Monaco Grand Prix
While I have been to other races in the past, getting to attend the Monaco Grand Prix as a guest of Ritz Carlton—including getting to stay onboard the Evrima—is an experience I will treasure. Formula One purists might prefer other circuits for different reasons, but there’s no denying Monaco Grand Prix is the crown jewel of the racing season, and possibly its most famous. And while some will say that the best place to view the race from is a friend’s balcony (should you be so lucky!), I’d argue that the vantage point offered from a yacht-filled harbor is incredibly unique. Champagne flowing, caviar in abundance, fast cars, super yachts, and more billionaires than there are square meters in the city-state—if there’s a snapshot of the high-octane glamour that surrounds Monaco, this is it. Plus, this year’s race was won by a Monégasque driver, and while my team, Mercedes, didn’t make it to the podium, the electrifying atmosphere and honking of boats when Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line may have left permanent goosebumps on me. —Arati Menon, global digital director
ASPENX Beach Club at the top of Aspen Mountain
Sitting on a lifeguard stand at the top of Aspen Mountain was a surreal experience. The ASPENX Beach Club collaboration brought photographer Gray Malin’s vision to life. The juxtaposition of snow-peaked mountains against the red-stripped beach chairs, cabanas, and a lifeguard stand created a contrasting setting that was unmatched in Aspen. With strong drinks poured and a lively DJ, we were transported to an afternoon at a snowy version of a Mykonos club. While most ski down the mountain when ready to leave, my friends and I took a gondola, which was the easier and wiser choice after a few margaritas. The 2025 season will see a new iteration called Eleven212, named after its elevation of 11,212 feet. —Eugene Shevertalov, associate entertainment director
Cat Cafe in Montreal
My heritage is from a tropical island, and I was raised in the American South. To put it simply, I was not born and bred for the cold. When I went on a trip to Montreal earlier this winter with my best friend from college, I was always the first to tap out of our daily excursions and search for the next location with heating. When we mistakenly made a trip to the city’s Little Portugal to brunch at Chez José on a day the cafe was closed, we decided to survey the shop fronts to find our plan B—lo and behold, we saw a window embossed with cats. We figured Happy Cat Cafe was simply cat-themed, and we were in for an incredible surprise when we walked in and learned that it was also cat-filled. Escaping sub-zero temperatures to a cozy cafe perfumed by grilled cheese and tomato soup was comforting enough, but having a floor filled with free-roaming cats filled me with all my serotonin for the week. —Kat Chen, editorial assistant, destinations
