Category archives for I Heart My City
I Heart My City: Sandra’s Ghent
Posted by I Heart My City on October 10, 2012 
Sandra de Lobel moved to Ghent to study and fell in love. She’s currently renting an old but cozy apartment near the city center and loves living where everything is in arm’s reach. Check out Sandra’s insider tips for what to see and do in the Belgian city she describes as “not too big and not too small.”
I Heart My City: Larissa + Michael’s Philadelphia
Posted by I Heart My City on October 3, 2012 
When longtime Philadelphia residents Larissa and Michael Milne turned 50, they left their careers behind to travel around the world for a year (with a miniature Rocky Balboa statue) and write about their adventure for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Now that their long trip is coming to an end, here are the things they can’t wait to get back to in the “City of Brotherly Love.”
I Heart My City: Mehnaz’s Vancouver (Canada)
Posted by I Heart My City on September 26, 2012 
This week’s I Heart My City contributor is Mehnaz Thawer, a communications professional in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mehnaz has lived in Vancouver for 20 years — ever since her family moved there from East Africa. Here are her recommendations for what to see and do in the city she knows and loves so well.
I Heart My City: Katherine’s Athens
Posted by I Heart My City on September 19, 2012 
Katherine LaGrave traveled to Greece with her family when she was young, then moved to Athens to teach English after finishing college. The things that drew her to Greece are the things that keep her coming back: the food, the beauty of the country, and the spirit of the people who live there. Here are a few of Katherine’s favorite things about one of the world’s oldest cities.
I Heart My City: Yamina’s Brussels
Posted by I Heart My City on September 12, 2012 
Yamina el Atlass was born and raised in Brussels, and returned home in the 90s, when the city was coming into its own. She says she loves her home town because even though it’s Belgium’s capital city and the de facto capital of the European Union, it has the charm of a small town. Check out Yamina’s recommendations for the city she hearts: Brussels.
I Heart My City’s Museums
Posted by I Heart My City on September 5, 2012 
It’s time for another special edition of I Heart My City! This time we’re serving up recommendations for the world’s best museums from the people who know their cities best. Some are off the beaten path — some offer us compelling reasons to revisit the old stand bys.
Do you want to share your hometown pride with the rest of the world? Fill out an I Heart My City questionnaire and send it to us at IntelligentTravel@ngs.org.
I Heart My City: Sonia’s Miami
Posted by I Heart My City on August 29, 2012 
Sonia Gil is host and co-creator of Sonia’s Travels, the weekly web show that cracks the code behind peoples and cultures around world. Winner of the 2012 People’s Voice Webby Award for “best web personality,” Sonia has been hailed as the “next Bourdain.” A biologist by training and beach lover by choice, she speaks five languages and has lived abroad in China, France, and Venezuela. Here are her favorite things about living in Miami.
I Heart My City: Eva’s Terracina
Posted by I Heart My City on August 22, 2012 
When American travel writer Eva Sandoval traveled to Terracina, she planned to stay just three months. That was two years ago. How did a confirmed city girl could fall in love with a town that only has one bookstore and shuts down at 8 p.m.? In her words, the “gorgeous, historic Italian town — chaotic and lush, with its sand and sea and Roman ruins and magical mountain — has utterly stolen my heart.” Here are some of the reasons why she thinks Intelligent Travel readers will love it, too.
I Heart My City: Madeleine’s Annapolis
Posted by I Heart My City on August 15, 2012 
Annapolis-bred Madeleine Bromiley is a student at Arcadia University and an editorial business intern at National Geographic Traveler magazine. Check out her insider tips for making the most of your visit to Maryland’s bayside capital city, then follow her story on Twitter @madiebro.
I Heart My City: Adrian’s Bucharest
Posted by I Heart My City on August 8, 2012 
Adrian Banu is a travel blogger and photographer who, for the last 15 years, has been living, studying and working in Bucharest, Romania, the E.U.’s 6th-largest city (by area). Check out Adrian’s tips for maximizing your time in his home city.
I Heart My City: Maja’s Belgrade
Posted by I Heart My City on August 1, 2012 
Maja Simov, an environmental consultant and a “spotter” for Spotted by Locals, was born and raised in Belgrade. Maja says she loves her home city because of the contrasts borne from its long, unique history. If you’re traveling to Serbia’s capital city, you should probably read this first.
I Heart My City: Daniel’s London
Posted by I Heart My City on July 27, 2012 
As the world prepares for the Summer Olympics (the opening ceremony is today), we thought we’d do a special, hyped-up edition of I Heart My City to give you three very different takes on this year’s host city. We’ve asked three unique Londoners — a television producer, aluxury bikini designer, and a guerilla geographer — to sound off on their storied city. Here’s the final installment.
I Heart My City: Tara’s London
Posted by I Heart My City on July 25, 2012 
As the world prepares for the Summer Olympics (the opening ceremony is this Friday), we thought we’d do a special, hyped-up edition of I Heart My City to give you three very different takes on this year’s host city. We’ve asked three unique Londoners — a television producer, a luxury bikini designer, and a guerilla geographer — to sound off on their storied city. Here’s Number 2.
