The Adventure and Travel Show made its annual stop in Chicago this past weekend to get guests pumped for new experiences, interesting seminars, cultural immersions and the chance to win trips. We checked in to see what was new from your favorite Adventure Travel destinations, but the kids were the big winners with camel riding and indoor scuba diving available for all.

Highlights included:

Costa Rica- Costa is continuing to promote sustainable eco-tourism with conservation efforts that ensure modern developments do not erase the rich historical culture. Make sure to take a tour of the java houses as coffee is their #1 export.

Tobago- The oldest legally protected rainforest preserve in the world, secluded waterfall cascade and teeming wildlife open up to spectacular cliffs and coral reefs in Tobago. Also a nirvana for naturalists, feel the connection to South American flora and fauna.

Curacao- Located only 2.5 hours from Miami; it is between 78-82 degrees year round. A top dive destination, there are over 65 sites for world-class snorkeling in Curacao.

Turks and Caicos- With most natives' descendents hailing from African slaves, Turks and Caicos has an interesting economy with no income, capital gains or property tax. Check out the landmark houses built by 300 year old sea merchants which have been transformed into boutique hotels.

Mexico- 2012 is a big year for tourism in Mexico because it is the beginning of the new Mayan era. The Mundo Maya region covers 500.000 kms² across five countries - Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the southeastern states of Mexico. There are over 100 archaeological sites, scattered amongst valleys, volcanoes, jungles & reefs, which have been saved and restored.

India- While the Taj Mahal is often India's crowning attraction, other must-see places include the Holy River Ganges- one of the most sacred places in India, Varanasi, where rituals of life and death are performed and the thousand year old Hindu temples at Khajuraho, which has been named a UNESCO world heritage site.

Dominican Republic- If you think Carnival is only big in Brazil, think again. One of Punta Cana's biggest events, celebrate the annual parade in March with more than 1,000 characters from 15 of the island's providences.

Argentina- Pushing fishing holidays, from lagoons to bays, gulfs to cliffs catch a variety of sea treats in this maritime coastal region of South America.

There's four star cuisine and then there's uniquely memorable dining experiences. This is the latter. From strange service to crazy locations, monkeys delivering your meal to meals being prepared by robots, one thing's for sure, at these odd spots, you will definitely not run out of things to talk about. Just be sure to pass the vino! 

Meals Cooked by Robots- Japan

It's no surprise that the majority of odd eateries are in Asia. FA-men is a ramen restaurant in Nagoya, Japan in which two robots, a chef and a sous chef prepare you soup and chit chat while cooking. Strange? Watch the video.

Meals Prepared by Dwarves- Philippines

Called the Hobbit House (not sure if that's PC), Peace Corps volunteer and college professor Jim Turner was so inspired by Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books that he founded a bar entirely staffed by "little people." Inside its candle lit interiors, one can recognize the paintings of scenes from the trilogy as well as posters of local folk legend, Freddie Aguilar. It made our list of top 10 dining experiences in the world.

Dining Table Suspended in the Sky- Worldwide

If you ever wanted to defy gravity, now's your chance. Host the most unusual dinner party possibly ever by inviting 22 of your closest friends to be suspended in the air 50 meters high. Stationed on a moveable platform, this table can essentially be located anywhere in the world you have access to giving you plenty of options for crazy backdrops. Just don't look down.

Meals are Cooked Using Volcanic Heat- Spain

A major attraction on Lanzarote, the easternmost of the Canary Islands is Parque Nacional de Timanfaya and Montañas del Fuego (Fire Mountains), which is marked by a sign depicting the devil. As part of your tour, stop at El Diablo Restaurant to enjoy its barbeque that uses geothermal heat and a cast iron grill placed over a hole in the ground - an idea crafted by famous Spanish chef César Manrique. Staff members give impressive demonstrations which show the intense heat of the earth just below the surface, just watch out for flames.

Communicate with other Patrons via Telephones- France

France is known as the city of love and a little café in Montpellier is trying to ignite the sparks a little faster. At Restophone, each table is outfitted with a telephone to communicate with other tables, to spark up conversations or to ask someone to dance. Great for groups, but even better for singles. Maybe you want to talk about your weird restaurant experiences?

BBQ chickens set on fire, catapulted through the air, and caught by a waiter riding unicycle- Thailand

Can you say random? This is one of those only in Bangkok weird dining experiences. Ka-tron was established in 1986 originally across the Department of Meteorology, with the name literally meaning "rebound." And if flying food is not enough entertainment while you dine, there's karaoke too.

