Tag: 10best

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New year, new hotels

Near and far, here are some of best new hotels to visit around the globe, wherever your travels may take you in 2020.

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Waldorf Astoria Dubai IFC | Dubai, United Arab Emirates

1960’s New York meets the Middle East at this swanky urban oasis in Dubai’s new financial district. Waldorf Astoria Dubai IFC‘s central location is ideal for exploring the city, beginning with the legendary Dubai Mall just a few minutes away.

From the chic rooftop pool and bar to the international flair and showmanship at Bull & Bear, the United Arab Emirates’ third Waldorf Astoria represents a modern new direction for the storied brand. The all-suite spa is a true urban oasis, offering traditional hammam treatments, a personal flotation tank and pampering facials while lying on a bed of warm quartz pebbles.

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Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection | Kamuela, Hawaii

After a $200 million dollar renovation, Mauna Lani reopens in January on the Big Island as Auberge Resorts’ first resort in the Hawaiian Islands. The sacred land includes royal fish ponds, natural lava plains and lush tropical gardens. Adventurous guests can try open ocean swimming or heli-biking.

Kahu Hanai (Hawaiian for knowledge keeper) Daniel “Kaniela” Kahikina Akaka, Jr. will educate guests on stories of the land, the people and indigenous Hawaiian values through hands-on cultural workshops.

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The West Hollywood EDITION | Los Angeles, California

Ian Schrager partied on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles as a college student in the 1960s and 70s and returns to launch the first West Coast location in the EDITION collection with The West Hollywood EDITION. Schrager captures an undercurrent of counterculture cool and rock ‘n roll energy in the hotel design and subterranean club Sunset.

But there’s also a dramatic dose of Hollywood glamour including a lushly landscaped garden in the sky at signature restaurant Ardor, helmed by California native John Fraser who is known for his vegetable-forward food. Private areas, including the chic spa and guestrooms are furnished in whitewashed Siberian Larch wood, spritzed with EDITION’s signature Le Labo fragrance.

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Capella Bangkok | Bangkok, Thailand

Capella’s first urban resort is a doozy. Located on the east bank of the legendary River of Kings in Bangkok, Capella Bangkok is the first new luxury hotel to open along the waterway in the last two decades. There’s a signature restaurant by chef Mauro Colagreco, whose French restaurant Mirazur was ranked number one in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2019, along with the city’s first riverfront villas located within the Chao Phraya Estate.

The surrounding Chao Phraya and Charoenkrung neighborhood is undergoing a major transformation, with a burgeoning local arts scene and the revival of its provincial culinary landscape.

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Six Senses Kocatas Mansions | Istanbul, Turkey

This urban resort opened in November with 45 guest rooms and suites spread across two stately tri-level restored Ottoman-era mansions in the Sariyer district on Istanbul’s European side. With a prime waterfront location, Six Senses Kocatas Mansions has a private boat that can take guests to Istanbul’s historic city center or on sightseeing tours along the Bosphorus.

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Andaz Seoul Gangnam | Seoul, South Korea

Andaz is known for its multi-sensory experiences and modern design, and the Andaz Seoul Gangnam embodies the brand spirit with verve. The hotel’s overall concept is inspired by bojagi – a traditional Korean wrapping cloth used in significant ceremonies and as gift wrap to preserve good luck, according to traditional Korean folklore.

The Summer House spa is an urban oasis with an infrared sauna; herbal bath; cool, warm and hot baths; marble-clad wet and dry saunas; and ice fountains. Plus, cutting-edge treatments use products from premium K-beauty brand AmorePacific as well as Ling New York by facialist Ling Chan.

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Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest | Budapest, Hungary

Between the Danube River and the bustling city center, the 110-room Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest is a stylish boutique property within Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. The hotel was once home to Budapest’s Central Savings Bank in 1906, as well as the city’s most fashionable shops and cafes in the Art Nouveau shopping arcade.

Architecture incorporates elements from Arabic, Moorish and Gothic design, and the original facade, staircases and decorative tiles have all been carefully preserved.

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Grand Hyatt SFO | San Francisco, California

A glamorous luxury hotel at the airport? You might be skeptical but the aviation-themed artwork and California eucalyptus grove-inspired lobby set the tone for a relaxed and elegant stay at Grand Hyatt SFO, redefining the tired airport hotel experience.

It’s the only on-airport hotel at San Francisco International Airport with 351 rooms, including 22 suites. The convenience is undeniable – you’re directly adjacent to the International Terminal and airfield and connected to all airport terminals by AirTrain. Guestrooms have floor-to-ceiling, soundproofed windows offering close-up views of planes pulling up to the jet bridge.

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Mandarin Oriental, Santiago | Santiago, Chile

Mandarin Oriental opened its first South American hotel in December, completely restoring the historic Hotel Santiago with signature grace and feng shui design to become the Mandarin Oriental, Santiago in the exclusive neighborhood of Las Condes.

It’s the perfect home base to explore Chile’s capital, offering a mix of elegant green spaces, superb shopping and easy access to prominent wineries, high-end ski resorts in the Andes and thermal pools in the mountains.

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Na Lotus Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nanning | Nanning, China

The Luxury Collection opened its lucky number eighth hotel in China this September, in the culturally rich capital of Guangxi Province, Nanning. Design elements at Na Lotus Hotel are inspired by the Zhuang people, China’s largest ethnic minority group who mostly live in Guangxi.

The hotel’s Chinese restaurant, Na Lian, specializes in Guangxi and Cantonese cuisine while floor-to-ceiling windows in all 290 guestrooms offer panoramic views of the city as well as the Yong River and Qingxiu Mountain.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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For people like me who love a feel-good, holiday film that’s heavy on escapism, Hallmark Christmas movies provide you the chance to delve into your childhood holiday fantasies. Innocent romance under the mistletoe is a pretty much guaranteed part of every one of these movies.

Another essential part is the beautiful, Christmasy town that looks and feels nearly enchanted with the holiday spirit. These real-life filming locations for some of the most beloved made-for-TV holiday movies are likely to inspire you to sing a tune other than “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” next season.

