Traveling Across North America
Delsey Paris and Visual Pleasure have embarked on a world tour that celebrates the beauty of travel through art. Join us as we unravel the stories and sights of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica.
United States
Home to forests, beaches, deserts, plains — the United States offers a ‘choose your own adventure’ in every direction. From the heat of the high desert in the west to the skyscrapers and rugged coastline in the east, you’ll find a bounty of experiences wherever your travels take you.
The desert of the American Southwest is both familiar and mysterious, providing a bottomless source of inspiration for centuries. The land stands as both what you need it to be and what it always has been. Few understand that as well as Petecia Le Fawnhawk.
The multi-media artist grew up in Arizona and returned to New Mexico as an adult, developing modern surrealist works for the desert. “It is my teacher, my outdoor chapel, my backdrop to creative expression,” says Le Fawnhawk. “It time and again brings me back home to myself.”
Le Fawnhawk focuses on the singular unified vision, creating otherworldly universes with a harmonious blend of the digital and physical. Finding that harmony is integral to her process. “It’s when we are most at ease, when we find true balance in things. I think I seek that out in my artwork, that dance between subject and space.” Through DELSEY Paris luggage, Le Fawnhawk plays with transitory expression, exploring the “horizon yet to come, journey awaiting, and memories yet to happen.”
Behind the Scenes: Le Fawnhawk took her DELSEY on the road for her travels across the Tuscan countryside. The location was an unusual departure from her beloved desert backdrop, but a fun challenge for the artist to find avenues to implement her signature style onto a new horizon.
Discover more artists across the United States here.
In the high desert of California, staggering rock formations replace hurried cities. Sprawling valleys dotted with historic Joshua Trees replace crowded urban streets. Home to a forgotten movie set of the iconic Old West, Pioneertown has carved out a reputation for mindful off-the-grid escapes. Sol to Soul House answers that call with a bright, modern space dedicated to the hypnotic views of the land. Inside, find furniture selections and decor crafted by artists around the world. Outdoors, become one with 10 acres of uninterrupted beauty. Photography by Meir
Traveler’s Tip: Pioneertown may harken back to a time long ago, but it’s still very much alive. Swing by local favorite Pappy & Harriets for lunch or plan your visit around one of their many concerts — the historic restaurant is known for hosting new names and icons alike, including Paul McCartney.
Making your way down 29 Palms Highway, you’ll find coffee shops, bars, and antique stores to wander before heading into the area’s main attraction: Joshua Tree National Park. Stop into local favorites like Mas o Menos, The Copper Room, La Copine, and Kitchen in the Desert.
Check out our full list of recommendations for where to stay in the United States.
When you hear the call of the coast, pack your bags and head west. Two and a half hours later, you’ll find yourself back in the throws of Los Angeles’ cultural beat. On the outskirts, 19 Town serves Chinese-inspired plates and contemporary cocktails in a sleek, modern setting designed by LA-based furniture designer Jialun Xiong.
On Wilshire Boulevard, the LACMA — the largest art museum on the west — is a connector between modern day and old world. With over 150,000 works on display, the museum houses mainstay and special exhibitions that span ancient times to today’s burgeoning art scenes. Stop in for a self-guided tour or schedule your time around one of the many events the museum hosts throughout the month to elevate your visit.
Traveler’s Tip: Around the corner from LACMA is Los Angeles’ new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Across five floors, immerse yourself in the history and future of LA’s most notable industry. Currently on exhibit is an in-depth look at the making of John Waters’ cult classic films. In between your tour, be sure to step out onto the museum’s rooftop deck for fresh air and quick sight of the famous Hollywood sign.
Canada
Canada shows its travelers the power of co-existing with your surroundings, rather than taming them. Wherever you venture in Canada, you can experience the energy of its urban hubs while always maintaining a stone’s throw from nature, allowing you to truly see and experience it all on your own terms.
Carl Ostberg knows that while flowers may be delicate, they don’t need to be precious. The photographer and florist resides in Vancouver, where he’s made a career out of transforming gentle blooms into playful pictures that never feel overproduced.
