Taking the Scenic Route
Everyone loves a room with a view. The difference with certain trips is that the view begins long before you check in. A rail route through Europe, a small ship navigating a remote coastline, or a stay positioned in front of something iconic can shape the entire experience. The landscape is not an afterthought. It is part of why you go.
Rail travel is one of the most rewarding ways to experience scenery at scale, and Europe does it exceptionally well. In Italy, countryside journeys turn vineyards and coastal stretches into part of the itinerary rather than something you fly over, while alpine crossings through Switzerland, including the route between Zermatt and St. Moritz, reveal valleys, gorges, and historic bridges through panoramic windows that make every seat feel like the right one. In winter, you may even spot sledders racing down the Preda-Bergün run as the train curves past.
Beyond Europe, equally striking scenery unfolds in the American Southwest and across Peru’s Andean plateau, where red rock canyons and high-altitude plains stretch for miles in every direction.
Small ship and expedition cruising offer a similar shift in perspective. On New Zealand’s South Island, an intimate yacht exploring Milford Sound hugs towering fjord walls where waterfalls spill directly into the water, and guests head out by kayak or tender, often spotting fur seals, Fiordland crested penguins, dolphins, and even humpback whales along the way.
In Western Australia’s remote Kimberley region, vessels approach cliff-drop waterfalls and ancient rock formations, while Antarctica offers ice stretching to the horizon and wildlife gathered along stark shorelines. Deep in the Amazon, rainforest lines both banks of the river, and the scenery shifts with every bend. Different landscapes, same advantage. Access changes everything.
The right property continues that immersion. At Lake Louise in Banff National Park, lakefront stays frame turquoise water and glacier-lined peaks so completely that the view becomes part of your daily rhythm. In Australia’s Red Centre, accommodations facing Uluru allow sunrise and sunset to unfold without leaving your terrace. In Venice, canal-facing rooms place gondolas and historic palazzos just outside your window, changing the way you experience the city entirely.