Then came Australia, which quickly became the heart of the trip. We based ourselves first in Brisbane, staying at The Calile—an architectural gem that’s as photogenic as it is comfortable—and spending our days feeding kangaroos and spotting platypuses at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. From there, we ferried to Stradbroke Island for a Bajara (Yura) Tour led by Elisha Kissick, who turned the experience into a masterclass in storytelling. And she even helped us spot the migrating whales jumping out of the ocean, a wild koala with a baby, and a kangaroo.

After the full days in Brisbane, the Gold Coast gave us a chance to slow down. At the new Mondrian Gold Coast, we gave ourselves permission to breathe. We lounged at Burleigh Pavilion, took in ocean views, and joined the Jellurgal Little Explorers walk—a guided Aboriginal experience that included learning to make paint from the rock.

Of course, three weeks of near-constant togetherness eventually caught up with us. By the end of that stretch, we were all a little frayed, so we each took solo beach walks, regrouped, and remembered that rest is as essential to family travel as any bucket-list sight.

Our final stop in Australia was Spicers Hidden Vale, a rustic-luxury lodge surrounded by rolling hills. Ross mountain-biked through the property while Wilder and I joined the animal feeding and market garden tours. It was peaceful, grounded, and restorative—exactly the pause we needed before crossing another sea. Bonus: kangaroos roamed freely outside our little cabin.

And then, finally, New Zealand. We started in Auckland, hitting the city highlights: Sky Tower, the All Blacks Experience (which I expected to be kitschy but turned out to be brilliant), and dinner at Metita, where we toasted Wilder’s sixth continent with mocktails and New Zealand pinot. From there, we drove north, stopping at Sheepworld—because no seven-year-old can resist baby animals—before spending our last days at Te Arai Links, a breathtaking coastal resort where we surfed, golfed, and wandered barefoot between meals.

The Low Points

Even the smoothest itineraries have meltdowns. Ours came mostly via jet lag. Wilder slept through an entire lunch at Raffles, oblivious to the art deco glamour around him, and during our first food tour in Singapore, Ross carried him—dead weight, snoring—in the 90-degree heat while our guide gamely described chili sauces. There were moments of collective irritability, especially mid-trip, when we’d been in close quarters for too long.

Also, Ross and I picked up head colds for a couple of days, which made things a little more uncomfortable, but luckily not unbearable. But we learned to read each other’s signals: when someone needed space, we gave it, and when someone needed an ice-cream, we stopped immediately.

Wins We didn’t Expect

Every trip has that one unexpected, luminous moment that becomes its emotional centerpiece. For me, it happened in New Zealand. I’d always dreamed of seeing the famous glowworm caves at Waitomo, so we made the four-hour round-trip drive to do it. However, the tour was brief, overly lit, and strangely unmagical. I was crushed.

Mexico’s best cities are hubs for culture—not just within the country, but for a global audience as well. In 2025 alone, the country welcomed a wave of musicians, who in turn drew hordes of fans—from K-pop powerhouses like Taemin and Aespa to the long-awaited return of Oasis, alongside Bad Bunny, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo, and many more. In 2026, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey will be hosting the FIFA World Cup.

Yet long before Latin America’s cultural preponderance led global headlines, Mexico was already a must-visit destination for those seeking ancestral cuisine, artistic heritage, and centuries-old traditions. So many travelers know that Mexico City has much of the above, but in a country of more than 130 million people, suffice to say you’ll find many other cities bursting at the seams with events big and small, and culture old and new. Consider this our guide to these are the best cities in Mexico worth exploring. (And when you’re ready for something more bite-size, may we direct you to our guide of the best small towns in Mexico?)

Mexico City is the geographic and cultural center of the country, with over 150 museums on offer and a packed calendar of events.

