Architecture tips

Japan has a proclivity for showing visitors that it’s a nation of forward thinkers. Hi-tech gadgets and convenience innovations bolster an enduring cultural phenomenon of visual storytelling, be it hand-drawn, animated or filmed. But peer beyond that technological sheen and you’ll find this is a society that is also unafraid to look back, respecting traditional values, somehow seamlessly blending them into modern life. Nowhere is this duality better demonstrated than across the region of Greater Tokyo, where it infused the country’s hosting of the post-pandemic Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games with much needed optimism and a future-facing attitude. As you move through Greater Tokyo, you’ll find that the legacy of Tokyo 2020 connects you to these regions, beautifully embodying the spirit of Japan, both then and now.

What do some of the most iconic pieces of architecture in the world—say, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Dancing House in Prague, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao—all have in common? Two words: Frank Gehry.

New Year, new national park to check off your must-visit list? Mark your calendars: The park system just announced a half dozen “free days” for 2024 that are spread throughout the year, beginning with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15, 2024.

Norway will soon get a ground-breaking new museum. On May 11, 2024, Kunstsilo, located in Kristiansand, Southern Norway, opens its doors. Set inside a meticulously restored grain silo, Kunstsilo boasts three floors of immersive art and is a fusion of the Southern Norway Art Museum and the prestigious Tangen Collection.

Gazing at the exterior of Boston Logan Airport’s new Terminal E building is like taking a trip back in time to an era when going to the airport held the promise of glamor and whimsy. The building, which fully opened to the public earlier this fall, has the type of bold curve-and-swoop design that’s reminiscent of the Jet Age’s swankiest terminal: the old TWA building at New York-JFK.

Travelers often overlook Belgium in favor of neighbors like France and the Netherlands, but it’s one of Europe’s best kept secrets. Because of its history, Belgium is linguistically and culturally diverse; it’s also small and compact, so visitors can travel to multiple destinations with ease. 

This latest flagship addition to the upper-upscale Radisson Blu brand boasts superb transport connections to Stuttgart’s business district and numerous cultural attractions.

Renowned Massachusetts Millwork and Fabrication Shop Joins metrica’s International Team of Artisans.

A tower in the Italian city of Bologna that is less known than its Pisa counterpart - but leans equally as much - has been sealed off, with authorities saying it’s at high risk of collapse.

There’s always something going on in Las Vegas, and that’s especially true now. The Sphere, an architectural wonder, is open for concerts. Fontainebleau, a 67-story luxury megaresort, will make its debut later this month. Then, in February 2024, Allegiant Stadium will host Super Bowl LVIII. But, of course, one of the most perennially popular things to do in Sin City is to gamble, and now, a new report from Casino.org, suggests which casinos may be the luckiest in Las Vegas.

Lovingly referred to as La Grassa (the fat one, for its hearty food traditions), La Dotta (the learned one, a nod to its famed university, founded in 1088) and La Rossa (the red one, for both its terracotta-hued buildings and its famously left-wing politics), Bologna presents a tantalizing trifecta of medieval might to visitors.

A fresh Atlantic breeze blows up the estuary and rustles through a thicket of young lime trees by the Treaty Stone, the rock that witnessed the end of the Williamite war in the autumn of 1691. Just ahead, a seven-arch limestone bridge spans the Shannon River as far as the thick barrel towers of King John’s Castle. To the right, Limerick City’s quays and avenues bustle with new bars, hotels and restaurants. It’s a scene that contrasts starkly with the damp, smoky cityscape depicted in Frank McCourt’s book Angela’s Ashes.

I lived in Marrakesh full-time for almost 10 years with no intention of leaving. My life in Morocco was colorful, diverse and endlessly inspiring for a curious, creative soul like me. And today the city’s intrigue and magic continues to pull me back. 

The lights are twinkling, the mulled wine is flowing and London’s festive season is in full swing. 

By far the favourite European ski destination, France consistently welcomes around a third of British skiers who are drawn by the convenience of a winter sports break in our near-neighbour country. Along with offering good no-fly travel options, skiers have a huge choice of wide-open slopes, lifts zigzagging across dramatic mountains and modern accommodation.

Montpellier – nicknamed the surdouée, the wonder child – is a city that buzzes with life and Mediterranean light.

Sun Valley, Idaho is practically synonymous with winter sports—and for good reason. Not only is the Valley home to some of the country’s best skiing, but it has one of the sport’s oldest histories in America too. Inspired by the great ski resorts in Switzerland, Austria, and other parts of Europe, Union Pacific Railroad company built the world’s first ski chairlift here in the 1930s as a way to transform the area from a sleepy valley of sheepherders into America’s inaugural ski resort destination.

Charleston, S.C. boasts an abundance of charms, from its perfectly-preserved architecture to gorgeous beaches, top-tier food festivals, historic landmarks, and one of the country’s buzziest dining and nightlife scenes. So it’s no wonder the city has become one of the country’s top travel destinations in recent years.

Renowned worldwide for its dazzling architecture and wealth of world-class museums, Vienna provides visitors with a glimpse into the traditional architecture of Austria at its most grandiose—and this historic capital city is no slouch when it comes to hospitality, either. In recent years, Vienna has welcomed a wealth of high-end hotels and cozy lodges across city limits, and for those hoping to explore one of the most dazzling new additions to the Innere Stadt, the Almanac Palais Vienna is the perfect spot.

Danish design, a style characterized by its simplicity, excellent craftsmanship, and focus on function, has become known around the world for its seamless blend of tradition with contemporary aesthetics.

Montréal has long been renowned for its gorgeous architecture and charming downtown district, and in the modern era, this storied Canadian city is developing one of the most impressive cocktail scenes in all the nation. While visitors can stumble upon a wealth of polished lounges and cozy speakeasies during a stroll across Old Montréal, the 2023 North America’s 50 Best Bars list has shined a light on specific destinations like Atwater Cocktail Club and Cloakroom—and while the city may not be known worldwide for its stellar cocktail scene, this designation comes as no surprise to local industry professionals.