Ten Places to Visit in 2023, Including Tahiti, Hong Kong, Calgary & Western Australia

For years now, I’ve posted travel blogs that point out what other websites suggest for places to visit the following year. This time, I’m happy to mention a few of the major travel publications, but I’m also providing my OWN list of places I think travellers should explore.

Without further ado, here are my Jim Byers Travel suggestions for cool places to check out in 2023. I’ve listed ten, with a bonus pick at no extra charge.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

I visited in May of this year, and it was one of the best trips of my life. Perth was a surprisingly fun city with tons of great beaches and good food, as well as the posh new Ritz-Carlton hotel on the waterfront. My food tour with Oh, Hey, WA was exceptional, and I loved seeing the quokkas and lonely beaches on Rottnest Island. Even better was the Margaret River wine region, a few hours south of Perth by car. With fabulous food and wine, and an amazing coastline minutes away, it’s like Napa meets the Monterey Peninsula. Toss in cool caves to explore and indigenous experiences, and wonderful places to stay such as Smiths Beach Resort (fabulous, modern villas), and you’ve got one incredible destination. Okay, maybe even better than Margaret River was my trip north of Perth, where I swam with sea lions in Jurien Bay, took a small plane ride over the most southerly coral reef islands in the Indian Ocean (the Albrohos Islands) and enjoyed tremendous inland and seaside scenery at Kalbarri National Park. I would LOVE to get down south to Albany and Esperance (maybe the most beautiful coastline you’ll ever see), and up to the Kimberleys region some day. WA is a magnificent part of Australia that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.

DOMINICA

I went about five years ago and just loved this island. There are some nice beaches, both in the north at Batibou Bay and down south at Bubble Beach, given that name because of small bubbles that rise up from under the water. But it’s the hiking and the jungle and the waterfalls that impressed me the most. It’s an easy walk to Emerald Pool, which features a lovely waterfall and a pond you can swim in. When I visited a few years ago I took in the lovely twin waterfalls at Trafalgar Falls and an area called Wotten Waven, where the earth sends up warm, mineral-rich water to the surface and folks have built small pools you can soak in for a couple bucks. The island and water views from Scotts Head are some of the best I’ve found in the Caribbean. The island has several top hotels, including Jungle Bay and the Kempinski Dominica. Secret Bay was recently voted best new hotel in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure, which also voted Dominica best island in the Caribbean. Another great feature of Dominica is Kalinago Barana Aute, a cultural village that’s the centre of a large reserve set aside for Carib Indians who’ve all been wiped out on most Caribbean islands. You can watch locals weave baskets and take in a dancing and musical performance.

CALGARY

The food scene here is terrific, and you owe it to yourself to check out some of the new additions in town. Major Tom Bar is a sleek, 40th floor dining hall in downtown Calgary that was recently voted best new restaurant in Canada. Orchard is a gorgeous, plant-filled (and I mean filled) spot on bustling 10th Avenue Southwest that advertises Asian-Mediterranean cuisine. The arancini with lobster and prawn was topped with bonito flakes and was moist and delicious, while the soy-glazed sablefish was divine. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Dorian Hotel is a gorgeous boutique property with a fine rooftop bar and restaurant. The Westley hotel in Calgary is another boutique property. It opened last year in a former office tower and there’s plenty of local art on hand. The on-site restaurant, Fonda Fora, serves contemporary Mexican cuisine. Inglewood is a great area to explore, as is the booming East Village, home to the award-winning and oh-so-beautiful Calgary Library. Establishment Brewing Company is an excellent craft brewery. Looking for a new way to explore Calgary? Rocky Mountain Sidecar Adventures offers terrific motorcycle sidecar tours of the city, as well as Banff.

OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA

This beachfront city north of San Diego is definitely on the upswing. For years, it was a place for soldiers from nearby Camp Pendleton to blow off steam. But there are now several new hotels, including two posh affairs with rooftop pools; Mission Pacific and The Seabird Resort. Both are sleek, sexy and stylish. The town also is home to a great Thursday market and night market with some 200 vendors, including places serving authentic Thai food and other international cuisine. Oceanside also is home to the longest wooden pier on the west coast. Next to the Mission Pacific hotel is the beach house used in the original Top Gun Movie. You can take the train here from L.A. or San Diego for only a few bucks, and you don’t need a car once you’re in Oceanside. Because who wants to pay for a rental car, and who wants to pay today’s gas prices?

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

As a board member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), I was privileged to spend a week in Bogota, Colombia earlier this month. I didn’t see a lot of the city, but I spent a good deal of time in the old, Candelaria district, which I found utterly delightful. There’s tons of great colonial architecture and plentiful street art. Not to mention colourful vendors, cool alleyways and lively, fun restaurants. It’s only about a six-hour flight from Toronto, and there’s no time difference at this time of year, so the jet lag is almost non-existent.

TAHITI ITI

There’s no sign that says “Welcome to Another World” when you turn onto the section of Tahiti island called Tahiti Iti. I think there should be. A driver who makes the turn south on Tahiti’s main, road won’t notice an immediate change. But as one emerges out of the tiny village of To’ahotu one starts to leave the roadside snack shops and coiffure salons behind. The road hugs the coastline a little more tightly, and folks in the passenger seat can almost reach out and touch the flat waters of the island’s encompassing lagoon. The mountains begin to crowd a little closer to the sea here than was the case to the north, on the section of the island called Tahiti Nui. If you roll down the window and slow down a little, you can hear the pounding of the waves on the reef that encircles the island and tune into the rustling of the palm leaves high overhead. Vanira Lodge is a fine place to stay on a hill overlooking the coast. I didn’t stay there, but a tour of the Bonjouir Teahupoo Lodge Paradis made me wish I had, as the people are lovely and the jungle/waterfront setting is spectacular. The 2024 Olympic Games surfing competition will be held off the west coast of Tahiti Iti, so you know there’s great surfing. Visit Tahiti Iti before someone ruins the place.

