A Sagittarius's Travel Recommendations
- Jan 19
- 10 min read
I've been lucky enough to visit many of the "big" cities, but a few of them have settled into me in a way that feels permanent. I'm always drawn to beautiful spaces, immersive experiences, museums, and places that feel like small worlds inside larger ones.
New York, New York🤍
My favorite city in the world is—and always will be—New York City. Honestly, this could've been its own blog (and maybe it will be). The possibilities of things to do and see here are endless. You could live in this city and experience something new every single day for the rest of your life, and that alone makes my Sagittarius sun heart feel alive—even just writing about it. If you opened my Google Maps, you'd find thousands upon thousands of little red hearts favoriting all of the places I've ever been or want to be. (No, really—this is my map of Manhattan alone).
When I was a kid, I imagined growing up and living in a penthouse in the biggest of Apples, enjoying life completely on my own terms. That dream's still tucked safely in my back pocket, but until then, let me show you my New York.
I love a jazz club energy—dim lighting, good drinks, feeling like you've stepped into another era.
These are the places I see myself returning to again and again:
Because I'm obsessed with experiences, here are a few I recommend (and dream about):
Artechouse in Chelsea
The Museum of Sex (a repeat favorite)
The Museum of Ice Cream (think pink and all of the ice cream you could ever eat in one tour)
And on my "soon" list:
Olfactory NYC (make your own perfume!)
Happy Medium (art café heaven)
Fao Schwarz (to make my own Barbie, of course)
I'll stop here—mostly because I could go on forever.
Boston + Salem 🍂
I've only spent short periods of time in Boston, but it didn't take long to realize it's a gem. Wandering near Milk Street, stumbling into duck ramen at Wagamama's in Faneuil Hall Marketplace (I think I dream of this ramen just about every single day?) We also found great food at our hotel restaurant, Rose Town Kitchen and Bar—I love raw oysters and these were completely unforgettable. We searched high and low for a Boston newspaper to take photos with in our hotel room and got lucky in the end. That city holds great memories for me and is probably my second favorite city.
Not far behind is Salem. No surprise there. Overrated? Maybe. Magical anyway? Absolutely. Walking through such a historically rich place does something to you. The homes, the spacing, the age are beautiful. I always recommend parking above the Witch City Mall, I have always found parking up here. I do not recommend buying cigarettes in this city!!!, they are $15 a pack and no one wants to do that. I have had photos of my aura taken in multiple places but I can never stop raving about HausWitch, my favorite store to stop by when I'm in town. They sell so many things but their specialty is home items for witches like cleaning products with intention or tiny little spells inside these little houses (I've had much success with these!). Set up your aura photo appointment AHEAD of time.
Then there's Crow Haven Corner, one of the oldest witch shops in Salem and the coolest people work here. If you hope to speak with one of them, I'd recommend booking in advance, they are usually always busy.
If you want to have some of the best pizza ever, Flying Saucer Pizza Company right behind Bewitched Statue of Elizabeth Montgomery is the place to go. I think about that pizza often and have considered driving to Salem for the weekend just to have that specifically. I would, of course, recommend any and all museums (I am a historian). If you can get a second to find the famous Max Dennison's house from Hocus Pocus on Ocean Ave or Allison's house on Essex St (and yes—be respectful, people live there.) You could also visit Pioneer Village from the beginning of that movie, you should to feed your inner child. The only stop I haven't made that I'd love to go by is Black Veil Shoppe of Drear and Wonder.
New Orleans 🦇
New Orleans comes dangerously close to Salem for me. I haven't spent enough time here yet, but I'm deeply in love with the architecture, the heaviness of the history and the way the city feels. I went for a wedding a little less than two years ago. I stayed at the Hotel Monteleone and I couldn't say anything negative about my experience—it was a beautiful hotel with uhh, very thin walls but trust me—it'll have you feeling like you're in the coolest place.
There is a shop called Arcadian Books and Art Prints and I would be wrong to not assure you that if you do not want to quite literally duck and dive your way through a shop completely made of books, you would be making the wrongest of decisions. Each morning, I ended up at the Fourth Wall on Gravier Street and it was just the right place to wake up in the dreamiest of cities. I have been to New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum twice and I can tell you it's worth the visit.
It might be the world's tiniest museum but it's powerful—the kind of place that lingers.
I hoped to visit the Pharmacy Museum but didn't due to lack of time but that is definitely an experience I do not intend on missing. Best of all, the city's theme tends to revolve around: vampires.🩸🫀🗡️ I did stop in at the Vampire Cafe but was not impressed with it though they do have blood bag drinks and a speakeasy...somewhere.
On my list of places I will be going to on my next visit:
Marie Laveau's grave (because I should be paying Mother a visit, seriously)
apparently visit the most haunted bathroom at Pat O'Brien's bar?? (I'm just going by my phone's notes at this point, I do trust the Olive who put this info here)
What I won't be doing ever: walking around the city late at night! :) (because, vampires)
This is a city I could see myself living in if I was not terrified of the way Louisiana's history seems to sit on your chest the entire time you're there. (No seriously, if I ever see a Southern Gothic video of people outside in the dark at night on Tiktok with I Only Have Eyes for You looped over it, I will scream.)
Los Angeles☀️
Somehow Los Angeles has my heart too. I don't know how or why. I've spent a decent amount of time in this city and more than once. This is probably one of the most interesting places and all I manage to want to do when I'm there is eat elote and mango with chili powder and lay on any and all beaches.
