Matador Network's Blog, page 524
February 1, 2022
15 beautiful Florida Airbnbs for every type of traveler
THE SUNSHINE STATE of Florida is filled with thrills for anyone and everyone. With theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios and sandy beaches on both coasts, Florida is among the top travel destinations in the United States. But it’s all about where you stay. Here we break down to top Florida Airbnbs for each type of traveler, whether you’re heading for a mellow beach getaway near Destin or a surf trip to the east coast.
Heading to Miami? Check out Matador’s guide to the best Miami Airbnbs.
Florida Airbnbs for a family getawayFlorida Airbnbs for surfersFlorida Airbnbs for a getaway to the beachDestin, Florida AirbnbsFort Lauderdale, Florida AirbnbsWe hope you love the Florida Airbnbs we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication. See our full Advertiser Disclosure here.
Florida Airbnbs for a family getawayImmersive character-like townhouse in Kissimmee
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This well-charactered townhouse is right in the center of all entertainment. There are amenities for the whole family like Nintendo Switch Game Console, NBA Jam Arcade-Style Game for the kids, and a nice relaxing pool area for the parents. The home is located in a quiet and safe neighborhood, and it’s only a nine-mile drive to Disney, a 16-mile drive to SeaWorld, and a 21-mile drive to Universal Studios.
Sixteen guests, five bedrooms
Price: $429 per night
Modern Mediterranean home near Zoo Tampa
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This beautiful modern Mediterranean home is the perfect getaway for a family vacation. The open floor plan is ideal for a letting the kids roam. It has a fully equipped kitchen great for cooking meals for the whole family. The home is in Lowry Park, next to Zoo Tampa and other fun activities. The beach is near, Tampa’s booming dining scene is within easy reach, and if you plan to escape to St. Pete or to a Rays game, you can do so without spending the day commuting.
Eight guests, four bedrooms
Price: $217 per night
Secluded Daytona Beach home with huge one-acre yard
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This home is the perfect relaxing family getaway spot for a Florida family fun adventure. This private and secure home gives families the privacy they need without disturbing others. There is a full kitchen spacious living room, and the house is stocked with all types of games and activities for the kids. There is a vast one-acre backyard where the kids can go outside and play games, and the parents can relax on the hammocks.
Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $324 per night
Florida Airbnbs for surfersSurf Shack apartment in downtown Cocoa Beach
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This centrally located apartment is perfect for any guest’s beach getaway fantasies. This home is in downtown Cocoa Beach right near all the action and within walking distance of everything like restaurants, bars, shopping, and the beach. It’s also a 14-minute drive to Port Canaveral and a 33-minute drive to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $180 per night
Mini resort-style beach house in Satellite Beach
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Welcome to this resort-style beach house in Satellite Beach. This beach house has everything for the ultimate Florida surfers’ vacation. The home has an open split floor plan to give each guest the privacy they need and a full kitchen and living room. There is also a heated pool in the backyard, a tiki bar, and an outdoor seating area. Happy hour by the pool? Yes, please.
Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $295 per night
Newly renovated beach house only two minutes to the Cape Canaveral beach
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This luxury newly renovated home is just a two-minute walk to the beach. The finishings include a new kitchen, bathroom, appliances, and flooring. All bedrooms and the sleeper sofa are equipped with queen beds. There is a spacious private backyard with seating and a gas grill, and there is also beach equipment in the home if guests need extra beach gear.
Eight guests, two bedrooms
Price: $250 per night
Florida Airbnbs for a getaway to the beachAfrican-themed Treasure Island beach home
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Experience a mixture of beach paradise and African heritage while staying at this artsy afro traditional home. The unit features a fully equipped kitchen and spacious living area with a sleeper sofa. Enjoy the privacy with the home’s gated yard with enough space for everyone to find a spot and relax. The house is only a two-minute walk to the beach, along with other stunning sites at Sunset Beach.
Six guests, two bedrooms
Price: $162 per night
Charming beachfront condo on east side of Sanibel Island
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This exquisite beachfront condo is perfect for any guest’s beach getaway fantasies. The condo has newly renovated granite countertops and bathrooms. The main bedroom has a small patio with stunning beach views, and the second bedroom has two twin beds perfect for guests with children. The home is on the east side of Sanibel Island, just a few feet away from Sanibel`s famous Lighthouse beach.
Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $409 per night
Seaside retreat townhome with direct beach access
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
A great beach retreat awaits you. This beachfront townhouse sits directly on the beach. What more could you ask for? The townhouse features a fully-equipped kitchen, spacious living room, and bedrooms with a private balcony. The home is the perfect retreat for families or other gatherings. Take advantage of the private beach and soak up some rays on the vast deck area facing the water. The home is located right on the water and a half-mile away is the famed Peg Leg Pete’s. Jolly Sailing and Dolphin Cruise offer tours and cruises just over two miles away.
Eight guests, two bedrooms
Price: $249 per night
Headed to central Florida on a Disney World trip? Check out Matador’s central Florida Airbnb guides:
8 of the coolest Airbnbs near Disney World The best Airbnbs near Universal Studios Kissimmee Airbnbs for a multi-generational family vacation to Disney
Destin, Florida AirbnbsOceanfront condo with panoramic beach views
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This oceanfront condo has everything you need for your sunshine state vacation. There is a spacious living area with a patio overlooking the beautiful ocean. Other amenities included are a lagoon pool, oceanfront heated pool, gas grills, work-out room, tiki bar. The condo is also within walking distance of popular restaurants, shops, and entertainment, along with top amenities.
Six guests, two bedrooms
Price: $249 per night
The Lucky Dune Bird condo
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Another stunning oceanfront Destin condo is ready for you to relax and soak up the sun in. This Florida Airbnb condo has a fully equipped kitchen and living room that leads right out to the patio with an ocean view and the calming sound of waves crashing along the shore. The apartment is centrally located to grocery stores and other Destin entertainments like an amusement and water park.
Eight guests, two bedrooms
Price: $450 per night
Beachfront unit on private beach
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This newly remodeled Florida property is a top-floor unit above a private beach. This condo is perfect for groups, families, or couples looking to hang out in the quiet and secluded beach area. The home can sleep up to six guests as it has a king-sized bed in the main bedroom, a sleeper sofa, and two bunked beds.
Six guests, one bedroom
Price: $329 per night
Fort Lauderdale, Florida AirbnbsCozy and relazing apartment in Victoria Park
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This bright and spacious apartment is located right in the heart of Victoria Park. The apartment features a spacious living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and natural lighting. There is also a private patio with a seating area where guests can sit out and enjoy all of the Florida sunshine. The home is not too far from the Fort Lauderdale activities like Las Olas Boulevard, and it’s also a five-minute drive to the beach.
Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $180 per night
Fort Lauderdale sunshine paradise oasis
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Come and soak up the sun at Paradise Stay. This private sunshine oasis has a large heated pool and hot tub. The home is fenced in to allow privacy, and it’s surrounded by all tropical plants to make guests feel like they are in an absolute tropical paradise. The spacious backyard features speakers, an outside seating area, and other beach amenities.
Six guests, two bedrooms
Price: $441 per night
Contemporary home with resort-like amenities
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
Photo: Airbnb
This contemporary renovated home is Fort Lauderdale’s newest private gem. This spacious Florida Airbnb home has all the beach resort-style amenities everyone needs for your vacation. The house is located in a quiet residential neighborhood and features an open concept kitchen to the living room and dining room. There is a private heated pool with a vast patio area where guests can enjoy a tanning bed, hammocks, sofa, fire pit, and gas grill. 
