Best Apps for Finding What to do When Visiting a New City?

Best Apps for Finding What to do When Visiting a New City

Vacation vs VanLife
Some people plan months in advance when going on vacation but that isn’t often the case when living on the road full time. Many times I find myself wandering from one place to the other because of recommendations by others. This way of travel is exciting and often brings me to places I never would have visited otherwise.

Often when I arrive I will go to the visitor center and ask questions: What shouldn’t I miss doing or seeing when here? Is there a special event happening this week? Where can I take a shower? Is there free camping? Do you know of a vegan restaurant? 

The answers are often helpful but there are other options that provide much more information. Here is a list of apps I often use as reference.

Yelp
Yelp is most known for finding great restaurant options around you. Not only will you find a large variety of food but each location is rated helping you to weed through the not so good places. Yelp however is helpful in many other ways, try searching: “comedy clubs”, “hiking trails” or “beaches” for things to do. If you are in need of personal care search: “shower”, “haircut”, “pedicure”, or ”laundromat”. The options are pretty much limitless. I like to filter my search with the “open now” option checked so I don’t drive across town just to realize the place is closed. Yelp provides phone numbers, directions, website links, reviews and so much more. If you haven’t yet used Yelp you will soon love it.

Facebook - Events

If you have never accessed this portion of Facebook you will be amazed at the options listed. Where ever you are or might be going to you can find an abundance of events that are happening, Today, Tomorrow, This Weekend, Next Week or Choose Date. The events are searchable by type if you tap ‘Filter’ and pick from choices like: Art, Health, Music, Party, Food, etc.
The events will provide information on number of people going or just interested, the date and time, location, details and how to get tickets, if applicable.

Meetup
If you aren’t already a member of Meetup you should be. Meetup is an App that gives you access to groups of people that gather for all kinds of activities. Hiking, happy hour, board games, coffee and chat, and photography; are just a few of the 1000’s of options. Each city has their own options.
If you are a planner you can start joining groups all over the country that have like interests and see what activities are planned or join when you arrive at a particular city. Some Meetup groups have fees, but most likely waive it for the first time attendees. Sign up for the activities/events you want to attend. If you change your mind or can’t attend change your status to “not going” as being a no show isn’t polite since you most likely stopped someone else from being able to attend.

Other Apps
Another favorite suggestion is to search and download  apps that the visitor center or chamber in the city you are visiting created. By searching the name of the city you may find a variety of options. Start with the free ones to find “Things to do in ....”
Also Travelocity is a great reference for option of things to do and see in different cities.

Where do plan to visit next? What will you do there? Who will you meet? Enjoy the adventures that lie ahead!

New Zealand Gear List - iPhone

iPhone Gear List to New Zealand - 42 days

Complete gear 

What I'll bring when backpacking. 

So excited for this adventure. I hope you enjoy virtually traveling with me. 

Tomorrow I fly to New Zealand for a 42 day car camping/backpacking adventure on the North and South Island. I will arrive on the 5th after a stop over in SFO and the time change. 

I am planning on first exploring the tip of the North Island spending 10 car camping along the way to Wellington. The remainder of my days will be on the South Island with two 5 day tramps planned and the remainder of the time car camping to wherever my heart desires. 

I hope to blog when I am connected to WIFI along my journey either on my iPhone or iPad. 

Here is my gear list:

iPhone 6s Plus 128gb with Apple Case

iPhone 6 Plus 128 gb - as a back up camera in Tigra water resistant case

Moko waterproof case 

iPad and case

Velbon Carbon Fiber tripod -2006

Slik SBH-100DQ ball head with two plates. 

RetiCAM iPhone holder

(Yes the tripod is big and bulky. I have tried others that are lighter and therefore many times less sturdy or not as tall or not adjustable. So I keep using the Velbon.)

SanDisk Ixpand 128gb Flash drive - for backup. I also backup to Dropbox when connected to WIFI

Moment Lenses 60mm and 18mm

3 Jockery battery packs - 12000mAh, 6000mAh and 3200mAh

2 cords to charge battery packs 

iPod 

2 earbuds

2 - 6" charge cords

1 - 3' charge cord

Olympus Pen E-P5

Olympus 14-150 mm lens with hood lens

2 Olympus Batteries with wall charger 

2 - 32gb Sandisk Extreme sd cards

Tiffen Neutral Density 1.2 filter

Tiffen Neutral Density 3.0 filter

Think Tank Digital Holster 5 - camera case

SD card reader

Adapter to transfer sd card images to iPad so I can use the iPad to process the images. 

Towel to wipe off moister

(The Olympus has been a camera of mine for 2 years now. I rarely use it.  I am bringing it on this trip because I recently bought a new lense for it and maybe now I'll use it more. I am looking forward to having a 150mm telephoto lense.)

FujiFilm instax share sp-1 printer with 40 prints

Business Cards

Eagle Creek case to hold all the little items. 

Hope this list is helpful to those who are planning a similar adventure. I will let you know how it worked out for me. 

