| Masters of Travel |
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I've been everywhere, man
©iStockphoto.com/hanoded
Photo courtesy of CNN
Growing up in a modest household south of Boston, John King never ventured too far outside of New England. Today, he calls travel by far the biggest perk of his occupation. “I’ve been extraordinarily lucky in my work to have gone back to the places that are in the pages of history,” he says. King, whose new show, State of the Union, airs Sunday mornings on CNN, has traveled to more than 70 countries and covered two wars from the ground. Recently, his popularity skyrocketed with his use of the “magic wall,” an interactive touch-screen map that displays election results. We presented King with our own magic map, asking him to name the places he’d visit if it were as easy as the stroke of a finger. Here’s his ultimate itinerary. 1. San FranciscoWHY > “Community character, great food, and ample opportunity to walk.”STAY > The Huntington Hotel & Nob Hill Spa. Built in 1922 as an apartment building, its rooms are among the largest in town. VISIT > Take a side trip to the Viansa Winery, offering world-class Italian varietals. Adjacent to restored wetlands, the vineyard is an ideal spot for a picnic. 2. SeoulWHY > Sometimes regarded (and dismissed) as one of the last frontiers of the Cold War, South Korea’s capital offers much more than a first impression suggests.MUST DO > In the Itaewon neighborhood, have a suit tailored at Gabbu Town tailors. DINE > Stop at the Koreasun tea shop and drink it in. VISIT > Cheongwadae (“the house of blue roof tiles”), the president’s unofficial residence, provides a stark contrast to the facade of the Seoul skyline. 3. ShanghaiWHY > The pace of change. King calls China one of the “flashing lights on the globe” and believes it bears watching in the near future.MUST DO > See the life-size terra-cotta warriors in Xi’an. VISIT > Retrace China’s deep history at the Shanghai Museum. “To be a citizen of the United States is to be a baby in the world,” says King. “And I think we forget that sometimes.” 4. TokyoWHY > Its attraction is the resilience of the people, says King, who describes a striking contrast between the corporate mentality and “what seems like a very loose, playful younger mindset.”DINE > Whether traveling professionally or on vacation, King always seeks out everyday culture. Ask your concierge to recommend a noodle or sushi restaurant full of locals. VISIT > The Gardens at the Emperor’s Palace in Chiyoda. |
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