January/February 2019

AFAR

AFAR magazine - Where Travel Can Take You

AFAR1 min read
Rediscover Puerto Rico
Lapped by tranquil coastlines and infused with the cultural piquancy of Puerto Rico, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a resort destination unlike any other. Since October, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel is once again inviting visitors through
AFAR1 min read
Cabernet Season Is the Best Time to Visit The Napa Valley
The Napa Valley is blooming and beautiful throughout winter and spring. It’s this time of year that we refer to as Cabernet Season. After the grapes are harvested, the valley takes on a slower pace than usual. Crackling fires and cozy moments replace
AFAR2 min read
Where to (Let Your Mind) Wander This Year
LAST SUMMER MY family and I took a road trip from our home in the Bay Area through the Central Coast of California and down to the beach communities of Orange County. We visited several historic missions along the way, we saw friends and family, we a
AFAR1 min readCooking, Food & Wine
Island Flavor
DOREEN WILLIAMS-JAMES of Wild Herbs and Plants of Bermuda grew up on the flavors of her home island. As a child, she watched her father forage for prickly pear, cassava root, and stinging nettles to keep her family not only fed—but healthy. “Everythi
AFAR1 min read
Honshu
WHEN TO GO During Japan’s ski season (mid-December through April), the country’s legendary snow replenishes slopes nightly. WHY NOW When it comes to skiing, the northern island of Hokkaido gets a lot of attention—and tourists. But it’s Honshu where m
AFAR1 min read
Careyes
WHEN TO GO In the winter months, the skies are clear and the temperature hovers in the upper 70s. December through March is the prime time to spot migrating gray and humpback whales—and to catch a polo match at the Careyes Polo Club. WHY NOW It all s
AFAR3 min read
The Revitalized Caribbean
WHEN TO GO In mid-December, the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers sailing event ends with an awards ceremony and other festivities in the island’s Rodney Bay. WHY NOW St. Lucia’s rich cultural traditions are highlighted on several tours. With Herita
AFAR2 min readCooking, Food & Wine
Byron Bay
WHEN TO GO In February, the tail end of Australian summer, the town hosts the Byron Bay Surf Festival (February 20–24), a celebration of surfing, music, and art. WHY NOW Surrounded by tropical farms, jungle, and the turquoise waves of the Pacific, By
AFAR1 min read
A desert RENAISSANCE
Death Valley is a misnomer for one of the friendliest, most stunning destinations in the West. Outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, and travelers looking to immerse themselves in the beauty of an otherworldly landscape will revel in the magic of this photogr
AFAR1 min read
Cambodia
WHEN TO GO December to April are the warmest and driest months for exploring Cambodia, including the rain forest corridor, which connects the Bokor and Kirirom National Parks in the southwest region of the country. WHY NOW South of Cambodia’s fabled
AFAR2 min read
Getting Dirty In The Desert
Clean is overrated. Maybe even downright dull. Because if you’ve got trail dirt on your boots, river mud between your toes, chaff in your hair and grit in your smile – you, dear friend, have had an adventure. And isn’t that what vacations are all abo
AFAR2 min read
Rediscvoering The Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are diverse in both landscape and activities. Craving underwater adventure? Head to Key Largo and boat, snorkel, or dive your way through John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the country’s first undersea park and the home of a color
AFAR1 min read
Bora Bora
WHEN TO GO The island is temperate year-round, but spring is an especially good time to visit: The rainy season is over, summer crowds have yet to descend, and rates are often discounted. WHY NOW Bora Bora was once the province of honeymooners, one o
AFAR1 min read
The Happiest Hour
AS BOTH A BERMUDIAN AND eighth-generation Gosling, Malcolm Gosling Jr. has rum in his blood, figuratively and, during summer happy hours, literally. Gosling’s Rum is more than Bermuda’s oldest family-owned business and the local rum of choice—it’s al
AFAR1 min readCooking, Food & Wine
