My only regret after visiting Copenhagen was that I didn’t spend enough time in this cultured and vibrant city. A friend described Copenhagen as “bohemian chic” and once I saw the town with my own two eyes I could easily compare it to Amsterdam with its beautiful canals and expert bike infrastructure, which is quickly becoming the standard infrastructure that cities from all over the world look up to. I felt casual and carefree in Copenhagen. There were colorful buildings to gaze at, wide open expanses to lounge, and cobblestone streets at every turn to blissfully get lost. Copenhagen definitely has its charms and here are five of them worth seeing whether your trip is as short as mine was or if you are lucky enough to have a little more time to explore.

The Black Diamond

My cousin has spent months and months in Copenhagen and after all this time, the Royal Library, or the Black Diamond as it is known in Denmark, is her favorite destination so I knew I had to take a peek inside. The Black Diamond is encased in black marble and glass and tilts over the water so that what you see reflected onto the building are sparkles, hence it’s name. The inside shines just as well with rotating exhibitions and a photography museum. Students from the University of Copenhagen no doubt have a wonderful place to study and visitors without the worry of exams can read books for pleasure on the outside deck with a drink from the library cafe in hand.

Canal Tour

Yes, it’s touristy but you have to do a canal tour, especially when the weather is sunny and warm. DFDS Canal Tours offer one hour tours that are worth the money. Instead of boarding at the busy Nyhavn dock, I boarded at Gammel Strand and loved the ride just as much. You ride past major attractions such as the Black Diamond and Opera House, the Little Mermaid, Christianhavn, Amalienborg Palace, and the National Museum while a tour guide explains the history and lesser known facts about the city. The tours leave up to four times an hour so you don’t have to plan your whole day around this one activity and can catch a boat when you please.

Kastellet

If you only have time to do one thing in Copenhagen, Kastellet would be my suggestion to you. I was mesmerized by this gorgeous public park which also houses the Danish Defense Ministry. I spent a couple hours here taking a walk up and down the hills and laying down on the grass to enjoy the sunshine. It is such a quiet and pristine setting that it is the perfect place to take a rest. The Little Mermaid statue is also nearby and probably the only place in this natural haven where you will see a crowd.

Fredericksberg Have

If you want to leave the city without really leaving the city, then you must visit Fredericksberg Have. This public park next to the Fredericksberg Palace is full of shady trees, winding paths, ponds complete with swans and ducks, and open expanses of green grass. Families and friends took strolls or sat down for picnics and couples laid out together sunbathing. Fredericksberg Have is right next to the Copenhagen Zoo so there is a free elephant viewpoint within the park too.  You can take a long walk from downtown Copenhagen to Fredericksberg and for some sustenance along the way, Granola is a great breakfast or lunch spot.

Nyhavn

Nyhavn is the oldest part of Copenhagen’s harbor and certainly the most picturesque. While I wouldn’t recommend having a meal at one of the many restaurants that line this harbor, it is the perfect spot to indulge in “hygge”, Denmark’s term for enjoying leisure time with family, friends, and drink. I sat on the edge of the harbor, sipping on coffee, gazing at the boats below me and the multitude of colored houses directly across from me all the while people watching both tourists and locals alike. It’s always nice to take a breather in a beautiful spot and appreciate how lucky you are to be somewhere special such as Nyhavn.

What’s your favorite thing to see or do in Copenhagen?

I planned my trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen at the very last minute so while there were a couple hostels that I had my eye on for my stay in Copenhagen, availability was limited. Luckily, I found a great budget hotel, Hotel Loeven, and it was worth the little extra money and here’s why:

The Good

Location: Hotel Loeven is just a couple minutes walk from the Central Station which takes you to and from the airport. It’s also a 10 minute walk to downtown Copenhagen including to Tivoli and Stroget, Copenhagen’s main shopping district. I walked everywhere and never had to take the metro. There were also ample and delicious restaurants in the neighborhood like organic Biomio, Turkish Ankara, and Vietnamese LeLe Nha Hang.

Security: The hotel is in a very safe neighborhood with lots of clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, and businesses around so you are not isolated. Each visitor is given a key that lets them into the lobby front door and their personal bedrooms otherwise no one else can get into your hotel or room.

Cleanliness: The room and bathroom were spotless as were the communal kitchen and hallways. Hotel Loeven employs a maid to clean your bathroom every day resupplying you with fresh towels but they don’t touch anything else. Fresh sheets are given to you upon check-in.

