Matador Network's Blog, page 2102
June 12, 2015
Things you'll miss after Charleston
Photo: Sister Louisa’s Church
1. Watching classy people get trashy
Charleston attracts an eclectic group of travelers and tourists, and we host lots of hoity-toity events such as Fashion Week, The Food and Wine Festival, Spoleto Festival, and countless weddings, bachelor, and bachelorette parties. The streets are packed with all walks of life dressed to the nines, getting absolutely smashed.
You see guys in bowties walking through the Market carrying girls in evening gowns on their backs. You may take shots with old men in tuxedos. You see pedicured toes and stiletto heels sticking out of bathroom stalls as you hear the sound of a girl throwing up. Swirls of pinstripes and sparkles stumble out of bars, slurring their words and hailing bike taxis and cabs. It’s always entertaining to see all of the people gettin’ shitty in the “Holy City.”
2. Booze cruisin’ on a boat
Whether you’re going bar hopping on Shem Creek, anchored out at Morris Island, or just simply cruising down the Stono, every hour is a happy hour when you’re drinking on the water. Also, you’ve never felt like more of a baller than when you pull up to a bar or restaurant on a sweet ass boat. Sunsets are epic, nothing beats gliding through the glassy metallic water with nothing but marshes all around you, pelicans above you, the wake behind you, and a drink in hand.
3. Being sandy, salty, and sweaty all the time
Being any or all of these three things at any time means you’ve either spent time outside in the sun, on the water, or at the beach, which is what us Charlestonians love to do. We love the smell of pluff mud in the air and the taste of salt on our lips… mix it with a little sweet tea and we’re in heaven. We barely notice the sand in our beds, and the dampness of our clothes, but lawd have mercy we sure do complain if the temperature drops below 70 degrees F during our two-month-long wintertime.
More like this: 39 signs you learned to drink in Charleston
4. Gettin’ your roll on all over town
Any local knows that cars aren’t really necessary if you live downtown, and can often times be cumbersome and expensive. Finding parking is a pain in the ass, parking tickets are even worse, and all of the one-way streets can be confusing. Charleston is very cyclist friendly, it’s only about 8 square miles, completely flat, and us southerners drive slowly. It’s nice to roll down King Street on your bike, skateboard, or rollerblades, pass lines of backed-up traffic, and lock your bike up anywhere, knowing that you’re going to get where you’re going a lot more quickly than all of those cars. Sometimes you can go days or even weeks without ever using your car.
5. Time traveling
Everywhere you look there’s either some crazy historic landmark, site, or building. In one glance across the harbor you can see Fort Sumter where the Civil War was started, the USS Yorktown, a WWII aircraft carrier, and the Charleston Battery lined with multi-million dollar antebellum homes. Walk through the French Quarter on cobblestone streets among churches, cathedrals, and theatres that are centuries old. Every house has high ceilings and “verandas,” and many are haunted. If only those huge giant oak trees could talk…
6. Watersports
Whether you want to surf at the Washout on Folly Beach, kiteboard at 28 ½ block on Sullivan’s Island, wakeboard or waterski down the Stono, or kayak or paddleboard down the intercoastal, you can easily make it happen. You can catch hundreds of dollars’ worth of fresh seafood right off of the shore or in the marshes. Most months of the year the water is warm enough that you don’t even need a wetsuit. Us Charlestonians live on the water, and pale locals are hard to find.
7. Beachin’ it
If it’s sunny, and you’re not either working or on a boat, you better be at the beach. No excuses. All you have to do is get there, lay down, listen to the sounds of the waves crashing, and enjoy the scantily-clad eye candy roaming all around. The ocean is decent to look at, too. Most of us are aware that it’s the best cure for a hangover, especially if you bring a cooler full of Westbrook IPAs or Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka to cool you down.
8. The mysterious smells and sounds downtown
If you really want to give yourself a challenge, blindfold yourself, walk down Market Street, and see if you can guess what the hell is going on. Every block is home to at least 10 distinct smells, some more pleasant than others. There will be people giving out samples of fried hush puppies and freshly-made fudge.
At some point you will undoubtedly smell horse urine, and you will hear the pitter patter of horse carriages and the sound of church bells coming from every direction. Hopefully you won’t trip over the cobblestone streets, uneven sidewalks, or step into a puddle of stagnant water from the backed up sewage. You’ll hear people talking very slowly with funny accents, several of them will probably ask if they can help you. This is a typical scene in downtown Charleston, and it beats the sensations of a big city any day.
9. “Sunday Funday”
In Charleston, brunch isn’t just a meal, it’s an all-day event and we take it very seriously. Sure, you can find brunch in just about any city, but we put some extra lovin’ in some of our more southern dishes such as buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, shrimp ‘n grits, fried oysters, breakfast casseroles, and cornbread smothered in maple syrup.
Brunch usually starts off with a bloody mary and may come with a side of sweet tea. Upper King Street, Folly Beach, Shem Creek, and Sullivan’s Island may get just as rowdy on a Sunday afternoon as a Saturday night.
10. Complete strangers holding doors open for you
Whoever said chivalry is dead hasn’t been to Charleston. Complete strangers will wave and smile as you pass them in the street and go out of their way to make sure you’re comfortable. They talk with a slow southern drawl or a geechee twang that can be musical. Us southerners have figured out that life is much more pleasant when you slow down and smile. 
June 8, 2015
How to honeymoon for a year
“LET’S JUST QUIT OUR JOBS AND TRAVEL AROUND FOR LIKE, A YEAR” my girlfriend said as we discussed going on vacation. “Are you serious?” I asked. “Yeah, OK. Let’s do it.” And that is how it began.
This type of trip would require money, and lots of it, so we began saving. We didn’t set a date right away, because we had no idea how long it would take to save the amount of money we would need for this adventure. But it would take a while. We both worked two jobs for a period, and even moved in with my mom to save on rent.
We didn’t splurge, we didn’t go out to eat, we lived minimally, and we saved. After nearly two years of this, we decided to get married, and naturally this trip we had been planning became our honeymoon. We used a honeymoon registry instead of the traditional registry list, so anyone wanting to give us a gift was invited to pitch in to our honeymoon fund. This gave us a much needed funds boost… The trip became real when we bought our plane tickets. Not too long after that, we quit our jobs, and there was no looking back.
There were some naysayers who didn’t understand how we could spend so much money on a trip, and tried to convince us to put a down payment on a house instead. We had two counterpoints to this line of thinking — first of all, this wasn’t just a trip — it was the experience of a lifetime, and one we would never be able to repeat (at least not in the same way). And while we would like to buy a house one day, this was not that day. The way we saw it, homeowners don’t actually own their homes, and we have the rest of our lives to be in debt to a bank. We were never more sure that we were doing the right thing.
The next 10 months were spent traveling through 20 countries on 4 continents. We racked up numerable unforgettable life experiences, and learned much about ourselves, and each other, along the way. Upon returning to California, we were jobless, homeless, and broke, but thankfully not in debt. We started the next chapter of our lives as husband and wife from scratch, and both began new careers. Though we had very little money, we were rich indeed.
