We're going to give it to you straight. There once was a time—not too long ago at all—that the north side Chicago neighborhood of Andersonville was known as an area where girls who like girls settled down and raised their kids and altogether made the area a desirable and safe place to stay forever. We're happy to report that the spirit of inclusiveness prevails, but a bloom of craft beer bars and brunch-happy restaurants have brought in a more mixed crowd and—dare we say it—tourists way tired of the Michigan Avenue crap.

Andersonville is where to come if you want to leisurely stroll while window shopping, sipping some excellent coffee and reminiscing about college with a friend you haven't seen in years. There will be occasional breaks to coo at babies in their strollers, pet Dachshunds in quilted tartan coats and impulse buy entire pieces of vintage furniture. God it's just so great when you really need to be in or are already in a warm and fuzzy mood, no matter the season.

Without further ado, our personally picked top spots to hit in Andersonville:]]> JetSetCD 2011-12-13T12:38:33-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/11/7/212012/418

Heading west for the winter? Join the club. For many, the lure of a season, a week, or even a weekend in the sunny part of California is irresistible.

When you land at LAX or SAN and emerge into the sun, it's time to get out and enjoy the weather. We advocate exploring new neighborhoods, getting a smoothie from a new shop and walking down a new street, sunglasses on.

Here's our own guides to five of our favorite California areas for warm-weather winter exploring:

· Encinitas
· Silverlake's Sunset Junction
· San Diego's North Park
· Downtown Los Angeles
· Coronado's Orange Avenue
]]> JetSetCD 2011-11-08T13:07:25-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/21/12815/7458

In contrast to the U.K.'s expanse of verdant countryside, Manchester is urban, industrial, and strikingly cold (in ambiance, that is, though this applies to weather as well). Yet, it's this hardened quality that makes up its personality and, for some, its appeal. Casual visitors hoping to immerse themselves in slick, cosmopolitan environs may walk away from a visit to Manchester feeling disheartened. It certainly isn't London-lite, even if there is a Harvey Nichols located in its city centre.

This isn't to say that Manchester is impossibly somber, however. There are areas of the city which exude friendliness and vibrancy, most notably the arts-friendly Northern Quarter, where we found ourselves most of Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

A hotbed of nouveau bohemianism (read: bourgeois bohemianism), the neighborhood is populated by intimate cafes, indie music-friendly bars, vintage boutiques galore, and attractive denizens with a love of organic cuisine and secondhand record shopping.]]> Heidi Atwal 2011-07-21T13:18:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/7/14/12035/6329

We're officially half-way through the summer, but that by no means puts a stop to summer travels. For anyone still staring at vacation dates in the upcoming warmer months, heat and crowds aren't a deterrent. To help you get around and make the most of any upcoming city trips, we've compiled a multitude of Neighborhood Guides.

It's our fun little series "Neighborhoods to Know and Go," and in it we walk you through our personal favorite places to eat, drink and plain chill out in areas we know very well, around the world.

Check 'em out:

· Jægersborggade in Copenhagen, Denmark
· The Old District of Bruges, Belgium
· Exmouth Market in London, UK
· Streeterville in Chicago, IL, USA
· Chinatown in Chicago, IL, USA
· Lincoln Square in Chicago, IL, USA
· Encinitas in California, USA
· Silverlake's Sunset Junction in California, USA
· San Diego's North Park in California, USA
· Downtown Los Angeles in California, USA
· Coronado's Orange Avenue in California, USA
· Brooklyn's DUMBO in New York, USA
· NYC's Astoria in New York, USA
]]> JetSetCD 2011-07-14T13:55:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/6/22/103619/505

This week, Jaunted contributor Heidi Atwal will guide you through a series of food and shopping-rich travels through Copenhagen, a quaint European city trafficked by many a bike and artsy hipster. Stay tuned for suggestions on where to eat, hang, drink, and what to see in the city.

Copenhagen's bounty of design shops, throngs of sharply dressed denizens cycling along city streets, and photographic evidence captured on CPH-centric blog The Locals point toward a simple fact: Danes live, breathe and bleed style. Designers like Henrik Vibskov and Malene Birger have attracted attention to Denmark's ever-expanding fashion industry, while guidebooks direct the retail hungry toward Strøget, Europe's longest pedestrian shopping thoroughfare.]]> Heidi Atwal 2011-06-22T11:30:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/4/5/121138/8646

The more we explore London, the more we're wont to wander off the beaten path. A recent trip to Oxford Circus reminded us how the city's most crowded areas are enough to rile up agoraphobic feelings in just about anyone, even locals.

Exmouth Market is a sweet pocket of Clerkenwell that boasts a rare village-y atmosphere. On a recent sunny (miraculous, we know) Sunday afternoon, the area was buzzing with hipster parents and their prams, tattooed creatives sipping on flat whites at Caravan and older couples enjoying a midday glass of Sauvignon Blanc at the Ambassador. With restaurants, independent boutiques and nary a conspicuous tourist in sight, it's a worthy place to spend a part of your day, perhaps before taking in a dance show at Sadler's Wells just down the road.]]> Heidi Atwal 2011-04-05T14:31:53-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/8/12/12742/3279

Encinitas, CA is a sleepy surf community a half-hour north of San Diego. Walk around the small downtown that centers around South Coast Highway 101, and the seemingly mandatory bathing-suit-and-flip-flops dress code tells you that this is a beach town. And that's why people come here—for the six gorgeous miles of Pacific coastline in North County (northern San Diego County).

You won't be overwhelmed by tourist attractions in Encinitas. There's not much here as far as shopping, mostly just tchotchke shops. This is a place to visit so you can kick back and enjoy the view. But between the sand, surf and picturesque places to unwind, you'll have plenty to do.]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-08-12T12:32:22-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/