Everything you might have missed in the US, from East to West coasts
Now that the US is finally opening their borders to vaccinated British travellers – there's a whole host of things to see on your next holiday. Here are some of the highlights.
West Coast and wilderness
We all know Napa. But, now that a big name hotel has arrived in Healdsburg, Northern California, this buzzy pocket of Sonoma County is distinctly more attractive. With Montage as home base, you can have an afternoon of tastings (we recommend Jordan Winery which offers hiking in the vineyard, a “soil series” at Aperture Cellars and DaVero where wine is sampled alongside beautiful pollinator gardens) and then cap off the day at the pool or spa.
At three-Michelin-starred SingleThread, Kyle and Katina Connaughton craft dynamic multi-course experiences (with bounty from their 24-acre farm) inspired by years spent in Japan. The duo will soon open a plant-based eatery called Little Saint. For Cali cool flavours, Dustin Valette’s The Matheson serves up umami-driven dishes like Tamanishiko Rice Porridge with scallops, preserved lemon, shishito spice and chrysanthemum along with 80 wines on tap.
In remote Montana, new middle-of-nowhere property, The Green O, reads like post-pandemic perfection: a restorative jaunt involving forest bathing, spa treatments and nights spent in one’s very own high concept “haus” complete with hot tub and fireplace. By day, there are sporty outdoor activities.
Down South
Anti-vaxxers and truculent governor aside, South Florida delivers an enticing blend of culture and fun in the sun. Oceanfront cabanas? Divinely landscaped pool? Quietly glamorous interiors? Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club mines the property’s 1930s social club pedigree and mixes in of-the-moment sizzle.
For shopping and prime people-watching, the Miami Design District is an art-soused, outdoor high fashion hotspot that doubles as a selfie playground. Action shot in Daniel Toole’s textured alleyways! A peace sign over Virgil Abloh’s Dollar a Gallon III sculpture! Sexy pout at the Dior Café! There are casual and upscale restaurants (Simon Kim’s Korean Steakhouse Cote is a treat) so it’s equally fun to visit in the evening.
The Rubell Museum shows cutting-edge art in a repurposed warehouse. Snap yourself at Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden and then grab lunch at Leku, the museum’s Basque-themed restaurant. The Underline, Miami’s new incarnation of Manhattan’s High Line, has transformed the barren landscape under the Metrorail train into verdant walkways with public art such as Cara Despain’s sea-colored glass terrazzo Ping-Pong tables (Water/Table) that address the rising sea level. For more recommendations of things to do in Miami, see our guide.
Look East
What’s old is new and The Carlyle in New York has never felt more like a breath of fresh, Upper East Side air. The grande dame’s rooms have been refreshed by Tonychi Studio. A 1940s-inspired restaurant called Dowling's has opened, with a menu of ‘throwback’ dishes. And Bemelmans Bar, that bastion of cocktail culture, is back in business complete with never-seen-before Ludwig Bemelmans Madeleine artworks and longtime pianist Earl Rose tinkling the ivories. In NoMad, another city stalwart has had a reincarnation: fine-dining restaurant Eleven Madison Park has reopened with an entirely vegan menu.
Hot new museum shows include Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the New-York Historical Society; The Obama Portraits at the Brooklyn Museum; and In America: A Lexicon of Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. On Broadway, the lights are back on so book tickets for hits such as Hadestown, Dear Evan Hansen, To Kill a Mockingbird and Girl from the North Country. For more recommendations of things to do in New York, see our guide.
Reader Service: View our pick of the best USA tours