 

According to Travel and Leisure, the Top 10 Travel Destinations of 2012 are as diverse a group as you can get. From the ultra lux Abu Dhabi to off the beaten path Xishuangbanna, China to down home rural Arkansas, it's an interesting list of contrasts for the discerning traveler.  Here are their picks and our take on these up and comers, refreshed cities or newly recognized hotspots.

Sri Lanka- Agreed. Often touted as India's stepchild, Sri Lanka is beginning to come into its own limelight with eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,330 kilometers of coastline, 15 national parks showcasing an abundance of wildlife, nearly 500,000 acres of lush tea estates, 250 acres of botanical gardens, 350 waterfalls, 25,000 water bodies, and a culture that dates back over 2,500 years. They had a record breaking year in 2011 for tourism welcoming over 800,000 visitors with the majority from India, Japan, Germany, U.K, France, Netherlands, Italy, and Middle East. 2012 doesn't show any signs of slowing down as more and more Western countries begin to uncover it's wonders.


Toronto- Definitely agreed.  Touted as the NYC of Canada, Toronto has been climbing its way up many's list of favorite cities. 2010 was a record year for tourism in Toronto as the number of hotel room nights sold reached over 8.93 million. Toronto moved up to sixth place in hotel occupancy among top North American cities from 10th a year ago. In terms of attractions, Canada's National Tower (CN Tower) opened a new extreme, EdgeWalk, which is the first of its kind in North America, the world's highest full circle hands-free walk on one of the world's greatest man-made wonders. In addition 2011-2012 will bring a number of new upscale hotels to Toronto including the Trump International Toronto Tower, Shangri-La and Four Seasons.


St. Vincent and the Grenadines- Agreed, but SVG isn't as exclusive or elitist as they portray it to be. Remote yes, but accessible. Its casual, unpretentiously friendly people and deep wealth of natural attractions make this collection of 32 islands and cays a life-renewing experience. From the imposing La Soufriere volcano at 4,048 ft. to the oldest botanical gardens in the Western Hemisphere, SVG is as much a nature lover's paradise as a sailing and diving gem.


Guimarães, Portugal- Mmm no way, too random. Portugal is really known for its gorgeous beaches, and I'm not sure this landlocked area makes the cut. Instead, our pick is Italy's Amalfi Coast, which has recently been getting star power with the likes of Kim Kardashian's short-lived honeymoon and famously as one of Elizabeth Taylor's favorite vacation spots. Often overshadowed by Rome, Venice, Florence and Tuscany, the rugged southern shore dividing the Bay of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno is a restful and picturesque area full of miniature towns, caves, castles and crashing cliffs.


Abu Dhabi- Agreed, but mainly for the recent pop culture love they've been getting from Sex and the City 2 making every fashionista wants to hit the UAE. Headquarters of the world's richest oil companies, Abu Dhabi is capitalizing on its modern sophistication, amazing duty-free shopping, luxury hotels and world class infrastructure.


Costa Navarino, Greece- Meh, there are more interesting on the radar spots in Europe than struggling Greece, like the Dalmatian coast.  With over 1,000 miles of emerald-blue waters, secluded pebble beaches and countless unspoiled islands, Croatia is one of the most romantic honeymoon spots in the world with impressive medieval castles, national parks and charming local villages.


Xishuangbanna, China- Possibly, but still pretty remote. We're not sure Westerners are brave enough to venture off the beaten path in red-shirted China. Combining influences of neighboring Burma, and Laos, and Vietnam, Xishuangbanna is a cultural melting pot, but if you're worried about safety or obscurity, hit up Taipei first. Taiwan is brimming with amazing food, adventure and shopping.


Southern Bahia, Brazil- Bahia may be a beautiful beach town, but it's still not that mainstream yet. Due to Rio's massive infrastructure overhaul for their 2016 Olympic bid, we say get there first and check out the new digs- and what's being retired. Vila Autódromo, a favela situated in the heart of Barra's Olympic Park will be removed by 2013 to allow for further Olympic construction. See the legendary city before it's completely modernized.


Hamburg, Germany- Agreed, but we'd broaden this to Germany in general. The land of fairy tales, Germany where farmland minstrels headed to Bremen to become musicians, where Sleeping Beauty was woken and Little Red Riding Hood ventured into the woods. Discover the country that gave us Beethoven and Bauhaus, Goethe and Glühwein, Lager and Lederhosen.

Panama- Agreed, Panama is certainly Central America's most overlooked country. The Panama Canal is two years from completing a $5.2 billion expansion that will double its capacity and make it one of the most sought after cruise ports just in time to celebrate its 100^th birthday. The name, Panama, means 'abundance of fish and butterflies', in an indigenous language, which gives a good indication of the wild wonders to be found here, beyond its rather daunting, but fascinating capital, Panama City.

