Search results for

“Oh my God, we have to take you into town to get a Coney. It’s a taste of pure Michigan,” exclaimed one of my friends who I visited for a summer weekend. Take a hot dog on a steamed bun from New York’s famed Coney Island, throw in a bunch of Greek and Macedonian immigrants and a booming auto industry, add meaty chili sauce, chopped onions, and mustard and you have a staple that has dominated the Motor City landscape for nearly a century. Although it is unclear who exactly brought the delicacy to Michigan, many credit the Keros Brothers, Gust and Bill, as the pioneers with their neighboring downtown Detroit spots, American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island. My friend and his family’s dedication to Lafayette runs so deep that I had to opt for the latter. At first blush, it may be more dingy and cramped than its counterpart, but the informal, homely service coupled with the simple menu has consistently made it a draw for diners. Order “one with everything” along with a side of their crispy fries and wash it down with a can of Labbatt Blue beer.

I spent five weeks exploring the West Coast at the beginning of the summer. As a female traveling solo around California, staying somewhere that was safe and comfortable was paramount to me. As I did my research and planning, I noticed a pattern: Kimpton had hotels in most of the destinations I would be visiting. I’ve been frequenting their properties for over eight years and have been a member of their Karma Rewards program for just as long so I knew what to expect. I knew that the boutique brand offered unique perks and daily social activities for its guests. This would make it easy for me to meet like-minded travelers. The Shorebreak was no exception. I was warmly greeted at check-in and upgraded to a room with a giant, wrap-around balcony that overlooked the ocean for all the Karma points I had accumulated. The staff at the front desk gave me some local, veg-friendly restaurant recommendations and checked up on me as I came and went. The lobby and adjoining courtyard were almost always lively with guests – and their pets – which made it easy to strike up a conversation, especially during daily wine hours or s’mores sessions by fireside. The newly renovated property is designed for beach-goers. It has storage lockers for surfboards and the front desk lends courtesy beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and toys to guests. I rarely needed to drive my car during my stay since the hotel was in the middle of pedestrian-friendly downtown. The laid-back vibe and location of the Shorebreak make it ideal not only for solo travelers like myself, but also for surfers, families (especially with teens), and couples looking for a getaway in Surf City, USA.

You’ll find people queuing outside the doors in Gastown throughout the week to take advantage of L’Abattoir’s excellent bar-only Happy Hour from 5.30-6.30pm which offers half-priced appetizers from their award-winning menu, daily red and white wines for $6, beer for $5, and cocktail specials for $7. Away from the Happy Hour the bar program at L’Abattoir is one of the best in the city with an exceptional bar team shaking (and stirring) up classics and their own creations. My tip? Start the night with a light, bright Gastown Swizzle and end it with a deliciously boozy Donald Draper.

Though the venerable Vietnamese leader asked to be cremated, Ho Chi Minh’s remains now reside embalmed inside this imposing, pillared, gray-granite memorial. His resting place is hugely popular, drawing Vietnamese in droves as they pay their respects to the most important figure of contemporary Vietnam. The mausoleum only opens in the mornings, and visitors must abide by a number of rules (these include no hats, no shorts, and no photos inside). Yes, it’s a chance to see the actual remains of a hugely influential leader, but the experience of queuing up for entry is also a way of mingling with ordinary Vietnamese.

There are no guarantees the Northern Lights will start dancing on the night you look skyward, but it’s so worth taking the chance. One of the great rewards for hanging out in Alaska once the dark and cold settle over the state, the Northern Lights (or if you want to be scientific about it, aurora borealis) serve up a light show that is equal parts science, magic, and art. Your best bet for catching the light show is to head away from city lights. That’s one of many reasons it’s worth making the trip to Denali National Park, open year-round. When the park’s summer crowds disappear, visitors feel as though the massive national park is an intimate personal space.

To get on the Doha Bus, go to the Marriott Hotel located two miles from the Museum of Islamic Art and get your 24-hour ticket on the Doha Bus, the only open-top sightseeing tour of Doha. With its hop-on-and-off services, the Doha bus gives you the flexibility to explore at your pace everything the city has to offer. A bright yellow bus will take you from one end of the Corniche to the other, making 18 stops along the way, while an English speaking audio guide tells you the significance of each attraction, which includes The Sharq Village, The Museum of Islamic Art, the Dhow Wharf, The Sheraton and Rumailah Parks, and The Pearl. Hop on and hop off at your leisure. Tickets are 180 QA ($50) for adults and 90QR ($25) for children. The ticket includes complimentary chilled water on board.

When famed chef and restaurateur José Andrés opened this Mexico City restaurant in 2015, it was his first franchise outside of the U.S. and Puerto Rico. J by José Andrés is located inside the W Hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Polanco, and the interior design would be a satisfying experience even if the food wasn’t absolutely fantastic. All reds and yellows and just short of over-the-top elements (e.g. dozens of tassels) evoke Spain and bullfighting, but in a way that’s totally contemporary and delightfully playful—much like Andrés himself. (If you really want to play, there’s a foosball table in one of the rooms in the restaurant.) Thankfully, the food is fantastic, too. Like the decor, the menu evokes Spain, with classic recipes like ham croquettes alongside dishes that incorporate Mexican elements. Think traditional paella, but garnished with squash blossoms.

