Green Bay to Chicago: A Day On Lake Michigan

Oneika Raymond is off to Berlin's neighborhood of Kreuzberg, a thriving multicultural district just south of Mitte, for the final stop on her journey. There, she meets up with Dalad Kambhu, the chef and owner of Michelin-starred Thai restaurant, Kin Dee. Together, they take a walking tour through Kreuzberg to get to know the district, and its large and growing collection of women-led eateries. 

Oneika and Dalad meet each other in front of Kitten Deli, a women-owned breakfast joint that serves Israeli and Middle Eastern fare near to the Landwehr canal. The popular dining spot is located in Kreuzkölln, a small, inviting pocket of Berlin nestled between Kreuzberg and Neukölln that’s become known for its own bustling artistic community. It’s also the perfect gateway into Kreuzberg, just north across the canal.  

Dalad leads Oneika to one of the many walking bridges that cut across the Landwehr canal, stopping to admire the Turkish Market that runs alongside the canal every Tuesday and Friday. Here, visitors can find plenty: spices, fresh eggs, jars of olives, Anatolian dishes and even ornate textiles. It’s a true one-stop shop.

Along the way, we catch up with Dalad’s friend, Ash Lee, owner of Chungking Noodles, a casual spot for spicy, hand-pulled noodles in Kreuzberg. Ash helped Dalad take the leap to move to Berlin and start Kin Dee. Together, the two are devoted to helping other women find their footing in the city’s food industry. 

Then, Dalad and Oneika head into Kreuzberg. While strolling its tree-lined sidewalks, Oneika takes in the neighborhood’s vibrant street-art, plentiful greenspaces, and vintage stores. In no time, we arrive at Markthalle Neun, Dalad’s go-to spot to source local produce for her restaurant. 

But first, the two make a beeline for the food stalls that fill the market hall with delicious smells. It’s lunchtime, and Dalad brings Oneika to one of her favorite spots in the market: Manti Berlin, a women-led, Turkish food stall that serves pillowy, ravioli-like dumplings called ‘manti’. Satisfied, and ready to continue their tour, Dalad and Oneika cut across Markthalle Neun to grab some vegetables for the restaurant — and then, they’re off to Kin Dee, their last stop of the day.

Once at Kin Dee, Dalad and Oneika relax into one of the restaurant's repurposed tables for a sit down conversation about Dalad’s work in Berlin, and her hopes for the city’s burgeoning food scene. Dalad shares how she’s bringing the “spirit” of Thai flavors and cooking techniques to local and sustainable ingredients. And she offers advice to visitors looking to support the diverse, women-led eateries they love and want to see more of.   

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from select episodes on our Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond dials into Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, where historian Sherman ‘Dilla’ Thomas takes us on a bus tour through the birthplace of gospel music and Black History Month located just four miles south of the city’s downtown. 

Bronzeville has quickly become the most popular neighborhood tour that Dilla offers through his bus tour company, Chicago Mahogany Tours, thanks in part to the viral TikToks that Dilla makes to illuminate the history and contributions of Bronzeville, formerly known as the Black Metropolis. 

On his tour, Dilla brings the energy of his TikToks, and the stories of Bronzeville, to life. We start out on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, a road steeped in history. The 14-mile long street was renamed for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, making Chicago the first city in the country to name a street after the slain civil rights icon. 

As we drive the thoroughfare, we learn how Chicago’s Black community created its own thriving business and artistic community within its boundaries — which brings us to our next stop on the tour.   

We roll through the Blues district on 47th street, home to the spirit and sounds of the electric Chicago Blues that filled this nightlife corridor in the 1930s. Along the way, Dilla points out the home of jazz great Louis Armstrong, one of a handful of jazz legends who lived in Bronzeville. We end our musical leg of the tour at the birthplace of gospel music, the National Museum of Gospel Music.

For the first time on the tour, we step off the bus at our next stop. We find ourselves standing in front of an impressive monument dedicated to Ida B. Wells Barnett called the “Light of Truth”. The 35-foot tall structure, built to honor the journalist and civil rights activist, is Chicago’s first monument officially designated to a Black woman.