Lyon
WHEN TO GO Lyon reawakens between April and June. The mild, sunny days are ideal for a food crawl of the city’s culinary hits, including its legendary bouchons, bistros that serve traditional Lyonnais food. WHY NOW With its wealth of Michelin-starred
AFAR1 min read
New Orleans
WHEN TO GO The Crescent City is especially lovely in spring, after the glitter from Mardi Gras has settled and before the notoriously steamy summer arrives. It’s also the season for the Jazz & Heritage Festival, aka Jazz Fest, which marks its 50th an
AFAR2 min read
Compass
So does a rooftop pool and lounge, oysters at Seaworthy, handmade pastas at Josephine Estelle, music at venue Three Keys, and the coziest beds in the universe. Ace Hotel New Orleans resides in the heart of the Crescent City and is pet, family, and ev
AFAR1 min read
Blue Horizons
COMMODORE JON CORLESS LOVES SPRING for many reasons—most of all, because the boats are on the horizon. “After the winter, the seas calm and it’s ideal for sailing,” says Jon. “Boats start transitioning from winters in the Caribbean to summers in Euro
AFAR1 min readEarth Sciences
The Azores
WHEN TO GO The Azores have a subtropical climate, and the weather, while mild all year long, may cycle through clouds, wind, rain, and sun in a matter of hours. Go in June, when it’s most reliably sunny and not too hot. WHY NOW The Azores, a nine-isl
AFAR1 min read
Houston
WHEN TO GO March and April are the most comfortable months to visit, when the mercury starts to rise but the heat and humidity of summer haven’t taken over yet. WHY NOW This year, Houston will commemorate the Apollo 11 milestone by unveiling the reco
AFAR1 min read
New Brunswick
WHEN TO GO June into September is the stretch to enjoy New Brunswick’s outdoor wonders and explore the culture of the Acadian people (descendants of the region’s French settlers). The city of Moncton will celebrate the World Acadian Congress August 1
AFAR2 min readAstronomy & Space Sciences
Elqui Valley
WHEN TO GO The Chilean winter, from June to August, is usually the slow season in this high-altitude valley. Not this year. The 90-mile-wide region will be in the path of totality—the swath in which the moon completely blocks the sun—for the next sol
AFAR1 min read
Santa Barbara
WHEN TO GO The annual California Wine Festival (July 19–20) celebrates some of the best wines in the state, including those from the nearby Santa Ynez Valley, with two days of tastings and food-and-wine pairings. WHY NOW A year after devastating wild
AFAR1 min read
The Berkshires
WHEN TO GO Summer is the best time of year to experience the hiking trails and swimming holes of the Berkshires. Solid Sound, a biennial music festival at MASS MoCA, returns June 28–30. WHY NOW In 1999, a 19th-century factory mill complex in the buco
AFAR1 min read
Rwanda
WHEN TO GO Rwanda has a pleasant semi-tropical climate due to the country’s high elevation, but that means lots of rain, too. Your best bet is the dry spell from June through September. WHY NOW More than two decades after a violent civil war, Rwanda
AFAR1 min read
Warsaw
WHEN TO GO Winters are gloomy and spring can be muddy, so visit in the summer, when tables spill out onto the sunny sidewalks. WHY NOW As Poland continues to emerge from the shadow of Communism, a creative wave is energizing Warsaw. It includes a vod
AFAR1 min read
The Bermuda Beat
“GOMBEY DANCING IS typically dominated by male culture, but I was introduced to it by my mother,” says Irwin Trott, the founder and managing director of Warwick Gombey Troupe. As a child, Irwin was taken by his mother to performances around their nei
AFAR2 min read
Vevey
WHEN TO GO From July 18 to August 11, the Fête des Vignerons returns to Vevey, the gateway city to the lauded Lavaux wine region. WHY NOW The Lavaux region’s winemaking history dates to the 11th century; its 1,000-year-old terraced vineyards have lan
AFAR1 min read
Denver
WHEN TO GO In September, temperatures range from the 70s to the low 80s. It’s also the month for Crush Walls, a weeklong festival when graffiti artists use local buildings as their canvases. WHY NOW There’s a new energy in Denver, sparked by the arri
AFAR1 min read
Lebanon
