Hilton's 2026 Trends Report declared 2026 the year of the "whycation," citing a shift toward beginning with a motivation, not a destination. For many, the goal is well-being, defined not as spa treatments but by experiences that connect, inspire and even challenge. Here's why this kind of travel makes us happier and how to plan your own whycation.

Travel memories make happier families

The point of travel for most families is to make memories. The Skyskanner Travel Trends 2026 report reveals that 57% of adults traveling with family see it as a chance to make memories. Another 33% see it as an opportunity to deepen connections. The response among Hilton survey respondents was even stronger, with 74% saying that travel has strengthened their family ties.

Shared storytelling strengthens family ties. Travel memories are at the heart of these stories, with one study finding that when asked to tell a family story, 78% of respondents told a travel story. Research from Marshall Duke, Ph.D., found that the more family stories a child knows, the stronger their emotional health and happiness.

Alyssa Mairanz, LMHC, CDBT, founder and executive director of Empower Your Mind Therapy, says travel triggers memory creation by disrupting normal routines and placing people in a novel environment. "People as a whole bond over shared experiences and shared emotions," says Mairanz.

For Holland America Line guests, those shared experiences are based on nature and adventure. Forty-one percent of their survey respondents said their most lasting family memories come from outdoor travel. The company has responded by focusing its offerings on nature-based destinations like Iceland and Norway aboard their newest ship, Rotterdam, as well as Alaska.

Preparing to travel also provides opportunities for strengthening relationships. Mairanz often works with parents who seek a balance between supporting their children and giving them the independence and autonomy to prepare for adulthood. She encourages parents to give their children responsibility in the travel planning process, which creates a safe place for testing decision-making and communication.

A majority of families already incorporate this advice. Seventy-three percent of Hilton survey respondents who travel with their children or grandchildren actively encourage them to help plan family vacations.

Sarah Groen, CEO and owner of boutique travel advisory Bell & Bly Travel, also incorporates the family even before the trip begins. She draws on research that shows anticipating travel boosts overall happiness. Her team sprinkles pre-trip activities into the plan to boost anticipation and make the actual trip more meaningful.

A small but growing movement

For Groen, guiding clients to consider the "why" behind a trip is anything but a trend. She asks every client about the deeper reason behind their travels and has been doing so since starting her company in 2019. Groen draws on a master's degree in positive psychology to shape travel experiences that balance happiness, meaning and purpose, and psychological richness.

Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella plans travel around where she can connect with the local food culture. "The trips that mean the most to me happen in small towns, learning traditional recipes that families have cooked for generations. Sharing a kitchen tells you more about a place than any sightseeing ever could," Bucchiotti said.

For award-winning travel journalist Casandra Karpiak, experiencing an activity integrated into the local culture drove one recent travel decision. "I wanted to experience wild swimming in Braemar, Scotland, because it felt like the ultimate version of the practice. Cairngorms National Park has a rawness that heightens everything," said Karpiak.

Is happiness the goal of travel?

In the world of positive psychology, experts consider happiness one of several elements that make a good life. As such, traveling purely for happiness is a worthy goal on its own. That's good news for the 56% of survey respondents who say their top reason for leisure travel is to rest and recharge.

You don't need to feel bad about wanting to lie around a beach resort. "Not all travel needs to have a deep purpose to achieve its goal," says Mairanz. She reassures clients that rest and relaxation have concrete value and allow travelers a necessary reset before returning to their daily routines.

For travelers seeking tools and inspiration to manage stress, not just in the moment, but after they return home, a prescription for travel to Sweden may be just the thing. The country welcomes visitors who want to escape into nature, experience awe among the northern lights or embrace the slow-living coffee culture that researchers argue may have a real impact on both well-being and GDP.

Under the quirky marketing lies a wealth of science backing up the stress reduction, mood and physiological benefits of spending mindful time in nature. Whether you're alone in the mountains or letting tropical waves guide your meditation, thoughtful time doing nothing but relaxing may be literally what the doctor ordered.

