Since as far back as I can remember, I have always had wanderlust. A desire to travel the world and see all the amazing places I had grown up learning about in school, and hearing the stories of how cities have transformed throughout history. It’s a small wonder I didn’t take my first overseas trip until I was 21, and I haven’t stopped since!
Our understanding of cities is built on storytelling
Of course, the focus of those trips has changed over time as I’ve grown and my interests evolved. Where once I may have sought out all the famous landmarks I had only seen in art and architectural history books, now every trip has a slightly more mobility and urban enthusiast angle to it. Together, my husband Chris and I search out all the stories of transformation, all the ways that cities are changing to realise more vibrant, social, and community-centred spaces, and documenting them in photographs, video, and words.
These stories have resonated with people who also love visiting these types of places and experiencing the joy of immersing themselves in a possibility becoming a reality. Urbanists like us that travel to cities not simply to check famous must-see’s off their list, but to be inspired by the potential of what our urban spaces can become with some creativity, a little imagination, and a lot of local pride.
Currating stories to inspire new ways to travel
After growing requests and interest, I have created the “This City’s Story” series to highlight the places I get to travel, sharing the stories of urban transformations that are shifting the way visitors and locals experience the city. The idea is to take some of the guesswork out of trip planning for fellow urbanists, with notable stops that piqued our interest, projects that have changed the urban landscape, and stories that made this urban mobility nerd excited for the future.
This series will capture moments in time, because the best thing about positive transformations is that they are on a continuum and bound to change or evolve over time. This City’s Story will share stories about public spaces of all kinds – pilot projects, permanent transformations, and everything in between. About streets and pathways that make walking, cycling, and staying a joyful experience, and of course public transport content for all my transit fans – trams of grass anyone?
A sprinkle of personal favourites
Travel is about more than just sightseeing. When it makes sense, I will be sure to add some non-urbanist highlights when something in particular stands out. For example, anyone who knows me knows that food is ALWAYS part of any travel story for me, so from time to time I will include tips of places that served some tasty eats I would suggest not missing.*
Restaurants, hotels, museums, events that made the trip special will be sure to come up, and I’m happy to inspire a well-rounded cultural experience.
*Just a note for my omnivore friends, as a seasoned vegetarian, all recommendations will be for veggie-friendly places, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking them out!
The stories are still being written
In the coming months I will share stories of cities I have visited in the past couple of years that have long stood out as remarkable. But as I continue to visit places for the first time, or revisit an old favourite, I will continually seek out the stories still waiting to be written.
My hope is This City’s Story will inspire you to go off the beaten path and discover something new and unexpected on your adventures. No two cities are the same, and the joy of travel is not just new experiences, but also finding places that can become the inspiration for a new project back home. I believe travel is one of the best ways to uncover interesting ideas and to see the potential to create positive change everywhere. Hope you enjoy the stories as much as I do!
Do you think you city has a story waiting to be told? Contact me with your ideas!
Modacity Creative 
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