Robin Catalano

The US is one of only 17 megadiverse countries on the planet, home to vast green spaces, wetlands and forest ecosystems that are protected as National Parks and public lands. In and around them, nearly 3,000 native animal species thrive, including 400-plus types of mammals, 800 species of birds, more than 500 reptiles and amphibians and over 1,100 fish – not to mention 10,000 insects. While opportunities abound for observing the very best nature has to offer, the key is knowing where and when to look – and how to safely enjoy these encounters. Idaho-based wildlife expert Sylvia Medina, author of the Environmental Heroes book series, cautions that you should maintain a distance of at least 25 yards from most wildlife and 100 yards from bears. Don’t feed them, and don’t leave behind any trash they might accidentally ingest. Medina also notes, 'You’re a guest in their home. Keep quiet, and don’t slam doors, shout to get attention, or intrude on their space.' But if you're interested in witnessing these amazing animal phenomena for yourelf, then here are the top places in the US to see the very best that Mother Nature has to offer.

Among the eclectic Gothic, Second Empire, Colonial Revival, and Modernist eye candy that dots the 1,000-acre campus of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, the smoky brick and sleek glass of The Heartwood at Vassar stands out.  Located at the southern edge of the campus, along College and Raymond avenues, the new 50-room boutique hotel was built with vintage-inspired style, an eye-popping original art collection, and a slew of sustainability measures. Inside, the cozy community atmosphere of the hotel and its farm-to-table restaurant, the Salt Line, feel very much a part of the small college that has been nurturing curious minds for 164 years. Why stay at The Heartwood at Vassar? The Heartwood might have a 160-plus-piece alumni-created art collection drawn from Vassar’s acclaimed Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, and a chic midcentury aesthetic of clean lines and saturated hues, but it still feels relaxed and homey. The abundance of natural wood pays homage to the more than 230 species of elms, maples, beeches, hemlocks, and other trees that comprise the campus arboretum, and as Vassar’s first net-zero-emissions building, The Heartwood features state-of-the-art technology for heating, cooking, and air conditioning. Oh, and its second-floor windows have etched patterns that prevent bird collisions. The Heartwood’s restaurant and bar is open daily for dinner and breakfast; the latter is complimentary for hotel guests. The food menu highlights local products in international