Gear up for some more adventure and loads of travel this year with a list of top ten destinations that are slowly emerging on the world map according to online travel community tripadvisor.com. Take your pick!
1) Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
South of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the Austrian border lies Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitze that rises nearly 10,000 feet and offers glacier-top skiing. The towns of Garmisch and Partenkirchen used to be separate, but were merged for the 1936 Winter Olympics. With almost 75 miles of downhill runs of all difficulty levels, Zugspitze also has 68 miles of cross-country trails, a terrain park and Germany’s first superpipe. It’s super cool to say you were skiing in Garmisch, so be sure to spread the word upon your return.
Don’t miss: Zugspitze, Alpspitz, Partnach Gorge
Also a winner in: Outdoor & Adventure
2) Dangriga, Belize
Love culture, not crowds? Leave the bustle of Belize City for quieter Dangriga, at the end of the Hummingbird Highway. The town is a suitable base for exploring the Stann Creek district. Visit the Maya Center and the world’s first jaguar preserve, explore the beach and try snorkeling at the reef a few miles out.
Don’t miss: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve, Gulisi Garifuna Museum, Davis Falls
3) Rosario, Argentina
This urban waterworld is a fast-growing city tucked into a bend of the Parana River about 186 miles northwest of Buenos Aires. Slip into a kayak or take a cruise for the best river views, or hit the city center, bustling with discos, theaters, pedestrian malls, restaurants and parks popular with cyclists. A national monument on the riverbank honors the city’s historic role as the site where the Argentine flag was first flown.
Don’t miss: La Florida, Monument dela Bandera (Flag Monument), Municipal Palace (Lions Palace)
4) Weymouth, United Kingdom
Hit the beautiful beaches of Weymouth to soak up the surprisingly powerful U.K. sun. There are plenty of waterfront options to pick from. Check them out before the 2012 Summer Olympics introduces the rest of the world to the glory of the Dorset coast, and the already-popular tourist town simply explodes with commerce. The quaint harbor of Weymouth bobs merrily with fishing boats, and, downtown, Hope Square and Brewers Quay bustle with shoppers and merrymakers.
Don’t miss: Nothe Fort, Weymouth Beach
5) Reggio di Calabria, Italy
Perhaps you’re in town simply to catch a ferry to Sicily. If you can, though, try to take a later boat so you can explore Reggio di Calabria. The Lungomare road is a spectacular seaside walk. And the Bronzi di Riace, ancient Greek bronze statues discovered in the early 1970s, are worth seeking out at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia.
Don’t miss: Chianalea di Scilla, Lungomare, Museo Nazionale Archeologico
6) Aalborg, Denmark
If Aalborg were a house, the real estate agent would sell it as “loaded with potential.” The 1,000-year-old city is Denmark’s fourth largest, and boasts a Viking past, over 300 restaurants, a casino, lively nightlife and great shopping. The zoo breeds rare Siberian Tigers, and the Waterland and Tivoliland make it a great place for families to visit. Aalborg isn’t a hotspot for foreigners, yet. But we’ll watch as the waterfront of this busy port continues to gentrify, with expectations it will be one in the future.
Don’t miss: Jomfru Ane Gade, Aalborgtarnet, Nordjyllands Kunstmuseet (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)
7)Todos Santos, Mexico
Sitting at the point where the Sierra Laguna mountains meet the desert and the Pacific, Todos Santos is a piece of Baja you don’t want to miss. But get here soon—Todos Santos is transitioning from a quiet, dusty Mexican seaside secret into the bustling hermanito of Cabo San Lucas, so you’ll want to visit before the crowds are permanent.
Don’t miss: Punta Lobos, Playa Los Cerritos, La Pastora
8) Porto Cervo, Italy
Once an exclusive retreat for the crème de la crème of society, Porto Cervo is still one of the world’s most luxurious resorts, but thanks to the 2004 opening of an airport in nearby Olbia, you don’t have to own a megayacht to vacation here. You do, however, need to realize this is definitely not a backpack-and-Eurail Pass destination. Designer boutiques, luxury spas, fine restaurants and exclusive nightspots abound.
Don’t miss: Santa Teresa di Gallura, Pevero Golf Club
9) Nairn, United Kingdom
Thanks to its unique micro-climate, Nairn gets more hours of sunshine and less rainfall than other towns just a few miles away. Thankfully, this combination of abundant sun and no rain provide the perfect weather conditions for golf, as Nairn boasts two 18-hole championship courses. (And if you have time on your hands, there are 30 more courses within 60 miles.) Don’t miss the town’s jazz and film festivals, the latter of which was started by Nairn resident and actress Tilda Swinton (you’d know her if you saw her).
Don’t miss: Nairn Beach, Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield
10) Dorado, Puerto Rico
Located on Puerto Rico’s north coast, Dorado is a resort town of relatively recent vintage. You’ll find luxury hotels and several championship golf courses. Of course, if you’re used to your local, scruffy public course, your score might suffer—gorgeous ocean views can be quite a distraction.
Don’t miss: Dorado Beach, Antojitos del Kitrinche
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