A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK. When I was a child in England, growing up by the sea meant everything. In fact, there was very little that the salt air and a bag of vinegary chips couldn't fix. I still have vivid memories of the beachside picnics my mother
With its vast and diverse coastline, there aren't many better places to go whale watching than in California. Few experiences are as mind-boggling as finding yourself feet away from the most massive mammals on planet Earth—but what you'll see among the waves depends on a few key factors, namely where and when you go. "The
Most travel is extractive and passive. You show up somewhere, take photos of the same landmarks everyone else takes photos of, eat at a restaurant the guidebook recommended, and hit up some bars. You take some tours to learn about the place and, if you’re lucky, get to meet some locals on your trip. You
A trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is unlike any other—where else can you wander through native forests, hike across ancient lava fields, and witness an active volcano, all in one day? Perched along the slopes of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, this extraordinary park is home to lush rainforests, dramatic coastlines, and some of the
“It wasn't that difficult to convince people to lend us objects because it's the V&A,” curator Jacqueline Springer tells me as we stand in the brand-new V&A East Museum. After all, people's willingness to loan—and even donate—personal objects has made the V&A one of the most influential collections in the world. Now, London's most exciting
You’ve probably heard of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The chain of islands off the southeastern coast of Mozambique is widely regarded as one of Africa’s—if not the world’s—most beautiful coastal regions. It's one of many reasons the Southern African country made our best places to go list this year. On Bazaruto and Benguerra islands, ultra-luxe retreats
High up on a ridge overlooking the rolling grasslands of northern Montana’s Great Plains, the vast ancestral land of the Blackfeet Nation sprawls before me. To the west I can see the jagged peaks of Glacier National Park, and to the north, the steep limestone cliff faces of the Rocky Mountain Front. The Blackfoot call
Horseshoe-shaped Dog’s Bay is one of the loveliest beaches in Connemara (perhaps even in Ireland), with more than a mile of white sand, given its pearlescent color from finely ground seashells. Beloved of hardy sea swimmers and dog walkers, it’s a few minutes’ drive from the fishing village of Roundstone, which buzzes with second-home-owners during
Japan has been at the top of many travelers' must-visit lists for the last several years, and impressively, the momentum still continues to grow, with 42.7 million international visitors in 2025 alone. Just this February alone, visitor numbers rose 6.4% from last year, totaling nearly 3.5 million. Although there are plenty of over-touristed areas in
You could set aside every weekend of the year to explore London, and you still wouldn’t begin to scratch the surface. Despite considering myself a Londoner (does 18 years count?), it’s a city that constantly surprises me, revealing more of itself with each passing year of living here. While we proudly shout about London's big-hitting
Most travel is extractive and passive. You show up somewhere, take photos of the same landmarks everyone else takes photos of, eat at a restaurant the guidebook recommended, and hit up some bars. You take some tours to learn about the place and, if you’re lucky, get to meet some locals on your trip. You
In 2018, my mother and I were watching Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities while I curled her hair. I knew she had attended Southern University, an HBCU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. But as the memories bubbled up, she mentioned how she’d spent the summer after her freshman year