Kilimanjaro

The iconic summit in Tanzania rises more than 19,000 feet above sea level, making the dormant volcano the highest peak in Africa. It’s high enough to maintain glaciers and snowfall despite its position quite close to the equator, although sadly climate change is causing the glaciers to recede. From the ground, you might be lucky enough to see giraffes or elephants going about their business in the shadow of the mountain, blissfully unaware of the effort it takes to get to the top. Once you do, though, the panoramic views and sense of accomplishment make it all worth it.

Trolltunga

The hike is one you can do in a day, but the experience will stay with you forever. It’s about 17 miles round trip through Norwegian fjordland. There is plenty of beauty on the way, but the real showstopper is the slab of granite jutting out from a mountain about 2,300 feet over a lake. Trolltunga translates to “troll’s tongue,” and the formation is about as Instagrammable as they come. For this reason, visitors to Trolltunga have come in droves over the last few years, so you might have to wait for your turn to walk out onto the rock. But you can’t beat that view.

Franz Josef Glacier

A guided ice walk or heli-hike lets visitors get on top of this glacier descending from the Southern Alps on New Zealand’s South Island. Down in the valley below, there are rainforests to trek through, with waterfalls and lakes to reward your efforts. On the glacier, there are ice formations to marvel, and walls of ice for novices and experts alike to climb. If you need a bigger, you can skydive from a height of 20,000 feet to see the entire system of glaciers about 12 miles off the coast of the Tasman Sea.

Mount Fuji

Official trails up Japan’s iconic mountain are open from early July to mid-September, though you might want to avoid the Buddhist Obon festival in mid-August when the sacred mountain gets very crowded. Still, the trek up the more than 12,000 feet up Fuji is a communal experience renowned for the friendliness of the people you meet along the way. The hike is not so difficult that beginners should not make the attempt, though things get steep and windy on the approach to the summit. If you want to see the sunrise, a night in a mountain hut near the peak is allows for a once in a lifetime sight.

Inca Trail

It might not be the quickest way to Machu Picchu, but it sure is the most interesting. Three different routes let trekkers choose from a one-day stroll to a four- or five-day sojourn through jungle and other lesser known monuments of the Inca civilization. Altitudes top 13,000 feet at several points, and you’ll run across ruins far less crowded than Machu Picchu. You still get to see the most famous of Inca settlements, arriving way before the crowds and in time to see the sunrise at the Sun Gate with a fuller understanding of the society that built it.

Florence

Eatwith lets you start your morning by meeting an Italian grandmother in Florence’s central market, shopping for ingredients that you’ll make into a wonderful meal that afternoon. Spend time discovering Florence with a local and stop off for a nice glass of wine or coffee before getting down to business. Learn how to make homemade pasta from recipes that have been passed down for generations. Cap it all off by enjoying a meal that tastes even better because you had a hand in it.

Casablanca

Soak up the sights, sounds and smells of a Moroccan souk with ShoreTrips. Sample lamb, couscous and seafood, deciding what should go in your dish. Once your menu is set, head to your host’s home and dive into making authentic appetizers, main courses, even desserts. Your host’s family will arrive just in time for dinner, sharing snippets of their daily life and engaging in cultural exchange.

Tokyo

Eatwith takes you on a tour of the world’s largest fish market. There will be big, beautiful fillets of tuna, live shrimp jumping and octopuses wriggling. Take the catch of the day to your guide’s house, where you’ll learn the ancient art of sushi making. Your guide will help you make rolls and nigiri and share the secret of the perfect slice. Enjoy a bowl of miso soup and a healthy dessert along with as much sushi as you can handle.

Lima

Discover the history of pre-Columbian cultures through the food of the Peruvian capital. Lima Tours immerses you in a culinary experience that gives you the flavor the country. The chef shares the history, geography and biodiversity of Peru’s regions, then instructs you on how to make a proper ceviche. For a main course, you’ll make lomo saltado, a stir fry loaded with beef, vegetables and French fries. By then, your mouth will be watering and you’ll get to devour your creation.

