Month: September 2022

Taiwan is an island of foodies where snacking is the national pastime, no matter the time of day (or night). The very definition of a melting pot, Taiwan’s incredible cuisine draws upon Chinese Fujian, Cantonese, and Hakka flavors, the foraged fare of Taiwan’s indigenous Peoples, and a sprinkling of Japanese and American influence, too.

You don’t need to go upmarket in Taiwan to eat the best food either – you’ll have some of the most profound dining experiences on the street, grazing past rows of mom ‘n’ pop stalls that fry, grill, or steam just one or two xiao chi (small eats) to perfection. Here’s our food primer to get you started on traditional food in Taiwan.

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Slurp up a steaming bowl of beef noodle soup

Taiwanese beef noodle soup (台湾牛肉面) unites braised beef and chewy wheat noodles in a slow-simmered broth, with a tickle of Sichuan spice and a tang of pickled mustard greens. It’s not surprising to learn that this cuddle in a bowl was created by folks pining for a taste of home – veterans of China’s civil war who had crossed the sea to Taiwan, bringing their regional recipes with them. Today, niurou mian is Taiwan’s de facto national dish (it has its own festival) and has even been credited with reversing the island’s long-held taboo on eating beef.

Where to try it: Yongkang Beef Noodles, Taipei.

Get your boba on in a big way

Boba cha, also known as bubble tea, pearl milk tea, or zhenzhu naicha (珍珠奶茶), is the drinks craze Taiwan gifted to the world. Served at roadside stands and in chain outlets, the classic edition shakes up tea, milk, ice, sugar, and chewy pearls of tapioca. But these days it can be made with blended fruits, pureed taro, sweet potato balls, and even cheese – the more Instagram-worthy the better. But what almost all the boba variants have in common is a cocktail-style shake over ice before serving and an extra-wide straw to hoover up all those springy, syrupy ‘bubbles’ of tapioca along with the tea.

Where to try it: Chun Shui Tang, Taipei.

Embark on a snack safari after dark

Taiwanese have got it right – snacking just feels way more fun at night! At night markets all over the island, dozens of vendors – each typically family-run – dish up cheap, moreish mouthfuls under the glow of bare bulbs: think soups, sausages, squid skewers, sweet treats, stinky tofu, and stuff stuffed inside other stuff. Some night market snacks are food icons in their own right, like gooey oyster omelets (蚵仔煎), ‘salt-crisp’ fried chicken tossed with basil leaves and five-spice, and shaved ice desserts (剉冰) topped with red beans, mango, taro balls, and bathed in sweet condensed milk.

Where to try it: Miaokou Night Market, Keelung.

Savor the finest Shanghai-style soup dumplings

Din Tai Fung served its first-ever steamer of hand-pleated xiaolongbao (steamed pork dumplings filled with soup) in Taipei in 1972 and it endures as some of the most famous food in Taiwan. The original Xinyi Road branch is still going strong, with daily queues attesting to the quality and simplicity of its Shanghai fare. It also features warming wonton soup and pork cutlet over egg-fried rice. In 2010, the brand picked up its first Michelin star, not in Taipei but Hong Kong. Now truly a worldwide icon, the Taiwan-born chain has over 170 branches across the globe.

Where to try it: Din Tai Fung, Taipei.

Discover indigenous Taiwanese cuisine

Despite being overwhelmingly Han Chinese, Taiwan is home to half a million indigenous islanders from 16 officially recognized Peoples. These aboriginal Formosans have evolved a cuisine derived from the foraged fare of mountain veggies, seafood, and wild game. In Taiwan’s remote regions, you’re sure to come across wild boar served with onions and greens, steamed rice stuffed into bamboo tubes, and millet wine – once the tonic of tribal rituals. You might also encounter dishes of betel-nut salad, bird’s nest fern and even flying squirrel; everything that the forests and mountains have traditionally provided.

Where to try it: Taiya Popo, Yilain.

Bar hop through Taipei’s craft beer and cocktail scene

Taipei has taken to craft beer in a typically stylish and idiosyncratic way. En-vogue bars from the likes of Taihu, Sunmei, and Zhangmen (all home-grown brands) pour creative brews in thimble-sized glasses, harnessing the bold flavors of local ingredients like kumquats, longan honey, and smoked plums. Craft cocktails are booming too, with speakeasy-style joints like Ounce Taipei mixing masterful creations in a moody dark-wood setting.

