WHERE I’D RATHER BE . . .
SHORT HAUL
On the Gold Coast for the Swell Sculpture Festival, where the already picture-perfect Currumbin Beach becomes an outdoor art gallery, with works from 50 artists. Until September 23. swellsculpture.com.au
Eating: Breakfast at nearby Palm Beach’s Dune Cafe, a place for the whole family — it was voted the most kid-friendly cafe on the Gold Coast by the region’s residents. dunecafe.com.au
Drinking: A coffee to go (in a reusable cup, of course), from The Salt Mill, a Currumbin beachside beauty and a local favourite. instagram.com/thesaltmill
Staying: At Little Cove Currumbin, holiday apartments close to a lagoon, the beach and all the best the town has to offer. littlecovecurrumbin.com.au
MID HAUL
At Japan’s first outdoor sculpture garden, The Hakone Open-Air Museum, where the incredible artworks are positioned to complement the views of the surrounding mountains . . . including Mt Fuji. hakone-oam.or.jp
Eating: Teppanyaki at Itoh Dining by Nobu, a restaurant working in collaboration with famed Japanese chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. itoh-dining.co.jp
Drinking: At Amazake-chaya, a teahouse on the old Tokkaido highway between Kyoto and Tokyo, which has been serving customers for more than 350 years. amasake-chaya.jp
Staying: At Kinnotake, a 10-room hotel with private open-air hot springs and stylish Japanese interiors. kinnotake.com
LONG HAUL
At the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which was the first in the UK when it opened 40 years ago, and is set in the 200ha of fields, hills, woodland, lakes and gardens of Bretton Estate. ysp.org.uk
Eating: Traditional British pub food at the Old Silent Inn, a Haworth pub dating back more than 400 years. oldsilentinnhaworth.co.uk
Drinking: A pint at The Three Acres Inn, a stylish Pennines country pub that has won awards for its food and hospitality. 3acres.com
Staying: At the Wheatley Arms, another historic inn which was saved by local residents, who protested plans to replace it with a block of apartments. wheatleyarms.co.uk