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Space tourism projects soon real

In 2017, NASA and the European Space Agency reaffirmed their determination to focus once again on human space exploration. Astronauts will go back to the Moon and fly off to Mars, but they’re not the only ones planning on rocketing off to outer space. Private space companies, such as SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, want to make all of us tag along for the ride as space tourists. Here are six space travel projects that will become a reality in our lifetime and get us that much closer to turning space into one of our many travel destinations.

Elle Cer has a degree in aerospace engineering from France. She’s been passionate about space exploration since the age of seven, when she attended her first rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida. She worked at Airbus Defense and Space from 2011 to 2013, where she contributed to the manufacturing of the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) that supplies the International Space Station with food and science gears.

1. Take a trip to the International Space Station.

Photo: Bigelow Aerospace/Facebook

Seven fortunate private explorers have already slept aboard the International Space Station. These first-ever space tourists had private company Space Adventures arrange their flights to the International Space Station on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft for them to live and work alongside professional astronauts for 10 days. However, since 2009, no new space tourists have set foot on the ISS. But this is likely to change soon.

Bigelow Aerospace plans on turning part of the ISS into a destination hotel by developing the B330 spacecraft. The B330 project consists of attaching an inflatable commercial space station to the ISS, and it should become a reality in 2024 thanks to the recent launch deal made with United Launch Alliance. Bigelow Aerospace’s overall vision is to become the main stand-alone habitation system for low Earth orbit and deep space.

But Bigelow Aerospace is not the only one with their eyes set on the ISS. The Russian space agency (ROSCOSMOS) is developing a five-star luxury orbital module. This luxury orbital suite would be attached to the ISS and be used solely for space tourism. Six tourists a year could benefit from its mesmerizing view, Wi-Fi, and gym amenities. The first module is planned to be launched in 2021.

Making the ISS a tourist destination is not cheap. Only those with a $40 million travel budget will be able to spend a week in these ISS hotel rooms.

2. Hop in an “affordable” 10-minute flight into low Earth orbit.

Photo: Virgin Galatic/Facebook

Traveling to low Earth orbit is quite straightforward: send a spaceship 50 miles up in the air with non-professional astronauts on board. For about 10 minutes, these private passengers will experience flying through space, as well as experiment with weightlessness and see the Earth from above. This suborbital tourist ride will be done through a reusable space plane, taking off from Earth and landing back horizontally just like a regular commercial aircraft.

Virgin Galactic is one of the top private actors in making space accessible for everyone through suborbital flights. Its SpaceShipTwo spaceflight is well on its way to making low-Earth orbit space travels a reality. Virgin Galactic has already succeeded in reaching the altitude of 32 miles. Seven hundred space enthusiasts have already pre-booked their tickets, which cost $250,000 per person and per suborbital ride. Sir Richard Branson, founder of the company, had predicted a first commercial suborbital flight for the end of 2018, which seems to be a rather challenging deadline.

3. Live and work in the Axiom Space Station, ISS’ replacement.

Photo: Axiom Space/Facebook

Although not yet fully developed, Axiom Space Station is aiming to become the successor of the International Space Station and the first commercial space station when the ISS retires in 2025. The private company wants to make living and working in space commonplace — by turning Axiom into the home of professional astronauts, as well as private explorers. The station will consist of modules linked to the International Space Station that will welcome a crew of 16 people micro-gravitating in low Earth orbit. The crew will stay in cabins designed by designer Philippe Starck, admiring the view through massive windows and sharing pictures with their loved ones via the Wi-Fi connection on the space station. As soon as 2022, space tourists will be able to stay 10 days on the station for the eye-watering cost of $55 million.

4. Take a trip from NYC to LA, through Space.

Photo: SpaceX, Galactic Innovation/Facebook

The idea behind Earth-to-Earth flights is to be able to get anywhere on Earth in under an hour. This would be a revolution for airplane transportation led by the BFR reusable rocket technology from private company SpaceX. The BFR would rocket to low-Earth orbit, fly toward its destination, and come back down vertically to a dedicated spaceport, making it possible to get from New York to Los Angeles in less than 30 minutes; NYC to Shanghai in 39 minutes; and Bangkok to Dubai in 24 minutes.

Today, the rocket is still at an early stage of development. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has said the prototype should be tested in 2019 — a rather optimistic deadline that would imply a first orbital test around the Earth in 2020. To go from orbital testing to full-on commercial Earth-to-Earth flights will certainly require a couple of extra decades. To see what an Earth-to-Earth flight would look like, check out this video. Note that the BFR acronym is not clearly defined. Some say it stands for Big Falcon Rocket although most like to think it means Big F*cking Rocket.

5. Fly around the Moon like it’s no biggie.

Photo: Space Adventures

Circumlunar exploration will give space tourists access to the Moon’s vicinity. Private space operator Space Adventures’ plans are to soon offer touristronauts the possibility to fly aboard a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station for a 10-day stay so that they can adapt to the Space Environment and to zero gravity. After completion, the private explorers will hop back onto the Soyuz spacecraft and connect with a lunar module orbiting in low-Earth orbit — thus starting their real journey to the Moon, which will last approximately six days. The first mission is expected to be launched in the early 2020s.

SpaceX also plans to take part in the circumlunar journey. Two private individuals have already booked such a trip with them. The mission was due to leave by end of 2018 but has been postponed to 2019.

For both providers, landing on the moon is not part of the trip. The tourists will get as close as 62 miles from the Moon’s surface, letting them join the elite club of the 24 astronauts who have left low-Earth orbit so far. The cost for this journey is still unknown.

6. Move to Mars.

Photo: Mars One – Human Settlement of Mars/Facebook

Mars is the ultimate destination. Having the first human on Mars will most likely occur in less than 10 years, and SpaceX and Boeing are competing to get there first. Public space agencies (Nasa, ESA, ROSCOSMOS, ISRO) are also working on their own technologies to fly there, although their flights would be dedicated to research and sampling only. Mars One is another private company advocating for human settlement on Mars although lack of funds might put their project in jeopardy. Regardless of whoever’s project gets concretized first, they’re paving the way to building a base and a self-sustaining human civilization on the red planet. We’re no longer solely talking about space tourism but about becoming full-time residents of Mars.

The first unmanned mission to Mars is planned for 2022 by SpaceX. Two years later, SpaceX intends to launch their first crewed mission. Boeing claims they’ll make it first, but that remains to be seen. These first trips will certainly not include touristronauts but will be the stepping stone to frequent travels to Mars for each and every one of us in about 80 to 100 years.


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Boracay to reopen to tourists

Mass tourism nearly destroyed the island paradise of Boracay in the Philippines. An average of 6,400 daily tourists day took a major toll on just about every aspect of life on the island, overwhelming public sanitation systems, overcrowding beaches, and clogging transportation infrastructure. In desperate need of rehabilitation, Boracay famously banned tourists in April of this year.

Now, after a six-month closure, the island is reopening its doors in October, albeit in a very limited manner. During the tourist ban, progressive steps were taken to put better management systems in place for waste, development, and public health across the island. Lodging capacity will be closely monitored, as will tourist activities and behavior. According to the Philippines Department of Tourism, the days of a free-for-all island party are over. “A better and more sustainable Boracay is set to welcome back visitors on October 26th,” the department said in a release.