To see more of my photography on Instagram, follow @shawnparkin, and for more photos of our honeymoon around the world, check out #parkinworldtour .
1
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Straight from our arrival in Johannesburg we headed to Kruger National Park, one of South Africa’s largest game reserves. Seeing elephants and many other animals in the wild and up-close was awe-inspiring. One of the greatest experiences of our lives, and we were barely off our first flight. We couldn’t have chosen a better way to kick off our honeymoon around the world.
2
Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa
For regular-footed surfers like myself, Jeffrey’s Bay is a dream wave, with lined up walls of water marching down the point, offering speedy and lengthy rides… though you can’t show up expecting to catch a lot of waves in a short amount of time. The locals have the wave pretty well dialed, and take off deeper than any blow-ins who happen to be renting a room in one of the many accommodations on the point. Having dreamt of this wave for most of my life, I didn’t want to just pass through. So we rented a studio at Supertubes for two weeks, and I enjoyed back to back to back swells while my loving bride bundled up. The same winter storms that send waves peeling down the point at J-Bay also bring low air temps and frigid wind. While I feasted on waves, she dreamt of the warm days ahead, spent in wine country.
3
Great whites, South Africa
Why limit our wildlife encounters to land? Having always been intrigued by these apex predators, we jumped at the chance to see them up-close in one of the best areas in the world to see great whites. This is the same area where they filmed the breaching sharks with high-speed cameras for the Planet Earth series.
Intermission
197
The 20 coolest towns in the US
by Matador Team
51
Etiquette for ‘splitting the bill’ around the world
by Candice Walsh
2
You don’t know a place until you know its people. Meet Myanmar in these 10 images.
by Ryan Skelton
4
Roman Forum, Italy
When in Rome… one must visit the Roman Forum.
5
Gimmelwald, Switzerland
For some fresh air and incredible hiking, we went to the Swiss mountain town of Gimmelwald.
6
Castle of the Moors, Portugal
The Castle of the Moors, Sintra, Portugal. Europe has such a fascinating history, and we were able to learn so much more about it by visiting places like this.
7
Lisbon, Portugal
An elevated look at central Lisbon, as seen from St. George’s Castle on the hill. A traveler could spend weeks in Lisbon trying to take it all in.
8
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Twilight in Amsterdam after a long day of exploring by foot. While many are getting ready for a night on the town, these weary backpackers are winding down. We were traveling for so long, we had to really budget our money. That meant most nights we cooked our own simple meals from groceries rather than eating out, and enjoyed free entertainment, aka sightseeing, over paid shows and events.
9
Mont St. Michel, France
Mont St. Michel island commune in Normandy, France. A monastery and surrounding community are built atop a rock in an intertidal zone. During high tide, Mont St. Michel is surrounded by water, and only connected to the mainland by a raised road. This ranks as one of most interesting places we’ve visited.
Intermission
371
What bartenders actually think of your drink order
by Lisa Millar-Jones
29
21 more crazy party hostels around the world
by Tom Gates
7 reasons kids need cameras
by Kate Siobhan Mulligan
10
San Sebastian, Spain
San Sebastian harbor. This small Basque city has gained international popularity with travelers looking for culture, cuisine, nightlife, and scenery. We highly recommend staying to sample the pintxos (Basque tapas) and sangria for a at least a few days.
11
Prague, Czech Republic
A European must-see is Prague. Pictured here is Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral overlooking the city, with the Vltava River and Charles Bridge in the foreground.
12
Koh Tao, Thailand
After a couple months of winter in Europe, we were ready for a change of scenery and climate, so we headed to Thailand. This is a tiny rock island called Koh Nang Yuan, just off of Koh Tao. The clear water and abundant sea life made it a great place to go scuba diving for the first time.
13
Istanbul, Turkey
We hadn’t planned a stop in Istanbul , but our travel agent insisted we go since our trip from Europe to Southeast Asia would take us through there. So we gave ourselves 4 days, which wasn’t nearly enough. Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents, and as such, is very diverse. While much of Turkey is Muslim and conservative, Istanbul is very cosmopolitan, a melting pot of sorts. From the architecture and history, to the cuisine and shopping, this city quickly became one of our favorites. Pictured here, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, aka Blue Mosque -- open to tourists of all faiths.
14
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Ha Long Bay was one of a few epic places we visited while in Vietnam. Unlike Europe, the dollar goes much farther here in SE Asia, so we could afford to do some activities, like this multi-day sleep-aboard boat trip through the bay, which is scattered with thousands of islands and rock stacks.
15
Hong Kong, China
From rural Vietnam to the megapolis of Hong Kong , there are extremely different experiences to be had within one small corner of the Asian continent. Hong Kong offers an urban experience like no other. There’s something to do at all times of day and night, there’s a restaurant for every taste, and entertainment for any fancy. And with a clean and efficient public transportation system, it’s easy to navigate for foreigners.
Intermission
139
The 22 craziest party hostels around the world
by Matt Kepnes
139
The 22 craziest party hostels around the world
by Matt Kepnes
3
Foodie paradise: Vancouver’s Granville Market
by Jett and Kathryn Britnell
16
Ubud, Indonesia
Rice paddy commute, Ubud, Bali.
17
Gold Coast, Australia
The best way to travel Australia for any length of time on a shoestring budget is by camper van. So we bought a converted passenger van, of which there are thousands on the backpacker circuit. For 2 months it was our home on wheels with a double bed and storage underneath for all our gear, supplies, and cookware. Ideally, we would sell our van for around the same price we bought it for. But that is in a perfect world. The reality is that these vans have a lot of miles, and ours ended up needing some repair work.
18
Twelve Apostles, Australia
The Twelve Apostles, Victoria, Australia. Seven Apostles remain, but the name stands. One of many gorgeous stretches of coast along the Great Ocean Road.
19
Melbourne, Australia
Australia’s culture capital, Melbourne. Art, music, architecture, cuisine — Melbourne has it all.
20
Blue Mountains, Australia
Just outside Sydney are the Blue Mountains, an amazing place to camp and enjoy the scenery. We found a spot to post up for the night in the parking lot of a scenic lookout. We awoke to this view.
21
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown, New Zealand, is the hub for a myriad of adventure sports and a major destination for thrill seekers traveling in The Land Of the Long White Cloud.
22
Banks Peninsula, New Zealand
How’s this for a camp site? There’s a free camping policy in many areas of New Zealand, which will hopefully continue for years to come so long as the tourists respect the land. We couldn’t imagine a more picturesque place to wake up than this spot on the Banks Peninsula, South Island.
23
South Island, New Zealand
New Zealand has an extremely varied landscape. We chose the South Island for its ruggedness and large scale, but we are by no means adventure survivalists. There are plenty of hiking trails just off the roadside for regular folks like us.
24
Tahiti
Tahiti was the last destination on our round the world honeymoon, and one of the most expensive as well. In hindsight that wasn’t such a good plan, since by the time we got there, our money was gone and we couldn’t afford to do anything besides paddle kayaks, snorkel, and enjoy the sunsets. Which actually isn’t such a bad way to spend the final two weeks of a ten month honeymoon after all.
