Atlantic Islander
09-12-2013, 04:56 AM
Each week National Geographic Traveler editors select a seasonal trip showcasing the world's best destinations to visit right now.
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Celebrate the Grape Harvest, Alto Douro Region, Portugal
2013 Best Fall Trip #3
For nearly 2,000 years, wine has been produced in northern Portugal’s steeply terraced Alto Douro region, a World Heritage site and the birthplace of port wine. Get knee-deep in the region’s traditional port vinification process by joining a jubilant grape-crushing session at a historic quinta, or estate.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: Small group tour operators like A2Z Adventures and Douro vou offer single- and multiday Douro Valley itineraries from Porto Antigo (about two hours west) combining boat cruises or scenic rail trips with vineyard tours, tastings, hiking, biking, “winecaching,” or grape harvesting. If going solo, make at least one leg of the trip a Douro River cruise for the most dramatic views of the valley’s terraced vineyards.
Where to Eat or Drink: Tasting port is a given, but don’t bypass the region’s emerging table wines from the Douro Boys, a group of five quintas (Quinta do Vallado, Niepoort, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta Vale D. Maria and Quinta do Vale Meấo) celebrating its tenth anniversary in September. Most of the welcome visitors to their estates for tastings, full meals, or picnic lunches (idyllic vineyard picnic spot included).
Where to Stay: Casa de Casal de Loivos sits on a hilltop and reveals one of the most breathtaking views overlooking the Douro River Valley. Stay in one of six river-view rooms that open out to a grand terrace, perfect for soaking in the picturesque landscape. The historic mansion is furnished with family heirlooms from the Pereira de Sampayo family, which has owned the manor for nearly 300 years. Lavish meals are served in a large dining room, and the attentive, friendly staff provides insider tips for vineyard tours and tastings in the region. After a day exploring the valley, return to the manor and wander through the residential gardens, lounge poolside, and order a bottle of wine from the family’s vineyard to watch the sunset.
Cultural Tip: An increasing number of Alto Douro quintas are actively promoting wine tourism, but others are not open to the public or don’t host harvest activities. Before visiting, check each estate’s website for specifics.
What to Read Before You Go: Port and the Douro by port wine expert Richard Mayson (Infinite Ideas, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: The Strange Case of Angelica (2010), directed by Porto native Manoel de Oliveira and filmed on location in the Douro Valley
Helpful Links: Go Oporto, Douro Valley, and Portugal’s Douro Valley Geotourism Map Guide
Fun Fact: To regulate the Douro Valley’s most profitable export, the Marquis de Pombal positioned 335 large granite pillars (known ever since as pombals) around the original zone officially permitted to produce port. The markers were inscribed with the word feitoria (factory) plus the date (either 1758 or 1761) on which they were placed.
Insider Tip: The Douro Valley’s unique landscape is best seen by car. Travelers can take in the spectacular views from hilltops and down along the river valley when driving through pretty towns to a variety of quintas for small wine tastings and vineyard tours. Caution: The roads in the Douro Valley are narrow and winding. There aren’t many guardrails or lights through the steep region so be extra cautious when driving at night. —Andrea Leitch, associate producer, Travel Digital
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Lincoln Highway-Fall Foliage Road Trip, Fort Wayne to Dyer, Indiana
2013 Best Fall Trip #2
Hoosier Carl G. Fisher was one of the people who spearheaded construction of the original 3,389-mile Lincoln Highway in 1913, making the Indiana portions of America’s first coast-to-coast highway ideal for a centennial celebration-fall foliage road trip. Pull off along the way at the Johnny Appleseed Festival, September 21-22; Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, September 27-29; and Westville Pumpkin Festival, October 4-6.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: There are two distinct Lincoln Highway routes in northern Indiana. To retrace the original 1913 sections, start in Fort Wayne and head northwest on U.S. Route 33 following "Indiana's Lincoln Highway Byway: A Turn-by-Turn Road Guide for the 1913 Route."
