Destinations
It’s not about crossing countries off a list.
My goal is to really experience each place I visit, by living like a local and going really far off the beaten track.
Where I’ve been
Asia // Africa // North America // South America // Antarctica // Europe // Australia
Countries // Austria // Belgium // Belize // Bosnia // Canada // Croatia // Czech Republic // Denmark // England // France // Germany // Guatemala // Hungary // Iceland // Ireland // Israel // Italy // Liechtenstein // Mexico // Monaco // The Netherlands // Northern Ireland // Norway // Portugal // Scotland // Slovenia // Spain // Sweden // Switzerland // Thailand // Turkey // UAE // USA
Canada // Alberta // British Columbia // Manitoba // New Brunswick // Newfoundland and Labrador // Northwest Territories // Nova Scotia // Nunavut // Ontario // Prince Edward Island // Quebec // Saskatchewan // Yukon
USA // Alabama // Alaska // Arizona // Arkansas // California // Colorado // Connecticut // Delaware // DC // Florida // Georgia // Hawaii // Idaho // Illinois // Indiana // Iowa // Kansas // Kentucky // Louisiana // Maine // Maryland // Massachusetts // Michigan // Minnesota // Mississippi // Missouri // Montana // Nebraska // Nevada // New Hampshire // New Jersey // New Mexico // New York // North Carolina // North Dakota // Ohio // Oklahoma // Oregon // Pennsylvania // Rhode Island // South Carolina // South Dakota // Tennessee // Texas // Utah // Vermont // Virginia // Washington // West Virginia // Wisconsin // Wyoming
I Want Out: How to go abroad during COVID-19
Despite all the rhetoric that we need to #stayhome, there's no requirement that you literally stay home. Those whirlwind tours of 14 cities in 14 days are verboten, but it's easy to travel while following all restrictions and guidelines for staying safe from the...
An escape guide for Americans
An escape guide for Americans There are a lot of reasons you might want to leave the US. First, do you have a passport? If the answer is no, you can’t get started on any of these options. Getting your passport is the very first step. Second, if you have a criminal...
The best books I read in 2019
To celebrate releasing the fourth edition of Moving to Canada and my 2019 Cross Border Tax Guide, here are the books I've found fascinating recently: Understanding Canada A History of Canada in Ten Maps It's a challenge to find books on the history of Canada that are...
Cat lady world tour
I wish I could have the tour start in San Francisco's nascent cat museum, but alas, the fledgling museum and it's pop-up shows seem to have fizzled out. Who's ready to revive the project? Instead, let's begin in Ohio. Feline Historical Museum, Alliance, OH This is the...
Gated communities and the legacy of the kollektivhus
I grew up as the kind of person who scoffed at country clubs and gated communities. Scoffing is actually a generously polite description of my feelings on the matter. I viewed the type of people who are members of country clubs as part of the problem. When I thought...
Washington DC: A digital nomad’s guide
Sure, any tourist knows what to see for a weekend in DC. But what about those of us who aren't just any tourist? As a nomad we have time to explore, but we're there for a lot longer than the typical tourist. While I'm free to spend an afternoon in a museum or enjoying...
Dog friendly bars in Toronto
Toronto has a lot of things going for it as a place to live, but one of the things that is a source of constant heartache is just how not dog friendly it is! Sure, there are plenty of restaurants where you can clip your pup to the patio railing and they can look at...
A CouchSurfer’s Guide to New York City
Sometimes the big, obvious choices are must-sees. Other times you’re better off skipping the crowds and going someplace totally weird. As a Brooklyn CouchSurfing Ambassador, I would get asked for recommendations all the time. Here are my top recommendations for what...
Ottawa’s best places to work remotely (that aren’t a coffee shop)
Can’t drink another latte? Here’s where to get some work done on your laptop in Ottawa that isn’t just a list of coffee shops.
The best of Toronto
Now that I've been living in Toronto for a while, people ask me for recommendations all the time. Here are my favorite spots in Toronto: Art Museum: Ryerson Imaging Center The exhibitions here are always fantastic. Not only are they well curated, but they're...
The ultimate guide to getting into museums for free
Forget free museum nights, go for free on your own schedule If you're a nerd like me, museum admission fees can add up quickly. Sure, many museums have free nights. I'm sure they're a lot of fun in some cities, but in places like New York or Toronto they can be so...
5 NYC tourist attractions you will never visit
Every time some article promises to share some hidden NYC attraction my ears perk up. And it's just about always somewhere that requires some serious connections (or spy skills) to access. Let's agree to stop pretending these are places tourists can go. The FDR train...
City Place, Toronto: What it’s really like to live there
Curious about what it’s really like to live in City Place? Here’s what Toronto’s waterfront neighborhood is like.
Leslieville, Toronto: What it’s really like to live there
Leslieville has all the charm of Cabbagetown’s adorable houses and tree lined streets, mixed with the diversity Toronto is famous for.
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn: What it’s like to actually live there
What it's really like to live in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn New York, USA A small town in a big city The first time I stepped off the subway and walked into Ditmas Park...I was so confused. Where was I? Where had the city gone? I had no idea that Brooklyn had charming...