Jordan from the air
SERVING as a crossroads of humanity for thousands of years has left the country of Jordan with a cultural diversity unmatched by few. Come along with Matador as we explore this beautiful land from an angle never before seen, an aerial delight captured in 4K using the latest in drone technology. From the ancient ruins of Petra to the mind-blowing rock formations of Wadi Rum, Jordan is a place that will continue to amaze you — just watch and see.
This entire film was shot in 4K with a DJI Inspire and DJI Phantom 2, equipped with the H3-3D gimbal along with a GoPro Hero 4. Filmed and edited by Scott Sporleder and Ross Borden.
Special thanks to Visit Jordan. 
The World Cup is still sexist
Photo: Moazzam Brohi
FIFA, WE ALL KNOW BY NOW, IS a terrible, exploitative, corrupt organization that is mercifully being taken to task by the United States Justice Department. FIFA seems to have adopted the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas approach to crime: go “to such excess that nobody in a position to bring the hammer down on us could possibly believe it.” The list of alleged crimes is truly staggering: Bribery. Corruption. Massive human rights abuses.
It’s easy to lose, in this gigantic mess of sleaziness and crime, another ugly aspect of FIFA’s reign: its rampant sexism.
Sleazy officials and female soccer players.
Last week, the head of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, resigned in the wake of the corruption scandal. It was a victory for soccer fans all over the world, but it was a particular victory for female soccer fans. Blatter famously once said that, in order to make women’s soccer more popular, that they should “let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball. They could, for example, have tighter shorts.”
This quote, disgusting as it is, has received a ton of play. But it obscures a larger trend of sexism in FIFA over the years: namely, excluding women from its governing body: only three members of the 27-member Executive Committee are women. Until 2013 there were none at all (there is research, by the way, indicating that a larger proportion of women in governance is correlated with lower levels of corruption). When they were elected, Blatter said, “We now have three ladies on the board. Say something ladies! You are always speaking at home, say something now!”
We will pause for a second to give you a chance to scream into a pillow.
He also called one of the new female members “good and good-looking.”
Pillow break!
When asked about the problem of women in FIFA governance in 2014, Blatter responded with, “Football is very macho. It’s so difficult to accept [women] in the game. Not playing the game, but in the governance.”
This inequality at the top does, unfortunately, have ramifications at the bottom.
The unequal treatment of women’s soccer players.
The first and most obvious inequality between the sports is in the payscale. The highest paid women’s soccer players are Americans Heather O’Reilly, Abby Wambach, and Brazilian Marta Vieira, who make $70,000, $140,000, and $400,000 a year, respectively. The world’s highest paid men’s players are Neymar, Ronaldo, and Messi, who make $40 million, $59 million, and $71 million, respectively.
This is deceptive, though: most women’s soccer players don’t make anywhere near that much. The average salary on the U.S. men’s team is $207,831, while the U.S. women’s team make anywhere between $6,000 and $30,000 a year. $6,000, by the way, is a little over half as much as you need to make to still be below the poverty line.
Wambach, by the way, is the all-time highest goal scorer period. In 2014, Sepp Blatter confused Wambach’s wife, Sarah Huffman, with Marta Vieira, the most famous women’s soccer player in the world.
Here’s a picture of Wambach (left) and Huffman (right):
View image | gettyimages.com
And here’s a picture of Marta Vieira:
View image | gettyimages.com
Just… wow.
The inequality doesn’t stop at income. Last year, 60 women’s players filed a gender discrimination suit against FIFA because of the decision to play this year’s Women’s World Cup entirely on turf rather than on natural grass. Players dislike playing on turf because, as the Guardian writes, “Turf greatly increases risk of player injury because of increased friction and decreased shock absorption, including career-ending injuries like ACL tears, concussions and knee injuries, as well as severe turf-specific injuries like turf toe and burns(including anti-bacteria-resistant infections).”
But it’s not just about injury: turf fundamentally changes the game. “The ball doesn’t roll the same. The ball bounces differently. You can’t slide tackle like you would be able to on grass,” American player Sydney Leroux told CBS. “No chance would the men ever play a World Cup on turf,” she said, “I think the women are being treated as guinea pigs.”
Megan Rapinoe, an American midfielder, agrees: “FIFA made a $338 million profit on the 2014 Men’s World Cup. To say that it’s not logistically possible to install real grass at all the stadiums is not acceptable, in my opinion. We have played on grass all our lives. Now we’re going to compete at the highest level on a different surface.”
Please: Watch the Women’s World Cup.
So what can you do about sexism in soccer personally? Well, there’s one simple answer: Watch the Women’s World Cup.
Why? Well first off, soccer’s the best, and if you’ve gone a full year without chanting, “I believe that we will win!” then you have the chance to start again. And the idea that women’s soccer is somehow less exciting to watch is completely ludicrous, and is typically just promoted by sexist blowhards. It’s soccer, for Christ’s sake, the difference between the men and women’s game isn’t the same as a the difference between powderpuff and full-contact football players. While there are differences, they’re largely overstated: Carolina Morace, an Italian soccer coach who has worked with both men and women in both Italy and Canada, said, “I found much bigger variations between Italian women and Canadian women than I found between men and women in the same country.”
There is one difference that will matter to American viewers: One of America’s most frequent complaints about soccer is that everyone is constantly taking dives, which our fans tend to see as dishonest and dishonorable. Daryl Rosenbaum, a sports medicine physician, examined hours of tapes of both men and women’s games, and found that women go to the ground half as much as men do, and that when they do, they are twice as likely to be injured.
Another perk for American viewers is that in the Women’s World Cup, unlike in the men’s, the United States actually has a chance. Going into the World Cup, we were ranked second only to Germany. As of right now, the American men’s team is ranked 27th.
The impulse on hearing of FIFA’s atrocious sexism, corruption, and enabling of human rights abuses may be to boycott FIFA events altogether. And in some cases, organized boycotts may be appropriate (some European nations are currently considering a separate, FIFAless 2018 World Cup). But what women’s sports are lacking aren’t talented athletes, but broader public support. With FIFA going into a tailspin, now may be the best time to come out in strong support of women’s soccer: the organization is in a state of disarray, which will (hopefully, but not necessarily) mean it will be going through some major changes in the next few years, and the best way to get FIFA to take women’s soccer seriously will be to show that American sports fans are interested in the game. Where fans go, sponsors go. Where sponsors go, FIFA goes.
So please: watch the Women’s World Cup. These women have earned our attention. 
An open letter to all the arrogant first-time travelers out there, from a Third Culture Kid
THIRD CULTURE KIDS LIKE ME HAVE BEEN TRAVELING FOR YEARS. We grew up across the world and spent a significant part of our lives brought up in a country outside of our parents’ culture(s). Many of us were privileged and have likely seen more of the world than most people will in their entire lives.
