Top Travel Bloggers Pick Their Favorite Not To Miss Cities

For several years, RoamRight has worked with some of the best travel bloggers in the world to create unique and interesting content for the RoamRight Travel Blog. Today we want to look back at just a few of those amazing posts and share what our fearless group of writers consider to be some of the best cities in the world to visit on your next vacation. Which ones would you add to the list?

York, England

Anchored by the vast gothic Minster and encircled by medieval walls, York is a fascinating blend of old and new. This is a city where ancient architecture meets quirky cosmopolitan culture – and it’s a marriage that works.

Some of the best experiences in York are the simplest. Walk along the city’s ancient medieval walls. Wander along the cobblestones beneath overhanging timber-framed buildings of The Shambles – one of the best-preserved medieval shopping streets in England. Pop into one of the historic (and haunted) pubs or take a break for afternoon tea at Betty’s. As you wander along, be sure to look up at the many architectural details and symbols. You’ll find little surprises like the "printer devil" that give clues to the original occupants of each building. Along York’s most stylish shopping streets, Stonegate and Petergate, the clothes have changed but the streets still run along the same routes as they did 2,000 years ago. They lead to the magnificent York Minster where you’ll find England’s greatest concentration of medieval stained glass, including the Great East Window, which is thought to be the largest example of stained glass in the world.

From the post: Get To Know The Cities Of Northern England

Jupiter and Juno Beach, Florida

Situated at the northern tip of Palm Beach County on Florida’s east coast, Jupiter along with its neighbor to the south, Juno Beach, are perfect retreats for beachgoers and surfers. Starting at the Jupiter Inlet with its classic red lighthouse, you’ll find wide palm lined beaches, sand dunes covered in sea grapes and glistening blue water. Dubois Park has 1,200 feet of beach with playgrounds and picnic pavilions. Carlin Park is a beach park with exercise trails, grills, showers and lifeguards. The wide sidewalks along the beachfront are perfect for strolling, rollerblading and biking.

The 990-foot fishing pier at Juno Beach is a favorite for casting a line. Fishing and swimming blend effortlessly here. Nearby Loggerhead Park features nature trails, a bike path, tennis courts and a Loggerhead Marine Life Center with a Sea Turtle Hospital.

From the post: 5 Florida Beach Getaways You May Not Know

Quito, Ecuador

Surrounded by volcanoes and straddling the center of the earth, Ecuador’s capital city is a place where the past and present effortlessly coexist. Founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca City, Quito has the best-preserved historic center in Latin America. Narrow cobblestoned streets are lined with colonial churches, monasteries, convents, and beautifully restored houses with architecture from the 16th to the 20th century. At the southern end of Quito's Historic District you will find the narrow cobblestone street La Ronda. One of the most iconic streets of the historic district, La Ronda is the bohemian center of the old town - a place where musicians, artists, and poets mingled in the 1930's. Today traditional foods and beverages are served in modest nondescript restaurants, and traditional trades coexist with designer shops, craftwork shops, and spaces for folklore and popular culture. Don't miss the empanadas de viento (wind empanadas), which are made from wheat and filled with cheese that inflates when they are fried in oil as if they were empty inside.

Of course no trip to the city at the center of the world would be complete without a visit to the equator. Stand with a foot in each hemisphere and experience the scientific wonders of the earth's movement at 0 latitude. Participate in physics experiments like placing an egg on the head of a nail or watching water swirl down the drain clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

From the post: What You Should Know About Ecuador’s Top Two Cities

Austin, Texas

Get your weird on in Austin, but don’t forget to eat. Celebrate the holiday weekend with a progressive dinner (or day of meals) at the food trucks around the city. Try a bite you have never had before; get that flavor of ice cream you have always wanted to try but never did because you stuck with your standby choice. With so many options, how can you resist driving or flying down to this Texas town?

From the post: Easy Weekend Trips To Take Over Memorial Day Weekend

Rotterdam, Netherlands

If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam, be sure to allot at least one day to check out the new Markt Hall in Rotterdam. It’s an impressive building combining food, leisure, living and parking. It’s located in Laurens Quarter, the pre-war center of Rotterdam. This is the Netherlands’ first indoor market, featuring 100 fresh produce sellers, 15 food shops and eight restaurants. Rotterdam itself is also the center of an up-and-coming food scene in the Netherlands, another location like the UK trying to shake off its stereotype for less than stellar cuisine.