Where to Eat: Teibel’s Family Restaurant at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Highway 41 in Schererville has been a Lincoln Highway lunch and dinner favorite since 1929. Seven days a week, Stephen and Paul Teibel serve up hearty, homemade staples like Grandma Teibel’s fried chicken, buttered lake perch, and broccoli chicken casserole.
Where to Stay: Built 37 years before the Lincoln Highway (and with 96,650 bricks) the stately Kimmell House Inn on U.S. 33/Lincolnway S in Kimmell has three romantic guest rooms in the main house and a standalone cottage that once served as the estate's summer kitchen. Trails lead through the inn’s six wooded acres (an additional six are mowed), where by late September the leaves of the hundred-year-old sugar maples typically glow brilliant orange-red.
What to Read Before You Go: Greetings from the Lincoln Highway: A Road Trip Celebration of America’s First Coast-to-Coast Highway, Centennial Edition, by Brian Butko (Stackpole Boos, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway, a PBS documentary by film director and narrator Rick Sebak
Helpful Links: Indiana Lincoln Highway Association and Visit Indiana
Fun Fact: At 1 p.m. on September 1, 1928, groups of Boy Scouts simultaneously positioned 2,450 directional markers at intervals along the Lincoln Highway. Only 15 markers remain in Indiana, including one displayed outside the New Haven City Hall.
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Western Balkans Beach Vacation, Albanian Riviera
2013 Best Fall Trip #1
Albania’s southwestern Ionian coast is a short ferry hop from Corfu, Greece, yet remains relatively undiscovered and affordable. Summer traffic is increasing along the sun-bleached Albanian Riviera, but—for the moment at least—the warm turquoise waters, rocky coves, and pebble-and-sand beaches are blissfully empty in early fall.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: From Corfu, Greece, it’s a 30-minute Ionian Cruises hydrofoil ride to Sarandë, southwestern Albania’s gateway port. Book a rental car in advance and drive just south of Sarandë to the ancient city of Butrint. Then head north along the winding SH8 expressway (reconstructed in 2009) to visit beaches and traditional Mediterranean villages like Lukovë, Piqeras, Himarë, Borsh, and Dhërmi.
Where to Eat or Drink: Follow the locals to family-owned tavernas, where menus typically feature spit-roasted lamb or the day’s fresh catch drizzled with local olive oil. For dramatic Straits of Corfu sunset views, join the tourists (and sip a glass of potent Albanian raki) in the hills above Sarandë at the Lëkursi Castle restaurant.
Where to Stay: Hotel websites and English-speaking hotel staff aren’t common, so making advance reservations can be a challenge. Online booking is available at modern hotels like the 50-room Rapo’s Resort near Himarë. For more authentic, locally owned lodging, look for signs reading dhoma plazhi (rooms for rent) outside smaller hotels and village guesthouses.
Cultural Tip: After spending the bulk of the 20th century in isolation thanks to its Stalinist dictator, Albania is eager to welcome the world. Tourism is still a new concept here, however, so patience, an adventurous spirit (particularly when driving), and an Albanian phrase book are essential.
What to Read Before You Go: Albania: An Archaeological Guide, by Oliver Gilkes (I. B. Tauris, 2012)
Helpful Links: Albanian Tourism and Western Balkans Geotourism MapGuide
Fun Fact: Former Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha died in 1985, but most of the estimated 750,000 igloo-shaped, concrete bunkers he had built throughout Albania remain. Though the foreign invasion Hoxha feared never materialized, the bunkers (including several near Ionian beaches) have become popular photo op stops for foreign visitors.
