Frommer’s Travel Experts Announce Top Destinations for 2008
5th December 2007: Each year, members of Frommer’s editorial staff put their heads together to choose those places around the world that are worthy of a traveler’s attention. Each destination is selected for what it has to offer – big city fun, rural relaxation, the opportunity to test your mental and physical mettle, or simply the fact that it often falls under the radar and deserves a little attention.
This year, we’ve selected the following 13 places:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Happy Birthday!: Pittsburgh turns 250 next year, and visitors will notice that Steel City USA has traded its blast furnaces for a more modern cityscape – one with a booming local and international arts scene. Throughout the year, Pittsburgh will celebrate its semiquincentennial with theatrical and balletic performances, sporting events, the Pittsburgh Biennial, Carnegie International arts fairs, and more.
T. Rex and Campbell’s Soup: Discover one of the country’s most impressive cultural collections at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh—where you’ll find dinosaur bones at the Natural History Museum to Pop Art at the Andy Warhol Museum.
The City of Bridges: Experience Pittsburgh’s history by visiting its universities, ethnic neighborhoods, and the iconic bridges spanning the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers.
Denver, Colorado
A Recent Renaissance: The arts scene has been remodeled: check out the titanium-clad wing for the Denver Art Museum designed by Daniel Libeskin, the new ecologically-efficient building for the Museum of Contemporary Art, and a state-of-the-art opera house in the Denver Center for Performing Arts.
Beer, Beer, and More Beer: Every fall, the Mile High City hosts nearly 50,000 brewers and drinkers at the annual Great American Beer Festival. Nearly 3,000 beers were evaluated in the 2007 competition…Gulp.
The Great Outdoors: Sunny weather, the Rocky Mountains, and 650 miles of urban bike paths make the city an ideal place for cycling, hiking, and top-notch winter sports.
A Room to Call Your Own: You shouldn’t have a problem finding a place to stay; the number of available hotel rooms has grown significantly since the city’s selection as the site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Help Out and Have Fun: Now in its 3rd year post-Katrina, New Orleans is a vital destination for travelers who want to put their money to good use and experience a city that may become very different in the next few years.
Back on Track: Although the city hasn’t fully recovered from the disaster, transportation is affordable; infrastructure has returned; and the main tourist areas were not heavily affected by the flooding. The historic St. Charles streetcar just resumed service, and almost all major hotels and restaurants have reopened and some are completely revamped.
Spirit of The Big Easy: Property taxes and sky-high insurance rates are pushing smaller, independent businesses to bankruptcy and preventing the return of the artistic eccentrics who have given the city such character over the years. Relaxed zoning laws could strip architecturally distinct neighborhoods of their flavor. Go now, before it gets Disney-fied.
The American Whiskey Trail
Sweet Smell of Spirits: This route which begins at Mount Vernon, Virginia, and winds through Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New York marks the sites of the early Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania, as well as taverns, distilleries, and other spirited sites. You may not be able to sample all of the wares as some counties are dry, but you can learn about the whiskey-making process and other fun tidbits—like the real way tiny ol' Jack Daniels met his demise in Tennessee. Hint: it has nothing to do with booze.
George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Estate: The most surprising part of the journey may be at this stop in Virginia, where Washington ran one of the largest and most successful distilleries of 18th century America. After years of restoration, it is now a museum where you can check out the 11,000-gallon operation up close.
Exit Zero on the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey
Charming Boardwalk Towns: Despite the lingering perception that New Jersey is all about mobs and industrial waste the opposite is largely true—especially along the overlooked southern Jersey shore. On the Garden State Parkway, take the last exit to towns like Cape May, Ocean City, and Wildwood. Cape May’s laid-back Victorian charm—with B&Bs, a bird sanctuary, and nearby Sunset Beach—is minutes and generations away from Wildwood’s go-go '50s-style architecture. Think artificial palm trees and vintage neon signs.
From Vintage Blends to Vintage Kitsch: Stop -at one of the half-a-dozen vineyards, lose a filling or two on salt water taffy in Atlantic City, and head to Margate to visit Lucy the Elephant, the oldest remaining example of zoomorphic architecture in the United States.
Essaouira, Morocco
On the Rise: Jimi Hendrix, Orson Welles, and other notables spent time in this Atlantic coastal town, which is located about an hour from Marrakech and a UNESCO World Heritage city. Avid windsurfers have known about the city for years, but more and more travelers are making the trip.
The Harbor: A large square leads to a port where fishermen hustle and bustle, bringing in the daily catch and mending their nets. Perfect for quality people-watching.
Medina: Within Morocco’s most traveler-friendly medina is an eclectic mix of art galleries, a jeweler’s souk, and shops selling local thuya woodcrafts, argan oil-based products, surf wear, and handmade leather goods.