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Mexico City

Locally known as CDMX, there is one thing that I, a resident, can assure you while visiting Mexico’s capital: Timing your visit right will transform your experience. The year begins with Mexico City Art Week in February, anchored by Zona Maco—Latin America’s leading contemporary art fair—which is complemented by a circuit of gallery openings, museum activations, and design showcases. By March, the metropolis blooms into its jacaranda season which turns the city purple. Travelers should note that March 8th—International Women’s Day—brings one of the largest feminist demonstrations in the world, a peaceful but powerful expression of the city’s activism. Summer, meanwhile, which is from July through September, marks the start of the rainy season. And if you come late October and early November, you will experience two important events: Formula 1 and Day of the Dead celebrations (so booking ahead is essential).

The city’s culinary evolution tells a lot about why Mexico City has become a global food destination. In 2025, ten restaurants earned Michelin stars but there are many (many) more great places to eat. You’ll also find at least 150 museums in Mexico City but among the must-sees are the National Museum of Anthropology, Frida Kahlo Museum (La Casa Azul), Chapultepec Castle, MUNAL (National Museum of Art), the opulent Postal Palace, Museo Franz Mayer, Museo de Arte Popular, the Contemporary Museum of Art (MUAC), Museo Memoria y Tolerancia, and the architectural marvels of Soumaya and Jumex Museums. A journey to Xochimilco at sunrise, drifting through its UNESCO-protected chinampas, remains one of the city’s most insightful experiences.

Artfarm’s Chesa Marchetta is slated to be a chic 16th-century guesthouse in the cultural heart of Switzerland’s Engadin Valley.

Dave Watts

Chesa Marchetta—Sils Maria, Switzerland

In 2026, Artfarm—the hospitality company behind Mount St. restaurant in London, the Fife Arms Hotel in Scotland, amongst others—returns to its Swiss roots. Founders Iwan and Manuela Wirth, both Swiss, have been toiling away for four years on renovating Chesa Marchetta, a 16th-century guesthouse located in Sils Maria, considered the cultural heart of the Engadin Valley. There are thirteen guest rooms as well as a three-bedroom adjoining house, and an intimate, seasonally-driven restaurant helmed by Davide Degiovanni, formerly of 5 Hertford Street and Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Café. Consider this a deeply chic, intimate antidote to the Engadin’s overabundance of palatial, over-the-top luxury hotels.

Nkasa Linyanti—Nkasa Rupara National Park, Namibia

There aren’t many corners of southern Africa left that feel untapped by the safari industry, but Natural Selection is bringing a new, conservation-forward jewel to Nkasa Rupara National Park, located in Namibia’s panhandle, the Caprivi Strip. Unlike the country’s signature desert and coastal environments, this 74,000-acre wetland is a lush, reed lined labyrinth of seasonal floods, where elephants, hippos, buffalo and over 430 bird species traverse ancient migratory paths. Through Natural Selection’s Conservation, Community and Research fees, guests of Nkasa Linyanti support initiatives such as the BioBoundary Project, which minimizes human-elephant conflict. As with all of Natural Selection’s stylish, perfectly-positioned camps, Nkasa Linyanti sets a stage where adventure, learning and stewardship intertwine.

Singita Elela—Okavango Delta, Botswana

Big safari news: luxury standard-bearer Singita is (finally) entering Botswana. And not just anywhere, but on the plum NH26 Concession, spanning over 400,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Meaning “to flow” in Setswana, Elela is designed as a dynamic reflection of the natural rhythms that define the iconic Okavango Delta: circular, stilted camps immerse guests in flooded grasslands, offering unparalleled wildlife encounters, perhaps even from your bedroom. There are eight camps in total, from intimate one-bedroom retreats to a four-bedroom setup that’s a perfect multigenerational haven.

La Réserve Seychelles—Praslin, Seychelles

This is not your typical tropical all-inclusive. Tucked away on the northeastern corner of Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles, this new resort from La Réserve promises to bring its French-tinged take on luxury to this tropical destination. Featuring just six private villas nestled along a secluded white sand beach and immersed in the islands’ remarkable biodiversity, each villa will span approximately 8,000 square feet with four to six bedrooms each, complete with full kitchens, private pools and direct beach access. Guests are treated to a fully staffed, all-inclusive experience with dedicated a Maître de Maison orchestrating every detail, private chefs personalizing daily menus, and discreet housekeeping that slips in and out essentially unnoticed.

