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Whether you want to rest on a Caribbean beach, walk the most famous canyon in the world, explore ancient ruins, eat delicious cuisine or learn more this year at historically.After natural disasters that hit their economies hard, several of our 19 places to visit bounce back. While you enjoy the beach in Hawaii, Kerala or St. Barts, you can do some good.Or you can celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first walk of man on the moon, the 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park, the 300th anniversary of Liechtenstein and, most importantly the Ghana Year of Return marks 400 years since the arrival of enslaved Africans in North America.Whether you want to relax, explore or learn — or all three — a destination for you is on this list.They're in alphabetical order here:Christchurch, New Zealand:Most people associate only with Christchurch with its most tragic event— the 2011 earthquake that struck much of the city leading to 185 deaths. But a city is not defined by the natural disaster— it is the way they choose to regroup and rebuild.Several years later, Christchurch was rebuilt to be respectful of the local people and to be more thoughtful about the environment creating a city that feels both hopeful and dynamic at once. Vendors who were once sold out of a container pop-up mall are now moving to brick-and-mortar locations followed by loyal locals. There has been a colorful street art of hope and resilience throughout the city. In rotating venues around the city music performances are often held instead of a single opera house or concert hall so more people have a chance to attend.The elegant Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial pays homage to those who have been lost, while the Transitional Cathedral has become a permanent part of the cityscape— intended to be, by its name, a temporary cardboard refuge for locals to follow the quake.Don't miss: Kakano, a Maori-owned and operated cooking school and cafe aimed at healing people through food and the Christchurch Art Gallery, which served as a home base for first responders after the quake and is now a beautiful centerpiece for a city on the move.Egypt:For so long, the land of the Pharaohs has welcomed tourists it's a wonder that archeologists have not discovered hieroglyphics depicting backpackers.Unfortunately, in recent times the tourist trade in the country has taken on a battering with security concerns and political upheaval that has kept many visitors away. An attack that killed four people near the Giza Pyramids on December 28, 2018 shows that serious security issues still exist.While this may dissuade some, others will continue to return to a country that appears to take shaky steps back to the mainstream tourism circuit.So in 2019, what's different? Well while the sand settled on deserted classic monuments Egyptologists gently brushed it aside to find a litany of exciting finds many of which are now being opened to the public.Over the past year, mummies, sphinxes, tombs, and fresh pyramid mysteries have all been uncovered, as Egypt has many more secrets to be revealed over and over again.And while security concerns persist, each year hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the Kings ' Valley takes place without incident. The main Red Sea resorts in Egypt are also considered safe.Expect a major tourism drive from Egypt in the coming months as its highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum opens up to 2020. There's a perfect chance to beat the crowds until then.Don't miss: the recently opened Tomb of Mehu is a 4,000-year-old spine-tingling if you can find someone to let you in. Nearby, the ancient necropolis of Saqqara is where the penchant for pyramid building in ancient Egypt began.Fukuoka, Japan:The history is fascinating. Amazing eats Beauty by nature. If you don't already have the Japanese seaside town of Fukuoka on your radar, it's time to recalibrate your travel plans for Japan.Fukuoka is the gateway to Kyushu Island, the capital of the same name prefecture and one of the host cities for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.It is the perfect destination for those who want to go beyond well-trodden destinations like Osaka, Tokyo and Kyoto and see Japan's new corner.Highlights of this city and its surroundings include the ruins of Fukuoka Castle in the 17th century, the beautiful Kyushu National Museum and Dazaifu Tenmangu, a Shinto shrine home to over 6,000 plum trees that blossom every spring in stunning fashion.And while we're talking about blooms, another famous destination is the Kawachi Fuji-en Garden wisteria tunnel in Kitakyushu, about an hour's drive from town. Another worthy day trip is Yanagawa, known for its picturesque canals, an hour away from the Fukuoka.But for the last time, we saved the best: the food.Because of its seaside position on the east coast of Japan, Fukuoka is the dream destination of a seafood lover and is considered one of the top food cities in Japan. Just head to the fish market in Nagahama. Only once a month does the commercial market floor open to the public, but you can still visit its restaurants, which are open seven days a week.However we recommend that you save space for a Hakata ramen bowl It is the original tonkotsu ramen, a local specialty, and prized for its deliciously fat pork broth. Try it at Ichiran, a Japan-wide restaurant chain from Hakata, Fukuoka.Don't miss: in March 2019, the impressive Fukuoka Art Museum reopened after extensive renovations that started back in 2016. It offers a wide array of works by famous Japanese and global artists including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Marc Chagall.Ghana:West Africa's poster nation for economic success and political stability hopes to trade its 2019 tourism status with a campaign targeting the African diaspora whose ancestors have been victims of the centuries-old brutal slave trade.The country's Return Year celebrates 400 years since the arrival in North America of the first enslaved Africans. It's a grim recognition of the evil that struck past inhabitants of Ghana and their descendants— and the strength they faced it with.What also awaits visitors to Ghana is the warm intoxicating country embrace completely at ease with its identity rushing headlong towards a bright future for all the sobriety of this anniversary.The capital, Accra, is crackling with a city's upswing dynamism, with a matching nightlife scene. Ghana's 335-mile coastline boasts empty surf spots such as Cape Three Points for those who want to escape its relentless excitement, while its many protected wildlife areas, including Mole National Park, are home to wild elephants, Nolan warthogs and spotted hyenas.Don't miss: The Whistling Rocks are home to Tongo, a village in northeastern Ghana's Tengzug Hills — dramatic arrangements of giant granite slabs that produce strange sounds when winds blow down from the Sahara.Grand Canyon, United States:Grand Canyon National Park, one of the most magnificent natural wonders in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is marking its 100th anniversary in 2019.Never mind that the canyon is actually about five to six million years old, give or take a couple of years, with about 2,000 million years of rocks at the canyon bottom.There are human artifacts from the Paleo-Indian period that date back nearly 12,000 years, and the area has been continuously occupied to this day.It was first protected by the U.S. government in 1893, and on February 26, 1919 it became Grand Canyon National Park, offering as much U.S. government protection as possible to the 1.2 million-acre park.The park attracted more than 6 million visitors for the first time ever in 2017, about 277 miles long and a mile deep from rim to river at different points.Yet most people see the magnificent South Rim overlooking the Grand Canyon, while some see the North Rim in season (it closes for winter).It may take two days for more adventurous sorts to hike to the canyon bottom. (It's easier to ride a mule.) Hikers walking from rim to rim could take three days of one-way walking while rafters could take two weeks or more.Don't miss: walking the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden or even partly down the trail suggests award-winning photographer Pete McBride, author of "Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim." Walking even a bit gives people a perspective of the size of the place, he says. But remember, it's easy to walk in. It's more difficult to walk out, and always bring water and electrolytes."Hawaii Island, United States:Hawaii Island is back after a few shaky months, warmly welcoming visitors to its paradise slice.Following the devastating volcanic eruption of Kilauea in May 2018, which affected air quality, destroyed homes and damaged tourism, the island of Hawaii (local people ask you not to call it' the Big Island') is once again prepared to show off its magnificent beauty, amazingly diverse landscapes and relaxed island paceAlthough two-thirds of Hawaiian National Park Volcanoes closed during the Kilauea eruption, much of it reopened at the end of September, and trails and attractions continue to attract tourists.Volcano House, located in the park, reopened in early November, featuring top-notch star-looking views and unparalleled views of the volcano.While on the island and within the park there are still some closures, the number of new offers is impressive enough for even the most ambitious travelers to please.Binchotan Bar & Grill will be opening soon at Fairmont Orchid— think local seafood and grilled local produce over binchotan or white charcoal.Head to Ola Brew Co for locally inspired brews. Go