Travelling via your senses is a great way to virtually experience these cities without leaving your chair. While we wait for the pandemic to pass and social distancing and self isolation to end, we can’t help but dream of the city destinations we’ll be ready to visit as soon as it’s safe to jet off. Find inspiration by travelling via your senses and experience these cultural destinations to get them on your radar for your first post-lockdown escape.
Portland, Oregon
The creative capital of Oregon, Portland offers visitors a city experience like no other. Surrounded by natural beauty, over 200 parks and gardens and a community that thrives on local business support, it’s no wonder the locals are finding innovative ways to connect and keep each other entertained.
Listen – Portland, Unpacked
Local TV host, producer and actor, Faustina Agolley, transports listeners to the streets of Portland as she unpacks all the things that make the city unique, including its micro farms, distilleries, music scene and everything in between. There are six in the series to enjoy and the first explores the winding road Portland faced to becoming the alternative city it is today. Available via Apple
Dance – OPB virtual music festival
WIth large gatherings prohibited throughout the world, Oregon Public Broadcasting aims to give a digital voice to the music community, connecting Oregon and its neighbours with a virtual music festival. Watch a series of recorded music performances spanning the state of Oregon and taking music lovers on a tour through the lens of local musicians. Laura Gibson sings soulful songs on the Amtrak Empire as she rides from Portland to the Columbia River Gorge. obp.org
Watch – i-Tonya
Follow the biographical comedy-drama film of the notorious American figure skater Tonya Harding, played by Australian actress Margot Robbie, as she navigates her way through life with a testing and troubled family life while trying to maintain an Olympic career. The film is set and largely filmed in Portland where Harding grew up and trained. Available to watch on Netflix.
Visit – Portland Japanese Garden
Recognised as the most authentic Japanese Garden outside of Japan, head to japanesegarden.org to enjoy a virtual tour of the gardens. Nestled in Washington Park, this garden provides much needed tranquility and is composed of eight unique gardens, including the Strolling Pond Garden and the Sand and Stone Garden.Follow @portlandjapanesegarden on Instagram for a daily dose of “one-minute moments of Serenity ”.
Dine – live with award-winning local chef Gabriel Rucker
Lauded chef Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon and Canard is hosting live cooking classes three times a week on his Instagram showcasing recipes for some of his most requested dishes, inkling Canard’s beloved steam burgers. @ruckergabriel
Drink- Barrel Aged Negroni
With a world-renowned culinary scene, it’s only fitting that Portland has become one of America’s most vibrant cocktail destinations. Drawing mixologists from around the world, the city’s burgeoning cocktail scene follows the same train of thought that made its food outstanding; use the highest quality ingredients complimented by artful presentation. The classic Negroni has become a bit of a celebrity in itself in Portland and even has a week dedicated to the cocktail in June. Award-winning bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler owns downtown bar, Clyde Common (and Pepe Le Moko), and serves a barrel-aged Negroni mixing gin, sweet vermouth and Campari mellowed for two months in bourbon barrels. Jeffrey has been tending since 1996 and is the best selling author of the world’s first book devoted entirely to the cocktail technique, “The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique”.
ingredients: Beefeater gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, aged for two months in a whiskey barrel
Learn – how to homebrew with City Brew Tours
The popular beer tour operator is now offering experiences online, including a homebrewing tutorial. The team will lead you through the process with humor and history, just like on their award-winning tours, but you can complete this whole experience from inside your own kitchen. Travelling via your senses doesn’t get much more creative than making your own beer. The live guide takes approximately three hours with instructions on the kit you need to purchase beforehand. citybrewtours.com
Read – Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
Wild is a 2012 memoir by American author Cheryl Strayed, describing her 1,100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 as a journey of self-discovery. Walk in the footsteps of Cheryl as she journeys from the Mojave Desert to Washington State, through the breathtaking wilderness of California. The book was turned into a film in 2014, with Reece Witherspoon as the leading character, available to watch on Netflix.
