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Most walkable cities in the world

No one wants to shell out for transportation when there are so many better ways to wear down your bank account while traveling. After all, you’ve traveled far, and you deserve to spend your spare change on meaningful things like street food, excursions, and new experiences. Plus, you may come back from your trip more fit and toned if you opt to walk thousands of steps per day instead of ride. If you want to take a trip and never have to pay for a cab, Uber, train, or subway ride — and come back with a couple hours of cardio to add to your favorite fitness app — these are the spots you’ll want on your radar.

1. Florence, Italy

Photo: Roxana Bashyrova/Shutterstock

The entire city of Florence, Italy, feels like an open-air museum, so it’s undoubtedly a destination best explored on foot. And it makes sense: Older cities like Florence were built with walkers in mind, not automobiles, so the ancient infrastructure remains with the pedestrian taking priority over the modern speed of life. Another honorable mention in Italy is Venice, the floating city that has no cars at all. It may feel like a maze, and the ubiquitous bridges and occasional flooding don’t always make for an effortless stroll, but the city’s so amazing that you won’t mind getting wet and lost in its nook and crannies.

2. Vancouver, Canada

Photo: West Coast Scapes/Shutterstock

With footpaths and wayfinding maps all over the place, Vancouver is said to be the most walkable city in Canada. In fact, most errands or trips in Vancouver can be accomplished on foot, so you can bid adieu to any form of motorized transportation for the entirety of your stay if you so please. According to Walk Score, Vancouver is “very walkable,” i.e. most errands can be accomplished on foot. Walkers should make sure to add to their itinerary such scenic spots such as wooded Stanley Park; Granville Island with its large market; and Coal Harbour, where they can see the float planes.

3. Paris, France

Photo: Catarina Belova/Shutterstock

Travelers who visit Paris without getting lost in its twisty streets are seriously missing out. Hop between the Louvre, Champs Elysées, Latin Quarter, and Eiffel Tower for a few of the hotspots that are easily accessible on foot. Exploring the city at a walker’s pace is the best way to get a sense of what it’s really like to live there. And you don’t get to see and stop at all the good pâtisseries when you’re in the underground train.

4. New York City, New York

Photo: oneinchpunch/Shutterstock

One trip on New York City’s subway and you’ll see why you might want to pack your walking shoes. After you’ve experienced the underbelly of the city, opt to stay street-level and explore on your own two feet. Consistently ranked as one of the most walkable cities in the world, New York is laid out like a grid, complete with numbered streets and evenly spaced lines. Whether you go by old-fashioned paper map or phone app, it’s easy to navigate. Yes, there are crowds everywhere you turn, but there is safety in numbers and some amazing characters to spot.

5. Marrakech, Morocco

Photo: Jon Chica/Shutterstock

You really can’t do a place like Marrakech justice except by exploring it on foot, taking it slowly as you absorb all the sights, sounds, and smells waiting for you in the open-air souks and medinas. You’ll see street performers, be tempted to stop at food stalls, and look locals in the eye if you explore the city at a walking pace.

6. Sydney, Australia

Photo: Ronald Sumners/Shutterstock

With a view of the iconic Sydney Opera House as you cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge and wind along the city’s beautiful waterfront, it’s fair to wonder why anyone drives anywhere in Sydney. Densely populated with restaurants, bars, theaters, and other attractions, it shouldn’t take you long to find a place to rest your legs when you grow tired of walking.

7. Jerusalem, Israel

Photo: Daniel Him/Shutterstock

Much of Jerusalem is inaccessible by car, so taking a stroll within the walls of the ancient city is only natural. You can access many of the city’s holy sites on foot, and taking in the history slowly and with intention makes for an even more meaningful exploration of a sacred place. Hear the ground crunch beneath your feet as you meander through alleys and squares, and you’ll feel transported back in time with those who have walked those paths before you.