for the Kona Gold Pineapple Cider or the Double IPA Watermelon and stay soaking up the community vibe.Resort fans longing for breathtaking sunsets over the water, may want to stay at the forthcoming Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts Collection, while boutique hotel seekers looking for something a little more rustic and down-to-earth can't go wrong at the Kamuela Inn, located in Waimea, an island area known for its ranching historyDon't miss: the new Volcano Unveiled tour of Hawaii Forest & Trail takes guests on an off-road adventure to explore changes to the crater of Halemaumau.The Hebrides, Scotland, UK:You may have heard stories about the fine white sand dunes of Scotland, the turquoise waters, the rough mountains, the crumbling castles— but nothing can prepare you to see the islands of Hebride.The most famous of the lot Skye Island, makes it a must-see list for many travelers but the lesser-visited Lewis and Harris, the northernmost Outer Hebridean Island, also deserves to be there.Harris Tweed's birthplace, the famous cloth that has been woven, dyed, and spun for centuries by the islanders, is also home to the Callanish Standing Stones ' own mystery of Stonehenge-style.Like Stonehenge, visitors can get close to Callanish's standing circle of boulders, which is believed to have been built about 5,000 years ago.For this and the other wonders of Lewis and Harris, the drive to Ullapool, near the Scottish mainland's northern tip, and the 2.5-hour ferry across a choppy stretch of the Atlantic to explore these islands is worthwhile. Alternatively the plane runs directly from Glasgow to Stornoway, the capital of the island.The island in Hebride has its own distinctive vibe but all of them are grounded in a similar spirit of small-town community Islay, Hebride's southernmost island, known for its whisky distilleries and amazing beaches, offers a real sense of island life. Driving around, visitors may be more likely to encounter cows than people, but any encounter with an islander is likely to earn an "islay wave"— a friendly acknowledgement from a fellow driver.Don't miss: head to the atmospheric Loch Finlaggan on Islay, the late medieval meeting place of the island lords the former Hebrides rulers. Ferry provider Caledonian MacBride (CalMac) offers low-cost travel between each Hebridean island, but traveling to Barra Island by plane is worth experiencing one of the most picturesque plane landings in the world, going down to a stunning sandy beach.Jaffa, Israel:For the convenience of an airport and Google Maps, Tel Aviv-Yafo is often lumped together as one unit but Yafo often spelled Jaffa in English) is as different from Tel Aviv as Brooklyn is from Manhattan.Traditionally, the artsier sister Jaffa, has been home to narrow streets packed with jewelers, sculptors, antique dealers, candlemakers, painters, and more to show and sell their work. The three boutique hotels that opened in 2018–The Jaffa, The Setai and The Drisco–also make the case for Jaffa as much more than a day trip.How do you spend a perfect day? Have hummus and pita at Abu Hassan's jam-packed community tables followed by Abulafia bakery sweets. Experience the world's first deaf-blind theater company, Nalaga'at (there's a café next door where all the baristas are deaf and you can learn Israeli signs for words like "coffee"), and don't forget to pick up from Zielinski & Rosen banana-scented soaps and orange-blossom perfume.Don't Miss: Jaffa is home to Israel's first whisky distillery, the Milk + Honey. And it's kosher before you have to ask— yes.Kerala, India:Sun, sea, sand, good food, houseboats, culture and wildlife are all in this area of India. The spectacular natural landscapes— think palm trees and widespread backwaters— give the region the nickname "God's Own Country."Severe floods wreaked havoc throughout this southwestern state during the summer of 2018, but many of its top tourist destinations escaped unscathed.At Kochi International, an airport powered entirely by solar panels, visitors will probably land. Kochi's ancient port city, once occupied by the Portuguese, is a multicultural hub that offers plenty to see and do. The traditional Kathakali dance, the storytelling dance form known for its colorful and intricate costumes and masks from Kerala, is a great place to check out.Kerala is also great for beaches, particularly in the state's southern part. Postcard-perfect Kovalam is a hotspot for surfing, while Varkala is good for relaxation.The backwaters of Kerala are famous for one reason: a nexus of waterways linking the villages of the regions and best explored via kettuvallam— a traditional wooden houseboat. From a single afternoon to a week, it's worth spending anywhere on one of the many rental houseboats on offer enjoying the sights and drifting sounds.Other highlights include Munnar to see the tea plantations, and