No one can deny the influence New York has on the rest of the country and in the world. So many personalities and so much energy fills this city with life. This is where dreams are made and ideas are born, this is New York City!

Places to Go

New York is practically its own little country within a country. It has so much diversity in it that you can literally never visit all the restaurants in one lifetime. Then, you have all the different cultures that all have a story to tell; just visiting the different boroughs can be like sampling NY’s pages of history. You’re probably going to want to be on at least 1 of the major tour guides to really appreciate the scope of just how deep this city’s roots go.

You could also just dive right in to the heart of New York: Times Square. Never a dull moment to be had where the famous New Year’s Eve Ball drops. You can find the Rockefeller Center not too far away. If you’re really a lover for tall buildings, climb up the Empire State building to get the best view of the city. While you’re up there, you may notice another great view at the famous Statue of Liberty. These New York landmarks just can’t be missed on your first trip to the city.

Things to Do

When you’re not busy looking up at all the buildings, you’re going to want to try to experience some of the New York life for yourself. NY is consistently rated the best in the world when it comes to restaurants, shopping, and night life. It’s the city that never sleeps, so good luck at being bored during your stay. In New York, there are countless museums and performing arts centers to be entertained by the best creative minds in the world. If you don’t prefer all the big stage theatrics, you could always pop into any one of the clubs or bars where musicians are born every day.

People to See

When visiting New York, you’re almost bound to meet somebody famous there. If you’re in Times Square, you’ll probably be rubbing shoulders with a star and not even know it. One of those celebrities, who became famous out of sheer will and charisma is the Naked Cowboy. You can’t miss him, so be sure to get your picture taken with one of NY’s finest entertainers!

If you’re having trouble finding where the biggest names of New York reside at, you could grab yourself a star map or hang out where they are often spotted. Restaurants like “The Spotted Pig,” “The Lion,” or “ABC Kitchen.” The last one actually stands for “Always Bursting with Celebrities.” Most people say that it’s much easier to spot famous people in New York than strolling in Hollywood. This is mostly due to the much denser population, but it also has to do with the city’s charm as well. The city is always buzzing, so it’s just not as feasible for paparazzi to travel in large packs to keep tabs on celebrities.

Therefore, celebrities often feel more comfortable visiting their favorite sandwich shops or pizza parlors.

1. Lodz, Poland

This is an unspoken, secret art hub of Europe. Lodz has a rich entertainment hub of the arts; Polish cinema, performing arts, live theater, and don’t forget the art of the culinary cuisine. The main street of Piotrkowska is one of the longest sprawling streets on the continent. You’ll be hard-pressed to run out of things to do, places to go, and people to meet in Lodz, Poland. While most only check out Warsaw, Lodz is still the 3^rdlargest city in Poland with all the trappings of a capital and twice the charm.

2. Ikaria, Greece

The isle of Ikaria is one of the many little corners of Greece that is an excellent way to experience the beauty of the country, while avoiding the large crowds of tourists. It takes 6 hours to reach it by ferry via Athens, but it’s worth the trip. Once you arrive, you’ll be treated by all the serenity that surrounds these majestic beaches. You’ll also find plenty of staple Greek foods, brought in fresh from the sea. It’s a huge break from modern civilization where everyone is laid back and clocks are irrelevant.

3. Colmar, France

You won’t believe your eyes when you set foot in this old, quiet little town in France. Its hybrid French/Bavarian culture make this city stand out. The architecture is a vintage European flavor with more colors than a crayon box. It gets even better during the holidays when the entire place is transformed into living versions of those Christmas villages you see in shopping malls. You’ll find traditional food and handmade gifts to take a piece of this fairytale village back home with you to your friends and family.

4. Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Now, the scale of this European landmark doesn’t really make for an easy thing to hide, however, it does often get overlooked by travelers. What lies on this partial island is the impressive Callanish Stones, which immediately remind you have the more famous Easter Island’s monuments. They are just as impressive and just as exciting to witness up close. Although, they aren’t as much of a mystery as this monument was erected to embellish a burial chamber down below. Borrowing cues from the Egyptians, which is an odd sight to behold all the way North in Scotland.

Oriental Express

Why not travel from Bangkok to Singapore, and vice-versa, in-style? This is a train like no other, providing a smooth ride with luxurious trappings that you’d never find in one of those aluminum flying tubes in the sky. Rich tapestries and 5-Star dining allows you to travel like royalty while the beautiful architecture passes around you in a fairytale blur. Before you know it, you’ll be back to boring, old concrete slabs. You could always just turn around and go back, right?

Southern Spirit

The world famous train in Australia that has appeared in numerous movies and music. It’s quite the elusive beast as there are a limited amount of trips scheduled every year. This is a pure pleasure cruise as they stop at all the major tourist destinations along the way to let passengers experience the diverse Australian Outback. The tickets aren’t cheap and you’ll want to plan for it in-advanced to get the most out of your trip, but, in the end, you won’t regret it.

The Canadian

Well, we know where this one is heading. America’s neighbors to the north may seem like just one big ice bowl forest, but there’s actually a pretty diverse landscape that is best appreciated from a train ride. It’s a good thing that their trains are totally awesome! This train traverses the Rockies, Canada’s farmland, and past the frozen lakes. You’re guaranteed to spot plenty of animals along the way, too. Bears, meese, beavers, and all sorts of other critters can be spotted in the wild, majestic Canadian landscape.

Glacier Express

This train ride is so invigorating and the same time calming. The 8 hour ride only sounds like a long time on paper, as once you step off, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped out of a dream. It really is quite the journey, you’ll cross hundreds of bridges and tunnels, literally. The ability to traverse the mountains and valleys will have you saying “wow” and making audible gasps on multiple occasions. The train provides lots of viewable real estate with its transparent roofs. The Swiss really outdo themselves on the Glacier Express.

Pride of Africa

This is a train ride you just can’t afford to miss. That’s both figuratively and literally, considering where you’re at. This is a luxury that no average person can afford in Africa, but it would be a real tragedy if you passed up the opportunity to witness Africa’s beauty that is found nowhere else in the world. This train ride is expensive, but serves as the ultimate safari adventure during your stay, allowing you to really take in a huge scope of the homeland of mankind.