Lyon

Train under a Michelin-starred chef in the French foodie mecca. Book a cruise that is a Virtuoso Voyages sailing, and you’ll be able to visit the famed Les Halles, dedicated to cooking legend Paul Bocuse. Chef Philippe Lechat will show you around, introducing you to the cooks who make the magic happen. Sample a local specialty to get the taste down, then spend an hour making a main course. Don’t worry about dessert, the chef will handle that. You get to kick back and savor the fruits of your labor.

Yellowstone

It became a national park in 1872, 44 years before there even was a National Park Service, and it may very well be the first designated national park in the world. Covering more than 2 million acres in three states (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho), Yellowstone features crowd favorites such as Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring. There’s also a thriving bison population, along with many other types of wildlife and a huge amount of geothermal activity.
Plus, Grand Teton National Park is nearby and combines very well with Yellowstone in terms of trip planning.

Grand Canyon

A wondrous sight to behold, the Grand Canyon runs for 277 miles through Arizona, carved out by the Colorado River. While the North Rim closes for the winter, the South Rim is open year-round. The park provides an almost endless array of activities, from rafting to hiking to skydiving and even an ultramarathon. For those less inclined toward physical activity, there are helicopter and plane tours over the canyon. Camping out on either rim is also a popular option. The North Rim reopens May 15.

Great Smoky Mountains

On the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, this park attracted more than 11 million visitors in 2017, nearly twice the amount of people who visited the runner-up, Grand Canyon National Park. With all kinds of fluctuations in elevation, Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts a wide diversity of plant and animal life. There’s some type of flower in bloom basically year-round, and synchronous fireflies put on a natural light show around May and June. The 11-mile Cades Cove loop features historic buildings and a variety of wildlife and is the most popular area of the park.

Acadia

Featuring Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the East Coast and one of the first places in the U.S. to see sunrise each morning, Acadia is the oldest designated national park east of the Mississippi River. Covering several islands off the coast of Maine, the park is an excellent destination for birdwatchers and rewards hikers with stunning ocean views. The area was first inhabited by the Wabanaki people and later became the site of the first French missionary colony in America. To reduce summertime traffic congestion, the National Park Service is working on a new transportation plan to keep the park a beautiful and enjoyable destination.

Denali

The highlight, of course, is the 20,310-foot-tall mountain which is the highest peak in North America and gives the park its name. But over more than 6 million acres, there is much to explore. Along the 92-mile road the traverses the park, visitors can see a diversity of wildlife, including caribou and several bear species. The topography features tundra, taiga forest, lakes, glaciers and mountains. For adventurous spirits, dog-mushing and heli-skiing are popular activities.

There are another 55 national parks to explore, so contact us at julie@solisescapes.comor 704-604-9638 to find yours and plan an adventure.

Baseball is back

Opening Day has arrived, with all 30 Major League teams beginning their season last Thursday. It was the first time in 50 years that all MLB teams opened play on the same day. Whether it’s your goal to visit every stadium, take advantage of interleague play to see your team in a unfamiliar city or just invade your bitter rival’s ballpark, there are some great weekends to be designed around taking yourself out to the ball game. Minnesota and Cleveland will play a two-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on April 17-18 and this year’s All-Star Game is July 17 in Washington, D.C.

The Masters

Augusta National in Georgia is always a big draw with the azaleas in bloom and the pimento cheese sandwiches plentiful. This year is a particularly hot ticket with the recent form of 14-time major champion Tiger Woods tantalizing fans as he seeks to end a 10-year major drought. Some oddsmakers have made Woods the favorite to win his fourth green jacket. Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas are also projected to be near the top of the leaderboard at the tournament, which begins Thursday and concludes Sunday.

The Kentucky Derby

The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports runs for 144th time May 5 at Louisville’s Churchill Downs. Though the race itself is over in a heartbeat, the party lasts all weekend, with mint juleps flowing freely and ladies sporting garish hats. The Run for the Roses — the winning horse is presented with a garland of 554 roses — kicks off racing’s Triple Crown, which continues with the Preakness Stakes on the third Saturday in May and the Belmont Stakes in June.

The French Open

As if you needed an excuse to go to Paris, this year’s edition of the French Open will feature the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, going for an unprecedented 11th title on the men’s side, with no Roger Federer to stand in his way. On the women’s side, three-time champion Serena Williams will make her to Roland Garros after missing last year because of pregnancy. The tournament begins May 27 and ends June 10.