The tourism office has yet to provide details on exact tourist capacity, but only 5,000 hotel rooms will be open for booking in advance of the reopening. The island’s economy has soared in recent years, drawing more than two million visitors annually and becoming one of the country’s most popular tourist draws. But the small island simply wasn’t developed in a manner to house, feed, and monitor that many people. Those planning a trip should expect major changes, particularly if they plan to indulge in the island’s legendary party scene. The casinos are gone and there will be no more drinking or smoking on the white beaches. Additionally, the popular “Laboracay” celebrations that drew 60,000 to 70,000 people to the island each year over Labor Day weekend are now a thing of the past.

The remainder of Boracay’s tourism infrastructure, including the hotels, restaurants, and beaches not open in October, will not be available until the island is back at full-scale operation in late 2019. “October is only a soft opening… how can you rehabilitate an island under a state of calamity in only six months?” said Bernadette Romulo-Puyat to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Tourism will remain the driving force of Boracay’s economy, but in a much more sustainable fashion.

H/T: Condé Nast Traveler

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Rare wildflower bloom in Australia

In the Northern Hemisphere, autumn is the time of year we typically associate with fall foliage, a signal that’s it’s time to dig out the overcoat and flannel and make a trip down to the local pumpkin patch. It certainly isn’t the time of year we expect to witness a legendary wildflower display. But for true wildflower enthusiasts, the time is ripe to book a trip down to Australia.

North of Western Australia’s capital city of Perth, stunning wildflower blooms are taking place up and down the region’s Coral Coast. Spectacular shades of yellows, pinks, reds, and whites have taken over Coalseam Conservation Park near the town of Mingenew, with everlastings rolling across the meadows. An hour north, rare wreath blooms showcase their glory outside the small town of Pindar.

A post shared by mudita73 (@mudita73) on Aug 24, 2018 at 2:30am PDT

A post shared by Tri Rainny Syafarani (@3rainnys) on Aug 27, 2018 at 4:49pm PDT

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The same is happening further north in Australia’s Lesueur National Park, which sits outside of Jurien Bay. There, you’ll currently find fields of Hakea neurophylla enjoying a late summer bloom and giving way to yellow Hakea eneabba come September. This year’s display is the largest seen anywhere along the Coral Coast in more than 10 years, according to the local tourism agency.

A post shared by Leanne Hays (@wombat_at_80) on Aug 19, 2018 at 4:27am PDT

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These stunning blooms offer a firm challenge to commonly-held visions of Western Australia being home to little more than arid outback, desolate desert views, and surfable coastline. In contrast, there are actually over 12,000 species of wildflowers found in the area, half of which only grow in this part of the world.

H/T: Afar

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Wild Atlantic Way road trip ideas

The Southern Peninsulas of the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland are an incredible road trip by way of both land and sea — unscathed nature, incredible wildlife, villages, islands, and historical ruins dating back to the Bronze Age. From hiking, surfing, and kayaking to sampling the local food and whiskey, as well as whale watching, there’s something here for everyone. Here are 12 things not to miss on a road trip around the Southern Peninsulas of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Author Nick Morelli was a guest of Tourism Ireland

1. Surf at Inchydoney Island

Photo: kieranhayesphotography/Shutterstock

The sleepy island of Inchydoney is known to have some of the best surfing in Ireland. Previously accessible only by boat, Inchydoney is now connected to the mainland by two causeways. The area’s high environmental standards have garnered Inchydoney Beach the prestigious Blue Flag Beach award. The variety of surf around the island means that surfers of any experience level can enjoy the waves. There’s also beachfront hotels and resorts so that you can wake up and hit the surf first thing in the morning.

2. Whale watch off Baltimore Harbor.

Photo: Kwiatek7/Shutterstock

Sail out on a catamaran from the town of Baltimore to admire the local wildlife that thrives in the protected Irish waters. Migration paths of over 20 different species of whales and dolphins, and various species of shark, native birds, and seals can be found the along the coastline. Jagged green cliffs, abandoned lighthouses, and the ruins of military fortifications dating back to the Napoleonic era set a moody tone and are a great backdrop for budding photographers.

3. Walk around Sherkin Island.

Photo: Claire Maurel/Shutterstock

There are about 80 islands off the mainland of Ireland, 20 of which are populated. Sherkin Island is one of them, with just 133 inhabitants. It has become a haven for artists and craftsmen who need look no further than their front yard for tranquility and inspiration.

4. Check out Whiddy Island.

Photo: Nick Morelli

Whiddy Island is one of the least populated islands in Ireland. Although its current population is around 20 inhabitants, that doesn’t stop them from having their very own pub overlooking the water. West Cork’s surrounding area regularly hosts live music and theatre events, local sports clubs and teams, and screens outdoor movies.

5. Taste authentic Irish whiskey… and its father.

Photo: Kate Siobhan Mulligan

Sometimes called the father of whiskey, Poitin, a type of Irish moonshine, has been produced and consumed since the sixth century. Local whiskeys aren’t hard to find, so don’t forget to ask your waiter or bartender for a dram of the local firewater. Make sure to pair your whiskey with other delectable, locally-sourced produce like strawberries and cheese.

6. Kayak around Glengarriff Bay.

Photo: Nick Morelli

Glengarriff Bay is perhaps one of the most astounding examples of wildlife conservation in Ireland. Take an early morning kayak ride through a thick, low hanging fog. Curious seals swim up to kayakers and the bay is home to a pair of rare white-tailed eagles who have been newly reintroduced to the area. For foodies or the particularly adventurous, you can pluck some of the edible bootlace seaweed straight from the bay.

7. Bike around Bere Island.

Photo: Iuliia Laitinen/Shutterstock

Bere Island has a population of just over 200 inhabitants. Because of the island’s “sentry-like” position over Bantry Bay, the British used it as a strategic military point during Napoleonic times. Today the island is much more peaceful and leisurely to hike or bike across. Trails will take you to breathtaking beaches, Neolithic rock tombs, and Napoleonic military fortifications. The main island village, Rerrin, rents bikes and runs guided tours.

8. Watch a falconry demonstration.

Photo: Nick Morelli

The art of falconry dates back to the 12th century in Ireland. Today the art form lives on and seeing a master falconer use the precision of his trained bird is fascinating and highly recommended. Many falconers have other birds such as owls which guests can hold on one of their arms and interact with.

9. Visit the town of Kenmare.

Photo: Nick Morelli

Kenmare is a tiny village of about 2,000 people and is host to many artists, merchants, and fishermen. Take a stroll through the main streets to feel the small town vibe and charm. The town also has one of the largest stone circles in the southwest of Ireland. These ruins point to a civilization that inhabited these lands all the way back in the Bronze Age.

10. Hike around Moll’s Gap.

Photo: Nick Morelli

Moll’s Gap is a breathtaking stretch of land off of the N71 road that leads from Kenmare to Killarney. The area is filled with rolling green hills with jagged boulders jutting from the landscape. The grade of the hills and terrain makes for a challenging — but not unapproachable — climb for those who aren’t necessarily rock climbing enthusiasts but enjoy a good hike.

