212 articles tagged with hidden gems
When most visitors land in Sydney, they make a beeline for the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, snapping the obligatory photos before hitting the tourist-packed restaurants along Circular Quay. But as someone who's spent years documenting disappearing cultural institutions across...
The first time I visited Karlovy Vary, I made the classic tourist mistake – I stuck to the colonnades, sipped from the healing springs, and called it a day. It wasn't until I returned with my Czech colleague Marek (who...
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...
As someone who's scaled Himalayan peaks and danced through Latin American festivals, I never expected to find such charm in the heart of America's breadbasket. Yet here I was in Salina, Kansas—a place most travelers zoom past on I-70—discovering that...
Standing in Rynok Square, surrounded by the ornate facades of Lviv's Renaissance buildings, you'd never guess that just beyond these grand exteriors lies a labyrinthine network of hidden courtyards and underground passages. As an anthropologist who's spent years studying how...
When my son Liam and I stepped off the plane in Rome last spring, I could practically feel the animation cells of history flipping through time right beneath our feet. Sure, the Colosseum was high on our list (what 12-year-old...
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...
G'day, fellow budget wanderers! Last summer, I found myself with a cheeky weekend to spare while shooting wildlife in NZ's North Island. Instead of the usual tourist traps, I detoured to Palmerston North—a spot most travelers zoom past faster than...
Growing up with wilderness skills from my Mexican grandfather, I've always had an eye for spotting the overlooked treasures in any landscape. Gaithersburg might not make national travel headlines, but this Maryland gem has captivated me during my environmental consulting...
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...
As someone who's spent years tracing family histories across continents, I've developed a sixth sense for finding historical gems hiding in plain sight. Boston's Freedom Trail gets all the glory (and the crowds), but the city's revolutionary spirit extends far...
The moment my feet touched the powdery white sand of West End, I knew I'd stumbled upon something special. It wasn't just the postcard-perfect visuals that captivated me—it was the *sound*. The gentle percussion of waves meeting shore here has...
The first time I flew into Edinburgh, I was captivated by the castle perched dramatically on volcanic rock, commanding the cityscape from above. That aerial perspective sparked a lifelong fascination with Scotland's historical architecture. While Edinburgh Castle rightfully claims the...
There's something about Oakland that reminds me of my beloved Marseille—a port city with gritty edges that cradles profound cultural richness within its neighborhoods. After numerous visits to the Bay Area for sustainability conferences, I've developed a deep appreciation for...
As both a physicist and perpetual explorer, I've learned that the most fascinating discoveries often lie beneath the obvious surface—whether we're talking about subatomic particles or travel destinations. Amsterdam, with its picturesque canals and iconic museums, offers plenty at first...