The World Cup

The U.S. men’s team failed to qualify for the first time since 1986, but this year’s tournament in Russia should be full of intrigue on and off the pitch. Five-time winner Brazil is the betting favorite, with defending champion Germany also a strong contender. This could also be the last best chance for Lionel Messi to lead Argentina to international glory after falling short in several tournament finals, including the 2014 World Cup. Russia has relaxed visa requirements for ticket holders, but do be on the lookout for hooligans. The tournament kicks off June 14 with Russia playing host to Saudi Arabia, and the final is July 15 in Moscow.

The Resort at Paws Up

Known as “The Last Best Place,” The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Mont., may be just that. A pristine escape in the Rocky Mountains, taking full advantage of the Big Sky countryside, this wilderness outpost offers something for all energy levels. Explore the land on horseback, cast a fly for trout or simply indulge in spa treatments at Spa Town. As for accommodations, you can choose from 28 luxurious vacation homes, or you can experience upscale camping in one of 36 luxury tents, with decadent furnishings, your own private bathroom and even the services of a Camping Butler. It’s nature served on a silver platter.

Triple Creek Ranch

Triple Creek Ranch, in Darby, Mont., is renowned for offering innovative, all-inclusive guest experiences. One can return time and time again and never have the same vacation twice. There is so much to do at this award-winning adults-only hideaway in the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana that you won’t know what to try first. Perhaps you’ll learn to fly-fish on a scenic float down the river. Or maybe join the ranch staff to drive cattle. Of course, there’s a hefty dose of luxury included, from elegant cuisine and fine wines to a wood-burning fireplace and private hot tub at the cabin.

The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch

Go wild in style at The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyo. Through its front gates lie 30,000 unspoiled acres, where you can reclaim a sense of independence while riding trails, driving cattle, fly-fishing or hiking 12,000-foot Medicine Bow Peak. The adventures at this all-inclusive, authentic working cattle ranch are near-endless. Accommodations include 42 luxurious, timbered rooms, with open-hearth fireplaces and plush amenities. Families can spread out in 19th-century, restored log cabins with decks, full kitchens and expansive views, or stay in our upscale Magee Homestead, exclusively for adults ages 21 and over.

The Ranch at Rock Creek

Surrounded by 6,600 acres of ranchland, The Ranch at Rock Creek offers an all-inclusive “True West” experience complete with breathtaking scenery and activities as limitless as the Philipsburg, Mont., sky. Take advantage of long summer days to fly-fish, ride horseback or hike. Winter activities include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Accommodations comprise nine Western-themed guestrooms in The Granite Lodge, multi-bedroom log homes and luxurious canvas cabins on Rock Creek. Prime organic beef, elk, bison and fresh fish grace the table in the evening, along with vegetables and herbs grown in gardens on-site.

Ladder Ranch

Ted Turner operates his empire by a simple motto, “Save Everything,” and once you lay eyes on Ladder Ranch, you’ll understand why. The conservationist has diligently preserved the diverse ecosystems comprising his 150,000-acre Ladder Ranch, in south-central New Mexico; the four tributaries of the Rio Grande that traverse the land support abundant flora and fauna, like historic bison. Turner’s five-bedroom family home features personal mementos; an on-site chef prepares meals to your taste. Expeditions are individually crafted and all activities are included in your stay

Much as we’d love to, unless it’s a quick road trip, it’s difficult to take your four-legged friend on vacation with you. But there are lots of places you can go and make new furry friends, help them find forever homes and maybe even bring them home with you. Here are a few of our favorite programs.

Kauai

The Kauai Humane Society allows visitors to “check out” dogs for day trips to dog-friendly beaches and hiking trails. You get a companion for the day, the dog gets a nice time out of the shelter and wears a vest labeled “adopt me” so local passers-by know he or she is in need of a permanent home. Even if they don’t get adopted that day, the dogs still get a chance to socialize, making them more prepared for a family. If you really make a strong connection, you can your new friend home. The society helps with the process and adopts an average of four dogs a month to visitors.