How do I fund my travels?
I didn’t quit my job to travel, I work on the road.
I’m available to provide guidance to mission driven organizations on all aspects of communications.
Do you love where you live?
You want to know what it’s really like to live in a city, but hardly anyone has lived in enough places to compare. I’ll be providing information you can’t get anywhere else — what it’s really like to live in Toronto, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston, Chicago, Kingston, Raleigh, and other places I’ve gotten to (temporarily) call home.
Windsor Terrace & Kensington, Brooklyn: What it’s like to actually live there
What it's really like to live in Windsor Terrace & Kensington, Brooklyn New York, USA Family friendly neighborhoods in the city These two neighborhoods are both literally and metaphorically half way between Park Slope and Ditmas Park. It feels less like the big...
NYC’s best places to work remotely (that aren’t a coffee shop)
I'm always on the lookout for spaces that are friendly to remote workers that aren't just another coffee shop. In New York especially, it seems like every time I'm back another coffee shop has disabled their wifi to discourage squatters. It can be tough to find a good...
Leaving Canada doesn’t mean you’re not still a resident
Going on a trip, however long it lasts, doesn’t mean you’re not a resident of Canada. You have to file taxes with the CRA until you prove that you’ve left Canada for good.
United Shades of North America
W. Kamau Bell visits Canada in United Shades of America. Is Canada really a utopia? What's the story with healthcare? What about the experience of visible minorities? I help Kamau figure out if moving to Canada is even an option. You can take the quiz yourself....
Chicago’s North Side: A digital nomad’s guide
Chicago is one of those cities I've been to dozens of time, but didn't feel like I really knew at all until this past trip. I'd been there for conferences and road trips, but each time it was too short to get a real feel for the city. I spent two weeks in Chicago and...
Halifax: A digital nomad’s guide
Sometimes I wonder if I could love living in a small city. A smaller, less expensive city. Where I would know my neighbors. Be able to have a meaningful impact in local politics. Buy a building with a storefront downstairs, live my main street retirement dreams. Maybe...
Birmingham, Alabama: A digital nomad guide
None of my friends could quite understand why I decided to go to Birmingham, Alabama. The only thing we remembered about Birmingham from school was the civil rights movement -- which hardly makes it sound like a great place for a digital nomad to land. Birmingham...
Best parks near Toronto — no car necessary
Get out of the city and visit these amazing parks near Toronto — without needing a car.
The Tesla World Tour
It’s difficult to imagine what the world would be like without Nikola Tesla. He’s one of the most famous scientists who ever lived and has over 300 patents. His inventions power our lives, yet he died penniless and alone. Living in hotels all of his adult life, he...
The story of Toronto’s St. James Town
When we first moved to Toronto, I quickly became fascinated by St. James Town. While most of Toronto’s highrises are brand new, these ones hailed from an earlier age. Clearly one that didn’t catch on. The low prices and easy subway access were pretty tempting, but...
My time with Jesus People, USA
My experience with JPUSA (Juhpoozah) started with a search on CouchSurfing. Jane had so many references, wrote a bunch of books, has gone on epic bike trips, and lives in an intentional community. Obviously, I wanted to stay with her. Sure, I may be traveling in my...
NYC’s nerdiest day trips
Want to get out of New York? Here are my favorite spots to nerd out in the tri-state area. The Edison Museum What can I add when TMBG has it covered? Although you'll be lucky if it's as quiet as they lead you to believe. You can even walk there from NJ Transit, if...
Buying a condo in Canada
You hear it all the time: Toronto is way too expensive to buy anything! In fact, houses downtown are over a million dollars! What’s wrong with this statement? The idea that you need to live in a house right downtown. No one talks about buying houses in Manhattan or...
Renting an apartment in Toronto
You're finally moving up! Here's how to find your new home in Toronto, from where to look for listings to what to expect in your lease. If you’re coming from a small town, renting in Toronto is probably going to seem really unpleasant. If you’re coming from another...
How to find a sublet in New York City
In an era before AirBnB I was a habitual subletter. I managed to live in New York for seven years without ever signing a lease, hopping from one sublet to another and crashing with friends (or my parents) in-between. Finding a sublet in New York is more difficult than...
Setting up your apartment in Canada
Once you’ve signed a lease or bought a condo, it’s time to turn your empty place into a home. Before you move in, you’ll need light, heat, water, internet, and furniture. How to move to Canada Utilities Insurance Furnishings Utilities Unless you’re okay with...
Toronto neighborhood guide
Neighborhoods of Toronto The neighborhood you live in has a huge impact on how you experience the city. Before you rent your first apartment or buy a condo, you want to make sure you're choosing a place that fits with your lifestyle. Toronto is a big city with lots of...
My obsessions
Destinations
I skip the guidebooks in favor of urbex, talking to locals, and dumpster diving.
Living abroad
You don’t need luck, a sham marriage, or a career your parents brag about in order to live abroad.
Moving to Canada
Everything you need to know to move to Canada, from someone who's actually done it.
Adulting
Learn how to travel the world while making sure you stay out of jail and save for retirement.
History
I dig into the stories behind the cities I love.