Periyar National Park, a wildlife haven that offers guided jungle treks.Don't miss: the food — from Munnar's spice shops to the coconut that's all over Kerala and used to make one of the state's signature dishes: Kerala prawn curry.Liechtenstein:Within its borders the sixth smallest country in the world packs a lot.Liechtenstein's tiny principality, tucked between Austria and Switzerland, covers just 160 square kilometers (62 square miles).Nevertheless castles, museums and spectacular hiking and biking trails are all drawings in this sliver of alpine terrain which is also a banking powerhouse for uber-rich international clients.During the 300 years of the principality, Liechtenstein has gone unnoticed by most of the world's tourists but the 2019 tricentennial puts the country in the spotlight–with its 37,000 residents.During the year, ceremonies exhibitions and celebrations are planned to mark the 300th anniversary of Liechtenstein as a principality.The Liechtenstein Trail will be debuting in May. The trail of 75 kilometers (47 miles) sets a network of existing paths across all 11 municipalities together. A new application, complete with Augmented Reality, will help visitors navigate the route.Hikers looking for a thrill beyond the perfect postcard landscapes will be able to join a falconer and a golden eagle on a 90-minute hiking adventure near Malbun.Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, is home to a handful of museums with fine art, cultural artifacts, postage stamps and more. The Treasure Chamber of the Principality features valuable items belonging to the Liechtenstein Princes.Don't miss: the most precious treasure of the country may be its show-stopping alpine setting complete with strategically perched fairytale stone castles such as Balzers ' Gutenberg Castle.Lima, Peru:In 2019, athletes and racing adventurers in Peru will work up an appetite.The Pan American and Parapan American Games will take place in Lima (July 26-August 11), where almost 7,000 competitors will compete in 39 sports for dominance Well before the arrival of these athletes, the 2019 Dakar Rally will start full-throttle on January 6-17.Starting and finishing in Lima, the Dakar Rally is an 11-day odyssey involving more than 300 participating vehicles— from motorcycles to trucks— racing along Peru's 5,000-kilometer track.All this effort deserves a delicious reward, and Lima is willing to feed you.Peru has won the World's Leading Culinary Destination award at the World Travel Awards for seven consecutive years, and Lima hosts three of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World: Central, Maido and Astrid & Gastón.Pia León, who is behind much-lauded Central together with her husband chef Virgilio Martínez, opened Kjolle in 2018 in the trendy Barranco district of Lima.Don't miss: Mercado 28 in the Miraflores district is a new gastronomic market The market features a range of tapas restaurants, Amazonian cuisine ceviche, cocktails and more.New York City:Like all the great cities of the world, New York is ebbing and flowing in a constant state of change and progress but it is always worth a visit. So why are you now?New York is hosting World Pride, the world's largest LGBTQ celebration in June 2019, and at the same time honoring its own legacy with the Stonewall Riots ' 50th anniversary.The riots took place at an iconic gay bar in Greenwich Village— now part of a federally recognized National Monument where community queer and trans individuals pushed back against a police raid.The event marked a major moment for advancing and recognizing U.S. LGBTQ rights, and its half-century mark is a reminder that New York will always be a home for those in need— as long as you don't try to push your way to the subway before everyone else gets off.There's a reason why New York's classics are classics beyond the special celebrations from the Jackson Pollocks on display at the Met to a plate full of seafood at the 42nd Street Oyster Bar within the Grand Central Terminal architectural wonder.Don't miss: The recently renovated New York City Ferry system connects the boroughs in a new, easy way — it's the best option to get to the surfer-friendly Rockaway Beach from downtown Manhattan. And regardless of the weather, pizza is always the right time.Normandy, France:Idyllic Normandy has a long historical footprint on the northern coast of France. It is the place from which, almost 1,000 years ago, a conqueror named William set sail to tame England.But our focus in 2019 will be on D-Day's 75th anniversary. The course of world history was altered on June 6, 1944, due to the crossing of the English Channel of World War II, which launched the bloody liberation of France from Nazi rule by the Allies.There are more than 20 cemeteries from the Allied and Axis countries in Normandy to honor war dead. In the opening and closing scenes of "Saving Private