ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND -- Yes, Scots eat haggis and talk with accents as thick as the blood used in their beloved black pudding. Their love of football (that's soccer to us Yanks) is equaled only by the desire for good conversation. And they welcome strangers into their country with open arms and a big hearty "'ello!"
LAS VEGAS -- I've never been one of those people enamored of Las Vegas. I'd been here a couple times in the past for business, stayed in crappy hotels and had virtually no time to do anything but work. So I'm the last person you'd think would actually plan a vacation to Vegas. But when my fiance's birthday rolled around this summer, it was a no-brainer where I would take him--Vegas, baby!
KRALENDIJK, BONAIRE -- Tom Cruise took Penelope Cruz to Bonaire around Christmas. Bill Gates and his wife also vacationed here. Ditto for Gene Hackman and Kathleen Turner (who traveled separately, natch). What's all this star power doing on an island you've probably never heard of? The answer is simple. Bonaire is gorgeous, tranquil and about as close to paradise as most of us will ever get.
FRENCH LICK, INDIANA -- Sports fans know of French Lick as the hometown of basketball legend Larry Bird. But during a period that lasted from the late 1800s to the 1950s, the small Midwestern city was as famous for its swanky visitors as its natural spring water
KIRKWALL, ORKNEY -- Refer to any of the 19,000 inhabitants of the Orkney Islands as a Scot, and he or she will politely inform you they are not Scots. They're Orcadians. They may live just a few miles north of mainland Scotland, but these island dwellers are an entity unto themselves.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND -- For decades, the joke around Wellington was that Americans only knew of New Zealand as "that place by Australia." But thanks to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, which was filmed in Wellington--New Zealand's capital--the country is stepping out of Australia's shadow.
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO -- Lying 41 miles south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen is a dream for Americans who don't want to be surrounded by their countrymen (and women). Popular with Europeans, who account for 80 percent of the tourists who visit the lush locale, Playa del Carmen boasts pristine beaches, clear blue water and, yes, topless sunbathers.
BOULDER, COLO. -- It's never a good sign when your tour guide warns you about dinner--as in how to prevent yourself from becoming a critter's meal. "There are a few tips you should know in case you encounter [a mountain lion]," warns Ranger Rick Hatfield, who is leading a morning hike through Boulder Mountain's lush Chautauqua Trail.
ARCADIA, MO. -- When it comes right down to it, geocaching is just a high-tech version of hide and seek. Someone hides a box full of "treasures" in a public place--usually a park or forest and then waits for people like you and me to go hunt for them.
CUBA QUARTER, WELLINGTON -- The "Lord of the Rings" crew may have left New Zealand, but Wellington hasn't lost its buzz - particularly not the city's Cuba Quarter. Located adjacent to the financial district, the nabe is home to funky boutiques, cafés and some crazy nightlife.
GROSS ISLET, ST. LUCIA -- When celebrities want to relax, kick back and, yes, get married, many opt for a Caribbean vacation. What's not to love? The fruit and fish are always fresh, and the weather usually cooperates. Besides the laid-back tranquility of the islands, celebs also enjoy a bit of welcome anonymity from fans and paparazzi when they're tucked away in their own pockets of paradise.
PAPEETE, TAHITI -- It is with trepidation I walk back to my room after dinner. I am used to strolling back to hotels in foreign countries, but I am not accustomed to looking overboard into a pitch black ocean while doing so. But when you are on a cruise ship, that's what you do. You lay in the sun. You eat plenty of food. You relax.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA -- Australians and Americans may both speak English, but don't think for a second that we share the same vocabulary. You give away your foreignness by referring to your spouse as a husband or wife. In Australia, they're your partner. Your friend is a mate. Ripper means great. And plonk refers to cheap wine. Got that?
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND -- According to Tourism New Zealand, the country's highend lodges are playing an increasingly important role in its tourism industry. These lodges, which promote themselves with themes (nature, fishing, wine and more) in an effort to lure visitors from afar, are as sumptuous as they are varied. Are you in?
SINGAPORE -- Fashionistas in the know will tell you that Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive has nothing on Singapore's tony Orchard Road. A shopping mecca sprinkled with designer boutiques like Prada, Gucci and Versace, Orchard Road is the place to browse, whether you're hunting for that perfect couture gown or something au courant to wear to one of the city's oh-so trendy restaurants.
BALI -- The Indonesian island of Bali is steeped in history and ritual. Every day, the Balinese leave canang sari (or offerings of flowers, money and food) at temples, on shrines or even outside their own homes in the hopes that good fortune will smile upon their families. Despite the bombings last year in Kuta and Kimbaran, Bali is not a paradise lost. Its gorgeous climate, pristine beaches and rich volcanic soil create a blissful destination where orchids are fragrant and the fruits are sweet and plentiful.
MELBOURNE -- Kylie Minogue has a home in Melbourne's trendy South Yarra. So do a slew of other Australian celebrities. It's not difficult to see why. The streets are lined with unique and immaculate homes. But while trendy and upscale, South Yarra is anything but snobby. Full of charming cafes and funky shops selling cutting edge fashion, South Yarra is one of Melbourne's best-kept secrets.
