2025 Best in Travel
regions
Lowcountry, South Carolina and Georgia
region|USA
The sultry vibe of Lowcountry in South Carolina and Georgia has long lured visitors to its miles of beaches and marshes, as well as its big-name cities, Charleston and Savannah. This region has one of the country’s most vibrant food scenes, and its complicated history has thoughtfully come to the fore at the recently opened International African American Museum.
Highlights
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Spend the afternoon strolling Savannah’s Starland District, taking in street murals, vintage shops and bohemian cafes.
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Go gallery hopping in Charleston’s cobblestoned French Quarter, then return by night for a performance at the historic Dock Street Theatre.
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Learn about the lives of enslaved people touring a Gullah cemetery and former dwelling on the 19th-century McLeod Plantation.
"I moved to Savannah to live in a historic city with great parks for walking, running and enjoying the outdoors. I also love being close to the beach – lovely Tybee Island is less than 30 minutes away."
Rachel Seeley, athletic trainer
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The Terai
region|Nepal
Nepal's Terai region may not be as well-known as the Himalayas or Kathmandu, but these southern lowlands offer as many extraordinary experiences. See one-horned rhinos, saved from extinction, at Chitwan National Park or visit the Maya Devi temple in Lumbini, where the Buddha was born around 563 BCE.
Highlights
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Take a canoe or boat safari along Chitwan’s Rapti River, keeping your eyes peeled for rhinos and huge gharial crocodiles.
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Look round Lumbini’s Maya Devi temple, which marks the birthplace of the Buddha.
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Enjoy a tasting session and help out with the harvest on a tour of one of Ilam’s tea gardens.
"Chitwan’s popularity has always dwarfed Bardiya’s, but this ‘Wild Wild West’ on the southwestern plains of the Terai is the place to be for travelers and wildlife enthusiasts seeking experiences of the other side of Nepal."
Abhi Shrestha, CEO of Rural Heritage/Snow Cat Travel
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Chiriquí
region|Panama
Situated at the westernmost edge of Panama, the province of Chiriquí delivers astounding biodiversity as well as options for coffee tours, boat trips and snorkeling in pristine surroundings. Volcán Barú National Park presents an exhilarating challenge for hikers. The payoff for reaching the top? A view of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Highlights
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Make the charming, riverside town of Boquete your starting point for activities in the province of Chiriquí.
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Be wowed by Finca Drácula if you’re a flower lover, a botanical garden holding more than 2000 types of orchids, one of the largest collections in the world.
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Get wet and wild rafting the white waters of Chiriquí Viejo River.
"In Panama, nature is pristine. It creates a favorable environment because we are all happy to be here. The country boasts a remarkably healthy ecosystem, and our collective responsibility is to preserve and care for it."
Jeffrey Dietrich, owner of Mount Totumas Cloud Forest and Biological Reserve
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Launceston and the Tamar Valley
region|Australia
Drive north or south of Launceston in Tasmania, and you’ll hit a Tamar Valley cellar door within 12km (7 miles) of the city center. The state’s oldest and largest wine region spills across both banks of kanamaluka/River Tamar and contains more than 30 vineyards that can be strung together on the Tamar Valley Wine Route.
Highlights
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Thread through Cataract Gorge on walking trails, peer down onto peacocks and wallabies from the chairlift, or dine in style at Gorge Restaurant.
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Head downstream to Beauty Point, viewing platypuses and wandering among feeding echidnas at Platypus House.
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Plot your Tasmanian bushwalks on the maps that cover the cavernous walls of Du Cane, Launceston’s first craft brewery.
"What I love about Lonnie is that it’s a city that’s really just a big country town, with heaps of hidden gems. Favorite watering holes are Havilah wine bar and Saint John Craft Beer."
Rhys Hannan, market manager, Harvest Launceston
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Valais
region|Switzerland
Verbier, Zermatt and the Matterhorn need no introduction – they are the icons of Switzerland's Valais region. In summer 2025 the region will host the UCI World Mountain Bike Championships, with the opening ceremony firing up the quiet town of Sion, 55km (34 miles) from Verbier, followed by biking events at seven surrounding mountain resorts.
Highlights
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Ride three cable cars from Zermatt to Klein Matterhorn to spot 14 glaciers and 30-plus peaks above 4000m (13,123ft).
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Experience Verbier from a new angle: summit Pierre Avoi and hike along centuries-old bisses (waterways) built to irrigate pastures.
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Explore the Aletsch Glacier, the Alps’ largest sea of ice, on a guided summer glacier hike or winter ski-touring expedition from Fiesch.
