Fremantle is the Port City of Perth, Western Australia. Referred to as 'Freo' by locals, it's a place you will want to spend some extra time getting to know. The history, culture, seafood, surrounding beaches, markets, coffee, and the occasional busker make this place a destination rather than a city you pass by. The people are amazingly friendly to outsiders and make you feel right at home.
The weather is generally great all year round; however, the best time to visit is in the Summer or Spring. The sun welcomes a quick dip in the nearby ocean during these times.
Pro tip: If you plan to stay in Freo, you won't need to hire a car. Everything is within walking distance, and if you want to venture a little further to Port Beach, South Beach, or Cottesloe Beach, Uber is a great option.
Things to See and Do in Fremantle
Fremantle is small when compared to many other cities in Australia. You will find the roads are almost like the backstreets in an Italian town, built for horses and carriages. So make sure you have a good set of walking shoes and a full bottle of water - as you will need it!
When visiting Fremantle, the first thing you should do is fuel up by visiting the cappuccino strip located on South Terrace. It's here you will get to experience a mix of cosmopolitan cafes, restaurants, and pubs. The coffee is by far the best in Western Australia due to the strong Italian influence. For the best cappuccino, you can't go past Ginos. It's in the coffee shop that you can come to know Fremantle's history. Take a look at the historic photographs of the town while your there.
After your coffee, ensure you see the restaurant's exterior wall, where you can normally find a local artist drawing on the walls using markers. This will be a good gateway to venture to Freo markets located around 5 minutes walk down the cappuccino strip.
The markets are located undercover, so regardless of the weather, you should take full advantage of this place. Within the labyrinth of market stalls, you can see local artists, things for the home, the freshest produce, and a small selection of cafes. It's well worth grabbing a freshly squeezed orange juice just before the fresh produce area, as your tastebuds will go wild! Western Australia grows some amazing fruit, so ensure you stock up and take some back to your accommodation!
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- Written by Jeff Yelton
In all of my travels, I’ve never visited such a modern city that has embraced the green as much as Vancouver, British Columbia. Large parks, small parks, and everything in between…it seems Vancouver was built with keeping nature in mind. Surrounded on three sides by water and a healthy amount of rainfall, it comes as no surprise that urban outdoor lovers should make this city their home.
Vancouver is the Hollywood of Canada, and yet nothing about her resembles southern California. So many films and TV shows have been shot here. Unless you just don’t watch television, you’ve no doubt seen something that was filmed here. It is often less expensive for production companies, as Canada offers lucrative tax breaks for the entertainment industry.
The shining star of Vancouver has got to be Stanley Park. As Vancouver’s first official green space, it is truly a rainforest in the city! The park is stunning and massive – set on its own little peninsula northwest of downtown. A jogging/bike seawall trail runs around the edge of the water offering magnificent views and historic landmarks throughout. There is the Stanley Park Train, horse-drawn carriage rides, and even an aquarium. Bring a picnic lunch, or dine at one of the cafes around the park.
My absolute favorite thing is to take the ferry to Granville Island. Just south of the downtown area is Sunset Beach Park and the Vancouver Aquatic Centre – here is where you hop on the ferry to the market for less than five bucks. There are several places along the waterfront to take the ferry. Then I hit the ground running at the market. Once home to Vancouver’s factories and sawmills, the area has been transformed into an entertaining mecca, with artisan workshops, theaters, outdoor shopping, and great places to eat. It’s the perfect place to people watch, or just sit on a bench with an iced latte.
By far the most daring thing I have ever done is the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. You’ve no doubt seen photos of this narrow, swinging bridge high amongst Canadian greenery. Set in a forest north of Vancouver, the scent of pine fills the air as you make your first tentative steps across the bridge. Don’t look down! Well, you can if you dare. But if you have a fear of heights, it's best to keep your eyes straight ahead! The Capilano River is a harrowing 230 feet (70 meters) above the river. Don’t worry, the bridge is completely safe and kept in perfect working order!
Side note! There is a fee for the Capilano Bridge but for a budget-friendly, free option, go to the Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge about 10 km east of Capilano. It is just as stunning and the crowds are thinner. Hint: if you go early in the morning or during the winter months you just may have the bridge all to yourself! This makes for some great photo ops.
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Have you been thinking about a trip to Tokyo? Well then, you are in for a treat! Tokyo is a very large, cosmopolitan city and there is a lot of ground to cover! You will want to be strategic and choose Tokyo tourist sites that interest you. That said, the best neighborhoods in Tokyo are some of the most colorful and unique.
It’s always a good idea to take into account all of the places you’ll be visiting, and choose accommodation in areas near those places. It’s a decision that depends on your budget, your tastes, and personal preference. Tokyo should be considered not just a big city, but a collection of different neighborhoods, each with their own unique contribution.
Pro Tip: Tokyo is notorious for not naming their streets! Make sure your phone has a good GPS system to get you where you want to go. Additionally, Tokyo address numbers go by a unique numbering system. For example, 5-9-9 Hiroo is in the Shibuya district. The 5 Hiroo signifies the area, the first 9 is for the block number, and the 2nd 9 is for the actual building.
These are the Tokyo districts not to miss.
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- Written by Jeff Yelton
You’ve probably seen all of the gorgeous photos before you even knew that they were of the famous Cinque Terre region of 5 small villages on the Italian Riviera. But no matter how many stunning photos you see of rocky coastal cliffs, with stacked buildings that look straight out of the most vibrant paint-by-numbers book, nothing prepares you for when you see the spectacle with your own eyes for the first time.