Meaningful experiences make fulfilled travelers

Meaningful experiences are those that positively impact others, says Dr. Shigehiro Oishi, Ph.D., and Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago. For cruisers aboard National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions ships, making a difference is part of the cruise. Guests participate in real scientific surveys under the guidance of the Visiting Scientist program. Work includes documenting plant and animal species during shore landings and contributing data to a global database used by scientists and policymakers.

On land, it's hard to find a better match for travelers seeking meaning and purpose than a safari. Maija de Rijk-Uys, managing director of Go2Africa, says her clients often experience a sense of awe, which brings them perspective. "Travel can shift how people feel in ways that are hard to achieve in everyday life, particularly when it slows them down and places them in nature, away from constant noise and distraction," says Rijk-Uys.

Go2Africa's parent company, NawiriGroup, turns awe into awareness by educating visitors about the importance of community land and the fragility of the ecosystem. Nawiri believes when people create a connection with a place, they are more likely to recognize impact and sustainability as essential considerations in how they choose to travel.

Nawiri invests a portion of its revenue back into its local communities, going above and beyond the required park fees. Its investments fund programs like community-led conservancies in Kenya and Wildlife Management Areas in Tanzania, primary school through vocational training and regenerative agriculture. They also invest in initiatives that lower the cost of living with wildlife, such as predator protection, crop protection and better grazing systems.

Psychologically rich travel is full of surprises

Travel pushes us outside of our routines, which not only drives memory creation but also increases psychological richness, another factor in well-being. Oishi defines psychological richness as a life with diverse, unusual and interesting experiences. Unsurprisingly, Groen, the travel advisor, finds her clients score much higher on this marker than the average American.

Luckily, travelers don't have to try very hard to achieve psychological richness in travel. Being aware of differences between your home environment and your travel destination can be enough to bust through stereotypes and trigger a shift in perspective. Leave yourself time for unstructured exploration, which gives you the space to be surprised, a key element in psychologically rich travel.

The impact for 2026

Travelers will make destination and activity decisions based on emotional motivations in 2026. They seek to avoid overtourism and increasingly plan trips based on niche interests and well-being goals. Family travel remains oriented toward connection. Travel advisors lead the way with itineraries that balance pleasure, meaning and challenge.

How to plan your own intentional travel

If you're looking to plan your own whycation, start with what you want to feel as a result of your vacation. You have limited time off work and school; get clear on why you want to use that time to travel. Choose your location and activities to strike a balance between happiness, meaning and psychological richness.

If you have kids, involve them in the planning. Bring along conversation starters to encourage meaningful discussions at meals, or give them a journal as a travel gift to document their impressions. After you return home, make it a point to relive travel memories through storytelling.

Why, not where

Travel planning has never been easier, with AI tools, social media inspiration and more flights to more places than ever before. A growing number of trip planners, however, start with why, not where. By balancing happiness, meaning and psychological richness, you can create a trip that leaves you feeling both good and well.

Ashley Wali is a Seattle-based travel journalist and owner of Wanderlux, writing about luxury family travel, sports tourism and wellness travel. Her work has appeared in The Seattle Times, Boston Herald, The Philadelphia Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, and many more. Recent assignments have had her slurping oysters on Cape Cod and cruising the fjords of Norway.

The legacy of the Milan Cortina Winter Games is both physical, in new facilities and infrastructure, and intangible, burnishing Milan’s global image. It's the second major event to leave a lasting mark on the city, after the Expo 2015 world’s fair brought new investment, tourists and talent.

“Milan is more and more creating a distinctive brand able to attract an international audience,’’ said Dino Ruta, who is heading up a Bocconi University study on the Olympics' economic impact for the International Olympic Committee, expected later this year.