Eight guests, three bedrooms
Price: $571 per night
This 20-story hotel in Swedish Lapland is the world’s tallest wooden building
The drinks at Miss Voon come with a view, a stunning panorama of twinkling lights fading into the vast darkness of Swedish Lapland.
The deep reds of this rooftop Asian bistro seem the ideal environment for a menu of Japanese whiskey cocktails and artfully sliced sashimi. But in addition to the usual aroma of faint soy and muted seafood, this sushi den has distinct wooden notes, like someone stuck a Japanese restaurant inside a Nordic sauna.
That’s because Miss Voon isn’t just any swanky hotel rooftop bar. It’s the rooftop bar at the Wood Hotel in Skelleftea, Sweden, a landmark, 20-story testament to sustainable architecture, constructed almost completely from local timber. And it just might be the most intriguing new building in all of Europe.
The Wood Hotel is revolutionary in both aesthetics and sustainabilityThe Wood Hotel by Elite sits in downtown Skelleftea, a northern Sweden mining town that’s adapting into a hub for renewable energy. Northvolt, who manufactures batteries for electric cars, has opened a facility in the area. The entire town runs on renewable power. But the most eye-catching advancement is the light wood downtown tower that’s pioneering sustainable hospitality.
Photo: The Wood Hotel
The 205-room hotel is constructed of glulam, i.e. glued-laminated timber, and cross-laminated timber beams, most of which are sourced from trees within about 40 miles (the trees are all replanted). But the Wood hotel has sacrificed nothing in terms of amenities to reach its sustainable end. There’s a large gym and a luxe spa, a rooftop bar and three full-service restaurants. The flat screen TVs in the rooms let you log into your Netflix. And the complimentary breakfast spread could put some Vegas buffets to shame.
The first four floors also house the Sara Cultural Centre, with seven performance spaces, an art gallery, a photo gallery, and a public library in the lobby.
Photo: The Wood Hotel
The cultural center’s crown jewel is its 1,200-seat main theater, a multi-level performing arts hall constructed completely of wood, including the sound-absorbing acoustical panels. Standing on the top level, it feels a little like someone went to Ikea and decided to build the Vienna Opera House.
Eco-friendly construction helps reinvent a city’s reputation
Photo: Sven Burman / The Wood Hotel
Skelleftea’s story is a familiar one, a gritty mining and timber town that fell on hard times as those industries waned. Young people began to leave in droves, and the city needed something to reinvent itself in a post-industrial era. They found it in the form of renewable energy, but needed a signature destination to show the world it was back on the cutting edge.
“The city needed an attraction to make the city center more attractive, part of a strategy to grow from 70,000 to 100,000 over the next 10 years,” says Robert Schmitz, the lead architect on the Wood Hotel. “They said, ‘We want to create a new landmark for the city.’”
To reach this end, Skelleftea held an open competition for architects to design this ambitious project. Timber was not a prerequisite, it just needed to be something that would be unlike anything in the country.
They received 55 entries from 11 countries, but Schmitz and his team had a standout idea. They wanted to create a novel building filled with both cultural and environmental sustainability, making wood an obvious choice.
“With timber surrounding Skelleftea, and the university having timber courses, we thought if a developer had the guts to do this, and design a building of this size of timber, it should be in Skelleftea,” Schmitz says.
The building process put the construction sites of steel and concrete buildings to shame. The hotel was built as separate wooden modules offsite, then delivered to the main site and stacked like shipping containers. Crews added a story every other day, and reduced the frequency of carbon-spewing trucks to almost nil.
The hotel itself absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, as the exposed wood respirates with the air outside. The hotel’s roof solar panels can share extra energy with buildings nearby, and it also uses AI to predict exactly how much heat the building will need.
“Timber is the only renewable construction material we have,” Schmitz says. “And we wanted to use [that resource] to inspire the architecture.”
So how does the Wood Hotel stand up exactly?If we learned anything from The Three Little Pigs it’s that wood is not nearly as reliable as bricks when the Big Bad Wolf — or a raging winter storm — comes a blowing. So architects had to design the Wood Hotel to be just as strong as steel and concrete.
They achieved this end by using the combination of glulam and CLT. Glulam is essentially laminated stacks of beams, with the grains all running the same way. This allows it to act as a better load-bearing material than steel, pound-for-pound. CLT has beams connected at 90-degree angles, giving it better stability over wide areas like walls and flooring.
The hotel is built around two main cores, one on each end, that are both exposed and visible through the double-paned glass walls outside. Those double panes make the hotel far more energy efficient, as warm air stays between the panes in the winter, insulating everything inside.
“We decided the highrise should partly be reflecting the Nordic sky, but should showcase the timber within so you can see how it was constructed,” says Schmitz. “The blurring of inside and outside takes place on the streetscape, and we can extend our public space.”
The hotel’s not without any metal, though. Generators and heating/cooling units on the fifth and sixth floors are supported by a steel truss. There’s also concrete atop the hotel to minimize sway. But for the most part, the Wood Hotel is a marvel of white wood and forest aromas, like living in a life-sized doll house designed for the 2020s.
Full rooms and lively restaurants make for Sweden’s hottest new hotelOn a cold, winter weeknight all three of the Wood Hotel’s restaurants are packed, with smiling diners inside Paolo’s on the ground floor slurping wine and pasta much to the envy of chilly pedestrians outside. A couple of floors up at Mandel, the spirit of sustainability extends to the menu, filled with food items sourced from the region. The scene at Miss Voon on the rooftop could have been ripped from Manhattan, where an attractive crowd passes sushi plates past brightly-colored martini glasses under the dark red wooden beams.
Photo: Gustav Svanberg / The Wood hotel
“We’ve had a start that nobody would believe,” says Wood Hotel General Manager David Aberg. “We’ve had lines at the restaurants, fully booked every day. We didn’t expect the kind of flood that we’ve had.”
Aberg says most of his guests have come from northern Sweden, curious about his brave new building that’s caught the world’s attention. But he’s confident that the Wood Hotel can turn into a real tourist attraction, bringing visitors on their way to Norway or Swedish Lapland who want a stop in a unique location.
The hotel has been almost full since it opened in mid-October, Aberg says, and reservations haven’t fallen off even as new COVID-19 restrictions took effect. For now, the novelty of the Wood Hotel is still as fresh as the woodsy smell that permeates the place. And once-struggling Skelleftea has found its signature landmark.
10 nude beaches in unexpected places
Anyone who’s been to a nude beach with tell you: the people at nude beaches aren’t always the ones you want to see naked. But as long as you’re not going for the human scenery, a trip to the clothing-optional shoreline can be a liberating, relaxing, a tan-line free experience — provided that you’re going somewhere you can tan. Some parts of the world might not be blessed with as much constant sunshine as Spain or Brazil, but still like to go au naturel by the water. From Toronto to Scotland, here’s 10 nude beaches in places you wouldn’t expect.
1. Hanlan’s Point — Toronto, Canada
Photo: BYUNGSUK KO/Shutterstock
The frigid, frigid waters of Lake Ontario don’t exactly scream “jump in here with no clothes on!” But jump in wily Canadians do, as this beach out on Toronto Islands is a popular spot with the city’s LGBTQ community and naturists. The sand itself is shielded by sand dunes and trees, so even though you’re close to downtown, the beach feels a world away. Hit it on a rare hot day in the city, and a dip here can be painfully refreshing.
2. Bellevue Beach — Klampenborg, Denmark
Photo: BIGANDT.COM/Shutterstock
Nobody’s confusing Denmark with a world-class beach destination, but during the warm summer months the crowd on this nude beach would rival any you’d find along the Riviera. It’s a young, attractive group of folks who come to this spot about seven miles from downtown Copenhagen, where half the beach is topless, and the other half is fully nude. Because the crowd’s young, it can get a little rowdier than other clothing-optional beaches. But if you can handle that, it’s one of the best parties in Denmark.
