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…
New York City
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…
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…
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,…
28 Gifts and Essentials For Someone Moving to New York City
Oh my goodness, congratulations on the big move to the Big Apple! The Concrete Jungle! The City That Never Sleeps! I’m so excited for you (or your favorite person) to start this new chapter. New York City is one of…
25+ Best Christmas Photo Spots in NYC (From a Licensed Tour Guide)
Every December I lived in New York City, I’d grab my DSLR, bundle up, and walk the city streets hunting for the perfect picture. Some years I got it. Other years I got a very clear photo of a stranger’s…
16 Best Restaurants Near the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in NYC
Picture it: 6:15 pm, curtain at 7, and you’re standing on West 49th Street with a growling stomach and about 40 minutes to fix it. I’ve been there many, many times. I spent almost three years living and auditioning in…
9 Quiet Hotels in New York City Where You’ll Actually Sleep
They call New York the City That Never Sleeps. It’s a great nickname. Until you’re the one lying awake at 2 a.m. listening to it. Sirens, delivery trucks, a sidewalk conversation that somehow sounds like it’s happening at the foot…