More like this: Mapped: The optimal walking tour of NYC

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Best indoor climbing walls in the US

It’s too cold to climb outside in all but the sunniest of destinations, and avid climbers know it’s vital to keep in shape so they can get back on the mountain come spring. Luckily, today’s indoor climbing walls are anything but generic, providing varied activities, lessons, even shops and bars oriented toward the climbing community. Winter is also a time for major indoor competitions, and skills clinics pop up on topics ranging from leading multi-pitch routes to parkour and footwork. The very best gyms don’t have to be a multimillion-dollar enterprise, but they should give climbers the sense that they’re exploring an exciting new ascent, not scrambling around on hot pink molds. Here are some of the best indoor climbing walls in the US.

Photo: CityROCK/Facebook

At CityROCK, climbers can navigate a realistic cave system complete with faux soda straws and stalactites, learning the dos and don’ts of spelunking etiquette. There’s also a 40-foot cliff face to play on. And after descending for the day, you can relax with a beer in the gym’s brewery or maybe take a yoga class. Winters are the gym’s busy time with competitions and the annual two-day Ice Fest, which takes place in the first weeks of November. The Ice Fest offers lessons and demonstrations on the disciplines of ice and mixed climbing.

Opening times: Monday 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Tuesday to Friday 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM, weekends 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Cost: A day pass to the gym and the cave with gear rental is $35; without gear, it’s $26.

2. The Cliffs at LIC, New York, New York

Photo: The Cliffs at LIC/Facebook

With 30,000 square feet, The Cliffs is gigantic and vertical — one of the nation’s overall largest climbing facilities. The Cliffs offers fall youth programs, indoor and outdoor climbing and bouldering lessons, and ever-changing top rope and lead routes for both newbies and advanced climbers. There’s also a great gear shop and a fitness center inside the venue.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 6:00 AM – midnight, weekends 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Cost: A day pass is $30, and a gear rental package is an additional $12. The gym also runs month-long learn-to-climb packages for those who just want to get their feet, er, up.

3. The Stronghold Climbing Gym, Los Angeles, California

Photo: Stronghold Climbing Gym/Facebook

Bare bones and old school the Stronghold may be, but by no stretch is it boring. First, it’s set in an old PBR factory that is now one of the hippest live/work art spaces in the world, the Brewery Artists Lofts. Also, there are tons of classes, especially in winter, and the gym offers adaptive climbing for climbers with physical challenges. Stronghold has yoga and an underground fitness area called The Pit, which specializes in climbing-specific training.

Opening times: Weekdays 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM, weekends 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Cost: Adult day passes are $25; gear is an additional $5 per day.

4. Climb So iLL, St. Louis, Missouri

Photo: Climb So iLL/Facebook

Climb So iLL is special because of its dedicated spaces and overall aesthetic. Each glowing area is allotted to a different ability level or purpose — from a beginners’ bouldering area to advanced walls stretching higher than 50 feet. Beyond logistics and layout, the gym is oriented toward empowering climbers’ minds and spirits with Warrior’s Way classes. Climb So iLL designs its own climbing clothes and gear, teams up with nonprofits that teach kids to climb, and partners with community artists — to go beyond just being a site for sport. Special events punctuate the year; for example, North Face’s REEL ROCK climbing film fest blasts into the gym every November.

Opening times: Weekdays 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sundays 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Members get 24-hour access to the training zone.

Cost: A day pass without gear is $16; assorted $10-day specials run throughout the week.

5. Sender One Climbing, Santa Ana, California

Photo: Sender One Climbing and Sender City/Facebook

Sender One Climbing has two locations. One is near LAX in Los Angeles, but the original is one of the coolest gyms in the world. Famous climber Chris Sharma designed all 25,000 square feet of the climbable space to be similar to climbing outside — to soothe the ache of waiting for spring. Within the complex, Sender City is a bouldering area, designed for kids and grown-up kids alike to race around climbing fantastical skyscraper-like monoliths. Special gym events include aerial silks clinics, potlucks, movie nights, and meetups, and the gym hosts lots of competitions.

Opening times: Weekdays 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM, Saturdays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sundays 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Cost: An adult day pass is $25, $32 with gear.

