World Travels
Last updated: Jan 15, 2022
I lived in Russia (1988-94), the UK (1994-2006), and the US (2006-2016). I repatriated to Russia in 2016 and have been based in Moscow ever since. Apart from my travel reports, which are linked below, you can also peruse my national comparisons (2011) and my Russia/US comparison (2017).
As in my book reviews, the best places are highlighted to the appropriate extent. Places where I lived (spent >3 months) are underlined. Icons represent the following: ⭐ = major city or capital; 🏙️ = city; 🏞️ = national park or natural wonder, 🏖️ = beach, both are also italicized.
Note that Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, and (soon!) London have separate guides/pages. There is also a separate guide on expatriating/repatriating to Russia. I also have a “culinary page” at World Cuisines.
| R | W | Country | City/Region | Rating | Year | notes | Short Review: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⠀ | AM | US | 🌐 .USA | 2006/8-2016 | theseriesmain | United States ★★★★ • California ★★★★★ / 2006/8-2016 • Cascadia ★★★ • Midwest ★★★★ • Mountain ★★★★★ • Northeast ★★★ |
|
| AM | US-Cal | 🌐 .USA-CALIFORNIA | theseries | ||||
| ⠀ | AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Berkeley (CA) | 5 | 2008-2014 | best | Beautiful city with high concentration of human capital. • Institutions: UC Berkeley • Communities: MIRI HQ; CSSC • Restaurants: Chez Panisse (set menu, designed by Alice Waters); Great China; Gypsy's Court; House of Curries; Turkish Kitchen. |
| AM | US-Cal | 🏞️ Fort Ross | 5 | 2015 | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Fresno | 3 | ||||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Los Altos | 4 | 2006/8 | |||
| AM | US-Cal | ⭐ Los Angeles | 4 | 2013 | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Monterey | 5 | often | good | ||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Morro Bay | 4 | often | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Mountain View | 5 | often | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏞️ Napa Valley | 5 | good | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Oakland | 3 | often | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Palo Alto | 4 | ||||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Redding | 3 | ||||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Richmond | 1 | ||||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Sacramento | 2 | 2014 | |||
| ⠀ | AM | US-Cal | ⭐ San Francisco | 5 | often | good | • Restaurants: Samovar (chain); Sheba Piano Lounge |
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ San Jose | 4 | often | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ San Leandro | 4 | 20014-2016 | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ San Diego | 4 | 2013 | |||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Santa Barbara | 5 | 2006/8, 2013 | good | ||
| AM | US-Cal | 🏙️ Solvang | 4 | 2006 | |||
| ⠀ | AM | US-Cal | ⛷️ Tahoe | 4 | often | good | Lake Tahoe is a major ski resort area. • Alpine Meadows ★★★★★ • Homewood ★★★★ • Kirkwood ★★★★ • Northstar ★★★★ • Olympic Valley ★★★★ |
| AM | US-Cas | 🌐 .USA-CASCADIA | theseries | ||||
| AM | US-Cas | 🏙️ Portland | 3 | 2014 | |||
| AM | US-Cas | ⭐ Seattle | 4 | 2014 | |||
| AM | US-High | 🌐 .USA-HIGHLANDS | theseries | ||||
| AM | US-High | ⛷️ Big Sky (MT) | 5 | 2012 | good | ||
| AM | US-High | ⛷️ Jackson Hole (WY) | 5 | 2011 | best | ||
| AM | US-High | 🌆 LAS VEGAS | 5 | 2013 | good | ||
| AM | US-High | ⛷️ Park City (UT) | 5 | 2010 | |||
| AM | US-High | 🏘️ Reno | 3 | ||||
| AM | US-High | ⛷️ Winter Park (CO) | 5 | ~2013 | good | ||
| AM | US-MW | 🌐 .USA-MIDWEST | theseries | ||||
| AM | US-MW | ⭐ Chicago | 4 | 2013 | |||
| AM | US-MW | 🏙️ Pittsburgh | 2 | 2013 | |||
| AM | US-NE | 🌐 .USA-NORTHEAST | theseries | ||||
| AM | US-NE | ⭐ Boston | 3 | 2013 | |||
| AM | US-NE | ⭐ New York | 4 | 2013 | |||
| AM | US-NE | ⭐ Washington D.C. | 3 | 2013 | |||