We end the tour at Bronzeville Winery, a neighborhood staple helping to shape a 21st-century version of the metropolis we just toured. Co-owner Cecilia Cuff shares how the winery supports community, from its wine list, which is made up of ​​75 percent minority or women-owned bottles, to the local artists, musicians and staffers it works with daily. 

Then, Dilla heads to the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center for a full-circle conversation with Oneika. They discuss the impact that Bronzeville has had, not only on Chicago, but globally, and talk about the history that's continuing to be made here today. 

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from select episodes on our Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond heads to Little River, Miami, a creative hub north of downtown and across the bay from Miami Beach. There, she’s joined by local entrepreneur Isabella “Izzy” Acker for a driving tour of the area where Isabella launched Tigre Sounds, a global music discovery platform with a focus on Latin artists. Through it, Isabella hosts live Tigre Sessions, or music events in lesser-known neighborhoods and venues across the city.  

Oneika meets up with Isabella at Sweat Records, an independent record store in Little Haiti and a go-to location for music lovers. Oneika has recently moved to Miami and made it her home base, so she’s excited to hop in the car with Isabella to get a feel for a trio of neighborhoods that are new to her: Little Haiti, Little River, and Miami Modern, or MiMo for short. They’re all within a five minute drive of each other, and home to an exciting creative community of artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs. 

Oneika and Isabella set off on a driving tour up Little Haiti’s main corridor, Northeast 2nd Avenue. Along the way, Isabella points out mainstays like the Little Haiti Cultural Center, Chef Creole, and the B&M Market. From there, they venture into Little River, where the buildings begin to look more industrial and Isabella shares tips for different music venues to check out, like Understory and Helmet One. 

The final neighborhood in the tour is MiMo, an area along Biscayne Boulevard known for its unique style of architecture featuring curved walls, modern angles, and geometric patterns. You’ll find all sorts of fusion restaurants on the thoroughfare as well, including Luna Pasta e Dolci, an Argentine-Italian restaurant which boasts some of the tastiest empanadas in the city. 

Oneika and Isabella grab a bite at Caracas Bakery, a Venezuelan-owned and French-inspired café serving up pastries and coffee with a Venezuelan twist. There, they reflect on the diversity of the neighborhood and the importance of supporting local businesses.

They end the day by sitting down to discuss how Isabella is committed to doing her part to build experiences beyond Miami’s beaches that both locals and visitors can enjoy – and why live music and supporting Latin artists is such a big part of that commitment. 

They talk about the present and the future of the Latin music scene in Miami, the live music venues to support across the city, and how Isabella is raising awareness for Latin music in Miami and beyond through Tigre Sounds.

Thanks to Tigre Den for providing a Tigre Session recording of Miluhska performing Loba for this episode.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from select episodes on our Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond dials into South Central, Los Angeles, where local cycling enthusiast Michelle Moro takes us for a tour in her beloved hometown. Born and raised in South Central, Michelle knows her neighborhood inside and out - but she still takes the time to explore like a traveler when she documents her bike rides on her TikTok, @miche1ada. 

To showcase the past and present of historic South Central, Michelle hops on her glittery blue bike for a ride up South Central Avenue, one of the longest roads in the city. She begins the tour at the intersection of South Central and East Slauson Avenue, where she quickly points out the Snack Shack, a red and yellow stand that’s been serving burgers and fries since 1941. 

Michelle’s first stop on the tour is the original site of the Dunbar Hotel, where jazz legends like Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington stayed when they performed next door at Club Alabam between the 1920’s and 1940’s. Today the hotel is a home for elderly community members, though its historic brick facade, lobby, and grand entryway have been preserved in recognition of the Dunbar’s significance to the neighborhood. 

Michelle pays tribute to the rich history of the avenue before moving on to grab breakfast at Delicious at the Dunbar, a restaurant serving a mix of soul food and Mexican specialties. From there, she sets off on foot down Central Avenue to take in the community-informed murals being installed by South Central Arts as part of the Green Alleys Network. 