Simply put, he lets florals do their thing.
“Too much fiddling with a set up can take away some of the heart from the scene,” says Ostberg. That goes for everything else Ostberg shoots, as well. From fruits and vegetables to people and perfumes, even the most ordinary of objects have an added touch of whimsy under Ostberg’s eye.
Off the coast of Vancouver, Ostberg takes us to the rugged coastline and quiet landscape of Bowen Island. It’s a place Ostberg holds close, always finding inspiration from the unique way light shines along the water here. With DELSEY Paris luggage in the focus, Ostberg blended the surroundings with the subject to create something bold and striking. “You’ll see a lot of joyful angles, playful perspectives, and unexpected combinations of terrain and fashion.”
Floral favorites: Ever wondered about your favorite florist’s favorite flowers? Ostberg’s top selections range from sentimental roses (which remind him of his Nana) and pansies for his mom to orchids for their “grumpy little faces” and tropical flowers for their unexpected curves.
Find our full list of top artists in Canada here.
On Fogo Island, multi-colored clapboard houses and sleepy coastal trails create a dreamlike quality only found here. Lean in with a night or two at Fogo Island Inn, perched over the Atlantic Ocean’s wild, untamed beauty. The 29-room inn is a powerful force itself, placed on stilts that tower above the rocky ocean bluffs. But don’t let the harsh climate fool you, the inn and island are a place of peace. Its modern design is balanced with handmade quilts and decor, rooms are equipped with private woodstoves for warmth, and the inn’s sustainable ethos creates an atmosphere that allows you to quiet your mind and focus on the engulfing view before you. Photography by Alex Fradkin
- If you’re not done savoring the views, book a weekend getaway to BOTL House. This spacious lake house sits on the water of Lake Ontario, offering your own private beach at your feet and panoramic views whetheryou’re indoors or out.
Traveler’s Tip: schedule a day trip into the heart of wine country in Picton and Prince Edward County. The area’s fastest-growing wine region is most notably home to cool climate pinots and floral whites.
- Whether you stop in for a stay or simply a drink, Toronto’s Drake Hotel is not to be missed. The hotel concept aims to connect travelers with neighbors, cultivating a fun and funky meeting point for art, culture, and community.
- At Post Creative Studio, you can rent a blank canvas for your most creative pursuits. The studio is known for its photo-worthy installations, but transformed this Toronto-based loft into a rental studio equipped for events, shoots, and more.
- In Quebec, beloved Italian restaurant Piatti boasts new digs after a recent revamp from local design company Ivy Studio. Among moody green marble, sleek black tiles, and historic stone walls, dine on antipasti classics and pizzas paired with bright Italian wines.
- If you've landed on Canada’s western coast, seek out Vancouver’s Monte Clark art gallery. The gallery features local and global artists in intimate, solo exhibits that foster dialogue between artist and viewer.
Mexico
In Mexico, creative expression crafts its own kind of culture. Be it food, art, or music, every avenue explores the country’s rich history through modern manners.
If you ask fashion photographer Edith Diaz Rivera, everything you need to take a great photo can be found outdoors. Strong natural light, eye-catching color, interesting shapes — in Mexico City, Diaz Rivera doesn’t need to travel far to find that spark of inspiration.
“It’s not only in the architecture, but in the streets, shops, houses, and people,” says Diaz Rivera. “That and the funny, spontaneous everyday life that Mexico has.”
We followed Diaz Rivera along Mexico City’s Ruta de la Amistad — a path of sculptures made for the 1968 Summer Olympics — where the photographer focuses her lens on the Tertulia de Gigantes. “I had these sculptures saved in my phone as a photo location the moment I saw them,” she says. “It highlights the aesthetics of DELSEY Paris with organic forms similar to those found in nature.”
Traveler’s Tip: The Ruta de la Amistad consists of 22 large-scale sculptures spanning 10 miles, which originally served as a connecting pathway between venues for the Olympic games.
