Idaho gets a bad rep for being a flyover state but in reality, the Gem State has provided us with cultural necessities and icons like Napoleon Dynamite, Lou Dobbs, and Sarah Palin as well as one of the most important root vegetables of all-time, the potato. Idaho is one of the top producers of the potato in North America and even has a museum to honor its contributions to the state's economy and culture at the Idaho Potato Museum in the city of Blackfoot.
With the state willing to honor the spud with its very own museum, it's only right that the Canada-bordering state appropriate the vegetable for their most notorious dish, the Jim Spud Baked Potato. The loaded potato is known for its dense toppings of caramelized onions, six ounces of chopped up teriyaki steak scraps, butter, sour cream, and gushing, melty cheddar cheese. Households across America have been composing their very own loaded baked potato recipes, but nothing matches Idaho's original Jim Spud Baked Potato.
Wondering where to go in 2020 for an amazing deal, to beat the crowds, or for a truly once-in-a-lifetime travel experience? These destinations are on travel addicts’ radar for rightfully hyped 2020 events, new offerings, and recent developments that make them a must-visit right now.
On top of the majestic scenery its long been known for, Montana is a newly trendy nature getaway celebrated for its expanding luxury hotel scene, culinary offerings, and shop-local boutiques, according to an American Express study detailing where cardholders are traveling in 2020. But Montana is also about to get more accessible than ever before thanks to emerging flight routes sure to stir up competition. Launching two brand-new seasonal routes to Big Sky country, American Airlines will fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana, beginning mid-year and continuing through Labor Day. Take advantage of the new direct route before the secret gets out, and so that they’ll continue next year.
One of the cities featured in Booking.com’s travel trends for 2020, Urugay’s capital Montevideo is a stable and LGBT-friendly destination to visit in South America—a continent that’s seen dips in tourism of late thanks to political instability in travel destinations like Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Travelers identified the city as a trending travel destination for anyone seeking an immersive, one-stop escape; according to the study, “over half (54 percent) of global travelers say they want to go on one long trip to a place that has all of their favorite activities and sights close together.” Montevideo’s offerings include beaches, nightlife, markets, theaters, culinary prowess, and festive Gay Pride Day celebrations in September.
Europe’s intensely overtouristed spots (Venice, Barcelona, Santorini) have new Eastern European hotspots to thank for stealing away some of the spotlight: Romania is making a name for itself as one of the top five most trending Airbnb booking destinations for 2020. The nation that’s home to Transylvania, Dracula’s castle, and well-preserved medieval towns nestled among rolling hills has seen a 298 percent annual increase in Airbnb bookings.