While there, Michelle bumps into artist José Cruz and South Central Arts founder Will Flores, who share how the project is both inspired by and reflective of the community that call South Central home.

To end the day, Oneika and Michelle sit down to discuss the benefits of slowing down to really get to know a place and how local organizations are helping Los Angeles visitors and locals alike do just that. 

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to 

About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from select episodes on our Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond travels to the heart of Peckham, a bustling neighborhood in South London just a few miles southeast of the Thames River. There, she joins local author Jendella Benson for a walking tour of the district she holds dear. Peckham is where Jendella set her debut novel, Hope and Glory, in order to pay tribute to the town and its Nigerian-British community.

Oneika meets up with Jendella at Peckham Rye station to kick off the tour of Rye Lane, Peckham’s main thoroughfare and the place to shop its local markets, dine on international flavors, and people watch. No matter the day of the week, Rye Lane is buzzing thanks to its numerous markets, food vendors, and beauty salons.  

Then, Jendella takes Oneika to Peckhamplex, a cinema tucked back from Rye Lane. With its £4.99 tickets, it’s a staple for a casual night out. They also view Peckham Portraits, a collection of images of iconic Black British actors changing the face of cinema.

From there, Oneika and Jendella duck into a traditional indoor Peckham market, where they marvel at the textiles, imported peanuts, and shea butter. It’s truly one-stop shopping, and indicative of the entrepreneurial spirit of the neighborhood. 

The last stop on the tour is Peckham Palms, a modern interpretation of Peckham’s indoor markets, and a Black-women led mall that’s supporting local innovation. Peckham is a Black-beauty hub, and the Palms provides affordable rent and fosters community. 

They end the day at The Flygerians, a café-in-residence at the Palms run by local sisters Jess and Jo Edun. While chowing down on Nigerian street food specialties like jollof rice bowls and efo riro, Oneika and Jendella discuss how Peckham inspired Hope and Glory, how reading can be one of the most authentic ways to travel, and Jendella’s best advice to engage with the community when you visit Peckham.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from select episodes on our Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Host Oneika Raymond takes the A-line up to Washington Heights, a loud, vibrant Dominican neighborhood in New York City, to join local Hector Espinal for a walking tour of his hometown. Hector is the co-founder of We Run Uptown, the first-ever running group in uptown Manhattan, and the perfect guide to get to know the streets of Washington Heights.     

Oneika joins Hector at Locksmith Bar, a popular local watering hole and the meeting point for We Run Uptown’s weekly Monday runs, before heading out to visit some of Hector’s favorite sights, restaurants and running routes in the area. 

To kick off the tour, Hector shows Oneika a local shortcut to avoid walking some of the steepest hills in all of Manhattan as they make their way to St. Nicholas Ave., a bustling thoroughfare at the heart of Washington Heights. St. Nicholas Ave. They stroll down the busy avenue towards 182nd St. to check out its famed street vendors, including Nidia Rivera, who’s been selling the Dominican dessert habichuelas con dulce for over 30 years. 

Then, Hector and Oneika stop for a traditional Dominican breakfast at La Casa del Mofongo. Over the meal, Hector and Oneika connect over their shared Caribbean roots, as Hector shares what it was like for him growing up in Washington Heights. We learn about la cultura of the neighborhood and its people, and the welcoming running culture that Hector’s helped create here. 

Hector and Oneika end the day at J. Hood Wright Park, a quiet pocket of Washington Heights with one of the best views of the George Washington Bridge, before taking off for a victory run to close out the tour.

To read full episodes of About the Journey and see photos from the day, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from a few of these trips on our Marriott Bonvoy Youtube channel.

What does it mean to truly know a city? About the Journey is a travel show about getting off the beaten path to better understand the places we visit. In Season 3, travel journalist and Marriott Bonvoy member Oneika Raymond visits lesser-known neighborhoods in six iconic cities across the world. With the help of locals who know their neighborhoods best, Oneika learns what makes these destinations one-of-a-kind: from the sights, sounds and flavors, to the hidden gems, and so much more.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

Oneika Raymond walks Castro Street with filmmaker and drag performer Joshua Grannell (he/him) on their way to opening night of Frameline, the largest and longest running queer film festival in the world.

