By Rishaan Chowdhury
Summer is only a few weeks away, meaning that travel is on everybody’s minds. If you’re wondering where to go, or just need some travel stories to get you through the next few weeks, this article is for you.
Note: This is not a ranking
Copenhagen, Denmark
When one thinks of Europe, images of the Eiffel Tower or the canals of Venice come to mind. But north of all the tourists and these fine cities, are cities that have as much culture and sights to see, as well as fine cuisine. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is a city often overlooked by travelers. But for those few that venture north, the stunning, architectural haven of Copenhagen doesn’t disappoint. Located on Denmark’s easternmost island, Copenhagen is just a quick forty minute train ride from neighboring Sweden. So close, in fact, the city on the other side of the Oresund strait, Malmo, is considered Greater Copenhagen. But within Copenhagen, the Danish capital is a hidden gem. Canals are ubiquitous, and make the city feel like Venice with less tourists. Beautiful cobblestone streets wind through the city's colorful buildings and make way to reveal lavish palaces and lush gardens. However, to fully enjoy the city, one must use a bicycle. The European bike sharing company, Donkey Republic, (the European equivalent of Blue Bikes, for our Bostonian readers) is one of many bike sharing services available in the city. After starting your day with a pastry at the phenomenal Lagkagehuset Bakery in the suburb of Christianshavn, one can pick up a bicycle and make their way across the main canal to the stunning Christiansborg Palace. There, visitors can marvel at the Danish parliament building and wander through the squares around it. After that, one can make their way through the narrow cobblestone streets to the bustling neighborhood of Nyhavn. Despite being one of the more touristy parts of Copenhagen, Nyhavn’s quaint, colorful buildings still deserve at least one visit. More adventurous travelers can venture a bit farther away from Nyhavn’s main canal into its surrounding residential areas. There, one can find a cafe and enjoy a lunch of classic Danish smørrebrød, or open faced sandwich. Following lunch, a visit to the famous Little Mermaid statue in Langelinie Park is necessary, before returning to downtown and dropping your bicycles off at a drop station near the Botanical Gardens. A stroll through the park and a coffee at a coffee stand in the park wraps up your day of exploration, before using the fantastic Copenhagen metro to return to your hotel or airBnb. For travelers able to splurge a bit, finishing the day off with a meal at Michelin-starred Marchal, in Kongens Nytorv – a square right by Nyhavn – is a no-brainer. For those with less expandable budgets, a meal at any Danish restaurant will be equally memorable, and easily knocks the common misconception that Danish food is not good. Copenhagen is easy to visit, with direct flights from most major cities, including Boston. Better yet, visit the Danish capital by train, and pair a visit to this spectacular city to another European trip. Direct trains run from Copenhagen to Stockholm, Hamburg, and Berlin.
