The Jul/Aug issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK) looks beyond California’s vineyards and glacier-carved national parks to savour its tranquil coast, home to laid-back surf resorts and wave-lashed islands harbouring wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. In 2023, nearly 270 million people visited the Golden State, and with an additional 10 million visitors expected for 2024, travel there shows no sign of slowing down. 

Highlighting the free spirits bringing fresh sounds to the birthplace of US punk, the Los Angeles food truck owners sharing their heritage through street-side bites and the swimmers braving the waters of San Francisco Bay in the name of community, these are the Californians upholding the state’s reputation as a land of dreamers, innovators and creatives. 

Also in this issue, the winning images are revealed in the National Geographic Traveller (UK) Photography Competition 2024.  

Inside the issue:  

• Ras Al Khaimah: The Emirate state of mountains, deserts and coastline is now emerging as an adventure hub 
• Cape Verde: The West African archipelago is prime hiking country, with ancient trails running through farms and mountains 
• Slovakia: The past is felt with every step in the central region of Horehronie, home to lush valleys and a diverse folk culture 
• Peru: Unforgettable itineraries through which to discover the nation’s cuisine, culture and complex history 
• Barcelona: There’s always time for one more cocktail on streets peppered with clandestine speakeasies 
• Hamburg: Wedded to the water, Germany’s ‘gateway to the world’ has long welcomed the tides of change  
• Danish Lakes: Dive into the waters around Silkeborg, where wild swimming spots mingle with fairytale forests 
• South Devon: Award-winning wines, local rums and stellar farm shops in the south west 
• Rome: Savour the Eternal City with a stay that incorporates its rich history, from secluded boutiques to grand palazzi 
• Smart traveller: The return of Liguria’s much-loved Via dell’Amore; Ireland’s new national park; the story of Belgian cuisine; Tartu’s best hotels; a salsa-lovers guide to Cali, Colombia; Alpine thrills in Austria; a UK break in North Staffordshire; books for the summer months; and kit for family trips to the coast. 

• Notes from an author: Sophie Yeo on the legacy of ice fishing in the Finnish wilderness 

To read a sample of the summer issue, click here. 

To subscribe to the National Geographic Traveller (UK) newsletter, click here. 

Notes 

National Geographic Traveller (UK) is published under licence by APL Media Limited, from National Geographic Partners LLC in Washington, DC. The travel and lifestyle magazine launched in December 2010 and is packed full of you-are-there photography, authentic travel experiences and inspiring narratives. nationalgeographic.com/travel 

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