Beyond its busy nightlife and tourist scene, Tulum is a place of healing. Ancient Mayan ruins have a way of slowing time. Bright blue waters quietly bump up against white sand beaches. Lush tropical jungles usher you in to find wellness among nature.
You’ll find it at Casa Aviv, a minimalist breath of air crafted by Tulum design group Co-Lab. Natural light floods in from every corner, oversized windows offer intimate scenic views, rooms directly open up to a sleek swimming pool — it’s an ideal stay for travelers seeking an empty itinerary. Photography by Lena Kamieth
Traveler’s Tip: Larger groups should look to booking Casa Aviv’s sister property, Casa Shalva, which continues the transitional, modern aesthetic on a grander scale with more bedrooms, communal spaces, and details that emphasize an indoor-outdoor vacation.
Call it a blank canvas. A clean slate. However you see it, art gallery Meridiano is an opportunity to witness the beauty of experiencing something fleeting in a timeless space. Past the beaches and towns of Mexico’s Puerto Escondido, the open-air gallery – created by Nicholas Olney and Boris Vervoordt – takes cues from its earthly surroundings to carve out a minimalist, natural backdrop for site-specific exhibitions. Meridiano hosts only two a year, inviting artists and visitors alike to take the more secluded path in order to create, engage, and start anew.
Behind the scenes: Designed by Tatsuro Miki and Axel Vervoordt, Meridiano was built on the principles of sacred geometry to create a space that felt like an extension of the land, rather than an addition.
Costa Rica
Travel through the coastal towns and lush jungles of Costa Rica and you’ll find that there are still places on this planet where people and land coexist. And, in the most special of circumstances, not only coexist, but flourish.
Beneath the water, anything can happen. Among Costa Rica’s iconic waters, surf photographer Ollie Wan knows that the ocean is the ultimate ruler. It decides when you’ll catch a wave. When you’ll lose one. And when you’ll learn something. It may not feel instinctive for a photographer to release control, but Wan’s trust in the process — and trust in nature — leads him to capture photos that strike a conversation between those who lived it, and those who see it. “There’s an infinite amount of possibilities in the ocean, you just gotta let it show you,” he says.
Off the coast of the relaxed surf town of Santa Teresa, becoming one with the water is nearly second nature. That’s where we meet up with Wan.
“Santa Teresa is very singular for me,” says Wan. “It’s one of the few places left with a harmonic relationship between jungle and people.”
Behind the scenes: Wan tapped local professional surfer Tavo Rio to join us as we took the Turenne Soft Backpack out for a ride among the waves. We loaded it up with all sorts of goodies and got tons of waves with it. We wiped out, passed it around, and the backpack pulled it all off.”
Discover our complete list of notable artists in Costa Rica.
On the hillside above Costa Rica’s jungle canopies, Achioté Villas takes being ‘one with the land’ to new heights. The sister villas are some of the first rammed earth constructions in Costa Rica, a method for building foundations with compacted natural raw materials (in this case, clay soil). No matter which door you choose, you’ll find a singular experience in shape, architecture, and view — where floor-to-ceiling windows deliver on sights of the lush tropical jungle and ocean beyond. But indoors, each villa sings its own tune, with contrasting colors and details that leave nothing overdone and nothing amiss.
Traveler’s Tip: Choose wisely! Architects Formafatal designed the twin villas to share a uniform shape, but express their individuality through the interiors...Jaspis Villa leans into ‘yin’ energy, embracing coastal colors and textures. Nefrit Villa, on the other hand, is a reflection of ‘yang’ energy with darker colors and a more grounded design approach.
- On Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula, Chef Bruno Alves reinvents Costa Rican cuisine at Ostra. Book a special occasion dinner for hyper local, hyper seasonal seafood dishes in an airy, luxe ambiance revamped by studio Cola Blanca.
- Though Costa Rica is known best for its beaches and tropical nature, San Jose serves as an arts and culture hub for the more city-dwelling travelers. At the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, make your way through exhibits highlighting the diverse modern art of Central America. On display now through November is Re-Connection, an immersive installation ignited by the senses by artist Alessandra Sequeira Garza.