IPhone Photography and Patriotism

My dad is a patriot through and through. He has proudly admired many of the monuments and museums throughout DC, spoke of the pride he has for our founding fathers and those who have served in our countries military, and walked through homes, cemeteries and military colleges along our journey.
Everyday he appreciates the journey he so proudly says to all I gifted him.
Yesterday we were driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway and decided it was time to eat some dinner. The closest big town was Lexington, VA so down went went to find some grub. My dad, using his iPad, gave me turn by turn directions all while using Yelp to find us a great place to eat.
He found a wonderful location outside in the warm 75 degree air. He eat a creole pork and clam dish and I had homemade butternut squash ravioli - they were both delicious. To finish the meal we shared a hazelnut cheesecake that my dad savored every bite.
Then we took a walk to the Virginia Military Institute where the students in white uniforms politely gave us directions.
My dad once again expressed how much he appreciated our country, those that serve and me for providing him with these opportunities.
You're very welcome dad! What a great journey it has been!

Passenger View - Tuk Tuk - Cambodia

Tuk Tuk Ride in Siem Reap heading to Angkor Wat temples

The best way to travel as a tourist in Cambodia is by renting a tuk tuk and driver for the day. Both in Siem Reap and Phnom Phen the rate was $25 per day. You would get picked up at your hotel, driven to the locations of your choice during the day, and end the day back again to your hotel; it could be up to a 14 hour day. All day long the driver would just wait for you while you went to the various temples, restaurants, museums, roadside attraction, any where.

The day I arrived in Phnom Phen by bus the number of eager tuk tuk drivers was typically large. In January they outnumber the tourist by a large number since it was slow season. You can haggle a bit but they all seem to have a set price to take you from the bus station to your hotel. Once at the hotel they ask many questions about your stay and where you want to visit trying to get you to commit to them for your entire stay.

The drivers usually don't speak much English but they know enough to understand where you want to go. Only once were we taken to the wrong place. If I had to do it over again I would  rent a bike to travel around Angkor Wat. It would have taken a bit longer to get to the destinations but I would have enjoyed being able to stop at all the photographic locations of my choice.

ProCamera

fxPhotoStudio

Filterstorm

The Last Pixel Show is pleased to announce two destination iPhone Photography Workshops. The first is in Napa Valley this April and the second is in Palouse this August. Please click the images on the sidebar links for more information. You can also go directly to the website at http://thelastpixelshow.org. 


 Online courses start again on March 5th. Sign up soon.

Traveling with Lonely Planet, Noteshelf and the iPad

Did you know that there are so many ways to use your iPad beyond the photography apps! I know it is hard to imagine that this wonderful device does more than help create artistic images! But it does!

Lonely Planet PDF's combined with the app Noteshelf make a great travel Journal

While preparing for my Asian adventure I was told that I could purchase PDF's of Lonely Planet books. So I went shopping at lonelyplanet.com and discovered that for $4 each I could purchase just the chapters of the locations I was planning to visit. 

Lonely Planet PDF of the Kathmandu Valley

After downloading the PDF chapters I chose to put them in iBooks for easy referencing. 
Then I thought of a great way I could use the app Noteshelf to help pre plan even more. 
So I made a screen capture of the page I wanted to highlight. Opened Noteshelf and then imported my page. 

Images can be imported into Noteshelf

Next I highlighted, wrote notes and added fun stamps to the page. (See first page.)
I will continue to add to my notebook as I discover more places and things I want to do and see in Kathmandu. 
To have even more fun, I can add my own photographs and create a journal of my adventure as I travel. 



Have a Happy New Year everyone! May your year be full of artistic growth and fulfillment!



The Last Pixel Show is now putting together their 2012 iPhone Photography workshop list and calendar. Please vote on the destinations you are most interested in, found on the side bar to the left.

The next iPhoneography Classes Available February 13th 2012! I will be out of the country and unavailable for most of January 2012. Upon my return I will have fascinating images from many Asian countries.

The Motorcycle Tire Wall

Enjoying creating new framing ideas. 

Road Side Attractions

What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds.  When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then.  People don't have your past to hold against you.  No yesterdays on the road.  
~William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways




Do you want to learn to use the apps of the iPhone to create photographs beyond a basic snapshot? Sign up for the iPhoneography 101 online course for easy to follow instruction. The course allows you to work at your own pace while having a professional standing by to provide assistance, answer questions and offer critiques. Contact instructor: Teri Lou at teri@terilou.com and ask for a course outline.

Desert Doctor

Desert Doctor

Inside his motorcycle shop. If he can't fix it no one can.

Many Great Walls of Fame!!

I seem to run into the best characters. I decided to get off the main highway in Escalante, Utah and one block down was this wonderful photographic moment. I couldn't help but make a u-turn and stare. Sure enough Desert Doctor was staring back at me with coffee cup in hand. He very graciously told me I could take all the photos I wanted and even asked me if I wanted a cup.

Do you want to learn to use the apps of the iPhone to create photographs beyond a basic snapshot? Sign up for the iPhoneography 101 online course for easy to follow instruction. The course allows you to work at your own pace while having a professional standing by to provide assistance, answer questions and offer critiques. Contact instructor: Teri Lou at teri@terilou.com and ask for a course outline.