December’s cold days and nights make the perfect backdrop for cheerful seasonal festivities in Switzerland. Linda Cabasin explores holiday traditions and activities indoors and out.SWITZERLAND – On a recent trip to the beautiful cities of Zürich, Luzern (Lucerne), and Basel, I explored places related to the upcoming celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in Switzerland in 2019. It was also a wonderful time to take in the tw

From mountain views to Instagrammable meals, Switzerland is all its cracked up to be. On her first trip, writer, aspiring chef, former Fathom intern and quarter-centarian Tess Falotico discovers a few of its fancier charms. Welcome to Switzerland: NeuchȃtelMy travel companions and I are on a terrace over Lake Neuchȃtel at 11 a.m., clinking champagne flutes. It’s my 25th birthday, and, to quote an Instagram cliche, I’m living my best life. W

When we met Lee Litumbe, she was about to quit her day job in Atlanta, Georgia, and dedicate herself to exploring, photographing, and promoting travel to Africa via her blog Spirited Pursuit. On a trip to South Africa for Fathom, she captured the energy, vibrancy, and color of Johannesburg and Durban. Jozis most vibrant and up-and-coming neighborhoods is called Maboneng Precinct. Its one of only a few walkable areas of the city, w

Fathom contributor Larkin Clark just returned from a few days in Victoria, a stunning state in southeast Australia.VICTORIA, Australia — Having been born and raised in Northern California, I’m naturally drawn to places that share similar geographical features. Give me a cool city within close proximity of the ocean, majestic peaks and valleys, and wine country, and I’m a happy clam.So I felt right at home on a recent trip to Victoria,

South Africa’s beloved port city is a world-class destination for contemporary art.  CAPE TOWN - I always imagined spending my first trip to Africa perched on the edge of a seat in an old Land Rover with a pair of binoculars glued to my eyes and a ferocious lion off in the distance. Instead, I made the nearly 24-hour journey from New York City to Cape Town to immerse myself in the city’s art scene, and though Im surprised to be saying

Heading to Toronto? Dont miss Corktown, the citys new Itspot. Heres a rundown of whats new and good in the up-and-coming neighborhood. TORONTO – Toronto’s trendy East End has been simmering for some time. The hot real estate market, relatively affordable lifestyle vibes, settled sense of community, and access to the downtown core have drawn young professionals and entrepreneurs to Corktown, clearly the citys next It neighborhood.Morning Str

Japanese-born American fashion designer Tadashi Shoji splits his time between his home in California and his design studio in Shanghai. He gathers inspiration for his evening wear collections by combing the contemporary art museums, galleries, and watering holes from Huangpu to ChangNing. Here are a list of his favorites.SHANGHAI – I have been working in Shanghai for over a decade, and it is one of the main centers for my brand, Tadash

Only have a few days in Hanoi? Pack the camera, bring an empty stomach, and hit the streets. HANOI, Vietnam — Over the holidays, I took a two-week family vacation that started in Sydney and finished in Singapore, with a quick jaunt to Hanoi in between. Though three days in Vietnams capital was far too brief, it was a major highlight. As an enthusiastic street photographer with a bottomless stomach, the experience was particularly

Ambassador ChicagoChicago, IllinoisModern, $$Nestled among the gilded mansions and luxury high-rises of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood stands one of the city’s oldest boutique hotels, Ambassador Chicago. You can bet this place has history: Since opening in 1926, the hospitality beacon has played host to its fair share of celebrities, from Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe to Michael Jordan and David Bowie. Today, after a rebrand under Jou

Some images have a way of haunting our day dreams and mood boards (and Instagram feeds), compelling us to find out the story behind the picture — like this jaw-dropping pink palace in Jaipur.Stumbling upon this image I instinctually blurted out, “Wow.” My first thoughts were: Is this impressive structure photoshopped? If it’s real, who took this picture? How do I get there?The building is called Hawa Mahal, and not only is it rea

