#Boulder Nordic Sport

[evsvolunteerstotem]

Easter, spring feelings, and other happy moments

27.04.2024

Ahojky:)

I hope you're doing well. I am definitely more than fine right now and I think it's not only due to the weather but also because of everything I got to experience during the last weeks…

Starting with my Easter holidays, which I spent at home and during which I was able to meet my family and many friends again. I went on lots of coffee dates, was at a live podcast in the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin together with my sister, visited a football match of the U 21 national team in my hometown as well as going to the cinema and spending Easter together with my family.

Unfortunately, I got sick and therefore had to come back to Plzeň one week later than planned but it seemed like the city therefore wanted to welcome me even warmer- like literally!! As I arrived it felt like during those two weeks I wasn't there the season changed from winter directly to summer. The sun was shining, it was very hot outside and the trees bloomed as if they had already skipped spring. This definitely made it a lot easier for me to get motivated again, because after two weeks of sleeping in, going to parties and without any obligations, I had to get used to waking up early again, having a predetermined daily routine, and completing all my tasks in and out of TOTEM. But as I said before, this adjustment period lasted shorter than expected, and in my first week I already helped at the Pub Quiz in TOTEM again, joined Martin's German course to answer questions from the participants there, took part in another event for all colleges and regularly had the English and German conversation, danced with Adeto and joined Nordic walking as well as the baking with Mirka and had my weekly English lesson with the children and the list goes on and on and on… It's crazy, how you sometimes really think that it will probably take a lot of time to get used to something but then you just start and everything falls into place again. ;)

But of course, besides all the usual tasks at work that I've already talked about in my last posts, there were also other things happening in Plzeň this month. So let's talk about April and its highlights. ^^

One thing that made me really happy was meeting all my friends again and talking with them about the things we've missed out on in each other's lives. I also missed my favourite cafes in Plzeň, strolling in the beautiful city centre, chilling in one of the parks, and walking through the forest with its lakes right next to TOTEM. This is something I started to appreciate even more because as the weather got so warm suddenly it was a big release to have nature right next to me.

Furthermore, I went to the boulder hall again and did so much better than during my first few times there. I finished routes that seemed impossible for me before and gained a lot of confidence to continue with the new hobby that I've now found for myself.

But apart from being socialised and staying active during April I also tried to take more time for myself again. This was something that I had previously lost sight of and now wanted to pay even more attention to. And the always-changing weather of the month also benefited me at that point, because although April sometimes felt like summer already, there were enough days when it showed exactly the opposite. It's not for nothing that they say in Germany (and by the way also in the Czech Republic): "April, April, he does what he wants." – and in practice that also meant a lot of rain, thunderstorms, and cold days and therefore the perfect weather to stay inside and take care of things that were left behind. For me those were deep cleaning my flat, trying new recipes and paying more attention to my body and soul. I discovered yoga for me again and replaced high-intensity workouts and sports like running with low-intensity movement and long walks through the forest (only when the weather allowed it of course;D). That reduced my stress level extremely and helped me with listening to my body more again.

Keep in mind that you can always change your routines if it feels better for you and that it's okay to fall out of love with something and fall in love with something new at the same time. You only live once and should therefore be happy with what you do, right?:)

One last thing I was very surprised about after a rather chill winter in Plzeň, is how vivid the city became at the beginning of April. I can remember meeting with a friend in the second week of the month and the city centre was full of people, who enjoyed a beer or coffee after work and who savoured the good weather in one of the full cafés and bars around the Náměstí Republiky. It's very nice that Plzeň isn't overcrowded with tourists like in some other big cities, but that there are still events going on, which bring good vibes and spring feelings among the people.

And well, I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready for summer!;)

Watching the German U 21 winning their qualification match for the football EC 2024!!

At the live podcast „Weird Crimes“ in Berlin ;)

Reunited with Tati <3

Back in Plzeň at my favourite place in the forest...

Enjoying the sun in the park near the Zoologická Zahrada ^^

… And then suddenly I woke up to snow in APRIL XD

Dancing again with my ladies from Adeto <3

Next month some trips are waiting for me, which I'm already excited about but there are also upcoming events in TOTEM that I look forward to.

So stay tuned if you don't want to miss them. ;D

Until then, enjoy the good weather and keep in mind to take care of your body and to do something good for it. <3

See you soon,

Laila ^^

[bodyworkoutfull]

11 Sports That Give You A Full Body Workout

There are a plethora of fat-burning exercises available, making it easy to become overwhelmed with the options. From glutes to bums to bellies and lower backs, there truly is something for everyone. But when you're looking to simplify your routine, it may be time to utilize an exercise that targets your entire body.

What Is A Full-Body Workout Exactly?

A full-body workout is a great way to improve your strength and muscle tone. There are several sports that offer an effective and enjoyable full-body workout for both beginners and fitness enthusiasts. You don't need to head to the gym or buy expensive equipment to benefit from these activities.

Here are eleven sports that will give you a full-body workout: soccer, swimming, basketball, tennis, volleyball, running, cycling, kickboxing, martial arts, rowing, and golf. Each of these sports will help you get in shape, build muscle, and improve your overall fitness. So if you're looking for an enjoyable and effective way to get a full-body workout, try one of these great sports!

Bouldering

If you're looking for an unconventional way to work out, rock climbing is the perfect activity for you. Bouldering is a type of rock climbing that does not involve safety gear such as a harness or tethers, making it more dangerous than traditional rock climbing. On the other hand, the PhenQ UK formula gives you results without a workout.

However, you can still try out this sport without putting yourself at too much risk by using man-made bouldering walls found at climbing clubs or college gyms. With this form of exercise, you'll be using all of your muscles and testing your mental strength. Bouldering is an intense full-body workout that will definitely have you feeling the burn.

Swimming

Swimming is an excellent way to get fit while also limiting the strain on your joints, especially if you’re recovering from an injury. It's no wonder that swimming is such a popular choice among athletes who want to add a sport to their fitness routine.

Swimming works out every muscle group in the body, and it can be enjoyed any time of the year. So if you're looking for an enjoyable way to stay active and healthy, swimming is a great option.

Tennis

Tennis is an incredible aerobic sport that will give you an overall body workout. Playing tennis for an hour can burn approximately 600 calories, which is great for your physical health. You will get to use a variety of muscles with serves, pivots, slams, jumps, and sprints, all necessary for keeping the ball in motion. Tennis gives you an intense workout that is also a lot of fun. Also, the PhenQ UK diet plan provides real satisfaction without a workout.

Basketball This exciting team sport is great for anyone who wants to get exercise while having fun. Playing basketball requires you to be agile and quick as you jump, dip, and dive to make shots.

Not only is it a great cardiovascular workout, but it also helps improve your spatial awareness, coordination, and decision-making skills.

Nordic Skiing This high-intensity cross-country sport will give you an intense full-body workout. To become a proficient skier, you need to learn both skating and classic skiing techniques.

Nordic skiing works your quads, core, glutes, shoulders, triceps, hamstrings, and biceps and will leave you feeling sore the next day.

Cycling Cycling is an ideal sport for those who want to get in shape while still doing something fun. You can either cycle outdoors or take part in a spin class at a gym.

Cycling is a low-impact activity that helps improve your cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility. Plus, you can do it regardless of the weather!

Volleyball If you're looking for a full-body workout, volleyball is the perfect sport for you. It targets all areas of your body, helping you to achieve a higher metabolic rate, stronger muscles, better coordination and control, and improved agility. Plus, you'll be burning a ton of calories in the process.

Gymnastics Gymnastics is a demanding sport that requires an individual to be flexible, strong, and have great balance. This type of exercise will build core strength, tone muscles, burn fat, and increase your overall endurance.

Through gymnastics, you'll learn more about your body, enabling you to gain greater control over your movements and optimize your workouts.

Wrestling Though it may not be the first sport that comes to mind when thinking of a full-body workout, wrestling is a great low-impact sport that targets all of your major muscles.

You'll increase your endurance, strength, flexibility, and tone while also learning defensive skills. As you grapple with your opponent, you'll also engage your core muscles to maintain various poses and locks.

Squash Squash has long been regarded as one of the healthiest sports out there, and for good reason. It's a complete-body workout that will help you gain power, strengthen your muscles, and increase your flexibility.

As an aerobic sport, it's also a great way to burn calories and lose weight. You can even challenge your opponents to see who performs better.

Figure Skating Have you ever imagined the level of control and strength needed to perform graceful movements on ice?

Figure skating is an example of a sport that requires you to use your entire body in order to perform successfully. It is a full-body workout that requires the use of your upper and lower body strength, core strength, and muscle control. PhenQ is designed to help you lose weight without much exercise.

With the right training and practice, figure skating can be an enjoyable way to get a great workout and stay healthy.

Enjoy your sport. If you're looking for a new sport to add to your workout routine, there are a lot of options that provide a full-body workout.

From tennis to hockey, each sport offers its own unique challenges while working out your entire body. It's important to supplement your workout with a healthy diet to maximize results, and consider adding an appetite suppressant to help control cravings.

No matter which sport you choose, it's a great way to increase your endurance, tone your body, and strengthen your core while having fun.

[lindsaystravelblogs1]

Our 4WD tour

Day 26, Tuesday, 10 January 2023

Today was supposed to be a full day tour and although we enjoyed it, it could well have been a half day tour.

We were picked up at our hotel at a bit after 8:30 am to fill the complement in our minibus. All the others on our bus were a family from Colombia who were also staying in our hotel, but we didn’t realise that until we were all delivered back together at the end of the tour.

We drove east out of town (12 miles west would have had us in Chile) through some rundown housing and an industrial area before climbing slowly into the Andes. The driver gave a fairly comprehensive commentary to our Spanish-speaking colleagues and repeated a potted version in English for Heather and me. This was absolutely fine because he tried very hard, mostly successfully, to answer our questions too.

First stop was a large open area that is used for Nordic skiing during the snow season and many thousands of enthusiasts come from all over the world to participate in what is a hugely popular sport. The area is apparently quite famous and participants can ski for many kilometres through the area.  It also hosts major international competitions.

We walked down into the area and found it very spongy to walk on. Some sort of peat moss covers the entire valley and you sink a centimetre or more into it with every step. We saw a few birds there and some flowers and had a useful chat with our guide about the geology and wildlife, as well as Nordic skiing, before reboarding the bus for more adventures.

It was a lovely drive, sometimes through impenetrable forest or sometimes down into meandering riverine valleys but overall, ever upwards to the highest pass through the Andes.  The mountains all have three distinct levels.  At the apex, it is bare rock, always precipitous, jagged and forbidding, usually brown or black, but sometimes grey or white depending on the snow cover.  Below the snowline, is an expanse of scrubby dark green vegetation, indented in many places from where runnels of snow have infiltrated the scrub year after year until it no longer tries to gain a roothold.  And further down, less distinctly delineated, is the forest, much more familiar to us although usually still more dense than we are familiar with. Sometimes there are sweeping plains, squidgy underfoot due to the moss, and often strewn with snowmelt creeks and icy lakes.  Beautiful, remarkable, but not always all that inviting.

Next stop was a lookout over Hidden Lake and Escondido Lake beyond. It was a spectacular lookout and we were visited by a Chimango Caracara that flew very close and posed nicely for photos. There was a frightful track leading down from the lookout and our guide told us that it used to be the National Highway. We had been driving on the Pan-American Highway, the longest road in the world, that runs from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, and it was a very good road. But it has only been there for about 30 years.

Ushuaia is on an island, Tierra del Fuego, and until the 1930s, the inhabitants believed that their only access to the outside world was by sea or air - until an old guy turned up in a clapped-out jalopy. When asked how he got there, he said he just drove around until he found a causeway that gave him access to the island and the rest is history as they say in the classics!  I am glad they decided to build the intercontinental highway because I wouldn’t like to meet anyone coming the other way on the old road!

We passed a ski-lift that crossed the road and were told that the area is a famous downhill skiing area but it can’t have been near the road – the forest was far too dense for anyone to ski there, hardly even walk there.

We then diverted onto a very rough Four-Wheel Drive track.  It was no worse than many roads we have driven in Australia, but we were joined by two more 4WD vehicles from our tour company and we convoyed 30-40 kilometres over poorly made tracks, many creek crossings, boulder-walks and the odd hairpin bend.  There were numerous stops to allow passengers in the other cars to photograph the more spectacular manoeuvres.  It was a lot of fun, but I think it was a tad overplayed.  The road was not really that bad and although there were a few challenging places, I felt that it was being slightly overly dramatised for the tourists.  The tour was advertised as a 4WD excursion, so I suppose they needed to avoid the highway and create a bit of excitement for the punters.  No complaints from me – it was fun!

The drive ended on the shores of Lake Escondido and we stopped there for a drink and photos.  I spied a few birds but apart from another Caracara, I never saw any well enough to attempt an identification.  The drinks offered were coffee and mate – pronounced ‘martay’.  It is a popular drink here, a herbal tea high in caffeine that I didn’t like much.  It is not uncommon to see people wandering around with a small barrel-shaped container, sipping it through a straw’

We then drove back on a better road to a different part of the Nordic skiing area where they keep huskies and other sled-dogs.  We had lunch there, a very ordinary meal, but they apparently used that to justify calling the tour an all-day event.  Had we skipped lunch, we could have been back in Ushuaia in time for a latish lunch.  As it was, we were back in our hotel before 3 pm after an interesting but not quite inspiring tour – at just under $AU300 each.  After eating our lunch, people were invited to look at the dogs, something I did incidental to looking for birds.  I saw some more Southern Lapwings and identified a different species of sparrow, but nothing else.

Where we ate lunch

Then it was a straight run for our hotel. We could easily have given lunch and the dogs a miss and been home a couple of hours earlier with a few more pesos in our pocket. It was a good tour, but certainly oversold.

[less-flower]

FMLS 90, day 2: My fitness journey

For the most part, I was an average child with regard to fitness, I think - slightly chubby, not very gifted athletically, but I did enjoy moving my body, running around outside and climbing trees. My parents enrolled me in a gym club, and I later followed my sibling to the water polo club. We didn’t have a car as my parents were “Ökos” (they were very active in the 80′s ecological movement), so wherever I didn’t go by public transport, I went by foot or by bike.

Things started to get rough when I entered my teens as I was bullied at school and found comfort in food - which would be diagnosed many years later as binge eating disorder. I gained weight and lost confidence, and both impacted my fitness. I was still active outside school, doing aikido (again, I followed my sibling) and a lot of ice skating, walking and cycling as much as before, but PE was hell. The only times I managed to get good grades was whenever swimming was on the schedule (which wasn’t often). It was during this time that I started to think of myself as unathletic. I also tried to lose weight all the time but was mostly unsuccessful.

I got a bit less active during uni as I didn’t do any sports regularly, just went swimming here and there and did a Nordic walking course once, and it didn’t get much better when I entered the workforce - actually on the contrary as I was desperately unhappy during my first year in my job which I spent abroad in France, so the BED was controlling most of my life, and exercise was pretty much non-existent. I returned to Germany after almost a year, and I then decided it was time to tackle my eating disorder (especially since I had been diagnosed with diabetes a few years prior). So I started therapy which helped a lot, and then I joined Weight Watchers and started losing weight. This also led to me getting active again, and at one point while I was out walking, I decided I wanted to try out running, so I did! (I basically did something like C25k, just without a training plan, just running short intervals and walking in-between, slowly increasing the amount I was running.)

I lost about 30kg with Weight Watchers and was running a lot (my greatest accomplishment was running a 10k in Berlin - in hindsight, I was not ready to do it but I did it anyway!) when depression hit me hard in 2014. It caused my BED to flare up again, so I regained most of the weight I lost, and it affected my fitness a lot - it’s really noticeable how much my pace suffered during this time. I recommitted to my fitness journey in 2016 when I made this blog, and I’ve been trying out new things and working on myself since then. I’ve lost about 10-15kg, I’ve been branching out into weightlifting and yoga (and occasionally bouldering/climbing, despite my fear of heights!), and I’m also still running and swimming. As I mentioned yesterday, I’m trying to focus less on weight and more on general fitness but due to the BED and diabetes, I can’t completely disregard it. I’ll admit this year has been rough for me since I was hampered by injuries a lot - bursitis in my left hip and impingement syndrome in my shoulders - and I haven’t been doing too well in my eating either. Hopefully, this challenge will bring some fresh wind for the rest of the year and a good start into the next!

(If you made it this far, thank you! That got a lot longer than I had thought ...)

[brcjoutd-2511]

Prompt 6: Mock Interview

For prompt six of the blog posts assignment we are to choose a key thinker to interview on the topic of our podcast assignment. As I am currently in the process of working on my individual podcast I will be completing this assignment for the topic of Group 2, which is “How does rock climbing in Thunder Bay affect the wellbeing of citizens in the community?”

1) For this interview, I think that it would be best to pick an Instructor or employee at the Boulder Bear Climbing Centre, which is located in Thunder Bay. I think that an individual from the Centre would be ideal to interview because of two factors: Firstly, they would likely be interested and experienced with climbing to a certain degree already, and would be knowledgeable on safety procedures, techniques, and locales. Secondly, they would be used to distilling their knowledge down to a beginner level, and explaining it in an effective manner to prospective climbers who visited the gym.

2) Five questions that I would ask an instructor or employee at Boulder Bear would be as follows:

1. How high is the barrier of entry for an individual who has no prior experience with climbing? 

The reason I think it is important to ask a question like this is because if the difficulty of getting into rock climbing technically is too high, then the benefits of actually doing it do not matter, since only a select few people would be able to reap said benefits. 

2. Is rock climbing an economical activity compared to other popular outdoor activities in Thunder Bay?

As with the first question, the benefits of rock climbing for an individuals physical and mental health are moot if the activity breaks the bank when compared to other activities. For example, are the costs of going to Boulder Bear comparable to a traditional gym membership? Is it comparable to the costs of Nordic skiing?

3. Do the benefits of rock climbing outweigh the potential risks involved with it? 

Rock climbing is of course a dangerous activity, and without proper equipment, training, and experience, there are many things which could go wrong during a climb. Risk management is an important aspect of any group activity, but rock climbing in particular has the potential to be extremely dangerous. In a normal setting, is it worth taking these risks for the enjoyment and challenge of the climb?

4. As a physical activity, how does rock climbing promote a healthy lifestyle?

I would ask this question because I believe that it is important to hear from an individual who frequently climbs what kinds of things they feel that they gain from it. Regarding the physical aspect specifically, how does rock climbing frequently affect an individual's day-to-day life? Do people who climb frequently find that they from new habits or rituals off the wall which are beneficial?

5. At a glance, would you say you were generally happier before or after you began rock climbing?

While people may find it difficult to quantify the particular ways in which an activity may be improving their lives, a surefire way to figure out if it has or has not, is to simply ask whether a person feels happier or more content since they began climbing. 

3) I feel that these questions are appropriate for an interview given the time constraints applied, and I also feel that these questions would provide a great deal of useful information which would allow us to begin answering the question of how rock climbing effects wellbeing in Thunder Bay. I think that few people would argue that rock climbing is bad for you, so the question becomes how does rock climbing compare to similar activities which are also generally accepted as being beneficial to a person’s physical and mental health. If it turns out that rock climbing is inaccessible, dangerous, and expensive, then it is very likely that only die-hard fans of the sport would invest the time and money necessary to reap the benefits in question. It would therefore be better for new individuals looking for an outdoor activity to look elsewhere, so it is imperative that we know what experienced individuals think of questions such as these.

[minatoiskyuubismate]

New chapter of my dagurized fanfic

Part 9: A time to Skrill

 In this episode the first time the Nordic gods made their appearance. They will be more of them in later Episodes. Loki looks a bit like the Marvel comic version of himself.

 Dragon talk and thoughts -italic

  In a dark night, a few days later, a lone glacier far out in the sea began to shake waking two Terrible Terrors roughly. They shrieked in fear and flew into the darkness.

As Thor himself swung his mighty Mjölnir, a bolt of lightning came out of the clouds and struck right in the middle of the glacier, forming a huge crack in the icy surface. From inside the crack came a shriek, and an explosion let the crack widen and finally open. With a wild roar, the Skrill, Hiccup trapped three years ago in this glacier, shot out of his icy prison, finally free again after such a long time.

“You really think this was a wise move?” a deep voice asked.

Thor swung his Mjölnir hammer over his shoulder and looked to the man who was standing to his side on his flying chariot. Taningrisnir and Tanngrnjostr, the two white goats were snorting nervously and pulling at their harness. They were hovering with the chariot over the clouds as they watched the Skrill flying away, heading south.

“It’s the destiny of this dragon, Loki. He can´t be trapped here forever.” Thor the mighty God of Thunder said. Loki, a man with a black goatee and an golden helmet with inward curled horns, frowned. “Sometimes I really don’t like Skulds prophercies.”

“Lets return to Asgard. My work here is done. Taningrinir! Tanngrnjostr! Onward, my mounts!”

The goats bleated, reared with their front legs and fell into a fast gallop.

And the golden chariot sailed up to the sky and vanished between the clouds.

 When the Dragon Riders reached Outcast Island it looked a lot worse than the time the screaming death had attacked. Alwin and the Outcasts were nowhere seen.

“Weird, I see  no arrows or spears.” said Hiccup.

“And no boulders from Catapults.” Fishlegs said.

“This really doesn’t look like a Dragon Hunter attack.”

“And where did everyone go?”

“They must have evacuated the whole island.”

“But what could possibly scare Outcasts from their own island?” Astrid asked.

Hiccup then noticed something he had already seen. Something that he wished never to see again.

“I think this has something to do with it.” he said.

Everyone turned and saw a large crack within a rock and there were scorch marks around it. The whole think looked like a flash.

“I have a baaad feeling.” Fishlegs gulped.

 A few moments later they were on their dragons again and heading towards the glacier. Hiccup remembered exactly where he trapped the dangerous dragon three years ago.

“Yep, the Skrill is gone.” Snotlout said, as they looked down the big crack in the ice.

“How did this happen?” Fishlegs asked puzzled.

“It could be any number of reasons, an earthquake or maybe a lightning storm.”

“Yeah, a mighty lightining-caused by the great Hammer of Thor! Mjölnir!” Tuffnut declared loudly.

Hiccup and the others rolled their eyes.

“Why should the mighty Thor free the Skrill?” Fishlegs asked.

“It doesn’t matter now how it got out.” said Hiccup getting to his feet. “We have to get him back before he hurts anyone else -or before Dagur gets a hold of him.”

“Do you really think, Dagur would use the big Skrill against us?” asked Astrid. “You think, this Dragon could cause him to get deranged again?”

“No, I don’t think he will fall into his old scheme. But we must return this Skrill back here into his icy prison! He is too dangerous.”

“Okay, since the Skrill graviatates toward storms to channel its lightning I would say its following that storm heading south from Outcast island.”

“Fishlegs eyes widened. “Hiccup, isn’t Berk in that way…-oh no.”

 At Berk the thunderstorm was right over the island at the moment and the Skrill had followed suit. Lightning has just stroked the chief´s house and as the black smoke faded, the violet dragon appeared on the roof, shrieking angrily as electricity surged through his body. Then he flew up and began to attack the village!

Astrids Team tried the best to drive the Skrill away but one after another got shot down by the fierce dragon, when Hiccup and his riders arrived. The last one who remained was Spitelout on his Nadder who was able to dodge the attacks so far.

“Is that the best you´ve got, you sparky lizard?!” he yelled. Then he looked down at his Nadder. “No offence to you, of course.”

The Skrill growled and blasted again at him. This time Spitelout got a direct hit with the lightning and he fell off his dragon.

“Dad!” Snotlout yelled and dived on Hookfang towards him.

“Cover the downed riders!” Hiccup ordered.

They began to sore downwards, when Toothless came to a sudden stop.

“Toothless? No! What are you doing?” Hiccup said. The Nightfury turned and faced the Skrill above him.

“Enemy.” the Skrill snarled.

“I show you this time!” Toothless hissed. Both dragons prepare their blasts to fire!

“Toothless! No!” Hiccup yelled and tried to pull the Nightfury back. But it was too late. The two dragons fired and when the two blasts collided, it caused a massive shock wave that sent them flying and knocked Hiccup off of Toothless.

“OAAH! I saw this coming!” Hiccup cursed as he fell down, the Nightfury a few meters below him, who tried to fly on his own, but without his rider he was not able to stay in the air. So he slammed into several carts.

“Toothless!”

Hiccup opend his folded wings on his back, slipped the arms through the slings. So he glided down till he landed on Skullcrushers back behind his father Stoik. The chief wondered and asked where this wings came from and Hiccup told him he would explain it later.

“Father, please land, I must look for Toothless!” the Hooligan heir said.

Luckily the Nightfury was okay, as he crawled out of the smashed carts.

“Toothless, thank the gods you are unharmed! But why must have you pulled such a stupid stunt? You could have been injured!” Hiccup scolded his dragon.

Toothless nudged the hand of his rider and warbled an apology.

“Next time, do as I say, okay? I know you don’t like the Skrill, but you can´t attack him without thinking!” Hiccup said and gave him a playful smack on the right ear.

 Soon the other riders landed and Snotlout appeared with his father over his shoulders.

“Snotlout, is he okay?” Astrid asked.

“Its my dad.” the jounger Jorgenson answered. “He bludgeon his own head for sport. Of course he is fine.”

Spitelout tried to speak, but it just sounded like gibberisch babbling. He clutches his throat and looked extremely furous.

“Like I said, he is fine.” said Snotlout and leaned towards Astrid. “Except for that blast of lightning that hit his head.”

Spitelout looked extremely furious as he tried to say something.

“Yea, I am proud of you too, Dad.” Snotlout smiled and patted his father on the back.

“Well, all the huts seem to be in fairly good condition.” said Fishlegs as he looked around.

“All exept one.” said Astrid pointing to the chief´s hut which was smoking quite badly, the entire wood of the outer walls were charred.

“My house!” Stoik yelled.

“Weird that Stoiks House is the only one the Skrill has attacked.” Astrid said.

“Not directly. He scented me and Toothless there. He is looking for us.” Hiccup answered.

“You are right! And Outcast Island is the last place it saw you guys, before…”

“Before we led him into the crevasse and sealed him in the ice.” Hiccup finished Astrids words.

“He is mad at you!” said Snotlout.

“You are right, Cous´. The Skrill is mad at me and Toothless. And he is looking for revenge for trapping him in that glacier three years ago.” Hiccup nodded.

“We had no other choice. He was too dangerous and if Dagur would have kept him…” Astrid pointed out.

“Explain that to the Skrill.” Hiccup suggested. “The moment he awoke he was hunted relentlessly and then captured by the Outcasts, forced to attacks by Dagur and on top of all frozen in his icy prison again by me and Toothless. I can understand this guy. I tried to get his attention back then, but he was full of hate from the beginning. He trusts no one.”

“Enemy!” Toothless snarled. Hiccup placed a hand on his snout to calm him down.

“Tooth, relax! I know you don’t like him, but try to understand him too, bud. We dealt with the Skrill before, we will deal with him again.”

“Is it just me or is Snotlouts dad acting a little more violent than usual?” Tuff noted as Spitlout swung his axe around and tried to say something.

“Looks like not only the Skrill is out for revenge. -Fear not, dear father. You will be avenged.” Snotlout said and balled his fists.

“If the Skrill is coming again back to Berk for you and Toothless, we need to be ready.” Astrid said.

“We are not waiting for him, Astrid!” Hiccup said with a grim face and mounted Toothless.

 Moments later the Riders were just outside the arena preparing to take off.

“You are sure this is the way you want to play it?” Astrid said, as she approached Hiccup.

“Yeah, there is no way you can handle that Skrill alone, especially you of all people should know that.” Fishlegs said.

“He wants only me and Toothless. And it´s us he is gonna get!” Hiccup said.

“But don’t you think it would be better if we were there?” Astrid asked. “He doesn’t stand a chance against all of us.”

“He knows that. And he will not show up unless he knows it will only be me and Toothless. This Skrill is not dumb.” Hiccup answered.

“All right, you hear our great leader. Let´s saddle up.”

Everyone were mounting their dragons and Spitelout had a conversation with his son, though he still has problems with his speech and Snotlout couldn´t understand a word.

Spitelout then shoved his son out of the way and mounted Hookfang. When Snotlout turned to say something to his friends he saw that they were already gone.

Snotlout and his father soon joined up with the other Riders , who were just flying above Berk as Hiccup was about to set off on his own.

“Okay, guys! We will see you soon! The Skrill will be coming back to Berk as soon as he sees that we are alone. “

The Riders flew off leaving Hiccup and Toothless alone to await the Skrill.

“All right, Bud. Lets see if we can get his attention.” Hiccup said and they soared towards the clouds.

“I know you are here! Its me and my bud you want, right? So come out, here we are!” the Hooligan heir shouted. Toothless then fired a plasma blast into the cloud and they waited, but nothing happened.

“Come out, enemy! Don’t hide you coward!” the Nightfury roared. “I and my human don’t fear you!”

“Want to shoo him out too, eh, bud?”

 Then all of a sudden lightning flashed and they saw the shadow of the Skrill deep within the clouds. Seconds later he merged out of them with lightning charging around his body and the violet dragon looked very angry when he saw Hiccup and Toothless.

“I am no coward!” the Skrill roared.

“Tooth-now!” Hiccup yelled and the Nightfury dived just as the Skrill fired a lightning blast! He then soared above the ocean and the Skrill-despite being so close to the water -followed them.

“Nice move, bud. Now keep him close but not too close. “ Hiccup said. Toothless did his best, but it wasn´t easy to fly straight and dodging the lightning blasts at the same time.

“Come on, just a little longer…”

 Meanwhile, at the glacier, the other Riders were preparing the trap to recapture the Skrill, not knowing that they were watched by two men in a chariot high over the clouds.

“You think this will work?” Loki asked as the two looked at the glacier and the busy riders through a small hole in the clouds.

“We will see.” answered Thor. “We only watch-and did not interfere.”

 “Okay, this trench is definitely deeper than the last one.” said Fishlegs, as he and Meatlug finished melting the ice to create a much deeper trench. “I hope it will hold the Skrill this time.”

Spitelout was shaking his arms furiously.

“You mean after the Jorgensons finished with their revenge, right? We should be the least the ones who melt him into that hole.” Snotlout said.

“Here he comes!” Fishlegs said pointing skywards.

“Okay, as soon as it is inside and Hiccup and Toothless are clear, we seal it up.” said Astrid as they flew off to a safe distance. Spitelout grumbled something, while he was sitting with crossed arms and a grim face behind his son.

“Yeah, she always acts as the boss, when little cous´ is busy.“ Snotlout nodded.

 Hiccup and Toothless were making their way to the glacier and the Skrill was not far behind them.

“Tooth, aim for the tunnel!” said Hiccup. The Nightfury accelerated towards the glacier and flew straight into the tunnel. But the Skrill came to a sudden stop.

The other riders watched the scene from a ridge.

“Uh-oh.” Fishlegs murmured.

“Whats going on? Why did it stop?” Snotlout asked.

“Call me crazy, but I think he knows it’s a trap.”

“Smart boy.” said Ruffnut.

 “This dragon is indeed smart.” Loki mused as he and Thor watched the scene from high over the clouds.

 “Isn´t it obvious? It’s the same trap we used on him three years ago. He had not forgotten it.” Fishlegs said.

Hiccup and Toothless were still flying through the tunnel unaware of this event. It wasn’t until they were quite deep into the tunnel that Hiccup noticed that the Skrill wasn’t following them anymore.

“Dragon dung! This isn’t good! – Bud, turn!”

Hiccup forced the Nightfury to make a sharp U-turn and flew the way back to the entrance.

When they arrived at the opening, they heard the Skrill screeching angrily.

“Not this time!” Toothless understands and in the next moment the violet dragon began blasting the tunnel with a lightning blast, letting the entrance collapse!

“Bud, back!” Hiccup shouted and let Toothless fall back to prevent him and the Nightfury from being hit by the ice chunks.

 The Skrill then flew straight at the riders who quickly scattered in all directions. But instead attacking them it concentrated his blasts to the glacier.

“It´s trying to seal Hiccup and Toothless inside!” Astrid yelled.

“Who knew that dragons had a sense of poetic justice.” Tuffnut said.

Then out of nowhere Spitelout forced Hookfang down and charged straight towards the Skrill!

“Watch out!” Snotlout yelled.

The Skrill fired a lightning blast that grazed Hookfang forcing him down. The Nightmare crashed into the snow his two riders were thrown off him in the process. The Skrill then began to attack the other riders trying to shoot them down too.

Meanwhile, on the ground, the two Jorgensons got back onto their feet and Spitelout started to yell and babble and swung two axes, still not able to speak normal. The Skrill heard the yells and turned to face them.

“Bring it on, Sparky!” shouted Snotlout as he grabbed one of the axes of his father. The Skrill charged straight towards them but before it could attack, a plasma blast shot through the collapsed cave entrance and everyone saw Hiccup and Toothless break through the new made opening completely unscathed.

“That’s for trapping us in an ice tunnel!” Hiccup said.

“Hey, how come he gets revenge?” Snotlout asked. Toothless fired a second plasma blast at the Skrill, but it dogded it, answering with a lightning blast, who the Nightfury avoid with a barrel roll. Then he flew off out to the open sea.

