I’ve always loved Zurich, even though I never get to spend enough time there. Between visiting our dear friends who live in Voralberg, Austria, or the Buchinger Wilhelmi clinic an hour and a half away on Lake Constance, we always try to bookend these trips with a couple of days in this beautiful Swiss city. It’s home to one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the world (also the favorite of all of our contributors), as well as a beloved perfume store, great shopping, and the most scenic lakeside runs. Somehow, it manages to feel equal parts old world and new, elegant and relaxed… qualities that our local friend, Frank Herrmann—who listed his go-tos here in our Black Book—summed up so beautifully that we had to share it with you here. He writes:

“Zurich has a reputation for being buttoned-up—the banks, the clean streets, the punctual trams gliding along Limmatquai. But the Zurich I fell in love with is softer, more eccentric, and sometimes even a little wild. It’s the smell of roasted chestnuts curling through Bahnhofstrasse in winter, and the first swim of the season in the lake when the water is still glacial, but you feel alive down to your bones. In summer, Zurich’s badi culture—the floating wooden baths that dot the river and lake—is absolutely unique: everyone sheds their serious faces and spends afternoons stretched out in the sun, diving in and climbing out, reading newspapers with wet hair. Here in Zurich, elegance lives next to eccentricity. A cocktail at the Kronenhalle, where the walls are lined with Chagall and Miró, is followed by a late-night sausage from a street stand and partying away at the famous Langstrasse. That contrast is the heartbeat of this city.”

I’m so thrilled to have this list from our favorite locals so I can go deeper—and stay longer—on our next visit. —Yolanda

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Adam Graham is an American journalist and travel writer based in Zurich. He writes for various publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Condé Nast Traveler, reporting on travel, food, architecture and design. 

Andreas Leeman is a Zurich-based photographer and airline pilot, who finds inspiration both in his travels around the world and in the city he calls home, which he describes as “open to the world and like a small village, close to nature.”

Frank Herrmann is a Zurich- and Paris-based strategy consultant and one half of #f2ontour, who never travels without his pocket calendar, meticulously plotting a three-month rolling itinerary of architecture, art, history and food.

Leonard Wilhelmi is the Lake Constance-based CEO of Buchinger Wilhelmi, a fourth-generation family-owned fasting clinic with locations in Germany, Spain, and soon France. 

Marcela Palek is style director of Monocle’s Konfekt magazine. Born in Prague and raised in Zurich, she’s lived there ever since.

Marguita Kracht took the reins as the seventh generation to run Baur au Lac in 2022, alongside her father, Andrea Kracht, with whom she works to guide the hotel into its next chapter. Since 1844, the hotel has been in the hands of the Baur-Kracht family, who continue to run it with a keen sense of innovation and unique understanding of heritage. 

Mats Klingberg is the Swedish-born founder of Trunk Clothiers, a menswear brand and multi-brand retailer with a store on Chiltern Street in London and Dufourstrasse in Zurich. 

Ralph Schelling is a Zurich-based chef who has worked in Spain, England and Tokyo. The most recent winner of the Culinary Cup, his cookbook, Simple is Best, was just published by AT Verlag. When he’s not cooking, he takes culinary journeys between Asia, Europe and the USA, peeking into the pots of inspiring restaurant chefs.

The post Zurich Black Book appeared first on Yolo Journal.

VENICE + OJAI

Michèle Ouellet, model, writer, and co-founder of Lorenza Wine 
Born in Napa Valley, Michèle spent her entire adult life based in NYC working in fashion and traveling the world for photo shoots. She has now settled down between Venice and Ojai with her husband, dog, and soon-to-arrive baby girl. She also writes a Substack about all her favorite things in food, fashion, travel and entertainment, Amuse Bouche. She writes, “LA is amazing for many reasons, but walkability is rare here, so I really appreciate that about our Venice neighborhood. I love strolling our dog around the streets with so much greenery. We spent most of Covid in Ojai staying at a friend’s place. My husband had always wanted to find a piece of property to build on there and we were lucky to find that in 2020! It’s such a serene and beautiful part of California that reminds me a lot of growing up in Napa Valley. Time seems to move a little slower here and it’s where I feel myself actually relax.”

Michèle’s Venice

RVR –  My favorite restaurant in LA and it happens to be our local haunt. Beautiful vegetables, handrolls to die for, a pickle plate worth writing home about and a truly delicious steak. The dessert is also exceptional! Weekend brunch is also really fun as is the rooftop bar.

Hume – A very chic gym that I should go to more often. Gorgeous sauna, steam, cold plunge and a really beautiful rooftop cafe where you could easily hang out all day.

Gjusta Grocer – I go here almost once a day. Baked goods and salads from Gjusta, plus a really well-curated grocery shop with fresh produce and wine. What more do you need?

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What first drew me to the Netherlands six years ago was the Dutch enthusiasm for the Cabinet of Curiosities, and the way traces of antiquity seem to quietly exist in plain sight. I’d find them tucked into storefronts, nested behind canal houses, or hidden in sunlit courtyards. Walking along the canals, one can still catch traces of traditional Dutch calligraphy, 17th-century ornate stained glass, and intricate gable stones above doorways. The Netherlands is where I was living when I was first inspired to start Autumn Sonata, and continues to serve as inspiration.

Below is a list of places, including shops, markets, archives and homes that have inspired Autumn Sonata, places that still hold a sense of the “old world.”

