Gearing up for a busy travel season Tips on where to visit in the US and in Europe this summer

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Delayed and rescheduled trips are on the uptick. Employees, who have banked their personal days off and vacation hours during lockdown, are itching to get out of the office.

Travel, both national and international, has exploded for the summer months with beach destinations up 37 percent, according to MasterCard Research.

Other indicators, such as search engines, are showing flight searches to Asia and Europe have increased by 25 percent, according to Expedia’s Summer Travel Forecast.

Travel Trends

Technology is playing a key role in travel. Travelers are using their cell phones as minicomputers in last-minute planning to access storyboards and scripts for self-guided tours.

Savvy travelers are using their cell phones to rebook canceled flights and reschedule hotel stays.

Other travelers are staying connected with families and friends during their trips through their social media feeds such as Facebook and Instagram.

Instead of using a list of recommended restaurants from guidebooks or friends, travelers who trust Yelp, Google, and/or TripAdvisor, are looking at the high ratings for restaurants, while exploring local neighborhoods.

Here are my recommendations from some destinations I’ve visited in the past six months of 2023:

United states

Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada (VisitLakeTahoe.com)

Hard to leave the mountains of Colorado? Consider visiting the mountain town of Lake Tahoe located on the border of northern California and Nevada. Straddling between two states, this mountain resort offers a wide range of Asian cuisines.

While known for its winter sports, Lake Tahoe stays busy throughout its summer peak season. Pizza and ice cream are of course, popular summer choices, but there are also Asian restaurants to try for your visit no matter the season:

Lotus Pho (LotusPho.com)

The owner of Lotus Pho had frequently traveled to Lake Tahoe with his family and realized the mountain town did not offer Vietnamese cuisine. With a background in hospitality and the support of his family, he created a casual restaurant offering the food from his country.

to set up a restaurant near Lake Tahoe for adventurous palates and aficionados of Indian cuisine.

Samurai Restaurant (SushiTahoe.com)

Even before the doors open at Samarai Restaurant, a line of customers begins forming to grab a table at this popular Japanese restaurant. Ask any local for their recommendation and they will send you to this Lake Tahoe favorite.

Toast Asian Fusion (Toast.llc)

The husband-and-wife team created a restaurant offering southeast cuisines from India initially in the Bay area. The family enterprise expanded its location

Thai On Ski Run (ThaiOnSkiRun.com)

A growing and thriving community of Thai people reside and work in this mountain town in casinos and hospitality industries. It’s natural of course to find restaurants that reflect the local community. Many of the dishes come directly from the owner’s family recipe book and they take pride in using premium ingredients including fresh Thai chilies.

Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum (LakeTahoeMuseum.org)

Need a little rest from the heat? It’s a quick 30-minute stop to check out this museum filled with historical insights of Chinese laborers during the 1800s. In fact, the museum showcases artifacts found at the time of railroad building and mining. Run by volunteers, the museum also offers mini pamphlets about the Chinese laborers.

Seattle, Washington

This northwest city stands as a popular destination for Asian Americans. The cuisine features a global diversity. It is a quick two-hour plane ride from Denver International Airport and most airlines fly to Seattle at least once daily.

learn more about Seattle and its history. The tour guide on the boat shares stories, quirky news, and tidbits of Seattle. Indoor and outdoor seating is provided and there are views from every location on the boat.

Space Needle (spaceneedle.com)

This iconic landmark isn’t to be miss. However, instead of standing in long lines, timed entrance is provided to avoid large crowds. It’s easier to schedule a timed entrance because tourists aren’t wasting time in long lines. Located in a park, there are many places to grab a snack or check out a local attraction such as the glass gardens of Chihuly.

able through the restaurant’s website. However, if you want a chance to dine omakase style, lining up is required but not guaranteed for those coveted seats. Fridays and Saturdays are busy times. Lining up can begin as early as 4 pm for a 6 pm dining timeframe.

World-renowned Master Chef Shiro Kashiba created a dining experience called Chef Counter Omakase Experience for diners in two-hour increments. Chef Kashiba stands as the father of sushi dining in Seattle and has taught sushi chefs for many generations.

Wing Luke Museum (wingluke.org)

Seattle CityPASS® (citypass.com/seattle)

Need to figure out how to see the city’s top attraction? Check out Seattle CityPASS®. It stands as one of the most convenient and affordable ways to see all the major attractions of a metropolitan city.

Argosy Cruise Harbor Tour (argosycruises.com)

Curious about the waterfront? This one-hour tour offers a quick way to

Chihuly Garden and Glass (chihulygardenandglass.com)

This museum is fantastic. The vibrant colors, the contorted twists, and the delicacy of glass thrill visitors from all over the world. While there are big crowds viewing the exhibit, there are quick videos for those wanting to learn about the artist and thought process in creating these beautiful glass art.

Located in the international district of Seattle, this museum honors the achievements and sharing the histories of Asian Americans.

With grass-root beginnings, the museum is like a history book for those learning about the struggles of immigrations, displacements, and assimilating into a “majority” culture. All Asian communities are represented in this museum through ongoing displays or permanent exhibits.

It also honors martial arts master Bruce Lee. It is fascinating to learn how Hollywood mistreated Bruce Lee through his early years as a child actor and his path into stardom.

Sushi Kashiba (sushikashiba.com)

Are you into Japanese cuisine? Only diehards of sushi should check this restaurant. Regular dining is avail-

Europe

Athens, Greece

The Asian population of Greece includes immigrants from Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Syrians. These immigrants frequent a “Greek” Chinatown, located near the Industrial Park of Athens for their produce, meat, and products from their Asian country.

Culinary Backstreets

(culinarybackstreets.com/category/ cities-category/athens)

In six hours, this tour company offered numerous stops through the oldest part of Athens, the Plaka, with tips on eating Greek food and enjoying the locals’ favorites. For those on a Mediterranean diet, this tour offers a variety of options, including chocolates and sweet figs from the local Greek farms and gardens.

Tour guide Carolina Dorita is an author, chef, and television personality on Greek cuisine. Her cookbook, Salt of the

Earth: Secrets and Stories from a Greek Kitchen, offers insights and historical origins of Greek culinary delights.

Barcelona, Spain

barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en

Barcelona is the fourth top visited European city, according to Europe’s Best Cities Report 2023.

“I have a lot of memories as a kid and I know the city enough to get in trouble,” said Alicia Roig Bourdon, who grew up in Spain, 1.5 hours away from the capital. “Everything major we had to travel to the big city.”

Seventy Barcelona seventybarcelona.com/en

Modern, contemporary, and hip, this six-story, 152-room hotel sits in the middle of a neighborhood that is walking distance to the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. The hotel is located within the districts of Gràcia, L’Eixample, and Passeig de Gràcia – a mixture of Old Barce -

Seventy Barcelona

lona and futuristic Spain. Surrounded by art galleries, upscale boutiques and high-end restaurants, the hotel shows a constant influx of international visitors.

The lobby welcomes guests from all over the world. Bibliophiles and book lovers will enjoy the beautiful setting of floor to ceiling books in this area. A curved glass staircase with wooden steps leads up to meeting rooms and more books.

For those needing some summer sun, the hotel offers a rooftop pool complete with a full bar. Snacks are provided and every spot on the roof flaunts a fantastic view of Barcelona.