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CNN Travel’s Best Places to Visit in 2022: See the Nat Hab Destinations on the List

Posted by Laura Kiniry | Feb 26, 2022 | News & More

In the early 19 th century, a fur trapper and wilderness guide named Jim Bridger became one of the first European-Americans to experience the natural offerings of what would later become Yellowstone National Park. Bridger was a born storyteller, though one who was decidedly prone to exaggeration, so his tales of greater Yellowstone included descriptions of a petrified forest that was home to “petrified birds” and a “mountain of clear glass” that acted almost as a telescope. He even described the region’s legendary geysers and other geothermal features as indicative of the “place where Hell bubbled up.” However, Bridger’s embellishments weren’t far off the mark. In many ways, Yellowstone is otherworldly. It’s unlike anywhere else on the planet—just one of the reasons that CNN Travel has included the park on its annual list of Best Destinations to Visit in 2022 .  

© Sarah Konspore

 “…Exploring the world is a privilege, not a right,” writes CNN Travel’s editor. “This year’s crop of dream places to visit reflect that mindset—from national parks to remote islands to lesser-visited spots, mindfulness and respect for the Earth are part of the journey.”

Alongside Yellowstone, CNN Travel’s other 2022 selections range from the far-reaches of Jordan, a Middle Eastern country consisting of ancient rock-carved cities and vast desert, to the harsh environs of Australia’s massive Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park, not to mention regions of countries that Nat Hab pays regular visits—such as Greenland and Peru. There’s also a trio of featured destinations that Nat Hab can take you right into the heart of, so get ready to start checking off your travel wishlist! 

A thin slice of continent that stretches the length of South America’s southwest coast, CNN Travel describes Chile as an “outdoor adventurer’s paradise” where ecotourism opportunities abound—a depiction that couldn’t be more accurate. While much of the country’s north is taken over by the Atacama Desert, one of the driest spots on the planet and a place that’s more akin with Mars than perhaps anywhere on Earth, it’s the sheer beauty and magnitude of Patagonia’s vast wilderness that continues to attract the boldest and most intrepid souls from around the globe. This is a world where enormous glaciers descend down mountain-sides to reach turquoise-colored lake waters teeming with icebergs, and snow-capped peaks paint the sky. Medium-sized Magellanic penguins cozy up along the coastlines, while humpback whales feed in the local waters and large groups of southern elephant seals sun themselves endlessly on rock ledges. Here in this sparsely populated region, nature undoubtedly rules. 

Among Patagonia’s most prominent national parks is Torres del Paine, a UNESCO Biosphere that’s home to roaming pumas, fur-covered guanacos and Andean condors that nest among its mountains and iconic rock spires. Nat Hab’s 10-day Patagonia Wilderness & Wildlife Explorer unwraps the unbeatable offerings of this spectacular place, along with spots like Tierra del Fuego, a rugged archipelago brimming with glaciers and fjords that occupies Patagonia’s southernmost tip, and Los Glaciares National Park, home to the legendary Perito Moreno Glacier—one of the very few advancing glaciers on the planet. There is also an opportunity to marvel at the antics of the world’s second-largest penguin species at King Penguin Park, and see pink flamingos congregating in the waters along with white- and black-neck swans at Laguna de los Cisnes Natural Monument. 

© Gavin Lautenbach

South Africa

From its sky-scraping Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal to Cape Town’s most prominent landmark, Table Mountain, South Africa is home to an incredible array of natural wonders. However, visitors flock here just as often (if not more so) for the country’s wonderfully accessible wildlife. After the Covid-19 omicron variant delivered what CNN Travel calls a “pointless blow” to South Africa’s struggling tourism industry, 2022—more than ever—is the year to return to this amazing place, and oh, how we’re ready! 

Nat Hab’s 10-day Secluded South Africa goes right into the heart of the country’s wildlife action with a visit to its famed Kruger region and visits to a trio of private reserves: Madikwe, Marataba and Sabi Sands. 

Madikwe Reserve is one of the country’s lesser-known parks—a 185,000-acre mix of rocky hills and seasonal wetlands where everything from Africa’s “Big Five” animals—rhinos, leopards, lions, elephants and African buffalos—to cheetahs, hippos and African wild dogs roam. Untamed and remote, it’s the perfect place for safari drives and guided nature walks, as well as a sundowner (a.k.a “happy hour) or three in the bush. 