The Castro is a historic San Francisco neighborhood which first became known as a hub for the Gay Civil Rights Movement of the 1970s. Oneika meets up with Joshua, or Peaches Christ, outside Queer A.F., a queer arts space dedicated to keeping LGBTQ+ artists in the Bay Area. It’s also the site of  Castro Camera, the former headquarters of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. Joshua takes Oneika on a tour down memory lane as they stroll Castro Street’s Rainbow Honor Walk, pointing out notable figures like disco singer Sylvester along the way. He reflects on how the neighborhood has changed since he moved to the enclave as an aspiring filmmaker in 1996, and points out one institution that continues to be a gathering place for the queer community: the famed Castro Theatre. 

Oneika and Joshua continue their conversation at Orphan Andy’s, a rainbow-themed greasy spoon that has been serving up late night eats since 1977. There, she learns more of the lesser-told history behind the city’s queer neighborhoods, like the newly designated Transgender District in the Tenderloin. Joshua also shares how he got his start as a drag queen, and why the Castro was the perfect neighborhood for him to foster that self-expression and launch his drag show, Midnight Mass. Of course, there are countless drag performances to choose from across the city, be it brunch at El Toro, cabaret at the Oasis, or seasonal shows at W San Francisco. 

They’ll wrap up the day by heading to the red carpet at Castro Theatre for Frameline and witness that cinematic magic come to life in the audience

Oneika Raymond dials into Vancouver's historic Chinatown to learn how local entrepreneur Carol Lee has been leading the charge to save the historic neighborhood. Carol is the chair and founder of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, and is dedicated to revitalizing the neighborhood without losing its invaluable cultural heritage.

Oneika learns about the history of the Chinese community in Vancouver, and how Chinatown became home for many after the Canadian Pacific Railroad was completed in 1885. While Chinatown has experienced a gradual decline in the last 20 years, Vancouver locals have a special place in their hearts for the area and are banding together to help save it. And Carol is leading the charge. Examples of her work include building affordable housing and opening the first museum in Canada that shines a spotlight on the Chinese-Canadian experience. And as you’ll hear, she’s just getting started.

Along the way, Carol takes us on a tour of Chinatown. She points out the beauty of the early 20th century architecture, like the Lim Building, stops by the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, and reflects on the significance of the Millenium Gate. We also hear from the manager of her Hong Kong barbecue style restaurant, Chinatown BBQ, who shares Carol’s vision for harnessing the nostalgia of Chinatown of yesteryear while serving today’s diverse clientele. Carol also shares must-visit sites and eats with Oneika, including the lush Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens, the donuts at Mello, and dim sum at Jade Dynasty.

Oneika Raymond makes her way to Dallas, Texas on Juneteenth weekend for the legendary 33rd Annual Texas Black Invitational Rodeo to get to know Black cowboy culture and history, a part of the American story that often goes untold.  

From galloping horses and the hoots and hollers of the more than 300 competing Black cowboys and cowgirls to the reverential sound of the Black National Anthem performed by  Dallas local Angel White, we take you behind the scenes of one of the most popular rodeo events around. We’ll hear from Charles Hearn, the great-grandson of Cleo Hearn, also known as Mr. Black Rodeo, who founded the Cowboys of Color in 1971. He shares how he’s carrying forward his family’s legacy and shaping the new Black West. 

But first, we’ll make a stop at the African American Museum of Dallas to take a look back. Oneika sits down with Dr. Marvin Dulaney, the Deputy Director of the museum to hear the origins of the Black cowboy and understand why this history has largely been erased from popular Western media and public knowledge. Dr. Dulaney will also give us insight into what the rodeo means for the story of Dallas today. 

So dust off your boots and join us for an action-packed evening of barrel racing, bull riding, steer roping and storytelling.