“Snowed-Inn Christmas” | Santa Claus, Indiana

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If you want to immerse yourself in the town where “Snowed-Inn Christmas” was filmed, go to the very holiday-friendly town of Santa Claus, Indiana. The 2017 Hallmark movie starred Bethany Joy Lenz and Andrew W. Walker as journalists with seemingly nothing in common until they’re stuck in the small town of Santa Claus.

What’s cool about Santa Claus is that it didn’t need a Hallmark makeover to be that resplendent at the holidays. The town is nicknamed “America’s Christmas Hometown,” and its Santa Claus Museum & Village reveals its Christmas-centric history.

Visitors should check out its theme park called Holiday World and the Evergreen Boutique & Christmas Shop. Also, stop by the post office to mail your holiday cards because there’s a special Santa-themed postmark each year that’s unique to the town.

“Christmas at Dollywood” | Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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Dolly Parton is a beloved entertainer whose career has spanned decades, and she is a local hero in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She grew up in the Smoky Mountains, so she built her wildly successful theme park Dollywood here.

The 2019 Hallmark holiday movie “Christmas at Dollywood” is set at the theme park and around Pigeon Forge, and Dolly plays herself in a supporting role. The film shows off the town’s majestic natural beauty and jovial holiday celebrations.

Dollywood’s real-life Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival is a sight to behold, and the town of Pigeon Forge displays over five million lights in its annual Winterfest celebration.

“The Country Christmas Album” | Columbus, Ohio

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“The Country Christmas Album” is a fun, made-for-TV Ion Christmas film about a country singer who finds love with a pop star. It was filmed in Columbus, Ohio, a dynamic city that is a winter wonderland during the holiday season.

From the cascade of lights on the quaint streets of German Village to the Conservatory Aglow event at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the city celebrates in a big way. In fact, Columbus City Adventures takes visitors on a holiday lights tour through the many light displays and twinkling winter landscape.

Also, the city’s Pattycake Bakery and Happy Little Treats are ideal stops for delicious, seasonal baked treats.

“Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle” | Fort Langley, British Columbia

A post shared by jesus_loves_toru_minigeese (@jesus_loves_toru_minigeese) on Dec 8, 2019 at 2:49pm PST

James Van Der Beek charmed viewers as Dawson in “Dawson’s Creek” and more recently in “Dancing with the Stars,” but he is beloved by Hallmark fans for his starring turn in “Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle.”

This sweet tale of a single dad who finds love was filmed in Fort Langley, British Columbia in 2009. A decade later, the appeal of Fort Langley has only grown, while its history has been preserved.

The Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada hosts Christmas festivities every year, and it can also be seen in other Hallmark holiday movies such as “Christmas Homecoming” and “Trading Christmas.”

“The Christmas Card” | Nevada City, California

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“The Christmas Card” is a 2006 Hallmark holiday movie that has become very popular among viewers for the last decade and a half. The film tells the story of a young soldier who is so touched by a Christmas card he received from a woman in Nevada City that he decides to come see the town for himself.

Romance ensues, but the town remains a central part of the film. The real-life Nevada City is as charming as it appears on film, and it has a Victorian-style Christmas celebration every year where you can see carolers dressed in period clothing and stroll among towering pines while savoring roasted chestnuts.

“Christmas at Graceland” | Memphis, Tennessee

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“Christmas at Graceland” was a special Hallmark holiday flick that was set in Memphis, Tennessee. As its title implies, the focus was on the beloved former home of Elvis Presley that has turned into one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions. Of course, there’s much more to Memphis, and the heroine in the movie discovers the charms of the City of Blues.

Located along the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, Memphis has holiday celebrations galore throughout the season. Visitors shouldn’t miss the music on Beale Street or the eye-opening National Civil Rights Museum. For tasty seasonal treats, stop by the city’s beloved Imagine Vegan Cafe.

“Snow Bride” | Big Bear Lake, California

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As a four-season mountain lake escape that’s only a couple of hours from Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake becomes a winter wonderland every holiday season. The 2013 Hallmark holiday movie “Snow Bride” was filmed here, and the movie showcases its scenic beauty.

The town celebrates yuletide cheer with offerings such as “Sail with Santa” boat excursions and spectacular holiday light displays.

“Christmas Land | Farmington, Utah

Decembrrrr. ❄️🎄

A post shared by 𝒟𝒾𝒶𝓃𝒶; (@doseofdiana) on Dec 1, 2019 at 8:52am PST

Maureen McCormick, who is beloved for her portrayal of Marcia Brady and has recently made a splash in “A Very Brady Renovation,” plays a central character in the movie “Christmas Land.” The lovely town of Farmington, Utah is also a central part of the film.

The 2015 Hallmark holiday film’s Christmas Land is actually a decorated version of the Pioneer Village in Lagoon Park in Farmington. In real life, the park closes for the season, but the city of Farmington is all decked out for the holidays. Its 3-D light show is especially popular.

“Christmas Everlasting” | Mansfield, Georgia

Spending time at Beaver park in old Mansfield.#goodtimes😊 #goodpuppydogs #Ilovemymastiff #ilovemybullmastiff #ilovemyenglishmastiff #englishmastifflove #bullmastifflove #englishmastiffofinstagram #bullmastiffofinstagram #englishmastiffoftheday #bullmastiffoftheday #mansfield #beaverpark #walkingthedog #bullmastiffsrule #englishmastiffway #bigdogstrong #bigdogsofinstagram #gentlegiants #Georgiamastiff #gentlegiantsofinstagram

A post shared by Holly And Brody (@hojo_and_bobo) on Oct 13, 2019 at 12:45pm PDT

“Christmas Everlasting” is an inspiring 2018 Hallmark Christmas movie, and many of its scenic shots were filmed in Mansfield, Georgia.

The town’s lovely covered bridge and historic church were among the parts of town used in the film, according to Country Living. In real life, Mansfield is quite small but lovely, with a population of under 500 people. Set at the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains, the scenery is stunning, especially during the snowy winter months.

