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. 

Reading retreats are taking the internet by storm recently, with trends being reported by the New York Post, Conde Nast Traveler, and beyond. Reading on vacation isn’t exactly a new concept - after all, beach reads exist for a reason - but taking a trip centered around reading is becoming more and more popular. As fellow book lovers, we can’t help but jump on this trend and share a list destinations perfect for a “book-cation” (has that been copyrighted yet?) as well as suggestions for what you should read while on it. 

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.

BookTok is losing its mind after Sarah J. Mass announced on social media this weekend that the first draft (drafts?) of ACOTAR 6 is complete. It’s been four years since Cassian and Nesta’s story hit bookshelves, and it’s THE topic of conversation as far as who the next installment will be centered around (Team Azriel, FTW!). We can all pray to SJM that the release be quick – perhaps an early 2026 date? One can only hope! 

Who doesn’t love a good road trip? One of the best things about Chicago is its central location, which makes it easily accessible to many great destinations across the Midwest. With several states within a reasonable driving distance, there is an endless number of places to choose from for your next weekend retreat or extended getaway. From charming lakeside towns less than two hours away to natural marvels in every direction, while we love our hometown of Chicago, we love to get away from it once in a while, too. Whether you’re a local or visiting, consider one of these memorable road trips for your next adventure. 

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.

Books have been inspiring travel for thousands of years. From the adventures of the Odyssey to the emotional journey of Eat, Pray, Love, books introduce us to places we’ve never been and might have never dreamed existed. From the haunting moors and rough coastline in England’s Yorkshire countryside to hidden corners of Paris, some of our favorite books have inspired travel over the years for us and so many others. Whether you’re looking for a great summer read or need inspiration for an upcoming trip, these eight books and destinations are strong contenders for consideration. 

Solo travel is one of the most rewarding experiences. It is liberating to travel without considering anyone else’s opinions or preferences. More importantly, embracing the discomfort of doing everything yourself teaches us much about who we are and our capabilities. Traveling alone means we are forced to have conversations with strangers and figure out the way back to the hotel on our own. Traveling alone is eating in a cafe without company and learning to be comfortable spending time with ourselves. It’s moments of quiet and solitude, and plenty of space to dive into our thoughts. It’s learning who we are without the familiarity of people we know around us. 

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. 

We’ve put together a list of destinations perfect for a digital detox. Whether you’re planning your first trip of this kind or you’ve made a habit of taking these regularly, there’s a destination on here for everyone. Some of them are truly remote, meaning that disconnecting digitally due to lack of cell or internet service will be unavoidable. While for some, that can bring immense relief, others might find it too anxiety-inducing, and that’s ok. The purpose of a digital detox is to create space for relaxation and calm the mind and nervous system. If having service available to disconnect digitally on your terms is a better option, there are plenty of spots on this list that are perfect for that, too.