Service: The best part about Hotel Loeven is the owner Liv. She is very friendly and we immediately started talking about our past travels and she would tell me stories about her time in London working as a nurse or her love of the Middle East. She is very accommodating to her guests, gives great suggestions for local restaurants, and pinpoints must-see attractions on a map for you as soon as you arrive.

The Bad

No Internet: Hotel Loeven advertised free Internet but it was no where to be found. I unplugged on this trip but needed to send emails home just to check in with family so it would have been convenient to have Internet in the hotel, however I did find an Internet cafe by the Central Station but only went by there once.

False advertising: Besides the fact that Internet was advertised when there was no Internet, breakfast, bar and cafe were also advertised on Hostel World’s site however these were missing as well. The kitchen is useful when you want to buy your own groceries and my room had a mini fridge too but don’t expect breakfast and if you want a cafe or bar there are options in the neighborhood but not in the lobby or communal areas.

Noise: This was pretty insignificant but my room was situated near check-in and the walls were thin so I could hear everything when new travelers arrived at the hotel. Other than that, I slept soundly through the night and didn’t hear anything else and that’s all I could ask for as I was out exploring town the whole day anyway.

For more reviews and information about Hotel Loeven, visit HostelWorld.com.

Cheap airfare to Copenhagen

Budget Accommodations in Copenhagen

I learned on my recent trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen that I didn’t have to do everything and instead chose to visit the most important attractions on my list. I wanted to take my time, enjoy what I was seeing, and not feel rushed and I liked it this way. Stockholm was an absolutely beautiful and pristine city to see as I strolled through all the neighborhoods and around all the islands. It’s a very cosmopolitan city but there are parts of town where you can get away from the hustle and bustle for some peace and quiet which I loved. I had 5 days in Stockholm to explore so here are my top 5 attractions that I suggest you see as well:

Museum of Modern Art

Moderna Museet is located on Skeppsholmen island and houses all the modern art you would think of from Dali, Picasso, and Matisse. Be on the lookout for special exhibitions such as Siri Derkert, famed Swedish modernist who recently designed the Ostermalmstorg underground station in Stockholm, and Irving Penn, whose photographs of people in fashion or in far-flung locations are striking. A stroll around the island of Skeppsholmen after your museum visit is a must for views of the water and downtown Stockholm from afar.

Entrance to the museum

Stepping into the art

Breakfast and boats in Kungsholmen

Kungsholmen is a neighborhood away from the tourist attractions and an area of Stockholm worthy of a quiet breakfast and a stroll along Lake Malaren for boat watching. A friend recommended Petite France for pastries and coffee in the morning and since I’m a sucker for a French cafe I had to seek the place out. The food is delicious and close to the water so you can walk from there all the way to Gamla stan, taking in all the boats tied to the harbor. On a sunny day, it was one of the most beautiful views I saw in Stockholm.

Stop by the Nobel Museum in Gamla stan

Gamla stan, or the Old Town, is a gorgeous area to walk around on a lazy afternoon and if you are in that neighborhood you must visit the Nobel Museum. It is definitely worth your money as you learn about the history of the Nobel Prize and Alfred Nobel himself. Prized possessions donated by Nobel Laureates are on display with interesting stories behind the items’ significance explained. It’s a small museum so I didn’t feel overwhelmed and afterwards, Hermitage Vegetarisk is a  vegetarian restaurant nearby for a delicious meal that even a meat-eater like myself enjoyed.

Prized possessions from Nobel Laureates

Suggested reading perhaps?

Fotografiska

Fotografiska was by far my favorite museum in Stockholm. A brand new photography museum located in Stockholm’s Sodermalm neighborhood, I highly recommend this place for any photography lover. Contemporary exhibits revolve annually and my favorite at the time I visited was Jacob Fellander’s I Want To Live Close To You, photographs of cities such as Paris and Dubai meshed into one. The top floor cafe offers a stunning view of Tivoli and the water so make sure you stay there for a coffee or lunch.

I Want To Live Close To You

The Vasa Museum

Vasa Museet is a one of the most popular attractions in Stockholm and for good reason. Located on the island of Djurgarden, here you can view a massive salvaged ship from 17th century Sweden. As soon as you walk through the entrance, it is immediately apparent how impressive the ship is still intact. Seven floors of history surround the ship explaining who was on board, why it sank, and how it was rediscovered after more than 300 years. Add in a hearty meal at the cafe and a walk through the museum gardens and it all makes for a great morning activity to avoid the crowds.

Crew remains

Have you been to Stockholm? What’s your favorite attraction in the capital city?