Turks and Caicos

Located in the popular Grace Bay area of Providenciales, Potcake Place strives to reduce the number of homeless dogs on the island. As there is no animal shelter in Turks and Caicos, volunteers keep the dogs in their own homes, but allow visitors to take pups on beach trips. If there’s a good match, Potcake Place helps with the process of adoption and transporting the dogs to their new homes. The volunteers work with veterinarians to make sure the dogs have their vaccinations, and if necessary even accompany them on the trip to meet their families.

Costa Rica

Territorio de Zaguates, “Land of the Strays,” is a shelter in the mountains near Heredia, about an hour outside San Jose. The shelter organizes walks of about 2 miles with its canine residents where visitors can get to know the dogs and help them get used to people and possibly even meet their new owners. The walks typically take place two weekends a month, though they are temporarily suspended and no schedule has been released for 2018, so make sure to check with Territorio de Zaguates before showing up.

Blackberry Farm

This Virtuoso-preferred resort in Walland, Tenn., is home to several types of farm animals and breeds Lagotto Romagnolo dogs who specialize in truffle hunting. One weekend every February (this year it’s Feb. 2-4), guests are invited to bring their own Lagottos or enjoy time with the farm’s as they do what they love best, hunt for truffles. The celebration culminates in a feast showcasing the flavorful fungi in a variety of tasty dishes.

Inn by the Sea

A Virtuoso-preferred resort in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Inn by the Sea has invited guests to bring their pets for a long time. Now, it’s connecting dogs and families who didn’t arrive together but end up going home together. The inn fosters dogs from the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland and has helped dozens of dogs find their forever families. When you check in, you’ll be greeted by a pup manning the front desk, and if the fit is right, you might just end up with a great souvenir.

By now you’ve probably noticed that it’s cold outside. And now that the holidays are over, all this winter weather has long since lost its charm. Either you need to get away to somewhere warm immediately, or you’re already looking forward to spring break or summer vacation. Fortunately, cruise lines are eager to get you on board and offer some amazing specials during “wave season,” the first quarter of the year. Whether you prefer river cruising, small ocean ships or larger ocean liners with tons of onboard activities, book in time and there are great savings to be had. Then you can close your eyes and dream of warm sand and blue skies as you trudge through the snow.

Rivers

With AmaWaterways, book by March 31 and receive an additional $100 per person savings on select cruises that are already marked down anywhere from $250 to $1,000 per person. Book select airfare-included European sailings with Avalon Waterways by Feb. 20 and save up to $3,000 per couple. Reserve a Crystal cruise (river or ocean) by March 31 and you’ll have your choice of $400 per person off cruise fare, $500 per person air credit or $600 per person to spend onboard. For river itineraries with Tauck, pay deposit by Feb. 28 on a departure between March 1 and Aug. 31 to take advantage of $890 per person economy class airfare, $1,490 per person in premium economy or $3,490 per person in business class. The offer also applies to all European land tours and Treasures of the British-Irish Isles and St. Petersburg and the Baltic Sea ocean cruises. Uniworld is offering up to 30 percent on select 2018 sailings, and up to 20 percent off several of its U by Uniworld cruises aimed at 21-45-year-olds for bookings made by the end of March. Viking has two-for-one pricing with air included on select Waterways of the Tsars and Grand European Tour departures this year and next if you book by Jan. 31

Small ships

Azamara Club Cruises is reducing cruise fare by 50 percent for the second passenger in a cabin on certain sailings for Club Oceanview or higher categories if reserved by Feb. 28. Celebrating its 125th anniversary, Hurtigruten is offering savings of up to $1,250 per person for bookings made by Feb. 28 (March 31 for select Norway sailings). Cruise Alaska’s Inside Passage on Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner and you could get a three-category upgrade if you reserve by March 1. Seabourn’s Alaska incentive will double your shipboard credit to $600 per suite on some Virtuoso Voyages booked by March 13. Deposit by March 15 with Silversea and get up to $1,000 per suite onboard credit plus an upgrade on select sailings all over the world. Save $450 per couple on select seven-night or $600 per couple for 14-night Alaska journeys with UnCruise Adventures reserving by Feb. 28 and receive $100 shipboard credit as well. With Zegrahm Expeditions, new guests booking by Jan. 31 will save 5 percent and past guests will save 10 percent on select 2019 departures with supplemental solo traveler fees waived.

