Search results for

Hawaiians once lived in harmony with the land: farming, fishing, and harvesting fruit. Today, the state imports 80 to 90 percent of its food. Visit Kaloko-Honokōhau to catch a glimpse of the Big Island’s ancient agricultural traditions, which residents are working hard to revitalize. The park’s landscape of rugged rock contains more than 200 archaeological sites, ranging from fishponds and elevated planters to petroglyphs, lava-tube shelters, and hōlua (toboggan-like slides). Watch for native species like the fragrant pua pilo flower and the endangered Hawaiian stilt, a subspecies of the black-necked stilt. A sugar-white beach stretches north from Honokōhau’s boat harbor and often attracts sea turtles.

Selamat Datang is a Bahasa Malaysia phrase that roughly translates to “Welcome”. Though I’ve lived in the US for decades, I was born and raised in Malaysia. I’ve not been back in years, opting instead to see the rest of the world. but someday soon, I will be going back and I’m very excited about that. Here are some wonderful images, thanks to AFAR’s intrepid travelers, of the special country I call home.

You can listen to reggae everywhere in Jamaica, from dancing barefoot in the sand in Negril while a live band plays, to impromptu jams throughout the island. Real reggae aficionados should plan their trip around Sumfest, Jamaica Jazz, Rebel Salute, or Bob Marley Birthday Bash—just a few of Jamaica’s best music festivals.

Copenhagen has an amazing collection of museums and galleries. These include living museums as well as more traditional museum collections that are home to work by some of history’s most lauded artists. Copenhagen’s best museums include the National Museum, the Roskilde Viking Museum, the Open Air Museum, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, and the world-famous Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.

The final stop before the Hana Highway, Pā’ia was once a plantation town; today it’s a boho enclave full of galleries, independent boutiques, lazy cafés, and a Tibetan Buddhist stupa (place of meditation). Stock up on fuel for exploring at Mana Foods: Like Doctor Who‘s TARDIS, this indie health-food store is bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. (It also has a shockingly vast selection at reasonable prices.) Other highlights include Mahina, often voted Maui’s best boutique, and the funky soaps, jewelry, clothes, and Hawaiiana of Alice in Hulaland. Downshift at Baldwin Beach Park, the best for bodyboarding and swimming. Then drive out to Ho’okipa Lookout (before the Mile 9 marker) to marvel at the massive breakers in winter or advanced windsurfers streaking across the sea almost all year round.

Not known as a cheap place to live or visit or eat, Hawaii does have restaurants and cafes that make an effort to keep the prices down. Numerous hole-in-the-wall establishments offer specials, and several restaurants offer reasonable rates for lunch and pau hana (happy hour).

While most people think of Italy as a summertime destination, there are wonders to be found in this northern port city any time of year—especially winter! With hardly any tourists in these cooler (and slightly wetter) months, the city is quiet and calm and opens its doors to some incredible art exhibits, live operas, and wintertime flavors.

From its ancient roots and colonial treasures to modern-day craftspeople, this city lives and breathes art and culture. And Oaxaca’s museums brilliantly showcase it so you can easily take it all in.

At-home entertainers will enjoy the expansive digs at this Upper West Side property, where a number of studios and suites feature terraces and enough space to host upwards of 30 guests. Even its more modestly sized rooms evoke big-time comfort, though, thanks to luxury bedding, signature mattresses, and an array of everyday conveniences (think Keurig machines and free morning papers). There are plenty of perks to be found beyond the rooms as well, namely at the property’s three dining venues. Serafina restaurant excels at Northern Italian plates, while LOCL offers speakeasy-inspired cocktails alongside live piano sets and a library with an original fireplace. Guests will also want to check out RedFarm, where chef Joe Ng serves clever takes on Chinese fare and dim sum, such as oxtail dumplings and BBQ duck lettuce wraps.

Lisbon is rich in art and culture. Visit palaces and the cathedral, and hear concerts in gardens and live music in bars. Enjoy art galleries and the colorful tiles at Museu Nacional do Azulejo. (Note that many Lisbon museums are free on Sundays till 2 p.m.) Art can also be found in the streets or parking lots, where the walls are covered with street art. Lisbon’s cultural offerings are many.

Montreal is famous for its music scene, and not just because of exports like Arcade Fire, Halfmoon Run, Grimes, Stars and, yes, Celine Dion. There is an inordinate number of bands here, and enough people interested in seeing live music to fill bars, clubs and concert halls literally every day of the week. The scene is vibrant and enthusiastic, running the gamut from world-class electronic music (this is the birthplace of the Mutek festival) to renowned classical music, and everything in between.

Spanish wines, gin and tonics, cerveza, vermut: Everything gets the Spanish treatment, whether you’re drinking in a fine cocktail lounge or in a neighborhood bodega. Try them all—the flamenco joints with live gypsy music, the pulsating dance clubs of Madrid’s youth culture, and the elegant hotel bars.

The Gothenburg music scene is an eclectic mix that includes heavy metal, experimental electronic music, and laid-back progressive rock. Maybe you’ve heard of acts like metal bands In Flames, At The Gates, or Hammerfall; electronic music wizards The Knife or Little Dragon; singer/songwriters Jens Lekman and José Gonsalez; or progressive rock bands Den Stora Vilan, Union Carbide Production, or Soundtrack of Our Lives? They all come from Gothenburg!

Five islands, Caribbean and Atlantic coastlines, and a couple of protected miniature archipelagos translate into over 200 stunning beaches across Guadeloupe. Grande-Terre’s white-sand stretches are social and lively, while Basse-Terre’s sands vary from fine black to beautiful blond. Over on Marie-Galante and Les Saintes the beaches are wild and secluded, with offshore islets offering additional options for a day’s escape. Water sports are popular and plentiful around the country.

Lima lures visitors with its location by the sea and burgeoning art and food scenes. Art lovers should base themselves in the hip Barranco neighborhood. Peru’s famed sculptor, Victor Delfin, once lived in Second Home guesthouse. Nearby, Hotel B feels more like an art gallery with rooms. Some of the city’s best ocean views can be had from the rooftop pool of the luxe Belmond Miraflores Park hotel. For great cocktails, stop by Insitu Bar at the Westin Lima.