Vertical shot of a group of handmade Caganers, a cultural and traditional Christmas figurine from Catalonia

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The Caganer in Catalonia

Your eyes do not deceive you. Someone really is dropping trou in the middle of the nativity scene— his name is the Caganer. Literally meaning the “pooper,” the exact origins of the Caganer are lost to history, but we do know he’s been around since at least the 18th century. In Spanish and Italian nativity scenes, it’s typical to see the set expand out to depict the whole city of Bethlehem versus just the manger itself. Proposed interpretations for what exactly the Caganer is doing are various—a talisman of prosperity into the new year, a symbol of freedom, or simply a fun, mischievous guy that’s fun to spot in Barcelonian nativities. One thing’s for sure—it’s a tradition that keeps up with the times. While the classic representation is a peasant wearing the red barretina cap, you’ll find caganers in the likeness of celebrities and pop culture icons, such as Hello Kitty, in scenes and on sale at Christmas markets.

KFC Christmas Dinner in Japan

In the US, KFC might just be fast food, but head half the world away to Japan, and you’ll find a different story. In 2024, the BBC reported that 3.5 million Japanese households ordered Kentucky Fried Chicken for their Christmas dinners. What caused the popular phenom? A wildly successful marketing campaign from more than 50 years ago. One night in 1970, KFC Japan’s first manager, Takeshi Okawara, was struck with the brilliant epiphany to sell a Christmas dinner. With few other distinctly Japanese Christmas traditions, marketing KFC as the equivalent of a modern-day, affordable Christmas roast was the right idea at the right time. Four years later, the idea made its way up the corporate ladder and into the annals of Japanese Christmas history.

Sundown in Saigon, and the streets are steaming. The air vibrates with the whir of nine million motorbikes and the chatter of eleven million people, all spilling into alleys, balconies, and roadside noodle stalls. Everywhere I look, the doors are flung open. Old-timers chew the fat over ice-cooled beers, aunties in silken pajamas fan charcoal grills heavy with skewers of lemongrassy chicken and caramelized pork. Pocket parks double as public gyms, Vietnamese pop thrums from tinny speakers. It’s dizzying, so fantastically alive. So very Vietnam.

The best way to make sense of it all is to dive straight in, which is why I’m clinging to the backseat of a clattering Vespa driven by my guide, Bui Quan Khanh, a young Saigonese fresh out of tourism school. We swerve through a snaking mass of red and white taillights, past the coffee shops and neon-lit bars of the hip Binh Thanh district and the gleaming new towers of Thu Duc City, which have mushroomed in recent years. As we zip through narrow alleys and working-class neighborhoods, Khanh fills me in on the city’s transformations, the new metro network and last July’s launch of a mega-city masterplan, in a bid to become Southeast Asia’s next economic powerhouse.

The excitement in the air is palpable, but so is the fresh cilantro and nước mắm fish sauce that still perfume these streets. We stop to snack on tiny, stir-fried snails we pry out of their shells with toothpicks, and sip tamarind lemonade at a cafe overlooking the Mong Bridge, built by architect Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel) during Saigon’s French-colonial era. From a fluorescent-lit open kitchen, women work flaming skillets of bánh xèo, shrimp-studded savory pancakes, which we stuff into spring rolls piled with Thai basil, lettuce and wasabi leaf.

This after-dark Vespa tour is part of a new immersive itinerary created by Condé Nast Traveler in partnership with the legendary travel company Abercrombie & Kent, designed to trace Ho Chi Minh City’s shape-shifting spirit and the lush riverlands that lie beyond. The collaboration, Curated Escapes, also includes trips to Japan, Sonoma, Uganda, Peru, and India.

From my base at the plush Park Hyatt Saigon, the following days play out in a blur of color and motion: we pick through kaleidoscopic heaps of produce at street markets, slip into the incense-thick air of Chinatown’s temples, and sample the city’s next-gen restaurants, like Vietnamese-American chef Peter Cuong Franklin’s perennially packed Anan, where I pair pho-flavoured G&Ts with foie gras spring rolls and beefy bánh xèo tacos.

