The taste

From wild rainforests and world-class whale watching to Indigenous fine dining and single-malt whisky, Vancouver Island’s eastern coastline offers a rich, slow-travel experience few destinations can match. When travelers think of Vancouver Island, they often picture the postcard charm of Victoria—the island’s capital in the south—or the ancient forests teeming with towering Douglas firs and red cedars. But venture farther north along the island’s east coast, and a more secluded, soulful side of British Columbia comes to life. Stretching from Nanaimo to Port Hardy, this quieter coastline offers a fusion of rugged wilderness, First Nations heritage, and culinary discoveries rooted in land and sea. “The east coast of Vancouver Island gives you a diverse mix of coastal experiences,” says Laura Howells of Tourism Vancouver Island. “It’s filled with ocean, mountain, river and forest scenery, with quaint and friendly communities speckled throughout.”

The scent of garlic and simmering tomato sauce. The clatter of espresso cups. A nonna’s secret recipe cannoli passed down through generations. Across the United States, Little Italy neighborhoods continue to serve up not only the country’s most beloved Italian food, but also a deep sense of heritage. More than 5.5 million Italians immigrated to the U.S. between 1820 and 2004, creating tight-knit communities where language, tradition, and especially cuisine helped preserve a cultural identity far from home. Today, many of those original Little Italys have transformed—but they remain powerful touchstones of Italian American pride. From the red-sauce joints of Chicago to the cafes of San Diego’s harborfront, here are the eight best Little Italys in the country.

Some cheer, others weep. A few pilgrims quietly clasp one another’s shoulders while others collapse onto the cobblestones, backpacks turned into makeshift pillows. The journey is over. Before them, the twin towers of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral soar toward the sky — their worn faces lit by the soft Galician sun. Some kick off their walking boots, others simply lie on their backs and stare. There’s nowhere else to go. “Lying in the Praza do Obradoiro is a tradition,” says Maria Guerra Gomez, a local guide with 1 2 Tours, as we watch pilgrims bask in quiet triumph. “I did it too — and thought the cathedral would topple over on top of me.” Her smile is warm and wide, her dark curls bouncing with each nod. She speaks with reverence, not just about the cathedral, but the city itself — a place where the past lives not only in stone, but in spirit.

For decades, Eurostar has enjoyed undisputed dominance on the tracks beneath the English Channel. Since the service launched in 1994, it has been the only passenger train connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and later Amsterdam. But as of 2025, a seismic shift is underway: new contenders are entering the race to revolutionize cross-Channel rail travel — and they’re promising more routes, better prices, and less carbon. The stage is set for a battle that could reshape how we travel between the UK and mainland Europe. For passengers, this could mean not only more affordable tickets and smoother journeys, but a fundamental rethink of what train travel between nations can look like in the 21st century.

Between 6 and 8 p.m., something magical happens across Italy. Cafés fill with conversation, plazas echo with laughter, and glasses clink in a toast to the golden hour — the beloved aperitivo. More than just a pre-dinner drink, aperitivo is a lifestyle, a social ritual that marks the elegant pause between the workday and the evening meal. Rooted in ancient Roman medicine, the term “aperitivo” comes from aperire, meaning “to open” — a reference to stimulating digestion. For centuries, Italians have embraced this moment with herb-infused wines and bitters. But today, a new chapter is unfolding. With a rising wave of sober-curious consumers, bars across Italy are crafting alcohol-free takes on traditional aperitivi, proving that the spirit of aperitivo lives well beyond the spirits themselves.

When China officially launched its first national park in 2021, it was more than a century behind the United States. But now, with extraordinary speed and ambition, the country is racing to establish a nature reserve network that will dwarf that of any other nation. By 2035, China plans to create 49 national parks across more than 270 million acres — triple the size of the U.S. National Park System and larger than the state of Texas. These new parks are not only conserving rare wildlife and fragile ecosystems, but also reviving cultural traditions, uplifting rural communities, and opening up parts of China few outsiders have ever seen. Though most international visitors still flock to the mega-cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an, that may soon change. “China has the potential to become one of the world’s leading destinations for nature-based tourism,” says Jun Wen, associate professor of tourism at Macau University of Science and Technology.

There’s something elemental about wild swimming — the cold rush of water, the scent of the earth, the way your skin hums after a plunge. Whether in mountain-fed pools, quiet estuaries or hidden woodland gorges, wild swimming connects us to the landscape in a way few things can. And the UK, with its rugged coastline and winding rivers, is home to some of the best places to dive in. From Scottish tidal pools that glow pink at dusk to leafy London ponds with loyal communities, these seven swim spots offer something for everyone. Bring a towel, a flask and a sense of adventure — and don’t rush the warm-up. That’s half the joy.

For decades, Somerset was known for three things: cider, cheddar, and The Wurzels — a ‘scrumpy and western’ band whose 1976 anthem about a combine harvester once topped the charts. But the county’s image has evolved. Thanks in no small part to the cultural gravitas of Glastonbury Festival, Somerset has gone from agricultural outlier to alternative haven — and more recently, a destination for artists, food lovers, and urban escapees in search of a more soulful countryside. Those looking beyond the main stage will discover a rich tapestry of rolling landscapes, mystical landmarks, culinary excellence, and a new creative pulse that has some calling the area “the new Cotswolds” — but with more edge and fewer Range Rovers.