11. Get the traditional sheep farm experience.

Photo: Nick Morelli

Kissane Sheep Farm lies in a valley in the heart of Moll’s Gap. The 150 plus-year-old, family-run farm is a relic of old rural Ireland, and is a perfect example of preserving Irish tradition. Make sure to catch the sheepdog demonstration to watch Border Collies herd the sheep through the incredible terrain.

12. Stargaze.

Photo: Nick Morelli

County Kerry is considered by many to be one of the best places in the world to stargaze. On a clear night, the sky is lit up by thousands of stars. Though County Kerry is the best spot, the surrounding areas of the Wild Atlantic have very low levels of light pollution, which makes stargazing easy.


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Why you should visit Da Nang

Vietnam, and the city of Da Nang in particular, recently shocked the world with the unveiling of the Cau Vang Bridge, a pedestrian walkway that looks like something straight out of Lord of the Rings. The bridge symbolizes a city on the rise, a place piquing the interest not only of Vietnam’s entrepreneurs, who are blasting their way to the top of Southeast Asia’s startup scene, but also of an increasing number of international visitors.

From badass bridges pulled straight from Middle Earth to killer street food simmering before you, the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang is among the country’s fastest-growing hotspots for backpackers and tourists. Many travelers consider it only as an easy way to get to Hoi An. But in fact, you can’t say you’ve seen Vietnam if you haven’t stopped in Da Nang. Here’s why this coastal city in central Vietnam is drawing ever more visitors.

The bridges are out of this world.

Photo: Quang nguyen vinh/Shutterstock

Behold “the hands of God” at Da Nang’s new Cau Vang bridge, a structure that looks like its designers yanked it straight out of one of Tolkien’s tales. Photos and videos of the bridge went viral, shining a spotlight on the city and bringing tourists running to shoot their own selfies. Who can blame them? The 492-foot (150-meter)-long bridge rests in the palms of two massive, moss-covered hands jutting out from the hillside and extends through stunning gardens. You’ll have to brave the world’s longest single-track cable car to get up there, but the stunning view of the replica French colonial village and castle in the Ba Na Hills below is worth it.

This isn’t the first insane bridge in Da Nang. The Cau Vang joins the dragon-shaped Cau Rong, a serpentine structure that even spits fire on weekends. If you ask us, the city seems determined to keep this game on lock by building the world’s coolest bridges before anyone else can. Rumor has it that a third bridge will feature a giant silver strand of God’s hair.

The street food is incredible.

Photo: lunabb/Shutterstock

Da Nang’s street food spots don’t have the legendary status of those in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, but the little plastic stools and tables lining the streets signal heaven for your taste buds. They’re especially popular with backpackers on a budget, but rest assured, you’re not trading quality for lower cost. Wander through the crowded backstreets and find a few spots buzzing with locals — the traveler’s telltale sign of good food.

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down, the only decision left is what flavors you’re in the mood for. Go with a Vietnamese classic in banh mi or pho, or grab fresh seafood in banh xeo, a “sizzling pancake” made of rice flour and stuffed with veggies and shrimp. The choices are endless. Just come armed with the name of the place, or follow the locals, as most of the signs aren’t written in English.

The city is a perfect place for digital nomads and entrepreneurs to hunker down.

Photo: /Shutterstock

Already the fourth largest Vietnamese city in terms of population, Da Nang is also an emerging startup hub in Southeast Asia. Back in 2016, Microsoft and the Danang Startup Network Coordinating Council signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help empower local businesses and startups. This kind of government and corporate support, coupled with the affordable cost of living, fills the city with the youthful energy of entrepreneurs and digital nomads.

Bright minds flock to events like SURF, the largest annual International Startup Conference and Exhibition in Central Vietnam. Here, they can take part in “SURF Speed dating,” a “program matching startups with investors, investment fund representatives, mentors, and entrepreneurs in the form of one-on-one meetings.” There’s a good reason some have dubbed Da Nang “the innovation hub by the sea.”

The city and surrounding area are strikingly beautiful.

Photo: Cuu Studio/Shutterstock

You can capture a sense of Da Nang’s spirit in one short legend. In ancient times, a fisherman saw a dragon rise out of the sea at Non Nuoc beach, a beautiful stretch of sand that runs for miles along the Da Nang coastline. The dragon laid a giant egg and returned to the water. Suddenly, a giant golden turtle crawled out onto the sand and told the fisherman it was his duty to protect the egg. For many nights, the turtle helped him stand guard. Years later, a beautiful princess hatched from the egg, and the shell fragments formed the five Marble Mountains you see today.

In those Marble Mountains, twisting marble and limestone tunnels lead to caverns filled with Buddha shrines, and a trek to one of the summits grants stunning views of the landscape below. Hike into the hills, rent a scooter for an adventure along Hai Van Pass, or kick it at one of the many beaches. Da Nang is a mix of urban energy and nearby natural beauty.

The location is central to all points in the country.

Photo: Tang Trung Kien/Shutterstock

Da Nang sits perfectly positioned as a midway point between Ho Chi Minh City in the south of Vietnam and capital city Hanoi in the north. The city also serves as the gateway to ancient Hoi An, a popular UNESCO World Heritage site that reflects the area’s mixed history and culture in its well-preserved architecture. Stop here on your way between these popular cities to take in the clashing worlds of sparkling skyscrapers and relaxed vibes.

Da Nang is full of bustling streets packed with motorbikes and people, much like the larger cities to the north and south, but the vibe is decidedly calmer. You’ll see cafes packed with those having casual conversations and people working on laptops, as well as beaches lined with families, tourists, and hawkers. Enjoy the smells of delicious street food and listen to the buzz of the city. Let your senses savor all this in Da Nang.


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Why Galicia, Spain, is underrated

When travelers think of Spain, they may imagine cities like Madrid or Barcelona — Galicia rarely comes to mind. The only place in Galicia foreigners do spend any time is Santiago de Compostela, and that’s only because it’s the final destination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

The few intrepid pilgrims who do persevere beyond Santiago de Compostela — to the lighthouse at Cape Finisterre — come to grasp what Galicia really has to offer. Here’s why Galicia is the most underrated region in Spain.

They love their wet weather.

Photo: Olivier Guiberteau/Shutterstock

Galicia is wet and windy. This is no big secret. In fact, it’s a point of pride for Galicians. But while most of the year is plenty soggy, the summer months of July and August are relatively dry. In fact, San Sebastian in the Basque Country gets more summer rain than Galicia.

Still, Galicia holds on to its reputation. In three weeks in Galicia this August — explored first on foot with backpacks, then via mountain bikes, and finally in a van packed with surfboards — it rained only one day. That rainy day was the one where we mountain-biked 60 kilometers across misty, rugged terrain towards the sea. As we pedaled through the rain up steep climbs, mud splashed across our bikes, clothing, and faces, and the Spaniards riding alongside us laughed, “This is Galicia!”