6. The Front Climbing Club, Salt Lake City, Utah

Photo: The Front Climbing Club/Facebook

Utah is known for intense outdoor recreation, but it does get cold. The Front is a rather serious gym designed to keep dedicated athletes in climbing shape in all weather. It has diverse clinics, physical therapy, and complimentary yoga and fitness classes for members. However, it also offers lessons for beginners and advanced students alike. Its 30,000 square feet include lots of amenities, like a gear shop and a café with beer. It’s known for its innovation, keeping its website up to date with lists of frequently changing routes, using precise route management software.

Opening hours: Weekdays 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM, weekends 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Cost: Rates are $22 a day; gear rental totals an additional $13 (a bit more with a lead rope).

7. Boulder Rock Club, Boulder, Colorado

Photo: Boulder Rock Club/Facebook

What differentiates Boulder Rock Club is its friendliness. Kids under five climb free and get stickers! A full-fledged chiropractic doctor bases his practice out of the gym, and Boulder Rock has a muscle tightness release clinic too. And of course, you’ll also find excellent bouldering and climbing, including lead climbing routes. Rumor has it that superstar climbers hang out here, and there’s no doubt you’ll catch the chill positivity this boulder climbing community is known for.

Opening hours: Weekdays 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM, weekends 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Cost: Day passes are $20 for adults, $10 extra for a full gear package.


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Get high before camel riding

The Indian state of Rajasthan is known as the Land of Kings. Located near the border with Pakistan, it’s dotted with ancient palaces and forts. Tour groups often go as far as Jaipur, the Pink City, or venture west to Jodhpur, the Blue City. The last stop is the desert village of Jaisalmer, the Golden City, which is also an entryway to the remote parts of the Thar Desert. It’s the most densely populated desert in the world, covers more than half of the state, and is best explored by camel. And the best way to explore by camel is to start with a visit to the Bhang Shop for a cannabis edible.

To get to Jaisalmer, we took the train to the last station in the Thar Desert. After a jerky, all-night ride, we arrived at the end of the line and headed straight to the Bhang Shop.

In Jaisalmer, bhang, or weed, is far from the large buds you can find in dispensaries in North America. It’s meant for edibles, most often lassis (a drink made with yogurt and spices) or cookies. The edibles are an important part of Hindu culture. They’re most associated with Holi, the holiday celebrating the arrival of spring, but are consumed year round. Some sadhus, nomadic holy men who give up worldly possessions, consume weed daily as an edible or smoke it as hash. Cannabis is illegal in India, but a loophole in the law allows for products made from marijuana leaves that are collected from wild cannabis plants. There are government-authorized and taxed shops in Rajasthan and a few other states, making it easy enough for anyone interested to buy. At Jaisalmer’s Bhang Shop, just outside the city walls, the edibles are said to be the key to a comfortable camel ride deep into the Thar Desert.

The Bhang Shop is a bare room — it’s little more than a concrete stall next to an Italian restaurant. In it, there are a few bags of pre-packed cannabis cookies and there’s a busy counter where lassi is sold. The shop might not win any Cannabis Cups, but it’s still likely the best government-authorized marijuana dispenser between Prague and Australia. Dr. Bhang, the shop’s herbalist, is on hand to recommend proper dosage. By his advice, the cookies aren’t too strong, and are just enough to get you in the desired mood. One cookie is enough for a tickle, and two enough for a slap. Three will knock you right off your camel. He warned of the “strong lassi,” a drink with enough weed to be classified as, “full power, 24-hour, no toilet, no shower.”

We tried a fragrant and cool lassi, and took some cookies for our upcoming desert camel sojourn. The cookies were miserably chalky, but promised to turn our camel ride into a flying carpet. It’s best to wash them down with a weak lassi — you don’t want to overdo it.

Properly “medicated,” we started our camel journey into the desert. We passed sandstone villages filled with people who hydrate themselves with water gathered from oasis springs. Along the way, we also met a vendor on a camel who was selling cold beer to tourists from a backpack. Our ride ended when the day ended, and we slept under the stars on a lonely dune. On an empty corner of the dunes, we finally found something akin to solitude, and the bhang conducted the music to which the stars danced. Bhang in the desert is better than hydro on the couch.