Shops That Feel Like Time Capsules

Similar to so many big cities, glimpses of the old world are rare and heritage shops are rapidly shuttering. That being said, here are a few shops that have persisted (in many incarnations) and still evoke the sense that time has slowed for a moment:

Vlieger (Amsterdam) A paper store that’s been around for over 150 years. Wooden drawers, handmade marbled papers, a great collection of papers in all materials and thickness.

Jacob Hooy (Amsterdam) — An old apothecary with roots in the 18th century. 

Distillery ‘t Nieuwe Diep (Amsterdam) Tucked into a converted 1880 pumping station, this small distillery sits in the middle of a lush park and specializes in apple cider. It’s a lovely place to sit in the summer and relax. 

Dekker Antiquairs (Amsterdam) Antique jewelry with a long lineage; the family shop has been in business for 35 years – before, it belonged to Ron’s father, a watch dealer.  

Markets & Auctions

Antique markets here may not be what they were decades ago (or so I’ve been told), but I still find plenty of treasures. Most run from May through November. Some of my favorites include Curiosa Delft, Amsterdam Amstelveld, Antique & Book Market Den Hague (Haagse Antiek‑ en Boekenmarkt), Haarlem Flea Market Full flea & antique market schedule here
And if you’re in Amsterdam year-round:

Antiekcentrum Amsterdam is an indoor antique center open daily (except Tuesdays). 

For auctions, Derksen Veilingbedrijf and Venduhuis de Eland allow for bidding online. Collections can also be viewed in person several times per year.

Artisan Ateliers

Swarm (Amsterdam) is the creative studio of Leslie Oschmann, a Dutch-American artist based in Amsterdam for over 20 years. She transforms vintage paintings sourced from antique markets into unique objects and accessories, and also offers a curated selection of antique paintings from her studio.

Mandenmakerij De Mythe (Zuidschermer) Jan de Vos and José Schilder have been practicing the art of traditional basket weaving with willow branches (partially grown themselves) since the 1980s, offering everything from garden objects to eel baskets to urns. This is quite an impressive and practiced undertaking. The masters themselves offer apprenticeships and workshops, and baskets can be purchased via email and in person. 

Lampenkappenatelier Hennie Lasschuit (Haarlem)  A cherished institution in Haarlem for over 70 years, renowned for its dedication to the art of handcrafted silk lampshades. 

Natasja Sadi (Amsterdam) An artist and sugar flower master offering a unique (and edible) point of view of Dutch masters. Workshops are also periodically held.

Stine Berven Evensen (Amsterdam) Stine Berven Evensen is known for her beautiful work where she documents wildflowers from her surroundings by creating watercolor paintings on paper that resemble delicate, lifelike flowers. Stine also offers ‘flower tours’ of Amsterdam, and I would love to join one!

Christine van der Heide (Enschede) A Dutch artist specializing in scarves and prints crafted with the traditional Japanese stencil dyeing technique, Katazome. She also hosts workshops in katazome and washi.

Luna Faye (Amsterdam) Weaver and textile artist specializing in creating modern, mindful pieces using a handloom. She is also the co-founder of the Women’s Knitting Association, an Amsterdam-based organization dedicated to community building among female knitters.

TextielMuseum & TextielLab (Tilburg) A museum and working lab where Dutch textile heritage and innovation in textiles come together. As a visitor, you can observe professionals and students at work, gaining insight into the modern development of textiles. It’s quite a unique experience.

National Braiding Museum (Noordwolde) Located in the “Wicker Village of the Netherlands,” this charming museum celebrates the art of basketry and braiding. 

Castles 

Coming from the US, the thrill of a castle never really wears off. A few favorites include Kasteel De Haar (Utrecht), Muiderslot (just outside Amsterdam), Kasteel Ammersoyen (outside Den Bosch) and Slot Zuylen (Maarssen).

Historical Homes & Museums

The Netherlands is home to some very special house museums, including… 

Barlotti House (Amsterdam) A beautifully preserved 17th-century canal house, showcasing traditional Dutch design and elegant period architecture.

Museum Van Loon (Amsterdam) –  An opulent canal house that boasts period interiors and a serene garden.

Museum Willet-Holthuysen (Amsterdam) 17th-century townhouse filled with art, antiques, and decorative treasures, and a formal garden.

Rembrandt House Museum (Amsterdam) – A meticulous reproduction housed in the building where Rembrandt lived and worked. I especially love the curiosities room!

Het Schip Museum (Amsterdam), A striking example of Amsterdam School design, an architectural style prevalent in Amsterdam, between 1910 and 1930.

Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Amsterdam) – Traditionally decorated Amsterdam canal house with a fully intact Catholic church tucked away in its attic.

Teylers House (Haarlem) – The oldest museum in the Netherlands – a great collection of  minerals, fossils, art, and scientific marvels. One of my favorites!

The Rijksmuseum is a must-visit for anyone interested in art and antiquities in general. I particularly love the doll house of Petronella Oortman.

If your visit aligns with Open Gardens Day in mid-June, go! It’s a rare look into the private gardens of canal houses over several days.

For the Archive-Inclined

Coming from an archival background, I can’t help but be mesmerized by the libraries and archives here. One of the most beautiful: Rijksmuseum Library and Archive.

Old-School Stays

The Dylan Amsterdam is located in the heart of the 9 Streets district, housed in a former 17th-century theater. It’s set directly on the Keizersgracht canal—one of the city’s most beautiful and historic streets.