I hadn’t stayed in a hostel in a few years so I was looking forward to City Lodge Stockholm mainly because I was eager to meet travelers from around the world. City Lodge was great and I would stay there again and here is my take on the good and the bad of this Stockholm hostel:

The Good

Location: The hostel is in the best spot possible. It’s a two minute walk from the Arlanda Express station which makes getting to and from the airport a cinch. It’s also a block away from Drottninggattan which is a main shopping and restaurant district in Stockholm. I avoided this street at all costs as it was really crowded and touristy but it is an easy route to T-Centralen (the hub of Stockholm’s metro system) and to Gamla stan, or Old Town.

Security: As a female traveling solo, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t staying in some shady place. City Lodge Stockholm has door codes for the outermost door, lobby door, and room door that are enforced at night and the codes change every night (you are given a tiny booklet when you check-in that has all the codes for your stay).

Cleanliness: All of the bathrooms are communal as is the kitchen and the hostel kept everything very clean. Individual food and drink could be stored in the kitchen and guests were encouraged to clean up after themselves which they did.

Quiet: I like meeting people in hostels and hanging out with them but sometimes quiet is necessary when you travel if you’ve been walking around all day and are exhausted. City Lodge Stockholm enforces quiet hours starting at 11pm and encourages all those who want to party to do so somewhere else. I didn’t have a problem with that rule as I went out with my friend for as long as I wanted and when I wanted to get some sleep, I came back to the hostel.

Free Internet: I unplugged while in Scandinavia but in order to keep my mother sane, City Lodge had free Internet all day long so that I could send an email or two home to let family know I was okay. I could avoid expensive Internet cafes and it was pretty convenient too when I needed an address of a restaurant before going out for the day or night.

Communal room

The Bad

The Beds: No bed bugs or anything like that but the beds were plain uncomfortable and really thin and creaked at every possible movement. After six nights, I couldn’t wait for my budget hotel and big comfy bed in Copenhagen.

The Room: Since City Lodge Stockholm is below ground there are no windows in the room and the room can get pretty hot. I only stayed in my room to sleep though so it wasn’t a major inconvenience.

Four person female dorm

For more reviews and information about City Lodge Stockholm visit HostelWorld.com

I used to be the kind of traveler who relied on friends or family or whoever I was traveling with to make the plans and get us to and from our destination. While living in London a few years ago, my friends, Liz and Krissy, and I planned an upcoming two month trip through Europe together but one of us took the lead in booking hostels and finding flights and that one person wasn’t me. When the three of us were out on the road, I was usually the one standing on the side of the street waiting for my friends to analyze the map and figure out the best route to our next museum. I was fine with my role and didn’t think anything of it until Liz and Krissy made me realize I should take more initiative.

Follow the leader

Flash forward to last October and I was traveling to Chicago with my cousin Carla and without Liz and Krissy, I had to take the lead. I surprised myself though and could plan our days and navigate the city with ease. Carla was grateful too when I figured out the layout of the city by day two. She said and I quote, “thanks for looking out for me as I crossed the streets of Chicago. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be a flat pancake with a BlackBerry still glued to my hand.” Not having veteran travelers Liz and Krissy but a CrackBerry addicted cousin by my side forced me to step up to the plate and I realized just how capable I was of taking charge and making the trip happen.

Navigating Chi-town below us

To really challenge myself though, I embarked on my first solo trip to Scandinavia where I had no one but myself to rely on. I had no smartphone or computer to help me navigate but just a paper map and it was easy. My first few hours in Stockholm and Copenhagen were spent orienting myself with the map and circling sites I wanted to visit and I had no problems getting to and from my hostels. I had my list of things to do but no regiment I had to follow to a T. I made decisions when I felt like it and the trip wasn’t a disaster but actually just the perfect vacation I wanted.

I think we change as travelers depending upon who we travel with. If we’re in a group, everyone takes a role as either a leader, contributor, or follower and if we travel solo then we are forced to take care of ourselves. When we travel by our lonesome we can finally learn what we are capable of not only as a traveler but as a person and it’s a valuable lesson you can’t learn any other way.

What kind of traveler are you?

One of the biggest lessons I learned while traveling solo is that I don’t have to see every museum, palace, or other such major attraction when I visit a new city. Previously, when I traveled with friends we usually crammed in as much sight seeing as we possibly could into a span of three or four days and this was okay in that situation. We moved through 15 countries and 9 months and had the time of our lives and we were lucky to see as much of Europe as we did.

