36 Hours

36 Hours is a captivating and richly-informed travel show that aired on the Travel Channel in 2015. In partnership with The New York Times, each episode treats viewers to an exhilarating 36-hour journey in a different city around the world.

The show is built on the premise of the popular New York Times’ 36 Hours column which proposes the ultimate itineraries for spending 36 hours in various cities around the globe. In each segment of the series, the hosts arrive in a new city, where—with the aid of locally-based contributors of The New York Times—they have 36 hours to explore and chronicle the city's distinctive culture, cuisine, history, and local hot spots.

Hosted by Kristen Kish, a Top Chef winner, and Kyle Martino, a former professional soccer player for the U.S. national team, the dynamic duo brings a unique and entertaining perspective to each featured city. Kristen Kish, with her lively and charming presence, is primarily focused on exploring the local foods, its flavors, and how it reflects the city's character. Kyle Martino, on the other hand, targets the city’s sports, fitness, and local adventures while offering sterling humor and adventurous spirit.

Every episode lasts an hour and takes you to a different location, ranging from popular tourist destinations such as Berlin, Barcelona, Prague, Reykjavik, Istanbul, Copenhagen, and Portland, Oregon, to lesser-known cities that are worthy of exploration.

Much of the show's charm comes from its remit - it isn't about luxuriating in all a city can offer without any concern for the time. Instead, it’s an attempt to figure out the heart and soul of a place within a limited amount of time – the principle that a traveler can do justice to a city in merely a day and a half. This perspective gives the series a sense of urgency that propels each episode forward, : building the excitement as the viewer is taken on a whirlwind tour of each location.

One of the unique aspects of this series is how closely it works with The New York Times’ locally-based contributors. This close collaboration allows the show to provide a local's perspective on the best spots to visit, avoiding typical tourist traps, and giving viewers an immersive experience towards the city’s culture, from underground art scenes and music to local dining spots. These reveal hidden aspects of each city that casual travelers might typically miss out on.

In addition to everything else, 36 Hours strikes an excellent balance between sharing a wealth of informational content and delivering entertainment. The hosts’ chemistry, Kish’s culinary explorations, and Martino's adventurous streak contribute heavily to this aspect. Their individual backgrounds provide a fresh perspective compared to traditional travel shows, giving viewers a chance to see cities through food and sports lens.

36 Hours is indeed a fascinating travel documentary series that explores the best destinations across the globe. It is an excellent guide providing an immersive and detailed trajectory to tackle a city within a restricted timeline. The hosts’ yin-yang energy, coupled with the bounty of information from local contributors, makes it a unique take on travel programs.

Being more than a travel guide, 36 Hours connects viewers with the inherent spirit of each city, diving deeper beyond the surface level of the usual tourist attractions. The series does a splendid job of capturing the diversity, exploring the cultures, unveiling the hidden corners, sharing the spotlights, tastes, and tunes across different global spots. Given the reality of time-bound trips we sometimes undertake, the show is an entertaining offering providing a lens into squeezing every delightful experience into a 36-hour long exploration. Perfect for those travel enthusiasts who yearn to see the world in snippets, the series indeed is a testimonial for the saying - so much to see, so little time!