Hobart

Hobart is small with a population of just over 225,000, but in recent years has become a food and wine hub. We used this former British penal colony as a starting point for a road trip up the eastern coast.

Winters are cold in Tasmania. If you are going June through August bundle up!

EAT

Jack Greene Bar Cosy pub on the wharf with outdoor seating, local beers and good burgers.

Maharaja India Restaurant Casual, BYOB restaurant serving up tasty Indian.

DRINK

Preachers Hip pub with board games, a fireplace and an outdoor beer garden. Recommended by a friend.

Republic Bar & Grill Popular dive with live music.

PLAY

Mt. Wellington Drive to the top or hike up before sunset to admire views of the city and the River Derwent.

Salamanca Wharf Explore the shops and pubs in this main area. On Saturdays there is a local market.

STAY

No where should be too far from the central district. We rented a car and stayed at Rydges Hobart, a four star hotel in North Hobart with pretty views of the city, and about a 25 minute walk to Salamanca.

Hobart

View of Hobart from Mt. Wellington

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Sydney

Sydney represents the best of New York City and Los Angeles - incredible restaurants and nightlife, excellent shopping, fabulous weather and world class beaches.

A visa is required for most nationalities to enter Australia and can be obtained through the Australian Department of Home Affairs online in advance.

While Sydney is beautiful any time of year, the summer months of December through February are the busiest and most expensive time to visit.

Acquire and load an Opal card to access all public transportation - buses, trains and ferries. Uber is cheaper than taxis..

If it is your first trip to Australia, check out the book Tracks by Robyn Davidson, to better understand the challenges of living on the world’s driest continent (after Antarctica).

EAT

The Beresford Chic pub in Surry Hills with a leafy, garden patio.

The Glenmore Hotel Traditional, three-story pub in The Rocks, one of the oldest parts of town, with a beautiful view of the harbor.

Hugo’s Manly Go for the beach, stay for the pizza and cocktails.

DRINK

The Argyle Hip bar and lounge in a large 1820s building and courtyard in The Rocks.

Burdekin Hotel in Darlinghurst In the heart of the gayborhood, this is a fun place for a night cap.

The Sheaf Sprawling pub and beer garden in Double Bay known for its music.

The Taphouse in Darlinghurst Great craft beers and live music.

PLAY

The Blue Mountains Head west two hours by train for a day hike with stunning views of rolling mountains, waterfalls and eucalyptus forests.

Ferry from Circular Quay to Manly or Watson’s Bay

The Hunter Valley Head north for wine tastings in the bush.

Hyde Park and the Royal Botanic Garden Pack a picnic to enjoy on the lawns while admiring views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Oxford Street in Paddington Great shopping. Skip the masses on Market Street in the CBD and head to Paddo. Check out Paddington Market, an outdoor, multi-vendor market.

Newtown Sydney’s hipster capital. Check out King Road’s used bookstores, thrift shops and Middle Eastern and African food.

Paddy's Market Novelty souvenirs and produce at this Chinatown institution.

Sydney Beaches Explore world class beaches from Bondi to Maroubra. The six kilometer coast walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach is one of the prettiest in the world. Swim between the flags on the beach.

Sydney Opera House

STAY

For good food, shopping and easy access to the CBD, stay in one of the trendy neighborhoods of Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Paddington or Woolloomooloo.

For beach-life and relaxation, any of the beach towns from Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee will do.

Sydney

LOCATIONS NEARBY

The Cotswolds

The quaintest countryside towns you ever did see! The Cotswolds offer stunning vistas of magical, sheep-dotted farms and hills. Visit the Cotswolds any time of year. Driving is the easiest, but it is possible to train from London to Moreton-on-Marsh, with a stopover in Oxford.

If you are driving from London, carve out a few hours to tour the great house and grounds of World Heritage site Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’s ancestral home.

EAT

The Cotswold Cheese Company With locations in Moreton-on-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford, this shop stocks locally made farmhouse and artisan cheeses. Try the Stilton!

The Cotswold Chocolate Company Locally, handmade chocolates with natural ingredients. Shops in Broadway and Stow-on-the-Wold.

The Peacock Oxhill 15th century pub a 10 minute drive from the villages of Upper and Lower Tysoe in the northern Cotswolds. Great for lunch or dinner.

The Swan Pub + Restaurant 16th century pub (with a remaining, exposed wall!) in Broadway with delicious food and an outdoor garden.

Sweet Memory’s Homemade fudge in Bourton-on-the-Water.

DRINK

The Bell Inn Traditional pub in Moreton-in-Marsh’s with an outdoor beer garden. The pub is rumored to have served as inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Prancing Pony” pub in Middle Earth.

Lucy’s Tea Room Adorable spot in Stow-on-the-Wold. Take tea in the garden.

Lygon Wine Bar Chic, cozy wine bar in Broadway with a roaring fire.

The Swan Hotel in Bibury Peaceful place for afternoon tea on the River Coln in the picturesque town of Bibury. Try the local trout.

PLAY

Broadway Tower This one mile, uphill hike from Broadway’s high street to the Cotswold’s tallest castle offers stunning views of the town below.

Hike through the villages and countryside Many of the villages are near each other and connected by trails. Stow-on-the-Wold, the Slaughters, and Bourton-on-the-Water are all within easy walking distance from each other.

Shop the medieval, honeycomb-colored villages Visitors will be treated to local, homemade specialties, including jams, honeys, chutneys, mustards and more.