The Conservatorium Hotel sits in Amsterdam’s museum district, and is walking distance to the canal belt. The building has a rich history, first as a bank and then as a music conservatory, before being transformed into a contemporary hotel. 

The post The Old-World Netherlands List appeared first on Yolo Journal.

Connemara has a wild and enchanting beauty, with otherworldly landscapes of bog and mountain, contrasted by dramatic coastline with hidden and pristine beaches. It tends to attract the attention of artists, creatives and the responsible traveler looking for a quiet and authentic Irish experience—slow travel and quiet luxury. The abundance of beauty, art, culture, heritage, music, food, places, and stories appeals to travelers seeking authentic experiences.

The picture-perfect coastal village of Roundstone is located just over an hour’s drive from Galway city. It also makes a perfect base for circumnavigating the rest of Connemara, and is filled with award-winning pubs, restaurants and craft makers—surrounded by stunning landscapes with the backdrop of Bertraghboy Boy and the Twelve Bens mountains standing guard in the distance.

Of course, we highly recommend a stay at Within the Village. From the outset, our vision for transforming these century-old buildings, a former pub and a guest house, into five luxury self-catering stays—loosely based on the Italian albergo diffuso, in which old buildings are revived and embedded into the community—was to take inspiration from the beautiful surroundings of Connemara. That meant drawing on local materials and craftsmanship, while helping to keep traditions such as basket-making and ceramics alive. When we opened two years ago, we wanted to create the feeling of visiting your friend’s really nice home for a few days, surrounded by beautiful things, comfort, warmth and being looked after with a true Irish welcome and hospitality. 

But even if you don’t stay with us, we’re excited to share our favorite people and places along Connemara’s Great Wild Way, conceived around three coastal drives from Roundstone, with stops along the route. 

And while summer is always a lively time to visit, off-season travel in Ireland can be beautiful and entirely stress-free. There are no lines, no bookings, no crowds. Sometimes you can plan your route according to the weather. Other times it decides it for you!

IN & AROUND ROUNDSTONE

Village life: Just enjoy waking up in the morning and being part of a small rural Irish village. Pop into Colette in Ferrons Grocery & Post Office to buy your newspaper, go across to Seamus in J.J. Wood’s store to buy his wife’s fresh brown bread usually just out of the oven. Call down to the crew in My Coffee Cottage at Roundstone pier for a chat and a nice flat white oat latte. And talk to all the locals who love to see visitors from out of town in the village!

Seaweed bath/sauna: Take an early morning walk to Ervallagh pier for a sea swim, followed by a stop at the Seaweed Baths and Sauna overlooking the Atlantic near  Gurteen Beach. Sink into mineral-rich waters as waves crash on the pier outside for a serene experience that combines natural wellness with breathtaking ocean views.

Shop: At Roundstone Ceramics, watch Seamus Laffan at work at his potter’s wheel and buy some of his crafted pottery to take home. Drop into Roundstone Music and Crafts, the studio and shop of the master bodhran-maker Malachy Kearns, who fashions the traditional handheld Irish drum from goatskin and adds his intricate designs.  

Walk/Hike

Bay walk – Through a secret coastal route at the end of the village opposite the church (enter via the steel gate), you can walk to the famous Gurteen and Dog’s Bays through hidden paths, lanes and across the rocks and a small wooden bridge (45 minutes). 

Errisbeg Mountain – An easy 6km hike starting behind O’Dowd’s pub and restaurant. Enjoy stunning views of Dogs Bay beach, the Twelve Bens and the islands. Large boulders sitting atop the peak offer a great place to take in the view and enjoy a picnic.

Hidden Megalithic Tomb – Just outside Roundstone lies a  5,000-year-old megalithic tomb, tucked away from the main roads. Best explored with a local guide (Michael Gibbons does great local heritage tours—info@walkingireland.com). It’s a place where history, landscape, and legend meet, framed by the sound of the Atlantic. 

The Fort – On the northern approach-road into the village, overlooking Roundstone Bay and Inishnee Island, you’ll encounter a lovely thatched roof on a large stone building called The Fort. In the 1820s-40s, it served as a base for a local wood and iron tradesman, then served as a hospital and workhouse during the Great Famine. In more recent decades, it’s become a private home and recording studio with a few illustrious residents, including Irish author Kate O’Brien, Sting, and now Bill Whelan, the Irish composer of “Riverdance.” 

Eat & Drink: From  King’s Pub, often claimed to pour the best Guinness in Ireland, to  O’Dowd’s with its creamy chowder and crab claws,  Vaughan’s, and  The Shamrock, Roundstone’s pubs are warm, characterful, and known for their seafood. On summer evenings, a seat on “the wall” outside with a pint and the Atlantic view is hard to beat.

WILD ATLANTIC WAY DRIVES

A car or a private tour guide/driver is a must for visiting this region. Here are our favorite villages to stop in along any of these itineraries branching out from Roundstone village. They take you all along the Wild Atlantic Way and incorporate the main things to see, do, shop, eat, etc. 

Itinerary 1 – Galway to Roundstone (1 hr 15 minutes drive without stopping)

Ed note: See our Galway List by The Tweed Project founder Aoibheann McNamara here!

As you leave Galway city and head west along the N59, the built environment quickly falls away and the pretty village of Oughterard marks the gateway to Connemara. If you want to pick up fuel for the trip (or your stay), stop in Oughterard at Sullivans Country Grocery Store for freshly baked goods and a fantastic selection of artisan Irish products. 

