Have you ever found yourself sitting in a conference secretly longing to get outside and explore? I was in that exact restless state on a recent trip to Seattle. That is when my friend, a native, suggested I go underground.

No, not the musical underground made famous by groups such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, the other underground…an abandoned cityscape just beneath the sidewalks of old downtown.

I had never heard of this.

Now being on the curious side I frequently explore catacombs and caves. But I had never seen anything like this: a ghost town under the city but in plain view.

What were the clues?

Small purple squares of glass in all the sidewalks. And large basement access stairs along the corners of the buildings instead of the usual metal door in a sidewalk. I also noticed a curious lack of wooden buildings despite Seattle having been started as a lumber town.

So I walked over to Pioneer Square, in the heart of the tourist section. It was only just a short jaunt from my conference center where I found a tour company happy to fill in the gaps.

Our tour guide was part comedian, part historian and played to the audience. I truly enjoyed learning how Seattle transformed from a rough and tumble frontier town into the metropolis of today.

Before Seattle was home to coffee, grunge music and all things tech it was a logging town populated by lumberjacks, merchants, and ‘enterprising’ women. The original city was built on the tidal flats.

The story is told that the residents got tired of the indoor plumbing flooding with each incoming tide. This tidbit, naturally, gave our tour guide ample material for embellishment with humorous effect.

A devastating fire presented the city an opportunity to rebuild and raise the city above the tides. But, like most city projects, it took longer than the merchants were willing to wait. So they rebuilt hotels, banks, and stores back on the tidal flats, while the city took a decade to build cement and brick walls for the new city.

These new walls created alleys with the streets running down the middle of each and required ladders to get in an out of each street. Eventually people got tired of climbing down into the streets by ladder so sidewalks were laid level with the second floor of the newly rebuilt buildings.

Since the main entrance to the buildings were still located below the new sidewalks skylights were installed -which you see today as clusters of glass squares embedded in the city sidewalks.

Along comes prohibition and the concrete and brick underground alleys become part of a lively and dangerous scene. Eventually they fell into disrepair becoming the place where old things were tossed as they wore out.

Today you can go in and out of the tunnels, look at the old stuff but mostly you get a running narration of early Seattle history. Your will see the brick and concrete walls holding up modern Seattle, smell the damp passages, and see old ‘stuff’ discarded by previous inhabitants along with signs from night clubs and banks.

There are many displays with photos from Seattle’s early days. It is fascinating to realize that the frontier town seen in the photos is only 150 years older than the glass and skyscraper city of today.

Going underground is a pleasant way to spend a few hours and gives you a new perspective when you are walking, and eating, and shopping above ground. It’s a bit odd to realize you are standing on top of an older city, the remains of which are found in the basements of today’s buildings.

About the author: Sarah Kohl was practically born with a suitcase in her hand. She is a doctor trained in travel medicine and loves to share tips about how to make happy, healthy travel simple and fun. Does packing for a trip stress you out? Learn 10 tips to make packing quick and easy on her site www.JourneySmarts.com or follow her on facebook or pinterest.

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Orlando

No matter where you go in Florida, you’re guaranteed great weather but there’s only one destination that the whole family will enjoy. Orlando holidays are perfect for family getaways because of its family-oriented atmosphere and fantastic weather. There are so many attractions in and around the city but the Magic Kingdom has to rate as number one.

Walt Disney World

Each year 52.5 million holiday makers visit Disney World that has four theme parks, two water parks, four golf courses and a whole host of other attractions.

You can spend days exploring the Magic Kingdom Park, which is home to the iconic Cinderella Castle, the Epcot Center where innovation and technology are explored, Disney’s Hollywood Studios which draws inspiration from the firm’s many classic movies, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom which is the second largest theme park in the world.

Universal Orlando Resort

You won’t need to spend all your time in Disney World to give the kids a great holiday. Universal Orlando Resort is another fantastic attraction. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the resort’s top attraction but the kids will also love Transformer – The 3D Ride and the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction.

SeaWorld

This is something that everyone will enjoy, no matter what their age. At SeaWorld There are rides like the wet and wild Journey to Atlantis, family-orientated shows like the Shamu Dolphin Show and beautifully crafted exhibits like the Empire of the Penguin.