I was born in Hong Kong before moving to Calcutta (Kolkata), then to Taipei, Beijing, New Delhi, Northern Virginia, and Chennai — all before I graduated from high school in Manila at the age of 17. And I’m not even mentioning all the places that I visited as I lived in each country. By sheer opportunity alone, my traveling experience has been prodigious. At a young age, I learned how to be adaptable, I was immersed in a wide variety of cultures and practices. I was raised as a cultural chameleon and while there have been definite drawbacks — crippling depression and anxiety, not having a “home” — TCKs are true global nomads by virtue of our upbringing.
And that’s where my pet peeves come into play. I’m sorry and I get how ridiculously spoiled I am, but if I’m going to be honest, I get frustrated with a specific type of first-time traveler. Don’t get me wrong, there are many first- time travelers who are humble, grateful, and excited. These are the folks ready and willing to embrace culture shock, differences in daily practices, and they’re open about their ignorance of the world. But there can also be a certain attitude of arrogant, spiritualist bullshit that makes me want to avoid first-time travelers altogether. Here’s why.
Your arrogance is suffocating.
One of the most irritating traits of the Douchey First-Time Traveler (DFTT) is feeling threatened whenever someone has traveled more than them. This usually manifests in you sharing a story of your enlightening, world-changing trip — all stated with a beatific smile. When someone follows up with another story, you sneer, ignore it, and change the subject back to your own travels. I cannot convey enough how mind-numbingly frustrating this particular behavior is. You do not own travel and you do not have a monopoly on awesome experiences. Get over it.
You turn travel into a pissing contest.
A common first experience of a DFTT is voluntourism. You have paid a company to help some poor helpless folk in a “third world” country and have returned home majestic in your savior-ness. You bust this story out at parties and bask in the adoration, up until someone else offers up their recent volunteering escapade (let’s be real, every high schooler and their mother has gone on a “voluntour”). This is when you counter with how much more dire your volunteer experience was, how teaching underprivileged children in Haiti changed your life, and the crazy shenanigans you and your fellow volunteers got up to.
The story-topper is inevitably more extreme and/or life-changing and profound. Although I am guilty of this pet peeve, I actively try to squelch the impulse, while DFTTs blithely carry on unaware and uncaring.
Your “I know more than you do” attitude is the worst.
I get that you are excited about being in a new place. I really, really understand that you want to feel like you are comfortable by showing how much you have picked up of the local culture. I’m thrilled you bought a new salwar kameez and started wearing a bindi. I applaud your chopstick skills and your ability to order one, single dish in Cantonese. But if you try to tell me more about a place that I have lived in longer than you by months and years, just stop. Knowing one coffee shop that I have never been to does not and will never make you an expert in this place. Let it go.
You are so painfully unprepared and irresponsible.
I’m the most forgiving of this flaw, but it does drive me insane. When a TCK travels with someone who has never traveled before, it can get super frustrating to have to make sure they have everything in order. Forgotten passports, lost tickets, completely useless clothing, the list goes on. Obviously this can also apply to a veteran traveler who is just very careless, but DFTTs of this ilk tend to not know what they will or will not need in any given situation and then get super upset about not having whatever they forgot. You don’t need that specific brand of shampoo. Just make do with whatever you find at the local store.
You’re so finicky about food.
What people eat in their homes and home countries is never going to be familiar to you. It will likely smell, look, and taste extremely odd and unusual. That’s where you grit your teeth, smile, and choke it down while asking for seconds. It’s the polite thing to do. If you end up in the Philippines with a serving of balut in front of you, then you need to drizzle some salt on that duck embryo and send it straight down your gullet. Take tiny sips of yak butter tea while in Tibetan regions, in the hopes that your hosts won’t keep topping up your mug. Never, ever, roll your eyes and close your nose when presented with a durian dessert lovingly prepared for you in Hong Kong.
Unless you have a genuine dietary restriction that will result in something horrific, learn to suppress that gag reflex. Feel free to turn down food only if the aftermath is dire. Or, at the very least, learn to lie effectively so you will escape uncomfortable meals with dignity and respect.
You think every far away place is dangerous.
First-time travelers can be very inhibited. Maybe it’s not your fault, but it can result in a lot of missed opportunities. Being fearful and uncertain is such an obstacle to experiencing the wider world. Media outlets love to portray any place foreign as a dangerous war zone. When I was living in Turkey, there were some serious riots, but no more so than had happened in the US during the Occupy Movement. And where I lived in Alanya, a town in the south, there was only a peaceful protest of five people. Yet there were articles upon articles of violence and destruction that implied that the entire country had fallen into chaos. Things are rarely as bad as they seem through the distortion of the media.
I’m not interested in your “Spiritual Awakening.”
It’s so irritating to deal with you after you’ve “found yourself.” It becomes a matter of usurping the local culture to suit whatever crisis is going on in your life. Taken to an extreme, the Spiritually Awakened DFTT will claim to know more about the local culture and religion than the actual locals or people who are part of that heritage. Mastering downward facing dog in an ashram does not make you a Brahmin.
You need to quit it with the “Noble Savage Mentality.”
This is when you experience one new culture and then become convinced that the locals are pure and untainted human beings of perfection who have otherwise been corrupted by western technology and ideals. Then you go on to defend, in the most voracious and aggressive manner, these “helpless” locals who are infantilized by this behavior. Some Tibetan Buddhist converts are especially zealous — convinced that Tibetans don’t curse or swear. It’s demeaning and racist, so stop it.
And even after leaving your home, you’re still so close-minded.
While most people travel to broaden their horizons and try new things, there are certain DFTTs who travel to reconfirm their own biases and beliefs — those of you who refuse to try yak steak or pork sisig (chopped up bits of a pig’s face and ears with chicken liver) because you’re convinced you’ll hate it. You supposedly know your likes and dislikes so well that there’s no point in experimenting. You’re the type who never leaves your resort and are firmly planted by the hotel pool with a cocktail in hand with no intention of leaving your cultural bubble. You are the DFTT that pays a boatload to travel to a foreign country, yet never see anything local other than the hotel staff. Challenge yourself. 
9 pieces of LA street art you never realized are (probably) priceless
I remember a time when street art and high art were mutually exclusive. When “tagging” and “graffiti” made you a hooligan, no matter how good the art actually was.
Boy, how the times have changed.
1. “Parking”- Banksy
A photo posted by droven (@droven) on Sep 26, 2014 at 7:45pm PDT
Arguably one of the most famous international street artists in the world, the ultra-political UK-based Banksy (whose works have sold for upwards of $2,000,000) is no stranger to the walls of Los Angeles. This massive mural at 9th and Broadway appeared in April of 2010, in conjunction with Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop LA premiere.
2. “Love Trap”- D*face
A photo posted by D*Face (@dface_official) on Feb 8, 2015 at 8:10am PST
While D*face might not be a household name here in the ‘states, the street artist has achieved celebrity levels of notoriety for his murals and installations throughout the UK and the rest of the world. After revealing his identity as Dean Stockton, D*face’s art has only become more popular… with his prints now selling for upwards of $5,000 each. This piece appeared only 2 months ago, on the side of an East Hollywood coffee shop at 5427 Santa Monica Blvd.
