100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Adventures After Dark

by Stephanie Vermillion

In this one-of-a-kind illustrated collection, discover 100 after-dark adventures around the world, from kayaking Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent bay to performing Mas in Caribbean Carnivals to chasing the aurora borealis in Canada’s northern provinces.

Let National Geographic be your guide to the world after dark. In this beautifully illustrated volume you will discover all there is to see and do after the sun goes down. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing night sleeping under the stars or a high-energy party full of costumes and live music, there is something for everyone in this nocturnal collection. Spanning more than 30 countries, this book offers adventures big and small including:
- Snorkeling at night with manta rays off the coast of Kona, Hawaii
-Celebrating a New Year during Chiang Mai, Thailand’s Lantern Festival
- Foraging at night for glowing mushrooms in Australia
- Tubing under a “starry sky” of glow worms in New Zealand
- Wildlife spotting on a night safari in Tanzania
- Hiking by moonlight in Arches National Park
- Skiing under the lights in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
- Chasing the aurora borealis in Yellowknife, Canada
- Watching beloved Hollywood films at the Celebrity Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California
- Listening to the singing trees in Singapore
- Learning celestial navigation from Polynesian wayfinders
- Bringing Christmas cheer through a night of revelry during Germany’s Krampus festival
- Sleeping under the stars in the Sahara Desert
- Ringing in the New Year in New York City’s Times Square
- Participating in a centuries-old celebration, China’s Moon Festival
- Paddling out into Puerto Rico’s mangroves and bioluminescent bay
And so much more!
Get ready to stay up late: this travel guide will delight wanderers, armchair travelers, and night owls alike and is a must-have collection for your coffee table.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Photography, Nature, Adventure

400 pages, Hardcover

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

Stephanie Vermillion is the author of National Geographic's "100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Adventures After Dark," and a contributor to Outside Magazine, Vogue, Travel & Leisure, and Business Traveler Magazine. She writes and photographs stories about astrotourism and aurora hunting, adventure travel, conservation, and culture.

Reviews

[Moira Thuney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning pictures with extraordinary writing. Stephanie’s stories are inspiring and will make you book your next adventure! She goes to a variety of locations across the world - including places I have never even heard of. I love this book and will pick it up whenever I have time to sit down. My children love looking through the it too, and it makes them curious about the world around them! A must have IMO!

[Amanda Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars – A Must-Have for Every Travel Enthusiast

“100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Adventures After Dark” by Stephanie Vermillion is an absolute gem for anyone who loves to travel or dreams of exploring the world. This beautifully written book takes you on an enchanting journey across the globe, showcasing the wonders of nighttime adventures.

What I love most is how it balances inspiration with practicality. Not only does it highlight breathtaking experiences—from stargazing in remote deserts to cultural festivals in vibrant cities—but it also provides invaluable details like trip budgets, the best times to visit, activity levels, and even the type of adventures each destination offers. It’s like having a personal travel planner and a captivating storyteller rolled into one.

This book is a perfect gift for the wanderluster in your life or anyone looking to add unique, bucket-list experiences to their travel plans. It’s a guide, a dream journal, and a celebration of the world’s beauty after dark. Highly recommend!

[Terrence Ou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolutely thrilling book that will ignite your passion for nocturnal exploration and adventure! Written by an incredibly enthusiastic travel writer, this stunning book is packed with page after page of breathtaking nighttime photography that will make your jaw drop in awe. But it's not just a pretty picture book - the writing is equally captivating, painting vivid scenes of electrifying after-hours experiences in the world's most exciting destinations. From partying until sunrise at the hottest nightclubs to trekking through moonlit jungles teeming with wildlife, this book covers the gamut of unforgettable adventures you can have once the sun goes down. It's a must-read for any travel addict or thrill-seeker looking to pack their nights full of once-in-a-lifetime memories. I can't recommend 100 Nights of a Lifetime highly enough - it will inspire you to stay up late and see the world in a whole new light!

[Patrick G Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. Both the photos and text are outstanding. It makes we want to experience all 100 adventures on all the continents even if I can only realistically manage a few. The text provides interesting context and history for each adventure. Its suggestions on when to go, cost, and activity level are helpful. I got through Africa and Asia the first night I got it and couldn't wait to finish breakfast to start my trek through Europe.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is obviously a labor of love by the author. It's a great and informative guide that paints details of the adventures so well that you can imagine you're there yourself. More than being informative and helpful for planning, though, each "night" is written beautifully with extreme wit and each sentence more captivating than the last. If the writing didn't already place you right in each location, the accompanying pictures are stunning, too. Could not recommend more

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cool book that highlights a wide array of locations and experiences. It’s not only a beautiful piece with awesome pictures for each location, it’s a really handy and approachable guide to each spot. I’ve always had a passion for travel and I think this book is going to be the perfect jumping off point to start introducing my kids to the wider world around us.