Beyond Oughterard, this scenic drive opens up to a tapestry of lakes, rivers, bog, mountains and Connemara’s ever-changing skyscape. Just before the turn off for Roundstone, stop at Joyce’s Craft Shop in the village of Recess, home of Connemara marble and exemplary Irish craft and design since 1895. Traditionally, Connemara was dependent on the sea and small holdings, where the men fished and worked the land whilst the women created additional income through weaving, woolens and craft. Today, they still drive many of the independent arts and crafts industries with an honest and authentic representation of Irish craftsmanship. Joyce’s displays an extensive range of different hand-made crafts from master artisans based all around Ireland and Connemara, including knitwear, Irish blankets, glassware and pottery. It also stocks work by master basket-weaver Joe Hogan and colorfully woven Crios belts  by Liz Christy, along with coveted Connemara green marble and owner Mark Joyce’s own artwork.

The same can be said about food and tourism. The talent of the community of Connemara today has shown resilience and strength that can be seen in the innovative ways it is bringing its unique products to the public. Connections to the sea and the land remain strong on menus, in grocery stores and in visitor experiences. Farmers allow their sheep to roam freely, picking heather from the hillsides and seaweed from the shore, resulting in a delicate and sweet flavour. The standout produce of the area is hill lamb, which has attained PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status, and seafood from the cold, clear waters of the Atlantic—the sweetest black-blue lobster, scallops, crab, cockles, oysters and mussels.

Arriving at Roundstone, arguably Connemara’s most picturesque fishing village, one of the first things you will see in front of the vibrantly painted streetscape and bobbing boats in its harbour is a bright sign for Roundstone Bay & Islands Food Tour. Damien, a fourth-generation fisherman with his captivating storytelling, will take you on a personalised tour to unique spots on the bay based on your interests. Each tour is tailored, with options ranging from relaxing on the deserted island of Inishlacken to coastal exploration, wildlife watching, and exciting activities like pulling up lobster pots and cooking the lobster and fresh mussels on the island to wash down with a pint of creamy Guinness. 

Itinerary 2 – Letterfrack, Kylemore Abbey and Connemara National Park Loop (Approx 2 hours of driving) 

From Roundstone, drive toward Letterfrack and take the famed scenic lakeside road, past Lough Inagh. It is an amazing drive with bog on both sides, silvery ponds and the Twelve Bens mountains in the distance. It was this beauty that attracted Mitchell Henry, who in 1868 built Kylemore Castle, his extraordinary neo-gothic home and walled garden. It’s now known as Kylemore Abbey, having been a Benedictine monastery since the 1920s, and a visit is a must. There is a wonderful interactive visitor experience that tells the stories of the many generations of people who have lived, worked, studied and prayed inside Kylemore Abbey’s solid granite walls, and a beautiful craft and design shop where you can pick up soaps and chocolates handmade by the Benedictine nuns, or a piece of the iconic Fuchsia Kylemore Pottery. 

A short stroll from the main buildings of the Abbey  lies the Victorian walled garden, restored to its 19th-century glory. Divided by a mountain stream, the eastern half includes the formal flower garden, glasshouses and the garden bothy, while the western part has a vegetable garden, fruit trees, a rockery and herb garden. The garden also contains a shaded fernery, an important feature of any Victorian garden. Book a tour to enjoy the quiet pathways, rare plants, and mountain views, followed by afternoon tea in a historic setting. Driving through the village of Letterfrack on your left, those who want a design deep-dive can stop and visit the Atlantic Technological University Connemara campus to view the student work and exhibitions at the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology.

Another example of keeping traditions around wood and stone alive in the region, through collaborations with Connemara Marble, Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey.

The Connemara National Park visitor centre is just outside the village, and the park covers some 2,000 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands. Some of the National Park’s mountains, namely Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght, are part of the famous Twelve Bens or Beanna Beola range. The most famous hike is Diamond Hill, a nearly two-hour ascent to a 1,450 summit for views over bays, boglands and pointy peaks.  While the park gets up to 3,000 people a day in high season, that drops to somewhere between 100 to 300 in low season. If you start early enough, you can catch the sunrise and watch the Twelve Bens turn gold as the first light spills across the ocean.

Itinerary 3 – Clifden and Sky Road Loop (40-minute coastal drive to Clifden)

Take the coastal road out of the village, past the church and head for the market town of  Clifden, famous for the annual Connemara pony show in August and guarded by the 12 Bens, where you can gaze out across the beaches and dramatic coastline of this town on the edge.

En route, stop off at Connemara Smokehouse at Ballyconneely pier. Committed to sustainability and the environment, this family have crafted the finest traditionally smoked wild Atlantic seafood for more than 40 years. At the visitor centre, explore the history and importance of the various methods used for smoking and experience first-hand the difference they make in the texture, flavour and quality of our products through the food tasting experience, paired with a glass of wine or artisanal Irish apple juice. 

Clifden has a range of colourful shops, from art spaces like The Whitethorn Gallery to antiques shops to high end craft and tourist souvenirs. For six generations, Stanleys of Clifden have supplied the best quality knitwear, footwear and wool products.

Make sure to stock up on fresh local produce from Connemara Hamper, a well-stocked specialty food store highlighting local food and its provenance. The small Friday market on the square consists of a bit of everything, from vegetables to shoes and a few rugs thrown in for good measure—there is the tiny fish truck (with a queue from early morning) selling the best crabmeat in the world.