Where to try it: Driftwood, Taipei.

Queue up for that scallion pancake

Done well, Taiwan’s spin on green-onion-and-fried-egg pancakes (蔥油餅; congyoubing) is food heaven on a shoestring – crisp, pillowy, and just oily enough to cure a hangover. Often sold from the humblest of carts, the best street food purveyors will have a line of hungry diners waiting. If you also see a cook of advancing years at the wok, you know you’re on to a good thing. Join that queue.

Where to try it: Raohe Street Night Market, Taipei.

Have a Hakka-themed banquet

Making up 15-20% of Taiwan’s population, the Hakka people are a Han Chinese subgroup with their own language, customs, and food. Heavy on the pork, tofu, and soy sauce, Hakka dishes are salty and strong-flavored without being spicy. Historically, the Hakka were farmers used to long days in the fields, so their food needed to be suitably hearty. The rural district of Meinong in Kaohsiung is overwhelmingly Hakka and a great place to try specialties like stuffed tofu, bantiao (glutinous rice noodles), braised pork hock, and the rich delight that is lei cha (ground tea).

Where to try it: Meinong Traditional Hakka Restaurant, Meinong.

Rip apart the world’s tastiest roast chicken

Weng yao ji (earthen kiln chicken) is the ultimate Taiwan road trip feast. Marinated mountain chickens are roasted whole in wood-fired urns that resemble giant tandoors, resulting in the perfect symphony of juicy, flavourful meat and crisp, golden skin. The go-to purveyor is Thumbs Up Chicken (spot the yellow fiberglass mascot outside), a raucous family restaurant chain with branches orbiting Taipei, where hundreds of birds are roasted daily, torn apart by gloved diners and gobbled up alongside mouth-watering stir-fries and icy bottles of Taiwan Beer.

Where to try it: Thumbs Up Chicken, Yilan.

Try an ice-cream spring roll

One of the more fusion of Taiwan’s snacks, this burrito-like street food is assembled while you wait, a crepe folded around three scoops of fruit ice cream, shards of peanut candy, and sprigs of cilantro that cut through the sweetness with a floral zing. Called run bing (潤餅), the dish is a playful dessert riff on a savory spring roll of the same name originating from Fujian on the mainland and traditionally filled with shredded turnip, sausage, peanuts, and cilantro.

Where to try it: Ruifeng Night Market, Kaohsiung.

Vegetarians and vegans

Buddhist roots run deep, so most towns will have a few vegetarian and vegan eateries serving healthy Taiwanese food or utilizing ‘mock meat’ made of tofu or gluten to mimic well-known meat or fish dishes. Buddhist vegetarian restaurants are easy to find. Just look for the large savastika (an ancient Buddhist symbol that looks like a reverse swastika) hanging in front of the restaurant.

The Bahamas are a byword for beach-vacation bliss. Scattered like emeralds between Florida and the Caribbean, this Atlantic archipelago comprises more than 3000 subtropical islands and cays, most uninhabited.

Lushly subtropical, they’re fringed with teeming coral reefs and world-famous beaches, offering as much to divers and hikers as they do to sunseekers in search of banging beachside bars.

Here are the best eight places to visit in the Bahamas.

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1. Nassau

Best place for nightlife

Nassau is the unchallenged nightlife capital of the Bahamas. Historically a haven for pirates and smugglers, the city’s treasures now attract travelers.

Ground zero for any Nassau night out is the Fish Fry on Arawak Cay, just west of the center of town. Shacks slinging fried fish, freshly cut conch salad and sky juice (a local favorite drink of gin, green coconut water and condensed milk) mingle with bars booming out reggae and rake-and-scrape (the local sound) from 7pm every evening.

Once your night’s started, head back downtown for rum punch and sandy toes at the clapboard bars of Junkanoo Beach, a Black Beer’d Stout at Pirate Republic microbrewery or even a dress-up-nice cocktail at Sky Bar.

Planning Tip: If you want an early kick-off, John Watling’s Distillery – a working rum factory in a gorgeous 18th-century estate – opens at 10am.

2. The Biminis

Best place for game fishing

One of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite fishing grounds, the tiny Biminis are only 80km (50 miles) from Florida. Sitting on the edge of the Gulf Stream, they’re magnets for game fishers seeking the marlin, sailfish and swordfish that swarm these waters.