Cinque Terre is made up of five towns: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monteresso – each with their own unique qualities – that make up the whole of this iconic area. It is so typically Italian; so beautiful and unique that it has gained UNESCO World Heritage status. As such, it is located in a fragile environment that was not made for mass tourism. So, despite it being such a popular destination, don’t expect a lot of vehicle traffic.
Coming here is like enveloping yourself in the smell of the Mediterranean, the incredible landscape, and the Gelato (oh, the Gelato!) – you will not be able to get enough.
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Italy exudes romance and the charms of European life, but no other coastal town nails this down better than Portofino. After the incredible Cinque Terre, this may well be the most well-known spot in the Ligure region. An infamous stomping ground for the well-to-do and famous, here is where they park their superyachts and folic under the Mediterranean sun.
But for those who long for something a bit less pretentious, Portofino offers all of her other riches to us in spades. The olive groves among lush hills of Cypress trees create an inviting backdrop if you venture out of town. And who can deny the appeal of multi-colored buildings pressed right up against the water’s edge, with the bustle of the marina?
What is really wonderful about Portofino is that the old blends seamlessly with the new. Get past the decadent waterfront with those yachts, trendy restaurants, and high-end boutiques, and start to really explore old Portofino in the way of ancient cobblestone streets and exquisite churches built into the cliffs above the port. But no matter where you look, the scene will resemble the finest picture postcard and will beg you to explore on foot.
Likewise, the town just before Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, it seems, has more authenticity, and is a little less showy – with an array of great restaurants, local boutiques, and the lovely Villa Durazzo on a hill overlooking the sea.
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Monaco is known for being the luxurious, beach-bumming, champagne-sipping, capital of Europe, where celebrities come to play. But what many people don’t realize is that this playground on the Mediterranean is actually a sovereign principality, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state. It is actually the second smallest country in the world, second only to Vatican City.
That said, this is a heavily French place to be, with so many great things to do and see when you have had your fill of its glorious beaches.
Pro Tip: If you are not a fan of crowds, visit Monaco in the winter, where the prices are lower, and the Christmas decorations will hold you enthralled. You will have a more authentic experience when the atmosphere is more relaxing, and the weather is still good.
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- Written by Jeff Yelton
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from – everyone loves a festival. A festival is (often) a multi-day celebration where people with a common interest can commune together and enjoy the food, the fun, and each other. In short, it’s a celebration of life. Here are just a few of the epic festivals around the world.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival - 3 weeks in August
This is the world’s largest performing arts festival! Greats such as Eddie Izzard and Billy Connolly got their humble start here as street performers. Dating back to 1947, the Fringe welcomes artists of every genre. Last year (2017) saw the festival span over twenty days, with over 53,000 performances of 3,400 shows in 300 venues! With that much to choose from, you really have to do your planning beforehand. If you are keen to see one of the more popular performers, get your tickets early! Or just walk the streets and perhaps discover the next great artist!
Mardi Gras – New Orleans – early February, but in NOLA, it really starts in January!
Fat Tuesday is a crazy crazy celebration. We’ve all heard the stories. Naked painted women (or just plain naked) walking down Bourbon Street throwing strings of beads up to hollering men waving cups of beer or hurricanes up on the balconies lining the streets. Dozens of parades with elaborate floats organized by crews. You have to book your trip at least a year in advance to get a decent hotel during the celebration. But oh, what a celebration! If you don’t mind stinky, drunken crowds and love parades, this is the festival for you.
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For a little taste of the unknown, on the fringe of society, and definitely unique, a visit to these grassroots communities will leave you enthralled. Slab City, East Jesus, and Salvation Mountain are all within a couple of miles of each other. Each area is unique, yet they are bonded together by some unseen force that relies on a sense of togetherness, artistic and spiritual expression, and pure, unadulterated free existence.
The people here are friendly, eclectic, and on the outer edges of reality. When you come here, you will find hundreds, if not thousands of humble folks just hanging out and living off the land.
For a true off-the-grid living, the residents of this area have made their own way in the world and embraced this kind of living, which is refreshing in a strange way. Out here under the harsh sun of the California desert, the people have banded together to create a small society that is (mostly) peaceful, sovereign, and without waste. It is full of artists and other creative minds who love to turn everyday objects into art.
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- Written by Jeff Yelton
Do you like a big cosmopolitan city with small-town friendliness? Do you often wish that your slice of pizza was a little more substantial, as in not the flimsy New York pizza, but the hearty deep-dish variety?
Then you need to come to Chicago. It’s one of the best destinations in the U.S.
With its awe-inspiring architecture, beautiful scenery, and great food scene, the Windy City has as much to offer as any major town. And who can forget Lake Michigan? Even better, there are so many attractions here that are FREE. Millennium Park springs to mind - a veritable outdoor museum and gallery. Dozens of free museums are located throughout the city. If you happen to be here in July, do not miss the world’s largest food festival, Taste of Chicago. There is also a vibrant jazz scene here.
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Since its designation as a National Park by Ulysses S Grant back in 1872, Yellowstone has been welcoming millions of visitors from around the globe.
As the great naturalist John Muir said, “The air is electric and full of ozone, healing, reviving, exhilarating, kept pure by frost and fire, while the scenery is wild enough to awaken the dead. It is a glorious place to grow in and rest in.”
That’s praise enough to peak most anyone’s interest.
Straddling the Montana border in northwest Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park will enthrall the most jaded of visitors. Despite the throngs of visitors every year, much of the park is kept natural, which is a rare and beautiful thing to experience.
The combination of unique geothermal activity, prolific wildlife, and sheer beauty of the landscape is unmatched anywhere else. Come see why this national treasure has captured the hearts and minds of every curious traveler, both young and old.
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- Written by Jeff Yelton
Casey Barbles 
Jeff Yelton 