And then, all is still. Once the last of Ho Chi Minh City’s suburban towers have vanished from view, the Mekong Delta opens into a glimmering patchwork of rice paddies and orchards, all stitched together by a sinewy maze of rivers and man-made canals. The Mekong’s great tributaries writhe through it, their waters feeding fields so fertile they supply more than half of Vietnam’s produce.

On board, the Coastal Pacific has an open-air viewing carriage where travelers can catch epic views of the dramatic seasides drifting by. Back inside the train, travelers will find a casual café serving up local dishes like lamb shank and steak and cheese pie, as well as a selection of New Zealand wines.

Hop off the train in Blenheim to tour some of New Zealand’s top vineyards in its famous Marlborough region or explore the coastal town of Kaikōura, known for its abundant marine life, natural beauty, and whale watching tours.

London to Cornwall aboard Belmond’s Britannic Explorer

The newest luxury train to join Belmond’s illustrious line-up is the UK-based Britannic Explorer. Travelers craving oceanfront views should book a journey aboard the line to Cornwall. The four-day rail voyage whisks travelers through verdant countryside and beach towns as they explore Southwest England.

On the second day of the journey, the train ambles along the UK’s famed Riviera Line, historic tracks along the seaside that lead to the English beach resort areas of Devon and Cornwall. Along this heritage track, stony sea cliffs submerge into translucent aquamarine waters and postage stamp-sized fishing villages slide by the windows. Take in the views while having tea service in the elegant dining car, designed to evoke an English garden party, or enjoy the panoramas from the plush bed in your private suite.

As the train enters Cornwall, watch sailboats bob at their moorings as the train skates by the town of St. Austell. Passengers stop for the afternoon in south Cornwall to explore the seaside hamlets of Penzance.

Vietnam’s Central Coast aboard the Vietage by Anantara

Winding its way through the heart of Vietnam, Anantara’s Vietage train cuts a partial path along Vietnam’s central coast. The scenery is a combination of tropical countryside and waterfront views. The railway runs between Da Nang, Quy Nhon, and Nha Trang, with each journey spanning a leisurely five to six hours. Amid the lush greenery rushing by the windows, travelers will experience portions of the journey that hug the stunning oceanfront along the section of track between Quy Nhon and Nha Trang. Travelers will also glimpse the tranquil shores of An Khe Lake and the seaside city of Quang Ngai, as well as other scenic points of interest, including ruins of ancient cities.

On board the train, passengers are assigned comfortable booths with bamboo privacy dividers. Along the way, tuck in to local dishes like Hoi An chicken rice, as well as an afternoon tea service featuring caviar and Vietnamese tea. There is also a selection of Vietnamese gins, along with other spirits and wines, that pair beautifully with the views rolling by.

If three lodges are two too many, head south to Moukalaba-DouDou National Park, where Nyanga Lodge, which opened in early 2025, enjoys sweet isolation as the sole luxury safari property in what locals refer to as the “great apes national park.” Nyanga’s offerings for 2026 include outdoor dining experiences from a new treetop terrace to beach dinners, all the better to spy one of the park’s many primate species or marine spectacles like migrating humpback whales and nesting sea turtles. With its surrounding waters also rich in game fish like tarpon, Nyanga will additionally launch the first full season of its exclusive international catch-and-release sport fishery in 2026.

For those seeking an even wilder experience, the early 2026 opening of Sette Cama Eco Camp at the remote southern end of Loango National Park promises to be a game changer. The first property in Machaba Safaris’ Machaba Wild portfolio, this comfortable base camp will focus on adventures that favor immersion over indulgence. With activities like jungle treks (tracking chimpanzees, western lowland gorillas, forest elephants, and red river hogs), longer coastal trails (the best way to see the same jungle creatures on the beach as well as surfing hippos), and boat cruises and kayaking trips (ideal for spotting dwarf crocodiles, incredible bird life, and the shyer West African manatees), it’s all about active engagement with Gabon’s extraordinary environments. Perhaps the ultimate and most intimate version of jungle immersion, Lowveld Trails Co. will launch its first full-season of multinight primitive walking trails in mid-late summer 2026, using Sette Cama Eco Camp as its base.