Yet by 4:00 PM, as we reached the coast, the rain stopped. By the next day, the skies cleared. For the remaining 10 days, after we had traded the bikes for the van, exploring cities, seaside towns, and surf breaks throughout Galicia, we saw sunshine every day. We did, however, have cooler mornings and evenings than other regions of Spain. After a summer of crushing heat waves in Europe, that’s not such a bad thing.

The scenery is breathtaking.

Photo: Lukasz Janyst/Shutterstock

In Galicia, it’s possible to leave a nearly deserted, windswept beach full of kite-boarders, drive 20 minutes, and arrive at another empty beach, this one protected from the wind but with perfectly peeling waves for surfers. Alternatively, you could opt for a protected, swim-friendly beach with no waves at all. The combinations are endless given Galicia’s incredible topography.

Galicia’s jagged coastline looks like the branches of an old oak tree, with gnarled twigs jutting into the frigid Atlantic — confusing mariners in ancient times. With storms and thick fog in the colder months, this area earned the name Costa da Morte, or Coast of Death.

Yet the twisted, fissured shoreline means that from a city beach like Ribeira, a wide stretch that looks east towards the continent, a 30-minute drive takes you through a state park studded with pine trees to Praia do Vilar. There, you find a stunning, white-sand beach facing west toward the open sea. Add steep mountains, forested hills, small farms, and green valleys to these varied beaches, and you have some pretty spectacular scenery.

The speak Galego. And play bagpipes.

Photo: Lux Blue/Shutterstock

Galicia is not the only region of Spain with its own language. The Basque Country and Catalonia famously have their own languages, and variants of these are spoken in other Spanish provinces. It’s also true that the Basque Country and Catalonia have their own character, especially once you leave cosmopolitan cities like Barcelona.

It’s the same in Galicia, where Galician — Galego, as they call it — is very similar to Portuguese yet has several Celtic words. Celts inhabited Galicia over 2,500 years ago, and that heritage is still celebrated today. Galicia is a member, together with Cornwall, Wales, Brittany, and Scotland of the Celtic League. And you will hear gaitas, or bagpipes, everywhere.

The connection with their northern Celtic cousins is a big reason why Galicians are so proud of their cool, drizzly climate. Should you find yourself traversing an elevated plateau with farms, granite rocks, stones walls, and thick fog, you might question whether you’d suddenly ended up in Scotland.

The time zone is whacked.

In at least one way, Galicia is firmly a part of Spain: meal times. Like in the rest of the country, lunch is around 2:00 PM, and dinner might be at 10:00 PM. Yet Galicia has a time feature that makes these mealtimes perfectly reasonable: it’s on continental European time, even though it’s far west of that actual time zone.

In late August, the sun doesn’t come up until nearly 8:00 AM but sets after 9:00 PM. That makes it easy to skew your whole clock over a bit — so you can feel cool and local when you finish dinner at midnight.

The other plus of the crazy time zone is that locals don’t hit the beach until after lunch since the sun won’t set for a long while anyway. You can get to the most popular beach in the late morning and have it to yourself for a few hours.

The seafood is spectacular. So is the bread.

Photo: Andres Garcia Martin/Shutterstock

Spaniards who aren’t from Galicia have two comments when you tell them you’ll be vacationing there: “It rains a lot” and “Have the octopus.”

This August, it didn’t rain a lot. But we did have the octopus, and it was the best we’d ever tasted. We also had mussels, clams, sardines, hake, anchovies, shrimp, and unusual seafood like razor clams and barnacles. It was delicious everywhere ­– from the relaxed outdoor lunch restaurant inside the state park to the overly bright dining room in a nondescript seaside town.

Galicia’s ubiquitous whole wheat bread, sliced into thick slabs from round loaves, was not just good for soaking up the garlicky juices of the steamed mussels. It was the tastiest regional bread I’ve had in Spain.

It’s perfect for those who like to spend time outdoors.

Photo: Noelle Alejandra Salmi

Galicia’s bread is especially satisfying if you’ve just sat down after walking 20 miles of the Camino de Santiago with a backpack. The popularity of that ancient pilgrimage route has exploded in recent years and inspired walkers all over Galicia. Some do not stop at Santiago de Compostela but persevere by trekking an additional 60 miles west to the end of the Finisterre peninsula (Cabo Fisterra).

Others then go from Cabo Fisterra (its Galician name) to Muxia, which is the actual westernmost point of the continent, and back to Santiago. Still others head north to Santiago from Portugal while some hardcore hikers skip the traditional Camino in favor of the 120-mile “Camino de los Faros” walk of the lighthouses along Galicia’s coastal cliffs and sandy beaches. Mountain bikers also travel many of these routes and plenty of other single-track trails, as well.

And then there’s the sea. Galicia is a great place for kiteboarders, windsurfers, and surfers who stake out their own beaches with the perfect mix of wind and swells. Galicia has some of the best surf in Europe. While we were at Pantin beach, an expansive cove framed by green knolls and farmland, grandstands and signage were going up for The World Surf League’s Classic Galicia Pro competition just a few days later.

Despite Galicia’s great waves, the surf scene is only now emerging. Elizabeth Lee, who owns a surf shop in A Coruña with her Galician husband, said that for years their surf school was one of three. “Now there are about 20 of them,” she said.

It’s low-key.

If it’s luxury you want, a Galician holiday may not be for you. The exception is the city of Santiago de Compostela, which was already a worthy destination with its thousand-year-old Cathedral and UNESCO-recognized old town of cobblestones, plazas, and narrow streets. With tourists and over 200,000 Camino pilgrims arriving yearly, Santiago de Compostela is well-equipped to handle every kind of traveler. It has budget hostels and elegant inns, as well as inexpensive eats and white-tablecloth dining.

But Santiago is 45 minutes from the nearest beach. If your Galicia focus is on its spectacular coast, the lodging options are harder. Camino destinations like Finisterre and Muxia have accommodations, as do bigger cities like A Coruña and Vigo, but if you want a view of the sea in smaller towns like Porto do Son or Louro, look at the Spanish sites for HomeAway and Airbnb months in advance.

As for food, just ask around when you arrive. You’ll find excellent seafood throughout Galicia’s coast. The décor may be bare-boned, or you may be lunching with a view of a local regatta — but everywhere you go, you’ll find Galicians take pride in their cooking, and they do it well.

But the wealthiest man is Spain is from there.

Photo: saiko3p/Shutterstock

Galicia can feel like the forgotten corner of Spain, but it’s home to one of the richest men on earth, Zara’s founder Amancio Ortega. His company, Inditex, the world’s largest fashion group, is headquartered just outside A Coruña. With A Coruña’s already established wealth as a port, a fair amount of money circulates in this handsome, but understated, seaside city.

That means you can find nice restaurants in A Coruña, and in summer, its pedestrian-only, old-town streets fill up nightly. Diners at tapas bars serving “pulpo á feira” and “sardiñas con pimientos” spill out onto the streets. Also, the foreigners who come to work at places like Inditex have encouraged the emergence of a few non-Spanish dining options.

If you stroll through A Coruña’s old town in the morning, stop first for churros dipped in hot chocolate, then wander its small boutiques. Some of the best are in alleyways so narrow you could touch both walls with your hands. Look for jewelry made by local artisans, and marvel at the low prices.

