New York Weehawken, NJ

It is always enchanting to get a different view on things. With this trip you get to see the quiet side of the Hudson River in New Jersey. With only a short train and tram ride away you can enjoy a stroll along the river, discover a 9/11 memorial and varying views over to Manhattans skyline.

• City: New York/Weehawken, NJ
• How to get there: Get the PATH train from 33rd Street Station in Manhattan to Hoboken Station in New Jersey. From there take the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Port Imperial Station. Walk across the street and follow the river walk back towards Hoboken.
• Tip: If you don’t want to walk all the way back to Hoboken, take the tram back from Lincoln Harbor Station.
• Ticket: You can use your MetroCard on the PATH train but need an extra ticket (available at stations) for the light rail service.
• Transport information: NJ Transit, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Location: Weehawken

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New York Red Hook Dock

Many tips are probably out there if it comes to the city of cities, New York. So this article is just an idea for a scenic detour in Brooklyn with a wonderful view from Red Hook Dock towards the Statue of Liberty at the end. After crossing one of the most iconic sites in New York, the Brooklyn Bridge, there is a park with the same name, overlooking the East River and Manhattan. Along this park there are various piers that have been transformed into public playgrounds and picnic areas and are well worth exploring.

• City: New York
• How to get there: Get the subway line 4, 5 or 6 to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall Station and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge towards Brooklyn. From there just follow the East River via Brooklyn Bridge Park. Alternatively take the subway line A or C to Hight Street Station in Brooklyn. From Brooklyn Bridge Park follow the signage towards Red Hook. After a short stretch along the very busy Columbia Street you are following the Van Brunt Street with some nice local shops and restaurants until you reach an old warehouse that holds now Fairway Market. On the opposite site of the building you get a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty and have a litte waterfront park to enjoy.
• Tip: You could also cycle this whole stretch from City Hall in Manhattan to Red Hook in Brooklyn as this is mostly off street with dedicated cycle lanes. After having lunch at the fantastic Fairway Market you can use the IKEA ferry service from IKEA Dock to get back to Manhattan.
• Ticket: You can use your MetroCard on the subway but need an extra ticket (available on board) for the ferry service. If you purchase something at IKEA the ferry trip is free of charge.
• Transport information: IKEA Ferry Service, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Location: Red Hook Dock

Sydney Parramatta Park

Parramatta, a westerly suburb of Sydney, is easily accessible by train or by a nice ferry ride. Although it takes something over 1 hour to get there via the scenic waterway, it has a nice town centre with some good cafes and restaurants. Arriving by ferry gives you the opportunity to continue along the Parramatta River on foot until you reach Parramatta Park. The park is home to a world heritage site: Australia’s oldest public building, the Old Government House.

• City: Sydney
• How to get there: Take a ferry from Circular Quay Station to Parramatta Wharf. From here just follow the river on foot, it’s about a 30 min. walk to Parramatta Park.
• Tip: After observing hundreds of flying foxes from Buttons Bridge, continue to walk towards Westmead Station and take a train back to central Sydney.
• Ticket: You can use the Opal Card (top up) on the ferry and train services.
• Transport information: Transport for NSW
• Location: Parramatta Park

Copenhagen Fæstningskanalen

Not in many travel guide books so far: The canal that forms an outer fortification ring around the Danish capital. With green spaces following nearly the whole length of the waterway it is definitely a different approach of exploring Copenhagen and its outer-lying boroughs on foot or by bike. Along the way you’ll find some interesting historic artefacts and good information plaques.

• City: Copenhagen, Denmark
• How to get there: Take the S-train (S-tog) line B or H from Copenhagen Central Station to Emdrup Station. Then follow a small park until you reach a lake called Utterslev Mose. Beyond this lake you will find the beginning (or end) of the canal.
• Tip: Keep walking along the canal and the park alongside for a couple of kilometres. Take the train back to Copenhagen Central Station from Husum Station or Islev Station. Total length of this walk is around 8km.
• Ticket: Easiest option is to get a City Pass for 24 hours, Zones 1-4.
• Transport information: DSB
• Location: Fæstningskanalen
• More information: Fæstningskanalen on Wikipedia

 

Liepāja Soviet-era housing

With being the third biggest city in Latvia, Liepāja lies on the Baltic Sea coast and has some fine white sandy beaches. In contrast to its sunny coastline and green parks, you’ll also find some Soviet-era public housing areas which are well worth exploring if you are into architecture.

