World's Best Places to Visit

By Lisa Wogan One way to check-in and give back: Purchasing these gorgeous, sustainable hotel souvenirs made by skilled local artisans. Rocking Woodworks at Canada’s Fogo Island Inn Housed in narrow rectangular structures and resting on off-kilter stilts atop rocks pummeled by the North Atlantic, Fogo Island Inn, off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, puts striking design to good use. In each of its 29 rooms, handmade rockers (pictured above), benches, nightstands, quilts, and rugs manage to be both sleek and charming – a result of their cooperative conjuring by international designers working alongside Fogo Island craftspeople. The furniture is for sale, and travelers can feel good about bringing it home because, as at the inn itself, a percentage of the profits is reinvested in the community by Shorefast, a foundation charged with creating economic and cultural sustainability in a region hard-hit by the collapse of the cod-fishing industry in the 1990s. Virtuoso travelers rec...

The most scenic road trip in the U.S. is back on: As of July, drivers can once again take in the hair-raising cliffs, calming redwoods, raucous elephant seal rookeries, and pocket beaches lining the Pacific Coast Highway from Monterey to Morro Bay. For 14 months, the drive was off-limits after a landslide buried a quarter-mile stretch of highway south of Big Sur – which for most of last year found itself a coastal “island” due to another landslide that took out a bridge to the town’s north. The reopening couldn’t have come at a better time: September brings a noticeable drop in RVs clogging lookouts; perfect hiking temperatures; and orcas, humpbacks, and blue whales swimming offshore. In October, Andrew Molera State Park’s eucalyptus trees fill with monarch butterflies on their annual migration south. The only drawback? With one of California’s favorite playgrounds back in business, rooms at Ventana Big Sur and Post Ranch Inn and that table at Nepenthe are hot tickets once again. ...

Many people associate Amsterdam with the infamous Red Light District and its unrivaled bike culture (the thousands of bikes are impressive), but it’s also charming, outrageously fun, and trendy in a wide range of scenes , whether that be culinary, fashion, or art. One visit will hook you for life. I recently spent a short weekend in Amsterdam (an easy getaway from my home in Paris). Friday: Shopping the 9 Streets & Michelin-Starred Dining After arriving, head directly to one of the most desirable parts of the city, the 9 Streets, and check-in at The Pulitzer Amsterdam . Here, you are never too far from anything (especially if you rent a bike). Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast, a welcome cocktail, and a $100 food and beverage credit. The neighborhood is one of Amsterdam’s chicest shopping and dining districts. Stop in The Otherist , a shop filled with framed curiosities of all kinds; Mendo , a bookshop focusing on fashion, design, architecture, and photography; or Love Sto...

Postcard-perfect Amsterdam offers picturesque views from virtually every corner of the city, and with its pedestrian-friendly streets and extensive canal system, visitors don’t have to venture far to enjoy a memorable stay. All that’s needed to explore the best of the city’s architectural charms and cultural attractions is a temporary home. Accommodations in Amsterdam cater to a wide range of travelers, from honeymoon couples seeking a luxury vacation to full-sized families touring Europe on a budget. This overview of the best places to stay in Amsterdam provides a wide range of accommodations, from a cozy bed and breakfast for a weekend getaway to a rental apartment for an extended visit. With its central grand staircase, soaring ceilings and glittering chandeliers, the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam is one of the city’s best and most elegant boutique hotels . Built in 1867, the hotel features 55 spacious rooms and 24 expansive suites decked out with moder...