When people picture Christmas in Italy, they picture Rome. A nativity scene, midnight Mass, maybe a glimpse of the Pope. Then they step off the train in Bolzano, see the street signs in Italian and German, and wonder if they…
NYC Christmas Itinerary: 3 Perfect Days (Plus an Optional 4th) From a Licensed NYC Guide
New York City at Christmas is the movie you’ve watched every December. Except now you’re standing in it, with a hot chocolate and about forty thousand new friends. I’m a licensed New York City tour guide. I lived in the…
32 Romantic Winter Date Ideas in NYC (From a Licensed NYC Tour Guide)
My first date at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree turned into a multi-year relationship. The relationship ended. The tree is still on this list. I’m a licensed NYC tour guide and a former New York-based actor, and I grew up…
20 Cozy New England Winter Getaways (Romantic, Non-Ski & Family Picks)
I grew up in New Haven County, Connecticut, so I know a New England winter firsthand. Shoveling the sidewalk after a snowstorm, sledding down the neighborhood hill until my nose froze, and making a snowman in the yard with my…
Is New York Part of New England?
No, New York is not part of New England. New England is six states: Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. New York sits in the Middle Atlantic, with New Jersey and Pennsylvania. But for about one year,…
Best Hotels in NYC for Christmas 2026 (From a Licensed NYC Tour Guide)
Ready to stay at one of the best Christmas hotels in New York City? Visitors always asked me if I love being in New York at Christmas. Is it cold? Yes. Do I hate being cold? Also yes. Would I…
The Best Observation Decks in NYC (2026), From a Licensed Tour Guide
The question I hear most at the end of a tour, after “where should we eat,” is “which observation deck should we do?” As a licensed New York City tour guide, my honest answer is that it depends on what…
30+ Once-in-a-Lifetime NYC Experience Gifts (From a Licensed NYC Tour Guide)
One of the best gifts I’ve ever been given in New York City didn’t come in a box. It was a night in a tent, glamping on Governors Island, with the Statue of Liberty right outside my front “door.” I…
The Cost of Living in Rome, Italy: A Monthly Budget Breakdown (2026)
When I tell Americans I live in Italy, the first question is almost always about money. The second is some version of “So it’s basically New York City with better pasta, right?” Nope. I lived in New York for almost…
40 Gifts for Friends Going Abroad (That They’ll Actually Pack)
When I moved from New York City to Italy, I only packed the essentials in two checked suitcases. I thought I’d be gone for about six months. Over five years later, I’m still here. One of the few things that…
How the NYC Subway Works: A Licensed Tour Guide’s Guide for First-Timers
When you come to New York City, you have to ride the subway. It’s a rite of passage, and it’s still the fastest, cheapest way to get around the boroughs. I promise it’s not as scary as you think! I…
37 Things to Do Alone in NYC (From a Licensed NYC Tour Guide)
Exploring New York City by yourself feels special. I lived in New York City for almost three years, and some of my favorite days there had nobody else in them. As a licensed NYC tour guide, I’d finish a tour,…