“Okay, this did not work. Now I need another plan.” the Hooligan Heir grumbled. He tried to loose the Skrill within a sea stack maze, but the purple dragon was just as swift as Toothless and continued to fire lightning blasts at the Nightfury and his rider.

“How much blasts did this guy still have?” Hiccup cursed, as the blasts got more and more just inches away from him. “We need to find save cover! -Ah, and I know exactly, where that is. Toothless, head north!”

The Nightfury flew as Hiccup told him and the Skrill followed, continuing to blast lightning at them. Fortunately, they were able to survive long enough to reach their destination, the ship Graveyard.

Suddenly Hiccup felt one of the Skrill lightning blasts shot past his ear, singeing some of his hair and he felt a sharp pain shot through his forehead.

“AH!” the Hooligan heir cried out and sagged in the saddle. Half-conscious he saw that Toothless Tailfin was on fire!

“Holon, brd…hld rrn…” he groaned, trying his best to held the Nightfury aloft. They passed an assortment of different ships and Toothless made a hard landing on the deck of the nearest abandoned ship. Hiccup was thrown off Toohtless back and landed unconscious on the planks.

 Toothless was the first who got on his feet again. He whined and nudged his rider, licking him over his face. Luckily the shipyard was surrounded by thick fog, so the Skrill could not see where they have landed. After a few moments, Hiccup finally opened his eyes again. He groaned and sat up.

“Toofplsss….uhh..nuuh! Nuw mf gf ht lkr Sptltff!” Hiccup tried to speak. (Toothless-oh no! No I got hit like Spitelout!) But he felt that it was not a direct hit, maybe the symptoms would be go away faster.

Groggily, Hiccup pulled himself to his feet.

First he looked around for the Skrill, but since they were blasted, they had lost it in the fog. He then turned to Toothless.

“Okhh…. Lts hrrv a lrrk ut thrrt trrll.(Okay, lets have a look at your tail)” he mumbled. Toothless looked at him puzzled with wide eyes. Hiccup grunted angrily and sighed.

Toothless showed his tail fin and it was beyond repair. The fabric had been burned off and the rods were pointing in all sorts of directions.

“Okahh, al´l gt yrrr sprrrt. (Okay, I will get your spare.) “ Hiccup said and looked through his satchel, but found nothing. “Jrrst grrt! Thrt wrs thrrr sparrr alrrrdrr! Wlll, at rrrst wl lst thrrr Skrrrrll. (Just great! That was the spare already. Well, at least we lost the Skrill.)”

 Suddenly out of nowhere lightning rained down on top of them, and since there was a lightning storm above them that could only mean one thing. The Skrill was right over them but Hiccup noticed the shots were completely random and not directly fixed on them.

“Hrr sss trng trr to sshh sss uut! (He is trying to shoo us out!)” blubbered Hiccup. Damn speech problems, he cursed inwardly. His tounge felt like he had a piece of fur in his mouth.

Dragon and Rider began running over the deck, searching for cover. I need something to fix Tooth´s Tail, the Hooligan heir thought. He crouched behind a barrel when he noticed that the lightning blasts had stopped. And that the thunderstorm had moved.

“That’s our chance.” he thought when he saw the mast falling straight towards them!

“Thhttllsss! Loorrrk ourrrrt! (Toothless, look out!) Hiccup yelled as he shoved the Nightfury out of the way-just in time.

The mast landed right where they were standing moments ago, smashing the barrel to pieces. Then he noticed the piece of sail that was flapping in the wind and he found exactly what he needed to fix Toothless tailfin.

“Thrrrks, Drrgn Hutrrrs. (Thanks, Dragon Hunters.)” Hiccup said smiling. Then he started to work. He cut a big piece of the remaining sail and placed it on the rods for measurement.

 During the repair Hiccup kept constantly talking, reciting nursery rimes he remembered and other stuff. And he heard his speech ability slowly coming back. And the unconfortable feeling on his tounge vanished too. Some time later the repairs were finished.

“Now this shrrd get urrs up in thr air again. But how are wrr going to take out thrr Skrill? I am sure he is strll here…” Hiccup murmured. Then he got an idea as he climbed into Tootless saddle.

“Maybe we don’t have to. I bet those Drrgn Hunters wrrld love to see this guy in actrrn.”

Just then a lightning blast shot out of the fog, this time a lot closer than the previous ones. Hiccup looked up and discovered the Skrill hovering over them and roaring.

“You will not get away from my wrath!” Toothless heard the purple dragon growling.

“Up, bud! Lets get thrrt Skrill to frllow us!” said Hiccup and the Nightfury took off into the air. The hunt was on again.

 Not far from the ship graveyard Rykers ship was sailing through the waves.

“Captain, there is a storm approaching! Should we change the course, sir?” called the watch in the crows nest.

Ryker looked at the dark clouds.

“Aye! Tell about, due south!” he commands.

“Wait! Nobody move!” said Dagur looking at the storm through his spyglass.

“What now Dagur?” Ryker grumbled looking slightly annoyed.

“That’s no storm! I know those magnificent flashes anywhere That’s my Skrill!” the Berserker said. Then he looked to the helmsman. “Head towards it!”

“What? Another Skrill?” Ryker asked. “They are very rare and valuable.”

“This one is a grown-up! A fierce one and in his best ages!”

“You have seen this one before, too?”

“Well, I practically owned it! Like I am doing with little Cloudstorm. He was mine!” Dagur then looked quite teary eyed. “After all this years, my big baby has returned! Come to me, Skrilly, I missed you!”

“What a jerk!” one of the hunters grumbled and Ryker rolled his eyes.

 Hiccup, who really diddn´t miss the Skrill was trying not to get hit by another lightning blast. Toothless was flying as fast as he could and performing quite a few manoeveres to dodge the blasts of lightning whizzing past him.

“There! A hunter ship! Come on, bud! We are going low then they wont see us. Not while that light show going on up there.” said Hiccup and went down so that they were gliding a few steps above the water surface.

 On the ship Dagur was looking through his spyglass and saw the Skrill emerging from the storm clouds.

“Yeah! Its him! I would recognize my fierce buddy everywhere!” he said exited.

As Hiccup predicted no one on the ship took notice of him and the Nightfury as they flew low towards them. When Dagur noticed that two of the Hunters moved a catapult in position he growled:” Don’t even think about it! That’s my dragon up there!”

“Let him handle this! He knows the dragon better than any of us!” Ryker said to his men.

 Hiccup and Toothless flew closer and closer towards the ship. “Just a moment-now!”

When they reached the front of the ship, the Nightfury shot upward, giving Dagur quite a scare that he fell over.

“Hiccup! I knew it! Where this Skrill is he can not be far away! But why would he lead a Skrill right to us? Has he lost his mind?” he murmured and pulled himself up. Then he noticed something. “I see. He is chasing them! He is after Hiccup and the Nightfury! My little Freckle must have angered him some way. -  Hey, Skrilly! Leave the little runt alone and come to me! Come to daddy Dagur!” he shouted with outstretched arms.

Ryker rolled his eyes. Sometimes this Berserker really behaved like a jerk, he thought.

“If I only had Shattermaster here, then I could go and help my brother! But he is with Heather on another ship!” Dagur thought desperately, as he watched the sky. “Okay! Be ready! When the Skrill get spotted, it will run for the clouds. And we don’t want to channel the lightning.”

The Skrill was getting closer and firing lightning everywhere.

“Archers-Fire!” the Berserker commanded.

The Hunters began to fire as many arrows as they could at the Skrill and one of them struck the tail of the dragon. They heard the Skrill screeching before it fell from the sky and slammed into the water. Dagur and Ryker chuckled evilly at the sight.

Up in the air, Hiccup saw what happened.

“Okay, the Hunters fell for it. Lets get him out of the water before they did!” he said and they turned and flew downwards straight towards the ship. “Come on, bud. If Dagur and Ryker get that dragon, they well be impossible to deal with, even if he is at our side now. I am a bit afraid the Skrill could change his mind and he could fall in his old scheme again.”

The Hooligan hoped that it would not happen, even if Dagur would make the Skrill his own. But he wanted to play safe.

The Hunters were just lauching a net into the water and snacked the Skrill when one of the men spotted the incoming rider.

“Sir! Its this Nightfury with his rider again!” he shouted pointing upwards.

“Hold the course, bud!” Hiccup said as the got closer towards the railing where the net was hauled in. He pulled out his sword to cut the net, but a couple of arrows came flying before he got the chance and his weapon was knocked out of his hand by one of them.

“Dragondung!” Hiccup cursed.

“Stay away from my Skrill, runt!” Dagur roared as the flew past. “Hurry! Hurry! Bring him to me!”

More Hunters fired arrows at Hiccup but they were already out of range.

“Forget them! We had what we want.” Ryker grinned.

“Thanks for the gift, Hiccup! It will make an excellent weapon.” Dagur smirked, as they pulled the Skrill onboard.

“And if not, its hide will fetch a good price.” said Ryker, looking at their new acquisition.

 Hiccup looked down at the ship horrified.

“What did I just do! I have led the Skrill right in the hands of our enemies.”

But he couldn’t do nothing more at the moment. With a sigh he turned Toothless and made his way back to the edge.

 Dagur watched silently as the still stunned Skrill was put in a cage.

“We must held him in Water. Then he can´t fire his cursed lightning blasts!” he ordered then.

Bring the cage down in the holds under the water line. There is a bit seawater leaking in there.” Ryker ordered.

When nobody looked, Dagur turned and walked to the bow, where he stared in the direction Hiccup flew.

“Don’t worry, little freckle. He will be in good hands.” he smiled, but it was not an evil smile.

 When Hiccup returned to the edge, he told his friends of the failure of his plan and that the Hunters now had the Skrill, and that Dagur himself had helped to catch it.

“You let the Dragon Hunters capture Skrill? And especially when Dagur was on board of that ship?” said Astrid in disbelief.

“That wasn’t the plan! They were supposed to take it down and then I and Tooth would swoop in and grab it away. But..-“

“They got it first.” Fishlegs finished.

“So Dagur has the Skrill again? The big, wild, fierce one who shoot his lightning at all who came in his way? Just great!” Snotlout growled. “Now he will chain that beast up like a puppet and take him on a great attack run through the archipelago!”

“No, I don’t think he will do that! Even if he now has the most dangerous dragon in his hands, I don’t think he will use him as a weapon again! It could even be, that he will find a way to let him escape.” Hiccup said.

“Or he tries to tame him, like he had done it with Shattermaster.” Tuffnut said.

“This dragon is NOT tamable, Tuff. This Skrill is not like Cloudstorm. And Dagur knows this. This dragon is full of hate for humans. He had too much bad experiences with us -and now he is caught again. “

“Hiccup is right. Even he was not able to pull him at our side.” Fishlegs said.

“Nevertheless, I made a mistake leading him to the hunters, but this guy was hard on our heels and I saw no other option!” the Hooligan sighed. “I really messed up. And I am not sure how to fix it.”

“But-you never said that before.” Tuffnut said. “You always found a solution.”

“Yeah, but I am not perfect.” Hiccup sighed.

“Hiccup, everything you did, you did to protect that dragon and to protect all of us.” said Astrid.

“She is right. We all make mistakes and that’s how we learn from them. Even Dagur did.” said Fishlegs and smiled a bit.

“He is right. The question isn’t how you fix it, its how we all fix it. As a team.” said Astrid. “Aand…maybe….with a little backup from a particular berserker.”

All riders walked over to Hiccup smiling.

“My dad says we are letting you off to easy, but we are still in.” said Snotlout.

“Now we just have the figure out a way to find the hunters.” said Astrid.

“Hiccup which way was the storm heading?” asked Fishlegs.

“East.”

“Then they will be going west. Because the Skrill can´t collect the lightning and attack them.”

“They would also choose a place that has easy access to the water so they can contain the Skrill without any fear of it shooting any lightning and some ideal cover. “ said Astrid.

“Good thinking, guys. There is a group of islands just east of where we were. Lots of secluded beaches and a covered hide in.” Hiccup nodded. “We took flight in one hour.”

 On told islands the Hunters had moored the ship and unloaded the cages. One of them was put in the water near the shore and covered with a big tarpaulin, as mostly of the cages.

The Skrill stood still in his prison, his feet ankle -deep in the water, his eyes closed. But they snapped open when he heard the footsteps of a human coming into his direction.

“I don’t think we would meet again.” someone said.

The Skrill turned his head to the source of the voice. The tarpaulin was lifted a bit up and the dragon looked into a face with red hair and beard. The scent of this human was very familiar but his appearance has changed. But he would recognize this human every time. The human who put this harness on him and forced him to shoot on other humans! His cackling laughter. The events from three years ago were still fresh in his mind.

 “My little brother told me he had freezed you in a glacier three years ago, to prevent that I could get again my hands on you. But it seems you were able to free yourself-only to be again hunted and captured.” Dagur told in a calm, low voice.

When he stretched his hand through the bars, the Skrill growled and snapped at it with his teeth. The berserker quickly pulled it back and smiled sadly.

“Shhh… Easy, bud. I don’t want to harm you anymore. What did Hiccup think to lure you to Rykers ship? Were you hunting him? Are you still mad at him, because he froze you again in the ice three years ago? I am sure he had his reasons. You were full of hate. And I am mostly the cause of it.” Dagur sighed and walked away from the cage. “I know you are angry-and afraid, because of the water you can´t use your lightning. But don’t worry. Hiccup and the others will come and free you.”

Dagur sat down on the shore and continued talking quietly to the caged Skrill. “If I could I would free you myself, but I can´t blow my cover and by the looks you showed me you would be kill me for sure if I would open the cage.-Look, I am sorry for what I have done to you in the past, but hey, my body ached days after you electrocuted me. I always wanted to have a Skrill on my own and do you know what? I found one . Cloudstorm is his name. He is still a hatchling, but he is well treated and cared at home on my island. He lost his mommy, a death song caught and ate her! So I am trying to fix with the little one what I have done wrong with you. I think you don’t even have a name, right?”

The Skrill in his cage held still and only grumbled. Redhair was talking a lot. Redhair had a low calm voice. Bud he did not understand his human words.

“I think, I name you Mjölnir. Aye, you are as fierce and strong as Thors mighty hammer. I don’t know if you understand one word of my babbling, but I am really sorry for the bad treatment and all the chasing and hunting you got so far. You are a desired dragon for a lot of people. But I will help and do everything I can for you to regain your freedom. As Hiccup helped me to regain mine. I owe you something, bud.”

 “DAGUR! Where in Thors name are you, you useless Berserker?” Rykers voice boomed over the dark place. Then he spotted him.

“Ah, observing your dragon of desire? You don’t think you can train it?” the bald hunter smirked.

“You cant ride a skrill. The outcharges would kill you in an instant.” Dagur answered calm. “You know my little Cloudstorm? His lightning strikes are getting more powerful every day. And what did you think this one here could do if he gets free again? He did not forgive so easy.”

When the two men trudged away and up the shore, the Skrill watched them leave and grumbled. He remembered the redhaired human. Once he put an harness on him and forced him to hunt another smaller human and a Nightfury. Hunted, Caged, forced to fight. It was always the same. First he was trapped in this icy mountain when he tried to hide from his Hunters for he don’t know how long. Then again after a rough awakening, he was hunted again, captured and used as a weapon. Tricked and freezed again in his icy prison. Then this strange bolt who helped him escaping again. It seems an never ending circle. The Redhair was older now, and he had changed. He talked to him with a calm voice -but what if it was a trick again? He don’t know. But the Redhair gave him a name. A human name, but it had a good sound. All he could do for now was wait. Wait for his chance to get free again. He don’t want to lay down and give up.

 Later that night, the dragon riders headed west and found the islands soon after. Fishlegs had gone first to scout since Meatlug was the smallest of their dragons and the one who made the most less noise.

He soon returned and flew beside Hiccup.

“I think, I found them. There is a campfire and a lot of singing in deep voices around at the other side of the main island.” said Immerman.

“Okay, lead the way.” said Hiccup.

“Follow me.”

Fishlegs led them towards the area he mentioned. The landed behind a few bushes and rocks and looked over to see several Hunters around a campfire and cages with dragons behind them.

Hiccup looked at the othes.

“Okay, they haven’t noticed us yet. We´ll quietly make our way along this tree line over to the cages. That must be where they hold the Skrill.” he whispered.

But Spitelout didn´t thought of that. He jumped up, swung his axe and shouted in his jumbled speech.

“My dad says that´s a terrible plan and we should just attack.” Snotlout translated. Then he gasped. “Wait, what?”

But it was too late. Spitelout already rushed past the riders and charged straight forward at the Hunters, who jumped up and grabbed their weapons.

“Who is this lunatic?” one of the Hunters asked.

“Maybe one who stranded here and got insane from the isolation. This guy can even talk normal anymore.” answered another who blocked Spitlouts axe.

 Hiccup facepalmed himself.

“Okay, change of plan. We will use Spitelout as a distraction. Snotlout, you and your father keep the Hunters busy while the rest of us look for the Skrill.” he said. His cousin nodded and mounted Hookfang before heading over to his father for backup. The others ran with their dragons along the trees till they reached the cages. There were several dragons inside them, but no Skrill.

“There! That one in the water! This must be it!” Hiccup whispered, as he spotted a single cage standing in the shallow water and covered with a tarpaulin.

Hiccup slowly approached the cage and removed the tarpaulin. There, standing in the middle of it, was the Skrill and he didn´t look happy. Hiccup probably feel the same way if he was trapped in a cage with his ankles in the water and facing the person that froze him inside a glacier. The purple dragon growled.

“I know, I know. You cant fire while you are in the water.” said the Hooligan holding his hands up defensively. “But don’t worry. We are here to help.”

Help to free me and put me again in the icy prison, the Skrill thought. But the little human with the Nightfury was here, as Redhair told.

Hiccup slowly made his way onto the pier and approached the Skrill as calmly as possible. He stretched his hand out, to try again, if the purple dragon was this time ready to cooperate, but he quickly pulled it back, when the Skrill snapped at it. Toothless roared at him immediately.

“Leave my human! He wants to help, dumbdragon!”

“Bud, no! Stay quiet! And you too! Or the Hunters will hear us! Okay?” Hiccup hissed to his dragon and to the Skrill.

“Well, it´s too late for that.” said a familiar voice.

Hiccups heart dropped as he turned around and saw that they were surrounded by Hunters aiming their arrows at them. Toothless was netted. The remaining dragons were put in cages and the riders were soon joined by Snotlout and Spitelout.

Ryker pointed with his sword at them and then Dagur approached with an evil smirk on his face.

“Told you, he would come back to free my Skrill.” the Berserker said as he approached Hiccup. “How could you? We barely had time to get reacquainted.”

Dagur then walked over to the Skrills cage and chuckled. The Skrill roared at him. What was Redhair up to? Then Dagur winked at the purple dragon and turned so that the others only saw his back.

“Be prepared, Mjölnir. I am sure, Hiccup and his Nightfury will free you soon.” he whispered so silent, that only the Skrill could hear it.

 “Never mind that, Dagur.” said Ryker. “Just look at all the new dragons your friend has brought us.”

The Berserker turned and grabbed Hiccup by the shoulders.

“Lock em up. And muzzle the Nightfury.” Ryker ordered. Some Hunters were shoving Toothless into a cage while another man placed the muzzle over his snout. The Nightfury did all to get not into the cage and fought back as good as he could. Hiccup were shoved to the other captives.

The Hooligan looked around and smirked.

“I know that look.” Fishlegs said with a low voice.

“What are you thinking?” Astrid whispered.

Hiccup looked at the Skrill, which was trying to break free from his cage. And then at Dagur who made a secret finger sign that he was prepared.

“The enemy of my enemy-“

“Might kill us all?” Astrid offered.

“Yes, but he also might help us.”

Hiccup suddenly whirled around and charged towards Dagur. He gave him a good shove, and although the Berserker did not loose his balance really, he did as if he had and let himself fall back at the two Hunters that were still trying to shove the Nightfury in the cage, knocking them over.

“Bud! The cage!” Hiccup yelled.

With the net halfway tangled around him and the muzzle around his snot, Toothless made a three-legged run for the Skrills cage, rammed it and began to push it over. The dragon couldn’t belive it. His enemy helped him?

With one final push he was able to roll the cage onto the pier and the Skrills legs were no longer in the water. The Nightfury jumped away from the cage just as a lightning bold struck it! All had to cover their eyes from the blinding light, but when they looked again, they saw that the Skrill was now free-and very angry. He fired a lightning blast that knocked several hunters off their feet. In the meantime Toothless tried to pry himself out of the tangled net. Growling he tried to bite through the ropes.

“Mjölnir! Go!” Dagur hissed who had jumped behind a rock and made a corresponding wave with his hand. Ryker grabbed one of the fallen bows and aimed an arrow at the Skrill. The Skrill tried to take off but one of the spikes of his tail was caught between the cage bars. He shrieked in fury and tried to free himself.

“NO!” Hiccup shouted, ran between Ryker and the Skrill and stretched his arms out. “NO!”

But Ryker released the arrow, apparently not caring if he had the Skrill or not.

“Well, then it´s you, stupid boy!” he growled.

But Dagur jumped out and threw himself and the Hooligan out of the arrows range. The tip only scraped Dagurs armor and changed his direction, so that the Skrill was not hit.

“Stupid boy! Will you let yourself killed?” he growled at Hiccup.

“Dagur! You idiot!” Ryker cursed.

The Skrill finally was able to free his tail and fired! The impact hit Ryker who was knocked out before he had the chance for a second arrow shot. Then the enraged dragon spotted Toothless who was still trying to free himself.

“Toothless!” Hiccup cried. The Skrill stopped in midair and turned his head to the desperate voice.

The little Human. He feared for his dragon.

Dagur, who still hold Hiccup down shook his head and his mouth formed a quiet “NO”. The Skrill saw it, understood and swiped over the captured Nightfury to attack the remained hunters. Redhair has not tried to catch him again. Redhair has begged to spare the trapped Nightfury. Redhair wanted him to be free.

“Yes, you have understood it, Mjölnir.” Dagur thought relieved. “Good boy. Now go!”

“Mjölnir?”

“Its time to give him a name, don’t you think? Look at him! He strikes like Thors mighty hammer, what Name would fit him better than that?”

 Suddenly the Skrill shrieked, began to wobble and crashed to the ground.

“NO! Not again!” Dagur groaned as he saw Spitelout waving the bow Ryker has dropped when he was knocked out and heard the Jorgenson cheering.

“At last, my dad has gotten his revenge.” Snotlout sighed.

“I am sorry, Dagur. But this Skrill is too dangerous and too desired.” Hiccup sighed.

 Dagur was the first who was near the fallen Skrill, while Hiccup helped Toothless to get out of his bindings. Now for the first time he could have a better look at this mighty creature. He looked like his little Cloudstorm, only much bigger.

Careful, he stretched out his hand and touched the head of the immobile and stunned dragon.

“I am sorry, bud. I wished we could become friends, but your hate for humans is too big.” he murmured.

“Dagur….we must take him back to the glacier, where he was frozen.” Hiccup said.

“And I really can´t keep him?”

“Dagur!” Astrid growled. “Do you think, he would welcome you with open wings? After what you did to him?”

“You are right. He doesn’t trust anyone. Especially not humans.”

 A net was put around the Skrill and before the Hunters woke up again the Riders were on the way back to the glacier, after the other caged dragons were freed. The Skrill watched it through clouded eyes. They freed the dragons. Redhair freed the caged dragons. But why not him? Then Redhair returned with a sad face.

Dagur watched the netted Skrill and sighed.

“I am sorry, Mjölnir. But the others overwoved me.”

 The next morning, at the glacier.

The net with the Skrill was carried by Meatlug, who was steered by Fishlegs over the ravine.

“Okay, Fishlegs, a little to the left.” said Astrid, as the Gronkle descended towards the ravine. “Now a little bit right-that´s it. Lower him in.”

Hiccup and Dagur watched as Fishlegs lowered the net with the Skrill into the ravine. When looking into his eyes, the Hooligan couldn’t help but feel guilty about trapping him in the icy prison again. And he saw the unhappy look in the Berserkers face.

“I promised him, that you would save him, little one. Hiccup…must we really put him back in the ice again?” Dagur asked. “He spend the last three years in it and before that Gods know how long. Its like being imprisoned. And I know of what I am speaking!”

Hiccup held his chin.

“You are right, I have the same in my mind. Its not right. I gave you a second chance. Why not him too?”

“Yeah, I know you would think the same.” Dagur smiled.

The Skrill watched silently the speech of the two humans. The smaller one who always tried to make contact with him, he even tried to save him from getting hit by this arrow. And the older, red haired one, who was now trying to prevent him from being frozen into the glacier again. Redhair has changed. Redhair wanted to help.

“Hiccup, the Skrill hates you and Toothless. It hates Dagur and all humans. It wanted to kill you!” Astrid reminded.

“But it didn’t. It saved us. And it risked his own life saving us. If we do this, we are not better than the Dragon hunters.” said Hiccup and pointed to the Skrill. “We are just using a different cage. And he doesn’t deserve that. I gave Dagur a chance-and I will give him the same chance too.”

“Besides-showing mercy is how Hiccup made a friendship with Toothless-and with Dagur.“ Fishlegs said.

Astrid nodded, pulled out her axe and gave it to the Hooligan Heir.

 “May I, brother?” Dagur asked.

Hiccup smiled, nodded and gave Dagur the axe. With one swift move he sliced net open and made some steps back to Hiccups side. The Skrill roared as electricity surged through his body. Redhair hat cut the net. Redhair has freed him.

“Shhh…calm down, my friend. I told you, that Hiccup will save you. This time we don’t want to freeze you again. You are now free to go, great Mjölnir.” the Berserker said and laid down the axe in the snow. He had found out, that Cloudstorm got calm, when he made low shushing noises.

When the Berserker hold out his hands in a soothing manner, Mjölnir stopped his flashing and bowed his head. It was his gesture of trust. Redhair smiled. Redhair bowed too.

“You are free now. Go and search for a safe place to live, a place with no humans. But don’t forget. On berserker island, there is always a home place for you. In freedom.” Dagur said, as Hiccup and the dragons bowed their heads too.

The Skrill looked at Hiccup, then at Dagur.

Then the purple dragon made a step near the Berserker, closed his eyes and touched Dagurs head with his snout, before he turned around and shot up in the air.

“Wow! This time the dragon made the first step! He touches you like I touch them when I reach out my hand!” Hiccup said astonished.

“He accepted my apologizes. Thank you, my friend.” Dagur says touched by the trust the Skrill gave him. The Skrill growled and for the first time he remembered, he felt a bit happiness. Redhair and the small human gave him a chance. Redhair apologized. And he forgave him.

But then the dragon remembered, that there was at least one thing to do. He fired a lightning bolt into the sky.

The next moment a smaller bolt hit Spitelout on the head, bringing him another shocking experience.

“How did you know that he wouldn’t turn on us, as we let him go?” Astrid asked Hiccup as he returned the axe to her.

“Dagur told me, that he spoke calmly and low to him, when he was captured. And when he wanted to attack Toothless, Dagur gave him a sign not to do it. And he spared Tooth. He spared even him. “ Hiccup smiled and laid a hand on Dagurs shoulder.

“Huff, you two really live dangerously.” Fishlegs sighed.

“Well, my dad said, he is very proud of us, especially me. His favourite son.”

Spitelout crossed his arms and glared at his son.

“I didn’t say that.” he said with a clear voice.

Snotlout´s eyes widened and he slowly turned towards his father. “Dad, you got your voice back! That’s great!”

“Is it really?”

Spitelout grabbed his sons shoulder before he could run off.

“We will see about that. We have a lot to talk about, boy.” he grumbled.

“Uncle, please be not too harsh with him. We need him back soon.” Hiccup smiled and the other Riders laughed. When Dagur looked up into the sky he still could see the lightning between the clouds, who were slowly vanished into the distance.

“I wish you all the best, great Mjölnir.”

 Much later, in the night, in a small secluded hut in the woods at Dragons edge.

Hiccup and Dagur had cuddled together in their warm furs and let the events of the last two days passing by.

“I am very proud of you, Dag. How you handled the Skrill, that he not attacked us. You have improved a lot when it comes to interact with dragons. Mjölnir trusted you in the end and even touched you.” said Hiccup.

“Well, it seemed, part of my babbling at least reached his mind. Cloudstorm held still too when I am talking to him and listen to my words. Then he started to croon and warble and flapped his small wings. When I returned home I will test how he will react when I bow my head before him.”

“I am sure it’s a part of his body language. Sigh, there is so much to learn from them.”

“Heh, we are a great team, are we? But you really wanted to risk your life for Mjölnir?”

“Well, you saved me from being shot by Ryker. Thanks again for that. And for saving Toothless in the process. And you were a good actor, playing the bad guy.”

“Well, I have years of experience. “ Dagur grinned. Then his face went serious. “Do you think, my little Cloudstorm would leave me, when he is grown-up?” he asked.

“I cant say it, Dag. It depends on a lot of things. Remember when Hookfang ran away to protect the eggs of the female Nightmare? We first thought he would run wild again, but we were wrong.”

“I hope he will not leave me.”

“Dagur. When Cloudstorm choose one day to be a free and wild dragon again, promise me, that you will let him go -and not force him to stay or even cage him.”

“Dagur sighed. “I promise. I could never hurt this little buddy.”

“And even if he leaves you and Berserker island, you can be very proud of yourself. You saved his life and raised him. And I am sure he will be thankful for that. But if he wanted to go, you must let him go.”

“Would you do this for Toothless too, if he wanted to go separate ways?”

“Well, he could not fly on his own for now, but I would invent something, to fulfill his wish, if he really wants one day to leave me. -But I doubt that he will.”

“Well, if this day will come-I will never leave you, my little brother.” Dagur said and smiled. Hiccup smiled back and laid his head on the Berserkers broad chest.

 They did not know, that on a rock, in some distance to their secluded little hut, a purple Skrill watched them with intense yellow eyes through the open hatch. His tooth-staring mouth turned into a small smile.

Then he turned around to face a great brown scaled monstrous Nightmare with golden eyes.

“So this was a test.” the Skrill growled. “For me and these humans?”

“Yeah, I am sorry for that-but in the end you got your freedom, eh?” the Nightmare purred. “But the way of the gods can be strange sometimes.”

“Grmm….they really can.” the Skrill grumbled. Then he bowed before the Nightmare, opened his wings and flew away. The other dragon watched him, till he vanished between the clouds. Then he flew away too in the opsite direction.

 to be continued…- in Maces and Talons.

[tripstations]

Why ‘like a local’ is the most overrated concept in travel

What I did last weekend was astonishingly tedious. I did the big shop at Tesco, got through a couple of washloads, took a fence panel that blew down in a storm a few weeks ago to the tip, and watched a couple of mediocre films, based largely on which ones were free on Amazon Prime. You would be correct in thinking this not exactly inspirational.

If someone served that up as a city break itinerary for me, I’d be furious. Imagine wasting a couple of precious days in Barcelona or Rome doing chores, mooching about and watching Tom Cruise ponderously attempting to assassinate Hitler in Valkyrie. 

Yet it’s a fair bet that the weekends of the fabled, revered locals in either city bear more relation to mine than the riveting whirlwind of sights, memorable dining, cultural hits and cool bars most of us want on a city break.

We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.

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Seeing a city “like a local” has become an ubiquitous concept, and one with a hefty dose of snobbishness attached. If you’re into feeling superior to other visitors, that idea – of flitting between incredibly cool secret hotspots that guidebook writers have mysteriously missed, but savvy locals know about – is a relatively sound one. But it’s also a complete fantasy.

