I'm so excited to share Jen of Lady Relocated's tips on how to experience London like a local. If you would also like to participate in the Tourist in Your Hometown guest post series email me stampinmypassport (at) gmail (dot) com. 

I'm often asked what it's like to live in London, and I typically respond like a deer in headlights. It's impossible to answer that question easily. London is unlike anywhere I've ever traveled or lived. A city of contrasts, old and new, historical and modern, chaotic and peaceful, maddening and magical, cold yet welcoming, claustrophobic but expansive, quintessentially British yet culturally diverse...I could go on and on. London refuses be characterized in simple terms.

I've taken my best shot at tourist advice for my visiting family and friends, but there's also something to be said for taking a page out of a local's book. Londoners have taught me to embrace free museums, appreciate pubs, and keep up with the latest cultural events. They've also taught me to cram too many people into a tube car and queue properly, but that's another story.

If I was showing you around London like a local, here's what we would do.

1. Take the bus

The #11 bus is the perfect route to see all the major sites. Rather than getting on a crowded tourist bus, we would pay the regular commuter fare and grab a seat on the top deck of a city bus to sightsee like a local.

2. Enjoy the pub scene

Sunday Roast is like Thanksgiving every Sunday. Wear your stretchy jeans. Here's a guide for the best roasts in London according to The Londonist.

3. Night at the museum

Most museums in London are free which is reason enough to go. But many also offer late night hours, often serving drinks and hosting activities so we can get our culture on, drinks in hand, without dodging school tours and strollers. Peruse our options here.

4. Grab lunch at the market

The tourists all go to Portobello and Borough Market. We'll hit up the Real Food Market, Maltby Street, Broadway Market, Brixton, Columbia Road Flower Market, or Spitalfields instead. These are just a few of the markets in London that serve up tasty food at reasonable prices alongside fresh produce and handmade crafts.

5. Coffee and Canals

When I learned about the canals snaking through central London I was intrigued. One of London's best kept secrets is Regent's Canal. We'll get our caffeine fix at local coffee shop Towpath along the canal and start strolling.

6. Brunch

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear about London is that British food is bad. In case you couldn't tell from my food theme, this couldn't be further from the truth. London has Michelin-starred restaurants coming out of the woodwork and a diversity of cuisines that mirrors the cultural mix of this town's population. Brunch is the latest revelation in London's food scene. I would take you to Granger & Co. in Notting Hill for an Australian-style brunch, or The Breakfast Club if you preferred American-style bacon and hash browns. Ottolenghi is another hot chef in town with several brunch and dinner spots.

7. Go to the theatre

The West End isn't just for tourists. We can buy day tickets or scour lastminute.com for a great deal. There is so much talent in this town we're sure to enjoy whatever show we choose.

8. Ferry to Greenwich

We can escape London without ever leaving the city limits by hopping on a water taxi and sailing East to Greenwich. The covered market, expansive park, and museums will keep us occupied for hours. The views from the water taxi are stunning too, and much cheaper than a tourist cruise.

9. Walk in the park

Everyone knows Hyde Park is amazing, but have you been to Richmond Park, Regent's Park, Victoria Park, or Hampstead Heath? Those are just a few of the more popular ones. We'll walk off all the food we've indulged in and take in some people-watching as a bonus.

There's never a dull moment in London. I hope you have a chance to experience it like a tourist AND a local for yourself soon.

During my blogging hiatus, Samantha came to visit for a long weekend. No one appreciates (and requires) a foodcation more than that girl. You may remember our previous foodcation guide to NYC, which was a true test of endurance but we pushed through all of the doughnuts, truffle cheese fries, steak frites and brunches. This weekend was no different except that we couldn't have asked for better weather (not a single summer afternoon shower which is unheard of in Florida) and were able to take advantage of eating outdoors at most places. When we weren't eating, we were making plans for Germany, which is only two months away now! 