After summer, things are even quieter.

Photo: Noelle Alejandra Salmi

An evening walk along the beach in A Coruña is blissfully uncrowded, even at the height of summer. Outside of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia is not on tourists’ radars. After summer, there are hardly visitors at all.

A local surf instructor looked out at a sandy stretch that seemed, to this observer, to have very few people. “There are people now,” he said. “But in three weeks, we’ll have it to ourselves.”


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Visit Seattle's Eastside suburb

As a kid growing up in Seattle, Bellevue was kind of a punchline. Not that the mass of suburbia we collectively called the Eastside wasn’t a nice place — it’s home to Microsoft and, at the time, had more designer shopping than Seattle. But it was the boujee, gas-guzzling, expensive-shopping antithesis to grungy, vintage-chic Seattle. It was a generic home of fancy things with no soul and nothing to do that we only visited for back-to-school shopping and lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.

And outside of Seattle, nobody had heard of the place.

But as Seattle morphed into a tech-fueled mega-city, its neighbor to the east began to forge its own identity. The Eastside became the less-crowded jumping off point for the best things about the state of Washington: wilderness, beer, creative food, and outdoor recreation. Leveraging its location between one of the top wine-tasting destinations in America and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, Bellevue has become almost as worth visiting as its big brother to the west.

A designer hotel marks the arrival of a destination.

Photo: W Bellevue/Facebook

Bellevue has a W. People in Seattle don’t even know Bellevue has a W, but if there’s a sign that the city has grown out of its bedroom-community reputation, that’s it. Because you don’t get the same hotels as Dubai and Barcelona when all you have to offer is a mall.

The W’s designers knew exactly what the city offered when developing the hotel’s theme. It has the feel of a wealthy, stylish relative’s summer lake house, done up in light woods with big windows and a stacked bar. It interprets the Eastside as a place of modern luxury, with easy access to the outdoors and fine wine. Like Napa with mountains — and a bigger skyline.

“As an Eastside girl who grew up here, everybody thought of this as the uncool place to hang out, but you’ve gotta look at it in a different way,” Julia Amodt, the W’s resident Insider, told me as we sipped cocktails on hanging chairs, gazing out at Bellevue’s modern skyline from the Living Room. In my hand was a spicy pineapple margarita made with Patron and habanero agave, the kind of drink nobody saw in Bellevue a decade ago but is endemic in W’s cocktail bars. “This is the kind of location you go to if you want to go paddleboarding or hiking or kayaking one day, then come back and maybe get a massage at the spa and eat dinner, then go wine tasting the next.”

As we watched the sun go down over Bellevue’s skyline — dwarfed by Seattle’s but stunningly similar to skylines in Phoenix or San Jose — she explained how her job involves crafting custom itineraries full of stuff like picnics at private beaches and private brewery tours. She also arranges exclusive wine tastings at Chateau Ste Michelle and tasting dinners at the W’s Lakehouse restaurant, helmed by James Beard Award Winner Jason Wilson. “People think there’s nothing to do on the Eastside, but there is — if you have a relaxed attitude and know how to find the hidden gems.”

“I like pushing the boundaries of what people think Bellevue is,” she continued, looking at the sun reflecting off the copper-mirrored skyscraper in front of us. “You can’t make a comparison between us and Seattle. Here you can be so much closer to the outdoors, to wine tasting. It’s not as busy as Seattle. There’s great nightlife over there, but this is just such a relaxing vacation.”

A Northwest wilderness vacation — with amenities.

Photo: Dan Lewis/Shutterstock

Relaxing was the perfect word for how I felt after climbing to the top of giggle-inducing Poo Poo Point, a seven-mile round-trip hike about 10 minutes from the W. The hike starts in the quaint northwestern town of Issaquah, winding up through evergreen trees for nearly three miles with intermittent views over emerald mountains and Lake Sammamish. The hot August afternoon didn’t feel so harsh with a soft, cool breeze blowing across the mountaintop. Hang gliders pushed off from a launchpad not far from the summit, a perfect northwest scene with the Bellevue skyline a short way in the distance.

The hike is but one of many in an area where hikes through dense forests leading to sweeping views are commonplace. There’s Rattlesnake Ledge about halfway back towards downtown Bellevue, a four-mile hike that winds through the mountains with views of Cedar River watershed; Mount Si; Mount Washington; Rattlesnake Lake; and Chester Morse Lake. Between Lake Sammamish State Park, Tiger Mountain State Forest, and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, the area offers so many hikes even Seattle lifers haven’t tried them all.

For slightly less-strenuous outdoor adventures, paddleboarding and kayaking on Lake Sammamish or Lake Washington are peaceful ways to take in the mountains. When the weather is nice — more often these days in western Washington — you can kayak under blue skies and canopies of fir trees as hawks soar overhead. Rent from Cascade Canoe & Kayak on Lake Washington or Issaquah Paddle Sports on Lake Sammamish.

The highest concentration of tasting rooms — anywhere.

Photo: Matthews Winery/Facebook

A 10-minute drive north of downtown Bellevue puts you smack in the middle of Washington Wine Country. Sort of. Cruise up to the small town of Woodinville — a $13 Uber ride — and you’d think its reputation as a wine-tasting destination was a complete fabrication.

“The only vines you see here are purely ornamental,” says Karina Duchastel, owner of Matthew’s Winery in Woodinville. “It’s made to look like it’s wine country. Our reputation has nothing to do with the quality of the grapes here.”

The reputation stems from the 120 Washington State wineries that have tasting rooms in Woodinville. That’s because Washington’s wine country is mostly based in Walla Walla — about a four-hour drive from Seattle. But as Washington law allows wineries to have up to four tasting rooms anywhere in the state, many have chosen to set up shop in Woodinville, making it the densest concentration of wine tasting rooms in America. You can taste more small-vintage wines from tiny winemakers in a day than you can in famed locales like Napa Valley or Sonoma.

Chateau Ste. Michelle led the charge to Woodinville in the 1990s when the Washington State wine heavyweight set up a satellite winery here, complete with its trademark concert venue. Columbia Crest, the state’s other mega-winery, followed suit shortly after.

“That just caused a lot of wineries to jumpstart their operations here,” says Duchastel, whose winery opened in the 1990s under different ownership. “If you want to come do wine tasting, you can fly to Seattle and drive all the way to Walla Walla, or you can just come to Woodinville.”

“It also created an environment where up-and-coming, out-of-their-garage winemakers have started,” she continued from her hillside tasting room. “You put fruit together with winemakers with incredible passion, and you get what we have here.”

The city is also home to breweries like 20 Corners, Triplehorn, and Sumerian Brewing Company, as well as distilleries like Woodinville Whiskey — recently acquired by Moet Hennessy but still just as fun a place to kill an afternoon. If you still wanna support the little guy, hit J.P. Trodden in a little garage space in an office park. You won’t spend a ton of time there, but it’s the best whiskey in the region. Woodinville has a concentration of local alcohol makers you wouldn’t even find in travel-darling cities like Asheville or Boulder.

A home for James Beard winners and renowned Seattle restaurants.

