We’re excited to have Stu from BeginRV answer our five travel questions! Find out why he loves Copenhagen and one of his favourite travel moments in Utah!
Why do you love travel?
Travel for me is all about soaking in the local people, food and history of my destination. My favorite thing about traveling is simply talking to local people – learning about their lives, their families and the places they eat. Don’t get me wrong, I make a point to see historically significant sites like Colosseum or the Golden Gate Bridge but I feel those sites typically do not tell you much about the modern character of a city.
There’s nothing I love more than waking up early on vacation and grabbing an espresso at a local cafe. I’ve learned more about the character history of a city in those quiet moments than I can learn touring all the ancient cathedrals of the world. Hearing real stories of real people is where I find the “magic” in travel.
What destination is top of your bucket list?
Kyoto, Japan is on the tippy-top of my bucket list. The capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, Kyoto is a cultural hub for art, cuisine, politics and religion and has been a place I’m just dying to visit. I’ve read a ton about the city and it has that unbeatable mix of history, natural beauty and vibrant modern culture – without being overrun by tourists.
When it comes to visiting large cities, a theme for me is I prefer “second” cities over the main tourist city in the country. I prefer Montreal over Toronto, Austin over New York and Siena to Rome. You may miss out on some of the historic sites, but you get a much better feel for the people and the culture when you are not being pushed by an angry mob of tourists hell-bent on getting the perfect selfie.
Where is your most favourite place you have travelled to?
Copenhagen, Denmark. My wife and I found a cheap flight and decided to take a weekend jaunt to Copenhagen not knowing much about the city. We were just blown away by the clean Scandanavian architecture and the cozy “hygge” feel of the city – it almost felt like we were in a fairytale.
The thing that surprised us the most was the world-class food and drink of the city. We kept coming back to the Torvehallerne food market which has an outrageous selection of exquisite Scandanvian food. We were also lucky enough to grab a seat at the 1656 cocktail bar which my wife and I both agreed were the best cocktails of our lives.
I would take Copenhagen any day of the week over more “popular” European destinations like Amsterdam or Barcelona that are packed wall-to-wall with tourists.
What is your most favourite memory or experience whilst travelling?
I’ve traveled all over the world, but the simplicity of watching an early morning sunrise surrounded by nature are always my favourite travel memories. One particularly fond memory I have is waking up to see the sun rise over Strawberry Bay Reservoir, Utah. The way the shades of purple, orange and pink danced on the water is something I’ll never forget.
What is your favourite photo from your travels?
This picture was taken in the northern England town of Harrogate. It’s almost impossible to describe the beauty of the Cherry Blossom trees, which bloom for a tragically short three-week period in March or April. This was a particularly (and rare) cloudless day in England and I vividly remember the feeling of hope and optimism of leaving the long, dreary English winter behind.
About Stu Gold
Stu is a proud father, husband and ninja-like outdoorsman. He is the editor of BeginRV, a site dedicated to encouraging travelers to see the world from the road.
