The hottest Urban Exploration Substack posts right now

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Walking Beijing

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 958 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🏝 Travel Urban Exploration Cultural Travel International travel Geopolitics
  1. Beijing and Shanghai are both shaped by the same government plans focused on modernization, making them feel very similar despite their differences.
  2. The city has transformed from old, chaotic neighborhoods to new, orderly structures, as the government aims for a future of wealth and progress.
  3. Walking in Beijing shows a stark contrast; the streets are wide and often empty, with public transport making it easier for people to avoid walking long distances.

Notes on cities

Brain Pizza • 927 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏝 Travel Urban Exploration City life Cultural Insights Travel experiences
  1. Cities are really fascinating places to explore and enjoy, often more appealing than the countryside. There's a lot of energy and life in urban areas that many people love.
  2. As more people move to cities, the populations keep increasing. For example, London's population grew 1.04% in just one year.
  3. Visiting iconic cities can bring back memories and highlight how they've changed over time. It's interesting to see what has remained the same and what is new.

Why and how to walk 200 miles

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 1344 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🏝 Travel Walking Urban Exploration Logistics Cultural experience
  1. Walking long distances, like 200 miles, helps you learn about places in a deeper way. It’s not just about getting from A to B, but experiencing the journey and meeting people along the way.
  2. Preparing for a long walk is key. Training your body and choosing the right gear can prevent injuries and make the experience more enjoyable.
  3. Choosing a good route is important. Look for safe paths and enjoyable views, and plan where you’ll sleep and eat to keep the adventure smooth.

Walking Japan (again): From Fukuoka to Nagasaki

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 1443 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
🏝 Travel Cultural Travel Japanese culture Urban Exploration Craftsmanship
  1. Walking in Japan is great because it's easy and interesting. You can find nice communities to rest in and use trains if you need a break.
  2. Japanese cities might not be pretty, but they are clean and safe for walking. People respect rules and it's a friendly environment.
  3. Craftsmanship is important in Japan. Everyone takes their work seriously, showing care and thoughtfulness in everything they do.

Walking Bangkok

Chris Arnade Walks the World • 617 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🏝 Travel Urban Exploration Cultural Insights
  1. Bangkok is not an easy city to walk in because it is really hot and humid. The streets often flood, making walking uncomfortable and challenging.
  2. The city lacks charming walking areas; instead, many alleys feel long and dreary with lots of traffic. Most of the vibrant activity happens on the main roads.
  3. Despite the heat and chaos, Bangkok is full of interesting sights and experiences. There's a lot of life in every corner, with vendors selling everything imaginable.
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your cares set up do not pluck my cares down

sweater weather • 3282 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Personal Story City life Photography Novel writing Urban Exploration
  1. The day was filled with a sense of overall wrongness, from doctors to cameras to pharmacies, everything went slightly wrong.
  2. New York's unique city landscape blurs the lines between commercial and residential buildings.
  3. Humidity in the city can be unbearable, making even simple tasks challenging and uncomfortable.

Seattle Walks - Update

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 239 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Local history Urban Exploration Books Community Engagement
  1. The author is updating their book about walks in Seattle to reflect changes in the city since it was first published in 2017. They are looking for feedback on the routes and any changes that need to be made.
  2. Readers are encouraged to share their experiences with the walks, including any errors or areas where the directions could be clearer. The author wants to ensure the book is as helpful as possible.
  3. The author plans to remove two walks and add three new ones, and they are asking for opinions on which walks should stay or go.

Mexico City

Seven Senses • 299 implied HN points • 23 Sep 23
🏝 Travel Cultural experiences Urban Exploration
  1. Mexico City is a vibrant place with rich culture, amazing food, and stunning architecture. It's a city that feels alive and has something new to discover every time you visit.
  2. Fall is a great time to visit Mexico City. The weather is cooler and you can experience the Day of the Dead celebrations, which include beautiful decorations and special foods.
  3. The travel guide offers recommendations for sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and experiences that will help you fully enjoy your trip to the city. It's a great resource for anyone planning to explore Mexico City.

Escalator City

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 299 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
🏝 Travel Urban Exploration History Transportation Architecture Local culture
  1. Seattle has made its streets less steep over time, which can make it easier for people to navigate downtown. People often forget that the hills used to be much steeper, leading to complaints about the current slopes.
  2. There were past proposals to build escalators to help people climb the city's hills, highlighting the innovation and desire for easy access in Seattle's history. Even though these plans never fully happened, the idea shows how people adapt to their environment.
  3. Visitors can now enjoy a fun route through downtown Seattle using existing escalators to travel between different levels, making it a little easier to explore the city. This route connects significant buildings and showcases Seattle's unique landscape.

