Ben Nevis Mountains - Scotland Top travel destinations for 2013 (via CNN) 1. Scotland, United Kingdom Scotland has seen fit ...

Top travel destinations for 2013 (via CNN)


Ben Nevis Mountains - Scotland


Top travel destinations for 2013 (via CNN)

1. Scotland, United Kingdom
Scotland has seen fit to dub 2013 the "Year of Natural Scotland," and what better time to do it?

2. Rabat, Morocco
What a difference a little recognition makes.
Travelers have long overlooked Morocco's low-key capital, instead being seduced by the heady sights and sounds of Marrakech or beachside charm of Essaouira.

3. Košice, Slovakia
Thanks in part to its medieval old town and vibrant mix of Renaissance, Baroque, and art nouveau architecture, the compact yet captivating eastern Slovakian city of Košice (population 250,000) has been chosen 2013's European Capital of Culture (along with Marseille in France).

4. Sub-Saharan Africa
Multi-country African trips usual mean long, bumpy journeys on bad roads or budget-busting charter flights between destinations.

5. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States
With Daniel Day-Lewis likely getting an Oscar Best Actor nomination for his spooky good portrayal of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (the 85th Academy Awards show will be held February 24) and the 150th anniversary of the real president's famed 272-word Gettysburg Address (given in the wake of the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg, it's perhaps the most famous speech in American political history), U.S. Civil War history will take center stage in 2013.

6. Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Like birthday celebrations? Amsterdam does, and it's set to host a bunch of them to mark major anniversaries in 2013.
The 160th anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's birthday will take place on March 30 with special exhibitions and opening hours of the city's Van Gogh Museum.

7. Colombia
Magical Andes mountain scenery, bustling cities quickly getting up to international speed in the wake of a troubling past, high-end hotel openings (Hilton, InterContinental, Marriott) and new direct routes from major air carriers are quickly moving Colombia onto a lot of traveler wish lists -- including ours.


Other trending spots include:
Montenegro -- great beaches, rich history, underappreciated cuisine, stunning sites.
New Zealand -- more film-inspired sightseeing mixed with top-rate food and wine.
Miami -- reinventing itself as a hip hangout for arty types.
Japan -- offering better than ever value as the country seeks to reinvigorate travel in wake of 2011 tsunami.
Vietnam -- a wave of new resort openings planned for 2013.


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