Criss Crossed Towns (2024)

15/02/2022

Preserved Victorian buildings, a robust maritime culture, and a 430-acre military base-turned-state park make picturesque Port Townsend worth a double-take. Once poised to be the “New York of the West,” this small port town fought through many economic downturns and continues to pull in visitors searching for a unique Pacific Northwest getaway. A wealth of exciting festivals (including a Steampunk Fest and annual Wooden Boat Festival), eclectic shops, delicious dining options, and friendly locals cement Port Townsend as a worthy destination for savvy travelers in 2022.

15/02/2022

Though Albuquerque may not have been the first on your list of American cities to visit in previous years, it definitely should be in 2022. With the magnificent Sandia Mountains as a backdrop, you’ll find natural and cultural wonders in Albuquerque such as tantalizing New Mexican green chiles, innovative local breweries, and unique art and sculptures.

15/02/2022

The US Virgin Islands are open for business with minimal hassle for entry to US citizens – a commodity sparingly found in the Caribbean these days. Of the four main islands within the US territory, St John is our favorite offering a unique island vibe that stands apart from the others. The island’s two small villages, Cruz Bay and Coral Bay, are lined with beachfront bars filled with weathered sailors with tales to tell, mainland misfits escaping the stresses of reality, and awestruck visitors soaking it all in. Covering 60% of the island is Virgin Islands National Park, featuring miles of hiking trails through lush tropical forests, a plethora of historical ruins and ancient artifacts, and the most pristine white-sand beaches in the Caribbean. St. John isn’t just one of the best places to visit in the US Virgin Islands – it’s one of the best places to travel in the world in 2022, period.

15/02/2022

A port city on Lake Superior, Duluth is a treasure trove of locally-sourced food and drinks. From craft beers to artisan eateries in the Lincoln Park Craft District, Duluth has plenty to satisfy your tastebuds. But food isn’t the only reason to add Duluth to your 2022 travel destination list. While there, you’ll also want to watch tall ships enter the port, go skiing or snowboarding at Spirit Mountain, and get a glimpse of migrating raptors at Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory. With so much to do in this quaint city, Duluth makes for the perfect weekend getaway.

15/02/2022

Most tourists pass right through it on their way to Rincon, but those who dare to travel off the beaten path will be dazzled by Aguada. You’ll find some of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful beaches nearby, and Aguada’s fashion district is growing by the day, offering dozens of boutiques for shopaholics. Chocolate lovers can enjoy a visit to a cacao farm while curious travelers will discover unique sights such as a pyramid, the only Earthship community center on the island, and the ruins of World War II cannons on a beach.

15/02/2022

Don’t be fooled by Prince Edward Island’s small size, because what this eastern Canadian province lacks in square footage it makes up for in beautiful vistas, inspiring festivals, top-notch gastronomy, and incredibly friendly locals. With coastal culture dripping out of every nook and cranny, visitors will learn all about Canadian history between hitting the beach and hiking to centuries-old lighthouses.

15/02/2022

Treat yourself to some of the most unparalleled beauty in the country by adding North Cascades National Park in Washington State to your list of places to travel in 2022. This rugged paradise is one of the least visited national parks in the US, meaning it’s perfect for travelers seeking an outdoor excursion without the crowds. Known for its enormous glacial system (the largest in the lower 48), enchanting alpine lakes, and jagged snow-capped mountains, hikers, backpackers, and anyone who ventures into the park are in for the experience of a lifetime.

14/02/2022

Put every infinity pool you’ve ever seen to shame with these natural, snow-white hot springs overlooking the nearby city of Denizli. On top of the picturesque soak, Pamukkale is also home to the impressively preserved ruins of the ancient Roman spa-city Hierapolis where you can bathe like an emperor among the submerged centuries-old columns.

14/02/2022

If traversing the canals with a be-striped gondolier sounds unbearably touristy, stick to the sidewalks and spectacular arched bridges to get your fill of this truly unique, wildly romantic floating city.

14/02/2022

Painted almost entirely in blue and white, this Mediterranean village is a coastal decor dream. The entire town is located on a steep cliff, so you can take in the beauty (and breeze) of the Med while perusing local artisanal goods.

14/02/2022

If you want to truly feel like you're living in Outlander, head to Skye. You'll find some of the most dramatic, wild, and atmospheric scenery in the country with plenty of standing stones to up the mystical feel. And then there's the charming town center to explore after a day of adventure.

14/02/2022

Floating high above ancient Buddhist temples and pagodas might be the most convincing reason to forget about your fear of heights for a while.

14/02/2022

Aspen is beautiful no matter what time of year you visit, but fall is particularly breathtaking thanks to its namesake, the Aspen trees. Their golden glow is truly magical. And fun fact: They're the largest living organisms on earth! It's also home to some of the best ski slopes (and luxury shopping) in the world!

14/02/2022

If you love the beauty of abandoned places, you need to know about this ancient Buddhist monastery. Ta Prohm temple became part of the jungle once the Khmer Empire fell in the 15th century.

10/02/2022

We've all had a bad year. Hell, we've all had a bad two years. Yet it's hard not to feel a strong surge of empathy for South Africa.
While many destinations at least benefited from summer Covid lulls to revive traveler numbers, South Africa's November-March peak season has meant that most of its would-be visitors have been stuck at home, battling winter virus spikes.
To cap it all, in gratitude for South African scientists quickly identifying and warning about the Omicron variant, much of the rest of the world cut off all travel contact, delivering a pointless blow to the country's already beleaguered tourism industry.
For those reasons alone, if it's safe to visit in 2022, South Africa deserves to be near the top of anyone's wish list. All those things that make it special -- from beaches to big game safaris, wine to whale spotting, township tours to hiking trails -- are all still there. And there are plenty of unexplored gems to experience if it does get busy: beach city Gqeberha, the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal, the scenic Panorama and Garden Route driving trails.

10/02/2022

In 2021, Palau had one of the world's only successful "travel bubbles" with its fellow Pacific island of Taiwan. One of the reasons Palau has been able to pull off a small reopening to tourism is that sustainability isn't just a priority -- it is baked into everything that happens in this precarious 153-square-mile paradise.
Every visitor to the country must sign the Palau Pledge, a vow to behave responsibly while traveling and do one's part to care for the environment -- which can include everything from not using plastic bags to only packing sunscreens that meet the country's high standards. The pledge was written by Palauan schoolchildren -- another reminder that the decisions we make affect not just us but the generations to come.
The commitment to preserving the environment makes sense when you see how much breathtaking, diverse landscape Palau has to offer.
Jellyfish Lake, which was closed to visitors for several years in order to let the titular jellyfish population return to acceptable levels, is open again.
The island's lone UNESCO World Heritage Site is a blockbuster: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, an expanse of more than 400 islands which are home to some of the world's rarest corals, as well as a range of birds, fish and sharks.

10/02/2022

Off the most northerly tip of Scotland, you'll find the Orkney Islands, a breathtaking archipelago with cliffs and crags dotted with seabirds, seals and fascinating archaeological sites.
Orkney comprises some 70 islands, of which 20 are unoccupied. The largest, Mainland, is home to a group of UNESCO-protected Neolithic monuments dating back 5,000 years, including the chambered tomb of Maeshowe and the enigmatic standing circle, Ring of Brodgar.
Other highlights include stargazing and Aurora-watching on North Ronaldsay, a recently designated Dark Sky island, and visiting the colorful Italian Chapel on uninhabited Lamb Holm, constructed out of Nissen huts by Italian Prisoners of War during World War II.
Meanwhile the St Magnus Way pilgrimage route, named for Orkney's patron saint, offers a great introduction to the islands' wild beauty, the route winding round rugged cliffs, taking in Iron Age brochs and culminating at Kirkwall's St Magnus Cathedral.
Travelers can hop between the Scottish mainland and Orkney, and between the individual islands, either on ferries or via air -- Orkney is home to the shortest commercial flight in the world, connecting the 1.7 miles between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray in just two minutes.

10/02/2022

trip to one of the world's most sought-after sightseeing spots should be about far more than the final destination. And that's where Ollantaytambo comes in.
This well-preserved town along the route to Machu Picchu in Peru's Sacred Valley boasts in own impressive Inca ruins and has recently been named one of the UNWTO's "Best Tourism Villages." The initiative recognizes places that have embraced tourism as a means to promote sustainable development and to safeguard rural villages "along with their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, and their local values and activities."
There's a lot to safeguard here: An Inca fortress and temple dating to the 15th century that became the site of a rare defeat of Spanish conquistadores; a vibrant town that's also one of the best surviving examples of Inca city planning; the Inca storehouses of Pinkuylluna overlooking Ollantaytambo; and a nearby Inca quarry that gave rise to engineering marvels.
Because Ollanta, as it's often called, is at a lower elevation (2,792 meters or 9,160 feet) than the international arrivals gateway of Cusco (3,399 meters or 11,152 feet), it's also a better place to acclimate to the thin air of the Andes. Other intriguing spots in the Sacred Valley, including the mysterious circular Inca ruins at Moray -- thought to be an agricultural project -- and the terraced Maras salt mines, are nearby.
Tourism to Peru in 2020 dropped to just 20% of 2019 arrivals, but those numbers will creep back up as the world tackles Covid-19. 2022 just might be the year to plan a good, long, meandering trip of a lifetime before visitor numbers surge again.

10/02/2022

Cut Naples and it bleeds classic Italy. Pizza was born here; Sophia Loren was raised in its cobbled streets. Ancient ruins lie beneath modern suburbs. Scooters zigzag past faded-glory palazzos, built when the southern city was its own sovereign state. Hand gestures are an art form here. And that fabled Italian friendliness? This is where it is forged.
But why go now? Because Naples is booming. The centro storico is pulsating with energy. Sassy, non-cookie-cutter hotels are opening up -- like Atelier Inès, which is part jewelry workshop, part arty guesthouse.
Areas which were previously considered no-go for tourists are finally being seen in a different light. The Sanità district, once looked down on, is now the place to be -- visitors are flocking to its networks of ancient catacombs, and neighborhood artist Paolo La Motta is suddenly on display amid works by Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor at the former royal palace of Capodimonte.
There's more to come: New archaeological sites are due to open in 2022 which, although under wraps for now, will shed new light on Greek and Roman Neapolis, as it was called back then. Outside the city, Pompeii is unveiling newly excavated ruins and new ideas -- like the Pompeii ArteBus, which shuttles visitors around nearby, lesser known villas, for free. Offshore, island Procida will be Italy's Capital of Culture for 2022. But really, this is Naples' year. -

04/02/2022

New Zealand's South Island brims with majestic landscapes at every turn, from dramatic mountains to fjords to glaciers. Here, you can admire the mountains of Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from hiking trails or a boat on Milford Sound. At night, journey to the University of Canterbury's Mount John Observatory to gaze at the starry skies. You can also indulge your inner daredevil in Queenstown, explore two of the most accessible glaciers in the world on the island's west coast or sample delicious food and wine in the Marlborough region.

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