Tangible impact

The physical legacy of the Milan Cortina Olympics is relatively slight, by design. The Games were spread out over seven city, valley and mountain venues hundreds of kilometers apart to leverage existing facilities, saving on new construction.

Milan inherits the brand new Santgiulia arena, which hosted Olympic hockey and will be used for concerts, exhibition and sporting events, while the athletes’ Olympic Village will be turned into housing for 1,700 students, badly needed in a city with 10 universities and an affordable housing crisis.

Preliminary data gathered for the Bocconi study shows that about 4 billion euros ($4.7 billion) were invested in the Games, including for new and upgraded sports facilities, transportation investments on roads, metro accessibility, railways and ski lifts, energy costs and the administration of the Games, Ruta said.

In Milan, the Games cost 735 million euros ($867 million) to host 90 indoor ice events and the opening ceremony at San Siro, while visitors were on course to spend around 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion), according to a Feb. 16 report by the Assolombarda business association. The Olympics are forecast to boost 2026 economic growth in Milan by 0.6 percentage points to 1.7%, accelerating industrial output in the entire region, the association said during the Games.

Two-decade transformation

Milan’s transformation from a provincial city known primarily as an industrial and business center began in the early 2000s, when a wave of redevelopment projects started reshaping its skyline.

The CityLife district emerged around three skyscrapers designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Daniel Libeskind and Arata Isozaki, while the Porta Nuova development introduced the flagship UniCredit Tower, the city’s tallest building at 218 meters (715 feet), completed in 2012.

Much of this building boom coincided with Expo 2015, which drew 22 million visitors over six months and repositioned Milan as an international tourist destination. Tourism has grown steadily since, rising 6.5% to 9.6 million visitors in 2025, from just over 9 million a year earlier.

“Expo was not an isolated success,” said Fiorenza Lipparini, director general of Milano & Partners – YesMilano, the city’s promotion agency. “It marked a systematic shift.”

Beyond tourism, Expo triggered a 3 billion-euro investment to transform the former Expo site into MIND, a science and technology hub. Since then, the number of five-star hotels has tripled. Milan has added two subway lines and opened a dozen new museums, including Fondazione Prada, MUDEC and Pirelli HangarBicocca.

Yet the city’s rapid ascent has also fueled criticism. Housing activists argue that big events and luxury developments catering to wealthy tenants have driven up real estate prices, leaving many workers priced out. They call for policies to fill vacant public housing, create more subsized housing and incentivize private owners to make available 80,000 uninhabited residences.

“The model of development brought by big events like Expo 2015 and then the Olympics brings private interests that don’t trickle down to the people,” said Angelo Junior Avelli of the Social Forum dell’Abitare.

Post-Olympics

The Olympic Village has speeded up redevelopment in the southern Porta Romana railyard, next to one of Milan’s largest former industrial sites.

The 20-hectare (49-acre) project will deliver 100,000 square meters (more than 1 million square feet) of housing — about half social housing under city rules adopted in 2019 — along with parks and public space covering roughly half the site. After the Games, the athletes’ village will be converted into student housing.

The area sits across from Fondazione Prada, one of the first projects to catalyze the regeneration of the former industrial Symbiosis district, emerging as a fashion hub with headquarters for Bottega Veneta and Moncler. A new headquarters for Diesel-owner OTB is also under construction nearby.

“Major events can open the interest of the world to the city," said Luca Mangia, general manager of COIMA, the developer behind the Porta Romana and Porta Nuova projects. "We saw that with Expo 2015 and we hope it will happen again with the Olympic Games.”

“In this case, the Games allowed us to accelerate construction of the Olympic Village and move forward more quickly with regeneration of the area," Mangia said.

Sporting legacy

Italy's record 30 medals is also expected to reignite interest in winter sports, the way Jannik Sinner's success on the court has promoted tennis, Ruta said. In addition, Olympic organizers are working with companies to encourage employees to get 30 minutes of physical activity each day, a carryover of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Athletes inspire everybody to be an everyday athlete,’’ said Ruta, with an economic impact translating to such things as ski tickets, equipment sales and hotels.