“Moonlight & Mistletoe” | Chester, Vermont

I hear that train a comin’….
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#chesterdepotvt #thedepot #train #smalltown #lovemytown #rightsideofthetracks #vermontrailway #vermont #winterinvermont #scenesofvermont #ig_vermont #vermont_igers #vermontbyvermonters #lisaismarket #scenesofnewengland #scenesofvt #newenglandlife #shiresofvermont #newengland_igers #vtpixels

A post shared by Marni Willms (@marnimwillms) on Dec 4, 2018 at 1:22pm PST

Chester, Vermont is the type of holiday town that will make you feel like you really are in a Hallmark movie. It’s no wonder so many of its local businesses were used in the 2008 Hallmark holiday movie “Moonlight & Mistletoe.” Candace Cameron Bure has gone on to be a Hallmark powerhouse, starring in many holiday films for the network – but this one is special.

She portrays a businesswoman who is none too thrilled to be back in a small town, but like any Hallmark heroine, she has a change of heart. If you visit Chester, it’s easy to see why. The town goes all out for the holidays each year. Don’t miss the Hugging Bear Inn & Shoppe and the Fullerton Inn which are featured prominently in the movie.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

Flying is often a fundamental element of travel, and airlines and airports have the ability to make or break a trip. 10Best is looking for the best airlines and airline amenities, as well as the best airports in North America that make getting to your destination a pleasure rather than a pain.

Vote for your favorite airlines and airports once per day, per category until polls close on Monday, January 13. The winners will be announced on Friday, January 24.

Click on each category below to vote:

Best Airline

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Flying has become a fundamental aspect of travel for many people. While it may not be the most pleasant part of a vacation, airlines continue to improve the flyer experience with newer planes, better connectivity and improved food and entertainment.

Vote: Best Airline »

Best Airport Lounge

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Waiting at the airport becomes a whole lot better when you’re in a luxe airport lounge, complete with comfortable seating, food, drinks and even showers to freshen up before your flight. These 15 lounges, nominated by a panel of frequent flier experts, are so good you’ll pray for flight delays.

Vote: Best Airport Lounge »

Best Business & First Class

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Flying in these airlines’ premium cabins makes it easy to forget you’re on an airplane at all, with luxe amenities like lie-flat beds, widescreen TVs for personal entertainment and multi-course meals prepared by onboard chefs. Which airline has the best business and first class cabins?

Vote: Best Business & First Class »

Best Cabin Crew

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The cabin crew is one of the most critical and overlooked elements of a flight, whether you’re flying economy or first class. The friendliness, enthusiasm and efficiency of the flight attendants onboard can often make or break the passenger experience. It’s not an easy job, and these airlines exceed at it.

Vote: Best Cabin Crew »

Best Economy Class

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For the vast majority of travelers, flying means sitting in economy class – the most affordable option for air travel. But not all economy classes are created equal. These 13 airlines make the economy class experience more comfortable with perks like bigger seats, more legroom and ample entertainment options.

Vote: Best Economy Class »

Best Inflight Entertainment

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With seat-back touchscreens, high-speed Wi-Fi, personal device access and hundreds of hours of free content, flying is more entertaining than ever. These 15 airlines score big points when it comes to in-flight entertainment options, and we need you to crown the best.

Vote: Best Inflight Entertainment »

Best Inflight Food

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Airplane food has long been the butt of jokes and complaints, but airlines are upping their culinary game (even in economy). These airlines create meals that are well worth eating at 30,000 feet. Which airline serves the best food?

Vote: Best Inflight Food »

Best Large Airport

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Spending time at the airport is an inevitable part of most travel experiences, and the quality of the airport itself can make a big difference. Passenger satisfaction at North American airports is on the rise, according to recent studies by JD Power, and these 20 large airports across the continent (each serving more than 15 million passengers annually) are leading the charge.

Vote: Best Large Airport »

Best Small Airport

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While giant airports like JFK, LAX and Chicago O’Hare often dominate the travel scene due to the sheer number of passengers who pass through them each day, the United States is home to many smaller, friendlier airports that take some of the headaches out of travel. These 20 airports serve fewer than 10 million passengers each year, yet excel with their commercial flight offerings, easy access and amenities.

Vote: Best Small Airport »

Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, January 24.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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We’ve all watched the ball drop in Times Square in New York to ring in the New Year, but the Big Apple celebration is just one of numerous festivities around the country. From coast to coast, cities drop all kinds of things to count down to midnight. From beach balls to buzzards, here are ten of this year’s drops.

1. Sushi the Drag Queen | Key West, Florida

#newyears2016 #sushidrop

A post shared by Italomenico (@roberino14) on Jan 1, 2016 at 10:32am PST

Each year during the NYE celebration at Bourbon Street Pub in Key West, a drag queen named Sushi is lowered while perched in a giant red sparkling shoe.

2. Spencer the possum | Tallapoosa, Georgia

New Years Eve from the Possum Drop! #newyears #possumdrop #dirtysouth

A post shared by Sam (@srock24) on Dec 31, 2015 at 6:49pm PST

In this West Georgia community, a stuffed possum named Spencer encased in twinkle lights is lowered from the American Hometown Realty building – one of the oldest in the city. Fun fact: Tallapoosa was once called Possum Snout.

3. Grapes | Temecula, Caliornia

It’s an exciting night in Old Town tonight. You can catch the #grapedrop early in front of the Civic Center as we countdown to 12 pm EST for the kiddos, and then again at midnight. Wishing everyone is safe out there tonight. I’m looking forward to another great year in this beautiful valley we’re lucky to call home. #HappyNewYear!!

A post shared by In The Loop Temecula (@inthelooptemecula) on Dec 31, 2015 at 7:01pm PST

In fitting fashion, the town of Temecula in California Wine Country drops an illuminated bunch of grapes to ring in the New Year.

4. Bob the buzzard | Perry, Georgia

We are so excited for the Perry #buzzarddrop !! #onlyinperrydise

A post shared by Perry GA (@perry.ga) on Dec 30, 2014 at 4:34pm PST

Hundreds of buzzards spend their winter months in the town of Perry, and as a nod to these birds, the town rings in the New Year with the annual Perry Buzzard Drop.

