Admiring the beautifully decorated windows of 5th Avenue, ice skating in Central Park and seeing the most iconic Christmas tree in front of the Rockefeller Center – just a couple of things I’ve always wanted to do. But I tell you what, Christmas in New York is not that special. Why? Well, because coming here this time of the year means crowds, crowds, crowds (and by crowds I mean crowds larger than in India or Bangladesh).

Just trying to fulfill one of my dreams was pure horror. Getting to the Rockefeller Center was one of the most uncomfortable situations I ever got myself into. If you’re claustrophobic, stay away! If you don’t go to festivals because of the crowds, stay away! And if you actually want to enjoy yourself, rather that being squashed, bumped into or pushed in all directions, stay away! I was pretty upset that it was like this. I mean sure, I knew that there’d be people, but this is madness (I’m exaggerating, I swear)! Still, I kept my spirits up and gave Christmassy New York another chance. So I continued with my exploration and made my way up to 5th Avenue. Yet again, this meant more crowds and a hell of a lot of kitsch. Nah, unfortunately didn’t enjoy this either…

It took 30 minutes and a whole lot of patience to get this photograph of the famous Christmas tree in front of the Rockefeller Center.

I decided to skip my fantasy and explored the way I usually do: away from the beaten path. Chinatown and Soho were my next stops and here I felt right at home.

Chinatown is its own destination: Great for bargain shopping, food, history, and the chance to soak in Chinese immigrant culture. It’s really a fantastic neighbourhood though maybe a bit confusion for first time visitors. If you’ve been to China or Hong Kong, you’ll know how to navigate though.

When strolling through New York’s Chinatown, you’ll sometimes wonder whether you’re really in the United States or after all in China.

The basketball courts just off of Grand Street in Chinatown are the perfect spots for people-viewing.

Exploring Chinatown was definitely a highlight during my short New York City trip.

Just like home: fresh fish is sold right off the streets in Chinatown.

Close to Chinatown (with Little Italy in between) lies Soho. The lower Manhattan hood, which refers to “South of Houston” is well known for its hip art galleries and trendy shops. Soho also is home to great New York restaurants for any budget. I enjoyed this part the most and therefore spent most of my time strolling through the streets of Lower Manhatten.

Soho is home to a vibrant artistic community, which makes this my favourite place in New York City.

In the other direction of Chinatown lies Manhatten Bridge and further south Brooklyn Bridge. Two iconic landmarks of the city along the East River. It was freezing cold, because the wind is quite strong here, but the views all made up for it!

Walking from one end of Manhatten Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge gives you an amazing view of both of them.

Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States and an iconic landmark of New York City.

So I was happy with what I got to see in Chinatown, Soho and Two Bridges neighbourhood, but still wanted more of the “must-visit touristy New York City”. Clearly, Time Square was on that list. It’s always been pretty impressive from what I’ve seen in movies or photographs, but in real life, not so much. After all, it’s just a lot of bright, flashy billboards with advertisements…

Times Square is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world and is sometimes referred to as “The Crossroads of the World”. If you forget about the road blocks, armed police officers and the 330.000 people crossing every day, I could start to like this spot after all.

Times Square has risen to fame through movies and the media, which unfortunately made me expect more than what I got.

Well, my “Christmas in New York city-trip”, turned out to be more of “trying-to-stay-away-from-Christmas-in-New York-trip”. Which doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it. I honestly loved NYC! It just seems like a lot of the must-see sights are well overrated, especially during the holiday season. But this gives room for lesser known parts, which is great for city explores like myself. I’m leaving today, but New York, New York, I still want to be a part of you.

The West Coast of the United States is a popular road trip destination among tourists and locals. Driving from South to North (or vice versa) will offer spectacular views, amazing national parks and vibrant cities. From Los Angeles to San Francisco you’ll either drive along the scenic and legendarily Highway 1, or along the faster inland route Highway 101. One of California’s most beautiful cities lies along the way: Santa Barbara.

It’s not for nothing that Santa Barbara is a fancied wedding destination and a popular weekend getaway for towners. There are plenty of reasons: the superb location along the ocean, the beautiful beaches of its surroundings, the European-Mediterranean architecture and of course the hiking trails. Santa Barbara offers some of the best day-hikes in California.

Beach Hikes In Santa Barbara.

A hike along Santa Barbara’s beautiful coastline is a must. Clifftop trails offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Harbor seals are a common sight and if you’re lucky, dolphins and even whales can be seen not far from shore. Some of the hikes are along the beach while others are on the top of beachside bluffs. Watch out for high tide through, because some of the beach trails can be inaccessible or your return trip can be cutoff during high tide.

Santa Barbara has some amazing beached along the Central California coastline with a Mediterranean feel.

The Golden State is the perfect getaway spot.

Watching the surfers while walking along the coastline of Santa Barbara can be really relaxing.

Mountain Hikes In Santa Barbara.

Just behind Santa Barbara County lie the beautiful Santa Ynez Mountains. This range forms a stunning green backdrop for the American Riviera as Santa Barbara is often referred to. There are many trails along these mountains, visiting quiet canyons & waterfalls, and several tranquil overlooks with stunning ocean views. Keep an eye out for poison oak and bring plenty of water!

An early morning hike in the mountains of Santa Barbara County is strongly recommended to soak up the atmosphere and to recharge your batteries.

