Explore the World with Simon Sulyma: USA

8/31/2025

Self-Guided Walk Through Detroit’s Golden Age

8/31/2025

Detroit is a city of contrasts, where Beaux-Arts gems meet Art Deco masterpieces, futuristic glass skyscrapers stand alongside historic land...

Detroit is a city of contrasts, where Beaux-Arts gems meet Art Deco masterpieces, futuristic glass skyscrapers stand alongside historic landmarks and crumbling buildings, and the vibrant renaissance of the city is something locals are proud to celebrate. This summer, my wife and I decided to take a spontaneous weekend trip to Detroit, and I’d love to share our downtown walking itinerary, which takes roughly three hours to complete. The route goes through the city's famous core where you can take a glimpse into its rich history: from its golden age as the world’s automotive capital to its dramatic decline and inspiring rebirth.

7/27/2025

A Scenic Ride on the Cascades Train from Seattle to Vancouver

7/27/2025

The Amtrak Cascades train from Seattle to Vancouver is among the most scenic train rides I have ever taken. The route hugs the coastline for...

The Amtrak Cascades train from Seattle to Vancouver is among the most scenic train rides I have ever taken. The route hugs the coastline for most of its 5-hour journey and, if you’re lucky, you can even get a glimpse of both the Olympic and Cascades Mountains rising in the distance. With its stunning views of the Pacific Northwest and slow pace, this journey is for those who loves trains, nature, or just wants to unwind instead of sitting in traffic on the Interstate 5.

1/23/2025

Behind the Shiny Facades of The Venice of America

1/23/2025

Fort Lauderdale, often dismissed as yet another suburb of Miami, unexpectedly revealed its character that exceeded all my expectations. Havi...

Fort Lauderdale, often dismissed as yet another suburb of Miami, unexpectedly revealed its character that exceeded all my expectations. Having driven through the city countless times, I was pleasantly surprised to finally discover its unique identity, particularly along the scenic Riverwalk. What would have been a few hours killed in Starbucks before taking my train, turned out to be a nice stroll along the water's edge overlooking luxurious yachts, high-end condos, posh crowds, and nature which is never too far in Southern Florida.

12/13/2024

Can Los Angeles Metro System Live Up to Its Potential?

12/13/2024

In the early 1900s, Los Angeles built the world's largest and most efficient streetcar network. However, in a shocking reversal, the cit...

In the early 1900s, Los Angeles built the world's largest and most efficient streetcar network. However, in a shocking reversal, the city scrapped its streetcars by the mid-1960s. Realizing its traffic problems weren't being solved by adding more highway lanes, LA acknowledged its mistake and began rebuilding its train network. With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the city's public transit expansion gained even more momentum. Before riding the LA Metro, I would read wildly mixed reviews about it. So when an opportunity came about in the summer of 2024, my wife and I spent three days exploring the city by train - from LAX to Norwalk, from Downtown to North Hollywood, and from Long Beach to Santa Monica.

12/04/2024

Our Unforgettable Paddling Adventure with Crocodiles in Florida

12/04/2024

Last fall, my wife and I went on a camping trip to Everglades National Park. This sprawling wilderness, covering 1.5 million acres in southe...

Last fall, my wife and I went on a camping trip to Everglades National Park. This sprawling wilderness, covering 1.5 million acres in southern Florida, is my happy place where I like to return over and over again. To put the size of Everglades National Park into perspective, it’s roughly the size of the state of Delaware or half the size of the state of New Jersey. 200,000 alligators and 1,000 crocodiles call the Everglades home, as well as the critically endangered Florida panthers. But make no mistake: the park's biggest badass is the mosquito! Those ferocious creatures can eat you alive, even at the end of the rainy season. Fancy to learn about our canoeing journey in the heart of the Everglades?

12/01/2024

Coincidences at Broad Museum in Los Angeles

12/01/2024

Inspired by Stefan Draschan's work "Coincidences at Museums," where the author produced brilliant and thought-provoking photog...

Inspired by Stefan Draschan's work "Coincidences at Museums," where the author produced brilliant and thought-provoking photographs from accidental matches of visitors’ attire and artwork, I decided to take my camera to Broad Museum in Los Angeles and try to produce something similar. I hope you enjoy this album.

11/23/2024

When Nature Turns Deadly in Sequoia National Park

11/23/2024

Standing among the giant sequoias left a permanent mark on me. These 2,000- to 3,000-year-old natural wonders clearly overshadow humans and ...

Standing among the giant sequoias left a permanent mark on me. These 2,000- to 3,000-year-old natural wonders clearly overshadow humans and all man-made structures. When a massive fire ravaged Sequoia National Park in 2021, I was heartbroken. Upon returning to this place in 2024, witnessing the blackened landscape prompted me to write a story about monster forest fires to raise awareness.

