See your city from an entirely new perspective. (Photo: Getty Images)
Tips + TrendsPlanning a Staycation? Learn How to Fall in Love with Your City
By Chelsea BengierSee your city from an entirely new perspective. (Photo: Getty Images)
We get it—we’re creatures of habit too. You go to the same brunch spots and bars that you forget how AWESOME your city really is and all it has to offer. So we’ve rounded up some ways to fall in love with your city again. Read on.
Plan a staycation
There’s no better way to look at your city with fresh eyes than to have a staycation. Play tourist for a night by booking a room in a hotel you’ve always wanted to crash at. In New York City, treat yourself to a night at The Ritz-Carlton, Central Park, and unwind amidst classically elegant décor and personal service reminiscent of its days as the historical St. Moritz Hotel.
Join a tour
Who says being a tourist is a bad thing? Instead of scoffing at the camera-toting visitors, join them on a tour to learn more about your city. In Chicago, we love the architecture river cruise, where you can hop on a 90-minute scenic boat ride around the Windy City and hear the history behind its striking skyline. By the time you leave, you’ll have plenty of fun facts to fuel your cocktail conversations.
Explore a different neighborhood
Ok, you got us. Sometimes we’re guilty of rarely venturing far from our own neighborhoods. And undoubtedly there are still many cool enclaves you’ve never properly explored. Take Miami — the city is a patchwork of cultures, with pockets like artsy Wynwood, vibrant Little Havana, and chic Miami Design District.
In Wynwood, spend a day exploring the colorful murals, studios and funky shops like Walt Grace Vintage, which sells retro cars and electric guitars, before having a craft beer at Concrete Beach Brewery‘s garden.
Meanwhile, Little Havana is where to go for mouthwatering Cuban food. Walk down Calle Ocho, the main drag, and stop at El Pub Restaurant for picadillo-stuffed empanadas, then sip fresh-pressed guarapo (sugarcane juice), dark cafecito (Cuban coffee), or coco frio (chilled coconut water) at the charming open-air Los Pinarenos Fruteria. Top it off with a kick-ass mojito and live music in the backyard of Ball & Chain.
Eat at a new-to-you restaurant
Next time you set out for your regular haunt, make a detour and try a cool new-to-you restaurant. San Francisco, for example, is brimming with eateries — surely there are some you’ve yet to try.
For an Asian food fix, Mister Jiu’s in Chinatown offers a five-course menu that’s revolutionizing contemporary Chinese cuisine (try the tea smoked duck). You may have also heard of Nightbird, Kim Alter’s splashy restaurant that focuses on seasonal, shareable plates that change weekly (the oysters poached in dashi broth with shallots, citrus and fresh herbs is a must). Or, there’s August 1 Five for inventive Indian dishes and Bellota for Spanish tapas.
Take in the views
Nothing makes you appreciate a city more than a jaw-dropping view. (That’s why everyone loves rooftop season, right?!). And sure, NYC, Chicago and L.A. are all full of towering overlooks, but even the smaller cities can offer sweeping vistas.
In Seattle, visit the buzzy bar, The Nest. This 3,500-square-foot rooftop terrace has spot-on views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the cityscape. Plus, with a creative cocktail list and a menu of small bites, you’re sure to leave happily stuffed.
See some museums
Gone are the days of stuffy, old-school museums. Across the U.S., a funky galleries abound — and nowhere is this more apparent than in Los Angeles. It all started when The Broad put Los Angeles on the map as an artistic hotspot. Then came the Sprüth Magers gallery and the Hauser Wirth & Schimmel gallery in the Arts District.
Don’t miss the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles (formerly the Santa Monica Museum of Art); the Marciano Art Foundation, a contemporary art museum from the Guess cofounders, plus the futuristic Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a tribute to Star Wars’ filmmaker George Lucas in Exposition Park.
This article was published through a partnership with Jetsetter magazine. Read the original story: How to Fall in Love with Your City by Chelsea Bengier, a regular contributor to Jetsetter.