However, since traveling solo for the first time my philosophy on touring a town has changed. I didn’t do everything in Stockholm and Copenhagen not only because there just wasn’t enough time but also because I wanted to take my time and only see the attractions I really cared about like the Fotografiska in Stockholm and the Kastellet in Copenhagen. And the nice thing about solo travel is that you can make up your own schedule and change it at the drop of a hat so if I wanted to take a break in a cafe or a park with the locals, I did that instead of rushing around from site to site with the tourists.

I’m glad I’ve experienced both methods of travel but I have to say some of my favorite photos from my Scandinavian adventure are those of myself and others doing absolutely nothing, beautiful nothing.

Sitting in Kundstragarden, Stockholm

Bookworm on Skeppsholmen island, Stockholm

Grilling on Liljeholmens island, Stockholm

Sleeping pup in Sodermalm, Stockholm

Enjoying the Opera House view, Copenhagen

Not reading but lounging at the Black Diamond library, Copenhagen

Taking a rest on Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Mother and child in Kastellet, Copenhagen

Sunbathing in Kastellet, Copenhagen

Resting in Fredericksberg have, Copenhagen

Lone lake watcher in Kongens have, Copenhagen

What was I most excited about for my first solo trip? Pure simplicity. For me, simplicity meant that for two weeks I would travel with no laptop, no smartphone, and just a backpack with the essentials. Just thinking about it made me relax instantly and I couldn’t wait for my trip to start.

I’m on a computer all day at work and it doesn’t stop when I get home. I’m in grad school and take classes online so I have to use my computer after work too. I love my Droid but I have the unfortunate habit of checking my phone every few minutes for messages, tweets, and emails.  These devices are fine and good because they keep me connected to a career and passion that I love but at some point my head will explode if I don’t take a break from them.

So I decided to stop everything while I traveled through Stockholm and Copenhagen and only pack the essentials. While I brought a standard voice/text only cell phone for emergencies, instead of a laptop I had my Moleskine journal and instead of a smartphone I had a copy of Lonely Planet’s The Kindness of Strangers (Loved!). I only packed a few pieces of clothing into a  tiny backpack so I wouldn’t have to think about extraneous items and just put on a t-shirt and jeans and step out the door.

Eliminating the distractions was a challenge but I’m glad I did it because it gave me the chance to really be alone and take a time out for myself. I sat at a cafe every morning eating pastries, sipping coffee, and watching the scene around me. I took long walks along lakes, over canals, around islands and through parks and if I felt like sitting down for a half hour I did that.

Without distractions I learned that I don’t always need to be doing something or accumulating things and that I can and should be still. It’s a perspective I am grateful for as a never ending to-do list was bogging me down at home and prevented me from enjoying the view in front of me. Now back in the Bay Area I am slowing down. Yes, I am back at my laptop and always have my Droid with me but I am only taking on what I can handle knowing that it is not the end of the world if I can’t do everything I want. I am writing this on a Sunday afternoon in bed because this is all I want to do today and I can see myself taking time out for more simplicity just like this in the near and distant future.

Thinking about traveling simple? Here are some persuasion and tips:

The value of unplugging and an iPhone-less life on CestChristine.com

The art of unplugging for a trip on Vagablogging.net

I never thought I could travel solo but I just did. I just came back from a two week visit to Stockholm and Copenhagen and Scandinavia is wonderful and I proved to myself that I could travel solo.

I’m glad I went rather than stay at home because I didn’t have anyone to go with. Friends and family had conflicting schedules and tour groups were out of my budget but I knew at least one person in both Stockholm and Copenhagen so that was reason enough to buy my ticket and make this trip happen. I’ve been prone to letting hesitation, fear, or excuses get in the way of traveling across the pond but not this time.

I guess I was determined to travel somewhere far so I could take a breather. The last six months have been busy what with a full time job, part time graduate studies, trips to Denver, L.A. and San Diego, and time with family and friends. I felt consumed by a never ending to do list and a trip abroad seemed like the perfect remedy to slow down and get some perspective.

I was definitely nervous to travel solo and had a million things running through my mind but I also though that traveling alone would actually be perfect right now. I could take time out for myself and that meant unplugging from my smartphone and laptop and only carrying a backpack with the essentials. I saw the trip as a challenge that I had to take on at least once to see what I was capable of on my own.

It turns out I’m pretty capable and learned some important things along the way too. I’ll be sharing my stories and photos in the coming weeks and months, but for now check out some of the useful posts I read while I prepared for my trip. If you are thinking about traveling solo or traveling to Scandinavia, these reads are helpful!

