Dust off those passports! Time to make up for all the hygge hunkering-down: toss the sweatpants, grab the luggage, and explore. 2021 brings travel wishes and international dreams. Here are 12 of the right places to be for every month of the year, along with ways to set the scene, bring the experience home, and restore your travelibrium. Bon Voyage!
January
British Virgin Islands
Say “cheerio!” to 2020 by ringing in 2021 on the sun-drenched beaches of the British Virgin Islands. Recently re-opened for tourism on December 1st, their multiple islands of pure white sand and lush blue water await. Divers love Rhone National Marine Park where the BVI’s only shipwreck is home to an underwater sea life spectacle. Relax and luxuriate in the Virgin Gorda Baths, or sail around the islands and then anchor at White Bay to catch dinner in this fishing paradise while sipping on a Painkiller.
If the party mood strikes, head for the beach bars of Jost Van Dyke, or just chill out at Sebastian’s on Tortola with a bottle of their sought-after house rum. Live a few days by the Caribbean mantra, “It is best to do nothing, then relax.”
Set the Scene: Crank up the thermostat if necessary, don your brightest resort wear, and mix up a Rum Runner. Play some Iyaz music videos on YouTube for added Caribbean flavor and lime the night away.
February
San Sebastian del Oeste, Mexico
Mexico’s allure is multi-layered, but for many it is the juxtaposition of wild nature and ancient culture. For every beautiful beach, there’s a fantastic museum; for every Cancun, there’s a Tulum. And for Puerto Vallarta, there is San Sebastian del Oeste.
Mexico’s Magic Cities (Pueblos Mágicos) are unique villages that offer outstanding cultural, historic, and hospitality experiences to travelers. San Sebastian del Oeste was a 1605 mining town that passed unimaginable riches along to the conquistadors. Today, we enjoy its historic square and laid back, photo-ready, hacienda atmosphere. Micheladas La Barandilla, a bar in the town center, is a true local dive. Aptly named, the skilled bartender will mix up a Michelada to your taste. After one sip, every other Michelada will pale in comparison. A bit outside town but highly recommended is lunch at lovely Jardin Nebulosa, where everything on the menu has been grown, foraged, butchered, distilled, or brewed at the local farm. The cloud forest dining room is magical, just like the city.
Set the Scene: Pour yourself a Cinnamon Tequila Hot Chocolate, then curl up by the fire with Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo. The slim novella packs a punch, with magic realism, ghosts, and colonial history galore.
March
Ireland
There isn’t a greener, friendlier, more convivial place on the planet. Even if your families’ lineage has missed the Emerald Isle you will feel welcome and part Irish before long. Ireland tempts with mystical castles, centuries of history, and sustainable seed-to-table delights. The Irish do celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, despite rumors to the contrary, making March a pilgrimage for travelers. Watch the famed Dublin parade, or celebrate with locals at a pub listening to enchanting, traditional music. Take a trip to Skerries for saint’s day, an island where legend has it that St. Patrick himself lived for a time, visit the monastery and then enjoy their festive parade and fireworks.
Set the Scene: Let shuffle take over with an eclectic Irish supermix of The Pogues, The Chieftains, The Corrs, and Flogging Molly. Then get out the cocktail shaker and whip up a Midnight Espresso Eggnog Whiskey Cocktail from Shamrock Farms, using triple casked Irish whiskey distilled at 235 year-old Slane Castle.
April
Iguazu Falls, Argentina
As North America beings to thaw, Argentina enjoys its first days of autumn. The summer rains cause the Iguazu River to swell, creating the most spectacular water show on earth. The name Iguazu is Guarani, the local language, for Big Water. In this case, translation really does the phrase justice.
The two miles long falls are the widest on earth, creating a multitude of hike and walk options for viewing. Between the Upper and Lower Falls and the must-see Devil’s Throat, one day is barely enough to experience everything. And then there’s Brazil. Most visitors ask which side of the border has superior views, and the locals will understandably choose their own. The real answer is both: Argentina has more to see and do, while Brazil unleashes the full power of the falls upon your head. A good guide will be able to spirit you back and forth with minimal hassle.
