Canberra is one of the most unique capital cities I’ve ever seen. Most capital cities are sprawling, full of high rises and brutal traffic. But Canberra, which is smaller than both Sydney and Melbourne, retains the feel of small city while offering all the amenities of a bigger one.

In recent years, Canberra has developed a reputation for its dining scene and its breweries as well as several wineries in the suburbs. You definitely won’t want to skip a meal in Canberra! As a city with a sizable student population, Canberra has an energetic, youthful vibe. Even many of its major buildings are young. The striking New Parliament House was just built in 1988 and several other important government buildings were built in the mid- to late twentieth century. Many of these buildings, Francesco and I found, are located around Lake Burley Griffin, which makes a great spot for viewing the city. You can also see (and hear!) the National Carillon, an enormous bell tower that is one of the world’s largest musical instruments. Speaking of musical instruments…Canberra also provided Francesco with the chance to try out his awesome skills on a giant outdoor xylophone!