After spending a day on a camel, we were so sore that we walked bowlegged for several days. We couldn’t have done it without the anesthesia of the Bhang Shop’s lawn-clipping flavored cookies. Case in point: Others who attempted the ride without the use of bhang had to get off and walk.


More like this: Everything you need to know about cannabis travel in Colorado in 2017

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Embraer’s new jet with shark livery

It’s not just Instagram fodder. This airplane with a shark-themed livery, nicknamed the “Profit Hunter,” is the show plane for Boeing and Embraer’s E2 family of regional jets, and it’s garnering a lot of well-deserved attention. A direct rival of the new Airbus A220 series, Embraer hopes to catch some eyes with this striking livery, as well as some pretty sleek comfort advances.

Photo: Embraer/Facebook

The Profit Hunter, like all new planes in Embraer’s E2 family of jets, offers larger-framed windows designed to increase the brightness of the cabin, as well as overhead bins that are 40 percent bigger and allow for fewer obstructions to under-seat legroom. Rodrigo Silva e Souza, vice-president of marketing for Embraer, told CNN Travel, “Preserving passenger personal space is the goal.” The absence of middle seats might be the most significant step in the quest for personal space. Souza said that with this aircraft redesign, which also offers a premium cabin option with staggered seats, Embraer hopes to “give passengers the impression of having greater space, or of being on a larger aircraft.”

Photo: Embraer

Photo: Embraer

The first E190-E2 was rolled out in April and delivered to Widerøe, a Scandinavian Airlines subsidiary. Three of these planes are now flying around Norway, with others operating under American Airlines, Delta, United, and Alaska Airlines. E2 planes have also been ordered by Kazakhstan’s Air Astana, Brazil’s Azul, Switzerland’s Helvetic, Kuwait’s Wataniya, and China’s Tianjin Airlines.

H/T: CNN Travel

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Beautiful rainbow swamp in Virginia

If you don’t think of swamps as breathtaking geographic areas, now is the time to change your mind. When Brent Rossen and his girlfriend were walking through Virginia’s First Landing State Park, they noticed an unusual phenomenon in the swamp — a visual effect that made the water look like a rainbow pool. Jeff Ripple, a former Florida swamp walk leader, told the BBC that the water needs to be still for long periods of time for the rainbows to appear, and that they’re the result of “natural oils released by decaying vegetation or the biological processes of anaerobic bacteria reducing iron in soil.”

Photo: brentenross/Reddit

A similar rainbow phenomenon was seen in a swamp in Tallahassee, Florida, by retired engineer Michael Hussey. According to Hussey, who has seen the rainbow effect every three or four years during mid-February, “If it doesn’t rain for a couple of weeks, it continues to become more pronounced.”

Photo: Michael Hussey/Facebook

Sandra Friend, a Florida swamp walk leader like Ripple, has noticed the same rainbow effect in swamps over the years. “I’d noticed this phenomenon in swamps along many Florida trails,” she blogged, “so if you’re ever walking the Florida Trail on a cold, blue sky day in the Osceola Experimental Forest, pay attention. You might just find these rainbows too.”

H/T: BBC News

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Pilot messaged passenger on Grindr

As airplane passengers, we all want to believe that our pilots are glued to the controls, taking safety precautions, and doing everything in their power to ensure a smooth, incident-free flight. We’re pretty sure they do that, but we also know that they chat among themselves, joke around, and, apparently even pass the time by checking out dating apps.

Passenger JP received a message on Grindr during his recent flight to Chicago, but it wasn’t from a fellow passenger — it was from one of the pilots who thought he’d try his hand at in-flight flirtation. JP tweeted the screenshot here.

remember when my pilot messaged me on grindr at 30,000 feet in the air pic.twitter.com/0q7QNDX7MV

— JP (@emobandtshirt) November 25, 2018

So, if you’re looking for romance, know that you can find it everywhere, even 30,000 feet in the air — but you’ll need to purchase the in-flight Wi-Fi.


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You can buy “Game of Thrones” whisky

It’s been a long time coming, but the final season of Game of Thrones finally has a release date: April 2019. You might feel like you need a drink after waiting so long for confirmation that winter has indeed arrived in Westeros. To give you something to do for the next five months and build the hype even more, HBO has partnered with liquor company Diageo to release eight Game of Thrones-themed single malt Scotch whiskies.