Saturday brunch at The Front Porch We hit the ground running on Saturday with brunch, which is the best meal in my humble opinion. Biscuits and sausage gravy for Samantha and biscuits, veggie omelet and hashbrowns for me.  

Photo via @tlhdowntown

Farmer's Market The key to being able to push through a foodcation is to eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies as often as you can inbetween stops. Your body will thank you. Typically my eyes are bigger than my stomach when it comes to buying produce. I say yes to everything all at once and then after a week or so am left with a fridge full of produce that is a little past its prime.

Bella Bella This may possibly be my favorite restaurant in Tallahassee. My advice to anyone going is order the bubble bread (garlic bread topped with . You'll thank me later. My other recommendations include the eggplant parmesan and the spinach ravioli with shrimp.

Photo via @paisleycafe

Paisley Cafe Also located in midtown, Paisley Cafe has fresh and locally-grown soups, salads and sandwiches and is the perfect location to catch up with girlfriends over a long lunch. You can't go wrong with their chicken salad croissant and lobster bisque, farmhouse grilled cheese and tomato soup. If you are ambitious and want to brunch Saturday and Sunday, they also have a brunch menu that is sure to not disappoint.

Pub Sub Picnic at Cascades Park Samantha loves Publix possibly more than Floridians and requested a pub sub at some point. The weekend's weather couldn't have been more perfect for a picnic. We loaded our cart with pub subs, pita chips and bacon horseradish dip (my new obsession), and fresh berries before driving to Cascades.

Jonah's On Memorial Day we drove over to Thomasville, and although most of the shops were closed for the holiday, Jonah's was open and offering free fried pickles to their Facebook fans. Yes please. Jonah's is a staple in the Thomasville downtown area. I was hesitant because Samantha typically has an aversion to all things seafood, but she was a good sport and was even pleasantly surprised by her first grits experience. My recommendations: the grilled salmon or grouper with the Jonah's sauce and the white cheddar grits. And if you're really hungry, or had a long wait (you'll want to arrive early), start off with the calypso shrimp, their version of bang bang shrimp.

Photo via @grassrootscoffee

Grassroots Coffee Although no Midnight Oil, Grassroots comes in a close second for a unique atmosphere that makes you want to hang around all afternoon. And their coffee, which is roasted in-house, isn't half bad either.

Hi there! We’re Elizabeth and Luke and we blog about our weekend adventures and travels over at Something Saturdays. The premise behind Something Saturdays is to make the most of our weekends by doing something new every Saturday, whether that means exploring things in our local area or travelling abroad. We met while we were both working in the Netherlands, but Elizabeth is from St. John’s, Newfoundland, where we currently live, and Luke is originally from Bath, UK. We have lived together in St. John’s for two years now, and during that time we have done our fair share of exploring, attending festivals and community events, learning new skills, and trying out new things.

St. John’s is the largest city on the island of Newfoundland and is located on the east coast. When you visit St. John’s, you should first head over to Signal Hill, Cape Spear (the most easterly point in North America!), and The Rooms for great views and to get your bearings. 

It is worth wandering around the downtown area among the houses of Jellybean Row and take in a Foodie Tour to get exposure to local history and cuisine.

Quidi Vidi is a small, picturesque fishing village within the boundaries of the city that is worth visiting, and don't forget to go to the street with the most pubs and bars per capita of any street in North America, George Street. While you’re on George Street, don’t forget to get Screeched in! It's a "ceremony" to become an Honorary Newfoundlander and is a must-do for anyone visiting the island. There's nothing wrong with doing a shot of Screech, kissing a cod, and repeating some Newfie words you don't understand, right? 

There are many trails around the province that take hikers along the rugged shoreline, with the 265 km East Coast Trail being the longest. The ECT is broken into sections, with the La Manche Village Path, Stiles Cove Path, and the Sugarloaf Path being some of our favourites that are close to the city. The Skirwink Trail is another trail not to be missed and is located along the cliffs near Trinity, and Gros Morne offers a host of hiking trails on the west coast of Newfoundland. 