5. A glowing pickle | Mount Olive, North Carolina

#MtOlive #PickleDrop #HappyNewYear!

A post shared by Ansley Stuart (@dewey_decimate) on Dec 31, 2015 at 4:12pm PST

Nothing says “Happy New Year” like watching a 3-foot glowing pickle descend down a flag pole, usually outside the Mt. Olive Pickle Company in Mount Olive, North Carolina. However, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the pickle drop, so the event will be held at the University of Mount Olive. This drop happens at 7 pm ET (midnight GMT).

6. Lucky the carp | Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin

Carp drop Prairie Du Chien #carpdrop #newyearseve #newyears #cnn #cnnnye #droppinthecarp #betterthantheball #carpfestpdc #carpfest @rhayesrdh #prairieduchien #wisconsin

A post shared by Engineering fun everyday (@tyler2679) on Dec 31, 2014 at 8:48pm PST

In Prairie Du Chien, during the annual Droppin’ of the Carp, a 3-foot fish named Lucky gets lowered. Festival goers often kiss it for good luck – a twist on the Chinese belief that eating carp on New Year’s brings luck.

7. Beach ball | Panama City Beach, Florida

Clear skies and beach balls. #celebrationtower

A post shared by Pier Park Mall (@pierpark) on Oct 29, 2016 at 6:47am PDT

New Year’s Eve on Panama City Beach wouldn’t be complete without the dropping of a huge, glowing beach ball in Pier Park. For young revelers, the city also drops some 10,000 inflatable beach balls over the streets at 8 pm, followed by a fireworks show.

8. A giant PEEP | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Ready to drop at 5:15pm tonight… #PEEPSFEST @peepsbrand @peepsandcompany #PEEPS #bethlehempa #igbethlehem #lehighvalley #iglehighvalley #steelstacks #bethlehemsteel #marshmallow #newyearseve

A post shared by SteelStacks (@steelstacks_pa) on Dec 31, 2017 at 9:02am PST

In the town of Bethlehem, where candy manufacturer Just Born is located, a giant PEEP chick is dropped at 5:15 pm at SteelStacks. The 4-foot-9-inch lighted chick weighs over 400 pounds, but is not made of marshmallow like its smaller relatives.

9. The great pinecone | Flagstaff, Arizona

Alright, who else is just a little curious of how this plays out on #NewYearsEve? #TheGreatPineConeDrop

#BetterThanAnApple #Flagstaff #RoadTrip? #FLG #AnayaOnTheRoad

A post shared by Mike Anaya (@amikeanaya) on Dec 17, 2017 at 10:57am PST

If you’re in Flagstaff to celebrate the arrival of 2020, you’ll get to see a 6-foot, 70-pound pinecone drop in front of the Weatherford Hotel, once at 10 pm (midnight in New York) and again at midnight.

10. A giant crab | Easton, Maryland

#Easton #crabdrop

A post shared by Sonny Humphries (@unsonny) on Dec 31, 2014 at 5:59pm PST

The community of Easton celebrates its maritime heritage on New Year’s Eve by dropping a giant version of the state’s favorite crustacean, a crab.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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These aren’t just hotels, they’re destinations

Booking the right hotel can make or break a trip, but in the cases of these luxury resorts, the hotel is the trip! This year, we encountered an array of luxury hotels that boasted awe-inspiring décor, opulent spa treatments and locations in incredible destinations. Here are our top dream stays from 2019.

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Explora Atacama | Chile

Located just outside of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile is Explora Atacama, a luxury resort that focuses on adventure. The resort serves as a starting point to the many exciting hikes and unique excursions Atacama has to offer.

The resort offers guests over 40 experiences including hiking up a volcano, horseback riding and biking above Moon Valley, all of which are led by experienced and knowledgeable guides.

Read more: Comfort in the desert – Explore Chile from a luxurious home base »

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Nobu Hotel Los Cabos | Mexico

The Nobu Hotel Los Cabos in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico offers guests access to a beautiful paradise and luxury amenities, but one of the biggest draws is the world-class dining.

Named after the renowned chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, the hotel includes a Nobu Restaurant where diners can experience his inventive Japanese dishes. The hotel’s culinary offerings also include Malibu Farms casual eatery, a swim-up pool bar and a private outdoor dining area.

Read more: Fabulous food and luxury stay await at chef Nobu’s Cabo hotel »

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Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa | Chile

Patagonia is one of the world’s last untouched spots, offering wilderness escapes and outdoor exploration to even the most advantageous adventurer. The Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa is a remote retreat on the banks of a fjord there, which can only be reached by private boat.

It’s perfect for when you need to get away – like really, really far away. Surrounded by rainforests and glacier-covered peaks, this luxury resort offers plenty of breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences.

Read more: Stay in the heart of wild Patagonia at this hidden luxury lodge »

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Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort | Mexico

Experience the Baja California Peninsula with ease and comfort at the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort. Located a short distance from the Los Cabos International Airport, you can get right to your calming vacation without long shuttle rides or a connecting flight to take you to a remote location.

Pueblo Bonito is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort where you can relax on pristine beaches or play a few rounds of golf. There’s really something for everyone at this luxury location.

Read more: Why you should travel to beautiful Baja soon »

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Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa | French Polynesia

Have you ever dreamed of swimming through crystal blue waters up to a private bungalow that juts out over the water? You can experience this Instagram fuel at Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, the ultimate Tahitian getaway.

This luxury resort offers plenty of activities for whatever pace you want your vacation to be. You can snorkel along coral reefs, paddle through a lagoon and just take a stroll along the white sand beaches. No matter which direction you look, you’re guaranteed to see breathtaking views, so bring your camera!

Read more: Make your South Pacific dreams come true at this luxurious resort »

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Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway | Germany

This luxury accommodation lets you live out a fairy tale. The magical Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway is in a real castle in the Bavarian Alps of Germany. And they go to the greatest lengths to give guests a true German experience by giving them opportunities to engage with the local culture.