Staff Tip: If you have any hesitancy about visiting Albania, I suggest hiring a local group to show you around. One of the best is Auron Tare Expeditions. The staff will work with you to provide whatever you want in a tour: diving, horseback riding, following the path of Lord Byron, exploring the history of Jews during World War II (there were more Jews in this Nazi-dominated country at the end of the war than before it started), or anything else of interest. —Caroline Hickey, project manager, Travel books
source (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-weekly-2013/#/douro-valley-portugal_70635_600x450.jpg)
http://imageshack.us/a/img194/7314/4z63.jpg
Celebrate the Grape Harvest, Alto Douro Region, Portugal
2013 Best Fall Trip #3
For nearly 2,000 years, wine has been produced in northern Portugal’s steeply terraced Alto Douro region, a World Heritage site and the birthplace of port wine. Get knee-deep in the region’s traditional port vinification process by joining a jubilant grape-crushing session at a historic quinta, or estate.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: Small group tour operators like A2Z Adventures and Douro vou offer single- and multiday Douro Valley itineraries from Porto Antigo (about two hours west) combining boat cruises or scenic rail trips with vineyard tours, tastings, hiking, biking, “winecaching,” or grape harvesting. If going solo, make at least one leg of the trip a Douro River cruise for the most dramatic views of the valley’s terraced vineyards.
Where to Eat or Drink: Tasting port is a given, but don’t bypass the region’s emerging table wines from the Douro Boys, a group of five quintas (Quinta do Vallado, Niepoort, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta Vale D. Maria and Quinta do Vale Meấo) celebrating its tenth anniversary in September. Most of the welcome visitors to their estates for tastings, full meals, or picnic lunches (idyllic vineyard picnic spot included).
Where to Stay: Casa de Casal de Loivos sits on a hilltop and reveals one of the most breathtaking views overlooking the Douro River Valley. Stay in one of six river-view rooms that open out to a grand terrace, perfect for soaking in the picturesque landscape. The historic mansion is furnished with family heirlooms from the Pereira de Sampayo family, which has owned the manor for nearly 300 years. Lavish meals are served in a large dining room, and the attentive, friendly staff provides insider tips for vineyard tours and tastings in the region. After a day exploring the valley, return to the manor and wander through the residential gardens, lounge poolside, and order a bottle of wine from the family’s vineyard to watch the sunset.
Cultural Tip: An increasing number of Alto Douro quintas are actively promoting wine tourism, but others are not open to the public or don’t host harvest activities. Before visiting, check each estate’s website for specifics.
What to Read Before You Go: Port and the Douro by port wine expert Richard Mayson (Infinite Ideas, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: The Strange Case of Angelica (2010), directed by Porto native Manoel de Oliveira and filmed on location in the Douro Valley
Helpful Links: Go Oporto, Douro Valley, and Portugal’s Douro Valley Geotourism Map Guide
Fun Fact: To regulate the Douro Valley’s most profitable export, the Marquis de Pombal positioned 335 large granite pillars (known ever since as pombals) around the original zone officially permitted to produce port. The markers were inscribed with the word feitoria (factory) plus the date (either 1758 or 1761) on which they were placed.
Insider Tip: The Douro Valley’s unique landscape is best seen by car. Travelers can take in the spectacular views from hilltops and down along the river valley when driving through pretty towns to a variety of quintas for small wine tastings and vineyard tours. Caution: The roads in the Douro Valley are narrow and winding. There aren’t many guardrails or lights through the steep region so be extra cautious when driving at night. —Andrea Leitch, associate producer, Travel Digital
http://imageshack.us/a/img856/5041/21wk.jpg
Lincoln Highway-Fall Foliage Road Trip, Fort Wayne to Dyer, Indiana
2013 Best Fall Trip #2
Hoosier Carl G. Fisher was one of the people who spearheaded construction of the original 3,389-mile Lincoln Highway in 1913, making the Indiana portions of America’s first coast-to-coast highway ideal for a centennial celebration-fall foliage road trip. Pull off along the way at the Johnny Appleseed Festival, September 21-22; Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, September 27-29; and Westville Pumpkin Festival, October 4-6.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: There are two distinct Lincoln Highway routes in northern Indiana. To retrace the original 1913 sections, start in Fort Wayne and head northwest on U.S. Route 33 following "Indiana's Lincoln Highway Byway: A Turn-by-Turn Road Guide for the 1913 Route."
Where to Eat: Teibel’s Family Restaurant at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Highway 41 in Schererville has been a Lincoln Highway lunch and dinner favorite since 1929. Seven days a week, Stephen and Paul Teibel serve up hearty, homemade staples like Grandma Teibel’s fried chicken, buttered lake perch, and broccoli chicken casserole.
