Travelling outside of your home state is just one of the hardest things to do right now. It is all because of the global pandemic that we are experiencing.
Even for the most ardent jetsetters, it's a basic fact that most travel stories are aspirational at best. There are too many amazing destinations to visit and not enough vacation days, so we have to make do with scratching another item off our bucket list and hoping the stars align.
But this year, when we all sat at home watching the globe grind to a standstill, the word "aspirational" took on new meaning. When the limitations were lifted this summer, the same wanderlust reappeared. With even the most uncomplicated foreign excursions out of the question, and many tourists still scared to board a plane, even basic excursions — scenic drives, camping weekends, and local staycations — suddenly seemed unique and luxury.
With the first vaccinations already being distributed, it appears that the end of our long international nightmare is finally (finally!) near. In preparation for that occasion, we've produced our annual list of the top locations to visit in the coming year - with one exception.
1. Alaska’s Coast
During the epidemic, Alaska's whole May to September cruise season was canceled in 2020. As a result, almost 1.3 million visitors were unable to board ships to witness thunderously calving glaciers, frolicking humpback whales, vibrant gold rush settlements, and interesting Alaska Native arts landscapes. Tourism businesses lost a lot of money. Cruise companies and local authorities are cautiously optimistic about 2021, which may be the finest year to visit Alaska because cruise ships are unlikely to sail full and coastal villages will be devoid of their usual throngs even after the vaccination distribution. Alternatively, you might skip the civilisation section entirely: Boats are the greatest way to see vast national parks like Glacier Bay, Misty Fjords, and Kenai Fjords. Small ship soft-adventure companies like UnCruise Adventures and Lindblad Expeditions, as well as ultra-luxurious Seabourn, which has a zodiac and kayak exploration program aboard the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey, provide one-week itineraries that spend the majority of their time in the outdoors.
2. Astoria, Oregon
The nostalgia of visiting Astoria, the northern Oregon town at the entrance of the Columbia River where the 1980s cult classic film was shot, never dies. This quaint coastal town, the oldest American colony in the West, reflects a gentler period with its colorful Victorian mansions and treasure-filled antique stores. Freshness is only important for seafood and beer in these places. The North Coast Craft Beer Trail's new mobile passport program guarantees consumers make their way to both large brands like Fort George Brewery, known for its IPAs, and smaller sites like the 20-barrel Buoy Beer, constructed in a former fish cannery right on the river. It's one of several ancient cannery buildings that have found new life here, most notably the boutique Cannery Pier Hotel, whose new management expects to unveil upgrades to its spa — famous for its Finnish sauna and water-view hot tub — in February. Though the town was founded on canned fish, Astoria today survives on the direct link to fresh seafood at locations like South Bay Wild Fish House, which is owned by the same family as a fishing vessel of the same name.
3. The Berkshires
City dwellers have been visiting this Western Massachusetts region of gently rolling hills and charmingly sedate towns since the 19th century, but a welcome boost of youthful energy arrived with the 2018 opening of the design-forward hotel Tourists in North Adams and, last year, the launch of Miraval Berkshires, the luxe wellness resort's third location. While summer is still the most popular season, thanks in part to Tanglewood and Jacob's Pillow, there are still plenty of opportunities for social distancing, from the massive exhibition spaces at Mass Moca to the pastoral acres surrounding the Clark Art Institute (home to the Institute's first-ever outdoor exhibition, Ground/work (until October 2021), to a trek up Mount Greylock or Monument Mountain, to a supper at Cantina 229, a farm-to-table restaurant with outdoor seating in the warmer months. Mooncloud, a new bar in Great Barrington, is preparing a menu of to-go meals and cocktail kits to help people survive the epidemic.
4. Big Sky, Montana
Big Sky is a fan favorite for crowd-free skiing in the Rocky Mountains due to its 5,800 acres of skiable terrain. However, a multi-year, $150 million project in Big Sky Resort wants to convert this region of Southwest Montana into America's Alps, implying that powder-perfect routes may eventually have to be shared. The Wilson Hotel, a Residence Inn by Marriott, made news last year as the first and only big brand hotel to open in Big Sky's town center (don't miss the soon-to-open Tips Up, a vintage-inspired bar across the street). All eyes are now on the $400 million ultra-luxury Montage Big Sky, which will open for the 2021-22 ski season within the 3,500-acre private golf and ski enclave of Spanish Peaks Mountain Club.
All of these destinations are enumerated based on my personal preferences. What do you think about these four destinations? Are they worth visiting? Let me know.