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1/52 Puerto Rico: After a devastating hurricane, an island on its way back

Puerto Rico is representative of the many fragile places around the globe right now: the islands facing a future of sea level rise and extreme weather. The arctic spots where winter itself is under threat. The cities where a combination of climate change and bad planning has resulted in devastation. That is why Puerto Rico earned the number one spot on our annual list of 52 places to visit in the coming year. The island and the other beautiful places at risk raise an urgent question: do we owe something to the places that make us happy? “This is the new normal, and people have to look at this new normal and embrace it,” says Martha Honey, executive director of the Centre for Responsible Travel in Washington DC. The idea that as visitors we should not cause harm and should seek out authentic experiences that get us deep into the local culture. Perhaps it would not be such a stretch to redefine the relationship between leisure travellers and their dream destinations. Mireya Navarro

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2/52 Hampi, India: An ancient archaeological complex becomes more accessible

At the height of the Vijayanagar empire in the 16th century, Hampi thrived as one of the largest and richest cities in the world. Its architectural legacy lives on in the southwestern state of Karnataka with over 1,000 well-preserved stone monuments, including Hindu temples, forts and palaces. Spread over 16 miles near the banks of the Tungabhadra river, and surrounded by a sea of granite boulders, the Unesco world heritage site has been notoriously difficult to reach, until now. TruJet recently began daily direct flights from Hyderabad and Bangalore to Ballari, a 25-mile drive from Hampi. Travellers can stay in the newly refreshed Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace or at Ultimate Travelling Camp’s new Kishkinda Camp, which introduced 10 stately tents in December. The outfitters Black Tomato and Remote Lands now offer journeys in the region, from guided archaeological tours to rock climbing and river jaunts in basket boats. Nora Walsh

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3/52 Santa Barbara, California: The ‘American Riviera’ becomes a hip food and wine haven

Long known for drawing movie stars and millionaires to its resorts, Santa Barbara is now a foodie magnet. Acclaimed chef Jesse Singh oversees Bibi Ji, an edgy Indian restaurant – try the uni biryani – with a wine list curated by noted sommelier Rajat Parr. Top Chef alum Phillip Frankland Lee presides over the Monarch, a posh Californian restaurant, and Chaplin’s Martini Bar; he will open Silver Bough, a 10-seat tasting menu venue in January. The Santa Barbara Inn’s Convivo offers upmarket Italian fare and ocean views; nearby, at Tyger Tyger, Daniel Palaima, a veteran of the kitchens of Chicago-based chef Grant Achatz, serves southeast Asian fare (try the Szechuan pepper soft serve ice cream at Monkeyshine to finish off the night). The city has over 30 wine tasting rooms that don’t look like their more staid cousins up north. Frequency and Melville feature modern furnishings and party-ready playlists; vinyl rules at Sanguis, a winery run by drummers. Sheila Marikar

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4/52 Panama: New eco-friendly resorts open on the country’s Pacific coast

Two new Pacific island resorts are expanding Panama’s west coast appeal, not far from the marine preserve around Isla Coiba. Cayuga Hospitality recently opened Isla Palenque in the Gulf of Chiriqui, with eight casitas and one villa on a lush 400-acre island. Besides offering access to seven beaches, mangrove kayaking and whale-watching, the resort grows some of its own food, has furniture made from fallen trees and maintains a no-plastics policy, including subbing papaya shoots for straws. In the Gulf of Chiriqui, Islas Secas Reserve and Panama Lodge opened in January on a 14-island archipelago. The solar-powered, nine-bungalow lodge offers sport fishing and scuba diving, and composts food waste and recycles water for irrigation. A Ritz-Carlton Reserve property is also under construction in the Pearl Islands. Elaine Glusac

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5/52 Munich, Germany: Theatre. Art. Opera. What more do you want?

As far as cultural triple threats go, it’s hard to beat Munich. Its theatres are considered among the most creative and ambitious in Europe, with its two main companies, the Münchner Kammerspiele and the Residenztheater producing more than 30 premieres between January and May 2019. And its museums are decidedly world class, especially since the renovation and reopening of the Lenbachhaus museum in 2017, with its unmatched collection of the German artists known as the Blue Rider school. But perhaps the best argument for visiting Munich right now is the Bavarian State Opera, which has emerged as one of the most exciting opera houses in Europe. The reason? In the words of a New York Times classical music critic, “the miracle of Kirill Petrenko”. Petrenko has just two more years remaining on his contract as music director at the opera. This summer, he will conduct a new production of Richard Strauss’s Salome, with the opening night performance on 27 June. Stuart Emmrich

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6/52 Eilat, Israel: A newly accessible Red Sea paradise

Beneath the prismatic waters of this Red Sea resort on Israel’s southern tip lies a coral reef with hundreds of varieties of neon fish, sharks and stingrays. To get there, visitors used to have to catch a charter flight from Tel Aviv or brave the dusty drive through the Negev desert. But with the opening early this year of Ramon Airport, set in the Timna Valley and capable of handling 4 million international transit passengers a year, the world will finally get a direct route – with nonstops from Munich and Frankfurt on Lufthansa, and budget carriers flying in from Prague, London and across Europe. New hotels, including the luxurious Six Senses Shaharut, opening just in time for Israel’s turn at hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, are ready for the crowds. Debra Kamin

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7/52 Setouchi, Japan: Art and nature harmonise in Japan’s inland sea

The Setouchi region will host the Setouchi Triennale 2019, a major art fair held in three seasonal instalments. One hour south via ferry or the Shinkansen bullet train, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum reopens this spring after an eight-year refurbishment. New trails and a dedicated Shimanami bike ferry that opened in October connect Japan’s main island of Honshu to the region’s lesser-visited island of Shikoku. For those seeking more sybaritic forms of transport, the Guntu – more a minimalist floating ryokan than a cruise ship – with 19 walnut-clad rooms and open-air cypress soaking baths. In 2019, Setouchi Sea Planes will expand its scenic flights to several smaller islands and towns via Kodiak 100s. And a Japanese startup, Ale, launched the Shooting Star Challenge, a microsatellite that will create the world’s first artificial meteor shower, aiming to fill Setouchi’s skies in spring 2020, a taste of the high-tech one-upmanship to come in Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics. Adam H Graham

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8/52 Aalborg, Denmark: Architecture revitalises the waterfront

Viking long ships once glided through Aalborg’s mighty Limfjord. Today, the city is turning its most famous natural asset into an artistic one. Wildly innovative buildings have sprouted on its shores, including the Utzon Centre, designed by Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House – its new exhibition series on inspiring Nordic architects, runs through May. The curvilinear concert hall Musikkens Hus was recently followed by the vibrant Aalborg Street Food market; the pedestrian and cycling Culture Bridge; and the undulating Vestre Fjordpark, with an open-air swimming pool that meets the sea. Nordkraft, a power plant that was converted into a cultural hub, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with events in September. The Aalborg Akvavit distillery is being transformed into a new creative district over the next two years, presided over by a soaring glass polygonal sculpture by artist Tomás Saraceno, Harbour Gate from architect Bjarke Ingels, a hotel and more. Annelisa Sorensen

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9/52 The Azores, Portugal: The Caribbean comes to the middle of the Atlantic

In the nippy Atlantic Ocean a four-hour flight from the US, the subtropical volcanic islands of the Azores, complete with Unesco world heritage sites and biospheres, await discovery. Mystical green lushness, oversize volcanic craters now turned into lakes, steaming natural hot springs that puff out from the earth, blue hydrangeas by the thousands and the only coffee growers in Europe distinguish the island chain. New restaurants in Ponta Delgada include the locavore Casa do Abel, the Japanese-influenced Otaka, and Tasquinha Vieira, which specialises in local, organic cuisine, while new hotels include the Lava Homes on Pico Island, and the Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico, opening in July. Daniel Scheffler

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10/52 Ontario Ice Caves, Canada: See them now, as climate change may pose a threat

The ice caves that emerge from the winds and waves that pound the north shore of Lake Superior have always been somewhat ephemeral. But climate change has brought an element of doubt into their future. For now, the caves are a regularly occurring feature, notably along the shoreline near Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Made from snow and ice, the caves vary in size, shape and colour. Large waves before they freeze up are the essential ingredient for large caverns. The wind, shifts in the ice and the effects of the sun constantly remake the formations. February is the most reliable month for a visit. Getting to the caves involves driving one of the more scenic sections of the Trans-Canada Highway. Alona Bay and Coppermine Point are two of the more popular destinations. The staff members at Stokely Creek Lodge, a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing resort just outside of the Sault, keep track of where the most dramatic, but accessible, caves have formed each winter. Ian Austen

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11/52 Zadar, Croatia: Incomparable sunsets, a ‘sea organ’ and untrammelled islands

After the Croatian football team captured the world’s attention in the World Cup – its captain Luka Modric’s was particularly notable – fans revved up their search engines and learned that he hails from Zadar, a pretty, compact town on the Dalmatian Coast. Ryanair have added regular flights from Prague, Hamburg, Cologne and Nuremberg, starting this spring. Beyond Zadar’s medieval core, the city’s seaside promenade and music-making “sea organ”, created by architect Nikola Basic, is a must-see (or hear). The magical sunsets alone were enough to wow Alfred Hitchcock, who visited the city in 1964. The town is also a gateway to untrammelled islands, like Dugi Otok; an hour-and-20-minute ferry ride takes visitors to the sparsely populated island with uncrowded beaches and taverns. Seeking ultraclean waters? Then head to the island of Pasman, where the currents often change, making the surrounding waters some of the cleanest in the Adriatic. David Farley

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12/52 Williamsburg, Virginia: The cradle of American democracy reflects on its past

In 1619, the area that includes the Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg and Yorktown was home to some of the most significant events in American history: the official arrival of the first African slaves to North America, the convening of the first representative assembly in America and the first recorded proclamation of Thanksgiving in the New World. The area will observe the 400th anniversary of these events all year, highlighted by the Tenacity exhibition at the Jamestown Settlement, which recognises the contributions of women during the Colonial era, along with an archaeology-focused exhibit. Colonial Williamsburg, the expansive living-history museum, will give visitors a taste of life in the 18th century, along with the reimagined American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. For thrill seekers, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the European-theme amusement park, will unveil a new pendulum swing ride, while Water Country USA will unveil the state’s first hybrid water coaster. John L Dorman

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13/52 Las Vegas: Sin City bets big on culture

Sure, there are still slot machines, strip clubs and steaks aplenty, but other options for culture in America’s playground abound. The new Park MGM hosts residencies from two music legends through 2019: Lady Gaga, doing one show of her pop hits and another riffing on American classics, and starting in April, Aerosmith. Also a rollicking iteration of the Italian emporium Eataly and Best Friend, a Korean restaurant by Roy Choi, the LA food truck pioneer, that becomes a hip-hop club afterwards. The Wynn recently added live, Dixieland-style jazz to its lakeside brunch; it also offers masterclasses on subjects like dumpling-making. Nearby, the Venetian debuted three craft cocktail bars, the Dorsey, Rosina and Electra, where guests can actually sit down and hear one another talk. Downtown, the Life Is Beautiful festival, which corrals an array of musicians and artists each fall, enters its seventh year; 2018 stars included the Weeknd and Florence and the Machine. Sheila Marikar

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14/52 Salvador, Brazil: The country’s original capital gets a makeover

After completing a five-year historical preservation initiative to save its Unesco designation, Salvador, with its sherbet-coloured colonial facades, cobblestone streets and beaches, is gleaming. Rising along the coast of northeastern Bahia, the city’s downtown historic district thrums with vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture, ranging from free weekly performances by samba and drum corps to classical music and capoeira. Visitors can also find Salvador’s history exhibited in the new House of Carnival and, opening in 2020, the Museum of Music or catch a live concert at the Convention Centre, opening this year. The Fera Palace Hotel, a refurbished art deco gem, and the freshly minted Fasano Salvador, housed in a former 1930s newspaper building, both overlook All Saints Bay, which in November will host the finish of the International Regatta Transat Jacques Vabre, a 4,350-mile race along the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. Nora Walsh

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15/52 Danang, Vietnam: A spot for foodies and beachgoers

Vietnam’s third largest city, is known for being a gateway to the nearby Unesco Heritage town of Hoi An. But it’s begun to develop a reputation as the Miami of Vietnam, with a strong foodie scene and new hotels and resorts popping up on a five-mile beach strip. A typical day might start with a morning swim on the crescent-shape Non Nuoc Beach and perhaps a quick stop at the Han Market. Then, an afternoon visit to the Marble Mountains, where travellers can explore the temples and pagodas that look out over My Khe Beach and, later, dinner back in the city, perhaps at Nén, a new restaurant from much-followed food blogger Summer Le. Perhaps finish the day with a visit to Cau Rong Dragon Bridge in the hills above the city. Don’t leave without sampling a bowl of mi quang, the justifiably famous local noodle soup made with a turmeric-infused broth, chicken, pork, local seafood and shredded cabbage, and available for about $1 (78p) at any number of street food stalls. Stuart Emmrich

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16/52 Costalegre, Mexico: A beach vacation, without the crowds

Costalegre is a stretch of 43 largely unpopulated beaches, capes and bays along Mexico’s gorgeous Pacific coast, about halfway between the better known destinations of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, and one that has so far escaped the attention of vacationers flocking to its popular neighbours to the north, Punta Mita and the surfer’s haven of Sayulita. One factor keeping away the crowds: lack of easy access. Up until now, the nearest airport has been more than a two-hour drive away, in Puerto Vallarta. But that will change with the planned opening of the Chalacatepec Airport in the second half of this year, which will cut travel time by more than half. And a clutch of luxury hotels will soon follow. For now, the best luxury option is Las Alamandas Resort, set on a 1,500-acre nature reserve, with just 16 suites in seven brightly painted casitas, as well as two restaurants, a spa and a large pool. Smaller hotels and even bungalows near the beaches can also be rented. Stuart Emmrich

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17/52 Paparoa Track, New Zealand: A new wilderness trail explores a remote national park

Outdoor enthusiasts can head to New Zealand starting in October to trek the country’s first Great Walk trail to open in more than 25 years. Tracing the Pororari river along the west coast of the South Island, the Paparoa Track winds through Paparoa National Park, a reserve largely inaccessible until now. Built by the Department of Conservation for hikers and mountain bikers, the 34-mile trail (hiked in three days; biked in two) departs from a historic mining town and traverses epic limestone gorges, beech forests and sandstone bluffs before culminating at the Punakaiki Blowholes. For a small fee, travellers can stay overnight in two new 20-bunk huts overlooking the southern Alps and Tasman Sea. The Pike29 Memorial Track, which honours victims of the 2010 Pike River Mine tragedy, intersects the route. Reservations can be made on the Department of Conservation’s website; both tracks are free and no permit is required. Nora Walsh

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18/52 Puglia, Italy: Baroque architecture and Adriatic beaches in Italy’s heel

The ancient fortified farmhouses called masserie, found only in the region of Puglia, are increasingly being turned into boutique hotels, most notably Rocco Forte’s Masseria Torre Maizza, and the 17th century Castello di Ugento, where guests can take cooking classes at the Puglia Culinary Centre. And the region’s 1,000-year-old wine culture, which began when the Greeks planted vines from their land across the Adriatic, is attracting more oenophiles to the area, including the owners of the London restaurant Bocca di Lupo, who recently bought a 600-acre estate in Salento called Tormaresca, where tastings are offered to visitors (you can also dine in their new restaurant in the town of Lecce). Puglia is also home to Europe’s Virgin Galactic spaceport, which is scheduled to open in 2019, with the promise of eventually sending passengers into space. No wonder Abercrombie and Kent’s new Italian cruise includes Puglia and Gargano National Park. Daniel Scheffler

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19/52 Tatra Mountains, Slovakia: Off-the-grid skiing, rock climbing and more

While most visitors focus on Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, the soaring Tatra Mountains have emerged as an under-the-radar destination for skiing and outdoor activities, with new gondolas at the Bachledka and Jasna ski areas; slopes planned at Mlynicka Dolina; and new chair lifts at Oravska Lesna in the nearby Fatra range to the northwest. And it’s not just about winter sports: there is excellent hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and fly-fishing, while beyond the Tatras, Kosice, a regional capital, offers colourful street art and plenty of cafes and restaurants, thanks to its three universities and associated night life. Plan on posting plenty of photos: you’ll find untouched folk architecture throughout the region, as well as perfectly preserved gothic and baroque buildings awaiting your lens. Evan Rail

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20/52 Calgary, Alberta: A spectacular library adds to a once-neglected neighbourhood

Calgary’s new Central Library, from the architectural firm Snohetta, creates not just a design destination, with daily tours, but also a gateway in the form of an arched cedar-clad passageway linking downtown to the city’s evolving East Village, a booming neighbourhood where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. Calgary was founded in the East Village area in 1875, with a fort built to curb the growing whiskey trade, but the area suffered roughly 70 years of neglect before the Calgary Municipal Land Corp, formed in 2007, began transforming the area, adding parks, attractions and high-rises. The 240,000-square-foot library, with a performance hall, cafe, children’s play area and outdoor electromagnetic sculptures by Christian Moeller, is next to Studio Bell, home to the National Music Centre museum and performance space, and near the just opened Alt Hotel. Later this year, the multiuse building M2 promises more shops and restaurants beside the Bow river. Elaine Glusac

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21/52 Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia: A natural wonder resisting the threats of development

Lake Baikal in Siberia is the world’s deepest lake, plunging 1 mile into the Earth’s crust. It contains nearly 20 per cent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water and is so abundant in wildlife – bears, foxes, sables, rare and endangered freshwater seals – that Unesco calls it “the Galapagos of Russia”. The wildlife, like the lake itself, has been under threat for years, from indifferent Soviet industrial policy, from climate change and from today’s rising tourism, especially from China. Even so, it remains largely unspoiled, and activists are working hard to keep it that way. Olkhon Island, Baikal’s largest, and a place that Buddhists consider one of the holiest in Asia, is a popular base for excursions year round, even from December to April or May, when the surface freezes into turquoise sheets of ice that Siberian winds churn into natural sculptures. The Baikal Ice Marathon, a charity devoted to the lake’s conservation, will be held 2 March. Steven Lee Myers

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22/52 Huntsville, Alabama: Time to party like it’s 1969

The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing will draw crowds to Huntsville – aka Rocket City – home of the Marshall Space Flight Centre, where the spacecraft that launched astronauts to the moon were developed. Throughout the year, there will be daily reenactments of the moon landing at the US Space and Rocket Centre, but the biggest thrills are planned for the anniversary week of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission in July. Beginning on launch day, 16 July, the centre will attempt to break a Guinness World Record by launching 5,000 model rockets at 8.32 am, the precise time that rocket engines ignited in 1969. Festivities will continue with a classic car show, concerts, a homecoming parade and a street party in downtown Huntsville – the same location where Apollo workers celebrated after the successful mission. If that’s not fun enough, 2019 also marks the state’s bicentennial, giving Alabamians yet another excuse to party. Ingrid K Williams

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23/52 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas): Five kinds of penguins, easier to reach

The Falkland Islands, far off the coast of Argentina, offer an astonishing variety of wildlife that includes five kinds of penguins, hundreds of bird species, seals, sea lions and whales, as well as remote natural beauty that travellers often have to themselves. Two new local touring companies are increasing accessibility to the riches of the islands. Falklands Outdoors opened in November 2018 and offers mountain climbing, foraging, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions to beaches and penguin colonies that can’t be reached by road; in January, Falklands Helicopter Services will start scenic flights to Volunteer Point (home to an enormous king penguin colony), and other isolated spots. While there’s a single weekly commercial flight in and out of the Falklands, the first new route to the islands from South America in more than 20 years is being planned: LATAM is expected to begin weekly flights to the islands from Brazil by late this year. Nell McShane Wulfhart

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24/52 Aberdeen, Scotland: The granite city via brand new old-fashioned trains

Just as many famous European overnight train routes have been retired, the Caledonian Sleeper, the train that travels through the night from London to the north of Scotland, is rolling out new carriages for summer. The new cars preserve the romance of overnight trains, in contemporary comfort, with a choice of hotel-style suites, classic bunk beds or seats. The Highlander route to Aberdeen leaves Euston station in the evening and hits the Scottish coast by 5 am, so travellers who take an early breakfast in the dining car can enjoy coastal views as the sun rises (get off at Leuchars for medieval St Andrews). Off the train, Aberdeen and its surroundings offer historic castles set in fields of purple heather, in pine woods and along the dramatic coastline. Hiking trails abound on and around the queen’s estate at Balmoral, and rail buffs can visit the former royal train station in Ballater, closed since 1966, and ride on the Royal Deeside Railway a short drive from there. Palko Karasz

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25/52 Golfo Paradiso, Italy: A rare unspoiled gem on the Italian Riviera

The well-known pearls of the Ligurian Riviera – Portofino, Cinque Terre, Portovenere – are overwhelmed with tourists, a problem so acute that in some areas authorities have debated measures to stem the flow of daytrippers. But just a few miles away, between Portofino and Genoa, remains a peaceful sliver of coastline rarely explored by travellers to the region. Known as the Golfo Paradiso, this small gulf is home to five often-overlooked villages, including Camogli, a colourful fishing hamlet as charming as any of the Cinque Terre. Italians will boast about the renowned local cuisine: fresh-caught anchovies, hand-rolled trofie pasta and cheese-filled focaccia from the town of Recco, a speciality that recently earned IGP status, a prestigious Italian designation for quality food products. Between meals, explore blooming gardens in Pieve Ligure, beaches in Sori and the romanesque abbey of San Fruttuoso, which is accessible only by boat or a long, sweaty hike. Ingrid K Williams

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26/52 Dessau, Germany: A big birthday for Bauhaus

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of German architect Walter Gropius’ “Proclamation of the Bauhaus”, a radical reimagining of art, architecture and design. To celebrate the Bauhaus centennial, cities around Germany will hold events, from the opening festival in Berlin – several days of art, dance, concerts, theatre, lectures and more this month – to the debut of the Bauhaus Museum in Weimar, where the movement was born. But the most compelling destination might be Dessau. Home of the Bauhaus school during the 1920s and 1930s, the northeastern German city still contains the school’s pioneering (and Unesco-listed) Bauhaus Building, the Gropius-designed Masters Houses, and the Prellerhaus studio building (a warren of former Bauhaus ateliers that now contains a hotel). And in September, Dessau opens its long-awaited Bauhaus Museum, a glassy, minimalist rectangle that will showcase typefaces, textiles, artwork, furniture and more from the movement. Seth Sherwood

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27/52 Tunis, Tunisia: The spark for the Arab Spring, still lit

Freedom is what makes Tunis unique. Eight years after it kicked off the Arab Spring, it remains the only Arab capital with real freedom of expression, not to mention the peaceful rotation of power. But the city holds many other charms. Among them are the ruins of the ancient city of Carthage, from which Hannibal’s elephants once threatened Rome. The carefully preserved old medina dates from the 12th to the 16th century, when Tunis was a major centre of the Islamic world. The tree-lined Avenue Habib Bourguiba downtown bears the influence of decades of French rule. And the cafes, art galleries and blue-and-white hues of the neighbourhood of Sidi Bou Said, overlooking the Mediterranean, have long lured European painters, writers and thinkers. A short taxi ride away are the beaches and nightclubs of La Marsa. The French-influenced north African food is delicious. The local red wines are not bad. And, in another regional rarity, Tunis in 2018 elected a woman its mayor. David D Kirkpatrick

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28/52 Gambia: Hippos and chimpanzees – and a renewed sense of hope

Gambia’s tourism industry was hit hard in 2017, when its long-time authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh refused to cede leadership after an election loss, forcing a political standoff that brought foreign troops in. But with its new president, Adama Barrow, now safely in place, there’s a renewed sense of hope across continental Africa’s smallest country – now more accessible than ever. In January, a new bridge over the Gambia river, three decades in the making, will be inaugurated with a nearly 200-mile relay run to Dakar, Senegal. Peregrine Adventures launches its first cruise up the 700-mile river, with a stop at Baboon Island, home to hippos, crocodiles and chimpanzees, part of Africa’s longest-running centre for rehabilitating chimpanzees into the wild. New and coming hotels, including the African Princess Beach Hotel, and two properties by Thomas Cook, will serve as stylish bases. And new direct flights from Europe make getting to this west African country easier than ever. Ratha Tep

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29/52 Northern Rivers, Australia: Along a breezy coastline, boho paradise

The coastline just below the New South Wales-Queensland border is known as the Northern Rivers thanks to the tidal system snaking through it. Anchored by Byron Bay, the area has become a beacon for those seeking a breezy boho way of life. In recent years a more moneyed, stylish vibe has settled in and seeped from Byron into neighbouring small towns. Mullumbimby hosts one of the country’s most vibrant weekly farmers’ markets. Brunswick Heads, is home to a huge historic pub with a sprawling patio, and offers great shopping and Fleet, a restaurant that serves some of Australia’s most delightful cooking. Up and down the coast, the restaurant scene is thriving: Paper Daisy in Cabarita Beach sits in the ground floor of an old surf motel turned boutique hotel; in Lennox Heads, Shelter’s dining room is open to the ocean breeze. For a taste of the old-school hippie wonderland from which all of this sprang, check out the Crystal Castle, a “crystal experience” in a hilltop garden. Besha Rodell

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30/52 Frisian Islands and Wadden Sea: Oysters, seals, birds and dark skies on Europe’s wild left coast

Europe’s windswept Frisian Islands are shared by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands and linked by the Wadden Sea. Holland’s Lauwersmeer National Park offers dark-sky safaris and will open a seal rescue centre in 2019 that lets visitors rehabilitate and release two native seal species. Dutch campground resorts like Beleef Lauwersoog offer excursions to nearby Schiermonnikoog island and have expanded lodging options with new barrel-shaped sleeping pods and refurbished overwater bunkers, once used by duck hunters, on remote swaths of the North Sea. Denmark’s Fanoe island started offering DIY oyster foraging safaris, where visitors can rent boots and shucking tools to gather invasive, but delicious, Pacific oysters, thus helping preserve Denmark’s native Limfjorden oyster habitat. The Fanoe Oyster Festival, next in October 2019, has lured chefs across Denmark with an annual oyster cooking competition. Adam H Graham

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31/52 New York City: New cultural monuments, and remembrances of the past

redefine the city’s physical and cultural infrastructure. At Hudson Yards, the largest single development since Rockefeller Centre took shape in the Depression, a cultural arts centre called the Shed will go into gear. Its largest theatre is a retractable structure on wheels that creeps back and forth like a giant steel caterpillar, turning the outdoor space of a plaza into indoor space for performances. Not far away will be what the developers are calling New York’s Staircase, an eight-storey structure with 154 flights of stairs and 2,000 steps. The wraps are to come off the Museum of Modern Art’s $400m expansion, increasing its space by almost a third. The TWA Hotel at Kennedy International Airport is a flight centre relic from 1962, with 512 hotel rooms in two new buildings. In June, the city will host World Pride – first time in the US – for the 50th anniversary. James Barron

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32/52 Chongli, China: Witness a winter sports revolution

The leadup to the next Winter Games is well underway in and around Beijing, and the spectacle is breathtaking. The most stunning transformations are happening a four-hour drive north in Chongli, once one of the country’s poorest areas and now home to several multibillion-dollar ski resorts, towering condominiums and flashy hotels. It has transformed into a glistening winter sports hub filled with restaurants, inns and watering holes. At least five ski resorts now surround the city, including places like Genting Secret Gardens, Fulong and Thaiwoo, which has an on-property brewery, a mid-mountain chalet that serves Swiss and Austrian fare, and brand new gondolas. A high-speed train from Beijing to Chongli should open in 2019. The skiing isn’t world-class. Nearly all of the snow comes from a cannon, and runs average about 1,300 vertical feet. But go now to see firsthand how the world’s most populous country is working overtime to become a competitive winter sports nation. Tim Neville

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33/52 Orcas Island, Washington: A small island is attracting big-time foodies (and Oprah)

The horseshoe-shaped Orcas, one of the largest islands that make up the San Juan archipelago, has gained fame in recent years for its impressive tide-to-table culinary scene and experimental wines, attracting, among others, Oprah Winfrey (in 2018, Winfrey bought a 43-acre estate on the island for a reported $8.275m). A new wine enterprise, Doe Bay Wine Co, is presenting its Orcas Project in 2019 – a collaboration between acclaimed winemakers and vineyards in the Pacific northwest. Ventures from James Beard-nominated chef Jay Blackinton, who owns Hogstone, a former pizzeria now featuring ambitious nose-to-tail fare, and its more upscale counterpart Aelder, are also on the horizon. Another addition to the island are the luxury suites at Outlook Inn, in the town of Eastsound, overlooking Fishing Bay. If you want to hike, or ride a horse, the island’s Moran State Park will be adding trails to its 38-mile network this year. Daniel Scheffler

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34/52 Uzbekistan: Visa-free travel and reopened borders along the Silk Road

If you have ever wanted to travel the Silk Road, now may be the time to go. After more than 25 years since the fall of the Soviet Union, the former member country of Uzbekistan is going through its own perestroika. Among the modernising reforms are better official exchange rates and the ability to book flights and apply for visas online. Ground and air travel have also improved regionally, in part because of China’s $800bn One Belt, One Road initiative (which links countries stretching between east Asia and Europe), as well as reopened borders with neighbouring countries, reestablished flight routes between central Asian capitals, like Tashkent and Dushanbe, and increased flight service between New York and Tashkent. In addition to the relatively new Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, other international hotels are expected to open in the coming years. Erin Levi

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35/52 Vestlandet, Norway: A bucolic paradise for mountain-climbing beer lovers Rural Vestlandet, in western Norway, home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes, is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types, especially those who take

Rural Vestlandet is home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes and is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types. The Loen Skylift ferries travel more than 3,280 feet to the top of Mount Hoven in just a few minutes, while fearless climbers can put on a harness, hire a guide and make roughly the same journey in six hours, following a path that features one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe. After sightseeing, relax over an ale made with kveik, a local yeast that has enthralled brewers and scientists around the world in recent years for its fruity aromas and higher-than-normal fermentation temperatures. You can find it at bars like Tre Bror, in Voss, the Smalahovetunet restaurant and brewery nearby. Beer lovers who want to learn (and taste) more can time their visit to coincide with the October Norsk Kornolfestival, which features close to 100 beers made with kveik, often including juniper and other traditional regional ingredients. Evan Rail

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36/52 Lyon, France: Soccer, sausage and fresh air

Football fans should set their sights on France this summer, especially Lyon, where we could see the US women will clinch their fourth World Cup title in the final match 7 July. Even if you can’t get tickets – or détestez le football – the city of half a million people and 4,000 restaurants is worth a visit. This year, Lyon plays host to an International City of Gastronomy project. The indoor, one-acre exhibition will include interactive workshops and conferences designed to showcase France’s cuisine and its contributions to health and pleasure. Held at the Grand Hôtel Dieu, a sprawling complex first founded in the 1300s that reopens after four years of renovations with shops, restaurants, public spaces. When it comes time to work off all those plates of pork sausage, hike in nearby Écrins National Park, where traditional working dogs protect herds of sheep. Book a stay at the Temple-Écrins hut, where workers recently wrapped up three years of renovations. Tim Neville

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37/52 Doha, Qatar: Avant-garde architecture blooms in the desert

As the next men’s soccer World Cup approaches in 2022, the host nation, Qatar, is loading its capital with structures from the biggest names in international architecture. The sharp-angled, futuristic Qatar National Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas and his OMA firm, opened in 2018; 2019 will welcome the National Museum of Qatar, a sprawling expanse of interlocking tilted circular discs by Jean Nouvel. A contribution from a third Pritzker prize-winner, Zaha Hadid, is slated to materialise in the form of a swooping, curvaceous stadium; another stadium, from Pritzker-winner Norman Foster, is also under construction. The new structures add further dazzle to the Doha skyline, which already includes Nouvel’s syringe-like Doha Tower and the blocky white jumble of the Museum of Islamic Art, by IM Pei. Seth Sherwood

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38/52 Batumi, Georgia: A hushed seaside escape

Tbilisi, Georgia’s charming capital, has been flooded with tourists over the past decade. But Batumi, a hushed seaside city where verdant mountains slope down to the Black Sea’s smooth stone beaches, offers a different experience. Already a popular escape for Russians, Iranians, Turks and Israelis, the city is preparing itself for its inevitable discovery by the rest of the world: new hotels – including Le Meridien Batumi and a Batumi instalment of the design-centric boutique Rooms Hotel line – are rising, and a cable car will swing straight to the coast from the hilltop Batumi Botanical Garden. Winemaking is another draw – at the family-run BQ Wine Bar and the underground Karalashvili’s Wine Cellar, which pours the same rosé and amber-hued chkaveri varietals that Josef Stalin adored. Debra Kamin

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39/52 Marseille, France: An influx of young creatives gives the city a new edge

Six years after Marseille was named European Capital of Culture in 2013, the city’s renewal is still galloping along. Jean Nouvel has just finished his striking new red, white and blue skyscraper La Marseillaise. The real proof of the city’s metamorphosis, however, is that it is attracting young creative types from all over France and beyond. Laura Vidal, a sommelier from Quebec, and British chef Harry Cummins opened La Mercerie, a market-driven bistro in an old notions shop in the city’s Noailles district last spring. Noailles is brimming with shops (don’t miss Épicerie I’ldeal, the best new food store), cafes and restaurants. Other districts in the heart of Marseille are being transformed as well. Near the opera, Tony Collins recently opened Deep, a coffee shop that roasts its own beans and also sells vinyl records; and the mixologists at the Copper Bay bar shake it up for locals and guests from the nearby Les Bords de Mer, the city’s best new boutique hotel. Alexander Lobrano

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40/52 Wyoming: A sesquicentennial celebration of women’s suffrage in the Equality State

In 1869, the Territory of Wyoming passed the first law in US history granting women the right to vote – nearly 51 years before the 19th amendment guaranteed the same entitlement to all women. This year, visitors can celebrate the 150th anniversary of Wyoming women’s suffrage at the Wyoming House for Historic Women, which honours the first woman to officially cast a ballot in a general election, and 13 other trailblazing women in the state’s political history. The restored Capitol building (reopening midyear), Wyoming State Museum and Cowgirls of the West museum also feature exhibits and artefacts celebrating women’s history. In addition, a variety of all-female trips are on offer throughout the year including Women’s Wellness Pack Trips on horseback from Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch, cattle herding and archery at the WYLD West Women retreat, Hike Like a Woman nature adventures and fly-fishing clinics at the Proud Wyoming Woman Retreat. Nora Walsh

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41/52 Los Angeles: Finally, more than Grauman’s (groan)

