[Above: Dominica, rated “B.” Photo: Jonathan Tourtellot]
From 2004 to 2010, National Geographic expert panelists weighed environment, cultural factors, built heritage, aesthetics, tourism management, and overall trend for each destination. These grades reflect their consensus, reported on five pages:
- Among the Best: A to B+
- Below: Doing Well: B and B-
- In the Balance: C+ to C
- Slipping: C-
- In Trouble: D+ to F
Download a pdf of all 440 destination grades, listed by country.
THE LIST part 2: DOING WELL
These destinations may have a few problems, but overall stewardship is in relatively good condition.
B
| Country | Destination |
| Japan | Ancient Kyoto |
| U.S.: Hawaii | Kauai, Na Pali Coast |
| U.S.: Hawaii | Molokai |
| Spain | Córdoba |
| Oman | Batinal (Gulf of Oman) Coast |
| Mexico | Guanajuato, Gto. |
| Argentina | Mendoza wine estancias |
| Chile | Chilean Fjords |
| Australia | Kakadu NP ⚑ |
| Ireland | Aran Islands |
| Portugal | Évora |
| Slovenia | as a whole |
| Spain | Alhambra & medieval Granada |
| United Kingdom: England | City of Bath |
| Canada: B.C. | Gulf Islands |
| Canada: Newfoundland | Gros Morne NP |
| U.S.: Vermont | as a whole |
| Mexico | Querétaro city/Sierra Gorda ⚑ |
| France | Lyon historic areas |
| Germany | Bavarian Alps |
| Italy | Siena |
| United Kingdom: England | Yorkshire dales |
| United Kingdom: Scotland | Scottish Highlands |
| Canada: Nova Scotia | South Shore |
| U.S.: Oregon-Washington | Columbia Gorge region |
| Canada: Quebec | Old Quebec City |
| U.S.: South Carolina | Charleston, historic center |
| Dominica | As a whole ⚑ |
| Chile | Torres del Paine |
| Australia | Tasmania |
| Australia | Fraser Island |
| French Polynesia | Bora Bora |
| Czech Republic | Medieval Cesky Krumlov |
| France | Banks of the Seine, Paris |
| Greece | Hydra (Idhra) |
| Italy | Cinque Terre area |
| Portugal | Douro Valley |
| Switzerland | Engadine |
| Switzerland | Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region |
| United Kingdom: Scotland | Edinburgh historic areas |
| United Kingdom: Wales | as a whole |
| U.S.: Massachusetts | Berkshires |
| Argentina | Valdés peninsula |
| Brazil | Paratí, RJ |
| Namibia | Skeleton Coast |
| Australia, NSW | Sydney Harbor |
| U.S.: Hawaii | Hawaii Volcanoes NP |
| Cook Islands | as a whole |
| Belgium | Historic center of Bruges |
| France | Corsica |
| France | Loire Valley |
| France | Historic Avignon |
| France | Brittany |
| Italy | Assisi |
| United Kingdom: England | York |
| U.S.: Oregon | Oregon Coast |
| U.S.: Oregon | Ashland |
| Japan | Fujisan (Mount Fuji) |
| Croatia | Korcula |
| Germany | Upper Middle Rhine Valley |
| U.S.: Georgia | Sea Islands |
| New Zealand | Bay of Islands |
| Germany | Heidelberg |
| Greece | Meteora |
| Norway | Bryggen, Bergen |
| Poland | Krakow |
| Portugal | Southern Atlantic Coast |
| United Kingdom | Isle of Man |
| Turkey | Cappadocia |
| U.S.: New Hampshire | Portsmouth |
| Brazil | Pantanal |
| Malaysia | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah |
| Australia, NSW | Blue Mountains |
| French Polynesia | Moorea |
| Austria | Salzburg historic center |
| Denmark | Central Copenhagen |
| Germany | Munich (München) historic areas |
| Italy | Amalfi Coast |
| Italy | Tuscany |
| Morocco | Essaouira, Atlantic coast |
| U.S.: California | Point Reyes area |
| U.S.: California | Northern coast (Marin to Eureka) |
| U.S.: Maine | Maine coast |
| U.S.: New Mexico | Chaco Culture National Historical Park |
| Canada: Quebec | Montréal historic areas |
| U.S.: Rhode Island | Block Island |
| U.S.: Virginia | Monticello and Charlottesville |
| Bermuda | as a whole |
| Tanzania | Serengeti Plain |
| Australia, NT | Uluru (Ayers Rock) |
| Samoa | Upolu |
| Croatia | Hvar |
| Greece | Delphi |
| Ireland | Ring of Kerry |
| Italy | Sardinia |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam historic center |
| Switzerland | Alpine regions |
| United Kingdom: Channel Islands | Jersey and Guernsey |
| Morocco | Fez historic center |
| U.S.: Alaska | Denali NP & gateway region |
| Canada: Alberta | Jasper N.P. & gateway ⚑ |
| U.S.: California | Mid-coast (Santa Barbara to Monterey) |
| U.S.: Georgia | Savannah |
| U.S.: North Carolina | Asheville |
| Canada: Quebec | Laurentian Highlands |
| U.S.: Wyoming/MT/ID | Greater Yellowstone/Tetons region |
| Bahamas | Eleuthera |
| Brazil | Ilha Grande |
| Chile | Rapa Nui (Easter Island) |
| South Africa | Kruger National Park |
| Antarctica | Antarctic Peninsula |
| Estonia | Medieval Tallinn |
| Germany | Baden Baden |
| Germany | Dresden historic areas |
| Italy | Bologna historic areas |
| United Kingdom: England | Jurassic Coast |
| U.S.: Alaska | Kenai Fjords NP/Seward |
| U.S.: Arizona | Hopi Villages |
| U.S.: Maine | Portland historic downtown |
| U.S.: Massachusetts | Boston historic areas |
| U.S.: New Mexico | Pueblo de Taos, Taos, and Enchanted Circle |
| U.S.: Washington | San Juan Islands |
| Anguilla | as a whole |
| Costa Rica | Caribbean Coast |
| St Kitts-Nevis | Nevis |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | St. John |
B-
These destinations may have a few more problems, but overall stewardship is still better than average.