Already, Milan’s convention operator, which hosted two temporary skating venues, has announced that it would maintain a temporary ice rink while it studies a project to add a new permanent rink.

“The Olympics have reignited the enthusiasm and the passion for ice and all of its sports, an energy that we don’t want to lose,’’ Giovanni Bozzetti, president of the Foundation Fiera Milano, said in a social media post.

What makes Austin's scene so shockingly fabulous? It's not a single "gayborhood"cordoned off like in bigger coastal cities; instead, queerness is woven throughout the fabric of downtown, East Austin, and beyond. Gay-owned businesses dot the landscape, from coffee shops slinging oat milk lattes to tattoo parlors inking pride designs. Nightclubs like Cheer Up Charlies host thumping dance nights where transgender people, nonbinary folks, and everyone in between mix effortlessly with locals. This integration means you can feel safe holding hands on Sixth Street or catching a show at the Continental Club without trekking to a designated zone.

Behind Austin's queer emergence are trailblazing locals and organizations turning heads. Take the Austin Gay Men's Chorus, a staple since the 1980s, now drawing diverse voices including gay men, lesbian women, and bisexual performers for sold-out shows that blend show tunes with Texas twang. Community leaders like those at Out Youth , a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ youth, host mixers and workshops that spill into city-wide events, fostering a generational vibe. Gay real estate agents highlight how queer couples are snapping up homes in areas like East Austin, where median prices hover around $525, 000—affordable compared to coastal meccas—fueling a boom in rainbow-renovated bungalows.

Tech transplants play a huge role too. Austin's booming scene—think Dell, Apple campuses, and startups—brings progressive professionals who demand inclusive spaces. Queer entrepreneurs like those behind Extragrams! and Hotel Vegas , a venue for indie queer bands, are creating hubs that feel both gritty and glamorous. Events throughout the year amplify this: Austin Pride in August draws thousands with parades down Colorado Street, while smaller gems like Pride In Local Beer showcase LGBTQ+ brewers. Transgender DJs spin at Neon Rainbows nightclub , where the crowd cheers inclusivity louder than the bass drops. It's this grassroots hustle—person-first, community-driven—that gives Austin its unexpected sparkle, proving queer joy doesn't need a blueprint; it just needs bold hearts.

Travelers rave about Austin's "calm gay"energy—visible yet not performative. Rainbow crosswalks at the intersection of 4th and Colorado streets nod to strong local ordinances protecting against discrimination in housing and employment, even as state laws lag. For bisexual travelers, spots like the bisexual-friendly Rain On 4th bar offer mixed crowds without silos. Lesbian women flock to Esther's Follies for campy revues, while nonbinary adventurers hike Barton Springs in gender-neutral bliss. The city's progressive bubble bursts stereotypes: you're as likely to spot a queer couple two-stepping at Broken Spoke honky-tonk as sipping margs at queer pop-up patios.

Foodies find queer sparkle in tacos at Veracruz All Natural or vegan delights at Bouldin Creek Cafe, both in walkable queer-friendly hoods. Nature lovers paddle Lady Bird Lake at sunset, where paddleboard yoga classes welcome all genders. Nightlife peaks at Rainey Street's bungalows-turned-bars, like the queer-popular Neon Grotto, buzzing till dawn. What surprises most? Affordability—hotels like the queer-approved Hotel San Jose average under $350-550/night, cheaper than Portland or Denver peers.

For couples, romantic stays at the Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt offer skyline views and queer concierge tips. Singles hit Highland Lounge for flirty mixers. Retirees eye Palm Springs alternatives but find Austin's vibe younger, funkier. Globally, Austin's rise mirrors shifts in red states, showing queer communities can flourish amid contrasts—much like its BBQ joints serving vegan jackfruit. This isn't hype; it's happening, with visitors posting #QueerAustin from airport gates.

