427 articles tagged with cultural travel
There's something rather magical about witnessing the dance between ancient tradition and futuristic innovation that defines modern China. As I stood at the threshold between the meticulously pruned rockeries of Yu Garden and the gleaming skyscrapers of Pudong, I couldn't...
When my Korean mother visited me in America for the first time, she was puzzled by my suggestion to explore Cleveland. 'Why not New York or Chicago?' she asked. Twenty years later, I find myself defending this midwestern gem with...
There's something magical about cities in transition—those urban spaces caught between what they were and what they're becoming. Taichung, Taiwan's second-largest city, embodies this beautiful contradiction. While most travelers make a beeline for Taipei's gleaming skyscrapers or Taroko Gorge's dramatic...
Standing at the precipice of Mount Carmel, with the Mediterranean Sea stretching infinitely before me, I felt that familiar tingle of discovery—the same sensation I first experienced in the Himalayas decades ago. Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, cascades down the mountain...
As someone who spends most days in a courtroom weighing evidence and precedent, there's something profoundly liberating about trading my gavel for a backpack and exploring places that exist far from the beaten path. Aberdeen, South Dakota—a prairie jewel that...
Standing in the shadow of Boston's metropolitan allure, Brockton, Massachusetts holds a quiet power that resonates with those seeking authentic American narratives. As someone who has spent years documenting cultural identity across continents, I found unexpected kinship in this working-class...
When I first mentioned taking Ellie to Tucumán, my investor friends thought I'd finally lost my mind. 'Why not Mendoza or Bariloche?' they asked. But I've always believed that the soul of a country lies in its historic heartland, not...
Standing in Plaza 25 de Mayo as the morning light washes over the pristine colonial buildings, I'm reminded why Sucre earned its nickname 'La Ciudad Blanca' (The White City). The constitutional capital of Bolivia feels like a secret whispered among...
Standing at the edge of Gamla Stan, watching the morning light dance across centuries-old buildings reflected in calm waters, I felt that familiar thrill of discovery that has accompanied me from the Himalayan foothills to the Andean peaks. Stockholm—a city...
Standing at the bustling intersection of Myeongdong, watching the neon signs flicker to life as dusk settled over Seoul, I felt that familiar tug of connection that first drew me back to my birth country years ago. There's something magical...
Standing on the Elizabeth River waterfront with the golden afternoon light catching the masts of historic ships, I couldn't help but think that Portsmouth, Virginia might be one of America's most underrated maritime treasures. While its neighbor Norfolk often steals...
You've probably heard of Mitchell's Corn Palace—that quirky agricultural shrine covered in corn murals that makes it onto those 'America's oddest attractions' lists. But after three decades developing commercial spaces in Buffalo's revival, I've learned that every small city has...
There's a certain poetry to Copenhagen that reminds me of both Paris and Dakar—cities where craftsmanship and community intertwine. While tourists flock to Nyhavn's colorful harbor and the Little Mermaid, the soul of this Danish capital beats strongest in its...
The Mississippi River stretched before me like a ribbon of copper in the late afternoon sun, its banks aflame with autumn foliage. Standing at the edge of Munsinger Gardens, I took a deep breath of crisp Minnesota air and felt...
The first time I visited Avignon, I made the classic tourist mistake. Armed with my ##AFFILIATE##Lonely Planet France|Lonely Planet France##/AFFILIATE## and a checklist mentality, I spent an entire day at the imposing Palais des Papes, crossed the famous bridge, and...