Newfoundland isn't overly developed, meaning that there is lots of room for wildlife. Whale watching is common in the spring/summer and you can usually also sea kayak in the same areas. The whale watching tours in Bay Bulls also take you to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve which is home to North America's largest Atlantic Puffin colony, among other sea birds. On the island of Newfoundland itself, there are more moose than people and it isn't uncommon to come across them when you're driving along the highway.

Interested in seeing icebergs? There's no guarantee you'll see an iceberg on your visit to Newfoundland, but the best time of year is late spring or early summer (May/June). Last year was a great year for them and we managed to see quite a few. If you want to see them, you'll probably have to get out of St. John's (although we had some huge ones just outside of St. John's harbour last year), with Twillingate being a top spot for iceberg-viewing. The best way to find out where the icebergs are at any given time is on Iceberg Finder. It is incredibly useful!

Follow along our with our Newfoundland adventures on Bloglovin, Twitter, and Trover.

We’re also planning a couple of international trips in the next two months to Mexico and Ireland, so stay tuned!

Hi everyone! This is Jackie from York Avenue and I'm thrilled to be here on Jess's blog today, sharing  some of the places that I love in my current hometown of NYC. Ever since moving here almost five years ago, I've had a blast searching out restaurants, shops, and things to do, while documenting my favorites on my blog. I feel so lucky to live in New York City because it seems I could live here for my whole life and never be bored. There are always new places to discover and tons of things to do, even if it's something as simple as taking a stroll in Central Park or trying a new bakery. While I would love to travel to various places in the future, like Paris, London, or Italy, I have a hard time working up the motivation to plan trips because I'm so content to just explore NYC! Here are some of the places that keep me enjoying my city:

The West Village is one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York City. I live on the Upper East Side, and while I wouldn't trade that for anything, I love getting the chance to go downtown on the weekends and explore. The West Village has a charm and character all its own, and is also home to some of my favorite bookstores, restaurants, and sweet shops.

Speaking of bookstores, the Strand inside the Club Monaco flagship on Fifth Avenue is always a favorite spot to pop into. The little shop-in-shop has a wonderfully curated selection and decor that makes me want to move right in! 

Also inside the Club Monaco flagship on Fifth Avenue is Toby's Estate Flatiron, one of my favorite coffee shops in the city. They have great lattes, gorgeous decor, and they also stock Doughnut Plant doughnuts (another NYC favorite!). You can see my full post on Toby's Flatiron here. 

Another New York City favorite is, of course, Central Park. However, my very favorite place in the Park is the lesser populated Conservatory Garden, all the way uptown. This is the only "quiet zone" in the Park and is truly a peaceful, serene, and beautiful place to walk around, in all seasons. You can see my full post on the Conservatory Garden here. 

I'm a total sucker for a bright and colorful candy shop, and NYC keeps me well-supplied in that area! Sockerbit's bright and happy Swedish candies are always a delicious little Scandanavian treat, and I can't help but stop in whenever I find myself in the West Village! 

New York City never gets boring because you just never know what new shop is going to open. Case in point: Stick With Me Sweets, a new chocolate shop downtown which really just blew me out of the water. The bonbons are little works of art which are hand-crafted out of the finest quality ingredients. They're truly some of the most delicious chocolates that I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. See my full post on this amazing shop here. 

Last but not least, you just really can't beat springtime in New York City! I'm certainly looking forward to it after surviving this extra brutal winter that we're in the midst of currently. 

Thank you so much to Jess for having me today! For more NYC favorites be sure to check out my blog, York Avenue, where I'm always sharing my newest finds and favorites. Have a great week!

all photos by Jacqueline Clair

This week Kendall is sharing about life in the City of Brotherly Love. After reading her recommendations, I now know there is much more to Philadelphia than the liberty bell or a boxing legend. Plus, there is a Rodin museum, which I think is worth a trip in itself since a plane ticket to Paris might be seen as a little extreme.

