If 2023 travel was defined by a need to make up for lost time, 2024 is an opportunity to pump the brakes—to look up, turn in, get lost, ride along. This is not the year to feel as though you need a vacation from your vacation; this is the year to return to the vacation as a means of unplugging, of reconnecting with yourself, your community, and, just maybe, acquiring a new hobby. Of course, no one is suggesting that 2024 will serve up tranquility on its own. But zoom in and you’ll find that this year is filled with opportunities to buoy the spirit and marvel at the universe.
So yes, 2024 is indeed an election year, but it’s also an eclipse year; a year in which the northern lights will reveal their splendor farther south than they have in perhaps a decade; a year in which it's never been easier to catch a wave, even 100 miles from the ocean; and a year in which getting a good night’s rest is truly all you need to accomplish on vacation. Each of the 12 stories below offers a look at a pursuit or experience that illustrates this mindset. We hope they act as inspiration for the year to come—the beginnings of your very own 2024 mood board.
— The Editors of Thrillist
For the megastar’s devotees, lovingly known as “Los Conejos,” traveling for the Most Wanted Tour isn’t just about witnessing a historic pop cultural event, it’s about finding community.
Commune with Los Conejos on Bad Bunny's World Tour
08
A new generation of wave pools is turning surfing into a hobby that requires nothing more than the will to take on a wave. And in these pools, the perfect wave is a sure thing.
Drop Into the Perfect Wave, No Ocean Necessary
03
This April, the country’s eclipse connoisseurs will hit the road to find the best vantage point to witness complete darkness in the middle of the day. For them, chasing 100% totality isn’t a one-off, it’s a lifelong quest.
Bask in the Zen of Totality with the Eclipse Chasers
09
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A new generation of urban birding clubs, like Feminist Bird Club and NYC Queer Birders, are not just eager to change the perception of birding—they’re building inclusive communities around it.
Grab Your Binoculars and Your People, It’s Birding Szn
01
After more than 8,000 performances, one of the most enduring Vegas productions offers a dreamworld so serene that it’s known to lull the audience to sleep.
Take a Nap with 2,000 Friends at Cirque du Soleil
12
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Nevada’s Route 50 was once considered a dangerous passage with “no points of interest.” But a group of intrepid cyclists changed the narrative, turning the open highway into a grand tour capable of inspiring something akin to an epiphany.
Zone Out on the Loneliest Road in America
07
As the sun reaches its solar maximum in 2024, the contiguous US will likely see more auroral activity than it has in years. For a small but passionate group of “aurora chasers,” this is their Olympics.
Catch the Northern Lights Without Leaving the Lower 48
06
In an age of expensive wellness retreats and high-tech spa treatments, this humble West Virginia State Park has been mastering the art of self-care since before it was trendy.
Tap Into Centuries of Self-Care at America’s First Spa
11
In 2024, revenge travel is out.
Finding peace, and your new passion, is in.
Project Leads
Talia Baiocchi, Lindsay Schrupp
Editors
Talia Baiocchi, Joe Erbentraut, Meredith Heil,
Sarah Medina, Tony Merevick
Writers
Kelsey Allen, Allie Conti, Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Meredith Heil, Rob Kachelriess, Ben Mesirow,
Dustin Nelson, Vanita Salisbury, Serena Tara
Production
Kelsey Allen, Allie Conti, Pete Dombrosky,
Joe Erbentraut, Meredith Heil, Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Sarah Medina, Ben Mesirow, Vanita Salisbury, Serena Tara
Managing Editor
Tony Merevick
Project Manager
Morgan Fowler
Copy Editor
Leilah Bernstein
Special Thanks
Amanda Kludt, Ellie Krupnick
Editor-in-Chief
Lindsay Schrupp
Art Director
Manali Doshi
Senior Designer
Maitane Romagosa
Photo Editor
Joleen Zubek
Photography
Lanna Apisukh, John Burcham, Harrison Hill,
Emily Najera, Justin Tsucalas, Waco Surf Club
Illustration
Caitlyn Grabenstein
Director of Audience Development
Kisai Ponce
Social Media Manager
Abby Maddigan
SEO Coordinator
Caroline Boden
Social Media Specialist
Jisu Choi
Credits
In Inglewood, a first-of-its-kind pump track has become a new home for LA’s biking community, and a platform for diversifying the world of biking. For those who ride the course, it’s also a form of meditation.
