August 2016

As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 37 destinations: Afghanistan, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Kenya, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen. 

After spending 30-plus springs and summers in Europe, it seems to me that, more and more, the culture is celebrated outdoors. Cities and towns everywhere are competing to attract visitors, and there is more than enough music, drink, theater and fun to keep these concerts and festivals going and growing. 

Make a point in your travels to enjoy the scene outdoors… by day and by night. Here are a few random examples of how to put this cultural sparkle into your next trip.

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My husband, John, and I have been to Nicaragua several times since our first visit in the ’90s. We returned in December 2015 and stayed on the island of Ometepe, home to twin volcanoes connected by a narrow isthmus. 

14 days, 13 nights, Nov. 1-14, 2016. Highlights: In Buenos Aires, Metropolitan Cathedral, Teatro Colón, El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookstore/in Santa Susana, gaucho show, traditional barbecue/fly to Salta to visit MAAM archaeological museum, ride cable car to top of San Bernardo Hill/Nahuel Huapi and Los Glaciares national parks/in El Calafate, Glaciarium Museum/sheepshearing demo. $6,190 ppdo. Single supp., $950. EastWest International Tours (Laguna Beach, CA; 800/359-6719, www.eastwest-tours.com).

17-day, 16-night cruise on Le Ponant, March 29-April 14, 2017. Highlights: Charter flight from Miami, then tour Old Havana/tobacco-growing region of Pinar del Rio/embark ship/at Cueva del Indio, subterranean cruise/Zodiac ride to Cayo Guillermo for snorkeling, diving/in Santiago de Cuba, Emilio Bacardi Moreau Museum, San Juan Hill/town of Trinidad/disembark in Cienfuegos for city tour. Cabins from $17,380 ppdo. Zegrahm Expeditions (Seattle, WA; 855/241-7748, www.zegrahm.com).

9 days, 8 nights without camera or cell phone, Jan. 10-18, 2017. Highlights: From Casablanca, take train to Rabat to tour Old Quarter, walk to Kasbah des Oudaias/3-hour train to Meknes to visit pilgrimage village of Moulay/homestay with a family/in Fes, medina labyrinth/“Blue City” of Chefchaouen/Tangier/Marrakech. From $810 ppdo. Single supp., $165. Intrepid Travel (Petaluma, CA; 800/970-7299, www.intrepidtravel.com).

9-day, 8-night flightseeing adventure, Nov. 3-11, 2016 (Melbourne departure, 8-day itinerary). Highlights: Private-charter Fokker 50  from Melbourne to Kangaroo Island/in Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks/in Coober Pedy, gem-cutting demo at opal mine/fly to Uluru for outdoor dinner/in Alice Springs, Kangaroo Sanctuary/cruise Whitsunday Islands/fly along Great Barrier Reef to Cairns. AUD9,695 (near $7,258) ppdo. Single supp., AUD897 ($672).

7-day, 6-night ecotour in INDONESIA led by primatologist Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, Oct.31-Nov. 6 & Nov. 9-15, 2016. Highlights: From Jakarta, fly to Pangkalan Bun, Borneo/klotok (riverboat) up Kumai River/Tanjung Puting National Park/Camp Leakey/see wild orangutans, visit orphans at Orangutan Care Center & Quarantine. Learn about rehab, reforestation program. $5,150 ppdo. Single supp., $875. Orangutan.travel (San Diego, CA; 619/574-1371, www.orangutan.travel).