Pack your glitter boots—Austin awaits, proving the queerest surprises hide in plain sight.

A crane placed the upper arm of a cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, the church's soaring central piece, which now stands 172.5 meters (566 feet) above the city, the church said.

With Friday's addition, the Sagrada Familia inched closer to being done. The unfinished monument became the world’s tallest church last year after another part of its central tower was lifted into place.

The first stone of the Sagrada Familia was placed in 1882, but Gaudí never expected it to be completed in his lifetime. Only one of its multiple towers was finished when he died at the age of 73 in 1926, after being hit by a tram.

In recent decades, work has sped up as the basilica became a major international tourist attraction, with people enthralled by Gaudí’s radical aesthetic that combines Catholic symbolism and organic forms.

The inside of the Tower of Jesus Christ is still being worked on. Its exterior is flanked by construction cranes and scaffolding.

Still, topping the central tower, which soars above the transept, has been a priority ahead of celebrations this June that will mark the centenary of Gaudí’s death. The scaffolding surrounding the central tower is expected to be removed by then, in time for the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the church said.

As Gaudí had planned, the cross has four arms so its shape can be recognized from any direction, said Sagrada Familia's rector, the Rev. Josep Turull. If Barcelona’s city government will allow it, the original plan also includes a light beam shining from each of the cross’s arms, symbolizing the church’s role as a spiritual lighthouse, he added.

Millions of tourists visit the Sagrada Familia every year, and entrance fees largely fund the ongoing construction.

This year, the Sagrada Familia will hold several events to celebrate the Catalan Modernist's legacy, which includes other stunning buildings in Barcelona and elsewhere in Spain.

The Sagrada Familia became the world's largest church last October, when it rose above the spire of Germany’s Ulmer Münster, a Gothic Lutheran church built over more than 500 years, starting in 1377. That church tops out at 161.53 meters (530 feet).

At Sagrada Familia, a prayer verse is included at the base of the cross installed Friday afternoon, said church rector Turull.

It reads: “You alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High.”

The week-long celebration spans multiple venues in Miami Beach and nearby areas, offering over 20 events centered on music, dancing, and inclusive festivities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer people, and their allies. Key highlights kick off on Friday, February 27, with RESIST at MAD Live in Wynwood from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., featuring DJs Abel and Morabito spinning techno, tech house, and underground electronic music.

Saturday, February 28, brings two marquee parties. The Pool Party returns to the National Hotel Miami Beach from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. , hosted at the venue's 205-foot infinity pool for the first time since 2019, with DJ GSP delivering uplifting anthems amid palm trees and ocean views. That evening, Service Station transforms M2 Nightclub from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., powered by DJs Joshua Ruiz and Karsten Sollors.

The festival's flagship event, the Beach Party, takes place Sunday, March 1 , from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 10th Street Beach in South Beach. DJ Joey with the Mustache opens with uplifting melodies, followed by Toy Armada and Jace M, creating an inclusive space celebrating queerness and diversity with state-of-the-art production and oceanfront views. Ticket options include general admission at $125, VIP starting at $220 for priority entry and open bar on a private platform, Cabana Club at $300, and beach cabanas at $6,000 for two with upgrades for eight guests.

The nightlife continues Sunday night with Masterbeat Odyssey at M2 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., featuring DJs Brady Prince and Sagi Kariv amid mythical themes. Monday includes The Red Eye Afterhours at Studio 60 from 6 a.m. to noon with DJ Oscar Velazquez, and the Finale at Palenque Nightclub featuring Nina Flowers, Kam, and Juanse. Additional events like SWEAT in Wilton Manors on March 1 expand the footprint.