Final word

With attractions like SeaWorld and Fun Spot America also in Orlando, there’s plenty to keep the family enthralled. To make the most of your trip you should visit Orlando for at least 3 week. The timing of your trip doesn’t really matter because the sunshine state gets great weather all year round.

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For the ardent skier, nothing beats skiing in a picturesque location during winter – it makes you feel exhilarated and connected with nature and gives you a soul moving experience all at once. A first-rate destination is the ultimate key to a legendary winter vacation. Luckily, there are more than enough skiing locations with idyllic environments for skiers, and even though not everyone may agree on the parameters used in ranking each one of them, the following locations certainly make the cut.

1. Muju, South Korea

Tucked in a rugged interior of South Korea’s Jeiollabuk-do province, Muju Ski Resort is one of Asia’s most outstanding skiing spots. While here, you can get to enjoy spectacular views of the Mt Deogyo National Park as you glide through a 6km stretch of snow – the longest slope in Korea. Nocturnal skiing enthusiasts are guaranteed of even more fun at night and if you are one of them, you can literally have the whole place to yourself. There are plenty of nice restaurants and small joints around where you can get your energy levels back up when you need to.

2. Jackson Hole, Jackson

Jackson Hole has been touted as the place to be for all the extreme skiers and hardcore snowboarders and this is obviously for some good reasons. With its peak elevation at an outstanding 10,450 ft, Jackson Hole offers some challenging terrain for those in need of an adrenaline fix. Just a short distance from this resort is the Museum of Wildlife art and the Bridger Teton National Forest which are great places to take a breather when you are not out on the trails.

3. Zell am See, Austria

A skiing location is more than just the slopes, and this is what merits Zell am See’s inclusion in this list. Zell am See has one of the most outstanding ski settings with over approximately 80 Miles of slopes. The place caters for new, intermediate as well as expert skiers, with runs specifically designed for each group. While in this lakeside town, skiers can also take a boat trip or hop into the numerous bars around and grab a cold drink.

4. Aspen Mountain, Colorado

If you are looking for the picture perfect skiing destination in North America, Colorado’s Aspen Mountains has great things in store. This spot has more than 1400 acres of skiing slope and three other resorts within its radius. If you are an adventurous type, you’ll have a great time riding in the hot air balloons. Optionally, you could go for ice skating or a snowmobile ride, or simply just soak in the hot springs within.

5. Courchevel, France

With over 100 ski runs, Courchevel offers a vast ski area for any skier visiting the place. It is also known to be a favorite spot for the affluent in France. However, with the perfectly groomed trails and terrific views the location provides, you don’t need to be a millionaire to have a good time here. The La Grange and Les Caves are some of the exclusive joints to check out if you want to have a great night out while here.

6. Banff, Canada

Found right at the heart of the Banff National Park, a world heritage site, this skiing location is home to Mt Norquay, Sunshine Area and Lake Louise Ski Area – three of the world’s best skiing resorts. The steeps, bowls and chutes in this location provide just the right terrain for the experienced skier and the year round snowfall means anytime is skiing time.

7. Courmayeur, Italy

The slopes at this location are very suitable for intermediate cruising in view of the fact that they are quite easy and short, but the most outstanding thing about Courmayeur is the view provided by the Monte Bianco Massif and the Cresta Youla and Cresta d’Arp high points. If you do not like skiing and just prefer to see the sites around though, you can take a ride in the cable cars and have fun watching the panoramic views below. Regardless of where you choose to head to for skiing, you can be guaranteed to have a thrilling experience.

To help with organizing your trip, flight comparison site momondo put together this really helpful infographic about the fees for taking to winter sports equipment on flights – check it out before your fly!

About author: Alyssa is an outgoing introvert from Toronto who has read The Alchemist a few too many times. After graduating university, she taught English on a Caribbean island where she realized her passion for writing. Since then, her work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Teaching Education Journal, local newspapers, and on White Horse Digital. Her latest musings on life in London can be read on her blog, Alyssa Writes.

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In March 2013, the U.N. announced that an estimated 2.5 billion people don’t have access to working toilets, and pledged to halve this number by 2015.

However, for the 4.5 billion people who do have access, it’s a very different story. It’s been estimated that we spend over a year of our lives on the loo. With this in mind, we’ve investigated ten of the best loos with a view.

