The USA, land of the free and self-appointed protector of the world is an interesting amalgam of people, places and experiences. In many ways, it is a contradiction in terms. It’s united in so many ways, but the recent 2016 elections proved it’s completely divided. A so-called class-less society, there is an obvious split between rich and poor, black and latin. Yet there’s a patriotic fervor here like no other. It’s these tensions that make it an interesting study in humanity – the world looks to it for leadership, trends and ideas, yet they mock it for its exclusionary attitudes. Strange for a country that was a beacon of hope and attracted generations of new-comers to find freedom in the place that was originally (like Australia), a dumping ground for criminals and miscreants.
The best way to experience the United States is to split it up into manageable bite-sized chunks. Start with the obvious coastal cities and the bright lights of Vegas, and then start digging a little deeper to see what makes this such a weird and wonderful place to visit.
Bright lights, sand, cold beers, hot dogs, and classic amusement park rides, the Coney Island boardwalk was high on our list of things to see in New York City. Growing up in Australia, it sounded like an amazing place, mentioned in Saturday morning cartoons like a mecca for kids. Sadly it’s not as pristine or exciting as an adult, but gladly not as seedy as ten years...
Beacon NY is an upstate escape that offers a relaxing respite from the bright lights and buzz of Manhattan. Taking a weekend break or even a day trip to Beacon NY is easy and rewarding, being just two hours from NYC. It’s a small town in Duchess County, on the MTA Metro-North line that is home to the DIA contemporary art museum. It’s kind of small-town that’s large...
Barclay Center Brooklyn (Barclays Center) is an arena that is home to the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and live wrestling, music, and events. Barclay Center Brooklyn is New York’s other main arena for live sports, music, and events, second only to Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan. For years, MSG was the go-to destination for big-ticket shows, but once...
Brandy Library NYC is a New York City Bar for alcohol connoisseurs who like their atmosphere highbrow and their liquor served in a low ball. The Brandy Library NYC is in trendy TriBeCa, a neighborhood of cobblestone streets and renovated warehouses and lofts. So, it’s well within the realms of reality that you’d expect to find old, haunted dive bars (like Ear Inn)...
New things to do in New York City in 2021 as it welcomes back visitors, for better or worse. Firstly, Post-COVID isn’t really true, as the world is still very much under the influence of the worst global pandemic in a century, but throwing caution to the wind, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has loosened requirements for masking for those with vaccinations, and...
See the best live music at the Jones Beach shows at the Northwell Theater at Jones Beach. Some of Long Island’s best beaches and a 15,000-seat arena make Jones Beach worthy of at least one summer trip a year. Surf’s Up! There are two main aspects of Jones Beach for a visitor: the beach and the venue. The beach is at a point on the island devoid of local shops...
We found a selection of the best things to do in Memphis when we spent a whirlwind weekender of barbecue, Beale, blues, and not a single Elvis impersonator in sight. Instead, you’ll find diving goats, ducks that walk red carpets, and the diner that made the deep-fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches that ensure Elvis wasn’t just huge in the music industry, he was...
Algiers Point is a quaint, leafy suburb of New Orleans. We used it as a base to explore the Cajun wonderland but there’s plenty to justify a ride on the ferry over to wander its charming streets. Algiers Point is New Orleans’ second oldest neighborhood, but it’s a world apart from the cobbled streets and boisterous celebrations occurring across the...
If you’re a fan of fresh seafood, the Mermaid Inn NYC Oyster Bar really delivers. One of the earliest sites of the Mermaid Inn NYC was in Greenwich Village. It is now only open in Chelsea and the Upper West Side. Mermaid Inn NYC is a refreshing take on seafood. Coming from Australia’s east coast, we were brought up on prawns and tropical and reef fish. Lobsters and...
Droid Depot at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a workshop where you get to make a robot. There are two big-ticket items that will tempt even the most casual Star Wars fan when visiting the Galaxy’s Edge – the chance to build a droid or a lightsaber. At the Droid Depot, you can create your own R2 or BB droid and see it come alive before...