“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: David Netto
OCCUPATION: Design Director, NettoCollection
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Mammoth Lakes, CA
HOTEL: Tamarack Lodge www.tamaraklodge.com
RESTAURANT: Eat in the Lodge. The dining room is INcredible.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Go skiing, but sleep here — or come in the summer for the fishing and hiking. This is one of the most magical small hotels in America.
INSIDER RECOMMENDATION: This is a hotel just outside of Mammoth which feels like Clark Gable and Carole Lombard could pull up any moment on a motorcycle from LA, having eloped. It is the cozy dream of an American Alpine ski resort, unspoiled and undiscovered since the 1930′s as Mammoth itself has blown up. Because it’s just out of town, you are in your own world, snowbound in the majestic California Sierras, with none of the bustle and newness of the village…

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Demet Muftuoglu
OCCUPATION: Fashion and Artistic Director, Vakko (Istanbul)
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Jamaica
HOTEL: Goldeneye
RESTAURANT: Evita’s
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: December to late March.
INSIDER INFO: This is where Ian Fleming crafted all his James Bond novels.

Walking the sunny shores of Oracabessa, Jamaica. Photo Demet Muftuoglu

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Brian Reyes   
OCCUPATION: Fashion Designer, Brian Reyes
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Bigfork, Montana
HOTEL: Family Home (my boyfriend’s)
RESTAURANT: Echo Lake Café and The Grateful Bread
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: July 4th and Christmas – an annual tradition.
INSIDER SECRET: The Sitting Duck is the best bar in town. It has an amazing outdoor porch perched right on the top of Woods Bay, and it’s a great place to watch the sunset and catch up on the latest local “what’s-what”.
HOLIDAY RECOMMENDATION: July 4th Parade and fireworks – if you’re able to be in town over the holiday the town parade is like something straight out of a movie set. There are decorated trucks from the 1930′s, local beauty pageants and streets lined with toddlers catching all the candy tossed from the floats. The fireworks are the best in town (or in the West, for that matter.) They start at about 11pm on HWY 83. It’s hosted by a local rancher and is a private event, but it’s amazing!

4th of July parade, Bigfork, Montana. Photo Brian Reyes.

Breakfast pancakes at Echo Lake Cafe.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Rachel Roy
OCCUPATION: Fashion Designer, Rachel Roy
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Ghana, Africa
HOTEL: The White Sands Beach Resort – a haven for shell collectors like me!
RESTAURANT: I bought local food from the street vendors that was delicious and unlike anything I’ve ever eaten.
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: Over the holidays in December – I work with a fantastic charity called OrphanAid Africa (www.oafrica.org) and I brought the children presents for Christmas.
RECOMMENDATION: The street vendors sell beautiful, black vintage-looking sewing machines that you cannot find anywhere else. I bought one for my showroom in New York and am pleasantly reminded of my travels to Ghana everyday.

“50 Best Travel Destinations” I asked great friends to share their favorite travel spots around the globe, both close to home and far, far off the beaten path. Herein are their responses.

NAME: Waris Ahluwalia
OCCUPATION: Jeweler (House of Waris)/Actor/Author
TRAVEL DESTINATION: Venice, Italy
HOTEL: Gritti Palace, www.gritti.hotelinvenice.com
RESTAURANT: Harry’s, www.harrysbarvenezia.com
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT: September and October.
SECRET RECOMMENDATION: Secrets are better left secrets.

Venice from above.

The Gritti Palace