| ⠀ | BR | UK | 🌐 .UK | 1994-2006/8 | theseriesmain | United Kingdom ★★★★ • England ★★★★ / 1996-2006/8 • Northern Ireland ★★★ • Scotland ★★★ / 1994-1996 • Wales ★★★ |
|
| BR | UK-Eng | 🌐 .UK-ENGLAND | theseries | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Bath | 4 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Battle | 4 | 2022 | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Birmingham | 2 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Blackburn | 2 | often | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Blackpool | 3 | often | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Bolton | 2 | ||||
| ⠀ | BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Bovington | 4 | 2018 | Visit for the Bovington Tank Museum. | |
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Brighton | 4 | 2019 | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Cambridge | 5 | ~2005 | good | ||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Canterbury | 5 | 2018 | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏞️ Channel Islands | 4 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Chester | 4 | 2004 | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Deal | 4 | 2022 | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Durham | 3 | ~2007 | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Kendal | 3 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏞️ Lake District | 4 | often | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Lancaster | 4 | often | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏞️ Land's End | 3 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Leeds | 3 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Liverpool | 2 | often | |||
| ⠀ | BR | UK-Eng | ⭐ London | 5 | Guide | 2016 / often | best | GUIDE / 2016, 2018, 2019 • Restaurants: The Golden Chippy; The Olde Bank of England. |
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Lytham St Annes | 2 | often | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Manchester | 3 | often | |||
| ⠀ | BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Oxford | 5 | 2016, 2018 | best | • The Eagle and Child. Bodleian. |
| ⠀ | BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Penzance | 4 | Most famous for St Michael's Mount. | ||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Plymouth | 3 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Portsmouth | 3 | 2016 | |||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Preston | 2 | 1996-2006/8 | |||
| ⠀ | BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Salisbury | 4 | 2022 | Visit for Stonehenge, Old Sarum, and admire the 123 m spires of Salisbury Cathedral. | |
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ Sheffield | 3 | ||||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ St Albans | 5 | 2019 | good | ||
| BR | UK-Eng | 🏙️ York | 4 | ||||
| BR | UK-NI | 🌐 .UK-N. IRELAND | theseries | ||||
| BR | UK-NI | 🏙️ Belfast | 2 | ~2001 | |||
| BR | UK-NI | 🏞️ Giant's Causeway | 3 | ~2001 | |||
| BR | UK-Scot | 🌐 .UK-SCOTLAND | theseries | ||||
| BR | UK-Scot | 🏙️ Aberdeen | 2 | 1994-1996 | |||
| BR | UK-Scot | 🏙️ ⭐ Edinburgh | 4 | ~1995 | |||
| BR | UK-Scot | 🏙️ Glasgow | 2 | ~1995 | |||
| BR | UK-Scot | 🏞️ Grampian Mountains | 4 | ~1995, ~1996 | |||
| BR | UK-Scot | 🏞️ Isle of Skye | 5 | ~1996 | |||
| BR | UK-Wales | 🌐 .UK-WALES | theseries | ||||
| BR | UK-Wales | 🏙️ Bristol | 3 | ||||
| BR | UK-Wales | 🏙️ Cardiff | 3 | ||||
| ⠀ | BR | UK-Wales | 🏙️ Conwy | 4 | 2007 | Visit for Conwy Castle. | |
| BR | UK-Wales | 🏞️ Snowdonia | 4 | often | |||
| ⠀ | EU | EU | 🌐 .EU | theseriesmain | Europe ★★★★ • Belgium ★★★ • Finland ★★★ • France ★★★ • Germany ★★★★ • Ireland ★★★★ • Netherlands ★★★ • Poland ★★★★ • Portugal ★★★★ • Romania ★★★ |
||
| EU | BLG | 🌐 .BELGIUM | theseries | ||||
| EU | BLG | 🏙️ Antwerp | 3 | 2003 | |||
| EU | BLG | 🏙️ Brugge | 3 | 2003 | |||
| EU | BLG | ⭐ Brussels | 2 | 2018 | |||
| EU | Eire | 🌐 .IRELAND | theseries | ||||