From town, take the 16km Sky Road driving loop, which takes in outstanding scenery and provides panoramic views over Clifden Bay and its offshore islands. There is a Lower and Upper Sky Road (take the Upper!) and both need to be driven  with caution  as the roads are narrow.  You’ll find a Wild Atlantic Way discovery point at the highest section of the Sky Road Loop.  It’s especially impressive at sunset, when the golden light adds a dash of magic to the scenery. 

Off to the distance you can see Omey Island. Just off  Claddaghduff,  Omey Island  reveals its pristine sands only at low tide. Drive across the firm sands to a beach that feels untouched and far away from the crowds. Time your visit for August to witness the annual  horse-racing event held right on the shoreline. But watch the tides, since when the tide comes in, your car can get stuck!

The post The Connemara List appeared first on Yolo Journal.

Dylan Don, photographer

Born in Munich, Dylan left the city for boarding school at 11, went on to study photography, film and media at Cambridge, and remained in London for nearly 8 years. He only returned to Munich a handful of years ago to care for his ailing father, and surprised himself by deciding to stay. “I like Munich because it’s beautiful, safe, clean, and very well located for traveling in and out, especially for people who like to drive across the mountains to Italy, Austria and Switzerland,” he says. “Plus I had all my childhood friends here.” He also likes that it hasn’t changed much in all that time: “It’s a little more international, with lots of trade fairs and concerts and a good airport hub—a little like Milan, perhaps. But essentially unchanged.” He lives in the Borgenhausen neighborhood, in the green and peaceful center of the city. 

EAT/DRINK

Breakfast

I don’t eat breakfast, but there’s a good place next to my house that has become very cool called Marks Feinkost. It’s like a little grocery store with a café and restaurant, both indoor and outdoor seating, opened by interesting people. I love to keep it clean with their scrambled eggs with bacon, avocado, olive oil, pepperoncino and lime. And really nice coffee. They just opened a little back room for fine dining as well.

Lunch

Schumann’s Tagesbar. This is the day/café location of Schumann’s, Munich’s legendary bar. It’s in the center of town and they only have four or five things on the menu, always very good, a bit like home cooking—a pasta, sandwich, curry, nice sausage or steak. And they have amazing drinks, if you feel like a little sneaky lunch cocktail or glass of wine. The vibe is super straightforward.

The post The Munich List appeared first on Yolo Journal.

I remember the exact moment that I pulled the laminated spine of Fodor’s Savannah from the bookshelf at Barnes & Noble my senior year of high school. I sat down in the middle of the aisle as my mind filled with visions of Spanish moss, ghosts in lace (Chloe) dresses and gracious porches. I watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil that night and fell in love. This is not the way you fall in love with, say, New York or Los Angeles—centers of commerce and culture that quickly shape exciting young careers. This was a steamy primal lust for the Muses. Muses that smell like spray starch and battered Weejuns.

Savannah oozes beauty and sadness and poetry and history and art. I have lived here for over twenty years. Every single day that I am home, I see a new building that I want to squeeze, renovate, or decorate—and, then, I daydream about the parties. Savannah is the Hostess City of the South.

I now split my time between Savannah and New York City and I’m often asked for my notes. Here they are in no particular order:

Fall is the perfect season to visit. Check the weather as it can be hot as hell way into October.  Savannah children are known to strip from their Halloween costumes after the first block. Another great time is early spring, when bursting azaleas reclaim entire lanes of some streets in disobedience of their wonderland medians.

Stay at Bardo, Savannah’s newest hotel. It has a 1960s spirit, a cozy bar and a glamorous pool. I suggest friends book the poolside suites with private terraces. You can swim well into November.

Map a route but leave lots of room for your inner flâneur. I enjoy walking through Olmstead-designed Forsyth Park and down Bull Street, the epicenter of downtown. Make a Johnny Mercer playlist and sing along to Savannah’s native son. You might Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive as you circle the iconic fountain. Surprises await.

Savannah is a drinking city. Walk around with an open container in the Historic District. It’s an excellent time to rethink bourbon. I like The Original Pinky Masters for a dive or Artillery for refined. Timex or Rolex, stay clear of the center.

Make sure you don’t miss these annual happenings in the park full of music and food and local fodder: Symphony in the Park, Shalom Y’all Jewish Festival, The Greek Festival and every Saturday is an excellent farmer’s market with little sussies to bring home. The Savannah Film Festival throughout SCAD’s historic theaters on Broughton Street is always the last weekend of October through the first weekend of November. It premiers all of the new splashy films plus SCAD student work.

SCAD Museum of Art is first on your list. The Andre Leon Talley exhibition is on view into January 2026. The Vogue editor and icon was a long time supporter of the college and this is sure to offer an intimate glimpse into his extraordinary life.

If you are a Midnight fan, The Mercer Williams House is well worth the frustration of a guided tour. The Renaissance revival home c.1860 remains full of Jim Williams’ famed antique treasure.

The Owens Thomas House & Slave Quarters, a Neoclassical mansion c.1819,  offers architecture and history through the lens of the wealthy homeowners as well as the enslaved people who lived there. The dining room is spectacular.

Jonathan Stalcup is an extraordinary guide to the architectural history of the Historic District. He hosts walking tours and will work with you on a route that suits your interests. His company is called Architectural Savannah. This is a serious academic tour. PSA: I can’t think of anything more torturous for a young child.