While Gabon’s wonders are both unique and abundant, tourism infrastructure remains rudimentary at best, and great wildlife sightings are not always easy. With Anderson Expeditions, a pioneer in conservation-forward tourism in Gabon, resuming its tailored itineraries in 2026, private guides will help guests navigate the primeval forests and crystalline streams. —Lee Middleton

Ngara, Nairobi, Kenya

Go for: an urban enclave offering a bold, walkable slice of Nairobi’s food, fashion, and art scenes

The year 2026 is going to be a momentous one for the United States as it celebrates its 250th anniversary. Across the country, national parks, historic sites, and cities will gear up to show up—and show off—in ways big and small. Against this backdrop, how does one pick where to visit? Inevitably, we were led by some nostalgia: Route 66, for instance, was an easy one. Next year, visitors can commemorate 100 years of cruising the Mother Road, and whether you’re driving on stretches in Missouri or New Mexico, you’ll not only get to appreciate a neon-lit glow-up but you’ll also be reminded of the role this byway has played in America’s history and how its story has been told. Celebrations will also be underway on Catalina Island, the tiny but beguiling island off the Southern California coast that will celebrate its own centennial as a resort destination with some thoughtful nods to its glamorous past. We were inspired even more so by stories of reinvention: Former industrial cities Portland, Oregon, and Buffalo are both looking to script new futures anchored in cultural openings and urban revitalization efforts. And over in Deer Valley, Utah, the end of one dazzling chapter (the Sundance Film Festival) just means there’s room for a new one: in this case, the largest ski resort expansion in North American history.

But this list, which covers countries in North America and the Caribbean as well as Mexico, is about so much more than just the US—or 250 years of history. The earliest human settlers arrived on these noncontiguous lands tens of thousands of years ago, and the entity itself is, quite literally, a layer cake of ancient geological evolutions accrued over billions of years. It is upon one such ancient limestone seabed that Prince Edward County in Southern Ontario, Canada, sits, which gives the region’s new cool-climate wines their distinctive old-world character. PEC has long been a weekend destination for East Coast Canadians, but a spate of boutique hotels, family-run wineries, and excellent restaurants is sure to draw crowds from farther afield. And over in Jalisco, Mexico, another historically rich region, the one that birthed the thriving city of Guadalajara, there’s another kind of rebirth—one that’s helmed by creative entrepreneurs and artists eager to pave a path for Mexico’s second city that’s distinct from ever-popular Ciudad de Mexico.

The Westfjords

The Westfjords region in northwestern Iceland offers one of the most dramatic settings for the eclipse, between its jagged cliffs, breathtaking fjords, and dazzling waterfalls. Totality will last just over two minutes at most here. Because of the remote nature of the Westfjords, planning your trip well ahead of time is key, as accommodations are limited to small hotels, inns, and guesthouses. In fact, most are already booked up, so renting a campervan might be the best option at this point—but those are going to be in high demand, too.

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Just south of the Westfjords, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula has all of Iceland’s natural highlights—volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, cliffs—packed into a small area. During the total solar eclipse, viewers here will experience around two minutes of totality. Like the Westfjords, accommodations are limited; most hotels and inns are largely booked up already. Travelers can keep an eye out for cancellations or look into camping options.

The Reykjanes Peninsula

This southern peninsula along Iceland’s West Coast is home to the country’s famous Blue Lagoon, as well as its major international airport, Keflavík. It’s also the site of the recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland. During the eclipse, parts of the peninsula will experience up to one minute of totality. Though more populated than both the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes, there still aren’t very many accommodations here. While we love the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon and the Silica Hotel, they’re already booked up for the eclipse—though there’s always a chance that last-minute cancellations will open rooms up.

