New hotels, attractions and festivals await visitors to Florida in 2020. The Ben West Palm, a new haute boutique property from Marriott’s Autograph Collection, blends Old Florida charm with a modern twist from the rooftop pool with private cabana to a ballroom overlooking the water. Kids and their parents await the April opening of North America’s first LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel. Located 45 minutes from both Orlando and Tampa, steps from the 60-hectare LEGOLAND theme park, the hotel features 150 fun-filled rooms plus hundreds of LEGO models and an in-room treasure hunt. Be sure to save room for one of Florida’s tasty food festivals, whether you fancy shrimp and grits or bourbon, burgers and beer. Visitflorida.com
Plan your dream wedding and honeymoon at the luxurious Frangipani Beach Resort on the island of Anguilla. Located on the white sand beaches of Meads Bay, award-winning Frangipani offers 19 guestrooms and suites, plus a four-bedroom beachfront villa. Book a room or the entire resort! The palatial villa comes complete with a full kitchen, two large living areas and a private pool and deck, perfect for sunset views. Each comfortable bedroom has its own bathroom. The Honeymooners’ Paradise package includes a luxury room, boat trip, champagne and a couples’ massage on the beach. Frangipaniresort.com
Nepal, Georgia, Madagascar and Sri Lanka top G Adventures’ 12 hottest countries to visit in 2020. To compile its list, the worldwide tour operator of small group adventures headquartered in Toronto tracked travel in emerging destinations, countries on the rebound and places touched by global events. The new 13-day Wellness Nepal tour immerses travellers in local culture, while the 11-day National Geographic Family Journey to Japan welcomes children ages seven and up. G’s Classic 8-day Northern Madagascar Explorer tour includes a visit to its newest Planeterra community tourism project, which helps reclaim habitat for lemurs and other native species. With foreign travel advisories to Sri Lanka now lifted and a free government visa, consider the 14-day Sri Lanka Encompassed trip from Colombo to Mirissa. gadventures.com
Canada Goose has landed in Cascade Shops, the largest indoor shopping centre in downtown Banff. The new store, the brand’s third in Alberta and sixth across Canada, features four levels with stores, restaurants and a food court, as well as a multi-storey domed atrium, public art and displays featuring the history of skiing. Every detail has been designed to reflect the brand’s Canadian heritage. The 1,723-kilogram cash desk is carved from marble sourced from a B.C. quarry, while Meghan Price’s playful Stone Books are carved from limestone quarried in Owen Sound, Ontario. Art and sculptures from celebrated Indigenous artists also fill the space. Shoppers can test an iconic Canada Goose parka in the Cold Room, where temperatures dip as low as -25 C. Canadagoose.com
The Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Québec, has signed an unprecedented agreement with the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik to safeguard more than 100 traditional items reflecting Indigenous culture. Items range from canoes, wooden tools, silver jewellery, beaded clothing, bags and jewellery to games, puzzles, bowls, drums, headdresses and woven baskets, making this one of the largest known collections of Peskotomuhkati material culture in Canada. A selection of objects is on display in the museum’s Resource Centre until April. They will eventually be returned to the Nation’s property and lodge near St. Andrews, New Brunswick. historymuseum.ca
The excitement never stops on the islands of Hawaii. Between October and April, guests on Kayak Kauai’s new Whale Watch and Snorkel Tour can guide a sea kayak along the scenic south shore coast of Po‘ipü. Bike Hawaii recently introduced a solar-powered e-bike tour to Honolulu’s Ko‘olau mountain rainforests. The electric-assist mountain bike eases the eight-kilometre uphill climb and makes the descent a breeze. On a clear evening, view the sunset from the summit of the Maui volcano, followed by dinner and an evening of telescope stargazing organized by Hoku Hawaii. Participants will learn the history of Maui and native Hawaiian culture. Hawaii Forest and Trail recently launched private tours of O‘ahu for up to 12 guests, and Paradise Helicopters has launched two new tours in O‘ahu. Gohawaii.com
Plans are underway for a new Sesame Place theme park in San Diego. The 7-hectare park is being built by SeaWorld Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the educational non-profit behind Sesame Street. Scheduled to open in 2021, the park promises all the fun, laughter and learning of Sesame Street, which debuted on television in 1969. Expect exciting family rides, water slides, parades and shows featuring everyone’s favourite characters. Sesame Place will also be designated a Certified Autism Center, which requires staff to undergo autism sensitivity and awareness training. A sensory guide on the park’s website will make it easier for parents to plan activities that satisfy their child’s needs. The First Sesame Place opened in Philadelphia in 1980. sesameplace.com