Where to Stay: Built 37 years before the Lincoln Highway (and with 96,650 bricks) the stately Kimmell House Inn on U.S. 33/Lincolnway S in Kimmell has three romantic guest rooms in the main house and a standalone cottage that once served as the estate's summer kitchen. Trails lead through the inn’s six wooded acres (an additional six are mowed), where by late September the leaves of the hundred-year-old sugar maples typically glow brilliant orange-red.
What to Read Before You Go: Greetings from the Lincoln Highway: A Road Trip Celebration of America’s First Coast-to-Coast Highway, Centennial Edition, by Brian Butko (Stackpole Boos, 2013)
What to Watch Before You Go: A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway, a PBS documentary by film director and narrator Rick Sebak
Helpful Links: Indiana Lincoln Highway Association and Visit Indiana
Fun Fact: At 1 p.m. on September 1, 1928, groups of Boy Scouts simultaneously positioned 2,450 directional markers at intervals along the Lincoln Highway. Only 15 markers remain in Indiana, including one displayed outside the New Haven City Hall.
http://imageshack.us/a/img191/6504/kgan.jpg
Western Balkans Beach Vacation, Albanian Riviera
2013 Best Fall Trip #1
Albania’s southwestern Ionian coast is a short ferry hop from Corfu, Greece, yet remains relatively undiscovered and affordable. Summer traffic is increasing along the sun-bleached Albanian Riviera, but—for the moment at least—the warm turquoise waters, rocky coves, and pebble-and-sand beaches are blissfully empty in early fall.
When to Go: September-October
How to Get Around: From Corfu, Greece, it’s a 30-minute Ionian Cruises hydrofoil ride to Sarandë, southwestern Albania’s gateway port. Book a rental car in advance and drive just south of Sarandë to the ancient city of Butrint. Then head north along the winding SH8 expressway (reconstructed in 2009) to visit beaches and traditional Mediterranean villages like Lukovë, Piqeras, Himarë, Borsh, and Dhërmi.
Where to Eat or Drink: Follow the locals to family-owned tavernas, where menus typically feature spit-roasted lamb or the day’s fresh catch drizzled with local olive oil. For dramatic Straits of Corfu sunset views, join the tourists (and sip a glass of potent Albanian raki) in the hills above Sarandë at the Lëkursi Castle restaurant.
Where to Stay: Hotel websites and English-speaking hotel staff aren’t common, so making advance reservations can be a challenge. Online booking is available at modern hotels like the 50-room Rapo’s Resort near Himarë. For more authentic, locally owned lodging, look for signs reading dhoma plazhi (rooms for rent) outside smaller hotels and village guesthouses.
Cultural Tip: After spending the bulk of the 20th century in isolation thanks to its Stalinist dictator, Albania is eager to welcome the world. Tourism is still a new concept here, however, so patience, an adventurous spirit (particularly when driving), and an Albanian phrase book are essential.
What to Read Before You Go: Albania: An Archaeological Guide, by Oliver Gilkes (I. B. Tauris, 2012)
Helpful Links: Albanian Tourism and Western Balkans Geotourism MapGuide
Fun Fact: Former Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha died in 1985, but most of the estimated 750,000 igloo-shaped, concrete bunkers he had built throughout Albania remain. Though the foreign invasion Hoxha feared never materialized, the bunkers (including several near Ionian beaches) have become popular photo op stops for foreign visitors.
Staff Tip: If you have any hesitancy about visiting Albania, I suggest hiring a local group to show you around. One of the best is Auron Tare Expeditions. The staff will work with you to provide whatever you want in a tour: diving, horseback riding, following the path of Lord Byron, exploring the history of Jews during World War II (there were more Jews in this Nazi-dominated country at the end of the war than before it started), or anything else of interest. —Caroline Hickey, project manager, Travel books
source (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-weekly-2013/#/douro-valley-portugal_70635_600x450.jpg)