Sustainable travel tip: Though the ‘Mighty Five’ get all the press – and the visitors – Utah also has an impressive state parks system, with landscapes that vary from Mars-like stone forests (Goblin Valley) to bison-speckled beaches (Antelope Island).
At the site, which is 10 miles north of Moab, safari-style tents have en-suite bathrooms and luxe king-size beds, while mornings bring fresh coffee and cinnamon French toast. And with Under Canvas, you can camp right among them. This is American scenery at its largest: nothing but great rock cathedrals, blush-pink cliffs and rust-red canyons for miles. September, after Labor Day weekend, is the sweet spot: the summer crush is gone, but temperatures are still moderate, so you can comfortably hike those incredible trails. Although those plans have been shelved for now, to really feel the magic of these landscapes you’ll need to escape the mob. Congestion at Arches and Zion is so bad now, officials are proposing reservations-only entry. Utah’s ‘Mighty Five’ national parks live up to the moniker, but there’s such a thing as too much demand. Temperature: 26☌ high 10☌ low Season: autumn Travel time from UK: 10 hours 30 minutes Time difference: GMT-7
Where to stay: Birkenhead House, a coastal hotel with a pool terrace overlooking the ocean. So, while plenty of operations offer whale-watching boat tours here, why bother when the view is so good from terra firma? Hermanus even has its own ‘whale crier’, who helpfully roams around blowing on a kelp horn to alert you to sightings. Sustainable travel tip: Land-based whale watching is about as un-invasive as it gets, and saves on pollution produced by boats. It’s at its very best on gorgeous cliffside walks, secluded white-sand beaches (Voëlklip is made for picnicking), or at refined countryside restaurants – The Restaurant at Newton Johnson is set on its own farm, overlooking the winery’s vines. Though the fest brings heaps of entertainment – live music, vintage car shows, street food, kids’ activities – spare some time for exploring Hermanus beyond the crowds. Come in September, when the Hermanus Whale Festival (27-29 September) celebrates peak season for southern right whales breaching close to shore. Less than two hours’ drive from Cape Town, Hermanus has grown from fishing village to popular seaside destination for good reason: it offers the world’s best land-based whale-watching. Temperature: 20☌ high 12☌ low Season: spring Travel time from UK: 11 hours 30 minutes Time difference: GMT+2 Where to stay: Wild Honey Inn in County Clare, Ireland’s first Michelin-star pub. Other pioneers include Tartare Café and Wine Bar (local, farm-fresh ingredients organic and natural wines compostable cups and napkins), Kai (as well as serving a daily-changing menu of local ingredients, the restaurant recycles all its waste, with around 25 per cent of it converted into fuel) and Dela, which grows its own produce, allowing for a ‘plot to plate time of minutes’. Sustainable travel tip: Galway’s sustainable food scene isn’t just limited to Michelin-starred affairs such as Loam. A bit of contemporary culture comes courtesy of Coffeewerk + Press: part third-wave coffeehouse, part art gallery, part design shop. But today, it’s also a standard-bearer for west-coast produce, leading the way in local, organic, farm-to-fork cooking (see Michelin-starred Loam’s seasonal tasting menus). Sitting pretty on the River Corrib, the harbour town has always been a favourite for its waterside views, snug pubs and super-fresh seafood. On the last weekend of the month, the beginning of the native oyster harvest is celebrated with parades, the World Oyster Opening Championships (really) and devotees slurping hundreds of the delicacies with stout and Champagne. Ireland’s most scenic city is a blast any time of year, but the Galway International Oyster Festival is an excellent reason for going in September.
Temperature: 17☌ high 10☌ low Season: autumn Travel time from UK: 1 hour 25 minutes Time difference: GMT+0
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