Discover your dream ocean escape at The White Lodge Baja Sur overlooking the Sea of Cortes. Escape the noise of Cabo and relax in eco-luxury at this sustainable boutique hotel. The 10 Zen-chic cottages are a 10-minute walk to pristine beaches. Recharge, revive and strengthen your immune system with the finest ancestral wellness experiences. Indulge in gourmet Baja cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. whitelodgebaja.com
Cycling buffs are celebrating the addition of 1,000 kilometres to U.S. bicycle routes in Oklahoma, Minnesota, Delaware, Indiana and Michigan. For the first time, cyclists can follow historic Route 66 through Oklahoma, while BR 20 in Minnesota offers miles of off-road riding around some of the state’s 10,000 lakes. Route 201 through Delaware takes in historic sites and Delaware River views. Digital maps for all designated U.S. bicycle routes are available free from Montana-based Adventure Cycling Association, which maps routes throughout North America and organizes more than 100 tours a year. adventurecycling.org
Perched above private Playa Escameca on Nicaragua’s South Pacific coast, laid-back boutique hotel Verdad Nicaragua offers plenty of activities for the whole family. Let professional coaches teach your kids how to surf. Book a fishing trip and have the luxury hotel’s restaurant prepare your catch for dinner. Explore the mountainous countryside on horseback with experienced local guides or soar through the canopy on a zip line tour for a bird’s-eye view of wildlife and nature. For even more adventure, hike in the tropical rainforest and plunge into natural swimming pools near the Costa Rican border. verdadnicaragua.com
A trip to Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy isn’t complete without a tasting of paper-thin slices of prosciutto di Parma and chunks of aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, both available and increasingly popular in Canada. TasteAtlas recently rated the King of Cheese #1 among the world’s 10 top-rated cheeses. It takes about 550 litres of milk to produce one 40-kilo wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano. Its simple ingredients—milk from local cows, salt, rennet and a whey starter—and its production in giant cauldrons have hardly changed in 900 years. Wheels are aged at least one year to develop a rich, nutty flavour and granular texture. Parmigianoreggiano.com
Travel through history aboard the scenic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. When construction started in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow-gauge railroad was considered an impossible feat. Tens of thousands of workers overcame the harsh climate and landscape to blast their way through the coastal mountains for 177 kilometres from Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse, Yukon in just 26 months, constructing one of the steepest railways in North America at the time. As you marvel at the mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and historic sites around you from the comfort of a vintage parlour car, listen to epic stories of the Gold Rush and the railway’s construction. Book now for 2024. wpyr.com
With 1,000 years of expertise, Hungary is quietly becoming one of the best European destinations for wine lovers. Six popular grape-growing regions welcome visitors within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of Budapest. The northeast Tokaj region, beloved for sweet golden Tokaji Aszú, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Full-bodied whites rich in minerals and a hint of salt hail from the western wine region of Badacsony surrounding Lake Balaton. Lighter, fruity whites are produced in the Danube region around Szeged, while Somlo is the home of Hungary’s sparkling wine industry. For bold reds inspired by Bordeaux, visit the southern region of Villany. The northeastern Eger region is famous for its Egri Bikavér (Bull’s Blood) blend. VisitHungary.com, winesofhungary.hu
Wonders, secrets and mysteries from Canada’s past await at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Québec across the river from Ottawa. The 36 treasures borrowed from Library and Archives Canada include paintings, drawings, photos, diaries, even a score written by Ludwig van Beethoven for a Québec music teacher. Visitors can also see the 1945 documents Russian defector Igor Gouzenko delivered to Canadian authorities in 1945 revealing a Russian spy ring. The disclosure, complete with code names, marked the beginning of the Cold War. The Unexpected! exhibit runs until November 26. Historymuseum.ca
