I’m sorry, but this is absurd. MSN recently ran a story on the world’s most attractive countries. It’s a good list, but with one glaring exception; there’s no mention of the United States.
Yes, I know Canadians (and residents of many other countries) aren’t feeling terribly well disposed towards the U.S. these days. As a Canadian citizen, albeit with U.S. roots, I fully understand. But you can’t possibly deny that the U.S. has some of the most spectacular scenery and beautiful vistas – and cities – in the world. From thick pine forests and immense lakes to rugged, snow-capped mountains, and from vast, painted deserts to tropical shores, there are few places in the world – if any – that can match the U.S. for sheer variety. I don’t see how the U.S. doesn’t place in the top 10, and probably the top three.
New Zealand and Japan might be the closest to the U.S in terms of geographic variety, but without the Southwest desert. Italy is great but there’s no desert landscapes that are anything like Arizona and the U.S. Southwest, and no tropics like Hawaii (or the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam, all U.S. territories). Australia has some snowy mountains, but nothing like the Rocky Mountains of the U.S. or the glacier-packed peaks of Alaska.
The only thing I can think of is that this list was compiled by Americans looking outward, and not considering travel in their own country. Looked at through that lens, I kinda get it. But I still disagree with at least one of the choices. See below for more.
MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
Australia (tremendous beauty all around, including the Outback, stunning coastlines and tropical rainforests)
Switzerland (if the mountains of Switzerland don’t move you in some way, you don’t have a pulse)
Canada (undoubtedly a top-10 spot, with amazing mountains, an endlessly beautiful coast and so much more)
New Zealand (from sub-tropical beaches to alpine mountains and fjords, this country packs an amazing geographical punch)
Greece (the Greek islands are undoubtedly some of the beautiful on earth, and you’ll also find rugged mountains in the north)
Japan (see above note)
Italy (another country with amazing coastlines, alpine mountains and beautiful cities. Italy is fully deserving of a top-10 spot)
Iceland (The only place on this list I haven’t been, but the photos I’ve seen suggest it deserves a solid showing)
Mexico (Much more than beaches, but I don’t think it deserves to be on this list. More thoughts below).
Switzerland. Daniel Sessler/Unsplash Photo
If you exclude the U.S., this list makes some sense. But I don’t see how anyone who’s really traveled the world could put Mexico in the top nine (for some reason MSN only listed nine beautiful places, not ten). Sure, there are lovely beaches and Mayan ruins and some mountains. But how do you put Mexico ahead of Nepal, or India. Or France, which has rugged, alpine mountains, Mediterranean beaches, hilltop villages and one of the world’s most beautiful cities? It makes no sense to me. And what about China? This is a country that borders Nepal and has some of the world’s highest peaks. There are also tropical islands such as Hainan Island, enormous deserts and amazing cities. China definitely deserves a top spot.
I realize these lists shouldn’t be taken too seriously. And no doubt people can rightfully disagree with me. But I think this is a list that misses the mark.
BEST CITIES IN CANADA TO VISIT: VANCOUVER
Today I take a quick look at Vancouver for my “Best Cities in Canada” feature.
Vancouver is of the world’s most attractive cities, with a big emphasis on the outdoors and a relaxed, west coast lifestyle.
Stanley Park is one of the world’s finest urban parks; a sprawling peninsula with nature trails, towering redwood trees, indigenous tours, bike trails and stupendous city and mountain views. The Granville Island market is a great place to sample local produce and seafood, or grab a kayak. Don’t miss a chance to bop around False Creek on the Aquabus ferry.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Adrian Yu/Unsplash Photo
Also on the outdoor front, the Blue Grouse gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain is a great way to enjoy nature and get fabulous city and mountain views. The Capilano Suspension Bridge gets all the attention, and it’s terrific. But it can be expensive. If you’re on a budget, try the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge in north Vancouver, which isn’t nearly as high but is quite pretty. And free
Top museums and attractions include the Vancouver Art Gallery and the aquarium in Stanley Park. One of my fave things to do is to take a tour of Chinatown with Historic Chinatown Tours, where you’ll check out local markets and get sneak peeks at Chinese cultural centres and other places the public doesn’t normally see.
The walk along English Bay is lovely, and free, as is the terrific jaunt along the seawall from downtown to Stanley Park.
Top Hotels: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, The Fairmont Pacific Rim, The Loden, The Douglas, the cute-as-a-button Burrard, and the Hotel Rosewood Georgia.
HAWAII SEEKS CANADIAN AMBASSADOR
Beat of Hawaii says the state may appoint an ambassador to Canada to try to boost Canadian visits. The website says a bill in the Hawaiian legislature would create an Honorary Ambassador to Canada, whose job is to personally maintain relationships with the declining international visitor market.