Although smaller in size, Marataba Private Reserve packs a lot into its 57,000 acres within Marakele National Park—including more than 400 bird species. Keep an eye out for yellow-billed hornbill and lilac-breasted rollers fluttering among the reserve’s red rock mountains and grassy hillsides, as well as black and white rhinos that, in the company of a safari guide, you can even track on foot. Night game drives and the occasional water safari along the reserve’s Matlabas River are also the norm. 

For “Big Five” viewing, it’s hard to beat MalaMala. This 33,000-acre game reserve shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park and sits in the heart of South Africa’s Sabi Sand region. The reserve is known for its dense leopard population, which are often spotted by the dozen here each month. 

© Kim Clune

Yellowstone 

In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the creation of Yellowstone National Park. One-hundred-and-fifty years later, this 2.2-million-acre wilderness recreation area just celebrated its busiest year (2021) on record, with 4,860, 537 visits. It’s more popular than ever, making the park an absolute must on CNN Travel’s 2022 list. 

Stretching across the upper corner of northwest Wyoming and into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone is known for its thousands of hydrothermal features—we’re talking erupting geysers, bubbling hot springs and steamy fumaroles—not to mention its stellar wildlife. In fact, the park is home to its own “Big Five” of fauna: moose, elk, wolves, bison and bears. Nat Hab’s seven-day Hidden Yellowstone & Grand Teton Safari highlights it all, from the park’s central Hayden Valley, where you might spot a grizzly sow and her cubs meandering through its vast meadows and grasslands, to the remote Lamar Valley, tucked away in Yellowstone’s northeast corner. Here, you’ll often find large herds of grazing elk and bison. It’s the easiest place in the park to see wolves as well, which the park’s wildlife officials reintroduced in 1995. 

About The Author

Laura Kiniry

Laura Kiniry is an award-winning journalist specializing in nature, travel, and the outdoors. When she's not out traversing Norway's southern fjords or tracking elephants on foot in Ghana, you can find her at home in San Francisco, writing about her adventures and rediscovering her own backyard.

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7 Best National Parks To Visit In Fall 2024

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• New England's Acadia National Park is a top spot for fall foliage with coastal landscapes and vibrant colors.
• Virginia's Shenandoah National Park offers scenic fall touring along Skyline Drive and valley views.
• West Virginia's New River Gorge Park displays Appalachian beauty in fall with river views and whitewater rafting.

For most national parks, summer represents the peak tourist season. Pleasant weather, prime conditions, and summer breaks across the country bring scores of tourists to many of America's most popular national park destinations. In some cases, visitor numbers get so high during the summer that some parks have had to implement a timed entry reservation system to keep the crowds in check.

But while national parks are certainly great spots to visit during the summer, many are exceptional at other times of the year as well. Once the summer tourist season subsides, several top national parks become some of America's best destinations for fall road trips and scenic hiking tours.

This shouldn't come as a surprise. After all, fall is famous for fall foliage. And with their gorgeous forest ecosystems, many national parks become top leaf-peeping destinations once leaves begin to change.

Plus, cooler temps take the edge off of the summer heat that can often be brutal during the summer tourist season. If you're planning a national park trip this coming fall, these seven parks are particularly worthwhile autumn destinations.

7 Of The Best National Parks In The US This Fall

These national parks are among the best for fall foliage in the US, with stunning views, epic hikes, and pleasant temperatures. 

7 Acadia National Park

No region of the US is more closely associated with beautiful fall foliage than New England. Beginning in late September, countless tourists from around the country flock to the stunning forests of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine to witness scintillating displays of red, orange, and yellow.

Given the region's preeminence as a top fall destination, New England's only national park is, unsurprisingly, one of the best spots for fall trips in the entire National Park System. Acadia National Park sits along a particularly beautiful stretch of Maine's Atlantic coastline, with its landscape spread out over several islands and shores near the resort town of Bar Harbor. While there are many wonderful fall activities in Bar Harbor , the neighboring Acadia National Park takes fall adventures to another level.

Much of Acadia's beauty stems from its exquisite shoreline planted across the backdrop of gorgeous coastal mountains. This landscape provides Acadia with an abundance of unbelievable natural beauty, including pristine lakes, deep woodlands, and stunning mountaintop views.