Empire Builder, United States
This edition covers a type of travel destination, or journey if you will, that we don’t normally cover. The Empire Builder is one of the main sections of America’s massive overnight train system. Overnight trains are not something that comes to mind when people think of Amtrak. For most Bostonians, “the Amtrak” is considered to just be the train from Boston to Washington D.C., via New York. But while that is Amtrak’s most popular route, a massive railway network still exists throughout the country, without the awareness of the general public. Some of the country’s most scenic parts can only be best viewed from the observation car of an Amtrak train. And the crown jewel of this hidden network? The Empire Builder. The Empire Builder runs daily from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, covering thousands of miles over two nights, and showing riders parts of the country that many wouldn’t go to see otherwise. Travelers start their journey west in Chicago’s historic Union Station, where they board the equally historic and famous, Empire Builder. Using Amtrak’s west-of-Chicago only bi-level Superliner carriages, the Empire Builder boasts an onboard observation car, a dining car with an onboard kitchen and chef, as well as multiple sleepers and coach cars, making the Empire Builder the way to see America. For travelers willing to splurge a bit, a berth in the sleeper is the way to do it. One can choose from roomettes, featuring by day two large comfortable armchairs and a bunk bed by night, a bedroom, which features a plush couch and an armchair by day, and a bunk bed by night, as well as an en suite bathroom, a family room, which feature by day seating for four, and by night two sets of bunk beds, or an ADA accessible bedroom. All sleeping accommodations come with all-inclusive dining at the phenomenal onboard dining car or in your room for three meals a day, a dedicated attendant, and showers in your car. After settling into your cozy room, the only left to do is look outside and enjoy the stunning views. The Empire Builder crosses the Mississippi river after dinner on your first night onboard. Over the next day, travelers can watch the Great Plains roll by their windows, as the train makes its way through North Dakota and Montana before reaching the Rockies just before dinner and snaking through the narrow mountain passes of Glacier National Park through the evening. But for travelers who don’t want to be cooped up in a room all day, the train often has rest stops for refueling, offering riders a chance to step outside for some fresh air and to stretch their legs. On your first morning, the train’s forty minute stop in Minot, North Dakota offers you a chance to pick up a coffee at the coffee shop across the street before continuing your journey west. While on the move, a visit to the observation car is the perfect solution. Featuring massive domed windows, this carriage is perfect for watching the country pass by. Even better, Amtrak’s partnership with the National Park Service means that a NPS ranger is in the car, offering detailed information about all the scenery you see. On the lower deck of the observation car, lies the cafe, where travelers can pick up a drink or a snack, before returning to their comfortable armchair in the sunlit upper deck. Meals are no low point of the journey either, with Amtrak’s phenomenal Traditional Dining service, offering a high-quality restaurant experience on the rails. Enjoy waffles for breakfast, burgers or chili (vegetarian or non-vegetarian) for lunch and a three course dinner with their famed “Amtrak steak”, freshly cooked onboard, as are all meals. For coach class passengers, the observation car is open to them, however meals onboard are not included with your fare. The Empire Builder is a journey of a lifetime and is a must-do if you want to see the country. Chicago features direct flights from most major cities in the world including Boston. For a lengthier train experience, start your journey by overnight train from Boston, New York, or any other major city in the country. Additionally, for visiting Glacier National Park, the train makes multiple stops in areas in and around the park.
Toronto, Canada
Located just across Lake Ontario from upstate New York, lies the bustling city of Toronto. Considered by many to be the New York City of Canada, Toronto resembles the classic busy city, with skyscrapers, stock exchanges, and business hotels. However despite having such a businessy feel, visitors to Toronto have much to do. Between walking along the bustling waterfront to visiting some of the city’s phenomenal museums, Toronto is a great weekend city break. Start your weekend in an authentic Canadian fashion, with a coffee at Tim Hortons. Tim Hortons is the Canadian equivalent of Dunkin Donuts, and is a fun way to start a Toronto weekend. After enjoying coffee and a donut, venture towards the waterfront, located right along the ocean-looking Lake Ontario. There, visitors can enjoy a stroll by the docks, or can catch a ferry to the nearby Center Island. Center Island is one of Toronto’s main hubs of activity, boasting massive gardens, beaches, and forestry, as well as multiple restaurants and great views of the lake. For more active travelers, one can rent a bicycle and bike through the island's beautiful paths, with great views of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario interchanging. Walking these same paths is equally amazing. After a walk or bike ride through the island, enjoy a refreshing dip into the freshwater Lake Ontario at one of the island’s beaches. Dry up in the warm sunshine, and enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants along the Lake Ontario-side coast, with stunning views to pair with your meal. Walk back, through the island’s gardens to reach the pier, and catch one of the many ferries back to Toronto. Ensure that you have ample time till the last ferry or your next arrangement when you reach the island pier, as massive lines are no rare sight. After returning to Toronto, spending a few hours relaxing in your hotel – maybe even taking a swim in the hotel pool or working out at the gym – is necessary. After regaining your energy, finish the evening off at one of Toronto’s many great eateries. The next day, after a night at the well-located Sheraton Toronto, once again begin your day at Tim Hortons. After the necessary caffeine hit, head to one of the city’s great art museums such as the Art Gallery of Ontario or the Museum of Contemporary Art. Enjoy a dimsum lunch in Toronto’s massive Chinatown, with many authentic restaurants to choose from. Catch a tram towards the lakefront after lunch, watching the city pass by you. Once arriving by the water, enjoy a leisurely stroll to the famous CN Tower, the star of the Toronto skyline and the tallest self-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. There, head to the top, to enjoy fantastic views of the city below and a glimpse of Niagara Falls and the U.S. After enjoying the fantastic views offered by the tower, return to the waterfront and finish the weekend off with a drink on the pier before walking through the nearby tunnel to the centrally located Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, for your flight back to the States. Better yet, take a quick walk to Union Station to catch a train to New York and Albany, cities that are both well connected to Boston by rail. For our non-American readers, direct flights are offered from Toronto to most major cities in the world, including London.
