Every Friday
(Mostly) Everywhere we wrote to you from in 2025
Somehow this project is nearly a year old. Leading up to a celebration of Relay’s first birthday, we wanted to compile a list of our favorite places we: copy pasted memes, did bits in the group chat, and doomscrolled. Some of the places made a Shared Album™, see Portofino, but many didn’t.
As many of you know, Relay is a Nashville x NYC project, proudly representing two of our favorite cities on Earth. As much as we love home, we were all over the place and really got out there in 2025 (mostly unscathed).
Without further ado, here’s a list of our favorite places of 2025. Tell us what you think in the comments and let us know what your favorite spot was last year.
"Drink heavily with locals whenever possible” - Anthony Bourdain
“Sorry I'm in pajamas but I just got off the PJ” - Kanye West
Relay around the world
Iceland
A week long roadtrip in Iceland last summer was what I’d (Zach) been missing when it came to travel. It reignited the sense of adventure that I felt when I initially started traveling 10/10.
Napa Valley
Prior to this year, I (Zach) had only been to the west coast once. This year, I was in LA for work between 10-15 times (it did wonders for my United status though). I used these trips as a lillypad to start chipping down the infinite list of stuff to see in California.
Napa Valley is no hidden secret, but it was fun to play wine snob for the weekend. I came away from the weekend sunburnt and convinced my favorite wine is a buttery chardonnay. We stayed at Stanley Ranch, a new Auberge property on the block, which I would give a 8/10. Napa valley as a whole gets a solid 7/10.
Tokyo (The Godzilla Hotel Shinjuku)
A funny bit of 2024/2025, was 3/4 of Relay + friends applying to the Tokyo Marathon, but only me (Zach) getting selected in the lottery. The marathon was brutal, the hottest on record, but a solo-trip to Tokyo was so cool. Similar to Iceland it was such a different travel experience than I’d experienced. Tokyo itself is unimaginably large; I could’ve spent another week wondering it’s streets.
I spent the week eating chicken karaage, vintage watch shopping, and taking pictures. 10/10
Joshua Tree
Re above and my lilyftrogging around from LA, another spot on the west coast my (Zach) girlfriend and I hit was Joshua tree. The towns are all a bit rundown-artist/hippie commune for me, but our Airbnb was the nicest I’ve ever stayed in.
Until this year, I’d never set foot in the desert—now I fully appreciate the allure of the vast arid space. 9/10
Charleston (4th of July)
The true epitome of last minute planning to bring the crew of old friends back together for a weekend of celebration. Despite telling one another that we were going to find a place to stay, that we were going to book the flights soon, we did none of that until about the week before. Regardless, it was a blast of a trip, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed Charleston. Shoutout hurricane Chantal for the additional company.
Go River Dogs. 8/10
Lake Michigan
To be honest I think Brother Michigan is going to derail James’s beloved Cape Cod and furthermore, the Northeast as a whole. It’s a sleeper. I know many of you dear readers are clued in, but the gatekeeper in me is hesitant to even put this out here…
I kid. You should all definitely go if you’ve never been. 40/10
Portofino
If you tuned into our Shared Album last year, you got our taste of Portofino already. I’m not sure there is much more to say here than 10/10. Mind-bending levels of beauty. Long days in the sun swimming and long nights sat at small seaside restaurant tables.
Lake Tahoe
My girlfriend and I (Jack) had a short weekend trip for a wedding in Lake Tahoe between the summer and winter season this year. My first time in that part of the country. Although it was fairly quiet for the duration of our stay, being between seasons, it’s blatantly obvious when you arrive why it’s such a thing. Why Zuck posted a video of himself wake surfing on the lake in a tux... It’s truly stunning.
Insert high rating here
Punta Mita
For my compatriots that I (Jack) was with on this trip, this one is for you. Being able to spend part of the winter season in Punta Mita was a true blessing. Gorgeous beaches, food, and maximum relaxation. We struggled on the fishing front, I do hate to admit that, but it was one of the most laid back and enjoyable weeks I had all year.
I also took one of my favorite photos to date. 10/10
San Diego
Just a few weeks after shipping the first edition of Relay, I (Ian) spent the weekend in San Diego celebrating my cousin Austin — more like a brother to me than a cousin. I loved everything about the city, but the highlight was our round at Torrey Pines. Pretty sure I lost every ball I hit outside the fairway, but everything else about that course was unreal. 11/10, was a problem
Santa Barbara
A few years ago Macke wouldn’t stfu about how the West Coast was the new tech and I completely disagreed until after this trip. Quick visit for work but I was californication-maxxing @ Chad Smith
Kalamazoo
Jack is pro Lake Michigan meanwhile a few of us were about an hour away from him on Austin lake this summer, enjoying the new Oberion lites and grilling pickle bratts. Drinking and listening to Knocked Loose on the lake with your friends cures all. Truly nothing like Michigan in the August.
Cape Cod
I (James) found myself with two weeks off in between work-gigs after bailing on my MBA program at McCombs (longer story for another time). I did a few solo days in Maine before meeting up with Easton + some friends on the Cape. I know it’s been all over everyone’s feeds this year, but truly no notes. It was less stuffy/snobby than I was expecting (exempting Nantucket 4/10)–worth the time if you’re planning your 2026 trips. 10/10
It’s Not That Deep, Randy
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Can’t wait to black out tomorrow and rank all of your relay posts in order