Come fall, Acadia's natural splendor takes on a whole new character as the park's coastal forests exemplify the rich autumn colors for which New England is so famous. Fall trips to Acadia can include many fun and memorable activities, including scenic fall carriage tours along the park's vibrant landscape.

Thanks to its fertile ecosystem, Acadia is also one of the top spots for fall birdwatching in all of New England. Early morning treks to the summit of one of the park's many coastal mountains provide truly breathtaking views of the autumn morning sun rising above the Atlantic.

6 Shenandoah National Park

Alongside New England, the Blue Ridge Mountains are the country's top destinations for scenic autumn views. The Blue Ridge Mountains, a physiographic subrange of the larger Appalachian Mountains, stretch between the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, from Pennsylvania in the north all the way to Georgia.

In an area defined by exquisite natural beauty year-round, the various national and state parks in this region are all major destinations for scenic trips in the fall. Virginia's Shenandoah National Park is a particularly worthwhile fall destination in the Blue Ridge Mountains region.

The park protects a notably scenic stretch of the Blue Ridge Mountains running along Virginia's Shenandoah River Valley. Here, the region's pristine peaks intersect with a beautiful series of valleys that make for some of the best views anywhere on the East Coast. Come fall, the mountains and valleys of Shenandoah light up in brilliant displays of fall colors.

Shenandoah National Park is perhaps the best spot in the country for scenic fall driving. The 104-mile-long Skyline Drive stretches from the park's Front Royal entrance in the north to the Rockfish Gap entrance in the south.

During the drive, the route passes by dozens of excellent scenic overlooks that provide a nonstop parade of amazing fall views. Thanks to Skyline Drive and the park's excellent infrastructure, visitors can enjoy the sublime fall scenery from the comfort of their vehicles.

Shenandoah even has dog-friendly hiking trails in case your furry friends want to enjoy fall beauty as well! Autumn also brings many excellent events and activities to Shenandoah, including the memorable Art in the Park arts festival in Late September.

5 New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

West virginia.

For travelers looking for a scenic fall trip, no part of West Virginia doesn't provide amazing views of fall colors. But the heavyweight champion of West Virginia's Appalachian beauty is undoubtedly the picturesque New River Gorge National Park & Preserve .

Established in 2020, New River Gorge is one of the newest national parks in the country. But its resources are anything but. The park's namesake New River is believed to be one of the oldest rivers in the world, with origins possibly dating back as far as 65 million years ago.

Ancient origins aside, New River Gorge is a premier destination for fall travelers today. The park's central gorge is a truly majestic display of Appalachian beauty come autumn, with the deep temperate forests across the river valley erupting in enchanting patterns of fall colors.

Like Shenandoah National Park, New River Gorge is an excellent destination for scenic auto touring. Currently, the park features several great scenic drives, including the Fayette State Road and the African American Heritage Auto Tour. And if the fall weather is still warm enough, New River Gorge is also one of the country's best destinations for whitewater rafting!

10 Spots Around New River Gorge That Offer Perfect Fall Scenery

Heading to New River Gorge this fall? Then make sure you check out these incredibly scenic spots in this region of West Virginia.

4 Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of the country at all times of year. However, it's also one of the most popular, especially during peak summer tourist season.

In recent years, summer crowds have gotten to the point that the park has implemented a timed-entry system , which requires visitors to reserve a specific entrance time beforehand. With the large crowds of summer, this system can make a summer trip to Rocky Mountain National Park a bit of a hassle.

For this reason, fall may be a much better time to visit the park. After all, not only do summer crowds subside come September, but Rocky Mountain has some of the most scenic fall hikes in the Colorado Rockies .

As of 2024, the park's timed entry system runs to mid-October, so visitors can skip the annoying timed reservation requirements in Late October and still catch the amazing autumn views of the Rocky Mountains.

Many sections of the park provide perfect backdrops for leaf-peeping tours. For example, the worthwhile Bear Lake Road Corridor provides perhaps the best opportunities for scenic fall views anywhere in the Rocky Mountains.

In addition to the park's wonderful fall scenery, the adjacent town of Estes Park also hosts several fun and memorable events in September and October. The Estes Park Pumpkin and Pilsners Festival and Autumn Gold Festival are two excellent events for enjoying many local craft brews while taking in fun music and entertainment.

The Halloween season brings a particularly fun spooky quality to the town. During October, horror fans can pay a visit to the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, best known as the hotel that inspired the classic Stephen King novel The Shining . Every Halloween, the hotel hosts fun ghost tours, movie screenings, and horror-themed balls for horror fans of all kinds.

