Chicago’s Six Amazing Avenues
Chicago is one of America’s landmark cities with endless things to see. In Chicago they call it the windy city (mostly because of the blast come in off Lake Michigan) but it’s also known as the Second City and also the City of Broad Shoulders. One look at the skyline explains the latter.
A lot of people seem to say that the only things to see in Chicago are downtown. While there is a ton of stuff to do there, it’s Chicago’s vibrant neighbourhoods and avenues lined with shops and cafes that are the real charm. Let’s explore a few of my favourite strips and point out a few places to get a great feeling for the real Chicago.
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Euro Perfection: Stockholm, Swedish Bliss
I love European capitals. They each have individual personalities, atmospheres, and an endless amount of things to see and do. An unsurprising favourite for me, though, is Stockholm. Often claimed as overpriced and overrated, those that skip it are totally missing out. Indeed, drinks of any sort – particularly the adult beverage variety – are astronomically expensive, but believe me that won’t cross your mind once you’ve experienced the Swedish Bliss. Here’s my rundown of some of my favourite things to do in Stockholm.
The Gamla Stan
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Hawaii: An Expert’s Island Favourites
Today’s article is written by all-things-Hawaii expert Pam Mandel.
It’s easy to fall in to cliched prose when talking about the Hawaiian Islands. It’s not laziness, though, it’s enchantment. The water IS that blue and inviting, the breezes ARE that gentle and smell of salt and flowers, the people really DO welcome you with great aloha. With so much to love about the islands, it’s hard to narrow it down to top 10 or best of lists, plus, your Hawaii is likely to be completely different from anyone else’s because the islands DO offer an amazing variety. With that in mind, here are a few of my island favorites.
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Peruvian Highlights
Today’s article is by community member Bobbie Jo Traut.
Flying into the “Katmandu of South America,” the plane flew alongside the jagged snow-capped mountain peaks, which seemed to grow dizzyingly higher as we descended into the valley. On my first adventure to the southern hemisphere, descending vertiginously into the valley that sheltered the capital of the Inca Empire that, at its peak, had spread from Argentina to Chile, I felt literally on top of the world. Peru is the meeting place of histories, cultures, and nature – all of which blended to create an unforgettable and unique experience.
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One Happy Island in Aruba
The Caribbean is full of golden shoreline and amazing backdrops. It might seem a little trite or over-worked, but the Island of Aruba is one of my favourites. You can reach nearly any part of the island in one day, and by escaping the lame casinos and getting away from the resorts (which are lovely, but come on…) you can have your own adventure. I find beach-only holidays a real bore – I get ancy on day two or three. Aruba is perfect for me, though – a balance of relaxing on the beach with cocktails against doing something else besides sitting around. Here’s a few of my personal highlights of things to do in Aruba.
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20 Things I Learned Traveling In China
Today’s Article is written by Monica Wong.
Traveling has taught me more about myself and about the world than all my years of institutionalized education. Learning in a box is like seeing the world through a keyhole and living in one is really no life to live. That’s why I decided to study abroad in Shanghai for a semester. While I was taking a language course 4 days a week, I also managed to travel to 12 different cities all over China within a 5 month period.
From my semester abroad, here are 20 things I didn’t learn in the classroom.
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Vietnam at a Glance
Today’s article is by Donna Hull.
Humidity, an agricultural society, a third world economy, humidity, millions of motorbikes, communism with capitalistic tendencies, humidity, a friendly population, beautiful scenery. Did I mention the humidity?
What’s your impression of Vietnam? Do you dream of exploring the Southeast Asian country on an off-the-beaten-path journey? To truly understand the complex country, first you need to visit iconic Vietnam.
My introduction came via several daylong excursions from a cruise ship that sailed the Vietnamese coast. A cruise ship? Yes, that’s right. A cruise visit to Vietnam can provide the basis for discovery that will lead to more in-depth future visits. Let’s travel more to Vietnam…
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Taiwan, the Other China
As a kid, Taiwan just seemed the “other” China, an island existing in the shadow of monolithic Red China, a sort of big, comfy refuge for Chiang Kai-shek and his cronies, where they could enjoy all the art and goodies shipped out just ahead of Mao’s conquest. The image was of rows of workers turning out electronics and other gadgets we, the West, wanted, and providing a last stand against the Communist threat. Nothing unique enough to travel halfway around the world to see.
A few Taiwanese friends tried to gently suggest I might be mistaken and perhaps I should visit to see for myself. (The Taiwanese are very friendly and polite, even in crowds.) I figured 8 days, not including travel time, would be enough to circle the peanut-shaped country. How much diversity could a country the size of Belgium contain?
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Interlaken: Overhyped or Underappreciated?
Switzerland is known for many things: Europe’s most gorgeous mountains and peaks, hidden bank accounts and expensive travel. One of my favourite places in Switzerland is Interlaken. It’s not exactly a travel writer’s secret; one only has to look at the hordes of Asian and American tourists piling onto the “express” train that takes you to Europe’s highest railway station, Jungfraujoch.
But in fact, I think the whole region is really under appreciated. I spent quite a bit of time there and couldn’t believe how enjoyable the place was – and despite all the tourists, I actually found myself alone on quiet trails or enjoying relaxing cafe terraces. Here’s a few of the things I found most enjoyable and suggestions for how you can enjoy a stay of any length (or in fact any season – there are things to do in Interlaken year-round) in this little Swiss hangout. I’ll be skipping the highest railway station and instead headed for quieter and more enjoyable places. Here’s my travel more Interlaken story.
Note: When you arrive in Interlaken, make sure you get a map – or print one out, such as this one. The area is connected by a series of gondolas, trains, and buses. This is the high Alps here, so sometimes the routes are circuitous. That’s part of the fun.
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London: Love It or Hate It
The world is full of “those types of places” – you know the ones – that people either love or hate. Melbourne might be one. Tijuana too. But the one city in the world that is move take-it-or-leave-it than any other must be, without a doubt, the UK’s capital city and bustling metropolis, London.
I can’t decide whether I love London or hate it. Probably a bit of both. It is a huge place with so many things to see and do, but it’s also crowded and sometimes dirty and oh-so-inordinately expensive. But there’s no where in the world like it, so here’s some thoughts. I’ll let you make up your own mind.
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