Unveiling 2018's Hidden Gems: Our Top Discoveries of the Year

It's a good week for cracking open new books, reading stacks of magazines, and, of course, indulging in wanderlust. We're combing the archives and sharing some of our favorite discoveries of the year — and the hidden gems that made us realize why we like our jobs so much.

Slowing Down at the Best Little Tea Parlor in Vietnam's Hội An

Hội An, Vietnam
From the street, Reaching Out Teahouse doesn’t look like much. But the tastefully decorated townhouse is a quiet oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Hội An. Opened by a collective of speech- and hearing-impaired Vietnamese, it offers a unique experience centered around enjoying a cup of tea in silence.

How to Get a Buzz in the Jamaican Jungle

Jamaica
We sent the chillest guy we know (and his video camera) to Strawberry Hill in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains. He’s still feeling the high.

What It's Like Inside the Apple Store for Weed

Los Angeles, California
It's happening. Recreational marijuana is now legal in the state of California, which means that visits to the dispensary are no longer something 420-friendly travelers have to make their friends with medical cards do for them. Anyone so inclined can just walk into a dispensary by showing valid ID from any state or a passport from another country.

How a Yankee Transplant Survives Summer in NOLA

New Orleans, Louisiana
Don't let the heat get you down. A Yankee transplant and innkeeper of The Louie, in New Orleans, shares her newfound tips for surviving summer in the South.

Discover More of 2018's Best

Destinations That Surprised Us
Hotels That Charmed Us
The Best Food Stories
Travelers Who Inspired Us
How to Be a Better Traveler in 2019