| Mozambique | N coast: Cabo Delgado/Quirimbas |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion (Fr) ⚑ |
| Palau | as a whole |
| Samoa | all coasts |
| Italy | Lake District |
| Lithuania | Vilnius historic center |
| Israel | Masada |
| U.S.: CO-UT-AZ-NM | Four Corners (Colorado Plateau) |
| U.S.: Kentucky | Old Lexington, horse country |
| U.S.: Maine | Mount Desert Island |
| Canada: Prince Edward Island | as a whole |
| U.S.: Texas | Big Bend region |
| U.S.: Washington | Olympic National Park |
| Mexico | Oaxaca and Monte Albán |
| Puerto Rico | Historic San Juan |
| Brazil | Bahia—Northern coast |
| Phillipines | Palawan |
| Fiji | Yasawa group |
| Croatia | Dubrovnik |
| Italy | Sicily |
| Latvia | Riga |
| United Kingdom: England | England: Cornwall |
| U.S.: California | Redwoods National and State Parks |
| U.S.: California | The Peninsula—San Mateo/Santa Cruz coast |
| U.S.: Utah | Zion region |
| U.S.: Virginia | Wiiliamsburg/York/Jamestown |
| U.S.: Virginia | Alexandria |
| Honduras | Copán |
| St. Vincent | As a whole |
| Tanzania | Pemba |
| Russia | St. Petersburg |
| New Caledonia | as a whole |
| Greece | Crete south coast |
| Poland | Warsaw Stare Mjasto |
| United Kingdom: England | Cotswolds |
| Canada/U.S.: Alta-MT-BC | Waterton-Glacier “Crown of the Continent” region |
| U.S.: Florida | Forgotten Coast (Apalachicola area) |
| Seychelles | As a whole |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | As a whole |
| China | Qin Emperor Mausoleum, Xian |
| Sri Lanka | Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla |
| Spain | Toledo |
| Turkey | Istanbul historic areas |
| U.S.: Arizona | Grand Canyon/Tusayan |
| U.S.: Colorado | Colorado Rockies |
| U.S.: Kentucky | Bluegrass country |
| U.S.: Maryland | Antietam National Battlefield |
| Bahamas | Out Islands |
| British Virgin Islands | as a whole |
| Guatemala | Antigua |
| Mexico | Isla Mujeres, QR |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Tobago |
| Argentina | Patagonian Andes region |
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro beach districts |
| Peru | Machu Picchu |
| Kenya | Lamu |
| Mozambique | Bazaruto Archipelago |
| Indonesia | Ubud |
| Cyprus | Turkish side |
| Greece | Olympia |
| Italy | Florence |
| United Kingdom: England | Canterbury |
| United Kingdom: England | Isle of Wight |
| U.S.: California | Yosemite area |
| U.S.: Massachusetts | Martha’s Vineyard |
| U.S.: Utah | Arches/Canyonlands/Moab |
| U.S.: Washington | North Cascades NP & area |
| Mexico | Colonial Campeche |
| Colombia | Colonial Cartagena |
| Peru | Cuzco Historic Center |
⚑ Recognized in 2014 by the Green Destinations group.
Note—These letter grades interpret some 80% of the numerical survey scores reported by National Geographic (weighted to favor the more recent scores). The Destination Stewardship Center has applied these grades independently, and we take sole responsibility for them. For the original numerical scores and panelist comments, consult the appropriate links to National Geographic. Please also read about methodology.