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The DIY NYC Pizza Tour

March 11, 2016 By Jillian

Without a doubt there is a ton to do in New York City – the question is usually where to begin? For me, one of the greatest joys of traveling is the food. I LOVE local, interesting cuisine and restaurants. That doesn’t necessarily mean pricey though – especially in a big city like New York. Eating like a local in New York doesn’t have to break the bank, especially if you’re interesting in something as ubiquitous and typically NYC as a slice of pizza.

The moment you walk out of most of the hotels in NYC you’ll probably be inundated with shop windows advertising a quick bite. Pizza joints abound in New York, and while most places are decent there are some real stars out there that are worth the walk (or ride!) and may show you a different side to New York at the same time. A word to the wise: while credit cards are taken almost everywhere, have cash on hand, many small pizzerias operate on a cash-only basis.

Here are some of our favorites:

Lombardi’s: America’s First Pizzeria

As you would expect, the FIRST pizzeria in the United States was in the Little Italy neighborhood of New York City. Gennaro Lombardi is credited with bringing this Neopolitan street food to our shores. His pizzeria still stands today, down the street from the original location, an homage to the original treat that started the craze. Address: 32 Spring St, New York, NY 10012.

Grimmaldi’s

This place holds a special spot in our hearts as one of our regular haunts when we go to NYC to see friends. A constant contender for the best pizza in New York (ranked by The Food Network and Zagat as #1!), this place feels more like a hole in the wall neighborhood pizzeria than a #1 pick. The pizza however will change your mind – every single time it is delicious. The original location, underneath the Brooklyn Bridge is a bit of a mission – there’s almost always a long line and a no reservations, no slices rule – but it’s worth it just for the pizza. Address: 1 Front St, New York, NY 11201.

Margot’s Pizza

Your timing has to be right for this one. A pop-up spot inside EMILY, Margot’s Pizza requires tickets for its once a month offerings. Lauded as one of the best bar – style pizzas in New York, the thin crust hot supreme is the thing to order. Tastings sell out quickly, as the pop-up only happens about once a month. Tickets go on sale the week before the pop-up. Check out the next date, and book your ticket here: http://margotspizza.com/ Address: 919 Fulton St , New York, NY 11238

Patsy’s Pizza

Heading uptown to East Harlem, Patsy’s is another original on the pizza tour list. First opened in 1933, you may be surprised by the small size of these yummy thin crust slices. Have no fear, no one will judge if you eat more than one! Address: 2287 First Ave, New York, NY 10035.

Our NYC favorites aren’t the only places to go for a slice in New York – there are plenty of delicious neighborhood places throughout the city so if you find yourself across town and looking for a quick bite don’t hesitate to stop someone on the street and ask where you can grab a slice!

We’ve had some pretty crazy pizza’s over the years – so if you got here looking for interesting pizzas, don’t miss this post on Everglades Pizza! Heading to NYC in the Spring or for a weekend? Don’t miss our Springtime in NYC post and our Weekenders Guide to NYC.

Guided tours to the land of Fire and Snow

October 2, 2011 By Guest Blogger

No place on this planet could be more ethereal and elusive, more otherworldly than Antarctica. The entire continent, twice the size of Australia, forever evaded mankind, its icy winds never echoing the sound of a human voice until its discovery in 1820. Even now, its population can only ever amount to several thousand scientists, confined to their lonely stations as they try to discover more about the sparkling, sparse landscapes they research. However, since the late 1950’s, it has become possible to embark on guided tours to the eternal sunshine of this spotless land, and see some incredible examples of its resilient polar wildlife, towering icebergs and horizons as alien as those of a film set, or another universe. If you’re still unconvinced, here are some amazing reasons to embark on a voyage of discovery to the ice encircling the South Pole.

Wildlife: Many of us have been on safari. Even more have been to the zoo. How many can say they’ve strolled through a colony of chattering penguins on the Antarctic tundra? These eccentric birds characterize our impression of the white continent. Species to be encountered include mini Rockhoppers with dainty fronds of feathers surrounding their eyes, Macaroni penguins, named for their straggly yellow heads and majestic Emperor penguins. There are also killer whales, a once in a lifetime sight on any whale-spotting expedition, as well as Southern Ocean whales, orcas, dolphins, dense colonies of fur seals and elephant seals, and the odd giant squid.

Sunsets: In many regions of the Antarctic, the sun doesn’t set for months on end. Generally speaking, the sky is as much a part of this unique panorama, and sunsets reflected off the mirror-like surface of the ice and glassy seas are like watching the splitting of a dimension. Then, as the horizon burns pink, and stars gradually pierce the firmament, revel in the purest gaze at the heavens you’ll ever be fortunate enough to see.

Activities: There are some amazing experiences to be taken from the Antarctic, and no guided journey need be passive. Any visit should include a hike up Observation Hill, which looks out to Mount Erebus. A million year old volcano, it forms a tower containing bubbling, smoking lava deep below the earth’s crust. Recover your circulation with a sea kayak through the ice to feel a shared exhilaration with early pioneers to the frozen shores, or immerse your body in the warmth of a volcanic bath on Deception Island. There are also a host of other things to do, unique to each tour company, and often subject to individual specification, which can include cross country skiing, glacier walks, camping and rock climbing.

History – yes, history. Gladly, whaling is a thing of times long past, but for a small slice of bygone days in Antarctica, you can spot the remnants of equipment which was used in the process. It’s also possible to visit a museum! The post office at Port Lockroy is the only one in the Antarctic, and is dedicated to early exploration of the continent. You can even send a postcard from here, although presumably takings at the gift shop are low…

Photo credit: 23em.com via flickr, and flickr user bazzat2003.

