1. Top 10 Places to Visit
Braelee Rus

2. Reykjavik, Iceland
The sun currently sets around midnight and rises at 2:30 a.m.,
so you have nearly 24 hours of light to explore the beautiful,
otherworldly landscape. We recommend renting a car and
driving out to Gullfoss—the country’s most famous (and most
impressive) waterfall— before heading for a soak in the Blue
Lagoon. Once back in the city center, vintage shopping is a
must, with stores like Spuutnik offering an almost
overwhelmingly large inventory.

3. Mexico City
Mexico’s capital—locally known as the DF, or
“Distrito Federal”—is usually overlooked in favor of
beachy getaways in Tulum or Baja California. But
Mexico City is more exciting than ever: so big,
sprawling, and full of cutting-edge art that you could
easily make multiple visits and not see it all.

4. North Coast of Brazil
Northern Brazil is on the cusp of an explosion in
tourism from the U.S., so traveling there now—to the
LGBT-friendly, beach-lined states of Rio Grande do
Norte, Ceará, and Pernambuco—means you’re
ahead of the trend. Expect to hear more about this
region, as Brazilian airline TAM is looking to create a
hub in one of these three cities to expand its service
around northern Brazil (and the region) to North
America. The weather is also ideal right now: sunny
and in the low 80s, on average.

5. Chicago
Aside from the near-perfect weather in August? Chicago's
food scene is having a moment (with a few notable James
Beard awards this year to back up the praise). The 606,
an elevated park being compared to NYC's High Line, just
opened, and a big new Lagunitas brewery will keep you
well hydrated.

6. Costa Rica’s Pacific Side
The lush, Jurassic Park side of Costa
Rica is now very convenient for a quick
vacation, thanks to a state-of-the-art
airport terminal at Liberia and new
resorts like the Andaz Peninsula
Papagayo. Travelers interested in eco-
adventuring will find hikes to volcanoes
and waterfalls in great supply, and the
drive to Tamarindo is a favorite road trip
for surfers intent on Pacific breaks.

7. Panama
When the Panama Canal celebrated its centennial on
August 15, 2014, the country partied for greater reason
than the success of that maritime shortcut; Panama as
a whole has managed to become an attraction to travel
to and not just through. It’s an aviation hub for Central
America, and an easy connection for continuing travel
to South America.

8. Cuba
There’s no time like the present to travel to Cuba, which
was also one of our top destinations of 2015. The door
has been opened for U.S. travelers who fall under one of
12 categories—for the time being. While the Obama
administration has eased restrictions, general American
tourism to Cuba is still prohibited, and the Republican-led
Congress may not favor lifting the tourism ban and
embargo in the near future.

9. Milan
With Expo Milano running through October, all
eyes are on Italy's fashion capital. It has more
vitality than ever: drawing crowds (and Traveler's
top editors) all summer long with its mix of arts,
culture, food, and see-and-be-seen events. Men's
Fashion Week just wrapped, but September's
main event isn't too far off.

10. Istria, Croatia
Ruled for centuries by Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, and
Austrians, the heart-shaped Istrian Peninsula of Croatia is
truly a multi-cultural surprise at the top of the Adriatic. Have a
taste of the Italian-inflected seaside towns of Rovinj, Porec,
and Pula (its 1st-century amphitheater sat up to 20,000—a
summertime film festival is held here annually, as well as a
weekly recreation of gladiator fights). Then make sure to
explore the bucolic interior and historic hilltop towns,
Motovun being our favorite. Be sure to nibble on the area’s
prized black truffles and sip award–winning local wines along
the way.

11. Choquequirao, Peru
Machu Picchu's 'sister city' and its near equal
when it comes to perfectly preserved royal Incan
archeological sites only receives about five
visitors a day (as opposed to the government
capped 2,500 daily visitors to Machu Picchu). But
that's all about to change with the construction of
a tram that will make the 12–16 hour hike a one-
hour jaunt a half mile above the Apurimac River.
With the tram set to open in 2016, now is the
time to visit these majestic ruins in near-solitude
with nothing to spoil the vast panorama but the
occasional condor soaring over head.