Large ships

Book an ocean view or higher stateroom with Celebrity by Feb. 28 and have your choice of a drink package, wireless internet, prepaid gratuities or $150 onboard credit for the first two guests and 50 percent reduced cruise for the third and fourth passengers in a cabin. Receive up to $500 per cabin to spend onboard and 10 percent on shore excursions when booking a verandah or higher with Holland America on select Land + Sea Journeys by Feb. 28 (shore excursions must be booked by March 15). Plus, suites also receive prepaid gratuities. Princess’ anniversary sale runs through Feb. 14, and in that time you can take advantage of up to $600 per cabin credit and free specialty dining, with deposits as low as $100 per person. Royal Caribbean is offering savings of up to 30 percent and $100 per person credit with opportunities for upgrades and prepaid gratuities through Jan. 31. Past guests of Cunard can reduce their deposits by 50 percent, while all guests can enjoy upgrades, complimentary gratuities and free drinks (in Grill Suites) when booking by Feb. 28.

To maximize your savings and benefits, contact me at (704) 604-9638 or email us at julie@solisescapes.com.

No doubt working with a travel advisor saves precious time both during the planning process and during your journey. But that’s hardly the extent of the value a Travel advisor adds to your trip. In many cases, booking with us actually saves money in addition to providing you with amenities you can’t get on your own or through an online travel agency.

If you’ve worked with us before, you know about our affiliation with the Virtuoso network, which makes us preferred partners with the best hotels, tour operators and cruise lines in the world and provides exclusive benefits to our clients such as room upgrades, resort credits and breakfast included when you stay at a Virtuoso hotel.

More than that, however, we cultivate strong relationships with our partners so that when we send our clients out into the world, we are placing you in the care of trusted friends. When our clients arrive, they are greeted as VIP guests and doted on by our partners. And if our clients do not receive exceptional service, we’ll hear the reason why and take steps to correct any issues while you’re in travel. Good luck getting that from an online travel agency.

The difference goes beyond Virtuoso, as we are members of just about every elite hotel amenity program there is. With Belmond’s Bellini Club, you’ll receive extra benefits on Belmond luxury trains and in their hotels. Membership in the Dorchester Collection’s Diamond Club gives our clients gives our clients guaranteed upgrades at such hotels and the Plaza Athénée in Paris, Hotel Eden in Rome and The Beverly Hills Hotel. As preferred partners of Fairmont and Four Seasons, our clients receive VIP treatment at some of the most exclusive hotels and resorts in the world.

Staying with such fine hotel chains as Mandarin Oriental, Jumeirah, Rosewood, Ritz-Carlton, Rocco Forte and Starwood, you’ll enjoy complimentary breakfast, credits for use in spas or restaurants along with upgraded rooms and personalized welcomes from management. The same goes for collections such as Small Luxury Hotels and the Relais & Chateaux network of properties famed for their culinary quality and unique charm.

You simply cannot reproduce the quality of experience that working with a Largay Travel advisor by booking on your own or through an online travel agency. Every step of the way, from planning to traveling to memorializing the trip of a lifetime, you are in good hands with real live people who are dedicated to making sure your experience is one you’ll want to relive over and over. With our help, you’ll be so thrilled with your vacation, you’ll already be thinking about your next one by the time you get home.

Perhaps it’s a New Year’s resolution of yours to concentrate on healthier living. Maybe you’ve recently experienced a life-changing event. Or maybe you just need a relaxing weekend getaway. Whatever it is that draws you in, wellness travel has a way of transforming outlooks on life. The goal, as with any journey, is to come back different from when you left.

And while you might think that going to a destination spa means lying around all day with cucumber slices over your eyes, the level of activity is really up to the traveler. With more than 30 resorts included in its wellness community, the Virtuoso network surely has one that fits your needs. You don’t need to ever set foot in a spa to have a transformative experience if that’s not your thing. There are plenty of ways to unwind and reset your perspective, and you can be as active as you want.

