Author: Larry Bleiberg, Special to USA TODAY

With the increasing popularity of climbing gyms and the addition of climbing to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, interest in rock climbing is booming.

Bird watching has taken flight in 2020, thanks to COVID-19. The activity, which naturally encourages social distancing, has soared in popularity.

From whitewater rafting to folk art, Appalachia offers plenty to keep visitors entertained. Here are 10 spots to try.

Glamping, or camping with posh amenities, is a “smart, safe and appropriate way to travel in a post-COVID world,” say bloggers Mike and Anne Howard.

Interest in national parks is booming, with crowd-wary Americans drawn to wide open spaces and natural beauty. But they’re also great places to learn.

Cutting-edge art isn’t limited to big cities. Creative work can be found across the country in small towns and artist-run spaces.

In a fast-moving world, there’s value in slowing down says Penny Watson, author of “Slow Travel: Reconnecting with the World at Your Own Pace.”

Brick and mortar isn’t dead. Here’s why tourists still flock to Las Vegas’ Forum Shops, Hawaii’s Ala Moana Center and New Jersey’s new American Dream.

From Hawaii’s Ala Moana Center to New York’s Woodbury Common luxury outlet mall, these malls are a tourist destination all on their own. Here’s why.

Not all lakes are created equal. Here’s where the odds are high you’ll catch your first bass.