The London skyline, with its landmark structures and skyscrapers, is one of the most famous in the world. Iconic buildings like the Gherkin and Big Ben rise from the bustling streets, attracting tourists from around the globe. At 306 metres, architect Renzo Piano’s Shard is the tallest building of them all. The 68^th floor of this incredible structure boasts the most exhilarating toilet view in London. Visitors are treated to a breath-taking view of the sprawling metropolis, from a ceiling-to-floor window.

Here’s another loo with an impressive city view. Workers at the Commerzbank tower – the tallest building in Germany – can look out over the rooftops of Frankfurt in this lofty bathroom. The architect of the building clearly had a sense of humour, as the location of the toilet makes it look like users are urinating on the building of Dresdner bank, who were direct competitors when the Commerzbank tower was built. (Commerzbank has since acquired Dresdner, completing the transaction in 2009).

Chinese city Chongquing is home to ‘Foreigner Street’, a theme park devoted to international culture. The park features replica Egyptian pyramids, a smaller copy of Christ the Redeemer, and what is claimed to be the world’s largest public toilet. The sprawling bathroom contains 4 floors, and over 1000 toilets.  If they can take their eyes off the novelty-shaped urinals, the uppermost floor provides guests with a view over the park.

The NamibRand nature reserve is one of the biggest privately-owned nature reserves in Southern Africa. The park is home to a plethora of wildlife, including cheetahs, vultures and jackals. It’s also home to this unusual toilet, which looks out onto a vast, sandy plain.

Kenya’s Meru National Park was made famous by Born Free, the 1960 book and subsequent film about a couple’s efforts to release a lioness into the wild. A luxurious safari lodge, Elsa’s Kopje can be found within the park’s boundaries. Guests are invited to enjoy the facilities, including this incredible bathroom, which comes complete with stunning views over the African plains.

This photo was taken from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The first thing you notice is the stunning view. Look closely, and you’ll see the best loo-with-a-view in Africa – a long-drop toilet provided for visitors to Shira Camp. Situated on Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau, this toilet sits at a dizzying 3,847m above sea level.

Alcatraz was notoriously difficult to escape – authorities maintain that throughout the facility’s 29-year history, no prisoner ever successfully broke out. Part of the prison’s success was down to constant surveillance – carried out in part from lofty guard towers. One of the towers was equipped with a toilet, providing a 360° view of the surrounding San Francisco bay.

Going to the toilet on the slopes can often be a chilly and unpleasant experience. However, this stunning Alpine view, found in a mountainside bathroom in the Austrian SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser, makes up for the cold. The SkiWelt is Austria’s largest interconnected skiing region, with 279km of runs, 91 cable cars, and a series of breath-taking bathroom views.

Standard aeroplane toilets rarely feature windows. However, they’re slightly more common in business and first-class cabins. This luxurious loo, complete with faux-wood panelling and a porcelain sink, features on some Emirates flights. Not only does this toilet offer far more space than the cramped cubicle most flyers are used to, it also provides flyers with a sensational view of blue skies and drifting clouds.

Hikers are usually reduced to doing their business in the woods. However, park authorities at Montana’s Glacier National Park have thoughtfully provided this toilet for passing ramblers. With over 1,000,000 acres to explore, this loo-with-a-view could be hard to find. Those who are lucky enough to stumble upon it can use the facilities whilst gazing at the vast Agassiz Glacier.

 This article was written  by Ben Wosskow of LoveHomeSwap.com, a leading home swapping site boasting over 48,000 properties across over 150 countries.

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Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is the hottest, driest and lowest place in US and during summer temperature can reach 35-50C (100-120F), so you must be prepared. Park administration recommends drink at least 4 liters (1 gallon) of water. It is up to you how much you drink, but in your car you should have some water for emergency. It is quite remote place and don’t expect huge crowd of visitors, except some more popular places like Badwater or Devil’s Golf Course. It can take hours till you see another car. I bought 10 liters water container just in case.

Also fill up your fuel tank before going into park. Some years ago it was couple gas stations in the park at Stovepipe Wells Village and Furnance Creek. But now only the one at Furnance Creek is working.

The last thing you should do before going to Death Valley – check for road closures. During my visit Artists Drive, Twenty Mule Team Canyon and Titus Canyon roads were closed, at Zabriskie point were road works and was no stopping allowed, so I was forced adjust my itinerary accordingly.

