Southern Ozarks Among World’s Top Destinations: National Geographic
One of National Geographic’s best places in the world to travel in 2027 is a short drive from Kansas City. The southern Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas are one of just five U.S. destinations to make the list, Fox News reported.
The region is a haven for outdoor activities, National Geographic said, as well as cultural activities in neighboring towns such as Bentonville, Ark., home to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Close to Bentonville, Bella Vista is the self-proclaimed mountain biking capital of the world, featuring the new OZ Trails Bike Park. It’s the state’s first chairlift-served mountain bike park for access to 20 miles of trails for all levels.
About 60 miles across the Missouri border is Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, where the Ozarks unfold across 10,000 acres. It features limestone cliffs and valleys. Herds of elk, bison and longhorn cattle can be spotted, and visitors can hike and bike the park’s network of trails.
These U.S. destinations also made the list.
Madison, Wis. is highlighted for its lakefront adventure opportunities and local cuisine.
Nestled between Lakes Mendota and Monona, Madison offers beautiful trails and green spaces. It’s also city-central for several colleges, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This among college town, nature oasis and state capital gives Madison a flare, pairing beloved nightlife spaces with a growing trail network.
The Pacific Coast Highway in California is fully open after closures following mudslides in Big Sur. On the southern end, artist colony Laguna Beach celebrates its centennial in 2027. Downtown Laguna Beach has a new pedestrian promenade with boutiques, galleries, outdoor performance spaces and al fresco dining. The central-coast city of Lompoc features a trail of more than 30 murals depicting the town’s agricultural roots. The northern end of the highway is home to more artistic regions, such as Mendocino County and Fort Bragg, offering exhibitions and galleries such as Pacific Textile Arts.
Baltimore is packed with U.S. history as the birthplace of the American railroad.
The port city on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay chartered the country’s first commercial railroad in 1827. The National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation reportedly will mark its 200-year anniversary with a $38 million upgrade. National Geographic also highlighted Baltimore’s historic Lexington Market, established in 1782.
Catalina Island in California is home to indigenous plan and animal species, such as small foxes that can be spotted along the 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail, and coastal sage shrub. The Garden to Sky Trail offers an ocean overlook from the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, which showcases rare island flora, National Geographic said.
–Alan Goforth