San Diego, California
With 70 miles of coastline, a laid-back city and beach vibe and a delicious selection of Cali-baja inspired restaurants to choose from, San Diego really is the Southern Californian city waiting to be explored by travelling via your senses.
Read – San Diego through the lens of Aaron Chang
Surf and ocean photographer Aaron Chang has travelled the world capturing the majesty, strength and beauty of waves and chosen to make San Diego his home. Containing inspiring images, interactive web links and behind the scenes stories, this book transports you effortlessly to San Diego. Through his photography, Chang aims to showcase the many faces of this ever-changing city. With 70 miles of coastline, the beauty of San Diego is unmistakable and this curated selection of Changs most beloved photographs include striking downtown skyline panoramas and meditative scenes that capture the rustic beauty of the city’s inland area.
Listen – The Masterpiece Minute, San Diego Museum of Art
A 60-second mini podcast led by museum curators spotlighting works of art from the museum’s collection, including masterpieces by Juan Sánchez Cotán, Diego Rivera and more. The SDMA mobile app offers virtual tours (from the lower rotunda to the galleries and the building’s façade), access to the museum’s collections, audio clips, games and more. The museum’s YouTube channel also features a robust variety of media, including guest lectures, recordings with the San Diego Opera and Youth Symphony, as well as ArtStop episodes, which are short, interactive clips, where curator’s tour and comments on several works of art. sdmart.org
Watch – Top Gun
Enjoy classic clips of Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards whilst soaking up the sights of San Diego. Top Gun follows the story of Navy pilot Maverick, a role which launched Cruise into stardom. The film was set in San Diego and much of it was filmed in the city too with one of the most memorable scenes at Kansas City Barbeque where Maverick and Goose play ‘Great Balls of Fire’ at the piano. Other filming locations include Point Loma and Bankers Hill. Available on Amazon Prime.
Visit – San Diego Zoo
Renowned for its conservation and breeding programmes, San Diego Zoo aims to keep the world connected to their favourite animals and specials through a wealth of free online content. Located in the east of Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo is home to over 3,500 animals and more than 650 different species. Enjoy multiple live cams from the Zoos liveliest residents, including baboons and penguins in Africa Rocks; polar bears in Northern Frontier; koalas in the Outback and the newest resident with the apes in the Lost Forest. Additional cams available across the sarafi section of the park includes condors, tigers, burrowing owls, giraffes and elephants. sandiegozoo.org
Dine – with local chef and celebrity Brian Malarkey,
The creative mind behind two of San Diego’s most celebrated restaurants, Animae and Herb & Wood, has shared his recipe for Coconut Curry Egg Noodles along with a handy how-to video. More recipes via his Instagram @brianmalarkey will be shared each week.
Drink – The Balboa
Ingredients: Henebery rye, R&D sarsaparilla bitters, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup
San Diego is widely known as a craft beer city. But the truth is, the city’s cocktail scene, and the talented bartenders who’ve helped build it, are on par with big names in LA, San Francisco, and New York. Henebery Whiskey and R&D Bitters, both local companies, combined forces to create what’s considered San Diego’s official cocktail. Made with Henebery rye, R&D sarsaparilla bitters, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrup, it’s very approachable. Balboa Park is a community park in the centre of San Diego and home to 17 museums, galleries and gardens with an incredible diversity of collections.
Learn – LEGOLAND Building Challenge
The popular children’s theme park located in Carlsbad has started a fun new series of how-to-build videos. The LEGOLAND California Building Challenge will release a new video each week with a different theme and on Fridays highlight some of the builds posted on their social media sites. Suggestions from fans on what to build next are encouraged. Past videos have included a cupcake, dog and star. Legoland.com
Perform – San Diego School of Ballet
Join San Diego premiere ballet company for online ballet pilates, tap and stretch classes all available to join for free from home. The classes are one hour long and open to all skill levels. sandiegoballet.org
Santa Cruz, California
70 miles south of San Francisco and 35 miles north of Monterey, in Santa Cruz you’ll find great surf, sandy beaches, redwood-covered mountains, laid-back towns, organic farms, a burgeoning beer and wine scene and so much more.