I Heart My City: Job’s London
Posted by I Heart My City on July 23, 2012 
As the world prepares for the Summer Olympics (the opening ceremony is this Friday), we thought we’d do a special, hyped-up edition of I Heart My City to give you three very different takes on this year’s host city. We’ve asked three unique Londoners — a television producer, a luxury bikini designer, and a guerilla geographer — to sound off on their storied city. Here’s Number 1.
I Heart My City: Shannon Switzer’s San Diego
Posted by I Heart My City on July 18, 2012 
As you know, Shannon Switzer, otherwise known as the Curious Traveler, just returned from an epic road trip around the American West. Though she’s happy to be back in her hometown of San Diego, she aims to keep her curiosity goggles on now that she’s back in familiar territory. Now, without further ado, these are a few of her favorite things.
I Heart My City: Igor’s Antwerp
Posted by I Heart My City on July 11, 2012 
Spotted By Locals writer Igor Daems grew up in the suburbs of Antwerp, Belgium, and finally moved to the city center about four years ago. Since then, he’s become an avid fan of the city he thinks often, and unfairly, gets overlooked in favor of Bruges and Brussels. Check out Igor’s favorite things about Antwerp — and add your own.
I Heart My City: Nat Geo’s Washington, D.C.
Posted by I Heart My City on July 4, 2012 
Since it’s America’s birthday today, we thought it would be fitting to publish a special edition of I Heart My City to celebrate the best things about the nation’s capital and National Geographic’s home city. Here’s a mash-up of our favorite things about living in “the District.”
I Heart My City: Berit’s Copenhagen
Posted by I Heart My City on June 27, 2012 
When Berit Bonde isn’t studying for her master’s degree or working part time in the travel industry, you can find her exploring new places, whether it involves going around the world or just around the corner. Her restless spirit has her moving to Bangkok for half a year, but this Dane says she’ll always return to Copenhagen, where her heart resides. Here are Berit’s recommendations for her beloved capital city.
I Heart My City (in the Summer)
Posted by I Heart My City on June 20, 2012 
The first official day of summer is tomorrow (for the northern half of the world, at least), so we thought we’d kick it off right: with a special edition of I Heart My City. Here are 20 quintessential summer must-dos from past I Heart contributors all around the globe.
I Heart My City: Shira’s Los Angeles
Posted by I Heart My City on June 13, 2012 
Shira Lazar is the host and executive producer of the interactive show and 24/7 news hub, “What’s Trending” (check out the live show Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. PST/1:00 p.m. EST), and good friends with the Good Traveler Aric S. Queen, who will be hitting L.A. later this week. Here are Shira’s picks for what to see and do in La La Land.
I Heart My City: Keith Bellows’ Montréal
Posted by I Heart My City on June 6, 2012 
Nat Geo Traveler just launched a free iPad app, A Taste of Montréal, with a gorgeous new photo gallery to match (two must-haves before visiting this foodie paradise), so we asked the magazine’s editor-in-chief Keith Bellows to give his take on the best sites and scenes in his hometown of Montréal. Check out Keith’s recommendations for making the most of the city of a hundred steeples, then add your own two cents. Follow Keith on Twitter @NGSTravelEditor.
I Heart My City: He Said/She Said Tulsa
Posted by I Heart My City on May 30, 2012 
Denver Nicks and Andrea Leitch are a little bit country (Oklahoma), and a little bit rock and roll (New York City/DC, respectively). They met as awkward 11-year-olds, ran in the same circle in high school and have managed to stay close over the years. He’s written for The Daily Beast, The Nation and AlterNet (he even wrote a book). She’s worked at Vogue and has been a proud member of National Geographic Traveler’s digital team for almost a year now. Check out these two Okies’ takes on their hometown of Tulsa.
I Heart My Lake Escape
Posted by Intelligent Travel on May 23, 2012 
Summer’s almost here, so we thought we’d take a break from our I Heart My City series and focus on the concept of getting away from it all. Taking a dive off the dock, toasting marshmallows around a camp fire at dusk, spooling out fishing line and pitching back to cast off, watching fire flies light up the night’s sky. What’s your favorite lake escape? Tell us in the comments section below for a chance to appear in the next issue of Traveler magazine.
I Heart My City: Katja’s Siena
Posted by I Heart My City on May 16, 2012 
Swiss expat Katja Meier arrived in Siena in 1999, fell in love with an olive grove, and never left. She lives with her Tuscan native husband and their two kids in Southern Tuscany, working as a health and life coach and organizing retreats for people from all over the world who are battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. She started…
I Heart My City: Gaby’s Savannah
Posted by I Heart My City on May 9, 2012 
Photojournalist Gaby Varela is currently based in Boston, but before that the former Traveler photo intern lived in Savannah off and on for six years. She says Savannah offers the best of city living and small town charm all in one package with its vibrant art scene, close-knit community, and air of mystery. And if you’re an out-of-towner,…