3. “I Was A Botox Junkie”- Tristan Eaton
20 things you miss about Pittsburgh
A photo posted by butterybrioche (@butterybrioche) on May 26, 2015 at 1:02pm PDT
Primanti’s started as a Depression-era street sandwich cart in the early 1930’s for hungry freight truckers passing through the industrial steel city. It was a meal that could be eaten with one hand while driving and open for those late-night hauls passing through at 3am. Meat and cheese stacked on thick Italian bread with sweet slaw and fresh-cut fries, still served up on a skin of wax paper (sans plate like the old days).
2. The growing bike culture
A photo posted by Harvest Cyclery – Bushwick NYC (@harvestcyclery) on Jan 17, 2015 at 9:02am PST
Kraynick’s Bike Shop has been around since 1946 and acts as a bike collective that looks like a hoarder’s bunker where you can use the shop/space/tools/parts to repair your bike at little to no cost as long as you pay it forward and teach someone else how to perform repairs. Bike Pgh is the biggest champion of developing designated biking lanes that connect and snake throughout the city and outlying neighborhoods that also tie into the Great Allegheny Passage which hooks up to the C&O Canal down to DC. The newly launched bike share program aims to expand the city’s pedal power.
3. The strong breakfast diner scene
A photo posted by Summer Koide (@sakoide) on May 25, 2015 at 6:30am PDT
Greasy spoons abound, partly because they’re cheap and delicious, partly because us Yinzers like to drink. Grab a plate at any one of these veteran diners for a booze mop that will get your GI tract rallying for the next night’s drinking binge — Ritter’s Diner, Kelly-O’s, DeLuca’s and Pamela’s are all cherished institutions of the hangover cure. And, yes, we can tell an out-of-towner by how you struggle to pour your ketchup out of a glass Heinz bottle. Hint, hint — 57.
4. Zombies<
Pittsburgh is the self-proclaimed zombie capital of the world, so don’t be surprised when your bus driver on the expressway details the minutiae of modifications that would transform the P13 Flyer to downtown into a zombie apocalypse hellfire battering ram vanquisher. And don’t slight the great George A. Romero, writer and director of the infamous Dawn of the Dead shot in and around Pittsburgh and in the nearby Monroeville Mall.
5. The Strip District
A photo posted by babs (@babs83xo) on May 30, 2015 at 9:00am PDT
It’s where you can find any ethnic food item from fertilized duck eggs to camel meat to locally distilled genièvre. Also the stomping grounds of Jimmy Sunseri — from Jimmy & Nino Sunseri Co. — the wisecracking, sidewalk-dwelling deli purveyor that will sell you pepperoni rolls and your own pants back to you all beneath a chewed-up cigar butt and sly grin. He is a permanent, well known and much beloved Yinzer personality.
6. Pierogies
Nothing speaks to Pittsburgh’s strong Polish heritage more than the ubiquitous presence of pierogies on a surprising number of appetizer menus throughout the city’s restaurants, not to mention the Great Peirogie Race at every Pirates baseball game. Fry up the onions, get out the sour cream and satisfy that Yinzer nostalgia.
7. Conflict Kitchen
A photo posted by may (@mmkim) on Apr 12, 2015 at 3:00pm PDT
This place stirs up contentious dialogue while dishing out cheap, tasty ethnic fare. Receiving death threats isn’t new to this CMU professor’s side project—a walk-up kiosk that only sells cuisine from countries with which the United States is in conflict. Past permutations have included Cuban, Palestinian, Venezuelan, Iranian, Afghan, and North Korean.
8. Schenley Park
A photo posted by Kurt Pfaff (@kurtpf) on May 24, 2015 at 8:14am PDT
And the entire Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy for that matter. While many cities are concrete jungles, Pittsburgh makes sure to reserve and maintain green spaces and forested areas big enough to get lost in and forget that the urban landscape exists just outside of it.
9. Cathedral of Learning
It’s that iconic tower that you can see from almost any vantage point in the city—enough to inspire an art installment (365 Views of the Cathedral of Learning; a series of day-by-day oil sketches of distinct and unique views of the structure from around the city throughout a single calendar year). Also, it doesn’t hurt to mention that the interior of the place seems like it was the inspiration for Hogwarts with its vaulted ceilings, narrow twisting staircases and ornate detailing. Plus there’s a Peregrine Falcon nest up on the 40th floor maintained by avian mama Dorothy. Servant to a shape-shifting, Gandalfesque wizard on 41? Don’t trust every rumor you hear.
10. Cityscapes
A photo posted by Michael Borrero (@mike.g.borrero) on Jun 6, 2015 at 7:42pm PDT
The kind that are — POW! — in your face. Most notable examples are coming inbound popping out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel, 376 East rounding the bend before the Oakland exit, and the famous Grandview in Mt. Washington. I never tire of the PPG smoky mirrored-glass, Highmark’s color-morphing pyramid, or the Steel Building all clustered at the three rivers point.
11. Churches
The hypnotic baroque churches with vaults, arches, buttresses and spires make you forget about that little thing called time as you’re absorbed into their intricate detail. St. Paul’s, Cathedral of Hope, Heinz Memorial Chapel are just a few. Other churches such as Church Brew Works and Altar Bar give a secular repurposing (albeit sacrilegious by some standards) to otherwise abandoned structures, serving up microbrews and hosting concert series.
12. Terrible towels
Myrone Cope, the sportscaster known as the voice of the Steelers, invented this little gimmick to attract sponsors to NFL broadcasts. Little did he know the overwhelming popularity in store, especially in 2008-2009 when the Steelers won the Super Bowl and the Penguins took the Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh regained its former glory from the 70s as The City of Champions. These towels can be seen at any and all professional sporting events from football to hockey to baseball.
13. The Doc Ellis No-No Story
14. New inventions by CMU students
Quite the track record — emoticons ‘82, wifi ’94; field robotics and unmanned vehicles, GigaPan Camera System with multibillion-pixel images, the hashtag for Twitter grouping and the litany goes on endlessly. Live bus maps as an afternoon public service project? No problem. It’s no surprise that Google, Intel, Apple, and Microsoft all have research labs there. I just can’t wait for iTeleport to be realized this summer.
15. Dinosaur statues everywhere
In a PR effort to market their extensive dinosaur fossil exhibit, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History produced hundreds of artistic dinosaur statues for auction to fund the exhibit’s development. They were then scattered all over the city as public art. I never get sick of seeing the obvious — Alphabetasaurus or the Skeleton Stego — but still delight in discovering new ones tucked away throughout the city.
16. Pittsburghese
Yinz gwon dahtahn tah see nem Stillers n’at?
It’s a blue-collar Appalachian accent through and through. Easy to pinpoint someone born and bred in the Burgh from the phonetic shifts, deletions and abbreviations that are all rooted in local history. Think jagoff is a homophone with a sexual connotation? Get your mind out of the gutter. While its etymology is disputed, the most local rendition comes from the steel mills where jag was a term for leftover scrap ore in steel production. The lowest guy on the totem pole was tasked with scraping it off the production machinery to be re-melted and reused, thus earning the disparaging and jocular reputation as the jagoff. Need a lesson on Pittsburghese? Behold.