Head for Alice Town, North Bimini, and base yourself among the best selection of hotels and restaurants. Stay at the Bimini Big Game Club for a taste of 1950s luxury and guided game fishing jaunts and make sure to visit the gloriously eccentric Dolphin House, part museum and part loving tribute to the wild dolphins of the Bahamas.

Hungry? Stuart’s Conch Stand in Bailey Town does some of the best conch and lobster salads in the islands.

Planning Tip: The billfish these waters are famed for are most plentiful in summer.

3. Harbour Island

Best place for celebrity spotting

Known as “Briland” to locals and regular visitors, lovely little Harbour Island is a favorite haunt of celebrities such as George Glooney and Jessica Alba. A short water-taxi ride from parent-island Eleuthera, it’s famous for colonial architecture and stunning sandscapes such as Pink Sands Beach, rose-tinted with crushed coral.

Briland is blessed with boutique accommodations like Pink Sands Resort and Runaway Hill, formerly a grand private seafront estate that was built in the 1940s. You’re always just a serene stroll away from fine restaurants like Malcolm 51 and Rock House Restaurant or the sandy floors and sunsets at Gusty’s Bar.

Planning Tip: Bahamas Ferries‘ fast boats get you from Nassau to Harbour Island in two hours and in greater comfort than a flight to Eleuthera.

4. Elbow Cay

Best place for historic architecture

The British history of the Bahamas is most evident in Elbow Cay. The prettiest of the gorgeous Abacos islands, its epicenter is Hope Town, founded by British loyalists in 1785 and distinguished by bougainvillea, brightly painted cottages and the iconic Elbow Reef Lighthouse.

Its sheltered bay bristling with masts, Hope Town is also a yachting haven. Happily, its car-free streets are blessed with winsome hotels like the Abaco Inn, both exemplars of the pastel clapboard architecture that’s strictly maintained here. Knowledgeable local operators like Sundried T’s and Froggies Out Island Adventures rent surfboards and guide diving and snorkeling expeditions on surrounding reefs and beaches.

5. Lucayan National Park

Best place for underwater caves

Mangroves meet underwater caves in one of the Bahama’s greatest natural attractions: Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama. Named for the original inhabitants of the Bahamas and populated by raccoons and native birds like the Bahama woodstar hummingbird, this 16-hectare (40-acre) swath of protected wilderness encompasses all six naturally occurring Bahamian vegetation zones. Ben’s Cave and Burial Mound Cave are just two of the most easily accessed of its underwater cave system, one of the world’s longest.

Bahamas EcoVentures is our pick for walking tours with expert guides, while Grand Bahama Nature Tours leads fantastic kayaking expeditions around the park’s mangrove-fringed coast.

Planning Tip: Grand Bahama International Airport flies direct to Miami, Fort Lauderdale and several other North American cities.

6. The Exumas

Best place for diving and seeing swimming pigs

The Exumas, a central-Bahamian archipelago, is known for secluded resort luxury and incredible diving. At its heart lies the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the Bahamas’ richest reef ecosystem. The 283 sq km (109 sq mile) expanse encompasses more than 300 islands and cays, pristine fringing reefs and idyllic sailing waters.

Dive Exuma, the only PADI-certified dive shop in Great Exuma’s capital George Town, is the experienced, professional outfit we recommend to explore this undersea fantasia.

If you want to see Exuma’s famous swimming pigs, you can’t go past Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a beachside haven of bungalows, kayaking and stress-free comfort that’s as close as you can get to Big Major Cay’s Pig Beach.

7. Blue Holes National Park

Best place for swimming in karst sinkholes

Andros, the “Big Yard,” is the largest island in the Bahamas, and one of the wildest. Its 5960 sq km (2301 sq miles) of mangrove, pine forest and reef are dotted with “blue holes,” deep karst sinkholes that sustain unique ecosystems and provide perhaps the island’s greatest spectacle.

More abundant here than anywhere else on earth, they’re the focus of the 16,1870-hectare (40,000-acre) Blue Holes National Park. Trails and information boards lead travelers to the park’s more accessible sites, such as Captain Bill’s Hole, where you’ll find both a swimming deck and bathrooms.

