Peru to Vancouver to Lithuania

'Best of' lists — By Bob Riel on January 22, 2009 at 4:43 pm

Those are three of the places marked as “destinations to watch in 2009″ by USA Today, along with Kansas City and the Mexican Riviera. An eclectic list, to be sure. Here is some of what they have to say:

Peru – More people are visiting Peru every year. In fact, the country has the second highest tourism growth estimate in Latin America…But because Peru is home to Machu Picchu—a destination already feeling the ill-effects of overtourism—the country as a whole is invested in building a sustainable tourism program focused on creating and fostering destinations around Peru so that as visitor numbers increase, tourism doesn’t endanger the very sites and cultures people come to see…

Lima concentrates the appeal of Peru into an urban center. Rich in museums celebrating the heritage, culture, and natural beauty of the country, it also has colonial architecture, archeological ruins, scenic landscapes, and even beaches…There’s also Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable body of water, known for its floating islands housing entire communities of people; Colca Canyon, a canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon; and hundreds of other destinations worth exploring.

Vancouver – With the 2010 Winter Olympics just around the corner, Vancouver is going all out with preparations for its time in the spotlight. By visiting in 2009, you can reap the benefits of all the new infrastructure developments while enjoying the city and everything it has to offer. And as a place voted Best City in the Americas by Conde Nast Traveler three years running, the expansions and improvements are really just icing on the cake.

Lithuania – Each year, the E.U. bestows the title Capital of Culture to one or more European destinations. The cities celebrate the designation with a year of major arts and culture events and by hosting exhibitions. This year, Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, has the honor along with Linz in Austria.

Vilnius is putting on quite a show in 2009 with 120 art and culture projects and 900 events. The city will also be part of a countrywide celebration of Lithuania’s millennial year, as 2009 marks 1,000 years since the first known mention of the country in written records.