Vogue ’s Top 5 Travel Stories of 2018
Where did you go in 2018? If you forgot to journal or take enough Instagrams while en route, the end of the year is another chance to take stock of the voyages and destinations that mattered most. At Vogue, our year-end faves are defined by you, the reader: These were our most popular travel stories of 2018, with top honors going to a much-deserving but under-covered city: Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As Christina Pérez writes of her hometown, “Of course, many longtime residents will tell you that Milwaukee has always been cool: a Midwestern city that feels like a coastal one, where sailboats bob in the harbor and golden beaches stretch along a shockingly blue shore.” An urge to discover is what ties all of our most popular stories together, whether it’s finding the prettiest corners in a well-traveled spot or considering which country is poised to see more visitors in the future. And while these are the top travel stories of the past year, hopefully they’ll inspire the start of a fresh list going into 2019.
1. Why Milwaukee Is the Midwest’s Coolest (and Most Underrated) City
Milwaukee is no longer the best-kept secret of the midwest. Its business-owners say the city has a buzz around it now, with a low cost of living, tons of cultural activities, and a diverse population. Highlights include the views of Lake Michigan, the iconic Calatrava-designed Milwaukee Art Museum, and a set of great restaurants serving both farm-to-table vegetarian and more traditional food—best paired with a local craft beer.
2. A Guide to the Most Instagram-Worthy Places in London
Siobhan Ferguson, the founder of the Instagram account Pretty City London, has found the most idyllic corners in the city, from flower shops to cafés that provide respite from the British capital city’s typically grey days. Whether you’re going for fashion week, or just for fun, these are a few of the most photogenic places to go.
3. By 2030, This Will Be The Most Visited Country in the World
2018 was a big year for tourism in China, and it’s only set to grow. Euromonitor International calculates that the country will become the most visited country by 2030. The government has been investing in infrastructure that will improve the visitor experience, and a number of luxury hotels opened in Shanghai this year, from the Bulgari to the Middle House.
4. Why Fly All The Way to Iceland? Colorado Has Some of the Best Hot Springs Around
Travel to Iceland is all the rage (a new spa on the Blue Lagoon is worth the trip if you still haven’t been), but for Americans, the same gorgeous wilderness is reachable without a passport. Colorado has a Historic Hot Springs Loop that turns a road trip into a healing excursion.
5. A Guide to Call Me by Your Name’s Enchanting Northern Italian Setting
The Oscar-winning film set its romantic plot “somewhere in Northern Italy,” inspiring its audience to find that sweeping beauty for themselves. Here, though no love story is guaranteed, a guide to finding a sense of paradise in the area.