• City: Liepāja, Latvia
• How to get there: Take the only tram line service from Kurzeme Stop to Mirdzas Ķempes iela Stop (terminus). Then take a stroll through the borough and its concrete housing blocks.
• Tip: After lots of concrete why not take a 4,5km walk back to the city centre along the coastline and/or the parkland alongside.
• Ticket: Best option is to get a ticket on board the tram in cash Liepaja Tickets
• Transport information: Liepājas tramvajs
• Location: Mirdzas Ķempes iela

San Francisco Golden Gate Park

One of San Franciscoˋs best and largest parks is the Golden Gate Park. Stretching over 5 km from the city towards the Pacific Ocean with superb views along the fine sandy beach. The park also holds a botanical garden that is definitely worth a visit. Overall you can spend at least half a day exploring all the sights in and around the park.

• City: San Francisco, United States of America
• How to get there: Take the Muni N-Line tram service from Embarcadero Station to Carl St & Stanyan St Stop. Then it is a short walk to the southeast corner of the park.
• Tip: After a visit in the botanical garden take a trip on the Stow Lake in a pedal boat. If you fancy walking all the way to the west you will be rewarded with some Dutch windmills just before reaching the Pacific Ocean and its vast beach. To get back to the city centre take the N-Line tram from Judah St & La Playa St Station
• Ticket: Best option is to get a Clipper Card
• Transport information: Muni
• Location: San Francisco Botanical Garden

Copenhagen Olsen Gang

The Olsen Gang was a series of 14 Danish movies starting in the late 1960’s telling the story of Egon Olsen, his gang members and their adventures. Usually the movies start with Egon Olsen coming out of this iconic prison building (Vridsløselille Statsfængsel) in the Danish capital. Today, 2018, the prison is not used as a correction facility anymore, a small museum can be visited.

• City: Copenhagen, Denmark
• How to get there: Take the S-tog B or Bx train service from Nørreport Station to Albertslund Station. Then it is a short walk to the prison.
• Tip: If you are interested in town planning, south of Albertslund Station is a large residential quarter of dense low-rise buildings from the 1960’s called Albertslund Syd.
• Ticket: Easiest option is to get a City Pass for 24 hours, Zones 1-4.
• Transport information: DSB

Paris Cergy Axe-Majeur

Cergy lies about 30km north-west of central Paris. It is a planned Ville Nouvelle, also known under the term New Town, on the banks of the river Oise. Apart from the apparently largest train station clock in Europe, the highlight is the Axe-Majeur. This 1km long architecturally well designed axis is leading from the square Colonnes down to the river and across a red arched footbridge. Good views of La Défense in the far distance are possible.

• City: Paris, France
• How to get there: Take the RER A train service from Châtelet-Les Halles Station to Cergy Saint Christophe Station.
• Tip: Once you have crossed the footbridge follow the river to the east towards the Port of Cergy. Take the RER A train back to central Paris from Cergy Préfecture Station.
• Ticket: Carte Paris Visite (1, 2, 3, 5 day pass), zones 1-5
• Transport information: RATP Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens
• Location: Cergy Axe-Majeur

Wellington Kapiti Coast

From New Zealand’s wonderful capital city Wellington you can easily explore the Kapiti Coast with local train services. The Queen Elizabeth Park for example, is a great destination with large areas of natural dunes along the coast. Perfect also for family picnics and if you fancy a tram ride, go and visit the Wellington Tramway Museum.

• City: Wellington, New Zealand
• How to get there: Take a Kapiti Line train service from Wellington Station to Paekakariki Station.  From the station it’s about a 15 minute walk until you reach the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Park.
• Tip: Continue walking through the park towards Paraparaumu Station and take the Kapiti Line train back to Wellington Station. This walk will take around 2 hours.
• Ticket: A Day Rover Ticket will give you unlimited travel on the Kapiti, Upper Hutt, and Johnsonville Metlink train services.
• Transport information: Metlink
• Location: Queen Elizabeth Park

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens are, compared to other botanical gardens in the world, not the biggest but include a rose garden and a well designed glasshouse, the Kibble Palace. Once you are in the garden, there is a tea room with some lovely food and of course a good selection of tea.

• City: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
• How to get there: The Glasgow Subway, opened in 1896, is the only underground metro system in Scotland and consists of just one circular line. Take the Subway from Buchanan Street Station to Kelvinbridge Street Station. Then it’s about a 30 minute walk along the River Kelvin towards the Botanic Gardens via Ha’Penny Footbridge.
• Tip: Walk along Byres Road towards Hillhead Station and take the Subway back to the city centre. There are some good local shops along Byres Road.
• Ticket: Best is to use an all day subway ticket.
• Transport information: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport