10 Ways You Can Experience Your Favorite Overseas Destinations Without Leaving the U.S.

There’s definitely something to be said for the appeal of skiing down a volcano, especially when that volcano is literally smoking at the top. However, getting to Chile’s Villarrica volcano can be time-intensive, expensive, and rather difficult: you’ll have to skin, or uphill ski, your way to the top, and likely don a gas mask to avoid the noxious volcanic emissions once you’re there. So put the expedition gear away and instead head to Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor. This resort offers family-friendly terrain but for a more adrenaline-filled experience, take the Summit lift to the top and hike upwards another 15 to 20 minutes past Mt. Bachelor’s caldera. Ski the double-diamond chutes down into the Cirque Bowl, and you’ll feel like you’re on the top of the world, with views to match.

In Finland, guests can stay in glass-ceiling igloos under the northern lights. And while we don’t recommend scratching this Scandinavian paradise off your bucket list, you can get a similar Aurora Borealis experience in the northern part of Michigan, where the sky lights up brightest in October and November. Camping is a great lodging option for the summer months and early fall, but a variety of properties in nearby Copper Harbor have log cabin rentals for a charming winter experience. As a bonus, Copper Harbor is also the gateway to Isle Royale, the country’s least-visited national park. If you’ve got the time, combining northern lights viewing with wildlife spotting in the park can make for a fantastic, nature-focused getaway.

Anyone with an Instagram account has seen photos of bikini-clad girls walking down the stairs of their private villas into sparkling azure seas. But if you don’t have the vacation time or funds to start adding #Bali to your photos quite yet, head instead to sunny Florida and book a bungalow at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Each of these luxurious suites includes a smartly furnished living area and over-the-water decks perfect for morning coffee and evening sunset watching. While most guests do spend time in the theme parks, you’d certainly be forgiving for instead spending your days lounging at your private plunge pool.

If you’re an animal lover desperate to see endangered species in the wild, Kenya may be high on your list. But for a U.S.- based safari experience, head to Southern California and visit San Diego’s Zoo Safari Park. This 1,800-acre park, separate from the zoo, offers multiple guided safari tours, including a behind-the-scenes tour and a “roar and snore” overnight safari. Hop on the popular safari tram or view the park from a 30-person helium balloon, nearly 400 feet over the grounds. You won’t find cages here as the animals have free-range within their habitats, so don’t be disappointed if it takes you a few tram rides to see the animal you’re wanting to spot.

Kyoto offers no shortage of peaceful temples and thoughtful gardens, which is perhaps why it hosts nearly 50 million visitors annually. And while you can occasionally find affordable flights from west coast cities, it’s quicker and requires far less advanced planning to instead head to the Byodo-In Temple on Oahu, Hawaii. The temple is a smaller version of a 950-year-old original located in Uji, Japan. Though it’s a Buddhist temple, guests from all faiths and nationalities are invited to visit and meditate on the temple grounds. Admission tickets are quite affordable at $5 for adults or $2 for children.

It’s important to note upfront that no, there are no Incan settlements in Utah’s famous Zion National Park. But if you’re eyeing Peru’s most famous destination for its multi-day treks, national beauty, and warm weather, consider instead Zion National Park. Steep cliffs, bright colors, and winding trails through the show-stopping terrain provide a similar experience to a multi-day hike in Peru, with the photo opportunities to match. While you won’t find ancient buildings, you’ll find giant spire-like rock formations called hoodoos on the park’s eastern trails. Make sure to book your campsites in advance at this popular national park, though there are several campsites outside the park that often will have spaces available for last-minute planners.

Canard a l’orange may taste better when it’s set against the hills of the Loire Valley, but New York has proven that it knows a thing or two when it comes to culinary adventures as well. In fact, NYC is home to the Culinary Institute of America, which runs the extremely well-regarded CIA DISH program at their Hyde Park location. Day classes are available, but for a more comprehensive experience, sign up for one of their four-day boot camp programs, each with a different area of focus—we like the Mediterranean-focused classes, though a decadent four-day pastry class is almost certainly a winning choice as well.

It’s hard to deny the romance of biking from vineyard to vineyard in central Italy, but it’s not the only place you can go from cycling to tasting and back again without missing a beat. With a similar climate to Tuscany, central California’s San Luis Obispo wine country, home to the Pasa Robles region, produces more than 8.5 million cases of wine a year. Depending on where you go you’ll find conditions suited to everything from chardonnays to deep cabernets, with wide roads past vineyards perfect for novice road cyclists.

Inviting blue water, barefoot beach bars, fresh seafood, and amazing snorkeling and diving—those are just a few of the things to love about tropical Key West, which feels a bit more like a Caribbean island that a Florida hot spot. It offers many similar experiences as the exotic Turks and Caicos, but it’s accessed via a gorgeous three-hour drive from Miami rather than a multi-leg international flight. It’s the same feeling of lively island vibes in a totally weekend-able location for east coasters.

If a European river cruise is calling your name, pack your bags—but head west, not east, and book a spot on a northwest package river tour in Washington state. Step aboard a luxury liner and make daily stops at historically significant (and objectively gorgeous) stops that retrace the routes of early explorers. It’s similar to the route followed by pioneers Lewis and Clark, though modern-day vessels offer a touch more luxury than the wooden-hulled boats used by the early 1800’s adventurers.