Montauk, Long Island. Human experiments? Government conspiracies? The Montauk Monster? Time Travel? Netflix ‘Stranger Things’….

Barcelona was definitely a bucket list destination for me and it did not disappoint. It is the vibrant and historical home of the most stunning architectural styles ranging from Gothic structures to Gaudi wonders. Barcelona is cosmopolitan and has an international feel with plenty of great restaurants, tapas, nightlife, parks and public areas.

Some 600,000 permanent residents call Green-Wood Cemetery home. Inspired in part by the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, Highgate Cemetery in London and Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts, it was founded in 1838 by Henry Evelyn Pierrepont and designed by David Bates Douglass, and was one of the first rural cemeteries in America.

Beauport, also known as the Sleeper-McCann House, was the shingle-style summer home of one of America’s first professional interior designers, Henry Davis Sleeper.

Sometimes called “the quintessential New England town” or “the prettiest small town in America”, Woodstock is a charming destination with year-round activities. Walking the tree-lined streets of Central and Elm Streets you get a glimpse into the town’s history through its beautiful architecture while enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding countryside and the Green Mountains.

William Gillette was a successful actor and playwright mostly known for his portrayals of Sherlock Holmes on stage. Gillette originated and popularized many common features of the character: the cap and cape, curved pipe, magnifying glass and the phrase “elementary, my dear fellow (which later evolved to “elementary, my dear Watson”. He took his money and ran for the hills overlooking the Connecticut River where he built his 24-room mansion, called the Seventh Sister, on 122 acres.

This small historic Victorian-style town, nestled in the Lehigh Mountains, is definitely worth exploring. The town’s main commercial streets are Broadway and Race Street with charming old buildings, some maintained, some restored. The coal mining and railroad town was founded in 1818, and named Mauch Chunk (derived from the Indian words meaning “bear mountain”).

The 50-acre Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park is located in Canandaigua, New York. The historic park contains the former summer mansion, a collection of period garden architecture, nine formal and informal gardens, statuary, and a greenhouse complex. The property is a gift to New York State from philanthropists Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson.

I thought it would be cool to just do an “East Side” post to show the true diversity of the Big Apple.

A look at the West Side of Manhattan, showing the diversity of the Big Apple’s West Side.

Did you ever notice a castle on an island in the Hudson River between Cold Spring and Beacon, NY? Well, I did, and it piqued my interest, and I wanted to know more.

The event, the largest art parade in the United States, has no ethnic, religious or commercial associations and includes marching bands, antique cars and floats, along with the scantily-clad aquatic oddities.

Frederick Gilbert Bourne was a self-made millionaire who resided at the Dakota Apartments in Manhattan and had a 1,000-acre estate in Oakdale, Long Island, called Indian Hall. Bourne became the fifth president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which is where the current name “Singer Castle” comes from. While the Bourne’s summered here, they called the castle, “The Towers” and the island, “Dark Island”.

Edith Wharton was part of “Olde New York” society, and is credited with establishing interior design as a profession in the United States. She was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction for her book, Age of Innocence. She believed that good architectural expression included order, scale, and harmony.

When I took the ferry from the airport via the Grand Canal, which runs through the heart of the city, I started to fall in love with the enchanting city, and knew this bucket list destination was not going to disappoint. Venice is incredibly unique with 117 islands, 150 canals, over 400 bridges and no cars. Venice, Italy is mostly known for its canals, but I will tell you it is an architectural photo walk. The city’s architecture reflects so many influences including Byzantine, Islamic, and Gothic.

George C. Boldt, a millionaire associated with the Waldorf Astoria and the Bellevue-Stratford Hotels in New York City, built this 120-room castle to display his love for his wife, Louise, on picturesque Hart Island, which he re-named Heart Island. Not a single detail or expense was spared in creating the grand castle with tunnels, Italian gardens, playhouse and powerhouse. Construction was ordered to start in 1900 on Heart Island in the Saint Lawrence River, and part of the Thousand Islands.

Heighten your Happy Hour experience - literally - getting just a little bit closer to the sun or stars with your favorite libation. A rooftop invites you to slow down, relax and enjoy the breathtaking city skyline, or an awesome sunset. Whether it is a lively, dynamic atmosphere, a lounge vibe, or you’re just looking to catch some rays, New York City rooftops have it all. This is just a sample of the many rooftop lounges and bars in the Big Apple.