At home, I lead a fairly down-to-earth lifestyle.
Like most people, my days are typically grounded, filled with the normal routine of taking care of commitments and ticking to-do lists.
But get me on a trip, and it's a whole different story.
Without fail, when I'm in a new city, I get as high as I possibly can .... so I can take in the sweet views.
The very first thing I did on my first day in Stockholm last month was to take a stroll on the Monteliusvägen walking path, where I was greeted with unbelievable views of the Swedish capital's Old Town and surrounding waterscape.
It made things official: I was in Stockholm.
View of Stockholm from the Monteliusvägen scenic path. (Photo Credit: Scott Hartbeck)
The next night? It was the Freyja + Söder rooftop bar & restaurant, where I sipped a can of craft beer against the skyline of the city at sunset.
Last November in Innsbruck, Austria? It was a ride on the Nordkette cable car in order to enjoy sweeping views of the city below and the surrounding mountains sporting a small dusting of early-season snow.
In Rome a week later, since half the reason I chose to stay in the Trastevere neighborhood was the panoramic views of the Eternal City from Gianicolo Hill, you better believe I scurried right up there around sunset on my first evening in the city.
I'm going to be in London for a couple of nights next month and I'm already scouting out places with a view, a list that includes the Sky Garden, which is the city's highest public garden and apparent owner of stunning vistas of the city.
The Basilica of Sacre Coeur in Paris. Rooftop bars perched above the bright lights of the Vegas Strip. Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. Gellert Hill in Budapest. Mount Tampa in Brasov. Park Güell in Barcelona.
These are just a few of the other places where I've gotten up high over the years.
View of Budapest from Gellert Hill. (Photo Credit: Scott Hartbeck)
No matter where I go, visiting a rooftop bar, scenic overlook, tower or any other tourist attraction that offers sweeping views is paramount on my list of things to do. Heck, I've even been known to climb to the top of a cathedral to get a panoramic hit.
And I'm not alone. No, really, I'm always surrounded by lots of other people soaking in the views.
How often did you seek out a vantage point? I bet it's more than you realize and I bet you love the buzz it gives you.
It's often said that seeing a city from above allows you to "get your bearings", but I just think it's really, really fun. Not to mention a fantastic backdrop for photos.
Whether it's at the end of an elevator ride or a climb up a steep set of stairs, there's a moment beyond compare when a metropolis or remarkable landscape first comes into view.
It's just so, "travel-y".
There's just something about seeing an unfamiliar place from above and how it crystallizes the travel experience. It's a delight for the eyes and provides the perfect occasion to celebrate the fact that you're lucky enough to be standing right there, right then.
In other words, that feeling we go traveling for in the first place.
See you up there.
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