It’s that time of year again where media outlets entice us with lists. Lots of ‘em. Aside from being reminded of the famous folks who are no longer with us and which top films of the year we’ve missed, favorites are the ones that bundle the “hot” travel destinations for the year ahead—hot, of course, being a relative term, depending on the audience for each publishing prognosticator.
I sometimes get depressed whenever a place that I fell in love with years ago, when it would barely register on travelers’ (and travel-editors’) minds, is now “in”—meaning that it likely has become too touristy and has lost its off-the-beaten-path charm. But then I slap myself and remember that I live in one of the most-visited places on the planet (New York City) and regularly visit another place travelers often complain is too touristy (Thailand), yet continue to find new ways to enjoy both of these “over-discovered” destinations.
So, without further ado, following is my list of 10 places that I’m either definitely visiting or hoping to get to in 2012, depending upon timing and ever-challenging budgetary restrictions. (To see a round-up of the various official “where to go in 2012” travel lists, check out my Review of Lists post on the Travel Industry News Blog at Uptake.com.)
1. Culebra, Puerto Rico
Buzz about this laid-back island off the coast of Puerto Rico in the Spanish Virgin Islands has been building for the past couple years, but it still seems chill and cheap enough to plan a spontaneous getaway there for this winter. I’m in desperate need of a week on an island in the sun, enjoying fresh fish and sleeping in a hammock while reading books whose titles I won’t care to remember within a few days of returning.
Art of the Song adobe house for rent in Taos, N.M.
2. Taos, New Mexico
A friend has an adobe house in Taos that she rents out to travelers and for retreats. It’s high time I gave it a firsthand look. I fell in love with this northern New Mexico town years ago moving said friend from New York City. Even though I’ve visited since, I’m long overdue for a return, especially to experience those brilliant Southwest color-field sunsets, the peaceful Sangre de Cristo Mountains and long drives into the middle of nowhere where you never know when you’re going to run into alternative-lifestyle folks living off-the-grid.
Chicago's Oak Street Beach
3. Chicago, Illinois
Even though I left it for New York, Chicago will always be the city with which I had my first urban love affair: world-class architecture and museums; excellent theater, music and dance scenes; funky shops; and cheap bars and increasingly innovative restaurants. Let’s not forget beaches, right in the middle of the city! Even though it continues to evolve, Chicago also seems to remain the same: Plenty of old favorite neighborhood haunts haven’t changed in decades. I return in late March for a wedding, so no beach plans this time around. And Charlie Trotter announced this week that he’s closing his eponymous restaurant, 25 years after he helped put the Chicago culinary scene on the map. I guess some things can’t stay the same forever.
4. Kenya
Aside from the obvious reasons for wanting to visit Kenya—safaris, wildlife preserves, Lake Victoria, and its interesting mix of African, Middle Eastern, Indian and European Colonial cultures—a good friend of mine is currently living in Nairobi. It’s always better to visit places when you know a “local.” Plus, it’s a country in transition, with a new constitution taking effect and a presidential election (already pushed back from August 2012 to December). There have been concerns voiced about post-election violence, so better to visit beforehand.
Costa de la Luz south of Cadiz
5. Cádiz, Spain
My husband and I nearly visited Cádiz during our honeymoon in 2010, but we ended up down the Andalucían Costa de la Luz beachside in Tarifa (which we loved). Cádiz is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe, dating back to the ancient Phoenician era, yet 2012 marks its modern-day bicentenary year, so the city has numerous special events planned, including a pumped-up Carnival in March, historical re-enactments and a tall-ships race beginning July 26.
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