The Art of Travel

​Whether it’s a love affair with opera, a passion for fashion or cravings for the latest on the art and culture scene, Eden’s Travel Directors will peel away the layers to help you discover everything worth knowing about your next holiday. Here are just a handful of arty adventures you can enjoy at some of this year’s most wanted destinations.

​Miami

Art lovers take note. No longer just a hot spot for sun worshippers, Miami is continuously evolving into one of the leading locations for contemporary art and vibrant culture. The newest addition to the arts scene, the Faena Arts District is moving in with a bang, and has created a truly-luxurious masterpiece with its cutting-edge, multi-million dollar art collection and theatre with a new avant-garde show.​

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One of the things that makes Miami such a dynamic destination for art and culture is its thriving and ever-changing gallery scene. Wynwood is the epicentre, with more than 70 galleries in the mural-splashed neighbourhood, but other up-and-coming areas, like Little Haiti and Downtown, are attracting both artist studios and galleries. The scene extends to areas like South Beach, Historic Overtown and Little Havana too.

Art Basel
One of the largest art shows in the world, Art Basel is widely considered the most important and exciting time of year in Miami, and brings a certain electricity to the air each December. The city's own museums and galleries present their most compelling work, and you'll find a sophisticated international crowd of gallerists, artists, collectors, and glitterati flocking to the sands of South Beach and beyond. A simple stroll through South Beach or Midtown during the fair will offer public art and installations, unparalleled people-watching and unpredictable spectacles. And where there's art, a fashionable crowd is never too far behind, making Art Basel a whirlwind of non-stop revelry. Nightclubs host celebrity-splashed soirees and "pop-up" clubs dot the city from South Beach to Wynwood, offering fleeting experiences for night-owls.

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San Francisco

San Francisco is a unique and breathtaking metropolis that  takes pride in its unrivalled attractions, renowned museums, and its unique neighbourhoods which are treasures of its own. And from the experimental to the traditional, San Francisco’s arts scene has something great for everyone. If your passion is fashion, then look no further than the Herbst Exhibition Galleries in the de Young Museum, set within the Golden Gate Park, one of San Francisco's greatest treasures.

Timeless beauty, class and fashion await here where, from 12 March to 30 May 2016, you can visit the gallery’s Oscar de la Renta Retrospective Exhibition, celebrating the life and career of one of fashion’s most influential designers, with more than 130 pieces produced over five decades, presented in collaboration with the house of de la Renta and the designer’s family.

​Organised into several thematic sections the garments will showcase everything from this much-loved designer’s early work; his Spanish, Eastern, Russian and garden influences; daywear and eveningwear; ball gowns and red carpet ensembles.

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The presentation traces the rise of de la Renta’s career in Spain, where he gained his first commissions; his formative years spent in the world’s most iconic fashion houses; and his eventual role as a designer for many of the most influential and celebrated personalities of the 20th and 21st centuries. Additional pieces will be drawn from the designer’s personal collection, private lenders from around the world, and the Fine Arts Museums’ costume collection

Whilst visiting the de Young, you may also want to explore the Barbro Osher Sculpture Garden, where a host of contemporary works of art are scattered. Or head to the museum’s Hamon Tower Observation Floor at the east end of the museum, where you’ll find yourself 144 feet in the air, with some of the best panoramic views of the city, impressive views of Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco neighbourhoods, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

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With an emphasis on cutting edge contemporary art by both emerging and established, international and local artists, there are always exciting new exhibits opening at Miami galleries. The monthly Second Saturday Art Walk is held throughout Wynwood and the Design District where galleries keep their doors open late and revellers and art aficionados come out for a party.

Miami Art Behind the Walls
Follow a local art expert on a curated walk through Miami's contemporary and street art hub. Take in Wynwood Walls and Doors, meet local artists and gallery owners in their studios, and eat at the famous Wynwood Kitchen.

South Beach Architecture Anew
Discover normally off-limits sights from South Beach's iconic Art Deco legacy including the Versace Mansion and the recording studio at the Marlin Hotel. End with a chef meet-and-greet at a top Miami restaurant.

Hang like a local at this popular urban park and try your hand at tightrope walking, hula hooping, kite flying or just sit back and people watch. Try the best ice cream in town at the nearby, locally-owned Bi-Rite.

Take a journey back in time and explore the cultural and literary revolution that occurred in San Francisco in the 1960's. Guided by a local expert, you will be amazed at the influence writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg had on the movement.

Join the Michael Tilson Thomas and the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony and treat your ears, eyes and soul to a stellar performance by one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world.

See the artistic side of Dubai

Tour the galleries of Alserkal Avenue, the Emirate’s secret arts hub and the go-to address for all things arty in Dubai. Home to ten contemporary art galleries you’ll also find the Salsali Private Museum, where the finest contemporary art is on display.

Visit Al Quoz – an industrial area that has, over the past ten years, emerged as a trendy arts district, with a plethora of galleries, cafes and concept stores sprouting up within and around the vacant warehouses. It’s an evolution not unlike that of New York’s Meatpacking District, notable for its makeover from a dusty, overlooked neighbourhood to a hip, arty enclave.

01244 567 000

or visit our Experiences page for further information on these or any other travel adventures.