Penny's Window
Where should I go, and when?
It depends what you want to do.
The same place can be perfect in June and a mistake in July. 155 destinations, scored month by month, for each activity separately — including the months worth staying away, and why. Nothing is averaged into a single number for the year, and nothing is recommended because someone is selling it.
155 destinations9 activities93 with measured crowds338 validated pairsr = 0.88 against hand grades
At its best right now
November42 of 155 destinations are in a prime month for at least one activity. These are the ten that score highest — on conditions alone, before you say anything about crowds.
Everest Base Camp & the KhumbuNepal · Asia
hiking99Hawaiʻi, the Big IslandquietHawaii, USA · North America
hiking97San DiegoCalifornia, USA · North America
city & culture95Oʻahu & the North Shore⚠Hawaii, USA · North America
city & culture95Annapurna & PokharaNepal · Asia
hiking95Cape WinelandsSouth Africa · Africa
city & culture94RajasthanIndia · Asia
festivals & events94OaxacaMexico · North America
city & culture94MarrakechMorocco · Africa
city & culture93El Chaltén & Fitz RoyPatagonia, Argentina · South America
hiking93Good now, and quiet now. Conditions of 70 or better, at 40 or less on the destination's own crowd scale.