The Best of Outside
20+ most popular Outside articles, as voted by our community.
A run, hike, ride, or meditation can change everything. Live Bravely! IG: @outsidemagazine Newsletters: http://outsideonline.com/newsletters Cover photo: Mark Fleming
New this Week
These are fresh off the press.
How to Get Reservations at These Popular National Parks in 2023
Eager to visit one of America’s national parks this year? Start planning now. Here’s all the information you need to book hard-to-get reservations.
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The Best U.S. National Parks for Northern Lights Hunting—and Why This Is a Good Year to See…
As the sun transitions to “solar maximum” in the next three years, it is prime time to spot the aurora borealis—even in the lower 48 states. Here’s where, when, and how to catch the show in our…
The Art of Talking to Strangers
Believe it or not, talking to new people won’t kill you
The Cheapest (and Most Expensive) Places to Buy a Home Near a National Park
Buy your own slice of paradise at these surprisingly affordable locations—and drool over the listings far out of reach
Can High-End Tourism Help the Environment?
Forty years ago, Belkin founder Chet Pipkin changed the computer industry by making the cables that made machines work together. Now, with the Desolation Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, he wants to change…
Outside on Climate Crisis
How Bad Will Climate Change Get? Just Look at the U.S.
“As the world warms, the United States warms more,” reads the latest National Climate Assessment
Outside on Dogs
7 Essential Commands Your Dog Should Know—and How to Train Them
Teach these to your dog, and both of you will be safer and happier outdoors
Outside on Fitness
The Case Against Stretching
Scientists are increasingly skeptical of the benefits of flexibility, but the fitness world doesn’t want to hear it
What Artificial Intelligence Says About the Perfect Running Stride
Researchers deploy machine learning to match running styles to the risk of different types of injury
Outside on Marathon
The Marathon World Record Holder the World Forgot
Two weeks after Kathrine Switzer made headlines at Boston in 1967, 13-year-old Maureen Mancuso quietly shattered the women's world record. Few people noticed.
Outside on Outdoors
Why Exercise Is Much More Than the Pursuit of Fitness
Bill Hayes’s new book, ‘Sweat: A History of Exercise,’ offers a personal account of a universal tradition
«This suggests that the two most obvious motivations for exercise today—that is, health and vanity—were already present centuries ago.»
Jim Harris Was Paralyzed. Then He Ate Magic Mushrooms.
After becoming paralyzed from the chest down, the mountain athlete found an unlikely ally in recovery: psychedelics
Outside on Positivity
The Wave of Body Positivity Is Finally Coming to Surfing
Meet the grassroots movement of women fighting to open up surfing to a more diverse range of body types
Outside on Transgender
What It’s Like to Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail as a Transgender Woman
“The world and how it interacts with me changed the day I came out as trans”
Outside on Travel
The Absolute Best Hike in Every State
Alpine scrambles and beach-front strolls; multi-day singletrack adventures and quick urban escapes; soaring trees and rolling sand dunes—every state in the country has something to offer intrepid…
Could One of These Be Our Next National Park?
Our national parks are overcrowded, especially in summer. One solution is to create more of them. Here are the regions that get our votes.
Outside on Wellness
Build Resilience with These Daily Wellness Strategies
Habits and tips to help you get through anything
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How to Be Healthy in a Dopamine-Seeking Culture
Our basic biology can steer us toward bad habits and compulsive behavior. Overcoming these pitfalls requires effort and discipline.
«Once you become aware of the evolutionary mismatch, you start to see it everywhere. Overcoming it is key to being grounded in an increasingly frantic and frenetic world.»
The Mental Health Benefits of Doing Real Things
Activities such as lifting weights, hiking, or even woodworking teach us humility and keep us grounded in reality
«a field called self-determination theory demonstrates that mastery is a core input to mental health, overall well-being, and life satisfaction»
I’ll Cry if I Want To (and You Can, Too)
A good cry can be therapeutic and can even better connect you with others. Let’s stop shaming it.
«A friend once dubbed what happened to me a “sports cry,” and in the years I’ve been using the term since, I’ve found no need to explain it»
How to Plan a Day Hike
If you're just getting started on the trails, don't be overwhelmed. This 101 guide breaks down where to go, what to wear, and everything you need to know to stay safe and have fun out there.
Stomach Issues? Here’s What to Eat When Working Out.
Don’t let an upset stomach ruin a good workout
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