17. Bridges
A photo posted by jessica (@global_latte) on Dec 27, 2014 at 1:50pm PST
Pittsburgh has the most bridges in the world — 446 (depending on criteria and opinion) — dwarfing other locations known for their bridges (Venice, ahem!). After the first few times (or years) of driving downtown, passing the building you had intended to arrive at, then finding yourself crossing yet another river yet again and unleashing expletives that would make your mother blush, you’ll figure out that it’s trial by fire and be able to (eventually) navigate the labyrinth.
18. Rent prices
I’m somewhat hesitant to even share this one. By the time you read this, prices will have inflated…so don’t bother. Stay out, Brooklyn!
This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More
19. Friendliness and diversity
The kind that comes from a working-class, small city: one of the largest Italian-American communities, 5th largest Ukranian, largest Croatian, strong Polish and Latin American communities, refugees and immigrants abound (the Lost Boys from Sudan also called it home). Point being, it’s a place where you can be completely out of your element, yet feel welcomed, included, accepted—a rarity in big cities.
20. The writing that comes out of this place
Birthplace of the genre creative nonfiction by the Godfather, Lee Gutkind; Pittsburgh is also home to Annie Dillard, Gertrude Stein, Rachel Carson, and personal favorites Lori Jakiela and Dave Newman. 
21 bars and restaurants that Boston locals swear by
A photo posted by Ancelis (@anceli5) on May 19, 2015 at 6:33pm PDT
If you like the idea of snacking on perfectly-marinated quail kebabs beneath a fig tree while surrounded by creeping vines and twinkling lights, this is the place for you.
2. L’Espalier
A photo posted by Sarah Su (@wanting.su) on May 10, 2015 at 8:34pm PDT
L’Espalier is my go-to place for a very special occasion — think 25th wedding anniversary, or apologizing for an astronomical screw-up. There’s nothing quite like making amends while on a $205 per person “tasting journey.”
3. The Marliave
A photo posted by Greg (@gregapower) on Mar 16, 2015 at 3:59pm PDT
The Marliave is a great place to go when you feel fancy but don’t want to burn through a paycheck eating dinner. Get a seat on the second floor by the windows for a great view of downtown Boston.
For hipster dive time…
4. State Park
They make me so happy
#goodpeople #goodtimes #sorrynotsorry for posting this
A photo posted by Tammie N. (@mthuajai217) on May 25, 2015 at 8:03pm PDT
Grab a pork rib and a $4 ‘Gansett draft to fuel yourself for an unnecessarily intense game of shuffleboard. Try not to get too freaked out by the taxidermied weasel giving you the judgy side-eye about your jukebox selections.
5. Delux Café
A photo posted by dobbiebird (@dobbiebird) on May 11, 2015 at 2:22pm PDT
If you’re looking for delicious comfort food, good beer, and a whole lot of cash-only-we-don’t-make-that-drink hipster attitude, Delux Café is your place.
6. The Miracle of Science
Nerdiest lunch ever #MIT #miracleofscience #foodie
A photo posted by Jyri Tuulos (@jtuulos) on Mar 22, 2015 at 11:39am PDT
The Miracle of Science is ground zero for the collision of MIT/Harvard/tech startup nerds, crippling social anxiety, and a whole bunch of booze. The periodic table menu and test tube shots help everyone feel at home.
For an old standby…
7. Matt Murphy’s
Fish and chips from #MattMurphys complete with newspaper and vinegar – doesn't get much better!
A photo posted by inandaroundtown (@inandaroundtown) on Apr 2, 2015 at 12:20pm PDT
Dance to floor-shaking fiddle music while periodically taking breaks to shovel french fries doused in homemade ketchup into your face.
8. J.J Foley’s
A photo posted by Ken (@kenballgame) on May 28, 2015 at 7:54pm PDT
Big Buck Hunter is the main draw at J.J. Foley’s — because there’s nothing quite like blasting a cartoon deer in the face with a plastic gun to blow off steam after work.
9. Mike and Patty’s
A photo posted by 타냐 하나 (@tanya_hanakim) on May 6, 2015 at 9:56am PDT
Order “the Fancy” over the phone and pick it up 15 minutes later. Mike and Patty’s is tiny, so your best bet is to head back down Arlington St. and enjoy your feast on a park bench at the Public Gardens.
For live music…
10. The Druid
A photo posted by Bluestockings Boutique (@bluestockingsbo) on Jun 3, 2015 at 1:42pm PDT
Sip an oatmeal stout while listening to an impromptu Irish jam session in the corner booth.
11. Jacob Wirth
The 20 coolest beach towns in America
by Amanda Machado
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Where the living’s easy…
The 20 coolest beach towns in America are about drinks at sunset and living in flip-flops. They’re about waking up with sand in your sheets and going to work barefoot. Perfect days here are ones with the right wave, the right wind, or the right fish. And the people who live here know the one thing they could never live without is the ocean.
We picked our twenty favorite beach towns based on the following criteria:
1. Small: No major cities alowed.
2. Year-round energy: The town can’t pack up and leave after “the season”.
3. Entertainment outside of the beach: Music, breweries, galleries, museums, and festivals also play integral parts of the culture.
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, Florida
Photo courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
There are more than enough reasons to love Fort Myers and Sanibel Island: great weather (the Gulf water averages 76 degrees, almost never dipping below 60 even in the wintertime), delicious food (it’s rumored that Jimmy Buffett wrote “Cheeseburger in Paradise” after dining at an area restaurant), fantastic outdoor sports. It has the best of Florida, without the over-development. It’s also been repeatedly voted as the #1 shelling beach in the nation by Travel + Leisure.
Honor roll
Drinks: Peel ‘n eat shrimp and a cold beer at the Lazy Flamingo.
Eats: Stop by Andy’s Island Seafood Mobile Truck. Also visit Sanibel Farmer’s Market and the Captiva General Store.
Coffee: Visit The Island Cow for a big breakfast or lunch. Try a slice of Key Lime Pie at the Key Lime Bistro.
Things to do: Visit Bowman’s Beach, one of the world’s best shelling beaches. Cheer on spring training baseball in Fort Myers. Visit the Edison & Ford Winter Estates Museum. Check out the the National Shell Museum and paddle in the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Explore the Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge.
Stinson Beach, California
Looking for a beach town that embodies the slow life? You’ve found it. Stinson, a cherished staple of Nor Cal folks, sits between the Pacific Ocean and Mt Tamalpais, an area with some of California’s best views and hikes through old growth redwood forests. The town’s main drag doesn’t have a single stop light and during the week, you might have the beach literally to yourself.
Honor roll
Drinks: Have a freezing cold Mirror Pond draft at Sand Dollar Restaurant.
Eats: Stop in for a gourmet meal at Parkside Cafe.
Coffee: Breakers Cafe.
Things to do: Visit Stinson Beach State Park and take any of the several hikes that stem from the beach.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Martha Stewart vacations in this artsy town that has access to Acadia National Park as well as some of Maine’s best sandy beaches.