3. Wreck Beach — Vancouver, Canada
Photo: JamesChen/Shutterstock
Though this beach is often lauded as the most scenic nude beach in North America, let’s be real: it’s still stripping down to the buff in Vancouver. There’s no direct road access here either, so the crowds stay small even on sunny days. Meaning, for those a little skittish about disrobing on the sand for the first time, this might be an ideal spot. Add in spectacular views of the mountains beyond and you might momentarily forget the chill of the cool Canadian air on your skin.
4. Vecaki Beach — Vecaki, Latvia
Photo: Obraz/Shutterstock
Sadly, there’s a severe lack of tacky vendors selling “I put my balls in the Baltic Sea” t-shirts on this narrow strip of sand just outside Riga. What it does have is volleyball nets, where you can join plenty of locals and visiting Russians in playing a few sets with your clothes off. The water is nasty cold, even in summer, so a dip here will definitely be more painful than any athletic-induced bouncing.
5. Agesta Beach — Stockholm, Sweden
Photo: Catuncia/Shutterstock
More surprising than the fact there’s a nude beach in almost-arctic Sweden is that there’s a full TEN of them scattered throughout the country. The best of the lot is this one on Lake Magelungen in Stockholm. It feels every bit the lakeside summer of your childhood memories, except it’s packed with statuesque naked Swedes making you seriously reconsider your gym routine. No matter, they may look great but in the winter they only get six hours of daylight. SO THERE, SVEN.
6. Bloemendaal aan Zee — The Netherlands
Photo: Julia700702/Shutterstock
Amsterdam has a great many things to do other than partake in legal herbage, and if the weather’s nice, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better beach party in the country than the one here. Admittedly, you’d be hard pressed to find ANY other beach party in the Netherlands, and you definitely won’t find another one with a clothing-optional section. It’s a great beach for nude beach beginners, as the town has plenty of bars and clothed beaches to hit if the naked thing doesn’t work out. Or if it does, the long summer days allow you to stay there all day.
7. Rowy Beach — Rowy, Poland
Photo: ArtMediaFactory/Shutterstock
This tiny town on the edge of Slowinski National Park isn’t exactly the kind of place one would expect to host a spectacular nude beach. But head to the eastern edge of town, cross the Lupawa River, head over the dunes to the sand, look for a big pole sticking up from the ground about a half mile down the beach, make a few jokes about it, then find one of the prettiest, most peaceful beaches in the country. Nude or otherwise.
8. Morfa Dyffryn — Barmouth, Wales
Photo: Steeve Roche/Shutterstock
Snowdonia National Park just sounds like a place you wanna walk around without clothes, right? Well, apparently it is if you’re Welsh, since it’s home to the country’s largest nude beach where folks from all over the U.K. flock to sunbathe sans tanlines. This mile-long stretch of sand sits between towering dunes and the crisp waters of Barmouth Bay. And by crisp we mean run-for-your-life cold. So maybe don’t go in, unless you want to spend your afternoon on the nude beach warming up in sweats.
9. Cleat’s Shore — Isle of Arran, Scotland
Photo: Stephen Finn/Shutterstock
The book “Bare Britain” described Cleat’s Shore as “probably the least visited nude beach in the known universe.” That’s a bold statement, since we doubt the author was hitting up the finer nude beaches of Andromeda. But its remote location in the Firth of Clyde off the coast of Scotland — combined with its very-Scottish temperatures — don’t exactly make it a naturist’s holiday destination. That said, on the odd sunny day the rocky coastline and blue water make for a relaxing place to disrobe and get your Scottish tan on. Though you might be well advised to bring some whiskey for warmth.
10. Collins Beach — Sauvie Island, Oregon, USA
Photo: Qs RV Life/Shutterstock
No huge shock there’s a nude beach within a fixie ride of Portland, but the Pacific Northwest is still not a place one associates with sunbathing. But if it somehow isn’t raining, this island in the Columbia River has a mile of its northeastern coast devoted as clothing optional. It sits right up against a clothing-not-optional section, however, and has been known to draw a gawker or two at the beach’s border.
January 31, 2022
45 funniest Mexican expressions
You can eat all the mole and drink all the tequila in Mexico, but you’ll never blend in until you master some Mexican expressions.
Mexico, like most hispanic countries, has its own unique version of Spanish, one that’s filled with funny Mexican sayings that you wouldn’t understand or use without the help of the following guide. The Mexican expressions listed below may not all be suitable for polite conversations, but most of them will take you deeper into the culture and even help you pass for a local.
Mexican sayings that show the Mexicans love their food1. Te avienta un choroA Mexican doesn’t “make up stories”, they “throw a mussel at you” (te avienta un choro).
2. Truena como ejoteA Mexican doesn’t “fail”, they “explode like a green bean” (truena como ejote).
3. Te come el mandadoA Mexican doesn’t “take advantage of you”, they “eat your groceries” (te come el mandado).
4. Le mide el agua a los camotesA Mexican doesn’t “plan ahead”, they “measure the water for the sweet potatoes” (le mide el agua a los camotes).
5. Te botaneaA Mexican doesn’t “make fun of you”, they “snack” on you (te botanea).
Mexican sayings that show the Mexicans are mother-obsessed6. Va vuelto madreA Mexican isn’t “in a hurry”, they “go into a motherly transformation” (va vuelto madre)
7. Te suelta un madrazoA Mexican doesn’t punch you, they “unleash a big mamma on you” (Te suelta un madrazo).
8. Le vale madreMexican doesn’t “avoid responsibilities”, they “make it mother worthy” (le vale madre).
Mexican expressions you can’t use in a polite conversation9. Se avienta el mañaneroA Mexican doesn’t have “morning sex”, they “throw the morning one” (se avienta el mañanero).
10. Se saca de pedoA Mexican doesn’t “get scared or surprised”, they “gets himself out of the fart” (se saca de pedo).
11. Te pedalean la bicicletaA Mexican doesn’t “cheat on you”, they “ride another bicycle.”
Mexican expressions that are useful but brutal12. Chupa farosA Mexican doesn’t just “die”, they “suck lighthouses” (chupa faros).
13. Está picándose los ojosA Mexican doesn’t “kill time”, they “poke their eyes” (está picándose los ojos).
14. Es bien sangrónA Mexican isn’t “unbearable”, they “bleed copiously” (es bien sangrón).
Mexican sayings that involve animals15. Te tira el perroA Mexican doesn’t “flirt with you”, they “throw you the dog” (te tira el perro).
16. Se encabronaA Mexican doesn’t “get mad”, they “turn into the big goat” (se encabrona).
17. Arma la vacaA Mexican doesn’t “fundraise”, they “build a cow” (arma la vaca).
18. Se pone pipiris niceA Mexican doesn’t “dress up”, they “put on some nice pipiris.” (se pone pipiris nice).
19. Se echa una pestañita o un coyotitoA Mexican doesn’t “take a cat nap”, they “go into a little eyelash or into a baby coyote” (se echa una pestañita o un coyotito).
20. Piensa en la inmortalidad del cangrejoA Mexican doesn’t “get lost in his own thoughts”, they “think about the crab’s immortality.”
Other funny Mexican expressions21. Te da el aviónA Mexican doesn’t “humor you”, they “gives you a plane” (te da el avión).
22. Hace como que la virgen le hablaA Mexican doesn’t “ignore you”, they “do as if the virgin’s speaking to him” (hace como que la virgen le habla).