Mozambique's Northern Coast- Most of Africa aside from the major safari areas and Cape Town are still considered undiscovered gems. In Africa it really depends what you're looking for- if it's spiritual enlightenment head to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, solo travel try the Red Sea in Egypt or Seychelles for an island escape. Mozambique is cosmopolitan beach town with old world charm.


Bentonville, Arkansas- Sorry, but absolutely not. No one with any sort of metropolitan instinct is going to vacay in Arkansas out of their own free will, even if the Walmart heirs are paying a pretty penny to build It up. Nashville on the other hand, is gaining interest from the urban elites and not just the country music lovers. As a major stop on most cross-country tours, this musical city is sure to be rockin' all night long.

As the New Year rolls around, so do those dreaded resolutions. The things you promise you'll change to make yourself a better person- lose 10 lbs., spend more time with the family, eat out less, etc. Instead of forcing yourself to do things you don't want to do, why not make optimistic travel resolutions to better yourself? There's nothing more fun than immersing yourself in other worldly cultures to broaden your horizons, which is only done by seeing the world and exploring the great wonders of earth.  Here's our list, feel free to adopt these as your own. Happy holidays and happy travels!

1. Face a fear- There is nothing more satisfying than staring fear in the eye and laughing. Afraid of heights? Go sky diving.  Afraid of the ocean? Swim with the sharks. Though it may be terrifying at first, go with a reputable program or guide that can ensure your success. You will gain so much self confidence knowing you conquered something you never dreamed possible, which will go wonders beyond an extra hour or two at the gym.

2. Challenge yourself- Are you an avid hiker? Test your skills with one of the biggest challenges in the world- Manchu Picchu or the Himalayas. Big on biking? Try cycling around Amsterdam. Match your unique hobbies and interests to the location they are most popular or coveted. Besides having a blast, you'll see that people around the world really aren't so different after all by meeting people with similar interests. 

3. Make time for travel- One of the hardest parts about travel is finding the time and money to do it. Promise yourself you will take your full two weeks of vacation this year.  No matter how daunting the thought of work piling up is, if you plan ahead the world will not end.  Block out a non-busy time scheduling around the dreaded end of month /end of quarter and get a jumpstart on finishing reports early. After all, you owe it to yourself to decompress. Travel is good for the health and the heart. In most of the world, they get on average a week off per quarter to relax.

4. Go with the flow- Planning out your entire itinerary can be great for scheduling sake, but taking it as it comes is equally as important to truly get the vibe of your location. In the Caribbean? Sure, you want to fit in water sports, parasailing and zip lining, but don't stress out if you don't get to it all. They are on "Island time," the pace is a bit slower, more chill. Grab a frozen cocktail, hit the spa and you'll be one of them in no time.

5. Don't judge- One of the best parts about visiting a new place is learning about the culture, but it's important to be respectful. If you see people eating something you would never put in your mouth or wearing something you think looks crazy, accept it. Don't giggle, talk behind their back or whisper. Besides, maybe it's really you that's backwards.

6. Revisit an old fav- there are spots that are meaningful to us all, whether it be somewhere in your own town, a honeymoon spot, or somewhere you went as a child. Reliving the special moments and places in our life is equally as important as seeing something new. Nostalgia is an extremely powerful emotion and the sights, smells and colors can take you back to some of the best times in your life.

7. Share the experience- Traveling solo is great, but making memories is what it's all about. Go with a loved one, be it your family, significant other, or a group of friends to capture those "had to be there moments." And of course, document your trip with photos and videos to share with friends and family. You just may motivate them to relive your experience or at least be extremely jealous. 

8. Cross something off your bucket list- We all have a bucket list- those grand adventures that make life worth living. An African safari in your top 3? What better time than the present? Because really, what are you waiting for? Seize the moment.

9. Add something to your bucket list- The more you travel, the more amazing, off the beaten path  places you discover. It's hard to even read about a place without discovering 10 more things you have to do or try. This isn't a bad thing, it just keeps you motivated to explore and widens your eyes to all that's out there.

10. Don't stress- Planning a trip can be extremely time consuming. Travelers conducting on average twenty web searches before booking just to make sure they cross reference every detail and scour over every review. Take time to relax even in the planning stage. Vacations are meant to destress, not cause more anxiety that you missed a sale. Create your game plan early so you can enjoy the ride instead of worrying about last minute expenses. 

Bon voyage!