route 66 (© marioschmidtphoto)

The Great American Road Trip is a national rite of passage, says Jamie Jensen, author of Road Trip USA (Avalon, $29.99), a comprehensive guide in its sixth edition.

Kalalau Trail, Kauai, Hawaii, United States

Glass Beach, California, US

Malibu Beach sunset (© tpsdave)

Video with Free Things To Do in Los Angeles 

Kilimanjaro, Tanzânia (© Wolk9)

A few epic places on this Earth deserve a permanent, recurring role on your lifetime to-do list. Then there are overhyped places you should never, ever waste your time on in the first place.

Austin (Texas) nightlife

When you think of American tourism, certain locations come to mind: the bright lights of New York City, the palm trees of Southern California, the nostalgia of Disney World.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyo

Think you know America's essential sights? Compare your past trips with our picks for domestic destinations every citizen should visit -- from pop culture icons to patriotic landmarks. Consider it your star-spangled bucket list.

Mount Fuji - Japan

We could all use a little break sometimes. The hustle and bustle of the 9-to-5 life can be exhausting.

French Rémi Gaillard around the world (video)

Yellowstone National Park, WY, U.S.A.

Every new year brings new opportunities and potent anniversaries, but 2014 seems especially rich in them — especially remembrances of war. Here are 14 ripe destinations for the year ahead — some cities, some countries and one New York borough.

London, the most expensive city

We've all heard the story-worthy dream before -- ditch the small, quaint town for the big, bustling city and live the glamorous life.

Southern California

The coasts get all the glory in the United States, but there's something fun to do in each and every state. Yes, every state. Not a believer? We're going to prove it.

The Oberoi, Mauritius 

Yosemite national park

Yosemite, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Redwood … California's national and state parks are home to some of the most iconic views and landscapes on the planet. Here's how to explore them

1. Death Valley national park
2. Yosemite national park
3. Point Reyes national seashore
4. Joshua Tree national park
5. Lassen Volcanic national park
6. Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks
7. Pinnacles national park
8. Devils Postpile national monument
9. King Range national conservation area
10. Redwood national and state parks

via The Guardian by Mary Caperton Morton

The winner, Barcelona city beach, Spain

1. Barcelona, Spain

2. Cape Town, South Africa

3. Honolulu, Hawaii

4. Nice, France

5. Miami Beach, Florida

6. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

7. Santa Monica, California

8. Sydney, Australia

9. Tel Aviv, Israel

10. Vancouver, British Columbia

via National Geographic