Top North American Bird-Watching Getaways — Plus Our Advice for Enjoying Each Location to the Fullest

Have you heard about the surge in bird-watching? More and more people are embracing this hobby, which studies suggest can enhance happiness. The best part? Unlike many outdoor activities, bird-watching requires minimal gear and fitness levels.

Dedicated bird-watchers often tailor their trips around migration patterns, heading to prime locations like Nebraska’s Platte River Valley or Utah’s Great Salt Lake during the spring. However, if you’re just starting out — or traveling with friends or family who might not recognize a warbler from a woodpecker — these five alternative destinations offer plenty of enjoyment alongside bird-watching opportunities.

Greenough, Montana

Bird-watchers revel in the diverse birdlife of western Montana, renowned for its populations of greater sage grouse, golden eagles, and Bohemian waxwings. The family-friendly Resort at Paws Up and its luxurious, adults-only counterpart, Green O, provide guests with access to trails across 37,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Nearby in Missoula, the 42-acre Greenough Park is another hotspot for bird enthusiasts, featuring informative signage about local species.

What to Show Off

The northern pygmy-owl is a charming yet formidable predator, feasting on songbirds.

More Than Just Birds

Both Paws Up and Green O present a wide range of outdoor activities, such as horseback riding, rappelling, and guided fly-fishing tailored for both seasoned anglers and novices learning to cast.

Little St. Simons Island, Georgia

Accessible only by boat, this private island hosts the Lodge on Little St. Simons Island and is part of the Golden Isles, a crucial coastal conservation region along the Eastern Seaboard. With lively rookeries of wading birds and a beach teeming with plovers, it’s an ideal spot for dedicated bird-watchers, says Nate Ramey, the naturalist manager. “However, others can unwind on our seven miles of beaches, which are only shared with twenty or thirty fellow guests,” as they’re exclusive to visitors.

What to Show Off

The island is abundant with colorful painted buntings and wood storks. “They were once a protected species, but have made a remarkable recovery,” Ramey notes about the long-legged waders. “It’s a true success story of conservation.”

More Than Just Birds

Beyond the beaches, the island features a network of hiking trails, and overnight guests can borrow bicycles and fishing equipment. In July, the island's bloom of hibiscus grandiflorus attracts gardening enthusiasts from across the U.S.

Bristol, Rhode Island

This picturesque bayside village nestled between Newport and Providence is home to fascinating species like the wading willet and the shimmering purple martin, depending on the time of year. The boardwalks at the Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium and the trails at Osamequin Nature Trails & Bird Sanctuary make it easier to spot these birds.

What to Show Off

The saltmarsh sparrow may seem like an ordinary songbird, but this species, which breeds at Jacob’s Point Preserve, faces habitat threats due to rising sea levels.

More Than Just Birds

Bristol’s waterfront Blithewold estate features 33 acres of beautifully maintained gardens surrounding a historic mansion. Nearby in Newport, the famous Cliff Walk offers a glimpse into the Gilded Age; consider staying at The Vanderbilt, Auberge Resorts Collection, where the 33 chic rooms and suites have recently undergone a two-year renovation.

Vancouver Island, BC

Summer is the prime time to explore this lushly forested locale, where the “fall” migration begins as early as July for certain species. Along the island’s tranquil eastern shore, discover the BC Bird Trail stretching from Parksville to Qualicum Beach, where you can commonly spot black oystercatchers, tufted puffins, and bald eagles. On the rugged western coast, between Tofino and Ucluelet, look for soaring albatross while searching for humpback whales, orcas, and other marine wildlife. “May and September are also peak times for migrating seabirds,” notes Mark Maftei, executive director of the Raincoast Education Society. “The nearshore and offshore waters host hundreds of thousands of waterfowl and seabirds moving along the coast during those months,” he adds.

What to Show Off

Weighing no more than four nickels, the spirited western sandpiper undertakes a remarkable migration journey of thousands of miles from Alaska to South America.

More Than Just Birds

The island offers a wide range of outdoor adventures. Milner Gardens & Woodland, located on the eastern coast near the BC Bird Trail, features a “hidden” teahouse and trails winding through its 70 acres of gardens and forest. In Tofino, the oceanfront Wickaninnish Inn is a family-owned Relais & Châteaux property, celebrated for its cozy fireplaces and stunning views from its picture windows.

Lafayette, Louisiana

Located about a two-hour drive west of New Orleans, this city serves as the gateway to Cypress Island Preserve and Rip Van Winkle Gardens, both excellent springtime habitats for bitterns, rails, and grebes. The expansive Atchafalaya National Heritage Area surrounding Lafayette is home to tiny five-inch prothonotary warblers with their vibrant yellow plumage, as well as the majestic five-foot whooping crane, one of North America's rarest birds.

What to Show Off

Sporting pink feathers that call to mind a 1980s bridesmaid gown, the roseate spoonbill is a wading bird known for its distinctive, ladle-like beak.

Beyond the Birds

Welcome to a region celebrated for its crawfish and zydeco, where every meal feels like a celebration. Experience the flavors at Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant, a James Beard Award nominee set in a converted Conoco station in Lafayette, with the tagline "Tastes like good times." For a charming alternative to the usual chain hotels, try Maison Madeleine.

This story was originally published in the July 2023 issue of Dinogo with the title "Bring the Binoculars."