Category: 36 Hours Series (Page 1 of 5)

Planner’s Travel Series

About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!

By Jo Kwon

About the visit: At the beginning of this fall, I visited Dublin for the 35th International Geographical Congress conference. I got to present my work and hear about so many different research projects. On top of that, I got to visit new places!

Brunch 

Irish brown bread is a traditional staple. The bread is dense and slightly sweet. It pairs with every meal. While in Dublin, don’t miss the opportunity to try the classic combination of Irish brown bread and seafood chowder. This creamy and flavorful soup, typically made with a variety of seafood, is a comforting choice, especially on Dublin’s frequent rainy days.

Brew

While Guinness Brewery might be the top destination for beer lovers, tea is another essential part of the Dublin experience. During my visit, I couldn’t resist trying a traditional Irish tea. I went for the Cream for Two, which came with scones, small cakes, clotted cream, jam, and two kinds of tea. The black tea options, ranging from Irish Breakfast to Afternoon tea, offered a variety of flavors. The warm scones and jam together are a great combination! The warm scones and jam were a great match! The cafe even offers tours on Saturdays because of their art and stained glass.

Budget

The Cliffs of Moher are another must-see in Ireland, located about 3.5 hours from Dublin, near the village of Liscannor. This scenic area frequently appears in films that showcase Ireland’s beauty. O’Brien’s Tower offers a chance to go a little higher to enjoy the breathtaking views and experience the strong winds. However, it’s crucial to take photos only in designated areas, as many people have risked their lives or even died while wandering off the trails. It was so windy that I even bumped into a stranger!

Fun Planning Fact

While I was in Dublin, my Uber driver mentioned that traffic was very bad due to a new transportation policy banning private vehicles in the city center, effective August 26, 2024. This policy aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. However, certain vehicles, such as taxis and emergency vehicles, may be exempt from the ban.

It’s been a month since the new transportation policy was implemented in Dublin, and the results from this past month have been published. There has been a 60% decrease in private car use on the quays, while public transport usage has increased by 11%. Moreover, foot traffic in the city center has risen compared to last year. However, the impact on retailers has been mixed, as some have experienced increased footfall while others report decreased sales. Retailers and disability groups have expressed concerns about the policy’s effects on business and accessibility.

Featured Image: Dublin’s skyline. Photo: Jo Kwon.

Jo (Joungwon) Kwon is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of City and Regional Planning, driven by a deep interest in exploring the applications of visualizations in planning. Since joining CPJ in 2019, she has worked actively as an editor. With a diverse academic background in Statistics and English Literature, she holds an M.A. in Computational Media from Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys watching indie films, attending live performances, pursuing climbing adventures, and drinking a good cup of coffee.

Planner’s Travel Series

About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!  

By Rachel Auerbach

About the visit: Minneapolis holds a special place in my heart. I first experienced the magic of the Twin Cities while attending Macalester College in St. Paul, and briefly lived across the river in Minneapolis after graduating. Although I haven’t lived there in several years, visiting friends in Minneapolis this summer felt like coming home. Minneapolis’s unique food, lively arts scene, and accessible multimodal transit system make it well worth a visit, especially since APA’s National Planning Conference will be held there this spring. It was tough to choose, but here are some of my favorite places to visit in Minneapolis (with a few St. Paul spots sprinkled in for fun!).

Brunch 

On my most recent visit to Minneapolis, I tried out Savory Bakehouse, a tiny bakery entirely owned and operated by a local couple. The bakery has limited hours and is only open Friday through Sunday, but if you can squeeze in a visit it will be worth it. With a menu that changes weekly based on what produce is in season, Savory Bakehouse offers an impressive selection of both sweet and savory baked goods. Since there is no seating available at the bakery, I recommend walking, biking, or taking the bus less than a mile east and enjoying your treats on a bench overlooking the Mississippi River. 

If you’re craving something other than baked goods, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Midtown Global Market, a lively food hall with a variety of food from around the world. Celebrating the Twin Cities’ diverse and global community, Midtown Global Market boasts many unique flavors and dishes. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a music or dance performance in the market during your visit.

