2014 was good to Bestóv—he filled up several passport pages with stamps and traveled across the U.S. in a hot air balloon. Here are Bestóv's top travel picks for 2014.

Best Packing Tip to Save You Hours of Frustration

All you need for this travel hack is a straw, a necklace, and a place to go. — Travel Hack: How to Keep Necklaces from Tangling

Best Family Road Trip Mix

Pharrell, Willie Nelson, and Prince grace our playlist of kid-friendly songs that won’t make parents’ ears bleed or draw groans from the back seat. — A Road-Trip Mixtape that Kids Will Love (And Parents Won't Hate) 

Best Way to Win the Admiration of Your Flight Attendant

We talked to a flight attendant for a major US airline about tips for flying, like where the safest seat is on the plane and what behaviors are most likely to irk the flight crew. — A Flight Attendant Dishes on Flying Etiquette and the Safest Seat on the Plane

Best Excuse to Fly South for Winter

Think the best time to visit our national parks is summer? Think again—here are five national parks that heat up in the cooler months. — The Five Best National Parks to Visit in Winter 

Best Place to Cross an Item Off Your Bucket List

In Tulum, Mexico, ancient Mayan ruins are just a staircase away from a fabulous Caribbean beach. — Swim Next to Ancient Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico 

Best Place to Perfect Your Cannonball

Rain or shine, you don’t have to travel far to splash around in these indoor water parks. — Six Indoor Water Parks to Visit All Year Long

Best Remote Peninsula to Explore

Try the Upper Peninsula for a vacation that includes both rugged wilderness and Victorian time travel. — Travel Tip Sheet: Michigan's Upper Peninsula 

Best Underrated Place to Pitch a Tent

Avoid the Starved Rock crowds in Illinois with this 24-hour itinerary to a quieter canyon. — 24 Hours in Matthiessen State Park