Ryan," the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach, is seen and is a moving experience.The Utah Landing Beach Museum, where an originalB-26 bomber can be seen, is one of several that you can visit to learn more about the dangerous effort. The choice is the Musée du Débarquement in the beautiful village of Arromanches-les-Bains.Bayeux is a great place to stay for a Normandy tour of a vistor. While it's best known for the 1066 Norman invasion of the Bayeux Tapestry, it's also another excellent stop on your D-Day tourDon't miss: Honfleur, home to a picturesque harbor and other points of interest that captured the eye of impressionist Claude Monet, is where the Seine River meets the English Channel. Insiders recommend that you rent a car to really see everything that Normandy has to offer.Oaxaca, Mexico:Oaxaca may not have received as much attention in central Mexico as Mexico City or Tulum, but it doesn't have to try hard to impress visitors whether through its cuisine art ruins or mezcal.With its colorful colonial buildings and open-air marketplaces selling an apparently infinite number of ingredients to make mole, the city's claim to fame, this Mexican city is a sight to behold.And speaking of mole, a sauce made from chocolate and ground chiles and generously ladled over many Mexican specialties: Oaxaca is in its own right a food destination. Check out Casa Oaxaca with duck tacos and smoked octopus as well as a small section of the menu dedicated to vegan dishes for diners looking to splurge on a meal.Casual diners (and all others) should try the other regional items in Oaxaca: the tlayuda. A large griddled tortilla filled with beans, pork fat and cheese can be found in restaurants around the city and food markets such as Noviembre's Mercado 20.Hire a driver or join a tour group after a day or two wandering the picturesque streets and head out of the city center to explore the ruins of Mitla or the UNESCO World Heritage site of the city, Monte Albán, a pre-Colombian architectural site.Don't miss: one of the most charming parts of a visit to Oaxaca is the bed and breakfast scene of Oaxaca. The Cabrera Family owns three B&Bs in the area, and both for their two-course breakfasts and beautiful rooms are highly recommended: Casa de las Bugambilias, Los Milagros and El Secreto. Also noteworthy is the Casa de Siete Balcones, a bed and breakfast in a building dating back to the 18th century that has preserved many Baroque details.Oman:Oman, on the Arabian Peninsula, has it all for golden dunes under panoramic skies, epic mountain ranges and waters filled with dolphins and tortoises.The evocatively named Empty Quarter is the largest sand desert in the world and can be ventured into for your own Arabia Lawrence adventures with guides. Sharqiya Sands offers resorts and camps as well as activities such as camel racing, sand-skiing and dune-bashing for 4WD.The Hajar Mountains can be explored on horseback or on foot, with stunning views over steep canyons, and can be combined with a visit to the ancient city of Nizwa with its fort and legendary souk.Ras al Jinz Turtle Reserve is the beach where green tortoises nest along the generous coastline of Oman, including Muscat, the capital of the portOman's newest five-star hotel, a diamond-shaped building with a striking geometric façade and a coolly beautiful lobby inspired by water lilies, is the Kempinski Hotel Muscat beachside.To order to avoid the intense summer heat, the best time to visit is October to AprilWith its $1.8 billion passenger terminal, the newly expanded Muscat International Airport is ready for an influx of visitors to this less-discovered destination in the Middle East.Don't miss: a magnificent example of Islamic architecture is the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscan.Plovdiv, Bulgaria:Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city, is preparing to cement its status as one of two European Cultural Capitals for 2019 on the European City Break Circuit. (The other is the rocky town of Matera, Italy.)Renowned for its Roman ruins, Plovdiv was also Greeks and Ottomans ' once stomping ground. The east-meet-west location means that there is a mix of cultural influences on display in places such as the 600-year-old Dzhumaya Mosque and the Chifte Banya Ottoman-era— a 16th-century bathhouse that now houses exhibits of modern art.Plovdiv's cobbled streets are transformed into a busy festival hub in the summer months. The Opera Open festival is in full swing in June and July, and visitors can perform at the amazing Roman amphitheater in the city Kapana Fest offers cultural entertainment in summer and fall in the hipster Kapana district, which translates as "the trap Wandering Kapana, you'll spot neighboring craft shops in nightclubs and plenty of places to soak up the laid-back bohemian vibe.Don't miss: the Roman ruins— from the