Read – Santa Cruz A Century by the Sea
An iconic staple of the Santa Cruz skyline, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has not only provided classic beachside amusements to visitors for over 100 years but also inspired many Hollywood film-makers. Colorfully illustrated with archival images of famous attractions, unforgettable performances, and vintage memorabilia, this book tells the vibrant history behind this premier California tourist destination. Born in 1907 out of beachfront bathhouses and the ashes of Santa Cruz’s first Casino, this ‘Coney Island of the West’ is home to National Historic Landmarks like the enchanting Looff Carousel and the classic Giant Dipper roller coaster, as well as dozens of other rides, games, shops, and venues, including the historic Cocoanut Grove, the award-winning Casino Arcade, and Neptune’s Kingdom.
Listen – Bookshop Santa Cruz author events
This local bookshop in the colourful beachside town of Santa Cruz is hosting live readings from its store via zoom so lovers of live literature can still enjoy the spoken word. Follow their Facebook page for the latest events and enjoy readings from local authors and poets. Daily poems are also being shared everyday for a little light lockdown reading and inspiration. @BookshopSantaCruz
Watch – The Lost Boys
Located 90 minutes south of San Francisco and 30 minutes from Silicon Valley, the natural beauty – and quirkiness – of Santa Cruz County has inspired many iconic filmmakers over the years including Jordan Peele’s horror, US and 1987 cult vampire movie, The Lost Boys. The latter is now available to watch in all its eighties glory after a 4k restoration. With key scenes shot on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the fictional town of Santa Clara, there are also walking tours of the sights available year round. Available on Netflix.
Visit – The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Standing strong as California’s oldest surviving amusement park, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is as famous on screen as it is off. Founded in 1907, the iconic roller coaster is still going strong and the boardwalk has launched virtual rides via their instagram page to ensure everyone can still enjoy the rides and avoid the post ride hair-do! Each week a new ride or adventure is released. @beachboardwalk
Drink – Re-create local restaurant classic cocktail, Peaches and Smoke
Reached by a hillside cable car, Shadowbrook can be found in the colorful neighbourhood of Capitola-by-the-Sea. The quirky dining room offers picturesque views of Soquel Creek paired with locally sourced dishes and herbs from the onsite garden. This week head mixologist released the recipe for their signature cocktail, Peaches and Smoke. The ingredients consist of gin, vodka, dry Vermouth and peach liqueur, shaken in a mixing glass with ice and served in a tall glass with a slice of apple – see below for the full recipe.
1-½ oz gin infused with watercress
½ oz Vodka
¾ oz Dry Vermouth
1 teaspoon of Peach Liqueur
1 dash of Saline solution
Learn – about the Ocean, Atmosphere and Great Lakes from home
Learn about the ocean, atmosphere and great lakes from the comfort of your couch. Dive into the National Marine Sanctuary at Monterey Bay with a host of online resources available to ensure we don’t miss what’s going on beneath the waves. With over 10 dives to choose from, viewers can choose from swimming with sea lions through kelp, discovering how dozens of orange sea cucumbers feed and enjoying juvenile rockfish and sea perch navigate the edges of a rocky outcrop covered with tunicates. montereybay.noaa.gov
Greater Palm Springs, California
Located two-hours drive east of LA, Greater Palm Springs is surrounded by four picturesque mountain ranges and long sought-after by travelers for its inspiring scenery and sense of adventure. With nine cities—Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella—each offers its own blend of experiences as endless as our blue skies.
Read – Palm Springs: A Modernist Paradise by Tim Streeter-Porter
Since Gary Cooper built one of the first modernist houses in Palm Springs in the 1930s, this desert oasis has entranced Hollywood. A mecca for the international jet set that lured Frank Sinatra, Walter Annenberg, and others, Palm Springs came into its own architecturally as a haven for visionary modernists such as Richard Neutra, who were practicing the International Style in Los Angeles. The architectural legacy remains unsurpassed for its originality and influence, and recently many of the city’s modernist residential treasures have been restored. In original new photography, Palm Springs captures the allure of this famed modernist destination. The book profiles outstanding examples, such as the Annenberg Estate, the Ford House and the Kaufmann House, shown in their splendour, as well as today’s restorations by top interior designers such as Martyn Lawrence Bullard and fashion designer Trina Turk.