“This legislation is narrow and, at least for now, applies only to Canada. The reason is in the numbers. Hawaii had about 540,000 Canadian visitors in 2019. Visitor counts slipped to 433,049 in 2024, and January 2026 arrivals were down another 8.7% from a year earlier, while spending fell 10.3%.”
A native Hawaiian on the island of Molokai. Jim Byers Photo
As anyone who reads this blog on even a semi-regular basis knows, I’m a huge fan of Hawaii. I’ve been at least 35 times by now (I lost track), and have visited all the islands open to visitors. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places on earth (endless beaches, towering green mountains, deep valleys cut by sparkling waterfalls), it also is home to the lovely, welcoming Hawaiian people, who are usually eager to show off their music and culture. People sometimes ask me what I love most about Hawaii, and to me the people make a huge difference.
I’m quite sure other cultures have similar words, but perhaps the word that best sums up Hawaii to me is “ohana.” Strictly speaking, it means family. Hawaiians are tremendously loyal to their families. But most people in the world are. What sets Hawaii apart in my mind is how “ohana” stretches out to an entire community. If you work at a hotel in Hawaii, you’re part of their ohana. If you’re a good neighbor, you’re part of your neighbor’s ohana. If you’re lucky enough to visit often enough and make friends on the island, you’ll almost certainly be considered part of their ohana.
Another word is malama; to care for. This is an increasingly important part of the culture of an island chain that is a constant state of fragility. They want and need visitors to sustain their economy and keep people employed, but they also feel a strong need to look after their natural environment, which sometimes means limiting tourists at popular beaches or hiking trails.
Hawaii isn’t the only US destination trying to lure more Canadians. Las Vegas recently signed a deal with a Toronto-based public relations agency; a multi-million deal to help publicize Vegas and bring more Canadians to the Nevada desert.
CRUISE NEWS AND VIEWS
HOLLAND AMERICA SOUTHEAST ASIA
Guests now have the rare opportunity to cruise Southeast Asia in less than 14 days with Holland America Line onboard Noordam’s 8‑Day Far East Discovery cruise. Departing Nov. 27, 2027, the voyage sails roundtrip from Singapore, offering guests a meaningful introduction to the region without the commitment of a longer cruise. Shorter than the cruise line typically offers in this part of the world, the voyage is designed for travelers who want to explore Southeast Asia’s culture, food and standout destinations in a well‑paced week. One of the highlights is Port Klang, the gateway to Kuala Lumpur, where the ship stays overnight. Guests have nearly 36 hours ashore, which is rare for an itinerary of this length and allows time to truly experience the city beyond the highlights. I had a wonderful Alaska cruise with Holland America two years ago.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas will once again call Singapore home in 2027, giving adventurers across the region more ways to explore Asia. From October 2027 to March 2028, families and friends can choose from 3- to 10-night vacations from Singapore, sailing to the beaches, cities and cultures of Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan with the convenience of starting and ending their holiday in one of Asia’s best-connected hubs. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting all of those countries. Each has its own particular culture, and each is well worth a visit. Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam also offer remarkable value for North American visitors.
Kampong Glam, Singapore. Jim Byers Photo
RIVERSIDE LUXURY CRUISES
Since its launch in 2023, Riverside Luxury Cruises has taken a different approach to river cruising—designing its European itineraries around shorter, combinable sailings that give travelers far greater flexibility than the traditional seven-night cruise format. While many river cruise lines structure itineraries in fixed weekly blocks, Riverside offers sailings of three, four and five nights that can easily be added to other vacation plans along with the classic seven-night itineraries. Longer sailings are also available, ranging from 10 all the way to 23 nights. This modular structure allows guests to tailor their river cruise to their travel plans, choosing the sailing length, departure days and embarkation cities that best suit their itinerary. This unique arrangement makes it easy for guests to combine their land vacations with an amazing luxury sojourn on some of Europe’s best rivers.
EXPLORA II and JANNIK SINNER
Explora Journeys launches In Balance: A Jannik Sinner Ocean Wellness Program, which is now open for reservation and will be available across all journeys from April 24 on EXPLORA I and from May 18 on EXPLORA II.
This marks a significant evolution of the brand’s partnership with Grand Slam champion and Global Brand Ambassador Jannik Sinner opening a new chapter in wellbeing at sea. The programme will be further brought to life through Jannik’s presence during a special segment of EXPLORA III’s Prelude Journey. Taking place before her Maiden Journey, thanks to the ship’s early delivery, this unprecedented five-night sailing from Genoa to Civitavecchia (Rome), from July 24 to 29, 2026 will welcome Jannik aboard from July 24 to 25.