Reykjavík

Iceland’s trendy capital city will plunge into darkness during the total solar eclipse for about one minute—if you’re looking for a convenient place to see the show, Reykjavík might be your answer. Despite having the majority of the country’s hotel rooms, the city is largely booked up for the eclipse already. Some smaller accommodations, such as the Loft HI Hostel right downtown, still have limited availability, so act fast.

Spain

In Spain, the path of totality will cross over most of the northern half of the country. The eclipse will occur around sunset here, which means you need wide-open views to the west, not just directly above you—something that’s important to keep that in mind when choosing a viewing destination. Below are some of the best places in Spain to see the 2026 total solar eclipse:

Cara gathers a group of OAS’s volunteers and adaptive athletes at Crux Fermentation Project, for a communal sunset. Dogs—including her own deaf pup—outnumbered people. I met Ryan Barbee, an adaptive mountain biker and fellow spinal cord injury survivor who had, like Cara, also moved to Bend because of how free it made her feel. She greeted me with trail dust on her wheels and a pint in hand. “The first thing you need to know about Bend is the community,” she said, gesturing to the crowd, where wheelchairs and mountain bikes blended in. “And OAS is the heartbeat of it.”

The food scene in Bend is also wonderfully ambitious. One standout is Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, the new venture from brothers Brian and James Malarkey, who recently returned to their home state with a vision to bring a slice of ranch life into the heart of town. Set around a wood-fired oven, the restaurant has canvas tent dining, a lively outdoor patio, live music, and a menu that leans into their ranch-to-plate philosophy, with beef and produce sourced from their nearby Tumalo Ranch. Think high-quality steaks and hearty, unfussy food served with a generous dose of Oregon hospitality.

And just like the food, Bend’s music scene hits all the right notes. Later, I rolled into Hayden Homes Amphitheater, a performance venue on the Deschutes. Leon Bridges was serenading a sun-drenched crowd beneath a sherbet-orange sky while I sat comfortably in the accessible seating area, surrounded by a joyful sprawl of dancing hikers, hipsters, families, and fellow disabled folks—totally smitten.

Inclusion can be an elusive feeling for disabled people, hard to define, harder still to find. As I cruised home past the Craftsman bungalows and ponderosa pines that lined the streets, I caught myself not just longing to return but imagining a life here, and even after just a few days, feeling like I already belonged. On my final day, I sat with Geoff in his home talking about the creation of his ground-breaking chair. “A wheelchair chair powered by people?” he said. “That could only come from Bend.” I nodded in agreement, now finally in on the secret.

Where to Stay

The Oxford Hotel is an eco-luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Bend; it’s ideal for walking or rolling to nearby shops and cafés. For a modern, pet-friendly place to stay, check out Element Bend. It’s located just off of Pioneer Park and very close to the Deschutes River, which winds through the city. Just outside town you’ll find the Tetherow. This upscale resort is tucked between forest and fairway. Stylish, accessible accommodations, and mountain views make it a peaceful retreat after a day spent outdoors.

Where to Eat and Drink

The lively downtown outpost of Thump Coffee is a community hub for coffee lovers—it’s step-free and just the spot for either a quick on-the-go espresso or a slow morning spent with a cardamom latte and a flaky pastry. Drake, a downtown bistro, serves American comfort food with fresh, local ingredients: the deviled eggs, burger, and seasonal cocktails are must-orders. A globally inspired restaurant born from a food truck, Spork is now one of Bend’s most popular spots and loved for its street food fusion and a laid-back vibe: don’t miss the spicy pork noodles. Wood-fired mains, creative cocktails, and live music in the dining area make Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge a standout for dinner. The riverside Deschutes Brewery is the original Bend brewery and still the most iconic, serving a large selection of craft beers and tasting flights alongside pub classics in a relaxed, accessible setting. Crux Fermentation Project, a beloved brewer-owned spot with panoramic mountain views, has a rotating menu of small-batch beers, food trucks, and a lively, accessible outdoor lawn. Check it out at sunset.