There are yoga and fitness classes, Zumba, nutrition classes and self-improvement lectures. Certain programs emphasize weight loss, while others focus on crafting, the outdoors or have various themed weeks.

On the menu is more than just wheatgrass shots and kale smoothies. Some resorts are strictly vegetarian, while others serve meat. Some serve alcohol, while others don’t. Lots of them offer cooking classes so you can learn techniques and ingredients to keep on a healthy track after you return home. Most programs are all-inclusive, offering a great value, and with fresh ingredients grown at or near the resort, you won’t find yourself going hungry.

While there are differences between wellness resorts, what they all have in common are gorgeous natural settings and a tremendous healing energy that pervades the grounds. Wellness escapes are great for friend groups, couples and solo travelers. Whoever you’re traveling with, you’re bound to find a deeper connection with loved ones, whether they are with you or waiting for you back home.

Among the unique experiences wellness community members offer is equine therapy at Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Tucson. The classes, especially “It’s Not About the Horse,” help guests gain a perspective on how they approach life and better understand their own strengths and challenges. Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa in Miami has programs centered around heart health and diabetes. Canyon Ranch’s Tucson resort offers a golf clinic to work on your game in calmer times, and an emphasis on dealing with health crises in tenser times. Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, southeast of San Diego, has hikes for all skill levels, including a nature walk that begins near the U.S. border and continues all the way to the resort through a 3,000-acre preserve.

Those are just a few examples of the restorative experiences to be had at Virtuoso-preferred wellness resorts. And if your idea of relaxation is a massage and a facial, well they’re great at that, too. Contact me at (704) 604-9638 or email us at Julie@solisescapes.com to find the resort that’s right for you.

Wellness

More and more travelers are focusing not so much on getting to a particular destination but a particular state of mind. Dozens of Virtuoso-preferred resorts and cruise lines are putting an emphasis on helping their guests restore mind, body and spirit. Using spa treatments, fitness activities, nutrition and education, these preferred partners enable travelers to achieve or restore balance in their lives and come home feeling refreshed and more connected to the world around them.

Adventure

Another way to escape the everyday and experience the beauty of the world is to go to remote places and challenge yourself. Whatever is on your bucket list: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, heli-skiing, tracking elusive wildlife or just getting away to the far corners of the earth, there is a Virtuoso-preferred partner specializing in that exact type of experience. If you really want to go to the middle of nowhere, that can be arranged too. Black Tomato offers a Get Lost experience, where travelers arrive at the airport without knowing where they are going, then dropped in a remote area and tasked with finding their way out. There is a team tracking your progress, and you have all the necessary supplies, so you’re in no danger of being stranded. But you’ll need to journey into yourself to find your way out.

Villas/apartments

Living like a local means immersing yourself in a destination, from where you eat, to where you shop, to, increasingly, where you stay. Utilizing the vast resources of the Virtuoso network, you can have a home away from home knowing you’re staying somewhere that has been properly vetted and offers amenities such as housekeeping and a private chef if you’re so inclined. From a villa in Tuscany to an apartment in New York City, there is a place for you in more than 180 destinations worldwide.

Bolivia

From the otherworldly landscape of the Uyuni salt flat to hydrofoil cruises on Lake Titicaca, Bolivia has a lot to offer without the crowds you’ll find in its more trafficked South American neighbors. One of two landlocked countries on the continent (Paraguay is the other), Bolivia has unique geography, ranging from the Amazon basin to Andean highlands, and is full of Inca trails and ruins ripe for exploring. The silver mines of Potosi produced so much for the Spanish Empire that it was once the second largest city in the Americas, and the lagoons of the Salar de Uyuni are home to a wealth of unique flora and fauna and serve as a breeding ground for several species of flamingos.

Northern Ireland

Just like its counterpart the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland is full of natural beauty. It’s so alluring that is has served as a frequent filming location for Game of Thrones and the Star Wars franchise. Giant’s Causeway, made of thousands of interlocking basalt columns, is a unique geological site and right outside the town of Bushmills, home to one of Northern Ireland’s many whiskey distilleries. There is uncertainty about Northern Ireland’s future in the wake of the Brexit decision, but the country has come a long way since The Troubles and is asserting itself a top destination in its own right.