55 Travel Bucket List Destinations You Should Definitely Look Into This Year

Assume Fort Lauderdale is made up of beaches, fancy hotels, restaurants, and shops? Welp, there are those things…but there’s also a state park only a five-minute Uber from the W Fort Lauderdale. Inside Hugh Taylor Birch State Park sits Park and Ocean, where you can canoe (or kayak, jet ski, or paddleboard) across a mile-long freshwater lagoon. There’s also an open-concept bar and restaurant that’s stocked with delicious local beers.

Hate whiskey or bourbon? This is your invitation to kindly GTFO. When you arrive, head to Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar and order the beef short rib and pulled pork. If red meat isn’t your thing, Doc Crow’s has other great options like grilled shrimp and oysters. Then head to the Bulleit Bourbon distillery to fangirl over the bourbon that’s kinda a big deal around the world.

The group of natural rock formations resembles a waterfall and is topped with naturally formed turquoise springs. In the Oaxacan mountains, there are snakelike rock formations on the ground that fill with water, adding to the mystical visuals of this place. The ledges are safer than they appear in photos, but be careful!

Forget Fyre Fest. The clear water, soft white-sand beaches, and swimming pigs are so not a scam. Book an excursion with Island Adventures and explore the Caribbean Sea via snorkeling adventures, scuba diving, or sitting on a sandbar.

Book a few nights in the hipster-chic Williamsburg hotel Urban Cowboy, and spend a long weekend exploring all the borough has to offer. Must-sees include: Brooklyn Bridge Park, John Street Park, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, and strolling Bedford Avenue.

There’s more to Lauren Conrad’s hometown than the beach and giant malls. Laguna Beach is home to Laguna Canyon, which cuts through the San Joaquin Hills in southern Orange County. There you’ll find The Ranch at Laguna Beach, a golf resort and spa with killer views and tons to do, like hiking excursions or just chillin’ by the pool.

Go and get your Prada Marfa shot for Instagram, then check into Tim Crowley’s Hotel Saint George and spend a day or so exploring Marfa’s art institutions, like the Judd Foundation and the Chinati Foundation. Finish off with a meal at the Capri.

Denmark isn’t just about Copenhagen, although it’s wonderful there too. It’s worth getting out to the tiny fairy-tale island of Aero for a complete change of scenery. Spend a few days exploring magic castles (the sweeping Egeskov Castle); visiting Erikshale beach to see the historic, colorful pint-size beach houses; and feasting on Danish pastries.

Take the flight into Saint Thomas and then hop on the ferry over to the idyllic island of Tortola. Book a stay through Airbnb with a group of friends, rent a car so you can get around the island with ease, enjoy sunshine and sparkling blue waters, and forget about the struggles of life until it’s time to check in for your return flight.

This world-famous wine region in Northern California is a dreamy destination for its gorgeous weather and scenery, and who could complain about days spent hopping from one wine tasting to the next?

But now’s a good time to plan a trip because Napa is getting a bit of a face-lift. There are new hotels coming in—including Archer Hotel (where Charlie Palmer is opening his newest Charlie Palmer Steak outpost) and Los Alcobas, a Luxury Collection hotel—new destinations like the just-revamped CIA at Copia (go here for cooking and wine classes and to buy kitchen gadgets), restaurants like chef Christopher Kostow of the Restaurant at Meadowood eatery, and the new upscale shopping center in downtown Napa.

The Catskills, an area situated about 100 miles north of New York City and known for scenic bluffs, excellent farm-to-table dining, and music venues, are rife with hip little hotels, but the newest addition to the mix is Scribner’s Lodge in the town of Hunter. Head upstate to Scribner’s for a weekend of excellent eats at Prospect Restaurant and Bar, doughnuts at Twin Peaks Coffee & Donuts (these might be some of the best doughnuts ever), lounging by the fire pit reading and roasting marshmallows, skiing (the ski resorts are just down the road), and cozy vibes.

Head to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming this August to see the best solar eclipse in more than 40 years. (The line of totality goes directly through the park, making it a breathtaking spot to catch the shadow cone of the moon racing toward you.) Camping will be your best, most affordable bet, but you better start booking a campsite now.

An escape to sunny Los Angeles is always a good idea, but a host of chic new hotels and excellent restaurants makes it more attractive than ever. From the many design-forward hotels landing in West Hollywood and downtown to the killer culinary additions to the city’s landscape, Los Angeles should be on everyone’s travel list right now.

Travelers have often overlooked Chile’s capital city in favor of South American cities like Lima or Cartagena. But the city is attracting more world-class chefs than ever and has more and more design-centric boutiques and breathtaking views of the surrounding Andes.

Todos Santos is a truly idyllic escape from it all, with its perfect beaches (surfers will be particularly pleased), impressive galleries (there’s a large community of artist expats living here), and excellent eats. Head to Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and stay in Hotel San Cristobal.

Thanks to budget airlines like Norwegian Air, getting to Norway is more affordable than ever. Make the journey to the Lofoten Islands, north of the Arctic Circle, and stay in a fisherman’s cottage for a few days of majestic landscapes, tasty fresh fish, and more.

This under-the-radar island off the Yucatan Peninsula is a must this year. Stay at Casa Las Tortugas (for about half the cost of Tulum hotels) and unwind on the beach for a few days of good food, yoga, and sunshine.

Make the trek to the majestic Blue City of Morocco, Chefchaouen. Situated in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen was painted blue by Jewish refugees in the 1930s and has stayed that way ever since. It’s no wonder Instagrammers are flocking to this blue gem.

As one of the best-preserved cities in Japan, Kyoto is home to hundreds of Shinto shrines and thousands of Buddhist temples. Spend a few days in Tokyo and then head to Japan’s imperial capital.

An archipelago made up of nine islands, Bocas del Toro is a true sanctuary. Full of tropical rain forest, empty beaches, and beautiful coral reefs, this rugged retreat is a great place to escape from it all. Stay at the stylish Sarani Resort, and spend your days eating the fresh local catch and enjoying the area’s natural wonders.