Sneak a taste of the cities we feature…
Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece is the city in which democracy, theater and philosophy began. Amidst the ruins of Acropolis, you can smell the souvlaki and the meat from the tavernas. Walking around the old and new city will treat you to welcoming and kind people, ready to show you all the city has to offer. Athens in crisis is still alive and ready to color each night with its vibrant nightlife scene, which is complete with homemade wine and some of the best finger food in the world.
Berlin is the cool kid of Europe’s capital cities. The continent’s funkiest and hippest nightclubs, restaurant concepts and edgy arts scene are all underpinned by the rich, historical vein that snakes throughout the city. This vein pulses in the architecture of the Reichstag, the vast greenery of the Tiergarten, and the craggy stretches of the former Wall that once divided this city and country. Crossing a street offers a very perceptive look into the German culture; they never cross without a signal, but the love of rule and order is never out of line with the warmth and friendliness they exude to visitors.
Boston is a city of superlatives: it is home to America’s best schools, best hospitals, best sports teams (perhaps debatable), and the best “lobstah” roll you can find. As one of the nation’s oldest cities, Boston teems with history and tradition, but also offers a vibrant and modern social scene. This includes dining experiences that range from deliciously divey to divine, awe-inspiring museums, breathtaking scenery, and ample outdoor activities. With so much happening in this bustling city each day, there are plenty of opportunities to have exquisitely unique experiences.
Named by the Potawatomi for the wild garlic once rampant in its marshes, this bustling metropolis now forms America’s transportation hub at Lake Michigan’s southernmost tip. To its core, Chicago remains a city of unceasing movement, with its rumbling “L” trains and taxicabs ferrying tourists past hotspots like Millenium Park, the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, the Chicago River, Wrigley Field, and a wealth of museums, theaters and restaurants. White sails dot miles of lake shore in the shade of its iconic skyline, bookended by the twin black peaks of the Hancock building and the Sears Tower. Beyond, a sprawling patchwork of historic neighborhoods, parks and ethnic pockets form a microcosm of America’s major immigrant communities, with diverse cultural intersections too numerous to catalog in just one visit.
For further information, check out our Neighborhood features: Logan Square Intro | South Loop Intro | Ravenswood Intro
Land of both the tallest hotel and tallest building in the world, Dubai is a city that sparkles with ambitious and outrageous glass structures amidst the glitter of golden sand dunes. It’s a city that oozes with newfound opulence against the austerity of its past. It’s a progressive and contemporary cosmopolis that fixedly maintains an Emirati approach to life. It is home away from home, whereover 200 nationalities harmoniously coexist. It is also where the world comes to shop. Dubai is a true oasis to the Middle East, a place that is at once vibrant and serene, refreshing and safe.
The city of Dublin still buzzes with the ancient history that shaped the Irish capital. The streets are steeped in the culture known throughout the world, and the people embody about every stereotype of the Irish there is, from the tall tales to the deep pint glasses. The city itself is sprawling, boasting buildings older than the United States itself. The weather hazy and grey, but lively pubs ward off the blues. The culture is much more than Guinness and shamrocks, and the myths and mysteries will stay with you long after your visit.
Florence, Italy: The city where men in tediously-tailored Armani suits ride bicycles with gelato in hand. The streets resound with the chimes of distant church bells, and the air is thick with the smell of leather. It is the city that inspired Michelangelo’s David, and created Ferragamo’s first shoe. Meals define the day and work is merely a pastime. In the birthplace of the Renaissance, art is unavoidable and inspiration inevitable.
One week every June, the city of Florence draws lines in the sand. Suddenly the people are no longer Florentines, but Bianchi (Whites from the Santo Spirito quarter), Azzuri (Blues from Santo Croce), Rossi (Red from Santa Maria Novella), and Verdi (Greens from San Giovanni). Throughout the week, the city convenes in Piazza Santa Croce to watch the single elimination tournament of a game that can only be described as the love child of rugby and gladiator battles. It’s called Calcio Storico, and for the month of June, it defines the city. During this week, neighborhood pride escalates to dangerous levels. The tournament that has been battled out for over 500 years has resulted in many injuries and even deaths, both in and out of the arena. So how will you possibly decide which color you will sport come the fourth week of June? A little exploring, of course!
For further information, check out our Neighborhood features: Florence by Neighborhood
The oldest standing civilization on the planet, London is the original city. It defines and redefines urban. Its history seeps through the cracks of its glamorously- reassembled modern façade. The city and its people reemerged from the ruin of Nazi fire, teeming with life, and rebuilt London better than ever. Though inherently rich with the past, when walking along with native Londoners, you are in the company of today’s ingénues and tomorrow’s icons. Each street corner transports you to the pages of a Sherlock Holmes novel and every grassy patch, a Renoir painting. The thick, solemn London air becomes a way of life and the bothered bustle, the standard pace. The world’s stolen treasures—conquered in a past empire—fill its museums, and its shops spill over with the chic-est finds. A fusion of cultures and time periods define London.
