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T R AV E L – N O R T H A M E R I C A
12.12.2021
A LT E R E D Sidestep the predictable and put these 10 arty, upmarket, outdoorsy and sometimes a little odd must-dos on your 2022 travel list, writes Anna Sarjeant
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t’s a big ol’ place, North America, and it’s enough to jam-pack your bucket list from now until forever. Rather than overwhelm your 2022 travel agenda, we’ve compiled 10 top-class experiences.
Hike to a remote Alaskan ice cave
We know New Zealand hosts its fair share of glacial wonders but to walk through an Alaskan ice cave is nothing shy of life-changing. In southeast Alaska, near Juneau, a six-toeight-hour hike over Mendenhall Glacier grants access to an absurdly beautiful ice kingdom, where the walls are the colour of a Tahitian lagoon and bright-blue ceilings mesmerise. You could also venture to the ice caves at Spencer Glacier in Chugach National Forest by combining the Whistle Stop train with a short, easy hike. Walking and kayaking tours depart from the station and if you’re after the ultimate adventure, Ascending Path offers overnight glacier camping
Visit the art metropolis that is ... Miami
Think Miami is all high-rise beach pads and string bikinis? Well, it is, but it’s also a hub of surprising art experiences. The Art Basel fair rolls into town every December, showering the city with art shows, events, and, because this is Miami, parties for days. Mixing modern art with beachside cabanas, Faena Hotel Miami Beach is a big hit with luxury-lovers and is festival venue. Alternatively, if you have US$2700 in your back pocket, an overnight stay at the W South Beach features 21 Warhols in the lobby. The Wynwood Arts District is Miami’s arty heart, home to eclectic murals and the world’s first Museum of Graffiti. Don’t skip town without heading to the Caribbean Marketplace in Little Haiti for authentic arts and crafts or, for something obscenely OTT, Dior Cafe in the Design District is sprinkled with life-size animal sculptures in Toile de Jouy print.
Live like an LA local
First things first, you can’t do Tinseltown without a car. This is a city that the word sprawling was coined for. With wheels to your name (which you should now change to a showbiz one), Venice Beach is calling. Just minutes from the sand is Abbot Kinney Boulevard, a mile-long strip of shops, restaurants and art galleries, including Salt & Straw, where the icecream flavours are as wacky as caramelised turkey and cranberry sauce. For retail relief, Melrose Avenue destroys bank accounts and is home to the rooftop bar and celebrity hangout Catch. Nearby is Craig’s; a SoCal institution and your go-to for American comfort food, it’s also a Kardashian hotspot.
Lend a hand in Hawaii
In September 2021, the Hawaii Tourism Authority announced it would be resuming the Community Enrichment Programme,