Hello! I'm Kendall and I write about personal style, travel, and everything in between over at buttons and blossoms. I'm so happy to be here on Stamp in My Passport to share some great places in one of my favorite cities: Philadelphia. I am a born and bred Jersey girl but I've always been in love with the big city. My hometown is smack dab between two major northeast cities: New York City and Philadelphia. I grew up taking the train to New York City to the north but didn't really appreciate Philly to my south until I met my fiance. He grew up in the city before moving to the suburbs but his big family still lives in many of the diverse neighborhoods. We fell in love exploring this city of history and fell in love here. Now there's rarely a weekend that passes by without us heading in to one of our favorite spots. If you know anything about Philadelphia, it's probably either it's status as one of America's most historic cities or home to Rocky. Yes, you can run up "the Rocky steps" at Philly's world famous art museum and pose with the statue at the bottom. You can also see the liberty bell up close or stand in the place where the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. But there is so much more to Philadelphia than what you read in history books or see in the movies. 

Philly's neighborhoods: Like most major cities, Philadelphia is made up of many different neighborhoods and each has it's own unique flavor. Most tourists spend their time in Old City, where the historic sites are, and Center City, where there's lots of restaurants and shopping. But Philly is the fifth largest city based on population and those people are spread out all over the city. One of my favorite neighborhoods to take a stroll through is Society Hill. This neighborhood is made up of tree-lined streets, brick rowhomes, and hidden cobblestone alleys; it's the real history of Philadelphia. My engagement photos were even taken there! Another neighborhood worth exploring is South Philly. Philly doesn't need a dedicated "Little Italy" because Italian food is a way of life here. You can find great Italian food all over the city but South Philly is where it's most authentic. The Italian Market on Ninth Street is a great place to wander and find great food products, especially cheese. My favorite South Philly spot is Termini Brothers Bakery on 8th and 15th. There are many great Italian bakeries peddling cannolis and amaretti cookies but if you go at just the right time there will be a small string band of Italian grandpas and uncles playing in the corner and you can get your cannolis filled on the spot.

  Rodin Museum: Philly isn't known for it's museums like New York or L.A. but the city's museums are top-notch. If you have kids, there's the Please Touch Museum where kids use their imagination in a "supermarket" complete with a checkout line. Love science? You need to climb through the giant heart at the Franklin Institute (yes, adults are allowed to). But one of my favorite museums that's pretty hidden is the Rodin Museum. This museum dedicated to the work of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin and features his most amazing work, the Gates of Hell, which took him almost 40 years to complete. The museum itself is a gorgeous piece of architecture with gardens that you can enjoy even now in the dead of winter.

  Eastern State Penitentiary: Ever wanted to go to prison without committing a crime? Then Philly's the place for you. Philadelphia is home to the Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison in the middle of the city that was home to Al Capone for eight months. Depending on when you go it can be eerily quiet and calm and a great place to take creepy pictures. If you happen to be visiting around Halloween, you can get scared one night at their Terror Behind the Walls program. I prefer to watch the screaming line outside the prison walls while having a drink at the bars across the street.

  Grab a drink: My love of craft beer emerged from the great beer scene here in Philadelphia. Even if you're not really into beer, taking a brewery tour (or two) is a fun way to spend the day in the city. You'll meet people who are passionate about beer and many times there is a great story behind the brewery location. My personal favorites are Philadelphia Brewing Company, Yards, and Victory (which is just outside of the city in Downingtown). Even having lived near and played in Philadelphia for so many years, I'm still finding new things to do every weekend. Have you ever visited Philly?

Hey there! I’m Erika, the blogger behind a quiet girl in a noisy city, where I blog about my life living and working in the Los Angeles area. My husband and I live in the city of Glendale, which is north-east of Los Angeles proper – close enough to experience the excitement of the city, but separate enough to be interesting in its own right. While dozens of guides to Los Angeles exist all over the internet, there are significantly fewer guides to Glendale, so I jumped at the chance to write an entry in Jess’ Tourist in Your Hometown Series about the city I call home.

