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Patty’s Picks: Trending Destinations 2025

Phil Dougherty — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:06:19 +0000

A booming year of travel is here!
We’ve curated a list of 5 destinations worth exploring in 2025. We hope these ignite your sense of adventure! Each of these places are natural and cultural wonders, offering unique opportunities to discover a vibrant, new environment.

Highlights: Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile’s Patagonia region, is all about wilderness exploration. In 1978 Torres del Paine was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and in 2023, it became known as the 8th Natural Wonder of the World. Keep an eye out for Guanacos, rare llama-like animals that are native to the environment! Regional cuisine includes Chilean seafood, Patagonia’s spit roast lamb, and traditional empanadas. Savor stunning views of mountains, glaciers, and lakes as you trek through the heart of Patagonia!

Highlights: The Lofoten archipelago in Norway offers incredible opportunities for viewing Northern Lights. Year-round this destination offers a plethora of outdoor activities, cultural explorations, and culinary delights. Wintertime activities include Christmas markets, ski touring, and traditional ice fishing; summertime favorites in Lofoten include sea kayaking, surfing and snorkeling, and golfing under the midnight sun. A famous Norwegian fjord, Trollfjorden, is accessible by boat from the island. Learn about Norwegian history and the Viking Age at the Lofotr Viking Museum. Lots to explore on this picturesque archipelago!

Highlights: For loungers and explorers alike! This mountainous city, founded in 1296, has retained its original kingdom walls and moats which mark the “Old City” area. Explore Old City by bike, tuk-tuk or on foot. Visit the beautiful Wat Phra That Doi golden temple, bathe elephants at an ethical sanctuary, take cooking classes, and hike around waterfalls. Afterwards, unwind with a Thai massage. Make sure to explore the night bazaars, where you can try delicious Thai street foods such as satay skewers, mango sticky rice, and green papaya salads. This vibrant city full of natural and cultural wonder is a must-see!

Highlights: The main attraction is the National Park of American Samoa! Lush tropical rainforests and pristine coral reefs make this one of the most unique U.S. National Parks. Enjoy incredible views while hiking and marvel at the abundant marine life while snorkeling or fishing. Savor traditional Samoan food and learn about the history and culture of the island at the Jean P Haydon Museum. Set aside time to relax at immaculate white sand beaches. The scenery, culture, wildlife, and exploration make this destination unforgettable.

Highlights: Namibia means “vast place” for good reason. There are many incredible landmarks in this country along the coast and on wildlife safaris, but the most iconic destination is the Sossusvlei region in the Namib Desert. This desert is believed to be the world’s oldest at an estimated 55 million years young. The two most famous dunes are Dune 45 and Big Daddy Dune. Drift over the dunes in a hot air balloon or ride a quad bike while looking over the expansive and serene landscape. Make time for world class stargazing to admire the Milky Way and enjoy a braai (barbeque) during a desert sunset!

Happy Travels!

Patty’s Picks: Trending Destinations 2024

Phil Dougherty — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 23:10:56 +0000

2024…predicted to be a record-breaking travel year!
Here is my top 5 list of trending cities around the world.

Highlights: It’s the wine capital of Australia! Beyond the nearby wine country, Adelaide features stunning beaches, botanical gardens, seasonal events/festivals, an Aboriginal art museum, and a booming restaurant & bar scene.

Highlights: Lots to explore here! Limestone caves, delicious street food, marble mountains, gorgeous overlooks, flower gardens, and wellness spas & resorts. And, oh yes, the bridges (Dragon Bridge, Han River Bridge, and of course, the Golden Bridge).

Highlights: For loungers and explorers alike! Walk Old Town, explore the San Felipe Castle, relax at the beach, island hop the Rosario Islands, and experience a mud volcano. Not to mention the fruit markets, fresh seafood, and award-winning espresso!

Highlights: Commonly referred to as ‘Spice Island’. Attractions include tours of spice plantations, local bazaars and food markets, tropical beaches, snorkeling & scuba diving, and giant tortoises. While there, learn about the island’s rich multicultural history.

Highlights: Lots to explore in scenic Porto! The cobbled streets of La Ribeira, fabulous markets and cafes, murals and street art, bookstores, and epic sunsets. Plus day trips to wine tours in Duoro Valley!

National Celebrations Around the World

Phil Dougherty — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 16:00:59 +0000

One of the most exciting things about traveling internationally is the opportunity to be totally immersed in a different culture, providing phenomenal opportunities to be inspired and enlightened. And, if you are fortunate enough to be present during a holiday, religious celebration, or national event, you may get a richer understanding of a country’s history, values, and customs.

When I was living with a family in Northern India during the Diwali holiday, my memories of celebrating the ‘Festival of Lights’ were a highlight. For five nights, we set off fireworks, sky lanterns, and sparklers with friends and neighbors. Absolutely unforgettable!

