Intelligent Travel

About Intelligent Travel

Cultural, Authentic & Sustainable: This is your brain on travel. We showcase the essence of place, what's unique and original, and what locals cherish most about where they live. And we highlight places, practices, and people that are on the front lines of sustainable travel--travel that preserves places' essential uniqueness for future generations.

Our mission is rooted in what the National Geographic Society stands for: inspiring people to care about the planet. Traveler and Intelligent Travel also want you to experience and enjoy the planet. We want to help you journey with greater sensitivity to the impact your trip has on a place and its inhabitants.

Sometimes we celebrate, sometimes we criticize. But we always try to heighten awareness about what's really important about travel: finding great places, experiencing them fully, and leaving them no worse for your visit.

Email: intelligenttravel at ngs dot org

Chinatown in Honolulu

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Beyond the Guidebook on May 24, 2013
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Kuan Yin Temple in Honolulu. (Photograph by Christine Chauvin, Flickr)

An enclave of 19th- and 20th-century facades near downtown Honolulu, Chinatown turned gritty in the 1960s. But the markets, herbalists, and lei shops never lost their bustle, and a new wave of hot spots is bringing in a fashionable crowd.

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on May 22, 2013
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A mountain road from the Omani city of Nizwa to Wadi Bani Awf. (Photograph by Andries3, Flickr)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on May 15, 2013
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Captain Cook named Whakaari "White Mountain" when he encountered it in 1769. (Photograph by Nicolai Niessen, Your Shot)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

Know Before You Go: Paris

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Beyond the Guidebook on May 13, 2013
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The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 to serve as the entrance to the World's Fair. (Photograph by Hasbi Jien, My Shot)

If Paris is a croissant, crafted with immeasurable pride, kneaded by the hands of many, some visitors only get a taste of the flaky exterior. Whether you’re traveling for a long weekend or coming back for more, here’s a quick primer on getting to, from, and around this iconic city with ease.

Holy Mole in Mexico

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Taste of Travel on May 10, 2013
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Chicken slathered with mole sauce. (Photograph by Matt DeTurck, Flickr)

Mole poblano — a complex mixture of chocolate, chilies, nuts, and spices — is among the most revered dishes in Mexican cooking. Here’s where to get the best eats in the dish’s hometown, Puebla, Mexico.

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on May 8, 2013
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Bharat Tea Plantation in Cameron Highland, Malaysia. (Photograph by Jit Shiong Yeoh, Your Shot)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

Coffee Around the World

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Taste of Travel on May 3, 2013
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Arabian coffee beans produce a coffee that is acidic, fruity, and highly fragrant (Photograph by Louise Vansleve, Flickr)

Here’s a drill-down on some of the different coffees that can be found around the world and the characteristics that give them their unique flavor.

Fast Facts About Red Square

Posted by Intelligent Travel on May 2, 2013
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Red Square on a rainy night in Moscow. (Photograph by Erich Geisler, My Shot)

Moscow’s Red Square (Krasnaya Ploshchad) is known for its political symbolism, but was actually named for its loveliness: Krasnaya, or “red,” meant “beautiful” in old Russian. Find out other fun facts about this architectural icon.

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on May 1, 2013
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A street art exhibition in London. (Photograph by Yi Hsien Lee, Your Shot)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

Reader Recs: America’s Best BBQ Joints

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Taste of Travel on April 26, 2013
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A full rack of mouth-watering ribs at Central BBQ in Memphis (Photograph by Ken Fager, Flickr)

A recent post on the best BBQ joints in the U.S. elicited a surprisingly dramatic response. From coast to coast (and beyond), readers wrote in with alternating approval and admonishment. And no one seemed shy when it came to pointing out what should have made the list. Here’s a roundup of recommendations from our ever-enlightening Intelligent Travel community.

Family Time at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Posted by Intelligent Travel on April 26, 2013
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A trail leading to the water at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Photograph by Jimflix!, Flickr)

At first glance, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore looks familiar to kids. The drifting sand, seagulls, and miles of turquoise water all add up to one thing—the ocean. But then, somewhere—maybe on the 7.4-mile Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive or while rolling down the pile of sand called Dune Climb (dubbed “the sacrificial dune” because it’s…

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on April 24, 2013
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Admiring the view at Arches National Park. (Photograph by Wayne Spivak, My Shot)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

Event-o-Rama: 12 Must-Dos in May

Posted by Intelligent Travel on April 23, 2013
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Revelers on parade in Cheung Chau leading up to the main event: the "Bun Scramble." (Photograph by Laszlo Ilyes, Flickr)

There are some amazing events on tap all over the world, all the time. Here’s a taste of what you can see and do in May.

