Even though those of us at TravelMuse would love to be able to cover every place and event that we find interesting, there’s clearly no way we can, with all of two full-time editorial staffers and a handful of contractors and interns. So I’m starting a new weekly post called Friday Favorites: Travel Articles From the Web, in which we link to the items that caught our eye the previous week, or month, as the case is for this post. I hope you enjoy our first bit of armchair travel recommendations!
36 Hours in Carmel-by-the-Sea
The New York Times, Jan. 25, 2009
Photo: vtsr
Carmel is one of those relaxing California-coast destinations that never fails to please, whether visiting on a day trip or for a long weekend. The New York Times article captures much of what makes this seaside town great, including its wine culture, excellent dining scene and stunning coastline. What I’d add to the list is KMRL 1410 AM Jazz & Blues Radio, the great local jazz station in town that also has a retail store, where you can snag hard-to-find recordings, posters of past Monterey Jazz Festivals and more.
Read more about Carmel on TravelMuse>>
50 Ways to See Alaska
National Geographic Traveler, Jan./Feb. 2009
OK, so you got all caribou-ed out during the election, but don’t punish Alaska for bringing us Tina Fey’s evil twin sister. The place is beyond beautiful, and pretty darn extensive too. Plus she’s celebrating her 50th birthday this year, so be nice. There‘s a lot on offer, from wildlife watching and glacier hiking to camping and dog-sledding. The article covers the usual suspects, as well as some, er, unique events and festivals that I’m adding to my trip list: the Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival and the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. Hey—both are held in July, so I can make it a two-for-one vacation!
Read more about Alaska on TravelMuse>>
See Seriously Weird Madagascar While You Can
San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 4, 2009
I’ve been wanting to get to Madagascar for some time, and not just because it’s one of the world’s top producers of vanilla beans, which I hoard (sort of). Naturally there’s the rare flora and fauna, beautiful landscapes and a distinct culture that seems to still be relatively unspoiled by excessive tourism. And it’s a former French colony. For some reason, most of my favorite spots in the world are related to the French somehow: French Polynesia, Vietnam, Laos, St. Barth’s, Monaco … Plus, the author’s tale of getting peed on by a lemur made me laugh, and reminded me of my monkey shower during a trek through the jungle in Nicaragua several years ago.
What have been your recent favorite travel articles?
