Whatever is worth doing at all, someone once said, is worth doing well. We believe in the corollary: If you’re going to do something, or go someplace, it might as well be the best. Which is why we polled dozens of experts and thousands of readers to help us rank America’s top golf courses, river trips, fly-fishing spots, ball parks, steak houses and more.
OARS Known for its whitewater trips, OARS now offers snorkeling in Fiji and sea kayaking in Baja. Or try the Adventure Spa series on the San Juan River in Utah, a six-day float with nightly campfire massages, a “river facial,” and daily beachside yoga.
READER'S CHOICE
GRAND CANYON OF THE COLORADO, AZ Thumping Class III – IV rapids, side hikes into fern-filled slot
canyons, and 5,000 feet of red-rock canyon (representing a billion or
so years of geologic time) make this 226-mile, two week whitewater run
the planet’s ultimate rafting trip. Do whatever it takes to get on a
boat: Bribe a friend lucky enough to land a permit (against
Powerball-like odds) or fork over $4,995 to an outfitter such as OARS
for an 18-day journey.
MIDDLE FORK SALMON, ID Plan your Middle Fork trip right, and you can camp next to hot springs. When the rollicking whitewater recedes in midsummer, the fishing becomes world class. OARS navigates the craggy canyons expertly.