Book a dressy dinner at Elizabeth on 37th. I like to sit in the dining room to the right of the entrance against the porch.

An evening at The Grey is the most stylish option by far. Start with cocktails and oysters in the diner car and then sit for dinner in the 1938 Greyhound bus station which showcases Mashama Bailey’s “Port City Southern” dishes. Watch her Chef’s Table Season 6 Episode for homework and a sense of place. They also have a kicked-back Sunday brunch.

If you can wait for a community table at Mrs. Wilke’s Boarding House absolutely covered in delicious country cooking… remember:  patience is a (tourist) virtue. The line wraps all the way around picturesque Jones Street. Bring a book and a smile.

Death & Company just opened Municipal Grand in a googie ‘60s building where all locals used to pay their water bills in person. Their bar serves a “Jalisco Swizzle” with mezcal (I’m a Texan) in long glass with lots of ice. The perfect cure for unsightly souvenir shops seen along the way. 

Sit at the bar at Brochu’s in the Starland Yard neighborhood. They are known for the best fried chicken in the state. It’s hip but not too complicated or cutesy. The whole chicken dinner and the Little Gem Big Crunch salad could be my last meal. It’s loud so choose this for the end of the trip when you’re not interested in talking.

If you’re in the neighborhood, don’t miss Common Thread for farm-to-table (think Olmstead in Brooklyn) and Late Air if you like natural wine, Basque cheese cake, and wear a wool beanie in June. It’s at the end of my block and a go-to.

Save a late afternoon for Tybee Island, which is less than 20 minutes from Bardo. Park at the Back River Beach at the end of Fisherman’s Walk and explore to the left. If you’re sporty, loop the island. I prefer to turn around at sunset and have a drink. Begin the night at Sea Wolf, which has hipster hot dog vibes and oyster costumes in the men’s room. They also have a delicious kale salad and cold noodles, the only place you’ll find Sancerre. End the night at The Sugar Shack with any one of their thirty ice cream flavors dripping down the dash of your rental car. You can also tie one on at AJs, bring a tambourine and a second wind. Uber home.

Call Island Shuttle Boat Tours and book a morning with Captain Dan Folds. Cruise around and past the Isle of Hope, of pirate booty legend, and house hunt on the picturesque bluff. Take a dip in the divine brackish—it builds character—swim past (but not in, please!—alligators) the Lowcountry marsh grasses. Dock at The Wyld for the world’s best fried shrimp for lunch on the water but in the shade. If you’re an indoor pet, it is the best way to experience the marsh landscape without dedicating a day to sweat. However, Savannah is sweat.

Cathy Thomas, Savannah Healing Arts, will give you the massage of your life. I’m only sharing this because none of you have time for a massage on this trip.

The Hearse Ghost Tours website advertises Dad Jokes. The Pedal Pub is a giant bike that accommodates group parties my friend dubbed the “Whooooo… Girls”—always on bachelorette weekends. Both of these local businesses can be booked for private parties. Make your own route, write your own script. It is a screaming blast. I once hired the open-air hearse to transport out-of-town guests to and from a dinner party at my house.

Take a pedicab everywhere. Tip well and keep the same cyclist all weekend.

You will need a car or tour guide for Bonaventure Cemetery, with its windswept Spanish moss, ancient oaks, and elegant monuments. Johnny Mercer is buried here and the (real) Moon River is not far.

Late airport arrivals should book a car in advance. Taxis and Ubers are scarce if your delay leans to late night. Or, you’ll have to ride share with 10 flight attendants and stop at every Hilton along the way.

If you do visit in fall, remember that locals have just survived a hot and oppressive summer. Slow-vannah is a small price to pay for the magic in the coastal air.

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Few places in the world not only root themselves in memory, but weave into your very being. For me, that place is Ibiza—my beloved Mediterranean escape.

The island and I have a beautifully long history. Not only does it hold a very special place in my heart, but also in my personal evolution as a woman, a wife, a mother and, thanks to the many summers I’ve spent dancing the night away to my husband’s DJ sets, a raver!

It’s difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t felt the pull of this Balearic island. It isn’t only the rugged coastline and crystalline waters, the soul-stirring music, or the perfectly pink to orange sunsets overlooking Es Vedra that seem to suspend time. It’s something deeper. A magnetic energy. A quiet magic that burrows into your spirit and never lets go. Like so many others, our family found this island, and the island, in turn, found us. 

A Long Love Affair

I first set foot on this enigmatic island 25 years ago, in the summer before Victor and I were married, and from that moment on, it has quietly shaped me.

In those early years, when Victor was playing Amnesia, Space, or Pacha, our trips were brief, rooted only in nightlife. We were tourists, dipping in and out, and the island never truly revealed herself to us. Or maybe we just weren’t looking in the right places. It wasn’t until much later—after years spent raising our son, Jivan, and building a business—that we returned to see the island through a different lens. Ready to show up for all the beauty and freedom the island has to offer, not just simply pass through it. That shift changed everything, allowing us to understand why this island is a magnet for artists, changemakers, pioneers, mavericks, and dreamers. There is a reason the island’s mythical goddess, Tanit, represents dance, fertility, sexuality, and creativity! I feel her spirit deep within every time I’m there.

This summer, we stayed for seven weeks, our longest stint yet. We tucked ourselves into a finca high in the hills of Sant Josep, wrapped in bougainvillea in bloom, the breezy sway of pine trees, cicadas in their hypnotic chorus, and the heady scent of lemon and orange groves.