Each of the seven houses and the Night’s Watch gets a themed bottle, and there’s a loose tie between the houses and the distilleries that make their whiskies. Cardhu makes House Targaryen’s whisky, for example, because Cardhu is the rare Scotch distillery founded and run by a woman, Helen Cumming, and House Targaryen is run by a strong woman, Daenerys. House Stark gets a bottle from Dalwhinnie, which is in one of the coldest regions of Scotland (but it’s still one of the best Scotch distilleries to visit). House Lannister is represented by the historic Lagavulin, and the maritime House Greyjoy is represented by a bottle of Talisker, which is made on the shores of the Isle of Skye (which also happens to be where the Game of Thrones prequel is being filmed).

Other bottles have a slightly more obscure connection. House Tully, for example, gets a bottle of Singleton because the Tullys are located in Riverrun and Singleton is made on the banks of a river. House Baratheon is paired with a bottle of Royal Lochnagar because they’re both “royal,” and House Tyrell is represented by a bottle of Clynelish because they’re both found in green pastures. All you need to know about the Night’s Watch pairing with Oban is that the bottle is black and the Oban distillery overlooks the separation between the west Highlands and the islands of Scotland.

While drinking bottles based on Game of Thrones isn’t as satisfying as actually seeing the final season, it’s one way to kill some time while you wait. After all, there are eight bottles and eight seasons total. Or, if you’re feeling up for an adventure, there’s the top 23 real-world locations Game of Thrones was filmed in that you can visit.

The Game of Thrones whiskies are now available from the alcohol delivery service Drizly, and range in price from $30 to $150.

H/T: Insider

More like this: Northern Ireland is the real-world Westeros: Experience Game of Thrones yourself

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Pet alligators at NOLA airport

Reptiles don’t traditionally fall into the category of animals that make people feel comfortable — they typically provoke more anxiety than anything else. But Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport thinks alligators could be a useful therapeutic tool, so it’s making them available at baggage claim for passengers to pet. The program will run every Friday from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM as part of a partnership between the airport and the Audubon Nature Initiative.

Photo: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport/Facebook

Unless you’re from Florida, and you’re used to the constant presence of alligators in unconventional places, you might be a little unnerved. But don’t worry, these airport alligators aren’t dangerous or full-size adults (they’re babies). Erin Burns, a spokeswoman for the airport, told USA Today that the alligators are “used to being handled and get regular breaks.” A team from the Audubon Nature Institute will be on hand, offering a display table with educational materials about other creatures that coexist with alligators in Louisiana’s wetlands.

While the program won’t start until May 2019 — along with the opening of the airport’s new terminal — the alligators will be a permanent fixture. And don’t feel shy about taking selfies. The airport actually encourages it, even calling the initiative the “Gator Selfies Program.”

H/T: Condé Nast Traveler

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Best winter hotels in Europe

As the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, the Danish concept of hygge starts to warm our hearts. This push for coziness can encompass anything from candles on your mantle to fuzzy slippers. A similar concept in Sweden called mysig goes so far as to designate Fridays as fredagsmysigt (cozy Fridays), when social law requires you to wear jammies, stay home, and eat popcorn. If you’re looking to get a little more hygge in your life but still want to travel, consider visiting one of these cozy hotels and bundling up in the best possible way.

1. Brody House — Budapest, Hungary

Photo: Brody House/Facebook

Eleven unique rooms and suites feature designs by artists who either had studios in the enormous house at one point, or who agreed to collaborate on projects with Brody House’s founders. Rooms have warm, original wood flooring and an eclectic combination of loft beds, exposed brick and concrete walls, and welcoming antique furniture. The 24-hour Honesty Bar works on the honor system: write down what you take and pay your tab at the end of your stay. Breakfast provides a range of Hungarian delicacies, and a “make your own muesli” bar for health-conscious visitors. Those who wish to have a longer stay or need more room (or a kitchen) might consider the nearby Brody Apartments, with a range of studio, double, and “mezzanine” apartments, where the reclaimed wood bed is built on a loft over the room to maximize space.

2. KOTI Sleepover — Paris, France

Photo: KOTI Sleepover/Facebook

Koti is the Finnish word for “home” and these tiny cabins in the heart of Paris are part of an art installation celebrating Finnish aitta (cabin houses) — and they’re open to the viewing public during daytime hours. Breakfast is served every morning at the communal dining table, with rye bread, blueberry jam, and lots of coffee. A member of the Finnish Institute is always on hand to provide guests with concierge services, and free Wi-Fi is included. Snuggle into a toasty dressing gown and climb up to the sleeping loft space over the sliding spruce wood door.

3. Hotel San Luis Dolomites — Italy

Photo: San Luis Retreat Hotel & Lodges/Facebook

Less of a hotel than a grouping of chalets, Hotel San Luis is tucked into Italy’s northern mountains, the towering Dolomites. Each of the available wooden cabins have a welcoming fireplace and a large bathtub. Most excitingly, the hotel also offers two treehouses located in the nearby pine forest. Cabins and treehouses come in a variety of sizes, and can accommodate up to seven individuals in one space — all with beautiful views of the mountains from sustainably-built balconies and patios. If you choose to have all meals included in your stay, you’ll sample a variety of Tyrolean delicacies, prepared with local, seasonal ingredients and served either in the communal space or privately in your chalet. The area provides access to outdoor activities all year; winter options include snowshoeing, ice climbing, and a cute carriage ride through the local shopping district to look at Christmas lights.

4. Hotel Not Hotel — Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Photo: Hotel Not Hotel/Facebook

If you’re tired of hygge, try out the Dutch version: gezelligheid. Just like the Danish word, there’s no perfect English translation, but it roughly means “an enjoyable and uplifting atmosphere of shared companionship.” You can find that atmosphere in spades at Hotel Not Hotel, an unusual artist collaboration hotel with unique rooms. Some are accessible only through a door disguised behind an antique bookcase, while one is inside an old Amsterdam tram car. The Crow’s Nest perches atop a metal exoskeleton, while the Crisis-Free Zone is a cozy getaway for two, protected on the outside by a series of Transylvanian wood carvings designed to fend off evil. Enjoy Thai food and cocktails in the attached bar, Kevin Bacon (yep, that’s really the name), and have breakfast delivered directly to your room/cottage every morning if you’re so inclined.

5. Central Hotel — Copenhagen, Denmark

Photo: Central Hotel & Café/Facebook

You can’t get much cozier than Central Hotel, an inn hotel with only one room. This double room located over a small, welcoming cafe in Copenhagen’s unique Vesterbro neighbourhood is the epitome of Danish hygge. Accommodations include breakfast at Cafe Granola, which is right up the block. Around the corner is Værnedamsvej, dubbed Copenhagen’s coziest street. A small walking alley, Værnedamsvej has cute shops, freshly-baked pastries in French cafes, and one of the best cheese stores in town. Sit in one of the the downstairs cafe’s five seats and enjoy a cuppa, or bury yourself under blankets in the early winter dark and enjoy an evening of Danish movies.

6. The “huts” — Manshausen Island, Norway

Photo: Manshausen island/Facebook

Manshausen Island in Norway’s Grøtøya strait welcomes visitors with seven cabins designed by architect Snorre Stineson to integrate seamlessly into the rocky coastline. Large windows overlook the peaceful Norwegian Sea, so you can enjoy the mountain views from the master bedroom, or wrap up in local wool blankets and sit on the deck or balcony. Other accommodations include the “main house,” a 200-year-old farmhouse that has been entirely restored and serves seasonal breakfasts to all guests with local ingredients like reindeer and elk sausage. The main house also hosts a welcoming library with floor-to-ceiling glass walls for views of the idyllic surroundings.