From the post: 9 Must Visit Destinations in 2016 for Foodies

Williamsburg, Virginia

The American story started in Williamsburg, Virginia and this legacy can thankfully still be experienced today. Colonial Williamsburg is a meticulously recreated version of the town that was at one time the capital of the Virginia Colony and whose House of Burgesses was the inspiration for the form of government we enjoy today. Visit museums, talk to the period-dressed docents and try your own hand at colonial tasks. Afterwards walk over to nearby College of William and Mary, the 2nd oldest university in the country with its own impressive history to share. To round out your visit, enjoy some modern entertainment with a visit to Busch Gardens - an outing all members of the family are guaranteed to love.

From the post: Fun and Patriotic Places to Visit Around America

Belfast

Prepared to be surprised (in a good way) by the capital city of Northern Ireland, Belfast. Lively and modern, this is a city that begs to be explored on foot, which is exactly what I did on one of the first bright, sunny days of summer. For a quick education on The Troubles and politics in Northern Ireland, join a Black Cab tour. These driving tours are led by real cabbies, who share their memories and perceptions of The Troubles in intensely personal ways. The tourism star in Belfast though is the Titanic, and the massive museum and exhibit facility will surely entertain you for hours if not the entire day. After spending some time at the Titanic, walk back to the city center through some new and up-and-coming neighborhoods to learn more about the city and its colorful culture that is reshaping its future. By the end of your time in the city I think you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

From the post: Four Reasons To Plan a Trip To Northern Ireland

Miami

Miami is a stunning city on the water and offers plenty of fun summer activities for tourists. The city has wonderful nightlife, beautiful sandy beaches and an energetic atmosphere. Its best-known beach is South Beach. Miami’s architecture is also exceptional. It resembles Art Deco, and many building walls are painted pink, purple, or a light yellow. These lovely hues complement the city’s vibrant, Latin-influenced atmosphere.

From the post: Top US Travel Destinations To Visit This Summer

Edmonton, Alberta

The provincial capital offer gets overlooked by flashier Calgary or the nearby Rockies, but with hundreds of festivals, a revitalized downtown and some of the best restaurants in Canada, there are many reasons to spend some time in Edmonton.

From the post: Top Destinations To Visit in 2016

Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara has it all. Although it’s located near many famous attractions, Santa Barbara is a smaller and more peaceful alternative to its southern neighbor, Los Angeles. However there are a few other reasons that Santa Barbara is a perfect place to explore during a summer vacation. 

First, the atmosphere of the city is laid back and relaxing. Second, Santa Barbara has perfect temperatures. Third, at the base of the town is the ocean while above the city towers The Santa Ynez Mountains. What more do you need? Basically Santa Barbara is awesome. There are a variety of beaches to just sit back and relax in the sun and enjoy the ocean breeze while the mountains offer trails views, and an excellent escape from civilization. Make sure you take a drive down Santa Cruz Boulevard to visit the One Thousand Steps Beach or Butterfly Beach for a unbelievably stunning sunset. 

From the post: Vacation Ideas For Your 2016 Summer Adventures

Budapest

Budapest is appealing to travelers for many reasons. The city is cheap, striking, and electrifying. The most popular thing to do in Budapest, and one I highly recommend, is spending an afternoon just relaxing in the thermal bath houses. Also, make sure to spend some time checking out the Fisherman's Bastion, walking across the Chain Bridge, and visiting the Parliament Building. It's hard to go wrong in this exciting and always surprising city.

From the tiny streets and welcoming locals of small medieval towns to the vast museums and towering sites of the large cities, Europe is one of the most diverse and friendly continents in the world. No matter which ones you choose to visit, these cities will leave you with a desire to visit Europe again and again.

From the post: Not-To-Miss Cities In Europe

Brisbane, Australia

Most people don’t automatically think of Brisbane when they consider a trip to Australia - but they should. Aside from the pedestrian zones and the museums, the one over-arching thought I had leaving Brisbane is just how incredibly livable it is. That’s saying a lot for a country like Australia, whose cities routinely rank in the top tier when it comes to judging the happiness of residents. I first noticed it when, after a couple of hours of walking with a guide, we hadn’t actually crossed a street. We ambled from one pedestrian-zone to the next, from park to promenade, enjoying the sights of the city without dealing with the typical city problems like cars and crosswalks. The city’s main pedestrian zone, Queen Street Mall, is a delightful circus of sights and sounds, restaurants, shops, cafes and people. It was the middle of the week and yet it was packed with folks out enjoying the wonderfully warm temperatures of a mild Queensland winter. Brisbane is blessed with a lot of great weather, and everything about the city encourages residents and visitors alike to get out and enjoy that natural gift. At the risk of sounding infantile, Brisbane is just a fun city to be in and sometimes that’s enough.

From the post: Top Destinations To Visit in 2016

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