The DJ lineup boasts international talent including Abel, Brady Prince, GSP, Jace M, Joey with the Mustache, Joshua Ruiz, Karsten Sollors, Morabito, Oscar Velazquez, Sagi Kariv, and Toy Armada, with more announcements expected. Pass options provide value: VIP Passes for priority access and Beach Party open bar; Festival Passes for all events; Weekend Passes covering major parties.

The National Hotel Miami Beach serves as the official host hotel, offering exclusive rates starting at $350 with reduced fees, though rooms are sold out; attendees can contact housing concierge Delmay and Partners for alternatives. Historically attracting around 10,000 participants from the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and Australia, the festival underscores Miami Beach's role as a premier destination for LGBTQ+ travelers during winter. Funds support the National LGBTQ Task Force's year-round work advancing transgender people, queer individuals, and the broader community's rights and visibility.

From our Victorian funny uncle to the artist formerly known as Stefani Germanotta, wise queers and their allies have long spoken the naked truth: Baby, we were born that way. 

Too frequently, today’s world encourages us to hide away our truest selves and feel uneasy in our own skin. But it’s essential to regularly remove our armor and reboot our spirits.

There’s no place better to strip away the daily grind, let the sunshine in, and experience a cheerful sense of rebirth than the clothing optional men’s resorts of Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels.

Located at 51 Christopher Street in New York City’s Greenwich Village, the Visitor Center occupies part of the original Stonewall Bar. Much of the original interior of the Stonewall Bar had been lost. However, one architectural detail, the Archway was able to be preserved. Privately operated by co‑founders Ann Marie Gothard and Diana Rodriguez, the Visitor Center is the result of six years of dedication to returning this historic site to the LGBTQ+ community. For Diana, the project is especially meaningful.

She comes from four generations of military service members, including her Uncle Tony, a Vietnam veteran who returned home seriously ill but continued serving others as an administrator at the Veterans Administration (VA) in New York City. When he passed away at just 47, his family learned he had died of AIDS. No colleagues from his military unit or the VA attended his funeral. Today, the flag laid on his coffin, along with his medals and dog tags, are displayed inside the center. The tribute honors him—and countless members of a generation lost to HIV/AIDS whose stories often went unrecognized.

Inside the 2,100‑square‑foot space, 57 years of queer history have been carefully curated into a series of immersive exhibits. The Stories of Stonewall grounds visitors in the evolution of the building, the neighborhood, and the uprising that reshaped LGBTQ+ activism. The exhibit also honors Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two revolutionary figures in trans history whose courage and advocacy helped drive the movement forward.

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, marks the climax and end of the weekslong Carnival season and a final chance for indulgence, feasting and revelry before the Christian Lent period of sacrifice and reflection. The joyous goodbye to Carnival always falls the day before Ash Wednesday.

Among the final parades in Louisiana’s most populous city, which is world-famous for its Mardi Gras bash, is one hosted by the Zulu Social Aide & Pleasure Club.

Marchers and float riders in the Zulu parade wear African-inspired garb and toss “throws” — trinkets that include plastic beads, candy, doubloons, stuffed animals, cups and toys. This parade's signature “throw” is hand-decorated coconuts, coveted items that many revelers hope for.

Later in the day Rex, the King of Carnival parade will roll along St. Charles Avenue, lined by paradegoers and stately oak trees covered in Spanish moss and beads.

Carnival events are popular for their spectacular and enormous floats, and also the intricately crafted outfits worn, such as Black masking Indians, whose beaded and bejeweled costumes are topped with feathered headdresses, or paradegoers walking the French Quarter in homemade costumes that capture the unique spirit of the Big Easy.

The good times will roll not just in New Orleans but all across the state, from exclusive balls to the Cajun French tradition of the Courir de Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday Run — a rural event in Central Louisiana featuring costumed participants performing, begging for ingredients and chasing after live chickens to be cooked in a communal gumbo.

Parades are also held in other Gulf Coast cities such as Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, and there are other world-renowned celebrations in Brazil and Europe.