Our handpicked city guides feature curated collections of the best things to do in cities around the world. We look for street art, independent bookshops, farmers markets, hipster coffee shops and parks. And we’re always up for spending time in nature.
We prefer independents over chains, and while both Steve and I are vegetarian, we tend to eat in restaurants that are known to be good for all food rather than just veggie stuff.
We do feature the “must sees”, but our things-to-do guides are about getting beneath the skin of a city and experiencing local, creative life.
Austin has to be one of the coolest cities in the USA if not the world. There’screativity on every corner, from innovative food trucks to indy shops and cool murals.And that’s not to mention the live music scene that it’s best known for. Our most recent trip to Austin was as a family, and it … Read more
With the incredible title of “Cowboy Capital of the World”, you know Bandera Texas is going to be something special. But what to expect? And what to do in Bandera? I had no idea before I arrived. I didn’t even know cowboys still existed! In my mind, they were a thing of the past. But … Read more
Truth be told, before visiting San Antonio, Texas, it wasn’t even on my radar as a vacation destination, let along on my bucket list. But this charming, culture-filled city ended up becoming one of my favourite places in the USA. It’s unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been before – a distinctly American city but with … Read more
Sitting on La Concha beach while the kids play happily in the waves with the Old Town as their backdrop, I wondered if this might be Europe’s most family-friendly city break. San Sebastian/Donostia has long been a bucket list destination for foodies, but its compact size, beachside location and Spanish welcome for kids, means it … Read more
Annecy, often called the Venice of the Alps, is one of those magical destinations where you wonder why it isn’t more famous. Backed by the Alps and on the edge of the spectacular Lake Annecy, the colourful Savoie town is almost unbelievably picture perfect. It’s the epitome of a fairytale destination. We spent time there … Read more
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was a name that came up again and again when we talked to locals about their favourite place in New England. The small city feels frozen in time to the scene of a Norman Rockwell painting. Cobbled streets lined with a timeline of American architecture, from the red-brick buildings of downtown to … Read more
On our most recent trip to California, I was hell bent on finding the perfect California beach town – a place that epitomised my idealised dream of laidback vibes, long sunny days and the roll of Pacific waves. In my mind’s eye it’s a perfect pastiche of all the California TV programmes and films I’ve … Read more
We had a gorgeous holiday in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca (or Majorca). We went as part of a Jet2 package holiday, but added our own personal touch by getting out and about and exploring the local area. As you know, it’s in my nature to research, research, research, so here’s a round-up of our favourite things … Read more
Mendocino is a place I had a feeling about before I got there. I knew next to nothing about it, but somehow the name and the vague mutterings I’d gathered from TV shows had conjured something magical in my mind: a place I longed to go. No doubt I’d heard the words ‘bohemian Californian beach … Read more
A guide to the best things to do in Sacramento with kids. Sacramento often gets overshadowed by its more famous sisters, LA and San Francisco, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. The capital of California offers a much more laidback, non-touristy experience of California city life. And it’s the perfect place to include … Read more