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In the early 20th century, De Stijl changed history with its bold colors and lines. Writer Chris Colin hunts for its legacy in the Dutch city where it all began.

Tempting dishes, inventive cocktails, and several art exhibits await travelers.

We’d all like to forget 2020. But in this exclusive book excerpt, we learn how to defend ourselves through the art and science of breathing.

No arrests have been made yet, but the police are hopeful that these new images will help them track down the thief and the missing painting.

For discerning travelers, the question is always where to go next. We’ve searched the world for the best itineraries that offer unparalleled access in places both close to home or farther afield.

Overview

One of the top properties in southern Bali, the Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay is laid out like a Balinese village that tumbles down to the sea. Villas are separated into clusters of 20 to 25 thatched-roof units enclosed by a courtyard wall, making the 156-accommodation property feel more intimate. Modeled after regional homes, they’re adorned with local artwork, traditional textiles, and hand-crafted furniture. Daybeds, private plunge pools, and ocean views are among the amenities, as are offerings such as lavish spa treatments, hands-on cooking classes, and twilight yoga. The resort is even home to a historic temple and shrine, which guests can tour with high priest Aji Ngurah. After a day of exploration or relaxation, there’s no better way to unwind than by enjoying a cocktail on the deck at modern Asian restaurant Sundara, where fire pits warm the air and waves provide the background music.

Hot sun, typhoon damage, structurally unsound buildings, sledge hammers, and ropes were the ingredients that made up this day deconstructing classrooms at Tugbong Elementary School on the Island of Leyte in the Philippines. One of the more rewarding kinds of trips, volunteering after Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), yielded sweaty and exhausting days filled with accomplishment. At this school, deconstruction of unsafe buildings precluded any rebuilding on the same site. To take down a wall, the bottoms were knocked out with sledge hammers, rebar was sawed through to weaken the support beams, and the remaining concrete slab was pulled down by hand with ropes. The resulting crash caused celebration among all the volunteers on site - and the children who watched fearlessly as the walls tumbled down.

Between 1812 and 1815, the British ordered the construction of 300-foot-long Jasper Rock Tunnel (more commonly known as Black Point Tunnel) to provide better access from the cane field to the sugar factory to the ships for export. Slaves were responsible for the actual building, manually cutting through the mountain with shovels, picks, and sledgehammers. Now part of the Black Point Historic and Recreation Park, the tunnel also served as the site for several scenes in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

I don’t know of many places where you can grab a coffee, read a magazine, pull a pint, flip a tractor tire, swing a sledgehammer, and finish off with an organic wheatgrass and kale smoothie, but then I don’t know many other places like the Academy. There are no Cowardly Lions here—this place is billed as a hybrid CrossFit/functional lifestyle outfitter, and every employee I met could kick my ass. This is an atmospheric place in the heart of Hipsterville, well worth a visit if you’re wandering one of Toronto‘s coolest neighborhoods and in need of a quick fitness fix—and a great cup of Joe—before hitting your next destination.

A cable car system connects the Old Town to the parish of Monte, 560 meters above Funchal. During the 15-minute ascent, you can enjoy the change in scenery from a busy city center to peaceful lush greenery. The most exciting part is the ride back: Opt to travel via wicker toboggan. Introduced in the 19th century, these iconic sledges are guided by two men dressed in white clothing and straw hats who negotiate the narrow and winding roads of Funchal’s back hills.

A quintessential Alpine winter break wouldn’t be complete without scooping dripping molten cheese from a fondue pot after a day on the slopes. Few places offer this traditionally Savoyard experience quite like the warmly elegant La Calèche Restaurant. It’s not just the variety of fondues, raclettes, and tartiflettes which sets this place apart: The Savoyard dishes merge perfectly with the array of black-and-white photos of Mont Blanc hanging on the walls and the wooden sledges and skis hanging from the ceiling. The cozy terrace is ideal for watching skiers heading back home, while on a Tuesday evening a lively costumed folklore group induces singing, dancing, and mountain merriment.

In this week’s episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, on a road trip through Canada and Maine, J.R. Harris meditates on a lifetime of adventure—and the enduring power of a great road trip.