October heralds the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness: the perfect time for trips that embrace the natural world, its changing hues and abundant produce. From mushrooms to apples, pumpkins to olives, tours across the UK and Europe are ripe with foodie opportunities, whether encountered through a harvest or on a foraging course.This is also a great time to be bagging the last beach break of the season while easy access destinations in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East are still basking in sunshine and coastal resorts and seasonal ferries have yet to shut up shop. But if you're weary of sun and sand, October also comes with some tempting urban escapes. From Montreal to Manhattan, Boston to Baltimore, cities along North America's east coast are at their most atmospheric this month, rich with fiery autumn colours and Halloween festivities.
Where to stay in Margate, the regenerated seaside bolthole on Kent's coast
16.09.2023 - 11:31 / nationalgeographic.com / Tracey Emin
Margate doesn’t stay still for long. A streak of seaside nostalgia runs through the Kent town, but this is a place with its focus squarely on the future. Take Dreamland, a retro-themed pleasure park that draws visitors to its vintage carousel and scenic railway (Britain’s oldest roller coaster) as much as its Pride celebrations and a newly installed Banksy mural. Aroseaund the bay, modern art exhibitions rotate through the Turner Contemporary gallery, while kids play with buckets and spades on the beach in its shadow. New openings butt up against the resort’s kiss-me-quick attractions, and nowhere is this more apparent than along the seafront. Amusement arcades and shops selling inflatables squeeze in between microbreweries and cocktail bars, and restaurants serve both cod and chips and miso-battered tofu.
Occupies a handsome Victorian building overlooking Main Sands beach. Highlights include a rooftop bar with far-reaching views along the coast, a ground-floor spa and an elegant, light-filled restaurant serving dishes that make good use of local produce. The 18 bedrooms celebrate the local area, too, with prints and fabrics by Margate artists and vinyl for the record players from nearby music shop Ghost Papa. Proving that some things never change on a British seaside break, rooms come with beach towels for when it’s sunny, and umbrellas for when it’s not. From £149.
The decor at The Libertines-owned Albion Rooms is best described as ‘rock ’n’ roll gothic’: some leopard print here, a skull ornament there, plus heavy fabrics and dark walls in the bedrooms. It’s a convivial place, with guests likely to end up chatting in the bar, perhaps speculating about the identity of the band recording in the hotel’s music studio. From £137.
In an immaculately restored Victorian house, this newly opened pad is filled with intriguing objects, from 1970s Italian dining chairs to vintage Polish posters. Guests are encouraged to make themselves thoroughly at home, whether relaxing with a drink from the honesty bar or tucking into a breakfast hamper in bed. From £115.
When it opened in 2022, this boutique hotel brought a dash of pared-back, mid-century modernism to Margate. The 14 rooms feature Danish lighting, locally made Haeckels toiletries and plenty of wood. Be sure to check out the Tracey Emin hanging in the candlelit bar, watch the sun set from the rooftop terrace and have a seasonally focused meal in the restaurant. From £136.
The Best and Worst US Cities for Foodies
A burger and fries by the beach in San Diego, California. (Photo Credit: sophia_ross/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
The perfect New England fall foliage road trip for 2023
Touring New England in search of autumn’s changing colors has become so popular it has sprouted its own subculture of “leaf-peepers.”
Where To Eat And Drink In Nashville
If you think Nashville is all country music, honky tonks, and unapologetically decadent Southern food, well, you’d be right — but it’s also so much more than that. The Southern city on Tennessee’s Cumberland River is packed with endless attractions including an out-of-this-world nightlife scene (with great karaoke, naturally) and a mouth-watering contemporary dining scene.
Troutbeck Is The Perfect Fall Getaway Close To New York
In earlier eras, notables such as Theodore Roosevelt, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Thoreau, Emerson, Sinclair Lewis held court on the grounds of Troutbeck, a private estate since the 1700s in the eastern stretch of the Hudson Valley. These days, since reopening as a resort in 2017, the property is still a cultural gathering place on its 250 acre, Lower Berkshires spread but now the guests are mostly serenity seeking New Yorkers up from the city a two hour drive or train ride away. (Out of staters also fly into Stewart International Airport an hour away). And there are new additions and others in the works to attract them all.
9 of the best things to do in Uzbekistan
From admiring Silk Road architecture to wine-tasting, from heli-skiing in Amirsoy to exploring a graveyard of ships in the Aral Sea, Uzbekistan has something to offer for every type of explorer. To help you plan a trip to this fascinating Central Asian nation, here are our favorite things to do.
The 9 best places to visit in Uzbekistan
Set at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road, Uzbekistan is famed for its stunning historical architecture and beautiful mosques and madrassas, alongside Soviet modernism, a flourishing arts and crafts scene, a rich traditional culture, and the genuine hospitality of local people.
The best time to visit Uzbekistan for adventurers of all kinds
Central Asia’s biggest showstopper, Uzbekistan promises rich travel experiences on the Silk Road in historic cities but also a vibrant living culture. The nation is alive with bazaars, arts and crafts, sustainable fashion and exciting music festivals.
21c Museum Hotels is a surprising growth driver for this mega-hotel company in the U.S.
When you think of Paris-based hospitality company Accor, brands like Sofitel, Raffles and Fairmont are likely the first things that come to mind.
The 5 most beautiful road trips in Maine
The road trip is synonymous with American travel culture, and there’s no better place to explore the natural beauty of the United States by car than in the beautiful state of Maine.
Discover where local travel writers vacation in Greece
We decided to ask three residents to share their top picks for holidaying within their own country.
Be Inspired By Abercrombie & Kent’s Most Luxurious Travel Brainstorm Yet
For ultra-wealthy travel lovers, six-figure getaways continue to trend ever upward. Encouraged by the pandemic’s wake-up call to maximize life’s positive experiences, these vacationers are engaging luxury outfitters to brainstorm off-the-beaten-path itineraries that illuminate exclusive, eye-opening, one-of-a-kind adventures. Among the best of the best tour-planning companies, Abercrombie & Kent — founded in the 1960s by visionary safari pioneer Geoffrey Kent — just announced its latest pinnacle, Around the World With Geoffrey Kent: An Inspiring Expedition by Private Jet. Limited to 46 participants, this epic 26-day transit (October 13 to November 7, 2024) will touch down in Japan, India, Malta, Senegal, Saint Helena, Uruguay, Easter Island and French Polynesia. Kent, who will accompany the group from start to finish, explains to Forbes: “It’s true that the world is well-traveled, but there are still unexplored spots. My goal is to take A&K guests to places of immense beauty and rich culture, but where others rarely venture.” Indeed, many of the destinations are dazzlingly remote with unique behind-the-scenes encounters. To smooth this far-flung journey en route: a chartered Boeing 757, featuring all lie-flat, first-class seats, with a dedicated crew and executive chef. Price: $184,950 per person; see below for further details. (Perhaps you may be inspired by these highlights to tuck one or two intriguing ideas onto your DIY wish list.)