HONG KONG

For all its sparkling high-rises and densely packed markets, this is a destination with far more natural beauty than most folks imagine. And some of the best urban hiking on the planet. The Dragon’s Peak trail snakes along a series of ridges that rise and fall like the back of a, well, dragon and offers both up and downhill challenges. It’ll take you a few hours, but the trail ultimately leads to a cool surfing village and a nice beach at Big Wave Bay. Other great options include Lantau Island, home of the Giant Buddha and tons of great trails, as well as gentle Cheung Chau and Lamma Island. If you’re not into hiking, check out the amazing new museums and cultural facilities in the West Kowloon Cultural District, a short ferry ride from central Hong Kong. Some of my fave hotels are the Langham, the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton. If you’re on a budget, try the Eaton Hong Kong on the Kowloon side. One of the best restaurants is a casual, tiny dim sum place called Tim Ho Wan. Amazing food at a great price. Hong Kong on Dec. 28, 2022 said it will end all travel restrictions on Dec. 29, 2022, meaning no testing requirement and no quarantines to worry about.

FLORIDA

The Sunshine State has been hit by a couple of major storms this year, and workers in the tourism and hospitality industries would welcome your business. Most of the major hotels in the Fort Myers area have reopened since Hurricane Ian hit the area in late September. The causeway to Sanibel Island has reopened as well. Sanibel Island has lovely beaches and great state parks where you can enjoy nature. Dunedin is the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays, and the newly refurbished stadium is a beauty. Theme parks are operating in and around Orlando, and things are pretty much back to normal. New Smyrna Beach and Saint Augustine are great spots along the Atlantic coast, as is Amelia Island. A visit to the Florida Keys is always a great idea if you love the outdoors and great food. If you want something quite different, try a visit to the tiny coastal town of Cedar Key, north of Tampa. It’s a real throwback kind of place I dearly love.

THE AZORES

The deep green hills feel like Ireland. The black lava rock reminds me of Hawaii. And the red roof tops scream Mediterranean. I love the mountain and oceanfront scenery in the Azores, which is only a five or six hour flight and just three time zones from Toronto. The hiking is world-class, with maps and apps to help along the way. I loved my coastal hike on the island of Sao Jorge near Faja da Caldeira Santo Cristo. The skies are pure and the food is tremendous in the Azores. Look for local steaks with garlic and grilled red peppers, roasted limpets from the sea and fresh cheese from Sao Jorge. You can sometimes find rooms at decent hotels for less than $100 a night. Or splurge at the wonderful Terra Nostra Garden Hotel in the town of Furnas on Sao Miguel, which sits in the crater of an old volcano and has one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen. Toss in a warm and welcoming local population and you’ve got one terrific destination.

NEW YORK CITY

The Big Apple is back in a very big way. Tourism officials from NYC were in Toronto this week to talk about what’s new. Here are a few things they mentioned. Notable new hotels include a luxurious Aman Hotel, a second Ritz-Carlton, a new Ace Hotel in Brooklyn, a Virgin hotel with a rooftop pool and bar coming next year, a Westin being built on Staten Island, and a Radio Hotel in Washington Heights. Other attractions either in place or on the way include an island park in the Hudson River called Little Island, the One Vanderbilt Summit (excellent views of midtown Manhattan), and a QC day spa on Governor’s Island, with tremendous views of the city. There are 19 new productions debuting on Broadway this year, Townsend said, including “KPOP The Musical,” and Jessica Chastain in “A Doll’s House.” There’s also a new Museum of Broadway for visitors to enjoy, with exhibits on everything from “Oklahoma” to “The Lion King.” The legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem is being expanded, and there’s a new Universal Hip Hop Museum in The Bronx. New food and drink options are constantly popping up in the city, including a gorgeous food hall in the South Street Seaport called The Tin Building, a project from famed chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten. For shopping lovers, the much-beloved Century 21 store is returning to lower Manhattan. NYC tourism has been encouraging people to get out of Manhattan and explore other areas. One little-known gem in Brookylyn is called The City Reliquary, a tiny, storefront museum with all sorts of knickknacks and displays centred on Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers, as well as the Statue of Liberty and The World’s Fair from 1964. I also highly recommend touring some places in The Bronx. City Island is a funky village with seafood cafes and boutique shops, while Arthur Avenue is an authentic Italian food and shopping destination. Wave Hill Gardens is a marvelous slice of green space overlooking the Hudson River.

BONUS PICK (because 10 places isn’t enough)

DURHAM REGION, ONTARIO

I spent two days and a night in surprising North Durham Region this summer, and was blown away by the creativity and cooperative spirit of local business people, as well as by their artistry and passion. Several times I found myself wondering if this region, which is less than an hour from Toronto, could become as popular with day-trippers as Prince Edward County is with overnight guests from the city.The local tourism folks are making it easy by creating two local, self-guided tours: Back Roads of Brock and the Leaskdale Loop. You also can be assured of buying fresh, local food by checking out the Durham Farm Fresh program, which has more than five dozen participating farms. Some of my fave stops in the area were Greenmantle Pottery, The Underground Bakeshop in Beaverton, The Shortiss Café in Beaverton, The Sunflower Farm, Villa Vida Loca, Forget-Me-Not Alpaca Farm, Concession 6 Studio (art and pottery), The Lucy Maud Montgomery Manse, Banjo Cider and the stunning Thomas Foster Memorial in Uxbridge.