Death Valley NP is 350km (220 miles) or 3.5 hour drive away from Bakersfield. From Death Valley to Las Vegas is another 220km (140 miles) or 2.5 hour drive. Expect to be in Vegas at late night as it easy to spend all day in the Death Valley and wait for sunset to watch how colors of surrounding mountains are changing.

What to do and to see it depends on situation in the park. As I mentioned earlier some places were inaccessible during my visit, but here are some interesting places:

• Ubehebe Crater – it erupted more than 300 years ago.

• Scotty’s Castle – Spanish-style mansion in the green oasis of Grapevine Canyon.

• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes – 30 meters (100 feet) dunes rising near Stovepipe Wells village.

• Salt Creek – this salt water is home to a rare pupfish.
• Titus Canyon – one of the largest and most scenically diverse canyons in the park. Small part of this drive can be accessed by regular car from West side.
• Artist’s Drive – 14 km (9 miles) scenic loop drive through colorful volcanic formations.
• Natural Bridge – 800 meters (0.5 mile) hike to massive rock span across canyon.

• Badwater – lowest point in North America. It is 86 meters (282 feet) below sea level.

• Devil’s Golf Course – incredible formations of rock salt.
• Dante’s view – one of best places to see Badwater basin from the top of 1.7 km (5500 feet) peak.
• Twenty Mule Team Canyon – 4 km (2.5 mile) one way loop drive through badlands.

• Zabriskie Point – colored badlands. Good place to stop during sunset before heading to Las Vegas

All these places are accessible by regular vehicle. Check Death Valley NP website for additional places if you drive high clearance car, but for day visitor it will be more than enough.

Las Vegas

The last stop for today is Las Vegas. You know how it is said: “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”? 

Just head to the Strip as all entertainment is located there.  Most popular free attractions on the Strip are:

• The volcano at “The Mirage”
• The water fountains at “Bellagio”
• The Sirens of TI night show at Treasure Island (daily at 5:30pm (fall/winter only), 7pm, 8:30pm, 10pm, 11:30pm (spring/summer only)
• The Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain at Caesars Palace (every hour on the hour Sun – Thu,  10am – 11pm,  Fri and Sat,  10am – midnight) .

Check what shows are during your visit and don’t lose all your money at casino

The post US West in a week. Day 3. Death Valley and Las Vegas appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

We arrived to our campsite sometime in the early afternoon; my friend Mark who had a penchant for anything that involved the outdoors and his girlfriend Alice, who was always game for spontaneous plans.

This camping trip was about as spontaneous as it gets – a half-hearted joke about moving to the woods over dinner evolved into a ‘well, why not camp tomorrow?’ conversation, Alice finally offering to drive us. Three hours and one detour to greasy diner later, we’d successfully managed to leave civilization behind.

I was soon to realize I didn’t arrive on this trip prepared. Anyone going camping owes it to themselves to research the area beforehand and become acquainted with the land. That’s a camping ground rule everyone should abide by.

“Did anyone actually check the weather report for the weekend?” Alice asked as she started removing fold-up chairs from the back of the Suburban. I looked to Mark in an admittance of my own ineptitude.

“Yeah … couple days back. We should be good,” he said, helping Alice lower a heavy cooler from the trunk of the car. Mark looked at me and shrugged, which essentially meant he only made the previous statement in an attempt to appease Alice. Oh well, I thought, we’re here now.

We quickly settled into the campsite, Alice breaking into a bag of turkey dogs to roast over the modest fire Mark and I had teamed together to build. As I peered across the flames, the light dancing across Alice and Mark’s faces as we laughed about old times, I felt as though there was no place else I’d rather be.

As Alice was recounting tales from her turbulent student teaching internship, a roll of thunder interrupted her. We all peered overhead but couldn’t make out any storm clouds, in the midst of engaging conversation it had become night time.

“I just felt rain,” Mark said. “Definitely just felt rain.” We looked at each other in a moment of grim realization before everyone burst into action.

Alice got up first, rushing over to the tent that had yet to be fully pitched.  She fumbled around on her hands and knees, feeling out for stakes, finding nothing. The only light was from the campfire and it was too dim.

Mark looked over to the car. “Flashlight … shoot,” he said, “we forgot the flashlight!” Mark ran back to the car and looked around for a miracle as another crack of thunder rolled overhead. Seconds later and the rain really started coming down.