The opening chords of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 will thunder across Germany during the 250th anniversary of his birth. Celebrations for BTHVN2020 kicked off on December 16 with a sound-and-light show in Bonn, the composer’s birthplace. Events throughout 2020 focus on his life as a citizen, composer, humanist, visionary and nature lover. Along with performances of Beethoven’s complete catalogue of music, newly commissioned works of jazz, rock and even dance and experimental music will give his work a modern twist. With luck you may be invited to one of 2,500 concerts organized in private households. Or join an excursion to the countryside to hear Beethoven’s famous Pastoral Symphony No. 6. lvbeethoven.de/en
Panorama Mountain Resort, located on British Columbia’s famed Powder Highway, offers new restaurants and new terrain this winter. Alto Kitchen & Bar plates up rustic Italian-style pizza from a striking Forno Bravo oven, the restaurant’s centrepiece, while the Fireside Café & Lounge serves locally roasted coffee and baked goods by day, transitioning into a laid-back wine lounge by night. Canada’s first snowcat food truck continues to serve hot food and cold beer right on the slopes. You should also check out the new gourmet meat pie bakery. The resort has also added another four trails and plenty of new lines in its Monster backcountry-style terrain. Buy a seat on the Monster X snowcat shuttle and head straight to the top. PanoramaResort.com
Guests of the seven Walt Disney World resort hotels in Florida can continue to enjoy two popular perks until the end of 2020. With a valid admission ticket, Extra Magic Hours lets visitors experience extra time in at least one Disney theme park each day, either before it opens or after it closes. Enjoy select attractions including the all-new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the 4.5-hectare Toy Story Land or Pandora – The World of Avatar. A second benefit, the 60-Day FastPass+ lets you reserve access to select attractions, shows and more up to 60 days before you arrive. Guests with a theme park ticket, confirmation number and hotel reservation number can link their reservation at MyDisneyExperience.com
In San Diego, the wondrous journey by grey whales along the coastline is one of the unique natural phenomena that regularly occurs in spring. See thousands of these majestic marine mammals make their way along the San Diego coastline in the northbound migration as they retreat from the warm water lagoons of Baja California, Mexico with their young and return to the chilly Alaskan seas. For these peaceful giants of the sea the incredible trek traditionally occurs from mid-December through April. Several local companies offer seasonal whale-watching outings with daily departures from San Diego Bay, Mission Bay and local beaches. sandiego.org
In Massachusetts, the 400th anniversary of the famous 1620 Mayflower voyage of the historic crossing of Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth will be celebrated with the arrival of the newly restored replica ship, the Mayflower II. History buffs are expected to visit the Bay State as the town and state plan themed events and festivals of the significant crossing scheduled throughout the year. The state’s Plymouth 400 Commission has created a series of signature events. Also, see Mayflower Sails 2020 from May 14 to May 19, giving visitors a chance to board the ship for free. MayflowerSails2020.com and Plymouth400inc.org
Sayulita, a popular resort haven on Mexico’s Pacific Coast in Riviera Nayarit, turned into the perfect backdrop for the hit song “South of the Border” when acclaimed musical artists Ed Sheeran, Camilla Cabello and Cardi B filmed the hit single there recently. Parts of the spy-themed music video were shot by the coast of Sayulita, giving travellers a glimpse into the rich experiences of this charming coastal town. The town of Sayulita, known for great surfing, has evolved into a hub where luxury, landscapes and privacy are at the forefront for exclusive stays. Sayulita is in close proximity to Punta de Mita where you’ll find stunning properties such as the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, Imanta Resorts and The W Punta De Mita. There are also private villas available for a quiet getaway. sayulita.com
Music fills the air around Panama City Beach as jazz lovers and rock fans hit the famous beach strip during two music festivals this spring. The SandJam Music Festival (April 24–26) takes place at the M.B. Miller County Pier, providing a spectacular backdrop for the city’s biggest festival over a fun-filled weekend. Seabreeze Jazz Festival (April 22–26), now in its 22nd year, has been rated among the top jazz festivals and is known for fun, sun, great beaches and good times. The music extravaganza is held in the Pier Park Amphitheater. SeaBreezeJazzFestival.com