Brew 

This was a tough decision, because there are so many fun bars and breweries in the Twin Cities (see the ”Land of 10,000 Drinks” map). After much deliberation, I decided that I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend the Groveland Tap, a homey neighborhood dive bar across the river in St. Paul. The Tap, as locals lovingly call it, is known for its crispy, salty, and perfectly squeaky fried cheese curds– once you’ve tried them you can never go back. They also have an excellent selection of burgers and beer, and great happy hour deals almost every day of the week. 

Alternatively, if you’re feeling extra adventurous and want a truly unique experience, rent a kayak using the Mississippi River Paddle Share program (think bike share, but for kayaks) and grab a drink at one of the bars accessible via the river.

Budget 

One of my favorite (free!) summertime activities in the Twin Cities is spending a day at the lake. Bde Maka Ska, the largest of Minneapolis’s lakes, is part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park and has several swimming beaches as well as trails for walking, running, or biking. In 2018, after a long legal battle, the Department of Natural Resources changed the lake’s official name to Bde Maka Ska to honor the area’s indigenous Dakota residents who originally named the lake. Wear lots of sunscreen, bring a good book, and get ready for a day of swimming, people-watching, and sunshine. Kayaks, canoes, bikes, and paddleboards are available to rent, and if you need a bite to eat, there are several cafes and restaurants nearby.  

Fun Planning Fact 

If you find yourself visiting the Twin Cities during the frigid winter months, you may experience the vast network of skyways running throughout the city. Minneapolis has the largest contiguous skyway system in the world, with skyways connecting 80 city blocks using 9.5 miles of climate-controlled covered bridges. The skyways connect restaurants, offices, apartment buildings, entertainment venues, sports stadiums, and other destinations, allowing residents and visitors to move throughout the city without having to deal with harsh weather.

Featured Image: The Stone Arch Bridge, a historic railroad (now pedestrian) bridge crossing the Mississippi River in Minneapolis  (Photo Credit: East Isles Neighborhood Association)

About the Author: Rachel is a third-year master’s student in the dual degree City and Regional Planning and Public Health programs at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. At UNC, she studies the intersections of health equity and the built environment. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places by bike, attempting to keep her sourdough starter alive, and hanging out with other people’s dogs.  

Planner’s Travel Series

About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!  

By Jen Farris

About the visit: Growing up, I spent a portion of my summers on Cape Cod visiting my grandparents and cousins. It has always been one of my favorite places to be and a summer doesn’t feel complete without a trip there. This year, I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks working remotely from the Cape. I am excited to share with you some of my favorite spots to visit:

Brunch 

One of my favorite breakfast spots is Pie in the Sky. Located in Woods Hole, MA, this cafe is conveniently located near the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Be prepared for long lines on weekends, but it is worth the wait. At Pie in the Sky, they roast their own coffee and bake their pastries in-house. As a self-proclaimed croissant enthusiast, I was pleased with their options.

Pro-tip: The best way to get here is by bike or bus! Extend your multi-modal journey by hopping on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.

Brew 

This classic New England seafood shack is a local favorite. Grab a beer or cocktail and relax on their porch overlooking the Black River. They are rumored to have the best Mudslides in the area, but I am partial to a local brew. If you’re trying to eat as well as drink, I recommend either the fish and chips or the crab cake.

Budget 

This was the first time I biked along the Shining Sea Bikeway and the trail certainly lived up to the hype. This ~11 mile bidirectional rail-trail multi-use path features scenic views of marshes, rivers, and the ocean at various portions of the ride. Plus, I saw a fantastic selection of dogs riding in their human’s bike baskets and trailers. One pup was even wearing a neon yellow visor!

I parked my car at the head of the trail in North Falmouth before bicycling south to Woods Hole for a pastry stop (see Brunch section above!). Afterwards, I continued back to Falmouth for a ~22 mile round trip. One thing I liked about this trail was that it felt accessible to people of different ages and abilities. The bikeway was very flat, had multiple entry points, and had benches placed along the path, which allows folks to customize their desired distance and intensity level. The trail is a bit narrow (only ~8ft), so on the weekend when the trail gets busy it is best to start early to avoid traffic.

There are several nearby bike rental shops if you are interested in exploring the path on two wheels.