"Yes, we do eat raclette in summer too! The best spot in Sion is the Friday market or Philippe Savioz’ Cave Les Futailles, a wine cellar from the 13th century on Rue du Grand Pont."
Sabine de Kalbermattenvan Vliet, Valais native
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Giresun and Ordu
region|Türkiye
Türkiye's Black Sea region often goes unexplored by travelers. Its small, charming coastal provinces, Giresun and Ordu, are known for their welcoming hospitality. Explore the coastal and mountainous areas of the region. This is a walker's paradise with plenty of trekking routes offering opportunities to discover the region’s natural beauty.
Highlights
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Taste the world’s most delicious fındık (hazelnuts) and hazelnut paste in Giresun.
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Try the famous, mouthwatering Görele pide (Turkish-style pizza).
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Visit the Mavi Göl (Blue Lake) in the middle of the verdant countryside that turns turquoise, especially in the summer months.
"As you travel along the coasts of Ordu and Giresun, you should fill your lungs with the scent of the Black Sea, stop by unspoilt bays, drink a cup of çay (tea) in a fishing village and perhaps set sail on a boat."
Emine Fatoğlu Topkaya, local tour guide
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Bavaria
region|Germany
Exploring the outdoors is a must when visiting Bavaria, particularly in the Alps bordering Austria. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a top Alpine resort in Germany, offers a wide range of activities throughout the year, making it particularly appealing for those who don't ski. Don’t miss Munich's Oktoberfest (beginning in September) – the largest beer festival on the planet.
Highlights
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Spend an evening in a beer garden such as Munich’s Chinesischer Turm or at the Forchheimer Kellerwald.
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Head south to the madly popular Neuschwanstein Castle, Ludwig II’s most iconic fairy-tale pile set among the Alps.
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Road-trip down Bavaria’s west on Germany’s most popular holiday route, the extremely quaint Romantic Road.
"The best way to start your day in Munich is with a Weisswurst breakfast – a pair of veal sausages, a crispy pretzel, sweet mustard and a tankard of wheat beer."
José Pavez, Munich tour guide
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East Anglia
region|England
East Anglia offers a taste of traditional England without the typical touristy attractions. Comprising Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, this region features charming villages with 16th-century half-timbered houses, artistic wool towns and a coastline adorned with beaches and bird reserves where the sounds of bitterns can be heard in spring.
Highlights
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Listen as the wind amongst the reeds creates a soul-soothing soundtrack at birding hot spots such as Minsmere.
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University-hop in Cambridge, visiting legendary libraries, exceptional museums and college greens.
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Have a night out in Norwich, Norfolk’s cultured capital, enjoying theater, live music, art shows and creative dining.
"I love the quirky market towns with unusual shops and a real community vibe. There are also spectacular places to explore nature, such as Minsmere and Dersingham Bog and some absolutely stunning scenery."
Annette Salkald, North Suffolk Coast Reserves warden, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
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Jordan Trail
region|Middle East
Few people head to the Middle East to go hiking, but 10 years after the opening of the Jordan Trail, that’s changing. Stretching 676km (420 miles), walking this path is the perfect way to discover the beauty of Jordan, to see its epic sites and to experience its legendary hospitality.
Highlights
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Begin (or end) a Jordan Trail hike with a meal at Hashem, a legendary alfresco restaurant in the Jordanian capital, Amman – don’t miss the falafel.
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Pass through the outpost of Little Petra, a Nabataean settlement around 8km (5 miles) north of Petra itself.
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Drink sugary cups of mint tea by the trailside – good fuel for the gruelling ascents of the Jordan Trail.
"If you are a Bedouin, having the freedom to move and go where you want is essential. Walking is my life – walk with the right people and you will always smile."
Mohammed Al Homran, shepherd and Jordan Trail guide
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Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge
region|USA
Only 40 minutes from Portland, Mt Hood and the Columbia River Gorge represent the best of the Pacific Northwest (PNW to locals). Being outside is a way of life, and adventures abound, whether you cycle or ski. Also be sure to enjoy the bounty of its farm stands, wineries and breweries.
Highlights
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Seek out Hiyu Wine Farm, a vineyard-and-restaurant offering natural wines made using the "field blends" technique.
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Hike Multnomah Falls, where the views are stunning year-round and trails lead visitors to several other waterfalls.
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Try windsurfing in the fun, outdoorsy town of Hood River, known as the windsurfing capital of the world.
"Hug a giant evergreen, sit by a crisp river, stop to admire a tiny mushroom emerging from a stump. Whatever path you choose, be prepared for the sensational feeling of awe."
Amanda Parrott, Hood River resident
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