Though it’s located in an old castle, Schloss Elmau offers modern accommodations in all 162 rooms and suites. The hotel offers plenty for guests who want to stay in and relax, like a concert hall and three libraries. And for guests who want to wander, there’s plenty of nature to explore.

Read more: What it’s like to stay in a castle in the wonderland of the Bavarian Alps »

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COMO Parrot Cay | Turks & Caicos

Have you ever wanted to escape to a private island? At COMO Parrot Cay in the Caribbean, you can – and you’ll have a 1,000-acre cay to relax. The island’s emphasis is on wellness, where travelers are offered experiences like yoga, spa treatments and private three-bedroom villas with infinity pools for those moments you need a little solitude.

Read more: You can relax at this gorgeous private island retreat in the Caribbean »

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Cal-a-Vie Health Spa | California

You don’t have to leave the United States for European ambiance. The Cal-a-Wie Health Spa is set among the hills and vineyards of San Diego County, providing a peaceful setting for guests seeking a wellness-focused getaway.

Several buildings on Cal-a-Vie Health Spa are from the 18th century and were originally part of a French convent. The historic buildings bring a serene ambiance to the spa grounds.

Read more: Improve your health and wellness at this beautiful retreat »

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Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai | Thailand

The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai pairs luxury with cultural experience. Begin your mornings with a monk offering at the local temple in Mae Rim. Have an afternoon tea paired with delicious snacks after a yoga class. And end your day by getting out into the resort’s surroundings and hiking a nature trail.

Whether you want to take a Muay Thai boxing class or a cooking class, this resort offers plenty of ways to engage with Thai culture.

Read more: Finding luxury in the rice fields of Thailand »

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San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice | Italy

Enjoy the charm of Venice without the crowds at the exclusive San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice. Located on San Clemente Island, a private island in the Venetian Lagoon, this luxury resort gives visitors access to one of Italy’s most exciting and energetic destinations while keeping the vibes intimate and low-key.

The resort, which is only a 10- to 15-minute boat ride to the city of Venice, was originally a monastery established in the 12th century. The old buildings, which have been renovated and updated with modern amenities, bring a touch of culture and history to the 190-room property.

Read more: Stay on a beautiful private island just minutes from Venice »

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

We Indians have always loved our chai. In Mumbai, during the monsoon, it is common to find people gathered around a tapri (a small shed), sipping on steaming glasses of masala chai – the ubiquitous drink made by boiling black tea and milk with a variety of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and peppercorns.

Chai is a part of every Indian’s daily life, and as such, has moved beyond being just a beverage. Chefs and bartenders are finding innovative ways to add this traditional flavor to their contemporary menus, through salads, popsicles, ice cream and even cocktails. Tea is used to add color to the popular Punjabi dish, chhole; the ‘masala’ adds a spicy kick to everything from craft beer to ice cream, and you can even find molecular gastronomic versions of India’s favorite drink.

Here are a few of the most innovative ways Mumbai chefs are bringing Chai to diners’ palates:

Masala Chai Cake

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Baker Rutvika Charegaonkar makes a masala chai cake to cater to her family’s obsession with the drink. “While making the tea, I add fresh lemongrass and tulsi (basil) and make a strong, tart brew, without sugar and milk. The frosting has basil seeds and flowers straight from the plant. It gives the cake a very refreshing taste – something familiar and yet decadent,” she says.

Chai Waffle

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Pablo Naranjo Agular, head chef of Le 15 Café serves a decadent chai waffle, which has white chocolate and black tea sauce, candied hazelnuts, lemongrass and cardamom foam topped with cinnamon macaron shells. The Cordon Bleu-trained chef says, “Chai is already consumed with some sort of biscuit, so I had the idea of having it as a sweet waffle.”

“For me, chai describes the Indian palate,” Agular says. “It’s tea, which everyone in the world drinks, but here it is served with spices. It is sweet, milky, full of fragrance and aromas, and as simple and complex as it sounds, the flavors and spice mix changes from region to region. For me it’s just like magic.”

Chai Caramelized Marzipan

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Mumbai-based Estonian patissier Thea Tammeleht creates fun, Indian-flavored marzipan sweets using handpicked mamra almonds. Her version featuring chai has organic sugar with a hint of fresh spices and is finished in rich Belgian chocolate.

Masala Chai Nightcap

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Restaurateur and food journalist Nikhil Merchant’s Bedtime Masala Chai-High is his answer to the Irish coffee.

“India has an after-dinner culture that includes coffee or tea. My Bedtime Cocktails are for people who don’t want to binge drink but still want that post-dinner drink,” Merchant says.

Merchant starts off by making the same decoction for chai – boiling hari chai ki patti (green tea leaves), ginger and cardamom, adding tea leaves to the stock and letting it brew. For the final step, instead of adding the usual milk or cream, he puts in Bailey Irish Cream and either sugar, syrup or honey. This is served cold or warm, in chai glasses. “It tastes like Thai tea with an Indian kick. There is a delicious underlying spice kick from the ginger, the sweetness of cardamom, the grassiness of the chai patti and the acrid dryness of the Indian chai, with Baileys giving it zing, sweetness and creaminess,” he says.

Another more potent variation on this uses bourbon and condensed milk.

Chai Ice Cream

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A common tea ritual is dunking Parle G biscuits into piping hot chai. Chef Bina Doshi, founder of Bina’s Ice Cream, has taken this ritual to ice cream. Her Chai Biskoot is a dark and creamy ice cream with the flavor of the biscuit mixed in with the masala and milk of the chai. Doshi hand churns her ice cream in a wooden sancha, using ice and salt. She stirs the milk with the required ingredients until it turns into ice cream. The result is a dessert free of preservatives, artificial flavoring or added fat or cream.

Tea chhole

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Chhole is a semi-dry Indian dish made with chickpeas or chana. Many families add in tea leaves to give the chickpeas that characteristic dark shade. Sometimes, the chhole is soaked overnight in a tea liquor mixture for extra color.

