Bariloche, Argentina: San Carlos de Bariloche, or simply "Bariloche" as the locals call it, is a laid-back mountain town in northern Patagonia that makes most visitors wonder for a moment if they've landed in Switzerland.
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Winter wonderland: Every late July to mid-September, Bariloche fills to the brim with both tourists looking for their "endless winter" powder fix.
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Refugios: Most hiking trails connect the area's refugios (mountain huts).
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Nahuel Huapi National Park: Bariloche is most famous for its ever-present views of the glacial lake Nahuel Huapi, which is situated in the middle of the 7050-square-kilometer national park of the same name.
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Rio Manso: While known more for its mountains than its rivers, Bariloche is close to the Rio Manso and welcomes rafters.
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Lago Nahuel Huapi: Kitesurfing in the past decade has become a booming sport on Lago Nahuel Huapi. Even, steady winds, safe shorelines and kilometers of water with snow-capped Andes in the background make for a perfect playground.
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Llao Llao: A stay at this hotel is a bit like visiting a higher-end version of the resort in "Dirty Dancing." There are numerous scheduled group activities per day such as yoga, archery and stand up paddleboarding.
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Blest Brewery: While microbrews are just recently coming into huge popularity in Argentina, Blest was well ahead of the times when it started making beer here 30 years ago.
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Almazen de Sabores: This restaurant just outside of Bariloche serves up classic Argentinian food with a modern twist -- think red curry steak and braised Patagonian pork and vegetable bruschetta.