Word of Mouth Philadelphia: Food + Drink

From beer-boiled bagels to spit-fired meats, our picks for great feeds in the City of Brotherly Love

by Mark Likosky Philadelphia seems to get a bad rap from many people who visit the city for work and get stuck in Center City with no idea where to go for lunch. The reality is Philly—as one of the largest cities in the US—is brimming with great places to eat, if you know where to look. From burgers to brisket and matzo soup, here …

Word of Mouth: Lyon, France

Our introductory guide to France's gastronomic capital

France’s second-largest metropolitan area may be well-known for its historic lights festival every December—but when the sun rises, Lyon will take you by surprise. Stumble upon ancient Roman amphitheaters dating to 15 BC (which transform into an outdoor concert venue every summer for the Nuits de Fourvière festival); its historic Renaissance district, named Vieux Lyon and the newly developed Confluence area featuring 21st century architectural …

The Optimal US Road Trip

Self proclaimed “data tinkerer” Randal Olson has computed the optimal road trip across the United States. Using an algorithm that he previously applied to finding the best search path for locating Waldo in a “Where’s Waldo” book, Olson targeted must-see national natural landmarks, parks, historical sites and monuments all within the contiguous 48 states. The result is a 9.33 day-long, 13,699 mile drive that stops …