23. Le encanta hacerle a la mamadaA Mexican doesn’t “beat about the bush”, they “love doing it the sucky sucky way” (le encanta hacerle a la mamada).
24. Se hace bolasA Mexican doesn’t “get confused”, they “turn themselves into balls” (se hace bolas).
25. Hace las cosas al aventónA Mexican isn’t “careless”, they do things “the pushing way” (hace las cosas al aventón).
26. Pide parosA Mexican doesn’t “ask for favors”, they “asks for strikes” (pide paros).
27. Hace un PanchoA Mexican doesn’t “make a scene”, they “make a Pancho” (hace un Pancho).
Here’s why 18 miles of fishing line circles above the streets of Manhattan
If you look closely, you might spot clear twine tied to utility poles in certain parts of Manhattan. Turns out it’s a fishing line with an important purpose. TikTok creator Norberto Briceño spots interesting things you’ll find in cities across the country. In a recent TikTok, he explained the fishing line in Manhattan.
An 18-mile fishing line connects 1st to 126th street. It’s part of Jewish Sabbath traditions, and the line is called an Eruv roof, which is a symbolic fence and boundary. Jews that observe the laws of the Sabbath are not allowed to carry anything from their private residence out into the public domain on Saturdays. That includes any essentials like a wallet, cellphone, and keys, to name a few. Exodus 16:29 asks Jewish people to stay in to rest on Saturdays. An eruv symbolically extends your private residence into the public domain so you can perform ordinary activities like taking your dog for a walk or carrying your child.
@norbertobriceno Kinda Interesting Things #8: The Fishing Line Above Manhattan #Eruv #hiddengems #hiddengemsnyc #nycsecrets #fyi #travel #nyc #history #exploringnyc ♬ original sound – Norberto Briceño
The eruv offers Jewish observers the opportunity to maintain the freedom to carry around important items. Every Thursday a rabbi will check the eruv before dawn to confirm it’s intact. The eruv was invented 2000 years ago, and there are over 200 cities around the world with similar eruvs. Manhattan’s is the most expensive to maintain according to NPR, costing between $125,000 and $150,000 each year. The reason it’s so expensive is there are often breaks in the line that require a construction company to be called and a rabbi to get in a cherry picker with fishing line to fix it.
The effort has paid off. Rabbi Mintz told NPR in 2019 that the eruv has never been down for a Sabbath.
Why you should rethink going on a Yosemite trip this summer
American national parks will be getting a face-lift in 2022, and park-goers should be prepared for the chaos that comes with it. The Great American Outdoors Act, which passed in 2020, provides millions of dollars in funding to update the infrastructure that supports the 325 million visitors that go to National Parks each year. These maintenance repairs are long past due. Over half a dozen projects will take place in Yosemite alone this summer, according to Mercury News.
To start, $42 million will be dedicated to rebuilding Glacier Point Road. Ten miles of pavement from Badger Pass to Glacier Point, culverts, trailhead parking, and retaining walls will all be replaced. Three hundred parking spots will also be temporarily out of commission while construction crews build a new 3,000-square-foot welcome center in Yosemite Valley. A new outdoor plaza will offer new restrooms, paths, and signs. And inside the welcome center, visitors will find rangers answering questions, information kiosks, touchscreens, maps, guidebooks, and more.
This summer, park officials will also close several major campgrounds — including Crane Flat, Tuolumne Meadows and Bridalveil Creek — to upgrade aging water systems, restrooms, and other facilities. A $15 million project will rebuild Bridalveil Fall trails in Yosemite Valley. Visitors can also expect road repairs on Tioga Pass Road all summer. Mariposa Grove is scheduled to re-open on Memorial Day once repairs are finished on the wooden boardwalks and main restroom from the windstorm that took out 15 Sequoias last year.
The park ended the reservation system set in place for COVID-19 restrictions in October, but a similar procedure is expected to return once construction is underway. Details will be finalized in the next couple of weeks.
“What we want to do is accommodate as many people as we can without causing any gridlock in the valley and other places in the park,” Yosemite Superintendent Cicely Muldoon said in a statement.
Yosemite is one of the busiest US parks, with 3.8 million visitors in 2020 alone when parks were only reaching up to 50 percent capacity. But there are plenty of national parks that offer just as much wonder in the summer with significantly fewer crowds and some that don’t require reservations.
This influencer’s advice on what to avoid in Paris is spot on, with a few exceptions
When in Paris, do exactly as you wish. Go buy a baguette at one of the many bakeries, tuck it under your arm, and walk around the streets of the French capital for hours on end if that pleases you. There’s no right or wrong way to be a tourist in Paris. That said, a couple of pieces of advice from experts can always come in handy to make the most of a visit to the city.
Paris Explore, an Instagram account dedicated to The City of Lights, recently reposted a reel from Volgaleoni, an influencer based in France, on the things you should avoid doing in Paris. While some viewers commented that they did not need to be told what they should and shouldn’t do during their visit, some of the info offered is actually spot on. Some, however, is a little dubious.
Voir cette publication sur InstagramUne publication partagée par Paris ✨• France🇫🇷 • Travel ✈️ (@paris.explore)
Let’s look more closely at Volgaleoni’s recommendations on the things you should avoid doing in Paris and explain why they may be worth following or ignoring.
Good advice: “Don’t buy a beret in a tourist souvenir shop”Berets have been a cliché representation of the French for decades, but the stereotype is more based on late 19th-century and early 20th-century rural males than it is in 21st century women. Therefore, wearing a beret while in Paris is totally acceptable and certainly won’t make you stand out like a sore thumb. That is, if you wear them in winter when you need to keep your head warm.
The point made by Volgaleoni is that berets sold in souvenir shops in Paris are corny and over priced. Just walk into a proper clothing shop and buy a beret from there. That way you’ll have a choice of color, material, and the quality will likely be much higher for a lower price.
Not great advice: “Don’t go to the Louvre on Thursday and to Orsay on Tuesday”
Photo: Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock
This piece of advice seems totally arbitrary.
The only day the Louvre is closed to the public is on Tuesday. The museum is otherwise open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. There used to be late openings on Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as free admission every first Saturday of the month, but those initiatives have stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Matador‘s Louvre expert, the best day to go visit the iconic museum was Wednesday night between 5 PM and 10 PM, but since that’s not possible any longer, follow his second best advice, which is to “avoid any school holidays, weekends, or peak summer times.” Thursdays are a perfectly adequate time to go, while Wednesdays afternoons and weekends, when French kids are out of school, are to be avoided at all cost. Also, buy your ticket online. The line will be less than 30 minutes if you do, but can be as long as 90 minutes if you don’t.
As for the Orsay Museum, there’s no reason why Tuesday would be a bad time to visit. Orsay is closed on Mondays and is open until 9:45 PM on Thursdays, which tends to make for a child-free and atmospheric time. If you’re on a budget, the first Sunday of every month is free, which may mean it’ll be busy, but you save about 16 euros (about $18). Like for the louvre, buy your ticket online and avoid Wednesdays afternoon and weekends if you want a less-crowded experience.
Good advice: “Don’t use a taxi everywhere all the time”Unless you have a lot of money to waste, a lot of time to spend in traffic, and a total disregard for the environment, then don’t use a taxi to get around Paris.
The RATP, i.e. the Paris Transport Authority, has cheap, safe, and very efficient ways to get you around the French capital almost around the clock via metro, bus, tramway, or suburban train. There’s a variety of RATP passes available for tourists who want to save time and money. Also, the Parisian metro stations are all unique, with unusual decors and names, so you’d be missing out on a lot if you skipped public transports altogether.
