Now On Newsstands: Traveler’s July/August Issue

The July/August issue of National Geographic Traveler hits newsstands today. Milan‘s ethereal Duomo graces the cover this month, and the cover story by Tom Mueller sheds new light onto this Italian city, revealing a big, passionate heart. Photos by Dave Yoder capture a soulful side of Italy‘s design capital.

Also in this issue, James Vlahos tackles Yosemite‘s John Muir Trail at night using stars and the moon as his guide. See  those stars streak past Half Dome in the story’s accompanying online photo gallery. In “Last Goodbye in Chiang Mai,” contributing editor, Carl Hoffman journeys to Thailand‘s cultural epicenter for traditional hill tribes, spicy food, and a bittersweet meeting with his father. Gorgeous photos by Palani Mohan detail daily life in Chiang Mai from temples and local markets to a park where elephants roam free.

Our columnists are up to their usual tricks this issue. Real Travel’s Daisann McLane tells how noise can make or break a vacation. Boyd Matson visits America’s favorite national park, not Yellowstone but the National Mall, and discovers it needs help. Costas Christ reports “from the frontier” about a planned road through Serengeti National Park that could threaten the great wildebeest migration (read an update here.) Editor in chief Keith Bellows interviews innovator and National Geographic emerging explorer Ken Banks about the power of mobile technology to change lives in Africa. And finally, Christopher Elliott gives us the inside scoop on why finding airline ticket bargains has gotten so much harder.

Planning your summer vacation just got a whole lot easier with this issue’s Smart Traveler department, which devotes its pages to classic American trips. Take a road trip along the coast of Lake Michigan or explore four U.S. ski resorts packed with fun not snow. Find top tubing spots, the best Fourth of July parades, and a 48 hour guide to Philadelphia. Plus, our Digital Nomad, Andrew Evan,s pays an unexpected visit to Memphis and the house of a dead King.

All this in one issue? Pick one up on newsstands today, subscribe to have Traveler delivered right to your door, or download a digital copy to your iPad. We want to hear what you think. Send your feedback to travel_talk@ngs.org or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.