Others, including Cousteau’s Hole (named for the famous undersea explorer), are less accessible but equally inviting to hikers and swimmers. Small Hope Bay Lodge, set against the mangroves in nearby Andros Town, offers 21 luxurious units and activities including blue-hole dives and snorkeling “safaris.”

Planning Tip: There’s no public transport on the Bahamas’ biggest island. Rent a car at Andros Town Airport.

8. Conception Island

Best place for getting away from it all

Conception Island is a secluded pocket of paradise that seems almost entirely untouched by humans. It’s the centerpiece of Conception Island National Park, an oasis of thriving mangroves, vivid coral gardens and abundant wildlife. Conception Island Wall, a gorgeous playground of coral heads, sponges and colorful critters, starts at 14m (46ft) in waters of exceptional clarity.

These waters and the beaches they wash are home to abundant green turtles, fish nurseries, conch and crawfish. Conception’s unpeopled forests are also an important sanctuary for migratory birds.

With a dramatic rocky coastline broken by scenic beaches, a rich seafood tradition and ski resorts and state parks rising into the hills, Maine is known as Vacationland for good reason. Summer and early fall are great times of year to enjoy the state’s natural beauty, but if you can handle the cold, winter offers a whole different view and set of activities.

Whether you come for the summer sun, the fall colors or year-round history, this month-by-month guide, covering the weather conditions and key events, will help you choose the best time for your visit to Maine. 

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For fresh seafood and outdoor adventures, come from June to September

Maine’s Vacationland comes alive in the summer months, as holidaymakers gather across the state. From the sandy beaches of southern Maine to the forested hiking trails in the north and the seafood shacks all along the coast, there’s plenty to enjoy, and plenty of people will be enjoying the experience alongside you.

The crowds bring high prices, so you’ll need to book well in advance at hotels and campgrounds. The summer is fairly short and sweet in Maine – the weather is generally hot and humid from late June through August. Bring an appetite as the summertime seafood bonanza makes for delicious mealtimes.

October and May are the best months for seasonal color and avoiding crowds

Maine’s shoulder season is one of the best times to Maine if you prefer a quieter experience and lower prices. Early October brings rainbow-colored foliage, apple picking and cooler weather, while May is a great time to enjoy Maine without the summer crowds, with many seasonal businesses opening their doors for the season around Memorial Day. Bring a warm coat as some parts of the state can still see snow in spring or fall, especially in the north and at higher elevations.

November to April is chilly in Maine, but great for snow sports

Winter is the low season for coastal and southern Maine, but the high season in western and northern areas, where outdoor recreation in the snow is the main draw. Maine is home to some of the best ski resorts on the East Coast, and northern Maine is popular for snowmobiling. Many hiking trails are groomed for the snow season, and can be traversed using snowshoes or cross-country skis.

January is snowy and busy in the ski resorts

By January, winter sports are in full swing across the state of Maine. All of the ski mountains are open and, depending on the snow quality, many cross-country skiing trails are open as well. In the cities, it’s time to get cozy by the fireplace at happy hour and admire the snow from inside.
Key events: New Years’ Day Lobster Dip in Old Orchard, Snodeo in Rangeley

February sits under dark, cold skies

The days are dark and the weather is cold in February, but there are lots of winter festivals and fun outdoor activities to enjoy. Kennebunkport comes alive for the Paint the Town Red celebrations and many hotels throughout the state host ice bars.
Key events: US National Toboggan Championship at the Camden Snowbowl, Paint the Town Red in Kennebunkport, Acadia Winter Festival in Acadia National Park

March is Restaurant Week in and around Portland

March in Maine still feels very much like winter across most of the state. You’ll start to see a peek of spring in the south, but skiing and snowmobiling are still popular activities in northern parts of Maine. Portland and surrounding towns celebrate Maine Restaurant Week in early March, and many of the state’s best restaurants have special menus and deals. The third weekend of the month is reserved for another Maine tradition – Maine Maple Sunday, where maple sugar shacks open across the state selling sweet treats.
Key events: Maine Restaurant Week in Portland, Maine Maple Sunday across the state

The mud doesn’t dampen the party mood in April

April is Maine’s unofficial fifth season – mud season. The snow is melting in the mountains and ski resorts throw massive parties to celebrate the end of the season. The weather is unpredictable – one day it might snow, and the next it’ll be 70°F (21°C). Whatever the weather is doing, April is when Mainers come out of hibernation and enjoy the early signs of spring, putting on their shorts as soon as the mercury hits 50°F (10°C).
Key events: Reggae Festival at Sugarloaf Mountain, Parrothead Fest at Sunday River

May brings the first hint of the pending summer crowds

The days are warmer, and the flowers begin to bloom in Maine after the long winter. May is when many of Maine’s seasonal businesses open early before the summer crowds arrive. Reservations are easy to arrange at the best restaurants, and Acadia National Park is quiet.

