Waking up at La Casa del Mundo felt like being on a remote private island with spectacular views and glittering water just waiting to be jumped in (or paddleboarded on, as we did daily). In actuality, it’s a charming hotel carved into a hillside along Lake Atitlán, a lake inside a massive volcanic crater in Guatemala’s southwestern highlands. The lake is rimmed with Mayan villages accessible by water taxis, each with a slightly different personality and community. The peaceful days we spent there swimming, visiting nearby towns, playing cards, and sipping mojitos were the perfect followup to a challenging (and beautiful) overnight hike of Volcan Acatenango, which is easily accessible from Antigua. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor
The Amazon Rainforest, Peru
I’ve had a spectacular travel year (Istanbul, Stockholm, and Montreal to name just a few cities I ticked off) but nothing beats when I was sent to the Peruvian Amazon for a story—with two weeks’ notice. After purchasing roughly REI Soho’s entire stock of bug repellant, I flew down to Iquitos, an isolated port city which acts as the gateway to the forest, and spent five days immersed in the center of the earth’s lungs, winding my way along the Amazon River at the height of the rainy season and witnessing our most diverse ecosystem firsthand. One morning I watched pink dolphins arch their backs out of the water as the sun rose; on another, a pair of sloths fighting in a tree (a sight that really is as absurd, and astounding, as it sounds). I saw a toucan taking flight at dusk and shimmering constellations of bats pattern the night sky. But there’s a particular moment I keep returning to when I look back on that trip: thousands of acid-green water lettuces bobbing on the water’s surface in an unexpected clearing between the trees. It was beautiful. But then I found out it was due to the overhunting of manatees that like to spend their days chowing down on the leaves—a profound reminder of the violent human impact on this fragile place, one that we rely on so urgently for our own survival. —Lale Arikoglu, articles director
Finland
As a Scandi furniture lover, I was thrilled to finally visit Helsinki this summer. What I didn’t expect was how much incredible design I would find outside of the city. I spent a night at Ahlström Noormarkku, the site of a former ironworks that’s now a pastoral family estate with guest houses filled with Alvar Aaalto furniture. It is also home to Villa Mairea, one of Aalto’s first residential projects. Next, I visited the stunning headquarters of the Finnish Design Shop, abutting a forest, where I tried and failed to get seduced by everything from kitchenware to art objects—and relished every bite at the onsite wild-food restaurant helmed by forager-chef Sami Talberg. But the stay that left the greatest impression on me was in the village of Fiskars, the birthplace of the Fiskars ironworks beloved for its ubiquitous orange scissors. Here I stayed at an 187-year-old inn and met the most incredibly talented woodworkers, glassblowers, and furniture makers who have turned the disused foundries and mills in the village into studios and homes. The artistic ethos here is deeply anchored in—and inspired by—the woodlands and lakes that surround the village. I hope to go back again this year, in time for the Fiskars Art & Design Biennale—I hear there’s a new boutique hotel worth checking out, too. –Arati Menon, global digital director
Crete, Greece
I truly underestimated Crete, Greece’s largest island, when I arrived in Chania in June. I was looking for a destination that would be a little less crowded than Santorini or Mykonos and Chania on the island’s northwest coast was the perfect base to explore the west side of the island. What I loved most about the trip was the easy access to transportation, I could explore several beach towns by bus without having to worry about renting a car during my short stay. The food was so fresh from having Cretan salad (goat cheese rather than the feta you’ll fine in a Greek salad) to trying fried snails to being given shots of raki at the end of every meal—the options were mouthwatering. You’d think visiting beach after beach would get boring, but it doesn’t. Each beach town had its own special charm, but it was Paleochora that had my heart. Paleochora, a small town on the southwest coast of Crete, had the clearest and calmest waters of the Mediterranean I’d seen and I didn’t want to leave. There was so much to explore on this island that even after a week, I didn’t even make it to the eastern side of Crete. —Kayla Brock, associate social media manager
South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy
I spent a month of maternity leave this summer in Italy, hopping between coastal Tuscany to Rome to Umbria and more. But the showstopper was Italy’s German-speaking South Tyrol. It was my first time in that part of Italy, a country that I have traveled to more frequently and extensively than any other and I was immediately hooked. Imagine a wonderland of bright green hills, jagged peaks, hiking trails and quaint mountain villages interlinked by sweet little trains painted in rainbow colors. My partner and I would spend our days hiking mountain passes and then reward ourselves with huge beers and plates of spaetzle and schnitzel at mountain rifugios, those glorious mountain huts more popularly known as the place for apres ski during the winter months (though the apres hike beer kicks the butt of the apres ski beer any day). Some days we took our kids to the local swimming pools, set to a back drop of the Alps, the ground carpeted in that bright green grass, punctuated with orange umbrellas that matched the day time aperol spritzes we ordered on the regular. This was mid August, peak travel time in Italy, and though there were people around, there were none of the heaving crowds I was so relieved to miss in places like the Amalfi. Our plan is to make the Dolomites a regular addition on our frequent trips to the boot. It felt like a total discovery in a place I thought I knew so well. —Erin Florio, executive editor
