It's our favorite time of the year: the 2017 destination guides are out from all of our favorite travel publications. After hours of review and research on our own, Compass & Key is excited to share our curated list of ten intriguing destinations to help guide you to new and exciting places this year.

Destination: Cape Town, South Africa

As Read In: Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveller AND Lonely Planet

Our Take: Cape Town and its surrounding wine region have been on our travel list for years, but with a new museum set to open this year, plus a thriving dining and hotel scene and plenty of outdoor excursions, 2017 is the time to go. We're scheduled to visit in April, combining a few days of urban adventure with wine tasting in the oldest wine region outside of Europe.

Destination: Canada

As Read In: The New York Times

Our Take: Canada is going big for their 150th anniversary. Along with year-long celebrations in major cities across the country, all 200 national parks and historic sites will be accessible for FREE in 2017. We highly recommend Vancouver, Whistler or Toronto for easy weekend getaways. Banff and Prince Edward Island have long been on our travel list as well. Learn more at the Canada 150 website.

Destination: Chicago

*Compass & Key Recommendation*

Our Take: Putting aside a blatant bias towards our hometown, Chicago has so much to offer for visitors: award-winning restaurants, world-class museums and a stunning lakefront. 2017 has been designated the 'Year of Public Art', featuring a new festival, neighborhood arts project, and various exhibitions and performances all year long. Check the calendar for upcoming events and learn more about existing public art that makes Chicago so unique.

Destination: Île de Porquerolles, France

As Read In: The New York Times

Our Take: A little-known Mediterranean island of unspoiled natural beauty? Let's go. This car-free island with one main village and plenty of national parkland sounds delightfully familiar to two of our all-time favorite destinations: La Isla Mujeres, Mexico and St. Johns in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Located only 1hr30min via plane from Paris, plus a short ferry ride, we're visiting this Mediterranean destination before the word gets out.

Destination: Jackson Hole, Wyoming

As Read In: Travel & Leisure

Our Take: Just outside Jackson Hole is one of our favorite National Parks, Grand Teton. The promise of an epic view of the total solar eclipse on August 21st is just another reason to make the trip this year. Leave time for a relaxing float down the Snake River and hikes in and around stunning Jenny Lake.

Destination: Sri Lanka

As Read In: Vogue

Our Take: Having just returned from a week on the sunny shores of Sri Lanka, we agree that this glorious island should be on your travel list. Boutique eco-lodge Tri (photo above) and colonial manor house Tamarind Hill served as our home-away-from-home while we explored the wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic fort town Galle. We are eager to return to wander the hill country of Kandy and five UNESCO sites in the Cultural Triangle.

Destination: Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales

As Read In: The Guardian

Our Take: Celebrating its 60th anniversary, this Dark Sky Reserve and UNESCO Global Geopark features a 95-mile trail to allow visitors to enjoy its natural beauty. But don't overlook its cultural attractions. In late May, the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts celebrates great writing across disciplines, from poetry to science to comedy, while mid-August brings the Brecon Jazz Weekend.

Destination: Okavango Delta, Botswana

As Read In: Travel & Leisure and The New York Times

Our Take: It's no secret that we love nature, and Africa is the ultimate destination for experiencing wildlife in its natural environment. An African safari seemed out of reach until we heard Jonny Bealby, founder of adventure travel company Wild Frontiers, speak at an event in London about their unique approach to working with operators focused on conservation. We are following up our visit to Cape Town in April with a nine-day safari around Botswana, and cannot wait to share our adventures.

Destination: Malta

*Compass & Key Recommendation*

Our Take: Our visit to Malta left us in awe of the well-preserved historic and architectural wonders, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Don't miss Notte Bianca, or 'White Night', an annual celebration in October, when capital city Valletta comes alive with art exhibitions, public dance parties and music pulsing through the wee hours. As the 2018 European City of Culture, you can miss the crowds by visiting Valletta this year. Leave time to walk in ancient footsteps at the oldest free-standing structures in the world on Gozo, an island just north of Malta.

Destination: Yosemite National Park

As Read In: The Guardian

Our Take: America's third National Park is worth visiting any time. But this fall, the magnificent sequoias of Mariposa Grove will be accessible once again after extensive restoration, replacing roads with hiking trails to reduce the damaging impact of vehicles. Discover the park for yourself with the itineraries and tips from the Compass & Key Yosemite travel planning guide.

❖ Check out all of our favorite 2017 destination guides yourself by clicking on the publication names ❖

Afar ❖ Conde Nast Traveller ❖ The Guardian ❖ Lonely Planet ($ for full guide) ❖ National Geographic Traveller ❖ The New York Times ❖ Travel & Leisure ❖ Vogue