Step through a flower shop and into this swanky bar in the buzzing Gangnam area and you’ll forget you’re in a major Asian capital city—you’ll think you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole and ended up in an English country manor. With dark wood accents, chandeliers and tufted footstools, you’ll wish you had a tweed hat and a pipe, but what you can have is a fine scotch or a gin and tonic to occupy your hands. Choose a drink from the signature cocktail list, which are served in whimsical glasses, then press a button which makes another drink magically appear. It it’s a whimsical, eclectic evening you’re after, it’s time to introduce yourself to Alice. 47, Dosandaero 55-gil, Gangnam-gu

Landmark Mall: Landmark is located in Al Gharaffa area to the north of Doha City. The mall opened in the year 2000 and was subsequently expanded in 2008 to its current total floor area of over half a million square foot. The mall offers a relaxed shopping experience with its naturally lit open spaces and its single non-intimidating floor lined up with a mixture of high-end, prestige brands, general consumer brands and smaller new brands. The Mall’s architecture resembles a typical Qatari castle and its shops are popular in Doha for top of the line luxury brands including Karen Millen, Salsa, Prada, Mango, and Dolce & Gabbana. At this mall, shoppers also have a vast choice of global as well as regional eateries, take their children to Circus Land, the mall’s indoor amusement park, or watch a movie in the multi-screen Cineplex. Landmark opens Saturday to Wednesday 09:00 AM - 10:00PM, Thursday to Friday 09:00 AM - 11:00PM

Named for its history as an iron foundry, The Foundry is a part of The Graduate Hotel. The small music venue has a balcony section, making for a unique experience with great acoustics. During its tenure as a performing space, The Foundry has hosted acts like Nappy Roots and Blind Boys of Alabama. The range of musical acts and genres as well as the reasonably priced cover charges make it a favorite among students and townies. The full bar and restaurant is another feature that has made The Foundry a Classic City staple. Their menu includes shared plates and full entrees, craft beer, wine and cocktails.

Tangier is full of history, with every turn holding an ancient secret to the city. The port is a popular place for locals to take in the ocean views, but all the action takes place in the winding streets of the Old Medina. My favorite stop was at the fruit stands. The tangerines are less than fifty cents and the best purchase you can make while in Morocco.

When the French created their plan for Casablanca they wanted the city to embody the best of modern Western architecture and traditional Moroccan design. The result is a style called architecture mauresque, blending the facades of French Art Deco with Islamic arches and tile work. Casablanca’s post office, palace of justice and Al-Maghrib Bank are all beautiful examples, best explored on a walking tour of the city center.

Doha Tower, also known as Burj Doha, like its neighbor Tornado Tower, is not the tallest or the newest or the prettiest structure in Doha but its massive cylindrical shape and intricate lattice-like façade make it one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. It is located in the business district, on the corniche, and near the future Al Bidda metro station. The tower is completely wrapped in carved lattice work that acts as a sun screen. Although the tower is a memorable sight during the day, it is at night when it truly comes alive and stands as a trademark of the city’s skyline through a spectacular integrated architectural light show. That’s when the tower is at its most photogenic.

Without a doubt Versailles is the most luxurious palace in Europe, built to astound visitors and impress the king’s subjects into awed submission with crystal chandeliers, gilt, and fine art. This opulent monument is also attractive to those with simpler tastes: Visitors with green thumbs will love the king’s kitchen gardens while others may want to rent bicycles to pedal the lavish grounds, and animal lovers will enjoy the sheep, goats, and chickens receiving the royal treatment at the queen’s quaint hamlet. La Petite Venise, an excellent restaurant on the grounds, offers garden seating on sunny days.

Hop aboard the ferry at Pier 41 in San Francisco, or from the town of Tiburon, and spend a day on the largest and most beautiful island in the bay—Angel Island State Park. You can bring your own bike, or rent one when you arrive, and ride the paved perimeter trail around the 760-acre island. There are open-air tram tours, too, with guides recalling the island’s rich history, as well as guided hikes. Of course, you are free to roam the trails on your own, one of the best of which is the hike up to the top of 788-foot Mount Livermore, where 360-degree views take in the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. Whatever your plan, know you’ll be immersing yourself in local history in a place that has been a fishing and hunting site for Coast Miwok Indians, a haven for Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala, and a U.S. Army post starting with the Civil War. From 1910 to 1940, hundreds of thousands of immigrants were processed here, and during World War II, Japanese and German POWs were held on the island. Several buildings and other relics remain as a reminder of the island’s varied history, including the United States Immigration Station museum (open March–October).