Cruising Australia offers an unforgettable way to experience unique landscapes, extraordinary wildlife and ports of call that range from cities to remote islands.

With arid plateaus, rugged canyons and desert plains, the Southwest is shaped by sun, stone and scale. At Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, experience the seventh wonder of the world via foot, bike, mule or Jeep. Tours and cultural programming introduce visitors to the geology, history and culture of the tribes that have lived in the canyon for time immemorial. In Tucson, Saguaro National Park surrounds the city in two parts. The east side, Rincon Mountain District, climbs through desert grassland into pine forest, with loop drives and longer trails like Tanque Verde Ridge. The west side, Tucson Mountain District, has short trails like Signal Hill that pass by petroglyphs and stands of saguaro cacti. In New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park starts above scrub-peppered desert and drops deep underground, where caves and ice age rock formations await exploration..

BIG-SKY SCENES AND MOUNTAINS IN THE WEST

In Montana, Glacier National Park stretches to the Canadian border with high-elevation passes and beargrass meadows. Drive Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass, where you can hike across alpine tundra on the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. In Nevada, Great Basin National Park sits in the rain shadow of the Sierra. Tour the marble corridors of Lehman Caves, then head up Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to hike past ancient bristlecone pines and into a glacier-carved basin. In Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park stacks jagged peaks above the Snake River without a foothill in sight. Jenny Lake is a launch point for paddling and hiking. Take the shuttle boat to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, or drive to Oxbow Bend at sunrise to spot moose and great blue herons.

CORAL REEFS AND RAINFORESTS IN THE TERRITORIES

Across the Caribbean and the South Pacific, the U.S. territories hold landscapes unlike anywhere on the mainland. In the Caribbean, Virgin Islands National Park on St. John protects beaches, reefs and inland trails. Bring your gear to Trunk Bay to weave through the underwater snorkel route, past plaques identifying kaleidoscopic coral and fish species. In Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system. Start your day at the visitor center, then follow trails to Mount Britton Tower or Juan Diego Falls to gaze at dense canopy and rushing water. In the South Pacific, the National Park of American Samoa spans parts of three islands – Tutuila, Ofu and Ta‘ū. Trails lead through warm rainforest, past volcanic ridges and down to coral-fringed beaches
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