Honor roll
Drinks: Cottage Street Pup has super interesting drinks, located in a hallway-sized space. Or, for an outdoor gazebo bar where the locals go, visit the Dog and Pony (they’re also the only place to get food late-night).
Eats: McKay’s Public House has a great lobster mac and cheese in a fabulous ambiance (a historical building with outdoor seating in the summertime, and fireplace tables during winter). The restaurant also has the town’s best local and international beer selection (they even have a cask-conditioned tap line). Ask for Chris ‘Rome’ Romero, their locally-famous bartender here; he knows all there is to know about beer and brews his own.
Cafes: Two Cats bakery has a huge outdoor covered porch and a really good breakfast burrito. Jordan Pond House is known for their homemade Maine blueberry jam. Cafe This Way also serves excellent bloody mary’s.
Things to do: Stay one night in the Acadia Yurts in nearby Southwest Harbor. Hike the peak of Cadillac Mountain, where the first sunrise in the United States is said to occur. Go whale watching. Visit the Abbe Museum for Native American artifacts from the region.
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Photo courtesy of Explorer Media Group
Only an hour and a half away from Portland, Cannon Beach has art galleries, seafood joints, and even its own distillery, in addition to beaches that have made cinematic history.
Honor roll
Drinks: The Warren House Pub offers locally brewed beers (or visit Bill’s Tavern and Brewhouse, its sister location in downtown). Cannon Beach Distillery produces small batches of gin, rum, whiskey and agave spirits. Two wine shops also offer wine tastings: The Wine Shack (offering a good selection of Northwest wines) and Puffin Brand wines (named after the puffins that nest on Haystack Rock).
Eats: Splurge on fine French and Italian dining at Newman’s. Explore Northwest seafood at The Wayfarer Restaurant. For casual food in a nice setting, have a soup or sandwich at Seasons Cafe.
Coffee: Sleepy Monk Coffee features coffee roasted locally.
Other things to do: Take a picture near Haystack Rock–the rock from Goonies and the final scene of Point Break. Visit Ecola State Park where you can hike through rainforest and scenic beaches. Visit one of the dozens of art galleries in downtown.
Tybee Island, Georgia
Only a half hour from Savannah, this 2.7 square mile island (where Sandra Bullock owns a house) has the quiet, southern hospitality you’d expect from Georgia.
Honor roll
Drinks: Rock House Bar has kareoke Sundays and live music throughout the weekend. Go dancing during their “Seduction Saturday” parties each week.
Eats: Eat Pecan waffles at the Breakfast Club, the restaurant that famously catered JFK Jr.’s wedding. Try Low Country Crab Boil at the Crab Shack.
Cafes: Tybee Art and Coffee.
Things to do: Visit the Tybee Lighthouse. Watch dolphins on one of the area’s boat tours.
Santa Barbara, California
Sometimes called the “American Riviera”, this iconic beach town also satisfies mountain-loving beaching bums by having access to the Santa Ynez mountains nearby.
Honor roll
Drinks: Joe’s Cafe has been around forever and is famous for serving the strongest drinks in town. Visit Santa Barbara Brewhouse or get drinks right on the beach at Boathouse. Go wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley (check out Rancho Sisquoc winery).
Eats: Have breakfast at Mesa Lane Cafe or Summerland Beach Cafe. Have dinner at Brophy Bros.
Music Venue: Santa Barbara Bowl, home of Bob Marley’s last show.
Things to do: Hike or mountain bike off of Chumash Pass or just cruise down at Hendry’s beach. Dawn Patrol in the water at Rincon during a firing WNW swell.
Asbury Park, New Jersey
Photo Courtesy of Madison Marquette
Unlike a lot of the boardwalks on the Jersey shore, this town is neither douchey, tacky, or owned entirely by the 1%. And it’s got a bar, restaurant, and live music scene that’s better than most small cities.
Honor roll
Drinks: The Anchor’s Bend has drinks on the beach and great live alternative music. Or visit Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Brick Wall, and Watermark before heading downtown for a cheap beer and greasy drunk food at Bond Street.
Eats: Start the morning with a pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich at the legendary Frank’s Diner. Visit Happiness Luncheonette, Mogo, Taka, or the Speakeatery (try the cheesesteak: it’s better than anything you’ll find in Philly) for lunch.
Coffee: Asbury Park Roastery, Cafe Volan, and Lola’s European Cafe (don’t just get the coffee: try the sandwiches and gelato).
Music Venue: The Stone Pony, has a summer stage close to the beach and always a great line-up. You can also catch music at Asbury Lanes, the Saint, and Wonderbar.
Things to do: Check out some of the art galleries on Cookman. Get a cocktail on the beautiful Watermark Rooftop, and then hit up the weekly beach bonfire. Take your kids to the Splash Park on the other side of the boardwalk. Take your dog to the Dog Run Beach on the Northern end of town, or to Wonderbar’s Yappy Hour.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
This small coastal town has white sand beaches and Southern charm, but also a flourishing artistic community that helps build a full calendar of cultural events.
Honor roll
Drinks: Buoy’s Bar has live music and drinks right on the beach. Or, visit The Blind Tiger.
Eats: Eat dinner at Blue Moon Grill, or Pigman’s BBQ. The Buttercup on Second Street is also popular.
Coffee: Mockingbird Cafe is a bookstore/town meeting spot/pub by night. Stay a while to see the whole town pass by.
Other things to do: Catch a show at Bay St. Louis Little Theater. Visit the artist co-op (Gallery 220) or Maggie May’s art gallery. Drive less than an hour to New Orleans to enjoy the city’s nightlife for the evening.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
This centuries-old town began as a fishing settlement for England’s Puritans and now has grown to attract renowned artists and a happening gay scene.
Honor roll
Drinks: Pied Bar is the longest continuously running lesbian bar in the country. Crown Anchor Provincetown is another popular gay bar in town. Aquabar has a great ambiance for cocktails on the beach.
Eats: A late breakfast at Manuel’s in Port Isabel (no need for lunch, that way). Head to Boomerang’s for a small lunch. Or grill lobster tails and shrimp from Dirty Al’s for dinner.
Coffee: Joe’s Coffee and Cafe.
Other things to do: Sunbathe on peaceful Herring Cove. Visit Race Point Beach, the protection of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Visit the gallery-lined East End of Commercial street.
Paia, Hawaii
Hawaii without the hastle, Pāʻia (population only a little over 2,000) is the last town on the Hāna highway and has often been called the “World Capital of Windsurfing”.
Honor roll
Drinks: Cafe Mambo for happy hour. Rock and Brews Paia for the largest selection of craft beers on Maui.
Eats: Visit Paia fish market for the best fish lunch plate. Tobi’s Shaved Ice for dessert.
Coffee: Paia Bay Coffee.
Other things to do: Windsurf at famous spots Ho’okipa and Spreckelsville. Or, instead of going to Ho’okipa, the surf and play is just as good in Paia bay. The north edge of the bay also has countless sea turtles hanging out on shore all day.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Donald Lee Pardue
USA Today named Wilmington’s riverfront the best in America. The town is also a site for historic ships like the USCGC Diligence or the World War II battleship USS North Carolina.
