When our editors got into a room to hash out our top 29 travel picks for 2009, we realized just how much the economic, social, and political changes of 2008 have sculpted the travel landscape for the coming year.

The rising cost of air travel, the global economic crisis, and the fluctuating dollar made once-popular destinations in Europe out of reach for many of us. New hotspots, like South America, emerged, as their exchange rates offered visitors more bang for their buck. Heightened interest in “going green” meant more focus on eco-friendly tourism and great-outdoors vacations than ever before. And let’s not forget the historic presidential election of Barack Obama, which has sparked Washington, D.C.’s massive resurgence as a tourism destination.

Underpinning all of this, however, is a renewed emphasis on great-value vacations — something we at ShermansTravel know all about. Our editors brought their dollar-savvy expertise and collective travel mileage to the office globe to cast a wide net of 29 places to go in 2009, nearly all of which offer a good degree of affordability in addition to unique, memorable travel experiences.

While we haven’t left a worldwide stone unturned in our quest for the best of 2009, we’ve also devoted more coverage than usual to close-to-home getaways right here in the United States, so that you can forego airfare altogether in favor of quick road trips or hitting the rails instead. Indeed, one of the best deals going these days is Amtrak’s great-value USA Rail Pass, whose benefits have only recently been made available to U.S. citizens.

So remember: While you may have less travel budget in 2009, there are still plenty of places to discover that won’t break the bank. Get out and explore these 29 places before the crowds do ... in 2010.

United States & Canada

1. Atlanta

A modern, cosmopolitan destination with well-maintained historical roots (M.L.K. was born here), this Southern belle of a city can charm even the most jaded of visitors with its grade-A Southern hospitality, impressive arts and music scene, and plethora of attractions. Catch a sporting event, tour historical landmarks dating from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, visit the world’s largest aquarium, get behind the scenes at the Coca-Cola factory or CNN Studios, or kick up your adrenaline a notch at an area theme park.

Why go in 2009: Atlanta’s art and hotel scenes are getting ready to explode. Plan a visit for two blockbuster exhibitions on King Tut and the Terracotta Army, on display well into spring —it’s the first time these two exhibits have simultaneously showed in one city. Even the French are taking notice of Atlanta: The High Museum of Art’s “The Louvre and the Masterpiece” exhibit is set to showcase on-loan Louvre masterpieces until early September.

On the hotel front, two more W hotels are joining the cityscape, crowning Atlanta as the city with the most W Hotels after New York, while a new Hotel Palomar (www.hotelpalomar-atlanta.com) and St. Regis (www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis/index.html) are on the radar for the coming calendar year.

2. Austin

Austin’s superlative live music scene may have made the city famous, but this hip Texas capital city’s quirky charm extends far beyond its melodic beats. Largely enriched by the dynamic energy of the homegrown University of Texas, Austin boasts the Lone Star State’s best cultural offerings, with numerous galleries, museums, and music venues (more than 100 in all!) alongside some more unexpected attractions — like the summer congregation of some million bats by the Congress Avenue Bridge — without sacrificing its appealing small-town feel. Combine that with more than 300 sunshine-filled days a year, and it’s little wonder that Austin’s consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the U.S.

Why go in 2009: Sure, traveling abroad can be a pricey venture in these trying economic times, but who says you need to leave America to escape it? Austin, whose unofficial motto is “Keep Austin Weird,” offers the American traveler a rare U.S. city vacation destination that’s devoid of the cookie-cutter commercial strips found nearly everywhere else — in fact, all chain and big-box stores (think McDonald's and Walmart) are pleasantly absent from the downtown area, giving way to hundreds of sensational local businesses that can only be experienced in Austin. What's more, some exciting new music festivals are slated for autumn 2009: Look for the Texas Wine & Song Festival (www.texaswineandsong.com) in October and the punk and indie rock Fun Fun Fun Fest (www.funfunfunfest.com) in November.

3. Bucks County
Immediately north of Philadelphia and across the Delaware River from New Jersey, rustic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a quaint countryside retreat known for charming B&Bs, country inns, covered bridges, serene vineyards, and beautiful colonial estates.

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