Our days fell into their own rhythm: our dog Tuco darting through the fields chasing geckos, me unrolling my mat for morning yoga, Jivan making music by the pool before planning nights out with friends, and Victor deepening connections with fellow DJs. Because of the legendary DJ line-ups, so many artists call Ibiza home for the season, making it one of those rare places where they can hear one another play. Late afternoons took us to seaside chiringuitos, to hidden coves for a sunset dip, or on hikes across lunar-like landscapes, stumbling upon caves above glassy turquoise water.

Layers of a Life Here

After the last three years of committing to this island, we’ve built a real community here, foundational friendships, and solid connections with farmers, artists, purveyors, musicians, chefs, club owners, healers, and families from across the globe who now feel like kin. We found our people, we found our places. Because Ibiza isn’t only about beaches or parties; it’s about the people who root you here.

These connections have not only brought me to a deep love of Ibiza but also back to myself. They’ve nudged me to let go again, to dance again, to lose myself in both nature and nightlife because that is who I am at my core. Nightlife is how Victor and I met; house music was Jivan’s lullaby as a baby. It is who we are as a family. This summer, Victor played a legendary set at Circoloco at DC10 with me, Jivan, and both of our friends in the booth. The energy behind him and on the dance floor was electric. I felt not only unbridled joy but also deep pride. Pride in Vic, of course, but also in staying true to ourselves. House music runs through our veins. It always has, and it always will. What began as a holiday destination has become something far greater—a mirror of our evolution.

In fact, Ibiza has always been tied to our son, Jivan’s story. In 2003, when he was just six months old, the north of the island became his first European holiday. I remember him bobbing in a yellow float in the pool, getting stung by a bee—my first clumsy parenting lesson. That same day, he discovered his feet (with his mouth!) and tasted sparkling water for the first time as the sun sank into the horizon.

Two decades later, we returned to that very part of the island as a family, Tuco bounding beside us, for a five-hour sunset hike. Only this time it was Jivan nudging me forward, daring me to take risks, to leap off cliffs with him into the sea. That full-circle moment—from his first holiday here as a baby, to DJing his first villa party this summer, and then leading me into adventure on those same northern cliffs—felt like a story only Ibiza could write.

And the fact that at 22, he still wants to holiday with us? That speaks to the closeness we share. In many ways, house music—Victor’s career, Jivan’s music path, the soundtrack of our family life—has been the thread that keeps us bound together. Ibiza is the place where that thread feels strongest.

Ibiza’s Revelations

If there’s one truth I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: Ibiza reveals herself when you show up for her. When you commit to her people, her rhythm, her nature. Only then does she begin to hold you. And while admittedly I do often need to set some boundaries while there, it is a place that allows me to roam free with its lack of boundaries. Sometimes you just need to lean in!

While some lament that Ibiza has changed, I see her growth as an evolution to celebrate the expansion of the restaurant scene, the embrace of we llness, and the preservation of her raw beauty. Yes, Ibiza is music and nightlife, but it is also a sanctuary: of food, of nature, of connection, of unshakable beauty. 

For us, Ibiza is no longer just a holiday. It is home.

OUR GUIDE TO IBIZA

Now that we’ve laid roots here and become part of the community, I’d love to share some of the places and experiences that make this island so special to us—the meals worth lingering over, the hikes that take your breath away, the beaches for late-day swims, the excursions that uncover hidden corners, the workouts that ground me, the hotels we adore, and of course, the nightlife!

The post The Ibiza List appeared first on Yolo Journal.

Since—depending on mood (and weather)—you might be up for a brisk weekend alongside an empty-ish beach, or a mountain hike with a whisky by a roaring fire, we divided our list into coastal destinations and hilly ones, all easily drivable from NYC. And while we cover a lot of ground here, from the North Fork of Long Island to The Berkshires in Massachusetts, there are many other places we’ve written about previously, so have a look at our Delaware County List, Finger Lakes List, Upstate NY List, Litchfield CT List, Hudson Valley Dispatch, and Hudson Valley by Train stories, as well as our NYC Black Book, for our network’s favorite addresses in the city. 

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Years ago, my husband and I bought a house project in the tiny town of Saint-Yzans-de-Médoc, about an hour and 15 minutes north of Bordeaux, close to the Gironde River and roughly a 30-minute ride to the closest Atlantic beach. (I wrote about it a bit in this post.) It’s such a beautiful and relatively untouched area, but doesn’t have the quintessential charming villages that so many equate with France. It is much more wild, with miles of empty beaches, pine forests and vineyards. For first-time visitors, I recommend visiting in the summer, when there are many more options for things to do, as many places are closed for the rest of the year. Another summer highlight is the night market concept—marche nocturne—which many villages have weekly on certain nights in July and August. Size and vibe depends on the town (ours in Maréchale on Sunday nights has a DJ or band and lots of food trucks, whereas the St. Christoly one on Wednesdays is supposed to be a bit more chic), but they’re fun and a great way to see the local community let loose. If you’re in the area on a weekend (or, frankly, anywhere in the French countryside on a weekend), check out the Vide Grenier app to see if there is an “empty the attic” happening. I’ve found some real treasures over the years! Lastly, if you’re renting a house, don’t forget to look up the farmer’s markets near you, and what days they happen—they are incredible, and they are held year round.

