212 articles tagged with hidden gems
Seattle has always held a special place in my heart. While most visitors flock to the Pike Place Market to watch fish being tossed or queue up at the original Starbucks, there's a Seattle that exists beyond the postcard moments...
Paris and I have maintained a rather passionate love affair for over three decades now. My first visit in the late '80s—a professional excursion to examine a collection of 18th-century porcelain—ignited what would become countless return journeys to this magnificent...
Toronto isn't just about the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium, folks. Like any perfectly executed dish, this city's true flavor comes from the subtle notes that only locals know how to appreciate. After spending three summers exploring this Canadian metropolis...
As someone who's spent countless hours poring over historical documents in my work as a public defender, I've developed a deep appreciation for the stories hidden between the lines of more obvious narratives. London, with its layers upon layers of...
The first time I visited Verona with my college roommates years ago, I made the classic tourist mistake—rushing to Juliet's balcony, snapping the obligatory photo, and considering the city 'done.' How wrong I was! It wasn't until my return visit...
Well, wouldn't you know it? The little city that could is now the city that *is*! When my childhood friend Darlene moved to Meridian, Idaho fifteen years ago, I thought she'd fallen off the map. Now this former farming community...
After 40 years helping travelers navigate their journeys at Hawaiian Airlines, I've learned that the soul of a city rarely resides in its postcard attractions. Los Angeles, with its sprawling neighborhoods and diverse communities, holds countless treasures that most tourists...
When most travelers think of coastal getaways, Cincinnati isn't exactly top of mind. But this midwestern gem straddling the Ohio River captured my heart during a recent autumn weekend when I traded my usual seaside haunts for urban exploration. What...
As someone who's visited Orlando 12 times in the last decade—both solo for financial conferences and with my wife and son for family adventures—I've learned that the real magic of this city extends far beyond Mickey's kingdom. While the House...
Standing at the intersection of Queen and Spadina, watching the iconic streetcars glide past while tourists flock to CN Tower in the distance, I couldn't help but smile knowingly. Having spent the last three summers visiting my father's Canadian colleagues...
There's something about Auckland that reminds me of my daughter's cricket matches—seemingly straightforward from a distance but revealing layers of intricate strategy and unexpected beauty when you look closer. *Kia ora* from New Zealand's largest city, where I've spent the...
The first time I visited Boston with my son during his college search years ago, we dutifully followed the red-brick Freedom Trail like most tourists. While those iconic sites certainly deserve their fame, it wasn't until my third visit—last October,...
The moment our ferry approached Santorini's dramatic caldera, I knew this wouldn't be just another Mediterranean getaway. Those iconic white-washed buildings cascading down volcanic cliffs like frozen waterfalls against the azure Aegean Sea—*c'est magnifique!* But while most visitors flock to...
The train lurched forward as we snaked through Sri Lanka's central highlands, the carriage windows framing a theatrical performance of misty mountains and emerald tea plantations. But as we pulled into Ella station—a colonial relic with its weathered wooden beams...
London has a reputation for emptying wallets faster than you can say 'Mind the Gap,' but after growing up watching tourists struggle with Venice's inflated prices, I've made it my mission to crack the code of experiencing world-class cities without...
