Opened: 1907. Why itâs famous: This 20-story hotel off Central Park was recognized as a NYC landmark in 1969, and is as much a part of the cityâs fictional history as its real one. Not only did it snag a cameo in last yearâs film rendition of The Great Gatsby, but F. Scott Fitzgerald actually lived there once.
Stellenbosch, the 'town of oaks', is also the educational and research centre of the winelands. Stellenbosch University is the only university in South Africa which offers a degree in viticulture and oenology, and it has many of the countryâs most successful winemakers as alumni. The Elsenburg School of Agriculture is also near Stellenbosch, as is the Nietvoorbij Institute of Viticulture and Oenology.
Stellenbosch, South Africa. Hiking trails and art galleries abound in Stellenbosch, but it's wine that takes center stage. More than 100 wine cellars, most open to the public, surround the oak-lined South African town, and tasting tours operate daily. Winter brings a four-day festival celebrating the local vintages.