I like FATE grinding because it's a way you can pretty mindlessly advance (usually while listening to podcasts or something) but also kinda-sorta contribute to other peoples' advancement just by helping hit things. Northern Thanalan is zone that's super visually dull, though -- one of the very few in FFXIV, to the game's credit, but still.

Just add a buttload of XP to HW area FATEs and we're all good.