Okay advice: “Don’t drink cappuccino in a typical French café”
Photo: Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock
Once again, drink whatever you wish to drink. If your favorite hot beverage is cappuccino, then don’t let the fact that this is an Italian specialty coffee, not a French one, deter you from ordering it and having an enjoyable moment. If, however, you want to try something a little more typical of your location, you can ask the wait staff for:
“Un café”: a single shot of espresso“Un café double”: a double shot of espresso“Un café serré”: a single shot of espresso but with less water gone through the coffee“Un café allongé”: a shot of espresso but with more water gone through the coffee“Un café crème”: a espresso topped with foamy milk, and the closest French beverage to a cappuccino“Un café noisette”: a shot of espresso with a few drops of hot milk“Un déca”: a decaf shot of espressoOkay advice: “Don’t take a picture of the Eiffel Tower at the Rue de l’Université”We can only assume that the reason this is considered one of the things you should avoid doing in Paris is because it’s an overused photo spot.
The Rue de l’Université in the seventh arrondissement of Paris provides great views of the Eiffel Tower, but it’s far from a secret one and you’ll run into a lot of Instagrammers posing for that perfect shot. There are many other spots in the seventh arrondissement where you can snap a great photo of The Iron Lady, including Square Rapp, Rue St. Dominique, and Rue De Monttessuy. But also remember that Paris is filled with pretty places that deserve your attention, including architectural oddities that you never expected to see, so get a photo of the Eiffel Tower and move on to other less-visited sights.
Bonus advice: Don’t get all dressed up
Photo: Victoria Chudinova/Shutterstock
While this piece of advice did not make it to Volgaleoni’s reel, it’s one to remember. Yes, Paris tends to be associated with fashion and elegance, but don’t overdo it. Don’t take Emily from Emily in Paris as a reference — she looks like a clown and would never blend in in a million years. The key is to keep things simple with good-quality items. Also, if you want to pass for a Parisian, don’t skip on the scarf. This is the one piece of clothing everyone wears in the winter month.
7 romantic couples getaways for spring under $500
Whether you want a city break, a beach holiday, an art-filled getaway or a soothing spa vacation, taking a romantic trip on a budget can be done. You just have to prioritize what’s most important to you. Invest in time spent in nature, a luxe hotel, an action-packed itinerary or special meals together and economize on the rest. These affordable romantic vacations under 500.00 dollars or less do not include transportation, airfare and some taxes — but the rest is covered.
You can choose the attractions that speak to you for a customized vacation experience. Each lodging option offers a little something extra — including pools, spas, and activities or amenities like free breakfast, complimentary beverages, kitchens, refrigerators and microwaves — so you can reduce dining and entertainment expenses. So it doesn’t matter if you’re craving an urban escape, a quiet marsh landscape, snowy mountain peaks or a desert retreat, you’ll get more for your money.
We hope you love the vacations under 500.00 dollars we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication. See our full Advertiser Disclosure here.
1. A Rocky Mountain retreat in Banff, Alberta
Photo: Ronnie Chua/Shutterstock
The Canadian Rockies tempts nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts with secluded hikes through Banff National Park, sunset ice skating on Lake Louise and glacial lakes and frosty peaks that glitter in the crisp mountain air. It’s all just 90 minutes from Calgary. And since the exchange rate favors the US dollar, travel budgets stretch further here.
Photo: Banff Lodging Co
Check into The Dorothy Motel, the first boutique property in Banff. Rates start at just $60 US per night and include free parking, access to the ROAM Transit system, and discounts at local businesses. Stash provisions in the fridge and brew some complimentary coffee and tea (or head to Whitebark Café for espresso and vegan coffee cake) as you plan your outdoor adventures.
Rent snowshoes, ice skates, winter boots, ice cleats or cross-country skis for $10-$20 a day from Banff Adventures. Hike Johnston Canyon to see two of Banff National Park’s frozen waterfalls which cost only $10.50 per person, ski Moraine Lake Road or lace up your skates and take a spin on Lake Louise. Then snuggle up for a horse-drawn sleigh ride. It’s a splurge at $42 each, but the romantic 40-minute outing includes a hot drink and epic Rocky Mountain landscapes.
Steam rolls off the waters of Banff Upper Hot Springs for $9.25 per person, a mountainside UNESCO World Heritage Site sheltered by snow-covered pines. Explore boardwalks, trails, films and interactive exhibits at nearby Cave and Basin National Historic Site for $8.50 each.
Connect over tapas and hearty vegetarian dishes at Nourish Bistro. Or try pub food like poutine and Alberta beef or bison burgers at Banff Ave Brewing Company. The beer is made from the same icy glacial water that shaped the scenery.
2. Soak up the sun in Miami
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Miami is glamorous, but its most striking attractions are totally free. Explore colorful street art, Cuban culture and pristine beaches by neighborhood.
Start in Miami Beach. Winter temperatures stay in the 70s, so stretch out on the white sand at South Beach, window shop along Ocean Drive, and walk to the South Beach Pier to fish, bike or ogle the turquoise Atlantic. Then hit Lummus Park Beach for sunbathing, sand volleyball and a possible celeb sighting. It’s all free, as is the Art Deco Tour, which explores the neighborhood’s distinctive, pastel-colored buildings.
Try affordable Cuban food like fried whole snapper and fried plantains at Puerto Sagua Restaurant. Or order a frita (a Cuban burger on fluffy bread topped with shoestring potatoes) and papaya juice for well under $10 at El Rey de Los Fritas in Little Havana. Browse the fruit stands and cigar shops, nibble guava and cheese pastelitos, sip Cuban coffee or rum and watch spirited games of dominos unfold in Máximo Gómez Park.
Stop by the Wynwood neighborhood for eclectic art galleries, boutiques and The Wynwood Walls, an outdoor collection of murals created by artists from around the world. General admission is $12 per person. Adding a tour is $5 more.
In a city this photogenic, you’ve got to stay in an artful abode. This dreamy Airbnb has a Frida Kahlo theme, a landscaped yard and patio, and a kitchen that includes a coffee maker and kitchen staples for $136 a night.
Photo: Booking.com
Art aficionados will adore The Gabriel South Beach, an Art Deco boutique hotel that features a 30-foot-tall mural by street artist Mr. Brainwash. It’s at the very top end of the budget — around $230 a night — but that rate includes a two hour beach cruiser rental, beach chairs and towels, a daily in-room movie and shuttle service to downtown Miami.
3. A spa trip to Jemez Springs, New Mexico
Photo: Kit Leong/Shutterstock
Immerse yourself in indigenous history, culture and soothing hot springs just an hour north of Albuquerque. People have found serenity in the sleepy town’s red rock canyons, scenic mesas and medicinal waters for centuries. As an added bonus, all of the key attractions in and around Jemez Springs cost $25 or less.
For just $7 per person, you can explore The Jemez Historic Site, a village in San Diego Canyon built by the ancestors of the Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa), then study geology and indigenous history during a 1.5-mile guided hike in Red Rocks Canyon. Purchase a $10 hiking pass at the Walatowa Visitor Center if you’d rather hike as a couple. Bring layers and check the forecast — it does snow in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Budget $25 for an hour-long session at rustic spots like Spence Hot Springs and McCauley Warm Springs. There are trailheads nearby, so you can treat yourself to a post-hike soak. It’s also $25 for a 50-minute session at Jemez Hot Springs (which features four pools and lovely mesa and river views), and Jemez Spring Bath House, where you can add a wrap or massage for $50 or less.