Rocky Mountaineer’s First Passage to the West
This fall, I had the opportunity to travel on the flag-bearer route of the famed Rocky Mountaineer train. The journey, known as the First Passage to the West, began in Vancouver and made its way to the mountain town of Banff through prime Pacific Northwest territory. Over two days, the train wound its way through craggy peaks and lush valleys, and we watched the rivers turn from a sharp green to a glacial blue through glass-domed coaches designed for taking in the spectacular views. All the while, our hosts told us stories about historical sites, the region’s political past, and its rich wildlife, while also plying us with Canadian Caesars and cheese plates (think: a Bloody Mary with clam juice) and the most incredible ingredient-forward meals. By the time we got to Banff, I felt like I had borne witness to centuries of Western Canada’s history—and had officially had my deep love for train travel rekindled. —Arati Menon, global digital director
Cruising the Baltic Sea
This past June I hopped aboard the Regent Splendor for a cruise through the Baltic Sea. We set sail from Southampton, England with stops to Kristiansand, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; two-days in Kiel, Germany; Gothenburg, Sweden; Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki, Finland; and our final port, Stockholm, Sweden. The ship was so luxe— its elegant, spacious staterooms, delicious specialty restaurants, and impressive art collection all helped reimagine cruising for me. But what I loved most about this trip was the particular ports of call. From brewery tours in Kiel and historic church visits in Tallinn, to rollercoaster rides at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Garden, there was no shortage of incredible sights to see. There was so much to explore in each of these cities—food, bars, museums, art—and each of them left me wanting more. At the end of each day, I looked forward to the most mesmerizing sunsets I’ve ever seen—which took place after 10 p.m., by the way. —Meaghan Kenny, associate commerce editor
Amsterdam, Netherlands
I went several places this year that totally blew my mind—Egypt, to sail the Nile on the new Viking Aton; an adventure through the cloud forest of Northern Peru in search of archaeological sites; even a whirlwind tour through Kenya hopping from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara to Lamu with three friends. But a few days in Amsterdam, with my partner Henry, struck me in a way few trips can. I studied abroad at the Universiteit van Amsterdam back in 2008, which was one of the more impactful experiences of my young life and (fortunately or fortunately) set me on a lifelong path of wanting to spend time abroad. The confidence inspired by being able to read a full cafe menu in Dutch, or properly hand-signal as I tore through the city on bike, no map needed, was monumental at the age of 20. I knew which clubs were most likely to see big-name Dutch DJs on Queen’s Day (now King’s Day), and which flea markets reliably had the best vintage clothing. Over a decade later, I made my very long-awaited return. I got to stand in front of my old apartment, and drink a bottle of wine beside canals I remember dancing on when they were frozen in the record-setting cold winter I spent there. Better yet, I was able to stay at hotels like the Tivoli Doelen and Sofitel Grand that I had ogled back then. Some things had changed (Winkel 43, where I used to walk in for a quick slice of apple pie, now has a massive line outside), but a lot was just the same. Long story short: Make those return trips to the places that have shaped your life. —Megan Spurrell, senior editor
Miami, Florida
I’ve traveled to Miami more times than I can count—although, full disclosure: my trips have lacked the admiration the city deserves. Whether I’m heartbroken, stressed, or even just cold, Miami has been the ultimate escape from New York destination for me. But this year, in early September, I deep-dove into the charismatic fashion of old-school South Beach. Walking down Ocean Drive, my dear friend and I fell into the strip of art deco boutique hotels and restaurants parallel to the ocean. Not even stopping to sit, we danced on the sidewalks to live Caribbean music outside, and admired the gaudy charm of tiny, overpriced gift shops. All so immersive and groovy– I also met face to face with the Atlantic for our poetic farewell of the year. Instead of being swept up by the “Miami heat,” I paid an overwell due diligence to the city. A dinner at modern Aegean restaurant and gin bar, Doya, is perfect sharing portions and delicious dips; visits to iconic spots like Cuban restaurant and bakery Versailles and speakeasy-styled vinyl listening bar, Dante’s Hi-Fi– all revealed the city’s creative and cultural soul *almost* impossible to miss. My new favorite hub, Mac’s Club Deuce is Miami’s oldest bar– and it provided a whole new rhythm than what I was used to in the 305. A dive bar with pool and a jukebox– Mac’s is a haven for locals and high-energy visitors coming from clubs nearby, creating this melting pot, and unreplicable electrifying buzz. This year, I got to know the allure of Miami off the paper. Once just an escape, the city transformed into a cutting-edge culture, design, and expansive hub– inviting fun and of course, sun-kisses. —Jessica Chapel, editorial assistant