The Joy of Solitude Travel on SoloFriendly.com

Solo Travel Safety: 20 Common Sense Tips on SoloTravelerBlog.com

Just One Please on SuzyGuese.com

Female Solo Travel Tips on yTravelBlog.com

Logistics: What to Do in Stockholm on CestChristine.com

The Saturday City: Stockholm on NomadicMatt.com

10 Things to Do in Sweden on CheeseWeb.eu

Things to Do in Copenhagen, Denmark on AsWeTravel.com

Copenhagen on the Cheap on MadatorNetwork.com

When Alisha Miranda, Travel Geek, visited San Francisco for the first time a few weeks ago we had the chance to meet up and sample the city’s finest food trucks at Off the Grid. We highly recommend this weekly event if you love street food as much as we do. Alisha explored every inch of my city by the bay and then moved on down the coast to see Los Angeles, also her first time. San Francisco and Los Angeles are only 350 miles apart but could not be more different from each other and Alisha captured each city’s personality and uniqueness in each photo you see here.

School mural near the People's Cafe at Haight-Ashbury

Sun bathers and lawn loungers at Dolores Park

Baseball fans eager to watch the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day

Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance

Golden Gate Bridge at Crissy Field

Bay Bridge at the Embarcadero

Skateboarders at Venice Beach

An L.A. institution

Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood

Santa Monica

The famous Hollywood sign

Griffith Observatory

For more photos from Alisha’s West Coast trip, check out her Flickr page and follow her on Twitter @makeshiftalisha

Candice Walsh of Candice Does the World is one of the funniest travel writers I know. I had to have her contribute to my blog and so I asked her to choose any place in the world and map out her ideal day there. It turns out her recent unemployment has been a blessing in disguise as she is planning to move abroad this year so my assignment was perfect timing. Until she gets there, the following is her dream of the ideal day in Chania, Crete.

I’m obsessed with all things Greece, but my attempts to travel there for an extended amount of time have been thwarted at every corner. I’ve got a stockpile of Greek literature and travel guidebooks, but in the meantime, a gal can dream…right? I still have no clue where my ideal city would be, but let’s say it’s Chania ( also known as “Hania”), home of the mysterious Minoans and located on the island of Crete.

Chania, in my mind, represents the idyllic laid-back life of the Mediterranean which makes it famous. Plus the whole town has less than 60,000 people…a refreshing break from the more metro areas like Athens. It may not have all the excitement, but damn, have you seen those old homes? Narrow streets and blooming flowers?

So here’s how I’d imagine my day going. For the sake of readers, I’ve omitted my tedious, annoying habits and conversations with confused locals which would be sure to happen.

After waking up in my villa set against the hills, I’d head down to the Venetian Harbour for some breakfast and coffee on the water. I’d unfold a map, likely upside-down, and figure out my plans for the day while being thoroughly disoriented. Upon paying, I’ll cringe about having to pay 6 euros for one cup of weak coffee and will swear off eating for the rest of the trip.

As a former Classics student, I’d like to think my main area of interest would be the ancient Minoan settlement of Kydonia, where excavations are still being carried out. I’d flirt with some archaeologists until they’d finally let me in, only to realize it was completely unnecessary because they’d let me in anyway.

In all likelihood, however, I’d get distracted by a beach (like the one at Stalos, or Golden Beach) and tanned Greek men standing shirtless on it. I’d then lay out sunbathing in hopes of getting some colour as to better blend in with the locals instead of being such an obviously sun-deprived Canadian. I’d float around on my back in the waves, sinking toes into sand and marvelling over the fact that anywhere could have better coastline than Newfoundland.

Or, better yet, I’d run the risk of heat stroke and take a trek to Agia Marina to snap some pictures of Mount Gingilos. Or maybe I’d just follow the fortification wall built by the Venetians from the Firkas Fortress to the Siavo Bastion. Or I’d snorkel one of the nearby, smaller islands, like Agii Theodorou. Oh my god, it’s just all too much…overwhelmed by options, I’d probably just retire for a nap at my abode.

Agia Marina courtesy of anybookers

After a measly supper of olives and wine (because I’ve spent all my money traveling between fortresses and mountains and gorges), I’d have a relaxing drink on the deck of Fortezza, watching the sun set over the hills. Then I’d acquire some random friends from the street and invite them to go dancing with me at Synagogi, the roofless former Venetian synagogue. Yes, because no matter how amazing it would be to whirl under a starry, open Greek sky, some things are best done with others.

Now I just have to make this happen.

Read Candice Does the World and follow Candice on Twitter, @candicewalsh

What would your ideal day be like and in which city? Email me if you’d like to contribute a guest post or leave a comment!