I’m originally from Fort Worth, Texas, but I left the state before I really got to chance to explore it. So recently when I got invited to attend a media event put on by Fort Worth CVB, I was excited to learn what was there to see and do in this city. Plus, with hearing what my parents remembered from their time there (as more of a rural area), how much Fort Worth has changed (and boomed).

Here is a sample of what’s happening in this city:

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. The ladies of the Western frontier get to shine here, and they’ll have even more room to do so in fall of 2016. Renovations of the museum’s second floor are underway, as part of an extensive plan that kicked off this past May, but you’re still able to visit. There is an art gallery that displays a rotating showing of 100 moving pieces of photos and videos of noted cowgirls – publicly well known or not but still worthy – on view. For example, did you know that the Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female Supreme Court judge, has some nifty ranching credentials under her belt? This museum is located in the Fort Worth Cultural District, where it’s joined alongside other noteworthy art museums and the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

JFK The Opera. Before JFK’s fateful trip to Dallas, the President and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy arrived at Texas in Forth Worth. Air Force One landed at Fort Worth Carswell air force base (where my dad was stationed and got to see the plane come in). Now, the Fort Worth Opera is marking this presidential visit through commissioning of a new opera that focuses on one night during Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy’s visit here. JFK The Opera makes its world premiere on April 23, 2016.

Trinity River Vision Project. This expansion project involving Texas’ longest river is set to connect various neighborhoods directly to the Trinity River to introduce a recreational/public gathering area. Another neat idea is Panther Island Pavilion, a planned outdoor entertainment venue that will feature a waterfront stage for performances. A sand beach is also to be added to give public access to Trinity River for waterside activities like boating.

Near Southside District. Next to the downtown area, this district has been becoming a restaurant row with more than 20 new dining establishments and bars in the past year and a half. Specialty shops are featured as well. There is also a distillery here called TreyMark Black-Eyed Vodka, which is said to hold tastings of their vodka made from black-eyed peas – apparently a first of its kind.

Lonesome Dove Reunion and Trail. If you’re a fan of mini-series, you might want to make a trek to Fort Worth next year. Along with a major gala called the Lonesome Dove Reunion featuring cast members like Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duvall on March 31, 2016, at River Ranch in the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Lonesome Dove Trail features various exhibits at a number of museums on everything from cattle to costumes over the course of the early part of next year.

Photo credit: YourSingapore

Singapore marketed its 50th year of nationhood in August, but its Golden Jubilee is carrying over into September with a variety of events put on by Singapore Tourism Board and held throughout New York City. It’s an opportunity to learn more about this Malaysian city without needing a passport and plane ticket. But hurry, it wraps up this Sunday!

Culinary
Various restaurants have put together special menus or add-on menu items of Singaporean dishes or drinks worth trying. From now through September 27,  Singapore Restaurant Week has participating eateries offering everything from fish and chicken dishes to cocktails. They include Andaz 5th Avenue, The Meatball Shop, The Red Cat, and Delicatessen. At its Madison Square Park location, Shake Shack is serving up a special beverage called Onde Onde Shake now through September 27. Its recipe takes traditional Malaysian sweet rice dumplings and turns them in to a shake format. And in NYC’s Flatiron District, now September 27, a pop-up venue called Singapore Hawker Pop-up will dispense Singapore style street food by K.F Seetoh.

Visual Arts
One big feature is Singapore: Inside Out, an artistic exhibition on view in Madison Square Park now through September 27. It’s a showcase of multi-sensory creative experiences designed by various Singaporean artists and performers. And if you walk along Fifth Avenue toward Bergdorf Goodman, find in the luxury department store’s windows, pieces by Singaporean photographer, John Clang until October 6. There is also a number of theatrical and musical performances as well.

Toronto, Canada can make for a good weekend or holiday weekend destination, particularly if you’re based in the United States and where you’re coming from. For getting to Toronto, your two options involve driving (more so if you’re near New York State or overall the US/Canadian border) or flying (to/from two airports).