Entertain – Zoo School, Living Desert
Take the kids on a virtual field trip. Recently acclaimed as one of the top zoos in the US, The Living Desert is bringing animal happiness conveniently to your home. Parents, all you have to do is visit the Instagram page, and let your little one enjoy their stories and saved highlights. Zoo School is a fun and interactive way for everyone to learn with quizzes on various animals and plants. @thelivingdesert
Watch – Shortfest Spotlight
The Palm Springs International Film Festival brings in thousands of visitors to Greater Palm Springs every year and has made the oasis one of the top destinations for film lovers. Cinephiles can now tune in to some of the top Shortfest selections without leaving the comfort of their own home. Make your way to Shortfest Spotlight website and enjoy a series of curated short films, with new additions every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Sit back, relax and escape to a different time and place with these stellar short films and create your very own film festival. The most recent addition includes a stop-motion animated film that takes viewers on an exhilarating existential journey into the fully imagined, tactile world of Madame Tutli-Putli. As she travels alone on the night train, weighed down with all her earthly possessions and the ghosts of her past, she faces both the kindness and menace of strangers. Finding herself caught up in a desperate metaphysical adventure, adrift between real and imagined worlds, Madame Tutli-Putli confronts her demons. psfilmfest.org
Visit – Sunnylands
Explore the historic Sunnylands Center & Gardens in beautiful Rancho Mirage with the ultimate virtual tour of this storied property. Once owned and resided by Ambassadors Walter and Leonore Annenberg this estate welcomed political, business, educational, and entertainment leaders over the span of 40 years. This virtual tour gives an overview of the 200-acre property, including the Game Room, Yellow Room, Pink Room, and the east Guest Wing, where the Annenbergs entertained guests. sunnylands.org
Dine – Trio Palm Springs
Sprinkle on some authentic flavors. Follow along with an at-home series brought to you by Trio Palm Springs This entertaining cooking video series takes you on a journey through the kitchen and beyond. Trio Palm Springs owner, Tony Marchese shows his passion as he crafts up yummy recipes. Recently, Marchese showed viewers how to make lasagna and gave a tour of the Revana Family Vineyards. @PalmSpringsTrio
Drink – Desert Mule Your Way at AC3
Moscow Mules are a favorite choice for a refreshing and light cocktail. AC3 Restaurant + Bar at Hotel Paseo in Palm Desert serves a “Desert Mule Your Way,” which includes Absolut Elyx Vodka, Bulldog Gin, Maker’s Mark Bourbon or El Tesoro Tequila Reposado, mixed with fresh lime and Fever Tree Ginger Beer. The “Double Copper” option serves two, in an Instagram-worthy oversized copper pineapple tumbler. This cocktail is exclusive to the restaurant, part of the Hotel Paseo in Palm Desert and pays homage to the desert life.
Learn – Pinot’s Palette
Sip. Paint. Repeat. all from the luxury of your nest. Enjoy a wine and paint night as Pinot’s Palette is giving free lessons on Facebook live. Perfect for a cozy night with wine, charcuterie board and painting.
Chill – Namastay with Shay
Traveling yoga instructor and Greater Palm Springs local Shay Moraga is offering free online yoga sessions for all yogis ready for a good workout at home. Along with her daughter, Jaelyn, the mother and daughter duo are teaching a variety of classes six days a week, including Gentle Power Flow Candlelit Yoga, Gentle Serenity Strength & Stretch, and more. @namastewithshay
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Renowned as the city that built America and at the forefront of innovation through eds, meds and tech industries; Pittsburgh is a destination for everyone’s travel bucket list. Not only causing a scene amongst sports, arts and culture fans, the burgeoning culinary scene is also making headlines as award-winning chefs move into the city.