“Let’s just get in the car,” Alice said, abandoning the site of the tent. “We’re going to get soaked.” It sounded like the most logical solution but somehow I couldn’t allow it. My mind was on the firewood pile nearby quickly getting saturated, becoming useless to us the rest of the trip. Rain aside, this trip could be miserable without the warmth of the fire.

“I’ll be right back!” I said, racing past the fire. Alice called after me but there was no stopping me from making a desperate effort to salvage the campfire. The only problem was I was searching through relative darkness for my pile.

When I couldn’t see the campfire anymore, I realized I’d probably gone entirely too far into the woods. Attempting my way back only caused me to grow less familiar with my surroundings. At least I had the luxury of Mark and Alice knowing I was somewhere in the woods – someone should always know where you’re venturing off to.

I was hardly prepared with survival gear, a realization that brought upon immediate anxiety. I stopped myself from panicking and assessed my options. I decided to sit down and collect myself and ultimately observe the surrounding area, looking for materials I might need to get through the night.

I had learned from an early age that if I were in a situation like this, I should stick to one place. Not only does it increase your chances of being found but it also prevents you from wasting energy in the body. So I familiarized myself with the immediate area and counted my blessings. I was still in one piece and my friends were savvy enough to find me, the roar of the rain made it difficult to communicate by calling out – not to mention my friends were probably huddled in the car.

The storm had loosened some nearby branches so I started building myself a modest shelter. It wasn’t anything worthy of Bear Grylls but it managed to keep most of me dry which I was thankful for. Hours past and I slipped in and out of sleep until dawn crept in.

The early morning light allowed me to see some tracks I knew were mine. I decided to follow these tracks for a few minutes, marking the trees so I could find my way back if necessary. Eventually I came far enough that I saw the car peeking out in the horizon. I couldn’t help but smile – I made it through a night in the woods alone.

This article was written by Tyler Thursby, a regular writer for Vagabond Summer.

The post Lost in the Oregon Woods appeared first on Vi Travel Tips.

Yosemite National Park is located ~300 km (190 miles) east of San Francisco and it takes about 4 hours to get there, so it is better get up as early as possible. Actually it applies to any day of this itinerary. Sorry, there is no time to sleep during this week J

The entrance fee to Yosemite NP is $20 per car and includes all occupants of the car. Permit is valid for unlimited entries to the park for 7 days. Because during this week it will be visited at least 4 national parks the best deal is to buy Annual Pass. It cost $80 for all National parks and you can buy it before your trip online.

Yosemite National Park is huge. The area of the park is ~3100 square km (~1200 square miles) with over 1200 kilometers (750 miles) of trail. Yosemite Valley is the best place to go for day visitor. Surrounded by up to 1.5 km (5,000 feet) rocks the valley itself is very flat and it is possible to take some short hikes without proper hiking boots.

Some short hikes to choose:

• Bridalveil Fall – 800 meters (0.5 miles) round-trip, 20 minutes
• Lower Yosemite Fall – 1.6 km (1 mile) loop. 30 minutes
• Cook’s Meadow Loop – 1.6 km (1 mile) loop. 30 minutes
• Mirror Lake/Meadow – 3.2 km (2 miles) round-trip, 1 hour
• Vernal Fall footbridge – 2.6 km ( 1.6 miles) round-trip, 1.5 hours

May is the best month to watch water falls then snow melts in the mountains. You won’t see so much water in August as you can see in above photo.

Next stop is at Sequoia National Park (entry fee is $20 if you didn’t buy Annual Pass). Park is 300 km (190 miles) and 4 hours driving away from Yosemite Valley, but you must to see those giant trees and largest is the General Sherman Tree. The tree is 84 meters (275 feet) height and estimated 2300-2700 years old and is called the largest living thing on the Earth.

The tunnel log located not far from the General Sherman Tree will let you feel even more how big these trees are as you can drive with your car through that tunnel.

It will be later evening by the time you reach this tunnel and the close by Mono Rock is the best place for sunset viewing – with sun going down in the west and moon rising above Great Western Divide in the east .

A view is fantastic and at least during my visit it wasn’t many people there at night so maybe you can enjoy that view only by yourselves.

Sun goes down and it is time to look for overnight stay. Bakersfield is largest town on the way. There are plenty of motels there, so I think it is best place to spend a night before heading to Death Valley tomorrow.

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Flight ticket is the first thing you need for your trip. My starting and finishing point was San Francisco, but don’t make mistake by looking tickets only for San Francisco International Airport (SFO). There is another airport on other side of San Francisco bay.  It is Oakland International Airport (OAK).