“My mother makes a bouquet garni (a bundle of herbs) by tying together cinnamon, cloves, black tea and black cardamom in a Muslin cloth,” says chef Mitesh Rangras. “She boils the chana for about 40 odd minutes with the bundle – it can be easily removed. It gives great flavor and color to the chhole.”

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

Trails aren’t all about going from point A to point B. When you’re following a trail, it’s about the journey in between.

Food trails chart the course through local cuisine, giving travelers a chance to experience a place through the food that fuels it. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite food trails that span a lot of territory and a lot of food. You better come hungry!

Brooklyn pizza

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New York is known for its pizza and some of the best pies come from Brooklyn. If you’re hungry for pizza and want to experience some of the best that Brooklyn has to offer, hop on the G Train.

This subway between Greenpoint and Park Slope not only takes you on a journey through Brooklyn, but its stops are conveniently located near popular pizzerias. So load up your Metro Card and indulge in every kind of slice ranging from Neapolitan-style to St. Louis-inspired.

Read more: 10 best places to eat pizza along the G train in Brooklyn »

Appalachian Trail

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The Appalachian Trail has become synonymous with some of the best hiking that the eastern United States has to offer. But what many travelers don’t realize is that the 205,000-square-mile area is also home to Appalachian cuisine, a “diverse set of foods rooted in place and created from hearty ingredients,” as 10Best contributor Candace Nelson explains.

The dishes you’ll find throughout this region tell a story of the resourceful lifestyle of those who call Appalachia home.

Read more: 10 delicious Appalachian foods you need to try »

Ohio’s Donut Trail

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Prepare for the sugar rush of a lifetime. Butler County, Ohio is home to the country’s first donut trail, an 80-mile route that takes you to some of the state’s best donut shops.

The stops feature locally-owned bakeries and if you visit all of them, you get a T-shirt. It takes about 4.5 hours to complete, so pace yourself, because these donuts are delicious and you’re going to want to fill up on the first stop!

Read more: 10 delicious stops on the first donut trail in the country »

Kentucky Beer Cheese Trail

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Kentucky is known for bourbon, but the state also produces some incredible beer (and there’s a trail for that, too, called the Kentucky Brewgrass Beer Trail). But did you know that the state is also the birthplace to beer cheese?

In Winchester-Clark County, travelers can sample beer cheese from 11 different eateries. Though beer cheese recipes are relatively similar, artisan cheesemakers can achieve a variety of distinct flavors determined by which cheese and beer styles they use. And once you’ve tried all 11, you can get a T-shirt that declares “I Conquered the Beer Cheese Trail.”

Read more: Beer cheese was invented in Kentucky (and there’s a trail) »

Columbus, Ohio’s Coffee Trail

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There are a lot of perks to traversing Columbus’ Coffee Trail. For one, you can experience amazing brews from a variety of establishments including in-house micro roasters, local bakeries and non-profit coffee houses that give back to the communities they serve. You can also get a Coffee Trail card where the more stamps you collect, the more prizes you can earn, like a free T-shirt or mug.

Whether you’re hankering for a specific coffee or want to experience a new brewing method (think pour over, cold brew on draft and Chemex), there’s no wrong way to caffeinate on the Coffee Trail.

Read more: 10 of the best stops on Columbus, Ohio’s Coffee Trail »

Dublin, Ohio’s Celtic Cocktail Trail

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When your town’s name is Dublin, you know it’s going to be a real party when St. Patrick’s Day comes around. But you’re not limited to enjoying the Celtic Cocktail Trail in March. This trail is open all year long and serving up incredible Irish-inspired cocktails like the Irish Sazerac at Fadó Pub & Kitchen and the Irish Maid at Matt the Miller’s.

Read more: 10 delicious stops on the Celtic Cocktail Trail »

Chile in Albuquerque

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Chile is one of the cornerstone dishes of New Mexican cuisine, and there’s no better place to experience it than in Albuquerque, where chefs are taking this traditional dish and transforming it in unique ways.

You can enjoy red chile ribs at El Pinto Restaurant, a steak and eggs Benedict with red chile hollandaise at Mas: Tapas y Vino, or you can even get a pizza with green chile pizza crust at the Golden Crown Panaderia. There’s no one way to enjoy chile, especially in Albuquerque.

Read more: 10 of the most interesting chile dishes in Albuquerque »

Rocky Top Wine Trail

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Not far from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park are five highly acclaimed wineries who have come together to create the Rocky Top Wine Trail. This 12-mile wine trail goes through three Tennessee towns and gives visitors a chance to not only sample excellent wines, but provides travelers a chance to connect with the local culture. The best part of all of this? The self-guided tour through this wine trail is free!

The wineries are close enough to one another to knock out the trail in one day, but why rush? Spread your tastings out and leave time to explore the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, dine at local restaurants and get to know the people who make the region great!

Read more: This wine trail in the Great Smoky Mountains is completely free »

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

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Would you chase rotten shark with moonshine?

The best way to get a taste of Iceland: eat your way through it. Follow your taste buds on an adventure of these only-in-Iceland flavors – from “Geysir bread” baked underground by hot springs, to a potato liquor with an ominous name, to fermented shark.

Here are 10 unique dishes you should try in Iceland.

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Brown Geysir bread (rúgbrauð)

Iceland’s geothermal waters provide a natural below-ground oven, and that’s where the country’s brown Geysir bread is baked. Locals call it “bread in a bucket” because the dough is placed in buckets, buried underground and heat from the nearby hot springs does the rest. This bread is chewy and dense, best served with a monstrous slab of butter.

Where to go: Menus throughout Iceland. Bake your own bread near Lake Mývatn on an Adventures by Disney tour.

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Icelandic hot dog (Pylsa or Pulsa)

In Iceland, sausage is a mixture of pork, lamb and beef, smothered with raw white onions, fried onions, a sugary brown mustard (pylsusinnep) and remuladi sauce, made with capers, herbs, mustard and mayo. Due to the local lamb and natural casings that pop when you bite, these dogs taste different than their American counterparts.

Where to go: The Baejarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog stand in downtown Reykjavik, a local fave since the ’30s.