Photo: Cañon Del Rio Hotel
Stay at the adobe-style Cañon Del Rio Hotel. For $165 a night, you can appreciate scenic Jemez River and mesa views from the hot tub, courtyard garden, seasonal pool, koi pond and walking trails. Or book this 1890s cottage with a cozy wood burning stove for $120 nightly. It’s also near hiking trails and includes a full kitchen with free tea, coffee and kitchen essentials so you can make your own meals. Use the money you save for burgers, ribs or chili rellenos at Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon, or treat yourselves to huevos rancheros and fresh pastries on the mountainside porch at Highway 4 Coffee.
4. Outdoor adventures in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Photo: Dave Allen Photography/Shutterstock
Investigate crashing waterfalls, secluded nature preserves, underground caverns, hardwood forests and peaceful wildflower meadows in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. This laid-back city is a nature-lover’s dream.
Board the historic Lookout Mountain Incline Railway which costs $15 per person for sweeping Tennessee River views from Point Park, a Civil War battlefield. Admission is $10 and valid for seven days. Descend deep into the mountain to visit Ruby Falls for $24.95 a person. You can also hike to nine above-ground waterfalls within driving distance of Chattanooga.
Order fall-off-the-bones St. Louis-style ribs, deli sandwiches and banana pudding at Purple Daisy Picnic Café after a day of hiking the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Trail System. Sample creamy Clumpies Ice Cream and a bakery-fresh MoonPie (invented in Chattanooga in 1917), or indulge in the daily buy one, get one free oyster happy hour from 4:00 — 5:00 PM at Easy Bistro.
Bring a picnic to Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center, 300 acres of hiking, biking and paddling serenity just 10 minutes from downtown. (A donation of $15 per car is suggested.) Ride the charming antique carousel in Coolidge Park just $1 and cross the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge (one of the world’s longest). Then grab a Bike Chattanooga rideshare, $8 for a 1-day pass, $15 for 3 days, to explore sites along the Chattanooga Riverwalk, including the River Gallery Sculpture Garden.
Photo: Booking.com
Add the Rejuvenate Package to your stay at RiverView Inn on Lookout Mountain to enjoy 25 percent off a consecutive two-night stay, two waffle-weave robes and a relaxing room spray. Rates start at $128 a night and include a hot breakfast like biscuits and gravy or cheese grits, along with fruit and pastries, a seasonal outdoor pool, firepit and spacious deck. Settle into the rocking chairs on your balcony to drink in those gorgeous views.
5. An artful desert escape in Scottsdale, Arizona
Photo: BCFC/Shutterstock
A trip to Scottsdale blends the stoic beauty of the Sonoran Desert with the creative energy of an art-lover’s city break. This Phoenix suburb is a creative enclave bursting with museums, galleries and public arts. And much of it is totally free.
Over 120 pieces of public art are placed around the city. A mini walking tour highlights 10 key public art pieces in Scottsdale’s atmospheric Old Town neighborhood. Stop for oh-so-Instagrammable ice cream creations at Sugar Bowl, a 1950s soda fountain.
Admission to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art admission is free Thursdays and the second Saturday of every month. The Heard Museum, which showcases indigenous art, is free the first Friday of each month.
More than 100 art galleries welcome visitors throughout the city for no charge. Old Town Scottsdale kicks it up a notch on Thursday nights, when over 30 galleries tempt art hounds with wine, cheese and live demonstrations.
Want another glass? Old Town Scottsdale’s six wine tasting rooms feature flights from $12-20 per person and Postino Wine Café offers popular “bottle and board” wine and bruschetta board specials on Monday and Tuesday nights. Or order $6 wine and sangria during daily Happy Hours at Diego Pops, an addictive Mexican eatery tucked inside a historic pottery shop.
You’ll have extra money for meals if you stay at this private Airbnb in the Sonoran Desert. It includes a full kitchen and grill so you can prepare your own meals and complimentary coffee, tea, cocoa and breakfast muffins, so you can fuel up before a day hiking or biking over 225 miles of trails on McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Admission is free.
You can also score a rare high season discount of $122 a night at the new Comfort Suites in early February. To save even more, come in the summer, prices drop 50-60 percent.
6. A historic city break in San Antonio, TexasPhoto: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
San Antonio is steeped in hundreds of years of history, seasoned with Mexican culinary and cultural influences and spiced with urban outdoor attractions. Take a city break in one of the most vibrant communities in Texas.
Start at The Alamo, the iconic landmark where James Bowie and David Crockett died fighting General Santa Anna’s troops in 1836. Reserve a free ticket to enter. The site includes interactive exhibits and tours, demonstrations and gardens.
Photo: Booking.com
Stay at the historic Menger Hotel, the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi, just steps away. It boasts an elegant lobby, courtyard garden, and the largest heated pool in the city. Rooms start at just $139 a night. Add breakfast in the Victorian-era restaurant for $149.
Walk down to The San Antonio River Walk, a 15-mile urban waterway just below street level that pulses with life all year long. Amble under the shade trees, watch the riverboats, and follow the sound of live music.
History buffs and nature lovers will love San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, the only UNESCO World Heritage site in the state. A hiking and biking trail connects the 18th century missions, an ideal way to get outdoors in the middle of the city. Admission is free.
Head to Historic Market Square for authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine and shopping from more than a hundred vendors. Look for live music and artist demos on the outdoor plaza and Farmer’s Market stage on weekends.
Still hungry? Follow the locals to Rosario’s Mexican Restaurant and Lounge for sizzling parrillas, fish tacos and bold vegetarian options like quinoa chile relleno. Or relax on the patio at La Fonda on Main, a San Antonio standby for Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas and other classic dishes since 1932. Both are close to the airport, so you can fuel up before you take off.
7. An oceanside idyll in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Photo: TierneyMJ/Shutterstock
Unwind along South Carolina’s Atlantic coast. The beachfront boardwalk’s arcades, restaurants, amusement park and Ferris Wheel offer a quick hit of nostalgia and the pale, sandy beaches are perfect for a sunset stroll.
Winter temperatures in Myrtle Beach stay in the 50s and 60s, perfect weather for morning coffee on the beach, fishing from the piers or gathering over 700 varieties of seashells. The city’s beaches are free.
The ocean is the star of Myrtle Beach State Park ($8 per adult), 312 acres of bike paths, nature trails and oceanfront woods. While you’re in the area, visit Brookgreen Gardens, where 1,400 sculptures rest among ever-blooming botanical gardens, moody oaks and palmetto groves. Each $20 adult admission is valid for seven days.
Every room at The Strand has an ocean view. Linger over the complimentary hot breakfast, relax on the beach, seasonal oceanfront pool deck and tanning lawn, or chill a bottle of wine in the mini fridge and watch the waves from your balcony. Rates start at $67 a night in February, so there’s room in the budget for dinner and drinks.
Visit Barefoot Landing for $12 wine tastings, shopping and tranquil water views from inside a bird sanctuary. Or sample local wine made from muscadine berries among the oak trees at Duplin Winery.
Savor peel-and-eat-shrimp, oysters and cocktails bourbon-spiked Carolina Lemonade on the wraparound deck at Hook and Barrel. Or indulge in fresh seafood and live music every night up and down the Murrels Inlet Marsh Walk, an outdoor boardwalk that runs along the Lowcountry marshes in a pretty fishing village.
For a special oceanfront dinner, splurge on steak and crab cakes and Lowcountry classics like shrimp and grits and She Crab soup at Sea Captain’s House. Then see the Atlantic from the SkyWheel for $16 each, as the sun dips below the horizon.
