Located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, the picturesque island of Paros has recently captured the hearts of travellers worldwide, thanks to its starring role in the smash hit Netflix drama One Day.
12.02.2024 - 11:03 / cntraveler.com
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.
Channeling a Scandinavian chalet, Scroggin Coffee and Eatery serves top coffee and wine
The chic, dimly lit tapas bar Kika serves fresh, hearty small plates
Most activity hums along the southern edge of the area's eponymous glacial lake, where a tidy township of cafés, boutiques, and wine bars echoes the pockets of quiet sophistication found in cities like Wellington and Auckland. You could spend a morning sifting through boutiques like 47 Frocks, which stocks homegrown labels like Zambesi, known for its asymmetrical, funky silhouettes, and the very cool Deadly Ponies accessories brand. A good spot for lunch is Scroggin Coffee and Eatery, a standout among Wānaka's high-end café scene with a cheery vibe and an abundance of blond wood. Order a specialty sandwich, made with braised venison sourced in Fiordland, with chimichurri on a house-made croissant. Cap it off with a strong espresso, known locally as a short black. Then take a late afternoon stroll around the cerulean lake's western edge, and return to town for dinner at the chic, dimly lit tapas bar Kika. Owner and chef James Stapley, who came home to New Zealand after a stint in several Michelin-starred kitchens in London, shows off the versatility of the area's produce in dishes like cacio e pepe Cloudy Bay clams on crispy spaghetti.
Beyond the lakefront, Wānaka is a year-round destination for adventurers and wine lovers. In winter, skilled skiers and families alike crowd the runs at Cardrona and Treble Cone, where sheep cling to the lower slopes. Over at Soho Basin, avalanche-trained guides lead exclusive groups of 20 serious skiers a day through backcountry terrain; the trek is followed by a three-course lunch, served mountainside, of kingfish and rare beef prepared by chefs from celebrated local winery Amisfield. Come summer, the reward after a six-hour hike up Roy's Peak, whose ridgeline has awesome views of nearby Mount Aspiring, is a bottle of award-winning Pinot Noir at Rippon, where vines tumble down to the shores of the lake. At the family-owned Maude Winery, which overlooks the still waters, cheese platters pair nicely with the surprisingly savory
Located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, the picturesque island of Paros has recently captured the hearts of travellers worldwide, thanks to its starring role in the smash hit Netflix drama One Day.
It is easy to see why Bangkok is such a popular travel destination. Bursting with color and culture, exuberant temples and delectable street food, it is no wonder that this is one of the world’s most-visited cities.
Lovers of luxury and wellness, get ready: Six Senses is headed to the Lowcountry.
Grapes have been associated with pleasure since ancient times, a symbol of Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry. These days, clusters of plummy Concords, oval autumn royals and dusky kyohos are decorating dinner tables, doubling as cornucopian decorations and low-effort snacks. “You can get a beautiful, imperfect drip and drape from grapes,” says the interior stylist Colin King, 35, who overflowed a marble urn with abundant mounds of them for the launch of his furniture collection, a collaboration with the Future Perfect, in New York this past fall. Although he uses green grapes for daytime parties, for evening events he prefers the “moody, sensual vibe” of dark varieties — like the attenuated, oblong moon drops that the artist Laila Gohar, 35, mixed with red globes and flames to form an edible monolith for the recent opening of the Essentiel Antwerp clothing store in New York. The chef Mina Stone, 42 — who runs Mina’s, the cafe at MoMA PS1 in Queens, and is a go-to caterer for art gallery dinners — favors Thomcords, a sweet, seedless hybrid she often serves with dessert to “provide heft and a colorful backdrop” for daintier confections. She also likes to roast grapes alongside seared duck breast. In London, the pastry chef Claire Ptak, the owner of Violet bakery, offers what she calls fragolina cupcakes, named for the fragola (Italian for “strawberry”) grapes that she cooks down, then purées and adds to the buttercream frosting. The fragolas “taste like a berryish Concord,” says Ptak, 49, who tops each cake with a small cluster of fruit. The frosted treats “transport you back to childhood when you take the first bite,” she says, “and then you realize they’re also very grown-up.” —
Australia is a vast, diverse country celebrated for its iconic landmarks and natural beauty.
Southwest Airlines and Omni Hotels & Resorts are teaming up to offer a special "Solarbration" sweepstakes ahead of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.The sweepstakes—which can be entered now through March 11—will reward two lucky winners with a prize package that includes air travel on a flight predicted to be in the direct path of the eclipse.The flight options include Southwest Flight 1252, which departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:40 p.m. CT for Pittsburgh, and Southwest Flight 1721, which departs Austin at 12:55 p.m. CT for Indianapolis.Omni will do its part by putting the winners up in custom-designed guest rooms inspired by the celestial event. The special accommodations will be located at Omni Hotels in the departure cities of Dallas and Austin and the arrival cities of Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.In addition to roundtrip flights and accommodations for two nights, winners will receive exclusive solar eclipse viewing glasses and fun inflight experiences aboard their eclipse flights.
Envoyage Logo. (Photo Credit: Flight Centre Travel Group)
The quest for a better quality of life influences many Americans’ decisions on where to live, work, play and travel. U.S. News and World Report has just released its ranking of the top 25 U.S. cities that offer the highest quality of life.
Britain’s only hub airport, London Heathrow, carried 79.2 million passengers last year, an increase of 29% on the previous year and the third highest in its history, but retail revenue did not keep up. It rose by 24% and the airport blamed the lackluster commercial performance on the removal of VAT-free shopping.
A pre or post theater meal can be one of the highlights of going out to see a Broadway show, and picking a spot within a few blocks of the stage door is essential.
Home to epic landscapes, natural wonders, and Māori culture, New Zealand is a magnetic destination just begging for a solo adventure.
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” which means to unify. A growing number of yogis have taken this pursuit to a new level by joining immersive yoga retreats that offer a deeper connection with nature, the self, and the collective consciousness. Whether you practice daily or it’s your first time on the mat, embarking on a yoga retreat can allow you to focus on your well-being in a remote or natural setting. Studies have linked yoga to reduced stress, and committing to a structured program with daily classes can help you reap those benefits—while also enjoying the stunning surroundings of your chosen destination.