Photo: The Lakehouse Bellevue/Facebook

Food on the Eastside has grown up, too. The most obvious sign is Lakehouse, the W’s restaurant helmed by James Beard Award winner Jason Wilson. The place continues the hotel’s theme of beach vacation house with high ceilings, long tables, and lots of energy. The boisterous space is filled with plates made from local farms, highlighted by the Yakima slow-braised short rib with bleu cheese and local Cabernet sauce, and curry-roasted cauliflower with green apple and kale pesto. It’s not just a fancy restaurant in an expensive hotel in a swanky suburb. It’s the kind of creative, local food one expects in giant cities like Seattle. So there’s no need to cross the bridge to get first-rate cuisine on your relaxing getaway.

Top Seattle restaurants are hip to Bellevue’s emergence, too. Monsoon, a white-hot Asian-fusion restaurant in Capitol Hill recently opened up shop in Downtown Bellevue. The food here is the kind of innovative Asian cuisine one expects when visiting the northwest, with dishes like lemongrass pork shoulder rice bowls and caramelized Idaho catfish clay pots with sweet onions leading a small-plate-heavy menu that is ideal for tourists looking to sample the local fare. And again, it’s big-city stuff in a smaller, less hectic environment.

Bellevue may not be Seattle, but it very much is Washington. If wilderness, wine, beer, and great food is your vacation MO, Seattle’s Eastside might be the West’s most underrated destination. Once a suburban afterthought, this area has blossomed into a jumping off point that represents everything great about the state. And it almost makes us feel silly for mocking it 20 years ago.


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Best street food cities in the world

A staple of traveling to a new country and doing things the local way is trying the local food. In many cases, this means venturing outside air-conditioned restaurants, and wandering through colorful street bazaars where merchants entice you with their fragrant (and hopefully fresh) food. When we think of street food, countries in Southeast Asia like Thailand and usually come to mind, but they’re not the only ones with a long, delicious street food tradition. Here are some of our favorite countries with street food scenes that fly under the radar of most traveling foodies.

1. Budapest, Hungary

Photo: Kseniia Perminova/Shutterstock

The culinary stereotype of central and eastern Europe might not exactly scream “mouth-watering local street cuisine,” but you’d be surprised. It’s not all goulash and potatoes. Living up to its name, Hungary in particular has a great tradition of street food, especially when it comes to desserts. Kürtőskalács, otherwise known as chimney cakes, are Hungarian in origin, but due to their popularity have since spread to markets in the Czech Republic, Romania, and other neighboring countries with Hungarian influence. Chimney cakes are cylinder-shaped sweet bread with a hollow center, churned on a spit usually found at outdoor carts or food stands. Once it’s ready, it can be rolled in a variety of toppings, or filled with peanut butter, chocolate, or nutella, and served on a stick. It might not be the reason you went to Hungary in the first place, but it’s definitely an excuse to go back.

2. Durban, South Africa

Photo: DK samco/Shutterstock

Durban is quite the confluence of different cultures’ cuisines, with influences from India, Europe, and native South African tribes. Indian-inspired curries factor heavily into the street food scene in Durban, often mixed with native South African ingredients. Vegetarian-only Little Gujarat, on Prince Edward Street, is the perfect example of a classic Durban street food experience, offering the local favorite bunny chow — a hollowed out half-loaf of bread filled with curry. There’s also an abundance of biltong (a thicker, chewier beef jerky), amagwinya (mince-and-veggie curry), and drunk-favorite Johnny’s Roti (a chip and cheese roti stuffed with curry). You can find the best Johnny’s Roti in Durban at Sunrise Chip ‘n Ranch.

3. New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo: HG Photography/Shutterstock

When it comes to good, old-fashioned comfort food, it doesn’t get any better than Louisiana’s plate lunches, usually served up at gas stations and convenience stores. Plate lunches consist of red beans and rice, with andouille sausage and buttered French bread. Debates over who serves the best plate lunch in New Orleans are about as fiery as the cheesesteak debate in Philadelphia. For a truly distinct New Orleans specialty, try some fried alligator from the Acme Oyster House. While there’s certainly no shortage of comfort cuisine, if you’re looking for something a bit more international, taqueria trucks and pho noodles can be found everywhere.

4. Paris, France

Photo: Petr Jilek/Shutterstock

Paris is well-known as the City of Lights and the City of Love, but the City of Street Food? When you think of Paris, you probably imagine glitzy restaurants patronized by society’s upper crust or cozy outdoor cafes where academics gather to engage in literary debate, and not food carts and street vendors. In reality, though, some of Paris’ best food can be found on the street, especially when it comes to crêpes. Crêpe stands are ubiquitous throughout the city, especially on the rue du Montparnasse, where local favorite La Crêperie de Josselin is located. But it’s not just classic French cuisine that’s being served up on the streets of Paris — falafel is another popular street food, and arguably the best place to find it is on the rue des Rosiers, at L’As du Fallafel.

5. Malta

Photo: Konstantin Aksenov/Shutterstock

Situated in the heart of the Mediterranean, just below Sicily, Malta is primely positioned to offer some of the best seafood in Europe. The island’s long fishing tradition means the Maltese really pride themselves on their fish. As any local will tell you, you have to try Lampuki, a classic Maltese catch. While Lampuki Pie and Rabbit Stew are available at most restaurants, for the freshest fish on the island, head to the Marsaxlokk Fish Market, which takes place every Sunday. Marsaxlokk is a fishing town on the southern end of the island, and on Sundays the whole city is taken over by merchants selling fish, candies, various meats, and souvenirs. Aljotta (fish soup) is a local favorite, containing a combination of bass, stone fish, grouper, dentex, white bream, and red mullet.

If you’ve had your fill of seafood, but not of local flavor, you need to try pastizz. The favorite local drunk food, pastizz is a savory pastry filled either with ricotta or mushy peas. It can be found at gas stations, convenience stores, and food carts all over the island.

6. Sydney, Australia

Photo: KoBoZaa/Shutterstock

While Malta might contend for Europe’s best seafood, Australia certainly isn’t slacking in that department. The Sydney Fish Market is a staple in Sydney, with restaurants like Peter’s Seafood Cafe serving directly from their shop window. But seafood isn’t all Sydney has to offer. Given the city’s strong Vietnamese, Chinese, and Middle Eastern influences, banh mi, noodles, and babaganoush are all prevalent on the street food scene. For the widest variety of Asian and Middle Eastern-inspired foods, check out the Carriageworks Farmers Market, which offers Chinese dishes by TV chef Kylie Kwong.

7. Dakar, Senegal

Photo: Salvador Azna/Shutterstock

This far flung capital might not crack foodies’ bucket lists, but the street food here is seriously satisfying. Vendors appear on the street corners every morning with freshly baked baguettes, often filled with greasy eggs or Chocoleca, the Senegalese version of Nutella. For a truly authentic Senegalese food experience, you have to try the Thiebou Dieune, the official national dish composed of rice and fish, with a spicy stuffing, and a side of carrots, potatoes, or eggplant. The dish is cooked in a rich broth, with mild spices. Although it may sound like a complex dish to prepare and eat, it’s found most commonly at street vendors. Locals have simply mastered the act of balancing their plates and eating at the same time.