Read – The Whiskey Rebellion and the Rebirth of Rye
Written by the folks from local craft distillers Wigle Whiskey located in the Strip District, the book goes into fairly great detail into the whiskey rebellion and how certain events had a small hand in shaping the steel city the way we know today in the modern revival of whiskey. Offering a unique look into the region’s distilling history you likely haven’t read anywhere else, the last few pages feature cocktail recipes, with many specially created by Wigle and other local bartenders.
Listen – I’ll Call You Right Back
Meet the characters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chad is just a regular guy from Pittsburgh with a podcast focused on real, raw stories. Every week, Chad sits down with family, friends, business owners, comedians, artists, and much more to talk about current events, pop culture, their adventures, and most importantly how they made it to where they are today …and all the obstacles they overcame along the way. I’ll Call You Right Back has seen guests, including Pittsburgh Magazine Editor and Food Critic Hal B Klein, spray artist Matt Spahr and local hockey player Chad Uddstrom. Illcallyourightback.com
Watch – The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Set during the 1990s, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is centred around the heart-warming friendship between three teenagers. Filmed in Pittsburgh, locations including the West End Overlook which overlooks the city skyline and Point State Park, the Hollywood Theater located in a small quaint town outside of Pittsburgh called Dormont, and Peters Township High School where most of the school scenes were filmed. Some of the most memorable scenes are the tunnel scenes at Fort Pitt Tunnel and Fort Pitt Bridge, where Emma Watson is seen riding in the back of a pick-up truck. Available on Netflix.
Visit – National Aviary
Dedicated to saving birds and protecting habitats, the National Aviary in downtown Pittsburgh plays a crucial role in aviation conservation. Through a series of successful breeding programmes, the National Aviary has reintroduced over 20 SSP species in the past year, including the Guam Rail; a small bird only eleven inches nose to tail and completely flightless. Tune into the Peregrine Eagle cam at the University of Learning and watch as the new family evolves. aviary.org
Drink – Roasty Whiskey Sour, Wigle Whiskey
American whiskey is said to have been born in Pittsburgh. Throughout the 1700 and 1800s, Western Pennsylvania was the epicenter of American Whiskey production. Wigle is named for one of those pioneering Pennsylvania distillers. In the 1790s, Phillip Wigle defended his right to distill in a tussle with a tax collector and unwittingly helped spark the Whiskey Rebellion, which pitted Western Pennsylvania distillers against George Washington’s troops. He was sentenced to hang for treason but was ultimately pardoned by Washington. By 1808, Allegheny County was producing half a barrel of whiskey for every man, woman and child living in America. The gold standard of American whiskey was a spicy, earthy rye whiskey called Monongahela Rye. The recently expanded craft distillery, Wigle Whiskey, is located downtown in the city’s Strip District now offers an expansive tasting room with a new bar menu for light bites and a cocktail menu inspired by the Mellon Pharmacy. Owner Meredith Meyer Grelli who opened to the public in 2012 can often be seen giving the daily distillery tours and is proud to have opened the first distillery since Prohibition in Pittsburgh with her family. Taking cues from the tradition of serving a lemon with espresso, this roasty whiskey makes a great whiskey sour. The sweet citrus brings out the nutty and chocolatey flavors of the whiskey.
Ingredients:
1.5oz Wigle Roasty Whiskey
0.75 oz lemon juice
0.75 oz maple syrup
1 egg white
Garnish with cocoa powder
Combine the first four ingredients into a shaker tin and add ice. Shake vigorously to ensure egg white emulsifies with the rest of the ingredients and develops a healthy froth (one option is to initially shake the first four ingredients without ice, and then give a subsequent shaking with ice). Strain into a glass with fresh ice and garnish with cocoa powder.