Stadium commissioned in the 2nd century AD by Emperor Hadrian to the ruins of the Roman Forum, once the administrative center of Plovdiv. The highlight of the Roman relics is the ancient theater of the city, restored in the mid-20th century and the perfect place to watch one or two performances.St. Barts, French West Indies:In September 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the Caribbean and southern parts of the United States, leaving unprecedented destruction and the daunting task of reconstruction in her wake.There was extensive damage to islands such as Barbuda, Turks and Caicos, Tortola and St. Martin.St. Barthélemy (the formal name for St Barts) has also been damaged as a French outpost and haunt for billionaires and celebrities over the past several decades. But full recovery is getting closer.According to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, most of the island's hotels and villas are open, meaning visitors can enjoy the crystal blue waters and lush tropical greenery while enjoying their world-famous regulars (walking along white sandy beaches in their swimwear, no less).Blanc— St. Cheval. Barth Isle de France, Le Sereno, Hotel Manapany and The Christopher have already reopened, and major properties like Le Guanahani and Eden Rock are planning to reopen in late 2019. (The villas of Eden Rock are already open.)St. Barts — named for his brother by Christopher Columbus, Bartolomeo — is hosting many events in the spring, including the Bucket Regatta on March 21st weekend and Les Voiles de St. Barth, a week-long regatta in April that attracts over 1,000 sailors and at least 80 boats.Don't miss: Christmas and New Year's Eve 2020 visit A litany of boldface names (possibly Leonardo DiCaprio, Barry Diller, Ellen DeGeneres) pepper with their attendant glitz at the beaches, restaurants and nightclubs as the armada of superyachts and sailing boats owned by international industrial captains and Russian oligarchs floats in the distance. Locals say it is above Cour Vendome or on the docks of General de Gaulle that the best place to see the New Year's Eve fireworks show.Space Coast, Florida, United States:Are you willing to explore outer space? While nobody can give you a moon tourist adventure— at least not yet— fans of space can still explore the heavenly skies on a Space Coast tripThe 50th anniversary of the first walk of mankind on the moon will be July 20, 2019, and the Atlantic coastline of Central Florida will be ready for the throngs who want to see where Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins rocked off the Earth and into the history books.Learn everything about historic Apollo missions from 1963 to 1972 at the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral. While the Apollo 11 landing will be highlighted in 2019, exhibits on the Space Shuttle program, Hubble Telescope and more can also be seen.In a shuttle launch simulator, you can also buckle up for a ride or attend a status briefing on current NASA missions. A fortunate few early planners can celebrate under the Apollo Saturn V rocket at a gala on July 16.Don't miss: take advantage of a few non-space outings. Surfers will enjoy the waves on the ocean side at pristine Sebastian Inlet State Park while the calmer Indian River Lagoon appeals to kayakers. The nearby Melbourne Treetop Trek helps you to fly through and frolic in the arboreal beauty of Florida.Weimar, Germany:An exciting, precarious tightrope walk between two World Wars, the Weimar Republic years— from 1918 to 1933— was a time of tremendous artistic energy and courageous freedom of expression in Germany.In what is surely one of the exciting periods in the history of the country, Weimar, a small town of 65,000 in Thuringia, was not only the birthplace of the new republic, but also the seat of a modernist revolution in art and design, with repercussions that would be felt all over the world.Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus art school— now Bauhaus University— in 1919 and gave us artists like Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky.This year's 100th anniversary celebrations will take place nationwide with the opening festival "100 Years of Bauhaus" taking place in Berlin from 16 to 24 January, but to see where it all began, head to the Bauhaus-Museum in Weimar, then hit the streets to soak up the atmosphere.For this small town is a cultural heavyweight— it was the birthplace of German Classicism in the late 18th and 19th centuries, giving us the writers Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller.Music was also made here by composers Franst Liszt and Johann Sebastian Bach.Walking through the city, from the Goethe House to the Belvedere Castle, you will cross UNESCO World Heritage SitesDon't miss: The student-founded Bauhaus Walking Tour meets at the Bauhaus Atelier café-shop at the University of Bauhaus.