Cardiff, Wales
A City Transformed: Once an industrial city, Cardiff has reinvented itself and is now a thriving cosmopolitan center with an ancient Welsh heart. Anchoring the city is Cardiff Castle, a 2,000-year-old castle built upon Roman ruins turned Norman stronghold turned Victorian fancy.
On the Waterfront: Here you’ll find the cultural and political heart of Wales. Watch a debate at the sleek, ecologically-friendly Welsh Assembly building, catch a comedy show or an opera at the Wales Millenium Centre, take a walk into the Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve, check out Dr. Who props and costumes, or simply sit back and enjoy a cool drink and watch the yachts go by at one of the many outdoor cafes.
Excursions: Explore other parts of Wales by heading east to the famous ruins of Tintern Abbey or west to St. David’s, a small cathedral town and the birthplace of Wales’ patron saint.
St. Lucia
For the Active Traveler: This Caribbean island is perfect for low-key vacationers--no wet T-shirt contest here—and also active travelers, who will enjoy hair-raising trips on winding roads, snorkeling and diving in protected reefs, scaling St. Lucia’s signature twin pitons, and ziplining through lush rainforests.
Jump Ups: Along the western shores are a series of fishing villages like Anse le Rey, where on Friday nights travelers can take part in local “jump ups” – basically, community fish fries and dance parties.
Easy to Get There: A new direct route from New York’s JFK to Hewanorra International Airport means faster and cheaper access to the island.
Quito, Ecuador
Colonial vs. Modern: Built on the ruins of a major Mayan city, Quito was the first city to earn its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the town’s stark contrasts that make it worthy of note—five-hundred year-old churches sit alongside modern buildings brimming with restaurants and nightlife. In the distance the Andes rise up beckoning travelers to the natural world.
Get Out of Town: Just two hours away is the magical Mindo and Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve, where you can hike to remote waterfalls, inner tube down pristine rivers, and marvel at the profusion of birds, orchids, and butterflys.
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Romania
Old & New World: Most hotels and restaurants are modernized, but you'll see more horse-drawn carts than cars once you're out of the cities. Sibiu, an almost perfectly preserved 12th-century town, was the 2007 European Capital of Culture, and the painted monasteries along the border with Ukraine are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Must See: Take in the pristine Carpathian Mountains or visit the Danube River Delta for some of the world's best bird watching for rare species.
Good Deal: While prices have climbed in spots like Croatia and the Czech Republic, Romania remains reasonable. For less than $1000 you can find 7-day hiking tour through the Carpathians, including all inns, meals, airport transfers and an English-speaking guide.
Seoul, South Korea
A Cultural and Economic Center: After decades spent reclaiming its identity, Seoul is now an economic powerhouse experiencing unprecedented growth. The city is divided into distinct districts, each offering its own take on cosmopolitan culture. Past and present coexist with ancient palaces, city gates, and shrines nestled in amongst modern skyscrapers. At the Seoul Arts Centre, you can catch a classic Korean movie with English subtitles or a symphony.
Make a Day of It: During the day, stroll the green spaces in Namsan or check out a free performance in Marronnier Park. At night, hit one of the pojang machas (drinking tents) that pop up around Gangnam station or trawl the all-night markets in Dongdaemun (the later the better).
Bras d’Or Lakes, Nova Scotia
Boating & Wildlife: Located in the centre of Cape Breton Island, Bras d’Or Lakes is home to marinas and yacht clubs, small towns rich in the cultural history of their French and Scottish settlers, and long stretches of undeveloped shoreline. Travelers can spy bald eagles from a kayak or join hunters hoping to bag deer and moose.
Scenic Drive: Stop off at a pub in St. Peter or Baddeck to enjoy a pint and listen to Celtic music.
Beinn Bhreagh: History buffs will get a kick out of visiting this summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, where he and his wife are now buried.
Kosrae, Micronesia
Unspoiled Beauty: An island slipped in between Hawaii and the Philippines, Kosrae has a population just over 7,600 people. Frommer’s South Pacific author Bill Goodwin describes it as “the way the islands used to be,” adding that it may easily be one of the most beautiful islands in the world, which is saying something as Goodwin also covers places like Tahiti, Rarotonga, Moorea, and Bora Bora.
Mangroves and Mystery: Enjoy meals of mangrove crab and indigenous tangerines; snorkel and dive in the clear waters of the protected marine parks; and explore stone-walled cities (a rarity in Polynesian culture). Discover the mysterious ruins of Lelu and Menke, paddle an outrigger canoe through a mangrove forest, or just sit back and relax in thatched huts over the water.
Getting There: No matter where you’re from it’s a pricey hike to get to this remote island, but persevere and you won’t be disappointed.
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To listen to a podcast on the top 13 destinations go to podcast/frommers2008destinations
For further information please contact Julia Lampam on 01243 770668 or jlampam@wiley.co.uk
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