National Geographic | Emerge: Your monthly travel newsletter

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This month's travel inspirations: How expedited travel programs work, inside an unexpected Alaskan paradise, the best travel backpacks, how to watch the April solar eclipse, the best hotels in Vegas, where to see the cherry blossoms.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL CIAGLO, STRINGER/ GETTY IMAGES

PreCheck, Global Entry, CLEAR: We explain U.S. expedited travel programs

There are currently five services that grant quicker passage through U.S. airport security. Four of those services—PreCheck, Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS—are operated by the U.S. government's Trusted Traveler Program. The fifth, called CLEAR Plus, is run by a private company. Here are the pros and cons of each.

5 PROGRAMS, EXPLAINED

•

Is it safe to go there? The U.S. travel advisory system, explained

•

This airline is now weighing passengers—but why?

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTOPHER MILLER

In this amazing one-house town, Alaska's wilderness is at your fingertips

You might not think Whittier—a town with fewer than 300 residents, most of whom live in the same building—would be the gateway to multiple cruise ship docks, a major railhead, dozens of glaciers, and a temperate rainforest. You'd be wrong.

AN UNEXPECTED PARADISE

VISITING ALASKA? Here's everything you need to know before you go +

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH BY BOY_ANUPONG, GETTY IMAGES; PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY AMAZON

Everyone needs a backpack to travel. Here are 8 of the best.

There's no one backpack that will work for everyone, so we picked bags that will meet the needs of most types of travelers, whether you need lots of pockets for water bottles or tripods, theft-deterrent zippers, or a cushioned laptop compartment.

8 OF THE BEST TRAVEL BACKPACKS

HOW TO SLEEP ON A PLANE: Our favorite products, from compression socks to neck pillows +

A TOTAL ECLIPSE IS COMING. HERE'S HOW TO WATCH IT.

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cut a shadowy path across North America—a celestial event that won't happen again in the continental U.S. until 2044. To see the full show, you’ll need to be along the path of totality—which includes parts of Mexico, 15 U.S. states from Texas to Maine, and eastern Canada—but all 48 contiguous states will see at least a partial eclipse.

If you're planning to watch, you must wear protective eclipse glasses that meet ISO safety standards. See our picks below, curated with help from the American Astronomical Society, and check out AAS's tips on how to view the eclipse safely.

By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave NationalGeographic.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, National Geographic will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below.*

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY B&H

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SOLAR ECLIPSE GLASSES‌ ‌ ‌

Celestron EclipSMART Solar Shades Glasses

These no-nonsense, unmagnified paper solar viewing glasses come in a 4-pack and are designed for comfortable use by most people.

BUY NOW AT B&H, $12.95

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY B&H

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SOLAR GLASSES + KIT‌ ‌ ‌

American Paper Optics Solar Snap Eclipse App Kit

Included are two pairs of glasses, two filters for your smartphone camera, and a specially designed app for iOS and Android.

BUY NOW AT B&H, $11.99

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY B&H

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SOLAR BINOCULARS‌ ‌ ‌

Celestron 10x42 EclipSmart Solar Binoculars

Use these binoculars to safely stare at the sun—especially during the period of totality, when the sun is entirely blocked by the moon.

BUY NOW AT B&H, $74.95

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY B&H

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SOLAR PAPER BINOCULARS‌ ‌ ‌

Celestron 2x EclipSmart Solar Observing Binoculars (2-Pack)

Made of heavy-duty cardboard, this budget set of binoculars with 2x magnification will still allow you to get a detailed view of the sun.

BUY NOW AT B&H, $16.95

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY B&H

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SOLAR FILTERS‌ ‌ ‌

DayStar Filters 50mm White-Light Universal Lens Solar Filter (2-Pack)

These filters were made to fit over camera lenses, telescopes, and binoculars (with outside diameters from 50-69mm) for safe solar viewing.

BUY NOW AT B&H, $24.95

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY B&H

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ SOLAR TELESCOPE‌ ‌ ‌

Celestron EclipSmart 50 50mm f/7.2 Alt-Az Solar Telescope with Backpack

This telescope has multiple ISO certifications for direct observation of the sun—and it comes with a tripod and backpack.

BUY NOW AT B&H, $120.10

PAID CONTENT FOR VISIT SCOTLAND

Dunnottar Castle standing tall in the distant backdrop, surrounded by scenic beauty.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ACACIA JOHNSON

Disney's Scottish inspirations

Over the years, Scotland has been dressed in fiction, overlaying its land and cityscapes with movies and fables, with the nation delivering a magical performance every time. In this article you'll discover six captivating places that have inspired Disney movie locations which you may feel enchantingly drawn to—perhaps enough to embark on a magical Scottish adventure of your own.

THE BEST HOTELS IN VEGAS

PHOTOGRAPH BY WESTEND61, GETTY IMAGES

The only place in the world where you can stroll from an Egyptian pyramid to the Statue of Liberty in under 15 minutes, Las Vegas doesn't do things by halves. It should come as no surprise that it's also home to some of the flashiest resorts on the planet. Here are our favorite places to stay.

SPRING TRIP DESTINATIONS

PHOTOGRAPH BY SEAN PAVONE PHOTO, GETTY IMAGES

It's cherry blossom season: Here's when and where to see these delicate pink and white flowers across the U.S.

WHERE TO SEE CHERRY BLOSSOMS

1.

Paella in Valencia, Spain. Dim sum in Hong Kong. These 21 culinary gems are worth a trip.

2.

9 hotels where you can wake up and smell the flowers

3.

The best new Dolly Parton experiences, from moonshine tastings to tour bus sleepovers

4.

From the Yorkshire moors to the Cornish seaside, here are 10 of the best U.K. destinations for spring

5.

Enjoy lobster, lighthouses, and sea breezes on a road trip in nautical Nova Scotia

*Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.

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