Los Angeles too often gets boiled down to its least interesting element: Hollywood. It’s an insult to a region with a vibrant Koreatown (sit in the hot salt at Wi Spa and then feast on roast gui at Dong Il Jang); two nationally recognised high school show choirs (John Burroughs and Burbank); art galleries like the quirky Parker, in a Los Feliz mansion; and several big-league sports teams, two of them soon moving to a new $2.6bn stadium. But in summer 2019 there will be an honest-to-goodness Hollywood reason to visit the area. After delays, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is scheduled to open in a Renzo Piano-designed complex on Wilshire Boulevard. Promised are interactive exhibits about the art and science of filmmaking, starry screenings in two theatres and to-die-for memorabilia – the collection includes a pair of ruby slippers, 12 million photographs, 61,000 posters and 190,000 video assets. Brooks Barnes

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42/52 Dakar, Senegal: An oasis of freedom in a region of unrest

Ngor or rent a board for a few hours to surf the more than a half dozen beaches that offer a terrific year-round break. Or just sit back and watch the surfers while eating grilled fish at a long strip of beach restaurants. A Museum of Black Civilisations will be opening early this year and will showcase artefacts as well as contemporary art from Africa and the diaspora. The city’s design and fashion creations would fit right in at New York showrooms. Take in a late-night concert with legends like Cheikh Lo and Youssou N’Dor crooning into the wee hours and a lively bar scene that offers all-hours entertainment. Day trips let you sleep in a baobab tree, zip line through a baobab forest or swim in a pink lake. But climate change, overfishing and a booming population may eventually take their toll. Dionne Searcey

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43/52 Perth, Australia: A city transformed and enlivened

A decade-long development boom has supercharged Perth. Among the new attractions: Yagan Square, with its distinctive market hall, art park and 147-foot digital tower showcases work by local artists and livestreams events; Optus Stadium, a 60,000-seat venue for concerts and sporting events; and Raine Square, a $200m redevelopment that includes a movie theatre, shopping and restaurants including dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan, considered the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant. To accommodate the expected growth in tourism, 31 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in the past five years, including the luxury COMO, the hip QT and a Westin. Since 2007, liquor law reforms, including a 2018 change that let restaurants serve drinks without a meal, have changed the drinking and dining scene with more than 100 small bars opening in the central business district alone. And Qantas started a nonstop flight from London to Perth this year, the first from Europe. Kelly DiNardo

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44/52 Hong Kong: Dazzling infrastructure eases travel but could threaten independence

After Britain returned its former colony to China in 1997, Hong Kong prided itself on resisting mainland interference. Last year saw the opening of a high-speed train that takes passengers all the way to Beijing, and a 34-mile sea bridge linking Hong Kong to the mainland for the first time, opening the question of whether that independent streak can survive. For travellers, though, boarding a train at the new West Kowloon station bound for Beijing – and more than 30 other destinations in China – is a game changer. The 1,200-mile trip to Beijing is just nine hours, and the business-class seats are roomy. Whether they are headed to China or not, travellers can indulge in British nostalgia at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The 25th-floor M bar offers fabulous views of the harbour, exotic cocktails like Sarawak Tea Punch and memories of the 1960s when the hotel opened as a symbol of luxury and style in this ever-glamorous city. Jane Perlez

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45/52 Iran: Tourism cautiously returns to this Middle East jewel

The appeal of Iran for adventurous travellers is obvious: the monumental ruins of ancient Persia; the spectacular, centuries-old mosques of Shiraz and Isfahan; the Grand Bazaar and Golestan Palace in bustling Tehran. One additional reason to visit in 2019 is a major exhibition scheduled to open at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. “Portrait, Still-life, Landscape” (21 February to 20 April) will take over the entire museum, with a selection of about 500 works, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and Marcel Duchamp, as well as about 40 Picassos recently discovered in the museum’s storage facilities (much of the collection has been kept under wraps since the 1979 revolution). The US State Department discourages, but does not prohibit, travel to Iran by American citizens, and Americans can travel to Iran only as part of an organised tour. Options for 2019 include three expeditions from Intrepid Travel, including the company’s first-ever all-female tour. Stuart Emmrich

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46/52 Houston: Rebounding bigger and better after a hurricane

After Hurricane Harvey, the city is back on its feet and showing off the everything-is-bigger-in-Texas attitude. Four food halls opened in 2018, including Finn Hall, which features up-and-coming chefs like James Beard-nominated Jianyun Ye and a downtown outpost of his Chinese hotspot Mala Sichuan and a taqueria from local favourite Goode Co. The five-diamond Post Oak Hotel has a two-storey Rolls-Royce showroom, art by Frank Stella and a 30,000-bottle wine cellar. The Menil Collection, known for its eclectic art ranging from Byzantine antiques to 20th century pop art, underwent a renovation and opened the 30,000-square-foot Menil Drawing Institute. The city’s museum boom continues with an expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to be completed in 2020, a newly built location for the Holocaust Museum, which will move in this spring, and a restoration of the Apollo Mission Centre that will open in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in July. Kelly DiNardo

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47/52 Columbus, Ohio: Is this the American city of the future?

With a revitalised riverfront and booming downtown, Columbus is already one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Now, it’s poised to become the model for the future of innovative urban transportation, with self-driving shuttles carrying travellers along the Scioto Mile, recently revitalised, adding 33 acres of riverfront green space for festivals, water sports and outdoor art. Among the newest dining options are Veritas, which specializes in small-plate offerings; Service Bar, run by young chef Avishar Barua, a veteran of New York’s Mission Chinese and WD-50; and, in the North Market neighborhood, veggie-forward Little Eater. The Short North Arts District offers access to the city’s local businesses like the new fashion store Thread and the original Jeni’s ice cream store. But don’t skip Italian Village and German Village neighborhoods, where innovators and dreamers have opened destination shops like Stump Plants and Vernacular and bars like Cosecha. Daniel Scheffler

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48/52 Plovdiv, Bulgaria: A city ready for the spotlight

With its colourful, cobblestoned historic centre, well-preserved Roman ruins and lively art scene, Bulgaria’s second-largest city is surprisingly overlooked by tourists who favour the quirky, post-Soviet charm of the country’s capital, Sofia. But as a European cultural capital of 2019, this gem is ready to shine. Organisers have planned more than 500 events throughout the city and its region, including concerts, open-air theatre performances and street-food fairs. Tucked into the heart of central Bulgaria and built on seven hills, Plovdiv features an artistic quarter called Kapana, whose winding streets are lined with galleries and stylish cafes, as well as a beautifully restored Roman amphitheatre that hosts summer opera performances under the stars. The city’s location at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains – with their stunning views of peaks and deep gorges — makes it an excellent launch point for hiking day trips. Ann Mah

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49/52 Vevey, Switzerland: A once-in-a-generation winegrowers’ festival on the Swiss Riviera

Everything runs like clockwork in Switzerland, including the Fête des Vignerons, although its timetable is considerably extended. This Unesco-recognised wine festival, which celebrates the viticultural traditions of the Lavaux and Chablais regions near Lake Geneva, takes place every 20 to 25 years in the heart of Vevey, a breathtaking lakeside town beneath sloping vineyards in the canton of Vaud. Since 1797, the date has been decided by the Confrérie des Vignerons, which has spent the past several years (and a reported 99 million Swiss francs, or roughly $98m) planning for the 12th edition, which will run from 18 July to 11 August. For the first time, tickets for the two-hour show can be purchased online. Oenophiles seeking a “full-bodied” experience of Helvetian wines, which are rarely exported, can also download the new app from the Canton of Vaud featuring eight wine-centric hiking routes, including one above Vevey. Erin Levi

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50/52 Cádiz province, Spain: Sparkling cities and towns in southwest Andalusia

At the tip of a peninsula thrust into the Atlantic, the city of Cádiz, a trading hub since 1100, has a vibe that’s more Havana than Madrid. A culinary renaissance is underway, with newcomers like Saja River and Codigo de Barra joining classics like El Faro. But the biggest gastronomic news lies across the bay in Puerto de Santa Maria, where Angel León’s Aponiente, which has three Michelin stars, offers a lyric poem to seafood (plankton risotto). A second León restaurant, Alevante, in nearby Sancti Petri just received its first star. Twenty minutes inland, Jerez de la Frontera is a cradle of the fortified wines known as sherry, which are now on the hot list of sommeliers and the craft-cocktail crowd. Beyond the cities, hilltop villages like Vejer de la Frontera lure expatriates with a blend of hip luxury hotels and art by the likes of Olafur Eliasson at NMAC sculpture garden. Add a stretch of Atlantic shore, and the province of Cádiz ticks all the boxes. Andrew Ferren

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51/52 Elqui Valley, Chile: Eclipse mania, and nights of dark skies

The Elqui Valley in Chile attracts a diverse group of wine and pisco aficionados, stargazers and nature lovers. In 2019, this tranquil agricultural region takes centre stage in the path of totality of a full solar eclipse 2 July. Demand for lodging around this time has far outstripped supply, with an estimated 300,000 people expected in the area, and even hotels at the nearby coastal town of La Serena are booked solid. But those travelling outside eclipse mania still have many reasons to stare at the exceptionally clear sky; the Elqui Valley was named the world’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary as well as a centre of international global astronomy. When the sun is up, travellers can hike through vineyards or stroll through the streets of Vicuña, the largest city. It is a centre of pisco (brandy made in Chile and Peru) production and also the birthplace of poet Gabriela Mistral, winner of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature. Peter Kujawinski

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52/52 The islands of Tahiti: The birthplace of the overwater bungalow ups its ecotourism

Those looking to escape the news cycle can’t get much farther away than this south Pacific archipelago, also known as French Polynesia, which in 2019 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s arrival and subsequent trumpeting of its riches. Overwater bungalows were invented here: Tahiti’s clear waters offer views of more than 1,000 species of marine life. To guard against the climate change threatening parts of the region, the 118 islands and atolls have bolstered their conservation and ecotourism options. Paul Gauguin Cruises offers wildlife discovery immersions. Hotels are trying to decrease their carbon footprints: the Brando resort’s eco-friendly facilities include a coconut-oil-powered electric plant, an organic garden and solar panels. Resorts aren’t the only lodging option. The Tahitian Guesthouse experience unchains visitors from hotels and offers a more authentic Polynesian experience. Air Tahiti Nui just unveiled new jets with high-speed wifi. Sheila Marikar

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1/52 Puerto Rico: After a devastating hurricane, an island on its way back

Puerto Rico is representative of the many fragile places around the globe right now: the islands facing a future of sea level rise and extreme weather. The arctic spots where winter itself is under threat. The cities where a combination of climate change and bad planning has resulted in devastation. That is why Puerto Rico earned the number one spot on our annual list of 52 places to visit in the coming year. The island and the other beautiful places at risk raise an urgent question: do we owe something to the places that make us happy? “This is the new normal, and people have to look at this new normal and embrace it,” says Martha Honey, executive director of the Centre for Responsible Travel in Washington DC. The idea that as visitors we should not cause harm and should seek out authentic experiences that get us deep into the local culture. Perhaps it would not be such a stretch to redefine the relationship between leisure travellers and their dream destinations. Mireya Navarro

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2/52 Hampi, India: An ancient archaeological complex becomes more accessible

At the height of the Vijayanagar empire in the 16th century, Hampi thrived as one of the largest and richest cities in the world. Its architectural legacy lives on in the southwestern state of Karnataka with over 1,000 well-preserved stone monuments, including Hindu temples, forts and palaces. Spread over 16 miles near the banks of the Tungabhadra river, and surrounded by a sea of granite boulders, the Unesco world heritage site has been notoriously difficult to reach, until now. TruJet recently began daily direct flights from Hyderabad and Bangalore to Ballari, a 25-mile drive from Hampi. Travellers can stay in the newly refreshed Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace or at Ultimate Travelling Camp’s new Kishkinda Camp, which introduced 10 stately tents in December. The outfitters Black Tomato and Remote Lands now offer journeys in the region, from guided archaeological tours to rock climbing and river jaunts in basket boats. Nora Walsh

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3/52 Santa Barbara, California: The ‘American Riviera’ becomes a hip food and wine haven

Long known for drawing movie stars and millionaires to its resorts, Santa Barbara is now a foodie magnet. Acclaimed chef Jesse Singh oversees Bibi Ji, an edgy Indian restaurant – try the uni biryani – with a wine list curated by noted sommelier Rajat Parr. Top Chef alum Phillip Frankland Lee presides over the Monarch, a posh Californian restaurant, and Chaplin’s Martini Bar; he will open Silver Bough, a 10-seat tasting menu venue in January. The Santa Barbara Inn’s Convivo offers upmarket Italian fare and ocean views; nearby, at Tyger Tyger, Daniel Palaima, a veteran of the kitchens of Chicago-based chef Grant Achatz, serves southeast Asian fare (try the Szechuan pepper soft serve ice cream at Monkeyshine to finish off the night). The city has over 30 wine tasting rooms that don’t look like their more staid cousins up north. Frequency and Melville feature modern furnishings and party-ready playlists; vinyl rules at Sanguis, a winery run by drummers. Sheila Marikar

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4/52 Panama: New eco-friendly resorts open on the country’s Pacific coast

Two new Pacific island resorts are expanding Panama’s west coast appeal, not far from the marine preserve around Isla Coiba. Cayuga Hospitality recently opened Isla Palenque in the Gulf of Chiriqui, with eight casitas and one villa on a lush 400-acre island. Besides offering access to seven beaches, mangrove kayaking and whale-watching, the resort grows some of its own food, has furniture made from fallen trees and maintains a no-plastics policy, including subbing papaya shoots for straws. In the Gulf of Chiriqui, Islas Secas Reserve and Panama Lodge opened in January on a 14-island archipelago. The solar-powered, nine-bungalow lodge offers sport fishing and scuba diving, and composts food waste and recycles water for irrigation. A Ritz-Carlton Reserve property is also under construction in the Pearl Islands. Elaine Glusac

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5/52 Munich, Germany: Theatre. Art. Opera. What more do you want?

As far as cultural triple threats go, it’s hard to beat Munich. Its theatres are considered among the most creative and ambitious in Europe, with its two main companies, the Münchner Kammerspiele and the Residenztheater producing more than 30 premieres between January and May 2019. And its museums are decidedly world class, especially since the renovation and reopening of the Lenbachhaus museum in 2017, with its unmatched collection of the German artists known as the Blue Rider school. But perhaps the best argument for visiting Munich right now is the Bavarian State Opera, which has emerged as one of the most exciting opera houses in Europe. The reason? In the words of a New York Times classical music critic, “the miracle of Kirill Petrenko”. Petrenko has just two more years remaining on his contract as music director at the opera. This summer, he will conduct a new production of Richard Strauss’s Salome, with the opening night performance on 27 June. Stuart Emmrich

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6/52 Eilat, Israel: A newly accessible Red Sea paradise

Beneath the prismatic waters of this Red Sea resort on Israel’s southern tip lies a coral reef with hundreds of varieties of neon fish, sharks and stingrays. To get there, visitors used to have to catch a charter flight from Tel Aviv or brave the dusty drive through the Negev desert. But with the opening early this year of Ramon Airport, set in the Timna Valley and capable of handling 4 million international transit passengers a year, the world will finally get a direct route – with nonstops from Munich and Frankfurt on Lufthansa, and budget carriers flying in from Prague, London and across Europe. New hotels, including the luxurious Six Senses Shaharut, opening just in time for Israel’s turn at hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, are ready for the crowds. Debra Kamin

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7/52 Setouchi, Japan: Art and nature harmonise in Japan’s inland sea

The Setouchi region will host the Setouchi Triennale 2019, a major art fair held in three seasonal instalments. One hour south via ferry or the Shinkansen bullet train, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum reopens this spring after an eight-year refurbishment. New trails and a dedicated Shimanami bike ferry that opened in October connect Japan’s main island of Honshu to the region’s lesser-visited island of Shikoku. For those seeking more sybaritic forms of transport, the Guntu – more a minimalist floating ryokan than a cruise ship – with 19 walnut-clad rooms and open-air cypress soaking baths. In 2019, Setouchi Sea Planes will expand its scenic flights to several smaller islands and towns via Kodiak 100s. And a Japanese startup, Ale, launched the Shooting Star Challenge, a microsatellite that will create the world’s first artificial meteor shower, aiming to fill Setouchi’s skies in spring 2020, a taste of the high-tech one-upmanship to come in Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics. Adam H Graham

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8/52 Aalborg, Denmark: Architecture revitalises the waterfront

Viking long ships once glided through Aalborg’s mighty Limfjord. Today, the city is turning its most famous natural asset into an artistic one. Wildly innovative buildings have sprouted on its shores, including the Utzon Centre, designed by Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House – its new exhibition series on inspiring Nordic architects, runs through May. The curvilinear concert hall Musikkens Hus was recently followed by the vibrant Aalborg Street Food market; the pedestrian and cycling Culture Bridge; and the undulating Vestre Fjordpark, with an open-air swimming pool that meets the sea. Nordkraft, a power plant that was converted into a cultural hub, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with events in September. The Aalborg Akvavit distillery is being transformed into a new creative district over the next two years, presided over by a soaring glass polygonal sculpture by artist Tomás Saraceno, Harbour Gate from architect Bjarke Ingels, a hotel and more. Annelisa Sorensen

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9/52 The Azores, Portugal: The Caribbean comes to the middle of the Atlantic

In the nippy Atlantic Ocean a four-hour flight from the US, the subtropical volcanic islands of the Azores, complete with Unesco world heritage sites and biospheres, await discovery. Mystical green lushness, oversize volcanic craters now turned into lakes, steaming natural hot springs that puff out from the earth, blue hydrangeas by the thousands and the only coffee growers in Europe distinguish the island chain. New restaurants in Ponta Delgada include the locavore Casa do Abel, the Japanese-influenced Otaka, and Tasquinha Vieira, which specialises in local, organic cuisine, while new hotels include the Lava Homes on Pico Island, and the Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico, opening in July. Daniel Scheffler

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10/52 Ontario Ice Caves, Canada: See them now, as climate change may pose a threat

The ice caves that emerge from the winds and waves that pound the north shore of Lake Superior have always been somewhat ephemeral. But climate change has brought an element of doubt into their future. For now, the caves are a regularly occurring feature, notably along the shoreline near Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Made from snow and ice, the caves vary in size, shape and colour. Large waves before they freeze up are the essential ingredient for large caverns. The wind, shifts in the ice and the effects of the sun constantly remake the formations. February is the most reliable month for a visit. Getting to the caves involves driving one of the more scenic sections of the Trans-Canada Highway. Alona Bay and Coppermine Point are two of the more popular destinations. The staff members at Stokely Creek Lodge, a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing resort just outside of the Sault, keep track of where the most dramatic, but accessible, caves have formed each winter. Ian Austen

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11/52 Zadar, Croatia: Incomparable sunsets, a ‘sea organ’ and untrammelled islands

After the Croatian football team captured the world’s attention in the World Cup – its captain Luka Modric’s was particularly notable – fans revved up their search engines and learned that he hails from Zadar, a pretty, compact town on the Dalmatian Coast. Ryanair have added regular flights from Prague, Hamburg, Cologne and Nuremberg, starting this spring. Beyond Zadar’s medieval core, the city’s seaside promenade and music-making “sea organ”, created by architect Nikola Basic, is a must-see (or hear). The magical sunsets alone were enough to wow Alfred Hitchcock, who visited the city in 1964. The town is also a gateway to untrammelled islands, like Dugi Otok; an hour-and-20-minute ferry ride takes visitors to the sparsely populated island with uncrowded beaches and taverns. Seeking ultraclean waters? Then head to the island of Pasman, where the currents often change, making the surrounding waters some of the cleanest in the Adriatic. David Farley

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12/52 Williamsburg, Virginia: The cradle of American democracy reflects on its past

In 1619, the area that includes the Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg and Yorktown was home to some of the most significant events in American history: the official arrival of the first African slaves to North America, the convening of the first representative assembly in America and the first recorded proclamation of Thanksgiving in the New World. The area will observe the 400th anniversary of these events all year, highlighted by the Tenacity exhibition at the Jamestown Settlement, which recognises the contributions of women during the Colonial era, along with an archaeology-focused exhibit. Colonial Williamsburg, the expansive living-history museum, will give visitors a taste of life in the 18th century, along with the reimagined American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. For thrill seekers, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the European-theme amusement park, will unveil a new pendulum swing ride, while Water Country USA will unveil the state’s first hybrid water coaster. John L Dorman

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13/52 Las Vegas: Sin City bets big on culture

Sure, there are still slot machines, strip clubs and steaks aplenty, but other options for culture in America’s playground abound. The new Park MGM hosts residencies from two music legends through 2019: Lady Gaga, doing one show of her pop hits and another riffing on American classics, and starting in April, Aerosmith. Also a rollicking iteration of the Italian emporium Eataly and Best Friend, a Korean restaurant by Roy Choi, the LA food truck pioneer, that becomes a hip-hop club afterwards. The Wynn recently added live, Dixieland-style jazz to its lakeside brunch; it also offers masterclasses on subjects like dumpling-making. Nearby, the Venetian debuted three craft cocktail bars, the Dorsey, Rosina and Electra, where guests can actually sit down and hear one another talk. Downtown, the Life Is Beautiful festival, which corrals an array of musicians and artists each fall, enters its seventh year; 2018 stars included the Weeknd and Florence and the Machine. Sheila Marikar

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14/52 Salvador, Brazil: The country’s original capital gets a makeover

After completing a five-year historical preservation initiative to save its Unesco designation, Salvador, with its sherbet-coloured colonial facades, cobblestone streets and beaches, is gleaming. Rising along the coast of northeastern Bahia, the city’s downtown historic district thrums with vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture, ranging from free weekly performances by samba and drum corps to classical music and capoeira. Visitors can also find Salvador’s history exhibited in the new House of Carnival and, opening in 2020, the Museum of Music or catch a live concert at the Convention Centre, opening this year. The Fera Palace Hotel, a refurbished art deco gem, and the freshly minted Fasano Salvador, housed in a former 1930s newspaper building, both overlook All Saints Bay, which in November will host the finish of the International Regatta Transat Jacques Vabre, a 4,350-mile race along the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. Nora Walsh

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15/52 Danang, Vietnam: A spot for foodies and beachgoers

Vietnam’s third largest city, is known for being a gateway to the nearby Unesco Heritage town of Hoi An. But it’s begun to develop a reputation as the Miami of Vietnam, with a strong foodie scene and new hotels and resorts popping up on a five-mile beach strip. A typical day might start with a morning swim on the crescent-shape Non Nuoc Beach and perhaps a quick stop at the Han Market. Then, an afternoon visit to the Marble Mountains, where travellers can explore the temples and pagodas that look out over My Khe Beach and, later, dinner back in the city, perhaps at Nén, a new restaurant from much-followed food blogger Summer Le. Perhaps finish the day with a visit to Cau Rong Dragon Bridge in the hills above the city. Don’t leave without sampling a bowl of mi quang, the justifiably famous local noodle soup made with a turmeric-infused broth, chicken, pork, local seafood and shredded cabbage, and available for about $1 (78p) at any number of street food stalls. Stuart Emmrich

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16/52 Costalegre, Mexico: A beach vacation, without the crowds

Costalegre is a stretch of 43 largely unpopulated beaches, capes and bays along Mexico’s gorgeous Pacific coast, about halfway between the better known destinations of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, and one that has so far escaped the attention of vacationers flocking to its popular neighbours to the north, Punta Mita and the surfer’s haven of Sayulita. One factor keeping away the crowds: lack of easy access. Up until now, the nearest airport has been more than a two-hour drive away, in Puerto Vallarta. But that will change with the planned opening of the Chalacatepec Airport in the second half of this year, which will cut travel time by more than half. And a clutch of luxury hotels will soon follow. For now, the best luxury option is Las Alamandas Resort, set on a 1,500-acre nature reserve, with just 16 suites in seven brightly painted casitas, as well as two restaurants, a spa and a large pool. Smaller hotels and even bungalows near the beaches can also be rented. Stuart Emmrich

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17/52 Paparoa Track, New Zealand: A new wilderness trail explores a remote national park

Outdoor enthusiasts can head to New Zealand starting in October to trek the country’s first Great Walk trail to open in more than 25 years. Tracing the Pororari river along the west coast of the South Island, the Paparoa Track winds through Paparoa National Park, a reserve largely inaccessible until now. Built by the Department of Conservation for hikers and mountain bikers, the 34-mile trail (hiked in three days; biked in two) departs from a historic mining town and traverses epic limestone gorges, beech forests and sandstone bluffs before culminating at the Punakaiki Blowholes. For a small fee, travellers can stay overnight in two new 20-bunk huts overlooking the southern Alps and Tasman Sea. The Pike29 Memorial Track, which honours victims of the 2010 Pike River Mine tragedy, intersects the route. Reservations can be made on the Department of Conservation’s website; both tracks are free and no permit is required. Nora Walsh

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18/52 Puglia, Italy: Baroque architecture and Adriatic beaches in Italy’s heel

The ancient fortified farmhouses called masserie, found only in the region of Puglia, are increasingly being turned into boutique hotels, most notably Rocco Forte’s Masseria Torre Maizza, and the 17th century Castello di Ugento, where guests can take cooking classes at the Puglia Culinary Centre. And the region’s 1,000-year-old wine culture, which began when the Greeks planted vines from their land across the Adriatic, is attracting more oenophiles to the area, including the owners of the London restaurant Bocca di Lupo, who recently bought a 600-acre estate in Salento called Tormaresca, where tastings are offered to visitors (you can also dine in their new restaurant in the town of Lecce). Puglia is also home to Europe’s Virgin Galactic spaceport, which is scheduled to open in 2019, with the promise of eventually sending passengers into space. No wonder Abercrombie and Kent’s new Italian cruise includes Puglia and Gargano National Park. Daniel Scheffler

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19/52 Tatra Mountains, Slovakia: Off-the-grid skiing, rock climbing and more

While most visitors focus on Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, the soaring Tatra Mountains have emerged as an under-the-radar destination for skiing and outdoor activities, with new gondolas at the Bachledka and Jasna ski areas; slopes planned at Mlynicka Dolina; and new chair lifts at Oravska Lesna in the nearby Fatra range to the northwest. And it’s not just about winter sports: there is excellent hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and fly-fishing, while beyond the Tatras, Kosice, a regional capital, offers colourful street art and plenty of cafes and restaurants, thanks to its three universities and associated night life. Plan on posting plenty of photos: you’ll find untouched folk architecture throughout the region, as well as perfectly preserved gothic and baroque buildings awaiting your lens. Evan Rail

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20/52 Calgary, Alberta: A spectacular library adds to a once-neglected neighbourhood

Calgary’s new Central Library, from the architectural firm Snohetta, creates not just a design destination, with daily tours, but also a gateway in the form of an arched cedar-clad passageway linking downtown to the city’s evolving East Village, a booming neighbourhood where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. Calgary was founded in the East Village area in 1875, with a fort built to curb the growing whiskey trade, but the area suffered roughly 70 years of neglect before the Calgary Municipal Land Corp, formed in 2007, began transforming the area, adding parks, attractions and high-rises. The 240,000-square-foot library, with a performance hall, cafe, children’s play area and outdoor electromagnetic sculptures by Christian Moeller, is next to Studio Bell, home to the National Music Centre museum and performance space, and near the just opened Alt Hotel. Later this year, the multiuse building M2 promises more shops and restaurants beside the Bow river. Elaine Glusac

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21/52 Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia: A natural wonder resisting the threats of development

Lake Baikal in Siberia is the world’s deepest lake, plunging 1 mile into the Earth’s crust. It contains nearly 20 per cent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water and is so abundant in wildlife – bears, foxes, sables, rare and endangered freshwater seals – that Unesco calls it “the Galapagos of Russia”. The wildlife, like the lake itself, has been under threat for years, from indifferent Soviet industrial policy, from climate change and from today’s rising tourism, especially from China. Even so, it remains largely unspoiled, and activists are working hard to keep it that way. Olkhon Island, Baikal’s largest, and a place that Buddhists consider one of the holiest in Asia, is a popular base for excursions year round, even from December to April or May, when the surface freezes into turquoise sheets of ice that Siberian winds churn into natural sculptures. The Baikal Ice Marathon, a charity devoted to the lake’s conservation, will be held 2 March. Steven Lee Myers

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22/52 Huntsville, Alabama: Time to party like it’s 1969

The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing will draw crowds to Huntsville – aka Rocket City – home of the Marshall Space Flight Centre, where the spacecraft that launched astronauts to the moon were developed. Throughout the year, there will be daily reenactments of the moon landing at the US Space and Rocket Centre, but the biggest thrills are planned for the anniversary week of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission in July. Beginning on launch day, 16 July, the centre will attempt to break a Guinness World Record by launching 5,000 model rockets at 8.32 am, the precise time that rocket engines ignited in 1969. Festivities will continue with a classic car show, concerts, a homecoming parade and a street party in downtown Huntsville – the same location where Apollo workers celebrated after the successful mission. If that’s not fun enough, 2019 also marks the state’s bicentennial, giving Alabamians yet another excuse to party. Ingrid K Williams

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23/52 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas): Five kinds of penguins, easier to reach

The Falkland Islands, far off the coast of Argentina, offer an astonishing variety of wildlife that includes five kinds of penguins, hundreds of bird species, seals, sea lions and whales, as well as remote natural beauty that travellers often have to themselves. Two new local touring companies are increasing accessibility to the riches of the islands. Falklands Outdoors opened in November 2018 and offers mountain climbing, foraging, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions to beaches and penguin colonies that can’t be reached by road; in January, Falklands Helicopter Services will start scenic flights to Volunteer Point (home to an enormous king penguin colony), and other isolated spots. While there’s a single weekly commercial flight in and out of the Falklands, the first new route to the islands from South America in more than 20 years is being planned: LATAM is expected to begin weekly flights to the islands from Brazil by late this year. Nell McShane Wulfhart

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24/52 Aberdeen, Scotland: The granite city via brand new old-fashioned trains

Just as many famous European overnight train routes have been retired, the Caledonian Sleeper, the train that travels through the night from London to the north of Scotland, is rolling out new carriages for summer. The new cars preserve the romance of overnight trains, in contemporary comfort, with a choice of hotel-style suites, classic bunk beds or seats. The Highlander route to Aberdeen leaves Euston station in the evening and hits the Scottish coast by 5 am, so travellers who take an early breakfast in the dining car can enjoy coastal views as the sun rises (get off at Leuchars for medieval St Andrews). Off the train, Aberdeen and its surroundings offer historic castles set in fields of purple heather, in pine woods and along the dramatic coastline. Hiking trails abound on and around the queen’s estate at Balmoral, and rail buffs can visit the former royal train station in Ballater, closed since 1966, and ride on the Royal Deeside Railway a short drive from there. Palko Karasz

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25/52 Golfo Paradiso, Italy: A rare unspoiled gem on the Italian Riviera

The well-known pearls of the Ligurian Riviera – Portofino, Cinque Terre, Portovenere – are overwhelmed with tourists, a problem so acute that in some areas authorities have debated measures to stem the flow of daytrippers. But just a few miles away, between Portofino and Genoa, remains a peaceful sliver of coastline rarely explored by travellers to the region. Known as the Golfo Paradiso, this small gulf is home to five often-overlooked villages, including Camogli, a colourful fishing hamlet as charming as any of the Cinque Terre. Italians will boast about the renowned local cuisine: fresh-caught anchovies, hand-rolled trofie pasta and cheese-filled focaccia from the town of Recco, a speciality that recently earned IGP status, a prestigious Italian designation for quality food products. Between meals, explore blooming gardens in Pieve Ligure, beaches in Sori and the romanesque abbey of San Fruttuoso, which is accessible only by boat or a long, sweaty hike. Ingrid K Williams

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26/52 Dessau, Germany: A big birthday for Bauhaus

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of German architect Walter Gropius’ “Proclamation of the Bauhaus”, a radical reimagining of art, architecture and design. To celebrate the Bauhaus centennial, cities around Germany will hold events, from the opening festival in Berlin – several days of art, dance, concerts, theatre, lectures and more this month – to the debut of the Bauhaus Museum in Weimar, where the movement was born. But the most compelling destination might be Dessau. Home of the Bauhaus school during the 1920s and 1930s, the northeastern German city still contains the school’s pioneering (and Unesco-listed) Bauhaus Building, the Gropius-designed Masters Houses, and the Prellerhaus studio building (a warren of former Bauhaus ateliers that now contains a hotel). And in September, Dessau opens its long-awaited Bauhaus Museum, a glassy, minimalist rectangle that will showcase typefaces, textiles, artwork, furniture and more from the movement. Seth Sherwood

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27/52 Tunis, Tunisia: The spark for the Arab Spring, still lit