Fun Planning Fact 

After bicycling along the Shining Sea Bikeway, I learned of a proposal to extend the Shining Sea Bikeway to the Cape Cod Canal bike path. This proposed 6.5-mile shared-use path is one of many trail projects across the state that appear on the Priority Trails Network vision map released by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Massachusetts Trail Team.

According to the MassTrails webpage, the majority of MassTrails grants in recent years have been dedicated to extending and linking existing trails to create a cohesive trail network. Their interactive map highlights existing, under construction, and proposed trails across the state.

Featured Image: View of the Great Sippewisset Marsh
Photo Credit: Jen Farris

Jen is a third-year MCRP/MPH student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the Department of City and Regional Planning and Gillings School of Global Public Health. At UNC, she specializes in transportation and health behavior and is interested in how the built environment can shape community health outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys baking and befriending the neighborhood cats and chickens.

Planner’s Travel Series

About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!  

By Nik Reasor

About the visit: This was my first trip to Europe, and I came to Sweden to conduct research on the Arctic for my Global Urbanization Scholarship. This included a three-day layover in Stockholm, and I made sure to try to take advantage of every moment possible. As always, I prioritized wandering around the city to find the best stops, and here’s what I found in the Venice of the North:

Brunch 

Shakshuka at Café Saturnus  

In a backstreet close to the city center lined with characteristic brick and vibrant buildings lies Café Saturnus, a small café known for its giant Kardemummabulle (cardamon buns) and gorgeous interior. Tables can be hard to find, but it is well worth the wait. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the Shakshuka was one of the best meals I had during my time in Sweden: nutritious, warming, and absolutely delicious! The gorgeous interior of the café is easily recognizable for its vibrant interior and has even been known to feature in numerous films!

Brew 

Coffee and Treats at Vete-Katten

Café culture is vital in Sweden, and coffee and pastries are integral to any trip. Vete-Katten exemplifies this tradition with excellence. Translating to “Cat Knows” or “the Wheat Cat”, the dizzying maze of hallways, dining rooms, and secluded hideaways of this café is the perfect spot to take some time and sip a coffee with a friend, read a book, or try to eavesdrop on the numerous people that file in and out. Not only is the coffee phenomenal, but the in-house bakery can be said to hold the best bread, pastries, and buns in the entire city, and I am inclined to agree. The atmosphere is some of the best in the city, and the dimly lit rooms adorned with beautiful art make it the ideal spot to grab a coffee and treat any time.

Budget 

Storkyrkan Church

Nestled inside the old town section of the city lies Storkyrkan Church. This beautiful site is the oldest church in Stockholm (consecrated in 1306), and is associated with the Swedish family, with coronations and marriages occurring here for generations. To enter the church, it will cost students about six dollars, but it is well worth it. Filled with stunning art, elegant architecture, and insightful historical detail, there is enough within this storied building to last hours for anyone. My personal favorite piece is the large statue depicting Saint George and the Dragon. Commissioned after a military victory in 1471, it has been described as “the most impressive medieval piece of art”, and its towering presence is certainly awe-inspiring. Storkyrkan is the perfect spot to take a breath and relax from the often-packed streets of the old town while appreciating some of the most beautiful spaces in the entire city.

Fun Planning Fact

Stockholm: A Green City

Not only does Stockholm have an impressive range of greenspace throughout its storied streets, with a park always easily within walking distance at almost any point, but it boasts impressive waste management systems that either recycle or reuse 98% of all waste within the city. This makes Stockholm one of the most efficient and “green” cities in the world. Combined with its ambitious climate goals, which include being a fossil-free city by 2040, Stockholm is a shining example of climate-focused development and city management.

Feature Image: Old Town Stockholm. Photo Credit: Nik Reasor

Nik Reasor is a first-year Master’s student in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Chapel Hill where he specializes in Land Use and Environmental Policy. In particular, Nik is interested in climate change adaptation and how to best help disadvantaged communities survive the challenges the future presents. Previously, Nik earned his BA in Sociocultural Anthropology, Medieval studies, and Urban Planning at UNC. You can usually catch him around Chapel Hill biking to local cafes to catch up on work or at the gym coaching UNC’s boxing team.