January 28, 2022
The 8 largest lesser-visited Chinese cities that should be on your radar
In the US, size is king. We like our vehicles to be trucks, our prairies vast, our Mac’s big. We might even be under the impression that our cities put others to shame. But even our biggest metropolises shrink in the shadow of the largest cities in China. Everyone knows about the staggering size of Shanghai and Beijing, China’s two largest cities by population — 22.3 million and 11.7 million respectively — but do you know that its third, fourth, and fifth biggest cities make New York look like a village? And the largest cities in China do more than just shatter records — they are centers of culinary culture, history, and art, and make great destinations for travelers looking for unexpected experiences.
These are the largest cities in China by urban population, according to World Population Review, and how they compare to the eight most populated cities in the US.
1. Tianjin: 11 million peopleNew York City: 8.6 million people
Photo: aphotostory/Shutterstock
One of the most important port cities in China, Tianjin is not only rich in economic activity, but also in culinary culture and architecture. Nanshi Food Street is the best place for checking out the local cuisine. It’s a huge food mall that looks like an ancient Chinese citadel, with over 100 different food stalls with dishes from all over China.
“Pancake rolls with crisp fritters and Goubuli steamed buns, which originated in Tianjin, are among the most well-known breakfast dishes in China,” says Thomas Brow, a travel agent working in Beijing. “But only in Tianjin can you get the most authentic taste.”
To get a real feel for Tianjin’s architectural history, stroll down Guwenhua Jie, otherwise known as Ancient Culture Street. This pedestrian thoroughfare is lined with temple gates and food stalls, and is classified as one of China’s AAAAA scenic areas by the China National Tourism Administration (the top official rating for tourist attractions in China).
“Guwenhua Jie integrates local traditional culture and delicious food, and is a must-visit for travelers to the city,” Brown says. He also suggests a visit to Tianjin Panshan Mountain Scenic Area, a place known for its Buddhist temples and royal gardens. There, you can take a cable car to Wansong Temple halfway up the mountain, as well as Guayue Peak, or hike the 9,000-foot elevation to the peak yourself via one of the mountain trails.
2. Guangzhou: 11 millionLos Angeles: 4 million
Photo: 4045/Shutterstock
A huge city in southern China, Guangzhou is a blend of history and forward-looking innovation. “Known for being one of the starting points for the Silk Road, Guangzhou is now a thriving metropolis and os well known for its manufacturing and fashion hub,” says Catherine Heald, CEO and Co-Founder of Remote Lands, a luxury travel agency specializing in Asia travel. “Travelers can also take a step back in time to visit Old Canton in the western part of the city, including Canton Tower, or the many skyscrapers in the eastern part.”
Indeed, the first thing you may notice about Guangzhou is Canton Tower, one of China’s tallest buildings. The 1,970-foot tower has observation decks, restaurants, coffee shops, and thrill rides, and, at one point in history, it even held the distinction of being the tallest tower in the world.
The peaceful Guangxiao Temple, dating all the way back to the Han Dynasty in 206 BC, is another must-visit in the city. Along with the nearby nine-story Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, built in 537 AD, Guangxiao is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Guangzhou.
According to Brown, the food scene in Guangzhou is also not to be missed. “The breakfast in Guangzhou is called morning tea,” he says, “which is something every tourist must experience. It contains many local specialties, such as steamed vermicelli rolls, crystal shrimp dumplings, and sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf.”
3. Shenzhen: 10 millionChicago: 2.7 million
Photo: askarim/Shutterstock
A former market town, this southern Chinese city became a Special Economic Zone in 1979, and has since grown into one of the largest cities in China. According to Heald, “Shenzhen connects Hong Kong to China’s mainland and is one of the largest, most popular cities in southeast China. It is a one-hour high-speed train ride from Hong Kong and a special economic zone where a lot of manufacturing is done.”
One of the city’s most unique sites is the Window of the World, an Epcot-like pavilion with over 130 tributes to international attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls, the Taj Mahal, and the pyramids of Egypt. If you haven’t had your fill of kitschy attractions, you can also check out Happy Valley Shenzhen, a huge amusement park covering 86 acres, with nine areas inspired by international destinations.
As for natural scenery, Brown recommends checking out “Wutong Mountain, which is one of the most popular scenic spots in Shenzhen among those who live there.” From the top you can see the coastal mountain range and nearby Roc Bay. Several hiking trails are available, including a scenic seven-mile loop trail from Wutong Village. And if you’re looking for something a bit more relaxing, Dameisha Beach, the longest beach in Shenzhen, stretches for nearly 2,000 yards along the South China Sea.
4. Wuhan: 9.7 millionHouston: 2.4 million
Photo: sleepingpanda/Shutterstock
The city of Wuhan has come to be associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s unfortunate, as Wuhan is far from being a scary place – it’s full of great attractions for visitors.
“Visitors to Wuhan will be surprised by many aspects of the city,” says Heald, “from its history as a colonial British settlement and the location of the Wuchang Uprising, to its modern-day spring Cherry Blossom Festival [taking place in early March every year], nightlife, and emerging art scene.
According to Brown, Yellow Crane Tower should be at the top of any visitor’s list in Wuhan. Once a military watchtower, the historical pagoda dates back to the third century, and is a point of immense pride among residents. “It is also a National AAAAA level tourist attraction,” says Brown. “You can’t visit Wuhan without climbing the tower.”
For a dose of natural scenery, visit East Lake. The largest inner-city lake in China, East Lake is also the largest scenic area in Wuhan, with viewing platforms, spring blossoms, and tea-houses and restaurants along the shore.
5. Dongguan: 8 millionPhoenix: 1.7 million
Photo: Bao Zhonghui/Shutterstock
Dongguan isn’t known for being a tourist spot, but “this is a city with much history,” according to Heald. “It is where the first Opium War started and where many Chinese believe the road to their independence began. Travelers should visit the Opium War Museum along with the Humen Bridge, which is one of the city’s best-known landmarks.”
Even if you’re not a fan of museums, the Opium War Museum is worth a visit. Built in 1957, the museum commemorates the Opium War of 1839, one of the most important and consequential wars in Chinese history. The museum’s exhibits focus on the opium trade, its suppression, and the wars that followed, with a number of period relics on display.
Keyuan Garden is a great place to get a feel for the city’s architecture and natural scenery. Established during the Qing Dynasty in the mid-19th century, it’s said to evoke the ancient and famed Suzhou Gardens — a UNESCO World Heritage site which standardized many features of Chinese garden design.
Brown recommends hiking Yinping Mountain, a 3,000-foot peak in the scenic Yinpingshan Forest Park, as well as Longwan Wetland Park, an open park with a running track, Ferris wheel, and colorful installations that serve as perfect photography backdrops.
6. Chengdu: 7.4 millionPhiladelphia: 1.6 million
Photo: 4045/Shutterstock
While you might think that a city of over seven million people would have a frenetic, fast-paced energy, Chengdu isn’t nearly as overwhelming as cities of a similar size. “The pace of life there is slow,” Brown says, “and it’s a great city to relax in. Tourists will see a lot of people drinking tea and chatting in the park.”
Chengdu is perhaps best known as the panda capital of China, with most pandas in China coming from the Sichuan region (of which Chengdu is the capital). For the full panda experience, there are two stops you need to make. The first is just south of the city, at Dujiangyan Panda Base, which includes a panda hospital, medical lab, panda kitchen, educational center, and 30 sets of enclosures where pandas live. There are even programs that allow visitors to take care of pandas themselves. The second stop is Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda, a nonprofit breeding facility for giant pandas.
For a taste of Chengdu’s history and culture, Brown suggests taking a walk down the strangely named Wide and Narrow Alley, “a historic and cultural street with many historic buildings.” The street dates back to the 17th century, and is one of the last remaining parts of the old city. Now, the street is a popular tourism venue lined with restaurants, teahouses, and boutique shops.
