Hokkaido has all the cold-climate necessaries like mountains with reliable fresh powder, hot springs, and ice floes from through the Sea of Okhotsk. The only thing that’s missing from this perfect picture? The Northern Lights.

The travel pages kept it real this weekend, with stories on stunt trips and secret destinations, tips on how to find and avoid political hotspots, and news about how growing numbers of people are changing some beloved destinations.

The NYT went on a veritable shopping spree of travel coverage this weekend, with a T Style Magazine issue devoted to tasteful globetrotting, in addition to their regular Sunday section.