Los Angeles is a city reminiscent of the world’s scents and sounds: the rush of the ocean in Venice, the sudden brilliance of jacarandas lining the sidewalks in Pasadena, the tinge of salt that flavors the air (even when most of it is smog). It is the energy of dreams, the nervous tension of traffic, the momentum of creation. In a day, one can brunch with movie stars in Los Feliz, mingle with antiquity at the Getty, meditate at a Buddhist temple, hike through an abandoned zoo, and picnic under the stars in the center of a city. In short, LA is the compression and the crucible of the world, the most brilliant and the most toxic.
For further information, check out our Neighborhood features: LA by Neighborhood
Known as NOLA to the locals, New Orleans has always drummed to its own beat. It’s America done differently, the unofficial Northern capital of the Caribbean. It’s a mix of French, Spanish, and African cultures with its own cuisine, music, and architecture. It’s the city that gave us jazz, gumbo, and Mardi Gras, a place with more festivals than days of the year. Dancing in the streets is de rigueur, and every resident has a closet full of costumes. Post-Katrina, innovators and entrepreneurs are breathing new life into the city, but the essentials remain. Gas lamps still flicker; ghosts of the past still haunt ornate mansions and cemeteries, and steamboats still roll down the Mississippi River.
The classic cosmopolitan backdrop—New York City is where young professionals quick-step through crowds to get to work, aspiring performers sing for their supper on the streets and in the subway, and old-timers eagerly regale stories of their immigrant pasts, the golden years of advertising, or bohemian days in the Village. From food to shopping to art to architecture, New York City has it all.
For further information, check out our Neighborhood features: NYC by Neighborhood
Okinawa, Japan
Okinawa, Japan is the land of the centurions. Its ancestors have lived long lives by adapting a myriad of wellness practices, such as healthy eating. Although the island has a strong U.S. military presence, much of the traditional values are preserved. Okinawa World is teeming with artifacts and cultural displays. Next door is Habu Park, which is home of the legendary Habu snake, and proudly displays a Habu snake encased in a glass jar. Carouse downtown on Kokusai Street and sing karaoke until it’s time to call it a night. On the way, stop by My House and indulge in comfort food. It’s no wonder longevity is present among the people, as visiting can generate a lifetime of happy memories.
A city ripe with dichotomy – the rustic old town, ‘Casco Viejo’, is juxtaposed with the burgeoning, sprawling skyscrapers of the new city. Panamanians feast on their spectacular views and riveting entertainment. Go to watch domino competitions in the street – more heated than a bullfight. Go for the dog races. Go for the baseball, even if you hate it, because the riotous spectators make the spectacle.
A coastal village on the ‘oh-so-blue’ Pacific that tans even the palest of its visitors. World-champion surfers flock to Puerto Escondido to surf its perfect waves, as can you. If you’re not a wave enthusiast, the view of the surfer’s perfect abs and the setting sun on the pristine beaches are still vistas to write home about.
San Francisco, California, USA
Telegraph Hill parrots and Fisherman’s Warf sea lions agree: San Francisco is a city you will never want to leave. At only six square miles, San Francisco is a manageable size with pleasant weather year-round, which makes the cable car rides around town comfortable throughout every season. But don’t let the size fool you! San Francisco is packed with activities to do and sights to see. Here, Ghiradelli will sweeten your pallets, Alcatraz will give you the heebie-jeebies and the Golden Gate Bridge will blow you away.
For further information, check out our Neighborhood features: San Francisco by Neighborhood
A city with a culture and language all its own, filled with the sounds of bagpipe music and the smells of caldo soup. This stone city atop a hill is as historic as they come, and the last stop on the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The rain and moss give the city a mysterious, romantic air and wandering through the cobblestone streets is a meander through a maze of window displays and cafes. The cathedral has a powerful presence, but doesn’t overwhelm the youthful vibe of this old university town.
Well known for its incessant rain, the cozy city of Seattle is home to innovative minds, endless coffee, diversity and a bustling culture. Home to the headquarters of Costco, Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks and Boeing, Seattle’s success in creating multi-billion dollar industries does not take away from its small town feel. This city has birthed music legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, and continues to produce world famous musical, artistic and culinary talent. Eclectic and eccentric, you won’t walk far in Seattle without finding excellent local food, noteworthy art, friendly faces and inspiration. Resting on the Puget Sound and embraced by surrounding mountains and lakes, Seattle’s terrain is as varying as its population. Both majestic and quaint, Seattle is a unique and worthwhile tourist destination.
For further information, check out our Neighborhood features: Seattle by Neighborhood
So much more than the Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C. encompasses various cultures, ethnicities and ideologies. It’s a city that makes it possible to begin your morning on Capitol Hill with dignitaries and diplomats, drop into world-renowned museums on an afternoon stroll and enjoy lunch at a myriad of historical, five-star restaurants. A political and passionate hub like none other, D.C. is famous for its half smoke, its eclectic neighborhoods and its vibrant music scene. From the statues and monuments that have been alive for centuries to its lush bike trails and cascading waterfalls, this metropolis will capture more than just your imagination—it captures your spirit.