7. Lulu Guldsmeden — Berlin, Germany

Photo: Lulu Geldsmeden

Lulu Geldsmeden, a recently-opened eco-hotel in Berlin’s vibrant Potsdamer Straße has 81 rooms circling a central courtyard full of lush plants and lawn furniture. Rooms feature four-poster beds and balconies, as well as beautiful details like exposed brick walls, antique furniture, broad windows, and even a swing to keep you occupied when you get tired of cuddling under the blankets. In-house restaurant Saeson offers Nordic cuisine with local, organic ingredients. Brandenberg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie are both about a mile from the hotel, and bike rentals allow you easy access to Berlin’s fantastic art community and tourist destinations. Hunker down with a good book from the small in-house library or sit in a nearby cafe patio and watch the world go by.


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Best places to travel in January

January is back to business. After nearly a month of half-empty offices and using the excuse that nothing gets done during the holidays anyway, January is the Monday of months, when we all dutifully head into the office with a resolution to be more productive. Well, most of us. Others see January as a time to escape winter and head somewhere warm. Or hit the mountains to ski. Or just generally not be in the office with all those other people who’ve resolved to be more productive. For those folks, January offers some fantastic destinations that aren’t as crowded as they might be during the holidays. Here are our picks for the best places to travel in January.

Sydney, Australia

Photo: Victor Maschek/Shutterstock

The height of the Australian summer still doesn’t bring brutal heat to the nation’s largest city. But what it does bring is the annual Sydney Festival, one of the world’s top winter festivals, during which theatrical performances, concerts, street performers, art installations, and lectures take over nearly every venue in town. It’s like a citywide art festival combined with the general excitement of summer, with free concerts spanning ten days from January 9 to 18. This year’s headliners, who aren’t free, include Neneh Cherry, Suppression Dam, Mulatu Astatke, and the Black Jesus Experience. Even if you’re not into any of them, the festival is absolutely worth the flight.

Vermont

Photo: Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

The romance of moonlit snow covering the charming Vermont countryside is the stuff of honeymoon fantasies. But even if you’re not planning to travel with that special someone, January is an ideal time for a ski escape to the Green Mountain State. Though the slopes at Killington are the best known, a couple of other resorts have brought in some new additions that make them worth checking out this January. In Stowe, the new Lodge at Spruce Peak has opened the new Whistle Pig Pavilion, an après-ski drinking den where you can enjoy live music, craft cocktails, or anything else after a hard day of skiing the Stowe Mountain Resort. In the southern part of the state, Mount Snow just opened a new $22 million base lodge that brings this snowboarding and skiing resort straight to the forefront of East Coast destinations.

Patagonia — Chile and Argentina

Photo: VarnaK/Shutterstock

The jagged peaks and sprawling glaciers of Patagonia are around all year, but only really trekkable during certain months. The mild “summer” in the southern hemisphere is the perfect time to trek the Torres del Paine trail in Chile, hiking through mountain lakes, waterfalls, forests, and glaciers. The most notable of those ice masses is the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, the rare glacier that’s actually not receding in our era of warmer climate. That doesn’t mean it’ll be there forever, but it does mean it’ll be there if you go this year. If you’re interested in the trek, Intrepid Travel runs a trip beginning in Chilean Patagonia and ending in Buenos Aires, crossing the Torres del Paine over a glorious 10 days.

Nicaragua

Photo: Simon Dannhauer/Shutterstock

You may have heard some rumors about civil unrest in this Central American country, but the spring’s protests have died down, and the country is for the most part back to business as usual. Of course, the world hasn’t quite figured this out yet, and as hotels slowly reopen, you’ll have deeply discounted rates during the best season to visit. Gone are the brutally hot temperatures of summer and high winds of fall, so the waves at spots like Playa Maderas and Popoyo are manageable for novice surfers. It’s dry season, meaning you can reasonably plan for beach days without inclement weather, and you’re visiting before Holy Week, so the bars, restaurants, and other cultural attractions will still be open. January also brings the religious festival of Diriamba – the feast of San Sebastian – where, if you play your cards right, you’ll find yourself invited to a local’s home for an authentic Nicaraguan feast.