Set the Scene: Order empanadas to go, or slather your steak with chimichurri while uncorking an inexpensive malbec. Then watch The Secret in Their Eyes, an electrifying thriller that also illuminates the crimes of the country’s 1970s dictatorship.
May
Mozambique
Mozambique is a perfect Hollywood set piece – many iconic movies were filmed there (Ali, The Interpreter), yet somehow throngs of tourists haven’t flocked to its breathtaking tableau… yet. Get there before they do! Its exotic influences of African, Arab, Portuguese, and Indian dazzle the senses, and its spicy post-colonial cuisine sizzles. The northern coast invites relaxation, home to some of the longest white sand palm-fringed beaches on the continent. May is the perfect month to visit Southern Africa, with temperatures cool and mosquitos scarce. Spectacular diving spots and luxury resorts beckon–meet Bazaruto and Quirimbas–while Mozambique Island’s northern half is a World Heritage Site worth exploring.
Set the Scene: Peri-peri chicken is Mozambique’s great gift to the culinary world. Get some Nando’s Peri-Peri sauce and sprinkle liberally on prawns, steak, or the traditional chicken.
June
Corfu
“Anything like the splendour of olive-groves and orange-gardens, the blue of the sky, the violet of the mountain, rising from the peacock-wing-hued sea and tipped with lines of silver snow, can hardly be imagined…” – Edward Lear.
Corfu’s beauty lies in its perfect partnership with its surroundings. The comforting, meandering of time and movement, plus Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have captured dreamers for centuries. Sip kumquat liqueur at a cafe while chatting with friendly locals, visit the Church of St. Spyridon, or sail up the coast for that picturesque picnic beach experience and a swim, a la Gerald Durrell. Greece has long been known for its truly sea to farm to table cuisine, and with health and sustainability on our minds, this is an excellent time to devour its culinary treasures.
Set the Scene: Open up the classic cookbook Prospero’s Kitchen: Mediterranean Cooking of the Ionian Islands from Corfu to Kythera by Diane Farr Louis, June Marinos to create some culinary memories or order from your favorite local Greek take out. Gerald Durrell’s Corfu Trilogy will transport you to the far away isle while entertaining and educating.
July
Tokyo
If you crave international crowds as much as we do, the Tokyo Olympics will hopefully offer the world a chance to gather and feel normal again.
Japan is a rich destination with such varied experiences and cultural traditions it can seem like a mash up of fantasy and action movies while walking down the street. From tea ceremonies to colorful kimonos, from anime to martial arts, from golden palaces to bullet trains, Japan has always mesmerized and mystified. This year it’s the much-anticipated 2020 Olympic Games finally underway with over 11,000 athletes expected, and all the patriotic international competitive fanfare the world has been missing.
Set the Scene: Watch Tokyo Olympiad, an epic documentary about the 1964 Tokyo Olympics that is still regarded as one of the greatest sports movies ever made. Order sushi takeout and open a bottle of cold sake, or try your hand at Sukiyaki, either choice goes well with the film.
August
Calgary
North America’s most livable city invites you to see what a well-run metropolis is all about. Take a stroll in the Eau Claire district for high-end shops and eats, or take a self-guided pub crawl through Inglewood, Calgary’s brewery district. Then seek out local artists and designers at Art Central YYC.
After spending a few days enjoying shopping and microbrews along the banks of the Bow River, head for the snow-capped peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Banff and Lake Louise never disappoint, as two of the most stunning outdoor vistas on earth. If you get the chance, drive the Icefields Parkway, known as the most beautiful drive in Canada. August is also the perfect month to take on the famous tea house hikes.
Set the Scene: Seek out the local natural history museum and brush up on your dinosaur trivia! Alberta is known as one of the richest concentrations of dino digs and fossils on earth. The Royal Tyrell Museum will be that much more rewarding when you visit.