The art of eating well one salad at a time is the ethos behind Maison Orphée, a gourmet brand of top-tier oils and condiments established by Québec entrepreneurs, the Bélanger sisters. Not only do the products uphold a commitment to environmental values, the Québec-made company has managed to popularize local oils—nurturing excellence from field to fork. For 40 years, the foodie family has garnered invaluable expertise in healthy palate-pleasers, starting with its signature extra virgin olive oil called The Perfect Oil made in Québec City. Maisonorphee.com
The prestigious Michelin Guide has recognized 26 Denver restaurants in its first and highly anticipated guide to the Colorado culinary scene. The Mile High City now boasts three one-star restaurants, Beckon, Brutø and The Wolf’s Tailor, all serving contemporary cuisine. Eight international restaurants, from Israeli to Chinese, earned a spot in the Bib Gourmand category, which highlights restaurants offering great quality food at good prices. A further 15 Denver restaurants, including A5 Steakhouse, Barolo Grill and Dio Mio, were recommended as “above average” restaurants for 2023 for their high-quality meals prepared with fresh ingredients. Denver.org
Delicious news—celebrated Canadian chef Michael Bonacini is again partnering with Emerald Cruises for an eight-day Caribbean culinary journey starting March 30, 2024 aboard the new 100-passenger luxury yacht Emerald Sakara. Bonacini will treat guests to a private on-board cocktail reception, conduct a cooking demonstration, cook Caribbean-inspired dishes in La Cucina dining room and even dine and explore islands with a few lucky fans. The Sakara sails round trip out of San Juan, Puerto Rico with stops at small ports in Puerto Rico, St. Barths and the British Virgin Islands. Free round-trip air and platinum drinks package are included for 30-day advanced bookings. emeraldcruises.ca
From Bavaria’s hearty meat dishes to fresh North Sea seafood, Germany’s food scene continues to shine. This year a total of 334 restaurants across the country received a prestigious Michelin star. Among the newly minted one-star restaurants are vegan eatery Bonvivant in Berlin and Sahila – The Restaurant in Cologne, where chef Julia Komp has created an exciting menu from her trip around the world. The city of Munster has two new one-stars: BOK Restaurant Brust oder Keule and Spitzner. In Munich, the modern cuisine at Atelier draws on classical and Asian influences. The stylish Mural Farmhouse – Fine Dine in Munich’s WunderLocke hotel received a Green Star for its inspiring sustainable practices. guide.michelin.com
Metropolitan Touring, specialists in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, is increasing its commitment to sustainability in a most delicious way. More than 35% of the ingredients used at Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel’s signature restaurant on Santa Cruz Island are now sourced from local farmers rather than being transported 900 kilometres by cargo ship from mainland Ecuador. At the stunning Mashpi Lodge near Quito, 75% of dishes on the menu of the glass-enclosed, two-story dining room are created with ingredients purchased within a 50-kilometre radius. Items include hearts of palm, brown sugar and fruit from local farms, along with jam and granola prepared by a women’s association supported by Metropolitan’s Fundación Futuro. metropolitan-touring.com
Panama City has become one of the world’s 36 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. Talented chefs like Charlie Collins of T’ACH and Mario Castrellon of Maito lead Panama’s rainforest-to-table movement, earning accolades for their high-end menus using native, regional ingredients sustainably sourced and foraged by local farmers. Some of the city’s best restaurants are found in Casco Antiguo, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historic centre, nightlife and food district. The San Francisco neighbourhood offers over 180 restaurants and bars representing a melting pot of flavours from Mexican to Vietnamese. Menus range from no-frills burger joints to gourmet restaurants by internationally acclaimed chefs. To connect with Panama’s indigenous roots, explore the Ngäbe-Buglé region and prepare traditional ancient dishes alongside village women. Book visits via sostur.org, TourismPanama.com
Michelin-starred chef, TV personality and author Niklas Ekstedt has designed the ocean-to-table menu for the new Chef’s Garden Kitchen on board Swiss-based flagship MSC World Europa. The specialty restaurant will feature the first-at-sea hydroponic garden. Watch Chef Ekstedt prepare his fresh, seasonal creations in an open kitchen with panoramic ocean views. Award-winning brewmaster Teo Musso, of the Baladin Farm Brewery, meanwhile, has created signature craft beers brewed at sea in a full-scale microbrewery using desalinated sea water. Other new restaurants aboard the World Europa include a coffeehouse, tea house, mixology and champagne bars and a seafood restaurant featuring displays of fresh fish. MSCcruises.ca
