls out ‘the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachians’
While the Mountain State has many stereotypes, the nature and travel magazine recognized places like New River Gorge National Park for the stunning views and opportunity to experience the winding river on an inflatable raft during the summer months.
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“Despite its name, West Virginia’s New River is actually one of the oldest on Earth, perhaps as old as 360 million years,” write the report’s authors. “The river falls 750 feet in only 50 miles between sandstone cliffs. It eventually merges with the Gauley River.“
The magazine also pointed out that multiple tour and sports adventure providers can “arrange whitewater rafting trips here on Class III to V rapids through the longest and deepest river gorge in the Appalachians.”
Other U.S.-based activities named in the magazine’s round-up include doing a tour of the antique shops in New York state’s Hudson Valley and driving the length of Route 66 to catch sight of the hot air balloon festivals taking place in New Mexico’s desert every spring.
Hot air balloons and a floating lodge among top travel experiences
Canadian experiences in the list include catching the eclipse overlooking Niagara Falls (something best done, according to National Geographic, north of the border) and staying in a new floating resort built out of fallen timber in British Columbia’s Clayoquot Sound.
“Through guided whale-watching trips or visits to the Freedom Cove Artists’ artists’ sanctuary, the Ahousaht share with guests their philosophy, hishuk ish tsawalk (‘everything is one’), celebrating the interconnectedness of people and nature in a land they’ve occupied for thousands of years,” write the report’s authors.
Internationally, activities such as shark diving in western Australia, exploring ancient cave art in Algeria and cruising the Magdalena River at the Colombia-Ecuador border were mentioned as some unappreciated but magnificent experiences seasoned travelers should set aside for 2024.
Another country that has quickly risen in popularity among Western tourists over the last few years, Georgia landed in the top five as a ski destination. The mountain town of Svaneti, in particular, has long been a popular resort for people from the area but is recently rising in global status for its high peaks and smooth slopes for both beginner and advanced skiers.