Glendale is a beautiful city – it’s safe, green, pedestrian-friendly, and relatively inexpensive to live in. It has everything from big malls to mom-and-pop stores, grocery stores to small markets, and chain restaurants to taco stands. You could live your whole life here without ever venturing into neighboring Los Angeles. Here are just a few of my favorite places in Glendale.

Porto’s Bakery & Café is the perfect place to start your day. This authentic Cuban bakery serves a variety of breakfast sandwiches, pastries, breads, and cakes. If you’d rather wait until lunch, they also serve a large selection of lunch plates, sandwiches, soups, and salads. Some of their more popular items include stuffed potato balls, cheese rolls (a tasty cheese-filled pastry), and the Cubano sandwich. It’s one of the most popular places in Glendale, so be sure to arrive early. You’ll likely have to wait a while in line, but it’s so worth it!

Brand Park is a beautiful little park at the north end of Glendale. I’ve only done a bit of exploring here so far, but would love to return for more, as it’s one of my favorite discoveries in town. This park is home to a number of hiking trails, picnic areas, and other unique sights, such as the Brand Library, the Whispering Pine Tea House, and the Doctor’s House Museum. The Brand Library was closed for renovations on my last visit, but currently houses a variety of art galleries and live music events, and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays. The Tea House is open by reservation only, though the adjacent Friendship Garden is open weekdays and offers a beautiful, peaceful place for an afternoon stroll. The Doctor’s House is the former home of silent movie star Nell Shipman and is open for tours on Sunday afternoons. Even if you visit the park on a day when these attractions are all closed, it’s still a beautiful place for a walk through the thirty-one acres of trails.

For lunch, I highly recommend a stop by Glendale’s own Golden Road Brewery. Opened in 2011, Golden Road’s beers have already swept through Southern California, and it all started right here in Glendale. My personal favorite is the Golden Road Hefeweizen, though they also offer a large selection of ales, lagers, and other specialty beers. In addition to great, locally-brewed beer, their menu also boasts some truly delicious food options, many of which cater to vegan and vegetarian tastes. I enjoy the spicy pulled pork sandwich (there’s a vegan version if you prefer) and the rosemary roasted turkey melt. With sweet potato fries, of course. Golden Road is also a great dinner stop, though it’s gotten quite popular in recent years, which is why I prefer to stop by for lunch.

A trip to Glendale wouldn’t be complete without mention of the Glendale Galleria and the Americana at Brand. Two shopping malls, directly across the street from one another, take up a good ten city blocks in the center of Glendale. You could literally spend all day here, and people do – they come from all over Los Angeles to do their shopping. The Galleria was built first, and is an entirely indoor shopping center that includes a Target, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and JC Penney. It houses all kinds of boutique stores, from Coach to Guess to Charlotte Russe.

And if you can’t find what you’re looking for at the Galleria, you’ll likely find it at the Americana. The Americana, an outdoor mall with a central park that’s complete with a fountain, tends to house pricier brands (with the exceptions of H&M and Forever XXI). Here you’ll find Nordstrom, Barnes & Noble, Banana Republic, and Urban Outfitters, amongst many others. If you’re looking for an Apple Store, there’s one in each mall. Crazy, right? Like I said, you could spend all day here. I’m lucky enough to live within walking distance of the shopping center, and often stroll over for a day of window shopping and people watching. 

To finish off your day, be sure to grab dinner at Kim’s Kitchen. It may not look like much from the outside, but Kim’s Kitchen is by far one of my favorite restaurants here in Glendale. This tiny shack is home to some of the best Korean BBQ outside of Korea. The owners are incredibly kind, and the food is simply fantastic. You’ll often catch me eating the spicy pork bulgogi or the dol soht bibim bap, both of which I highly recommend. Each meal includes a variety of side dishes, soup, and rice. As an added bonus, the prices are quite cheap, making a stop here an absolute must.