3 Grand Teton National Park

The Teton Range of Wyoming is not the highest subsection of the Rocky Mountains, but it may very well be the most picturesque. Few other mountain ranges on Earth rise so prominently and so dramatically from their surrounding landscape like Grand Teton and its surrounding peaks. And today, Grand Teton National Park is a premier destination for experiencing the best mountain views that America has to offer.

Fall is an exceptionally scenic time to visit Grand Teton. The mountains are, of course, gorgeous year-round. But fall brings out the deepest beauty of the surrounding forests in ways that no other season can.

The woodlands surrounding the Teton Range feature mixed coniferous and deciduous forests, and during the autumn the bright gold of the changing leaves mixes with the deep green of the evergreen trees in one of the most striking autumnal displays found anywhere.

Temperatures in the fall usually hit the perfect range for hiking, being neither too hot nor too cold to make things uncomfortable for most visitors. But even if you don't want to leave your car, you can still take advantage of the park's excellent scenic roads for amazing sightseeing drives along the mountain peaks.

Fall is also an excellent time to partake in Grand Teton wildlife viewing. Moose, elk, pronghorn, and even bears all take advantage of the autumn season to fatten up before winter hits, and visitors have a great chance of witnessing one of these majestic creatures in person.

2 Crater Lake National Park

Oregon's Crater Lake is arguably the single most beautiful lake in the country. As such, there is no seasonal backdrop that would not look amazing when framing this spectacular natural wonder. But when you combine Crater Lake's deep beauty with autumn colors, you get a truly special fall destination.

Crater Lake's placid beauty hides a rather violent origin. The "crater" that gives the lake its distinctive shape is a deep caldera formed by a massive volcano known as Mount Mazama, which collapsed thousands of years ago. Over the millennia, melting snow and rain filled the resulting caldera to create the famous lake that sits there today.

Fortunately, the volcano is now considered dormant, so visitors to Crater Lake National Park can enjoy the scenery without worrying about a sudden eruption ruining their trip. But with Crater Lake's best hiking trails providing spectacular views , an ill-timed eruption might not even be enough to distract you from the scenery!

In the autumn months, Crater Lake National Park comes alive with an impressive array of bright colors that blend the highlights of summer, fall, and even winter! Most of the old-growth forests surrounding the lake contain evergreen trees, which retain a rich green color even in the depths of fall.

The deciduous trees that circle the lake highlight radiant gold colors sprinkled across the green forests and the deep blue of the lake waters. And with the park's high elevation in the Cascades, autumn can even bring a dusting of snow that adds a fantastical shade of icy white across the park's scenery.

5 National Parks On The West Coast That Are Prime For A Fall Visit

Find out what makes these national parks on the West Coast even better during the months of September, October, and November.

1 Mount Rainier National Park

No mountain in the United States has a reputation for prominent beauty quite like Washington's Mount Rainier. And when you combine the mountain's snowy peak and surrounding alpine meadows with a scintillating display of fall colors, you get perhaps the single-best autumn scenery in North America.

All year round, the landscape around Mount Rainier National Park is a vibrant array of different colors, ranging from the deep greens of the evergreen trees to the bright shades of the park's wildflower fields, all the way to the enchanting white of the mountain's permanent snow cover.

But the fall season brings out the best in Mount Rainier National Park's colors, with deep shades of red and gold blending perfectly with the dazzling color palette of the Cascade meadows and forests around the mountain.

The park's Sunrise Pass is the highest-elevation area in the park that is accessible by car. As such, it is the perfect stop for visitors who want amazing fall views without straying too far from the comfort of their vehicles. Of course, hikers have an abundance of riches here as well, with every Mount Rainier hiking trail becoming an autumn paradise once fall colors start to hit.

And for many adventurous types, fall is a worthwhile time to attempt the Mount Rainier summit. October through April is considered to be outside the "high-use" timeframe for summit attempts , so mountain climbers who make an attempt at the summit during the autumn months will likely have to deal with fewer crowds at higher altitudes.

Fall weather does provide a notable hazard closer to the summit (though this is true during all other seasons as well). Still, the combination of a harsh climate, remote elevation, and incredible scenery make a fall climb of Mount Rainier a particularly memorable challenge.

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