St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold The medieval church’s west door is said to have captured J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination in creating “The Doors of Durin”.

STAY

AirBnB a cozy cottage We’ve enjoyed stays at Honeysuckle Cottage in Tysoe and Old Sheepcote in Broadway.

Old Farm This 15th century B&B is a working farm and a mile’s walk through sheep fields to the Moreton-in-Marsh town and train station.

The Cotswolds

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Kigali

The capital of Rwanda, Kigali is the gateway to the land of a thousand hills. While still recovering from the 1994 genocide and civil war, Rwandans have worked hard to establish peace and rebuild. Today this tiny East African nation is well-known as a safe and stable place to do business.

Many nationalities are able to apply for single-entry visas on arrival. You may need to show proof of yellow fever vaccination to enter Rwanda.

Plastic carrier bags are banned and airport security will scan your bags before you depart the airport. Leave them on the plane or throw them away before you exit the luggage carousel.

If you are deciding whether to go to Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo to see mountain gorillas, choose Rwanda. It’s safer, and while more expensive, the Rwandans truly treasure their gorillas (so much so that the government hosts a naming ceremony for the babies every September).

If you have only a few hours in Kigali, do visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The memorial and museum honor the one million Rwandans murdered in the 1994 genocide and are a powerful reminder of the triumph of the human spirit.

If it is your first time to Rwanda or East Africa, we highly recommend reading Jacqueline Novogratz’s The Blue Sweater to better understand the local context of the country and region. For other great books by African authors, check out Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie’s Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun, both about Nigeria. We also love Alexandra Fuller’s memoir, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight.

EAT

Heaven Restaurant Open air restaurant known for its Rwandan and international cuisine. It is also a social enterprise with an artisan boutique on site.

DRINK

Cafe Neo Hip, rooftop cafe popular with the ex-pat community. Try delicious, Rwandan coffee and stock up on a few bags to bring home. Other good brands are Gorilla and Maraba.

Hotel des Mille Collines Take in one of the best panoramic views of Kigali with a drink from the pool bar. During the 1994 genocide, the manager of the Mille Collines famously sheltered and saved over one thousand Rwandans.

PLAY

Haute Baso A social enterprise sourcing high-quality apparel, accessories and home decor from local women artisans.

Kimironko Market One of Kigali’s busiest markets, pick up everything from your daily produce, cooking, hardware supplies and beautiful local crafts and baskets.

Volcanoes Safaris Plan a 4-7 day luxury retreat into the hills with the mountain gorillas.

STAY

5 Swiss Hotel Clean and bright boutique guesthouse. Location is close to everything and the staff are lovely.

Kigali Marriott Hotel Palatial and new, its down the street from the 5 Swiss and a bit cheaper than the Serena.

Kigali Serena Hotel Five star glam and celeb spotting, but hard to justify the cost.

Kigali

LOCATIONS NEARBY

Marrakech

With its winding, narrow passage ways, smoky souks, bright-eyed peddlers and crumbling Islamic architecture, a visit to Marrakech’s medina is like stepping back into medieval Arabia.

While Marrakech is amazing, real Morocco lies beyond its cities. We spent three days on a private tour with Rough Tours Morocco traveling to Erg Chebbi in the Sahara Desert. We highly recommend Rough Tours and our guide Youssaf.

The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency. This means you can not obtain dirham before arriving in Morocco or exchange it outside of Morocco. Be sure to exchange any leftover dirhams before leaving for the airport.

Organize airport transfers via your hotel or riad.

EAT

La Relais du Lac About 35 kilometers outside the city, this is a charming, traditional restaurant on Lake Barrage Lalla Takerkoust.

Latitude 31 Romantic outdoor restaurant with delicious traditional food. Try the tagines!

Museu de Marrakech After touring the museum have a simple lunch in the courtyard.

Terrace de Epices Where the cool kids hang. Good music, good vibes on a roof-top stunner. The shops downstairs are fantastic — check out fair trade clothing brand Tribal Chic.

DRINK

While visiting be sure to try the National drink:  moroccan mint tea.

Cafe Arabe Beautiful, casual roof-top. Try for drinks at sunset.

Le Salama Take a break from the bustle of Jemaa el-Fnaa square by escaping to this cozy rooftop for drinks, snacks and gorgeous views of the Atlas Mountains and medina.

Restaurant el Bahia Next door to the Palais de la Bahia. Service is slow but it has a quiet rooftop on which to cool down and rest with a beer.

PLAY

Bab Agnaou Gate One of the most well preserved and beautiful gates inside the Medina.

Ben Yousef Madrasa This former Islamic college is now a historical site with beautiful architecture and design.

Heritage Spa Try the hammam and massage package.

Jardin Marjorelle Stunning botanical garden created by the French artist, Jacques Majorelle. Worth the wait of the queue.

Jemma el-Fnaa Square  The main square and entrance to Marrakesh's medina quarter. It can be overwhelming but a must.

Mellah The spice souk located within the old Jewish quarter.

Palais el Badi An ancient palace built at the end of the sixteenth century. One of our favorite sites in Marrakech! Spend at least an hour inside.

Palais de la Bahia A small palace with gorgeous mosaic work.

Tombeaux Saadiens Grab coffee at a roof-top terrace across the street before going inside.

STAY

If visiting Marrakech for a few days, stay in the medina. For an authentic experience consider staying at a riad, a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard and garden.

Marrakech