" This survey—our sixth "places rated" list—isn’t
a popularity contest. It is an assessment of authenticity and stewardship, evaluating the qualities that make a destination
unique and measuring its "integrity of place." Thus the remote islands of the Grenadines can rate notably higher than popular
St. Maarten.
Because evaluating an entire destination involves
such unquantifiables as aesthetics and cultural integrity, we decided the best measure would be informed human judgment. We
therefore assembled a panel of 437 well-traveled experts in a variety of fields—historic preservation, site management,
geography, sustainable tourism, ecology, indigenous cultures, travel writing and photography, and archaeology.
We asked the panelists to evaluate only the places
with which they were familiar, using our customary six criteria, weighted according to importance: environmental and ecological
quality; social and cultural integrity; condition of historic buildings and archaeological sites; aesthetic appeal; quality
of tourism management; and outlook for the future.
Experts began by posting points of view on each
place—anonymously, to ensure objectivity. After reading each others’ remarks—a variation of a research tool
called the Delphi technique—panelists then filed their final scores.
The resulting Stewardship Index rating represents
the average of informed judgments about each place in all its manifestations—as a whole. Like the scores posted by Olympic
judges, our experts’ ratings reflect both measurable factors and intangibles (style, aesthetics, culture). And like
Olympic athletes, each of the destinations rated here has an opportunity to improve."
Destination Scorecard
133 Rated Places-- The List by Score
Note: There are multiple entries
for some scores, thus the number
rating from 84 down to 31
BEST RATED PLACES
85 Fjords Region, Norway
81 Kootenay/Yoho National Parks, British Columbia
80 Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec
80 South Island, New Zealand
79 Ancient Kyoto, Japan
78 Vermont, U.S.
78 Slovenia
78 Kakadu National Park, Australia
78 Medieval Granada and the Alhambra, Spain
77 Bavarian Alps, Germany
77 Columbia Gorge Region, Oregon-Washington, U.S.
77 Yorkshire Dales, England, United Kingdom
77 Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
77 Torres del Paine, Chile
76 Berkshires, Massachusetts, U.S.
76 Douro Valley, Portugal
76 Engadine Region, Switzerland
76 Wales, United Kingdom
75 Bruges Historic Center, Belgium
75 Corsica, France
75 Brittany, France
74 Fujisan (Mount Fuji), Japan
PLACES DOING WELL
73 Cappadocia, Turkey
73 Pantanal, Brazil
72 Central Copenhagen, Denmark
72 Northern Coast, California
72 Coastal Area, Maine, U.S.
72 Tuscany, Italy
72 Salzburg Historic Center, Austria
71 Ring of Kerry, Ireland
71 Eleuthera, Bahamas
71 Uluru (Ayers Rock), Australia
71 Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile
71 Yellowstone/Grand Teton Region, Wyoming-Montana-Idaho, U.S.
71 Amsterdam Historic Center, Netherlands
71 Laurentian Highlands, Quebec, Canada
71 Upolu, Samoa
71 Serengeti Plain, Tanzania
71 Delphi, Greece
71 Santa Barbara to Monterey, California, U.S.
70 Taos and the Enchanted Circle Tour, New Mexico, U.S.
70 Kruger National Park, South Africa
69 Seychelles
69 Lake District, Italy
68 Williamsburg/Yorktown/Jamestown, Virginia, U.S.
68 Cornwall, England, United Kingdom
68 Copán, Honduras
67 Waterton-Glacier "Crown of the Continent" Region, Alberta-Montana-British Columbia
67 New Caledonia
66 Colorado Rockies, Colorado, U.S.
66 Bluegrass Country, Kentucky, U.S.
66 Grand Canyon/Tusayan, Arizona, U.S.
66 Qin Emperor Mausoleum, Xi'an, China
66 Dalmatia's Coastal Isles, Croatia
66 Patagonian Andes Region, Argentina
66 British Virgin Islands
65 Arches/Canyonlands/Moab, Utah, U.S.
65 Yosemite Area, California, U.S.
64 Inside Passage, Alaska-British Columbia
64 Rajasthan, India
64 Hue, Vietnam
64 Vanuatu Edit Text
NORTHEAST MOUNTAIN RANGES
Click on image to enlarge.
PLACES IN THE BALANCE
63 Traverse City & Lakeshore, Michigan, U.S.
63 Sonora Desert Region, Arizona, U.S.
62 The Grenadines, Caribbean
62 Costa Rica
62 Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, U.S.
62 Maui, Hawaii, U.S.
62 Great Barrier Reef, Australia
62 Prague Old Town, Czech Republic
62 Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
61 Grenada
61 Island of Hawaii, U.S.
61 Hill Country, Texas, U.S.
61 Mount Rushmore/Badlands, South Dakota
60 Petra, Jordan
60 Stonehenge, England, United Kingdom
60 Kerala Backwaters, India
59 Bali, Indonesia
59 Port Antonio Area, Jamaica
59 Reef and Islands, Belize
59 Valparaíso, Chile
58 Borobudur, Indonesia
58 Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.
58 Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
58 Lake Titicaca, Bolivia-Peru
57 Azure Coast, Turkey
57 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia
57 Athens Acropolis, Greece
57 Santorini, Greece
57 St. Lucia
55 Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Peru
55 Tikal/Flores, Guatemala
55 French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), France
54 Niagara Falls Area, Ontario-New York
54 Rio de Janeiro Beach Districts, Brazil
54 Chiang Mai, Thailand
53 Masai Mara, Kenya
53 Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
53 Sanibel/Captiva, Florida
APPALACHIAN TRAIL | GA to ME
Click on image to enlarge.
PLACES WITH TROUBLES
52 Lalibela and Rock-Hewn Churches, Ethiopia
52 Northern Coast, Honduras
52 Agra Area (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri), India
51 Long Island Shore (Hamptons to Montauk), New York, U.S.
51 North Coast, Crete, Greece
51 Venice and Lagoon, Italy
50 Tahiti, French Polynesia
50 Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
49 Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina-Tennessee, U.S.
49 Lijiang and Three Parallel Rivers, Yunnan, China
Berkshire County Massachusetts North-Central-South
Click on image to enlarge.
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WHITE 750
THE JACKIE & SHADOW STORY
THE BIG BEAR BALD EAGLE STORY
"JACKIE & SHADOW"
The Big Bear bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, have been nesting in Big Bear Valley since 2013, This is the first time
in three years that they have successfully hatched eaglets. In 2019, they had two chicks; and in 2022, they had one. This
year they had three eaglets, but one of the three eaglets that hatched in early March did not survive a storm. It passed
away on March 13, 2025.
NAMING CONTEST
The "Friends of Big Bear Valley" (FOBBV) are hosting a naming contest for the two surviving eaglets.
The Friends are inviting the public to submit name suggestions until March 28, 2025.
The FOBBV is asking for gender-neutral name suggestions and is accepting donations of $5 for one entry, $10 for three entries,
or $25 for 10 entries. The final names will be chosen by Big Bear Valley elementary school students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th
grades. The winners will be announced on April 1, 2025.
EAGLE CAM
The FOBBV operates a 24/7 live webcam of Jackie and Shadow's nest, which has drawn thousands of viewers worldwide.
The organization relies on donations to maintain the livestream, which is free from advertisements. Donations are appreciated!
The Bald Eagle is a large, powerful bird that has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782. It is a member
of the Accipitridae family and is found near large bodies of water throughout North America. Here are some key facts about
the Bald Eagle:
EAGLE BEHAVIOR & HABITAT
SIZE: 3 feet in length, 6-7 feet in wingspan, and 10-14 pounds in weight.
HABITAT: Found near large bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and coastlines.
DIET: Primarily feeds on fish, but also eats other small animals and carrion.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Listed as a species of Low Concern, but was once endangered due to habitat destruction, hunting, and
pesticide use.
INTERESTING BEHAVIORS
Bald Eagles are known for their impressive eyesight, which allows them to spot fish up to a
mile away. They are also skilled thieves, and have been known to steal food from other birds.
NESTING: Bald Eagles build large nests, called eyries, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and measure 10 feet wide and 6 feet
deep. These nests are often used for many years and may be added to over time.
MATING: Bald Eagles form long-term monogamous relationships, with some pairs staying together for up to 20 years.
BREEDING: Bald Eagles typically breed between March and May, with the female laying 1-4 eggs per clutch.
HUNTING: Bald Eagles are skilled hunters, using their sharp talons and strong wings to swoop down on their prey. They can
also steal food from other birds, such as osprey and hawks.
MIGRATION: While some Bald Eagles are migratory, others are resident birds that stay in their year-round territories.
Some Bald Eagles migrate from Canada and Alaska to the contiguous United States each winter, while others remain in their
year-round territories. Those that migrate typically travel in large groups, often with other species such as osprey and hawks.
HUNTING TECHNIQUES: Bald Eagles are skilled hunters, using a variety of techniques to catch their prey. Some of their methods
include:
DIVING: Bald Eagles will swoop down from high altitudes, using their sharp talons to snatch fish right out of the water.
PERCHING: Bald Eagles will perch above a body of water, scanning for fish and other prey below.
STEALING: Bald Eagles will steal food from other birds, such as osprey and hawks.
PREY: Bald Eagles primarily feed on fish, but will also eat other small animals such as; rabbits, squirrels, mice, and
carrion.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and The Migratory Bird Treaty Act Overview
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) and The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) are two federal laws of the United
States that protect birds, including eagles. Here's a brief overview of each act:
BALD EAGLE CONSERVATION STATUS
The Bald Eagle is no longer considered an endangered species in the United States. In 2007, the federal government removed
the Bald Eagle from its endangered species list, and in 2024, New Jersey removed the Bald Eagle from its endangered species
list, citing a remarkable comeback for the species.
Regardless, the Bald Eagle's status remains of "special concern" in New Jersey, and the species is still protected under The
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has
proposed listing three subspecies of the Bald Eagle as endangered and two species as threatened under The Endangered Species
Act.
It's worth noting that while the Bald Eagle is no longer considered endangered, conservation efforts are still necessary to
protect the species and its habitats. Ongoing monitoring, habitat preservation, and public education are key to ensuring the
species' continued success.
THE PROTECION LAWS: Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA):
was enacted in 1940 to protect Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles
The Law prohibits the taking, possession, sale, purchase, barter, transportation, and exportation of bald and golden eagles,
including their parts, nests, and eggs
The Law allows for certain exceptions, such as: •
Permits for scientific research, education, and conservation
• Permits for Native American tribes for cultural and spiritual purposes • Permits for the use of eagle parts
in traditional crafts and ceremonies
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA):
was enacted in 1918 to implement international treaties with Canada, Mexico, and Japan to protect migratory birds
The Law prohibits the taking, possession, sale, purchase, barter, transportation, and exportation of migratory birds, including
their parts, nests, and eggs
Covers over 800 species of birds, including waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, and game birds
The Law allows for certain exceptions, such as: • Permits for hunting and trapping under specific regulations •
Permits for scientific research, education, and conservation • Permits for the use of bird parts in traditional crafts
and ceremonies
KEY PROVISIONS & PENALTIES
Both acts have similar provisions and penalties for violating the laws. Some key points include:
Penalties: Up to $100,000 in fines and/or up to one year in prison for individuals, and up to $200,000 in fines for organizations
Permits: Required for activities such as hunting, trapping, and possession of bird parts
Reporting: Required for the sale, purchase, and transportation of bird parts
Import and Export: Prohibited without a permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service
Sottile Park Online Worldwide (SPOW) is a virtual cybercast park, offering users the ability to explore various locations
around the world through established web links. The cyber portal is named after Anthony W. Sottile, civic leader & family
man from The Heart of The Berkshires of New England. Virtually located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, SPOW! allows users to
"travel around the world in one day" or "visit the world in 80 seconds." The website provides media links, add-ons, and promotional
tools for users to enhance their knowledge and experience, online.
Copyright 2010 to Present JDS / John David Sottile