Freedom is what makes Tunis unique. Eight years after it kicked off the Arab Spring, it remains the only Arab capital with real freedom of expression, not to mention the peaceful rotation of power. But the city holds many other charms. Among them are the ruins of the ancient city of Carthage, from which Hannibal’s elephants once threatened Rome. The carefully preserved old medina dates from the 12th to the 16th century, when Tunis was a major centre of the Islamic world. The tree-lined Avenue Habib Bourguiba downtown bears the influence of decades of French rule. And the cafes, art galleries and blue-and-white hues of the neighbourhood of Sidi Bou Said, overlooking the Mediterranean, have long lured European painters, writers and thinkers. A short taxi ride away are the beaches and nightclubs of La Marsa. The French-influenced north African food is delicious. The local red wines are not bad. And, in another regional rarity, Tunis in 2018 elected a woman its mayor. David D Kirkpatrick

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28/52 Gambia: Hippos and chimpanzees – and a renewed sense of hope

Gambia’s tourism industry was hit hard in 2017, when its long-time authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh refused to cede leadership after an election loss, forcing a political standoff that brought foreign troops in. But with its new president, Adama Barrow, now safely in place, there’s a renewed sense of hope across continental Africa’s smallest country – now more accessible than ever. In January, a new bridge over the Gambia river, three decades in the making, will be inaugurated with a nearly 200-mile relay run to Dakar, Senegal. Peregrine Adventures launches its first cruise up the 700-mile river, with a stop at Baboon Island, home to hippos, crocodiles and chimpanzees, part of Africa’s longest-running centre for rehabilitating chimpanzees into the wild. New and coming hotels, including the African Princess Beach Hotel, and two properties by Thomas Cook, will serve as stylish bases. And new direct flights from Europe make getting to this west African country easier than ever. Ratha Tep

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29/52 Northern Rivers, Australia: Along a breezy coastline, boho paradise

The coastline just below the New South Wales-Queensland border is known as the Northern Rivers thanks to the tidal system snaking through it. Anchored by Byron Bay, the area has become a beacon for those seeking a breezy boho way of life. In recent years a more moneyed, stylish vibe has settled in and seeped from Byron into neighbouring small towns. Mullumbimby hosts one of the country’s most vibrant weekly farmers’ markets. Brunswick Heads, is home to a huge historic pub with a sprawling patio, and offers great shopping and Fleet, a restaurant that serves some of Australia’s most delightful cooking. Up and down the coast, the restaurant scene is thriving: Paper Daisy in Cabarita Beach sits in the ground floor of an old surf motel turned boutique hotel; in Lennox Heads, Shelter’s dining room is open to the ocean breeze. For a taste of the old-school hippie wonderland from which all of this sprang, check out the Crystal Castle, a “crystal experience” in a hilltop garden. Besha Rodell

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30/52 Frisian Islands and Wadden Sea: Oysters, seals, birds and dark skies on Europe’s wild left coast

Europe’s windswept Frisian Islands are shared by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands and linked by the Wadden Sea. Holland’s Lauwersmeer National Park offers dark-sky safaris and will open a seal rescue centre in 2019 that lets visitors rehabilitate and release two native seal species. Dutch campground resorts like Beleef Lauwersoog offer excursions to nearby Schiermonnikoog island and have expanded lodging options with new barrel-shaped sleeping pods and refurbished overwater bunkers, once used by duck hunters, on remote swaths of the North Sea. Denmark’s Fanoe island started offering DIY oyster foraging safaris, where visitors can rent boots and shucking tools to gather invasive, but delicious, Pacific oysters, thus helping preserve Denmark’s native Limfjorden oyster habitat. The Fanoe Oyster Festival, next in October 2019, has lured chefs across Denmark with an annual oyster cooking competition. Adam H Graham

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31/52 New York City: New cultural monuments, and remembrances of the past

redefine the city’s physical and cultural infrastructure. At Hudson Yards, the largest single development since Rockefeller Centre took shape in the Depression, a cultural arts centre called the Shed will go into gear. Its largest theatre is a retractable structure on wheels that creeps back and forth like a giant steel caterpillar, turning the outdoor space of a plaza into indoor space for performances. Not far away will be what the developers are calling New York’s Staircase, an eight-storey structure with 154 flights of stairs and 2,000 steps. The wraps are to come off the Museum of Modern Art’s $400m expansion, increasing its space by almost a third. The TWA Hotel at Kennedy International Airport is a flight centre relic from 1962, with 512 hotel rooms in two new buildings. In June, the city will host World Pride – first time in the US – for the 50th anniversary. James Barron

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32/52 Chongli, China: Witness a winter sports revolution

The leadup to the next Winter Games is well underway in and around Beijing, and the spectacle is breathtaking. The most stunning transformations are happening a four-hour drive north in Chongli, once one of the country’s poorest areas and now home to several multibillion-dollar ski resorts, towering condominiums and flashy hotels. It has transformed into a glistening winter sports hub filled with restaurants, inns and watering holes. At least five ski resorts now surround the city, including places like Genting Secret Gardens, Fulong and Thaiwoo, which has an on-property brewery, a mid-mountain chalet that serves Swiss and Austrian fare, and brand new gondolas. A high-speed train from Beijing to Chongli should open in 2019. The skiing isn’t world-class. Nearly all of the snow comes from a cannon, and runs average about 1,300 vertical feet. But go now to see firsthand how the world’s most populous country is working overtime to become a competitive winter sports nation. Tim Neville

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33/52 Orcas Island, Washington: A small island is attracting big-time foodies (and Oprah)

The horseshoe-shaped Orcas, one of the largest islands that make up the San Juan archipelago, has gained fame in recent years for its impressive tide-to-table culinary scene and experimental wines, attracting, among others, Oprah Winfrey (in 2018, Winfrey bought a 43-acre estate on the island for a reported $8.275m). A new wine enterprise, Doe Bay Wine Co, is presenting its Orcas Project in 2019 – a collaboration between acclaimed winemakers and vineyards in the Pacific northwest. Ventures from James Beard-nominated chef Jay Blackinton, who owns Hogstone, a former pizzeria now featuring ambitious nose-to-tail fare, and its more upscale counterpart Aelder, are also on the horizon. Another addition to the island are the luxury suites at Outlook Inn, in the town of Eastsound, overlooking Fishing Bay. If you want to hike, or ride a horse, the island’s Moran State Park will be adding trails to its 38-mile network this year. Daniel Scheffler

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34/52 Uzbekistan: Visa-free travel and reopened borders along the Silk Road

If you have ever wanted to travel the Silk Road, now may be the time to go. After more than 25 years since the fall of the Soviet Union, the former member country of Uzbekistan is going through its own perestroika. Among the modernising reforms are better official exchange rates and the ability to book flights and apply for visas online. Ground and air travel have also improved regionally, in part because of China’s $800bn One Belt, One Road initiative (which links countries stretching between east Asia and Europe), as well as reopened borders with neighbouring countries, reestablished flight routes between central Asian capitals, like Tashkent and Dushanbe, and increased flight service between New York and Tashkent. In addition to the relatively new Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, other international hotels are expected to open in the coming years. Erin Levi

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35/52 Vestlandet, Norway: A bucolic paradise for mountain-climbing beer lovers Rural Vestlandet, in western Norway, home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes, is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types, especially those who take

Rural Vestlandet is home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes and is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types. The Loen Skylift ferries travel more than 3,280 feet to the top of Mount Hoven in just a few minutes, while fearless climbers can put on a harness, hire a guide and make roughly the same journey in six hours, following a path that features one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe. After sightseeing, relax over an ale made with kveik, a local yeast that has enthralled brewers and scientists around the world in recent years for its fruity aromas and higher-than-normal fermentation temperatures. You can find it at bars like Tre Bror, in Voss, the Smalahovetunet restaurant and brewery nearby. Beer lovers who want to learn (and taste) more can time their visit to coincide with the October Norsk Kornolfestival, which features close to 100 beers made with kveik, often including juniper and other traditional regional ingredients. Evan Rail

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36/52 Lyon, France: Soccer, sausage and fresh air

Football fans should set their sights on France this summer, especially Lyon, where we could see the US women will clinch their fourth World Cup title in the final match 7 July. Even if you can’t get tickets – or détestez le football – the city of half a million people and 4,000 restaurants is worth a visit. This year, Lyon plays host to an International City of Gastronomy project. The indoor, one-acre exhibition will include interactive workshops and conferences designed to showcase France’s cuisine and its contributions to health and pleasure. Held at the Grand Hôtel Dieu, a sprawling complex first founded in the 1300s that reopens after four years of renovations with shops, restaurants, public spaces. When it comes time to work off all those plates of pork sausage, hike in nearby Écrins National Park, where traditional working dogs protect herds of sheep. Book a stay at the Temple-Écrins hut, where workers recently wrapped up three years of renovations. Tim Neville

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37/52 Doha, Qatar: Avant-garde architecture blooms in the desert

As the next men’s soccer World Cup approaches in 2022, the host nation, Qatar, is loading its capital with structures from the biggest names in international architecture. The sharp-angled, futuristic Qatar National Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas and his OMA firm, opened in 2018; 2019 will welcome the National Museum of Qatar, a sprawling expanse of interlocking tilted circular discs by Jean Nouvel. A contribution from a third Pritzker prize-winner, Zaha Hadid, is slated to materialise in the form of a swooping, curvaceous stadium; another stadium, from Pritzker-winner Norman Foster, is also under construction. The new structures add further dazzle to the Doha skyline, which already includes Nouvel’s syringe-like Doha Tower and the blocky white jumble of the Museum of Islamic Art, by IM Pei. Seth Sherwood

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38/52 Batumi, Georgia: A hushed seaside escape

Tbilisi, Georgia’s charming capital, has been flooded with tourists over the past decade. But Batumi, a hushed seaside city where verdant mountains slope down to the Black Sea’s smooth stone beaches, offers a different experience. Already a popular escape for Russians, Iranians, Turks and Israelis, the city is preparing itself for its inevitable discovery by the rest of the world: new hotels – including Le Meridien Batumi and a Batumi instalment of the design-centric boutique Rooms Hotel line – are rising, and a cable car will swing straight to the coast from the hilltop Batumi Botanical Garden. Winemaking is another draw – at the family-run BQ Wine Bar and the underground Karalashvili’s Wine Cellar, which pours the same rosé and amber-hued chkaveri varietals that Josef Stalin adored. Debra Kamin

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39/52 Marseille, France: An influx of young creatives gives the city a new edge

Six years after Marseille was named European Capital of Culture in 2013, the city’s renewal is still galloping along. Jean Nouvel has just finished his striking new red, white and blue skyscraper La Marseillaise. The real proof of the city’s metamorphosis, however, is that it is attracting young creative types from all over France and beyond. Laura Vidal, a sommelier from Quebec, and British chef Harry Cummins opened La Mercerie, a market-driven bistro in an old notions shop in the city’s Noailles district last spring. Noailles is brimming with shops (don’t miss Épicerie I’ldeal, the best new food store), cafes and restaurants. Other districts in the heart of Marseille are being transformed as well. Near the opera, Tony Collins recently opened Deep, a coffee shop that roasts its own beans and also sells vinyl records; and the mixologists at the Copper Bay bar shake it up for locals and guests from the nearby Les Bords de Mer, the city’s best new boutique hotel. Alexander Lobrano

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40/52 Wyoming: A sesquicentennial celebration of women’s suffrage in the Equality State

In 1869, the Territory of Wyoming passed the first law in US history granting women the right to vote – nearly 51 years before the 19th amendment guaranteed the same entitlement to all women. This year, visitors can celebrate the 150th anniversary of Wyoming women’s suffrage at the Wyoming House for Historic Women, which honours the first woman to officially cast a ballot in a general election, and 13 other trailblazing women in the state’s political history. The restored Capitol building (reopening midyear), Wyoming State Museum and Cowgirls of the West museum also feature exhibits and artefacts celebrating women’s history. In addition, a variety of all-female trips are on offer throughout the year including Women’s Wellness Pack Trips on horseback from Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch, cattle herding and archery at the WYLD West Women retreat, Hike Like a Woman nature adventures and fly-fishing clinics at the Proud Wyoming Woman Retreat. Nora Walsh

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41/52 Los Angeles: Finally, more than Grauman’s (groan)

Los Angeles too often gets boiled down to its least interesting element: Hollywood. It’s an insult to a region with a vibrant Koreatown (sit in the hot salt at Wi Spa and then feast on roast gui at Dong Il Jang); two nationally recognised high school show choirs (John Burroughs and Burbank); art galleries like the quirky Parker, in a Los Feliz mansion; and several big-league sports teams, two of them soon moving to a new $2.6bn stadium. But in summer 2019 there will be an honest-to-goodness Hollywood reason to visit the area. After delays, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is scheduled to open in a Renzo Piano-designed complex on Wilshire Boulevard. Promised are interactive exhibits about the art and science of filmmaking, starry screenings in two theatres and to-die-for memorabilia – the collection includes a pair of ruby slippers, 12 million photographs, 61,000 posters and 190,000 video assets. Brooks Barnes

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42/52 Dakar, Senegal: An oasis of freedom in a region of unrest

Ngor or rent a board for a few hours to surf the more than a half dozen beaches that offer a terrific year-round break. Or just sit back and watch the surfers while eating grilled fish at a long strip of beach restaurants. A Museum of Black Civilisations will be opening early this year and will showcase artefacts as well as contemporary art from Africa and the diaspora. The city’s design and fashion creations would fit right in at New York showrooms. Take in a late-night concert with legends like Cheikh Lo and Youssou N’Dor crooning into the wee hours and a lively bar scene that offers all-hours entertainment. Day trips let you sleep in a baobab tree, zip line through a baobab forest or swim in a pink lake. But climate change, overfishing and a booming population may eventually take their toll. Dionne Searcey

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43/52 Perth, Australia: A city transformed and enlivened

A decade-long development boom has supercharged Perth. Among the new attractions: Yagan Square, with its distinctive market hall, art park and 147-foot digital tower showcases work by local artists and livestreams events; Optus Stadium, a 60,000-seat venue for concerts and sporting events; and Raine Square, a $200m redevelopment that includes a movie theatre, shopping and restaurants including dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan, considered the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant. To accommodate the expected growth in tourism, 31 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in the past five years, including the luxury COMO, the hip QT and a Westin. Since 2007, liquor law reforms, including a 2018 change that let restaurants serve drinks without a meal, have changed the drinking and dining scene with more than 100 small bars opening in the central business district alone. And Qantas started a nonstop flight from London to Perth this year, the first from Europe. Kelly DiNardo

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44/52 Hong Kong: Dazzling infrastructure eases travel but could threaten independence

After Britain returned its former colony to China in 1997, Hong Kong prided itself on resisting mainland interference. Last year saw the opening of a high-speed train that takes passengers all the way to Beijing, and a 34-mile sea bridge linking Hong Kong to the mainland for the first time, opening the question of whether that independent streak can survive. For travellers, though, boarding a train at the new West Kowloon station bound for Beijing – and more than 30 other destinations in China – is a game changer. The 1,200-mile trip to Beijing is just nine hours, and the business-class seats are roomy. Whether they are headed to China or not, travellers can indulge in British nostalgia at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The 25th-floor M bar offers fabulous views of the harbour, exotic cocktails like Sarawak Tea Punch and memories of the 1960s when the hotel opened as a symbol of luxury and style in this ever-glamorous city. Jane Perlez

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45/52 Iran: Tourism cautiously returns to this Middle East jewel

The appeal of Iran for adventurous travellers is obvious: the monumental ruins of ancient Persia; the spectacular, centuries-old mosques of Shiraz and Isfahan; the Grand Bazaar and Golestan Palace in bustling Tehran. One additional reason to visit in 2019 is a major exhibition scheduled to open at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. “Portrait, Still-life, Landscape” (21 February to 20 April) will take over the entire museum, with a selection of about 500 works, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and Marcel Duchamp, as well as about 40 Picassos recently discovered in the museum’s storage facilities (much of the collection has been kept under wraps since the 1979 revolution). The US State Department discourages, but does not prohibit, travel to Iran by American citizens, and Americans can travel to Iran only as part of an organised tour. Options for 2019 include three expeditions from Intrepid Travel, including the company’s first-ever all-female tour. Stuart Emmrich

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46/52 Houston: Rebounding bigger and better after a hurricane

After Hurricane Harvey, the city is back on its feet and showing off the everything-is-bigger-in-Texas attitude. Four food halls opened in 2018, including Finn Hall, which features up-and-coming chefs like James Beard-nominated Jianyun Ye and a downtown outpost of his Chinese hotspot Mala Sichuan and a taqueria from local favourite Goode Co. The five-diamond Post Oak Hotel has a two-storey Rolls-Royce showroom, art by Frank Stella and a 30,000-bottle wine cellar. The Menil Collection, known for its eclectic art ranging from Byzantine antiques to 20th century pop art, underwent a renovation and opened the 30,000-square-foot Menil Drawing Institute. The city’s museum boom continues with an expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to be completed in 2020, a newly built location for the Holocaust Museum, which will move in this spring, and a restoration of the Apollo Mission Centre that will open in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in July. Kelly DiNardo

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47/52 Columbus, Ohio: Is this the American city of the future?

With a revitalised riverfront and booming downtown, Columbus is already one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Now, it’s poised to become the model for the future of innovative urban transportation, with self-driving shuttles carrying travellers along the Scioto Mile, recently revitalised, adding 33 acres of riverfront green space for festivals, water sports and outdoor art. Among the newest dining options are Veritas, which specializes in small-plate offerings; Service Bar, run by young chef Avishar Barua, a veteran of New York’s Mission Chinese and WD-50; and, in the North Market neighborhood, veggie-forward Little Eater. The Short North Arts District offers access to the city’s local businesses like the new fashion store Thread and the original Jeni’s ice cream store. But don’t skip Italian Village and German Village neighborhoods, where innovators and dreamers have opened destination shops like Stump Plants and Vernacular and bars like Cosecha. Daniel Scheffler

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48/52 Plovdiv, Bulgaria: A city ready for the spotlight

With its colourful, cobblestoned historic centre, well-preserved Roman ruins and lively art scene, Bulgaria’s second-largest city is surprisingly overlooked by tourists who favour the quirky, post-Soviet charm of the country’s capital, Sofia. But as a European cultural capital of 2019, this gem is ready to shine. Organisers have planned more than 500 events throughout the city and its region, including concerts, open-air theatre performances and street-food fairs. Tucked into the heart of central Bulgaria and built on seven hills, Plovdiv features an artistic quarter called Kapana, whose winding streets are lined with galleries and stylish cafes, as well as a beautifully restored Roman amphitheatre that hosts summer opera performances under the stars. The city’s location at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains – with their stunning views of peaks and deep gorges — makes it an excellent launch point for hiking day trips. Ann Mah

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49/52 Vevey, Switzerland: A once-in-a-generation winegrowers’ festival on the Swiss Riviera

Everything runs like clockwork in Switzerland, including the Fête des Vignerons, although its timetable is considerably extended. This Unesco-recognised wine festival, which celebrates the viticultural traditions of the Lavaux and Chablais regions near Lake Geneva, takes place every 20 to 25 years in the heart of Vevey, a breathtaking lakeside town beneath sloping vineyards in the canton of Vaud. Since 1797, the date has been decided by the Confrérie des Vignerons, which has spent the past several years (and a reported 99 million Swiss francs, or roughly $98m) planning for the 12th edition, which will run from 18 July to 11 August. For the first time, tickets for the two-hour show can be purchased online. Oenophiles seeking a “full-bodied” experience of Helvetian wines, which are rarely exported, can also download the new app from the Canton of Vaud featuring eight wine-centric hiking routes, including one above Vevey. Erin Levi

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50/52 Cádiz province, Spain: Sparkling cities and towns in southwest Andalusia

At the tip of a peninsula thrust into the Atlantic, the city of Cádiz, a trading hub since 1100, has a vibe that’s more Havana than Madrid. A culinary renaissance is underway, with newcomers like Saja River and Codigo de Barra joining classics like El Faro. But the biggest gastronomic news lies across the bay in Puerto de Santa Maria, where Angel León’s Aponiente, which has three Michelin stars, offers a lyric poem to seafood (plankton risotto). A second León restaurant, Alevante, in nearby Sancti Petri just received its first star. Twenty minutes inland, Jerez de la Frontera is a cradle of the fortified wines known as sherry, which are now on the hot list of sommeliers and the craft-cocktail crowd. Beyond the cities, hilltop villages like Vejer de la Frontera lure expatriates with a blend of hip luxury hotels and art by the likes of Olafur Eliasson at NMAC sculpture garden. Add a stretch of Atlantic shore, and the province of Cádiz ticks all the boxes. Andrew Ferren

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51/52 Elqui Valley, Chile: Eclipse mania, and nights of dark skies

The Elqui Valley in Chile attracts a diverse group of wine and pisco aficionados, stargazers and nature lovers. In 2019, this tranquil agricultural region takes centre stage in the path of totality of a full solar eclipse 2 July. Demand for lodging around this time has far outstripped supply, with an estimated 300,000 people expected in the area, and even hotels at the nearby coastal town of La Serena are booked solid. But those travelling outside eclipse mania still have many reasons to stare at the exceptionally clear sky; the Elqui Valley was named the world’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary as well as a centre of international global astronomy. When the sun is up, travellers can hike through vineyards or stroll through the streets of Vicuña, the largest city. It is a centre of pisco (brandy made in Chile and Peru) production and also the birthplace of poet Gabriela Mistral, winner of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature. Peter Kujawinski

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52/52 The islands of Tahiti: The birthplace of the overwater bungalow ups its ecotourism

Those looking to escape the news cycle can’t get much farther away than this south Pacific archipelago, also known as French Polynesia, which in 2019 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s arrival and subsequent trumpeting of its riches. Overwater bungalows were invented here: Tahiti’s clear waters offer views of more than 1,000 species of marine life. To guard against the climate change threatening parts of the region, the 118 islands and atolls have bolstered their conservation and ecotourism options. Paul Gauguin Cruises offers wildlife discovery immersions. Hotels are trying to decrease their carbon footprints: the Brando resort’s eco-friendly facilities include a coconut-oil-powered electric plant, an organic garden and solar panels. Resorts aren’t the only lodging option. The Tahitian Guesthouse experience unchains visitors from hotels and offers a more authentic Polynesian experience. Air Tahiti Nui just unveiled new jets with high-speed wifi. Sheila Marikar

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There are maybe a tiny handful of locals who have an extraordinary knowledge of a city’s bar and restaurant scene. Some people really do put the legwork in, but they’re generally doing so on a professional basis and are very much in the minority. Most people are fundamentally lazy about getting the best out of the city they live in. 

The average local person doesn’t go to the most interesting bars – they go to their regular haunts that they’ve frequented for years, largely out of habit and because it’s where they know their friends will be. They eat in Nando’s and Zizzi, and drink in Greene King pubs. And if you think this doesn’t apply elsewhere, check how many people there are in any McDonald’s you walk past on holiday.

Locals probably haven’t visited many of the city’s tourist attractions, either. They might have ticked off the big ones 20 years ago, and perhaps dropped into a museum or two. But the full top 20 list from the guide book? Not a chance – these places will always be there. They can be visited when we’re older and the grandchildren are bored.

I’m as guilty of this as anyone – I’ve seen far more of London and Sydney since leaving than I ever did while living in either city. There’s more urgency to be inquisitive when time is limited.

Crucially, tourists and locals often want very different things from a city. There’s a reason why walking the remnants of the Berlin Wall, or tours of the Roman Forum, or ogling the Sagrada Familia are popular. They’re amazing, well worth travelling for and not available anywhere else. If you’re going somewhere for a weekend, it’s entirely to sane and logical to concentrate on things that are genuinely unique to that place. Or, at the very least, unusual and substantially different to what you might get within five miles of your house. 

Similarly, it’s OK to want to go to the cocktail bar with dazzling art nouveau ornamentation rather than the chilled-out, low key neighbourhood pub that has an enjoyable vibe, but is essentially much the same as those you might find in Manchester or Bristol. The quest for authenticity can go too far, slipping way too easily into the dull and non-descript.

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The fetishisation of local knowledge tends to play out worst when it comes to tour guides. The most useless guides are almost always the ones who have lived in the destination all their lives. It’s not always the case, but a lack of perspective often shines through, leading to scenarios where a guide is banging on about hospitals and how long the largely terrible department store has been running for. When you’ve no reference points from elsewhere, it’s tough to know what’s interestingly distinctive for a visitor and what’s a bog standard feature of similarly-sized cities. 

The outsider’s eye is much better at telling the difference and it’s often the case that the most valuable locals, both as guides and recommendation-generation machines, are people who have moved to the city from elsewhere. They’re the ones who have had to figure it out, be sociable with strangers they didn’t grow up with, and understand where things work differently. 

That rare voraciously interested local that actually fits the “like a local” ethos? Chances are, they’re an adopted local, who once landed in an alien city in much the same way you’re doing. They’ll also be wise enough to tell you to do the big tourist sites before even attempting to simulate everyday life.

The post Why ‘like a local’ is the most overrated concept in travel appeared first on Tripstations.

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Skiing in Salzburg, Austria – Shredding Slopes and More in the Skicircus

This trip to the Salzburg mountain region was the first of many that will form part of my ‘Year in Austria’ project. I am now the official UK ambassador for the Austria Tourism board, where I will be travelling all around the country (using my home of Vienna as the starting point) over the next 12 months. I will be sharing content on my social channels and on the Visit Austria channels also. A big part of this project is to include insights from what you know already and questions about what you don’t, and even challenges set by you, the readers, on what you want me to see and do. Ultimately, I want you to come here too! I hope you will follow along and join in, and put Austria more on the map!

Skiing in Salzburg is as Austrian as it sounds and since ski is the national sport of the country, shredding the slopes of Austrian Alps is a rite of passage for every visitor who passes through the country in winter. Now that I live in Austria, I need to up my ski ante to assimilate and pretend I can be a proper Austrian too.

Alpine pursuits are quite the thing to show off about here.

A year had come around fast since I first ventured on a ski slope in Tirol, where I mastered a very brief introductory ski lesson that firmly planted the desire to continue. Now, the Salzburg mountain region would stage the next round of my professional ski training.

A four-hour train journey from Vienna to Saalfelden (with a halfway change at Salzburg city station) brought me straight into the heart of the ‘Skicircus’. It is a gigantic winter production born from the combination of the four regions of Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn into one.

Now that this enormous sugar bowl of the Austrian Alps has become one of the largest ski areas in Austria, where do you even begin?

After checking into my rustic alpine hotel in Leogang, I went straight out to catch a cable car up into the peaks for the last few hours of blue-tinged daylight. This winter arena is so big, it now has 70 of these mountain lifts to take you up into altitudes reaching 1,914 meters, and 270km of powered slopes that can get you all the way back down.

The pivotal place for all the fun is the Asitz Mountain, and arriving in the early afternoon meant my first activity would be an alternative to ski. And so I took to a toboggan for a seven-minute adrenalin-pumped whirl down to one of the middle cable car station, admiring the panorama of distant jagged peaks on the way.

People often seek more thrills away from the piste, and in the Saalfelden Leogang Skicircus area there are plenty of options. Aside from the vintage wooden sledge fun, Asitz has now added an even faster option that incorporates the endorphin addiction of flight. The new Flying Fox is one of the longest and fastest ziplines in the world at 1,600 metres and 130km/h that soars you between two peaks and over the wide expanse of the valley floor. It hadn’t officially opened when I was there, but such is the dilemma with Austrian ski destinations. The demand for adrenalin addictions other than ski means more activities get added to the winter mix, so you are tempted to come back.

Skiing in the Salzburg Mountains

My first full morning was designated solely for private ski lessons, where I spent three solid hours on a beginner slope before a celebratory beer with lunch. With 140km of blue slopes, Skicircus is welcoming to beginner skiers, with a variety of leisurely routes to tackle once your confidence kicks in.

While my first lesson a year before concentrated on the technical perfection of the snow plough and speed control, my one-on-one lesson here built upon that, where I learnt how to turn and really put that snow plough into action. I sometimes lost my control (as is expected), although would often venture into a few seconds of adventurous speed freestyle by accident, before realising I’m no Olympian. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time, and all a part of the learning process.

However, if you are aching for an adrenalin-charge, there’s also enough incline to tempt the more advanced, with 110km of red slopes and 20km of black to shred. I’m aiming high, literally.

More Than Ski in the Austrian Alps

Aside from the ski Austria humble brag, the Salzburg mountain range lays claim to 150km of cross-country and racing trails, seven ski-touring routes and snow parks, two free ride parks, five toboggan runs and a dedicated ‘Nordic Park’. You can even learn how to ski-jump, which is one of my adventure goals.

The new Saalfelden Nordic Park is a winter sports facility where alternative ski activities come together in one huge arena. You can slow down and ice-skate on Lake Ritzensee, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride around the area or build an igloo, or you can continue with the athletics.

There’s 150km of cross-country forest trails and racing routes, where you can hike challenges path such as the Haid Trail and the winter wonderland of the Kolling Forest or take a light 30-minute meander on the Ritzensee Trail. You can also book snowshoeing tours and torchlight hikes to reach the Salzburg mountain panoramas via nature’s forest bound pristine tracks.

If, like me, you find yourself wanting to take on one of these options and are held back by a snow flurry while nature decides to re-load the slopes and valley walls, there’s always the chance to climb up, Spiderman style, on one of the indoor bouldering walls. This last-minute change of plan was a good thing – leading me towards a new sport I will soon be taking up back home in Vienna.

As the name suggests, Skicircus is quite the stage for wintertime in Austria, where you circuit the mountain slopes and valley walls of a huge patch of the Austrian Alps by alternative means, while keeping up the ski traditions it’s always been known for.

Things to Know:

Getting to Saalfelden Leogang for the Skicircus

By Train. The closest railway stations are Saalfelden and Leogang, with has taxi stands and a bus to get you to your resort areas / accommodation. The ÖBB network is extremely well connected. I took a train from Vienna Hauptbahnhof to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof and changed from there to Saalfelden.

By Plane. The nearest international airport is Salzburg, which has good connections with many of the major airlines. There is now a ‘Holiday Shuttle’ that travels non-stop eight times daily between the airport to Saalfelden Leogang.

By Car. From eastern Austria, use the westautobahn Vienna – Salzburg (A1) and exit at Wals-Lofer. Saalfelden Leogang is 400km from Vienna. From Germany take the autobahn Munich Salzburg (A8). Saalfelden Leogang is 200km from Munich.

Learning to Ski in Saalfelden Leogang, Salzburg

Saalfelden Leogang Skicircus has five ski schools with approximately 250 ski instructors, including snowboarding, cross-country and children’s ski instruction.

Private ski lessons (1-2 people) start from €65 for one hour in the morning and €55 for one hour in the afternoon. A full day of instruction is €230.

Group lessons (adults and children aged 15+) start from €50 for a half day, €100 for 2.5 days and €145 for 3.5 days.

How much does it cost to Ski in Saalfelden Leogang, Salzburg?

The costs for a Salzburg Superskicard starts from €55 per day, up to €290 for 7 days. This is a more economical option for those wanting to ski in a variety of areas.

Costs for the Skicircus area start from €35-42 for a half day pass and €52 for a full day pass.

A ski bus operates in Leogang and Fiberbrunn to particular cable cars. Check your local timetable for scheduled stops, time and routes.

Further Information and Research

For a complete list of activities and events, alongside costs and accommodation options, visit the Saalfelden Leogang tourism website.

Inspiration on the ski season in Austria and beyond can be found on the comprehensive site for Austria Tourism.

Further Reading on the Winter Season in Austria from Borders of Adventure

My very first ski lesson in Tirol

The winter wheeling activities of Segway and fatbiking on the winter coated alpine 

Theres’s even MORE activities to try in winter in Austria other than ski! Some things may surprise you…

  The post Skiing in Salzburg, Austria – Shredding Slopes and More in the Skicircus appeared first on Borders Of Adventure.

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Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  At 4 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2017, a stream of students, parents, former teachers and former coaches flowed into the Nederland Middle Senior High School auditorium, where they were greeted by Boulder Valley School District’s Michele DeBerry, executive director of secondary schools.

  The agenda of the meeting was to listen, said DeBerry, speaking of herself and Andy Tucker, the director of district student support. It was an opportunity for the community to speak to these BVSD representatives about their feelings and opinions concerning the non-renewal of football coach Aaron Jones’ contract for next season.

  Jones and the community learned of this decision in December, just before winter break, and anger and frustration have sparked a blaze of protest against the NMSHS’s administrative decision.

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Because district policy prohibits the staff from discussing personnel issues, the Nederland community doesn’t understand why a man so admired by everyone in the community could be let go. No one could fill his shoes, say his supporters. Last month about 100 students walked out of their classes, walked out of the building and took their protest to downtown Nederland where they held up signs saying they wanted Jones back and they chanted, “Jones is Nederland football.” It was a peaceful protest.

  A few days later, the district administrators set the date for the meeting, saying they would listen to what the community had to say and then discuss the issue, determining what the next step would be. DeBerry and Tucker stated up front that there would be no answers to questions or decisions about the matter until they had a chance to review the written comments from the community. It was undetermined whether or not a personnel decision could be reversed due to pressure from the public.

  The auditorium was about two thirds filled, with one section cordoned off for security reasons. A podium and microphone were set up in front of the stage, as well as a table where the administrators sat. The NHS football team and a group of other sports supporters filled the first three rows of the auditorium. Then, one after another, with three minutes each, members of the community said their piece, many of them emotional, and all of them eloquent and respectful. Tucker complimented the students for going outside their comfort zone to speak in front of administrators, teachers and fellow students.