The Knickerbocker HotelNew York, New YorkModern, $$ ($250)Few words capture the decadence of old New York like Knickerbocker —there’s something about this moniker, now a bygone relic of the city’s Dutch ancestral past, that recalls industrious barons and well-to-do dandies drifting through fashionable salons and bearing witness to formative New York moments. The Knickerbocker Hotel, a 16-story building opened in 1906 by John Jacob Ast

The image of the hands — those hands — emerging from the Grand Canal in Venice was everywhere this year.Venice is a floating city of a million unforgettable moments. And in 2017, the most unforgettable was Support, a Venice Biennale sculpture by Lorenzo Quinn depicting a pair of colossal hands rising out of the Grand Canal, seeming to hold up the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel. If you happened to be in Venice this year, you know what I’m tal

SOUTH CAROLINA - Spanish moss draped over live oaks, beckoning porches, strong cocktails, and difficult history are some of the elements that make visiting the South so deeply satisfying. To paraphrase a friend, no place is only the worst of its stereotypes, or the best of its romanticized myths. This sober assessment is arguably most relevant in the Southern U.S. states.Meticulously planned and deluxe as all get-out, Palmetto Bluff, South

QuinNew York, New YorkModern, $$ ($300/night)NEW YORK CITY – When Georgia O’Keeffe and Marc Chagall took up residence in the Quin during the first half of the 20th century, the property was a monument to the international arts and crafts movement, a style characterized by its denouncement of the mechanization of art in favor of craftsmanship, individuality, and thoughtful design. This prestige, bolstered by the long list of dancer

The Mandrake HotelFitzrovia, LondonModern, $$That you enter through a dark corridor off a quiet street in Central London is the first indication that youre not at the typical come-one, come-all hotel. The next clue is the two-story lobby, dominated by a Gothic, dominatrix-y chandelier of candles. The third should have been obvious: The hotel is named for a hallucinatory plant rich in folklore. Well then. Are you in for a trippy, surreal exp

What makes an art gallery memorable? The Beyeler in Basel works its magic with a beautiful natural setting, light-filled architecture, and an all-star collection that make a visit an inspiring experience. BASEL, Switzerland ‒ Great modern and contemporary art has many homes these days, but the Fondation Beyeler in pretty Riehen, just 20 minutes by tram from Basel, will always have a special place in my heart. It’s a perfect example of what

SCOTLAND - Sibling rivalries are completely normal. Cities, as a collective consciousness of their inhabitants, also find themselves in timeless rivalries with their relatives. New York versus Los Angeles is a match-up where stark-opposite coastal characteristics are inevitably compared to determine which is superior. So how different can Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland’s two largest cities, which are only 50 minutes apart, really be? 

Scandinavias latest hotspot isnt even technically Scandinavian. Enter Helsinki, the Finnish capital brimming with its own brand of Nordic cool. To give us the 411, we tapped Rebecca Thandi Norman, co-founder of the travel and lifestyle website Scandinavia Standard, which is launching in Finland this year. (Its also a Fathom Travel Award winner of the Best Travel Blogs and Websites of 2018.) These are her favorite spots in tow

Memphis, one of Fathom’s Top 10 Travel Destinations for 2018, is more than just Elvis and the Blues. The ever-evolving city is merging old and new, tracing its roots in the Civil Rights movement while branching out to new generations of social justice advocates and activists. Want to get swept up in a wave of positive social change? Native Memphian Rachel Knox, Thriving Arts and Culture Program Officer for the Hyde Foundation, encourages yo

April 4 marks the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, in Memphis, Tennessee. To commemorate his incredible life and move the civil rights conversation forward, organizations are hosting community-wide events throughout the spring around the theme Where Do We Go From Here? The goal is to make Memphis an inspiration hub for young people. Heres where you can join the movement.April 4/2-4/3: Where Do We Go From He