Introducing: Locals on Tap by Urban Adventures! Forget queuing up at the tourism office. Instead, come kick back and swap travel tales while learning where the locals really like to go, on a meet-up in a fun, funky neighbourhood. Make some new friends and fill up your itinerary with tips from our Urban Adventures local expert who’ll be there to answer every question you can throw their way.
Meet: Mike, our local guide in Toronto
On how he ended up in Toronto...
This is my second round in Toronto. I originally moved here from Windsor, Ontario, for theatre school back in 2003, but dropped out after the first year and moved back to my hometown. But after spending my early 20s doing odd jobs and going back to school a few times, I was having difficulty clicking with a more traditional line of work. I also goofed off a lot and always dreamed about doing comedy. So, I started taking Second City classes in Detroit and doing amateur stand-up. I was making a small bit of money emceeing gigs around Michigan and Ohio but was getting nervous crossing the border five times a week, telling customs officers I was just “visiting friends.” And with Detroit's economy, the Second City Detroit training centre had to close and it just seemed like a good time to think about moving.
When I came here, I was pursuing stand-up but I needed a day job, so I started doing tours with a double-decker bus company. I ended up really getting into the history and enjoying the aspects of being a tour guide. But I didn’t really like how I couldn’t connect with the guests. I was looking to move on and a friend started working for Urban Adventures and told me how awesome it was. The company and the idea of walking tours really appealed to me. It seemed like the perfect experience for the guests as well the employee. He recommended me and the rest is history!
On an average day in Toronto...
It's hard to define an average day in Toronto. Every day is different and has an amazing adventure — it’s all based on what you want to do. For instance, yesterday, I did tours all morning and was watching the first inning of Blue Jays baseball on TV when I got a text from my friend that he had an extra ticket. A $10 cab ride later I found myself live at the game! Earlier this summer, I spent a day on the Toronto islands, laying on the beach, swimming, and kayaking in the harbour. Or on a weekend, I might go golfing, or spend a day at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the evening at a board game café. There is no set routine and although I have been living downtown for eight years, I’m still discovering new experiences and adventures. There is always something new to do!
On stereotypes about Torontonians...
I think the stereotype that the rest of Canada applies to Torontonians is that we can be cold and snobbish. When I first moved here from a smaller city, it seemed that way, but it’s just a different lifestyle in a big city. We are very friendly, especially when it comes to guests. People on my tours are always amazed at how friendly Torontonians are, whether we're helping people with directions or holding doors open. Another false stereotype is that people think we talk like Terrance and Phillip from South Park, saying things like rooooof (roof) or abooot (about), but we don’t talk like that at all.
Or some people think that it’s always cold here. Although it does get really cold during the winter, our summers can be extremely hot. On the other end, sometimes other Canadians will give us a hard time because they don’t think we know what cold is compared to them, but in Toronto we have a wet cold that really rattles the bones.
A stereotype that is true? People who visit always go on about how everyone they meet in Canada is so nice. Just look at a Canadian scandal: our prime minister accidentally bumped his elbow into an MP on the floor of the House of Commons and profusely apologised about it five times.
On what people might find surprising in Toronto...
I think the thing that people always find surprising about Toronto is how big we actually are. I always remind my guests that we are now the fourth biggest city in North America in terms of population (Mexico, New York, LA, and then us). I tell people that they need about two weeks to get a good feel for Toronto since sometimes people will only give themselves a day or two.
Another thing people find surprising is how diverse we are. We are very multicultural, and in fact 51% of the people who live here were born outside of Canada. Our city’s motto is “Diversity is our strength.”
On the one thing people should know about Toronto before they visit...
Don’t plan on driving downtown. The traffic can be very congested, there is always lots of construction, you have to find parking, and once you do, you usually have to pay a lot for it. The best way to get around is to leave your car at your hotel and walk, bike, take public transit, or hail a taxi or Uber. Also, note that a taxi from the airport to the city centre can be around $60. Take our new UP express train; it’s way cheaper and faster, and has wifi the whole way.
Gratuities are important, too. If you go to a bar and you don’t tip your sever after getting a beer, you could be waiting awhile for your next one. Make sure you take care of your wait staff.