I’ve broken this list into sections since, if you’re coming this way, you’re likely doing a road trip and will want to experience different areas. Consider that the Médoc is a peninsula that is 80 km long and 10 km across. On one side of the peninsula—the east side—close to the Gironde Estuary, you’ll find most of the grand châteaux. On the west side, you have the Atlantic and a much more casual beach culture—from surfer to old-world beach vibes. My list below goes from south to north in a loop, beginning north of Bordeaux (my Bordeaux List is here) in the wine country, continuing north to the top of the peninsula, and then looping south on the west (ocean) side. Before you go anywhere, be sure to check the hours and opening days! (Most recent update July 31, 2025)

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The Cotswolds are, of course, synonymous with English country charm—the sheep-dotted rolling hills, the butterscotch-colored stone cottages and historic houses inhabited by the same families for centuries, the pubs where you can eat roast pork and crackling with a pint beside a roaring fire. But what we didn’t expect when we reached out to our friends and network who live there—many of whom uprooted themselves and their families from London after falling in love with the region—were their endorsements of the thriving creative energy and community that has formed around food, craft, hospitality and retail that more than equals the caught-in-time vibes. In short, old and new mix easily here—a “Designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” spanning 800 sq. miles across six counties, mainly Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. And summertime sounds especially magical: swimming in a freezing river at golden hour; village life humming with dog shows, pony clubs, and circus tents; estates opening their gates for garden tours; and villages bustling with farmers and antiques markets. 

Since it’s a region where the best discoveries are strictly word of mouth, we tapped several friends and contacts who live in different parts of the Cotswolds, and asked them to lean into their greatest interests. A big thank you to Team Cotswolds, below! 

Amanda Brooks is a writer, creative director, and the former fashion director of Barneys NY, who traded New York City for life on a farm in Oxfordshire with her husband and their two kids more than a decade ago. The author of books I Love Your Style, Always Pack a Party Dress, and Farm From Home, she also helmed the country lifestyle shop and brand Cutter Brooks from 2018 to 2025. She is currently plotting her next chapter. (Hear about it by signing up for her newsletter!)

Carole Bamford, the founder of Daylesford Organic, has been a champion of sustainable, mindful living for over 40 years, driven by her profound belief that we need to work in harmony with nature. As the founder of Daylesford Organic, she is recognised as a visionary in organic farming and food retail. What began as a collection of empty barns and fields has grown to become one of the UK’s most sustainable organic farms, and an extensive collection of pubs and cottages in the Cotswolds. 

Duncan Campbell is the co-founder of art and design atelier Campbell-Rey. Working fluently between residential and commercial interiors, furniture design and artistic projects, his work is a celebration of conviviality, colour, and exceptional craftsmanship. Luke Edward Hall is an artist, designer and columnist whose philosophy is shaped by his love of storytelling, nature and fantasy. He’s also the creative director of Chateau Orlando, a clothing and homewares brand, the author of three books, and a weekly columnist for FT Weekend. They began renting a cottage on the edge of an estate bordering Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire in 2019 after many years in London, having fallen in love with its views across fields and a valley.

Fiona Howden, is a committed steward of sustainable rural living and co-manager of Cornbury House Farm in Oxfordshire, where she and her husband, David Howden, have practiced regenerative agriculture since moving to the Cotswolds in 2017. Under her guidance, the estate has grown from a small kitchen garden into a thriving enterprise producing high-quality beef, lamb, pork, and vegetables—all rooted in biodiversity and soil health.

Lily Atherton Hanbury, the co-founder & creative director of Le Monde Béryl, is based in West Oxfordshire, where she creates some of our favorite shoes inspired by classic shapes, from gondolier slippers to riding boots. She says, “Fifteen years ago, when I was pregnant with my second child, Birdie, we rented a cottage in the Cotswolds through the Gifford family of Giffords Circus. What started as a temporary escape from London reminiscent of Withnail and I has become our life.”

James Priestley, the proprietor of William Crabtree & Sons, is the great-great-great-grandson of the original William Crabtree, who started his eponymous Yorkshire mill in 1835, and oversees the menswear and tailoring house, originally from its flagship in Marylebone. Seven years ago, he moved from London to a village near Burford in the Cotswolds, where he lives with his wife, two young sons and black labrador, and just opened a second store last month. 

Katharine Sohn, is a travel and lifestyle journalist who began her career at Condé Nast Traveller, where she honed her eye for detail and love of under-the-radar places. She now contributes to AD, British Vogue, House & Garden and Monocle, among others, while creatively collaborating with brands in the travel and design space. Once London-based, she now lives in a tiny village in the Cotswolds, in a charming stone cottage where tractors and combine harvesters often pass by her window.

Harry Llewellyn and his brother Edge are the proprietors of Stancombe Park, a private late-Georgian estate unchanged for 200+ years and famed for its lakes, tunnels, grotto and ice-house. Their grandparents bought the property—with 300 acres of rolling parkland and woodlands—and they have been restoring houses and barns on it to rent. We learned of it from our friend Gael Towey, who wrote about her stay, and noted that in addition to opening their own grounds (which include a Doric Temple that inspired “Brideshead Revisited”), the brothers organize guided tours to the very best of Cotswolds’ heritage and hidden gardens, rich in architectural variety and hosted by their owners. 

Tim Yates moved to Charlbury in the North Cotswolds from London in 2019 with his wife, Anstice, an art consultant, and their one-year-old daughter. Now a father of three (two daughters and a son), he commutes to London, where he is a buyer and retail director at Trunk Clothiers.

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