Unanchor Blog: Heart of a Local Travel

Imagine creating a place for you and your friends where you can play, work, and raise a family, add an 1880s vibe and you have Pioneertown. Created in 1948 by Gene Autry, Roy Roger, and friends, Pioneertown was meant as a fully functioning, 1880’s themed movie set for actors of the day to work and live. While its heyday may have expired, a visit to Pioneertown is still a must. This desert oasis is a quick 20-minute drive from Joshua Tree or about an hour from Palm Springs. Make a day trip or spend the weekend exploring. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

We temporarily moved to Yucca Valley on a whim. Where is that you ask? 45 minutes east of Palm Springs and adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. We knew it would be remote, but truth be told, it was a little jarring when we got there with a very monotone color pallet, surprisingly cold temperatures, and a lot of rundown strip malls. We are restaurant and bar people. Love to cook, but love to explore a city by wining and dining. At first glance, this is not the place for such things, but after a little exploration and we found some amazing winners. 

A walk through Alserkal Avenue in Al Quoz, one of Dubai's very well-hidden but not-so-secret spots. This area is a uniquely wonderful gem that takes you into the art district of Dubai. Your senses will be wowed by the great mix of art galleries, restaurants, and arthouse cinemas.

The island is wild; waterfalls cascade down steep mountainsides, valley floors are covered in gigantic ferns, and rivers wind their way to the coast. You don't often get to experience the untouched remoteness of a place like you do when exploring the interior of Tahiti. Tahiti hiking is simply awesome! Here are our 3 favorite hikes.

There’s something so mesmerizing about the little town of Banff that attracts over 4 million people every year. Maybe it’s the breathtaking views, or maybe it’s the smell of that crisp air between the mountain ridges, or maybe it’s something that simply can’t be explained in words. Whatever it is, I promise you this, a day in Banff is one you will never be able to forget.

Merthyr Tydfil, at the head of the Taff Valley and only 35 minutes from Cardiff, is ideally placed to explore Brecon Beacons National Park but also has some delights of its own.

It’s Sunday morning in New York City and you’re on the hunt for a brunch-worthy restaurant that will wow your taste buds in a neighborhood that also piques your curiosity during a post-brunch stroll. At NYC’s northernmost point, you’ll discover both in Riverdale, one of the city’s best kept secrets and a top culinary scene in the Bronx. 

​ The city of Coeur d’Alene is perhaps best known for its location on the shoreline of Lake Coeur d’Alene, in the northern part of Idaho. The small city is a favorite travel destination for many, whether for swimming and boating in the lake, hiking and climbing any of Idaho’s Rocky Mountains, or engaging with the city's small-town culture. 

Turtuk, a town in the Leh-Ladakh Union Territory of India, is a place from the dreams. This mountainous terrain is blessed with gushing rivers and trees so tall they seem to be kissing the pleasant blue sky.