Following the path of certain guidebook giants, I’d like to offer picks for up-and-coming places to visit in 2009:

Oruro, Bolivia:  Bolivia offers sacred Inca ruins, rich colonial architecture and a vibrant capital city replete with witches markets. Visit Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water, or Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat on earth. In February, catch Devil’s Carnival, in the mining town of Oruro,  where revellers in outlandish masks and costumes pay homage to Mother Earth and the god of the underworld in a colourful display of religious fervor.

Vilnius, Lithuania: Vilnius is a major art hub and hidden gem of a destination that’s been named a European Capital of Culture for 2009. The city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Gothic cathedrals and unique shops is considered one of the most beautiful urban spots in Eastern Europe. Best of all, Lithuania doesn’t use the Euro, so it’s more affordable than other parts of Europe.

Ljubljana, Slovenia: With some 50,000 University students living in Ljubljana, the city is abuzz with culture and nightlife.  It’s also rich with historical architecture, and boasts a well-established tourist infrastructure and lots of English speakers.

Nuuk, Greenland: Those interested in destinations threatened by climate change will find Greenland is an off-the-beaten-track alternative to cruise-clogged Alaska. It has oodles of activities from angling, whale watching, and dog-sledding to trekking along the largest active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. On the downside, Greenland’s not cheap, and you must fly between towns.

Berlin, Germany:  Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and special exhibitions, memorials and tours will abound. As one option, trace part of the structure’s former path with a GPS-guided walking tour that takes in Checkpoint Charlie and the longest preserved portion of the wall. Then  visit Fried­richshain, an area once part of East Berlin that’s dotted with hipster bars, punk clubs and relics of Soviet times.