Signs of the Times

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 179 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Urban Exploration History Architecture Local culture Literature
  1. Seattle has unique street markers made from tiles and metal. These have different styles and date back to the early 1900s.
  2. In 1902, Seattle decided to mark sidewalks with street names, but these old tiles often became hard to see due to visibility issues.
  3. Kids used to vandalize the street signs, which led to attempts to put fines in place for those caught throwing stones.

Midnight Cafe ShinShinShin

Shore Leave • 79 implied HN points • 22 Nov 22
🏝 Travel Cultural experiences Food & Drink Personal narratives Urban Exploration
  1. Kyoto is a warm, vibrant city that feels inviting and lively. It's full of parks, rivers, and lively students enjoying their time.
  2. The Midnight Cafe ShinShinShin is more than just a coffee shop; it's a cozy place where people gather to connect and share interests in literature and music. It feels like a home away from home.
  3. Finding places like ShinShinShin shows that there are special spots where people create a community. It's about building connections and having meaningful conversations, even when you're far from your own city.

Urban Scavenger Hunt

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 119 implied HN points • 06 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Urban Exploration Local history Community Engagement Natural History Art Appreciation
  1. Urban scavenger hunts can help you discover unique items in your neighborhood. Look out for fossils in old buildings and carved animals on facades.
  2. Take note of remnants of the past like hitching posts and ghost signs. These tell stories about the history of the area and how it has changed over time.
  3. Pay attention to local plants and geology as you explore. You might find native trees, interesting lichen, or clues about old water features that still exist beneath the city.

La Petite Ceinture

Shore Leave • 39 implied HN points • 14 Sep 22
🏝 Travel Urban Exploration Adventure Travel Historical Sites Cultural Insights
  1. La Petite Ceinture is an abandoned railway in Paris that's now a unique place for exploration. It has a mix of nature, art, and a sense of community, showing how life can thrive in unexpected places.
  2. During the exploration, the environment felt both dreamlike and adventurous, with hidden spaces and hints of life everywhere. The experience felt timeless, filled with interesting surprises like graffiti and makeshift camps.
  3. The journey through the railway highlighted a contrast between urban life and this freer, more lively atmosphere. It left a lasting impression, making it a place that invites curiosity and a desire to return.

A Creek Runs Under It

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 79 implied HN points • 24 Jun 21
🎭️ Culture Urban Exploration History
  1. Urban explorers can find hidden streams in unexpected places, like under bank buildings. It can lead to surprising discoveries about nature in cities.
  2. Water found under buildings can have different qualities, showing it's not just city water. Sometimes, these secret waters have historical significance.
  3. Local officials might want to keep these hidden features a secret to prevent unwanted exploration. However, sharing these stories helps us understand our urban environment better.

The Street Smart Naturalist

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 59 implied HN points • 21 Jan 21
🎭️ Culture Nature Urban Exploration Environmental awareness Storytelling
  1. Nature is everywhere if you take the time to look. In Seattle, you can find cool things like bald eagles, fossils, and slime molds just by paying attention.
  2. You can explore nature in many ways, whether by walking, biking, or reading about it. The more you explore, the more stories you can discover about the natural world.
  3. Connecting with nature can strengthen your relationship with your surroundings. Sharing these experiences and stories can help everyone learn from each other.

A Note on Traveling

The Apéritif • 0 implied HN points • 20 Jun 24
🏝 Travel Destinations Experiences Culture Tourism Urban Exploration
  1. Cities can feel more authentic in the winter since there are fewer tourists and the landmarks feel more functional.
  2. Crowds can bring life to a city, but sometimes the noise can unexpectedly disappear, as observed in Tokyo.
  3. Traveling offers a unique experience at different times, suggesting that exploring both day and night can reveal different aspects of a city's character.

The Drug Tourism Series: 2. Amsterdam [Photographs of Drug Related Places, Scenes & Cultures]

The Drug Users Bible • 0 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Travel Photography Social Commentary Urban Exploration
  1. Amsterdam is well-known for its history and culture surrounding psychoactive drugs. Visitors should be aware of local laws regarding drug use.
  2. There are many unique places in Amsterdam that cater to drug tourism, like the Hash Museum and various coffee shops. Each offers a different experience and insight into the city's approach to substances.
  3. Safety should always be a priority when exploring drug-related experiences. Learning about harm reduction and researching beforehand can help ensure a more enjoyable visit.