| ⠀ | EU | Eire | 🏙️ Cashel | 3 | ~2001 | Visit for Rock of Cashel. | |
| ⠀ | EU | Eire | 🏙️ Drogheda | 4 | ~2001 | Visit for Newgrance. | |
| EU | Eire | ⭐ Dublin | 4 | ~2001, 2006 | |||
| EU | Eire | 🏙️ Limerick | 3 | ~2001 | |||
| EU | FI | 🌐 .FINLAND | theseries | ||||
| EU | FI | ⭐ Helsinki | 3 | 2022 | |||
| EU | FR | 🌐 .FRANCE | theseries | ||||
| EU | FR | 🏖️ Arcachon Bay | 5 | ~1998 | good | ||
| EU | FR | 🏙️ Bordeaux | 3 | ~1998 | |||
| EU | FR | ⭐ Paris | 3 | ~1998, 2003, 2005 | |||
| EU | FR | ⛷️ Val d’Isère | 5 | 2007 | |||
| EU | DE | 🌐 .GERMANY | theseries | ||||
| EU | DE | 🏙️ Aachen | 4 | 2003 | |||
| EU | DE | ⭐ Frankfurt | 3 | 2003 | |||
| EU | DE | 🏙️ Heidelburg | 5 | 2003 | good | ||
| EU | DE | 🏙️ Köln | 3 | 2003 | |||
| EU | DE | 🏙️ Worms | 3 | 2003 | |||
| EU | NL | 🌐 .NETHERLANDS | theseries | ||||
| EU | NL | ⭐ Amsterdam | 4 | 2022 | |||
| EU | NL | 🏙️ The Hague | 3 | 2022 | |||
| EU | NL | 🏙️ Rotterdam | 2 | 2022 | |||
| EU | PL | 🌐 .POLAND | theseries | ||||
| EU | PL | 🏙️ Kraków | 4 | 2019 | |||
| EU | PL | 🏙️ Ostrołęka | 4 | 2019 | |||
| EU | PL | ⭐ Warszawa | 4 | 2019 | |||
| EU | PT | 🌐 .PORTUGAL | 2018 | theseries | |||
| EU | PT | 🏖️ The Algarve | 4 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Albufeira | 4 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Estoril | 4 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Faro | 3 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Lagos | 3 | ||||
| EU | PT | ⭐ Lisboa | 4 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Portimão | 4 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Sagres | 4 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Sines | 2 | ||||
| EU | PT | 🏙️ Sintra | 4 | ||||
| EU | RO | 🌐 .ROMANIA | 2018 | theseries | |||
| EU | RO | 🏙️ Brașov | 3 | ||||
| EU | RO | ⭐ Bucharest | 3 | ||||
| EU | RO | 🏙️ Ploiești | 2 | ||||
| EU | RO | 🏙️ Râșnov | 2 | ||||
| EU | RO | 🏞️ Transylvania | 4 | ||||
| ⠀ | RU | RU | 🌐 .RUSSIA | 1988-1994, 2016+ | theseriesmain | Russia ★★★★★ | |
| RU | RU-Mus | 🌐 .RU-MUSCOVY | theseries | ||||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Borovsk | 4 | 2019 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Gus-Khrustalny | 3 | 2004 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Ivanovo | 2 | 2004 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Klin | 3 | 2004 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Kolomna | 4 | 2017, often | good | ||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Kostroma | 2 | 2004 | |||
| ⠀ | RU | RU-Mus | ⭐ Moscow | 5 | Guide | 1988-1991, 1993-1994, 2016+ | best | GUIDE |
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Obninsk | 4 | 2019 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Ozery | 3 | often | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Pereslavl-Zalessky | 3 | 2004 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Rybinsk | 3 | 2004 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Sergiev Posad | 4 | 2019, 2020 | good | ||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Suzdal | 4 | 2004 | good | ||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Torzhok | 3 | 2019 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Tver | 3 | 2019 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Uglich | 3 | 2004 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Vladimir | 3 | 2004 | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Volokolamsk | 3 | 1991-1993 / 2017, 2019, often | |||
| RU | RU-Mus | 🏙️ Yaroslavl | 4 | 2004 | good | ||
| RU | RU-Istria | 🌐 .RU-ISTRIA | theseries | ||||
| RU | RU-Istria | 🏙️ Murmansk | 3 | 2021 | |||
| ⠀ | RU | RU-Istria | ⭐ Saint-Petersburg | 5 | Guide | often | best | GUIDE / 2004, 2017, 2019, 2022 |
| RU | RU-Istria | 🏙️ Veliky Novgorod | 4 | 2018 | good | • ZAVOD Bar |
|
| RU | RU-South | 🌐 .RU-SOUTH | theseries | ||||
| RU | RU-South | 🏙️ Bryansk | 3 | 2018 | |||
| RU | RU-VU | 🌐 .RU-VOLGA/URALS | theseries | ||||
| RU | RU-VU | 🏙️ Nizhny Novgorod | 4 | 2020 |