Dear Readers…

Posted by Intelligent Travel on April 18, 2013
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Webby Awards

Intelligent Travel is one of five sites in the running for Best Cultural Blog in this year’s Webby Awards! (For those who don’t know, the Webbys are basically the Internet equivalent of the Oscars.)

While we have no control over which site the judges will pick, we’re going to try our darnedest to win the People’s Voice award. Will you help?

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on April 17, 2013
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Park Güell was designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built during the early 20th century. (Photograph by Kent Wang, Flickr)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

The Comeback: Birmingham

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Beyond the Guidebook on April 16, 2013
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Once a weed-filled lot, Railroad Park opened to the public in September 2010. (Photograph by Terry McCombs, Flickr)

Fifty years after Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote his landmark “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” the once segregated Alabama city is reinventing itself for the new millennium.

Your Guide to Ouzo

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Taste of Travel on April 12, 2013
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In 2006, Greece won the right to label ouzo as an exclusively Greek product. (Photograph by Olivier Londe, Flickr)

Tasting of anise with subtle hints of cardamom and clove, the fiery national tipple of Greece known as ouzo is meant to be sipped siga (slowly) with a bit of food and in the company of friends.

Can You Make the Cut?

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Travel Shots on April 11, 2013
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While on a night dive in the waters off Okinawa Japan this reef squid showed up. The time and air I spent trying to get close to him paid off. (Photograph and caption by Cameron Knudsen)

The 25th annual Traveler Photo Contest is moving full steam ahead, and we’ll be publishing the first round of stand-out submissions in each category — Outdoor Scenes, Sense of Place, Spontaneous Moments, and Travel Portraits — next week.

Enter today for your chance to have your entry featured appear on the National Geographic website in the first batch of galleries.

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on April 10, 2013
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The mineral-rich Champagne Pool in Wai-O-Tapu thermal park near Rotorua. (Photograph by Francesa Onesti, My Shot)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

Follow the Curious Traveler’s Road to Wellness

Posted by Intelligent Travel in The Curious Traveler on April 4, 2013
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Where will the road take our Curious Traveler this time? (Photograph by Jennifer Cortright, My Shot)

Our Curious Traveler, Shannon Switzer, is taking a trip down the Road to Wellness to uncover off-the-beaten-path places and experiences that rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit. The adventure begins this Monday, April 8th. Follow Shannon’s journey on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on April 3, 2013
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A young boy takes a nap on a circular train in Yangon, Myanmar. (Photograph by Branimirm Milovanovic, My Shot)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

Enter + Win: Traveler Photo Contest

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Travel Shots on April 2, 2013
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Last year's grand-prize winner. Can you do better? (Photograph by Cedric Houin)

The National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest just got underway, and we’re off to a great start so far. The magazine will be awarding seriously spectacular prizes this year, so don’t miss your chance to win. Enter today!

Port of Call: Dominica

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Beyond the Guidebook on April 1, 2013
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Roseau is Dominica's capital and largest city. (Photograph by Michael Hebb, Flickr)

This Caribbean island is a delightful throwback to gentler times, a place without megaresorts, nightlife, and mass tourism. Dominica has shifted between British and French occupation for two centuries, but 2013 marks the 35th anniversary of its independence. Here’s a brief primer on how to make the most of your time in port on the “Nature Island.”

The Radar: Travel Lately

Posted by Intelligent Travel on March 27, 2013
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Sensō-ji is the oldest Buddhist temple in Tokyo. (Photograph by Aapo Haapanen, Flickr)

The Radar: The top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories with #NGTRadar. Check back on the blog each Wednesday for our Travel Lately roundup.

Event-o-Rama: 12 Must-Dos in April

Posted by Intelligent Travel in Beyond the Guidebook on March 26, 2013
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On Queen's Day, Amsterdam residents are allowed to sell wares on the street without a permit, transforming the city into a vrijmarkt (free market). (Photograph by Ferry Peys, My Shot)

There are some amazing events on tap all over the world, all the time. Here’s a taste of what you can see and do in April.