Find Your Flow State at the Pump track
05
In an era where climate change is causing the extinction of species faster than we can even record them, this budding sub-genre of eco-tourism connects travelers and animal habitats with the purpose of protecting them, camera in hand.
Preserve a Piece of the Wild, One Photo at a Time
10
Boosted by a post-pandemic appreciation for its health benefits, a top travel trend in 2024 is sleep. Can a three-day, high-tech retreat designed solely to catch some z's change the way you rest?
Travel from A to Zzz on a Sleep Retreat
02
When you love a sport as notoriously slow-paced as baseball, there’s no better way to express your devotion like embarking on a pilgrimage to see all 30 Major League stadiums. Meet the ballpark chasers, an ambitious group of travelers dedicated to seeking serenity in the grandstands.
Round the Bases on a Bucket List Tour of All 30 MLB Stadiums
04
Project Leads
Talia Baiocchi, Lindsay Schrupp
Editors
Talia Baiocchi, Joe Erbentraut, Meredith Heil, Sarah Medina, Tony Merevick
Writers
Kelsey Allen, Allie Conti, Opheli Garcia Lawler, Meredith Heil, Rob Kachelriess,
Ben Mesirow, Dustin Nelson, Vanita Salisbury, Serena Tara
Production
Kelsey Allen, Allie Conti, Pete Dombrosky, Joe Erbentraut, Meredith Heil,
Opheli Garcia Lawler, Sarah Medina, Ben Mesirow, Vanita Salisbury, Serena Tara
Managing Editor
Tony Merevick
Project Manager
Morgan Fowler
Copy Editor
Leilah Bernstein
Special Thanks
Amanda Kludt, Ellie Krupnick
Editor-in-Chief
Lindsay Schrupp
Art Director
Manali Doshi
Senior Designer
Maitane Romagosa
Photo Editor
Joleen Zubek
Photography
Lanna Apisukh, John Burcham,
Harrison Hill, Emily Najera,
Justin Tsucalas, Waco Surf Club
Illustration
Caitlyn Grabenstein
Director of Audience Development
Kisai Ponce
Social Media Manager
Abby Maddigan
SEO Coordinator
Caroline Boden
Social Media Specialist
Jisu Choi
A new generation of urban birding clubs are not just eager to change the perception of birding—they’re building inclusive communities around it.
Grab Your Binoculars and Your People, It’s Birding Szn
01
When it comes to a good night’s rest, the travel industry is going all in.
Travel from A to Zzz on a Sleep Retreat
02
The recent rise of high-tech surf parks has made the benefits of catching a wave more accessible than ever.
Drop Into the Perfect Wave, No Ocean Necessary
03
The recent rise of high-tech surf parks has made the benefits of catching a wave more accessible than ever.
Drop Into the Perfect Wave, No Ocean Necessary
03
In Inglewood, a first-of-its-kind pump track has become a new home for LA’s biking community.
Find Your Flow State at the Pumptrack
05
As the sun reaches its solar maximum in 2024, the contiguous US—and, more specifically, the Upper Midwest—could be a haven for viewing the northern lights.
Catch the Northern Lights Without Leaving the Lower 48
06
Nevada’s Route 50 was once considered a dangerous passage with “no points of interest” until a group of cyclists rebranded it as a life-altering grand tour.
Zone Out on the Loneliest Road in America
07
If 2023 was the year of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, fans of Bad Bunny—or “Los Conejos”—are willing to go the distance to make 2024 his year.
Commune with Los Conejos on Bad Bunny's World Tour
08
Those who have experienced a total solar eclipse describe the experience as life-altering. For those dedicated to chasing 100% totality, in 2024 there is no distance too great.
Bask in the Zen of Totality with the Eclipse Chasers
09
Meet the ballpark chasers, an ambitious group of travelers who dedicate their summers—and often their lives—to seeking serenity in the grandstands.
Round the Bases on a Bucket List Tour of All 30 MLB Stadiums
04
A small, but growing group of conservation photography tours aims to connect travelers and animal habitats with the purpose of protecting them.
Preserve a Piece of the Wild, One Photo at a Time
10