According to Brown, Wide and Narrow Alley is also a great place for trying food from the Sichuan region. Along the road, you’ll find restaurants and food stands selling stir-fried Sichuan chicken with Sichuan chili peppers, spicy dumplings, vinegar-soaked wontons, and Chengdu hot pot. Be warned, though, that Sichuan-style dishes are traditionally very spicy.
7. Chongqing: 7.4 millionSan Antonio: 1.6 million
Photo: ymgerman/Shutterstock
Sitting right on the Yangtze River in southwestern China, Chongqing is known for its cuisine and natural attraction — despite being one of the largest cities in China. “Chongqing is extremely unique,” says Teree Bisso, a TEFL teacher currently living in China. “It has large hills and mountains dotted with skyscrapers. Think San Francisco, but Chinese skyscrapers and architecture. It is a street photographer’s dream.”
According to Brown, the “most famous scenic spot in Chongqing is Hongya Cave, a 2,300-year-old cave that became a military fortress during the Ming Dynasty. The cave has been renovated in the traditional Ba-yu Chinese architectural style, defined by its stilted buildings. The area is also a national AAAAA scenic spot.
Not long after arriving in Chongqing, you’ll realize that the Yangtze River is the beating heart of the city. Rather than sit in traffic on a bridge, take the Chongqing Yangtze River Cableway, a cable car that crosses the river. It’s probably the most scenic (and efficient) way to enjoy the city sights, and the whole journey takes under 10 minutes.
The residents of Chongqing take particular pride in their culinary tradition. “This city is well-known for its spicy food,” Heald says. Boiled fish, glue pudding (rice flour rolled in a ball and stuffed with sesame), hot and sour rice noodles, and Wangyazi duck roast are among the most popular dishes in the area.
8. Nanjing: 7.1 millionSan Diego: 1.5 million
Photo: Joshua Davenport/Shutterstock
Nanjing, previously known as Jinling, was the capital during six dynasties in ancient China and has a very long past. Though today it serves as an important center for commerce in Eastern China, it retains much of its historical sites.
Any history tour of Nanjing should include the Bao’en Temple. Built in the early days of the Ming Dynasty, this pagoda was where people came to worship Buddah and release the souls for the dead from purgatory. Today, the temple sits on the south bank of the Qinhuai River, and houses a modern art exhibit. Your next stop should be Purple Mountain, the burial place of several emperors and legendary heroes from over 10 dynasties, and the home of over 200 heritage sites, including Linggu Temple and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
As with many of China’s major cities, Nanjing’s culinary creations shouldn’t be skipped. The city is particularly known for its Jinling roast duck, which has a tender, juicy interior and crispy exterior. Stewed eel, shredded dried tofu, and beef potstickers are also popular and ubiquitous in Nanjing.
Travelers share what they wish they knew before their first solo trip
All travel should be for good. No matter how you travel – whether it’s a girls trip, a family vacation, or a couple’s getaway; domestic or international, somewhere you’re going for the first time or a place you’ve been to a dozen times, every trip is bound to have a unique journey. And the same goes for travelers who go on solo trips. While a solo trip can be scary at first, it can be a freeing experience – you never know who you’ll meet or what you might find.
If you’re considering getting into solo travel, Redditors in r/solotravel are sharing their missteps when it comes to solo travel, so you can feel more comfortable taking the plunge.
Not socializing enough with others1. “Initially I think I was just afraid to put myself out there so I would ‘hide’ in my room by taking a really long time to wake up and get dressed, instead just sleeping in, lounging around or eating breakfast for a long time under the guise of ‘relaxing’ since I’m on vacation. In reality, I was afraid to have to go outside and immerse myself into the city/town everyday and I lost valuable time in places just hiding instead of exploring and meeting people.” — u/PringlePasta
2. “Initiating conversations first with other people. I probably should be taking the first step if I really want to know a person.” — u/squanderedhail
3. ”I think it’s about ‘learning to feel lonely by meeting people’. Cuz going on a trip alone is such a vibe but at some point if you’re a social person, you need some deeper conversation that the ones you generally have with people you just meet. So I’d say that the thing I could have done better would be to keep in touch with people I meet all the way long.” – u/ImLilss
4. “As much as I enjoyed the solitude of being alone during my solo trip to Kyoto, I wished I struck conversations with the fellow occupants at the hostels I stayed in. Part of me was afraid of talking to people I don’t know in a foreign country (blame it on all the crime shows I watch), but I wished I did. It would have added more colors to the adventure, getting to listen to the stories of adventures of others.” – u/kohi_26
Hostel or hotel?
Photo: Veres Production/Shutterstock
5. “I booked a hotel instead of a hostel. It’s saddening that I want to be able to meet fellow travelers but opted to get a hotel reservation instead.” u/hidinginthisusername
6. ”I wish I’d discovered good hostels earlier in my travels! Once I did, it was a game-changer. Read the reviews and always go with the hostel where it’s easy to meet other travelers/catered to solo travelers. A clean hostel is a dime a dozen, but a friendly, welcoming vibe will make all the difference.” – u/emihobbs
7. ”Hostels definitely – I stayed in hotels at 2/6 of the places I went when I traveled in Europe in September 2019. One I was meant to be with my boyfriend at the time but a hurricane stopped him from flying out and the other one was a bit murdery but very cheap. The hostels I stayed in left me with great friends and experiences and a few fun stories.” – u/howwouldiknow–
8. ”First time I traveled by myself I had both family and friends ask why on earth I would choose to go to a hostel over a hotel, when hotels are crowded, dirty etc That’s definitely why. Hostels made getting to know people so much easier.” – u/Cocktailsandknitting
Underplanning or overplanning a solo trip9. ”Slowed down and smelt the metaphorical roses I came across, instead of sticking to my carefully researched plan.” – u/rebelyell_in
10. ”I didn’t research enough (not really at all, except reading the Lonely Planet on the plane). I had a great time but had I planned ahead and scheduled a little bit more I would have seen a few more cool places.” u/UnicornPenguinCat
11. ”Months and months spent looking up itineraries and then I get there and it’s been pointless because I meet people I want to stick with for a few more days” — u/TheChopinet
12. “Overplanning. I really thought I was going to spend the majority of the trip alone and I ended up making friends before even arriving at my hostel, but I had a whole itinerary planned out and hostels/excursions booked so it was hard to be spontaneous.” – u/satinandsass
13. “You can plan too much, and you can plan too little. If you plan too much you’re beholden to an itinerary that can make vacation exceptionally tiring while generally canting towards a ‘connect-the-dots’ experience between touristy things. Leave some room for spontaneity, to wander, to relax. On the flip side, if you plan too little, you can find yourself losing valuable days to indecision and complacency. Have a few key items to see/do/eat for each part of a trip, it helps keep the wheels turning when you find yourself in a rut.” – u/Mako18
Packing too much stuff
Photo: Freedomz/Shutterstock
14. “I joined the r/onebag life after getting my checked luggage lost for the second time. In both instances it was found again but took a couple days to get to me. On that trip I also had to carry it up a large hill and run from one train station to another which sucked.” – u/beardsofmight
15.”Packed wayyy too much. Have been Team Carry On ever since.” – u/Reckoner08
16. “Well, I would have kept my laptop and the jeans/cargo pants at home. It was freaking hot in Italy that I was wearing skirts every day (And I did not work while backpacking there). It would have lessened the load on my backpack.” – u/swasnoopy
17. “Didn’t check the weather and overpacked. Both of these meant that I was carrying an extra bag while I could have just stuffed everything in one bag. I also didn’t quite trust my new sweater so an extra point would be to at least test out the things I’m bringing with me on the trip to see how they’d fit in with everything.” u/SechDriez
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