September
Egypt
Egypt has forever been an adventurer’s playground. Alluring sepia postcards of camel rides and pyramid climbs from days past are temptation and motivation for budding archeologists. Even in modern times, Egypt continues to amaze and entice. Besides the once in a lifetime favorites like a boat ride on The Nile River, a stroll through the Valley of the Kings, or that first glimpse of the Temple of Isis at Philae, there have been more travel-worthy archeological discoveries just this year to add to the list. In 2020, Egypt unearthed over 100 exquisitely painted wooden coffins, some with mummies still inside, plus 40 funeral statues in the ancient burial ground of Saqqara, just south of Cairo. Egypt’s mysteries continue to be revealed and studied. Throw in the famous street markets, delicious dishes like kushari, and warm, optimistic people who will become dear friends before the day is out make it a top destination on anyone’s list.
Set the Scene: It’s hard to avoid the murderously, delectable Death on The Nile by Agatha Christie whether in print or on-screen. For something more culturally legit, Nobel prize winner Naguib Mahfouz’s Cairo Trilogy represents the pinnacle of 20th century Egyptian literature.
October
Moldova
For travelers looking for true immersion, consider Moldova. Moldova is so off the beaten path that it’s been honored with the title “Least Touristy Country in Europe,” with 323 locals for every visitor. Yes, please! Picture sitting at a cafe table, sipping award-winning wine only available in Moldova, admiring stunning Russian and Eastern European architecture, all with no tourists around. A charming capital city, edgy nightlife for those seeking a thrill, vast unspoiled countryside, and award-winning wine tours make 2021 the year to go. October welcomes National Wine Day, which is more like a three-day festival. “Splurge” at Chisinau’s Berd’s Design Hotel, it is sleek and chic for only $150 a night.
Set the Scene: Sip the Washington Post’s recommended Cricova Alb de Onitcani Reserve, a sparkling blanc de blancs from Moldova available in the States, while reading Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawk.
November
Grenada
Warm up for the winter season at the Platonic ideal of a Caribbean island. While tourism is important to Grenada, even more so are the island’s aromatic spices: nutmeg, cocoa, mace, vanilla, cinnamon, and more. Grand Anse is its leisure-perfect main beach, a vast crescent of white sand and warm water, with St. George’s, the tiny, colorful capital, at the far end.
Mount Cinnamon at the southern tip, is a gypset, boho chic experience and known for its inclusive beach bonfire parties every Friday night. Step into luxury, at Spice Islands Resort, the five-star property founded by the late legendary Sir Royston Hopkin, the only Caribbean hotelier ever knighted by the Queen. The staff at Spice Island are friendly and flawless plus local spices are infused into its cuisine making every meal magnificent.
Then give Edwin Frank a ring—a top guide and local legend who will tell you all about Grenada’s war-entwined past with the U.S., and any other aspect of Grenadian culture or history. His tours include the best nutmeg, coffee, and rum spots, and the best swimming holes to jump into. Rum—and steampunk—aficionados shouldn’t miss River Antoine Distillery and divers will marvel and swim amidst art at the world’s first underwater sculpture park, the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park. Grenada will soon become that island you fantasize about moving to. Be careful not to stop into a real estate office after too much rum!
Set the Scene: Play some calypso music while sipping fine Grenadian rum. Sprinkle fresh ground nutmeg and add the “leftover” rum to hot water for a toddy, or coffee, or hot chocolate. Stir, sip, repeat.
December
Germany Christmas Markets
Even the pre-Whoville Grinch’s heart will warm to the Striezelmarkt in Dresden, Germany. Striezelmarkt dates back to 1434 and is the world’s oldest Christmas market, filled with amazing (read: quirky) traditions and wares. To open the holiday season, Dresden citizens parade a four-ton fruitcake through winding streets guided by a Fruitcake Maiden, before being proudly displayed in the famous market amidst lighted craft stalls and a 46-foot Christmas pyramid. Christmas pyramid you say? It’s a thing, and a very old one at that.
Visiting any of the many German Christmas markets is a true cultural touchstone–their holiday traditions have long influenced other countries. Prince Albert brought the German custom of decorating the Christmas tree to England, and now much of the world does the same with baubles and tinsel. December is filled with glitter, warm drinks, and snow, so whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the joy of the winter season has been perfected in Deutschland.
Set the Scene: Decorate your home with lots and LOTS of lights. The more the merrier. Play the Nutcracker Suite and warm up Glühwein, Germany’s après-ski mulled wine to wash down that very large piece of fruitcake.