Thanks to Iain for today’s post. If you’re an adventurous traveler interested in writing for IShouldLogOff, contact us at info [at] ishouldlogoff.com or check our submission guidelines.

Scotch Tours in Scotland

September 25, 2011 By Guest Blogger

Like Edinburgh castle and Burell collection in Glasgow, Scotch is virtually an international symbol of Scotland. The liquor is in fact named for its home –where it’s been brewed arguably since the fifteenth century. Fortunately you don’t have to return to the Scottish monastery where the first brew was recorded to get a taste of the genuine thing, the distilleries are easily accessible from Glasgow or Edinburgh. Make an apartment in Edinburgh your home base, using websites like Wimdu, enjoy one of the many Edinburgh pubs, and branch to the highlands from there.

If you’re a connoisseur, your first stop on a tour of Scotland’s whisky distilleries should be Speyside. Speyside is Scotland’s Whisky Country in the north-eastern highlands. More than half of Scotland’s distilleries make their home in the region, including some of the major Scot whisky distilleries such as Glenfiddich and Balvenie. It’s a gorgeous area with dolphin watching and golf for those that have had too much scotch. A popular and well-trod route, the region’s Malt Whisky trail will take you through the legendary Scotch distilleries, many of whom sit along the River Spey. You’ll find a significant number of the more sophisticated single malt scotch whiskies in this area. Increasingly these companies are opening up to tours of their facilities, if no individual tour is available, check to see whether group tours are allowed.

Besides Speyside, Scotland has other famous Scotch whisky producing regions: the Lowlands, the Highlands, Islay and Campbeltown. Islay, an island just off the western coast of Scotland, has eight Scotch distilleries and is home to an annual cultural festival which takes place in May. Scotch whisky from the lowlands is generally deemed simpler and better for beginners, something to keep in mind if you’re traveling with a bigger crowd.

There are over 125 distilleries in Scotland spread out across the country. If you’re serious about your scotch whisky, check out this detailed Scotch Distillery Map, which gives information on each and every distillery. Most organized Scotch tours will start in the lowlands, conveniently where both Glasgow and Edinburgh are located, so truly you don’t have to go too far to visit distilleries. Several of the multi-day organized tours from Glasgow stay at atmospheric bed and breakfasts along the way, a nice touch to the whole experience. If you stay at a bed and breakfast in Glasgow you might even have the opportunity to share a Scotch whisky or two, or three with your host!

IF YOU GO: Organized Scotch whisky tours generally run out of Glasgow, but you’ll find many of the distilleries offer tours themselves. Visit Scotland has a great set of itineraries and activities along the Scotch whisky route that’s worth a peak before you visit.

This article produced in collaboration with Adam G. of Wimdu who is a graphic designer traveling around the world. He enjoys doing things and seeing places all over the world.

Jungle Treks and Elephants

August 21, 2011 By Guest Blogger

There are jungle treks and then there are jungle treks. In many a place the world over you will find companies that will offer to take you ‘into the wild’ and show you what life is really like. Most of these companies are lying. You will get a chaperoned tour through some trees that you have driven to in a big van; you won’t see any wildlife and you will feel rather cheated.

But not in Thailand, oh no. Thailand is something special.

This is a place where you can climb onto the back of your elephant from a platform, and start an elephant jungle trek that will last all day. The elephant will lumber down the river valley, wading through the water, and sometimes down steep slopes and from your elevated view, you can gaze out over the lush jungle.

And this is just one day of many. In much the same way that Australia has become synonymous with bushtucker trails and walkabouts, Thailand is carving out a significant chunk of the tourist market with its tailored jungle trekking.

It has done so by cashing in on the budget traveler market. Places like Australia attract people from all over the world specifically for that one thing, and people pay thousands of pounds for it. Thailand has approached the matter from a different angle, trying to use the vast number of young – yet cash-strapped – backpackers already within its borders.

It is no secret that Thailand is huge with 18-25 scene. You only need to check a multi-airline website like DialAFlight to see that cheap flights to Thailand are now comparable in price to short hops to Europe. The Thai Tourist board has decided that cheap and cheerful is the way to go, and tries to entice the backpackers away from the touristy areas of Bangkok and into the jungles.

Treks can vary from a single day trip to ones that last weeks, but the common denominator for all of them is that they are cheap. Much cheaper in fact than other places in the world that offer jungle treks – the Amazon rainforest for example – and in doing so, they have all but ensured its success.

Ironically enough, by trying to attract overseas tourists specifically for jungle treks and focusing instead on those who happen to be there anyway, Thailand now has exactly that reputation. In a country that can be overly touristy or tacky, upon returning home the one thing all backpackers are going to rave about is the jungle treks. Especially if there are elephants involved.

Photo: Brr… Cold.

June 7, 2011 By Jillian

You should probably see the video from our original post on Perito Moreno Glacier before you go any further. It looks like a small piece of ice falling off doesn’t it?

It was in fact huge, and if you watch the rest of the video you begin to realize how big that “small piece” actually was. Watch the waves and the splash the ice makes as it hits the water.

Perito Moreno is one of the only glacier’s in the world growing and scientists have no idea why. In a neighboring valley sits a glacier that is melting at rapid speeds. So why then is this one growing? I am completely unqualified to answer that, but I’m assuming it has something to do with the micro-climate of that particular valley.

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

IF YOU GO: Check out our guide to Argentina before you go. We were there in October– almost summer– check out those snow capped peaks! Make sure you bring layers of warm clothes and definitely hats and gloves, glaciers aren’t like holidays in Barbados, it’s cold and windy! There are also tours out on the ice, we didn’t take one but others highly recommended it.

The DIY NYC Pizza Tour

Guided tours to the land of Fire and Snow

Scotch Tours in Scotland

Jungle Treks and Elephants

Photo: Brr… Cold.

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