11/09/2024

Beyond Graffiti: Wynwood's Rise as a Street Art Capital

11/09/2024

The Wynwood art district in Miami, Florida is famous for its iconic murals and graffiti. It has transformed from a neglected industrial neig...

The Wynwood art district in Miami, Florida is famous for its iconic murals and graffiti. It has transformed from a neglected industrial neighbourhood to a vibrant outdoor art exhibit, attracting millions of visitors annually. Wynwood has become a cultural phenomenon that is being replicated across the United States and abroad. Wynwood's impact goes beyond just art, demonstrating the transformative power of creativity and collaboration. If you are in Miami, you have to visit Wynwood regardless of whether you're an art enthusiast, photographer, or simply a curious traveller like me. Its dynamic streets, walls, and even dumpsters invite exploration and inspiration.

9/03/2024

Exploring Uncharted Beauty of Alaska's Inside Passage

9/03/2024

Alaska, meaning "great country" in one of the native languages, lives up to its name in the breathtaking Inside Passage. For many ...

Alaska, meaning "great country" in one of the native languages, lives up to its name in the breathtaking Inside Passage. For many travellers, their Alaskan adventure begins here, cruising or ferrying through a majestic landscape of over a thousand islands, lush green forests, giant tongues of bright blue glaciers, and snow-capped mountains, frequently covered in white ribbons of fog. To fully appreciate Southeast Alaska’s beautiful waterway, often called a "liquid main street", you should take it slow and allow yourself to be immersed in its striking, untamed nature, abundant wildlife, and liveable coastal communities.

8/26/2024

Venice Beach: Where the Weird and Wonderful Come to Play

8/26/2024

Welcome to Venice Beach, one of the most iconic and vibrant neighbourhoods in Los Angeles! It’s also a capital of counterculture and activis...

Welcome to Venice Beach, one of the most iconic and vibrant neighbourhoods in Los Angeles! It’s also a capital of counterculture and activism, from the Beats to the hippies and punks. You can still feel the laid-back, bohemian vibe that has defined the neighbourhood for decades. Now, add drugs, alcohol and other substances, and you can truly appreciate how special this place and its people are!

6/24/2024

Buffalo: The City Lost in Time, Where History and Struggle Collide

6/24/2024

I've driven through Buffalo, NY at least a few dozen times before, in all four seasons and various weather conditions, yet it never appe...

I've driven through Buffalo, NY at least a few dozen times before, in all four seasons and various weather conditions, yet it never appealed to me as a tourist destination. To me, Buffalo was synonymous with a dull, grey skyline visible from Interstate 195, numerous billboards advertising injury lawyers, and state troopers diligently ensuring that drivers crossing from Canada had adjusted their speed from kilometres per hour to miles per hour. My usual thought was, "Let's hurry to the Peace Bridge so I can return to Canada as quickly as possible." However, I realized this wasn't fair to Buffalo and its rich heritage, so I decided to fix this by taking a day trip from Toronto. And to make things more challenging, why not take public transit all the way?

10/22/2023

Humans of New York: Times Square

10/22/2023

Times Square, the beating heart of New York City, is a place that never sleeps. I had a chance to visit it in 2021. Of all the places I have...

Times Square, the beating heart of New York City, is a place that never sleeps. I had a chance to visit it in 2021. Of all the places I have ever had a chance to visit, Times Square is the most distinct and chaotic one. Here you can find people with the most diverse backgrounds, skin colours, religious and spiritual beliefs, sexual orientations, political views, etc. But all of those people are united by the same urge: to capture this timeless moment of being there, at Times Square, where even the global pandemic cannot stop time.

6/17/2023

Beneath the Streets in Boston: Exploring America's Oldest Subway

6/17/2023

The Boston Metro, also known as the "T," holds the distinction of being the oldest subway system in the United States, beating its...

The Boston Metro, also known as the "T," holds the distinction of being the oldest subway system in the United States, beating its closest rival, New York by more than seven years. It began operations on September 1, 1897, with a 1.5-mile stretch of track running from Park Street to Sullivan Square and addressed a particularly painful issue of street traffic congestion in the growing metropolis. With its rich history, a mix of vintage and contemporary cars, and the diverse architectural styles of its stations, the Boston Metro system holds a special place in the hearts of Bostonians, who view it as more than just a transportation system but an essential aspect of their city's identity.

4/08/2023

Going Underground: Discovering the Fascinating World of DC's Metro System

4/08/2023

The Washington DC Metro is not just a transit system, but a way of life for millions of residents and visitors who rely on it every day. The...

The Washington DC Metro is not just a transit system, but a way of life for millions of residents and visitors who rely on it every day. The Metro's iconic Brutalist architecture and sleek trains have made it a popular filming location for movies and TV shows. Washington DC metro system is one of the busiest in the country, second only to the New York City subway system. With an annual ridership of over 170 million passengers, it's clear that the DC Metro is more than just a way to get from point A to point B—it's a vital part of the city's identity.

2/14/2022

Discover the 12 Most Unforgettable Experiences on Hawai'i Big Island

2/14/2022

Hawai’i Big Island is one of the most captivating and unique destinations in the world, drawing people from all over the globe to experience...

Hawai’i Big Island is one of the most captivating and unique destinations in the world, drawing people from all over the globe to experience its unparalleled beauty. As the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, it is also home to 8 out of 13 world's climate zones, making it a microcosm of the planet itself. From tropical rainforests to arid deserts and snow-capped peaks, the island offers an astonishing variety of natural landscapes that are sure to enchant any visitor. With its warm, welcoming culture, delicious cuisine, and endless opportunities for adventure, Hawai'i Big Island is the ultimate vacation destination for anyone seeking indelible memories that will last a lifetime. In this article, I will share my 12 most memorable experiences on Hawai'i Big Island that I visited in 2020.

3/29/2021

Camping with Alligators, Wild Boars and Bobcats at Myakka River in Florida

3/29/2021

The winter sun was already setting over a grove of lavish sand pines in central Florida. In my mind, I was still debating whether I should h...

The winter sun was already setting over a grove of lavish sand pines in central Florida. In my mind, I was still debating whether I should head to my wilderness camping at Myakka State Forest or spend the night in my rental SUV. “Only one alligator is living in a pond and she rarely makes any appearance”, a lady helping with my camping reservation on the phone cheerfully told me a few weeks prior. On the one hand, I’m going to be alone in this unfamiliar forest with big reptiles and who knows what else roving around my campsite. What’s more, it’s supposed to be pretty chilly at night - Florida too gets a fair share of cold winter weather. And finally, I don’t even know how long it will take to get to my campsite, so the possibility of pitching my new tent in the darkness is real. On the other hand, I brought my backpack with all my gear all the way from Canada, skipped my lunch and sped on the Interstate-75 so I could get here before sunset. So am I going to pass on this opportunity?

1/03/2021

Visiting St. Augustine - The Oldest Town in America

1/03/2021

Thrill-seekers swarming the world-famous theme parks in Orlando and beachcombers chilling out at Daytona Beach often miss St. Augustine, a c...

Thrill-seekers swarming the world-famous theme parks in Orlando and beachcombers chilling out at Daytona Beach often miss St. Augustine, a centuries-old little gem located on Florida's Atlantic Coast. While the Sunshine State offers tons of activities to keep you entertained for weeks, if not months, trust me - St. Augustine definitely deserves a day trip. After all, it's the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in North America. How cool is that?

10/27/2020

5 Things I Will Always Remember About Pittsburgh

10/27/2020

It's been one year since I visited Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but I still have very vivid memories of this city, remarkable in many ways,...

It's been one year since I visited Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but I still have very vivid memories of this city, remarkable in many ways, and I feel like I was there only yesterday. Great city indeed - glorious past, notable present and, clearly, a bright future. You can tell if a city is livable if you see people hanging out on weekday nights and weekends. The number of theatres, pubs, restaurants, galleries, museums and public art installations can also tell you something about the city and its residents. Speaking about the pubs - Pittsburg holds a world record for the highest number of pubs per capita. Unquestionably livable!

12/26/2019

Ghost Village Hidden In Pine Forest of New Mexico

12/26/2019

Northern New Mexico makes a perfect place for sci-fi movies: frequent UFO sightings, a former secret federal research facility that develop...

Northern New Mexico makes a perfect place for sci-fi movies: frequent UFO sightings, a former secret federal research facility that developed nuclear weapons, extinct volcano caldera that still seeps through cracks in the form of fumaroles and hot springs. But there is something else, completely different, hidden in the ponderosa pine forest just outside of Los Alamos: a ghost village of the ancient and now bygone Pueblo culture called Bandelier National Monument.

11/01/2019

9 Survival Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida

11/01/2019

Congratulations! The moment you decide to visit the Walt Disney World in Florida, you have committed to one of the most terrific and memora...

Congratulations! The moment you decide to visit the Walt Disney World in Florida, you have committed to one of the most terrific and memorable experiences in your life. But how do you get the most out of it without sacrificing your sleep and well-being, tormenting your kids or emptying your bank account? This article is the result of my consuming the two books and testing out all those 9 tips recently with my family. Take it with a grain of salt, of course, because everyone's situation and priorities are different, and invest some more time in prepping yourself either through reading the guidebooks or surfing the Internet.

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