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Fermented shark

Learn about the fermentation process at a family fishery and then join the Rotten Shark Club (you get a certificate) – if you can stomach a bite of fermented shark. Tip: Don’t smell it.

Need liquid courage? Ask for a shot of moonshine made with mysterious red berries that only grow in one valley, somewhere (the locals won’t say where).

Where to go: Ektafiskur in Hauganes, a village along the west bank of Eyjafjörður.

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Tomato soup

A misconception about Iceland is that everything must be imported due to the weather and isolation, but that’s not true. Iceland has perfected greenhouses, thanks to ample water for irrigation and inexpensive power, so it’s easy to find fresh, local produce grown year-round.

Try tomato soup on a chilly day. Sit in a greenhouse surrounded by vines and about 600 bumblebees while you slurp fresh soup.

Where to go: Fridheimar Greenhouse Farm in Selfoss.

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Smoked trout

Learn about the age-old smoking process in turf-style outbuildings, and then sample the meat made right there.

Ask to try the trout smoked for 10 months. As the story goes, they forgot fish in the smokehouse, but when they recovered it, they found it was extra flavorful. Now, they consider it a delicacy. Buy some to-go at the farm shop.

Where to go: The Little Farmer’s Shop near Lake Mývatn.

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Black Death (Brennivín)

Iceland’s signature liquor has an ominous nickname, although one shot won’t kill you. Its official name, Brennivín, translates to “burning wine,” which is more accurate.

Black Death is schnapps made out of fermented potato mash, flavored with caraway. This alcohol is only made in Iceland and only in one distillery. It’s traditional to drink your Brennivín neat and frozen.

Where to go: Buy a bottle in the airport. Le Kock in Reykjavik serves Black Death cappuccino.

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Icelandic donuts (kleinur/kleina)

Traditional Icelandic donuts are small, plain, twisted and fried, typically glaze-free and flavored with lemon zest and cardamom, sometimes nutmeg. They’re crunchy on the outside, soft inside. You can also find Icelandic donuts made with sour cream and potatoes, which offer a firmer texture, more like cake.

Where to go: Most grocery stores and bakeries, but the best are at Deig in Reykjavik.

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Pure whey

The countryside of Iceland is alive with working farms. Get off the tourist path and visit a dairy that sells housemade ice cream and cheese.

Request a fresh, concentrated shot of whey. Forget processed protein powders that fitness folks swear by. Icelanders drink it pure. They claim it’s good for kidney stones and an excellent thirst-quencher, not to mention high in protein.

Where to go: Efstidalur II Farm in Laugarvatn via an Adventures By Disney tour.

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Cod liver oil

Start the day like a Viking with a shot of cod liver oil. It’ll leave a fishy taste with you for the rest of the day, but it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E.

Plus, it’ll make you resistant to the cold, give you incredible strength and keep you from getting sick – at least according to fishermen’s tales.

Where to go: Pretty much every breakfast table or buffet across the country.

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Glacier water

Forget bottled water. Water’s so pure here you can drink it straight out of the river, or hold up your water bottle under a waterfall and fill ’er up. Drink Viking style: mouth open while doing push-ups on the shore.

Where to go: Hike the Vatnajökull glacier in the Skaftafell National Park, and drink straight from the source.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

In anticipation of what Andy Williams crooned “the most wonderful time of the year,” 10Best set out to find North America’s best seasonal events – light shows, holiday parades, Christmas markets and festive hotels – and we asked our readers to help. For the past four weeks, you’ve been voting for your holiday favorites, and the results are in.

Click on each category below to see the full list of winners.

Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights: A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

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During A Longwood Christmas, Longwood Gardens celebrates the shapes of the season. The outdoor gardens are sheer magic with more than half a million lights by way of illuminated trees to glowing orbs to dancing fountains. Outdoor fire pits and carolers add a note of holiday cheer.

Inside, the celebration continues with elegantly adorned spaces and towering trees inspired by the contours of ribbons to confectionery to snowflakes.

Full list of winners: Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights »

Best Holiday Historic Home Tour: Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

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Graceland is one of the most-visited private homes in the nation. Every year, more than 600,000 people go to Elvis Presley’s former estate in Memphis.

The Christmas season at Graceland kicks off with a lighting ceremony mid-November, after which visitors can tour the home decorated for the season with traditional lights, a live-size nativity scene and Santa. Presley family Christmas artifacts are on display during this special time of year.

Full list of winners: Best Holiday Historic Home Tour »

Best Holiday Market: Carmel Christkindlmarkt in Carmel, Indiana

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The Carmel Christkindlmarkt brings a bit of Saxony, Germany to Indiana during this annual festive event. The market features the only Glühwein Pyramid in the U.S., standing 33 feet tall with more than 3,000 lights.

Full list of winners: Best Holiday Market »

Best Holiday Parade: America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit

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Detroit has been hosting America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van since 1924. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest and most popular parades in the country, complete with marching bands, helium balloons and colorful, larger-than-life floats making their way down historic Woodward Avenue each Thanksgiving morning.

Full list of winners: Best Holiday Parade »

Best Hotel for the Holidays: The Roosevelt New Orleans

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During the holidays, the lobby at The Roosevelt New Orleans gets adorned with 135,572 lights, 1,004 feet of garland, 698 hand-tied bows and 2,200 glass ornaments decorating 44 Christmas trees and 3,328 feet of winter white branches.

Full list of winners: Best Hotel for the Holidays »

Best Public Holiday Lights Display: Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” in Duluth, Minnesota

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Bentleyville “Tour of Lights,” America’s largest free walk-through lights display, invites visitors to walk amid more than 5 million lights spread across a 20-acre park on the shores of Lake Superior. Guests can get their photo taken with Rudolph, visit with Santa and enjoy free cocoa, cookies, roasted marshmallows and popcorn.

Full list of winners: Best Public Holiday Lights Display »

Best Theme Park Holiday Event: An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri

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Branson’s Silver Dollar City gets decked in 6.5 million colorful, twinkling lights during its annual holiday celebration, An Old Time Christmas.