Thailand

Photo: anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock

Granted, the nearly perfect Thai weather in January makes this the height of high season in southeast Asia. But Thailand is a big country, and going in January doesn’t mean you’ve gotta wedge yourself on the beach in Phuket or battle for boat space to Ko Phi Phi. Check out some of the less-visited parts of the country, like Koh Tao island, where you’ll find an abundance of sea turtles and some of the most underrated diving in the world. Or head up to Chaing Rai near the Burmese/Laotian border where you can trek through the jungle or check out the coolest 20th-century temple in the country at Wat Rung Kuhn.

Montreal, Quebec

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Nobody does winter quite like Quebec, a brutally cold corner of Canada that celebrates winter with the same enthusiasm most places celebrate spring. Case in point is the annual IglooFest in Montreal, which this year runs from January 17 to February 2. This three-weekend EDM festival puts some of the biggest DJs in the world out on the pier at the Old Port of Montreal, and despite the cold, the crowds pack the place year after year. Before the DJs come on, the festival has other cool programming like live screenings of Quebecois-dubbed Slapshot, where attendees dress up as characters from the cult classic like an ice-bound Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Tanzania

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For the ultra-ambitious, January is the ideal time to attempt a summit of Kilimanjaro, where temperatures are mild and winds aren’t as brutal as other months. If massive oxygen deprivation isn’t so much your game, this is also the month where you’ll witness the great wildebeest migration into the Serengeti. For the unfamiliar, this is when over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move through the grasslands of the Serengeti and Masai Mara; for those looking to tackle their first safari, this January might just be the time.

Panama

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January sits smack in the center of dry season in Panama, so enjoying any of the beaches along its two sprawling coasts brings better odds for sunshine than the rest of the year. You’ll also have your best shot at catching a clear purple sunset along the beaches at Playa Bonita near Panama City or getting calm waters as you head out to the rustic San Blas Islands and their deserted, undeveloped shorelines. January also brings the annual Panama Jazz Festival, a weeklong festival from January 14 to 19 this year headlined by Andrew Heyward and Alex Blake.

Sonoma, California

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It’s been a rough fall for the Golden State, what with vicious fires burning up both Northern and Southern California. This after fires decimated wine country last year. The silver lining is that you can help the area recover for a lot less than it used to cost with spots like the Boon Hotel offering packages for $150 a night, inclusive of some wine tastings. Beyond scouring the tasting rooms, Sonoma has other drinking options, like an entire beer trail leaving out of Santa Rosa that includes stops at favorites like Russian River, Lagunitas, and Stumptown breweries.

Sun Valley/Ketchum, Idaho

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Skiing out West is tough competition, and while it’s hard to argue with the scenery of Colorado or the soft powder of Utah, America’s first destination ski resort in Sun Valley is still a spectacular sight in January. In addition to the world-class skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing, you can also hit up America’s first dark sky reserve and gaze at the stars on a clear night. Though the area has no shortage of ski condos to rent out, it also recently got its first full-service lifestyle hotel at the Hotel Ketchum, complete with a craft cocktail bar and two gourmet restaurants.

Jaffa, Israel

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This 4,000-year-old port city often gets overlooked on Israel itineraries to the history of Jerusalem and the modern metropolis of Tel Aviv. But it’s quickly becoming the hottest destination in the country. The city’s resurgence is anchored by the historic flea market, which has been rehabilitated from ruins to become Jaffa’s top location for new restaurants. Jaffa also sits right on the Mediterranean, boasting magnificent water views all over the city interspersed with historic Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman structures that make this one of the most fascinating small destinations in the region.

Belize

Photo: Duarte Dellarole/Shutterstock

Belize can be one of the wetter Caribbean countries with its location right on the coast between Mexico and Central America making it a prime zone for thunderstorms and tropical activity. But come January, all that is a memory, and you can enjoy the second-largest barrier reef in the world, as well as the rough-and-tumble beach towns with relatively clear skies. One of the world’s great diving destinations is likely in its last years of anonymity, too, as this year brought both the Marriott Autograph Collection’s Alaia Belize and Four Seasons’ Caye Chapel to Belize. Meaning throngs of up-market tourists are sure to follow. And as the country saw a 17% increase in tourism last year, it’s almost certain this will be among your last winters to have the place to yourself.


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