As for what to do in Toronto, your options can be pretty spread out. From hockey to history, artsy to culinary, there’s a lot to do in this faceted city. From taking a recent weekend trip, here are my suggestions on what to see in three days.

Hockey Hall of Fame
Toronto has its professional sports teams — Blue Jays for baseball, FC for soccer, and Raptors for basketball — but hockey (Maple Leafs) makes the goal at this museum. Non-hockey fans can learn a lot about its history of this rink sport, which displays jerseys and other gear by greats such as Canadian’s Wayne Gretzky. It’s also where the Stanley Cup is kept along with other trophies. And the museum’s location is different too — on the lower level of a shopping mall.

CN Tower
When completed in the mid-seventies, the CN Tower was once both the world’s tallest tower and free standing structure. A general ticket takes you up the glass elevator straight up 1,136 feet – or 346 m – to its Lookout Level. My friend and I decided to shell out more cash for extra admission to the Skypod, which takes you up an additional 329 feet to another lookout spot. The tower’s 360 Restaurant can be a bit pricey but its all-around window views are pretty nice. The very brave can go on the EdgeWalk, which leads them on a harnessed walk around on the outside of the tower.

Toronto Islands
From the downtown area, catch the ferry or a water taxi to get to this collection of small islands neighboring Lake Ontario and get a glimpse of Toronto’s skyline. My friend and I explore on section of these islands with walkways to a pier and along various paths. From what I’ve read, among these islands you’ll also find an amusement park, a children’s garden, a petting farm and the Gibraltar Lighthouse.

Fort York
It might be odd for a military fort to co-exist among modern-day buildings and a highway, but this National Landmark stands on the place where today’s Toronto was founded. At the times of its construction, the set of fortifications was built to safeguard the area from a potential naval attack – from the United States. The fort also was battered by forces during the War of 1812 and 1813 but was rebuilt a year later to hold off American forces.

St. Lawrence Market
Unfortunately for me, the Saturday of our Memorial Day Weekend I planned to visit this food market it was closed (check hours as it is open at times). I ended up eating at Paddington’s Pump, a restaurant next to the market, but I got to peek inside of it. With a history going back two centuries, the inside of this walk-through place has three different buildings that service specific things like merchants or offices. South Market is where specialty vendors sells fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, grains, baked goods and dairy products.

Kensington Market
St. Lawrence Market may be about tradition, but Kensington Market is more trendy. The scene around this area is like hipster meeting hippie. This Bohemian district has more of an urban feel with a collection of health food stores, tea/coffee shops and eateries ranging from perhaps a pizza joint and vegan bakery to a bagel shop and a store selling flavored popcorn. Mixed in between places to dine, find places to shop such as clothing boutiques or a used record store.

Art Gallery of Ontario
As every major city has its share of museums, Toronto has a number of check out. We ended up seeing the Art Gallery of Ontario, which along with a neat acronym contains quite a collection of Canadian art. More specifically, it holds the works of a specific set of Canadian artists called the Group of Seven who focused on capturing their country’s landscape on canvas. There is also a children’s wing, where young visitors can appreciate art. Aside from AGO, consider the Royal Ontario Museum, which has an assortment of cultural and nature history displays. And the Bata Shoe Museum is all about footwear through the ages.

Casa Loma
It’s a climb to get to Casa Loma, but this hilltop Gothic mansion is a fine example of a private home built to be a show place. Once owned by a financier named Henry Mill Pellatt and wife before the First World War, the costly project ended up being completed for then a whopping $3,500,000. But with hitting a financial slump, the Pellatts couldn’t afford to stay. They had to leave their home after not even living there for 10 years. After they moved out, the castle has had other uses by the Canadian military and as a film set. Remnants of high-end living are still displayed. Definitely get down to the lower level and follow a tunnel area to get to stables where antique cars like a Ford Model T are stored.