Although holidays and religious celebrations like Diwali can be exciting, if unprepared, they may sabotage a well-thought-out itinerary. Many national holidays result in closed stores and restaurants, and cancelled tours. They may also impact the cost of flights, accommodations, transportation, etc.

For some individuals, national holidays and celebrations are the reason for their travel, while others go with different vacation plans in mind, or for business reasons. Regardless, being aware of national celebrations while planning a trip is important.

Here are some popular holidays, events, and dates to plan your trip around.

(Jan – Dec):

Fiesta de Palmares

Palmares, Costa Rica

Dates: January (dates change annually)

For two weeks, the small town of Palmares throws one of the biggest and highly anticipated parties of the year that’s attended by more than one million Costa Ricans and international visitors. The festival features concerts, comedy, football, parades, beer, and fireworks. In terms of beer consumption, it’s second only to the famous Oktoberfest (according to Maximo Nivel)

Quebec Winter Carnival

Quebec City, Canada

Dates: End of January to Mid February (dates vary annually)

Quebec City is home to one of the world’s largest winter festivals, known for honoring longtime mid-winter traditions. Sprawled across the city and attracting one million visitors and tourists annually, the Carnival features an ice palace, sleigh rides, ice sculptures, toboggan rides, ice canoe races, lots of maple syrup, and other carnival food & drinks.

Chinese New Year

Beijing, China

Dates: Late January to Mid February (dates vary annually)

Lunar New Year is a global celebration and a time to visit family, honor ancestry, and share wishes for good luck and happiness in the new year. Festivities include dancing, parades, martial arts, traditional foods, and fireworks. Some international cities with the biggest parades and festivities are: Beijing, London, Vancouver, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Helsinki, Sydney, Paris, and Singapore.

Carnaval

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dates: Begins the Friday preceding Ash Wednesday (mid to late February)

The biggest Carnival celebration in the world, attracting two million people per day, takes place in Rio de Janeiro. Samba parades, floats, and nightly themed balls create an explosion of spectacular dance, music, and culture. However, Rio isn’t the only place with Carnival celebrations. Canary Islands, Spain; Oruro, Bolivia; Binche, Belgium; Venice, Italy; and Trinidad and Tobago also host spirited parties and parades.

Joining the Carnaval parade in El Tambo, Ecuador

Sakura Festivals

Tokyo, Japan

Dates: Late March to early April

The Sakura, or cherry blossom, festivals are a time when locals and visitors celebrate the blooming season. During this special time of Hanami (cherry blossom viewing), thousands of people head to the parks for parties and picnics. Festivals take place all throughout Japan, but some of the biggest celebrations are at Ueno Park in Tokyo and Maruyama Park in Kyoto.

Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo from my sister’s trip this April 2023

La Tomatina

Valencia, Spain

Dates: Last Wednesday of August

Just outside Valencia, the small town of Bunol is home to this massive food festival, where hundreds of thousands of people come to throw tomatoes at friends and strangers. For one hour it’s pure chaos and exhilaration! The festivities include tomato-themed fireworks, parades, live music, and the tradition of climbing a greased pole.

Oktoberfest

Munich, Germany

Dates: Mid-September to early October (dates vary annually)

The original Oktoberfest in 1810 was a horse race to celebrate a royal wedding. Now, this 17-day festival brings 6 million visitors to its fairgrounds in Munich, Germany for food, music, games, and beer. On the first Sunday of Oktoberfest, thousands line the street for a historic parade in which decorated horses, marching bands, and locals in traditional costumes march to the festival grounds.

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Mexico City, Mexico

Dates: October 31^st to November 2^nd

A three-day holiday where families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor departed family members that have passed. Altars are decorated with flowers, pictures, and favorite foods and drinks to celebrate the death and life of loved ones. Mexico City hosts the biggest Dia de los Muertos parade, with over 2 million locals and tourists celebrating.

Diwali

India

Dates: Falls between October and November

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated with five nights of fireworks, rangoli decorations (art patterns on the floor), lanterns, and candles. The fireworks and candles used throughout the Diwali festival symbolize the ultimate victory of light (goodness) over darkness (evil).

Lighting candles around the rangoli with my host family in Palampur, India

Yi Peng Lantern Festival

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Dates: Usually falls in November (dates change annually to align with Thai Lunar calendar)

Celebrated on a full moon, this festival traces back to the 13^th century to mark the end of monsoon season and the start of the cool season. The highlight of this holiday is the massive release of paper lanterns into the night sky, symbolizing the release of sorrow and the hope for good luck in the coming year.

Hogmanay

Edinburgh, Scotland

Dates: December 31^st

Live music, fireworks, torchlight processions, a fireball parade, and festive foods and drinks create the Yule festival known as Hogmanay. As the clock strikes midnight, hordes of people across Scotland begin singing the Auld Lang Syne song, written in 1788, to welcome in the New Year. It’s a special cultural celebration dating back to the 8^th century.

If you travel to a country during one of these celebrations, please share your experience with us!

Email: patriciad@dhis.com