It’s bigger and brighter than ever in 2019, with festivities centered on an 8-story-tall special effects Christmas tree, with 1,000 other decorated trees around the park, two Broadway-style holiday productions and an illuminated parade featuring Rudolph and his reindeer friends.

Full list of winners: Best Theme Park Holiday Event »

Best Zoo Lights: PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo

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During the annual PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo, some 3 million LED lights illuminate the night. Visitors can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, watch a lights show on Swan Lake, drool over a gingerbread village, munch on s’mores or ride the Toyland Express train.

Full list of winners: Best Zoo Lights »

Congratulations to all our holiday winners.

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.

Rhode Island, although the smallest state, has an overabundance of local food oddities, from coffee milk and Del’s lemonade to clear chowder and a perhaps slightly unnatural obsession with donuts.

None, however, have the provenance of jonnycakes, whose recipe predates recorded history and was passed down to Rhode Island’s first colonists by the Narragansett tribe.

“They were used for survival, but they have maintained their place in Rhode Island because they are delicious,” says Ben Drumm, co-owner of Kenyon’s Grist Mill in Usquepaug, Rhode Island. The mill has ground the cornmeal used in jonnycakes and another traditional regional dish, Indian pudding, since 1886.

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At once familiar and unique, the jonnycake is hard to describe. If a pancake and polenta had a baby, perhaps that would be a jonnycake. Cooked on a griddle and served for breakfast, usually with butter and syrup on the side, the jonnycake certainly could be mistaken as the weird stepsister of the pancake. The dominant flavor is of corn, sweet enough that many locals eat them with butter only.

“They’re more like cornbread, and grittier than pancakes,” says Karie Myers, owner and chef at Jigger’s Diner in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, where jonnycakes and Myers’ homemade hash compete as the most popular items on the menu.

Never call them pancakes or cornbread, though. In fact, don’t even call them johnnycakes, because Rhode Island’s quirky take on the ancient take-out food known as “journey cakes” are never spelled with an “h.”

Everyone agrees that jonnycakes start with finely ground cornmeal – specifically, the white cap flint corn originally cultivated by Native American tribes in New England.

The corn is notoriously stingy and difficult to work with: each cornstalk yields but one ear, and the tough kernels (it’s called “flint” for a reason) resist grinding, even when crushed between stone mill wheels weighing several tons each. The white corn also must be grown far from other cornfields because it’s highly vulnerable to cross-pollination.

Kenyon’s Grist Mill in Usquepaug, Rhode Island and Gray’s Grist Mill in Westport, Massachusetts produce most of the jonnycake meal used by the local restaurants that still serve this traditional breakfast staple, including Jigger’s, Mae’s Place in North Kingstown, J.P. Spoonem’s in Cranston and the Commons Lunch in Little Compton.

What an amazing little piece of RI history! Personal tour by owner. #gristmill #johnnycakes #rhody #history #nativeamerican #cornmeal

A post shared by Rosanne Eke Hermenze (@renaissance_ro) on Aug 8, 2018 at 8:41am PDT

Kenyon’s grinds about 20 tons of cornmeal annually, although they’ve had to turn to out-of-state farmers for their flint corn since most local farmers have switched over to growing more lucrative sweet or dent corn. “We’ve been trying to find some locally desperately,” says Ben, who says that the mill only uses corn that is organically raised, raising the bar even higher for suppliers.

For a dish that’s been around for several centuries, there’s a surprising amount of variance when it comes to making “classic” jonnycakes. The Narragansetts didn’t write their recipe down, and while the Culinary Archives at Providence’s Johnson & Wales University – one of the top culinary schools in the country – contain at least 30 books on jonnycakes, including some from the 17th century, a jonnycake on the west side of Narragansett Bay can be pretty different from one plated at an East Bay diner.

Egg- and gluten-free, the basic jonnycake recipe includes cornmeal, sugar and salt. Slowly adding boiling water and using Kenyon’s finely ground meal allows cooks to create jonnycakes that are thicker and fluffier, in the South County style. Restaurants on the East Bay tend to substitute milk for water and use a somewhat coarser cornmeal, resulting in jonnycakes that are thinner and flatter.

first time having #jonnycakes . delicious, and kinda like #hashbrowns . I understand why #VitoSpatafore was so into it. #JiggersDiner #breakfast #TheSopranos #EastGreenwich #RhodeIsland #NewEngland #eastcoast #summertime

A post shared by Brett Kawada (@therealbkawada) on Aug 21, 2016 at 10:56am PDT

Drumm calls producing jonnycake meal “a labor of love,” and the same can be said for the somewhat laborious process of cooking jonnycakes. Water must be maintained at a constant boil and added slowly to properly cook the cornmeal to the correct consistency, which Jiggers’ Myers describes as an hour-long process. “It takes a long time, which is why a lot of places don’t do it,” she says.

Once on the griddle, the jonnycakes must cook for at least 10 minutes on each side, unlike flour pancakes which can be done in a minute or two. “If you cook them less than that, they fall apart,” says Myers.

Cooking a proper jonnycake took a lot of trial and error even for chef Luminita Cirstea, an instructor at Johnson & Wales’ College of Culinary Arts. She has experimented with jonnycakes with an eye on making them a homework assignment for her baking and pastry students. “It takes a lot of practice, like playing an instrument,” she laughs.

Jonnycakes may be old-fashioned, but they’re not going out of style. Cirstea, who categorizes jonnycakes as a type of flatbread, says they can be used as a foundation for sweet or savory dishes in place of polenta, for example. And Drumm has seen chefs mix pumpkin into the batter and top jonnycakes with warm chocolate.

Myers, who is selling more jonnycakes than ever at her vintage, chrome-clad diner on East Greenwich’s Main Street, serves jonnycakes eggs Benedict topped with sausage patties as well as the unadorned variety.

“A lot of customers want to try items on the menu that are more unique,” she says. “Jonnycakes have been around for a very long time, and we take the extra time to do them because a lot of places don’t anymore, so it’s kind of a niche for us.”

10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.