Cape Cod, United States
Significantly closer to Boston than Toronto, lies Cape Cod. A favorite beach destination for Bostonians, “the Cape” is a short one to two hour drive from nearby Boston, and offers beaches, dining, fishing, biking, and any great summer activity. Visitors to or from Boston can receive a fantastic summer city break with Cape Cod. Throughout the Cape there are many different towns to choose from, whether it be the famous city of Provincetown, with its shopping and fine dining, to the quaint small towns of Eastham, Yarmouth, or Dennis. However all the main towns in the Cape have two things in common, their expansive beach fronts, and (save for Provincetown) the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT). The Rail Trail is one of the most popular activities in the Cape. Almost 26 miles long, the paved CCRT once was part of the Cape Cod railway, which connected the current rail terminus of Hyannis, to the rest of the Cape. Today, completely paved over, the trail offers visitors a chance to bike through nearly the entirety of the Cape, with dense forests, rivers, lakes, and many other natural wonders to amaze. Due to the CCRT’s previous history as a railway, there are very few major road crossings, rather systems of bridges and tunnels snake their way through the main highways and roads, making the path extremely safe for riders. Almost every town has an intersection with the CCRT, allowing visitors to grab a bike and get on the trail from wherever they are staying. Right by the trail, many restaurants and shops have opened, offering tired riders a chance to re-energize. Meanwhile, lakes alongside the bike path offer a chance to take a refreshing dip to cool down after biking on a hot sunny summer day. From restaurants in Orleans to lakes in Harwich, the CCRT offers an unparalleled biking experience. For the less active traveler, relaxing along the beach is a perfect summer treat. Visitors can enjoy the warm sunshine and the spectacular ocean views, as well as a dip in the ocean. However beachgoers should be wary of the ever-growing presence of Great White Sharks in the surrounding waters, and the relatively regular attacks that do occur on the New England coast. For those who want to enjoy the beach without the risk of sharks, fishing is a perfect way to spend an afternoon on the Cape. The Cape Cod coastline is prime fishing territory, and anglers can catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, and Flounder right off the beach. On the nearby island of Martha’s Vineyard an annual Striped Bass derby is held (from the beach), a display of the phenomenal fishing on the Cape. Visit Cape Cod by taking a quick two hour drive (although where you stay on the cape can alter the timing) south from Boston, which is in turn connected by flight to most major cities in the world. However be wary of the heavy traffic that plagues the route to the Cape every summer due to solely two bridges crossing the Cape Cod Canal, connecting mainland Massachusetts to Cape Cod. The best way to avoid the traffic is to ditch the car, as direct trains run every weekend from Boston to Hyannis. These trains offer service from Boston’s central South Station to Hyannis, which is a great starting point for a visit to the cape, and bypasses the choked Sagamore and Bourne bridges. The train also offers a bicycle carriage, perfect for those who want to enjoy the Cape Cod Rail Trail. All in all, Cape Cod is a great summer getaway, and the train is the best way to get there.