On what makes him a great guide...
I try to make my tours as enjoyable and memorable for my guests by getting to know them and connecting with them.
I could recite facts ad nauseam, but making a connection and asking questions to personalise the tour will go a lot further, and as a guide, I get a lot out of it too. I like to ask questions about where they are from, what they do, what their culture is like. I always say that I don’t have the luxury to travel the world, but instead the world comes to me and I learn so much! I have met so many interesting and fascinating people on my tours. I’ve met politicians, doctors, teachers, pastors. I've even met a professional bowler, a rocket scientist, and an official rock-paper-scissors referee!
Meet: Nikki, our local guide in NYC
On being a native New Yorker...
A lot of natives take the city for granted but I was lucky that my grandparents instilled a love of the city in me from an early age. We were always going to shows, parades, and museums. I was also made very aware of our family history. I knew the stories of how my family struggled to build a new life here that would be better for future generations. I feel a responsibility to enjoy the city and appreciate living in this house that my great grandparents bought with money they saved penny by penny. Because that’s what they worked so hard for.
On an average day in NYC...
It’s hard to say there’s a ‘typical day’ in NYC as everyone is so different. We have everything from bankers who take the subway (or private cars) during rush hour and work until late at night (at which point they go to fancy steakhouses to network), to aspiring artists who work two different waitressing jobs, then run to auditions in between and go to rehearsals at night.
I think what we all have in common is we’re busy. Super busy. I don’t know a single person who lives here who lives a chill, relaxed life. There’s just so much to do. Every night, so many events. People end up packing their calendars.
About once a month I go to the theatre — we just have such an incredible theatre scene in NYC. I actually rarely see Broadway shows, mainly because of the price, but also because they tend to be more commercial. The off-Broadway scene and off-off-Broadway scene are much more accessible and tend to be more inventive and relevant. I usually go with the same few people and we grab drinks afterward to talk about the show.
On the local NYC...
I can name two friends off the top of my head who live in Manhattan. That’s it. Everyone else lives in Queens, or Brooklyn, or even the Bronx or Staten Island (most of those boroughs tend to be natives). Manhattan’s just too expensive. Yes you have to see Times Square and Central Park, but you should at least get out of Manhattan once — that’s where the more average New Yorkers live. There are definitely local spots in Manhattan (outside of Midtown), as people hang out there often, but at the end of the night, everyone leaves Manhattan to go home.
On New Yorkers...
That ‘gruff New Yorker’ is such an old stereotype. The city was terrible and dangerous in the 1970s and 80s, so people were definitely tough, but today I think people are pleasantly surprised when they meet New Yorkers. We're actually super helpful and more than willing to point you in the right direction or suggest a spot for a great slice of pizza. We might be blunt and not spend a lot of time with you but that’s because we’re busy. Very busy.
What people have to remember is that this is a BIG city with A LOT going on. Everyone's in a rush and trying to do 1,000 things at once. And even though you're on vacation, we're not. NYC had 60 million tourists (!!!) in 2015 (our population is 8.4 million). So those crowded NYC streets? Your fault, not ours! The best you can do as a visitor is be conscious. Be conscious of space — if you’re strolling down the sidewalk, make sure to stay to the right and leave room so we can pass on the left. If you stop to take a picture, get out of the way first.
We're also pretty blunt and practical. So if you're asking for directions to the F train, we're going to first ask where you're going because we probably know a better way to get there.
On what makes her a great guide...
I think I’m a good guide because, as a New Yorker, I take it really personal if someone doesn't have a good time in my city. So I’m going to do everything within my power to make sure you have a great time. All of the main complaints about NYC (too crowded, too expensive, no public restrooms) are all things that can be remedied — or at least, I can prepare you for them and show you how the locals get around this. I make sure to include all of this practical stuff on my tours because I know you’re going to enjoy my tour, but I also want to make sure you enjoy the rest of your time in what I think is the greatest city in the world. Because what a missed opportunity if you don’t!
On the one thing you need to know before you visit NYC...
The pretzels are terrible. I don’t know why we’re still famous for them. Don’t waste your carbs on a pretzel — get a hot dog instead.