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The relentless questions of the night were why did this happen, how could this have happened, and what can be done about it. Individuals stated that they are the ones who pay the administrator’s salaries and they should have some input into who they hire and fire.

  A group of people handed out a letter stating their mission, their intent to find some resolution to the actions of  NMSHS Athletic Director Emmy Murphy and the firing of  five coaches in the past year and a half; coaches who have proven their dedication to the athletes, their students, the school and the community.

  The letter states: “The direction that Nederland MSHS has taken is both concerning and unacceptable to the parents and community. We have watched as drastic change, and not positive change, has taken place with zero explanation. There seems to be a shroud of secrecy that is met with the standard issue “protocol” response when the administration is questioned about the reasons or the greater plan. This “new direction” we have heard about, but have been given zero explanation for, seems to be authoritarian  and unilateral. We as a community are no longer going to allow what feels like the wanton destruction of our school.”

  The first student speaker was Mazie Pancoast whose brother, Miles, a member of the football team, was in a car accident that left him paralyzed. Coach Jones showed up in the ICU the next morning and supported Miles throughout his journey to recovery for the past year, offering support and encouragement. Jones made sure that Mile’s place on the team was protected and honored.

  A grandfather said he always watched the practices as well as the games that his grandson played and, “Jones is the best guy I’ve ever seen as a coach. He is always there and he has a great knowledge of football and play calling. He is there on the list of what we want in a coach. Why are we looking for a new coach?”

  Football player Rain Larrabee said he came here from a small town and knows how tight knit a community can be. “If you go into someone’s house and tear it apart, you have to have a reason.”

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Nederland is a small community that is often brought together by school activities that lure people out of their cabins, to come together. Former teacher and father of NHS athletes, Bill Thibedeau says coach Jones is a role model for both the football team and as a member of the community. He is esteemed as a language arts teacher and is the president of the Nederland Youth Hockey League.

  “When Aaron dedicated a football game to Bob Allen who was suspended at the time, whose father was dying of brain cancer, AD Murphy admonished him and kept the coach from attending the next away game. She does not have the interest of the community at heart.”

  When Trig Campbell was in sixth grade, he attended a high school football game and decided he wanted to someday be there, on the field, playing for Coach Jones. “When I told Coach Jones that story and how much he meant to me, we both cried. Jones IS the NHS football program. The spirit is gone. We need Coach Jones to come back.”

  Steve Williams, a retired NCAR employee and the vice chair of the Nederland Planning Commission addressed the audience saying he had two children, both NHS students, both athletes and both successful, which he attributes to the sports they participated in. His son, Stu, had never kicked a football before he met Coach Jones and ended up as a three year starter place kicker for the University of Wyoming and graduated with two engineering degrees.

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“Aaron gave his personal time to help Stu develop his talent. He has a great ability as a motivator of students. You will be hard pressed to find another coach as qualified as he. I urge you to investigate deeper and find out what is really going on here.”

  Stu Williams was also on the Nordic Ski Team that was coached by Dave Femmer, who was also fired in the past year.

  Parent and member of the Nederland Board of Trustees Julia Gustafson asked, “What is happening? Five coaches in one and a half years? That is a systemic challenge. We have a right to know why and to help solve the problem. Volunteerism is down, people no longer feel welcome and that disconnects the community from the school. We should be invited and supported. The school should embrace volunteerism. There is a lack of transparency here. This is a public school and we need answers. The schools, family and community should be collaborative and the administration should be engaging the community to be involved with the solutions.”

  NHS’s motto is REACH, and parent Theresa Bradley said that the principles of the motto are not being played out. Her daughter does not currently participate in sports but has felt the effect of the conflict that is rising between the theater department and the sports program. “Last spring, AD Murphy recruited soccer players for the last two weeks of the spring musical practice and then this fall she scheduled middle level basketball at the same time as the play auditions. We need an AD who can look at the whole picture. Resident Laura Kugel home schooled her children and when he son Wes entered NHS, coach Jones approached him to play on the team where he made friends and felt welcomed.

  “That help changed Wes so much that after he graduated he went to school and is now a Nederland Police Officer. He played tapes from Coach Jones that helped him get through his courses.”

  Senior football player Jaylen Rasdall played for Coach Jones for three years and the team celebrated winning seasons. Rasdall says, “This is confusing to me. The program should be moving forward. The team is like a chain, all hooked together and Jones connected us. I just want those coming up behind us to have the same experience as we had.”

  Art teacher and soccer coach Theresa Redmond told the administrators that it is not easy to find someone who is passionate about Nederland sports. “It is hard to find a dedicated coach. For a coach to stay as long as Jones he needs to be a role model. To think you’d get someone as great as him blows my mind.”

  Although all of the people who had signed up to speak had spoken, others from the audience asked to sign up.

  Senior football player Bob Allen told the administrators that he had made a mistake and after four years on the football team was not allowed to finish the season. He remembers watching the football field being constructed and telling his mom that he wanted to be a Panther. He said Coach Jones was the reason that wearing the blue and gold was something special and awesome. “I am speaking now because my time is past. I am saying this for the younger kids who want to wear the blue and gold.”

  Parent and volunteer Anthony Sineni said, “Seeing these kids makes me want to cry. This is ridiculous and we shouldn’t even be here. I don’t get it. This decision was made before Christmas and I think the administration owes Jones and his family an apology. Did he even get a thank you for all of his work for the program and the boys? Did he even get a card?”

  “You just don’t get Ned,” said retired teacher Bonnie Nash. She said she knows that many students were imprinted by Aaron Jones and that BVSD just doesn’t understand that Nederland is different. “Our community stands behind and with one another. All of these questions and requests have been level-headed and we should know what the next step is. We, the taxpayers, are your bosses and we want to know what we can do next if we aren’t satisfied.”

  Why is this happening?

  Former soccer coach and teacher Troy Tewalt said he was at the school pre-Jones and saw the changes that took place in the program. “How he could be let go is unbelievable. I just want him and his family to be shown some respect.”

  Parent of three sons, Dan Rasdall says coach Jones taught his sons how to behave and how to act. He picked up the boys for practice when Dan was recovering from cancer.

  “If everyone was like Jones, this would be a perfect world to live in. These kids deserve more than what they’re getting.  This is a sad day.”

  One mother was concerned about what this action says to her kids, the message they are receiving. “The big message is how will you handle this situation. Sometimes people make mistakes. Maybe we should try to work together for a solution.”

  Administrator DeBerry said the next step is to take all the messages to the district and share the information. She said Principal Yantzer will get back to them and that her task was to listen first hand and then do due diligence.

Community speaks out to BVSD Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  At 4 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2017, a stream of students, parents, former teachers and former coaches flowed into the Nederland Middle Senior High School auditorium, where they were greeted by Boulder Valley School District’s Michele DeBerry, executive director of secondary schools.

[enduranceplanet-blog-blog]

Nathan Schultz: A Cross-Country Skiing Way of Life

On this special episode of Endurance Planet, we bring you an interview with Nathan Schultz, a former pro cross county skier who owns Boulder Nordic Sport, which offers xc ski camps, coaching and more. Schultz has won more than 100 races in his athletic career in cross-country skiing, running, cycling and beyond; he's been to the Olympic Trials and has worked with the U.S. Olympic xc ski team; and he now devotes most his time to his shop in Boulder. Find out more about Nathan's life and his unique xc ski shop on this episode.

Click here to download audio.

Original Article

[tripstations]

United puts child on wrong plane from US to Germany

An unaccompanied child was accidentally put on a flight to Germany rather than Stockholm.

Anton, 14, was flying with United as an unaccompanied minor from Raleigh, North Carolina to Newark Airport with the intention of connecting to Stockholm with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

However, United placed the boy on a Eurowings flight to Germany instead. 

We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.

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The boy’s mother, Brenda Berg, from Raleigh, realised the airline’s mistake and wrote on Twitter: “@United @SAS my son is in the wrong plane!!! EWR you put him on a plane to Germany!!!!”

Ms Berg then proceeded to live-tweet a series of attempts to alert United officials to her son’s plight. 

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1/52 Puerto Rico: After a devastating hurricane, an island on its way back

Puerto Rico is representative of the many fragile places around the globe right now: the islands facing a future of sea level rise and extreme weather. The arctic spots where winter itself is under threat. The cities where a combination of climate change and bad planning has resulted in devastation. That is why Puerto Rico earned the number one spot on our annual list of 52 places to visit in the coming year. The island and the other beautiful places at risk raise an urgent question: do we owe something to the places that make us happy? “This is the new normal, and people have to look at this new normal and embrace it,” says Martha Honey, executive director of the Centre for Responsible Travel in Washington DC. The idea that as visitors we should not cause harm and should seek out authentic experiences that get us deep into the local culture. Perhaps it would not be such a stretch to redefine the relationship between leisure travellers and their dream destinations. Mireya Navarro

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2/52 Hampi, India: An ancient archaeological complex becomes more accessible

At the height of the Vijayanagar empire in the 16th century, Hampi thrived as one of the largest and richest cities in the world. Its architectural legacy lives on in the southwestern state of Karnataka with over 1,000 well-preserved stone monuments, including Hindu temples, forts and palaces. Spread over 16 miles near the banks of the Tungabhadra river, and surrounded by a sea of granite boulders, the Unesco world heritage site has been notoriously difficult to reach, until now. TruJet recently began daily direct flights from Hyderabad and Bangalore to Ballari, a 25-mile drive from Hampi. Travellers can stay in the newly refreshed Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace or at Ultimate Travelling Camp’s new Kishkinda Camp, which introduced 10 stately tents in December. The outfitters Black Tomato and Remote Lands now offer journeys in the region, from guided archaeological tours to rock climbing and river jaunts in basket boats. Nora Walsh

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3/52 Santa Barbara, California: The ‘American Riviera’ becomes a hip food and wine haven

Long known for drawing movie stars and millionaires to its resorts, Santa Barbara is now a foodie magnet. Acclaimed chef Jesse Singh oversees Bibi Ji, an edgy Indian restaurant – try the uni biryani – with a wine list curated by noted sommelier Rajat Parr. Top Chef alum Phillip Frankland Lee presides over the Monarch, a posh Californian restaurant, and Chaplin’s Martini Bar; he will open Silver Bough, a 10-seat tasting menu venue in January. The Santa Barbara Inn’s Convivo offers upmarket Italian fare and ocean views; nearby, at Tyger Tyger, Daniel Palaima, a veteran of the kitchens of Chicago-based chef Grant Achatz, serves southeast Asian fare (try the Szechuan pepper soft serve ice cream at Monkeyshine to finish off the night). The city has over 30 wine tasting rooms that don’t look like their more staid cousins up north. Frequency and Melville feature modern furnishings and party-ready playlists; vinyl rules at Sanguis, a winery run by drummers. Sheila Marikar

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4/52 Panama: New eco-friendly resorts open on the country’s Pacific coast

Two new Pacific island resorts are expanding Panama’s west coast appeal, not far from the marine preserve around Isla Coiba. Cayuga Hospitality recently opened Isla Palenque in the Gulf of Chiriqui, with eight casitas and one villa on a lush 400-acre island. Besides offering access to seven beaches, mangrove kayaking and whale-watching, the resort grows some of its own food, has furniture made from fallen trees and maintains a no-plastics policy, including subbing papaya shoots for straws. In the Gulf of Chiriqui, Islas Secas Reserve and Panama Lodge opened in January on a 14-island archipelago. The solar-powered, nine-bungalow lodge offers sport fishing and scuba diving, and composts food waste and recycles water for irrigation. A Ritz-Carlton Reserve property is also under construction in the Pearl Islands. Elaine Glusac

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5/52 Munich, Germany: Theatre. Art. Opera. What more do you want?

As far as cultural triple threats go, it’s hard to beat Munich. Its theatres are considered among the most creative and ambitious in Europe, with its two main companies, the Münchner Kammerspiele and the Residenztheater producing more than 30 premieres between January and May 2019. And its museums are decidedly world class, especially since the renovation and reopening of the Lenbachhaus museum in 2017, with its unmatched collection of the German artists known as the Blue Rider school. But perhaps the best argument for visiting Munich right now is the Bavarian State Opera, which has emerged as one of the most exciting opera houses in Europe. The reason? In the words of a New York Times classical music critic, “the miracle of Kirill Petrenko”. Petrenko has just two more years remaining on his contract as music director at the opera. This summer, he will conduct a new production of Richard Strauss’s Salome, with the opening night performance on 27 June. Stuart Emmrich

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6/52 Eilat, Israel: A newly accessible Red Sea paradise

Beneath the prismatic waters of this Red Sea resort on Israel’s southern tip lies a coral reef with hundreds of varieties of neon fish, sharks and stingrays. To get there, visitors used to have to catch a charter flight from Tel Aviv or brave the dusty drive through the Negev desert. But with the opening early this year of Ramon Airport, set in the Timna Valley and capable of handling 4 million international transit passengers a year, the world will finally get a direct route – with nonstops from Munich and Frankfurt on Lufthansa, and budget carriers flying in from Prague, London and across Europe. New hotels, including the luxurious Six Senses Shaharut, opening just in time for Israel’s turn at hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, are ready for the crowds. Debra Kamin

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7/52 Setouchi, Japan: Art and nature harmonise in Japan’s inland sea

The Setouchi region will host the Setouchi Triennale 2019, a major art fair held in three seasonal instalments. One hour south via ferry or the Shinkansen bullet train, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum reopens this spring after an eight-year refurbishment. New trails and a dedicated Shimanami bike ferry that opened in October connect Japan’s main island of Honshu to the region’s lesser-visited island of Shikoku. For those seeking more sybaritic forms of transport, the Guntu – more a minimalist floating ryokan than a cruise ship – with 19 walnut-clad rooms and open-air cypress soaking baths. In 2019, Setouchi Sea Planes will expand its scenic flights to several smaller islands and towns via Kodiak 100s. And a Japanese startup, Ale, launched the Shooting Star Challenge, a microsatellite that will create the world’s first artificial meteor shower, aiming to fill Setouchi’s skies in spring 2020, a taste of the high-tech one-upmanship to come in Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics. Adam H Graham

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8/52 Aalborg, Denmark: Architecture revitalises the waterfront

Viking long ships once glided through Aalborg’s mighty Limfjord. Today, the city is turning its most famous natural asset into an artistic one. Wildly innovative buildings have sprouted on its shores, including the Utzon Centre, designed by Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House – its new exhibition series on inspiring Nordic architects, runs through May. The curvilinear concert hall Musikkens Hus was recently followed by the vibrant Aalborg Street Food market; the pedestrian and cycling Culture Bridge; and the undulating Vestre Fjordpark, with an open-air swimming pool that meets the sea. Nordkraft, a power plant that was converted into a cultural hub, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with events in September. The Aalborg Akvavit distillery is being transformed into a new creative district over the next two years, presided over by a soaring glass polygonal sculpture by artist Tomás Saraceno, Harbour Gate from architect Bjarke Ingels, a hotel and more. Annelisa Sorensen

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9/52 The Azores, Portugal: The Caribbean comes to the middle of the Atlantic

In the nippy Atlantic Ocean a four-hour flight from the US, the subtropical volcanic islands of the Azores, complete with Unesco world heritage sites and biospheres, await discovery. Mystical green lushness, oversize volcanic craters now turned into lakes, steaming natural hot springs that puff out from the earth, blue hydrangeas by the thousands and the only coffee growers in Europe distinguish the island chain. New restaurants in Ponta Delgada include the locavore Casa do Abel, the Japanese-influenced Otaka, and Tasquinha Vieira, which specialises in local, organic cuisine, while new hotels include the Lava Homes on Pico Island, and the Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico, opening in July. Daniel Scheffler

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10/52 Ontario Ice Caves, Canada: See them now, as climate change may pose a threat

The ice caves that emerge from the winds and waves that pound the north shore of Lake Superior have always been somewhat ephemeral. But climate change has brought an element of doubt into their future. For now, the caves are a regularly occurring feature, notably along the shoreline near Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Made from snow and ice, the caves vary in size, shape and colour. Large waves before they freeze up are the essential ingredient for large caverns. The wind, shifts in the ice and the effects of the sun constantly remake the formations. February is the most reliable month for a visit. Getting to the caves involves driving one of the more scenic sections of the Trans-Canada Highway. Alona Bay and Coppermine Point are two of the more popular destinations. The staff members at Stokely Creek Lodge, a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing resort just outside of the Sault, keep track of where the most dramatic, but accessible, caves have formed each winter. Ian Austen

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11/52 Zadar, Croatia: Incomparable sunsets, a ‘sea organ’ and untrammelled islands

After the Croatian football team captured the world’s attention in the World Cup – its captain Luka Modric’s was particularly notable – fans revved up their search engines and learned that he hails from Zadar, a pretty, compact town on the Dalmatian Coast. Ryanair have added regular flights from Prague, Hamburg, Cologne and Nuremberg, starting this spring. Beyond Zadar’s medieval core, the city’s seaside promenade and music-making “sea organ”, created by architect Nikola Basic, is a must-see (or hear). The magical sunsets alone were enough to wow Alfred Hitchcock, who visited the city in 1964. The town is also a gateway to untrammelled islands, like Dugi Otok; an hour-and-20-minute ferry ride takes visitors to the sparsely populated island with uncrowded beaches and taverns. Seeking ultraclean waters? Then head to the island of Pasman, where the currents often change, making the surrounding waters some of the cleanest in the Adriatic. David Farley

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12/52 Williamsburg, Virginia: The cradle of American democracy reflects on its past

In 1619, the area that includes the Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg and Yorktown was home to some of the most significant events in American history: the official arrival of the first African slaves to North America, the convening of the first representative assembly in America and the first recorded proclamation of Thanksgiving in the New World. The area will observe the 400th anniversary of these events all year, highlighted by the Tenacity exhibition at the Jamestown Settlement, which recognises the contributions of women during the Colonial era, along with an archaeology-focused exhibit. Colonial Williamsburg, the expansive living-history museum, will give visitors a taste of life in the 18th century, along with the reimagined American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. For thrill seekers, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the European-theme amusement park, will unveil a new pendulum swing ride, while Water Country USA will unveil the state’s first hybrid water coaster. John L Dorman

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13/52 Las Vegas: Sin City bets big on culture

Sure, there are still slot machines, strip clubs and steaks aplenty, but other options for culture in America’s playground abound. The new Park MGM hosts residencies from two music legends through 2019: Lady Gaga, doing one show of her pop hits and another riffing on American classics, and starting in April, Aerosmith. Also a rollicking iteration of the Italian emporium Eataly and Best Friend, a Korean restaurant by Roy Choi, the LA food truck pioneer, that becomes a hip-hop club afterwards. The Wynn recently added live, Dixieland-style jazz to its lakeside brunch; it also offers masterclasses on subjects like dumpling-making. Nearby, the Venetian debuted three craft cocktail bars, the Dorsey, Rosina and Electra, where guests can actually sit down and hear one another talk. Downtown, the Life Is Beautiful festival, which corrals an array of musicians and artists each fall, enters its seventh year; 2018 stars included the Weeknd and Florence and the Machine. Sheila Marikar

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14/52 Salvador, Brazil: The country’s original capital gets a makeover

After completing a five-year historical preservation initiative to save its Unesco designation, Salvador, with its sherbet-coloured colonial facades, cobblestone streets and beaches, is gleaming. Rising along the coast of northeastern Bahia, the city’s downtown historic district thrums with vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture, ranging from free weekly performances by samba and drum corps to classical music and capoeira. Visitors can also find Salvador’s history exhibited in the new House of Carnival and, opening in 2020, the Museum of Music or catch a live concert at the Convention Centre, opening this year. The Fera Palace Hotel, a refurbished art deco gem, and the freshly minted Fasano Salvador, housed in a former 1930s newspaper building, both overlook All Saints Bay, which in November will host the finish of the International Regatta Transat Jacques Vabre, a 4,350-mile race along the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. Nora Walsh

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15/52 Danang, Vietnam: A spot for foodies and beachgoers

Vietnam’s third largest city, is known for being a gateway to the nearby Unesco Heritage town of Hoi An. But it’s begun to develop a reputation as the Miami of Vietnam, with a strong foodie scene and new hotels and resorts popping up on a five-mile beach strip. A typical day might start with a morning swim on the crescent-shape Non Nuoc Beach and perhaps a quick stop at the Han Market. Then, an afternoon visit to the Marble Mountains, where travellers can explore the temples and pagodas that look out over My Khe Beach and, later, dinner back in the city, perhaps at Nén, a new restaurant from much-followed food blogger Summer Le. Perhaps finish the day with a visit to Cau Rong Dragon Bridge in the hills above the city. Don’t leave without sampling a bowl of mi quang, the justifiably famous local noodle soup made with a turmeric-infused broth, chicken, pork, local seafood and shredded cabbage, and available for about $1 (78p) at any number of street food stalls. Stuart Emmrich

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16/52 Costalegre, Mexico: A beach vacation, without the crowds

Costalegre is a stretch of 43 largely unpopulated beaches, capes and bays along Mexico’s gorgeous Pacific coast, about halfway between the better known destinations of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, and one that has so far escaped the attention of vacationers flocking to its popular neighbours to the north, Punta Mita and the surfer’s haven of Sayulita. One factor keeping away the crowds: lack of easy access. Up until now, the nearest airport has been more than a two-hour drive away, in Puerto Vallarta. But that will change with the planned opening of the Chalacatepec Airport in the second half of this year, which will cut travel time by more than half. And a clutch of luxury hotels will soon follow. For now, the best luxury option is Las Alamandas Resort, set on a 1,500-acre nature reserve, with just 16 suites in seven brightly painted casitas, as well as two restaurants, a spa and a large pool. Smaller hotels and even bungalows near the beaches can also be rented. Stuart Emmrich

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17/52 Paparoa Track, New Zealand: A new wilderness trail explores a remote national park

Outdoor enthusiasts can head to New Zealand starting in October to trek the country’s first Great Walk trail to open in more than 25 years. Tracing the Pororari river along the west coast of the South Island, the Paparoa Track winds through Paparoa National Park, a reserve largely inaccessible until now. Built by the Department of Conservation for hikers and mountain bikers, the 34-mile trail (hiked in three days; biked in two) departs from a historic mining town and traverses epic limestone gorges, beech forests and sandstone bluffs before culminating at the Punakaiki Blowholes. For a small fee, travellers can stay overnight in two new 20-bunk huts overlooking the southern Alps and Tasman Sea. The Pike29 Memorial Track, which honours victims of the 2010 Pike River Mine tragedy, intersects the route. Reservations can be made on the Department of Conservation’s website; both tracks are free and no permit is required. Nora Walsh

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18/52 Puglia, Italy: Baroque architecture and Adriatic beaches in Italy’s heel

The ancient fortified farmhouses called masserie, found only in the region of Puglia, are increasingly being turned into boutique hotels, most notably Rocco Forte’s Masseria Torre Maizza, and the 17th century Castello di Ugento, where guests can take cooking classes at the Puglia Culinary Centre. And the region’s 1,000-year-old wine culture, which began when the Greeks planted vines from their land across the Adriatic, is attracting more oenophiles to the area, including the owners of the London restaurant Bocca di Lupo, who recently bought a 600-acre estate in Salento called Tormaresca, where tastings are offered to visitors (you can also dine in their new restaurant in the town of Lecce). Puglia is also home to Europe’s Virgin Galactic spaceport, which is scheduled to open in 2019, with the promise of eventually sending passengers into space. No wonder Abercrombie and Kent’s new Italian cruise includes Puglia and Gargano National Park. Daniel Scheffler

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19/52 Tatra Mountains, Slovakia: Off-the-grid skiing, rock climbing and more

While most visitors focus on Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, the soaring Tatra Mountains have emerged as an under-the-radar destination for skiing and outdoor activities, with new gondolas at the Bachledka and Jasna ski areas; slopes planned at Mlynicka Dolina; and new chair lifts at Oravska Lesna in the nearby Fatra range to the northwest. And it’s not just about winter sports: there is excellent hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and fly-fishing, while beyond the Tatras, Kosice, a regional capital, offers colourful street art and plenty of cafes and restaurants, thanks to its three universities and associated night life. Plan on posting plenty of photos: you’ll find untouched folk architecture throughout the region, as well as perfectly preserved gothic and baroque buildings awaiting your lens. Evan Rail

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20/52 Calgary, Alberta: A spectacular library adds to a once-neglected neighbourhood

Calgary’s new Central Library, from the architectural firm Snohetta, creates not just a design destination, with daily tours, but also a gateway in the form of an arched cedar-clad passageway linking downtown to the city’s evolving East Village, a booming neighbourhood where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. Calgary was founded in the East Village area in 1875, with a fort built to curb the growing whiskey trade, but the area suffered roughly 70 years of neglect before the Calgary Municipal Land Corp, formed in 2007, began transforming the area, adding parks, attractions and high-rises. The 240,000-square-foot library, with a performance hall, cafe, children’s play area and outdoor electromagnetic sculptures by Christian Moeller, is next to Studio Bell, home to the National Music Centre museum and performance space, and near the just opened Alt Hotel. Later this year, the multiuse building M2 promises more shops and restaurants beside the Bow river. Elaine Glusac

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21/52 Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia: A natural wonder resisting the threats of development

Lake Baikal in Siberia is the world’s deepest lake, plunging 1 mile into the Earth’s crust. It contains nearly 20 per cent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water and is so abundant in wildlife – bears, foxes, sables, rare and endangered freshwater seals – that Unesco calls it “the Galapagos of Russia”. The wildlife, like the lake itself, has been under threat for years, from indifferent Soviet industrial policy, from climate change and from today’s rising tourism, especially from China. Even so, it remains largely unspoiled, and activists are working hard to keep it that way. Olkhon Island, Baikal’s largest, and a place that Buddhists consider one of the holiest in Asia, is a popular base for excursions year round, even from December to April or May, when the surface freezes into turquoise sheets of ice that Siberian winds churn into natural sculptures. The Baikal Ice Marathon, a charity devoted to the lake’s conservation, will be held 2 March. Steven Lee Myers

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22/52 Huntsville, Alabama: Time to party like it’s 1969

The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing will draw crowds to Huntsville – aka Rocket City – home of the Marshall Space Flight Centre, where the spacecraft that launched astronauts to the moon were developed. Throughout the year, there will be daily reenactments of the moon landing at the US Space and Rocket Centre, but the biggest thrills are planned for the anniversary week of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission in July. Beginning on launch day, 16 July, the centre will attempt to break a Guinness World Record by launching 5,000 model rockets at 8.32 am, the precise time that rocket engines ignited in 1969. Festivities will continue with a classic car show, concerts, a homecoming parade and a street party in downtown Huntsville – the same location where Apollo workers celebrated after the successful mission. If that’s not fun enough, 2019 also marks the state’s bicentennial, giving Alabamians yet another excuse to party. Ingrid K Williams

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23/52 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas): Five kinds of penguins, easier to reach

The Falkland Islands, far off the coast of Argentina, offer an astonishing variety of wildlife that includes five kinds of penguins, hundreds of bird species, seals, sea lions and whales, as well as remote natural beauty that travellers often have to themselves. Two new local touring companies are increasing accessibility to the riches of the islands. Falklands Outdoors opened in November 2018 and offers mountain climbing, foraging, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions to beaches and penguin colonies that can’t be reached by road; in January, Falklands Helicopter Services will start scenic flights to Volunteer Point (home to an enormous king penguin colony), and other isolated spots. While there’s a single weekly commercial flight in and out of the Falklands, the first new route to the islands from South America in more than 20 years is being planned: LATAM is expected to begin weekly flights to the islands from Brazil by late this year. Nell McShane Wulfhart

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24/52 Aberdeen, Scotland: The granite city via brand new old-fashioned trains

Just as many famous European overnight train routes have been retired, the Caledonian Sleeper, the train that travels through the night from London to the north of Scotland, is rolling out new carriages for summer. The new cars preserve the romance of overnight trains, in contemporary comfort, with a choice of hotel-style suites, classic bunk beds or seats. The Highlander route to Aberdeen leaves Euston station in the evening and hits the Scottish coast by 5 am, so travellers who take an early breakfast in the dining car can enjoy coastal views as the sun rises (get off at Leuchars for medieval St Andrews). Off the train, Aberdeen and its surroundings offer historic castles set in fields of purple heather, in pine woods and along the dramatic coastline. Hiking trails abound on and around the queen’s estate at Balmoral, and rail buffs can visit the former royal train station in Ballater, closed since 1966, and ride on the Royal Deeside Railway a short drive from there. Palko Karasz

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25/52 Golfo Paradiso, Italy: A rare unspoiled gem on the Italian Riviera

The well-known pearls of the Ligurian Riviera – Portofino, Cinque Terre, Portovenere – are overwhelmed with tourists, a problem so acute that in some areas authorities have debated measures to stem the flow of daytrippers. But just a few miles away, between Portofino and Genoa, remains a peaceful sliver of coastline rarely explored by travellers to the region. Known as the Golfo Paradiso, this small gulf is home to five often-overlooked villages, including Camogli, a colourful fishing hamlet as charming as any of the Cinque Terre. Italians will boast about the renowned local cuisine: fresh-caught anchovies, hand-rolled trofie pasta and cheese-filled focaccia from the town of Recco, a speciality that recently earned IGP status, a prestigious Italian designation for quality food products. Between meals, explore blooming gardens in Pieve Ligure, beaches in Sori and the romanesque abbey of San Fruttuoso, which is accessible only by boat or a long, sweaty hike. Ingrid K Williams

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26/52 Dessau, Germany: A big birthday for Bauhaus

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of German architect Walter Gropius’ “Proclamation of the Bauhaus”, a radical reimagining of art, architecture and design. To celebrate the Bauhaus centennial, cities around Germany will hold events, from the opening festival in Berlin – several days of art, dance, concerts, theatre, lectures and more this month – to the debut of the Bauhaus Museum in Weimar, where the movement was born. But the most compelling destination might be Dessau. Home of the Bauhaus school during the 1920s and 1930s, the northeastern German city still contains the school’s pioneering (and Unesco-listed) Bauhaus Building, the Gropius-designed Masters Houses, and the Prellerhaus studio building (a warren of former Bauhaus ateliers that now contains a hotel). And in September, Dessau opens its long-awaited Bauhaus Museum, a glassy, minimalist rectangle that will showcase typefaces, textiles, artwork, furniture and more from the movement. Seth Sherwood

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27/52 Tunis, Tunisia: The spark for the Arab Spring, still lit

Freedom is what makes Tunis unique. Eight years after it kicked off the Arab Spring, it remains the only Arab capital with real freedom of expression, not to mention the peaceful rotation of power. But the city holds many other charms. Among them are the ruins of the ancient city of Carthage, from which Hannibal’s elephants once threatened Rome. The carefully preserved old medina dates from the 12th to the 16th century, when Tunis was a major centre of the Islamic world. The tree-lined Avenue Habib Bourguiba downtown bears the influence of decades of French rule. And the cafes, art galleries and blue-and-white hues of the neighbourhood of Sidi Bou Said, overlooking the Mediterranean, have long lured European painters, writers and thinkers. A short taxi ride away are the beaches and nightclubs of La Marsa. The French-influenced north African food is delicious. The local red wines are not bad. And, in another regional rarity, Tunis in 2018 elected a woman its mayor. David D Kirkpatrick

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28/52 Gambia: Hippos and chimpanzees – and a renewed sense of hope

Gambia’s tourism industry was hit hard in 2017, when its long-time authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh refused to cede leadership after an election loss, forcing a political standoff that brought foreign troops in. But with its new president, Adama Barrow, now safely in place, there’s a renewed sense of hope across continental Africa’s smallest country – now more accessible than ever. In January, a new bridge over the Gambia river, three decades in the making, will be inaugurated with a nearly 200-mile relay run to Dakar, Senegal. Peregrine Adventures launches its first cruise up the 700-mile river, with a stop at Baboon Island, home to hippos, crocodiles and chimpanzees, part of Africa’s longest-running centre for rehabilitating chimpanzees into the wild. New and coming hotels, including the African Princess Beach Hotel, and two properties by Thomas Cook, will serve as stylish bases. And new direct flights from Europe make getting to this west African country easier than ever. Ratha Tep

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29/52 Northern Rivers, Australia: Along a breezy coastline, boho paradise

The coastline just below the New South Wales-Queensland border is known as the Northern Rivers thanks to the tidal system snaking through it. Anchored by Byron Bay, the area has become a beacon for those seeking a breezy boho way of life. In recent years a more moneyed, stylish vibe has settled in and seeped from Byron into neighbouring small towns. Mullumbimby hosts one of the country’s most vibrant weekly farmers’ markets. Brunswick Heads, is home to a huge historic pub with a sprawling patio, and offers great shopping and Fleet, a restaurant that serves some of Australia’s most delightful cooking. Up and down the coast, the restaurant scene is thriving: Paper Daisy in Cabarita Beach sits in the ground floor of an old surf motel turned boutique hotel; in Lennox Heads, Shelter’s dining room is open to the ocean breeze. For a taste of the old-school hippie wonderland from which all of this sprang, check out the Crystal Castle, a “crystal experience” in a hilltop garden. Besha Rodell

