The city of New York is a beast. It’s easy to underestimate exactly how large the footprint of Manhattan is, let alone all five boroughs, and it’s easy to overestimate how much can be accomplished in one day. If you only have a few short days, that lack of awareness could leave you feeling as if you’ve barely seen the city. While we recommend mapping out any destination you visit, it’s essential in New York City. Not only will it save you time getting around, it’ll help plan days that pack in quite a bit, without draining every last drop of energy from you. There are infinite ways to spend two days in the Big Apple, but here’s one itinerary to start inspiring your next trip. 

Solo trips are just as much for introverts as they are for extroverts. If anything, solo travel might have been invented by introverts. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the world at your own pace without any secondary opinions or accommodations. However, if it’s something you haven’t done before, it can be intimidating. Where do you go? How do you feel safe? How do you know which destination is the right one? What’s the best place to stay? Should you book activities or improvise? 

Nothing beats an afternoon browsing bookstores or wandering markets on a morning coffee stroll. New York City is the perfect place for both. With grand markets littered throughout the city and bookstores around almost every corner, it’s impossible not to find some treasure to take home. Shopping at markets and independent bookstores puts the money directly back into the community, supporting small businesses, local artists, and creatives. It’s supporting someone’s creative dreams and pursuits while keeping the local economy healthy. To share every single market and bookstore in NYC would mean an endless scroll. However, we’ve pulled together a few finds that should make the top of your list. 

While summer temperatures are still plaguing the better part of the northern hemisphere, it’s never too early to think about a fall getaway. Crisp weather leads to cozy adventures, no matter the destination. From the historic streets of Innsbruck and Mexico City to the peaceful quiet of the Oregon coast and waves of Maui, we’ve put together a list of places across the globe to look forward to visiting this coming season. But honestly, any of these spots make for a memorable trip regardless of the time of year. Start planning, and get ready to take off…

New York City is filled with historical landmarks, sites that have gained fame through pop culture, memorials, parks, and beyond. For new visitors, the never-ending list can be overwhelming. As long as you start somewhere, there will always be something to see that you haven’t made it to yet. From buildings with architectural significance to memorials, parks of every size and use, bridges, and more, we’ve put together a list of sites to consider on your next trip to New York City. 

New York City is a force of nature. It’s the city that never sleeps. The “Big Apple”. The “Center of the Universe”. The “Empire State”. It was the first stop many immigrants had when coming through Ellis Island for decades. For many, it became their home. For others, it was just a stop as they passed through with nothing but hope for a future achieving the “American Dream”. It’s a hub with nearly every culture, language, ethnicity, and religion represented. It’s a city that is constantly moving, never silent, with an energy that feels like a steady buzzing in your veins. New York has inspired art across every medium. It’s been immortalized in various ways from the romanticized version shown in Nora Ephron films to the gritty representation in Taxi Driver. It’s a city with many faces, many different personalities, and unique experiences that depend on when you visit and which part of the city you set foot in. This city is not for the weak, but it’s a city worthy of appreciation and respect. It’s also a place where you can visit a dozen times over and still have new things to experience. 

The Midwest is one of the most underappreciated regions in the United States. With cities like Chicago and picturesque scenery along the rugged shores of Lake Superior, there are an endless number of places to explore. Whether you’re looking for an urban adventure or to slow down and reconnect with nature, the Midwest holds varied landscapes, like lush forests, serene lakeshores, waterfalls, caves, and caverns, plus so much more. Apple festivals, berry festivals, and arts festivals fill the year with things to do, and friendly communities welcome people into their towns. We will always be ready for a coastal escape, but you can also find us making our way through the slower-paced, diverse goldmine that is the Midwest.

Summertime in Chicago has an energy you can’t experience anywhere else. Because winters are long and can be brutal, Chicagoans go all out, from patio brunches to beach days. Even if it’s one hundred degrees and humid, rooftops will be packed and the beach will be buzzing. Whether you’re a local or visiting for a few days, we’ve got your guide to summer in Chicago, from where to eat to how to escape the heat when it becomes too much. Grab your sandals and let’s get going!

In the northwest corner of Michigan’s mitten, a small town called Charlevoix sits on an isthmus between two lakes, connected by a historic drawbridge. With fewer than 2,500 residents, Charlevoix is a tranquil and idyllic town with a genuine Midwestern spirit. Known as the home of the famous Mushroom Houses and surrounded by lakes, neighboring Petoskey often overshadows this charming Michigan town, but it is worth a visit on its own. From cozy coffee shops to ferry rides, Charlevoix might be slower paced, but there’s plenty to keep you busy during a long weekend getaway. We’d even go so far as to say it’s the perfect small town for an extended stay, encouraging slowing down and reconnecting with nature. 

Hot take: You don’t have to be extroverted for solo travel. In fact, some might argue that solo travel is made for introverts. Traveling alone versus traveling in a group already reduces human interaction, which most introverts find overwhelming. That in itself leaves more energy for meeting and interaction with strangers and exploring unfamiliar places alone. Solo travel is a great way for introverts to go out of their comfort zone on their own terms. They can structure the trip around their own needs, choose experiences catered to their interests, and make adjustments to plans without considering fellow travelers. If you are an introvert thinking about taking a trip without your emotional support human, this guide is for you.

Summer isn’t for everyone. We know, we know…it’s a small group of individuals. But they exist, nonetheless. So while many people in the northern hemisphere count down the minutes until they can clock out and head to the nearest beach for a straight shot of vitamin D, others count the days until the heat breaks and cooler temperatures blow in. With this in mind, July through September is perfect for those who favor cooler weather to go south…WAY south. The southern hemisphere is in the thick of winter, so destinations like Peru and Australia are much more temperate if the heat isn’t your speed. If staying north of the equator is more realistic, plenty of destinations have milder summers for a “coolcation,” especially in northern Europe and the upper reaches of North America. Regardless of the vibe you’re looking for, we’ve got several fantastic destinations to inspire a cooler getaway this summer. But if the heat is your speed, we’ve got you covered with our summer destination guide. Or perhaps you’re looking for destinations that are good for a digital detox to unplug fully from daily life. 

Art has been inspiring bucket lists for centuries. From the Greek epics to Monet’s paintings of Provence, stories of adventures around the world and descriptions of faraway lands have shown up in every medium. Today, we’re inspired to travel through movies and film. Eat, Pray, Love is a perfect example, as is White Lotus. The impact of movies and film can be so significant that destinations will capitalize on the interest and create tours or experiences dedicated to the filming locations. Harry Potter has done this for the UK, Outlander for Scotland, and Game of Thrones for many places, including Croatia. All of these introductions are a great way to dive into new cultures, traditions, and people - go outside of our comfort zones and discover somewhere new that perhaps we weren’t aware existed before.