Whether you’re experienced, or prefer shorter walks, Santa Barbara offers hikes for every fitness level.

It’s said that the four-hour-drive to Key West is more beautiful than the city itself. That’s probably because it represents two worlds: The Key West that’s visited by hundreds of (cruise ship) tourists each day, who spend the afternoon at the bars along Duval Street, then buy a T-shirt and move on. And then there’s the Key West, that reflects a typical American small town as well as a tropical island, where time seems to stands still and you can simply enjoy life. It’s not for nothing that it was Ernest Hemingway’s safe haven, who lived here for over ten years.

Within walking distance to his house, you’ll come across Key West’s most famous attraction: the red-black-yellow striped buoy in front of which everyone wants a photo. We weren’t willing to wait in line with 20 other people, instead we walked through the cities beautiful little streets and enjoyed examining the cute, French styled houses with wooden outer walls, open porches and folding doors.

All in all Key West is definitely worth a weekend trip. You’ll find whatever your heart desires, except paradise beaches. The road trip down along the Keys, the cozy atmosphere and the interesting architecture won’t disappoint you, promise!

Beautiful beaches are a rare sight in Key West, but you’ll come across a couple of nice piers on the contrary.

Each house in Key West looks different, but then again similar. It’s well worth it to walk through the many streets of the city.

Key West houses are often surrounded by lathe-turned picket fences that wrap around the entire structure. Blooming bushes add a visual pop and fresh contrast to fancifully painted homes.

Key West houses feature fanciful elements like slim columns topped with decorative wooden details.

You don’t have to walk a long way to spot chickens and roosters in Key West. You hear them crowing and see them strutting everywhere. They weave in and out of traffic and through outdoor cafes all over town.

You’ll find many cute little shops all over Key West.

Louvered shutters protect against severe tropical heat while encouraging air circulation inside the home. A full-sized front porch creates a perfect shady spot to enjoy the outdoor view.

Welcome To The Magic City.

Miami is a wild city known for glamour, cruise ships, cubans, beautiful people, parties and of course Miami Beach. The Magic City is a highlight for everyone visiting the United States. Here, you’ll come across the comfort and easiness from the southern states, an exiting night life, a cultural centre and an impressive skyline.

Miami Beach Has No Boundaries.

Miami Beach can be whatever you want it to be: easy-going, fun, stylish, gay, straight, family friendly or a singles playground. One comes to Miami Beach to have fun in the sun. On the southernmost tip of Miami you’ll be able to shop ’til you drop, enjoy the cultural aspects, dance until dawn and eat the most delicious meals.

From A Beach Village To A Megacity.

No matter if you want explore the new/renovated stylish hotels Gale, Lord Balfour or SLS South Beach for an after party, heavenly dine at the restaurants Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Khong River House, Tongue & Cheek or Juvia, or rather visit old-school Miami Beach with its pastel coloured art deco buildings and museums, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road are known as great shopping-, nightlife- and food-hotspots, therefore you’ll come across a great variety of to-do possibilities. But if you rather want to enjoy kilometre long white sand beaches, then you’ve definitely come to the right spot in town! Miami Beach is the last station before the Caribbean and it sure feels that way. Sunbathing at South Beach is a Must-Do for any visitor. And the famous lifeguard towers in bright yellow, blue and pink, stripped or spotted are worth a walk up and down the beach at least once. Just as much as swimming in the warm, turquoise ocean is a must, observing the beautiful, trained and sometimes famous people should be on your to-do list.

A Few Tips For The Perfect Miami Vacation:

• It’s best to get around Miami Beach by Bike. Get a Citi Bike card and you’re good to go.
• Spend an evening on a rooftop bar/restaurant – Miami at night is amazing!
• If you want to eat healthy & fairly pricey, check out Juice & Java on Washington Avenue.
• Be sure to spend a weekend in Key West, the road trip alone will be worth your while.

Miami Beach has developed into an urban centre, with all it benefits that a small beach village and a megacity offers. We really enjoyed our stay here, yet we’re definitely not the ideal Miami vacationers. If you love adventure, action, jungle, trekking, and especially affordable hotels and good food, then Miami is probably a destination you’ll just want to visit for a layover or quick get-away. Not to give you the wrong idea: we had fun in the sun, but all in all, Asia is more our piece of cake. Even so, Miami still deserves the title Pearl of Florida.

Miami Beach offers everything you expect from a bustling city.

The beach on Miami is to die for. Really. They seem endlessly long and are great for sunbathing, jogging and relaxing.

The best way to explore Miami Beach is by bicycle. A Citi Bike card is all you need to get around the area.

The Beacon Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel on Ocean Drive, right next to South Beach.

The Colony Hotel is a well known landmark on Ocean Drive in Miami.

Beautiful people wander along the beaches of Miami, posing and taking selfies…

The lifeguard towers along Miami Beach are famous and deserve the attention.

The Miami Beach Boardwalk begins at Indian Beach Park at 46th Street and Collins Ave and continues through the Ocean Drive Promenade to 5th Street. The distance between 46th street and 5th street is approximately 6,5 kilometres – the perfect distance for a nice jog or stroll.

You have an amazing view of Miami’s skyline from Watson Island.

Watson Island is the right sport for photos of the Miami skyline.