OAK is only 10km (~ 6 miles) further away from San Francisco downtown comparing with SFO. So it will take only additional 10-15 minutes to get to the city, but you can get good flight and car rental deals at OAK.  By the way Las Vegas International Airport (LAS) also good start/end point for West exploration, but this time I start from San Francisco.

Day 1. San Francisco

It takes about 4-5 hours to get to California from East Coast, so expect arrival to SFO/OAK at midday. There is no need to rush as it is not possible to see everything in a half day. It is better to see only couple highlights at slow pace.

• On the way from airport driver through famous Lombard Street

• Have a lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf
• Take a ferry to Alcatraz Island (you must buy ticket 3-4 weeks in advance, especially during public holidays or high tourism season as it is probably the most popular tourist attraction in San Francisco)

• Rent a bike while back to Fisherman’s Wharf after tour to Alcatraz Island and go across Golden Gate Bridge to Vista Point. It is more interesting than just drive it by car

• Drive to Point Bonita Lighthouse for the sunset after you return your bike
• After sun sets down drive to Battery Spencer and watch San Francisco at night

Tomorrow long road trip is starting so I wouldn’t recommend to stay very late in the city as you definitely must have some rest. You probably won’t need to make bookings in advance for other nights of the trip, but in San Francisco the prices can be steep and it is better to make accommodation arrangements in advance.

Good night for now and see you on Day 2 on the trip to Yosemite and Sequoia national parks.

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Head to Brooklyn and you’ll find a thriving live music scene in the Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighbourhoods. If you like your rock ‘n’ roll live and in-your-face, here are some of the best venues to check out:

Public Assembly

A multi-room art, music and burlesque venue built in the shell of a former mayonnaise factory, it has bags of industrial-style space, two stages and an incredible sound system. Public Assembly plays host to a variety of new and established bands, private parties and rap battles. Drinks are cheap but it does get crowded so expect to queue.

Enid’s

Enid’s was the venue where The Fiery Furnaces made their debut and it remains top of the hipster charts, although it now concentrates as much on food as music. Serving up a mean brunch and a fantastic Bloody Mary, evenings get back to music with an impressive DJs including Eugene Hutz of Gogol Bordello.

Rock Star Bar

If your idea of a good night out is a seedy, former strip club dive bar, then head down to Rock Star Bar. Revel in the music from every genre you can imagine, including punk, reggae, rockabilly, rave and drum and bass. Drinks are cheap and served in plastic cups and the atmosphere is grungy-fun. So there’s actually a lot of room to be economical in New York, despite the rumours, though deciding to compare flights online to New York can be a big help in expanding your partying budget.

Trash

Pay the $5 entrance fee and you’re in a rock and roll wonderland, where car seats replace sofas and a kitsch collection of ephemera decorates the walls.

The emphasis is on the music and Trash is famous for being the starting point for bands like The Scissor Sisters and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. A quality sound system, cheap beer and a diverse juke box will keep you entertained.

Union Pool

One of the main draws of this venue, apart from the music itself, is the patio complete with one of Brooklyn’s best taco trucks. Inside local, national and international bands play 365 days of the year and Union Pool prides itself on promoting a welcoming community atmosphere. Cheap drinks and good times are guaranteed.

Don Pedro’s

Blurring the line between tacos and music, Don Pedro’s hosts live shows from breakthrough acts every night. Tucked away in an obscure corner of Brooklyn, it’s worth seeking Don Pedro’s out for the vibe and the sheer range of live bands. Free entry on selected nights make it great value, as do the great food, drinks deals and happy hour specials.

The Glasslands

This is located in a post-industrial area of Brooklyn which now oozes aesthetic gentrification and draws in the hipster crowd to watch eclectic local bands in this psychedelic space. A fast bar service and great food draws the crowds into this intimate venue.

Pete’s Candy Store

Live music every night is the promise and Pete’s Candy Store blends the best new music with comedy and quiz nights. The venue is best suited to acoustic or solo performers and really lets the audience be part of the experience.

The Warsaw

A Polish community centre and a live music venue may not be the most natural combination, but The Warsaw is celebrated for its musical legacy as well as for its European heritage. Patti Smith played here under the glitterball and probably ate some of the amazing Polish food on offer. What else do you need to know?

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