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Destinations made famous by books

When it comes to pop-culture tourism, television and cinema get all the credit nowadays. Star Wars takes people to Morocco and Ireland; fans of the movies The Lord of Rings flock to New Zealand; Games of Thrones aficionados rush to Croatia and Iceland, and Amélie has brought so many tourists to Paris that Audrey Tautou should get royalty payments for each person walking into the Café des deux Moulins. But before we were all so absorbed by blockbuster movies and addictive series, we used to read books, some of which contain stories with such a strong sense of place that we wanted to see where they were set or what inspired them with our own eyes. Unlike movies and television series, the descriptions provided by the authors and our imaginations were the only incentive we had, but our curiosity got the best of us, and we flocked to these destinations, changing them forever.

1. The Pacific Crest Trail, USA — Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Photo: Dan Lewis/Shutterstock

Wild is a memoir recounting Cheryl Strayed’s three-month trek on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995. In a (successful) attempt to heal herself from the loss of her mother four years earlier, the separation of her family, and her divorce, Strayed went on a solo and completely unprepared 1,100-mile hike from the Mojave Desert to California and Oregon to Washington State. Strayed’s determination and resilience in the face of this journey, filled with fears and hardships, was an inspiration to many who decided to give the hike a try. Since the book’s publication in March 2012 (and the release of the movie in December 2014), the number of hikers on the PCT has surged — 1,879 permits were delivered in 2013 against 6,069 in 2017. Because of the “Wild effect,” a new permit system was put in place in 2015, limiting the number of hikers on the PCT starting at the Mexican border, and more information about safety, preparedness, and environmental practices has been made accessible in the hopes of preventing damages to the trail. Even the Pacific Crest Trail Association is riding the wave of the success of Wild by listing the key hikes and spots from the book for future PCT hikers to literally walk into Strayed’s footsteps. They also have a Wild special edition magazine that they send to all those who join, as well as a video featuring Strayed on their website.

2. Vienna, Austria — The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal

Photo: trabantos/Shutterstock

The Hare with Amber Eyes is a work of historical non-fiction that follows the rich Ephrussi family in Odessa, Paris, and Vienna throughout 140 years of history. In 1938, when Austria was annexed to Nazi Germany, the Jewish family, owners of a large art collection, is dispossessed of everything it owns, including its palace and the artworks it contains. Only one thing is ignored by the looting nazis: a collection of 264 netsuke — wood and ivory carvings from Japan. One of the family maids hides the netsuke in a straw mattress and smuggles them with the determination to bring them back to their rightful owners after the war. Now, de Wall, the author of the book and descendant of the Ephrussi family, owns the collection of carvings.

The Hare with Amber Eyes sold more than one million copies worldwide since its publication in 2009. Readers, enthralled by this story, flocked to Vienna to see and experience the places described in the book. Guided walks organized by Vienna’s tourism bureau are available for those who wish to see the Vienna settings of the bestseller, including the Ephrussi Palace (home of the Ephrussi family before it was taken from them by the Nazis, now a casino), the Burgtheater and Opera House, Café Central, and the Stadttempel Synagogue. But the book also brought forth something much more long-lasting for travelers to Vienna. Last March, the de Waal and Ephrussi families donated the Ephrussi family archive and loaned some of the 264 netsuke to the Jewish Museum Vienna. An exhibition of these new acquisitions will take place in 2019, so fans can see the carvings that inspired The Hare with Amber Eyes and learn more about the somber history of Jews in Austria before, during, and after the Second World War.

3. The Rosslyn Chapel, Scotland — The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Photo: Antony McAulay/Shutterstock

The Da Vinci Code is a mystery novel about codes hidden inside the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, which lead those who follow them to the Holy Grail. Because the very successful, gripping novel is a work of fiction that makes many references to real-life artworks and places in France and the UK, people wanted to see for themselves which parts of the novel were real and which ones imagined. So, fans of the book traveled en masse to Paris to look for symbols in the Church of Saint-Sulpice and Da Vinci’s pieces in the Louvre, and they visited Scotland to see if the last relative of Jesus Christ was still hanging around the Rosslyn Chapel.

The Guardian explains that in 2004 a surge in the Eurostar ridership from London to Paris could be directly attributed to fans of the book heading to Paris to investigate. And you can still see people counting the number of glass triangles on the Louvre’s inverted pyramid or taking the Da Vinci Code tour at the museum. But the most impressive and lasting effect of the novel is probably what it did to the Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland — the number of visitors to the chapel went through the roof after the publication of the novel (and the release of the movie in 2006). The church’s website explains that The Da Vinci Code has had a profound impact on visitor numbers at the Chapel, which grew to over 176,000 [per year] at their peak, allowing the Trust to complete its major conservation project.”

4. Eastern Townships, Quebec, Canada — The Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny

Photo: meunierd/Shutterstock

Of Louise Penny’s 13 best-selling detective novels (soon 14), 10 take place or have a connection with the village of Three Pines, located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. Three Pines was imagined by Penny as a very small town filled with friendly, colorful characters that readers can’t help but get attached to. But Three Pines’ real appeal is its atmosphere — the slow pace of life; the sound of snow as the characters walk around the village square in winter; the hours spent in front of the fireplace in the comfortable armchairs of the village bistro; the incredible food and drinks served by Olivier and Gabriel; and the mouth-watering baked goods from Sarah’s bakery. Although readers are perfectly aware of the fictional nature of Three Pines, they also know that Penny drew her inspiration for it from her hometown of Knowlton, Quebec, and its surrounding area.

So, naturally, the people of the Eastern Townships capitalized on the success of Penny’s books (she has sold 6.3 million books worldwide); the tourism bureau has a “Three Pines Inspirations” map on its website, and there are Three Pines tours available for fans. The Knowlton bookstore, Brome Lake Books, has a reading area dedicated to Penny with a little wood stove and a mantle above to display Penny’s novels. On the wall, it has a framed copy of the “Three Pines Inspirations” map, and samples of Penny’s books in various languages line the bookshelves. The owners of the bookstore know that this is a place fans of Penny’s writing flock to in order to check out what inspired Three Pine’s Myrna’s bookstore, but also to see a place that encapsulates the ambiance of the Armand Gamache series that readers love so much. During an interview with The Vancouver Sun in 2017, Penny explains that “we get them [fans of the book] literally by the busloads from the United States, from Australia, from Europe, specifically looking for Three Pines.”

5. Edinburgh, Scotland — Harry Potter book series by JK Rowling

Photo: f11photo/Shutterstock

Although the movies from the Harry Potter franchise are clearly responsible for the surge in popularity of some areas in the UK (Christ Church College in Oxford, the Jacobite Steam train in Scotland, etc.), the same is true of the book series for several spots in Edinburgh.