Honor roll
Drinks: Front Street Brewery has craft beer. Hell’s Kitchen Bar is a sports bar during the week and hosts live music each weekend.
Eats: Manna Avenue for fine American cooking. The Pilothouse is a historic building (built in 1870) turned into a restaurant famous not only for its menu, but also its romantic main dining room perched on a deck overlooking the Cape Fear River.
Coffee: The hangout spot for the town’s bohemians, the Juggling Gypsy has hookah, coffee, a bar and “fringe performances” on weekends.
Music venue: Ziggy’s By The Sea.
Other things to do: Take a stroll through the 67 acre historic Airlie Gardens or take a walk down the Riverwalk.
Trinidad, California
Just 16 miles away from the college town of Arcata, Trinidad is noted for boasting ten public beaches in one small town of less than 500.
Honor roll
Drinks: Try award winning wines at Moonstone Crossing. Bergeron Winery also allows wine tasting with a view of the redwoods.
Eats: Seascape Restaurant and Pier.
Coffee: The Larrupin Cafe.
Other things to do: Trinidad State Beach, Patrick Point’s State Park, Trinidad Art Gallery.
Block Island, Rhode Island
This tiny, seven-by-three-mile island was named the “Best Beach for Solitude” by Yankee Magazine and has a lively community that more than makes up for its size.
Honor roll
Drinks: Poor People’s Pub or Yellow Kittens for live music.
Eats: Froozies Juice Bar and Cafe for a healthy breakfast burrito. Go to the Beachhead restaurant for New England classics like lobster salad rolls, Corn Neck calamari or Block Island clam chowder.
Shop: Visit Block Island Blue Pottery on Dodge Street or East of the River Nile Trading Company for quirky items from around the world.
Other things to do: Many people rent bikes to explore the island. Visit the Mohegan Bluffs (often compared to the cliffs of Ireland). Visit the well-photographed Southeast Lighthouse. Visit Spring Street Gallery for work by local artists.
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
Kill Devil Hills is the cultural and geographic center of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It has a rich history both as the birthplace of aviation (The Wright Brothers tested and flew their first gliders and airplanes in the huge dunes) as well as nautically: The Outer Banks are littered with shipwrecks (“The Graveyard of the Atlantic”) going all the way back to Blackbeard the pirate.
Honor roll
Drinks: Chip’s Wine University is the least snobby wine tasting you’ll find. The market sells a great selection and also offers unpretentious introductory courses on wines around the world.
Eats: Eat dinner at the Blue Moon Grill.
Shop: Check out the Tanger Outlets at Nags Head.
Other things to do: Access the National Coastline from here all the way down to Cape Hatteras and on to Ocracoke via ferry. Visit the Wright Memorial museum for a look at the first brothers of flight. Hang out at the Avalon Fishing Pier. Visit Nags Head Woods Preserve.
San Clemente, California
Beautiful red-tiled roofs and adobe architecture give this small surf town south of Los Angeles a Spanish feel. It has access to some of California’s most gorgeous state parks while also having a vibrant downtown.
Honor roll
Drinks: Cellar for a wine and cheese bar.
Eats: Riders Club Cafe, a former gas station, sells craft beer and build-your-own burgers.
Shop: Casa Verde de Granada, an artists’ co-op that sells funky finds from estate and garage sales. For surf gear gone green, visit The Green Room downtown which sells only Earth-friendly merchandise (even board shorts made from recycled water bottles).
Other things to do: State Beach for swimming and bodyboarding. Calafia Park has steep sandstone cliffs that make a beautiful backdrop while sunbathing. Lobeiro Park is great for ocean-side picnics.
Cocoa Beach, Florida
The setting for the 1960’s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, this town first gained popularity because of its close proximity to NASA‘s John F. Kennedy Space Center (only 15 miles away). Ron Jon’s surf shop also originated here and now receives 2 million visitors a year.
Honor roll
Drinks: Cocoa Beach Brew is the local brewing company.
Eats: Coconuts on the Beach.
Coffee: Juice n’ Java Cafe for coffee, or ice cream at The Fat Donkey.
Other things to do: Visit the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame or attend the annual Eastern Surfing Festival which can draw over 50,000 visitors. Surf at Lori Wilson Park. See stand-up at Gregory’s Comedy Club.
Folly Beach , South Carolina
Twenty minutes from Charleston, Folly Beach is its own super chill beach community with one of the most consistent surf breaks (“The Washout”) on the US Atlantic Coast.
Honor roll
Drinks: Loggerhead’s, or go to the local dive bar: Planet Follywood.
Eats: Visit Taco Boy, the ultimate in fresh fish tacos and guac. Have a Margarita on their patio.
Coffee: Lost Dog Cafe for brunch or coffee.
Shop: Bert’s Market. Bert lost the keys years ago, but the 24/7, 365 grocery store lives by its motto, “We may doze, but we never close.” Good organic eats, drinks, beer. Surf wax.
Things to do: The Washout is where the surfers head in the early morning. Paddleboard through Folly’s estuaries. Take a boat tour to the the Morris Island lighthouse, and watch dolphins on the way. Fish, walk, or birdwatch on the Folly Beach Pier, the second longest on the East Coast.
Westport, Washington
This town has the Washington hit list- craft beer, great coffee, stunning mountains- coupled with its phenomenal beach.
Honor roll
Drinks: Bog Water Brewing Company or Westport Brewing Company (has a beer garden and backyard seating).
Eats: Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill has marina-front dining (and is said to have Washington’s best Bloody Mary).
Coffee: Tinderbox Coffee Roasters for small batch roasted coffee.
Other things to do: Catch the yearly Blues Festival in September or the pirate festival in June.
Traverse City, Michigan
In addition to its beaches, this town is also home to several popular festivals and is considered one of the best small beer cities in America.
Honor roll
Drinks: Thrillest called 7 Monks Taproom one of the best beer bars in America.
Eats: Try the Pecan waffles at the Breakfast Club, the restaurant that famously catered JFK Jr.’s wedding. Try Low Country Crab Boil at the Crab Shack.
Cafes: Grand Traverse Pie Company is famous for their award-winning pie.
Things to do: The town is becoming the center for Michigan’s under-the-radar wine region. Attend Michigan’s largest film festival (hosted by Michael Moore) at the State Theater. The National Cherry Festival, held in July, hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.
South Padre Island, Texas
Wind-surfing, fishing, kayaking, horse-back riding, paddle-boarding- you name it. No beach activity is left behind in this Texas gulf coast town that also throws a raucous spring break.
Honor roll
Drinks: Louie’s Backyard. Tequila Sunset for live music and a sunset view.
Eats: A late breakfast at Manuel’s in Port Isabel (no need for lunch, that way). Or, head to Boomerang’s for a small lunch. Grill lobster tails and shrimp from Dirty Al’s for dinner.
Coffee: The Grape Vine Cafe.
Other things to do: Explore the Padre Island National Seashore on an ecological tour. Go horse-back riding on the beach. Catch the Texas International Fishing Tournament which draws crowds each year.
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