I hope you enjoyed this round-up of some of the best things Glendale, CA has to offer, and I hope to see you all here one day soon!

I am so excited to kick off the Tourist in Your Hometown series again! And I'm even more excited that Mar is getting the ball rolling for us. If you haven't checked out her blog, it's a must read. Expect beautiful photos, especially of the Alaskan frontier if you read far enough back in her archives. Also, it's not too late if you would like to participate in this series as well. Just shoot me an email at stampinmypassport(at)gmail(dot)com. 

Hi friends! My name is Mar and I can be found over at T.O. & fro. I am a small town-raised, big city-living girl meant for a simple life surrounded by Mother Nature. I blog all about life as an environmental educator, outdoor enthusiast, animal lover, photography junkie and travel addict. 

My husband and I currently call the concrete jungle of Toronto home. For those unfamiliar with T.O., it is the capital of the province of Ontario and the biggest city in Canada, home to almost 6 million people in the Greater Toronto Area and growing! Having been raised in a small town/city of 75,000 and spending three years living in the Land of the Last Frontier, Alaska, moving to Toronto has posed its challenges for me. 

One way that I have survived the hustle and bustle of big city life is by embracing the idea of being a tourist in my town. People often take for granted everything their own city has to offer - you go from work to home and back and neglect the fact that you live in a thriving city, with an abundance of activities just outside your door. Why not appreciate the place you live, and even see it in a whole new light? No matter how long you've lived there, it's always an adventure to see the city you live in through the eyes of the tourist. Not only is a staycation going to save you time, money and stress, what you find just might surprise you. 

Here are some of my favourite things to see and do in the city of Toronto, in no particular order...

Get a bird's eye view of the city from atop the CN Tower.

Cheer on the Blue Jays at the Roger's Centre.

Take the ferry to the Toronto Islands.

Look for urban wildlife in High Park.

Visit the Distillery District's Christmas Market.

Overindulge in treats at the Canadian National Exhibition.

There are so many things to do in this city, and these are just the tip of the iceberg. Have you ever been to Toronto?

I'm so excited to announce that I'm bring back the Tourist In Your Hometown guest post series. Last year, bloggers from the east coast to the west coast, from metropolitan areas to quaint towns shared their favorite things to see and do in their own backyards.

The idea for the series first came to my mind right after graduation when I was unemployed and didn't have money for road trips every other weekend. It's about being content with where you are in this moment and realizing that there are fun things to do (and sometimes more importantly, eat) no matter where you are.

I've been in Tallahassee for almost a year and I've begun to slip into the rut of going to the same places and doing the same things all the time. I'm looking forward to working on my own post.

Beyond being a fun exercise for the bloggers who participated, it was helpful for those who live in or around the same area as ideas of those times when you say you have nothing to do. Even if you don't live in the area, the posts and guides for when you're traveling.

This is where you come in. Do you absolutely love your town and want to share its hidden gems? Or do you need an excuse to learn about all that your neighborhood has to offer? Let me know in the comments below if you are interested in contributing and include your current city.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the Tourist in Your Hometown series as much as I enjoyed organizing it. The whole idea was to learn to enjoy wherever it is you are currently living (or wherever you grew up) and realizing that you don't have to hop on a plane to find an adventure. I want to thank all of the bloggers who contributed to this series; know that I've taken all of your posts and now have my own travel guide whenever I'm in your area so I will never be bored.

The series may be over (for now), but as I explore and learn my way around my new home, I'll be sharing all the things to eat, see and do in Tallahassee.

In case you missed one of the posts, here is the collection. From the east coast to the west coast, from large cities to small towns, what makes your city special? 

Des Moines, Iowa

Baltimore, Maryland

Memphis, Tennessee

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Phoenix, Arizona

Maryland

San Francisco

Sweden

Boston