Let's Go
January, 2010
Top 17 Destinations for 2010
April White
17 Bermuda
Bermuda isn’t trendy — it’s timeless. Topping the list of not-to-be-missed attractions are two favorites that were recently renovated to knock your socks off: La Serena Spa (at The Reefs Resort) and Port Royal Golf Course. Or soak up the island’s rich cultural traditions at a new arrival: the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art. thereefs.com, portroyalgolf.bm, bermudamasterworks.com
16 Charlotte
It seems like Charlotte is always building something new (check out the eco-smart Ritz-Carlton). This year’s number-one attraction: the almost completed NASCAR Hall of Fame in Uptown. Opening May 11. nascarhall.com
15 Dallas
Now there’s more incentive for art lovers to head to Dallas: The recent opening of the head-turning AT&T Performing Arts Center adds 4 dramatic venues for opera and dance to the city’s sprawling 19-block Arts District. attpac.org
14 Portland, Maine
Portland is more than just lobster, though the city’s hottest restaurants do that well, too (lobster sashimi at Miyake, for one). Hugo’s, Paciarino, Five Fifty-Five, and other restaurants are turning out unique but unfussy fare that has made the destination a darling of chefs and culinary tourists.
hugos.net, fivefifty-five.com
13 Stockholm
Many are awaiting the debut of ABBA, The Museum (really), but the city’s music scene isn’t frozen in amber. Head to the Sodermalm district to hear the
latest sounds of Sweden’s unique musical talent. You may just spot the country’s next pop culture export.
12 Philadelphia
On every kid’s to-do list: a visit to the city zoo to meet the baby orangutan, riding the carousel and spending hours at the city’s new Please Touch Museum, and a round of Philly-themed mini-golf at renovated Franklin Square. philadelphiazoo.org, pleasetouchmuseum.org
11 Phoenix
Stretching from Mesa through Tempe to northern Phoenix (and almost to the airport), the city’s year-old Metro Light Rail allows you to see more of Phoenix’s sights — from Heritage Square to the Tempe Center for the Arts — without abandoning air-conditioning. valleymetro.org
10 Vancouver, British Columbia
Even if you didn’t score tickets to the curling competition for next month’s Olympics, you can still win in Vancouver. Long after the Olympic torch leaves town, new luxury hotels and civic improvements that include a $600 million facelift of the Sea to Sky Highway will remain.
9 Myrtle Beach
The Grand Strand’s oldest golf course, Pine Lakes Country Club, has reopened after an extensive renovation — which means yet another top-tier course to choose from on this
60-mile stretch boasting more than 100 great options. pinelakes.com
8 Las Vegas
Vegas is all shook up. CityCenter, the Strip’s massive new three-hotel complex, boasts dozens of restaurants and three spas; it’s also home to the newest must-see Cirque du Soleil show, Viva ELVIS. citycenter.com
7 Madrid
Madrid has long been a retail mecca, but there are new additions to add to the shopping list: beautifully restored Mercado de San Miguel for Spanish snacks and foodie gifts and Calle Conde Duque for trendy fashion boutiques.
6 Cancun
Tiny Puerto Morelos, just south of Cancun, is earning popularity for being everything Cancun isn’t: quiet, low-key, and almost authentic.
5 Cabo San Lucas
Before Cabo became a landlubber’s paradise of resorts and golf courses, it was the “marlin capital of the world.” With numerous deep-sea fishermen from all over the world competing year round for bragging rights and dinner, it still is.
4 Antigua
Pack your bathing suit — and your hiking boots. Antigua is about much more than its 365 beaches. Vacationers are discovering the island’s increasingly popular network of hiking trails. Tackle the newly named Mount Obama for sweeping views of Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
3 Tel Aviv
Once-dilapidated Jaffa, just south of Tel Aviv, has transformed into one of the region’s most intriguing destinations. At its center, a centuries-old bazaar where flea-market fare shares space with designer boutiques, Bedouin art shops, and gelato counters.
2 Aruba
Get away — and give back. Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino has joined in the voluntourism trend. Through the resort’s new EMBRACE program, guests can help beautify Aruba on day excursions to the Balashi Gold Mill ruins and other sites. aruba.hyatt.com
1 Our (very biased) first choice: Rio de janeiro
Find Rio’s beautiful people lounging on Pepe Beach, possibly the city’s best stretch of sand in its trendiest neighborhood, Barra da Tijuca. After dark, Barra’s nightclubs make South Beach seem sleepy.
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