WHEN TO GO In autumn, it’s cool enough to hike in Lebanon’s cedar forests, yet still warm enough to spend time at the beach. Plus, harvest season—especially for grapes and olives—is in swing. WHY NOW For years, it was virtually impossible to take mor
AFAR1 min read
Albuquerque
WHEN TO GO The city gets 310 sunny days a year on average, but autumn, when temperatures cool and desert winds calm, is the season most New Mexicans live for. WHY NOW Sure, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (October 5–13) draws travelers f
AFAR1 min read
Hong Kong
WHEN TO GO As September wanes, breezes cool the city. On October 1 each year, Hong Kong celebrates China’s National Day with a dramatic display of fireworks in Victoria Harbour. WHY NOW The 2019 debut of several world-class art spaces will enhance th
AFAR2 min read
Exchange
It was a natural progression for the Active team; to offer hiking trips in Nepal. As New Zealanders we’ve always been drawn to the grandeur of the Himalayas (Sir Ed Hillary made sure of that!), and local Sherpa always welcome us with open arms. Our t
AFAR12 min read
Follow the flavor
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FOOD STORY. It was supposed to be a story about eating baby anchovies in a stew of Calabrian chilies and spooning spicy, fatty ’nduja sausage onto crunchy bread. I pictured myself sampling this fiery, peculiar food while sit
AFAR2 min readCooking, Food & Wine
Three More Places to Eat Well and Escape the Crowds in Italy
Despite Italy’s enduring popularity with travelers, there are still regions that, like Calabria, remain virtually unknown to most international visitors. Katie Parla, a Rome-based expert in Italian food and wine and the author of the forthcoming Food
AFAR11 min read
On the Right Track
We saw plenty of evocative road sings as we drove though the north of Scotland. Warning triangles bearing the majestic silhouettes of stags in full gallop alerted us to the game that claimed the hills. Hazard signs in the form of giant exclamation po
AFAR2 min read
How to Drive the North Coast 500
Take the Caledonian Sleeper, a 12-hour overnight rail service, from London to Inverness. In spring of 2019, the company will roll out renovated trains that offer both shared berths and rooms that have double beds and en-suite showers, as well as styl
AFAR4 min read
Egypt Rising
EGYPT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE very story of humanity, of governments forming, religions flourishing, and agriculture developing. From the ancient port city Alexandria in the north to the towering rock temples of Pharaoh Ramses II near Egypt’s southern bo
AFAR2 min read
Founder’s Note
AUGUST OF 2019 will mark the 10th anniversary of the publication of the first issue of AFAR. (This probably won’t be the last time you hear me brag about this.) We’ve accomplished a lot in that time, but one of the things of which I’m most proud—and
AFAR2 min read
Sate Your Hunger, Undergo Some Healing, And See Historical Ruins
Wellness Destination Long before the publication of Eat, Pray, Love, Bali was renowned as a spot for yogis and spa travelers. With plenty of jungle spas and oceanside resorts, visitors can find idyllic settings to experience sound therapy, practice a
AFAR1 min read
Float In Fiji’s Clear Waters, Meander Cobblestone Streets In Budapest, And Fall In Love Withcharleston
Water Sports Destination Twice in a row, AFAR travelers have chosen this South Pacific archipelago as their favorite spot to play in the waves. Whether you want to surf, snorkel, standup paddleboard, sail, or fish, the small sovereign nation surround
AFAR1 min read
Let Music Transport You, Play In The Snow, And Sipclassic French Wine
Culture Capital To wander through Dubrovnik is to experience Croatia’s cultural history. See it in the UNESCOlisted Old City sector, where centuries-old baroque churches, Gothic palaces, and medieval walls stand. Hear it in the notes of traditional a
AFAR1 min readScience & Mathematics
Discover a Cultural Capital in Dubrovnik
With its ancient ramparts and sweeping views of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is a visual feast for travelers looking to experience oldschool European charm. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Dubrovnik has a rich cultural history that greets you at every t

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