At JG Black Book, we get the intimidation factor of navigating a brand new city without the comforting voice of a local friend, a tour leader, or your loyal GPS. In the past couple of years, however, we've been turning to City Walks as our trusty travel guides and navigation saviors. With these brilliant deck of cards- each deck of 50 representing a city around the world- we've been led to the cutest cantinas, the most glorious gardens, and the chicest of shops. Each card outlines a self-guided walking adventure, with a detailed map on the front and information on the back filled with insider tips. And the best part: you go at your pace, whenever you'd like, however you'd like!

City Walks-Paris with Kids

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While rich in its own regal history, London's hodge podge of ethnic cultures makes it one of the most colorful all-in-one European escapes. This couldn't be more true as the city approaches summer and explodes with exciting excuses to be outside. From phenominal fresh food markets, to outdoor theatre productions and flower shows, we've joined forces with JG Black Book partner, London's Eccleston Square Hotel, to round up the city's top summer attractions (aside from Princess Kate's baby bump, that is!): 

Ottolenghi.

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Although we're still a solid two months from the official first day of summer, we at JG Black Book like to get a head start on everything we do and creating our summer playlist is no exception. Whether sun bathing solo at your local park, beach hopping on a weekend getaway, or hosting a rooftop dinner with friends, be sure to add some of these warm weather jams to your summer playlist:

 Shake your groove thangs!

-the JG Black Book team

After yesterday's Earth Day celebration, we at JG Black Book have been reflecting on ways in which we can fully follow an eco-friendly travel model. Whether roughing it in the wilderness or lounging on warm Carribean sands, reducing our carbon footprints is always a possibility. If you're like us and count down the days till your next chance to discover another part of this wonderful world, a world which we couldn't imagine without all of its natural beauty, check out the following eco-freindly travel products here:

Water Powered Travel Alarm Clock

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At JG Black Book, while we love the romance of New York City blanketed in snow, come late March we are more than ready to kiss Frosty the Snowman bye-bye and usher in the Easter Bunny. In honor of the warm weather to come, we've gathered a few favorite festivals to get you out of your monotonous routine and into the fresh NYC spring air. Whether amongst kilted bag-pipe players or lower east side art lovers, press pause on errand-running and e-mail checking to enjoy an afternoon escape in your very own city:

Tartan Week

- Scottish culture festival: April 3rd-12th

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An awesome travel blog can yield some of the most inspiring content online. If you're like us at JG Black Book, you want in on the action. What's the funkiest undiscovered South East Asian city, the most unusual European dining experience, or the ultimate South American beach getaway? For those of us non-nomads, the following bloggers provide a beautiful glimpse into the world of expert adventure, motivating us to gear up for our next vibrant voyage. Check out five of our favorite travel blogs here and follow them for your daily around-the-world digest:

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Last year JG Black Book intern Paloma Aelyon hit water bottle gold when dining at the uber innovative foody heaven, de Culinaire Werkplaats, in Amsterdam. When her water arrived in a transparent blue plastic cylinder, sleek and stylish, she had to know where she could get her hands on one of her own. The owners of the restaurant kindly directed her to Join the Pipe, an organization determined to build the longest pipeline in the world, exponentially increasing the bottle's awesome-factor. Read more about Join The Pipe's mission, product, and progress today on the Black Blog of Travel and get your own beautiful bottle here in time for World Water Day this Friday:

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At JG Black Book, we know all kinds of travelers who pack in all kinds of ways. Whether you're a planner who sushi-rolls each article of clothing to pack it most efficiently or a spontaneous jet setter who tosses outfits from closet to suitcase, you've experienced that big fat Uh-Oh moment. That moment when you are much too far from home and there is simply no turning back. Your electric toothbrush, your bikini, your phone charger, your stuffed animal, or even your child—hopefully this only happens to McCaulay Culkin in Home Alone—sit at home, sadly neglected as you take off for a distant land.

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At JG Black Book we're always searching for music from another corner of the world to flow through our earphones and transport us to a different time zone. Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, this week's discovery has us contagiously head-bopping, hip-swerving, and shoulder-rolling to a colorfully sensual soundtrack about love and loss. Fusing pop, r&b, funk, soul, and reggae, Asa (pronounced Asha), gets listeners into a feel good groove with her new album, Beautiful Imperfection. Check out our favorite track, Why Can't We, here:

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At JG Black Book, we believe that the next best thing to traveling is participating in a forum that allows us to share our adventures with others. In addition to mantaining the amazing high that follows us back from a trip to Uruguay's southern coast or Italy's capital of couture,  engaging in the world of online blogging opens doors to the most authentic up-to-date travel tips and ideas. That being said, choosing which of the gazillion travel blogs to follow can be dangerously dizzying, so we've come up with five of our favorites to quench your thirst for global getaways:

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