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30/52 Frisian Islands and Wadden Sea: Oysters, seals, birds and dark skies on Europe’s wild left coast

Europe’s windswept Frisian Islands are shared by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands and linked by the Wadden Sea. Holland’s Lauwersmeer National Park offers dark-sky safaris and will open a seal rescue centre in 2019 that lets visitors rehabilitate and release two native seal species. Dutch campground resorts like Beleef Lauwersoog offer excursions to nearby Schiermonnikoog island and have expanded lodging options with new barrel-shaped sleeping pods and refurbished overwater bunkers, once used by duck hunters, on remote swaths of the North Sea. Denmark’s Fanoe island started offering DIY oyster foraging safaris, where visitors can rent boots and shucking tools to gather invasive, but delicious, Pacific oysters, thus helping preserve Denmark’s native Limfjorden oyster habitat. The Fanoe Oyster Festival, next in October 2019, has lured chefs across Denmark with an annual oyster cooking competition. Adam H Graham

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31/52 New York City: New cultural monuments, and remembrances of the past

redefine the city’s physical and cultural infrastructure. At Hudson Yards, the largest single development since Rockefeller Centre took shape in the Depression, a cultural arts centre called the Shed will go into gear. Its largest theatre is a retractable structure on wheels that creeps back and forth like a giant steel caterpillar, turning the outdoor space of a plaza into indoor space for performances. Not far away will be what the developers are calling New York’s Staircase, an eight-storey structure with 154 flights of stairs and 2,000 steps. The wraps are to come off the Museum of Modern Art’s $400m expansion, increasing its space by almost a third. The TWA Hotel at Kennedy International Airport is a flight centre relic from 1962, with 512 hotel rooms in two new buildings. In June, the city will host World Pride – first time in the US – for the 50th anniversary. James Barron

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32/52 Chongli, China: Witness a winter sports revolution

The leadup to the next Winter Games is well underway in and around Beijing, and the spectacle is breathtaking. The most stunning transformations are happening a four-hour drive north in Chongli, once one of the country’s poorest areas and now home to several multibillion-dollar ski resorts, towering condominiums and flashy hotels. It has transformed into a glistening winter sports hub filled with restaurants, inns and watering holes. At least five ski resorts now surround the city, including places like Genting Secret Gardens, Fulong and Thaiwoo, which has an on-property brewery, a mid-mountain chalet that serves Swiss and Austrian fare, and brand new gondolas. A high-speed train from Beijing to Chongli should open in 2019. The skiing isn’t world-class. Nearly all of the snow comes from a cannon, and runs average about 1,300 vertical feet. But go now to see firsthand how the world’s most populous country is working overtime to become a competitive winter sports nation. Tim Neville

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33/52 Orcas Island, Washington: A small island is attracting big-time foodies (and Oprah)

The horseshoe-shaped Orcas, one of the largest islands that make up the San Juan archipelago, has gained fame in recent years for its impressive tide-to-table culinary scene and experimental wines, attracting, among others, Oprah Winfrey (in 2018, Winfrey bought a 43-acre estate on the island for a reported $8.275m). A new wine enterprise, Doe Bay Wine Co, is presenting its Orcas Project in 2019 – a collaboration between acclaimed winemakers and vineyards in the Pacific northwest. Ventures from James Beard-nominated chef Jay Blackinton, who owns Hogstone, a former pizzeria now featuring ambitious nose-to-tail fare, and its more upscale counterpart Aelder, are also on the horizon. Another addition to the island are the luxury suites at Outlook Inn, in the town of Eastsound, overlooking Fishing Bay. If you want to hike, or ride a horse, the island’s Moran State Park will be adding trails to its 38-mile network this year. Daniel Scheffler

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34/52 Uzbekistan: Visa-free travel and reopened borders along the Silk Road

If you have ever wanted to travel the Silk Road, now may be the time to go. After more than 25 years since the fall of the Soviet Union, the former member country of Uzbekistan is going through its own perestroika. Among the modernising reforms are better official exchange rates and the ability to book flights and apply for visas online. Ground and air travel have also improved regionally, in part because of China’s $800bn One Belt, One Road initiative (which links countries stretching between east Asia and Europe), as well as reopened borders with neighbouring countries, reestablished flight routes between central Asian capitals, like Tashkent and Dushanbe, and increased flight service between New York and Tashkent. In addition to the relatively new Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, other international hotels are expected to open in the coming years. Erin Levi

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35/52 Vestlandet, Norway: A bucolic paradise for mountain-climbing beer lovers Rural Vestlandet, in western Norway, home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes, is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types, especially those who take

Rural Vestlandet is home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes and is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types. The Loen Skylift ferries travel more than 3,280 feet to the top of Mount Hoven in just a few minutes, while fearless climbers can put on a harness, hire a guide and make roughly the same journey in six hours, following a path that features one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe. After sightseeing, relax over an ale made with kveik, a local yeast that has enthralled brewers and scientists around the world in recent years for its fruity aromas and higher-than-normal fermentation temperatures. You can find it at bars like Tre Bror, in Voss, the Smalahovetunet restaurant and brewery nearby. Beer lovers who want to learn (and taste) more can time their visit to coincide with the October Norsk Kornolfestival, which features close to 100 beers made with kveik, often including juniper and other traditional regional ingredients. Evan Rail

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36/52 Lyon, France: Soccer, sausage and fresh air

Football fans should set their sights on France this summer, especially Lyon, where we could see the US women will clinch their fourth World Cup title in the final match 7 July. Even if you can’t get tickets – or détestez le football – the city of half a million people and 4,000 restaurants is worth a visit. This year, Lyon plays host to an International City of Gastronomy project. The indoor, one-acre exhibition will include interactive workshops and conferences designed to showcase France’s cuisine and its contributions to health and pleasure. Held at the Grand Hôtel Dieu, a sprawling complex first founded in the 1300s that reopens after four years of renovations with shops, restaurants, public spaces. When it comes time to work off all those plates of pork sausage, hike in nearby Écrins National Park, where traditional working dogs protect herds of sheep. Book a stay at the Temple-Écrins hut, where workers recently wrapped up three years of renovations. Tim Neville

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37/52 Doha, Qatar: Avant-garde architecture blooms in the desert

As the next men’s soccer World Cup approaches in 2022, the host nation, Qatar, is loading its capital with structures from the biggest names in international architecture. The sharp-angled, futuristic Qatar National Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas and his OMA firm, opened in 2018; 2019 will welcome the National Museum of Qatar, a sprawling expanse of interlocking tilted circular discs by Jean Nouvel. A contribution from a third Pritzker prize-winner, Zaha Hadid, is slated to materialise in the form of a swooping, curvaceous stadium; another stadium, from Pritzker-winner Norman Foster, is also under construction. The new structures add further dazzle to the Doha skyline, which already includes Nouvel’s syringe-like Doha Tower and the blocky white jumble of the Museum of Islamic Art, by IM Pei. Seth Sherwood

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38/52 Batumi, Georgia: A hushed seaside escape

Tbilisi, Georgia’s charming capital, has been flooded with tourists over the past decade. But Batumi, a hushed seaside city where verdant mountains slope down to the Black Sea’s smooth stone beaches, offers a different experience. Already a popular escape for Russians, Iranians, Turks and Israelis, the city is preparing itself for its inevitable discovery by the rest of the world: new hotels – including Le Meridien Batumi and a Batumi instalment of the design-centric boutique Rooms Hotel line – are rising, and a cable car will swing straight to the coast from the hilltop Batumi Botanical Garden. Winemaking is another draw – at the family-run BQ Wine Bar and the underground Karalashvili’s Wine Cellar, which pours the same rosé and amber-hued chkaveri varietals that Josef Stalin adored. Debra Kamin

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39/52 Marseille, France: An influx of young creatives gives the city a new edge

Six years after Marseille was named European Capital of Culture in 2013, the city’s renewal is still galloping along. Jean Nouvel has just finished his striking new red, white and blue skyscraper La Marseillaise. The real proof of the city’s metamorphosis, however, is that it is attracting young creative types from all over France and beyond. Laura Vidal, a sommelier from Quebec, and British chef Harry Cummins opened La Mercerie, a market-driven bistro in an old notions shop in the city’s Noailles district last spring. Noailles is brimming with shops (don’t miss Épicerie I’ldeal, the best new food store), cafes and restaurants. Other districts in the heart of Marseille are being transformed as well. Near the opera, Tony Collins recently opened Deep, a coffee shop that roasts its own beans and also sells vinyl records; and the mixologists at the Copper Bay bar shake it up for locals and guests from the nearby Les Bords de Mer, the city’s best new boutique hotel. Alexander Lobrano

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40/52 Wyoming: A sesquicentennial celebration of women’s suffrage in the Equality State

In 1869, the Territory of Wyoming passed the first law in US history granting women the right to vote – nearly 51 years before the 19th amendment guaranteed the same entitlement to all women. This year, visitors can celebrate the 150th anniversary of Wyoming women’s suffrage at the Wyoming House for Historic Women, which honours the first woman to officially cast a ballot in a general election, and 13 other trailblazing women in the state’s political history. The restored Capitol building (reopening midyear), Wyoming State Museum and Cowgirls of the West museum also feature exhibits and artefacts celebrating women’s history. In addition, a variety of all-female trips are on offer throughout the year including Women’s Wellness Pack Trips on horseback from Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch, cattle herding and archery at the WYLD West Women retreat, Hike Like a Woman nature adventures and fly-fishing clinics at the Proud Wyoming Woman Retreat. Nora Walsh

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41/52 Los Angeles: Finally, more than Grauman’s (groan)

Los Angeles too often gets boiled down to its least interesting element: Hollywood. It’s an insult to a region with a vibrant Koreatown (sit in the hot salt at Wi Spa and then feast on roast gui at Dong Il Jang); two nationally recognised high school show choirs (John Burroughs and Burbank); art galleries like the quirky Parker, in a Los Feliz mansion; and several big-league sports teams, two of them soon moving to a new $2.6bn stadium. But in summer 2019 there will be an honest-to-goodness Hollywood reason to visit the area. After delays, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is scheduled to open in a Renzo Piano-designed complex on Wilshire Boulevard. Promised are interactive exhibits about the art and science of filmmaking, starry screenings in two theatres and to-die-for memorabilia – the collection includes a pair of ruby slippers, 12 million photographs, 61,000 posters and 190,000 video assets. Brooks Barnes

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42/52 Dakar, Senegal: An oasis of freedom in a region of unrest

Ngor or rent a board for a few hours to surf the more than a half dozen beaches that offer a terrific year-round break. Or just sit back and watch the surfers while eating grilled fish at a long strip of beach restaurants. A Museum of Black Civilisations will be opening early this year and will showcase artefacts as well as contemporary art from Africa and the diaspora. The city’s design and fashion creations would fit right in at New York showrooms. Take in a late-night concert with legends like Cheikh Lo and Youssou N’Dor crooning into the wee hours and a lively bar scene that offers all-hours entertainment. Day trips let you sleep in a baobab tree, zip line through a baobab forest or swim in a pink lake. But climate change, overfishing and a booming population may eventually take their toll. Dionne Searcey

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43/52 Perth, Australia: A city transformed and enlivened

A decade-long development boom has supercharged Perth. Among the new attractions: Yagan Square, with its distinctive market hall, art park and 147-foot digital tower showcases work by local artists and livestreams events; Optus Stadium, a 60,000-seat venue for concerts and sporting events; and Raine Square, a $200m redevelopment that includes a movie theatre, shopping and restaurants including dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan, considered the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant. To accommodate the expected growth in tourism, 31 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in the past five years, including the luxury COMO, the hip QT and a Westin. Since 2007, liquor law reforms, including a 2018 change that let restaurants serve drinks without a meal, have changed the drinking and dining scene with more than 100 small bars opening in the central business district alone. And Qantas started a nonstop flight from London to Perth this year, the first from Europe. Kelly DiNardo

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44/52 Hong Kong: Dazzling infrastructure eases travel but could threaten independence

After Britain returned its former colony to China in 1997, Hong Kong prided itself on resisting mainland interference. Last year saw the opening of a high-speed train that takes passengers all the way to Beijing, and a 34-mile sea bridge linking Hong Kong to the mainland for the first time, opening the question of whether that independent streak can survive. For travellers, though, boarding a train at the new West Kowloon station bound for Beijing – and more than 30 other destinations in China – is a game changer. The 1,200-mile trip to Beijing is just nine hours, and the business-class seats are roomy. Whether they are headed to China or not, travellers can indulge in British nostalgia at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The 25th-floor M bar offers fabulous views of the harbour, exotic cocktails like Sarawak Tea Punch and memories of the 1960s when the hotel opened as a symbol of luxury and style in this ever-glamorous city. Jane Perlez

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45/52 Iran: Tourism cautiously returns to this Middle East jewel

The appeal of Iran for adventurous travellers is obvious: the monumental ruins of ancient Persia; the spectacular, centuries-old mosques of Shiraz and Isfahan; the Grand Bazaar and Golestan Palace in bustling Tehran. One additional reason to visit in 2019 is a major exhibition scheduled to open at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. “Portrait, Still-life, Landscape” (21 February to 20 April) will take over the entire museum, with a selection of about 500 works, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and Marcel Duchamp, as well as about 40 Picassos recently discovered in the museum’s storage facilities (much of the collection has been kept under wraps since the 1979 revolution). The US State Department discourages, but does not prohibit, travel to Iran by American citizens, and Americans can travel to Iran only as part of an organised tour. Options for 2019 include three expeditions from Intrepid Travel, including the company’s first-ever all-female tour. Stuart Emmrich

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46/52 Houston: Rebounding bigger and better after a hurricane

After Hurricane Harvey, the city is back on its feet and showing off the everything-is-bigger-in-Texas attitude. Four food halls opened in 2018, including Finn Hall, which features up-and-coming chefs like James Beard-nominated Jianyun Ye and a downtown outpost of his Chinese hotspot Mala Sichuan and a taqueria from local favourite Goode Co. The five-diamond Post Oak Hotel has a two-storey Rolls-Royce showroom, art by Frank Stella and a 30,000-bottle wine cellar. The Menil Collection, known for its eclectic art ranging from Byzantine antiques to 20th century pop art, underwent a renovation and opened the 30,000-square-foot Menil Drawing Institute. The city’s museum boom continues with an expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to be completed in 2020, a newly built location for the Holocaust Museum, which will move in this spring, and a restoration of the Apollo Mission Centre that will open in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in July. Kelly DiNardo

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47/52 Columbus, Ohio: Is this the American city of the future?

With a revitalised riverfront and booming downtown, Columbus is already one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Now, it’s poised to become the model for the future of innovative urban transportation, with self-driving shuttles carrying travellers along the Scioto Mile, recently revitalised, adding 33 acres of riverfront green space for festivals, water sports and outdoor art. Among the newest dining options are Veritas, which specializes in small-plate offerings; Service Bar, run by young chef Avishar Barua, a veteran of New York’s Mission Chinese and WD-50; and, in the North Market neighborhood, veggie-forward Little Eater. The Short North Arts District offers access to the city’s local businesses like the new fashion store Thread and the original Jeni’s ice cream store. But don’t skip Italian Village and German Village neighborhoods, where innovators and dreamers have opened destination shops like Stump Plants and Vernacular and bars like Cosecha. Daniel Scheffler

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48/52 Plovdiv, Bulgaria: A city ready for the spotlight

With its colourful, cobblestoned historic centre, well-preserved Roman ruins and lively art scene, Bulgaria’s second-largest city is surprisingly overlooked by tourists who favour the quirky, post-Soviet charm of the country’s capital, Sofia. But as a European cultural capital of 2019, this gem is ready to shine. Organisers have planned more than 500 events throughout the city and its region, including concerts, open-air theatre performances and street-food fairs. Tucked into the heart of central Bulgaria and built on seven hills, Plovdiv features an artistic quarter called Kapana, whose winding streets are lined with galleries and stylish cafes, as well as a beautifully restored Roman amphitheatre that hosts summer opera performances under the stars. The city’s location at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains – with their stunning views of peaks and deep gorges — makes it an excellent launch point for hiking day trips. Ann Mah

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49/52 Vevey, Switzerland: A once-in-a-generation winegrowers’ festival on the Swiss Riviera

Everything runs like clockwork in Switzerland, including the Fête des Vignerons, although its timetable is considerably extended. This Unesco-recognised wine festival, which celebrates the viticultural traditions of the Lavaux and Chablais regions near Lake Geneva, takes place every 20 to 25 years in the heart of Vevey, a breathtaking lakeside town beneath sloping vineyards in the canton of Vaud. Since 1797, the date has been decided by the Confrérie des Vignerons, which has spent the past several years (and a reported 99 million Swiss francs, or roughly $98m) planning for the 12th edition, which will run from 18 July to 11 August. For the first time, tickets for the two-hour show can be purchased online. Oenophiles seeking a “full-bodied” experience of Helvetian wines, which are rarely exported, can also download the new app from the Canton of Vaud featuring eight wine-centric hiking routes, including one above Vevey. Erin Levi

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50/52 Cádiz province, Spain: Sparkling cities and towns in southwest Andalusia

At the tip of a peninsula thrust into the Atlantic, the city of Cádiz, a trading hub since 1100, has a vibe that’s more Havana than Madrid. A culinary renaissance is underway, with newcomers like Saja River and Codigo de Barra joining classics like El Faro. But the biggest gastronomic news lies across the bay in Puerto de Santa Maria, where Angel León’s Aponiente, which has three Michelin stars, offers a lyric poem to seafood (plankton risotto). A second León restaurant, Alevante, in nearby Sancti Petri just received its first star. Twenty minutes inland, Jerez de la Frontera is a cradle of the fortified wines known as sherry, which are now on the hot list of sommeliers and the craft-cocktail crowd. Beyond the cities, hilltop villages like Vejer de la Frontera lure expatriates with a blend of hip luxury hotels and art by the likes of Olafur Eliasson at NMAC sculpture garden. Add a stretch of Atlantic shore, and the province of Cádiz ticks all the boxes. Andrew Ferren

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51/52 Elqui Valley, Chile: Eclipse mania, and nights of dark skies

The Elqui Valley in Chile attracts a diverse group of wine and pisco aficionados, stargazers and nature lovers. In 2019, this tranquil agricultural region takes centre stage in the path of totality of a full solar eclipse 2 July. Demand for lodging around this time has far outstripped supply, with an estimated 300,000 people expected in the area, and even hotels at the nearby coastal town of La Serena are booked solid. But those travelling outside eclipse mania still have many reasons to stare at the exceptionally clear sky; the Elqui Valley was named the world’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary as well as a centre of international global astronomy. When the sun is up, travellers can hike through vineyards or stroll through the streets of Vicuña, the largest city. It is a centre of pisco (brandy made in Chile and Peru) production and also the birthplace of poet Gabriela Mistral, winner of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature. Peter Kujawinski

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52/52 The islands of Tahiti: The birthplace of the overwater bungalow ups its ecotourism

Those looking to escape the news cycle can’t get much farther away than this south Pacific archipelago, also known as French Polynesia, which in 2019 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s arrival and subsequent trumpeting of its riches. Overwater bungalows were invented here: Tahiti’s clear waters offer views of more than 1,000 species of marine life. To guard against the climate change threatening parts of the region, the 118 islands and atolls have bolstered their conservation and ecotourism options. Paul Gauguin Cruises offers wildlife discovery immersions. Hotels are trying to decrease their carbon footprints: the Brando resort’s eco-friendly facilities include a coconut-oil-powered electric plant, an organic garden and solar panels. Resorts aren’t the only lodging option. The Tahitian Guesthouse experience unchains visitors from hotels and offers a more authentic Polynesian experience. Air Tahiti Nui just unveiled new jets with high-speed wifi. Sheila Marikar

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1/52 Puerto Rico: After a devastating hurricane, an island on its way back

Puerto Rico is representative of the many fragile places around the globe right now: the islands facing a future of sea level rise and extreme weather. The arctic spots where winter itself is under threat. The cities where a combination of climate change and bad planning has resulted in devastation. That is why Puerto Rico earned the number one spot on our annual list of 52 places to visit in the coming year. The island and the other beautiful places at risk raise an urgent question: do we owe something to the places that make us happy? “This is the new normal, and people have to look at this new normal and embrace it,” says Martha Honey, executive director of the Centre for Responsible Travel in Washington DC. The idea that as visitors we should not cause harm and should seek out authentic experiences that get us deep into the local culture. Perhaps it would not be such a stretch to redefine the relationship between leisure travellers and their dream destinations. Mireya Navarro

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2/52 Hampi, India: An ancient archaeological complex becomes more accessible

At the height of the Vijayanagar empire in the 16th century, Hampi thrived as one of the largest and richest cities in the world. Its architectural legacy lives on in the southwestern state of Karnataka with over 1,000 well-preserved stone monuments, including Hindu temples, forts and palaces. Spread over 16 miles near the banks of the Tungabhadra river, and surrounded by a sea of granite boulders, the Unesco world heritage site has been notoriously difficult to reach, until now. TruJet recently began daily direct flights from Hyderabad and Bangalore to Ballari, a 25-mile drive from Hampi. Travellers can stay in the newly refreshed Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace or at Ultimate Travelling Camp’s new Kishkinda Camp, which introduced 10 stately tents in December. The outfitters Black Tomato and Remote Lands now offer journeys in the region, from guided archaeological tours to rock climbing and river jaunts in basket boats. Nora Walsh

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3/52 Santa Barbara, California: The ‘American Riviera’ becomes a hip food and wine haven

Long known for drawing movie stars and millionaires to its resorts, Santa Barbara is now a foodie magnet. Acclaimed chef Jesse Singh oversees Bibi Ji, an edgy Indian restaurant – try the uni biryani – with a wine list curated by noted sommelier Rajat Parr. Top Chef alum Phillip Frankland Lee presides over the Monarch, a posh Californian restaurant, and Chaplin’s Martini Bar; he will open Silver Bough, a 10-seat tasting menu venue in January. The Santa Barbara Inn’s Convivo offers upmarket Italian fare and ocean views; nearby, at Tyger Tyger, Daniel Palaima, a veteran of the kitchens of Chicago-based chef Grant Achatz, serves southeast Asian fare (try the Szechuan pepper soft serve ice cream at Monkeyshine to finish off the night). The city has over 30 wine tasting rooms that don’t look like their more staid cousins up north. Frequency and Melville feature modern furnishings and party-ready playlists; vinyl rules at Sanguis, a winery run by drummers. Sheila Marikar

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4/52 Panama: New eco-friendly resorts open on the country’s Pacific coast

Two new Pacific island resorts are expanding Panama’s west coast appeal, not far from the marine preserve around Isla Coiba. Cayuga Hospitality recently opened Isla Palenque in the Gulf of Chiriqui, with eight casitas and one villa on a lush 400-acre island. Besides offering access to seven beaches, mangrove kayaking and whale-watching, the resort grows some of its own food, has furniture made from fallen trees and maintains a no-plastics policy, including subbing papaya shoots for straws. In the Gulf of Chiriqui, Islas Secas Reserve and Panama Lodge opened in January on a 14-island archipelago. The solar-powered, nine-bungalow lodge offers sport fishing and scuba diving, and composts food waste and recycles water for irrigation. A Ritz-Carlton Reserve property is also under construction in the Pearl Islands. Elaine Glusac

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5/52 Munich, Germany: Theatre. Art. Opera. What more do you want?

As far as cultural triple threats go, it’s hard to beat Munich. Its theatres are considered among the most creative and ambitious in Europe, with its two main companies, the Münchner Kammerspiele and the Residenztheater producing more than 30 premieres between January and May 2019. And its museums are decidedly world class, especially since the renovation and reopening of the Lenbachhaus museum in 2017, with its unmatched collection of the German artists known as the Blue Rider school. But perhaps the best argument for visiting Munich right now is the Bavarian State Opera, which has emerged as one of the most exciting opera houses in Europe. The reason? In the words of a New York Times classical music critic, “the miracle of Kirill Petrenko”. Petrenko has just two more years remaining on his contract as music director at the opera. This summer, he will conduct a new production of Richard Strauss’s Salome, with the opening night performance on 27 June. Stuart Emmrich

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6/52 Eilat, Israel: A newly accessible Red Sea paradise

Beneath the prismatic waters of this Red Sea resort on Israel’s southern tip lies a coral reef with hundreds of varieties of neon fish, sharks and stingrays. To get there, visitors used to have to catch a charter flight from Tel Aviv or brave the dusty drive through the Negev desert. But with the opening early this year of Ramon Airport, set in the Timna Valley and capable of handling 4 million international transit passengers a year, the world will finally get a direct route – with nonstops from Munich and Frankfurt on Lufthansa, and budget carriers flying in from Prague, London and across Europe. New hotels, including the luxurious Six Senses Shaharut, opening just in time for Israel’s turn at hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, are ready for the crowds. Debra Kamin

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7/52 Setouchi, Japan: Art and nature harmonise in Japan’s inland sea

The Setouchi region will host the Setouchi Triennale 2019, a major art fair held in three seasonal instalments. One hour south via ferry or the Shinkansen bullet train, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum reopens this spring after an eight-year refurbishment. New trails and a dedicated Shimanami bike ferry that opened in October connect Japan’s main island of Honshu to the region’s lesser-visited island of Shikoku. For those seeking more sybaritic forms of transport, the Guntu – more a minimalist floating ryokan than a cruise ship – with 19 walnut-clad rooms and open-air cypress soaking baths. In 2019, Setouchi Sea Planes will expand its scenic flights to several smaller islands and towns via Kodiak 100s. And a Japanese startup, Ale, launched the Shooting Star Challenge, a microsatellite that will create the world’s first artificial meteor shower, aiming to fill Setouchi’s skies in spring 2020, a taste of the high-tech one-upmanship to come in Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics. Adam H Graham

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8/52 Aalborg, Denmark: Architecture revitalises the waterfront

Viking long ships once glided through Aalborg’s mighty Limfjord. Today, the city is turning its most famous natural asset into an artistic one. Wildly innovative buildings have sprouted on its shores, including the Utzon Centre, designed by Jorn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House – its new exhibition series on inspiring Nordic architects, runs through May. The curvilinear concert hall Musikkens Hus was recently followed by the vibrant Aalborg Street Food market; the pedestrian and cycling Culture Bridge; and the undulating Vestre Fjordpark, with an open-air swimming pool that meets the sea. Nordkraft, a power plant that was converted into a cultural hub, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with events in September. The Aalborg Akvavit distillery is being transformed into a new creative district over the next two years, presided over by a soaring glass polygonal sculpture by artist Tomás Saraceno, Harbour Gate from architect Bjarke Ingels, a hotel and more. Annelisa Sorensen

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9/52 The Azores, Portugal: The Caribbean comes to the middle of the Atlantic

In the nippy Atlantic Ocean a four-hour flight from the US, the subtropical volcanic islands of the Azores, complete with Unesco world heritage sites and biospheres, await discovery. Mystical green lushness, oversize volcanic craters now turned into lakes, steaming natural hot springs that puff out from the earth, blue hydrangeas by the thousands and the only coffee growers in Europe distinguish the island chain. New restaurants in Ponta Delgada include the locavore Casa do Abel, the Japanese-influenced Otaka, and Tasquinha Vieira, which specialises in local, organic cuisine, while new hotels include the Lava Homes on Pico Island, and the Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico, opening in July. Daniel Scheffler

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10/52 Ontario Ice Caves, Canada: See them now, as climate change may pose a threat

The ice caves that emerge from the winds and waves that pound the north shore of Lake Superior have always been somewhat ephemeral. But climate change has brought an element of doubt into their future. For now, the caves are a regularly occurring feature, notably along the shoreline near Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. Made from snow and ice, the caves vary in size, shape and colour. Large waves before they freeze up are the essential ingredient for large caverns. The wind, shifts in the ice and the effects of the sun constantly remake the formations. February is the most reliable month for a visit. Getting to the caves involves driving one of the more scenic sections of the Trans-Canada Highway. Alona Bay and Coppermine Point are two of the more popular destinations. The staff members at Stokely Creek Lodge, a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing resort just outside of the Sault, keep track of where the most dramatic, but accessible, caves have formed each winter. Ian Austen

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11/52 Zadar, Croatia: Incomparable sunsets, a ‘sea organ’ and untrammelled islands

After the Croatian football team captured the world’s attention in the World Cup – its captain Luka Modric’s was particularly notable – fans revved up their search engines and learned that he hails from Zadar, a pretty, compact town on the Dalmatian Coast. Ryanair have added regular flights from Prague, Hamburg, Cologne and Nuremberg, starting this spring. Beyond Zadar’s medieval core, the city’s seaside promenade and music-making “sea organ”, created by architect Nikola Basic, is a must-see (or hear). The magical sunsets alone were enough to wow Alfred Hitchcock, who visited the city in 1964. The town is also a gateway to untrammelled islands, like Dugi Otok; an hour-and-20-minute ferry ride takes visitors to the sparsely populated island with uncrowded beaches and taverns. Seeking ultraclean waters? Then head to the island of Pasman, where the currents often change, making the surrounding waters some of the cleanest in the Adriatic. David Farley

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12/52 Williamsburg, Virginia: The cradle of American democracy reflects on its past

In 1619, the area that includes the Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg and Yorktown was home to some of the most significant events in American history: the official arrival of the first African slaves to North America, the convening of the first representative assembly in America and the first recorded proclamation of Thanksgiving in the New World. The area will observe the 400th anniversary of these events all year, highlighted by the Tenacity exhibition at the Jamestown Settlement, which recognises the contributions of women during the Colonial era, along with an archaeology-focused exhibit. Colonial Williamsburg, the expansive living-history museum, will give visitors a taste of life in the 18th century, along with the reimagined American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. For thrill seekers, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, the European-theme amusement park, will unveil a new pendulum swing ride, while Water Country USA will unveil the state’s first hybrid water coaster. John L Dorman

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13/52 Las Vegas: Sin City bets big on culture

Sure, there are still slot machines, strip clubs and steaks aplenty, but other options for culture in America’s playground abound. The new Park MGM hosts residencies from two music legends through 2019: Lady Gaga, doing one show of her pop hits and another riffing on American classics, and starting in April, Aerosmith. Also a rollicking iteration of the Italian emporium Eataly and Best Friend, a Korean restaurant by Roy Choi, the LA food truck pioneer, that becomes a hip-hop club afterwards. The Wynn recently added live, Dixieland-style jazz to its lakeside brunch; it also offers masterclasses on subjects like dumpling-making. Nearby, the Venetian debuted three craft cocktail bars, the Dorsey, Rosina and Electra, where guests can actually sit down and hear one another talk. Downtown, the Life Is Beautiful festival, which corrals an array of musicians and artists each fall, enters its seventh year; 2018 stars included the Weeknd and Florence and the Machine. Sheila Marikar

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14/52 Salvador, Brazil: The country’s original capital gets a makeover

After completing a five-year historical preservation initiative to save its Unesco designation, Salvador, with its sherbet-coloured colonial facades, cobblestone streets and beaches, is gleaming. Rising along the coast of northeastern Bahia, the city’s downtown historic district thrums with vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture, ranging from free weekly performances by samba and drum corps to classical music and capoeira. Visitors can also find Salvador’s history exhibited in the new House of Carnival and, opening in 2020, the Museum of Music or catch a live concert at the Convention Centre, opening this year. The Fera Palace Hotel, a refurbished art deco gem, and the freshly minted Fasano Salvador, housed in a former 1930s newspaper building, both overlook All Saints Bay, which in November will host the finish of the International Regatta Transat Jacques Vabre, a 4,350-mile race along the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. Nora Walsh

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15/52 Danang, Vietnam: A spot for foodies and beachgoers

Vietnam’s third largest city, is known for being a gateway to the nearby Unesco Heritage town of Hoi An. But it’s begun to develop a reputation as the Miami of Vietnam, with a strong foodie scene and new hotels and resorts popping up on a five-mile beach strip. A typical day might start with a morning swim on the crescent-shape Non Nuoc Beach and perhaps a quick stop at the Han Market. Then, an afternoon visit to the Marble Mountains, where travellers can explore the temples and pagodas that look out over My Khe Beach and, later, dinner back in the city, perhaps at Nén, a new restaurant from much-followed food blogger Summer Le. Perhaps finish the day with a visit to Cau Rong Dragon Bridge in the hills above the city. Don’t leave without sampling a bowl of mi quang, the justifiably famous local noodle soup made with a turmeric-infused broth, chicken, pork, local seafood and shredded cabbage, and available for about $1 (78p) at any number of street food stalls. Stuart Emmrich

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16/52 Costalegre, Mexico: A beach vacation, without the crowds

Costalegre is a stretch of 43 largely unpopulated beaches, capes and bays along Mexico’s gorgeous Pacific coast, about halfway between the better known destinations of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, and one that has so far escaped the attention of vacationers flocking to its popular neighbours to the north, Punta Mita and the surfer’s haven of Sayulita. One factor keeping away the crowds: lack of easy access. Up until now, the nearest airport has been more than a two-hour drive away, in Puerto Vallarta. But that will change with the planned opening of the Chalacatepec Airport in the second half of this year, which will cut travel time by more than half. And a clutch of luxury hotels will soon follow. For now, the best luxury option is Las Alamandas Resort, set on a 1,500-acre nature reserve, with just 16 suites in seven brightly painted casitas, as well as two restaurants, a spa and a large pool. Smaller hotels and even bungalows near the beaches can also be rented. Stuart Emmrich

