Travel Blog: City in a Day

PHOTO CREDIT: KARINA MARTINEZ

BY KARINA MARTINEZ

If you’re feeling exceptionally adventurous, thrifty, and bored out of your mind, then I have just the solution for you. This will quench your thirst for exploration and desire to be entertained. Here it is: go to a city for a day. Just one day. I promise you it will be one of the longest and most fulfilling days of your life. You’ll observe and learn and experience life in ways that you never could in your small town suburbia. Now that you’ve got the idea, there’s an important decision to be made. Where do you go? Of the many metropolises in the unique regions of this country, which will you choose to be your canvas? This is where you do a little research. Are there trains? How far is downtown from the airport? More importantly, is this city close enough that you can make it back home within twenty-four hours? Since you happen to reside in South Florida, as do I, I have some nearby, exciting suggestions for you based on my past experiences.

Suggestion number one: Chicago. Chicago, Illinois, known as the windy city, is a gorgeous metallic cluster on the shore of Lake Michigan. I’m sure you know about it though, but if you haven’t visited then I highly recommend it. The metro train connects straight from the underground terminal of the Chicago-O’Hare International airport, which conveniently runs straight into downtown Chicago. For the best view of the city, take the metro above ground; that way you can choose the best station to get off at. In just over an hour, you can get from the airport to Millennium Park, which is famous for its public events and one-of-a-kind architecture.

Suggestion number two: Washington, D.C. What better city to roam than our nation’s capital? D.C. is lively and very well connected by its very own metro train system. Just across from the B and C terminals of Washington Reagan International airport, you can find the elevated metro train, which is just a short twenty minutes from the heart of D.C., the National Mall. All of the major sights and landmarks worth seeing are located in the National Mall, where all museums are free to the public. Also, just a short taxi ride away is Georgetown, a quaint college town where the television-famous D.C. Cupcakes bakery is located. Unless you spare a lot of time and patience, though, I only recommend passing by the cupcake shop at most. Both times I went to see it, the line was out the door and down the block.

Suggestion number three: St. Louis. St. Louis, Missouri debuted as the “gateway to the west” in 1963 and is also connected quite well by trains. On the uppermost level of the Lambert St. Louis International airport one can find the metro that travels through the heart of St. Louis to the Mississippi River. As far as landmarks and activities go, the Gateway Arch and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial located beneath it is the best spot to visit in my opinion. One can see the massive 630-foot tall stainless steel archway and the museum/café underground, and even ride the elevator inside the archway to the top.

Suggestion number four: Minneapolis. What’s in the chilly northern part of the Great Lakes region, you may ask? Minneapolis is home to the Mall of America, the largest mall the United States has to offer! The train system located on the lowest level of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport caters directly to this structure of legendary proportions in just a short ten minutes. There at the mall, you have access to thousands of stores spread throughout the likes of four stories. Not only can one shop, but one can also experience the amusement park housed within the center of the mall. You can have all sorts of fun without ever having to leave the mall. One store you absolutely cannot miss is the Peeps store, which is a massive colorful memorabilia shop dedicated to the marshmallow snack. Also, make sure you pass through the Lego exhibit, which is quite impressive and features large hanging Lego structures.

These four cities are rich with charm, history, and fun activities and you absolutely will not regret passing through. Keep in mind, also, these are just four of thousands of cities, so the adventure lives on. Make your own route. Do something you’ve never done before and see things you never could have imagined. Take my word for it. Visit a city in a day- it’s all the time you need to experience something extraordinary.