Episode 13: NYC, BABY!

Doing my best to enjoy NYC like a local! Watch this video to find out my secret for travelling beyond touristy spots.

Have you ever been to New York City? It’s a dream destination for people from all over the world. It’s featured in movies, on tv shows, and in countless publications. With so many dining, lodging, and unique experiences available, how can you experience the best the city has to offer?

In this video and below, I share my system for exploring the best of a city, whether it’s Toronto, New York or anywhere else. It’s an easy to understand method that has allowed me to make the most of any place I go to. Plus, it cuts planning time before your trip.

In the video I explain how I use Google Maps to coordinate my travels. Basically, if I want to be sure to make the most of anywhere I go to, I keep my feelers out at all times. All those movies, publications and tv shows I mentioned? I use them to my advantage to plan unique itineraries that avoid the typical tourist spots. I want to go where the locals go.

Where to go in NYC? Luckily my travel system led me to some great spots.

A view of NYC on film, as the plane approached LaGuardia airport.

Your girl was tired after taking the early morning flight from Toronto.

If New Yorkers line up, it’s a good sign.

I was told by locals that the secret to NY bagels is “it’s all in the water.”

Spring in New York.

The subway system in NYC captured on film.

Taking the subway in NYC means likely delays. Be sure to leave with extra time unless you want to be late!

@bybridges welcomed me at his photography studio, Peach Studio.

The view from inside Peach Studio in Astoria, Queens.

Making magic happen in the studio!

New York City gridlock on the way back to LaGuardia.

Some incredible pizza from John’s of Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village!

Here’s the system:

1. Whenever you are watching movies, tv shows, or reading magazines and books based in a specific city or country start paying attention.

2. If a specific hotel, restaurant, activity, bar or location is mentioned that sounds interesting to you, stop what you’re doing and head to Google Maps. If it’s a movie, put it on pause. If it’s a magazine, quickly stop reading and pick up your phone. If it’s a book, same thing.

3. Once in Google Maps, here is what I do:

   1. If it’s a city I’ve never heard of that sounds amazing, I use a gold star and add it to my “Starred Places”

   2. If it’s a venue within a city that sounds like the type of place I’d like to go, I use a green flag and add it to my list of places I “Want to Go”

4. That’s it! The next time you’re planning an itinerary anywhere, you’ll have already done so much research ahead of time that you can take a look at the list of Starred Places or places you Want to Go and can plan around that. That’s what I used to plan this short, 24-hour trip to New York City and I had a great time.

Adding places to your list as soon as you discover them is an easy habit that allows you to make the most of wherever you go.

What my NYC Google Maps looks like thanks to my system. I won’t soon run out of places to check out that I know are great.

For cities within an entire country, I use the gold stars or “Starred Places” within Google Maps.

On this trip, I was able to enjoy incredible bagels at Liberty Bagels in Midtown. I also had a delicious honey-oat latte at Cafe Grumpy in Hudson Yards, an area I wanted to check out. Walking around Midtown, I stopped at B&H Photo and Video, a fantastic and overwhelmingly large camera store to pick up some film. Finally, after my photoshoot with Justin Bridges, I took a nap and headed for a hot date I had planned ahead using Hinge. I met my date, a local NYC fireman, at John’s of Bleeker Street, a spot I had on my “Want to Go” list.

He agreed that it was some authentic and delicious NYC pizza!

Did you find my method useful?

Did you like the travel content for a change?

I’d love to know! Let me know in the video comments and be sure to subscribe to the channel and my newsletter below so you never miss a video!