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17/52 Paparoa Track, New Zealand: A new wilderness trail explores a remote national park

Outdoor enthusiasts can head to New Zealand starting in October to trek the country’s first Great Walk trail to open in more than 25 years. Tracing the Pororari river along the west coast of the South Island, the Paparoa Track winds through Paparoa National Park, a reserve largely inaccessible until now. Built by the Department of Conservation for hikers and mountain bikers, the 34-mile trail (hiked in three days; biked in two) departs from a historic mining town and traverses epic limestone gorges, beech forests and sandstone bluffs before culminating at the Punakaiki Blowholes. For a small fee, travellers can stay overnight in two new 20-bunk huts overlooking the southern Alps and Tasman Sea. The Pike29 Memorial Track, which honours victims of the 2010 Pike River Mine tragedy, intersects the route. Reservations can be made on the Department of Conservation’s website; both tracks are free and no permit is required. Nora Walsh

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18/52 Puglia, Italy: Baroque architecture and Adriatic beaches in Italy’s heel

The ancient fortified farmhouses called masserie, found only in the region of Puglia, are increasingly being turned into boutique hotels, most notably Rocco Forte’s Masseria Torre Maizza, and the 17th century Castello di Ugento, where guests can take cooking classes at the Puglia Culinary Centre. And the region’s 1,000-year-old wine culture, which began when the Greeks planted vines from their land across the Adriatic, is attracting more oenophiles to the area, including the owners of the London restaurant Bocca di Lupo, who recently bought a 600-acre estate in Salento called Tormaresca, where tastings are offered to visitors (you can also dine in their new restaurant in the town of Lecce). Puglia is also home to Europe’s Virgin Galactic spaceport, which is scheduled to open in 2019, with the promise of eventually sending passengers into space. No wonder Abercrombie and Kent’s new Italian cruise includes Puglia and Gargano National Park. Daniel Scheffler

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19/52 Tatra Mountains, Slovakia: Off-the-grid skiing, rock climbing and more

While most visitors focus on Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, the soaring Tatra Mountains have emerged as an under-the-radar destination for skiing and outdoor activities, with new gondolas at the Bachledka and Jasna ski areas; slopes planned at Mlynicka Dolina; and new chair lifts at Oravska Lesna in the nearby Fatra range to the northwest. And it’s not just about winter sports: there is excellent hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and fly-fishing, while beyond the Tatras, Kosice, a regional capital, offers colourful street art and plenty of cafes and restaurants, thanks to its three universities and associated night life. Plan on posting plenty of photos: you’ll find untouched folk architecture throughout the region, as well as perfectly preserved gothic and baroque buildings awaiting your lens. Evan Rail

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20/52 Calgary, Alberta: A spectacular library adds to a once-neglected neighbourhood

Calgary’s new Central Library, from the architectural firm Snohetta, creates not just a design destination, with daily tours, but also a gateway in the form of an arched cedar-clad passageway linking downtown to the city’s evolving East Village, a booming neighbourhood where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. Calgary was founded in the East Village area in 1875, with a fort built to curb the growing whiskey trade, but the area suffered roughly 70 years of neglect before the Calgary Municipal Land Corp, formed in 2007, began transforming the area, adding parks, attractions and high-rises. The 240,000-square-foot library, with a performance hall, cafe, children’s play area and outdoor electromagnetic sculptures by Christian Moeller, is next to Studio Bell, home to the National Music Centre museum and performance space, and near the just opened Alt Hotel. Later this year, the multiuse building M2 promises more shops and restaurants beside the Bow river. Elaine Glusac

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21/52 Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia: A natural wonder resisting the threats of development

Lake Baikal in Siberia is the world’s deepest lake, plunging 1 mile into the Earth’s crust. It contains nearly 20 per cent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water and is so abundant in wildlife – bears, foxes, sables, rare and endangered freshwater seals – that Unesco calls it “the Galapagos of Russia”. The wildlife, like the lake itself, has been under threat for years, from indifferent Soviet industrial policy, from climate change and from today’s rising tourism, especially from China. Even so, it remains largely unspoiled, and activists are working hard to keep it that way. Olkhon Island, Baikal’s largest, and a place that Buddhists consider one of the holiest in Asia, is a popular base for excursions year round, even from December to April or May, when the surface freezes into turquoise sheets of ice that Siberian winds churn into natural sculptures. The Baikal Ice Marathon, a charity devoted to the lake’s conservation, will be held 2 March. Steven Lee Myers

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22/52 Huntsville, Alabama: Time to party like it’s 1969

The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing will draw crowds to Huntsville – aka Rocket City – home of the Marshall Space Flight Centre, where the spacecraft that launched astronauts to the moon were developed. Throughout the year, there will be daily reenactments of the moon landing at the US Space and Rocket Centre, but the biggest thrills are planned for the anniversary week of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission in July. Beginning on launch day, 16 July, the centre will attempt to break a Guinness World Record by launching 5,000 model rockets at 8.32 am, the precise time that rocket engines ignited in 1969. Festivities will continue with a classic car show, concerts, a homecoming parade and a street party in downtown Huntsville – the same location where Apollo workers celebrated after the successful mission. If that’s not fun enough, 2019 also marks the state’s bicentennial, giving Alabamians yet another excuse to party. Ingrid K Williams

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23/52 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas): Five kinds of penguins, easier to reach

The Falkland Islands, far off the coast of Argentina, offer an astonishing variety of wildlife that includes five kinds of penguins, hundreds of bird species, seals, sea lions and whales, as well as remote natural beauty that travellers often have to themselves. Two new local touring companies are increasing accessibility to the riches of the islands. Falklands Outdoors opened in November 2018 and offers mountain climbing, foraging, hiking and sea kayaking expeditions to beaches and penguin colonies that can’t be reached by road; in January, Falklands Helicopter Services will start scenic flights to Volunteer Point (home to an enormous king penguin colony), and other isolated spots. While there’s a single weekly commercial flight in and out of the Falklands, the first new route to the islands from South America in more than 20 years is being planned: LATAM is expected to begin weekly flights to the islands from Brazil by late this year. Nell McShane Wulfhart

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24/52 Aberdeen, Scotland: The granite city via brand new old-fashioned trains

Just as many famous European overnight train routes have been retired, the Caledonian Sleeper, the train that travels through the night from London to the north of Scotland, is rolling out new carriages for summer. The new cars preserve the romance of overnight trains, in contemporary comfort, with a choice of hotel-style suites, classic bunk beds or seats. The Highlander route to Aberdeen leaves Euston station in the evening and hits the Scottish coast by 5 am, so travellers who take an early breakfast in the dining car can enjoy coastal views as the sun rises (get off at Leuchars for medieval St Andrews). Off the train, Aberdeen and its surroundings offer historic castles set in fields of purple heather, in pine woods and along the dramatic coastline. Hiking trails abound on and around the queen’s estate at Balmoral, and rail buffs can visit the former royal train station in Ballater, closed since 1966, and ride on the Royal Deeside Railway a short drive from there. Palko Karasz

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25/52 Golfo Paradiso, Italy: A rare unspoiled gem on the Italian Riviera

The well-known pearls of the Ligurian Riviera – Portofino, Cinque Terre, Portovenere – are overwhelmed with tourists, a problem so acute that in some areas authorities have debated measures to stem the flow of daytrippers. But just a few miles away, between Portofino and Genoa, remains a peaceful sliver of coastline rarely explored by travellers to the region. Known as the Golfo Paradiso, this small gulf is home to five often-overlooked villages, including Camogli, a colourful fishing hamlet as charming as any of the Cinque Terre. Italians will boast about the renowned local cuisine: fresh-caught anchovies, hand-rolled trofie pasta and cheese-filled focaccia from the town of Recco, a speciality that recently earned IGP status, a prestigious Italian designation for quality food products. Between meals, explore blooming gardens in Pieve Ligure, beaches in Sori and the romanesque abbey of San Fruttuoso, which is accessible only by boat or a long, sweaty hike. Ingrid K Williams

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26/52 Dessau, Germany: A big birthday for Bauhaus

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of German architect Walter Gropius’ “Proclamation of the Bauhaus”, a radical reimagining of art, architecture and design. To celebrate the Bauhaus centennial, cities around Germany will hold events, from the opening festival in Berlin – several days of art, dance, concerts, theatre, lectures and more this month – to the debut of the Bauhaus Museum in Weimar, where the movement was born. But the most compelling destination might be Dessau. Home of the Bauhaus school during the 1920s and 1930s, the northeastern German city still contains the school’s pioneering (and Unesco-listed) Bauhaus Building, the Gropius-designed Masters Houses, and the Prellerhaus studio building (a warren of former Bauhaus ateliers that now contains a hotel). And in September, Dessau opens its long-awaited Bauhaus Museum, a glassy, minimalist rectangle that will showcase typefaces, textiles, artwork, furniture and more from the movement. Seth Sherwood

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27/52 Tunis, Tunisia: The spark for the Arab Spring, still lit

Freedom is what makes Tunis unique. Eight years after it kicked off the Arab Spring, it remains the only Arab capital with real freedom of expression, not to mention the peaceful rotation of power. But the city holds many other charms. Among them are the ruins of the ancient city of Carthage, from which Hannibal’s elephants once threatened Rome. The carefully preserved old medina dates from the 12th to the 16th century, when Tunis was a major centre of the Islamic world. The tree-lined Avenue Habib Bourguiba downtown bears the influence of decades of French rule. And the cafes, art galleries and blue-and-white hues of the neighbourhood of Sidi Bou Said, overlooking the Mediterranean, have long lured European painters, writers and thinkers. A short taxi ride away are the beaches and nightclubs of La Marsa. The French-influenced north African food is delicious. The local red wines are not bad. And, in another regional rarity, Tunis in 2018 elected a woman its mayor. David D Kirkpatrick

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28/52 Gambia: Hippos and chimpanzees – and a renewed sense of hope

Gambia’s tourism industry was hit hard in 2017, when its long-time authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh refused to cede leadership after an election loss, forcing a political standoff that brought foreign troops in. But with its new president, Adama Barrow, now safely in place, there’s a renewed sense of hope across continental Africa’s smallest country – now more accessible than ever. In January, a new bridge over the Gambia river, three decades in the making, will be inaugurated with a nearly 200-mile relay run to Dakar, Senegal. Peregrine Adventures launches its first cruise up the 700-mile river, with a stop at Baboon Island, home to hippos, crocodiles and chimpanzees, part of Africa’s longest-running centre for rehabilitating chimpanzees into the wild. New and coming hotels, including the African Princess Beach Hotel, and two properties by Thomas Cook, will serve as stylish bases. And new direct flights from Europe make getting to this west African country easier than ever. Ratha Tep

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29/52 Northern Rivers, Australia: Along a breezy coastline, boho paradise

The coastline just below the New South Wales-Queensland border is known as the Northern Rivers thanks to the tidal system snaking through it. Anchored by Byron Bay, the area has become a beacon for those seeking a breezy boho way of life. In recent years a more moneyed, stylish vibe has settled in and seeped from Byron into neighbouring small towns. Mullumbimby hosts one of the country’s most vibrant weekly farmers’ markets. Brunswick Heads, is home to a huge historic pub with a sprawling patio, and offers great shopping and Fleet, a restaurant that serves some of Australia’s most delightful cooking. Up and down the coast, the restaurant scene is thriving: Paper Daisy in Cabarita Beach sits in the ground floor of an old surf motel turned boutique hotel; in Lennox Heads, Shelter’s dining room is open to the ocean breeze. For a taste of the old-school hippie wonderland from which all of this sprang, check out the Crystal Castle, a “crystal experience” in a hilltop garden. Besha Rodell

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30/52 Frisian Islands and Wadden Sea: Oysters, seals, birds and dark skies on Europe’s wild left coast

Europe’s windswept Frisian Islands are shared by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands and linked by the Wadden Sea. Holland’s Lauwersmeer National Park offers dark-sky safaris and will open a seal rescue centre in 2019 that lets visitors rehabilitate and release two native seal species. Dutch campground resorts like Beleef Lauwersoog offer excursions to nearby Schiermonnikoog island and have expanded lodging options with new barrel-shaped sleeping pods and refurbished overwater bunkers, once used by duck hunters, on remote swaths of the North Sea. Denmark’s Fanoe island started offering DIY oyster foraging safaris, where visitors can rent boots and shucking tools to gather invasive, but delicious, Pacific oysters, thus helping preserve Denmark’s native Limfjorden oyster habitat. The Fanoe Oyster Festival, next in October 2019, has lured chefs across Denmark with an annual oyster cooking competition. Adam H Graham

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31/52 New York City: New cultural monuments, and remembrances of the past

redefine the city’s physical and cultural infrastructure. At Hudson Yards, the largest single development since Rockefeller Centre took shape in the Depression, a cultural arts centre called the Shed will go into gear. Its largest theatre is a retractable structure on wheels that creeps back and forth like a giant steel caterpillar, turning the outdoor space of a plaza into indoor space for performances. Not far away will be what the developers are calling New York’s Staircase, an eight-storey structure with 154 flights of stairs and 2,000 steps. The wraps are to come off the Museum of Modern Art’s $400m expansion, increasing its space by almost a third. The TWA Hotel at Kennedy International Airport is a flight centre relic from 1962, with 512 hotel rooms in two new buildings. In June, the city will host World Pride – first time in the US – for the 50th anniversary. James Barron

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32/52 Chongli, China: Witness a winter sports revolution

The leadup to the next Winter Games is well underway in and around Beijing, and the spectacle is breathtaking. The most stunning transformations are happening a four-hour drive north in Chongli, once one of the country’s poorest areas and now home to several multibillion-dollar ski resorts, towering condominiums and flashy hotels. It has transformed into a glistening winter sports hub filled with restaurants, inns and watering holes. At least five ski resorts now surround the city, including places like Genting Secret Gardens, Fulong and Thaiwoo, which has an on-property brewery, a mid-mountain chalet that serves Swiss and Austrian fare, and brand new gondolas. A high-speed train from Beijing to Chongli should open in 2019. The skiing isn’t world-class. Nearly all of the snow comes from a cannon, and runs average about 1,300 vertical feet. But go now to see firsthand how the world’s most populous country is working overtime to become a competitive winter sports nation. Tim Neville

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33/52 Orcas Island, Washington: A small island is attracting big-time foodies (and Oprah)

The horseshoe-shaped Orcas, one of the largest islands that make up the San Juan archipelago, has gained fame in recent years for its impressive tide-to-table culinary scene and experimental wines, attracting, among others, Oprah Winfrey (in 2018, Winfrey bought a 43-acre estate on the island for a reported $8.275m). A new wine enterprise, Doe Bay Wine Co, is presenting its Orcas Project in 2019 – a collaboration between acclaimed winemakers and vineyards in the Pacific northwest. Ventures from James Beard-nominated chef Jay Blackinton, who owns Hogstone, a former pizzeria now featuring ambitious nose-to-tail fare, and its more upscale counterpart Aelder, are also on the horizon. Another addition to the island are the luxury suites at Outlook Inn, in the town of Eastsound, overlooking Fishing Bay. If you want to hike, or ride a horse, the island’s Moran State Park will be adding trails to its 38-mile network this year. Daniel Scheffler

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34/52 Uzbekistan: Visa-free travel and reopened borders along the Silk Road

If you have ever wanted to travel the Silk Road, now may be the time to go. After more than 25 years since the fall of the Soviet Union, the former member country of Uzbekistan is going through its own perestroika. Among the modernising reforms are better official exchange rates and the ability to book flights and apply for visas online. Ground and air travel have also improved regionally, in part because of China’s $800bn One Belt, One Road initiative (which links countries stretching between east Asia and Europe), as well as reopened borders with neighbouring countries, reestablished flight routes between central Asian capitals, like Tashkent and Dushanbe, and increased flight service between New York and Tashkent. In addition to the relatively new Hyatt Regency in Tashkent, other international hotels are expected to open in the coming years. Erin Levi

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35/52 Vestlandet, Norway: A bucolic paradise for mountain-climbing beer lovers Rural Vestlandet, in western Norway, home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes, is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types, especially those who take

Rural Vestlandet is home to some of Scandinavia’s most beautiful landscapes and is piquing the interest of outdoorsy types. The Loen Skylift ferries travel more than 3,280 feet to the top of Mount Hoven in just a few minutes, while fearless climbers can put on a harness, hire a guide and make roughly the same journey in six hours, following a path that features one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe. After sightseeing, relax over an ale made with kveik, a local yeast that has enthralled brewers and scientists around the world in recent years for its fruity aromas and higher-than-normal fermentation temperatures. You can find it at bars like Tre Bror, in Voss, the Smalahovetunet restaurant and brewery nearby. Beer lovers who want to learn (and taste) more can time their visit to coincide with the October Norsk Kornolfestival, which features close to 100 beers made with kveik, often including juniper and other traditional regional ingredients. Evan Rail

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36/52 Lyon, France: Soccer, sausage and fresh air

Football fans should set their sights on France this summer, especially Lyon, where we could see the US women will clinch their fourth World Cup title in the final match 7 July. Even if you can’t get tickets – or détestez le football – the city of half a million people and 4,000 restaurants is worth a visit. This year, Lyon plays host to an International City of Gastronomy project. The indoor, one-acre exhibition will include interactive workshops and conferences designed to showcase France’s cuisine and its contributions to health and pleasure. Held at the Grand Hôtel Dieu, a sprawling complex first founded in the 1300s that reopens after four years of renovations with shops, restaurants, public spaces. When it comes time to work off all those plates of pork sausage, hike in nearby Écrins National Park, where traditional working dogs protect herds of sheep. Book a stay at the Temple-Écrins hut, where workers recently wrapped up three years of renovations. Tim Neville

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37/52 Doha, Qatar: Avant-garde architecture blooms in the desert

As the next men’s soccer World Cup approaches in 2022, the host nation, Qatar, is loading its capital with structures from the biggest names in international architecture. The sharp-angled, futuristic Qatar National Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas and his OMA firm, opened in 2018; 2019 will welcome the National Museum of Qatar, a sprawling expanse of interlocking tilted circular discs by Jean Nouvel. A contribution from a third Pritzker prize-winner, Zaha Hadid, is slated to materialise in the form of a swooping, curvaceous stadium; another stadium, from Pritzker-winner Norman Foster, is also under construction. The new structures add further dazzle to the Doha skyline, which already includes Nouvel’s syringe-like Doha Tower and the blocky white jumble of the Museum of Islamic Art, by IM Pei. Seth Sherwood

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38/52 Batumi, Georgia: A hushed seaside escape

Tbilisi, Georgia’s charming capital, has been flooded with tourists over the past decade. But Batumi, a hushed seaside city where verdant mountains slope down to the Black Sea’s smooth stone beaches, offers a different experience. Already a popular escape for Russians, Iranians, Turks and Israelis, the city is preparing itself for its inevitable discovery by the rest of the world: new hotels – including Le Meridien Batumi and a Batumi instalment of the design-centric boutique Rooms Hotel line – are rising, and a cable car will swing straight to the coast from the hilltop Batumi Botanical Garden. Winemaking is another draw – at the family-run BQ Wine Bar and the underground Karalashvili’s Wine Cellar, which pours the same rosé and amber-hued chkaveri varietals that Josef Stalin adored. Debra Kamin

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39/52 Marseille, France: An influx of young creatives gives the city a new edge

Six years after Marseille was named European Capital of Culture in 2013, the city’s renewal is still galloping along. Jean Nouvel has just finished his striking new red, white and blue skyscraper La Marseillaise. The real proof of the city’s metamorphosis, however, is that it is attracting young creative types from all over France and beyond. Laura Vidal, a sommelier from Quebec, and British chef Harry Cummins opened La Mercerie, a market-driven bistro in an old notions shop in the city’s Noailles district last spring. Noailles is brimming with shops (don’t miss Épicerie I’ldeal, the best new food store), cafes and restaurants. Other districts in the heart of Marseille are being transformed as well. Near the opera, Tony Collins recently opened Deep, a coffee shop that roasts its own beans and also sells vinyl records; and the mixologists at the Copper Bay bar shake it up for locals and guests from the nearby Les Bords de Mer, the city’s best new boutique hotel. Alexander Lobrano

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40/52 Wyoming: A sesquicentennial celebration of women’s suffrage in the Equality State

In 1869, the Territory of Wyoming passed the first law in US history granting women the right to vote – nearly 51 years before the 19th amendment guaranteed the same entitlement to all women. This year, visitors can celebrate the 150th anniversary of Wyoming women’s suffrage at the Wyoming House for Historic Women, which honours the first woman to officially cast a ballot in a general election, and 13 other trailblazing women in the state’s political history. The restored Capitol building (reopening midyear), Wyoming State Museum and Cowgirls of the West museum also feature exhibits and artefacts celebrating women’s history. In addition, a variety of all-female trips are on offer throughout the year including Women’s Wellness Pack Trips on horseback from Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch, cattle herding and archery at the WYLD West Women retreat, Hike Like a Woman nature adventures and fly-fishing clinics at the Proud Wyoming Woman Retreat. Nora Walsh

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41/52 Los Angeles: Finally, more than Grauman’s (groan)

Los Angeles too often gets boiled down to its least interesting element: Hollywood. It’s an insult to a region with a vibrant Koreatown (sit in the hot salt at Wi Spa and then feast on roast gui at Dong Il Jang); two nationally recognised high school show choirs (John Burroughs and Burbank); art galleries like the quirky Parker, in a Los Feliz mansion; and several big-league sports teams, two of them soon moving to a new $2.6bn stadium. But in summer 2019 there will be an honest-to-goodness Hollywood reason to visit the area. After delays, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is scheduled to open in a Renzo Piano-designed complex on Wilshire Boulevard. Promised are interactive exhibits about the art and science of filmmaking, starry screenings in two theatres and to-die-for memorabilia – the collection includes a pair of ruby slippers, 12 million photographs, 61,000 posters and 190,000 video assets. Brooks Barnes

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42/52 Dakar, Senegal: An oasis of freedom in a region of unrest

Ngor or rent a board for a few hours to surf the more than a half dozen beaches that offer a terrific year-round break. Or just sit back and watch the surfers while eating grilled fish at a long strip of beach restaurants. A Museum of Black Civilisations will be opening early this year and will showcase artefacts as well as contemporary art from Africa and the diaspora. The city’s design and fashion creations would fit right in at New York showrooms. Take in a late-night concert with legends like Cheikh Lo and Youssou N’Dor crooning into the wee hours and a lively bar scene that offers all-hours entertainment. Day trips let you sleep in a baobab tree, zip line through a baobab forest or swim in a pink lake. But climate change, overfishing and a booming population may eventually take their toll. Dionne Searcey

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43/52 Perth, Australia: A city transformed and enlivened

A decade-long development boom has supercharged Perth. Among the new attractions: Yagan Square, with its distinctive market hall, art park and 147-foot digital tower showcases work by local artists and livestreams events; Optus Stadium, a 60,000-seat venue for concerts and sporting events; and Raine Square, a $200m redevelopment that includes a movie theatre, shopping and restaurants including dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan, considered the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant. To accommodate the expected growth in tourism, 31 new or redeveloped hotels have opened in the past five years, including the luxury COMO, the hip QT and a Westin. Since 2007, liquor law reforms, including a 2018 change that let restaurants serve drinks without a meal, have changed the drinking and dining scene with more than 100 small bars opening in the central business district alone. And Qantas started a nonstop flight from London to Perth this year, the first from Europe. Kelly DiNardo

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44/52 Hong Kong: Dazzling infrastructure eases travel but could threaten independence

After Britain returned its former colony to China in 1997, Hong Kong prided itself on resisting mainland interference. Last year saw the opening of a high-speed train that takes passengers all the way to Beijing, and a 34-mile sea bridge linking Hong Kong to the mainland for the first time, opening the question of whether that independent streak can survive. For travellers, though, boarding a train at the new West Kowloon station bound for Beijing – and more than 30 other destinations in China – is a game changer. The 1,200-mile trip to Beijing is just nine hours, and the business-class seats are roomy. Whether they are headed to China or not, travellers can indulge in British nostalgia at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. The 25th-floor M bar offers fabulous views of the harbour, exotic cocktails like Sarawak Tea Punch and memories of the 1960s when the hotel opened as a symbol of luxury and style in this ever-glamorous city. Jane Perlez

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45/52 Iran: Tourism cautiously returns to this Middle East jewel

The appeal of Iran for adventurous travellers is obvious: the monumental ruins of ancient Persia; the spectacular, centuries-old mosques of Shiraz and Isfahan; the Grand Bazaar and Golestan Palace in bustling Tehran. One additional reason to visit in 2019 is a major exhibition scheduled to open at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. “Portrait, Still-life, Landscape” (21 February to 20 April) will take over the entire museum, with a selection of about 500 works, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and Marcel Duchamp, as well as about 40 Picassos recently discovered in the museum’s storage facilities (much of the collection has been kept under wraps since the 1979 revolution). The US State Department discourages, but does not prohibit, travel to Iran by American citizens, and Americans can travel to Iran only as part of an organised tour. Options for 2019 include three expeditions from Intrepid Travel, including the company’s first-ever all-female tour. Stuart Emmrich

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46/52 Houston: Rebounding bigger and better after a hurricane

After Hurricane Harvey, the city is back on its feet and showing off the everything-is-bigger-in-Texas attitude. Four food halls opened in 2018, including Finn Hall, which features up-and-coming chefs like James Beard-nominated Jianyun Ye and a downtown outpost of his Chinese hotspot Mala Sichuan and a taqueria from local favourite Goode Co. The five-diamond Post Oak Hotel has a two-storey Rolls-Royce showroom, art by Frank Stella and a 30,000-bottle wine cellar. The Menil Collection, known for its eclectic art ranging from Byzantine antiques to 20th century pop art, underwent a renovation and opened the 30,000-square-foot Menil Drawing Institute. The city’s museum boom continues with an expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to be completed in 2020, a newly built location for the Holocaust Museum, which will move in this spring, and a restoration of the Apollo Mission Centre that will open in time for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in July. Kelly DiNardo

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47/52 Columbus, Ohio: Is this the American city of the future?

With a revitalised riverfront and booming downtown, Columbus is already one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. Now, it’s poised to become the model for the future of innovative urban transportation, with self-driving shuttles carrying travellers along the Scioto Mile, recently revitalised, adding 33 acres of riverfront green space for festivals, water sports and outdoor art. Among the newest dining options are Veritas, which specializes in small-plate offerings; Service Bar, run by young chef Avishar Barua, a veteran of New York’s Mission Chinese and WD-50; and, in the North Market neighborhood, veggie-forward Little Eater. The Short North Arts District offers access to the city’s local businesses like the new fashion store Thread and the original Jeni’s ice cream store. But don’t skip Italian Village and German Village neighborhoods, where innovators and dreamers have opened destination shops like Stump Plants and Vernacular and bars like Cosecha. Daniel Scheffler

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48/52 Plovdiv, Bulgaria: A city ready for the spotlight

With its colourful, cobblestoned historic centre, well-preserved Roman ruins and lively art scene, Bulgaria’s second-largest city is surprisingly overlooked by tourists who favour the quirky, post-Soviet charm of the country’s capital, Sofia. But as a European cultural capital of 2019, this gem is ready to shine. Organisers have planned more than 500 events throughout the city and its region, including concerts, open-air theatre performances and street-food fairs. Tucked into the heart of central Bulgaria and built on seven hills, Plovdiv features an artistic quarter called Kapana, whose winding streets are lined with galleries and stylish cafes, as well as a beautifully restored Roman amphitheatre that hosts summer opera performances under the stars. The city’s location at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains – with their stunning views of peaks and deep gorges — makes it an excellent launch point for hiking day trips. Ann Mah

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49/52 Vevey, Switzerland: A once-in-a-generation winegrowers’ festival on the Swiss Riviera

Everything runs like clockwork in Switzerland, including the Fête des Vignerons, although its timetable is considerably extended. This Unesco-recognised wine festival, which celebrates the viticultural traditions of the Lavaux and Chablais regions near Lake Geneva, takes place every 20 to 25 years in the heart of Vevey, a breathtaking lakeside town beneath sloping vineyards in the canton of Vaud. Since 1797, the date has been decided by the Confrérie des Vignerons, which has spent the past several years (and a reported 99 million Swiss francs, or roughly $98m) planning for the 12th edition, which will run from 18 July to 11 August. For the first time, tickets for the two-hour show can be purchased online. Oenophiles seeking a “full-bodied” experience of Helvetian wines, which are rarely exported, can also download the new app from the Canton of Vaud featuring eight wine-centric hiking routes, including one above Vevey. Erin Levi

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50/52 Cádiz province, Spain: Sparkling cities and towns in southwest Andalusia

At the tip of a peninsula thrust into the Atlantic, the city of Cádiz, a trading hub since 1100, has a vibe that’s more Havana than Madrid. A culinary renaissance is underway, with newcomers like Saja River and Codigo de Barra joining classics like El Faro. But the biggest gastronomic news lies across the bay in Puerto de Santa Maria, where Angel León’s Aponiente, which has three Michelin stars, offers a lyric poem to seafood (plankton risotto). A second León restaurant, Alevante, in nearby Sancti Petri just received its first star. Twenty minutes inland, Jerez de la Frontera is a cradle of the fortified wines known as sherry, which are now on the hot list of sommeliers and the craft-cocktail crowd. Beyond the cities, hilltop villages like Vejer de la Frontera lure expatriates with a blend of hip luxury hotels and art by the likes of Olafur Eliasson at NMAC sculpture garden. Add a stretch of Atlantic shore, and the province of Cádiz ticks all the boxes. Andrew Ferren

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51/52 Elqui Valley, Chile: Eclipse mania, and nights of dark skies

The Elqui Valley in Chile attracts a diverse group of wine and pisco aficionados, stargazers and nature lovers. In 2019, this tranquil agricultural region takes centre stage in the path of totality of a full solar eclipse 2 July. Demand for lodging around this time has far outstripped supply, with an estimated 300,000 people expected in the area, and even hotels at the nearby coastal town of La Serena are booked solid. But those travelling outside eclipse mania still have many reasons to stare at the exceptionally clear sky; the Elqui Valley was named the world’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary as well as a centre of international global astronomy. When the sun is up, travellers can hike through vineyards or stroll through the streets of Vicuña, the largest city. It is a centre of pisco (brandy made in Chile and Peru) production and also the birthplace of poet Gabriela Mistral, winner of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature. Peter Kujawinski

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52/52 The islands of Tahiti: The birthplace of the overwater bungalow ups its ecotourism

Those looking to escape the news cycle can’t get much farther away than this south Pacific archipelago, also known as French Polynesia, which in 2019 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s arrival and subsequent trumpeting of its riches. Overwater bungalows were invented here: Tahiti’s clear waters offer views of more than 1,000 species of marine life. To guard against the climate change threatening parts of the region, the 118 islands and atolls have bolstered their conservation and ecotourism options. Paul Gauguin Cruises offers wildlife discovery immersions. Hotels are trying to decrease their carbon footprints: the Brando resort’s eco-friendly facilities include a coconut-oil-powered electric plant, an organic garden and solar panels. Resorts aren’t the only lodging option. The Tahitian Guesthouse experience unchains visitors from hotels and offers a more authentic Polynesian experience. Air Tahiti Nui just unveiled new jets with high-speed wifi. Sheila Marikar

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At this stage, the plane was still taxiing on the tarmac, but Ms Berg says she was unable to get through to airlines officials to inform them of the situation.

According to her tweets, Anton had spoken with an onboard steward and let them know that he was being flown to the wrong destination.

Ms Berg wrote on Twitter: “We paid @united a fee to have you watch him. This has been going on for 20 minutes and NO ONE has called us!!!”

When Eurowings crew realised that the boy was on the wrong flight, the plane returned to the gate.

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According to Ms Berg, a decision was then made by airline officials to fly Anton to Copenhagen in Denmark, a move which added seven additional hours of travel to his journey. 

United charges a “service fee” of $150 for its unaccompanied minor service, for children aged 5-14 years old. It states: “Unaccompanied minors can only travel on nonstop United or United Express® flights.”

Ms Berg called on the airline: #UnitedAirlines fix your dangerous minor program!” 

Anton was eventually flown to his destination where Ms Berg was making plans to unite him with his grandparents, writing “we are all exhausted”.

A United spokesperson said in a statement to The Independent: “The safety and well-being of all of our customers is our top priority, and we have been in frequent contact with the young man’s family to confirm his safety.

“Once our Eurowings partners recognised that he had boarded the wrong aircraft in Newark, the plane returned to the gate – before taking off.

“Our staff assisted the customer to ensure that he boarded the correct flight. We have confirmed that our young customer safely reached his destination.”

An SAS spokesperson said: “At SAS, security, and taking care of our passengers, is always a first priority.”

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