Top Destinations for 2010
Many of these are from bing's top ten selections for travel in 2010. We aren't sure why they chose these . . . all are stunning, but so many other places are also. So we will be adding to them.
Vancouver, British Columbia
The first of 2010's two massive sports events, February's Winter Olympics, will train all eyes on Vancouver — already one of North America's most rewarding destinations. The city is buzzing with hotels opening just before the opening ceremonies on Feb. 12, such as the January debuts for the Fairmont Pacific Rim and the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel. Not into sports? Vancouver will host a number of cultural events during the two-week Olympics, such as Dance Canada Dance, an "Olympic gala" starring the National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. And if you actually participate in sports, the San Juan Islands afford dramatic kayaking journeys.
South Africa
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will begin on June 11 with host nation South Africa playing Mexico. Call it a world soccer party. If you don't have tickets, the best time to visit might be immediately after the competition, allowing you to take advantage of infrastructure improvements (such as a new train from Johannesburg’s international airport) and a host of new hotels, including the Hotel Missoni Cape Town, designed by the famed Italian fashion house, and the Molori Clifton, with beachside villas and a 17,000-square-foot presidential suite. Expect updates at the Kruger National Park's safari lodges as well, such as the peerless Lion Sands reserve, with twice-daily game drives and a unique treehouse guest suite.
Alaska
Visitors from the Lower 48 will likely find summer temperatures the most hospitable, and the state is hosting two worthy events this July. BearFest begins on July 25 with a film festival, arts fair and bear-country workshops in Wrangell. If you're looking to spot bears, this is the place. On July 4, meanwhile, the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge will end in Homer, where 1,000 participants aim to finish a 7,000-mile course from Key West for a $500,000 prize.
Alaska is tremendous location for outdoor sports enthusiasts. One of our favorite kayaking companies, Sea Trek Ocean Kayaking Center out of Sausalito, California, leads week-long trips through the waters of Alaska's Inside Passage. (Sea Trek also leads trips through the Sea of Cortez should you wish warmer climes. Their guides are fully trained. You will be comfortable on any of their trips.)
Mendocino, Calif.
Well, this is a surprise to see on bing "Top Destinations for 2010" list. Why? Well, 'cause we take Mendocino for granted -- it's just up the road from us. Once a perennial second-best to Sonoma and Marin, Mendocino is now drawing serious foodies from around the country. Bing's writers indicated that "Mendocino’s redwood-rich scenery is Northern California’s most dramatic . . ." It isn't. But it is stunning. (Editor's Note: We think we have lots of dramatic scenery, including the Sierras and any land along our rugged coastline.) While Mendocino's excellent wineries are comparatively under the radar, Mendocino’s real standouts are its new raw-food events. Raw-food chef Cherie Soria leads the Living Light Culinary Art Institute in Fort Bragg. The school will sponsor both periodic retreats and a Vibrant Living Expo, with guest chefs and workshops, in August 2010.
Malaysia
Malaysia’s gorgeous beaches, wonderful infrastructure and affordability are turning it into the hottest destination in Southeast Asia. Expect this overlooked country to break out when its popular low-cost airline, Air Asia, begins service to Los Angeles and New York in 2010. Schedule a few nights in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, at Traders Hotel, with its gorgeous, newly renovated Sky Bar and full-on views of the Petronas Twin Towers. Head north to exclusive Langkawi and the gorgeous Datai resort. Don’t pass up a jungle-side spa treatment or the use of the hotel’s kayaks off the Andaman Sea beach.
Marrakech, Morocco
Dubai's loss was Morocco's gain when the Emirati city turned down a filming permit for “Sex and the City 2.” Producers changed course for the North African country — a superior choice, in any case, given Morocco's history as a destination for the fashion elite. Carrie and Miranda have already traipsed across Marrakech's central Djemaa El Fna square. For the ultimate fashion day trip, visit Jardin Majorelle, once owned by legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent. Morocco has a surfeit of fashionable lodging. In Marrakech, visit the fully restored Riad Kniza, with a gorgeous rooftop sun deck. In nearby Fez, be sure to visit Riad No. 9, owned by the former creative director of luxury brand Dunhill.