Learn – The Andy Warhol Museum interactive art lessons
Located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, the Andy Warhol Museum is the largest museum in the US dedicated to a single artist. With art over seven floors, each dedicated to a decade of the iconic pop artist life, the museum during its close is bringing free online portrait classes directly to your desk as part of its #warhollessons. Explore portraiture and learn how to create a self-portrait using collage. What’s more, the Tate Modern recent Andy Warhol retrospective is now available to view virtually if you need an extra culture fix. Warhol.org
Create – Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
At the Museum At Home, part of the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, challenged its virtual visitors with coming up with a new way to say hi, both in person and via technology. You can share the unique ways you’re saying “hi” in a photo or short video and may be featured in the Museum at Home program and displayed in the Museum once reopened. Pittsburghkids.org
Florida’s Paradise Coast, Florida
A cultural gem located in Southwest Florida, the Paradise Coast sits on the Gulf of Mexico’s turquoise water where 30 miles of pristine, soft white, sandy beaches, meets outdoor adventure and natural wilderness. The destination comprises three distinct areas, including Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades offering a thriving arts and culture scene, boutique and luxury resorts, award-winning golf courses and world-class dining.
Enjoy – Naples Zoo
Welcoming their first birth of 2020, the critically endangered slender-horned gazelle, Naples Zoo is a nationally accredited zoo and historic botanical garden. The calf weighs approximately 3.5 pounds and stands a little over 1 foot tall. This species is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan®. Naples Zoo participates in this national plan to help create sustainable populations of threatened and endangered species. The mother and father of the new baby were specifically matched by the SSP based on their ancestry, to create the greatest genetic diversity in the population over the next century. Naples Zoo is pleased to be a part of this critical program to sustain the slender-horned gazelle population in Zoos. napleszoo.org
Listen – Virtually Emillions Art Podcast
Global international art consultant Marlissa Gardner talks art happenings and events with contemporary artist Rachel Pierce on this new video podcast series offering fresh looks on art and industry perspectives.Travelling via your senses, the series kicks off with a thank you to the Naples community and the duo discussing Emillions Art Living Artist Series, Christmas on Fifth street gallery, investment art and Rachel’s current artwork. The new 22-part series will be filled with guest artist interviews and art topics wrapped up in less than 20 minutes. Emillionsart.com
Experience – Everglades Virtual Tour
Envision yourself on a relaxing kayak ride, travelling via your senses through the swamps of Everglades National Park. Located on the southernmost tip of Florida’s Paradise Coast, this tour will take you on a journey through the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther. googleearth.com
Watch – Adaptation
Florida’s Paradise Coast features in the backdrop of box-office success, Adaption. Co-starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, this is a must see film. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park featured prominently in the movie based on Susan Orlean’s non-fiction book ‘The Orchid Thief’, the book is about the arrest of a poacher (Chris Cooper’s character) and Seminole Indians for stealing rare ghost orchids from Fakahatchee.
Visit – Naples Art Show
Located on the Southwest tip of Florida, Naples is set to host the first (of a 65 year annual event) virtual Downtown Art Show on Friday 20 March. Housing all pieces on a central website, visitors will be able to explore their favourite artist by name or by material, spanning digital, drawing, glass, metal, sculptures, wood, and fiber to name a few. Visitors can also ask the artists questions with a specially designed widget on the site and click the thumbnail to read more about the artist and the individual inspiration for the pieces. naplesart.org
Drink – The Green Flash
Found in the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, this recently renovated bar and restaurant promises visitors a colourful sunset overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in a truly relaxing setting. You do not need to be a guest at the hotel and it is recommended to try one of the bar’s tropical classic cocktails named ‘The Green Flash’ created in the spirit of local legend that sees a bright green flash appear on the horizon to mark the end of the day. Ingredients include coconut rum, midori, creme de banana and lemonade.
Learn – Green finger learning
A natural and cultural gem tucked away in Southwest Florida, the Paradise Coast is where the Gulf of Mexico’s turquoise water meets white sand and wild islands. Comprising Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades there is much to see and do under the warm Florida sun. Naples Botanical Garden is hosting a series of social tutorials spanning do it yourself fun activities, including how to make a toilet paper roll planter and lessons in leaf morphology to tasty recipes from sweet potato gnocchi to classic hummus. naplesgarden.org
More lockdown travel inspiration for travelling via your senses here
