From Malta to Minneapolis, a look at where to go in 2018
It's that time of year when travelers start looking ahead to planning vacations in the new year.
By Beth Harpaz, Associated Press
Introduction
Destinations around the world that will be getting attention in 2018 include Pyeongchang, South Korea, hosting the Olympics; Minneapolis, hosting the Super Bowl; Russia, hosting the World Cup; European capitals of culture Leeuwarden in the Netherlands and Valletta in Malta; and two American cities marking tricentennials: San Antonio, Texas, and New Orleans.
FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2016, file photo, street lights are illuminated as a jogger runs around Lake Harriet in a Minneapolis heavy snow storm. Thousands of Super Bowl fans will be in Minneapolis for the Feb. 4 NFL game. The stadium has a state of the art roof but locals are using the slogan "Bold North" to encourage visitors to embrace winter with outdoor activities. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
Associated Press photosSports: Minneapolis and South Korea
Minneapolis hosts the Super Bowl on Feb. 4. The city is encouraging visitors to embrace winter with 10 days of “Bold North” events and activities leading up to the big game. On the other side of the world, the snowy mountains of Pyeongchang, South Korea, host the Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 9-25.
FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2017, file photo, visitors tour near the snow sculpture in the shape of the Olympic rings displaying at the Daegwanryung Snow festival in Pyeongchang, South Korea. South Korea's Pyeongchang is the host city of the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games which will start from February 2018. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
The Associated PressSports: Russia
Eleven cities in Russia — including Moscow and Sochi — host the FIFA World Cup, June 14-July 15. The dates coincide with St. Petersburg’s “white nights,” the summer solstice season when city skies never get completely dark. FIFA reports strong ticket sales from the United States even though the U.S. national team failed to qualify for the games. Host cities include lesser-known gems like Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan, while Yekaterinburg is a good jumping-off point for an adventure in Siberia.
FILE - In this July 3, 2017, file photo, a tanker floats past the Dvortsovy drawbridge rising above the Neva River during White Nights in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Zimny (Winter) palace on the right. White Nights refers to about a month from mid-June to mid-July in St. Petersburg around the time of the summer solstice when the city sky never gets completely dark. St. Petersburg is one of 11 Russian host cities for the 2018 World Cup soccer matches taking place June 14-July 16. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)
The Associated PressTricentennials: San Antonio
Two American cities mark tricentennials in 2018. San Antonio plans a commemoration week in May, a “Summer of Spain” marketplace highlighting Spanish food, art and culture, Day of the Dead events Oct. 29-30 and a Witte Museum exhibition about the city’s frontier history under the flags of many countries. The exhibit will include the keys to the Alamo and Davy Crockett’s fiddle.
FILE - In this March 6, 2013, file photo, John Potter, a member of the San Antonio Living History Association, patrols the Alamo in San Antonio, during a pre-dawn memorial ceremony to remember the 1836 Battle of the Alamo and those who fell on both sides. San Antonio marks its tricentennial in 2018. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
The Associated PressTricentennials: New Orleans
In New Orleans, tricentennial events include the Prospect.4 art exhibition, which is already underway; a blowout Mardi Gras, Feb. 13, with the Krewe of Rex procession themed on New Orleans’ history; various spring festivals; Luna Fete in December; and a New Orleans Museum of Art exhibition showcasing works by Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt and others from the Duke of Orleans’ collection.
FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2017, file photo, revelers congregate at the start of the Society of Saint Anne Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans. The city celebrates its tricentennial in 2018. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
The Associated PressCulture and design capitals: Malta
Despite the recent car bomb murder of an investigative journalist in Malta, the island is on many “where to go” lists for 2018. Its capital, Valletta, is one of Europe’s 2018 capitals of culture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 7,000 years of history. Attractions include festivals, nightlife, ancient stone architecture, a rollicking Carnival in February and other festivals, plus World War II history, including scuba diving to wartime wrecks.
FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2017, file photo, a boat passes through the entrance to the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta. Valletta was declared one of two European Capitals of Culture for 2018, kicking off with an island-wide Maltese Festa Jan. 14-21. The other European Capital of Culture is the Dutch city of Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
The Associated PressCulture and design capitals: Mexico City
Mexico City has been designated the sixth World Design Capital and the first city in the Americas to receive the title. It’s being recognized for sustainable design-led initiatives like bike-sharing, urban gardens, parks and playgrounds. Events will include exhibits, conferences and installations.
FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2017, file photo, models displays creations by Mexican fashion house Yakampot during a fashion show at the Angel of Independence monument, in Mexico City. Mexico City has been designated a World Design Capital (WDC) for 2018 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
The Associated PressEngland
England is suddenly a pop culture darling. Fans of the Netflix series “The Crown” can visit one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite places, Sandringham House, April-November, while those intrigued by the May wedding of American actress Meghan Markle to Prince Harry can tour their wedding site, Windsor Castle. Oscar-watchers interested in “The Darkest Hour,” starring Gary Oldman as Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II, should visit the Churchill War Rooms museum in London. Also to keep in mind: The Lake District was just named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visits by Americans to England were up 31 percent January-June 2017 compared with the same period in 2016, thanks in part to the U.S. dollar’s strength against the British pound.
FILE - This Nov. 28, 2017, file photo, shows a general view of St George's Chapel within the walls of of Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England. U.S. visitation to the United Kingdom has been booming and is expected to stay strong in 2018 thanks to the upcoming royal wedding of Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle, pilgrimages by U.S. fans of the Netflix series "The Crown," and the continued strength of the U.S. dollar against the pound. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, file)
The Associated PressEthiopia
Concerns about terror attacks and unrest have dampened travel to Egypt, Turkey and other destinations in North Africa and the Middle East. But that’s prompted interest in places in the region that are perceived as safe and just as compelling culturally, including Morocco and Jordan. In Africa, Ethiopia also popped up on a couple of where-to-go lists. Its magical attractions include the churches in Lalibela, carved from soft stone and dating to the 12th century.
This Oct. 16, 2017 photo shows one of the 12th century churches carved from stone in Lalibela, Ethiopia. The architectural marvels are one of the country's most magical attractions, miracles of engineering built 8,000 feet above sea level, each carved in one piece directly from soft volcanic rock. (Marcus Eliason via AP)
The Associated PressJapan
U.S. visitors to Japan increased 10 percent January-October 2017 compared with the same period in 2016, and the upward trend is expected to continue as Japan pushes tourism ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Where-to-go lists are highlighting not just Tokyo but also places like Sapporo and the Kii Peninsula, honored as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its pilgrimage routes and sacred mountains.
FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2017, file photo, visitors wearing a traditional Japanese summer kimono or "yukata" stroll through a temple in Tokyo. U.S. visitors to Japan increased 10 percent January through October 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, and the upward trend is expected to continue through 2018 as Japan heads toward the 2020 Summer Olympics. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
The Associated PressCentral Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia
Another area that’s starting to intrigue travelers as they expand bucket lists beyond familiar destinations is Central Asia, which includes the countries of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and others with names ending in “-stan.” The country of Georgia also turns up on several where-to-go-in-2018 lists. Geographically it’s considered part of Asia, but culturally it’s more Eastern European.
FILE - In this June 26, 2017, file photo, people walk in the old city with the ancient Metekhi Church in the background in Tbilisi, Georgia. Formerly part of the Soviet republic, Georgia is sandwiched between Europe, the middle east and Asia, full of contrasts with mountainous regions and Black Sea beaches. The country of Georgia turned up on several "where to go in 2018" lists from top travel brands. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
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