Southern tips

It’s being hailed as the “Great North American Eclipse.” The longest since 1806, in fact, the best since 2017 and the last until 2033 in Alaska, and 2044 in Montana and the Dakotas.

When is the eclipse? Everyone is talking about Monday, April 8, when a total solar eclipse will see the moon’s central shadow create a 115-mile wide path of totality across parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

There are more than 500 national parks in Europe covering an astounding variety of terrain, from the wild taiga of northern Finland to the coastal dunes and wetlands of the Doñana national park in southern Spain. These protected landscapes offer pristine scenery and endless opportunities for activity and adventure. We’d love to hear about your favourite national park discoveries on the continent, whether it’s a hiking trail through a remote mountain range, a perfect spot for wild camping or an unforgettable wildlife encounter.

Before Disneyland visitors can take a spin on a teacup or race in Radiator Springs, many will need to take another ride first: on a plane.

If you are looking for a unique luxury resort in Japan, Enowa may be the one.

I'd never seen the yakka trees on previous trips to Kangaroo Island. But now, clusters of them have shimmied up toward the sky like upside-down palms. Their spearlike trunks, designed by nature to germinate with fire, sprouted recently, a result of the catastrophic 2020 “black summer” bushfires, which engulfed Australia. Fast-moving flames reduced half the island to embers, claiming the lives of thousands of its animals, including more than 60,000 koalas. But the hardy native trees are a symbol of the regenerative power of the bush.

It has already been a sweet life for Fumihide Oda, chief executive of Rokkatei, one of the oldest confectionary shops in Hokkaido, Japan, and the birthplace of the popular Marusei butter sandwich cookies.

This week in Düsseldorf, Germany, ProWein celebrates its thirtieth year of leading trade show programming for the wine and spirits industry. It’s a massive undertaking in the “mini city” of the Messe Düsseldorf fairgrounds, with some 50,000 trade visitors and 5700 exhibitors from 60 countries.

A luxury "glamping" site in the UK that claimed to offer "utter peace and tranquillity" has been ordered to close following a series of noise complaints, The Guardian reported.

After being shuttered for seven years, the historic Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport is reopening its doors this summer as part of an architectural revamp and hub reboot aimed at providing better access to the Cilento area and environs.

Geneva sits on the southern shores of Lac Léman in French-speaking Switzerland. The city is cradled by the Alps and Jura ranges with the tip of Mont Blanc is visible on a clear day. Not just the domain of bankers and diplomats, Geneva’s whimsical Vieille Ville is a hilly tangle of medieval plazas and monuments. The International Museum of the Red Cross is a sobering look into the latest humanitarian efforts. Directly on the lakeside, the Bains des Pâquis offer seasonal bathing (and winter saunas). These magnifique Airbnbs in Geneva, Switzerland, put you close to the lake and Place du Bourg-de-Four.

Udaipur is a surprise oasis in the southern reaches of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India’s landlocked (and largest) state. The city wraps around a sequence of artificial lakes with Lake Pichola being the most beautiful. Reflecting the Aravali Range in its shimmering waters, this lake and its floating palaces have established Udaipur as one of the most romantic destinations in Northern India. Add your name to the long list of travelers who lost their heart to Rajasthan’s City of Lakes at one of these Airbnbs in Udaipur near Lake Pichola.

The setting for arguably South Africa’s most scenic road trip, the Garden Route runs for 125 miles along the country’s southern coast, from Mossel Bay (about 240 miles east of Cape Town) east to Storms River. The ocean-hugging N2 road — as it’s more prosaically known — cuts between sandy beaches, pretty towns and dense patches of indigenous forest, with the Outeniqua Mountains a short distance inland. A road trip along it allows for experiences that range from adrenaline-pumping bungee jumps to leisurely wine tastings, and a plate of oysters at a waterside restaurant rounding off the perfect day. 

These luxe new Caribbean properties are a castaway fantasy come to life.

In the southern reaches of Australia, where the vast ocean stretches towards Antarctica, lies a hidden gem that rivals the famed Galapagos Islands in its natural splendor and unique wildlife. This is Kangaroo Island, described by Craig Bradbery, Chief Operating Officer for Baillie Lodges, as one of the most exceptional nature-based destinations globally. More than just its name, the island is a sanctuary for an array of Australian wildlife, including kangaroos.

It's one of the marvels of science that we forget about in our everyday lives but in 2024 it might be time to pay attention to just how much the sun, the moon and our planet Earth can put on a real show. It's an exciting time to become an astrotourist as it's the only chance to see a solar eclipse in the U.S. for the next 20 years.

International travelers visiting New Zealand go to Queenstown; Kiwis go to Wānaka. Like its better-known neighbor to the south, Wānaka has spectacular outdoor pursuits, breathtaking scenery, and a buzzy lakefront. But this is where the two towns diverge: Adrenaline-fueled Queenstown increasingly caters to foreign visitors (members of its seasonal workforce frequently have English or American accents), while Wānaka leans in the other direction, creating an oasis of localness that has made it an under-the-radar capital of the Kiwi lifestyle. Now, in-the-know overseas travelers are catching on.

No matter where in the world you are, the wonders of the night sky remain a sight to behold. Chasing after astronomical events from the comfort of earth is also a trend that's rising in the travel world, and what better reason to travel than to see the beauty of the celestial? From total eclipses shadowing the United States to meteor showers taking over the skies of the Southern Hemisphere, a bunch of astronomical events in 2024 are set to hold your gaze.

It’s hard to believe that Puglia once played second fiddle to the likes of Tuscany.

My eyebrows are both intact. My cheeks, however, feel like they’re being kissed by the fire of a thousand suns. Sweat beads are dancing on my upper lip and my contact lenses feel like they’re melting into my corneas. Chisato Miyata, our tuna roaster, remains entirely unfazed by the stifling, foot-long flames. Then again, she has been doing this for over 30 years. In front of me is a larger-than-life poster with semi-threatening dos and don’ts: ‘Do not spin the skewered bonito!!!’, ‘Skewer is very hot!!!’, ‘Please eat with wasabi or salt first!!!’ 

High-speed rail company Brightline is starting its field investigation work in southern California to prepare for a rail corridor connecting the state with Las Vegas.