Memorial Day is the unofficial kick-off to the summer, but tourists don’t typically arrive until the Fourth of July, making May one of the best months to visit if you don’t want to wait hours for a table or compete with crowds on the hiking trails.
Key events: Bug Light Kite Festival in South Portland, Taste of Bar Harbor Food Festival in Bar Harbor, Memorial Day parades and events throughout the state

June sees the weather warm as people hit the beaches

June brings summer weather without the crowds. Temperatures vary but are typically in the mid-70s, and the schools let out for the summer. Restaurants, hiking trails and beaches are becoming a bit more crowded but visiting is still a relaxing experience.

June is also the start of black fly season, so if you’re hitting the woods for some outdoor adventures be prepared with insect repellent and stay covered up. Events and festivals take place throughout the state, and June is strawberry picking season.
Key events: Pride Portland, Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor, Portland Wine Week in Portland, Kennebunkport Festival in Kennebunkport 

July sees plenty of Independence Day spirit

The Fourth of July holiday marks the start of the high tourist season in Maine. The weather becomes hot and humid, and crowds gather at Maine’s beaches and country campgrounds. You’ll need to book accommodations and restaurant reservations in advance. On the plus side, the seafood is fresh off the boat, and many towns across the state celebrate America’s Independence Day with parades and fireworks.
Key events: 4th of July events throughout the state, Yarmouth Clam Festival in Yarmouth, Maine Potato Blossom Festival in Fort Fairfield, North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland

August is peak summer with peak crowds

The dog days of summer are here in Maine. Tourist season is at its peak, and the southern beaches are crowded. Traffic can be heavy on the weekends, especially when heading to Acadia National Park. Summer in Maine only lasts a short time, so ignore the crowds and enjoy the hot weather while it lasts because more snow will be here before you know it.
Key events: Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Machias Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias, Great Falls Balloon Festival in Lewiston, Belfast Harbor Fest in Belfast.

September brings late summer warmth and quieter resorts

September is probably the best month to visit Maine. After Labor Day, the crowds get smaller, but the weather is still balmy. The ocean is usually warm enough for swimming and water sports, and the fair season kicks off, with lots of craft and agricultural fairs. Farmers’ markets are overrun with delicious summer produce and apple picking season starts.
Key events: Common Ground Fair in Unity, Camden Windjammer Festival in Camden, Maine Open Lighthouse Day throughout the state, Cumberland County Fair in Cumberland

October brings a blast of fall color

The leaves in Maine explode in a kaleidoscope of colors in October. Tourists come from near and far to see the fall foliage that typically peaks in early October, but it’s still quieter than the summer peak. Fair season ends with Maine’s oldest and largest fair, the Fryeburg Fair. October is the perfect time to visit Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor before everything closes for the season. Temperatures are mild, but snow isn’t uncommon in northern part of the state.
Key events: Fryeburg Fair in Fryeburg, Freeport Fall Festival in Freeport, North American Wife Carrying Championship at Sunday River

November sees the first signs of winter

November is one of those in-between months in Maine. It’s not entirely fall and not quite winter, though the days are much cooler and it gets dark early. It’s a great time to enjoy local restaurants and breweries though. If Mother Nature cooperates, ski resorts may open for early-season skiing.
Key events: Harvest on the Harbor in Portland, Lighting of Nubble Lighthouse in York, opening day at the Sunday River and Sugarloaf ski areas

December is holiday time in Maine

The holiday season kicks off strong in early December. The small coastal town of Kennebunkport turns into a scene from a Hallmark movie and Portland celebrates the Christmas Boat Parade of Lights. Mainers cross their fingers for a white Christmas, and the temperatures drop below freezing, so wrap up warm.
Key events: Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport, Gardens Aglow at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Sparkle Celebration in Freeport