[Ellen Diefenderfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book! Perfectly concise yet detailed descriptions of some of the world’s most gorgeous locations. I love how it highlights some lesser known destinations and gives a breakdown on budget and activity level. Great for people of all ages as well. The beautiful photos hold even my toddler’s attention!

[Liz Coloutes · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely stunning book! Stephanie is such a brilliant writer and this book is a beautiful reflection of her talent and heart. The way the book is organized is just perfect! I love how each destination is laid out with details on budget, type of experience and activity level making it so easy to find the perfect adventure for anyone. It is impossible to put down!

[Stephanie Anter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Beautiful. Perfection. Stephanie Vermillion knocked it out of the park!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an advanced copy of this book, and it is gorgeous! The photos are stunning. It shows a wide variety of photos from all around the world. They're all taken at night. Some are of wildlife, some are more scenic, others are of people living their lives... and so much more. I love the pictures showing different cultures and faraway places. It just made me add more places I want to see to my bucket list. It's hard to describe these photos properly. Some of them show such star-filled skies, the likes of which I've never experienced. They almost felt fake, but I'm sure it's because I've always lived in the cities and suburbs. It's nice to be able to see such majestic photos off of a screen. These days with A.I., I hardly trust these beautiful travel photos I see on social media. I trust National Geographic, and they're associated with this book. Anyway, this is a gorgeous hardcover (no dust jacket) book. Perfect for a coffee table or for your bookshelf. This is a gorgeous gift for anyone interested in photography, travel, or honestly just beauty.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly remarkable as there is no other book even close to 100 Nights of a Lifetime! The author is trailblazing an entirely new way to experience the world and her book has nothing but exceptional content and imagery! My wife and I are already planning trips we never would have known existed until getting ahold of this this amazing book! Five stars isn’t a high enough rating - all of the stars in the sky is more appropriate!

[Tricia Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book is so creative, informative, and inspiring! Stephanie has such a way with words and can really paint a picture so you feel like you’re actually there. So many more places to add to the bucket list! I’m an avid traveler so this book speaks to my soul. 10/10 recommend anddddd it’s a beautiful coffee table book as well. If you love your explore especially off the beaten path, this is a great book for you. Love love love it!!! Well done Stephanie - this is a masterpiece!

[Alisha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book that is so helpful and inspiring for travel seekers. If you're searching for your next adventure, this book will leave you with many, many ideas. It's filled cover to cover with beautiful night scenes, and Stephanie has done much of the legwork with making the planning of these trips a lot easier. I have added some new adventures to my travel bucket list after reading this book.

[Lynn Bloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful and inspiring! I want to follow this book from start to finish doing every adventure described. It has amazing pictures and descriptions of the places and events. It even gives you more eco-friendly was to explore the ocean sites so you don’t harm the environment. This was a Goodreads giveaway.

[Jennifer O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed with this! It's my new favorite coffee table book which is great for reading or for the beautiful photography! I just love paging through for inspiration and closing my eyes to find a new page and new adventure to add to my bucket list. This is my new fave travel book and I am going to get more as gifts for family and friends, highly recommend it!!!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephanie is an incredible travel writer and I fully loved having her take me along on her otherworldly nighttime journeys. Aurora hunting, wilderness exploring, nighttime swimming… it’s all in here! A great gift to give yourself or a loved one who’s bitten by the travel bug.

[Laima Rastikis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has curated a collection unusual and obscure nighttime adventures across the continents that you won’t find in conventional travel guides. Lovely to look at and fascinating to read, 100 Nights of a Lifetime deserves a spot on every coffee table.

[Henry Calderon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a "can't put it down" kind of book. If anyone needs helping starting a bucket list, this book is a must. The experiences written about are just too good to only be read about, but it's a start. I can see myself planning future trips based on this book. Thank you Stephanie.

[Frank Forde · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! Informative and beautifully written, describing amazing nighttime adventures around the world! Highly recommend!

[Nathan Forde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. A must have for travelers looking for new adventures. So many incredible places and experiences documented through beautifully written descriptions and pictures.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this to anyone who loves unique adventures and beautiful imagery!! It’s a focal point of my coffee table, and an awesome conversation starter.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

STUNNING! This book is full of beautiful and unique adventures, just waiting to be explored! Each story and location is passionately and thoughtfully chosen by the author. Through hers words and accompanying photos, anyone can feel Vermillion’s love for travel and the stars. I am beyond excited to use this book and her experience to start planning my own trips! Could not recommend this book more.

[Cyndi Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photography was beautiful and the info was intriguing
However it was more of a travel guide. Frustrating as I’ll only ever get to a couple of the places. Sigh

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTE GEM! ^_^ Beautiful photographs paired with interesting stories and explanations.

[Jeff Pfaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your bucket list is empty, don't read this book. Even for the most well-traveled / adventurous, you'll find wonder after wonder you'll want to see in person.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stunning pictures, did feel a little repetitive after a while.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous photography and very cool experiences to add to your list!