There are two cafés in which JK Rowling famously wrote parts of the Harry Potter book series. The Elephant House, which advertises itself as “the birthplace of Harry Potter” in its window front and whose bathroom is entirely covered in Harry Potter graffiti, and The Spoon Café, formerly Nicholsons Café, which does not tout its special link to the Harry Potter series as much but has set up a small plaque on the building’s facade saying, “JK Rowling wrote some of the early chapters of Harry Potter in the rooms on the first floor of this building.” Greyfriars Kirkyard, a graveyard located very close the The Elephant House, is another place where Harry Potter fans flock. The names on the tombstones inspired some of the characters in the the series, especially Tom Riddle (AKA Lord Voldemort) whose grave is often covered in flowers and notes from fans. Last but not least, The Balmoral Hotel (room 522) where JK Rowling wrote the last opus of the book series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has renamed the room The Rowling Suite. In this room, Rowling famously graffitied a bust of Hermes with “J.K. Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (552) on 11th Jan 2007.”

6. Monterey, California — Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

Photo: jejim/Shutterstock

John Steinbeck was born and lived most of his life in the Salinas Valley of California. His most famous works are set in this part of California, including the Grapes of Wrath (1939) for which Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Although the entire Salinas Valley has been marked by Steinbeck’s writing, Cannery Row (1945) is the one that brought the most concrete transformation to this area of California.

Cannery Row is a work of fiction about the lives of those who worked and lived in the gritty neighborhood of fish-packing plants in Monterey, California, during the Great Depression. But it’s not the affluence of tourists wanting to see the setting of Steinbeck’s novel that changed this part of Monterey forever; it’s the town of Monterey that willingly transformed itself. Indeed, before Steinbeck’s novel and until 1958, the avenue now known as Cannery Row was called Ocean View Avenue; it was changed to honor Steinbeck and his influential work. Note that Sweet Thursday, the sequel to Cannery Row published in 1954, is set in the same district of Monterey, California.

7. Verona, Italy — Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Photo: Stanislav Samoylik/Shutterstock

It may not be a recent New York Times bestseller, but Romeo and Juliet, the late-16th-century tragic play by William Shakespeare, has had a tremendous effect on Verona, Italy, the city where the action takes place. The compelling story of two young people who fall in love despite the violent rivalry between their two families tugged at people’s heart strings so much that the city has been branded “The City of Love,” and the tourism bureau has made sure visitors could get their fill of romantic visits associated with the play. Juliet’s house, a 13th-century building renovated in the early 1900s that belonged to the Dal Cappello (The Capulets) features the famous balcony under which Romeo promised his eternal love and where the lovers reject their families’ feud.

For a fee, you can visit the house and stand on the balcony to relive this scene with your beloved. In the courtyard of the house, below the balcony, stands a bronze statue of Juliet, worn by the hands of the hundreds of thousands of tourists who have touched it in hopes of finding love. Visitors to Verona can also check out Juliet’s tomb, Romeo’s house, and Shakespeare’s bust, but the city has gone even further to capitalize on the throngs of travelers who come to get immersed in the story of the two lovers. “In Juliet’s Footsteps” walking tours are obviously available, but the most over-the-top Juliet-focused tourist activity is Juliet’s Club, a place where all the 50,000 yearly letters addressed to “Juliet, Verona” from all over the world are read, archived, and answered. You can visit the archive, answer a letter, take the tour, take part in the events organized and, of course, buy corny souvenirs.


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Coffee accessories for travelers

Seeing the world requires leaving the comforts of home — including making that first cup of coffee in the morning just the way you like it. Thankfully, there are all sorts of items that you can take with you when you travel that help keep your coffee game strong. Here are eight of the best coffee accessories on the market, perfect for any on-the-go coffee addict.

1. A hand-powered espresso maker

Photo: Wacaco – Portable Espresso Machines/Facebook

Sometimes you’d just kill for a real espresso, but you’re in the middle of nowhere, there’s no electricity, and bringing an espresso maker with you everywhere you go is definitely not the wisest packing choice. That’s where the hand-powered espresso maker comes in. Add virtually any kind of ground coffee you want, some hot water, and then use the piston to pump out a smooth, steamy espresso. The one from Wacaco is your best bet for a delicious cup of joe, anywhere you fancy.

2. A collapsible coffee drip

Photo: Snow Peak/Facebook

This handy little device is perfect to take on a camping trip. Set up the collapsible coffee drip over a mug, insert a coffee filter and grounds, pour in hot water, and voilà — fast, warm, and good drip coffee anywhere you want. This one from Snow Peak is lightweight and made from stainless steel, making it especially easy to pack away.

3. Coffee brewer bags

Photo: Coffeebrewer by Grower’s Cup/Facebook

For fans of pour-over coffee, these easy-to-use coffee bags are an essential travel item. Made with paper and filled with eight grams of single origin, specialty ground coffee, all you have to do is pour in hot water (you can gauge how much water you need for the coffee strength you like by using the measurement markings on the side of the bag), let it brew for five to seven minutes, and pour it out into a cup from the tiny attached spout. The bag can be even be reused several times. Grower’s Cup and Trader Joe’s each have some of the most highly-recommended coffee bags.

4. All-in-one traveler coffee kit

Photo: Cafflano

This coffee maker from Cafflano — cleverly designed to look like just a regular travel mug — has everything a die-hard coffee lover needs in case of an emergency. It comes with an insulated coffee mug, drip filter, miniature hand grinder, and drip kettle, and can make up to 160 ounces of coffee at a time. All the pieces are designed to fit together inside the larger mug so it’s easy to take on the road.

5. A manual hand grinder

Photo: Handground/Facebook

As our baristas keep telling us, the best coffee is made from freshly ground beans, so taking along a small, manual grinder makes it easy to continue to enjoy the best coffee, wherever you are. The one from Handground comes with different setting levels, ranging from the coarse grind for an espresso to the finely-ground result needed for a pour-over, and it has a manual crank, so no electricity is needed. Pair this with an air-tight freshness container so you can grind enough for a few days and you’ll be sitting pretty on freshly ground coffee.

6. A cold-brew kit

Photo: Coffee Sock Co./Facebook

This cold brew kit, made by CoffeeSock, uses a reusable cloth filter that gives the coffee an extra crisp taste and it’s much more environmentally-friendly than single-use filters. It’s also very easy to use: add coffee grounds into the cloth filter, tie the top, and then let it soak in the accompanying mason jar in cold water until the coffee reaches desired strength. Simple and easy. Note that CoffeeSock also makes regular, reusable coffee filters that you can combine with your collapsible coffee drip when on the road for maximum sustainability.

7. The best travel mug

Photo: CORKCIRCLE/Facebook

This travel mug from Corkcircle consistently gets top marks and it has earned them. It can keep liquids hot for 25 hours and cold for 12; it has a leak-proof lid; it’s made from stainless steel so it doesn’t affect taste; it has a no-slip grip and base; it comes in three different sizes ranging from nine to 25 ounces; and it uses three layers of insulation so your hands don’t get too hot or cold. Not to mention that it has a really cool, refined look and comes in multiple colors.

8. A travel French press

Photo: Bodum/Facebook

This travel press by Bodum comes in a chic chrome and silicon travel mug with a French press plunger installed inside, and the design prevents the grounds from leaking out into the coffee while drinking. The insulation can keep the coffee warm for several hours and it has a leak-proof lid.


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