Afar
The 9 Best Historic Hotels in the United States in 2026 and Why Each Is Worth Traveling For
Book a storied stay at one of these winners of the 2026 Historic Hotels of America Annual Awards of Excellence.
AfarAug 24
A Heavy Metal Festival, Nintendos, and Turntables Make Walla Walla America’s Least Pretentious Wine Region
Walking down the hall at the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center in Walla Walla, Washington, I pass a vendor selling skull-shaped pendants and a tattoo artist inking a custom ...
17 things in this story
- Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference CenterHotelHistoric 1928 hotel with renovated rooms and on-site restaurant
- Blood of Gods 2026 Annual MerrymakingFestivalWine and metal festival held every July
- Airport DistrictNeighborhoodIncubator for winemakers with production facilities and tasting spaces
- ItäRestaurantWinery with light and approachable wines
- Time & DirectionBarDowntown tasting room with Star Wars memorabilia
- Sleight of Hand CellarsRestaurantTasting room with turntables and Pearl Jam posters
- Saviah CellarsRestaurantOffers wines from estate vineyards in the Rocks District
- The WallsRestaurantWinery with quirky labels and wines from the Rocks District
- Tranche EstateRestaurantOffers ATV vineyard excursions
- Echolands WineryRestaurantGlass-walled building overlooking vineyards toward Blue Mountains
- Passatempo TavernaRestaurantItalian place with excellent pastas
- Saffron Mediterranean KitchenRestaurantDishes out patatas bravas and Turkish flatbreads
- Brasserie FourRestaurantOffers perfectly executed French classics
- Tavern AncestraleRestaurantWine bar for charcuterie and tinned fish
- the MarcRestaurantOn-site restaurant at Marcus Whitman using local produce
- L’Ecole No. 41RestaurantTasting room located off the lobby of Marcus Whitman
- Barn B&B Walla WallaHotelSeven-suite boutique hotel amid the hills
OutsideApr 1
The 5 Best Waterfalls to Visit During the Spring Snowmelt
Despite the dry winter, spring is when waterfalls are at their most breathtaking. Witness a snowmelt waterfall firsthand in these five locations.
18 things in this story
- Palouse FallsSightPlunges 200 feet into a tight, basalt canyon.
- Palouse Falls State ParkSightOffers 94 acres of recreational area and hiking trails.
- Lyons Ferry State ParkSightNearby park with swimming and picnicking spots.
- Elsewhere
- Shoshone FallsSightTwin Falls, United StatesKnown as the “Niagara of the West,” 212 feet high.
- Shoshone Falls ParkParkTwin Falls, United StatesEntrance fee covers falls, lake, and canyon rim trail.
- Yosemite FallsSightYosemite Valley, United StatesOne of North America's tallest, plunges 2,425 feet.
- Upper Yosemite FallsTrailYosemite Valley, United StatesA two to three hour out-and-back climb for close views.
- Vernal FallsSightYosemite Valley, United StatesA 317-foot waterfall located on the Merced River.
- Nevada FallsSightYosemite Valley, United StatesA 594-foot waterfall located on the Merced River.
- Bridalveil FallsSightYosemite Valley, United StatesHangs from the south side of Yosemite Valley at 620 feet.
- Snoqualmie FallsSightSnoqualmie, United StatesDramatic 268-foot drop near Seattle on the Cascade Range.
- Snoqualmie Falls TrailTrailSnoqualmie, United StatesA 1.5-mile out-and-back with a view of the falls.
- Upper Mesa FallsSightAshton, United StatesOne of the last significantly sized undammed waterfalls.
- Mesa Falls Visitor CenterSightAshton, United StatesOpen daily in summer with trail information available.
- Mesa Falls Nature TrailTrailAshton, United StatesTwo-mile out-and-back to see both upper and lower falls.
- Yosemite National ParkHotelYosemite Valley, United StatesRequires a standard, annual, or America the Beautiful Pass.
- Yosemite Falls webcamPlaceYosemite Valley, United StatesSet up by Yosemite Conservancy for virtual viewing.
- Canyon Rim TrailTrailTwin Falls, United States