I was lucky enough to have a LA native drive me down the coast and stop at just about every single beach in one day. It was like drive 20-30 minutes down the road and you were at a beach with an entirely different personality than the one before. I found Malibu to be extremely quiet and empty. Though I'm pretty sure my friend had us go behind a celebrity's house so I have no idea if we were where people go when they're usually visiting Malibu. Then we stopped at Venice Beach (the one Barbie had to get through to get to the real world via roller skating) and it was like people were brought to life—the kind of beach you see on tv but never experience. Then I met up with someone else and ended up at Huntington Beach and I think that was really the winner for me. It was quiet but lively and managed to replicate the same beach we saw on the giant hot screen window in Hollister as children.
It is one of my favorite cities to do absolutely nothing in as long as In N Out is involved. I would recommend checking out Universal Studios—if you can! You might just run into Natalie Nunn (like I did!) I'd also recommend spots like Eggslut if you love eggs the way I do.
Places I hope to visit next time I'm in town (and not asleep in the sand):
Next stop for California—San Diego!
Boulder ⛺️
I will always have the softest of spots for my sweet town of Boulder, Colorado. How I ended up living in the rock climbing, hike loving, nature-est of towns is beyond me but I still refer to Boulder as "home" even though I will not ever live there again. Coming home feels like breathing, it's a reminder of who I am and who I've become and for that I'm thankful. And then when I leave, I'm reminded why it's not my home anymore and that's okay. I met some of the best people I know there and I think of them every single day.
Anyways, enough gushing! If you ever find yourself in Boulder, you should absolutely stop by the Yellow Deli Cafe on Pearl Street, it's—an experience. If you're into juicing, I 100% recommend Wonder Press. If you get a chance, go down to the Lighthouse Bookstore and book yourself a session with a psychic—you won't regret it. If you love chai as much as I do, pop over to Boulder's famous Dushanbe Tea House—a literal gift that was given to the city from Tajikistan. It is one of the beautifulest gifts I've ever seen. If you end up in Boulder for a longer time, I'd recommend popping over to Nederland—the most interesting little town. Here you could experience Frozen Dead Guy Day (please Google this) and stop in to ride the Carousel of Happiness—hand-carved from wood. And of course, if you find yourself in Denver—head over to MeowWolf and the Denver Art Museum—you will not regret it.
Copenhagen 🧤
I didn't get to spend as much time as I would dream of in Copenhagen, Denmark. I would give anything to be there in the spring especially. I didn't have much time to look over all of the places and things to do in the city having had hardcore eye surgery just two months before but from what I got to experience, I can say: definitely get over to Pompette and Poulette (directly beside each other) for the best chicken sandwich with a glass of wine.
If you can, check out Barr as well--it is such an experience. At night (specifically in February) it was so beautiful to see the pinks and reds for Valentine's Day in the dark. They seemed to bounce off the city in the dark. I also loved visiting Studio Arhoj and think of it fondly when I look at my little "ghost."
If I had more time in Copenhagen, I'd visit/stay at:
Dragør (in the spring for the flowers and intimate beauty!)
Girl X Girl events
and go on a canal tour! (you can see I've saved up a lot since I've been!)
I definitely left my heart in this city and I am dying to return.
Woodstock + Pittsburgh 🤎
When I like to seriously unwind and take my time—I love visiting Woodstock, Vermont and Pittsburgh, PA. I think both hold the same sentiment for me. I have enjoyed visiting Vermont, especially in the fall. I've gone there a few times and it's so quiet and a great spot to reset. I am a huge coffee snob and some of my favorite coffee is found at Abracadabra Coffee. I also love any of the little shops in the town. I don't have too many recommendations but if you want to visit a sleepy New England town—this is the perfect one.
Pittsburgh is another one of my more sleepy visits. I love staying with my family and visiting interesting little bars, restaurants and museums like:
Ritual House (great food spot)
KLVN Coffee Lab (my favorite and only coffee spot in Pittsburgh)
Butterjoint (top tier)
Bao II (have the cutest bird custard buns?)
Commerce Bar (has a fun little secret to getting to it)
Mattress Factory (not what anyone ever thinks it is when they first hear me say it)
Kelly's Bar and Lounge (if you're looking for a chill original bar feel)
Federall Galley (kind of a food court of different spots)
Apteka (vegan Polish spot)
Jellyfish (event at the one and only PTown)
Spots I still need to visit:
Mixtape (has a monthly lesbian speed dating event??????)
Pittsburgh is another city I would absolutely move to.
Baltimore 📷
I do adore Baltimore but I wasn't sure where to put it on my list. I have spent time here but have only visited mostly the same spots over and over but the more I go, the more I'll have to say. Right now all I can recommend is Sistah Sweets (they have a blueberry cheesecake matcha in the summer??), Ottobar, Baltimore Flea at the Ministry of Brewing, WC Harlan, and Clavel. Some spots I have saved that I want to visit:
one of the Ekiben spots
Honorable mention: Washington DC, I love ya baby.
SO! If cities can shape us, soften us, and teach us who we are at different moments in our lives—how many versions of ourselves are we allowed to have? And do we ever really leave the places that felt like home?
Cities I Plan to Visit This Year:
Los Angeles
Savannah, Georgia
Charleston, South Carolina
Baltimore
New York City
Salem
Pittsburgh
Cities I Want to Visit:
Chicago
Edinburgh
San Diego
any big city in Texas
Lapland
Amsterdam
Paris
Versailles
Atlanta
States I Want to Visit:
Washington
Oregon
Montana
Countries I Want to Visit:
Indonesia
Albania
Italy
Croatia
Spain
Turkey
Finland
Norway
Portugal
Egypt
Guatemala
Mexico
Switzerland
Scotland
England
Ireland
France
Morocco
Tanzania
South Africa
China
Japan
Singapore
New Zealand
Vietnam
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