Articles

Destination weddings come with the good and the bad. It can sometimes be a real hassle to get everyone down, find all your vendors and plan a party that uniquely fits your needs. But some places were just made for tying the knot. From picturesque landscapes to ceremony-ready staff, you can't beat simplicity when it comes to destination wedding locations.

Here are 10 great places to get married right now.

Our national parks system is a thing of beauty -- from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the peaks of the Smoky Mountains. With 285 million people visiting at least one of the 392 parks in 2009, they are also some of the most popular tourist destinations in America. But the parks are in danger. As Kurt Repanshek, journalist and founder of NationalParksTraveler.com, points out, there are a number of different issues that are contributing to downfall of our most precious spaces.

When was the last time you listened to the true sounds of silence? Not the absence of all noise, but the tune of Mother Nature in her purest commune with the earth? If you think that all sounds a bit hippy dippy, think again. In modern life we are constantly assaulted by unnatural noises and according to Gordon Hempton, who is known as the Sound Tracker for his efforts to record and preserve natural sounds, we are losing the ability to listen to nature.

Defining popularity is tricky business (just ask that high school computer nerd, now a multi-millionaire married to a supermodel). But America's most visited attractions have stood the test of time, ranking in the top ten for the past several years. Some benefit from rubber-tire visit accessibility, others from family-friendly appeal, but all deliver that WOW factor we crave on a vacation.

Since 1972, UNESCO has annually declared World Heritage Sites to identify and preserve humankind's most significant natural, historic and cultural attractions. The 890 designated spots (to date) met rigorous selection criteria assessed by international judging panels, a process even more complex than Olympic bids.