Alkis Konstantinidis/European Pressphoto Agency

Visitors with a view of Acropolis Hill in Athens.

A country still grappling with economic woes sees a flicker of optimism as travelers return.

Seth Kugel

The escalivada, a Catalonian specialty that's vegetarian friendly, at Sésamo.

It takes some digging, but beyond Iberian pork and octopus croquettes lies a vegetarian-friendly version of the Barcelona tapas crawl.

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Paul Winch-Furness

A hot dog paired with a glass of Champagne at Bubbledogs.

The name of this unusual spot, opened by a married couple last summer, says it all.

Hotel Bel-Air

This storied property, newly refurbished and reopened last year, is the latest player in this city’s lineup of stylish hotels that celebrate Hollywood glamour and history.

Michael Kirby Smith for The New York Times

Staying in a treehouse, a caboose and a yurt, and discovering the real reason to take a rustic vacation.

James Patterson for The New York Times

Po’ Monkey’s in Merigold, Miss.

Once too numerous to count, many juke joints have slipped away. So what remains? A pilgrimage through the South reveals the music and magic keeping this culture alive.

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Austin-Lehman Adventures

Havasu Creek, near Supai, Ariz.

From an Arizona town where supplies are delivered by “pony express” to the quiet island of Lanai, Hawaii, outfitters can help you truly escape.

Roy Wood

Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, in Alaska.

An obsession with the least-visited National Park Service property in the country animates an argument for vanishing.