New Orleans
2010 will mark the five-year anniversary of the devastating Hurricane Katrina, a measure of how much New Orleans has successfully rebuilt and how far it still needs to travel to reach its pre-storm glory. (Tourism officials expect airport passenger traffic to return to pre-Katrina levels by 2016.) There's plenty of good news. The city will host the 2013 Super Bowl, and its airport is undergoing a $755 million renovation. New hotels and post-Katrina renovations continue, such as the $145 million upgrade of The Roosevelt, the legendary 1893 hotel now part of the Waldorf-Astoria collection. No matter how New Orleans looks during this transition, it is a world-class city because of its music and history in America. It has been home to pirates, wars were fought over its territory by England, France, Spain . . . a young American won! The Mississippi Rivers runs through . . . while there, take time to ride on a steamboat along the river. That IS fun for the whole family. A bit of its history can be found onThe Maritime Heritage Project pages.
Curacao
Bing picked the Dutch island of Curacao as their top pick for the Caribbean this year, thanks to its gorgeous natural features (including wild flamingoes), a rich history and a unique culture. This is not the prototypical, frat-boy destination for spring breakers. (Curacao and its Dutch neighbors, Aruba and Bonaire, are closer to Venezuela than the rest of the Caribbean islands, in sentiment as well as geography.) 
The capital city of Willemstad is a worthy base for exploring the island and its quiet beaches. The new Renaissance Curacao Resort and Casino offers ocean-view balconies and an on-site spa.
If you're traveling to the Caribbean, we recommend adding Belize to the list, particularly for anyone who is considering ExPat status by moving to another country and getting away from our current economic nightmare. Believe me, it's tempting.
We'll probably skip Curacao for now and head for Belize. And we need to make a stop in Dubai -- if the Shieks run out of oil, Dubai may be left to sink into the desert and we do not want to miss those amazing structures. However, if you are looking for tropical in general, we have one amazing world of choices: Tahiti (Moorea is stunning), Jamaica, Costa Rica (an AMAZING place), and -- now high on our list as a result of our Hilton Hotel ownership: The Maldives and Ithaa, its underwater restaurant (above). Set five meters underwater on a coral reef, Ithha (pronounced eet-ha, means ‘pearl’ in the language of the Maldives) uses aquarium technology for it's under-water location. The most distinctive innovative feature is use of curved transparent acrylic walls and roof, affording a gives a 360-degree views of the surrounding reef life. Dine surrounded by tropical fish and exotic sea creatures such as bat rays. Also, the owners are planting a coral garden on the reef to add to the spectacular views.
Glasgow, Scotland
We think one of the more important aspects of Scotland are the people it gives to the world. Our personal favorite -- 'cause we know him, perhaps -- is the author Paul McHugh (that's him on the left -- in Scotland, actually). We worked with him for a decade or so at The San Francisco Chronicle. He is a brilliant man; we could amuse you with stories for hours about his exploits. Or you could visit his site at PaulMcHugh.net and read them yourself, which we recommend doing. He has a new book coming out also: Deadlines and will have his first booksigning for this book on February 13, 2010 in Corte Madera, California.
Of course we love Sean Connery, and a relative newcomer on our scene, comedian Craig Ferguson -- HE is hysterical. You can catch him late nights on his own show -- after David Letterman. The man is wonderfully wacky.
Glasgow is an arty, industrial city that's both a worthy destination and an excellent jumping-off point for Scotland's gorgeous highlands and islands. The city is gearing up to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, but you need not wait. The new Blythswood Square hotel in a 19th-century building once housed the Royal Scottish Automobile Club. Architecture fans won't want to miss the Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings that dot the city, while music lovers will surely visit venues such as King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, a key reason why the city was named a UNESCO City of Music in 2008.
Philadelphia
Oddly, we think, with all the travelling we have done, we have not yet visited Philadelphia. The family has insisted that we see more of America in 2010, so this will go on the list. If you've never done so, consider driving across the Southern States, up the East Coast, across the top or Middle of America and back to the West Coast and down. This we have done. What did we learn? America is a strikingly beautiful country with every type of landscape imaginable. We love our country.
According to Bing, Philadelphia is a powerhouse destination in its own right, buoyed by new hotel and restaurant openings and a hot gallery scene. For years, the city's artistic ranks have filled out with New York émigrés in search of bigger spaces and cheaper rents. You can see their work exhibited in Old City during weekly First Friday events or at galleries such as Vox Populi. Five-star standbys like the Four Seasons have been joined by fresh newcomers such as Kimpton's Hotel Palomar, while local foodie (and "Top Chef" guest judge) Stephen Starr looks set to expand the empire that began with Buddakan and The Continental.
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude