Off the mainland of Southeast Asia lies a city with both sophisticated towering high-rises and an untamed jungle. Singapore, the world’s only city-state, seems to have one foot in the present and one in its past. The 51-year-old country may be a global finance player but it’s also a place where treasured dishes are shared in open-air food markets. At just 300 square miles Singapore is easy to see in a few days, but takes a lifetime to fully understand. We’ve put together a list of must-sees that will have you communing with nature, sampling traditional Asian fare and shopping.
Day 1
As far as first impressions go, Changi Airport, where most visitors to Singapore begin their journey, makes an incredible one. A new flight arrives every 90 seconds at the busy hub and the airport is basically a destination unto itself. There’s a butterfly garden, a sunflower garden, spas, food, shopping, a swimming pool and even a theme park. Try not to get too distracted in the airport and head outside.
Make your first stop the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The park in downtown Singapore is open from 5am to midnight and is a quiet escape from the bustling city for both locals and visitors. Wander the orchid garden, take in the lush rainforest or the lily ponds, all while starting to become accustomed to the humidity of the country.
After your climate introduction it’s time to get know the food at one of Singapore’s Hawker Food Stall Centers. These open-air markets are foodie paradise. Tons of inexpensive options, with dishes created from recipes passed down generations. The Newtown Circus on Bukit Timah Road is one of the most famous Hawker Centers and provides a good way for foreigners to ease into the experience.
If your feet can stand a little more walking, end the day with some shopping. Orchard Road is known for its designer collections but fashionistas should also check out Haji Lane in the Muslim district. The unassuming street is home to a variety of small boutiques that rival the hippest retail streets of Paris, New York and LA.
Day 2
A 10-minute boat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal transports you to a window to Singapore’s past. The island of Pulau Ubin is rural, untamed and brimming with history. Rent a bike and explore, keeping an eye out for wildlife and striking up conversations with locals at one of the tiny stores.
Make your way back to downtown Singapore in time for the nightlife. Hip, young Singaporeans gravitate towards Zouk, a historic nightclub where you can dance the night away (or to 2am anyways). For a quieter taste of Singapore nightlife visit speakeasy 28 Hong Kong Street, which, despite the address in the name, you might have difficulty finding. Once you do you’ll have your choice of cocktails ranging from classic to inventive in a swanky bar that any 1920s lover will adore.
Day 3
Awake to your final day in Singapore ready for some culture. Singapore’s Chinatown Heritage Center is the first stop in Chinatown. The cultural center offers walking tours of the area where you’ll learn the history of Chinatown, see recreated living quarters, including bedrooms and kitchens from the late 19th Century. Before making your way to the airport, visit Marina Bay Sands or the Singapore Flyer, both of which offer incredible views of the city you’ve spent the past few days exploring.
She looks somewhat like some of her former passengers – a bit weathered but still stately. And she doesn’t get around as fast as she used to, either.
In fact, the Queen Mary doesn’t get around at all, for she is permanently moored in Long Beach, CA. Often, she sits next to modern cruise ships that are now making their way across the seas.
It makes for an interesting contrast – the old and the new, side-by-side – a true visual display of the differences in cruising then and now.
The Queen Mary has just celebrated the 80th anniversary of her maiden voyage, which took place on May 27, 1936. She came from a time when taking a cruise meant crossing an ocean. Today, it’s more about a series of ports and destinations. In her day, the Queen Mary was the destination. In fact, she made only one port of call, in France, on her way from England to New York.
That’s just one of the ways cruising and cruise ships have changed during the decades. For starters, all you have to do is look at the Queen Mary. Today’s cruise ships are all-white towers with some reaching an astonishing 18 decks. The Queen Mary, by contrast, is more sleek, black with white trim on the top and the letters QUEEN MARY painted on both sides of the bow, and has 12 decks, only about half of which were for passengers. She’s almost as long as today’s cruise ships – 1,019 feet while the massive 18-deck Quantum Of The Seas checks in at 1,115 feet – but sitting next to one of these behemoths she looks like the equivalent of a teenager standing next to an NBA player.
The biggest difference is in the role of the cruise ships. The Queen Mary – and ships of her day – was built for Transatlantic crossings. It was open-ocean sailing, point-to-point transportation.
Today, of course, it’s a series of short hops to ports in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and other regional destinations. The Queen Mary was also almost as much of a human cargo ship as she was a cruise liner; in the 1930s and later the 1950s, there was simply no other way for people to get from England to America and vise versa.
It’s interesting to note that as a result, the Queen Mary was faster than today’s ships – her top speed remains a secret but it was around 33 knots; today ships top out at about 28 knots and cruise closer to around 25.
The Queen Mary was also separated into three different classes and – like today’s airplanes – passengers in the lower classes could not go into the higher-class sections. Today, cruise ships have no class compartment restrictions. The price varies on the size and location of cabins. No matter what you paid, however, once you’re on board you can go anywhere and mingle with all the other passengers. You’re actually separated more by the types of the ships rather than the ship itself (families, luxury travelers, single people and retirees all have specific ships to fit their different cruising cultures).
Of course, no ship of today can match the Queen Mary’s history. And for this, we defer to Commodore Everett Hoard, who serves as Honorary Captain of the Queen Mary and speaks so passionately about the ship you would think he installed each of the 10 million rivets himself. He says things like, “she was the most celebrated passenger ship since Noha’s Ark” and “the Queen Mary is truly the most loved ship the world has ever known.”
Try to get him as your guide for the Glory Days Historical Tour, which covers the ship’s WWII troop carrying history and her luxury days “when the decks were filled with the most famous people in the world: Cary Grant, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother,” Hoard says. “This was THE way to travel before the days of air travel.”
It is her World War II service that may be the most impressive element about the Queen Mary. She carried more than 800,000 U.S. soldiers across the Atlantic – 16,683 on a single voyage – to fight Hitler. Painted grey and with speed that kept her safe from Nazi U-boats, she was nicknamed “The Grey Ghost.” She also took Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the Atlantic three times to meet with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and after the war, Churchill still loved to ride aboard the Queen.
Today, you can stay in his suite and eat in a restaurant that bears his name. You can even see some of his paintings and personal belongings in an exhibit now featured on the Queen Mary.
The Queen Mary is a hotel (most rooms are pretty small; after all, she’s a ship) and hosts various exhibits and events. There’s also a Sunday brunch in her first-class dining room, a bar and a couple of restaurants on board. Plus, there are various tours, including a Ghost Tour, because it’s said the Queen Mary is haunted.
A documentary on the history of the Queen Mary – including interviews with soldiers, war brides and others who were on the ship – has been produced and will air on the BBC in the US on Aug. 21. It has already aired in England and the ratings were through the roof (or through the smokestacks, pun intended).
Even after 80 years, the legend of the Queen Mary and the ship itself lives on.It’s unlikely any of the cruise ships sailing today will still be around in 80 years, and let alone as celebrated as is the Queen Mary.
Tucked off Interstate 95, between New York City and Boston, is an old whaling village where time seems slow and the hustle and bustle of city life gives way to laid-back New England charm.
Split between the towns of Groton and Stonington, Mystic, Connecticut is a magical place full of art, history and food. Named one of America’s most charming small towns by Country Living and the next Hamptons by The New York Post, Mystic is easy to get around, comes with heaps of quaint and enough quirkiness to make it easy to fall in love with in a single day.
Start your day at the newly opened French bakery Sift Bake Shop. The adorable spot on Water Street offers a selection of artisanal baked goods including breads, pastries and even macarons. Snag a spot at a booth and watch as the bakers prepare for the rest of the day through the glass windowed kitchen.
After a breakfast of people-watching, visit one of the larger area attractions for which Mystic is famous. History and nautical buffs will want to check out the Mystic Seaport, the nation’s largest maritime museum, home to the country’s last remaining whaling vessel. If you have little ones, opt for the Mystic Aquarium where the penguins are always ready for visitors, the sea lions put on a show and you can touch the stingrays. Art lovers should see what’s new at the Mystic Museum of Art or, better yet, take a class there.
Head back to the center of the village and browse the menus of the many restaurants that line Main, Water and Holmes Streets — Engine Room for classic American fare in a hipster space, S&P Oyster for upscale seafood with views of the river; the area is truly your oyster. After lunch, borrow a bike from the bike share and visit the vineyards in the area; or go to Stonington Borough, home to the state’s last commercial fishing fleet and a number of antique shops. Or stay on Main Street, duck in and out of the stores, pick up a new work of art, or American-made clothing at Hope & Stetson. Then grab an ice cream from Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream and sit in the park watching the boats go by as one of the last working drawbridges in the country raises and falls.
For dinner, the Oyster Club is the ultimate farm to table spot, rated one of the best oyster bars in the country by Travel & Leisure. Every morning, the chef calls around to a handful of local farms, creating a menu from what’s available for a dinner that you’ve never had before and will likely never have again. Conclude your day in Mystic by taking in live music at the park during the warmer months or at one of the many bars.
With a train station right in the village, plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, Mystic is an easy way for city dwellers to get away from their hectic lives for a bit.
If you’re in Bali and feeling adventurous, seeing Mount Batur is a definite must do. Mount Batur is an active volcano and you can trek to the summit to catch a beautiful sunrise.
Most hotels will offer a Mount Batur trekking tour and will arrange your whole day for around 300,000 IDR, or about 25 USD. This will include a mini van to and from the volcano, a guide and breakfast at the summit. You can also find tours that will take you to a coffee plantation, waterfall and rice paddies after the trek. They’re all beautiful spots worth seeing but keep in mind, you’ll probably be exhausted after the hike.
You’ll be picked up from your hotel in the middle of the night; times vary depending on how far from the volcano you’re staying, but plan for a pick up between 1 and 2 AM. Definitely try to get some sleep before hand.
The trek itself takes about two hours to get to the top. It’s a moderately difficult hike, but if you’re in decent shape it should be no problem. You’ll be climbing in the dark so it’s a good idea to bring a headlamp if you have one, otherwise your guide will provide flashlights.
The trail starts at a low incline and gets increasingly steeper and more difficult as you near the top. It will take around two hours to reach the summit, with lots of rock climbing and views of the dimly lit town beneath. The last 30 minutes of the hike are spent climbing up slippery sand on a steep incline so be prepared to get lots of sand in your shoes!
Once you reach the top, you can find a spot to sit and watch the sunrise. Your guide will offer tea and coffee and breakfast and you can relish in a very welcome break. You’ll be hot and sweaty during the hike, but it’s a good idea to take a jacket and scarf with you, as it gets pretty cold at the top.
Then, if you’re lucky, you’ll see one of the most beautiful sunrises of your life. Don’t forget your camera! Be on the lookout as there are also some monkeys that hang out at the top.
After sunrise and breakfast, you’ll start to make your way back down. You can either go back down the same way you came up, or you can ask your guide to take you around the ridge of the volcano and down the other side of the mountain. This is recommended for some seriously stunning views!
If you take the alternate route down, be warned that the hike down is almost (if not more) challenging than the hike up. It’s steep, slippery and flanked by cliffs on either sides. If you’re afraid of heights, it will definitely be a challenge, but the views are so, so worth it.
On the way down, you’ll encounter hot steam from the inside of the volcano where you can cook some eggs and enjoy a second breakfast. This is a fun experience and a great way to get some protein in on a long, sweaty hike.
By the time you reach the bottom, it will probably be around 9am and you can then decide whether you have the energy to continue to the waterfall, rice paddies and the coffee plantation. If you do, be warned that there are 300 steps you need to climb to reach the waterfall!
If you’re after a rush of adrenaline, an amazing sense of accomplishment and some stunning views, the sunrise trek up Mount Batur is bound to be one of the best things you do in Bali. Although a challenging hike, it’s fine for kids and grandparents as well. Enjoy the adventure!
Minimalism is having a comeback. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of pieces that you absolutely love that can be interchanged, worn to most occasions and is completely self-contained.
Each item is accounted for and serves a purpose. You should be able to pluck a piece from your capsule wardrobe and feel great putting it on at any time.
For most women, owning only a capsule wardrobe is a pipe dream. They’re difficult to maintain, because it means buying nothing (or very little) or getting rid of an item every time you buy a new one. And if you live in a house or an apartment, there’s no real reason to limit yourself to such a small wardrobe.
On the other hand, if you’re traveling, a capsule wardrobe is a great idea. It means that everything you own fits in one bag (preferably a carry-on) and because everything is interchangeable, you’ll be able to spend less time figuring out what to wear and more time exploring your destination.
Building a capsule wardrobe takes some work, though, and you’ll probably have to try it a few times before you get it just right. But that’s okay, because when you finally do, you won’t have to worry about what you’ll take on a trip. You can just pack it all up and throw it in your bag.
Finding a Theme
The trick to building a capsule wardrobe is having a set number of pieces that can all be matched with each other. A great way to achieve this is by setting a theme for your wardrobe.
Maybe you like clean colors and tend to stick to neutrals, or perhaps you prefer bold prints. Either way, you have to find pieces that go together. Pick a color palette and stick to it, preferably with no more than 5 colors, including your neutrals (like jeans or a black skirt).
Take the Season Into Account
What your wardrobe will include will obviously depend on the season. Some people prefer to keep a few staple pieces as the core of their wardrobe and switch out seasonal pieces. For example, keeping a nice pair of black leggings throughout the year but switching out summer dresses for jackets when the weather gets cooler.
If you’re going on vacation, take into account the weather in your destination. Account for a few degrees cooler and warmer than the forecast predicts and build that into your capsule wardrobe.
Building the Wardrobe
Your capsule wardrobe can include as many or as few pieces as you like, there is no magic number. But to get you started, you can pick 40 of your favorite pieces, give or take a few, and count on that fitting into a carry on suitcase.
If you still have to narrow down the collection, you can start with the “3” rule, meaning pick 3 of each piece, one casual, one statement and one in-between. From there, you can just do what works best for you.
Fitting it Into a Carry-On
You can fit a surprising amount of clothing into a carry-on, especially if you pack it efficiently. Rolling your clothes are a great way to prevent wrinkles and utilize every inch of space in your bag.
Packing cubes are also fabulous for keeping your wardrobe organized and compact. You can purchase packing cubes for each portion of your wardrobe, and will then be able to identify all your tops, bottoms, underthings, etc. at a simple glance.
There are no rules for a capsule wardrobe and creating it should be fun!
“There is a delight in the hardy life of the open. There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm,” wrote Teddy Roosevelt famously. He was speaking to the pressing need for land conservation.
Between outings with John Muir, camping trips to Yellowstone National Park, and even some regular presidential duties, Roosevelt spent some of his time while at the helm of the United States during the late 1800s designating five new national parks, 18 national monuments, 51 federal bird sanctuaries, four national game refuges, and roughly 100 million acres of national forest.
Teddy’s gift to the world is this legacy of public land conservation. Almost 150 years later, any one of us can still throw some camping gear in our car, hop a short plane ride, or even take a bus to an expanse of public land that has never been subdivided, developed, or parceled.
In a world that undoubtedly is subdivided, these open spaces have the ability to save us from ourselves.
Glacier National Park
Presenting jagged mountains, snow-capped peaks, and crystal-blue lakes, IRL. Glacier National Park, located in northern Montana, Idaho, and southern Canada, was designated in 1910. However, archaeological evidence suggests human activity in the area dates back 10,000 years, with most recent Native American residencies by the Blackfeet, Salish, and Kootenai Tribes.
Today, the park is known for its incredible views, wildlife, and of course, glaciers. Unfortunately, time may be running out for the latter. Drive, camp, fish, boat…a good time to visit Glacier is spring or fall.
Denali National Park and Preserve
To those of you who envision snow and eternal darkness: the beauty of Alaska is varied, colorful, and very real. Within its six million acres, everything in Denali seems exaggerated: the size of the mountains, the depth of the lakes, the taste of the berries, the extent of the sunlight hours in early summer.
Relative inaccessibility is what makes Denali and the rest of Alaska so desirable. Car travel is restricted within the park — which means wildlife is less desensitized to human activity than elsewhere — and hardcore mountaineers and dog sledders continually challenge each other within the park boundaries and surrounding areas. Visit in summer for endless light.
Arches National Park
There’s something similarly spiritual and other-worldly about the red rock of the Southwest, which Arches National Park boasts in spades. Nothing makes you feel quite so small as a deep blue desert sky stretched across red rock, sand, and hardy, scrub-like desert plants — save for the gravity-defying sandstone figurines of Arches National Park.
Visit Arches in early spring in a pair of hiking shoes, or trade them out for some climbing gear. Rock climbing is accepted — nay, encouraged — in this part of the country. Visit as early as possible in the spring, before it gets hot.
Yosemite National Park
What is it about this place? It’s green, yet the cool-toned granite formations rise nearly to the clouds. The redwood Sequoias are world-famous for their size and unique color. It feels almost esoteric.
Aside from its long history of use by Native American tribes, the park was designated as a protected public land in 1890, a victory of efforts credited to John Muir and his attempt to prevent continued exploitation.
Recreation in Yosemite focuses around touring, hiking, and wildlife observation, while boasting a host of vendors eager to facilitate more sporting adventures along the lines of climbing, fishing, biking, horseback riding, and more. Visit year-round.
Acadia National Park
There’s beauty in the Eastern United States, too — in abundance. The first Eastern National Park, Acadia, was designated exactly 100 years ago in 1916. Located on Maine’s Atlantic coast, this park is all about the ocean. Its history is East-Coast length — that is to say, dating back thousands of years until it was discovered in the early 1600s by a French explorer, Samuel De Champlain.
Plan a tour, hop a boat, ride a bike, or enjoy the amenities of Bar Harbor — but summer is the time to go.
Big Bend National Park
Oh, Tejas. The paired-down splendor of Big Bend’s rock formations, stubby plants, and dramatic sunsets brings to mind old Westerns; but its portrayal in American literature is unfortunately too limited by the 150-year-old knowledge of the park available to English speakers to capture the area’s true complexity. Predominantly Native Americans — and later, Spanish looking for gold — are the most acquainted with the Big Bend, historically speaking. But today, the park serves as 118 miles of the US-Mexico border.
Visit in spring; wear hiking shoes and light colors.
Everglades National Park
Swamps, crocodiles, and…subtropical wilderness? The predominate reputation extending from Everglades National Park doesn’t do its complex ecosystem justice. Its intricate network of ponds, sloughs, and marshes is symptomatic of a large sheet of slow-moving water, one whose fertility was systematically taken advantage of for agricultural purposes until 1947, when it was designated a protected land.
Birding is a huge draw to the Everglades, as is the opportunity for a plethora of typical recreational pastimes such as a boating, hiking, and camping. Visit during the dry period, roughly December through April.
The crack of the bat, the smell of popcorn in the air, an organ playing outdoors on a bright and sunny day – this is America in the summertime at the great ballparks of the USA.
Classic American ballparks are destinations all to themselves; but when combined with classic American cities, they make for ideal summer travel destinations. Combining a ballgame with seeing the sights of a city provides a rewarding experience for everyone from families to couples to fun-seeking singles.
Nearly every major city has a major league stadium, but some are better destinations than others. This article focuses on five places – two of the most historic venues in the sport, and three others where there’s a lively combination of baseball and social activities.
WRIGLEY FIELD (CHICAGO CUBS)
Going to Wrigley Field is more than going to see a game. It’s an experience.
That’s because Wrigley Field is America’s second-oldest ballpark, one of the few originals remaining from when stadiums were built around existing neighborhoods, rather than tearing down everything around it, as is the modern American approach to sports venue construction. This means it has history and tradition that simply can’t be matched by its modern counterparts.
As a result, Wrigley Field is a part of the community, like the friendly old lady down the street who always gives out the best candy to the kids at Halloween. Here, you don’t just show up, walk through the gate and go to your seats. You have to do the Wrigley “routine.”
First, you take the “L” train to the ballpark. Then you go to Murphy’s Bleachers, one of the many bars in the surrounding neighborhood of Wrigleyville. It is here that you meet and mingle with true Cubs fans. Tell them this is your first time to Wrigley Field and they will quickly engage you in conversation and tell stories about their experiences at the ballpark.
Then you go into the stadium, which is like stepping back in time. This is what baseball must have been like in the 1920s. If you’re down low, the players are so close, you can practically reach out and touch them. An oompha band walks through the aisles playing music. Vendors cruise around selling Chicago’s own Old Style beer.
The outfield wall is covered in ivy and it’s not uncommon for a ball to get stuck in it; it’s rather comical to see the outfielder trying to pry the ball out of the green leaves. If the wind is blowing out, then you’re in for a real treat – lots of home runs will be hit and a final score of 24-22 is not unprecedented at Wrigley. If the other team hits a home run and it lands in the bleachers, the fans will throw the ball back into the outfield in a top Wrigley Field tradition.
After the game, the experience continues at more bars around Wrigleyville. The Cubby Bear is the traditional post-game watering hole.
There’s one modern thing to keep in mind before going to Wrigley Field: plan ahead.
The Cubs are actually good this year so tickets are difficult to find, especially on game days. (If you decide to go on a whim, start your ticket search at Murphy’s Bleachers.) The fans are also a bit more serious about the outcome of the games than throughout much of the team’s history. It seems ironic, but Wrigley Field is actually more fun when the team is the lovable Cubbies rather than a World Series contender. You can’t really blame them, though; the Cubs haven’t been to the Fall Classic since 1945 and haven’t won one since 1908.
Wrigley Field and the whole experience is at its best for sunny Saturday day games.
FENWAY PARK (BOSTON RED SOX)
Fenway Park is even older than Wrigley Field; in fact, it’s the oldest ballpark in America. It opened in 1912, just four years after Jack Norworth wrote “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” To put that in perspective, when Fenway was built, there were only eight teams in the American League. Today, there are 15.
The old red brick building is highlighted by a huge 37-foot tall wall in left field known as the “Green Monster.” Along the rightfield line is “Pesky’s Pole,” named for former player, manager and Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky. Metal beams that block the views from some seats and support the upper deck make you realize you’re in the same place where the greatest Red Sox legends played: Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Jim Lonborg, Fred Lynn, Yaz, David Ortiz… even Bill “Spaceman” Lee.
Like Wrigley Field, you just don’t show up to Fenway Park in time to catch the first pitch. Here, the scene is outside the stadium on Yawkey Way. There’s an old-time band, a guy on stilts playing catch with kids and dozens of vendors grilling up sausages, dogs, cheesesteaks and even Cuban sandwiches, a Fenway tradition served up by former pinwheeling pitcher Luis Taint, who is from Cuba. I recommend, however, the Italian sausages.
The only catch is that a few years ago, the Red Sox made Yawkey Way an actual part of Fenway Park, so you need a ticket to get to it, and there’s no in-and-out privileges, which is kind of a bummer.
As for bars before the game, there’s the Cask ‘n Flagon. After the game, it’s back to the Clask ‘n Flagon and/or Jillian’s, a huge billiards lounge.
Inside Fenway, it’s all about soaking up the scene and the history. Walk around the old concourses, check out different vantage points and perhaps even have some “chow-da.”
You’ll also be surrounded by Red Sox fans, which is an experience all unto itself. Things have changed a bit since the team has won the World Series a couple of times lately; but the fans – while being quite knowledgeable about the game, their players and even the other team’s players – have an inherited sense of impending doom about them, so listening to their clever criticisms is one of the highlights of going to Fenway. Part of this is perhaps understandable – Fenway was opened the same week the Titanic crashed into the iceberg.
You can easily get to Fenway Park from downtown by using the Green Line of the “T”, the Metro subway. Trains B, C and D go to Fenway; just follow the crowds to get to the stadium. Doing this with other Red Sox fans will really help get you in the mood for the entire Fenway experience.
It is interesting to note, by the way, that a 16-ounce beer at Fenway and Wrigley will set you back about 8 bucks, which is the most expensive ballpark beer in baseball. There’s a price – in beer, anyway – to pay for all that history.
AT&T PARK (SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS)
San Francisco’s AT&T Park does not have the tradition of Wrigley or Fenway, but the city does have an interesting history with its baseball stadiums. At the old Candlestick Park – which was located on a very breezy part of the bay – a pitcher was once literally blown off the mound in gusty winds during an All-Star game.
The current ballpark is also located on the water, but in a much calmer location. It’s also more convenient, just a streetcar ride from the Ferry Building.
And it’s brick, giving it the appearance of an old-fashioned ballpark. You can do something here that traces back to the early days of baseball, something that’s not even available at Wrigley or Fenway, and that is to watch part of the game without having a ticket. In a nod back to when boys would peek through a hole in the outfield fence, you can stand behind the rightfield wall and look through a gate. (Just don’t linger.) While you’re quite a distance from home plate, and also at ground level, you can’t really see much of the action, but you are close enough to the opposing rightfielder to tease him in the good ol’ baseball tradition of heckling.
Another interesting activity that’s certainly unique to San Francisco is to rent a kayak and join the dozen or so others who sit in the bay just outside the stadium in hopes that a home run ball will drop in the water around them. When that does happen, it’s a mad scramble of people paddling to get to the ball. This area is known as McCovey Cove, named after the big-swinging first baseman of the 1970s, Willie McCovey.
You should also be familiar with Willie Mays, the franchise’s greatest player. He finished his career with a whopping 660 home runs, a lofty accomplishment to say the least, considering he played most of his games in windy Candlestick Park. There is a statue of him in front of the stadium, and the stadium’s address is Mays’ name and number: 24 Willie Mays Plaza.
To get the full San Francisco Giants game-day experience, you need first to go to MoMo’s, the upscale-ish restaurant and bar across the street. Most people hang out and socialize on the patio, and some of those people are actually going to the game. (San Franciscans, at least the single ones, like to go to bars around events where they can mingle.)
Inside AT&T Park, it’s like being in a new and clean, old-fashioned ballpark. Its signature symbols are a giant coke bottle that lights up when the Giants hit a home run and a huge old-fashioned baseball glove in left-center field.
San Francisco used to have a dancing crab as a mascot (yes, a dancing crab!) that was so hated fans pelted it with peanuts and whatever else they could get their hands on when it came out between innings. Now, they use their hands to clap a lot because their beloved Giants have won the World Series three times since 2010, most recently in 2014.
PETCO PARK (SAN DIEGO PADRES)
In San Diego, the team is so bad fans don’t have to bother themselves with the pesky problem of worrying about winning games, so they just go to Petco Park and enjoy a good time.
They’ve got the place to do it before games, too, in the sensational Gaslamp Quarter.
All you really have to do is walk around and stop in a place that looks inviting, but here’s a few suggestions. Barleymash is the most popular casual bar in the Gaslamp; but careful here: you may get so comfortable you’ll forget about the game! The Tin Fish has people relaxing out on a good-sized patio having pre-game food and beers; this is a very shorts-casual spot. The Tilted Kilt features eye-popping bartenders and waitresses. Bubs At The Ballpark is your beer-drinking bar by the stadium.
If you want to watch the game from the ultimate luxury box – for free admission – then go to the Altitude Sky Lounge on the rooftop of the Marriott. Actually, you’re so high up and far away it’s more like peeking inside the stadium and you can’t really see what’s happening, but it’s a pretty cool perspective from this lounge-style bar.
The stadium itself is a beauty and is as relaxed as the people in San Diego. There’s a grassy area beyond the outfield where you can sit down and have a picnic while occasionally peeking in at whatever might be happening on the field.
Heck, forget the game; here, it’s fun just to walk around inside the stadium. There are outside bars and food places where you can look down on San Diego Bay. There’s a huge model of an aircraft carrier, the USS Midway; the real thing sits just beyond Petco Park and is open for tours. Another hallway provides a history of baseball in San Diego. For those who arrive early enough, you can take in batting practice at a place called “The Beach.”
And then win or lose, it’s back to the Gaslamp where the real game begins for the single people.
BUSCH STADIUM (ST. LOUIS CARDINALS)
This is the place to go to be around people who are passionate about baseball. Cardinals fans appreciate the history of the game, the slow beauty of it and have great respect for its traditions.
You can immediately earn acceptance of the fans – and quite possibly a beer – by saying you’ve always been a big fan of Stan Musial. It was Musial who was the greatest, most popular player in Cardinals history. A few other names to know are Ozzie Smith (perhaps the game’s greatest defensive shortstop), Bob Gibson and Albert Pujols, but only when he was with the Cardinals, of course. (He’s now with the Anaheim Angels.)
The Cardinals play in Busch Stadium, one of the best venues in baseball. Because of this, you’ll want to spend much of your time in it, rather than seeking out a lengthy pre-game scene, as is the case with the other stadiums featured in this article. Try and get a ticket behind home plate – from here you get a spectacular view of the St. Louis skyline and the famous Gateway Arch.
However, you must carve out pre-game time at Ballpark Village, which has several restaurants and bars, among them Cardinal Nation, which houses the Cardinals Hall of Fame (a must) and rooftop seating with views inside the stadium.
After the game, head to the Soulard section of St. Louis. This is home of the St. Louis blues, and you can hear live bands in several small bars. The Great Grizzly Bear is where locals like to take visitors. Venice Café is a funky hang-out joint with a big outdoor patio and music inside; this is best for the younger and singles set. If you want go-to places within walking distance of Busch Stadium, there are several bars along the river at Laclede’s Landing.
While in St. Louis, be sure and have its signature food dish, toasted ravioli. This is ravioli that – according to legend – was dropped into oil instead of water at a place called Mama’s On The Hill back in the 40s. The restaurant still exists and The Hill is the place to get the best Italian food in St. Louis.
Among the list of European cities that inspire nostalgic sighs and sparkling eyes, Amsterdam ranks high. The Dutch capital is a pristine picture of most travelers’ hyperbolically beautiful notions of a European city trip that combines culture and cocktails, cycling along perfect canals under blue skies and churning windmills on the way to the risqué thrills of the Red Light District.
Except that this isn’t Amsterdam.
It’s Leiden, a smallish student city located no more than a 35-minute train ride from Amsterdam or any of the three other most populous and important cities of the Netherlands. Hidden in plain sight, Leiden goes mostly unnoticed by travelers transiting through its Central Station on their way from Amsterdam to the Hague and Rotterdam.
The city is smaller than it feels. Despite having a population density similar to that of New York City, the official population of this medieval man-made island and the connected neighborhoods outside the moat that surrounds it is comparable to New Haven, Connecticut, and its land area is no more expansive than that of a spacious American university campus.
But it’s no Amsterdam: in fact, a strong part of Leiden’s local culture and history is that it’s not its posh, powerful, and more popular older sibling on the other side of the imaginary line between the provinces of North and South Holland. The city has a singular atmosphere, its own traditions, and even a trademark accent distinct from those of each of the four urban pillars that together form the densely-populated Randstadarea—the Dutch equivalent of a Boston-Washington corridor—in which Leiden finds itself in the near-exact geographic middle.
Many of the discreet local cultures that comprise the mosaic of the present-day Randstad emerged during the Eighty Years War. Leiden’s own story of singularity begins dramatically on October 3rd, 1574, when the Leidenaren of the sixteenth century ousted their Spanish Habsburg imperial rulers.
For contemporary Leidenaren this meant a valiant victory and political and cultural autonomy. For residents of and visitors to Leiden today, it means one of the best festivals on the Dutch calendar.
Every year on the second day of October, the city’s businesses close up early; and that night, the cobblestone roads along and between the canals erupt into a city-wide festival that’s somehow both one of the country’s biggest and best and at the same time mostly unknown outside a two- or three-town radius around Leiden: Leids Ontzet, or the Relief of Leiden.
For two nights, the sacred cultural norm of “just be normal” goes out the window. The second day of Leids Ontzet features more day-drinking, more city streets packed with stands selling beer and raw herring and fries with mayonaise, and the kermis, the giant fair that sprouts up overnight next to the Central Station and for two days devours the entire northwest corner of town.
As a reward for the valiant defense of Leiden that gave us the modern-day Leids Ontzet celebrations, in 1575 William of Orange, the founding father of what would become the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands, endowed Leiden with the very first university of the Netherlands.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, Leiden University was an international center of philosophy and science; and in the 21st, it’s not only one of the most prestigious universities of the continent and the university where all future kings and queens of the Netherlands are educated, but also one of the biggest drivers of cosmopolitanism and the international community of Leiden.
Together the many international students and the equally plentiful expats form a key part of Leiden’s local culture—you’ll never take a stroll through the Wednesday and Saturday street market or through the alleys along the Rapenburg Canal without hearing the sounds of English and half a dozen other languages in the space of a few minutes. At times Leiden, with its not-quite 150,000 residents, feels more intensely international than Amsterdam or the Hague.
And this makes a difference for travelers. The thriving expat scene is constantly organizing events for newcomers and passers-through to dip their feet into Dutch culture and dive head-first into local culture.
The International Student Network hosts the odd roadtrip and a traditional local hutspot dinner during Leids Ontzet, but those looking for less hand-holding or a bit of distance from the student scene normally turn to the lively local Couchsurfing scene.
Also a handy hospitality network for travelers visiting the city, Couchsurfing is a cultural exchange community, and in Leiden it’s best known for its weekly Wednesday “Language Lab” at Café de Keyzer—known lovingly by locals and internationals alike by its Dutch diminutive, ‘t Keizertje—as well as hosting theme parties and events for everything from the Dutch Sinterklaas to an annual Halloween party that’s become a staple of the annual expat social calendar.
Leiden launched its Muurgedichten or “wall poems” project in 1992, sponsoring the painting of over 100 poems in nearly as many different languages on the walls of buildings of every sort throughout the city. The result is a city whose physical bricks and mortar are covered in the many languages of global society, painting a picture as diverse as the residents who see a sliver of home when they walk past a poem in Polish, Arabic, Japanese, or English.
Travelers looking for a seedy coffee shop full of joint-smoking tourists or a wild night of electronica-fueled partying may wish to step off their flight in Schiphol airport and directly onto the next Amsterdam-bound train. But those looking to spend a few days in a city with its own unique local culture that’s somehow both authentically Dutch and patently international should instead take the train fifteen minutes in the opposite direction, right into the heart of the Netherlands.
Row upon row of grapes, stunning landscapes and exquisite wines, vineyards are magical places. Whether you like your vino red or white, rosé or sparkling, there’s no denying there’s nothing quite like tasting wine at the vineyard it was produced. From South Africa to California and everywhere in between, the world’s wine regions provide the backdrop for must-visit vacations for wine lovers.
Some are destinations unto themselves where you can spend a leisurely week or weekend tasting wine and enjoying nature’s bounty. Others add to the allure of a bustling arts scene, where you can scope out a new while learning about an upcoming region. No matter what you’re looking for, if you’re a wine lover, these are the nine regions you’re going to want to visit.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Tucked in the picturesque countryside of Pennsylvania you’ll find a hidden gem. Bucks County is home to nearly 10 world-class wineries. Surrounded by rolling hills, sample everything from sparkling wines to French-style reds and then head to one of the charming small towns that make up the area, where you can window-shop the many galleries and antique boutiques and have dinner at Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, recently ranked among the most romantic restaurants in the state, while you think about which wine you want to bring home.
Most people head to South Africa for the chance to see a lion or elephant in the wild, but you can also combine a safari with a visit to the vineyards. The Winelands of Cape Town are known for producing a diverse range of wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Some of them have been producing wine for more than 300 years.
France may not be the birthplace of wine, but no other country has done as much for the drink. And while all of France’s wine regions are worth a visit, Champagne is the one not to miss if you have to pick only one. The historic province in Northeast France gave us the ultimate celebratory drink. Start in charming Reims, “the city of kings,” and learn the history of the famous bubbly before taking your pick of the many champagne houses in the region, each producing a unique version of the sparkling wine.
Sometime between strolling through the vines, sitting in the garden shaded from the dazzling sun by leafy trees and stepping into a tasting room, all with a glass of wine in hand, you realize that Long Island wineries have grown up. The still relatively young wine region is now home to nearly 60 wineries producing a diverse range of wine from 2,500 acres of vines, many of them award-winning. The best varieties tend to be Chardonnays and Cabernet Francs, but you’ll also find Rosé and sparkling wines here.
Mendoza is probably the most famous of South America’s wine regions, and for good reason. Nearly 1,500 wineries surround the small city, and they produce about two-thirds of Argentina’s wine. Here, red wine lovers will want to sample Malbec and Tempranillo, while white wine fans should try Chardonnay, Torrontés. And while many of the vineyards close on the weekends, consider that your chance to explore the charming city of Mendoza.
Arguably the most famous of US wine regions, Napa Valley is home to not just award-wining wines, but incredible spas, art galleries and restaurants. At the vineyards, you’ll find tasting rooms that evoke the nature that surrounds—grapevines, barrels and rustic space. Sign up for one of the many tours, such as Platypus Wine Tours, for plenty of tasting options and a picnic lunch among the vines. Then head into one of the towns that make up the region for a complete luxury getaway.
Whitewashed villages, stunning cliffs, deep blue waters – Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. For years, Greek wine wasn’t well known outside of Greece, and what was known wasn’t that great. A new generation of winemakers honoring the tradition of the past while using modern technology is slowly making Greek wine something to pay attention to. The Santorini region is home to heritage grapes: Assyrtiko, Roditis and Savatiano. Try the sweet Vin Santo or the Rosé blends.
Tasmania is wild, rugged and mysterious. In its heart is Tamar Valley, one of the world’s older emerging wine regions. Vintners have been making wine here since the 1800s, but it’s only recently that the rest of the world has started to notice. At the small vineyards tucked into the rolling hills you’ll find makers happy to talk your ear off about the history of their farms. The cool climate produces Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer.
What draws us to travel is the novelty and stimulation: suddenly we’re awash in a sea of new sights and sounds and smells, waking us up and making us feel alive and alert like we somehow never seem to at home. But the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side–you’re just paying more attention to it.
Even though you could afford to, you don’t need to hop on a plane or a train to escape your stress. Sometimes, all you need is a little dose of mindfulness to transform the same old city block you ignore on your way out of the subway into a restorative staycation. Just turn on your senses, turn off your phone, and take a little walk outside.
Unplug and Tune In
Mindfulness is about engaging actively with the present moment. That means that, before you can get started with your mindful staycation, you’ll need to get rid of all the things you use to distract yourself from the tediousness of everyday life
Take out your headphones: swap your morning commute podcast for soaking up the sounds of the neighborhood, the individual residents’ voices, their old cars puttering down the street or the constant beeping of busy crosswalks.
Rather than staring mindlessly at the sidewalk and contemplating your to-do list, let your eyes dart from sight to sight, building to building, face to face or store to store. Ride the public transit without a destination, alternating between scenery-watching and people-watching.
Don’t read a book or text or tweet.
As you take off on your mindful staycation, please keep all electronic devices (and other distractions) switched off and stowed away at home or under the seat in front of you.
Start with New Surroundings
A change of pace and scenery will help you jump-start the process: head to a different neighborhood with a different vibe than the one where you park your car or the one where you meet your colleagues for drinks every Friday. If you normally drive, take public transit. If you normally bike, walk. Wear comfortable clothes, and if you want, bring a camera.
Head for the cool bohemian zone or the culturally diverse immigrant neighborhood of your city. Pick somewhere that excites the senses: a creative and quirky Airbnb or a boutique hostel with its own personality is the perfect place to wake up your inner explorer and meet people you otherwise wouldn’t, just like on vacation.
Escape Your Bubble: Meet New People, Do New Things
It’s one of the best parts of a vacation for many. In our typical nine-to-five lives we get stuck in a social bubble made up of all the people we work with, live around, and otherwise have ideas and perspectives in common with. We fall into social bubbles in which we’re cut off from any ideas that don’t already sound like ours.
On your mindful staycation, rebel against your bubble: if you live in a trendy young professional neighborhood, spend some time in a more family-oriented area or head over to where the students live. If you’re surrounded by highly-educated knowledge workers, pass a few days in humbler working class surroundings.
You can use social networks like Meetup.com to find events organized by locals in your city, with themes ranging from shared professional skills to the most obscure of hobbies. Go to a meetup and learn a language or pick up running, even if just for one weekend of a different look at your city.
Take a Page Out of the Guidebooks
Travelers all want to do what you’re doing and experience your town ‘like a local’, but when you’re due for a staycation, you can take a page or two out of their book instead.
Check sites like Wikitravel or Lonely Planet to see what’s drawing visitors to your city from afar. Check local events on travel social networks like Couchsurfing, and search for local expat groups on Facebook. These guys are the ones enjoying your city like there’s no tomorrow (because most of them are leaving tomorrow), so let their enthusiasm inspire you and don’t be ashamed to look like a big stupid tourist in the same zip code where you pay rent and punch a time clock.
Setting out with no more intention than to experience the moment fully doesn’t just allow you to enjoy your urban home in a new way. It leads you to discovering the coolest neighborhoods, trying things you’d never do between 9 on Monday and 5 on Friday, and building mindful new habits that contribute to your overall sense of balance.
And once you learn to appreciate the novel in the everyday, suddenly everywhere you have a hotel reservation or pay an electricity bill will become a travel destination.
A lifestyle magazine inspired by author Sylvia Day