Long and sinuous, like the mythical naga serpent, Vietnam curves around the eastern shores of mainland Southeast Asia, stretching all the way from China in the north to Cambodia and the Mekong Delta in the south. Its twin megacities – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – are divided by 1137km (707 miles) of mountains,…
Japan darts into the future while keeping a quiet hold of its traditions. Dazzling towers of light and luxury goods sit alongside timeless temples and traditional inns with old-world manners, and Japanese dishes that continue to delight the tastebuds. Quirky cafes brim with youthful glee, while sleek bullet trains zip you to turquoise beaches, ice…
Croatia’s top destination, Dubrovnik’s diminutive old town lies within sturdy medieval fortifications, overlooking the deep blue Adriatic. Here we introduce historical attractions in the old town, including noble Baroque buildings, museums and galleries. Beyond the walls, we take you along the coast to discover the best beaches and nearby islands. Along the way, we also…
Portugal has a packed calendar of traditional celebrations, decadent food festivals, outdoor concerts and many other events. Summer is the time to catch the biggest array, but in truth, there’s always something happening here. Festivals aside, it’s not easy to pin down the best month to visit Portugal. That really depends on what you’re after:…
Vancouver-based travel journalist Amber Gibson recently returned from bucolic Vancouver Island, whose spectacular winter storms make for a surprisingly romantic getaway. Here’s what she recommends for this unexpected destination. You should go storm watching on Vancouver Island because… The huge storms that roll in from the Pacific Ocean are simply spectacular. There’s nothing between Vancouver…
In our 5 Shops series, we'll point you in the direction of our favorite independent shops across some of the world's best cities. From food markets to bookshops, vintage and homegrown design, we've found a diverse and exciting mix of local retailers where you can pick up one-of-a-kind pieces. Lisbon’s cobblestone alleys, domed churches and…
Ask any Tennessean the name of their patron saint, and they will all give the same answer: Dolly Parton, Queen of Glitz and Goodwill. While she’s revered the world over for her genius songwriting and musical talent, she holds a special place in locals’ hearts because of her lifelong dedication to supporting education and healthcare…
One organization is offering a way to really get to know Amsterdam’s famous waterways – by helping clean them. Erik Fransman has an important reminder as our boat makes its way down one of Amsterdam’s famous canals: no picking up dead animals, and don’t try and snag anything larger than the fishing nets. He is…
Some countries are blessed. And then there’s Italy, which is endowed with not one but two huge island regions in the Mediterranean. Both filled with churches, vineyards, churches and sites testifying to millennia of history, Sicily and Sardinia are nonetheless truly distinct – and truly wonderful. Having trouble picking between the two? We’ve asked two partisans…
South Africa offers some of the world’s most diverse landscapes, from sparkling oceans and stark deserts to snow-capped peaks and wildlife-dense savanna. But it’s not just the land that makes South Africa so enthralling – the wealth of the country’s diverse cultural groups, each contributing its own architecture, traditional cuisine and customs, adds to the…