Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

3 Threatened Destinations to See Before They’re Gone

By

Melting glaciers, stranded polar bears, bleached coral reefs.

It’s hard not to be a staunch pessimist as the earth suffers under the environmental crush of humanity. Many of the world’s most beautiful destinations are disappearing or at least changing (for the worse) right before our eyes. Some may not be around for coming generations. With that in mind, here are three threatened world destinations to see now before they’re gone.

Recommended Videos

See the Polar Bears of Churchill, Manitoba

There’s no symbol more emblematic of earth’s environmental state than the polar bears of Churchill, Manitoba. This tiny “edge of the world” town is like a snowy island amid Canada’s vast northern tundra. Every year, nearly 1,000 bears make their annual migration to the area surrounding the town and Hudson Bay. Natural Habitat Adventures offers week-long, all-inclusive excursions into the tundra which outfit travelers with cold weather gear, accommodations, daily tundra buggy rides, and even professional photography tips. Their unique tundra lodge is a semi-permanent “hotel” comprised of a train of purpose-built tundra buggies converted into sleeping cabins. Visitors have the opportunity to spend several nights here on the tundra in the realm of the polar bears, arctic foxes, and arctic hare.

Related: The 3 Really, Really Cold Places You Need to Travel

Kayak the Great Barrier Reef

Our oceans are the greatest barometer for the earth’s overall health. The current state of the Great Barrier Reef provides a dim outlook for where we’re headed, but — at least for now — it’s among the most beautiful underwater destinations in the world. While many travelers opt to dive the 1,400-mile reef, REI offers five-day kayaking excursions that provide a surface perspective that’s equally fascinating. Travelers spend their mornings paddling some of the reef’s most vibrant stretches of coral. Afternoons provide an opportunity for snorkeling and, by night, camping opportunities are available on stunning, uninhabited tropical islands.

Witness the Ice Melt in Antarctica

Few places on earth are changing faster under the current rate of climate change than Antarctica. The annual geological shifts (melting and refreezing) of the “Lost Continent” become more dramatic each year. But, it’s still one of the last great, truly wild places to visit in the world. Hop a long flight down to Ushuaia — a small Argentinian town that’s become the unofficial gateway to Antarctica. From there, board one of several dozen small cruise ships like those in Lindblad Expeditions‘ fleet. The company offers several unique trips, including an intense 24-day mega-journey that explores South Georgia Island, the Falklands, and, of course, the continent itself. The cruise line is the official provider of National Geographic and there are frequently professional photographers onboard to provide top-notch tips to passengers with an eye toward amateur photography.

Editors’ Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Forget juice cleanses: this retreat mixes mindfulness, mezcal, and margaritas
Enjoy the best of both worlds with this retreat.
FTLO Travel

As we approach 2025, wellness retreats are still one of the hottest trends in travel, but not everyone is ready to commit to a week of detoxes and silent reflection. Enter FTLO Travel’s new Mindfulness and Margaritas Retreat in Oaxaca, Mexico, designed for those who crave the benefits of a wellness retreat without giving up indulgence or adventure.

This five-day trip offers the perfect blend of accessible wellness practices, cultural exploration, local flavors, and just the right amount of fun.
What to expect from the experience

Read more
10 essential tips for first-time flyers (that everyone can benefit from)
Learn what you can do to have a stress-free travel experience
man looking at flight schedule in airport

If you're preparing to take your first flight and want to feel as ready as possible, you've come to the right place. From deciding what to pack to navigating the airport and handling security lines, there's a lot to think about. Flying can be stressful, even for seasoned travelers, and that stress can be magnified if it's your first time. But here’s what I’ve learned: everyone starts somewhere, and flying isn't nearly as intimidating as it may seem once you get the hang of it. Here are some first-time flying tips to help you make it through your first air journey.
10 tips for first-time flyers
1. Give yourself extra time

Airports are busy places with lots of moving parts, and things can feel hectic when you’re not familiar with the process. Arriving early gives you a buffer to handle anything unexpected, like long lines at check-in or finding your way through the terminal.

Read more
This popular Great Smoky Mountains trail will be closed for 18 months — where to hike instead
You won't see this Great Smoky Mountains Favorite for another 18 months. Here's why.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Laurel Falls Trail is a popular destination at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Seeing over 300,000 hikers annually, it's one of the park's most iconic trails. While Gatlinburg was largely spared by Hurricane Helene, Laurel Falls Trail has become unsafe due to loose, broken pavement and other safety hazards. This is largely because the trail hasn't been repaved at all since the trail was made in 1963. The National Park Service is committed to the safety of this trail, so the park has funded a rehabilitation project to give Laurel Falls Trail a well-deserved makeover.

This project will be extensive. The National Park Service reports that they will be making huge upgrades to the trailhead parking area, expanding it by about fifty parking spaces and adding a designated pathway with a guardrail to connect pedestrians to the trailhead. They will also be repaving all of the trails and installing new educational signage along the way to provide wayfinding, bear safety, and Leave No Trace guidance.

Read more